Laugh for the Health of It

The University of Iowa Dance Marathon "creates and sustains special projects to provide emotional and financial support for pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and their families treated at the University of Iowa Children's Hospital". The Dance Marathon Big Event is an actual dancing marathon, during which students who have raised the required amount of money remain standing (and hopefully dancing or at least moving) for 24 hours. With no caffeine.

Dance Marathon began in 1994, and in its 17 years of existence as raised an incredible $9,839,313.10.

Both Tom and I participated in Dance Marathon every year we were in college; I volunteered in 1998, danced in 1999, volunteered in 2000, danced as a Morale Captain Assistant in 2001, and danced as a Morale Captain in 2002.

That final year, as a Morale Captain (students apply and are selected for Morale Captain positions) I was responsible for helping each member of a team of dancers raise enough money to participate in and stay motivated during the marathon. Though most of us were so incredibly psyched that day/night/day that we really didn't need any external motivation, there was plenty of it in the form of inspirational speakers, testimonies from Dance Marathon families, visits from friends, and notes of encouragement from family members.

My mom wrote and submitted the note below, and my team and I read it for the first time halfway through the marathon.

Laugh For the Health of It
Brenda Mueller, mother of Erin Mueller, Morale Captain 2002


Most of us like to be in control, even if we can't or won't admit it. But how we spend our days, what our outlook is, and how we try to live in the moment, rather than worrying about tomorrow, is all within our power. We have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. Never forget that. People facing life-threatening illnesses often feel they have lost that choice, that control. It takes courage and strength to deal with illness, to be an active partner in the healing and recovery process, and to die with dignity. Putting oneself in the presence of a positive atmosphere is but one method of taking control.


Dance Marathon provides a wonderful outlet for joy and fun for the participants, as well as for the children facing these tragedies. The laughter heard at Dance Marathon is like a penicillin to the immune system – its byproducts provide a means of restoring some control, as well as a respite for a weary soul. It is well-documented that laughing brings soothing benefits to the mind and body. It serves as a painkiller, a muscle relaxant, and as a powerful catharsis for the spirit. Laughing is a way to bring optimism and hope to a painful situation. By participating in Dance Marathon, you are contributing to both emotional and physiological healing.


So my encouraging words to all you dancers, and everyone else involved, is LAUGH, LAUGH, LAUGH – laugh until your belly hurts and tears run down your face and you feel like you're going to pee. Remember, laughter is contagious. You’re doing a GREAT service for yourself and all those you know and love.

I hope this year's Leadership Team, Morale Captains, Dancers, and Families - who will begin Dance Marathon 2012 at 5pm this evening - will remember to laugh.  Because when they're emotionally and physically exhausted and feel as though they can't keep their eyes open or remain on their feet for even another moment, laughter (even if it's delirious laughter) will carry them through.

In loving memory of Sebastian Dockery (8.31.96 - 12.26.98), and all of the Dance Marathon children who have lost their battles with childhood cancer.

Red Cross Blog Post: Red Cross Love...the Etsy Edition!

Are you as hooked on Pinterest and Etsy as I am?

Confession: While I've loved Etsy since the first day I visited the site, I thought Pinterest was absolutely ridiculous at first. Peer pressure convinced me to join, but I was fairly certain I'd never actually do anything - especially since I couldn't figure out what I was supposed to do - as a member. Now, a few weeks later, I've come to appreciate Pinterest for the ideas it gives me with regard to home decor, kid activities, and recipes. I won't, however and under any circumstances, become one of those people whose Facebook status update reads, "OMG! I just spent five hours on Pinterest! Where did the day go?!". Sheesh.

Last week I discovered a Red Cross Pinterest page, and decided I to try to track down some of the items to see if they were for sale. My search led me to Etsy, where I spent the next hour oohing and aahing over beautifully handmade and authentic vintage Red Cross pieces. Check out what I found in this week's Red Cross blog post!

Groundhog Day

Tomorrow morning we'll find out whether or not Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow, which means we'll also find out - with absolute certainty - whether or not we should expect six more weeks of winter.  I'm probably in the minority here, but I hope Phil sees his cute little groundhog shadow and that six more weeks of winter await us - I'd love another month and a half of tolerable temperatures before the 80 and 90 degree days of "spring" set in.

On a related note, do you ever feel like you're living alongside Bill Murray in the movie Groundhog Day? I try to maintain a weekday schedule for my kids, since they're happier and better behaved when they know what's coming next, but I also try to vary our activities from day to day so that we don't, you know, bore ourselves to tears. There is, however, one thing that NEVER EVER CHANGES in our house...the questions. Along with hundreds of new questions, I answer these 17 questions each and every day:

Will you wipe my butt?
Can I go to school today?
Can I have an M&M/donut/cookie/cupcake?
Can we go to McDonald's?
Why do I have to wear pants?
Can I watch a cartoon?
Why do I have to take a nap?
Can I play Angry Birds on your phone?
Can I watch videos on your phone?
What are you doing?
Do you have a bagina?
Will you read me a story?
Can I wear my ballet slippers?
Can I "rock it" in my underwear?
Will you tie my shoes?
Can I play Wii?
Will you wipe my butt?

Don't get me wrong - I LOVE that my children are inquisitive.  I hope both Will and Hallie always have the same burning desire to learn more about their world and the people in it as they do right now.  I just wish they'd ask someone else to wipe their butts.

30 Day Photography Challenge

I've decided to try a 30 Day Photography Challenge in February (though I guess I'll start tomorrow, on January 31st, since February only has 29 days). My plan is to, in following the instructions of the challenge, take one picture each day, but I'll post my pictures to the blog only once each week.

There's a bit of research to be done before I begin, as I have no idea how to take a long exposure picture or what bokeh and sun flare mean. Any advice, photographer friends?

If by chance you're interested in joining me in this photography challenge, let me know by commenting on the post, leaving me a comment on Facebook, or sending me an email. I'd love to post some of your favorite photos from throughout the month here with mine!

Happy snapping!

Tradition: Reveille

Reveille, the "First Lady of Aggieland", is the official mascot of Texas A&M University. She is the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets with five diamonds (making her a Cadet General) on her blanket; in comparison, the Commander of the Corps of Cadets has only four diamonds.

Oh, and Reveille is a dog. The First Lady of Aggieland and the highest-ranking member of the Corps of Cadets is a Border Collie.

The mutt who eventually became Reveille I first arrived at TAMU 81 years ago, in January of 1931, after a group of cadets found her on the side of road and brought her back to campus with them. Despite the fact that dogs were not allowed in the dorms, the students hid her overnight in their room. The following morning, when Reveille was played, the dog began barking and earned her name.

The following fall, when the football season began, Reveille was named official mascot of TAMU and led the band onto the field for their halftime performance.

Reveille I

When Reveille I died on January 18th, 1944 she was given a formal military funeral on Kyle Field and buried at the North entrance of the field, facing the scoreboard so that she could keep track of how the Aggies were doing during their games.  Eventually Reveille II, III, IV, V, and VI were buried alongside their honored namesake.

Reveille II, a Shetland Sheepdog, was donated to TAMU by an alumni eight years after Reveille I passed away and served her school from 1952 until 1966. During her tenure, the tradition of the mascot being escorted by a member of the Corps of Cadets at all times began.

Reveille II

Reveille III was the first purebred American Collie, and all Reveilles since have also been purebred, female American Collies. Interestingly (and jumping ahead a few decades), Reveille VII's behavioral problems (I bet watching the Cadets struggle with an overexcitable and unruly Reveille would have have been kind of like watching me struggle with Hallie at the library) created a need for Reveille candidates to be more carefully screened and chosen not just on breed and gender, but on personality as well. After Reveille VII, it was determined that future Reveilles must "have an upbeat personality, be at ease around crowds and like people, be calm around loud noises, and be positively motivated as well as not highly reactive". It's a tough job, but some dog's got to do it...

Reveille VII - the "problem child"

Today Reveille VIII, who was introduced on August 30th, 2008, is cared for the Corps of Cadets Company E-2, nicknamed the "mascot company". A sophomore member of the company, known as the "Mascot Corporal" is responsible for Reveille at all times - as I mentioned above, Reveille is always escorted. Freshman are required to address her as "Miss Rev Ma'am". She is the only dog, with the exception of service dogs, allowed in campus buildings, and she has her own cell phone (operated by her Mascot Corporal) and Student Identification Card.

Tradition states that if Reveille jumps on a Cadet's bed, the Cadet must sleep on the floor (thought this tradition may have just applied to Reveille I, who lived in the dorms). Tradition also states that if Reveille barks in class (remember, she's always escorted, which means she attends classes with her Mascot Corporal), class is cancelled.

I'm a little obsessed with Reveille, to the point that I may or may not have freaked out and embarrassed my husband when I saw and took pictures of a border collie - who was NOT Reveille, by the way - walking around on campus.

And while Tom is not at all obsessed with this famous dog the way I am, he's crossing his fingers that one of these days the Mascot Corporal - and therefore Reveille - will be in one of his classes.  He's perfecting his methods of getting a dog to bark...and practicing throwing up his hands in exaggerated frustration when he has to cancel class.

Red Cross Blog Post: Driving in a Winter Wonderland

Has winter arrived where you live? Yes? Then check out this week's Red Cross blog post for tips on pulling together an emergency preparedness kit for your car. No? You should still check out the post (everyone should have an emergency preparedness kits in their home and vehicle), but then you should thank your lucky stars you just spent the last 90 minutes basking in sunshine and 65 degree temperatures and not shoveling your sidewalk.

A Little Aggie Love in Wisconsin

My aunt snapped this picture in a small town bar in Wisconsin - the Packers may be on television, but there's still a little love for the Aggies.