Category: Public Service Announcement
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July 1, 2018: Little Merry Sunshine’s 11th anniversary
Today is the 11th anniversary of the day I began writing Little Merry Sunshine. Eleven years ago, I thought blogging was going to be a fun, new hobby, but didn’t think I’d really have any fans or regular readers. I also didn’t think I’d still be blogging 11 years later, but I am. Go figure.…
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Blogging isn’t sexy, but I love it and ChicagoNow is my home
I began blogging on July 1, 2007 on Blogger because I wanted to create a place on the internet that celebrated what was good in life and I was curious whether anyone would read the randomness that stumbles out of my brain. Even in the halcyon days of 2007, social media and, more generally, the…
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Hate the election results? Get politically active. It’s easier than you think.
In the two weeks since we elected a new President of the United States, I’ve walked through the five stages of grief – denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. Yes, I know that sounds ridiculous, but our new president has shown that his values don’t align with mine. I’m not going to rehash all of the…
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Top secret plan to defeat Donald Trump
As a member of the criminal lame stream media, it is imperative that I report on a conspiracy at the highest levels. This plan is so nefarious that it could change the course of the 2016 Presidential Election and cause Hillary Clinton to defeat Donald Trump. It permeates every level of the government and every…
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Full Moon Restaurant: Where everyone receives a free Thanksgiving dinner
Do you dine at the Full Moon Restaurant? I first discovered the Full Moon as a first year student at Lake Forest College in 1989 when an upperclassman friend introduced me to this wonderful 24-hour truck stop just north of campus. Since that time, the Full Moon has been my second favorite restaurant. Second only…
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Hospital Waiting Room Etiquette 101
Two days ago my mom had gastric bypass surgery and I spent nine hours sitting in the hospital’s waiting room. Spending any time in a hospital waiting room while a loved one is in surgery is stressful at best and life altering when things don’t go as hoped. Everyone in the waiting room is on…
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School supplies: All kids need them, but all kids can’t afford them
All across America parents are preparing to send their kids back to school (and some have already sent their kids back) and that can only mean one thing: shopping for school supplies. I loved getting new school supplies. Picking out my Trapper Keeper; new packs of college-ruled three-hole paper; new pencils and pens; new highlighters;…
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Fix your mass marketing emails or lose me as a customer
If you’re like me, you receive at least a few mass marketing emails from organizations you enjoy hearing from. These could be emails from clubs or philanthropic organizations, airlines, political groups, educational or business training organizations, etc. For the most part, these are not spam emails because they’re from organizations you want to hear from.…
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Seven things I know about writing
Two of my ChicagoNow buddies, Nina writer of You Know Neen, and Michael writer of Mysteries of Life, recently tagged me in a meme going around the ChicagoNow writers on Facebook. I decided that rather than share my pearls of wisdom with just my Facebook friends, the entire world could benefit from my knowledge about…
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Do you read your EOBs (Explanation of Benefits)?
EOBs or Explanation of Benefits are the notifications from your medical insurance company that clutter up your snail mail or email box letting you know how much your insurance company paid, what you owe, and what the medical provider is not allowed to bill you for. Based entirely upon my non-scientific research, most people don’t…
Jessica L Gardner 