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Whenever there's a doubt, all it takes to reassure myself that I'm not crazy is finding someone - anyone - who agrees with me and who came to the same conclusion completely independently. After all, two people couldn't be coincidentally crazy in the exact same way, could they? This is just logic.

A case in point is the strange looks I used to get when I would say that the "new wave" music of the 1980's was just disco (albeit, luke-warm, recycled disco.) Or that Paul Simon was a Bob Dylan knockoff; or ditto Billy Joel/Paul McCartney.

Yes, other brains not in collusion with mine have made these same observations. Ergo, truth. Or, as a minimum, I'm not crazy.

Oh yeah, cereal. The claim is, cereals must be mixed. This cannot be crazy as I once met the other person who always mixes her cereals.

Not to keep you in suspense any longer, here is how to construct a gourmet bowl of cereal. There are 3 main layers and for that reason, it has been called a "cereal sandwich", but not by me.

Layer 1 is just enough natural cereal to cover the bottom of the bowl. We're talking those lumpy, granola-type cereals, like Quaker 100% Natural Cereal, although you can find better and cheaper alternatives. Some of them don't have coconut, but that's hard to come by. Please take up the cause and send a letter to your natural cereal maker asking them to leave out the coconut. And the dates (even though those are easier to pick out.)

This layer of natural cereal provides good texture, sweetness and a pretext for believing your bowl of cereal is "health food". If you're like me and a lot closer to dying anyhow than to being born and eating healthy isn't such a concern anymore, you may leave out Layer 1.

Layer 2 is your "guilty pleasure" kid's cereal - Cap'n Crunch, Coco Puffs, Sugar Smacks, Sugar Pops, etc. Just enough to cover the top of the natural cereal, but that will be the featured flavor.

Layer 3 makes up the bulk of your bowl of cereal and is good ol' corn flakes. I put this layer on top since cereal sogs from the bottom up, and I figure presweetened cereals are generally more sog-resistant than corn flakes. (Ok, so I stir everything up right after pouring on the milk, but it's the principle of the thing,)

At your option, throw on a few raisins - or a few more, if the natural cereal already had some. For me, raisins on my cereal are a requirement, but I can't tell you how to run your life.

Also at your option, stir in a heaping spoonful of apple sauce. In fact, this isn't even an option for me anymore - it's the piece de resistance! Cranks up taste, texture and health factor at least two or three more notches.

There you have it - a concoction far superior to any of its individual components. It's not heavy like the natural cereal. It has the flavor of your favorite cereal, but not so overbearing. The sweetness is cut by the corn flakes. (Plus, in this combination, the corn flakes somehow don't get so packed in your teeth.) And it's economical, to boot.

P.S. Where I come from you can buy Fiddle Faddle With Real Heath Toffee Bits at the dollar store, which works out to a much better price per pound than any of the presweetened boxed cereals in the grocery store. This stuff is pure death to eat straight - and I'm the last person to whine about something being "too sweet" - but when diluted by the milk and corn flakes it makes an intriguing Layer 2. Can anyone concur? [Note: Times change. By 2007, this offer may have expired.]

P.P.S. Was anybody else nuts like me about Rice Krinkles as a kid? Plus it had the best toys and funny tv commercials (for a kid, not overly concerned about racial stereotyping, at that time.)

P.P.P.S. Speaking of cereal commercials, does anybody remember the great ones for Kix from the late 1950s with a simple, outline-only, groovy cartoon character who loved Kix - but not for eating? For instance, he dived into them, or ate the boxes.

Narrator: You eat the boxes, too???

Cartoon guy (beatnik talk): Yeahmanitsthebestpart.

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