What's on Your List?

I just finished reading "The Next Thing on My List" by Jill Smolinski and it got me thinking about having a list of accomplishments I would like to have to my name. Sure, I want to be a better, nicer person, but I'd also like to do something with my life. Make a mark. So, I started a list:

1. be a runner. as in run a 5K (yes, the character in the book did this too, but still...)

2. get back down to 115 and stay there.

3. become a doctor - in language, literacy and learning

4. calm down

5. remember that others have troubles too. what looks good doesn't always mean life is grand.

6. write every day -- maybe even publish a book.

7. volunteer in an organization I feel strongly about.

So, it's a start.

Health Care Reform

The tax on soda got a friend of mine talking on facebook. The comments that followed had remarks about the health care reform bill which made me want to scream. This anti-Obama attitude is making me crazy, yet I recognize that others are entitled to their opinion. I wanted to make a remark to the anti health care reform people, but I first decided to do some real research into what the health care reform bill means.

First, it takes the problems in health care and tries to address them. The biggest problems are: high cost, not all are covered, those with coverage get denied benefits when they become sick. I personally believe we can all agree that these are problems that need fixing. The trouble is, the Republican party doesn't want to pay for the fixing (or their campaigns are paid for by the insurance companies that over-charge for insurance). I understand that but I don't believe the majority of the people in this country don't want to fix the problems in health care.

The Obama bill calls for all to be insured. In essence, he will be forcing the American people to buy health care. The idea of forcing the population to do anything would make it bristle, but consider the fact that no one is complaining about having to have auto insurance or having to pay taxes for social security or medicare. What's the difference?

It is a slippery slope when you propose a bill that may cost taxpayers money. However, let's consider the costs we already carry due to an unhealthy body of people. Schools do not meet the standards because students are not healthy. When kids fail in school, they will become a burden on society down the road. They will be unable to find a meaningful job thus creating a scenario where a criminal life offers more for them. What we pay up front could really save us money down the road.

But I am an Obama supporter.

Really, though, can we not get together on this. Health care needs reform. Let's do it so we can be a better society. One worth fighting for.

Hazing

I just read an article about hazing in high and middle schools. My initial reaction to the title of the article was "hazing is bad" though as I read more, I realized I don't fully understand the whole scope of the situation.

My first understanding of hazing came when I saw The Lords of Discipline. Rod's time at the Citadel made me further aware albeit after the fact, that hazing was ever present in a military environment. Sadly, I witnessed hazing without even knowing it when I was in high school. What's worse, I wanted to be included in the humiliating process.

Why did my high school have sororities? What purpose did they serve? What did those girls even do? Still, I was hurt when all the cool kids were inducted and of course I was not. I remember Jan Sheldon having to sing "I Love to Love you baby" to a trash can on the smokers patio in an outfit fit for the 50s. Rhonda Kaplan had to kiss 500 sheets of tissue paper (red lipstick necessary) and collect a lock of Hank Erbe's hair. Really, what was this all about?

Flash forward to the present, and I was sort of stunned to realize my own daughter's lacrosse team had its own form of hazing. Making the freshman girls collect the equipment from the field is apparently hazing.

The biggest problems are : people want to be included in something and will do almost anything to garner that inclusion.

we don't really know when to say when. Gathering equipment from the field after practice seems harmless; injuring the newbies on the soccer team as they stand in a goal with no shirts as other players make free kicks to the goal.

Can this be stopped? Not without the masses coming to agreement about appropriate behavior and ensuring the safety of the whistle blower. So, I guess it's unlikely.

The Olympics

Facebook and this morning tweets are all aflutter about the USA getting another gold medal. THis time, Shaun White was awarded one (and this is not a surprise). I love the olympics and always have, but I can't help but to be critical of the commentary that accompanies them.

Why do we only get treated to the stuff that Americans are expected to win medals in? Isn't this rude? there are some pretty interesting sports out there that might capture the attention of a young American but we don't hear about it (or even see it). I really can't believe it's about the ratings. Really, if they wanted better ratings, cut the crap from the programming and stick to the good stuff -- the sport itself.

Sadly, Vancouver has not gotten snow that was necessary for the alpine events. This,however, was good for us. We got to see the Nordic combined where an American actually, for the first time ever, won a medal (silver). However, since an American led the entire race but got passed by a Frenchman, the commentators seemed disappointed about the outcome. Seriously, folks, shouldn't we be celebrating? If memory serves, there were 3 Americans in the top ten of the race. That's progress.

Tuesday night Rod and I watched a snowboard event that was utterly fascinating. An American girl was expected to win the gold. The commentators suggested that her reputation was at stake if she did not win. She didn't. In fact, she didn't even make it to the finals. It's sad for her but should all that pressure been put on her? Have we learned nothing from Dan Jansen's perseverance?

Then there's the corrupt judging. I have simply lost my taste for any sport that relies on the judge. While my distaste happened before the scandal around figure skating, it has gotten far worse. I like clocks. Speed. It's honest and all about skill. Clothes and taste in music have nothing to do with it. This formula for degree of difficulty? Do math majors understand this? It's too difficult to understand for the common man.

finally, I am saddened that despite the family sacrifice and whatnot, the olympics in America are really about money. these sports require lots of income to support. Even if my children had the ability, I don't have the cash to help them achieve such dreams. When I watch runners or swimmers, I know any one could -- given the talent -- succeed. Not so in the world of diving and figure skating and gymnastics.

Americans win many medals. It's because we have more people with more money who can attend the sport. We don't worry about a war torn gymnasium. There are no food lines here (though plenty hungry). Perhaps given the life of ease we enjoy should bear more fruit.

go USA.

It's time for a magazine we can really afford

In these tough economic times, the financial advisers tell us to cut cost by doing some simple things. Top on the list (or the one most commonly given) is to cut your magazine subscriptions. Well, duh. If you haven't got the cash, you won't be buying them anyway. Still, the magazines make it awfully difficult to pass down.

Some magazines have been hit so hard they've had to stop publication altogether. Gourmet magazine is no more because of the lack of readership (despite my willingness to go to the poor house to keep my subscription up). Some of my magazine subscriptions are still current though will not be renewed. Mostly I am upset that some of these magazines simply haven't made adjustments to the current economy. When shoes are advertised for upwards of 700 bucks, I really have to wonder how many readers can even afford such shoes. Handbags for 1500 bucks? Really? How about the dress price that's only provided "upon request"? What about the time arrest cream for a hundred bucks? Seriously, if I could afford such luxuries I wouldn't even need the deep discounts provided through the subscription price. I'd be able to afford the news stand price.

What we really need is a magazine designed for those of us who like to look at the super expensive stuff but have no idea where to buy it let alone afford it. A quick peak inside the Oprah magazine shows dresses and such available through Walmart. Granted, the politics of Walmart are not good, but does Chanel really have a better record? I want a magazine that offers recipes for nutritious food at a good price. Articles that discuss the bottom of the line products: what's in what's not. I want to know what podiatrists have to say about the way shoes are made. What is the cheapest I can go and not hurt my feet? (PS it's not Manolo Blahnik). Where can I buy affordable clothes with a good drape? What is a good drape anyway?

Sad, I need a lot of money to establish a magazine for people with little.

I simply love a snow day. We had a nice meal and I was worry free as the family was all home and safe. Sadly, many still had to work today which made me wonder why businesses feel the need to be open on such a day. Really, when I worked in the publishing company, they never called a snow day yet nothing got done because everyone was so focused on the storm. And, if the highway department is telling people to stay off the roads, shouldn't we heed their warnings?

I have been hearing chatter from others on facebook that schools have been canceled for tomorrow. I suspect Tyler will have a delay; Rod will have work as usual. I am glad I don't have to deal with the weather at all. The idea of working close to home is so magnetic. Although I want to stay in teaching (summers off are hard to beat, especially when you have children with the summer off), having work nearby would be terrific. And I'd still get snow days.

Oprah's Book Picks

When Oprah Winfrey began her book club I was so excited. This was doubly so because my friends are not readers and I had no one to discuss books with. Here, then, was a format that I could at least hear others speak of books.

Some of the chosen books were pure winners. Consider Ursula Hegi's book Stones from the River. The story of a dwarf in Germany before, during and after World War II. It wasn't a war book. It was a book about people. Pure genius.

Then Oprah started picking books I did not really like. My interest started to wane. I went to work and had no time to read the assignments. I did, however, buy several of the books and they rested on my shelves for years.

I have been unemployed for a year and a half now and am finding my way to those books. Most recently I read the book Fall on Your Knees by Ann Marie MacDonald. It's the story of the Piper family who lives in Cape Breton in Canada. There's mystery and tragedy. There are fathers who mean to do well by their daughters but can't. There are mothers locked by their sense of right and wrong as dictated, not by the heart, but by tradition. There are those relationships between sisters who love each other intensely and whose actions are determined by that love. It's a big story that spans two generations. However, the writing is at times a bit vague such as when Mercedes begins to remember a night long ago....

The bottom line is that I liked this book. I enjoy any book that pulls me in for a good story and introduces characters that I like whose motivations are understandable. I would not, however, add this to the best of the year list, I would recommend it.