Tiger Woods is on the green again as the media waits for him to fall. I simply do not understand the vultures that fly above celebrities. We want to love them as we congratulate ourselves for not being them?

Personally, I am not bothered by men or women cheating on each other. Frankly, it's not my business. As long as my husband remains true to me and our marriage, it's all fair. Everyone else has their own issues to deal with. What I don't understand, is this society's desire to see failure in celebrity marriages. It's hard to make a marriage work; it's harder to make it work when everything you do or say is under the microscope. When you live in a fake world, how can you build a real relationship?

As for Tiger's problems with sponsorships, I really do get myself in a kink. The sponsors do not want to be connected with Tiger Woods until he starts winning again. So, I guess the moral of the story is: You may be a lying, cheating bastard as long as you win the big prize. If, however, you are a loser, then everything you do contributes to your down and dirty ways.

I cannot believe how difficult it is for people to accept change. What about the Health Care bill now law is so difficult to understand and embrace? Are people really so afraid of government ruling the country? Why? No one said "boo" when the Bush Administration basically did what it wanted -- including changing the definition of the word torture -- to push their agenda forward. Why, then, do we as a country have so much difficulty understanding that health care helps all people in the country.

When students are healthy, they can learn better. when students learn better they become more intelligent. When the people of a country are more intelligent, the decisions they make are better considered. When children are healthy, the likelihood that they maintain health into old age is greater.

Do we need to punish those who are unfortunate enough to be ill by removing their insurance?

I went on yet another interview today. This was for one of four leave replacement positions in the Byram Hills School District (located in Armonk, NY). When I was initially contacted by the head of the English department, he indicated that the interest was to find an experienced teacher who could handle the NYS ELA test. While I am fully capable, I did not want to have my time and energy wasted. So, I graciously said that while I know the test well, I have no experience scoring it. I added that I recognized that they needed to hire what they needed to hire, but if the scoring was a deal breaker, let's part ways before anyone wasted time. He was quite nice about it and said if I were hired they'd get me training. The interview went well.

I've come to the point where I will not beg for a job. I am very good at what I do and shine better when I am me. If they don't want to hire me, so be it, but at least I won't be selling myself short. Life is too short to jump through other people's hoops. Besides, how can I show myself in the best light if I don't provide my own lighting? I am who I am.

In the meanwhile, I am waiting for a non-teaching job to become available in Rod's department -- with the same pay as Rod. While I will not have summers off, the commute is the cat's meow. Wouldn't it be weird to have two offers at the same time? Aren't I a dreamer?

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.