It was a tough week for many reasons – new job, alarm going off at 5:30 a.m. every morning, kid throwing up at 2 a.m. early Friday – just a few little adjustments in the next chapter of life. So, let’s recap.
1. We’re getting fatter. I must first address this week’s news that says two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight, as defined by their body mass index or BMI. Here’s the bright spot: Move to Colorado, Massachusetts or Connecticut and your chances of getting fat are way less. The not so bright spot would be Mississippi. Stay far, far away. My guess is it’s not the water it’s the use of oil. I’m sure I’ll offend someone from Mississippi, but my guess is there’s probably not a soul from Mississippi that ever reads this blog.
I think the pervasive message here is that we all need to get whatever size asses we have up off the couch more often, because the fact is we’re all paying for the fattening up of America.
2. Biggest, fattest liar. In this case I’m not talking about weight at all. Let’s go with the figurative sense and give the award to Mark Sanford, the disgraceful governor of South Carolina. I know this happened the week before last, but earlier this week I read about the governor citing bible verses as a way to help us understand how sorry he is. Listen jerk face/cheater/liar, no bible is going to save you from stupidity and exercising the cognitive judgment of a toddler.
I know nothing about the Appalachian Mountains, let alone hiking in them, but I know enough about the job of governor to know that no governor in his or her right mind who’s actually doing the job, would ditch your security to hike somewhere alone in some mountains, let alone get on a plane to Argentina for a trist that will completely derail your career for good.
And please, I ask that the conservative politicians in this country stop thinking that citing the Bible will somehow help people forgive them for their unforgivable indiscretions, and convince us that it’s okay that they do what they do. NOT so. In my opinion, the bible is a book, nothing more. If you’re a liar and a cheat, you’re a liar and a cheat. Period.
3. Michael Jackson’s will. I think we all could have guessed that the controversy surrounding Michael Jackson’s death would get increasingly complicated. We’ve learned that Katherine, Michael’s mother is the named guardian of his children. And in an interesting twist, Diana Ross is next in line. I think we all just want what’s best for these children that somehow have been kept from the media all these years.
I said last week that Michael was an incredibly gifted musician that made his mark on music and I will continue to remember him that way. I wish the best for Michael’s children, and hope this doesn’t become about who’s going to benefit the most from his death.
4. A python for a pet is a total oxymoron. Any way you slice it, I can’t fathom calling a python a pet. When you’re talking an eight-foot snake that normally eats small animals and is hard to contain in a cage, I really can’t fathom why anyone would think that’s a “pet” made for your home. And, the latest news that a two-year old girl was squeezed to death by a Burmese Python that had escaped in the house is confirmation that pythons are not pets. This is a tragic incident that could have been avoided. I understand the owner didn’t possess the required permit to have this pet. As far as I’m concerned, I still think there needs to be some sort of permit required to become a parent.
4. No stage mom tendencies here. Payton auditioned this week with a couple hundred other kids for the winter productions put on by one of the major theatre companies in the area. Since parents are never allowed in to watch it’s hard to ever get a sense of how things really went. This is only the second time we’ve taken her to a professional audition, so my exposure to stage moms and dads is very limited.
So far, there’s been at least one parent each time that reminds me how I never, ever want to act – barking orders, making demands, acting like her life depends on her daughter getting a call-back. As I listened to a women kick it into high gear this time, I turned to Mr. T and told him that Payton is usually the one telling me what to do at these auditions – “don’t mess with my hair, let me fill out my own form, quit asking me if I’m ready, I’ve got it under control, mom…” Pretty soon she’ll tell us both to stay home, that she can drive herself. If only she could reach the gas pedal.
5. Week one of the new job. New jobs are tough. I don’t think there’s any way of avoiding the exhaustion that comes with having your brain crammed with more information than is humanely possible to process in a week. Add that to the fact that you’re trying to be “on” and reassure all that they haven’t hired a Jekyl.
Oh, and throw in the fact that my daughter was up around 2 a.m. Friday morning barfing up her dinner. This is the same girl that NEVER gets sick. The same one who received perfect attendance at school this year. I think it was all part of a test that someone failed to tell me was a condition of my first week’s emloyment.
I believe I passed. I’m feeling a little worn out, but a lot thankful to be back with the fully employed. I look forward to week two.
How was your week?
