I don't care about Valentine's Day.

True story. I'm happily married, but I think V-Day is an over-commercialized crock of crap.

Sorry if you feel differently. Enjoy waiting an hour in line for a crappy meal at Outback tonight.

Adventures in Good Dog Academy (aka Fun with Jack Bunn)

Our darling Jack (aka "Jackson" when he is in trouble) attended his second session of "Good Dog Academy" last night, and I must say session #2 was FULL of just that.

Let's start at the beginning.

Three weeks ago, Allen and I attended the orientation session of GDA, sans canine, to learn all we need to know about the course. Dogs are left out of the first session so owners can concentrate on all the "nuts and bolts" involved in training your dog to be a "good" one.

Last week, the dogs were invited to attend their very first session. Allen wasn't able to attend due to coming down with the flu, so Jack and I trotted off to Good Dog Academy, just the two of us. I was really nervous about how Jack would respond to the class, but as soon as we arrived my worries melted away. He was just precious -- tail wagging, tongue out and prancing galore. He responded to his name and to the clicker. He took as many treats as I would give him. Just perfect.

With Allen on the mend, he was able to attend last night's class. It is widely known that Jack is completely terrified of Allen, which I don't really understand because the dog has Allen wrapped around his finger. At any rate, we arrived at the training spot and took our places. Jack flipped out most of the time--completely inattentive, nervous and whimpering a little bit (who knows why!).

In some brief moment of insanity, I handed Jack's leash to Allen. The moment the leash hit Allen's hand, Jack let it all go. POOP everywhere. Poop on the floor, poop on his paws, EVERYWHERE. And then, just for good measure, he decided to pee too. So I have a nervous husband holding the leash of an even more nervous dog who has just relieved himself all over the training area in front of the entire class. I could have crawled in a hole and died.

Here's to hoping next week is a better one for Jackson.

Take Your Double Standard and Shove It.

Every November, I endure the necessary dreaded doctor's appointment that makes all women cringe. For two straight years, my doc (a female) has lectured me on how I need to lose 10-15 pounds. Now, I realize that I packed on a few pounds over the last few years and that my family medical history dictates that I should be doing everything within my power to be healthy. I work out very often. I watch what I eat. I still can't lose 10 pounds.

My husband, on the other hand, goes to the doctor, and not a word is mentioned about needing to lose weight. He actually went to the doctor just yesterday because of a cold and the doctor PRAISED him for going to boot camp. We're talking one hour of exercise, 2 days a week. This is a guy who eats thinks ordering chicken fingers instead of a bacon cheeseburger is making a "good choice." Poor diet, minimal exercise...and let's not mention how stressed out this guy gets. He is a heart attack waiting to happen, yet his doctor gives him a pat on the back for going to boot camp?!

Why the double standard? Why is it okay for men to be overweight and women to be made to feel like complete slobs if we weigh more than 100 pounds? I can't enjoy ANYTHING without feeling guilty, yet my husband is so concerned with his quality of life (enjoying things NOW!) he won't dare make a sacrifice in the name of good health. But it's Saturday, Jess. You know today is the day we go to Ike's! But it's Saturday, Jess. I don't want to waste my day by going for a walk.

Please do not mistake this for an Allen-bashing post, because it isn't at all. I try my best to encourage him to make better choices, go for a walk with me, etc. but I have learned that I can't change anyone else's mind.

I think it is completely ridiculous that women are held to a standard that men simply aren't.

I love the people in my life

From an email I received yesterday:

"Fortunately, my car is no longer screaming for service, and my roots are gone, so life is good."

From a Gchat conversation earlier today:

"Sometimes getting a husband to do what you want is harder than Obama keeping his healthcare bill intact." (Paraphrased, of course, because I closed out of the chat).

From a coworker commenting on my internet radio fix:

"Easy Like Sunday Morning. You've always got the jams going."

Me: "Yeah. Pandora is pretty good today."

Coworker: "What station do you listening to? Soft rock?"

Little Miss...

Little Miss done on love,
Little Miss I give up,
Little Miss I'll get tough, don't you worry 'bout me anymore

Little Miss checkered dress,
Little Miss one big mess,
Little Miss I'll take less when I always knew so much more

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again

I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Little Miss do your best,
Little Miss never rest,
Little Miss, be my guest, I'll make more anytime it runs out

Little Miss you'll go far,
Little Miss hide your scars,
Little Miss who you are is so much more than you like to talk about

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again,
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay

Hold on, hold on, you are loved, are loved

Little Miss brand new start,
Little Miss do your part,
Little Miss big ole heart beats wide open, she's ready now for love

It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
Yeah, sometimes ya gotta lose 'til ya win,
It's alright, it's alright, it's alright,
It'll be alright again, it'll be alright again
I'm okay, It'll be alright again, I'm okay (okay) It'll be alright again, I'm okay,
It'll be alright again

~Little Miss, Sugarland

Absolute favorite song of the moment. What woman doesn't feel like this?

The past year (and a half...two years, okay maybe 10) has been especially challenging. I have taken on too much. I have succeeded. I have failed. I have not always been the best friend (I have started making notes to remind me to make phone dates, sad...). I have tried to be a great friend. And I've been burned. And I've especially learned that the old saying "Those who gossip TO you will also gossip ABOUT you" is certainly VERY true.

The constant struggle of being involved, being present, being dependable, and being "everything to everyone" is overwhelming. I woke up feeling it more today than I do most days.

At least it's Wednesday! Half way there!

In other news, the sky is blue....

Another Yahoo! article -

A new study of 3,000 women conducted by Superdrug found that one in three women refuse to go out in public without wearing makeup. As in, they can't even run out to the grocery store or to pick up their kid without makeup on. Really? Nearly half of all women say they prefer to wear cosmetics than to show their bare face. But what's the most shocking of all: one in ten women polled said they would never ever let their partner see them without a full face of makeup on.

As a girl with freckles (eww) and NO eyebrows, I dare to ask: Are there women who actually leave the house WITHOUT makeup? Not to sound like Elle Woods, but taking care of yourself is key.

I'm just sayin'!

It's time to get educated, y'all.

I came across this article on Yahoo! today, which backs my theory that it is far too easy to obtain a college degree these days.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110118/ap_on_re_us/us_college_learning

The article refers to the "academically adrift" students of today, stating that nearly 45% of 2300 students who participated in the study showed "no significant improvement in the key measures of critical thinking, complex reasoning and writing by the end of their sophomore years."

Not only does the college experience provide "limited learning" for many, but also limited skills. There are many students and recent grads who are unable to articulate, unable to pick up a telephone and place a call without sounding like a train wreck (it's easier to hide behind email!), and unaware of how to carry themselves in professional settings. Their (or is it there? just kidding) writing skills are pathetic and heaven help if they have to *gasp* give a presentation.

Should colleges and universities be made responsible for producing a capable workforce? Or is it up to colleges and universities to weed out the students who do not demonstrate academic performance? Has it really become this easy to just coast through the system?


Am I a trader to my generation? Perhaps.

A few notes related to the post-college world of job hunting and career climbing...

1) A college degree will never, ever be worthless. The person holding the credential holds the key to success, or lack thereof.

2) It is completely necessary to conform. Don't like the rule about wearing a black suit to the first job interview? Get over it. Your mother is the only one who appreciates your "uniqueness." Everyone else expects you to fit in.

3) Having an entitlement attitude will get you nowhere fast. The world doesn't owe you crap -- college degree or not.

Whew. Thanks, Yahoo!, for afternoon provocation.