Happy Holidays and Marvelous Monday to you! Tiger Woods……

What can we say with so much being said! I am so torn when it comes to definitive feelings about Tiger.  Lol, like I am anybody and it’s my concern but….when it is on every news broadcast, on the front page of nearly every online search engine, on the front page of most magazines at grocery store checkouts, the breakroom conversation, the water cooler chat, etc, what can I do but think about it and form an opinion. First and foremost, let’s pray for Tiger.

Twice now, my husband and I have been in line at Wal-Mart and two different ladies - two different types of ladies – wanted to chat with us about Tiger. Funny thing, although it was two different days and two different times and two different ladies, their conclusions were almost verbatim: he has a problem.

All of the chat has spurred me to do my first either or post. Here’s how it goes. I give you a list of 11 things, you choose one or the other. An example: Spring – Fall. I choose Spring and the reason I do is because I don’t like winter, the cold and snow and that is what follows Fall. I like the warmth, sun and flowers so I like Spring because summer follows.

Now you try it. Here are 11 Tiger inspired either/ors. You pick one and tell us why!

Tiger Woods
1. Golf – Tennis
2. Married for love – Married for appearance
3. Remorseful – Caught
4. Smart – Unintelligent
5. Sloppy – Cry out for help
6. Cheating man – Sex addict
7. Confident – Arrogant
8. Needed Hiatus (not playing golf indefinitely) – Cop Out
9. Able to change – Temporary low profile
10. Greatest Golfer – Greatest Athlete
11. True Billionaire – Endorsement Heavy

You start and tell me what you think. I too will weigh in with my take on things.

Holla back!

As Serena Williams is fined $82,000.00 for her outburst earlier this year and Tiger Woods repeatedly refuses to speak to police after wrecking his car into a fire hydrant Thanksgiving night/early Friday morning, I again ask the question, are we entitled to know each and every action and detail of these professionals lives and are we the culprits for making them bigger than life, thus the ultimate bad guy when they mess up?

So a physically battered Tiger Woods wrecks HIS car due to….??? Does the “due to” part matter? Does it matter if he is having an affair and his outraged wife was chasing him and bashing in his SUV window with (probably his) golf clubs? Shouldn’t the big picture be that he is alive, still a father, still a husband, still a son and most importantly to many, still able to keep doing what he does best, entertain the masses?

If I break the law, do you want to know? Absolutely not because to you, I am a nobody. How have we as society put these people so far up on a pedestal that human mess ups are under such public scrutiny? I do believe with some jobs you have to take the good and the bad and give up PARTS of your private life for the adoring fans but I also believe there is a line where privacy should be respected. If Tiger Woods was abused by his wife and chooses not to press charges why does he have to talk to the police?  Or if Tiger Woods did run HIS automobile in a fire hydrant, has the means to pay for the damage (and then some), it’s been determined alcohol was not a factor, why does he have to talk to the police?  Is it really about the law or is it just curiosity?

Why do so many non-news matters make headlines while real newsworthy events take a back seat? There are times when I actually feel uncomfortable and embarrassed listening to “news” stories because the information is so personal to the person under attack. If Tiger and his wife are having marital issues, so what! If we ALL stopped and reminisced on our own marital/family/personal issues and the horrifying thought of how we would feel if the details came to light, we’d be real quiet and just pray for Tiger wouldn’t we!

Holla back!

I got it, I got it, I got it! I finally got my refund from my wedding photographer for pictures I had taken at my July 14, 2007 wedding! How you may ask! Facebook!!! I tried everything from repeatedly calling and using different area codes to filing a claim with Better Business Bureau to calling a lawyer. Nothing worked until I got on FB and began corresponding with the right people. I won’t say anymore because it would just be negative and shine a bad light on a now resolved situation.

My purpose for telling you this is to say, once again, I love Facebook!

Holla back!

The Governor’s wife, the beloved Maria Shriver was stopped by police for talking on her cell phone. This is just my opinion, but I think it is funny and OMG, so human! These are the kinds of things that brings everyone down to the same level and let’s us know we are all human. But here’s the thing, NOBODY in this world is more important to me than my daughter, my son and my grandson. Others and the media and the paparazzi may try to encourage me to think otherwise, but they can’t. However, if my daughter or son or grandson were stopped for talking on a cell phone, without a hands free device, in a state that forbids it, it wouldn’t make headlines!

Although, as I said, this makes Maria human, gosh is it really newsworthy and do we have to be inundated with every little detail of it? TMZ shined one of the brightest spotlights on Maria and her law breaking ways by putting up two pictures of her holding her cell phone while driving; one from July of this year and the recent incident.

Maria isn’t alone. The California Highway Patrol has issued more than 150,000 citations since the law went into effect July 2008. In Los Angeles County, where Brentwood is located, the Superior Court has set the cost at about $93 for the first ticket and $201 for the next one, meaning Shriver would owe at least $300 in fines and court fees had she been caught by police both times. Do you think Maria paid her fine?

Daddy Schwarzenegger – who voted the California law prohibiting use of cells phone while driving without a hands free device into effect – called out his wife and vowed to take “swift actions” on Maria. lol. I read one article that says the remedy would be to get her a driver! Absolutely! Let’s make the rich and famous look even more rich and famous! Get them a driver! Let’s not make her get a hands free device (that I’m sure cell companies are lining up to give her for free!) like the rest of Californians, uh uh. The most sensible way to resolve this monumentally issue is to get her a driver so she doesn’t have to bother with the hassle of that pesky hands free device! Now you know I am being facetious right?

Let the record show, I like Maria Shiver and Governor Schwarzenegger. I think Maria is the epitome of classiness x 2! Being one of Oprah’s best friends she has been on her show several times. Hearing her talk about their family values and standards and how they are raising their children is amazing! They employ a very normal and down to earth parenting style. Their kids do chores and work for what they get! They do not believe in kids getting any and everything they want just because they can afford to give it to them. They worked for what they have and their kids will work for what they get. I like that. With that being said, I am not at all surprised she was caught with an antiquated cell phone and I think it is classy that she chose to donate her archaic phone to help domestic violence shelters.

I’m just not sure that we had to know all of this. I guess if nothing else, it reiterates to Californians and all other states with this law in effect; you cannot drive and talk on your cell without using a hands free device! Gotta love a Governor’s wife who will take one for the team!

Holla back!

P.S. – I’m told (well I read)… Schwarzenegger has previously warned his then-16-year-old daughter that if she ever violated the law, “she’ll be taking the bus.” Whatever!!!

Vick is an Eagle! Yippie! Finally! I am so proud of the Philadelphia Eagles for embracing Vick and giving him a home. Yes, there are still naysayers – those who love dogs and hate what Vick did – and they probably won’t forgive him or give him a chance. The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was quoted as saying they were “incredibly disappointed” at the news of Vick’s signing. But who cares? That really isn’t up to them is it? I cannot believe the arrogance and judgementalness of so many.

According to this article on CNN:  Ed Sayres, president and CEO of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said in a statement that “Commissioner Roger Goodell and the Philadelphia Eagles have granted Michael Vick a second chance, and the ASPCA expects Mr. Vick to express remorse for his actions, as well as display more compassion and sound judgment this time around than he did during his previous tenure with the NFL.”  Omigoodness! Seriously???

In the scheme of things, it was dogs. He did his time and life goes on! He is an entertainer, not the Pope and now he can do his job and entertain millions. I predict Michael Vick’s first game (whenever that will be since they reinstated him on “a conditional basis”) will be the most watched game of the season, barring the super bowl!

There are many stories on line; this particular one is from CNN, (http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/13/vick.eagles/index.htmlhttp://www.cnn.com/2009/US/08/13/vick.eagles/index.html. Read all about it and please tell us how you feel about Vick finally settling into a team and how you feel about him being an Eagle!

Congratulations Michael. We are glad to have you back!

Holla back!

In today’s society of anything goes, it is a dirty shame that we are tapping our toes as we wait and wonder if they are going to let Michael Vick return to his job, career, livelihood and profession. I do not believe in stars or professional athletes getting by with crimes (dog fighting included) because they are famous and can buy their way out of situations, and he didn’t do that! He did the crime and he paid the time! He served his sentence and now he should get to hit the play button and resume his life!

I am a little unclear on whether Michael Vick and the NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell met Wednesday in New Jersey or are actually meeting today as scheduled. Either way, waiting is frustrating! I am not a football enthusiast per se. I do not closely follow the sport and I cannot tell you any stats on any players or talk like one of the guys, but I can tell you, no one person should have as much control and power over someone’s life/destiny as Goodell is getting over Vick’s. All I can say is Goodell had better walk the straight and narrow the rest of his days! If he slips up once and does anything, I pray one man doesn’t descend on him and decide his fate and the rest of his life based on one indiscretion. In my opinion, that is what he is doing to Vick!

I’m praying for Michael Vick! I hope he is back in place, doing his thing, entertaining millions next season. And I hope he is doing it with the team of his choice!

God’s blessings on you Michael Vick! Hang in there!

Holla back!

We’re almost to Friday!  Hang on! 

Here’s a story that caught my eye! 

Tell me: how much is one woman worth? What if she is a Countess and 30 years younger than her husband? What if she is drop dead gorgeous? (a matter of opinion)  Does any of that constitute asking for 99 million of your husband’s 329 million, most of which he earned before marrying you? Apparently Marie Douglas-David thinks so! Check this out.

He was 60, urbane and exquisitely upholstered in tailored suits and starched shirts. She was 30 and Swedish, as in drop-dead blond gorgeous. He was the fabulously wealthy former CEO of a high-powered manufacturing firm. She was a countess.

It was a match made in rich people’s heaven. But the divorce is straight from the ninth circle of relationship hell.

In 2005, three years after their wedding and after agreeing to separate, Marie Douglas-David signed a postnuptial agreement giving her $43 million in stock, hedge fund shares, jewelry, and properties in Sweden worth $4 million. But she says that because the couple reconciled for six months after they broke up, the agreement is void. And besides, she says, the postnup shouldn’t apply anyway because she was deceived into signing it.

Marie Douglas-David, a former investment banker, says she has no income and needs her 67-year-old husband, George David, to pay her more than $53,000 a week, more than most U.S. households make in a year, to cover her expenses.

Douglas-David has filed court papers showing she has more than $53,800 in weekly expenses, including: the Park Avenue apartment and three residences in Sweden, $700 for limousine service, $8,000 for travel, $4,500 for clothing, $1,500 for restaurants and entertainment, $1,000 to keep her hair perfect and her skin glowing and $600 for flowers to make the Park Avenue penthouse worth walking into.

Yes, we all buy things we don’t need.  Our play money could feed many starving children all over the world.  But many of us aren’t able to extensively play and demand a luxury life for too long before we would be broke!  No joke!  I can’t imagine anything so horrific this husband could have done, to warrant his wife asking for (among many others!) $600.00 a week to to purchase flowers to make her entrance into her Park Avenue apartment worthy of her presence!  Is any one woman worth all of that? Especially if she is not the one who earned the money and was only around for 7 years of his life! That’s some deep gold digging!

Holla back and tell me what you think about the expensive ex-to-be!

To read the entire stories go to: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/18/marie-douglasdavid-wife-d_n_176604.html and http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/31919677/?GT1=43001.

Here are the first two paragraphs of an article talking about President Obama on the cover of a magazine without a shirt.

In the throes of an economic crisis and two wars, does the nation want more headlines about a “Pec-tacular” “Buff Bam”?

President Obama appears shirtless in a bathing suit on the cover of May issue of The Washingtonian magazine. The magazine’s excuse? The pec pic illustrates the #2 reason (out of 26) to love living in the nation’s capital: “Our New Neighbor is Hot.”   (story continued.  scroll down)

Lol.  That’s enough of that story.  There are many snippets and articles out there about this issue. Matter of fact the above article calls it a bathing suit, while another calls it gym shorts, nevertheless they all got the crux of it straight, he didn’t have on a shirt! Initially the first story I saw called the expose of his bare upper body disrespectful. I just wanna know what you think. Is it disrespectful for our president of our United States to pose on the cover of a magazine shirtless?  

Let me say, as much as I love, love, love Obama, I have mixed emotions on this one. I thought about what my mom used to say: with certain positions in life come responsibilities. She would say, once a woman has a baby, she is in a different category in life; she can’t do some of the same things she used to do, she can’t go to some of the same places she used to go, she can’t wear some of the things she used to wear, etc. Do you agree with that? Does being elected the President of the United States dictate staying fully clothed for the cameras at all times?

For the record, as mixed as my emotions are, a big part of me thinks this is ridiculous! It is a nice picture. It is done with taste. He looks good/hot/buff. What’s the problem??? But he is the President!  Should we think of President Barack Obama the same way we think of Tyrese Gibson (cutie patootie!)?  Help me out here. What do you think? Holla back!

So I was doing some paper work this weekend with the TV on and was just kind of listening to Nancy Grace and her guests. They were talking about the Sunday School teacher that has been accused of killing her daughter’s eight year old friend. (If you don’t know what I am talking about, here is one of many links that will take you to a story describing the tragedy: http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/story?id=7313938&page=1)

While watching Nancy, controversy arose when one of the ladies speaking said it was documented that she had mental issues and her society of friends, neighbors, church family and acquaintances should be made aware of this, in the same way society is made aware of sex offenders living within our communities. I believe Nancy was the one vehemently opposing the thought. One of the things she pointed out was, if you get a group of people in a room, a large percentage – 85% is what I believe she quoted – would all have some level of mental illness/challenges. I agree! But what does any of this have to do with her being a Sunday School teacher?

Literally, ever article begins by calling her “The Sunday School teacher”. Lol. Why? From a journalistic standpoint, I imagine using something as sacred as a role affiliated with church is the hook and apparently what they think will make readers/listeners shake their heads in disbelief.  I say so what if she was a Sunday School teacher at her grandfather’s church. I don’t get the point. I grew up in church all my life and to be honest, I myself have witnessed Sunday School teachers with mental challenges, but what do you do? Where else do we not discriminate, and let whosoever will be a part of the work to be done, but the Kingdom of God aka church? I don’t necessarily fault the grandfather for letting her work in the church, unless he knew deep in his heart she shouldn’t be around children.  Whether she is a Sunday School Teacher, elementary school teacher or Mother Theresa’s sister, the real issue is, she is a kidnapper, murderer and very troubled individual.  Leave the titles off and call it what it is!

The charges against her are monumental! 28 years old and life as she knows it is over! She is facing either a life sentence without the possibility of parole or the death penalty…. How could she do this and should society have been notified that she is mentally ill? Would us knowing her affliction rendered different results?

Let me say, my heart goes out to the family of this young girl, the small close knit community, the church family and the daughter who lost a friend at the hand of her mother. (heavy sigh…) Share your thoughts. Holla back!