Going Natural

Four months ago I made a life-changing decision. It was hard, but I knew it was time to let go of a nasty habit.

I've had an addiction for 20 years now -- ever since I was 9 and in the 4th grade. Ever since then, I would go, faithfully, every 6 weeks to my pusher for more and more of this good stuff; however, after I had my second child I knew I had to stop. I noticed my hair thinning out, and I had had enough.

So, I declared Septemeber 1st, 2011 as the last time I go to her. I had to learn to be strong. I kept having withdrawals -- and still do -- but I try not to let them consume me. I know that, in time, this decision will be one of the best that I have made yet.

I finally decided to quit the "creamy crack" and go natural.

Actually, I wanted to go natural a while ago -- like, in college -- but I always thought that I would have to shave my head and "start over," if you will. My head is not shaped to be bald. It wasn't until recently -- actually, after I got my last relaxer -- that I found out that I did not have to do any of that. Therefore, eight weeks after I got the relaxer, I have started going to a stylist that specializes in natural hair and get something called a "flexy set," and I will get it re-done bi-weekly until my natural growth gets long enough, and I can cut my relaxed ends off.

The people that I know who are natural say that to roughest part is the "in-between," which is where I am at right now. I cannot wait until my hair grows out and I can show off my natural, soft, curly texture (to be continued)...

The Finger Wag Heard Around the Nation

Jan Brewer--the infamous governor of Arizona, a Republican, and outspoken opponent of President Obama--received a bunch of flack last week for a still picture showing an exchange between her and the president in which she is seen pointing her finger at him.

Let me just saw this: as much as I cannot stand this wrinkly-faced, tales-from-the-crypt-looking bitch woman and her politics, I am going to give her the benefit of the doubt on this one. This is a picture, not a video--there is no telling what the exchange was about. And, hey, she may talk with her hands a lot...I know I do, especially when I am trying to make a point. I am just not trying to assume things...remember last time when people assumed stuff about what Michelle Obama whispered into her husband's ear during a 9/11 memorial service? They were wrong!

Although I do believe that President Obama is the most disrespected president of our time, I do not think that she intentionally tried to be disrespectful.

Do you think that Governor Brewer was trying to be disrespectful when she pointed her finger at the president?

One Teacher's Strict Potty Policy

One fifth-grade teacher in New York, sick and tired of her students' "excessive" potty breaks, has decided to put a stop to it by implementing a strict potty policy in which each student is allotted three potty passes -- get this -- a week! And if they have all of their passes at the end of the week, then they are awarded a prize in the form of a small toy.

I think the intentions of this teacher were good, but the execution was bad: excessive bathroom breaks can be disruptive and takes away from class time -- but only 3 bathroom passes a week?! Come on, that's not even enough for me. These little 5th-graders have smaller bladders than grown adults. I wonder how many times she uses the bathroom a day...

A better solution would be to give the students 3 passes a day maybe...but I don't think it is appropriate to reward them for not using their bathroom passes. It's quite dangerous, really: not emptying one's bladder when it is full for a while can cause urinary tract infections (UTI's). Yeah, sure they'll get a fun toy, but UTI's are definitely not fun.

When angry parents complained to the Department of Education, they issued a statement saying that is not a school policy but an individual teacher's own policy, and the principal has put a stop to it.

What do you think about this teacher's policy? Should students get rewarded for not taking bathroom breaks?

Paula Deen and Diabetes

Apparently, famous southern chef and restaurateur, Paula Deen, has come out and said that she has diabetes.

Did anyone not see that coming?

Ms. Deen -- who has written 5 cookbooks and is known for her high fat, salt, and sugar recipes such as the Lady's Brunch Burger (which I like to call the heart attack hamburger) -- has been keeping the southern tradition of unhealthy eating alive.

Being in the health profession, I am an advocate for good health. As a matter of fact, learning what I did in pharmacy school has scared me into leading a healthier lifestyle (stroke, heart attack, congestive heart failure...oh my!). People like Ms. Deen and her collection of southern-fried mess recipes are not making it any easier for people to get on the healthy track, especially in the south. With the amount of butter and lard that most if her recipes call for, it is a wonder why she hasn't developed diabetes earlier than 3 years ago (yes, she has had it for 3 years, but we are just now finding out about it -- go figure.). These recipes of hers, although delicious (from what I've heard, anyway), are irresponsible and a detriment to the people who follow her.

...But, maybe this is a blessing in disguise, a wake-up call to the American people who thrive on this kind of food. Maybe she can be used has an example -- Hey! Try out my recipes and get just like me: overweight and insulin-resistant! -- which, I would hope, would turn most people off. Who knows...

So now she is putting out healthier, diabetes-friendly recipes. It's a shame that it took that diagnosis for that to be possible.

Do you think Paula Deen should ditch her high-fat recipes?