The Real Reason Michael Vick Should Not Be Allowed to Return to the NFL

The real reason Michael Vick should not be allowed to return to the NFL is not because he committed a heinous crime for which he has shown no believable remorse. The real reason he should not be allowed to return is because he is a professional athlete who committed a heinous crime.

And, like it or not, professional athletes are role models. It's part of the job. If you don't want to be a role model, don't become a professional athlete. Period.

We are not talking about an average joe returning to a job at an office, a factory, a farm or a store. We are talking about someone who is paid a large salary to play a sport for a living. This is a privilege, not a right. With privileges come greater responsibilities.

I'm not saying he should rot in jail for the rest of his life. He should, however, be banned from the football field. There are other ways he can become a productive member of society. There are others ways he can serve as a role model, for example, speaking to young men about learning from his mistake, highlighting how breaking the law can change your life forever. Right now, his story goes more like, "I messed up, got a slap on the wrist, and got to get back on the field." Where's the lesson in that?

There are plenty of average joes who commit heinous crimes and never get a second chance like Vick. They have use their own gumption to turn their lives around. Why should Vick have it so easy?

P.S. As a PR professional, my deepest sympathy goes to the communications staff of the Philadelphia Eagles. Good luck this season - you'll need it.

Where Eating and Sleeping Collide

I titled this blog Eat/Sleep/Read because I feel that reading is as necessary to life as eating and sleeping. Lately, eating and sleeping have been giving me problems.

I've been feeling extremely fatigued since April - so fatigued that some days I can't take a full shower without stepping out to sit down for a minute. Nothing related to sleeping (bedtime, amount of sleep, time getting up) or exercising improved how I felt.

When I first called the doctor in May, they were so obliging as to offer me an appointment in August (!). I finally persuaded them to see my in July. My bloodwork and other test results indicate no obvious problems.

While I was undergoing all this testing, however, I made a discovery of my own. I had been eating poorly...too much fast/frozen food, not enough fruits or vegetables, etc. Toward the end of July and the first few weeks of August, I was eating better - more fresh fruits and vegetables, chicken and fish, less pasta and bread. And I was feeling better. Last week I ate badly...and paid for it over the weekend. I didn't leave the house at all on Sunday, but slept on and off all day.

Clearly my fatigue is related to my diet. So I gotta eat better. I'll let you know how it goes.

Julie & Julia and Their Husbands

Hello, dear neglected blog!

This past weekend, I went to see Julie & Julia with my mom. Excellent movie; Meryl Streep was outstanding. Uplifting, sweet and funny...except for one thing.

Among the other things that Julie & Julia have in common, their husbands are loving, helpful and supportive. They buy the right gifts at the right time. They say the right things at the right time (most of the time).

I would really love to know how much of this was fictionalized for the movie and how much of it was true. Why? I have seen very little real life evidence that men like this actually exist.

And this, my friends, is why I'm still single. I spent enough time in my dating life settling and I refuse to do it any more. I want a guy who kills the lobsters instead of belittling me for not being able to do it. I want a guy who can buy a meaningful (and note that by this I don't mean expensive) gift instead of replacement blades for my razor (true story). I want a guy who will encourage and celebrate my successes instead of trying to destroy my self-esteem so he can feel more confident.

I know you want to tell me that I actually have to date to find a guy like this, but frankly, I feel my time would be better spent hunting for the mythical unicorn. When I see more evidence that thoughtful, loving, supportive men in my age range actually exist, then perhaps I will give up my dating hiatus.

Until then, I have better things to do.