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.

Buying American Part II

This news brief from Media Post's Marketing Daily confirms what I wrote about buying American:
http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=109148.

Don't believe the hype. Check the facts.

Buying American

It's time for Chevy, Ford and GM to start telling their consumers the truth and stop operating under a double-standard. When you buy a car made by one these three companies, you are NOT "buying American."

In an article in yesterday's Online Media Daily, Les Luchter writes, "Buying a Ford is undoubtedly buying American...". He could not be more wrong.

My grandfather worked for a spring manufacturing company in Northeast Ohio for 67 years. For much of that time, the big three auto-makers were clients of this company, purchasing a variety of springs for the cars they made. Over the last five years or so, the spring company has seen ALL of the business from the Chevy, Ford and GM head overseas to China. The company is on the verge of closing.

I am so sick of Chevy, Ford, and GM and their dealers trying to make us believe that if we are buying one of their cars, we are "buying American." If they want us to, WHY DON'T THEY?

I feel no guilt whatsoever in driving my Honda Civic. It's a quality car and Honda is an economic engine in the state in which I live. In fact, Honda is the sixth largest employer in the state of Ohio.

I've had some people argue with me that I should buy from a so-called "American" car manufacturer because then the profits would stay in this country. Clearly not true, as the money will just be used to buy parts from overseas. Why not send it straight there anyway? Besides, it's not like the CEOs of the big three wouldn't just waste the money on private jets and other nonsense.

If you want to drive a Chevy, Ford or GM because it's a quality vehicle with the features you want at a price you can afford, by all means, please do. Just don't be fooled into thinking you are buying American.

Showcase 2009

After being MIA for the better part of last week, I thought I'd share a little bit of Showcase 2009 with you.

"Showcase" is our pet name for the International Showcase of Performing Arts for Youth, an annual conference held for artists, agents, presenters, producers and other professionals that are involved with the performing arts for young people. The conference travels to different cities each year, but PlayhouseSquare has hosted every other year for the past six years.

When we are the conference host, my responsibilities include managing the design and printing of mailings and the conference program, promoting the fact that we are offering free tickets to the general public and trying to get media coverage.

I also sit it on some of the professional development sessions to hear what's going on in the field and I attend the shows that will or might come back to PlayhouseSquare another time.

"OK, so what's up with the shows?" you might ask. Good question. "Seeing work" is a big part of the conference. Over the summer, a selection committee reviews submissions from hundreds of artists. 14-16 are selected to present full showcase performances during the conference. The artists are hoping to get booked at theaters like PlayhouseSquare. Theaters like PlayhouseSquare are looking for good shows to book.

Artists that are not showcasing can apply for an abbreviated "spotlight" performance and/or have a booth in the conference exhibit hall.

The Man Who Planted Trees is my favorite Showcase show of all time. We've booked it for our 09-10 season and I hope lots of people come to see it. It's hilarious.

Over all, the conference went well. I survived. And now it's time to get back to normal...whatever that is.

Remembering Marty

Today is the one year anniversary of my beloved cat Marty's passing. He was sweet and gentle, and was a champion purrer. He was with me for 16 and 1/2 years, through 10 moves, high school, college, my hellish relationship with my ex-boyfriend and my mom's illness. I don't know what I would have done without him.

From Marty I learned that love can truly be unconditional, that napping is very important, to show excitement when someone you love comes home, to show affection, and to try not to be grumpy even when you're not feeling well.

Marty had quite the personality. He loved to talk to his Auntie on the phone, and when you picked him up, he would give your neck a squeeze with his paw. Sitting or sleeping on the floor was beneath him; the only exception was a snooze under the Christmas tree when the lights were on. He preferred to sleep on my bed, my purple chair or the couch. And he felt that the couch was just a bit small to have to share - I guess he thought he was the size of tiger!

In his lifetime, he threw three TVs on the floor, killed a number of crickets and one praying mantis...and was loved by everyone who met him.

Even though I have two sweet new furry faces to come home to, I will always miss Marty. He truly was the best cat ever.