Rolling Stone (gonna find my picture on the cover, gonna buy 5 copies for my mother)...

So Rolling Stone magazine decided to put the Boston Marathon Bomber (the surviving brother) on their August 1, 2013 cover.  What do you think?  I've seen comment that it looks a little "Jim Morrison-ish"  If you didn't see the words "The Bomber," what would you think?  Nice looking guy.  Perhaps an up and coming musical artist?

But no.  He's a terrorist.  He moved to our country as a child, had a promising academic and athletic career here in the United States and then decided to blow it all.  Literally.  He and his older brother are responsible for planting the bomb at the Boston Marathon, killing and maiming a number of people.  Does this cover seem to glamorize him? 

Here's how Rolling Stone justifies their cover choice: 

Our hearts go out to the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing, and our thoughts are always with them and their families. The cover story we are publishing this week falls within the traditions of journalism and Rolling Stone's long-standing commitment to serious and thoughtful coverage of the most important political and cultural issues of our day. The fact that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev is young, and in the same age group as many of our readers, makes it all the more important for us to examine the complexities of this issue and gain a more complete understanding of how a tragedy like this happens.

Hmmm...so in the interest of legitimate journalism, Rolling Stone wants to explore Tsarnaev's dark side.  Here's the rub:  log on to rollingstone.com, and you'll see the sub-tabs on tops:  Music - Politics - Movies & TV -  Reviews - Artists - Blogs - Videos.  Look down at the bottom of the page and you'll see their "channels":  pretty much the same list sans blogs.  My point:  since when did Rolling Stone decide to become, ahem, a serious news source?  My advice:  stick to the concert reviews, album reviews.  Tell us about the up and coming rock bands.  Maybe an update on country singer Randy Travis' condition (viral infection of the heart, stroke), perhaps a profile of the late Cory Monteith...important news to the entertainment field, no doubt.

A terrorist?  Not entertainment.  Not hero-worthy.  Rolling Stone should stick to what it does best:  cover the entertainment industry.  Putting Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on the cover of Rolling Stone - an entertainment magazine - is NOT the same thing as Time magazine (news magazine) as putting Osama bin Laden on the cover, despite assertions to the contrary.  Apples and oranges, people.

"Rolling Stone...gonna find my picture on the cover....Rolling Stone....gonna buy five copies for my mother..."   (Dr. Hook, 1973)

I'm not buying it...neither their statement, nor the magazine on the newsstand. 

New Orleans Saints: I'm Very Disappointed in You

To the New Orleans Saints:  I'm very disappointed in you.   In the past season or two, there's been rumbling about how the Saints have become bullies on the field.  Many in the WhoDat Nation, as the most avid Saints fans are called, responded with comments such as:   "It's football.  People get hurt."  "Packers fans should quit whining if their QB can't play tough." etc.

The story recently broke that apparently the Saints had "bounties" out for opponents on other teams:  $1000 for a good hit, $1500 if the player was knocked out of the game, etc.    All this apparently occurring under the watchful eye of former defensive coordinator Gregg Williams (and with the knowledge of Coach Sean Payton and General Manager Mickey Loomis).

Williams has said about the debacle, "It was a terrible mistake, and we knew it was wrong while we were doing it.  Instead of getting caught up in it, I should have stopped it.  I take full responsibility for my role.  I am truly sorry.  I have learned a hard lesson and I guarantee that I will never participate in or allow this kind of activity to happen again."

My translation:  "I'm sorry I got caught, and sure hope I don't lose my new job with the Rams."

Meanwhile, it seems like it's time for the Saints fans to dig out their paper bags, because the Saints have definitely become the Ain'ts again.

But I'm Not Even *IN* School!

What a week it's shaping up to be! Not a bad one, mind you. Just busy. Son #2 is doing well in 5th grade. No big surprises. Of course, he's adjusting to a new teacher, but he's at the same school with the same friends as last year. We're just trying to get settled into the new routine and learn what the teacher expects. Open House at the school isn't for another week or so. I should have a better handle on things by then. Son #2 is a good student. Things tend to come easily for him so he doesn't necessarily put forth his best effort. We're working on developing a better work ethic, because let's face it, at some point things will stop coming so easily for him and he'll need a back up plan that doesn't include coasting on his good looks, manners and sense of humor.

Son #1 seems to be adapting well to Junior High. The big leagues. Changing classes for all courses. He hasn't been assigned a locker yet - that should happen next week once everyone's schedules are pretty much set (some "tweaking" of the schedules is still going on - not for my son, though).

Today is the first day that he'll have to change into gym clothes for Phys. Ed. class. I'm curious to see how that will work out. The school sells a gym uniform for $15, or they can wear a plain white t-shirt and plain navy gym shorts. We've opted for the latter so far. I'm not opposed to buying a gym uniform with the school logo on it, but right now a 5-pack of white Hanes t-shirts costs less than $5 at Walmart and I found 3 pair of navy shorts are Kmart for 4 each.

• 3 gym uniforms + 2 extra shirts = $17
• Not having to do laundry every night = Priceless

I'm a little worried about Spanish class. He does not have a text book. I know some schools are getting away from that, but Son #1 is not a great "auditory" learner. I hope they have books but perhaps haven't distributed them yet because the lockers haven't been assigned. In the meantime, he does have an excellent memory and that will help him with his vocabulary words.

He's also expected to do a science project this year, so we'll have to get online for some realistic ideas. Of course I'm not doing any of the work for him, but we do go through each notebook everyday - organization is a challenge for ADHD kids, and his organization skills are just emerging. It almost feels like I'm back in the 7th grade again, except I have clearer skin and finally outgrew the training bra, but I digress....

Then there's the paperwork. Lots of paperwork. Those of you have kids know what I mean. There are far fewer forms required to buy a house than it takes to get your kid settled in school. I have 3 kids, so that's 3 times the paperwork.

My kids are each at a different school which means I have to join 3 different PTAs. Don't count of seeing me at the meetings though. I don't have a lot of patience to sit through them - especially the reading of the previous meeting's minutes (Hellloooo? If I wanted to know what happened at the last meeting, I would have attended the last meeting. Sorry. That's me being snarky) and the budget stuff. As I mentioned in previous posts, I'm a "Slacker Mom" (I should make that one of the labels on my blog). I just can't participate in every fundraiser for 3 schools and two scouting organizations (cub scouts and boy scouts). I cannot bankrupt my in-law's, sorry.

Then there are the school fees. Lunch fee for the month, Supply fee to offset the photocopying expenses, PTA fee, Lab fee. Of course, each one requires a separate check.

Son #3 went for his kindergarten assessment on Tuesday so I picked up his packet and got a jump on that paperwork. His assessment went well. On the first day of school, the teacher will read a book - I forget the title - about a raccoon who goes to school but will miss his mom, so she kisses the palm of his hand. Momma Raccoon tells her son that if he gets lonely all he has to do is press his palm to his cheek and remember the love. I heard a similar story years before the book was published (1993) so my boys are very familiar with Mommy's Magic Kiss on their palm that cannot be washed off and will not wear away no matter what.

While Son #3 was in the class with the teacher for his testing, I sat in the hallway and completed my "assignment" - a construction paper cutout of my hand pasted on a larger piece of construction paper and a personal note. After reading the story on Monday, which will sound vaguely familiar to Son #3, the teacher will have the parents' "hands" in case the kids get lonely. Cute idea. The kids should be pleasantly surprised.

Meanwhile, I've been too busy to whine about how lonely I'll be on Monday... :-)

EXCUUUUUUUSE ME?

Okay, I'm asking my readers - all 4 of you - am I being nitpicky? Son #2, age 9, had his best friend spend the night last night. Best friend is basically a good kid. Decent grades, I'm very fond of his family, etc. It's just that this kid annoys the daylights out of me. Little things. Like when he kicks back in front of the TV and props his feet up on the TV armoire. Or he decides to sit on the coffee table. Or when he decides to snoop in the fridge. I know I should be glad that he feels so comfortable in our home, but really, I don't think this is a testament to my hostessing skills. I'd also have no problem if I told him, hey, if there's anything you want, just help yourself. Truth is, I haven't warmed up to him that much. Case in point - a while back we treated him and Son #1's best friend to dinner at a local Italian restaurant. All was fine until this kid remembered there was a Baskin Robbins Ice Cream place next door and ASKED if we could get ice cream. (Because the $60 dinner didn't hit the spot?!)

If I ever pulled something like that when I was a guest of another family, and my mother found out, I'd end up smacked in the back of the head (and rightfully so - in my opinion - thanks, Mom).

It's hard for me to point out this kid's transgressions to Son #2 without sounding like I'm criticizing his best friend. And I know there are worse faults than being spoiled. But still, I can't help myself. I give Son #2 "The Look" and whisper to him, ever so discreetly, "You don't pull that crap at his house, do you????"

So tell me honestly. Am I making a big deal out of nothing? Am I too old fashioned? I am, after all, (gasp!) over 40. Have the standards changed? Oy Vey!

Today's Rant: Medical Labs

The short version: Dear Hubby has a medical condition that requires regular check ups and monitoring. He went last Tuesday to have his routine blood work done. The very next day (the day I left on my trip, by the way), the doctor calls and says the lab faxed over the results and that one of the tests was abnormal.

He had a high level of a particular enzyme that's released when there's an injury to a muscle. Since his condition is coronary, and the heart is a big muscle, the doc decided to call rather than wait until their sit-down appointment later this month. Dear Hubby is feeling fine, so the doctor thinks it's an interaction with his medications so she asks him to discontinue taking one and go for more bloodwork a week later.

So....Dear Hubby goes to the lab to have blood drawn on Tuesday morning. Here is it Thursday afternoon and the lab has not yet faxed the results to the doctor.

My rant is this: Why did it take less than 24 hours to fax the results the first time, and more than 2 days the second time? 53.5 hours and counting. GRRRRR!

Took me a week to get this far...

...and now I have writer's block. This is unusual, since in person I'm rarely at a loss for words.

I'll start simple. My pet peeve of the day is school supply lists. In past years, my son's school allowed you order Supply Packs (pay a fee at the end of the year and the supplies are ready and labeled with your kid's name on the first day of school in the fall). They discontinued that this year, which in itself doesn't bother me. I don't mind shopping for school supplies - I enjoy it even - by why turn it into a scavenger hunt?

Why does it have to be box of Crayola brand crayons (24 ct)? Why not Rose Art (24 ct) brand? Why does it have to be 2 red BIC pens, rather than simply 2 red ballpoint pens? I visited 3 stores before I found twenty-four "American-made #2 pencils" (most I came across were made in China). I hope they didn't have to be yellow. The list didn't say, so I bought natural wood unpainted, not-made-from-rainforest-trees pencils. I feel like such a rebel!