Pure television crack!

What can I say? I'm hooked on American Gladiators. This show, if not handled carefully, can be addictive to say the least. To be honest, I've never been a fan of pro wrestling, to which this is probably compared. But I love this stuff.

Maybe its the idea that these guys practically leap off a comic books page, I don't know. Or maybe because it doesn't pretend to be more than what it is: a game...or contest if you will. Amateur athletes try their strength against abnormally huge human beings also gifted with the agility of cheetas! All this done in an arena littered with gym mats!

For once, television has brought back a show worth resurrecting!

In from the cold, white fluffy stuff.

Well, snow finally arrived here in Virginia. Work was cancelled, so was school.

All is well with the world.

Until the Cabin Fever kicks in.

Powder!

Yesterday, I was reminded why I am so glad that I am not back in High School.

I work as a counselor, and I had to pick up a student from school. Unable to locate him, I had to park my car and go talk to the office. During my trip, my ears were ringing from heckling calls from squeaky voiced teenagers.

"Powder!" One shouted. "Powder!" By this time, I knew he was talking about me. Ha, ha-how original: calling a guy with platinum blond hair and pale skin "Powder". Being that I am 28, married, and a professional, I felt it best not to pay him or his pubescent buddies any mind. Who are they anyhow? As the the 'Beavis and Butthead' style laughter increased, so did the heckling. I kept forward, not looking back, and even decided to pull out my cell phone to prepare a call. My nerves were now tested as it was obvious among all the teens that I was being challenged. Curse words became interwoven in the 'powder' comments, and his voice scratched into a squeak as he now elevated to calling me a "coke-head".

It was, admittedly, quite the temptation to turn around and humiliate this butt hole in front of all his cronies. To shock him by turning around and playing mind games, or perhaps, use my credibility as an adult and counselor to 'stretch' my testimony to get this kid suspended. Oh, I laughed inside knowing that I could wreck this guy. What an idiot! He may have thought that I was a teenager because, even in a suit, I look young for my age.

I felt inside, what many teens feel at school, and I pity them. My how it sucks to get harassed when you're trying to mind your own business! When images came into my mind of making this boy's face look like a Cabbage Patch Kid's, I laughed to myself. I am ten years out of high school, and yet the pressure of that atmosphere still creates anxiety in me. It is hard being a teen.

For those of you still in high school, I feel your pain. Fret not, though. High School will be over in a jiff, and your former bullies will be changing your oil at a Jiffy Lube (not that there's anything wrong with that)!

I HAVE RETURNED!

Yes, everyone, I believe the smoke of the holidays is finally clearing. Whew!

I will be ready to recieve and answer your letters again!

**A word about writing me e-mails: Please do, but keep your questions relatively short and specific. We live in an ADD world, and no one wants to spend more than 2-5 minutes reading a post! I have been recieving virtual novels for questions, and fear to respond due to boring my readers....or confusing them!