Opie, The Wiener Dog

We dog-sat this week for my sister.  This is Opie, the Wiener dog.  Apparently he came to the rescue shelter with the name of Oscar--how original--but the shelter workers decided they didn't need one more wiener dog names Oscar, so they changed his name to Opie since he is a red head and has freckles.

 Opie is pretty selective about this food.  But this fact should not be confused with the idea that he really LIKES his food.  Because he does.

 Sometimes Opie looks like he has something to say to you.  But he is a dog, so he can't really say it.

 Other times he squints at you to make you think that you should know what he is thinking, but can't say out loud.  But I'd bet it has something to do with his food.

 Did I mention, he likes his food? 

 Don't let those sort legs fool you.  He is a pretty powerful little dog.  Especially if he smells something while you are taking him for a walk.  He has stopped me in my tracks before.

 His ears are really soft though.

 He is a pretty smiley dog.

 Especially if you seem to know what he is thinking.

But he still does have dog breath.  That is a fact.

 

But this was the look he gave me most of the time he was with us...looking in from the back porch step...willing me, with his eyes, to let him into the air conditioning.

I'm the meanest dog sitter ever.

So That Oath Meant Nothing to You?

Remember a couple weeks ago when I wrote about the Olympic oath that athlete's symbolically take before the games begin?  Remember what it says:
"In the name of all the competitors, I promise that we shall take part in these Olympic Games, respecting and abiding by the rules which govern them, committing ourselves to a sport without doping and without drugs, in the true spirit of sportsmanship, for the glory of sport and the honor of our teams."
                                                       --The Olympic Oath


Each of the Olympians, in my simple mind, went into the games with this kind of thinking--do the very best I am able, without any short cuts or corner cutting.  In other words: no cheating.  I thought that was the basic Olympic ideal.  I guess that isn't true for everyone.

In all my swimming enjoyment last week, I was thrilled to see a South African, named Cameron, do so well in the breaststroke.  I happen to know another kid named Cameron who likes the breaststroke.  Anyways, this week the news story below showed up on my Yahoo home page in the news of the Olympics.

South African gold medalist Cameron van der Burgh admitted to taking extra underwater kicks during his 100-meter breaststroke victory last week at the Olympics, an illegal move that would have earned him a disqualification if the judges on deck had seen it.

Swimmers are allowed one underwater dolphin kick during their underwater breaststroke pullouts. Replays show Van der Burgh took three on the start.

He told the Sydney Morning Herald that he took extra kicks, but says he’s not the only one.
”If you’re not doing it, you’re falling behind,” he said. “It’s not obviously – shall we say – the moral thing to do, but I’m not willing to sacrifice my personal performance and four years of hard work for someone that is willing to do it and get away with it.”

Allowing dolphin kicks during breaststroke is relatively new. The rules were changed, in part, because of four-time gold medalist Kosuke Kitajima, a Japanese breaststroke star who routinely added rogue kicks to his underwater. These kicks angered rivals, like American, Brendan Hansen. Then the rule was changed to allow one. But the old “give ‘em an inch” rule came into play and now breast strokers are trying to sneak in as many kicks as possible, hoping to do it without drawing the attention of officials.

”It’s got to the sort of point where if you’re not doing it you’re falling behind or your giving yourself a disadvantage so everyone’s pushing the rules and pushing the boundaries, so if you’re not doing it, you’re not trying hard enough,” the South African said.

Van der Burgh can get away with the kicks because there is no underwater video review of swimming races. After testing the technology at a meet in 2010, FINA, the international swimming body, has yet to incorporate it in international meets.

After these comments and the potential uproar they’ll create, expect that to change by next year’s world championships.

You see why it is upsetting, don't you?   This kid "won" the gold medal by cheating, and then has the audacity to justify himself by saying things like this happen all the time--everyone is doing it--so he shouldn't be penalized.  I know of several young swimmers who end up disqualified each summer for doing too many dolphin kicks, to their pull-downs go too low, or they didn't touch the wall with both hands.  And you know what?  It usually only takes one DQ to figure out how to do it right.  As a summer recreation team, our coached, stroke judges, and meet officials go out of their way to TEACH the kids who to do it properly so they aren't DQed next time.  Because as adults int he program, we care about the kids' swimming abilities, but also for their moral uprightness.

That really sad thing is they have the proof on video...but with swimming the actual physical human beings who are acting as stroke judges are the only ones who can DQ a swimmer.  There are no instant replay options, like in other sports.  Yet, this kid finked on himself, but had no intention of turning in a gold medal he had not really earned.

Too bad.  He suddenly no longer fits the Olympic ideal in my mind.  He's lost a fan, he's lost respect, and he's lost his integrity.  And it is his loss.

Speaking of Imaginary Jobs....

The night before last a PTA friend of mine, who knows the High School like the back of her hand, let me know that one of our lovely secretaries had left for another district.  My friend suggested I go talk with the assistant principal who would be hiring. This is a job that I had thought of about a year ago, but the chances of this lovely gal leaving us was slim to none.  I should have been more proactive.

Counseling office secretary--works directly with students, helps the counselors, helps with scholarship/college/etc issues for the students.  It was right up my alley.  Considering that I have had a few stressed out weeks worrying about money for the family, the timing would have been perfect.

I went in to speak with the assistant principal, and she told me they had just hired someone Tuesday.  Bummer.  I guess I'll just keep my eyes open and my options too, for that matter.  And maybe a little more faith in Genius Golfer's efforts.

But a job for me, after almost twenty years? Perhaps another time.

What I Want To Be When I Grow Up

I think I have found my dream job.  Something I could be completely happy doing for years and year to come.  I'd like the job NBC Sports has given either Mary Carillo, their late night Olympics anchor, or Jimmy Roberts, the man-about-town for the Olympics.  I'm not picky.  Eitehr job would be great.  Maybe I could even be a two-for-one deal for NBC.

These veteran Olympic broadcasters file reports on everything from the back story of Oscar Pistorius, the South African double amputee who qualified for the semifinals in the  400 meter to a (brief) history of Hampton Court, once the palace of Henry VIII.

These two seem to be having as much fun as the athletes themselves.  They delve into the "behind the scenes" stories as well as the local history, culture and traditions.  This kind for job would be a perfect match for me.  Who do I need to talk to to work my way into that gig?

Somebody work on that, would ya?!

See the lists of video-stories these two have submitted so far:

Here for Mary

Here for Jimmy

What the What?!?

At some point being the mom is a futile job.  How many times can you remind a child that his chores need to be done, or the garbage taken out, or his junk picked off the kitchen table, or his laundry put away, or the dog (who is here only temporarily) needs to be walked, or his teeth need to be brushed, or his retainer will only work if he wears it, or its past time to get to practice, or that there are MANY other things I can think of to do besides watch TV (OK, and I don't count the Olympics here, because he likes to cheer for anyone but Americans, just to get my goat....otherwise I would be watching with him.).

Choose your word for it, it is what I do: Remind, cajole, nag, reprimand, admonish, advise, bethink, bring back to, bring to mind, call attention, call to mind, call up, caution, cite, emphasize, give a cue, hint, imply, intimate, jog one's memory, make one remember, make one think, mention, note, point out, prod, prompt, put in mind, recall, recollect, refresh memory, revive, stir up,stress, suggest, warn.  Whatever it takes.

I'm Just Like Michael Phelps

Have you noticed during the Olympics, while the swim events were going on, that the media were hyping up each event as Michael Phelps' last fill in the blank: his last preliminary swim, his last semifinal, his last individual event, his last relay...etc., etc., etc.

Well, like the Michael Phelps of PTA that I am, today was my LAST Region PTA Kick Off event.

Yes, that is right I never have to attend or teach at one again.  It was my last.  I taught the Presidents' Training for Secondary Presidents.  All the junior high and high school PTSA presidents came to figure out how their jobs differ from those colleagues at the elementary schools.  And I really enjoy the camaraderie of the others that have the same kind of gig I have this year...or last year.  And I do believe it takes a special kind of person to voluntarily work with junior high and high school kids.  And I don't mean Short Bus kind of special.

But it was my last one. And sometimes having your last of something is really a good feeling.  That includes today.

Sunday Video

And you thought they were only cool in their Olympic races....uh.  Nope.  The US Swim team members are awesome, anywhere!