Dr. Scratchley

Today, I was lucky enough to attend a workshop on Prescription Drug Abuse in Adolescents, by Dr.  David Scratchley.  He's a world renowned clinical Psychologist and neuro-something-or-other (he studies brains and the effects of different drugs on the brain).  This is the guy Dr. Phil calls for info!  Although all of his topics were really good (and relevant) he was great about focusing on what the group wanted to learn about.  He's so knowledgeable about what is going on in the world with children/adolescents and drugs, that the workshop is more of an "a la carte".....you just pick what you want.   One of the main issues we struggle with in the schools is Marijuana.  This just happened to be one of Scratchley's immediate topics of study.  Within a week or two, he should have an editorial coming out in the Seattle Times.  To him (and I agree), the use of marijuana is becoming extremely dangerous to the development of our youth.  Before, there weren't many studies completed on the effects of using the drug;  recently, the statistics have been coming in and they're not good.  If you get on YouTube and look up "david scratchley marijuana", you'll get some really good information.  If you ever have the chance to go see him speak, do it!  He's awesome!

I am soooo behind!

     It has been a long time since I've blogged...I don't even know where the time has gone.  It's now Spring Break, but it doesn't seem like it.  Why have S.B. when early the next week projects are due?  I also found out that I have to fill out some application for the Teacher Education Program, and there's like 2 essays that I have to write,  then I have to turn in some form or something.  I can feel my old habits starting to creep back...procrastination, procrastination and procrastination.  I haven't even updated my FAFSA yet.
     I'm now sitting here with the TV on, watching Jillian Michaels scream at some poor heavy dude.  I can't stand that woman.  What an irritating mouth she has.  Well, I think I'll go rest my cranky head.  Tomorrow will be more HSPE testing at my school...thank goodness I get to go to a workshop about working with drug-afflicted teens instead!  Maybe that will give me something informative to post about.

Blizzards

I'm not talking about snow and wind and black-out conditions, I'm talking about Dairy Queen.  All week, I have been craving an Oreo Cheesecake Blizzard.  Now, as I'm writing about it, my mouth is watering.  I've been stuck on this one for a while.  Of course I always have to give the new ones a try since I know that my old faithful will always be there, but they never come close.  I tried the Nutty Banana Blizzard -  pretty darn good; Pecan Pie Blizzard -  crap...didn't even come close to a Pecan Pie; Oreo Mint blizzard - this would have to be my second favorite; Cake Batter Blizzard - not bad; Pumpkin Pie Blizzard - once a year is good, and countless others.  Still, nothing compares.  The Oreos are super crunchy and the cheesecake comes in big chunks.  When you pair that up with creamy ice cream from Dairy Queen's special secret recipe, you have a feeling similar to being in the world's largest mall with everything on sale...75%off!  I can't wait for tomorrow evening, I'm giddy with apprehension!

Things that make you go hhhmmmm...

I forgot that I was going to blog about this:
     A couple of week-ends ago, I was running with my dog down by the river.  i was over on the Clarkston side where some of the levy kind of turns into a road, then back to levy again.  It's not really a road for a bunch of traffic, it's more to get from one parking lot to another.   Anyhow, as I'm running along, sweating my ass off and coaxing Hannah, I look ahead and see a minivan driving with a dog running beside it.  I squint my eyes to get a better look because I can't quite figure out what I'm seeing.  As I get closer, yep, it's just what I suspected...someone taking their dog for a run and doing as little as possible for themselves.  I don't get it.  I'm a little nervous, I can't tell for sure what the demeanor of the dog is and it's not on a leash (that would be because the owner is in the vehicle!).  Getting closer...it's an old dog, no threat.  I sneak a peak in the minivan as I get up next to it, still running, and see a very large woman driving with her very large pre-teen daughter in the seat next to her.  I doubt if my look of disgust was masked.  Disgusted because they are heavy?  No!  Disgusted because the mom is modeling some very self-destructive behavior?  Absolutely.  What happened to wanting better for your kids?  Unbelievable.