Do Men Think Women Love To Clean?

The kids are gone for two weeks and tomorrow hubby and I are off to the beach for ten days! Ten days of silent bliss. I am very excited.

I wrote previously on my children's sad departure as they pulled from the driveway this past weekend. I have cried my last cry and am enjoying the alone time with myself and my hubby. I have gotten chores done around the house that would never have been attempted if the children were around. I mean you can't trash toys that are literally junk around kids. Even if it's a Barbie car with one wheel, if you make a slight suggestion that maybe it's on it's last leg and should be tossed in the garbage, an excuse will be found on why it must remain in the toy box. "But Aunt BeBe gave it to us before she died," or "But it's Dottie's favorite." Speaking of Dottie, she's a stuffed deer. It's impossible to rid your home of old toys when children are around to see.

We head out tomorrow for my husband's father's beach house. We have previously stayed her multiple times before. As always, the only request about the house is when you leave, leave it the way it was.

Earlier my husband met his father for the keys and helped him run an errand. Well, it seems as if someone hadn't left the house in tip top shape and now we have been given handwritten instructions on how to leave it this time. I'm fine with this but the funny thing was, when hubby returned home, he handed me the list. ( I know he did it not even thinking about what I may read into it.)

Why, oh why do men think women love to clean up? Is there a sign above women's head that say, Let Me Clean For You. I wonder why the list was mine for the holding?

Do men really think we pray for instructions on what to clean next? Is this sexist to think this way or just natural?

Who's obsessed? Mariah or Eminem

Mariah Carey pulls a funny in her new music video. While filming her new video "Obsessed" in New York today, Mariah Carey dresses as Eminem, the controversial rapper who has targeted her in his recent song, "Bagpipes From Baghdad." In the lyrics Eminem warns Carey's husband, Nick Cannon, to "back the f--- up."

In Carey's new song, she fires back by asking, "Why are you obsessed with me/lying that you're sexing me?"

Speaking in terms of obsession in relationships it seems as if the two of them are both obsessed with mentioning one another in each other's songs.

At one point or another, most people have a person that becomes an target of their time. They think of them constantly and imagine what it would be like if the two were together. They look and relook at pictures of them. With all of the social networking sites available now, you have to admit it's easier than ever to look at people's pictures. They write poems or stories or songs about the person. They doodle their names interlocked. It's a nasty habit that takes some time to untwine yourself from once the behavior takes hold.

What's your take on the whole Eminem/ Mariah Carey saga? Are they obsessed with one another?

What's Your Signature Sunglasses Color?

My husband tells me I am obsessed with sunglasses. He's right. I am. There is something about sunglasses that fascinate me. With so many styles and options, they can totally change your look at any given moment. As an accessory, what woman doesn't have enough sunglasses?

Recently I purchased a new pair of white sunglasses because for one, I love white sunglasses and for two, they were too cute pass up. Whipping out my debit card for my new gem, a sale was occurring stating if you purchased two pairs, you would save a certain amount of money over buying just one. You guessed it, I caved. Red sunglasses are popping up everywhere. On celebrities, in magazines, on me...

For years I was the tortoise shell sunglasses girl. The biggest and the roundest were going to be found on me. Finally I was tired of this look and ventured out of my tried and true. I've tried black and white, pink and purple. Now it's the red.

Do you have a signature sunglasses color or do you play around with them?

What Makes A Mom Cry: When Kids Go On Vacation Without Them

After two weeks with my mother in town for a visit, I allowed her to take my three kids back to my hometown to visit. They will be gone for two weeks. This will be the longest I have ever been without them and watching them drive out of the driveway this morning has been the hardest thing emotionally I have dealt with so far as a mother.

I can remember leaving on trips with my grandparents when I was younger, waving at my mom as we drove out of the driveway, smiling and waving. I was headed for fun. With her sunglasses masking her tear streaked cheeks, I never understood why she was crying. I understand now. The worry about the safety of their well being and their physical safety has wrap itself tightly around my heart. As I walk around the house and glance at certain items that up until now didn't mean as much to me as they do now, it's as if they may never return to them again. The chair my youngest daughter eats her breakfast ever morning looks lonely. I want to fling my body on it and hug it until I can no longer hug. The skateboard my middle daughter rides triggers a tear. I would love to ride it to feel closer to her but my fear of flying off it holds me on land. My oldest daughter's array of clothing piled in her closet breaks my heart and these powerful emotions take me down into a wave panic and despair. I feel I may never ask her to pick them up again.

Mom always told me how one day I would understand what it was like when they leave the nest. They haven't even left the neighborhood and I can't help but boo hoo my eyes out. My husband looks on at me and tries to make me smile but it hasn't come quite yet.

As a parent what is the longest you have been away from your children?

How long would you let them go on a vacation with their grandparents?

The One Beauty Product I Couldn't Live Without: Garnier Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk

My hair has always been "my thing." From the ages of ten to twelve, I had to have curly hair. My grandmother would take me to the salon were I would get a 'permanent.' I would sit for hours with my hair rolled in blue and pink rods all the while stinking to high heaven. One day while visiting my aunt's house with freshly permed hair, for some reason she a brush to it and killed it. You can imagine my grandmother's response when she saw my frizz-stricken hair. This was the end of my obsession with curly hair.

I have banished my love of curly hair for myself and instead opened my heart to super straight hair. My natural hair is not curly or straight. It's frizzy. Straight hair is not an easy accomplishment when you live in a humid environment like I do. So many companies promise the world with their straightening products but I have only found one that has told me the truth. When it has to be straight, I swear by Garnier's Sleek & Shine Anti-Humidity Smoothing Milk. I won't trust my hair to anything else.

Photo courtesy of: http://www.viewpoints.com/images/review/2009/118/11/1240934675-37401_full.jpg

Michael Jackson: What song will live on forever with you?

As the world mourns over the loss of "The King of Pop," just as when the world learned of the untimely death of Princess Diana or the killing of John F. Kennedy in a public forum to the loss of Elvis Presley, a spot in history has been carved for all. The moment we learned of his death will be forever etched in one's mind.

My family and I were just coming in from a fun filled day at the water park. Running upstairs to check my e-mail, I refreshed my yahoo page and stared at the screen in disbelief. Sitting in shock for a moment gathering my thoughts, I was able to shout down the stairs to my mother the news I had just learned. She the relayed the message to my husband. As we gathered our thoughts and congregated on the back porch, a look of shock and disbelief wore upon our faces.

Michael Jackson was gearing up for his last tour, This Is It. The tour was to start on July 13th, 2009 at the O2 arena in London. With a series of 50 sold-out shows, this was to be the final farewell to the legendary "King of Pop." The world will never get to tell Michael Jackson goodbye in person as he suffered a cardiac arrest in his Los Angeles home yesterday and died.

As a child, I grew up listening to his music as many did. I can remember gathering in the family room with my parent's and some of their friends to watch Thriller when it debuted on MTV. With buckets of popcorn and Cokes we watched in awe of what was seen in this video. Who can't forget Beat It? Jamming with the windows down and the volume turned up high, this was a song many loved and then came to loathe. My personal favorite has to be Billie Jean. Whenever my husband and I get to go out on the town without the children and a local band covers this song, it makes us take to the dance floor.

Michael Jackson will never perform live again but his music will play on. What song is your favorite Michael Jackson song? What song will live on forever with you? Is it because of the beat of the song or because it makes you dance? Maybe it makes you sing along? Maybe another reason?

Reality TV: Helping kill off another family

It seems that Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member, Danielle Staub, may have more explaining to do with her children about her past than she previously wanted to.

On Tuesday, The Smoking Gun website published a 26 page federal document that detailed her sordid past.

When arrested in a plot that involved kidnapping a man's son for $25,000 in a cocaine deal gone bad, she went by the name of Beverly Ann Merrill. She also had an alias she went by known as Angela Minelli. Working this plot along with Daniel Aguilar, whom she met while working for an escort service, "threatened injury or death" to the son whom they had kidnapped, "was blamed by Merrill and Aguilar for the botched drug deal, which cost them a kilo of cocaine worth about $24,000," according to the papers.

When they were arrested, "agents discovered six kilos of cocaine and about $16,000 in cash."

Staub "was charged with eight felonies, including extortion, cocaine possession and narcotics conspiracy."

My mother was married before she married my father. I was never told about this but being the snoopy child I was, I sniffed out the truth. It has been said that curiosity killed the cat but I have always been able to tell when something seems a little "off." Ask my husband.

Should Danielle Staub not have thought more intently about her involvement joinging a show were the media could seek out her past and exploit her and her family?

Should all who decide to join a reality show be more cautious in their decisions to do this?

I guess the ring wasn't big enough? Nick Lachey and Vanessa Minillo Split

Earlier this month Vanessa Minillo was eager to squash the split rumors by flashing a five carat ring at the media and went on to say "It will be 10 carats when it moves to the fourth finger!"

It seems that it wasn't so happy in the "heartland" and the two have called it quits. Maybe after hearing the statement above, he realized she was a materialistic queen?

What was your pregnancy style?

My mother always described the maternity clothes she wore while being pregnant with me as horrendous. By the time I was pregnant with my first, things were not much better. I mostly wore this yellow and white seersucker top and white maternity shorts.I got pretty comfortable in that uniform. After my pregnancy was over, I burned those things.

With my second, it seemed the world was finally catching up with the idea that women got pregnant and while pregnant parts of the body seem to grow larger during this transformation. The maternity line at Target was a saviour. I was in love with tank tops and long floral skirts. The photographs marking the era were not so kind.

Luckily by the third, I had figured out what worked and what did not. I still loved the tank tops from Motherhood Maternity but now instead of long floral skirts, Capri's were the finishing touch to the uniform of my pregnancy. (I guess you figured out so far that I have all summer babies?)

Kendra Wilkinson, "Maternity clothes are not for me!" the pregnant Playboy cover girl has said.

"I'll just buy bigger things!" she went on. [US Magazine]

Were you able to buy "bigger things" or did you have to venture into the maternity section when pregnant?

Did your parents mess up your view of relationships?

My mother and father divorced when I was eight. After living without my parents married to one another, I decided I didn't have to get married either. Why when the outcome can be so messy?

Years went by and then one day I met a man and we moved in with one another. We had a daughter. Such a cute little thing but had some serious stomach issues as a baby... whew. We shared the responsibilities with each other. He took out the trash while I cooked. I cleaned the bathrooms and he cleaned the litter box. We took turns changing diapers and giving baths. Everything was perfect or so I thought. It all happened so fast. I never saw it coming.

He asked me to marry him.

What? I asked. I thought we were happy?All this time I had been avoiding this question and here it was. What was I to do? I loved him, yes. I wanted to spend my time with him, we have a blast together. I wanted to lie down every night beside him, he has a nice tummy to put my head on. He didn't like to take baths that much at the time, seriously that issue has gotten better... yay! I had to think about this one.

After the years of dealing with my parents mistakes and their love life, was I going to fall right into their footsteps and get married? What if it didn't work out? My daughter would be the one to suffer the most, I thought. Happily she would be living her life, thinking everything was hunky dory and then one day her parents would get tired of one another and they would split. I wasn't sure if I wanted to place that on her. After some thinking and then some shopping, I started to change my mind. I would have to take a chance on this love thing and in the end I might lose but he might lose too.

There is a funny, funny thing about marriage. After the years pass your love does change as some people worry about. It flips and floats and meanders along. At times you will get on one another's last nerve but you know what? It's cool. Send him out of town for a weekend with the boys. I like to think of it as family and a family is all I ever wanted.

Having seen what your parents went through in their marriage, did it ever hinder your love decisions?

Watching them, did it make you more aware of what you didn't want in your relationships?

What comes between your Calvin's? Looks like a lot of men...

In New York City, men, women and children are getting more than just an eyeful from the latest racy ad Calvin Klein has posted on billboards around the city. Many are hearing an earful and speaking candidly about the photos. The photo shows a young girl without a shirt kissing one fellow while another looks on ready to spur into action all the while another male looks as if he has already gotten his fill and is resting by the wayside.

"It's pretty provocative," added local resident Alicia Shay, 24. "Just the positioning of them all -- she's kissing him, the other guy has his hands down her pants, they're all misty even. It's really inappropriate." [myfoxny.com]

"I think it's obscene," said Rachelle Brunn, who was passing by the extremely large billboard in Manhattan's Soho neighborhood. "They always have ads that are pushing the envelope, but this one is the worst I've seen since I've been here. My biggest concern is that it gives teens the wrong idea." [Yahoo]

Calvin Klein has always taken risks with his choice of advertising media. Brooke Shields posed while fifteen in which she delivered the line, "You know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing." In 1999, Klein launched a campaign for a children's underwear line that depicted two small boys only in their underwear. Recently Eva Mendes racy ads for Obsession were pulled from the American market.

A Calvin Klein spokesperson said the "intention was to create a very sexy campaign that speaks to our targeted demographic."

The question I ask has to be about the target demographic. It seems as if the target demographic ranges in an age bracket of teen to early twenty's. Are these pictures not showing one girl rolling around on a velvet sofa, sweating, topless and making out with one gentleman while lying on top of another? Are these pictures not showing that while the girl is making out with the one guy, another has his hands down her pants? You can say what you want about the guy on the ground but it seems as if he was involved in the romp at some point, heh?

With the target demographic being teenagers to early twenty-year-olds is this what parents want there children to lust after? Marketing these jeans with half naked people all the while embraced in sexual activity to young teens and early twenty somethings seems irresponsible to me. Are we supposed to want our teenagers involved in menage a trios or group sex acts? Even as a young twenty something, could these ads promote the idea that getting naked for a bunch of men is the thing to do?

Are these ads irresponsible?

Parenting I Don't Understand: Maine Mother Arrested In International Child Porn Sting

It simply amazes me the stupidity of some parents. I never said I was a perfect parent but being arrested in connection with a child porn ring?

Julie M. Carr, 30, of Mars Hill, Maine was taken into custody on Friday after British investigators more than 3,000 miles away using the internet intercepted a feed catching her in the act of Webcasting a sexual assault on her young child. Her four children ranging in ages from 15 months to 5 years were taken into protective custody. Carr is being held on $50,000 bail on charges of gross sexual assault and felony exploitation of a child. If convicted, Carr faces up to 20 years in prison for each charge.

The Child Exploitation Investigation Team of England's West Midlands Police said their unit received information late Thursday that a local man was using the Internet to show inappropriate material of children. An unidentified 18-year-old man was later arrested in Walsall, England.

Maine State Police Det. Sgt. John Cote said "It's just continuing a trend that we're seeing — an increase in this type of crime," [FOXNews.com]

Please explain to me what runs through your head when you sexually assault your own child and then film it? I guess her shirt can tell us a little about her actions.

Tell the truth now: Are you still tanning?

We know we shouldn't but so many of us still do: TAN. This past weekend I was at the beach with the family. With all of the information out there telling people not to tan because it can cause skin cancer and aging of the skin, I have to tell you that as much as I can see, people are still tanning.

I admit I still lather up with oil with the small SPF of 4 and glisten in the sun. I do make sure to heavily arm my face, neck and especially my nose with SPF of 50 before heading out to hang with the sun. I love the sun though, it's calming. I can read, listen to my iPod or do nothing if I want and be perfectly happy lying in the sun.

With magazines, bloggers and scientific research proving that sun can lead to skin cancer, why do we submit ourselves to the possibility of exposing ourselves to something deadly?

Are you still tanning?

Would You Consider Vaccinating Yourself to Help Your Partner Not Contract Cancer? Some Men Say No

In a recent study performed by researchers at Florida State University (FSU), men were surveyed on whether or not they would receive the HPV vaccine to protect women from cervical cancer. Even when told that the maximum benefits could only be reached to secure women from this deadly disease would be to vaccinate both sexes, the men were nonchalant about their willingness to get the shot.

Interesting, heh... With all of the vaccinations out there to protect the world from TB, Polio, Small pox and the flu, some men still say no to helping their partners or would be partners. This sexually transmitted disease can't occur without the help from a partner. Why is he still shy about it?

Would you vaccinate yourself to help your partner?

Former University of Memphis Star Derrick Rose Says Sorry For Gang Signs: Sorry he got caught?

Recently this photo surfaced showing former University of Memphis basketball player, Derrick Rose, flashing gang symbols. This picture is without the date being known but Rose has stated: "This photo of me was taken at a party I attended in Memphis while I was in school there, and was meant as a joke...a bad one, I now admit." The signs he are flashing are from the Gangster Disciple group based in South Side Chicago were Rose was raised.

With all of the scrutiny he has put The University of Memphis under from the fallout of whether or not he cheated on his SAT's, could someone be playing a cruel joke on him? Memphis fans have been very vocal about Derrick Rose's leaving school after one season and then John Calipari up and running to Kentucky. It's as if both of them knew more about the SAT's situation than they let on. Could the university have hidden some aspects of Rose's actions while attending school there and now using these to get back at him?

Derrick Rose was raised in the South Side projects of Chicago. Is it really that unbelievable he may have fallen in with a crowd were gang membership was the norm? Sad and scary, yes but Chicago is a huge city were gangs thrive. Just as in New York were the Mafia was formed, these gangs run the show, obviously undercover. They take a little money from local JoJo's Food Mart to the drug dealer on the corner helping provide the funding for the gang.

Is Derrick Rose really sorry about his actions or is he sorry he got caught?

Do you tilt your face a certain way when being photographed?

Looking through my pictures, I notice something about the way I usually tilt my face when I am being photographed. I usually tilt my face to the left. I was glancing through Facebook this morning and I noticed a trend. It seems most people have one certain direction they tilt their face when being photographed.

Do you do this? Maybe this is your internal beauty monitor telling you which way your face looks the best?

Living on the Dress Hems: Do women get tired of paying for her man quicker than he would?

I have witnessed couples in a perfectly happy marriage or relationship end the relationship after the woman's profession takes off or is a more desirable position than the man. At first I thought maybe the reasoning behind this had to do with the man feeling less superior than the woman and in turn would cause the male to act out in ways to show their male dominance. This could include lashing out in verbal anger on why she is never home or why she may dress a certain way at certain functions. I have seen this occur. I have heard men whose wives or girlfriends have powerful jobs tell her "That outfit is a little revealing don't you think?" or "Is that your new boyfriend?" All the while the woman must then persuade her lover what she doing is alright, "I would wear this to your mother's," or "Sweetie, you're the only one for me!" Love is a crazy, crazy ride: wouldn't you agree?

Then I started thinking about women. What woman growing up didn't dream of the fairytale with the happy ending? This happy ending doesn't usually end in her working a nine to nine job thrown in with the big dogs and fighting and scratching her way to the top of the career ladder. Usually, but not always. Usually, he rides up on his white horse, long dark hair floating in the wind, pulls out his silver sword and rescues his lady from the tower and evils of the world. I'm pretty close right?

What if he can't ride up on his white horse and instead is stuck in a 1994 Ford Fiesta with no a/c? What if he has no job and has no prospect of looking for one? What is he brings more pain and evils into your life than what he is supposed to shield you from?

Miley Cyrus and he beau, Justin Gaston, just broke up. It seems maybe he was a little jealous of her traveling schedule and projects she has lined up. Us Magazine reported "It's been hard for a long time since Miley has been working so much and traveling a lot." It also seems Gaston may have been harbouring a little resentment of Miley and ex-beau, Nick Jonas' working together on new projects.

Paris Hilton and long time beau (6 months seems to be a nice record for the heiress) Doug Reindhart have called it quits as she heads to shoot in Dubai for MTV's "Paris Hilton My New BFF". According to the APP, Doug was set to join her last week. What has Doug Reindhart done since winning over Paris's heart other than join her at every flashbulb function available?

What if maybe women in powerful positions or maybe just one's with jobs will not pay for her man as long as a man pay for hers? Interesting....

Two Passengers Aboard Doomed Air France Had Islamic Terrorist Ties

Two passengers aboard the doomed Air France flight from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Paris, France on May 31st, 2009 have been linked to Islamic terrorist ties. With the loss of 228 lives in the Atlantic Ocean and a lost black box, the question over whether or not this is a terrorist act or a result of a terrific storm is still in question.

Four days before the crash, Air France confirmed a bomb threat at it's offices in Argentina but French authorities reportedly ruled out terrorism as a possible cause of the crash. Many aviation analyst were puzzled over this ruling in part that so little was known at the time of the plane's disappearance. Shortly there after, technical problems were the main focus of the possibility of the flight's crash and recently airlines all over the world have been replacing the external speed monitors that supposedly iced over and gave false information to the planes computer resulting in tragedy.

One item in question is the Spanish pilot flying the same area of the reported crash. He has reported seeing a "bright white flash" in the sky. With the reports of Islamic terrorist ties being alerted at this time, the worry has been raised in whether or not this crash could have been prevented and has links to terrorist activities.

Leo and Bar Kaput: Have you dated a commitment phobe before?

Leo has done it again. After dating Victoria Secret Model Bar Rafaeli for the last three years, the two have split. When Bar was ready to move in to his apartment and play wifey, Leonardo DiCaprio decided he wasn't ready to fully commit. While dating Gisele Bundchen, she was ready to settle down but he wasn't. After breaking it off with Leonardo, Gisele has settled into a happy marriage with NFL Quarterback, Tom Brady.

A source told People magazine: "They're (Leo and Bar) taking time off for the time being,they've split. It could just end up as a break, but for now they're doing their own thing.

"She wanted to move faster than he did, she wanted to move in together, so he broke it off."

Have you dated this type before? The serial commitment phobe, as long as talk doesn't turn into moving in with one another or marriage, the relationship is fine but bring up more of a commitment than sleeping together, they bolt?

"Guys Only Trips" Maybe the guys don't need the women? Women, what if we all just walked away?

It's funny when your lover or significant other wants to tell you something knowing your response will not be a favorable one. They will just drop it into the conversation so quickly you might miss it if you are not careful. Last night after returning from my long weekend in Memphis were I was a bridesmaid for one of my best friends in the world, Joe and I were cooking dinner in the kitchen. Preparing the chicken and pasta mixture, hubby drops it that the trip to New York we have been talking about for over a year has now turned into a men's only trip. While speaking with his father about seeing the New York Yankees play the Detroit Tigers in July and recruiting a group to go, I guess he forgot to mention that his wife had been in on this plan also. I have been trying to get to New York for the last year in order to see Wicked on Broadway. I have too. I love, love, love the book and have heard the musical is a must-see! He waits until I am dropping the pasta into the boiling water to tell me this. Argh! I could just run away and not look back. Men and their "Men's Only" stuff. I think the reason women started their nights out was because of the men always just hanging with "The Boys." Why do you think golf was invented? For men to get away from their wives?

I should have known this would happen. With it being the Age of Aquarius and more and more men and women are taking "Guys Only" trips or "Girls Only" trips, why should I think that a woman could be invited along with a bunch of men? If you have known me as long as my hubby has, you would know I could care less how drunk men get when they decide to "Party." For the last ten years I have travelled the country following Phish and watching men and women plaster their minds with booze and drugs. You can do what you want to do. I could care less that if you don't care about your health, you have no one to blame but yourself when it comes down to it. I'm not your mother. So to be told I can't go on a "Guys Trip" because I may become all "girly" on them as they drink their brains away, I am angered. Very, very angered.

When did social parties and trips become all one gendered? Are men so scared that women will hone on their drunken doozies and stripper club trips, we are no longer allowed to travel with them? How many nights a week or month do men need to hang with just guys? What do you think would happen if the women of the world just walked away one night when the men were out on one of their "Guys Nights?" No dinners on the table at night, no clean toilet seats, no back scratches or back rubs, no sex?

How often does your guy do the "Guys Night Out" or "Guys Only Trips?" Why can't we all just get along?

Does Size Really Matter: The Wedding Ring

When my husband, Joe, and I got married, I was twenty-one and he was twenty-two. I was still in college working hostesses shifts when I could and he worked as a server at a restaurant in town. Broke and living paycheck to paycheck, our wedding rings were the last thing on our mind. This was an expense and at the time, we didn't need another bill.

An aunt of mine worked at a jewelry shop in the mall and helped us pick out a wedding band for me. All and all the band cost no more than a hundred dollars. My grandfather gave my then fiancee his first wedding ring, the one he wore when my grandmother and him first got married, a plain white gold band. To this day, he still wears this band.

Recently, my mother-in-law has been preparing to sell her city home so when she retires, she can retire at her beach home. Cleaning out closets and drawers that have sat untouched for years, she ran across a small diamond ring Joe's father gave her when they first were married. Donning another man's ring know, she handed it over to me and said "Keep it in the family." I am a stickler for antiques and tradition, so I gladly obliged. It fits perfectly with my band.

Former Entertainment Tonight correspondent, Vanessa Minnillo recently responded to split rumors with boyfriend, Nick Lachey. "However, this romance is still going strong. There will always be rumblings and rumors that we've broken up, but in fact, it's very much still on -- and it keeps on getting better," To prove her point, she flashed a 5 carat diamond ring she is wearing on her middle finger and went on to say, "It will be 10 carats when it moves to the fourth finger!"

In marriage does the wedding ring's size really matter? It never has to me...

Reality TV: A Hoax and Sometimes a Killer

A couple of years ago I tried out for American Idol. I grew up singing in church, school and took lessons for many years. I not great but I not terrible either. I waited for almost eight hours to tryout in front of one judge who looked five years younger than I. Many times I almost walked out but at the time I had just been an extra in a movie that what filming in my hometown of Memphis, Tennessee-- Black Snake Moan. I understood that filming and TV take time. As an extra, I arrived at five in the afternoon and did not make it back home until six the next morning. In a way, I was prepared for the wait. The thought that I may get the chance to sing in front of millions was enough to keep me going. This was a big dream for me so I waited. After the grueling hours of waiting, I was turned away. After seeing many people who had dressed in costumes and skimpy dresses get through to the next round, I was disgusted at what Reality TV was really all about-- ratings and of course sex appeal. Many of my high school chorus buddies had participated too and no one was let through to the next round. I licked my wounds and decided then and there, Reality TV was a hoax and as a viewer I would no longer buy into what they were selling. To this day, I haven't watched a single episode of American Idol.

What tempts individuals into the reality show industry? Is it the promise of money, fame, or glory? Just think about being a reality star for a moment. Every word, every movement, every look is on tape. Things you say can be taken out of context and used by the producers in ways you may have never thought of. Most times, reasons behind these actions are to boost ratings. Jon and Kate Plus 8 have had a surge in ratings with the recent media attention placed on the couple's troubled marriage. Kate Gosselin has said, life in the tabloids is "Hell." Kim Kardasian has risen to stardom from Keeping Up with the Kardasians but has also dealt with media backlash about her appearance and having the family store, Dash, broken into and vandalized. Susan Boyle, the favorite for Britain's Got Talent, lost the coveted winner's spot and has checked into a London clinic suffering from emotional exhaustion.

When do reality shows go to far? Suicide rates for reality show contestants who lose occur.

As I watched Campbell Brown last night on CNN, she was talking with a panel of commentators about the rise of suicide related deaths with concern to reality shows. Najai Turpin was the first American reality TV star to commit suicide. As a contestant on The Contender he was pitted against a contestant 7 inches taller than himself. On February 14th, 2005 while he sat in a car with his girlfriend and 2 year old daughter he committed suicide. Paula Goodspeed, a ridiculed ex-Idol contestant, overdosed outside of judge Paula Abdul's Los Angeles's home. Nathan Clutter, a contestant on Paradise Hotel 2, jumped to his death off a cell phone tower. Another contest on the show Pirate Master, Cheryl Kosewicz, took her own life after an elimination from the show. Former Partridge Family cast member, Danny Bonaduce was filmed slashing his wrists to persuade his wife not to leave him on his reality show, Breaking Bonaduce.

As the media becomes more present in many people's lives, through choice or not, making the decision to become a reality star or famous for that matter, should be thought about in depth before jumping in. Rejection happens. Sometimes people don't like what you say. Other people just don't like you. Some people are just down right mean.

Reality Shows are made for money and as you know, money doesn't have feeling like you do.

Shouting Profanity At Children: What to do as a bystander?

This past weekend, I was with the family at Water Country USA. While walking towards the wave pool, I noticed this cute girl with her two boys. Situated inside the 10x10 shelter designated for smoking she sat with her double stroller puffing away. While watching, one of her two boys decided to make a break for it and ran towards the pool. The girl had been chatting it up with a couple seated on the bench next to her. Before she darted after her son, she asked the woman to hold onto her cigarette. She then took off towards her son.

"Get back here you little s---!" She called.

A moment later she returns with the small boy, guiding him with his ear and gleefully smiling towards the couple she had been talking to. "Oh, he'll learn now."

The couple laughs and while she slams the boy into the seat beside her back in the smoking gazebo he starts crying. "Shut up." She tells the boy.

What type of society are we living in when we shout profanities to our children and force our children to sit with us when smoking a cigarette. Look we all have habits that many of us are not proud to admit but shouting profanity at our children and blowing smoke into their faces when they want to play? I really am speechless.

What should we say? Should we say anything?