“Hey babe.  I’m going straight to the gym.”

“I wish I could go with you.”

“Did you actually just say that you wish you could be at the gym?”

“I could run a few miles right now.  What time will you get home?”

“Probably around 7:45 – 8.  You?”

“Same.”

“Really.”

“Yes.  Can I call you back?  I need to go kill myself.”

“Yep.  Remind me to look into that life insurance policy.”

“I don’t think you get shit if I off myself.”

“Damn.”

… graduation that is.

It’s upon us. Saturday is my final graduate class. After Saturday I will have completed all the coursework associated with a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing. Only four more days until I’m afforded the right to update my resume with an actual graduation date instead of using the word ‘anticipated’.

There are a few things I need to do prior to Saturday; one, the final project for this class and two, complete the final draft of my thesis. After my thesis is approved by the writing teacher, I’ll have to present my conclusion in front of the Dean. This will probably take a couple more weeks. After that, I’m just not sure how I’ll fill the empty space that will take up residence in my head under “stress”.

For your entertainment I’ve updated some of the links on my sidebar. Let’s call it Britney and Kevin week. I’m still looking for a new book to read and until I find one, Running with Scissors remains featured. Being in the final stages of school and staying busy with other funtastic activities planned for the weekend (ie: Mrs. Dorkus’ birthday, Baby Dorkus’ Christening, and the Superbowl (Go Bears!)), I’m not sure how much attention my site will be getting.

So wish me luck and pray for my sanity. I can’t believe I’m finally there… almost.

“There’s one piece left.  You want it?”

“Yes.”

“You didn’t even look to see what it was.”

“I just assumed ‘piece’ was something chocolate.”

“You’re in luck.”

“Amen.”

I’m always late to comment on current events because I debate about actually doing so for so long that by the time I remember to write about it, it’s all yesterday’s news. It’s not that I don’t take a stand on things right away because I totally do, but it’s more of not wanting to sound like a total douche when I actually do start talking about it. The whole “think before you speak” mantra of my Mom’s was literally beat into my skull as a child. I guess I just spend a lot of thinking before I speak, uh, I mean type.

Anyway, I spent some time that I should’ve been using to finalize my thesis this week reading up on the latest about Rosie O’Donnell and Donald Trump. When the supposed “feud” began, I was quick to laugh about it. Clearly these are two highly insecure people that spout their mouths off in an effort to get people to side with them. The one with the most people on their team wins. Nanny-nanny-poo-poo.

It totally got ugly. Donald went below the belt with the comments about Rosie’s girlfriend. She slung back with bad hair jokes (weak) and quickly fell into being a victim of name-calling (fat, lesbian, etc); all of which are true, but would’ve earned Donald a time-out during recess.

This week Donald’s ex-wife Ivana came out and said that she believed the public argument was all about marketing. I agree with her. The Apprentice ratings had been dipping until this season and Rosie on The View didn’t turn out to be all the dollar signs ABC was hoping for. They did it to help their shows, increase publicity, and seriously, what the hell is wrong with that?

Donald is a big, powerful businessman with a huge ego. His success has made him a bit of a bully. Rosie has had her share of negative publicity in the last few years. She presents this harsh exterior when on the inside, I really think she’s constantly hurting and has delicate feelings. She talks a huge game, but never seems to come out on top. I stopped by her blog this week. My initial thoughts on her insecurity were not wrong. We can slap the label of feelings-easily-hurt on her.

Definitely go spend some time on her site; as much time as you can stand the 13 year old IM language and certifiable crazy collage images. I was shocked. When she had her own show 10 years ago, I was a huge fan. I taped shows (no DVR then!) and watched them after work. I called in sick just to watch her final episode. She took firm stands on things. She sang, danced, gave a ton of awesome stuff away, and shared humble stories of first-time Mommy-hood (having just adopted Parker). She seemed like an every-day human being who dealt with every-day human being issues. I always liked her for that. And now, after reading her blog (and linking into her Flickr photostream), I have to say, she’s really turned into a, excuse the highly technical term, wacko. A wacko that just might crack at any moment. My feelings for Rosie have turned from admiration to mere pity.

I’m not sure what happened to the Rosie I liked. I supported her throughout her coming out, I watched her cruise special on HBO, her kid’s foundation is awesome and I respect her as a Democrat. I just don’t know where it took a turn. I was hopeful for a comeback from her when she was hired on The View. Instead I watch that show and see disgust in her co-hosts’ eyes every time she speaks and then I flip over to the Family channel to watch Gilmore Girls.

Rosie doesn’t address the fight on her blog except for one of the bizarre collages on Flickr containing a blurry headline and her caption, “and into 2007 a rocky start” which is lacking major punctuation and any kind of inner strength. Barbara Walters asked her to “Move on” this week on one episode of The View. I hope she can move on. Move on without being committed into a rubber room with finger paints.

I’m sure the spat is over. It’s over until someone else calls somebody fat on the playground. I’m going to play kick-ball on Donald’s team.