Why I still love Oprah!!!

Ok, so yesterday Oprah did a whole show about the upcoming documentary "Waiting for Superman". The documentary is about the current state of public education, with emphasis on all of the problems. I was upset after the show because they only featured stories and scenes that showed public education in a negative light. Only once did Oprah say that there are many good teachers and schools out there. Would it hurt to have a show featuring outstanding teachers and schools??? Let's show what wonderful things are happening in public education too! And let's not forget the role that homes and parents play in the problems of public education!!! After I was done cursing Oprah's name I sat back and remembered why I like Lady O. Oprah has given me some really memorable moments through the years and here are just some of the highlights.

I am first of all a longtime fan of all of the Oprahs. Big hair Oprah, fat Oprah, thin Oprah, shoulder pads Oprah, loud Oprah, classy Oprah, ghetto Oprah, spiritual Oprah, goddess Oprah, political Oprah, lesbian Oprah, and favorite things Oprah. I love all of the Oprahs each on their own. Oprah is truly a chameleon that changes her look and demeanor with the seasons. I will never forget the episode when Oprah wheeled out all of that fat in bags on wagons!!! Sadly, she did not stay that skinny Oprah for long and continued to yo-yo through the years. I think chunky Oprah is a much more pleasant person. Speaking on behalf of the supermodels, we are very cranky people when we are hungry!!! Oprah learned that lesson and came down from that cloud real fast!! Good girl O!!! I also love classy vs. ghetto Oprah. She will start a statement super classy and then immediately turn it into "you know what I mean girlfriends??" It's fabulous!!!

Another reason I love Oprah are those Favorite Things episodes. First of all, it doesn't even matter what she is giving away, the crowd goes buck wild!!!! My favorite cookieeeeeeeeees!!!! (Wild crowd noise!!!!) Or my favorite muffin paaaaaaaaaaan!!!! (Insanity!!). Her best giveaways were probably the car and the diamond necklace (I think someone actually fainted this time!!! And some woman kept yelling "Thank you Jesus, I mean Oprah!!!) I truly wonder how many of those products have sold because they were Oprah's favorite things!! I admit buying a book because it was her BOOK CLUB SELECTIONNNNNNN!!!!!!! What power this woman has??!!

I love Oprah because she's not afraid of anything!! She has interviewed sex offenders when she was herself abused as a child. She has interviewed Ku Klux Clan members and racists as a black woman. She moved her whole show to Texas while being sued by beef producers (though that may have been a publicity stunt that worked!!). She has never been afraid to tackle any issue or bring on anyone controversial. Props for that Oprah!!

My favorite reason for loving Oprah, which has given me hours of enjoyment is........wait for it.......you know what it is..........the Oprah VOICE!!!!!!!! Can anyone shout out a word like Lady O!!?? Never!! JOHN TRAVOLTAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!! There will be lots of caps and exclamation points in this paragraph FYI. I think I first heard the voice on a favorite things episode when Oprah gave out her favorite SWEATERRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!! It was an instant love affair for me!! I was hooked. TOM CRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUISE!!!!! WHITNEY HOUSTONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN!!!!!!! Only Oprah could lend that voice to a book title and bring it so much energy like last week's FREEDOMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!! I have no idea what possessed her to use that overly loud, dramatic voice for the first time (maybe her acid reflux was acting up, or better yet, it was Gayle's idea!!), but I LOVE IT!!!!!

So, some final thoughts. I have enjoyed my many faces of Oprah through the years and will miss her when her show is done. My one regret is that I never become her friend, because they all get shows (Dr. Phil, Gayle King, Rachel Ray, Nate Berkus). Oh well, maybe I can just get a job at her school in Africa!! In the words of the incredible Oprah Winfrey, "words are energy!" Tootles everyone!

Liza with a Z!!

What a week it has been!! The drama all began last weekend with a visit from my dear friend Liza aka Lucille 2 aka Bryant Duffy! We decided to go shopping for the day in Des Moines and got to have lunch with the Matt Ford family! They are a delightful bunch and we had a blast!! Liza picked up the usual, VERY fitted t shirts!! I would dare say he bought a childs size medium!! Liza likes em fitted!! I picked up some essentials: shoes and some fashion tops. Just what I needed, some new clothes!! It's hard to keep up in this world people!!! Being fashionable is like a fulltime job and requires keeping up on trends and taking fashion risks!! This is starting to sound like the survey I took on the Buckle webpage!! Potential employees have to take a survey all about work and fashion! Very leading questions like: do your friends ask you for fashion tips??? YES!!! or are you afraid to take fashion risks?? NO!!! It was a great survey!!

Liza and spent last Saturday night out and about in downtown Cedar Falls. We both love the atmosphere of Cedar Falls downtown and started at the Stuffed Olive! The evening took an unexpected turn when a bachelorette party showed up full of moms from Shell Rock!!! The last thing teachers really want to do when they go out is run into parents from their school. We were soon bombarded with moms who were actually very fun!! We all toasted the bride and they left on their bus for another destination. Liza and I next stopped at the Voodoo Lounge and met up with our dear friend Shrew aka Julie Lein. I am still hoping that Julie will go as Sue Sylvester for Halloween!! All she needs is her track suit and she's good to go!!!

Sunday involved a trip home to Humboldt to the parents and the christening of their Ms. Pac-man machine!! Uh huh, they bought a full-sized machine and put it in their basement. It is only like my favorite video game of all time!!! As a child, I would take my paper route money.......I'm pausing for some of you to get that picture....I would take my paper route money over to the local Pamida store and spend it all playing Ms. Pac-man!!! It was good times.. I developed mad skills and now can easily score over 100,000 points in one game!! Without saying too much, I did have the high score at College Square Mall for months. The visit home was lots of fun and the Ms. Pac-man was amazing!!

The week has gone by surprisingly fast and school is definitely back in session!!! Kids have lots of energy and it can be downright exhausting teaching all day!!! This week really hit me by Friday!! Thursday night was back-to-school night at one of my buildings which is always a full night!! Isn't it a real eye-opener when you get to meet the kiddos parents!!?? Enough said.. Friday started off with a bang as my friend and colleague Charissa went to the emergency room and gave birth to her twins that same day!!! The babies are eight weeks early, but things are looking good!

Some closing thoughts. I so enjoyed the Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion show!!! Those ladies know how to bring it!!! I think the DC housewives should watch New Jersey and take notes. I am sick of reading lame status updates on Faceplace!!! People need to get creative!! I am also tired of overly dramatic status updates on Faceplace!! Some things just shouldn't be shared to everyone! People need to filter!!! Lastly, as I am watching reruns of Will & Grace, I am just channeling my inner Karen Walker. What's this, what's going on here, what's this all about??? LOVE HER!!!

Happy week everyone!!