I had a good long morning walk today with Shadow. It was very cool, with a clear bright sky, and with the sun just coming up as we finished.

I also began my run program this morning. I've taken back up the "Learn to Run 10k" program by SportMedBC. Since I've been running already, I've started at week seven. When I woke up this morning, I had a good sinus headache starting, and wanted to use that as an excuse to put off running until this evening. But I know me. Had I put it off, I wouldn't have run this afternoon. There would be a million and one things to keep me from it.

Now it's off to the shower, and get ready for work. I have a lot to do in a very short time. *sigh. There really aren't enough hours in the day.

The Nanny State

It is spring time and the trees and flowers are full of pollen. When you add in a low front moving through, that spells trouble for me and my sinuses.

I was scheduled to go to a friends 40th birthday party tonight at 7:30. I went out today to do some shopping for the house, and stopped by a local CVS pharmacy. I picked up the CVS brand of Claritin D 24 hour sinus medication and took it to the counter to pay and be on my way. When I pulled out my wallet I noticed the lady at the counter pull out a large notebook. She asked me for my id. I thought she wanted to verify it against my debit card I was using and showed it to her. She then asked me to take it out as she needed to write down my name and address. I asked her why she needed that. She informed me that a new federal law was in effect and they were required to take the information on me. Needless to say, I told her no thank you. She seemed shocked, but I politely informed her I wouldn't be making the purchase.

I understand what the intent of the law. Sinus and cold medication contains a precursor that drug dealers use to manufacture methamphetamine. Had I been purchasing a large amount I might have understood. However, I had intended to purchase a box containing 10 tablets. I am becoming more frustrated with the onerous requirements thrust upon us by our government. Between the machinations of the TSA to this new silliness, where will it all end?

Another good day at the office followed by a much needed run when I came home.

Tomorrow the Masters tournament begins. The hype that precedes it each year reminds me of the Super Bowl. I don't enjoy all the garbage before the Super Bowl, and find I like the pre-tournament shows even less. I love the Masters, and everything about the course, but enough already! I'm sure if I looked, I could find someone trying to dig up Bobby Jones for an interview.

Now for something that truly is frightening. The implications of what happened here are not very good. An adult's job is to correct children, especially when their safety and security is at stake. I would love to hear from the prosecutor and hear his story in this. Not just a two or three line quote in the middle of a paragraph, but sit down with him and hear why he thought this deserved to go to trial.

It's so nice now that spring is finally here. I had the chance to come home, change and go running (two miles). It's a great way to let the stress from the day melt away. Today was tough run though. It's incredibly windy out and fighting a headwind almost killed me. Now that I'm home the wind is howling. I have the windows open and the wind is pushing the blinds open and closed. Shadow is not amused by all the noise and commotion.

I have been following all the hoopla surrounding the immigration issue. While I understand both sides, my question is why now? Why is now the time to discuss this? What precipitated it all?

This is not a new problem. This has been an issue for well over one hundred years. While the nationality of the immigrants (legal or otherwise) has changed, the attitudes towards them have not. The story remains the same. What do we do with the (Italians, Irish, Vietnamese, Cubans, fill in the blank)? The poor are always leaving their homes to seek a better life elsewhere. I saw this in Spain with the North Africans (Morrocans mostly). In Greece it was the gypsies. However, these were commonly reviled all over the Mediterranean where I visited. Some of their reputation was deserved, but most was not. Yes they had thieves that traveled among them, but they numbered less than the native thieves.

There is more to be said on this, and I'll revisit this later.