Since becoming a teacher last month, I have caught three colds and the flu. It's absolutely amazing how little kids can be the carriers of the heinous cold & flu viruses that slay me, while they're running around and playing -- guiltless -- as I struggle to keep mucous from spilling onto my already spotted shirt.

This week I had outlived one cold only to be greeted with a new strain that hit me full bore 12 hours later. How many damn strains are there!, and is there another one in wait after I kick the one I have now?!

My ailments include painful coughs, severe sore throats, river-like runny nose, and mid-level pain headaches. I've been able to tamp down the symptoms with Vicks DayQuil, asprin, Throat Coat tea, and homemade chicken noodle soup.

One of my friends suggested four-ounce shots of wheat grass & zinc. The only problem is that I would most-likely have to make a visit to Whole Foods, a fine institution (I'm sure), but I have problems with that corporations.

Whole Foods is like the Wal-Mart for the elite; a harbinger for neighborhood gentrification and a over-priced magnet for the middle class' discretionary incomes. Shopping at Whole Foods gives some people I've observed the feeling of superiority, looking down their noses at me as I eat my sandwich of wheat bread, lettuce, tomato, avocado, onion, with my home-smoked chicken, that was purchased from the neighborhood grocer.

I digress

The freakin' colds I've experienced this year have frustrated me to no end. Having to bartend at my neighborhood bar and teach with a nasally voice scares my clients and students into thinking that they may be the next to take the handoff of my cold/flu baton.

And to top it all off, I hear from other teachers that I can count on being consistently sick for awhile until my internal immunity builds itself up. Great.

one more reason to hate corporations.

A San Diego area man was convicted of workers compensation insurance fraud and sent to jail after being video taped building an addition to his home (article here).

Superior Court Judge William Mudd told the defendant he wouldn't have imposed the jail time if Morgan (the defendant) had shown "even one ounce of remorse."

"You must think I'm a real chump sitting up here," the judge told the defendant. "You're trying the same thing on me that you did on the jury."

If that's not a bone head move... The dude got busted and refused to admit to it. Shame shame shame shame shame.

Did you know it's permissible for a husband and wife to have sex while looking at each other in a mirror? More here