Before I gave up on corporate life, I joined a mentoring program at a local city school with a few of my co-workers. My job is long gone but I still go to mentoring every Wednesday afternoon. I volunteer at a magnet school which attracts bright students who happen to live in some of Baltimore’s most crime-ridden areas. These middle-schoolers have seen more violence in their young lives than most adults see in a lifetime. I am continuously inspired by their inner-strength and spirit. Many times I leave our sessions thinking that my mentee has taught me more than I will ever be able to pass along to her.

On Wednesday we started a service project making beaded bracelets. The bracelets will be sold to raise money for Haiti’s earthquake victims. I have a feeling that I will end up buying all of the bracelets that my mentee and I make, and that is just fine with me. I am happy that the school encourages its students to contribute to society and help others. I wish more public schools could follow their lead.

So I have spent the past three days calling doctors’ offices, begging someone to accept me as a patient. MD’s, DO’s, I am not picky. I just want to know when it became so hard to find a “regular” doctor. Specialists, not a problem, it’s the general practitioners that are hard to see. Waitlists don’t exist for these doctors, just over-worked receptionists with their flat out nasty “no’s.” My boyfriend, who never goes to the doctor, found a new doctor last spring, but now, even she isn’t accepting new patients. It has gotten so bad that my mother is trying to call in favors from the doctors that she has got into her country club. I am beginning to wonder if this is just the tip of the iceberg for America’s growing healthcare problem. I am not in favor of nationalized healthcare but someone needs to figure out a responsible and economically feasible solution.

I feel really bad for Conan. He has paid his dues to NBC and has been given the boot back to 12:05. I agree with Conan, The Tonight Show isn’t the Tonight Show at 12:05. If NBC had any sense, they would keep Conan at his 11:35 time slot, and give Jay the ax. Conan’s original sense of humor is fresher and more relevant than his wise-cracking predecessor. This preppy girl will no longer be watching Jay Leno.

I hope Conan finds success in his next endeavor.

I love the Jersey Shore, it is quickly becoming my favorite reality TV show.  Blame it on the cold weather and beach withdrawal, this show is totally addicting. It makes me want to book a trip to Seaside Heights and hook up with some guidos. The anthesis of everything preppy, who can resist watching the latest drama unfold with Snookie, Sammi, JWoww, Pauly D, Vinny, Ronnie, and “the Situation.” The show airs every Thursday at 10pm on MTV but you can catch full episodes here.

Preppy Rating: negative four bows
-
(four bow entertainment minus the preppies)

Read more preppylife reviews here.

Inspired by Rolling Stone’s recent issue profiling the music of the last decade, I have decided to do my own list:  Top Preppy Albums. These albums may not be especially good or even charted well, but they are must-have prep albums from the 00 decade.

• License to Chill: Jimmy Buffet’s first country album featuring songs like “Boats to Build” and “Hey Good Lookin.” You know you secretly downloaded it from i-Tunes
• Risen: O.A.R’s album of breakup music featuring “Untitled” and “Night Shift”
• Vampire Weekend: Played at every preppy party along with the Killers and My Morning Jacket
• The Black Album: Jay-Z, Frat Party Galore!
• Speakerboxxx/The Love Below: Outkast’s double album featuring 2003′s inescapable song “Hey Ya!”
• Stand Up: Dave Matthews Band – the “last” “good” Dave Matthews Band album
• Room for Squares: Preps love John Mayer
• FutureSex/LoveSounds: We love JT!
• Brushfire Fairytales: Jack Johnson’s soundtrack to preppy love, “Bubble Toes”

Thoughts on any albums I left out?