eth·ics [eth-iks] - that branch of philosophy dealing with values relating to human conduct, with respect to the rightness and wrongness of certain actions and to the goodness and badness of the motives and ends of such actions.

Who knew dieting could be so tricky? I am competing against Jeremy and Kimmie to see who can lose the most weight by February 28th. Simple, straight-forward contest, right? Wrong!

You see, I get to prepare the menus and meals for my competition. (Ah, temptation strikes.) I could buy lots of fatty snacks and send them along "innocently" in their lunch-boxes. After all, if I have to exercise self-discipline and good judgement when I am chosing what to eat, they should have to also, right? Let them stare at the Snickers bar lying quietly at the bottom of their lunch bag and decide how badly they want to win. Why do I get to be Mrs. Nice Guy and pack sliced and peeled oranges into their bags?

Logically thinking, I am the underdog here. Jeremy works out at a gym everyday before work. Kimmie works out at cheer-leading practice and then runs through the halls at school every hour between classes. I just sit all day at a computer. My workout consists of cleaning the house when I get home and taking care of Liberty. Maybe I should start doing sit-ups with Libby on my tummy. She'd love that!

Does starting out with a handicap entitle me to hide my sit-ups in the bedroom so Kimmie won't get the same idea and be inspired to exercise more? Should being at an activity disadvantage allow me to serve donuts for dessert and then only pretend to eat them while I watch my family scarf down lovely extra calories? Or would that be considered cheating?

What about "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and "Love your neighbor as you love yourself."

Forget that! I say, "All's fair in love and war!"

Root for me, the underdog! :-)