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Just Paul

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Location: MN

Monday, October 31, 2005

Women's Sports

As a parent of a female athlete I can admit to being prejudice on this topic, but I’ve come to believe that I would rather watch women’s athletics over men’s athletics anytime. It’s not because I like watching girls play sports because they are girls. Rather I love to watch women athletes perform in their given sport for the pleasure of competition.

The trash talking is gone. The focus is on the game. Though strong, women don’t conquer with brute strength but rather with skill and technique. It’s the quick step, the subtle fake, the fluid motion of a jump that makes women’s sports far more interesting than the men’s equivalent.

The game is sustained with heart, lost from the soul and won with pure joy. Women’s athletics is excitement, determination, effort and love of the game. Why would we watch anything else?

And A Season Ends

I'm not so sure that the change in the seasons isn't harder on the parents than it is on the kids. Even as we wait for the first frost to harden the ground for the pending winter and we watch the last of the beautifully colored leaves fall from our trees, I'm not talking about the seasons of Mother Nature.When a youth sports season comes to an end the kids always seem to be ready to bounce right into the next opportunity that's available. In the mean time, moms and dads can't help but think just a couple of more weeks and Sally or Jimmy would have that great game that they will remember for a life time.  The hopes of a couple of more weeks might be all our team would need to turn a lackluster season into a real winner. The kids were just showing the beginnings of understanding what the coach had been talking about throughout the season. The moves were nearly there, they were flowing as a team, and they were on the verge of being champions. Actually, we've all won. Our kids have had fun. They've learned, they've played and they've won and lost. As parents we've had the opportunity to witness this all of this. We've been proud, frustrated, and jubilant; dismayed by what we’ve seen our home team do, often in a single contest. But most of all, we have seen our children grow. You don’t necessarily notice the change from game to game, from week to week, but as the season ends and you think back to the awkward moments at the beginning of the season you realize that something good has happened here and if we had just one more game or one more week of competition we would be able to see the light shine for the team.

We will adjust; we’ll deliver the kids to the next team practice, pay those activity fees and look at the new team with a faint memory of last season and high hopes for the next.

Tuesday, October 25, 2005

Looking For The Political Middle

Would someone please get me a map? It seems harder and harder everyday to find the political middle of America. Republicans seem to move further and further to the right everyday. And though I have been raised as a Christian, I do not feel that to remain Christian that I need to vote Republican. On the left, seemingly run by the Hollywood elite, are the Democrats. Instead of constructively working towards some valuable solutions to the many troubles that face our Nation, the collective Democratic Party has decided that it is much easier to sit back and call President Bush names. Name calling appears to be much easier than seeking out a leader from within the Democratic Party that can reach out to the American Public and offer viable alternatives to the ideas put forth by the Republicans.

The shift to the middle can not simply be a ploy of our next presidential candidates. This needs to be a movement of from within both parties. Our elected officials need to remember that they have been elected to serve the voting public and not the party from which they have won their endorsement. I don’t believe that all Democrats and Republicans are firmly tied to the extreme edges, but are being led away from the middle by the most vocal and visible members of their parties.

Several years ago the conservative right claimed to be the silent majority. In reality the silent majority of Americans live in the middle of the political spectrum. My concern is that an attempt will be made to adjust the political landscape by making a severe move to the left. As I said before, we need to find candidates willing to work for the better of all. We need to pull together as a strong, proud nation with our first goal to create a nation which will once again be the envy and not the ire of other nations of the world. Secondly we need to reach out to give aid to our friends who welcome it and be supportive of those who do not ask for it.

Our country and our world have become so large. It is not possible for us to be the caretakers as individuals or single dimension groups. We need to pull together as one to make life better for all.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Where Has The Time Gone

It has been pointed out to me on more than one occassion that I have not held up my end of the blogging lifestyle. I've browsed and I've read blogs. I've admired humor and photos, but I have not contributed at all. I have no real excuse. Yes, I have been busy but I've always seemed to find time to watch television or catch a nap in my recliner.

Since my last contribution school has gone back into session and my daughters volleyball team has been active. As a matter of fact, that season is nearly over already. Also since my last entry I have actually begun my new job which I've refered to in previous posts. I haven't touched my fishing gear since July and that almost seems criminal as I do enjoy fishing so much. I've done some reading, but not nearly as much as I would like. I have also learned to download music and found some tunes that have been hard to find on a cd anywhere. I have to admit, this pleases me very much. Music is like a bookmark for my life. Different songs can place me back to various stages of my life and the various downloads have been a trip back to a very good place in my life. I need to sit down and expound on specific topics of interest to me and hopefully to you, the reader. By taking this first step of adding to my blog will hopefully propel me on to further writing.

To my friends visiting in England, I wish you a safe and completely enjoyable journey.