Unexpected Sources

Motivation.

For some reason, it has been rather elusive in my private life lately.  Work motivation has been fine so far this year, but at home it's been back to the ol' Sloth and Gluttony.  I haven't been watching as much T.V. since the Olympics because it's mostly mindless trash.  The computer has been my major downfall, however.

I was listening to a podcast of the Petros and Money show.  One of their guests was MMA athlete Ronda Rousy.  She put Petros in an arm-bar and it was all funny.  Out of curiosity I googled Ronda.  Imagine that.

Turns out the girl is a former Olympic judo medalist, so she's got that going for her, which is nice.  On her website I watched several of Ronda's Judo and MMA videos.  It was inspiring.  No, not in a pervo way.  Just that the recollections of judo training, and the fitness and pride that accompanied it, came flooding back.  Watching these MMA folks training and competing was as inspiring as watching some of my favorite Rocky scenes.

Know what was an even bigger surprise?  At the family Christmas gathering yesterday, I was talking to the old man, and MMA came up (Dad's a former boxer and I'm a former judo competitor).  We have shared an admiration of Fedor Emelianenko the past few years, but Fedor has reached the end of his career.  Dad said to me, "You know who my favorite MMA fighter is now?  Ronda Rousy!"  A block off the old chip.

So thanks Ronda.  I actually rolled out of bed this morning and got going on a bit of a workout.  It's a start.  The motivation is here.  Now it's a matter of sustaining that motivation.

Dear Mr. President

That was truly an inspiring speech.  I am tremendously grateful that we had you to address us rather than Mitt Romney.  You truly care.

I agree, changes need to be made.  Before we go crazy over gun-control battles let's think about our society in the past 50 years. 

Fifty years ago you wouldn't have been president.  Fifty years ago, you wouldn't even have had full rights as an American citizen.  Did we have guns back then?  Yes.  Did gun control laws change our society then?  No.  What did?  Nonviolent action.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to get rid of assault rifles and make it even tougher to get hand guns.

But that won't change our society.  What has changed so much in the past 50 years?  The violent video games.  The murder-obsessive T.V. shows.  The violent music.  The divorce rate, and subsequently, the amount of time kids spend playing video games, watching T.V., and listening to their MP3 players.  This is where the violence needs to end first.  Then see what can be done about the guns.

Guns without evil intent equals no murders.  Evil intent without guns equals less murders.

On a Britghter Note

Had to get that last one off my chest.  When you pretty much dedicate your working life to helping kids something like that strikes the deepest of nerves. 

Basketball season ended with a big party yesterday.  What a fantastic group of girls we coached this year.  We might have not won the most games, but no one had more fun.

 More than two weeks off now.  Time to recharge the batteries.

The Lowest

Dear Lanza,

I've never been one to believe in Hell, but you made me rethink this position.

Just tragic.

America

I wrote this today on the Seattle Times blog, after reading another article about more conservative whining:

I drive a pick-up truck. I own many guns.
I'm not a liberal, and I did NOT vote for Mitt or Rob.

Why?
Because as we've been witnessing lately, the whole conservative movement is just one big scam to con the uneducated into making the rich even richer. I would love to pay the same percentage of tax Romney does. The system is set up so rich conservatives don't have to pay their fair share. Now that they think they might have to, the Cons are going ballistic.

The groups that have been the biggest flag waivers now are the first to turn on America. "Waaah! We didn't get our way so now we want to quit!"

Pro life? Not when you're so excited about sending our young men and even our women to get killed in the Middle East. Bush and his conservative buddies made sure they didn't have go to Vietnam and die with our loved ones who were forced to go. You want war but you don't want to have to pay for it with your own blood or even your own money.

You all drone on about freedom and liberty. Then why are you so hell bent on denying freedom to people who don't put their money into your particular church?
Who cares if two gays want to get married? Why is it O.K. to drink alcohol, especially from government stores, smoke cigarettes, but not smoke pot? Because you aren't turning a profit from it!

You and the conservatives had your eight years of running our country into the toilet. Those of us that really love America got tired of it. Now we're trying to dig our way out, and you're all upset because those of us who work for a living are tired of seeing the conservatives sending all of our manufacturing jobs to China, so you can turn a greater profit. We're sick of making you jerks rich! We're sick of being "Trickled Down" on!

America. Love it or leave it!