Ability to Orgasm May be Genetic
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
By Miranda Hitti
A woman's genes might affect her ability to achieve orgasm, British researchers report.
They haven't found an "orgasm gene," and they don't dismiss other influences (such as cultural, social, and psychological traits). They also say they know they're wading into a "highly speculative and controversial" topic.
However, Kate Dunn of London's St. Thomas Hospital and colleagues say science has overlooked female sexuality for too long. "Until recently, little research has explored female sexual function, and yet women commonly report sexual dysfunction," they write in the journal's early online edition of Biology Letters.
The lack of scientific interest in the topic may stem from the previous consensus that the female orgasm plays no role in reproduction, they write. Recent research has challenged this concept, showing that orgasm plays a role in sperm retention.
Click here to read Web MD's "The Science of Female Orgasms."
Not a Secret Anymore
Glance at a newsstand of women's magazines, and the blaring headlines about hot sex tips and steamy affairs may make you think there's no problem in the bedroom. But that's a far cry from real life for many women.
Take the 2003 study cited by Dunn and colleagues. It showed that more than half of British women reported at least one sexual problem lasting a month or more during the previous year, and around a quarter rarely had orgasms, at best, in the previous three months.
Dunn's team sent confidential surveys to women in a U.K. registry of identical and nonidentical twins. That approach has been used in studies on many topics. It's thought that genetic influences would show up in identical twins, who share their genes, as well as upbringing.
Click here to read Web MD's Prescriptions for Sexual Frustration
Study's Findings
About 4,000 women completed the questionnaire. They were about 50 years old, on average.
The survey showed that orgasms were rare for many of the women:
—About 32 percent said they were unable to achieve orgasm during intercourse more than a quarter of the time. Half of those women never reached orgasm during intercourse.
—14 percent said they always achieved orgasm during intercourse.
More women were able to orgasm during masturbation:
—34 percent always reached orgasm.
—21 percent were still unable to orgasm more than a quarter of the time, two-thirds of whom never achieved orgasm during masturbation.
There was no difference between the proportion of identical and nonidentical twins who never or infrequently reached orgasm by either method.
However, there was less variation for the frequency of orgasm during intercourse and masturbation in identical compared with nonidentical twins, suggesting a clear genetic influence for both.
Click here to read Web MD's "Sex Talk Changing With the Times."
Genetic Influence
"We found that between 34 percent and 45 percent of the variation in ability to orgasm can be explained by underlying genetic variation, with little or no role for the shared environment (e.g. family environment, religion, social class, or early education," write the researchers.
"Our data lend support to the idea that variation in female orgasmic ability has a biological basis," say Dunn and colleagues.
Click here to visit WebMD's "Healthy Sexuality Center."
Researcher's Orgasm Advice
Recently, WebMD hosted a discussion with Jennifer Berman, MD, co-founder of the FemaleSexual Medicine Center at UCLA. Berman is also the director of female urology and sexual medicine at the Rodeo Drive Women's Health Center in Beverly Hills, Calif.
During the discussion, a 22-year-old woman said she had never had an orgasm during sex and asked Berman's advice. Here's what Berman said:
"In reality, only 30 percent of women experience orgasm with penovaginal intercourse. If you can experience orgasm through other ways such as oral sex, self-stimulation, or other, that is great and normal. For you to achieve orgasm during intercourse, you are going to need to have sufficient clitoral stimulation.
"If it is important for you to achieve orgasm during intercourse, I would encourage you to focus on increasing the level of foreplay prior to sex and try positions that increase clitoral stimulation and even consider incorporating a vibrator," Berman continued. "That being said, you should not feel pressured to achieve orgasm during sex."
Click here to read Web MD's "The Golden Age of Sex."
By Miranda Hitti, reviewed by Brunilda Nazario, MD
SOURCES: Dunn, K. Biology Letters, early online edition. WebMD Live Events Transcript: "Secrets of the Sexually Satisfied Woman." News release, The Royal Society.
SEARCH
document.write(footer());
Click here for FOX News RSS FeedsAdvertise on FOX News Channel, FOXNews.com and FOX News RadioJobs at FOX News Channel.Internships at FOX News Channel (Summer internship deadline March 1, 2005).Terms of use. Privacy Statement. For FOXNews.com comments write tofoxnewsonline@foxnews.com; For FOX News Channel comments write tocomments@foxnews.com© Associated Press. All rights reserved.Copyright © 2005 ComStock, Inc.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.Copyright 2005 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved.All market data delayed 20 minutes.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Not As Bad As I Thought?
We had our 8 hour Diversity Training on Friday. It was actually pretty good. I was surprised at how many people agreed that there was a greater need to remind people of common sense. Yes, there are times when you can't walk away or change the channel and you have to learn to deal with that, but mostly you can. If you don't like something, quit trying to make the world in your own image and walk away or ignore it or go about changing it through the arena of ideas. Don't be such a whiner, though.
We play softball this week after having 2 weeks off. We did have a practice with a few of us that needed it on Sunday. We play a team that was undefeated until another undefeated team beat them. I think we have a shot against them, but wouldn't be surprised if we got beat. The second game is against a team that is 3-1. I would be happy going 1-1 for the night, but would love to be 2-0!
I've bowled 4 times in the last month. I'm actually a decent bowler with an average around 120-135. I've had times where half the frames are strikes and I had one game where all but 3 frames were spares. It seems to help me be more accurate when pitching slow pitch softball, too. I'm really not a bowling fan, but I've had fun with the friends I've been out with.
This last weekend was our big Friday night party. We had 101 people there. No Dalmations that I could find, but a couple of mutts that won't be back. We only had two contestants this time, but it was all good and the winner won $50 that we collected. The last party was 105 and 4 contestants. The winner won $60 at that one 6 weeks ago. We are going 4 weeks to the next party as we still have 2 kegs left. We bought the usual 4, but many people had a store meeting the next morning and some were having graduation. One of the graduates was out and had the best time of his life, he said. I even had him licking beer off the floor early in the night. It was great. He spilled it and I worked it out for the guys razzing him and for him. I had a girl sit on the floor (clothed, of course) with the spill between her knees and...well, you can imagine how happy he was to lick up the beer then. Too funny! Oh, to be that young, dumb, and full of...crap. Well, at least I turned 18 last December...for the second time.
Age is catching up, I'm afraid. Maybe I notice it more with a younger crowd around all the time. I also notice the aches and pains of playing softball, too. My ribs hurt after batting practice Sunday. I was hitting everything thrown toward me, so I contorted to get a lot of bad pitches. At least they got some fielding practice since I put most everything into play. My knees are killing me, especially my right one. I have trouble going up and down stairs, but I force myself to. I haven't had this much pain in the knees before. I also haven't had any strenuous activity for a few years.
I also notice age in other ways. I made a call to get our Qwest speed upped to 3MB and met the most wonderful young lady on the phone. We got to talking and almost forgot the call I was placing. She even came out to the party on Friday and won the contest. She had the best attitude that night knowing that I was playing host and had to mingle and make sure everyone was ok. She helped host at the door and introduced herself to several people and had a great time. It was perfect the way she did everything that night. She slept on my futon after we got back from Perkins so she could get to work by 9:30AM. We visited so much that she got about 2 hours of sleep. After she got off work, we were supposed to grill out, but my roommates cancelled on me. We went to Hu Hot for dinner and then went bowling. It was a wonderful time. I honestly wouldn't mind dating this 23 year old, but wouldn't care if she was just a friend, too. She just had that attitude that you were glad just to know her and have fun.
There were 2 things that I found quite rude, though. She rode with me to Hu Hot and somewhere along the line ended up on the phone with one of her best guy friends. No, there wasn't anything more than that as I saw. She ended up telling him to join us at Hu Hot without even asking me if I'd mind. I wouldn't have minded, but I was brought up that you ask. He was genuinely very nice and fun to hang out with. After dinner, I assumed that he would go about with his plans for the evening and she and I would do something. Well, again, without asking, she asked him to join us in my car "instead of taking two cars". If I'm giving someone a ride, I'd like to know about it in advance. It's just polite.
I understand the need for security when out with strangers, but I also understand the need for communication. Other than those two things, the weekend was great and it was really fun spending time with her. It was VERY hard to read her as interested in anything more than friendship or not and really, I don't care either way. It was just refreshing to meet someone with such a positive, carefree attitude who fit in with everyone so well.
I did meet one person that fits this description last year. Well, two, if you count her married friend. It's a rare find for me. I get to hang out on occasion with the one I met last year at some shows. It's awesome to have friends like that.
Between my expectations and the reality of Diversity training, softball, and age is it really as bad as I thought it would be? I'm still out on that one.
We play softball this week after having 2 weeks off. We did have a practice with a few of us that needed it on Sunday. We play a team that was undefeated until another undefeated team beat them. I think we have a shot against them, but wouldn't be surprised if we got beat. The second game is against a team that is 3-1. I would be happy going 1-1 for the night, but would love to be 2-0!
I've bowled 4 times in the last month. I'm actually a decent bowler with an average around 120-135. I've had times where half the frames are strikes and I had one game where all but 3 frames were spares. It seems to help me be more accurate when pitching slow pitch softball, too. I'm really not a bowling fan, but I've had fun with the friends I've been out with.
This last weekend was our big Friday night party. We had 101 people there. No Dalmations that I could find, but a couple of mutts that won't be back. We only had two contestants this time, but it was all good and the winner won $50 that we collected. The last party was 105 and 4 contestants. The winner won $60 at that one 6 weeks ago. We are going 4 weeks to the next party as we still have 2 kegs left. We bought the usual 4, but many people had a store meeting the next morning and some were having graduation. One of the graduates was out and had the best time of his life, he said. I even had him licking beer off the floor early in the night. It was great. He spilled it and I worked it out for the guys razzing him and for him. I had a girl sit on the floor (clothed, of course) with the spill between her knees and...well, you can imagine how happy he was to lick up the beer then. Too funny! Oh, to be that young, dumb, and full of...crap. Well, at least I turned 18 last December...for the second time.
Age is catching up, I'm afraid. Maybe I notice it more with a younger crowd around all the time. I also notice the aches and pains of playing softball, too. My ribs hurt after batting practice Sunday. I was hitting everything thrown toward me, so I contorted to get a lot of bad pitches. At least they got some fielding practice since I put most everything into play. My knees are killing me, especially my right one. I have trouble going up and down stairs, but I force myself to. I haven't had this much pain in the knees before. I also haven't had any strenuous activity for a few years.
I also notice age in other ways. I made a call to get our Qwest speed upped to 3MB and met the most wonderful young lady on the phone. We got to talking and almost forgot the call I was placing. She even came out to the party on Friday and won the contest. She had the best attitude that night knowing that I was playing host and had to mingle and make sure everyone was ok. She helped host at the door and introduced herself to several people and had a great time. It was perfect the way she did everything that night. She slept on my futon after we got back from Perkins so she could get to work by 9:30AM. We visited so much that she got about 2 hours of sleep. After she got off work, we were supposed to grill out, but my roommates cancelled on me. We went to Hu Hot for dinner and then went bowling. It was a wonderful time. I honestly wouldn't mind dating this 23 year old, but wouldn't care if she was just a friend, too. She just had that attitude that you were glad just to know her and have fun.
There were 2 things that I found quite rude, though. She rode with me to Hu Hot and somewhere along the line ended up on the phone with one of her best guy friends. No, there wasn't anything more than that as I saw. She ended up telling him to join us at Hu Hot without even asking me if I'd mind. I wouldn't have minded, but I was brought up that you ask. He was genuinely very nice and fun to hang out with. After dinner, I assumed that he would go about with his plans for the evening and she and I would do something. Well, again, without asking, she asked him to join us in my car "instead of taking two cars". If I'm giving someone a ride, I'd like to know about it in advance. It's just polite.
I understand the need for security when out with strangers, but I also understand the need for communication. Other than those two things, the weekend was great and it was really fun spending time with her. It was VERY hard to read her as interested in anything more than friendship or not and really, I don't care either way. It was just refreshing to meet someone with such a positive, carefree attitude who fit in with everyone so well.
I did meet one person that fits this description last year. Well, two, if you count her married friend. It's a rare find for me. I get to hang out on occasion with the one I met last year at some shows. It's awesome to have friends like that.
Between my expectations and the reality of Diversity training, softball, and age is it really as bad as I thought it would be? I'm still out on that one.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Diversity
As I had posted before, I'm part of the Diversity Team at work. My main objective is to keep things from getting too politically correct. Tomorrow we have a diversity training program that will take up my entire work day. I find that weird as there really can't be that much to discuss.
I believe that we all have to be sensitive to others, but I also believe that people need to quit acting so offended at every little thing. For example, if I grew up in a part of the country where women were called broads and I used that term at work, I would probably end up in a talk with the Human Resources Department about how that term could offend women. It's not an offensive term in the least, but it has that sort of connotation to it. I would tell anyone who thinks they are offended to lighten up and go on about there business.
I'm tired of everyone thinking they have the right to say what is offensive and what isn't. On TV, can't we change the channel? In the work place, can't we just do our job and quit worrying about what other people say and do? At home, don't we have parents that dictate that sort of thing?
Quit being so sensitive and just live your life. I'm sorry that I sound like I did before, but this so-called training should "enlighten" me.
Oh, and I'm tired and grouchy today. It freaked out the guy next to me who hasn't seen me this way before. He is still in shock, but giving me a hard time about it.
I believe that we all have to be sensitive to others, but I also believe that people need to quit acting so offended at every little thing. For example, if I grew up in a part of the country where women were called broads and I used that term at work, I would probably end up in a talk with the Human Resources Department about how that term could offend women. It's not an offensive term in the least, but it has that sort of connotation to it. I would tell anyone who thinks they are offended to lighten up and go on about there business.
I'm tired of everyone thinking they have the right to say what is offensive and what isn't. On TV, can't we change the channel? In the work place, can't we just do our job and quit worrying about what other people say and do? At home, don't we have parents that dictate that sort of thing?
Quit being so sensitive and just live your life. I'm sorry that I sound like I did before, but this so-called training should "enlighten" me.
Oh, and I'm tired and grouchy today. It freaked out the guy next to me who hasn't seen me this way before. He is still in shock, but giving me a hard time about it.
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Not A Bad Weekend
It's always great to have my kids up over the weekend and this weekend was no exception. We went to see the new Star Wars movie, which was good. We had root beer floats. We grilled outside. We did laundry and dishes. We watched a few episides from Season 2 of The Greatest American Hero. We attended church. We played ball tag outside. We played some Uno. It was really fun!
I didn't get to keep the girls an extra day due to Memorial Day, but I did get some overtime at work that day. I have so much fun with my kids. I hope that they are equally having a good time. My roommate Derek did the grilling out for us and Uno followed the game. We have a picnic table that was in our shed and I hosed it off and it has come in handy twice already. The evenings have been wonderful. The girls were even catching and releaseing lightening bugs.
My oldest daughter just shocks me sometimes. She really likes watching The Greatest American Hero! Really! When she found out that I had season 2 she wanted to start watching right away. I think we made it through 3 episodes this weekend. I like doing it a little at a time so that we do plenty of other things.
We have had so much fun playing outdoors. Paige tries to get us to do it more often and sometimes we just run out of time. She has so much energy! Brittany is really getting more and more energy with her weight loss. I bought her some size 14 jeans for her birthday, which was down two sizes and they seemed a tad loose on her this weekend.
My other roommate has a new girlfriend. I make sure that we don't have "guests" over when my kids are here. He's been fairly good about it, but he's had parking issues with letting friends park in the driveway that we pay for and he has tried sneaking girls in and out during the night while my kids are sleeping. This just doesn't fly and it's just not cool when you agree to certain things in your living arrangements. He will get better, though.
This new girlfriend reminds me of Chrissy Snow from Three's Company. She is young, flighty, and funny. The young part of her gets a tad emotional very quick, but she's funny and really tries to put on a good face. There have been a couple of things that have put me off a bit, though. She asked me if I wanted anything when she went to our basement to get something to drink for herself and my roommate. I wasn't sure she was talking to me since I live with two guys and we don't necessarily ask those types of things. I made a joke about it and she half-jokingly replied that it was the reason she should be a roommate. That just hit me the wrong way. I'm glad he finally found someone that he seems pretty serious about, although not totally, but I don't like the way she is coming into our lives.
I mentioned early last weekend when talking to Derek that we should all go bowling again since we had fun the previous week doing that as roommates. When I brought it up, she overheard and said that she thought that was a great idea. Well, I apparently didn't make it clear that I just meant us 3 guys. When we went bowling last week, we were joined by her.
Now don't get me wrong. She's a nice girl and is pretty funny, but it's just weird how she is suddenly becoming a part of my life and Derek's in more a more personal way. I'm used to our other roommate bringing over girls, sometimes 3-4 at a time, but he entertains them in the basement as we are to do and we may only see them a couple of times or less in a month. We don't do anything with them but clown around in the basement and then send them on their way. Of course, the other roommate does a little more with them at various times. I'm just not sure I like this and since she is coming upstairs and staying overnight often, it's bothering me. I'm used to the upstairs being our personal space and I don't like it invaded. We will see how this goes, I guess.
GOOD NEWS!! I finally have my main computer back up and running. It has been down since before Christmas. I had to fight with the company I purchased it from to finally get it replaced. They claimed to do it last time, but their paperwork shows otherwise. Now that the motherboard has finally been replaced I have a running computer!
In case I haven't mentioned it before, my main PC is a monster. I have an Athlon XP 3200+ with 1.5GB RAM, 6 Hard Drives totalling aver 800GB in space, Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, ATI All-In-Wonder with 128MB RAM and dual monitor support, an ATI PCI 7500 dual monitor card, 4 19" monitors, DVD Dual Layer burner and DVD player, all hooked up to two TV's, two VCR's, an external DVD player, and our cable box. I will also soon have it hooked up to the cable box in a way to record off the DVR stuff onto DVD. I have a digital camera, a live camera, remotes for the AIW and Audigy, and a headset with mic for voice. Oh, and two subwoofers in the speaker setup.
Oh, and I have another computer under that desk. It's an AMD 1900+ with 768MB RAM and over 200GB of hard drive space. It's got 3 19" monitors hooked up to it, but one is part of a KVM setup so that I can work on the small desk that the third monitor is on with another PC if needed. It's pretty intimidating to some people to see 7 - 19" monitors on my desk in a moon shape and then 2 - 27" TV's hanging on the wall above it.
I have most everything loaded, but need to get the USB devices connected and then start on some projects. It's so nice to have this about done.
Not a bad weekend overall, eh?
I didn't get to keep the girls an extra day due to Memorial Day, but I did get some overtime at work that day. I have so much fun with my kids. I hope that they are equally having a good time. My roommate Derek did the grilling out for us and Uno followed the game. We have a picnic table that was in our shed and I hosed it off and it has come in handy twice already. The evenings have been wonderful. The girls were even catching and releaseing lightening bugs.
My oldest daughter just shocks me sometimes. She really likes watching The Greatest American Hero! Really! When she found out that I had season 2 she wanted to start watching right away. I think we made it through 3 episodes this weekend. I like doing it a little at a time so that we do plenty of other things.
We have had so much fun playing outdoors. Paige tries to get us to do it more often and sometimes we just run out of time. She has so much energy! Brittany is really getting more and more energy with her weight loss. I bought her some size 14 jeans for her birthday, which was down two sizes and they seemed a tad loose on her this weekend.
My other roommate has a new girlfriend. I make sure that we don't have "guests" over when my kids are here. He's been fairly good about it, but he's had parking issues with letting friends park in the driveway that we pay for and he has tried sneaking girls in and out during the night while my kids are sleeping. This just doesn't fly and it's just not cool when you agree to certain things in your living arrangements. He will get better, though.
This new girlfriend reminds me of Chrissy Snow from Three's Company. She is young, flighty, and funny. The young part of her gets a tad emotional very quick, but she's funny and really tries to put on a good face. There have been a couple of things that have put me off a bit, though. She asked me if I wanted anything when she went to our basement to get something to drink for herself and my roommate. I wasn't sure she was talking to me since I live with two guys and we don't necessarily ask those types of things. I made a joke about it and she half-jokingly replied that it was the reason she should be a roommate. That just hit me the wrong way. I'm glad he finally found someone that he seems pretty serious about, although not totally, but I don't like the way she is coming into our lives.
I mentioned early last weekend when talking to Derek that we should all go bowling again since we had fun the previous week doing that as roommates. When I brought it up, she overheard and said that she thought that was a great idea. Well, I apparently didn't make it clear that I just meant us 3 guys. When we went bowling last week, we were joined by her.
Now don't get me wrong. She's a nice girl and is pretty funny, but it's just weird how she is suddenly becoming a part of my life and Derek's in more a more personal way. I'm used to our other roommate bringing over girls, sometimes 3-4 at a time, but he entertains them in the basement as we are to do and we may only see them a couple of times or less in a month. We don't do anything with them but clown around in the basement and then send them on their way. Of course, the other roommate does a little more with them at various times. I'm just not sure I like this and since she is coming upstairs and staying overnight often, it's bothering me. I'm used to the upstairs being our personal space and I don't like it invaded. We will see how this goes, I guess.
GOOD NEWS!! I finally have my main computer back up and running. It has been down since before Christmas. I had to fight with the company I purchased it from to finally get it replaced. They claimed to do it last time, but their paperwork shows otherwise. Now that the motherboard has finally been replaced I have a running computer!
In case I haven't mentioned it before, my main PC is a monster. I have an Athlon XP 3200+ with 1.5GB RAM, 6 Hard Drives totalling aver 800GB in space, Sound Blaster Audigy Platinum, ATI All-In-Wonder with 128MB RAM and dual monitor support, an ATI PCI 7500 dual monitor card, 4 19" monitors, DVD Dual Layer burner and DVD player, all hooked up to two TV's, two VCR's, an external DVD player, and our cable box. I will also soon have it hooked up to the cable box in a way to record off the DVR stuff onto DVD. I have a digital camera, a live camera, remotes for the AIW and Audigy, and a headset with mic for voice. Oh, and two subwoofers in the speaker setup.
Oh, and I have another computer under that desk. It's an AMD 1900+ with 768MB RAM and over 200GB of hard drive space. It's got 3 19" monitors hooked up to it, but one is part of a KVM setup so that I can work on the small desk that the third monitor is on with another PC if needed. It's pretty intimidating to some people to see 7 - 19" monitors on my desk in a moon shape and then 2 - 27" TV's hanging on the wall above it.
I have most everything loaded, but need to get the USB devices connected and then start on some projects. It's so nice to have this about done.
Not a bad weekend overall, eh?
Sunday, May 29, 2005
Thorogood in Des Moines, IA
Born To Be Bad, Who Do You Love, The Fixxer... What a start to a great show! This was like a souped up 50's revue. Two guitar attack, a frontman with the attitude of The Fonz, simple tight rhythms, and a sax player who can blow! George led this show with swagger and humor. Favorites like Bad To The Bone, Get A Hair Cut, and Move It On Over had their own feel live in spite of having a similar sound. George was truly the "bad" one.
I am so glad I went to this show. In spite of most of the crowd being a generation older than me, I had a blast! George and the Destroyers sounded so good that I'm sorry I have missed them in the past. You have to see this band!
The opener was Todd Cambrige, I think. He writes for artists like Johnny Winter and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He had some good tunes, but they sounded much the same. This wouldn't be so bad if he were able to give them each their own feel like George did. Todd did play a snare drum and had a guitar player and that was sort of unique. They played well together, but there were times that it felt as though something was missing instrumentally. He was decent and would be great in a hotel bar.
Go see George Thorogood and the Destroyers. You deserve it!
I am so glad I went to this show. In spite of most of the crowd being a generation older than me, I had a blast! George and the Destroyers sounded so good that I'm sorry I have missed them in the past. You have to see this band!
The opener was Todd Cambrige, I think. He writes for artists like Johnny Winter and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He had some good tunes, but they sounded much the same. This wouldn't be so bad if he were able to give them each their own feel like George did. Todd did play a snare drum and had a guitar player and that was sort of unique. They played well together, but there were times that it felt as though something was missing instrumentally. He was decent and would be great in a hotel bar.
Go see George Thorogood and the Destroyers. You deserve it!
Friday, May 27, 2005
We WON!
My church softball team almost got rained out last night. If there were a way I could tell you about my day yesterday, you would understand why I prayed that the rain would go away so that we could play. I prayed hard. God heard me and we played our two games without any rain. There were spots in the field that were wet, but not bad enough to call the games. The sun came out.
I needed last night bad. I had to get some nervousness out of my system and playing softball did the trick. In fact, I only played the first game and umpired the second.
Our first two hitters set up how our night was going to go. Our first baseman started off with a single and her husband followed with a home run. Two batters, first two runs scored. We won that game 8-5. I pitched, scored two runs, caught 3 hits, and threw two runners out at first.
The second game, we won 14-10. We played well defensively in both games and started hitting the ball. Our other pitcher pitches a little different than I do. He claims that opponents are having more trouble hitting me with my pitching style, but he did pitch a good game. I sat out because I wanted our starters to get some playing time and I also needed to rotate in some players to make sure everyone got to play. It's a tough balancing act, but we pulled it off in both games for the win.
I have to admit it was nice that the first night I'm the coach, we won both of our games. That felt very good.
I may post more about yesterday, but you may have to use your imagination. Here is a brief summary, though. I had a computer customer who became a sort of friend. He would call if he needed something, but otherwise I wouldn't hear from him. I was able to get ahold of him a couple of times to borrow a car when mine wasn't running. I also bought a car from him for a few hundred dollars. I haven't seen or heard from this person in over a year, but had heard a couple of rumors about him being in the area and that he did a bad thing. Yesterday I had a visit to my work from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms asking about this person. Well, when a Federal agency is investigating someone, it must be pretty serious. Needless to say, I was a bit freaked out and needed something to do. Softball did the trick. I don't think I should really say more.
I will post my review of the George Thorogood show from Wednesday. It was awesome and sold out. If you have a chance to catch one of his shows, you'd be a fool to miss it. More later!
I needed last night bad. I had to get some nervousness out of my system and playing softball did the trick. In fact, I only played the first game and umpired the second.
Our first two hitters set up how our night was going to go. Our first baseman started off with a single and her husband followed with a home run. Two batters, first two runs scored. We won that game 8-5. I pitched, scored two runs, caught 3 hits, and threw two runners out at first.
The second game, we won 14-10. We played well defensively in both games and started hitting the ball. Our other pitcher pitches a little different than I do. He claims that opponents are having more trouble hitting me with my pitching style, but he did pitch a good game. I sat out because I wanted our starters to get some playing time and I also needed to rotate in some players to make sure everyone got to play. It's a tough balancing act, but we pulled it off in both games for the win.
I have to admit it was nice that the first night I'm the coach, we won both of our games. That felt very good.
I may post more about yesterday, but you may have to use your imagination. Here is a brief summary, though. I had a computer customer who became a sort of friend. He would call if he needed something, but otherwise I wouldn't hear from him. I was able to get ahold of him a couple of times to borrow a car when mine wasn't running. I also bought a car from him for a few hundred dollars. I haven't seen or heard from this person in over a year, but had heard a couple of rumors about him being in the area and that he did a bad thing. Yesterday I had a visit to my work from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms asking about this person. Well, when a Federal agency is investigating someone, it must be pretty serious. Needless to say, I was a bit freaked out and needed something to do. Softball did the trick. I don't think I should really say more.
I will post my review of the George Thorogood show from Wednesday. It was awesome and sold out. If you have a chance to catch one of his shows, you'd be a fool to miss it. More later!
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
Softball Record
I just got a call last night from our coach for the church softball team. She asked if I would mind taking over as coach for the remainder of the season due to her schedule and trying to sell her home. Of course, I said YES! I love playing softball and I had secretly hoped that I could have some say in how things went. The other assistant coach and I had some ideas on how we ought to structure the lineup and we want to get these ideas implemented. Now we can. Here is our record so far:
Lost to Carlisle United Methodist 24-1.
Tied with Indianola Christian Union 8-8.
Lost to TRYM 15-1.
Lost to Lighthouse Community 20-6.
That makes us 0-3-1. We definitely were not up to par in the first game and they are a really good team. We probably would have gotten beat at our best. The tie was simply a matter of running out of time, but they were a team we could have beaten if we had a little offense. Todd threw 3 people out to me at home as they tried to score and he threw one to me to tag out at 3rd Base that game. Our defense did a really tight job most of that game, but we just weren't hitting. These two games were our first night out.
The last two teams we played we could have beat if our starters were there. We have 4 big guns that didn't play either game and they weren't really good teams. I think we could have beat them. TRYM did have a couple of really great players and would have given us a good game. I don't think the rest of the team was anywhere in their league.
I have a lineup ready to go and hope that since we should have all 4 big guns there tomorrow evening that we will finally have a couple of wins to chalk up. We shall see!
Lost to Carlisle United Methodist 24-1.
Tied with Indianola Christian Union 8-8.
Lost to TRYM 15-1.
Lost to Lighthouse Community 20-6.
That makes us 0-3-1. We definitely were not up to par in the first game and they are a really good team. We probably would have gotten beat at our best. The tie was simply a matter of running out of time, but they were a team we could have beaten if we had a little offense. Todd threw 3 people out to me at home as they tried to score and he threw one to me to tag out at 3rd Base that game. Our defense did a really tight job most of that game, but we just weren't hitting. These two games were our first night out.
The last two teams we played we could have beat if our starters were there. We have 4 big guns that didn't play either game and they weren't really good teams. I think we could have beat them. TRYM did have a couple of really great players and would have given us a good game. I don't think the rest of the team was anywhere in their league.
I have a lineup ready to go and hope that since we should have all 4 big guns there tomorrow evening that we will finally have a couple of wins to chalk up. We shall see!
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Political Logic 101
I am so tired of lies and distortion in politics. It happens on both sides, but primarily on the Democrat side. (They are the Democrat party. They are not the democratic party. Words mean things.) I watch Fox News Sunday and Meet The Press. I read the Des Moines Register. I listen to Rush Limbaugh. I watch both CNN and Fox News. I occasionally watch CNBC. I do lots of reading online. It's really very simple to get the truth just by listening and doing your own research. You have to be an idiot to take all of your news from one source. You have to be an idiot to be a sheep when it comes to how the world works and how your leaders act. If you don't vote, if you don't take active participation in your community, if you don't do your own research instead of just taking the newspaper or TV reporter's word for it, you are an idiot and you have no right to comment on political and world events. It's that simple.
That doesn't mean you have to agree. I have friends that I disagree with about most everything, but we can agree to disagree and still be friends. It's not hard to do. You just have to understand that you can't change others. You can only change yourself. We can all still find common ground.
There are some very simple things that we can all understand. We elect our leaders. If we lose, we try again at the next election cycle. When we lose, we have to realize that the majority will get their way. There are only so many ways to gum up the works, but it comes down to the majority to lead as they see fit while they are in the majority. We had over 40 years that Democrats were the majority and now they are the minority. Logic dictates that they had their time in the sun and now the people have spoken and want the Republicans to have their day in the sun. Is it an overwhelming majority? No, but it is the majority. If you don't like it, change it in the next election. Take your ideas to others in your community and try to build those ideas from the ground up. Logic 101.
First of all, give the judges an up or down vote when they reach the Senate floor. If they can't make it out of committee, tough. Once they do make it out of committee, give them a vote. There has never been a filibuster of judges on the Senate floor before. It has been attempted, but defeated. The Constitution charges the Senate to advise and consent. In reality, no vote is needed. The President just needs 51 letters of consent from the Senate and then the judge takes their position. It's really that simple and there isn't anything left to debate about it. I know Howard Dean would like to think that the parties should share power or that there should be some sort of minority rights, but that isn't the way our government is set up. If you want it changed, then get a grassroots effort together and work at changing it. Otherwise, shut up already.
I don't know how anyone can't see that Social Security doesn't need fixing. Since when did it become government's job to provide for our retirement? This isn't a right listed in the Constitution. It's a hand out. It doesn't work like people think. The idea would be that you pay into it, it gains interest, when you retire you get what was set aside plus the interest. If you didn't put anything into it, why should you get anything out of it? If you didn't put much into it, why should you get more out of it than you put into it? If you put a lot into it, shouldn't you get it all back? Oh, I'm sorry. That sounds like it's your money to begin with! Gee, what a concept! You work. You make money. Oh, and then someone else tells you how it needs to be spent or saved. Are we such idiots that we can't figure that out for ourselves? Oh, and if you don't mind and you aren't the idiot, what gives you the right to say others are idiots and have to have it taken from them so someone supposedly smarter can tell them how to spend it? How arrogant! Why don't we make sure we are teaching economics in school instead of how to put a condom on a cucumber and make sure that people are equipped to make their own decisions? Oh, more logic 101.
Since when did America become the bad guy? We go over and liberate Afghanistan and Iraq and then the media portrays us as people that flush pages of the Koran down the toilet or let a woman soldier put an Iraqi man on a leash. I'm sorry that bad things happen in war, but isnt' that what war is? It's a bad thing. It's sometimes a necessary thing. We teach our soldiers to kill people and break things. That is what an army is for. America has spread democracy to more nations than any other. America gives more than any other. Americans give more than others. We are the most charitable nation. We are the only nation with the ability to assist others such as Iraq and Afghanistan. We bring in other nations to assist us in accomplishing these goals. So why are we the bad guy? Why aren't our allies portrayed as bad guys with us? If we are so bad, why are so many people trying to get into our country and enjoy our freedoms? Simply put, we are a great nation and a great country. We are not the bad guy. Those who oppress their own people are bad guys. They must be taken out and their people freed. Logic 101.
I know not everyone agrees and that's ok. It's really ok that we don't all agree. It doesn't mean we can't be friends and find other common ground. I'm glad I enjoy the freedoms I have and I hope that others around the world are able to enjoy freedom. Freedom to speak your mind. Freedom to spend your money how you see fit. Freedom to have ideas and enter them into the realm of ideas. Freedom to worship. Freedom to carry a Bible with you in a school. Freedom to pray at any time anywhere. Freedom to let your communities, instead of some governmental body many states away, decide what is best in your area. Freedom to listen to the music you want. Freedom to own property. Freedom to vote for your leaders. Freedom is a great thing. Pass it on!
That doesn't mean you have to agree. I have friends that I disagree with about most everything, but we can agree to disagree and still be friends. It's not hard to do. You just have to understand that you can't change others. You can only change yourself. We can all still find common ground.
There are some very simple things that we can all understand. We elect our leaders. If we lose, we try again at the next election cycle. When we lose, we have to realize that the majority will get their way. There are only so many ways to gum up the works, but it comes down to the majority to lead as they see fit while they are in the majority. We had over 40 years that Democrats were the majority and now they are the minority. Logic dictates that they had their time in the sun and now the people have spoken and want the Republicans to have their day in the sun. Is it an overwhelming majority? No, but it is the majority. If you don't like it, change it in the next election. Take your ideas to others in your community and try to build those ideas from the ground up. Logic 101.
First of all, give the judges an up or down vote when they reach the Senate floor. If they can't make it out of committee, tough. Once they do make it out of committee, give them a vote. There has never been a filibuster of judges on the Senate floor before. It has been attempted, but defeated. The Constitution charges the Senate to advise and consent. In reality, no vote is needed. The President just needs 51 letters of consent from the Senate and then the judge takes their position. It's really that simple and there isn't anything left to debate about it. I know Howard Dean would like to think that the parties should share power or that there should be some sort of minority rights, but that isn't the way our government is set up. If you want it changed, then get a grassroots effort together and work at changing it. Otherwise, shut up already.
I don't know how anyone can't see that Social Security doesn't need fixing. Since when did it become government's job to provide for our retirement? This isn't a right listed in the Constitution. It's a hand out. It doesn't work like people think. The idea would be that you pay into it, it gains interest, when you retire you get what was set aside plus the interest. If you didn't put anything into it, why should you get anything out of it? If you didn't put much into it, why should you get more out of it than you put into it? If you put a lot into it, shouldn't you get it all back? Oh, I'm sorry. That sounds like it's your money to begin with! Gee, what a concept! You work. You make money. Oh, and then someone else tells you how it needs to be spent or saved. Are we such idiots that we can't figure that out for ourselves? Oh, and if you don't mind and you aren't the idiot, what gives you the right to say others are idiots and have to have it taken from them so someone supposedly smarter can tell them how to spend it? How arrogant! Why don't we make sure we are teaching economics in school instead of how to put a condom on a cucumber and make sure that people are equipped to make their own decisions? Oh, more logic 101.
Since when did America become the bad guy? We go over and liberate Afghanistan and Iraq and then the media portrays us as people that flush pages of the Koran down the toilet or let a woman soldier put an Iraqi man on a leash. I'm sorry that bad things happen in war, but isnt' that what war is? It's a bad thing. It's sometimes a necessary thing. We teach our soldiers to kill people and break things. That is what an army is for. America has spread democracy to more nations than any other. America gives more than any other. Americans give more than others. We are the most charitable nation. We are the only nation with the ability to assist others such as Iraq and Afghanistan. We bring in other nations to assist us in accomplishing these goals. So why are we the bad guy? Why aren't our allies portrayed as bad guys with us? If we are so bad, why are so many people trying to get into our country and enjoy our freedoms? Simply put, we are a great nation and a great country. We are not the bad guy. Those who oppress their own people are bad guys. They must be taken out and their people freed. Logic 101.
I know not everyone agrees and that's ok. It's really ok that we don't all agree. It doesn't mean we can't be friends and find other common ground. I'm glad I enjoy the freedoms I have and I hope that others around the world are able to enjoy freedom. Freedom to speak your mind. Freedom to spend your money how you see fit. Freedom to have ideas and enter them into the realm of ideas. Freedom to worship. Freedom to carry a Bible with you in a school. Freedom to pray at any time anywhere. Freedom to let your communities, instead of some governmental body many states away, decide what is best in your area. Freedom to listen to the music you want. Freedom to own property. Freedom to vote for your leaders. Freedom is a great thing. Pass it on!
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Brittany's Birthday
Today is my oldest daughter's birthday. I'm not able to share it with her today. I did get to do that last week. When her mother was pregnant with her, I couldn't imagine what it would be like to raise a child. I was terrified, excited, and hoping we'd have a boy. When Brittany was born, my world changed, as does everyone's when a child comes into the world. I was faced with raising a daughter and I was even more terrified and excited. I suddenly forgot what life was like without her. It wasn't an easy transition due to how scared I was, but I never wished that she didn't exist. She became my world.
When Brittany was born, she came out head first with a little help. She was our coneheaded baby for a while. She had a head full of hair. We were finally able to take her home, only to have to bring her right back to the hospital due to some jaundice. It wasn't anything major, but to first time parents, it's really hard to have to take your child right back. I worked nights at the donut shop and slept the day in the hospital until we were able to take her home the second time.
Brittany was a real crier. It seemed to me that she cried constantly. I had to leave the room sometimes after doing everything I knew how to do and I would end up crying, too, sometimes. At first, I mostly got angry. I couldn't figure out why this little girl was crying so much. When you aren't used to the sound, it's maddening. It truly is the most annoying sound in the world.
I have a confession to make. One day I got so angry that I lightly shook her car seat/carrier. It wasn't violent, but I did feel as though my head was going to explode and it took great self restraint to make it a light shake. My wife spoke to me in the harshest tone I had ever heard from her and told me to cut it out. Something in my head went calm when she spoke and I never did it again. I had never done it before. It freaked me out that I could have suddenly become "that guy". I hated myself for it. I hated the crying. It's one thing when you know how to stop it, but I didn't. It terrified me. I really wasn't as ready as I hoped I'd be.
Brittany doesn't cry so much anymore. She is still very sensitive and I have grown to love that about her, even if I have to tell her not to get carried away by it. In many ways, we share that same sensitive spirit. There are days I still cry, too.
I love Brittany so much. I remember her first birthday in her little pink swimsuit and how we had her eat her cake while wearing it in her high chair. She had her own little white cake with frosting and made such a wonderful mess of it. I remember her first day of school, too. She was a bit nervous about it, but did very well. She excelled in school and during pre-school got a "computer license". As a computer technician, I am so proud of that. Brittany has grown into such a wonderful young lady over the last 10 years.
I know that the divorce was very hard on Brittany. After Paige was born, Brittany and I probably grew a bit apart. There was a new baby that needed attention and I honestly didn't have a lot of patience for many of the things kids do. Since I was the one home during the day, I'm sure Brittany grew to see me as the discipline dad. She didn't need a lot of it, but when you have little sleep and there is a new baby in the house on a schedule, it can make you a bit short. Patience has never been one of my strong points, but it is something I have learned over recent years.
When the divorce was going on, I saw the girls about as often as I do now; every other week. We had a lot of fun on our weekends, but when I took them to the sitter's house for their mother to pick them up the next morning, it was very difficult. Brittany, Paige, and I would cry like babies. I tried not to, but it was hard. It would have been easier if I was able to take them directly to their mother, but her schedule was not a good one then. After the divorce was final, I had a friend that would make the ride with me and she would make sure to let me get things out of my system most of the hour and a half ride back. I used that time to cry like a baby some more and spent a lot of time in prayer. I hate only being able to see my kids every other weekend.
It's hard when you don't get to be there through the day to day things. It's hard to miss all the little things that my parents were there for me through. I just want to get better seats in watching them grow up and I want to have more influence.
I can't imagine life without my children. I love Brittany and Paige and they are the reason I live. Brittany is a decade old and Paige turns lucky number 7 next month. As long as I have their love, I have all I need.
When Brittany was born, she came out head first with a little help. She was our coneheaded baby for a while. She had a head full of hair. We were finally able to take her home, only to have to bring her right back to the hospital due to some jaundice. It wasn't anything major, but to first time parents, it's really hard to have to take your child right back. I worked nights at the donut shop and slept the day in the hospital until we were able to take her home the second time.
Brittany was a real crier. It seemed to me that she cried constantly. I had to leave the room sometimes after doing everything I knew how to do and I would end up crying, too, sometimes. At first, I mostly got angry. I couldn't figure out why this little girl was crying so much. When you aren't used to the sound, it's maddening. It truly is the most annoying sound in the world.
I have a confession to make. One day I got so angry that I lightly shook her car seat/carrier. It wasn't violent, but I did feel as though my head was going to explode and it took great self restraint to make it a light shake. My wife spoke to me in the harshest tone I had ever heard from her and told me to cut it out. Something in my head went calm when she spoke and I never did it again. I had never done it before. It freaked me out that I could have suddenly become "that guy". I hated myself for it. I hated the crying. It's one thing when you know how to stop it, but I didn't. It terrified me. I really wasn't as ready as I hoped I'd be.
Brittany doesn't cry so much anymore. She is still very sensitive and I have grown to love that about her, even if I have to tell her not to get carried away by it. In many ways, we share that same sensitive spirit. There are days I still cry, too.
I love Brittany so much. I remember her first birthday in her little pink swimsuit and how we had her eat her cake while wearing it in her high chair. She had her own little white cake with frosting and made such a wonderful mess of it. I remember her first day of school, too. She was a bit nervous about it, but did very well. She excelled in school and during pre-school got a "computer license". As a computer technician, I am so proud of that. Brittany has grown into such a wonderful young lady over the last 10 years.
I know that the divorce was very hard on Brittany. After Paige was born, Brittany and I probably grew a bit apart. There was a new baby that needed attention and I honestly didn't have a lot of patience for many of the things kids do. Since I was the one home during the day, I'm sure Brittany grew to see me as the discipline dad. She didn't need a lot of it, but when you have little sleep and there is a new baby in the house on a schedule, it can make you a bit short. Patience has never been one of my strong points, but it is something I have learned over recent years.
When the divorce was going on, I saw the girls about as often as I do now; every other week. We had a lot of fun on our weekends, but when I took them to the sitter's house for their mother to pick them up the next morning, it was very difficult. Brittany, Paige, and I would cry like babies. I tried not to, but it was hard. It would have been easier if I was able to take them directly to their mother, but her schedule was not a good one then. After the divorce was final, I had a friend that would make the ride with me and she would make sure to let me get things out of my system most of the hour and a half ride back. I used that time to cry like a baby some more and spent a lot of time in prayer. I hate only being able to see my kids every other weekend.
It's hard when you don't get to be there through the day to day things. It's hard to miss all the little things that my parents were there for me through. I just want to get better seats in watching them grow up and I want to have more influence.
I can't imagine life without my children. I love Brittany and Paige and they are the reason I live. Brittany is a decade old and Paige turns lucky number 7 next month. As long as I have their love, I have all I need.
Off To A Great Start...NOT!
I had hoped to have this weekend free to get a lot of things done. I guess I still will, but with less time to be lazy. I had volunteered to work a Saturday shift a couple weeks ago and totally forgot it was today until about 45 minutes after I was to be there. I got there an hour late with some real hustle. What a way to start a weekend!
I had a great night last night. Anne called and said there was an extra ticket to the Iowa Cubs game against the Fresno Grizzlies. I was originally going to see Kip Winger, then was asked to go to Bike Night in Indianola, and then this came along. You know, it's always great to go to a ballpark, enjoy a game, have some hot dogs, and even see fireworks. Anne had a friend there who brought her daughter. That little girl was a real character and we had a great time goofing off. At the end of the game, one of the Grizzlie players tossed me a baseball to give to her. That was awfully nice and she was showing it off to a friend as we left the ballpark. It was a better evening than either of the other two plans, considering I've already seen Kip solo. I need to get out to the ballgames more often. I need to go see the Royals when the Yankees are in town, too!
I have more to post and will do so tonight. There are so many things I want to rant and rave about...
I had a great night last night. Anne called and said there was an extra ticket to the Iowa Cubs game against the Fresno Grizzlies. I was originally going to see Kip Winger, then was asked to go to Bike Night in Indianola, and then this came along. You know, it's always great to go to a ballpark, enjoy a game, have some hot dogs, and even see fireworks. Anne had a friend there who brought her daughter. That little girl was a real character and we had a great time goofing off. At the end of the game, one of the Grizzlie players tossed me a baseball to give to her. That was awfully nice and she was showing it off to a friend as we left the ballpark. It was a better evening than either of the other two plans, considering I've already seen Kip solo. I need to get out to the ballgames more often. I need to go see the Royals when the Yankees are in town, too!
I have more to post and will do so tonight. There are so many things I want to rant and rave about...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
