This is a very short diary today, but for the very best of reasons! (Besides, I know you all come for the Three Tops, right? :-)). Follow me below the dingledoodle squigglie dKosagnocchipastry dividerthingie fold after a word from our sponsor...
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I may have mentioned once or several thousand times twice that K1 is a competitive swimmer. For the past two years she's swum with a large team of several hundred swimmers coached by a dozen or so coaches. It has been a fantastic experience for her. In the words of the program booklet, the team is designed to "... offer challenges, competitive opportunities, healthy lifestyle and encouragement for every swimmer in the program from novice to national competitor."
They really mean it. From the child first joining the team who still needs a reminder which is butterfly, which is breaststroke, and which order the strokes are in the Individual Medley to the swimmer preparing for Olympic trials, everyone is treated as an important team member working on improving their skills and personal best times.
For the past year, one coach (I'll call him Coach M) has been doing more than just coaching. At some practices he's been in the water with the senior swimmers, working hard. At meets, he's coached kids for several hours then in the blink of an eye gone to Just Another Swimmer On Deck warming up physically and psychologically for his events. He's been a role model for youth, as they know he really does understand what they're going through. Now, not 10 or 15 years ago. He said that as recently as 2 or 3 years ago he thought he was done swimming, but that the encouragement & support of his fellow coaches and swimmers encouraged him to get back into competition.
A swimmer's goal is to improve their times enough to make the time standard for increasingly elite meets, aka 'making a cut'. K1's goal at this stage of her career is to make Regional cuts. Other swimmers hope to make National cuts. Which brings me to Coach M. At a meet two weeks ago, Coach M swam the 100 Fly, cut nearly a full second off his best time, and qualified for the Olympic Trials this weekend. For anonymity's sake I'm not sharing his qualifying time. Rest assured he is NOT at the bottom of the pack.
So tonite after practice the team HAD an OT (Olympic Trials) send-off party for him, to wish him good luck (thus making me late back home to assemble TC. But I hope you agree it's a hella reason). There were cakes (which he's not allowed to eat until after his race), the kids made a HUGE card full of congratulations, and the feeling was one of excitement and pride. We'll all be glued to the TV coverage this Saturday. No matter how he does, he's already the pride of his team. Good luck, Coach M!!!!
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without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do
not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
From phonegery:
This thread begun by GoGoGoEverton can be the start of new industries developing in conjunction with new wind power.
From vcmvo2:
Top Comment by JeffW in In Jed's fp diary Mitt Romneyland doesn't seem to get the meaning of the words 'mock' and 'taunt'.
From Killer of Sacred Cows:
Mokurai's analysis of the biblical story of Job through a Zen lens is fascinating and well worth a read.
Shawn Russell puts it quite bluntly why education, health care, and justice must be non-profit endeavors if we are to preserve democracy.
From middleagedhousewife:
I loved this thoughtful, thought-provoking comment by Gooserock on the current nature of our media being a product of the unbalanced civilization we currently have rather than the product of "the will of the people." The comment was found in you Aaron Sorkin! NEWSROOM exposes the pathetic state of corporate news media by newusername.
From Puddytat:
Here's one for tonight's edition that I don't want anyone to miss. By blue aardvark, it's a one sentence explanation of the Republican economic plan.
From Chrislove:
From Chrislove:
In my diary about the extremely regressive and homophobic Texas GOP platform a gilas girl brilliantly sums up the entire platform in a few words.
From Yours Truly, brillig:
I hadn't thought about SCOTUS ranking until stevej penned this. ::adds to nightmare files::
I might not be as direct, but I certainly agree with TheOtherMaven's reply to the suggestion that the phrase "forced birther" is disrespectful.
Top Mojo for yesterday, June 25th, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you
mik for the mojo magic!
1) The same goes for the lack of accountability for by Jesselyn Radack — 155
2) I got punched in Dupont Circle once by Youffraita — 128
3) And again: by billmosby — 113
4) She's a good 'un. by Crashing Vor — 112
5) Smerconish a refreshing choice by ZappoDave — 110
6) climate by RLMiller — 109
7) here's another thought-experiment for you: by G2geek — 105
8) It was a great piece. US killing civilians is no by absdoggy — 98
9) {{{Regina in a Sears Kit House}}} by blue aardvark — 94
10) Scalia also commented directly on Obama's recent by Scarce — 85
11) Blessings Regina. by One Pissed Off Liberal — 81
12) No ice age coming. Wild weather likely. by FishOutofWater — 80
13) The very best part about Smerconish is by PsychoSavannah — 80
14) Penn State may wish it was "over" by Cali Scribe — 78
15) Minor quibble with President Carter by Dallasdoc — 78
16) Another reason to re-elect the President. Because by zenbassoon — 75
17) Hi everyone, I just got out of one of my by Regina in a Sears Kit House — 70
18) This diary is about by Chrislove — 69
19) Wow by Chrislove — 68
20) He's been this way a long time. Always maybe. by zed — 68
21) Sounds like the makings of a great keynote address by Jacoby Jonze — 66
22) She's been drinking all weekend. by kitebro — 66
23) Three years prior to that by NMDad — 66
24) Sending along wishes for a ver speedy recovery by Steveningen — 64
25) Sending love and energy! by navajo — 64
26) I see your point, and it may be a by david mizner — 63
27) Perhaps Elizabeth Warren will demonstrate that by elwior — 63
28) Excellent point regarding "local Radio." by StellaRay — 63
29) When Arizona Joined the Union???????? by dabtl — 63
30) So much for the 10th amendment lovers. by brooklynbadboy — 62
31) Carter's contrast of current policies by Jesselyn Radack — 62
32) I would say it the other way around . . . by therealcervantes — 62
Top Pictures for yesterday, June 25th. Click any image to be taken to the full comment. Thank you
jotter for the image magic!