Basektball, Traveling, and thoughts

So it's been some time since my last post so here I am back again. There has been quite a lot going on since my last post, nothing too significant but for the most part just keeping busy. The season is rolling along nicely and at the present time we are 3-0. Although I haven't been really satisfied with our team performance nor with my performance I guess I can't argue with wins. It's a long season and there is much improvement to be had but the reality stands that just as easily as we could get better, we can very well go the opposite way. It's really frustrating at times playing with some of the guys on my team because it just seems that some guys never learn! It always baffles me as to how someone could make the same mistake over and over and over! Driving the lane then jumping in the air to make a pass. Trying to throw a pass through 3 people. Throwing terrible passes overall! I guess it wouldn't be so bad if you knew that some of them were learning from their mistakes! More than likely I will have to deal with it but continue to try and help.

On to other things....I'm in the process of trying to plan some trips and do a little traveling. I don't have much time to make trips for days at a time but I do maybe once a week have time for maybe day trips somewhere. Last night on Wednesday I went to a punk rock/Heavy metal concert with some of my friends from here. That's not necessarily my cup of tea but I'm always up for new experiences. I went last year as well so I knew what to expect. The concert was held in Trier, Germany which is the oldest city in Germany and is about 45 minutes from Luxembourg. I'm always amazed at how much energy some of those guys have when the bands are playing and how it seems like they lose their minds!! I saw it all from the mosh pits, head banging, pushing, stage dives, and all the other stuff you would expect to see at a concert like that. My friend Micah was in his element there and he was able to unleash all his energy that builds up while he works in the office all day. Other trips that are being planned are a day trip next Wednesday to Bruges, Belgium. We will probably leave early in the morning, catch a train which will be about 3 and a half hours, then spend the day touring and head back that night. I was supposed to be going to Heidelberg, Germany with my friend Carole and maybe some others that could make it but she decided there were more important things to do. I'm kidding, she has family business to take care of and I understand. Lucky for me my trip is still in the works with a couple of my other friends. So I'm trying to make the best of my time here in Europe and see things while I'm here. Europe has so much history here so it's always cool to think about the places you've been and the things that happened in the past.

Some other things that have been on my mind lately are just the way people look at life differently. Although it may sound cliché, some people really do look at the glass as half empty while others look at it as half full. It's usually pretty easy to tell them apart just by observing their general attitudes. Some people find a way to see the bad in everything that happens even if things really aren't that bad. I've always tried to look at life from the perspective of the less fortunate. That doesn't mean that there's never a time to get sad or disappointed. When I think of what God has blessed me with and how my life really is good, there is really nothing to be angry about. I have a great family that loves me, I play basketball for a living, I'm fully healthy and have for the most part I can do what I want. When I complain about having to run or workout or other things of that nature I always think about the people who are handicapped or for whatever other reason can not do what I can and I suck it up and try to enjoy it. Some people would do anything to be able to do simple things that we take for granted everyday. I thank God constantly for bestowing his blessings upon me. I wish more people could take that stance on life because I truly believe it would make this world just a little bit better. Well that's all for now from the times and thoughts of MK. Until next time.................

Democrat, Republican, or other? That is the Question

I figured it was about that time to write a post on politics since that's all the buzz or at least that's what it seems like lately. I must admit that not until recently have I been so intrigued by politics and how everything in the USA works. Honestly, I've been somewhat clueless and really didn't care much about what went on. Not until I came to play basketball in Europe did I begin to take interest in it all. I guess what really grabbed my attention was certain things that were different here that I didn't understand and also my teammates would ask me certain questions about the U.S. that I couldn't answer and that's what led me on my journey. I remember my teammate asked me about health care in the U.S. and how he couldn't believe that it was free. I asked him, "You guys don't have to pay to go to the hospital" and he said that they had Universal Health Care. From that point on I was like, why don't we have that in the states?? Shortly after i began to search for answers and realized that NOTHING is free!! There is a little thing in which no one likes or at least I don't think people like them and here in Europe its prevalent. That little thing is called TAXES!! I begin to learn more about Socialist economies and Capitalist economies and Communist and so on and the differences between them. I used to wonder why things were SO expensive here compared to back home. A small apartment or at least what we would call a small apartment back in the states might consist of 3 bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen, and maybe a couple of other things and those things would be for sale for €500,000!! Also it is so hard to get land here to build a house and the whole process can take years. Enough about that.

It really is a shame that we have to be divided by parties in the United States and other parts of the world. Whats even more of a shame is the fact that people choose certain parties for all the wrong reasons! First off I'd like to thank my father for always challenging me to think and not just go with what everyone else is doing but to stop, and ask questions. Why are things this way? Why is the U.S. structured the way it is? Why has the U.S. been the most successful, most powerful, most sought after to country to live in ever? Why do people risk their lives, their families lives, and everything else in order to pursue a life in the U.S.? I admit that politics can be very confusing at times especially when you are just starting to try and understand everything. Many people get all their information form certain sources on TV such as CNN, Fox News and so on. The problem with that is most of these TV stations have agendas as well. They may only put things on the TV that they agree with or try and sway peoples opinions by not sharing the whole story. Many people fall into the trap of believing everything they hear on TV and not researching things on their own. Like my father told me once, "Ignorance is our Countries greatest threat." People not knowing. There are so many people out there now who know nothing about either of the presidential candidates but will vote for one or the other because of race. Ill vote for him because hes black or Ill vote for him because hes white. Also some people whose parents are Democrat or Republican will vote for what their parents vote for because they are stuck in their ways instead of stepping back and making a decision for themselves. There are some people who no matter what you say or do, even if you prove them wrong time after time after time, will vote for a certain party or individual. Without telling what Party I am for because frankly its not important right now, I will mention the many times I've heard my Father debate with opposing parties about why they are what they are. Time after time they would be proven wrong or were clueless as to why they vote the way they do. My Dad says that hes waiting for the day that one person he debates with can hold their position but to this day it has not happened. These are people I've always thought of as smart people and they end up sounding how do I say hmmmmm........Ignorant! If you don't know by now I am a black male and I don't know how many times I've been approached and asked the question are you Democrat or Republican and then they stop in the middle of their question and assume democrat!! Maybe I am democrat and maybe I'm not but to assume I am affiliated with a certain party because of my race is preposterous! The purpose of this post is not to sway your opinion to be for a certain party but to ask questions and truly search for answers. No party is perfect and and all will make mistakes. Whether there is a democrat in office or a republican, don't think that because things are going great or because things are going terrible, its all that parties doing. I hope this post has caused you to think and ASK QUESTIONS!!