MUSINGS

As I close the first full week of my new blog, I have to keep reminding myself that this is not a dream. I am not exactly computer literate, but I have been so fortunate to have had the help of some pretty special people.

I can't ever thank Chris enough for his encouragement, support and guidance. He was the inspiration for me even trying to create my own blog. If you can, make sure to check out Chris's blog The Further West. It is awesome and where I go to find all the hockey news and a lot of other good stuff too.

Thanks also to Pete, who blogs at Ten Minute Misconduct. I enjoy his blog so much, and he has been very supportive of my amateur efforts. I can always count on Pete to have something posted on his blog with a unique perspective, as well as intriguing questions. He has been kind enough to comment on my blog, encouraging and supporting my efforts.

A special thanks to my Volpac friends River and Alvin. River is the true creative artist. Sometimes her ideas and concepts are truly breathtaking. She has been so supportive of my efforts, always encouraging and frequently making me laugh when I do something dumb. Her blog Postcards From River West is one of my favorite sites. I can always find something there to put things in perspective and cheer me up.

Alvin is the moral compass for me, and he has been since the day I first met him on Volpac. His high moral standards have been a beacon in the night and I know that I can always count on him to help me, and to understand when things go wrong. Alvin has a blog called Ethics 101, and it is well worth your time to take a few minutes and check it out. His cartoons are so funny, and there is always a message in them.

But most of all, I have to thank my personal political hero, former Senator Bill Frist. I have never met him, but he is the politician I most admire. I have always been interested in politics, and followed his career with interest, even though I was a lifelong Democrat. He is the reason that I became a Republican, a decision that I have never regretted. The Party fits my beliefs much more than the Democrat party ever did.

As he rose through the ranks in the Senate, I started to follow his career even closer. As I studied his background, I realized that he was a unique individual with so much to offer the American people. I have always liked to study politicians who have chosen courage over political expediency.

When Senator Frist made his speech about advocating a change in the stem cell policy of the Bush administration, I knew that I had found the politician that I wanted to see elected President. It hasn't turned out that way, but my respect for him has never wavered. I consider him to be an honest, moral, ethical person, a rarity in politics. He is someone I will judge all future politicians by. I am afraid that most of them won't measure up.