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Surfing, for me, was a consuming, urgent lust that wouldnt fade until it was consummated, at a rustic surf camp in California. Never mind that I was 15 and from a landlocked Boston suburb where, I later learned, being a surfer is synonymous with masochism. Never mind that I had yet to meet anyone who surfed. Or that Id had to take my lifeguarding test twice.As soon as I saw that surfer gliding across a tiny Cape Cod wave, there was no turning back.What I didnt know was that the sport would become a kind of passport, pain point and calling card all in one. I couldnt have imagined that, 20 years later, it would be a gateway to both my dream career and a contested space, where Id be alternately glowing in the embrace of a global family and struggling to find where I fit in.When summer came around again, I took all my babysitting money and some of my moms air miles and landed at a surf school in San Clemente, California, a wave-centric town where the flames of my passion grew to new heights. To some, San Clemente is known as the moneyed village where President Richard Nixon retired. To me, it was a magical land where parents drove Volkswagen buses piled high with boards; kids had golden-brown skin and sun-bleached hair; and the air smelled of campfires and eucalyptus.My first wave, however, was far from divine. It was at a heavy shorebreak -- no fun for neophytes -- and on my first ride I washed up on the sand into a spray of pebbles, with my polka dot bikini top around my waist. Far from the ecstasy that imbues most surfers first times, I had my doubts. Was this going to be as bad as the torment of gym class?But after a few sessions at a gentler spot, I actually got the hang of it. My bikini stayed on. I made friends. I got tan. And I felt strong and beautiful and free. Thats no small thing when youre sporting glasses, braces and pubertys effects all in one awkward bundle. Nothing made me feel as good as surfing and, whatever markings of adolescence I might have had on the outside, on the inside I was starting to become a more confident girl.The week in San Clemente -- camping on the bluff, surfing three times a day and eating hot dogs under the stars -- felt like a year. In fact, it changed my life. I returned to the camp the next summer, this time as a counselor, and bought my first board (a terrible, paper-thin choice for a beginner). Between family ski trips and school breaks, I spent winter weekends watching every surf movie I could find, dreaming of sunnier climes and sparkling seas.After four years of college in New York City, where I still clung to my ocean-bound love, I wanted to see what building a life around surfing would look like. I moved to Bondi Beach in Sydney, still seedy in parts and bustling with expats. We waited tables and cooked brekkies for hungover Brits, and saved up for camper vans and surfaris. In truth, my surfing didnt get much better, but my ideas about how to live definitely were.Yet for all the enviable evenings at open-air restaurants with a table full of Kiwi cooks or sultry afternoons on Bondis crowded beach, what I didnt resolve was how to dive into adulthood without abandoning my passion. It seemed easy for Aussies with leathery skin and scruffy beards. But it wasnt like that for me.For a while, I resented surfing because it complicated life choices. Where I was from, women became lawyers, doctors and academics -- jobs with educational distinction and clear career paths. But I knew there had to be a way to do both -- to have my sun-splashed Saturdays in the waves, and work at something I loved during the week.The big caveat, of course, is that its not all perfect: Ive hit major stumbling blocks on land and, yes, Im still scared of getting pounded in the water, pebbles or not. But this summer, after an intense few years of learning the ropes and working nonstop, Im surfing regularly again -- not big waves and not heavy shorebreaks, but paddling out nonetheless. In essence, its a surfing life on my own terms, in a way that feels strong and beautiful and free. Mike Williams Womens Jersey . The 20-year-old Pelicans big man glanced up and smiled widely at the well-wishers -- a fitting end to a day he wont soon forget. Davis responded to his selection earlier in the day as a Western Conference All-Star with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and the New Orleans Pelicans overcame a 10-point fourth-quarter deficit to defeat the Minnesota Timberwolves 98-91 on Friday night. Joey Bosa Womens Jersey . Pence singled in the winning run with no outs in the ninth inning to give the Giants a 7-6 victory over the San Diego Padres on Sunday. http://www.prochargersteamstore.com/Youth-Joey-Bosa-Elite-Jersey/ . While hell be dialed in to that tournament on a course he loves, you can forgive him if his eyes glance down the calendar just a bit, towards April. Kellen Winslow Jersey . Once again, DeLaet finished tied for second at a PGA Tour stop on the weekend, this time at the Waste Management Phoenix Open. The pride of Weyburn, Sask. Jerry Tillery Womens Jersey . Houston won 3-0 to advance to face New York in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Last in the game, Di Vaio and Romero got into a shoving match with several Houston players. Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. ATLANTA -- A fast start through five games? The Atlanta Falcons have been there, blown that.One year ago, the Falcons were 5-0 and appeared certain to land in the playoffs. Instead, they won only three more games for an 8-8 finish in Dan Quinns inaugural season as coach.Now, the Falcons again are leading the NFC South with a 4-1 record. Quinn believes the optimism generated this season is not just another path to a letdown for Atlantas fans.For evidence, the Falcons can point to their ability to find different ways to win. They also can point to back-to-back wins over last seasons Super Bowl teams.It is different, it feels different for us, Quinn said Monday during a conference call. We have a much better way that we reset. We learned a lot from last years start and learned a lot from last years season.Two weeks ago, the Falcons dominated through the air in their 48-33 home win over Carolina. Matt Ryan passed for a team-record 503 yards with four touchdowns, including 300 yards to Julio Jones, a team record for yards receiving in a game.On Sunday, Jones had only two catches for 29 yards, but Atlanta rode strong defense, including a surprising six sacks, to beat the Denver Broncos 23-16. Vic Beasley Jr. had 3 + sacks.Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman led the offense. Freeman ran for 88 yards with a touchdown and Coleman was the Falcons leading receiver with four catches for 132 yards, including a 31-yard touchdown from Ryan.The Falcons found other ways to score when Denvers defense focused on Jones.The versatility is probably the thing that jumps out to us, Quinn said, notting that running backs, receivers and tight end Jacob Tamme have taken turns as Ryans favorite target.ddddddddddddFor a team coming off a 6-10 record in 2014, last years .500 record was a step up. The problem was 8-8 felt like a big letdown following five straight wins to open the season.Atlanta began this season with a home loss to Tampa Bay, but will take a four-game winning streak into this weeks game at Seattle.We love the style and identity of this years team and the attitude and style we like to play with, Quinn said.For Quinn, it is a return to the city where he served as the Seahawks defensive coordinator under coach Pete Carroll. Quinn was hired by Atlanta before the 2015 season.Quinn said Carroll had a huge impact on me as a coach in a lot of ways. But Quinn was reluctant to say much about his time in Seattle.My biggest focus this week is I want it to be about the guys, he said.Game notes The Falcons flew to Seattle following Sundays win in Denver and will practice at the University of Washington this week. ... Quinn said LBs DeVondre Campbell (ankle) and Deion Jones (ankle) will practice Wednesday after missing the win over the Broncos. Campbell and Jones are rookie starters. We will take all the time we need to determine if they can help us, Quinn said. Backup LB Paul Worrilow (groin) also missed the Denver game and his status for this week remains uncertain.---AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and AP NFL Twitter feed: http://twitter.com/AP-NFL ' ' '