Yeah, that's right. I'm still trying to write a paper, which is why I'm blogging again.
The other day, my dear friend Madame Manatee told me about a funny experience her friend had in the Math lab. Some kid came up to her, who she didn't know, and said the following:
"I hate you. Can I have a piece of paper?"
Apparently, he wanted to draw or something. Soon after getting the paper, he said this:
"Thank you for your sacrifice. I still hate you."
He then just walked away.
I love overhearing things on campus. Random snippets of conversations, taken way out of context serve to bring me immense entertainment. Some of my favorites:
"She's like a cell phone, I see her nights and weekends."
"He's always acting like I'm just a typical girl, like I can't think logically or something! Ugh, Holly, he's such a boy!"
What about you guys--have any favorites?
Friday, October 13, 2006
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Sudoku
I love puzzles. I really like brain teasers, and all those sorts of things, but I have not been able yet to wrap my head, or my writing untensil around this one.
OK...so not that one. This one.
So, there was this one time, when I really wanted to finish a Sudoku, I even had one, kindly provided to me...
Then I realized that I only had a pen...and it didn't work, and it frustrates me. I think I'm going to end up printing off the puzzle again and trying it when I have a pencil...because it's driving me crazy, and it's a really short trip sometimes.
Ah well, back to the crossword...at least I don't feel irrational and illogical if I can't get that finished...just less knowledgeable than Will Shortz would like me to be.
OK...so not that one. This one.
So, there was this one time, when I really wanted to finish a Sudoku, I even had one, kindly provided to me...
Then I realized that I only had a pen...and it didn't work, and it frustrates me. I think I'm going to end up printing off the puzzle again and trying it when I have a pencil...because it's driving me crazy, and it's a really short trip sometimes.
Ah well, back to the crossword...at least I don't feel irrational and illogical if I can't get that finished...just less knowledgeable than Will Shortz would like me to be.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Identity: Loser
If you take the word "Loser" to mean "One who loses," then I am a grade A loser when it comes to Identity.
Well, at least when it comes to ID, as in BYU ID. I have had 6 different ID cards because I have, at some inconvenient time, misplaced the ID, and needed to go and get a new one. The best part of it all is though, that I've only paid for 2 of these ID's. This is how it works:
ID.01: Got my first day at BYU, right after a camping trip...that was precious.
ID.02: Thought I lost ID.01 on a trip to Las Vegas, figured I wouldn't get it back, and so I shelled out the $10.00 for a new one.
ID.03: Lost ID.02 somewhere on campus...maybe? But, having found ID.01 in my backpack at a later time, turned that ID in for the new one.
ID.04: Lost ID.03 somewhere...I can't keep these all straight. ID.02 was found by some friends of mine, and returned to me though, and, since I needed to take a test, I turned it in for a new one.
ID.05: Found out that ID.03 was lost at Legend's Grille, but didn't make it down to pick it up before they destroyed it. Having also lost ID.04, and needing to print off a paper, I shelled out $10 so that I could turn in a paper on time...lame.
ID.06: Thinking I'd lost ID.05, I turn in ID.04 (which was found in the library) in order to get ID.06. I've since found ID.05...it got lost while I was packing, and I found it in DC.
So, that brings us up to last night. I'm a loser, as far as ID goes...but last night, I became something different...I became a breaker.
ID.06 was in the back pocket of my pants that I'd been wearing that day. I changed into some other clothes for a run, put on my running shoes, and then stepped on my pants that I'd left on the floor. I hear a resounding "SNAP!" Chuckling to myself, I pull the two pieces of ID.06 out of my back pocket, amazed that it broke hot-dog wise, and think to myself that it means that tomorrow (today) I get to get ID.07 and a new picture, and I still have ID.05 as a back-up if I need it.
Guess I'm well on my way to having 10 different student ID's while I'm still at school...especially if I get married in the next year and a half...
Well, at least when it comes to ID, as in BYU ID. I have had 6 different ID cards because I have, at some inconvenient time, misplaced the ID, and needed to go and get a new one. The best part of it all is though, that I've only paid for 2 of these ID's. This is how it works:
ID.01: Got my first day at BYU, right after a camping trip...that was precious.
ID.02: Thought I lost ID.01 on a trip to Las Vegas, figured I wouldn't get it back, and so I shelled out the $10.00 for a new one.
ID.03: Lost ID.02 somewhere on campus...maybe? But, having found ID.01 in my backpack at a later time, turned that ID in for the new one.
ID.04: Lost ID.03 somewhere...I can't keep these all straight. ID.02 was found by some friends of mine, and returned to me though, and, since I needed to take a test, I turned it in for a new one.
ID.05: Found out that ID.03 was lost at Legend's Grille, but didn't make it down to pick it up before they destroyed it. Having also lost ID.04, and needing to print off a paper, I shelled out $10 so that I could turn in a paper on time...lame.
ID.06: Thinking I'd lost ID.05, I turn in ID.04 (which was found in the library) in order to get ID.06. I've since found ID.05...it got lost while I was packing, and I found it in DC.
So, that brings us up to last night. I'm a loser, as far as ID goes...but last night, I became something different...I became a breaker.
ID.06 was in the back pocket of my pants that I'd been wearing that day. I changed into some other clothes for a run, put on my running shoes, and then stepped on my pants that I'd left on the floor. I hear a resounding "SNAP!" Chuckling to myself, I pull the two pieces of ID.06 out of my back pocket, amazed that it broke hot-dog wise, and think to myself that it means that tomorrow (today) I get to get ID.07 and a new picture, and I still have ID.05 as a back-up if I need it.
Guess I'm well on my way to having 10 different student ID's while I'm still at school...especially if I get married in the next year and a half...
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Road Trip!!
You know, my family has driven over a whole lot of the United States. We've moved about 31 times, and each time we've moved we've driven there. You know what I've realized? I just love driving places for trips. It's also funny, because a lot of times we didn't see a whole lot of stuff that was terribly worthwhile. I've been in Oklahoma in the middle of winter and the grassy fields are all dead...I've been across the Salt Flats many, many times, and I've been all over up and down California. My favorite thing about road trips involves three things: camping, driving, and friends.
First off, camping. Anytime that I've been on any kind of road trip to go camping, it's been amazing. Now, I'm not talking about hard-core camping, where you pack all your stuff and hike into the mountains to rough it, I'm talking about basic camping--a tent, a tarp, and some stuff to cook over the fire when you build it. In these cases, the car becomes something different--it's the link between you, the great outdoors, and civilization. Also, I love the feeling of a sun-warmed car when you've just gone swimming in a really cold lake or in the ocean. Mmmmm...
Secondly, though it could have been firstly, driving. I love driving. I love to drive myself, and I love to be a passenger--whether that entails sitting in the passenger seat and keeping the driver entertained, or sleeping in the back on a really long drive. I get really good naps in the car. I think it's the warmth combined with the movement. I also think that my parents used to take me on drives when I was little to make me sleep, and it's definitely stuck. I also love watching landscape whirr by as we drive on the interstate. I love the stars in the sky overhead when you get out into the desert, or anywhere out in the open. I like sticking my hand out the window and catching little air currents as I drive along. Good times.
Lastly, the people. You get to know people in a different way when you're stuck in a little space in the middle of nowhere with them. You're forced to talk, or at least to communicate in some way. When you're sitting there in silence, then you still get to know their facial expressions...how they drive, all that stuff that can tell you facts about them that they didn't know that they were sharing. Music choice is especially good at this. When riding in a car with someone, listening to the music that they pick can tell you a lot about their current mood, and the kind of person that they are. One of my favorite indicators is what songs they'll turn up and sing loudly to. The best is when you can both sing along loudly to some song that they've picked...that's when you know that you can be real friends. Conversations in cars can be some of the best too...because they have to last as long as the car ride. Granted, if the conversation turns really sour, this last part can make for a terrible ride. Hopefully though, you're taking road trips with friends...because it makes a big difference.
All-in-all...Road trips are basically one of my favorite things, and once the snow melts, maybe it'll be time to take another one. Or maybe, while the snow is still around, it'll be time to head somewhere slightly warmer. Who knows? In any case, I've got a serious hankerin' to watch A Goofy Movie, and maybe to go and check out some of my maps.
Monday, October 09, 2006
9:34 and All is Well
I've been really tired lately, and feeling more and more, well...frazzled, I guess. Inside, I've been feeling a bit like this lady: 
It's funny too, because I've been getting everything I need to accomplished, I've just not felt really on top of things. This means that I'm finishing my reading right before class, scraping by on my homework, and feeling generally rushed.
In order to combat this, I decided that tonight, I'm going to get enough sleep. Yes ladies and gentlemen, this means that, although it is only 9:34 (well, 9:40 right this instant), I am showered, in my pj's, and settling down to read some stuff about russian women for tomorrow's class before heading off to bed. I'm acting like a real-live grown-up...
...and I think I like it.
PS: I also got a 145 in bowling today...it was amazing; rocked my socks right off.
PPS: I also went rollerblading tonight...and it was pretty amazing too.
It's funny too, because I've been getting everything I need to accomplished, I've just not felt really on top of things. This means that I'm finishing my reading right before class, scraping by on my homework, and feeling generally rushed.
In order to combat this, I decided that tonight, I'm going to get enough sleep. Yes ladies and gentlemen, this means that, although it is only 9:34 (well, 9:40 right this instant), I am showered, in my pj's, and settling down to read some stuff about russian women for tomorrow's class before heading off to bed. I'm acting like a real-live grown-up...
...and I think I like it.
PS: I also got a 145 in bowling today...it was amazing; rocked my socks right off.
PPS: I also went rollerblading tonight...and it was pretty amazing too.
Sunday, October 08, 2006
I Wonder as I Wander
It's been a little while since I blogged it up, I guess it's about time that I do so.
First off, it's been about a week now since my car died. It wasn't necessarily terminally ill...but it was suffering. I pulled the plug, car dead. Maybe I'll do a photo blog about that a little later. Currently, the pain is a bit fresh.
Life otherwise is amazing. I taught a lesson in Sunday School today that went really, really well. I got set apart, which is one of my favorite things in all of church-dom, and I get to go home in about 40 minutes for dinner with my family and Best Friend. What a great combination!
Otherwise, I just feel like rambling right now. I think I would be sleeping if it weren't for the fact that I took a nap right after church today...and two naps in one sunday seems a bit excessive. I'm looking around my room at all the...stuff...that I have, and realizing that I should probably downsize a bit. I've got some really random stuff. Like...this piggy bank that's just ugly...and this random bunch of civil war postcards--who needs these things? Yeah...not me, but I still have them. Maybe I should pick up another pen pal, and just start sending postcards out to random people.
Anyway, I'm done rambling for now. I think I should probably actually write a few postcards to a couple of friends who've just gone on missions. Good Sabbath to all.
First off, it's been about a week now since my car died. It wasn't necessarily terminally ill...but it was suffering. I pulled the plug, car dead. Maybe I'll do a photo blog about that a little later. Currently, the pain is a bit fresh.
Life otherwise is amazing. I taught a lesson in Sunday School today that went really, really well. I got set apart, which is one of my favorite things in all of church-dom, and I get to go home in about 40 minutes for dinner with my family and Best Friend. What a great combination!
Otherwise, I just feel like rambling right now. I think I would be sleeping if it weren't for the fact that I took a nap right after church today...and two naps in one sunday seems a bit excessive. I'm looking around my room at all the...stuff...that I have, and realizing that I should probably downsize a bit. I've got some really random stuff. Like...this piggy bank that's just ugly...and this random bunch of civil war postcards--who needs these things? Yeah...not me, but I still have them. Maybe I should pick up another pen pal, and just start sending postcards out to random people.
Anyway, I'm done rambling for now. I think I should probably actually write a few postcards to a couple of friends who've just gone on missions. Good Sabbath to all.
Monday, September 18, 2006
Reasons to Love the CB
-Engineers live there...you have to love engineer(s).
-The girls bathroom on the 4th floor has borax soap in it--you know, the powedered stuff from back in elementary school, that you can mix with elmer's glue to make gak.
-There's a vending machine on the 4th floor that is full of electronic stuff--resistors, CD-R's, old floppy's, electrical wires...the works. How about a computer chip with your chocolate milk?
-You can see little shreds of the humanities creeping into the building. I've only begun to explore it because I have a class there--History 490. The headquarters to the BYU studies magazine is also centered there.
Also, Faith and Hope are two different things, and they're awesome.
-The girls bathroom on the 4th floor has borax soap in it--you know, the powedered stuff from back in elementary school, that you can mix with elmer's glue to make gak.
-There's a vending machine on the 4th floor that is full of electronic stuff--resistors, CD-R's, old floppy's, electrical wires...the works. How about a computer chip with your chocolate milk?
-You can see little shreds of the humanities creeping into the building. I've only begun to explore it because I have a class there--History 490. The headquarters to the BYU studies magazine is also centered there.
Also, Faith and Hope are two different things, and they're awesome.
Monday, September 11, 2006
And Your Little Dog Too!
These stories shouldn't be as funny as they are, but they make me laugh a lot. It's probably my cold and heartless nature.
In another country, far from here, there are a lot of little dogs. Personally, I think little dogs fall into two categories--really cute, or hideous. Chihuahuas, I think, are horrid yappy little dogs. When I heard this story, I pictured a chihuahua, you may picture any small dog of your choosing. One family apparently had a particularly yappy annoying little dog. Well, one day, while out on a walk with this dog, a large bird of prey swooped down and carried the dog off to regions unknown...
...little dog 1 gone.
The same family gets another little dog...in my mind, this dog becomes chihuahua number 2. One day, the family is opening the freezer, and little dog is underfoot. A killer frozen chicken of death falls out of the freezer, lands on the little dog, and kills it.
No more little dog 2.
Moral of the stories--if you've got a small dog, keep it inside and away from the fridge, or just buy yourself a bigger dog.
Sunday, September 10, 2006
Awww...Tender.....Sick!
So, yesterday I went with Best Friend and our siblings (minus 3) to watch Chronicles of Narnia at the Scera outdoor theater. The movie was good, as usual, but the side show was something else.
Backstory: this summer, I started using two words on a pretty regular basis: "Sick!" and "Tender." These words are exceptionally useful. It's also really funny when one person says, "tender" to have another person reply with "sick!" immediately afterwards. This experience sort of made you feel both...but mostly just "sick!"
So, there's this really old couple--like, 70 or 75, and they're making out under a blanket next to us after the movie is over. Sick! Usually, I love seeing old people who are affectionate. It shows that they haven't lost the excitement in their relationship. This, however, was just sick.
Later, as we were getting into the van to drive home, we saw this couple again...this time, mounting their motorcycle to ride off into the darkness.
Some old people just don't know that they're old, I guess.
Backstory: this summer, I started using two words on a pretty regular basis: "Sick!" and "Tender." These words are exceptionally useful. It's also really funny when one person says, "tender" to have another person reply with "sick!" immediately afterwards. This experience sort of made you feel both...but mostly just "sick!"
So, there's this really old couple--like, 70 or 75, and they're making out under a blanket next to us after the movie is over. Sick! Usually, I love seeing old people who are affectionate. It shows that they haven't lost the excitement in their relationship. This, however, was just sick.
Later, as we were getting into the van to drive home, we saw this couple again...this time, mounting their motorcycle to ride off into the darkness.
Some old people just don't know that they're old, I guess.
Sunday, September 03, 2006
Flitzxle, Pluto
I went to my new student ward for the first time today, and it was great. There are probably a total of about 30 freshmen in it, putting them in the minority, and not-freshmen in the majority. I'm pretty excited about that. There are an incredible number of barely-off-their-missions young men who are really funny to watch. A lot of them cluster in groups, and a few make the effort to actually talk to girls without another guy standing right next to them. Many of them bore their testimonies in chruch today in the same manner as many other missionaries that I've heard...it was really fun. There's a great spirit about the ward though, and I think things should be great. In the ward today, we got nametags with our names on them (duh) and where we're from. Mine stated that I was from Flitzxle, Pluto. I'm not sure if the new bishoprich was stating that I am out of this world, or punishing me for not having records in the ward by making me from a non-planet. Either way, I liked it.
Speaking of newly returned missionaries, Best Friend just got back a little while ago, and life has been so great! After this summer, I expected a potential dip in the excitement/happiness factor, and there hasn't been one. If anything, my happiness is multiplying exponentially...and that's a lot of happiness.
Speaking of newly returned missionaries, Best Friend just got back a little while ago, and life has been so great! After this summer, I expected a potential dip in the excitement/happiness factor, and there hasn't been one. If anything, my happiness is multiplying exponentially...and that's a lot of happiness.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
If You're Happy and You Know It, Do It All
You know what? Life is soo good right now. I'm living in an adorable apartment, which has storage and lots of light, and all kinds of happy feelings. Well, I have all kinds of happy feelings, especially about the wonderful little kitchen with lots of cabinet space. it's so wonderful, I'm so happy about my little apartment.
Also, I'm really home. School starts soon, I'm done with my summer work (finally), and I just belong here. I've got a great job, wonderful coworkers, amazing friends, and a family that loves me. On top of all this, Best Friend returns in a matter of days (about 48 hours). I spent my summer doing an internship that was custom made for me in Washington DC. In case you don't know Washinton DC : History Major :: Candy Store : Fat Kid.
Basically, I have the best life ever, and God loves me, I am blessed.
Also, I'm really home. School starts soon, I'm done with my summer work (finally), and I just belong here. I've got a great job, wonderful coworkers, amazing friends, and a family that loves me. On top of all this, Best Friend returns in a matter of days (about 48 hours). I spent my summer doing an internship that was custom made for me in Washington DC. In case you don't know Washinton DC : History Major :: Candy Store : Fat Kid.
Basically, I have the best life ever, and God loves me, I am blessed.
Monday, August 21, 2006
When I Grow Up...
I should apparently live in one of these cities, at least according to findyourspot.com.
1. Ft. Collins Colorado
2. Ogden, Utah
3. Provo-Orem, Utah
4. Jacksonville, Florida
5. Tallahasse, Florida
6. Tacoma, Washington
7. Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Knoxville, Tennessee
9. Charleston, South Carolina
10. Cinncinatti, Ohio
11. Carlisle, Pennsylvania
12. Gainesville, Florida
13. Boise, Idaho
14. Loveland, Colorado
15. Ashland, North Carolina
16. Colorado Springs, Colorado
17. Bloomington, Indiana
18. Albany, New York
19. Denver, Colorado
20. Olympia, Washington
21. Kent, Washington
22. Chattanooga, Tennessee
23. Orlando, Florida
24. Norfolk, Virginia
I think I could handle any of those places...with my family's record of moving...maybe I'll handle them all.
1. Ft. Collins Colorado
2. Ogden, Utah
3. Provo-Orem, Utah
4. Jacksonville, Florida
5. Tallahasse, Florida
6. Tacoma, Washington
7. Salt Lake City, Utah
8. Knoxville, Tennessee
9. Charleston, South Carolina
10. Cinncinatti, Ohio
11. Carlisle, Pennsylvania
12. Gainesville, Florida
13. Boise, Idaho
14. Loveland, Colorado
15. Ashland, North Carolina
16. Colorado Springs, Colorado
17. Bloomington, Indiana
18. Albany, New York
19. Denver, Colorado
20. Olympia, Washington
21. Kent, Washington
22. Chattanooga, Tennessee
23. Orlando, Florida
24. Norfolk, Virginia
I think I could handle any of those places...with my family's record of moving...maybe I'll handle them all.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
La Cucina de Miriam
I just finished writing a paper for class, and it sounded like a blog entry, so I thought, this should go on my blog! And it did. The end.
Before I came to college, 5:00 in the morning was nothing. I could wake up, shower, get dressed, get to seminary, and be there with a smile on my face and scripture mastery scriptures in my head. Once freshmen year hit, it became a struggle to wake up just to get to an 8:00 class. That said, the prospect of getting up to feed homeless people at an hour so terribly soon after I’d gone to bed didn’t immediately fill me with the greatest joy. The experience, however, was even more pleasant than I told myself it would be.
We all got up, trudged down to the kitchen, and tried to remind ourselves of how good it feels to do service, and how much it would mean to these homeless people that we were up and helping to feed them. We all got hairnets and aprons to wear…I felt like I’d been put back to work in the Morris Center. The individual running the kitchen hadn’t expected all of us to come, and in a hurried and slightly gruff manner, told us to fill out some paperwork, and then get to work. We all managed to smile in spite of the slight harshness. All of us seemed determined to have a good time while serving, that’s what we were there for, right? I was immediately put to work cutting small sausages apart and placing them in rows on a cookie sheet. I went at the job with all the vigor I could muster.
As we all worked in our respective positions—some of us making smoothies, some of us cracking eggs, some of us helping to wash dishes—I began to notice a change in the individual who was running the kitchen. His gruffness started to melt away as he saw that we were a bunch of cheerful, pleasant youth who were there to help do a job. We weren’t there for any reason other than the desire to serve. As we chatted merrily amongst ourselves, the other workers in the kitchen began to chat more merrily. Soon after I finished cutting all the little sausages apart, in a burst of generosity, I was given a box of other sausages to cut up so that we could give the homeless people more meat if they wanted it. Soon, those were cut and cooked, and it was time to start serving breakfast.
As people came through the line, it was interesting to see their personalities. Each individual was different. Some of the people were peppy and grateful, some people seemed resentful that they were there, having to get food from a bunch of perky college students. Some of the people were exceptionally young, and looked like they’d been through so much in their lives already. There were a few couples, a few older people, and a lot of gratitude. I was in charge of serving the cole slaw and the smoothies. It was the oddest combination of words in reference to a meal that I’d ever said. Interestingly enough, most of the homeless people who came through wanted the cole slaw, and wanted no part of the smoothies—they didn’t know what it was. I was surprised that we were serving cole slaw at all in our meal. The kitchen director explained that it has a ton of calories, and that they really try to load up the meals with them so that when people leave they’ll have enough calories to make it through the rest of the day if they can’t get any other food.
From the experience I became more appreciative of what I have. Sure, it was early, and I would have rather been sleeping when I woke up, but by the time I was cutting those raw little sausages apart, I was happy to be there, and feeling like I was doing something worthwhile. Just getting to watch the people eat a good meal, and to be able to come back for seconds, made me more fully aware of how much need there is all around me. I hate walking through areas where there are lots of people begging for money because I feel badly not being able to help them all. Working in that kitchen gave me the chance to feel like, even if I weren’t helping very many people, I was doing some small part to serve and make up for the fact that I can’t help them all. It also has encouraged me to think about the problem of homelessness, and what it means to our country. It’s such a complex issue, and I certainly don’t have an answer as to what we should do. Thanks to my experiences recently with the homeless though, I’m a lot more encouraged to try and find one.
Before I came to college, 5:00 in the morning was nothing. I could wake up, shower, get dressed, get to seminary, and be there with a smile on my face and scripture mastery scriptures in my head. Once freshmen year hit, it became a struggle to wake up just to get to an 8:00 class. That said, the prospect of getting up to feed homeless people at an hour so terribly soon after I’d gone to bed didn’t immediately fill me with the greatest joy. The experience, however, was even more pleasant than I told myself it would be.
We all got up, trudged down to the kitchen, and tried to remind ourselves of how good it feels to do service, and how much it would mean to these homeless people that we were up and helping to feed them. We all got hairnets and aprons to wear…I felt like I’d been put back to work in the Morris Center. The individual running the kitchen hadn’t expected all of us to come, and in a hurried and slightly gruff manner, told us to fill out some paperwork, and then get to work. We all managed to smile in spite of the slight harshness. All of us seemed determined to have a good time while serving, that’s what we were there for, right? I was immediately put to work cutting small sausages apart and placing them in rows on a cookie sheet. I went at the job with all the vigor I could muster.
As we all worked in our respective positions—some of us making smoothies, some of us cracking eggs, some of us helping to wash dishes—I began to notice a change in the individual who was running the kitchen. His gruffness started to melt away as he saw that we were a bunch of cheerful, pleasant youth who were there to help do a job. We weren’t there for any reason other than the desire to serve. As we chatted merrily amongst ourselves, the other workers in the kitchen began to chat more merrily. Soon after I finished cutting all the little sausages apart, in a burst of generosity, I was given a box of other sausages to cut up so that we could give the homeless people more meat if they wanted it. Soon, those were cut and cooked, and it was time to start serving breakfast.
As people came through the line, it was interesting to see their personalities. Each individual was different. Some of the people were peppy and grateful, some people seemed resentful that they were there, having to get food from a bunch of perky college students. Some of the people were exceptionally young, and looked like they’d been through so much in their lives already. There were a few couples, a few older people, and a lot of gratitude. I was in charge of serving the cole slaw and the smoothies. It was the oddest combination of words in reference to a meal that I’d ever said. Interestingly enough, most of the homeless people who came through wanted the cole slaw, and wanted no part of the smoothies—they didn’t know what it was. I was surprised that we were serving cole slaw at all in our meal. The kitchen director explained that it has a ton of calories, and that they really try to load up the meals with them so that when people leave they’ll have enough calories to make it through the rest of the day if they can’t get any other food.
From the experience I became more appreciative of what I have. Sure, it was early, and I would have rather been sleeping when I woke up, but by the time I was cutting those raw little sausages apart, I was happy to be there, and feeling like I was doing something worthwhile. Just getting to watch the people eat a good meal, and to be able to come back for seconds, made me more fully aware of how much need there is all around me. I hate walking through areas where there are lots of people begging for money because I feel badly not being able to help them all. Working in that kitchen gave me the chance to feel like, even if I weren’t helping very many people, I was doing some small part to serve and make up for the fact that I can’t help them all. It also has encouraged me to think about the problem of homelessness, and what it means to our country. It’s such a complex issue, and I certainly don’t have an answer as to what we should do. Thanks to my experiences recently with the homeless though, I’m a lot more encouraged to try and find one.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Everyone is Out To Get US
Weakening Storm Still May Form Hurricane
Page A13
MIAMI, Aug. 2 -- Tropical Storm Chris weakened Wednesday but still threatened to become the first hurricane of 2006, aimed at Florida or at U.S. oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, where monster storms such as Katrina wreaked havoc last year.
--http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/print/asection/index.html (emphasis added)
Is it just me, or does this little blurb make it sound like it's not just the terrorists who are out to get us, it's now the hurricanes too? Nature doesn't "take out" things in strategic strikes...it just goes where it wants to. I'm pretty sure this storm, while it could be heading in the direction of those oil facilities, is not, in fact, predeterminedly (Yes, I did make up that word.) aimed toward them.
Page A13
MIAMI, Aug. 2 -- Tropical Storm Chris weakened Wednesday but still threatened to become the first hurricane of 2006, aimed at Florida or at U.S. oil facilities in the Gulf of Mexico, where monster storms such as Katrina wreaked havoc last year.
--http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/print/asection/index.html (emphasis added)
Is it just me, or does this little blurb make it sound like it's not just the terrorists who are out to get us, it's now the hurricanes too? Nature doesn't "take out" things in strategic strikes...it just goes where it wants to. I'm pretty sure this storm, while it could be heading in the direction of those oil facilities, is not, in fact, predeterminedly (Yes, I did make up that word.) aimed toward them.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Holy August Batman!
Suddenly, it's August, and I can't think what happened to May, June, and July. Especially July. It's over already! Just last week I could have sworn that it was July 4th. I could have sworn it, but I would have been crazy.
I've been noticing that when I don't pay attention to what people are saying in conversations closely enough, I lie to them. Not just, "Oh, you didn't understand" kind of lies...just lies.
The other day, I was walking with a fellow intern and doing the Crossword puzzle on my way to work. She noticed me doing the crossword puzzle, and apparently started asking me about whether or not I had seen Wordplay. I had, in fact, gone to see Wordplay the night before. In being distracted and kind of ignoring her, I responded, "No, I haven't seen that yet, but I really want to." Then we started talking about some scheduling things and I started to pay attention.
That, and I got stuck on the crossword, so I had nothing else to do for the next 5 minutes.
Later that day, my fellow intern and a supervisor were talking about Wordplay again...and I was excited to get into the conversation, seeing as I had just seen the movie. I start to talk to them about it, and I was really excited about it, when the other intern looks at me and says, "you said you hadn't seen that movie."
"What?" I replied. "No I didn't. I just saw it last night."
"This morning, when I asked you about it, you said you hadn't seen it."
At this point in the afternoon, I have no recollection of lying to her this morning. I, in fact, don't remember conversing with her before talking about our schedule change that weekend. I only remember working on the crossword puzzle, and then running into her after putting it down.
Isn't it interesting how we remember things? Clearly, my brain just edited what happened in the situation. I've certainly had instances where I remember things one way, and someone else who was there remembers it differently...or where something seems to become a memory based on the stories that I heard about being there.
Why is memory such a slippery thing? If mine is going now...I'm worried about what's going to happen when I turn old. Maybe this is why it's so important to keep a journal...so that you've got one source you'll feel dumb disputing with--yourself.
Rabbit Rabbit everyone.
I've been noticing that when I don't pay attention to what people are saying in conversations closely enough, I lie to them. Not just, "Oh, you didn't understand" kind of lies...just lies.
The other day, I was walking with a fellow intern and doing the Crossword puzzle on my way to work. She noticed me doing the crossword puzzle, and apparently started asking me about whether or not I had seen Wordplay. I had, in fact, gone to see Wordplay the night before. In being distracted and kind of ignoring her, I responded, "No, I haven't seen that yet, but I really want to." Then we started talking about some scheduling things and I started to pay attention.
That, and I got stuck on the crossword, so I had nothing else to do for the next 5 minutes.
Later that day, my fellow intern and a supervisor were talking about Wordplay again...and I was excited to get into the conversation, seeing as I had just seen the movie. I start to talk to them about it, and I was really excited about it, when the other intern looks at me and says, "you said you hadn't seen that movie."
"What?" I replied. "No I didn't. I just saw it last night."
"This morning, when I asked you about it, you said you hadn't seen it."
At this point in the afternoon, I have no recollection of lying to her this morning. I, in fact, don't remember conversing with her before talking about our schedule change that weekend. I only remember working on the crossword puzzle, and then running into her after putting it down.
Isn't it interesting how we remember things? Clearly, my brain just edited what happened in the situation. I've certainly had instances where I remember things one way, and someone else who was there remembers it differently...or where something seems to become a memory based on the stories that I heard about being there.
Why is memory such a slippery thing? If mine is going now...I'm worried about what's going to happen when I turn old. Maybe this is why it's so important to keep a journal...so that you've got one source you'll feel dumb disputing with--yourself.
Rabbit Rabbit everyone.
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Tender Mercies
I have to work today, and I have to work from 10-5:30, which means that I can't go to church.
I've been feeling pretty bummed about this. It's odd. There are some days where I don't really get excited to go to church, but I always miss it when, for some reason or another, I can't go to church. I miss the boost in morale I get from being in church--the chance to refocus, regroup, and return to where I'm supposed to be.
So, I'm sitting on the Metro this morning, riding to work, feeling sad and a little alone, and asking in one of my silent little prayers to just feel loved. It wasn't even a really earnest pleading prayer. It was one of those things where you say something in passing, but if someone didn't catch what you said and then asked, "what did you say?" you'd answer with, "nothing." Anyway, right as I prayed my little prayer, a guy from the program I'm in sits next to me and gives me one of those little side hugs right before getting off the metro about 10 seconds later.
Coincidence? Possibly, but the fact that it could be coincidence doesn't matter to me. For me, that little incident was an answer to a prayer, because it did exactly what I needed it to--it made me feel loved.
This is certainly not the first time this has happened either. I am consistently amazed at the little requests that my Heavenly Father sees fit to grant. In August of 2004 I was feeling pretty lonely. I'd just said good-bye to Best Friend for a couple of years, and all the other friends that I'd hung out with freshmen year were all still at home or on missions. That, and I was moving all my stuff around my room and unpacking, which generally makes me somewhat nostalgic. In short, I was pretty blue. I'm moving stuff around my room, feeling a little grumpy at the lack of space in a DT single room, and I'm asking Heavenly Father to help me change my attitude, because I don't like feeling the way I was.
Well, I picked up my fridge, and found a circle made out of blue construction paper under it. This paper had a big happy face on it, a scripture from The Doctrine and Covenants about a cheerful heart, and the word "SMILE!" written across the top in bold letters. I couldn't help myself--I just started to laugh. All alone on my empty floor, I laughed, and my mood was completely changed.
I guess it's hard to see exactly how great these moments were for me if you're not me, and if you don't have the same mind set and such. For me though, they've been little testimonies to me that God is listening, and that he really does care about me and all my silly little ups and downs. He even listens to the things that I half-mutter under my breath when I think no one cares. It reminds me of this quote:
"The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live."
Elder David A. Bednar
Ensign, May 2005, 100
It's true. Honestly, it's all true. God really does love us, and he is our Father. I'm sure thankful, and I'm even more thankful that he actually cares. Here's to hoping you all have the same affirmation.
I've been feeling pretty bummed about this. It's odd. There are some days where I don't really get excited to go to church, but I always miss it when, for some reason or another, I can't go to church. I miss the boost in morale I get from being in church--the chance to refocus, regroup, and return to where I'm supposed to be.
So, I'm sitting on the Metro this morning, riding to work, feeling sad and a little alone, and asking in one of my silent little prayers to just feel loved. It wasn't even a really earnest pleading prayer. It was one of those things where you say something in passing, but if someone didn't catch what you said and then asked, "what did you say?" you'd answer with, "nothing." Anyway, right as I prayed my little prayer, a guy from the program I'm in sits next to me and gives me one of those little side hugs right before getting off the metro about 10 seconds later.
Coincidence? Possibly, but the fact that it could be coincidence doesn't matter to me. For me, that little incident was an answer to a prayer, because it did exactly what I needed it to--it made me feel loved.
This is certainly not the first time this has happened either. I am consistently amazed at the little requests that my Heavenly Father sees fit to grant. In August of 2004 I was feeling pretty lonely. I'd just said good-bye to Best Friend for a couple of years, and all the other friends that I'd hung out with freshmen year were all still at home or on missions. That, and I was moving all my stuff around my room and unpacking, which generally makes me somewhat nostalgic. In short, I was pretty blue. I'm moving stuff around my room, feeling a little grumpy at the lack of space in a DT single room, and I'm asking Heavenly Father to help me change my attitude, because I don't like feeling the way I was.
Well, I picked up my fridge, and found a circle made out of blue construction paper under it. This paper had a big happy face on it, a scripture from The Doctrine and Covenants about a cheerful heart, and the word "SMILE!" written across the top in bold letters. I couldn't help myself--I just started to laugh. All alone on my empty floor, I laughed, and my mood was completely changed.
I guess it's hard to see exactly how great these moments were for me if you're not me, and if you don't have the same mind set and such. For me though, they've been little testimonies to me that God is listening, and that he really does care about me and all my silly little ups and downs. He even listens to the things that I half-mutter under my breath when I think no one cares. It reminds me of this quote:
"The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live."
Elder David A. Bednar
Ensign, May 2005, 100
It's true. Honestly, it's all true. God really does love us, and he is our Father. I'm sure thankful, and I'm even more thankful that he actually cares. Here's to hoping you all have the same affirmation.
Saturday, July 29, 2006
Baleted!
So, this one time, I had a facebook account deleted by an administrator...
...and it was hilarious, it was also not my main account. It was one of my old board 'nyms. I logged in the other day as them just to see what was up...and found over 200 friend requests Apparently, all the activity alerted the authorities...and they deleted me.
Many people in the world of Facebook just lost a friend, and they don't even know it.
...and it was hilarious, it was also not my main account. It was one of my old board 'nyms. I logged in the other day as them just to see what was up...and found over 200 friend requests Apparently, all the activity alerted the authorities...and they deleted me.
Many people in the world of Facebook just lost a friend, and they don't even know it.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
I too am a People-Loving Macedonian Dwarf.
In other news, Christmas in July went well--really well in fact. It was so much fun! There was plenty of food for everyone, no one went hungry, and everyone was so chipper. The Christmas Spirit was all over the place. That's what this was all about, helping people feel that great Christmas Spirit...and having leftover turkey. :D
I'm realizing that I've only got a little while left here...and I've got massive amounts of stuff to go through again. I barely got it all out here when I came...I dunno how I'm going to get it all back. Maybe if I ship all my paper stuff home...books, pamphlets etc. then I'll be able to make it...maybe not. I really should figure that out. I've also got three papers to write and get turned in before I leave...this could be intense, but it probably won't be.
Life is good, but I'm ready to come home. I feel like I've learned a lot this summer, and that I've grown some, but I don't know if Washington Seminar, and Washington DC at this point, has much more to offer me in the way of personal progress. I'm ready to start life in Provo again, and to find new ways to grow there. No use in being stagnant...right?
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Pearl Harbor
I saw this movie for the first time today, and it was less terrible than I was expecting. This could have been due to several factors.
1. I was locked out of my room for about 5.5 hours today, and so the 3 hours it took away from my life would have been spent doing nothing else productive.
2. I had been told that the movie was horrible--like, completely and utterly terrible, and was thus expecting to be completely disapointed. Usually when that happens, I end up at least slightly surprised, and in this case, I was even pleasantly surprised.
3. My friend who I watched the movie with edited out a scene involving parachutes...apparently it would have been too much, and is pretty infamous. Whatev, I haven't seen it, and can probably put the pieces together on my own.
So, the movie at least made me think about a few things. First, isn't it interesting how we find ourselves rooting for the good old American flyboys, and comdeming those Japanese to the abyss from which they must have crawled? I thought it was interesting that the movie let you do that by only showing the Japanese fighters preparing for a sneak attack, and when they were determined to kill Americans. When those flyboys are shooting at the planes, you don't ever see their faces, you just see the planes blow up. Now, I'm certainly not stating that I think the Japanese should have won the war, or anything like that, it brings a whole new perspective to the horrors of war though when you think about the fact that EVERY death mattered to someone, and that both sides feel the pain of the war. Americans do a good job of synthesizing this information when we're talking about the Civil War, and that's because it was 600,000 Americans who died. Just an interesting thing to think about. I don't know if we're capable of comprehending that kind of human suffering. It's difficult enough to understand the suffering of just one person over the death of someone they care about, let alone comprehending the feelings of the collective family and friends of all those who died. It's an incredibly sad thought. It brings me back to All Quiet on the Western Front. There's a quote in there where he talks about the other side being seen as robots, and as faceless ghosts. I don't think it would be possible to fight against and kill other people unless you were able to make them less than human in your mind.
The fact that the movie spurred some of these thoughts made the ending seem a bit trite. Yes, it ended up cleanly, and she got to marry the man she really loved, the man who she loved, but not as much, was still a hero, and the friends reconciled. After all the suffering they showed, it was really hard to believe the "happily ever after" feeling the end of the movie had. It was all so terribly convenient. Sad, and terrible, but convenient. Overall, the movie was better than I was expecting, but still not something I would purchase. I might watch it again...sometime, in the future, which is not soon.
1. I was locked out of my room for about 5.5 hours today, and so the 3 hours it took away from my life would have been spent doing nothing else productive.
2. I had been told that the movie was horrible--like, completely and utterly terrible, and was thus expecting to be completely disapointed. Usually when that happens, I end up at least slightly surprised, and in this case, I was even pleasantly surprised.
3. My friend who I watched the movie with edited out a scene involving parachutes...apparently it would have been too much, and is pretty infamous. Whatev, I haven't seen it, and can probably put the pieces together on my own.
So, the movie at least made me think about a few things. First, isn't it interesting how we find ourselves rooting for the good old American flyboys, and comdeming those Japanese to the abyss from which they must have crawled? I thought it was interesting that the movie let you do that by only showing the Japanese fighters preparing for a sneak attack, and when they were determined to kill Americans. When those flyboys are shooting at the planes, you don't ever see their faces, you just see the planes blow up. Now, I'm certainly not stating that I think the Japanese should have won the war, or anything like that, it brings a whole new perspective to the horrors of war though when you think about the fact that EVERY death mattered to someone, and that both sides feel the pain of the war. Americans do a good job of synthesizing this information when we're talking about the Civil War, and that's because it was 600,000 Americans who died. Just an interesting thing to think about. I don't know if we're capable of comprehending that kind of human suffering. It's difficult enough to understand the suffering of just one person over the death of someone they care about, let alone comprehending the feelings of the collective family and friends of all those who died. It's an incredibly sad thought. It brings me back to All Quiet on the Western Front. There's a quote in there where he talks about the other side being seen as robots, and as faceless ghosts. I don't think it would be possible to fight against and kill other people unless you were able to make them less than human in your mind.
The fact that the movie spurred some of these thoughts made the ending seem a bit trite. Yes, it ended up cleanly, and she got to marry the man she really loved, the man who she loved, but not as much, was still a hero, and the friends reconciled. After all the suffering they showed, it was really hard to believe the "happily ever after" feeling the end of the movie had. It was all so terribly convenient. Sad, and terrible, but convenient. Overall, the movie was better than I was expecting, but still not something I would purchase. I might watch it again...sometime, in the future, which is not soon.
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