Kids

Aren't little kids adorable?

Cause I'm going, going, back, back, to, Cali, Cali . . .

Sorry ya'll I know I haven't blogged in far too long. It's been a crazy few weeks though. First of all - don't worry, I have successfully recovered from my run, and enjoyed 13 oz of top sirloin from Outback Steakhouse.
So, the other day me and my buddy Reedo went to California. No real reason - just needed a vacation of sorts. And, I mean - it's that time of life - I'm young (relatively speaking), single, free as a bird, and a college students - just seemed like the thing to do.
We drove out on Wednesday afternoon - getting there about 10pm that night. It was my first time ever driving through 'the strip' in Vegas. Interesting - that's about the only word I can think of to describe it. Sometimes peripheral vision can truly be a curse if ya know what I mean. Well bright and early things got rolling the next morning. We were in Westminster, CA so we drove out to Huntington beach for the morning. The morning was spent watching the AVP tour (that's the association of professional volleyball players) on the beach, and then played a game ourselves. What a sight it was to see the 4 of us, topless, and white as the day we were born, running around trying to get our 'sand feet' under us. We weren't very good, but it was a blast. On the way home we went to In n' Out - I am still at a loss for words to describe the way I feel about the Double-Double Animal Style that I ordered. Incredible doesn't do it justice at all. We were greeted by a very friendly who immediately told us that she was 'very happy' that we were doing 'just fine.' When asked what we wanted the driver of the car (Reed's uncle) answered: "How about a better attitude?" Anyway - the burgers were great. We then went home, showered, and headed out to the Semi-Finals of the Men's NCAA volleyball championship. The games were good - we were pleasantly surprised by Ohio State as well as Penn State - we went in assuming neither had a chance but they actually put up some good games.



The next day was once again spent on the beach, playing beach volleyball, watching the AVP tournament, and eating at In N' Out burger. We went to an Angels game that night. The baseball was good - but the people there were much more entertaining. First we have the double-fister's.

These were the people who for some reason unknown to me kept going back for more beer. It seems like each inning was a signal to our friends to get up and spend another 12$ on a glass of beer (12$ on a glass of beer! Holy cow - these people must be rolling in it) and then there were the teenage girls who got in a fight in the middle of the game and had to be escorted out by the police. And finally - there was the nice lady in the car next to us. You see at Angels games it's pretty much impossible to get out of the parking lot so we ended up sitting in the lot for awhile. The lady in the truck next to us was carrying on an extremely loud conversation with the man in the truck (her boyfriend or husband, or just some really realy unlucky stranger) about how bad she needed to go to the bathroom. Over the course of the conversation we learned that she had drunk 'just a few beers' and that before the game she had wanted to take a cab and he had wanted to drive. Well now there they were sitting in the lot and she was screaming at him - literally screaming. I think the following quote will illustrate the scene we viewed from our front row seats:
"You *&^%ing idiot. I told you to take a cab. But, No, we need to drive. I *&^%ing have to pee - and here we are sitting - I hate you you (*&^er. Get me the (*&^ out of here! Don't tell me to shut-up. *&^%! I don't (*&^ing care if the kids are watching me - I'm no (*&^in role model"
It was at this point that our friend (this guy was a champ - I figuratively raise my glass to him)
simply rolled up her window with the power window switch (thank goodness for power windows) amidst her progressively louder screams. Good times.
The next day we went to a Filipino market/restaurant and spent the day with the people I love. We actually met Ramiele Malubay, a Filipina who was on American Idol for awhile. Me and Reedo were the only white boys there who could speak Tagalog so we went up to her and asked to get a picture with her. She was fairly surprised but consented - so amidst the cheering of all the Pinoy's in the restaurant we got our picture taken with her.

That afternoon we went to the Men's NCAA Volleyball championship. I only took pictures during the first game because it was too exciting and I got tired of watching through the lens of the camera. It was incredible - if I could think of a better adjective than that I would use it (Dani feel free to offer suggestions). Incredibly close games, phenomenal spikes, awesome digs, etc. Good volleyball, ice cream, and cheesecake might be the three closest things to heaven found here on earth - well Lake Powell gets pretty close as well.
We got up the next morning and made the drive home. We knew we needed to be back in Provo bu 2:30 to make sacrament meeting. Without going into too much detail I'll tell you that we made it from Anaheim to Provo in 8 hours... Use your imagination...
From the ambrosial taste of In N' Out to the Jack-Johnson-feeling of Huntington beach, California was wonderful.
One day I'm going, going, back, back to, Cali, Cali...

5 Miles 45 minutes One big ole' piece o' Meat

So as many of you know I had a roommate who was challenging my physical finesse.
In January he came in our room and told me and Reed (my roommate) that he was willing to bet we couldn't run 5 miles in less than 45 minutes. Well the natural man came through and our ego wouldn't let us back down on this one. April 26th was set as the day and a steak dinner the prize. Of course as you can imagine we didn't even think about it again until about march when I began to go running 1, maybe 2 times a week. I would run anywhere between 1-3 miles depending on how ambitious I was feeling - each time promising myself I would never do something so stupid as this again.
I don't like running - at all. There isn't one thing about it that appeals to me. Some people do it because they want to lose weight, others because it 'feels good after,' and still others because they feel it's a stress reliever - yea, none of those apply to me. I don't like it - I don't hate those who do, I just count myself one of the lucky ones who doesn't have to go through it ever again.
So yesterday was the big day. We (Reed, Steve, and I) set out at 4:16 PM on the charted course (up 9th east around to freedom blvd, back down 5th north, and into the colony). We brought Steve along because we knew he would keep a good pace and he wanted to keep training for the football team. It was - well, I guess exactly as you would suspect - 5 miles of not a whole lot of fun - although we did have some good music (I put together a way awesome playlist). About 3.5 miles in Reedo stopped on us and we were afraid that he wasn't going to make it. We were low on time so me and Steve had to keep going. At 4.5 miles Steve had to stop as well (stomach cramps) and I'll be honest - it's a lot harder to run all by yourself. With no one there to push me that last 1/2 mile was by far the longest. Well, I came in at 40 minutes with Steve pulling in at 42. I was worried that Reedo wouldn't make it and so I got in the car to go pick him up - but, props to this guy. He came sprinting in just in time to make the 45 minute mark - he had run all the while by himself after taking a break in the middle.
All I know is this better one hecka good steak.
Oh, and it does feel pretty good to be able to say that I ran and 8 minute mile - I mean that's not like something to brag about but at least I know if I'm ever being chased by some lunatic murderer guy, as long as he doesn't run anything faster than an 8 minute mile then I'm off the hook.
Now the big question: Now that you've developed this habit of running are you going to keep running all the time to keep it up? I answer with a resounding: "Yea, right! I don't think I will ever run again. I'll just buy myself a steak the next time I want one." Well let me give two disclaimers to that blanket statement. I will run again to:
1 - Escape a psychopath murderer
2 - Possibly win over the heart of a young lady

Holes, feet, and pimples

Have you ever had one of those conversations where it starts out just great, and then when you weren't thinking you say something - something little, just a little thought, phrase, etc. - it slips out - you didn't even consciously think to say it. Next thing you know you're 10 feet under trying to dig yourself out of a mine shaft that's caving in with amazing speed.

Yea, I had one of those the other day - I said something that I probably shouldn't have. It wasn't anything bad or anything - just something that I had thought, but didn't necessarily need to say. I won't go into too much detail as the person I was talking to will probably read this. I look back now and it's almost comical to me. I mean what do you do? You weren't watching your mouth closely enough, and then woop, it slipped out. Now you gotta backtrack, run circles, douse fires, dislodge your foot from your mouth, and all those good things. All the while you're sitting there beating yourself upside the head thinking: "Gee flippin' whiz, why did I say that?"

For me it was sad because no matter how I tried to remedy the situation I could tell the damage was irreversible. It was like trying to glue back a shattered mirror - never can make it exactly how it was before. Even though the person I was talking to said they understood what I meant - I could tell that my simple slip-up was a mountain they were having a hard time scaling.
This post goes out to all who've ever had the uncomfortable situation of digging you foot of your mouth, grasping for air in a quickly filling hole, or any such situation. While I really like the metaphors we already have for such situations I propose a new one.
It's like when you have a pimple on your face. You know you shouldn't pop it, but you do anyway. But, it's not ready. So what happens? Well first of all it hurts like the dickens, and then every morning when you wake up and walk into the bathroom you're greeted by your own stupidity as it stares at you from the mirror.
Good morning sunshine, it's me. I'm that pimple you shouldn't have popped - now I'm huge, and ugly, and I'm going to stick around for awhile just to make sure you remember how stupid you were to pop me. (I think this is the point where it seems to laugh at your from the mirror)
So next time you see a hole, look at your feet, or resist the temptation to pop that pimple - remember: some things just don't need to be said.
Watch yourself, or you might be struggling in that proverbial hole, foot in mouth, staring straight at the swollen reminder of your folly.

Man's Search for Meaning

I just finished reading "Man's search for meaning," by Viktor Frankl. It's one of those books that changes your life, causes a paradigm shift, makes you re-evaluate what you're doing, etc. It was awesome. Included are some of my favorite quotes from the book.

• "It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life—daily and hourly. Our answer must consist, not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual."

• "Man is capable of changing the world for the better if possible, and of changing himself for the better if necessary.

• We who lived in concentration camps can remember the men who walked through the huts comforting others, giving away their last piece of bread. They may have been few in number, but they offer sufficient proof that everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

• "Nietzsche's words, 'He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how.'"

I just remember on the mission people would always ask: "Why do you walk around everyday? People turn you down all the time, it's hot, and it's got to be tiring... Why?" I never really knew how to put into words the answer - but I think Viktor Frankl taught the principle fairly clearly. If our "why" for living is strong enough, we can and will go through any "what" and "how" that it takes to get there. Passion, vision, discipline, and conscience are the keys to success.
Passion - drives you
Discipline - controls your passion and focuses it
Vision - inspires you
Conscience - Keeps it all in check

Spring

Well it's that time of year again. The time when stress abounds, finals get taken out one by one, tears flow, and good-bye's are said. It's also the time when flip flops start appearing, the lock on the pool disappears, and me and my roommates start singing Grease songs. What a great time of year it is. I'm sad at this season as once again I need to say goodbye to so many people who I have grown to love. I'll miss things like Garrett's laugh (which is raucous, violent, and quite entertaining if you've never heard it), Chase's voice (which I heard many a morning coming through the vent from downstairs), Bob's puns, Bouch's ability to connect me with the real world, Brusky's laugh and random noises whenever I would massage his shoulders. Good times, good memories.
But, once again - it's time to move on. On to bigger and better - new people, new roommates, new experiences. Isn't it weird how that happens? We meet people who we swear we'll never forget, who we consider some of our closest friends, and inevitably the time comes when we all have to move on. People graduate, go home, get jobs, or just move to another ward. We go our separate ways, and try as you might - you can't ever really go back to how it was. You can't ever re-live all those old memories. But, you know what? I think maybe it's supposed to be that way. We couldn't possible function if we always had all the people we have ever known or loved around us at all times. It would be chaos - way too many people to talk to, things to do, etc. I guess the only thing we can take with us is the memories and the lessons learned. But how cool is that? We get to start over again, meet a whole bunch of new people, and make a whole bunch of new memories. Only this time - you've got the added experience from the things learned previously.
So, while I am sad at this time to say goodbye to so many friends, I'm also pretty darn happy. Bring on the warm weather, the long warm nights, the stars, the new friends, and the new experiences. I'm sure that I'll get to see a lot of them again - that's the way life works - real friends always seem to show up again at random moments. Usually right when you need 'em.

Parenting

I have always wanted to have 12 kids. It's been something that I thought would be awesome for some time now. Tonight I had an experience that is causing me some serious reconsideration. I love kids, always have, but...
Well it all started about 5:30 when my little sister showed up at my apt. She had asked me if I could watch my nephew (5 months old) for a little bit while her and her husband went to the temple. Of course I agreed - I love my nephew. He's a way good baby, and I thought, hey this will be good practice for the future. Well he was asleep when they got here but woke up before they left. He was really good for the first 1/2 hour. He just sat there playing and when he got a little fussy I just put him on my lap or played with him. About 7:05 he started getting really fussy - so being the renaissance man I thought I was, I decided to change his diaper. No big deal - I've changed heaps, so that wasn't anything too exciting. After the diaper I gave him a bottle which he gulped down. By now it was about 7:15 and I even remembered to burp him. I thought - I'm doing pretty good - this isn't too bad. Well come 7:20 it was a proverbial November 9th for me as my own wall of self confidence came crashing down (Nov. 9th was the day the Berlin wall fell). He began to cry, then to really cry, and finally to scream. I tried everything I could muster up. We walked up and down the stairs, we walked around the apartment, I rocked, bounced, swayed, cradled, cuddled, rubbed, patted, tickled, and blew on him. Nothing worked. I was truly up a creek of tears without a paddle. I finally ended up rocking him on a chair while he finished off the bottle and finally went to sleep. I was so exhausted by this point that I actually fell asleep as well. I woke up about 15 minutes later and put him on my bed where he slept for another 20 minutes. I thought that the worst was over, his parents would be here soon to get him, and that I had performed my christian service for the day. Little did I know. Hah, really little indeed. At about 8:15 he woke up again. This time he was returning in all his glory. He didn't even lull me into a false sense of security - he just started screaming - no games or false pretenses this time buddy. Well I tried the diaper thing again - nothing. Then the bottle - nothing. Then the walk, the stroll, the bounce, etc. Nothing. it got so bad my downstairs neighbors were asking who was dying upstairs. I finally just sat on the couch and let him scream in my ears - all the while being on the very verge of tears myself. If only I knew what was wrong. I was beat, humbled to the very depths, a truly broken man. As I sat on the couch in this exhausted state I couldn't help but ask myself - Do you really want 12 kids?
Interesting indeed. This was a good experience for me. I learned many lessons. When his mom and dad finally came back (9:30) I was so tired I could barely see straight. I told both of them that I would never make fun of them again - I was a new man, blessed with a new found respect for all mothers and fathers. I also called my mom and thanked her for raising me. Man, it's a miracle anyone can make it through it at all.
I finish where I begun. I really do want to have 12 kids (my wife agreeing of course will be a must) but I think I need a good dose of practice, and humility first. I have never felt so humbled in my life as I did while holding my nephew while he screamed. You want me to tell you the resistance across a 470K ohm resistor hooked to a 12 volt source with 100 watts pounding through it? Done. You want me to write you a 12 page paper comparing Hitler to a Book of Mormon character? Done. You want me to teach 12 elders how to speak a foreign language in addition to basic English? Done - no sweat. But, you want me to calm Mckay Felt after he's been crying for 35 minutes - can't do it. No idea.
Here's to all the parents out there who stay up late and get up at all hours of the night. To all those who get humbled everyday with the unsolvable problems. To all those reduced to the state of tears while trying to stop the tears of another.

College Students

So last week I didn't have the internet for 5 days. Ridiculous. Completely ridiculous - someone better have lost their job, or at least been sorely reprimanded. Anyway. Why is it that everyone seems to think they can take advantage of college students. Sometimes I feel that we are the scum of the earth, the bottom of the totem pole (save only junior high kids) to everyone. When I called to ask them to come and fix it all I got was the run around. "Oh, sorry - there's nothing we can do." Or, "Well, we might be able to send someone out there to fix it by next week." Are you kidding me - if I called and told them that I was the CEO for NuSkin I don't think that's the tune I would have heard. What about me being a college students equals out that I can be taken advantage of? Another example, the really annoying people who drive around and boot/tow cars from parking lots. Nothing in the world can be counted on to be as punctual as the dang booters - 50$ here, 100$ there. Preying off college students trying to visit friends, significant others, or family who are 3-4 minutes late. Just like that your 35$ date just got a whole lot more expensive. One more example - landlords. They stink - they treat you like dirt. Somethings broken - oh, it's okay. They all served missions in 3rd world countries - they probably like not having flushing toilets, running water, or heating in their house. Yea, sure, we'll get around to fixing it next week. Oh, and we're upping your rent next month - Why? Just because we can that's why.

Text Messaging

My internet has been out for like a week. I'm not happy about it, so I won't go into it. So, I've been thinking about text messaging. I know, you're probably thinking to yourself - who is this kid, and why does he have time to think about things like text messaging? Maybe he should get a facebook account or something to fill his time - to this I refer you to my previous post. Anyway, text messaging. . .
I really like text messaging - it's a great medium that allows us to pass information quickly and efficiently. Simple statements such as: "Hey, I'll be home at 3," or "The jazz lost again" are perfectly conveyed through text. Things like this might be weird to say over the phone - I probably wouldn't call someone just to tell them that the jazz won, and if I did the whole conversation might last all of 29 seconds. This is one of the great joys of text messaging. Comments that don't necessitate a response are perfect over text, and those that need a simple one word answer are equally fitted to text.
Dating - I think that text messaging adds a whole new dimension to dating that was never there before my mission. A simple text from someone you have a crush on can go miles. To this day I can't think of anything quite as effective for a girl to do after a date to let a guy know she's interested as sending him a post-date text. Text-flirting is great - it knows few bounds - during class, while your roommate is sleeping, and other small moments are perfectly suited to text-flirting. One cannot but help getting the willie bejillies when the phone is pulled out and the screen reads: "One new message." It's almost like Christmas morning or sometime - is it from her? What does it say?
But, I do see some problems with text messaging. First and foremost - you sacrifice voice inflection for silence and ease. With the loss of voice inflection, a large dose of ambiguity is added. A simple message: "Hey, and don't be late this time." could be interpreted: 1) Hey, you were late last time, don't do it again (said in a stern, serious tone), or maybe 2) Hey, remember that one time we were joking about how you are always late, and now I'm bringing that up again just to be cute and hopefully make you smile, or maybe even 3) This is just a nice friendly reminder that we need to be on time.
This can be the cause for confusion at times, but at the same time I think it has it's awesome benefits as well. Just something interesting to think about.

Facebook

So, as many of you know, I finally succumbed and got Facebook. It wasn't a choice I was happy to make, I am part of the senior class and we are planning our 5-yr reunion right now. It just so happens that there isn't any other way to get a hold of people as easily. I know, I know, sob story - anyway, I just wanted to share a few of my thoughts of facebook now that I've used it.
First of all, what the heck is a 'poke'? I got people poking me right and left - what is that supposed to mean? Is that like the equivalent of a text message, except you are too lazy to write anything? Or is that a flirtatious gesture of some sort, but you only do it, when you have nothing productive to say to the person you are trying to flirt with? If people were really poking me we might have some lawsuits flying. I mean what is the deal with that? Maybe that's just their way of letting me know: "Hey, I'm still alive here, just wanted you to know. So here I am poking you so you know."
Well to all of you pokers out there - thank you, I now know you are still alive.
Next, what's with all the groups? I mean come on - what on earth would possess someone to join the "We're fans of Betty Crocker's 13 oz yellow cake mix that you can buy at Smith's for $3.99 on Saturday's on aisle 9" club? Isn't there some better way of letting people know what things you like? And, once you are a member of this club what then? Do you have meetings, or ever even talk to the other people in your club? Maybe it's a social networking tool to find contacts, or those with similar interests - or maybe you are just so incredibly bored that you have nothing better to do than sit on facebook and look for clubs that you can join? Well, good news, I think I will start the "I am on facebook because I have nothing better to do, oh yeah, by the way, I am looking at all 398 of your pictures, and reading all about you right now - why? Well, I've got nothing better to do" group - please feel free to join, all are welcome - and hey, who knows, we might even have a group meeting next week to discuss our stand on the upcoming election.
Third, what's with the gifts? So somebody 'gives' you a bottle of axe deodorant on facebook. WHAT does that mean? Is that a subtle hint? Is that because they are simply too cheap to give you a real one? And when you get these gifts, what do you do with them? Can you sell them, or reject one? Maybe one day there will be a facebook sub for santa and all of us can give all our bottles of axe deoorant, dead monkeys, and cardboard boxes to the local shelter - I'm sure they could use some electronic excitement.
Fourth - what's all the scandalous ads on their for? Just because I am on facebook doesn't mean I'm a sicko and want to 'meet 93 girls in 3 minutes' or 'get to know 47 hotties in 2.97 minutes with absolutely no work at all on your part.' Sad.
Fifth - So I actually like this feature of facebook - kind of. You can change how you are feeling so that everyone you've ever met can immediately know how you are feeling. I think we've definitely come a long way in this technological world we live in - we are now at the point where with one simple login to facebook I can know exactly how every person I ever met, and about 78 people I've never met who just added me as friends, feels.
Speaking of adding friends - what's with all these people who I haven't talked to for 17 years adding me as friends? Not that I don't want to be your friend - I just haven't seen you for 17 years, obvioulsy neither one of us made any sort of effort to keep being friends in the past 17 years, so what makes either one of us think that we are going to start now? If we have never talked in our entire lives, what difference does it make if we are actually friends of not on facebook? Is there a competition to see how many friends you can get - cause if there is, I'm sad I wasn't informed. I think I'll login to blackboard and send mass emails to everyone in every class I've ever taken and make sure they add me as a friend. By the way I looked this little bitty up on dictionary.com just for clarification purposes:

Friend:
1. A person whom one knows, likes, and trusts.

2. A person with whom one is allied in a struggle or cause; a comrade.

Next time someone adds me as a friend I do think that I will ask them if they really feel that they can trust me - maybe I'll ask to borrow their car before I'll confirm their request. Or I guess I could just ask them if they will join me in battle and fight side by side with - willing to take a bullet for me, and die for our cause. If they can answer affirmatively to either of those - hey sure, let's be friends.
Well, this post is getting to the point where it's long enough that I'm sure many of you looked at it and thought twice before reading the whole thing, but there is one last thing that kind of strikes me as add about facebook.
Everyone seems to love facebook because "it's a way for me to keep in contact with people who I don't see." Here is my thought - and I could be wrong on this one, but just hear me out - If you really wanted to keep in contact with someone wouldn't you call them or something? If this person is really that important to you, wouldn't you find a way to keep in contact with them other than poking them or sending them electronic door hinges?

Moab Tourney

A few weekends ago me and some buddies went to Moab to play in a volleyball tournament. It was awesome! We stayed in the Lazy Lizard Hostel

The manager was completely drunk, we stayed in a room with 8 bunk beds - but hey, it was less than 80$

We didn't do as well in the tournament as we had hoped. It was the first time we had ever played together as a team and it took us until the second day to really mesh.




We played from 6pm to 10pm friday night, and then again on saturday from 7am to 3pm.






Good guys, awesome sport, beautiful place. . . What else can a guy ask for?

Dating

I just wanted to include 3 of my favorite quotes about dating. It seems that everyone has an opinion - especially when it comes to dating. I just happen to think that these 3 people have opinions that ought to be blogged about. Enjoy :)

"Always remember this: 'A kiss will never miss, and after many kisses a miss becomes a misses."
-John Lennon

"How many of you have ever started dating because you were too lazy to commit suicide?"
-Judy Tenuta

"I've been on so many blind dates I should get a free dog."
-Wendy Liebman

I also included an interesting story:

Chinese teen kills self when blind date turns ugly
Agence France-Presse Report

BEIJING -- A 17-year-old boy in northeastern China was so disappointed with the looks of a woman he met over the Internet that he hanged himself after seeing her face-to-face, state media reported Friday.

The unnamed teenager first contacted the woman -- known by her chat moniker "Qunjiaofeiyang", or "Flying Skirt" -- using the popular Chinese online messaging software QQ, Xinhua news agency said.

The girl described herself as a beautiful 19-year-old and the pair chatted on the Web for weeks before arranging a December 26 rendezvous in the nearby city of Mudanjiang, in far northeastern Heilongjiang province.

The boy arrived to discover the woman far less attractive than advertised and 10 years older than him, Xinhua said.

The boy immediately returned home, lost his appetite, and four days later hanged himself from a tree.

Trucking

I am writing this post per request of a loyal viewer (I know, I know, there aren't that many of you, so start guessing. . .). Isn't it interesting how the ball rolls sometimes. Or should I say, the truck rolls? I don't know a whole lot about the rest of the world, but it seems to me that the Dump truck just rolled through my side of town. I have come to the conclusion that breaking up is about the worst thing in the world (excluding world hunger, genocide, etc). I mean, if you break someones heart you feel bad, if your heart is ripped mercilessly from you - you feel bad. There's just not really any 'happy go-lucky feelings' going around when you break up. I have scoured my brain for reasons as to why everyone seems to be breaking up right now. I can't put my finger on it - usually spring has quite the opposite effect on people, but nonetheless it just seems to be that time again. Now, don't get me wrong - this isn't a pity-post - I haven't been dating anyone or broken up recently. I would just like to figuratively raise my glass to all of you who have had your hearts broken, and to a few of you who broke some hearts (I am intentionally not including those of you who are jerks and led someone on, or are players, or the like) and tell you that I am sad that the Dump Truck had to make it's rounds near your place.
I would also like to raise a question. This is one I would actually like to request that those of you who have time please answer. Why do people break up? I've heard a ton of lines, but in my opinion it all boils down to one thing: "It just doesn't feel right." But, that leaves me wondering - what doesn't feel right? And, what does 'it' feel like? I've felt 'it' before, but how do you describe 'it.' Like after a date sometimes you're 'feeling it' and sometimes you're 'not feeling it.' What exactly is 'it'? Does 'it' have a scientific name? Who would best be able to describe 'it'? A psychologist, scientist, doctor, marital counselor, parent, friend, sociologist, married person, or perhaps a single person who's currently experiencing 'it.'

"Chance favors the prepared mind." - Lavoisier

Where the Green Grass Grows . . .

What is it about the nature of humans that makes it so we always want what we don't have? Why is the grass always greener on the other side? Why is it that relationships can be so exciting when the chase is on, but as soon as the battle's over the excitement ebbs? Why is everyone else's major so exciting and awesome until we join? Who does your BBQ chicken pizza lose some of it's deliciousness when your buddy orders your second favorite - Canadian Bacon? Does having 31 flavors to choose from at DQ really help anyone out? Or does it just make life harder for everyone because now as you eat your bubblegumyum ice cream you have to sit and look at the other 30 flavors your missing out on?
I took a class last semester where a interesting reading assignment was given - it was called: "The tyranny of choice." The basic tenant of the article was this: choices don't actually make us happier - but contribute to our overall stress level and unhappiness. Think about it - if someone just walked up to you and gave you a brand new pen you would be way stoked that you had a new pen, but if they came up to you and told you they would give you your choice of one of three pens - so you choose, but you also sit and think about what your missing out on because you didn't choose the other pens. Dang, why didn't I get the clicky one, or the cool one that could write upside down . . . ?
I think that some of the most blessed people are those who can simply make a choice and then be happy with it - as opposed to those (myself included) who make a choice and then sit and think: "Hmm, maybe I should have done this, or chose that, etc." As William Wadsworth said: "Of all sad words, of tongue or pen; the saddest are these: it might have been."
Could that be why the grass is always greener on the other side? Not because it's actually greener, but because we see it through the tinted lenses of regret. (Wow, that last sentence would have definitely made my 12th grade English teacher proud) I think all too often we allow ourselves to be unhappy with what we have because we spend far too much time looking at what we are missing out on because we chose the way we did.

Skater Boy?

So, I had this conversation the other night with a good friend of mine. She was telling me about her life, her relationship struggles, etc. It was a good talk and I think I learned a lesson. You see, girls can be placed in any one of many categories: pretty girl, skater girl, punk rocker, california girl, ditzy girl, nice girl, sweetie, sporty girl, sassy girl, crazy girl, etc. But, no matter the category, I think there are a few things that all girls want. Now, I don't know - or claim to be the expert at all - but, this particular girl I was talking to would probably fit in the 'skater girl' category. She's very outgoing, active, into skateboarding, short hair, punk rock, music, etc. Comes across at first glance as your classic skater girl - I mean I look at her and I want to start singing Avril Lavigne (minus the obscenities - she's like the mormon version). So, being the dumb guy I am my first impression would be: "Oh, she probably wants a really tough, punky, skater, fo-hawk wearing skater guy. I mean, that would be the logical thing to my brain. But, the longer I talked to her the more I realized that that wasn't what she was looking for at all - she wants a "cute boyfriend." And by 'cute' I don't mean looks (although she probably wants that too), she wants a caring boyfriend. She wants a guy who is going to open her door for her, bring her flowers, text her at 3AM to say 'i love you,' come over early to scrape her windshield, help her stand up, etc. Herein lies the problem: dumb boys look at her and think: "She's a skater-girl; she must want a skater-boy (see above definition)." And, so the boys try and be what they think she is looking for and to everyone around it seems to be perfect - ahh, there's a nice skater-girl with her skater-boy and they must be wonderfully happy. But, they aren't because she really wants a 'sappy, cheesy, caring-boy' but doesn't know how to let 'Mr. I'm trying to be a skater boy good boyfriend for my skater-girl girlfriend' know that that's what she wants. Anyway, I don't have any sort of solution for this problem, just thought it was interesting. It does seem to me that no matter what type of girl she is, she probably still wants to be treated in such a way that her roommates can ask about the date and as she relates in impressive detail the events of the night they can all go: "Ahh, that is so cute!" - even if she is a sassy skater-girl.
I wonder what kind of boy girls see me as? What kind of girl am I looking for? Do I ever try to change to be the guy I think a girl is looking for? Are the girls I meet just trying to be the girl they think I would be interested in? Hmm. . .

Euphemisms

I wasn't sure if everyone would know what a Euphemism is so heres a definition: "An euphemism is the substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener. It also may be a substitution of a description of something or someone rather than the name, to avoid revealing secret, holy, or sacred names to the uninitiated, or to obscure the identity of the subject of a conversation from potential eavesdroppers. Some euphemisms are intended to be funny"
I think Euphemisms are really cool. In fact I wanted to suggest some that I think should be more frequently incorporated into our everyday vernacular (if you have you think deserve such a status please comment).
"Wipe your plow" - akin to getting your trash kicked, or a can opened on you
"Willie Benillies" - infatuations and such feelings; i.e. "Bro, shes got the willie benillies for you."
"Maxes my MU" - maximizing of marginal utility; anyone who's taken Econ 110 knows that this is a good thing
"Expiration dater" - one who begins dating with a termination in mind
"Garons babarons" - 'guaranteed' - from pigeon english
Anyway - these are just a few of hundreds that I like. I think we should all use them more - they're interesting and make life a lot happier. Please let me know if you have any you think I should add to my vocab.

Army Men

So for a class I'm in we had to make a video that had no words and no planned acting/actors. Well after a lot of brainstorming and collaboration we decided to make a video about the war and how it's happening and yet we often don't even think about it. Here's what we did:

We bought a hundred or so of those little green plastic army men and set them up right outside the outside entrance to the bookstore:

Well we set up all these little guys like they were in a war. They covered a good area of about 7' square and then we set up a few cameras so they were hidden. Then we left and just watched. It was so interesting to see what people would do. Many would see them, stare a little, then walk around. Others were completely oblivious and would walk through them, kicking them everywhere - some noticed what they did, others were still oblivious even as they were launching these minute militiamen to their doom. We had a few stop and play with them for a little bit and we had a few people who looked around to see if there were being watched and then stole some!

How oblivious we are to what goes on around us - I didn't even know it was elections for BYUSA until 2 days ago. There's a war being fought but because it doesn't directly affect me in anyway days go by that I don't even think about it.

Viktor Frankl

An interesting Paradox

Laban o Bawi (Fight it out or withdraw)?

Philharmonic Orchestra

BYU

The captivity of our fathers

Country Dancing

President Hinckley

A midsummer night's dream

Afraid?

Swords

Movies

Guitar Hero

Friends