The art of the artless

Thanks, Katy

2008-07-20T11:50:00.002-07:00

Haha, these are always kind of fun -- in a guilty pleasure kind of way.

You Are Aurora! (A.K.A. Sleeping Beauty.)

Thoughtful and loving. Authority figures probably have been sheltering you all of your life. Thankfully you're a very tranquil person who is content with what life has given you, but secretly you want to know how the outside world works.

Which Disney Princess Are You?

So now I'm married

2008-07-09T10:55:00.000-07:00

Which means I have crossed the threshold from singles blogging to couples blogging -- in other words, Eric and I have transformed his blog into our blog. The new url is iseebadgers.blogspot.com, so if you want to check it out, feel free!

Love you all!

Energy

2008-06-30T09:12:00.000-07:00

Eric and I have a good friend who's pretty much a genius. I love reading his blogs on political policies because he's the type who does pretty well avoiding partisan bias and looks at the cold hard facts -- the consequences that politicians seem to ignore.

Anyways, I was reading his blog post about oil economics and think he has very viable arguments.

http://blog.brucec.net/2008/06/oil-economics.html

I was listening to KSL on the radio the other day. They were talking to the CEO from Energy Solutions about nuclear power. I think he made some good points, but I still don't know enough about nuclear energy and its consequences to have a fully-formed opinion.

All I know is that our gluttonous nation is going to face the consequences of our excess very soon.

I'm Married!

2008-06-24T12:14:00.001-07:00

Got married this weekend. It was pretty cool.

Here's a picture from our photo shoot with my sister-in-law Jessica and her friend Tiffany (whose photo this is). More can be seen at artphotographs.blogspot.com, and I hope to see some of Jessica's edits before too long!

Really, I'm just so glad to be married to my best friend. We love and laugh together. Who knew two people could grow so much in just 10 months?! We really are different people because of being together. Better people.

We had a quick little honeymoon in Salt Lake and enjoyed that time together and then it was back to Provo for some fun with Eric's family at the water park. I had class last night and my professor was a little surprised to see me there (knowing I'd gotten married just two days before) but I'm a glutton for punishment -- I mean, school is important...

Now I have a home. Apartments always seemed so sterile to me, as if I could never find emotional attachment to the place. Maybe that's why I moved so much over the last three years: seven times! But our little tiny one bedroom apartment at Wymount holds an attachment and I feel, for the first time in Provo, like I'm coming home.

Love is grand.

Temperment

2008-06-11T08:11:00.000-07:00

So I don't have much of a temper. Usually if I get upset there's very little real anger. Crying is usually a must.

But I've discovered my temper.

It comes out when I'm driving. Because I hate when people do stupid things! It drives me nuts to see people take risks with their own lives and the lives of the innocent people driving around them.

Oh, and I cannot stand it when people get mad at other drivers because they're not speeding or something. No one's life is at risk if someone's going 65 in a 65 (heaven forbid someone go the speed limit!). It's even worse when they get mad about 70 in a 65. What's your deal? Are you really in so much of a hurry that you can't back off someone's tail in the carpool lane?

Last night I lost my temper. There was an old man turning right. He was taking it very slow around that curve. I admit, if I'd been behind him I probably would have been annoyed at how slow he was going. But I never would have honked at him. But the guy behind him did. I got so incensed at what I'd seen that I lay on my horn and glared at the guy as he drove by. He thought he was so funny and grinned and waved. He knew why I'd honked at him.

I was not amused.

Now, granted, I lost my temper and that's not how I should have reacted. His actions should have simply inspired me to never be like that.

My biggest problem is that it was such a reminder of how our society is degenerating. I think about how my grandfather treats people. His generation still understood what it is to respect others.

In Generation Me, or whatever you want to call this new group of young adults, there's little patience or respect for anyone. The world is doing a good job of getting us to focus inward and only worry about ourselves. What was that young man thinking as he honked at that elderly man? "Man, this guy's so slow. He might make me 30 seconds later getting home." Oh, what a travesty!

I continued to be upset after, mainly because Eric called me out on getting too worked up and reminding me that I didn't need to get involved like that. I realized I'd become guilty of a similar lack of compassion as the other guy. I shouldn't have let myself get so frustrated and let my temper get the best of me. It was ok to observe that the guy shouldn't have done what he did, but getting upset about it didn't help anything.

All-in-all, I think the experience will be a good one for me to remember as I get frustrated with other people, no matter the setting. What are their motivations? Are the effects of their actions worth letting contention enter my life and risking losing the spirit? If I really want to escape the societal trends, I need to be above that.

Exercise

2008-05-27T22:38:00.000-07:00

I worked out on purpose yesterday.

It felt great. Now I'm a little sore, but I kind of like the feeling. I thought that after how simple it was to take a small chunk of my day to do some pilates, I would be better motivated today to continue and work on creating a habit.

Oh how the forces of laziness work against me.

Let's just say that after eating lunch, I decided to wait a while to let my food settle.

Then it was "Oh, I'll just finish watching this CNN story about the psychological effects of the violence in Iraq on Iraqi children's intellectual development."

After that I decided that I should work on another goal I have -- reading "Emma."

Two pages into a chapter I zonked and didn't wake up until Eric got home from running.

So much for being nice to my body today!

The problem is that I let these "good" things take the place of what I'd really needed and wanted to do. It all goes back to the whole "good, better, best" talk from Elder Oaks in conference last year. CNN reports aren't bad, and neither is "Emma," but I really, really need to take better care of my body, and I know that.

So, the goal is to get up early tomorrow and do one of the ten-minute workouts on the DVD I got from the library in my newfound determination. I'm thinking that if I can get myself to wake up earlier to work out, then I'm for sure determined enough to continue--very few things can entice me to wake up earlier!

If, when you see me next, I have nicely defined abs, you'll know I succeeded and you can congratulate me.

Otherwise, tell me I'm going to be crippled with arthritis at 40 if I don't start doing something.

Learning new things

2008-05-13T20:09:00.000-07:00

Today as I studied for my independent study class I got to the portion on "Standing For Something," President Hinckley's book. In it he discussed the virtue of continuing your education and always striving to learn more things. I glowed as I pondered this aspect of a modern prophet's teachings.

This past weekend I started two IT classes: Web Publishing and Adobe Publishing. They're required for my major, but these are requirements I don't mind at all! I'm loving the new skills I'm learning and I'm especially enjoying that these skills help me create beautiful things!

How grateful I am for opportunities to learn.

I'm engaged!

2008-05-04T19:10:00.000-07:00

Yay! We're getting married June 21 at the Mount Timpanogos Temple. You'll have to check out the story of our engagement on Eric's blog.

Happiest time of year

2008-04-18T22:52:00.000-07:00

This makes my year. I simply love blossoms on trees, especially when I can gaze up at the silhouette of the branches against a blue sky.

What a wonderful world God has created! It almost helps me forget about finals...and final projects...

Eric and his sister Jessica had a Russian choir concert tonight. They did a great job, and it was also a nice break from working on projects. Eric and I got ice cream at the Wilk after and life was wonderful :o)

Back to the grind; I have a couple projects to finish tomorrow by late afternoon!

Dear professor,

2008-04-08T15:24:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry for spamming you with e-mails asking lots of questions. However, I must defend myself by presenting my reasoning in this public forum also known as my blog.

Your class is ridiculous. I have not spoken to a single -- that means not one -- student in your class who has not expressed confusion about what is going on.

Several have even expressed having a strange feeling that they know exactly the same amount of information now that they did the first week of the semester, which seems unusual to me considering our wells of knowledge should have been enriched and replete by this point.

Now normally, when a few students complain I understand it's probably their own fault and they probably didn't try hard enough, but when the entire class feels confused, there has to be some sort of problem with the course or the course instruction.

This, my dear professor, is why I felt it necessary to send you four or five e-mails today inquiring about how to do different aspects of the silly final project you yourself have declared "frustrating." In fact, you should be glad I'm still trying -- lots of other people have just given up.

Sincerely,
Cindy

Food for thought

2008-04-01T14:31:00.000-07:00

It's important to remember that there is good news in the world, too. These two articles about autism were beautiful proof of that, as well as the fact that people can make a difference in their worlds. These two mothers have accomplished so much and I really love their stories. Hope you enjoy them as well.

Ryan's Bill

Autism in China

Eric's pictures

2008-03-31T22:49:00.000-07:00

I was going to post some pictures Eric finally uploaded from his camera, but then I decided that I should just direct you all to Eric's blog since he has already posted them!

He has pictures from the One Republic concert I got VIP passes to from work, a funny photo he did on PhotoShop and a couple pictures from our excursion to the charity ball.

Enjoy them, and pray for me as I try to survive the last two weeks of classes!

Easter, eloquently

2008-03-24T11:55:00.000-07:00

Eric should probably have some better pics of this on his camera, but I enjoyed this one. We went to a charity ball at the Provo Library this weekend. It was fun to get all spiffed up and go out dancing together.

Eric spoke in his ward Sunday afternoon and did an amazing job (I have a whole congregation of witnesses; I'm not just saying that because I'm his girlfriend). Then we headed up to West Jordan to Michael and Laura's house for some quality time with my family.

Eric was, as always, a hit with the babies, especially Anna and Eli. I think Anna has a crush on him.

Daddy turned 55 last week, so we were celebrating his birthday as well as the Savior's Resurrection! He's really proud of himself for reaching this landmark (you should have heard his prayer over dinner), and I'm sure he will reach many more.

Oh the madness...

2008-03-20T13:16:00.001-07:00

Welp, I know nothing and I didn't have anyone advise me, so rumor has it that I chose lots of unrealistic upsets...but I bit the bullet and actually filled out a bracket this year. The thing is, I don't really care or know enough to do a good job on choosing these things, so I may as well have closed my eyes and pointed for all the reason there was to my picks.

So far so good; all my picks have been right so far. We'll see if I have any luck past the first few games...

I really, like, really really need my Internet.

2008-03-18T20:27:00.000-07:00

This girl next to me has used the word "like" about two times per sentence throughout her 10-minute cell phone conversation. He's like, and I was like, and I like, am going to like flunk out of college. Because my Internet is like, not working. And like like like. I know like all the sordid details of her like, so complicated life, like, you don't even know.

I'm going nuts. I can't concentrate on my oh-so-interesting reading about lobbyists and legislators.

Us

2008-03-18T08:59:00.000-07:00

So I rarely post pictures of Eric and me, probably mostly because one or both of us usually looks silly in pictures together. But I thought I'd post one today...just because.

Plenty happened this weekend. I think I am supposed to write a press release for PRSSA about it, so I'll just post that later.

Love you all.

In honor of Gabe

2008-03-10T11:24:00.001-07:00

Gabe couldn't be here for this sign, so I had to do the honor of pointing it out. I was taken back to big boss politics. Adam and Chance will get you out of work and feed you lunch and Y-Sparkle if you vote for them as many times as you can.

Why we even have BYUSA elections eludes me.

*Wheezecough

2008-03-08T11:09:00.000-08:00

Welp, I might not live through the weekend. But luck would have it that this would mean I don't have to take my stats test next week. I think a few people will be sad at my passing, but just remember, families are forever and all that jazz.

Ok, so I'm being super melodramatic, but I am sick again and I'm really tired of it.

Not much time

2008-03-01T13:24:00.000-08:00

So this will be a quick post, but I think it's an important one to make.

I'm in a Communications and Public Policy class and right now we're learning political campaign strategies and tactics. It is important to remember that most every ad you hear, see or read is going to omit truths and exaggerate claims. They may not lie outright, but there is certainly cause for caution before believing what politicians, PACs and other special-interest groups feed you.

Fortunately for us, the era of technology has given us resources to help us be informed decision-makers. We can read consumer reports on products, wiki anything we need to know, google search...the list is endless, and doesn't have to end when we wonder how to find out the facts about political campaign claims.

Sites like FactCheck.org provide a resource for us. I spend more time than I should have today (considering the amount of homework I have) looking over the Web site and basking in the non-partisan coverage of the campaign. They present the facts and help empower us with information. Check it out.

Interesting

2008-02-26T11:13:00.000-08:00

Maybe I'm just totally engulfed in the communications world, but I found this article very interesting and happy.

Credo of the week

2008-02-24T15:19:00.000-08:00

Isaiah 12:2

Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song.

----

If you find me afraid, refer me back to my new credo. Thanks.

Crazy

2008-02-21T12:33:00.000-08:00

I'm going crazy. It's official. My only request is that when you visit me after I'm institutionalized that you will bring me some good books about people who are more crazy than I, like "The Stranger," or "Waiting for Godot."

K, that's all for today.

who knows

2008-02-12T22:51:00.000-08:00

So I was pondering on my strange need to play all the way through the end of Solitaire. I have to do it. Even when it's in the bag and I know I'm going to win. I mean, usually when I'm playing Solitaire that means I should be doing something else, like listening to lecture, writing an essay, reading a textbook... So you'd think I'd be able to overcome my urge to play it out.

But no. I must put every king into its place and watch the lovely cascading cards and bask in my victory.

Moments of clarity

2008-02-11T13:55:00.000-08:00

Sometimes I come to for a moment. Reality becomes just that--a reality. It's not always a hard-hitting moment. Sometimes it's just a wonderful moment of clarity when I realize my life is beautiful.

Adverse effects of the presidential primaries

2008-01-31T16:25:00.000-08:00

No, I am not going to talk about political implications here.

I'm talking about my GPA.

I find myself watching clips from debates, reading opinion columns, checking RCP polls...

All in place of doing homework. And then I end up staying up really late to finish a 300 point assignment due at 9:30 a.m. that I had a week to do but instead started at 9:30 p.m. the day before...

Yay for politics!

I'll miss you till we meet again, my dear friend.

2008-01-27T23:24:00.000-08:00

I never met President Hinckley. Not in person, anyways. But I knew the man. He was incredible. Vivacious, loving, gentle, wise...the list of his virtues could go on for pages. He became a dear friend because I knew of his love for me.

It was a love that came from careful self-cultivation over years of development. He became who he was because he chose that path.

It was a love that he was blessed with through divine might--because of his call to preside over Heavenly Father's sons and daughters on the earth today, the Lord gave President Hinckley the power of a deep, resounding love for all of His children.

It was a love that I could feel through the television screen, the satellite broadcast, or through the distance of the Marriott Center or conference hall in Salt Lake.

Today he died. I tear up again as I type those words. He is a wonderful man. I will miss his words of counsel. I will miss his smile, his jokes, his love of all things good.

He was such an amazing communicator! He took the Gospel from a religion of obscurity to a spotlight of better understanding and relationships with government and media. I admire him as a public relations master! He did so much for the image of the church.

And his dedication to building temples! How grateful I am that he took on that great work. The sacred temple ordinances are available to so much of the world due to his efforts.

The Perpetual Education Fund was another great work he spearheaded. The blessings of education are so rich, and those bounties are more widely available to people who would never previously been able to imagine being able to gain an education.

Oh, I could go on forever about everything he has accomplished. but most important, I know he was and is a prophet of God, sent to lead the church, sent for me, sent for everyone on the earth! All people can know God's will for His children because of the gospel, through the conduit of prophets, and Gordon Bitner Hinckley was most certainly the mouthpiece of the Lord on the earth. Of this I testify.

President Hinckley's testimony of Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ was a true witness of their existence and continued concern and love for all men and women.

How grateful I am to have lived when he lived, to have heard his witness and to have beheld his wonderful works as president and prophet of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Yet the work moves onward and upward. While I mourn the loss of a great man, I understand that my Lord's house is one of order, and the priesthood keys remain. The prophet who takes the stand in April at General Conference holds the power and witness necessary to guide the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Ah ha!

2008-01-24T16:57:00.000-08:00

Two boys signed up to write articles for Bridal Guide today. Sweet, diversity.

It's crazy being in charge of things like this. It's bigger than I could imagine before--I mean, I get final say over content. Whoa.

Well, kind of. There's still the administrative oversight, not just of my bosses, but of their bosses. But still. I decide, then they decide if it stays.

Official retraction

2008-01-21T20:28:00.000-08:00

An amendment, if you will, to my previous assertion about my mother's top commitment to reading my blog. Gabe declares himself just as devoted to my blog as my mother, and I suppose he probably is. Eric's probably pretty up there too.

Umm

2008-01-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

Mom, my most faithful blog audience, wanted another post--I don't know why she wasn't satisfied with sneezing.

My job is fun. I get stressed out because I have no idea what I'm doing, but it's nice because I have a boss who vetos anything he realizes won't work. So really I get to grow and expand and do most anything I see working, as long as I have a good reason for why it is a good idea.

Such as our first ever facebook Front Row Fanatics contest. I even researched copyright policies on their Web site so I could ensure we weren't violating any rules...We had a really good response and Drew and I didn't even have to leave the comfort of the office.

Speaking of the office, I love my coworkers. We've recently decided to have a party every Friday. Such is life in the advertising department at The Daily Universe. We eat good food, dance around, play games and laugh our socks off.

Last week One Republic's manager came in to place an ad in the paper for their upcoming concert. It pays to ask questions, as we found out--Mekelle, one of the ad reps, asked if he could get us tickets. Next day there was a sign-up on the door for VIP passes to the concert.

I took Eric; it was pretty nice. We got free Costa Vida on top of free admission. Neat.

That's all I can think of for now. More later, I'm sure.

Sneezing

2008-01-16T16:30:00.000-08:00

I really do enjoy it.

Now I'm not saying you have to vote for him...

2008-01-10T18:12:00.000-08:00

But the soft bias against Mitt Romney because of his religious affiliation is glossed over too often. This article does a pretty good job at pointing out the blatant inconsistencies.

On another note...Today I got an email from a professor. Good news.

I wrote him an email when he posted the grades asking him if I would get to see the particulars on why I got an A- instead of an A. Now I know this seems a bit extreme to some of you. I know an A- is nothing to cry about. But sometimes you just feel an A, so when you get an A- you want to know why.

He wrote back, informing me why, and I took it at face value and went on in life.

Well, my friends, the story does not end there.

The email I received from him today told me that he had added points to one of my assignments, "recognizing your commitment to the class, enough to put you over the A boundary."

I really lead a charmed life.

No, I'm not engaged.

2008-01-09T13:14:00.000-08:00

I'm just immersing myself in the world of bridal magazines.

Bridal Guide has to be done by February 1st. No prob, Bob.
I've planned so many publications in my life...

Figuring out life

2008-01-06T11:52:00.000-08:00

So the question really is...where will I be in a year?

Right now, I have no clue.

I thought I had things very figured out, my life neatly compartmentalized.

Then I decided to stay in Provo over the summer instead of doing an internship. And I decided to take a class I was going to take in the fall during the summer.

I'm a public relations major. What does that mean? I mean, I am doing what I'm supposed to, but public relations can take me in so many directions.

While I was getting set apart today the blessing spoke to me about my future. So much is coming my way! Am I prepared for it? Is my life what it needs to be? All the choices I make right now will determine if I end up where the Lord has planned for me--where great things await me.

And then there's the fact that I turn 21 in a measly five months. Wrap your head around all the implications of this.

I have a new job. One of two Daily Universe Special Sections Coordinators. Sounds very important, doesn't it? I'm scared out of my mind I'm not competent enough. I just have to make myself, that's all. Good luck, Cindy.

The new job complicates things too. I have a company depending on me now. I can't just run off, at least until we have the next guy trained and comfortable in the position. Which means...what?

This is one of my most disconnected blog entries. I probably should have just written it in my journal or something and spared you all.

Christmas Eve

2007-12-29T19:01:00.000-08:00

My family humors me.

Mom gave me charge of planning our Christmas Eve activities, giving me free reign. She might have regretted that when I decided we were going to dress up to read the Luke account of the Savior's birth...

Mom was Mary, Tickle Me Cookie Monster was the baby Jesus (I used to have a doll, but it's gone the way of all my old toys: my niece has it!) Grandpa was Joseph/a shepherd, Daddy was a wise man and I was the narrator--obviously. My costume has to give it away...

Home

2007-12-21T21:59:00.000-08:00

Corbin and I had fun together today. We colored, played a game, watched Murder She Wrote, etc...

I got him to eat his dinner. Struggle, to say the least. The "who can chew the fastest" game helped me out there; a shout-out to Eric for helping me develop my face scrunching skills so I could make eating seem more exciting than he seemed to find it.

Today as I was about to head out from my apartment, I realized I'd forgotten something inside. I ran to get it and hit a patch of ice and fell to the ground. Hard core. I hurt so bad. I don't know if I've ever had pain that bad. I almost passed out on my kitchen floor (luckily I made it up the stairs before shock wore off and I really started feeling anything). So I'm recovering today. My mom and Corbin took good care of me.

I know this was all so exciting, but it was my life today. And it's better than having to write about school.

I hate finals

2007-12-17T20:22:00.000-08:00

I wish there were a way for professors to just scan my brain and measure how much of the material I know. Multiple choice tests have always been a weakness of mine, and here I am in the thick of a week replete with blobs of pencil lead determining my GPA.

Blob. Blah.

2007-12-13T20:44:00.000-08:00

Dear Eric,

You're taking your final right now. I should be writing one of many essays. I hope you do well on your test, but I'll still like you even if you don't.

This weekend you get to meet people from my past. If you feel uncomfortable it's ok, because I probably will too.

I wish we didn't have to worry about school. I wish we could just sit together and laugh. I want to drive somewhere, some unknown destination--the end of the drive will be the first place we come to that looks fun. We'll get out and throw snow at each other and build a snowman and maybe we can dance under the stars. Or maybe it will be snowing and we can dance in the snow.

You give me something to look forward to in the drudgery of my days. And even though I wish we didn't have school to get in our way, I'm sure glad I have you to get in the way of school.

Yours Truly,
Cindy

Student Ratings

2007-12-13T20:36:00.000-08:00

I want professors to do professor ratings. I would benefit from my instructors telling me what I did well as a student and where I could improve. I know grades kind of reflect that, and you can even go in and visit with your professor.

But the reason they have us do student ratings online is so we have no reservations about being honest.

Throw away your inhibitions, professor. Tell me what you hated about having me as a student.

Oh, and throw in some nice stuff, too, so I don't cry for too long.

What I get for...being human.

2007-12-11T23:52:00.001-08:00

Do you ever feel like you did something wrong, but you don't know what? And you would do whatever necessary to rectify it, but since you don't know what you did in the first place, you're left with this empty feeling. I just make mistakes left and right.

I should be working on homework or sleeping or something, but instead I'm running through every encounter in my head, and wondering if I just didn't know you well enough to understand what I could or couldn't say safely.

To anyone I've hurt with a careless comment or the like, I am sorry. I try to live my life in a way that shows the people in my life that I love and care about them. Sometimes I mess up.

Books!

2007-12-10T10:58:00.000-08:00

So I just bought a gift for Alan and Jessica; I am so excited for them to get it. I got them a book--I want it myself. I might go back to the bookstore and buy another one. I'm still going to get a few children's books to stick in the package for the girls. After Christmas I'll tell you about the book, but I can't tell you now because it might ruin the surprise for them :o)

Eric and I read together on Saturday. It was a book he's reading for his Russian literature class. I liked it. It had beautiful imagery.

We're going to read a book together next semester, which I'm excited about.

I haven't read much lately, unless you count text books... Although I have been working through a book about POWs in the Phillipeans during WWII. Really interesting. I'm not really a fan of the writing; it was coauthored and one of the authors was a PI lawyer. Not exactly a seasoned writer. He uses lots of cliches and such. But the material makes up for his authorial deficiencies. I had no idea about the Death March there and the atrocities of the Japanese military against their POWs.

I'll tell you more about it once I've finished it. I hope to get through it during Christmas break, but we'll see.

The benefits of going to BYU

2007-12-07T15:08:00.001-08:00

I don't have to write for The Daily Utah Chronicle.

Their "Note from the Editor" in their Rivalry Guide = case and point.

So kill us--we don't want planned parenthood, night clubs and beer advertised in a publication being distributed on our campus and in our stadium.

The planned parenthood ad was one they tried to slip in last year. This year we were certainly avoiding some bad advertising.

But even more important, heavens, have you read the stuff they write for their Rivalry Guide? Or any of the editorials they write? They have no regard for journalistic integrity. I don't care that it's opinion--things you assert as fact must still, surprise, be fact.

The quality of the writing here is just better. It's under supervision of faculty, yes, and for good reason.

Their proud statement is "The University of Utah's Independent Voice since 1890." Independent of what? Accountability?

The administrative oversight at The Daily Universe, more often than not, just protects us as journalists from making big time mistakes.

"These 36 pages feature the work of the best journalists and designers the University of Utah has to offer," the note said.

If that's the best they have to offer, I fear for the future of journalism--at least at the U.

Ridiculous.

2007-12-06T10:55:00.000-08:00

Guess who Sudan has as their humanitarian affairs minister?

Read and be amazed at how corrupt people in this world can be...

Love and Laughter

2007-12-05T14:24:00.000-08:00

This semester has had me thinking a lot about human nature. A study of several human nature theories may have had something to do with this...

I don't believe we can figure out a true state of human nature, individuals in a state unaffected by societal interactions. Adam and Eve started out together.

But I do believe there are some things that are simply part of who we are from our simple beginnings. I watched some video clips on my sister's blog of her twins laughing. These babies can't communicate in an advanced way. edited :o)

But these little ones, without any instruction, laugh. Beautiful, isn't it?

Elvin magic.

2007-12-03T21:33:00.001-08:00

This is a little something a few of my best friends and I put together. Enjoy.

Christmas!

Some kind of connected, kind of disconnected thoughts

2007-12-03T14:08:00.000-08:00

I had a dream a couple nights ago that my Grandpa Lemon died. He's probably the only grandparent I've ever felt really close to. It was sad.

Losing loved ones to death is probably one of my greatest fears. I know I have the knowledge of the gospel to help me along, but that doesn't stop the void in your life. President Hinckley, who probably understands the concept of eternity better than any man living, still aches with the absence of his wife.

Avoiding homework = reading Time magazine, the Nov. 23 and Dec. 3 editions. Here are some things I learned about:

People who get their toddlers tutors. The article said they do it to help their kids get an "academic edge." The article also had quotes from an expert who explained this is detrimental to children because children aren't actually ready to read before age 5, and that identifying a flash card at an early age isn't actually reading, it's called paired-associate learning and a pigeon could do it. Let children be children--that's my credo.

Atheist Sunday School. What kills me about this is that any atheist I have ever known has accused me of blindly following what my parents taught me. Here in this Sunday School in California, atheist children are instructed on how to resist pressure to "believe." Yeah, you're really helping your children make their own decisions--as long as they conform to your disbelief.

Bus drivers are happier in their careers than journalists (the closest Time came to PR).

Eco-anxiety is a real condition. I think I might be developing it after watching "An Inconvenient Truth." I've started only using one paper towel to dry my hands, and I'm developing a nervous twitch...

Thankful-fors

2007-11-29T19:45:00.001-08:00

So I had a good list of things here. Wishes for if I had more time. It got erased--maybe that was God's way of telling me to be satisfied with what I can do right now...

And I am. I never got around to doing a "thankful for" list before Thanksgiving, so maybe I'll tell you why I'm grateful for the things that you usually hear me complain about--because they're all things I chose to do in the first place, so there's a reason, right?

Early morning ballet. Love it. Really, even though I hate getting up! It gets me started each day. I feel beautiful when I do ballet. I'm doing something good for my body. I feel like I get to see the beauty in all these girls I dance with. I'm learning about a very refined style of dance.

Western Political Heritage. The hardest class I have. Remarkably, also the class I'm doing best in right now (we'll see after finals...). I love learning about different philosophies, so if you hear me complain about this class, it's because it's so much work. It's an intellectual workout and my brain feels good!

Writing for the paper. Goodness, how much I could say here...It is sooooooo stressful! Deadlines and deadlines, having to shove the rest of my life onto a back burner to meet those deadlines...but I get to learn about all this beautiful artwork, and talk to these incredible people who create it and have this amazing outlook on what's important in life--it's taught me so much about myself. And I love to write.

PRSSA. Wow, what ton of time I put into this. But I work with amazing people, I'm building my resume and portfolio, and I enjoy it. It adds some meaning to my life. The newsletter is my baby, and it's come a long way since I took over. It's something tangible to show for my work, which is always nice.

Work. So I don't know if I necessarily complain a lot about this, but it certainly takes away a good chunk of my time, and since I complain about not having time...this might be included. I like the people at my work. And I am going to like my new job so much. The training hasn't gotten too intense yet, so really it's just me adding my creative juices so far. Which is nice.

This is long. So I'm going to get back to homework. That I love :)

A few things

2007-11-25T00:05:00.000-08:00

I was reading Titus 1:15 tonight and I love/fear this concept. I hope I can always feel pure before the Lord so the things I do become offerings to Him. What a wonderful thing to think about!

I hope to have at least one thought worth writing down each time I read the scriptures. For me, being able to write something about the things I study and learn is important.

The comms department has a Vienna Study Abroad program. I would love to go back to Europe. Maybe I should work on getting my internship abroad instead, though.

I used to write a lot of poetry. It may not have been the best prose, but I loved it. It's been so long since I wrote creatively. In college it's all about facts. Every essay I write these days demands a lot of information in a small space. I think to help me feel better about writing, I need to let myself do a little creative writing on my own now and then.

Maybe I'll share...keep your eyes peeled.

Thanksgiving

2007-11-22T23:53:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving was great!

Well I have to start with the first two days of my break. I spent time with my mom, dad, sisters, brother, great times! And then Eric got here in time for my sister's birthday dinner at a Thai restaurant in Tooele. It was a lot of fun. Eric had my sister and me laughing until we cried.

I could go into all sorts of details about Thanksgiving, but I mainly want to say how much I loved having this time with my family, and how great it was to have Eric along.

I got to see aunts and uncles, siblings, grandparents, cousins, nieces and nephews (including both sets of twins!) and in spite of the fact that I was still thinking about school and getting kind of stressed out, I got to push those worries to a back burner and focus on the things--the people who are most important in life.

I'm part of beautiful

2007-11-18T20:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got to go to the University Student Council Conference, a conference for people in student leadership positions. Being director of records for PRSSA, I suppose I qualified, because I got an invite.

President Samuelson is the keynote speaker every year for the event, and there's catered lunch, so put the two together and I can't resist. Free food and Cecil--what more could a girl ask?

The theme of the conference was "Stand a Little Taller," and everything related back to President Hinckley's book "Standing for Something." President Samuelson shared personal experiences he's had with President Hinckley. Each story helped illustrate how President Hinckley doesn't just say good things, he does good things. There were lots of fun stories and some serious ones; all of them were inspiring and you should ask me about them if you want to know more.

What I really wanted to talk about here is a concept I've struggled with that seemed to really sink in today because of the breakaway session I attended called "Good for Something." The instructor was John P. Livingstone (sorry anyone I confused when I said Johnson yesterday). The entire lesson was amazing, but a simple object lesson he used impacted me the most.

He had a guitar, and he had played a couple songs, had us sing along on one, etc. Then he strummed a chord, and told us "Hum this note." We all sat there looking at each other for a moment, confused--that was more than one note! But we all chose a note, and he seemed thrilled. We'd hummed a chord!

"There's a spiritual hum in the universe," he said. "Everyone participates to make a beautiful harmony."

It was a nice little thought and I jotted it down in my notebook. That may have been where it stopped.

But today during the Sacrament I was glancing over my notes, and the thought penetrated my mind: In spite of my weaknesses, the strengths I have are part of the universal hum.

I help make this world beautiful.

Body image

2007-11-15T15:58:00.000-08:00

An assignment I had to do for Media Literacy after looking in the mirror for 15 minutes and reading an article called "The more you add, the more you subtract," about the image media and society in general promote for girls to aspire to. Messed up. This is the most honest I've been with myself in a while, actually admitting that I'm so critical, that I've had those really hard periods when I have actually struggled with body image.

The last thought I recorded as I finished up my time in front of the mirror summed up my experience in general.

“And I especially hate how this became a time for me to find the negative. That wasn’t my assignment, but it’s what I started out doing, as though that had been what she’d told me to do.

“I was just to look.

“Instead I critiqued.”

Then I read the article and agreed with everything.

I thought about last summer, when I gained 15 pounds in less than two months. 15 pounds on my frame—heavens, I probably need that 15 pounds. But all at once, well, it was overwhelming. I hated myself. It was ridiculous.

I started having a complex with food. I was nannying and they spent $40 a week for my groceries. More than half of what I spend a month when I’m at school. I was at a loss! What does one spend $40 on? I started buying snacks, mainly low-calorie ones, health food, etc.

But I would torture myself having those snacks around. Growing up we didn’t really have snacks around. If we were hungry, we made some food. Usually the effort required helped keep me from eating unless I was actually hungry. Here I was with all this food at my fingertips, and I was in the middle of Massachusetts and I knew hardly anyone, so food and TV became my companions, but then I would feel guilty for eating the snacks because I’d gained weight, and I’d beat up on myself. I started going to the gym regularly for the first time in my life, but I didn’t feel like it was helping. It was this awful cycle and I felt like I was spiraling.

The only way I made it through was because of church and prayer (sorry to pull the spiritual card in an assignment…). But it was not easy and I probably still have not worked through a lot of it. I got back to school at the end of that summer, ate less, walked a ton, got into a dance class and lost all the weight. Now, a year later, I’m at the lowest weight I’ve been at in years.

But I still see thinner girls and I wish my hips were smaller.

I wear 26” waist jeans.

I "Kant" understand it...

2007-11-13T20:29:00.000-08:00

Well, I spend a lot of time studying political philosophy, so of course it bleeds over into other things. I think just about every time I'm studying for another class something pops into my head from this political heritage class. Point and case: last night's scripture study. But my thought process was kind of interesting so I thought I'd share what I wrote in my journal, although it comes to no conclusions. Esta mi vida.

I read in Abraham 3 tonight about God's reckoning of time, Kolob, you know the bit. But you also learn about God being unbound by time--but he must be subject to time because for everyone the eternities are a progression. I don't think it's linear, however, but I don't understand planes of time, so when I go to heaven's remedial science classes this is something I'll need to have someone explain.

A little about me

2007-11-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

I realized my blog tells nothing about what I do day-to-day. So here's a little run-down.

So I have fun with classes, although they're challenging.
Ballet 290. I feel graceful at times, clumsy at others...
News Reporting (on staff at The Daily Universe). For this I write two stories a week toward a total of 29 before the end of the semester.
Western Political Heritage (Political philosophy from Machiavelli on up) means I write at least three papers a week. And read. And breathe philosophy.
My Pearl of Great Price class gives me two more essays a week (short ones, but they still add to the massive amounts of writing I do!).
And finally there's Media Literacy, which tops it all off with another essay each week.

So I write a lot. And read a lot.

I work in classifieds at The Daily Universe.
In training for a public relations position at The Daily Universe. In my new position, which begins officially winter semester, I will be helping coordinate the special publications The Daily Universe produces, such as Bridal Guide, Housing Guide and YBook.

I'm Director of Records for the BYU chapter of PRSSA My responsibilities include coordinating a monthly newsletter and going to lots of meetings, usually three a week.

I feel like this is a resume. I'm done now.

Back in cyberspace

2007-11-12T18:58:00.000-08:00

So it's time to tell a story with climactic drama, for Gabe's sake.

Yesterday I was with my mom. She told me a great one, so I'll borrow, since I have very little to tell these days except the latest fiasco writing a newspaper article.

My nephew Corbin, who will be 5 in 20 days (as he'll remind you), was in the Primary program on Sunday. He had a line to recite and Grandma, since she was with me at my cousin's farewell, could not go watch him. She decided to call and have him rehearse it to her. He did, mumbling and speeding through it.

Well, that wouldn't do for Grandma.

So she reminded him that when he said his line in Sacrament meeting he needed to say it nice and loud so everyone could hear it. He responded that he didn't really understand it, and tried to tell Grandma what his teacher had said it meant--obviously the message had not sunk in.

The line was about missionary work, so my mom tried to explain about how when he got big he could be a missionary and go tell people about Jesus.

"But I don't want to be a missionary," he exclaimed. "I want to be Spiderman!"

BEST PICTURE EVER

2007-10-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

No really. It is.

My mom loves forwards...

2007-10-19T14:15:00.000-07:00

She does.

So first is this fun little story that explains why men shouldn't be allowed to write advice columns:

Walter's Problem Page

Dear Walter:

I hope you can help me here. The other day I set off for work leaving my husband in the house watching the TV as usual. I had not gone more than a few hundred yards down the road when my engine conked out and the car shuddered to a halt. I walked back home to get my husband's help.

When I got home, I could not believe my eyes. He was parading in front of the wardrobe mirror dressed in my underwear and high-heel shoes, and he was wearing my make up.

I am 32, my husband is 34 and we have been married for twelve years. When I confronted him, he tried to make out that he had dressed in my lingerie because he could not find his own underwear. However, when I asked him about the make up, he broke down and admitted that he had been wearing my clothes for six months. I told him to stop or I would leave him.

He was laid off from his job six months ago and he says he has been feeling increasingly depressed and worthless. I love him very much, but ever since I gave him the ultimatum, he has become increasingly distant. I do not feel I can get through to him anymore. Can you please help?

Sincerely, Norma

Dear Norma:

A car stalling after being driven a short distance can be caused by a variety of engine faults Start by checking that there is no debris in the fuel line. If it is clear, check the jubilee clips holding the vacuum tubes onto the inlet manifold. If none of these approaches solves the problem, it could be that the fuel pump itself is faulty, causing low delivery pressure to the carburetor float chamber. I hope this helps.

Walter

And here's this funny clip she sent--it's a Toyota commercial.

Change

2007-10-15T14:57:00.000-07:00

Sometimes change has to happen. Right now? I need to get better at staying off the blogs, email and social networks and focus on my political philosophy homework. Descartes and Hobbes are calling my name.

Descartes dualistic view of the world and human souls utterly confuses me, but my professor tells me that the Cartesian method of discovering truth saturates modern thought. After all, his theories were a big part of the development of the scientific method--the way that most of us approach even simple, mundane tasks.

He said that by means of reason, the human soul is able to discern truth. We are free, able to do so.

But Descartes also said that the world was bound--amoral, finite and causal. So how could a soul within such a world have choice? Be free, moral, infinite?

Maybe I'll find out in class.

Sniffle*

2007-09-10T20:00:00.001-07:00

I'm sick. Because I don't sleep enough. I miss my bed.

Random!

2007-09-05T20:51:00.001-07:00

Last week someone from All Barn Wood called in a classified ad for a "stripping assistant."

I'm happily distracted these days, although it might not help my grades.

I saw Rushmore (edited) last night. I liked it. Random. Funny.

I hate ipods. After sitting in Sam's Club for 7 hrs on Monday and seeing person after person detached from the world around them with their headphones in, I felt sick. What happened to real interaction with the world you're in?

Speaking of. I was at my friend's house on Saturday, and we were watching a movie. There were only about two of the ten people there that didn't get up at some point to answer their cell phones (I am happy to say I was one of those two!). The guy next to me--he was the worst! Not only did he go answer his phone a couple of times, but he was also texting the entire time. Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but you go watch a movie with a group of people to a: watch the movie. b: enjoy one anothers' company. None of this was happening. Grr!

Dreams

2007-08-29T13:44:00.000-07:00

I forgot I wanted to mention this--I had the craziest dream last night. Nix that. It wasn't the craziest one I've had. I'll go into detail about a few. Last night, however, I had a dream that I was a dalmatian dog. A male dalmatian puppy, to be specific. I was being held captive, and I had to escape from the people that were exploiting me. I managed to escape with the help of Katy (my sister in real life, just a smart girl within the context of my dream).

I have no idea what this means.

The craziest dreams I've ever had:

I was Spiderman. Really, Spiderman. Not myself dressed as Spiderman. There was an anti-spiderman that looked just like me, and I had to defeat him because no one else knew who was who. We had an awesome battle in this massive glass-paned hallway. I won.

The Chinese had invaded Utah. West Jordan, to be specific (my hometown). The elementary school across the street from my house was home base for those fighting against them, and I was in my tent one night, and suddenly three Chinese men started attacking the tent. My sister came out of nowhere with a samurai sword and fought them off. It was really impressive.

Then there was the series of dreams I had with strange men chasing me. I was always running for my life. One time they had even captured me, and I jumped out a second-story apartment window and adrenaline was the only thing sustaining me as I ran in the rain.

Wow, I get attacked in dreams a lot. I don't fear for my life. Promise.

Stream of consciousness writing

2007-08-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Preface: I'm ridiculous and if you're unfortunate enough to be reading this, I'm not really worried about people liking my blog--it's kind of like my own little online journal that I don't expect people to get new ideas from or anything. So sorry.

Yawn. I wish I had a cookie to eat right now even though I already ate one. Gabe didn’t like stream of consciousness writing. I like it because I can write about how I hate htat my legs are crossed and one is bouncing. My nose itches. My thoughts are so intellectual right now. Gabe had me look up the senator in Idaho that is caught in a sex scandal. Gay, they say. I hate when people are hypocrites to that degree. Plato wrote some good stuff. My thought is actually wondering where that came from. It was a header ina book I was just flipping through. Mixed Media. For my online class I have to finish in a week. I still have to read Standing for Something. Good homework, if you ask me. My elbow, shoulder, side itch. Why am I so itchy? Probably my medication. Pursed lips. That girl from Miss Teen USA—Miss South Carolina. I despise the image that girls like that give the female population in general. If she had a free afternoon she’d like, go out on the lake, with like, all her friends, and they’d get tan and bleach their hair and. Got a phone call. Disrupted my rantings. Mike always calls from across the room. He can’t just ask me? That wouldn’t be annoying enough. I have a love/hate relationship with Pandora. I like that I get all sorts of music, but sometimes their “similar” music to the style of artist I start out with becomes soooo far from what I wanted in the first place. I’m tired. I don’t want to work today. I’m going to Progrexion for a few hours today so I can just go for three hours on Saturday so my mom can come help me move before the football game. She is going to help me make a budget for Fall, too. Only 15.5 hrs at the DU. I’m going to be poor. But soon I start training for PR—special sections. I will get a lot of experience with publications this fall. I need to meet with Prof Wakefield to figure out how to plan a newsletter. I hope the people I have signed on don’t mind that I know nothing. They’re all older than me. Shayne’s always busy. So am I. So busy that I’m doing stream of consciousness writing. My ear itches now. I have a tick that is making me think about doing French spacing v not. I hadn’t ever thought about it until someone brought it up today. Now I don’t know if I should do one or two spaces after my periods. It’s varied throughout. Song called Indigo Girls. I wonder if it’s feminist. Probably. Girls sing mean songs about boys. I don’t know that boys sing as many mean songs about girls. I think sometimes they get frustrated. But girls act like boys are always the culprit in every breakup. I know that I have done dumb things that have hurt guys that I’ve dated. I am learning. There’s certainly a learning curve in dating as in anything else. It is an angry girl song. I knew it.

Inconsistency

2007-08-27T09:47:00.000-07:00

Things I dislike with a passion:

People who seem otherwise completely intelligent misusing and interchanging "me" and "I" in phrases. Sometimes I think people are trying to sound smart, when they are in fact botching the English language (yes, for me this constitutes botching the language). An illustration on how much this actually bothers me--a google chat with a friend:

Him: "Soo, how is work? Do you want to come to the rope swings in Mona with Chad, Summer, Veronika and I after work?"

Me: "Do you want to come to the rope swings in Mona with Chad, Summer, Veronika and [insert the grammatically correct ME here] after work?"

Girls who dress up for sporting events. I don't really need to elaborate.

When people do not shut my locker above my desk at work when they come use something of mine. There was going to be a photo to go along with this, but my camera here at work is in mutiny. Things left open in general--doors, cabinets, drawers.

It's also kind of bothering me that my draft keeps getting autosaved when I haven't added to it. Don't ask why. I should appreciate it.

I'm done. I really just wanted to talk about "me" and "I" because of a caption I read on facebook. I figured this was a good outlet.

Celebrations

2007-07-05T12:39:00.000-07:00

Well, the Fourth of July has come and passed. Here are my observations:

Every time any of the armed services people passed by in the parade I couldn't help but tear up--there's no event tied to that. Just admiration.

Barbecues are better when it involves a family of some sort.

So are parades.

Fireworks are best when huge, sparkly, and free.

That's all for now. There's plenty more to be said of Independence Day. I'll finish with my two cents--I love this country. It's not perfect. It's not governed by perfect people. But it's the best nation in the world.

Giving it a whirl

2007-07-03T08:16:00.001-07:00

I've never done the blog thing before--unless you count angst-filled posts on myspace as a teenager. It's time I gave it a chance.

As I was searching my brain for a name for my blog, I hit a road-block and decided to take a detour (taking the bad road because the good road was unavailable). I looked up different words of the day on various dictionary sites. Ingenue seemed best, but then I decided that no one would get it; few probably understand what I changed it to anyhow.

Probably the worst word I encountered was eupeptic. Words that have dual meanings are fun sometimes, but this one... "1. of, relating to, or having good digestion 2. cheerful, optimistic"

Those two definitions should not be juxtaposed.

It's time to go put out fires started because of production errors. Love life at The DU.