Something to Say.

I have something to say about moving. Sometimes I like it. But sometimes, I don't. I don't mind that my new bedroom is smaller than a shared cell in prison, nor do I mind that my complex feels like the projects.

What I do mind is that every time I go home to Salt Lake, I find more and more reasons to love the place:

[thanks to corbis.com for providing these images]

Downtown speaks to my soul - faintly reminiscent of my vacation to Manhattan, it sports spectacular architecture and towering buildings, and a feel-good hustle and bustle of businesses, cars, and motorcycles.


The parks - the wind rustling the leaves with the promise of long summer days, blossoming trees shading young lovers as they walk, laughter of children, and bare feet in the grass.


Concerts - every thursday night, free concerts play at the Gallivan Center. Salt Lake City's counterculture comes out from the bars and coffee shops to rub shoulders with me as we enjoy free entertainment compliments of our tax dollars and up-and-coming musicians.

The People - my family. Best friends from childhood. Mission buddies. Sorority girls. Crazy polygamist neighbors. Red heads. I even miss smokers - you just don't ever smell them down here in Provo... I could go on.

Provo, you are great, and you'll always have a place in my heart, but I've never felt like I quite fit in here. Don't be offended if I don't stick around forever.

I Have Talented Friends.

The fact that we got this video on the first try pretty much proves Adam's skill with a bowling ball. What undiscovered talents do you have... ? This will blow your mind.




Admit it - you wish you could do that.

Organic Chemistry is a Dead Bird.

I happened upon this comic strip some time in elementary school, and it has changed my outlook on a lot of things.

I just finished my Organic Chemistry class today. I walked into the final, annihilated it, then left with an hour to spare. Blasting my "Boogie Bus" playlist on my iPod, my smile was as wide as Texas. Take that, Organic Chemistry.

And yet I am also reminded of what a beautiful thing it is - my ochem teacher has made her it her life's work and passion to teach this subject to kids like me. Dr. Nielson is a vibrant, dynamic, friendly and energetic woman who thoroughly loves - and loves to teach - organic chemistry.

She has helped me to see the beauty of the subject - though for me, it is a dead bird. Natural, beautiful, and its presence, though unnoticed by many, draws my eye, causing me to look more deeply into the mysteries of life. I'm not going to carry it with me forever, but I will always appreciate that it's there and that in it's own small and powerful way, it changed who I am.

Thank you, Dr. Jennifer Nielson.

This is a link to the entire strip.

Rules Are Made to be Broken.

Okay okay okay. Everybody calm down.

Look at 'em... don't they look happy?

There are specific and tacitly understood rules about dating. We all know them by heart, though we might word them in different ways. Here's a few examples:

(a) date just one person at a time.

(2) no kissing another girl until you've broken contact with the first.

(D) non-committal cuddling must be consensual, and, for those who choose to indulge in that behavior, the same goes for kissing.

(IV) if you're looking for a firmly based relationship, honesty is always the best policy.


So, that said, let me be the first to point out, we all break the rules. This is why people's feelings get hurt - because somebody cheated. And you know what, it's kind of okay, because everybody cheats. We just have to take it in stride man up (or woman up, I guess). We're all in this together, and whether we choose to play the game flirty and dirty or cool and casual, we've all been on the receiving end of a few bad scenarios... but let's face it, we've caused them too.

So let's just cool off and remember: we play the game because it's fun, and the rewards are well worth the sacrifice.

the Golden Rule

I am so proud to be a Christian. Without Jesus Christ I have no idea what I would do. He's my rock and my salvation, and the reason for the hope that is in me. I have just completed my World Religions Course as of today, and along with insights into other religions, I have gained many into my own.

How cool is it that every single major religion teaches the Golden Rule? From the Torah to the Tao Te Ching, from the Qur'an to the Guru Granth, each exhorts humankind to show charity to one another.

Hinduism

This is the sum of duty; do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.

Buddhism

Treat not others in ways that you yourself would find hurtful

Confucianism

One word which sums up the basis of all good conduct... loving kindness. Do not do to others what you do not want done unto yourself.

Taoism

Regard your neighbour's gain as your own gain, and your neighbour's loss as your own loss.

Sikhism

I am a stranger to no one; and no one is a stranger to me. Indeed, I am a friend to all.

Christianity

In everything, do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.

Unitarianism

We affirm and promote respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

Native Spirituality

We are as much alive as we keep the earth alive.

Zoroastrianism

Do not do unto others whatever is injurious to yourself.

Jainism

One should treat all creatures in the world as one would like to be treated.

Islam

Not one of you truly believes until you wish for others what you wish for yourself.

Baha'i Faith

Lay not on any soul a load that you would not wish to be laid upon you, and desire not for anyone the things you would not desire for yourself.

Hinduism

This is the sum of duty: do not do to others what would cause pain if done to you.

All these selections were taken from within the canon of their faith.

I don't know about you, but I'm overflowing with righteous pride in my Savior. Happy Easter.

Finals Shminals!

You are reading this post for the same reason that I am writing this post: because you have homework, and you're trying not to think about it. Finals is coming up. You're likely to be more stressed out next week than you have been in the past 6 months of your life (the last time you were taking your finals) only this time it's worse, because instead of freezing winter weather, it's getting sunny outside, your friends appear to have less studying to do, and they want you to go rock climbing.

And I just really, really want to play guitar. Or go longboarding. or clip my toenails, or stare at a wall... these things seem to be way more important to me than locating an American Chemistry Society Study Guide, reading 200 pages and writing 2 essays, completing my physics problem set, or proposing a synthesis for a polypeptide chain.

So, throw out your sense of responsibility, kick back, and watch a rerun of Grease. Responsibility comes later... and if it really comes down to it, you can always retake those classes. I'm not going to... but you could.

My Best Friend's Wedding

Congratulations to David and Anna Peterson!



Dave's been one of my best friends for a long while now. It was surreal to witness his union with Anna Richards for time and all eternity. I'm so happy for them. They looked fantastic.

Looking even more angelic than usual...

Watching Dave get married was a bittersweet experience for me. It's hard to let go of him and accept the fact that I'm never going to share a roof with him again - no more sleepovers, no more late night pillow-talks, no more ditching class to do homework together - but I can't even express my excitement that he's moved on to bigger better, more beautiful things. Anna is simply an amazing girl and couldn't be better for Dave. And vice versa, of course.