Captain Craven

Dateability Series 1: Date a Girl With A Voice

2012-01-19T22:46:00.003-07:00

One of my biggest fears is that I'll marry a girl, and sometime before we grow old, grey, and too deaf to hear each other anyways... the conversation will run out.

So to kick off the dateability series, I say date a girl with a voice. I love a girl with a voice, and my friends agree! Mostly, I mean that we boys love a girl with opinions, who thinks about the things she sees, and expresses her thoughts both freely and candidly.

Let's start with the dark side of this post. Too often, I find myself in conversation with a girl and suddenly I can tell she's thinking "I hope this conversation is going well!" And then BAM. There we are, smiling stupidly at each other, and while I'm thinking of ways to keep that conversation going she's still really focused on hoping the conversation is going well instead of actually contributing to the conversation and so the conversation actually goes like this:

(Disclaimer: All conversations and persons in this blog are fictitious. Any representation of any specific people or persons, real or otherwise, is not intentional.)

Me: So how is school?
Her: (smiling) Good!
Me: (thinking: oh boy. it's gonna be one of these conversations again. Turn on blinker. Drive cautiously through intersection. Resume conversation.) Awesome! Are you loving your classes? Any you're excited about this semester?
Her: School's good. But, you know, it's school.
Me: Indeed. To be honest, I kind of miss school. (I can feel this conversation getting dangerously close to a dead end, but thankfully so is my car, as it pulls up to her house.) Are you working as well?
Her: Nope.
Me: ... (grasping at straws) So... home sweet home!
Her: Yep!

...Well you get the idea. Not one of those dates where you sit in the driveway and talk for an hour afterwards.

Date a girl with a voice. Date a girl with opinions. Because to do so is to sign up for at least one evening of stimulating conversation. Maybe a lifetime if you're super lucky. Even if you don't make it to date number two, you go home that night thinking about stuff. You may even find yourself making up funny new words, like "skankapades" (a term for escapades of a dubious nature), and "snarkasm" (snarky sarcasm). The laughs are even better than the kissing. It's true. Girls, if you're reading this, here is my (probably unwarranted) advice - don't be afraid to speak up!

Even if your vocalizations reveal that you are not the particular type or flavor of person that the boy is looking for, anything is better than a drab vanilla who mindlessly agrees with everything the boy says. You are not meant to be walked on! Disagree sometimes! You may be surprised at how effectively this throws a boy off his balance. Puts you back in control. Makes him like you a little more. Show off your brain - and the only way you can do it is by opening your mouth.

Breaking the Silence

2012-01-13T12:27:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year!

Okay, I've been quite reticent as of late. Honestly I don't know exactly why except that I've been having SO MUCH FUN playing with family and friends. Though it is nearly halfway through January I haven't made ANY New Year's Resolutions, however, I will be soon. One of which is to become more self-aware.

Which explains my next slew of blog posts - I'm going to write about things that boys look for in girls. And I'm gonna be honest about it. Buckle up, because I feel like those of you who read my blog with any regularity fall into the category of people who would be entertained by such a subject. Of course, any thoughts or advice along the way is greatly appreciated.

A Craven Thanksgiving

2011-11-27T22:45:00.001-07:00

1. 7th Annual Pie Night: friends, family, and undercover vegan bean pies.

2. Impromptu Christmas jams with Steven and Co.

3. Foregoing Black Friday shopping with an impulsive trip to Angel's Landing.

4. Of course, lots and lots of family time!

Pixelmator: Headswapping, backgrounds, gloom effect, and more

2011-11-13T11:21:00.001-07:00

I've been getting a lot better at photo editing. Just wanted to show you some of what I've been working on for my mom's Tapestry website.

I'm most proud of this one, in which I swapped my mom's head. The other stuff is fairly commonplace - removing background, smoothing skin tone, etc.

The group really liked this picture but as you can see it's a tad overexposed. This was a lot of fun too because you can see that I removed the car on the left side of the picture. I also think I did a fairly good job of fixing the exposure and the levels. I got defeated by that lens glare in that lady's hair in the background... I'm still learning.

This stuff is a lot of fun, and I'm getting faster at it - learning all the shortcuts and such. Recently, I've discovered that a lot of my photo edits are ending up on Facebook as profile pictures. I wouldn't know, since I deleted my account months ago.

2011-11-13T11:19:00.001-07:00

glad I saw this before I had a kid.

A Sabbatical

2011-10-29T15:34:00.002-06:00

Guys, I really don't feel like blogging anymore. I'll probably lapse into a long silence. Not anybody (including myself) will really be broken up about it. Just thought it would be the responsible thing to do, to warn you. Happy Halloween!

More Graphic Design

2011-10-15T14:40:00.004-06:00

Did I ever tell you that my mom is in a band? Yep. My mom is super cool.

She sings in a double-trio of women called "Tapestry," and recently they've decided to go modern and build a website. They asked me to design a header for their site using the frilly bits I employed in my recent JBB graphic. This is what I came up with:

This is the my first design - this time around, I discovered some cool ways to make a drop shadow, which gives the frilly bits a nice 3-D effect. The tutorials online have been a great help.

This is how I changed the image after some suggestions and requests from my mom. I think it's so cool that she's in a band! Go mom.

AMCAS, Med School, Primaries, Secondaries

2011-10-13T13:11:00.000-06:00

Ran across this on a friend's blog and just had to share, because it makes me laugh out loud:

I am completing my last secondary application today, which is to Duke. I am excited to be done! It has been a long and rigorous process, which I probably made harder on myself by procrastinating. Don't procrastinate your medical school applications!

In other news, the fall weather is BEAUTIFUL. Each day I have set myself next to an open window and breathed the crisp autumn air, which is probably giving me a cold, so now I simply bask in the sunshine that filters through the windows.

Starting today, I will no longer need to (only) bask in the sunshine, for I will be out playing in it! And while we're on the subject, the moon is quite full: perfect for some midnight adventures. Go crazy, folks.

The World Needs This Video

2011-10-02T00:20:00.003-06:00

I am a child at heart. I salute these video makers!

Vacation - Rochester, NY

2011-09-30T12:10:00.002-06:00

Rochester is a beautiful part of upstate New York. Settled right on the coast of Lake Ontario, this city is home to University of Rochester School of Medicine, where I attended a medical school interview. The entire stay was wonderful and I had a great time interviewing as well!

Big, big sky somewhere over Iowa (hello missionaries!).

Ben and Celeste were ideal hosts, and cooked for us every night.

My friend Dave and I interviewed one day apart from each other, so we decided to spend the weekend there together. While Dave was in his interviews, I wandered around in downtown Rochester, eating at the delicious Dinosaur Grill, visiting the Eastman School of Music, and photographing interesting architecture.

The colors in this photo are my favorite. Also I enjoy the rhythm of the windows and staircases.

Ugliest building in Rochester. Like a car accident, I just couldn't tear my eyes away from it. It says "Times Square" above its gloomy double doors.

Rochester used to have a subway system, which has been abandoned, leaving behind some cool looking bridges. I saw some amazing graffiti in there but was too afraid of getting mugged to photograph it.

Construction scaffolding at the Manhattan Park (even though Long Island is 6 hrs away from Rochester)

Dave and I both had a great experience in our interviews, and would be very happy to attend Rochester for medical school. After Dave finished up his interviews, we rented a car together and did a little sight-seeing! First, we drove out to Niagra Falls, then doubled back through Rochester to visit Palmyra, where the LDS Church has its roots. We spent time in the Sacred Grove, Joseph Smith's home, and at the Hill Cumorah.

Niagra Falls! There's Canada in the background. We rode the Maid of the Mist, but naturally I kept my camera well-covered.

The Sacred Grove in Palmyra. I was surprised to see how close it is to the Smith Family Farm. You can tell you walk upon hallowed ground amongst those trees.

That's the Palmyra Temple you see through the trees. They had to cut out a hole in the foliage so we could see it from where I'm standing on the Smith Family property.

Dave and I on our way home in our SWEET rental car! Thanks Hertz!

Vacation - Moab

2011-09-29T21:58:00.001-06:00

When was the last time you went to Moab? Rafted a river? Saw Delicate Arch? (Your license plate doesn't count!) I've been with my family a couple of times, but it was sure a lot of fun to do it with my friends this time instead:

Our campsite: I slept on a picnic table and it was AWESOME.

Aleah catching some sunshine on the drive into Arches Nat'l Park

Our crew. There were a LOT of us! Good kids and solid new friends.

I am astounded by the enormity of Delicate Arch. Here I am standing underneath it's monstrous pillars with good friends Gordy and Steve

Some of God's creations simply cannot be confined to a photograph. I tried anyways.

Since we came in the morning, the Arch was backlit.

Beautiful color.

Isn't it remarkable that Native Americans lived in such a desolate area? Who knows how much you have to love those sheep to immortalize them on a rock.

Okay. A little out of focus, but Jon... you hat is... indescribable

This was carefully, mysteriously, placed upon my car overnight. Phantom giant underpants.

We went rafting, but naturally I didn't take my super-nice camera on the trip, so no wet swimsuit pictures for you.

What a picture to close on. Abuelita Gordy and his new Go Pro!

Gordy's 25th

2011-09-27T00:23:00.003-06:00

Blogger Audience

2011-09-19T17:30:00.001-06:00

Somebody from Germany and somebody from Lativa viewed my blog this week! How amazing.

Hello from the U.S.A!

Utah State Fair

2011-09-18T23:12:00.000-06:00

Fresh-squeezed lemonade, corncobs dipped in salty butter, rides on the ferris wheel (or not, because the line is so long and there is so much to see), petting donkeys, plugging our noses around the pigpen, and sharing a block of fudge while perusing the shops for keepsakes. In short, an All-American Thursday night! Gotta love the State Fair and the friends who make it memorable.

10 years ago

2011-09-11T22:59:00.002-06:00

Tyler knocked on my door to pick me up for our Olympus Jr. High carpool. His dad, Kim, was waiting outside in his big silver SUV, honking at us. I opened the door to tell him I was coming, just had to grab my lunch, and Tyler told me that somebody had crashed a plane into the World Trade Centers. I didn't even know what they were, and didn't understand what that meant.

30 minutes later found us with our eyes riveted to the television screen in Señor Thomas's Spanish class, as we watched the second plane smash into the other tower. We watched church services and prayed as a nation. I was only 14, and my understanding of politics, nationality, and patriotism were still forming, but I felt a distinct sense of unity with my fellow Americans. I felt us growing closer. Then I watched the buildings fall to the ground and I remember marveling that they didn't tip over on top of the other buildings, but seemed to disintegrate and sink down into the rest of the city. We watched people throwing themselves from the upper floors on live television. These were scary things to watch, and I felt like I was growing up a lot, all at once.

Throughout the day I heard from friends whose family worked at the World Trade Centers, found out they were located on Manhattan Island; families hadn't heard from their children, and were worried sick. Some were safe, and some were killed. Lots of kids went home from school early.

In memory of those who died, let us live to make men free. God is marching on.

Squiggly Line

2011-09-09T20:40:00.003-06:00

Is it just me, or does that squiggly line next to your blog make you want to work harder for good posts?

Also, here are some of my latest projects:

iTunes Binge

2011-09-06T14:35:00.003-06:00

I got a 100 dollar gift certificate to iTunes. How should I spend it?

Labor Day

2011-09-05T22:08:00.001-06:00

Today, I caught myself wondering to myself, "why do we celebrate Labor Day?"

Wikipedia tells us this:

"Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September (September 5 in 2011) that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers."

And here is a little history as to how it came to be:

"The first big Labor Day in the United States was observed on September 5, 1882, by the Central Labor Union of New York.^[1] It was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Laborin May 1882,^[2] after witnessing the annual labor festival held in Toronto, Canada.^[3]
Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday in 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.^[2]. Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, President Grover Cleveland reconciled with the labor movement. Fearing further conflict, legislation making Labor Day a national holiday was rushed through Congressunanimously and signed into law a mere six days after the end of the strike."

I spent my Labor Day with my fam, and I'm surprised at what we were able to cram in:

breakfast of waffles and bacon, skiing on Deer Creek, swimming at the pool, watching the US Open, lunch on the go, a motorcycle ride up to Guardsman's Pass (very pretty this time of year), 9 holes of golf at the Wasatch Mountain Golf Course, then homemade pizza before coming home to my singles ward Family Home Evening. You just can't argue with free donuts. And now, it's time for all of us to admit to ourselves the truth of this last excerpt from Wiki:

"Labor Day has come to be celebrated by most Americans as the symbolic end of the summer. In high society, Labor Day is (or was) considered the last day of the year when it is fashionable for women to wear white."^[

Happy End of Summer, folks. I am not returning to school this year, which is weird, but it feels like summer is ending just the same. I'm pretty excited for football season though - I hope my Cougs have a good first year playing independent!

A word.

2011-09-03T01:48:00.000-06:00

In this strange limbo between undergraduate education and medical school, I find myself writing a lot of essays. Essays about a time I didn't get something I felt I deserved, essays about my experiences with diverse populations. Essays about altruism. And in my sticky summer kitchen, I stress that I cannot express exactly what I mean. Even more, I lament that my "voice," which Ms. Bishop tried to help me find, is still stuck deep inside me somewhere. Caged in, perhaps, by a family of grammar-correctors and memo-editors. I submit essays to medical schools and they feel shiny and metallic: pretty and impersonal.

I would like to think, in another life, that I would have the courage to be an English major. I thought about it, then I thought I could not support a family on it - but oh how I would love to study words. Words are the beginning of everything:

"In the beginning, was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

John 1:1

Within words, somewhere, there exists power, power to construct a beautiful moment, power to make wrong things right, power to change minds. Writers, I envy you, and in this small space, I join you for a moment.

BEHOLD! PIXELMATOR!

2011-09-01T19:09:00.000-06:00

I downloaded Pixelmator yesterday, and I tell you what this is a gnarly little program. Look at what I made (from scratch), using free downloadable content from the internet:

(If you really want to admire these, click on the image to view it full size)

Jon of the JBB has asked me to take over some graphic design for the band. I'm pretty excited and these are some preliminary images from what I worked on today. Took me about 2 hours to make these guys, but they're pretty cool, right?

Why My Applications Take Forever

2011-08-26T12:51:00.003-06:00

... because this is how I do them:

Netflix, I simultaneously love and hate you.

Also, I am LOVING my new Macbook Pro, and the program Skitch which lets me take these sweet screenshots! I've already said goodbye to my PC and I'll probably never look back...

A Large Purchase

2011-08-23T15:45:00.000-06:00

I am typing this blog from my brand-new MacBook Pro! Sa-weeeeeeeeet! Couldn't be more excited. Does somebody wanna teach me how to use this thing??

Sommer, wunderbar Sommer!

2011-08-17T10:56:00.003-06:00

You know, my mom used to live in Germany when her father, my gramps, was a mission president there. They lived in a palace. Literally a palace. It is sooo cool. I've always felt a little bad that I've never learned German. But that's beside the point! I want to show you some pictures of my AWESOME summer!

Summer began with Ashten's return from Cedar City. Hooray!

Lots of laughs whenever I'm around my crawdad friend Jenna. This is us before the Bruno Mars Concert!
You really should check out her blog: http://mouthofthesouf.blogspot.com/

Always love a visit from Marci and fun in Midway!

Janessa invited me to volunteer at the Utah Valley Marathon. GOOD JOB, GO RIGHT! We yelled for an hour.

Rock Climbing at the Slips! Tristyn is always a good climbing buddy.

These are some of my students - I helped them prepare for the MCAT! Here we are blowing off some steam in the mountains.

I've joined the Jon Burgoyne Band. We've recorded some good stuff and played some fun gigs! This is Steve putting together a track for Clawson's wedding.

Lots of family time, which is best spent at RSL games! Go Real Salt Lake!

Andrew and Robyn got married and it was beautiful! This is us, waiting for the Andrew & the Guys pictures, at the Salt Lake Temple. Later that day, we ate at the Lion House and got drenched in the rain.

Setting up to play at the Oakridge Country Club. Loved it, not to mention the free dinner!

Lots of hikes in the canyons. Here we are at Dogwood Lake. Thanks Ashten!

Clawson came out of his cave (planning his wedding) to do lots of boating. We never have many pictures 'cause we're too busy having FUN!

Practicing for Clawson's wedding. Lucky braved the hot weather in a sexy cardigan. A slave to fashion, that boy is. Never looks anything but sharp.

Bear Lake Boating Trip with my singles ward! Holy smokes it was fun, and I met some amazing new friends!

Sommer, wunderbar Sommer. I haven't left the state, but I tell you what - I've been finding out about all the fun close to home. I wish it wouldn't end!

2011-08-10T23:36:00.000-06:00

"When I was young, I invented an invisible friend named Mr. Ravioli. My therapist said I don't need him anymore, so he just sits in the corner and reads."

"Even though I am an atheist, I still wear my yamaca, because it keeps my brain warm."

"Jurors are outstanding members of the community, who haven't murdered anybody."

"People often confuse me, but I try not to let them worry me."

For these quotes and its lovably quirky animation, I am quickly falling in love with the movie Mary and Max. Netflix is slowly teaching me to love these esoteric movies.

What makes good music?

2011-07-28T00:46:00.002-06:00

This is just to make a point: there is good music, and there is kitchy (sp?) music. For me, one of the best indicators of a good song is to take a look a the lyrics. Let's compare lyrics of one of my favorite (albeit obscure) songs, with one of America's favorite songs. Reading through the entire lyrics of a single song can become monotonous, so if you're a lazy blog reader, just read a snippet of each song and I think you'll still get my point.

"Furr" by Blitzen Trapper:

When I was only 17,
I could hear the angels whispering,
So I drove into the woods and wandered aimlessly about -
Until I heard my mother shouting through the fog
It turned out to be the howling of a dog.
Or a wolf to be exact, the sound sent shivers down my back,
But I was drawn into the pack and before long
They allowed me to join in and sing their song.
So from the cliffs and highest hill,
We would gladly get our fill,
Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn.
And I lost the taste for judging right from wrong
For my flesh had turned to fur,
And my thoughts, they surely were
Turned to instinct and obedience to God.

You can wear your fur like a river on fire
But you better be sure if you're makin' God a liar
I'm a rattlesnake, and, I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made, Don't be afraid
of what you've learned

On the day that I turned 23,
I was curled up underneath a dogwood tree
When suddenly a girl with skin the color of a pearl
She wandered aimlessly, but she didn't seem to see,
She was listenin' for the angels just like me.
So I stood and looked about
I brushed the leaves off of my snout,
And then I heard my mother shouting through the trees -
You should have seen that girl go shaky at the knees -
So I took her by the arm,
We settled down upon a farm
And raised our children up as gently as you please.

And now my fur has turned to skin,
And I've been quickly ushered in
To a world that I confess I do not know.
But I still dream of running careless through the snow,
And through the howlin' winds that blow,
Across the ancient distant flow,
It fill our bodies up like water till we know:

You can wear your fur like a river on fire,
But you better be sure if you're makin' God a liar.
I'm a rattlesnake, and, I'm like fuel on fire
So if you're gonna' get made, don't be afraid
of what you've learned.

* * *

"Baby" by Justin Bieber

You know you love me, I know you care
Just shout whenever, and I'll be there
You want my love, you want my heart
And we will never ever ever be apart

Are we an item? Girl, quit playing
We're just friends, what are you saying?
Say there's another and look right in my eyes
My first love broke my heart for the first time
And I was like...

Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

For you I would have done whatever
And I just can't believe we ain't together
And I wanna play it cool, but I'm losin' you
I'll buy you anything, I'll buy you any ring
And I'm in pieces, baby fix me
And just shake me 'til you wake me from this bad dream
I'm going down, down, down, down
And I just can't believe my first love won't be around

And I'm like
Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

[Ludacris:]
Luda! When I was 13, I had my first love,
There was nobody that compared to my baby
and nobody came between us or could ever come above
She had me going crazy, oh, I was star-struck,
she woke me up daily, don’t need no Starbucks.
She made my heart pound, it skipped a beat when I see her in the street and
at school on the playground but I really wanna see her on the weekend.
She knows she got me dazing cause she was so amazing
and now my heart is breaking but I just keep on saying...

Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

Baby, baby, baby oooh
Like baby, baby, baby nooo
Like baby, baby, baby oooh
I thought you'd always be mine (mine)

I'm gone (Yeah Yeah Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeah)
All I'm gone (Yeah Yeah Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Now I'm all gone (Yeah Yeah Yeah, Yeah Yeah Yeah)
Now I'm all gone (gone, gone, gone...)
I'm gone

* * *

I think if I hear the word "baby" one more time, I'm going to barf. However, I think I could read the lyrics to "Furr" over and over again. That song is worth memorizing. What a clever and beautiful allegory to the life journey of a boy. My point: be careful what you listen to. It may inspire you, entertain you, fill the silence, or even (heaven forbid) make you dumber. Please, try for the former over the latter.

The Business of Relationships - Social Currency

2011-07-25T11:12:00.002-06:00

At the very basic sense, relationships can boil down to a business transaction. When you meet somebody of the opposite sex, you must ask yourself (and answer) some very basic questions:

1) Are we talking about a romantic relationship?

2) Are you interested in me?

3) Lastly (but definitely not least), am I interested in you?

If we're answering "yes" to these questions, we can start to draw parallels between relationships and businesses:

1) Are we doing business?

2) Do I have something you want?

3) Do you have something I want?

Interestingly, when people get married, the credit score of the male almost always increases. There's a business transaction for you.

However, what I want to focus on in this post is the matter of "social currency." I'm trying to reproduce the gist of a conversation from KN, who offered these insights. I don't totally agree with the analogy, but it does shed some interesting light on the subject. With some expansions of my own, here are some thoughts on social currency:

Cash: It's fast, it's easy, and almost everybody accepts it. It's the most basic, visible form of currency. This is your appearance and presentation. Everybody seems to like it and to understand it.

Also, cash is easy to steal, and you're asking for trouble if you start flashing it about indiscriminately. If you market yourself only on your appearance and presentation, you might get the wrong kind of attention (i.e. you might become the victim of repeated "social robberies:" a subject for another post altogether).

Credit: Probably the most complex part of the analogy. Almost everybody accepts at least some form of credit, though if you think of cards like American Express, you can't use it just anywhere. My Sinclair Card gets me great deals, but it can only be used at Sinclair gas stations. Credit, says KN, is an allegory to your personality. Whatever it is, your personality will never fit with everybody, and it might take a little looking around to find a place where your personality is accepted.

Also, have you noticed that some of the cards with the greatest benefits are also restricted in their use? The same may go for personalities - the more powerful of a personality you have, the more you may have to look to find somebody that really "gets you." That's not necessarily a good or a bad thing, it's just the way it is. Now, we know that credit is no good unless there is some cash to back it up. Applying our analogy, if you don't take care of the basics of your appearance (cash), no matter how great your personality is (credit), you will never find a "social buyer" and thus a stable relationship. You don't need a lot of money to have a good credit score, you just need to be wise with what you've got.

Savings Account: If you know how to use a savings account, you rarely touch it, and it's not readily apparent to passersby. For example, half of America's millionaires have never purchased a watch over $235, a suit over $399, or a pair of shoes over $140, and the car they drive most often is a Ford F-150 or Explorer, not luxury vehicles like Lexus or BMW - taken from "The Millionaire Next Door," which I recommend. If you're using it right, your savings account accrues in value over your lifetime and helps you out only on milestone purchases (a house, a car, an education) or when you're in between jobs.

Your savings account represents your personal, invisible assets, such as intelligence and talents, and I might add spiritual strength here too. A strong "savings account" makes for a stable relationship, because it assures you of a strong foundation. The trouble of the social savings is that it is both the most important aspect of social currency, and the least visible. This is probably why we proceed forward with caution in relationships. If you're intelligent, reliable, and spiritually secure, your relationship will stand strong come hell or high water.

* * *

So, you can also ask yourself questions such as "how is my social savings account?" Do you have passion, drive, are you made of the tough spittle it takes to make a relationship work the way it's supposed to? And you can also ask yourself what type of social consumer you are:

Cash Only: Places that take cash only are often the least reputable of business - mobile hot dog vendors, booths at state and county fairs, seedy knock-off brand salesmen on the streets of manhattan, etc. If you buy something here and it breaks immediately, you're still not going to get your money back

Don't be a cash only consumer - focusing only on the physical aspect of your love interests will only bring you swift and meager returns followed by confusion and emotional pain. Don't get me wrong, I like myself a good hot dog occasionally, but if that's all I ate, I'd be contracting heart diseases like my freshly washed car attracts bird poop.

Credit, and Credit Only: If a business is taking credit, they tend to be more well-established and usually more trustworthy. You can bet they probably have a business license. Some very classy institutions, such as hotels, will only take credit.

What kinds of credit do you take? That decision is definitely up to you, and as you approach relationships with appreciation for personalities, you will find there is a great deal more to a person than their "cash value." Relationships become much more meaningful when you connect on a deeper level than raw physical attraction.

Savings and Investments: The type of purchases made with savings and investments rank among the most meaningful of your entire life - i.e. your education, your home, and your transportation. By the time you're ready to make these kinds of non-fluid investments, you're ready to commit yourself to the purchase, hoping that the returns are likely to exceed the sacrifice. This kind of investment in a relationship is akin to marriage - the deepest commitment. If you and your love interest have a solid "social savings" account, you'll have a lot to draw from when the tough times come.

Lastly, might I mention that good relationships will probably draw from all three categories. Like many things, balance is the key.

2011-07-13T12:59:00.002-06:00

Liz posted this and I thought it was hilarous so I just had to steal it.

Commenting

2011-07-11T12:47:00.002-06:00

I love how at least ONE person comments on my blog nearly each time I post. I'm glad you are reading them, folks. I'm also glad you comment - I think it's healthy for us to make our voices heard, because it can make a difference in the world. Each day, I commute from Salt Lake to Provo (and back, of course), and I spend a lot of that time listening to NPR. Today, on the Diane Rehm show, a panel was talking about how the only people who write to congress are those who are either (a) told to do so by somebody else, and told what to say, or (b) radical in their views, and thus they tend to be more vocal. The panel urged its listeners who were more in the middle of the road to give voice to their opinion! I wonder how the nation would be different if the silent majority was a vocal one instead.

Summer Bucket List

2011-07-10T15:56:00.001-06:00

We're well into JULY and I just realized I should probably put together my summer bucket list! Here's what I wanna do before the summer is out:

1) Go rock climbing lots and lots

2) Take a waterskiing trip!

3) Movies at the Capitol Building

4) Twilight Summer Concert Series!

5) Go to my Fetzer Family CABIN (haven't been for years, sadly)

6) Summer pool parties in Midway (come! come!)

7) Rodeo, anyone?

8) Concerts at Usana Ampitheatre

9) Go to ZIONS (and other campouts)

10) Hike King's Peak

11) Hike Mt. Olympus

Do you wanna get involved? GOOD! Let's make it happen, cap'n! I looove summer and all that it brings!

What the...?

2011-07-08T10:37:00.000-06:00

The Salt Lake Temple is closed for the week - glad I found out before I drove my nice duds down there! I could have paid 10 bucks just to enter and exit the parking lot. Whew! Close call. Next week, I'll be back.

Life Lately

2011-06-30T08:57:00.000-06:00

well...

2011-06-24T15:02:00.000-06:00

There are some people I hope I never see again. Not because I don't like them, but because if they see me... they're probably going to beat me up.

Canyon Climbing!

2011-06-14T08:06:00.002-06:00

Gordon climbing in Provo Canyon

Getting my belay on!

Lauren learning her knots.

Alaina and I, storming Dogwood Crag.

Such great heights!

One of the tallest climbs my 60 m rope can handle.

Exploring the slips with Janessa and Co.

Coleslaw keeping me on the wall.

Look at the view!

There are SO MANY things to love about climbing: the physical exercise, the outdoors, the friends (and how you trust them with your life!), the thrilling views, and the challenge, to name a few. It's my goal to climb somewhere every single week of the summer, so if you want to get involved - come climb with me!!

Boys Like Things Besides Action Movies

2011-05-29T10:15:00.001-06:00

Here's a good Sunday movie:

I'm really glad this film doesn't fit the Hollywood mold - I love to watch these actors whose lives haven't been spoiled by too much attention from the media. Plus, a nice coming-of-age movie makes you feel good, doesn't it?

Mind Reading

2011-05-23T23:45:00.001-06:00

I used to think that if you could read a girl's mind, then relationships would be a thousand times easier. For example, you'd really know if she likes you or not, or whether it would be a good idea to kiss her goodnight after your third date, etc. When you girls are upset, we boys know it. We can feel it... but how neat would it be to actually know why!

Clark Gable demonstrates "the smolder"

And then I got thinking... when you're re-entering the dating scene, how many times do you compare your date to others you've dated? You wouldn't want your date to know that. Or girls, do you ever give out your number to a guy that you actually find kind of creepy - only to be charmed when he takes you out for dinner? Wouldn't you be grateful, at the end of that night of joyful delirium, that he couldn't read your mind as he was getting your number?

I think it's a good thing that we can't always tell what other people think about us. If we always knew, then we'd start to care too much about others' opinions. The result would be a crippling sort of self-consciousness, and an inability to just be ourselves.

Nothing like an accidental smooch to get the ball rolling.

So, with all the halting uncertainty that comes from dating, I think it's good we can keep our thoughts to ourselves... and thank goodness we boys can't read girls' minds... because I am learning that sometimes, that can be a frightening place.

The real solution, is to get very good at communication - that way you can explain everything that needs explaining without oversharing. Easier said than done, however. From what I can tell from my own experience and that of my friends, it takes a lot of practice.

What do you think: Am I right? Or am I crazy?

2011-05-22T18:10:00.000-06:00

When you have an automatic shredder under your desk, it's easy to lose control. One minute I'm responsibly shredding gas bills and sensitive documents... and the next minute I'm shredding my cough drop wrappers.

Sleep Please!

2011-05-21T12:47:00.000-06:00

Dear Boy with a Harley Davidson,

   Buy a muffler. Or try driving your motorcycle sometime other than 2 am.

Dear Garbage Man,

   When you empty the dumpster behind Papa John's at exactly 5:58am every single morning, it sounds like your are dropping it off a building. If you could set it down like the normal garbage guys do, I'd appreciate it.

(or)

Dear roommate,

   Please let me run the AC so that I can close my window

Summer!

2011-05-21T09:22:00.002-06:00

... but it sure doesn't feel like it!

Once again, I have been reminded that I am not invincible - I have been running daily in order train up my knee, which bothers me when I run long distances. With the weather so bleary this week, I refused to give in and ran in the rain anyways, on some days for an hour or so - and now I have a sore throat and a headache! In May!!

In other news, my medical school application is due in just over a week, I start my 3/4 time job on Monday, and I officially dread going down to Provo. I used to love it, my friends, but that city is swiftly becoming dead to me. I love Salt Lake so much more! Last weekend I ran around with my friends up at the Capitol Building and took pictures, experimenting with the "low light" mode on my camera. We had some cool shots:

Front of the Capitol

I love that they light the flagpole and fly the flag even at midnight. God Bless America!

Back of Capitol Dome Detail

I always struggle with compositions, but with architecture it seems a little easier. Love that moon in the background!

Salt Lake City Capitol and grounds

If you're in Salt Lake City, I would really recommend coming here to check it out - the property surrounding the capitol is absolutely beautiful. We're in a little park area behind the capitol here, and in the front is a large beautiful lawn with rolling hills and some trees. Good place for a picnic this summer. Any takers?

National Geographic Moment

2011-05-05T19:42:00.004-06:00

That guy left of center has got it figured out. Laying down while asleep is where it's at!

I was walking home from work one day when I spotted these little bachelors taking a nap together. Who knew that ducks sleep standing on just one leg? I decided to take a minute and compose a few shots of this unusual behavior. You'll notice my camera's auto-focus is looking at the far bank: yet another reason to use manual mode. One day I'll get brave and experiment with it a little more.

You'll also notice a mother duck in the background (actually in focus), laying upon her little ducklings! She's been swimming around in the water with them lots, very proud of her wee little waterfowl.

Thank you, south campus pond, for your natural marvels!

Springtime!

2011-05-04T14:12:00.002-06:00

Well I can't believe it. I am now a BYU Alumnus!

But the adventures don't stop there. Now that I have graduated, I'm continuing a little bit of work for Altius Test Prep, while I prepare to tutor the summer program full-time. In the meantime, I have a little extra time on my hands to take care of the essentials (like washing my car for the first time in 6 months!). This is what I've been up to!

I graduated!

Went crazy at Missy Marlowe's that very weekend.

Played with my nephews. Charlie is so adorable.

Went climbing with my friends in Rock Canyon! I love climbing so much!

Celebrated my Dad's birthday with family. Here's Emily's one-month old baby, little Benjamin.

I'm excited to take it easy for a couple of weeks, but even more excited to really get crackin on the Altius Program with my new summer students! I love my job, and I love SUMMER!

My LAST Final

2011-04-21T08:36:00.006-06:00

I am studying for my last final... and I am learning all sorts of new things! That can't be good news. Not at all. It's funny how I only have 2.5 hours to study for my biggest (and last) final ever, and how little I care. I'm just excited that SPRING is here!

I am attending commencement today at 3. I wonder what happens if I don't take my final beforehand? I'm not brave enough to find out for sure, but one thing is certain: in 5 short hours I will be FINISHED with my undergraduate studies, and one day later I will officially be a BYU ALUMNI!

I cannot wait.

Thank you BYU for an unmatched education, for giving me the knowledge and skills to lay the foundation for my future in medicine. Now if you'd just waive my requirement to take my last final, that would be great.

But seriously, life is full of opportunities, and I owe many of those opportunities to BYU. Thank you.

FINALS FINALS FINALS

2011-04-16T21:03:00.003-06:00

yells my conscience, every time I think of something fun.

However, it is REALLY hard to focus because:

Chantel really wants to play uno! AND SO DO I!! (FINALS FINALS FINALS)

My new issue of National Geographic came today and it has a HUGE section on climbing in Yosemite. Coincidentally, I purchased some great climbing equipment today. (FINALS FINALS FINALS)

I cannot WAIT to be done! Huzzah!

Dear Professors,

2011-04-14T12:19:00.003-06:00

I don't want to complete my study guides for finals week. Let alone actually study them. I do not want to take these tests. It's SPRINGTIME people! Time to go play outside! I know for a fact that all of you are already on vacation (and it's not even finals week yet, and one of you left before CLASS was even over)... and I just wish one of you would have invited me. :'(

yours in academic apathy,

Spencer

General Conference, Continued

2011-04-07T23:24:00.004-06:00

Did you know (I feel like I am always starting sentences that way), that you can now WATCH the Priesthood Session of General Conference? It's true. Now, you wonderful ladies still cannot attend the session yourself, but the tech-savvy LDS Church has recorded and posted the talks online for you to watch! Pretty neat, eh?

Anyways, just in case you didn't feel like waiting for the magazine to come out, you can watch them here!

Sweet, yeah?

So.

Excuse me for waxing a little bit personal here, but I want to share my motivation for this post: Compared to my usual near-perfect life, I've been going through some tough times recently. I'm not really complaining, (in fact I feel like this is all largely a result of my own choices) so it's one of those times in life where you just gotta work through some stuff, and hope for the best -

Watching these conference talks has been really helpful to me, giving me that extra little boost when things feel especially tough. If you need a little pick-me-up, I recommend you follow that link I posted (up there ^). The talks don't fix your problems for you, but they give you a good idea of what to do.

That's one thing (among many) that I love about the Gospel of Jesus Christ - you get to earn your blessings. That way you don't take them for granted.

Here's something I loved from Steven E. Snow's talk, Hope:

"We should never let hope be displaced by despair. The Apostle Paul wrote that we 'should plow in hope' (1 Corinthians 9:10). The exercise of hope enriches our lives and helps us look forward to the future. Whether we are plowing fields to plant or plowing through life, it is imperative we, as Latter-day Saints, have hope."

Plowing through life. What a wonderful way to think about it - and after the plowing, and a little rain, comes the sunshine and the growth. Life is hard work, but that's nothing new - the trick is to realize that your circumstances don't need to determine your happiness. If you're sick of April showers, look to the future and you'll see May flowers just around the bend.

credit: papertissue

2011-04-06T22:21:00.003-06:00

Half a dozen James Bond movies just became available on Neflix, including Thunderball, which came out in 1965. Sweeeeeet!

April General Conference

2011-04-04T16:35:00.004-06:00

Every 6 months, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints holds a General Conference, in which the worldwide leaders of the Church speak to listeners worldwide. I packed up and left Provo for the weekend, to spend some time with my family in Salt Lake City as we enjoyed all five sessions. I love that the General Authorities of the LDS Church can speak in enough detail to appeal to those who are intimately familiar with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but still speak in simple enough terms that a child, or somebody else who is new to the Gospel, can understand. That is one of my favorite things about Conference.

I feel spiritually fed and richly blessed. There is so much to learn, and so much more we can do! As the talks become available online, I will post a link to them here.

That's what you get for falling asleep in conference.

Just kidding. We didn't really fall asleep.

But take note of the awesome soft-focus from my g12.

Love it.

In addition to the usual joys of Conference, I got to meet my new nephew, Benjamin Percy Jackson. He's a cutie, isn't he? We call him "B-Perce," or while he's small, "Benjamin Button."

My oldest sister celebrated her birthday with us, and much wrapping paper was strewn about with reckless abandon. My brother and I stapled 16 pieces of cardstock together and made the hugest birthday card ever.

Senioritis

2011-03-31T10:02:00.001-06:00

I just realized today that i have NINE DAYS of school left in my ENTIRE undergraduate career. This is the happiest moment of my young adult life!

Hare Krishna Hare Hare!!

2011-03-27T16:00:00.003-06:00

I attended the Festival of Colors with some of my friends this weekend. It was CrAzY! Photos:

I got plastered with color, like most other people. My first bit of color: the green around my eyes. Somebody threw it right in my face with my EYES OPEN. It's also the last color to come off - despite my best efforts, I still have a little bit around my eyes and it looks like I'm wearing makeup.

Usually 4-5 people were crowd surfing at any one time. To the left of that center pavilion, they burned a "witch" doused in diesel gasoline.

Arguably the most fun and most dangerous portion of the event: a coordinated color throwing. After everybody screams the countdown from 10, the world explodes into a whirl of yellows, greens, and pinks, which mix together and fill your lungs until you feel like you're going to pass out from all the scented chalk.

For any who haven't been to the Hare Krishna Holi Festival, do yourself a favor, and go next year! It was fun to mingle with the locals in mutual support and celebration of the Hindu religion. What a fun time! I'll see you there next year!

My Birthday Weekend

2011-03-25T11:50:00.001-06:00

My birthday weekend was marvelous. My family and my friends spoiled me beyond anything I've ever experienced, with party after party after party, 3 cakes, dancing, singing, blasting clay pigeons to smithereens, etc... not to mention presents galore! Thanks everybody for making me feel like a million bucks!

This is my new camera, which I purchased as a birthday gift to myself! Thus, pictures on my blog are now going to be less of a rarity. It's a Canon G12 and I bought it here. LOVE IT!

A celebratory March Madness Mustache - prudently I shaved it before I incurred any permanent social damage.

One of my favorite pictures from my new camera. Great imaging.

On Saturday, I ran up to Salt Lake and dropped my car off to get my tires rotated, then jumped in my friend Steve's fun new Outback to go shooting!

Our shooting crew. One notable addition: Marc's awesome new dog, a black labrador/boxer mix, fittingly named Apollo.

Saturday night, Adam and Steph threw me a party, and I was flattered that a lot of my friends came from out of town to celebrate with me. Thanks for coming, Ashten!

We played Rockband, always a favorite.

My roommate, Scott and two of my best friends from Provo, Jenna and Gabe. I'm so happy I met them this year!

No party would be complete without a 4-way Just Dance Extravaganza! Apparently Marci is the only person with enough body control to end up without a blurry face.

Gordy and Hailey, adorable and status quo.

Towards the end of the night, Dave (always a co-partier with me, as his birthday is 2 days prior to mine) came over with his wife and we danced to "Hey Hey I Don't Like Your Girlfriend!" Oh man, super fun.

Things cooled off around 1am and Steve and I played a little guitar.

The following day, I had a great party with my family, with delicious steak dinner and lots of time with my cRaZy nephews! I was having too much fun to take pictures, but thanks fam for helping me feel so appreciated!

And as always, my birthday means that SPRING has SPRUNG! Happy spring everybody!

The Big 24

2011-03-21T11:11:00.002-06:00

My birthday happened on Sunday! Thanks to all who celebrated with me. A full post to follow later, but for now here's a little sneak peek:

I don't get a spring break but hey, I'll take a birthday instead! :)

Our Problems Aren't So Bad

2011-03-15T20:29:00.001-06:00

oh gosh.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/events/japan-quake-2011/beforeafter.htm

First, a purchase. Second, Davies and a clumsy comment.

2011-03-09T09:15:00.002-07:00

1) I BOUGHT A CAMERA! I'm pretty excited. It's a really large purchase for me (and being raised by my father I tend to feel guilty spending any more than $20 at a time), but it's also a lifetime investment. Check out how cool it is here. I recommend clicking on the "View in 3D portion." Very, very awesome. Happy birthday to me - it arrives on March 17th, 3 days before the big day. Can't wait.

2) For the first time, I have commented in the "comments section" on an online newspaper or forum. I feel like becoming a little more vocal these days. Naturally, it being the first time, I botched it. I tried to keep my comment even-tempered and well-thought out, and meant to delete some of my more pointed and antagonistic questions... instead they hid from me below the viewing window and got posted with the rest of my (hopefully classier) comment. I meant it to end with "Go Cougs!" but instead it ended with:

"Take it from a local:

Why has this comments section been choked with anti-LDS diatribe? Why, whenever my school makes coast-to-coast news (ironically, for strictly enforcing a moral code), is BYU and the LDS Church denounced for immorality and racism?"

Whoops. Didn't mean to release that little rant to the whole world (wide web).Though I wish we had solutions to the problems that these questions allude to, I feel like I already know the answer to the questions I asked. No use inflaming the already haughty and prideful egos of the anti-religious, whether they be anti-LDS, anti-Christian, or otherwise. What's up with all the "anti" anyways? Can't we just focus on building great things instead of tearing everybody else down?

Anyways, for a link to the article I commented on, go here.

Wrong Side of the Bed

2011-03-07T07:55:00.002-07:00

I woke up this morning and read this text on my phone:

From: Gabe
LeCheminant
your car is in visitor
still
CB: 925-555-5581
Mar 6, 11:42 pm

Then I punched my bed really, really hard.

My car got towed. AGAIN.

I Love My School

2011-03-04T10:13:00.004-07:00

I think it's pretty awesome that Broussard and Bayless stood up for BYU's honor code, especially when in contrast, some of my LDS friends have criticized BYU for Brandon Davies' suspension from the team. All in all, I'm impressed with the nature of the responses to this incident. Like this article from the Washington Post. Brandon, I hope you get your life sorted out and that all the bad press dies down quickly. Mad props to you for turning yourself in, I know it must have been incredibly tough.

Cougar Pride

2011-02-28T11:35:00.002-07:00

ONE HALF of a semester left, then call me BYU Alumni!

Reasons I love the Cougs:

Jimmer Fredette = freaking awesome. Getting krunk refers to chugging a case of Dr. Pepper and staying up until sunrise. "Ivy League of the West," anybody? Nationally Ranked, or Top In The Nation Programs are more the rule than the exception. Professors pray for you before an exam. Colleagues are super friendly. Classy fans. Most popular/chosen school in the nation (beating out Harvard, people). Professors teach you the material intended for your class (instead of talking about their sex lives, or bashing on religion, or spewing political propaganda). Education is subsidized by the LDS Church. They're practically paying me to go here.

I could go on. And on and on and on!

Why do you love BYU?

Diarrhea

2011-02-23T11:33:00.001-07:00

Today my Medical School Applications professor persuaded me to tell a story about a time I got severe diarrhea, which I told in front of an auditorium of pre-med students. I would venture to say that is the strangest way I have ever contributed to a class discussion.

We were assigned to construct a true story from our lives which illustrates our perseverance, which will later be incorporated into a Personal Statement, which goes off into your first round of applications to the AAMC. I thought about the time I went to Sonora, Mexico to build a house for Adrian, an impoverished ex-luchador who was trying to take care of his wife and kids in the slums of Obregon. More stuff about that can be found here and here.

Anyways, on Wednesday night (the night before Thanksgiving), we ate our traditional Mexican hot dogs:

Oh man, they are so good. I ate a couple, which were indescribably delicious, and also which gave me some explosive diarrhea. haha. I spent the next day helping to build Adrian's house, with some fun little stops to the backyard chicken coop for some private "emergency business." Even better, later that night at a Thanksgiving Celebration, I was trying so hard not to laugh when in danger of pooping myself as I shook the hand of the Governor. It was so hilarious.

Life is a sweet experience, as long as you can learn to laugh at yourself. Speaking of which, while writing this blog in my History of Creativity Class, Professor Strong (also hilarious) has been dancing like a ballerina, tromping around like Attila the Hun, and impersonating a chicken to the music of Beethoven and Haydn.

Long-Awaited Update

2011-02-22T11:53:00.001-07:00

Hello everybody!

I am still alive! I have been largely absent from my blog recently, mostly because I have taken up a couple of extra jobs. Life has been pretty crazy this and last semester. Here's an update:

I now work for Altius Test Prep as a private tutor. I have 8 students that I am personally responsible for, and I also proctor two group sessions per week. I am still working on memorizing everybody's names, and I think I've just about got them all down. It's a lot of fun, and keeps me on my toes. I do so much studying on my own that it's a blessing to have a job in which I am interacting with other people.

In school, I am taking quite a few classes, the big ones being Orthopedic Impairments & Therapeutic Exercises (that mouthful is just one class), and Functional Anatomy. Both of these classes have been lots of fun. It's easy to do well when I love the classes so much. It looks like I'm on track to finish my last semester with a 4.0!

In addition to paid work and school, I'm also volunteering with Dr. Kooyman in his research on osteoarthiritis, on the histology and sectioning team. Mostly I operate a machine called a Microtome which slices joint segments of mice (6 nanometers at a time), which I then transfer to glass slides. After we make a bunch of those we find the best ones, dye them with special indicators, and look for signs of osteoarthiritis. I know it sounds pretty boring, but we actually have a lot of fun.

Though usually I've been volunteering Sunday afternoons at Primary Children's Hospital, I've decided to switch over to Saturdays, which I have been really happy about. My Saturdays are a little more fun because I can spend them in either Salt Lake City or Provo, and my Sundays are more relaxed. Playing with the children at the hospital is one of the highlights of my week!

This weekend I'll be returning to full activity after having an umbilical hernia correction some weeks ago. I'm going to celebrate by going climbing, I think.

And that's it! I hope to buy a camera soon to better document my fun times - without photos to supplement the text I feel the blog becomes dry and boring. Happy February everybody!

Last Semester of Undergrad

2011-01-25T09:26:00.002-07:00

You know you're working hard in school when the stars are still out as you're walking to your first class.

You know you're working harder when you're walking home and the stars are out again.

You also know you're working hard in school when your professor says "Turn to the table on page 53. We don't have time to go over this so I want you to memorize it for next class." Everybody sighs a little sadly when they realize he's actually not joking, then turn the page so as not to fall behind.

Lastly, you know you're working hard in school when you don't even get ONE DAY of Spring Break!

This is Spencer's Winter 2011 Semester. When do I have time to do my homework? When do I have time to take exams? I have no idea.

But people have done it before, so I'll figure out how!

Just So You Know

2011-01-19T19:15:00.001-07:00

I'm fully aware that I have been a very VERY crappy blog poster recently. These might be considered the DARK AGES of my blog. Pop Quiz: What followed the Dark Ages?

a) The Pitch Black Ages (which we have no history of because nobody could see well enough to write)
b) The Classical Era (and thus my blog will soon become quite classy)
c) The Mesozoic Era (because you have not even an inkling of history
d) The Renaissance (a rebirth of awesomeness!)
e) The Modern Era (obviously, since it came AFTER the Dark Ages)

Okay okay okay. I'm sure you all know the answer. (But if you got it wrong, leave a comment so I can publicly shame you)

What I'm trying to say is, my blog used to be really really awesome, and it will soon be really really awesome again. But I don't have a camera, see, and so I don't have great motivation to do great posts because I cannot supplement my blog with sweet pictuers.

I am buying a camera soon (as in, within the next 6 months), and then, we will witness the RENAISSANCE of my blog!

...

2011-01-10T20:32:00.003-07:00

No more drama please and thank you.

2011

2011-01-01T02:13:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year!!

Hawai'i

2010-12-20T16:29:00.001-07:00

Can you believe it? Right now I am sitting in an airplane, about 10,000 ft above the ground west of Hinckley, UT on my way to LAX, then Hawai'i. In-flight wifi internet is blowing my mind! Thank you Delta Airlines. This is amazing. :)

MeRrY cHrIsTmAs EvErYbOdY!!

Double Edged Sword

2010-11-30T21:08:00.001-07:00

Hulu I don't know whether to bless you or curse you.

I get to watch Glee instead of paying attention to my boring boring professor!

but then again...

I'm watching Glee instead of paying attention.

Giving Thanks

2010-11-26T14:39:00.003-07:00

"Blessed is he that gives without remembering, and receives without forgetting."

Rabbi Eleazar, 1250 AD

Thanksgiving season leaves me brimming with gratitude. I am so happy, because my heart is so full of gratefulness that there's no space for sadness. I feel great all the time. This year my thanklist is as follows:

Family. Boardgames. Silly dances. Nana Bett. Little lights. Little kids. A warm home. A free country. Acceptance. God. Cold feet by the fire. Pie. Good friends. and especially, a NEW BABY!

My sister is having a BOUNCING BABY BOY!!

(to be updated when she breaks the news on her own blog.)

I cherish these days when it is so easy to smile, and a laugh is around every corner.

Don't Give Up!

2010-11-22T10:43:00.001-07:00

Sometimes even after days, months, or years of patient perseverance, I wonder if I've been wasting my time working so hard. Thank goodness for Jeffrey R. Holland and timely yet timeless wisdom. Thank goodness for God and His Gospel and how He lends his strength to all his children.

Alumni Soon

2010-11-12T13:13:00.002-07:00

I just applied for graduation in April 2011!

(Hooray!)

Autumn Happenings

2010-11-08T11:26:00.002-07:00

Orange Aura
(photo via)

- hopped Halloween parties
- got barfed on
- got bitten by teenage stranger in the chest region
- dressed up as batman and as Angus Young
- stole a lovesac and DIDN'T return it (yet)
- runned up Provo Canyon
- watched BYU pummel BYU-H in basketball
- watched BYU pummel UNLV in football
- then my head got pummelled by a telephone pole
- had giant shaving cream fight in a hospital. called it "cleaning."

Don't you just love autumn? What have you done this fall?

Don't Ask Me!

2010-11-01T21:22:00.002-06:00

What would Abraham Lincoln do if he were alive today?
Probably try to claw his way out of his coffin.
Credit: Brock Holman

Uh Oh...

2010-10-26T23:23:00.003-06:00

My life is out of control.

This happens every semester (but on the bright side, it usually happens a whole lot earlier).

Also, SOMEBODY keeps calling me a Pollyanna. What does that mean!?

The Dirty Dash!! (and other things)

2010-10-03T22:28:00.003-06:00

I've been waiting until I had a picture! We were so filthy:

Lucky, D-Luxe, A-Ham, Crave, and G-Money

The Dirty Dash was held at Soldier Hollow, the cross-country ski track of Olympic fame. We braved obstacles such as bales of hay, 9-ft walls, tunnels, muddy sludge up to our thighs, and a slip-n-slide over 100' long. Though we were the last to cross the starting line (Lucky was late - it couldn't be helped), we were far from last to finish. Our team, The Pervy Piglets, completed the 10-K "race" in a little over an hour, blinded by muddy spray, and legs burning with fatigue. We blindly stumbled across the finish line, and I peeled my gritty eyes open for this photo.

Also, General Conference was amazing. Nothing compares to the renewed hope and peace I feel after such a wonderful meeting with the leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Lastly - I'm sure all my avid followers have been dying to know my MCAT score report. I can't actually tell you my score, because I am working for Altius, who requires that we not divulge our scores. So I'll get as specific as I can contractually tell you: I scored above the 90th percentile! I've got the score I need for med school, but call me crazy, I might actually take it again next year. (I can promise you, Altius is the way to go. My money was well spent on this course, and between group sessions and private tutoring sessions, I'm sure it's also the best value out there.)

So that's it for now. Have a great week everybody!

MCAT Scores Release Tomorrow!

2010-09-27T13:04:00.002-06:00

The tentative score release date for the Tuesday, August 24 MCAT test date is tomorrow, September 28th, at 5PM ET. My heart is leaping from my chest.

* By the way, I cannot give specifics about my score to the public because I have signed a contract with Altius promising not to. Sorry. I'll let you know how I did in generalities! *

Win Free Contacts for LIFE!

2010-09-20T23:00:00.001-06:00

HEY.

Remember your friend that always has sweet hookups? Owns 5 of Kobe Bryant's signed jerseys? Stays at the Marriott anywhere in the world for free? Gets a brand-new motorcycle every year because a vaguely-defined-relative is "sponsored" by Kawasaki?

Well here's your chance. You can win free contacts for LIFE. It's not a house in the Bahamas, but what good is the ocean view if you can't even see it? Click the link, enter the info, live the dream.

http://www.1800contacts.com/FreeContactsForLife/1760776

Recent Artwork

2010-09-08T13:11:00.001-06:00

Well it was quite a crazy summer, but in my small bit of free time, I managed to read Three Cups of Tea, finish the Old Testament, and render this portrait of Starlee:

Starlee Holman 2010

(Sorry about the slightly awkward angle - I neglected to get anti-glare glass for the frame, so if you take the picture "head on," you see yourself in the glass.)

This is the first formal portrait I have attempted in a few years, and since her father happens to be an artistic director for the LDS Church, the pressure to do a good job was a little intense. In the end, I'm really happy with it. I had a lot of fun doing it, mostly because I chose the subject matter myself and there was no real deadline for its completion. All in all, I consider it the finest wax pencil drawing I've done.

The final product was compiled from a few photographs, mainly in sepia tone. I "cheated in" some additional color (reds and blues, mostly) to add some vibrance to the piece. Isn't it lovely?

Back to School!

2010-08-31T23:54:00.003-06:00

If you're grumbling a little bit about it, read this for some validation:

"No man who worships education has got the best out of education... Without a gentle contempt for education no man's education is complete."

G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936) British author

I've been a little bit absent from my blog recently. I've been hiding behind my MCAT preparation and not telling you much about my life outside of that:

I just went through quite a fiasco with my housing arrangements at BYU. I was renting at a place near campus called Sommerset, but my landlord ended up being more of a slumlord than anything else, and was unwilling to fix up the place. Though he always spoke kindly to me, he was also adamant that I accept his squalid living conditions. I think the crooks that smile at you are more dangerous than the ones that grimace.

So I ended up selling my contract (much to my parents' relief), and moved in to a place called Windsor Park. It's really nice here. I have an east-facing window, so I wake up to the sunrise every morning, and my roommate is a way cool kid named Scott. He's from California, attending UVU as a Communications major. I think we're going to get along great. There is an unrented room in our unit which we are both hoping remains empty - our freezer is already full with just the two of us!

I'm jumping into my final year at BYU with a research program under the direction of Dr. Kooyman. I'm training now to perform microsurgeries on the knees of rats, as part of a series of experiments attempting to discover a link between Osteoarthiritis and BBS (I don't actually know what BBS stands for yet, so don't ask). I never thought my first experience with surgery would be under a microscope, but it's looking like that's how it's going to be! I'll also be working with some tissue cultures and other microscopy equipment. I'm a little nervous, as I've never taken part in a research lab before, but it should be fun.

Altius has offered me a job as a tutor. I have accepted the position with a promise to start in January, possibly earlier. This is quite a blessing as the pay far outstrips (by almost 300%) what BYU offers their MCAT tutors.

Other than that, I'm just trying to get all my books, schedules, and other things I need to live on while down here at BYU. It's alarming how the expenses add up so quickly! Good luck everyone as you start your new semesters!

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

Mark Twain (1835-1910) American writer.

Good Luck Wishes

2010-08-24T22:12:00.001-06:00

Mrs. Busath: I think we should celebrate tomorrow! Good luck and love you lots!

Mr. Smith: Hey dude. Just want to say good luck on the test tomorrow. You're gonna dominate it. Trust the lord first, your instinct second, and someone else's bubble sheet third.

Marcus: Good luck on your test tomorrow man. You'll do great.

Trustysteve: Smoke that MCAT tomorrow cravey! good luck!

Dave-delujo: Good luck tomorrow, bro. You're going to feed the MCAT its own brains tomorrow.

Bill: Good luck man... you got it nailed! haha

* lee: Happy MCAT day! You'll be amazing! Have fun! :)

Marcus (again): YOU CAN DO IT!

Mr. Poulson: Good luck today?

L. Victoria: Saw your fb status. Good luck spence, you'll do fab. You're pretty much a genius. :)

Grodon: Good luck crave baby! You'll do awesome. Give me a call when your done

Van: Best of luck sir! You'll do great!

* * * * *

Thanks for the good luck wishes everyone! I know I've been in a lot of your prayers. You are very good friends to me. I'm so happy to have it over with. I'll let you know how I did when my scores are released on September 28th!

43

2010-08-22T14:31:00.002-06:00

This is the score on my final, blind practice test:

Diagnostic Score Report
MCAT Practice Test 10
8/20/2010

Overall Diagnostics
	Total Correct	% Correct	Estimated Scaled Score	Estimated Percentile Rank	Average Time Per Question in Seconds	% Marked	% Correct of Marked
Composite	140 of 144	97%	43	99.9-99.9	90	22%	94%
Physical Sciences	50 of 52	96%	14	97.6-99.7	91	21%	91%
Verbal Reasoning	40 of 40	100%	15	99.9-99.9	89	23%	100%
Biological Sciences	50 of 52	96%	14	98.4-99.8	90	23%	92%

Can we all just look together at that Estimated Percentile Rank? I have worked very, very hard to get there, and now I am on a vacation from my problems. All day today and tomorrow, I will be completing the final task on my MCAT preparation checklist: relax.

Today, I will make a dinner, mod podge a chair, clean my bedroom, and take a nap. Tomorrow I will purchase a mirror, play with friends, go on a drive, and enjoy my one and only lazy day of summer.

I have not spent one minute of my summer complaining "I am bored, I have nothing to do." Instead, I have burned through June, July, and most of August at a grueling clip, savoring what I could along the way. I am satisfied, and looking forward to beginning my final year at BYU in just one week!

No Lie.

2010-08-12T23:42:00.002-06:00

"What you see is what you get."

Lie.

What you seize is what you get.

Get out there. Seize the day. Seize the night. Seize everything. Procrastinate tomorrow.

(This thought is good enough to get up out of my sleepy bed at 11:42 PM just to type it for you.)

You Owe It To Yourself:

2010-08-10T12:17:00.002-06:00

Here's a way to break the summer doldrums: attend a local art show! My friends ARP and Inneri are both extremely talented artists who are throwing their own show and selling their art. Whether you're looking to buy or just want to enjoy some excellent modern artwork and portraiture, I highly recommend attending. They're offering a FREE GIVEAWAY (!) just for visiting the blog and leaving a comment. To do so, click here. You could win this:

Even I will be ascending from my cave to attend it. See you there!

New Layout

2010-08-07T19:53:00.003-06:00

Hey friends! I'm spiffing up my blog - but I'm not doing it all at once, so bear with me through the construction process. I think you'll like the end result. Have a great weekend!

Friends.

2010-08-07T19:43:00.004-06:00

"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."

- Dr. Seuss

These are my friends:

the MCAT is my girlfriend.

2010-08-05T18:46:00.003-06:00

So I just have LOADS to tell you.

Actually not really.

This past week I have done 3 things that are very rare for me:

1 - I shove my legs. That's right. Shove. Like with a razor. I thought I'd try it out. Kind of weird, kind of nice though.

2 - Bought some new jeans. I have been wearing the same pair every day for nearly 6 months... it was about time.

3 - Taken 3 practice MCATs in 4 days. And I'm taking another one tomorrow. Ugh.

Mostly, I just wanted to share that the MCAT and I seem to be getting along. In fact, I spend so much time with the MCAT that sometimes I think we're dating. She's not the best friend to me, but at least she's telling me things I like to hear: practice test scores so far are 40, 43, and 41. Go team.

I really like taking the practice tests on e-mcat.com, because you get your score right away, and they even break it down for you according to the category, so that you can see where your strong and weak points are. Very useful. Sadly, the real test is not so merciful - you take the test and then they whirl your answers away into some unknown abyss where they keep it for a month before they tell you what your score is. It's very inconvenient.

Anyways, it's nice down here in my cave. Thought I'd slap down a post to assure you that I'm still breathing down here. Happy summer everybody!

Kids Crew

2010-07-27T20:24:00.003-06:00

I don't know if I have told you yet, but I am a volunteer on the Kid's Crew at Primary Children's Hospital. Like missionary work, it is hard to tell whether or not you are making a positive difference in people's lives; you just have the Spirit that makes you feel good and lets you know that God is happy with what you're doing. This little snippet is written about one of my fellow volunteers at the hospital:

"You woke up from your nap, and were in a great mood, so we went on a wagon ride around the hospital. There was a volunteer who was playing some music in the lobby. So we sat and listened to it. All of a sudden I felt so appreciative of that person. I thought about how he was taking time out of his busy day just to play music for us. That no one was really sitting and listening but us, but he still played. He didn’t get paid to do it, he just did it because he wanted to show his love and concern for complete strangers. Just when I think people can’t get any worse, there is someone there to show me that there is good in this world, and though they may not be as loud and in your face as the bad, there is just as much good. I felt a lot of peace, and just knew that something would work out. Money and all that come and go, and that no matter what happens in this world, we always have each other. I hope that I am being like that guy who is in the lobby playing music, and that the world is a little better because I am in it."

It's nice to know that we are, in a small way, making a difference. At least for this one person, we are keeping hope alive, and together we can look forward to a better tomorrow.

MCAT

2010-07-25T19:05:00.004-06:00

I take the MCAT in one month. Tomorrow I begin my one-month conquer-the-MCAT study plan. So... I apologize to my friends for never leaving my desk in the basement. I promise that in nine years I'll have plenty of time to play with you.

Nobody Trusts Little Brother.

2010-07-09T11:01:00.003-06:00

Emily: Spencer where is mom? When will she be back?

Me: In Midway. Tomorrow morning.

[Emily dials into her phone]

Emily: Hey mom? *pause*
Where are you at?

Me: I just TOLD you!

Emily: You're in Midway? When are you coming home?

Me: I just TOOOLLLD YOU! Duhhhh.

Emily: Tomorrow morning? Well I was wondering...

blah blah blah nobody trusts the little brother.

MCAT Update

2010-07-03T17:51:00.003-06:00

Well well well!

Altius Test Prep seems to be a rather amazing course. I'm just over halfway through the program right now, and I feel like it's been helping me along quite a bit. It costs about as much as a semester of tuition, but considering the inherent value of a good MCAT score, it's well worth the price - and to me, much more value per dollar than Kaplan.

And at the halfway mark, you take your first practice exam. Though I had seen much of the material before, it was good to take the test just to become familiar with the format. I was still nervous, and said a little prayer before taking it. Five and a half hours later, I emerged from the test with a whopping 41! Now, if I actually get a 41 (that's 99.7th percentile) on the MCAT, I will rejoice exceedingly, but I'm not getting my hopes up from the practice test. Today there was no pressure, and I'd seen a lot of the questions first - but now I know how it feels to approach the test with complete confidence that I'm going to rock it. And come test day (August 24th now!) I want to feel the same way.

I'm a little behind in my classes due to making birthday preparations for this girl (more to come on that), plus a deep inset need to commune with nature during the summer, but to be honest I am having fun getting ready for the MCAT! Some say that I am wasting my summer away in the library, but it doesn't feel that way to me.

More bulletins as events warrant!

The Face of Courage

2010-06-25T09:44:00.005-06:00

Anne Frank. June 12, 1929 - February 1945
She died just 3 months before the end of the war.

"We have been pointedly reminded that we are in hiding, that we are Jews in chains, chained to one spot, without any rights, but with a thousand duties. We Jews mustn't show our feelings, must be brave and strong, must accept all inconveniences and not grumble, must do what is within our power and trust in God. Sometime this terrible war will be over. Surely the time will come when we are people again, and not just Jews.

Who has inflicted this upon us? Who has made us Jews different from all other people? Who has allowed us to suffer so terribly up till now? It is God that has made us as we are, but it will be God, too, who will raise us up again. If we bear all this suffering and if there are still Jews left, when it is over, then Jews, instead of being doomed, will be held up as an example. Who knows, it might even be our religion from which the world and all peoples learn good, and for that reason and that reason only do we have to suffer now. We can never become just Netherlanders, or just English, or representatives of any country for that matter, we will always remain Jews, but we want to, too.

Be brave! Let us remain aware of our task and not grumble, a solution will come, God has never deserted our people. Right through the ages there have been Jews, through all the ages they have had to suffer, but it has made them strong too; the weak fall, but the strong will remain and never go under!"

- Anne Frank, The Diary of a Young Girl

I finished this book yesterday; it is truly remarkable.

Study Break!

2010-06-15T21:05:00.003-06:00

... 45 golden seconds of my life ...

Why I Like Real Life.

2010-06-04T17:47:00.008-06:00

This is Post 100. It is also quite a behemoth.

I'm not apologizing.

Real life is so much better than TV. On television, things happen too perfectly: Even when people are fighting, they quip back and forth with crisply tailored comebacks or catty remarks that belie a script-writer behind the scenes, and a director that made them do it over and over again until the actress achieved the perfect piercing glare, and the cameraman caught the actor grit his teeth at just the right moment.

That's not the way it is in real life. In real life, people get so mad that they say things that they don't mean, or they can't figure out what to say at all - and their body language gets all confused. No, an actual fight contains much to actual emotion to be put on TV. It's too real. They cry or plead or beg - sometimes in incredibly inappropriate places, like across the table from me at the library - and rehash the same issues without making progress for so long that any television viewer would pick up the remote and change the channel.

On TV there is no place for actual interaction. Even on so-called "reality shows" we are inundated with "real people" thrown into the most bizarre of scenarios. Is it "reality" to assemble a dozen CEOs of various companies and pit them against each other in The Apprentice? Is it "reality" to gather a smattering of social firecrackers and force them to live with each other for days, weeks, months, and watch them drive each other crazy?

No, reality is riding public transportation home and listening to a teenage boy riddled with piercings strike up a conversation with a clean-cut graduate student about cowlicks, hair transplants, and why hair grows weird sometimes. I like being able to feel (without even looking at them) the tug-of-war between politeness and cautious suspicion on the part of the student, and the uncertain show of bravery the teenager put on as he tried to impress his gothic-clad and nervous-looking girlfriend. You would never see that on TV. The conversation was full of weird interchange, halting, jarring starts and stops. They called each other "mister" and "sir" and "dude" all in the same breath. I liked it. I liked the true, the actual, reality of it.

If something like that was a script written for television, it would have been edited until somebody got stabbed, or at the other extreme, all the occupants of the train bursting forth into song like a remake of Enchanted.

I like real things. I like real life because it doesn't really tell you what to do or to think like the media does, it just lets us believe what we wish to believe, and then we get to live the consequences. In real life, we are in an arena of doing. Instead of watching the news and hearing about all the terrible happenings in the world - and then being told to "stay tuned" through the next commercial break, how about breaking away from that television telling you to stay rooted in your chair and actually doing something about all that horrible news you keep hearing about?

What are you going to do about it? How about joining a boys and girls club? How about volunteering at a shelter, a hospital, a senior living center? How about taking a bit of the world you don't like and squashing it with a little more hard work or a little more charity? Surely over the course of your life you have discovered ways that you were a little more gifted than the other people around you - but how are you going to share it? How will you use it?

As the media guiltily sweeps under the rug the consequences of poor choices, real life stands in brilliant contrast: because real life is real and your actions do have tangible consequences! That fact is bad news only if you insist on continuing to make bad choices. You are in control of your life - so stop complaining about the things you don't like and start doing something about it! You can have the life you want. Just envision consequences you need, and act.

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Ghandi

Pattering against the windows,

2010-05-23T22:52:00.004-06:00

the rain puts me into a somber and reflective mood, as usual. For some reason it makes me think of Peter Pan, and Neverland, and I feel a little left out, because I have never been.

I wish I was a better writer. jbod tells a story about cough syrup, and you'd think it was Mary Poppins and magic; B writes in perfect prose, and can make me wistful, playful, or thoughtful in four lines or less. Me, I've learned to compose a compellingly persuasive essay on nearly any topic of importance - and somewhere along the way, I think I strangled my inner child.

And I'm thinking of those the wishes we that have. The ones we do not dare speak aloud, because really deep down inside of your heart (right next to that spot reserved for your mom and dad and God and brothers and sisters), we're afraid that if we say our wish out loud that it really might not come true. And I want those wishes to come true so bad sometimes.

So when the sky clears, and the stars come out, I'll go outside and let myself feel little under the big night sky. I'll stare up at that big black canvas punctured by a billion burning suns and think about "big picture" things until my mind is spinning. Finally, I'll think about my writing wish and the other ones I'm too scared or superstitious to tell you about, and I'll let go. I'll let all my inadequacies float lazily away on the summer breeze.

But tonight, with the rain pattering against the windows, I will simply comfort myself with hope, and happiness, and by counting my blessings.

a bitty blog post

2010-05-17T10:20:00.007-06:00

These days, I feel I'd rather be experiencing life than blogging about it, so I've been lax in sharing much with you recently. Don't take it personal, it's just hard to blog when spring is in swing. Thus, I have listed some of the joyful distractions that excuse my absence from blogging. I recommend you enjoy some of these too:

warm weather
green grass
scripture reading with friends

croquet
holding hands
marshmallows

bare toes
people watching
water falls

self-help books
sunglasses
musicals

I thought I also mention parenthetically that four years ago today, I entered the Missionary Training Center. Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ changed my life forever. If you are looking for answers to questions of the soul, I suggest you start here. More on this on May 24th.

Fresh Mart is Stealing My Childhood!

2010-05-05T21:43:00.005-06:00

When I was but 6 years old, my oldest sister Kim was babysitting me. We needed to go to the store, so we guessed how many (Kim-sized) steps it would take to walk to Albertson's. Knowing Albertson's to be farther away than I had probably ever walked, I guessed a really big number: 100. 265 steps or so later, Kim and I walked into the store. I still remember getting an ice-cream cone with her, where she taught me to sing I Saw the Sign by Ace of Base.

Upon receiving my one-dollar weekly allowance in elementary school (tons of money), my cousin Dave and I would always walk down to Albertson's and spend hours deliberating whether to buy Fun Dips, a pastry, Neccos, Spree, or Nerds. Then we'd go to aisle 4 and freeze to death while we picked out a soda for a quarter.

In high school, Jordan, Matt, Marshall, Chris, Isaac, Andrew, Steve and I would all cram onto the trampoline in our sleeping bags and talk about girls. Jordan and I would argue about who gets to date Rachel and Isaac would go home early, then we would all walk down to Albertson's, look for the obligatory HCAA (hot chick at Albertson's), then buy energy drinks. Once we got hyper enough, we'd start prank calling the girls we liked. Matt would swear if he drank enough Red Bulls then life would move in slow motion.

Naturally, when hanging out with my friends last week, Albertson's was the first place that came to mind when we needed ice cream to make shakes. As the cashier was ringing us up, I got the surprise of my life.

Cashier: "How y'all doing tonight?

Me: "Good good. Just gonna make some shakes!"

Cashier: "Sounds like fun. You guys from around here?"

Me: "I live just around the corner. I've been coming to this Albertson's for my whole life. I've had some good times here.

Cashier: "It's not Albertson's."

All of us: "..."

Me: "I don't get it. There's a giant neon Albertson's sign on the front of the building."

Cashier: [pointing to the logo on his shirt] "It's Fresh Mart now."

I was speechless. I felt like my wife of 20 years was leaving me. How could this happen? This place where so many treasured memories have happened?

Probably, nobody else cares all that much, but to me, I feel a little sad inside. Thanks for the good times, Albertson's. I'll miss you!

the MCAT

2010-04-29T10:14:00.004-06:00

{photo via}

I signed up for the MCAT last night. Kind of a crazy feeling. I can't believe I'm going to be taking it - this year - on Sep 11th! Well. I can believe it, but it still makes me a little nervous. I was planning on taking it this May, but I decided later to put it off until September, and I don't regret the decision.

I wonder, as I always will whenever I embark upon a new challenge, will I rise to the challenge and outperform my peers for a spot in a medical school? or will I finally fail in competition with those who are out of my league? Thrilling, exhilarating, nerve wracking. This is what we live for - these moments of testing!

So I know it sounds a little selfish, but I'm going to ask you anyways, to say a prayer here and there for my success. My future rides upon it... but I'll try not to think about that.

Guess Which Movie?!

2010-04-26T18:09:00.007-06:00

I love old movies. And this one is hilarious.

Howard: What am I gonna tell Eunice?
Judy: That's the easy part. You go up to her room. She answers the door; now she will have been crying so her eyes will be all bloodshot and her nose will be all red and runny, but you look past all that. You stare purposefully into those red-rimmed, swollen eyes, and you say, "Eunice, my dear, there's been a terrible mistake. I've behaved like a cad, a bounder! But now I see everything clearly and I've decided that Judy and I are gonna put you into a home."

Judy: Has anyone ever told you that you are very, very sexy?
Hugh: Well, actually no.
Judy: They never will.

Welcome Home.

2010-04-21T14:46:00.007-06:00

Yesterday, I felt this way. After studying for my physiology final for a grand total of 40+ hours, I was ready to call it quits. Happily, I did not sink, but rather pushed through my tired mental barrier to finish out the semester strong. In hindsight, I'm happy I put in the time to swim just a little longer.
And now the summer is upon us! I cannot WAIT to bike down trails like this one. The Bonneville Pipleine trail is one of my favorite mountain trails. My goal this year is to bike to the top of the trail on the road, then survive the break-neck descent along a trail packed with bridges, cliff-line switchbacks, tightly forested corners, and the occasional surprised hiker with their dog. Aaron, you don't have a choice: you're coming with me.

Summer lovin. Why not? Everybody on BYU campus seems to be holding hands these days. I even saw a pair of ducks on a cute little date, waddling together across Brigham Square amongst hurried and harried undergrads preparing for their finals. It was precious, especially in contrast to the campus wide anxiety-attack that has been occurring for the past week.

For my Utes and Cougars who are still cramming for finals, remember this quote and live by it. You won't regret it.

How happy I am to be home again. The summer is full of possibilities - though at the moment I have little to do, I anticipate a part-time job and part-time volunteering (hopefully at the hospital), then lots and lots of study as I prepare for the MCAT. Hopefully I can fit in a vacation to Havasupai and Lake Powell while I'm at it. Summers are best when they're busiest, right?

{photos via papertissue}

Boys Will Be Boys

2010-04-10T10:42:00.013-06:00

the boys.
{this post is a doozy - if you don't read it, I don't blame you}

Boys will be boys. How true that is. Last night, I got together with a bunch of my high school buddies and caught back up on life. We talked about our jobs, how school is going, girls, what we're going to do with our lives, quoted movies, cracked jokes, made fun of our roommates, and everything else you could imagine. I laughed harder than I've laughed in a long time. So boys, thanks for being my brothers.

Most of my boys played 70s and 80s music with me in the Groove Train. I miss this a lot! I feel like this is a sweet part of our friendships that few people get to enjoy.

Will - always classy, always steezy, he has sick style and is never afraid to speak his mind - and when he does, he's pretty persuasive. When you need somebody to speak your case, Will is a good bet.
I can't tell you how many countless hours I've spent jamming with Steve. We continue our escapades in our life of singledom together, and he makes a good wingman with solid advice and sound logic. Plus he's got some sick talent on the bass, guitar, and piano.

Marcus - he's married now, proving he's got it together a little better than the rest of us. Adamantly a Utah fan, Marcus was a good sport when he lived with 5 BYU fans every day. He's always been the most hilarious friend I've had.

Gordy - you're the man. Right now you're probably back in our shared bedroom, sleeping away peacefully, but in an hour you'll be awake and running full-speed until you pass out again. I've never known anybody who works and plays so hard. Plus, Gordy is easily the most dependable friend I've got.

I met Dave in high school and we sluffed calculus to make grilled cheese sandwiches at my house. And we talked about how gay people must be crazy because girls are so HOT! Fast friends ever since high school, I feel lucky our paths have been so parallel. From making a video for prom, to BNL, to the LGN diet, we've had some seriously good times over the years.

Coleslaw. Arguably my manliest friend. You've owned a truck forever. I never appreciate how freaking cool you are until you decide to come back and visit us from Cedar. When you're with Coleslaw, it doesn't matter what you're doing, you're having a good time; Whether we're tearing up the slalom up at East Canyon or just blowing time playing video games, we're having fun.

Adam is the best wingman I've ever had, and he's always had solid advice as well. I've looked up to him ever since he was my Zone Leader in the IDMM - I've never known anybody who has worked harder and slept less so that the people he loves can be happy. He's always been able to make things happen and take care of his friends and family. A true friend.

Andrew. I miss this guy. He got married and then dropped off the face of the planet - I've barely seen him since the Superbowl. Andrew is always thinking about his friends and making sure they're doing okay; When he asks you how you're doing, you know he means it. Add to that his mad guitar and singing skills, love of literature, sharp wit and casual attitude, and you've got an indispensable friend.

A-Ham - the guy with the dope aviators on. What a stud. We've been friends for as long as I can remember, and lived one house away from each other all our lives. Aaron is usually the first guy I call when I visit or move home. Of all my friends, Aaron is closest to being a brother.

prose, poetry, a lyric

2010-04-01T19:35:00.003-06:00

This little line has been floating in my head these days. I think I shall put it to music:

"you can never have enough of what you don't need, because what you don't need doesn't satisfy."

It has been a while since I wrote a song. Perhaps I will do it today.

Birthday Birthday Coming to Earth Day!

2010-03-24T17:24:00.007-06:00

(I have a new favorite birthday song. Seriously, you will not regret listening to it. Thank you for the live a capella performance, Aly and Stacey!)

I am one year older now than I was a week ago.

I am one year different.

I hope to believe I am also one year more mature, and one year closer to my God. In my 22nd year I did a lot of things, and I'm grateful for my experiences.

As a 22 year old, I picked a major, then changed it, then changed it again, watched 4 of my best friends get married, painted a handful of commissions, pulled one all-nighter, successfully avoided swine flu (despite 2 roommates and my girlfriend having it at the same time), swam in the Pacific, built a home in Mexico, got my first B+ in college, followed by my first 4.0. I also went barefoot for 30 consecutive days, excluding 3 hours per week at church, and while standing in line at the testing center.

A glorious year.

Now that I am 23, what does the future hold? There are a few things I know for sure. I will get a job, take the MCAT, and move out of the Riviera. I will paint another handful of commissions - and if I don't sell them, I certainly don't mind keeping them - and I will continue in my quest for self-discovery.

Thanks, God, for a great year. Every breath is a gift.

Everyone, I hope you are taking a little time to stop and reconsider:

How are you doing on your New Year's Resolutions?
How is your relationship with your family? Your friends?
When's the last time you told your siblings or your parents that you love them, and appreciate them?
What are you going to do to make 2010 worth the precious time you've been given?
What are you going to do to make the world a better place?

Why not start right now?

DST 2010

2010-03-16T11:37:00.006-06:00

[Thank you Daylight Savings Time]
{photo via}

Dear Daylight Savings Time,

Welcome back! I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks for giving me more sunlight in the afternoon hours. Also, thank you for reducing traffic fatalities. I really appreciate how well you help me stay awake as I study throughout the day. However. I have a bone to pick with you.
You messed up my sleep schedule.

Monday morning, one week ago, I awoke (without an alarm clock) at 7:00 am with creamy golden sunshine warming my face. Despite only getting 6.5 hours of sleep, I felt great, because the sunshine told me to. Monday morning, one day ago, the number of times I hit the snooze button rocketed past the single digits and into the teens. Despite getting 8 hours of sleep, I felt like the garbage inside the can I tripped over on my way to the toaster.

I know you're trying to help, but if you have any personal connections with the Sun, could you please tell him I'm really missing him in the morning time and to please come out a little earlier? Thanks. Seriously, you do a great job. And despite making everybody late for church on Sunday, I still think you're pretty great.

Sincerely,

Crave

Just Wanted to Say...

2010-03-06T10:47:00.005-07:00

You're a better person than you think you are. It's only you that holds yourself back.

So believe in yourself. You may not see it, but everybody loves you. People talk about you when you're not around, and they're saying good things.

You might fail at things - sometimes you might even fail at something you wanted more than anything you've ever wanted in your whole life - but it's just part of life. You are still a great person, and countless people look up to you, envy you, would trade places with you in a second.

So when your family life, school life, social life, or love life seem to be following Murphy's Law, don't give up hope. You are stronger than you think you are. It's all going to turn out just fine.

Somebody told me this last night, and I really needed to hear it. So pass it on.

(photo via)

I Am Grateful for...

2010-02-28T00:05:00.005-07:00

the freedom to ignore good advice.

old roommates.

bacon. and naps. but not at the same time.

the freedom to pick my nose even when you're looking.

fuzzy clothes.

All these things are great, but mostly I am grateful for my PARENTS, without whom I would be an unborn child and without whom I would never have survived elementary school, let alone college.

I am a lucky boy.