Labor Day

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.

     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!

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

... 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

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!

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!

"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.