Addendum to Texas

My observation on Texas being conservative, and Austin not, has caused some confusion which must be cleared up. It sounds like I support Austin seceding from Texas. I do. Not because I want to be in a liberal Austin, but because I would like to keep Texas pure. I guess I think of myself as a Texan more than an Austinite.

Texas

We have now been in Texas for 4 months, and it is probably time for me to post a blog about my impressions and observations.

Is everything truly bigger in Texas? Unfortunately, no. But almost everything is. Including addresses. Our current address is 12610 Riata Trace Pkwy Apt 338, Austin, Texas, 78727. Our former address was 258 N 400 W Apt 3, Provo, Utah, 84601. See how much longer it is? 51 characters (plus spaces) to 37. You might think this is a strange thing to notice, or care about. It is. But the reason I noticed is because one of the things that is not bigger in Texas is the address line on forms, slips, etc. I can never fit our entire address into the space that is provided! It reminds me of a Calvin and Hobbes, posted below.

Another thing that is bigger in Texas: the ethnic population. We ate at CiCi's the other day, a pizza buffet. We were the only whities in the place for about forty-five minutes, when another of us showed up.

Texans are very polite and friendly. An example: I take the bus from my research campus to the main campus, and as we get off the bus every single person thanks the bus driver for driving us around, like he is doing it out of the goodness of his heart. The first time I noticed this I assumed that everybody had some kind of in with the driver. It's like getting off an airplane, where the flight attendants and pilots say goodbye to every passenger. Reminds me of two movies, clips below.

Only the first 10 seconds or so.

A couple of weeks ago I was entering the grocery store, when I heard a man ask a lady who was about to leave the parking lot if she was a roller derby girl. She had two kids, had to be 38 or so. She said yes. Awesome.

Today is Dec 7th. When I left for work, there was some frost on the cars. For the first time since we moved here. December 7th. First frost. Wonderful.

We all know that Utah drivers are bad, right? At least that is what those of us not from Utah say. Turns out Texas drivers are just as bad. Or maybe even worse. It's a good thing it doesn't snow much here, or else there would be complete chaos.

If you move to Texas you have 90 days to register your car in Texas. Costs like $100. Lame.

Texans drink a lot of beer. And probably other alcohol, too.

Texas is very conservative. Austin is not. A bumper sticker I saw: "If Texas can secede from the Union, can Austin secede from Texas?" Given the option, I would cede to Austin's desire to secede.

That is all I can think of for right now. Probably I will think of more in the future, and then I will write a sequel blog.

formerly known as Ralphie

I recently joined Facebook. For some reason or another, I felt like I should. I have since tried to decide why I felt that way, and I am not sure. Although I have already had some good conversations with old acquaintances. This post is actually not about that, though.

So we have a cat now, formerly known as Ralphie, currently known as Stella. Elin couldn't let a girl cat have a boy name. Ben and Ryanne couldn't take her to Louisiana, so now she is our cat. She has been a lot of fun; she is pretty crazy. I hesitate to post this, because I am afraid it will look like I am trying to substitute a pet for a child. I generally make fun of those people who act like a pet is the equivalent of a baby, so I don't want to look like one of those people. Truth is, though, she has some child-like tendencies. Like wanting to eat anything I am, even when she has her own food. Or trying to get into every room/area she is not supposed to go in. She also wakes me up at night wanting attention. Let it be clear that I understand she is not the equivalent of having a baby. Here are some fun pictures of her antics.


She runs under these things when I chase her around the house. Then when I turn around to leave, she runs out after me.

She loves to get in the sink. For some reason she is fascinated when I turn the water on. She also does this with the kitchen sink and the bathtub. Just wait until I turn the disposal on, that'll teach her.

Below is a funny progression of pictures. The funniest is when I turn the fruit bowl over and trap her. She loves it.





Playing in the bath tub.

Doing what cats do best, and most.


It's really funny when she squeezes under here. She can attack the mouse from a safe vantage point.




Elin wanted to take this picture. She likes to come lay between my arm and body.

And check out this sweet picture I found.

My beard at its best. I miss it. Luckily it is now Movember...

One year older....

I think I may be getting wiser too, because I am reading Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes (which is fantastic, by the way). Watterson is a genius--the best social critic I've ever read and the most amusing. Plus his mastery of imagery is enviable. Anywho, here is my quote for the day from the book. I'm a little slow, so I had to read it about 3 times to understand whate he was saying, but you all will probably get it the first time:



Love it.

So if you were paying attention to the last blog by Elin, you will see that this one is the exact same for the first paragraph plus, except for the name of the author and his work. Watterson really was something of a social critic, and certainly the most amusing, even surpassing Mr. Dickens. And who can argue that his mastery of imagery is not enviable? If you question that, take another look at the above strip. Elin will get after me for writing this like I did because she'll think I am making fun of her, but I really am not. I am just making fun!

There is nothing like a birthday to make one wax reflective, and so I felt like writing a blog. Really I should be writing an essay that is due tomorrow that I haven't even started, but I don't really feel like it...

So I have spent the last several weeks interviewing with various oil and gas companies. Turns out there are a lot of companies out there that I had never heard of. I will have interviewed with 10-12 different companies by the time I finish. I am interviewing for internships for next summer. If the internship goes well then I would get an offer to work for the company after I graduate. Basically I am deciding the next 4-5 years of my life in these few weeks. Seems a little strange, considering that I am only a month and a half into my graduate degree. There are a couple of companies that would be really cool to work for, and some not so much. If I only get offers from the not so much companies, I could always switch companies after the intitial training period. There appears to be a lot of shuffling around in the industry.


Here are some presents that I received so far this year (I still have some to open tonight):







I also received some good movies, some shorts (thanks Nathan for giving Elin some direction there. I never got around to it), a professional fishing chair, and we'll see what is left!


This is the link where I pulled the Calvin and Hobbes strip from. I just did a random search, but this guy actually has some interesting commentary on the strip. http://www.orthocuban.com/2009/11/opiate-of-the-masses-tv/

One year older....

I think I may be getting wiser too, because I am reading Dickens' Little Dorrit (which is fantastic, by the way). Dickens is a genius--the best social critic I've ever read and the most amusing. Plus his mastery of imagery is enviable. Anywho, here is my quote for the day from the book. I'm a little slow, so I had to read it about 3 times to understand what he was saying, but you all will probably get it the first time:

"To be in the halting state of Mr. Henry Gowan; to have left one of two Powers in disgust, to want the necessary qualifications for finding promotion with another, and to be loitering moodily about on neutral ground, cursing both; is to be in a situation unwholesome for the mind, which time is not likely to improve. The worst class of sum worked in the every-day world, is cyphered by the diseased arithmeticians who are always in the rule of Subtraction as to the merits and successes of others, and never in Addition as to their own."

Love it.

Fact: Birthdays get boring when you are old.

I spent the day in my new apartment. Forrest made me a happy pancake breakfast but then he had to go to work and school. And I had pizzookies later that evening! They were delicious. But I did get some sweet presents!

My sister Lola took me to see the movie I have been dreaming of ever since it came out:





Best Movie Ever! Lola was kinda of dreading this one, I think, but even she thought is was the happiest movie ever. And the acting was decent...

Then she got me this piano music to Aida. Let's just say, Disney + Elton John knows how to make a broadway musical.

My mum and Delys got me some framed black and white prints that look perfect in my new kitchen. Some of the other wonders I received:











Have I mentioned that I love Selena Gomez?


I also got to spend almost and entire week in Allen with my family which was the best present of all. What could be better than spending a whole week with this:



And to cap it all off, I finally found piano music to this song that I have been in love with forever by a contemporary Italian composer named Ludovic Einaudi. Have a listen:

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The Wall

My friend Andrea shared this with me years ago. It has been on my mind recently so I wanted to share it with you:

"I hope that some day you will have a longing, a longing that seems to wring your soul (in expressing that hope I have your interest at heart) that you will meet a wall that seems insurmountable, impregnable; but if duty lies beyond that wall, do not stand back and say, 'I cannot do it.' You may aspire to do it, but that is not sufficient. Do what James . . . says: Ask God for power, but add to that faith, an acknowledgment of your own ability to do what you are able to do.

You can walk from where you stand, up to the wall. When you get there, and you have gone as far as you can, you will find in answer to your prayer that there is a hidden ladder by which you can scale it, or there is a door which you could not see from where you were first standing. God's hand is shown. In that hour you become responsive to the Infinite, and you realize what it means to be entitled to the guidance of the Holy Ghost; and he will guide you in these things."

David O. McKay

Happy Mother's Day

Read this:

“The holy scriptures, the pages of history, are replete with tender, moving, convincing accounts of “mother loved.” One, however, stands out supreme, above and beyond any other. The place is Jerusalem, the period known as the meridian of time. Assembled is a throng of Roman soldiers. Their helmets signify their loyalty to Caesar, their shields bear his emblem, their spears are crowned by Roman eagles. Assembled also are natives to the land of Jerusalem. Faded into the still night, and gone forever, are the militant and rowdy cries, “Crucify him, crucify him.”
The hour has come. The personal earthly ministry of the Son of God moves swiftly to its dramatic conclusion. A certain loneliness is here. Nowhere to be found are the lame beggars who, because of this man, walk; the deaf who, because of this man, hear; the blind who, because of this man, see; the dead who, because of this man, live.

There remained yet a few faithful followers. From his tortured position on the cruel cross he sees his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing by. He speaks: “Woman, behold thy son! Then saith he to the disciple, Behold thy mother!”
From that awful hour when time stood still, when the earth did quake and great mountains were brought down—yes, through the annals of history, over the centuries of years and beyond the span of time—there echoes His simple yet divine words, “Behold thy mother.”

As we truly listen to that gentle command and with gladness obey its intent, gone forever will be the vast legions of “mothers forgotten.” Everywhere present will be “mothers remembered,” “mothers blessed,” and “mothers loved”; and, as in the beginning, God will once again survey the workmanship of His own hand and be led to say, “It is very good.”

May each of us treasure this truth: One cannot forget mother and remember God. One cannot remember mother and forget God. Why? Because these two sacred persons, God and mother, partners in creation, in love, in sacrifice, in service, are as one.”
~ President Thomas S. Monson, “Behold Thy Mother,” April 1998 ~

http://lds.org/liahona/1998/04/behold-thy-mother?lang=eng&query=mothers

And watch this:

My Feelings on Why We Celebrate Easter Sunday

I am giving you my feelings on the month of April through the words of Joseph B. Wirthlin, a hero of mine, and through this painting of Eugene Burnand of Peter and John.

"I think of how dark that Friday was when Christ was lifted up on the cross. On that terrible Friday the earth shook and grew dark. Frightful storms lashed at the earth.

Those evil men who sought His life rejoiced. Now that Jesus was no more, surely those who followed Him would disperse. On that day those men stood triumphant.

On that day the veil of the temple was rent in twain.

Mary Magdalene and Mary, the mother of Jesus, were both overcome with grief and despair. The superb man they had loved and honored hung lifeless upon the cross.

On that Friday the Apostles were devastated. Jesus, their Savior—the man who had walked on water and raised the dead—was Himself at the mercy of wicked men. They watched helplessly as He was overcome by His enemies.

On that Friday the Savior of mankind was humiliated and bruised, abused and reviled. It was a Friday filled with devastating, consuming sorrow that gnawed at the souls of those who loved and honored the Son of God.

I think that of all the days since the beginning of this world’s history, that Friday was the darkest.

But the doom of that day did not endure.

The despair did not linger because on Sunday, the resurrected Lord burst the bonds of death. He ascended from the grave and appeared gloriously triumphant as the Savior of all mankind.

And in an instant the eyes that had been filled with ever-flowing tears dried. The lips that had whispered prayers of distress and grief now filled the air with wondrous praise, for Jesus the Christ, the Son of the living God, stood before them as the firstfruits of the Resurrection, the proof that death is merely the beginning of a new and wondrous existence.

Each of us will have our own Fridays—those days when the universe itself seems shattered and the shards of our world lie littered about us in pieces. We all will experience those broken times when it seems we can never be put together again. We will all have our Fridays.

But I testify to you in the name of the One who conquered death—Sunday will come. In the darkness of our sorrow, Sunday will come.

No matter our desperation, no matter our grief, in this life or the next, Sunday will come."

http://lds.org/new-era/2008/03/sunday-will-come?lang=eng&query=sunday+will+come

The Madness of March

Is this the first year I have filled out a bracket? Yes, it is. Do I have SDSU and BYU making it to the finals and BYU winning with a Jimmer buzzer beater from a yard behind the 3-point line? Almost. If only.

This is the month we decide where we are going to spend the next few years of our life. Do we stay in Utah another two years? Or do we move away from BYU, possibly never to return except as a vacation spot. We are supposed to be prayerfully pondering this decision—but mostly, I think we are just trying to avoid it.

St. Patrick’s day? I don’t even understand why this holiday exists. No special candy, no gift exchanges, no day off from work…just make sure you have at least one speck of green on you so you don’t get pinched? And why green? Just because four-leaf clovers happen to be green? And leprechauns? Darby O'Gill and the Little People is the most frightening movie I have ever seen...except maybe the Dark Crystal.

Beware the Ides of March...Yes, Shakespeare is cool. He turned a random day in the middle of March into an ominous, foreboding, day to be feared.

Any other thoughts on the madness of March?

An Interesting Perspective on the LDS Mother Blogging Phenomenon

http://www.salon.com/life/feature/2011/01/15/feminist_obsessed_with_mormon_blogs

My friend and coworker, Kelsie, sent me this link and I found it very entertaining and interesting. Isn’t it funny that there are feminist woman, not of the LDS faith, who love reading these LDS mothers’ blogs? It is especially funny to me because I am LDS and I want to be a mother, but I am not really interested at all in any of these popular LDS blogs (except for NieNies) … I’ve read a few entries from some of them but they were never something I kept going back to…that I couldn’t get enough of. Why? I think it is because it is nothing new. They are describing life as I know it. I may not be a mother yet, but I want to be. And my home was and is a happy one. I have always felt loved and appreciated and supported by my family and friends. And I have always, even in the most difficult of times, been supported by my faith. So, though it is nice, from time to time, to visit one of these blogs and learn how to do a craft, etc., reading the day to day account of their life isn’t really something that entertains me (unless it is a blog of someone in my family and then it becomes very interesting to me).

Another thing this article made me think of was a trip Delys and I took to Salt Lake a few years ago. We went to temple square and visited some of the church history museums and had a grand time. In one of the museums, there was an exhibit that displayed accomplishments and stories from the life of each of the latter-day prophets, from Joseph Smith to President Hinckley. It was incredible to read about all that they did—all the good they accomplished. Nearby, was a room with an exhibit dedicated to the women of the Church. And honestly, it left us feeling a little disappointed. I don’t think I am a feminist in the way that the term is used in today’s world, but I do know the value of women and all they have and all they can offer to society and to the world. And this exhibit didn’t really show that for me. I think it showed a pioneer quilt and dresses. Things like that. And those things are fine. But after seeing the accomplishments of the Presidents of the Church, I wanted to see the pictures and hear stories about their mothers, the women that had nurtured these great men. I wanted to see Eliza R. Snow’s powerful poetry and writing displayed. I wanted to see Minerva Teichart’s painting of Esther. I wanted to see Lucy Mack Smith’s autobiography of her son. Not that the quilts and the dresses are not important. They are. But I feel like sometimes as women, that is all we see.

I believe that being a mother and a wife and a daughter is the most beautiful and fulfilling thing a woman can do in this life and the next. More fulfilling than any job that I have now or any job I may have in the future. It is fulfilling because it connects you to people in a way that you cannot connect to them professionally. It is fulfilling because it is permanent. It is fulfilling because you are needed and loved always and you need and love others always. No one needs and loves you like a child does. There is nothing else in the world like it.

And I can see then, how being a mother and wife, is a full-time position. Which makes it more amazing to me when you have women like Lucy Mack and Eliza R. Snow, and my mother and my mother-in-law who are not only raising their families, but who are consistently creating beautiful things and consistently contributing to their communities in the school systems and through community service, and simply by taking care of their neighbors. I am constantly amazed by what is accomplished by the mothers and wives and the daughters and single women that surround me.

Men, I am constantly amazed by you. I may not have children to support, but I do know what it is like to work an 8 to 5 job, sometimes an 8 a.m. – 10 p.m. job, on a day to day basis. But you do it, every day, because you love your wife and your children and you want the best for them. And you do it all, even when it is grueling or dull, and are still able to find fulfillment in it. And you do it for a lifetime. I know that I have gone on and on about what women can contribute, but it has always been clear to me all the good that men can contribute to the world as well. My father and father-in-law, and my brothers and brother-in-laws are living proof of it.