Disappointment~

Once I was teaching a lab.
One of the students in that lab seemed like my ideal guy.
Then I found out that he was a freshman, barely 18.

An Ode to Blogging in Bed

Handwriting recognition, online comics, spider solitaire.
Down comforter, sweatpants, pillow.
Late night, exams finally graded, drooping eyes.
Wireless Internet...need I say more?

Computer fan whirring, face yawning, I lay down my head.
Eyes watering, alarm set, I finally resolve to go to bed.

Satisfaction~

Sometimes it doesn't take much to make me satisfied. School has started, and I've been feeling pretty swamped. Today feels good, though. Maybe because it's a Friday, or as I like to call it, "Fridya." Tonight I get to attend an employee appreciation dinner, a wedding reception, and a birthday party...I'm not sure in what order. If I can get it all in, it will be very satisfying.

I guess those are big things. A small thing would be..........wait for it...........snickers ice cream bars in the vending machines. It never fails to make me feel good (even if I end up with a stomach ace).

I guess that's it, so...to my family of slacker bloggers,

Welcome Back!

I just have to say, for those of you who weren't there, Zion National Park is the greatest! If you have never hiked Angel's Landing, you must! Even my mom has hiked it, and she's afraid of heights!

On a different note, does anyone know where I can find a cheap commercial grinder that will grind soil so finely that it will fit through a 60 mesh? I would be very appreciative, especially as my hands are a little sore from all the grinding I did yesterday.

Time Flies~
It's been a very, very long time since I've posted. But now I'm just stating the obvious.

I just spent a week with my 86-year-old grandmother and sometimes it wasn't easy. One of the most trying things, though, was not helping my grandma to get dressed. The worst was not having the internet!!!

I felt totally cut off from the rest of the world. Even my cell phone did not help me. I have to come to grips with the fact that I am addicted to the internet. I thought moving home for the summer and not having wireless was bad. That's nothing. So what if I can't blog from my bed? At least I still work on campus and can use the high-speed internet there. In a pinch, I can always use the parents' dial-up (the horror). Just give me the internet!!

This need to stay connected has made me wonder about an article I read a long time ago saying that this generation is not at all independent, not being able to be separated from their fancy new-fangled communications devices. I think they're right, although at the time I felt like I was an exception because I didn't have a cell phone. I felt totally lost without my internet fix. No emailing, no blogging, no online news stations with fascinating Asian human interest stories. Where else are you going to read about a Japanese town having a radish cloned because it showed such great bravery?

Quick Blog~
I am at a kiosk on BYU campus. I have come to pick up my final from my professor. he is not in his office, but the door is open. I have been tempted to just walk in and sit down. I do not think that would be acceptable. Oh well.
The freedom of summer is hitting me. I have time to read!! my problem is I don't know where to start. Any suggestions?

End of Semester Blues~

Oh yeah, I got the blues.
The so much to do, so little time blues.
The great outdoors are calling and I have an essay to write blues.
The weather is so nice, but I got a take-home test to complete blues.
The I gotta go skiing once more this season but I ain't got time blues.
The I should be writing that essay but I'm surfing the net blues.
I got the end of winter semester blues.
I got the blues.
My professor don't know my real name, blues.
The he got me a plane ticket in that wrong name blues.
The he even has a copy of my passport blues.
The I can't wait for Springfest! blues.
The I gotta go to class now blues.

On to Marsupials!
Marsupials are, in some ways, weirder that monotremes. The females have pouches on their bellies where the barely-born embryo lives attached to one of the mother's nipples for several weeks. After it is grown enough, it can leave the pouch for short periods of time, coming back for warmth and food.

There are many marsupials, and although most are found in Australia, there are a few found in Central and South America. Those most commonly found in the US are called opossums, although there is also a more monkey-like species found in South America. In Australia, the virtual absence of placental mammals for such a long time allowed marsupials to radiate to fill all sorts of niches. There are carnivorous marsupials like the Tasmanian devil and the now extinct Tasmanian wolf. There are rodent-like marsupials, even ones like moles. There are kangaroos, koalas, and all the other most famous Australian marsupials. So there's your little blurb on marsupials. Pretty cool, eh?

I like to learn~
Yesterday I got a letter, a tape and some candy from my friend J____ who is in the MTC. I felt a little bad, I should have been the one sending her the letter, tape, and candy. Oh well. The tape was awesome. It reminded me of how much we grow. Every time we leave our comfort zone and stretch ourselves we make amazing progress. So there's my first part of the blog.

Here's the second: have you ever wondered what marsupials are? And what about all those other wierd things, the monotremes? How are they different from "normal" (placental) mammals? I will tell you.

First of all, marsupials and monotremes are mammals. Mammals have mammary glands, which produce milk (learn about mammals in one of my favorie songs). If you are reading this you are a mammal. There are several types of mammals that have split apart as evolution has occured. The first branch that split from the mainstream mammal tree is the monotremes. Monotremes are perhaps the weirdest mammals around. The order Monotremata only has two members: the platypus and the echidna. Monotremes lay eggs!!! They also don't really have nipples, they just excrete milk from their skin. Talk about neat! Oh yeah, and the male platypus has a venomous spine on its ankle. The echidna has a spine, too, but it's not dangerous. I think that's enough for one day...we'll move on to marsupials later, and then maybe touch on placental mammals.

Another Tuesday Morning~
Yesterday evening I thought of something. Eating is a pain. I do not have an eating disorder. I just think that buying, preparing, and eating the easy-to-prepare food I end up eating is a pain. The problem is that I am too lazy or don't have time to make something good. So when I finally get some good food I overeat, which is also a pain. It's just a big hassle. I think when I rule the world I will abolish eating.

On to bigger and better things...Wasn't conference great? I have my perennial favorites, and they did not disappoint. I think my favorite was Elder Wirthlin's talk. It was so good.

What do you do if you suspect your favorite roommate is a NM?~
By NM I am referring to Robert Kirby's Sunday of the Living Dead, the chapter on the kinds of mormons. You all know what kind I am referring to. It worries me slightly. I only get occasional glimpses of it, but they kinda frighten me. I would give examples, but what if she reads this? I guess she'd probably know it's her, anyway. The latest fright I received was on hearing of the evil nature of Twister. I thought at first that thinking of Twister as a game was just my sheltered upbringing coming out. It wasn't. When I realized that I had a hard time restraining myself from laughing aloud. Apparently it's very sexual in nature. Go figure. I thought it was about making a fool of yourself! Sometime I'll tell you how the subject even came up...so tell me! What do you do if you suspect your favorite roommate is a NM?
PS - Pray for me to finish my big long paper that I'm working on tonight!

Boredom in the PS100 Lab~
As of right now I am the only person in the physical science ta lab. None of my fellow TA's are present, and certainly no students. So guess what I like to do when I'm bored in the lab.
did you guess?
I like to read what has been posted on the little cork board near the door. There are lots of funny comics that can only be fully appreciated by a science geek. There is also this great little card that Maggie had handed to her at a parade in her home town of Payson. I thought I would type it up for you for your enjoyment.

The first side reads...WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM FOSSILS? (and it has a picture of a fossil)
The reverse side reads: Do you know....
...That fossils prove only two basic things?
1. A plant or animal lived.
2. A plant or animal died.
Do fossils point to "millions of years" of evolution? Or, do they represent what happened during Noah's flood? While fossils are used to teach a belief system called evolution, they really should be used to point to another belief system.
BELIEFS MATTER. Consider Adolph Hitler or Joseph Stalin. These were notorious murderers whose deeds were based on a false belief called evolution. "Particles-to-people" evolution cannot be seen today. It is a religious worldview that does not include a Creator - a belief system behind many evils! Rather than millions of years of evolution, fossils best point to the rapid burial of organisms in the worldwide Flood as Noah, his family, and at least two of each kind of land animal were rescued on the Ark. The BIBLE is a trustworthy record of history!
For more information: CreationFaMin.com

So there you have it. Crazy, eh? This card has brought much enjoyment to our little lab, so I tried to recreate font sizes and colors exactly as they are on the card. What do you think?

The Awesome and the Frightening~
Oh yeah!
I just ran the Rex Lee Run. Amy, Jon, and I ran it together, and Amy and I got our best times (29 minutes), while Jon wasn't even tired when we finished. I was about to die at the end, and I think Amy was too. Oh well. Now I feel great! I think it's the endorphins kicking in.
That was the awesome.
I just got out of the shower and blew my hair dry. This is where the frightening comes in. I think I used the blow dryer a little too long. My hair is a bush today! It is so huge. I know some people don't have that problem, but those with curly hair will understand. I think I'll just let it finish air drying and then try to pull it back. Sorry for that running commentary on my hair, but I think it's pretty funny.

Carnival of the Animals, Teen Titans, and typing in bed....
I've got to talk about some things to love. Everyone needs to learn to enjoy the simple things, right? So today I was working on homework and listening to one of my favorite CD's: several works by Saint-Saens. When it came to Carnival of the Animals, it was just so great! I love that piece. And I think you all know which animal is my favorite, (Jon: it should be yours, too) the Elephants!!! They are portrayed by basses!
Also, just a few minutes ago, my roommate called my name and said she had a present for me. It was a Teen Titans bracelet!!! Someone left it as a tip for one of her friends at Brick Oven, and she grabbed it because she knew I liked that show! (Maybe I should be gushing about thoughtful roommates, instead of cartoon shows)
Finally, even though it's not always the most comfortable, isn't it great to be in bed, working on homework or just surfing the net? That's where I am right now, and I am happily reclining against my pillow with my down comforter over me, my Teddy bear under my arm, listening to the swan as I type my blog. I think I will always type my blog right before bed, it's great.
Yay!!! The finale!!! It always makes me think of what happens if you give a yo-yo to a flamingo.

Paper Work~
So it's weird how everything works together. For instance, yesterday I worked on two papers that were due. One was an article summary for my range management class, the other was an essay for my English class. Somehow they ended up being about the same thing. The article I read was about how we should approach environmental ethics--basically how we should look at the world around us. The essay was on the book Gulliver's Travels, and how Gulliver becomes brainwashed by these horses. I had to tell why he thought the horse-people were superior to humans and whether or not I agreed. I ended up arguing in both that everything has worth, and should be treated in that way. Everything on earth has a spirit and was created by God. Since this is the case, we should be very careful in what we do here on Earth. The same argument (somewhat tweaked) worked very well for the essay, too. In the end Gulliver was sent away from the people with whom he had become enamored because they thought that it was not good for their welfare if he stayed. This was because he was a smart human and might inspire the others to do unpleasant things to the horses. Kinda sad. They couldn't see him for what he was worth.
So...that's about all I have to say. Have a good day all!

Family
So...the other day I was talking to a friend of mine who said she had not talked to her twin sister in about three weeks. I commented on how that was a long time, considering the fact that they both go to the same school. She said that it wasn't too bad, and that you get sick of your family after a while. All I could think was, "WHAT?!?!!?!?!?!?" I guess I have a high familial tolerance, but I never get sick of my family. Over Christmas I did get sick of not having my own room, but I still would rather have had all the family there than have my own room.
It seems to me that if families are really eternal, which they are, then our families are the people we should never get sick of. That may take some practice, but I think it goes along with the idea that instead of being nicer to strangers, we should be the kindest to our family members. If we are kindest to our family members, we will love them the most. I don't always do a good job with the kindness thing, but the more I see of other families, I realize that ours is really unique in the love and friendship that we share.

Well all-
This post is for all of my family who think I am behind the times. For anyone else who my stumble across this...here is a small explanation. All but one of my siblings have blogs. They have been urging me to get one, also. I find this a little funny because some of them (Bobby) have not posted since they first signed up. Oh well. I don't really have much to write about. I am in college. My major may bore most people. I feel like all I have to write about is fertilizer (literally- that was my most recent class today).
Soo...since most blogs are opinion pages, here's something I wonder about all the time: What is with "Organic" food? I have taken Organic Chemistry. I know the definition of the word "organic." I think most people do. (For those who don't, "organic" simply refers to any chemical compound that is based around carbon.) All food is organic (with a few exceptions, like hot dogs and twinkies :P). If it weren't, it would not be food. There are some people who think that organic foods that have not been genetically altered or spatially challenged are the way to go. But I say, instead of spending a lot of money on things like organic pears and free range chicken, why don't we spend money on feeding the world. Some people are so worried about what is "Natural," or about animal rights that they forget the natural affections we should have for our own species. Shouldn't our number one priority be to feed the world a balanced diet? If so, we should do everything we can to bring about that goal, and then consider how we can make life more comfortable for the other species living on the planet.
This may seem like I am against anything environmental. On the contrary. I am all about reducing, reusing, and recycling. I just think that we should start out with reducing the number of human deaths due to starvation (as always, we should do it wisely) first. so, what do you say?