(Week 5)- Child of Light

When I was a Jr. in high school, a couple of my friends and I flew to India for a month to work as English teachers and nurses in multiple leprosy colonies across southern India. That experience was one of the most life changing I have ever, and believe will ever, have in my entire life. I was given so much more than I could have ever hope to give to the people of India. The love and devotion I learned to incorporate in my life as a result of that experience is something I learned from witnessing their (the leprosy infected people of India) trials and pain in this life.

The lyrics below are the lyrics to a song called “Child of Light” by Mindy Glendhill. It’s a song that I was initially unaware was on my iPod and to this day have no idea how it got there. I happened to have my iPod on shuffle on the plane ride home from India when I came across this song. The lyrics of this song so honestly and lovingly represent what I learned and what I felt while I was in India. It has since been something that reminds me at all times of the experience I had while I was out there. It reminds me that there is always hope in this life and that we find strength often in the most unusual places- “Even in the deepest darkest night, The Torch is raised to the sky.” Most importantly though, it reminds me of how much our heavenly father loves and supports us and that we should never doubt his existence or abilities for they play an important role in our lives- “ You will never ever stand alone, You were never called to bare your burdens on your own.” When I hear this song I know I have a purpose in this life and it gives me the courage and the desire to pursue that purpose at all times, in all things, and in all places- “You were born to keep it burning bright, You were made to fly you were meant to shine.”

Did you ever wonder who you are
do your ever wonder as you stare into the stars
Where you began
And how you got this far
from home?

Have you ever walked along the shore
Have you ever seen the water dancing back and forth
Did you look inside
To see if there was more to life

There’s a dream taking wings
There’s a voice that wants to sing
Even in the deepest darkest night
The Torch is raised to the sky
There are hands that hold it high
You were born to keep it burning bright
You were made to fly you were meant to shine
Child of light

You will never ever stand alone
You were never called to bare your burdens on your own
Where there’s fear
Love will take control
And lead you on

There’s a dream taking wings
There’s a voice that wants to sing
Even in the deepest darkest night
The Torch is raised to the sky
There are hands that hold it high
You were born to keep it burning bright
You were made to fly you were meant to shine
Child of light

There’s a dream taking wings
There’s a voice that wants to sing
Even in the deepest darkest night
The Torch is raised to the sky
There are hands that hold it high
You were born to keep it burning bright
You were made to fly you were meant to shine
Child of light

Week 4: Legitimate

The word legitimate isn't necessarily my favorite word, but it's a word that I feel like can be very diversly used. I think the most I ever heard the word legitimate was probably my junior year of high school. Instead of saying legitimate though, it was shortened to legit. At that point, everything became "legit" to students at my school. I think the best part was when teachers started catching on and proclaiming something was "legit" in class. This word is probably so striking because of the validity of the word. If you call something legitimate, no one can really contradict that statement. It's a really powerful and strong word; thus the reason I probably like it so much.
The word reminds me a lot of friends that I had growing up in high school and brings back so many funny conversations. We would abuse the word to the point where the average person would probably get really annoyed with it, but we did not. "Legit" became the biggest compliment. If legitimate was a smell like fresh cut grass, because it's so clean cut and perfect. And because I really like that smell. If it had a taste it would be a long the lines of salsbury steak or mashed potatoes. Legitimate feels like a marble, one that's completely flawless and maybe even cold.

Week 4 - Goal

I love the word goal. It's short and simple but carries a lot of meaning to me. One reason I like the word goal is because of soccer. I love to watch soccer in spanish because whenever a goal is scored the T.V. announcers scream "GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!!!" at the top of their lungs. So much passion and hard work goes into each and every goal that is scored and because of the low number of goals each game (the average score is 2-1), each goal is that much more meaningful.

The other reason I like the word goal is because I believe that making goals for yourself is very important. My parents have always had very high expectations of me which has pushed me to make very high goals for myself. If it weren't for such goals I may have never made it here to BYU and I would not be looking to go to one of the top medical schools in the nation. Because of goals I have been successfull in anything that I put my heart and soul into. I have been able to develop my talents in soccer, music, and my schooling because of high goals that I have set for myself.

If the word goal had a taste it would taste like a very expensive steak: It takes a lot of work and time, but in the end it is one of the best things you have ever tasted. That is why I love the word "GOOOOOOAAAAAALLLL!!!"

-Dallan Turnbull

FANTASTIC

For two years I worked as a Certified Nurses Assistant at Primary Children's Hospital. I loved this job so much and it was so much fun. My favorite part was being able to spend time with all of the kids. There was one patient in particular that I absolutely loved to be around! This little girl had cancer and spent many months in the hospital so i got to know her really well. Whenever I went in to check on her I would ask her how she was doing and every time without fail she would say, "FANTASTIC"! Part of the definition for fantastic is seemingly impossible; incredible. I was amazed how someone with an incredibly hard life could say that they were fantastic all the time. This girl is amazing to me and I think about her everyday. This made me realize how great and easy life is for me. So I now even when I am having what I think is a horrible day is if someone asks how I am doing I always answer - fantastic. Thanks to this little girl my favorite word will forever be FANTASTIC!

Week 4: Audacity

My favorite world in the English language is easily, Audacity. According to dictionary.com audacity means: boldness or daring, esp. with confident or arrogant disregard for personal safety, conventional thought, or other restrictions. What a magnificent word. Not only does this word make you sound smart when you use it, but it also sounds awesome when you use it correctly. I have a little bias towards this word probably due to the fact that the comedian, Brian Reagan, uses it in one of his bits. "Who would have the audacity to make such a claim?" he says, during a rant on people who say that the pain they have in hospitals could be worse than the pain of what a woman goes through during pregnancy. He pronounces the term in such a manner so that it permeates in my mind whenever I hear it used by others. You never really hear this word all to often, but when I do, I am edetically reminded of Brian Reagan. A smile slowly spreads across my face because I remember the hilarious story he told. Brian is a champ and will always be dear to my heart because of the way he says things. If any random person were to tell the jokes, they would not be half as funny as Reagan's. He puts so much stress on the word audacity that one can know of the definition of it without truly knowing what it means. The first time I heard him say audacity, I had no clue what it meant. But, because of the context and the way Brian says it, anyone can pick up a general definition for the word. Plus, audacity just sounds like a bold, arrogant word anyway. Next time you're with your friends, coin the word in your speech. It will greatly surprise your buds. Just say something like, "I can't believe she would have the audaciousness to do that to you!" This will be sure to brighten up the conversation immensely. What a wonderful word you have in your vocabulary to sport now. However a word of caution, use it sparingly. If you start to use audacity more than is needed, you will find yourself becoming an audacious person. Don't have the audacity to use the term audacity more than is needed to avoid becoming audacious. Like I just audaciously did.

Week 4: Legendary

"Legen--wait for it--DARY." The beauty of this magnificent word is clearly demonstrated by Barney Stinson. Legendary is a word that is not frequently used in most peoples' everyday vocabulary, which makes it all the more excellent and precious. According to dictionary.com, legendary means "of, pertaining to, or of the nature of a legend." According to me, this grand word means "(see 'awesome'--and add 'but on steroids' to the end of it)." Few moments are ever truly legendary. Among these moments are the following: overcoming or completing a challenge when no one believes you can, doing something awesome that everyone you know (and maybe even some you don't) will remember you for, that moment when you realize that he or she is the One, finding out and announcing your first pregnancy, and so on. Some people have the sad experience of never having this feeling. On the bright side, I think that this applies to a small number of people.

When I think of legendary, I think of How I Met Your Mother, Abraham Lincoln, and martyrdom. I think of my future, and what I will do to be legendary. Or if I will ever even be legendary. I think of how I'll be remembered, or sometimes if anyone will remember me at all. I wonder if I really will get my name on that public bench, like I've always wanted.

If I were to eat legendary, it would taste like the salty air of the ocean breeze. If I were to sniff legendary, it would smell like old book, or maybe that love potion from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince that smells different to every person. If I were to touch legendary, it would feel like the smooth skin of a newborn babe. If I were to listen to legendary, it would sound like Zooey Deschanel serenading me. If I were to gaze upon legendary... it would look exactly like Neil Patrick Harris and George Clooney at the same time, but I couldn't tell you how. Legendary is simply the best of everything you could ever desire.

Incredible

Incredible, defined as something too extraordinary and improbable to be believed by Webster’s Dictionary. The word incredible is often used to describe significant events. An exciting game or difficult act may be described as “incredible.” Jimmer Fredette’s performance against San Diego State could aptly be labeled as incredible. I think it is most appropriately used to describe any act or event that would be, for the majority of people, impossible to perform. Shooting a half-court shot in a collegiate game, catching a football against your helmet in the Super Bowl, sinking a must-make fifty foot putt in a professional golf tournament would all be considered incredible. The word rings through you with a charge. If the incredible event is in your favor, you might stand up and leap for joy. But there is a reverse side to this word in many situations. A particular event may have been incredible for one team and its supporters, but how does the other team feel? It can be like a dagger to the heart, capable of causing immense despair. If one of my competitors in the pool has an incredible swim, I may finish my race with a feeling of agony. When I think of incredible as it relates to me, I have memories of fantastic swim races, great test scores, and wonderful moments with family and friends. If the word incredible had a smell, it would be that of a homemade meal. A Thanksgiving dinner – juicy turkey, freshly mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots covered in a brown sugar sauce – is the perfect smell that, in my mind, correlates with the word incredible. The texture of incredible should be that of crème brulée. A smooth crème with a little bit of the roughness of the burnt cream on top is the most similar to the texture of word incredible. That is why the word incredible, though used too often and sometimes inappropriately, is my favorite. When I use the word incredible to describe something that I did or witnessed, it is likely that I will remember the event the rest of my life.

Week 4 Phenomenal

There are few events, experiences, or sensations that happen in life that can be described as phenomenal. Phe-nom-e-nal: very remarkable; extraordinary. Phenomenal is one of my favorite words to describe experiences. Nothing can give as much credit as the world phenomenal. To me it is the ultimate complement in describing greatness. Many of my friends also use the word phenomenal. They mostly use the word to describe some form of food they just ate. One of my favorite examples is " J Dogs is phenomenal." My friends also used it appropriately after our trip to Las Vegas. "That was a simply phenomenal weekend." The texture of the word is just so smooth and fresh so elegant. It is simply the best, the greatest. The taste if I had to say would be something that is sweet and just melts on the tongue. I try to use the word sparingly so people know when something is truly phenomenal. I think that this word is used in great context when it is used in sports. When a spectacular play happens and the sports announcer describes it as phenomenal it brings good emotion to the situation. I think that the use of this word takes something from good and takes it to best. There have been many that have described Michael Jordan as being phenomenal. That is a 100% true statement. Michael Jordan was very remarkable to say the least and he was definitely extraordinary. I like this word so much because I associate it with great memory's, people, and food. When I think of the word I think of the phenomenal experiences I had when I was in high school. I think of the phenomenal food I only get to eat on special occasions. I think of the phenomenal game that Jimmer Fredette had against San Diego State. The word phenomenal to me is happy and positive emotions. So feel free to use this word whenever you feel, see, or experience something that is truly great or extraordinary. Remember that it is a special word and should not be used out of context.

Enjoy

Week 4: The most super awesome word: SUPER

l love the word super! Everything about it just makes me smile. The way it sounds in a sentence and the extra “umph” it gives to a word is super awesome. Definition: very good or pleasant; excellent (informal). I like the idea that it is a casual word. It is a word that may be used for fun, anytime or anywhere.

I have seen this word used many times, but mainly in speech rather than in writing. In formal papers I have hardly ever seen the word super appear on the page. However, in a personal narrative or story it is completely necessary to have words like super in the paper. It jazzes the paper up and makes it more interesting because of the personality jumping off of the page.

I have adopted this as my favorite word since last August. It was when I was talking to one of my good friends. Every three or four words she was spitting out the word super. I soon learned to love it. My new love fore it especially came about because of the kind of person she is. Bubbly, sweet, kind-hearted, and an honorable friend. I thought that maybe if I used this word I could be more like her and hopefully gain the attributes that she has. I am not sure if it is working, but I do love the word. I feel that it gives a more positive tone to a conversation. I love people who are optimistic and those who are most of the times use this word!

If this word had a smell I would imagine it to be the sweet smell of Chance Chanel. This is my absolute favorite perfume. It smells like flowers on a sunny day which reminds me of happiness. It is a sophisticated smell which reminds me of my friend. So both of these things remind me of the word super. The taste would be of a juicy, crunchy apple that is the perfect color of pink and green mixed. The texture reminds me of silk: simply flawless and smooth.

Super is a flawless word that can be used in many different situations. Whether in a classroom, on a piece of paper, or hanging out on the beach on a bright, sunny day. I love the word super and will continue to use it forever. :)

Week 4: Literal

Literal reminds me of black and white with a hard line between them – not a gradient – because it is clear. If it had a smell, it would smell like 55 degree air in the morning lack of confusion is like sweet pure air and the understanding from literal explanations is invigorating to the mind, like cold air is to the lungs. It would taste like pure water because it is free of ambiguous metaphors. It would feel like a shiny, dense metal cube with unrounded edges because it is next to being perfect and full of useful information. “Literal” is one of my favorite words because it brings clarity to communication.

“Literal” reminds me of having a thirst for knowledge because I use it to ask for literal explanations. It is a good word to use, because it might give the TA the impression that I would prefer the hard and cold facts first (before analogies). It is striking to the listener because the listener might come to the conlcusion that there is only one meaning that you mean. For example, if I asked, without using "literal", "Can you explain how the 'AND' gate works?" then there would be multiple ways to explain.

Explanation one: The TA could take an analogy strategy, and attempt to make it easier to understand by comparing an "AND" gate to a light switch. The power has to be on, plus the switch has to be turned on, in order for the light to be on.

Explanation two: The second way to explain how it works might be "If two wires both have a current, then the piece of silicon has some particles in it attracted to the side, which allows the current to go through, causing the 3rd wire to have a current," or something like that.

Usually, my mind craves an answer like explanation two. However, TAs might give answers like explanation one, perhaps because they do not expect a question that is beyond the minimum knowledge needed to do the homework. In order to make what I'm asking for clearer, I can use the word "literal" to attempt to clarify that I want a definition like explanation two, by asking, “Can you explain how the 'AND' gate literally works?" Asking a specific question afterwards, such as "What do the lines in the diagram represent in real life?" might help clarify what I mean by "literal."

If the real information doesn’t make sense, then an analogy could be given to attempt to help interpret the information. However, going straight to an analogy is generally not my preference, so the word literal is like music to my ears and like pure water to my tongue when I say it.

Week 4: Buoyancy

Buoyancy. Seems to just roll of the tongue, doesn’t it? Try saying the word without smiling. See? The word just strikes me as a happy, friendly, and welcoming word. Buoyancy wants to be your friend; you just got to let him. It’s a comfort word for me; it tells me that I’m not in trouble and that I’m afloat without a worry in sight. Just imagining the word buoyancy places me on a small sail boat in the middle of the ocean as the sun sets. Buoyancy used to be an enemy of mine when I joined swim team as a freshman in high school simply because I couldn’t sustain buoyancy. But after a few months of practice, I got to know buoyancy and the word didn’t turn out so bad after all. The word reminds me of the canoeing merit badge during which we had to ‘swamp’ our boat, meaning let it fill with water thus rendering it useless. I truly came to appreciate buoyancy after wading in that frigid water for what seemed like eons. When buoyancy had been restored, it was like Christmas morning. One of the great characteristics of the word buoyancy is it’s always used in a positive context. Nobody complains about being buoyant; we like being on top of water. The word offers peace to the soul. If buoyancy had a smell, it would smell like water because it always hangs out and is used in context with water. The texture would be rough, but not too rough. Kind of like an unaggressive sandpaper. Why? Because the word buoyancy is on top of the water all day soaking up the sun’s rays without any sort of UV protection, so it’s only natural the feel of buoyancy has become rough and dry. The word’s weight would be heavy, which may seem counterintuitive because it can be inferred that the word buoyancy would in fact be buoyant. But this has nothing to do with whether or not buoyancy is buoyant, for you see while it may heavy, its density still allows buoyancy to live up to its name. Buoyancy: the Justin Timberlake of words.

(Week 4)- Glorious

Glorious: (adjective) Having, worthy of, or binging fame or admiration; have a striking beauty or splendor that evokes feelings of delighted admiration. This word has meaning to me beyond what Websters dictionary defines it as above. This word is used to describe moments, thoughts, and beings in our lives that present themselves to us in their most powerful form.

If this particular word had a smell it would be that of a flower at full bloom. Its taste would be that of the greatest comfort food on earth. It feels like a safe place, much like the warmth of a large wool blanket wrapped around you or the comfort of a mothers touch. If glory were described by sight, and yes it can be seen, it’s the beauty that lies all around us. It’s the glow a person gives off after they’ve had their first kiss or the smile you get from a little old lady as you let her cross the cross walk. Glory is seen in so many areas of our lives but is often overlooked.

The first time that special someone says ‘I love you’ is glorious. The birth of a child into this world is glorious. The beauty of the world when it rains or snows; at sunrise or sunset is glorious. For many, as it is in my case, when people think of the word glorious, they think of our savior. His love for us is glorious. Used in this way, glorious is defined as unconditional, sincere, everlasting, abundant, wonderful etc. Our savior’s life was glorious: selfless, complete, full of purpose, and meant for us. His mercy is glorious: a blessing, necessary, earned through righteousness. His plan of salvation is glorious: happiness in all its abundance, peace, love, knowledge, time. His atonement is GLORIOUS: unexplainable through words.

The word glory originated as a description of the savior. The use of the word glory in any other area of our lives is in reference to the splendor of the savor. This makes it such an amazing word, one that should be used with all the meaning it possesses. Our savior is Glorious.

Week 3: Greatest Game Ever Played

I am the kind of guy who likes the simpler things in life. It doesn't take a lot to make me happy. Call me an old man if you want, but I love activities that older men seem to enjoy. Particularly such activities as golf and fly-fishing. I realize that I am not a middle aged man yet, but I figure why wait to experience these awesome things when I can enjoy them now! Let's examine golf in particular. Golf could be the greatest game ever played. This sport is about ninety percent mental, and ten percent physical. So much thought is required in order to have a good golf round. Where you want to place your ball, what club to hit, and reading greens are some important aspects to the game. I love the outdoors so this sport fits me well. There is no better time in a man's life when he is outside on a nice relaxing sunny day, sipping on a Coke, laughing with his buddies on the links. Truly magnificent. Golf is a social game. It can be used for strictly business matters or just for reuniting and catching up with old friends. Many aspects of the game are seen in everyday life that helps one grow. Responsibility, respect, perseverance, timing, and honesty are learned on the course that later transfers into life. Not only do I enjoy playing golf, but I also love to watch it on T.V. It is one of my favorite things to do on a nice Sunday afternoon. I love to get home from church and turn on golf. I watch it for about an hour, and soon fall asleep. This way I work in a lovely Sunday nap. After a while, I wake up and the leaders are just finishing up the last few holes. I continue watching the excitement of the major tournament and then eat dinner. What a PHENOMENAL day! Gosh I love Sunday's. Finish up a nice church session and then go home and watch my favorite player, Phil Mickelson win the tournament. Another reason to like golf is because of some of the classy guys you get on the tour. Now, I realize that there are some major exceptions to this case with recent events involving a guy named Tiger. However, some of the guys you watch on the tour are class acts and have been great role models for me in my life such as Phil Mickelson. Seeing this guy win the Masters and then proceed to hug his three little girls and cancer stricken wife would warm any one's heart. Golf is a great game that everyone can benefit from and I'm so thankful to have the opportunity to enjoy it.

My Mommy

When I was a sophomore in high school I had a major surgery on my back and was out of school for two months. The thing that helped me the most through this time was my mother. When I missed school she was my tutor and helped me keep up with all my assignments. She even did the simple things like brushing my hair that I could not do for myself. Not only is she amazing because of the things that she did for me but because of how kind and loving she is. She was and is always patient with me even when I'm not always the same to her. My mom is also one of the most selfless people I know and gave so much of her time to help me. Not only does she do so much for me and my family but for pretty much anyone. She is always willing to serve and gave others her time.
This experience I learned so much from my mom through her example and became even more grateful for her. I want to grow up to be just as loving, patient, and kinds as she is.

Week 3: What I Love

My dog’s name is Luke Skywalker. I got him just over a year ago, in October of 2009. My girlfriend was actually visiting in town for homecoming, and we had gone out to the fair for the morning. I had wanted a dog for months; years even, since my old one died. My parents made me believe I’d never get another one. Then, suddenly, I got a picture message from my little brother showing my mom with the tiniest, most adorable little puppy I have ever seen, along with the text “We adopted him.” Jaw drop. It was hard to believe. When they came home with the puppy, and let him run rampant around the house, I just about died. He is a little beagle/dachshund mix and is the cutest dog ever. He was running around howling his baby beagle howl, running so fast that his but would swing around to the front and send him spinning across the wooden floor in a mass of fuzz and paws. Ever since the first day I spent with him, he has slept on my lap every single day at some point. He is no longer “allowed” on the couch, since he has grown up, and it takes some coaxing for other family members to get him up on the couch. But, every time I sit down on it, he jumps up on my lap then lays on me and sleeps, or sits up like a human and watches TV with me. I love my dog. He is so cute, and so lovable. The only emotions dogs really ever feel are fear and love, and the owner decides which they feel. And he has certainly been filled with love since day one. I’m actually going home tonight on the red eye flight to finish my mission papers, and I am more excited to see Luke than my whole family combined. I love that dog. We are going to hang out all weekend and watch TV, play tug of war, run laps in the yard till I collapse in exhaustion and he gets his second wind, or just sit on the couch while I pet him and he lays his head on my lap.

Week 3

I love YouTube. This might seem like a really stupid thing to be in love with, and yes I’ll admit that I might have developed some psychological disorders from countless nights I have spent on this webpage, but it’s definitely been worth it.
Lets start with the actual educational benefit. I think a good enough argument that should definitely convince you that YouTube is amazing and should be loved is the change in opinion BYU has had on YouTube. It was blocked about 2 years ago, and when BYU has a change of heart and then allows students permission to use it again, oh it’s a big deal. When they change the rules on caffeine then I’ll be thoroughly impressed. But I would have to believe the only reason I was able to pass my PDBio class was because of YouTube, I looked up a song about DNA synthesis and was able to memorize the whole process because of a rap someone was able to post and share with the whole WORLD.
The social aspect of being to share anything appropriate with a very large audience for free is another reason I love it. I know people personally who earn their living by posting videos on YouTube just about their lives even. The “Shaytards,” a family in Idaho that I grew up with, started with ShayCarl, their dad, making responses to really big idols on YouTube. He then got very popular and is now able to be a stay at home dad and still earn a living for him family of 4 kids just through posting videos.
Also the entertainment aspect of YouTube cannot be ignored. So many videos of falls, kittens, stupid people, and the like are all over that website. Who knew that Charlie biting his older brothers finger would become so popular. Doctors even say that laughter is the best medicine, and I know I have practically come close to dying from laughter many a time watching Jeffery in Julian Smith’s videos describe how you will die from eating a jellyfish. YouTube is amazing. Love it.

Week 3: Man vs. Wild

I'm not a huge T.V. fanatic, but there is one show that I must watch any time its on. Man vs. Wild is by far the most entertaining and exciting television series I have ever watched. The host, Bear Grylls, goes about the wilderness in various parts of the world, trying to survive. He goes anywhere from the Sahara to the North Pole, from the Gobi Desert to the Amazon. No matter where he goes he is faced with mind-blowing obstacles he must overcome. He swings across ravines like Tarzan, treks through uncharted caves using only a hand-made torch, swims through shark infested waters, and frantically carves a snow cave to save himself from a massive blizzard. Oh, and I haven't even mentioned his menu! He eats anything he can find. Beetles, bugs, worms, spiders, and other creepy crawlies. He sets snares and traps to catch rabbits and rats, hunts for snakes and small alligators, even scavenges and eats meat off rotting carcases. How could you not want to watch this? Especially you ladies! Even though it can be somewhat disturbing at times, Man vs. Wild makes for a thrilling program and keeps the viewer at the edge their seat. This might sound cheesy, but he shows survival tips and other hints of making it in the outdoors that I have actually used in my own life. Not for survival of course, but some of his hammock designs and knots I have used while I have been camping. Overall, this is a great entertaining series that I encourage everyone to at least give a try.

Week 3: The Beach

Something that I love and have really appreciated since I was little is the beach. Everything about a beach is just so perfect. It is a peaceful, and relaxing place to take a walk, read a book, or just lay out and tan. For the more adventurous, such as myself, there is the water and waves. I love being in the ocean, whether it's just playing around in the water or boogie boarding. For the more sporty, or those just looking for a good time, there are beach volley ball nets located all over the beaches. My family had the great opportunity to live just minutes from Newport Beach for a few years. We go back almost every year, for about a week. We usually rent a beach house and spend days just soaking in the sun, making sand castles or taking morning walks. If I could live this life every day I would. I mean who wouldn't? Just think about it, it's almost as if when your toes hit that soft, sparkling, and warm sand all of the stress and troubles of your life just disappear. It is just you, the sound of the crashing waves, and the blue of the sea stretching out to the horizon. What could be more perfect? There is another activity that the beach has to offer. I personally love to walk along the shore and pick up seashells. Again, this is another calm activity. This is a great way to start a collection, after all after about one or two trips along the beach, usually you have enough shells for a life time. After having a good time at the beach, I have memories and experiences that I will never forget. The beach is just such a special place to me, and it is where I have some of my most cherished memories. I love the beach, and now you can see why.

Week 3- Taylor Swift

I love Taylor Swift. I don't just like her music, or the person she is... I love everything about her! I could recite her every song perfectly 100 times or name any facts about her life/ accomplishments. I love her music and everything about her. She is the kind of person everyone can love. Even if you hate country music, you can still like her as an individual. For starters, Taylor Swift got fame all on her own. At age 12 she began playing the guitar and writing her own music and lyrics. Year after year she would give out a demo tape to recording studios in Nashville and was rejected every time. She never made the greatest friends in school and her music and guitar was something for her to reside in. She rejected a record deal because they wouldn't let her record her own music. Finally at age 14, a guy who just started his own record label signed her onto "Big Machine Records". Long story short, she has released 3 great selling albums, has broken many records, and has won many awards. At age 21 now, Taylor Swift has remained the most innocent and wholesome person in the industry. With all the fame and fortune, she isn't like the other celebrities. She is a good role model and lives her life with great goals and ambition. She she donates and helps at many charity events. We don't see her on the front of People Magazine drunk and stumbling out of a limo. She is classy, and has a good heart. All the Taylor Swift haters rip on her and her lyrics saying, "She only writes about sad boy stories!" or "She can't perform live!" My response is, "Ya". She does write about sad boy stories and probably isn't the best live performer. But it has made her one of the most famous musicians of our time and has done it with honor and maturity. She is funny, kind and has good standards. You don't find someone like that in the music industry very often. So the next time you want to criticize my girl T- Swift... don't!

Soccer - the REAL futbol

If you were to ask every U.S. citizen what their favorite sport was the majority would probably say football. Its become the most popular sport in our nation followed by baseball and probably basketball. But where is the love for soccer my friends?! Because I guarentee if you asked everybody in the entire world what their favorite sport was, the vast majority of people would say soccer (or futbol or whatever others ways there is to say it in different languages). Where did the U.S. go wrong? I mean I'm all for the U.S. being unique from the rest of the world but come on we have to get our sports right! I'm not gonna lie I love all sports and I love watching football and basketball, but when it takes 4 hours to complete a 1 hour game that actually only involves no more than 15 minutes of time when the ball is in play, that slightly rediculous. The best way to watch a football game is with a DVR with which you can fast forward through the commercials that come on every 4 plays (unless its the super bowl then its sometimes worth the 4 hours!). I know I'm not going to get all of you to like soccer more than your own favorite sports but all I can ask is that you give soccer a chance. It's a great game! There are no commercials, a 15 minute half time, and two 45 minutes of uninterupted magic. Soccer players are some of the best and most fit athletes in the entire world. And ladies, dont lie you know you like yourself a goodlookin soccer player! When a soccer player has the ball at his or her feet it is a beautiful thing to watch. Just watching Cristiano Ronaldo (one of the worlds best soccer players) work with the ball is absolutely amazing. I've played soccer ever since I was 3 and I've loved every minute of it and I bet that if you came out to one of the BYU men's soccer games this spring you would love it too.

Week 3: I Love Lamp.

I love lamp. I’m not just talking about any lamp; I’m talking about my lamp. We first met the summer before the beginning of my 7th grade year. I was in the market for a lamp, but nothing had really struck me as “the lamp”. But on that summer afternoon at Home Depot, and as I turned my head, my eyes beheld the most beautiful image I have ever seen. It wasn’t the fanciest lamp by any means, nor was it the most technologically advanced. Other lamps offered greater spreading of light, longer extension of the power cord, or more aesthetically pleasing designs and colors. But none of those factors seemed to matter as I gazed upon the delightfully simple, shiny black desk lamp that would soon be deemed “the lamp”. It’s not that the other lamps weren’t appealing, it’s just there was something different about Kevin (oh, my lamp’s name is Kevin). Kevin has never let me down. How often have you turned a dial to a lamp, only to have nothing happen until you click it once or twice more? What kind of lamp does that?! Not Kevin. He is always willing to share what he has to offer, and he only needs one click of the switch to do it.
Kevin was there for me during those long nights of homework. Kevin helped show me the way when I got up at 3 a.m. for a ham & cheese hotpocket. When I couldn’t sleep, he was the one that erased the fear of darkness. When I dropped my hotpocket under my bed, who helped me find it? You guessed it. And how many light bulbs did Kevin eat up over a six year period? Not even one; it’s the same light bulb I gave him six years ago. He’s energy conscience and efficient! Now reaching seven years of service (that’s like 63 lamp years) you’ve probably assumed Kevin has served his commission and is retired; well think again. Not only is he still going, he’s as bright as ever. The firm relationship that I’ve made with this little guy is one that I will cherish forever. I hope that you can feel one eighth of the love and appreciation that I have for this, my best lamp and friend.

Week 3: Mountains

I feel like I keep getting freebies for this assignment because I can just refer to my simple pleasure/(pet peeve) list for ideas of what to write about. One of my favorite simple pleasures is living near the mountains. I was born and raised here in Utah and I love it here. I know that Utah is the subject of a lot of mockery and jokes but it's my home turf. While everyone is partial to the place they grew up, Utah really is gorgeous. Most of you probably hate it right now because it can get frigid, I'll give you that. However, if you've never been on a drive up the canyon in the Summer, don't judge Utah too harshly just yet. There's nothing like it. Want to get a girl to fall for you in approximately 5 minutes? Want a cool place to have a bonfire with some friends? Want a place to be alone and clear your head? How about somewhere to have a super cool spiritual experience with your scriptures? Head up the canyon. Any canyon. They're all good. Some of my best memories from high school happened up Little or Big Cottonwood canyons. We would star gaze on Summer nights, camp in the Fall, roast marshmallows and hotdogs in the Winter, and hike in the Spring. This doesn't even take skiing and snowboarding into account. "The Greatest Snow On Earth" isn't down here under all the Utah inversion. It's at the Ski Resorts. Most of you probably don't intend to stay here for the rest of your lives. You may even be counting down the days until you can get out. (I think you're crazy. If I never left it wouldn't bother me for a second). Please hear me out though. For the time you are here, learn to ski or snowboard. Don't be one of those people who can say they have lived in Utah but can't do any snow sports. The recreation here isn’t non-existent! It’s up in those beautiful pointy rocks in the distance! Drive to Park City, go to Squaw Peak (wink,wink), go to a ski resort! Just go enjoy while you’re here. I promise you’ll learn to love--or at least tolerate--Utah if you do. True, people from here can't pronounce the actual word right. You have to admit though, that one thing we have going for us is great mountains...(Utah pronunciation: mau-ins)

Week 3: Laughing at Absurdity

Do you know what type of sense of humor you have? There are slapstick, satire, sarcasm, and to name a few. Everyone is probably a mix of a bunch or even all of these, in varying degrees. I think my sense of humor is predominantly absurd humor. I love laughing so hard, and this kind of humor is one of the ways I get the best laughs.

Absurdity is my favorite sense of humor. It is like the New Spice library commercial when Stephen Jones says, "Did you know 8 out of 5 dentists say studying in the library is six bajillion times more effective than studying in your shower?" It is a kind that takes you by surprise, but that makes it all the more special and appreciated, right?

So, I was in the computer lab, where TAs read off names from an electronic help list. For example, a TA would say, "Bob?" and look around the room for Bob. If the person was in the hallway, they would usually type “in the hall” after their name. Well, one day I was working, minding my own business, and a TA started reading off a name, we'll call the name "Fred." So he said, "Fred... in the library...?"

I felt like snorting with laughter. I half believed he was really considering if he was supposed to go to the library! He looked over to the other TA, and she said, "I'm not going." Imagine how hard it would be to find someone in the library, and I wondered if such a person really believed a TA would go search for them in the library.

Another example is when I worked at the movie theaters. If the doors closed on you when you were taking trash to the dumpster, you’d have to take the trash can back around and come in through the front doors. It’s a little embarrassing to have everyone realize you must’ve forgot to keep the door open. So, when I see a coworker come in through the front door with the trash can, I am confused for like a second, and then I smile, like the Spongebob smile when he says, “You like Krabby Patties, don’t you, Squidward?” Good times.

Moments like these just seem to make my day. Laughing at absurdity is great, because the laughs seem to catch one by surprise, because it's like laughing at the unexpected.

Week 3 - America's Sport

When you think of America, what do you think of? Perhaps if you lean one way, you think of corporate greed, xenophobia, and corruption. If you lean another, you may think of moral relativism, radical movements, and corruption. There are three thing that I think of when I hear the word "America." Apple pie, hot dogs, and most importantly--baseball.

I love baseball. I have ever since a was a young boy of 10 years. My older brother got me into it, and that is the only sport I've ever successfully been legitimately interested in. Sure, the World Cup is amazing and really fun to watch, but how often does that happen? Not nearly as often as it should, I say. For me, baseball was a bonding experience. My brother was a pretty typical older brother. He picked on me, made fun of me, delighted in frightening the daylights out of me. But when we sat down and watched baseball together, all that went away. He didn't punch me or insult me or anything. It was great! Soon, as I payed more and more attention to the sport, I fell in love with it. Baseball has the power to strengthen families.

Aside from being miraculous, baseball is the most amazing sport known to mankind. Here's why: in football, the quarterback carries the team. If you've got a bad quarterback, you'll invariably lose. If you've got a good one, you'll invariably win. In basketball, a team is required, but merely to pass the ball when your star player or two are covered. Just look at BYU's basketball team. (I don't follow too closely, so I don't know names) I remember my roommate saying something about how one person on the team scored nearly half of BYU's final score by himself. One man should not be able to carry a team. It's a travesty of sportsmanship. In baseball, you need good pitchers, good batters, and good fielders. If you are lacking in any one of these categories, you will suffer. In addition to the team-oriented playing style, baseball requires the most skill. It may not require athleticism as much (Babe Ruth was definitely a chunk), but you've got to be talented in order to get into the major leagues. If that isn't enough for you, there are 163 games in a normal season (I'm pretty sure on this one). You can see your favorite teams play often, and a team can't get to the playoffs if they have a couple of good days in a row. The system is designed to have to best teams according to real performance, not just luck.

You may say that baseball is too slow-paced, and that it's boring. Patience is a virtue, my friend, and the atmosphere of a baseball stadium is enthralling, not boring in the least If you're watching it on television, go ahead and fold some laundry while you watch. Be productive! Now, the one thing I will give you is that football movies are incredible. I mean who can compete with Remember the Titans, honestly? But hey, at least we've got The Natural and Field of Dreams.

Week 3: Anatomy :)

When thinking of what to write for this topic I was extremely puzzled. I am a person who loves EVERYTHING. I love food, my family, dancing, piano, snowboarding, movies, learning, and trust me much more. I always try to find joy in the little things and try to maintain an optimistic attitude towards everything I do. If I had to choose one thing that I love and would want you to love it would be anatomy. I am currently enrolled in the class and cannot describe to you the passion I have for it.

When I was younger I always wanted to be an Anesthesiologist just like my daddy. Then as I got to middle school I was so intrigued with writing on the whiteboard and overhead that I changed my original plan to wanting to be a teacher. My oldest brother just graduated from BYU and is now attending medical school. As he was taking anatomy, he told me how much he enjoyed it. So when I became a sophomore in high school, I had finally found my true zeal: nursing.

I apply for the nursing program in February and have been fulfilling all of the requirements; anatomy being one of them. It is amazing how our body works. Christ has given us our bodies here on earth. They are such an amazing blessing. Yes, anatomy is a ton of work and very time consuming but it is worth every second of my studying. I am learning around 100 different vocabulary words a week that I must know the location of each in the body. It may sound weird, but I crave studying for anatomy all of the time. I study for anatomy as an excuse to not do my other homework at that moment. I am even finding myself using anatomical terms. I caught myself earlier today saying that I almost had tears leaking from my "nasolacrimal canal"! Pretty soon I will be dreaming about anatomy! This is the first class that I have truly loved. I have always been interested in all of my other classes, however, anatomy holds a different place in my heart. I am so thankful that BYU offers anatomy with real human cadavers. It is a hands on experience that will bless me in my future work field. Nursing is an amazing career that is a service to those whom nurses help. I cannot wait to be a nurse and to be able to put my anatomy education to use!

Week 3 Beehive State

Who new that on of the best states in our nation would be the 45th? I'm sure when William McKinley the signed Utah into the Union he had a good feeling about it. I have lived in Utah my whole life. I was born here, grew up here, and now i go to college here. There are a lot of people that go to BYU that are from all across the nation. And when they find out that I am from Utah they seem disappointed in a way. When I question their reaction they say "Utah sucks". Well all you Californians with your ocean, Texas people with your Cowboys, Nevadans with your Vegas, and you east cost people with your diversity this is why Utah is right up their in your categories. Utah is a great place to live for multiple different reasons. First off all being a member of the LDS faith it is very nice to live with people who have the same values of yourself. The people here are nice and it has to be one of the safest state in the US. Utah has great food as well. Their are so many restaurants here started by people that have a strong passion for food. And Utah has made itself a regular place to be visited by Food Networks renowned TV series Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. I would not be giving Utah justice if I did not give a shout out to the Utah Jazz, the best NBA team in the league. There is a reason why Utah has consistently been one of the hardest places for opposing teams to come and win. Utahans LOVE there Jazz basketball. Utah is home to one of the biggest rivalries in all of college football, the Holy War. BYU vs Utah, has been a great rivalry for over 92 games. Utah has many great things to offer but probably at the top of this list is the great outdoors. Utah is home to some of the best recreation on the planet. Just look at our licence plates, The Greatest Snow on Earth. Its no wonder that the 2002 Olympics were held in Salt Lake City. Utah has lakes, canyons, national parks, mountains, snow, hiking, camping, rock climbing, fishing, hunting, and much more that are in the top of there areas. I love the city life but it is so nice to be able to drive just 30 min up the canyons and you feel like you are in a different world. So if you are a person that has a passion for sports, recreation, or friendly people Utah is the place for you.

(Week 3) - A Passion for the Piano

Keys- both black and white, sharp and flat, that gracefully compose beautiful sound, tremendous emotion, and all the conviction in the world. I love the piano… I began playing the piano when I was nine and have been playing ever since. At first, I was only playing to please my parents but along the way my motivations changed. I developed a great passion for playing the piano and an even greater passion for listening to it. I’m not as skilled at the piano as I wish I were, but it is never the less something that I continue to work at. The piano has so much to offer those who are truly willing to lend an ear.

I never pass up the opportunity to sit at the piano and play, or better yet, sit and listen to others more skilled and capable then I take full advantage of the sounds that the piano can produce. Of all the instruments I have personally come to love, the piano holds a special place in my life because of the emotion I feel it possess in comparison. The piano expresses emotion in the most complicated yet simplistic ways all at the same time. What makes the piano so amazing too is that it has so many ways in which to express those emotions… the speed at which the keys are played, the use of sharps and flats, the different scales and pitches etc. The emotion of the piano is also genuine in expression. The emotion you sense when hearing the piano being played is the same emotion with which it is being played; the sincerest form of communication.

The music I listen is often an indication of the way I’m feeling at that time. As a result of my passion for the piano, my preferences of songs are those with a strong piano portion. I’m sure you all take at least somewhat of a liking to music whether that be classical music, rap, hip hop, country etc. Think about some of your favorite songs… Claire de Lune by Debussy, Mockingbird by Eminem, Don’t Let Me Fall by B.O.B, Bless the Broken Road by Rascal Flatts etc. All of these wonderful songs and so many more express a different emotion (happiness, regret, fear, heart ache) through the incorporation of the piano. Imagine any of those songs without the inclusion of the piano. It would be, for lack of a better word, disgraceful. The piano is something I feel should be cherished and used in its entirety.

Week 2

Pet Peeves: Flakers.
Throughout the week on a college campus, especially here at BYU, students spend most of their evenings up in the library or dorm rooms attempting to study and get all the week’s homework done on time. But once all of Friday’s classes are done, the fun begins! I know that during the course of a week, I begin to make plans for the weekend a week or sometimes even two weeks in advance. My pet peeve is when that plan doesn’t end up happening because someone doesn’t follow through! For example, I had met this guy at the beginning of the semester that I had somehow ended up being paired with on a group date. We had a really fun time and later invited me to an event that next week. I was really stoked! The guy was cute, funny and getting asked to go with him made me feel pretty good. We kept in contact with each other off and on for the next week and then the night that we had planned to go out, he didn’t contact me at all. I found that incredibly rude! I found out later he had “forgotten” about our plans and went out with someone else. Maybe it was supposed to be a subtle way of telling me he didn’t want to hang out, but I still don’t know.
I believe the solution is simple: don’t be a flake when it comes to making plans. I think if you have arranged to do something with someone, you are obligated to let that person know if plans won’t work out/something else comes up and to be responsible enough to not “forget” about the plans either. This pet peeve might hit a little closer to home for me just because of the date I was ditched on and I prefer to have things planned out ahead of time. If you can’t tell, being flexible is definitely not one of my strong points. But being flexible should not make flaking out on plans or not following through on arrangements good or acceptable.

Week 2 Pet Peeves

I love the topic “pet peeves” because it is very near and dear to my heart. This last summer I started keeping a journal of my life’s simple pleasures and my pet peeves. I have a notebook with the simple pleasures in the front and the peeves in the back. I have about 600 of each. You might be thinking that anyone who has 600 pet peeves must be an extremely negative/critical person, but let me explain. Writing the list has actually helped me find the humor in pet peeves when they happen. Instead of getting annoyed, I can now say “Oh my gosh! #359! People who sweat when they eat!” Since I had such a variety of ready-to-go peeves to choose from for this entry it was hard to narrow it down to just one. How could I choose between people who dress their pets, girls that don’t wear bras, or sweet bro’s? (Urban Dictionary says: A Sweet Bro is a guy who wears Polo shirts or other preppy clothing, who is generally a jock who is obsessed with how he looks but acts like a tough guy. A Sweet Bro will constantly say "Sweet Bro" to pretty much any thing. Normally Sweet Bro's walk slower than normal and walk flexed trying to appear bigger than they are. The car of choice for the Sweet Bro is the Civic or Cavalier. A Sweet Bro is a guy who is a combination of Jock, Prep, and Partier). But no. None of these would do. This is an academic blog, after all. So I decided to pick bad grammar and incorrect word usage. People, we are in college. There is no excuse to say, “would of” in place of “would have.” “Calick” is not a word. When your hair sticks up in a funny way it is called a COW LICK! When praying, please don’t say, “We’re thank thee.” It’s “We thank thee” or “We’re thankful.” Pick only one. They cannot be combined. End of story. Perhaps the most annoying though, is the mispronunciation of the word “nuclear.” Sound it out! I dare you to do it, right now! I promise that if you did it right, you did not just say “nucular”, and this I know for a fact.

Week 2 - Pet Peeves

When we were assigned to blog about what our pet peeves are it did not take me long to decide what to write about. My biggest pet peeve by far is people that are compulsive liers and people I loke to call a "one-upper". I had a friend in high school that was the perfect example of both of these and needless to say we weren't that close of friends. This friend was one of those people that always wanted to be the center of attention and would do anything to get it. Most of what he did to get attention was either making up some crazy story that was obviously not true or after someone else would tell a story about something they thought was cool or funny, he would tell a similar story that was just a little better than theirs. It always would irritate me when I would tell all my friends about something crazy that happened to me over the weekend or something like that, and he would take the opportunity to then tell another story (likely a made up story) that was just a little bit better than mine. There is even a Facebook group dedicated to this friend called "so this one time me and my brother..." because that is how he begins 90 percent of his stories and then concludes with "but dont ask my brother he was drunk (or "knocked out" depending on his mood/story). I think most (if not all) of us find people like this extremely irritating and sometimes hard to deal with. I dont see any really good solution to this pet peeve of mine other than possibly confronting this person about it but that could do more harm than good. I think that people like this are the ones responsible for changing this behavior, however, changing my mindset to that which this pet peeve doesn't bother me as much could help as well.

-Dallan Turnbull

Week 2: Food doesn't make noise, you do.

One of my biggest pet peeves (aside from the term "pet peeve” - I mean honestly, why “peeve?” It sounds so dirty when you say it. Also the term “pipe dream” frustrates me. Who knows what that’s about?) is when people chew with their mouths open. Talking with food in your mouth isn’t even that bad to me. It is honestly one of the most disgusting sounds a human being can make. It's not even that hard to do, either! At home, both of my younger sisters would chew with their mouths open. And every night at dinner I would tell them, "Please, keep your mouth shut! It's disgusting!" Then my mom would give some comment about me being a hot-headed teenager and I just need to calm down. Then I noticed my dad chewed with his mouth open, and I said the same thing to him, with an additional, "So that's where they got it from!" The unnecessary lip-tongue smacking, fish out of water sound just penetrates me to my very core and disturbs me from deep within.

Solving this problem is really just a matter of people regaining their common decency and manners. Etiquette dinners were both fun and informative. And delicious. Why don't we have more of those in Young Men's/Young Women's combined activities? Parenting is also a very large factor. I think even just parents being aware that manners are not innate and must be taught and emphasized to their children might help. I don't think this is an intentional thing parents do, they just don't think to teach kids manners beyond “don't play with your food” and using utensils to eat. If they're good parents, they'll throw in the “please,” “thank you,” and “excuse me.” But the very best parents stress the importance of keeping your mouth closed as you masticate, keeping your elbows off the table, and other such wonderful things that many of us take for granted.

So, please - use your manners. The lips can remain closed while the mandible is in motion. The world would be a much more civil place if we all were just a wee bit more conscious of our manners.

Week 2: Pet Peeves

My biggest pet peeve is when a big group of bikers (cyclists) decide the are going to take up the whole road and go about 20mph.

I have nothing against avid bikers, beginner bikers, packs of bikers, single bikers or even bikes! I understand not all bikers do this but I feel like the majority of them do in California. What I cannot stand is when a single biker or a pack of bikers take up the whole road not letting cars pass. Thousands of times I have been stuck behind groups of bikers on a nice Saturday morning on a one lane street as the bikers just cruise along as if they aren't doing anything wrong. They are doing something wrong. The law says that they are allowed only in the center of the lane if they are keeping up with traffic... if not they must ride on the bike lane or on the sidewalk. So technically they are breaking the law but they always seem to get away with it. Somehow over the course of many years bikers slowly started taking over the road! Not many things in the world bother me but this does! Why can't they at least acknowledge that 25 cars are backed up behind them and move as far over to the right as possible instead of lingering in the middle of the lane. Just because they are in a pack of bikes doesn't mean they can do whatever they want. I just hope one day an angry driver like me doesn't ram them down. In regards to single cyclists, the only time they get under my skin is when they ride on the right side of the lane but still not in the bike lane. So you have 3/4 road to go past them and as you do they don't even slightly move over. I don't know why they do this but they do! I still like bikers but my respect for them goes up and down on a daily basis.

Once a man like me took his anger out on a cyclist by slamming on his brakes right in front of the biker. The biker was seriously injured. I would never do something like that. But at least I know I am not the only one with the pet peeve of bikers in the road.

Bad:

Good:

What Happened to the T's?!

I am not generally a person with many pet peeves, and until about a year ago, there wasn't hardly anything that bothered me enough to complain. It has recently come to my attention that people, especially in Utah, leave out their T's in many of their words. I had never really thought about this fact, and it never really bothered me until I participated in our school musical. I was in the orchestra and our director would constantly stop the performers and make them say their T's. After having to repeat scenes over and over again for one letter, it started to really bother me. Not only did it bother me when people didn't say their T's, I also started to notice it more than I had before. This pet peeve of mine has almost escalated over time. Ever since then, I make very big effort to say T's myself. When my close friends and family don't say their T's I always get on their case. I would not be surprised if I was one of their pet peeves. You all probably know what I am talking about with the T thing but just for clarity I will give a couple of examples. Probably of one of the best examples is the word mountain. The word mountain is often pronounced moun'ain. Now I realize that a lot of people say it like this, and not just people from Utah. However, it seems to be more prominent in people from Utah. Another example of missing T's happen when there are T's at the end of words. Most of the time the T sound is left of off these words completely. After living in Utah for so long I'm surprised myself, that I have not picked up this slang. It is more surprising that I feel so negatively towards it.

You may not think of this as a big, annoying problem, but “missing T's” drive me absolutely crazy. I am constantly correcting people and I am even caught yelling at the T.V. occasionally. This may seem like a different and weird pet peeve, but for me this is just one of those things that makes my skin crawl. I am not one of those people who corrects every random person, every time I hear something that I don't like. I slip up and leave out T's too. I do not expect anybody to read this and suddenly care about how they talk and whether or not they are saying the elusive T. I just wanted to bring awareness to my odd pet peeve, and explain why this bugs me so much.

Week 2: Keep it down in the movies!!

I don’t consider myself to be a man with many pet peeves. For the most part I just go about my day and don’t really care what people have to say and it takes a lot to offend me. But I’ll tell you what, there is one thing that really chaps my hide; people who can’t keep their yappers shut while I’m in the movies!!
Now I don’t want to sound crazy and people to think that I freak out if there is a couple who just want to whisper in the corner or a family where the kids aren’t quite sure what their twelve inch whisper is yet. But the groups of people who come into the theatre and treat it like it’s a fraternity party on a Friday night, those are the ones that bug me. If you want to be loud and have a crazy time with your friends, I don’t mind at all! I love talking and having a good time with my friends too! Just don’t do it in the theatre please! Movies are already outrageously expensive so if I’m dishing out that kind of money to see a movie, I actually want to SEE and HEAR my movie! I don’t care to hear how crazy your weekend was or how you have already seen this movie seven times and guy in it is so hot. I don’t find it funny when you throw your popcorn in front of the projector and laugh just as loud the twenty-third time as you did the first time. Its just not that funny.
I don’t want people getting the wrong impression of me from this post and think that I am just a fun killer and a serious guy, because I’m not. I love messing around with the bros and stealing a dorm buddies mattress and throwing it on the roof. I love to have fun and be crazy! I just find it annoying that people decide to go be loud in a place I’m dishing out some serious dough to be at! So please everyone, just keep it down a little in the theatre!

Week 2: My pet peeve.

People who chew with their mouth open. Some of you may think this is really weird or nit-picky, but hopefully some agree. I just don’t understand why it is so difficult to bring your lips together and keep them there while you chew. I know I’ll probably get some crap for this, but in my opinion it shouldn’t be considered a pet peeve even; people should just have the common decency and etiquette to do so. Maybe it’s because my mom and dad taught me very proper etiquette growing up. Or maybe I’m just one of the small groups of people who ever listened at Mutual etiquette dinners. It’s not even a huge favor to ask.

Most people I “vent” to or discuss this issue with agree with me on the point that when your mouth is closed, the lack of air passage to distract you actually allows you to taste MORE flavor. That should be reason enough to shut your mouth: food tastes better. My dad, who is in management at Delta, and has been managing teams of dozens or hundreds of people for years, recognizes that humans make mistakes. If someone messed up an assignment they had and it had consequences for the airline, he wouldn’t get mad at them or think less of them; he’d be understanding. Now, if someone were to chew with their mouth open at a work lunch or during a meeting with food, he would become irritated. I don’t know if he calls them out on it, but he says it makes him disrespect them as professionals more than computational error.

So there is a professional opinion on it, outweighing work error nonetheless. My Bishop, and former Young Men’s President in Georgia (also, a Vice President at Delta), is a really easygoing and fun guy. One of the best leaders I’ve had. But numerous times, as teenagers at activities chomped on their food like a cow grazing, he would tell them “Hey so-and-so. Close your mouth or stop eating.” I mean, come on, we are at BYU now. A city on a hill, an example to the world. Just because we do well academically and spiritually doesn’t mean kids can go ahead and forget common decency and proper etiquette. We’re privileged to be here and we’re privileged to be Church members. So let’s try bringing our representation of Christ from Church and school, to the dinner table.

Seat Hopping

The thing that has fast become my greatest pet peeve at BYU is when people walk into class and sit on the very end chair, simply because they are too lazy to walk to the middle of the row. This irritates me to death. I have to apologetically and carefully walk over them, falling on them occasionally and looking foolish. This is not my fault, however. It is the person, who in their short-sightedness, sat two seats into the row, when there were eighteen seats in between them and the other aisle. I will admit to occasionally being a guilty party myself, but for every time I have had people crawl over me to get to a seat, I have had to squeeze by someone at least three times to reach a seat of my own. Often I simply walk until someone blocks my path, and then take a seat. If the person had sat nearer the middle, consequently I would have too. But the awkwardness of asking if I can go past them and having to either wait for them to stand up to clear a pathway or to acrobatically maneuver around them isn’t worth the effort. My personal solution to this problem thus far is to arrive at class as early as possible and sit as near to the middle as I can. If there are twenty, fifty, or a hundred open seats, I won’t have to climb over anybody. If I sit in the middle, I won’t have anyone climbing over me. However, my new course schedule has made this a difficult task. For example, to get from the MARB to the JKB before the rest of the people in my Book of Mormon class is nearly impossible. Consequently I find myself almost always having to move past at least a few people to arrive at a seat. Perhaps I am blowing this all out of proportion, but I don’t think I can understate how frustrating it can be to have five people give you a dirty look as you walk past them, when in reality, if they had sat only a few seats farther in, the problem wouldn’t exist in the first place.

Disrespect

My biggest pet peeve is when you are eating in a cafeteria or lunch with someone and people just leave they trash laying around and do not bother picking it up at all. Or when you have to take a bus to a game or match and when everybody gets off the bus and leaves there trash behind. Seriously is it really that hard just to pick up after yourself and toss it in the trash on your way off the bus. This is one of the things that bugs me the most because it is disrespectful and plain rude to the people around you and to the custodians and bus drivers. This is not just limited to lunch and bus rides, this also goes with borrowing things or using tools or something. If you are going to use something, at least take the short couple minutes that it takes just to put it back where you got it from because it is not really that hard. Also if you borrow something from someone have the decency to return it to them and not make them come and have to get it. Why should the person that you borrowed something from have to come get it when you are the one that used it in the first place? Also, if you borrow something and you break it do not ever return it broken, go to the store and buy the person a new one and replace it for them. I do not understand how people have the audacity to borrow someone else’s possessions, break them and return them broken or not return them at all. That is rude, irresponsible, and would make me not want to lend anything to you again. One last thing that I do not like is when someone breaks something of someone else’s and returns it broken, and then gets upset at the person that they borrowed from when they won’t let them borrow anything else again. I get very upset at this because how can someone expect you to let them borrow something when they broke it the last time you let them borrow something.

Week 2: Do Not Disturb

People have bad days. Life can be frustrating sometimes. I'm not one for pity parties, but I recently have had some experiences that I would like to convey to you.

College can be overwhelming. We all know this, as it just seems like there are never enough hours in the day. We go to class, do homework, and try to decide whether we will socialize or catch up on sleep for the next day. We are taught to find a balance in all things of life and this can be very challenging sometimes, especially when others get in the way and prevent you from doing the things you want. One of my biggest pet peeves is when others neglect your right to sleep. This is the most irritating thing that I have come upon in my experience living in the freshman dorms. People can be so inconsiderate of others that it amazes me. Growing up, I was always taught to treat others as you would like to be treated. I don't recall the golden rule only applying to little children and as you get older you can do whatever you want. It seems obvious that this rule should still apply to people even after they graduate high school. Amazing concept, right? People running and shouting in your hallway at 1:30 in the morning on a weekday is absolutely unacceptable. Just because we are on our own now with no parentals giving us curfews, does not make it okay for people to disrupt others valued sleeping habits. I am a pretty easy going guy, so I do see it to be an acceptable kind of behavior and understand that during the right time it is okay to goof off in the halls. I am sometimes apart of the goofing off, but I only do it during certain hours. Goofing off during the weeknights is acceptable until about midnight. After that, people should quiet down for those that may have early classes the next morning. The weekends are a different story. Running and shouting that occurs at 2 in the morning early Saturday or Sunday does not bother me at all. I'm all for enjoying yourself, it's the weekend for heck sakes so party it up! People usually don't have places to be early in the morning on weekends so have at your goofy antics. But, when Sunday night rolls around it's time to be considerate of others. There is a time and a place for everything. There are times for goofing off and having fun, and also times to SLEEP.

Week 2: A Pet Peeve, Indeed.

Coincidentally, my biggest pet peeve is related to pets. Nothing grinds my gears more than seeing animals dressed as humans. I hope you understand what I’m talking about. The fad seems to be a growing one: commercials, birthday cards, calendars, and the list can go on and on. Our society, namely middle-aged women, reveres the image of animals garnishing themselves in human attire. Not only is this practice offensive to me, but those poor animals are subject to detrimental humiliation. Imagine how the teacup pig feels when he has to face his friends after wearing a sundress in his last photo shoot. What about the kitten that wears a sheriff costume, the goat in a tuxedo, or the classic example of dog in blue jeans and cowboy hat. There is no way that they are enjoying themselves.
Another reason this irritates me is because a number of times I have seen clothing strikingly similar to mine worn by these animals. Needless to say, this has an adverse effect on my self-esteem. The next time I put on my blue polo and khaki shorts and stare in that mirror, the image of the orangutan wearing almost the exact same outfit as me will settle right in the middle of my mind. Then it is only natural to wonder if what I am wearing is fit for a human, or merely the monkey. My day is ruined as I question myself throughout the day on whether or not I’m wearing monkey clothing.
The solution to this travesty of animal rights and my self-image is simple: take the pictures without the poor animals having to wear clothing. I think the calendar would sell just as successfully if the teacup pigs were sitting in flower pots or playing poker. It is just as cute if not cuter! The responsibility to ending this lies with the consumer. If the consumer speaks its voice and expresses disdain for the very product, the manufacturers will have no choice but to produce what the people want. If this does not pan out for me, and my second plan of getting some sort of bill passed through congress does not work out, then I will have no choice but to change my mindset. I will force myself to accept that animals dressed as humans are now and embedded element to the American culture.

Week 2: Cougareat Restaurants charging less than advertised

I have a pet peeve with restaurants at the Cougareat charging less than advertised. You might be thinking, “Sounds like your lucky day! Who could ever have a pet peeve about that? That’s great!” Well… let me get started.

The first time I went to the salad wrap place, I looked carefully at the menu. I didn’t want cheese, but wanted sunflower seeds in addition to black beans, so I decided I would simply pay the extra price for the sunflower seeds.

To my horror, the person who charged me for the wrap was not the person who prepared it – how was the cashier supposed to count the different types of things when it was all jumbled together? I tried to add up the price in my head… and I was charged the normal price. I asked if they were sure, and they said yes. I hurried away, confused, but I got a receipt. I counted up the items again and realized they were wrong.

So, maybe the real pet peeve is having to correct something that wasn’t my fault. I don’t like going and confessing the situation, especially if I didn’t even do it on purpose. So I went back and told them that they charged me wrong. I found out I was right about being undercharged, but the worker said it was okay and it was only bad if I was overcharged.

I wanted to pay it back. It was such a small amount, it was not even close to being worth all the stress. I was upset and thought about talking to the manager to complain. I thought, there is no way I am going to sell my integrity for 70 cents (or however much it was).

A similar thing happened at the dessert place. They charged less for my cookie than the sign said, and I asked about it – the worker said that they charge less for the old ones, or something. I wish they would have an accurate price tag or a “sale price” listing on the official menu, or else let me know when I am getting charged less than advertised.

That’s not all – once I realized that the sunflower seeds were cheaper – 1 point and not 2 – by questioning the total “points." It felt like a facepalm moment.

I would like to think that the Cougareat is responsible for advertising correct prices – yet I don’t think they think it is even a problem to undercharge people. Me being responsible to change my mindset, in my opinion, would require knowing what is the right thing to do in those and similar situations, and I think that “what is right” in those situations is subjective – so I don’t really want to write about it – that could take many paragraphs.

OE Topic

Not selling caffeine on campus

OE Topic?????

Two options; haven't decided.

1.) LDS students disobeying prophet/Honor Code agreement while maintaining an ecclesiastical endorsement (i.e. having Bishop's "O.K." when you are not honest or obedient).

2.)Grooming--are well maintained beards really "unclean" looking, as opposed to creepy mustaches? Giving more facial hair rights, or taking away mustaches? Also, talking about the enforcing or lack thereof for this rule.

OE Topics

Possibilities for the topic of my hopefully glorious opinion editorial:

• visiting hour shenanigans
• honor code business (with a focus on facial hair?)
  
• class conduct

By the way, Donut Fence relates to my name because people sometimes call me 'Duncan Donuts Pickett Fence'. Just so you know.

OE topic

Topic: The Honor code is not clear enough.

The Honor Code is too strict, because its vague terms seem to mean a lot of things that are absurd and ridiculous when taken literally. This is probably because it does not mean exactly what it says. It should be written clearly and not be a "shoot for the moon to land on the stars" strategy. It seems to be making rules very broad, yet accept a lower level of conformity - which makes it hard for those who take their promises seriously.

Topic

campus being to strict by shutting everything down during devotional!