Completion of my "must do"s during my trip to California:
Enjoy family and friends -- check
Go to the beach at least once -- check
Go to my favorite restaurants -- I got to Miguel's and Don Jose's, but not BJ's. However, we did get to go to Claim Jumper, which is always good. -- check
Go swimming -- check
Go to J's and A's wedding receptions -- check
Get significantly more tan -- fail
Get more tan -- check
Finish reading grad school prep books -- fail (as I knew I would)
Get my restless energy out and stock up on vacation energy for grad school -- mostly check
Overall, it was a definite success. I start grad school on Monday and I am definitely nervous...the 2nd year Master's students warned us that the first semester is really tough. I'm not excited about that. Hopefully I can figure out my thesis prospectus really soon so that I can get my thesis done and graduate on time. Yeesh.
My new room roommate is a brand new freshman. FUN! This year will be interesting...
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
California love!
Oh em gee, I'm in Cali!!!!
...Sorry, I just read Seriously, So Blessed and had an insurgence of Utahn. Don't worry, it won't happen again. =P
But yeah, I'm home for a week and a half. If you're around and want to party, let me know! Or if you want me to say hi to my parents for you, also let me know. =)
Must do while here: Enjoy family and friends, Go to the beach at least once, Go to my favorite restaurants, Go swimming, Go to the two wedding receptions I came down for, Get significantly more tan so that it is noticeable when I go back to school, or at least Get more tan, Finish reading grad school prep books (don't want to, but have to!), and Get all my restless energy out and stock up on vacation energy for grad school. Sigh. Not thinking about it yet! It's still two weeks away...
...Sorry, I just read Seriously, So Blessed and had an insurgence of Utahn. Don't worry, it won't happen again. =P
But yeah, I'm home for a week and a half. If you're around and want to party, let me know! Or if you want me to say hi to my parents for you, also let me know. =)
Must do while here: Enjoy family and friends, Go to the beach at least once, Go to my favorite restaurants, Go swimming, Go to the two wedding receptions I came down for, Get significantly more tan so that it is noticeable when I go back to school, or at least Get more tan, Finish reading grad school prep books (don't want to, but have to!), and Get all my restless energy out and stock up on vacation energy for grad school. Sigh. Not thinking about it yet! It's still two weeks away...
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
On The Wing
I really like this song. I just think it's so cute. It ends on kind of a sad note, but I still think it's cute...probably because I've always loved the idea of flying, I dream about it all the time. I've even included a link for you to listen to it! Complete with scenic pictures for your viewing pleasure, should you wish for something to watch while listening. I really like Owl City...Adam Young (he is Owl City) is very talented.
On The Wing, by Owl City
Breathe and I’ll carry you away into the velvet sky
On The Wing, by Owl City
Breathe and I’ll carry you away into the velvet sky
And we’ll stir the stars around
And watch them fall away into the Hudson Bay
And plummet out of sight and sound
The open summer breeze will sweep you through the hills
Where I live in the alpine heights
Below the Northern Lights, I spend my coldest nights
Alone, awake and thinking of...the weekend we were in love
Home among these mountain tops can be so awfully dull
A thousand miles from the tide
But photos on the walls of New York shopping malls
Distract me so I stay inside
I wish the rockets stayed over the promenade
Cuz I would make a hook and eye
And fish them from the sky, my darling, she and I
We’re hanging on so take us high
To sing the world goodbye:
I am floating away
Lost in a silent ballet
I’m dreaming you’re out in the blue and I am right beside you
Awake to take in the view
Late nights and early parades
Still photos and noisy arcades
My darling, we’re both on the wing, look down and keep on singing!
And we can go anywhere
Are you there?
Are you there, or are you just a decoy dream in my head?
Am I home or am I simply tumbling all alone?
I am floating away
Lost in a silent ballet
I’m dreaming you’re out in the blue and I am right beside you
Awake to take in the view
Late nights and early parades
Still photos and noisy arcades
My darling, we’re both on the wing, look down and keep on singing!
And we can go anywhere
Are you there?
Are you there?
Sunday, August 8, 2010
More Holiness Give Me - A Prayer
Philip Bliss wrote the words and music to a beautiful hymn about 150 years ago. That hymn is called "More Holiness Give Me". As I was in the temple the other day, I thought about this hymn and what it really means. Too often I think that when we sing it, we just sing "more ----------, more -----------" without thinking about what it is we are saying. These are my thoughts about the hymn.
As a whole, this is a prayer. This hymn is a very personal pleading between me and my Father in Heaven. When I sing these words, I am pleading with Him to change my nature so that I can become more like Him. Therefore, I ask for more of those qualities that are pure and Godlike. "More" is not just a repeated word, but demonstrates an increasingly greater desire for Divine aid.
I think I will "translate" the words to this hymn. The words on the left reflect the actual text of the hymn, and the words on the right reflect my understanding of them and my ponderings.
More holiness give me Father in Heaven, please give me
sanctity and purity of heart.
More strivings within Please bring Thy Spirit here so that
I may feel it in my heart, and
have a greater desire to do good
and serve Thee.
More patience in suff'ring Help me not to complain so much,
to remember that trials are
necessary for me to progress
and to receive blessings.
More sorrow for sin Give me a sensitive heart that feels
pain for the sins I commit so
that I may repent and return to
Thee. Also help me to feel pain
for the sins of others instead of
disregarding them as "their
choice".
More faith in my Savior Strengthen my testimony of Thy
Son's infinite Atonement for my
sins.
More sense of His care Help me be more aware of my
Savior's everlasting care and
desire for my eternal joy.
More joy in His service Help me to find happiness in
serving the Lord.
More purpose in prayer. Help me remember that prayers
are not just words spoken
aloud, but a means for me to
counsel with Thee, for me to
come to Thee just as I might
come to my earthly father for
guidance.
More gratitude give me Father, please help me to be more
appreciative of the countless
blessings Thou hast given me
and do continuously give me.
More trust in the Lord Remind me of Who is in control, for
Thou knowest all things.
More pride in His glory Strengthen me so that I am bold in
my adoration of Thy Son, that I
may shout His glory from the
rooftops.
More hope in His word Along with faith, give me hope in the
scriptures and the words of the
prophets, which promise eternal
blessings if we are faithful.
More tears for His sorrows Help me to feel more sorrow for His
sorrow, to feel more sorrow for
all the sins of the world and the
wickedness that He Atoned for
in Gethsemane.
More pain at His grief Allow me to feel even a portion of
the pain He feels for those who
will not turn to Him.
More meekness in trial Help me to be humble and
submissive in my trials so that
I may endure them well.
More praise for relief. Give me more gratitude when my
burdens are lifted, and help me
to remember Who is the reason
for such great blessings. Help
me to share that blessing with
others and praise Thy Name
all day long.
More purity give me Father, make me pure and holy,
that I may see Thee.
More strength to o'ercome Give me fortitude against the
draining power of tribulations,
and help me to endure well,
that my spirit may be
strengthened through it.
More freedom from earth stains Free me from the thorns of the flesh,
those sins that would chain me
for all eternity. Help me to
resist temptation where neces-
sary and avoid temptation
where possible, that I may be
free and worthy to worship
Thee.
More longing for home Help me to not forget that I was once
at Thy feet, that I am only on
earth for a small period of time
to be tested. Help me to
remember that heavenly home
and have an ever greater desire
and longing to return to it.
More fit for the kingdom Mold me so that I become an
instrument in Thy hands, that I
may be able to accomplish Thy
will for the kingdom of heaven.
More used would I be If I can be molded into whatever Thou
wouldst have me be, may I be
used in whatever calling or
service Thou might require, and
as such I would be able,
available, and eager to serve.
More blessed and holy I ask Thee again to please give me
a pure heart and a spirit of
holiness
More, Savior, like Thee. So that above all, I may become as
Thou art.
I ask for these blessings with faith
to receive them, in the sacred
Name of my Lord and Savior,
Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Death of a Salesman Computer
A WORD OF ADVICE...
NEVER name your computer Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. If you do, it WILL self-destruct within 24 hours.
My hard drive is completely shot, and I lost everything I hadn't saved since mid-June. Thankfully I did back up my files then, but yeah, I'm not excited about that. NOR am I excited about forking over several hundred dollars for a new computer! But I've decided it's time for me to suck it up and buy a decent laptop for school. (I've been using a desktop computer all through college, but now that I'm going to grad school it seems better to get a laptop.) I haven't officially decided on a model, but I have narrowed it down to several options...hopefully one of them speaks to me by Monday so that I can order it first thing that morning.
Yay hooray for spending money I don't have...at least it's not like that one time in France when a train strike ended up costing me over $400 dollars...but that's a story for another day. Anyway, a laptop will cost more than $400, so now I can recall the train strike experience with a smile! How exciting.
"After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up more dead than alive." - Willy Loman, in Death of a Salesman. He didn't know it at the time, but he was talking about my old Mayhem.
NEVER name your computer Maher-Shalal-Hash-Baz. If you do, it WILL self-destruct within 24 hours.
My hard drive is completely shot, and I lost everything I hadn't saved since mid-June. Thankfully I did back up my files then, but yeah, I'm not excited about that. NOR am I excited about forking over several hundred dollars for a new computer! But I've decided it's time for me to suck it up and buy a decent laptop for school. (I've been using a desktop computer all through college, but now that I'm going to grad school it seems better to get a laptop.) I haven't officially decided on a model, but I have narrowed it down to several options...hopefully one of them speaks to me by Monday so that I can order it first thing that morning.
Yay hooray for spending money I don't have...at least it's not like that one time in France when a train strike ended up costing me over $400 dollars...but that's a story for another day. Anyway, a laptop will cost more than $400, so now I can recall the train strike experience with a smile! How exciting.
"After all the highways, and the trains, and the appointments, and the years, you end up more dead than alive." - Willy Loman, in Death of a Salesman. He didn't know it at the time, but he was talking about my old Mayhem.
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