Showing posts with label Romney for President. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Romney for President. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Fire Obama!
So I'm writing this message to do my civic duty of participating in the political process and here are my reasons why I won't be voting for Obama and why I don't think you should either:
-43 months of 8% or higher unemployment, but up to 11.63% when adding in all the number of people who have dropped out of the workforce
-Our national debt has gone up over $5.5 trillion
-Gas prices have increased by nearly $2.00. Obama doesn’t control prices, obviously, but he’s prohibited drilling in the Arctic and the gas pipeline to help alleviate this increase.
-Obama’s support for gay marriage
-Billions of wasted dollars on Solyndra and other companies.
-Obamacare violates the Constitution by mandating that each citizen purchases health insurance
-Obamacare requires churches to include provisions in their health insurance policies against their religious beliefs
-Blanket amnesty to illegal immigrants under employment
-Obamacare will mean higher health insurance premiums
-Obamacare means more fees and penalties, but the real name for it is taxes.
-The average household income is down $4,000
-The number of people on food stamps has gone up by 15 million
-The poverty rate has gone up 2%
-Real economic growth is averaging 2.2%, less than half of the historic average for past post recession rebounds
-Under Obamacare, abortions are funded by taxpayers.
-The number of people receiving welfare has increased by 10 million, which now means 107 million (one-third of Americans) are on welfare.
-Obama panders to African Americans by playing up race issues (i.e. Obama’s speech in Jeremiah Wright’s congregation where he blamed race as the reason the Feds were slow to give aid to New Orleans)
-Obama endorsed the Occupy Wall Street movement even though he has benefitted the most from receiving money from Wall Street more than any other president in the last 20 years.
-Despite ’08 campaign promises, Obama’s administration has not been transparent (i.e. Fast and Furious, Obamacare)
-Obama’s quote to outgoing Russian president, Dmitri Medvedev: “This is my last election. After my election I have more flexibility.
-Obama made it easier to stay on welfare by removing “the work requirement”
Obama has done a lousy job the first four years of trying to improve the economy, and has not given us any confidence in his ability to improve it the next four years. The best way to defeat Obama is to elect Mitt Romney as the next president. Romney has a proven track record of turning things around (i.e. struggling businesses, 2002 Olympics, state of Massachusetts). To defeat Obama, here’s what you can do:
1) Register to vote. Google your state and “how to register to vote” for instructions. Encourage others to also register to vote
2) Be sure to vote on Tuesday, November 6th. To find where you need to go, google your state and “find your polling station.” Encourage others to do the same.
3) Donate to Mitt Romney’s Campaign and encourage others to donate: http://www.mittromney.com/action/fundraise/fire-obama-fundraiser
4) Donate money to the major Super PAC’s and encourage others to donate:
Restore Our Future- https://restoreourfuture.com/donate
Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies- https://www.crossroadsgps.org/donate/
Americans For Prosperity- http://americansforprosperity.org/
5) Volunteer to help the campaign by signing up to make calls from home and encourage others to volunteer- http://www.mittromney.com/call-home-landing
6) Order yard signs and bumper stickers- http://store.mittromney.com/
We are only one month away from this critical election. If you agree that our nation can’t afford another four years of Obama, do whatever you can do to ensure this outcome. Don’t regret later that you could have done more.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Occupy Kasey
It's been awhile since I've done a good blog entry. I'll blame it on a few things- not usually in the mood to sit down and write down some thoughts and then also just lack of time. Our life these days revolves around Jimmer naturally. I'm trying to do my best to play with him for the 3-4 hours between getting home from work and putting him to bed. He's changed a lot in a month's time. He's a big crawler these days and so busy making his rounds around the house from the shoe rack to the ottoman with his toys to the vent in the kitchen and the books under his crib. He's so full of energy and doesn't like to focus on one thing, it's kind of funny to watch. I'm not sure how I was when I was a baby but sometimes I feel like my life is like Jimmer's- not able to focus on one thing and lots of things occupying my mind.
Some of the things occupying my mind these days:
-Trip to Europe. Me and Emmy are stoked about going. I haven't been back to Holland since 2007 so it's about time I get back there, show off my pretty wife, and check up on the people I love there. In the two times I've been back I've gone to all the cities I served- we're doing that this time but the next time we go to Europe we'll just do one or two cities in Holland so we can spend more time in another part of Europe. The region we're visiting in this trip to Europe is Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Western Germany and Northern France. We're going to rent a car and stay along the Rhine and see lots of castles and pretty cities in Germany. We're doing the whole backpack thing and stay in a few hostels along with some hotels. It's kind of how I like to do it- the 2006 Europe trip was just so awesoem and it's a style I like to do. Turns out that Groupon and Living Social are really big there like they are here. We've been buying some good deals that will help us eat nice for not too much. So yeah, we'll see a lot, eat a lot of cool foods, get some cool souvenirs, some cool pictures, and just enjoy ourselves in Europe. It'll definitely be tough to be away from Jimmer for 2 weeks but he'll have fun with my parents. There's lots of new toys for him and Skybekah's kids he can play with.
-The Republican primaries. It's pretty fun to watch. I still think there's no way it won't be Romney. I actually don't mind the bickering in the debates or just from the campaigns...it's politics, that's what happens. As long as the Mormon card doesn't get played I'm fine with either campaign doing what they're doing. The schedule favors Romney- he'll win Florida and then Nevada and Maine favor him, he won Colorado and Minnesota in 2008 so he'll do well there and then Arizona and Michigan are two states he'll easily win. All this momentum early on will pretty much just make him the inevitable candidate. It's interesting how many top Republicans just do not like Newt, that's another thing that's been working to Romney's advantage.
-House Projects. I think we will rent out our house when the time comes to move out of Utah or move to a different house. It'll be a good addition to our retirement portfolio, shouldn't be hard too stressful since there are some good property management companies here, and it's kind of fun getting the house ready to be able to rent. We finished the fence in October so we have a new white vinyl fence in the back and on each side of the house. We still need to either close off the fence or extend it into the front yard- that'll be a small project this summer. We're also looking forward to landscaping the yard with low-maintenance plants, painting the shed, leveling the garden area, putting crown molding in our bedroom, doing some small projects in the house, and putting in a sprinkler system. I really want a sprinkler system in place so the grass doesn't go downhill. Anyway, it's fun working on the house/yard and it'll probably take 2-3 summers of doing all this, but it's fun doing the prep for the projects.
-School. So I'm starting to come around to realize more education is a good thing that I'm anxious to do. For one, I think more business education will help with my career and two, I want to make myself more valuable.
-Church calling. I work with the priests in our ward. It's a calling that I really enjoy but just wish I was better at. We have good young men in our ward- they need some encouraging and some of them don't have strong families. Sometimes I want to shake them, take away their agency, and force them to get their Eagle and Duty to God. It's something I think a lot about--how can I help them more. It's not a new feeling, it's something that I constantly dealt with on my mission. It's just tough to help people progress when they don't have that desire. How can you help others have more desire? Like today in Sacrament meeting--we were a tad late and sat in the very back--I couldn't believe how many people around us were on their cell phone. In just a small sampling there were 12 people looking down at the phone...it really frustrates me and just makes me feel sad for them.
-Family History. When my died last year I went down to the funeral in Mesa, AZ and then we went to Virden, New Mexico for his burial. Virden probably has the population of 50 people? I would be shocked if there were more than that. It's way out in the middle of no where, it felt like we were in a desolate part of Mordor to be honest. But the whole experience really had a strong effect on me. First of all our family is very representative of the urbanization of America. Grandpa grew up on a farm in a small house with a large family. Sounds like a pretty typical story you'd hear from a grandparent, right? When I hear(d) stories from my two grandpas or about them you can't help but be impressed at how down to earth they are and just how good they are. They are very good men who lived in very poor circumstances, but they aren't complaining. They lived in smalltown, USA without tv, internet, electricity. They didn't need to live close to a mall or close to a place with a lot of entertainment. They had little but appreciate and are grateful for the things they did have. They worked hard growing up which made them the men they are and were. I'm frustrated right now because I can't quite put into words what I think/feel about the situation but I think it's sad that those days are over. It's not the same time, it's not the same country where people grow up like that and I think it's sad that we're missing or aren't going to have the experiences they had. I think it's sad that my generation has everything and therefore feels entitled to more because that's what we're accostomed to. It's sad that smalltown, USA is pretty much non-existent now because those experiences produced great people as evidenced through my grandparents. Virden used to have more people, it used to have a pretty vibrant ward and high school. Grandpa's brother told the story of how they would go to church dances and perform a skit that would get girls. I thought that was funny. They had hard experiences, I can't imagine what it would be like to have the chores they did or to live in those small homes with so many family families. I'm grateful they went through those things and turned out the way they did which in turn has influenced me. I guess I just want my kids to somehow learn those same things and turn out to be good Church members, good citizens, just good respectable and decent people.
-Jet ski.
-Exercise. So we bought a treadmill in November. It's pretty sweet. I think it's probably one of the best investments I've made. We only have one body, right, so might as well make it healthy and fit. I'm trying to lose 12 pounds this year which is crazy for me because I don't think I actually need to lose weight, but it's just more of a by-product of the real goal to be healthy and exercise a lot this year.
-Emmy!
It's been awhile since I've done a good blog entry. I'll blame it on a few things- not usually in the mood to sit down and write down some thoughts and then also just lack of time. Our life these days revolves around Jimmer naturally. I'm trying to do my best to play with him for the 3-4 hours between getting home from work and putting him to bed. He's changed a lot in a month's time. He's a big crawler these days and so busy making his rounds around the house from the shoe rack to the ottoman with his toys to the vent in the kitchen and the books under his crib. He's so full of energy and doesn't like to focus on one thing, it's kind of funny to watch. I'm not sure how I was when I was a baby but sometimes I feel like my life is like Jimmer's- not able to focus on one thing and lots of things occupying my mind.
Some of the things occupying my mind these days:
-Trip to Europe. Me and Emmy are stoked about going. I haven't been back to Holland since 2007 so it's about time I get back there, show off my pretty wife, and check up on the people I love there. In the two times I've been back I've gone to all the cities I served- we're doing that this time but the next time we go to Europe we'll just do one or two cities in Holland so we can spend more time in another part of Europe. The region we're visiting in this trip to Europe is Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Western Germany and Northern France. We're going to rent a car and stay along the Rhine and see lots of castles and pretty cities in Germany. We're doing the whole backpack thing and stay in a few hostels along with some hotels. It's kind of how I like to do it- the 2006 Europe trip was just so awesoem and it's a style I like to do. Turns out that Groupon and Living Social are really big there like they are here. We've been buying some good deals that will help us eat nice for not too much. So yeah, we'll see a lot, eat a lot of cool foods, get some cool souvenirs, some cool pictures, and just enjoy ourselves in Europe. It'll definitely be tough to be away from Jimmer for 2 weeks but he'll have fun with my parents. There's lots of new toys for him and Skybekah's kids he can play with.
-The Republican primaries. It's pretty fun to watch. I still think there's no way it won't be Romney. I actually don't mind the bickering in the debates or just from the campaigns...it's politics, that's what happens. As long as the Mormon card doesn't get played I'm fine with either campaign doing what they're doing. The schedule favors Romney- he'll win Florida and then Nevada and Maine favor him, he won Colorado and Minnesota in 2008 so he'll do well there and then Arizona and Michigan are two states he'll easily win. All this momentum early on will pretty much just make him the inevitable candidate. It's interesting how many top Republicans just do not like Newt, that's another thing that's been working to Romney's advantage.
-House Projects. I think we will rent out our house when the time comes to move out of Utah or move to a different house. It'll be a good addition to our retirement portfolio, shouldn't be hard too stressful since there are some good property management companies here, and it's kind of fun getting the house ready to be able to rent. We finished the fence in October so we have a new white vinyl fence in the back and on each side of the house. We still need to either close off the fence or extend it into the front yard- that'll be a small project this summer. We're also looking forward to landscaping the yard with low-maintenance plants, painting the shed, leveling the garden area, putting crown molding in our bedroom, doing some small projects in the house, and putting in a sprinkler system. I really want a sprinkler system in place so the grass doesn't go downhill. Anyway, it's fun working on the house/yard and it'll probably take 2-3 summers of doing all this, but it's fun doing the prep for the projects.
-School. So I'm starting to come around to realize more education is a good thing that I'm anxious to do. For one, I think more business education will help with my career and two, I want to make myself more valuable.
-Church calling. I work with the priests in our ward. It's a calling that I really enjoy but just wish I was better at. We have good young men in our ward- they need some encouraging and some of them don't have strong families. Sometimes I want to shake them, take away their agency, and force them to get their Eagle and Duty to God. It's something I think a lot about--how can I help them more. It's not a new feeling, it's something that I constantly dealt with on my mission. It's just tough to help people progress when they don't have that desire. How can you help others have more desire? Like today in Sacrament meeting--we were a tad late and sat in the very back--I couldn't believe how many people around us were on their cell phone. In just a small sampling there were 12 people looking down at the phone...it really frustrates me and just makes me feel sad for them.
-Family History. When my died last year I went down to the funeral in Mesa, AZ and then we went to Virden, New Mexico for his burial. Virden probably has the population of 50 people? I would be shocked if there were more than that. It's way out in the middle of no where, it felt like we were in a desolate part of Mordor to be honest. But the whole experience really had a strong effect on me. First of all our family is very representative of the urbanization of America. Grandpa grew up on a farm in a small house with a large family. Sounds like a pretty typical story you'd hear from a grandparent, right? When I hear(d) stories from my two grandpas or about them you can't help but be impressed at how down to earth they are and just how good they are. They are very good men who lived in very poor circumstances, but they aren't complaining. They lived in smalltown, USA without tv, internet, electricity. They didn't need to live close to a mall or close to a place with a lot of entertainment. They had little but appreciate and are grateful for the things they did have. They worked hard growing up which made them the men they are and were. I'm frustrated right now because I can't quite put into words what I think/feel about the situation but I think it's sad that those days are over. It's not the same time, it's not the same country where people grow up like that and I think it's sad that we're missing or aren't going to have the experiences they had. I think it's sad that my generation has everything and therefore feels entitled to more because that's what we're accostomed to. It's sad that smalltown, USA is pretty much non-existent now because those experiences produced great people as evidenced through my grandparents. Virden used to have more people, it used to have a pretty vibrant ward and high school. Grandpa's brother told the story of how they would go to church dances and perform a skit that would get girls. I thought that was funny. They had hard experiences, I can't imagine what it would be like to have the chores they did or to live in those small homes with so many family families. I'm grateful they went through those things and turned out the way they did which in turn has influenced me. I guess I just want my kids to somehow learn those same things and turn out to be good Church members, good citizens, just good respectable and decent people.
-Jet ski.
-Exercise. So we bought a treadmill in November. It's pretty sweet. I think it's probably one of the best investments I've made. We only have one body, right, so might as well make it healthy and fit. I'm trying to lose 12 pounds this year which is crazy for me because I don't think I actually need to lose weight, but it's just more of a by-product of the real goal to be healthy and exercise a lot this year.
-Emmy!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Fleece it up
My computer has been down for awhile so I didn't think I could post pictures, but I figured out I can still get my pictures by uploading them onto campus computers. But yeah, I have a lot of pictures.
Haha, I love this picture. This is on the way to stake conference.
Utah can have a cool sky too.
Playing Risk on Cannon's computer
Met up with my Uganda peeps.
My computer has been down for awhile so I didn't think I could post pictures, but I figured out I can still get my pictures by uploading them onto campus computers. But yeah, I have a lot of pictures.
Haha, I love this picture. This is on the way to stake conference.
Utah can have a cool sky too.
Playing Risk on Cannon's computer
Met up with my Uganda peeps.
Colby's car.
Me and Barack Hussein Obama.
My sweet ride for a month. A 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid. I should have taken some pictures on the inside.
Eating with Apartment #3. We celebrated the joining of our two apartments through Kecca's (Kyle and Becca) engagement. Soon we'll all be roommates-in-law.
A wicked cool sunset while walking home from campus.
Wow, Tricia got taken out by a Wyoming mile marker #138.
We rocked the caucus.
The other side of the gym had a Ron Paul and a Thompson section. Our whole side was pretty much Mitt Romney. We had some fun chants across the court.
We were talking to Cannon, who we thought was in bed, but then he came upstairs, but it seriously looks like he's in there.
Playing this fun winking game at the Bishop's house.
Attaboy Mitt.
Whenever I chat with Carrie on gmail, two text boxes always come up.
Me and Barack Hussein Obama.
Little la likes her beef jerky. Colbers doesn't like getting his picture taken.
My sweet ride for a month. A 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid. I should have taken some pictures on the inside.
I spied on the enemy. Mr. Huckabigot.
I walked downstairs in the morning and what did I see? A lamp magneted onto the ceiling. And Miss Jenny creepily standing there.
Eating with Apartment #3. We celebrated the joining of our two apartments through Kecca's (Kyle and Becca) engagement. Soon we'll all be roommates-in-law.
Mitt won Michigan. So we celebrated at Del Taco. Attaboy Del Taco.
A wicked cool sunset while walking home from campus.
Contra-dancing. Which has nothing to do with the nintendo game, I found out.
Wow, Tricia got taken out by a Wyoming mile marker #138.
We rocked the caucus.
The other side of the gym had a Ron Paul and a Thompson section. Our whole side was pretty much Mitt Romney. We had some fun chants across the court.
We were talking to Cannon, who we thought was in bed, but then he came upstairs, but it seriously looks like he's in there.
Adam and Cannon being boys.
Monday, January 07, 2008
"Tongue hangin out of your head and you was swimmin"
Ok...where to begin. It was a good Christmas and a good New Year's day...a good bowl season, good times with family, but the caucuses weren't that great. I was so busy last week with running packets to precinct captaings all over Pottawattamie and Crawford counties, making a ton of phone calls, organizing volunteers, etc. We had about 20 volunteers from Colorado come in, 1 from Connecticut, 1 from Oklahoma, and 1 from Alabama. It was a really fun week actually. It was actually a really fun week, I was so pumped about the caucuses. There were about 5 precincts at the site we went to, so it was pretty big. The Ron Paul people sat in one section, the Fred Thompson people sat in another, and the rest of us were on the opposite side. We had two huge Mitt Romney signs and we gave stickers to people as they came in. It was fun seeing friends, family members, church members, and old friends at the caucus. We did our best to get the crowd into it, the Ron Paul people kept on chanting for their guy so I started our side (it was mostly Romney people) up with a Romney cheer. The back and forth was fun, there were a couple of Romney fanatics...I was just glad they were on our side. We basically rocked the caucus. Because ours was so big we didn't get to vote until like an hour into it. By then a lot of people had called me telling me that Romney won their precincts. Things were looking really good, and then we voted. Romney-74, Huckabee-31, Thompson-20, McCain-19, Paul-12, Giuliani-9, and Hunter-1. I wish I would have known who the Hunter guy was. So everything was going well until I heard that they had already called it and Huckabigot won. I was pretty disappointed because from our perspective, Romney dominated. And Romney did dominate Council Bluffs and Pottawattamie county. So we all did our part. So yeah, I was pretty disappointed Friday and then Rush Limbaugh spoke right to me. He said, "conservatives do not look to other human beings for answers to improve their lives." He went off on how conservatism is different than liberalism and populism. Ya know, he has an excellent point. We make our own futures, not others. We do not look to politics for answers. It was a good back to the basics lesson.
This week has been just awesome! Man I love school! I'm sad that this is my last semester cause there are too many classes I wish I could take, too many books I wish I could read, too many languages I wish I could learn, and too many friends up here I wish I could spend more time with. It's been a great chillin with roommates and friends and just having fun. This semester will be unprecedented, there's no precedent baby!
I got in an accident last week. It was a windy day in Wyoming, a few accidents off the side of the road, so I took off cruise control, I hit a patch of black ice, and while I was skidding around I hit a mile marker. This little mile marker did huge damage to Trichy and she might not make it. She might be totaled. It's too bad I didn't roll it, that would have sounded cooler and more of a reason for it to be totaled. In my defense, the tow truck guy said that's the worst stretch of interstate in Wyoming. So whenever I drive by mile marker 138, I'll always slow down and remember the time I owned it and took it out completely. Sure I was a little shaken up, but ya know, that's life. Things like that happen. Colby's car, Trichy, pretty much kicked my trash that day. She wouldn't open the little door to the gas tank, a big ole piece of rubber was hanging down in the front, and some semi-truck guy nearly ran me off the side of the road. That was kinda scary cause there wasn't anywhere else I could go so I was prepared to just take it. I sped off when he let me and saw a big ole lit cross where his headlights were. He almost sent me to meet my maker. So there aren't too many good things that come out of wrecking your parents' car, but the insurance is paying for a rental car. It's a 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid. It's a pretty sweet car. It's very high tech and kinda confusing. The other night it took us 10 minutes to figure out how to even start the car to go to Del Taco. That was unprecedented. Man I love Del Tacos! That phrase is not.
I got my first ever fillings last week. It really isn't that bad letting the dentist work on your teeth if she's hot. Don't worry, she didn't have a ring on so I can say stuff like that.
"Another filling?...oh please, go right ahead, I don't mind."
In talking about Israel's control over Palestinian land, Bush called it an occupation. That is huge I think! I've never heard a U.S. President use those words. He's really pushing for a Palestinian state by the time he leaves office. I really want there to be peace in the Middle East, but the part of me that is familiar with Second Coming prophecies really doubts things will get better before they get worse.
I'm hoping I can make a big announcement on my blog soon, but I'll probably have to wait until March. Things could change after all. But I'm really hoping they don't.
This will be a fun semester, it's fun being back.
This week has been just awesome! Man I love school! I'm sad that this is my last semester cause there are too many classes I wish I could take, too many books I wish I could read, too many languages I wish I could learn, and too many friends up here I wish I could spend more time with. It's been a great chillin with roommates and friends and just having fun. This semester will be unprecedented, there's no precedent baby!
I got in an accident last week. It was a windy day in Wyoming, a few accidents off the side of the road, so I took off cruise control, I hit a patch of black ice, and while I was skidding around I hit a mile marker. This little mile marker did huge damage to Trichy and she might not make it. She might be totaled. It's too bad I didn't roll it, that would have sounded cooler and more of a reason for it to be totaled. In my defense, the tow truck guy said that's the worst stretch of interstate in Wyoming. So whenever I drive by mile marker 138, I'll always slow down and remember the time I owned it and took it out completely. Sure I was a little shaken up, but ya know, that's life. Things like that happen. Colby's car, Trichy, pretty much kicked my trash that day. She wouldn't open the little door to the gas tank, a big ole piece of rubber was hanging down in the front, and some semi-truck guy nearly ran me off the side of the road. That was kinda scary cause there wasn't anywhere else I could go so I was prepared to just take it. I sped off when he let me and saw a big ole lit cross where his headlights were. He almost sent me to meet my maker. So there aren't too many good things that come out of wrecking your parents' car, but the insurance is paying for a rental car. It's a 2008 Toyota Prius Hybrid. It's a pretty sweet car. It's very high tech and kinda confusing. The other night it took us 10 minutes to figure out how to even start the car to go to Del Taco. That was unprecedented. Man I love Del Tacos! That phrase is not.
I got my first ever fillings last week. It really isn't that bad letting the dentist work on your teeth if she's hot. Don't worry, she didn't have a ring on so I can say stuff like that.
"Another filling?...oh please, go right ahead, I don't mind."
In talking about Israel's control over Palestinian land, Bush called it an occupation. That is huge I think! I've never heard a U.S. President use those words. He's really pushing for a Palestinian state by the time he leaves office. I really want there to be peace in the Middle East, but the part of me that is familiar with Second Coming prophecies really doubts things will get better before they get worse.
I'm hoping I can make a big announcement on my blog soon, but I'll probably have to wait until March. Things could change after all. But I'm really hoping they don't.
This will be a fun semester, it's fun being back.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Happy Caucus--err, I mean New Year
The biggest thing this week isn't the New Year, unfortunetely; it is the Iowa Caucuses. It's game time, folks. And Romney is going to pull off the upset.
I pretty much lived out two movie scenes last night. The family went out to eat and me and Jamie were chatting. I can't remember how we got into it but she wanted to test out my observantness? I remembered a scene from Bourne Identity, so I told her told her if anything happened there were exits behind her and to my right. I told her I could take the guy to my left and that the most likely place there would be a gun was underneath the cash register. A couple minutes later she curiously asked, "but how do you know there's a gun there?" Haha, that was delightning.
So the waitress brought out boxes for some in the fam at the end of the meal so they could take home the food. I figured it would be better for me to also finish my meal at home, so I asked her for a box. So she went to get my box and as she walked away from the table, asked, "so you can't finish it?" with this challenging face. At that moment she was Biff Tannon and I was Marty McFly...and the music began. So I ate a little, but mostly spread the food around my plate. She came back and took back the box because I "ate" my food.
She fell for it. I haven't lost a step since I was a kid. Yeah, I still got it.
The biggest thing this week isn't the New Year, unfortunetely; it is the Iowa Caucuses. It's game time, folks. And Romney is going to pull off the upset.
I pretty much lived out two movie scenes last night. The family went out to eat and me and Jamie were chatting. I can't remember how we got into it but she wanted to test out my observantness? I remembered a scene from Bourne Identity, so I told her told her if anything happened there were exits behind her and to my right. I told her I could take the guy to my left and that the most likely place there would be a gun was underneath the cash register. A couple minutes later she curiously asked, "but how do you know there's a gun there?" Haha, that was delightning.
So the waitress brought out boxes for some in the fam at the end of the meal so they could take home the food. I figured it would be better for me to also finish my meal at home, so I asked her for a box. So she went to get my box and as she walked away from the table, asked, "so you can't finish it?" with this challenging face. At that moment she was Biff Tannon and I was Marty McFly...and the music began. So I ate a little, but mostly spread the food around my plate. She came back and took back the box because I "ate" my food.
She fell for it. I haven't lost a step since I was a kid. Yeah, I still got it.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Snow Miser (He looks a lot like Pete Carroll)
The other day I realized that all my BYU friends were going home for Christmas...and that when they go back, I'll be going back too. It hadn't really registered until then that I'm actually going back, I really haven't thought about it that much. I prayed for my friends last week, with finals and everything. Gosh I hate finals. Only one finals week left for me...but it'll be a doozy, the worst one.
I've been making TONS of phone calls for the campaign. They give me a Verizon phone to make the phone calls with, but we odn't have reception out here so I make most of my phone calls in the K-Mart parking in my car. It gets so cold doing it and I always want to end a little early and just do more the next day. But here's the thing...it's the same with running, exercising, or other things where you want to end a little early. It's so easy to end a little early or to make excuses for not doing something, but that's what's interesting about discipline...it's tough! But it feels really good going to the end, toughening it out, and accomplishing your goals.
Next Sunday is my last Sunday in the singles ward here. I'm going to miss it. A lot of fun people and it's been kind of like being a missionary again. Last week I gave a talk and taught 2 lessons, takes me back to my good ole missionary days.
Peter Jackson is doing the Hobbit! He's actually doing 2 movies, which will come out in 2010 and 2011. He hasn't said if he wants to direct it, but he is an executive producer. Gosh I'm excited for those movies! Christmas time! I love it! Coolness in the air, the smell of firewood, snow, and pine trees. Christmas cookies, Christmas movies like Claymation Christmas, A Christmas Carol, A Year without a Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Jack Frost, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, A Very Brady Christmas, Miracle on 34th street, Disney Christmas videos, etc. And then Christmas songs in Church. My favorites are the First Noel, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Do You Hear What I Hear, and Angels We have Heard on High. It's Christmas! It's Christ, it's family, it's tradititions, it's everything.
My friend Honorable Moses died in Uganda. Captain Frank emailed me and said he was killed in an accident. It hurts to hear that. He was a fun kid to be around and ambitious to become a politician, that's why I called him Honorable Moses. When I'd go to the Crane School in Mukono, I would sit by Moses and we'd chat and joke around. Even though he was only 12, he knew a lot about Ugandan politics and quite a bit about American politics, we would talk a lot about politics and such. Once, when I was teaching a class about geography, I asked lots of questions about what language the people spoke in the different countries and he was able to answer many of the questions. I noticed that these kids liked talking about the world. They liked feeling a part of the bigger world. The whole time I was there he'd costantly say that he wanted me to try out the sugar cane because it was the best. One day I didn't see him at school and learned that the students who didn't have the required school materials had to leave and couldn't come back until they had them. I ran into him on the way home, he took me his home and gave me sugar cane. His home was very small and it was just obvious that his family was very poor. But Moses was always smiling and optimistic. Good kid.
He's on my right side, in the blue sweater.
That's him in the front in the blue sweater.
In the center in red.
The other day I realized that all my BYU friends were going home for Christmas...and that when they go back, I'll be going back too. It hadn't really registered until then that I'm actually going back, I really haven't thought about it that much. I prayed for my friends last week, with finals and everything. Gosh I hate finals. Only one finals week left for me...but it'll be a doozy, the worst one.
I've been making TONS of phone calls for the campaign. They give me a Verizon phone to make the phone calls with, but we odn't have reception out here so I make most of my phone calls in the K-Mart parking in my car. It gets so cold doing it and I always want to end a little early and just do more the next day. But here's the thing...it's the same with running, exercising, or other things where you want to end a little early. It's so easy to end a little early or to make excuses for not doing something, but that's what's interesting about discipline...it's tough! But it feels really good going to the end, toughening it out, and accomplishing your goals.
Next Sunday is my last Sunday in the singles ward here. I'm going to miss it. A lot of fun people and it's been kind of like being a missionary again. Last week I gave a talk and taught 2 lessons, takes me back to my good ole missionary days.
Peter Jackson is doing the Hobbit! He's actually doing 2 movies, which will come out in 2010 and 2011. He hasn't said if he wants to direct it, but he is an executive producer. Gosh I'm excited for those movies! Christmas time! I love it! Coolness in the air, the smell of firewood, snow, and pine trees. Christmas cookies, Christmas movies like Claymation Christmas, A Christmas Carol, A Year without a Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, Jack Frost, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, A Very Brady Christmas, Miracle on 34th street, Disney Christmas videos, etc. And then Christmas songs in Church. My favorites are the First Noel, Away in a Manger, Silent Night, Do You Hear What I Hear, and Angels We have Heard on High. It's Christmas! It's Christ, it's family, it's tradititions, it's everything.
My friend Honorable Moses died in Uganda. Captain Frank emailed me and said he was killed in an accident. It hurts to hear that. He was a fun kid to be around and ambitious to become a politician, that's why I called him Honorable Moses. When I'd go to the Crane School in Mukono, I would sit by Moses and we'd chat and joke around. Even though he was only 12, he knew a lot about Ugandan politics and quite a bit about American politics, we would talk a lot about politics and such. Once, when I was teaching a class about geography, I asked lots of questions about what language the people spoke in the different countries and he was able to answer many of the questions. I noticed that these kids liked talking about the world. They liked feeling a part of the bigger world. The whole time I was there he'd costantly say that he wanted me to try out the sugar cane because it was the best. One day I didn't see him at school and learned that the students who didn't have the required school materials had to leave and couldn't come back until they had them. I ran into him on the way home, he took me his home and gave me sugar cane. His home was very small and it was just obvious that his family was very poor. But Moses was always smiling and optimistic. Good kid.
He's on my right side, in the blue sweater.
That's him in the front in the blue sweater.
In the center in red.
Honorable Moses
Monday, December 10, 2007
HuckaBIGOT
Speaking of politics...I am very disappointed in Iowans right now. I can't believe how they have flipped so much on Mitt. Huckabee is winning right now here, because he is portraying himself as the "Christian candidate." I am stunned that Iowans are making religion an issue and voting for Huckabee because he's not Mormon. If Huckabee were to get the nomination I am really not sure if I could vote for him, because he's the only candidate that has offended me personally. He is playing the God card in his campaign by saying that the reason he's pulled ahead is because of God's help. Glenn Beck asked Huck if he could vote for a Mormon and Huck said he didn't know...which is him playing politics and actually saying no. His campaign has become "Mormons vs Us normal Christians." In an interview with the New York Times, he asked the interviewer, "don't Mormons believe Satan and Jesus are brothers?" What a bigot! Shame on him for his religious intolerance. Shame on him for saying that God loves him and his religion more than the other candidates. I really liked him at first but he is using Romney's religion to elevate himself and is basing his whole campaign on religion. This kid is going down.
Let's talk about Huckabigot's record: He was a liberal in a conservative state. You can look up videos on YouTube of him saying that he was willing to pretty much write a blank check of his support of raising taxes. He raised taxes 19 times, more than Bill Clinton. He took compassionate conservatism to the extreme and decided to force those beliefs on others. With those tax increases he gave tuition breaks to the kids of illegal immigrants. He pardoned 1,000 criminals, including 11 murderers, and one murdered a second time after he was released. Several of those pardons came about because friends and family members encouraged it, like his sister encouraging him to release a friend from high school, and pastors asking for criminals from their congregations to be released. I have the info if you want it. So our "Christian leader" candidate should have a squeaky clean past right? Obviously when I shape the question like that the answer is no. There were 19 reported ethical violations against him and he was convicted on 5 of them. The only thing conservative about him is his social conservative positions.
Mitt Romney is superior to the Huckster in many ways. For one, he isn't a bigot and isn't defining his campaign by his religion. It really bothers me that Hucky is doing that. But Romney does say that no matter what he will not betray his faith and if he loses the nomination because of it, so be it. Let's talk about the issues. Romney was a conservative in the extremely liberal state of Massachusetts. His biggest weakness is how he was once pro-choice and became pro-life as governor. People seem to forget that the great conservative, Ronald Reagan, also became pro-life, as did both President Bushes. Interesting how much trash he gets for that when Bill Clinton and Al Gore got no trash for changing from pro-life to pro-choice.
Everything Romney touches turns into gold. He's a good family man, who turned a small business into a very successful large business, came in and saved the Olympics, then was elected governor of the most liberal state in the country where he turned their $3 billion deficit into a surplus without raising broad based taxes. He's right on when it comes to issues- securing our border, going on the offensive in the War on Terror, fighting same-sex marriage, overturning Roe v. Wade, fixing our economy, lowering taxes, etc. This guy has got it together. He's the only candidate that unites fiscal, military, and social conservatives.
Anyway, Romney is it! He is the most qualified person to be our next president and he needs everyone's help. Huckabigot is pandering to the anti-Mormon block, and I want to fight back. There are several things people can do, including sending out neighbor-to-neighbor cards to friends in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, Nevada, and Florida. If anybody reading this really wants to help out, let me know, I can give you lots of ideas to help out, but number one is encourage voters in these states to vote for Romney.
I should also mention that Hucky apologized to Mitt, not Mormons in general, for asking that question. The Christian part of me wants to forgive him, but my weasel radar is also going off. Turns out the Huckster spoke at a Baptist Anti-Mormon Convention in SLC in 98. So even though he says he doesn't know anything about Mormonism and asked the question out of ignorance, I still wonder. You be the judge. Here's a good article about why Romney is our man:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YmMxYTUyYzA1YTk2YzE5NGVmNjc0OGFjYWJmNzMzNjI=&p=1
Speaking of politics...I am very disappointed in Iowans right now. I can't believe how they have flipped so much on Mitt. Huckabee is winning right now here, because he is portraying himself as the "Christian candidate." I am stunned that Iowans are making religion an issue and voting for Huckabee because he's not Mormon. If Huckabee were to get the nomination I am really not sure if I could vote for him, because he's the only candidate that has offended me personally. He is playing the God card in his campaign by saying that the reason he's pulled ahead is because of God's help. Glenn Beck asked Huck if he could vote for a Mormon and Huck said he didn't know...which is him playing politics and actually saying no. His campaign has become "Mormons vs Us normal Christians." In an interview with the New York Times, he asked the interviewer, "don't Mormons believe Satan and Jesus are brothers?" What a bigot! Shame on him for his religious intolerance. Shame on him for saying that God loves him and his religion more than the other candidates. I really liked him at first but he is using Romney's religion to elevate himself and is basing his whole campaign on religion. This kid is going down.
Let's talk about Huckabigot's record: He was a liberal in a conservative state. You can look up videos on YouTube of him saying that he was willing to pretty much write a blank check of his support of raising taxes. He raised taxes 19 times, more than Bill Clinton. He took compassionate conservatism to the extreme and decided to force those beliefs on others. With those tax increases he gave tuition breaks to the kids of illegal immigrants. He pardoned 1,000 criminals, including 11 murderers, and one murdered a second time after he was released. Several of those pardons came about because friends and family members encouraged it, like his sister encouraging him to release a friend from high school, and pastors asking for criminals from their congregations to be released. I have the info if you want it. So our "Christian leader" candidate should have a squeaky clean past right? Obviously when I shape the question like that the answer is no. There were 19 reported ethical violations against him and he was convicted on 5 of them. The only thing conservative about him is his social conservative positions.
Mitt Romney is superior to the Huckster in many ways. For one, he isn't a bigot and isn't defining his campaign by his religion. It really bothers me that Hucky is doing that. But Romney does say that no matter what he will not betray his faith and if he loses the nomination because of it, so be it. Let's talk about the issues. Romney was a conservative in the extremely liberal state of Massachusetts. His biggest weakness is how he was once pro-choice and became pro-life as governor. People seem to forget that the great conservative, Ronald Reagan, also became pro-life, as did both President Bushes. Interesting how much trash he gets for that when Bill Clinton and Al Gore got no trash for changing from pro-life to pro-choice.
Everything Romney touches turns into gold. He's a good family man, who turned a small business into a very successful large business, came in and saved the Olympics, then was elected governor of the most liberal state in the country where he turned their $3 billion deficit into a surplus without raising broad based taxes. He's right on when it comes to issues- securing our border, going on the offensive in the War on Terror, fighting same-sex marriage, overturning Roe v. Wade, fixing our economy, lowering taxes, etc. This guy has got it together. He's the only candidate that unites fiscal, military, and social conservatives.
Anyway, Romney is it! He is the most qualified person to be our next president and he needs everyone's help. Huckabigot is pandering to the anti-Mormon block, and I want to fight back. There are several things people can do, including sending out neighbor-to-neighbor cards to friends in Iowa, New Hampshire, Michigan, South Carolina, Nevada, and Florida. If anybody reading this really wants to help out, let me know, I can give you lots of ideas to help out, but number one is encourage voters in these states to vote for Romney.
I should also mention that Hucky apologized to Mitt, not Mormons in general, for asking that question. The Christian part of me wants to forgive him, but my weasel radar is also going off. Turns out the Huckster spoke at a Baptist Anti-Mormon Convention in SLC in 98. So even though he says he doesn't know anything about Mormonism and asked the question out of ignorance, I still wonder. You be the judge. Here's a good article about why Romney is our man:
http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=YmMxYTUyYzA1YTk2YzE5NGVmNjc0OGFjYWJmNzMzNjI=&p=1
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
It's on, Kasey Beck!
I've become facebook friends with the enemy. When I google "Kasey Beck," there are a lot more web sites with the other Kasey Becks out there that show up. I found the one that gets most of sites...oh man, she's going down, give me a couple years and I'll send her to page 20.
Well, I saw Air Force One fly over the area, I saw the protestors and like 20 motorcycles with little flags parked, but I wasn't able to actually see Pres. Bush. It said in the paper that he was giving a public speech, but it turned out to not be allowed for the public- go figure. Hillary was in Council Bluffs on Monday, but ya know, I just don't have any desire to see her. I seriously cringe everytime I hear her talk. I really hope Obama or Edwards beats her in the primaries. I was hoping that she would win cause she would be so easy for Mitt to take down, but I think that the chances are better that the Clintons would just disappear completely if she couldn't even become the nominee. Plus I REALLY don't want her to win and so lets not push it.
I've become facebook friends with the enemy. When I google "Kasey Beck," there are a lot more web sites with the other Kasey Becks out there that show up. I found the one that gets most of sites...oh man, she's going down, give me a couple years and I'll send her to page 20.
Well, I saw Air Force One fly over the area, I saw the protestors and like 20 motorcycles with little flags parked, but I wasn't able to actually see Pres. Bush. It said in the paper that he was giving a public speech, but it turned out to not be allowed for the public- go figure. Hillary was in Council Bluffs on Monday, but ya know, I just don't have any desire to see her. I seriously cringe everytime I hear her talk. I really hope Obama or Edwards beats her in the primaries. I was hoping that she would win cause she would be so easy for Mitt to take down, but I think that the chances are better that the Clintons would just disappear completely if she couldn't even become the nominee. Plus I REALLY don't want her to win and so lets not push it.
Speaking of Romney...Wow! That speech last Thursday was amazing! Everyone should watch his "Faith in America" speech because I think this will go in the books as one of the great speeches in America's history. When somebody like Rush Limbaugh praises it and talks about it half his show it's gotta be good. This speech really made me proud to work for Romney and just proud to be a part of this church where these things are taught.
I love love love love love college fooball. This season has been absolutely incredible with all the upsets, and then the last day of the regular season- both #1 and #2 go down. This season didn't work out to be the greatest for BYU, due to our losses to UCLA and Tulsa, but everyone thought this season would be disappointing. It was anything but. I'm really excited for the next two years- I'm thinking National Championship contention.Thursday, November 29, 2007
Heroes I've been thinking about lately
So, I pretty much read every article that comes out about Mitt Romney online. I read through all the articles and the comments and there really is a lot of anti-Mormon stuff coming out in these articles and comments because of Mitt. A lot of it is about Joseph Smith. It's kinda strange reading this stuff from my "interested in politics" side instead of my "religious" side. A couple days ago, in my scripture study, I was reading a talk and it went into Joseph Smith's vision when he saw God and Jesus Christ. It was just a good experience where the Spirit confirmed once again, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. No matter how much others try to demonize him, he is the prophet of the Restoration and did God's work while he was here. "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true." I've always been really impressed with people who stay strong to their convictions no matter what kind of opposition they face. I really think there are only a couple individuals in history who have gone through as much as he did. Joseph Smith is absolutely my hero.
Ori, in Rigoletto, is also a really good example. The movie doesn't say much about his background, but you can figure out that he was a pretty selfish guy. But once he decides to help others and goes gung ho about it he is more liked, happier, and does lots of good. Bonnie sings a song, that is up for interpretation, but here are the words:
Music boxes have with them, Melodies they carry within
Once they're opened music fills the air
Every person you have known, Has a song of their own
Once they open up you'll hear what's there
It's not easy you must listen With your heart for what lies hidden
There was a melody Locked deep inside of me But now it's free
It found a place embraced by harmony, Sweet harmony
Love, more than anything teaches our hearts to sing
Only love could break the shell
Now I know very well The love within myself
At one point in the movie goes back and forth between her singing it and Ori helping a girl and then going into town to get medical help for her. The people are really afraid of him because he looks different and they end up killing him without realizing, until they break into his house and steal his records, that he actually made anonymous payments, helping the disabled citizens in the town. Bonnie sings about how great of a person Ori is for being so selfless in helping her with her singing problems but also her personal confidence. So what I'm basically getting at, is Ori's personal growth, selflessness, and ability to bring out the best in people is heroic.
In my need, You have always been there
He is young, He's afraid
Let him rest, Heaven blessed
Bring him home
He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die, One by one
How soon they fly, On and on
And I am old, And will be gone.
Bring him peace, Bring him joy
He is young, He is only a boy
You can take, You can give
Let him be, Let him live
If I die, let me die, Let him live
Bring him home.
Back in September or October when I was on one of my long runs this song played on my MP3 player and I thought about it a lot. When I saw the play Jean sang it while kneeling, praying to God, holding Cosette's fiancee (what is his name?). It was dark with just one light on them. I think I've seen a painting of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane very similar to this scene in the musical. So as I was running I thought of Christ singing this song about me and how much he has done for me. I'm not entirely sure why I've been thinking about these particular heroes lately, but in thinking about them I thought about why they impress me and what is it about heroes that impress us all: they have Christ-like characteristics. Of course none of them come close to being perfect like he was, but they demonstrate an attribute or two that Christ has. I like the fact that our society admires and rewards goodness still and heroes leave impressions on us.
So, I pretty much read every article that comes out about Mitt Romney online. I read through all the articles and the comments and there really is a lot of anti-Mormon stuff coming out in these articles and comments because of Mitt. A lot of it is about Joseph Smith. It's kinda strange reading this stuff from my "interested in politics" side instead of my "religious" side. A couple days ago, in my scripture study, I was reading a talk and it went into Joseph Smith's vision when he saw God and Jesus Christ. It was just a good experience where the Spirit confirmed once again, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. No matter how much others try to demonize him, he is the prophet of the Restoration and did God's work while he was here. "I had actually seen a light, and in the midst of that light I saw two Personages, and they did in reality speak to me; and though I was hated and persecuted for saying that I had seen a vision, yet it was true." I've always been really impressed with people who stay strong to their convictions no matter what kind of opposition they face. I really think there are only a couple individuals in history who have gone through as much as he did. Joseph Smith is absolutely my hero.
Ori, in Rigoletto, is also a really good example. The movie doesn't say much about his background, but you can figure out that he was a pretty selfish guy. But once he decides to help others and goes gung ho about it he is more liked, happier, and does lots of good. Bonnie sings a song, that is up for interpretation, but here are the words:
Music boxes have with them, Melodies they carry within
Once they're opened music fills the air
Every person you have known, Has a song of their own
Once they open up you'll hear what's there
It's not easy you must listen With your heart for what lies hidden
There was a melody Locked deep inside of me But now it's free
It found a place embraced by harmony, Sweet harmony
Love, more than anything teaches our hearts to sing
Only love could break the shell
Now I know very well The love within myself
At one point in the movie goes back and forth between her singing it and Ori helping a girl and then going into town to get medical help for her. The people are really afraid of him because he looks different and they end up killing him without realizing, until they break into his house and steal his records, that he actually made anonymous payments, helping the disabled citizens in the town. Bonnie sings about how great of a person Ori is for being so selfless in helping her with her singing problems but also her personal confidence. So what I'm basically getting at, is Ori's personal growth, selflessness, and ability to bring out the best in people is heroic.
Samwise Gamgee ladies and gentleman. A couple weeks ago I felt like watching my favorite part of Lord of the Rings. Instead of pulling out the DVDs I found it online. Watch it online:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrouMapxEgU&mode=related&search=
Steve Jacobs reminds me of Sam. Samwise is extremely loyal to Frodo at every step of the way. Even when Frodo is a jerk and tells him to leave, Sam stays close and is there to help him when he needs it most. Just look at how willing he was to take on the orcs to save Frodo, or how he kept on encouraging Frodo to take another step on the way to Mount Doom. He was optimistic, humble and just an example of loyalty to a cause or a person. I think back to the blessing I got when I was set apart as a missionary, President Bendorf said that my mission would teach me about loyalty and a sacred devotion to Christ. Ever since then I've noticed and admired that trait of loyalty
Jean Valjean from Les Meserables. I saw this play in London a year and a half ago and then finally saw the movie a couple weeks ago. Isn't it amazing how much an act of mercy changed his life and shaped him into a selfless person. I think he did his best to help who he could and as mayor of the city he had lots of opportunities to do lots of good. But what gets me the most is when he prays to God in the form of song and pours his heart by pleading with God to keep alive Cosette's fiancee so he can take care of Cosette and that he is willing to give his life for him.
God on high, Hear my prayerIn my need, You have always been there
He is young, He's afraid
Let him rest, Heaven blessed
Bring him home
He's like the son I might have known
If God had granted me a son.
The summers die, One by one
How soon they fly, On and on
And I am old, And will be gone.
Bring him peace, Bring him joy
He is young, He is only a boy
You can take, You can give
Let him be, Let him live
If I die, let me die, Let him live
Bring him home.
Back in September or October when I was on one of my long runs this song played on my MP3 player and I thought about it a lot. When I saw the play Jean sang it while kneeling, praying to God, holding Cosette's fiancee (what is his name?). It was dark with just one light on them. I think I've seen a painting of Christ praying in the Garden of Gethsemane very similar to this scene in the musical. So as I was running I thought of Christ singing this song about me and how much he has done for me. I'm not entirely sure why I've been thinking about these particular heroes lately, but in thinking about them I thought about why they impress me and what is it about heroes that impress us all: they have Christ-like characteristics. Of course none of them come close to being perfect like he was, but they demonstrate an attribute or two that Christ has. I like the fact that our society admires and rewards goodness still and heroes leave impressions on us.
Friday, November 16, 2007
I just like this picture
I forgot how much I don't like papers. I edited a paper for a Chinese student I taught in Holland and it wasn't fun. True, I don't get much out of Chinese environmental policy, but I kind of wish we didn't have English "rules" and could just say what we wanted. But I guess communication is better when we follow the same rules huh?
I love this college football season! Arizona beat Oregon last week, I think they're like the 6th top 5 team to get beat by an unranked team this year- CRAZY! It's just too bad we couldn't beat UCLA or Tulsa. If we wouldn't have lost to Tulsa I think we'd be in the top 15 sending us to a BCS bowl. We're not getting much love from the polls, though we finally got into the top 25. I think it's because we play on a network that is very limited. Poll voters, let alone BYU fans, can't watch the games because of the Mtn network. That is the worst thing that's happened to the MWC. It has hurt all the teams with getting into the top 25 and recruiting. I like the idea of going to the Big 12.
I think I have a man crush on John Beck. The guy is just an amazing quarterback and I still get goosebumps everytime I watch the "answered prayer" touchdown against Utah last year. Beck didn't do the best in his first start against the Eagles, but he'll most likely play out the rest of the season. I hope he tears it up in the NFL, I haen't really been interested in the NFL since Steve Young played.
So, I pretty much read every article that comes out about Mitt Romney online. I read through all the articles and the comments and there really is a lot of anti-Mormon stuff coming out in these articles and comments because of Mitt. A lot of it is about Joseph Smith. It's kinda strange reading this stuff from my "interested in politics" side instead of my "religious" side. A couple days ago, in my scripture study, I was reading a talk and it went into Joseph Smith's vision when he saw God and Jesus Christ. It was just a good experience where the Spirit confirmed once again, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. No matter how much others try to demonize him, he is the prophet of the Restoration and did God's work while he was here.
Well my mom wanted me to beef up this semester and it's worked. I'm around 166 now, about 20 pounds heavier than when I got home from Uganda. I eat a lot...and will eat a lot more during the holidays, but I'm doing my best to run and lift. See, the problem is that I'm flat. I was looking at high school pictures the other day and man was I skinny. So I like that I'm filled out more.
Cannon, usually you can't tell if he's in his bead or not because his bed is always made.
I think I've put this picture in my blog before, but it looks like it belongs in the Lord of the Rings
Yeah buddy. Coach Mendenhall.
33-31, Harline's still open! I doubt this year's game will compete with last year, but just as long as we win against the Yewts.
Playin the guitar pretty high up.
Chattin with the kids in the IDP camp near Gulu.
Yes, those are really his legs
Pretty typical in Mukono- cows going onto the main road.
I forgot how much I don't like papers. I edited a paper for a Chinese student I taught in Holland and it wasn't fun. True, I don't get much out of Chinese environmental policy, but I kind of wish we didn't have English "rules" and could just say what we wanted. But I guess communication is better when we follow the same rules huh?
I love this college football season! Arizona beat Oregon last week, I think they're like the 6th top 5 team to get beat by an unranked team this year- CRAZY! It's just too bad we couldn't beat UCLA or Tulsa. If we wouldn't have lost to Tulsa I think we'd be in the top 15 sending us to a BCS bowl. We're not getting much love from the polls, though we finally got into the top 25. I think it's because we play on a network that is very limited. Poll voters, let alone BYU fans, can't watch the games because of the Mtn network. That is the worst thing that's happened to the MWC. It has hurt all the teams with getting into the top 25 and recruiting. I like the idea of going to the Big 12.
I think I have a man crush on John Beck. The guy is just an amazing quarterback and I still get goosebumps everytime I watch the "answered prayer" touchdown against Utah last year. Beck didn't do the best in his first start against the Eagles, but he'll most likely play out the rest of the season. I hope he tears it up in the NFL, I haen't really been interested in the NFL since Steve Young played.
So, I pretty much read every article that comes out about Mitt Romney online. I read through all the articles and the comments and there really is a lot of anti-Mormon stuff coming out in these articles and comments because of Mitt. A lot of it is about Joseph Smith. It's kinda strange reading this stuff from my "interested in politics" side instead of my "religious" side. A couple days ago, in my scripture study, I was reading a talk and it went into Joseph Smith's vision when he saw God and Jesus Christ. It was just a good experience where the Spirit confirmed once again, that Joseph Smith was a prophet. No matter how much others try to demonize him, he is the prophet of the Restoration and did God's work while he was here.
Well my mom wanted me to beef up this semester and it's worked. I'm around 166 now, about 20 pounds heavier than when I got home from Uganda. I eat a lot...and will eat a lot more during the holidays, but I'm doing my best to run and lift. See, the problem is that I'm flat. I was looking at high school pictures the other day and man was I skinny. So I like that I'm filled out more.
Cannon, usually you can't tell if he's in his bead or not because his bed is always made.
I think I've put this picture in my blog before, but it looks like it belongs in the Lord of the Rings
Yeah buddy. Coach Mendenhall.
33-31, Harline's still open! I doubt this year's game will compete with last year, but just as long as we win against the Yewts.
Ha, this was great, a bunch of us burned the Christmas tree up Rock Canyon.
Playin the guitar pretty high up. 
I was going through these pictures with Trevor, our Rec Management class hiked up these slot canyons- Ding and Dang Canyons
Chattin with the kids in the IDP camp near Gulu. 
Yes, those are really his legs
Pretty typical in Mukono- cows going onto the main road.
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Stuff I've been thinking about recently...
There's going to be a Israel/Palestinian forum going on, probably in November. Israel and several other Middle East countries are coming. President Abbas, the head of the Fatah party in the Palestinian territories, is trying to make sure that Israel agrees to specific issues are on the agenda before committing. I'm really following this issue because how important it is to me that this gets solved. It's about time the international community got serious and started helping the Palestinians who are among the most impoverished people in the world. We want long-term solutions to the Middle East problems, well solving the Israel-Palestinian issue could be huge in bringing peace to the region.
About two weeks I overheard a conversation of someone from a really small town here in Iowa with a reporter. The reporter asked him why he's so involved in Romney's campaign and other political campaigns. He said that he just wants to see good people get elected. That really hit me. I want to see good people elected too and need to do more if I really believe that. I really think I want to work full-time for the Republican nominee after the winter semester. I'm not sure where they'd want me, hopefully here in Iowa, but I'd go wherever. I'm just really passionate about not letting Hillary take office. Every single Republican presidential candidate is better than Hillary Clinton. I am so afraid of her becoming president because of all the bad she could do, but it would also be a significant change in the wrong direction. The Book of Mormon teaches that when the majority of people choose wicked leaders we would be ripe for destruction, just like the Jaredites and Nephites. There have been several things that have been really bothering me lately. People really don't care how immoral Bill Clinton was and how involved the Clintons are in dirty scandals. How could we let such immoral and dishonest people be an example and represent our nation in the world?! And people want them back! Second, when did our nation become so lazy and expect the government to take care of us in so many aspects of our lives?! Do people not realize how awful socialism is?! That is what Hillary and other liberals are trying to make our country- socialistic. Supposedly these are the same people who say JFK is their hero. Wasn't it JFK who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"? Do people think the government will just stop at taking control of our retirement and health care? They will not stop there, and what government program is more efficient than the private industry--none of them! How con people willingly put people in office who are systematically taking more control over our lives and limiting our freedom?! They want to limit what we can do in our time (example- California lawmakers making it illegal to smoke in your own apartment). They want to limit what we can say (example- Harry Reid and 40 Democrat Senators condemning a private citizen for voicing his opinion). They want to limit what we can buy (to combat global warming). Sure one might say these are little things and they sometimes make sense, but do you think it will stop?! History repeats itself and you give people a little power and they'll take more. This craving for power goes back to this pre-existence struggle for power. The Clintons spit on the Constitution, lie under oath, lie to the American people, disregard fundraising laws, are involved in several immoral scandals, and compromise our national security. When Bill was in office he somehow got away with selling tons of defense secrets to the Chinese. Something is up because Hillary keeps on accepting checks from really poor Chinese immigrants and has recently been caught in a scandal involving a major Chinese donor who has been wanted for arrest. The liberal media loves the Clintons and will do all they can to protect the them. And yet, Hillary is the most popular candidate among Americans! For me it's not that I just really don't like the Clintons, but I'm amazed how much support she's getting from the American people. What happened to us?! How can we put such evil people in office. We really need to pray for our country and our people that we'll put people in office who are God-fearing, honest, moral people, who will defend the Constitution. I was reading the other day about how concerned Captain Mormon was for his people and how much he prayed for them. Prayer is a powerful thing and is only one thing we can do to protect our nation from steadily falling into Satan's hands. Now I'm not saying that every person should work full-time to put people in office, but I do agree with President Hinckley that we all need to participate more in our community and national politics. I hope others can see that the sides are becoming more distinct and we really have to choose which side we're on and rise to a new level of committment of fighting for all that's good about America. I mean this is the future we're talking about! Who do we want making the decisions that will affect us and future generations. We can't let bad politicians, Hollywood, and the liberal media hijack America. That's exactly what's happening and it all comes from that same source.
There's been a war declared on terror, a war declared on drugs...how about we declare a war on Hollywood! I mean Mid East extremists always blame our Western culture for damaging their culture. Well, it's damaged our culture too. And they think that every American girl is like every Hollywood actress, just ask BYU students in the Mid East who have been harrassed by Middle Eastern men. So really our enemies really are after Hollywood. But the ironic thing is that Hollyood has allied itself with these enemies. Hollywood influences the media and makes their culture seem like the norm. Anyway, I'm sure I'll write more about this is future entries cause it really bothers me.
Ya know, day by day things keep on getting better for Mitt Romney. I think it's really looking like he'll be the Republican nominee. Even though Giuliani has been winning in national polls forever now, it is Romney who is bringing in the most money and is winning in each state. Evangelical leaders are lining up on sides, some are on Romney's side, some on other candidates, but they will not support Giuliani because of his pro-life stance. Traditionally, the candidate who wins in the early states gets ton of free press and rolls on to victory. Romney is winning by a double-digit margin in Iowa and New Hampshire- the first two states. People are saying he'll win Michigan because it's where he grew up and his father was Governor for awhile. And the biggest news recently is that he is leading in the polls in South Carolina. This is huge! It means that people really don't care that he's Mormon. They are saying that South carolina is the big challenge for Romney because Baptists and other Christians don't consider Mormons Christians. Though the percentage of people who think that is going down...it doesn't matter to most voters. Looks like people are smartening up and realizing that this is the twentieth century and people shouldn't vote for others simply based on religion, gender, or race. Romney is saving most of his money for advertising between the primaries and mostly right before Feb. 5th, Super Duper Tuesday, when like 20 states are having their primaries, including California. In several of those states Romney is already doing very well, including California which could have a big say in who the next Republican candidate will be, even though he hasn't focused on most of those states as much as Giuliani. Giuliani is concentrating more on doing better nationally than the early states, though he still is trying in the early states. Romney has the organization, the money, and solid conversative values. He's also a genius and I think that if he can win the nomination he can definitely win the presidency. A lot of people say that only Giuliani is capable of beating Hillary. Well, she has so much dirt on her that really anybody could bring it up. Plus, most of the anti-Hillary stuff will come from the media and talk radio. I also think Romney is better able to rally the social conservatives to his side. In any case, this next year is going to be really fun. I'm really into the election right now and will do all I can to make sure she doesn't win.
There's going to be a Israel/Palestinian forum going on, probably in November. Israel and several other Middle East countries are coming. President Abbas, the head of the Fatah party in the Palestinian territories, is trying to make sure that Israel agrees to specific issues are on the agenda before committing. I'm really following this issue because how important it is to me that this gets solved. It's about time the international community got serious and started helping the Palestinians who are among the most impoverished people in the world. We want long-term solutions to the Middle East problems, well solving the Israel-Palestinian issue could be huge in bringing peace to the region.
About two weeks I overheard a conversation of someone from a really small town here in Iowa with a reporter. The reporter asked him why he's so involved in Romney's campaign and other political campaigns. He said that he just wants to see good people get elected. That really hit me. I want to see good people elected too and need to do more if I really believe that. I really think I want to work full-time for the Republican nominee after the winter semester. I'm not sure where they'd want me, hopefully here in Iowa, but I'd go wherever. I'm just really passionate about not letting Hillary take office. Every single Republican presidential candidate is better than Hillary Clinton. I am so afraid of her becoming president because of all the bad she could do, but it would also be a significant change in the wrong direction. The Book of Mormon teaches that when the majority of people choose wicked leaders we would be ripe for destruction, just like the Jaredites and Nephites. There have been several things that have been really bothering me lately. People really don't care how immoral Bill Clinton was and how involved the Clintons are in dirty scandals. How could we let such immoral and dishonest people be an example and represent our nation in the world?! And people want them back! Second, when did our nation become so lazy and expect the government to take care of us in so many aspects of our lives?! Do people not realize how awful socialism is?! That is what Hillary and other liberals are trying to make our country- socialistic. Supposedly these are the same people who say JFK is their hero. Wasn't it JFK who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country"? Do people think the government will just stop at taking control of our retirement and health care? They will not stop there, and what government program is more efficient than the private industry--none of them! How con people willingly put people in office who are systematically taking more control over our lives and limiting our freedom?! They want to limit what we can do in our time (example- California lawmakers making it illegal to smoke in your own apartment). They want to limit what we can say (example- Harry Reid and 40 Democrat Senators condemning a private citizen for voicing his opinion). They want to limit what we can buy (to combat global warming). Sure one might say these are little things and they sometimes make sense, but do you think it will stop?! History repeats itself and you give people a little power and they'll take more. This craving for power goes back to this pre-existence struggle for power. The Clintons spit on the Constitution, lie under oath, lie to the American people, disregard fundraising laws, are involved in several immoral scandals, and compromise our national security. When Bill was in office he somehow got away with selling tons of defense secrets to the Chinese. Something is up because Hillary keeps on accepting checks from really poor Chinese immigrants and has recently been caught in a scandal involving a major Chinese donor who has been wanted for arrest. The liberal media loves the Clintons and will do all they can to protect the them. And yet, Hillary is the most popular candidate among Americans! For me it's not that I just really don't like the Clintons, but I'm amazed how much support she's getting from the American people. What happened to us?! How can we put such evil people in office. We really need to pray for our country and our people that we'll put people in office who are God-fearing, honest, moral people, who will defend the Constitution. I was reading the other day about how concerned Captain Mormon was for his people and how much he prayed for them. Prayer is a powerful thing and is only one thing we can do to protect our nation from steadily falling into Satan's hands. Now I'm not saying that every person should work full-time to put people in office, but I do agree with President Hinckley that we all need to participate more in our community and national politics. I hope others can see that the sides are becoming more distinct and we really have to choose which side we're on and rise to a new level of committment of fighting for all that's good about America. I mean this is the future we're talking about! Who do we want making the decisions that will affect us and future generations. We can't let bad politicians, Hollywood, and the liberal media hijack America. That's exactly what's happening and it all comes from that same source.
There's been a war declared on terror, a war declared on drugs...how about we declare a war on Hollywood! I mean Mid East extremists always blame our Western culture for damaging their culture. Well, it's damaged our culture too. And they think that every American girl is like every Hollywood actress, just ask BYU students in the Mid East who have been harrassed by Middle Eastern men. So really our enemies really are after Hollywood. But the ironic thing is that Hollyood has allied itself with these enemies. Hollywood influences the media and makes their culture seem like the norm. Anyway, I'm sure I'll write more about this is future entries cause it really bothers me.
Ya know, day by day things keep on getting better for Mitt Romney. I think it's really looking like he'll be the Republican nominee. Even though Giuliani has been winning in national polls forever now, it is Romney who is bringing in the most money and is winning in each state. Evangelical leaders are lining up on sides, some are on Romney's side, some on other candidates, but they will not support Giuliani because of his pro-life stance. Traditionally, the candidate who wins in the early states gets ton of free press and rolls on to victory. Romney is winning by a double-digit margin in Iowa and New Hampshire- the first two states. People are saying he'll win Michigan because it's where he grew up and his father was Governor for awhile. And the biggest news recently is that he is leading in the polls in South Carolina. This is huge! It means that people really don't care that he's Mormon. They are saying that South carolina is the big challenge for Romney because Baptists and other Christians don't consider Mormons Christians. Though the percentage of people who think that is going down...it doesn't matter to most voters. Looks like people are smartening up and realizing that this is the twentieth century and people shouldn't vote for others simply based on religion, gender, or race. Romney is saving most of his money for advertising between the primaries and mostly right before Feb. 5th, Super Duper Tuesday, when like 20 states are having their primaries, including California. In several of those states Romney is already doing very well, including California which could have a big say in who the next Republican candidate will be, even though he hasn't focused on most of those states as much as Giuliani. Giuliani is concentrating more on doing better nationally than the early states, though he still is trying in the early states. Romney has the organization, the money, and solid conversative values. He's also a genius and I think that if he can win the nomination he can definitely win the presidency. A lot of people say that only Giuliani is capable of beating Hillary. Well, she has so much dirt on her that really anybody could bring it up. Plus, most of the anti-Hillary stuff will come from the media and talk radio. I also think Romney is better able to rally the social conservatives to his side. In any case, this next year is going to be really fun. I'm really into the election right now and will do all I can to make sure she doesn't win.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
100% Exhausted
I was so exhausted the whole weekend, which was weird because during the week is when I'm really active and usually I rest on the weekend. I think everything from the past 3 weeks just caught up with me. I was just so drained. I think I stopped myself before thinking too irrational about things.
Friday night we had a Halloween party for the branch. It was actulaly a birthday party, but we turned it into a Halloween party. Saturday I helped our Matt Schultz put on stamps on all these postcards he's sending out. He's running for reelection on the city council. I had a great chat with him about politics, Council Bluffs, the presidential candidates, etc. I'm really thinking about working full-time for the Republican nominee after the winter semester even if it's not Romney, though I think it will be Romney. He also gave me ideas about running for office around here.
Sunday was kind of rough. I had this problem on my mission too, but it's frustrating and stressful when others don't have the same level of committment I do. Sometimes I really feel like shaking someone and saying, "Come on man, get with it...do this, do that and then this will happen." It's definitely a weakness of mine, but also a strength. When I commit to something, I commit like a pitbull and will not let go, but I expect people to have this same level of committment or just place too high expectations for them period. I need to cut people more slack and not be "in the box" towards them. I've read some really good books lately- Leadership and Self-Deception and Anatomy of Peace. There's really good advice in those books about not letting you see yourself as the victim and preventing you from being "in the box" or a warring attitude toward them. I really recommend those books.
Kayla scored two goals at this game
AL-TJ. City rivals. I went over to enemy territory during the game. I think Colby's out there on kickoff return.
There's Jamie...and Colby #4 in the background.
We won 20-6 and the students rushed the field...reminded me of when we won my senior year and they all rushed the field.
So after the game I decided to reenact my last carry...Beck takes the ball at the 6 yard line, he breaks to the outside, spin move and...
TOUCHDOWN! I miss football. It hurt going to the games.
Attagirl Kayla, way to ride that bike.
Ha, Zuster Lambooij called me and chewed me out for not having her picture up on my blog still, so I put her back on. Alstublieft Zuster Lambooij! Ik houd van jou.
7:00 in the morning, getting my music ready and pumping myself up.
I'm really not sure why, but a lot of people started out far back...there was room up front, but whatever.
Look how happy I am...obviously I have no idea what the marathon will really be like.
...Al...most...there
They wouldn't let me fall over and die like I wanted to.
Jamie Lynn came with me.
On our way out. It was almost sad to end all the training, running, and the actual marathon.
I believe the song that was playing was, "I'm too sexy"...fitting.
Ha, there was a lot of costume swapping at the Halloween party.
Yeah, it's true, I used the same costume as last year. But it works.
I gave my ostrich the name of Erwin.
Yep.
Dad's helping Jamie with her math homework. So the tradition continues.
Somebody had to walk around with the mikes at the town meeting with Governor Romney.
Yeah Governor. Seriously folks, he's our next President.
So this is what Rusty does to get attention: He comes up to you, does this little stretch thing, and then hugs your legs, curls up and encourages you to rub his belly. He's trying to be cute.
Kayla said she was cold so I wrapped in like 10 blankets.
Proof that humans are smarter than dogs.
Rusty sleeping.
Colby fell over in his chair...it was pretty funny.
Ha, there was a lot of costume swapping at the Halloween party.
Yeah, it's true, I used the same costume as last year. But it works.
I gave my ostrich the name of Erwin.
Yep.
Dad's helping Jamie with her math homework. So the tradition continues.
I think my handwriting comes out in my carving a pumpkin. It's just obvious which one is mine.
Somebody had to walk around with the mikes at the town meeting with Governor Romney.
Yeah Governor. Seriously folks, he's our next President.
So this is what Rusty does to get attention: He comes up to you, does this little stretch thing, and then hugs your legs, curls up and encourages you to rub his belly. He's trying to be cute.
Kayla said she was cold so I wrapped in like 10 blankets.
Proof that humans are smarter than dogs.
Rusty sleeping.
Colby fell over in his chair...it was pretty funny.
A sketch of the kids when I was on my mission. For some reason I just really like this picture.
Uganda buddy.
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Kayla turned 12, so she blew out the candles...three times.
Kayla turned 12, so she blew out the candles...three times.
The Stake Young Women's President asked me to read this letter at a young women's fireside. It was nice.
To My Dream Girl...We'll be in love someday, you and I. But I'm not sure I know you now. Someday somewhere we will discover each other.I'm home from the mission field, still feeling the way only a returned missionary can feel, still floating on memories too new to be dim. And, Dream Girl, I'm looking for you. A few years ago I was one of the boys, running the race of popularity - more concerned with sharp styles and good-looking cars than anything else.Then came the call, the farewell, the field. I was a missionary. There was the humbling realization of my greenishness and the regrets that I hadn't spent more hours gaining an understanding of the plan of living. I worked and studied and prayed. With new understanding of the precepts of Christ came new determination to live them, and new what had been a vague inner assurance became a burning testimony. I began tasting what is only a word until you tast it--joy--an exalted happiness that dwarfed the passing pleasures I had thought so desirable only yesterday. I began to comprehend the deeper significance of love and marriage and the family. I began thinking serious thoughts about the girl of the future--about you, Dream Girl--wondering, like all who are young, where you were and how I would know you.You, I told myself, would know what I knew. You would want to share the joy that would come from walking though life with the Lord at our side. You would want to go to the Temple. You would want to be queen of the greatest kingdom on earth--the home. You would want to be a mother. I brought home with me the knowledge that the gospel is essential to true happiness--and part of the gospel is you.And so I'm not interested in the girl who gives her lips freely--the girl who is immodest in dress and conduct. I'm not interested in the girl who changes her standards to fit her company--the girl who can see nothing wrong with an occasional cigarette or an occasional drink or occasional immorality. My mission taught me that "just once won't matter" can be traced to the Prince of Lies. I'm not looking for you at shady parties because, Dream Girl, you're not there.
You will not be the kind of girl who cares nothing and knows nothing about homemaking. Marriage will bring us face-to-face with the down-to-earth problems of living. There will be meals to prepare and dishes to wash, clothes to care for, and dirt to battle. There will be budgeting and sacrificing. There will be all the cares and responsibilities of parenthood. Going through the temple is not a magic solution for the preparing for the responsibilities we will carry as husband and wife and as parents.Neither of us will be perfect, Dream Girl, but we will love each other for what we want to be as well as for what we are. And when we don't see eye-to-eye, we will kneel hand in hand and seek the inspiration of the Father.There will not be many tomorrows until we meet. And when we do, I will still enjoy dating and dancing, still laugh with you, still relish good clean fun. But I will sense the inner part of you, too. I will feel your faith-your love for God. I will not be concerned with your popularity as much as with your spirituality, with your face and figure as much as with your ideas and ideals, with your ability to dance as much as your ability to make a home. I will see you as my future Queen.
So there you are--in my dreams.
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