Math

It takes a very special type of person to love math. I have NEVER been that person. Its not so much that it is very difficult to understand, it is just excessively annoying. Using math is not my problem, its enjoying it. No matter how hard I try, I want to destroy something during my homework, without fail. Case in point: I just spent 3 hours on a math assignment that should have taken me 25 minutes. We're not talking useful math, either. They were just numbers, variables and a blinking cursor that impatiently awaited my answer, which was inevitably: Wrong. Thank you computer math program for labeling me: INCORRECT.

My teacher, on the other hand, stands in front of class and lectures us on the different ways to solve things like she has just solved all the problems of our little worlds. She is floating on cloud nine, preaching the truth of all that is worth speaking of.

Yesterday, I was especially out of it from not eating dinner before class and not getting enough sleep. Luckily, this seems to be the best time for me to think creatively. As I sat in my semi-catatonic state, I entertained myself at the ideas of how someone could come to love math so much that it hurts (my teacher often looks in pain as she reaches her point; I also have a theory that she secretly wants to harm some of us for not caring). Anyways, I threw some ideas around. They ranged from cruel to unusual. I thought maybe she had no friends growing up and her math numbers were her only unchanging variable in life. Maybe she was a younger sibling and had a lack of control in life and just wanted to manipulate and control SOMETHING. Maybe she was like a friend of mine who once explained for an hour how crucial math was to the creation of the universe - AKA "Math is God." (he made a lot of sense, by the way). Still, how could someone love something that was so drab? Math seems to me a sliver that you just never can get out. It is there and you know you have to deal with it, but you just never can rid yourself of the annoyance. How could my teacher be in love with such a maddening thing??

Then it hit me. A little voice in my head reminded me of how the world really is. "Don't be so harsh," it said. People enjoy movies like "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and "Saw XII." Some people ghost hunt like it was their life's calling and THEN pretend to find stuff. For goodness sakes, some people even adore an administration full of airheads (no political stab intended, of course). So why should I be so confused at my teacher's adoration of imaginary numbers and graphs? You know what? Thank you Mrs. Math Lover, for showing me that Crazy people are an important part of this world. And although you may belong in an institution for your passions; explain on and I will humor your rambling madness.

I Love Calvin and Hobbes

Since my last post, I occasionally come back to see if there are any comments on my blog. Without fail, I read that same Calvin and Hobbes comic I put on the Math blog. I used to spend hours reading those Calvin and Hobbes books. I didn't bring them to college because I knew I would spend all my time reading them and no time doing homework.

Something for Me to "Chew on"

While reading in Alma chapter 9, I was impressed with a verse about the savior. It says, "And not many days hence the Son of God shall come in his glory; and his glory shall be the glory of the Only Begotten of the Father, full of grace, equity, and truth, full of patience, mercy and long-suffering, quick to hear the cries of his people and to answer their prayers."

I am always impressed with powerful verses like this about the Savior's character. I keep a little picture of the Savior taped to my computer as a reminder of my covenants and of who He is. The computer is a great place considering there is hardly a day I don't get on my laptop numerous times. I have always viewed the Lord as the great and wonderful person who I hope I can be like someday. He is perfect, and I am not, but I am somehow part of his great organization. I take pride in that. Yet, It is almost as if He is a role model in the popular social world I live in, but nobody can really ever be like or do what he does. He is what we are to measure ourselves to, but often I have found some discouragement in seeing the gap that separates what I am from what He is.

While I read this verse and thought about it and the character of the Savior, I was impressed with something. It was that I define much of who I am by who my friends are. My friends have always played a huge role in the kind of traits I carry, music I listen to, and generally just who I am. I have great friends, but the greatest one is the Savior. I truly feel He is my friend. So, because He is my friend, that shortens that gap I was talking about by just a great margin. Actually it shortens it a lot. A friend is patient, caring, and constantly desiring the best for you. You can't show anyone else what a great friendship you have with a person, it is only known between the two of you. The only way your friend knows how much you care is by reciprocating the same devotion. It is not different in this case. He is the literal best friend I can ever have. Can I ever feel alone when I remember this? I am not defined by my petty accomplishments, mediocre doings, or constant shortcomings. I am measured by my friends. And that is something to chew on.

Much about wa?

This is about my thoughts of having no thoughts. For a long time now, I have been wanting to blog about something interesting and maybe even exciting. But all I can think about is how things are not working out how I want them to. Pessimism anyone? I can say that the highlight of my day was the beautiful powder I rode through with Brett up at Grand Targhee. Actually, it was probably when I reached the apex of my aerial display after hitting one of the sweetest jumps on the mountain. Have you heard of Nirvana?

So what is the deal? I usually have thoughts. I have thoughts all the time. Why won't my thoughts come out in blog style? The whole point of this blogging idea was to be a writer in the spare time. I am in a serious pickle. Not like the one 'Smalls' and 'Benny' got into with 'The Beast' that one time, but still a pretty good one. If my thoughts don't come out soon in some sort of organized fashion, I am worried they will overcrowd my cranial space and cause permanent social damage. Okay, so that is a little extreme, but you folks get what I'm gettin' at.

Scenes From a Life or Two

Here is a couple of the Slide shows I made for the family gift for Jason's Convenience. The first is the Grandkids show and the second is one about grandma and grandpa. When you come back from China I will give you your full copy!

What starts the day off right....

Today I caught the idea to listen to a performance of BYU singers of “Come thou Fount of Every Blessing.”Spiritual messages and personal inspiration from the Holy Ghost are hard to describe. I am glad that music is the one universal communicator. It communicates things through words - without words (You can quote me on that!). Nothing more need be said. This Song perfectly describes the spirit of this week’s Sunday school lesson that I was studying on the Armor of God. Enjoy.