“Feelings of love are just a temporary lapse in judgment. Like a mental illness. Even I get in the mood for that stuff now and then. I am a healthy girl; my body has its urges. But I won't let a momentary slip up leave me with a burden.”
(Haruhi Suzumiya)

Can't We All Just Get Along?

I know, I know, I haven't blogged in a very long time. I'll try to get better, since a blog is basically my journal. I've found I write better when I at least have an imaginary audience (hi there!), so my journal writing is easier when I know someone is reading. In any case, I've come out of my long silence to bring up something that's been really bothering me this weekend:

Why can't we all be friends?
 
I'm growing so sick and tired of all the hate that's been going around lately. I'm tired of bashing on BOTH sides of the political spectrum. I don't care if it's true, if it's said with the intent to hurt or anger someone, I don't want a part in it. Even worse is when lies are spread to discredit someone, or when people say or write hateful things just because they don't agree. Not everyone is going to agree on everything, and there are often multiple good ways to go about something. Disagreements are not grounds for verbal wars.

I'm tired of all the booing that happens at sporting events. It's just a game, and even if you think the referee made a bad call, booing is not going to change anything. All it's going to do is make people feel bad and prove just how childish you are. Just move on and make the best of it!

On a more local level, I'm sick of having to coerce my roommates and friends into going to church events. They don't like being there because the people are mean to them or exclude them, and that just makes me sad. Isn't this a gospel of peace and happiness and love? When did we decide that if someone isn't skinny, or pretty, or likes the same things you do that you can make their lives miserable? People are missing out on blessings because a few girls are making them feel bad. Seriously, guys?!

On a related note, I'm sick of all the judging that happens (especially among church members in Provo). If someone doesn't have quite the same standard as you, you shouldn't automatically reject them. This goes both ways. The terms "Molly Mormon" and "Peter Priesthood", and on the other side, "Jack Mormon", shouldn't even exist. It's God's place to do the judging, not ours. What makes us think that we're even close to being qualified to decide exactly what people should and should not do? As long as it's not hurting anyone or causing extreme discomfort, I try leave things between the person and God. My best guide is the counsel given by Jesus in 3 Nephi 14:1-5. Of course, we all make snap judgments about people, but that doesn't mean we can't be better people and work past that. Even I'll admit that I've been wrong about people before, but unless it's putting someone in danger, I'd recommend doing something my mom always used to say: T-C-O-Y (take care of yourself)!

I think that's the end of my rant. It may not be the most cohesive writing that I've ever done, but I hope it gets the point across. People are different, and that's good. Now, can't we all just get along?

"Bye, bye, Miss American Pi"

As you all should know, today was pi day. Every year, the math department at BYU puts on a great party to celebrate (complete with a countdown to 1:59:26pm), but without fail, I have had class. This year was different. After I finished substituting in an ensemble for a pep band friend (though I seem to have become a permanent fixture in this class), I headed out to Brigham Square to find out how the math people party.

It was great fun, really. Sometimes I forget how horribly nerdy I am, but it's times like this that it's really brought into sharp focus. I really do quite like math people. There was music playing in the background the whole time. At one point, "American Pie" came on. Once it got to the chorus, the emcee started a little shuffle dance, and then said, "...pi," right in time with the music. I started laughing, and he noticed. He grinned like it was so clever. Perhaps it was.

Other highlights of the party include:

-Getting a math pencil from a Plinko game.

-Getting REALLY close to solving the pi day sudoku. (perhaps I'll have to scan this in; it's kind of funky)

-Learning about Buffon's Needle, which is an interesting idea of how to estimate pi. The math students were conducting trials and entering the numbers into the computer to find the estimate (click the link for more complicated info). We had an error of 0.022 for most of the time I was watching, though it was as high as .032 and as low as .015. Watching the number change as new trials were entered in was almost as interesting as a sports game. But not quite.

-Seeing the math professors run around spraying people with silly string after we hit pi time in the countdown. Professors are fun.

-Standing next to the one and only Sam Dittmer (if you don't know who he is, watch the video). If I was braver, I would've said something... but I'm not. Maybe some day. I kind of have a crush on him--the admiring from afar kind. Math people are too easy to fall for.

Giving Blood

This Friday, I spent a couple hours giving blood (though most of that time was spent waiting). The nice man who took my blood pressure and blood sample said that I was very healthy and that he wished his blood pressure was as good as mine. I was also happy with my resting heart rate. I'm very thankful that I am healthy!

Part of the reason I made this blog was to stay accountable to my goals, so this will make much more sense once I actually finish posting those. Just thought I'd post this before I forgot, and also to let you know I'm still alive. Just busy.

"Every New Beginning Comes From Some Other Beginning's End"

I heard this song lyric during dinner yesterday, and realized how well it fit. As it was New Year's Eve, the new beginning of 2012 came from the end of 2011. A new year has always symbolized a clean slate, a time to try again, and never quit hoping, while always building on what we've learned in the past year. Yes, I am sad to leave 2011 behind, but as that beginning ends, we are embarking on a whole new adventure. That is the real reason I have started this blog. I want to keep better track of everything that happens this year so that I might more thoroughly absorb it and learn from it. You may notice many layout changes occurring over the next week or so, but bear with me. I hope that this will become a place where others can learn from my experiences and where inspiration can begin. The adventurous reader will find many different things here, including quotes, recipes, progress reports--all things that will mean enough to me that I will want to share them. So please, sit back, relax, and enjoy the journey that we call life.