don't send me stupid e-mails

So, the college (where I work) has an "emergency website." I'm not really sure what that means, but it must be a big deal because they just sent out a campus-wide email (that was like 291.2 pages long) telling us about it. Yes, this website will be used in the event of an emergency on the campus. So, if the 410 building burns down, we can at least take comfort in knowing that we can log-on to an emergency website. I wonder if it has calming colors? I feel safer already. Golly gee, this is exciting.

At 2 o'clock today they're going to switch to the emergency website (just as a trial run, of course--if they left it for long students would panic, you know). I know I can't wait. I'm so glad they sent out that email.

Turkey Day: T-minus 2 days and counting! Can you tell I need a break?

I took part in the mania

It could've been better, could've been worse. A good bit of it was crazy dramatic and way corny, but that was to be expected, so I really can't complain. A couple of scenes really bothered me, but overall I wasn't disappointed. It's just such a great story (props to the BYU grad!), how can you not love it in the end? And yes, I'm still on Team Jacob!

I'm still trying to figure out why the director didn't ask me to be in the movie, though...it just doesn't make any sense! Sure, I don't act, but I'm paler than Snow White and would have saved them a lot of money on make-up. Plus, I wouldn't have minded spending time around this particular vampire cast. I just hope the director realizes his mistake and contacts me before the next movie.

shirley temple

Before now, I never really understood why Shirley Temple movies were such great hits. Corny and predictable, they never could hold my attention for more than fifteen minutes at a time. The plotlines seemed unrealistic and pointless, really, and though I was told in class the reasons for their success, I never really understood them.

The era of the Great Depression is marked in American consciousness as the epitome of financial disaster and poverty, a time of ultimate desperation. During those years the future seemed bleak and distant, there was no good news to be found at any turn, and an air of solemnity hung heavily all across the country (and the world, for that matter). In the midst of this crisis, people barraged incessantly by the forlorn news of reality sought to escape it all for a few hours, and found that temporary solace in Shirley Temple. That's what I was taught in school, but I didn't really understand it. Why would hard-working people waste precious pennies on a corny-cute movie? Weren't they being irresponsible and irrational, ignoring the problems with which they were faced? Also, I didn't see how a movie could really help. It was only two hours, and the cheerfulness wasn't real--so how could it really help?

I think I understand now. I don't for a minute try to equate the current state of our nation with that of the Great Depression--that would be a bit ridiculous, and I have to admit that I roll my eyes whenever someone on the news channel does just that. Yes, we're headed in that direction, but we're not there yet, and we can change things (hopefully). But I do feel like every time I turn on the television, the news goes from bad to worse.

Stocks are crashing, banks are failing, companies are downsizing, thousands are losing their jobs, losing their homes, their livelihoods, and their dreams. Not a day goes by that I'm not barraged with the bad news. It's a constant, steady pummeling, dangerously close to stifling. I'm tired of it, so tired of it. I just want a break! Is that too much to ask? All I want to do is forget the world for a few hours, and pretend that life is bliss. I want to go to the theater and watch Shirley Temple tap dance.

...good thing Twilight comes out on Friday!

I cannot wait...

...for Thanksgiving!!!

I think I look forward to it more than Christmas. What a dork, right?

And this year I get to be at Granny's for the first time in five years! Whoo hoo! Hurry up, November 27th!

PS: I like this article, it's kind of interesting: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/klinkenborg-text/1

PSS: Well, I actually like the pictures more. Here's the link straight to those: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/11/light-pollution/richardson-photography

ode to the eye-roll

It's such a small gesture, requiring very little bodily movement and absolutely no strenuous effort. Yet, in an instant, this same gesture can irrefutably declare to the person at whom it is directed that his or her actions/words/thoughts are, in the opinion of the eye-roller, completely and utterly ridiculous, asinine, unfounded, and unnecessary. It's a powerful and annoying weapon, wielded by persons of every age, really, but is often employed as the heavy artillery of adolescents in particular.

The ability to roll their eyes at someone is stupidly (and quite immaturely) empowering to the powerless. When my boss asks me to do something ridiculous, I glean an inestimable amount of satisfaction from rolling my eyes at her behind her back. It makes me feel as though I've said my piece, even though I really haven't (is it "said my piece" or "peace"? Hmm..."piece" makes more sense to me). I've actually voiced my thoughts before, respectfully, but that only led to a long drawn out explanation describing my boss's convoluted reasoning, which I naturally found faulty in the end, yet still had no power to denounce.

Maybe one day I will no longer be one of the powerless, forced to resort to such petty action in order to release my frustration. Maybe soon I'll grow out of the juvenile habit. For now, though, I'll roll my eyes when I think something/someone is dumb.

gunfire lullaby

I'm probably one of the few people in this world who find the sound of gunfire in the distance comforting.

I grew up in Port Royal, a beautiful little Southern town by the bay, directly across the sound from Parris Island, South Carolina. On long summer nights, when dusk finally faded into darkness and I lay snuggly curled up in my bed, during that hazy time between waking and sleep, I drifted off listening to the steady report of gunfire. I equated the sound with safety, and with home. Even now when I hear the sound, or that of a jet flying overhead, I subconsciously relax, a habit formed from a lifetime of associating those sounds with some of my most peaceful moments.

Today is Veterans' Day, and the men and women we honor on this day doubtlessly equate the sound of gunfire with much more than a balmy Southern night. These men and women have faced death head-on; they have seen it, smelled it, and heard it. Our nation's soldiers have sacrificed on countless levels, and have served on the behalves of every man, woman, and child who make their homes on American ground.

My grandfather (the pics I've posted are of him) served in the US Navy during the Korean War, and this is the first Veterans' Day since that conflict that he has not been alive to see. He was, and is, a great man, a very model of generosity and selfless love, and though he had to struggle with illness for decades upon decades, he still continued to make an impact on his world until the very end. I love and miss him dearly. To him, and all others who have served, do serve, or will serve, I want to say thank you. In the midst of the current state of our union, people forget to remember your honor and fortitude, and belittle the efforts you make or have made in the presence of continual danger. You have given me freedom and peace, both as a young child lulled to sleep by rumbling rhythms, and as an adult walking freely across American soil.

When you drive past the Marine Corps Air Station (also in my hometown), a sign (put up in response to complaints regarding the loud rumbling of jets overhead) reads "The Sound You Hear is the Sound of Freedom." That sign always makes me smile.

breakfast is the most important meal of the day

I had a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit for breakfast this morning. I wanted it, I craved it; traffic was quick today, and I got to work 25 minutes early--all signs pointed to Burger King. I went to the drive-thru, and after some confusion over which window to pull up to (advancing and reversing multiple times were involved), I had my breakfast biscuit (plus hashbrowns and orange juice).

Now I feel like I've rubbed grease all over my face, and I feel sick-ish, and more than a little bit unhealthy.

...And yet, it was oddly worth it.

I'll pretend I'm going to Sweden

If you know me, you know how much I want to see the world. I've always been fascinated with the idea of place, and the significance place has in the human psyche (I'm not sure 'psyche' is the right word, but I'm using it anyway). Also, if you know me, you know I just don't have a lot of money to do all the things I want to do, especially travel. So I'm making a wishlist of all the places I want to see before I die. Here's the first item on the list: Stockholm, and the Swedish archipelago (along with a little side trip to Vingaker, land of my ancestors!).






Walking/biking trail just outside Stockholm













Sailing by the archipelago--hmm, it looks like I'll have to learn to sail before I go.








Tiny pond by the roadside in Vingaker.













Along the coast of the archipelago (posted by JimmyReu on Flickr)

If only these were my own travel pictures! Sigh, they're not (from visitsweden.com). Maybe one day, though, right? It doesn't hurt to kill time at work making a wishlist.

I think like this when I'm tired.

I am so tired that I'm not sure I'm actually awake.

I sat in traffic for 2+ hours this morning because a couple of idiots couldn't be bothered to look over their shoulders while switching lanes (I'm not heartless--everyone's ok).

I hear that if you bring in old campaign signs to Sticky Fingers today that they'll give you a free entree. There are a few of those sitting right outside my office (signs, not entrees).

Too bad right now I feel too tired to even think about eating.

My boss thinks vegetarians eat chicken.

I have this song stuck in my head:
Life is like a hurricane, when in Duckberg; Racecars, lasers, aeroplanes--It's a duck-blur! Might solve a myyyyystery (do do dooo) Or rewrite hiiiiistory! Ducktales (woooo ooooooo)

D-D-D-Danger! Watch behind you! There's a stranger out to find you! What to do? Just grab on to some DuckTales (woo ooooo)

I know I left parts out, but these are the good parts. What a great show. I liked the Scottish duck, even though he was bad. How can you not like someone with a thick Scottish brogue?

I also used to like Gummi Bears. Another great show.

I had a crush on Gusto. Sure, he was a bear, but he was my favorite color, and all artsy and whimsical. Sigh.

What a dorky kid I was. Good thing I've grown out of that. ;)

And oh yeah, we have a new president. He's got a tough job ahead of him, that's for sure--but I think he's up to it. He's going to have to be. I hope he listens to everyone like he says he will. Promises are easy to make. Time will tell. I'll stay hopeful.

Eloquence personified: http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/04/mccain.transcript/

That's dignity, people. Let's take his advice and unite.

Rock the Vote

It is, of course, election day, and I have proudly done my duty and cast a vote for the next President of the United States (I actually did so this weekend, because I am lucky enough to be at work all day today). An undeniable sense of excitement permeates the air on days like this, because the opportunity to have even a small part in such a monumental decision is truly amazing, even if I am not particularly enthusiastic about either of the two leading candidates.

Today I am proud to be an American. It's wonderful that in this, in voting, we as a nation can all come together. I am proud of every person who today, in spite of the formidable weather, heads over to his or her designated location and casts a ballot. The fact that our predecessors were able to establish a system that truly enables the peaceful transition of power is astounding to the nth power. Just ask, well, any pre-American civilization. Ask Bloody Mary or Joan of Arc; ask Louis XVI, Julius Caesar, or Openchancanough; ask even modern leaders, like Laurent Nkunda, Hamid Karzai, or Aung San Suu Kyi. Sure, Americans have encountered bumps in the road (there was that certain matter of the Civil War and the subsequent decades of Civil Rights movements), but overall, we make it look so easy. I wish more people could understand that, and were grateful for it. I wish we didn't take it so much for granted.

That said, I will be so glad when this election is over. I, for one, have heard about all the campaigning I can take. I'm sick of the mudslinging (in all directions), sick of SNL, sick of regular news channels. I'm glad they so diligently covered the issues, because they helped me decide which candidate to vote for--but that doesn't mean I'm not glad that it's all coming to a close. I think I was almost to the point of overload, possibly on the brink of a frustration-induced explosion. I will be tremendously relieved to not hear anymore about the race for the White House. Finally, we will be able to move on!

So, for those of you who share my sympathies, and want to think about something other than the election for a few minutes (after you've voted, of course :) ), here's an interesting tidbit about a previous November 4th, courtesy of the History Channel's website.

November 4, 1939
The first air-conditioned car is displayed

On this day, the 40th National Automobile Show opened in Chicago, Illinois, with a cutting-edge development in automotive comfort on display: air-conditioning. A Packard prototype featured the expensive device, allowing the vehicle's occupants to travel in the comfort of a controlled environment even on the most hot and humid summer day. After the driver chose a desired temperature, the Packard air-conditioning system would cool or heat the air in the car to the designated level, and then dehumidify, filter, and circulate the cooled air to create a comfortable environment.

Air conditioning is my friend. Packard, you are an unsung hero. I salute you.

weekend weirdness

This weekend I saw the movie Max Payne. I had no idea what it was about, but there wasn't much to do, so I saw it.

Now, I understand that there are weird people in this world, with a lot of dumb ideas. I'm not going to pretend like I don't have dumb ideas sometimes, because I do. Dumb ideas are funny, they're entertaining, and goodness knows they keep me distracted in boring places, like work, or the 3 1/2 hour long line for early voting (that was another fun part of my weekend). What I don't understand, however, is how some weird people with dumb ideas can get millions of dollars to make a movie of their dumb idea. The word ridiculous doesn't even begin to describe my opinion of this particular movie. It was cliche (how do you make that little accent over the e?), predictable, and as weird as, well, a vegetarian vampire (team Jacob!). Actually, I take that back--it isn't as weird as a vegetarian vampire. That's strange enough to be interesting, and this was just strange enough to be stupid. There, I said it. I thought the movie was stupid. Let's just say that characters roared in this movie.

But that's just my opinion. My brother liked it well enough, though he wasn't exactly clamoring in line to buy another ticket.

I think sneezing is the closest people can get to roaring. Random, dumb thought, I know. If only I had millions, I could make a movie out of it.