This is So Wrong

Let it be known that I joked about both of these items in the very recent past, and now here they are for real:

Is he the President of the United States or a movie star??? Is he a politician or a celebrity??? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think we ever saw President Bush on the cover of Entertainment Weekly. It's becoming increasingly obvious to me that Obama was running for Student Body President, not President of the United States. This is only one of the many undignified things I have witnessed the Commander-in-Chief exhibiting since his inauguration. This was a popularity contest, and he won it. Now, let's see if he puts soda in all the drinking fountains. Or if he just makes it legal to kill babies instead.

You know, it doesn't really bug me that Obama is being glorified and deified by the media and press, when if President Bush had done any of the same exact things as Obama had done, he would be ridiculed and scorned (can you imagine how they would have attacked Bush if he had stumbled on his inaugural protocol?). It doesn't really bug me that I keep hearing about how black people still complain about discrimination, and how Michelle Obama is a bad example for wearing clothes designed by whites or Asians (seriously, this is news?!?). It doesn't really bug me that he can get away with anything and everything and people will make excuses for him to no end.

Oh wait... All those things really do bug me.

Un-American Redux

Well, whatever the reasoning, Tom Hanks has retracted his unfair and nonsensical statement about Mormon supporters of Prop 8 being un-American (not to mention the hundreds of thousands of non-LDS and/or Catholic Califiornians who were also evidently in favor of it) and actually apologized. Whaddaya know, participating in the democratic process is an American-ish thing to do after all! Thanks for the (eventual) stamp of approval, Tom!

But really, an apology from Hollywood? That's the last thing I expected to hear from this guy. I really would have thought he couldn't care less what his LDS viewers thought of him. He (or his publicist?) at least seems to know to follow whichever way the wind blows.

The Girl: She's Coming

13 March 2009 is the new 6 November 2008.

Best birthday present ever. I predict the next 50 days are going to be the longest in recorded history.

The Best is Back

Minor spoiler alert...

That's right, folks, the best TV that has ever been, or (I imagine) ever will be is back. After a painful eight-month hiatus, LOST is back and better than ever. With a two-episode season premiere that rivals the amazing season 2 reveal of Desmond in the Swan Dharma hatch, LOST is back and is relentless in its action, drama and mythology. The recap show prior to the premiere was great too, giving us an all-encompassing run down of the most important events of the previous four seasons, hosted by two of the show's writers/executive producers. Damon and Carlton presented the synopsis through character vignettes, rather than a direct season-by-season explanation, which really worked. We learned a few new things about our main characters, especially the Oceanic 6, and were perfectly primed for that skipping record and Dharma recording session. Holy moly, my head is still spinning. I was jumping around like a kid on Christmas morning. Honestly, if there's anyone on this blessed earth that is still not watching LOST, now is the time to start already. My brief thoughts on the characters so far: Jack is still sort of tortured, Kate and Aaron are on the run again, Sun is understandably traumatized and desperate, Sayid is more intense than ever, Hurley sees dead people (but I believe him too), and Desmond is turning out to be quite crucial. As far as what's happening on the island, Sawyer is back in rare form, Juliet is appropriately frazzled, Locke is for once at a gratifying loss as to what to do, Miles is increasingly intriguing, Charlotte is making me a little nervous, and Daniel has kind of turned into the key to the whole business. Oh, Ben, who are you anyway?

Two things to ever remember: I heart shih-tzus and beware of flaming arrows.

I'm so glad I could share this monumental moment with Jared & Jessica, Elise & Jeff, Nicole & Garrett, and Lacie & Leland. I was missing my girl, but I won't be the odd man out for too much longer. The one bright silver lining about the seemingly eternal hiatus is that we can probably expect fairly consistent episodes from now until May, rather than intermittent episodes with four-week breaks in between. Bring it, ABC!!!

Edit: Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse are executive producers as well as occasional writers of the show. Damon also is a co-creator.

A Cynic and a Drag

Today I was referred to as "a cynic and a drag," reportedly due largely to what I post here on my blog (you know who you are, you rascal, you!). If my worldview and crazy habit of standing up for traditional values and striving to live God's word and share my beliefs with others qualifies me as cynical, that's news to me. But I'll consent to be a drag if this is what makes a person one.

It's just funny to me how some people, even dear old kith and kin, can jump to extremes and say that because we disagree on politics or American Idol contestants it means that we'll "never agree on anything." I mean... seriously? Isn't blood stronger than this? Besides, if you post something in a public venue, you basically invite people to post their responses. That's the way the blogosphere works.

In conclusion, everyone is cynical about something (maybe a better word is realistic?). I'm perfectly upbeat and downright optimistic about certain things! In fact, I feel like my blog is a fairly balanced representation of who I am, the ups and the downs. It does seem that my blog is getting read more widely than I thought as well, which is rather interesting.

P.S. I don't even want to start on how "cynical" some people were when Bush was elected... and re-elected.

Un-American

Apparently, Tom Hanks has (very authoritatively, of course) decided that Mormons are "un-American" for our support of Proposition 8 in last fall's election.

Evidently, if you're liberal and follow the lawless standards of the world (nay, even Hollywood, for Pete's sake), that's what qualifies you as an American. If standing up for what I believe in, fighting for traditional values and participating in the democratic process makes me un-American, then I guess that's what I am.

Why do celebrities think they know everything anyway? Stick to acting, leave politics to the politicians. Heaven knows they mess it up enough for themselves. They don't need a bunch of self-important pseudo-intellectuals to help them out.

It's Hard to Concentrate

Why, you ask? Observe:


Good heav, when did my blog turn so ooey-gooey?

Longest Week Ever Angst

This has been the longest school week ever. I'm fairly certain this is the least prepared I've ever been for the first week of school in my entire college experience. Some of this is my fault, but most of it isn't (that FAFSA business is still pending, and I've done my part, so they said at the bank). I was going to outline reasons why this week was so long and awful in bullet fashion, but that would seem so negative, especially after my most lovely Rolla post, so I decided to just point out a few of them, and how some of them are starting to come together.

First, classes: I wasn't able to register for half my classes until they started, but by Wednesday I was able to add the ones I needed, and even in the sections I wanted! This is confusing because of the tuition fiasco, but I don't ask too many questions yet. Next, textbooks: I was quite nervous about paying for books, as the sum total equalled an amount I was not even privy to at this point ($150 for one of the cheaper of them at the used price--outrageous!), but I was able to find the most expensive ones at significantly cheaper prices! Here's hoping the ones I bought a past edition of will suffice, and that they're all legit, and also that they arrive shortly since I'm already rather behind in my heavy reading load. Third, car/snow trouble: As much as I love the snow and winter, the weather early this week was really testing my devotion. It's just not that fun to worry every time you get into your car that it's not going to start, and then even if it does, that you won't be able to get out of your spot onto the street due to ice. Once it took 60 minutes (no exaggeration), two guys, a shovel and some salt to get me onto 800 East in Provo, and then it took yet another push to get me actually going up the road. I love my car, but it is not at all practical in the winter. The tired are bald, the roof leaks and the heat is touchy, if it works at all. But at least I have a car at all. And, my class schedule and Mom's somewhat coincide, so we can carpool a lot of times.

I tell you, if it weren't for my sponsor providing a gym pass, allowing me to run to my heart's (and heartrate's) content, I would die from the stress of this week alone, and all I really wanted to do was go back to Missouri. After I grew accustomed to my classes, the angst started to die down, but then there are other things to work out... Work, money, life, etc. (if you know what I mean) ...

Never mind! I am optimistic! I can do it! Thanks to all those who provide such encouragement and inspiration! You know who you are. But still... Unknown Rich Uncle? Whenever you die, I promise my inheritance will be put to good use.

Time for a New Poll

I realized this one is old news, and before I rant about the first week of school, I decided to post the results of this, you know, for posterity or whatever. I suspect a little bit of padding as to the outcome of this poll, but here it is, for what it's worth:

Spring? 5 votes (14%)
Summer? 9 votes (25%)
Fall? 14 votes (40%)
Winter? 7 votes (20%)

Also... it seems odd the percentages don't exactly add up to 100. I guess it rounds the numbers.

Missouri Loves Company

10 things I loved about my recent trip to Rolla, MO, 26 December 2008 to 4 January 2009:

10. Grad school application done and submitted
Cross your fingers for me!

9. Time to relax and watch lots of movies and TV episodes
(The Tale of Despereaux, Jurassic Park: The Lost World, The Best of Will Ferrell highlights, Sleepless in Seattle, Jeeves & Wooster, The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian, several intermittent moments of Veronica Mars, The IT Crowd, The Day the Earth Stood Still, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Bleak House, Young Frankenstein, Charlie and Lola, Dracula: Dead and Loving It, Wall-E, Tinker Bell... holy moly.)

8. Visiting the St. Louis Zoo and Art Museum
At these lovely, free facilities, I met a rabid camel, the giraffes, the Cougars and of course the local haunt of the museum, Bob.

7. Running the local New Year's Day 5K with Julie, Marci and Tyler
It was great to run this short race with them, after spending a couple days at the local gym. I even scored a new personal best-- 24:23!

6. "Drulie" officially coined and sanctioned
I had thought of this before, but her dad declared it official on Wednesday morning. I hadn't even made the connection with "drool", and I still don't think of it that way, especially when I see it written out. One variation is "Drewlie."

5. Golfing with the guyz
At first I was a little nervous to do the visiting-boyfriend-spending-male-bonding-time-with-the-dad-and-brother thing, but it turns out our golfing skills were fairly comparable, the weather was great, and we had a lot of fun.

4. Imo's Pizza and "A Slice of Pie"
First, Imo's is the best local pizza joint, and we had four variations on the St. Louis-style thin crust, and the best of all was the Alfredo Barbecue Chicken (pictured below). Then, as for A Slice of Pie... Seriously... the best pie I've ever had. Despite the surly, emo nature of the hired help, we were able to take two visits to this deliciously artery-clogging hole-in-the-wall pie diner next to the laundromat. Peanut Butter Lust is aptly-named, believe me.

3. Hanging out with these cute kids:

Lily, Marissa and William!

It took a while for Marissa, but they all eventually warmed to me fairly well. What a great group of young people!

... and getting to know this great family:

They made me feel welcome and right at home for my long visit. Thanks again for everything, Christensens! I hope I didn't make too much a nuisance of myself, and I wish I could have done more to contribute to the festivities. I had a really great time staying with you and getting to know everyone!

2. Random moments with Ntsuj Hli
Getting her to say my Hmong name at last, making family dinner together, jumping on the trampoline, playing a couple games of LotR chess, swapping Christmas presents, staying up too late, dethroning her in a game of Harry Potter trivia which led to our first "fight", dominating everyone else as a team in a game of Disney SceneIt, one of our first actual, official "dates" to the movie, thinking of what "our" song is, reading The Tales of Beedle the Bard aloud...


And, Number 1...

This:

So... how long again until March?...

2009

Happy New Year, everyone! All I really want to say is that after 27 New Year's Eves, my only 31 December wish has at last been fulfilled...

2009 is shaping out to be a great year already.