when the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace

I realize as I begin to write this that I am setting myself up for not only age discrimination, but ridicule for my insensitive/callous emotion. I had omitted this from my blog at the time, but I definitely want to write this down for the sake of remembering.

Everytime I say I was sitting in my 8th grade Algebra class at the time the Twin Towers fell, people automatically feel old. I have to admit, at the time, I just kinda stood watching the TV. A girl was crying in class, but I knew she was the dramatic type so I was more annoyed than sympathetic towards her behavior. People were calling home and there were issues with parents coming to pick up their kids and the school trying to keep everything organized. That's all I really remember. My teacher may have turned off the TV, and I cannot remember whether or not my mom came to pick me up early. I was very confused and I had no idea how significant that event was, in that moment. I had no idea what it meant to life and death. I had no idea what it meant for freedom or anarchy. I didn't have family in New York nor any family or friends being called to military service. To me, it was outside of my world. It was horrible pictures on TV. And it was the realization that I would never see New York City as it once was. I wrote about it in my journal. I don't have it with me here, but someone told me I will want to remember that day.

So when I was called to turn on my television Sunday, May 1st at 10:30 PM for a monumental announcement that I would remember for the rest of my life, well, I was intrigued. I hate the television news, really. I hate how the same stories are repeated like the same new pop song with too little substanance and too many unfiltered caveats. I tried not to let myself get too anxious, but too late, every minute that was counted down I had thoughts running everywhere from preparation for World War III to I've decided to go back to my home country (just kidding thanks to Mr. Trump - America can move on...sarcasm if you think I'm giving thanks to Trump for anything). I really didn't know what to expect of the hype. CNN was trying to give themselves a pat on the back for waiting on the President to be the first to make this announcement, oh but they were itching. When they said I had 10 more minutes to go upstairs and grab my book, they really meant Osama Bin Laden had been killed by US Navy Seals Team 6.

I just kinda sat there as this message was repeated over and over. I was trying to evaluate my feelings. I remember the phrase 'Let's Roll' and the powerful hits of Toby Keith. There is power in America because we are living in the promised land. I remember the efforts of GW to capture Bin Laden and the last I heard was that he was living in a "hole." His name had faded and all I began to hear over the past few years had been Al Qaeda this and that; war spread rampent and the word 'rebel' now has a good and bad connotation. I honestly forgot about the weakened Mr. Laden. I was glad he was dead, sure. I believe I got up from the couch and was like, well that was long overdue, and went to bed. I thought it was fine that I had this 'monumental' moment to myself. I still don't know what this will resolve, and I have to admit I remember being disappointed it was only one man who I had already forgotten still existed. It's hard having opinions when so much information is thrown at you, and everyone is so sure they have the truth.

Evil still has a plan, no matter which side does the killing. Our goal should just be to make sure the good keep fighting a better plan, and no, guns are a last resort. Simply killing Bin Laden was not a celebration of the death of another evil one, but the accomplishment of American military who lay down their lives and the lives of their family to protect a nation. I like American pride; I again know this country is worth protecting. I was upset to see the cheers of others when we were suffering 10 years ago. I am not about to find myself at the same level. Ignorance cheers for itself. As Gandhi put it: We must become the change we want to see. So are we changing America? Do we know how to change? Obama said we would.

I also feel as if Jimi Hendrix quotes it well: "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.” A culture is built upon generation after generation of habits. Habits are things we create from repeated action. Our actions are caused by our desires. Our desires are combined from thoughts in our mind and feelings in our hearts. Don't corrupt your heart and mind. These create the soul and we want to carry down good souls to our children.

Who News

I don't even know where to begin. First, it was just about poor people and how to give aid to them. They talked about poverty in a way I haven't thought about it, so I am interested in reading the book. Surely, just one more book on how to cure world hunger and disease; I am not so naive, just interested. I mean it's the dream for us wealthy white people to go into third world countries and save lives, because poverty does not exist in our own backyard. We (as if I'm rich), but comparatively, I might as well have Franklins blowin' out of my pockets.

Then there are trash, southern trash who eat armadillo and have the chance of getting leprosy. I mean, really people? 1. I thought they were purely roadkill that made me want to gag. 2) I thought leprosy was lost once the apostasy hit. Who knew 50-80 people get it from eating armadillo. Who knew. And if that's not disturbing let's read about how straight up humans allow Satan to take over their soul: "Plot to Kill Teen"

Let's add a few tornadoes and life shattering earthquakes and call it the Second Coming. I shouldn't make light of devastation; I really don't mean to. However, I don't see it getting easier. Disclaimer: the righteous need not fear.

So in other news, Kayla went on a run today.

She also discovered mapmyrun.com (and how awesome it is to talk in third person), which is marvelous. However, not until after my 25 minute run/10 minute walk did I realize that I got a meager 2.15 miles. A few months ago I did 6 miles, but I wonder if that was 2 hours and I just had no idea. Sigh. I'll let you know how it continues on; it has to go up from here. I mean I am the most pathetic runner; I can raise my hand no problem. The thing is, I immediately feel like I haven't had water for days and my lips might as well kiss the dessert sun. I feel obligated to tell my lungs to breathe, I've got snot draining from my sinuses; my right leg all of a sudden seems significantly longer; my side cramps from dehydration and then bad posture comes; I can barely see at night without my glasses; my ankles swell because the shoes I wore back in my sophomore year of high school are pathetic (when I was a size 2 and hated running because I wanted boobs so bad); I mean really, pity me yet? Hey, it takes a lot to get this pathetic. Here is the song: Marching On

However, put me in the ghetto where I fear I'll get raped or get a dog barking, and I won't stop running. I just tell myself I'm fat (where did these stretch marks come from!) and that awesome self esteem just boosts up my energy levels. So ya know, that's cool. Oh hey summer - it's going to be awesome.

Just for the record babe, I'm not depressed. And I'm actually not that pathetic. I embellish in slight exaggeration from time to time in the art of story telling.

byu honor code and davies

PS. I forgot to blog about this, but I liked this ESPN coverage... BYU puts honoring the code more than the national championship - it's an interesting debate.

Do I think Davies should have been called out so publically on something he needed to deal with personally? No. Is he a celebrity in the sporting arena, which makes that unavoidable due to the attention BYU is now getting with Jimmer and their awesome season? perhaps. Do I respect BYU's decision? absolutely.

The thing is, we know where our priorities are and what we stand for...or in the words of others, "we know what we are getting ourselves into" and we all signed up for it.

Here is another good article from TIME; It's crazy - the news spread like wildfire. Peculiar things always do. I like it: "Would any other school pay that price? More than likely, too few would pass the Brandon Davies test."

opinions/facts/and journalistic promptings.

So today at work, one of the web tools we support crashed, so outside of the spiteful calls we got fussing at things we really had no control over because alas, we are just another governmental middleman, I got to surf the net and was paid for it? yikes. [soap box: you are asking for money from the government - get over yourself already - the government is archaic and the bid goes to the cheapest supplier - welcome to it - a system that shuts down and doesn't work even when it isn't shut down - it's okay ma'am - I am here to listen to your pains]

Here's what I learned today at work:

• Do not venture on your yacht near Somali. And pirates still exist. Not all are like Captain Sparrow.

• I am living a quarter life crisis of a generation that has characterized the pre-adult life culture. And of course, marriage petrifies this pervasive bunch of hooligans: In 1970, just 16% of Americans ages 25 to 29 had never been married; today that's true of an astonishing 55% of the age group. A friend shared the following article as a side counter argument.

• Sorry mum, but apparently my fertility is at question now. I do carry my cell phone in my pocket and the majority of the time it is in my lap or in close proximity - by my head when I sleep at night? yes; I feel like our generation is screwed by wonderful ideas. If I die, 95% of Americans are going down with me.

• And THANK GOODNESS the decisions are getting easier. Crest toothpaste is finally cutting back. Americans are simple people.

• oh and you know - Spice-Rubbed Chicken with Israeli Couscous