This is Good

I'm starting to realize that trials are real. But at the same time, there's not a whole lot you can do with them besides deal the best you can and hope you have good friends who can bail you out in a clutch. And so I maintain my idea that life just isn't that hard. Even if it is frustrating at times.

Like when I plugged my new self-diagnostic tool into the OBD port in my car and it blew the fuse box. It was a huge mess, but when I called The Chin to ask him about it, turns out he was in the hospital. Then I called Grampy to vent and he was in the hospital too. Also my coworker's truck broke down the same day. And Cenita got rear-ended and has a concussion. So really, there were bigger concerns than getting to work and paying for the fix.

Nobody is currently on the verge of death, so that's good.

And my car is on the mends, so that's good too.

And Melissa let me borrow her car so I could get to my interview in Flagstaff - which went swimmingly and is the winner, I think.

And Cenita did a lot of driving with me on Friday despite her concussion. We rewarded ourselves for the worst week ever with pizza and ice cream (with hand-broken Reese's in it).

I mean, SO to all the kids that helped me get around and maintain my sanity. Even Jen bought me some fries, which goes a long way.

Oh, did I mention I got into the University of Utah? I guess that's good too.

And Saturday, I was able to use my still-broken but drivable car to get to the temple. And that was great.

And I bought myself a new pillow and a foam roller. And some new glasses, which are hecka expensive, turns out. Kudos to the chins for having so many kids with terrible eyes.

And I've been listening to The Greatest Showman soundtrack, which isn't nearly as good (or as long) as Hamilton, but still well worth it.

The point is that everyone is fine and sometimes that's all you can ask for in a week. And it's good.

The Situation Warrants

There are so many things to do in life and not nearly enough time. Glad I have a literal eternity - but I better have all the documents on my hard drive saved somewhere easily retrievable in the celestial cyberspace.

My committee planned a year's worth of activities in one night. Now, we just have to get all the details hashed out and we're set.


I almost played basketball with a bunch of old ladies this week, but they cancelled on me. Probably too scared.

It was nice not working overtime this week. I went to the gym every day and actually got some stuff done that I needed to. And I played the piano. And finished my book series.


The Wheel of Time, a review: The final battle is the best one I've ever read. The set up for it was perfect. I liked that some important characters actually died, making it more realistic, which I feel is important. I also liked that Mat didn't die because he's my favorite. There are other people who didn't die that should have. And I'm glad that agency won out in the end. That's my favorite trope.

Friday night was busy. I went on a date. I went to a dance. I met Chance from France and went to a bonfire. And I got home late.

Then I did almost nothing on Saturday. Nothing tangible, anyway. I did have a movie night with some amis and visited Callie and Rylie before they went back to school in Idaho.

Oh, and did I mention IT'S MY BEST FRIEND'S BIRTHDAY TODAY? It is and she's wonderful.

MLK or Black Rapper? (Round 3)

In honor of the legend himself, it is my pleasure to present 2018's MLK or Black Rapper?

Rules: Below is a list of quotes. Players get 1 point for correctly guessing whether the quote was said by Martin Luther King Jr. or a black rapper.  An additional point is granted if the player can correctly guess the rapper's name. Scroll slowly.

Enjoy the motivation and inspiration these wonderful people offer.

1. "My intent has always been to spread positivity."

Jamesthemormon

2. "Nothing pains some people more than having to think."

MLK

3. "The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically."

MLK

4. "Lightning makes no sound until it strikes."

MLK

5. "For a dreamer, night's the only time of day."

The Weeknd

6. "Stay true to who you are 'cause nothing is impossible."

Jamesthemormon

7. "Staying in a hopeless and miserable situation doesn't make you loyal, it just makes you miserable."

The Weeknd

8. "We are not makers of history. We are made by history."

MLK

9. "Be loyal to your own piece of mind."

The Weeknd

10. "It's about helping others, and it's about just getting them to just open their mind, and that's it."

Logic

11. "I hate racism altogether, but when it's directed at my friends, my anger levels skyrocket."

Jamesthemormon

12. "Sometimes if you’re lucky, someone comes into your life who’ll take up a place in your heart that no one else can fill, someone who’s tighter than a twin, more with you than your own shadow, who gets deeper under your skin than your own blood and bones."

Snoop Dogg

13. "Bikinis, zucchinis, martinis. No weenies."

Snoop Dogg

14. It's okay to be you, and you cannot stand out and fit in at the same time, so pick one."

Logic

15. "I made a pact that there wouldn't be another human on the earth that didn't know what I believed or what I stood for."

Jamesthemormon

16. "I [am] compelled to carry the gospel of freedom beyond my own home town."

MLK

17. "What else can one do when he is alone in a narrow jail cell, other than write long letters, think long thoughts and pray long prayers?"

MLK

18. "You might not have a car or a big gold chain, stay true to yourself and things will change."

Snoop Dogg

19. "Be your own leader, be your own self, step out of my shadows and be your own person."

Snoop Dogg

20. "Too many people spend money they haven’t earned to buy things they don’t want to impress people they don’t like.”

The Weeknd

21. "How can sky be the limit when there is footprints on the moon."

Logic

22. "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now."

MLK

23. "This is what I represent, here’s my message: peace, love, positivity. Follow your dreams."

Logic

24. “I ain’t scared of the fall. I have felt the ground before.”

The Weeknd

25. "I looked at where we are in the world and realized that millions of people listen to my voice, and I do have a voice."

Logic

BONUS ROUND (FOR ALL THE POINTS)

26. "I have a dream my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character."

MLK

The Return (part 1/1)

Aaron and I are officially partners in crime chez-Swing and it's going swimmingly. Honestly, no complaints. He's great, smart, humble, and messes with me. What more could I want? (To not work 10h shifts and then go to interviews on my off days, maybe.)

Rod and I hung out at the Institute kickoff. Soren and Cenita actually convinced me to play a game of bowling with them. The pizza was good. And I snagged like 15 free laser tag coupons from the leftovers for "dates". 

I flew out immediately after work on Wednesday (SO: Cenita, my go-to Uber driver). Another SO: Lauren Bellon, my drugged BFF who dropped me at Uncle Ben's. Realization of the week - I'm bad at communicating I guess since nobody knew I was coming/leaving or why unless there was a reason they needed to know.

Did I mention that I went to Salt Lake this week to interview for the graduate PT program at the University of Utah?

And it was awesome. 

"I only hang out with you alone."

DAY ONE. They didn't make me start until 10:30 and then I had 2 individual interview that were super chill. Jordan, a grad student, just asked me about quidditch and had me rap for him. Jim, a near professor, asked me about Pfizer and my mission and books and I guess some PT stuff. I got educated on residency requirements and financial aid. 

I saw Lauren and Wheeler Heck in my break. Love them. Turns out I knew 1/120 selected applicants - Brandi, from the AT program at BYU, so we rode home together. I dropped her off in Provo and hung out with Brodie, my future sugar daddy.

DAY TWO. For the group interview, I was paired with 2 Colorado chicks who had competed in skiing before. They were chill and we spent the whole type hyping each other. Then I rapped. Again. 

While we were waiting for the campus tour, several other interview groups came out and it turned into 20 Questions with Hutch, during which we replayed our interview several times, reviewed the rules of quidditch and my injury, and other various events in my life.

We had lunch and skipped the question session. I went home and napped. Josh had a party in the kitchen while Matt, Cam, Lauren, and I played in the living room. Lauren and I crushed at Laser Tag AND Codenames because we "have a special bond" (-Ben). Taylor came over late to hang out as well.

Mission lunch date (minus Carolyn bc she booked it.)

DAY THREE (a respite). Joy made a bomb smoothie. Bryan and I had a chat. Greg flew back from CT to hang out with me and crashed my lunch date with the mission buds - Emarie, Carolyn, and Abby. Greg grabbed Michaela and we watched Guardians of the Galaxy. 

The Brothel hosted my "open house" - even though my ex-roommate was stuck in Nevada. We still love you, Little Brown Girl Downstairs. Lauren came again (FOUR IN A ROW). Joshie and Rachel May (and fiancé) from the Riv. Alexis, Mallory, and Brandon from the mission. Chris, Rachel, and Andrew from school. Hunter, Greg, and Michaela because they had to. And Brodie, what a champ.

Dallin, our other group member, is jealous.

DAY FOUR (a return). A 4am return. Straight to ward council, where I was reprimanded for not befriending people. After which, I befriended Blake from CONNECTICUT and Trevor Nally. And said goodbye to Sam Alger who is moving 40min away. A good week, after which I am supremely exhausted. 

New Year, New Me

The thing I love about adulting is that I don't have to keep holidays on their designated calendar dates. If I want to celebrate Christmas three days in advance, I can. If I want to celebrate NYE the day before, that's within my power.

Unfortunately, I just ended up double celebrating NYE after being lured in my the free waffles. I had a few ridiculous pool games with Sam, Callie, and Braeden - ridiculous because I'm so bad and make up for it by obvious cheating. Callie and I crushed Brendan at foosball. Matt Prine was mad he didn't get roasted in Brodie's/Porter's impromptu concert and I was mad that I did. And I watched Monty Python solo for old time's sake.

I worked 10h days this week, so everything had to be carefully planned out. Tuesday, I sat in with the missionary lesson and drove all the way to the middle of nowhere on top of a mountain to visit Sam's house. And check out his bunker and food storage (which if you've ever seen The RM should be easy to imagine).

Callie was leaving Thursday, so I hung out at her house on Wednesday just to chill. I like their family.

Chris just got his recommend to go to the temple, so we made a family outing of it. Oh, and we've been doing family scripture study at 6am and I hate that about us, but it's so good.

Friday I went to an interview at Midwestern - only 20min down the road. I was beat by the end of it,  I wouldn't mind going to school here. Especially because I already have some friends. We'll see. I somehow managed to survive a coding session with Peter, which I think was only allowable due to the workout we did immediately prior.

I finished the new Throne of Glass book and my mind was blown. I sent it to Hannah so I can rant with someone.

Mama Bale and Joe helped me out with with my rehab by running some basketball drills with me. I'm working my way up. But it doesn't help when my bad knee doesn't hold its own.

Cen, Kaleb, Tyler, Braeden, Kenny, and I went to Matt Prine's concert. I made him a punny poster based on his last name. He didn't get the joke, but his mom did. And Cenita brought me some honey for my baguette.

Get it? His last name is Prine and he's the best? It's funny....