"A man's a fool...

who takes an insult that isn't intended."

This quote was shared by President Monson during the latest Priesthood Session of General Conference.

I shared it with someone in my dance class. Her reply made me stop and think (and I am still pondering it):

"A man's a greater fool who takes an insult that is intended."

Be still...

...my soul.


For whatever reason, I wasn't feeling good today. Part of it may have been because I'm recovering from a cold I had this past weekend. Part of it may be that I have some homework building up. Then there are other reasons. Anyway, I put my name on the GHE list at work, and my desire was fulfilled. On my way home I was listening to my walkman on shuffle. One of the songs that came on was Vocal Point's rendition of "Be Still My Soul". It made me really happy. Here are the lyrics....


The message is really good, and applicable to everyone. If you search the interweb, you'll even find that the original version has more verses.

Don't worry. Be happy.

Happy 09/09/09...

...from all of us!

Thoughts came to me...

...as I sat above the area known as the Terrace in the Wilkinson Student Center at BYU. Nothing important enough to share with the world or that will change humanity, mind you, but thoughts nonetheless.

Here's an image of the terrace (not the best, but the only one I could find during my search on Google):

I took the liberty to label a couple things. The first is the location where I was sitting. (This is an older photo, so it looks a little different, but for the most part that was my location.) The other thing labeled is where the piano is, just out of view. The piano will be the main topic of this post.

As I sat, I listened to the buzz of the crowd, but then my ears focused on the music from the piano. I can't remember what song it was, but it was beautiful. It reminded me of how I wished I was talented enough to play well, but that I wasn't, and that I wouldn't dare play the piano in the Terrace with so many people present.

That got me thinking about how prestigious a gig at the Terrace would be. Given, it's open for anyone to play, but it seems that the more people present increases the skill level needed to perform. I really enjoyed it when someone was playing video game songs (such as the Final Fantasy 2 theme and the Lost Woods tune), but there weren't too many students filling those seats. I'd rather listen to Paige... but especially Diane.

Clams...

What importance do they play in our lives?

Do people eat them? Sometimes, but there's a certain kind of clam that is eaten. It is this...

It's those unhappy clams that we eat. Why, you ask? Well, because clams aren't supposed to be sad. They're supposed to be happy!

As humans, we are to base our happiness level in relation to the happiness of clams. If clams aren't happy, we really don't want to be as happy as a sad clam, do we? Of course not! That's why those clams are eaten.

We are to strive to be as happy as a clam. (From this point on, as we discuss being as happy as a clam, we will assume that the clam to which we are to match our happiness is a very happy clam... like this one:

Understand? Good.)

At first you may ask a question similar to this young man....

My advice to you is don't - don't ask questions that will take forever to answer. Just trust us that clams are happy and that unhappy clams are quickly eaten, providing happiness to many stomachs.

If your question is something like "How do I become as happy as a clam?" then we're getting somewhere. The answer is different for everyone. Just as every clam is different (different pasts, different strengths and weaknesses, different dreams for the future, etc), each person will have to do something different to be as happy as a clam. A general rule, however, is that you must decide to be happy. You can't just sit back and think that happiness will come to you. Take these two clams, for example. Except for Jared, most of us will find this sad....

These clams aren't doing anything. They aren't trying to be happy. They were quickly taken and eaten.

Be proactive in being happy. That's the best advice you can receive.

Need any testimonials? Well, seeing as how everyone else who is as happy as a clam is also sleeping like a log, I will have to share my own testimonial with you. There are many things that make me happy. Most have to do with the Gospel. Others have to do with friends and family. Sometimes, if you're lucky, you may also find a special person to make you happy.

Well, that's about all the time we have right now to discuss. Feel free to comment on how you're able to be as happy as a clam. Also, we'll leave you with a photo of the "Happy Clam of the Month" on her trip to a beach resort. Don't worry, BE HAPPY!

Ode to Jared

You're there again!
....

Or are you?

That's the problem with technology nowadays.

You never can know what's real anymore.

Is life just like the Truman Show, the Matrix, or Groundhog's Day?

I don't know what to do!

Where is Jared, my one true anchor in this world?!

The one who is always jesting and overly suggesting his own ways and opinions upon me?

The one who talks like he knows everything,
thinks he knows almost everything (or at least way more than most people),
and acts less than civil in some cases?
.
..
...

Alas.... life without my goat is life goatless.

It is life without hair.

It is life without banter.

It is life without a quick invitation to hell.

It is life without my other half.

It is life without someone to remind me how sad my life is.

It is life without the help I need to almost feel bad for not going to bed before 1 am.

It is life.... life without you.

Chevy SSR

I don't really get interested in cars. My uncle, however, enjoys a good vehicle. He likes the color yellow, as well. I had the opportunity to drive this car home from a restaurant. It was only about 10 minutes, but it was fun. There's some good get-up and go.