You've got a friend in me....i think....

            Do you remember back in the day where everyone was your friend? Where the only really crowning decision you had to make about your friends was if they had the shiny Charizard card. What happened to that? Puberty Happened. Drama Happened. I hate it all. Our testicles and ovaries started having fits with our bodies and all of the sudden we started to not like people. We became a lot more exclusive about who we liked and didn’t like. Damn you testicles and ovaries. You screw up a lot. (pun intended…)

            This post deals with my opinion on what is the difference between a best friend and a true friend. How they are so different in my eyes, but also how they can be so similar. The past couple of months I have thought a lot about this and how it really shapes our lives. How we cause a lot of drama that can eventually ruin others. How something so incredible as friendship can be shattered by stupidity and misunderstanding. I have thought about my own life and the hurt I have caused, but also about the awesome friends who have stood by me through it all. And they are the ones who in reality…matter.

            What is a best Friend? We all have them. They are awesome. Sometimes they suck. But all in all what would we do without those people we call our best friends? To me they are those friends who you get a long with. That you enjoy spending time with them so much you need their presence. I am sure we have all felt this. Like when I don’t see Cody Haslem for a week and I start to have withdrawals. I feel best friends are incredibly important in every way. However I feel that this is the more superficial relationship. I have TONS of best friends. If you ask me who my number one is I wouldn’t know how to answer you. These are the people who make us feel happy and we enjoy their company. However, I have had a lot of “best friends” simply die out. The friendship that was once so exciting grows old and soon you are just acquaintances. Think about all your “besties” in high school who are now only small pictures in your yearbook who gave your thier numbers that you never called, or said HAGS! (i HATE hags...). Why didn’t the relationship last? Why do we lose so many friends as we get older? ( i am guessing its cause they wrote HAGS in your yearbook -_-)

            What is a true friend? To me, this term is a lot more intimate. Ask me how many true friends I have and I could list only a couple. They are the people in my life who I know will be there for me no matter what happens. We could fight, yell, attack, maul, and scream at each other, but in the end will be there with me when I die. They are the people who you don’t have to talk to everyday and when you see each other you talk about EVERYTHING. They make you not only feel happy, but comfortable and relaxed. They are the people who you can honestly feel like yourself around. No hiding. You can tell them ANYTHING. It takes a lot for me to consider you a “true friend. (Cody you are one…don’t let the above example fool you ;) )” I hope I am considered one of these kinds of friends to some people. Because to me these people are one of greatest things I have in my life. I would be completely lost without them.  I think we all have these people in our lives. And I feel that they are the ones who matter.

            I have also thought a lot of how fragile these relationships are. Friendship is a two way deal, and if one person is not up for the challenge then the relationship crumbles. I have always thought that true love is not easy. It is something we all have to fight and sacrifice for. I feel true friendship is the same way. And I believe that is these kinds of relationships that are the dearest to us. And I am baffled and angry at people who try and throw it all away. Intentionally or unintentionally. My mother always says “we hurt the ones we love the most” but what happens when we hurt our loved ones over and over and over. When do we finally say enough?

            I know this is kind of long but this has been on my mind as of late. I am so glad I have both best and true friends. I am thankful that they support me in all that I do. We are a crazy bunch of psychos, but I feel we are deeply connected. I hope we don’t let a petty thorn such as drama or misunderstanding ever ruin what we have. Because if that ever happens, I know I wont go down without a fight.

   Weird post I know. Just love it.

Two songs that express how I am feeling at the moment. 

Warning…the Mumford and Sons one is rated R. there is a funny little word that starts with F that is said thrice. If this offends you…don’t listen. If it doesn’t. Be prepared to listen to the greatest angry song ever made. Like ever.

“In the practice of tolerance, one's enemy is the best teacher.” ― Dalai Lama XIV

I do believe it is time for another political rant. I know you all love these. -_- but this one has been stewing on my brain for quite some time. So if you got offended by my last post don’t read this one. Be excited.

This is how i feel about this subject...

It seems to me that after the election things haven’t gotten any better. Now instead of openly attacking our president, people are now nit picking everything he does. I swear he could go to the bathroom incorrectly and Utah would be in an uproar. I have now heard things such as he is the antichrist, just like Hitler, the most un-American president we have had, an ass, a Nazi, a dictator, and the reason we need to have a revolution. WHAT IS GOING ON!?

A lot of this stems from the Connecticut MASSACRE that happened in December. Obama is now trying to figure out some way to help this nation fix what is going on. Most of these attacks on the president stem from his new gun control actions. I am not sure how I feel on gun control myself. Especially after the December events of children being killed. I feel that something needs to be done. Something with guns. However, guns are inanimate objects that can’t do anything without someone to pull the trigger. With that in mind though, something needs to change.

First beef. People are reacting to these new gun policies like Obama is going to call in the Gestapo and force people to hand in their guns. Pull a sleeping beauty and make a pile of guns and burn them all. (if you are unfamiliar with this metaphor please go watch the awesome and beautiful classic). This is not going to happen. The focus of the new gun control is EDUCATION. Currently for the past 17 years there has been a ban on gun-violence research. What. The. Hell!? Why!? That’s my question. Is lifting this ban a bad thing? He wants to put police officers into school. How is that evil? Sure think the Connecticut mothers would have liked that. More background checks. He wants to improve background checks. Yeah that sure is evil.

Even Emily is upset there is a 17 ban on research on gun violence.

I do not agree with Obama 100%. His health plan will drastically affect me as a future health care professional. But I don’t attack the man. He is a human. With a family.  And deserves respect. He is trying to do what he thinks best. Ultimately 4 years will come and go and some other “antichrist” will come up and change all that Obama is doing. He is in charge of appeasing a nation that is filled with different races, religions, ideas, sexual orientations, and differences. Give the man a break. You try being president and trying to appease everyone. People who don’t agree with you at all. It. Wont. Happen. And we need to start a revolution!? That makes perfect sense. Instead of trying to increase education, let’s take the very things that we are fighting about and kill more people. Makes absolute sense. Because the last civil war we had ended with about 200, 000 from combat. Yeah that makes perfect sense. (http://www.historynet.com/civil-war-casualties) (this is a citation. It tells you the credible source in which I got my information from. These are uncommon in social media now a days…)

Second beef. Facebook. Facebook has changed everything. I love the stupid social network. But it is incredibly damaging. People can now gather information from who knows what kind of idiotic websites out there and post it like it is actual fact. I don’t think its evil to voice your opinion on Facebook as long as it is civil and you have the right facts. Anyone remember their English teachers saying don’t use Wikipedia because it can say anything? Well its not just Wikipedia that lies. Obama didn’t single handedly raise milk prices. Sorry. Unfortunately people now hide behind the magic mirror of the Facebook wall and say whatever the damn they want. Would people call Obama the antichrist and Hitler in front of his wife and children? Only on Facebook.

Third and Final Beef. Would you really like to live anywhere else? Probably not. I was very apathetic in politics until I spent two years in a third world country. Where I didn’t have everything I wanted. I lived in areas where people were lucky to have a little meat in their food for the week. Where concrete and wood put together with who knows what constituted a house. Where the kids would play in the black green sludge that came out of the gutter. Where kids would get pregnant and 12 and 13 on a regular basis, and every 10 year old new where to get drugs in the neighborhood. Where the thought of living on yearly salaries meant you were rich. Yeah we have it hard. Yeah our country is headed to its doom. Seeing the real world made me wonder at how INCREDIBLE Americans really have it. To be quite honest we have NOTHING to complain about. Nothing. I lived with a kerosene stove as my only method to cook. Where only one appliance could be used at a time. Where my floor was straight concrete. Where my bathroom looked like a serial killers hide out. But yeah, let’s whine about government stealing all our guns. I’d rather have carpet.

Yeah We have it bad.

Our only table to cook on...

Either that or a microwave

Notice the beautiful sheet acting as our blinds?

Moral of this blog is let’s all just cut the damn attacking and be civil people. Whether you support the president’s agenda or not. I am a Christian and Christ taught us to love EVERYONE. So did my parents. Christ chastised the very people who were scrutinizing his beliefs, yet forgave him even when they nailed him to the cross. Don’t we do the same when we attack Obama. Let’s not throw stones. Let’s worry about what really matters. We will all still have our guns. But there are people who don’t have food. What’s more important? Once you decide. Try going and doing something about it instead of putting it up on your wall.

p.s. My thoughts and opinions. I know some of you will hate me, or not agree with me. And that’s okay. Just be civil please.

p.p.s you get  800 blog points for reading all of this. It was a doozy. 200 more if you leave feedback.  

“I do not believe, from what I have been told about this people, that there is anything barbarous or savage about them, except that we all call barbarous anything that is contrary to our own habits.”
― Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

“The Potter books in general are a prolonged argument for tolerance, a prolonged plea for an end to bigotry. And I think it's one of the reasons that some people don't like the books, but I think that's it's a very healthy message to pass on to younger people that you should question authority and you should not assume that the establishment or the press tells you all of the truth.”
― J.K. Rowling  (LOVE THIS. So True. Maybe this is why I love the books so much.)

Truth.

Highlights of 2012

   So i know this is like 18 days late, but i have been thinking of this topic for awhile and have done some soul searching i guess. I have wanted to blog about something in the new year but i couldn't figure out what. I thought about doing some resolution thing...but that was cliche and really who actually follows their resolutions. (Except Annika Jensen...she is pretty awesome...) So this post will be about some highlights from the past year! Be excited.

   Thinking about it this last year for me was a crazy one. Lots of changes and new things came into and out of my life. Its kind of been a crazy ride. I will list a few of the more important things.

2012

Spring Semester 2012
This semester sucked. Hardcore. I was told that i would be fine in a chemistry class even though it had been four years since high school chemistry. Not. A. Good. Idea. It was a challenged and i received grades that i never thought i would get. Ever. As someone who worries about school a little too much this was really hard. I struggled with it a lot. I know it kind of sounds trivial to people but it was a big deal for me. For the first time i felt my career was at a risk. I made some decisions though and it worked out. And it perhaps was one of the best decisions academically i have made.

This is more true than anything i've ever seen....

Eric's Mission
We sent Eric out to the great state of Washington in April. And it sucks. I love that he is there and it is the greatest thing for him. But it sucks. Totally understand where Sarah was coming from when i was gone. It has been rough. And he hasn't made it any easier the butt head -_- but it has been a big transition not having him around. there are days where i want to just have a man night with my brother and....he isn't...there....it sucks. Hardcore. Missions are the best thing in the world. But lets be honest peeps. They kind of suck.

his large nose is missed. 

Summer 2012
Things happened prior to the summer that are far too personal to discuss via a blog, but these events have led me to figure out who i really am as a young adult. On June 17th, 2012 my car broke down on the side of the highway and that is where Kylie White and I rekindled something incredible. SOOOOOO glad my car did break down. ;D Kylie is incredible. She is the most independent, beautiful, and supportive person i know. She rocks. I am half a person without her. I could go on and on about her, and it would not get old. But it probably would get old for you reading this blog. Moral of the story...she was my highlight of 2012. And she is the highlight of my life. We are pretty awesome. And damn cute together. True. Story.

Favorite picture. Even if Ky's eyes look possessed.

Classic old picture of us. 

The Election
The presidential election was out. of. control. I am incredibly glad with the out come, yet i am incredibly disappointed in a lot of people. People who i thought were good people saying vile things to me and others for different beliefs. It. Was. Disgusting. People found out that i am not the average Mormon boy kid that i was when i was 12. I have an opinion. And that scares people i guess. What scares me is what people say when someone has a different opinion than them. They can be right in their own idea, but the moment you differ from them you are a heretic and you need to re evaluate your testimony. So glad my parents taught me to think and be myself. Love them for that. I will support my president the best i can. May not agree with everything he does, but i do agree that our nations leader needs some respect.

Plethora of Friends
I have met a sloo of incredible people this year. Particularly, Paden Moss, Matt Green, Mikenzie Lynn, Andy Gilbert, Kayla Colten, Courtney Hamilton, Landon and Parker Greenhalgh and others that are incredible people. I finally began to talk to people in my major at school and now have friends on campus! Its awesome. These people will go far in life, and i am glad I am now affiliated with them. Friends are kind of the spice of life. Without them i can imagine life to be quite dull. In my case, my life is over spiced i guess...(cheesy yet beautifully crafted analogy. love. it.) :D

We rock.

perfect jumping pic

Bringing Sexy back....

This Picture is an optical illusion. Can you find Paden's legs?

Emily
One of the unseen things about Eric being gone is that Emily and I are now mega close. We have always been super close...but now we are mega close. Even though its usually 5 days before we see each other and she is usually sleeping. Love the girl to death. And we party like its 1976 when we hang. Without her my life would be filled with science jokes and humor that would be lost to void space. Yet she fills it right a long with me. Cant wait for her to start her real life, and go to the chamber of secrets at Weber with her!

True beauty. 

The future of medicine Be Excited.

   Overall this year has been one of self reflection and self evaluation. I feel that i have learned a lot about myself and what i want in life. Its had A LOT of downs and even more ups. Overall it was an incredible year. And i have a feeling that 2013 should be just as great. I guess that is up to me to decide.


P.S. there were a profusion of other fantastic things that happened this year. but if you already made it this far...I am sure you now know more than you would ever want to about me. Plus this was kind of cheesy. And who likes cheese?

P.P.S If you did read it all give yourself 100 blog points! And get 300 more COOL points if you post a highlight of your year!

Where are you Christmas?

Well finals are over and I survived with some pretty great grades. Can’t Complain. The Christmas gods have smiled upon me and somehow by their grace I got a B IN CHEMISTRY! Suck it chemicals! After the fiasco last semester this was such a relief. Now I can enjoy the holidays in full force. And it will be jam packed with awesome.

While the holidays are around the corner we as a country are faced with something horrendous. The shooting of the elementary school kids in Connecticut will usher in this Christmas season. This is an incredible tragedy and I honestly do not know how to react to it all. It makes me sick. How a person could get so depraved that the only release is to shoot 20 elementary school children is beyond me. As an aspiring pediatrician, who cares greatly for children, I can’t even fathom how this man thought he could take the lives of these innocent children in his hands. It is one of the greatest tragedies this country has had to face recently.

To those of you are now debating the ethics and morals of gun control I ask you is it the time? It has been one day since the shootings and the debate is as heated as ever with people attacking each other for what they believe. My thoughts on it have been shattered and now I do not know what the best path is to take. This to me clearly shows how divided our country really is. In this dark hour the United States needs to be united and pray for these poor families. Can we not put our political opinions aside for awhile and just be humans? Stop worrying what is so important that we must have or not have and start caring about those who have lost so much. It pains me to see so much debate about guns, when we all could be out there telling our loved ones how much they mean to us, or helping someone else have a better holiday. Tis the season?

In a way this event has really put everything into perspective for me. I hope my friends and family will value a little bit more what is important in our lives. Especially during this exciting part of the year. I know I will. Christmas is a time for family and being grateful for the things we have. Many people have lost both of those things in this tragedy. Now I hope more than ever that our country can ultimately learn from this event and unite. If not our country than our communities and our families. My family is the most important thing in my life, and to lose them would be my end of the world. I can only imagine what those poor Connecticut families must be feeling at this time of the year. I echo our president’s words to hold on to what we have a little bit more. Tell those who you love that you do love them. Whatever dilemma or drama you are facing, maybe it is time to forgive and forget and start to love. Only that hope will truly heal us from this awful and devastating moment in our history.

Merry Christmas

Two favorite quotes from Les Miserables.

“Oh ye wretched of the earth, there is a flame that never dies. Even the darkest night will end and the sun will rise.”

“To love another person is to see the face of God”

The seven days of hell...I mean finals week...

                Today as I walked around campus I got this bizarre feeling from everyone. If you looked into the eyes of a person you could see their soul. The face was gaunt, the stride was sluggish, and the skin was necrotic.  We must be getting close to finals.

                I do believe me and my fellow colleagues and everyone in school at the moment is suffering from a new disease I just made up called “endofthesemester necrosis.” This damaging disease occurs when all the professors decide to have their finals all at the same time. We have worked so hard through the semester and now in the end…we want to give up and just be done. Our study habits start to dwindle, we lose interest in things we once thought interesting, we DO NOT want to go to that 7.30am chemistry class -_- , and we start to BS everything. We start to become zombies..(maybe this is the real zombie apocalypse) SO as helpless students this adds up quite quickly and then we have a sympathetic nervous system reaction (pretend you are getting chased by a rabid bear for you non-medical folk….) I am guilty of getting EXTREMELY laid back when it comes to the end. I must conquer it. However, with that seductive siren named Christmas seductively calling me and a stomach full of turkey and yams…it’s not that easy. It sucks.

I saw this man on campus today. True Story. And all he did was bleed on his math book...

I remember it happening as a senior in high school. Where every day seems meaningless and miserable. Where my amigos just lose their luster and all I want is for it to be done. And guess what. It ended. And it was super weird (sometimes I have an allergic reaction to being an adult…they are not fun). As with this semester all things come to an end. We as students just have to put our big boy pants on and wade through the grey mass of senselessness. Then once we reach that blessed Monday when all the classes are done. We look back and feel triumphant. Then we miss that loathsome thing that is school and we go insane and go back another semester. We are fickle things. Whatever is your motivation. Keep at it. (I could use a massive bottle of Motivation…I could overdose pretty quickly I do believe…) Through thick and thin, hell and back, we can’t give up. If we do…it all means nothing. Three Cheers for school and Three cheers for Finals week!

(and maybe three cheers for caffeine and youtube to keep us distracted….)

 

P.S. Award yourself 200 blog points for reading! You go Glen Coco!

P.P.S Award another 200 points if you leave feedback….

P.P.P.S Award another 500 points if you make it through the semester. Alive. And not a Zombie…

P.P.P.P.S 300 points to RAVENCLAW!

 

The Thankful Game

So lots of people are doing the massive list of things to be thankful for. Last yeat I did this on my facebook when it was still “new.” This year however, everyone and their dog seems to do it…so I though I would make it a bit more personal and post it here. I will do 31 things. However, I will post 16 things I am thankful (half will probably be about family.) for, and then 15 things I am not thankful for. Just to keep it interesting. : D

Me and Emily pulling of a beautiufl representation of a turkey at last years Thanksgiving!

 

 

1- I am thankful for the Gospel in my life. This really has made me who I am today and I would be a mess without it. Sometimes I get frustrated with the culture aspect of it living in Utah, but deep down I would be empty without it. Spirituality is a critical in today’s society. I think that without it, life would be a lot less hopeful. No matter what you believe.

Uruguay, Montevideo Temple

 

2- I am not thankful for crazies on the road that drive me nuts, or traffic, or red lights. I think I am cursed to deal with them on a daily basis.

 

3- Thankful for my mom. She. Is. Incredible. Somehow she makes 25 hours come out of a day. She is so supportive of people and what we do as her children. She is loyal and will stand by us till hells end. Couldn’t have gotten a better mom. Love that she cares about my life and what I do with it. She. Rocks.

 

Yes. She is cool than your mom.

 

4- I am not thankful for spiders. Need I say more?

 

5- My dad. He is the coolest guy on the planet. He has taught me how to be successful, and how to take control of my life. I would be no where with out his famous saying.. “go to school and keep your pants on.” I love how we can think outside of the box and still hold to his believes. He is an incredible man. Id be nothing without his example in my life.

 

Learned everything i know from this mug.

 

6- I am not thankful for ignorant people. Whatsoever. Those who can't accept that other people have different beliefs and can love them. They drive me nuts. Honestly they make me angry and upset. I see this on a regular basis being in Utah and there are days I wish I lived on the east coast…maybe med school.

 

7- I am thankful for my sister Sarah. For the longest time we hated each other. Then the best thing happened and we became best friends. More than best friends. There isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t talk to her on a regular basis. We understand each other on a level that blows my mind sometimes. Don’t know how I survived my mission without seeing her. But all I can say is I am glad I don’t have to do that again. Love her to death.

 

We are soarin...flying..

8- I am not thankful for cereal. It. Is NASTY! I know people think I am insane. But think about it….what are you really eating…?

 

9- I am thankful for my brother in law Brian. He is the older and super cool brother that I didn’t get. I don’t think he understands how much I actually look up to him. He is an example of being a husband and a father that I only hope that I can become. Whenever I have car troubles, or anything that is mechanical… I go to Brian first. And 99.9999% he knows what is wrong. Don’t know how I survived without you amigo.

He is the "cool" one of the family. P.S. He isnt actually wearing that costume...

10- I am not thankful for old people in my college classes who think they are best friends with the professors just because they are from the same generation. I am glad you are coming back to school. I support that. But come on…you are no different than the res of us.

 

11- I am thankful for my brother Eric. Currently he is roughing it out in Washington and I couldn’t be more proud of him. He is the strongest kid I know. Sometimes he wants to give up and be like everyone else…but he doesn’t. Which amazes me. He and I share a bond that only brothers have, and I am so proud to say he is my brother. He is the black sheep and doesn’t care. Sometimes I wish I had his carefree attitude. It would take care of a lot of the stress.

Miss this kid, and his incredibly large nose.

 

12- I am not thankful for tuition payments. They are evil. Satan invented them. End. Of. Story.

 

13- I am thankful for my sister Emily. Oh Emily. How we rock. She and I are kind of the same person yet completely different. She is the only one that understands when I start to talk about gas laws, and glomerulouses, and all things science. She is an example to me in that she is incredibly righteous. She make me want to be better at life. She also can do anything. Well except cook….and history…haha life would be a lot more boring without you in my life Em! 

Emily and her squeeze General Chamberlin

 

14- I am not thankful for Voldemort or Umbridge. They both stand for racism and degrading people that are not what you think is honorable. They epitomize all the evils of bigotry and hatred. All they care about is power, yet fail to realize the greatest power of all is love.

 

15- I am thankful for my nephew Zach. He is the cutest child on the planet. The moment I met him I felt this bizzaro connection with the kid. He is my first nephew and as such will probably be spoiled till he dies. We play awesome games such as, super punch, 1 2 3 4, im gonna get you, say MAX, zack of beans, and his new favorite…the electric chair.

Training him how to use his creep.

 

16- I am not thankful for lazy people at work. All I ask is you do your job. Don’t make me do it for you. That’s lame. And worthy to be on this list

 

17- I am thankful for all of my extended family. We are all a bunch of psychos…but we are the coolest psychos this side of them Mississippi. (and on the other side of this great river) Whenever we get together it’s a party. We are all different, but we are all the same in one way or another. Just face it. My family is 3 billion times cooler than your. Yup. Its true.

 

18- I am not thankful for being tired. Really who likes to be tired? It’s annoying and I feel like I am tired far too much. Who is with me?

 

19- I am thankful for this awesome girl named Kylie. She makes me a better person. Our story is crazy and filled with adventures and I would have it no other way. I am so glad my car broke down on the side of the free way. She is intelligent, beautiful, independent, hilarious, and supportive of all I do. (except when I wear my grandpa socks….) I love her, and am so lucky to have her in my life!

Pure. Awesome.

 

20- I am not thankful for singles wards. I have yet to find one where I feel welcome. They always are filled with crazies looking to get married at the drop of a hat, who look at you like you’re a leper if you don’t think the same way they do. All I gotta say is calm down. If we are living good lives….things. Will. Work. Out. I always feel ostracized from singles wards. They make me feel uncomfortable. Deal with it.

 

21- I am very thankful for my INCREDIBLE friends. We are insane. Insane. Each of us is crazy in our own ways, but when you put us all together we are a forced to be reckoned with. I have never met a group of less judging/caring people in the world. Doesn’t matter who you are, they will be your friend for eternity. They know how to love life, and live everyday laughing. And they will stand by you through thick and thin. What more could you ask for in a friend? You all know who you are. If I made a list it would be longer than the bible. If you read this. Thanks.

 

 

22- I am not thankful for being sick. Come on leukocytes. Kick it into high gear!

 

23- I am thankful for higher education. It is kind of the purpose of my life. I whine and gripe about it being stressful and difficult (which it is….) but I need it in my life. I love going to school and feeling apart of something bigger. While it causes me grief and is a demanding mistress. I would be so lost without you school!

 

24- I am not thankful for most sports. Such as basketball. I have a lot of trauma from my past from being the “scronny” “skinny” kid in my gym classes as the one that cant do anything. Lots of bad memories. Lots of bullying. Don’t like sports.

 

 

25- I am thankful for my career path. There are tons of people out there who don’t know what they want to do with their life…and that thought of not knowing what I want to do scares me dead. Glad my dad instilled in my mind that we need to have a plan for our future. I think it’s a big part of why I am ambitious.

 

26- I am not thankful for Drama. Most of the time it is unnecessary and stupid. If people would just talk about things to those they care about, a lot of things would be resolved. Normally it doesn’t…and it becomes a pride issue. And can ultimately kill relationships. Not good.

 

27- I am thankful for books. I cant really describe how I feel about these things. They give me a place to go when I am tired of the world. So many things can be learned just by picking up a good book. They have power. I am 98.7% sure that everything we know about came from a book.

 

28- I am not thankful for preserved lobster copses in my zoology lab. They are gross and stick like you wouldn’t believe…and I have smelled a gross number of things in my academic career.

 

29- I am thankful for America. We are a pretty awesome nation. Wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Compared to the rest of the world we have it pretty nice. Complain all you want about our government. But go try and live in a third world country for two years. You’ll appreciate this country a little bit better.

 

30- I am not thankful for Ursula from “The Little Mermaid.” She is a creep. But I kinda love her creepiness.

 

31- I am thankful for honest and nice people. They give me hope. To see someone helping on my way home, to see a dad playing with his kids, giving a heart felt present to someone. These things inspire me to be better. In a world where selfishness the most important thing…it is miraculous to see someone else help another. The world could do with a lot more of it.

Zach couldnt really control where he was looking at the time...

 

    WOW that was a long post. But well worth it. I now have proper ammunition to use at any family thanksgiving activity that may occur. If you read this ALL THE WAY. You are awesome. And I will give you 400 blogging points. With an extra 500 if it made you think of things you are thankful and not thankful for. Leave feedback! I love it. One could say that I am thankful for feedback…

"Judge not, lest ye be Judged"

Congratulations Obama! This kid supports you!

Well…here is the big post that I have been formulating. Just a preface, this will be a true onslaught of my feelings, so if you suffer from poor heart rate, pregnancy, or a closed mind…please vacate the premise. I want to be transparent and honest in this post. And if you can’t handle that. Leave please.

          I thought that this year’s election was awesome. The road to get to Tuesday night was incredibly hellish, but I thought that when it finally came it came with a bang. As with all holidays I was very excited for the day and was waiting to see what would happen. Not gonna lie, I thought Romney was going to take it away. However, once California went to Obama. I knew Romney had lost. And I was INCREDIBLY glad.

I don’t want to spend this post ranting on what I believe. For your information. I am a liberal. I support Obama. Enough said. This post is more about my feeling for my state and the people that are in it. After Obama had won I witnessed some of the most horrific things I have read on social media. I watched the election while copying things people were saying that were just out right insane. I have complied a list and will share them at the end. I knew it was going to get brutal. But what I experienced was more than brutal it was zealous hate.

           

I honestly do not care who you voted for and what you believe. Whether you are a republican, democrat, libertarian, Mormon, Catholic, Muslim, black, white, gay, straight, or whatever you believe… I try and support you. (This is a big reason as to why I am a liberal). I know my religion can have judgmental issues sometimes, but Tuesday night I was ashamed to call myself a Mormon and I am completely mortified of how my state acted. For a church that prides itself on being “followers of Christ” I saw more hate come from a Christian group than I have seen in a long time. The majority of people were as far from “Christ like” as you can get. (At this moment please direct yourself to the quote section of this page and see for yourself.) The hypocrisy was at its finest. I lost incredible amounts of respect for people who I thought were god-fearing people as they attack and belittle a man who deserves just the same amount of respect as anyone. I have co-workers who aren’t too fond of the LDS church and after the election they can’t stand us. They think our reaction is pathetic. Way to teach by example guys… Christ taught that the second greatest commandment was to love your neighbor. Well a lot of people broke that commandment Tuesday night.

Now I don’t want this to sound like I am perfect. I belittle and judge just as much as the other person. But Tuesday night the comments were honestly making me sick. What gives a human being the right to attack another person, to make assassination threats, to proclaim the world is ending just because of what someone else believes!? If I recall when Hitler did this in Germany things didn’t end so well…and we condemned him to hell. Obama is now the president of the United States. If you like this or not, we need to support the man. He has possibly one of the hardest jobs that anyone can have. Nothing is going to get accomplished in this country if we all just sit around and throw shit at the man, saying he isn’t who God wanted as the president and that America is a wicked generation because of it. America was built by uniting together and overcoming oppression. We mock the founding fathers as we become so divided and hateful towards one person’s ambitions to make this country a better place. Whether you like him or not.

 

            My goal of this post is not to defend Obama or his agenda. It is to defend human decency. We as human beings need to improve. We live in the 21^st century. Accepting differences needs to be second nature. We can hold on to our own beliefs and support different beliefs at the same time. It. Is Okay. I was ashamed of my religion and state this election, and I can only hope we can now pull together, put all these petty differences aside, and embrace the future. Whatever. It. holds. If we do this, then America return to what it was. If you get anything out of this measly post by a disgruntled citizen, please make it that we are all human. We all have faults, and god loves every single one of us. Including Obama, republicans, communists, the gays, the terrorists, and even the atheists. If god loves everyone, and sees them for the human beings they are…why can’t we?

 

To end here is a quote that sums up everything that an election should be about.

 

“A friendly reminder. Some of you are going to have your candidate win today and some of you will have your candidate lose. How you handle the fact says a lot about YOU! The world will not be overtaken by snakes and raining frogs simply because the other guy won. Its that kind of hyper-partisan thinking that keeps us from real solutions. The winner simply got more electoral votes than the non-winner did. Let’s keep some perspective. Then demand our elected leaders work bi-partisanly to get us back on track.”

 

 

Here are the quotes I heard that made me sick. Feel free to vote for your favorite!

“Obama sold the voting business to count  ballets to Mexico, so they will count the ballets and he can cheat…”

 “Because Romney has the priesthood he will be able to save this fallen country…” (did Abraham Lincoln have the priesthood….?)

 “I am unemployed, and I still voted for Romney. Please do not give me some stupid speech about income being the only reason you're voting for a certain candidate.”

 “It is crazy that Democrats will tell you the number of jobs that have been created  as something positive, yet don’t understand the fact that tons of people lost their jobs than gained a job, raising the unemployment percentage to like 7.9. That's like only paying attention to the money you earn and being happy, yet ignoring the fact that you're spending a whole lot more than you're actually making. But, I guess this President is pretty good at that too.” (When Obama took office unemployment was at 10% just saying….do the math. Even I can do that math!)

 “We can’t afford four more years like the last.” (Tweet from Romney’s Campaign)

 “At least I can still be proud of my state.....not so sure about my country right now!” (Reference to Utah and Romney)

 “Well... I guess I'm moving out of the country” (to where? A more socialist country…?)

“Congratulations America, our stupidity amazes me…” (in regards to Obama winning)

 “I am so frustrated right now, looking back at the past four years. How can America be so stupid!?” (this one is high on my list)

 “I'm disappointed and very depressed for our future...” (WHY!?)

 “ The country is screwed. The. End.” (winner?)

 “Shit”

 “Well, now I truly understand the phrase from Elder Holland in the missionary press conference last month on why the Lord is hastening His work.” (trying to understand this one…)

 “Abomination means obomanation.” (second place maybe..?)

 “we are all doomed”

“now I know you're not going to understand this, but... we're screwed” (yeah…I don’t understand…)

 “I honestly feel sick. Complete loss of hope in our country. Whatever. I hope you all get what you wished for.”

“He won because our nation is ripening for destruction as "the voice of the people" have chosen wickedness. Sad.” (THIS IS MY WINNER!)

 IN SOVIET AMERICA, GOVERNMENT RUNS YOU!

 “Too bad there's no land left to settle and start over. Anyone else up for moving to space?”

 “Thankful tweet: I'm glad I'm in god’s hands and not this country's” (Well gods will wants Obama as president….)

 “Prepare from this country to go to crap anybody who voted for Obama if I hear you b**** about what happens look in the mirror and say I'm to blame! Because you helped make it possible. I'm not saying it because I'm Mormon and feel Romney was the man but A dog could do a better job than Obama” (tied for a winner. This one is just cruel)

 To keep it fun. I also accumulated funny quotes I found in the election. Hope this puts a smile on your face and lightens the mood of this post! : D

 “Hey everyone, just a friendly reminder tomorrow is national "please stop posting shit about the election on Facebook" day. Please observe. Thank you.”

 “I think we should have the presidential candidates compete in an American gladiator style obstacle course. (Complete with tights) Fastest time wins.”

  “No one is moving out of this country if their candidate doesn’t win. SHUT UP!”

 “Why did the voter go to the strip club? He was looking for his polling station”

 “If Romney wins I'm moving to hell.” –Tweet from God. (LOVE this one)

 “Did you know that if you don’t post a pic of your “I voted” sticker that your vote doesn’t really count…?”

 “I saw a guy with two “I Voted” stickers on so I called the cops.”

 “Todays the day. Vote or Keep your mouth shut for the next four years…”

 “Dear Florida. Why must you be a pain ever four years? Sheesh!”

 “You’re Welcome” (Tweet from God about Obama)

 “Yes America. You just re-elected the man who was a terrorist Muslim without a valid birth certificate (according to Fox news... haha!) I raise my glass to another four years of the person I stood behind 4 years ago. Keep it rolling, Obama.”

 “I like bagels.” (personal favorite!)

 “Me: Obama won. My little brother: Awe man, that means we are gonna have even worse school lunch!!” (winner!)

 “NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

“Really disappointed with peoples' reactions... Have your lives REALLY been so negatively affected by the policies of pres obama? Do you really think that this election is the end?.. Try to think outside your own boxes my friends.” (AMEN!)

 “Facebook tonight is like a bad accident. You want to look away because its so gross, but it draws you in. People are extremely disrespectful.”

 “Worst part if being at Romney HQ, no alcohol to drown your sorrows” (who bets that he did…)

 “OH NO! OBAMA WON REELECTION! THE WORLD IS GOING TO HELL! Just like it did last time he was elected. I mean, come on, the economy started improving within three months of his inauguration and entered recovery within 14 months; GNP is now at an all-time high, growing equivalent to pre-recession rates. Hell sure seems nicer than I had expected...”

 “Dumbledore was gay…so wouldn’t he support Obama…?”

 

P.S if you made it through this post give yourself 900 blog points. It’s a heavy one.

P.P.S. If I offended you in any way I apologize. However, I was offended more than once and I needed to vent about it.

P.P.P.S I understand that politics will always be heated, but i thought this election was atrocious.