So Gosh Darn Like The Same Person

Today at Smith's the lady behind us in line asked if Alan and I were brothers. Why would she ask that? The comment was completely unsolicited. She must have been thinking, "Wow, those two guys look so gosh darn like the same person, you say to one of them 'you want Kroger?' both of them say yes." After that crossed her mind she just had to know if we were twins, because that would be the only explanation. We actually do look a lot a like. As you can see, the only way to tell us apart is that one of us likes to wear blue while the other likes to wear red. You can also recognize Alan because he's the one that is holding hands with his girlfriend, Councilina Bluffs.

An Interesting Day

I woke up and cooked some eggs and chatted with Alan. While he was walking out the door I threatened to cut his throat while he slept. I hope he didn't take it too bad. I was only kidding. OR WAS I? Then I did a quick chem review and left in time to spend three hours in the testing center. After two hours I was barely half done with the exam. The last hour I was sweating bullets and tapping my fingers uncontrollably on the desk. "Stop TAPPING!" I wanted to scream. My brain was sending the signals, but my fingers weren't listening. "Stop IT! You're going to annoy the people around us!" Still nothing. I gave up and just let them tap as I scrambled to finish the exam. My time ran out and I just had to turn in what I had so I could make it to my mol bio lab. The lab was fun. We isolated the glow in the dark protein from our transgenic bacteria and ran our replicated DNA on the electrophoresis gel. It turns out that I'm homozygous recessive for the section of DNA that we were looking at. Jessica called me while I was in my lab. I told her that I couldn't talk, and that was that. Then I grabbed some lunch at the cougareat with my Lab Partner and afterwards we went to the library to work on our presentation due next week. Work was really slow. I met Adam's fiancee. She seems nice. I told him that I approved. He was glad, because had I not approved he would have had to dump her. After work I went to Route 22 with the intention of discussing something with Chelsea, but it took me a little over an hour to build up the guts to say anything. Things were awkward for a moment, but she made a good point that sometimes things need to be awkward. Awkwardness aside, I feel much better now.

Too much

I finished my five pound tub of potato salad today. I just love the stuff so much. I didn't even realize it until now. The only problem is that five pounds of potato salad is just a little bit too much. Me having potato salad is like leaving on vacation and just giving your dog 20 bowls of food, expecting it to only eat one bowl a day. That'll never happen. Dogs and Kyles have no self control and will eat a month's worth of potato salad in one sitting.

Gavin's going to be a famous basketball player. Council Bluffs is still playing matchmaker. Alan is off with Councilina Bluffs. I'm just trying to remember everything I studied for my Chem exam tomorrow.

Great Success

The big plan turned out better than anticipated. I believe that all parties involved are better because of it. Everyone had at least some doubt about whether or not it would work. I know I did. But all those doubts have now been blown out of the water. I won't go into much detail right now, but if you WANT all the juicy details, just ask me or talk to me for more than five minutes and I'll probably mention it. After everyone came back, I couldn't let them see me and I didn't want to be locked in my room all night, so I snuck out the window and walked to route 22 and hung out with Whitney, Pottawattamie, and Matt until the plan came to completion. Yesterday I slept in really late, bought a large tub of potato salad, ate five buck pizza, went to work, and made and ate pancakes with Chelsea at Route 22. She's a great flipper. And she recognized my amazing chocolate chipping abilities.

Phase 1 Complete

Well, my role in the big plan is now over. The most crucial part is happening as I write this. I am anxious to see how everything turned out. Okay, now on to a completely unrelated topic... I think that it is a lot of fun to pretend to be someone I'm not. I was just discussing it with Councilina Bluffs, Chelsea, and Council Bluffs. When you aren't yourself there is no pressure at all. You can pick your nose, act like an idiot, make fun of yourself, leave your fly unzipped, or anything else that could be embarrassing and it won't matter. I enjoy living vicariously through other people so much that on occasion I have considered living vicariously through myself. If I pretend that I'm not really me, I can take a lot of risks that I normally wouldn't take. I can just pretend that I'm writing a movie script and I'm the main character. I just do what I would want my character to do, and if something goes wrong, It's okay because by the end of the movie I know that everything is going to turn out great.

I Like to Move It

Council Bluffs is talking with Carrie and Alan is talking to Kerri. It turns out that our big plan may involve Carrie, Kerri, Chelsea, Chelsie, Alan, and Alan. That would be neat. Good night.

Squatting Midgets? Perhaps. You? Never

My cell biology exam didn't go to well. The questions are always so open ended that I have no idea what to write so I just ramble on and on about nonsense. My laboratory exam went well though. I kept my cool and was able to complete everything on the exam. Last time I was so rushed that I missed simple things just because of time constraints. The semester is winding down so I need to buckle down and get ready for finals. If I do not, yea, the entire semester shall be in vain.

Mr. Kinase Expert

I did some pretty good studying today. I have two major tests tomorrow that could make or break me. I mean, I have two ominous tests tomorrow that WILL break me. Only having science classes and only studying science has been playing with my brain and invading my dreams. I dreamt that I was at some convention and there was a man sitting behind a table with a sign that said KINASE EXPERT or something to that effect. In the dream it was perfect because I just happened to have a question about Kinases. So I walked up and said, "Hey, I'm studying the pathway of the Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone and I'm having trouble figuring out the order of phosphorylation. I know that MapK is first because when I inhibit it nothing else gets phosphorylated, but I can't inhibit any of the other Kinases. What other method could I use?" He just looked at me and didn't say anything. I couldn't tell if he didn't know the answer or if my question was so simple that it was wasting his precious time. I woke up a little uneasy. I just went jogging with Gavin and Alan. It killed me. I'm so out of shape that if I were supposed to be a square right now, I would actually be a 150 pound tub of Jello. It was fun though.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Church was church and work was work. I spoke to the folks. I can't remember anything else very eventful. Tonight Gavin had a great idea that we are formulating into an awesome plan, but unfortunately, I can't talk about it, and I can't talk about why.

Saturday, March 18, 2006

I spent all day at work. I got home in time to hang out a bit and then to go see the Chronicles of Narnia with the ward. I approve of the movie. I did not feel like my time was wasted.

Friday, March 17, 2006

I was going to try out my grappling hook tonight, but instead Megan and her friend Katy picked me up and we went to Chili's and ate with all of their friends. I got the boneless buffalo chicken salad. I decided on a salad because yesterday Kevin got a salad at Carl's Jr. and it looked really good.

Grappling Hooks and Friends

I got to hang out with Kendall and Nels and Ben and Kevin today. I skipped my chemistry class so I could go to Salt Lake with them. We saw the new Joseph Smith movie at temple square and checked out the almost completely abandoned malls. Nels wanted to go to a Ninja store to get some sandals so we went in search of it, but my car over heated and smoke started coming out of the hood. After going a few places and asking a few people for directions we finally found a Jiffy Lube. The guy there started working on the Intrepid immediately and offered us some hot chocolate while we waited. When he finished he told me that the radiator was bone dry, so he put in two bottles of antifreeze and a quart of oil and some power steering fluid. Then he tossed me my keys and said it was ready to go. I asked what I owed and he said, "nothing." I couldn't believe it. We thanked him and drove off. The car didn't over heat the rest of the trip. We found the ninja store and I bought a grappling hook that I will surely put to good use, and some chopsticks. The picture is of Braxton, Taylor, Me, Nels, and Kendall leaning against my other car before I left for Oregon.

Snake Water

You know in the pac man game when between levels a ghost chases pac man off the screen and then a giant pac man comes back and chases the ghost off the screen? That is the relationship I have with chemistry. It was chasing me, but now the tables have turned and I'm the one doing the chasing. I am going to kick chemistry's butt.
Saturday we woke up early to film our music video. We only got three takes before I had to go and get ready for work so we didn't achieve perfection before showing it at the ward film festival. Everyone did a really good job with their videos. I am genuinly impressed with all the talents of the people in the ward. Great senses of humor, great editing ablility, great showmanship. We are all greaful for and indebted to Councilina Bluffs for putting our performance on a DVD and getting it ready for Saturday night.

The DVD

Yesterday was another great day. The highlight was the arrival of the Hudsucker Proxy. About five years ago I decided that when people asked me what my favorite movie was I would say, "The Hudsucker Proxy." It didn't take me long to realize that very few people have seen this masterpiece of cinema. Now that I own it, I can share the experience of the Hud with all of my friends and loved ones. I listened to more Franz Ferdinand and danced a little bit more. I also practiced for our recording of "A Million Ways to be Cruel" by oK Go. Today wasn't as wonderful as the past two days were. I was more reflective than manic. I was digging around in my suitcases trying to find something and I came across my journal. The last entry I made was my first day in Oregon. It was kind of sad to read what I was thinking the days between my return home from my mission and that fateful day that I took the bus to Oregon. A lot has changed since then.

Joy

I went to my three hour molecular biology lab and finished in an hour and fifteen minutes. That gave me an hour and forty-five minutes of free time. I took that hour and forty-five minutes of free time and converted it to pure, unadulterated joy. After having such a concentrated jolt of joy I felt so great that I blasted some Franz Ferdinand and danced while cleaning the house. My once dirty laundry is now warm and inviting. My once smelly room is now tidy and fragrant. My once sour demeanor is now lively and cheerful.

The 80's and Me

The 80's loves me and I love her back. A lot of people dog on my good friend the 80's. They say that they don't like her movies, or her music, or her fashion, or her politics. They have the right to their own opinion, but it doesn't change the way things are. She is the best thing that could have happened to this country. I know that she is the best thing that has happened to me. Last night I went over to Megan's house and watched a good ol' fashioned movie starring John Cusack. It was more a chick flick than anything, but I still liked it. There were some great lines in it like, "You invade my soul."

Today I went to church and saw the new bishop. We were all disappointed because he doesn't look like anyone famous (our previous bishops include Gordon B Hinckley and William Shatner), but I'm sure he'll be a fine bishop anyway. I'm not going to be rushing to finish any homework now or tomorrow morning because I actually did it all on Friday. It feels great. I hope I can continue to have this same kind of discipline.

Rita gal moped, "End Gonging!"

I actually did some homework today. I think the board I made is really going to help me stay on track for at least 100 hours. Yesterday I ordered the Hudsucker Proxy DVD. I'm struggling to think of anything worth mentioning. Hmmm.... maybe I'll do something now and then write about it before I go to bed. Okay I'm back. I decided to burn something so I printed out the word DISRESPECT and set it on fire. I tried just using the stove, but it didn't give me the flames I wanted so I got out the lighter and was finally satisfied.

Ketchup

It's time to play catch up, so I'll start with today and work backwards. I went to a special suit meeting in Salt Lake instead of going to class. I am proud to be the youngest suit salesman in the area. Everyone there was at least twice as old as me. Most could be my parents and some could be my grandparents. I enjoyed it though because I got free breakfast. Then I bombed a chemistry test and resolved to do better. I made a poster to track my progress so I can be more accountable for my study habits. Then I went to work and came home and now I'm typing this. Now I'll write about previous days as if it still were those days.

February 28, 2006

Today I rushed to finish Megan's skirt. I finished the hem right before I had to rush off to my molecular bio lab. I got a major headache while there and ended up leaving early because I just couldn't concentrate. Once I left the lab I started to feel better. Maybe some of the E coli we were working with crawled up my nose and into my brain so that it could use me as some kind of transport. When I stepped outside it had reached its objective so the colony of bacteria crawled out and jumped into the grass. Then I delivered Megan's skirt after I got home from work. She wasn't there so I just left it with her roommate.

February 27, 2006

I turned 22 years old today. Bummer. I liked being 21. 21 is a good age. 22 is a bad age. I must be a bad person now. Oh well, being bad is just fine with me. In fact, I like being 22 now. Yeah! I'm 22!!!!! The day was pretty uneventful, just how I like it. Some people knew it was my birthday somehow. Tara and Leslie brought over cookies while I was at work. After work I went to wal-mart. I bought myself pickles and flowers. Alan and councilina got me Butterfingers and Chelsea got me otter pops and pringles with a napkin Birthday Card. My mom and dad got me an awesome digital camera so now I can post more pictures. I love it when they spoil me.

February 26, 2006

Church was good. We were late and sat in the stairway during sacrament meeting. I had my ecclesiastical endorsement interview thingy. I passed. Go me! The rest of the day was spent working on Megan's skirt. It's going to be tough to finish before she gets back from Mexico, but I'll try. So far girls have actually said that the skirt is cute. If I actually knew anything about sewing it could have actually turned out to be a pretty descent article of clothing.

February 25, 2006

Almost the entire day was spent sewing. I really enjoy it. I'm happiest when I'm working on a project that really doesn't benefit me in any way. There's just so much less stress when I'm not expected to do anything. I didn't have to find Chazlyn. That's why looking for her felt so great. If it had been a homework assignment, I wouldn't have done it. While I was sewing, Councilina, Pottawattamie, and Chelsea called to invite us to play Ultimate Frisbee. We admitted to being losers and declined even after they tried to tempt us by saying they would where spandex. I know they were just joking, but it made me think. Are there girls out there that think guys just sit around waiting for opportunities to see girls in tight clothing? Are there girls that see us as being so shallow? That reminds me of an embarrassing moment. In high school art class I was just staring off into space. You know, I just dazed off and was thinking about something random and unimportant. Suddenly I snapped out of it when the girl next to me nudged me and said, "What are you staring at?" It then occurred to me that there was a girl leaning over a desk in front of me with her butt in the air. I immediately turned red and tried to explain myself, but I bet to this day she thinks of me as some pig who does nothing but lust after young girls.

February 24, 2006

I had the day off today, so after class I called Megan to see if she wanted to do anything. When I called she told me that she was on a cruise headed to Mexico with her family. I was amazed. She deserves so many cool points for that. Anyway, I decided that I wanted to top it, so I grabbed my briefcase with my passport and started driving towards Salt Lake. On the way I felt a little uneasy so I turned around and went to wal mart instead. While there I talked to Braxton and tried to think of what I could do to top a spontaneous cruise to Mexico. I decided that there was no way and decided to make her a skirt instead. I bought the fabric and called her roommate Ashly to find out what size to make it. She hasn't called me back yet, so I'll probably start on it tomorrow and try to finish before she returns.