All that Jazz. . .

Yes is My New Favorite Word

2011-12-26T16:55:00.001-07:00

I'm engaged. Yep, the amazing Miss. Kelsey Chandler agreed to become a Mrs. with me. We went ring shopping last Monday and Tuesday and found a ring she loved. She wasn't expecting me to buy it the next day and then propose on Thursday, but that's what I did. On Thursday, I was planning on going to Cedar City with her and her grandpa. I knew that SUU was the most appropriate place for me to pop the question as we both are quite proud of that wonderful school, met there, dated there, etc. I called an old SUUSA advisor, Jake Johnson, who put me through to Donna, the VP of Student Services. She got on the phone and asked what she could do to help out. She was very excited as she worked with both Kelsey and me quite a bit last year. So, I told her I wanted to propose in the Great Hall, where Kelsey and I had attended a dance together last year and is one of our favorite spots on campus. Thanks to her and Kelsey's brother/family, everything went off without a hitch and Kelsey was very surprised. It was perfect. I certainly consider myself quite lucky to be getting an amazing girl like her. She's beautiful, smart, funny, and my best friend. I couldn't be happier. And, as if saying yes wasn't wonderful enough, she gave me a new camera for Christmas the next day! Yep, she's amazing.

Of course that was the highlight of the year for me but to make the day even better, I received a call from George Mason Law School congratulating me on being accepted into their Fall 2012 program. The stars certainly aligned for me last week. Hopefully that is just one of many acceptances I get over the next few weeks.

Life has always been good to me, but it was especially good to me this week.

Merry Christmas.

Life is Good

2011-12-05T23:34:00.000-07:00

It's late and I have to get up early tomorrow but what's new. That's how my life rolls. Life is tough sometimes and for that, I am grateful for the principles taught in the following gem of a video. If you aren't familiar with the LDS church, you may not know that we believe there are 12 living apostles on the earth today as there were when Christ lived on the earth. They speak every 6 months to all the members of the church so it feels like I have gotten to know these fine gentlemen even though I have only met a few very briefly. Through their words, I have learned so much.

The weird part is, that as I have listened to them speak so often, I have started expecting them to fill certain roles and I can identify them by the characteristics they exude while speaking. For example, Elder Bednar is the amazingly even-tempered teacher, Elder Scott is reflective and just makes everything clear, President Monson can always be counted on for a story and a smile, Elder Holland (I might get in trouble for this) is the enforcer. Ok, so that sounds really bad, but you know how he is, he's the guy who you go to if really want to know the truth about how you look because he's not afraid to say it. He is an amazing example of courage, that's for sure. I could go on but I'll just move on to the man of the hour.

Elder Nelson has always had a unique role in my view of the apostles. I feel like he is the sweet grandpa who always gives great advice and little tidbits of wisdom when he speaks. Maybe I see him as a grandpa because I know a bunch of his grandkids but he fills that role for me and the principles he shares in this video were quite comforting to me tonight.

Although the world may seem to be crashing down around us with natural disasters, personal trials, family struggles, etc, it's nice to know that, if we stay close to Him, our hearts will not fail us and turn to fear.

Law School Applications

2011-11-11T01:44:00.000-07:00

It's 1:41 currently as I begin this blog post. It will be short, but I had to just get my excitement out somewhere. I finally finished my personal statement and resume today. I mean, I had other drafts that I revised a billion times before I decided it was as good as it was gonna get but finally, today I finished them. And so the applying process begins. I applied to the University of Utah and Arizona State tonight. I'll definitely be applying to more tomorrow and Saturday. Hopefully on Saturday I can get all of them in. I'll have to have a little tab on the side of my page keeping track of the status of my applications.

Anyway, just had to let someone know how excited I was about this.

World Series - Game 6

2011-10-28T01:06:00.001-06:00

Go Cardinals. I just watched the most exciting and crazy baseball game of my life. I know some of you might rather lick rocks than watch baseball, well, at least one of you. I know the season can get a little long sometimes. But come on people, it's America's favorite past-time! It's part of our history! Ok, the point of this post was not to give you all a lecture for not appreciating baseball. The point of this post was to remind those who watched game 6 of how awesome it truly was! If you didn't see it, find it and watch it! I was literally jumping up and down screaming with excitement when David Freese tied the game up with his triple that he hit to right field. That right fielder will forever hate himself for that error. However, to give him credit, and Freese credit, it wasn't necessarily an easy ball to catch.

Anyway, GO CARDINALS! Last time they won the world series, I was in the MTC. I'm excited to see this one.

Also, Pujols is a funny last name.

Look at this box score! Isn't it amazing? Seriously guys, this game was one for the books.

	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11		R	H	E
TEX	0	1	1	0	3	0	0	2	0		9	15	2
STL	0	1	0	1	0	1	2	2	1		10	13	3

10 Minute Brain Drain

2011-10-14T16:16:00.001-06:00

Ok, I have ten minutes to write a blog post while on my break. I'm just going to dump everything that is in my brain right now into this little blog text box.

First of all, law school. I can't stop thinking about it. I'm excited, nervous, stressed about getting the appliations all finished up, nervous, excited, excited. Did I say I was excited? Yeah, I am. I can't wait to get back into school. I am so grateful for my job, but, I just feel like I'm in this transition period of my life and I just want to move forward.

I'm ready for a change. I like changing it up, learning new things, taking risks (Kelsey's trying to get me to jump out of a plane with her and I'm still trying to decide if I like risks that much), seeing new places, meeting new people, etc. Of course I love the few static things that I can and do rely on like my family, my home, my friends, the gospel, however, I feel like sitting still at a cubicle is killing me. I love the people I work with and the experience I have gained so far but it's hard when you know it's only a temporary thing.

Next brain dump item: halloween. If you haven't checked out Gardner Village lately, maybe you should click on the link. You will see a witch that is a silly looking 70s diva on the left and that would be my mother. She is a witch at Gardner Village this year and is loving it. I'm proud of her and thought I'd share what she's doing because it's awesome. Here she is below.

I have the coolest mom ever. Well, I'm out of time. Man that went fast and my brain is still full of stuff. More for later I guess.

Toodles!

Hello World and Who Are You?

2011-09-27T11:51:00.002-06:00

Today, the amazing Kelsey Chandler showed me how you can check where your blog audience comes from. This discovery was thrilling, mysterious, a little creepy, and cool all at the same time. Just so you know, as of 11:36 AM on September 27, 2011, my blog has received the following visits since the inception of All that Jazz:

United States 1,809 (I'd guess 300-400 probably came from me viewing my own profile)

Russia 70

Denmark 67

Japan 27

Malaysia 24

South Korea 18

Canada 16

Chile 15

Mexico 15

China 14

Though it may be kind of creepy that you're looking at my blog and I don't know you, I extend a digital hand of friendship to you all and say hello.

I wonder who these people are. . .

Really though, I'm disappointed that I have no hits from Argentina. Have I disappeared off the map of all the personas de Argentina? It's probably time for some shameless self-promotion to the Bahienses, Marplatenses, Porteños, Cordobeses, Pampeanos, etc. I love the different names of the people of Argentina. They're fun.

I miss Argentina.

Weekday Update with Your Host, Justin Nelson

2011-09-13T00:14:00.000-06:00

Usually I write a new blog post with purpose. I have something to say or something to report or share. Today, I come without any real thought as to what to write. Don't blame me, it's a Monday. I couldn't sleep though and I knew that it had been too long since I last wrote and it's always satisfying for me to record at least part of what I am doing, hence, the blog. I need a bit of a pick-me-up and so I write.

I guess I can start with the obvious, my job is great. The people I work with are great. My family is great. We have our issues but I love every single one of my family members and couldn't be happier with the way my family is made up. I love my church calling. Yes, I do. No, really, I promise I do. I feel like I may have to convince some people because I've noticed that I complain a bit about how busy the calling makes me but I love it. I'm the Executive Secretary in my ward (after having just left a ward where I served in the same position for almost a year) and working with this bishopric has been very uplifting. It is neat to work with two bishoprics and see where the strengths of each and how each works so differently and yet, still, find a way to bless the lives of so many people little thought of themselves. The bishop of this ward has already become somewhat of a mentor for me and has given me great advice and a great example to follow.

I miss SUU. Yep, sorry folks but we have discarded smooth contextual transitions for today. I can't wait to go back this weekend to visit for homecoming with Kelsey. It's going to be a blast and a half to see some old friends. As I think back about the time I had down in little Cedar City, I can't believe how many great experiences I was able to have. I don't know how it all came to be but I was certainly blessed to have been in the circumstances I was while living down there.

Life at home is fun but busy. I've certainly got enough going on with the job, calling, an LSAT prep class that consists of 16 hours class-time a week, preparing my law school applications, and of course dating an amazing girl. But I wouldn't have it any other way right now. Things are good blog world. I know that the reach of my words is not very far but even so, most of the time I write for me more than anyone else anyway because sometimes it's soothing to just get things down on pape...-er uh, blog. . .post? Yeah, that works I guess.

Ummm, so to go along with the theme of this post which is basically a theme of not really having a theme, I thought I would share this random video that made me miss the good ole days of Sesame Street. I loved this show and oh how I loved the yip-yip martians. Enjoy.

Mark Preston Leavitt Turns 25.

2011-08-04T14:03:00.000-06:00

So you may think you're pretty cool or that you have cool friends but if your name isn't Mark Preston Leavitt, well, let's just say, you will always come in second place. M. Preston Leavitt, P-Lev, Señor Fantástico, Mr. Popper (he likes penguins), or whatever you know him by, is an inspiration to all. All single men should thank a one, Kelsi Einfeldt (now Leavitt) for removing him from the dating scene. All women should rejoice that Preston serves as such a firm reminder that there are still men who know how to be men out there. All animals must resoundly applaud his love of nature and the outdoors. Some even call him the animal whisperer. Yes, we must all praise the heavens that 25 years ago, one of the finest specimens was born to the earth. Happy birthday my friend. Yes, this man is a friend of mine. What a lucky soul am I. Please enjoy the picture shrine that I've compiled below.

Feeling Blessed

2011-05-19T16:36:00.002-06:00

It hadn't been a week since graduation and I was offered a job at the University of Utah as an Academic Support Specialist. I am pretty happy about the job to tell the truth. I applied for the job during the last week of school. On Tuesday of last week I received a call asking if I would come in to interview with them on Wednesday. I went in for the interview which went very well I thought and went home. They told me that I should expect to hear back about the position a week from that time. The next morning I was with my good friend Cody heading to Preston and Kelsi Leavitt's wedding when I got a call with an offer. I was ecstatic. For never having to interview for a real job, I felt pretty lucky, blessed really, to be receiving a job so quickly. Now I am just waiting to start until Monday and this week has really shown me how great it is to actually have a job. Although it is kind of nice after such a busy year, just sitting around my house with nothing to do got old real fast. I'm soooo glad to go out and work and to get to work in higher education makes it even better. I loved my jobs at SUU and have been considering whether or not to go into higher education a bit so this will be the perfect job. Oh and did I mention that the pay and benefits are great?

Gradumacated

2011-05-09T13:07:00.004-06:00

Goodbye Southern Utah University and hello world. . .of the unemployed. It's funny how quickly one can go from being too busy for his own good to the position of when having to choose what to eat for lunch is one of the biggest decisions of the day. I moved home on Saturday and now sit in front of my computer screen looking for jobs, e-mailing people asking for opportunities and wondering what will happen if a couple months from now I still don't have a job. Ok, so maybe I worry too much. I'm sure that I will find a job, I just don't want it to be cleaning graffiti off the side of buildings downtown. I mean, isn't that why I received a college degree in the first place, so that I could get a better job than that? My mom says I should just accept whatever comes my way as it may only be for a short time. She has a point, but if I wasn't planning on continuing my education in law school, it would be hard to realize that after four years of school, a job at Wal-Mart which doesn't even require a degree, is one that I consider applying for. A little frustrating? Yes. Do I regret my time at SUU? Not one bit. It was a wonderful experience that I will never forget. The people I met there have become my closest friends and confidants. I learned about who I really am at SUU and picked up some valuable life lessons along the way. Go T-Birds!

Day 10: A Song That Makes You Fall Asleep

2011-04-12T19:01:00.007-06:00

Nickel Creek--Out of the Woods

I discovered Nickel Creek when I was a junior in high school and was browsing the music section at Barnes & Noble. When I heard a sample of This Side, I was instantly hooked. These guys are the reason I have the secret (not so secret anymore) desire to play the banjo. I love it. They use all sorts of beautiful acoustic instruments to create some amazing songs. I love this song because of how deep the harmonies are. There is quite a serene feeling that comes from just listening to this song. If there was one band I could see in concert, it would be Nickel Creek. Hope you enjoy.

Day 9: A Song That You Can Dance To

2011-04-11T20:40:00.002-06:00

Michael Jackson--Smooth Criminal

Ok, so I took a hiatus from the blogging world. But I'm back!

For those of you have seen me dance, I apologize. I don't dance well, nor do I ever really have a desire to dance all that much, but, how can you not dance to Michael Jackson songs? Sure he was a little weird but the music's great! Ok, so maybe you aren't the biggest fan, but I grew up on this stuff. My dad would blast Beat It, Black or White, Thriller, and of course Smooth Criminal on his tape deck. . .yep, I still remember cassette tapes. Anyway, me, my sister Jessica and my brother Ryan would dance our hearts out to this stuff with our parents.

On one of those many nights of us dancing to Michael Jackson, I was probably 5 or 6, and I started dancing on the armrest of a chair. I lost my balance and hit my head on the corner of the wall. It's one of the most vivid memories I have. I had to go to the hospital and get stitches right on the top of my head but don't you worry, I didn't let that stop me from dancing to Michael Jackson.

6 Year Old Hired at National Railway Museum

2011-04-05T18:10:00.003-06:00

Alright alright, don't worry! There are no child labor laws being broken here. The letter below was sent in to the National Railway Museum in the UK by a 6-year-old boy and it is probably the cutest thing I have seen in a long time. This came from Letters of Note blog once again which I still find fascinating. Anyway, the museum found it so endearing that they appointed him the new Director of Fun at the museum.

Day 8: A Song of Which You Know All the Words.

2011-04-04T23:06:00.007-06:00

Chicago--Feel

How can you not like a band who has released more chart topping rock ballads like "You're the Inspiration" and "Hard to Say I'm Sorry." This song, however, is one of their lesser known songs as it's from their latest album Chicago XXX, (yes, that's right, they have released 30 albums) and it was released in 2006. Crazy to think that they are still producing records (yeah, supposedly they are working on another album right now) and that they have been around for 44 years. Anyway, I do know all the words to this song and I'm proud of it. Once, on one of the many drives I have made to Cedar City (by myself), I called in to request this on one of the two FM radio stations that have reception on the stretch between Fillmore and Beaver and they certainly played it while I belted it out in my car. I had never called a radio station to request a song before so I felt like I actually accomplished something in that 3 & 1/2 hour drive.

Day 7: A Song that Reminds You of an Event

2011-04-04T00:39:00.005-06:00

Dave Matthews Band--Grey Street

This song always brings me back to the actual DMB concert last August that was phenomenal. Truly unforgettable. This song also just reminds me of summers in high school. I have loved Dave Matthews Band for quite some time now and this is one of my favorites.

In other news, conference was great today and yesterday. I watched it with Kelsey and it was very enjoyable.

Day 6: A Song that Reminds You of Somewhere

2011-04-03T01:05:00.003-06:00

Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (Iz)--Henehene Kou ' Aka
Daddy Yankee--Gasolina

So I have two for this one. What ya gonna do?

Ok, sooner or later I'll get back to the mainstream music but let me just say, there's nothing that brings me back to my favorite vacation ever in Hawaii than Iz. His music is just awesome to listen to and for some reason Henehene Kou'Aka really brings me back better than any of his other songs. I'm sure you have heard his version of Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And yes he was a huge guy. Unfortunately he passed away.

The second song is not even worth listening to but imagine walking through the dirt streets of the poorest neighborhood you can think of and hearing this song blasting out of the open windows and doors of at least one house per block. That was my mission in Argentina and every time I hear this song it brings me back. Wish I had a better song that reminded me of the mission. I literally heard this song at least once a day while on my mission. Of course there is other good Argentine music that I listen to now that is actually pleasing on the ear and it reminds me of that wonderful place but this was the reality of the poor streets. At least I didn't force any cumbia on you. Want to hear some horrible music? Just look cumbia up on youtube. You're in for a treat.

Day 5: A Song that Reminds You of Someone

2011-04-02T02:01:00.003-06:00

Bill Haley--Rock Around the Clock

This song is a bit dated but it's a classic and is still known by kids all over because of people like Ms. Marshall, my fifth grade teacher and my favorite at that. She was one of the spunkiest ladies I've ever met. She and her best friend, a fellow fifth grade teacher Ms. Taylor created "50's day" at Horizon Elementary School (my alma mater) and all the boys would come with their hair slicked back and the girls came wearing poodle skirts. There was an assembly that day and the choir would sing this song. Ms. Marshall developed an adaptation of Happy Days for the stage with acting parts and everything. I played Squiggy in the play. Those were great times. I remember that it was a very sad day at Horizon when she announced her retirement. I think she retired about 10 years ago or so and they still do "50's day."

Day 4: A Song that Makes You Sad

2011-03-31T23:43:00.002-06:00

Marvin Gaye--What's Going On

I love Marvin Gaye. He has written some great songs like Ain't no Mountain High Enough and I Heard it Through the Grape Vine. This song, also very well-known, is inspiring but it makes me think about the hatred, racism, bigotry, discrimination and evil in the world and it makes me sad. Atrocities are happening all over the world every day because people are unable to agree to disagree. Wouldn't it be incredible if there was some way to avoid the hate and bloodshed that too often accompanies conflict? Wouldn't it be great if kids grew up learning to embrace the diversity of the world? Now, I know that sometimes war is unavoidable but it is a sad part of our existence here on earth.

The video below is older and it starts out with a weird Motown intro cartoon but the music starts about 30 seconds in.

Day 3: A Song that Makes You Happy

2011-03-30T23:36:00.004-06:00

Michael Kamen--An American Symphony

Ok, so I might be cheating a little on this because I think this song makes me happy because of the movie it is in. One of my favorite movies of all time is Mr. Holland's Opus. Maybe it's because I love music so much. I remember growing up I considered being a music teacher because of this movie. The end scene of the movie, (what I have attached below) has always been one of my favorite scenes. If you haven't seen the movie before, it is amazing and you should take the time to watch it. Yes some of this is kind of cheesy but it is so much more powerful when you see the whole movie leading up to it. Anyway, if you don't want to watch the whole scene, you can just skip to the music which is at about 6:40. If you want to know the premise of the movie though you will get it just from watching this clip. It's quite touching. Go watch it sometime.

Day 2: Least Favorite Song

2011-03-29T23:01:00.002-06:00

David Hasselhoff--Hooked on a Feeling

Ok, to be fair, the song below is not my least favorite song. I was having a hard time figuring out what songs I hate. Of course the list probably includes almost everything rap and heavy metal screamy stuff. I had to go with the song I chose though because it definitely has some entertainment value to it for it being more stupid than anything. The people making the video and David Hasselhoff must be crazy. Sadly, I could see David watching this music video and thinking to himself, "wow, I am soooo cool," and really believing it. Anyway, I hope you can have a good laugh at America's former dream lifeguard of the classic television series "Baywatch" which was the most watched television show in the world with over 1.1 billion viewers a week according to Guiness Book of World Records! Now there's a good dose of trivia for ya.

If you thought this was just a joke, try looking up some of the Hoff's other hits like Jump in my Car or Secret Agent Man.

Day 1: Favorite Song

2011-03-28T23:54:00.005-06:00

Amos Lee--Shout Out Loud

This has to be the hardest day of the challenge so I guess it's better to get it over with first. I have so many favorite songs, some from growing up, some from different moments in my life, some sad, some happy, but this is my favorite song right now and I think it will always be one of my faves. I love its simplicity, the blues feel that it has and of course the lyrics. The video is real simple too but it is absolutely perfect for this song. Sorry if there is an ad before the song. It's worth it though. It is also the most played song on my Itunes.

Caving. . .

2011-03-28T23:32:00.002-06:00

First of all let me tell you all that I am reading John Adams and it is intriguing! Just thought I'd follow up with you on my efforts to read a book. Secondly, I'm caving. I know it's the trendy cliche thing to do one of those 30 day song challenges but listen, my life would not be the same without music and let's be honest I have some of the craziest music likings out there. Anyway, below you will find the list of all the songs that I have to post to complete the challenge. Maybe I just feel pressured because my friend Bryn and my sister Lindsy both have just completed the challenge and I am not one to be left behind when it comes to music stuff. Anyway, hope you enjoy!

* day 01 – your favorite song
* day 02 – your least favorite song
* day 03 – a song that makes you happy
* day 04 – a song that makes you sad
* day 05 – a song that reminds you of someone
* day 06 – a song that reminds you of somewhere
* day 07 – a song that reminds you of a certain event
* day 08 – a song that you know all the words to
* day 09 – a song that you can dance to
* day 10 – a song that makes you fall asleep
* day 11 – a song from your favorite band
* day 12 – a song from a band you hate
* day 13 – a song that is a guilty pleasure
* day 14 – a song that no one would expect you to love
* day 15 – a song that describes you
* day 16 – a song that you used to love but now hate
* day 17 – a song that you hear often on the radio
* day 18 – a song that you wish you heard on the radio
* day 19 – a song from your favorite album
* day 20 – a song that you listen to when you’re angry
* day 21 – a song that you listen to when you’re happy
* day 22 – a song that you listen to when you’re sad
* day 23 – a song that you want to play at your wedding
* day 24 – a song that you want to play at your funeral
* day 25 – a song that makes you laugh
* day 26 – a song that you can play on an instrument
* day 27 – a song that you wish you could play
* day 28 – a song that makes you feel guilty
* day 29 – a song from your childhood
* day 30 – your favorite song at this time last year

Mid-March Resolution

2011-03-21T19:59:00.003-06:00

I need to read more books. I found this really interesting blog today called "Letters of Note: Correspondence Deserving of a Wider Audience." Seriously, check it out. It is this great collection of letters that are really interesting. One of the simpler letters really caught my attention as I was going through the blog. It was one from Chuck Jones, creator and contributor to many of the greatest cartoons ever like Wile E. Coyote, Pepe Le Pew, Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck and many more. The letter is below.

I need to test my strength and have a good read. It's been too long.

Posting from Paradise

2011-03-18T12:03:00.007-06:00

This is where I'm staying for Spring Break right now!

enjoying this

and this

and this

one block away from this

What a glorious week it has been. More info and pictures to come soon.

159, February, and the Jimmer Show

2011-03-08T01:02:00.004-07:00

So I can't sleep. I'm listening to Sugar Ray (shamelessly might I add), reminiscing about where all my childhood days have gone to. Wondering how the heck I turned 23 last year and thinking, I don't even know where I was this last February. It's like it never even happened. But I know it did. I took the LSAT as I mentioned in my last post over a month ago. . .my bad. . .but I did get my score back and I am pleased to report a satisfactory 159. Nothing to brag about and yet nothing to be ashamed of so, there it is, broadcast to the world. It's about the 78th percentile if you want some perspective. I am actually trying to consider whether I should take it again in June. Not sure though. With my grades, extracurriculars, and a good personal statement, I will be accepted into a respectable program. According to the Law School Admissions Council regression formula they came up with, I have about a 50% chance of getting accepted into BYU which isn't very encouraging in my mind because that means it's more like 25% as BYU loves their diversity and when it comes to diversity, well, let's just say I fit the mold that they try to break out of. But who knows, they need to take a few white Mormon boys right? I imagine if I knew someone important at the school I could get my foot in the door. Maybe I can get Jimmer to write me a letter of recommendation. Sure, he doesn't know me, but he seems like a nice enough guy that he would sign an endorsement for me or something. He's amazing by the way. Had to mention it. Go BYU.

Well, other than that, I am living a pretty routine life right now trying to stay caught up in classes, student government stuff, and spend time with a certain special young lady. Speaking of whom, I am quite jealous of her as she is heading off to England for 10 days with her family tomorrow and then shortly after her return she will be heading off to Abu Dhabi with the Provost and 9 other students for a neato conference called Education Without Borders. Can you say world traveler? Yeah. . .I'm spending the month in beautiful Cedar City, which, yep, I just checked, is blanketed in several inches of brand new snow. Love the late winter snow storms. But, as my good friend Cody Alderson always says, "it's good for the snow pack."

What am I going to do when I graduate in May you may be asking? Well, who knows. All that is guaranteed is that I will be a counselor for GHA at the end of June which I really can't wait for. I was just told today that I was selected to be a GHA Counselor! So excited. I love working with youth.

Thought I'd share a nice picture with a couple of my favorite things combined. Penguins and logic. Love it! Thanks for reading this very random post by the way.

Logic Game

2011-02-05T19:45:00.002-07:00

So I was studying for the LSAT today and came across this question that I found really difficult for some reason. I got the answer right in the end but it took me longer than it should have. I thought I would share with you all what a typical logic games question consists of. (Don't pity me as I actually do find it enjoyable to tell you the truth)

At a concert exactly eight compositions--F, H, L, O, P, R, S, and T--are to be performed exactly once each, consecutively and one composition at a time. The order of their performance must satisfy the following conditions:

T is performed either immediately before F or immediately after R.
At least two compositions are performed either after F and before R, or after R and before F.
O is performed either first or fifth.
The eighth composition performed is either L or H.
P is performed at some time before S.
At least one composition is performed either after O and before S, or after S and before O.

(Using the information above answer the following question)

If exactly two compositions are performed after F but before O, then R must be performed

(A) first
(B) third
(C) fourth
(D) sixth
(E) seventh
(F) Maybe Justin should stop blogging about questions that he finds difficult and study so that they won't be so difficult in the future.

hint: Though choice F may be true, it is not the correct answer for this question.

Awesome

2011-02-05T17:18:00.002-07:00

Just discovered this totally awesome blog titled "1000 Awesome Things." It's quite exciting. You never know what the next day will bring in terms of awesomeness but at least you can be sure of one thing; it will be awesome!

Check it out!

Countdowns

2011-02-01T22:34:00.005-07:00

10 days until the LSAT.

80 days until Ryan comes home.

94 days until I graduate.

157 days until I turn 24.

Words!

2011-01-29T00:49:00.003-07:00

I don't proclaim to be the most accurate in grammatical correctness, however, I do enjoy the pursuit thereof and this video made my day! Ha, I love words! And if they had emotions, I'm pretty sure they would love me back. . .because. . .well, just Fredette about it. Wait, did I just subtly refer to the greatest basketball player in the NCAA by substituting his name for the not-so-similar word "forget?" You bet I did! Oh yeah, the topic of this post is supposed to be words so, enjoy the video.

History of Social Media

2011-01-25T08:55:00.006-07:00

Thought this was interesting. PS, I just set up my Twitter account @justinpnelson.
(Click on it to see it enlarged).

Deer Family

2011-01-25T00:04:00.003-07:00

No, this is not a letter to my family. I saw a family of deer walking across my street as I was pulling up to my house. What's that you're thinking? Yes, yes, I do live in an awesome place (despite my messy house). I take Cedar City for granted a lot. It is beautiful here. Though the town is a little behind when it comes to, well, anything, it is a great place to live and sometimes I can't help but appreciate the town's reluctance to modernize. It is needed but I can see why some residents wish to preserve its tradition and easy-going way of life. I need to take some time and appreciate the red rocks and beautiful sunsets we have here as I will soon depart from this great place.

Bobby McFerrin

2011-01-19T23:10:00.003-07:00

If you don't know who this guy is I won't be mad, I promise. However, you should try to correct that. This guy is amazing. His career really started while he worked as a piano accompanist for the University of Utah modern dance department. He later worked in a hotel playing jazz piano for a restaurant downtown Salt Lake and started writing music. Most famed for "Don't Worry, Be Happy," Bobby is mainly known as a jazz vocalist and I love his unique style. You HAVE to watch the video of him below. Even if you don't like vocal jazz or you think it's weird. . .suck it up and get a little culture for the day. He's a jazz great. You've got to wait it out until about 1:50 into the video. I bet you have never seen or heard anything like this. I don't know what drove me to have such unique taste for music but I absolutely love stuff like this.

The video is a little off from the singing but it was the best quality I could find.

Back in the Swing of Things

2011-01-14T17:08:00.005-07:00

You know, I kinda miss the days when the first week of school was a breeze and nothing big ever happened. But I shouldn't complain because I love my job. I love working with SUU administrators, students, and helping to make SUU a better place. Yeah, yeah, a little cheesy sounding but it is very rewarding. I have had a great experience as the Academic Vice President and I couldn't be working with better people. I have so many people that I can count on.

Things on my to-do list include:

Rework (for the 15th time) the Funding Policy.
Study for the LSAT (February 12 is the big day).
Clean my office.
Appoint a new Senator to represent the HSS College.
Appoint a Senator to represent the Graduate School.
Look for jobs.
Develop my Ping Pong skills.
Exercise.
Go somewhere cool because I am an adult now.
Earn money so that I can go somewhere cool.
Get some piano practice time in.
Learn how to play the banjo (this will always be on my to do list).

I noticed that my office is mess now so I am going to clean it and then I can check it off the list!

Wish me luck and wish the defending WAC champions, the SUU Gymnastics team, luck as they face off against defending national champs, UCLA, tonight! For some reason I have a feeling that saying I love going to gymnastics meets makes me a creep. But let's be honest, it's one of our most successful athletic programs and it's exciting! And they basically risk life and limb doing some of the things they do in their uneven bars, beam, vault, and floor routines. Yep, that's right, I know how it works. Unfortunately we are without our star athlete for the season because of a horrible injury to her leg. Anyway, should be fun. In addition, a pretty amazing girl is singing the National Anthem tonight. . .just sayin.

Debbie Downer

2011-01-12T10:51:00.004-07:00

Sorry, I had to put this video on the blog. Just saw it after searching for the origin of Debbie Downer. I was curious about who came up with the slang term and oddly enough, I can't find anything about it other than that it came from a Saturday Night Live skit. Hilarious.

TED!

2011-01-12T10:29:00.004-07:00

So I decided that maybe I was being a little bit of a "Debbie Downer" in my last post. It did have a bit of a negative tone to it. That being said, I feel like I have to include my thoughts about Verizon finally getting the Iphone. I don't really care. I couldn't afford the data plan if I wanted to. They are talking about a data plan that might cost as much as $120! How ridiculous is that? I can get free internet almost anywhere now except the road. Maybe when I'm so important that I need to be able to check my e-mail while in commute to my big person job I will consider it. But for right now, I am still doing fine with my slider phone with unlimited texting and 200 minutes of talk (or some amount like that).

Are you familiar with TED talks? If not, do you want to be inspired for a cost of 10-20 minutes of your time? Check out www.ted.com. Some of these talks have changed my perspective multiple times. We just watched the talk below and it changed my perspective on leadership. Two thumbs up for leadership development! Two thumbs down for sound quality (though they change his microphone about 5 minutes in making it better).

I loved the sound of the plane passing overhead when he talks about the Wright brothers finally taking flight (it's at about 10:30 of the video).

2010: The Year of the Apple

2011-01-04T17:56:00.004-07:00

I am a current events junkie. news.google.com is one of my most visited sites, I find myself listening to NPR more frequently now than ever, and I could watch CNN, Fox News, even MSNBC for hours. I don't know what it is, but I am fascinated with news. Whatever the top story is, whether it's 5,000 red-crested blackbirds randomly falling from the sky one night in Arkansas, or another article about the latest Sarah Palin drama, I probably know something about it. It seems to be an obsession that ranks right up there with music, SUU, and college football. One thing I got sick of reading about in 2010 was Apple's dominance of the tech world.

Alright news media, we get it. Apple is the best. Though HP, Microsoft, and Mark Zuckerburg might combine to create an epic device to wage battle with the iphone, I still would put my money down on Steve Job's pocket-sized dream machine. Honestly though, I am getting sick of hearing about how the Droid is picking up speed, or about the new speculation on whether Verizon will release the Iphone. Even if they do, I will probably stick to my Samsung slider phone with T-Mobile without a data plan. It was free! All these reporting of sales numbers and which device is doing better than the other drives me bonkers for some reason. Unless you are reporting that Apple has gone bankrupt or that all Iphones will self-destruct on 11/11/2011, let me read my news in peace.

This brings me to one more interesting thought. Have you seen the commercial I posted here?

Call me 19th century but I don't find myself needing to buy a train ticket with my AT&T phone because I saw a random girl in the window of a train going to a place I don't need to go. I do love the whole rewind concept of the commercial, but what kind of world do these media people think we are living in anyway? Though spontaneity is something I love, I would have to be a creep to think that some random girl would take interest in me because I decided to skip my business meeting downtown and take the train to some suburb just because I had a vision about our future together right when I saw her. Sorry, call me insensitive but I just don't see it happening.

I love technology, don't get me wrong, but I have some issues with it and that's my beef for now. My mind really wandered a great deal while writing this. I congratulate those who read the entire post.

Year MMXI will be. . .

2011-01-04T17:45:00.005-07:00

selfless

more organized

prioritized

remembered

cherished

manageable

challenging

full of opportunity

the best

musically exciting

full of knowledge

balanced

enlightening

spontaneous.

Oh and Happy 4th of July...

2010-07-04T16:19:00.001-06:00

Let the Law School Search Begin

2010-07-04T14:38:00.004-06:00

I know I haven't taken the LSAT yet. I know that I have no idea what schools might even be interested in accepting me but I have decided to investigate as many as possible regardless of what they might decide to do with my application in October. So, my investigation began yesterday with BYU's J. Reuben Clark Law School. Despite a desire to study outside of Utah for law school, my future desire to work in Utah forces me to highly consider the two law schools here in the state. BYU's law school was first to be visited and rightly so as it was my top choice out of the two based upon what I have read about the two Utah law schools. However, the University of Utah's S.J. Quinney College of Law might be interested to know that I was not thoroughly impressed with what I saw when I visited "the Lord's university."

Yesterday I was in Provo for the Stadium of Fire and we had arrived early for a dress rehearsal that my brother had to participate in due to him being part of the 260 Eagle Scout's that received their Eagle badge at the event. So, I decided to stroll over to the law school to check it out.

First off, I couldn't find an admissions office anywhere. I walked into the third floor and found no one around (I can't fault anyone for not being there on a Saturday of a holiday weekend and to their credit, they were still open), but the fact that I couldn't seem to find the admissions office was a little off. I did explore the law library and even cracked open a couple of volumes to see some random case studies. I was impressed with the size of the library and how open it was. There is a lot of study space available, great lighting, and plenty of books of course. Other than that, the facilities of the law school were a little lackluster. Old 70s style brick walls with older furniture that could use a little updating.

I know that the facilities really have nothing to do with the quality of the program, but a little sophistication and good facilities always creates a better and more inviting atmosphere. I certainly will do more research about the school and hopefully meet with an admissions dean but my first impression wasn't the greatest. Don't confuse yourselves though, my loyalty to BYU football is not connected to this review in any way and continues strong and deep.

In other news, I loved Stadium of Fire. It was incredible, even with the few minor technical issues that were bothersome. Every once in a while there was a little feedback coming through the speakers, even during Carrie Underwood's performance. Her performance was stunning though and she looked great too as always. She sang "Jesus, Take the Wheel" of course and at the end of the song, instead of concluding, she had added a key change and sang the chorus of "How Great Thou Art" which was fantastic. The crowd went nuts, my mom cried, and I was amazed. She certainly chose the right crowd to throw that in. She really is

one of those artists that truly has musical ability and isn't just a pop icon that has been thrown into the limelight without any real talent.

The other performers were great; Eric Dodge, an up and coming country star from St. George performed one number to start the event, the Five Browns performed a John Williams medley which was good, but Jenny Oaks Baker was the performance that took me by surprise. The violinist had four other violinists behind her and a pianist and it was awesome to watch and listen to. I am going to have to check her album out.

The fireworks were a hit as always, however they shot some fireworks off inside the stadium off the stage lights that were at 6 different spots on the field. One of the pylons that shot fireworks off fell over or something and shot two fireworks right into the crowd sitting beneath the pole! People started running and I saw a lady's dress catch on fire but was tackled a split second later by about 10 other people to smother the fire. That was a tense moment. Luckily, I don't think anyone was seriously injured and the show went on without stopping at all. Overall, a very enjoyable experience.

One more thing, I found another musician that has really impressed me named Oren Lavie. You may have seen his music video on youtube for "Her Morning Elegance." It's a series of photographs taken of a girl on a bed that is constantly changing positions with different pillows and bedspreads to make it appear that she is actually walking. I know, that's a horrible explanation but it's quite fascinating to watch. I really liked the music though and decided to check out his music. It's really good and his voice is quite otherworldly or soothing or some sort of adjective that I can't think of to truly describe it right now. Check it out. It's great. I also added the song and another one called "Locked in a Room" to my playlist which is becoming quite large but still enjoyable, at least for me. Check out that music video below.

Her Morning Elegance / Oren Lavie

2010-07-04T14:30:00.000-06:00

Blog fixed

2010-07-02T13:41:00.004-06:00

I really liked the way my blog looked before this recent change but there were so many issues with it that I had to make a change. Looks alright I guess.

Last night I went on a late night drive with Emily and Amber. We were just going to go up the canyon as there wasn't much to do but as we were driving, I had the brilliant idea of going all the way past Cedar Breaks to Panguitch Lake. Quite an adventure. We saw a huge elk in the middle of the road and deer everywhere as we went through the canyon to get to our destination. It was a beautiful night too. No moon, which made for great stargazing. I saw about 15 shooting stars while the girls saw none.

Panguitch Lake and the town itself always bring me fond memories of all the fishing trips we have taken and all the traditions we have when we go. I even requested we stop at the cemetery on our way through Panguitch, as I always do with my grandpa, to stop by my great grandparent's (Rulon and Lydia Church) graves. Luckily we found them despite the darkness and it was, as it always is for me, exciting to look at the graves of ancestors from long ago buried there and see the pioneer plaque on many of their graves and even a marker for the Mormon Battallion on one of my fore bearer's headstone. I quite enjoyed it all.

Carrie Underwood

2010-07-01T22:17:00.002-06:00

I'm not ashamed to admit that Carrie Underwood is attractive woman and that she is kind of the first country artist that I really started to listen to that I enjoyed. Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked about the Stadium of Fire on Saturday.

Dave Matthews Band - Everyday

2010-06-28T00:10:00.000-06:00

I'm going to the DMB concert August 17. I can't wait! Here's a great video
starring that one guy from "30 Rock"

A Cedar City Summer

2010-06-27T23:23:00.008-06:00

Things I'm loving this summer:

1. Cedar City has really surprised me. Yes, it is a small town that loses a lot of people in the summer but, interestingly enough, I have met a lot of new and great people and I have had some great adventures.

2. The West Wing was introduced to me by the one and only Emily Burt. Yes, I know I'm a registered republican, and yes, I know that this country is going through some difficult times due to some poor decision making on the side of the Democratic party but when it comes to Jed Bartlet and his staff, it doesn't get any better. I love the ideals the drama presents. I am so impressed with every episode; how great Aaron Sorkin intertwines the issues with the daily life of the White House staff. Riveting for an aspiring young public servant like myself.

3. Dave Matthews Band has really been making me happy lately. I love their great music. The talent of that band is unbelievable and I am going to see them in concert on August 17th. So exciting. I'm posting a video above of the great song "Everyday" starring that one guy from "30 Rock." Such a great video.

4. Rafting on the Seahawk in the mighty waters of Coal Creek, the Virgin, and even the Jordan River brought out the adventurer in me. I hope to have many more adventures this summer that bring me as much excitement that the epic Seahawk voyages brought me. Pictured below is a model of the mighty vessel.

Epic Jazz Win

2010-01-15T19:49:00.002-07:00

Wow, I've only watched a handful of Jazz games this season despite being a big fan and keeping up to date on their record throughout the season. So glad I decided not to walk out on this one when the Jazz were down with 20 seconds to go. Just proves, anything can happen.

2010 Census

2010-01-12T23:23:00.003-07:00

Today I attended training at the Cedar City offices to head up SUU's information/publicity campaign for the 2010 Census. It is going to be a lot of work I believe but I'm kind of embracing any new opportunities that come my way in order to get as much varied experience I can and this should be a good one. Hopefully we can get everyone counted without having to knock too many doors. Interesting to note that based on the census, $400 billion of funds are allocated to different parts of the country which comes out to be over $1,000.00 per person so make sure to fill out the form when it comes in the mail so that you can see that funding distributed correctly and put to work in your community!

2010-01-04T22:32:00.002-07:00

Make that 3 earthquakes. . .I'm sure you notice the three parts that the line goes nuts. They weren't that big and I didn't even feel the second one but two in a day is enough.

2010-01-04T19:17:00.002-07:00

If you only knew that this man came down with his sickness on the first day of school and already had plenty of homework to do and had no mama to take care of him, you would start to understand my dilemma. And I thought I was getting better from a little cold but no, a big case of strep or flu or something decided it would hit me in the face just after my last class of the day was getting out. . .In other news, I was in my first earthquake today. This is not to provoke more sympathy, rather, envy. Although a bit frightening, it was pretty cool that my first class of the day was interrupted with the a big rumble and the shaking and shifting of the walls all around me. Luckily it lasted only 5 seconds max as I was ready to tuck and roll. . .or just tuck. I guess rolling wouldn't help unless a big slab of ceiling was going to fall on top of me. Luckily no such thing happened.

2009-12-16T23:47:00.004-07:00

I have never understood why people say "zions" national park with an s as if it was plural or possessive. Maybe everyone thinks that it is pronounced the same as the bank. Maybe they feel that if they don't say national park then they have to insert an s. I just don't know how it happens. Whatever the reason, it bothers me every time I hear someone say it. I hear it quite often too seeing as I live so close. Just so everyone knows, it is pronounced "Zion" without an s. This probably comes off as a very know-it-all kind of statement but I feel this situation warrants an appeal to the masses...well at least to the three people who may venture onto my blog. Let us spread this information far and wide and make a positive change occur in our society. Stop the madness! Ok, I know it's not that big of a deal but these thoughts just came to me and I thought I would give everyone the opportunity of venturing into my head for a moment. Thanks for coming! You're welcome back anytime.

Fall Semester in Brief

2009-12-16T11:24:00.012-07:00

It has been a very busy semester as some might notice with the lack of blog posts. Parties, homework, school activities, and much more are just memories now of Fall semester 2009. Being a part of student government has kept me quite busy and has kept me learning new things every day. I've made wonderful new friends and I have come to realize strengths and weaknesses that I have. It has been a great experience. Presidential ambassadors and the student action committee demand a lot of my time but I student government has been the focal point of my involvement during this semester and I believe it will continue to be that way in the future. It has been fun. Classes were good and I pulled decent grades from them all. I ended with a 3.8 which is alright I guess. I am attempting to get straight A's throughout the remainder of my time at SUU to better my chances of getting into a good law school so the A- grades make me wince just a bit. GPA and LSAT scores are everything in law school applications. This semester my classes will be a little less demanding but my hard core LSAT studying begins! Wish me luck!

2009-12-08T11:35:00.003-07:00

So it has been a while since I have updated this wonderful blog. Much has happened. It has been a very busy semester full of research papers, tests, fun, and adventures. However, I do feel I need to pay tribute to a special woman who is partially responsible for the good life that I have been blessed with. My great grandmother Berniece Nelson passed away on the 13th of November. I can't help but feel grateful for the principles that she taught her three children, one of which, is my grandfather Gary Nelson. She was a wonderful example of someone who lived the gospel to the fullest. Her and my great grandfather Ivan shared a wonderful marriage full of love and service both to one another and everyone that came into their lives. I still remember the fourth of July family gatherings at Washington park up Parley's Canyon. The watermelon they always brought, the fudge she made at Christmas time, the pickles she. . .well. . .pickled. She was a wonderful woman and will be missed dearly.

2009-09-20T23:31:00.002-06:00

2009-09-13T17:27:00.002-06:00

I love this

2009-09-13T16:58:00.000-06:00

You give an inch. . .

2009-08-27T01:20:00.004-06:00

Sometimes you give someone an inch and they will take a mile. I discovered tonight that this phrase stands true. That is all for now.

Quote for the day. . .

2009-08-22T18:22:00.001-06:00

"I used to think that my brain was the most wonderful organ in my body. Then I realized what was making me think this. . ."

haha get it?

2009-08-22T11:42:00.002-06:00

"Native American preference is applicable based on experience"

This was listed on a job posting I recently viewed. I am still having a hard time understanding how people can say things like this and then push for equality reform. If a company posted "White Caucasian preference is applicable based on experience" it would be an outrage. People would go nuts. I would be appalled as well but for some reason no one seems to be appalled when minorities are given preference over someone like me. I'm not going to make a big deal out of it because then I would probably seem heartless but is it wrong for me to feel a little discriminated against? Is it wrong that I feel that affirmative action is in its own way discriminatory?

2009-08-08T21:01:00.002-06:00

Just in case you missed this headline yesterday from the Houston Chronicle,

"Obese Texas Inmate Hides Gun in Flabs of Fat"

If this wasn't funy enough, listen to this statement from Gary Blankinship, President of the Houston Police Officer's Union.

"We teach officers to lift up and look under," Blankinship said. "The officer may not have arrested anyone this big before."

Imagine having that job. . .bleh.

The full stories can be found here:
Houston Chronicle

United Press International

I'll be there

2009-08-03T23:41:00.003-06:00

Seriously, I'm going.

Fantasy Football

2009-08-03T23:33:00.002-06:00

It has begun. The season of bright colors, falling leaves, jackets, and renewed studies can only mean one thing. It's football season. That's right, after a three year break I'm back on the wagon for another year of fantasy football. Obviously I don't just love playing fantasy football but college football and NFL games will be around every corner bringing with them heart stopping adrenaline rushing excitement. Oh how I love it.

Pursuing objectivity. . .

2009-07-20T18:42:00.004-06:00

I believe one of the great problems we have in this country, if not the greatest, is a lack of objectivity. The diminishing availability of objective information in the media and the inability for citizens and our nation's leaders to approach problems objectively is halting our progress. Why can't the media just tell a straight story without slanting it to pursue its own agenda or expose its own beliefs. I do understand that it is much easier said than done as we are human and we tend to seek information from media outlets that are agreeable in nature to us personally. I believe that everyone has a right to that freedom but unfortunately, it seems that most of the leaders of our country can't put their personal beliefs aside to do what's best for the country or what's best, at least, for those that they represent. I don't want to refer specifically to anything going on in Washington, although, I obviously detest some of the legislation being passed and proposed there currently. What I wish I could do was influence these people who we call our leaders to lose their pride, come together, and have honest and straightforward conversation about the many problems plaguing our nation. Obviously not everyone is going to agree on one thing but if democrats are only milling around with other democrats and republicans are just hanging out with their old GOP buddies, no real workable solutions will be determined. Bipartisanship isn't good enough either. I think that they need to drop the labels altogether and discuss person to person using the unbiased knowledge they have to fix these problems and bring America back. We know that everyone wants to better the nation but their pride won't allow them to accept that there may be a better approach. And one more thing, there is not but 2 solutions to every problem as it seems this country is beginning to believe. Essentially, there are two political groups running our nation but that does not imply that there must only be two sides to every issue, two different approaches to find a new solution. For example, health care is obviously flawed in the United States but that does not mean that the only option is for the government to step in and take over. On the other hand, the solution cannot be found in leaving things the way they are. Come on people, you're smarter than this, there are other ways to deal with this. Open your minds, be objective, leave your pride behind, let your flawed ideas go or at least admit that they are flawed and refine them! You can do it, that's why the America people put you in office, because they had faith that you had the ability to fix these problems. Stop fighting for power and do something worthwhile rather than bash on the other side. And that goes for all politicians, media, and citizens. There is already enough fighting going on in the world, why do we fight amongst ourselves?

He's Barack Obama! Definitely represents my political views if it is as sarcastic as I think it is.

2009-06-29T14:17:00.002-06:00

Actual Conversation

2009-06-04T23:36:00.003-06:00

Mom: "Did Ryan tell you to keep the fish light on at night?"

Me: "I don't remember."

Dad: "Well we aren't going to leave the light on all night long."

Mom: "Well I think it makes the fish look cool."

Dad: "Well, we're turning the light off at night."

Mom: "I don't want the fish to die though."

Dad: (with a hint of "duh") "Every night the light goes off for all the rest of the fish in this world and they seem to survive. I don't think these fish are much different."

Why do I think this is funny? I don't know but it had me and my mom rolling.

Love Story meets Viva la Vida

2009-05-28T00:01:00.005-06:00

I saw this vid and I had to post it. It's fantastic. This is Jon Schmidt's music video of a new piece called "Love Story meets Viva la Vida." Despite my love/hate relationship with Mr. Schmidt's music I really love this piece and how well he mishmashes Taylor Swift and Coldplay. I hope you enjoy it. Below is an explanation of my love/hate relationship with Jon Schmidt's music.

When Mr. Schmidt first hit the music scene in Utah I was right on it. I started playing his music in 7th and 8th grade and enjoyed listening to it. Utah made him their biggest star yet and anybody who could play the piano in Utah began playing his stuff. There really isn't anything wrong with this as I strongly feel Jon Schmidt's music is very well written, very entertaining, and I like it. Everything was fine and dandy BUT what truly became obnoxious were the endless requests to play his music. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with his music but there I was working my guts out on preludes and fugues by Bach, etudes by Chopin, and a concerto by Khachaturian and all that anyone wanted to hear was "Waterfall" or "All of Me." Of course I wasn't learning these hard pieces to perform them wherever I went, I was just a classically trained pianist and I did it because I enjoyed playing them but everywhere I went I would hear people playing one of these two Shmidt songs and I got sick of them. I know I'm a nerd but I got so sick of playing these songs and hearing them all the time that I began to tell people that I didn't know them or that I had forgotten how to play them. I still love playing and listening to the rest of his music for the most part, it's just those two songs that everyone loves that I still just can't stand. I hope no offense is taken by those who do love them. Trust me when I say it's not you, it's me. I hope you enjoyed the video and survived my ramblings.

P.S. This video has over 1,100,000 views on Youtube! Still quite the popular guy it seems.

Fortune Cookies. . .The Test

2009-05-26T00:50:00.005-06:00

Something big is going to happen to me on July 4 this year. What is it you ask? I am not really sure. All I know is that a while ago I got a fortune cookie from the Lucky Buffet (Chinese) in Cedar City that mysteriously predicted that something was going to happen to me in exactly 3 months. That was April 4th so the details are a little murky. I do seem to remember the message having a positive connotation so I am expecting something good. Of course I remember the date as three months from that day is Independence Day so it stuck in my head. Just today the memory emerged from the depths of my mind for some reason and I needed to write it down to remind myself to be especially observant on that day. Are fortune cookies for real? We shall see. Stay tuned for a complete report of the happenings of July 4, 2009.

Croquet

2009-05-23T19:48:00.002-06:00

Something needs to be done to bring the sophisticated game of croquet a more popular venture in our society. Although I recently took last place in a game I played with a few friends, I quite enjoyed myself. In my endeavor to find a picture to post on this blog entry I made a wonderful find, the United States Croquet Association. Check it out at http://www.croquetamerica.com. If you observe the picture on the home page you will see that everyone is smiling. I must say, it is hard not to smile when playing this wonderful game. I wonder if ESPN has ever broadcast a croquet match. . .I'd watch it.

My new work digs. . .

2009-05-05T15:48:00.003-06:00

I will be working on the top floor. I'm stoked!

Senator Hatch

2009-05-05T15:35:00.003-06:00

I had the chance to listen to a talk Orrin Hatch gave at SUU about a month ago and recently I have been doing a lot of research into what he is personally doing as a senator and I have a newly found respect for the man. I had better respect him as I will be working in his Salt Lake City office this summer as an intern! I am elated about the opportunity and can't wait to get started. After I didn't get the positions I applied for in DC I didn't think much more into doing any internships during the summer. I then received a phone call from the director of the Michael Leavitt Center for Politics at SUU encouraging me to look into other internships in Salt Lake and naturally I asked if there were positions available in Hatch's office in Salt Lake. There were and so I applied though I didn't think I was going to get one as there are supposedly only three in his Salt Lake office. They are pretty competitive positions but with the help of Doug and the divine, I got it!

Belated Easter Present. . .

2009-04-21T19:30:00.001-06:00

I know you all have probably seen this video before but I've been meaning to post it on my blog for days now as I find it stunning. Enjoy it. Yes Katie, I did steal it from your blog. Thanks! :)

2009-04-21T17:27:00.004-06:00

I'm sitting here reflecting upon what I've been experiencing lately and it seems my life has been a lot like the sour patch watermelon I'm eating right now. Yes, that's right, I'm eating sour patch watermelon right now and listening to some soul filled Amos Lee music. I love it. But yes, back to the analogy. You put one of these delicious watermelon in your mouth and it makes your face pucker a bit from the sour taste but then it's fantastically sweet. I think you know where I'm going with this. Well, it seems like I've made it through some sour bits and I'm experiencing some sweet stuff. School is coming to a close (sour in some ways) but I'll be getting straight "A's" this semester, the sun is shining outside, I have been asked to serve as task force leader in presidential ambassadors, I've been offered the position for Public Relations director in student government, I received a spot in scholarship housing, and I just finished a wonderful book entitled "Kite Runner" which I highly recommend. I almost forgot that my family is going to Disneyworld in May! Life just seems great. I'm loving it. Next time you're in a sour spot, just realize, the sweet will come.

Music's Great Effect. . .

2009-04-06T17:09:00.003-06:00

I have always loved music and I have a very unique taste when it comes to the music I listen to. I'm very particular. I don't necessarily have a certain genre of music that I like more than anything else. I just like music that makes me feel good (which seems like it's hard to come by these days). Many people I meet discover they really love the music I listen to but they have never heard it anywhere else because it's not on the radio waves nor is it topping the charts. It's just good music that the media has decided not to promote like they do All American Rejects, Fergie, or Lady Gaga. Now there is nothing wrong with these artists nor with the promotion that media companies give to these artists. Good for them. I particularly am not a fan of them but I respect those who are. For those who hate the music I listen to, it's almost like it hurts me but at the same time, I understand that not everyone has the same taste in music. The thing is, the music I listen to truly satisfies me and that's why I'm so loyal to it. Check out the playlist over there to the right. I'm always adding something new. Maybe you'll like what you hear. --------->

Mother Nature Strikes Again

2009-04-03T12:50:00.003-06:00

It's 12:52 April 3 and this is the view I have from my study spot on the third floor of the library here at SUU. It's quite beautiful really and so many people are a little disturbed that Spring has not yet bloomed here in Cedar City. I personally love the snow. I always have loved it and always will. I am excited for warmer weather as well but all too soon people will start complaining that it's too hot outside and that they can't wait for fall. It's a vicious cycle people so take what Mother Nature gives us and love it.

Update

2009-03-31T14:35:00.003-06:00

Someone actually failed to reject me. In other words I was accepted! Yes, that's right, I was invited to be a Presidential Ambassador next year for Southern Utah University. Ok, I know it's not that prestigious nor is it a big deal. They aren't going to pay me as it is a volunteer position and it wasn't even that competitive but the fact that I beat out a little competition for once was a big relief. Go T-Birds!

The Hawaii Chair

2009-03-27T12:14:00.002-06:00

The other day in my critical thinking class, a student gave a presentation on how important it is to pick out the imperfections in things. She showed us this video as an example of how someone didn't really think through their idea before marketing it as the "Hawaii Chair." Of course the infomercial is fantastic though. It almost had me convinced that I could look professional at work and get things done while still doing a sitting hula. Pretty ridiculous if you ask me. . .Props to Ellen on this one. It's hilarious!

Update

2009-03-25T16:39:00.004-06:00

I applied to be a resident assistant in the on-campus housing here at SUU and was REJECTED! I applied to a couple internships with Senator Bennett and Senator Hatch in Washington DC and, well, I was REJECTED yet again! Date with girl last weekend? REJECTED! Just kidding about that last one but I just had to add it in. I love how these letters (of rejection) are worded so that you don't feel too much like a loser. "Your application has been kept on file as you have been selected as an alternate and blah blah blah." Sometimes I wish they would just stop beating around the bush and say "you're not good enough." What's worse is that you never know why they didn't accept you so you're stuck guessing where you need to improve. Do I just not have enough experience or did I have bad breath during the interview? Was my writing sample not written well or were my fingernails noticeably too long? Who knows? Summer in Salt Lake City will be great though and life is still wonderful. As for right now it's back to the books. School will be ending here in about a month which is hard to believe. I can't believe how fast this semester has passed.

Old Time Baseball. . .(my favorite Conan short)

2009-03-20T23:59:00.002-06:00

Bracketological Madness

2009-03-18T01:07:00.003-06:00

For the past couple of days, all I have been able to think about is March Madness. There is something wrong with me. I HAVE to win the few bracket competitions I am in this year. It's always been a weakness of mine. Each year, my mom's family puts a competition on through CBSsports.com. Rama Slama Jama is our group's official competition name and I must confess, I have caused a few riffs with my trash talking in years past and I expect to continue the somewhat shameful practice this year. My family gave me a personality I can hide behind when they started calling me J-Lo. Yes, I know, it's not something I'm proud of but I must say that this year, J-Lo isn't holding anything back. I can't wait for the madness to begin.

2009-03-17T00:09:00.003-06:00

So pretty much, I'm way jealous of my brother. It's been a surreal week knowing that he received his mission call to Novosibirsk, Russia. Yes, that's right, he's going to Russia. I'm ecstatic about the call and I know he's going to love the mission. I remember how I felt when I got my call and it's like I'm feeling that all over again but for him. He's going to be great. P.S. I know the cathedral pictured is in Moscow but it's iconic of Russia so it works.

Everything's Amazing, Nobody's Happy

2009-03-04T12:31:00.004-07:00

Before you watch the video I posted below, understand that if you complain about having to watch a 30 second commercial beforehand, you will probably feel ashamed. . .that's all I'm going to say. Honestly though, the embed tool had been disabled on the Youtube site probably because Hulu has the rights to it. Great video though about the perspective we choose to have about the world around us. Isn't the world we live in amazing?

The Ungrateful Generation. . .

2009-03-04T12:18:00.006-07:00

Coolest guy ever!

2009-02-05T18:14:00.000-07:00

<br/><a href="http://video.msn.com/video.aspx?vid=be9075bb-df0a-41c9-8d86-7ded46627e26" target="_new" title="Bill Gates' Last Day - CES Clip">Video: Bill Gates' Last Day - CES Clip</a>

Bill Gates makes my hero list

2009-02-05T17:22:00.003-07:00

Now don't take me wrong when I say that Bill Gates has inspired me. No, I don't have an idea for a computer program that might save the corporate world billions of dollars or make life even easier. I do however wish to follow Gates' example of someone who is making life better for thousands of people.

You see, Gates recently spoke at a Technology, Entertainment, Design (TED)conference in Long Beach, California that was assuredly filled with big names from the entertainment and fashion industry as well as CEO's from corporate giants from around the world. The idea of the conference is to present ideas to help change the world.

Gates probably gave everyone a scare when he released a bottle of mosquitoes stating, "Malaria is spread by mosquitoes, I brought some. Here I'll let them roam around. There is no reason only poor people should be infected." Obviously it was a joke but he did get everyone's attention. He went on to state that more money is spent on treating baldness than on malaria which kills. "Now, baldness is a terrible thing and rich men are afflicted. That is why that priority has been set."

Gates announced that his foundation would be continuing their efforts in vaccines against the the disease promptly. I'm so interested that here, the richest man in the world who could do anything with his time, would spend so much time, money, and effort in making the world a better place. That, my friends, is an example of someone who is living ethically and morally correct. He doesn't create new reality tv shows to expand his empire or popularity nor does he allow pop-culture influence what he does. Surely he has a nice house and really expensive toys but that I believe, he deserves.

The greatest thing is that he seems happy with helping to improve the lives of those who he doesn't even know. Taking a look at his foundation, all I can see are honest efforts to improve the living situation and education of those who are less fortunate. What better way to spend the trillions he's worth. Not only that but if an organization is interested in pursuing humanitarian research or projects, they can apply for grants and ask THEM for money. How refreshing is it to not have to see everywhere you look "donate now" or "join the fight today" links when visiting the website. Obviously many organizations are publicly sponsored and supported and need that funding but it's good to know that there is a foundation out there who continues to go forward using their own money. There are other donors who contribute to the foundation other than just Bill and Melinda like Warren Buffett, but the point is that the world needs more people like this and surely this kind of goodwill can help heal many of the broken relationships and tension different cultures experience. Maybe I'm sounding more and more like a hippie but the world needs more hope inducing ventures as the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation.

Photos

2009-01-12T23:49:00.001-07:00

About

2009-01-12T22:43:00.005-07:00

So that's me over there----------->
And that's how I feel a lot of the time. My life seems to be a roller coaster of opportunities right now and I love it. If I was going slower I might be a little more relaxed but I love what's going on in my life right now. Studying Public Relations and Spanish, doing student government as Academic Vice President, and working in the SUU Welcome Center while having a blast with the Cedar City summer. Life is good. Once I finish up at SUU I hope to continue on to law school and pursue a legal career in public service. As for the stuff that more describes me, I love politics, writing, and Seinfeld. Skiing is great, as is the gospel. I love my family. I'm the oldest of 6 (one married and one on a mission in Russia). And those are the basics!

I'm back!

2009-01-09T18:02:00.004-07:00

So I posted the commentary on Utah's win and thought to myself, I should probably include an update of my own life as there have been a few changes in the last week. I moved into my new home for the next 4 months here in Cedar City at SUU and I couldn't help but be excited. It's been wonderful to be home from the mission and be with family and friends but I've missed this place and just learning. I've come to realize how much I love to learn. Sometimes the process is tough and I don't necessarily love the monotony of reading a textbook for hours on end but it's definitely rewarding at the end of the day to be able to say that you learned something new and that you are ready to ace that quiz or exam you have the next day. It pays back. I love my classes. They are all communication classes as my major has changed for the third time now to Public Relations. There I will stay though as I feel really great about it and I already find the subject matter fascinating. There is something about being on my own that has also motivated me to set greater spiritual goals. Maybe it's the environment of being in an academic pursuit that helps me pursue more vigorously a greater spirituality and a better relationship with God. I'm taking a couple of great institute classes. Pearl of Great Price and Doctrines of the Gospel. The teachers are really invested in the class and do a wonderful job.

Yesterday I realized how fragile life is. My great grandmother passed away in California and I guess it hit me a little harder than I expected it to. We were never very close to her. In fact, I'll bet I saw her a grand total of four or five times in all my life. For some reason, I still couldn't help but reflect on her passing and how fast it happened. We have to be prepared always for the unexpected. This does not mean we have to live in fear all the time but I think we have experiences like this to scare us into living a little better. It didn't help to have a dream that very night of dying. It was one of the more vivid dreams I've had and it startled me. I'm not some superstitious person but the dream did cause me to reflect deeper on whether or not I really would be ready to pass on to the next life. Am I happy with what I've made of myself? Greater and possibly graver yet, is God happy with what I've made of myself? I think we have these experiences, whether they be dreams, the passing of a loved one, illness, and other things to help us realize how fragile life really is and, like I stated earlier, to scare us into living just a little bit better. Anyway, she will be having a graveside service in Panguitch in a few days and it will be interesting to be able to attend that and listen to my wonderful grandfather reflect upon the event.

"Utes? Is that what they call you guys?"

2009-01-06T18:39:00.005-07:00

Before you read this, watch the video I posted below and tell me that Utah deserves more recognition. Utah really impressed me and should have impressed the entire nation with their impressive win over Alabama the other day. I, being a BYU fan (I may overstate that just so that my loyalty isn't questioned), can't believe the disrespect that has been shown for the two time BCS busting Utes. They go in to New Orleans as the underdog despite the fact that they were the only undefeated team in the nation and kick the trash out of 5 week running #1 Alabama (before their loss to Florida). Now, I don't mind the fact that they were underdogs, I myself predicted that Utah would lose. BUT, the fact that they didn't just win but completely dominated Bama should prove not only the ability of Utah but the ability of the Mountain West conference in general. Skip, first of all, you know that Utah beat 4 ranked opponents this year. Second, if Utah just barely scraped by TCU than maybe TCU deserves a little more recognition as well. Third, yes it's true that sometimes a team might not show up to the game and be upset based on injuries or team morale or whatever but the fact is, nobody went into this game saying, we have to cut Alabama some slack because of their injured players and their recent loss to Florida. Nobody was saying that Alabama wasn't going to show up to the game. You don't not show up to a BCS bowl game and if you do fail to show up than you deserve to lose. I fail to mention also that the supposed injured player that was a supposedly HUGE factor in Alabama's loss was a defensive tackle. Skip, you fail to remember Brian Johnson's amazing performance. 27 of 41, 3 tds, and 336 yards!? Now wait, why did Alabama lose? Because of the absence of their left tackle? I don't think so. Sorry Skip, you know who the Utes are and you just can't face the fact that you called this game way wrong from the get go and can't support a "non-BCS" conference team. Maybe they don't deserve a share of the title but those "Utes" that you can't seem to remember deserve a little more recognition as well as the Mountain West conference in general. Oh and just remember, I'm a BYU fan.

Skip Bayless, you are ridiculous.

2009-01-06T18:36:00.002-07:00

2008-12-25T23:00:00.003-07:00

Parents be warned, the following post has been rated "PG-non-believers only" for commentary about the possible non-existence of Santa Clause.

So yes, today is Christmas and I can't help but share my love for Christmas. We always celebrate Christmas day with the immediate family in our own home and tend to lounge around all day eating breakfast at 1 or 2 in the afternoon, playing with our toys, picking away at the treats left in our stockings, and then leaving no room for the wonderful dinner mom always prepares us. But my fondest memories of Christmas always go back to the night before Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa Church. We, like many others, have the tradition of acting out the Nativity with Grandpa Church reading from Luke and Grandma playing Christmas music in the background. It's never been a real spiritually touching situation what with the kids all fighting who gets to be the angel and who gets to be the wiseman to hold Grandma's "treasure chest" (jewelry box) and present it to the baby Jesus. For us older children the fight has become more and more about who gets to sit out to just sit on the couch and watch. It's funny to see the little ones fighting over the same things and watch as uncle Bubba causes some sort of scene which flusters grandma but makes the rest of us laugh. It's this memory that I hold most dear from my Christmases and I'm indeed grateful for thses kinds of traditions that hold us together as a family and teach us subtle lessonsn that help us to progress spiritually despite the fact that they aren't necesarily over-powering.

Of course the rest is all fun as Santa Clause always seems to make his stop at Grandma's house right after the re-enactment is over. We scurry to our cars in the cold as he laughs merrily upon the roof-top and announces that his next few house visits will be to the Nelsons, Kings, Edlings, and other Church members. It's funny that no matter how much we crane our necks to see the man in the big red suit on the roof we can't catch a glimpse of him. A rather shocking scene caught me by surprise this year as I saw my uncle Andy sneak out the back door and up a ladder discreetly set up in the back yard! I couldn't believe it. I was crushed. I thought more of him. It's crazy what some people do in order to get a sneak peek inside Santa's bag. I hope he got what he wanted as Christmas day brought him an announcement from his wife about a new arrival due in August. Surprise! Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T22:37:00.003-07:00

Maybe you didn't know but I'm fascinated with snow. I love it. But since I've been back from my mission I haven't had the opportunity to really enjoy it. Therefore, I'm proposing to myself that tomorrow, I go out and play in the remains of the biggest snow storm yet to hit us here in Salt Lake. Anybody want to join? Snowball fights, fort building, snowmen, snow-angels, eating snow (except the yellow stuff of course), snow sledding, and all other such snow activities. It's definitely been too long.

Oh and just thought I would mention that one of my favorite things about snow storms is the silence of it all. Isn't it weird how in the movies and on tv they portray blizzards to be so loud and chaotic? People struggling to stay standing while screaming over the top of those loud flakes is one of the oddest things I've ever seen. It can be snowing cats and dogs (does that work for snow?) and it will still be eerily quiet out there. I love it.

Explanation

2008-12-24T14:16:00.000-07:00

So, I've always been a little hesitant to create my own blog despite wanting to do it for so long. I seem to be an over-thinking worry wart sometimes. Case in point, I just googled "worry wart" to make sure that the "wart" is actually spelled with an a. Interestingly enough, it can be spelled with an o as well. Anywho, I first thought to myself, who is going to follow my blog? Is it a futile attempt at trying to enlighten, entertain, and update others who really have no time nor would want to spend time, if they had it, on my blog? I hope not. That thought was washed away as I have thouroughly enjoyed following other blogs of friends and family and as I realize that I need a way to document my life. Journals these days seem all too boring and limited. Plus, typing is just so much faster. So at the urging of some of my friends and after mulling it over a little too much I've decided to start blogging away with pictures, thoughts, experiences, and all that jazz. Hopefully you enjoy getting an inside look at my life as much as I enjoy getting an inside look at yours. If you feel like the chicken on the right at the computer, don't worry, I won't be offended.