Possibly Insightful Ramblings

                General Conference is kind of like spring break. Sure, it’s equivalent in hours to a normal weekend, but it makes me feel as refreshed as if I’d just had the week off that my friends at other universities enjoy. Definitely a nice chance to catch your breath before finals. In addition to life-changing insights, the weekend also afforded me a great deal of enjoyment as I was able to spend time with my family. Both of those aspects warrant many pages to discuss fully, but here I’d rather talk about puppies. Namely, how puppies are like children and how we should be a little bit more like both of them.                 In between the Saturday morning and afternoon sessions my family and I went on a walk through our neighborhood. As we enjoyed the warm sunshine and cool breeze, a large black puppy began running in our direction. I was a little startled at ...

Not only does the BYU library provide an environment conducive to studying for American Heritage or Econ 110, it is also an excellent laboratory to research human nature.The more I observe my fellow students, the more I believe that we are basically large electrons. Well, not exactly. But it makes for an interesting discussion. Anyone who has taken chemistry is familiar with the Aufbau or building-up principle. To summarize, there are several different electron shells within an atom. Inside these electron shells are several electron orbitals, each of which holds two electrons. The building-up principle states that before two electrons will be in the same orbital, each orbital must have one electron. So it is at the library. The many tables scattered throughout the various floors of our second home are electron orbitals just waiting to welcome us students as electrons. Before two students will sit at the same table, each table must have at least one student. And once the tables all...

I am convinced that my science professors just want me to get married. And they think that I am not capable of succeeding in that department without their advice and guidance. Out of the goodness of their hearts, then, they impart to me wonderful insights into how I can have a successful dating life. Over my year and a half at BYU, I have received great dating advice from chemistry, biology, and physics professors. My history, English, and other non-science professors, however, have not given me such fantastics dating knowledge. (With the possible exception of mission prep, in which dating counts on our grade . . .) I guess all the other disciplines outside of science trust that their students can successfully handle their dating lives. But those science nerds - wow, they sure need help. Here is what I have gleaned from my scientific dating education thus far: General Dating Advice Don't ask your date her weight - just estimate it when you're figuring out the total weight ...

Soon after the end of the year also comes the end of Christmas break. Both have been wonderful, so both warrant a list of awesomeness on my blog. First, Why 2010 Was Awesome           I finally decided on my major of molecular biology. Now if I can just figure out what to do with my life...           I started doing research in Dr. Jellen’s lab. I’m sure you’re all losing sleep at night, wondering how one extracts DNA from amaranth, so if that’s you, just let me know and I’ll set you straight.           I met a lot of awesome people that influenced my life. It would take too long to list them all here, and then I would probably inadvertently leave someone off, and I learned from Sleeping Beauty that it’s generally bad to forget people. So I won’t list you all here – but I think you all know who you are, so thank you.           I had the best roommates in the world!...

(Yes, I realize that this is my third post in a row entitled with a reference to a Christmas song . . . But it's Christmas time, so it's okay, right?) Christmas Eve – perhaps the most magical and exciting night of the year. In just a few minutes, my family’s celebration will begin, including a Christmas concert and other Christ-centered activities. In some respects, I think I’ve always loved Christmas Eve even more than Christmas – the combination of excited anticipation, mixed with a reverential remembrance of the Savior, surpasses even the excitement of unwrapping shiny, new toys. It’s sort of like when Winnie the Pooh observes that the only thing better than actually eating honey is the moment right before the sticky goodness enters your mouth and you are filled with a tingling of excitement and delight. So it is for me and Christmas Eve. (Except Christmas is a zillion times better than honey.) This is a night of wonder as we reflect on the miracle that the Son of God...

Were it not for the previously mentioned snow storm that draped the valley in white, I would have feared that this Christmas would be green, because this weekend was the rainiest one in my memory of Decembers. It brought new meaning to that line from “What Sweeter Music” about December being turned to May. Sunday morning I had the great privilege of standing outside in this pouring rain with my family as we waited to be admitted to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas program in Salt Lake City. The Conference Center sidewalks were filled with lines of people, all of us eager to hear the Tabernacle Choir and David Archuleta join in praises of our Savior. The fact that my family made it to the concert was a miracle – actually a whole series of miracles – which made me even more grateful to be there and far outweighed the discomfort of my soaked feet. First of all was the fact that we even got tickets to this concert, considering that around 1.5 million people requested tickets (and...

Well, I suppose this means I’m relinquishing my long-standing belief that blogging is not for me. People change right? I suppose this merely adds evidence in support of that proposition. Instigators of such personal change vary widely depending upon the person and the situation. For me, it was a pine-tree that resembled a frosted cupcake. Indeed. On this beautiful winter solstice of 2010, I awoke bright and early and listened to the sounds of my younger brother getting ready for school. After a few minutes of debate, I rolled out of bed and looked out my window eagerly anticipating my first sight of the snow that had accumulated since the night before. My childhood love of snow still lingers, and my heart beats with excitement on winter mornings as I look out my window to check for new snow. The pine tree in my front yard (affectionately dubbed a “forest” by some of my friends) has always served as a visual measure for me as I ascertain the amount of new snow that has fallen. The ...