Friday, October 31, 2008

Proposition 8

This blog, as many of you know, is for the most part a fairly lighthearted online journal where I chronicle the funny, annoying and fabulous things I come across in my life. That being said I would beg your indulgence this evening as I stray from the norm to discuss, in all solemnity, something that is very important to me.

For those of you who don't know I am a native Californian, so the recent political uproar concerning Proposition 8 has been of great personal interest to me. Now I am not really the soap box type but I wanted to take the opportunity to encourage people to take the time to research Prop 8 and find out exactly what Proposition 8 means to our world. Whether you are a California citizen or not this is an issue that will have widespread effect if it does not pass. So, even though many people, much smarter and more eloquent than myself, have already written and spoken about this at great length, I would like to take a moment to put my little say out there.

Proposition 8 is not just a "mean spirited" and petty ploy by the heterosexual community to keep the homosexual community down. For those who would argue that passing Prop 8 is unconstitutional I would like to say that the granting of rights that deny the rights of others is wrong and if Prop 8 does not pass the religious rights and rights to free speech of everyone will be infringed. I would also point out that for a community that continually states that it is asking for tolerance, many extremely intolerant acts have been committed against people that have opposing views.

Voting yes on Prop 8 does not deny homosexual couples the rights available to heterosexual couples; it merely seeks to preserve the sanctity of marriage by declaring that "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." It is not a hate crime against homosexual couples, it is simply an effort to keep a sacred institution just that: sacred. Now while there is much more I could say, and wish I could say well, I would just like to finish by inviting everyone to follow this link and watch the presentation, it is a very interesting and intelligent video discussing what Prop 8 really means. http://blip.tv/play/nhDU8RGJxDU

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Hello! My name is...



Ok, here's my beef...

So being a single, LDS, adult living in the heart of Provo Utah comes with a pretty definite list of do's and don'ts.


  • Do attend as many ward socials as possible.


  • Don't publicize the fact that insanity is prevalent in your family.


  • Do attend institute - everyone knows that is where you will meet your EC (for those of you who like me had no idea what this stands for it stands for Eternal Companion - ya, weird!)


  • Don't forget your visiting/home teaching - it goes on your permanent record and makes you a bad marriageable prospect.


  • Do meet as many people as possible - just like in the work world networking is the key to getting matched up and married.

Now while this is a very brief and incomplete version of the list hopefully you get the point but of all the things on the list the last one is one I have the greatest issue with. No matter who you meet, where or when you meet the first questions they ask are: What's your name? Where are you from? What are you doing here? It is usually the worst at the beginning of the semester, but not matter what time of year it is these are questions the average single, LDS, adult will be asked so many times we can't even keep track! No one wants to know things like: what is your favorite flavor of ice cream, what your favorite movie is, who your favorite artist is, what your favorite season is, or if you consider beautiful shoes one of God's great gifts to mankind - and I find that information so much more informative!


So, I propose that we do away with the mundane first conversation with its "first meeting questions" and just wear those heinous little tags that say "Hello! My name is" all the time and fill in all the required information. In the end I think we will all be happy to just move beyond those and get on with our lives.

Friday, October 17, 2008

I love sappy, crying movies!



I love Robert Redford. I just need to start this post by stating this very important fact. The other night I was watching one of my favorite Redford films: "Out of Africa", and as I was starting the movie my roommate walked in and mentioned that she had never see the film so I then insisted that she sit and enjoy it with me. As the credits began I asked her how she liked it and she turned tear drenched eyes to me and expressed her displeasure at my making her watch such a sad movie.

So, in the spirit of revenge, last night the same roommate made me watch "The Horse Whisperer" with her and another roommate of ours. Wow, I am a major cry baby - especially in movies - and this one just sent me over the edge! I have classified "The Horse Whisperer" as an 18 Kleenex film, (graded on the number of Kleenex's that valiantly gave their lives to staunch the flood of tears) and even though I had a rather unpleasant headache from the sobbing there is nothing like the sense of completion that I feel after such a sob fest. So all in all a wonderful night: sob fest, chocolate, drenched Kleenex pile and of course the most important part: Robert Redford!

Thursday, October 9, 2008

What is with the sports jerseys?

So I have a question: what is it with men, and wearing sports jerseys?

Working on a sales floor predominantly filled with men, and there are many days when the majority of them can be found supporting their favorite teams by wearing jerseys. Now I get wearing a T-shirt with your team's name, or even a slogan, but what is with the wearing of the actual jersey with a players name and number? Do they think that by wearing the garb of their heroes that they too might channel their greatness and ability? Is it the slippery and quick drying nylon fabric they are made of? Is it the search for a feeling of belonging to something? What is it?!

In an attempt to get answers to these burning questions I called the oracle of boy knowledge: my brother. His first response to my very serious inquiry was: "You're stupid" but following further prodding he tried to put it into terms I would understand, he asked why girls wear boots - to which I replied: "Duh, because they are cute!" Apparently boys don't just wear jerseys for the heck of it, oh no, you wear it because it is cool and you only wear the jersey if you are watching or playing the game.

Whatever, I still don't' get it - but then again maybe this is one of those mysteries that is never meant to be solved.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Trouble in retail paradise

Why is it that whenever a store is mobbed with crowds of hungry, tired, cranky, busy people there is only ever one check stand open? As I stood in such a line last night at the grocery store, I clung desperately to my last thread of patience. While the twenty of us, with loaded carts, waited most patiently in line at the one check stand I beheld the most maddening sight of all; four other lanes being dutifully cleaned by store employees. Now, while the keeping of a clean lane is something to admire one might assume that assisting customers might come first - but then again what do I know. AHHHH!

Sadly this experience has forced me to recognize that not all retail therapy qualifies as the good kind of therapy (ie. massages, pedicures, chocolate), sometimes it is more like those therapy sessions where a foam bat is required - live and learn I suppose.