Evaluation of the Blog

This blog has been an interesting experience for me. A lot of my friends are really into blogs and I always wondered what they really were, so it was nice to get a feel of what it's like to continually post messages onto the internet. I had a lot of fun designing the blog, but it was very hard to pick the correct color schemes to set the right tone for the blog. In all honesty though, I am not the biggest fan of blogging. I feel like I am writing a journal but one that the whole world can read. I also don't like how just anyone can jump on and follow me and read all of my posts. I guess you can be careful about what you post and not make it very personal, but it still freaks me out that everyone and anyone can read what I post. I think Facebook is enough for me and I will keep my own personal journal that's not on the internet.

However, it was a great experience being able to follow my classmates and see their points of view on certain things.  Looking back over my blog, I think the audience I tended to lean towards were young adults in college. All of my topics kind of pertain to that age group and are stories from my own college life.  I did have some more spiritual messages and I also think those related to the college age group as well because they had to do with going on a mission and being kind to others which is very important, especially in college. I also think it applies to that age group because a lot of my blogs are about my interests and what I have come to realize and appreciate through those interests. I write in a more informative style, explaining certain ideas so the reader knows what I am talking about and can more easily relate.

This blog was a great experience and I'm glad I was able to be part of the blogging world and get a feel for what it's like. Even though it isn't my favorite thing to do and somewhat uncomfortable for me, I am going to try and keep it going because it is a great way to practice and develop your writing skills.

Lesson from a Stranger (Narrative Paper)

“Are you and Allexis coming to the J-Wride concert tonight? The tickets cost $3 each.”

“Of course I am going to the concert! We’ll see you in 5 minutes.”

I grabbed a five dollar bill out of my wallet, stuffed it into my front pocket, and headed out the door with my roommate Allexis. My friend Ty had pulled up in his sporty silver car in the parking lot. His older cousin Rob was in the front seat so Allexis and I got in the back. We were running a good 30 minutes late to the J-Wride concert, but thanks to Ty’s parallel parking skills and tiny car we were able to get a parking spot directly in front of the Muse music venue.

The concert was being held for a good friend of mine from freshman year of college who had recently discovered that she had a brain tumor on the left side of her brain. She had some good friends that were in a band called J-Wride so the group got together and set up a concert for her at the music venue known as Muse. They asked some other bands they had played with before to join them and held the concert to raise money for her to help pay for some of the medical costs. She couldn’t make it to the concert because her biopsy was the day before, but they had special equipment that allowed them to broadcast it live on the internet so she could watch it while at the hospital.

The four of us walked through the front door of Muse and headed towards the lady with long dark brown hair that looked like she was in her 20’s at the small school desk in the corner to buy our tickets. In front of her was a small tin box to store the money. I handed her my crinkly five dollar bill, and she gave me my two dollar change that I then placed in my front pocket. I headed toward the concert area and turned around to see Ty paying for his ticket, but not with a five dollar bill. I saw his lips moving and realized he was still talking to the ticket lady.

“Give the extra money to Jenna’s family. I don’t need any change back.”

Underneath his five dollar bill, he had two twenties. I didn’t notice them before, and wouldn’t have ever known that had happened if I hadn’t turned around just at that moment. Ty was so generous, and so humble about it. I then waited and watched the other two, Allexis and Rob, to see how they went about paying for the ticket. They handed the ticket lady a ten dollar bill each. As we all walked into the concert, I felt guilty for being so selfish and not even having the thought cross my mind to bring extra money. I went to support my friend, so why had I only brought the bare minimum of cash and then keep my two dollar change?

We were standing in the very back next to the microphone controls stationed by the door most of the concert. About fifteen minutes after we arrived, a man bumped into me on accident as he tried to get into the concert. He was about 6’ 3” and maked me feel a little nervous because he had the appearance that he might be drunk. He wasn’t clean shaven and had a straw fedora hat on his head that appeared to have been used for many years or found in the garbage and a hobo-esque jacket that was dark gray that went down to his knees and had some tears in it.

“Do any of you know the girl’s family?”

This caught my attention because I knew her. I turned around with the intention of telling him I knew her family, but found that he was talking to the members of J-Wride specifically, who had been standing behind us the whole time.

“Yeah we do. We’re good friends of her. Can we help you at all?”

“I was wondering if you could pass this on to her family.”

I looked down towards his hand as I noticed him opening a tightly closed fist. I saw a tight roll of hundred dollar bills with a single rubber band wrapped twice around it. It appeared to be about five or six hundred dollars.

“Don’t tell her who gave it to them. I want it to be anonymous. My son passed away just a year ago from a cancerous tumor and I know how scary and emotionally draining this situation can be and I just wanted to show support for Jenna and her family in some sort of way.”

I stood there watching this transaction and felt tears start to run down my face. The man who I had judged so quickly had given a very generous amount of cash to help out a family he didn’t even know. He was just a normal guy trying to do his part in the world by helping others. I had paid the three dollars and taken my change back whereas this complete stranger that didn’t even know her gives away five hundred dollars. He then walked up towards the front of the concert and stood next to this woman who was just a few inches shorter than him and in a floral shirt and light blue overalls. She wrapped her arm around his and they both began to sway to the music, taking in every note being played and lyric being sung.

The whole next hour of the concert I couldn’t stop thinking of the generosity of my friends and the stranger. The concert came to a close and we began to head out so we could go visit our friend in the hospital. On our way out the door, I could see the ticket lady was still at her small brown school desk. I put my hand in my pocket and felt my fingers touch the crinkly green paper in my pocket – the measly two dollars that I kept as change.

“I would like to give this money to the girl’s family. I know it’s not a lot, but I hope it helps.”

New Life Form Discovered!

Just recently a new bacteria was found that is way different than any other type of life form on our planet Earth. It is allowed to use arsenic when building its DNA, RNA, cell membranes, and proteins.  Life forms to our knowledge was created by six different components. These six are carbon, nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur. However a new life form that was named GFAJ-1 was discovered that uses a arsenic instead of phosphorus. It was discovered in Mono Lake, California. This is shocking because first of all, arsenic is poisonous to basically every living organism except for a small amount of microscopic creatures. The second thing that is amazing is that this means that when searching for other life in space, we can now look for life on planets that are not the exact same setup as planet earth. This just blew my  mind because this opens up so many new ways to search for life in the Universe. I also enjoyed reading about this new bacteria because in my PD BIO class we learned how phosphorus and sulfur and the other four components are used in living organisms so it was cool to see it being applied in life. I just love reading things about science and nature because I really like to know how our world works and operates. If you want to read more, the link is: http://gizmodo.com/5704158/nasa-finds-new-life

Pokemon

Pokemon was basically my childhood. I'll just straight up admit it. I'm not embarrassed. Heck I am proud of it. First of all, the creators of Pokemon are absolutely genius because they can continually make money off of it because each year they can just add 150 new Pokemon to the series and voila! They can make new shows, new games for gaming systems, and produce even MORE cards to add to the millions of them that are already out there. Honestly, the most genius thing in my opinion is cards. People pay 6$ for 7 cards. The cards are basically small little pieces of sturdy paper with colorful pictures on it that probably takes 25 cents at most to make. Basketball, Bella Serra, Beanie Babie, Pokemon, Yu-gi-oh -- all of them have cards and I', sure being in a junk load of money for the companies. Second of all, the Pokemon games are just plain AMAZING. I have pretty much owned every version and played every one and man, they just get better and better each and every time. You pick your six favorite Pokemon, catch all the legendary magical ones, and go on to defeat the Elite Four. Everything adds up to that moment. Bring up Pokemon anywhere you are and you will instantly have 15 new friends because a vast majority of people were doing the same exact thing I was doing as a child -- trying to catch 'em all. It's amazing how one thing can bring together and unite so many people.

Being a Sister Missionary: Is it for me?

I was talking with my roomates the other night and we were talking about relationships and how girls and guys are so different in how they deal with certain things. We eventually got to talking about the difference between men and women missionaries and what they're like once they have returned. I thought a bit on women missionaries, and then realized I would soon be having my birthday that would make me the right age to be able to go on one myself.  I never thought that this time in my life would come, and so quickly! I was totally caught off guard.  However, it really hit me and I have been thinking about it a lot lately. Going on a mission no matter what is going to be an amazing life-changing experience. However, I don't want to end up going for the wrong reasons because a mission is NOT easy. You are always keeping busy and work very long days, and if you have to learn a language that adds even more effort that is required of you to be able to do a good job and be a productive missionary. If you don't go into the mission with the right intent and for the right reasons, the mission can be made so much harder and I don't think you will learn from it what you could have if you had gone in prepared and ready to teach the gospel. I have always been nervous about teaching, but I was talking with my friend on the phone after that discussion with my roomates and he said that when you teach people the gospel, they don't so much remember what you say, but how they felt WHEN you spoke to them about certain things of the gospel.  It's mainly just introducing them to that feeling and have them learn by the Spirit through you. I found that to be very interesting. I think it could be a wonderful experience and a great opportunity to serve the Lord by providing service to our fellow men and women. I just need to find out for myself if it is the right time to go and if it is for me.

Guitar and Music

Today I learned two songs on the guitar and that is a big step for me. Usually it takes me a very long time to learn them and master them. The songs were "If It Means A Lot To You" by A Day to Remember and "The Last Thing On Your Mind" by Lights but the acoustic version.  Honestly, the main reason I play guitar is because I REALLY want to learn how to play the harp, but it costs a ridiculous amount of money to learn.  With the guitar, I still get some strings that I can play around with. It's only six strings rather than like 80, but I'll take what I can get.  I am more of a finger picker rather than a strummer with the guitar.  Strumming is sometimes really hard for me but I can sing while doing it if it's simple enough. However, I really like to pick but I can't sing at all while I do that.  I just really love how so many notes can be played together and sound so beautiful. I like hearing them one at time especially so I can hear how each note blends in so perfectly with the next. I am just so grateful that we are able to have music in our lives. I don't know what I would do without it. I love when huge choirs sing, like the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. It makes the song seem so much more meaningful and powerful. I am so grateful for my guitar and that I got the opportunity to learn how to play it! It has been a great stress reliever for me.  Hopefully I can learn a few more songs tomorrow :] .

Rock Climbing and Bouldering

On Monday I went rock climbing at a place called the Quarry. It's an indoor rock climbing facility that also has an upper level where you can go bouldering, which is when you rock climb but without a harness. Bouldering is more about maneuverability whereas rock climbing seems to be more about seeing how high you can go so the bouldering walls are not nearly as high.  Bouldering was the sport I totally fell in love with though when we went. We didn't really know what we were doing and we were not very good at it, but we were able to watch the experts and man are they AMAZING! It's ridiculous how a person can hold their whole body on to a rock wall and just hang on with one hand and make it look like it's a piece of cake.  I really want to find someone that can train me in the ways of bouldering and help me strengthen the muscles required for it.  I honestly think the movements can look very graceful depending on how smooth the climber is able to boulder.  I really want to buy a membership there or just go more often to help me improve. I recommend this sport to everyone. You've got to try it out at least once in your life!!!