And the West Coast is in the Ring

We have been officially accepted to the Oregon school of law. So far, Oregon is the only option for us on the west coast and, frankly, I would say the least likely of our choices.

Why did I apply, then?

For the same reason you wear a seat belt every day of your life (at least you should!).

Is April 11 Really Just a Month from TODAY?

I don't have a whole lot to say on this one, either. To be short in writing, I'm quietly stunned that I will officially become a father in more or less four weeks.

Former teachers and mentors would probably gasp in shock to think that I, who was nary responsible enough to turn in a simple homework assignment, will now be given the blessing and responsibility to take care of another human life. EAT YOUR HEART OUT, PROFESSOR SNAPE!!

The man's befuddled gaze on the left doesn't even begin to describe my wonderment, anticipation, or good ole' fashioned butterflies!

Big Love

Well, I think you can imagine what this post will be about. But hold on, I'm not going to write a sermon or even give a speech.

That's right, all I have to say is that I'm saddened people feel the need to mingle "important storyline" with mockery and sacred belief.

The Church's well written response says much more than I could ever hope to write myself.

Click here to write a kind and respectful comment to our friends at HBO, asking them to show a little more discretion and good taste.

Today's Spiritual Message: Go and Do Thou Likewise

This is straight out of my journal:

Where to begin. I can’t really think of anything to remarkable yesterday other than the usual run of the mill.

However, when my wife and I went to the MTC, they had so many volunteers and, considering my wife’s pregnant condition, I decided we would simply head back home and give her some time to rest.

As we left, however, a gentleman approached us (from his dress and manner of speech, I could tell that he was obviously and employee of the MTC) and asked if we had any jumper cables. We had driven the Matrix (it’s easier to put CDs in its front seat area rather than the trunk of the Accord) but I was doubtful that we had any.

Feeling rather doubtful, I opened the back end, searched around and then rummaged around in the back (middle, really) seat but all to no avail. The result of the experience was a sort of, “Sorry, ole chap, but we haven’t got any.” Regrettably, we got in the car and started to drive off. I don’t know why, but I wish I had done more, wish I had searched harder, or maybe even alerted somebody from Wymount. Regardless of what I could have or should have done, it felt depressingly wrong to leave the young man there, with no more help from us than a wisp of clouds. I know it’s certainly not the end of the world, but I can’t help looking back on the experience and thinking of the scripture:

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Some would say my concern is unwarranted, but I can’t help wondering what I would feel like had the situation been the other way around. How easy it is for us to say, like the Levite, passing the beaten man on the highway, “I’m late and can do nothing for this man.” Yet, after explaining the parable of the Good Samaritan, the Savior exhorted the man who asked the question, “And who is my neighbor?” to go and do thou likewise.

Attack of the Keiths

Yes, this one goes out to my man, the Kspens, otherwise known as His Kness.

I must give him full, universal, and unabashed acclaim for having voted Attack of the Clones as the favorite SW movie of this site's percolating visitors.

Many of you out there may be wondering aloud,"But how could Kspens have done it? After all, he's only one man!"

Well, that's exactly what His Kness would want you to believe. However, he has his mysterious (and evil, I might add) and cunning Sith ways.

I'll just say this, the rogue Jedi Knight who swept Episode II to an undeserved and unmistakeably blasphemous victory is either a cookie monster or he knows how to visit the C.A. from more than one browser/IP address . . .

And in the Blue Corner

Let's add Washington & Lee to the mix. No, not an acceptance letter, at least not yet. Yes, friends and family, it's another wait list and we all know that those are fun, fun, fun!

W&L has one of the best teacher to student ratios in its class, is situated in the calm sticks of Lexington, VA, and is only a few hours away from Gettysburg.

Go to top-law-schools to read more about W&L.

It's hard to believe, but, not including Oregon, we only have 11 schools to hear back from.

Hey, after narrowing the field down from 27, I'm starting to see the light at the end of the tunel!

Musings about Israel and Being "Chosen"

I wrote this in my scripture journal yesterday as I was pondering 2 Nephi 6 and thought I would share:

It’s intriguing how we usually think of (at least I do) the scattering of Israel as a dispersion of the people but purely in groups of Israelites. I don’t know where I got this idea. If the people were already apostate, what then was to stop them from intermarrying among all nations? Does it not make sense, then, that the Lord will bless all nations, seeing as He has scattered His people abroad? The mere fact that the “Gentile” nations are intermixed with the seed of Israel gives them blood lineage and even more reason to be part of the spiritual house of Israel. However, we need not misguide ourselves into the belief that only those who are the blood line of Israel can be made children of Israel. As the Savior said unto the wicked rulers, “God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” Here we might scratch our head and say, “Why on earth would the Lord want to turn stones into children?” Well, the answer is, of course, that the Savior was rebuking the rulers for their nepotistic arrogance. They thought they were the “chosen people,” simply by birth. The Savior teaches, as does Nephi that, “Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God.” God will accept any who come unto Him in “full purpose of heart.”

Yesterday's Spiritual Message: The Things that Matter the Most

At a young age, what matters the most in a boy's or man's life could very well be something akin to the image at the right. However, as I've grown older, I've gained an appreciation for the "finer things" in life.

As Paul says in 1 Cor. 13: 11:

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Now, lest my friends and family scoff and glower, I don't intend to say that they should through away their video games or abandon some of the pleasing luxuries of our day.

I am most certainly saying, however, that there are two things (if I can call them that) in my life which matter the most to me: my wife and my daughter.

John says, in his third epistle:

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

Now I'll be the first to admit he was probably talking metaphorically here; however, I feel like the scripture paints a vivid picture of my strongest desires and greatest treasure.

Next to my sweet wife, my daughter holds a place of prominence in my heart which is untouchable by anything else (yes, even video games).

Allow me to give you a glimpse into what I mean. The other night, my wife told me how our daughter was bouncing around inside of her and so I put my hand on her baby carriage (stomach) and felt Maria shifting and poking.

However, what was the most touching and poignant experience was one that I'll never forget. As we were engaged in this special moment, I placed my mouth near my wife's tummy and spoke in my soft voice to our daughter, "Daughter, if you can hear me, kick." She kicked. Next, I said something along the lines of, "If you now who your father is, kick." Repeat.

It may seem like a small and simple thing, but is, after all, by small and simple things that great things are brought to pass.

So in short, my family is, of course, what matters to me the most.

What's in a Last Name?

Writing about HP and slapping together a Peanut Butter (that's what my wife and I call a peanut butter and honey sandwich), the catalyst for this post drifted into mind.

I mean, really, where do people come up with their last names? Are they born with them? Do they make them up? Are they knighted with or have them conferred upon them?

I have heard it rumored that last names originally had an occupational association tied to them. E.g. I have often been told (and read for that matter, if having "read" anything makes it fact) that Fletcher means a maker of arrows.

To me, this makes sense. Thus, a person named Smith is someone who makes stuff. But then carrying the deduction a step further, is a Potter someone who plants flowers or other plants into soil? And what about a Longbottom, for that matter? (On second thought, let's keep that question rhetorical.)

I'm sure that Scalois will be able to come up with some awesome archeological digs (or at least some interesting links). As for the rest of you (and as always on the C.A.), please share your thoughts and insights.

Hairless & The Sorcerer's Stone: Not Really a Review

Okay, I offered and the F-Word has clamored; I owe the man a "review" of Hairless and the SS.

However, while not wishing to displease the reviewing machine who must not be named (or to snatch some of his raving fan base), I must concede, there isn't much to cover in a quick synopsis that hasn't already been polished by Rita Skeeter and the like.

And so I give you: Rowling's Smorgasbord of Characters.

There isn't much I dislike about the series (you must confess, FW, it is rather difficult to treat them as separate entities), but one of my favorite aspects of these masterpieces is Rowling's uninterrupted symphony of characters.

Combined, most essentially I might add, with Jim Dale's unique and magical touch, each one of Rowling's characters makes us pause and wonder if our friend, family member, or even enemy hasn't weaseled his way into one of history's most popular and (IMHO) greatest series ever (yes, I know the Kalvin would vociferously disagree with me here; I ask you to momentarily forebear your immediate dismissal).

Who hasn't had a freckle-faced friend at one time or another? Who hasn't squinted, his eyes aflame at a greasy-haired and particularly unjust tyrant of a school teacher? Or who hasn't had a kind and soft spoken mentor, whether his hair be white or still vibrant with color? And finally, who hasn't trudged through adolescence, not really understanding it, but being ever so tickled when he realized it was officially and universally over?

Yes, one of my greatest lauds of praise for the famous J.K. Rowling is not that she knows how to enchant her readers with every word (which, of course, she does better than the greatest magician), but, rather, that she knows how to weave a tapestry full of non-Edwins (sorry, ye Twilighters). That is to say, she touches a common thread among humanity; each and every one of us feels as though he really were or at least that he really could be the famous Harry Potter.

False Alarms and Near Heartattacks: Preparing for Labor

I love a surprise just as much as the next bloke, but when my wife told me on Friday that she had been experiencing some unusual pains through much of the day and that she had taken counsel with her mother and the hospital . . . you can imagine that my reaction was somewhat akin to the chap on the left.

Yes, my wife is more than likely far enough along for Maria to be born at anytime, a healthy and robust (Qualtrics, eat your heart out) child.

But for you fathers out there, raise a hand and if you weren't freaking out mentally and emotionally when your wife experienced false alarms or, more to the point, when she actually went into labor.

Anyone, anyone? Bueller? Fry? Anyone, anyone?

Okay, that's what I thought.

So when I drove home early Friday afternoon (well, earlier than usual), you can imagine I felt like I had just had the Gatorade bath but without the warming sensation of victory.

In retrospect, I don't know if I was more panic-struck about my wife and our daughter's immediate safety or just bowled over by the fact that I will soon hold a child in my arms, responsible for her every sob, diaper change, and mortal existence for at least the next 18 years.

I now more or less understand why father's lose their hair or go gray so quickly . . .

The Death of a Newspaper

For those of you not from C-rad, it may come as a shock (or a "so what") to you that Colorado's oldest newspaper (nearly 150 this year), the Rocky Mountain News was shown to the door on Friday.

One columnist, Mike Littwin writes about the paper not just closing doors, but dying. He laments the downfall of the paper and pines for its days of glory.

Who is the culprit in this sad tale of job loss and despair? The economy? The Internet? Of course not. The suits. That's right, everyone, big bad business men are always the black-hearted criminals who have no qualms stamping out the hopes and dreams of their inferiors and then sprinkling the ashes over distant sees. The executives, those over-paid and under-worked tyrants; they are to blame! If they had half a heart they would see the folly of their ways . . .

This comment I found at the bottom of the column is a little harsh but I think that it's rather poignant:

Had he known how much pain and suffering it would cause the newspaper industry I’m sure former Vice-President Al Gore would never have invented the Internet. But hindsight is always 20/20 and since then he has gone on to a much, much bigger invention: Global Warming.

There’s never a good time to lose your job but this may be one of the better ones because President Obama has promised to redistribute wealth in America by taking from those who produce and giving to those who don’t. Under that guideline Mr. Littwin should make out very well, indeed.

Finally, as a champion of the common man it’s important to remember the common man’s reaction when hearing Mr. Littwin had lost his job: “Who?”.

Schadenfreude on steroids.

To conclude, I make an analogy: Should we resurrect the 8-track or the VHS so that the many plants and workers who so gallantly brought about their days of glory may resume their noble labors?

Yes, as Colonel Mustard would point out, "You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs; every good cook will tell you that."

I am saddened by the hardworking man's loss of employment just as much as the next guy. However, there are some things that have to go the way of the dodo for society as a whole to benefit.

We all clamor in our green sweats for the industrialists to "go paperless!" and yet we scratch, hiss, and boohoo whenever the axe inevitably falls upon those makers of paper.

Finally, as a the cliche goes:

YA CAN'T HAVE YER CAKE AN EAT IT TOO!

The Plot THICKENS

Well, the decision of where to go to law school is getting harder to make, which is, I suppose, a good thing.

I've been accepted full-time to Cincinnati and also just received an out-of-state scholarship to Kentucky (this just means that I only ever have to pay in-state tuition).

I think we would prefer to live in CT over KY or OH, but here's the rub: According to top-law-schools.com, Cincinnati graduates' first year median salary in the private sector of '06 was $90,000 compared to $70,000 for those from UCONN in '05. Are these numbers somewhat nebulous and perhaps not comparing apples to apples? I simply don't know.

Next, aside from starting salary and place of residence, factor in tuition. UCONN's overall cost of tuition full-time and part-time are $74,130 and $64,560, respectively. Cincinnati fills in at $71,066, but with a scholarship at Kentucky, I could sneak by with a substantially discounted $41,994.

I guess a lot of it will really come down to where we want to live and what job prospects I'll receive in the future.

From the information I've listed and assuming I don't get any other offers, where do you think I should go?

More Waiting

Today we got a letter from GW inviting me to be on the wait list there. It's by far my best prospect (commonly ranked #20), so Christy and I are pretty stoked.

Here's the only rub: we might not find out if I'm in until like August! Rough.

I'm ready to make it clear that I'm very interested in GW; however, I do still have about 14 schools to hear from . . . It's a hard knock life.

Aside from the obvious prestige and potential salary, there's the cost of tuition (duh) and the cost of living. As far as the former is concerned, GW's part-time program is about $40,000 more (overall) than UCONN's full-time program.

I'm going to ask the BYU pre-law advisor if she has any advice.

Please feel free to chime in with your thoughts as well.

This Week's Spiritual Message: Patriarchal Blessings

In the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, we receive inspired counsel and blessings through what are called Patriarchal Blessings. These blessings are given by men who hold the office and calling of Patriarch. Often, they are men whom we may have never met before but who are divinely inspired by God to give us guidance and direction.

In the case of my wife, the Patriarch who gave her her blessing was her grandfather. In my case, the man was a gentleman whom I had never met and whom I've never spoken to since he gave me the blessing (at least to my recollection). However, my blessing contains insights about my personality and direction about my life which have been a gentle reminder that God is my Father and that He is very near and always watching over me.

Some might scoff that such things are ludicrous and akin to soothsayers. However, there are striking difference between the former and the Patriarchs who are called of God. For instance, Patriarchs have not sought to obtain their position, they are called upon by men who hold the authority of God to act in his name. Secondly, these righteous men do not use dark and shady techniques to conjure up spirits or other questionable ideas, they simply act as a mouthpiece for the Father of us all who gives them an insight into our life, the words to say, and then closes the vision and understanding from them.

My Patriarchal Blessing has been to me as the Liahona (or divine compass) was to Lehi, Nephi, and their families: another witness that God loves me and that He will always guide me aright if I will simply seek for His guidance and follow His righeous counsel in all things.

VDAY (without the bloodshed)

I should have posted about this earlier, but I'm just now getting to it. FORGIVE! I hope the image to the right isn't too graphic for you . . . (keep in mind that they're hearts and not blood).

It was a normal day of work, as usual. However, late in the afternoon, just a little bit before I was about to head out, I got a call from one of my coworkers who said that something had happened to my car. I couldn't hear him very well at first and it sounded like he said that someone had "hit [my] car." Great, I sighed to myself. But then he spoke a little more clearly and said that someone had hearted my car. Phew! (See the sideshow for the pictures.)

Yes, my sweet wife and eternal companion had snuck into my car and placed all kinds of Valentine's Day paraphernalia all over the place. Awww. At least a few guys at work had noticed it and I felt like the luckiest husband ever. And I am, of course.

On Saturday, for the real VDay, my wife and I went over to the church for a life-sized version of some board game. It was pretty clever and involved the whole family, taking turns as to who would move the spaces.





In the evening, my wife and I made our usual visit to the MTC for the "teaching appointment" and we nearly fell and broke our necks about five times on the walk into the main entrance. My wife wasn't too happy about this and warmly (understatement) told the girl at the desk that, "You should really de-ice the sidewalks outside because a pregnant woman like myself could fall down and sue the MTC." Hard words from a hard woman.

My wife made a delicous heart shaped pizza for dinner as we sipped some sparkling cider and wolfed down some scrumptious chocolates, all while finishing the last few chapters in our audio version of Hairless Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. (BTW, I guess I never wrote a review about that; if you're dying to see my opinion, do let me know and I'll consent.)

This was a male's ultimate dream: I didn't have to plan anything this time, it was simple and relaxed, and we just enjoyed a quiet evening together. Don't get no better than that, Harry!

My Experience at UCUR

The Utah Conference for Undergraduate Research. I know, I'd never heard of it either, but I got an email from them back in the day last fall, inviting me to show up and make a presentation.

So I submitted the abstract to my Intel thesis and whoever the deciding body is liked it enough to give me a "spot" on the schedule to present.

To be completely candid, I really didn't give a rip about this presentation because I had a feeling (and was right) that there would be like five people in the room and only one (my wife) who wasn't either a moderator, another presenter, or a mentor.

The first kid talked about using computer science to map the human genome. Whoa. I was supposed to go next, but a girl from Dixie College got up and talked about "Digital Signage" . . . come to think of it, I still don't understand what her presentation was really about.

My presentation went pretty well as I added a dash of jokes and a pinch of impropriety. If you know me well, you know it's pretty much impossible for me to go five seconds without cracking a joke and I have no problem extending this trait to what would otherwise be a rote presentation.

After our window of presentation, it was back to Orem and then back to work. That's right, "There's no rest for the weary, commander." (STM, if you can't name the source of this quote, I will be flabbergasted.)

Yes, it was a Friday, so who wants to be at work? But hey, I've got to bring home the bacon and put some food on the table especially with another small mouth on her way.

If you have the inclination, here's the presentation (minus the ad lib jokes).

A Legal Dilemma . . .

Having applied to 27 different law schools, I figured that I would hopefully "have to" make a decision sometime.

Well, it's now official. I got an email yesterday from the University of Kentucky letting me know that I'm in.

I'm not too sure, though. Between full time at Kentucky and part time at UCONN, I'm really leaning toward the latter, principally because I think we would much rather live in CT than in KY and like 80% of UK graduates end up working in KY.

However, I'm still waiting to hear anything back from 18 different schools, so there might be some more decision making ahead . . . (hopefully).

I just wish I could know right now where we're in and where we're not, instead of having to wait forever. I really wouldn't mind just going to UCONN, so I'd like to have the queue end!

I'll keep you posted.

We Have Acceptance!

Yes, it's very hard to believe it, but I have finally been accepted to at least one law school. And yes, I will be the first to admit that it is only to the "evening" program so far, but we'll take it!

Christy is super excited and you would think that she were about to strap a back pack on or to start carrying a brief case.

I have to admit I don't know a whole lot about UCONN, but it is in the top 50 and that's probably better than I deserve, given my weak LSAT scores. ("Somebody's gotta save us kids.")

One thing that is pretty much nailed down is that we will live on the east coast. How do I know? Pretty much because the only school left on the west coast is Stanford . . . I only really applied to UW, Oregon, and Stanford on the left side of the country, I would take UCONN over Oregon and I didn't get into CU.

Who knows, maybe Harvard will shock the world and admit me by mistake . . .

Today's Spiritual Message: Behold Your LIttle Ones (Again)

It's official, everyone. Christy and I have been called as nursery workers in our ward! (For those of you who aren't LDS, please note that a "ward" is not a psychiatric unit but merely a local congregation.) The image to the right is actually the cover of our teaching manual.

Yes, yes, please hold your applause until the end of the performance.

We're both really excited and also really enjoyed our first day in the trenches.

If you're not familiar with how LDS church meetings normally work, there is usually an hour long meeting at the beginning where we take the "Sacrament" (often called the "Eucharist" or the "Lord's Supper" in other Christian religions), followed by two other meetings, each also an hour long.

The first of the two meetings is often a conglomeration of adults called "Sunday School."

Next and last, men and women are grouped off by gender, according to their respective ages. For Christy and me, we had been attending Relief Society (for women) and Elders Quorum (for men).

Now that we're in the nursery, we will still have Sacrament meeting together and then the next two hours as well. It's great because we will be with each other the whole time and it will be a marvelous preparation for Maria.

This morning, I was so amazed at how pure and trusting these little children really are. A couple of the little girls were docile and kind enough to even come and sit in my lap. :) Very sweet and illustrative of what the Savior said:

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the agreatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little achildren, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall ahumble himself as this little bchild, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my aname receiveth me.

How true it is! I'm so grateful to be among them and to soon have our own little one.