...you'd be freaked out too.
I am taking French 321 in the fall, and it just hit me that that will be with all of the returned missionaries who've been speaking it for the past two years. Ahhhh ahhh ahh ahhhhh
Il faut que je parle (ah, subjunctive? don't remember endings for that...?) francais pendant le reste de l'ete afin que je peux parler avec les etudiants dans ma classe.
(Desole, je ne suis pas certaine comment on peut faire les accents...?)
Monday, June 16, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
On chemistry and why I happen to enjoy it so very much
Why chemistry?
Lots of people have asked me that question since I picked it as my major. I think that people often think it's because of my dad, but it really isn't. I found chemistry on my own. I chose to take it in high school- not because my dad suggested it (he didn't even mention it), but because I thought it would be kinda fun. I've loved it ever since. My dad has never pushed me toward chemistry in any way. I think it makes him happy that this is what I've chosen to study, but he wouldn't have any problem with it if I switched to Jewish studies or something random like that. Anyway, when people ask me that I usually rattle off a peppy response (because I'm not about to rattle off the response at the end of this post, that would freak people out a little, read on, you'll see) like, "It's really fun!!" or "I just like it a lot!!" but you know what, that's not really why I study chemistry....
Every time I look at the sky at night, I think how beautiful is it that things like the stars and moon exist? And how amazing is it that we as small and seemingly insignificant humans can learn about them and try to make some sense out of it all? I remember one night in particular I was standing on my back porch in the middle of the summer at night under a full moon, and that feeling, that awe of the universe just confirmed why I love chemistry. I knew I wanted to study them-the world-atoms, why things are and what they're made of.
I study chemistry because I am human, because I am curious, because I want to know how the world works. I study chemistry because I like knowing that at the most fundamental level, the universe is ordered. There are rules, and things fit into place. I study chemistry because it challenges me. I study chemistry because I enjoy seeing people's reactions when I tell them my major (make of that what you will :)). I study chemistry because I feel like I'm learning how God put together this world (as dramatic as that may seem). I like that. I like being able to look at a colored solution and know why it's colored the way it is. I like being able to touch a cold metal pole and know that it's not really "cold," it's a good conductor of heat. I like being able to look at the stars and know of which elements they're made. And I don't expect to make any sort of grand discovery or anything. I'm content to learn what's out there first, to spend lots of hours in the lab doing nothing but reading Gopal (I swear I'll never figure out how to spell his name), running XRDs, and all the other little things. I don't mind that at all-in fact, I love it. I love being in the lab, I love learning how things go in real research (instead of whatever they try to get you to believe in 113), sometimes I even like cleaning out mortars with acid. Whatever it takes to be in there. As foreign and distasteful as it may be to some of you, dear readers, I love chemistry. Yes, it's hard. But I have to believe that it's worth it.
Lots of people have asked me that question since I picked it as my major. I think that people often think it's because of my dad, but it really isn't. I found chemistry on my own. I chose to take it in high school- not because my dad suggested it (he didn't even mention it), but because I thought it would be kinda fun. I've loved it ever since. My dad has never pushed me toward chemistry in any way. I think it makes him happy that this is what I've chosen to study, but he wouldn't have any problem with it if I switched to Jewish studies or something random like that. Anyway, when people ask me that I usually rattle off a peppy response (because I'm not about to rattle off the response at the end of this post, that would freak people out a little, read on, you'll see) like, "It's really fun!!" or "I just like it a lot!!" but you know what, that's not really why I study chemistry....
Every time I look at the sky at night, I think how beautiful is it that things like the stars and moon exist? And how amazing is it that we as small and seemingly insignificant humans can learn about them and try to make some sense out of it all? I remember one night in particular I was standing on my back porch in the middle of the summer at night under a full moon, and that feeling, that awe of the universe just confirmed why I love chemistry. I knew I wanted to study them-the world-atoms, why things are and what they're made of.
I study chemistry because I am human, because I am curious, because I want to know how the world works. I study chemistry because I like knowing that at the most fundamental level, the universe is ordered. There are rules, and things fit into place. I study chemistry because it challenges me. I study chemistry because I enjoy seeing people's reactions when I tell them my major (make of that what you will :)). I study chemistry because I feel like I'm learning how God put together this world (as dramatic as that may seem). I like that. I like being able to look at a colored solution and know why it's colored the way it is. I like being able to touch a cold metal pole and know that it's not really "cold," it's a good conductor of heat. I like being able to look at the stars and know of which elements they're made. And I don't expect to make any sort of grand discovery or anything. I'm content to learn what's out there first, to spend lots of hours in the lab doing nothing but reading Gopal (I swear I'll never figure out how to spell his name), running XRDs, and all the other little things. I don't mind that at all-in fact, I love it. I love being in the lab, I love learning how things go in real research (instead of whatever they try to get you to believe in 113), sometimes I even like cleaning out mortars with acid. Whatever it takes to be in there. As foreign and distasteful as it may be to some of you, dear readers, I love chemistry. Yes, it's hard. But I have to believe that it's worth it.
Thursday, June 12, 2008
The subject for tonight's lecture is rhythm...the beat
As of tonight I'm the proud owner of the World Super Star Latin 2006 DVD. Now I don't have to depend on youtube for my fill of Max and Yulia, Slavik and Elena, and Michael and Joanna, which is a major relief seeing as the quality is so terrible that I can barely make out Yulia's perfectly pointed feet.
In the process of getting this fabulous DVD, I found myself with 2 extra copies of the World Super Star Latin 2004 DVD. If you'd like one...you know where to find me ;)
Happy dancing everyone!
In the process of getting this fabulous DVD, I found myself with 2 extra copies of the World Super Star Latin 2004 DVD. If you'd like one...you know where to find me ;)
Happy dancing everyone!
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Ward Prayer Nightmare
So my new calling in my singles ward (not sure how to punctuate that phrase: single's ward? singles' ward?) is being on the ward prayer committee. Apparently it makes me more anxious than I thought...
Last night I had a dream that I went to ward prayer and had forgotten to assignment anyone to do anything, so I had to come up with a spiritual thought. I asked the people who host it if I could use the set of nice leather scriptures to come up with a thought and the lady was like, "No, I don't think so," and then she went off to find some scriptures that were crappy enough for me to use. Twenty minutes later she comes back without any scriptures and starts rummaging around in the entertainment center where I'd found the leather scriptures. She pulls out a piece of paper with some quotes on it and says, "Here, why don't you use this?" I don't see how I have any other choice so I start reading off this quote by some guy who I'm not even sure is LDS because he's talking about how we're more important than bubble gum. I glance down and the quote below it is by Christina Aguilera. Anyway, I'm trying my best to tie this into the gospel, but she keeps chiming in with her own insight about the quote. Finally it's over with and I have someone say the prayer and everyone can leave. Oh, except for the hosts' creepy son (they don't actually have a son who lives with them...I made him up in my dream) who's wearing a guitar around his back and won't let me back away from the refreshment table (the neck of the guitar is in the way). I finally push through, but he pulls me back with that stupid guitar, smiling like an idiot, probably thinking, "heh heh, I'm so good with girls." He puts the guitar on me, and I'm like, "ok, I'm getting out of here." So I go to leave and my car is gone, but my mom is there to walk me home. That was it. Oh and Becky and Jeff were there for some reason, and they wouldn't pay attention so I was really mad at them. And then Kim was like, "Katie, are you ok? You look like you're going to cry." And I felt like I was going to cry.
It was super bizarre. And I actually like being ward prayer coordinator. The people who host it are really nice and would never forbid me from using their scriptures to give a spiritual thought...at least I hope so...I've never actually asked them if I could...
Last night I had a dream that I went to ward prayer and had forgotten to assignment anyone to do anything, so I had to come up with a spiritual thought. I asked the people who host it if I could use the set of nice leather scriptures to come up with a thought and the lady was like, "No, I don't think so," and then she went off to find some scriptures that were crappy enough for me to use. Twenty minutes later she comes back without any scriptures and starts rummaging around in the entertainment center where I'd found the leather scriptures. She pulls out a piece of paper with some quotes on it and says, "Here, why don't you use this?" I don't see how I have any other choice so I start reading off this quote by some guy who I'm not even sure is LDS because he's talking about how we're more important than bubble gum. I glance down and the quote below it is by Christina Aguilera. Anyway, I'm trying my best to tie this into the gospel, but she keeps chiming in with her own insight about the quote. Finally it's over with and I have someone say the prayer and everyone can leave. Oh, except for the hosts' creepy son (they don't actually have a son who lives with them...I made him up in my dream) who's wearing a guitar around his back and won't let me back away from the refreshment table (the neck of the guitar is in the way). I finally push through, but he pulls me back with that stupid guitar, smiling like an idiot, probably thinking, "heh heh, I'm so good with girls." He puts the guitar on me, and I'm like, "ok, I'm getting out of here." So I go to leave and my car is gone, but my mom is there to walk me home. That was it. Oh and Becky and Jeff were there for some reason, and they wouldn't pay attention so I was really mad at them. And then Kim was like, "Katie, are you ok? You look like you're going to cry." And I felt like I was going to cry.
It was super bizarre. And I actually like being ward prayer coordinator. The people who host it are really nice and would never forbid me from using their scriptures to give a spiritual thought...at least I hope so...I've never actually asked them if I could...
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Il pleut
Today I went through all of my photos from freshman year. I had forgotten all of the crazy things we did...it made me sad.
I miss my roommates.
I miss living near campus. It sucks driving there everyday. I have to fill up on gas just about every week now. I miss having my own kitchen. I miss buying my own food (weird as that sounds). I miss sharing a room with someone who puts their clothes away (love you manda :)). I miss dancing with an actual partner instead of by myself. I miss having team every other morning. I [almost] miss having class. I think my brain is atrophying. I miss my friends from school who are now at home in other states. I miss sitting in a kitchen and having people to talk who are my own age. If I sit in my kitchen now and expect to talk to someone, I'm going to get one word answers from my brother, nonsense from my little little sisters, and "I'm in a hurry to go have a social life" from my younger sister. Gah, I'm actually looking forward to September.
I had a sudden realization the other day, but I have to give you some background first to appreciate it. Chem 113 was an awful experience. I dreaded Tuesdays and Thursdays (days I actually got to sleep in even!) because I had that lab class for three hours. Every class I was frantically flipping through the instructions that I had barely glanced over the night before (totally my fault, I know) trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do for the day's experiment. By the end of the semester, I nursed a growing hatred for lab work. Recently I got this job though, working in one of my professor's labs, and I've really been enjoying it. The other day I realized that I love being in the lab. Thinking about filtering used to be a sure-fire way to suddenly induce anxiety, but you know what, I don't mind it at all anymore. Thinking about going to a lab class sounds fun again. I don't hate lab work anymore, and it's a darn good thing because I'm going to have to take a million more classes full of them. Yay for chemistry!
I miss my roommates.
I miss living near campus. It sucks driving there everyday. I have to fill up on gas just about every week now. I miss having my own kitchen. I miss buying my own food (weird as that sounds). I miss sharing a room with someone who puts their clothes away (love you manda :)). I miss dancing with an actual partner instead of by myself. I miss having team every other morning. I [almost] miss having class. I think my brain is atrophying. I miss my friends from school who are now at home in other states. I miss sitting in a kitchen and having people to talk who are my own age. If I sit in my kitchen now and expect to talk to someone, I'm going to get one word answers from my brother, nonsense from my little little sisters, and "I'm in a hurry to go have a social life" from my younger sister. Gah, I'm actually looking forward to September.
I had a sudden realization the other day, but I have to give you some background first to appreciate it. Chem 113 was an awful experience. I dreaded Tuesdays and Thursdays (days I actually got to sleep in even!) because I had that lab class for three hours. Every class I was frantically flipping through the instructions that I had barely glanced over the night before (totally my fault, I know) trying to figure out what the heck I was supposed to do for the day's experiment. By the end of the semester, I nursed a growing hatred for lab work. Recently I got this job though, working in one of my professor's labs, and I've really been enjoying it. The other day I realized that I love being in the lab. Thinking about filtering used to be a sure-fire way to suddenly induce anxiety, but you know what, I don't mind it at all anymore. Thinking about going to a lab class sounds fun again. I don't hate lab work anymore, and it's a darn good thing because I'm going to have to take a million more classes full of them. Yay for chemistry!
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Vent and Tag
Before I fill out the little survey thing Suzy tagged me for, I must vent immediately about "So You Think You Can Dance." (oh, this is such a lovely preview for the months to come.)
I. Can. Not. Believe. There. Is. Not. A. Single. Ballroom. Guy. In. The. Top. Twenty.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GAHHHh I'm so disappointed. Granted, there are some fabulous contemporary and hiphop guys, but come on, we're not going to get a single decent samba, rhumba, samba, chacha, paso, or jive this season from the guys! That makes me so angry! It's all up to Chelsie to represent ballroom now...
Anyway, on to the survey:
A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the game the player tags 5 people, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
I. Can. Not. Believe. There. Is. Not. A. Single. Ballroom. Guy. In. The. Top. Twenty.
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
GAHHHh I'm so disappointed. Granted, there are some fabulous contemporary and hiphop guys, but come on, we're not going to get a single decent samba, rhumba, samba, chacha, paso, or jive this season from the guys! That makes me so angry! It's all up to Chelsie to represent ballroom now...
Anyway, on to the survey:
A. The rules of the game are posted at the beginning.
B. Each player answers the questions about themselves.
C. At the end of the game the player tags 5 people, then goes to their blogs and leaves them a comment letting them know they've been tagged and asking them to read your blog.
Where were you 10 years ago: It was a year after I'd moved here, and I was just starting to settle in...I think that was when I started taking dance in Jaylee's basement too.
Five things (that were) on my to-do list today:
1. Go to work. (check)
2. Watch "So You Think You Can Dance." (checkish...will watchall of it again with Jody and Kim later)
3. Put away clothes. (should go do that right now)
4. Mail a check to Andrea.
5. Get "Freakonomics" from the library (done, I even finished reading it this afternoon, I'd highly recommended if you want something intellingent and entertaining to read.)
Five snacks I enjoy:
1. yoplait light harvest peach yogurt
2. those swiss miss 3 layer chocolate puddings
3. pretzels with pink frosting (yay Bowen girls!)
4. fruit and nut granola bars
5. croissants
What would I do if I were suddenly a billionaire: Go to France for a month. Pay for my parents' home and buy one of my own. Furnish my newly purchased house with Pottery Barn furniture. Buy ballroom costumes, fly pros out for lessons every week, and get new shoes, lots of new shoes (ballroom, that is).
Four of my bad habits:
1. Like Suzy, I also have to check my blog, facebook, email, and all of my friends' blogs before I can get anything done on a computer.
2. blowing bubbles when I chew gum
3. cracking my knuckles
4. whining about things...like SYTYCD....or plane tickets...sorry girls :)
Five jobs that I have had:
1. Research assistant!!! Yeah!!!
2. Sales associate at Macy's
3. Nanny
4. Dance teacher
5. Babysitter
Five things people don't know about me:
(some of these might be repeats from my multiple secrets posts...I'll try to come up with something original...)
1. I have scoliosis and as a result one of my legs is longer than the other. And it also makes my hips slightly asymmetrical, hehe.
2. I don't really like excessively muscley guys. Ew.
3. I just got new favorite baby names from "Freakonomics." They are Ansel, Asher, and Liam for a boy, and Quinn and Pascale for a girl.
4. I love going to art museums. Sometimes I walk through the performing arts building just to look at the mini exhibits they have set up in the lobby.
5. I love flying. I don't even mind airports or sitting on airplanes for extended periods of time (granted, the farthest I've flown is to NYC/DC, so you know...I've yet to really experience a 12 hour flight or anything).
5 people I'm tagging
1. Amanda (haha now you're double tagged)
2. Alyssa
3. Jody
4. Ashlan
5. Ashley
I have to touch statues of lions on their paws.
I am sitting in science computer section of the library on the second floor, and it is dead silent...except for me, laughing out loud. Why?
This site.
I think I might have to submit one of my own, although I'm not sure if I'm that neurotic...
This site.
I think I might have to submit one of my own, although I'm not sure if I'm that neurotic...
Overboard
I have written five posts in the past two days, and I have posted none of them. Frustrations. I keep having little slivers of ideas of topics to write about and then they end up going nowhere. I think though, that this one might turn into something...
I was reminded yet again last night that you really cannot judge people, that you have no idea what their life is really like and what kinds of things they've been through. I think I tend to believe that everyone's lives are as happy and easy as mine. I have an amazing family, great friends, a fabulous job, a good chunk of money in savings, etc, etc. I take it for granted sometimes that my parents actually love each other and get along. I take it for granted that my dad is a great, moral person and doesn't abuse me or my siblings. I take it for granted that my parents have never made me feel not good enough or unaccepted. I take it for granted that I'm healthy both body and mind. I take it for granted that the biggest problems I'm dealing right now are so small and so insignificant compared to others around me.
It just breaks my heart to see people I know and respect go through difficult trials and then blame themselves. I wish they could see the way I see them, and how God sees them, how incredible they truly are. GAhhh. Like this one time when Chino* hadn't done well at an audition at NYCDA and was just feeling awful about her dancing and herself in general and Piper* was texting me telling me what was going on, I couldn't help but cry. I hate to see the people I love in so much pain. I'm sorry to those of you who are dealing with hard things, and I'm proud of those of you who are getting through it. Love you all. :)
*names have been changed, in case you couldn't tell...haha
I was reminded yet again last night that you really cannot judge people, that you have no idea what their life is really like and what kinds of things they've been through. I think I tend to believe that everyone's lives are as happy and easy as mine. I have an amazing family, great friends, a fabulous job, a good chunk of money in savings, etc, etc. I take it for granted sometimes that my parents actually love each other and get along. I take it for granted that my dad is a great, moral person and doesn't abuse me or my siblings. I take it for granted that my parents have never made me feel not good enough or unaccepted. I take it for granted that I'm healthy both body and mind. I take it for granted that the biggest problems I'm dealing right now are so small and so insignificant compared to others around me.
It just breaks my heart to see people I know and respect go through difficult trials and then blame themselves. I wish they could see the way I see them, and how God sees them, how incredible they truly are. GAhhh. Like this one time when Chino* hadn't done well at an audition at NYCDA and was just feeling awful about her dancing and herself in general and Piper* was texting me telling me what was going on, I couldn't help but cry. I hate to see the people I love in so much pain. I'm sorry to those of you who are dealing with hard things, and I'm proud of those of you who are getting through it. Love you all. :)
*names have been changed, in case you couldn't tell...haha
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