The Zesty Things of My Little World

Invictus

2011-12-10T22:10:00.001-07:00

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

P.S. The movie is incredible.

Behold the Special Ones

2011-11-20T14:35:00.001-07:00

Today for Church we had a very special meeting. The Special Needs Mutual of the Stake gave a presentation. Instead of Primary, we had a Special Needs presentation, and
it was

absolutely
WONDERFUL.

The Spirit was so strong, and tears started welling up in my eyes when they sang the first song. There were a total of 4 songs sang by the choir who consisted of the youth and adults with disabilities and their leaders, and I was so impressed with it. One of them also gave a talk about family, and described her family and activities they did together.

My heart was full of the Spirit and love. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite sacrament meetings.

So...

2011-10-23T23:48:00.001-06:00

I haven't blogged in a few weeks- sorry. No one's reading anyway, so it's no biggie. But in case you are, here is a quick update:

Internship- love it, love it, love it!
Stake Conference this weekend- AWESOME. Elder Bednar (my favorite) spoke at the Sunday session, and of course it was inspiring and full of counsel of how I can do better. Gave me things to ponder about. The General Young Men and Young Women Presidents were also there, along with Elder Craig C Christensen of the Seventy. 40 Stakes participated in this regional conference (at the conference center and via satellite broadcast)! Needless to say, it was slightly noisy and I think I'll stick to my YSA ward for now...
The Saturday evening session was only for my YSA Stake and it was TERRIFIC. We talked about "saving"- saving non-members, saving those who are less active, saving each other and saving ourselves. The conference was just wonderful.
Narrowed down my grad school writing sample- I initially wanted to write a paper and why plural wives defended polygamy in the 19th century but once I commenced research, it morphed into this humongous monstrosity that could not be written well in just a few months. So I narrowed it way down and now I'm focusing on the Woman's Exponent defense of polygamy. The Woman's Exponent was an unofficial but church-endorsed magazine for women from 1872 to the early 1900s, and enjoyed a wide circulation. Anyway, the writing sample is... coming along, albeit like tar. Sigh.. I'm just not a fan of writing. Correction: I like writing (like this blog), just not scholar/ academic writing.
Bought new food and tried 3 new recipes this weekend. Can you tell that cooking is a de-stresser for me? I bought a sweet dumpling squash (CUTE!) and tried allrecipes.com's Cheesy Acorn Squash and Food Network's Mashed Acorn Squash. The former was pretty alright... I need to tweak it a little. However, the latter was EXCELLENT. Mashed cooked squash, sour cream, little cumin and garlic powder, salt and pepper and yummy! My 3rd recipe was peanut butter cupcakes with peanut butter reeses cups with peanut butter frosting. Yes I know, I know... I was craving peanut butter yesterday (weird...) and had to make these. Turned out FANTASTIC except that next time, don't stinge on the sour cream if using Betty Crocker cake mix. It was a little too dry, but still tasted great. Peanut butter, peanut butter, peanut butter...
Hot Pot to celebrate Vickie's birthday- DOUBLE HAPPINESS. Plus since we bought her a copy of the BBC North and South, we can watch it during the holidays... :)
The Good Wife- new drama series that I'm hooked on, and I will admit, is the cause of my procrastination for grad school applications... so I can't complain if my grad school applications don't get done on time. Sigh... ANYWAY, if you are looking for a tv drama to waste time on and not feel too guilty, THIS IS THE ONE. It's not just a show about a housewife-turn-working Mom who discovered her husband cheated on her. There is SO MUCH more to it. It's a very complex show that makes you think about issues. For example, how far would you go to support your lying husband, who seems to have changed, but hasn't really because he's still clinging to his political aspirations, but then has taken on religion, but also harbors Old Testament "violence"? Yeah, that complex. Watch it.
Then, there is one film that I want to also recommend that won't make you feel guilty for procrastinating since it's only an hour and a half long. And completely clean. Lovely, Still. I LOVE Christmas movies, and this is one of my favorites. I want to BUY this (and I don't normally say this). 2 elderly people meet in a first awkward encounter that slowly turns into a beautiful romance. Boring? HECK NO! It was MAGICAL. And even more astonishing is the fact that the writer and director of the film is around my age. Makes me feel like a loser.
Helped with a Halloween Party for Down Syndrome children. I'm not a super huge fan of Halloween (I lack creativity), but it was fun. Those kids were ADORABLE.

That's my life for the past few weeks. Next update? Sigh... Can't promise you when.

Washington Monument Closed "Indefinitely"

2011-09-27T08:05:00.000-06:00

Who cares if the government might shutdown or that the rest of the world is going bonkers?!

The worst news I received today was that the Washington Monument was closed to visitors "indefinitely" due to the 5.8 earthquake that struck VA in August.

Nooooooooooo!

Alright, that's being very superficial, but it's still a pity, because that means that when people visiting DC in the near future won't be able to go up to the top of this stunning monument and look out over the entire city. *Sigh*

Today in the News (according to the Post)

2011-09-26T08:44:00.004-06:00

The Bad News (sort-of)
A well-written article on Supreme Court Justice Elena Kegan until the very last line which left a bitter taste in my mouth. What a pity!

“Your job [as a laywer] is to try to figure out how to persuade nine Supreme Court justices to take a particular position. And now my job is to figure out how to persuade eight.”

I thought a Chief Justice's job is to take a stand that ensures the law is interpreted and administered in a just and beneficial way, not persuade other Justices to your opinion. This worries me because she is a very liberal judge, and if her goal is to sway the other 8 Supereme Court Justices to her side, I think this country is going to be in big trouble. I'm not saying you can't dissent or even try to win people over to her side- I'm just saying that her main focus shouldn't be on trying to get other people to agree with her.

The Good News though
The National Science Foundation will announce new steps that will make it easier for women to persue career in engineering and the sciences, such as making working policies easier for women to juggle a family and career.

My favorite part?
"There is a common misconception that workplace flexibility policies cost business money. In fact, the opposite is true. A study from the White House Council of Economic Advisers found that flexible workplaces often attract the best workers and experienced reduced absenteeism, lower turnover and higher productivity."

Some businesses refuse to hire or pay women lower wages, citing that it is more economical. Guess what buddies- times have changed, and you better jump on the bandwagon and start treating women more fairly. Like equalizing our pay on par with the men. If not one day you are going to find that your competitors' workforce are filled with highly accomplished women blazing a trail for you to follow limping behind.

Dear Francesca,

2011-09-24T23:32:00.001-06:00

I feel so honored to have a blog post specially dedicated to me! I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw the blog title, but yes, it was for me. HOORAY! And it was so nice to be able to hear about YOUR life- not Justin's or Caden's, though it probably revolved 95% of the time around them (:p)- but YOU.

Thanks for your update, and based on it, you've been WAY busy. Who would have thought Nursery would be so much hard work?! It reminded me of a story told in general conference about a faithful senior sister who was ashamed that she never received any leadership callings, and was a mere Nursery/ Primary teacher. Reading your post really hit home the fact that EVERYONE makes a contribution in this church, not just those in leadership callings. Even a Nursery teacher is important, because if you don't function (or can't teach at the last minute), you cause inconvenience in someone else's life. And please know that YOUR calling is so important! Imagine if you weren't there and a teacher didn't show up either... uh oh...

Anyway, I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know that I'm always here, and on top of that, I love reading your blog! Take all the breaks you need, but I'll keep following. And yes, if I am ever in Arizona near where you guys are, I will visit- I have yet to see the cute little "no-more-chunky-monkey"

Love,
Keshia

Thought you might be interested in contributing to this project : http://www.mormonwomen.com/. I think they could really use your writing talent and strong faith and conviction.

What I Just Read - on trials and tribulations

2011-09-19T22:17:00.001-06:00

Excerpts from Elder Paul V. Johnson's talk "More Than Conquerors through Him That Loved Us" (Ensign May 2011)

Elder Orson F. Whitney said: "No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. ...All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies out hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable.

It should come as no surprise that trials can be very personal - almost laser guided to our particular needs or weaknesses.

The furnace of affliction helps purify even the very best of Saints by burning away the dross of their lives and leaving behind pure gold. Even the very rich ore needs refining to remove impurities. Being good is not enough. We want to become like the Savior, who learned as He suffered "pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind."

We don't seek out tests, trials, and tribulations. Our personal journey through life will provide just the right amount for our needs.

How Do You Make Guacamole?

2011-09-18T23:32:00.000-06:00

Because I'm sure everyone has their own recipe that they swear by. Here's my version, but I'm interested in adding in sour cream next time as recommended by Our Best Bites. Maybe next time... when avocados aren't expensive and my budget will allow me to afford sour cream too. *Sigh for delicious-but-expensive fruit*

Here's how I make guacamole that I think is AWESOME:
Avocados-meshed
Tomatoes- diced into small pieces
Onions- diced into very small pieces (no bad breathe guacamole please!)
Garlic- cut into very small pieces as well
Lemon/ lime juice- a few drops
Salt and Pepper to taste

Mix. Serve. Eat. Enjoy.

Yummy!

And yes, there are no quantities with it. It's however much you want to put in- adapt to each person's preference . A very flexible recipe- that's why I love it.

Serve with a bag of tortills chips- yummy yummy!

What about you? How do you make guacamole?

Who is a Peacemaker?

2011-09-17T20:28:00.006-06:00

Peacemakers

"It is the gift to help people find common ground when others are seeing differences. It is... to help people see that what someone else said was a contribution rather than a correction."

President Henry B. Eyring

Ensign May 2011

My "Wedding Bit-ies"

2011-09-15T23:03:00.000-06:00

If you are a single female like me, I'm sure you've thought about what you want your future dream wedding to be, because I have and I'm 100% sure it it happens to every girl.

Because, well, we're female. Even though I don't have all the details planned down to a "T" and don't want to anyway, however, once in a while, I collect what I call "Wedding Bit-ies," i.e. ideas of what I what I want or absolutely do not want for my wedding. That's my "payback" from all the weddings I've attended in Wedding-ville, UT :)
I'm not talking about the huge plans- only the teeny details / "idiosyncracies" (call them " personal preferences") that flash "you."

Here's my list so far:

To be printed below the part about registries, "The bride requests that guests refrain from wearing only/ all black (It's a wedding, not a funeral!)"
Wedding colors: Purple (duh!) and champagne gold
Definitely having a FLORAL bouquet. No bags, umbrellas, fans...
I'm a person who loves simple feminine patterns, so I think this is a great idea...

Taken from the blog Bee in Our Bonnet

... but I'm torn between this creative idea, and using REAL flowers. How do they make these anyway?!

No flip-flops for me or my immediate wedding party.
Wedding Announcement Photo: Candid, smiling, different side-profiles and ABSOLUTELY NO KISSING SHOTS. (Kissing shots on the wedding day itself is fine though!)

What "Wedding Bit-ies" do/ did you have?

To My Mother and All Mothers Everywhere

2011-09-14T23:09:00.000-06:00

Being a mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my

field, since the payment is pure love.

~Mildred B. Vermont

CES Fireside (Sept 11 2011)- Elder and Sister Oaks

2011-09-11T21:37:00.001-06:00

Just heard Elder and Sister Oak's CES Fireside address to the Young Single Adults

It was
WONDERFUL.

Sister Oaks, the "poster child for single adults" (as she called herself), related her own experience being a single woman in the church until her marriage to Elder Oaks in her early-50s. She was funny, sensitive and warm, and her counsel was spot-on. And erm, as superficial as this sound, she didn't speak with that same "high-low intonation" as other women speakers do. My favorite quote from her -

"If you cannot bear the difficulties and challenges of single life, you will never be able to bear the difficulties and challenges of married life." (italics added)

Woah. Something for me to ponder and apply.

Elder Oaks spoke on "Truth and Tolerance." EXTREMELY thought-provoking and a topic that I've been subconsciously pondering about, so this was an answer to an unspoken prayer. This talk is firm evidence of Elder Oaks' mastery of oratory and writing skills- you can totally hear Elder Oaks' litigation background through this talk. Yet, he used simple enough terms to break down this difficult concept so that everyone can understand it. Definitely a talk I want to archive.

Introducing... THE OAT GRAIN ;)

2011-09-09T23:30:00.000-06:00

I want to talk about oats today. Yes, as in oatmeal oats.

Boring subject? NOPE. Not if if you know how to cook and eat them right.

Tell you something you didn't know before?
Well, how about... quick oats or rolled oats (the flat ones) are the equivalent of processed food in the world of grains? They have slightly less nutritional value but more fat (seriously... it's strange) and higher glycemic level. Don't even get me started on instant oats- instant oats only fill you up but have no other benefits what so ever. Kinda like iceberg lettuce. *Shudder*

If you want to eat oatmeal, make sure you cook the oat grain in its pure form, or what is termed the "oat groat." If not, try for the second best version, which is steel-cut oats. Steel-cut oats, as the name implies, are oat groats cut into smaller pieces (probably using a steel-blade knife) for faster cooking. These two types of oats cook longer but they taste soooooo much better and provide the real nutrition that oats are famous for. Plus, steel cut oats are not expensive at all.

Steel-cut oats

Notice how they are SO NOT FLAT!

I used Alton Brown's recipe, and I have to say, Alton Brown does not disappoint. I wish there was a way transport the fragrance and taste of the "toasted" oats to my readers- unbelievably aromatic nutty flavors!

I cooked up about 2/3 C oats, and that fed me 3 delicious breakfast meals. They keep in the fridge for up to a week, and in the freezer even longer. How convenient is that to simply take it out every morning and microwave before seasoning?

Two ways I "flavor" my cooked oats
1) Coconut oil. Sounds disgusting, but you would not believe how DIVINE it tastes. Btw, coconut oil is actually one of the healthiest oils on the face of the planet. It is also one of the best oils used for frying at high heat.
Start with one teaspoon to every one cup of oatmeal, and add more according to taste.

2) Cream and fruit

Oatmeal, fresh raspberries and peaches, and chocolate shavings
Mmm...

Don't be stingy when adding cream - at least 2 tablespoons for every one cup of oatmeal. Cream is a very healthy fat, so don't be afraid! I also add in cinnamon for a nice "kick."

Enjoy!

Quotes of Past Week

2011-09-09T11:30:00.002-06:00

Persecution can either crush you into silent weakness or motivate you to be more exemplary and courageous in your daily lives.

(Elder Russell M, Nelson, "Face with Future with Faith," Ensign May 2011)

The future is as bright as your faith.

(President Thomas S. Monson, "Be of Good Cheer,", May 2009)

Reunion: The Three Lai Sisters

2011-09-08T23:12:00.002-06:00

My two younger sisters started school at BYU last week (go Cougars!). They arrived in Utah the week before, and I enjoyed having them stay with me for a few days before they moved into their apartments. We also took the opportunity to do some sightseeing and hiking.

Click on the labels to go to the post and pictures directly.

Tour of the Conference Center and Temple Square and pictures
The Mormon Tabernacle Choir concert rehearsal
Mount Timpanogos Caves and pictures
Cascade Springs and pictures
Dinner with Ryan and Jenny Wood's family, and the Beutlers.

I had a blast, and it was so fun to see them again! I can't imagine how tired they must be from the jetlag and moving here, but they were such good sports :)

Cascade Springs... Part 2!

2011-09-08T23:10:00.003-06:00

I initially wanted to take my sisters to Stewart Falls, because it was a relatively easy hike with a nice waterfall at the end of it. Who knew that Abish had hiked there before?

Change of plans.

Remember Cascade Springs, the place Vickie and I had previously tried to get to but got lost and drove for almost 2 hours to get there? This time, since I knew how to get there, it took us way lesser time to get there.

That was the good news. The bad news was because we went at the time when Summer was transitioning to Autumn, the flowers and leaves that were present in my previous trip were gone, but hadn't been replaced by the stunning Fall colors. We saw lots of brown, instead of golden yellows and oranges. WAHHHHHH! A wasted trip.

*sigh*

Well, at least I enjoyed the company.

Some of my favorite pictures-

Scenery while driving through the mountains to Cascade Springs.
Takes your breath away, huh

More pictures here.

Oh and btw... I am a new member of Costco... finally! HOORAY!

New Blogger Interface

2011-09-08T12:02:00.002-06:00

Blogger has changed its formatting layout.

Don't get me wrong- I'm all for change here. The new formatting is mostly refreshing and easier to work with. But having your "Page Views" IN CHART FORM NO LESS appear RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOUR FACE with every click you... well, click, is kinda disconcerting.

Because I don't have many page views, i.e. people reading my blog.

Simply because that's the way I want it to be. My blog is public because I want my family and friends to have easy access to it, but that doesn't mean I want the entire world to read about my life. Who even cares? Blogging is very narcissistic, and that's why I appreciate all my, albeit small, faithful core group of readers who put up with my whining and experiments and ramblings...

I JUST DON'T WANT BLOGGER TO KEEP REMINDING ME THAT NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE CARE AND ARE READING MY BLOG.

Timpanogos caves

2011-09-07T23:15:00.001-06:00

WARNING: This is NOT a hike for the fainthearted. No really. I've been in Utah for over 2 years, and I still had to hard time hiking up.

But it was SO WORTH IT.

My sisters, Vickie (past roommate) and I went to the Timpanogos Caves the Saturday before school started.

They (as in... the park rangers) gave us "plenty of time" (hour and a half) to hike from the base of the mountain to the caves. They lied. I think an hour and a half wouldn't be enough.

Okay, it was partly our fault. We arrived there late and as a result, only had an hour to hike up the 1.5 miles. We barely made it on time. As a result, we didn't have much time to admire the scenery although we still managed to take some cool pictures along the way, such as

The climb is really steep though, so I bet we would still have been tired out even if we had taken the full hour and a half.

The hard climb was worth every drop of sweat once we went into the caves however. Did I mention how freaking awesome it was? Who knew that Utah was so cool?! Wish I'd known about this earlier because we got to see loads of cool geological formations such as

Stalactites everywhere!
We also saw lots of stalagmites (the ones that "grow" from the ground)

The GIGANTIC HUMONGOUS stalactite I term "The Beast"
It's really named "The Heart of Timpanogos Caves"... for obvious reasons

Called "Slabs" as in "slabs of ice"
Not the most creative name but hey, it fits!

I learned also learned that caves also have other cool features such as "beacon strips."

Click here for more pictures.

Temple Square in the Summer

2011-09-05T23:22:00.000-06:00

Isn't it weird that I've visited Temple Square many times to see the Christmas Lights, yet I've never visited Temple Square in the summer nor toured the Conference Center? No kidding. Long time coming, but I finally did it, and I'm so glad I was able to do it with my sisters.

We started by taking a tour of the Conference Center. No matter how many times I've been in that building, I am always awed by the size of the building. This time, the tour guide pointed out to us the intricate details of the building.

Then we went into the Conference Hall...

Unbelievable.

We also walked around Temple Square- I couldn't believe how beautiful it was. Whoever does the landscaping for Temple Square is a genius!
Here were some of my highlights:

Dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe and view from the Joseph Smith Building
The Salt Lake Temple- now that I've moved to Salt Lake, it's officially "my" temple now :)
The "Dollhouse" of the Salt Lake Temple
The Christus
Seeing Sister Sarah Woo! She looked radiant and happy
The Tabernacle. We requested that the sister missionaries conduct the acoustic demonstration, and

were

blown

away

The acoustics... wow! There is no way Brigham Young could have known about such physics without pure revelation.

We came back the next day to watch a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir for their weekly "Music and the Spoken Word" episode.

Need I say it was AWESOME?!

For more pictures, please click on this link.

The Best Pancake Syrup EVER!

2011-09-03T00:15:00.000-06:00

Sorry, the spotlight today is on the syrup itself, NOT on the pancakes (pardon the deceiving nature of the pictures).... pancakes still needs tweaking. I'm transitioning to only using whole wheat flour when baking, and... that's another post.

Meanwhile, the syrup was SO GOOD!
My favorite pancake syrup is pure/ real maple syrup (nothing beats natural sweetness). This Buttermilk Pancake Syrup though, is pure awesomeness... no kidding. Tastes like caramel but this is a healthy version- instead of using white sugar and corn syrup, I substituted it with honey and ta dah! Healthy syrup... an oxymoron for sure but who cares when it tastes so good???!!!

Adapted from a bunch of recipes from allrecipes.com

3/4 C buttermilk
1/2 C butter (1 stick)
About 1/3 C honey
1 t baking soda
2 t vanilla
1 decent size saucepan because the sauce will "froth" over when boiled

Stir all ingredients in the pan except the vanilla.
Bring to boil.
Cook a few minutes.
Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
Get ready for pure heaven.

Makes slightly over one cup.

*P.S. I accidentally added in the vanilla with the other ingredients, and it didn't hurt my syrup, so don't freak out if you do the same too!

Article on American Exceptionalism and president Obama

2011-09-02T23:50:00.001-06:00

WARNING: This post is about AMERICAN POLITICS. Yes, sensitive subject and where everyone wants to SHOUT out their opinion so that everyone else knows about it... not that anyone else is interested. So kindly refrain from posting nasty comments here.

Just read an article in the Wall Street Journal about President Obama and American Exceptionalism. (Full article below as well). I'm not as critical as he is of President Obama (after all, until we get his job I don't think we can judge him accurately), yet I still like this article because
1) It enuciates my feelings on the difficult position of being The Superpower in the World. America has my full sympathy. You can't please everyone and you have to carefully pick your battles. This is why, despite the current chaos, I still have faith in America. This is still a wonderful country that has every right to be be proud of its fierce adherence to the protection of freedoms.

2) Because I'm a blue dog democrat and I like Pres. Obama.
And this article echos the appropriate word I've been trying to find regarding my feelings toward him.

Disappointed.

For someone who is super smart, seems to be a decent moral family guy and who promised so much during campaign season, he has yet to deliver anything substantial. His policies are sound in theory and rhetoric, but his execution is very problematic. What has he to show so far? Osama Bin Ladin's death, which *erhem* was really more a result of the military than him him? Yes, most of the circumstances were completely out of his control (such as the Arab Spring), but I'm sure Osama's death were out of his control as well, and yet we give him credit for it. Hmm...

What makes a president exceptional? What makes a person exceptional? Someone faced with tough circumstances and very limited choices, but takes control of the situation and turns it around to his advantage.

That's what plenty of people, including I, are fighting to do everyday.
So yes, people falter and fail along the way, everyone including the President of the Most Powerful Nation on the Earth, but the people didn't elect this President to ALWAYS falter. We want a leader who will pick himself up and grow stronger and tougher, someone who will solve problems and fight for the preservation of American Exceptionalism. Precisely why I wanted President Obama to succeed rather badly. He had so much going for him and he seemed like a shaker and a mover, someone who was going to start controlling the situation and change something. We wanted a fighter.

Instead, what do we get? His latest fight (no pun intended) with Beohner over the date to give his next address. Really?!

How can I not cringe and be disappointed?

He has slightly over a year left to prove to us, and probably to himself, that America IS exceptional.

September 03 2011 by SHELBY STEELE
If I've heard it once, I've heard it a hundred times: President Obama is destroying the country. Some say this destructiveness is intended; most say it is inadvertent, an outgrowth of inexperience, ideological wrong-headedness and an oddly undefined character. Indeed, on the matter of Mr. Obama's character, today's left now sounds like the right of three years ago. They have begun to see through the man and are surprised at how little is there.

Yet there is something more than inexperience or lack of character that defines this presidency: Mr. Obama came of age in a bubble of post-'60s liberalism that conditioned him to be an adversary of American exceptionalism. In this liberalism America's exceptional status in the world follows from a bargain with the devil—an indulgence in militarism, racism, sexism, corporate greed, and environmental disregard as the means to a broad economic, military, and even cultural supremacy in the world. And therefore America's greatness is as much the fruit of evil as of a devotion to freedom.

Mr. Obama did not explicitly run on an anti-exceptionalism platform. Yet once he was elected it became clear that his idea of how and where to apply presidential power was shaped precisely by this brand of liberalism. There was his devotion to big government, his passion for redistribution, and his scolding and scapegoating of Wall Street—as if his mandate was somehow to overcome, or at least subdue, American capitalism itself.

Anti-exceptionalism has clearly shaped his "leading from behind" profile abroad—an offer of self-effacement to offset the presumed American evil of swaggering cowboyism. Once in office his "hope and change" campaign slogan came to look like the "hope" of overcoming American exceptionalism and "change" away from it.

So, in Mr. Obama, America gained a president with ambivalence, if not some antipathy, toward the singular greatness of the nation he had been elected to lead.

.But then again, the American people did elect him. Clearly Americans were looking for a new kind of exceptionalism in him (a black president would show America to have achieved near perfect social mobility). But were they also looking for—in Mr. Obama—an assault on America's bedrock exceptionalism of military, economic and cultural pre-eminence?

American exceptionalism is, among other things, the result of a difficult rigor: the use of individual initiative as the engine of development within a society that strives to ensure individual freedom through the rule of law. Over time a society like this will become great. This is how—despite all our flagrant shortcomings and self-betrayals—America evolved into an exceptional nation.

Yet today America is fighting in a number of Muslim countries, and that number is as likely to rise as to fall. Our exceptionalism saddles us with overwhelming burdens. The entire world comes to our door when there is real trouble, and every day we spill blood and treasure in foreign lands—even as anti-Americanism plays around the world like a hit record.

At home the values that made us exceptional have been smeared with derision. Individual initiative and individual responsibility—the very engines of our exceptionalism—now carry a stigma of hypocrisy. For centuries America made sure that no amount of initiative would lift minorities and women. So in liberal quarters today—where historical shames are made to define the present—these values are seen as little more than the cynical remnants of a bygone era. Talk of "merit" or "a competition of excellence" in the admissions office of any Ivy League university today, and then stand by for the howls of incredulous laughter.

Our national exceptionalism both burdens and defames us, yet it remains our fate. We make others anxious, envious, resentful, admiring and sometimes hate-driven. There's a reason al Qaeda operatives targeted the U.S. on 9/11 and not, say, Buenos Aires. They wanted to enrich their act of evil with the gravitas of American exceptionalism. They wanted to steal our thunder.

So we Americans cannot help but feel some ambivalence toward our singularity in the world—with its draining entanglements abroad, the selfless demands it makes on both our military and our taxpayers, and all the false charges of imperial hubris it incurs. Therefore it is not surprising that America developed a liberalism—a political left—that took issue with our exceptionalism. It is a left that has no more fervent mission than to recast our greatness as the product of racism, imperialism and unbridled capitalism.

But this leaves the left mired in an absurdity: It seeks to trade the burdens of greatness for the relief of mediocrity. When greatness fades, when a nation contracts to a middling place in the world, then the world in fact no longer knocks on its door. (Think of England or France after empire.) To civilize America, to redeem the nation from its supposed avarice and hubris, the American left effectively makes a virtue of decline—as if we can redeem America only by making her indistinguishable from lesser nations.

Since the '60s we have enfeebled our public education system even as our wealth has expanded. Moral and cultural relativism now obscure individual responsibility. We are uninspired in the wars we fight, calculating our withdrawal even before we begin—and then we fight with a self-conscious, almost bureaucratic minimalism that makes the wars interminable.

America seems to be facing a pivotal moment: Do we move ahead by advancing or by receding—by reaffirming the values that made us exceptional or by letting go of those values, so that a creeping mediocrity begins to spare us the burdens of greatness?

As a president, Barack Obama has been a force for mediocrity. He has banked more on the hopeless interventions of government than on the exceptionalism of the people. His greatest weakness as a president is a limp confidence in his countrymen. He is afraid to ask difficult things of them.

Like me, he is black, and it was the government that in part saved us from the ignorances of the people. So the concept of the exceptionalism—the genius for freedom—of the American people may still be a stretch for him. But in fact he was elected to make that stretch. It should be held against him that he has failed to do so.

Mr. Steele is a senior fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution. Among his books is "White Guilt" (Harper/Collins, 2007).

Evidence of Ignorance

2011-09-01T14:58:00.000-06:00

How much does Hollywood know of Asia?

"She was one of the persons involved in the 2004 night club bombings in Singapore."
Line from "Standoff: Episode 12 No Strings"

Really? Of all Asian countries to pick, you pick Singapore where there has (so far) been no terrorists acts of bombing? At least get some facts right.

Fantastic criminal TV series though, once you get over the first episode.

Quote of the Week(s)

2011-08-30T22:46:00.000-06:00

I just love this quote, even though I struggle so much with it.

Real charity is not something you give away; it is something that you acquire and make a part of yourself. And when the virtue of charity becomes implanted in your hear, you are never the same again. It makes the thought of being a basher repulsive.

Perhaps the greatest charity comes when we are kind to each other, when we don't judge or categorize someone else, when we simply give each other the benefit of the doubt or remain quiet. Charity is accepting someone's differences, weaknesses, and shortcomings; having patience with someone who has let us down; or resisting the impulse to become offended when someone doesn't handle something the way we might have hoped. Charity is refusing to take advantage of another's weakness and being willing to forgive someone who has hurt us. Charity is expecting the best of each other.

None of us need one more person bashing or pointing out where we have failed or fallen short. Most of us are already well aware of the areas in which we are weak. What each of us does need is family, friends, employers, and brothers and sisters who support us, who have the patience to teach us, who believe in us, and who believe we're trying to do the best we can, in spite of our weaknesses.

Elder Marvin J. Ashton

May 1992 Ensign "The Tongue Can Be A Sharp Sword"

Daylight Robbery

2011-08-29T00:27:00.000-06:00

That's what ordering graduation pictures are- daylight robbery.

Okay, so professionals do spend a lot of money on equipment and time. And yes, a professional photographer for a wedding day is A MUST. If I had the money, I would love to hire him as my photographer.

But I can't say the same for graduation pictures. Charging $8 for a 5x7 picture that is PRE-TOUCH UP AND DOESN'T EVEN MAKE ME LOOK GOOD is not worth it at all. And their proofs are downright hilarious. Wish I could post them here- you would laugh (and cringe). There is even one with a tiny-bity size Jimmer in the upper right corner. Ha!

In fact, Jay (Su's hubby) took one picture using his camera that I love and will use as my official graduation photo.

Worse of all, is that the professional is charging me an exorbitant amount of money for shipping. Yes, I understand that normal mail might bend the pictures, and that will not do- you have to ensure that the pictures arrive in pristine condition. But charging us the full price for that? Hello? Shouldn't good service at least cover some of the cost? Amazon ships bulkier and more fragile objects for less than that cost.

I ended up grudgingly paying over $30 for 2 pictures, one 5x7 and the other 8x10. I believe wedding pictures don't even cost that much on the average. URGH!!!

It's storming now

2011-08-28T23:42:00.000-06:00

I love the smell of rain (from indoors)
Especially when it's at night and close to bedtime. Or even better- during bedtime.
Mmm...

Moving Away from BYU Single Wards

2011-08-28T23:15:00.001-06:00

Oops, wrong name since it's not called "BYU Single Wards" anymore. It's "(Place) YSA (#) Ward" now. I used to be in the "Provo YSA 203 Ward" and now I am in the "Granger YSA 1st Ward".

First Impressions:
- The ward boundary is HUGE. If you understand Utah coordinates, the ward goes from 2100 S to 4100 S (200 blocks up to down) and 1000 W to about 4000 W (300 blocks left-right).
- Which means that the ward is huge as well. There are apparently about 400 people currently in the ward (old and new).
- The ward has more people around my age, especially the guys- hooray!
- However, there are also more guys that are... *erhem* I shall not say
- The 3 block meetings were spiritual and uplifting. I especially felt that the teachers did a wonderful job,
- Mingle after church = lasagna, mac-and-cheese, pasta salad, garlic bread, ice-cream... they feed us well here
- Someone told me I looked way younger than my real age. Bwa ha ha ha ha...

I've only made a few friends though, so we shall see. I don't function well in extremely large group settings. But I think I'm off to a good start.

My Dad Will Be So Proud of Me

2011-08-15T23:48:00.002-06:00

I've turned into quite a health-food junkie! I only eat wheat pasta now, I can't stand plain white bread (whole grain bread tastes so much more interesting!) or sugary cereals except once in a while, and I eat so much vegetables and fruit now, I feel like a rabbit.

Not that I will ever give up meat unless I have to.

It all started with Sis Brooks, my bishop's wife. Actually, it started with my Mom because she always made us eat healthy, but you don't appreciate all her efforts until you hear it from another authoritative source, right?! Sorry Mom- I appreciate your conscientious cooking even more now.

So anyway, Sis Brooks held a nutrition class last year and introduced us to all the yummy goodness of eating healthy. Since then, my diet and life has changed completely. I used to HATE the grainy texture of wheat pasta, and now that's all the type I buy now. I still eat white rice though... it's hard to give up a staple I grew up on.

But nutrition is a whole other post.

My point in this particular post is to demonstrate how you can take everyday food and turn it into something that is not only healthy but looks extraordinary and tastes phenomenal. Everyday food such as... Jiao Zi/ Dumpling! Well, "everyday food" as in Chinese everyday...

Step 1a: Get Chinese roommates, though this can be skipped if you are very determined.
Step 1b: Make your own dumpling filling, which is basically a mixture of ground pork, chives/ pickled vegetables and all types of Chinese sauces. The longer you marinate, the better (as all meats are).
Step 2: Get ready flour and water.
Step 3: Insist on making your own dumpling skin. This is very important because once you have perfected the art of making it, you won't want to go back. I was quite apprehensive about making our own dumpling skin because we were making over 150 (!) of them but my roommates refused to use store-bought ones, and I am so glad they did!
Step 4: The fun part- EXPERIMENT! We actually weren't quite sure how the different skins would turn out since we did not consult the omniscient machine a.k.a. the internet, but who cares?

And the results...

Verdict-
Homemade white skin is healthy because there are no preservatives, but nothing special.
Spinach flavored (blend some spinach with water till liquid, and add to mixture... almost like coloring) was great, except after cooking it turned yellow-ish. Note to self: use more spinach but not more water.
The wheat was my favorite, but that's because I love whole wheat. Be careful though because the wheat flour made it less "elastic."

Step 5: Wrap a meatball with one of the extremely pliant, soft, healthy dumpling skins. Arrange neatly in a row.

Lining in a row, ready to be frozen for future eating...

With the fruits of our labor

Step 6: Cook
Final Step: ADMIRE BEFORE ENJOYING!!! Oh and no need to feel guilty about eating so many since it's also healthy!

Loving my bag in my freezer :)

Recommendation

2011-08-15T23:02:00.000-06:00

If you are looking for a quick and short easy-to-read comprehensive summary of Mormonism and polygamy, this is the book:

Mormons & Polygamy by Jessie L. Embry. It is a very good "reference" go-to book for quick information about this topic. Embry also wrote another scholastic, groundbreaking book (which she referes to quite often in this book) about the same topic. I've read it and it is excellent.

This book is only slightly over a hundred pages, but the font is large so don't worry- it's like reading any other church book. In fact, this is also not meant to be a scholastic read (go read her other book if you want it to be). Everything in here is explained in simple terms- there is even a section on the Plan of Salvation to help non-members understand our doctrine better.

Most of all, I like her explanation for why Mormons practiced polygamy because she articulates my feelings regarding this subject perfectly. She writes, "As a single female historian and member of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have seen people become alarmed when I tell them that the mormon Church's historical practice of polygamy does not bother me. But polygamy for me is a historical fact that I study. I do not think about its possible impact on me. the LDS Church is a much against polygamy now as it was for it in the nineteenth centry. I know that I will not be asked to marry a man who already has a wife. I have no idea what will happen int he next life, and I do not worry about polygamy then. yet I do feel it is essential that both members and nonmembers learn about the history of Mormon polygamy before drawing any conclusions about Joseph Smith and why he and his followers accepted such an unusual practice." (pg. 7)

Confession Time

2011-08-15T22:59:00.000-06:00

Growing up, I never read Anne of Green Gables.

*Gas* Yes I know- a travesty. It's partly because it was never mandatory reading in school (probably because Anne's imaginative genius is way beyond the comprehension of *erhem* MOE). Well, I should have been locked up and forced to read it.

Because finally, I read finish the book last week, and it is probably one of the best books I've ever read. I laughed and cried and fell in love with Anne. Makes me love redheads even more! And it was a breezy read.

The book image is blurry, but this is the copy of Anne of Green Gables that I have. I bought it on my flight back to Provo from DC while laying over at the Chicago airport. Yes, I know, that was ages ago... forgive me- I'm still in the thick of research for my paper.

Anyway, if you have not read this, PLEASE GO READ IT. I can lend you my copy! It's simply delightful!

If You Fail

2011-08-10T12:51:00.001-06:00

Try, Try Again

No kidding. My sister didn't receive any word from BYU regarding any scholarships, and she kept trying to reach them over and over again. I already told her to give up since they would have notified her if they did, but did she? No.

And good thing not.

Because after trying countless times, and one explanation email, she finally received word that she was awarded a scholarship after all!!!

O Me of Little Faith. Sigh... I guess I still have lingering resentment toward the BYU administration which isn't too student-friendly.

So excited for her. The Lord has been extremely kind to my family.

A word about my sisters as well- I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE THEM IN 2 WEEKS!!!

It's Nice to Have Space

2011-08-09T00:30:00.000-06:00

In a previous post, I wrote about moving up to Salt Lake so that I wouldn't have to suffer through horrible traffic. Well, it's almost official. I've started living in my new apartment on the weekdays and commuting back to Provo on the weekends (various reasons). I'm so much happier now.

How's my new place? So far... I like it!

#1: It's only 3 highway exits from my work place, which means the commute is only 15 minutes in total as opposed to 1 hour 15 mins from Provo.

#2: My landlord is very nice, and my other roommate is a good friend of mine.

#3: My landlord and other roommate are very clean people, particularly my landlord. And in order to minimize the amount the clutter, she requests that we use her kitchenware and keep our own set in storage. Sweet!

#4: It's furnished, so I don't have to get furniture while I'm doing my internship- now that's a real relief.

#5: The furniture is very well-maintained

#6: I have SPACE. Now, I'm not someone who needs a lot of space. I grew up in Singapore where there is anything but space. I shared a room with both my sisters till I was almost 15. I guess that's why I didn't mind moving into my last (dang! that's surreal) BYU apartment after my mission even though it was old and cramp. I don't mind small, it was reasonably priced for its location, I had great roommates, terrific ward...

However, now that I have space and my apartment is generally clutter free and it's conveniently located, it's really... nice. I miss having a room- roommate, but I feel like I have so much more breathing space as well!

My closet all to myself.
I have more clothes than that (of course)
but just a sample of how spacious it is

My new bed. Yeah, sleepovers!

Why Do People Have So Much Talent?!

2011-08-05T10:44:00.000-06:00

Whenever you think Mormon Tabernacle Choir, you don't think organist. I think from now on though, I will!

Sound Financial Principles

2011-08-04T14:40:00.001-06:00

The beginning half is J Reuben Clark Jr's classic talk on DEBT. I've never read or heard the talk in its entirety, and it was a treat to listen to this- it is marvelous.

Then keep listening. You will not regret it.

On a Lighter Note...

2011-08-03T09:07:00.000-06:00

I LOVE THE IMAGES IN THIS VIDEO!!!

Doesn't even the "freeze frame" (little girl high up on a swing) just make you smile?!

New Mormon Messages Video on Combating Pornography

2011-08-03T09:05:00.001-06:00

Very sobering, but I thought it was such a good video.

One thing that stood out to me- notice that both the "good" and "bad" dad turned off the computer screen initially. However only the "good" dad walked away and filled his mind with more wholesome activities. That jumped out to me, and made me think about my own life- how I not only need to stop doing wrong things, but also fill it with other better things.

Neighbors With Benefits

2011-08-01T22:57:00.000-06:00

Benefits such as... 3 little cute boys lighting up the apartment complex! Peter (5), Ammon or more commonly called "Hammie" (2+) and Eric (8 months). They are the ones who have been using chalk to draw trains and construction equipment on the pathway outside. My apartment invited their family over for dinner last night - yes we are just cool like that ;) - along with one of my old roommates and her husband. It was a blast, except for the part when the happy-tempered Eric was woken up suddenly by his brother and turned ornery. Oh dear... he was NOT happy at all, but he's still so cute!

We will miss them when they move back to Orderville

This is us enjoying a delicious meal of pasta, steamed vegetables, super delicious baked chicken (supplied by us), sweet grapes (courtesy of Cici and hubby Fory) and homemade brownies, ice-cream, chocolate sauce and strawberries (by the family). Such a great dinner, and even better company!

So Not Big Love

2011-07-31T00:15:00.000-06:00

As creepy as this sounds, this is a fantastic book. Well, can't expecting anything less from something printed by Oxford University Press, right? ;)

The book is a compilation of various articles about modern day polygamy, that ranges from their history to modern day statistics. I learned a lot from reading about them, and frankly, much more about my religion. There are many parallels to the stories of modern day polygamists and those of our past church leaders- isolation, persecution, determination... learning about them has helped me view this group of people in a whole different light. It has made me much more sympathetic to their cause, even if I disagree with their religious beliefs.

Recommended? A definite yes.

I MISS EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

2011-07-30T11:08:00.000-06:00

I HATE COMMUTING! Waste of time, waste of gas, waste of money... I left my apartment an hour and a half to get to Salt Lake early (normal drive 45 minutes), and due to traffic, I was late. On my first day of work.

Nice.

Sigh... good thing I've found a place, and will be moving soon. My new place is about a 15 minute drive to downtown Salt Lake City, so hopefully, even during the winter, the commute to work won't be as tiring. I've also gotten better at timing. As long as I leave my house around 7am-ish, traffic won't be too bad. Oh carpooling so that you can take the HOV express lane is also strongly advised.

Meanwhile, work is going well. I love what I'm doing, which is basically research about the history of the Relief Society. My supervisors are very friendly and kind, and have put me to work already. Yeah! The History of the Church is EXTREMELY fascinating, and I can't wait to learn more.

What do you do....

2011-07-26T22:09:00.000-06:00

...with paper that has been sitting around in your drawer for... um, years and you don't know what to do with it?

Get creative and make your own envelopes! That is, if you need some.
You would think Youtube would have better videos on making envelopes. Nope. This was the closest video I found to making do-it-yourself envelopes that didn't require huge sheets of paper or seem complicated, but it needed a template. I didn't have one and decided to use my own make-believe template.

They weren't perfect but it worked and turned out to be cuter than I expected... and way way way cuter than store-bought ones.

To all my faithful blog readers

2011-07-25T22:17:00.001-06:00

And since I'm in the mood for niceness- my family, my friends and total strangers... wait, these are my faithful blog readers

A family moved into one of the apartments in my complex for the summer, and it has been such a pleasure to play with the 3 kids (5 year, 2 year and 6-months old). I came back home from a long day of running errands, and this is what I found. Aww...

Cascade Springs

2011-07-25T21:03:00.000-06:00

Summer is in full swing, and that means the evenings are longer, which means its great to be outdoors! *Gasp* yes me, a very non-outdoor-sy person actually saying it. But it's true- I love easy outdoor stuff.

My roommate and I drove to Cascade Springs for a nice, easy ~~hike~~ walk, and we had a great time, other than for the fact that we got lost and drove for almost 2 hours before finding the place! I'm starting to distrust googlemaps. Basically you have to drive uphill and into the mountains... something I wish we'd known before starting out. Would have saved us a lot of anxiety.

Anyway...

Us before starting out!

The scenery was gorgeous!

Too bad we could only walk around for less than an hour because of the time we lost finding the place. Next time ...

I want to come here again!

MUST SEE

2011-07-23T13:54:00.000-06:00

Bollywood, oh Bollywood!

Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar (played by Hrithok Roshan) is a Muslim Mughal king seeking to unite the entire Hindustani (modern day India) under his rule. To appease the Hindu Rajput clan however, he agrees to marry one of their princesses, Jodhaa (Aishwarya Rai Bachchan), only to discover that she isn't the wilting willow he thought she was. Intelligent, beautiful and defiant, Jodhaa herself struggles to preserve her identity in the face of religious resentment from the Muslim clerics at court and others opposed to their marriage.

This movie is definitely a MUST SEE. Why?
1) Hrithik Roshan is HOT HOT HOT. I mean HOT. If you though Hugh Jackman or Ryan Reynolds was hot, Hrithik Rosham is burn baby burn. Yeah.
2) The love story is @@ OOH!
3) It's not just a love story- it's rather obvious that the producers of the film have an ulterior political motive behind this film since it touches on the sensitive subject of religion. This is not just some typical run-of-the-mill romantic drama.
4) Hrithik Roshan- sizzle
5) You learn (a tad bit inaccurate) history along the way. It's based on true characters and historical facts, but hey! I've learned that inaccurate history is almost a prerequisite to film adaptation.
6) The choreography and cinematography is dazzling
7) The acting is generally very good.
8) The chemistry between the two leads is unbelievable.
9) HRITHIK ROSHAN!!! He is the only man with a mustache I think is gorgeous

Warning: There is lesser but longer singing and dancing segments than Langaan (see previous post).
Another warning: No animals were harmed during the making of this film, but I'm can't say the same for the humans. This is definitely NOT a PG film. There are a few war scenes.
Last warning: It is 204 minutes long. Trust me though, once you start you won't stop.

Article of the Last Week

2011-07-22T10:45:00.000-06:00

Sin and Suffering by Elder Dallin H. Oaks
(from a Fireside address given at BYU, 05 August 1990; reprinted in July 1992 Ensign)

First Encounter with Ornithology

2011-07-21T23:33:00.000-06:00

Ornithology: Study of birds

Alright, so it isn't exactly my first attempt at ornithology. To be fair, I have no desire to be an ornithologist anyway (remember my aversion to the ducks at the school's infamous duck pond?). But I faithfully completed the "I am a Young Ornithologist" requirements in Primary school and received the badge. Pretty proud of myself, even though I can't remember what I did, and I'm sure my Mom helped me with half of what I was suppose to do.

The only birds I like are PENGUINS.

Despite my not-so-Christlike feelings towards the bird species however, I was intrigued by a family of birds that also live around campus. Unlike those obnoxious ducks, this family was actually pretty *gasp* cute.

They live in the bushes near the Marriott Center. I saw the father (the one with the "thing" sticking out of its head) fly back one day while walking back to the dorms, and it hid in the bushes. I waited for a while and was rewarded with multiple glimpses of his family, scurrying here and there to hide from... me, I guess (smart birds). The chicks were tiny and oh so cute!

Then one day while walking back from my apartment, I saw the parents catching grub at the sidewalk, and I had to capture the moment . Wish my camera was one of those huge ones that can take better close-ups, but oh well, it's still pretty good. I didn't mind these parents, because they were working to find food for their little ones (unlike some more obnoxious birds that wait for people to feed them at the duck pond, and don't even fly away in the winter anymore).

Good to know that the only birds hanging around campus aren't just those irritating ducks.

Rainbows

2011-07-21T23:07:00.000-06:00

Taken at the steps inside the school library. Cool!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2011-07-21T23:02:00.000-06:00

I was trying to download pictures from my camera, and found out that there was a problem with my card. I lost all 254 pictures, including those of my STARTALK camp.

*Wham*Wham*Wham* (the sound of a stick hitting my head)

Such is life.

Water Games Equations

2011-07-21T22:56:00.000-06:00

650 water balloons + 3 (and 1/2) people = I don't want to fill up another water balloon for a long time

How long does it take 3 (and 1/2) counselors to fill up 650 water balloons? Almost 3 hours

Btw, I posted the first equation on Facebook, and one person asked "what is 1/2 person" and someone else wrote, "Bun in the oven?" Ha ha ha ha ha ha... Unfortunately (or more like, fortunately) NO! It's 1/2 person because the 4th person only joined us in filling up those balloons during the last hour.

650 water balloons + 50 campers + 4 coolers + 4 empty water bottles = 2 minute AWESOME water balloon fight

50 campers + 2 watermelons - hands = EXTREMELY FUNNY SIGHT

Creativity + Intelligence + Fearless (of drinking disgusting water) = STARTALK campers
You know the game where they give you an empty water bottle and you have to fill it to the brim without using any tools? I played this game at Youth Conference (some games are just classic), and it took a while before my team realized that there was a faster way then simply squeezing out a few pathetic drops using our shirts. These campers however figured it out immediately, and from the word "kai shi" had ZERO reservations about drinking from the bucket/ using whatever large pieces of they cloth they had/ using broken name card pockets. It was HILARIOUS!

Feast for the Eyes

2011-07-18T11:26:00.002-06:00

Food blogs I've read a few, but a food decoration blog?
http://sweetsugarbelle.com/

Oh yes indeed.
Sweet~!

Stalking 101: Learn Chinese

2011-07-17T16:49:00.002-06:00

Corey, one of the Level 2 campers, drew this picture, and wrote the speech bubbles using all the vocabulary he learned these past few weeks.

Translation
Boy: Where do you live? Where is your apartment? Where are you going? What do you like to eat? What is your phone number? Do you want to eat?
Girl: ...

These are a few of my favorite things

2011-07-17T16:39:00.001-06:00

A few of my favorite things all in one photo

I was resting in my room, when Fan came in and told me that Isaac (fellow counselor) wanted to see me. I walked out and ta dah! Su and Jay drove all the way down from Salt Lake and bought me CHEESECAKE and BALLOONS to surprise me. Thank you both of you! And thank you Fan for being so sneaky and coordinating with them :)

From the Cheesecake Factory
Chocolate and Red Velvet, and loads of whipped cream- ooh la la!

My balloons!

"And that was Stewart Falls"

2011-07-17T16:26:00.002-06:00

What are men compared to rocks and mountains... oh yes indeed. (Pride and Prejudice movie)

On July 4th we took the campers to go hike Stewart Falls. It was a rather easy hike (compared to say, Squaw Peak- that's another story) and the scenery was gorgeous.

One of the meadows we passed by

Stewart Falls- we hiked to the base

Me sitting on a tree trunk that "blocked" our path

And a lucky sighting of a moose

More pictures at myzestylittlelife.shutterfly.com, once I can figure out why it won't let me sign in.

And then, while hiking back, we saw a helicopter pass by. Oh dear... we realized later that it was for one of our counselors! I thought he was bringing up the rear, and hadn't realize that he actually fell. What happened was that at the base of the hike, he climbed up this rock wall that wasn't marked out (very stupid thing to do), and while coming down, he slipped and fell about 10 feet. It was enough to knock him unconscious for a short while (5 minutes) and enough to get the ambulance to fly in a helicopter to save him, and the news to report it their TOP STORY for the holiday. I would sound more serious if it wasn't for the fact that
1) They called him a "mountain climber"- he wasn't. He'd never even been to Stewart Falls before
2) They said he fell about 30 feet (not quite true)
3) They said he couldn't answer basic questions- He said they asked questions that could be answered in different ways like, "Are you okay?" "Yeah I'm okay, but not my leg..."
4) They made it sound like he broke his leg and that his concussion was very serious- in the end all he suffered from was a sprained ankle.

Don't get me wrong- I'm not dissing the news. It's just that the way the story was framed (and exaggerated) was funny, especially since it was one of our counselors. Unfortunately they archived the article and video, but here are some pictures.

The best part? His last name is STEWART.
Get it? Stewart Falls...

If you look closely

2011-07-17T15:48:00.001-06:00

Mother Nature is awesome

Taken outside my apartment

The Duck Pond Stairs- hate them but oh what gorgeous flowers they plant there

The walk from the FLSR dorms to campus is a dread, except when you spot gems such as this:

Last, at the Conference Center Field- LOVE the color

Last Week's Quote of the Week

2011-07-13T10:02:00.000-06:00

Those who look for the good will find a kind and compassionate people- a people who love the Lord and desire to serve Him and bless the lives of their fellowmen. But it is also true that those who look for the bad will certainly find things that are not so ideal."

Pres. Dieter F. Utchdorf (Ensign, March 2011)

Word of the Weekend

2011-07-09T23:59:00.002-06:00

Mortification: a feeling of humiliation or shame, as through some injury to one's pride or self-respect.

Friday, 11:00pm, message to a female camper "L"
My text message: Tell your roommates to go to sleep
Reply: What? Who is this?
Me: Your stalker...

Saturday, 1:00pm, called "L"
Me: Hello
Reply (man's voice): Hello
Me (thinking she had passed the phone to a male camper): "L"?
Reply: Er, I think you got the wrong number...

INSTANT MORTIFICATION

FIREWORKS!!!

2011-07-09T14:18:00.002-06:00

brought the campers to see the fireworks from the Stadium of Fire. It was fun except for the part where we tried scooping ice-cream for all the camp participants. We bought it straight from the Creamery and didn't have time to soften it, so... Still everyone had fun, and the fireworks were gorgeous!

The Campers- such an energetic fun bunch!

The RFs! (Resident Facilitators, or as the campers call us, their "Babysitters")

Below are some of the fireworks I attempted to take, but I didn't know how to use the setting, so they turned out... crazy but pretty cool at the same time.

And then, Fan taught me how to use the setting at the last 3 minutes of the show, and here are the last remnants:

The Rainbow

And the Volcano

Next time, I'll try to take better firework pictures, although even the I-have-no-idea-how-use-this-camera-pictures were kinda cool.

Balloons in the Sky

2011-07-09T13:53:00.000-06:00

Every morning we send the campers off to class at an unholy hour of 7:20am. Normally, I'm not exactly in my best mood then, but last week, for Independence Day, Provo held its annual Hot Air Balloon Festival, and we were able to spot some of them floating in the air.

Floating above campus

The Piggy!

And the other interesting one- the "Acorn" Bear

Now, I just need to find someone who will take me up in one.

An Attempt to Answer Some To Our Critics

2011-07-06T12:59:00.000-06:00

Just finished reading Patriarchs and Politics by Marilyn Warenski. She is an inactive Mormon, and (sadly) her research for this book was the main factor that caused her inactivity. To be fair to her, in her preface she writes, "Still, it is not in my intention to try to convert Mormon women to feminism, nor do I have any interest in instigating a movement toward changing the status of women in the Mormon Church... Nevertheless, if the majority of Mormon women are functioning happily within the system, I have no vested interest in attempting to change that condition. On the other hand, for the many Mormon women who are in personal conflict with the LDS position on women and for those women who feel confined by other patriarchies as well, I hope that this study can be of value."

Her main thesis is this: Even though the "Gentile" really have no right to interfere or persecute us for our religion, we need to "wake" these Mormon women up and make them realize that the patriarchy leadership has oppressed us to the point where we are blinded and brainwashed, and think that everything they say is right.

Before we get into some huge debate about who's right, please remember the "Quote of the Week." Also, these answers are my own private opinions, and do not represent the official viewpoints of the Church. I do not mean to offend people, but I think I have a right to defend my religion and I hope that I have done so as tactfully as possible.

Now, addressing accusation #1:
Feminist are always riling on the Church for "oppressing" their women. One of their main concerns is that women are not allowed to hold the priesthood. Do you understand the purpose of the priesthood? Do you know what it is used for? Do you understand the responsibilities and duties that come with the priesthood? These men that hold the priesthood are not paid for carrying out their duties. They minister to the members for free, on top of their work and normal husband/ father duties.
Elder Quentin L. Cook related that he once had a discussion with a non-Mormon who stated flatly that her interest in learning more about the Church "had diminished significantly" because she didn't believe that women needed any more unpaid jobs. If people understood that the duties and responsibilities related to the priesthood are all unpaid, that means that women who hold the priesthood will also be unpaid. Is this what you want for women?

Christ held the priesthood, but really, how did he use it? He didn't use it to drive the Romans or apostate Jews out. Instead, he used his priesthood power to heal the sick, to clothe the naked, to feed the hungry, and to calm the sea. Even during His deepest hour of anguish in Gethsemane and on the cross, He never once used this infinite power to smite the people who were persecuting Him. This is the real power of the priesthood.

The priesthood is not used simply for authoritative purposes. One of our scriptural cannons, the Doctrine and Covenants, specifically talks about abusing the priesthood. It states, "That they may be conferred upon us, it is true; but when we undertake to cover our sins, or to gratify our pride, our vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness, behold, the heavens withdraw themselves; the Spirit of the Lord is grieved; and when it is withdrawn, Amen to the priesthood or the authority of man." (D&C 121:37). The power of the priesthood can be taken away by God for using his powers unwisely.

Accusation #2: The Brethren of the Church have brainwashed us into submission, or the women are so delusional that we cannot recognize our oppression. My question then, is, why do the Brethren of the Church encourage the women to gain an education then? There are more women graduating from BYU than men. If the Brethren are determined to keep us in oppression, shouldn't they highly encourage the women to stop pursuing an education? How do you resolve this paradox?

Accusation #3:
In chapter 9 "Unmarried in a Married Church" the author writes about how single women are especially targeted by Church leaders, and made to feel second-class for being single.

I was shocked however, that she did not mention anything about our belief in the next life, not even a casual one liner. That really bugged me. As important as the doctrine of marriage is in the Church, what is even more important is our belief in a just and fair God who wants all His children to be happy. If some single women do not have the opportunity to marry in this life, God will compensate for it in the next, if they remain faithful. I think understanding this principle is more important than debating whether or not the Church is keeping their single women in bondage (or not). Why is life so unfair? I don't know. But I guess this is where faith enters, and you just have to trust that God knows your capabilities, and how you can reach your fullest potential in this life, even if the path is lonely.

I don't know why but I love this image.

2011-07-06T09:40:00.002-06:00

Quote of the Week

2011-07-05T14:21:00.001-06:00

In the service of the Lord, it is not where you serve but how. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, one takes the place to which one is duly called, which place one neither seeks nor declares.

J. Reuben Clark

CR, April 1951, p 154

Word of the Day

2011-07-05T11:00:00.001-06:00

Aporia: Difficulty determining the truth of an idea due to equally valid arguments for and against it.

This is one of the reasons why I love D.C.- I'm in a state of constant aporia (hope I'm not using this word wrongly). There is always some type of debate or discussion going on somewhere, and is intellectually stimulating. I'm not a great debater (can't think on my feet fast enough) but I like hearing the other side of the argument and sometimes when the argument is darn good, I have no choice but to concede.

Absolutely Wonderful Roommates

2011-07-03T19:15:00.002-06:00

Before I headed off to camp, my wonderful roommates surprised me and celebrated my birthday early by making...

瘦肉皮蛋粥

and

蘿蔔糕

Vickie was the main talented chef.

I love my roommates!

Dang It!

2011-07-02T16:00:00.000-06:00

I'm currently in a Food-Blog-Obsessed-Phase of my life now. Check out http://www.confessionsofacookbookqueen.com/

Warning: Make sure you are in room where you can burst out laughing.

You know you are a True Blue Food Junkie...

2011-06-30T16:17:00.000-06:00

... when you "fan" food websites and start subscribing to them.
I'm already subscribing to allrecipes.com, and my friend, Krisit Bray, introduced this new website to me.

http://www.ourbestbites.com/

It is soooooo cute! I heard about these two LDS cooks/ writers who won a contest and published their own cookbooks as part of the prize prior to reading Kristi's blog, but I was never interested enough to check them out (since allrecipes.com is really quite amazing enough). But Kristi wrote about making cinnamon bun popcorn (how tempting does that sound!) using one of their recipes, and curious me clicked onto their website and voila! New fan.

Check out their Colorburst Cupcakes or their Single Serving Pie in a Jar-aren't those the cutest idea?!

Where do people get such creative ideas from???
Their recipe index is fan-tabulous as well.

Silver Linings

2011-06-30T15:41:00.000-06:00

As much as the rain makes traveling inconvenient, it has definitely made walking much more pleasant.

I AM

2011-06-28T18:46:00.002-06:00

SO TIRED!!!

Becoming Jane

2011-06-27T22:31:00.000-06:00

My roommate and I recently went on a BBC Romance Classics mini-television series binge, watching 3 of them in a row- Pride and Prejudice (Colin Firth's Mr. Darcy!), North and South (see previous post), and last, Jane Eyre.

This Jane Eyre was rather... gloomy. I like it, but didn't love it. I think it's because the timing of the sequence of events was rather erratic. For example, it went through the childhood and schooling phase way too fast, and as such, there wasn't enough time to fully develop that sense of pathos for her character before she grows up. I also wish they developed the characters of the Rivers sisters better, instead of merely concentrating on their brother. A pity. But on the whole, BBC never disappoints and it is still worth watching.

Good thing I'm away at camp now, so I'm taking a hiatus from TV watching. My roommate however, might compile a list of things to watch when I get back. Bwa ha ha ha ha ha!

Who can resist a strong jaw? Swoon

2011-06-25T17:14:00.000-06:00

This is one of my all-time favorite BBC productions. The cinematography is beautiful, especially the part where she talks about "hell... it is white, snow white." I also love the soundtrack to this mini TV series. Makes me want to read the novel (by Elizabeth Gaskill).

Vickie and I watched all 4 episodes into the night because it is addicting. There is so much to it- the romance, the industrial revolution, workers vs. mill owners...

THE PLOT: Margaret Hale is forced to move from the idyllic South to the industrial-driven north when her father quits the clergy. She hates it in the beginning, and has a run in with John Thornton, a rich cotton mill owner with a temper. However, she slowly gets to know the factory workers, who are planning a strike, and her charity towards them conflicts with her growing attraction to their "master" Mr. Thornton (who might not be all he seems to be after all...).

And if you need added incentive to watch this, seriously who can resist Richard Armitage's (he plays John Thornton) strong jaw?!

And again...

GO WATCH!!!

2011-06-25T16:05:00.000-06:00

So perfect and exalted was Christ's love for God's children that He took it upon Himself the penalty for their sins, descending below all things in the Garden of Gethsemane and dying for us on the cross at Golgotha. Yet He never compromised virtue nor tolerated sin in the slightest degree. He treated the woman taken in adultery with love and respect, putting her accusers to shame; nevertheless He said, "Go, and sin more." (John 8:11) The Master abhorred sin... God's love is sometimes described as unconditional. It is true that God loves all of His children on earth no matter how often or how far they may stray. But while God's love is all-encompassing, His blessings are highly conditional, including the very blessing of being able to feel and experience His love. .. when we stray... we, by our choices and actions, have distanced ourselves from His love.

Elder Bruce D. Porter (of the Seventy)

June 2011 Ensign "Defending the Family in a Troubled World"

When You Can't Go to the Food...

2011-06-24T20:18:00.000-06:00

Make the food go to you.

Thanks to Mom for sending me sauce packets. I made mee siam yesterday, and ooh la la! I was in food heaven.

Mee siam, sambal chilli, red peppers (courtesy of Fan) and vegetables cooked in mee siam sauce. Yum yum!

Gems from Church History

2011-06-24T16:53:00.002-06:00

These made me chuckle

While reading19th century articles about polygamy, I came across this article. In it, new sister converts from Europe were detained and persuaded to "flee" from the Mormons. They were warned about the danger of travelling to Utah, where they would probably be married off to a polygamist, and this is one of their replies:

"Yes," she replied quickly, "and if a man is good enough that six wives will stay with him he isn't going to be bad to one more."

Ha ha ha ha ha! Good point.

The next is from an anti-Mormon account of how Brigham Young manages to convince "his" followers that he was a prophet, despite his "inability" to perform miracles. No other details are given so we don't know the context of the situation. However, this is classic Brigham Young humor:

A certain elder, while chopping wood, had cut his foot so badly that it had to be amputated. As soon as he was able he came to Young and stated his case to him somewhat as follows: "I have always been a good Mormon; I have several wives and a good many children, and in my present maimed condition I do not know how I am to provide for them. I believe truly that you are Christ's representative on earth, and that you have all the power that He had. if you like you work miracles; if you like you can give me a new leg, and now I ask you to do it."

Young assented to all the flattering propositions as they were laid down, and when the elder had finished speaking he said: "I can give you a new leg, and I will, but I want you to think about it a little first. When the day of judgment comes, whenever you are buried, your old leg will find you out and join itself to you, but if if I give you a new one, that will rise with you, too, and the question is whether you would rather suffer the inconvenience of getting along with one leg for a few years here or go through all eternity with three legs."

Singapore News Highlighted in The Post

2011-06-24T11:56:00.004-06:00

I subscribe to the Washington Post headlines e-mail, and guess what I found under the "Politics" section? (Keep in mind, they only send the hihglights)

Top Singapore GIC wealth fund executive resigns to run for president
SINGAPORE — A top executive at wealth fund Government of Singapore Investment Corp. has resigned to run for president of the city-state.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

No kidding. Was there a mistake? I was amused, mainly because who honestly cares?! Not even Singaporeans care that much, considering that the president is really more a ceremonial position than anything. The Post didn't even run an article about the recently concluded and hotly contested Singapore elections, and here it was including news about Singapore's upcoming Presidential election in it's highlights?! Wow... real interesting.

Oh well, Singapore is still "important" enough to garner this much attention from the Associated Press. At least it exposes to the rest of the world how monopolizing the government is (I didn't even know SPH controlled that many publications!). Perhaps PAP might want to try a different tact now.

Summer Flowers are in Bloom!

2011-06-23T19:46:00.001-06:00

Summer is HOT HOT HOT. But dang, the flowers are gorgeous! And the perfect place to find one of the most gorgeous flower landscapes now is at the temple. The paths are lined with stunning rose bushes, with pockets of yellow flowers.

Here are some pictures I took of the temple grounds, and a few more can be found at
http://myzestylittlelife.shutterfly.com.

My Best Friend's Wedding

2011-06-23T00:00:00.001-06:00

SO MUCH FUN BUT SO TIRING TOO. When my wedding comes along, I'm giving my husband an ultimatum: Either cater or no reception in America. I have a feeling that my future husband will actually choose the "no reception" option... base on what my guy friends say.

The Wedding in a Nutshell (version according to Keshia)

Jay got out of the car, and we had to "shoo" him back in (it's bad luck Jay!). Ray (Su's youngest brother) made him answer 12 questions before he would open the door for the poor groom to get out.

Then he had to overcome the Bridesmaids/ 阿姨s Challenge

The *cough* demure *cough* posse of Bridesmaids

Starting Price: $88,888.

For every challenge he and his groomsmen won, we would knock down one digit.

I have to say I was impressed with Jay's stamina. Here is the long list of challenges he had to overcome. Note that most of the challenges were designed by the bride herself, so don't blame me for all the "torture":

Catchphrase- Jay and his groomsmen lost
Riddle- After being merciful and giving them a hint, they "solved" it. One digit down.
D.D.R.- The groomsmen trounced us! Or at least, Jay's best man trounced me by 80,000 points. And I practiced for an entire week! Another digit down
Pineapple Cutting Contest- Jay lost to Fan
~~Recited~~ Shouted a sign pledging to take care of Su for the rest of eternity (it was more embarrassing than that) through the door. One more digit down
Bargaining with the Bridesmaids/阿姨s. It was really funny because the price was $88, but Jay said, "Be merciful, how about $XX?" and named a price higher than $88! *tiong* Sure. Thought that since they are newlyweds shouldn't demand too much, but hey!
Surprise challenge from bride- he and his men had to find her shoes

Tea Ceremony for Su's family. It was very touching, and it was so cute when he youngest brother started tearing up!

Off to the temple. HIGHLIGHT OF THE DAY- the guests were in for a treat because none other than Elder D. Todd Christofferson performed the sealing! It was very special, and the Spirit was very strong during the ceremony.

Picture taking after the sealing.

The newlyweds- after a 9 month long engagement, HOORAY!

How cute is that?!

It always awes me

Her gorgeous bouquet consisting of her favorite flowers

Ashlynn with her Mom. She is adorable! And the other is Lincoln, her brother with his grandfather. Isn't his chubby cheeks just so darn CUUUUUTE?!

"One day Ashlynn, you too..."

After picking up my license plate from the dealership (my car is official-official now!), we drove back down to Orem for the reception at the chapel of the Liu's. The caterers did a great job with the decoration and the food. Su's brother, Han, composed a music piece called "Journey" and performed it along with her other brothers and cousin for the wedding. Good job Han!

Come to think of it, they remind of the jellyfish in Finding Nemo...

The Wedding Cake!

Then the reception. While the bride and groom entertained at the receiving line, the rest of the wedding party "re-stocked" food and some of us decorated the car.

Once over, the bride and groom drove off but not before the bridesmaids, ok, I had another "bargaining" with the groom for his car keys. Didn't want to bankrupt them and they were really tired, so it didn't take long. Only a few more dollars each.

Then...

Most original idea for party favors, and a great hit with the guest.

Phew! What a day. But so happy for them. HOORAY!

An Irony of Society: The One Way Street of Tolerance

2011-06-22T13:38:00.001-06:00

You might have heard that the Broadway play The Book of Mormon recently won multiple Emmies despite it's ~~anti-Mormon~~ anti-religion theme (or at least that's what I heard it's about since I have not seen it).

Just the other day I read in the most recent Ensign an article by Elder Bruce D. Porter (of the Seventy) titled Defending the Family in a Troubled World. I want to share excerpts from the section he called "The Shifting Definition of Tolerance."

Until recently in our national history, tolerance referred to racial and religious non-discrimination. It meant civility in the political arena; in others words, respecting the right of others to express their views, even if we do not agree with them. It meant treating all people with decency and respect. Such tolerance is an important and vital part of our American heritage.

Today, however, the world is in danger of abandoning all sense of absolute right or wrong, all morality and virtue, replacing them with an all-encompassing "tolerance" that no longer means what it once meant. An extreme definition of tolerance is now widespread that implicitly or explicitly endorses the right of every person to choose their own morality, even their own "truth," as though morality and truth were matters of personal preferences. This extreme tolerance culminates in a refusal to recognize any fixed standards or draw moral distinctions of any kind. ...

When tolerance is so inflated out of all proportions, it means the death of virtue, for the essence of morality is to draw close distinctions between right and wrong. ...

Curiously enough, this new modern tolerance is often a one-way street. Those who practice it expect everyone to tolerate them in anything they say or do, but show no tolerance themselves toward those who express differing viewpoints or defend traditional morality. Indeed, their intolerance is often most barbed toward those of religious conviction. ...

Even in its original and correct connotation, tolerance is surely a secondary virtue in comparison with the far higher virtue of love. Certainly is is good to be tolerant of those who are different than we are, treating them with kindness and civility. But love, or charity, is the highest of all, and it is far better to genuinely love those with whom we differ.... By defending the traditional family, Latter-day Saints bless all people whether others recognize it or not.

Imagine my surprise and delight when I came across this article in the New York Times. Really makes people stop and think. And I was even more surprise at the "positive" or at least, civil comments written by people below it. Probably because most of them genuinely have an interest in this topic (this article is specifically in the Religion and Politics Section) and respect most religions already.

Dinner Group Disasters... Made Right. Sort-of

2011-06-22T10:00:00.001-06:00

Disaster #1 Almost-Failed Hainanese Chicken Rice

My dinner group has 12 people, and I wanted to cook this famous Singapore dish. I only had 2 sauce packets left and *erhem* decided to simply increase the amount of rice and chicken in the rice cooker by a third. Unfortunately, it didn't work, and I was left with half-cooked rice and half-raw chicken. Oops! I had to scoop out half of the rice and chicken and cook it over the stove.

Disaster #2 Almost-Failed Vegetable Curry

This dish was going well until I tasted it at the end and realized that it was much spicier than I anticipated, which meant that many of my American friends would find it to spicy. Panicking, I added in sugar. Lots and lots of sugar. In fact, too much sugar, and it became too sweet. What did I do? I decided to add in more curry paste, except I ran out of vegetable curry paste, and (my "brilliant" idea) added in Singapore Curry Paste instead. It tasted... not like vegetable curry, but oh well, no one except I would know right? ;)

(Potential) Disaster #3 Almost-Didn't-Get-Done-On-Time Longan Almond Jelly

I made only one packet of almond jelly and one can of longan, and then thought I better make another batch just in case. I made my second batch of jelly just 10 minutes before dinner started. I boiled the water, dissolved the powder and poured it into the mold all in record time, then into the FREEZER to harden. Good thing I made another batch though, because the first batch was gone.

Despite my almost-failures, I'm still a huge dinner group junkie!

Quote of the Week

2011-06-22T00:00:00.002-06:00

Circumstances have led me to look again at some of the materials we used at a time when I am no longer in the stage of thrilled discovery or searching for role models and freedom within the Mormon tradition. Casting an old, cold eye over the sources, I am surprised to find myself demystifying the pioneers. As I read the documents now, I find many feisty and accomplished women, but I would no longer use words like heroism and sacrifice. I find many women doggedly doing their duty, much wishful thinking about home industry, much effort to rise above difficult situations, and much heavy rhetoric about gentility and refinement. I find women who are strong of necessity, who did what they had to do, rising to the opportunities and challenges that beset them, but women who are very much like their great-granddaughters of today. This is not a master race of foremothers set apart by their nobility; these are our own sisters. In their place, we would have done as well.

Claudia L. Bushman (NYC, 01 June 1997)

Mormon Sisters: Women in Early Utah

May we live up to this expectations

2011-06-21T19:28:00.000-06:00

to live outside the range of the electric cables was to live an isolated savage.

the whole world was civilized; the whole world dealt in cities; the whole world was property.

He had heard now of the moral decay that had followed the collapse of supernatural religion in the minds of ignoble man, the decline of public honor, the ascendancy of wealth. For men who had lost their belief in God had still kept their faith in property, and wealth ruled a venial world.

These are some of the quotes found in this novel. Rather presciently accurate for a novel written about a hundred years ago about the 21st century, don't you think? I rushed through this book for Book Club, only to find out that we won't be having a meeting till next week, when I'm gone for camp. Oh well. I'm not a fan of science fiction (the last book we did was "I Am Legend" and I gave up after reading the first 50 pages. Couldn't stand it), and so it took a few chapters for me to get "into" it. Even now, when I have about 70 pages left (of the 325 pages), I'm kind of tired of it already. However, it was rather thought-provoking and made me reflect on what direction our society/ world is heading towards.

The Zesty Things of My Little World

Invictus

Behold the Special Ones

So...

Washington Monument Closed "Indefinitely"

Today in the News (according to the Post)

Dear Francesca,

What I Just Read - on trials and tribulations

How Do You Make Guacamole?

Who is a Peacemaker?

My "Wedding Bit-ies"

To My Mother and All Mothers Everywhere

Being a mother is one of the highest salaried jobs in my

field, since the payment is pure love.

CES Fireside (Sept 11 2011)- Elder and Sister Oaks

Introducing... THE OAT GRAIN ;)

Quotes of Past Week

Reunion: The Three Lai Sisters

Cascade Springs... Part 2!

New Blogger Interface

Timpanogos caves

Temple Square in the Summer

The Best Pancake Syrup EVER!

Article on American Exceptionalism and president Obama

Evidence of Ignorance

Quote of the Week(s)

I just love this quote, even though I struggle so much with it.

Daylight Robbery

It's storming now

Moving Away from BYU Single Wards

My Dad Will Be So Proud of Me

Recommendation

Confession Time

If You Fail

It's Nice to Have Space

Why Do People Have So Much Talent?!

Sound Financial Principles

On a Lighter Note...

New Mormon Messages Video on Combating Pornography

Neighbors With Benefits

So Not Big Love

I MISS EFFICIENT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION!

What do you do....

To all my faithful blog readers

Cascade Springs

MUST SEE

Article of the Last Week

First Encounter with Ornithology

Rainbows

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Water Games Equations

Feast for the Eyes

Stalking 101: Learn Chinese

These are a few of my favorite things

"And that was Stewart Falls"

If you look closely

Last Week's Quote of the Week

Word of the Weekend

FIREWORKS!!!

Balloons in the Sky

An Attempt to Answer Some To Our Critics

I don't know why but I love this image.

Quote of the Week

Word of the Day

Absolutely Wonderful Roommates

Dang It!

You know you are a True Blue Food Junkie...

Silver Linings

I AM

Becoming Jane

Who can resist a strong jaw? *Swoon*

When You Can't Go to the Food...

Gems from Church History

Singapore News Highlighted in The Post

Summer Flowers are in Bloom!

My Best Friend's Wedding

An Irony of Society: The One Way Street of Tolerance

Dinner Group Disasters... Made Right. Sort-of

Quote of the Week

Who can resist a strong jaw? Swoon