Back on the Bandwagon

So, after so long a time without posting anything whatsoever on my blog, I feel like I've got the bug to start typin' away again about my goings on here in Provo.  Since this is my first blog back, there are a few things that I want to cover to restart things on a great note:

Firstly:  Almost 2 months ago I sprained my ankle.  People do that from time to time, but unfortunately for me, it was bad enough that I actually tore all the ligaments in it as well, and even now there is very little that I can do on it.  One great thing though, is that I can ride my bike again, and because it's really one of the only things I CAN do, I'm doing a whole dang lot of it.  It's a good feeling.  It's as if the passion for sport has definitely reignited fully after a spring and early summer of "over-exhaustion."  So, for those of you who knew, my ankle is doing much better.  I still have a granny cankle, but it's not as bad as it used to be, which is a very very very good thing.

Secondly:  I don't know how many of you are aware of a certain tradition that has been carried on for a few years now by myself and several close friends, but for those that are not, it is called "tear-jerker Tuesdays."  On as many Tuesdays as we can manage we get together to watch a movie that can fall aptly inside the descriptive category of a "tear-jerker."  I would certainly recommend the practice, it's soothing for the soul and invigorating for the spirit.  You'd be surprised how many movies you can find out there that you can watch for it, and how often you stumble upon a new movie that surprises you in a pleasant way.  In the spirit of our latest tearjerker movie, "Patch Adams,"  I'm posting an excerpt of a poem which is featured in the movie which I really really like.

"I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.

I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
So I love you because I know no other way
I love you without knowing how, or when, or from where.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride;
So I love you because I know no other way

That this: where I does not exist, nor you,
So close that your hand on my chest is my hand,

So close that your eyes close as I fall asleep."

-Pablo Neruda, Sonnet XVII   

The Cyclists' Bill of Rights

Click on the title of this post to check out an article recently written about the problems being had of bicycles receiving equal treatment on the roads of America.  Recently L.A. as a city considered what they are referring as the Cyclists' Bill of Rights.  The article brings up a few good points that need to be considered, pondered upon and addressed.  I think this is a movement that will generate a lot of response, honestly both good and bad.  

Some major cities, notably Seattle, are considering instituting bike taxes through licensing in order to generate more revenue for the city.  That money would be used (hopefully) exclusively to build and improve bike paths throughout the city and create way-stations throughout the downtown areas of the cities for commuters.  If we can be assured that that will indeed be the case, i think that a tax would not be a good idea.  

Just a few thoughts.  Interesting, i think...

Christmas Break, Hurry Up!

Anyone who doesn't really know me might think that my blog's name might be somewhat sincere.  It never really was...  I can't really say that I hate Provo.  In fact, I feel quite the opposite, I've enjoyed my time here quite a bit.  Some of the people here.... ehhhh... let's say I've been able to surround myself, more or less, with people that I can agree with and understand.  I've had cycling, which lets me view so many of the beautiful things that this area has to offer, and has introduced me to a whole new way of thinking.  But I've been here a long time, and quite frankly this is not an area that I plan on spending the rest of my life in.

Recently more than ever I've felt like I need a break from "happy valley."  I haven't been able to nail down exactly what it is.  It could be the long amount of time it's been since I was able to see Virginia.  Perhaps it's the people around here that I don't actually agree with, and don't understand.  Maybe it's the thoughts that I've still got another 2 years of school to go.  Whatever it is, it's starting to get to me.  I feel like I need a break.  I know I can't take off any time for school, but it would be nice to just be able to not before around here for just a little while.  If NOTHING else, it would be a relief to just not have to put up with petty Provo drama.  I've never been one for that crap.  But that's not exactly something I can just will one way or another.  It's always around here, as sad as it is.  

Either way, I'm venting.  I don't think it's really helping anything, so I'm going to stop.  Just crossing the fingers that somehow Christmas break sneaks up quickly.  

Sentiments of a Redneck Thanksgiving...

I will be honest that I haven't exactly spent my entire life in VA.  In fact, my family only lived there for about 6 or so years before we moved.  I was there for less than that.  But in that relatively small time, we were sure good at picking up on a few "primola" redneck habits and/or pastimes.  This Thanksgiving was one good way of our proving to ourselves that we did indeed still have a little bit of VA in us.  Without further ado, here's a few pictures that help illustrate my point...

 

Yup... that's a picture of a big ole' turkey just cooking away in a big deep fryer.  Now, on one hand, you have the fact that this is indeed pretty "redneckesque."  But on the other hand, and this is something that must be stressed, it was absolutely ridiculously delicious.  In fact this isn't the first time we've prepared our turkey like this, and there is a reason for it, because it is just plain down home cookin' good.  Here's a picture of my Dad enjoying himself, perhaps a little too much: 

There's the setup!  If any of you have not tried frying your turkey, then next year by all means bring up the idea, you won't regret it.  You may feel a bit like a redneck-ish... but as long as you read up on it and make sure you don't burn your house down, you'll be in "delish" city.  That's a redneck promise from the Cavender household.

Hope you all enjoyed your turkey and fixins...

Thoughts as Thanksgiving is upon us...

Weird, a cannibal turkey...

  

When I first looked at this picture, the first thing that caught my attention was this little dude's eyes.  Pretty smug, creepy look wouldn't ya say?  It's like this guy really sincerely thinks he fits in and won't get eaten himself.  I guess that's an easier way to look at things then this next little turkey man is considering his present circumstances...

I think this turkey is still holding onto tiny scraps of hope that someone 

will think he's good to go.  I respect him a little more than the first turkey, since at least he hasn't given up on his small hope for continued existence. 

Most people after Thanksgiving will look a little like this:

 

(I'm sorry I had to force that on you).

Let's hope that that's not the case for me.  First of all, ewwww.  Secondly, and perhaps far more important actually, I really don't think I look very good in a neon green bikini of any size.  This is a guess based entirely on assumption, not actual experience, I promise.  I think someone somewhere is looking for their tent fly, which unfortunately has been stolen and forced into stretchy, torturous labor.  It's not doing a good job either, especially if part of it's job description is to cover...well...anything.     

That's really I've got in my head right now.   

Done with it...

I have officially decided that I won't have anymore blogs based in politics. There are a good number of reasons for this, but the most important, I feel, is that I'm kinda done getting pointed at even by friends just because I don't agree with Obama. No government is perfect, exactly, and that's why I have the right to question policies. I apologize that I disagree with certain people on certain things, but in the long run that's what makes this nation so great. I don't have to believe the same thing that everyone else does. And there is nothing wrong with that. The tough part is that I never said that anyone who agreed with Obama was wrong, but have heard that I myself am wrong for not agreeing with him. Don't really understand that one, especially since the biggest controversy of the election this year has probably been prop. 8, and my idea of what should happen is actually identical to whose? Yup, Obama's. Funny how that works. And for those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, yes, Pres. elect Barack Obama supports bans on gay marriage, and has openly declared his belief that marriage is indeed between a man and a woman.

As to my choice to not vote... I believe it's just as much a right in this country to exercise your right to not vote as it is to vote. If you don't because you just don't care, then ya, stay out of politics. But if you don't because (as I've said before) A) you don't agree with any of the candidates, and B) you live in Utah and your vote means nothing (yes, even on a county and city level), then that's a personal choice, and it means nothing as to revoking your right to voice an opinion. I did vote, in the primaries when there was a candidate I believed in. When I see another one that deserves it, I'll vote for him too.

As I said though, that's it, all I have to say on the topic. Don't expect anything else about it, and I apologize to anyone who found these particular thoughts, or those of earlier blogs offensive.

Thoughts...

Ok, so now that the deed is indeed done and we as a country have "made history," I've begun to hear from several different political analysts and supporters a comparison of Barack Obama to Abraham Lincoln.  Technically there is not much other than their similar background, rise in youth and origin in obscurity.  Both of them had messages based in "change."  But how similar is it really beyond that point?  Let's see what Honest Abe had to say about it...

"You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

You cannot lift the wage earner up by pulling the wage payer down.

You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

You cannot build character and courage by taking away people's initiative and independence.

You cannot help people permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."  

I want to have faith in Obama's change.  I am not as certain as other "conservatives" that it's the end of the world because Obama is president elect.  I, to be honest, wouldn't even really call myself a Republican nowadays because of how many times we've seen Republican "conservative" politicians involved in ridiculous scandals where they've taken horrible advantage of their positions.  But one thing I do hope for is that this "spread the wealth" economic plan does not do exactly that which Lincoln here is counseling against.  I don't want to be taxed someday because I make money in order to pay for the life of those who don't.  I've seen personally too many welfare families to believe they just plain can't do anything about their poverty.  I don't buy that.

"Socialism" or not...  I can't say I have too much faith in the system yet...

My Favorite Poem

This for many years now has been my favorite poem.  I wanted to share it because I love the message it portrays about the indomitable human will.  The title is latin for "Unconquered."  

INVICTUS

by William Ernest Henley, 1849-1903

Out of the night that covers me, 

Black as the pit from pole to pole, 

I thank whatever Gods my 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 bloodied 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 the punishment the scroll, 

I am the master of my fate;

I am the captain of my soul.

Hope you like it...

Thin Ice and Dangerous Water

The only reason that I can't say I have much of an opinion one way or the other on Prop 8, which is the big todo nowadays all over BYU Campus, is because I don't think I really understand all the angles like I think I would need to before I could make a choice.  And I figure, if it's something I don't understand, don't judge yet.  But at the same time, one thing that has been interesting to me, even more interesting then the proposition itself, is the different reactions I've seen coming from so many different people, both members and non.  

For those of you who are unaware of what Prop 8 is, it has to do with the gay marriage question within the State of California. Earlier, the State decided to pass a law to allow same-sex marriages and Prop 8 is the initiative to abolish that law.  Now to give you a background as to the Church's involvement:  The Brethren have sent letters and had firesides officially asking Church members within California to vote for Prop 8 in order to destroy the ability for gays to challenge the sanctity of marriage.  

I've heard many members that have stood up and strongly begun campaigning to have this proposition passed, but I have also heard the fight from many Church members that don't really agree with the stance of the Church itself.  The arguments for this are most often two fold:  1-  Gays are not asking to be married in our Church by our authority, just by any Church that is willing to perform the ceremony, and they are asking for that marriage to be allowed by the state.  Since we still have the authority, even if it is allowed, to say no within the Church, why should we care what other Church's do?  2-  The Church is once again, as they did during the time of women's rights, getting involved in a political process and has no right to do so if they wish to keep their tax exempt status as a non-profit organization with no specific political agenda.  

I think that people that think either of those things forget one very very important detail.  There are a great many things in our Church, doctrinally or historically, that we just don't understand.  But if you believe this is God's true Church, you have accept that God does know things better than we do.  If not you are (even if not knowingly) stating that you think you can lead God's Church better than he can, and that you can make better decisions as to what the Church should or should not do than he can.  That, I think, is a dangerously fine line.  Even in Joseph Smith's time there were a great many things that many of the members did not understand, and on occasion there were times when nearly the entire body of the Church even wished to depose the Prophet.  Did he waiver, thinking that the world must be right, and God was wrong?  Absolutely not.  He stood by the decisions that we as Saints believe were given him by the Lord himself.  

How is this any different?  If I'm missing something, someone please tell me.   

I Wonder...

There are a few things I've found interesting in my life lately, questions or issues that I have been thinking about lately.  I think that the amount of self reflection that I've gone through lately has helped give me time to also see things with our world that I just don't quite understand yet.  For instance...

Why is it that humans naturally tend to unite and work together in times of crisis?  I think we see evidence of this both in the difference of public opinion before and after a tragedy happens, and in how quickly we as a people tend to forget about a tragedy after it happens.  I think though that this only happens in society, not on more personal levels like families and friends.  

What is it about a piece of art that seems to have a soothing and calming effect on the human spirit?  This particular piece is by Maynard Dixon, entitled The Forgotten Man.  For a while now it has been one of my favorite pieces in BYU's Museum of Art.  Take a look...

Moving on...

How is it possible for people who insist on living the letter of the law to instantly forget their desire to be obedient as soon as they close the door to their car?  Driving laws seem to fall into another category of righteousness in Utah...

I guess that's actually it right now.  I had more on my mind, but i don't want this post to be huge.  I don't want to be just venting, I'm just curious about it.