Thursday, September 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Road Signs?! #$%#
Yes! Cliftons mancave is finally clean and complete! Thanks to me. All me. He did nothing. For his room. Take a gander? The other wall has a few more signs, along with his dartboard. Then all throughout the room is his knive collection. I'm awesome.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Good professors
Today I walked into my History 1700 class and something strange took over me. My professor walked in and my heart went wild. A crush? A big fat massive schoolgirl crush you say? It was weird to say the least. I have never, in my history of learning, ever had any type of crush on any type of instructor. Talk about inappropriate. OK, it's not inappropriate since it's not a "I'm gonna act on my feelings" crush.
The thing is, my professor is brilliant. He loves what he teaches and he wants us to love it to. He is a superb teacher. He keeps everyone interested in what he's saying and he is very animated. I am so grateful for good professors like him. They make learning so much more fun.
The thing is, my professor is brilliant. He loves what he teaches and he wants us to love it to. He is a superb teacher. He keeps everyone interested in what he's saying and he is very animated. I am so grateful for good professors like him. They make learning so much more fun.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Movie Editor
Today I learned my computer has a movie editing feature. Now, movies have never really been my thing. My sister, Kari, got me hooked on youtube and I finally created an account not too long ago so that I could post comments and 'favorite' my top songs. Somehow I came across JoeThursdays, which is an awesome youtube channel. Go there. Go there now. I watched his videos for hours one day instead of studying; I don't regret it at all. Watching his videos has made me want to try out vlogging, or putting together cool music videos.
Not only that, but I've gotten bored of photo editing. I'm not saying I'm great at it, but with the low-tech "equipment" I have I feel like I've learned everything I possibly can. It's gotten too easy and mundane. It doesn't interest me like it used to. I am confident that when I get a great camera and photo editor, along with shadowing actual photographers, there will be a lot more that I can learn. Until then I need something more challenging.
Enter video editing. For my brothers birthday I decided to do something really special since this is his first birthday in a long time he's single (technically he's not since he and Meg are back together...again...good grief). Last week the brilliant idea came to me! I interviewed each family member and asked them what they loved about Aaron. After hours of putting together photos, videos, and songs his birthday video is turning out quite nicely. I believe in diy, so I may be a little slower at learning the basics of video, but the important thing is I am learning and after a few hours I feel like I have fully caught on.
I know I'm not talented at video editing or photo editing, but I love doing it! Today I am grateful for movie editors, for keeping my mind intrigued and giving me a proper challenge.
Not only that, but I've gotten bored of photo editing. I'm not saying I'm great at it, but with the low-tech "equipment" I have I feel like I've learned everything I possibly can. It's gotten too easy and mundane. It doesn't interest me like it used to. I am confident that when I get a great camera and photo editor, along with shadowing actual photographers, there will be a lot more that I can learn. Until then I need something more challenging.
Enter video editing. For my brothers birthday I decided to do something really special since this is his first birthday in a long time he's single (technically he's not since he and Meg are back together...again...good grief). Last week the brilliant idea came to me! I interviewed each family member and asked them what they loved about Aaron. After hours of putting together photos, videos, and songs his birthday video is turning out quite nicely. I believe in diy, so I may be a little slower at learning the basics of video, but the important thing is I am learning and after a few hours I feel like I have fully caught on.
I know I'm not talented at video editing or photo editing, but I love doing it! Today I am grateful for movie editors, for keeping my mind intrigued and giving me a proper challenge.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Being uniquely you.
One of the best bits of advice I've ever gotten was "Don't try to catch up. You either write or you don't. Don't think about how much you need to update, because then it will be too much and you will never write." I don't remember who told me that which is really too bad, but it was when I was a teenager and it was in reference to journal writing. It is totally true. I have not written a complete entry in my journal in well over a year, maybe even two. When I read through my older journals I go crazy when I get to an entry that says "Today was so amazing! Me and Aaron checked Madie and Ammon out of" or "I can't stop crying". WHAT?! Why not?! What made the day fabulous? Why was I crying? Come on Jesse from the past, get it together! Now that's not to say my journals consist purely of incomplete entries because they don't. I probably only have a handful of meaningless one-liners. Being honest, I don't have a complete journal entry in such a long time because I've only written in my journal 3 times in the past two years. It's shameful. I always get mad at myself for that. Yet the perfectionist in me, which has somehow blown up and gotten to be extreme over the past month, refuses to not catch up. I feel obligated to update on my life thus far and that is what holds me back.
The same thing goes for blogging. I hate reading blogs that are constantly apologizing for the delayed update or blog; that's just not my style and I'm pretty sure I have never done it. If you are reading this and you do it, no big deal. It doesn't make sense to me to apologize, when really we're (I'M? Maybe I'm the only one.) just as glad to read anything about your life whether it be the day of or a month later. I have not blogged solely for the reason that I do not have internet and after a few weeks realized what a pain it is to catch up. I actually almost gave up on my New Year resolution and goal yesterday, but thankfully that quote came to mind. I refuse to fail. I need to finish this New Year resolution to prove to myself that it is possible to have a goal and follow through with it; especially a NEW YEAR goal. I don't know anyone that has completed their New Year resolution. Is that a challenge? Perhaps. Yes. Either way, I am determined to finish strong.
I feel like I have learned a lot already from this goal of mine. Through reading other blogs, and going back and reading my own, my writing has progressed significantly. I am definitely not a clever or talented writer, but I have matured as a writer. It's obvious in my very first post from this year (the link is given in the previous paragraph). Who puts "haha" in their writing?! I am embarrassed. Granted, this is no English class and it is really just my online journal which I print, but I personally enjoy reading posts that are better written. Everyone has their own style and it's interesting to see that style unfold and reveal itself.
Another thing I've learned is that there is so much to be grateful for, even on the worst of days. I have already been grateful for 260 days and there are numerous other things to be grateful for that I can think of at the moment. My favorite quote is the one at the top of my page: "Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."
Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned this year, whether from dedicating the year to gratitude or from multiple experiences throughout, is to fully love and accept who I am and who others are. I love my acne, my cellulite, my weak wrists, my short nails, my alien toes, my ivory colored teeth, my perfectionism, and everything else that many people consider disgusting or unattractive. When you really think about it why does it matter? So what if I have pimples? It isn't physically damaging. Sure I may get pock marks later on, but acne is something that I've had to learn to accept. I have been on multiple medications to get rid of this "skin flaw" but nothing has been ultimately effective. It was the most difficult thing for me to handle in high school but I have grown from that and learned that it does not matter. I have acne. So what? So what if I don't bleach my teeth to the color of glow-in-the-dark? I brush my teeth. My "imperfect" teeth color doesn't hurt you or me so why care about it? So what? So what if I get cellulite on my legs? I work out and I don't eat a whole bunch of junk. It is largely hereditary, and it doesn't do me or you harm. I find it entertaining occasionally. I have learned that if you are nit-picky with yourself about minor "imperfections", you will be that way with other people whether you mean to or not. It ruins what you think of yourself and it ruins the relationships you have. One of my best friends from high school made a wonderful post a few months ago conveying this same concept. I haven't read the post since then so I really hope I have not stolen her words! I'm terrified of plagiarism. Reading her blog is what got me thinking about all of this in the first place. I don't understand why people constantly criticize and condemn those that are different from them, or not "up to par" in the looks department. It's senseless.
It bothers me that our society in general has become a massive race to be the "most attractive". I hate that people refuse to accept everything they are in order to obtain something that is not unique and individual to them. Why try to be the same as everyone else? Being different is a beautiful thing! Don't ruin that. I know, it sounds like I'm complaining about life. I love life and the human race. I don't think my way of living is any better than anyone elses. I think there is, however, something to be said for self-discovery, acceptance, and most importantly love though. Love yourself. Everything about yourself. Every. Day.
The same thing goes for blogging. I hate reading blogs that are constantly apologizing for the delayed update or blog; that's just not my style and I'm pretty sure I have never done it. If you are reading this and you do it, no big deal. It doesn't make sense to me to apologize, when really we're (I'M? Maybe I'm the only one.) just as glad to read anything about your life whether it be the day of or a month later. I have not blogged solely for the reason that I do not have internet and after a few weeks realized what a pain it is to catch up. I actually almost gave up on my New Year resolution and goal yesterday, but thankfully that quote came to mind. I refuse to fail. I need to finish this New Year resolution to prove to myself that it is possible to have a goal and follow through with it; especially a NEW YEAR goal. I don't know anyone that has completed their New Year resolution. Is that a challenge?
I feel like I have learned a lot already from this goal of mine. Through reading other blogs, and going back and reading my own, my writing has progressed significantly. I am definitely not a clever or talented writer, but I have matured as a writer. It's obvious in my very first post from this year (the link is given in the previous paragraph). Who puts "haha" in their writing?! I am embarrassed. Granted, this is no English class and it is really just my online journal which I print, but I personally enjoy reading posts that are better written. Everyone has their own style and it's interesting to see that style unfold and reveal itself.
Another thing I've learned is that there is so much to be grateful for, even on the worst of days. I have already been grateful for 260 days and there are numerous other things to be grateful for that I can think of at the moment. My favorite quote is the one at the top of my page: "Develop an attitude of gratitude, and give thanks for everything that happens to you, knowing that every step forward is a step toward achieving something bigger and better than your current situation."
Perhaps the biggest thing I've learned this year, whether from dedicating the year to gratitude or from multiple experiences throughout, is to fully love and accept who I am and who others are. I love my acne, my cellulite, my weak wrists, my short nails, my alien toes, my ivory colored teeth, my perfectionism, and everything else that many people consider disgusting or unattractive. When you really think about it why does it matter? So what if I have pimples? It isn't physically damaging. Sure I may get pock marks later on, but acne is something that I've had to learn to accept. I have been on multiple medications to get rid of this "skin flaw" but nothing has been ultimately effective. It was the most difficult thing for me to handle in high school but I have grown from that and learned that it does not matter. I have acne. So what? So what if I don't bleach my teeth to the color of glow-in-the-dark? I brush my teeth. My "imperfect" teeth color doesn't hurt you or me so why care about it? So what? So what if I get cellulite on my legs? I work out and I don't eat a whole bunch of junk. It is largely hereditary, and it doesn't do me or you harm. I find it entertaining occasionally. I have learned that if you are nit-picky with yourself about minor "imperfections", you will be that way with other people whether you mean to or not. It ruins what you think of yourself and it ruins the relationships you have. One of my best friends from high school made a wonderful post a few months ago conveying this same concept. I haven't read the post since then so I really hope I have not stolen her words! I'm terrified of plagiarism. Reading her blog is what got me thinking about all of this in the first place. I don't understand why people constantly criticize and condemn those that are different from them, or not "up to par" in the looks department. It's senseless.
It bothers me that our society in general has become a massive race to be the "most attractive". I hate that people refuse to accept everything they are in order to obtain something that is not unique and individual to them. Why try to be the same as everyone else? Being different is a beautiful thing! Don't ruin that. I know, it sounds like I'm complaining about life. I love life and the human race. I don't think my way of living is any better than anyone elses. I think there is, however, something to be said for self-discovery, acceptance, and most importantly love though. Love yourself. Everything about yourself. Every. Day.
June 1-September 16
June
1. Lessons learned
2. Kari
3. Wussies
4. Experience
5. Clifton days
6. New shoes
7. Studies
8. Drive in
9. Laurie
10. Clean sheets
11. Horny days
12. Rage energy
13. French kisses and soft touches
14. Freedom
15. Special needs
16. Fresh produce
17. Trails & refuge
18. Accomplishments
19. Races
20. Know thyself-socrates
21. Hobbies
22. Disc golf
23. Opportunity
24. Pioneers
25. Carrie
26. RAGNAR
27. Bachelorette parties
28. Toy Story
29. Gandolfo's
30. Causey
July
1. Cars
2. hAiRcUtS
3. Aerial fireworks
4. 4th festivities
5. Journal
6. Healing
7. My love for organizing
8. House sitting
9 Obstacle courses
10. Youtube!
11. Adventures
12. Antelope Island
13. Trading shifts
14. Family time
15. Shutterfly
16. Ellen Degeneres
17. Sprinklers
18. King size beds
19. Harry Potter
20. Rodeo
21. Resolving arguments
22. Sleep talk
23. Leftovers
24. Oma
25. BLT, Twix, & Sparkling Cider
26. Self discovery
27. James
28. Cliftons financial situation
29. Sibling dates
30. Meatballs yum
31. Massages
August
1. Comfort
2. "birth control"
3. Ibuprofen
4. Country music
5. Deamer family
6. Pads
7. Sister shopping
8. Good breakfast
9. Apathy
10. My home
11. Moms money
12. Ambers family
13. Family hikes
14. Fruit!!!!!!!
15. Fatcats
16. Time passing quickly
17. Pineview Damn
18. Monkee & Scooter
19. Determination
20. Cell phone
21. Moms education experience
22. School
23. Public transportation
24. Acting
25. Things that come together with effort
26. Strange inventions
27. Study helps
28. Mom
29. Consistent schedule
30. Helping friends
31. Game night
September
1. The fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Madie
3. Color coordination
4. Night games
5. Motivating stress
6. Tonia
7. Photo shoots
8. FIRST ANNIVERSARY!!!
9. Camping
10. The end of some weeks
11. Cliftons calmness
12. Being a leader
13. Road signs
14. Pizza Runner & Grounds
15. Promotions
16. Arrested Development
1. Lessons learned
2. Kari
3. Wussies
4. Experience
5. Clifton days
6. New shoes
7. Studies
8. Drive in
9. Laurie
10. Clean sheets
11. Horny days
12. Rage energy
13. French kisses and soft touches
14. Freedom
15. Special needs
16. Fresh produce
17. Trails & refuge
18. Accomplishments
19. Races
20. Know thyself-socrates
21. Hobbies
22. Disc golf
23. Opportunity
24. Pioneers
25. Carrie
26. RAGNAR
27. Bachelorette parties
28. Toy Story
29. Gandolfo's
30. Causey
July
1. Cars
2. hAiRcUtS
3. Aerial fireworks
4. 4th festivities
5. Journal
6. Healing
7. My love for organizing
8. House sitting
9 Obstacle courses
10. Youtube!
11. Adventures
12. Antelope Island
13. Trading shifts
14. Family time
15. Shutterfly
16. Ellen Degeneres
17. Sprinklers
18. King size beds
19. Harry Potter
20. Rodeo
21. Resolving arguments
22. Sleep talk
23. Leftovers
24. Oma
25. BLT, Twix, & Sparkling Cider
26. Self discovery
27. James
28. Cliftons financial situation
29. Sibling dates
30. Meatballs yum
31. Massages
August
1. Comfort
2. "birth control"
3. Ibuprofen
4. Country music
5. Deamer family
6. Pads
7. Sister shopping
8. Good breakfast
9. Apathy
10. My home
11. Moms money
12. Ambers family
13. Family hikes
14. Fruit!!!!!!!
15. Fatcats
16. Time passing quickly
17. Pineview Damn
18. Monkee & Scooter
19. Determination
20. Cell phone
21. Moms education experience
22. School
23. Public transportation
24. Acting
25. Things that come together with effort
26. Strange inventions
27. Study helps
28. Mom
29. Consistent schedule
30. Helping friends
31. Game night
September
1. The fall!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2. Madie
3. Color coordination
4. Night games
5. Motivating stress
6. Tonia
7. Photo shoots
8. FIRST ANNIVERSARY!!!
9. Camping
10. The end of some weeks
11. Cliftons calmness
12. Being a leader
13. Road signs
14. Pizza Runner & Grounds
15. Promotions
16. Arrested Development
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