Felons and Missionary Car Washes

I have filled out my fair share of applications for job, and I've always seen that statement that asks if you're a felon. Naturally, I always skipped over it, not being a felon. I always figured that those who were felons pretty much would never get jobs. I'm sure that's true, to some extent, but it turns out that nearly have the people that I work with at Dominos are convicted felons, and some are still on parole or probation. I just thought that was odd. Don't get me wrong, they're really nice people, but they just have some problems. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that I'm hard core and work with felons. =)

But now for the more important news. This Saturday, our ward had a missionary car wash. Now this is something that I did while on my mission. We had a chapel that was right on a busy road. So in order to do missionary work, do service, and help out the community, we'd have a free car wash - no donations. We'd have a lot of the local youth come from the branches too and help out, and we'd have tons of cars. While we were washing their cars, we'd have them get out and go get some refreshments that were provided. The refreshments were also mingled with Books of Mormon, pamphlets, pass-along cards, church videos, and missionaries. So while they were washing their car, they would be fed and talked to by the missionaries. Because they were getting the car washed for free, oft times they'd talk to the missionaries and be very open, whether or not they'd be open to talking to the missionaries if they came at to their door.

So since I am the Ward mission leader, I organized something like that again in our ward. Again, we have a chapel right on the highway, and so again, we had a big, free car wash. The day was incredibly successful. We had 6 people accept to have the missionaries come to their houses, gave away numerous pamphlets, Books of Mormon, and pass along cards.

Now for the miracle. We'd been planning this for about four months. Finally the day came, but the problem was, all Friday night and Saturday morning, it rained... it actually often poured. But we still decided to have it, and have it we did. The wash was scheduled from 10am to 1pm. It stopped raining at 9:45am and started to pour again at 12:45pm. What a miracle and an blessing. The Lord heard and answers our prayers. This I know. So this weekend was a great weekend. I will post pictures as soon as I get them.

And all is said and done...

I am back home... home to a place where the dry air doesn't mummify you as you sleep by sucking all the moisture out of you. Utah was dry, crazy dry, but the trip was fun. It was great to see all my friends again. Jimmy and Mikensi (they're the best! They let me crash at their place, borrow their car, everything... the whole trip wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for them.) It was also fun to see my family-in-law, Peter and Debbie (not Debby). And then I can't forget my good friends Sharah, Gary and Valerie. It was so much fun.... Lots and lots of fun.

But for the part that you all want to hear about: the interviews. So the first one went great! It was with a four-year female med student, and we just really had a great interview. She was impressed with my answers and I with her questions. I got a lot of my questions about the school and student body answered, got a feel for the students and what they are like, and also how the school works. I really enjoyed it.

Then came the next one. So it was with a Professor from the school. When I walked in, she seemed slightly out of it. But whatever, maybe it was just me. But it turns out that she had just visited the eye doctor, and so her eyes were crazy dilated. She didn't have anything written down previous to the interview, nothing written while we interviewed... NOTHING. She also had a ridiculous way of asking convoluted, multifaceted, impossible questions that had about 6.34 questions in it. When I'd finished, I had to always ask if I answered her questions correctly. She'd say, "Ehh.... yeah." Ok, whatever. Overall, I got the impression she wasn't interviewing me per se, you know, in order to really find out about me and who I am and whether or not I'd be a good fit for the school, but she was just more interested it asking the questions. I don't know if that makes sense, but its the best I can describe it.

With all that said, I still feel that overall the second interview went well. I don't think that she came away with a negative impression of me. She just didn't think I'm the greatest thing since wireless optical mouses or gene therapy. Anyway... that's that.

So I will hear back from them probably in late MARCH! Yep, late March. The only exception would be if I was either in the top or botton 2.5% of their scoring. In which case, they will notify me earlier with either an acceptance or rejectance, whichever 2.5% I'm in.

In terms of information, I really liked the school. I found that it was very relaxed by serious, meaning that the students seemed quite happy, not pressured or drilled, but very well educated and prepared for medicine. The school itself if beautiful and would be a wonderful place to go to school for the next 4 years. So we'll see how it all plays out.

What's a girl to do?

So, this past weekend J has been off in Utah dazzling University of Utah interviewers and so I made lots of plans to keep myself busy to forestall any loneliness. Our good friends at home also made me feel quite loved, and so did many relatives. Thanks all!

And now, to explain what a wife does while her husband is away.
First, I stayed up late Friday night doing fun things like watching shows in the internet (i know.. boring..) and taking pictures of our decorated door:

Then I got up early Saturday morning and helped out with a Stake Service project as part of Stake Conference weekend. From there, I went straight to helping prepare the one club I finally joined (I joined Saturday officially) prepare for FoodFest. FoodFest is a spectacular array of foods from many countries prepared by culture clubs of our school. I made this shirt:

It says "You don't have to be green to make a difference". The club is the Students for International Development club, and we donate all of the money we get at FoodFest to charities.. this semester it's neonatal resuscitation through the Church Humanitarian Aid.
Then, I came home for a few hours, baked lots of cookies for the FoodFest, and did homework until 5. I went to FoodFest at 5, sampled lots of delicious foods (from Cambodia, Korea, India, Sweden.. and some good old garlic shrimp). Then, I returned home and did more homework, and ate more dinner at a friend's house. To bed late again, (I enjoyed some candles in the shape of a spider as well..).

Sunday was two sessions of Stake Conference, lunch, a call from J =), and then games and more cookies (this time of home-made origins and with m&ms =) )and a meeting.

Then I got sick. Yuck. Now, it's Monday, and I will work all evening and hopefully get the rest of my homework done .. and also hopefully get un-sick by tomorrow! (Tomorrow is when J returns.) So.. it's been sad that J's been gone, but it hasn't been too lonely because it's been full.

Fight the man!

So Lianna posted something about Proposition 8 in California... and I feel that it just goes to show that we are one step closer to the voice of the people choosing evil rather than good. Check out this video... A man gets arrested for not allowing the school system to teach his 5-year-old son that gay marriage was normal...

http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid1155394344/bctid1822459319

Now, for those of you who know me, I'll fight the man, even when it costs me considerable discomfort and effort. For me, it is the principle that matters. Usually it is something exceptionally small like a small fee on a bill or something insignificant like that. But every once in a while, there comes a time when fighting the man is about more than just a small, insignificant principle. This is one of those times.

I will not stand by and let the man teach my children about morals or the lack thereof. While I will not get a chance to vote on Prop 8, it doesn't matter. The principle is still the same. If the choice doesn't come to me this November, it will come later. I know where I stand and what I won't let it happen.

Now, with that said, I what to be clear that I do not hate homosexuals. I simply will not stand for others to force their beliefs on me or my family in the name of "tolerance." Tolerance has never meant embracing or condoning a specific action or belief, and it never will, not in my dictionary.

Ok, stepping off my podium.

What to wear?

Ok, I don't think I've ever had to ask myself the question, "Oh my goodness, what should I wear?" But come medical school interview time, it is important... You don't want to send the message, "I'm freaking rich, better than you, and if your University is worth anything, you'd beg me to attend." On the other hand, you don't want to send the message, "Yo, what's up dude? Med school is cool... I think I'll do it." Oh the difficulties!

With that said, here's a bit of history. About a year and a half ago, I bought a nice black suit ( or my mom did... I don't remember... maybe for a birthday or Christmas present). I'm not gonna lie, it looks pretty snazzy. I bought it with the express purpose for med school interviews, and I have only worn it once since I bought it over a year ago. But, as my interview looms closer (by the way, it is the 20th of this month), I find myself asking, "Is it too much?" Anyway, here is a picutre of me, and just to let you all know, when I take a picture, my hair poses too, and decided to go in all sorts of directions... but really, it looks better in real life than in the picture. So here is the proposed med school interview outfit:Any suggestions? Comments? Anything?

Lianna's top 5

5. I started and kept our family's budget until J started his cool new financial management class
4. My neighbor's son looks really cool in J's glasses - and it makes me cool because I took a picture. =)

3. Thanks to my mom, I can now make fabulous granola from scratch.

2. My friends at the newspaper made me a sign, because I'm the Editor in Chief

1. I'm married to a very cute mad scientist!



In other news, I'm really happy because we and our neighbors rented a carpet cleaner and cleaned our carpet! It makes me feel better, even though you can't see a difference. Unfortunately, that means that our house was turned all around, and it still hasn't been fixed. please imagine lots of boxes everywhere, and lots of junk on the table.. and chairs where they shouldn't be. It's kind of like a game to get through our house. ^_^

In more other news, (in case anyone is from California and knows what it is), I'm going to vote yes on proposition 8. In case you don't know, it amends the CA constitution so that it permanently says "only marriage between a man and a women is valid or recognized in CA." Why am I voting yes?
Because it opens the door to reverse discrimination.
Voting 'no' would be, I believe, paving the way for legal discrimination against those who belong to a religion that preaches traditional marriage. It may not mean that in other states, but CA is especially concerned about political correctness - in fact many people who are religious now in CA spend a lot of time defending their views because traditional religion is often considered politically incorrect or inconsiderate. Voting 'no', and allowing lawmakers and lobbyists to make laws that recognize marriage between any two parties equally, would create an environment hostile to traditional marriage views whether that is the intention or not. I don't think that discrimination against anyone is right - whether those people have nontraditional OR traditional views.
If the real issue is fully equal economic and family rights, then I don't believe equally recognized marriage will achieve that in a way that is fair to all parties in CA.

SOME BODY KNOWS I EXIST!

In a rare event and unheard of event, the planets have aligned and balances of luck have been tipped in my favor.

Ok, I'm talking about Medical school. Heavenly Father has blessed me with an interview (my first one so far) at University of Utah medical school. That means that instead of having a 1 in 65 gabazillion chance to get accepted into medical school, I now have about a 1 in 4 chance . I am supposed to interview soon, and it could even possibly be as early as Oct. 20th. (Thats really soon! I'm just waiting for them to call and confirm.) So pray for me that I will be able to do the Lord's will by either being interviewed by someone who will see who I truly am and have a fabulous interview, or getting an interview with someone who knows my good intentions, but would feel that maybe U of U isn't the best school for me--whatever the Lord's will may be. (I'm really hoping that it will be the former).

So, that's the biggest news on our side of Hawaii! I hope you all are well.