Holy Crap, It's Michael Phelps! No Wait, It's Just Michael Phillips. Wait A Minute... Holy Crap It's Michael Phillips!

I was walking into my Dental Assisting class today at the Granite Technical Institute when suddenly I saw a sign. I don't normally pay attention to signs, and I have no idea why I even gave this one a passing glance, but I'm happy that I did, because it made my entire day! My heart skipped a beat when I read that Michael Phelps was giving a presentation for our class! Seriously, that's what I thought the sign said, but upon further investigation it was just some guy named Michael Phillips. I followed the rest of the students into the classroom not even realizing what I'd just read.

Then, I was like some kind of crazy guy. I ran back, startling a group of girls along the way, and confirmed that one of the top ten coolest people I know was visiting our school. I couldn't believe it, but there it was. Michael Phillips, 4th year medical student, Wisconsin University; yep that sounds like my awesome cousin. What the heck was he doing there? I had no idea, I just took off for the assembly room.

Wow, it was so cool seeing Mike again. Way better than that Phelps guy. He was standing right by the door and I didn't know if I should shake his hand or hug him. So like the loser that I am, I shook his hand. But the love was there :) So he really did give a presentation for the med students. He called it, "Are You Crazy Too" Ha ha. Y'know, he did a great job! I was impressed! He talked about how he became interested in medicine and what he's been up over these long Mikeless years. He's been doing so much that I began to understand why he entitled it Are You Crazy Too. He must be crazy to go through all that work. But that's why we love him right? I'm definitely impressed and proud of all that he's accomplished :)

Like I said before though, he actually gave a really good speech. I told him at the end that I was enthralled with it and I meant it. A lot of the things he said to me stood out. He told us how he never really took a lot of science in high school, but found out that he really loved it. He also loved how a doctor always seems to make things better, even if they can't help you. They can still refer you to another doctor, or give you information that can just make you feel better. These factors contributed to his desire to become a doctor. He told us some stories about what he's been up to in Med School. He met a guy who tried to commit suicide by pounding a nail into his chest via nailgun, and a woman who supposedly had gallbladder disease. The funny thing is, she didn't have a gallbladder.

He talked about the physical and emotional toll the profession can take on you. He said that a doctor could work a maximum of 30 hours. And told a sad story about a patient who requested to die instead of going through surgery. He told us so much that I don't think I can write it all down. But the one thing that he wanted to get across to us the most was that unhappy people are only unhappy because they haven't found what they really want to do. If you love the medical professions, then all the hard work will be worth it. Thanks for coming Mike. You rock, and the presentation was awesome! It was great seeing you again. Also... I wasn't going to say anything... but even if he didn't notice, I saw a lot of young senoritas who couldn't keep their eyes off him :) I guess that's just another quirk to being a doctor.

Not Hand Scissors - Scissor Hands

_____When I first met my newest cinematic hero, he was half hidden in shadow.

_____A makeup sales woman who was experiencing frustration in a rural neighborhood was inspired to visit the huge and creepy (yet somehow previously unnoticed) mansion at the end of her road. Upon opening the gate to the courtyard, she is struck with awe. Scattered about are perfectly trimmed hedges, crafted to resemble a plethora of animals. Without waiting for an invitation, she enters the mansion and that is where she finally meets him. He slowly emerges from the shadows. She is in shock. First, she cries out, "Those are your hands!" first in shock and fear. Then a second time. "Those are your hands?" This time with pity.

_____The film, of course, is Edward Scissorhands. Now I'm not going to lie, this movie really tugged at my heartstrings. I can't believe how lame I am for wasting 18 years of my life not watching such a cinematical masterpiece. I honestly didn't think I'd like it at all, but boy was I wrong. Not only is it an awesome movie, but it has an awesome message. It portrays how hard it is as an adolescent. How hard it is to grow up and not know exactly who you are or where you stand in the world. It really has that elephant-in-the-room kind of feeling. No matter how much everyone tries to pretend he's normal and no matter how much he wants to be normal, he still has razor sharp knives for fingers, and that causes a lot more problems that you might realize at first. Not only physically, but mentally as well.

_____My favorite part is in the picture above, where the girl asks Edward to hold her, and with that heartwrenching sadness in his voice, he replies, "I can't." It shows that feeling that you get when you love something so much that you want to touch it and hold it and do all you can to make it feel better, but you know that if you do, it'll fall apart. That profound feeling of helplessness where trying to help will actually hurt the thing you love. So you love it enough to not touch it at all. The other scene that really got to me was the part where he tears up the curtains in the bathroom and just stares at himself in the mirror while tearing up the wallpaper. He is in so much pain, and he hates what he sees in the mirror. The mirror seems to play an important part in the movie. You'll notice that whenever he sees a mirror or any reflective surface, he stops and stares at himself until someone drags him away from it. He really hates what he is. You can just tell. Kudos to the brilliant acting of Johnny Depp.

_____ I don't know, I just really liked this movie. It made me laugh, it made me cry, but most importantly, it made me think.

The Signs of Insanity

Well, it is late and I am finding it hard to sleep. So, I figured I'd blog a little just to numb my brain. This week marks the end of a landmark in my life. The end of the first semester of my senior year. There is only one more left before I'm out of school for good! Yay! Of course, with the end of a semester comes the dreaded finals. Auggh. I hate finals! All thsse tests and research papers. There were times when I literally started to think I was going insane. I would frequently sacrafice my food to pagan gods and developed a strange desire to burn things. Not really, but still, it did make me curious as to what exactly the signs of insanity may be. I decided to compose a list, so that you too may know when the world has just hit you too hard, and you have gone insane. Enjoy.

1. When people try to voice their concerns about your mental state you stroke their hair and tell them that in due time, the purification process will begin.
2. You believe your food has the right to a fair trial before being eaten. Then you go hungry for days because the verdict is constantly against you.
3. You constantly apologize to everyone you know for setting fire to their lawn decorations. And their pets.
4. You scream "FIRE!" everytime a telephone rings.
5. Elevators excite you. So does melba toast.
6. You ponder every small insect you have killed in your life and worry about their families attacking you in your sleep.
7. You like to stand in cornfields at night and pretend that you are a stalk.
8. You wish you could obey the voices in your head, but you can't understand them because they speak swedish.
9. You take relationship advice from your neighbor's toaster.
10. Your neighbor won't let you into his house anymore. You are always crying and blaming his toaster for problems in your love life.
11. You have your name engraved on every single tooth in your mouth. Mostly for security reasons.
12. You start each day with a thirty minute jog around your closet.
13. You set up a desk in an an elevator and ask passengers if they have an appointment.
14. You still think that the plot of the popular television drama "Lost" is actually going somewhere.
15. Nobody listens to your opinions anymore because they can't understand you through that scuba mask.

So, there you have it. My own list of all things anti sane. If you, or any friends or family members that you might know of are exhibiting any of these symptoms, then please seek help as soon as possible. Things can get pretty rough, and finals can get pretty tough, but lets be honest people. Life is much too short to spend yelling at toasters. Even if they are lying, backstabbing, low-life, girlfriend stealing... well, you get the general idea. Don't turn your back on them. Anyway, it worked! I am exhausted. Coming up with that list was fun though. Thanks to all the people who inspired me. Some in more ways than others.

Love At First Bite

I am in love. I can scarcely hide it anymore. I want to scream it to the heavens, for I have found the one thing that makes life worth living. I saw her on a billboard. I had been about a year since I had seen her last, and I was sure I would never see her again. Yet there she was, looking as divine as a seraphim. My heart filled with jubilation, for she was back in town. I knew that fate would bring us together. As luck would have it, it did. She looked just as amazing as the last day we met. I walked right up to her, grabbed her hot buns, and said, "Hello gorgeous, It's been much too long." I lifted her up, and we danced around the room to music that did not play from any radio, but from the deepest passions of our hearts. I brought her to my lips, not just once or twice, but repeatedly; again and again. We were entwined in the sweetest embrace. I relished every single moment we had together. Then, in an instant, she was gone. As quickly as she had come into my life, she had left. I was heartbroken. Why must I eat everything that I love? Luckily she has a twin that I keep in the freezer. Oh well. Until next year, my sweet McRib. Our love can never last... or at least can never last long. Yet who among us does not dare to dream...

Having Grattitude for Grace

I cannot remember the last time I read a book that has touched my heart like Grace. Grace is the story of a young 15 year-old girl from the 1950's Salt Lake City, Utah who has run away from home. Her motives are at first unknown to the reader, however in time, the shocking truth is revealed. Eric is just a 14 year-old boy with "acne and a bad haircut." He kind of reminds me of me at one time lol, but who doesn't remember those days. They pass, like all else will do. Good or bad, everything will pass eventually. He finds this young girl in a dumpster behind the fast food establishment he works at. It is clear that she is desperately trying to find food, but he is too nice to point that out. He gives her food, and upon learning her predicament, he offers her a place to stay. Her name is Grace. Hidden in a clubhouse in the back of his five acre yard, Grace finds solace in her new freedom and her unexpected new friend. He brings her food from his own meals and quickly the two become amazing friends. Eric is one of the nicest boys you will ever meet. He is so kind to Grace that she is often overwhelmed that the world could have a person who could be so selfless and so caring. Their bond is heartwarming, and it is truly a pleasure to see them both grow and mature in ways that both of them needed. They are truly the answers to each others prayers. Then, we see that even the people we most trust can be the worst of sinners. The ending will leave you wondering if the world is fair, and then you will realize that the fact that the world gave you the opportunities to love, and to hold, and to kiss, and to lose, make it all the more fair if it must take it away. Even Grace knew the what the outcome would be, but she also knew that she couldn't stop it. The message is to show the darker side of the world, and to show the dangers of humankind. The side that Grace knew and had seen firsthand. But focus on the relationship between Grace and Eric. That message is to just love unconditionally. You never know how much it can mean to someone. Show your passion and your kindness. Be the Hawaii for the people you love, and have a little Grace in everything you do. I won't tell anymore. Read it for yourselves.

New Year: Looking back and looking ahead

Well, this is the last post I will do for 2008 and the first one on my new laptop. 2009 is right around the corner and it couldn't come a minute too soon. I'm in a hurry to get to a party, so I'll make this quick. There's an epidemic of Senioritis going around. I'm sorry (not really) to say that I was one of the first afflicted. It only took ten minutes of school on the first day before I praying that a lightning bolt would just strike my teacher dead on the spot. I repented of my sinful thoughts later that night, but still, I feel a small shimmer of hope everytime it starts to rain. Anyway, I don't know the exact date that I graduate, I just know I'm in the class of2009, so the sooner it gets here the sooner I get out ;) Looking back, I see it was a pretty decent year. A lot of stuff as happened. My new favorite actor died a few days after I decided he was my new favorite actor. Heath Ledger. I will miss his performance as the Joker more than I would miss my right pinky toe. Also, Bernie Mac died. No fun. He was a pretty funny guy. We must wonder what will happen to the Ocean's 11 movies. These truly are dark times of uncertainty. In 2009, I enrolled at SLCC for the first time. Campus courses were pretty fun. I met some new friends and I got certified for Scuba Diving. I had some fun times, good food, and danced more than any other year so far. It wasn't that bad, but I wouldn't want to repeat it. The new year is approaching. This is a time for New Years Resolutions and such. What are my resolutions? Well, I've compiled a small list: 1. Exercise: Its about time I got that six pack I've always wanted :) 2. Get my Associate's degree: I'm soooo close. I'll get it before I even graduate High School. 3. Learn to dance and play guitar: Not at the same time :) 4. Make money: Still don't have a plan for this one... 5. Finish my books: The average author makes about as much as a dentist in a year. 7. Find a number six to add to this list. 8. Take over a small country: a work in progress. 9. Construct my own working Batmobile: Motorcycle included. 10. Find the cure for world hunger. 11. Destroy the cure for world hunger. Its not much, but this should be a fun year. Keep it real everybody. A new year means that somehow, in the back of your mind, you think there'll be new beginnings. Well, in reality, you're just waking up to another tomorrow.

Rumors of My Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

Wow, I've been away from blogging for a long time. Such a shame, especially when it seems like I was just getting into it. Truth be told, I just haven't had enough time for sitting at my computer. Life has been pretty freaking hectic for me. Which is actually why I'm blogging now.

Ok, so I was in this High School production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. We have been practicing nonstop for many moons. We finally had our student and parent performances just a week ago and things have quieted down as far as the play is concerned. It's over and I'm glad. Although I will miss it. I met a lot of new and fun people and these memories will stick with me for a long time. I don't know what I'll do now that its over. Maybe I can finally devote more time to fencing. Anyway, the play was a smashing success. People are still raving about our beloved musical and still randomly singing songs from it. It brought a smile to my face when I heard some random person whistling Go Go Go Joseph in the bathroom lol. Cracks me up everytime. So yeah, It feels good to be part of what has been considered the best musical Hunter High has put on since Les Miserables. 

Another major change is that I turned 18 on November 20. So yeah, I'm legal now. I even made a list of all the things I can do now that I'm 18. I can join the army, get married w/out parent approval, buy M rated games, buy cigarettes (but not smoke them), pay my own insurance, become a porn star, not get legally fed by parents, oh and get tried as an adult if I blow something up. Am I missing the bright side of turning 18? Oh and guess what? My first hours of manhood were spent shirtless and wearing makeup and twirling around a ribbon like a twinkled toed fairy leading the Gay Pride Parade. In other words, opening night of Dreamcoat. What a way to become a man.

Lastly, I was chosen to be the English Sterling Scholar at my school. It was an honor. I was also selected as a Wolverine of the Month Nominee. 

So there you go. A lot of crap has gone down in the last month I have not blogged. A lot of drama has gone down too, but I'm not going to write about that. Why would I want to remember any drama? I want to only remember the good things about life. That way, when I'm old and wrinkly, I can look back on my life and enjoy it a second time. 

By the way, I saw James Bond Quantum of Solace with my dad. That was the highlight of my month.