I have successfully made it back to my house and am now in bed. That was definitely the hardest week I've had of school yet. Its 12:21PM... I have three hours to sleep before work and I feel completely content with that! haha. Content with pulling off the unthinkable week and cheating death.
I am a little upset though. I'm sure I did really well on my midterm today. I got to the very last problem, read it, had a sigh of relief because it was a question I knew I how to answer 100% correctly and I had a moment of relief that the week would soon be over. I was halfway through mentally sorting what I would put down as an answer and they called out that there was 5 minutes left of the exam and I just lost everything. Completely mind blank. Went from complete lucidness to suddenly drooling over my paper until I had to turn it in. Man that was a bizarre feeling.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
Ride the Spiral
Long boarding is a fun hobby that I took up a couple years ago towards the end of high school. It became an event that a lot of social activities revolved around at the time. "Hey lets go long board Provo canyon." "Hey lets go long board around campus." "Lets go long board the stadium parking lot." "Lets go long board around BYU and see if we get caught."
Long boarding for the first time isn't that hard. Humans can adapt pretty quickly as figuring out how to balance isn't too hard... learning how to turn isn't too hard, but learning how to stop? That's a different story. Long boarding is set up so that your cranium is in the least inertial stable position and you have no brakes. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable position, travelling too fast down a hefty hill you have a few options. You can attempt to drag your foot, changing the center of gravity of your body over the one foot on your board and slowly placing your other foot in a position to create friction with the asphalt (not too fast or else you'll eat it). You can slam your foot down in a "reverse" pumping action, slowly chipping away at the growing acceleration you've managed to pick up with the force of gravity, or you could ride your board into a patch of grass and "run" out the momentum. All of these options are relatively tricky unstable maneuvers and bring mass potential to totally eat it on the asphalt.
The first time you truly eat it on the asphalt will change how you ride forever, but you eventually figure out that sometimes in those moments where you want to bail, if you just stick it out a little longer you'll end up alright. Getting too fast? just ride it out and you'll be able to carve it out later. Getting speed wobble? Just lean into it. But sometimes if you ARE going too fast, trying to slow down ends up disastrously anyways... all you can do is ride it out.
Other times there are just unforeseen obstacles. A crack in the road, a hole, a rock, a branch, gravel, water or even ice. Your wheel catches it just right and you find yourself in a world of hurt.
Why do we even long board?
Sometimes I feel like life is like bombing one major hill. At this very moment I'm going way too fast, and at times I get these moments of panic. "COLTON... WHAT ARE YOU DOING... YOU NEED TO BAIL... YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN" but I know if I try to put my foot down or bail I'm going to eat shit and die. All I can do is lean into it and hope there isn't any unforeseen obstacles in my path. Its exhilarating in a way, but part of me is scared shitless. (my apologies for the big boy language)
One of the lyrics from my all time favorite album is "Ride the spiral to the end, we may just go where no ones been". I remember the exact moment I listened to the album all the way through as a moment that was as much of a spiritual moment as I've ever had. As corny as it is to place any form of music in that position. The album is about living and life. Its dark and heavy, its music is "evil" in an overly mormon sense. Its realistic, the lyrics are written by a guy who has a significant amount of trauma but it also has a very positive message ingrained in it. Life is hard, parts of it can be messed up in its most raw and realistic form, but there is also a lot of potential for positivity.
But I digress. I'm putting my head down, I'm leaning into it. I'll either have one hell of a ride or I'll go out in a smoldering wreck of flames, and there's no better way to go.
Long boarding for the first time isn't that hard. Humans can adapt pretty quickly as figuring out how to balance isn't too hard... learning how to turn isn't too hard, but learning how to stop? That's a different story. Long boarding is set up so that your cranium is in the least inertial stable position and you have no brakes. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable position, travelling too fast down a hefty hill you have a few options. You can attempt to drag your foot, changing the center of gravity of your body over the one foot on your board and slowly placing your other foot in a position to create friction with the asphalt (not too fast or else you'll eat it). You can slam your foot down in a "reverse" pumping action, slowly chipping away at the growing acceleration you've managed to pick up with the force of gravity, or you could ride your board into a patch of grass and "run" out the momentum. All of these options are relatively tricky unstable maneuvers and bring mass potential to totally eat it on the asphalt.
The first time you truly eat it on the asphalt will change how you ride forever, but you eventually figure out that sometimes in those moments where you want to bail, if you just stick it out a little longer you'll end up alright. Getting too fast? just ride it out and you'll be able to carve it out later. Getting speed wobble? Just lean into it. But sometimes if you ARE going too fast, trying to slow down ends up disastrously anyways... all you can do is ride it out.
Other times there are just unforeseen obstacles. A crack in the road, a hole, a rock, a branch, gravel, water or even ice. Your wheel catches it just right and you find yourself in a world of hurt.
Why do we even long board?
Sometimes I feel like life is like bombing one major hill. At this very moment I'm going way too fast, and at times I get these moments of panic. "COLTON... WHAT ARE YOU DOING... YOU NEED TO BAIL... YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN" but I know if I try to put my foot down or bail I'm going to eat shit and die. All I can do is lean into it and hope there isn't any unforeseen obstacles in my path. Its exhilarating in a way, but part of me is scared shitless. (my apologies for the big boy language)
One of the lyrics from my all time favorite album is "Ride the spiral to the end, we may just go where no ones been". I remember the exact moment I listened to the album all the way through as a moment that was as much of a spiritual moment as I've ever had. As corny as it is to place any form of music in that position. The album is about living and life. Its dark and heavy, its music is "evil" in an overly mormon sense. Its realistic, the lyrics are written by a guy who has a significant amount of trauma but it also has a very positive message ingrained in it. Life is hard, parts of it can be messed up in its most raw and realistic form, but there is also a lot of potential for positivity.
But I digress. I'm putting my head down, I'm leaning into it. I'll either have one hell of a ride or I'll go out in a smoldering wreck of flames, and there's no better way to go.
Saturday, September 24, 2011
A rant as if my rant actually mattered (with some slight big boy language)
This blog post was inspired by a blog post written by my amazing sister. Who keeps up the most amazing, genuine, and truthful blog. http://erinsheffield.blogspot.com/2011/09/message-in-bottle.html
The concept and emergence of blogging and social media is a topic that I have always found somewhat interesting. I've never considered myself a part of the blogging world, I've only really done it to keep up with family members and friends a far. Blogging isn't really something I consider a big part of my day to day life, but you stumble upon any random blog and you don't have to go far to see the stereotypical projected image of perfection. The everyday crafty mormon mommy, the self proclaimed artistic fashion connoisseur, the amateur professional photographer, and the narcissistic opinion writer. All self marketed conceptions of how the blogger wants people to perceive themselves floating around on the interwebs for all to see. It baffles me when I see a blogger with hundreds of followers... all eager to hear about how such and such went to this coffeehouse today, bought this dress, crafted this project, and used this hair product. Hundreds and hundreds of people on a chain, waiting to live their life vicariously through this projected image of perfection, and a blogger at the end of it...seeking validation by providing this service to the hundreds and hundreds of people on their chain. Its an interesting concept. A world where everyone everywhere can be heard and admired.
But it is all kind of sad and shallow. A sick sad little world and I'd like to think it was something that I was above... but I'm not. I may not be a top notch avid blogger, but I do have a Facebook page. I have the self marketed embodiment of how I want my entire entity to be perceived all conveniently reduced to a sad single page for all of my "friends" to see. 446 friends to be exact... but these people aren't my friends. They aren't even my associates. I probably only have 9-10 good friends, and 20 people I associate with socially. Add another 20 people I associate with for work, and 20 members of my close and extended family. 10+20+20+20=446.
Its hard not to feel like a tool at times. Here is my page... here is the one picture I set as a "profile picture" that I think is the best picture that embodies how I want to be perceived. If you search my other pictures you will see some pictures of me in exotic places, as I want to give the perception that I am a diverse interesting human being who has traveled the world. Here is a picture of me playing guitar, that'll look good for the ladies. Here are pictures of me partying and having a good time with my friends....I should probably untag myself in the pictures of me during the summer I added a few extra pounds after an emotional breakup with a longtime girlfriend. Here are some videos from youtube of bands that I think are great, but you probably won't like them... you probably won't even play them... but for some reason I feel they are good representations of what kind of person I am and what my personality is, why else would I post them? Here is my school and work information... I am studying to be an engineer... I am "smart"... I am doing things with my life... I will have money and be a suitable partner for the opposite gender.
Just look at all the young Mormon wives who flaunt their husbands like possessions and keep their bridal pictures as their profile picture even two years after they've been married, as if that was the pinnacle event their existence has had to offer... but I digress.
...I would delete it all, but people you know who delete their facebooks tend to be emotionally volatile or kind of neurotic generally right? I don't want to give that "impression"... oh lord why do I even care about giving that impression? Colton you used to have it so together, where did you go wrong? You used to be about rock n roll and sticking it to the man... refusing to fit any mold... you read Thoreau's Walden and Emerson's essay on Self Reliance like its your Bible but you can't even delete your own Facebook page.
Truth is, life is hard. Life sucks sometimes. I work 30 hours a week at a part time job where I get paid peanuts for doing the same repetitive action day in and day out, 10 hours a week in my research lab where my superiors give me relatively unimportant projects just to keep me happy and where I have to pull in my own funding, and am taking 16 credit hours of demanding engineering coursework where 20% of my classmates are on prescription amphetamines and the professors are more concerned about their research and egos than your individual success or learning. That's 56 hours a week without studying and homework factored in. Damn that is crazy.
Truth is, I get depressed and discouraged at times. Truth is my day to day activity looks relatively the same. Truth is I may have traveled the world but all on Daddy's paycheck (who doesn't brag about his LEGITIMATE accomplishments and amazing feats on his facebook page). Truth is I get anxiety. Truth is I feel awkward talking to girls. Truth is I party and socialize with my friends... where I hear the same shitty songs played over and over again so loud that you can't have any sort of meaningful conversation and reintroduce myself to the same intoxicated people over and over again. "Maybe I should go up to my room and study or play guitar... no I don't want to be the 'recluse'"
Give me something that is real. "Dear blogging world, today kind of sucked." Instead of "lalala today the world was all flowers and sweets. I made these amazing cookies for my social gathering and they turned out so delicious. I am the perfect mormon mommy, there is nothing challenging about parenting at all because my children are completely perfect."
Give me something that is real. Damnit. Give me something past the marketed facade of your imaginary life. "Dear blogging world, today I chambered a round and put a gun in my mouth to blow away my neuronal activity known as my mind, I could taste the metal and gun oil on my tongue, but chickened out because of the thought of the recoil breaking my teeth." ....That would be a blog I would want to read --actually not really because that would be way too depressing haha-- but imagine 200 followers a day, thinking "damn... I thought my life was hard... I suddenly feel better about myself" instead of "I wish my life was more like Mormon Mommy Bot 3000"
Of course, I am being facetious.
Truth is, life is hard. I love it. I love my life. I would rather it be hard than live in a state of dull homeostasis. The day I am sitting in equilibrium with my surroundings is going to be the day I die and am in the casket rotting. Growing up you have this misconception that someday in your life you will suddenly "know" everything. After all your parents "know" everything. The lightbulb turns on and you will suddenly have it figured out, such as the notion you emerge from high school or college a developed fetus with no more things to learn and everything set in stone. Or the notion that "I'm married... life will be easy now" or "I have a job, life will be easy now". Life will constantly try to antagonize you. People will try to antagonize you. I REVEL in this antagonistic force. Bring it on.
Truth is, I work a whole lot and I am damn busy... but truth is, I am pulling it off just fine. I like to think that I'm doing it better than you could do it. Truth is, I get depressed or discouraged, but I get over it. Truth is, I feel awkward around girls, but I still date and talk to some pretty fine ladies and get by just swell. Truth is, my major can metaphorically be likened to consensual sodomy, but I am in the 70% percentile... which isn't too bad. Truth is I can be frustrated with my research lab, but there are still some really cool things going on in there and things I wouldn't otherwise be learning. Truth is, my friends listen to shitty music at parties but they are a smart and intelligent group and a great group of guys. I wouldn't trade my coalition for anything else.
Truth is life is hard, but it is hard for everybody.
Life is what it is. Take the ball and run with it.
As an after note, at times I wish we could go back to the 90's... preinternet days (along with fantastic music by the way). It is an interesting thought that upcoming generations will not know what it is like without internet. At times I feel frustrated with the idea of social media, but just as with life...I take the Ayn Rand approach and just acknowledge that it is what it is and its not going away.
The concept and emergence of blogging and social media is a topic that I have always found somewhat interesting. I've never considered myself a part of the blogging world, I've only really done it to keep up with family members and friends a far. Blogging isn't really something I consider a big part of my day to day life, but you stumble upon any random blog and you don't have to go far to see the stereotypical projected image of perfection. The everyday crafty mormon mommy, the self proclaimed artistic fashion connoisseur, the amateur professional photographer, and the narcissistic opinion writer. All self marketed conceptions of how the blogger wants people to perceive themselves floating around on the interwebs for all to see. It baffles me when I see a blogger with hundreds of followers... all eager to hear about how such and such went to this coffeehouse today, bought this dress, crafted this project, and used this hair product. Hundreds and hundreds of people on a chain, waiting to live their life vicariously through this projected image of perfection, and a blogger at the end of it...seeking validation by providing this service to the hundreds and hundreds of people on their chain. Its an interesting concept. A world where everyone everywhere can be heard and admired.
But it is all kind of sad and shallow. A sick sad little world and I'd like to think it was something that I was above... but I'm not. I may not be a top notch avid blogger, but I do have a Facebook page. I have the self marketed embodiment of how I want my entire entity to be perceived all conveniently reduced to a sad single page for all of my "friends" to see. 446 friends to be exact... but these people aren't my friends. They aren't even my associates. I probably only have 9-10 good friends, and 20 people I associate with socially. Add another 20 people I associate with for work, and 20 members of my close and extended family. 10+20+20+20=446.
Its hard not to feel like a tool at times. Here is my page... here is the one picture I set as a "profile picture" that I think is the best picture that embodies how I want to be perceived. If you search my other pictures you will see some pictures of me in exotic places, as I want to give the perception that I am a diverse interesting human being who has traveled the world. Here is a picture of me playing guitar, that'll look good for the ladies. Here are pictures of me partying and having a good time with my friends....I should probably untag myself in the pictures of me during the summer I added a few extra pounds after an emotional breakup with a longtime girlfriend. Here are some videos from youtube of bands that I think are great, but you probably won't like them... you probably won't even play them... but for some reason I feel they are good representations of what kind of person I am and what my personality is, why else would I post them? Here is my school and work information... I am studying to be an engineer... I am "smart"... I am doing things with my life... I will have money and be a suitable partner for the opposite gender.
Just look at all the young Mormon wives who flaunt their husbands like possessions and keep their bridal pictures as their profile picture even two years after they've been married, as if that was the pinnacle event their existence has had to offer... but I digress.
...I would delete it all, but people you know who delete their facebooks tend to be emotionally volatile or kind of neurotic generally right? I don't want to give that "impression"... oh lord why do I even care about giving that impression? Colton you used to have it so together, where did you go wrong? You used to be about rock n roll and sticking it to the man... refusing to fit any mold... you read Thoreau's Walden and Emerson's essay on Self Reliance like its your Bible but you can't even delete your own Facebook page.
Truth is, life is hard. Life sucks sometimes. I work 30 hours a week at a part time job where I get paid peanuts for doing the same repetitive action day in and day out, 10 hours a week in my research lab where my superiors give me relatively unimportant projects just to keep me happy and where I have to pull in my own funding, and am taking 16 credit hours of demanding engineering coursework where 20% of my classmates are on prescription amphetamines and the professors are more concerned about their research and egos than your individual success or learning. That's 56 hours a week without studying and homework factored in. Damn that is crazy.
Truth is, I get depressed and discouraged at times. Truth is my day to day activity looks relatively the same. Truth is I may have traveled the world but all on Daddy's paycheck (who doesn't brag about his LEGITIMATE accomplishments and amazing feats on his facebook page). Truth is I get anxiety. Truth is I feel awkward talking to girls. Truth is I party and socialize with my friends... where I hear the same shitty songs played over and over again so loud that you can't have any sort of meaningful conversation and reintroduce myself to the same intoxicated people over and over again. "Maybe I should go up to my room and study or play guitar... no I don't want to be the 'recluse'"
Give me something that is real. "Dear blogging world, today kind of sucked." Instead of "lalala today the world was all flowers and sweets. I made these amazing cookies for my social gathering and they turned out so delicious. I am the perfect mormon mommy, there is nothing challenging about parenting at all because my children are completely perfect."
Give me something that is real. Damnit. Give me something past the marketed facade of your imaginary life. "Dear blogging world, today I chambered a round and put a gun in my mouth to blow away my neuronal activity known as my mind, I could taste the metal and gun oil on my tongue, but chickened out because of the thought of the recoil breaking my teeth." ....That would be a blog I would want to read --actually not really because that would be way too depressing haha-- but imagine 200 followers a day, thinking "damn... I thought my life was hard... I suddenly feel better about myself" instead of "I wish my life was more like Mormon Mommy Bot 3000"
Of course, I am being facetious.
Truth is, life is hard. I love it. I love my life. I would rather it be hard than live in a state of dull homeostasis. The day I am sitting in equilibrium with my surroundings is going to be the day I die and am in the casket rotting. Growing up you have this misconception that someday in your life you will suddenly "know" everything. After all your parents "know" everything. The lightbulb turns on and you will suddenly have it figured out, such as the notion you emerge from high school or college a developed fetus with no more things to learn and everything set in stone. Or the notion that "I'm married... life will be easy now" or "I have a job, life will be easy now". Life will constantly try to antagonize you. People will try to antagonize you. I REVEL in this antagonistic force. Bring it on.
Truth is, I work a whole lot and I am damn busy... but truth is, I am pulling it off just fine. I like to think that I'm doing it better than you could do it. Truth is, I get depressed or discouraged, but I get over it. Truth is, I feel awkward around girls, but I still date and talk to some pretty fine ladies and get by just swell. Truth is, my major can metaphorically be likened to consensual sodomy, but I am in the 70% percentile... which isn't too bad. Truth is I can be frustrated with my research lab, but there are still some really cool things going on in there and things I wouldn't otherwise be learning. Truth is, my friends listen to shitty music at parties but they are a smart and intelligent group and a great group of guys. I wouldn't trade my coalition for anything else.
Truth is life is hard, but it is hard for everybody.
Life is what it is. Take the ball and run with it.
As an after note, at times I wish we could go back to the 90's... preinternet days (along with fantastic music by the way). It is an interesting thought that upcoming generations will not know what it is like without internet. At times I feel frustrated with the idea of social media, but just as with life...I take the Ayn Rand approach and just acknowledge that it is what it is and its not going away.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Final stretch
I have two-three weeks left before finals and I'm looking down the final stretch of my craziest semester yet. 18-19 credits of difficult classes plus 15-20 hours a week at a lab a week are taking its toll haha. My eyesight is diminishing, my stomach and chest are getting flabbier, and my wrists are slightly carpal tunnel-ish... BUT I am doing well in my classes. I am feeling happy and good about life despite being so busy. The one thing that surprises me is how well I am doing in my Physics 2 class. I haven't gone to lecture or discussion since February. I just cram and do as many problems a week before the exam and I'm getting 15-20 points above the curve on every exam. Part of me feels bad because I actually would like to know the material... but I am way too busy in my other classes to fully devote myself... and the other part of me feels like I am cheating death in a way. I just hope it doesn't come up to bite me in the rear if I don't do as well on the final or something.
I am signed up for a few classes this summer. I have to take statistics. If I take it from the bioengineering department instead of the Math department I get to take two less track engineering courses than I would otherwise be required to take...which is almost a no-brainer-like decision... BUT every single person who has taken the bioengineering statistics course has strongly advised me to avoid it based on 1: the teacher does not know the material, 2: your GPA will suffer, and 3: you will not learn statistics. Therefore, it has been decided that I, Colton J******, will be taking statistics from the Math Department this summer as opposed to the Bioengineering dept. (I hope the Bioengineering Dept. stumbles upon this and makes the appropriate changes.) As an engineer/hopeful M.D, statistics will be valuable to me when I conduct research, so I would rather learn it now while I am in school.
Work is going well. Out of discretion for the people who donate their bodies to science, I don't really feel comfortable blogging specifics about what I do, but I am tasked with processing and dissecting body tissues for experiments. It has been a very interesting and educational experience! With the government shutdown, part of our lab may be getting shut down, so it'll be interesting to see what happens. But I was tasked with designing and constructing a table for a large 200+ pound saw out of material we have around lab, so I'll have something to do. I'm building it out of this stuff called 80/20, its like an industrial grade aluminum erector set... should be a good project.
I've been trying to get into some philosophy in my spare time. I've been reading Thoreau and Emerson, Gailbraith, Veblen. Recently I've been delving into some Nietzche. Interesting guy. We read some of The Geneology of Morals in one of my classes. It was a good book, I'd like to read the rest of it sometime.
I've been trying to get into some philosophy in my spare time. I've been reading Thoreau and Emerson, Gailbraith, Veblen. Recently I've been delving into some Nietzche. Interesting guy. We read some of The Geneology of Morals in one of my classes. It was a good book, I'd like to read the rest of it sometime.
Monday, February 21, 2011
craziness
Its been a pretty crazy past couple of weeks. My days have honestly been one big blur of waking up early, going to school, going to work, going back to school for a lab/study session, getting back around midnight or writing up lab reports till 2 in the morning, and repeat...but I am doing well in my classes so far! I got a 104 out of 112 on my organic chemistry exam, and a 90 out of 100 on my biomaterials exam. Only 12 kids in the class got in the nineties on the biomaterials exam, and there are some pretty dang smart kids in there so it felt good to do so well. The professor was calling out names for everyone to pick up their exams, and when I grabbed my exam he told me he was impressed with my essay response and that I did a good job. Cool!
I feel in the zone when it comes to my coursework. The only class I am not doing fantastic in is Physics...but I'm not doing bad by any means.
I have acquired a lab position! Finally! The doctor was very pessimistic and skeptical in the interview and it didn't seem like I was going to have any chance at the position, but he said he would try me out "ONLY" because I had previous experience haha (Thank you Val!). He also informed me that if I sucked he would let me go but that comes with the nature of any job I suppose so it didn't really shake me up at all.
The position has been interesting and educational so far. On my first day of work I was tasked with helping to "rearrange a freezer". The freezer they were talking about was full of human legs! They informed me what was in the freezer beforehand but my heart still skipped a beat when I opened it up. I felt like I was Dexter Morgan for a second moving around plastic wrapped body parts. Granted the tone is very serious and respectful though, as these were donated by people for scientific purposes.
I am excited I get to gain exposure to dissecting body parts and help prepare them for various orthopedic testing (stress/strain type of stuff). I also prepare any body tissue/part for the crematory after we are done running the tests by removing any sort of implant or screws we may place in them. The other day I dissected the L5 and sacrum out of a chunk of back. Very cool and very educational. Tomorrow I'll be dissecting some shoulders.
It is a relief to have a little more stability in my day to day schedule.. although a 15 hour lab position makes 18 credits all the more difficult. My major is cool, my job is cool, my life is cool... just a tad bit busy I guess. I don't really have anything to complain about.
I've taken a liking towards the writings of Thoreau. Here is a small excerpt, and although it is random and really has nothing to do with anything I have written about in this post I figured I'd share and close with it rather than just post it later.
I feel in the zone when it comes to my coursework. The only class I am not doing fantastic in is Physics...but I'm not doing bad by any means.
I have acquired a lab position! Finally! The doctor was very pessimistic and skeptical in the interview and it didn't seem like I was going to have any chance at the position, but he said he would try me out "ONLY" because I had previous experience haha (Thank you Val!). He also informed me that if I sucked he would let me go but that comes with the nature of any job I suppose so it didn't really shake me up at all.
The position has been interesting and educational so far. On my first day of work I was tasked with helping to "rearrange a freezer". The freezer they were talking about was full of human legs! They informed me what was in the freezer beforehand but my heart still skipped a beat when I opened it up. I felt like I was Dexter Morgan for a second moving around plastic wrapped body parts. Granted the tone is very serious and respectful though, as these were donated by people for scientific purposes.
I am excited I get to gain exposure to dissecting body parts and help prepare them for various orthopedic testing (stress/strain type of stuff). I also prepare any body tissue/part for the crematory after we are done running the tests by removing any sort of implant or screws we may place in them. The other day I dissected the L5 and sacrum out of a chunk of back. Very cool and very educational. Tomorrow I'll be dissecting some shoulders.
It is a relief to have a little more stability in my day to day schedule.. although a 15 hour lab position makes 18 credits all the more difficult. My major is cool, my job is cool, my life is cool... just a tad bit busy I guess. I don't really have anything to complain about.
I've taken a liking towards the writings of Thoreau. Here is a small excerpt, and although it is random and really has nothing to do with anything I have written about in this post I figured I'd share and close with it rather than just post it later.
"I think that we may safely trust a good deal more than we do. We may waive just so much care of ourselves as we honestly bestow elsewhere. Nature is as well adapted to our weaknesses as to our strength. The incessant anxiety and strain of some is a well-nigh incurable form of disease. We are made to exaggerate the importance of what work we do; and yet how much is not done by us! or, what if we had been taken sick? How vigilant we are! determined not to live by faith if we can avoid it; all the day long on the alert, at night we unwillingly say our prayers and commit ourselves to uncertainties. So thoroughly and sincerely are we compelled to live, reverencing our life, and denying the possibility of change. This is the only way, we say; but there are as many ways as there can be drawn radii from one center. All change is a miracle to contemplate; but it is a miracle which is taking place every instant."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
woo
104/112 on my O chem two exam, and 90/100 on my senior level Biomaterials class exam. So far so good.
Friday, January 28, 2011
So Busy continued
My roommates attempted the 11 challenge the other day, I was not in attendance because I've been so busy. For those of you who don't know, the 11 challenge is this food challenge at this buffalo wing joint here in SLC called "The Wing Coop". Now I've never been to Buffalo, New York, but the Wing Coop's wings are the best damn wings I've ever tried haha. They have a whole spectrum of sauces to choose from, traditional sauces, sweet sauces, spicy sauces. My favorite being the "intermediate" sauce and "loco lime" sauce. Mmmm.
Anyways, at the top of the spectrum are their spiciest sauces. The very spiciest being the "11 sauce". Its pretty much a concentrated habanero sauce, similar to Dave's insanity sauce if you have ever tried that but a few heads higher in the spicy scale.
For the 11 challenge you have to eat 11 '11 sauced' wings in 11 minutes, and doing so you get a t-shirt and your picture on the wall.
Its one thing to try a spoonful or toothpick of a spicy sauce, but a whole different thing to eat 11 wings drenched in the sauce. I tried the challenge about a year ago and found myself on the brink of passing out. I got 5 wings in and then my body started rejecting anything I put down. The spiciness is not just a mental thing... its physical and my body had had enough. I have a couple friends who have managed to pull it off though.
So anyways, the wing coop manager decided to up the anty with the 11 sauce, and now makes it with ghost peppers instead of habaneros. Ghost peppers rank around 850,000 scovilles (Tabasco sauce is 2000 scovilles) and it is the 3rd hottest pepper in the world behind the Naga Viper and the Dorset Naga. About 100-200 people have completed the old 11 sauce challenge... but as to date no one has completed it with the new ghost pepper sauce.
My roommates got 5 wings in, and have been lying around in discomfort for the past two days. Needless to say, I think they've lost their aspiration to keep eating spicy foods. I made a pork curry last night with rice, and put a small small small small amount of the 11 sauce in it (probably like 1/4 of a teaspoon?). The curry is hot! but has still retained its flavor. Its pretty good actually, I don't know if I'll ever try the 11 challenge again though, the human body isn't meant to eat that amount of something that spicy.
Anyways, at the top of the spectrum are their spiciest sauces. The very spiciest being the "11 sauce". Its pretty much a concentrated habanero sauce, similar to Dave's insanity sauce if you have ever tried that but a few heads higher in the spicy scale.
For the 11 challenge you have to eat 11 '11 sauced' wings in 11 minutes, and doing so you get a t-shirt and your picture on the wall.
Its one thing to try a spoonful or toothpick of a spicy sauce, but a whole different thing to eat 11 wings drenched in the sauce. I tried the challenge about a year ago and found myself on the brink of passing out. I got 5 wings in and then my body started rejecting anything I put down. The spiciness is not just a mental thing... its physical and my body had had enough. I have a couple friends who have managed to pull it off though.
So anyways, the wing coop manager decided to up the anty with the 11 sauce, and now makes it with ghost peppers instead of habaneros. Ghost peppers rank around 850,000 scovilles (Tabasco sauce is 2000 scovilles) and it is the 3rd hottest pepper in the world behind the Naga Viper and the Dorset Naga. About 100-200 people have completed the old 11 sauce challenge... but as to date no one has completed it with the new ghost pepper sauce.
My roommates got 5 wings in, and have been lying around in discomfort for the past two days. Needless to say, I think they've lost their aspiration to keep eating spicy foods. I made a pork curry last night with rice, and put a small small small small amount of the 11 sauce in it (probably like 1/4 of a teaspoon?). The curry is hot! but has still retained its flavor. Its pretty good actually, I don't know if I'll ever try the 11 challenge again though, the human body isn't meant to eat that amount of something that spicy.
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