Nerd Alert!

So I did something really nerdy, but I decided that I still want you all to know about it.  There’s no point pretending I’m not a nerd at heart.  I started a “word of the day” blog where I will be choosing the words.  I explain my reasons and methods on the blog so just visit it.  It’s okay if you don’t love it.  I’m a bit of a word nerd and this is the sort of hobby that word nerds engage in.  And Boggle.  Boggle’s great.

Peter Recommends…

This is a quick note to recommend a remarkable book I recently finished reading: Watchmen.  It’s a graphic novel that was originally released as a series of 12 monthly issues in the mid ’80s.  It is the story of a handful of masked, non-super heroes and the world-changing events that bring their lives back together after years of being apart.  It has since been released as a single, compiled volume.  It has been regaining popularity due to its being made into a major motion picture.  And it is awesome.  

This, for me, is my first, real foray into the world of graphic novels and, frankly, I’m impressed.  It was fascinating to see how much the medium could contribute to the story.  There is symbolism everywhere and it really enriches the story and the experience of the reader.  And it’s all done in a way that could not be done in any other literary medium.  Few books have engrossed me so completely.  I found myself flipping back and forth through the novel as I recognized different symbols and references that related to earlier parts.  It was fun to see how many connections I could find and to try to understand the meaning behind every panel.  I really gained a new appreciation for the genre.  Although, I also worry that because of its high quality no other graphic novel will measure up to this one.  If anyone knows of other graphic novels of this calibre, please let me know.

Now, I imagine that some of you, upon hearing the words “graphic novel,” may have a thought sequence something like this: graphic novel = comic book = something only nerdy recluses read.  While nerdy recluses may, indeed, read graphic novels, I think it would be a terrible shame for a piece of literature as remarkable as this one to be ignored by everyone else.  As I understand it, it is the only graphic novel ever to win the Hugo Award and it is one of Time Magazine’s 100 best novels.  I recommend that you look it up on wikipedia or something.  Understanding a little of its background will go a long way in helping you appreciate it.  This is one book definitely worth reading, even at the risk of feeling a little nerdy.

I Realized Something On The Way To Work Today

So the place where I work is kind of remote and as I was driving to work today I was thinking and taking in the scenery around me and I had a sort of “duh, this place is pretty different than what I’m used to” moment.  I mean, I see the same stuff every day on my way to work and I know that Southern California and Canada have one or two differences but today I guess I lumped it all together and realized “hey, this place is pretty unique.”  Maybe I never really thought about it before because I’m used to moving around so much.  But my point is that on my way to work I see all sorts of things that you wouldn’t see (or would rarely see) in Canada and it made me chuckle to myself at the realization.

The first thing that I encounter on my way to work that you rarely see in Canada (at least western Canada) is an interstate that is anywhere between 4 and 6 lanes wide.  I think that highways in Canada rarely make it past 3 lanes.  At least where I’ve lived.  I remember when I arrived in my mission and we were driving from the airport to the mission home I was pretty amazed and intimidated at the size of the freeways.

Another thing that I see on my way to work is a vineyard, it offers wine tasting and everything.  Vineyards look pretty cool, they’re like a kind of green upholstery on the gentle hills.  It’s just a shame that all they’re there for is to make wine.

 

Another thing I see is a palm tree farm.  I’ve seen tree farms before.  I used to walk by one on my way to my bus stop as a kid.  But in Canada it’s always evergreens; christmas trees.  So seeing row after row of palms and so many different varieties of palms is a reminder that I’m definitely in southern California.

Another thing I see is an ostrich farm.  I’ve seen ostrich farms in Canada, but they’re rare.  And I’ll be honest, to me, an ostrich farm seems much less out of place in southern California.

 

 

Another thing I see are multiple orange groves; one of them is even right across the road from where I work.  Again, I’ve seen groves of fruit trees before, but usually apple trees.  So hundreds of orange trees, with all their tropical connotations, also serve as a reminder that I may be somewhere other than Canada.

 

Another thing that says to me “you’re not in Canada anymore” is that there are regular rattlesnake sightings around the place where I work.  Rattlesnakes are scary.  I grew up chasing harmless garter snakes in ditches.  Rattlesnakes are scary.

 

 

And one last difference I’ve noticed, both on the way to and from work and pretty much anytime I go outside, is that it’s sunny all the freakin’ time!  (This is where I stick out my tongue at all the sun-lovers who are stuck in Canada)  The temperature is also so warm all the time.  Since I am predisposed to sweat a lot, I have yet to decide whether I’ll get sick of the warmth or not.  But every time I go outside shirtless and feel the sun’s rays massaging my man-curves, I think to myself, “I can live with this.”

In-N-Out Me!

I’m not sure how many of you know about the culinary miracle of fast food that is In-N-Out, but if you haven’t already tasted its heavenly manna consider this my recommendation to you to get acquainted with it.  The fact that it only exists in California and Nevada shouldn’t be considered more than a minor obstacle.  Put it on your list of things to do before you die or, better yet, things to do this year.

As much as I love In-N-Out, the reason I felt the need to write something about it tonight is that I feel like I am developing a bit of an In-N-Out problem – an addiction, if you will.  For the last month I’ve eaten at In-N-Out about 4 times a week.  This could easily escalate and quickly become both a financial problem and a health problem.  Although there may be potential as an In-N-Out spokesperson or sponsorships, I think the cost may outweigh the benefits here.  The problem is exacerbated by the fact that there is an In-N-Out right outside Barnes & Noble where I work so it is the first thing I see when I finish a shift at 10pm and my tummy is talking to me.

But you’ll all be pleased to know that I’ve taken the first step and admitted that, yes, I have a problem.  I will now be pleading to the powers that be for help in refraining from partaking in my vice – which I might begin calling “Sin-N-Out”.  One thing that should work in my favor is that my last day of work at Barnes & Noble is this Saturday and that should help remove some of the immediate temptation.

But let me be clear on one thing, I’m not planning on quitting In-N-Out cold turkey.  And I don’t think I’ll ever completely eliminate it.  I’m not that strong.  But I’m planning on reducing my intake to something more manageable and with milder consequences – maybe once or twice a week.  So here’s to moderation in all things In-N-Out.  Wish me luck my faithful readers!  ;)

A Woman Offered Her Daughter To Me Today

So I was working at Barnes & Noble tonight just doing my same old customer service thing when I’m called to the front to gift wrap some books for a lady.  I didn’t do a very good job; I measured the paper wrong and took way too long to finish it all up.  But somewhere along the line I made an impression on this lady.  It might have been my charming sense of humor or my disarming good looks (probably both), but when I handed her the wrapped books she said to me “Do you have a girlfriend?  Because my daughter…” and she left it hanging like that.  I told her no, I didn’t have a girlfriend.  Then she said, “maybe I shouldn’t because she’s leaving for college soon.”  And I told her that I would wait and she should send her my way when she gets back.  She smiled at me as she left, as if to say “farewell, future son-in-law.”  :)  And that’s my story of how I was offered someone’s own daughter.  Sweet, eh?  Talk about flattering.

A Eulogy for Eugene (A Eulogene)

A few weeks ago while in San Francisco some friends and I witnessed the brave struggle and tragic demise of a poor soul we were privileged to meet.  I promised then that I would eulogize his life and legacy.  His name was Eugene and he was a sea lion.  

When I first met Eugene I was in the company of friends at the Fisherman’s Wharf at the San Francisco Bay.  The stench of sea water and sea lion feces clung to our nostrils as we observed a content throng of sea lions basking on the docks.  Some of them were battling over a section of dock.  Others filled the air with the cacophonous sound of their baying.  Most of them, though, simply laid on the docks soaking up the morning sun.  It was a memorable scene.  

It was from the midst of this host of sea lions that we saw emerge a young, solitary sea lion, smaller than the others.  He swam alone, apparently content not to be a part of the shiftless multitude nearby.  His antisocial tendencies led us to christen him Eugene, that being the name that we thought best typified the quintessential social outcast.  

With our new friend named we felt a renewed affection for him and began to watch his every movement.  We came to understand that little Eugene, while happy to be on his own, wanted a section of dock to bask on nonetheless.  We watched in empathic frustration as Eugene discovered that he simply did not have the strength to ascend the unoccupied sections of the dock.  But to his credit, Eugene did not give up.  Time after time he would jump from the water only to smack his head on the dock and slip back into the water.  

Try after try, failure after failure, the unsinkable Eugene continued.  We found ourselves cheering him on from our vantage point, unable to offer any more assistance than our excited words of encouragement.  Our fates had somehow become intertwined with that of this indomitable young mammal in his moment of struggle.  Yet we could only watch – silently, fervently hoping that Eugene would achieve his goal.

Then, after one particularly painful-looking failure to launch himself atop the dock, Eugene slipped below the water never to surface again.  At first we couldn’t believe it.  What twisted sort of natural order would allow such utter failure after such intense and inspiring effort!  We all held our breath, hoping against hope that he would come back up once more to continue his quest.  But we hoped in vain.  The young sea lion’s time had come and there was little we could do to change the march of destiny.  

So it was with heavy hearts that we left the docks that day.  We felt both blessed and saddened to have seen transpire such epic struggle and catastrophic loss.  But what we saw that day will live on with us in our hearts and in the words of praise and devotion to a life lost too soon.  

Eugene was an example to us all – of courage, of determination, of perseverance and individuality.  We should all take a lesson from his life and death.  Eugene’s unique spirit led him to take on challenges and risks that were unappreciated by his peers.  Eugene’s failure to overcome those brine-soaked docks was not a failure at all.  Eugene persevered and won his victory in the effort.  He tried not because he thought he should, but because he thought he could.  

It is my hope that Eugene’s exemplary fortitude live on in the lives of those who knew him in life and that we all never forget what Eugene accomplished by his death.  Eugene, you will be missed.

 

 

P.S. – The above is meant to be satirical.  It will likely not seem as funny to anyone who was not present for the events described.  Please try to enjoy it anyway – as a piece of creative writing perhaps.  The sea lion, Eugene is probably not actually dead.  And for all we know Eugene could have been a girl.  Nevertheless, all other events occurred as described.  Some creative liberty may have been taken in describing the emotions felt by the observers, however. :)

Good Luck Canada!

I just wanted to give a quick shout out to the Canadian Olympic team.  Go Canada!  I wish I was a better athlete so I could represent Canada at the Olympics.  That would be so cool!  I’m really gonna miss being in Canada during the Olympics.  You can be sure that none of the TV stations down here are going to be keeping a Canadian medal count or televising Canadian athletes.  

Good luck Canada!  I love you!

Interesting People

So I was working at Barnes & Noble tonight and I got to thinking about some of the regulars that frequent the store.  Some of them are pretty interesting.  

There are the people who come in for hours at a time and leave bookmarks in the books they put back on the shelves.  Maybe that’s not too unusual, but I’ve never really thought of doing it.  There are the young asian kids who sit in the aisles and read manga for hours.  There are the young couples who sit in the sexuality aisle and make crude jokes as they peruse the kama sutra books.  And then there are the more shy ones who take the sex books to the kids section or the nature section to read them so they won’t get caught and then they re-shelve them afterward with the kids cookbooks or something crazy like that.  And there a few individuals that stand out as well.  One guy basically followed the female manager around the sales floor, pretending to browse but was actually just checking her out.  Kinda creepy.  Another guy with a fro comes in and wanders aimlessly around the store.  We think he might be a crook, but one day he came and submitted a job application, I think it was to throw us off his trail a bit.  

There are a couple of brothers (probably like 10 and 12 years old) I’ve seen in the store a few times that are just too smart for their own good.  Today they came in and they were trying to haggle prices of some encyclopedia-type books with me.  And one of them wanted to know where the latin dictionaries were because “school was starting soon and you know…”  Who is this kid?  Who needs a latin dictionary in middle school?  Then at the checkout he looks behind me at a copy of the DSM and says, reading the title, “the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Psychiatry.  Man, just reading the name of that book makes me want to have one.”  The funny thing is, if I hadn’t been so shy as a kid I might’ve sounded like that to other people (I’ll tell you a story about me in a sec).  

The last guy I want to mention is probably my favorite.  He comes in quite frequently and he will grab a handful of tattoo magazines, Tattoo, Tattoo Life, Savage, and he takes them somewhere in the store and quite often he will lie down on the floor and start reading his magazines.  And he talks to himself all the time.  Sometimes he’ll take a break from reading and just lie there looking thoughtfully at the ceiling and muttering to himself.  When he realizes you’ve seen him he says something like “God is amazing!” or “There are such beautiful things around us!” referring to the tattooed women he has been studying.  It’s actually sort of funny.  

So in all, kinda funny stuff.  But now I’m gonna get a little serious.  These people that I’m poking fun at here, I actually admire them in a way (except for the creep and the crook).  It brings a smile to my face to see people who are so obviously out of the norm, but also obviously quite comfortable with it.  I imagine it brings a sense of freedom with it that I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced before.  For better or for worse, I feel like I’ve lived my life trying to fit in.  And I can’t help but think what would be different if I had been more comfortable being a little out of the ordinary.  Maybe nothing.  Maybe I never was out of the ordinary or maybe people now think I’m out of the ordinary.  Either way, I see something in those people that seems liberating.  It makes me think.

And now, the story I wanted to tell.  Seeing those boys today who were too smart for their own good made me think back to a time when I was trying to be too smart for my own good.  When I was in about grade 5 I was browsing through the encyclopedia one day and I came across something utterly fascinating: the periodic table of the elements.  At the time, I had grand dreams of science and chemistry in my future and I thought this periodic table thing was right down my alley.  So I memorized which symbols went with which elements.  By grade 6 I knew what all the symbols stood for and I could list off almost half of them by memory.  I was always looking for the most up-to-date table that had the names of the most recently discovered elements so that I could memorize them, too.  In grade 8 wood shop I made a coat rack in the shape of the periodic table.  Somewhere along the line I learned that Marie Curie had discovered some elements and won the nobel prize and died and she became my hero.  I definitely had the makings of a know-it-all.  And that’s the story of my juvenile love affair with the periodic table of the elements.  Turns out I didn’t really go in that direction at all.  Oh well, I still know what all the symbols stand for. :)

An Update

So August is starting off as a bad month for blogging, too.  But I’m hoping to have a lot more time to dedicate to my blog soon.  I gave my notice at my Barnes & Noble job and I’m officially done there in a week and a day!  I decided that my life sucked too much cause I all I did was work.  Now I’m hoping to participate in some evening activities here and there and make some more friends and stuff.  Should be good.  Gonna play soccer and sing and date, maybe all at once.  Watch out!

My other job isn’t turning out the way I hoped it would.  I was hoping for some experience a little more directly related to my career plans.  Instead, I mostly read and clean all day.  A little disappointing.  And the pay is chicken feed.  On the other side of coin it does feel really good to be working with the kids that I work with.  It’s frustrating sometimes but I know I’m learning valuable things and connecting with the kids.  It’s always a good feeling to think that you might mean something to somebody else.  

So the way things are right now, I see myself staying with this job for a few more months and looking for something a little more helpful to my future in the meantime.  Not to mention writing the GRE and applying to grad school.  And hopefully I’ll start getting more sleep, too, with my other job out of the way.  When I’m rested I have more interesting things to say on my blog.  And I think that’ll be all for now.