Truman

I just got done my tax exam. My right hand feels much like my legs did after the marathon; a little numb and quite worn. It was my third typed exam in law school. My school is a little behind the times. The good news is, I feel like it went well. My first laptop exam, on the other hand really did not.

I know you think to yourself, how hard can an open book exam be? Well, I learned that open book exams are all about organization. The trick is the time crunch. Things need to be tabbed, easy to find and then click, click, click. However, in my first year, on my first laptop exam, I just froze. Completely froze. I couldn't remember anything and I couldn't find anything, I couldn't even think of anything coherent to say. All I could do was panic. It was horrible...and my worst final grade for a class in my entire life (hopefully).

Tonight, I had a little pang of remembrance. There was a woman seated in front of me who, as it turns out was from the business school. This was clearly her first law school exam because she didn't know she was supposed to have her exam number. The poor girl had the same experience I did my first year. She just panicked. Near the end of the exam I could see her hands shaking. She hardly wrote anything. She had my empathy.

Honestly, the exam wasn't hard on law school standards but if you'd never taken one before, it could be horrible. First of all, the teachers tend to focus on the random exceptions that they never really focused on in class. So you think you know everything and bam - the first question worth 40% of your final grade for the class is all about some obscure thing you can hardly remember being mentioned. Second, there are generally "wrinkles" to every problem. Meaning that at first glance, it looks like a very obvious such and such problem. Then you think about it for a second and realized that no - it is actually such and such an issue. Then you think about it again and realize it is some weird hybrid of laws. Then you write your answer.

The sad experience for a lot of first years is when they walk away thinking - I totally aced that. I slam dunked all of the questions. Then they get their grade - C. Yup, all that means is they missed the wrinkles. Well, I can only hope I didn't miss anything major tonight. You never really can tell till the grades come out. My policy: what is done is done. I don't like to talk much about actual questions post exams. I always think I did horrible.

The truth of the matter is, and Cindy can verify this, you still turn the questions over and over in your head for days after. It is almost subconscious. Sometimes I'll find myself in a panic in the ensuing days post exams thinking - OH NO!! I totally missed that issue. And then sometimes I'll think - oh...no I didn't miss it.

Well, the good news is that Truman, my little tax man from the exam, has died. Hopefully never to return....except for in my nightmares where he will resurrect with issues I didn't spot on the exam.

Top 11 Reasons Why Traveling is Beneficial

I've wanted to post this old e-mail for a while. It summarizes why I think it is important to travel. I wrote it in April or May of 2005 after returning from Thailand.

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I know, I know, I have been back for over a month and I am finally sending out my promised snapshots of Thailand. By now a majority of you have been subjected to the long version of this attachment with the lengthy explanation. But here are a few screen savers for you and if you are interested in more, let me know.

Otherwise, the remainder of this e-mail is dedicated to the top
reasons why I think it is beneficial to travel. I have been thinking
this list up for a bit now so if you have the patience for it, read
on.

1) My greatest motivation for traveling is that one can be inspired by the great things of the world. It can enlighten your perspectives and ennoble the mind. It can lift your mind and soul to higher and greater levels.

2) Man was made to learn from their own experience. Although reading can teach you quite a bit about the world, there is no greater teacher than the personal experience of being there.

3) This experience in different places and countries can increase
empathy towards others that we might not be able to otherwise relate to.

4) This experience and increased empathy can help us gain a greater love for people in other places. This can keep us from generalizing, stereotyping, and 'othering'. It increases a feeling of connectedness with humanity and helps us better live one of the highest commandments to "love one another".

5) It increases our knowledge and understanding of geography,
sociology, and history (and often times architecture and languages as well as international relations if you are traveling abroad).

6) Knowledge is a critical part of fully exercising our free agency. The more wisdom and knowledge we gain the better able we are to exercise our agency.

7) The world was created for our edification and enjoyment. The Lord literally created the earth to be pleasing to the eye and to gladden the heart. Why not appreciate His work.

8) I cite Doctrine and Covenants 88:78-79 "
Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain unto the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand;
Of things both in heaven and in the earth, and under the earth; things which have been, things which are, things which must shortly• come to pass; things which are at home, things which are abroad; the wars and the perplexities of the nations, and the judgments which are on the land; and a knowledge also of countries and of kingdoms—

9) Man is that he might have joy. All I can say is that the pure
anticipation of going somewhere new is enough to keep me happy for months...although I recognize that not everyone feels that way...

10) The more you get out of your comfort zone, the easier it is to do it in the future. The broader your comfort zone, the wider the range of possibilities of what you can do with your life.

11) One last thing, the people you meet are sooooo cool, and you get great screen savers.

Don't get me wrong. I believe the motivations behind what we do are crucial, obviously to ignore our responsibilities and frivolously travel isn't good, and I am not advocating that. However, odds are I've been trying to convince you to travel if you don't already. I hope this is persuasive.

Stud of the Month

In college we used to have a stud of the month award. It usually consisted of the most outstanding guy we could think of. We would stick his picture, (taken from the ward directory) blow it up, and stick it on our fridge with big wording announcing to the world that this was our stud of the month. Well, that is how it worked in theory. In reality, Will was "Stud of the Month" for almost an entire year. And to be honest, I wouldn't have changed it either. He was the studliest of all studs, the most helpful of all guys - he brought us boysenberry pie for crying out loud! If you needed anything, he was there. And not just for our apartment, but for everyone. It wasn't until I served a mission that his constant attitude of service made any sense to me.

Well, why let an old tradition die right? The stud of the month for this month is a bit more abstract than the ones we had in college because...I've never met him. But he has been nominated by a one person committee for a reason; he is an entrepreneur. He dreams it, he makes it happen.

His father, Gary Neeleman was a tenant of ours in the company I used to work for. I LOVED visiting his space because he and his wife were such neat people and so cool to talk to. They spoke Spanish and traveled all over (this is noted in the article as well). His father worked for the associated press. The thing that really impressed me about their family is this entrepreneurialness (and yes, I realize I made that word up). His brother started an insurance company. When you get a whole family of entrepreneurial people I start to wonder if there is something in the way the family functions that breeds kids like this? The extent of what they do does not end there. My old roommate Cynthia used to work for Jetblue. My sister Ginette worked for Zion Ponderosa, a get-away close to Zion National Park - also started by one of these Neelemans, (David I think). Anyway, to find entrepreneurs is a rare breed and the Neelemans seem to have a whole bunch of them in their family. But today I highlight David Neeleman in particular as "Stud of the Month", (see attached article for details).

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/27/business/27cnd-air.html?ex=1364356800&en=1ed3ceaa4ca0de35&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

A Runner's High

Finally, I have a study which backs up what I have experienced for years. I am interested in anyone's thoughts on this. It is no secret that I've been running for years, since high school. I did a pretty intense run yesterday and I LOVED it. Some of my friends claim that they get nothing but pain from running. I have no reason to doubt this. I had some serious knee problems when I was training for my marathon. I really do understand how it might not be enjoyable. But obviously, for those of us who do run, there must be something that motivates us to keep running. For those of you who don't run, perhaps you'll find this motivating.

Runner's High

Anyone Up For a Trip to New York for a Little "Experiment"?

You Are An ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. In love, you are very protective and supporting. However, you do need to "feel special" - and it's quite easy for you to get jealous. At work, you are a natural leader. You can help people discover their greatest potential. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist. How you see yourself: Trusting, idealistic, and expressive When other people don't get you, they see you as: Bossy, inappropriate, and loud

What's Your Personality Type?

My analysis: I agree with most of this, although there are so many different ways to classify a person. I am outgoing at church and reserved at school so the personal connection thing could apply or not apply depending on the setting. I can be outright abrasive with people sometimes but my general mode de vie is harmonious, in my opinion. Others may feel differently. I really have little reason to believe that I am a jealous person. But then again, I have generally dated guys who were great at giving me a lot of security that they cared about me. Perhaps if I had not dated such kind people I'd feel differently. I am not sure I see myself as trusting, but definitely idealistic and expressive. I could be wrong, but I don't think many people see me as inappropriate (but bossy and loud...I can see it.)

Let's Have a Little Chat About Tweetle Beetles: A Tribute to Dr. Seuss

Today is Dr. Seuss's birthday. He would be 108 if he were still alive. (He died in 1991, in case you were wondering.) I am sure I am not the only one who fell in love with his anapestic tetrameter before I had a clue what meter, rhyme, and poems really were. Many of us grew up enjoying the reading The Cat in the Hat before we could actually read fast enough to twist our tongues with the alliteration. In high school, I fell in love with and memorized the poem about tweetle beetles; one of my many quarks. My favorite graduation book is Oh the Places You'll Go. I love Sueuss's unique illustrations. The wisdom and life lessons behind the sneeches, the North going Zax and the South going Zax, the Grinch are ones I much appreciate.

I suppose my nostalgic connection to Dr. Seuss grew when one summer I was perusing through my great-grandmother's book collection, I found the book You're Only Old Once. I loved the way he could poke humor at aging. (My second-favorite Dr. Seuss poem is the one about all of the pills old people take.) While I was flipping through the book, my great-grandmother told me that my great-grandfather went to school with him.

With that said, my school sent out an e-mail for volunteers to help with a readership program in celebration of Dr. Seuss's birthday. They sent me a biological sketch and instructed me to share a Dr. Seuss book of my choice with the children. I was able to verify that my great-grandfather overlapped with Dr. Seuss by a year at Dartmouth College. Great-grandpa Folger did an instructorship the year that Dr. Seuss started college.

My respect for the genius of Dr. Seuss has grown even more after a short google search about him. He was really a man who cared about children's reading abilities.

At the same time, an important development occurred that influenced much of Seuss' later work. In May 1954, Life magazine published a report on illiteracy among school children, which concluded that children were not learning to read because their books were boring. Accordingly, Seuss' publisher made up a list of 400 words he felt were important and asked Dr. Seuss to cut the list to 250 words and write a book using only those words. Nine months later, Seuss, using 220 of the words given to him, completed The Cat in the Hat. This book was a tour de force—it retained the drawing style, verse rhythms, and all the imaginative power of Seuss' earlier works, but because of its simplified vocabulary could be read by beginning readers. A rumor exists,that in 1960, Bennett Cerf bet Dr. Seuss $50 that he couldn't write an entire book using only fifty words. The result was supposedly Green Eggs and Ham. The additional rumor that Cerf never paid Seuss the $50 has never been proven and is most likely untrue. These books achieved significant international success and remain very popular.
(Wikipedia)

Dr. Seuss's family immigrated from Germany. The German pronounciation of Seuss is "zoice". Dr. Seuss has been quoted as saying "Seuss -- rhymes with voice". His other pen names were Theo and LeSieg (Geisel spelled backwards) for books he wrote but others illustrated. (Wikipedia)

With that I will share my second-favorite Dr. Seuss poem. Please feel free to share yours.

This small white pill is what I munch
at breakfast and right after lunch.
I take the pill that's kelly green
before each meal and in between.
These logan berry-colored pills
I take for early morning chills.
I take the pill with zebra stripes
to cure my early evening gripes.
These orange-tinted ones, of course,
I take to cure my charley horse
I take three blues at half past eight
to slow my exhalation rate.
On alternate night at nine p.m.
I swallow pinkies. Four of them.
The reds, which make my eyebrows strong,
I eat like popcorn all day long.
The speckled browns are what I keep
beside my bed to help me sleep.
This long flat one is what I take
If I should die before I wake.

You're Only Old Once! - By Dr. Seuss