I had a moment today. I was thinking about how many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there are in the world...not many in comparison to the whole. But I'm one of them. It's probably one of the most significant blessings in my life that I often overlook. It's amazing that of all the life styles I could have been born into, I was sent to this one. It's the same with any of you out there who are members as well. It was then that I realized the incredible obligation to share what I have. We all do a little here and a little there, we try to be good examples and show people that we really aren't so wierd. But I mean really share it. The world out there is intense, and I'm often afraid to be criticized and hated. But what is there to lose? There is only everything to be gained by those we share with. It's time to step up to the plate. I commend those of you, and there are a lot, who are already amazing and good at this (like my incredible husband). I don't want to go out and preach, especially to all the good people out there, but I have something so beyond amazing that needs to be shared to everyone and I want more than anything for them to have it and to feel what I have felt. I have the good word. I know a lot of people have started this, but I also want to do as Elder Ballard has asked and talk more about the church here on the blog...you never know when it might benefit some passerby. Maybe I'm the only one who needs this, but if anyone feels the same that's even better. So join with me, and let's do this thing.
Jun 29, 2008
One of the Few
I had a moment today. I was thinking about how many members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints there are in the world...not many in comparison to the whole. But I'm one of them. It's probably one of the most significant blessings in my life that I often overlook. It's amazing that of all the life styles I could have been born into, I was sent to this one. It's the same with any of you out there who are members as well. It was then that I realized the incredible obligation to share what I have. We all do a little here and a little there, we try to be good examples and show people that we really aren't so wierd. But I mean really share it. The world out there is intense, and I'm often afraid to be criticized and hated. But what is there to lose? There is only everything to be gained by those we share with. It's time to step up to the plate. I commend those of you, and there are a lot, who are already amazing and good at this (like my incredible husband). I don't want to go out and preach, especially to all the good people out there, but I have something so beyond amazing that needs to be shared to everyone and I want more than anything for them to have it and to feel what I have felt. I have the good word. I know a lot of people have started this, but I also want to do as Elder Ballard has asked and talk more about the church here on the blog...you never know when it might benefit some passerby. Maybe I'm the only one who needs this, but if anyone feels the same that's even better. So join with me, and let's do this thing.
Jun 27, 2008
less is more.
Behold the beauty of simplicity.
I never thought I'd ever love anything that came out of France... but here I am with a Peugeot track bike. A super bike guru in my research group sold it to me for a great deal. It's gonna be the death of me. It has a fixed gear so anytime the wheel is turning, the pedals are too. You stop by pedaling backwards. I do have one front brake just in case I wuss out though.
No more coasting or standing up to jump over a bump, no sir. That'll buck you right off. Plus, since the pedals are always turning you can't take too sharp of turns or your downstroke will hit the ground and prop up your back tire sending you for a surprise!
It's a beauty though and I can't stay off it!
I never thought I'd ever love anything that came out of France... but here I am with a Peugeot track bike. A super bike guru in my research group sold it to me for a great deal. It's gonna be the death of me. It has a fixed gear so anytime the wheel is turning, the pedals are too. You stop by pedaling backwards. I do have one front brake just in case I wuss out though.
No more coasting or standing up to jump over a bump, no sir. That'll buck you right off. Plus, since the pedals are always turning you can't take too sharp of turns or your downstroke will hit the ground and prop up your back tire sending you for a surprise!
It's a beauty though and I can't stay off it!
Jun 19, 2008
Not only do I enjoy lying to children...
but I also like lying to our office secretary. Here's how the conversation went.
Vicky, the secretary, walks in holding the name plack from the office door
Vicky: "Vincent Kispersky? You're not Vincent Kispersky. Time to update your plack. Is just Taylor Sparks OK?"
Taylor: "What else would I put?" (somewhat confused)
Vicky: "Well, I wondered if you had a middle initial or middle name you wanted."
Taylor: "Oh ya, middle name Awesome." (totally dead serious face and voice)
Vicky: "Awesome?" (incredulously)
Taylor: "Ya, I was named after my great grandfather: Awesome Sparks" (I too said this totally seriously)
Vicky: "Oh, OK"
and then she walked out of the room. i figured she knew I was joking. Later that day I return to my office to find
I about died laughing. Apparently she'd thought I was serious!What's even better is that my office is right next to my advisor's office! Wow, that's funny. I had to take a picture. And since I had my camera out I figured I'd document my office complete with mystical jewels and gemstones...
17 coffee/tea mugs
and this baby.
What you see is an honest to goodness crystal ball. That's right. An all-knowing, all-powerful wizard orb just hanging out next to the rest of the normal office things.
On another note: I SURVIVED! It's official! I survived the "stamping process" which all first year grad students must endure. This stamping is where they subject you to their core courses and give you the stamp of approval in mandatory knowledge levels for UCSB standards. I got the grades necessary to stick around! I no longer have to worry about being weeded-out or cut from the department unless I do something remarkably bad like botch my preliminary or qualifying exams! It gets much easier from now on. One more year of classes mixed with research and then it's just me and the dusty old ceramics lab til the end! Wahoo!!
Vicky, the secretary, walks in holding the name plack from the office door
Vicky: "Vincent Kispersky? You're not Vincent Kispersky. Time to update your plack. Is just Taylor Sparks OK?"
Taylor: "What else would I put?" (somewhat confused)
Vicky: "Well, I wondered if you had a middle initial or middle name you wanted."
Taylor: "Oh ya, middle name Awesome." (totally dead serious face and voice)
Vicky: "Awesome?" (incredulously)
Taylor: "Ya, I was named after my great grandfather: Awesome Sparks" (I too said this totally seriously)
Vicky: "Oh, OK"
and then she walked out of the room. i figured she knew I was joking. Later that day I return to my office to find
I about died laughing. Apparently she'd thought I was serious!What's even better is that my office is right next to my advisor's office! Wow, that's funny. I had to take a picture. And since I had my camera out I figured I'd document my office complete with mystical jewels and gemstones...
17 coffee/tea mugs
and this baby.
What you see is an honest to goodness crystal ball. That's right. An all-knowing, all-powerful wizard orb just hanging out next to the rest of the normal office things.On another note: I SURVIVED! It's official! I survived the "stamping process" which all first year grad students must endure. This stamping is where they subject you to their core courses and give you the stamp of approval in mandatory knowledge levels for UCSB standards. I got the grades necessary to stick around! I no longer have to worry about being weeded-out or cut from the department unless I do something remarkably bad like botch my preliminary or qualifying exams! It gets much easier from now on. One more year of classes mixed with research and then it's just me and the dusty old ceramics lab til the end! Wahoo!!
Jun 17, 2008
Jun 14, 2008
Scout Hike
Whelp, we did it. 11.56 miles according to Google's Jog Map Calculator. You'd think we were crossing the plains though the way those scouts complained! Granted we did walk along the beach for many of those miles and with the cliff on one side and the ocean on the other we had a very narrow, rocky, wet trail to follow. There were like 10 million dead creatures and the scouts had to stop at each one and poke it or jab it. There was even a huge dead sea lion, it was like the size of a sofa just parked there rotting on the beach. Then we reached the giant kelp bubble.
Oh dear. The scouts were really excited about the giant kelp bubble. They carried it for miles and miles. (literally) whipping eachother and everything with it every step of the way.
Oh dear. The scouts were really excited about the giant kelp bubble. They carried it for miles and miles. (literally) whipping eachother and everything with it every step of the way.
Jun 11, 2008
2 Years
2 years ago yesterday actually. We had a lovely anniversary and can't believe it has already been 2 years! Even though that really isn't very long considering the whole picture. We're still very much in love, and the adventures only get better each day. I don't know what we would do without each other.
Jun 8, 2008
italian spiderman
this is the funniest thing i've seen since... "Stop It." Andy suggested it, so props to him.
Enjoy; they release one a week. If you only watch one, make it episode 3, it's the best.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Enjoy; they release one a week. If you only watch one, make it episode 3, it's the best.
Episode 1:
Episode 2:
Episode 3:
Jun 5, 2008
Jun 1, 2008
bear on the loose.
seriously. Look what we woke up to yesterday morning.
The bear was spotted one block from where we live. There were hundreds of these flyers all over.
Where are we? For real! I lived in the middle of the dang rocky mountains and I never had bears ONE BLOCK from my house on the loose! outside of the cougar andy swears he saw and the lala we didn't really have anything too dangerous at all, but here in the middle of drunken isla vista we get attacked by bears.
All things considered: cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, fires... I'm pretty much ok if all we get's a lost bear from time to time. I mean he's not even a grizzly.
We decided since apparently the bears were attacking the city the mountains might be the safest place to be, so we went hiking. Here's jodi playing with tadpoles. She was thrilled. We had to sit there for 10 minutes while she poked little polywogs and squealed with joy as they swam around.
Just try and tell me a dragon doesn't live in there.
The bear was spotted one block from where we live. There were hundreds of these flyers all over.
Where are we? For real! I lived in the middle of the dang rocky mountains and I never had bears ONE BLOCK from my house on the loose! outside of the cougar andy swears he saw and the lala we didn't really have anything too dangerous at all, but here in the middle of drunken isla vista we get attacked by bears.
All things considered: cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, tornados, fires... I'm pretty much ok if all we get's a lost bear from time to time. I mean he's not even a grizzly.
We decided since apparently the bears were attacking the city the mountains might be the safest place to be, so we went hiking. Here's jodi playing with tadpoles. She was thrilled. We had to sit there for 10 minutes while she poked little polywogs and squealed with joy as they swam around.
Just try and tell me a dragon doesn't live in there.
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