Cool Kid of the Week (month? year?) #2

After two failed attempts, two changes in subject, and nearly two months, the second cool kid of the week has emerged. And it just so happens to be her birthday!

Tami Bowerbank (& S. Doxey)


(i looted this pic off of your facebook Tam, i became aware of a serious travesty two seconds ago: we have NO pictures together!)

Last fall I met Tami, and i cant quite remember the circumstances exactly, but I'm pretty sure it was at church. Because I distinctly remember her coming over to our apartment one sunday afternoon just...because. And i was so impressed. Whenever Tami's name gets brought up in our apartment, it's always followed by comments like "she's such a cool girl" and "she just makes you feel like you're her best friend; she's so endearing." And those comments are always right on.

One of my first Tami memories is when we went to a call center last fall to make make calls for prop 8. I was so impressed by her faith and enthusiasm for things she holds dear. And Tami has her priorities straight. You can tell how important Tami's family is to her. One night when she was giving me a ride home from the ice rink, she laughed about what a hard time her family (brother-in-laws specifically) will give her boyfriend one day when he goes to ask permission to marry her. I know thats a funny way to explain it, but it really hit me what a central role her family plays in her life. It's something I had never really thought about before.

Tami is the best photographer I've ever been friends with...and for sure one of the best I've ever met. Her work is horribly real, and every picture I see feels like it's coming out of an old picture album of my youth. She captures the best in everyone. Every picture exudes life; each one says so much.

This is definitely kind of embarrassing, and something i've never told her, but before I knew Tami personally, I used to refer to her as the "Elvish Princess." Truth be told, I'm not exactly sure what that entails, but that's the first thing that came to mind when I saw her! Let's not mince words; Tami is wayyy cute.

The best word I've found to describe Tami is genuine. Sometimes I struggle to explain why, but I think it's because Tami is so real. I'd never expect to find "tami" and "identity crisis" in the same sentence. Whether you like her or not, Tami is so good at being herself...and I'm guessing there's very few people that dont find themselves gravitating towards her. She's so full of light and love that affect all those around here.

Whenever I talk to Tami, I feel like we're old friends aware of some inside joke or secret, and that before long we'll be reminiscing about some wonderful memory we cant help but smiling about. Tami Bowerbank everyone, Tami Bowerbank.

p.s....happy 20th Birthday!

-Roscoe

Cool Kid of the Week #1

So I've had this random blog idea for awhile, and now that I'm in the library with some homework staring me in the face, I decided it's a wonderful time to get started. So this is my idea: I've met a lot of people in my life and I've decided that some people are cool. Really really cool. This weekly (hopefully) post will be a shoutout to cool people I currently know. cool huh?

So without any hurt feelings, I decided to start from the most logical point: with the kid that (sometimes) sleeps in the bed across the room from me. (barring a CSI miami marathon)

Mark Princeton Christenson everybody. Behold.

I met Mark over two years ago. It was my first day in the missionary training center, and I had just lugged two hulking suitcases up the stairs when I found him and another guy in my assigned room. We became friends in the MTC and our paths crossed every so often during our two year stay in Italia.

Mark is a stud. People often tend to raise their eyebrow when they find out you're from Utah, but Mark's definitely a stereotype breaker. He's just a guy you cant help but feel good to be around. Mark is the most unpredictably predictable guy I know. Like, you know he's going to watch EVERY episode of CSI if there are 8 in a row, but what surprises you is that you wake up in the morning, and he's actually doing his homework! I dont know how he gets it done, but the man is legit.

Mark also has a growing reputation as being a great cuddler. I gather most of that information from girls (including non-single girls) but I have to concur that Mark has a rather large bosom. And I'm just going to leave it at that.

Mark's a team player and a caring guy. I really appreciate that he's kind of simple too. He's pretty up front about his feelings...and he usually wears them on his sleeve. I dont think I've ever found myself really mad at Mark. He's a quality guy and he doesn't do things that would tear other people down just for his benefit. Mark's an awesome guy to have talks with at 1AM and you're about to go to bed. I hear girls call that "Pillow Talk." He's really devout to things that are important to him. And he like's to eat at Beto's during the wee hours of the morning. Mark Christenson everyone, Mark Christenson.

When Winter Break Gets Too Long...

Favorite pump-up song: 1) "Bombs over Baghdad" - Outkast 2) "Seven Years" - Saosin

Favorite exercise song: 1)"She's Hearing Voices" - Bloc Party 2)"Like Eating Glass" - Bloc Party
Favorite late-night drive song: "Chicago(acoustic)" - Sufjan Stevens

Favorite new discovery: "Out Dragging the River" - Mason Proper

Bands that can do no evil (aka anything they produce will be amazing): The Shins, Sufjan Stevens, Jeff Buckley, Counting Crows, Guster, Jack Johnson, Josh Rouse

Favorite 8am apartment dance song: "I'm Good. I'm Gone" - Lykke Li

Favorite in love song: "The Luckiest"-Ben Folds/"Question"-Old 97's

Favorite broken hearted song: "Hallelujah" - Jeff Buckley

Favorite nostalgic song: "We're Still Fighting It" - Ben Folds

Favorite "guilty pleasure" band (you wont claim it in public, but you are in love with them): Something Corporate/Jack's Mannequin

Favorite classical piece: "Nocturne In F-Sharp Op. 15, No 2" - Chopin

Favorite band from the 60's: Jimi Hendrix, but Simon & Garfunkel is a close second

70's: Zeppelin

80's: Can I squeeze "Pixies" in here? they were kind of borderline 90's..I guess the same goes for "The Cure." But that's my answer. and Michael Jackson.

90's: Weezer/Jeff Buckley/Counting Crows - take your pick.

2000's: Shins/Jack Johnson

Favorite "who needs love anyway?" song: "Semi-Charmed Life" and "Motorcycle Drive By" - Third Eye Blind (dont ask me why!)

Favorite contemplative song: "Casimir Pulaski Day" - Sufjan Stevens

Favorite foriegn band/singer(non-english speaking): Laura Pausini

Best guitar solo: "One Big Holiday" - My Morning Jacket

Best gangsta' beat: 1)"Through the Wire" -Kanye West 2)"Action Figures" -Cool Kids 3)"Dont Feel Right" -the Roots

Best voice in(or that WAS in) the business: Jeff Buckley

Best lyrics: The Shins

Favorite song about....

California: "Winding Road" - Bonnie Somerville (there are a billion songs about california, and I dont like most of them...this one mentions it and it's an incredible song!)
Utah: 1)"The Great Salt Lake" -Band of Horses 2)"Friend of the Devil" -Counting Crows

Europe: "Holiday in Spain" - Counting Crows

Italy: "Postcards from Italy" - Beirut

Asia:"El Scorcho" - Weezer (that's terrible, I know!)

Blue: I'll put "Dark Blue" by Jack's Mannequin until I find something better

Yellow: 1)"Yellow" - Coldplay 2)"Big Yellow Taxi" - Counting Crows

Green: "Green Eyes" -Coldplay

Trains: "Rise" -Josh Rouse

Airplanes: "Landed" - Ben Folds

Pirates: "The Hook" -Stephen Malkmus

Friday: "Friday I'm in Love" -The Cure

Unrealized love: 1)"Casimir Pulaski Day"-Sufjan Stevens 2)"Fake Plastic Trees"-Radiohead

mmmm 6 more days...

Christmas

Alright...you got it! The Christmas post is finally here! I wish I knew how to upload my favorite Christmas songs on here, but, sadly, I'm still quite "blogger ignorant." I can still write about my favorite Christmas songs though right? Alright, lately I cant get enough of Amy Grant. Her Christmas music, to me, embodies all that is good about Christmas. It is perfect for a night drive to see Christmas lights, it's perfect for a warm fire and a cup of hot chocolate. It's perfect. Not only does she sing all the best songs, but I love a soloist voice. Especially her's. I'm a big sucker for Sufjan Stevens' Christmas cd as well...it's just so innocent and charming...how could you not love it?

This Christmas for me is definitely an interesting one, as it is my FIRST American Christmas since 2005! My last two Christmases have been in Italy, where traditions are different, but the gap is definitely getting smaller. My best memories of Italian Christmases were eating "Pandoro" Christmas cakes (I'm still not a big fan of Panetone), seeing all the festive Christmas lights in downtown, and going to midnight mass (even though I'm not Catholic). Even though I was so far from home, and we didn't have a Christmas tree or money for gifts, these were some of my favorite Christmas experiences. It was so simple...and I think that was what made it so beautiful. Now that I'm home...the Christmas tree is back and "black friday" now has a name for its outrageousness. I'm so excited, though, for the opportunity to serve. Ok, so I haven't done an abundant amount of service so far, but I really want to. The last two years, giving myself to service and thinking of others instead of myself, I really realized how amazing it really is. Christmas gifts get old, out of fashion, break and tear...but the impact you have on someone else is something that lasts. For me, the only way I've been able to recapture the joy and exuberation I felt as a kid and waking up to see presents surrounding our Christmas tree, is through service. The feeling you get by helping someone else, by bringing light and hope into their life, supercedes any possible gift santa could manage to stick through the chimney. And in the end, I'm sure that's how Christ would want us to remember His birth anyway.

-Roscoe

Comforter

Lately I've been noticing the importance of the Holy Ghost in my life. This, the third member of the Godhead, is known also as "the comforter" and "the spirit." It's role is many: it comforts, guides, testifies of truth, and answers our prayers. Many people have felt the Spirit in their lives. After reading an especially touching account of Christlike service and love, I often feel warm, overwhelmed, teary-eyed. These senstations are from the Holy Ghost, telling us that such things are good. A great blessing of being a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is that after baptism we recieve "the gift of the holy ghost." Simply put, After we promise to live as Christ did and be His disciples (baptism), He promises to bless us with the Holy Ghost, that leads and guides us in our lives and helps us make choices that will bring happiness.

Follow Me.

In the intensely individualistic society in which we live, people are generally looked down upon if they fall into the category of follower instead of leader. American culture is void of the sense of family and camaraderie found in other nations such as those in South America and in Asia. Reflecting on that, I find all the more significant the call of the Savior to follow Him. After imploring of Simon Peter three times "Lovest thou me?" and finally eliciting the humble response "Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee," he commanded Peter saying "Follow me."

Many Americans unreasonably feel they have been blessed through education with a heightened sense of moral justness, with an increased capacity to see past perceived prejudices, and with a greater ability to love.

Many Americans consider themselves an authority an all things political, familial, religious and social.

Many Americans shun the call of the Savior and distort and ignore His teachings to favor their own pride, swollen incredibly out of proportion.

But there is another way. A way that brings ultimate peace and clarity to a world whose borders have been hastily blurred by the cheap, brittle eraser of falsehood that masquerades as such virtues as love and liberty.

He knocks, and we have but to open the door, and follow Him.

Reflections from a Roadtrip

Welp, we're on our way back to school from our escapade to Colorado; driving through the rockies, listening to Jack Johnson. Needless to say, the circumstances make it basically inevitable to fall into reflection and thought. I've been thinking a lot about a discussion we had in our New Testament class last week...which lead me to this:

America is a polytheistic society. And it's not a novelty in any sense.

What is it that becomes the center of our worship? What is our credo, or basis of belief? Growing up, I associated with a lot of kids that worshipped the god of music. They lived and breathed and stepped in time to the beats and rhythms pulsating through their permanently attached headphones; the lyrics became their biblical guide to life. Others worship the god of counter-culture, mindlessly opposing anything seen as the societal norm; Which reminds me a bit of all these shenanigans regarding prop 8: when I walk into a restaurant and see a "No gays allowed" sign posted, THEN we can start calling this a civil rights issue. There is so much ridiculous propaganda (going both ways) about the issue, but this isn't about love or hate, it's about defining marriage. I find it incredible to see how quick people are to try and connect current events to past ones in an attempt to justify their position. But alas, I digress....
Some people worship sex, their car, novelty, or their cyber-facebook-self-image. Many Christians, probably unconsciously, now bow down to the bible as their god instead of understanding that it's a book of history and philosophy, prophecy and revelation. Inspired or not, it's a book, not God.

We live in a culture that ridicules people that take a more traditional approach to worshipping God. In our society, so self-conscious of possibly being labled "intolerant," how do so many react? With intolerance.

How thankful I am for prayer. How thankful I am to be able to kneel before a loving Heavenly Father that hears and answers my daily supplications.

Ross