We are currently being faced with making the decision of where Richard should go to graduate school...stay here or go somewhere else...that is the question. He doesn't graduate until April 2010, but this is a decision that is supposed to be made quite a bit in advance. He will take the GRE next summer and needs to know which schools he wants it sent to because they will send his score straight to four schools for him. So in order to get some help on making this decision we attended a Civil Engineering Graduate Banquet that was put on by BYU's Civil Engineering Faculty. It was a lot of fun, and really informative. They had faculty sitting at each table, so that was really great for Richard to be able to talk to some faculty. The best part about that was that Dr. Gerber was the professor at our table and he specializes in Geotechnichal Engineering, which is what Richard wants to do, so that was GREAT!
The banquet started at 6:30 and we had a delicious meal catered by BYU (always good)! First we had salad and rolls. Followed by chicken and broccoli alfredo for dinner. That was all topped off with personal chocolate cream pies (so fun!), the had whipped cream and chocolate chips, and it was DELICIOUS! I wish I had thought to take a picture so tha I could make you all jealous, but I didn't, so you'll just have to imagine it. :)
After dinner there were a few different speakers talking about the advantages of graduate school. They informed us that starting in 2015 it is going to be a requirement to have a Master's Degree in order to become a professional engineer. Therefore, now is the time to do it because it 7 years they are going to be competing with young engineers who all have Master's Degrees.
It was a great night and it was really fun to meet some of Richard's friends from his classes! We had a great night!
Friday, November 14, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
My feelings on the new Prop 8 developments...
Before writing this, I want to make it clear that this is in no way a note concerning discrimination against those who are homosexual or those who voted no (or would have if they lived in California) on proposition 8. I have nothing against those on the no side of prop 8, but that will not keep me from standing up for the things that I believe in.
It disgusts me that people are more than happy to vote on issues when they think that their side will win, but as soon as it doesn't they are right back there being disrespectful towards the people that have been doing the same thing as them, standing up for what they believe in. Many people are accusing the LDS church for the Yes on 8 passing, what they fail to realize is that the Catholic church and many people who have no religious affiliation at all are also standing up for prop 8. Yes, the church took a strong stand, which it usually avoids, but this is a crucial stand for the future generations of our nation. 70% of the African-American population in California also voted yes on Prop 8, they went out in record numbers to show their love, support, and respect for president-elect Obama and in turn voted yes on Prop 8 while they were there. Prop 8 passed, telling us that in the state of California there are more people in favor of traditional marriage than not, deal with it, propositions just like this one are passing all over the nation, not just in CA, Florida and Arizona also passed a ban on same sex marriage on Tuesday, as did a few other states. Be respectful and be good citizens, abide by the law of the land.
If you feel you must keep fighting it, do so respectfully and lawfully. Put it back on the ballot in a few years, until then, respect EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING, especially those things which are sacred in the religion of others, we will not protest in front of your religious symbols, don't we deserve the same respect? Respect is not conditional, all people deserve it from everybody, not just those with the same ideas, beliefs, and values.
It disgusts me that people are more than happy to vote on issues when they think that their side will win, but as soon as it doesn't they are right back there being disrespectful towards the people that have been doing the same thing as them, standing up for what they believe in. Many people are accusing the LDS church for the Yes on 8 passing, what they fail to realize is that the Catholic church and many people who have no religious affiliation at all are also standing up for prop 8. Yes, the church took a strong stand, which it usually avoids, but this is a crucial stand for the future generations of our nation. 70% of the African-American population in California also voted yes on Prop 8, they went out in record numbers to show their love, support, and respect for president-elect Obama and in turn voted yes on Prop 8 while they were there. Prop 8 passed, telling us that in the state of California there are more people in favor of traditional marriage than not, deal with it, propositions just like this one are passing all over the nation, not just in CA, Florida and Arizona also passed a ban on same sex marriage on Tuesday, as did a few other states. Be respectful and be good citizens, abide by the law of the land.
If you feel you must keep fighting it, do so respectfully and lawfully. Put it back on the ballot in a few years, until then, respect EVERYBODY and EVERYTHING, especially those things which are sacred in the religion of others, we will not protest in front of your religious symbols, don't we deserve the same respect? Respect is not conditional, all people deserve it from everybody, not just those with the same ideas, beliefs, and values.
Monday, November 3, 2008
Sundays are a wonderful day!
Last Sunday we spent the morning sleeping....until approximately 10:40 (because we don't have church til 1:20). Pathetic, I know, but it is the only day we have to sleep in so we take full advantage of that opportunity! :) After church we went over to my house to spend some time there celebrating my dad's birthday. Lorie and the girls also went over there. We had a delicious dinner of spaghetti (YUMMY! I love spaghetti!) and then we of course had cake and ice cream and watched dad open his presents.
This Sunday (yesterday) we were invited up to Richard's uncle's house for dinner and games. They live up in Ogden (about 1 1/2 hour drive) so we decided to go to Richard's grandma's church at 9 in order to get up there at a decent hour. So after a wonderful block of church meetings we started the drive up to Ogden. I sat in the back and slept while Richard and his Grandma enjoyed a conversation (don't worry...I REALLY enjoyed my nap!). We got up to his uncle's house around 2:00, just in time for a delicious dinner of lasagna, breadsticks, and salad. YUMMY! Then we played an intense 12 rounds of Scattegories! I love that game, it was really fun, but I didn't win...:( Grandma Christensen kicked our butts! :) It was a very fun evening. I love spending time with our families on Sundays it is a great and relaxing break from our ridiculously busy weeks! :)
This Sunday (yesterday) we were invited up to Richard's uncle's house for dinner and games. They live up in Ogden (about 1 1/2 hour drive) so we decided to go to Richard's grandma's church at 9 in order to get up there at a decent hour. So after a wonderful block of church meetings we started the drive up to Ogden. I sat in the back and slept while Richard and his Grandma enjoyed a conversation (don't worry...I REALLY enjoyed my nap!). We got up to his uncle's house around 2:00, just in time for a delicious dinner of lasagna, breadsticks, and salad. YUMMY! Then we played an intense 12 rounds of Scattegories! I love that game, it was really fun, but I didn't win...:( Grandma Christensen kicked our butts! :) It was a very fun evening. I love spending time with our families on Sundays it is a great and relaxing break from our ridiculously busy weeks! :)
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