What!? I actually cooked something that wasn't in a package or box!?

So I made a pasta sauce from scratch for the first time ever. It was pretty good for a first attempt. It was a white sauce. I put garlic, basil and oregano in the sauce. There was also salt and black pepper. It turned out a little too thick and needed more salt, but I call it a success. I'm just proud of myself, really.

Moving in April

I am looking for a furnished apartment or condo or house to move into in April in Provo or Orem. My price max is $330. If you know of a place, or you are looking for a roommate and the split cost would be around my price range let me know!
Thanks all you lovely people!!!

I absolutely love this definition of a real man

Sunday, 17 May 2009

·        The Ultimate Definition Of A Real Man

There have been several past attempts posted on Mancouch to describe what actions only a real man can carry out. Not surprisingly, none of them were accurate. There is in fact a surefire test of manhood, namely, fatherhood.

Only a real man can be a good father.

Impregnating a woman, and thus becoming a father, proves that a man is not lacking in his male areas. It also demonstrates beyond any doubt that he can in fact get a woman, and is certainly heterosexual.

But simply becoming a father does not make you a good father, he must also be part of raising his children. He must be there for his children and their mother. He must provide for his family. He must be a good example to his children. This is probably one of the most important things a man can do. Simply by loving his wife, and being kind to her, he can teach his children how a man ought to treat his family. By providing for them he can show them that a man ought to be responsible.

A father who is not a real man will certainly fail in this area. No real man would ever leave his wife, and certainly he would not leave his own children. If he is cruel to his wife, or children, they will learn to fear men. If he does not provide for her and them they will think that men do not contribute, but merely stick around for the free ride. Often times his son will not respect women, and his daughters will probably grow up to be feminist man-haters. This will not how it always happens, but it seems to be the norm based on my own experiences and observations.

A real man must also spend time with his children, teach them skills, and show interest in their activities. He must discipline them when they misbehave, but not abuse them. And he must protect them, and his wife, from any danger that comes their way. If a man runs from danger leaving his children unprotected, he is clearly not a real man. In fact even most boys will stand up for their families in the face of danger. Even rodents protect their nest from predators.

Do you think fatherhood is the ultimate test of a real men? Was your father a real man?

Boo! A'La Brownstone

Katie (aka Judice from an SNL skit about Lawrence Welk) about to blow up Jason (aka Terrorist)

And showing my true colors decked out as a Football Player (Notice the padding on my rear, hips, and calves)

Our awesome spread of goodies. On the far left we have "finger food". This was Katie's mom's genious.

Yet another brian child of Katie's mom = Meatloaf Rats

My lovely roomates (well, some of them anyway)

Some dear friends

A whole slew of random people

If you want to see more you should go look on my Facebook page.

Halloween

If anyone reads this Blog and lives in Provo, and knows where I live, or knows my phone number to find out where I live, you should come to my Halloween Party on Saturday from 8-Midnight. LOTS of fun and food.
See you there!

ps....costumes are encouraged, but not required....Stop in any time.

A couple of favorite quotes

I have been fortunate to run across these inspiring, comforting and reassuring quotes in the last couple of weeks. They have become my credos.

The first was found in October's visiting teaching message. I have something I like to call the Yoda complex. When he tells Luke Skywalker "Do, or do not. There is no try". I don't think that is true. I prefer to believe what Gordon B. Hinckley said is much more accurate and much more merciful. He said, "You have not failed as long as you have tried". This is the cure for the Yoda complex. Throughout my life I have believed Yoda. That if I try and do not succeed, that I have miserably failed. That is very hard for me to accept, and being the perfectionist personality type that I am, I take it much more to heart than I should and find myself discouraged. So, as I was reading through the visiting teaching message and came across what President Hinckley had to say, a light turned on in my mind, and I saw "failure" as my Heavenly Father sees it. Failure only happens when you simply do nothing, but as long as you try, you have not failed.

The second quote was e-mailed to me through "Daily Gems". (You can sign up to receive these e-mails on lds.org. I signed up for both the regular Daily Gems, as well as the Daily Gems for Single Adults.) I have been seeing a therapist for the past couple of months to help me to develop tools to feel more comfortable in social situations and to try to move away from my perfectionist personality traits that impede my self-esteem. I have felt led and directed by my Heavenly Father and know that He is helping me through my struggles through my associations with friends, family, and my therapist, so this quote means more to me now than it would have 3 months ago. It says:
"[A] key to an adequate self-esteem is humility. I do not mean the breast-beating, sackcloth-and-ashes kind of humility. I mean the humility that comes with inner strength and peace. It is the humility that allows us to accept and live with our own warts, without cosmetics to hide them".
-James E. Faust
I love that so much. I wish I could express exactly why I love it and what I have come to understand by it, but it's a bit too late in the evening, and it's pretty personal and involved, but I wanted to share it in hopes that someone out in the vast world wide web might benefit from it as I have. So there are my thoughts for now.

The Maxwell Family

My baby sis is all marred now (no, I didn't forget the "i"). The wedding was beautiful due to the efforts of my wonderful mother's pre-wedding prep and our hard work Thursday and Friday. The happy couple is now gallivanting up and down the Oregon coast. Awww! How cute. They will return Wednesday-ish to their precious little abode with a mattress made of clouds. Their happy ending is just the beginning.