(blush)

So I saw Eragon for the first time this weekend. It was a decent film, I kept thinking it was like a preteen version of the Lord of the Rings. But I have to admit I think the actor Edward Speelers is umm...a an attractive young man. (He's on the left.)

Yes.

One year ago today...

August 17th 2006

This day will be forever etched into my brain, it was my first day back in Omaha after an amazing trip to Austin, it was the day in question when I went to trial on November 20th 2006. It was the first day I wore my new watch. The day when the world around me took its ques from the lyrics of the Gran Bel Fisher song "Crash and Burn" I was listening to.

August 17th 2006 3:20 p.m. 87th Ave and Pacific Street = my first car accident

Yes, one year ago today after picking my brother up from school I attempted to make a left turn onto Pacific street when a young man driving a Toyota Scion coupe proceeded into the intersection while the light was red. While the lyrics of "Crash and Burn" could be heard through my window...


BAM!

Next thing I knew I was getting out of the car and coughing on the smoke from the airbag. I checked to make sure my brother Stephen, in the passenger seat was okay. He assured me he was. I hadn't realized my own injuries. It wasn't until the girl in the car behind me brought to my attention that my hand was dripping blood.

I looked at my windshield and looked at my hand. The deployment of the airbag caused my hand to punch through the windshield. My brand new watch that had been re sized not even two hours ago had caused a deep laceration on the head of my ulna (the bump on your wrist) along with many tiny shards of glass embedded in my hand.

Once I came out of the ambulance after the EMTs had wrapped my hand to stop the bleeding, I was delivered a ticket by a police officer, who didn't even care to hear BOTH sides of the story before determining who was at fault.

So I have a lot of glass in my hand and I have a ticket I don't deserve. I recall my dad telling me he recently took the collision insurance off of the car.

After some miscommunication resulting in me sitting by my busted car for an hour by myself I was treated at the urgent care. There I had almost all of the glass removed from my hand (I had to get a few hiding shards removed in Provo a couple months later) received some stitches on my ring finger and some superglue on my hand and wrist.

Later in November I contested the ticket issued against me and won. Yeah, take that. I was so relieved to have all the car business taken care of.

Or so I thought.

In March the young man I was in the accident with decided to sue me in civil court for the damages to his car, since he decided to let his insurance lapse on his 2006 Scion, he wanted me to pay for it.

THANKFULLY just a few weeks ago after a counter sue and some pressure from my lawyer, he decided to drop the suit and we therefore dropped our counter suit.

Although I wouldn't do it again I did learn some things. (In no particular order)

• The legal system really takes a long time.
• Some people have no problem with lying under oath.
  
• Getting glass removed from your hand is extremely painful and although it was taken care of quickly, it's a toss up as to whether I would rather break my arm again or have that amount of glass removed from my hand again.
  
• I'm more self-conscious about the ugliness of my scars than they really are, but I'm getting better about it.
  
• Having had two lawyers during this process, it's essential to have a lawyer who believes you and understands exactly what happened. Therefore he/she doesn't question you when someone of the other party lies under oath.
  
• It's amazing how in the heat of the moment you really can't feel pain.
  
• When the heat of the moment is gone, the pain takes it's place.
  
• Tylenol with codine makes you really tired.
  
• If you are given a ticket you honestly don't deserve handle it THEN not later. Without violating the officer be firm but lawful and explain to the officer how things happened and why you are not at fault. If the officer had been accurate in his investigation or/and I would have gotten him to understand how it really happened, I would have saved over a thousand dollars in legal fees and never would have had this gorilla of burden on my mind for a few weeks short of a year.
  
• When I am in a stressful situation I am able to be focused and handle things and somewhat even reduce the severity of the situation. (Ex. my explanation of my injury to my parents gave them the impression that I just had a few minor cuts, that may or may not need to be seen by a medical professional but if so it wasn't a big rush.)
• In some ways I can't believe how much this accident has effected me.
  

The sweat of my...everywhere

As many of you may know this summer I have been an intern at a consulting firm for non-profit organizations called Paul J. Strawhecker, Inc.

On Friday we took the afternoon off from our normal business attire of dress slacks and button-up shirts to paint splattered shorts and t-shirts. Exchanged our computers for powerdrills, pens for hammers. We took a break from helping non-profits by helping them raise money and helped Habitat for Humanity with our time and the sweat of our brow...and back, shoulders, arms, basically everywhere (that's Nebraska for ya during a heat wave, 97 degrees with over 90 percent humidity).

I was apart of the team cutting and putting up drywall, while the rest of the group was putting up a decorative panelling for the ceiling of the outdoor patio. After being inside of an office where my efforts are stored inside of a computer box, it was extremely gratifying to see the direct result of my, our labors. Before we arrived this stairwell wasn't drywalled when we left it was. The work was gratifying and it was refreshing to see a directly see the results of my work. It reminded me of a quote from the prophet Gordon B. Hinckley's talk "Put Your Shoulder to the Wheel."

There is no substitute under the heavens for productive labor. It is the process by which dreams become realities. It is the process by which idle visions become dynamic achievements.

Though my work may be menial, though my contribution may be small, I can perform it with dignity and offer it with unselfishness. My talents may not be great, but I can use them to bless the lives of others. I can be one who does his work with pride in that which comes from hand and mind. I can be one who works with respect for my associates, for their opinions, for their beliefs, with appreciation for their problems and with a desire to help them should they stumble. I believe in the principle that I can make a difference in this world. It may be ever so small. But it will count for the greater good

The last quotation I found while rereading the talk and I will try to instill in my life.

A "failure" in my brother's eyes

On Friday evening my youngest brother Erik (9) and I were watching TLC's "What Not to Wear." The person was a 24 year-old girl who was dressing like a punk rocker to her high-end Interior Design firm. Within a few moments of Erik sitting down to watch the show the following conversation took place:

"She's dumb she's not married," said Erik.
"How do you know she isn't married?" I replied.
"She doesn't have a ring on," Erik said nonchalantly. "Everyone should be married by the time they are 19."

I was shocked to discover:

a) My 9 year-old brother has already gained the habit of looking at people's hands to see if they are married, when I myself didn't get into the habit of looking until my first year at BYU.

b) I'm a "failure" in my brother's eyes having reached the "ripe old age" of 20 without a husband, nor any prospects.

But I'm okay with having accomplished this "failure," it'll happen when it happens and as long as there is cake at the reception I'm sure Erik'll be happy whenever it happens.