About a month ago, I decided that I need to "culturalize" myself. I decided a good way to do that would be to start reading. I had planned on picking up a good book when I got down here to BYU and low and behold, at my BYU 56th ward, I was talking with some new found friends. They talked about a book club in the ward. I asked if I could join and they told me the book was "The Little Prince" and we would be meeting this week to discuss it.
Unfortunately, I'm a slow reader, and school started to get pretty intense already! So I was unable to finish it completely. Fortunately, though, it's a pretty short book (a normal reader could read it in about 30 - 45 minutes, for me, it's a bit longer commitment) so I was able to finish most of it.
I've never been much of a reader! Historically, I've had a hard time staying awake reading books. However, I've done quite a bit of reading (for me anyway) over the last three days, and I must say that it's been a lot more enjoyable than it ever was before my mission. I wonder if my mission had anything to do with it.
I particularly was surprised at how much I enjoyed the book club meeting. It was quite fun to discuss the implications of the author, and the meanings we can create from the story.
The next book we will be reading is "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins. I've heard great things about this book. I look forward to "cultralizing" myself a little more. My hope is that my vocabulary will be broadened and my reading comprehension and speed will be increased. And that's the Bright-side of life :-D
This is the view from my bedroom window. Normally, I see a beautiful mountain. And the sun's rays are reaching over the peaks. Today, I saw this. How depressing. Particularly so because:
1. It's April 30th!
2. I ride a bike!
3. Snow means cold!
4. I didn't anticipate cold like this, so I didn't bring winter clothes with me (gloves, big coats, etc.).
Not all is lost though. I most certainly will appreciate the spring and summer terms at BYU when "global warming" finally kicks in and we get some warmth in the desert of Utah! Ha ha. I suppose you could say that's the "bright-side of life."
I just decided to tell everyone how I keep track of the blogs I follow. There's this great thing called Google Reader that tells me every time there's an update on my subscriptions. It's pretty awesome. I decided that I didn't want to go into a lengthy explanation of everything unless someone's interested. So, if you are, this would make it a LOT easier for you to keep track of the blogs YOU follow! Most of it is pretty self-explanatory anyway. If you need help, I'm more than happy to help! Just send me an e-mail or something! Anyway, here's a screenshot of mine, just to give you a basic idea. To start yours up, just go to Google Reader.
This is the bright side of life because it's great :-)
That's right! I got a job finally! It was nearly a three month project, including (but not limited to, and these are not in order):
Spending a week down in Utah (thanks Brouwers!) trying many different places and learning many valuable lessons about how to effectively look for a job.
Going to EVERY network that I had asking if they had any connections.
Joining LinkedIn (and it didn't work too well for me, probably because I didn't use it much).
Joining LDSJobs.org (and that helped a bit).
Finding Optimal Resume.com (from LDSJobs.org) which helped me out a TON!
Learning how to make a professional cover letter.
Starting Kent Dodds Productions up again (which entailed a LOT of work, and still has a long way to go...)
Checking jobs.byu.edu just about every 2 hours to see if there were any new postings and applying to every one of the jobs posted I was qualified for (except I thought I'd wait a bit before I applied to custodial.... Didn't want the terrible hours...).
Spending 4 hours straight (yesterday) in front of this laptop looking up every multimedia/computer place within a 15 minute bike ride to campus. That turned out to be pretty extensive. There are a lot of places like that around here. I called/applied online to over 30 different companies.
The transmission in my little red car going out on the way to an interview with a job that would have been GREAT (but not as great as the one I got!)
Learning that it's a good idea to be spectacular at work so that nobody will ever forget you (like they forgot me at the Data Center... I did only work there 2 months, but still, the FORGOT me :'( oh well, I'll do better in the future).
Praying again and again and again, getting a blessing, and going to the temple a lot, every time with a prayer in my heart that I would find something...
Essentially, these last few months, my occupation has been to find an occupation. I've learned some incredibly valuable lessons which I hope will help me in the future looking for a job. By the end of it, I had gotten really good at applying to places online, and I've actually today had a few places call me back for an interview, ha ha! The day AFTER I finally get a job! Oh well.
Well, do you want to hear about what that job is? I work at the BYU Conference Center, mapped bellow:
I will be working as an Audio/Video Technician. Basically, setting up A/V Equipment for conferences in the Conference Center, for clubs, and other organizations. This weekend, we'll be doing the Women's Conference! That's pretty sweet. That will be my first day at work :-)
One thing that really helped me get this job was a letter of recommendation that I got from one of my former investigators. I wrote to her and in our correspondence, I mentioned I was looking for a job. So, she sent me a wonderful letter of recommendation. I think that's what got me the job.
Spencer Hansen, the man who hired me, told me that he's never had so many students apply for the job. In previous years, he had to do some searching to find someone who would be remotely qualified and interested. This year though, he's had a LOT of applicants. Not only a LOT of applicants, but ALSO applicants who were highly qualified (he said there were a lot of very technology savvy foreign exchange students from Asia who applied). So, I feel so very fortunate and blessed that I got the job.
I made sure to show up really early this morning for my little orientation (actually, mostly just schedule-making...). He really appreciated it, so I'm off on a good foot! It's great! I'm pretty excited about this job!
Three not-so-good things about this job are:
Many jobs on campus, (like many computer jobs I would be interested in, like when I worked at the data center) you can do homework during down time, not this one. But that's alright, because I'm going to be able to learn a LOT from this job.
I'm only getting $8.00 an hour, but that's ok because he said if I perform well, he can give me a raise pretty early on...
I'm only getting 8-10 hours a week until the Summer starts because they don't have enough going on for more, but that's ok because I'm just getting back into school, and if I need to fill time up with something productive to do, I have KD Productions stuff I can do too!
So, all-in-all, it's a great situation! I'm pretty happy about everything! And THAT'S the BRIGHT-SIDE of Life :-D
So, here I am, beginning my time at BYU again! So far, it's been pretty good. I want to say thank you to everyone who helped so much to move me in here, and those who let me sleep in their house, and those who do so much for me! I really love you all. Thank you so much!
Well, I have lots of food (thanks to Mom, Dad, and Debbie). I'm not going to starve mother! :-D As it turns out, one of the guys I'm replacing is going to work at Aspen Grove this summer, as the male Arts and Crafts guy :-) So that's kind of cool! The rest of my roommates seem really cool. I haven't met all of them quite yet, but I'm sure they're all going to be awesome! There are three who will be here who already lived here before, then there will be one moving in on Monday. I wont have a room-roommate until the Summer term (for another 8 weeks) because it's Garrett, my friend from my Freshman ward, and he's not coming until the Summer. So, I get a room by myself, which is kind of nice as far as having the room to myself, but kind of sad that I wont have a room-roommate... I hope that makes sense...
Anyway, I rode my bike to campus and all's well. I'm really excited to get into classes and meet new people and everything. The BYU experience really is that, it's an experience, and I'm really excited to have it!
Yes, I am still searching for a job. That's my number one priority until school starts. I certainly hope I can find something on Monday! I've applied to a million and one places that haven't hired me quite yet, I certainly hope SOMETHING hires me. I've applied to a few places to be an "office assistant" (basically a secretary), and a few places to be a "multimedia specialist." I haven't yet applied to be a custodial. But I may have to if I can't find anything else! I check jobs.byu.edu about once every two hours to see if there are any postings. It's good to stay on top of it I think... We'll see how it goes!
All-in-all, I'm very happy to be here at BYU. There IS a certain someone for whom I am feeling a great deal of missing... BUT I'm not letting that get to me. We're GREAT friends, and we can still be friends over a distance (even though it's not as preferable!). If you don't know who it is... ummm, that's ok! :-)
It's good to get an education, and, as my dad says: "You can get a first rate education at this school, you just have to apply yourself to get it!" So, I plan on getting a first rate education! And that's the Bright-Side of Life! Hope you're all well! :-D
Each of us go through what you could call the "Valleys of Life." These are periods of time where you feel a little low, sad, depressed, upset, etc. These time periods can last for a few minutes to a few months! They can have a direct cause, a million causes, or sometimes it seems like no cause at all.
Currently, I feel like I'm in a valley of life... I think that this one has a million causes. Maybe a million and one. It also seems like it has no cause at all. It's a very confusing situation to be in. I think some of these causes are as follows:
1. I'm sick
2. I'm tired
3. I'm leaving my friends and family here in Twin Falls (even though I'm going to BYU, I'm still sad to leave)
4. I still haven't found a job
5. I have a million and one things to do before I leave
6. I can't get an academic scholarship at BYU for another year and a half
I'm sure there are more items contributing to this valley, but I'm just not completely coherent right now.
So, while in these valley, we have a few choices. We can glare up at the hills, angry for the happiness which is found there, and that we do not have that where we are. We can look around ourselves and glare at the terror which binds us down to this depressing valley. We can give up. Lie down, and cry for our situation or circumstances which have brought us so very low.
Each of these decisions have the same end. We are still in the valley, we are still unhappy. In many instances, the valley would seem to get lower and lower if we make these kinds of decisions. There must be an alternative. Something we can do to actually get ourselves out of this valley and find the happiness that actually is upon the hilltops.
The alternative is Jesus Christ. His gospel. Faith, repentance, keeping and renewing Covenants, following the spirit, and faithfully enduring our trials until the end of our lives. Doing these things has a promise attached to them. Promises of peace and happiness through the trials.
I wanted to illustrate this point, and I was going to write it out, but I decided instead that I would make a video to illustrate it :-D
I truly believe that Christ wont take the trials away from you (although, by following the commandment of not stealing, you wont have to deal with the trial of jail for that), but he'll make those trails easier for you to bear (Mosiah 24:13-15). And that's the Bright-side of Life!
So, after much hoping, waiting, and anticipating, I finally got a Google Voice invite. You can get an invitation to Google Voice one of two ways: 1. You submit your e-mail to them here. Or 2. You can get an invitation from a user who has invitations. (Unfortunately, they haven't given me any invites to hand out!)
I submitted both my personal and business Gmail addresses... Twice... I really wanted it ok! Ha ha, so anyway, I also went onto a bunch of forums where lots of people were begging for invitations, and started begging. But, I had an edge that many of them didn't. A few weeks ago, when I posted about this, my friend Amy Madsen saw that I wanted a Google Wave invitation, and invited me. So, I was able to offer a trade to a Google Wave invitation.
After a few more days of waiting, I finally got an e-mail from someone accepting the trade! So, last night, I stayed up later than I ought to have, setting up my new Google Voice Account! It's so great! I'm pretty excited about the features it has, and I'm also excited about the features which are certain to come the longer Google Voice is out. That's the way that things work with Google. Remember Gmail when it first came out? It was amazing then too, but now it's even more amazing and there's nothing out there to compete with it! That's the same way with all their products! Google is just all about getting the best out there that they can, which is different from everyone else (which is why you have new iPods coming out every year, I'm certain that Apple already has iPods waiting to be sold in 5 years, so they can get us to buy all of them...) But that's neither here nor there...
This is going to be so great as I'm trying to get Kent Dodds Productions up and running I wont worry at all about giving my number out to whoever, because I can block people with the click of a button, or even change my number with a click of a button (I wouldn't do that to all of you though!). There's a really neat feature on here too. You can try it out right now:
Go ahead, try it out! I dare you! :-D (I'm a really nice guy, and if you really need someone to talk to, I'm chipper as a chipmunk at 3:30 in the morning, any time :-D I'm happy to talk)
Anyway, because of the features of Google Voice, I would prefer to be called/texted through my new Google Phone Number, which is: 801-810-KDP1 (which stands for Kent Dodds Productions, or: 801-810-5371).
For more information about Google Voice, check out their YouTube channel, there videos will explain more fully what you can do with Google Voice. Technology can bring convenience when properly used :D This is definitely a Bright-side to Life.
I got this in an e-mail from my mom and thought this would be a good way to spread the word:
I thought this was a good idea.
Subj: 28th amendment to the Constitution
Really important! Hope you all do it!
This will take less than thirty seconds to read. If you agree, please pass it on.
An idea whose time has come
For too long we have been too complacent about the workings of Congress. Many citizens had no idea that members of Congress could retire with the same pay after only one term, that they didn't pay into Social Security, that they specifically exempted themselves from many of the laws they have passed (such as being exempt from any fear of prosecution for sexual harassment) while ordinary citizens must live under those laws. The latest is to exempt themselves from the Healthcare Reform that is being considered...in all of its forms. Somehow, that doesn't seem logical. We do not have an elite that is above the law. I truly don't care if they are Democrat, Republican, Independent or whatever. The self-serving must stop. This is a good way to do that. It is an idea whose time has come.
Have each person contact a minimum of Twenty people on their Address list, in turn ask each of those to do likewise.
In three days, most people in The United States of America will have the message. This is one proposal that really should be passed around.
Proposed 28th Amendment to the United States Constitution
"Congress shall make no law that applies to the citizens of the United States that does not apply equally to the Senators and/or Representatives; and, Congress shall make no law that applies to the Senators and/or Representatives that does not apply equally to the citizens of the United States."
So there you have it. Our world is in turmoil, but remember what President Hinckley said: "If Ye Are Prepared, Ye Shall Not Fear" And that's the Bright-side of Life :D
I feel compelled (not too certain why...) to talk about the enormous influence having sisters (and most particularly MY sisters) has been in my life.
A wise person once told me: "There definitely is a difference in guys who grew up with sisters and a guy who didn't. The one with sisters seems to know how to treat girls and react to the things they do much better than the other." Though I don't really have an alternate life to compare this to, it seems to make sense to me that this would be the case. I am definitely grateful for the sisters that I have.
Yes, it's true that girls are hard to understand in many instances. But, growing up, I recognized that a party wasn't a party until the girls got there. Not sure why that is, but it always seemed to be the case. With this truth in mind, I'm grateful that I had a mother and sisters who helped me understand what the best way to treat girls was. It's a word called: Chivalry.
1. the sum of the ideal qualifications of a knight, including courtesy, generosity, valor, and dexterity in arms.
2. the rules and customs of medieval knighthood.
3. the medieval system or institution of knighthood.
4. a group of knights.
5. gallant warriors or gentlemen: fair ladies and noble chivalry.
6. Archaic. a chivalrous act; gallant deed.
I think in our world today you don't have to be a knight to be chivalrous, but it seems like chivalry sometimes is as uncommon as knights are! This is an unfortunate truth considering how important it is to show proper respect to women.
I know that in many instances, I fall short of the standard chivalry sets, but I will be eternally grateful for the womEn in my life who have taught me what I know of one of the greatest principles for happiness in this life! Thank you Mom and Sisters! I love you! And that's the Bright-Side of Life :D
Here's just a random post about what I've seen as I've been driving around lately...
A deer, not super interesting, but I thought it was pretty cool (and no, I was in the passenger seat. That's right, I'm talking to you, just wanted to make sure that you know I wasn't being unsafe!)
And then, this is what I find to be more interesting... (Sorry, I must be honest, I was driving when I took this one, but I was very careful!) I called the number, just because I was curious to see how much it would cost to remove a Tattoo that was about a square inch. They were reluctant to give me a quote, they described that there had to be several visits, you had to meet with a consultant on your specific tattoo, and then the lasers, and ya-di-da-di-da... Ultimately, it came down to this: If you have a tattoo that's just one square inch and you want to remove it, it will take a lot of time and energy and about $50! Best bet is to just not get a Tattoo! Because getting them are expensive too! "We thank Thee, oh God for a prophet, to guide us in these latter days!" (and tell us that we ought not get tattoos!) :D That's the Bright-Side of Life :D Have a great General Conference Weekend!
After graduating high school, and moving on to college, my "production company," Kent Dodds Productions kind of retired. In fact, I made a video about the history of Kent Dodds Productions using a song called "Time to Say Goodbye."
I must admit, I did have visions of KD Productions becoming a big company and everything, but I always knew in the back of mind that it wouldn't go very far.
Well, recently, I've been doing some freelance work for some people I know, and I decided that if I can really market myself and network around a little, I could get enough freelance projects to make it worth my time. So, that's what I'm doing! I've made a blog: KDProductions.blogspot.com and a Facebook Page: Kent Dodds Productions. I'm just trying to figure out pricing and marketing specifics, but so far it's going alright. Still in the "getting set up stage" and as soon as I can get a Google Voice Phone number I wont be so concerned putting that number up there so people can call me. That will be great.
So, anyway, mostly, the services I'm planning on doing are going to be pretty simple and basic. A large part of what I'll do doesn't take much computer skill (though some of it will), just time, which is something that a lot of people don't have.
One of the best services that I'm providing right now is CD Ripping. Essentially, people who are over the age of 30 or 35 likely have big CD collections. In fact, many have hundreds of CDs. This can sometimes be pretty daunting when you want to listen to a song from a specific artist, but you don't remember which album it's on, and you aren't even sure where all those artist's albums are in your collection. Scenes like this one can be pretty scary:
So you decide to get an iPod so you can find all the songs you want without having to search for it. Then you're faced with another problem. How in the world are you going to get ALL those songs on that iPod? Sure, you could sit at the computer for days importing the song, but you have a job, family, church, and other extracurricular activities. And nobody wants to buy and download all those CDs again! This is where I come in. Give me your CDs, I'll take them away for a little while, bring them back and have all the music for you, ready to put on your iPod. You don't have to use any time out of your schedule. Most of the competition charges $0.75 - $1.25 per CD, but I can offer it at $0.50. So, it's a good deal, and I can do it quickly enough to be well worth my time as well. Situations like this can be scary too, only now the question is, what am I going to do with all that extra room in my old CD drawer?
Another service that I've done is making Photo Music Video Slideshows. We all like to take pictures when we go on a vacation, and especially with digital cameras now, it's really easy to get camera happy and take a lot. Well, with the Photo Music Video Slideshow, it's an easy way to share the memories with others and view them as a family to remember the vacation. The average for competition around here is about $65 an hour for this kind of stuff. The amount I charge wont be by the hour, because of the fact that I will be working on the project, then leave, then come back, then leave (for school and things). So, I charge by the project, rather than the hour. Generally, pricing for a Photo Music Video Slideshow is $10 for the video, and $5 for every additional minute after 4 minutes. Some other features may add extra cost (for example, captions).
I have several other services that I offer. You can learn more at the Official Blog. If you could, please let your friends and family know about these services. Lots of people need it done, but their putting it off and trying hard not to think about it because the task is so daunting. Please have them contact me on my blog or Facebook.
This is keeping me busy and I'm learning a lot :D and that's the Bright-Side of Life :D
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