Perfection Pending

Kinda funny how things blend into each other.

I met my dad for lunch today, and we got to talking about the future of computers. I tried my best to explain this cool video I saw on Ted.com, about cloud computing, and how these future predictions could dramatically change our lives. So here I am, just got home from work, searching for that video… I didn’t find it. But I found another video on Ted.com that was really interesting.

The web was only 5,000 days old when this video was recorded. It’s probably closer to 6,000 days old now. But it’s like I mentioned to my dad- if you traveled back in time a few decades, would you ever imagine technology could evolve in this way? Go back less than a lifetime, and “the web” was nothing more than a spider’s home. And now- well, I can’t imagine life without it. Heck, I wouldn’t have a job without it.

I’m nearly 10,000 days old now. (Technically, 9845). If I went back 5,000 or even 500 days earlier, I would NEVER have imagined being where I am now. Engaged? Me?! And working at a job I actually love? In the most beautiful city in America? Impossible. I’d laugh if you even bothered to suggest the possibility.

I’m often reminded of a story given by Sheri Dew. In this story, her friend was looking for a house and asked her to come help. They found a house that seemed like the best for the standards that she had chosen, so she asked Sister Dew to pray and ask the Lord if it was the right house. Sister Dew went on to pray and she said in her prayer, “…Let them get this house if it suits Thee, or help them find something better…”

I think, too often, I limit myself- I don’t believe I can really achieve the happiness and blessings that are in store. Impossible, I say, and don’t even bother harboring hope in something better. I’m grateful that God’s stubborn enough to bless me anyway. To give me the fiance and job and home that really brings me more joy than I could ever dream of- that I even bothered to hope for- and continues to surprise me every day.

I have a tendency to try and plan out my future, but that never works. So really, I can’t say how things will turn out in the next 5,000 days. All I know is I can’t discount the impossible.

(P.S. - Here’s a link to the video I was talking about:)
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/kevin_kelly_on_the_next_5_000_days_of_the_web.html

In the past week, I’ve been so busy that I hardly ever turned on my laptop. That’s a BIG deal for me, the self-identified internet addict.

I started a huge website redesign project at work. Just about every minute I’m not working is spent with Brian or (less often) sleeping. Well, except last Wednesday, when I went to ward temple night. I definitely needed that moment of respite though.
I’m taking advantage of what little time I have today to post a quick update and announce IT’S OFFICIAL- yep- I’m engaged!!

Last night, Brian took me to a scenic overlook in Queen Anne right after we went to the monk funk. I got those familiar butterflies in my chest, hinting that something big was about to happen. And it did - he popped the question, and I (eventually) said yes!

I’m posting a photo of the ring- not the best, I’ll admit, but it will have to do for now…

I’m not a fan of belts, but it would be cool to have one like that

So… today was my second official day back in the working world. I love my job so far, even if I get headaches from overworking my brain- heck, partly BECAUSE of it… I love being challenged in a positive way. So far, I’ve mostly been working on a “Gap Report” - basically this 26-page proposal that describes all the crap that’s wrong with a client’s IT infrastructure. It’s a beast of a document- poorly written and extremely unorganized. So to suddenly become an overnight expert of geek-speak and completely rewrite this report is– well– daunting. I’m almost done, though- oh, I can’t wait for that blessed moment when it is complete!
Then, on to the next hurdle- redesigning the company’s website…

Oh, and lest I forget- this weekend brings the arrival of all my favorite men, figuratively and literally. On Saturday, my dad and my boyfriend are coming- my dad for a super short visit, and my boyfriend for good!! I’m sooo excited! No longer must I pine for my guy from a distance, or struggle to remember the warm comfort of his embrace. It’s been nearly two months since I saw him last. Two long, lonely months. Of course, I’m excited for Easter too.

Sorry for the much-delayed post! I’ve been a bit… um… distracted

Quick update for those not in the know: I got a new job starting next week as the Marketing Assistant for Responza, an IT Outsourcing business. A large portion of the job requires writing (yay!) and I’ll even get the chance to help redesign their website! So yeah… I’m really looking forward to that, even though it sucks to think I may have to leave when I move to Rexburg next year.

Gossip spreads fast among my family, it seems, so I doubt it’s really news to say I’m planning on getting married in August. It’s kinda funny, to think the date has been set and an appointment for the sealing has been made before my boyfriend’s even proposed! Ah well… hopefully that will change in the near future…

Speaking of “super” news… Here’s a recent clip about AIG that cracks me up:

I have a habit of playing “devil’s advocate” when discussing controversial issues. Some people mistakenly think the arguments I make are a reflection of how I really feel, and get all hot and bothered about it… There are two controversial issues recently that have weighed on my mind.

It all started early in the fall of last year, with the “Prop 8″ debate. In June, the First Presidency asked church members in California to “do all [they] can to support the proposed constitutional amendment.” I observed how many of my friends jumped on the bandwagon and eagerly joined “Yes on 8″ groups on Facebook, adding it to their statuses (stati?) and canvassing their communities with their support. I had good friends on both sides of the debate, so I honestly couldn’t show that sort of enthusiasm… I would be lying if I joined a group for or against Prop 8. I chose, instead, to read both arguments and try to decide based on facts, not propoganda. Even today though, months after the proposition has passed, I remain undecided.
I strongly believe in looking at both sides of every issue, and I try not to demonize either party. It seems like if I joined either side, I’d be subjecting myself to the “us vs. them” mentality. I’m afraid that if I did that, it would be harder to find a more balanced perspective.

The second issue just arose recently, when I found out that HBO was going to air an episode of “Big Love” featuring characters in temple dress and the inside of an LDS temple. Naturally, this upset a lot of my friends on Facebook. But once again, I found my first reaction to be… undecided. It’s not that I’m okay with HBO exploiting a very sacred practice. Taken out of context, I can totally see how the temple ceremony and attire could be wrongfully portrayed. It is wrong to exploit very sacred things, no matter what is involved. So why, then, do I feel so neutral about it all? Am I just trying to mediate both sides of this argument? IS there another side to this, aside from the outrage of members? I don’t want to condone HBO’s actions. I guess what I want, more than anything, is to understand… are the producers intentions really to mock sacred ceremonies? Even so, what power do I have to express disapproval? Does it really do any good to join a facebook group? Is that even what I should do??
Out of all the articles I found on the topic, this one, from the LDS Newsroom, proved to be the most helpful. I appreciate the counsel given to us as we deal with these issues:

As Elder M. Russell Ballard and Elder Robert D. Hales of the Council of the Twelve Apostles have both said recently, when expressing themselves in the public arena, Latter-day Saints should conduct themselves with dignity and thoughtfulness.

Not only is this the model that Jesus Christ taught and demonstrated in his own life, but it also reflects the reality of the strength and maturity of Church members today…with a global membership of thirteen and a half million there is no need to feel defensive when the Church is moving forward so rapidly. The Church’s strength is in its faithful members in 170-plus countries, and there is no evidence that extreme misrepresentations in the media that appeal only to a narrow audience have any long-term negative effect on the Church.

I don’t intend to play “devil’s advocate” merely to be a nuisance. I sincerely want to understand everything that’s involved- to see each issue in greater depth before coming to any conclusion. Does this make me a fence-sitter? I hope not. When I do make up my mind, I can be quite stubborn about it. So why jump to conclusions early and get stuck on the wrong side? Or even if I choose the right, how can I have peace of mind without studying the issue thoroughly?

I realize that some of my friends may be shocked when I say something “ultra liberal” or play “devil’s advocate” at times… It hurts to hear some friends accuse me of being a bad Mormon just because I don’t subscribe to conservative rhetoric. Now, it’s not that I feel hurt by the name-calling. Really, I’m more hurt to think that said friends refuse to listen or even try to understand me. I’m not trying to create controversy. I’m just trying to find the truth.