Let's Tune Out By Turning Up the Radio

Here it is! My last trip home for the next 2 years coming and going, at least I've had In-n-Out and its been warm in the Bay! Do you ever feel like you're so excited for something that is a little time away from the time you find out that you think that day is never going to come? I thought so, well, that's kind of how getting ready for the mission has been for me. I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited even as I write right now, but I would also be lying if I said I wasn't nervous, scared and something else that would describe an apprehensive feeling about leaving everything for 104 weeks. Lucky for me, I have a pretty strong heart and fortitude for doing things that are scary, I've been able to deal pretty well. Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas everyone! I hope it was fantastic for all of you! ;)
It's quite interesting getting ready for what I'm about to do. Many of you that are of LDS faith and have served missions can relate probably to difficulty of preparation. At first, you think, "Oh man! I know nothing! How am I supposed to teach this stuff?!" Then a little time passes and you think, "Oh, I got this, it's all about testifying and Preach My Gospel." Finally you realize "My world is about to get flipped upside down no matter how I specifically prepare so I should just go about my normal stuff and get ready for this new experience with fun, friends, family and dropping the goodbyes to folks you won't see for quite some time." Am I right?
Here we are, I say we because I feel like I am not in this alone because I have all of you especially a few close friends in particular, however, I value each of you in your own way (I know I love you all so much, I'm just a big softy! ;p ). And you know what, I'm ready, bring it on Canada! Sorry, if it's boring to read about mission stuff, but this is kinda important to me right now. Anyway, I really am excited and I feel ready to go out and meet some sweet people, eat some food, hang out with some polar bears and baby seals, and do the work! I think that some people hear about a kid going on a mission is pretty typical and expected of them, but I really hope that you guys don't see me that way. I have truly made my own choice to serve the Lord and I expect only the best out of myself. I know that to some people, a mission is a rite of passage, but for me, and I don't say this in a "I'm better than you" way, but for me, I don't think that is the case. I don't care that that is how some might see it, I don't care if you don't care that I'm goin, I don't care if anyone approves of it. I DO care that it does not change our friendships because I am the same kid you got to know over however long we've known each other and in any of our respective circumstances. I love you! I mean that in the most correct way possible for how we know each other just in case you were getting the wrong idea ;p Y'all matter a whole lot to me and if you've suffered through this last most all the way to the end I offer a reason for it i guess? This is MY last post, but my mom may update it from time to time while I'm gone, but if I may ask, I would sincerely appreciate anyone that would want me to have their address or email address while I'm gone to write letters and/or emails to you fine friends! I want to write to as many people as would want letters, but I'm also planning on sending weekly or monthly emails to be forwarded to anyone that gives me their email address to keep you updated on my adventures! Plus, its nice to hear from you guys too!
Much love everyone!
Kev

With Hands Held High

Alright, its been a couple weeks but i got somethin to say!! First, life is goin good; school, homework, tests/quizzes, church, preparing for the mission, etc. ok, This past Saturday the U.S. House of Representatives passed Obama's bill for health care reform. Sounds good right? FREAK NAW!!! We will be positively screwed if this thing gets threw the Senate! Here's why:

Ok, I think that we do need healthcare reform, however, I believe in making a rational solution that may take some time to get used to doing but in the end it works. So Obama's current bill is over 2000 pages long so to be fair, I haven't read the thing, but I feel that I can reasonably comment on it. A GOVERNMENT OPTION HEALTH CARE PLAN IS NOT THE ANSWER!!! Insensitive? NO!!! Look, only 10 or so million people in America do not have healthcare; that is 10 million out of over 340,000,000 Americans. Goin with basic bath thats only about 3% of the country. (Bear in mind, I think that 10mil. is an underestimate by a little and 340mil is about right on.) So I'll ask this, "Why are we going to alter everything for such a small percentage of people?" Please, someone answer this for me cuz I don't know. Now, don't get me wrong, I believe in helping people, anyone that I can, however, I want to be a doctor someday and while utilizing my abilities and the things I learn in Med School is probably one of the greatest joys of life, I still need to be able to pay off the debt accrued in Med School and to support a family without having to work 80 hrs. a week!

Where am I going with this? Here, we need better change than a government option healthcare plan. We need to start with the patients. Yes, the patients. Patients need to actually want health advice and care from doctors not assuming doctors are all "quacks" and using WebMD to diagnose themselves. WebMD is useful, but WebMD didn't go to med school and every person is different. Patients don't look for help anymore, they look for money. Doctors feed malpractice insurance as often as they can because they know that one mistake could cost them their life. People, DOCTORS GET IT WRONG!!! Most doctors are right about 85% of the time. Thats pretty dang good if you ask me. Think about it, doctors make 250-300 g's a year for being CORRECT 85% of the time, but baseball players FAIL 7 out of 10 times and no one sues them......just sayin. So overall, we need to fix medical lawsuits, if a doctor does screw up and a patient can't do their job anymore or dies or whatever, the doctor should only have to pay what the patient would make in their current job until they would retire at 65 or whatever. It is completely outrageous to sue a doctor millions of dollars when that person wasnt going to ever make that much money. This goes into effect? Health care costs go down.

#2: Health insurance compaines should offer a minimum program. This would allow employees of business's to afford healthcare without compromising everyone else's benefits. Very simple I think...An option low level employees can handle and as you go up the chain you will still want better care. How simple is this??????

Look, I believe in conservtion, wind energy, energy saving light bulbs are awesome (and i use them), I take my reusable bags to the grocery store, i love water, i want alternative fuel and all that jazz, but spending 1 TRILLION dollars on crappy healthcare reform does not excite me in the least. And thats all I got to say about that.....

This Is For Real, This Time I Mean It

Hey everyone, This Thursday I received my mission call in the mail and opened it last night. I'm going to the Canada Winnipeg Mission!!!!!!
Yea, for real. I leave December 30th for 2 years of service to the hopefully awesome people of Manitoba, Canada!!!
I'm really excited and totally surprised. I really thought I would go to Florida (ASL speaking since I took it in high school) and I also thought England, SoCal or somewhere near Spain or South America (to learn Spanish). Instead, I get Canada! It's gonna be awesome tho!! Really cold winters and humid summers. It's gonna be crazy! Plus, since its kinda woodsy in some places I'm hoping to do some lumber chopping and come back with massive biceps, triceps, pecs and forearms!

A Heart So Big It Hurts Like Hell

Hey kids! I'm at it again! Lots of things went down since the last time I thru this up. Here we go.....
My mom came to visit a couple weeks back and goodness that was heartwrenching. Over the past couple months I have been thinking about the future of my life and realized that I may not have everything in the right order, or I was missing one thing. School started and I'm technically a senior except for the fact I have a buttload of prereqs to do before even thinking about applications to med school and pt school (I decided I'm gonna apply to both and see what I get...yea, I'm that awesome). This basically means that I would be leaving Provo and probably UT in about a year or so. I also had to kind of contemplate a romantic future since, for the most part, anyone who comes to Provo/UVU/BYU and doesn't get married while they are here, are pretty much doomed to the ward "clearance rack" in many cases (not all the time). I don't wanna be in that spot so it had obviously crossed my mind as it does with many individuals. So there is that. Now, stir in a little "Hey, should I go on a mission right now or decide I'm not going to until I'm an old man?"

I did stir that in and I feel like I can finally share this news since my papers are already in and barring some kind of extreme circumstance its gonna happen...I'M GOIN ON A MISSION!
Woooo! I said it. Great news right? Yea, I thought so to most of you out there, but I do have some friends are gonna think I'm nuts and stupid, at least I have great friends that despite that thought will still support me and be homies when I get back (Marc and Travis).

Now, your probably realizing that I mentioned my mom earlier and wondering "what does she have to do with this?" My mom and I have always been pretty close so I felt most comfortable telling her my decision first and I felt it was best face to face so she came to visit. We had lunch on the Saturday and I told her then. The reaction was heartbreaking to say the least. Mom, I love you. We sat in that restraunt talking and she cried some, but eventually it got better, like everything good in this world; it gets better. The mood turned from upset to concern about safety, provisions, funding for a mission and school when I get back, then to telling my dad and brother, grandparents, cousins, friends, etc. She was able to find even the slightest comfort in my grandpa's words and the mood by the time she left on Monday was of acceptance, understanding and love. So there it is. I decided to leave everything I know, enjoy, friends and family to serve the Lord wherever He may need me. Imagine that...?

I Swim for Brighter Days Despite the Absence of Sun

First, sorry folks, it's been awhile (emphasis on the 'h' just for spencer), but im back from outer space and i just walked in to see that sad look upon your face! So a lot has happened in this past summer I would say. Took a couple classes, spent half the summer in provo half in fremont, returned for the fall to realize that, once again, life is far more complicated than i had thought previously...
To start, this summer i took chemistry, "suck me sideways!" (more on this phrase later) and it was the worst thing ever. Let's remember that i already hate chemistry and am no good at it beyond the simple math part and finding moles and whatnot, but add too it the fact that my teacher was a COMPLETE TOOL!!! yea, wanna kno what i mean? go to askaninja.com and watch the "college tips" episode and fast forward about a minute and a half and watch, he'll talk about teachers and it perfectly describes my chem prof. Besides this class that i have to take again, summer wasnt too bad. I messed up my knee once again (those of you who ran with me in high school know my affinity for knee problems) bad enough to need physical therapy. This was pretty awesome tho since i got to see what i think i want to do someday in being a therapist (i say think cuz med school is still an option). I rehab-ed for about 6 weeks before i could run again then started playin intramural softball which was pretty fun.
The downside to this time is when Callie tore her ACL..... :( extreme disappointment. She had to have surgery on her right knee which put her down for most of the summer, however, i got to be boyfriend, maid, chouffer and chef while she was recovering and i think it was pretty sweet!
Eventually, i had to make that long drive back to CA after my class was done so that i could work for my mom and visit for a few weeks plus take the GRE (I did ok, probably gonna take it again plus maybe some MCAT action). It was cool working for my mom this time around because 1) i was workin with my best friend Kevin 2) Diane is ridiculous 3) Alan, our coordinator, is the freakin man. He's so the man we gave him the nickname Alan "All Man" Manalac and 4) I played some basketball every week. Staying out of other peoples drama was good too. And the phrase earlier (suck me sideways) started at work when me and Kev were assigned to pull indate orders and we would have bins full beyond the brim and it was a rough day and i got an order where it had like 5 bags out of one bin that was overflowing and i said it....and it stuck and was hilarious. This visit was about 6 or 7 weeks long in the which i went to Vegas for a weekend and talked to Callie almost everyday despite the potential of us not dating when i got back because of a thing that i wont mention. Well, turns out we did and are still dating! why she's into me? I will probably never kno but I wont complain ;P

Stand Up!

I couldnt figure out wut to say but i wanted to update this thing, but this song was playin so i grabbed the lyrics its sweet!
Stand up
We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Stand up We shall not be moved
Except by a woman dying from a loss of food
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you

We still don't understand thunder and lightning
Flash back to when we didn't fund the dam
Didn't fund the dam levee? No wonder man
Now our whole damn city's torn asunder man
Under water but we still don't understand
We see hurricane spills overrun the land
Through gaps you couldn't fill with a 100 tons of sand
No we still don't understand
We've seen planes in the windows of buildings crumbled in
We've seen flames send the chills through London
And we've sent planes to kill them and some of them were children
But still we crumbling the building
Underfunded but we still don't understand
Under God but we kill like the son of Sam
But if you feel like I feel like about the son of man
We will overcome

So Stand up
We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Stand up We shall not be moved
Except by a woman dying from a loss of food
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you

I said Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you

We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
Except by a woman dying from a loss of food
Except by a freedom fighter bleeding on a cross for you
We shall not be moved
Except by a system thats rotten through
Neglecting the victims and ordering the cops to shoot
High treason now we need to prosecute

So Stand up
We shall not be moved
And we won't fight a war for fossil fuel
Its times like this that you want to plot a coup
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
So Stand up
We shall not be moved
Unless were taking a route we have not pursued
So if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up and I'll copy you

I said Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up

Now shake, shake
A Polaroid dream
nightmare negatives develop on the screen
We sit back and wait for the government team
Criticize they but who the fuck are we
The people want peace but the leaders want war
Our neighbors don't speak, peek through the front door
House representatives preach "stay the course"
Time for a leap of faith
Once More

Put your hands up high if you haven't abandoned
Hope that the pen strokes stronger than the cannon
Balls to the wall, Nose to the grindstone
My interrogation techniques leave your mind blown
So Place your bets lets speak to the enemy
Don't let em pretend that we seek blood
And who's we anyways Kemo Sabe?
Mighty warlord wanna-be street thug
a threat for a threat leaves the whole world terrified
blow for blow never settles the score
word for word is time need clarify
We the people did not want war

So Stand up
We shall not be moved
Except By a child with no socks and shoes
If you've got more to give then you've got to prove
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Unless were taking a route we have not pursued
So if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up and I'll copy you

I said Put your hands up and I'll copy you
Put your hands up and I'll copy you
if you've got a dream and a lot to do
Put your hands up

yea.....good old intellectual rap

You Know It Would Be Nice....

It's done!!!!!! School is out for summer and by that I mean for a week! Its all good but I am so done with the devil's class (ANATOMY)! I rocked the lab final and kinda bombed my lecture but luckily there is always a curve that will save me! The way it gets done tho is weird. See, as we go along and take quizzes all semester long (9 quizzes, midterm and final in lecture and 16 quizzes, midterm and final in lab) and we find out our grade on each plus the what the curve is. Usually I'm above but oh man was this final hard. Although, its been a good experience and I'm pretty much set for any anatomy class I take from here on out cuz they will just be review. PT school is going to be so easy! haha!