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So I had an awesome night that definately rocked my socks.

I took Morgan to Fall Fest, which was tons of fun. We did the inflatable twister (which is by far the awesomest game to play), and then we went down the inflatable slide and through the inflatable obstacle course. It was bigger than the senior party, lol! Except that it stunk that it was only from 8 to 11 cause we got in line for the laser tag at 9:30 and stayed in line until we became the last group to go at 11. But it was worth it cause we got to talk and hang out and shoot people with laser guns! I came in 14th place , but Morgan came in 2nd! And I shot the person who came in 1st place 5 times when he only shot me twice !

After fall fest we ran through the sprinklers!!!! This is so much fun, the sprinklers go on evey night, and if you're really cool like Morgan and I you run through them jumping and screaming and waving your hands wildly. I love BYU.

So then we tried to hit the creamery, but it was closed so we didn't. Anyway, I had a really good time with Morgan.

After that was all done I got in my pajamas and my roommate came in. Apparently a bunch of guys from the ward were getting together to go watch "The Fugitive." I got dressed again (into different dry clothes ) and went over to the stake center.

Nothing stops BYU students. You see, paramount has this fued with BYU because we don't watch rated "R" movies. We used to buy the rights to such movies and then edit them and show them in the varsity theater. Well Paramount sued us, saying that we couldn't edit them. We won, and they weren't so happy. Anyway, now they've been sending private investigators in and threatening to sue us for watching movies in the dayroom lobbies. Apparently it's illegal because a lobby is a public place and so we can't show movies without buying the rights. In response, we've been having huge movie parties across the street on the lawn with blankets and stuff. It's been a lot of fun, and it's legal. (don't ask my why the lawn is more legal than the lobby, it just is)

http://www.freeiPods.com/

I just went to Brother Wulf's class. Again I am so inspired. I don't know what it is. It's insane. He just makes me feel like there is no limit to my potential. Like I can achieve anything. I feel so ambitious and motivated. I feel like I can be everything I want to be. I love this feeling, this excitment. Also, he taught us the everything we've been taught about perspective is all made up and there is no such thing as one point perspective. Isn't that cool!? Alright I'm babbling. And this is horrible writing FYI. It's all abstract language and explanation. No showing, just telling. Oh well.

EDIT: 10:06
I just saw "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" with Candice. It got me really excited as it gave me that much more hope for the nation and for mankind. I wish that they made movies like that today. With all the technology we have, surely we can make a movie that is every bit as exciting, optimistic, gripping, inspiring, and hopeful as that one if not more so. Anyway, gotta go.

I am both proud and ashamed to have just participated in the R hall 3rd floor Gauntlet.

I am proud because it was much fun and exciting and thrilling and because it helped me prove myself to . . . to myself. Not to mention I got to work out some major agression.

I am ashamed because I am bruised and scraped and tired. I am ashamed because this qualifies as "loosening up" more-- something I did not want to do merely because someone asked me to do it three times and I felt like I had allready loosened up sufficiently over the summer.

This Gauntlet event which I speak of did not really happen (shhhh!). But hypothetically speaking what might have taken place went as follows: everyone lined the hallway with mattresses placed strategically in various obstacles to go under, over, around, through, between, etc. Then everyone else lined the hallway with pillows. We timed each contestor, clad in boxers and a helmet, as he ran under, over, around, through, between, etc. mattresses while being hit with twenty pillows over and over. Watch for DVD's of the scene on ebay, they will be going for a hefty price. lol.

Disclaimer: No people or animals were injured in the Gauntlet. Children should not attempt this at home. Adults should consider their own college expereiences before casting judgement on this experience. If this experience surprised, shocked, or disturbed you, remember that we do not drink, smoke, partake in caffenated beverages, watch "r" rated movies, violate laws of chasity, wear immodest or extreme styles of clothing, beat up old ladies on the street, or bomb buildings. We have to do something to have fun and rebel in some way.

Guess what! My roommate found some grafitti on our floor and we discovered that in 1979 Steve Young stayed in the same room that I now live in. Isn't that awesome!

I miss my family.

I called home and Megan came on the phone and said in her little 4 year old voice, "Daniel?"
"Yes," I answered.
"I was looking for you in your room but you weren't there," she said.
I'm thinking to myself 'please don't this, I'll cry!'
She continues, "I forgot you went to college," all while giggling at her own forgetfullness.
"I'm sorry I wasn't there," I answered, all choked up, "I miss you."

Jonathan had a rough visit with his grandma. Our family is upset with what happened, and really needs your prayers. Strong prayers. This cannot continue, but legal action is so slow. I'd love to tell you more if you ask, but I am not comfortable talking about it on a public xanga setting.

Edit:
I hate watching the news now. It makes me so sad.

Pray for the victims of terrorism in Russia. What happened in Beslan was sick beyond belief. Just sick. I have to stop thinking about that horrid event and Jonathan's situation before I throw up- there is just so much sickness in the world.

Edit again: That was too depressing of a note to end on. There is also a lot of good in the world. Like that picture of my family above. Family is good. It still survives. I am going to go rejoice in the family and other happy things so I can have good dreams tonight.

"I need Thee; Oh I need Thee. Every hour, I need Thee . . ." I just went tunnel-singing for the first time. It was a lot of fun, especially meeting MormonBoy (aka Mark), Fadgst (aka Sam), and Leehae (aka Haelee) in the flesh.

For those of you who don't know what tunnel singing is, it is when a bunch of people gather at the tunnel by the Marriot Center to sing hymns on Sunday nights. Apparently at 10. I did not know this, and so I showed up at 9:20. It was empty and dark except where the street lights lit up the white washed cement. The bell tower rose Eastward, homeward, like the spire of a temple. It was quiet and so I walked around the bridge and stared at the lights that spill across the valley and suddenly stop were the mountains- the edge of the world- begin. Slowly people came and sat down on blankets in circles. They started singing by flashlight. It made me think of candles. I felt out of place for a while, until all of a sudden hordes of people started filling the tunnel. I went to the center hoping to find my xanga friends, and sure enough I did find them. My voice sounded terrible though because I haven't been able to find it all since I lost it at the game. Great fun, but anyway,

I know you're dying to hear about my amazing weekend. In retrospect it couldn't really be as awesome as my last post implies, but then again perhaps in last night's energy it really was.

Friday my best friend Jeff and our friend Megan came down from Utah State in Logan to come visit with me. We hung out till Saturday morning, then Megan went with another friend and Jeff stayed in my dorm. When we woke Jeff and I went DI shopping cause I needed some painting clothes. So I bought some sea green 80's pants and a matching plaid 80's collarless flannel. I also couldn't resist and baught myself an awesome pink tie and a reversable tuxedo vest that on one side is navy blue and on the other is baby blue and white plaid. It is hot. (And all together like under 12 bucks)

Then we met up with Megan, ate some yummy food, and picked up Fark (Nichole from American "Fark") and drove through traffic and rain back to BYU.

Scalpping tickets at BYU is a unique experience. After a lot of searching we found someone willing to sell 3 tickets for $105. We only had $96, and he settled for that. With that the four of us sat in the bleachers (My season ticket was a much better seat, but I wanted to be with them). As we went to find our seats, we discovered that in front of us and next to us was the Notre Dame section. Directly in front were four very annimated Irish fans. My first reaction was, "I'm gonna get beat up." No one disagreed with me. The game began, Notre Dame vs. BYU.

(Heather you would be proud that I did not get beat up. This is part of my new experience with tolerance)

I have never been to a more passionate, gripping game. Every play made the crowd go wild. There was an energy all around. "Go might Cougars, Go mighty Cougars!" And in front of us rose a cry, "Let's go Irish, Lets go . . ." "Cougars!" We shouted back, louder to cover their cry. They stand up. We stand up. "BYU! BYU! BYU!" we shout. "Sucks!" they add.

Then we are distracted by a play. Some freak catch that shouldn't have happend but did. A risky move that proves sucessful. At the end of the game there was 2 min. left. BYU up 20 to 17, our possesion. Notre Dame had made a come back in that last quarter, but we still had that lead. Be safe, I think. Be smart. Just keep a hold on the ball and let the clock wind down. Suddenly BYU QB launches the ball. It's in the air; it's free to be caught. It is not a short pass. BYU holds its breath, screaming inside, "they're gonna intercept it! We're screwed!"

And then he caught it. BYU caught it. We leap up, we're hugging, we're screaming. This is BYU football. It was amazing. Oh the energy. The excitement. We couldn't stop singing, "Go mighty cougars" as we walked to the car. And then we couldn't sit still in the car as we drove the girls to American Fork. We blasted Dashboard and shook our heads passionate to the throbbing beat . . . "This is the best night I can ever remember, always remember . . ."

I love life in the bubble. I love happy valley. I have never been so involved in a place. There is an ambience and an energy that is just so . . . thrilling here.

The taste of victory is a soar throat. It is the taste of bile, the feeling of sandpaper.

More to come when I go to sleep and wake back up again, but can I just say, "we dominate!!!!" We beat Notre Dame. *Sigh* This might have been the best weekend all year. Better than Prom. Better than . . . well better than every weekend except for Youth Conference.

It is a fine night to be a Cougar.

I feel . . . inspired. I just went to the art museum with Meghan. I discovered that a 5 min walk at no charge will bring me to the most inspirational piece of art I have ever seen. It is "Christ Healing the Sick at Bethesda" (1883) by Carl H. Bloch.

I saw it and instantly was in awe. It is huge. There is so much for me to learn from this masterpiece. Though my favorite Carl Block Painting is actually "Blessing the Children" (Both paintings depicted below are the works of Carl Henreich Bloch)

I was also inspired in Brother Wolfe's spacial drawing class today. Yesterday I was asking myself how sinful artists can create the most beautiful, inspiring works of art. Well today I learned that this scripture is aplicable even to art:

D&C 130:20-21
"There is a law, irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—
21 And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated."

Note "that law." So if you follow a specific law, you will reep the rewards (or consequences) for that specific law. If you adhere to the law of tithing, you will recieve the blessings associated with such a law. If you adhere to the laws of art and drawing and painting, you will reep the blessings of a masterpiece painting. Disobeying the law of tithing will not take away the blessing that comes from the laws of art, just like disobeying the laws of art will not take away the blessings from tithing. Interesting.

Also, one thing that has surprised me about BYU is that it doesn't hide anything. It doesn't deny the real world. For example, my art history class talks about art that predates 4,000 BC. My Book of Mormon teacher reffered to differences in multiple accounts of the first vision. These bits of knowledge don't hurt my testimony of the Church (BYU justifies them logically and truthfully), but I think it would have hurt my testimony if I knew that BYU was hiding it from me. BYU is pursuing higher education. Just thought I'd share that.

(this image cannot compare to the actual painting, which is brighter, warmer, sharper, and more beautiful.)

I just posted a protected entry and it's freaking hilarious (er, most of it, some parts are just sad), but I can only let 10 people at a time read it. Sorry if you're left out (but it has to be protected access), and if you're not left out, then feel priveledged and go read it.