You can rely on his work.

Do you know what "rely" means?

re-ly  /rɪˈlaɪ/
–verb (used without object), -lied, -lying.
to depend confidently; put trust in (usually fol. by on or upon): You can rely on his work.

I consider myself a reliable person. I am punctual, responsible, trustworthy, and loyal, just to name a few. Most of my friends have the same qualities (sometimes that is not as evident as I would like it to be) Perhaps that is what brings us together...

The reason I've been thinking so much about this word is because of some circumstances that have surfaced recently. Here are two specific situations:

The BYU vs. Utah game (which I do NOT want to talk about) was a little over a week ago. The game was a flop, but that's not the relevant part of the story. We hosted a get-together at our house so we could watch the game with people we like. Every time someone asked a question or made an incorrect statement, I was there, as a good friend should be, to make sure they understood what was right. This happened most frequently when one of my friends would start yelling at the TV screen. I know that my friends know that it was just a screen and that the referees couldn't actually hear them, but it seemed as though the excitement and/or rage they were feeling blocked them from realizing that. As they continued yelling at the TV, I realized how irritating this was to the fans around us and would attempt to quiet them by reminding them that they weren't in the front row of the stadium, not even in the stadium--they were in a house, far away from the game. I didn't want to be a niusance but I felt that a reminder was necessary. That is reliable: being there to remind my friends where they were and who they were.

The second situation happened just a few days later: my roommate Chris was throwing his girlfriend a surprise party at our house. They were expected to arrive at around 8:15 or 8:30. So everyone that was invited started showing up a little before 8 and continued to come throughout the night. I offered to help decorate, but was refused. I offered suggestions for the surprise, but was rejected. As everyone gathered around the table to make some last minute additions to birthday gifts, someone finally brought up the time and asked when we were expecting Chris and Rebecca. Amanda, who was supposed to be helping Chris with the party, had no idea what the plan was. She didn't know when exactly to expect them or who Chris was going to contact when they were on their way (she may not be the most reliable person...). I was the appointed contact person, but (in my attempt at humility) I didn't bring that up. As the conversation topic changed, I got the phone call from Chris, with the code words that told me they were on their way. I announced that they would be there in about a minute, and made sure everyone was well hidden and the lights were off. The surprise went perfectly and the rest of the party was great. Good thing Chris has such a reliable friend.

So although you may not completely understand the word reliable, remember who your reliable friends are. You can rely on their work.

The Power of Love

I have been quite impressed with girls as of late. I just can't help but wonder, how is it that girls can keep themselves from flinging their undies, or perhaps themselves, at me as I play guitar? Just the other day I was standing in front of a mirror, strumming and plucking the guitar with my manly fingers, thinking that very thought. I saw myself and thought, "You may want to invests in some better padded clothing because it may hurt a little when all those girls, who are flinging themselves toward you, tackle you with all their loving force." Which makes me wonder, how is it that girls are even able to do such superhuman feats in such moments? It must be the power of love, I do seem to have that effect on quite a lot of girls. You could almost call me the "reason" there exist super humans at all today. You're welcome.

Opposites

I always find it amusing when I see people or things from opposite "scenes" interact with each other. For example, a male from the "Jock Scene" dates a female from the "Gothic Scene". Hilarious! Am I not right? Just the other day I was entering the bike shop and was nearly squashed against the glass while a disgruntled really fat man holding a broken bicycle exited. Need I ask more? Sometimes I wonder who, what, and if it's not too much to ask, where my opposite is. I imagine it's a really gross candy bar. The kind you find on the bottom shelf of the candy aisle at Seven Eleven. Who buys those things? Those things are, like, two years expired and very stale to the senses of your teeth and tongue. Yes, for sure that is my exact opposite scene.

Just call me Phil

Last night was a rough night. BYU played TCU in football and I wish I could erase those 4 hours from history. It was a pathetic game. The Cougars didn't even deserve to win. At the end of the game, I was in my grumpy place. Luckily, a friend of mine invited me to go do one of my favorite pondering activities: hot tubbing. Although I always end up with a large group of friends on those occasions, I find I have some of my greatest thoughts will relaxing a large tub of hot water.

As I slid my body into the water, I found myself still in my grumpy place. It reminded me of another time I was in my grumpy place. It was earlier in the summer and my intramural softball team had just lost our tournament game. We all went to Carl's, Jr. (another great pondering place) to console our downtrodden spirits. As I was waiting for everyone to get their food, I sat down next to some friends who were there as spectators. They tried to lift my spirits by distracting me and talking about other aspects of my life besides our lost softball game. It didn't go well: the first thing Katie did when she sat down at my table was call me Phil. I do not look like Phil, in fact, I hardly resemble him at all, in looks or in spirit. Strike one.

Then Tyler proceeds to ask more about the game. Why? I haven't figured that out yet. He must have some kind of personal vendetta against me because no one in their right mind would bring up that game, ever. I tried to hold back the tears as I made excuses for my poor performance. Strike two.

I think they could tell that I was having a rough night but they didn't give up. No, they did not give up. They kept going. Changing the subject again, Tyler asked me how school was going. I was preparing for the DAT at the time and was not feeling prepared or encouraged in any way. The DAT was coming up very soon and it was the last thing I wanted to talk about (besides the softball game). Strike three. The night never looked up and I just looked forward to having some "me time" and starting over the next day. That was a long story, but I've been thinking about it since last night as it entered my mind while I entered the hot tub.

I was looking forward to a relaxing night in my favorite place last night after a rough few hours but of course, someone had to bring up the horrible BYU game and remind me of how grumpy I was. My response to Katie after identifying my grumpy mood: "Call me Phil, I dare you."

Pete, not Phil,
Pete

Debates Of Great Importance

I find myself arguing with myself, a lot. Currently I've been in a heated debate about the importance of brushing one's teeth. You see I'm going to dental school soon and brushing teeth happens to be the most controversly discussed topic in all dental schools, in all the world. My mind tells me that circular movements are ideal for plack removal, but my heart is telling me I should use the hoppkins method (involves using a blend of tooth paste and floss at the same time). Seriously, I spend hours a day having deep, heated, accusational arguments about this. Maybe I should try an electric toothbrush, I hear they are all the rage these days.

debatably,
Pete

Why, God, Why?

Glub glub. That is what I would say if I were a fish in a fishbowl. Oh wait, I'm not, but it sure feels like I am! Do you ever feel like you are in a fishbowl? Maybe you would if you worked where I work.
Next to my office is a huge glass window and every day millions of students swim by like a school of fish and feel the need to either stare at me like angry beavers, or bang on the window with their stupid class rings from high school til my ears want to explode. The sound is like two panda bears running at each other holding chinese gongs in the midst of government bomb testing in the mountains. It's my favorite thing :)
So, a word to the wise: No matter how much you like glass windows, or fish, or panda bears with gongs, don't work in fishbowls.

-Pete

Mountains

Well, lately I was in a large group of people and found myself pondering. Is it weird that I do most of my pondering in large groups of people? That isn't what I was pondering about, that is a question I just thought of for another ponder session. So I was thinking about mountains and people. It is so interesting how people and mountains are so similar. Not in the tectonic origins per se, but the intricate similarities in the personalities or mountainalities of the two subjects being pondered on. I was thinking of how most mountain ranges span north and south. That is so true of people. It is always north and south, up and down. There is rarely east to west, or side to side with people. And then I found myself saddened for a brief moment. Most people will never know the joy of going side to side instead of up and down, then in the midst of my pondering I received a personal breakthrough: I am different than most people. I am like the Uinta Mountains, which contrary to their other mountain friends, run east to west. I thought about this...deeply, mind you. While others run this race called life they are simply going up and down, north and south and are missing out on the interesting adventures that can be found when one goes east to west, side to side. My brief sadness spoken of earlier was replaced with joy as I realized how lucky I am that I go east to west, traveling the untrodden ground and loving every minute of it. Then I asked those up and downers around me if they knew what was different about the Uinta Mountains. I was answered by blank stares...figures. (Uinta Mountains)

Ponderifficly yours,

pete