For the Strength of the Youth!

Tonight I went to a stake dance for the first time ever. I don't quite know why. I thought I would possibly enjoy it to an extent. I didn't plan on staying the whole time but I at least planned on staying long enough to dance and play some games. (I ended up playing air hockey and ping pong most of the time until I left.)

Well, the only way I can describe what it was like is by likening it unto a piece of moldy bread.

Now imagine that this piece of bread is the cultural hall, the crust is the hallway, the individual spots of mold represent the individual groups and/or cliques that seemed to be everywhere you turned with their backs to you, the mold itself is the content of their conversation and dress (or lack thereof), and the flavor of the mold is the flavor of the music chosen.

Now imagine the whole piece of bread sparkling with flashing neon strobe lights that will nearly blind you if you look straight at them.
Also imagine that this slice of bread is electrified. If you bite into it, it will cause your ears and heart and in fact your whole body to throb. Imagine the piece of bread pulsing like a living heart. Put the whole piece of bread in a dark room.

Now understand that this piece of bread was dedicated to God. It therefore belongs to God. We gave God a whole piece of bread and and then turn around and not just permit this mold to grow but actually treated it with chemicals to create the mold. It we do this to show our love to God.

Now, imagine biting into this piece of bread.

Now realize that for the majority of our Utah Teenage Population this is a regular part of their diet. They actually like it.

And why do we plan and promote these things? As the young woman who offered the opening prayer for this activity said in the prayer- "We are grateful that we created this atmosphere where we can feel the spirit, and please bless us all with the strength we need to fight against the adversary and live up to our standards."

So we plan these things to feel the spirit and practice standing up for our standards in places where it is hard too? And which spirit may I ask are we creating an atmosphere for? The Spirit? or the spirit.


And this is the strength of the youth?

-CarsonKG

My Day

A chronological evaluation of the events I participated in today

!2:00am - I watched a few of KSL's Have you seen it's

2:00am - I helped my parents finish the meal for my sister's wedding luncheon

2:45am - I finally went to sleep

8-9:45am - I traveled back and forth from dreamland to reality. Then I finally realized that I was supposed to meet a friend at my church meetinghouse to prepare for my sister's wedding luncheon

12:00pm - After preparing and guarding the room for the luncheon for 2 hours, I decided to go home and eat. I entered my house and my brother told me that I needed to go back and rearrange the tables and chairs

12:20pm - People slowly started seeping in for the luncheon

1:00pm - The bride and groom arrived and I realized I am now the oldest of my parents children carrying the family name. My stress level also took me to the point that I completely walked out and went into another room where I played the piano until the luncheon was practically over.

2:30pm ish - I came back in, sat down with some friends, the bride and groom left for their honeymoon, Alyssa H. told me she was tired, I woke her up her way, she slapped me, I smiled, everyone left, we cleaned up and went home

Then to Now (8:30pm) - I emailed, chatted, played with siblings, watched  the Cosby Show, was told to come upstairs for family prayer, came upstairs, nobody was gathering, my mom is on the phone, my dad is wandering taking care of random things, I am here because I'd rather right a post then be asked to clean up

All in all, the day started out filled with stress. I woke Alyssa up and my stress level has dramatically decreased. It's been a good day.

Oh yeah, did I mention that my sister is married?! 

-CaRsOnKg
 

Those Who Shaped my Life...

To some of the best friends I've ever had:

McKayla
Mark
Leah 
Alyssa
Preston
Sarah

There are many more of you out there but these are the ones who have stuck by me in some of my hardest times and have inspired me more then any others. You are all amazing.
Some of you I have lost contact with.
Some of you I have not seen for years.
Some of you I have only actually been with on rare occasions.
Some of you I see quite frequently.
Some of may not even think about me anymore.
All of you are incredible people who have shaped my life and have helped me to be who I am today.

Thank you all. I owe more to you then you'll ever know. Thank you for being who you are and helping me become who I am.
I hope I have had some influence in your life to make up for all the influence you've had in mine.

-CarsonKG

I lived!

The end of the world came and went...

And I'm still alive!

-CarsonKG

Cast Away and Kisses

Last night was interesting.
It started out with two of my friends picking me up and us going to get pictures with Santa.
Then we found ourselves at Acute's house.
We had a quick gift exchange in which I gave away Othello and a box of Skittles and in return was given an 'Easy Button.' ("That was easy")
After opening her present, Acute laughed and gave me a kiss. ("Aww")


Later on, we played a game. A game with rope nonetheless, which usually ended up with one person on top of the other. One I'll definitely save for when I'm home from my mission. ;)
 A couple times it ended up with me catching her in an embrace. (Double "aww") 

After that, we watched Cast Away and critiqued his poor attempt at starting a fire, his survival skills, just about everything he did. We also had a tendency to push the easy button every time he finally got something right. (Oh yeah, I also stole a few kisses throughout the movie.) 

As the night drew to an end we sat in the van for several minutes and talked. Then gave each other a hug and left.

Needless to say, it was a good night.

-CarsonKG

P.S. Those kisses tasted great! 

An almost successful kidnapping... almost

Everything was perfect: The cake was baked and waiting in the truck of the getaway car. Everyone was in position. We were on schedule for the most part. Her supervisor was in on the plan. Security had been informed and were cooperating perfectly. we couldn't have planned it better.

Plan A: Contact "the subject's" supervisor, find out what hours "the subject" would be working, get permission to kidnap "the subject" from "the subject's" job. We would arrive to "the subject's" work before "the subject" did, lie in wait for "the subject", then kidnap "the subject" when "the subject" wouldn't be suspecting it. Then "the subject's" supervisor informed me that "the subject" would be desperately needed the entire time but we could kidnap "the subject" when "the subject" was done working.

Plan B: We would wait at "the subject's" house for "the subject" to get home. Then we would surprise "the subject", blindfold "the subject", tie "the subject" up, throw a bag over "the subject", etc. Then transportation and timing as well as the high price of gas intervened. 

Plan C: Meet at "the subject's" workplace, wait for "the subject" to walk out the doors to leave and throw a bag over "the subject". Then I realized that I had already asked "the subject's" supervisor to keep "the subject" there until we were ready and we now had no way of letting her we were ready without letting "the subject" realize our presence. 

Needless to say, we went through a plethora of plans before discovering one that would work. I Agent Carson who was wearing a sport jacket and scarf along with a black v-neck shirt, brown casual shoes and nice jeans would put on Agent Talon's Black, flat/wide-brimmed cap tilted over one eye (a style few people would ever imagine me in), and then with my head low and with a swagger definitely not truly belonging to me yet practiced and proven for just such an occasion would walk through the only doors by which we could access her yet towards which she was looking. It was a risk, yet I pulled it off successfully. Agent Caiden and Agent Talon were waiting with the giant bag right outside the doors and Agent Chance sat coolly in the drivers seat of the getaway car. We had notified security and they were working with us. All was going perfect.

I shot a glance towards the the young attractive-looking women who was obviously the supervisor and gave her a nod to let her know who I was and that everything was ready. She responded by putting one finger up and giving a look that meant that she needed just a few more minutes. I wandered around expressing to the people around me that something was going on and that it was okay. I had got this message across to everyone but Santa... or so I thought. At the right moment, the supervisor nodded to me and gave me a thumbs-up. Just moments afterward "the subject" walked over to her to ask if she could leave yet. Her back was towards me. I saw my chance and with one swift movement I stepped behind her, whipped off my scarf and threw it in front of her and over her eyes. "The subject"(I'm just going to call her 'Acute.')Acute immediately threw her hands up do draw the scarf from her but I in a move quicker then her own pulled her arms back to her side without letting g of the scarf and began walking her out of the outlet lobby. As I calmly walked her out, her supervisor mouthed a joyful "Merry Christmas" and "Good job!" to me. Security showed up not to rebuke but to congratulate us on our success and get a peek at some of the action. Several of the bystanders were slightly shocked but more entertained then anything and Santa sat there in his giant arm chair and red suit looking shocked as ever at the sight of one of his most good looking elves being kidnapped. 

I walked her (Acute) out the lobby doors and upon stepping out into the cool air, Agents Caiden and Talon thrust the enormous bag over her head. Agent Caiden then picked her up by her feet, I by her back, and Agent Talon opened the back door to the getaway car. We were about to set her in when all of a sudden we heard from the direction of the doors "Put that girl down!" We did and then without talking in order to keep our voices in disuise we tryed to gesture to her that everything was all right. She told us to "Take that bag off her head and explain to me just what's going on or I will go call for security!" We tried to express to her that security already knew about it and then she nearly went into panic mode. She shouted to us "Leave that girl alone NOW!" Agent Caiden broke down and said "Tomorrow's her birthday. We were doing a surprise kidnapping for her. We're not trying to hurt her." Then I explained that "We've already informed security and her supervisor of what going on and they're not only fine with it but they're helping us. Security then came out and estified to the lady that what we said was true and that everything was just fine. We then took the bag off of her head with a realization that in one swift blow, out great plan had been ruined. The lady turned and walked away with a grunt and glare at each of us. (Poor woman.) 

We then proceeded to drive to Cabelas where we spent the rest of the evening sampling fudge, admiring knives and guns, shooting cork guns, drinking mayo and sword fighting with frying pans.

Opperation birthday party: Success!

-Agent CarsonKG

Needles, blood and other things...

 

As I have already said, I am working on my mission papers.

Here's how it's going:



Yesterday morning I had a needle stabbed into my right shoulder and a vaccine which does not naturally


belong in my body injected into me.



A few hours later I had a physical examination in which I first had a large needle stabbed into the bend of my right arm. A tube-full of my own blood which naturally belongs in my body was withdrawn from one of my major blood vessels in that arm.

Just moments after that, I had                                                                                                              
a slightly smaller needle poked barely under the skin of my left forearm and then proceeded to have another vaccine injected into my body. Only because the needle was barely under my skin, it created a bubble under my skin which I was stupid enough to watch as the nurse continued to inject, thus causing the bubble to grow.

And so, I now declare to you that I officially despise the presence of needles underneath my skin. regardless of whether they're injecting into my body, chemicals which naturally do not belong there or taking out that which does belong there.

-CarsonKG

p.s. Did I mention that I was fasting during this whole ordeal?  Trust me, it's not a good idea.

Thrillionaires!

 

The Thrillionairs are an amazing group of actors who specialize in Improv Theatre!

Some of you may have seen them perform before and could attest as to there skill and ability to turn the most random things into a play filled with fun and laughs.

I have been watching them perform on an almost monthly basis throughout this year and have come to love and appreciate their talents.

Just letting you all know, 

These amazing actors have agreed to teach monthly improv classes at my work, Brigham Larson Pianos.

I've attended two of these classes so far and have loved them.

They teach amazing skills that can be used in every person's life.

Also, if we get enough youth and children to join the classes, they have agreed to teach them once per week instead of just once per month.

These classes take place on Fridays from 6:30 - 7:30pm.

It doesn't take long,

requires only as much out-of-class work as you are willing to put in,

and includes free tickets to watch the Thrills perform afterward.

I know I may sound like I'm trying to sell you something but what I'm really trying to do is offer you all an opportunity to increase your acting abilities as well as introduce you to new and useful ideas and skills.

If you want more information on this, then leave a comment.

Y'all are amazing!

-CarsonKG      

Mission, here I come!

Missionary

 It's a dream I've had for a long time,

and now it's only getting closer!

On Sunday I had an interview with my bishop.

Tuesday I talked to my Seminary Principle about the possibility of graduating a term early.

Wednesday I gained access to my papers and started work on them.

Today my Seminary Principle told me he had put together a study packet so I could graduate early.

Next week I go in for several medical and Dental examinations.

I'm so close!

I'm so anxious!

I'm so excited!

"I want to be a missionary now!"

CarsonKG  

P.S. Prayers are always appreciated. Especially ones for monetary means. :)  

KA? KG? What does this mean?

Some of you may wonder why I sign my name 'CarsonKG'
Well, KG is a title. Two posts ago I listed a number of people with the same and with similar initials after their names. As you may have guessed, it has something to do with knots.

At Maple Dell we have a knot organization. A club if you will. The organization is a tradition at camp and in the organization each member holds a certain "rank of knot immortality."

The thing is a joke really and is based off of Greek mythology, so no I am not being sacrilegious and please don't take any of this offensively.

The Ranking of Knot Immortality is as follows:

Knot Angel (KA) This is the first and lowest degree of Knot Immortality that one can attain.
Knot High Angel (KHA) This is the second degree of Knot Immortality that one can attain.
Knot Demigod (KDG) This is the third degree of Knot Immortality that one can attain.
Knot God (KG) This is the fourth and highest degree of knot Immortality that one can attain and requires one to learn over 150 knots, hitches, bends, and loops, in addition to several anchors, splices, tricks, bindings, mats, plaits, braids, sennits, whippings, lashings, tackles, coils, and stories of or concerning various specifics knots or styles of knots. In addition to all of this, one must learn or earn the pioneering merit badge, make a rope that's at least 6' in length, create a knot of his or her own, own a detailed knot book, be able to speak in "Ropenese" (aka use various knotting terms.), and gain an incomprehensible love for knotting. Oh yeah, and know how to fuse the ends of a rope. All in all, you must memorize and complete a few hundred specific things. (If you want a list of the requirements, leave a comment and I'll send them to you.)

Special Ranks include:
Knot High-Angel (KAA)
Knot Cardinal (KC)
Knot Oracle (KO)

As you can see the whole thing is really a big joke and quite punny. I am Carson KG. In other words, I am Knot God.

So yeah, if you ever wonder how much I know about knots, how many knots I know, and how much I love knots, the answer is a LOT!

-CarsonKG

Women and they're curious ways

My good friend Alyssa wrote a beautiful post today on her blog lyssarosie.blogspot.com entitled

"Who can find a virtuous woman?" 

At the end of her post she added a "Note to the Men" in which she told us that it means the world to a girl to have a man tell her she's beautiful. But does it?

If it truly means the world to her, why does she (I use "she" to represent the majority of young women I associate with.) so often respond with *insert awkward smile* "Umm, thanks?" *Insert slight raise off the eyebrow and a look as if I'm an alien freak* as she turns away?

If it really means the world, then show it.

Why is it that you can get so excited if a guy were to offer you a chocolate bar or something small like that. (Okay, I guess for most girls, chocolate is a big deal.)

But when you're given a sincere compliment you either brush it off like nothing.

Now I'll admit, there are times when a young women does respond graciously and gratefully when told that she is beautiful, but I also must admit that that response usually only comes when the compliment comes in the form of a handwritten letter, at an event where it's obviously expected of every young man, a dance, a date, or when two people are "singled out."

However, it does remain true that when just given as a sincere compliment at a time that's unexpected (which is when young women say that they need it most) they cast it off like nothing.

I'm not complaining and I'm not disrespecting or mocking women at all. 

I guess I'm just the one with the curious mind.

-CarsonKG

Those Who Shaped my Life...

Dedicated to

The Knottiest people in my life.

My Knotty Mentors:

Tim KG

Bobbo KG

David KG 

Amanda KA

Liz KDG

The Knotty Pyros:

Sarah KG
Jeff KA
Caiden KDG
Aaron KHA
Chance KA
Zack KAA
Talon KA
Kaitlyn KA
JP KA

I love you all and cherish your friendship! You are all amazing!

Caiden and Sarah have been my two best friends in and out of camp and I believe and hope will ever remain so. You two are incredible. You yell at me, I yell at you. You tie me up, I tie you up. You smile at me, I smile at you. We walk around with our arms around each others shoulders and don't think anything of it.

Sarah, we've almost hated each other at times. We've convinced others for most of a summer that we hated each other without even trying to.  And yet, no matter what may come between us at times, we always make up and forgive each other. We're like little girls who go from practically scratching out each others eyes one moment and then in a blink we're sitting side by side sharing our deepest secrets, smiling, laughing, and grateful to be friends. You know me more then most other people. Maybe that's why we've had moments of fighting. But one things will forever be true: that I will forever be grateful to have you as a friend. I know this is early, but happy birthday. You deserve one.

Caiden, you're like a brother to me. You always have been. I've never had a brother who I can role around in the dirt with, punch in the shoulder at random times, have punch me back, stay up until 3:00am having conversations with knots in replacement of words, go on a hike, sit on a giant arrow before a spectacular view of the whole of Utah Valley with our arms around "her.". Oh, good times. You and I have been on so many wilderness survival overnighters, rendezvous, and so many other things. We've sniffed hats together. We've kissed "the Eagle" together. We've beat-boxed and sung together. We've done a lot together. I glad to have a friend so much like a brother. You're among the best of the best.

The rest of you are amazing as well.

You've all taught me so much and I'm grateful for you all.

Thank you.

Carson KG

Somewhere Only We Know

This is my favorite song as well as one of the songs which I have dedicated to my home,

Maple Dell Scout Camp, and those dear friends who have worked with me there over the years.

Somewhere Only we Know 

I walked across an empty land
I knew the pathway like the back of my hand
I felt the earth beneath my feet
Sat by the river and it made me complete

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

I came across a fallen tree
I felt the branches of it looking at me
Is this the place we used to love?
Is this the place that I've been dreaming of?

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know?

Oh simple thing where have you gone?
I'm getting old and I need something to rely on
So tell me when you're gonna let me in
I'm getting tired and I need somewhere to begin

And if you have a minute why don't we go
Talk about it somewhere only we know?
This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go?
So why don't we go?

This could be the end of everything
So why don't we go
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know?
Somewhere only we know? 

CarsonKG

Spontaneity... on a dresser

Have any of you noticed how things that are seemingly simple, random and not worth paying any mind to can become some really neat things worth a lot of attention if you just throw the right light on them and give them a little bit of attention? Well I learned this lesson a couple of years ago when I for no reason at all turned my lamp to face my messy dresser-top.

It was just just a lot of random things.

 

Then I turn on the lamp

and...

Do you see it?

 

 Add a paper dragon.

Light some candles.

Do a little photo editing 

and wallah!
 

Something remarkable.

Let this be a lesson to us all.

There are people all around us who we take for granted.

We don't think that they're worth our while.

We consider them another random person.

We don't see their true worth.

We don't see them under the light.

We miss something remarkable.

Yesterday I met a young lady.

She lives near me and I've seen her several times but never thought it worth my while to stop and get to know her until yesterday.

I finally talked to her and discovered a friend.
A remarkable young lady with passions, interests, fears, dreams, and a story of her own.

-CARSONkg 

This is me

Yes,

This is me.

 

 You may ask

Am I a stocker?

Am I intentionally being creepy?

Do I have a gun under that coat?

Unfortunately, I can't offer that information.

If I did... never mind.  

What I can say is that boy is it fun to walk around looking like a "Gumshoe."

Very Dynamic.

  Very Observant. 

. . .

And definitely very cool.

Yes,

This is me. 

-CarsonKG 

The Destruction of Peoples: A parenting dillema

As we learn about past civilizations that have been completely destroyed, we ask ourselves how it could be. How can an entire race of people become extinct not by natural disaster, drastic climate change, dreaded illness, or by any other natural cause, but by their own wickedness and hate for each other. How can this happen, and who fault is it?

I was contemplating this thought earlier today and although I didn't find any sound, bullet-proof explanation, I did form a theory.

Let's use a Nephite People as our example.

After the visitation of Christ to the people of Nephi shortly after His death, the people became converted to His gospel and remained righteous for around 200 years. Imagine, 200 years without any wars or contention of any sort. So how within a single generation could they have gone from a flourishing zion-like people to heaps of drying bones strewn across the earth. Well the obvious reason is that they became prideful. But what is the source of this pride? Was it that they were wealthy? it could have been, and yet this pride was among all of them. Not just the rich. So there was obviously for to it then that.
Let's ask ourselves this question. When a parent tell their child to or to not do something, why does the child tend to turn away and disobey them? They are raised in ignorance, which turns to rebellion.

How often when a mother tells her child to do this or to not do this does the child respond "Why? What's the point?" and the mother replies because I know better then you. Children want answers. Children learn through receiving answers to their curious questions and the simple answer of "because I know more then you" doesn't cut it. How often in the latter end of those 200 years of peace do you think children would ask their parents why certain things were so and the parents responded "because I know what you don't." Probably fairly often. If a child is not taught why certain things are bad, then they often begin to wonder if they really are bad. They seek to appease their curiosity by dabbling in those very things they were warned against because they were raised in ignorance to good and bad. Not to reason behind good and bad.

As for rebellion:
Inside every human being is an inherent need to learn, grow and create, but how can we do these things without opposition? Opposition gives us purpose. A reason for doing and becoming. Something for us to fight against, to inspire us to become great.
We need this opposition and if it is not given us, we seek it out.

For the Nephites, they went through 200 years being taught to fight against the devil and to promote righteousness and peace among mankind. But what if after 200 years they began enjoying the peace so much that their soul focus was on goodness and they ceased to teach to fight against wickedness and furthermore, ceased to teach the types of wickedness which must be fought against?

The children would have grown up in ignorance as to the ways of the devil, knowing nothing but goodness.  Then the devil comes tempting. They suddenly realize this new way of being. This strange new way to life. They haven't been taught that this is the thing which must be fought against or even what the results of this way of life are. They have an intrinsic need to fight against something so they fight against the only thing they know. Righteousness.

They have found something new. Something in which one person can find competition. Something to fight for. A way to become something big and powerful. And so they discover pride, fight against themselves, and become the source of their own destruction because they were not taught what to fight against.

They were raised in ignorance to their questions and rebellion because of that ignorance.


Now, I do not know if this was the cause for the destruction of so many civilizations in our worlds history, but I do see how this is becoming the case in our own modern world. And it cannot be so.

-CarsonKG

"This one's for the Girls"

I don't know what it is about me, but little girls just tend to flock around me. Do girls my own age flock? No. But little girls (Mainly between the ages of 8 and 10) are always popping up out of nowhere and just tend to cling... and it always makes me smile!
These are some of the little girls who I've grown to love throughout my life and who have helped shape me:

Lydia 

{"Liddy-love"}

I waited for years for you to come. Now you're here. The girl I always loved.

Jaylin 

{"Pet"}

 I spent all summer with you tied to me or with you sitting on my shoulders. I watched you cry, hurt, smile, tease. Remember, "you are a princess!"

Cassidy 

{"Lady Cassy"}

 I've been at war with you longer then I've ever been with anyone else. But at least we can dance better then anyone else.

Amanda 

{"Cat-girl"}

 It took you two and-a-half years of you hissing at me when I came near you but now you purr when I pet your hair and love me carrying you around.

Sarah 

{"Sis"}

 I married your sister. She left me for my best friend. Then she spent a night letting her husband's servant boy play pranks on me in the woods. But you were there to keep me smiling the whole time.

You are only 5 out of a hundred, but you 5 have taught me so much about myself. I love you all. Some of you are my little sisters. Some of you are my little friends. One of you is my niece... kinda. But you are all my girls.

And I love you all.

-CarsonKG

The people who have shaped my life

I apologize for going almost a month without posting, but this past month ha been quite crazy. Thank you to those who gave suggestions for things for me to post about. I'll get to those. However, for a time, I would like to post about the people who have shaped my life. This will come kind of in a series and will include The young men, young women, little girls, mother and father figures and others who have shaped my life to help me become the person I am today and continue to help me as I become the person I one-day desire to be. I'll be posting about multiple people in various categories, about individuals with "letters" to them, and likely some general "thank you" notes to groups or individuals.

I hope you all enjoy this!

-Carsonkg

Your turn!

"It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy. I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."

I love this quote! Especially when I'm at a dance and I keep trying to start up a conversation but the girl refuses to give more then a 3 word answer and won't even offer a smile. It's quite disheartening for a young man who is simply trying to make the dance enjoyably. So, when that is the case, I usually ask the girl if she likes Jane Austen books. So far that is one of the few questions that will at least get me the first excited answer that's more then three words long. It's usually "Yes! their sooo amazing!" Then she stops smiling and acts as if nothing had ever been said in the first place. Then I ask her if she remembers that quote. She does. Then I say ""It is your turn to say something now, [insert girls name]. I talked about [insert previous topic(s)], and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples."
Needless to say, that usually breaks the ice.

 Well, I'm guessing you all (or you, whoever 'you' happen to be) are getting tired of reading about Louis L'Amour. So,

"It is your turn to [suggest] something now."

Being that so far as I know, the only people who are reading my blog are a few of my friends who are girls (two of which are my sisters) and the mother of another friend (also a girl), and only two people have commented, I don't know quite what to write about. What does a teenage write about to an audience of mainly teenage girls? I'm kind of new at this whole thing, so please let me know what you want me to blog about next. Friends, Life, Work, Books, Philosophy, Current Events, School, Me, You, Us? (Nah) Politics? (Again, Nah.) Anyway, let me know what YOU want to hear.

-CarsonKG

Womenfolks and their Powerful Imagination

I have known several young women who go on and on about how incredible and amazing various young men are. It usually leaves me thinking to myself "Really? You see that in him? I mean he's a great guy and all but not that great. I mean seriously, I've talked to this guy and he's told me about his faults that he's trying to correct and here you go off telling me that those faults are not only non-existent but that those are actually his strongest points!"

"Womenfolks have powerful imaginations when it comes to a man, an' she can read things into him he never knew was there, and like as not, they ain't!"
~Louis L'Amour Ride the River

Personally I think that the worst of these cases is where the girl is telling you to your face how incredible and amazing you are and how you are one of the greatest young men they've ever known while inside you suddenly begin analyzing your faults and seeing all your weakness and then ask yourself "Where did you find that? I must be hiding some incredible attributes from myself where I'm the only one who can't see them." You then start feeling like a jerk for not telling her that she's completely mistaken but for some reason you have a feeling that if you did tell her that then you would only be an even bigger jerk.

Girls, I don't know how you see what you see in men but my only logical theory is that you have each invented this perfect model of a man in your heads and when you find a man particularly attractive then you automatically convince yourselves that he is your Knight in Shining Armor and so he therefore possesses every attribute of that perfect man.
Well, this is not the case. It likely never will be the case. 
so...
A bit of advice: Learn to see men as they really are. The male species is not all that different from the female species in that we too have many faults and rights. Many strengths and weaknesses. 

The greatest point of view to see someone from is not Jane Austen's, but God's. And the second best point of view is their own. 

-CarsonKG

"Each man owes a debt to his family, his country and his species to leave sons and daughters who will lead, inspire and create." ~Louis L'Amour Sackett's Land

How often does society try to teach against having families and then list dozens of reasons why.

Some common reasons include:
"Families are expensive."
"Think about yourself. You don't want to spend the rest of your life as a slave to your children!"
and the tree-hugger "families leave to big of a carbon print and are therefore bad for nature!"

What we must realize however is that there is one common truth that all men must except about life. And that is that eventually every one of us will die. Therefore, while we are alive we ought to offer as much to the prosperity and goodness in society as we can while we are members of it, but if we do not set things in order so that our contribution will continue on, then our contribution may only be remembered for a time but will one day be forgotten.Therefore

"Each man owes a debt to his family, his country and his species to leave sons and daughters who will lead, inspire and create."

or to continue to give that contribution to society.

So let us then ask ourselves "When my mortal body dies, will I have paid my debt? And will my name continue to live in the lives of my posterity?"

 I hope mine does.

-CarsonKG 

I have found a new friend!

Okay, I really found this friend about two years ago when I read 'the Walking Drum' for a school assignment. Ever since that time, I have gained an ever-increasing friendship and interest for Louis L'Amour and his books.

The other day I was reading one of his books on my way into seminary. Someone asked what it was. I told him. Suddenly I had multiple people asking if I'm really a western fan.
In our current culture, "Westerns" and "Country" aren't all that cool. So why do I read Louis L'Amour books? The answer is simple: They are cool!
Western music is "so not cool." Western movies are "old school." ( hey, I just rhymed) But Western books? Those are classic.

Louis L'Amour books in particular tend to be chalk-full of amazing quotes, philosophical insights, incredible characters and personalities, and plenty of room for contemplation. I particularly love the quotes and insights.
 
Two quotes that I have recently found are:

"Each man owes a debt to his family, his country and his species to leave sons and daughters who will lead, inspire and create."
~Louis L'Amour Sackett's Land

and

"Womenfolks have powerful imaginations when it comes to a man, an' she can read things into him he never knew was there, and like as not, they ain't!"
~Louis L'Amour Ride the River

Is not the first quote absolutely powerful and inspirational? Especially in a society that seems to look down on families and children.
And the second quote... Yeah.


I'll be posting more in the future about both of these quotes so be ready.

-CarsonKG

By the way- I woke up this morning and discovered snow. I'm not sure what to think of it yet... how about you?

Yes I did...

Yes everyone, I started a blog.
Now I find myself with two options. I can:

1. turn this into a "Politician Post." You know, where I make a ton of promises about how "I'm going to post everyday! I promise, my post will all be absolutely amazing!", post everyday for the first few weeks so everyone will think of you as an honest and amazing person, and suddenly seem to forget that I ever made any such promises, that I have people who look up to me to fulfill my promises, and even to forget that I ever had a blog to begin with.

or

2. take the "Boy Scout" approach where I spend the first two years posting occasionally but never posting anything of worth, spend the next two years realizing that I better get going and live up to everyone's expectations of me, and then spend the next two years taking advantage of the fact that I have a blog and use it to have fun, waste time, and interact with others while my parents think that I'm doing something constructive. (Sorry all you Boy Scouts but how often is this the case?)

I pick  #3

3. The "Obvious" way. This is essentially where I let you all know that "I think you're amazing people and I don't want to let you down by never posting. However, I have this thing that is much bigger and better than a blog... it's called a Life! That being said, be assured that I will post as frequently as I am able to. I frequently have inspirations and experiences which I want to share but never seem to find the right time or place. These things will be shared here. But do not be surprised if at times I go days or weeks or even longer before my next post. Just know that at those moments, life is simply moving to fast for me to be able to record it before something else happens.

That being said, I hope you people will check in every so often and comment on things if you have the time. If you can't, I understand. Life.

-CarsonKG

P.S. Eventually this will become my missionary blog where my sister who loves blogging will post all of my emails. When that happens, you can get all of my mission details, dates, places, addresses, letters, etc. here.