The Informant.

Have you heard of Matt Damon's new movie The Informant? I've seen commercials and thought it looked mildly funny. But after listening to this week's podcast, seeing the movie became a high priority.

The current This American Life podcast is about Mark Whitacre of a company called ADM. It's about a scheme he was involved in with price fixing and how he went under cover for the FBI to reveal this crime. His company was fixing the price of a corn derivative which happens to be in just about everything we eat (Read In Defense of Food and see King Corn for more on that...).

Anyway, this podcast was really good and I think you should listen to it. A very fascinating story. You can download it for free HERE, but only until Sunday. After that you'll have to pay for the podcast.

We listened to the podcast on the way to and from bootcamp. Once back in Provo, we drove straight to the movie theatre to see the film version of the story we had just heard. I really enjoyed it all, and I'm still not sure why it was rated R.

Enjoy!!

Utah State Fair!

I'm working my way through the list of suggestions everyone made about what I should spend my final time doing. One thing I knew I had to do was visit the Utah State Fair! Kirstin posted about it here.

Foot-long corndog. Once a year so why not?

This is the butter one cow produces in a year.

Also, when asked "what food does butter go with?" the number one answer was corn (52%) with the second being bread (36%). I don't think corn would have made my top 5 answers, although it is a good combo.

Halloween spirit
Driving home.

Now it's back to heads-down CPA studying so my life excitement will diminish greatly...

New header!!

I have finally fixed my header! Following Annee's recommendation, I asked Alyssa of The Tip Top Shop for help. She came up with a design incorporating what I already had and put together this lovely piece. It's cute don't you think? She is so good, you should all let her re-vamp your header. Fast, easy, creative.

I've linked above to the store's blog/shop and I'll add a button to the sidebar as soon as I figure out how to do that.

Thanks so much!!

What would YOU do?

I need you to complete the following statement:

If I did not have to work* full-time today I would _______________ .

I fully realize I am in a unique period of life where I have very little to do. Unfortunately I'm running low on ideas. The most exciting thing I did today was buy bread at Great Harvest. And gas at Chevron. And exercise. And listen to Oprah's Best Life podcast. Studying for the CPA exam often does feel like a full-time job, but there's still room to squeeze in whatever else I want. I'm trying to take full advantage of the next 6 weeks before I start working.

But what should I do?

I want your suggestion, I want to know what YOU would do. Because maybe I want to do that too. So give me an idea. (And ask your neighbor to give me an idea too!) I'll do it, and report back.


*Obviously, raising children is full-time work. And so is school. Etc.

Obama's speech to the students.

Have you read it? I really liked it. Uplifting, motivational, encouraging. What was all the fuss about? Lame.

I would've sent my kids to school. Afterall, he is THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES and all. That deserves respect.

Our kids should have exposure to leaders of our country. Fifty years ago when asked what they wanted to be when they grew up kids often said "President of the United States." Nowadays, the #1 answer is more along the lines of "Britney Spears." Not awesome.


*This is a comment I left on lovely Lindsay's blog post back in August which I've adapted to include here on my own blog, with the links the comment section wouldn't allow me to include.

*Over the last several years, I have been frustrated and disappointed by the lack of respect for our president that was so widespread in society and especially the media. It was completely socially acceptable to bash on President Bush for ANY and no reason. It got to a really disgusting point in my opinion. (You could not watch 2 minutes of early morning or late-night television without hearing something stupid and rude) And people were, just like you mentioned, HAPPY to see him fail. Failure served as some sort of self-vindication of one’s position. That is sad. I think the fact that we see this same behavior transferring to the other side of the political spectrum is a bit of a tit-for-tat type game, “getting back at each other” so to speak for the Republicans putting up with so much open criticism of the leader affiliated with their party.

I am 100% behind you in the sentiment that we need to teach our children to have respect for authority. Whether criticism is warranted or not, there is a certain level of decorum and respect that is owed to our leaders. As members of the church we should be great examples of showing respect for proper authority, whether that be God, the President of the United States, a Senator, the President of the Church or even the president of our local relief society.

In traditional Asian cultures, they have a great awe and admiration for their older and wiser members of society. This perspective and reverence has been ingrained in children from a very young age. We could learn a major lesson from that culture as it seems a similar respect for elders, wisdom and authority no longer exists in America. (And sadly, it’s fading a bit in those Asian cultures as well… Remember that talk Elder Wirthlin gave about the tsunami coming in Indonesia? The people were saved because the elders of the society knew the signs and got everyone out of the way.)

You’re right that although one may not agree with a position or a decision, there is still a measure of respect due to any human being, let alone the President of our country. I have tried to channel all my frustration with the treatment of President Bush into focusing on speaking respectfully of President Obama, despite the ways I may disagree with his positions or tactics. And hopefully, if/when a Republican holds the office of President again, people will remember to extend the same courtesy back to the other side.

My whole world fits into a 6x7x8 box.

It is finished!! Can you believe it?? I FINALLY loaded all my belongings into this pod which will be magically transported across the country and stored until I am ready for it. I just realized I left out two items: my bike and my tall brown boots in Sarah's basement, both of which I'll add into the tiny spot at the front.

Javier and Victor were immensely helpful. They approached the challenge like a puzzle, working hard to fit everything in. And they were VERY careful with my furniture, which can't be said for the college kids who helped me last week. (I won't post a picture of the top of my red desk because it will make me cry... They put my dresser on top of the desk and slid it all the way across. DEEP gashes. Definitely angry about that...) They also helped mom and dad load and unload tons of stuff at their house and in storage. Seriously, if you need help with that sort of thing, call Javier: 801-953-9147.


It is such a relief to have this task completed. Seriously it was preventing me from thinking, blogging, sleeping, party planning, CPA studying and just general life enjoying. But now it is done.

I still haven't figured out where in DC I will be living, but there is still time and I've got some leads I'm following. Hopefully CZ will join the great Zackrison eastward migration with a winter internship for PwC. Wouldn't that be awesome? Steve, CZ and I would have to have a mini family photo shoot in the office to celebrate.

Over the next 5-6 weeks that I am in Provo I will be studying for and taking 2 more sections of the CPA exam and trying to enjoy life before I begin full-time work. This "enjoying" will include naps and mid-day movies, time with the Wiley children, and hopefully the Utah State Fair. I've been working out with this running/exercise group every morning in Draper for the last 2 months and that will certainly continue until the day I leave. It's great. I've even gotten over the drive.

Anyway, I feel better about life now. I predict that will translate into more posting. Stay tuned.