"Wisdom drips, but dries into dust if we do not drink it."

I started a fun tradition a while back of looking up intelligent thinkers' quotes. But for the last six months, they have just been sitting useless in my Gmail inbox, since I emailed them to myself to save them. I don't want to throw them away, because I love them, but they can't stay (Ah!).
So, now that I'm realizing the usefulness of a blog as a virtual trash can, I have decided to move some of them here. Viola!

ERNEST HEMMINGWAY:

If a writer knows enough about what he is writing about, he may omit things that he knows. The dignity of movement of an iceberg is due to only one ninth of it being above water.

All my life I've looked at words as though I were seeing them for the first time.

All our words from loose using have lost their edge.

Man is not made for defeat.

Never confuse movement with action.


ABRAHAM LINCOLN

Am I not destroying my enemies when I make friends of them?

As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy.

God must love the common man, he made so many of them.

If you call a tail a leg, how many legs has a dog? Five? No, calling a tail a leg don't make it a leg.

It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.

Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.

Rock Star

When I listen to Death Cab for Cutie, there is a big (okay not so big) part of me that suddenly wants tooooooo sell all of my possessions, drop out of college, move away, and write music forever. Not that this is feasible or will ever, ever, ever happen, but I can dream, Okay? ? ?
So, just for your giggly enjoyment, my Top 5 Things I would do if I suddenly became Robert Plant:

Numero Uno: Grow my hair to my waist and bleach it blond!
Dos: Get a tattoo across my back.
Three: Two words: Stage Dive!
Four: Dedicate a song to Rock.
Five: Smash my guitar!

So, now that we have lived through my rock star dream, I'm heading back to homework. (Ahh the joys of suburban-citizen, college-student life.)

The Poetry of Wallace - an exploration into the feelings of Austin on December the 7th

After the semester's final devotional today, I ran into Austin in the cafeteria. Among other things he did that made me laugh, he shared this original poetry with me. I post it now :) He said these were his deepest emotions on this very tired day. Enjoy.
(Permission granted)

Too tired to try to express my feelings on this page
Nothing to give to others and nothing to take away
Struggle to shake off slumber but can only think
of bed

Afraid of what might happen I tuck back into my shell
I wish I could see now the two things I did wrong before
Failure sets in again as one word falls from her lips...
"No."

Goal Time!

(I thought the photo looked appropriate.)
Life without goals is just passing time, so I want to lay out some structure. But not too complicated. These should be done before the end of the year. Here we go:

Educational: Re-ignite a thirst to learn. Be prepared for every class. Love what I learn.

Relationship: Decide 5 things to do for her in a long distance relationship.

Career: Talk with an editor. Specifically find out how to get to the top pay scales and decide my interest.

I saw "Hereafter" the other day (Matt Damon, some wonderful acting English boy, and a French Lady) and payed way to much attention to the credits. (Not sure why... :)?) I just don't go to the movies very often. Anyway, the credits did me no good, but I got to thinking, "What if life ran a credits roll once you were done?" I get the feeling that with a thousand years to add them up I wouldn't get half of the people on there that should be.
If there was someone I could never forget, it would be Professor Kendall Grant. He taught me so much more than English. My stomach knots up a little just thinking about it. I got the first C of my life in his class. Blew my mind; but it knocked down my presets, and Brother Grant opened my eyes.
He taught us to write real. He taught us to see, and pay attention to the master teachers around us. I love it! The midterm took us two weeks. Every day, 90 minutes reading, half an hour writing, turn in a new paper every class. It made a lot of us sick. But it taught me to think. Details peeled away in layers in every reading, like why he put a comma instead of ending the sentence, or that his clauses averaged 9 words; but varied long and short lengths just to please the reader. Then, I would turn around and write. Professor Grant taught me I could learn from anyone I want. If I want, Abraham Lincoln can instruct me. I just need to pick up a piece of their writing and ingest it.
I think that Professor Grant showed me how to think. And I appreciate him for it. Ever since his class, I see the world with open eyes. The best part is he lit the way and let me scale the mountain. I learned more in one English generals class with him than all of my education before. So, Professor Grant, this is a tribute to you, one of the best teachers I have ever had. Maybe it's because I love words and he taught me so much about them, but if I had some goofy credits roll, he would definitely come right near the top.

Photo: http://web.byui.edu/directory/employees/EmployeePhoto.axd?Employee=GRANTK

Wally's Quotes of the Day

This is my great friend Austin Wallace Thornhill. I think the man is quite a miracle. You may have had this experience before, but he's one of the people that leaves you with the feeling described easily as, "Wow, I feel good about myself." Also, he's very creative. We just came up with a hilarious... uh... experience? that we could have. Star Wars music came on in the Crossroads cafeteria and Austin and I immediately--blaming our doughnuts we had just eaten--imagined fighting each other. But all out, as in chairs and tables were orbiting Austin while he used the force to throw them at me, while I dodged them on a floating scooter.
Anyway, Austin was extremely nice and gave me a cookie. His disclaimer though, was this:

"Don't eat the spider. It's plastic."

Quote number two:
Justin: "I want people to get more love in their lives."
Austin: "They just need more Wally."
I hope you love your introduction to my friend Austin Wallace Thornhill. He is the best friend you may never have had.

I'm going on a blog rampage. Two in one day:) This is Mark, or Elder Halbert to those that care--of the two of us that read this blog.
Always, Mark has been one of the funniest kids alive. Still, from Riverside California, he lays it down. His emails are full of counsel, thoughts, imagery, etc. that makes me giggle, laugh, and have to hold my side.
Here we go:


(After I told him I had surgery) From the sound of it, you seem to be recovering well, and dating already.. =/
good luck with school, study hard! if you can lift books yet that is.


(Love counsel from a missionary) go for her personality. that's what counts the most. Most of your success in life comes from the girl you marry, so be sure to pick the right one, not trying to pressure you or anything.


Sorry if this message is all cramped up, but the enter button doesn't work, haha. Well, 3 minutes left on the clock, til next week family, love you all. Elder Mark Halbert (blast the enter button)


Dear Family, No, Uncle Dave did not take me out for lunch, and they don't eat with me either, the food here is pretty good tho, I've gained maybe a pound or two if that will make you jump for joy, haha.


Companions? no, one is deaf so he's better than us all, my real companion is kinda new to it, got alot to learn. My companion is hearing, like heary hear, and the teachers ehh, kinda depends on them


Uncle and Aunt Jones says Hi to you guys, haha, I tried the glasses you sent me and it's fine, but to see far distance, it's blurry, guess that's what to be expected from cheap glasses


(Opposite homesickness: thoughts on our dog) Tama's doing good? that's great to here, i thought he'd be sick and all since i left cuz he really likes me.


(Companion info and questions answered) Dear Family, Yeah, it's the two of us now, easy? depends on what you mean, we wake up at different times, i'm a bit silent and he's talkative, blah blah blah. Heh, he doesn't really try to sign often, i worry about him. This week we are teaching in ASL so hopefully it will encourage him to work harder. Signing more? ofcourse i am! it's an ASL Class, we sign most of the time.


I bet everyone wants to hear something funny, alright, here goes. for our district meeting or whatever, we talk about how we can improve as a group, and i say we need to be more positive, and the sister who's writing translates it to Positive's only, i look at it for a few seconds then say, well, guess i'm out, i'm negative (blood type). Everyone laughed, hope you do too, haha.


darn, with me gone the neighborhoods gone too dull


(A little attitude) You opened the box i sent home?? Hello, does it say Linda or Doug Halbert? no is says my name meaning it's for me when i arrive home after my mission.. oy.. i don't like to waste the bags..they're useful. And it didn't cost that much.. if i had sent the regular box, fedex would have charged me like double the cost or more. so relax on that part.


i noticed a paper sign on a pole saying possible kidnapping, and i said, why do people kidnap kids anyway? you have to feed them and they cry all the time.. Well, you all enjoy your stay in Minnesota while i go looking for Deaf people.

Do not give this man your facebook password. It's a mistake. He got after me Thursday night, "Justiiiiiin, I want to see a picture of this pretty girl you talk about. C'monnnnnnnnnnn--hey give me your facebook password and I'll look at her album!" And so I gave in.
A few hours passed, mostly with me sleeping. I woke up super refreshed Friday morning, did the breakfast thing, went to work, eventually I checked my email. Lo and behold, some strange comments were sitting there, staring at me out of my yahoo mailbox. They were from facebook. "hahahahaha!" and "you nerd ;)"
Sinking feelings punched through my stomach. I saw the face above this article. And I knew... So I got out my laptop and logged on.
I'll finish with what this man--my best friend--posted for all the world to see as my status... (I will have revenge Ryan. Your head will end up in a toilet bowl or your hand in warm water while you sleep. Your payback will come.)
When you read his comment, notice that he managed to roll up cockiness, obliviousness and mental thickness into one beautifully insulting phrase:
"I'm a sexy man! I just figured it out I think!"


(hahaha :) )

The catholics break a champagne bottle on ships when they first take off. I think that would cause some problems if I tried it on my little brother...

Mark takes off in two, count 'em -two-, days for the Provo MTC. I'm sure that right now he's asking himself a mix of, "Why can't I just go already??" and, "What... am... I doing?" When you are about to leave on your mission, you get this sudden, knee-jerking realization that your life has been a thousand times better than you ever gave it credit for. I'm sure Mark has it now. You don't know what's coming, no matter how much the older brother, the bishop, or that guy in your ward that likes to come put his hand on your shoulder after sacrament; squeeze; and say, 'Well, son, you are going to make a fine missionary,' have ever told you about it. Soon, you're at the airport. Your eyes get just about as wide as they can. You get on the plane and suddenly everyone around seems different. The change isn't them. It's you.
You stop to consider yourself. You're wearing the suit. Your shoes will have the shine. But, suddenly, you're a boy in a war. For a moment, you seriously wonder if the change and your preparation have been enough. There is no way to go back and start over if it's not. Your head sinks and you pray -sincerely. Moments move past you. Peace settles in. It will be okay.
Then, faster than should ever be allowed, your two years are gone. Suddenly, you are sitting on another plane. This time, you're crying your eyes out. Images of people you've loved and cities you slaved over are flashing at you behind your eyes. That same suit is on you. It's worn to some kind of brown around your shoulders. Threads stick out at some of the seams now. Your shoes have holes, but you've kept them shiny, just like your mission president asked you to. Your change is enough for what's ahead. You're sure of it this time. You know your master. You gave it all over to Him. You've realized something, though. Here at the end, you hadn't sacrificed anything at all. You come back a richer man, regardless of what you gave up.

Mark, I love you. What you're doing is right. Who you are is enough. You really will do great, even though you won't feel like it sometimes. Your mission will be an absolute masterpiece. I'm excited for who you'll be and all of what you will do. Remember that you have a lot of fans at home who will love you and believe in you through every moment. I'll miss our camping trips and shooting sessions in the desert, but those can wait. You are doing something better.

I love you Elder!

Your Older Brother

Testing!

So, I know that blogs might not be the first thing on your Manliness list, but I'm doing it anyway. Writing is pretty much an addiction for me. Being in college is just waking up the big writer-beast inside me. I don't know how endless days of teachers with tucked in shirts and comb-overs talking to me about John Milton and compound interest can bring back my crave to think deeper and speak, but they have.
So, being up at Byu-Idaho has opened up a door. I'm going write my scattered, fun-smeared and laughter-filled life in this blog.