Manual Dexterity

So in my Psychological Testing class we did this really great test for Manual Dexterity. It is simple test that you do with your mouse that tells you how dextrous you are. Pretty cool! Check it out here. Make sure the sound is up and let me know how you did!!

Lou Holtz Pep Talk

I wanted to post some stuff to commemorate the beginning of the college football season.  Here are some classic videos of pep talks courtesy of Lou Holtz.  This ought to get you fired up for college football, or well, anything.  Enjoy!

The Summer of Andy

Well, I'm back.  I took the MCAT yesterday and it was crazy.  I am glad that it is over because now I finally get a summer vacation (for three weeks)!  I just wanted to say a quick thank you to everyone who has been so kind to me during the whole MCAT studying process, and especially all of the kindness on or around test day.  Thanks for all of your prayers, text messages, phone calls, emails, priesthood blessings, blog comments, "good luck"s, etc, etc, etc.  I really appreciate it and I feel like I have the best family and friends a guy could ask for.

I also have the best wife in the world, who has been so patient with me and so willing to sacrifice her weeknights and weekends so that I could study for this test.  I am glad its over now (not because I didn't actually enjoy studying [which I definitely did]) because now I finally get to let my hair down and enjoy my time with her.  Thank you Suzy, for everything.

Now, I am looking forward to NOT studying at all for three whole weeks.  I haven't had a summer vacation yet, so I am going to party hard.  Its been about 18 hours since I finished the MCAT, and we've already gone to Chick-fil-A, I've watched National Treasure, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Preseason NFL Football, and started reading Angels and Demons.  I am not only going to veg out and watch movies, but it has been nice to finally relax.

So, in honor of George Costanza...."I proclaim this the Summer of ANDY!" (well, what's left of it anyway)

Pretty Sweet

Check this video out...it is the Seinfeld theme on the bass. This guy rocks. I've always wanted to learn this...

Something You May Not Know...

Hey!! I have a few BIG things going on in my life right now, and I just wanted to BLOG about them because they are like all I am thinking about lately. It could also be that you didn't already know this about me, so I figured it might be fun to share.

The first thing is that I have been asked to write a chapter in a book that will be on methods in microbiological and medical research. I was asked to do it a couple of months ago, and have been working like crazy on it. It is a pretty big task, but I am moving along quite well now. The professor that I do research with at BYU is known across the country for his expertise (among other things) in the field of antioxidant microbiology. I have become quite proficient in the assays that we run in the lab and about antioxidant microbiology/biochemistry in general, so he asked me to write this chapter for a book that he was invited to participate in. Anyway, it is pretty challenging, but good. I am learning about how much I really don't know through all of this! The most exciting thing about this, though, is because it is a publication in such an important book (as it will be a reference guide for microbiologists/biochemists/medical researchers), it is really going to help me come time to apply for medical school. I am also excited because it means that it will be cited by other people as they write papers and do research. Can you imagine, they will say "According to Garrett (2008)....." CRAZY!! Anyway, I am supposed to have the chapter done by the end of July, and the book will be coming out at the latest by early next year.

The second thing is that I have begun to study for the MCAT (medical college aptitude test), which is one of my major admissions factors for medical school.  The test is on college level general and applied physics, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biology, and verbal reasoning.  It is crazy hard, and what makes it worse is that it is like a five hour test, but you have like one minute per problem and you can't use a calculator.  It is going to be nuts.  Starting at the end of my spring term, I am going to be studying for it around the clock, so I might not see anyone for a while.  But I'll still be alive, just in my "nerdery" (which is pretty much like my fortress of solitude, or Bat-cave, if you will) studying 'round the clock.  I take the test on August 7th.

Anyway, just as proof of my nerdiness, it is saturday night at 8:00, and I have been working on this chapter and will be working on it the rest of the night.  I also worked all night friday night (woo hoo!!).  Anyway, I'd better get back to what I was doing.  Hope to see you all soon!!

MVP

I just wanted to brag a little about my 'little' brother Mark. He had a great year in baseball this year, helping his team win the Region and do awesome in the state playoffs. Mark played in three different all-star games (and one other was cancelled) after the season ended, and even had a home run and a double in one of those All-Star games, earning himself the MVP of the game and a sweet trophy. He was also on the Deseret News 4A First Team of All-Stars just recently. He had a .430 batting average (which is incredible), 35 RBI's, and a ton of home runs on the season (the bottom picture is one of those homers against Orem High). Way to go Mark!! We love you!!

Home Alone

Now that Suzana is home, a lot of people have been wondering about what I did while she was gone. Well...I think this about covers it. Enjoy!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com