Wives: good cures for hubris.

So, I'm a pretty smart guy. I have a broad field of knowledge from which I pull and do so daily. I also appear to many people to be even smarter than I actually already am (no easy feat) by having a substantial vocabulary.

You know who isn't impressed? Mrs. Larsen. I do not mean this derisively or negatively in any way. It's good for me.

Part of the problem is language. I, like many of my kin, have a good understanding of the English language and can, to use the vernacular, BS my way through a lot. As Plato argued in his dialogues, you don't have to be an expert, just convince your audience you are. I speak directly and confidently, which is roughly 80% of persuasion. Sprinkle in a few facts (like I did when I name-dropped Plato back there), and suddenly you're a scientist*.

But the thing is, I'm not that smart. I'm not a moron (most of the time), but really I probably would land only above average with the population as a whole. I forget this sometimes. When I do, Allison is nice enough to bring me back down to earth.

That is not to say that she doesn't encourage me to do my favorite thing ever (explain), because she totally does. But if I go too far, she'll be there with perspective. For example, if I tell her I made a smart comment in class, she'll congratulate me. If I say that I'm the smartest or that everyone else is stupid (this has happened), she'll remind me that not everyone comments or maybe I understand it better or that I am good at explaining things and not everyone is or maybe this subject isn't their forte and they're only there to fulfill some aspect of their otherwise unrelated major (there was only one other tech writing major in my tech writing class, after all).

Humility can be a tough thing, but if done kindly, wifely correction can be very helpful (and Allison is nearly always very kind).

*A scientist being what most people think of as a brilliant person.

Testing, 123.

I have three tests this week, so no real post today (this one is totally fake and I will deny its existence).

No Complaints.

One of the best talks from the latest General Conference was President Monson's "Attitude of Gratitude," but I've been struggling with his advice. I complain a lot. Even here, on the internet, which we know is supposed to be a place free of negativity. I'm working on it, but still need some work. So today, a list of things that are good/I enjoy:

• I enjoy my History of the English Language class so much that I read my text book for fun.
• Yesterday, Allison asked me to explain what I've learned so far [giggle].
  
• She liked it, too.
  
• The weather has been rather pleasant for over a week.
• Allison and I exercise at the gym together four times a week (it's good and good for you!).
• I've had a great week (in terms of tips) at work.
• Until recently, I've been getting a good amount of sleep.
• I have a fun calling at Church.
• I seem to be doing well in my classes so far.
  

Just like the song says.

Spanish, too.

Allison and I only have one class together this Fall and it's Spanish II. We've both taken Spanish I twice (once solo, once together), so it is nice to at least appear to be nearing our conclusion with the language. However, our teacher likes to focus on topics outside learning the language of Spanish.

For example, we spent the entire class period yesterday talking about the United States' relationship with Cuba. This involved a brief discussion on immigration and wow are people ignorant about immigration. I thought it was bad in So Cal, but these kids were feeling bad for the Cubans, who get automatic amnesty. What about the Guatemalans who work their entire lives to save enough to pay a coyote to take just their kids up to the US to be dropped off in the middle of the Texan desert? Anyway, Allison and I were annoyed that the other students where looking at the subject of immigration as if it were so simple.

What's my point? We were having the discussion in English. How does it help me better understand and speak Spanish if we have a discussion on Cuba/US relations in English? And today, the last ten minutes were spent, I kid you not, naming famous Hispanic athletes. In English.

I want my money back.

Pants

Hey, I'm wearing pants! I haven't done that for months.

Of course, I mean I'm wearing long pants. Jeans, in fact. That means that it's not disgustingly hot outside. Which also means that in a few weeks there'll be snow on the ground.

Still, I'll take the snow over the heat.

OSU must answer for its sins.

There was a Football game last night (in Stillwater, the game of American Football is capitalized). This meant that students (who pay for parking passes), faculty, and staff were not allowed to park on campus after 1pm. My last class on Thursday doesn't even start until 2pm, so class was canceled.

Why would OSU make such a stupid stipulation? Because even though it has Boone-Pickins stadium, which is a very impressive and professionally sized stadium, it has no parking for it. At IHOP, which is about a half-mile from the stadium, the manager had to wait outside to shoo away people trying to park directly in front of the restaurant. OSU demands parking and Stillwater kowtows.

Look, I get that Football will always be apart of college life. And it brings in money that is used in other areas of the University, which is good. For the most part, I've just conceded that Football will be a burden from time to time, but it's just there. However, without the University, there wouldn't be any sports. So, how does it make any sense to have Football at a time that it requires the cancellation of classes (one of Allison's classes was canceled even though it was much earlier in the day to simply avoid the problem altogether)?

On an unrelated note, prescription drug abuse in Oklahoma has more than double in the last 5 years.

Larsen Award

I've decided that as a family, we should have our own award for doing things so totally Larsen-like (because Larseny sounds so illegal). So, if you see someone doing something that is eponymous of this family, give them a Larsen Award.

Example:
I was at a work meeting, going over the new menu the restaurant will be using. It quickly became a session of "Morning Crew Sucks." Since I work one shift a week with the morning crew, I was asked if I noticed a difference between the two crews. I responded by saying, "The difference is palpable." Since no one knew what I had said, I corrected myself and said that I could easily tell the difference between the level of teamwork.

During my next shift, my manager asked me what I meant by "palpable." I said it meant a feeling so strong that you can touch it. He didn't believe me, so I told him to look it up on an online dictionary. He did and my definition was an almost word for word match.

For something like that, I would be eligible for a Larsen Award. Alas, the only rule (I made it up, so I make up the rules) is that you cannot give the award to yourself. However, I have already given the newest Larsen (I don't care what her last name is, she's still a Larsen) a Larsen Award.

Now go and bequeath!

Bloopers!

Since it's Spring Break and it's Allison's turn to be sick, no new video. Instead, you get outtakes from our previous videos.

Moral Obligation

I just found out some shocking information about one of my coworkers at IHOP. This coworker is (I'm guessing) in her early 40s and when I started she was working just the graveyard shift. Last Saturday, she worked in the morning. I asked her if she was changing to mornings and she said she was. I asked why (really just to make conversation) and she said it was because she had a problem with someone she worked with at night. I was curious (since I know the people that work graveyard as our shifts overlap by bit) who, so asked if she was comfortable elaborating. She did, with the assurance that I would not pass on who it was.

It's one of the managers. I know the manager and work with him quite a bit. I figured she didn't like him because he can be very abrupt and can come off as rude to some people. Well, that wasn't the problem.

She was being sexually harassed. Severely. He would come up behind her and kiss her on the neck, slap her on the rear so hard that it stung for the rest of the shift, or “rub his hands all over” her. She was going to quit, but the general manager said he would change her schedule and she would have to work with the other manager again.

How does this man still have a job?! If the GM knows, why hasn’t he been fired?! Not only that, but the offending manager’s wife works at IHOP, too!

The victim said she will not try to fight this because she moved here to get away from another sexual predator and doesn’t have the energy to fight another case. Well, I’m not going to sit back and let this manager get away with this. This probably isn’t the first time he’s harassed an employee and I’m betting it won’t be the last. After talking about what I learned with Allison, it’s clear that I can’t allow this to continue. I have no idea what is required of me to fight this, like if I need a statement from the victim, or if the offending manager has to be caught in the act, but whatever it is, I’ll do what I can.

There is one issue that I’m a bit nervous about and it’s race. The offending manager is black and the victim is white. I’m afraid it may seem that I’m fighting against because I’m against interracial relations. Obviously, I’m not, but (as I’ve written about on here before) racism is alive and well in Oklahoma.

I’ve spent some time gathering information (like the last names of the parties involved) and now I’m ready to contact the corporate office. I hope some change can actually happen and not simply be told nothing can be done.

Video Update (Feb. 22 - 28)

The fanciness continues . . .