How my life has changed

I bet you are reading this message because of the catchy title. Now let us proceed.

Good afternoon, this is Derek speaking. I hope that this blog post finds you well (new expression I recently heard and started incorporating). So I am going to give an update for the past few weeks. Just to set the scene... The new Blink-182 CD came out today and I am listening to it super loud in my noise cancellation headphones. Yes I know I haven't been in 8th grade for a long time, but I'd be lying if I said that blink 182 didn't have a major role in shaping my life. I have owned and loved everyone of their CDs and other sects of blink also (+44, boxcar, angels, etc.). Actually I didn't love, or even like, Angels and Airwaves.

Ok, here's the update. Since Amanda has been working full time, I started going to the library all day while she is gone. I have loved it like crazy (although I do miss mandi like crazy). I go to class and get whatever studying done and then I just read the day away. I have read about 10 books in the last 2 weeks. If you want to see all the books I have read, check out my profile on Goodreads.com. Anyways, I have loved just thinking of something I want to learn about, looking up a book on the computer, finding it, and then reading it. Here are some of the highlights and new things I learned:

Ecological Intelligence - When we buy something we should take into consideration not only the impacts it has on our health, but also the environment's health (pollution, etc) as well as its social impact (was it made in a sweatshop, etc.). I recommend checking out the app called "Goodguide."

The Green Building Revolution - I will be doing a Masters in Real Estate Development with an emphasis on Sustainable Development, so this book was good to get a feel for the green building industry.

Cradle to Cradle - Humans are the only living things that consume and don't contribute to the ecosystem simultaneously. Seriously, think about every animal/ insect/ anything. This book had some good ideas about how we can contribute to the ecosystem while still maintaining somewhat our consumerist society.

The Communist Manifesto - Utopian Socialism is a very interesting concept. We would never reach it because the transition from capitalism would be too painful and would take generations to fully adjust. The main thing I learned is that capitalism is not natural, it is a man-made system, just like every other system.

The Year of Living Biblically - Extremely entertaining book about a guy who follows the bible as literally as possible for one full year. Super funny and also eye opening to religion in general, especially fundamentalist.

If you have any questions or want to discuss any books, join Goodreads and become my friend! We can share books and ideas. I love learning new things and formulating my own ideas and opinions.

In other news, Amanda bought me an ANTFARM! I have wanted one basically since I got home from my first area on my mission (April 2008). I know, they are only like 15 bucks, but for some reason I just never pulled the trigger. Luckily, that's what Amanda's for (among many other things). So we got the farm, set it up and then found some ants outside the apartment and lured them with some old Cinnamon bread. It's now 3 days later and they have tunneled out the whole thing! It's pretty cool. I feel like how God probably feels. I chose the beings I wanted in my world and then watch them do their thing with this world that I gave them.

Here's what I figure: The ant farm is good practice for when we get a fish, which will be good practice for when we get a hamster, which will be good practice for when we get a dog, which will be good practice for when we get a child.

OK, thanks for reading this post. I love you guys. Amanda says hi (I'm sure).
Love
Derek

PS I'm also digging classical music.