The Top 12 of 2012

As life marches on, so does our tradition of reflecting on the previous year.  Despite the highlights you're about to read, I can assure you that 2012 presented its fair share of challenges and heartbreaks.  We faced setbacks and trials like never before, both personally and professionally.  Trying as the year was, we were still blessed with an abundance of love, the indefatigable encouragment of family and friends, and many happy memories.  Here are a few of our favorites, in no particular order:


1. Merlin (aka Puppy la Pooch, The Boy, Merlinpean, Regal Pup, Moy-lin)
When we rescued Merlin in September, he brought a ray of sunshine into our lives and filled a hole in our hearts that we didn't even know existed.  He was a bit timid at first.  Actually, I take that back.  He was an absolute emotional wreck at first, surely the residual effects of his abusive childhood.  He wouldn't eat, take walks, or relieve himself.  He was terrified of us, the outdoors, the indoors, and perhaps most of all, the cute little girls that live in our neighborhood.  Every day when I would get home from work and drag him out the front door to do his business, the cute little gang of pink- and glitter-clad girlies would come running over, begging to pet him in their high-pitched voices.  It may as well have been nails on a chalkboard for poor little Merlin.  He tucked his tail between his legs and dragged himself to the front door on his belly, hoping I would rescue him from his enemies.

Merlin is a very different dog today.  He loves the outdoors, romping through the leaves and woods behind our house, and exploring his new world.  He eats with regularity and poops outside and with great frequency.  Perhaps more than anything, though, Merlin loves to cuddle with his mom and dad, eat their slippers when they're not looking, and lick their hands when they're not paying him enough attention.

2. Escape to Bald Head Island

In the spring of this year, Celeste and I were thrilled to welcome my sister Holly and her family to the east coast.  They moved to Connecticut for a new job opportunity, and we were glad to have them within driving distance.  Over Memorial Day weekend, she and her family, along with my sister Kristen and her family who happened to be visiting the east coast for several weeks, and my cousin Daniel who lives and works in New York City, all came down to the North Carolina coast for an unforgettable weekend at Bald Head Island.  Bald Head is a small island about a mile off the coast of Wilmington, NC.  You can only get there by ferry, and once you arrive, you'll find that the only means of transportation are walking, biking, or golf carting.  It was a magical weekend full of ocean swimming, games, jellyfishes, barbecues, nostalgia, salty air and sunsets.

3. The Traveling Man
As part of my graduate program at N.C. State, I had the opportunity to attend some wonderful education conferences.  The first was to Montana, where I spent three days learning about the plight of Native American education and the long history of exploitation and abuse perpetrated by the United States government.  The next was to Washington, D.C., where I visited the Department of Education and Capitol Hill and took meetings with some of the leading minds in education and policy.  The last was to Hilton Head, South Carolina, where I attended and presented some of my research at the Education Law Association's annual conference.

4. Virginia is for Lovers
Celeste's sister Bonnie and her husband Matt moved to the Virginia suburbs of D.C. this summer to sell pest control.  Shortly after the school year ended, we headed up for a visit.  Despite being pregnant, Bonnie was still game for a wild weekend.  We went to the new Batman movie, went antique shopping in historic Manassas, toured the National Mall and Lincoln Memorial, and went to a Washington Nationals game.  It was amazing.  My Momie Homie Bryce Harper had an incredible game and led the Nats to a big win against division rival Atlanta.  Holla!

5. House Full of Visitors
We played host to some of our favorite people this year.  Celeste's sister Bonnie came first over the summer at 8 months pregnant, then my brother Clay and his wife, Jen, and their new baby, Navy.  Then Papa Britt came in October and graced us with his presence for a full week.  Last but not least, my sister Josie and her husband Rick spent a few days with us just a week before Christmas.  We love having visitors...(hint, hint)

At the North Carolina State Fair

Josie loves dogs, can't you tell?

6. Celeste, Surprises, and the West
Over the summer, Celeste made a trip to visit her sister, Sarah, in Arizona.  Sarah and her husband had recently had their second child, and Celeste just couldn't wait to meet the little guy.  To her surprise, after a day of being in Arizona, she was awoken in the middle of the night to find that her entire family had driven down from Utah to say hello and spend some quality time.  Talk about surprised!

And the surprises didn't end there.  On Christmas morning, Celeste and I opened up all the presents under the tree.  The last one was a little flat and filled with paper.  What was it, you ask?  Oh, just a plane ticket to Utah for that very day.  Celeste didn't know about it, and neither did her family.  She spent Christmas morning in North Carolina, then made it to Utah in time to have Christmas dinner with her parents and siblings.  Papa Britt was so elated, so overcome with joy at her unexpected arrival, he declared: "This is one of the highlights of my life!"

7. A Homemade Thanksgiving

L-R: Ellen, Gabe, Celeste, and new friends Angelique and John

Thanksgiving this year was awesome.  Gabe and Ellen Bush, longtime friends and hipster enthusiasts, drove down from Washington, D.C. to spend the holiday with us.  We had a great time showing them the South, playing games, preparing and eating food, and playing and watching football.  Mostly I'm just glad that my buddy Gabe found such a wonderful companion.  He's short and unattractive, so we weren't sure it would ever happen for him.  Congratulations, buddy.

8. East Coast Road Trip

Celeste and I hit the road in early July to see friends and family, experience a few new cities, and take in the majesty of America.  We climbed into our little Honda Fit, loaded up on treats and goodies, and visited Philadelphia, Boston, New York and Washington.  We saw my old friend Marcus Anderson and his wife, Gabe and Ellen Bush, my sister Holly and her family, and my brother-in-law Marshall on the way home.  Go America!

9. A Cozy Christmas
Most young couples never get to experience a Christmas alone.  While our bank account required it, it was a surprisingly worthwhile experience.  Instead of dealing with the chaos of traveling and trying to see every last friend and relative, our Christmas break was quiet, relaxed, and carefree.  We started new traditions (like making, creating, or building a gift for each other that we exchanged on Christmas Eve) while honoring old ones (like gingerbread houses and the Alastair Sim "Christmas Carol").  We went to shows, went ice skating and basked in the holiday spirit without all the stress.  We also got to focus more on us, and on the Savior.  We probably won't ever do it again, but it was a beautiful experience nonetheless.

Ice skating in downtown Raleigh

Christmas Eve Ultimate Frisbee with Friends

Can you find a ham of a pup?

10. Mormon Democrat Aggies, Unite!
While I wouldn't consider Senator Harry Reid a hero of mine, he's certainly a man I have great respect for, and I considered it an honor to have personally met him at a national gathering of Mormon Democrats on the first day of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.  Senator Reid is the highest ranking Mormon politician in history, and we share a lot of common interests besides religion and politics.  We both dabbled in boxing, and we both graduated from the Lord's school, Utah State University.

11. Josie and Rick Tie the Knot

My baby sister Josie became the last of the Olsens to get married this spring.  She married a great guy in Rick Kelly, and the two of them are living happily (and coldly) in Rexburg, Idaho.  It was a very special and bittersweet moment for me.  I was always such a good brother to Josie.  I mean, REALLY good, especially during her most vulnerable years.  I was even good enough to put a black widow on her pillow to help her overcome her fear of deadly spiders.  I was a kind, compassionate, and patient with her as she blossomed into a beautiful woman.  You're welcome, Josie.

12. Cooper River Bridge Run
I hate jogging (or yogging.  It might be a soft "J" I'm not sure), but I love Charleston, and am always looking for an excuse to return to the Holy City.  Every year the city hosts a 10K run across the magnificent Cooper River Bridge, finishing in historic downtown Charleston.  Celeste and I trained and ran the race, and still had plenty of time to see some sights, catch up with old friends, and sample the local cuisine.  And I even finished the race without collapsing twice.

Honorable Mentions:

The Teacher and the Principal
Celeste had a great year teaching, and had the highest 5th grade science test scores in the entire school district, making her the best (and hottest) teacher in the county.  Meanwhile, I have been relishing my role as a school administrator.  It's a beautiful thing to wake up in the morning and not dread going to work.

New Babies
2012 brought with it a slew of new nieces and nephews (and announcements of more to come).  The first to arrive was Cooper Lee, then Navy Lynn, followed by Daisy Mae.  We are now the proud aunt and uncle to fourteen nieces and nephews with two more due in 2013.

Danielle and James' Wedding
Celeste got to attend her cousin's wedding in New York in August.  Danielle was a beautiful bride, and we're crazy about her husband James, who cleans up pretty good himself.

We've swapped haircuts since 2004

Eddie's Bar Mitzvah
When I was doing my freshman year of college in New York City, I babysat (or "mannied") a little boy named Eddie Hock.  Well, Eddie is no longer a little boy.  He is a man, and he had the Bar Mitzvah to prove it.  It was my first Bar Mitzvah, and I was honored to be an "Ark Opener" as part of the service.  It was great to see Eddie all grown up and his brother Joseph, and my dear friends, Jon and Lynn Hock.

Spring Break in Myrtle Beach
Good friends, mopeds on Ocean Boulevard, epic mini-golf (putt putt for you east coasters), and soaking in good literature to the sound of crashing waves.  Not too shabby.

Utah State Football

I never thought I would see it in my lifetime, but it actually happened.  Utah State was ranked in the top 25...in FOOTBALL!  We also broke the record for wins in a season, won our conference outright for the first time since 1936, and punished the University of Toledo in our bowl game.

Finally.

rePUBLICANS & democRATS (and why I'm one of the latter)

INTRODUCTION:

If you support government programs to help the poor, you're a Socialist.

If you think government programs are wasteful and ought to be abolished, you're a racist.

If you don't agree with everything I say, you're an idiot.

If I sound like I'm being ridiculous, it's because I am.  I am doing a near-perfect impersonation of today's pedestrian political rhetoric.  I can't scroll through 3 inches of Facebook feed without someone lambasting another persons political beliefs, or accusing another political party of being the very definition of evil.  It makes me hate politics, knowing how divisive it is.  Politics should be a noble, respectable endeavor where men and women go to make better the world we live in.  Instead it's a boiling vat of toxic butt rush.

I'm sorry, but if someone supports welfare, they're not a Socialist.  And I hate to break it to you, but just because someone didn't vote for Obama, it doesn't make them a racist.  Though the extremists on either side of the argument won't admit it, there are good Republicans and good Democrats.  Of course, each lot has their fair share of bad apples, and they're the ones making all the noise.  I wish they'd shut up.

THE CONVENTION:

I recently attended the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte.  First, to meet with Mormon Democrats from across the country, and to meet Harry Reid and to hear him speak.  It was a short speech where he talked about his faith and quoted scripture.  In front of the national news media and dozens of reporters, we all sang "Have I Done Any Good?"

Then, thanks to my father's endless connections within the Democratic Party, I was able to obtain a guest pass into the Convention arena, which was no easy task.  I have to admit, I felt kind of cool as I flashed my credentials that led me past a wall of security guards surrounding the arena, leaving hundreds of people in my wake who were as disappointed as they were eager to enter.

I saw many political celebrities, including Sen. Reid, CNN's Anderson Cooper, the Rev. Jesse James, and Jason Jones and Samantha Bee of The Daily Show.  Then, inside the convention hall, I watched dozens of speeches by the Democratic Party's most powerful and influential members.  Y'all heard of Cory Booker?  Holla!

Hello, Anderson Cooper.

The Reverend.

Since Celeste couldn't come with me because of her work schedule, I spent much of the evening alone, and it gave me lots of time to think about the great political debate, and I got all sorts of philosophical on myself.  Earlier that evening, I had been interviewed by a reporter from the Salt Lake Tribune who asked if it was "weird" that I was supporting President Obama when Romney and I shared the same religion.

"I'm not voting for a prophet," I told him.  "I'm voting for a president and Romney doesn't represent what I think is best for America."

WHY I (ALMOST ALWAYS) VOTE DEMOCRAT:

So, why am I a Democrat?  Why do I think that Romney, a man with whom I share the Melchizedek Priesthood, doesn't represent what's best for America?

I was raised to cheer for the underdog, and you'll find a lot of those in the Democratic party.  Whether in sports or in life, my dad taught me that the little guy deserves a fighting chance.  The poor, the immigrant, the outcast, etc.  Perhaps that's why I'm so good at supporting Utah State athletics, or why my father has made a living out of taking on big insurance companies that don't want to pay out benefits to an otherwise bankrupt family, or why I still cry every time I watch the film Rudy.  Perhaps that's why I became a teacher, and why, when the opportunity came knocking, I bypassed law school.

This is what led me to the Democratic Party.  It'd be hard for anyone to argue that the Republicans do a better job of taking care of the poor, the immigrants, or the outcasts.  Their policies, both fiscal and domestic, are more suited for the wealthy and the white, the mainstream and the mundane.

It would be equally hard to argue that the Republican Party is as inclusive as the Democratic Party.  While the Democratic National Convention was a melting pot of cultures, ideas, and skin colors, the Republican Convention looked like a gathering of Country Club donors and desperate housewives.  Where were the meek?  Where were the poor?  Where were the persecuted?  They were all in Charlotte, being included.

A perfect example of a demented outcast in need of love and empathy (I'm referring to the one on the right).

Senator Reid made a point of saying that he is a Democrat because of his Mormon faith, not in spite of it.  I couldn't agree more.  When King Benjamin delivers his address to the Nephites, when Christ delivers his Sermon on the Mount, and when our modern-day prophets speak out about serving one another and lifting up the downtrodden, they all point to an undeniable and eternal truth: we are all God's children.  We ought to love everyone, and judge no one.  We ought to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, take in the strangers.  We ought to clothe the naked, visit the sick and the imprisoned.

"Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." -Matthew 25:40

WRAPPING IT UP:

Not all Republicans are callous racists, and not all Democrats are benevolent saints.  And, as Pres. Obama wisely put it in his acceptance speech a few nights ago, "No party has a monopoly on wisdom."  That's why I will never be a straight-ticket voter.  I'm proud to say that I have voted for several Republicans, my favorite of whom was Governor Jon Huntsman in 2008.

Huntsman intentionally avoided the Republican National Convention this year.  He basically said that he would return to "full fellowship" in the Republican Party "...when they decide to become a little more inclusive and broaden the footprint a little bit, and with a larger, more hopeful optimistic message about the future of the country that's based on real solutions."

I'm with you, Jonny.  When the Republican Party does this, I could get comfortable there.  Until then, I'll remain a moderate Mormon liberal who is caring enough to vote Democratic most of the time, and pragmatic enough to vote Republican some of the time.

"I am an extreme moderate, I believe anybody not in favor of moderation and compromise ought to be castrated." -Benjamin Franklin

Still a beautiful sight, even from the nosebleeds.