End of July

Happy Bunday!!

I'll admit, I was really tired when I went to church this morning.  There were some good talks about faith and trails (kudos to Noel, Eric, and Jeremy).  I didn't actually wrote down insights, but questions instead.

What exactly is the Lord's will for us?  How would we know what we chose was the proper path?  I think that is something we strive for in this life.  To be the best we can be.  However, this highlighted how important it is to have the Gift of the Holy Ghost in our lives.  The ability to listen to the Spirit would be a definite advantage over others in this world and even in the next life.  I hope I can figure that out at some point in this life... before it's too late.

Due to work, I had to miss the combined Priesthood/Relief Society lesson taught by Bishop Hart.  I'm very glad I will most likely not have to work on a Sunday in the fall.

Work was a typical Sunday shift.  I almost passed out because I didn't get much sleep.  I was invited over for dinner by Christine, but unfortunately, I was still at work.

I paid a visit to apartment 14 after work when I saw a bunch of people gathered there.  Apparently, Annie hosted a dinner gathering and had each person share a few things based on the topics she chose.  Topics varied from things we learned in sacrament meeting to good news.  According to Annie, it was for a school project.  I paid a short visit to apartment 6 and talked with Christine and Hannah until ward prayer.

After ward prayer, I mingled with some folks and then participated in game night at apartment 34.  The guys played a game of Life.  I think Hannah won at the end, but if we kept going to the very end, Tim might have had an edge.  Then again, David was set for some heavy payouts... well, you get the idea.  I was the banker and Eric played the guitar in the background.  Oh, I did that while I ate apple cobbler for dinner.  lol

I paid another visit to #6 and chatted with Colton and Christine.  Finally, I came back and spent time on my laptop since.  Zach played some great pieces on the piano while I sat here.  I have to work everyday this coming week, so I'm not looking forward to it.

Oh, and James better go out for sushi with me on Wednesday!  D:<

♪┏(・o･)┛

Seven Months

It's Vladurday again!!

It's hard to believe that almost 7 months had passed since the beginning of 2011.  When the Fall Semester comes around, it'll soon be 2012.  Time does fly by fast when you get busy.

This morning, I woke up and found none of my roommates in the apartment.  Naturally, I went around the neighborhood to greet a few people because it was Saturday!

I was pleasantly surprised when I knocked on apartment 6 and Christine and Tiare came dancing out the door (they claimed it was the norm).  I can't recall if I joined the dancing session or not, but the performance did put a smile on my face.  After a good conversation, David joined and enlisted my assistance to help him with his storage unit.

We cleaned out a lot of stuff out of there and found a crushed mouse in the process.  Poor little guy, he's been dead for months!  We put the hood back on his truck (mind you, it was quite heavy and slightly awkward to carry consider Dave was 6'6" and I was 5'7").  To be honest, neither of us liked the look, but it had to be done if he was to use it to move back home.

I sat around for a few games of A Path Beyond and had the Flamethrower Combo from DQ for dinner.  It was spicy, but I like it spicy.  ;)

Work was...well, interesting.  I'll leave the details out.  Other than that, it was a REALLY boring shift!  I kinda wished that I got work off so I could have been at the Dutch Oven dinner activity.

≡;ﾟДﾟ)

Mixed Up

I have been having issues with identifying the correct day of the week today.  I kept thinking it was Thursday, but it wasn't.

Payday was today!  Unfortunately, I didn't save much because I spent $210 on those great suits.  At least, they arrived today and looked nice.  I'm looking forward to wearing them at church on Sunday.

Once again, I didn't do much besides spending my time on the computer.  I should start working out again next week because the pain underneath my ribcage had faded.  To tell you all the truth, no I did not go to a doctor.  I will go the next time a similar situation arises.

Work was very easy.  Sadly, I didn't get pizza as planned.  There might have been some server issues, but after careful examination, everything was under control.  The system seemed to have a mind of its own, but no it behaves when Simon was around.  Hmm....

I came home and as I was preparing myself for bed, I realized that it was merely early Saturday morning.  I had the impression that I was getting ready for bed so I wouldn't feel so tired at church.  Talk about being mixed up!

Suddenly, I followed Zach into apartment 6 and got caught in a "dance party" with Tiare and Christine.  No idea how it happened, but it happened.  :v

I'm so gonna treat myself to at least 10 hours of sleep!

（ ^_^）o自

Tranquility

Not much happened today.  I wasn't bored at all, surprisingly.  I was quite content.

I only had 4 hours of work today because Carl covered part of my shift since I did part of his on Monday.  I noticed that I was pacing more than usual.  Summer needs to end soon.  I also noticed that I have been writing a lot of my random thoughts down on scratch papers at work.  There are a lot on my mind, but they are mostly irrelevant things.

Other than that, I did some minor grocery shopping again.  I didn't really have a conversation with anyone today, except with my roommates.  I spent most of my time sitting in front of my laptop playing APB.

I did some of my usual strolling around the complex.  However, it seemed to me that most people were not home this evening.  I could have gone swimming, but I wasn't in the mood for it.

Maybe I'll find more things to do tomorrow.

O:)

More Rain

This seems like an early blog entry, but I don't care.  I am somewhat tired.

I don't usually make mistakes at work, but when I do, I tend to pull a blunder.  Luckily, it was not the end of the world.  We just had to make some changes to tomorrow's play list.

Once again, it rained like crazy.  For whatever reason, I felt it was a good idea to walk to Macey's to pick up a few useful items.  I didn't get drenched because I stayed put under cover when it started to rain hard.  Like yesterday, it rained to the point there was a flood running through Provo.  The good part?  At least our apartment is a lot cooler now.  This place has been hot for the past 2 days when Colton's air conditioning broke.

Zach definitely got soaked.  It was THAT rainy.

Sports night did not happen due to the lack of attendance.  I never found out if Tiare actually flew the kites.  Thanks to her generosity, I was able to save about $100 on textbooks since she had possession of an earlier version of the book required for my class this fall.  At the very worse, I just have to buy the newer version, but it's a textbook, so I don't think it'd matter that much.

I ran into Rachel tonight.  I haven't seen her since April!  We just caught up and I walked her to the Maeser Building.  She will be leaving for China in 2 weeks for her study abroad program.  People come and go these days...

Oh yeah, I also wrote a letter to a friend of mine who's going to Fiji.  He's in the MTC currently.

@}-;-'---

Flash Flood

Today was a new chapter in my life.  I have much to hope for in the near future.

I went to work around noon and learned that we weren't supposed to bring cases of soda and put them in the fridge.  I guess other people outside of Network Operations use that fridge as well.  The solution was simple, we had to use the lockers which we got in the broadcast building.  Other than that, it was a relatively slow shift even though I watched 2 women's soccer games.

I witnessed one of the biggest rainstorms in Utah while at work.  The parking lot was literally a river and pools were forming.  I saw people jumping into those pools.  Too bad I was in my business casual, otherwise, I would have joined them.

My evening was a lot slower.  The only person I talked to during my routine apartment runs was Tiare.  It was a pleasant conversation.

The highlight of the night was when Tressie and Alyssa gathered a group of people to go watch a movie.  We watched X-men: First Class.  It was a good film in my opinion.  My favorite part was Wolverine telling Xavier and Magneto to f-off and they just walked away after he said that.

I have big dreams and I hope they come true one day.

<'))><

New Light

Many changes took place today and I'm grateful for them.

I had a 2-hour shift this morning.  I thought it was gonna be a boring shift, but it was actually very involved.  The extra pay certainly made the side quest more worthwhile.

I went to this suit shop with Zach, which he discovered during his morning run, and I might have gotten one of the best deals for 2 brand new suits in town.  The two suits were tailored fit (I can't tell you how much I hate the ugly, baggy, American trousers) and cost me $180.  Of course, I had to have alterations on them, so that's another $24.  After tax, It's about $210's.  I've never bought brand new suits cheaper!

FHE was interesting.  We had a pudding war at one of the Provo Canyon parks.  Just letting you all know, I'm not a big fan of wasting delicious goodies, but I did have fun.  The group returned to jump in the pool to clean off some excess pudding.  Hopefully, some pictures will appear at some point.

I spent part of the evening talking to the ladies at apartment 6 (Christine, Hannah, and Tiare).  There were some fun conversations.  I wonder why I didn't discover them until so late in the semester.  I said goodbye to Marie because she was heading out of Utah.  I think she'll be a great missionary.

David and I had to go pick up some toilet papers (sometimes, I wonder if my roommates eat them...).  On the way, we sang along to 2 Taylor Swift songs.  We are definitely those guys who are not afraid to do it.  The songs were "Love Story" and "The Story of Us".

I later hung out with Shannon for a bit.  Did some minor shopping and learned a great lesson about life.  There are those who care.  I've been overlooking those who have or had genuine concerns for me.  Everything in life will work out the way they are supposed to if I keep trying regardless of outcome.  I am grateful to have great friends and glad in the choices I made when I organized my "Inner Circle".

ツ

Reflection

The end of the Summer Term is approaching fast.  Summer break is almost over and I'm glad.  I can't wait until Fall Semester when I'm busy with relevant things again.  There will be new possibilities and new people to meet.

In honor of Pioneer's Day, I had the opportunity to listen to some talks on the subject.  It is impossible to please God without faith.  Faith is not a perfect knowledge.  It's a principle many understand, but not as many practice.  I'm guilty of this as I often go on venting about the nonsense in my life.

I learned that I should live for myself.  It's not that my friends and family are not important.  I think my biggest problem has been doing things to please others in order to gratify the sense of emptiness inside me.  I had to ask myself: when was the last time I did something because I want to instead of what someone else suggested?  I need to make some changes in my life.

I was also able to talk to Adam, one of the first missionaries that taught my family.  Surprisingly, we still kept in touch after 8 years.  Adam first appeared in the fall of '03.

My evening composed of a visit from my "big sister" Lily.  I haven't seen her in a while and I'm glad she's moving forward in life with a boyfriend, student teachings, etc.  I spent the rest of the day watching a movie with the ward.  David is amazing at organizing events that bring people together.

I'm a pioneer in my own right if you know parts of my history.

ヽ(´ー｀)ﾉ

Hmm...

I suppose it was a productive morning today when David enlisted me to help Marie move out.  That was one way to start the day, service.  I remember when I had to go home before my mission.  I gave away lots of belongings because I didn't have any place to keep them.  It's good to have relatives around... something I don't have.

Later, David and I went grocery shopping.  I did mine at Walmart and we then traveled to Costco.  I liked the free samples there.  I guess they made the place magical (or so it seemed).  Of course, I got free food, so I can't complain.

I did some regrettable actions at work, but I hope Anil was not mad about it.  I need a holiday from work.  I'm beginning to be in a bad mood whenever I enter that area.  I'll never work on weekends again.  Andrew saved the night by bringing in brownies.  It was some of the best brownies I've ever tasted!

I'm glad, though, that I have good friends.  It's actually quite ironic that my friends offer me words of affirmation more so than others.  Unfortunately, they will not be there forever.

On the to do list: see the doctor next week.

D:<

Out of It

I've been feeling out of it the whole day.  So, I really couldn't remember much.  I didn't have to work tonight because Shannon and I swapped shifts.

I went to work, came back, and just went around attempting to talk to people.  It was a distraction from some of the pains I've been feeling underneath the ribcage.  I got so fed up, I just took a few extra strength Tylenol's and I felt much better.

I watched a few episodes of 24 with Eric at some point.  Went to see David and found Reve there.  In the end, I came back and talked to Jon for some time.  I was "helping" him coming up with ideas for things a missionary can do for Teresa.

Sometimes, this is what I feel: so much coming at me that I feel overwhelmed.

>_<

Tired

I cut my last night's adventures short due to some unusual circumstances, but everything is better now partly because of Jill's husband.

Another day where I woke up and went to work.  It was one of those rare times where I spent a good amount of time talking to people instead of sitting at my workstation.  Normally, conversations only happen during night shifts and weekends.  Then, there was my usual run to the Creamery Outlet.  I've been running into Sarah a lot lately over there because of her employment at various BYU Creameries.  I used to bump into her a lot at the one in Wyview and lately the one near the former DT.

I hung out with David for a bit after work.  I brought some Wendy's food items over to his workplace.  Then, I spent some time playing a LAN game with Eric while watching some ridiculous programs on TV.

Recently, I've been thinking about the issue of guys being friends with girls.  Yes, guys CAN BE friends with girls, but they don't usually STAY friends.  I say that because most people move on, especially when they are married.  Of course, there are and have been exceptions, but I won't go there.

Since one of my good friends is married and another is engaged to be married in October, there are essentially 2 openings in my Inner Circle of friends.  It's not like the girls are no longer my friends.  I still hold them in an honorary spot.  The fact remains that we'd no longer be good friends once they are settled into their new lives.

Oh well, life goes on.

(._.)

Midweek

A day of not much happenings... compared to yesterday anyways.  I'm a lot more chilled today.

Work was somewhat boring, but I did have ice cream for lunch.

I got to use the new laundry room at Riviera today.  The idea of a laundry card sounded good on paper.  We'll see how well it works out for all its residence.  Just for your information, it costs $1.25 to wash and it gives 42 minutes per load.  As for drying, it is $1.00 for 48 minutes.  So far, the only plus is I no longer need to have quarters with me.

I saw that Colton got back today, so I spent some time at his apartment... watching his roommate playing video games.  The only other person I visited today was Christine, that was it.  She did read me about yesterday's devotional, though.  (I may write something about that at some point.)

I spent most of my night looking through every Facebook posts made by my friends during the day while listening to music.  I wasn't even playing games!  Sad, right?  I also found out the reason why I have dull pains under my ribcage.  Hopefully, it'll be sorted out soon.  I am fairly certain which ailment I've been experiencing.

I got Friday night off again thanks to Shannon agreeing to swap her afternoon shift with me on that same day.  I wonder what I should do that night.

（´-`）.｡oO( ... )

Happenings

Today was a great day in the sense that I feel like I've accomplished something.  I woke up without feeling tired.  I went to work at a good time.  Got some more cleaning done in the mornings.  I almost had to work for 12 hours today.  Luckily, Shannon had a change of plan that allowed me to come home early.  The drawback?  I don't have Friday night off.

Work was interesting because I got to see Jimmer Fredette.  It's a shame we couldn't interact with him because BYUB staff needs to have a professional attitude towards everyone.  I'm not a big sports fan and definitely not the type to jump up and asks for autograph, but I just thought it was cool to see him.  The second best thing?  Andrew restocked the fridge with grape Fanta.  Runner up?  Watching an earlier version of Homeward Bound (you know, the one with 2 dogs and a kitty?) with Taylor.

It rained very hard in the early evening.  I was glad that Carl could give me a lift home.  I don't mind walking in the rain, but I hate it when I'm in my business casuals in a rainstorm.

I only ran 1.5 mile today after listening to my mother's advice.  Maybe I should cut back on the exercises a little bit so my upper body could build up.  Right now, I get some muscle cramps in my ribs and they are not the most pleasant experiences.

Later, I went to In N Out with Jon and his sisters for dinner.  Then, I spent a good few hours talking to people in my ward at the hot tub (Dan, Palolo, and Becca).  After that, I went and "annoyed" some other people until quarter past 11 (poor Christine, Marie, and Madison lol).  And that was my day!  I feel good!!

（‐＾▽＾‐）

Busy Day

Today, one of my best friends, Christine, got married in the Salt Lake Temple!  It's a shame I could not attend the sealing due to some logistic issues.  Nevertheless, I'm happy for her and hope that she's happy for all eternity.

While it's still on my mind, some of you asked why I put "Happy Bunday" on yesterday's post.  I know it's supposed to be Monday, but it just seemed to make more sense to do it on a Sunday because you only need to change a letter to make it Bunday.  Whatever, I ain't gonna be part of the system.  :P

I did some more cleaning today and went grocery shopping (and cleaning supplies) with Andrew, Anil, and Amanda (I just realized that our names all start with the letter A :v).  Originally, it was supposed to take an hour and half since Andrew needed his car's oil changed, but it wind up taking 3 hours because WalMart is slow today.  I did get to watch part of the Diary of a Wimpy Kid while I waited, though.

There was a curious sighting of David Barley.

The rest of the evening was fun.  Since most of the people in the ward were out of town, the scattered FHE groups simply played volleyball.  I had my share of exercise for today and I'm happy.

I tried to do as much cleaning as I could afterwards because I have a 12-hour work day tomorrow starting at noon!  It's not the first time I've done a 12-hour day, so I'm not too bothered.

;)

Committed

Happy Bunday!!

According to the clock, I only got about 5 hours of sleep today.  Surprisingly, I was not dozing off at

church.  David spoke at sacrament today.  It was a relatively short talk (8-9 minutes), but it was relevant to missionary work, especially in these days.  Those who are His sheep will hear His voice.  We do what we can to help people understand, but if they don't care, then there's nothing we can do.

A typical Sunday at work: Anil, Andrew, JMF, and me.  We either have some of the best times or just plain absurd.  I'm actually starting to miss elder's quorum because I work every Sunday this summer from noon to 6pm.

I had the opportunity to share a spiritual thought at ward prayer today and managed to get some home teaching done beforehand.  David joined me because Jon was out of town.  We shared a message about commitment with our home teachees.  I pulled the thought from my notes at Sunday School.  The gist of the message was to ask for forgiveness from our Heavenly Father when we pray instead of being passive about it.

My night was simple.  I attempted to clean the kitchen, but ran out of cleaning supplies.  Andrew and I can sort that out.  I was also invited by Marie to her apartment to have some cheesecake after she returned Zach's bike.  I must say, that was a good brownie-cheesecake consider Marie and her roommate, Daphne, made it and it was their first time trying.  Girls are simply amazing sometimes.

I got a lot of errands to do tomorrow.  It's gonna be a busy day...

ಠ⌣ಠ

It's Vladturday!!

For those of you who have no clue what's going on, Vladturday is a spoof on the Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.  People portray him in a heroic, or interesting to say the least, way.  Here's one example:

You catch my drift.

I only had 6 hours of sleep today because I didn't feel like going back to sleep once I woke up around quarter after 9.  My friend Shannon invited me to see her and some of the BYU Broadcasting crew play softball.  BYUB won of course, but I don't know by how much.  I heard from Elizabeth that it was at least 17-12.  Either way, I bet the guys were happy.

I did a 3-mile run today, which is about normal for me.  Other than that, I played a few games of APB.  Ever since I've become a mod on the official server, I find myself not playing as much.

Work was straight forward.  We had pizza again.  My diet is not healthy... AT ALL!  I need to change that eventually.

The downer tonight was knowing that I screwed up and made a friend sad.  It wasn't directly my fault, but I felt as if I contributed to the emotional stress she's having right now.  That will teach me to manipulate course of events according to my pleasure.  However, her experience did allow me to see a certain person in a new light.

The full moon was shining bright right amongst the starry sky.  I've always wished I could fly, so I could reach the mightiest height.  I've always assumed the worst in life as David pointed out.  Perhaps I should try to hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

:|

After the Storm

It's another unproductive morning I woke up to.  Once again, I sat around on my computer.  This was changed when my friend, Alex, from my home ward came and visited me.  I haven't seen him in 3 years!  The last time I saw him was the summer before my mission in '08.  Time really flew by when I thought about it.  Due to his relatively recent surgery, we just chilled and talked.  There was no way for him to do anything physical.

And, I got another wedding invite!  This time it's from my friend Michele.  I'm starting to feel bad that I can't attend weddings/receptions.  One day...

Work was more hilarious than usual.  The combination of Cade, Andrew, and Anil made the atmosphere a lot lighter.  Oh yeah, and Shannon's disgusting Harry Potter jelly beans... they were horrid.  She did redeem herself by bringing in pizza, though.  However, something caused my alarm.  I was still easily irritated even though my friends meant no offense to me whatsoever.

I didn't know what to do when I got back from work, so I just went for a midnight run.  There was still a surge of anguish within me, I can't pinpoint why.  It felt like I'm still experiencing some residual effects from 2 nights ago.  Right now, I feel a lot less confident than I usually do... not that I'm usually confident anyways.

This, too, shall pass (hopefully).

＿|￣|○

Glad

This morning was one of those times when I felt awful about myself and who I am.  Luckily, I have good roommates and friends who were there to support me.  It has been a long time since I received a priesthood blessing.  I'm certain the last time I've had one was beginning of the year when my home teachers offered.  I guess that explains why I did so well in all my classes beginning of the semester.  Looking back, I was surprised that I didn't get a blessing when all the crap happened to me around my birthday.  It'd have made the second half of winter semester so much easier.

Work was busy.  I was working at least 2 persons' tasks.  Busywork sure made the 6-hour shift seemed a lot shorter.  There were some minor issues, but nothing I couldn't handle.

My evening was less exciting.  Since I didn't have a ticket to see Harry Potter tonight, there was little incentive for me to get out of the house.  All I did was cook dinner and sat in front of my computer...playing games.  Not sure if I want to do that again.

When I thought about it, I have no plans whatsoever for the next few weeks.  It was a shame that the planned Vegas trip will not happen.  I guess there's always next year.  On the other hand, I'm ready for the fall.  There are many things I look forward to in life.  I need to remember that and the fact I still have much to fight for.

The next 2 years will be most interesting indeed.

(☞ﾟヮﾟ)☞

Strange Weather

I really don't enjoy waking up 8am in the morning, even if I got enough sleep.  The only reason I do is because I had to work.  Work was very chill because it is Wednesday and I chose a relatively lax station.

And of course, my usual game or two.

I went to the fundraising event at Fat Cat tonight.  I was slightly upset at first because something I planned out didn't work out due to lack of cooperation, but it's no biggie.  I tried to bowl, but my wrist started to hurt by frame 6, so I didn't bother finish the game.

The weather was crazy.  It was sunny and then stormy.  Then, it was back to sunny again.  I don't think I'll ever understand Utahan weather.

I was hoping to play some soccer at ward sports night, but of course, people weren't there.  I was disappointed and went talking to some girls in my ward.  I was glad I could offer some service along the way while having some sort of conversation with them.  The funniest thing I've encountered was the song "Magic Dance" in the film The Labyrinth.  I wonder why I never felt scared watching that stuff when I was younger?  It was a really bizarre video.

I have a lot of mixed feelings right now.  I don't know if I am content with my life or dissatisfied.  I'll sleep on it and will probably feel better in the morning.  I keep having this theme played over and over again in my head...

 

ಠ_ಠ

Sleepless Day

I woke up and I didn't feel like shaving.  I felt scruffy and I still do.  It's bad because I can't seem to recall what happened this morning.  I knew it took me an hour or so to fully wake up.

Work was supposed to be exciting, but I wasn't all that excited.  Yes, BYU is celebrating the fact that they are going independent.  The fact remains that I'm not all that crazy about sports.

The highlight of my day was playing soccer with the folks in the ward.  I left early because I cracked my nail on my right big toe.  It's not the first time it happened, but it gets annoying.  Plus, my right middle toe was still swollen from last night.  I'm surprised I was even able to play.

So, I ended up at David's workplace.  I brought some food from Wendy's to share.  He was studying GRE vocabulary with another friend.  I just sat in and listened and try to pick up a few words along the way.  Since David is still recovering from his injury, he didn't stay at work for very long.  We had some long discussions in the car and here I am, writing all this down.

The highlight of my night was when Ammon shared a poem with me.  It basically summed up the story of my life.  I am thankful for it.  Maybe when we get permission from the author, I'll share it here.

（ ^_^）o自自o（^_^ ）

Rough Monday

The early part of today was blend.  I got a haircut and spent most of my time playing games and chatting to folks.  I forgot how much I like first-person shooters.  While pondering about the subject, I remember how my family used to play games together.  I wish we could do that again before my brother heads to college in August.  In case anyone cares, I brought my overall kill/death ratio up to 8.92.  My monthly ratio is 11.32 right now.  Yeah, I'm a dangerous guy.

FHE was supposed to be fun.  We were playing spoons in the pool.  I slipped and fell and cut my elbow, so I sat out for the rest of the game.  David, on the other hand, was less fortunate.  I won't go into details, but he wind up with 10 staples in his head after playing basketball.  I never knew water sports could be so dangerous.

Other than that, I hung out with a friend.  I felt appreciated because I was able to listen.  It's nice to know that people trust you enough to share with you some of their deeper thoughts.  I know I definitely made the right choice when I placed this person in my Inner Circle.

Today was short and eventful.

(¬_¬)

Happy Bunday!!

Yes, you got it!  It's Bunday!  Personally, I like it better than Vladturday.  I'll explain to y'all what it is next Saturday if I remember.

As usual, Sundays provide some of my weekly inspirations.  I think many of us have pondered about miracles and how they happen.  It is said in the Book of Mormon that as long as people have faith, there would be miracles. (Mormon 9:20)  Do we not have enough faith today?  I beg differ because of the scripture in D&C 9:8 tells us that we need to study things out in our minds before asking.

Think about it, humanity has discovered so much in variety of fields.  It is difficult for anyone to claim to have studied out everything in his/her mind.  Perhaps one of the reasons why mighty healing do not happen is because men have learned how to treat those ailments.  These are all speculations because things happen according to the will of God.

Work was composed of long conversations with my friend Julie.  The gist of the discussion was for me to realize that I need to stop caring what others think about my judgment towards certain issue or course of action.  If I am going to do it, I should do it without hesitation unless it is dangerous for my or someone's well-being.  The most important thing, however, is don't complain if things don't work out.

There are many other fun things that happened at work, but a more serious note caught my attention.  One of Anil's friends has advanced cancer.  Some of his friends have organized a charity bowl at Fat Cat's this Wednesday, July 13th, starting at 6pm to 9pm.  For $10, you'll get fun games, great Nepalese food, and contribute to a good cause.  If you can't come bowl, try donating at http://helpashraymalla.info/.

That is, only if you want to.  I know I'll be there.

The highlight of tonight was a Sunday night musical by Annie and Jennifer.  I like to sing even though I'm not great at it.  I personally believe I'm not a bad singer, but pales before great singers like Dan and Annie.  Of course, it couldn't have been as awesome if Zach was not at the piano.

The rest of my night was simple: hang around in the apartment talking to Dave while listening to Taylor playing the guitar.  Zach?  Oh yeah, something about homework.


Ƹ̵̡Ӝ̵̨̄Ʒ

Warmth

Today has been a good day.  I cleaned the kitchen (it was my turn really), did laundry, and relax at my own apartment.  The feeling of actually accomplished something is a reward in itself.  I looked like I just woke up for the most part.

David offered to take Eric and me grocery shopping and I went as I was...looking like I just woke up.  I didn't gel my hair, still wore my glasses, my over-sized Batman shirt, and long track pants.  I should invest in a camera just so I can show you guys how ridiculous I look sometimes.  Besides, it'll make this blog more colorful if I put in photos.

As soon as I ran out of things to do in the afternoon, I decided to take a walk around campus.  I crashed a few volleyball and soccer games along the way.  I visited some folks in my previous ward and finally came back to my apartment. 

One thing that struck me during my little adventure was that a smile could go a long way.  Strangely but surely, my heart lit up because of some people's friendliness.  Perhaps I should smile at people more often?  Maybe I could make someone's day as well?

Work was...entertaining.  The best part about weekend shifts is that when things are running smooth, everything is relaxed.  I love talking to my coworkers.  We talk about lots of stuff: from the stereotypical dating to serious life discussions and stories.  Speaking of work, I may have to walk in with another 12-pack just to fill up the fridge space.  Nothing beats a nice cold drink during work.

I didn't wear my contacts as long as I usually do and, boy, my eyes felt so much better than the times when I leave them in for more than 10 hours at a time.

The other thing I need to figure out now is my travel plans for the upcoming event...

☜(⌒▽⌒)☞

It's Friday, Friday!!

Not that it really matters because every day of the week is the same for me due to my job.  I did manage to run a good number of errands today, so that makes me feel good.  I wrote a letter to Klint as my last letter was sent when he was called to whitewash an area.

The highlight of the day was lunch with Eric and the LAN games afterward.  I know it sounds nerdy, but it is what I enjoy.  I can be active and nerdy at the same time.  Of course, I ended up not having dinner because I was still full from my late lunch at Wendy's.

Speaking of which, I always order $6.36 worth of food whenever I visit.  I love the Value Menu.  I got a Value Fries, Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Jr. Cheeseburger, and then 15 pieces of Spicy Nuggets.  Spicy Nuggets are the reasons why I even bother came back to Wendy's in the first place.

Work was extremely boring tonight.  Even though I enjoy soccer, I don't think I enjoy BYU Women's Soccer when I can't understand what the announcers were saying.  I kinda wish that I understood Spanish and Portuguese better.  Oh well...

My eyes are tired, I'm gonna eat and call it a night.

:\

Better Than Expected

Today did go better than expected, starting from the morning.  I was able to wake up with a smile on my face.

Work was the same as usual, except for a few strange issues with the system.  I swear that system has a mind of its own.  Also, I bought a 12-pack Strawberry Fanta for everyone at work to share (or take up fridge space).

I had a lot of junk food tonight and I'm feeling fine.  I spent most of my night at David's workplace... learning GRE vocabulary (LOL).  Of course, we chatted as well in addition to exploring his sister's iPod.  She's got quite an interesting collection of songs.  Too bad we didn't get to watch a movie.

Sometimes, guy talks are much like girl talks.  It's just that the topics are different.

I paid a visit to Christine's birthday party and I came back.  It's a shame I didn't notice the birthday girl (probably because she was in 80's outfit; I almost didn't recognize Chantel either...) and I forgot it's Dan's birthday tomorrow.  Oh well, I guess my memory is not as awesome as I thought.

Keyword for tonight: tatterdemalion.  Funniest word I've learned all night.

:3

Creativity to Wrath

After a long while, I decided that I wanted to pick up sketching again.  I chose a scene based on the introduction of Dynasty Warriors 7 and started sketching.  I may have to ask a few persons for pointers, but it's gonna take some days to finish.  Stay tuned.

Ward sports night did not live up to its expectations...for me that is.  I did work out on my own because I wanted to do something physical.  I did enjoy watching other people having fun and talking to others.  The best part, there was an opportunity to perform service and do my duty.

I was furious tonight because of a few things that have been kept inside for a long time.  It just so happened that tonight's event was the straw that broke the camel's back.  I don't appreciate it when people assume things.  Of course, part of it is my fault as well since I gave the appearance of evil.  I'll see what happens.  I won't burn the bridges like I have in the past.  I've been selfish in the sense that I expect everyone to run on the same logic as I do.  Unfortunately, that is not the real world.

I've calmed down a lot.  I can't fix people because I am not perfect and I shouldn't expect everyone to think on the same level as me.

>:(

Stormy Weather

I've been thinking a lot today.  Life is moving by very fast.  I look at my friends and couldn't help but notice that two of my best friends are now engaged.  I'll have to attend Christine's wedding on the 18th of July.  As for Jess, we'll see when she and Andrew decides on a date.  I find it somewhat amusing that the youngest out of my Inner Circle of friends are the first ones to be married.

Not much happened at work today that drew my attention.

I think the spiritual highlight of my day was attending the monthly mission gathering hosted by President Swinton, my mission president.  He and Sister Swinton always give great lessons and insights into scriptures and concepts.  I've highlighted a few words on the print out the Swintons handed to us.  I'll organize my notes, hopefully, by Monday the latest.

The one thing I wanted to share from my experience was the account of Christ in Gethsemane and His visit in America.  This was brought up by the husband of then Sister Sorensen (who is now Sipherd I believe).  Anyways, I just want you all to think about the Savior's reaction towards the Apostles and the people of Americas.  This is a parallel I have never noticed in my life.  I thought it was something worth sharing.

After tonight, I've decided that I should strive to go to med school and be a doctor.  I really shouldn't settle for less in life.  I don't why I keep doing that to myself.  I keep forgetting that I deserve better than that and I'm glad I was reminded once again.

Ahh, thunderstorms... they are my favorite weather.  I remember how I use to run in them and work on landscaping under the gray sky.  In many ways, they fit my personality, but that's a story for another time.

=O

4th of July!!

Well, happy birthday to America!  I believe it is the 235th year since 1776?

I enjoyed the random fireworks that lit up the night sky.  Since I'm in a college town, each individual student probably doesn't have many Independence Day-themed decorations, but everywhere else in the town was spectacular.

I was lucky I only had work for 2 hours this morning.  I had almost nothing to worry about.  The only thing that bugged me was the fact I had to wake up early, but that's okay.  Come to think of it, I did watch a good movie: 7 Pounds.  It was a touching film.  Will Smith is definitely one of my favorite actors.

My roommates and I totally spaced about decorating our doors for today.  But... we did have an awesome ward barbeque!  I had a lot of fun.  I like talking to people and play silly games.  I like to talk to people because I like to get to know them.  While many may find it weird that I jump from group to group, I just want to know the people in my ward better.  I do wish I could have had more meaningful conversations with everyone.  Sometimes, I feel I don't quite make the person I'm talking to appreciate being talked to by me.  I probably should have went for a dip in the pool, but the desire just wasn't strong enough.

The evening was a bit more uneventful since we kept on changing plans, which made life kinda difficult for everyone.  In the end, the folks decided on playing Risk at our apartment.  And here I am, writing about my day because I have nothing else to do.

I have big dreams and some may say they are next to impossible.  I suppose I just have to stand strong when they don't happen.  I aim high in order to achieve more because none of us ever reach our goals 100% in this life.  Am I being delusional?  At least, I'm being told I'm not.  Risky?  Definitely.  I hope I am strong enough to stand up to what I want to accomplish.

:)

Moments of Truth

As I sat there during fast & testimony meeting, a thought came to me.  It was one of those times when I didn't feel like sharing my testimony that month.  For a long time, I've been hoping for a happy ending in my life.  I realized that it was a mistake.  There's no such thing as a happy ending.  There are, however, happy moments which come and go throughout life.  Perhaps they are the moments I should look and live for?  Maybe this will change my outlook on life.  I've always been somewhat cynical about things.

While I was pondering on the subject, another thought came to me.  Many of us know that without trails and difficulties, there can be no joy and happiness.  This is one way we deal with hard times and unfortunate events.  I remembered that C.S. Lewis mentioned something about people would not remember God if it was not for the trails they've received.  Now, when I look back, I noticed similar sayings had been pointed out in the Book of Mormon.  As to where exactly?  I'll have to look that up.

Work was slow, but I was with some of the best peeps I love to work with, especially on a Sunday.  I just wanna say that Anil, Andrew, and Josh (a.k.a. JMF) are some of my favorite coworkers!  Sometimes, I'm tempted to record our conversations because they are simply ridiculous.  I'm not sure if they trump girl talks, but hey, whatever.

I did have a slight mental break down at the beginning of my shift.  I think it was the can of Ginger Ale, but I said some rather strange things and acted like I was high on something.  Let's just say I was very obnoxious and cynical.  I'm glad my friends can put up with me.

Well, 4th of July tomorrow!  I'm hoping my roommate David has some awesome plans panned out for FHE.  If not, oh well...it's a nice day off.

=D

Lazy Saturday

I woke up this morning, hoping that my eyes got better since last night, but they still looked red.  For some time, I thought it could be eye infection because my eyes get red by the end of the day.  However, the redness subsides after a night's sleep.  I guess it's just me staring at computer screens for too long.

Currently, my job requires me to look at computer screens for at least 36 hours a week.  Add that to the time I spend on my laptop and you have a recipe for stressed eyes.  Hopefully, I won't have to stare at the said screens for so long in the fall.  A change of routine would help with my not-so-great habits right now.

With that said, I did spend time playing Frisbee at the DT field.  I should have bought ice cream, but I didn't.  I just got a drink.  Then, I've had a few lessons on how to throw a Frisbee more efficiently.  I think I'm finally understanding how people do those different throws.

I have work tonight, so I'll miss some of the fun activities my roommates have set up.  That's too bad I guess.  And before I forget, I should check out the Mormon Mexican Museum right by the Riviera.  I stopped by there for 10 minutes yesterday and I feel that's a place I should spend some time exploring.  After all, it never hurts to learn a different perspective, right?

:)

Back From the Ashes

Well, welcome to my first attempt to blog in about a few years.  I've decided that I should try it again so I can have a journal without actually having a journal.

This blog is named Ectomenti because it's my "outer mind".  This is where I write about things happening in my life.  Things that I feel comfortable sharing with the masses.  I have other blogs as well.  The Mesomenti is for my Inner Circle...so, sorry world!  Then, there's the private blog where I keep my private thoughts somewhere in cyberspace.


Anyways, I'll improve the layout as I go.  For now, I just hope I can update this blog often.  There may not be a post daily, but I'm definitely doing at least one post a week.  Lastly, I figured that I should end each post with an emoticon just for kicks.


:v