Stacked....

You know, sometimes it seems no matter how you plan, or what you arrange to make things work, they never do.

Example one: Nearly every day, either arriving to or leaving work, I see this cool bird that I haven't been able to identify. I also see a little covey of quail on a regular basis. And some rabbits. And I work in Tempe, AZ, which combines with Phoenix, Mesa, and several other cities to form this huge, metropolitan area. You wouldn't think I would see wildlife like this, but I do. So I decide to take pictures, so I can show what I see, as well as try to get the one bird identified.

As soon as I start taking my camera to work, I don't see any of these animals. They have all disappeared. Well, I managed to get a picture of a rabbit, but I wanted the others more.

Example two: I went to a car audio store to purchase my new cd player and get it installed. To install it, they had to order an installation kit to help it fit my dash. They said it would be in Tuesday. So I called today, not there, and I was told Thursday. Well, Thursday doesn't really work for me, details to follow, so I stop by after work to double check. They tell me it may be in tomorrow. So there's hope, I guess, because I really want to get this installed soon!

Example three: Last November I sent a letter to Taco Bell, including a SASE and a letter with my new address so I could get my W2 for the month and a half I worked there in 2007. By February 23, I still hadn't received the W2, so I call, get a hotline number, and then get a new address to send another SASE. I anticipated when I mailed it in November, because when I worked there, I remember seeing a posting in the office to send it off early, to get the W2 on time. So now, every time I think about trying to file my taxes, I get extremely irritated because I can't without the W2 that includes information from a month and half of work. Gah!

The good part, the thing that keeps me going, is that on Thursday, after I get off, I am flying to Denver to spend the weekend with my sister, Andi! Hooray! I haven't seen her for a couple years, so I'm really looking forward to this trip. And I've never been in Denver, so that's a good thing, too. Once I fly in on Monday, I will drive to Utah to visit my parents and my brother. The last time I saw my brother was about two years ago when he left for Afghanistan.

So you can see why I really want my new cd player. I want to have it for my trip! I guess if I have to, I can get it installed on Monday after I fly in, but that's not my preferred scenario.

Hooray for paid vacation!

A Little Clarification....

....and maybe a little something extra.

I think my last post was maybe a little unclear.

I'm having a good upswing right now as far as Church activity goes. I actually want to go to church most of the time. What I'm concerned about is avoiding the burnout that, for me, comes with doing too much at one time.

I want to keep the feelings of wanting to go. The problem comes when I start feeling like I have to be there, rather than being there because I want to be there.

Should I try to find another ward that I might enjoy? This would help avoid the feeling of being obligated to go so my housemate has a ride. I know he could get a ride with others, he has before.

Should I just ask him to find a ride with someone else each week? I could probably come up with an activity that would cause me to arrive at church just in time. He likes to get there early to visit with the other members, so that would probably work.

Does my problem make a little more sense now? I want to keep up the positive feelings of wanting to be there and avoid the negative part of feeling obligated to be there, because I can't deal with those yet.

I promise, I'm working on it.

Anyway, I figured it would be fun to mention a couple of male singing voices I admire. I enjoy singing, and I feel I have a pretty decent voice.

Here are a couple voices I'm jealous of:

1. Gene Kelly. His voice is so warm and filled with joy. He's amazing! Pretty good dancer, too.
2. Kerry Dahlen. He sings bass in one of my favorite groups: The Coats! Seriously great bass voice, awesome range, and he has a great sense of humor to boot!
3. Josh Isom. I sang with him for a year with the Institute choir in St. George. Truly, truly blessed with a great voice, just from pure talent. He makes singing seem so effortless, no matter what he is singing.
4. Joe DeRieux. My Bishop from Kanab, he has an amazing voice. He also helped me discover the pure joy of singing, but I will always feel inadequate when I think of how his voice sounds.
5. Meat Loaf. Yes, I'm serious. He can sing just about anything, and even if it's a fast song with tons of words, he can make each one understood. Plus he has a great storytelling quality to his singing voice.

Anyway, there you go. I'll probably think of another 3 later on this evening.

Oh well.

Something New I've Discovered.....

...about myself.

As much as I love the message of the Gospel, of my religion, I don't enjoy some of the most basic, simple obligations.

For example, I enjoy what I learn in the weekly meetings, but I don't enjoy the feeling of "have to go to the meetings." An example: when I get a calling, I don't want to be there, because now I have to be there. Another: I really do like the ward I've been going to since moving. I started going because I was NOT enjoying the Singles Ward I was in, despite their having a fantastic ward choir. Plus, I figured it would be a nice thing to start taking the elderly gentleman I live with. It makes sense, right? Well, now I dread going, because I feel obligated to go. Plus, I don't really like taking him in my car, because he smells. And yet, I don't know that I want to try and search out a new ward, because it's a pain, and I'm really not going to be here that long, right?

Aaarrrrgghhh!

Yes, I know the textbook answers. "When I don't feel like going is when I most need to go." "This too shall pass." "Just do it."

And yes, I would still like to go to this ward. It has a lot that I like, except the time of day it meets. Stupid 1 PM.

But as much as I would like to make the Church a part of my life again, I need to be able to take is slowly and duck out if I'm really not feeling it. I need to feel like I can be there and enjoy it, but if I need to, I can leave.

So what do I do?

Suggestions?

Saturday.....

After the week I just had, I was really looking forward to Saturday.

So far, it's met all of my expectations.


Today I went and saw the Jim Henson exhibit at the Arizona Youth Museum. It was an amazing exhibit. Pretty small, but amazing. I was a little disappointed that I wasn't allowed to take pictures, but oh well. I guess I really can't have everything. They had several Muppets on display. I got to see Rowlf the Dog, The Mahna Mahna and the Two Snowths, and Bert and Ernie up close and personal. Pretty amazing, really.

They also had a couple items from "the Dark Crystal" on display. Some of the Skeksis' dishes, and Kira's dress.

Honestly, walking through the exhibit, I was at the point of tears several times. Jim Henson was that amazing. I want to go see the exhibit one more time before it leaves in March. And now I'm left with a desire to pick up anything I can about Jim Henson. Luckily the third season of the Muppet Show comes out on DVD fairly soon. And all three seasons of Fraggle Rock are out. I should pick those up some time.

Oh yeah, and I've decided to try having a full beard. What do you think?

Good Thoughts....

I've had a couple thoughts hit me really hard recently, so I decided to share. Two books provided me with some insight that I really liked. I'll probably make another post out of the other book, but the one I have in front of me now is "The Lost Princess of Oz" by L. Frank Baum.

After "The Wizard of Oz," Mr. Baum started every book with a note to his readers; thanking them for their letters and for their out-pouring of love and support. He wrote these books for children, because he loved to make children happy.

This note I found to be a cut above the rest. The part I particularly enjoyed reads as follows:

"Some of my youthful readers are developing wonderful imaginations. This pleases me. Imagination has brought mankind through the Dark Ages to its present state of civilization. Imagination led Columbus to discover America. Imagination led Franklin to discover electricity. Imagination has given us the steam engine, the telephone, the talking-machine and the automobile, for these things had to be dreamed of before they became realities. So i believe that dreams-day dreams, you know, with your eyes wide open and your brain-machinery whizzing-are likely to lead to the betterment of the world. The imaginative child will become the imaginative man or woman most apt to create, to invent, and therefore to foster civilization. A prominent educator tells me that fairy tales are of untold value in developing imagination in the young. I believe it.
...And, by the way, don't hesitate to write me our own hints and suggestions, such as result from your own day dreams. They will be sure to interest me, even if I cannot use them in a story, and the very fact that you have dreamed at all will give me pleasure and do you good."

I am starting to allow myself to dream again, and this note from Baum to his young readers really struck a chord. I think it's so important to allow ourselves to dream: to imagine.

It's vital. Without dreams, we don't have as much hope. They go hand in hand.

Here's to imagination!

You've Got the Touch! You've Got the Power!

If you get the movie reference from the title of the post, you are either a) just cool like that, b) a true child of the 80s, or c) way cooler than I ever gave you credit for.

I made a substantial purchase this week. Possibly one of the coolest items I have ever purchased.

I bought (drumroll, please) the iPod touch. This little tech gizmo is even cooler than I had ever dreamed possible. It's easy to navigate, the touch screen is amazing, and even the little keyboard that shows up on screen is surprisingly accurate, even with my thick fingers. I love it! I haven't managed to utilize it to its full potential yet, but I'll get there.

On a completely different, yet related note. I think I want to get internet access again at home. I can survive without it, but I feel rather disconnected from the world. Plus, my little sister wants me to buy an Xbox 360 and get Guitar Hero 3 so we can play together online. And that would be fun. This is the first time my mother has been approving of my buying a new game system. Mainly because it would allow me to chat with my sister more often.

Anyway, I just wanted to give a quick update. Life is good!

Not Forgotten

Yes, I am still alive.

However, I am now without an internet connection at home. For two reasons: One, I no longer live in my apartment. Two, I canceled my internet subscription.

Okay, explanation time.

My Aunt Helen asked me a while back if I would be interested in living with her father-in-law, who recently had a stroke. It didn't affect his mind, but he did have to relearn how to walk. It involves free rent and free utilities, always wonderful, being there in the evenings and at night, not a problem, and doing some light housekeeping, which is now my goal to stay on top of.

I feel very blessed because this will allow me to save lots of money, and also give me a chance to buy the new iPod touch. Here's the kicker, the iPod touch has internet access by means of wi-fi, so I can find a hot spot, log on, and do my internet surfing on the go.

But I digress....

My new room-mate is a very wonderful man. I know he doesn't have an ounce of dislike in his body for anyone or anything. And I think it would be a very difficult task to find anyone would could dislike him. I'm hoping to be able to learn and adopt some of his characteristics. Of course, he has had years to develop them, but I want to learn.

I find myself hoping that he won't die for a while. He enjoys great health, but seems to be a little fragile.

Oh, and I need to get started on applying for Grad school. Shoot!