Life without toliet paper.

When you decide to leave your home and travel abroad, it is far easier to accept that your destination is different than your current establishment. Just embrace it and let it be. Here is a list of my thoughts on my current residence.

1.  First concern is that even though they ship a lot of things from America, there comes a Caveat to all of them.

2.  When I see someone drinking anything resembling Mountain Dew, I feel like a Crack addict that hasn’t had his hit yet. Yes we have Mountain Dew, but it is either non-American or flat expired American soda both are in a can. Nothing will satisfy that craving of that first hit of perfectly chilled Mountain Dew.

3.  Individuals that smell like curry, body odor, and *something else* smell that way for a reason. It is hot, the best things to eat involve curry, and toilet paper is limited. C’est Le Vive. We all stink here.

4.  It is more costly to ship coins internationally than it is to make your own fake representation of it.

5.  19.99 sounds great for a digital camera, until the bill comes in and you realize that you forgot to convert the currency. Also, it will break soon because it isn’t a real Sony, it is a Fony.

6.  Netflix and internet is cheap, but a free movie down the street is cheaper, and typically has more comfortable seating.

7.  “I think I am eating Camel” try suppressing any inquiries on what type of meat your fast food service is providing. It will be different regardless.

8.  I hate tomatoes, yet I never ask for no tomatoes, I don’t need to her.

9.  When will I ever be back here again? Live and Love it!

Columbo Day.

I am quite sure Ashelyn will have a way better story on adventure last year. This is all that I remember.

We were working in the morning have a good ole time. Teresa would swear that Ashelyn was distracting me from doing my work, but truthfully, I'd get most of it done before so i can talk to her as she baked. We had gone on a few driving adventures to celebrate random achievements like TGIF. When we found out it was Columbus Day, you know it a perfect excuse to go play! Ashelyn told me she'd pick me up at my house (WHAT!? She is planning this adventure!?)

While we were getting ready for the evening, she kept texting me that I needed to dress warm (How warm? Like spend all nigh in the wilderness warm, or warm enough to make it from car to movie theater?)  She picked me up and we went to the pond that's by I-15 that no one remembers. I believe the idea was to have a boat and explore, but it was dark and drizzling, so we decided to camp out on the shore. In our picnic basket we had whole peanuts, Martinellis, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper and "Adventure Snacks" like the ones you get at the gas station to go on a road trip.We created news paper hats as tribute to Senor Columbo.

That is how you celebrate Columbus Day! 

Weak.

In the book of Ether Chapter 12, Moroni describes to us a conversation he had with the Lord concerning writing to the Gentiles:

 23 And I said unto him: Lord, the Gentiles will mock at these things, because of our weakness in writing; for Lord thou hast made us mighty in word by faith, but thou hast not made us mighty in writing; for thou hast made all this people that they could speak much, because of the Holy Ghost which thou hast given them;

 24 And thou hast made us that we could write but little, because of the awkwardness of our hands. Behold, thou hast not made us mighty in writing like unto the brother of Jared, for thou madest him that the things which he wrote were mighty even as thou art, unto the overpowering of man to read them.

 25 Thou hast also made our words powerful and great, even that we cannot write them; wherefore, when we write we behold our weakness, and stumble because of the placing of our words; and I fear lest the Gentiles shall mock at our words.

About this time is when the Lord steps in with his nugget of knowledge.

 27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

The last part of that verse stuck in my brain today. I was late to morning excercises and I was told to run 4 laps (2 miles) and do 25 sit ups for being late. I remember bolting around the track and passing individuals. I remember this time last year when I was always worried about running two miles in less than 16 minutes. I have been blessed with a body, and a focus, that allows me to keep improving on my running times. “Till the weak things become strong…” My ultimate goal is to run under a 7 minute pace. Unfortunately, with this strength I have suffered in a few other areas, it is time to re-evaluate myself and identify my weakness and focus on it. Constant improvement is the way to find peace in your life.

So, what is in your life that you need to look at and ‘strengthen’? I challenge anyone that is reading within a million pixels of this sentence to take an inventory of your life (personality, possessions, the whole gambit) and identify those thing which you find are weak. With faith and dedication the Lord promises ‘then will I make weak things become strong unto them’

Here's to you, My Love

When my kids ask how some joe smo like me managed to snag a fox like they're mother, I suppose some part of that conversation has to bring up the night we went topless.

I was bragging about driving home from work topless for what seemed like 2 months, and the only one that would actually listen to me was the baker.  We worked together and she seemed to be the only one that listened. I believe Teresa got sick of me talking about my mustang every day, because one day she “volun-Told” me to ask Ashelyn out for a drive; she noted that Ashelyn typically stays home and would love some adventure.

I don’t what I said, or how many times I asked, but I do know she said she would go on a drive with me. I spent the afternoon after work trying to clean up and look descent, but not too pathetic (I cry a little bit when I go to Tyler’s room, there is clean, then there is I-am-a-serial-killer clean).

I remember waiting forever while she did "Stuff." I secretly thought it was her way of telling me she wasn't interested, but I persisted.  Finally I was able to pick her up at the gym near my house, because I wasn't cool enough to put the charms are her family...yet. We drove around the city and I kept thinking to myself  "Self, when is this drive too long?" I was worried that all she would say about our adventure was that I was indecisive with the radio and it lasted too long. When I dropped her off, We hugged good bye and went our separate ways.

Whatever I did, I did correctly because we had several topless trip in my car, a drive to Wendover, some movie experiences and of course, cooking at home. We are now looking toward our first child being born and a whole lot of "Firsts" As for the "First Year" I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Here's you My Love and to the many more Adventures throughout our life Ashelyn!!



Our New Years kiss

Pathetic

Its been about a month when I realized that you can get badges for reading new articles from Google News. All you gotta do is log in, click news section and start reading. Google keeps track of what subject you read and how many articles, and compares that to the general public. When you read about 2 times more articles than most Google readers, you get your first badge. The benefits is that you can look on the side and see what subjects you read, and well, read more of them.

This is my News profile, I have Platinum Badges in Mobile Industry and Nokia. This means I have read 6 times the amount of Mobile Industry articles than the common public, as well as Nokia. This is pathetic, but isn't so me? Some people our shrugging their shoulders and saying "ya so?" Its just weird to see the quanification of your interests... Oh, well more is definitely to follow (I'm looking at you Space subject)

Friends

Today I was trying so hard to be positive and just be happy, which is hard when you have a busy job in a small area.

And then I recieved a present. My bunkmate gets to go to the docks frequently, and while he is there he gets to enjoy some Kuwaiti socializing. He found some HUMMUS!!!! Dropped it it off and told me not to kill anyone. I laughed out loud (LOL'd) because I was close to doing so.

I'm grateful for those people who keep me sane on this earth, speaking of, one in peticular just Skyped me... thats my cue to say adieu!!

Update

It was brought to my attention that I haven't written in my blog. I keep telling people that I don't leave an exotic life, and things have settled down.  I could tell you how my colleague  has been out for the last ## days counting ummm “Widgets” and that I’ve been working everyday doing this and that. 

There is at least one highlight of the week:  When I started, the army provided a generic pair of Asics that I have ran all of BCT with, I took them to AIT where I replace the insoles twice (back then was the good ole days when the instructors said ‘run’ and an hour later said ‘you’re done get ready for school.’) I even had them when I started this little journey I am on, I ran with these things. Every day when I get off the track and my shins feel like someone took a baseball bat to them. Every time I think to myself “Self, you need a new pair of shoes.” Longest story short, I bought some nice black Adidas, they are lighter than my last pair, and don’t give me those nasty shattered leg feeling. Definitely one of my better investments.