Much to everyone's surprise, I have a defense mechanism what I call "delay in emotions,"  it's not that I don't feel emotions. I wait until later to feel them. When I left on my mission, it took me nearly 8 weeks before I felt homesick. This time I lasted 4 months before I feel the yearning to be home. Granted, my life has moved so fast, I don't know what normalcy is, heavens, I have a child! I know I want to go to a place where I am not confined to a bed or work. This place is slowly shrinking as the weeks go back and i want a place to stretch out!! And please, I want a Friggin descent Hamburger!!!!!

Home Substitutes

While away on my long adventures, I have seen people get packages with items that make this place feel like home. Mitchell gets a box of food that look like it came from the Asian market (seriously, i didn't know they had shrimp chips). Coon gets clothes from American Eagle so he can dress like he did back home. I have a slightly skewed way of looking at things, I try to find things here that remind me of home. It is far cheaper, and easily accessible. Like the Lavender smelling dryer sheets so my bedding smells like a field of flowers (I have a lot of girls in my life OK?), but i think the cleverest ideas came from the Dining Facility. To the novice looker, I just ordered a grilled/boiled chicken breast with a side of broccoli and cheese. when I combined these items together and close my eyes. . . . BAM! I am back in the Sandy house on a Sunday afternoon with dad making Chicken Di Van, 6 chicken breasts because his son will eat two of them! The latest concoction of home loving came when I was craving the fried potato wedges and baked beans combo. Too easy, Chicken breast again, side of fries, side of baked beans add barbeque sauce. When I eat this, I am transported to the countless times we tried to sneak our way over the the frying pan to eat some potatoes. I have found the solution for recreating all of my home, but the subtle substitute keep me sane while I am away.

Bond, James Bond

So I totally broke down and found a copy of Skyfall from the UK, and I don't even feel guilty about watching it! Sparing any plot spoilers, I will say it was an epic ending to a well deserved character development. The conversation when the credits rolled was "So this movie has to be before Dr. No right?" CORRECT!!! This is our List of Jame Bond movies in chronological order, so that the stories mesh as well as possible. Casino Royale/ QoS is where James Bond gets his 00 status. The next group of movies are all recent; however, they all contain Judy Dench as "M" {group those together}. The only thing that needs to be addressed (and it is a minor inconsistency) is 007 had to trade out his Beretta in Dr. No for another Walther PPK, and what happened to his DB5? So here is the list Enjoy.

Casino Royale (Daniel Craig) -- 2006
Quantum of Solance (Daniel Craig) --2006
Golden Eye (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1995
Tomorrow Never Dies (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1997
The World is Not Enough (Pierce Brosnan) -- 1999
Die Another Day (Pierce Brosnan) -- 2002
Skyfall (Daniel Craig) -- 2012

Dr. No (Sean Connery) -- 1962
From Russia with Love (Sean Connery) -- 1963
Goldfinger (Sean Connery) -- 1964
Thunderball (Sean Connery) -- 1965
You Only Live Twice (Sean Connery) -- 1967
On His Majesty's Secret Service (George Lazenby) -- 1969
Diamonds are Forever (Sean Connery) -- 1971
Live and Let Die (Roger Moore) -- 1973
The Man with the Golden Gun (Roger Moore) -- 1974
The Spy who Loved Me (Roger Moore) -- 1977
Moonraker (Roger Moore) -- 1979
For Your Eyes Only (Roger Moore) -- 1981
Octopussy (Roger Moore) -- 1983
A View to a Kill (Roger Moore) -- 1985
The Living Daylights (Timothy Dalton) -- 1987
License to Kill (Timothy Dalton) -- 1989

Missing: The otter half

There is a strange sensation I get, it occurs more frequently now, that makes my heart feel heavy and my body feel like lead. I get this sensation when my body tries to snap me back into reality and the realization that I am not with you. Every now and then when my day has died down, when I smell something familiar, or just randomly throughout the day; my mind sends me to another time and place where I am with you and we are happy together. I faintly remember how it feels to have you laying on my chest, or in my arms. If I think real hard with my eyes shut, I can feel the kiss we had in the elevator so long ago. I love these moments; however, as hard as it is to grasp them, it is that much harder to keep them. Then suddenly, my heart sinks and I realize I am here and you are there.

Missing: my other half

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’