Dear 2014,

I have a couple of requests for you.  They may seem a little impractical, but let us throw impracticality out the window and into the neighbor's yard.  Let them deal with all the details.  For now, 2014, you and me have some things to discuss.  So, lets roll up our reindeer decorations and get to business.

1. I would like you to bestow upon me at least one pleasant surprise that forces me to see something ordinary and plain in a life alternating way.  I'm going to let you be creative with this one and keep the requirement vague as hell.  Go.  I'm waiting.

2. These lips are a little lonely (See above).  Just sayin'.

3. Let's discover some new authors this year, and expand our reading habits to newer territories.  It's about time we followed the example of explorers throughout the ages, from Magellan to Armstrong.

4. On the discovery note, let's travel somewhere new, different, and exciting.  I haven't left Utah in awhile, and I would love to hang out with you in a new environment.

5. This one is simple.  For every awesome thing I receive, help me help someone else receive an even more awesome thing.  Let's outdo awesome with awesomer awesome for all around.

6.  Let me write.  Inspire me to write.  Tap into my cerebral cortex and force me to write.  Damn it. Let's write a novel together 2014.

7.  On a boring note, let's continue on with my incomplete goals I already have.  Climbing, schooling, etc.  Sorry if you just fell asleep.  I zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz what?  Where am I?

8. Get a job or something like it.  You know. Be a responsible adult like all your friends.  Sigh.  Longer sigh.

9. Be more creative.  Create art.  Create friendships. Create memories. Create possibilities.  Create those things you've always dreamed of creating.

10.

I only put ten up there to please any obsessive compulsive people out there who for some reason thought this was a top ten list. It's not.  Stop fretting about it already.  You're not going to die because I left 10 blank.

So here's a little experience of some of the things I'm going to do with this blog that nobody reads.  Cute, isn't it.

Goodbye,
Blogger.

Midnight Reading

Midnight Reading

It’s 1am
Silence surrounds

My heart beating

More than reading

Page after page

I cannot stop

My eyes crave more

An open door

I’ve heard of love

Love at first sight

For you, it took

One little look

Two hours later

I haven’t moved

Blanket cocoon

Language lagoon

Muscles too tense

I’m near the end

barely breathing

early morning

I close the book

Red-rimmed eyes rest

on the cover

A lost lover

Like a close friend

taking a flight

into the sky

with no goodbye

My mind on you

Eyelids snap shut

Your words I’ll keep

Now as I sleep

Light Dream

Someone, somewhere turned on a light

Switch in the back alley of a dark

city on a sleepless night.

The light spread like cancer in reverse,

Restoration illuminating the Lost.

People empty out onto the streets

Like bees disturbed.

Instead of stinging they’re singing

Basking in the blanket warmth

Of the spreading glow.

Stroke after stroke of brightness

Extends to the outer limits

Traveling at lightning speeds.

The light hitchhikes away,

Out through fields and farms

Bringing buds to bloom.

Faster and farthur, catching fire

With high speed winds.

Erasing darkness by addition

White chalk a blacktops summer

Until one speck lands, a star on the entrance

Of a deep, pitch-black home

my hidden hell hole.

The star knocks, demands entrance.

With a turn of my wrist,

I step out into the light.

Ode to Barry

A small, lively fish

From a distant sea

Came into our lives

With one simple plea.

Be kind, and take care.

For my needs are small.

Keep my water clean

And feed me that’s all.

As time traveled on,

He met many friends.

To Carsen the brave

His whole life depends.

They became best pals

Adventures ensued 

Dragons killed, mouths filled

Happiness renewed.

But time takes its toll

All good things must end

Barry the beta

Let darkness descend.

Alone in his bowl

Last Tuesday morning

He took one more breath

Than left the living

For three days we morned

The passing of him

Who filled lives with joy

Who battled the grim.

Now we say goodbye

With our glasses raised

And toast our dear mate

His good name be praised

For never shall there

Swim one quite so fine

A blue beta beaut’ 

With smooth scales divine.

When the Love of God Enters Your Soul

As of recently I have tried to focus more on loving others than on worrying about myself.  You know, instead of saying I want to spread ice cream all over the floor and lick it off the ground without using a spoon, I now ask myself how can I help my roommate have a better day.

Although the Ice Cream thing is really tempting.

I might….
Just…..
Do…..
It……
Sometime……

Today, while about to start a game of mini golf with my good friends Anna, Brooke, and Sarah I received a text message.  Now if you know me…I get excited when someone sends me a text…and so I pulled out my phone all nice and quick like a cowboy in a wild west show, and looked at the text…it was from Bro. Evans asking me to give a talk on sacrifice.  I quickly accepted the assignment, and since then I have been wondering about sacrifice.  Why is it so important, and how are sacrifice and the love of God related?

God gave up His Son because He loved us and He wanted us to have the chance to receive ultimate happiness.  He sacrificed something He loved for the greater good.  Christ also sacrificed His own life for the greater good of all.

I…..
Think…..
I……
Can…..
Give…..
Up…..
Ice Cream…..

For a greater purpose…like loving my roommates.

There are so many people in my life whom I can feel Heavenly Father's love for.
Lynnsi, Kelsey, Kelsie, Melodee, Melody, Minhee, Trent, Chelsea, Cammie, Bob, Nate, Sean, Ryan, Chris, Eric, Brooke, Trista, and many others.  Everyday I meet knew people I am amazed by how awesome they are.  I've had to sacrifice a lot of my own selfish desires to feel this greater amount of love.  Hopefully we can all sacrifice something in our lives, so that we can feel an increase in love for others.  Well, the ground is getting too tempting….I need to go to bed before I go all Lord of the Flies on this place and become one with my inner savage.  Over and out.


P.s.  Thank you spell check.

My Chinchilla

Verse 1:

Two years ago close to Chile,

I hiked one, two, three, steep mountains

Not seeing your face might kill me

My search leading past chipped fountains

Looking for my little chincha

Yeah, you are my little chincha

Chorus:

Gray hair, you’re not too old for me

How long until you’re gonna see

This relationship’s meant to be

Why won’t you be, My Chinchilla

My furry rodent fantasy

How long until you’re gonna see

This relationship’s meant to be

Why won’t you be, My Chinchilla

Verse 2:

One year ago in the Andes

I watched you gather tuffs of wheat

You were looking kinda dandy

Hopping around on two pink feet

Falling for my little chincha

Yeah, you are my little 


Repeat Chorus

Verse 3:

Walking together in the park

I look at you; you look away

I want a kiss, its sorta dark

You disappear, nothing to say

I’m missing my little chincha

No, you aren’t my little chincha

Altered Chorus:

Gray hair, you’re not too old for me

How long until you’re gonna see

This relationship’s meant to be

Chinchilla, will you marry me

My furry rodent fantasy

How long until I’m gonna see

This foolish dream ends tragically

Chinchilla, it could never be.

Tequila, Joey, and Adele

Here is the short story I wrote for my creative writing final.  It had to include a fish, a life threatening allergic reaction, something being lit on fire, and it had to brake one law of physics.  Also it had to be exactly 400 words.  Enjoy!

Tequila, Joey, and Adele

            It was not the slimy texture nor the pungent smell that caused Mr. Larsen, of Monty's Mysterious Creatures, to despise the fish, but the sound of its singing.  Joey could sing a total of three songs including "Set Fire to the Rain" by Adele, but he could not sing on key or keep a beat.

            Mr. Larsen, as of yesterday, was designated caretaker of Joey, and, under the threat of losing his job, was charged with feeding the fish six ounces of gummy worms four times a day, regulating the tank's water, and recording the fish's performances.  Mr. Larsen, as of today, is unemployed and looking for a new career outside of marine biology. Here is his account, as reported by the New Plymouth Herald, of the events on April 16, 2012.

Man Claims Fish Died After Consuming Two Glasses of Tequila and Singing "Set Fire to the Rain"

            At 7pm Joey lost his voice, and he started emitting a high-pitched screech that sounded like the scream of a young child.  Mr. Larsen contacted the head Veterinarian about the problem.  The Vet, a small man who smelled like pickles, determined the fish had strained its vocal chords and suggested Mr. Larsen mix a glass of Tequila in the fish's tank along with a couple of aspirin. 

            Out of fear of losing his job Mr. Larsen inserted the Tequila into the tank even though he knew the fish had no vocal chords. When Joey began to regain his voice "But I screech fire screech rain,” Mr. Larsen thought it must be working, and he added another glass of tequila.  A miracle happened, the fish was now singing perfectly, and Mr. Larsen fell asleep to Joey's beautiful voice. 

            Mr. Larsen woke up to the smell of smoke because the tank was on fire.  He successfully distinguished the fire, caused by the unexplainable spontaneous combustion of the tequila, but Joey was left drunk from the smoke.  He would swim to the top of the tank before turning upside down and floating back down to the bottom.  Next, he swelled up like a bloated dinner roll, his voice cracked, and within the hour Joey was dead.  An autopsy later discovered the fish was allergic to aspirin, and small amounts of the chemical were found in its bloodstream.  Mr. Larsen resigned from Monty's Mysterious Creatures and asks we do not bother him with any questions.