That awkward moment..

That awkward moment when: 

• You're really hungry, but you don't have the desire to make or buy food.
• You walk around in a fog and you feel like the only solution is that you're in an alternate universe.
• You realize that everyone wants to give advice. 
• You realize all that advice is wrong.
• You should have gone with your gut to begin with.
• You remember you were supposed to be training for a half marathon, but you haven't run in about 2 weeks.
• You see someone you know, so you wave at them. Except they just turn around and walk away.
• You see someone you really need to talk to, but they just smile and scurry.
• You realize you don't have to do anything. Ever.
• You have great ideas, but they're scattered all over the place. Literally.
• All you want to do is sit curled up on your couch and have your mom cook for you, but then you remember you live 800 miles away from home, and mapquest estimates it will take 11 hours and 25 minutes to get there by car.
• You get out of your car and you see it spraying anti-freeze/coolant everywhere. And then 10 people start looking and whispering. And you say to yourself, "Smile and wave, boys. Smile and wave."

• You work 60 hours a week and then come home and do the dishes. Every day.
• What you thought was a weakness in others and a strength in you really turns out to be a strength for others and a weakness for you.
• You realize every song ever written is about love.
• You realize you're an island.
• You don't know what you're supposed to do at your job, and everyone keeps asking every 2 seconds for an answer.
• Taylor Swift reminds you that "Everybody's waiting. Everybody's watching. Everybody's waiting for you to breakdown. Everybody's watching to see the fallout." And yet, you continue to write a blog. 
• People tell you to "just be happy." And that it will never help to sit around for the rest of your life. And all you can do is restrain yourself from punching them in the face.
• You're ready for this.
• You feel like you're 13 even though you're 21. I should be able to "handle" life by this point. Right?
• All you want to do is go walk down this street:

• You're upset that you don't have cable TV for the single reason that you can't watch House Hunters or Golden Girls.

• You miss this. 47 more days.

• You remember you're supposed to be making huge decisions. But you can't even decide what shirt to wear for the day.
• You calculate your budget and wish you could return 79% of the stuff you've bought in the last month.
• You want to buy a half baked chocolate chip cookie sundae and the diner is closed after you get off work.
• You have so much more you could say, but you should probably be done blogging for the time being.

"Stop this train. I can't take the speed it's moving in."

This past week I had the pleasure of seeing three super amazing friends who I haven't seen in over two years. Incredible how time flies. Nothing seems to have changed--and yet everything has changed. I'm so grateful for my friends and what a large part they play in my life. Thank you to each and every one of you who has served a mission, will serve a mission, is serving a mission, or is thinking about serving a mission. I look up to and respect you more than you'll probably ever know.

1.      (Elder) Parker Geren

·         Background story: We grew up in diapers together--our parents are long time friends. Thank goodness for Parker and his amazing energy. Thank you for setting the example Pahka! It was really great that you could stop by my work and say hi!

2.      (Elder) Tyler Christensen

·         Background story: Freshman year at BYU. We lived in the same apartment complex, and apparently we both had enough snark that we could stand one another. Countless adventures and miles of road later, we became friends! Thank you for serving an honorable mission. It was wonderful to see you again.

3.      (Elder) Taylor Johnson

·         Background story: Freshman year at BYU...again the same apartment complex. Taylor reached out to me when I needed a friend most. Thank you for being one of the most respectful, dedicated and compassionate people I know. I enjoyed the surprise visit!

"They had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God."
Alma 17: 2

The not so adventurous adventure...

Dear Readers,

I inform you most confidently that I'm alive. And in mostly one piece. Often I find myself being the stick in the mud and flaking out at every available opportunity. Therefore, I went out on a limb and made myself go on this grand adventure:

• Who: Ward Friends (8 of us)
• Where: Spanish Fork Hot Pots
• What: To have some sort of ridiculously adventurous adventure at the Spanish Fork Hot Pots
• When: Monday, May 28, 2012 10 pm-1 am
• Why: Who really knows....we're young and dumb

This is what the hot pots look like in the daylight (these are the real hot pots): 

This is what I remember about the path to the hot pots at night (imagine this as pitch black, and a river-ish stream instead of the ocean, but keep in mind the cliff-ish nature to the right of the path):

Galileo Galilei once said, "You cannot teach a man anything. You can only help him discover it within himself." I think this man has a fantastic point. Tough and challenging situations require intense self-discovery.

Although it was out of my comfort zone, I think this trip was worthwhile because of what I learned about myself while hiking narrow trails next to cliffs at midnight in foreign territory. 

After all was said and done, I think I would participate in similar activities again--just to discover what is yet unknown. On the other hand, I don't know at what point it would be too dangerous or too much. As someone wise said, "Being young is all about doing dumb things...that hopefully are not too dangerous." I think this photo evidence proves that I'm learning from my experiences...bit by bit.

Fin.