Doing a good turn daily.

I have not done enough charitable acts over the last couple or so years. At least not in the financial sense. And it could very easily be attributed to the general financial challenges I seem to be perpetually wading in. I can not claim adept skill in the ways of money yet. But this still should not be a reason for overlooking those who are less fortunate(abfortunate? antifortunate? Ha) than myself.

I took one of those opportunities today and even though it was not anything particularly noteworthy it was definitely far from trivial... especially for me... and hopefully for the fellow I was blessed enough to encounter. Like anything worth improving in life, it will take practice, I suppose. Practice in the preparation, prayer, and execution will be ever so valuable.

Blinded by beauty.

It is not very often that I meet a girl that spins me in one direction or another. I guess it is just the way of the bachelor life for me(which is not something I am particularly happy about), and I have certainly had quite a bit of momentum building up over the years, essentially moving in my own direction more than anything else. Lately I met a girl that actually knocked me a little off course, though, and even though I don't get the sense she is particularly impressed by me she has exhibited some very rare kindnesses(in her own unique way) toward me nonetheless. That, combined with her natural and very impressive beauty, is why I suppose my recent spinning has occurred.

Now I am sure 'spin', or 'spinning', probably seems like a vague and somewhat non-descriptive term so I think I will explain it a little bit more for clarity. I also expect that by attempting to explain what may seem vague to others I might find a little more clarity on the topic for myself as well.

Basically, I find myself enjoying this person's company way more than normal. I find myself thinking about her in a curious-to-understand-her sort of way several times throughout the day(maybe several is not exactly accurate). I look forward to seeing her in person with a reasonably high level of anticipation. I even think it's fun to talk about her anonymously in this blog post. Ha. But, despite all of this, I don't actually feel like I have any feelings for her... I am just very attracted to her. I very easily could have feelings for her at some point in the future. I would likely have to get to know her better, to get a better sense of who she really is, and to get a clearer idea how unique she is in my life(pretty much there already). But this is all just speculation. My feelings are quite unpredictable to me, generally speaking, even though they are usually quite slow moving. Last time I had feelings for anybody they were quite unexpected altogether so I really don't have a very good track record of understanding when and where they will strike!

In any case, the presence of a girl has caused this blog entry to be far longer than is normal for me lately. I guess that means something.

Sing it loud.

I haven't gotten to do any karaoke for a while and I have to say it is a fairly fun activity. I am, however, more impressed by the collaborative group enthusiasm for it all tonight. Lots of good smiles and songs to be had by all.

I look forward to the talent show we have coming up next month. I expect the enthusiasm for it to be at a similar level with lots of positively displayed talents of all shapes, sizes, and types. The branch is a tremendously diverse crew with a lot of interesting talents to express for sure.

Too much candy.

I thing breakfast is an important meal for more reasons than the scientists(or nutritionists, or whatever) will tell you. Namely, it lessens my appetite to eat candy all the time... which is obviously a good thing, even though eating candy seems like a good thing most of the time.

So, if you have the sudden urge to get rid of some candy, and you are fairly certain I have not eaten breakfast that day, then please consider me your most efficient form of candy disposal with a smile.

Service projects are fun.

The opportunity to serve others should never be taken lightly. And whenever I am actually smart enough to follow my own advice I am always happier and better for the experience. Even if I am totally tired now because I didn't take a nap instead. Ha.

It was also a nice diversion from many of the other things I have had occupying my mind lately. A lot of things that are not even bad, really, but probably needed a break anyway. All things in moderation... including the length of this entry. Ha.

Two games in one.

Disc golf is a pretty rad sport. It takes all kinds of different skills to become good at it and you get to play it outside, the way most sports should be(except ping pong, which would just be totally silly if wind was a contributing challenging factor), and it seems there is quite a range of progression for anybody willing to give it a go.

Then... on top of all that cool stuff you can even play it glow-style in the dark! It is somehow a whole different game made up of all the same rules. The weather is obviously way different, the focus and feeling is way different in many ways, and yet it is still definitely very much disc golf through and through.

I look forward to the next round I get to play as well as the next round of glow! Double-boom!

Obsessive disc golfing.

I know that I tend to do this with most of my hobbies. All kinds of elements of the sport just sort of wander around through my thoughts at random times, day and night. Lots of visualization. It is a sort of vicarious reliving of the original experience, I suppose. Glad I can even do that in the first place!

Normal feels way short now!

Yet another example of the ever changing perspective of size. The last week has been filled with foggy, lengthy days at work nearly thrice the length they usually are. Today, the first non-fog disrupted day, was almost exactly par for a typical shift but it sure felt like a tiny little road bump compared to the semi-substantial hills of recent shifts.

Now I guess things will start to look and feel bigger again. Some of it is actual sensory perceptive readjustment but much of it is basically just mental. Maybe I don't give the mental aspect enough credit, even.

I think food is a bigger part of the equation than I realized before.

I have recently been working like a madman because of the crazy fog we've been having and as a result I have not been getting other important things done. Things like my homework which I normally have no trouble getting finished as needed, despite my general poor attitude toward it, and lately I have been giving into said attitude more than normal.

I am now realizing it is because I am simply working so much, and not properly nourishing my body, or even getting enough sleep for that matter, that I just plain don't have the motivation and fortitude to just get it all done like I normally do. It's kind of a bummer but I even seem to not have the motivation and fortitude to care about the bummerness of it in the first place. Ha. I really need to improve my eating and sleeping habits for more reasons than I normally give credit for.

Luckily, I am quite exhausted tonight and I will be getting to bed at a slightly better time than I normally do. Sweet, sweet sleep. Oh, how I long for thy sweet slumbering embrace!

Feeling normal is a gift.

And I think people tend to take it for granted. I know I do, at least. And today I am glad I was given the gift of feeling normal.

I think I am too accustomed to separating myself from other people, whether because of my age, unusual interests, strange genetics, or whatever, and I even seem to enjoy it sometimes. It may be a subconscious thing at times as well. I usually don't mind being different and feel that it is always better to be yourself than try to be someone else. But I think there is occasionally a disconnect that happens, on a social level or even internally, which makes me feel lonely... even though separation isn't specifically loneliness. It's one of my faults, I suppose. Something I need to work on more.

Having friendly, positive interaction with anybody always brings me back. It is meaningful to me simply because it resets my general disconnect and helps me forget myself a bit. And I am grateful for the help.

Broken attraction.

I don't really understand why I am built the way I am. I am sure this is totally normal but that doesn't make it feel any better. It is a personal challenge I usually just ignore but this is probably why it has become such a nuisance over the last few years.

I would like to be attracted to somebody that actually makes sense for once. There is absolutely nothing wrong with any of the people I have been attracted to but there always seems to be something wrong with the possibility of a meaningful relationship between us. It could be age, work reasons, religion, geographic distance, or any number of other reasons that feel more like excuses than anything substantiated by reality. Most of it is me, I am sure, but I have definitely gotten stuffed by some of the other mentioned reasons more than a few times.

I suppose this is essentially a rant about the woes of being single(my human nature rearing its ugly head) but I think it is still a needed form of catharsis to indulge in every once in a while. I am sure it isn't very insightful but it is me. Take me or leave me.

Environmental perception.

I have analyzed this topic before, in relation to the effect of a dynamically changing work place perspective, so I will briefly draw the connection between it and the athletics experience and its own dynamically changing perspective. To bring the statement home in a basic phrase: things seem like they get smaller as skills and experience get greater. ie. the golf course seems smaller and smaller each time I play it... which makes it less and less intimidating... and funner. Boom!

A bazillion-hour work day.

Or maybe just about fourteen and a half hours... though, I am not sure there is much of a difference. Oh, the blessings of a highly focused day! Ha.

I am quite zapped. I suppose that is basically expected. And it is still looking pretty foggy tonight so tomorrow morning might actually be another semi-long one(since Saturday's have a lighter expected load, generally speaking anyway).

My body is feeling it, too. I have gotten some pretty solid muscle work over the last few or so days and my body just has not had the time to reset, I guess. I hope it means I will be buff now. Ha.

Fog = money.

I suppose the most direct equation I can think of relating to the weather is the fact that fog creates more hours for me at work. This is not normally considered a good thing but I am quite happy to earn a few unexpected bucks because of inclement weather. I greatly appreciate any financial alleviation in just about any form.

Something else I appreciate is my slightly increased level of fitness because of the physical elements of my job. I feel a bit more toned than I normally do. This is definitely something I enjoy because it seems to elevate my attitude on a subconscious level. Positive attitude is always a good thing.

Overtiming it!

Nothing feels better on a paycheck than a long, hard day's work. And even though the literal payoff is usually a week or so after the activity I am quite happy to indulge in such a focused, semi-intense experience. If only all shifts could be so pleasant!

Cold days aren't so bad, after all.

Even though I don't have much hair to keep my head temperature where I am normally used to it being. It is nice to be able to go "bonus cool" and just take off my beanie. Especially when I am laboring physically with a little more intensity than usual.

The bitterless life.

I suppose this is not as uncommon as it seemed to me at first. I have read that the estimates are broadly around 25% of all people who lack the ability to taste a certain bitter chemical called phenylthiocarbamide(or PTC). As I am apparently one of these people, this may be a contributing factor as to why I enjoy many bitter foods that other people do not. I do not really think there is any deeper meaning to it all but I guess it just solidifies my personal feeling about the many ways I am different than most people. It is even kind of fun to think of being an outsider all the way to a genetic level... honestly, something I did not expect.

There is always a danger in separating yourself from people through definitions of whatever type, personally defined or otherwise. I know that I am ultimately still part of the human race, very much one of the six-point-whatever billion people roaming the earth(or crawling, in the case of babies), and every bit as deserving of all the blessings offered humanity. It is just good to remind myself of that more often than I usually do.

A branch of a different size and place.

It has been a long time coming but definitely worth the wait. The profound impact the branch will have on those who choose to join it can not be overstated. To say that it will have eternal significance to some is a very real thing.

I know what a singles unit has done for me. It helped me return to the gospel, all those years ago, after I had taken a semi-extended absence from the influence of the truth. It is a very medium-gray sort of way of life, nothing too bad or good about it, in just the sort of meaningless way the adversary would likely prefer the most. One of the greatest challenges to overcome, when one has found themselves away from the gospel(for whatever reason), is coming to realize that a life which is simply 'good enough' is literally settling for a second-rate version of yourself. What a tragic thing to accept! The gospel is in the habit of changing us into our very 'best self'... something every person should be happy to strive for.

I also know that I have a very biased opinion on the topic. And I know it has not been the most positive experience for some very close friends of mine. But I also know it is all about making a choice and committing to keeping it. As in all things, we live and die by our level of commitment to the choices we make. Every single choice has an effect on the future.

Choosing to be an active participant in a singles unit will bless the life of anyone who accepts the opportunity whole-heartedly. It will change life(not just that person's) for the better.

Drummers make the world a better place.

This may be a surprising statement to some. I am quite sure it is actual truth, though. You could easily find any rock band to back me up on this statement(though it might be a qualified 'drummers that show up' make the world a better place) but that is sort of like asking a dentist if it is good to brush your teeth... not very compelling evidence, to say the least.

Q: What is a drummers primary responsibility?
A: To competently manage time and share some of its subdivisions in a way that is interesting.


Q: Where does time come from?
A: God. Therefore drummers are sort of like emissaries for God, teaching us how to better use that which God has given us, and looking cool all the while.


Q: How does this make the world a better place?
A: It brings you from one place to another with consistency and purpose. This example of efficiency and flair, if applied to everyday life experiences, would make all sorts of life challenges much better in almost every way.

I think my logic chain is sound. I could be totally biased by my experience as a bass player in a band, though, so I would not fault anybody for recognizing my bias and writing this whole opinion off as a vulgar farse... but that still does not mean it is not true... because it is.

The dark and cold mornings.

They often still become the bright and sunny days in only a matter of hours. Today was a nice example of that and, even though it kind of caught me off guard, I was quite delighted to see it. I think this is somewhat of a metaphor for the serendipity we experience in life sometimes as well. No matter our state, whether we feel deserving or something less, we can unexpectedly be blessed in ways quite unexpected. And, as much as I really enjoy a solid plan and following through with the expected things in life, I also really enjoy a good surprise once in a while. It keeps life a little bit fresher, I suppose.

Finding a mid-range shot.

I think I am starting to get the hang of the mid-range disc now. I say starting because, like with skills related to every single sport on earth, the journey never truly ends. Though, not to be ambiguous or irrelevant, I do feel like I am getting to a level of proficiency and confidence in said skill. Confidence really helps!

There are more than enough additional skills I need to work on which I can now happily start focusing on a little more. Oh, the journey of athletics!

The long day after.

Hard working basketball days are definitely a challenge which extends long into the following day or two. I am still in a certain amount of pain from yesterday's delightful exertions but it should provide fruitful for future fun and games.

Plus, it is still a great deal of exhaustion which will carry me nicely into a reasonably blissful state of slumber. This is good times, I declare.

Feeling like a young buck... somewhat.

I have to say, basketball is a tremendously awesome, reasonably painful sport. You run and run and run. You get pushed around for a while. You miss a bunch of shots. But somehow you feel good about life whenever you play it. Well... I keep using the term "you", when I actually should be using the term "I".

In any case, I am glad I can still play basketball and that the opportunity to play is currently available.

School is a many-splendored thing.

There is all kinds of brain-promoting activities, the social scene of life is further enhanced, and the other challenges of life can slide quietly to the side, a little obscured from the typical semi-undesirable focus they can often command. It is nice to convert a bit of the challenge-fighting energy of life into the self-improvement-challenge-fighting energy.

I also enjoy my commute to and from school. It is a wondrous place of brainstorming and burgeoning plans. I am often in the tingly mode of thought scouring almost the entire duration of my car-bound travels and I am thankful for the blessing to recognize such an opportunity. It sure beats a fit or boredom and/or road rage.

The end of a splendid break.

Oh, the bittersweet transition back into the normal daily grind. And what a grind it is?! A good kind of grind, really. The kind that makes me a better person each day and ramps up my hope of a better future. Nothing like a coffee grind, I would say(though, I might be unfairly assessing the diminutive remnants' life relevance).

Looking forward to the challenges of life is definitely a better frame of mind than the naturally occurring pessimistic approach. Thus, my joy will be in this: that which does not kill my future, only makes it stronger than the past. I hope that actually makes sense. Ha.

Technical skill does not always quality make.

It was a good thing to see, that even though a person may be very qualified by his or her ability to do good things, that the world does not always care(or even always know) about what quality actually is. The world is a bit like a greedy child sometimes... it just seeks after what it likes.

I have realized this about myself on occasion. I have a decent amount of skill in several of my creative endeavors but I rarely create a very inspiring piece of work. Conversely, I think I tend to more often find praise in several things I feel somewhat lacking in capability. It feels like a fluke most of the time. It is a little weird to me.

It is just another semi-obvious facet of life. I know it is not revolutionary thinking but I felt like sharing my observations of today's events. It is good practice to write about in any case.

Putting practice makes a tremendous difference!

I have never had such a focused disc golf putting practice session as I had today. And, wow, what a difference it makes in my confidence level. I am not sure how much it will reflect on my scoring over the next couple or so weeks but I know it will have a great positive effect in the mid to long term periods of my game play. I really look forward to giving it all a shot out there the next time I play!

Addisction.

I don't think I am totally to that phase of interest-level in the sport yet(maybe I never will be) but I am definitely immensely hooked. There is still so much to learn so there is still so much to still infest my thinking habits. I am glad it is such a cheap sport, relatively speaking, as I am definitely not a person of comfortable financial means.

Plus, it really feels good to crush(strange term for throwing far) a drive. It feels even better to park a really challenging shot leaving myself an easy putt... even if it feels more lucky than skilled. Ha.

There actually IS such thing as luck. Who knew?

And it all has to do with the element of an individual's agency to choose their own direction in life. The agency of a person even seems to help create the concept of luck. This, combined with the concept of possibility, seem to give it more complete meaning.

I tend to think that even foreknowledge of an outcome would not deny the actual existence of luck prior to the actuation of events. There is a feeling of luckiness that people have even when the factors involved seemed within his or her own control. Any person can simply make a different choice at any time and it is this particular reality that imbues said feeling of luck. It even seems to me that luck might be one of the distinct opposites of agency. It is worth exploring further.

I am currently quite indisposed mentally and feel inclined to try this again another time. I am glad to have made a little progress on it tonight, anyway.

Back in Washington-style action!

Actually, I am not really sure what that would even mean. But it feels good to say, so there it is. I said it.

I had a great trip to Utah this last weekend. It was for the purpose of shooting the wedding of a good friend who moved down there earlier last year(2012 in case the timing seems confusing). I was lucky enough to have more than a couple days of extra time to spend doing things of my own accord. I got to visit some other good friends as well as my nephew and make some new friends even.

The wedding was brief but I think the pictures turned out well considering the semi-challenging, yet very beautiful, weather patterns. I got to make a couple friends there as well which made the whole experience a much more pleasant time than I could have hope for.

Now I am back to my pre-next-term-at-school life for another week. It should give me a little time to get things back up to speed and hopefully get on top of the important things which will help the next year start off nicely.

2013 is just an anagram for 0123 but I still think that makes it a slightly cooler year than lots of other ones we've had lately. I like counting, I guess.

Internet silence.

Since I try to make daily appearance on my blogs I feel inclined to explain my recent absence over the last couple or so days. It has come about due to my unusual schedule of events, having been on a trip away from home(in a different state) and not even having access to the internet at all in one of the places that I have stayed.

Also, I have been extremely exhausted to the point of a very powerfully appealing bedtime and being out of my regular element has certainly helped me to justify my lacking efforts in keeping up with my daily goal. Not really an excuse, I suppose. Just semi-poor reasoning... which does not really bother me all that much, either. Ha.