Some more mindless nonsense.

Have I mentioned how happy I am since school let out? It's like I'm a whole different person. A person without stress. it's kind of strange, but kind of not, because I have the kind of memory that holds onto things like rice in an hour glass and now it's mostly already been shifted into an unused corner of my mind. Sure, it's all still there, but you have to take the effort to tip it upside down to get it back to where it started after it's seeped away. So basically if I take the effort to remember all that's happened, say by looking at some of my last posts, I'm surprised by just how bad it was, because all of the bitterness and displeasure has since evaporated from the now. It's sort of a blessing when it comes to the bad things, and sort of obnoxious when it comes to many of the good things in my life. Hence the caving in and buying of the camera that allows me to enjoy and reflect upon my surroundings and look back at the good times. One day I'll take the time to take a class and actually become good at taking these pictures, but for now I'll put it off with all of the other things my mind lets go.

Here is a picture of me letting go on my hammock. Thank you Kristen, for this amazing gift. And thank you Stratford, for building a house with railing conducive to me whiling away my time.


I've spent the last two days putting together several bookcases. As in 3. I now have 4, so I'm moving up in the world. And of course with that I've partially cleaned my room yet again, yet have become tired doing so, and will put off the remainder for another day. Here is my dad with his beard thing he insists on growing until his doctor lets him ride his Harley again in august. Claire quite enjoyed pulling on the hairs.





Chuck E. Cheese was exhausting, as I spent the whole time being dragged around by children, specifically my twin 5 year old nieces, and one was always dragging me in the opposite direction while I was trying to watch the other stationary twin that had no intention of moving, as they were at that moment on some sort of fun making apparatus. I learned the heartache of telling children that they didn't have enough tickets to get the prizes they wanted, and it broke my heart several times and made me hate
the establishment, especially when I found out that the points are equal to cents. I wish I would have known that earlier, and I just would have bought them anything they pointed to and let them believe it was their tickets and skills at achieving the tickets that produced such rewards. They were awfully excited every time they won tickets. Man I love how excited they get and how I get to watch it and get excited with them for free. Anyway, after I found out the point system, I bought the remaining nieces and nephew blow up swords. Traffic in the area was horrid. Less people should be hired, and more cones utilized in their stead. Ridiculously confusing.


Afterwards I went up to Herriman with two of my sisters to watch Churtis and the twins play in an inflatable water slide. Like it has a pump like one of those bounce houses constantly keeping it inflated, and when removed it just deflates. Kind of nice. And later was a picnic in the park with friends followed by a movie.









Here are some pictures of Claire with a blanket. She is so cute to watch with it. And I absolutely adore how happy she always is. It's fetching awesome, and she's like that even when Curtis is smothering her with his brotherly love.


It really is amazing that they get along so well. They both adore each other, which I think is providential since they're both adopted.













Today I skipped my church again. I mean, I went to church, just not my church. I've passed the stage of anonymity in my ward, and I don't so much like it. Devin has the same thing going on in his ward, only his is later, so I went with him, which happens when I sleep through my ward. Is it bad that I don't like people knowing who I am and being nice to me solely out of Christian charity? I mean, I like them and that they have it, but it's kind of awkward when you've been practically inactive for the last year, and people occasionally saying hello and calling you by name is all the effort exerted towards you, with no realization that you're not around on a regular basis and that you're not as strong spiritually as you'd like. So I'd rather they didn't have it towards me. They really are nice people, but I've made an effort on not a few occasions to sit to and talk to people, and still I'm just kind of there. Leaving me wanting to go back to not knowing anyone and not feeling so awkward about having been there so long and still not knowing anyone well. I'd rather just be there for the religion part, and not the socializing. That said I either need to find a new ward with at least one friend, or find a new ward with no friends and get in and out as soon as possible, so I can focus on feeling the spirit and not feeling the awkwardness instead of the spirit I should be feeling. Man that all sounds more pathetic put down in writing. I swear it's not that big of a deal and I'm not sweating it when I'm not openly analyzing it, but it's become a lot like distance running lately, and I do hate feeling uncomfortable more than pretty much anything out there--which leads to developing my excellent avoidance skills. The next post I swear I'll do something useful and post some Germany pics.