Flip Flops, Freezing, and Fatasies

Today I wore flip flops.  

My toes woke up this morning in blatant protest of the winter and wanted to be free.  The revolted and I, as their democratic leader, had no choice but to oblige their request since I was out-numbered.  This revolt got me thinking about how nice spring is and how I love the warm weather.  Don't get me wrong, I love the winter and its sparking, clean, white and new essence, but I also love the green glow of spring and how the afternoon sun warms the grass.  Spring also gets me thinking about surfing.  

Recently, on the Facebook, I received a request from Kam Sheffield, my best friend growing up.  I was excited to see that he and his younger brother had both gotten into surfing and that they went to the same place where I went when I was down there.  I stole a picture.  This interaction started me on my surfing phase that comes around every year at this time.  

I love surfing.  I feel it to be the best recreational activity out there.  Everybody should go surfing once in their lifetime.  

So, all of this started a small revolt by my toes today.  I complied and they went off gleefully shouting while turning pink and numb on my way to work today.  It was worth it.  

Here is a video that I like about surfing.  Thanks!

Sleep, Wonderful Sleep...

Today I slept until 10:30 to wake up to a breakfast that our elders quorum was putting on.  It was a beautiful thing.  I woke up at 8:13 feeling quite tired and lethargic.  I had little inclination to get up and be more productive, so I dozed off and dreamed a bit more, periodically half waking up to curl, stretch, and curl again on my other side, sighing in blissful comfort and slumbering once again.  Nuzzling my pillow with my head, making a nice nest where I could incubate my thoughts and let them work and grow in dark peace.  

Needless to say, there is a great comfort that is felt while sleeping.  Feeling safe, secure, warm.  That is what we are all looking for really.  And it was raining.  That is so great.

Check out the new poll.  The winner will receive a blog post dedicated to that subject.  Be honest.

Hall of Doors...

Times are exciting for me.  There is much going on that is new, good, and benevolent in my life.  Doors have opened simultaneously leading to new and exciting paths and I feel that as I walk down the hall even more, I will find that more and more doors will open.  

The problem with open doors is that you can see what is inside, but only so much.  

These decisions that I am making now, will affect my life for significant amounts of time and will also hold consequences proactive and retroactive.

For example...

If I take an internship this summer, even a short one, I will work unpaid for at least two months but gain experience that is relevant and important.  I will have to dedicate the little money I have to sustain myself during the experience and will not have money to buy a camera which is also important to my steps becoming a filmmaker.  I will have the opportunity to meet many different people that will have connections to helping me down the road but will loose the opportunity to stay with people that I care about here.  

The above example is just a small example of some of the other doors that are opening to me. 

Most of the doors require a commitment of a year or more, significant financial strain (that is ok with me), going to different countries or at least areas of the United States on and off for months, etc.  

My head is full and I feel overjoyed but I also feel like I want to cry. 

Something that adds to this stress is the fact that I didn't have enough time for the first time this semester to do the 100 pages of reading for my class.  I only got through about 60 and I felt like I couldn't take anymore after a meeting about one of these opportunities and I have deadlines, homework, projects, and responsibilities that are knocking at my own door ready to cave in on me.  

You ask for opportunities and they will come.  I am grateful but frightened at the large steps that are ahead.  

I know probably only 3 people will read this, and I hope that they know I care about them and am grateful for their friendship/love/support for me.  

Hey at least it is raining today, that is nice.

Thanks!

Paper, Rock, Scissors...

I was looking through an old book of original Peanuts comics and I found this.  

It seems familiar...

This is what it says since it is backwards.  

Lucy, "I won again!  Did you mark it down?"

Charlie Brown, "Yes, I marked it down!!!  Go ahead... start another game!"

Recents: Sundance, Draper, MLK, and Harry Potter

So, I haven't written for awhile so I am going to catch you all up on what has gone on.  So this is what went on.

I went to the Sundance Film Festival on Friday.  This was great.  Becky and I rode in cars and busses for most of the night to be able to go.  It was a great amount of driving, but I feel that it was worth it (and I couldn't have asked for better company).  We saw Ashton Kutcher, or however you spell it, and probably some other famous people that I didn't recognize because I don't have my thumb on that pulse.  It was fun.  Old Partner was a great film and we saw a short film after about rural Irish farmers and their places.  That was really cool.  All done with just a digital SLR and a normal digital and a voice recorder.  Super innovative.  Anyways, here are some pictures.

Isn't Becky cute? And nuts, but it is fun...

Anyways, it was fun, and we are going back this next Saturday to see the animated shorts program.  It will be much less driving and such.  

The next day, Becky invited me to the Draper Temple open house.  It was really nice to go and see everything.  I don't go into sealing rooms very much, and it was really touching to see the bride's room where they get ready and cry and stuff.  It was endearing.  The gospel is true and families can be forever.  That is the only way to go.

Then today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day.  What a great day and a great day for us tomorrow when we receive our first black president.  Human rights have come along way, and as I am discovering in my development classes, they still have quite a ways to go. 

But we are heading the right direction.

Speaking of directions, I have a few to choose from.  I am holding off applying to any internships because of other opportunities that have popped up.  I receive emails on a weekly basis asking me to help out on different projects.  "We are looking for an editor...", "Seeking for help for development and shooting of...", "Hey, can I talk to you about this thing that I have been wanting to do...".  You know, things like that.  It is nice to be wanted, but also to be paid.  That is yet to come I guess.  I am just happy that there are so many doors open and opening to me right now. 

So, that is about all that I have to say.  Oh yeah, I almost forgot.  I read the first Harry Potter book.  Despite preconceived notions, I was suprised to see how fun it was to read.  The writing really takes you there and moves quickly and it is fun.  So my goal is to read the books, at least until the sixth before the movie comes out this summer.  

On the topic of goals, I am doing great with my goals for the new year.  I am keeping up on my homework.  I am working hard at my major.  I am reading and writing both for school and for fun.  I am playing music.  I am doing my best to date (thanks for being nice to me Becky).  And I am quite happy, healthy, and hopeful.  Thanks to all for your support and for you love.  You all are what is most important to me and I thank you.

Dream 1-16-09

Last night I had a dream. It is all a bit vague now, but it had alot to do with money. I had a decision to make. Choose money, or love. I remember feeling completely struck by the question, thinking, "Why on earth would I choose money over love?".

I remember there being flashed before me two parallel yet distinct views.

One swept me across the earth to islands that I had purchased in Bali, and to my town house in rural France, exclusive parties and events along in New York, Los Angeles, driving a Mercedes Benz, being with friends who did care but were transient in my life. And feeling empty.

The other was crammed intimately into a small house in south Provo with bills that were stacked full onto the kitchen table, the smell of curry, my books falling all over the small space, the time issues of having multipul jobs, a lovely wife who nuzzled safely onto my shoulder and the new child that, together, we were holding. And feeling filled.

I woke up (late for work) emotional. It was a wonderful feeling. The former feeling exciting and novel. The latter, intimate and endearing. The difference between the two was the end feeling. It was nice to be reminded about what is really important here and now and to remember to work towards that.

Dreams are pretty neat things, even vague ones.

Productive Thurs...

Things I did productively this today and it is only 1:20

-Woke up on time (got 8.5 hrs of sleep)
-Read scriptures
-Read homework
-Responded to emails
-Balanced fincances
-Cleaned Kitchen
-Ate good Breakfast
-Showered
-Read more homework
-Wrote homework
-Showered
-Shaved
-Ironed shirt
-Bought cologne so I don't stink like smoke as some people say
-Found a suprise
-Found another suprise
-Went to bank
-Ate lunch
-Finished homework
-Unstrung, Restrung and tuned guitar
-Worked
-Wrote this post.

This is kind of scary to me. I enjoy being productive and all but upon writing this list I was struck with the awful realization that I am growing up and getting boring. I decided that I am going to act like a kid tonight and the rest of this weekend. It is time for fun.