Are you hungry?

The Hunger Games.

A fantastic series.

My continued love affair with the written word.

It's a beautiful thing.

For those who haven't read this awesomelyamazing series yet, DO IT!! You won't regret the time spent. Of course it may mean that you sacrifice other, unimportant things in the process, but these things are irrelevant. Trust me. I know.

Okay confession time. I may or may not be writing right now to avoid going back to that black hole the rest of the world refers to as homework, so don't judge too harshly. I'm sure all of you know that wall that comes up outta no where and just WHAM, hits you. I'll attempt to climb over it.. it's pretty dang high though...
{rubberball.com}

Playing catch-up

Wow, first of all want to apologize for the lack of posting. I hope anyone who regularly reads this blog understands that this IS the end of the semester and I AM trying really hard to get good grades. Hopefully that is sufficient to explain.

In recognizing the recent starvation of my blog, I need to make serious amends with this post in the hopes that I can fully satisfy it for the time being and be forgiven. So get ready for a lot of stuff, it's all comin in at once.

A FAIRLY LONG LIST OF ITEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED BY JOEY (THAT INCONSIDERATE BOY) SINCE HE TOOK HIS SWEET TIME RETURNING TO THE BLOGGING WORLD:

-My blog turned ONE YEAR OLD!-
This might be the most rotten of my extensive actions of rottenness.
Ok.
Maybe not that bad.
NO IT IS!
How would you feel if the person who cares about you the most FORGETS the day of your birth hmmmm? I don't know about you but I would feel just despicable! So here is my making up for it-Regardless of that fact that some of you will not believe it, I baked a cake. With love.
Fine, keep on not believing. No cake for you.
But seriously this blog has come a long way from very humble beginnings. I've definitely grown a great deal in the past year and I am grateful for all the experiences that have continued to shape me into the person I am becoming/am. And of course I'm grateful for all you wonderful readers who (for reasons unbeknown to this individual) read what I share. I hope you will continue to do so. Here's to another year!

-Thanksgiving-
Fantastic holiday. Not my favorite, but still fantastic. Food, T.V., family, football, food, no school, food. I did mention food right? Oh and I guess all that jazz about being grateful for the things that we have. That's pretty cool too, I guess. Perhaps President Thomas S. Monson could say it better:

We can lift ourselves and others as well when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues. Someone has said that “gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all others.”

I hope everyone had a wonderfully thankful Thanksgiving with those that they love. I know I did!

-A quite large amount of snow did (and didn't) fall-
The setting is Provo, UT, a day or two before Thanksgiving Break. Students brimming with anticipation for the much needed relaxation of time away from school. A sense of euphoria in the air.
Cue sinister music.
But all was not well in Provo. The evil weather "predictors" stated that a hugelyhumongousginormo blizzard was on its way and that everyone better prepare for the end of the world! People panicked. Locked themselves inside their houses. Refused to go anywhere, though the holiday was only a few days away. Schools closed down, concerts were canceled. A few brave souls ventured to continue to try and leave for their vacations that night. The end of the world had hit Idaho and Montana and had even reached Salt Lake City, it seemed like it was inevitable.
1/2 an inch.
That's all that fell.
1/2 an inch.
Needless to say, the citizens of Provo were not very happy with the weather people, not happy in the least.
They received their redemption, however. At the very end of the break, the heavens opened and quite a load of snow was dumped on the frozen city. Not quite blizzard status but definitely quite the snow storm. Annoyingly wet and cold, beautifully picturesque it felt like the official beginning of wintertime in Utah.

Now due to the fact that by now, most of you are face down on your keyboard, drool dripping onto the keys as you catch a few Zs in between items on this list. Therefore, the remaining items will be mentioned in a rather quickish fashion. Fair enough?

-Concert season at UVU has begun-
-December 1st has reached us-
-Harry Potter 7-
-Best and worst days, consecutively-
-Homebound in 15 days-

Whew! Now we're caught up.

Photo, photo on the wall

New goal:

Learn how to properly use Photoshop.

Lately I've been wanting to do bigger and better things with this blog (a natural feeling) but of course I needed to start small and work my way up. Baby steps, baby steps. I talked with my friend Celeste about Photoshop just the other night and how much both of us reaaaaaalllyy want to have it and use it to create amazing pictures like those that we see on other people's sites *jealous monster peeks his head out of cave*. Today I decided to take it a step further and actually try it out for myself before I invested in such a thing. Luckily for me, my school owns a few Macs with all of the programs on them that are free for anyone to use. Jackpot!

I got on the computer, pulled up the program, got all ready to go... and just stared at it. How in the world was I supposed to figure this out?! It all looked like gibberish to me. Fortunately, my quote-unquote sister Sydney, the author of an amazing AMAZING (did I say amaaazing?) blog that everyone and their mother follows, does some amazing things with Photoshop and photography in general and was kind enough to post a tutorial on an example of how to use Photoshop. Thanks Syd!* It was really fun just playing around with things. Well shall we see how I did? Don't judge too harshly.

I mean it.

Before and Afters:

*Happen to have a way to use Photoshop and you have no idea what you are doing and want to give it a try? check out Syd's original post here.

Welllll? What do you think?

Still could use some tinkering? I think so too.

I work on it and get back to you.

"There should be a need for books such as this"

Success!!

I finally finished Les Miserables! It took me about a month but I mastered the book and loved every minute of it. If you haven't already, READ IT!

It was amazing for me because I've seen the movie and know how it ends but the ending still takes me by surprise and leaves me on the edge of this huge abyss along with Jean Valjean, only to bring me back to the safety and peace of the beautifully poetic ending. Reading the novel from front to back you can really see the transition or metamorphosis from dark to light, from evil to good. Jean Valjean is a man who made some mistakes in the past, some not-so-small mistakes, that are not readily accepted in the eyes of the law of the land, even after he turns his life around, attempting to be a man of God.

In fact, to me this novel was ALL about the difference of perspective between God and Man and how far apart, sometimes, those perspectives can be.

"A cannonball travels only two thousand miles an hour; light travels two hundred thousand miles a second. Such is the superiority of Jesus Christ over Napoleon."(p. 1197)

What are the convulsions of a city compared to the émeutes [uprising, emotion] of the soul? (p. 1148)

Men do not always see the acts of other men. But the Lord does. He sees everything, down to the deepest desires of our hearts. "With eyes closed is the best way to look at the soul. (p. 1010)" says Hugo. That's is part of the key in becoming more like our Heavenly Father I think, "...Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart. (1 Samuel 16:7)"

Though Valjean stole, lied, hurt, and many other things at times, in the end he always came back to the Lord and tried to undo the wrong he had committed. And that's what the Savior wants for us. To come unto Him so that He can heal us.

And I have no doubt that when "[Jean Valjean] was dead," what Hugo said was true-

"The night was starless and extremely dark. No doubt, in the gloom, some immense angel stood erect with wings outspread, awaiting that soul. (Volume V, Book 9, Chapter 5)"

What can I do?

You know how we look on television, and see all those commercials for kids in Africa or some other third-world country and they ask us to donate something, but we all roll our eyes and say how on earth will that help? How will my $1 donation help some poor child clear across the world?

And we don't do it.

Don't let this be one of those times.

My good friend Katelyn, author of Nothing More Beautiful, recently posted a story about a young boy who has suffered more than any 11-year-old should endure. His name is Marius and he's from Romania. Katelyn relates that:

One night a boiler exploded in his house, killing his parents and leaving him with third and fourth-degree burns over seventy-five percent of his body. Thanks to some skilled surgeons, a couple of BYU students and their families as well as countless others who have contributed to his recovery, Marius has made tremendous progress and is now about to be adopted into a loving family here in the United States.

Katelyn's friend Mark is creating a documentary about Marius's story and needs funds to do so. The mother of the family wanting to adopt Marius has just found out she has cancer, something that has obviously added to the stress of the situation and stretches the financial difficulties. I'll let you read more about the cause here,where Katelyn outlines the problems in a better detail. Here is the actual website for Marius with a small clip about his story.

It will tear your heart out.

Now before you say, Oh sad! But someone else will donate, I'm sure of it. Pause and take a second to think. How often are we given these opportunities to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who gave of Himself selflessly to all who came to Him. Who was a mender of broken things. And how often do we take those opportunities? I can honestly say for myself, not a whole lot. So can we take just a little bit of ourselves and give it to a boy who has lost so much, who remains happy and positive, even in the face of all he has been through? I will give what I can. And that's all the Lord asks. Is to give what you can. So please do.

Finishing off with a poem quoted in a talk that Katelyn references in her post, a talk given by Elder Jeffery R. Holland in the LDS General Conference of April 2006:

In Nazareth, the narrow road,
That tires the feet and steals the breath,
Passes the place where once abode
The Carpenter of Nazareth.
And up and down the dusty way
The village folk would often wend;
And on the bench, beside Him, lay
Their broken things for Him to mend.
The maiden with the doll she broke,
The woman with the broken chair,
The man with broken plough, or yoke,
Said, "Can you mend it, Carpenter?"
And each received the thing he sought,
In yoke, or plough, or chair, or doll;
The broken thing which each had brought
Returned again a perfect whole.
So, up the hill the long years through,
With heavy step and wistful eye,
The burdened souls their way pursue,
Uttering each the plaintive cry:
"O Carpenter of Nazareth,
This heart, that's broken past repair,
This life, that's shattered nigh to death,
Oh, can You mend them, Carpenter?"
And by His kind and ready hand,
His own sweet life is woven through
Our broken lives, until they stand
A New Creation—"all things new."
"The shattered [substance] of [the] heart,
Desire, ambition, hope, and faith,
Mould Thou into the perfect part,
O, Carpenter of Nazareth!"1

We can do this guys!

you say it best when you say nothing at all

I'm having a hard time deciding what to write about cause I'm having serious writers block right now and I don't know why because I usually have a lot to say but I'm not sure what I want to say today because maybe there's so much to say and if I don't say something then nothing will ever be said and my blog would be sad and I don't want it to be sad because I've come to like my blog and when it's sad I am sad and everything is just sad.

If you're wondering what all this gibberish is, that would be attempt to come up with something to write about today (don't judge). And know you say, Joey, it can't be THAT hard to come up with something to write about on your silly little blog. Well my friends, I have news that will shock and awe you.

It is.

Not all the time, but sometimes.

Like today.

And today I think I just have too much to talk about, so I don't really know where to start. I'm sure none of you have ever had that happen, right? Right. I'm unique. Let me keep thinking that.

But sometimes, I postulate that saying nothing at all can be saying everything at the same time. WHOA! Slow down there buckaroo! Getting too deep for this early in the morn for my taste.

Sorry sorry... apparently I'm too chipper this morning for my own good. But I think that it's a true statement. Often times when we're trying to get something across or send a message, the best thing that we can do is not say anything. When are those moments? Well, I can't really say I'm an expert. Actually, I would say that I'm the farthest thing from it. I'm one of those foot-in-the-mouth people.

Let's just say viewer discretion advised.

oh the weather outside

dictionary states: a precipitation in the form of ice crystals, mainly of intricately branched, hexagonal form and often agglomerated into flakes, formed directly from the freezing of the water vapor in the air.

any guesses?

you're so smart!

that's right people it is SNOWING!

am i allowed to say i'm excited?

i think a few people my consider killing me as i sleep if i do, but i'll say it anyway. i'm super excited about this precipitation coming down from the grey expanse of the sky. cold is no fun unless there is snow involved. it's actually quite funny. as i sit here in the library right next to a wall of windows, you can see everyone sneaking peeks at the flurries outside. yep, that's right. i can SEE you! there's just something about watching it fall i think...

a couple things that snow gets me in the mood for:

-hot chocolate
-raging fires
-Christmas
-Christmas music
-sitting by windows
-caroling
-seeing fur EVERYWHERE
-did i mention Christmas?
-snowboarding

just to name a few.



{marvelsphoto.com}

questions

I find that sometimes I have these questions. I may know all, part, or not any of the answer, or it's impossible. But they're fun to have and think about.

WAIT

Fun to have questions? I thought we're supposed to have all the answers.

*wrong answer buzzer noise* That's God's field. Not quite there yet. But learning.

Previously mentioned questions:

what is it about music that takes me to a different place and time?

why is a rainy, cloudy day sometimes better than a sunny one?

why do i want to live in a different century but still enjoy the conveniences of our modern one? is that possible?

why are books always sooo much better than movies?

why do i get a feeling of completeness when i see yellow, red and orange trees?

when can i marry colbie caillat?

how can life be so wonderful and awful?

what do i need to be doing differently to make it more wonderful than awful?

why can't i be a music major?

how is it so hard to write sometimes, even when i really want to?

what would it be like to be a Bob?

will i be late to class?








wait......

{hoganphoto.com}
{faqs.org}

NaNoWriMo

It's November! Halloween has come and passed. I hope each of you had a great one, I know that I sure did.(The one in the middle, with President Thomas S. Monson's face on it? Yep I helped carve that)

November. That means two months left in the year. Two months.

NaNoWriMo. Another word for November. Don't know what that means? Look like a bunch of letters to you? Stands for National Novel Writing Month. And guess who's taking part in it. Yep, that would be myself.

30 days. 50,000 words. One novel. That is the challenge. It's kind of frightening and invigorating at the same time. I'm pretty sure I can make it happen. It'll require some later nights and less free time, but hey that's all good with me. Just saying that I wrote a novel in 30 days would be a pretty cool accomplishment.

So I'll keep you updated, okay? Okay.

Broken

Julie picks her head up off my chest.

“What are we doing Sammy?”

Sunlight streams through the window. It’s noon.



“Hey Sammy, order up!” Raul yelled at me passing by his counter full of orders needed to be taken out. I was running behind. Was it my fault that I was just having an off day? I seemed to be having more and more of those lately. My life was a juggling act of fire torches and I seemed destined to go down in a blazing inferno. I picked up the trays of food and walked out into the dining room.

Full house that night.

As I sat in the back for a breather and tried to get the baby throw-up off my shirt, I contemplated just walking out. It would be so easy. Just taking the apron off and walking out those doors.

I walked out the doors. Up to another table.

“How are you tonight?”

A woman looked up, alone at the table.

“Just peachy. How ‘bout you bucko?”

“I’m doing just wonderful. I’m Sammy and I’ll be serving you this evening. Can I start you off with something to drink?”

“Well, let me see Sam-I-am. How ‘bout a nice glass of ‘get the heck outta my face while I try and decide what to order’? You serve that don’t you?”

“Are we expecting anyone else to join you tonight?”

“Don’t see anyone else in the booth. I guess a girl can’t just go get a nice dinner by herself, has to have someone to eat dinner with.”

“Excuse me a moment.”

“Be my guest.”

I walked away, thoroughly attracted.

She ordered chicken, dry, nothing on it and water to drink.

She lay down on the booth and took a nap.

She cursed me in French.

Her name was Julie. I asked her out.



Julie pours herself some of her cereal that tastes like cardboard. She sloshes milk everywhere and sweeps it back into her bowl. “I don’t want this to be cliché.”

“How can this not be cliché, Julie? We’re breaking up. That’s cliché in itself.”

“Well no, actually, if we stayed together, that would be cliché. We’re against the grain on this one.”

“No, because statistics are showing that—“

“No more statistics.”

“Why?”

“Because I hate when you start getting all those numbers out and I feel the drool start down the side—“

“I meant why are we breaking up?”

“Oh that’s an easy one. We just don’t work Sammy. We’re broken. We were broken when we started.”



One of Julie’s favorite places to visit was antique stores. I think it was because she hated anything new. Julie was an old world spirit. Antique stores may have many different types of objects from different time periods, but they had the same air about them.

We went to this one store. Browsed around for a bit. Julie came up to me, holding something behind her back.

Tears were in her eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

She held out a picture in a dusty old frame. A woman stared out at me from the black-and-white photo.

“Isn’t she beautiful?”

“Sure, I guess. Who is she?”

“My mother.”

“Really?”

“Yep, she’s yours too.”

“What? No she’s not.”

“She’s everyone’s mother. Everyone who didn’t have one.”

“I had one.”

“Fine, she’ll just be mine then.”



I’m sitting on the bed, watching Julie dress. She always starts from the top and works her way to the bottom. It’s some kind of good luck thing she picked up from one of her crazy religions. She walks over to me.

Kisses me on the forehead.

Turns and walks towards the door, opens it.

Turns back around to look at me.

“I don’t like fixing things Sammy.”

“You’ll get fixed though.”

“You think?”

“Yep. Some blonde bimbo will come right along after me and swoop you up.”

“I just want you to stay.”

“You want to stay like this?”

“If it means that you stay, then yes.”

The door shuts.

©Joseph Whitaker 2010

what happened today

Sleeping in till noon

Belgian waffles and hash browns
Mario Party 6

Life talks

Rainy, melancholy weatherFootball games

Dancing to my hearts content

Good friendsMovie time

A feeling of fall

Anticipation...

{mikes-table.themulligans.org}
{farrfeed.com}

It's a Matter of Trust

I'm at my second home right now.

Campus.

I literally live here.

But I was just asking a friend what I should write about on my blog today because I was drawing a complete blank. It happens often.

She said, and I quote:

Write something about trusting in the Lord and about being anxious and waiting but needing to trust that everything will work out if you are doing all you can to keep His commandments and be the best u can be.

I reminded her that I write about that subject often, and that I wanted to write about something else. She told me that I didn't always write about specifically that. And she's right.

As usual.

In fact, why can't I write about it every time? It's an important enough topic, one that we should be remembering on a daily basis. Trusting in the Lord.How hard is that really? Everyone makes it seem easy enough. But do we really truly trust Him? Deeply and unconditionally? When you think about it, wanting to trust Him is the easy part and kinda sorta trusting Him is not much harder. It's completely and totally trusting that's the hard part, at least that's been my experience. So how do we go about that? Elder Gene R. Cook told us-

...may I make these few suggestions that will help you stay close to and trust in the Lord:

1. Pray to Him, continually seeking revelation throughout the day. (See 2 Ne. 9:52.)

2. Read His scriptures daily, even if only for a few minutes. They will give you direction in this world and teach you of the world to come.

3. Exercise faith and keep the things of the Spirit as the first priority in your life, then all else will be appropriately added.

4. Seek to do His will, not your own, humbling yourself and repenting or changing your life as needed.

5. Love others; serve them. Feed the Lord’s flock.

6. Keep the commandments with exactness.

Remember, the Lord will ultimately prosper those who keep His commandments. He said: “And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them.” (1 Ne. 17:3)

Gene R. Cook, “Trust in the Lord,” Tambuli, Aug 1986, 32

Can we try that?

I will.

The Lord's always on our side. We just gotta make sure we stay on His.

photo:{streetsblog.org}

What I wouldn't give to be a flat person

I have a visitor this week.

A letter came from Esther, my little sister, a couple days ago. I was a tad surprised. My birthday had been a couple weeks prior so it couldn't be that... What in the world?! There's a little man in the envelope! A letter emerged with the man.

Flat Stanley.

For those of you who don't recognize this beloved childrens character (and those of you who fit that description apparently had no childhood), Flat Stanley is a little boy who gets tragically crushed by a bulletin board, and becomes a flat-two dimensional figure. A blessing in disguise it seems, for now Stanley can travel around the world in an envelope having adventures.

He had been sent to me so that he could learn about the place where I live, work, play, etc.

Needless to say, I got kind of giddy. That may sound a tad bit dorky, but oh well. I felt extremely touched that my sister would trust me with him so that she and her class could learn more about the world. I immediately started planning places to take Stanley, planning to take pictures of all of it.

Look for one of the next posts to be devoted to this. It's gonna be fun!

book photo:{llworldtour.com}

Mi madre, for her birthday

Mommy dearest,
It's your birthday today and since you allowed me to grace the pages of your blog on my birthday, I thought it fitting that I do the same for you. What can be expressed in words to a mother, that cannot be expressed simply? To my Heavenly Father I say thank you for putting this wonderful woman on the earth so that she could be my mother.

Mom,
An ear when I need one
A guide for your children
An amazing cook
A rock in spiritual matters
A beautiful person, inside and out
And so much more!
Love you Mom!

I don't wanna grow up

Isn't it strange?

What did you want most of all when you were a kid? I wanted to grow up.

Nothing has changed. I still wanna grow up. There are moments, however, that I still wanna stay a kid...

Wake up early on Saturday morning to watch cartoons.

Still believe in Santa.

Run around with the rest of the kids on the block.

Thinking the most evil beings in the world are the monsters in my closet.

Be unashamed to use my imagination to its potential.

Get a couple dollars from doing chores, wonder what I'm gonna do with all that money.

Have a perception of the world that is almost magical.

No longer am I this child. I received my wish. I grew up, mostly. There are wonderful moments in my adult world. Decisions made, responsibilities lived up to, growth perceived. I enjoy being an adult.

Then there are moments. Childlike fun. Innocence recaptured, if for a moment. I think back.

I don't wanna grow up.

{ahbengsworld.blogspot.com}
{sodahead.com}

bored thinking

I wasn't expecting to write more than one post today. But I find that I have time to type out some thoughts and I think why not?

I sit in a wooden chair, the hard edge of the back digs into my back.
Boys Like Girls, Colbie Callait, and the likes blast from the stereo at my side, filling my head with favorite lyrics and melodies.
Impatience fills my mind as I wait for our departure to the movies.

It's supposed to be really good.

My thoughts drift to the unfortunate circumstances of last night, watching my phone and Ipod tumble over and over into the porcelain bowl.

I sigh.

I want Fall Break to continue through next week. Maybe I can freeze time?




















I sigh again.

Brightening up, I consider that this is the week that Elder Kunz comes home, that my mother has a birthday, that October is almost halfway over, that there are dance parties every day for the next two weekends.

I see someone's snowboard.

I get excited for winter to show up, blasting me with his chilling breath as I glide/fall down the slopes of the Wasatch Mountains.
I wonder if I'll be able to afford a season pass AND a snowboard.

Maybe a job would help?

Possibly.

I wonder if that company will ever call me about my resume, if it will take me a good 50 years to pay off my mounting debts, if one day could pass without me worrying about finances.

I'm a bit of a dreamer apparently.

Thank goodness.

Movie time.

{http://blogs.babble.com/strollerderby/}
{wirelessinfo.com}
{http://www.snowboard-wallpapers.com}

Masterpieces..

Watched Phantom of the Opera the other night.

Anyone else like that movie/musical? I sure do.

Once again, I realize the genius of Andrew Lloyd Webber. The music. The story. I get goosebumps every time.

The endless war between light and dark. The effects of a cruel world. Learning to accept oneself. Eternal love.



It's hard to pick a favorite song from this masterpiece but if I had to choose, it would be this beautifully haunting excerpt. It's been stuck in my head for the past couple days.

As you can see on the right had side of this page, I have started reading Les Miserables which I am ecstatic about! I have always wanted to bury myself in this book, especially after seeing the film version (non-musical). It's a little daunting, for it's no feat for the faint-hearted. But what a book! One of the most critically acclaimed pieces of literature of all time.

And I'm reading it.

Deep breath...

Dive in.

Take it easy

I've come to a realization.

I can be super uptight and worried about the most trivial things.
Problem?
I think so.
Huge problem?
Probably not.

It's not all the time that this happens, but it happens more than I would like it to. It probably goes back to that fear of the uncertain that I have. So what to do about it?

My mother is a giant when it comes to spiritual matters. I often have heard much of what she tells me, but I forget it so easily she usually has to repeat it three or four.. or eight.. times.

It's that uncertainty that turns us to God. The scary part comes from trying to do it alone. Just trust Him.

That's what she says to me. Genius right?

Mom would just call it common sense. In a sense it is. We know that if we trust in God and know that He is in control of affairs, life becomes less complicated.

So I need to take it easy. Don't worry about things that aren't in my control. Concentrate on things that are. Follow what He knows is best for me.

There will be clouds. The sunshine is brighter.
(via: alaska-in-pictures.com)

10.10.10

Yes I know what you're thinking right now.

JOEY! 10.10.10 was yesterday! Why are you titling your post that? What are you, an idiot?

While that has actually been a proven fact from time to time, the answer is... no I am not an idiot. I did have a really great idea for a post yesterday during the actual event, but I was mucho occupado. A born Spanish speaker, I know.
So here is my 10.10.10 post...a day late.(Humor me)

Happy 10.10.10 everyone! I mean seriously, how often is this gonna happen? Umm, try not for the next 100 years! Kind of a big deal right? Right.

So for this epic day, let's review some of the cool things that contain the number 10:

-ten fingers
-ten toes
-Ten Commandments
-ten pins in bowling
-ten yards in a first down
-ten years in a decade
-Ten Lost Tribes of Israel
-"the perfect 10"
-ten provinces of Canada
-tithing is one/tenth of income

And if that's not enough, I've been inspired to list 10 reasons why I love 10.10.10. (You're getting tired of hearing me say that aren't you?) I know I know.. this is really cliche, but again this is a monumental occasion, which always calls for a little bit of the cliche:

1. It's on a Sunday, BEST day of the week

2. I slept in

3. A couple meaningful bonding moments with my sister

4. The weather was perfect

5. I finished a book, Girl with the Pearl Earring

6. I started a book, The Glass Castle

7. I helped make the most amazing apple pie

8. I ate said pie

9. Watched and laughed at some amazingly funny Youtube videos

10. At 10:10 pm, I took part in one of the best 10 song dance parties I had ever been too(thus, making it the only one I've ever been to)






Be jealous. We know we're awesome.





As before mentioned, it was Sunday. All we could dance to was Everclean and EFY music. Epic.

So that's why 10.10.10 was a day for the history books. And don't feel bad. If you're day was nothing like the illustrious list you've just witnessed, well... there's always a hundred years from now!

Uncertain about Uncertainty

Are you scared of the uncertain? I think I am. And I'm not.

I'm don't like the fact that I am unaware of what the future holds. I can see Dad and Mom's gasp of shock as they read this. I don't do very well with planning things, I'm a very spontaneous individual. But I draw a line.
A few conversations I've had recently, just today even, have been focused around uncertainty. What's the best path for me right now? Does this person like me? What am I doing with my life? All questions that I despise. But I don't.

You see, I hate uncertainty, but I love figuring out how to take off the "un-" portion. There has to be both I think. Yep pretty positive. So while we despise not being certain, it's necessary right? So I don't have to be scared of it right? So I won't.

...buuuut I am.

photo:tour.airstreamlife.com

Singing in the rain..

The actual rain and clouds have disappeared from the sky, but I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have rain for the past couple days. And when I say it rained, I mean it POURED!

What is it about rain?

Is it the smell, so clean and refreshing to body and mind?
Is it the sound, the pattering/pounding on rooftops and windows?
Maybe the sight then, the landscape blurred by the downpour..
Or the feel? The sharp sensation of cold drops, a splash from a jump into a puddle.
Definitely the taste, the innocent catching of raindrops on the tongue?

How about all the above..

Soo many birthdays!!

Wow..

So everyone (who's cool at least) was born in the month of September, ESPECIALLY during the last week or so of this amazing month, yours truly included.
Therefore, I would like to send a shout out to all you people out there who are amazing enough to be born in September! Let me highlight a few of these:


The stunning Marian Hunckler starts off our list. Mare, you've been one of my best friends since high school and I love that we've stayed close over the years. There is never a dull moment around you, and you're is always one for partying it up. You're is also one of THE coolest friends to have, because you stays true no matter what. I always love talking to you and you definitely put a smile on my face! Happy Birthday Mare!!


Elder Garen Kunz graces the next spot on this birthday list. Elder Kunz is currently serving a mission for the LDS church right now, but will be returning home in a few weeks. One of the best roomies I've ever had, Garen has always been an influence on me for good. He knows what's necessary to be successful in this life, and loves to encourage. Plus, he's a stud. I couldn't ask for a better friend and its gonna be awesome to have part of the Sanctum back together again! Happy Birthday G-unit!


Kirstin Gunn, come on down! You were part of that amazing summer group, freshman year, that we never wanted to end. What can I NOT say about this awesome girl? You've always been a snappy dresser (as one can see), you're always laughing at something random (or not random), you're always good for a nice talk, and you love going out and dancing almost as much as I do! You, my dear, are just one of those people that you can't help but like, and I'm soo glad we are friends! Happy Birthday Kirs!!


Up next, Heidi Rothart! You'll find Heidi in the middle of this picture, and though I haven't known Heidi as long as I've known some of these other listees, she has quickly become one of my favorites. Heidi, you have a tender heart and care a lot for the people around you. We have had such great talks about life and the gospel, I can tell you really have a testimony and love for life. And though we don't live in the same complex anymore, we're still tight like a rope swing! Glad we're birthday buddies! Happy Birthday Heidi!!


One of my dearest cousins, Karissa Anderson.. We've been birthday pals since we were in diapers and I love sharing these same couple days as you! It's hard to believe you're 19?! But we're both getting older I guess.. I always have fun coming to visit you guys cause I know that you and I and Sarah will always find something crazy to get into. Whether it be jumping into fountains, watching stupid movies, or just TPing someone's house, I love the fact that you are my cousin and that we get to be family forever. Happy Birthday Karissa!!


And of course last, but not least, Marcie Garrett (picture from last year's shared birthday dinner). You were the best part of my senior year. I'm so glad that we got to know each other so well and that we still continue to be friends, cause I would've hated it if we had stopped talking. You have a love for the Lord that is inspiring and you're always so much fun to be around. I'm happy that you finally got to go off to college at Wilmington and I can't wait to hang out when we're home again! Happy Birthday Marcie!!

Whew! Okay so that was a pretty big list, of course that didn't cover anyone from the first part of this month. So I'll send a shout out to Kylie, Jacob, Matthew, Dustin, etc. Happy Belated Birthday to those who were born in the greatest month!!!

The week of preparation

This picture was taken almost TWO YEARS AGO! It's hard to believe how much time flies on by...
But here I am two years later, headin into that same week this picture was produced: General Conference week! Now some people might say, "But Joey, Conference is this weekend, not this week!" (I don't think any of you would say that, I might be using it for dramatic effect) And I am here to say that I plan on making this whoooole week, Conference week.
In the past, I haven't made too much of the days leading up to this amazing weekend where we get to hear a modern day prophet speak to the world, but this week things are going to change.
What are some questions I have that I need answered?
What are some issues I am struggling with?
What do I need to be strengthed in the most?
And most importantly: "...learn to ask the right questions. Consider changing from asking for the things you want to honestly seeking what He wants for you. Then as you learn His will, pray that you will be led to have the strength to fulfill it."- Richard G. Scott
I challenge you to focus this week. Really study and try to be united with His will as this fantastic opportunity this weekend presents itself, and I will do the same. I can guess that we will all be surprised with the results.

my calling in life, pretty much figured it out!

Okay I've mentioned before how much I love writing right? I have? Well...
I LOVE WRITING!
It's seriously one of the best feelings in the world to get a story down on paper, to take pictures from my mind, of people events, places and describe them so that I and other people can enjoy them. Finding out that there's something that's not quite fitting with the rest of the story and getting to tweak and play with it till it does. Creating! There is no better feeling.
One reason I may be raving on and on right now is that I just got out of my fiction writing class... might very well be the reason. But it's also interesting that I've met quite a few people in the last few weeks who love writing and we've had discussions and read each other stories and I'm just like, I LOVE BEING A WRITER! (I don't feel like I'm emphasizing this enough)
And as I sit here writing all this it just makes me think of the English language, of language in general and what a phenomenon it is. That these random letters and sounds that human beings came up with to interpret the world around them has become one of the main hallmarks of civilization. Where would we be without it? Don't answer that question, it's rhetorical.

Ok so I'm done with that little shpeal, just had to get it outta my system, ya know? This past Sunday was an example of why I enjoy living in Utah. President Packer, Elder Holland and Siter Beck all came to our regional conference here and spoke to all the members in this area (for those who are confused by the terms heretofore mentioned check out Mormon.org). What spiritual giants! I was touched by every one of their talks and felt that each one was meant for me. It feels like I'm being really cliche today but its true that's how i felt. With General Conference right around the corner I am pumped!

Back to the writing thing for a sec, sorry but I just thought of it. Since coming back to school everyone's always asking me what my major is. Seriously... I have NEVER been asked a single question more in my entire life. So when I tell them English, a couple responses have just been whatever, but there are quite a few that say "Oh I'm soo jealous! I seriously would love that! I love writing but I'm terrible at it so I decided to go a different route." My comment to anyone out there who feels that way is write!! Don't not do anything just cause you stink at it, if everyone did that nothing would get done! Life is all about learning new things, then learning how to do them well. I'm not an amazing writer, but I'm learning how to be better one day by day. So do it! Or i'll come find you.. You think I'm kidding? You best sleep with one eye open!

can I do this?

Hey there! Long time no see.. I know I know, I've been horrible about writing but can you blame a guy? Sheesh, I got a full plate here and all you can think about is "when the heck is Joey gonna write on his blog again?" But here am I again, rambling on and on about my life while I should actually be doing the stuff in it, right?
But its all good. Life is good, right? Right!
So this weekend was fantastic! After a hectic week at school and not a huge amount of play time, it was nice to kick back and relax a bit. Though I cant say that I relaxed a whole lot, Dad may not like the sound of that...better say I spent all weekend applying for jobs.. yea that sounds a lot better, right?
Naw, just kidding Daddyo! I relaxed and filled out a few job applications, multitasking very nicely if I do say so myself (and I do). You're thinking,"Job apps?! Again!! Joey, you need to hold down a job my friend.." Of course, I can't take all the blame, it being a temporary job and all. But such is life, and I have a feeling that something is gonna turn up for me. Just gotta keep on truckin' as usual!
New semester, new roomies, new experiences. You're ready, right?

the blessing of biology

I'm tryin to think positive about things right now, and having a really hard time seeing the good in my bio homework... I guess I'll go with the fact that it's great to have a world to live in that's so complex and simple that we need biology to make an attempt at understanding it. Yea.. I'm stickin with that.

time gone by

It's already June! It just hit me today how far we are into this year... I can't believe how fast time's gone! Of course I'm not complaining, it's definitely a good thing, but I do think I need to find more of that "joy in the moment" that we keep hearing about, that awareness of just how good life is and how happy we should be. I find I have spurts of it here and there, but it never gets sustained and soon I'm dwelling in the past and future again. Now I'm aware that I have to have an awareness of the things outside my present, but life is just so much livable when you have that joy and your not searching for the next big thing. I've been reading and hearing a lot of quotes by President Thomas S. Monson lately and I love this quote of his,

"Let us relish life as we live it, find joy in the journey, and share our love with friends and family. One day each of us will run out of tomorrows."

So maybe that will be my new project for myself, staying in the present and not concerning myself so much with the past and future. Sound good? I think so.
Another great thing about June is that summer is really here!!! Oh summer, how I missed you! Playing outside, soakin up some sun, splashin in the pool, barbecues, hikin, campin, the list goes on and on. Bring on the fun! There's nothin quite like summertime!

besties

Yesterday was one of the best days ever because my best friend Chels finally arrived! I went and picked her up at the airport, and the festivities began! Of course, we had to wait outside her apartment forever, cause none of her roommates were home and her landlady couldn't swing by for a little bit, but we still had a blast just sitting there talking. Those kind of relationships are the best, where you can be doing absolutely nothing at the moment but still not be bored out of you're mind because you just enjoy spending time with that person. We finally got into the apartment and then we kind of procrastinated moving all of her stuff in, mostly because it was sweltering outside. We went and got some food and then went to hang out in Barnes and Noble, because it was nearby and its our favorite store. (for the very same reasons that I listed for the library obviously) After procrastinating all that we could and after it had cooled off a bit, we finally moved all of her stuff in. Sweaty work! Grocery store trip was next, since she didn't have any food and we needed dinner, where we had a hard time deciding what to get and we were already a bit loopy:

It's one of the best feelings to know that you have someone who's always there, through thick and thin, and who loves ya no matter what.

Where the cool kids hang...

Well I've been spending a considerable amount of time at the library lately, so I've happily labeled myself a "cool person" since I've decided that's where all the cool people are. I mean seriously, who doesn't love to spend time at the library? (seriously, no sarcasm involved) The smell of books, the quiet that permeates everywhere, and the overall sense of feeling smarter just by being there are just a few of the appealing qualities of that institution that we name "the library." I just don't understand why there aren't more people who've figured this out.
I've also decided that it's great to be alive! Today is just one of those days when you're just content, nothing is wrong with the world, and everything seems a little brighter. It's amazing what life can bring out sometimes.

Visiting the animal morgue

Well, I'm a couple days late relating this, but me and my friend Katelyn visited a museum on BYU's campus earlier this week and it was fascinating! I say animal morgue just cause it was full of the donated work of some taxidermists. And there were several floors of dead stuffed animals for our enjoyment! There was a liger named Shasta-
It was the first time I had ever seen a liger in person, and I was pretty in awe of the occasion even though it wasn't alive anymore.
There was a huge Kodiak bear-






Katelyn wasn't intimidated by it though, she struck a ferocious pose and I think she scared it stiff!(Get it?) You don't want to get her angry. But what really made that day was later on when we went to the grocery store to pick up some supplies for our festivities later on. You see, as some of you know, Katelyn is from my home state of NC and everyone expects us to have a deep southern drawl, which is not always the case around people who don't have an accent. But when we get around people who do, that little twang comes out. Well me and Katelyn decided to take it up a notch and talk like complete and total southern hicks the whole time we were in the store. We were saying things like "hunay child" and "hallelujur," all with a deep DEEP accent. I tell you we was gettin the strangest looks! And it was all we could do not to laugh. Of course we let loose once we left the store, and we didn't stop for a good 15 minutes. There ain't nuthin like goofin aroun wit ol friens!

The hunt continues

I've officially been in Utah for over a month now and still no more luck in the job department. I do have a couple interviews lined up, so hopefully something comes out of that because I'm tired of feeling like a bum! You might think its the best to not have to work, to be able to do what you want all day long, but it's not! Maybe for a little while, but believe me it gets old...

Also just wanted to mention, my cousin Emmarie is having surgery today so if everyone who reads this could include her in your prayers, it would be greatly appreciated.

Another week..

Beginning of another week, wondering what's in store for me..
Will it be good or bad?
Will I see success or failure?
Will I be happy or sad?
Am I gonna be driven or resigned?
And many more questions that I often ask myself at the start of each week, month or year. And the only one who can answer those questions correctly every time is...

(duh) ME!

A fact that I often forget.

New complications

So for those who don't know yet, I quit my job that I had just started the other week for a couple different reasons. It was a sales job at Vector Marketing and they do all their sales through recommendations so basically you start with people that you know. Of course, being from a place other than Utah and having only been here for two weeks limited my resources greatly. It stunk cause if done right, a lot of money could be made in that field. But it was just the wrong circumstances at the wrong time. So I'm back to square one.. keep your fingers crossed that something will come up soon!

On a happier note, I've rediscovered writing! I was looking into writing jobs, seeing if there might be anything that I would actually enjoy doing, and stumbled across a site called the Young Writers Society. It's a site that lets younger writers post their work and be critiqued by other young writers who are also posting their stuff. It's awesome! I've already posted a story I wrote and got some feedback and its got me really excited to start writing again! For anyone who might be interested in the site, here's a link to it:

http://www.youngwriterssociety.com/

For my Mother

Mother dearest, where are the words to describe
How loving you have been my whole life through
This day of celebrating kind mothers just as you
Your long-suffering towards me in childhood
And grace through situations right and wrong
Made our house, not only a house, but home
Your stalwart spirit taught me to love God
To see the beauty in everything and everyone
And to seek the eternal will, instead of my own

Oh how grateful I am to call you Mother dearest
Not only for now, but through forever more
You’ve given me everything that I am and will be
I love you Mom and will continue to through eternity

I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day Mom and know that I love you and am so grateful to Heavenly Father for giving me to you!

A Testament

I want to share with everyone who reads this blog, a couple testimonies of my favorite book of all time, one of those testimonies being my own. I know without a doubt that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. I've read it many times, I've asked for myself to know that its true and I have found that answer through the whisperings of the Spirit. It's hard to convey to you in words my feelings for this amazing book but I hope you can get a sense. It's a book that lifts me up whatever the situation, and always has the answers that I need. There is a Youtube video of one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, Elder Jeffery R. Holland, during one of our worldwide church conferences; and in it, he is bearing sincere, fervent and powerful testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon. I encourage all to watch it, he says it more clearly and powerfully than I ever could:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CkKblIMfmjI

Road trip!

In all honesty, I meant to make an entry each night after I stopped at a hotel to break it up a little bit, but I was extremely tired both times I stopped and didn't really feel like it. So now I'll recount the whole thing all at once and try not to get too long winded.
What a trip! I could probably end with that. But I won't. In all, it took me three full days, over 2100 miles: North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Wyoming and of course Utah. People told me both before and after the trip that they couldn't believe that I did it all on my own. And I can understand, I kind of thought the same way before I started. But once I got into it, I had a blast! Sure it was a tad lonesome, but my Ipod and sense of adventure made it so much better.
I made it all the way to Missouri on the first day, surprising even myself. That part of the country was in Spring mode, and there were trees on either side of me for the most part of that day. It reminded me of home, and it almost didn't feel like I even left North Carolina. Very good day scenery wise, just beautiful, rolling country everywhere you looked. It was my first time ever being in St. Louis and I would definitely like to go back! The Arch was cool to look at, and it just looks like it's a happenin place to be. So someday...
Next day was a looooonng one! Most of it was spent driving across and up Missouri and across Nebraska. Missouri wasn't to bad but Nebraska... no offense to anyone from Nebraska (although you might agree with me) it is an extremely boring state to drive through. It was startling at first to see the flatness and the emptiness but then, it got old. And the wind! As soon as I entered the state it never stopped blowing, and it was no little breeze. It never stopped until I got to Utah. Thank goodness for the loads of songs on my Ipod! Ended the day at a little town in the Nebraska panhandle called Sidney, only about 30 or so miles from the Wyoming state line.
Last day! Wyoming was a little better than Nebraska. There were at least some mountains and there was a kind of "wild west" feel to everything which I loved. But being this close to the end, I was just ready for it to be done. Only about 8 hours of driving that day, compared to the 12-13 hours the other two. Snow! There was snow on and off from Nebraska to Utah! It's been beautiful weather in NC so it felt like I had traveled back a couple seasons. But I safely made it to Utah, to my aunt and uncle's house in South Jordan, and now am sitting in the BYU library in Provo, reveling in the fact that I am back. It feels good! We'll see how life goes from here..

And so it begins..

Today I leave on an over 2,000 mile road trip by myself! Am I nervous? To be perfectly honest, I am a tad bit nervous. But I think I'm more excited than nervous, I mean its something different and brand new and after a year of being home, I'm ready to move on. Of course, it's kinda sad cause I'll miss the family. It's crazy what a year at home will do for your family relations if you have the right attitude. I've gotten a lot closer to them and will miss seeing them on a daily basis.
But excitement is still there!! I'm off to blaze a trail across the country, out on the open road. Wish me luck!

Shaving the Yard

While waiting for our mower to be fixed, our yard grew quite a bit scraggly. It was in desperate need of a shave, and once we got the mower back, me and Abby took it upon ourselves to give it a clean cut.

Still waiting...

So despite that previous decision to keep one of the "clunkers" it turned out that we found another nicer car that only cost a bit more that it was gonna cost to fix up the Ford Expedition that we have, plus it had less mileage on it so it was an obvious choice. I am now a new (used) car owner! It's a cool feeling and I really like the car which definitely helps. Its a 2003 Chevy Impala with just a little over 89,000 miles on it. Here's the factory picture of it. It's basically the same as mine except mine doesn't have a spoiler.



Now having the car, I'm pretty much ready to leave. I'm all packed up and chomping at the bit. All that I'm waiting on is for my debit card to come in the mail.. Stupid me lost it the other week and I put off ordering one till last Friday and you know how long those take to get to your house. There of course wasn't one in the mail today so it may be a couple more days. Fingers crossed it'll come soon!

Stress or excitement?

So I kinda forgot just how stressful moving is, especially when you're moving out on your own and have to get all the details in place. But at the same time, it's quite exciting and very empowering as I'm making decisions on my own (although I'm not very good at that) and figuring out what I'm doing with my life.
The most recent mind-wrestling concerned the issue of whether to buy a "new" car and start building my credit or sticking with one of the cars we already have and save my money. I tell you if I had just been given the second option right away, I would've had no qualms with doing that. But being young and a guy, having test driven a couple nice used cars and getting pretty excited about getting one, having to revert back to the old cars is not so appealing. Now I know this is very immature and prideful and not a very good reason for buying a new car. But it's a human trait and I'm trying very hard to get over it. I know the smart, finacially sound decision would be to stick with the "clunker" and I'm okay with that now. It's funny cause this reminds me of my last post and what I had discovered there. I think Heavenly Father's trying to teach me that I have something that I need help with.
Let me end with a quote that my Aunt Julie told me that really reminded me of how the world works and what the smart options are:
"If you are willing to live like no one else now, than in a few years you'll be able to live like no one else." Words to live by.

Control

You know what I've found out is one of the hardest things for me to do?

Giving up control..

There are some of you out there who can relate, who understand how hard it is to have planned everything out, to know what you want and even have a sort of a plan to work it out; and then, someone comes up with a better plan. You know it's a better idea, you know it's better for you. But a part of you still yearns for that original want, that original plan. You stubbornly insist that your way is better. I seem to do this especially with my Heavenly Father's will, though it's definitely not limited to it. It's hard! You know the person has the experience and wisdom, and you want to trust them, it's just that pride rears its ugly head. But how much better I feel when I actually do it!

Anyway, moving day is coming closer, and around next weekend I will be Provo-bound. Only two more days of work this week and I'll be done at Dick's Sporting Goods. Everything's changing so quickly but it's exciting!