Returned Missionaries

I think that it is great that young men choose to go out on a mission and spend two years of their lives spreading the gospel. It is a major sacrifice, in my oppinion, that someone would go and leave their family and friends for two years and lots of times go and learn another language and live in a foreign land. So my hats off to them for that! But....
Why is it that when a missionary comes home and gets over his "oddness" which I think should only take a week maybe two, they go and act like hormone crazed, desperate to get married, a-holes!?! Now I never served a mission in the traditional sense. I did go to Iraq and spent a year there instead of passing out BOM's I was sending out lead. And I admit when I got home I was a little culture shocked. I know that I am a little older and I have been home learning how to interact with the opposite sex for a little longer but if I see another RM act like a total jerk, for lack of other words that I would use if this was not viewed by young ladies, I think I may kill them!!!
Let me explain. I have had two really good friends that went and served faithful missions. And I am stoked that they are home. It is really good to see them and be able to hang out with them. Wait let me say that again. It is nice to see them when they are not tripping about some girl and if they like them and if they are going to ask them out and what everyone thinks of them and if anyone would care and if this other girl would be upset and if she is what does it mean and so on and so forth. Let me add that I have found this to be a very rare experience when at least three of these things has come up.
Now I'm not trying to be a hater. I would really like for them to all get girlfriends and move on with their lives. But I think it kind of sucks that they only want to talk to you for the reason of meeting a prospective eternal partner and then when you put them in a setting of the sort all bets are off. Regardless of how you may feel about any particular young lady or want to try and get to know someone of the opposite sex it is a dog fight. Now when I was in high school it was kind of fun to have a friendly challenge and see who could get the girl. But we all grew up and the stakes are a little bigger than just trying to make out for the night.
So I have made a realization. I'm going to go and do my own thing. Before I would just shrug it off and wish them the best of luck with their quest, chances are they would just screw it up and actually make me look a little better. But now that it is effecting my friendships with other people because of their irresponsible and immature actions and sometimes lack of respect for other people and their feelings I am going to go and meet new girls and date and have a good time and leave them to find their own paths. I'm not sure if that is a jerk thing to do and if I am not being a good friend but this is just getting ridiculous. Best of luck to them and their search for eternal happiness. Hopefully I will be able to help them, if they ever realize that I don't want to hook up with their girls, and will be able to be go on the infamous double date! LOL (End of rant)

Singles Wards

I have been out of high school for 5 close to 6 years now. It was a fun time. Friends were abundant. My biggest worries were what I was going to do any given weekend, what girl did I have in my sights. Those were the days. No worries!
Well they are back! Going to the singles ward has been like getting dropped back in high school. You don't get graded on paper but by a higher authority. Unfortunately I don't hink my "GPA" is at the top of the class. But I find people worried about the same things that were significant in the days of acne and iggnorance. "What's going on tonight?" and "Is she dating anyone?" are the questions on everyones mind. Don't get me wrong, I think that it is great that there is a place where young single LDS members can meet and chat and go out and have a good time. Hey I want to get married just as much as the next guy. But why can't we get passed the high school nonsense of it all!? Does it really matter if she went on a date with him? Does it matter if someone planned something and you didn't get word of it till the last minute? Seriously! If you want to take someone out, ask them out. And that goes for you girls too. Fact is guys are stupid and most of the time we don't get your "hints" and don't know if you are being nice or trying to send a signal. So let's keep it simple huh. If you like someone, tell them. If you are to nervous to do that then tell their best friend. It's pretty much exactly the same as telling them anyways. And boys and girls, if they don't feel the same about you it's not that bad. I promise that there is someone out there that is too scared to tell you how they feel about you.
I am on a quest to help all of my friends that have such a need to get together and have that all important "special someone". I know that it is a great thing and I do miss it myself. Hopefully they will know that when you have it do everything you can to keep it cause it can be gone in the blink of the eye.

Watching from the outside

People never cease to amaze me and watching friends and the way they lead their lives is better than any movie you can ever watch.
At the age where every one of my friends is obsessed with finding "the one" and getting hitched and starting their families I have to sit back and kind of take it all in. It kind of reminds me of a scene in Mean Girls where they are in the mall and all of the kids start acting like wild animals. The fact that the carnal instinct in all of us can take over in our hormone raging years makes me laugh and really contemplate who is a real friend and who is looking to use you as a personal dating service. People ask me frequently why I am not part of the dating craze as so many others are. And I snicker at the notion that I don't broadcast my love life to the public because I am a "player" and don't want to get caught. Truth is I have learned that throwing yourself over any member of the opposite sex is the best way to mask multiple excursions of romance. Nobody takes a flirt seriously!
For some reason I must have a sign on my forehead that says that I can keep a secret and have words of advice that may help because almost all of my friends like to tell me about, well, everything. I really don't mind at all. If someone has that kind of trust in me I take it as a compliment and kind of smile at the notion. I keep things to myself and really enjoy knowing that when one person says one thing about another I usually have already heard the other persons version or know how they feel about the situation. Trying to keep a straight face has been the toughest thing of it all. Not true. Trying to tell people what I think they want to hear more so than what I really think has been the toughest. I want to see all of my friends happy and who am I to throw a wrench in that. As much as I don't worry about having friends and really don't care what people think of me I do hate to see people in distress and upset. I tell you that happiness is the best thing that we can have and it is up to each individual to decide what that is for them. Sometimes it is being with someone that everyone scratches their head and sometimes it is moving away and starting over. Honestly I sometimes wish I could do both. I say to each his own and best of luck to them. Having experienced things that most of my friends have not I take a different look at things. I wish I could explain that to them and help them understand my way of looking at issues and what is really significant. Just a little food for thought. I'm now ranting and raving. LOL!
As I was saying, I'm watching from the outside, maybe just waiting to have an inside.

I got a puppy... that is now a dog

So it was around the end of July, maybe the beginning of August (I'm horrible with dates) and my mother comes in to wake me up long before I would normally roll out of bed. She is with my little sister and asks me if I want a dog. My intial response is no seeing as I was not looking forward to taking on the responsibility. But she presses on telling me that he is a little puppy and a pitbull at that. So I agreed to go look at him around the corner from the house. As I walk up to the door the littlest brown ball with a tail and flopp ears comes stumbling out. SOLD! He is the funniest little thing to watch as he trips over his ginormous paws that look like they could be on a St. Bernard. He falls into my legs and I pick him up. He weighs next to nothing and has gold eyes. To top it off he has puppy breathe which is the reason I don't set him down till I get home.

Then he grew up. And is still growing to the day. His paws almost fit him. His eas are not as floppy. His muscles are starting to bulge which is a trade mark of the breed. His teeth have grown in and he loves to us them to torture my mothers Dachsund as well as chew anything that is in his sights. Soccer balls have no chance. Tennis balls last a max of 90 seconds. Baseballs are his favortite but even then they have been a chore to pick up the next day as he shreds the cover and plays with the string till it covers all bushes. But he is a loving and sweet pitbull that shows no aggression to people or animals and would play 23 1/2 hours a day with a little time to eat. Be aware that feeding a Pitbull duing his growing years has been more expensive than gassing up my V-8 even when I was making frequent trip to Cali at the peak of the gas hike! But I love him to death and wouldn't trade him in for anything, except maybe my V-8. His name is Max and is the best thing in my life. It is so true when they dogs are a man's best friend.

It's been a while....

So I think it has been nearly 5 months since my last post on here. Nobody to blame but myself really but that's alright. So seeing as the time has put through a bunch of different things I am going to post a series of blogs with pictures to help. Not sure if anyone will actually see this but what the heck, it's for the memories... and Squirt! Love ya Kiddo! ;)

Just to clarify....

A previous blog that was posted on my blog was put there by none other
than said "favorite little sister".
But I do love her to death!!! :)

Sent from my iPhone

So cute :)

I just have to say, I love Brighton :) she is my favorite little
sister ever!!!! That's all goodnight!

Sent from my iPhone

Trying it out!

Okay I'm trying to figure out how to post things on my blog while I
am out and about so here is the test run!

Sent from my iPhone

We have deemed an Honorary Life-Ref.... and some other stuff too!

    So today I got the great privilege to promote an average person to the amazing title of Honorary Life-Ref! His name is Tyler Vermillion and if you haven't had the opportunity to meet him then I am sorry for you! He is in town for a wedding and is leaving on Monday morning so all that can should try to take the time to meet the Honorary Life-Ref. But be mindful of the fact that he does hold the power to take away Life Points as easily as he can give them. 

    In other news today.... There was a lack luster turn out for kickball this evening so all that did not attend lose two points. However if you did attend temple night then you will be awarded one point so kudos for you. 

   In the sake of anonymity names will be left out but lately I have been in the middle of numerous mini conflicts that have been somewhat depressing. I would just like to take this chance to say that we are all friends on one level or another and that we should try to be mindful of others feelings in all that we do whenever possible. I feel that if we try to put others before us all would be better if not the best. And as I am guilty of coming across one way in the efforts to be another I am not going to be taking away any Life Points for these infractions in the hopes that they are not completely intentional. But taking the time to try and make others feel good and know that they are loved and/or respected at least would be worth infinite Life Points as I think that is the best thing that we can do for each other. It's worth so much more than an expensive gift or publicized display of caring just to let that person know that they are more important than anything else that is worldly. 

Super water kickball team!

By popular demand...

So it has been over a week since this blog was created for me and I have neglected to stay attentive to its needs. So here I am writing a little tid-bit to quiet the masses.

Things have come and gone and I have had to make many life-ref decisions that have affected the outcome of numerous things ranging from the importance of a final inning of a pick up softball game to the decision to pick up and leave everything that you know and try to start over. Though in all reality the importance of my decision is as meaningful as a hair on a persons head I like to think that it holds some importance. In all cases, however, I feel that the points and "critical" calls that I have made since my self designation as a proclaimed Life-Ref (along with my buddy Trevor) have been fair and just.

So in the spirit of being a new "blogger" I will post my feelings and thoughts on the things that I referee on throughout time and subsequently award and denote points from people. Sorry if you are one of those people but please know that if you are mentioned it is because you are a significant part of my life and I will use anonymity when ever I deem it necessary. If you are bold enough to object or comment on my somewhat perfected call making skills please feel free to voice those opinions as comments, or take them up with me personally. My number is easily accessible if you really want to get it! ;)

Life ref's time off...

A blog is born.

This isn't even Jon writing.  But this is his blog, and we can hear the hallelujah chorus.  And the big thud on the ground, which was him sliding off his chair in horror-stricken shock.  Yes folks, he has a blog.