The End of Colorado, the Beginning of Life

Well it has been quite some time since I've had the chance to update everyone on my life, so here it goes, I'll give it a shot. The Saturday I was in Denver we went to Eliches, it's a Six Flags type of theme park, it was a lot of fun. Wait, I'm forgetting something! That Saturday morning was the big day. It was the day of the much-anticipated race. I woke up and laid in bed for about 30 minutes imagining my opponent and picturing my victory. Could I do it? Or would I lose again? These thoughts continually ran through my head. As I descended the stairs all dressed and ready to go Scott asked me, "now?" "oh yeah!" I replied. We actually didn't leave right then. I had to drink my special elixir, four limes pure (with a hint of salt). Jen and Scott were amazed at my concoction. I drank it and began my journey to the park, where we would race. I arrived early and stretched a bit, chatted with the grass, took some practice runs. I noticed the grass looked a little wet. It was. My opponent and I lined up. On your marks, get set, go! We began the race, adrenaline pumping. The only thing I heard at the start of the race was "Oh shoot!" from Scott's mouth. The limes gave me an internal boost and I crossed the finish line milliseconds ahead of my brother in law. I had done it. I won the series! One would assume that this was it, right? Wrong. "Alright, rematch." I was shocked at what I was hearing! Nevertheless, I divulged. The second time, however, Scott had a trick up his sleeve. No, it wasn't Gracen this time; it was a head start. I love you brother. Now, onto Eliches. It was a lot of fun. I love roller coasters. I was glad to have gone with my much more adventurous brother over my possibly less dare devilish. The roller coasters were crazy! They were different than any other ones I had been on. The first one we climbed up about six stories and got in the coaster and it shot us right out of the gate and down a drop and through a loop and then we hit the end of it and the next thing I knew we were going backwards. It was a weird sensation that I am undecided whether or not I like. There was another one like that a little later that was just as weird. The final one we all went on as a family, it was a tubing one where is simulates white water rafting. I like these ones and have had impeccable success in not getting too wet. The success was no different here. Scott, Jen and Gracen got SOAKED, while I was left quite dry. Afterwards Jen and I went to get pedicures (shhh!). It felt pretty dang good! Afterwards I treated her family to Subway. Good times. Sunday was a good, yet hard, day. I found myself in an internal conflict. The converts I had visited on Friday weren't going to go to church and actually were questioning their beliefs again and it really began to stress me out and got me pretty much in a state of despair. I eventually went to Sacrament meeting in one of my old wards I served in. That was a good thing for me. I immediately forgot about all the despair and remembered the joy I had in that ward and all the friends I made. When sacrament meeting ended a flood of people came up and remembered me. They remembered my name even though it had been over six months since I served there. After church I drove to Superior and visited one of my favorite companions, Elder Woodhouse. I love that guy. We just sat and reminisced for about thirty minutes. I hung out with Joel and Isela that night and really enjoyed them and realized how much I love them. I love the Colorado sunsets. Those are what I miss most. Monday I returned home to South Carolina and have been on this work, school, church, girlfriend cycle ever since. It takes some good time management, but I think I'm getting better. Tomorrow Onna and I are going to Charleston to stay with Kyle and MaryEllen. I will let you know how that goes and take pictures.

McDonalds

Before I write a longer response from my vacation to Denver, I must give my props to McDonalds! They are amazing! Today I went to the Denver Airport at 6AM and didn't have time in the morning to eat breakfast. I was planning on getting breakfast at the airport, and I did. It was amazing! I got up in line at the register, told them I wanted a #7, she left to get my food, I swiped my card, she got my orange juice and gave me the reciept. How long do you think that took? 30 seconds! I was so amazed! Their customer service was impecible. I recommend the McDonalds in the DI Airport! I just wish all the other McDonalds would be as quick.

That being said, I ate the McGriddle sandwich. Did you know the bread/bun is actually a pancake?? It tasted so good. I almost got a McMuffin, but was glad that I got the McGriddle instead. go me!

Go McDonalds, you got it right this time! I'm lovin' it.

Day of Labor

Life is good life is great, give us this day so we'll be great. Or something like that, right? This week has gone by pretty quickly. I have a goal to write in my blog more than I have heretoforth done, but we'll see how that goes. Since I last wrote I was just starting school. Nothing big has changed. My Spanish teacher is still really pushing me to go on a study abroad before I get married. He says that as an RM my time clock is ticking. I agree. I then asked my parents what to do about it and they said that I had better go in the Spring if I could. They didn't have to ask me twice. I immediately began searching for study abroads in Mexico. I knew that my timing was runnign short with deadlines. I've met a time or two with my advisor and they are all on board. It will be a tough four months, but I've gotta do it, right? I was half-accepted in to a program already. They just want to see my disciplinary form filled out by Coker College. I hope they don't find out about all those bar fights I've been in! ;-) My Social Problems class is going better. I've enjoyed learning the other point of view. Kyle is convinced I am going to turn Democratic over this class. It's interesting to read about how the book projects we fix the problems we have, but it always suggests we raise the minimum wage and lower taxes and rent. Those things are hard to do. If you lower minimum wage prices go up and thus, the raise in minimum wage was pointless. But what do I know, right? Last Saturday Onna and I took her boys to Sonic and they just played and played. It was fun to watch them play. They are great kids. My home teaching companion caught us in the action and now we have no where to hide. By caught in the action I just mean together. To this point the ward really hasn't known that we are together. On Thursday I flew to Denver. It was a lot of fun to see the sights again. I think I started annoying Kaye (Jen's mother-in-law) at all the "aww, this place is..." and reminiced my mission. We helped Jen move first thing, by helped move I mean I put the table together and watched the movers do their work. I was feeling pretty lazy! On a side note, Jen is pretty cool. I had Jack in the Box for lunch and I am convinced (convinced!) that they outsource their drive thru box to India! The guy that took our order was nothing like the guy that gave it to us! Scott and I had a lot of fun with this one! I love that guy. We were just cracking up a storm on the way home. When we got home I went on a walk while I called Onna. Jen and Scott live in a new little neighborhood. I figured I was wakling in a circle the whole time, but eventually in the phone call I realized that I was lost. I had no idea how to get home. My thoughts were then preoccupied with that. Eventually after wandering for an hour and 20 minutes I turned the right corner and shouted "yes!" with my arms in the air. When my arms retired to their original location I noticed that a neighbor of Jen's was drinking a beer on the porch and watched me do that. I felt embarassed, but continued my journey home. I zonked out on the couch for the next 8 hours. Go me! Today I just chilled around and then realized that I needed to go "buying" and we took off to the Flat Irons Mall. Good times. We ate at Big City Burrito for lunch and then I went and visited some people from my mission. The first two I visited are recient converts (from October 2007). They have done a 180 and it hurt to be there. They weren't sure what they believed anymore and it made me sad. I then tried visiting another family of converts but they moved! I called and got the new address, so I'll hit them up on Sunday. I finished the visiting with the Lloyds. Brother Lloyd was a huge influence for me in the mission and the family is so nice! I headed home after that and am tired as ever, but still ready to continue on. It's vacation, after all. Tomorrow we are going to Eliches (Six Flags). I'm excited to do the roller coaster deal again. I'll take some sweet pictures! Tomorrow morning, I can't forget, is my race with Scott G. I'm gonna beat him this time! I've prepared for this race by eating Sonic, Burger King, Big City Burrito, Jack in the Box, and Wendy's all in the last week. It's gonna be a doozy... I'll let you know tomorrow how it goes. Oh yeah, Gracen LOVES me! (and also the camera!)

PS Enjoy the new blog!

Work, School, and Sleep

It has been an interesting week. I haven't had much time for free time, but I decided to treat myself tonight to some personal "Karl time" and boy has it been beautiful. I haven't done a thing, but this week has been crazy and I feel like I deserve it. Monday started my schedule from below. I got up and went to work for a full 8-hour day and then raced to school for my 5:30 class. I was unsure about my teacher, but he didn't show until 5:29, so I waited there for about 15 minutes. Thursday was better. I walked in about 30 seconds before him. My classes are a lot of fun. My first class is Spanish. I love this class! It is a writing class and it will help refine my Spanish skills. I can speak fluently, but I sometiems struggle to include accents. We did the whole class in Spanish and it made me so happy. I understood everything! My classmates--similar to those in the mission--look at me with shock or amazement that a white red-head can speak Spanish so well. I love getting that look, actually. The teacher suggested I start looking at Study Abroad programs. I will need to do a total of 16 weeks of study in another country to graduate with my Spanish major. My next class is Social Problems. This class seems like it's going to be very interesting. The teacher reminds me of Jimmy Cooper (photo right). They look very similar! He seems pasisonate, unfortunetly his class is from 8-10:30 and by then I am pretty tired. We watched two movies this week. One was about sweatshops and how Wal-Mart and Disney pay only 14 to 17 cents to their workers in Bangledesh. The way I see it, those workers wouldn't have jobs without these corporations. Albeit little, it is more than they would have. Agreed? I got my new computer this week. That's exciting. It is an Inspiron 1525 from HP. I like it. Work is going well. I am excited to go to Denver this next Thursday. I'll post the results of my race victory late next Saturday.

Life as we know it is about to change...

Well it was a great week! I didn't do too much, but aren't those the best weeks anyways? Onna and I went out a few times. On Tuesday I was able to take her two boys to swimming lessons. She had her visiting teachers coming over and was about to miss the lesson and since her visiting teacher is my mom I knew that this would cause a problem for my mom to have to visit Onna again, so I just volunteered to take them. It was so much fun! Those boys are really cool kids. On Friday I went to see that new Mummy movie. It was pretty good. The theater was about 2*, but other than that it was a good movie. Earlier that day on Friday I finished the OC. I have finally seen all 4 seasons! It was such a good ending, it kind of pieced it all together for me. On Saturday I went to work at the temple again. I am not sure I've talked much about this. I work at the temple twice a month. This time was special for me because it was Spanish Saturday. It was so great to be able to use my Spanish again. Those Hispanics, just like normal, were surprized as ever when a white red-head with blue eyes spoke their language. I love getting those looks. It was also special because the first thing that I was able to do as a worker I did to my dad and that made it more special. He has always tried to support me in whatever I do and am grateful for that. After having worked just two weeks at the temple I can see what a blessing it is for me. I love going each time and am really starting to learn the intracisis of it. When we got home it was sitting on the counter--my very first credit card! Don't worry, I applied for this one. I am so excited to start getting credit. I went by myself to dinner to celebrate. Just me and my Taco Bell had a great time. Just before I chose to celebrate I figured I would wash my truck. I haven't washed it for a long time and I knew that my dad was cringing each time he walked by it so I washed it at one of those pay-and-do-it-yourself places. All was working great until I got to the colored foam conditioner. It just was having problems coming out and spraying on the truck, big deal, right? Well I pointed it straight up in the air to see if it was work at a different angle. Well at that precise moment a large gust of wind happened and the foam began working. Within a second I was coated (and I mean coated) in this tri-color foam. I just laughed and said to myself, "This better dry away fast." I was on the way to my girlfriend's house and didn't want to have to go back home. It dried over time before I got there, luckily. Today is Sunday, I am tired. We just had dinner and now I am primed for a nap, at least a short one. Tomorrow school starts. My Monday/Thursday schedule will be almost unbearable I can feel it now. I will continue working full-time 8-5. Class starts at 5:30 and finishes at 10:30. My Monday/Thursday will be 8 AM to 10:30 PM! I'm not excited for that. I can't say my schedule is all too difficult. I am taking a Spanish class that the teacher already told me I would know more than anyone else in there. At any rate, I'm excited. :)

Technology Is Amazing

Technology never ceases to surprize me. It all started on Saturday. I was driving to the temple for my first day of work and I realized that I didn't have my GPS cord. The battery was dead. I was about to be lost. I texted Kyle and he didn't help me, but he did tell me to text Google and get directions. I texted Google "directions 29550 to 2905 E Trotter Road. Hopkins, SC" Within seconds I had 3 text messages giving me 10 detailed directions as to how to arrive at the temple. Technology amazes me!

Apologies for the wait...

I'm sorry to all for the extended delay without a posting. I've had some vacation and now I'm here for the long haul. Let me update you on a little bit of the past. I had a friend come visit, her name was Brooke. We did a lot of fun things. We went to Charleston and Columbia. After her visit here I flew back to Arizona with her and visited some old friends. One of my visits was to an old junior high crush named Shannen. It was weird this time that there were no feelings for her, but we were able to reminice for the longest time and just laugh at our old memories. As for the current, I'm working full time still at Sonoco. I have missed work lately, like actually missed working. I have missed making money and have been spending far too much. I just bought myself a ticket to Denver for the end of this month. It will be fun to be in my old stomping grounds again. I have been spending some time with a friend from Hartsville. Her name is Onna. We went to the beach on Saturday and had a great time. We also went to Hard Rock Theme Park. It had some great roller coasters and it was just a lot of fun. The bathroom in the park was pretty funny, too, so I had to take a picture! On the way home we ate at Central Park, an old food chain that left Hartsville many moons ago. My best friend came home from Ohio where he was working for the summer. We went golfing and he beat me by a few strokes. I'm really not good at golf, but for some reason I love golfing. I don't understand it! What's on tap for the near future? I have a date on Saturday. I am going to work at the temple for the first time on Saturday, that should be fun. School starts in a week and a half and I'm pretty excited to now begin learning again!