Yeah...just a really good day

I like to hide under my cryptic blanket a lot on this blog, but I got a package today and it made me very happy. So I still can't bring myself to specifically state what is going on because I worry that people might judge me, but if you know, you know...and I think that as more time passes, I know. Best day of the summer.

Admiration

So recently I've been realizing things about myself and one of those things is that I love people, but I don't show it like I should. I'll try to be better about that. But while I'm working on that, here is a blog about people I have admired pretty much my whole life: Brad and Traci Sheen.

I grew up next door to the Sheens. Nathan was best friends with Bradley, and even though they are a few years older than me they always let me play with them. I don't have any memories of Brad being annoyed or irritated that I always wanted to play with him and my brother. And, as most of you know, I was even in love with Brad back then. Anyway, I am so grateful for his kindness and acceptance, even as it continues today.

And Traci! I looked up to Traci so much. I remember thinking about how much I loved her bed and she always had the cutest dolls. She also allowed me to play with her even though I was a lot younger than she was. I wanted to be just like Traci.

The truth (almost completely not cryptic!)

(It's my blog, I can put whatever I want up here!)

I almost think that, no matter what has happened or will happen, this will always be one of my favorite pictures. Just because that was probably my favorite summer of my life so far.

On being cryptic

Some people (read: "Spember" Bean) have occasionally or frequently yelled at me because I am "too cryptic". It's actually kinda funny because it drives Spencer (and I'm sure every one else) crazy but oh well. Here is my reasoning behind being cryptic. Yes, I know it's annoying and confusing and stupid. But it's how I express myself. It's a way for me to get my feelings and emotions out in the open without needing to expressly state that I am mad at someone or something in particular. Do you know what I mean?

Another factor that adds into me being cryptic is that I have been listening to songs lately that describe my life...or when I just think a line from a song is funny or weird or entertaining I will put it on twitter. A lot of the time it means nothing. I guess this is an apology blog...sorry for being so crpytic and confusing, it probably won't change. Learn to deal :)

Seriously though, it's hard for me to post actual events and happenings from my life because I am not that open. I will try to change that. As soon as I figure out what I want from my life.

Our Jim

So there is this (I don't know the PC term so bear with me) mentally handicapped man named Jim who comes into the bookstore every Tuesday morning to restock the "copies of the Book of Mormon" and vacuum. He is cute and nice except sometimes he likes to be mean. But I think he's funny so I am going to list three things he has done (I'm not trying to make fun of him...I just think they're funny stories!).

So a little over a year ago we on the closing shift kept arriving to work to find all our personal possessions missing from our apron pockets. It was so disconcerting. Every day I would find my box knife, chapstick, and pens in a different place. Finally we figured out that Jim was coming in and ransacking our aprons, so we had to start hiding them simply to keep our bearings around us.

Last week I was helping a customer when Jim came up to me and said, very pointedly, "You are a broomstick". I was like, "Um....what? A broomstick?" and he just said "Yeah. You look like a broomstick. That's my joke!" and then he walked away. I still don't know what to think...

Last instance: today Rob was worried about facing the long packet day ahead so he wanted to do something to cheer himself up. So he made an elephant out of towels and put it on the counter by my register. Eventually Jim came over, started at the thing, and said, "WHAT. Is. This." Then he proceeded to unroll the elephant and fold the towels the right way. The whole time I was protesting: "No! Stop! Rob made that! It's an elephant! He will be so sad if you wreck it!" etc.

I love the bookstore, I love Jim, and I love the missionaries.

Realizations

You know how sometimes you just realize things about yourself you've never thought about before?

I love getting random voice mails and texts.

When I'm sad or lonely, I bake. Peanut butter chocolate chip cookies.

I love inside jokes and gifts built around the theme of an inside joke.

I like being a little bit silly around the people I love.

I really, genuinely like a lot of people. I am pretty sure there are many people out there who have no idea how much I truly adore them.

I talk a lot.

I think I have a lot of old fashioned ideas about romance.

I cry: all through Return to Me, when Captain Von Trapp sings "Edelweiss", when people I love cry, sometimes when I am writing the spaghettio years, when I finally realize a truth that deeply impacts me...and at many other instances.

My life hasn't really turned out the way I expected it to be but I am okay with that.

Once I had to completely rebuild my understanding of my life and I am grateful for the changes it brought to me.

Waiting makes me anxious.

Even though I've lost sight a few times, I'm pretty sure I know what I want. But I can only speak for myself, which is the hard part.

I found the photographic evidence

When I was transferring pictures from my old phone to the computer I found the evidence of J's laser tag wound (the story of the wound can be found here). So here are the pictures, in all their glory.

What he thought the wound looked like and what it really looked like. The bandaid covers a lot of it.

Not to rub it in or anything, but...

Highlights of the show:

• Perfectly clear weather--all night!
• Delaying start time by ten minutes because the line for tickets was so long.
• Huge crowd
• Tripping Spember the school master
• Karly dropping her fruit all over
• A flawless waltz
• Birthday cake
• The tiara story
  
• Caleb's comment [while looking at the audience members lined up to enter the shell]: Um, is that like the handicapped only entrance or something?
• Almost falling down the book stairs and taking Bean with me. Thank goodness for his stiff menu arm.