Sunday, December 9, 2012

Happy Birthd--

I will be revisiting two things that I was supposed to do and write about for my class on this blog: Serve someone who is more stressed than you and buy a stranger a coke.

I completed both of these but I did them again just to make sure that they get noticed! I will write about the first.

The way I served someone this week was a little different than before. This time I didn't take anyone to the grocery store who doesn't have a car nor did I do my roommates dishes. This is what happened...

I found myself sitting in the No "shhhhh" zone of the library in the thick of my studies. You could say I was stressed. I was with two friends finishing up an ISYS project (shout out to H-Griggy and Marshall), when I overheard a guy to my right. Now he was stressed. He was also studying in a group. He ex-com-plained (this is what happens when you complain and explain at the same time) to his study buddies, "today is my birthday and I am stuck here at the library!" H-Griggy had the idea of singing to him. I remembered this assignment of serving someone who is stressed and I thought to myself "PERFECT!" 

So Hannah got his name and we started belting. Marshall was too cool. I was confident the entire place would support us in this public service. After the first "Happy Birthday to You" even Hannah stopped. She couldn't breath/stop laughing. So I was on my own. I felt like everyone thought I was trying to be obnoxious and break a social norm; however, I continue my lovely solo. This was so much more than helping this guy have a happy birthday. It was me proving that I am not afraid to be heard. 

When I hit the bridge of the song I stopped for a second and realized that one girl on the other table was backing my up but she was singing pianissimo. I couldn't let her down. So I continued. The not so long song seemed to drag on and on. After holding out the last note, adding in a little vibrato toward the end as I usually do, the only thing I got from the audience was a blast of a can-we-continue-studying-negative-vibe. I decided at that point I would not continue with the customary hip hip hooray.  As a result I feel the service I rendered had a contrary effect to what my teacher was hoping for. To the random birthday boy Brian... sorry to ruin your big day...  Let it be a lesson to all as we prepare for Christmas this year. It truly is the thought that counts.

A miracle happened this week. Wednesday. The typical day. I finished work and then rode home on my bike. I ride down the hill that goes from the Marriott Center to Fat Cats. I got to my apartment and Spencer was sitting on the couch. I said hello as I walked in. When I lifted my bike up the front tire fell off. AHHHHHHH!!!!!! That is one of my biggest fears. I don't know if it was sabotage or what but I am so glad it did not fall off when I was riding. I think only my family can completely understand why I feel this way. Family when you hear the phrase "front tire falling of the bike" what image instantly comes to your mind? That is right. The one of our cousin Matt and after his bike accident and how you can't really tell he has a nose and there is blood all over his face.  I tightened the tires so hopefully it won't happen again. The rest of this week I drove to work.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Something wicked this way comes!

Finals... That is what the title of this post is describing.

We were given the challenge of helping someone out at the peak of our stress this week and then write about it. Pretty sure everything I did this week that was remotely close to helping someone else out only benefited me more.

Example: I invited some friends with out cars to go grocery shopping. In the end there were too many of us to fit in my car and I didn't even end up driving. Nicole did. Shout out to Niko!

My ward did a special needs carnival yesterday. Best 4 hours I have spent on a Saturday this semester.  Making popcorn on easy whip popper was a blast. Table spoon of oil, pinch of salt, and half cup of popcorn and bam. You got yourself a tasty bowl of popcorn. One of the highlights of the day was when someone put two cups of popcorn kernels in the pot instead of a half a cup.

Something funny happened this week. I was taking out some un-carved pumpkins to the dumpster and decided I wanted to smash them against the inner wall of the garbage can to see them explode. I had this bright idea after I had already tossed the first one in. I grabbed the second one and wound up for the pitch and threw that pumpkin as hard as a could.  One of the lids was down and the pumpkin hit the edge of the lid and came hurdling back at me. I made a quick head dodge and watched the pumpkin crack on the black top. I thought to myself. "ha ha whoa! I am glad no one was..."FAILURE!" My thought was interrupted by a girl. She was on the third floor of the apt building that faced the parking lot. She had been watching me out of her window. I just laughed and acted like I meant to do it.

Sorry for the random post!