Speaking

So, apparently I was not petrified speaking from the pulpit. I was scared crapless however. My mouth was dry, and I kept forgetting what I was about to say, but I had it all written down. Everyone tells me I did a great job, and although that sounds like the kind of thing you tell someone whether or not they did well, I'm inclined to believe them. I just prefer too. The topic I was given was hope. Not exactly one I would have picked on my own, but it worked okay. If I ever put the talk online, I'l be sure to link to it from here.

I've got some other stuff to tell, regarding this guy I know who, although he means well, seems to get on everyone's nerves, and this girl, who is freakin' awesome. Not so much about them together, as just them. I'm not sure what to say about them though, just something odd, that I just cant wrap my mind around.

So, there's this girl. I've mentioned her before. She's the one from the climbing entry, and I think I mentioned her in a date entry, not Jade. I'm going to call this one Alice. She's freakin' awesome. I've liked her for some time now, but it's not like we've ever done anything or talked about any of this, and really I don't know if she's into me at all. It's not too big a deal or anything, and she is awesome as a friend, so I'm not pushing anything.

Then, there's this guy. For anyone who isn't real familiar with mormon stuff, we have this thing where we pair off, and visit with all of the families in our unit. We see how they're doing, if they need anything, and share some sort of religious message with them. The guy I get paired of with, we shall call him Pirate, is not much of a social guy. I don't want to say anything too bad, because Pirate is at heart not too bad a guy, I don't think, but he comes on a bit harsh at times, and a bit odd at others. He insults people a lot. I'm sure it's some sort of defensive thing. He is always thinking about getting married. Obsessed with it really. Rushing too. He has a crush on someone, and talks to me about spending the rest of his life with them. Reminds me of Jade that way. Rambles on about stuff too. A lot. I don't see him as any kind of match for Alice.

That's where the thing is that weirds me out here. He is strongly under the impression that Alice has a thing for him. Now, I like Pirate as much as anyone, but I just can't see someone like Alice going all ooh-la-la over him. Maybe it is just jealousy. That would suck. I don't want to be that guy. He asked her if she wanted to go to a movie with him sometime. I was sitting next to them today at a thing. She said okay. I've seen her turn down a guy who seems like a much better fit, who asked her to some opera. I don't believe she really goes for Pirate.

He keeps talking to me about it too, and I'm at a loss for what to say. I've seen him go nuts for a couple of other wonderful ladies as well, and I don't think they were too thrilled with the attention. He was talking to one of them about marriage after a half date sort of thing. I'm pretty sure she strongly dislikes him at the moment.

I think there are people who I can understand and relate to quite well, and there are a few people who I just will never get. Like this guy, and this other guy who I know through family friends. I wonder if I seem like these guys to anyone, or if these people even understand some of the stuff that they do. It's baffling.

I'm going to go now. It's freakin 3:00 in the morning, and I'm pretty freakin' tired. I've had a headache for an hour now, but it's starting to fade, and I think I can sleep now, so I'll talk to all of you later.

The happiest place on earth

I would have written a bit ago, but I went on vacation, and I was dead. Not the bad, "there ain't no comin' back," kind, just beat. I went to Disneyworld with a few people. Didn't sleep at all on the way up, only slept a little on the way back. Ran around a lot. It was good fun though. Turns out I'm a big fan of Moroccan music. They had a band playing in Epcot. I had to get the CD. I got it signed by everyone too. The belly dancer leaves a kiss print to sign it. It’s good to be back though. Unfortunately I have been assigned to speak in church today. I’m pretty well prepared, but who ever really wants to speak from the pulpit. I guess that’s just something you do though. I’ve got to go get ready here, but maybe when I get back I can regale you with great tales of stage fright.

New Year 2005

I had a nice new year, one I needed a bit of recovering from. New year's eve I went climbing with my brother, sister, and sister's fiance who were all in town. I did a 5.10- which in case you don't know, is quite good for me. Then I went to a friends house for dinner, caught some fireworks at midnight, and sat around talking. This other guy who was there knows a shocking amount about mormon doctrine, theology, and history. Good guy to discuss and argue with.

New Years Day, with about five hours of sleep I went sledding with a bunch of other friends. It was wild. we built this huge jump, and a few of us went down the hill standing up on the sleds like some kind of crappy snowboard. Sunday I just mostly hurt. It was good though.

Turns out, there's some wacky news about Jade. She started dating some guy right after the two of us cut it off. Two weeks later now, and she's engaged. No one saw that coming, but I think it's pretty cool, so long as it all goes well. Good luck to the both of them.