I haven't written a blog for a couple of years, so I figured I'd give it another go. I guess more than anything it mostly stems from the fact that I have what feels like an enormous amount of free time until school starts again. Not that I'm complaining by any means, I just feel lost without having assignments and deadlines to worry about, so I might as well do something productive with my time to fill that "void".

It's 2012. The supposed end to the world. I remember hearing about the Mayan rumor when I was in elementary school, and remembering how long away 2012 seemed. I remember thinking that I would be OLD when that time did come, so it would be okay if the world did indeed end; I would already have been a pilot in the air force, married and have like 10 or 12 kids, because that's what grown ups do. I think my elementary self would be disappointed in me. I'm not a pilot, nor do I have any plans to be one, I'm not married, and I don't think I have any kids floating around out there. Regardless, my life is good. While I do have regrets (as everyone most likely does), I am happy with the person I have become. 

Some of the things I've realized lately is that nothing really happens in your life unless you act. You cannot expect blessings if you do not put forth the work and effort to achieve what you want. For instance, you will not get A's in school unless you have not only the goal to achieve A's, but the desire and diligence to see to the end that you get them. You cannot go through the semester picking and choosing the work you want to put into your classes and expect to have the professor give you an A. You need to excel in your efforts to deserve the highest marks possible. Otherwise, you just fall short. I've always thought it was kind of anticlimactic that a letter represents hours upon hours of studying and doing homework during a 3 month period, but I know that in the end it will all be worth it. 

The same in life. If you do not have not only a goal of what you want to achieve, but also the diligence to work hard towards that goal, you will just fall short. You will float around in just a bunch of chaotic circumstances that will determine your life, instead of determining your own path. You can be great, or you can be mediocre: the choice is yours. Do not just assume that things are going to happen without your going out to get them.

That being said, as you do your best, God steps in. In my own life I have felt the power of God strengthen me right as I feel I can't do anymore. I have seen answers to the small and stupid little things that are important to me. He is not going to rule our lives and make our decisions for us, but He will help you to make them: we are not meant to go throughout life alone. He is and will always be there for us.

Well that's my spiritual thought for the year. I'm excited for this year and the potential it has. Hopefully it won't be the end of the world

Mexicans are hot

I love fall, it's the time of year when people start to get excited about upcoming holidays and start spending a lot more time with family and friends. There's just something in the atmosphere that seems to change this time of year, it's great. I could definitely live without the 10 feet of snow that comes along with this seasonal change though.

Life is pretty good. I still miss being on the mission from time to time though, walking down the little narrow Chilean streets that were brimming with houses that had uninviting 10 foot high metal fences blocking off the only way inside from the "pato malos". I miss visiting with the members, some of the most humble people I know of who strive to serve the Lord, albeit in their own odd way. I miss the wonderful Pinto Herrera family. They've gone inactive, and I've since lost touch with them. I wish I could be there for them, help them feel the things they've felt, remember the things they already know. I miss the Sopaipillas, the Empanadas, having girls adore me just for being gringo; I miss the soccer games/riots, the being scared for my life on September 11 - national day of rioting in Chile. I miss helping total and complete strangers as I saw them in the street. I miss having two hours a day set aside to study the gospel with the intent of helping people, not just myself. I miss making fun of people for sweeping the dirt lawn in front of their house. I miss the little churrasco stand in Los Carolinos. I miss having the streets turn into rivers when it rained. I miss the big yellow death machines AKA busses.

I miss everything about the mission. It was the hardest, yet most rewarding two years I will probably ever have in my life, and I am eternally grateful for that time. It changed me totally and completely - not my personality, but my view on life, my 'maturity' for lack of a better word; through the service of others, I came in a very real way to know and love our Savior. It's true that scripture in Mosiah that says that when you are in the service of your fellow being, you are only in the service of God. I came in a very real way to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and how important the message of the restored gospel really is.

But, life right now is good too. I have a wonderful family that puts up with me, really great friends that also put up with me. It's a little unnerving thinking what point I'm at in my life right now, I mean I've been home from my mission two years now this month (it really does go by fast), I'm supposed to choose a career and start a family...Yeah. I just don't feel ready yet haha. Maybe we never do.

Random quotes:

Larry: Dang! Daaaaaaaannnnnnnnnggggggg!!!
Shaun: What?
Larry: She hot man! Get her number for me!

Larry: Yeah, Danielle has ADD, but only for me
Danielle: Larry, it's because you mumble. You're the only one I consistently tune out
Larry: Dude Shaun, I asked her like a 3 minute question, and at the end she just looked at me and said, 'what?'

Doesn't know what to think anymore?

I am so excited for General conference, I can't even explain. It seems like it's this golden ray of sunshine seeping in through an opened window from heaven - I love it to death. There's just this accompanying spirit which seems to make everything feel just right with the world, no matter what is going on in your life. It's crazy to think that in all the history of the world, we live in this time and this place where we can hear from living prophets and apostles. Yeah, I don't know what i'm trying to say, it's late again and I haven't been making too much sense all day from lack of sleep I guess. Ha. But conference is awesome. Watch it if you have the chance, you will feel the sweet spirit of God bring comfort into your life as you listen to the messages He has prepared.

Random quotes:

Nikky: I know you're in a better place now, so that's good
Shaun: It sounds like you're saying i went to heaven or something
Nikky: Well compared to here, your new job is like heaven, no?
Shaun: Mmm, well I kind of hope heaven isn't anything like work. Or that they at least pay you better there

Shaun: I can help you right here sir
Lady: *looks around to see if there's anyone else waiting in line* Umm...me?

1:27 AM

So yeah, it's pretty late. I don't know why I tend to stay up so late, but for some reason I just couldn't sleep tonight. Anywho, today was a pretty good day. I'm really loving my new job, it's probably the first time in a LONG time that I don't mind going to work. I'm actually finding myself looking forward to it - to a certain extent ha-ha. Crazy concept that one could actually like a job, huh?

Random:

Larry: Shaun, they're looking for someone that espeaka espanol.

Shaun: Dang, ok ok. I'll take it. *picks up phone* Bueno? En que le puedo ayudar?

Confused lady with a thick asian accent: Um...do you speak english?

Shaun: Yes...Did you not need a someone that speaks spanish?

Lady: No, I said to the other guy that I was seeking Danielle. Does she work here?



and

Tiff: I got sick from some mexican food restaurant at school. Its kinda funny pretty much every employee is asian

Shaun: So you got sick from Mexican food...prepared by Asians?

Sooo...big gulps huh? Well see you later!

I just woke up, so this might make no sense whatsoever. But I'm bored, and facebook was being boring. Then I remembered I had started this awesome blog a long time ago, and have not written on it since.

Things are going pretty well, I work at a credit union now and it is sweet. Well, I guess my definition of sweet is any sort of job that's not a *shudder* call center, but it is a pretty fun job. Yesterday the computers were down for most of the day, so all we could do was sit there and entertain ourselves. I.E. making paper airplanes and chucking them at the girls in the other two windows. The branch and assistent manager decided to go shopping at Target (they go shopping randomly every day, regardless of the computers working or not working. *Note to self, become a branch manager*)

Then this really awnry lady came into the branch, and she just happened to choose my window. Lucky me. She wanted me to cash a check for her, which the most we can do is give her 100 dollars and deposit the rest while the computers are down. When I told her this, she freaked. She started swearing and saying she wanted to end her account with us right now, which I also couldn't do because of the whole computer thing. I tried to explain to her that there was another branch a mile from our location that would be happy to help her, but that just made her angrier, and she threatened to call the police on our "illegitimate business" that would steal peoples money and refuse to give it back. So luckily the branch manager came back just then, and was able to approve us cashing the whole check. The lady complained to her the whole time we were doing it about what poor service this was, and how the credit union always seemed to have computer glitches when she came in - yeah right. After she finally turned around and started to leave, the branch manager caught mine and the teller next to me's attention, and behind the counter flipped the lady off. Repeatadly. It was pretty funny. And then the lady had trouble getting into her truck, setting off the alarm and couldn't seem to figure out how to turn it off. Finally 3 or 4 minutes later she just drives off with the alarm still going off; everyone in the branch was lol'ing. And ROTFLing, or however you say the stupid textish for laughing hysterically.

Well anyways, that was my day yesterday. And I get to go back today :D I love it though, my branch is awesome. It's me, one other guy and about 10 girls. That's 5 for each of us. Well more like 3 for each of us, the others are engaged or already married. Oh well.

RANDOM QUOTES:
From facebook:
Shaun can't do his homework cause bryant won't leave his house. 23:04 - 7 comentarios

Allison a las 23:08, el 17 de septiembre
do you want me to kick him out?

Bryant a las 23:09, el 17 de septiembre
He was just kidding, or he better be kidding if he knows what is best for him.

Shaun a las 23:11, el 17 de septiembre
wow, you can do that clear from provo? ha ha

Allison a las 23:12, el 17 de septiembre
heck yes i can. it takes some magical words. and power that only I possess.

Shaun a las 23:14, el 17 de septiembre
That is an awesome power. Is this power teachable?

Allison a las 23:15, el 17 de septiembre
Alas, it is only possessed by flirtatious, beautiful women. And slightly related to the force.

and

"Idol of idiot-worshippers!"
~from the play Troilus and Cressida

"No remembro how to say eleven"
~Mike

The horror!

Hmm. I don't know how long this will last, but I saw all the cool people creating blogs, and I didn't want to feel so left out.

Stuff going on in my life is a little slow right now. A couple of weeks ago I quit this place I had been working at for almost two years. It feels SO good to leave there. Don't get me wrong, the people I worked with are awesome and I will really miss them a lot, but the actual job was just kind of sucky. I was working on the Mexico team as customer service, but they also had me on two other queues, meaning not only was I taking inbound customer service calls coming from Mexico, but also when the Mexico line wasn't busy, I recieved calls from the US in English and Spanish. I was constantly taking call after call, with no break in between. I didn't mind it so much at first, but everyone around me had a lot less that they were expected to do, while making the same amount of pay. They would get a call every 5-10 minutes, while I took a call as soon as I hung up with the one I was just on. It wasn't very fair in my opinion. On top of that, I never recieved a raise or performance review the entire time I was there. But such is life. Blah, long story short, I quit the job ha-ha.