Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Celebrity Fight List
1. Clint Eastwood- because he could beat the crap out of me and i would cherish the memory of a legend giving me a broken nose.
2. Scientology- I'm not sure how this would be done, but i'm sure their lawyers could set something up.
3. Gary Busey- It would be interesting...
4. Every person in high fashion, the tabloids, and the E network: If you don't know why, than you're probably one of them
5. sanjaya - That kid from american idol that everyone in america wanted to teabag for being a tool.
6. Tyra Banks- i would sell my soul to cold cock her strait in the face for being...her
7. Katherine Mcfee- because we would have to "kiss and make up" as the saying goes.
8. Will ferrel- because it would be hilarious somehow
9. Paris Hilton, Al Sharpton- for being douchebags
10. Carlos Mencia- for thinking he is funny
11. Michael Moore
I could go on a long time...
Monday, May 19, 2008
confused and frustrated
I am incredibly "trigger shy" on asking girls on dates, or anything like that. Why? It's pretty obvious I would hope. I have been riding a wave of confidence up until very recently, and i hope that I can get it back, because it feels good not feeling like a loser.
Anyway, why am i writing this? I'm writing this because I can not go to sleep and really need to put my thoughts on proverbial paper. I don't ever want to ask a girl on a date again, EVER. Every time in my life I've committed to something like that things never went well. Alternately every time I just did my own thing and just didn't do that things seemed better.
The truth is that I am impatient, and anxious. Things seemed better because i was playing it safe and therefore not getting rejected. On the other hand at that rate I will never get anywhere.
have a good night, this is why I can't sleep tonight
Friday, May 16, 2008
My mood...
There are a handful for movies that do that to me to different degrees, but VERY few books have given me that "awwwwww" feeling so bad that I want to cry. That feeling at the end of The Notebook when Noah tells her that their love can do anything; the feeling you get when in that moment you know for a fact that love CAN do anything, and lasts forever as well.
There are a couple of Jane Austin's works that do that for me to some degree, as well as one of my fantasy series written by Elizabeth Haydon (no way a guy could write a book that evokes that emotion besides Nicholas Sparks). A few moments in the Book of Mormon have made me cry, but that was more from feeling the spirit.
Recently I read the book Twilight, and yeah, I cried for sure. I am re-reading right now at a much slower pace to really be able to feel is deeply. This process includes an ipod playlist simply titled "Love." On my second read-through I am 280 pages in, and I find myself drawing odd parallels between Edward and myself. I feel like I think like his character, at least romantically. I have that craving of adventure, like driving fast etc. The one major thing that struck me is when Bella wonders why Edward loves her and he thinks she is so amazingly special. I find myself thinking that about a lot of girls. How amazingly special and beautiful they are in my eye when i see other guys looking at some fake-n-bake blonde that thinks a good read is a maxim article while she is getting her nails done.
Anyway, I'm rambling, but my point is I am really figuring out just how sensitive I am and how my bipolar disorder could be the best thing that ever happened to me.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Since January...
Basically before December of 2007 I was a video game junkie. I went to work, came home, and played video games too late before going to bed and going to work again. I didn't really do much else! In December I started heading back to church and trying out activities. I went to Jon Pinney's new years party, and even though i felt really out of place and intimidated I had fun. Now not even 6 months later I have somehow transformed into a social butterfly with the help of the spirit and the best friends anyone could possibly have!
I feel so stinking grateful for everyone who kept inviting me out to things even when I was a party pooper and not very social. I also am SOOOO grateful to all of the people who took me into their group and became my friends. i had never really had friends in my life before that besides one or two people. That social cushion really touched me and I felt like I owed it to everyone to become a better me. That started me on my journey of spiritual realization and happiness. I know I'm long winded, but this is so important to me!!!
Here are just the few things I can remember over the past months of amazingness:
January 08-now
-Quit World of Warcraft and never went back-that is a huge feat for those of you who may not have known me before
-Started going to Volleyball and family nights
-Quit my job repairing arcade machine where my boss hated Mormons haha
-Joined the HOB crew and felt like I wasn;t a loser for the first time in my life
-Started praying again
-felt the spirit for the first time in a long time
-Started reading and actually enjoying the scriptures after praying for help to do so
-talked to girls without freaking out (haha sad right?)
-learned that I enjoy dancing, and gradually got better and better at dancing by not caring how dumb I looked
-went from 300lb to my current weight of 245-250! Goal weight is around the 200 range...LADIES
-Started building my testimony on a foundation forged by my new experiences
-Naked Hot tubbing
-Went dirt bike riding with Jon Mcdonough. He was awesome for his first time (that's what she said!)
-Got contacts
-Bought lots of new clothes. The first time buying new clothes in like 2-3 years haha
-Built a Gaming computer that I used for gaming for a few weeks and now don't play games on haha
-Got my first cuddle, first kiss, and my first make-out in that order. It was amazing...
-Have been called a walking wikipedia too many times =)
There are so many experiences that I just can't think of but I know are there! What an amazing year this has been so far!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Goal updates...
Book of Mormon Reading: (in mosiah last post) In Helaman, also been reading gospel principles book.
Weight: (260 last post) 245, this post
Education: AA Computer Science, AA in Networking very close
Job: It's complicated
Testimony: Strong testimony of service, the benefits of worthy friends, Prayer, reading the scriptures, the atonement is real, Christ lives and is our redeemer, the Holy Ghost is real and is the only way for us to realize truths and gain a testimony, eternal marriage is real and is part of eternal life, I know when I am feeling the spirit, and can feel when others are as well. The things we do every day change how we feel the spirit. When we are doing really well and are making spiritual breakthroughs satan will throw things in our path to shake us. The leaders of our church truly are inspired. The Book of Mormon is another testament of Jesus Christ and is all written by prophets inspired by God. The Book of Mormon is hecka awesome and if we pray for it God will help us to read and understand and enjoy it! If you give yourself time and opportunity to read the scriptures the Lord will help you to love the scriptures. belief begets faith. Faith begets action. Action begets knowledge through the Holy Ghost.
Languages known: English, Jive(just kidding)
Dating Status: lots of fish in the see. (had first cuddle, first kiss, and first make-out and it was amazing. I was told I was really good, we'll have to see if that holds true, but I have confidence that it will *wink*)
I have marked off the ones i have "accomplished" with ******.
Goals for the coming year: learn Italian, (go to the temple)-almost ready, obtain AA in networking, obtain A+ certification, obtain MCSE certification, learn all I can through work, find a job, save enough money to buy a new car, *start on my BA courses*, throw a party, *make my first kiss a special one*, *get used to contact lenses*, play guitar hero on hard, *read the Book of Mormon* (not all the way done, but I read it a lot), *add as much as I can to my testimony*, *make a girl feel beautiful* (i know of a couple, but I hope there have been lots, because there are so many of you that deserve to feel this way!!!) , *make a new friend* (for real, tons), *make an impact on someone's life*, *seek missionary experiences* (like many of the ones I have checked off I will not stop in this task), *take more pictures of myself and my friends*, *lose weight* (still have 40-50 lbs to go!!!), *go on my first date and make it special as well* (it was special, and I plan many more in the future. watch out ladies, I don't play around with dates), plan a singles camping trip, *see a movie that inspires me* (HEEEECK YES!), *find a new music artist that inspires me* (I've found a few new artists that I love), *write a short story* (written a bunch actually. I just wish someone wanted to read them...), *write a poem* (I'm not very good at poems but I still try), *follow the tao of steve*
So as you can see there are many things I have checked off, and most of them are things that I will try to keep doing while I work on my other goals. I was pretty scarce on details on these, so ask away. Remember I am a totally open book.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
seriously...is this for real?
Thursday, May 1, 2008
the best day in a long time
Alright so let me break down my day for you all. First I got home at 1 AM (technically part of "today" haha) and read about 10 chapters in Alma before I went to sleep. It was unfortunate that I didn't finish up Alma, but I did it a few hours ago. YAY!
Next I slept until 9ish AM and went to institute. Institute was friggin awesome, and I even got in a game of ping pong and realized how long it has been since i took a math class... On the way home I picked up a pizza and a 2 liter of mountain dew determined to do something profound for the rest of the day(and of course only pizza and mountain dew could provide sustinance for said profoundness). I got home and started watching talks from TED.com while I ate my pizza. That started around 2:00. Here is where I break into a ROUGH timeline...
3:00: I poured my 4th cup of mountain dew, drank it and went to the bathroom.
3:30: I finished a talk on a startlingly simple(not sarcasm) idea to create artificial inteligence, and how close we are to being able to do it, and what implications it would have on our society.
3:31: I started watching "O Brother Where art thou" with my brother but the missionaries came over and asked him to go on splits with them.
3:50: a plate of doritos and a huge glass of water in hand I ventured back to TED.com with a couple breaks to chat on facebook, a break to play 3 guitar hero 3 songs, a break to lift weights briefly, and, of course, a break to get more doritos and pour myself some mountain dew.
Sometime after 3:50: I took a break to finish up Alma and listen to jack Johnson.
Also sometime after the time after 3:50 listed above: (did I confuse you? good) I watched more movies from TED.com.
basically I started the day with a spiritual high, than sleep, than spiritual and social high, than killer food. Than I continually blew my mind, chatted with girls(don't be jealous because i was chatting with girls online ALL DAY...), and blew my mind again, and again all day. Put that in your "I had an awesome day" pipe and smoke it!
I love this site, and this talk
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/view/id/16
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Knowledge
Really important
I've been reading in Alma for a few days now. I really love the transition from mosiah to Alma, and I find myself actually understanding everything I read. Not only that, I find myself thoroughly enjoying it and also marking and disecting(sp) what i read for personal use. I've come a long way my friends... Chapter 5 of Alma, where alma the younger is preaching among the people after giving up the position of chief judge to preach was amazing. I found myself feeling like I was there listening to his words like we listen to our prophets. All those years of reading for recreation have allowed me a wonderful way to picture the scriptures in my mind as I read and than feel them much more deeply and emotionally.
Anyway, what i wanted to especially write down involves the power of being an example. I have some friends in the church that knew me when I was in-active, and they can testify that acting in a manner contrary to what the Lord commands is not good.
In chapter 17 of Alma it goes a little bit back in time to tell about Ammon and his brothers that went off to preach to the Lamanites. (they were the ones who led people away from the church with alma the younger but than had a change of heart...and HUGE ONE!) Everyone knows the story of Ammon serving under king lamoni with such diligence and faith that the king gave him anything he requested. without going into intricate detail of how awesome every single action Ammon did to convert the King of a wicked nation, and thereby countless number of souls, we will just say Ammon was totally rad.
When I went forward and read about how Ammon's brothers faired I wasn't suprised they were in jail among a wicked people. It gave me chills when I thought that being a good example was so much more powerful than preaching the word and bearing testimonies. To be sure, those things are both needed very much, but without people showing the goodness of the gospel in action there is little foundation for "the wicked" to want to heed the word.
Anyway, there it is. I have definitely changed, but I am very far off of where I need to be... I wish I had more time!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
are you not entertained?!!!
Like belly and back flops, both unintentional results of going for a double flip. I made sure everyone knew something funny was about to happen.
Anyway, I guess I'm just writing this to tell you all that I hope you're at least entertained when I'm around =).
Friday, April 25, 2008
Best band Names ever
Five finger death punch- can you tell they are a metal band? HAHA
Rage Against the machine- good band name, every song is perfect...
Spock's beard: I heard this band and was suprised by the off the wall name haha
Metallica:
Cake: because cake> all, music and the delcious confection
Names that i would think about for a band if I had one...(i have thouight too much about this!)
fluffy bunny Brigade
Vowel Movement
Space Age Hitler and the Nazi Synthesizers
Niggas...In space!
Roll for Damage
Fallopian Swimteam (haha, dang)
The Seven Deadly Dwarves
Come to Our Show Or I'll Kill your family
Knut Punch and the Pain Pills
Powderkeg
This band is an emo band so it has a really really really really long and stupid name, we cut ourselves... DEATH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
what the heck!?
I mean, I understand having like blue man group and like the macarena on the list or something, but all techno of things I've never heard? Maybe I was young, but I didn't think the 90's was all techno.
Oh, as I am looking through the list to name off any good ones I find I see a few...
Marky mark: good vibrations. haha marky mark...
MC hammer: 2 legit2 quit
turtle power(HAHAHAHAHAHA, i loved the ninja turtles)
House of pain: jump around
Public enemy: He got game(flavor flav is on it, but it's still alright)
R kelly: Bump N' Grind ("my mind's tellign me no! but my body....my body...." you get the drift)
Rage Against the Machine: 3 songs (all rage songs are awesome so it doesn't matter what they are)
Rammstein: Like 20 of their songs. Once you get past them speaking german it's some great metal haha. I love how one of their songs is a recipe for chocolate ship cookies, but it sounds angry and hardcore because it is german and metal. "AND EGGGGGGGGGGGGGGS!"
Real McCoy: Another night (it's kind of techno kind of pop, but good)
Reel 2 Real: I like to move it
Salt and pepa: Shoop(although it is very...sexual)
Santana: Smooth (it's classic)
Scatman John: Scatman (How the heck does it sound good?)
Seal: Fly like an eagle (still can't believe the dude bagged a supermodel...)
Seal: Kiss from a rose (OK, now I see why. I would do him for this song...)
Shaggy: Boombastic (oh my gosh...if this doesn't bring back memories for any of you i feel sorry for you!)
Snoop Doggy Dog: B@#$% please (before he dropped doggy dog)
Spice girls: there are like 20 some maybe one or two are alright, who knows...
Sugar Hill Gang: Rappers Delight (what can I say?)
Suzanne Vega: Tom's Dinner (You might not remember this until you listen to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxkzPsmY1Zg)
Tag Team: Pump it up
The Fugees: Killing me Softly
No Woman No Cry
Tina Turner: What's Love Got To Do With It
TLC: Waterfalls (This song actually really annoys me, but it spawned a weird al song so it's awesome)
Toni braxton: Unbreak my heart
Vanilla Ice: Ice Ice Baby
Ninja Rap
Vengaboys: Boom Boom Boom (I can stand it once every 2 years)
We like to party (Once every 5 years)
Whitney Houston: a couple, it's too bad she's a crack whore, she had a good voice
Wreckx N effect: Rump Shaker (totally forgot about this song!)
Monday, April 21, 2008
deep thoughts??
I have been tagged again....A-Z
A. Attached or Single- My body is attached correctly, and i am single
B. Best Friend(s)- Jon, Tommy, Craig, Chris, Lacy, Jeff Mumm, your mom, and me
C. Cake or Pie- Cake. i could get on my soap box about this subject but lets just say I know my stuff. I really like funfetti cake with light vanilla frosting. It's got FUN right in the name so you know its good!
D. Day of Choice- Sunday because i will never work on that day.
E. Essential Item- This question is so ambiguous that I am having a hard time, but I will say a book. This answer leaves the option open for it to be any of my books for my different tastes and moods.
F. Flavor of Ice Cream- Rocky road
G. Gummy Bears or Worms- I'm not really in to either. too much sugar, but I would say bears.
H. Hometown- Roseville............. Birthplace: Culver City REPRESENT!
I. Indulgences- In N Out, video games
J. January or July- January until I get a car with air conditioning! than it is July.
K. Kids- Love them. don't have any yet. At stake conference today these two kids a couple rows back were crying really loud and I just smiled. I miss that family ward sound. A guy behind me got all mad and I just couldn't understand why.
L. Last movie I saw in theater- Jeff Mumm and I watched the new Alien vs Predator and laughed our way through the worst writing and acting ever. It was like watching one of those 'B' movies that they make bad on purpose to be funny.
M. Marriage Date- My Mom keeps reminding me that we can find our eternal companion in the next life if we don't find one in this one...
N. Number of siblings- Kevin - 20 going on his mission to Ghana Africa french speaking in about a month, no funny stuff ladies! Scott - 16 hecka hotter than me for realz(still no funny stuff ladies) Rachel - 12 the cause of my parents early demise and the girl who is already turning too many heads at school.
O. Orange or Apples- Oranges. I like mandarin oranges the best. With apples I am always afraid that my half of a fake tooth will pop out or something weird like that. Apples with peanutbutter doesn't count.
P. Phobias or Fears- Spiders. Joan Rivers. tom Cruise raising a kid in Scientology.
Q. Quote- I have too many quotes saved in my "mword2007Quotes" file. I like albert einstien's stuff the best. This one is special though:
"Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired." Robert Frost
R. Reason to smile- Almost everything
S. Season- fall and winter just because I like the cold. When I get a new car it might change.
T. Tag 4- your face
U. Unknown fact about me- Unknown to whom? I think I have a few that are fairly unknown to those around me. Here is one that my Mom would hate me for sharing =)
When I was in 1st or 2nd grade in Torrance(LA area) I played with this kid that was a very bad influence on me. To make a very long story very short I stood on the wall in the boys bathroom and peed on this kid that was also going... How horrible is that? I SO got that back with karma!
V. Vegetarian or oppressor of Animals- I don't Oppress the animals I eat, I just condone their deaths by paying for their delicious carcasses. (I'm only playing around. I love meat and have no problem with eating it)
W. Worst Habit- Biting my fingers/nails. It's a lame habit I have tried unsucccessfully to get rid of but anxiety gets the better of my efforts.
X. X-rays or Ultrasounds- x-rays are generally faster and easier, but ultrasounds can feel so good, especially when done for therapy.
Y. Your favorite Food- Chinese (not panda express junk but the good stuff)
Z. Zodiac- Pisces
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Happiness
Here is my theory...In my "new Direction" I have been experiencing some extremely powerful spiritual moments associated with gaining a testimony that dwarf things like playing a video game or chatting with friends, etc. What I was experiencing before I became active was just "fun" being mistaken as happiness(worldly happiness). It's like before I was used to eating cheap ground beef for a good meal and now I eat Fillet Mignon every day and tasting ground beef is lame.
This change is obviously great, but at the same time is a little bittersweet. I find myself growing jealous of the joy that my prior self took in such simple activities. I think I am going to try to space out my time spent hanging out with people so that I will appreciate it more.
For anyone who actually reads this crap I will be making a post on service soon. I have had some amazing chances come at me in the last week to do service, which is awesome because I totally prayed to have more chances to serve!
lates...
Thursday, April 17, 2008
The Notebook
As you can see I have gotten rather lovey-dovey. Who can help such feelings after watching The Notebook?
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
My Hot Bod
As most know, I hurt my knee at family night playing human fooseball. I'm not sure how bad yet as I am trying to schedule an orthopedic appointment, but it hurts like the dickens. Don't panic yet ladies, I am very much hoping it isn't too bad that I can't attend the next dance. I took some strong pain medication to help with the pain last night and had a "reaction." I'm ok now, but it was a scare and totally interrupted my sleep last night and my day today.
Don't send me messages laughing at me but I also fell in the shower trying to turn around haha. What a stinking dunce right?
That is me at the moment. My next update will hopefully be a bit more "money."
-Ryan
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
My Grandpa!
We talked about conference, losing and maintaining weight goals, girls(which was just so funny!), our love for reading, his mission, the depression and growing up at the time, and technology as it relates to him. I showed him guitar hero, my computer that I just build by hand, and my expansive digital library of books, programs, music, and movies. I just couldn't think of a better time for him to visit, and I am so happy that I can spend all this time with him and really know him better than I ever have.
When I hug him it's like hugging a dresser because he is so buff! He wakes up every morning when I am just getting to bed. When I go out to talk to him I see a book peeking out from behind the chair and think he just can't hear me(he has bad hearing), but than I look around the chair and he is holding the book upright without his arms touching the chair and is sound asleep! haha.
He told me the funniest story about his mission that I just have to share! When he was on his mission he said that all of the guys would take out their wallets and show the other missionaries pictures of their girlfriends at home. He was transfered to an area and was paired up with a guy from Colorado that he described as a "true cowboy." This cowboy missionary pulled out his wallet and showed my grandpa a picture of his roping horse! My grandpa said, "He was the smartest missionary I ever met. At least his horse was still there when he got home."
There are so many other awesome stories that he told me that I have written down, but that was one of my favorites! I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I did!
-Ryan
A thought on self improvement
-Learning italian(I want to sing along to Josh Groban songs. Luckily none of my guy friends are cool enough to blog so they can't make fun of me again for my love of Josh Groban music!)
-Learning the basics of the guitar to jam with a friend
-Complete reading the Book of Mormon
-Finish writing the 3rd chapter of my book, titled "I hope this book idea pans out" haha
-Find a haircut that looks good on me
-Get down to 225 lbs(just a goal on the way to my goal weight)
-Play guitar hero on "hard" (it isn't really something I want in my spouse, but dang I want to be able to get the hang of that orange button!)
-two things that are always on my list (make someone happy today, and make someone feel beautiful today)
Hopefully I don't have too much piled on my plate with school and trying to find a job, but I think I can handle those for now.
For anyone who reads this blog I want to challenge you to make a commitment to do some sort of service every day, or week, or whatever time frame. It helps you more than it helps anyone else.
-Ryan
P.S. For anyone that actually reads my writings (the blog link on the right), I am sorry I haven't posted anything new lately. I have been working on actual book material and can't find any passages that are short enough to post without the reader having no idea of what is going on =).
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Tackle Football...
Anyway, it got to the point where I needed water bad, and almost all of the guys there had Rockstar energy drinks, which for me would be worse than not drinking anything. I tried looking for a drinking fountain but I didn't feel like breaking and entering.
It was super fun. Two and a half hours of tackle football, and I lost 8 pounds in water weight. Feels good.
-Ryan
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
What's in a Dream?
What does this dream tell me about me? What does it tell me about how I view the people around me? What does it tell me about my true feelings for those people?
It told me that I was suppressing feelings towards each of a number of people, but especially one. It told me that eventually those feelings would eat away at me as it did it my dream. It told me what I already knew, but what I refused to accept.
Against my nature
Being so open has it's benefits and it's terrible drawbacks. By nature people confide in people that confide in them. As you strip your "layers" or "walls" they feel more comfortable being who they really are around you and also let down their defenses. This is great for friendships and possibly relationships. I say possibly because I can not speak on that subject without a large asterisk next to anything I say. Anyway, the drawback to my nature is that it is absolutely horrible for attracting someone.
This is where my blog title comes in. I find myself increasingly going against (and often failing to go against) what I would feel comfortable doing in "the pursuit." It's frustrating, confusing, and stressful, but I have seen why it has to be done. Here is a tip of the hat to those like me, who must put on a mask so someday they can strip it away.
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
What if...
How do I measure the "how far have I come" factor? It's easy. Just imagine you only have 3 months to live. How different would your next day be? What would you change? Would your most important goals change? Would you eat, act, or feel different? Obviously there would be things different just by the nature of the situation, but try to focus on what in your day would be done differently. If your whole life is turned upside down and you don't do anything the same, than you have some major work to do in your life. If not a lot changes I would say you're in an amazing state that not many people reach in their lives, but you can still always improve.
Just thought I would share this insight into the inner workings of the self-help section of my brain.
-Ryan
First Post
Important things to me and where I stand with them(not in any particular order!):
Book of Mormon Reading: In Mosiah (1st time read-through)
Weight: 260
Education: AA Computer Science, Progress on AA in Networking
Job: Crossing my fingers
Testimony: Strong testimony of service, the benefits of worthy friends, Prayer, reading the scriptures, the atonement is real, Christ lives and is our redeemer, the Holy Ghost is real and is the only way for us to realize truths and gain a testimony.
Languages known: English
Dating Status: Static, never been kissed
Goals for the coming year: learn Italian, go to the temple, obtain AA in networking, obtain A+ certification, obtain MCSE certification, learn all I can through work, find a job, save enough money to buy a new car, start on my BA courses, throw a party, make my first kiss a special one, get used to contact lenses, play guitar hero on hard, read the Book of Mormon, add as much as I can to my testimony, make a girl feel beautiful, make a new friend, make an impact on someone's life, seek missionary experiences, take more pictures of myself and my friends, lose weight, go on my first date and make it special as well, plan a singles camping trip, see a movie that inspires me, find a new music artist that inspires me, write a short story, write a poem, follow the tao of steve
Looking at those goals I am not overwhelmed but rather excited. There is a lot of cool stuff on that list that are entirely in my reach if I work hard. I hope all of you out there(whoever may read this) try to write down some goals for yourself. It really helps to focus in on what is most important and lets you get a scope on where you are at in your progression to being the best you can be!
-Ryan