I might maybe pick this up again in a little while. Mayyyyyyybe.
Today...
Friday, September 30, 2011
And suddenly I stopped caring.
You know, after a crazy week full of everything from disappointment (I'm looking at you, midterms and ever-looming U.S. Gov paper), to hilarious hijinks to a severe case of not-enough-time-to-do-anything-I-want-to-do-and-the-things-I-really-want-to-do-I-have-to-wait-two-to-three-months-for-or-have-already-missed-the-boat-itis really leaves a guy not wanting to blog much.
I might maybe pick this up again in a little while. Mayyyyyyybe.
Today...
I am not amused.
I might maybe pick this up again in a little while. Mayyyyyyybe.
Today...
Monday, September 26, 2011
My Ordinary(?) Life, cont'd.
Where I left off last time, I was finally going to try to change some things around. With my bro Christopher in tow, we both took the next weeks after the first of January to essentially go "ward-hopping". Yes, I realize that such is and was considered somewhat taboo, but we just wanted to find a ward where we felt like we could do some good, serve hard, have fun, and just as importantly, meet girls.
So after going to several different wards, I found myself really quite attached to the Bluffdale ward. And for good reason! I had many friends from high school in that ward, and not two weeks in, my brother and I were asked to be a part of an musical Easter ensemble. It just so happened (or perhaps not) that at the time, I sort of had kind of a crush on a gal in the ward, (Spoiler alert: It didn't pan out. Heck, it didn't even pan) which was my initial reason to stay in that ward. As I stuck it out, though, I found myself enjoying it more and more. Oh yeah! Going back the ensemble, I was asked by the mother of an old friend of mine to participate.... coincidence or not, I must say I was glad to feel needed again. It had been a long time.
Come the end of April, I received a calling in that ward. And I must say that I have never felt intimidated or nervous about any calling until this one arrived. The calling? Ward Activities Co-Chair. Now, I know some of you (I think there are maybe three of you that might read this...heh) might be thinking, "What? Outgoing Social Butterfly Kevin?! Intimidated by that calling?" Well, I guess it is time to reveal something...
While I try to be outgoing, I don't like planning parties or activities. Like, not even a little bit.
While I don't know exactly why that is, what I do know is that planning parties or activities stresses me out so bad. My taste in what is fun isn't likely to be what others would consider "fun" to some extent, and the thought that I would plan something that people wouldn't enjoy is petrifying. How silly.
For example, I would rather be at a small gathering of a few friends and have meaningful conversation than go to a crowded dance hall packed with 300 people. Not that I don't enjoy dances. I love them, in fact... given that they don't resemble the ones that I posted about two years ago. Anyhow, I guess the giant "Nu" will have to wait for two posts. I said I would only take five minutes, and I took ten. See ya in a bit!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Kevin's Ordinary Life Part 2
As Mio from the TV show "My Ordinary Life" (Nichijou) puts it, "Maybe my ordinary life is just a series of miracles." I love that outlook, and am going to adopt it. And here is why.
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, there have been a lot of things recently in my life that have been wonderful, even if they appeared to be ordinary or coincidental at first. To that end, let me just fill you in on the story of my life this year alone.
Where we left off yesterday, I was in a rut. I realized that I was narrowly approaching the "been back for as long as I had been out" mark (regarding my mission). It was at that point that my eyes were opened. I was in a rut, and things needed to change. I was just teaching Sunday School (I love that calling, by the way), seeing the same people again and again, working the same job, and I was hardly making any progress at all. I decided to do two things: embrace the Singles' Ward, activities and all, and join an LDS Fraternity at the University of Utah.
You see, in my brash arrogance I thought that the Singles' Ward was a place where... how can I put this nicely... nerds and desperate people trying to get married desperately tried to get together. I thought the idea was so very quaint... a ward of my peers acting like we can actually run a real ward. Let me just say here that I have since THOROUGHLY REPENTED OF MY WAYS. I mean, there I was, inwardly mocking the activities and attitudes of Singles' Wards for attempting to make progress when I wasn't making any of my own. Hello, pot. It's kettle. You're black. So anyhow, I decided that I would just take a deep breath and embrace the "nerdiness" as I had previously perceived it. But one thought pervaded my mind... "I'll go to a Single's Ward, but there ain't NO WAY I'm going to the one in Riverton!" You see, I had some... less-than-stellar experiences in the Riverton YSA ward before, and as such, I was prepared to have the same kind of experience. Like always, the pessimist's charm won out. I went in expected to be disappointed, and guess what happened? I was disappointed. Holy cow, I feel so icky saying all of this. Bleah.
I feel like I should reinforce once again that I love my ward and the people in it now. And it's the one in Riverton. Just a reminder.
More tomorrow. Stay tuned!
As I mentioned in my post yesterday, there have been a lot of things recently in my life that have been wonderful, even if they appeared to be ordinary or coincidental at first. To that end, let me just fill you in on the story of my life this year alone.
Where we left off yesterday, I was in a rut. I realized that I was narrowly approaching the "been back for as long as I had been out" mark (regarding my mission). It was at that point that my eyes were opened. I was in a rut, and things needed to change. I was just teaching Sunday School (I love that calling, by the way), seeing the same people again and again, working the same job, and I was hardly making any progress at all. I decided to do two things: embrace the Singles' Ward, activities and all, and join an LDS Fraternity at the University of Utah.
You see, in my brash arrogance I thought that the Singles' Ward was a place where... how can I put this nicely... nerds and desperate people trying to get married desperately tried to get together. I thought the idea was so very quaint... a ward of my peers acting like we can actually run a real ward. Let me just say here that I have since THOROUGHLY REPENTED OF MY WAYS. I mean, there I was, inwardly mocking the activities and attitudes of Singles' Wards for attempting to make progress when I wasn't making any of my own. Hello, pot. It's kettle. You're black. So anyhow, I decided that I would just take a deep breath and embrace the "nerdiness" as I had previously perceived it. But one thought pervaded my mind... "I'll go to a Single's Ward, but there ain't NO WAY I'm going to the one in Riverton!" You see, I had some... less-than-stellar experiences in the Riverton YSA ward before, and as such, I was prepared to have the same kind of experience. Like always, the pessimist's charm won out. I went in expected to be disappointed, and guess what happened? I was disappointed. Holy cow, I feel so icky saying all of this. Bleah.
I feel like I should reinforce once again that I love my ward and the people in it now. And it's the one in Riverton. Just a reminder.
More tomorrow. Stay tuned!
Friday, September 23, 2011
From the ashes...
Welcome to Kevin Neff's and his Random Rants Part II: The Revenge!!!! Or something like that. As I perused my past postings (gotta love alliteration), I noticed that... well, pretty much, A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE FEBRUARY 2010. So, if I'm gonna be serious about doing this blog thing again, what I need is a fresh coat of paint, renewed motivation and some new-found raison d'etre for good measure. So in order to kick off this new season of the ever-popular (special shout out to my one follower) blog, Kevin Neff and his Random Rants, I am going to present a clip-show style with a special preview of things to come.
Let me first direct you to some posts that I'm still somewhat proud of.
My posts about "Being that guy", "Xbox and Halo", "The Real Story Behind Me and the Rivalry", "Jiminy Cricket", "Olfactory Senses", and... well, that's about it.
Now, as far as what you have all missed since Feb 2010, here we go. Deep breath.
*Shortly after the admittedly bitter Feb post about Valentine's Day, I began dating a girl whose name will remain concealed, so for the purposes of this blog, we will call her Leona. Not Lewis, but Leona. Try not to think of bleeding love throughout this post.
*During my relationship with her, I experienced many things. Not the least of which being what it's like to have an official "girlfriend", my first kiss, and many lessons on what love should and more importantly, what love should not be like. Don't blame her, though. I really had no idea what I was doing, and essentially confused infatuation and the excitement of the new with what real love should be.
*(We are now friends again, after some really rough patches. She's engaged. And I am really happy for her!)
* However, it wasn't wasted time. I learned a lot of things, and another important lesson is to really pay attention to the promptings of the spirit. Additionally, I came to understand and forgive the person who made my 2010 Valentine's Day so bitter. I realized that it is no fun to have to tell someone who is deeply, madly in love with you that you don't return those feelings. Watching the light go out of her eyes and sensing her heart break was like watching myself experience the same thing all over again. But you gotta live and learn.
*That Summer, I auditioned for and got into Pirates of Penzance at Hale Center Theater. There I met some completely wonderful people who I still am in touch with today. And no, I don't mean "we're Facebook friends", but people that I have spent time with outside the show and really come to be good friends with! (Sorry for ending that sentence in a preposition.)
*I haven't made it into a show since then... and after the Leona relationship was over (it officially ended come February 2011), I realized I was in a rut. I was still in the same calling in my home ward, same school curriculum, and was making zero progress towards eternal marriage.
*Since then, I resolved to finally move on with my life and go the Singles' Ward. And that's where I'll pick up later. :)
PREVIEW: Nu, Singles' Ward, and more of the bits that have made my life so wonderful recently!
Kevin Neff
Let me first direct you to some posts that I'm still somewhat proud of.
My posts about "Being that guy", "Xbox and Halo", "The Real Story Behind Me and the Rivalry", "Jiminy Cricket", "Olfactory Senses", and... well, that's about it.
Now, as far as what you have all missed since Feb 2010, here we go. Deep breath.
*Shortly after the admittedly bitter Feb post about Valentine's Day, I began dating a girl whose name will remain concealed, so for the purposes of this blog, we will call her Leona. Not Lewis, but Leona. Try not to think of bleeding love throughout this post.
*During my relationship with her, I experienced many things. Not the least of which being what it's like to have an official "girlfriend", my first kiss, and many lessons on what love should and more importantly, what love should not be like. Don't blame her, though. I really had no idea what I was doing, and essentially confused infatuation and the excitement of the new with what real love should be.
*(We are now friends again, after some really rough patches. She's engaged. And I am really happy for her!)
* However, it wasn't wasted time. I learned a lot of things, and another important lesson is to really pay attention to the promptings of the spirit. Additionally, I came to understand and forgive the person who made my 2010 Valentine's Day so bitter. I realized that it is no fun to have to tell someone who is deeply, madly in love with you that you don't return those feelings. Watching the light go out of her eyes and sensing her heart break was like watching myself experience the same thing all over again. But you gotta live and learn.
*That Summer, I auditioned for and got into Pirates of Penzance at Hale Center Theater. There I met some completely wonderful people who I still am in touch with today. And no, I don't mean "we're Facebook friends", but people that I have spent time with outside the show and really come to be good friends with! (Sorry for ending that sentence in a preposition.)
*I haven't made it into a show since then... and after the Leona relationship was over (it officially ended come February 2011), I realized I was in a rut. I was still in the same calling in my home ward, same school curriculum, and was making zero progress towards eternal marriage.
*Since then, I resolved to finally move on with my life and go the Singles' Ward. And that's where I'll pick up later. :)
PREVIEW: Nu, Singles' Ward, and more of the bits that have made my life so wonderful recently!
Kevin Neff
I am going to not only get back into this blog business, but I think I am also going to just... er... something. In short, I need a new page layout, maybe some pictures, and some other things. Because aside from the stellar content, this blog screams bland. Seriously. Let's see if I can't remedy this situation.
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