Christmas Challenge

In attempts to regularly blog again, I am posting this years' 12 Days of Christmas Adventures. Last night was Day 1 and I left this note, along with some craft-type decoration birds on the doorstep of some girls in my ward/congregation.

I believe I escaped detection. But, there is an overlooking window and some stairs that creak to get there, so I do have to be careful.

Christmas With a Side of Mustache

I mentioned before that my family had visited with some cousins, which said cousins are extremely ticklish and many, for unknown reasons, like it when I tickle them and bring tickling upon themselves.

Here are three of them right here, Julie, Amy and Poor John behind Amy. I think I am tickling poor Julie there, but I don't remember.

And me looking asleep, but not. But that is because I close my eyes at the precise moment or something.

And now just Julie. Did I mention that she is getting baptized this Saturday?

And I promised some photos of my mustache since I decided to regrow it. Hope you aren't all too horrified.

Lets try something a little closer.

And finally:


I hope I haven't mentally scarred you all for life! Cya all later!

The Christmas Spirit

So today is the 24th, as if I really needed to state that out loud. But I don't feel too christmasy, which may be in part be due to the whole slice of pizza that I hate an hour or two ago, along with some crazy bread.

But apart from the pizza, I should be enjoying the season more, but I'm not. Well, not as much as I could be. School's been out three days, and I can't account for anything, I've just wasted time. Yes, yes of course it the holidays, and we are allowed to be lazy, I understand that. But there is also the fact that there are some major things that I want to get done, but haven't started.
So I guess I'll make a list of things to do over the next two weeks, and we'll see how much I get done.

1. Get in the habit of writing in my journal daily.
2. Get some family geneology done.
3. Get a new attitude and work ethic about school and such.
4. Go to the temple at least once.
5. Focus some of my time, half hour each day at least, into increasing my programming abilities.
6. Finish reading the book, "A Tale of Two Cities".
7. Start and finish one other book.
8. Start an exercise routine.

I think that is it for now. I will add to it when I remember other things. But hopefully doing this, and improving myself will help get me in the mood for the seasonal spirit.

Also Saturday I am going out for ice cream with a friend at Leatherby's. I am apparently a glutton for punishment since I go for ice cream on cold days. She's cute, and, well we'll see what happens.

Operation Christmas: Day 12. And other Stuff.

Not much to say tonight, delivered them and went on my way, wasn't almost caught. Or maybe I was? Who knows.


Anyways, it's been great doing this. I've had fun and I am glad that I could share it with you. Have a Merry Christmas.

Also, to any people who care about this sort of thing; My heart has been beamed up by aliens. They are performing the semi-annual defenses. Basically this means that when my heart is put back in, if you do have hopes at getting to it, means getting past a solid iron curtain, a brick wall that is several feet thick, with Adamantine plating behind it. No one is sure what is behind the adamantine plating though, only one person was able to get that far, and she only managed a glimpse beyond and didn't get further. She also exiled herself from the city to a secluded place that is rarely visited, except for the frequent skier, or so I am told, to the gift of pen to describe what unfathomable horrors she witnessed to produce the next best seller.
There is a deconstruction crew that hangs around. But thus far the only help they've given is pulling back the iron curtain somewhat. Although there is rumor that they are easily influenced by baked goods. But seeing how they are lazy, you'd have to catch them on a good day, which is quite rare, and they are prone to pulling tricks.

That and the deconstruction crew, and other maintenance crews have been called to work on a huge project together; the reconstruction of the metaphorical Humpty Dumpty. It seems that the eggshell of life has received one too many chips in it and it's gone and cracked wide open. So all units have been called to salvage what they can. It means also that the Aliens get to put in electric fences and landmines since no one will be paying attention to them. They haven't been able to achieve such feats yet as those defenses have been banned by common law.

So the point being, if your goal is to get past all that to the heart, you have to either be superwoman, or work harder than a fake sixteen-year-old Chinese Olympic gymnast to even have a chance at breaking through.

Although... there is word of a hidden, backdoor somewhere. But not one knows where that is. And that option is too horrible to even describe. Lets just say there are various construction workers who have gotten lost over the years who have been found mentally broken and driven completely insane, on all 10 dimensions of existence. No one knows what guards the door, but it is apparently to make a grown make fall down on cry, and shatter his self of personality on all the known dimensions of time and space. (and quite possibly the unknown too)

So a word the wise, find another heart worth capturing. One whose soul that hasn't been put in flasks and desecrated by four year old girls. It's for your own good.
By the way; I'd help but I locked myself out without a key or a spare a few years back. I'm not even sure if I can find the back door.

Operation Christmas: Day 11

The protagonist walked slowly up the street from his car to the first house, thinking that today's item was probably the oddest of them all. He couldn't exactly say lamest because he had given away $5.00 Wal-Mart gift cards a few days back...
Oh well, he set the item on the parchment, slowly opened the screen door and knocked on the door hard. From there it was running down the sidewalk and trying to to fall over in the road, but at least he managed to get behind the cover of a tree or two before the door opened and the day's item was retrieved...
He took off and arrived at the apartment complex. For some reason the slush was sticking to his shoes and the stairs and corridor were wet. He eyes it wearily, thinking somewhat smartly that he may try the staircase down the way to be safe this time... He set the items down and rang the door bell. Just as he took the first step to run, he slipped. Sighing to himself, he got his balance and made it partly down the stairs as one of the girls looked his way. He was 20 feet away, and mostly down the stairs, most likely they could only see his head veiled in shadow right? Well at least he made it down the stairs without dying... And dropping off the items at the guy's apartment went smoothly. As tomorrow night is the last day, they may be well prepared for his arrival...

So... I got them a splash proof am/fm radio that can stand by itself or be hung in the shower. It also has a mirror on it...
It was also the only music related thing that could be found for $5 or less, apart from some music, which I don't know what they prefer anyways...
Anyways, tomorrow is the last night, I hope you've all enjoyed this. Hopefully I don't die on wet stairs tomorrow.

Operation Christmas: Day 10

There are two more days left!!!
He had the trinkets in hand, along with the daily parchment, and tiptoed down the stairs. Unfortunately those who lived in adjacent apartments were on the sidewalk talking, so he couldn't drop off the item to those who lived below, too many witnesses. Sure they most likely don't have contact with the guys in the apartment below, but still, it is best to not leave witnesses. So instead the protagonist walked on his merry way to the secondary target. No one was there, and he was able to drop them off and not be detected, but no funny comment.... The same occurred at the guys' residency, because no one was around when he returned.
The last house, well it went well, it appeared that no one was around, but apart from that, all went well...


So I gave a little nativity scene with the wise men in it, I hope they enjoy.

Operation Christmas: Day 9

Well, today was a normal delivery, nothing funny or out of the ordinary happened.


I gave out scented candles, I think one was strawberry and one was blueberry.

Also I have a large final, have procrastinated it, and I am tired.
The end.

Operation Christmas: Day 8

It had snowed, the ground was slippery, and he had items to deliver. The guys apartment below him responded as they usually did, but the girls apartment, was different. They had always taken their time and didn't seem interested in catching him, so he walked down the stairs a tad bit slower than usual He was at the foot of the stairs when he heard their door open and a pounding of feet. It took him a brief second to register what happened, and started running down the corridor. He heard a male voice shout out "Gotcha" but when he turned around, there was no one there. Had he imagined it, or had he been caught? He wasn't sure. He would have to keep his guard up and be more careful.



So yeah, I gave out a half gallon of chocolate milk.

I also did well on my Calculus final, but failed the low level CS exam. Oh well. Two more exams to go!

Operation Christmas: Day 7

Today has been a good day for the 12 days of Christmas. One of the dudes is still trying to catch me it seems, so far no luck.
Also the girls apartment, with that girl who made those comments, well another answered the door today and started laughing when she saw what I left. She apparently thinks that a group of people is doing this and that "we" are quick.

By quick meaning that they were preparing to go to a relief society meeting and had left ther door open a crack, and that I managed to put everything down silently and get down the stairs after ringing the doorbell without them seeing me.
Oh, here is the paper I left:

Yes, I left Penguin figures, I saw a bunch at a dollar store for 60 cents each, all fragile, and I delivered them about. Here are some pictures of them




In other news, my mom fractured her wrist last night; she was putting up decorations and fell off the ladder. She apparently needs surgery and will go in tomorrow or Tuesday for it, as my sister tells me it was broken in a few places. Hopefully everything turns out alright. Apart from that, I believe she is ok.

My math final is also tomorrow. Whoopee.

Operation Christmas Day 6

Tell there is not much to report. No one knows when I will come by, due to my inconsistent schedule, so they're caught off guard.
The one amusing thing is, besides trying to run and not slip on the cold ground, was the girls apartment. Generally the same girl answers the door and she amusingly seems put out by all this. I find it oddly entertaining. Her words today was "Oh No." And then said something like "yeah" to someone else, probably confirming the day's gift.
Well here is the paper I made, not that ingenious, but it was what I could think of.

Yeah, I gave a half carton of eggs (cut in half/6 eggs) unsurprisingly.
Anywhoo, I am all prepared for the next few days, just needing to find something for day 11 and day 12, and then all will be set.

Tomorrow's will definitely fun, it will especially be fun to listen to what they will say. I'll let you all know tomorrow what I am leaving them, for suspense and what-not.

Have an excellent weekend!

Operation Christmas: Day 4 and 5

I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to post the last adventures as they were, final assignments and papers to turn in and all.

Well Day 4 could have been better; I sold out and bought $5 Walmart gift cards as I couldn't find any type of phone card for that price, or anything to do with calling birds to be precise.

The one girl's apartment continues to be funny, just saying random things though


And so I gave Keebler ring cookies last night. Apparently though, the guys apartment and the girls apartment know I am guy, or at least they assume I am a guy. I guess a girl would have put more thought into what was being given? Or there is the chance that they saw me one time. That may be it, cause they take their time answering the door, so they must know it's me. Or they just never know when I'll be over as I have been inconsistent of when I would pass by.

Tonight is six geese-a-laying, so no surprise there, I am giving a half a dozen eggs. (78 cents too!) now I only need to find something swan related to 7 swans a swimming for tomorrow.

Operation Christmas: Day 3

Twas a dark and cold night, a lone man looked about, checking the windows windows briefly before stepping silently down the stairs to the door. As quickly and silently as he could, he placed a paper down with a small rectangular package by the door and rang the door bell. No sooner than he pressed it he dashed up the stairs, and waited quietly on the floor above. He couldn't see a thing, but as he waited in the darkness, he heard the door open and heard a male voice shout, "Drat, we missed them again!" Apparently his query was on to him...
And so he waited and slunk to his next query; an apartment of girls, one of which he was good friends with. He climbed the stairs to their apartment, with the parchment and package in hand. He set them gently down and again rang the doorbell again. Again he dashed away, hiding on the floor below to hear his query react to the day's surprise. Surprisingly, the voice he heard said, "Again? Enough with the Chocolate." He wondered if she knew he was near, or if he had been spotted the days previous when he ran instead of hid and could have been seen from a window. No matter, the final package was waiting to be delivered.
This time, it was not in an apartment complex, his query lived in a house. He stealthily parked a few houses down and walked to house, being watched by a dog. He was in front of a house, when a car turned the corner and neared the house to park. He walked on, as if he wasn't coming to this house. As he went further along, he crossed the street to the church, behind a tree. He knew she had seen him, but he wasn't sure who she was, or if she knew him. She left her car in gear, so she was only going to be a moment, so he would have to wait.
A minute or two later she left and he recognized her, it was Rachel, the relief society president, he thought. His cover may have been blown, maybe. It was only a matter of time now before two and two would be put together. No matter, he had to continue on. He went to the door step, deposited the items, and quickly ran for the fence across the street, where he could watch in the shadows. The door opened and a man opened it, quite possibly the brother of his query, who picked up the items, and by the light, read the parchment and went inside.
As the man went to his car, he thought about the next day's items and packages, thinking that although he looked suspicious while delivering the items, he would have to be more careful to avoid close calls like he had at the last house.


So, you can probably guess by now, I delivered the Three Musketeers chocolate bars, the smallish ones that come bundled together.

Operation Christmas Day 1 and 2

Last night was the first day of my delivery of the 12 Days of Christmas items to my hometeachee's and others in my ward. Things went well, thus far my identity is unknown (unless they read my blog, I don't know if they do or not.) but here are the notes I left last night and tonight.



So last night was canned pears, and tonight is a bag of doves chocolate. Also, for the bottom lines, trying saying it in tune to the song. It may be difficult, but it got the job done.

The Twelve Days of Stress Management

I was passing through the Wilkinson Center and I saw a stress management booth on the way to my dance class. I thought it was funny, so I thought I would spread it here.

On the 1st day of Finals my parents said to me: "Grades won't matter in eternity."

On the 2nd day of Finals I faced reality: "Just do your best."

On the 3rd day of Finals my best friend said to me: "Think of Christmas break."

On the 4th day of Finals a stranger said to me, "Don't forget to breathe."

On the 5th day of Finals I murmured frequently: "This too shall pass."

On the 6th day of Finals on research paper three: "Six more pages..."

On the 7th day of Finals my roommate said to me: "Let's do some Yoga."

On the 8th day of Finals my poor brain said to me: "One thing at a time, please."

On the 9th day of Finals St. Nicholas said to me: "Relax to some music."

On the 10th day of Finals me professor said to me: "You're going to make it."

On the 11th day of Finals the clock reminded me: "24 hours and counting..."

On the 12th day of Finals I finally felt relief: "One last question!"
"24 hours and counting..."
"You're going to make it."
"Relax to some music."
"One thing at a time, please."
"Let's do some Yoga."
"Six more pages..."
"This too shall pass."
"Don't forget to breathe."
"Think of Christmas Break."
"Just do your best."
"Grades won't matter in eternity."

Operation Christmas

It my mission, if I chose to accept it, to deliver twelve items to friends, most likely my hometeachees, in the spirit of the 12 days of Christmas.

In the past, my family has done a tradition where we would do the 12 days of Christmas to someone in the ward and I have decided to adopt the tradition. Although the Twelve Days of Christmas starts after Christmas (kudos to Bob for pointing that out), due to Christmas break and all, I'll probably start on the 12th or 13th, depending on when I decide to go home for Christmas. Each night I will leave that day's rhyme along with something to go with it, such as pears for the first night and onion rings for the 5th night, also written below the part of the song will be a funny little paragraph explaining the items. Those will be placed on the doorstop, I will ring the doorbell and run and hide.

I need some ideas though of what to give though.
Day 1 most likely will be canned pears, day 2 may be dove soap (or Dove chocolate if I can find anything, unless I find something to tie in the winged turtles from Mario some how.) Day 3: KFC? Day 4: A telephone card, to call long distance? Day 5: Onion Rings. Day 6: Eggs of some sort. Day 7: Something to do with swimming swans. Day 8: Some type of milk, maybe Hershey's chocolate milk mix. Day 9: Music to dance to? Day 10: Leaping Lords... hard to think of something there. Day 11: Pipers piping.... maybe Peter Piper Pizza, if it still exists? Nope, just checked. The closest Peter Piper Pizza is in Las Vegas. Day 12: A drum of popcorn?

These are tentative, but ideas are appreciated. And I will of course provide daily updates and pictures if I can manage it...

Hmmn, this message would self-destruct, if only the fuses were remembered to be brought. Such sadness. Alas.