Livin it One Day at A Time

I was surfing around some of the food blogs that I love to read when I found out a little video on how chocoalte is made.

Check it out here. Very interesting stuff.

There are certian things that I’ve realized that I’ve not been able to do. Namely, make fun of Pride and Prejudice I posted entries here, here, and here.

From what I’ve heard, there is a new version of this movie out (this makes a grand total of what, 53432143 versions of this film?).

Fortunately, I have not been around any women who want to see it, thus, I have been spared.

So, in the meantime, here’s a screen capture from my new favoritist TV show, Robot Chicken.

Do you see what I see? Right behind the dudes from Happy Days?

It’s HR Puf-n-Stuff!

This, of course, means this show rocks, I mean, any TV show that references H.R. Puf-n-Stuff has to rock.

I am a man of many guilty pleasures….

I’ve been thinking, pondering, and getting lots of text messages. The entire being without a text phone thing stinks, because I can’t call people, or a certian people.

There is also the fact that I bought all these little accessories that go with the phone. So it pretty much means I have to buy the same phone as I had before, right? I mean, this is like law, I think.

So, I’ve figured out how I can justify buying a new phone. It’s the Chris-Reducto-Diet.

Here goes:
Stop eating out: let’s say I spend $10 a day on eating out.
$10 x 25 = $250
Don’t use any heat in the apartment (It’s now a nice swarmy 54 degrees in the apartment. Is it normal for it to be warmer in the fridge than in the apartment?)
Savings of $20
Just eat bread from the wonderbread store (The old stuff, like the three week old stuff, eating samples at SAMS for lunch)
Savings of $30
No buying of belt buckles, posters, pinball machines or other toys (oh ebay, I shall miss you)
Savings of $50
Reduce my wild splurging during Black Friday
Savings of $300
No more trips to Utah (Me Thinks I may not be able to get away with this…)
Savings of $250/Month
No more Movies
Savings of $21
No More Popcorn w/Movies
Savings of $50
No More Clothes Shopping
Savings of $100
No More washing of Clothes
Savings of $20
No more Washing of Self
Savings of $15
No more DVDs
Savings of $25
No more haircuts
Savings of $0

Total Savings: $1131

With Tithing and Rent, I may just be able to get the phone…

So, this may be a mixed blessing. I lose the last 50 lbs I wanted to lose, as well as leave some schwag for people to get me for Christmas! (Question: I’ve read that it’s tacking to make a wish list for what you want for Christmas. Is this still true? )

I have been enjoying a nice little phone.

This phone has some history. My little brother had managed to beat down Verizon to get a killer deal for this phone.

I’ve been playing with it the last 15 or so days..

Thinking I need to get the insurance on it.

Well, I forgot.

And tonight, I dropped it in a huge puddle.

That I had created when I went to pick up a friend.

It starts up, but I can’t talk to anyone.

I’m letting it dry, but I’m not hopeful.

I drove to WalMart (Those who know me, know that I am not a fan of wally world) to get some precision screwdrivers. At 3:22 AM. I haven’t slept at all.

I think I’m going to cry, then go to bed.

I’ve learned my lesson (been a lot of those this year).

1) Get insurance
2) Don’t drive over iced over puddles
3) Don’t drop the phone into water
4) Take out the battery right away.
5) Don’t be such a dork.

Right now, I need to get a new cell, or if anyone is feeling generous (or knows someone who works for Verizon or someone willing to get me a swinging deal by getting a new 2 year contract, but they like there phone, or someone who has a phone, but wants to *switch* to verizon) put me in touch.

I had gotten all kinds of swag for this phone ;I

There’s nothing like the wonderful sensation of the dough squishing in your teeth. The sugar and stick of butter flowing through your system.

Oh, and if you are lucky, the egg in the dough doesn’t kill you.

I digress.

It looks like the “Independent Online Forum” was mentioned for a second time on Single Thought. Of course, I won’t mention who writes the article. Needless to say, I found the replies humorous, and I have to throw in my two cents.

(Just for the record, I like cookies cooked or uncooked )

I don’t want to sound mean, but it was interesting to me that the most (if not all) the negative comments about young marriages and receptions were from single people! Why are they criticizing those who are married — I mean, getting married is a good thing, right? Such cynical attitudes don’t help someone who is single anyway!

All I have to say is DUURRRR.

This is something that I have to deal with! This is something that is in the forefront of my thinking all the time. You know what? It’s hard not to become obsessed about it! I believe it’s just human nature to concentrate on what you are striving to achieve. When I get married, it’s going to be how I can be a better Husband, when I have kids, it will be on raising them. I’m sure I’ll think some other parents are doing a bad job. I’ll judge (which one shouldn’t do, but it’s hard), but that’s human nature.

This is where “Smug Marrieds” make me roll my eyes so violently into the back of my head that they flip. At the end of the day, if getting married young is good for you, it’s good for you. I’ve said it before though, I think not enough courtship goes on before the marriage, because our society is one of insta-gratification.

Courtship is vital. I’ll always believe that.

As for the receptions:

One wrathful reader went so far as to suggest that getting married later is all part of an evil plan to destroy the family.

Commence eye rolling *NOW*. Alas, not all of us get married right away. For those who are striving for the goal at the end of the tunnel, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.

It doesn’t make you any less of a person.

Now I give you the background because while I feel that the ‘present grab’ that exists in the Mormon culture (at receptions) is repulsive .
….
Just because we were relatively young (20 and 22), why wait if you know it is right?

First part: I don’t find it repulsive, I just find it *Tacky*
Second part: You know what, it goes back to what I said before. COURTSHIP. If you feel that you know someone after six months, then that’s fine. Everyone has different experiences. I just don’t see this as a big race. Does one get more blessings if you make it to the finish line faster? If it’s right for you, then go for it, if not, well, you aren’t breaking any commandments.

People invited to wedding receptions need to stop thinking of what they are going to get out of it and more about what they can contribute to it.

Oh, I understand, and I give gifts and I for the most part, enjoy the receptions I attend, because I know the Bride and Groom.

The underlining gripe for me (back in the original rant) is that my time is precious. I have a job, I have an extremely busy church calling, I have a girl, I have chores, I have shopping. My time is spread thin. My time is a valuable commodity. I have to choose what I will devote my time to. If the reception is just attempt to get material goods (aka, I hardly know the person I’m getting the invite from, and 15 registry cards fall out), then I may send something, but I’m going to prioritize my time elsewhere.

Then Erin & Juli said:

We have been to some amazing sit-down dinner receptions that cost a great deal, and were very classy. They truly made each guest feel part of a wonderful celebration of the couple’s love and new eternal union. We have also been to receptions in the cultural hall that made us feel the same.

In the end, that’s all I’m asking for. I don’t really care about the reception itself, it’s the atmosphere. One of my favorite receptions was very informal (right Brendo?) it was very close, very relaxed, and very fun.

In the end, I have my opinions, and I guess everyone has there opinion.

That’s what makes this life so fun.

Oh, and the nice gooey cookie dough doesn’t hurt either.

Or carmel popcorn.

Or peanut brittle.

Right now I’ve been experiencing a fair amount of stress in my life. Well, as much stress as a single guy with poor eating habits, late night sleeping habits, and lots of church and work pressure.

I recently told a church member that I couldn’t commit to helping with an activity. That’s how stressed I am.

To me, one indication of how complicated my life has become is the amount of keys on my keyring. In the ideal world, I’d have only three keys. One for my apartment, one for the truck and one for the mailbox.

Right now, my keyring is a jumble of keys. Keys to Church buildings, keys to offices. Too many keys.

Right now I’ve been attempting to cut back on anything that I see as complicated. I threw out using a wallet a year or so ago. Anyone have any ideas?

Any ideas at de-stressing? (And no, eating lots and lots of chocolate is not a option).

Well, at least yet.

There I go again I’m all verklempt. Talk amongst yourselves. I’ll give you a topic. In a previous post someone said the following

In case anyone was wondering, we plan to run with the dead skunk thing for the next column. Anyone have ideas on what else might scare men away, other than skunks and having your own column on dating?

or if you don’t like that Topic

The Partridge Family were neither Partridges nor a family

DISCUSS!