An 84 On A Stats Exam

My feelings have fluctuated quite a bit today.  I studied all afternoon for my statistics test then I got an 84 on it.  I was upset.  I studied harder for this test than for any of the others but my results were poor.

I came home to eat some dinner before returning to the library and found myself being quite crass with my roommates.  I then sat down and read for a good hour about Churchill.  That was therapy for my feelings.  I read of his school days.  What a different kind of education we get now.

I went back up to school feeling happy and enjoying the beautiful spring evening.  I read in the reserve library until 10:30 then I picked up a book on Mormons and Muslims.  It instilled in me an instant desire to go out and see the world, especially the Middle East, instead of just reading about them.

John is trying to find out if he should marry Suzy.  I feel for him!


JC

Singin' In The Rain

It rained and rained today.  I got caught in the heaviest downpour of the day as I left the library for the apartment.  As the rain became more intense I gradually lost hope of staying dry.  That led to one of the most enjoyable walks I've had in a long time.

I started singing, let the rain wash my face, hit my neck and stomped in the puddles forming on the sidewalk.

I took the Religion 130 workshop through the MTC tonight.  Elders Wirty and Brady spoke and bore their testimonies.  Many of the kids were impressed.  Heidi Parker told me afterward that she was much more impressed that she thought she would've been.

I'm simply flabbergasted at the carnality of the aristocracy in Victorian England.  In reading of Churchill's parents I simply can't believe how readily adultery was accepted by their society.


JC

Stan's: A Restaurant Review

It is easy to take for granted the incredible beauty and joy of spring.  The sun just shined all day.  The flowers are out and at their brightest and the grass is warm and soft.  What a blessing it is to live in such a magnificent part of the world.  The changing seasons simply assure that one will not take nature as a constant.

Valerie and I went and ate at Stan's for lunch.  Stan's is one of those rare burger joints in this world, like the Charcol Burger in Glenwood Springs, that simply makes great food.  The atmosphere is that of a run down, small-town, greasy spoon.  The girls are all very young, of all shapes and sizes and not so much as a memorized "May I help you."  The grill is there but to my knowledge no one has ever seen anything actually being cooked on it.  Instead a hamburger patty disappears smoke and good smells rise and soon a burger materialized.  As good as the hamburgers are they simply can't compete with Stan's french fries.  They are long, greasy, hot skiing intact and yummy, especially with generous helpings of salt and special sauce (catsup and mayonnaise).

I've never seen Stan's advertised but I doubt it will ever come to that.  Stan's best advertising is the food.  It doesn't want a lot of one-timers it wants come-back people and that's what it gets.

Amen.


JC

"Talk about feeling overwhelmed!"

Talk about feeling overwhelmed!  It seems as though I am about to go down the third time without air.  There are so many things that I have to do to get ready.  I think, in fact I know that something is going to be forgotten.  I would write them all down but I don't have enough paper!

It just started raining pretty good which has lifted my spirits considerably.  I do wish I had time to write more in here, but later.

We just got back from a testimony meeting with the new District.  They are really a super bunch.  Their testimonies were so sweet and full of love.  It really lifted my spirits.  It reminded me of the real reason why we are here.  It makes all those other things seem a lot less significant.

Afterwards I told them about "abrazos", and they readily accepted the idea and I got a big abrazo from each.  I really have benefitted from each one of them.

The Lord is so good in answering my prayers, as insufficient as they might be.  We received some lessons on faith and prayer today and they were really good.

We are going to effect one massive move tomorrow.  The whole MTC is rearranging rooms so that all the missionaries of any particular branch will be on the same floor.  So we have to pack everything up.  Plus Elder Brown and I are getting gamma globulin shots tomorrow.  It will be interesting to say the least.

Enjoying An Evening Outside With Elder Laycock

Elder Klaich just gave me this in the dinner line.  He only has one more week before he takes off.  He has always been a good friend and I know that he will be a super missionary in Milano.

This Sunday like always has really been uplifting.  I don't know what I am going to do when I get out into the field.

I got to talk to Elder Laycock last night.  We took a break and went outside.  Our teacher decided that since there were only 15 minutes left we would finish up outside.

The weather especially at that time of night was grand.  Just the kind of peaceful warm summer night that you might dream about.  Elder Laycock and I talked about families, esepcially our parents.  It was special.

Red Like An Apple

Boy, I sure had an interesting experience with Hermana Hurtado.  I had the task of passing off H-3 to her.  H-3 is the Law of Chastity.  After I had started out, I looked at her and she had her head down and was laughing.  I finally figured out what was so funny.  The subject material isn't the most easily discussed topic in the world!  By the time I got through a couple of the "you can't do this" and "you shouldn't do thats", my face was rojo como una manzana (red like an apple).  I guess we were both embarrassed and it was bad because some of the phrases didn't come out right and I would have to do them over again.  Finally she just told me that she knew that I knew the concept.  She decided to spare both of us from more agony and passed me.

We just had an incredible downpour.  The lightning was really breathtaking.  The thunder also was about as loud as I have ever heard.

I have a talk in priesthood tomorrow and it is late so I better hit the hay.