Ah Frig

So, I don't exactly know what to write about, but everyone has been telling me to update, so maybe I'll write about my week so far. Don't worry, as objectively as possible. But then again, it was my objectivity that got me in this whole business to begin with.

I woke up Sunday Morning in the bonus room. Its got a nice couch, large flat-screen HDTV and computers. I prefer to sleep in there. Its almost nicer than my bed. The couch that is. I dare say I'd rather not sleep on top of the Television, no matter how bad I wanted to be on tv. Church started at 1, and choir practice was at 11. I got up at 10 and hung out a little. Not sure what I did, exactly. But I think me and Mom ate some food. Or maybe we talked the night before. I figured I'd go to choir practice, just for kicks. Also, because it was just across the street at the Brownell's house. When Mom told me it was at the Brownell's house, the night before, I just laughed. She asked why I was laughing (probably her number one most commonly asked phrases around me) and I told her it was embarrassing and I didn't want to say. But then she pressed and I relented and said I thought Danielle was really cute and she said "Well, I wondered if there was something there from the way you two facebook" and I was really confused because we don't, but then she said "She likes you" and I was like "Yeah, Mom, but she's 18 and still a senior in High School. Not exactly what I'm looking for right now".

So, I took the first shower since getting home and went to choir practice. I was going to sing tenor, but then thought I should sing bass because I always have. Brother Brownell was crazy and kinda mean, as ever, and we practiced two songs to sing that day at church. I messed up on when to breath once and he stopped to point it out to everyone.

Mom went to church before I did because she had a meeting, so I drove afterwards and showed up with -:30 left, so I was early. I sat down next to Mom. Then we sang. James Dalton was sitting next to Aric Johnstone and they just kept talking the whole time. Also, through Sunday School. Also, through Elder's Quorum. Then Church got over. I saw Melanie Boss. I don't know what she expects. We aren't real friends, yet. Just because she fbook chats me. And types so fast my eyes start bleeding trying to keep up. Also, I think after Sacrament Meeting, we went to the foyer and Shana Brown was walking in. She hugged Anders and talked to him. I decided to try my luck and walked up. She hugged me and we said hi and the three of us talked a little and then they were all like "Come caroling on Tuesday!" and I was like "Fine." Then, I left after church and got home. Also, we went and picked my Dad up from the Airport. He was in Dallas for his annual work meeting.

Sunday night is the next moment of importance. It was pretty late. Oh, also, before we went to pick my Dad up, Jenni and I talked on the phone and it was good. But then I had to eat dinner. She really likes home and I was mostly bored, so I didn't. She'd only left there four months ago, after all. I was a little more distanced. Then later that night I was on Fbook and she was on, too, so we started chatting and I was all about how life was so boring and I missed Provo. I was also talking to Shana Brown at the same time. And Nathan Pullman, I think. Then I was talking about how I missed Raage and Cole and then at the end I said, "Basically, I'm just trying to say that I miss you." Then after five minutes of no response I get a phone call from her. She says let's just be friends. I says "WTF, mate."

Then I watched "500 Days of Summer" on my laptop because my insides felt weird. I really wanted to be really sad. Also, I tried to find all the sad songs on my computer that I had. But none of these things made me really that sad. I really wanted to be sad, but I wasn't as sad as I thought I would be. Earlier that day I had saved the Dinosaur Comic at the top to my computer. I texted James and said that I win, Jenni is most like Summer. He conceded. I went to bed, anxious because I knew I should be sadder.

Monday, I went with Cory and Ryan geocaching. I fell in the crick. In spite of my waterproof boots that my mom had sent me three days before I left Utah and so I wore them the whole time just to make it worth her while to have sent them. But this was in Oregon. Then I tried to text Arabic Jenni about geocaching and how I was fine without a connection to her and she just said "Good, I'm glad you're happy because your status was telling me otherwise." It was basical the "I hope this means you're ready to be friends." Then she was all about when we were going to go geocaching. Then, that night we decorated the Christmas tree and I fell asleep in the bonus room again. The next day, Mom and I left the house at 9:00 ish to go to the Mall. We got me some christmas presents. Clothes. I'ma look real stylish when I get back. Arabic Jenni will be real sad she ever said those words. Also, Sarah asked me how it was going with Arabic Jenni, so I told her the story I wanted to be sad about and she leaked it to Mom. So Mom found out why I was going out of my way to be alone and lonely on Tuesday. She tried to give me a pep talk, but I feel so oddly about this situation that I didn't really want to listen to advice. We went to the Mall and that might actually be it. I was really lonely in Bed, Bath, and Body Works.

Then in the afternoon, James and Nami and I went to the Caroling thing. No Anders. No Shana Brown. The Bennions showed up and we sang only like 7 songs. It was really short and the version of the songs we had were way dinfrent from any version we were familiar with, so... but after that we went to Brother Ray's house and we had really super-saturated Hot cocoa and real sugary cookies. I just talked to James.

Then we went home and I watched the BYU/Oregon St. game until James and Aric came and picked me up at 7:30 ish. The time we were supposed to be at Caitlin Scott's thing. Then we got Ryan and we finally got there at 8:15, but it was okay because she was only in her first song. Cory Newtron didn't show up until the last song. He sat down and she said "Thanks for coming everyone." Then we talked to people and I saw Wade Willis and we talked about life. I've probably told people my plans for the future one hundred times this break. Week.

Conor McManus

First off, there's this girl at my work. Not the one I wrote about before. When we moved buildings, she didn't. But Clayton Poston (a.k.a. Ehmin Poston from my Arabic class) did. He always brought doughnuts to class on Friday mornings, but now there's a lot more people at the new building and they eat all the doughnuts before a lowly delivery guy like him can get his hands on enough to breakfast us طلاب عرني. So it seems the solution has become a problem, Doug Andersen.

So this girl. She works as a part of the pastry krew. I don't know what the k stands for. They used to work at the Wilk, but new building, so... She's cute, but I don't talk at my job. I feel comfortable there, but I'm never happy a work (go fig), so I don't really talk. Much less to girls that are cute. Like Sarah. Who is not the girl I'm talking about. She's a cake lady. Confused about my feelings for her. Like the girl from before.

This girl's name is Chelsea. One day, maybe her first, or even second, she offered me some left-over cake. Really good cake. Built of chocolate and caramel and a metal pan. I took some and commented on how good it was. The next time was Halloween. She was the only one to dress up. She wore a cow suit. I was really confused. What are we supposed to believe about that? What kind of a message does that send?

Chelsea gets there at 10:00 am, like I do. But leaves at 1:00 pm, unlike me. I leave an hour after that. My guess is that she works everyday. There's a guy that gets there at 12:00 noon that always talked to her and flirted with her. I really wished I was him until I found out he was engaged. But that's not the reason. If I were engaged that would mean that my life would actually be really good. So, that's kind of an attractive state of being, right now. Come on, girls...

Now I just think he's inappropriate.

On Monday, the sixteenth, I was at work, like usual. And I was sheeting up cookies. As usual. And Chelsea was working in the same area as me. Unusual. But I was real quietly just doing my work. As usual. Chelsea's and my relationship is odd. Sometimes we're really friendly to each other and talk a lot. Other times, I barely acknowledge her and don't say a word (Like today). (But this is about Monday). We started talking. She first asked about my weekend, I rattled off some really boring events, leaving the exciting ones out (Mostly cause there were none), and the conversation took off from there. I made some HP reference and I was really glad that she got it, but then we started talking about Twilight. I almost asked her to see New Moon. A close 2nd. Then another girl, Britten, got on the talk and they started trying to compare HP and Twilight. I tried to tell them that a book cannot be better than another one, only that you like one better, especially when talking about bestsellers. They didn't listen. I'm not a fan of that debate. Doesn't make sense to me.

Finally we got off that topic and I asked Chelsea where she was from. Wisconsin. Then she asked me where I was from. I said Oregon. Then Britten asked me where in Oregon. I said Beaverton and she asked me if I knew any "Totten"s in Wilsonville. I said no, but a couple of my mission companions were from Wilsonville. Chelsea then asked me where I went on my mission. I said Japan. I wasn't a lie. Then she got real excited and said her brother went on a mission to Sendai. I asked when he got back. She said he got back in January, I said I prolly didn't know him, but there were a lot of people in my Japanese class who went to Sendai, so they prolly do. She told me to ask if anyone knew a Nate Shrillar. I laughed. That guy was in my class. And I thought his sister was really cute. Then she said that she'd taken 5 years of Japanese. We talked a little, but then she said "このアルバイトが大嫌いです。" I told her that our boss knew Japanese. That shut her mouth real quick.

After work, I have Japanese. So I went to class and sat next to Nate and told him about this cute girl at work and blah blah blah, then he interrupted me and said it was prolly Trevor Habermeyer's sister. I laughed. So did Trevor. Then I told him it was his sister. He laughed and said, "Yeah. She's weird." Really anti-climactic. Just like The Lost Symbol. "The real Ancient Mysteries is all right here... in the Bible..." Great. Thanks, Dan Brown. I should've just read the Bible, instead.

Also, I really want to ask MESA Girl # 3 (See below) on a date. But I'm really scared to. But I'm starting to think it is possible, so that's a really good sign. Ehmin Poston said that she talked about me the whole time I was in my mid-term speaking assessment. I don't know about that. She asked why I picked "Soufiane" as my name, but that's it, really. That's all I heard. Then, when I got back, she asked me why and we talked for about ten minutes. It went really good. And we're going to be in the same Arabic and MESA 250 class next semester. That means she'll be in all my classes on Tuesday and Thursday. And there's a forty minute break in-between. And then last week, she commented on my lack of mustache. I was sitting on the right end of the bench and there was a partnership about six feet away to my left. Then her and her partner walk up and sit down between, but she's on the other side of her partner and says hi to the other partnership, so I figured it would be one of the Thursdays where we don't talk. Then she said "You shaved your face." I didn't look at first thinking I either imagined it, or she was talking to some one else. Then she said it again, or at least started to, so I looked up and responded "Oh! Yeah, well, mostly just above my upper lip. At least, well, that's recognizable." She kinda laughed and asked me why I shaved it. I responded by saying "See, I love two things in this world. One: My facial hair and 2: how I can shave it off without feeling a thing." I don't think she got the reference, so I'll have to watch it with her. If this ever gets off the ground. Of the third floor hallway outside Arthur Sensei's office, Fluffy. Then we talked about mustaches and stuff until Arabic James showed up. Then we went in and spoke. Then I came out and said, like I stupidly do every week, "Dang, that was really hard. Good luck." I really need to come up with something else. Like "Dang, what's your phone number?" or "Dang, I think I just had a hernia." Just for attention.

I'm going to try and make tomorrow a talk real good day. I just feel bad taking time from them preparing. Then I was thinking of "just happening" to walk by after she got done, but realized I have a writing fellows appointment at that time. Hopefully she goes to the No Shh! Zone after her speaking appointment. A boy can dream.

Her partner is in my stake, along with Yusef. He (Not Yusef) was sitting next to the guy that was wearing the exact same sweater as Dan, my roommate who was sitting next to me. Good conversation starter with him. And her. Gotta be ambiguous. Get her asking questions. Then hit her with the right question at the right time: "Hey, isn't Conor McManus in your class?"

Golden.

About an Hour ago

I was dreaming. And I was somewhere with someone. Not sure who the person was, but they were really into getting girls. Some how I was just along for the ride. But they saw two asian girls and said "Scott, you like Asians, right?" And then went up and talked to them. I really could've cared less. I was asleep for goodness sake. So we started talking to them and I guess it was lunch time because we were all going to eat lunch together and we had them. We were paper bagging it. We were looking for a place to eat and then we went up to this man behind a window and asked if there was anywhere in there we could eat. He said "Let me check... Well, you could eat it in the elevator back here." We agreed because we weren't really supposed to be back there, so it would be really cool to go there. So we go in and he leads us down these halls and tells everyone that looks at us "Don't worry, they're with me." Then we finally get to the elevator, but it was just a car elevator/stacker upper machine. So we decided not to get on it, after some deliberation. When we got back into the hallway again, there was quite the commotion going on. People were fighting and there were guns. They told us to get out of there, but it looked like our side was losing, so I grabbed a gun from a fallen ally. The gun turned out to be kind of like a stapler. Then I ran forward like I always do in the war games and shot a lady in the shoulder. Everyone on my team was way happy, and we were all like "Great! Now we just have to wait til she dies of infection." Then I woke up. I wonder what ever happened to her.

Work

I work at a bakery. Its up at the morris center. Or, rather, it used to be. But the first day of work they told me that we would be moving to a new facility in a couple weeks. I thought that was exciting, but a couple weeks seemed too far away, so I stopped believing after a while and atop of that, I never even saw the building we were moving to, so I started to feel like we'd be at the morris center forever. Then one day I went to work and Garth, my demi-boss, said that Doug, my omni-boss, took the morning shift over to the new place and showed them all around. A tour. I really wished I had been able to go. It sounds really cool. A new bakery. The one we were working in was really old and tile floors and walls and stuff like that. All things cannot be said in a compass so small as a word, but it was dirty nonetheless.

Also, there's this girl at work that I don't work with (figure that one out!) who I am attracted to. I don't know why. She isn't particularly attractive. Fairly plain, but I always look at her when she walks by. Then one day I saw her at church and realized that she had sacrament meeting in the room right next to mine. I don't think I'll talk to her.

And then one morning at work, Garth told me that Doug had a special project for me and to meet him at the new building. I was about to ax where in the world the place was when Doug walked in and took me over there himself. So, we went over and it was really nice, except the creamery section where they were making the milk and such products had exploded and there was milk all over the place. I really think that's an often occurrence. But we went past that section to the new bakery part. It was really big and I felt like I was on a TV show like "Hell's Kitchen" or "Iron Chef" except I had no motivation to be the best and I really doubt they'll vote me off. They even talked about increasing the contestant count today. Also, there was not a single Japanese person there today. Ever.

All I've done since I've gone over to the new building is to sheet up cookies. Take cookie dough and run it through the machine that makes it the perfect size and weight (not perfect weight, its off by .1 or .2 ounces a lot) and then put them on a parchment papered baking sheet 6x4. The machine has a conveyor belt on it. I feel like Lucy sometimes, but I don't eat the chocolate. And it gets messy sometimes. A lot of little scraps fall onto the floor. I have to scrap them off later because I step on them and make them flat, so you can't get it off any other way.

The sheets are 6x4. I like to have patterns on how I put them on. I pick up two at a time off the machine and place them in the following order:

1 1 2 2

8 8 3 3

9 9 6 4

10106 4

11117 5

12127 5.

I don't think it makes it faster, but it sure helps me not go insane when I do that for four hours a lot. Plus sometimes the dough is frozen. In that case the machine can't process it. So, we take it out of the bucket it's in and then cut it up into very small pieces and wait for it to thaw. It usually is faster that way. I did that with oatmeal butterscotch cookies today. They call them 'scotchies'. Cute name. I always think people are talking to me instead of cookies when they say it.

The other day Doug told me to put away a large shipment of various ingredients we got to start up the new place. It took me a long time and there were a lot 50 lb bags and they were made of rough paper. Coupled with the way I held them in my arms gave me a lot of scratches on my forearms. But its okay because on my right forearm, I have two burns I got when pulling some things out of the oven. They didn't really blister. Just hurt. Now, they're just red spots.

Today, Some man in business casual and a shower cap came in and talked to someone. The get up lets you know that he's higher up than you. The shower cap let's you know that he values his hair. As he was leaving, he passed by me working on the cookie machine. Then he turned around at the door and took a couple steps toward me and said "You can tell your mom that they really trust you here at BYU. They let you handle a lot of dough." smiled and left. I haven't said a word to my mom.

Then I always leave work 15 minutes early so that I can get to class on time. Not that Japanese is all that important of a class. Just that the people at work told me to. But I think sometimes Doug gets a little frustrated and wished that I could stay for fifteen minutes and wait until the 2:oo guy came in. Nope.

Robin Williams

If I were to go out tonight and find a filthy piece of a lamp and then rub that child til it shone like an aluminium can and a genie were to pop out this is what I would wish for:

1. Free tuition, room, and board.

2. A girl that liked me, but we were still in the awkward stage/just met.

3. A Pokemon of my choice.

I'm not asking for anything big, so, come on, fates, throw me a bone.

Mesa girls

Why do they filthy do what they do to me?

#1: The one I wrote yesterday.

#2: The one I saw yesterday at the Arabic Ratatouille showing. Before at the MESAS opening social and the Mesa information meeting. And around campus a couple times. And tonight at the Yaks' concert. She came for Kid Theodore. Pretty sure she recognized me.

#3: The one saw yesterday before and after my speaking appointment. Who I see every week before and after the speaking appointment. Who I also sat next to at the Mesa information meeting. And who came to our class today because she was going on a trip. Also, she was studying for her Humanities 242 mid-term right outside the Humanities testing center today at 9:51 am.

How come I'm hopelessly attracted to all of them, but ridiculously scared to talk to any of them?

Well played, fates, well played.

Chocolate and the ESC

There were a few occurrences today that I wanted to put down in print.

#1: So, I sat down in Isaiah class two weeks into the semester. We were having a quiz on the chapters we'd covered so far. After the quiz, we switched papers with the person next to us and graded theirs. I even wrote "c.b. Scott Ogden" at the top. Took me back. Way back.

I glanced at the name on the paper and saw it to be "Derek Orme". Looking at the guy sitting next to me, I tried to visualize him six years ago, but the same age and with a first name of Carson. Seemed to fit well enough, so I axed him "Is your name Carson?" He said no, it was Derek, like the paper said.

Also, he said he had an older brother named Carson. That would explain the six years he didn't age. And the wrong name.

I told him that Carson was my EFY counselor six years ago. He asked if it was at Tacoma, WA. I said yes.

Also, I was just on the Critical Language Scholarship website and looking at the past participants of the program to see the kind of competition I had when I saw a couple of people who were from the University of Puget Sound. UPS was the tiny, Methodist college that the Tacoma sessions of EFY were at. There was a large, black lunch lady called "Big Mama". I marveled that UPS actually had a number of students represented in the ranks.

Plus, Derek, Angela, and the girl with strawberry blonde hair and a crooked nose who sits in front of them all went to the BYU Jerusalem Center this last summer. They all have that backpack I hate. I like to pretend that they have no idea how great it is that they got to go. I love to tell myself that no one would enjoy and get more out of such an experience than I would. I almost feel bad about judging people like that.

But, then last Tuesday, Derek cornered me after class and started talking about a summer sales job that he was recruiting for. I listened politely, but automatically, the feeling of our relationship changed from friendly and open to business. I was not a fan, but kinda wondered about summer sales. Now, I know I wouldn't be good at selling. I know that for a fact. I'm not good at talking to people in my own language. If it was a Japanese selling scheme... maybe.

So, I agreed to meet and talk with him about the job on Thursday after Isaiah. He said he was allowed to buy me lunch. We first tried the Museum of Art cafe, but it closed at 2:00 and our class got out at 3:50. Didn't get in there. We ended up going to the Cougareat and got some Subway. I knew I was turning him down eventually, so I only got a six-inch.

We sat down and started talking. I said the Critical Language Scholarship would be the biggest obstacle between me and the job. Then he went off for a long time about his boss, Jason, and how he was his spiritual mentor and role-model and stuff. I didn't think there was anything wrong with that, but I'm not really looking for a spiritual mentor besides my priesthood leaders right now. Also, as he was going on about Jason, I saw Cambrie Roueche go to Teriyaki stix behind his head and then sit down and eat while reading a book.

He asked if I had any questions and I said I didn't and we set up an appointment with Jason for Friday morning. At IHOP. Nice. Free subway and next free subway. Then we stood and parted.

I walked over to Cambrie's lonely table and sat down, starting to tell her Derek's story. She interrupted with a greeting. Well, salutations to you, too, Camb. After three minutes or so, she closed her book and said "I'm not being rude, but I have to go." I believed her. She left. I sat there for a while. After a minute or too, just long enough so I wouldn't have to run into her again, I stood up and walked home.

Then I met with Jason this morning. Last night, Sarah said that I should have nothing to worry about when applying for the CLS. She really believes that I'll get it. I believe her. So, I softly refused Jason's buying me a bagel at Einstein's (Change of venue) and told him I wasn't interested. He was an interesting man. Very intense and it seemed like he always meant what he said. Or at least tried to seem that way. It was uncomfortable to say the least.

I rode my bike back to the library to study for my Arabic speaking appointment.

After Isaiah today, Derek waited for me and asked me about my meeting with Jason. He called me on the one thing I was scared of, he said that I wouldn't know for sure until February if I got it or not. So I pulled out a "Oh, yeah, but I did some more research into the participants and competitiveness and realized that I was more of a candidate than I thought." Mostly true. Thanks, Sarah.

He kept on walking and talking with me and I really didn't want to, so looking for an escape, I saw they ESC and said that I had to go there. He thought for a split-second whether he should follow me or not, but then said, okay, well, see you on Tuesday.

I walked up the stairs and noticed one of my fellow climbers was holding the Isaiah hand-outs we just got in class. "I don't really need to go here." I told her. "What?" she said confused. "I just didn't want to talk to him. He was trying to get me to do summer sales." "Oh. I have a friend who did that." "Yeah? How'd it go?" "I have no idea." "Oh, okay. Do you need to go here?" "Yeah, I have lab." "Oh. K. Good luck!" "Thanks... See ya..."

She was really cute. I'll have to talk to her on Tuesday.

#2: I had a muffin to leave on a girl's front porch, so I walked into the library to return some books. I was walking towards the door when I saw Derek stopped and talking to some guy. So, I turned around and walked all the way around the library to the other entrance so he wouldn't see me. I was supposed to be in the ESC building.

As I was walking in, I heard a voice say "Male, alone, entering, no phone, no ipod." That was me. I turned to see Jenny Brooks writing down on a piece of paper. I went over and sat next to her. Asked her what she was doing. Sociology. Sounds tough. It isn't really. oh.

Hey, I need to take a muffin to Brittany. Does Katherine have a tournament today? Yeah. She had one yesterday, too. Well, will you help me take a muffin to Brittany? Sure, when? When do you have time? Ten minutes. Sounds great, I'll be back.

So, I went to the No Shhh! zone and got on a computer. I made a piece of paper that said "There's muffin I'd rather do than go to tomorrow's prom with you. -Scott Ogden 528 N 400 E Provo, UT 84606". Then I printed it.

Then I really needed to go to the bathroom, so I went to the administration office and gave the paper to Kami Coppins. She held it for me. Thank, Kami. I went to the bathroom. Then I got the paper back.

I returned to Jenny Brooks' hiding place just as she sent me a text asking where I was. Little did she know. So, we walked to her car over by the RB. On the RB stairs, I met Rafiq, the other Scott in my Arabic class that dropped after a week and a helf.

We went to my apartment and got the muffin then headed towards Brittany's house. On the way over, we saw a sign that read "Free Chocolate Milk".
"Pull over! PUll over!" I said to Jenny Brooks, but she didn't. I was really sad. Why would anyone pass up such a beautiful opportunity. Then she said that if it was there on the way back, that we could stop. I thought that was fair.

We dropped the muffin and then stopped on the way back. Also, Brittany's house doesn't have a door-bell. We walked up to the truck behind the sign and the nice men gave us free chocolate milk. Then they asked us if our apartment comple.. xes.. ices, x', were accessible by a truck of this caliber. We said no. They said, enjoy the chocolate milk without the sales pitch. We said thanks, will do. We did.

I kept the cup. Don't ever want to forget.