A New Pendant

I love it when people go above and beyond what they needed to do in order to make a customer happy. :)

So, my parents recently were on a cruise.
You know, getting away from the daily toil of work and work to play all day and have a fun relaxing vacation.
In any case.
While they were out and about at one of the ports shopping.
They entered a jewelry store. (one of the many you can find in any port)

And saw that the store was having a sale on their Floating Diamonds.
Nothing to really think about,

Except, the last cruise we all went on as a family, they had been introducing said Floating Diamonds.
And I really really really had wanted one.
Only they hadn't had any that I wanted to spend a pretty penny on. :(
So I'd left that cruise empty handed with no Floating Diamond.

But here my parents were.
At the store.
With all these pretty floating diamonds.

And...
An internet connection. (since they were outside of the states....no cell service really)

So on a whim, they decided to text me.

Which lucky me I had my phone on me at work when they did.
As the ability to text them is a very limited time frame.

I was in the middle of doing the weekly fish count actually when I saw that my Dad had texted.
()_() !!! What?! My parents are alive?!?! Yay!! lol.

What resulted was me hiding out in a back room for like 45 minutes.
As my parents sent me pictures of different hanging diamonds in different settings, to see if I wanted to buy any of them.

It's not something where I could just wait til later to figure it all out.
Thankfully my coworker was understanding.

As I looked at all the different pictures of the stones and settings that I could possibly buy.

I knew I liked the Rose Gold setting.
As the yellow gold color...just isn't that attractive to me, but the rose gold. Oh yes. Very pretty.

The only problem was,
The store only had like two necklaces in Rose Gold.
And neither one of them....really were my style.
They were mostly diamonds.
And while diamonds are pretty....I don't want them to 'over take' the whole pendant.
I don't want to just see diamonds...weird I know lol.

 Unfortunately for me. :( The only setting that I did like....came in yellow gold.
-It looks a bit like the Atom symbol. :) one ring of diamonds, one ring of rose gold and a floating diamond in the center. :) ^^ Soo pretty.

Which....while I liked the design....I didn't like the color...
And if I don't love it....fully love it....

No use spending a pretty penny for something I didn't like.

"Are you sure it didn't come in rose gold?" I asked my parents as I looked at the other two rose gold settings.....too many diamonds, not enough rose gold to counterbalance it.


"No." They said.

:( So, with a sad heart, I told them that I didn't want any of them.

I felt bad. Especially for the sales person.
I know how it feels (though not on the jewelry level scale) to spend a ton of time with a customer....only for them to say No and walk away.
Especially if its commission based....
Poor sales person....

So, my parents walked out of the store,
And up and around the street, checking out the other shops in the area.

Then, as they were coming back down across the street from the jewelry store.

The sales rep they'd been talking to ran out to them.
And said that if they had the time, they could change the pendant from yellow gold to rose gold.

As apparently....to get rose gold or white gold....it's just a matter of doing the right chemical reaction.
O.o Who knew. lol.

The process would take about 45 minutes to complete.
But if I wanted the necklace in rose gold. They could do it.

So once more, it was up to me.
Did I want to pull the trigger, have this setting that I liked altered into rose gold?
Because if I didn't like it....that would be really sad. :( And depressing for the sales rep for sure.

I really have to admire this sales guy for taking a chance.
Because in the end, I decided to say yes. :)

And from what I could see in the picture.
It turned out beautiful!! ^^

The only slight draw back to it.
Is that the manager in charge of the store....
Said that we couldn't switch out the yellow-gold chain for a rose gold one. :(
Nor could they alter the current chain because the process wouldn't get into all the little nooks and crannies and would make it all look....dirty if they tried.

But...I took consolation in the fact that Mom had a rose gold chain at home. So we were just going to switch it out when they got home.

Only, once more the sales rep went above and beyond...
and when the manager was distracted/on break....
He switched the chains. ^^

So I was able to get there pendant I wanted in rose gold and the chain as well!! Yay!
Yay for amazing sales reps who can make a customer happy. ^^

^^
I didn't get to see my new necklace until last night.
Before that point, I'd only seen pictures.

So I was still slightly concerned...
As pictures make it hard to tell how big something actually is.
And I was worried that the pendant was going to be on the slightly larger side.
Just from the design of it and all.
I usually prefer the smaller pendants.
But I figured that it would still be small enough to still be fine. :)

And surprise surprise!!
When I finally got to open the box. ^^
The pendant was about half the size of what I was expecting.
Which meant it was the perfect size!! ^^

Ah. I love my new necklace. ^^

So glad that my parents were able to contact me so I could get it. ^^

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Remember the Hamburger?

So, a couple of months ago....

Time passes so weirdly at work, so it may have been shorter, may have been longer ago.

We had to ask for help from our instore vet people (separate business, but are still in our store.)

Because a customer wanted a 150 gallon tank.

Which takes four strong guys to be able to lift and move.

And....

We had only one strong guy in our side of the store at the time.

The rest of us were basically 100lb girls.

Plus we were all busy with customers,

So it wasn't like we could instigate the help of every person in the store to move the tank.

As it would have left the store empty of coworkers as we moved the tank outside to the guy's truck lol.

So I went over to the vets to ask if any of the guys there could help.

And managed to get a couple of them to volunteer.

So that the customer, our coworker, and the two of them could move the tank.

Which they did!

But, as a Thank you back then.

I decided to grab some 99 cent cheeseburgers from Wendy's for the Vet people.

Yet, to make sure that nobody else felt jealous.

I chose to get enough to make sure everyone in the Vet side of the store (about 7 people at the time) got a cheeseburger. Just to say Thanks for helping us out.

I also grabbed a cheeseburger for my coworker.

Since he had helped with the tank as well.

Unfortunately, I wasn't able to be as sneaky with this hand off.

And a couple of my coworkers saw me giving the cheeseburger to him.

And they were like "Where's my cheeseburger!?"

I didn't have any for them, but told them I'd get them both one sometime later.

That day was Thursday.

As it was one of those coworker's last day at work, as she's heading out on a mission.

So after I was done with my shift.

I went out to Wendy's and got both of them (since they were both working)

a cheeseburger.

And again, since I didn't want to leave anyone else out.

I got three other hamburgers for the other three coworkers in the store for them as well.

:)

lol. My two coworkers were surprised when I handed them their cheeseburgers.

"What's this for?" They asked.

And I was like "Remember a bit ago when I got soandso a hamburger and you guys were mad you didn't get one too?"

O.o "No."

Oh.

lol.

But they were super happy to get food that day anyway. lol.

Apparently they didn't think I was serious when I told them I'd get them food at some point.

But usually if I say I'm going to do something.

I do it. :)

They probably assumed that I didn't mean it and was just saying it all in good fun. lol.

In any case. I was able to give a bright spot to all my coworkers that day. :) So yay. :)

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Priesthood Power

Several years ago I received a letter from a longtime friend.
He bore his testimony in that letter.
I would like to share part of it with you tonight, since it illustrates the strength of the priesthood in one who learned what he should learn, who did what he should do, and who always tried to be what he should be.
I shall read excerpts of that letter from my friend Theron W. Borup, who passed away three years ago at the age of 90:

"At the age of eight, when I was baptized and received the Holy Ghost, I was much impressed about being good and able to have the Holy Ghost to be a help throughout my life.
I was told that the Holy Ghost associated only in good company and that when evil entered our lives, he would leave.
Not knowing when I would need his promptings and guidance, I tried to so live that I would not lose this gift.
On one occasion it saved my life.

"During World War II, I was an engineer-gunner in a B-24 bomber fighting in the South Pacific.
... One day there was an announcement that the longest bombing flight ever made would be attempted to knock out an oil refinery.
The promptings of the Spirit told me I would be assigned on this flight but that I would not lose my life.
At the time I was the president of the LDS group.

"The combat was ferocious as we flew over Borneo.
Our plane was hit by attacking planes and soon burst into flames, and the pilot told us to prepare to jump.
I went out last.
We were shot at by enemy pilots as we floated down.
I had trouble inflating my life raft.
Bobbing up and down in the water, I began to drown and passed out.
I came to momentarily and cried, 'God save me!'
... Again I tried inflating the life raft and this time was successful.
With just enough air in it to keep me afloat, I rolled over on top of it, too exhausted to move.

"For three days we floated about in enemy territory with ships all about us and planes overhead.
Why they couldn't see a yellow group of rafts on blue water is a mystery," he wrote.
"A storm came up, and waves thirty feet high almost tore our rafts apart.
Three days went by with no food or water.
The others asked me if I prayed.
I answered that I did pray and we would indeed be rescued.
That evening we saw our submarine that was there to rescue us, but it passed by.
The next morning it did [the same. We knew] this was the last day [ it would] be in the area.
Then came the promptings of the Holy Ghost.
'You have the priesthood.
Command the sub to pick you up.'
Silently I prayed, 'In the name of Jesus Christ, and by the power of the priesthood, turn about and pick us up.'
In a few minutes, they were alongside of us.
When on deck, the captain ... said, 'I don't know how we ever found you, for we were not even looking for you.'
I knew."

-Thomas S. Monson -To Learn, to Do, to Be -October 2008 General Conference

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Another Mark To The Arm

Why is it that the smallest actions seem to have the most drastic consequences?

I mean, the whole problem with my arm started with a simple burn that apparently go infected after I was doing my job scrubbing fish tanks at work.

Well...
That same left arm has had another injury grace it.

Yesterday at work,
I was doing stuff.
I really don't remember what I was doing.
Something that involved my hands...
Because next thing I know.

Something got jammed under my left thumb nail.

It was one of those quick. "Ow. Pain" things.
I mean, the hay often finds itself under my fingernails.
Maybe it was hay again this time.

But in any case.
I got the agonizer away from my thumb.
And didn't think more on it.

Because this literally happens all the time.
Why would one time of getting something jammed under a nail be so painful?

Because it is painful.
I mean, I noticed that my thumb was still aching hours later.
Towards the end of my shift.
From whatever I had done to it.

When I came home from work, it still ached.
It throbbed so bad that it woke me up from a nap.

Was it because something was still under my nail?
Despite my best attempts, I couldn't see anything.
Just the reddened area that was irritated.

And nothing would make the pain fade until I took an Excedrin.
Then finally relief!

Only, this morning....
My thumb still hurts.
So more pain killers.

And guess what.
It ached all through out work.

And still aches tonight.

What in the world did I do?!
Do you know how difficult it is to do things when your dominate hand, your thumb is sore?
It's like constantly pressing the pain button.
Ow. Ow. Ow. Ow.

Ugh.
Hopefully this doesn't blow up out of proportion like the burn and the lymphnodes did.
I'm for sure not scrubbing any tanks with that hand. ;) lol (not that I was in the first place since the left arm is the arm with all the problems....)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Visitors

Yesterday was one of those moody days.
One of those days where you feel like you're the only one making an effort to think of others. To do stuff for others...
One of those days where you just want someone to make a sacrifice for you for once. To take the time, energy, effort to just be around you, without you feeling like you're being needy....

Admittedly.
I've gotten into these phases more often recently.
Feeling like I'm giving more than I'm getting back.
Surely it's an indication that I need a change of scene.
Or as my sister put it "find new friends."
Considering finding friends is difficult for me to do....like literally it takes me years I feel like, to find people that I consider to be more than acquaintance friends.
....it was just a depressing scenario all around yesterday.

*shakes head*
And then today happened....
It was almost like there was a beacon lit somewhere that said "Go visit Sarnic!"
Because at work, I had people visit me.

My roommate -who I haven't been able to talk to because she's now always over at her fiancé's place, decided to drop by on the spur of the moment as she was driving past (it was her day off) to check in and see how I was doing "because we didn't really get a chance to talk yesterday"
Which was great! I just wish we could have talked longer...but its hard to do when you have a shadow by you the entire time. (I was training a new coworker)

But also, an older coworker and her new husband came by to say hi as well! :)
lol Of course...they were mostly there to grab boxes so they could work on moving stuff. But they came to say hi to me. ^^ Which was great. :)

Plus, I was able to get along with all my coworkers today. Where I actually felt like we were bonding and such instead of just sharing the same space within the walls.

So it was crazy.
How one can go from feeling isolated and alone....
To suddenly have a bunch of people actually wanting to talk to you.
So. very. Weird.

But I'm glad it happened, as it was a nice needed boost. :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2009 General Conference -Saturday Afternoon

Henry B. Eyring -The Sustaining of Church Officers

Dallin H. Oaks -Love and Law

• "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" the Apostle Paul asked. Not tribulation, not persecution, not peril or the sword. "For I am persuaded," he concluded, "that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, ... nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God."
• Some seem to value God's love because of their hope that His love is so great and so unconditional that it will mercifully excuse them from obeying His laws. In contrast, those who understand God's plan for His children know that God's laws are invariable, which is another great evidence of His love for His children. Mercy cannot rob justice, and those who obtain mercy are "they who have kept the covenant and observed the commandment."
• We read again and again in the Bible and in modern scriptures of God's anger with the wicked and of His acting in His wrath against those who violate His laws. How are anger and wrath evidence of His love? Joseph Smith taught that God "institute[d] laws whereby [the spirits that He would send into the world] could have a privilege to advance like himself." God's love is so perfect that He lovingly requires us to obey His commandments because He knows that only through obedience to His laws can we become perfect, as He is. For this reason, God's anger and His wrath are not a contradiction of His love but an evidence of His love. Every parent knows that you can love a child totally and completely while still being creatively angry and disappointed at that child's self-defeating behavior.
• God's choicest blessings are clearly contingent upon obedience to God's laws and commandments.
• This great principle helps us understand the why of many things, like justice and mercy balanced by the Atonement. It also explains why God will not forestall the exercise of agency by His children. Agency--our power to choose--is fundamental to the gospel plan that brings us to earth. God does not intervene to forestall the consequences of some persons' choices in order to protect the well-being of other persons--even when they kill, injure, or oppress one another--for this would destroy His plan for our eternal progress. He will bless us to endure the consequences of others' choices, but He will not prevent those choices.
• The effect of God's commandments and laws is not changed to accommodate popular behavior or desires. If anyone thinks that godly or parental love for an individual grants the loved one license to disobey the law, he or she does not understand either love or law.
• Real love does not support self-destructing behavior.

Robert D. Hales -Seeking to Know God, Our Heavenly Father, and His Son, Jesus Christ

• Ask in faith, nothing wavering.
• "We claim the privilege of worshiping Almighty God according to the dictates of our own conscience, and allow all men the same privilege, let them worship how, where, or what they may."
• However, we must be careful not to constrain His influence. When we do not do what is right or when our outlook is dominated by skepticism, cynicism, criticism, and irreverence toward others and their beliefs, the Spirit cannot be with us.
• Brothers and sisters, you may already know, deep in your soul, that God lives. You may not know all about Him yet and do not understand all His ways, but the light of belief is within you, waiting to be awakened and intensified by the Spirit of God and the Light of Christ, which you are born with.

Jorge F. Zeballos -Attempting the Impossible

• The rich rewards come only to the strenuous strugglers.
• The Lord does not expect that wed o what we cannot achieve.
• Immediately after teaching that "it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength," King Benjamin indicated that "it is expedient that he should be diligent, that thereby he might win the prize." God will not require more than the best we can give because that would not be just, but neither can He accept less than that because that would not be just either. Therefore, let us always give the best we can in the service of God and our fellowmen. Let us serve in our families and in our callings in the Church in the best manner possible. Let us do the best we can and each day be a little better.

Tad R. Callister -Joseph Smith--Prophet of the Restoration

• God still speaks to man today--that the heavens are not close.
• Through Joseph Smith have been restored all the powers, keys, teachings, and ordinances necessary for salvation and exaltation. You cannot go anywhere else in the world and get that. It is not to be found in any other church. It is not to be found in any philosophy of man or scientific digest or individual pilgrimage, however intellectual it may seem. Salvation is to be found in one place alone, as so designated by the Lord Himself when He said that this is "the only true and living church upon the face of the whole earth."

Kent D. Watson -Being Temperate in All Things

• Being temperate is to use moderation in all things or to exercise self-control.
• "I trust that ye are not lifted up in the pride of your hearts; yea, I trust that ye have not set your hearts upon riches and the vain things of the world."
• A temperate soul--one who is humble and full of love--is also a person of increased spiritual strength. With increased spiritual strength, we are able to develop self-mastery and to live with moderation. We learn to control, or temper, our anger, vanity, and pride. With increased spiritual strength, we can protect ourselves from the dangerous excesses and destructive addictions of today's world.

Neil L. Andersen -"Repent ... That I May Heal You"

• When we sin, we turn away from God. When we repent, we turn back toward God.
• The invitation to repent is rarely a voice of chastisement but rather a loving appeal to turn around and to "re-turn" toward God. It is the beckoning of a loving Father and His Only Begotten Son to be more than we are, to reach up to a higher way of life, to change, and to feel the happiness of keeping the commandments.
• "Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point." When we "pull the shades down," we stop believing that spiritual voice inviting us to change. We pray but we listen less. Our prayers lack that faith that leads to repentance.
• The scriptures do not say that we will forget our forsaken sins in mortality. Rather, they declare that the Lord will forget.
• The forsaking of sins implies never returning. Forsaking requires time. To help us, the Lord at times allows the residue of our mistakes to rest in our memory. It is a vital part of our mortal learning.

Boyd K. Packer -Prayer and Promptings

• No Father would send His children off to a distant dangerous land for a lifetime of testing where Lucifer was known to roam free without first providing them with a personal power of protection. He would also supply them with means to communicate with Him from Father to child and from child to Father. Every child of our Father sent to earth is provided with the Spirit of Christ, or the Light of Christ. We are, none of us, left here alone without hope of guidance and redemption.
•  You can know the things you need to know. Pray that you will learn to receive that inspiration an remain worthy to receive it. Keep that channel--your mind--clean and free from the clutter of the world.
• One of the adversary's sharpest tools is to convince us that we are no longer worthy to pray. No matter who you are or what you may have done, you can always pray.
• When temptation comes, you can invent a delete key in your mind--perhaps the words from a favorite hymn. Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind. When some unworthy thought pushes into your mind, replace it with your delete key. Worthy music is powerful and can help you control your thoughts.
• "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Making Food Fancy

I was in another experimental stage today.
With food.
Wanting to create something different.

So I did.
lol.
It's not as fancy as Tacozanga.
But I created a new dish to eat.

And its pretty simple to make. :)

Heh...It's basically a Hotdog casserole I suppose. I just called it "Fancy Hot Dogs and Fries"

All I did was take some tatertots, cut up some hot dogs, sprinkled season salt and parmesan cheese on it and mixed it all together, then did a layer of Pepper Jack cheese on top, put it in the oven for 15 minutes and walla! Food! lol.

Pretty easy.

And pretty tasty too....with or without ketchup. :) lol.

I could probably make it more of a casserole in the future...add in other ingredients. lol I just didn't have anything else in my apt as I haven't gone shopping recently.

Still. On its own, very tasty. :)

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Sleep Malfunction

Okay....
Its probably pretty safe to say I screwed up my sleep schedule this past week.

Its not like it was intentional at all....
Sometimes life just happens.
Where your brain just chooses not to shut off,
Whether it's due to watching a really intense season finale right before bed,
Coming up with an amazing story idea that keeps you awake instead of putting you to sleep,
Drinking too much Dr. Pepper and its effects take effect just as you're trying to go to sleep,
Or due to being active and cleaning just before bed...

Which I ended up doing all of these at some point during the last week.
Resulting in a very randomatic sleeping schedule at night.
Sometimes it was four hours of sleep, sometimes more.

But....its pretty safe to say that I paid for it.

With the usual payment of crazy annoying painful headache.
The one where Medicine just doesn't help it.
The one where you end up feeling nauseous.
The one where you end up not being able to sleep, but can't do anything else because your skull feels like its splitting in half, or getting pounded with a spike, either way....

It was annoying.

*exhales* Especially when I tried my best to avoid getting said headache.
Somedays though....the headache just demands that I bow to its presence for hours at a time.

And then I feel like I spend the next day or so recovering from that headache and the added hours of lack of sleep.

So....
Yah, life happens some weeks.
We'll see if I can be a bit more consistent in more sleep, less headaches this week. :)

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

(Post written Sunday Morning due to being unable to actually stare at a computer screen cus of said headache Saturday night)

After I Leave

I don't see why my roommates were freaking out about our cleaning check today.
I mean, sure it's 'white glove' as in practically everyone in the complex is moving out for the summer to head back home since school's out.
But since we're all not moving out of this complex yet....
It's not like we have to be super paranoid about the cleaning.
Yes.
We need to do it.
But it's not like they're going to look closely at our stuff since we're all still sticking around.

Yet. It was stressing them out.

Me.
Not so much.
Been around this block a time or a hundred, so I know what to expect.
Know how to clean.
Know what to do.

No, what irritated me about this cleaning check,
Is that usually the checkers come sometime between 9-11am to glance about the apartment.
Fill out the forms saying that we passed,
and leave.

Only this time....
They didn't show up.....
Until nearly dinner time.

Which. Considering I wanted to be there when they showed up so I could make sure we passed and everything...
Meant I wasted a big portion of the day trying to keep the apartment clean and hanging out when I had had other plans.
Other plans based on them coming in the morning. >.<

I mean, I can understand that my apt probably wasn't a high priority on the 'to check' list since none of us were moving out.
And maybe there were finals that our checkers needed to take or something so they couldn't start checking til later.

But still.
Why. Why wait til nearly dinner time to come?!
Ugh.
>.<
It was like they were just waiting for all of us to leave.
Because they only came AFTER we were gone.

Like...if I had left the apartment earlier in the day would they have come sooner?
Who knows.

But at least it's finally over with.
...for another month....

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

One to Convert

I have spent most of my life in areas of the world where members of our Church are a small minority.
During that time I have learned that often when people learned of the restored gospel, they are impressed by it--many even want to join the Church.
But they are reluctant to disappoint their ancestors; they feel they should be true to the faith of their fathers.

I remember when I was a young man, one Sunday I noticed a new family in our meetinghouse--a young mother with two daughters.
It wasn't long before the three were baptized and became members of the Church.

I know the story of their conversion intimately because the oldest daughter's name was Harriet, and later she would become my wife.

Harriet's mother, Carmen, had recently lost her husband, and during a period of introspection, she became interested in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
After studying the doctrines, Carmen and her daughters knew the Church was true and made plans for baptism.

When Carmen told her mother about this decision, however, her mother was devastated.
"How can you be so unfaithful to the faith of your fathers?" she asked.

Carmen's mother was not the only one who objected.
Carmen's strong-willed sister, Lisa, was every bit as troubled by the news.
Perhaps troubled is too soft a word.
She was very angry.

Lisa said that she would find those young missionaries and tell them just how wrong they were.
She marched to the chapel and found the missionaries, and, you guessed it, Lisa was baptized too.

Many years later, Carmen's mother also received a testimony that the gospel of Jesus Christ had been restored to the earth.
One day she said to her daughters and grandchildren, "I want to be in the same heaven as you."
While in her mid-70s, she too entered the waters of baptism and became a member of the Church.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -Faith of Our Father -April 2008 General Conference

Until you next see these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Too Much Screen

My eyes hurt.
Not from yesterday's doctor's visit.
No not because of that.

No they hurt because I've just spent the last 6 hours reading.
Quick, Hurried, fast reading.

Because for some reason, Institute classes actually require you to do homework now.
And I hadn't done the readings for my class....at all.
But since I graduated institute (again)
I felt the responsibility to actually do this homework, so I could absolutely positively graduate as I would have this class complete.

Ugh.
Never again.
If I take more institute classes with reading homework.
I'm not putting it off til the last minute.
because ow.
I mean, I stare at a computer screen for hours at a time.
But with so much focus, intent, trying to read as fast as I can to prove that I did do the readings.

Yah.
Going to be better next time around.
But hey!
It's done.

Time to finally relax. :)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Coming At Ya

My eyes have always been rather sensitive.

To objects coming towards them.

I mean, it took me like 3 hours to put contacts into my eyes the first time!

Because I really, really, really don't like having anything come near my eyes.

It's hard to keep them open.

Hard to not pull away.

Which makes the pressure test at the Eye Doctor's particularly difficult.

You know, when the doc has you sit your chin in this contraption as he brings forth a device that could literally poke you in the eye if you blink or jerk at the wrong moment?

Yah. That test.

The one to test the pressure of the cornea or whatever.

I can't do it.

Honestly. I can't.

It literally makes me feel like I'm in 'fight or flight' mode.

The gizmo just has to be pulled out and my heart starts racing.

And I can't hold still long enough to do so.

And because of this....I've manage to avoid having to do the pressure test for like the last....3 times?

It's been a while.

But today....

Today I thought maybe it would be different.

Because I was only working on four hours of sleep. (silly brain wouldn't turn off and I had no time for a nap) so I was a bit....less 'present' emotionally than I usually am.

Which I thought with my dulled sleep deprived senses....if I had to do this pressure test.

Maybe I could.

Though I really was hoping he'd just 'forget' that part and let me survive in peace another year.

It didn't happen.

Out came the pressure thingy.

But this time, I gamely tried to do it.

Instincts are too strong though.

Way too strong.

The right eye...

which was already irritated as the contact lens I'd put in that morning had somehow been torn but I hadn't realized it until I was at work so I couldn't change it out....had not one, but two tears which spent all day irritating my eye.

So the right eye. Totally a no go for it.

We tried.

And tried.

And I couldn't sit still.

Couldn't let that thing come near me.

So the doctor said why not try the left?

Which.

Since I'm basically 'left' everything. Handed, footed, eyed....

Perhaps the left side, used to doing more could gamely try it.

So we tried.

and tried.

The doc even held my eyelids open so I wouldn't blink at the wrong moment.

We tried

and tried

and everytime he was able to get a tiny itsy bit closer before I had to pull away.

Seriously, my hands were probably white knuckled on the chair.

As finally.

I felt the slightest touch to my eye.

Freeze.

Hold for eternity (like a second)

And walla!

Success!!

I'd managed to do it!

The left eye wins!

I did the stupid pressure test.

Woot!

And thankfully since both my eyes were looking good and what is seen in one eye tends to be pretty close to the right eye.

We didn't have to try and get that stubborn right eye to do the pressure test either.

But hey.

Celebrate the small moments right?

I managed to do the pressure test!

Woot!

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2009 General Conference -Saturday Morning

Thomas S. Monson -Welcome to Conference

• I love the words of President Joseph F. Smith as he spoke of temple service and of the spirit world beyond mortality. Said he, "Through our efforts in their behalf their chains of bondage will fall from them, and the darkness surrounding them will clear away, that light may shine upon them and they shall hear in the spirit world of the work that has been done for them by their [people] here, and will rejoice with you in your performance of these duties."

Richard G. Scott  -To Acquire Spiritual Guidance

• Spirituality yields two fruits. The first is inspiration to know what to do. The second is power, or the capacity to do it.
• I believe that you can leave the most precious, personal direction of the Spirit unheard because you do not respond to, record, and apply the first promptings that come to you.
• Impressions of the Spirit can come in response to urgent prayer or unsolicited when needed. Sometimes the Lord reveals the truth to you when you are not actively seeking it, such as when you are in danger and do not know it. However, the Lord will not force you to learn. You must exercise your agency to authorize the Spirit to teach you. As you make this a practice in your life, you will be more perceptive to the feelings that come with spiritual guidance. Then, when the guidance comes, sometimes when you least expect it, you will recognize it more easily.
• I share a warning. Satan is extremely good at blocking spiritual communication by inducing individuals, through temptation, to violate the laws upon which spiritual communication is founded. With some, he is able to convince them that they are not able to receive such guidance from the Lord.
• Well did inspired Nephi declare, "And [the devil] will ... pacify, and lull them away into carnal security, ... and thus [he] cheateth their souls, and leadeth them away carefully down to hell."
• Find a quiet place; pray urgently for help and support. Be patient and obedient. Don't give up.
• An individual with foundation standards and an enduring commitment to obey them is not easily led astray. Someone who is increasingly repulsed by grievous sin and who exercises self-restraint outside human influence has character. repentance will be more efficacious for such an individual. A feeling of remorse after a mistake is a fertile soil wherein repentance can flower.

Vicki F. Matsumori -Helping Others Recognize the Whisperings of the Spirit

• When you feel pure intelligence flowing into you, it may give you sudden strokes of ideas.
• There are places where it is easier to feel the Spirit.
• The challenge for each of us is in providing an environment where the Spirit can be felt daily.

L. Whitney Clayton -That Your Burdens May Be Light

• Life presses all kinds of burdens on each of us, some light but others relentless and heavy. People struggle every day under burdens that tax their souls. Many of us struggle under such burdens. They can be emotionally or physically ponderous. They can be worrisome, oppressive, and exhausting. And they can continue for years.
• Some burdens are the natural product of the conditions of the world in which we live.
• Other burdens are imposed on  us by the misconduct of others.
• Our own mistakes and shortcomings produce many of our problems and can place heavy burdens on our own shoulders.
• Burdens become blessings, though often such blessings are well disguised and may require time, effort, and faith to accept and understand.

Russell T. Osguthorpe -Teaching Helps Save Lives

• "When [we receive] the truth [we] will be saved by it. [We] will not be saved merely because someone taught it to [is], but because [we] received and acted upon it."
• The goal of gospel teaching ... is not to 'pour information' into the minds of class members. ... The aim is to inspire the individual to think about, feel about, and then do something about living gospel principles."
• When a call comes, you accept it, no matter how inadequate you might feel.
• Teaching helps save lives.

David A. Bednar -More Diligent and Concerned at Home

• We can begin to become more diligent and concerned at home by telling the people we love that we love them.
• Such expressions do not need to be flowery or lengthy. We simply should sincerely and frequently express love.
• As disciples of the Savior, we are not merely striving to know more; rather, we need to consistently do more of what we know is right and become better.
• "Often we assume that [the people around us] must know how much we love them. But we should never assume; we should let them know. ... We will never regret the kind words spoken or the affection shown. Rather, our regrets will come if such things are omitted from our relationships with those who mean the most to us."
• We also can become more diligent and concerned at home by bearing testimony to those whom we love about the things we know to be true by the witness of the Holy Ghost.
• In my office is a beautiful painting of a wheat field. The painting is a vast collection of individual brushstrokes--none of which in isolation is very interesting or impressive. In fact, if you stand close to the canvas, all you can see is a mass of seemingly unrelated and unattractive streaks of yellow and gold and brown paint. However, as you gradually move away from the canvas, all of the individual brushstrokes combine together and produce a magnificent landscape of a wheat field. Many ordinary, individual brushstrokes work together to create a captivating and beautiful picture.
• Each family prayer, each episode of family scripture study, and each family home evening is a brushstroke on the canvas of our souls. No one event may appear to be very impressive or memorable. But just as the yellow and gold and brown strokes of paint complement each other and produce an impressive masterpiece, so our consistency in doing seemingly small things can lead to significant spiritual results.
• A public statement of love when the private actions of love are absent at home is hypocrisy--and weakens the foundations of a great work. Publicly declaring testimony when faithfulness and obedience are missing within our own homes is hypocrisy--and undermines the foundation of a great work.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -The Love of God

• Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk.
• God the Eternal Father did not give the first great commandment because He needs us to love Him. His power and glory are not diminished should we disregard, deny, or even defile His name. His influence and dominion extend through time and space independent of our acceptance, approval, or admiration.
• No, God does not need us to love Him. But oh, how we need to love God!
• For what we love determines what we seek.
• What we seek determines what we think and do.
• What we think and do determines who we are--and who we will become.
• Love is the defining characteristic of a disciple of Christ.
• Since the beginning of time, love has been the source of both the highest bliss and the heaviest burdens. At the heart and misery from the days of Adam until today, you will find the love of wrong things. And at the heart of joy, you will find the love of good things.
• He loves us because He is filled with an infinite measure of holy, pure, and indescribable love. We are important to God not because of our resume but because we are His children. He loves every one of us, even those who are flawed, rejected, awkward, sorrowful, or broken. God's love is so great that He loves even the proud, the selfish, the arrogant, and the wicked.
• My dear brothers and sisters, don't get discouraged if you stumble at times. Don't feel downcast or despair if you don't feel worthy to be a disciple of Christ at all times. The first step to walking in righteousness is simply to try. We must try to believe. Try to learn of God: read the scriptures; study the words of His latter-day prophets; choose to listen to the Father, and do the things He asks of us. Try and keep on trying until that which seems difficult becomes possible--and that which seems only possible becomes habit and a real part of you.
• Listen for the voice of the Father in the bounties and beauties of nature, in the gentle whisperings of the Spirit.
• In your daily interactions with others, in the words of a hymn, in the laughter of a child, listen for His voice.
• Love is the measure of our faith, the inspiration for our obedience, and the true altitude of our discipleship.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Slight Pressure

Isn't it crazy how small actions can lead to big consequences?

Or...at least consequences?

Honestly.

So, earlier today, I'd been using a rock wand.

-Basically how it sounds. A long piece of rock that's been smoothed down and rounded on each edge

To help massage away a headache I'd been dealing with.

As the cool stone can help relieve pressure and relax muscles and such.

In any case.

At one point I got up and out of bed.

Leaving the wand there.

Which at the point I left, it had ended up getting covered by blankets, and I didn't realize where it was.

I came back in,

And climbed into bed.

And my knee encountered something hard.

I heard a crack....

And to my surprise...

pulled out my wand. :(

Broken in half.

()_() WHAT?!?!

How is that even possible?!

:(

It's a rock! Rocks don't break in half, especially when they're on a soft bed and I felt like I barely knelt on it!

:(

My guess...is that somehow too much energy had been stored in the rock.

To it's breaking point.

And so the slightest bit of pressure broke it in half. :(

The energy contained within, finally released.

....and a broken rock left behind....

That I now don't know what to do with.....

:( My poor rock.....

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Teeth A Fixing

It's always slightly amusing to me.
That when I go to the dentist to get a cavity filled.
They end up asking at some point or another.
Once they're done filling it, polishing it whatever.
If all feels normal.

And I always think....
How can I tell if this feels normal?
Half my mouth is numb.
I can't feel half of what I'm doing.
So....is it normal? Who knows!!

In any case.
I went to the dentist to get a couple of backtoback cavities filled in teeth 28&29.
(yay for anatomy class. I know where those are.)

And like usual.
I get numbed.
And like usual.
Once the Dentist got to drilling to get the cavity out.
I would feel zings.
Because why?
Some of my tooth still had feeling that's why.

Thankfully it wasn't bad zings.
More of the irritating 'nails on chalk board' sort of zings.
Honestly though, I feel like my mouth must not be a normal mouth.
Because numbing the 'usual' spots doesn't always numb what its supposed to numb. *shakes head*
Who knows.

In any case.
Once the fillings were finished.
We got to the agonizing process of figuring out when my bite has become normal again.
Which involves a lot of polishing off of the excess filling.
Lots of biting on the paper thing to see what areas are still high.
Trying to explain to the dentist what you're feeling, and where you're feeling the 'oddness' of your bite.
And more polishing.

I've been a bit more careful to ensure that my bite always feels as great as possible before we leave.
As I once thought it was all fine and dandy.
And ended up being miserable for a couple of months because somewhere, the filling was too high and it was bugging my other teeth and making it hard to chew comfortably. -it took me a couple of months or so to accept that it wouldn't get 'worn down' over time.
Silly me. lol.

This particular filling.
I was even more particular about ensuring that they were fine.
Why?

Because of tooth 4.
The tooth that's basically right above the two fillings area.
As you see.
Tooth four is the 'problem tooth' of my teeth family.
It's always very particular and also particularly sensitive in things. Like cold and hot (on occasion) and how it feels when it's forced to be next to the bottom teeth.

So. I had to make doubly extra triple sure that tooth 4 was happy.
As I really don't want to have to return to the dentist to make it happy in a week or so because it decides it's not happy.

So I was doing a lot of 'The front edge feels to high." "Now the back is too high." "No, the outside edge still feels slightly high."
At least the Dentist understood what I meant.
lol
It was amusing for me to tell him something felt high.
And have him test with his paper strip thing.
And discover that I was right. It was high!
lol. He always sound so surprised that I can be sensitive to little spots like that.

But hey....
it's my mouth.
And you're asking me if it feels normal.
So of course I'm going to ensure that it feels normal.

Surprisingly, even with me being ocd about ensuring the bite was normal.
The appointment was a short one compared to other times I've been. Only 45 minutes. :) Usually I feel like I'm there for an hour and a half at least. lol.

And the best news.
My bite feels normal!
Like I said, not always easy to tell when half your face is numb.
But all teeth are happy.

Even if my jaw is still a bit sore from where I got shot with the numbing stuff.... ;)

Until you next read these words;
I'll be watching the leaves.
Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Animal Attraction

We each love different types of animals.

For some it's cats,

Others it's dogs.

Birds.

Snakes.

Fish.

Everyone has their preference for their particular type of pet they want in their home.

lol.

I found it amusing.

That upon walking into my brother's apartment.

To see his collection of reptiles.

What I was immediately drawn to?

The lone rabbit in the apartment. lol.

Ah. It was so cute and I wanted to just take it home with me!

But....student housing doesn't allow pets. :( So no go in that route.

Still.

It was fun to hold and play with the soft little bunny for a while. ^^

I mean,

Meralto's collection of reptiles are awesome!

I loved seeing all his snakes and lizards that he has.

The unique patterns.

Unique names.

He has a bunch that I've never seen before. :)

Which is always super cool. ^^

I definitely think my heart is drawn to soft and fluffy instead though. lol.

Though, when I'm finally able to move into my own place,

I would probably go for a cat instead of a rabbit. :)

Oh, and my giant 125 gallon tank. Yes.

I would have them both. Cat and fish tank. yes. :)

Guess we'll see what the future brings. :)

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi