A Slowed Down Opening

Heads Up. 
This is going to be more of a ranting post. 

So.
Work.

It's always crazy.
Sometimes in a good way.
And sometimes in a 'running around with your head cut off' bad way.

Well...
Ever since I got back from vaca....
Work's been in more of the 'bad way' of crazy. 

And the main source of the antagonism that is making life at work slightly stressful is...
A new way of opening the department. 

Which really...all the steps and such are the same old same old.
It's just the order that the steps are done in have switched. 

With the main factor being....that our bedding changes (cleaning out animal cages) have now been moved to being basically the last thing we do when we're opening the department.

Which is crazy. 
Like...super crazy. 

Because those bedding changes can take anywhere from 2-4 hours on a good day.
And that's because we have a couple of hours BEFORE the store opens to do that, uninterrupted.
But now. With the bedding change last...
It means that we often don't get to the cage cleaning until an hour or so AFTER the store has opened.
Which means....we're constantly being interrupted by customers needing help and so the cleaning of the cages takes two to three times as long.

And I really don't understand it.
Okay...
I do understand the methodology a little bit.
In that it's nice to have the department fully opened with just the bedding change left to do when customers come into the store...
But if you're trying to keep the store from looking dirty and making a mess all over the place...
Doing bedding changes after the store opens isn't the best thing to do.... because those make a mess. 

*exhales*
And it's more than that. 
The new opening style wants us to clean the food and water dishes/bottles DAILY for the other animal habitats. 

Which honestly, is pointless.
For reptiles their water bowls don't get dirty as most of them never use the water bowl anyways. 
Birds we already dump the food and water daily, so nothing can mold or rot in the first place...so why clean an already clean dish? 
Hamsters: how are they going to dirty up the water in the water bottle? They're not. Food dish? Yah I can see it....but really? They don't get messy. 

It's just a waste of time, energy, and resources.
We're going to be going through more food faster. There's waaaaaayyy too much wandering back and forth when it all could be done in one single sweeping movement, and it takes four times as long to get things done when you have to take out the dishes, wash them, dry them, fill them up with food/water and put them back. 

WHO HAS TIME FOR THAT?!!?
No one. 

Not unless I want to be opening the entire 8 hours of my shift.
Which while I love tasking...
I don't like being constantly pulled away from my tasks by customers. 
And I don't like leaving the department with opening not done. 
It's frustrating. 

*exhales*
So we'll see how this actually pans out.

But right now.
I don't like it.
I don't like it at all.
>.< 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Surprise Offer

Admittedly, I had a moment's of hesitation when I walked into my favorite Wendy's to get my usual food combo and saw that the manager's of the establishment were in a meeting....a table away from my usual table that I sit at. 
Usually when I come in to the managers in their meeting, they're sitting at a table in the corner of the store, away from everyone else.
I have no idea as to why they picked the table in the center of the store. *shakes head*
Maybe it better fit all the people there? Who knows.

Still, after a moment's hesitation, once I got my order, I went ahead and sat at my usual table.
Because why not?

I quickly got distracted with eating my food, writing, and texting friends and family, etc. 

And while I could hear the manager's conversation, I basically let it go in one ear and out the other. 

Until I heard something that caused me to look up. 
I honestly can't remember what it was. 

But it basically was one of the managers saying something along the lines of "Her name is Sarnic, she always orders the crispy chicken and dr. pepper and comes in regularly. I know her! It's totally fine." 
I looked up halfway through that sentence, to see a couple of the managers looking in my direction.
And I did what I usually do and waved and said Hi. and basically said "Yep! I'm here like twice a week!" lol. 

From what I could gather one of the managers was concerned I'd been listening into their meeting or something? And the other manager was reassuring them it was fine? And I told them. "Yah....I wasn't listening actually." 

And somehow or another, a different manager ended up asking me: 
Do you want some Oreo Cake?

As it was apparently one of the manager's last days of work....only it wasn't...because they'd agreed to come in and work Monday....so the cake was now a "Farewell, but Welcome Back" sort of cake now? lol. (I did hear conversations, but only bits of it. Enough to puzzle together what was happening at least.)
In any case.

Can you imagine my surprise and glee at being offered cake?! 
By managers.
In a store that I don't work at? 
lol. 

IT WAS AMAZING!

It was like I'd just leveled up or something lol. 
Because I don't know if the managers would have offered cake to anyone if it had been someone else in there. Or if there had been other customers sitting and eating. 
I mean...I got cake when only the managers got cake and none of the workers did. (at least from what I could tell or saw) 

And ah.
I feel so special lol.

The cake was delicious too. lol. 

There are definitely benefits to being a regular. That's for sure. ^^

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2015 General Conference -Saturday Morning

Henry B. Eyring -"Is Not This the Fast That I Have Chosen?"

• Your fast offering will do more than help feed and clothe bodies. I will heal and change hearts. 
• Better to teach them the principle, and let them observe it when they are old enough to choose intelligently.

Boyd K. Packer -The Plan of Happiness

• Ideally, mating begins with romance. Though customs may vary, it flourishes with all the storybook feelings of excitement and anticipation, even sometimes rejection. There are moonlight and roses, love letters, love songs, poetry, the holding of hands, and other expressions of affection between a young man and a young woman. The world disappears around the couple and they experience feelings of joy.
• Mature love has a bliss not even imagined by newlyweds
• The Atonement can put you free again to move forward, cleanly and worthily, to pursue that path that you have chosen in life. 
• The Atonement is individual, and if you have something that is bothering you--sometimes so long ago you can hardly remember it--put the Atonement to work. It will clean it up, and you, as does He, will remember your sins no more. 

Linda K. Burton -We'll Ascend Together

• A husband is never more attractive to his wife than when he is serving in his God-given role as a worthy priesthood holder--most important in the home.
• You have the power of the priesthood directly from the Lord to protect your home. There will be times when all that stands as a shield between your family and the adversary's mischief will be that power. 
• It must be difficult, at best, for covenant men to live in a world that not only demeans their divine roles and responsibilities but also sends false messages about what it means to be a "real man." 
• We need each other!
• Thee lift me, and I'll lift thee, and we'll ascend together. 
• There is so much more happiness to be had when we can rejoice in another's successes and not just in our own.
• When we seek to "complete" rather than "compete," it is so much easier to cheer each other on!
• When was the last time I chose to be happy rather than demanding to be right?
• Guilt is to our spirit what pain is to our body--a warning of danger and a protection from additional damage.

Dallin H. Oaks -The Parable of the Sower

• If we are not rooted in the teachings of the gospel and regular in its practices, any one of us can develop a stony heart, which is stony ground for spiritual seeds. 
• In an age dominated by the Internet, which magnifies messages that menace faith, we must increase our exposure to spiritual truth in order to strengthen our faith and stay rooted in the gospel. 
• To be securely rooted in the gospel, we must be moderate and measured in criticism and seek for the broader view of the majestic work of God. 
• The root of all evil is not money but the love of money.
• Our commitment is supposed to be a test, it's supposed to be hard, it's supposed to be impractical in the terms of this world. 

L. Whitney Clayton -Choose to Believe

• All of us will, at some time or another, have to traverse our own spiritual wilderness and undertake our own rugged emotional journeys. In those moments, however dark or seemingly hopeless they may be, if we search for it, there will always be a spiritual light that beckons to us, giving us the hope of rescue and relief. 
• he decision to believe is the most important choice we ever make. It shapes all our other decisions. 
• Belief and testimony and faith are not passive principles. They do not just happen to us. Belief is something we choose--we hope for it, we work for it, and we sacrifice for it. 
• Embrace belief rather than choosing to doubt. 

L. Tom Perry -Why Marriage and Family Matter--Everywhere in the World

• We believe that strong traditional families are not only the basic units of a stable society, a stable economy, and a stable culture of values--but that they are also the basic unites of eternity and of the kingdom and government of God. 
• People are not better off when they are given maximum personal freedom to do what they want. They're better off when they are enshrouded in commitments that transcend personal choice--commitments to family, God, craft and country.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Home Again Home Again

Ah. There's such a simple pleasure in returning home.
Especially when I'm returning home to my 125 gallon fish tank!!

You guys don't know how much I missed my fish.
I missed them.
A lot.

Especially since I was semi worried about them before I left them.
-I was treating for an illness in the tank, and when I left the water was still foggy from treatment. 

But coming back.
AH!
The water is so clear!
My fish are so happy!

I just...I can't stop staring at them. 
They seem so much bigger now.
And so energetic.
Swimming around back and forth.
Being happy in general. 

Ah.
Ah.
Guys.
I love my fish tank.
Like a lot. 

^^ 
I'm so glad that my roomies did such an excellent job of taking care of my fish while I was gone.
The tank looks perfect.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

On The Side

So there I was, in the Valley of Fire, clambering all over the red rocks because RED ROCKS!!!
When I noticed some Petroglyphs along a wall above my head.
And this nice little ledge I could walk along that would take me closer to them so I could actually see what the petroglyphs were of. 

And me, being the mountain goat I am.
Clambered up to the view zone easily. 
As I have great confidence in my ability to get up and down in red rock country.
I love the place after all. 

lol.
However.
It's been like a year since I last scrambled around on the red sandstone. 

So when I turned around to get back down.
And looked down to the fifteen foot drop on my right. 
I admit.
There was this brief moment of terror where I couldn't move. 

Being left handed and left footed.
I had had no issue climbing up to the rocks because the edge was on my dominate side. 
But turning around.
To get back down.
Along a narrow ledge that was not much wider than my foot....
Was a bit more mentally harrowing.

Why?
Because coming back down my right side would be on the edge.
While my dominate leg and hand would be 'trapped' against the wall. 

Needless to say, I didn't have as much confidence in my right side taking the lead in this.
I guess because I wasn't confident it could handle the balancing? *shrugs* who knows.

Mostly I think it was not liking my left leg being trapped against the wall.
That if I stepped down with my right leg I would upset my center of balance and find myself falling to the ground below. 

So what was I to do?
I definitely couldn't just go back down backwards so my left leg was on the edge. As that seemed even more foolhardy. 
And I couldn't just stay up there forever more.
And I definitely didn't want to call for help as :S that would be totally embarrassing for the self proclaimed mountain goat of the red rocks to call for help because she got stuck. lol. 

So, I adjusted. 
Took a breath. 
Steadied myself on the ledge. 
And used my right foot to take the first step down. 

And managed to do it without falling! Woot!

Suddenly the terror that gripped me was gone.
And I was able to make my way easily back down the way I'd come. Right foot on the edge while the left foot was trapped against the wall. 

*shakes head* lol
It's so interesting how terror can momentarily make you motionless. 
Thankfully I was able to push through it.
And get back on the ground safely. :)

;) And go on to scamper and clamber, and climb on other red rock surfaces. XD lol. 
Ah. Red rocks. It was so good to be with you once more. :D

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Cluster Patch

Bugs are weird.
Especially the ones that like to bite people.
Aka. Mosquitos. 

Because of where they choose to bite really. 
Like. It seems like they like to cluster into similar areas. 
Which is probably easily explained in that they're probably all biting in the same area because that was the one area of exposed skin where they could get at you.

So.
A couple of evenings ago. 
I actually ventured outside towards the evening to sit out on the patio where we were staying.
You know, enjoy some of the cooler temperatures now that the sun was going down.
Only, since the sun was disappearing and the area was cooling...that meant that all the bugs were now becoming active. 
With the disappearance of the heat of killing sun, the bugs came out in force. Including the mosquitos.
Which, honestly, I had half expected them to not be down here in the southern red rocks because it's so hot. I thought their little bodies wouldn't handle it.
Goes to show what I know lol.
As I noticed the little buggers flying around.
But didn't see any of them land on me.

However, I'm feeling their effects even now in one particular area.

My foot.

Because I had chosen to sit outside barefoot, and hadn't been paying attention to that section of my body...
It's now dealing with multiple bite spots.
Two on the arch of my foot, one on the middle toe, two more on the left side of my ankle and possibly one on the right side of my ankle. 

And ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Do you know how antagonizing it is to have bites on your feet? 
Super antagonizing. 
Because your feet brush up against everything.
It's not like a bite on your arm where you can forget about it and it will go away.
No because feet wear socks and shoes and feet are always moving because you're always twitching and walking and basically rubbing material against the bites which in turn makes them flare up and itch even more and GAH. 

I can only hope that the bites will settle down in the next day or so.
Because it's so. very. annoying currently. 

And I've totally made up my mind.
I'm never going outside again. 
;)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Constant Writing

Many years ago dear friends of mine, Craig Sudbury and his other, Pearl, came to my office prior to Craig's departure for the Australia Melbourne Mission.
Fred Sudbury, Craig's father, was noticeably absent.
Twenty-five years earlier, Craig's mother had married Fred, who did not share her love for the Church and, indeed, was not a member.

Craig confided to me his deep and abiding love for his parents and his hope that somehow, in some way, his father would be touched by the Spirit and open his heart to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
I prayed for inspiration concerning how such a desire might be fulfilled.
The inspiration came, and I said to Craig, "Serve the Lord with all our heart.
Be obedient to your sacred calling.
Each week write a letter to your parents, and on occasion, write to Dad personally, and let him know how much you love him, and tell him why you're grateful to be his son."
He thanked me and, with his mother, departed the office.

I was not to see Craig's mother for some 18 months, when she came to my office and, in sentences punctuated by tears, said to me, "It has been almost two years since Craig left for his mission.
He has never failed in writing a letter to us each week.
Recently, my husband, Fred, stood up for the first time in a testimony meeting and surprised me and shocked everyone who was there by announcing that he had made the decision to become a member of the Church.
He indicated that he and I would go to Australia to meet Craig at the conclusion of his mission so that Fred could be Craig's final baptism as a full-time missionary."

No missionary stood so tall as did Craig Sudbury when, in far-off Australia, he helped his father into water waist-deep and, raising his right arm to the square, repeated those sacred words: "Fredrick Charles Sudbury, having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

Love had won its victory.
Serve the Lord with love.

-Thomas S. Monson -Come, All Ye Sons of God -April 2013 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

All the Same

I'm pretty sure I did a post about this at some point when I got back from my cruise earlier in the year.
But honestly.
I still wonder.

Why is it that gift stores all sell the same things? 

Am I just crazy to think that when I was younger, that the stores were more unique? 
I mean, I know that every store is going to have that "buy this item with your name on it." or will sell t-shirts. I remember that.

But I feel like recently....
The stores have gotten boring.
It's like every store set up to cater to tourists....sells the exact same things. 
The only thing that changes is the location within the store and the price. 

I would think that stores would make it more of an effort to stay unique from each other. 
*exhales*
But I guess more people listen to the call of money than the call to be unique.
If they see an item is selling from one store...why not import it and sell it yourself so YOU can make that money! 

*exhales*
Only everyone gets that idea.
So suddenly everyone has said item.
And....none of the tourists are buying said item because every store has it. 
It's no longer unique.
It no longer gets the attention it once did from most tourists.

*shakes head* 
Perhaps I've traveled too much....
Maybe others wouldn't see the stores as being all the same...
Maybe....

Who knows.
I just know that when I find a store that has unique items.
Oh. That's the most exciting thing ever.
It's like a diamond in the rough. 

So here's to trying to find that unique diamond in the rough of a store. :) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Guided Everywhere

There's been an interesting difference to our trip this time around.
In that namely we have had tour guides everywhere we've visited.

Which is so weird.
I mean, having someone guide you around a place isn't an uncommon occurrence....
It's just that...they normally don't occur...huh, well usually I'm used to there being people guiding us around when we're out on cruises and such.
But when my family is a bit closer to home, (if currently a couple of states away) we tend to go exploring on our own. Forgoing the guided tours to strike out and see what we see and learn what we learn.

Here...in the south...not so much.
O.o 
Everywhere we go....we basically can't go somewhere unless there's a person guiding us to the place of interest, or waiting for us at the point of interest. 

It's just....weird. lol.
I mean, it's impressive that the people here are so into protecting their sites that limit the hours they're open and don't let people come close unless there's someone present on site. 

But I definitely miss the quiet.

While it's interesting to listen to the guide tell us about the history of the place, or what they believe certain symbols mean, or when people were here, or why they left, or any other various topics regarding wildlife, plants, artifacts, history, etc etc. 

There are days where I just want to relax.
Sit at the spot.
Listen to the sounds of nature around me,
and draw my own conclusions on what could have possibly occurred in this spot in the past. 

With the tours?
Definitely no time at all for quiet introspection. 

*shakes head*

I miss it. The quiet. The lack of people talking and telling me things. 
Sometimes. I just want to be.

Especially when I'm in my favorite red rock energy zone!
Where I just want to sit, let the heat of the rocks soak into me, and just enjoy being there in the moment. 

Guess we'll see if I can find that quiet moment before we return back to CollegeTown. ;) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

April 2015 General Conference -General Women's Session

Cheryl A. Esplin -Filling Our Homes with Light and Truth

• When filled with the Spirit and with the gospel truth, we have the power to withstand the outside forces of the world that surround and push against us. 
• Families are the Lord's workshop on earth to help us learn and live the gospel. 
• Strong eternal families and Spirit filled homes do not just happen. They take great effort, they take time, and they take each member of the family doing his or her part. 
• God cares about you. He will listen, and He will answer your personal questions. 
• Do not bury your testimony in the ground. 

Carole M. Stephens -The Family Is of God

• Our sphere of influence isn't limited to our own family members.
• Whenever a woman strengthens the faith of a child, she contributes to the strength of a family--now and in the future. 
• We belong. We are loved. We are needed.

Bonnie L. Oscarson -Defenders of the Family Proclamation 

• Life rarely goes exactly according to plan for anyone. 
• Each of us has a part to play in the plan, and each of us is equally valued in the eyes of the Lord. 
• One of the hardest challenges in this life is to have faith in the Lord's timing. 

Henry B. Eyring -The Comforter

• Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
• We lighten the loads of others best  by helping the Lord strengthen them. 
• Joy always comes after sorrow. 

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Good Energy Zone

It's such a relief to be in red rock country.

I love this place.
Love the red rocks.
Love the energy.
the happiness.
The feel!! AHHHHHH

I love it.

Especially after the drain I experienced yesterday from being in an unfamiliar city that had A.L.O.T. of odd energy playing havoc with me. *shakes head*
It was enough of a drain that I was pretty lethargic for the entire day today.

Until we got into red rock country.

It doesn't matter that it's not my familiar Moab Red Rock country.
It's red rocks!!!

And everywhere I look.
There it is.
Red rock.
red rock.
red rock.

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!

Feel the happiness!!

And it's such a fun place to be, because the formations are different, the plant life is different, the chances of encountering a scorpion are probably much higher.

But I love seeing all the different trees in the area.
In this particular red rock zone,
The trees are soo green and sooo tall and Wow.

It's either I usually don't go to redrock country in the spring when it's all green...
Or this place is green.

But I love it anyways.
There's a different sort of energy from the forests that I also enjoy.
 Usually I encounter it in Oregon or Colorado.
But here? Not so much.
And to find it here. WITH red rocks?

Forests and Redrocks?

Oh yes. I can't wait to explore this place.
I'm so excited. ^^

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Traveling

I love getting away from College Town.
Vacations? 
Enjoy them lots! It's just a fun feeling to leave the familiar and go get some fresh air elsewhere.
New perspectives, new energy, the ability to unwind, and just....get away from it all.

The problem with going away on vacation?
The fact that it totally ends up stressing me out the first day or so I'm on vacation. 
Especially if we're heading to a new area I've never been to before. 
>.< Ugh. 

Which usually means that I end up suffering from a headache the first day or two I'm away from the 'familiar' of home.
Sometimes it's worse than that. Where I actually feel sick and such.
Other times it's a faint ache that goes away quickly. 

But basically, traveling away from familiar territory isn't always good to me.
No matter how I try to prepare. 
It just...happens. 

*exhales* 

Hopefully it's just the fatigue that's causing the headache. The tension of sitting in a car all day....
Hopefully.

Guess I won't know until tomorrow as we continue to head to our vacation destination. :) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Note: I may or may not be posting for the next weekish due to being on vacation. :) 

It's Not So Simple In Zombie Mode

Yesterday was a day of....well torturing myself really.
Because I'm apparently super stubborn. lol.

So.
It was one of those nights where my brain decided to dream that I was getting ready for work, already at work....when I woke up for reals to go to work.
Considering that I'd already done the whole 'prep' thing (albeit less successfully) in my dream, it seemed like my brain/body hadn't gotten enough rest.

I hadn't thought much about it when I actually got up.
Because I'm always a little bit sleepy when it comes to waking up....
But as I got into work, and still felt tired...fatigued....I knew...today was going to be rough.

If I was already super tired and I hadn't even been at work an hour yet....the rest of my 8 hour shift was going to be torture.

Still, I thought that I could make it through easily enough. Just buy myself a Dr. Pepper for a caffeine fix, and that should be able to get me through the day until I could go home and take a much needed nap.

The Problem?
The vending machine at work was all out of Dr. Pepper.
Y_Y
I mean....I could have bought another caffeinated drink. Mountain Dew, CocaCola, etc.
But....it doesn't give me the same boost as Dr. Pepper does.

So fatigued brain thought it was a great idea to just go without any caffeine through work.
Which meant I ended up feeling like a bit of a zombie the entire shift. lol.
Thankfully, the naps I took on break seemed to help me survive at least.

And I was more than grateful to get off work.
Only....I couldn't go home yet.

You see, I needed to reregister my car, or whatever it's called...basically go get it's safety and emissions tests done so that I can be street legal to drive my car or whatever.

It should have been the sort of thing where I could have been like "Oh, I'll just do that a different day."
However.
I was on a deadline.
As I'm heading out of town for nearly the rest of the month.
And if I didn't do it now....waiting til the last two days before the month ends to get registered....just seems like an all around bad idea. I mean...what if something happens and I can't get whatever I need to get done, done before the month ends? I'd be driving around illegally that's what.

So. Forcing myself and my lagging energy into my car.
I drove over to the nearest Jiffy Lube, telling myself that I could survive another hour to get my car checked out before I went home to take a nap.

Only to find out as I pulled up to that Jiffy Lube....that they currently couldn't do both parts of the inspection. They didn't have the equipment...which I found odd as I could have sworn I had that particular location do my check last year....So perhaps their machine was broken or anything.

Nearly I thought about calling it quits then and there,
But the people told me that their sister location up on Center had both services available. And that was only like a five minute drive up the road.
So....I drove up the road.
And thankfully the procedure was quicker than expected.
The guy was like "You're all set! We just need to print out---Oh."
And you know what that OH was?
It was the OH of REJECTION.
My car hadn't passed it's safety.
-Which proved to me that it was a good thing I hadn't waited until the end of the month to get this check done.
Because what did I need to do to pass the inspection?

Replace 3 of my 4 tires.

Which since I was replacing 3 of them...might as well replace all four right? Right.
And they needed to be replaced because the tires had gone into 'second rubber'
Which...is probably a bad thing.
Well, definitely a bad thing lol. Since it meant that I Didn't Pass my inspection. >.< Boo.

And at that point I was like... Great.
Because here I was. In full on Zombie Mode of Fatigue.
And the easy little check....wasn't so easy.
Because I now needed to go spend $$$$$ on Tires to get my car fixed.
Ugh.

So I did what I could only think of doing at that point in time.
I went to Wendy's. To get myself my comfort food of a Crispy Chicken Sandwich, Fries, and of course, a much needed Dr. Pepper while I debated about what to do.
Did I get the tires today?
Did I try to get them tomorrow before work?
Did I ask Kikay to go get my cars tires for me while I'm out of town?
Do I wait until I get back and try my luck there?

In the end....with the help of the Dr. Pepper.
and the fact that there was a Discount Tires Store just across the way from Wendy's.
I bit the bullet of not getting my nap for a while longer, and drove to the tire store.

Why that particular one?
Because the last time we'd bought tires for my car, it had been at a Discount Tires in Hometown.
And apparently that meant that my car would be on their records, which would mean I could just request that they replace the tires with the same ones I had had before.

Though it seemed like everyone and their dad had that same idea.
As there were three other customers in line before me, and five or so others who came in after I was helped, all with problems with their tires.

Mine? 
Easy enough. Just needed to get all four replaced.
lol. Apparently the last time we got new tires for my car it was 2012. 
:S
Five years.
Yikes.

I didn't know if that was a long life span, short life span, or if I was flirting with danger for having not replaced the tires sooner than that.

So I asked, cus my curious nature had to know. 
Turns out tires are good for 3-5 years.
Therefore, I was still on the 'good long lasting tire' route which meant that I hadn't worn the tires down before their time. I was 'just right.'

In any case. It wasn't simply an easy "replace them with the same tires" because wouldn't you know it? They'd discontinued the making of that particular tire. Who knows how long ago.
But thankfully the rep guy made my life easy and just said "These ones are comparable, basically the same thing." and tired me was like "Great. How long is this going to take?" 

It took 45 minutes. Which surprisingly was how long they said it would take when I asked for an estimate. lol. and 30 of that minutes? Was spent waiting for them to actually get to my car. So you have to admire that they replaced all four tires and got them balanced and such in 15 minutes. 
(It's not Nascar...but still that's pretty quick.) 

And so $$$$$ spent and one exhausted me later.
I had new tires! Woot!

By this point I was totally ready to just curl up on the floor and sleep.
So I was like "Yah, not going to try and go back to Jiffy to get myself approved." 
I could wait until I got back from vaca and get it done then. 

Only, I apparently like to torture myself by seeing how long I could actually function awake....
And as I drove past another Jiffy Lube (the third one I'd gone to that day) I decided to pull in and see if they could help me out. I mean...it would only take like 10 minutes right for them to recheck my car. Right?

Wrong.
As unfortunately I'd chosen to show up half an hour before the place closed. 
And this particular Jiffy Lube was pretty busy with cars. Too busy to accept me for the day.
Though they suggested that I could try a Fourth Jiffy Lube that was just like six blocks down and see if they could get me in before close. 

Ha.
Ha.

No. 
I'd already been rejected at 2 of the 3 Jiffy Lubes I'd already visited.
I wasn't about to try my luck at a fourth.
Especially so close to closing.
And so close to me loosing my mind because guys....I needed to crash. Hard. In my bed. And Sleep. 

So I went home and did just that.
I crashed for 3 hours, which helped to pull me out of zombie mode if not fatigue mode. lol. 

In any case....looks like I'll be getting my car approved after I get back from vaca. 
But at least my stress levels are lower now that I got my car's tires fixed and such. So yay for that. :) 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

An Abandoned Roadside

One evening as night was falling, I was driving with my children when I noticed a boy walking along a lonely road.
After passing him, I had a distinct impression I should go back and help him.
But worried it could frighten him to have a stranger pull up beside him at night, I continued driving.
The strong impression came again with the words in my mind: "Go help that boy!'

I drove back to him and asked, "Do you need some help?
I had a feeling I should help you."

He turned toward us and with tears streaming down his cheeks said, "Would you?
I've been praying someone would help me."

His prayer for help was answered with the inspiration that came to me.
This experience of receiving such clear direction from the Spirit left an unforgettable imprint that is still I my heart.

And now after 25 years and through a tender mercy, I connected again with this boy for the first time just a few months ago.
I discovered that the experience isn't just my story--it is his story too.
Deric Nance is now a father with a family of his own.
He too has never forgotten this experience.
It helped us lay a foundation of faith that God hears and answers our prayers.
Both of us have used it to teach our children that God is watching over us.
We are not alone.

On that night, Deric had stayed after school for an activity and had missed the last bus.
As a young teenager, he felt confident he could make it home, so he started walking.

An hour and a half had passed as he walked the lonely road.
Still miles from home and with no houses in sight, he was scared.
In despair, he walked behind a pile of gravel, got on his knees, and asked Heavenly Father for help.
Just minutes after Deric returned to the road, I stopped to provide the help he prayed for.

And now these many years later, Deric reflects: "The Lord was mindful of me, a skinny, shortsighted boy.
And despite everything else going on in the world, He was aware of my situation and loved me enough to send help.
The Lord has answered my prayers many times since that abandoned roadside.
His answers aren't always as immediate and clear, but His awareness of me is just as evident today as it was that lonely night.
Whenever the dark shadows of life blanket my world, I know He always has a plan to see me safely home again."

As Deric expressed, not every prayer is answered so quickly.
But truly our Father knows us and hears the pleadings of our hearts.
He accomplishes His miracles one prayer at a time, one person at a time.

-Jean A. Stevens -"Fear Not; I am with Thee"  -April 2014 General Conference

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Not A Customer

Okay.
I have to say that this honestly hasn't happened to me before at work.
Which considering I've been at work longer than almost everyone else...
Is surprising.

What happened?

Well.
There I was.
Focused on a task.

Which when I get super focused on said tasks, I have trouble comprehending 'non work' related things. Like that one time my brother dropped by and I didn't recognize him. lol.

This wasn't that sort of thing.

I was in the middle of scrubbing tanks.
Trying to go as fast as I could without killing my arm, because, while work wasn't as busy as it was yesterday, I was still dealing with customers consistently enough that if I didn't finish scrubbing soon...I would never finish.

So that was my frame of mind.
Scrub. Hurry. Scrub. Hurry.
I was completely focused on my task, focused on the tank in front of me.
When I heard a customer say behind me. "Hey can you help me get some fish."
Not looking up, I was like "Sure what fish do you need?"
There was silence, so I looked up expecting to see a customer.

And instead there stood one of the stockers with a bit of a smirk on his face.
lol *shakes head*
He'd altered his voice to sound more like a girl and then pretended to be a customer.

Honestly, I don't know what he was thinking when he did that.
But I'm pretty sure he was like. O.o That worked?!?! lol.

He actually asked me: "Did you think I was a customer?"

For a split second I thought about saying. "NO. I was just playing along."
But I doubted I could pull it off. So I shrugged and said; "Yah, you did."

And he got such a happy expression on his face before he walked away. lol.

I guess he didn't expect to fool me like that?
Which, honestly, if I had looked up before I answered I would have saved myself from looking kinda foolish.
But hey, it made his day. *shrugs*

Of course, if it was him trying to scare me I doubt it would have worked.
Pretending to be a customer....yah, it will probably get me every time if I'm focused on a task or not looking around when the 'customer' approaches.

>.>
<.<
Guess I'll have to keep an eye out and see if he tries it again lol.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

On the Hunt

You know, I thought it was stressful a couple years back when a couple of friends and I were apartment hunting in CollegeTown.

First it was like. You gotta find places that are for rent, in the area you want, in the price range you want, with the size that you want, etc etc.
And then!
When you finally find a place that you want to check out in person.
There's the dreaded phone call, where you have to set up an appointment with whoever is in charge of selling contracts/apartments/homes for rent etc etc.
And then. THEN!
You either get to see the apartment only to find out a little bit later that someone else scooped up the apartment before you.
Or else you don't even get to see the apartment because someone else scooped it up before you could even see it.

Ugh!! Sooo frustrating.

But what's interesting is that apparently those who are selling the contracts for the rooms experience the same thing.

Where you have random strangers express interest in your room that you're trying to rent out.
And some never show up to their appointments.
Others show up, say they'll get back to you....and then never do.
And others...cancel last minute so you were stressing about making a good impression and having a nice clean house....for nothing.

*exhales*

Yah, I kinda miss the days in student housing, where you didn't have to worry about filling a room, the management would just fill it when a room emptied out...and if they didn't fill the room....it wasn't anything to you. It just meant one less roommate to worry about.

So interesting the differences.
Between apartments and houses, student housing and landlords. Totally crazy.

I'll be glad when we don't have to worry about finding another roommate any more.
*fingers crossed*

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

October 2014 General Conference -Sunday Afternoon

M. Russell Ballard -Stay in the Boat and Hold On!

• We are on the old ship Zion. God is at the helm and will stay there. All is right, sing Hallelujah, for the Lord is here. He dictates, guides and directs. If the people will have implicit confidence in their God, never forsake their covenants nor their God, He will guide us right.
• If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?
• Stay focused on the simple things, and avoid becoming distracted.

Richard G. Scott -Make the Exercise of Faith Your First Priority

• Despite all of the negative challenges we have in life, we must take time to actively exercise our faith.
• Parents, help safeguard your children by arming them morning and night with the power of family prayer. Children are bombarded every day with the evils of lust, greed, pride, and a host of other sinful behaviors. Protect your children from daily worldly influences by fortifying them with the powerful blessings that result from family prayer.
• We came to mortal life precisely to grow from trials and testing. Challenges help us become more like our Father in Heaven, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes it possible to endure those challenges.

Carlos A. Godoy -The Lord Has a Plan for Us!

• If you continue to live as you are living, will the blessings promised in your patriarchal blessing be fulfilled?
• It's not always a decision between what is right and wrong, but between what is good and what is better.
• The best paths in life are rarely the easiest.
• Are we willing to pay the price for our decisions? Are we prepared to leave our comfort zones to reach a better place?
• We are not here in this life just to waste our time, grow old, and die. God wants us to grow and achieve our potential.
• It is very likely that when we decide to take a certain path, the people we love will be affected, and some will even share with us the results of this choice.
• Just because things are going well does not mean that we should not from time to time consider whether there might be something better.

Allan F. Packer -The Book

• Seeking the kingdom of God leads to joy and happiness.
• If needed, we must be willing to change. Frequent small corrections are less painful and disruptive than large course corrections.
• The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is that a man and his wife and their children can be happy at home.
• Don't fight the change, embrace it! Change is part of the great plan of happiness.
• It's time to take the cover off our hatchets and go to work.

Hugo E. Martinez -Our Personal Ministries

• He who serves in some thing is good for something; he who serves in no thing is good for nothing.

Larry S. Kacher -Trifle Not with Sacred Things

• There are many currents in this earthly life--some safe and others not.
• Why would I turn away from that which had brought me such great comfort?
• If we can create a strong, steady current flowing toward our goal of righteous life, we and our children may be carried forward in spite of the contrary winds of hardship, disappointment, and temptations.

David A. Bednar -Come and See

• The Church of Jesus Christ always has been and always will be a missionary church.

Thomas S. Monson -Until We Meet Again

• My we resolve in our hearts to be a little better than we have been in the past. May we be a little kinder and more thoughtful.

General Women's Session

Linda K. Burton -Prepared in a Manner That Never Had Been Known

• Worthy character is best forged from a life of consistent, correct choices centered in the teachings of the Master.

Jean A. Stevens -Covenant Daughters of God

• The best way to strengthen a home, current or future, is to keep covenants.

Neill F. Marriott-Sharing Your Light

• You carry a circle of influence with you wherever you go.
• You are vibrant and enthusiastic beacons in an ever-darkening world as you show, through the way you live your lives, that the gospel is a joyful message.
• if you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself.
• In all events, a mother can exert an influence unequaled by any other person in any other relationship.

Dieter F. Uchtdorf -Living the Gospel Joyful

• Bring sunshine into the lives of all who know you.
• It is good to remember that you are always a child of God.
• But your divine origin alone does not guarantee you a divine inheritance.
• Heavenly Father is constantly raining blessings upon us. It is our fear, doubt, and sin that, like an umbrella, block these blessings from reaching us.

Until you next see these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Lil Tradition

The Miss USA pageant was on tonight.

And I honestly wouldn't have realized it was on -because my TV doesn't get stations currently. (just good old Netflix and DVDs)

Until my mom brought up that it was.

And tried as I could to see if I could stream the show online.

...I couldn't.

Which was rather depressing, because guys...it's 2017, shouldn't everything be available online yet?!! ;) lol.

But in any case.

It was mostly the thought of "awww."

Because when I was younger.

It was a tradition for Mother Dearest and I to watch the pageants together.

Miss USA being the most common, but we'd watch the others as well.

With occasionally my siblings and my Daddoo joining in. lol.

But we'd watch it together, first to see what everyone's names were.

Because obviously if one of the state representatives had my name I totally wanted them to win!

And if Kikay was present, we'd divide up the contestants Brown/Black hair against Blonde/Red hair (since Kikay and I have different hair colors) and have 'my team' against 'her team' so we could see which of us would 'win' in the end. lol.

Once the introductory stage of the pageant was over.

It came down to the states and the first elimination round.

We'd cross our fingers. Hope that my Mom's childhood home state, and our current home state would make it past the first elimination.

(It's a rare blue moon occurrence for that to happen.)

And the competition would go on.

We'd mourn our favorites being slowly kicked out of the running as the group was whittled down smaller and smaller and smaller.

The highlight of the show for sure is the Evening Gowns though. ^^ lol. We'd rate how much we love the dresses from 1-10.

;) usually the one with the prettiest dress we wanted to win of course.

And then.

The final questions.

The final moments.

The "Who is going to win?!"

And either celebration or quiet mourning if our chosen contestant won/lost.

lol.

It was a fun family tradition growing up.

And being reminded of it tonight had me feeling quiet nostalgic.

I love those quiet moments.

Those simple bonding times.

Those little traditions that stay around. :)

It's the best.

Until you next read these words;

I'll be watching the leaves.

Enjoy the day!

-Sarnic Dirchi

Who Am I In Social Media Land?

Social Media is an interesting place.

Because with a few words, a couple of pictures, and other odds and ends....

You can portray yourself however you wished to be portrayed.

The fashionista. The up and coming chef, the mystery writer, the landscape photographer, the person who gushes constantly about their significant other or their children. The person obsessed with a series of comics.

You can basically make yourself out to be whoever you want to be.
And it's not always the truth.
Or if it is the truth, it may only be a partial truth.
Like choosing to only talk about the good things and make things appear better than they are in reality.

And it's interesting, the perspectives that people can have of you because of that.
Occasionally those perspectives being totally different from what you had intended in the first place.

*shakes head*

And since Social Media is a huge part of our lives nowadays, where we learn and connect and feel for each other through words/images on a screen.
It's easy to think that you know the person well based off of what they decide to put up on internet land.

Yet.
It's never the full picture.
You never see the full persona of the person in internet land.
Just as it's hard to see the full persona in real life too I suppose. Not without constant contact with the individual to see the different facets of themselves. How they react in public, in private, to things they like or don't like.

*exhales*

In any case.

It's interesting to see how people take what you place onto social media platforms.

Most of the time, for me, I try to go for funny/inspirational.
It's things that I find inspiring, things I find funny, things where I can only shake my head and laugh and go "seriously?"
My goal is to give people a reason to smile throughout the day.
To occasionally make them think.
And to often uplift and inspire them. Give them a boost throughout the day.

But I suppose it doesn't always come off like that.

It may come across that I hate my job because I'm constantly posting short snippets about customers I've had to deal with.
Or that I'm seriously struggling with writing because I'm complaining about how hard it is.
Or that I'm some goodie goodie naïve girl who doesn't understand the world isn't as nice as I make it out to be.

Which is kinda eyebrow raising when it's brought to my attention.

Do I hate my job?
No. No. I don't.
I complain out of love. Out of a fond exasperation.
Just like a parent would be like "You won't believe what little Jimmy did to the dog today." sort of thing.
Some days at work are harder to deal with than others. Like any job really. You have good days and bad days.
But I truly do enjoy where I work. If I didn't like it, I wouldn't have stayed as long as I have. Because it's always been my goal to work at a place I love.
And I love my job.
The animals I can take care of, the people I can help, the sense of accomplishment I feel.
It's great.
And my job has helped me to grow more comfortable with interacting with people, getting their stories, learning that there are just some people you can't understand, and just basically enjoying making connections.

And it's interesting to see that people don't get that. That I'm complaining out of love. lol.
My sister doesn't. She sees the posts I make and wonders "Why don't I just quit?"
I've gotten that same response from others friends and family in the past as well. lol because they didn't realize that I'm just posting because it's fun to talk about work, to complain a bit, to show that "wow...people say weird things and do weird things."

Writing. *exhales* Ah.
Writing is a challenge that's for sure.
And again I try to make my struggles fun to read. Complaining because geez, writing is hard.
I may know the steps, may know the process, may know what to do.
But honestly, if your brain won't cooperate with your fingers and you work yourself into a corner and can't think a way out....
Ya gotta complain about it somewhere. Let the frustration out. As often venting a bit can help you find the clarity you need for a problem.
It's not that I'm posting about writing to look for help.
I'm posting to try and give people a smile as I deal with my own frustrations. lol.

But I think the main challenge I see from people who see me in social media land....(and in real life too...)
Is that often they tend to categorize me as this naïve innocent person, who will step out of their happy little bubble one day, see the world is on fire and go AHHHH!!! THE WORLD IS ON FIRE HELP ME I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I DIDN'T REALIZE THE WORLD WAS ON FIRE!!

*shakes head*
I know the world is burning. I know that life isn't easy. I know that people think differently than me, feel differently than me, understand and see the world differently than me.
That doesn't mean that I can't keep up a positive outlook on life though. That I can't connect and be friends with people who are different than me. That I can't be both 'innocent' and understand that the world has some dark corners to it.
*exhales*
It's not like I don't have my own inner demons to deal with, that I don't watch the news, that I don't read books or watch movies.

I just choose to....try and find the positive I suppose. To not focus on the negative as much.
lol. It doesn't stop me from ranting here on the blogs on occasion, or banging my head against the keys over at Facebook ranting that once again I have another stupid headache or I've come across another writer's block, or wow I had to deal with six customers in a row that got on my nerves....

*shrugs*
Yah...I dunno what I'm trying to say really....
Only that....I'm not the full person you think I am. (No one is on social media, there's always something that they're not telling you.)
I try to show as much of my persona in social media as I can, try to be 'the real me.' Try to show who I truly am.
Via Blogger, Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter....
But each platform doesn't always give people the whole picture me. Some give a very skewed image, others show a bigger picture...
I don't even know if it's possible if someone actually follows every single platform I use, for them to even then, see a more complete picture as to who I am. lol. *shakes head*

The musing dreaming blogger, the idealistic Facebooker, the fanatical Tumblrling, the spiritual but baseball obsessed Twitterer.

And even then....the picture isn't complete.
After all, people will only know you through what you choose to show them.

People are complicated. That's for sure.
There's always another story, another reason, a different perspective that may come to light depending on how the stars align and the situation unfolds.

I suppose that's what makes it fun. Social Media. Because you get to see just how similar or different everyone is to you. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi