Ripple Effects

 I feel for my coworkers. 

Like. 

With the events that happened on campus yesterday. 

I'm affected...but not that affected.

There's a connection. It's my school. I was on campus recently. I know the area. I work nearby.

But I wasn't there.

My coworkers though?

Not so much.

Interacting with them today it was interesting to see the various takes on it.

From the "Oh I wasn't there but I had friends and family who were there who saw everything."

to "I wasn't there but I live in the apartments nearby so I'm affected because of the helicopters and the blocked roads and the lockdown that happened."

to "I was eating lunch in the courtyard nearby and heard the shot, saw the people running, and so I took off running." 

It's...it's intense. To have to field all those different emotions all my coworkers are going through.

To try and lend an understanding ear and be there for them. And support them.

Especially to my one coworker who had to run. They were literally shaking as they were telling me about it. 

Like that's trauma right there.

And it hurts that so many people were affected because of one person. Because they felt they had to act in such a horrible manner.

And I'm left trying to figure out how to help out my coworkers to try and ease their pain to help bring light back into their lives. To make it better for them so that they can get through another day. Get out of their heads. Move forward. and like...rebuild the trust. Rebuild the security.

I feel for my coworkers.

That is not an event I would want anyone to have to go through. 

Especially since they're still searching for answers. Still searching for the suspect. 

I feel like there's still going to be a sense of unease for a while. Until he's found. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Losing the Safe Feeling

 It's been one of those days that's been ... hard to kinda ... reflect? Reflect on. 

One of those days filled with a lot of Doom scrolling to try and understand why and how and for what purpose. 

There was a political influencer shot and killed at my alma mater today. 

Which I was only vaguely aware of this dude before the events of today. But from what I've seen....I would disagree with a lot of his stances. If not all of them. 

Mostly because he's aligned with the political party that I absolutely despise at the moment. Nothing good is coming from that current administration and I am doing my best to stay far far far far far away from it and anyone who has anything positive to say about what they're doing.

That being said.

I do not believe anyone should have been gunned down like that.

It's horrible. It's despicable. 

Especially because I hear his wife and kids were right there on the front row.

Like. Sure. There's a difference of opinion. 

But no one. No One. Should be a witness to that. No one should have their spouse or parent taken away like that. No one should have to go to bed tonight knowing that their loved one isn't there with them.

I've seen video. And it's awful seeing just how quickly life can be cut short. How events can go from positive 'let's talk it out and debate it' moments to screams and terror and trauma.

I feel for those people who witnessed it and the trauma all the students must be going through now. To have that safety net cut away from them. To now have that moment etched into their minds. Like how can one go back to school after such an event? Walk into that courtyard or even by that courtyard after such a thing?

And it's struck home in multiple ways.

Not just because THAT's MY SCHOOL. 

I've walked those halls. Been in that courtyard.

I was literally there a couple weekends ago with friends Pokemon hunting for fun. I was literally in that courtyard! I had sat at the top of the bowl by the fountains watching a child and their parents play along the stones nearby. 

It hits hard. 

That school has been a safe place for me for years. Like I haven't been to college in over a decade. But I still drop by on occasion. Mostly to just catch Pokemon on community events. But like. That was a safe place. And it hurts to know that violence happened there.

It's nerve wracking knowing that the shooter is still at large. 

Like I work minutes from campus. 

My job is right there.

If the shooter is local there's a huge chance I may have encountered them at some point in the past. Whether at my job or somewhere like grocery shopping. 

There's just that sense of safety that's been shaken.

Like the likelyhood of me specifically being a target is low.

The shooter clearly had a motive and one target. 

So it's unlikely that my safety is actually a concern in this particular case.

But it's worrisome. Knowing how close danger can be to you. Knowing that someone was able to do that right here in College town. 

So it's not surprising that I've been doomscrolling all day. Looking for footage of the shooter. Putting on the amateur detective hat and trying to figure out how they got on the roof from what I know of campus. Figure out where they may have gone. What routes they may have taken to get away. Wondering if they left the area or tried to blend in. If they jumped on the nearby highway or fled into the city. 

Also just find it amazing how the modern age makes it so there's a higher chance of there being footage of the shooter. Of the person being found. Like even now there's been a couple different perspective videos released from people on campus who just happened to film something suspicious or happened to have the right angle during the event to capture the person in the distance. 

There's just so much. 

So much to comprehend. 

And I'm kinda grateful that I was off today and home safe. 

Because I don't know how I would have handled it if I'd found out all this while I was at work. Where I was much closer to the shooter's location. 

Not sure how I'll handle it tomorrow when I go in to work...since the shooter is still at large.....

Hopefully they find the person soon.

Because again. No one deserves to go like that. No matter what their opinion or stance or belief is. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi 

All The Youngins

It's not unusual for us to get field trips at work.

Like going to go see animals at a pet store is far less expensive than like....traveling all the way up to the next valley over and paying the park fee to go see the animals in the zoo.

Really, all it takes is a bus ride and people willing to watch over everyone for it to work out.

And usually these field trips revolve into to types.

Either they're a bunch of young elementary students.

Or they're people -of varying ages- with special needs. 

So it was rather confusing today to look outside the window and see a school bus stopped outside our doors...with high school students getting out.

But I'm guessing the high school students were helping out in some sort of 'big brother/sister' sort of way??

Because there were also a bunch of younger kids with them too. Either preschool or like maybe 1st grade age.

So we had a good 15-20 kids come streaming into the store, with basically as many teenagers to watch them.

And overall. It wasn't too bad.

The kids ran all over looking at things. The high schoolers kept an eye on them....

I stayed far far far away from them all, circling around them but not sticking around too long.

Because, while I still had animals I needed to feed...I knew the moment I opened any of the cages I would be bombarded by kids wanting to see the animal or hold it or pet it.

And I wasn't in the mood to be mobbed by like 30 kids.

So I just let them look at them through the glass.

And waited patiently for them to leave twenty minutes later after they were done looking before I continued on with my tasks.

But yah.

It was different. Having the high schoolers there. Like you don't really see them come into the store for field trip related reasons.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

DinoDay

So there's this 'new' dinosaur museum outside of Arches National Park.
I say 'new' because I'm pretty sure it's been around for like maybe 5 years or so.
So it's new but not brand spanking new.

But in any case.
My family hasn't had the chance to go visit this place.
Mostly because we didn't have time to.

But these past couple of months.
Daddoo has gotten back into dinosaurs. recollecting figurines he had as a child and doing research and who knows what else.
So he was anxious to visit this dinomuseum that he hadn't been to before.
And considering some of the others coming with us on this particular vacation also love dinosaurs...

It was kinda  a no brainer to go to this place lol.

I mean, I'd seen it from the road.
As there are these giant life-like dinosaurs that you can see as you drive by.
I thought it was kinda...well silly.

But no.
Being there in person.
Close up to these dinosaur models.
It was actually really cool.
Cool to see the different colors and patterns and really weird because the dinos all almost seemed to have feathers on them in some parts instead of only scales/skin. 
So weird.

But my favorite part for sure of this place.
Was that they had an 'aquarium' 
Where you would be taken on a guided tour through a 'lab' of sorts.

It was like a 3D tour because you had to wear these special glasses.
And projected on the screen were the 'aquariums'
Where they would show you life-like animations of sea creatures that lived back in dinosaur times and the models would move and blink and open their mouths and swim away and swim back and ah.
It was awesome!!

I honestly could have spent like twenty minutes in front of each 'tank' watching the thirty second loop of each creature doing it's thing.
It was fun because it was one of the more lifelike experiences I've had and I just...Ah 
I loved it.

It was a great experience and I'm glad I was able to go with the fam to see it. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi 

Noise Noise Noise

It's been a while since I've been to a High School Graduation.

I don't remember them being that loud. 

*shakes head*

Of course the ones I remember going to happened in like a concert hall of sorts.
So being loud and noisy wasn't as encouraged.

This High School Graduation ceremony was in the College's sports arena.

….the same building I was in like...two weeks ago to see my friend graduate college.

lol though this time around I was able to sit in a softer seat.
So yay for avoiding uncomfortable hard bleacher seats.

But at the same time.
The difference between College Graduation and High School graduation was...drastic.

The college one? 
When people's names were called there were short whoops. A lot of applause. Nothing that I couldn't handle.

High School graduation?

It was like being at a sports game.
There were air horns.
Loudly screaming people.

Like there was an entire row below me that screamed their heads off for a good minute straight when their graduate's name was announced.
Like they were so loud and irritating and long in their screaming that the dude announcing the names of the high school graduates had to wait until they stopped before he was able to continue calling out the names.

It was crazy.
I hated it.

I hate loud noises.
I hate loud people.

And it was basically two hours of that sort of thing.
Gah.
Just gah.

Note to self.
Avoid any more high school graduations until I have kids of my own who are graduating.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Convocation

I went to a Convocation today. To celebrate one of my friends graduating college.
Woot!

It's definitely a wonderful feeling to finally be free of homework, tests, the stresses of school life and schedules.

Lol. But it definitely is weird venturing back to the college.
Especially since it's been a couple of years since I've really set foot in the place.

So much has changed since I graduated myself. 

So much.

Still. It was fun to wander about, refamiliarize myself with places.
Sit in the stands....
Remember my own Convocation/Commencement. 

lol *shakes head*

It's crazy.

But it was fun being there to support my friend.
I'm glad I could make it to their graduation. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

This is the End?

I've been thinking about school again.
Not surprising considering the time of year it is.
With all the back to school sales and such happening. 
Like I think both colleges in Happy Valley are going to be starting up in the next couple of weeks.

So the city is getting more crowded as students flock back in for the fall/winter semester. 

But no....
I was mostly thinking about the end of semesters. 
When you're sitting in class for the last time.

How it's weird that more often than not.
It doesn't feel like the last class.

Like you leave knowing you're never going to step in that classroom again with the same teacher and the same classmates...

But it doesn't feel like it.
The class usually ends with an air of "I'll be teaching you more tomorrow."

But then the teacher doesn't.
Because the block has ended.
The semester is over.
When the new semester starts they're just going to start all over back at the beginning with a new set of students. 

*shakes head*
I wasn't ever fond of that feeling.
Of that aura of "there is more I can teach you" 
Because I like things to have an 'ending' point. 
A distinct cut off.
So I actually feel like I accomplished something.

….
What's funny.
Is that all this thinking comes from watching an Anime show lol. 
Last night I pulled up "The Devil is a Part Timer" on Netflix. 
Just cus the premise of "The devil gets stuck on earth in human form and must take a job to earn a living" was one where I was like "This could be good or this could be bad."

lol spoiler.
It's good. ^^;;
I binged 9 of the 13 episodes last night before being good and going to bed so I could wake up for work.

But like.
I love it.
It's a great series.
And I'm so sad that it only has one season right now.

Especially because season one ended in such a weird spot.
Like....I could see how it's a semi-ending.
But like the last day of school feeling...
It feels like there should have been a lot more to the story.
Especially considering I googled information on the show and discovered there's so much more to the manga story. Enough to bring in a second season at least. One where you could get a bit more in depth with backgrounds and such.

*exhales*
>.>
Guess I'll have to see if I can get the manga in and see how the story continues. ^^;; 

But yah.
It's weird when there are endings....that don't feel like endings. *exhales* 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Old Stomping Grounds

I ventured back onto my college campus today. 
Which was halfway weird because it's been a couple of years since I've gone over there.
….Like....I don't really remember going since I moved into my new place...and I've been here for two years. So yah. 

*shakes head*
It's kinda interesting how you go somewhere so consistently for days, months or even years on end.
And then just stop. 

Even after I graduated from college, I could still be found on campus.
Mostly because I was still living in student housing and to be considered a 'student' I had to go to 'school.' 
Which I got around by going to Institute.

Which I stopped 'needing' to go to when I moved out of my last apartment complex.
And that's about the point I was seriously trying to do more writing.....which I found easier to do at home.

Thereby...I stopped dropping by. ^^;; 

Lol 
So it was....kinda weird to come to campus today.
I mean, my school is constantly growing. So there's like two or three new buildings that have popped up since I was last there. O.o Totally weird.
Plus going inside the place it was just like "That used to be something else. Those weren't there before. Huh that place changed." 
*shakes head*

So weird.

So why was I there?
^^;; lol I was Pokémon Hunting.
There was an event today. 

But unfortunately, due to the fires...the air outside is rather....smokey and not something you really want to be walking around in a lot. 

And the nice thing about my campus is that all the buildings are connected.
So you can wander around the entire campus and never need to go outside. ^^;; 
Plus, there were a lot of Stops/Gyms there to aid with the capturing of Pokémon lol.

So for an hour -as I was at work for the first half of the event- I wandered around the halls of my school.

So weird to be back there.
So weird.
I'm halfway expecting to dream about it now really. Because it felt nearly like a dream being back in there. 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A Chance....Gone

*Exhales*

So I've brought it up a time or two before. 
My High School Reunion.

Because the thing has had me both excited and nervous.
But mostly nervous. 

Because like I haven't seen almost all these people since we graduated. 
And of course it's always the thoughts of 'what will they think of me?!" 
Because I'm seeing all the things that they've accomplished and done and wonder...can I even compare? Is it worth going?

But like.
I wanted to go.
Because a) I want to see my classmates. 
b) I wanted to see if High School Reunions were at all like the Reunions portrayed in books/shows/movies. Cus you know...writer me has to be curious how accurate the tropes are. 
and c) *shrugs* Romantic me was hoping to reconnect. See if any of the guys I crushed on in High School were still single or not. You know. Find True Love. ;) lol. 

It was an event that was probably being built up as more dramatic in my mind than the reality would be. It would have probably been uneventful. 
Listening to people gush about their spouses and see pictures of their children. 
And I would just be there, hanging back in the corner, watching and observing, and only talking to a handful of people. 

*exhales* 

Only.
A couple of days ago.
I got a notice.

My High School Reunion....

Was cancelled. 

:( :( :( :( 

It was depressing really to hear.
I've been lowkey stressing about this even since the beginning of the year.
And now....it's not happening.

Why?
Apparently there was some scheduling conflicts---which weird since this event has been in the works for three months now and suddenly there's conflicts?
And....not enough people had purchased tickets indicating that they were coming....which meant that funds weren't where they needed to be in order to pay for catering and who knows what else. 

>.>
It does make me wonder how many people were planning to come if they couldn't afford the costs of the reunion. 

*exhales*
In any case.
There's talk of holding the reunion at a park....which is what they did for the 5 year thing....we'll see if it actually goes through or not. 

But still....it is disappointing.
To have it cancelled. 
Because even though it was stressing me out....I was looking forward to it. Y_Y 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Removed From The Scene

I honestly don't know why work likes to do these demonstration things. 
Like...I get that it's supposed to be a teaching exercise and such...
But really....*shakes head* I do think they're kinda pointless. 

In any case.
Today was another "Event" day. Where work wanted us to do another thingymababber.
This time involving a "Fish Tank Set Up Demo"

Which...you know would probably have been a lot cooler and interesting if you like...actually put water in the tank and such and plugged it all in and everything.
But nope.
Dry demonstration. 
-Which makes sense because like the event is three hours long. So it makes sense that you don't want to constantly be filling and emptying the tank of water, because that takes time. And I would need to repeat this demonstration multiple times. 

Still. Pretty boring event really.
Who wants to watch me place gravel in a tank, decorate it real quick, and then put in the filter and heater, all the while explaining each step, and such? 

Only like maybe 12 people total? Maybe 6? I don't know. Small number.
lol People were more interested in the drawing to win the small tank than anything else. 
So a lot of it was just me standing there looking pretty. ;) lol. 

In any case.
The fun fact about standing at a table for 3 hours.
Is that I was scheduled to be at that table.
Which meant, I couldn't really leave the event to go elsewhere in the store. 

So it was kinda interesting to kinda be like the eye of the storm.
I could see the chaos swirling around me quite easily. 
See when Cashiers were needing backup.
See when my department needed backup.

And like...I just stood there....doing the demo. 

Which, is halfway very frustrating because me at my core...I want to help. 
But was also rather nice because like...I didn't get caught up in the stress of trying to help everyone at once because suddenly there are fifty people in the store all needing help at the same time. (okay exaggeration, but it got crazy busy all at once.) 
So at least I avoided tensing myself up like crazy. ^^;; Heh. 

But I did try to help when I could. 
I wasn't supposed to have my radio on me while I was doing the demo. 
But I ended up putting the earpiece in my ear anyway so I could be aware of what was happening in the store, and let my coworkers know when there was backup needed or when customers needed help.
So like...I felt a bit like an air traffic controller really.
Helping as much as I could when I needed to be stationed where I was at. 

^^;; 

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

A New Stress Added

You ever have those moments when it's like "Subtract one worry, add in three more?" 

Yah. 
Experiencing that. 
Which, if I'm trying to avoid having headaches all the time....is not something that I should be doing.
I shouldn't be worrying about so many things.
Especially when a lot of them aren't in my control in the first place.
Yet here I am doing exactly that. 

*shakes head*

So my worry of the week that I finally managed to cross out was basically "Survive the week." 
Because I was/am suffering from headaches, which may be mostly caused by the knowledge of how stressful it is to open my department at work by myself for like the entire week. 
Which, I probably will need to do again this week since a) classes are starting again for the colleges in the area and b) we still haven't HIRED anyone to replace the TWO people in my department I lost last month. And since those two people were both my openers and school starting means that people have classes in the morning....yah kinda expecting to be doing the 'open by myself' thing for a while. 
*shakes head*

In any case.
Managed to subtract that one stress in that I finished the week.
Added in another of "I just want to sleep in one of these days." (early morning workshifts get to me on occasion.) 

But these are the rather common stresses of the day.
the worry of work.
the worry of writing
the worry of blogging
etc etc.
Common stresses.
Things I can deal with and work at to become better at not stressing so much about them.

However, 
In the past day or two I've been notified of a new stress.

One that I can't really control beyond trying to not think about it.
And that stress?
Is my High School reunion.

It's been ten years, so therefore it's time for a 10 year reunion. 
Which, I actually do kinda look forward to.
I want to see people. Catch up. Connect. etc. Find out what's been going on, who's gotten married, had kids, who's working in which field, etc etc.

And I'm hoping that the 10 year reunion is a bit bigger than...well our 5 year one was. Where like only 20 people showed up. 

So yah. It's kinda exciting just to see what's changed, what's stayed the same.

Only.
I'm worrying about myself. 
What my high school classmates are going to think of me. 

I mean five years ago, I'd barely graduated from college, I was still pretty new to working at Starsmet. 
and it was semi awkward back then at that 5 year reunion.
When I was basically the only single person there. 
When everyone who'd shown up had shown up with a spouse. 
*exhales*

And now. Five years later. For the 10 year reunion....
It's like....I'm still single, not dating anyone, not in a serious relationship. Still working at Starsmet. 
Like...so many things have happened since the 5 year reunion
but in many other ways things have stayed pretty much the same.

and I guess I'm worrying about being judged.
Like. I look at a lot of the Facebook friends I have and most of the highschool ones are married with kids, living out their dream careers and....
It gets a bit off putting.
Stressful.
Wondering if I should be doing more.
If somewhere down the road I'd missed my chance.
Wondering what everyone is going to think of me when they hear I graduated college but I'm still working at a Retail store. At Starsmet. That I'm still single. That I'm this and that and the other. 

*exhales*
Yah. It's stressful.
Because I'm aware of other's potential opinions.
and while I love my job, love that I get to spend time writing fanfictions, bought 125 gallon fish tank, have gone on many vacations with my family....
It all somehow seems inadequate. 
*shakes head*

Really. I'm going to just square my shoulders, put a smile on my face, and go to this reunion. 
But I'm pretty sure once it's all said and done I'm going to be a shaking trembling mess once I get home. Will probably suffer from a major headache and such. 

So...it's that stress. For an event that's not going to happen for six more months....that has me a bit down.

Though maybe....just maybe....this 10 year reunion will have some positive outcomes to it. A chance to reconnect, To expand out friendships. Gain relationships....

*fingers crossed* Hopefully something good will come of going. Hopefully.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Internet Paranoia

There are some days when I think school hasn't taught me much at all.
And then there are others....when lessons I learned in school come back into play.
And I thank the teachers/situation/subject that taught me something that actually influenced my way of being.
Today...my thoughts have gone back to Junior High. I picture the usual lunchroom table I would sit at in the small gym with my friends.
But on this particular day...I think I had a health class.
And in that health class we went over the concept of AIDS. Watched a couple of videos I think about it and how you shouldn't treat people different because they do have AIDS. If I remember correctly they said it wasn't contagious.
I sat down at the lunch table. And pictured one of the kids in the video. Sitting down...and having everyone move away, because they were afraid of catching the disease.
They didn't understand. And didn't take the time to learn more about the problem before moving away.
It was then...thinking on that concept, that I decided that I wouldn't let that happen to me. If a person was sick...fine by me. There isn't any real reason to not treat them like normal if it's not contagious. More often then not, it just means a slight change in your routine if it is a problem.
Like Allergies. I remember in High School there being a girl who was a hugely allergic to peanuts. Yet she came to school anyway. and the only real change we had to make was to get rid of the peanuts in the school. She didn't act like it was a big problem. And so we didn't act like it was a big problem. We just had to remember not to open the reeses while she was in the room.
The most important thing is to remember. They're normal people.

So, the other day I was at the doctors. Doing the whole 'support thing.'
And the doctor said. "This isn't contagious. And I know in this generation you kids like to go look up everything on the internet. And just know. They put the worst case scenarios on there. The horrible pictures are in the 'rare' percentages. This is just mild. We caught it early. Avoid these certain things and walla. You'll be fine. No need to freak out about this, it will be gone soon enough."

I nodded. Okay. Don't look it up. I will believe the doctor. Plus my Daddoo -the nurse- can back up whatever the doctor said and if we didn't understand anything he will clarify it. It's just another sickness. Everything is still normal. but for a few days the routine just has to change slightly.

Yah....internet.
How badly it can freak people out.
I wanted to laugh when we heard the words "I looked it up on the internet" later that day.
And the freak out...happened.
"No! No. I looked it up on the internet. You see the other day when you were in this room...you were IN this room. So I kept everyone out of this room just to be safe."
*shakes head*
The whole aura of the air changed. My heart gave the sympathetic pit pat.
It was being blown out of proportion. Way. Way. Out of proportion.
Because the voice of command made it seem so logical to worry and be afraid.
And then it happened.
Different treatment.
I could see the hurt, though it was easy to hide from those who weren't looking for it.
I could see the need to be normal. To just feel normal. To not make a bit deal out of it.
And that wasn't being given, when it was needed most.

It was supposed to not be a big deal. Something to laugh about. "Oh, so you do work too hard." ;)
And just the opposite happened.
*sighs*
I wanted to yell at them. "GUYS! You're being soo paranoid!"
Seriously. You would have to lick the infected area to become infected as well....and I really didn't see that happening. O.o
This was such a mild case. not at all like the pictures on the internet. The precautions had been taken. There was no real need to worry.
It's not the black plague.

Hopefully things get back to normal soon though....
Because I didn't really see the need for it to become unnormal.
It wasn't contagious.
so why view it differently?
People interact with others who have colds all the time....and they don't get all paranoid about it...and those are actually contagious. Oh wait...the Swine Flu and Bird Flu brought out the paranoia But the common cold? It's common. Contagious. And we interact with those people all the time.
*shakes head*

They may be sick...but they're still normal.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was at some house party type place where they had a pool in the backyard.
It seemed like we were training for some sort of game.
With many people balancing on the diving boards and other places over the pool, trying to prove that they were the best. I mostly helped to train the others, as I wasn't important enough to train myself. It was like I was more of a servant person, helping the others by throwing snakes and bugs into the pool for them to get. There were two or three snakes that looked deadly but I think weren't poisonous though I didn't want to get near them. At one point I ended up balancing myself, but I fell in when my dad came and asked what I was doing. So I got my jeans and shirt all soaking wet.
I ended up at a tattoo parlor. I'm not sure what I was doing there. I wasn't there to get a tattoo or a manicure, but it seemed like I had shown up with a friend. I bought myself a couple of different candy bars...and skidaddled out of there because I needed to get back to my friends/family. We were going to go see a movie. The women in there thought I was crazy for hanging around but not getting a tattoo but I was just glad to get away from the dark place. I placed my blankets and stuffed animals, jasper, a deer, and a giant elephant of Kikay's into the back seat of the car and got into the drivers seat. I headed for the exit, but my brakes/gas pedal weren't working right. Or I was having trouble remembering which one was the brake. It was terrifying to try and stop the car but have no response. There were a couple of times where I almost ran my bike into traffic because the breaks weren't working right, plus I was having difficulties riding the bike. I couldn't make turns that well because my brakes wouldn't let me slow down in time so I had to figure out how to time my braking so I wouldn't crash into the walls as I rode along the freeway heading back to the theatre where my family was waiting. It was also difficult because the things in the back seat (carriage type conceopt that bikers do) kept falling out and I didn't want to loose any of those items. I finally did make it back to the blue roomed hallways of the theatre complex where my dad met me. I went inside the reception area heading towards the basement so I could see my friend Ali getting married or celebrating her reception. I was having problems with a runny nose though and there were tons of people there I knew so i was tryign to get rid of the mucous. I was heading for a bathroom when I ran into Kris, she took me to the bathroom to get cleaned up before joining the rest of the party. But I felt...like an intruder there. That I wasn't really wanted, so I soon left.....

then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

Upon the Shelf

So yesterday I was sitting in a High School Graduation.
Not participating...
Just spectatoring.
And ceremonies seemed to be going rather long....
It's strange how when you're not participating in the events that they take forever...
but when you are in the events...time seems to fly by.
Anywho.
I was randomly struck during one of the speeches, with a line...
inspired by something the speaker said.
And from that line...I wrote on my note pad app a short poem.
It's rough, but I thought I'd share it here for kicks and giggles.

I lay in wait upon the shelf.
Waiting for a hand,
To pick me up and dust me off
So I can make my stand.
To show my world,
My point of view,
A different type of thought for you.
But alas, I wait upon the shelf
Closed and bound.

                       -S.N.D

:)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was desperately trying to finish writing my bit of story for writing group, but I kept getting distracted. There was a computer program I was helping my brother Meralto to complete that involved the stars and I had to shout out a number to him, but there were so many different whizzing numbers running across the screen that he got frustrated with me really quickly because i wasn't shouting out the right number. And all the while I was trying to avoid a person, and get my story done secretly so Patrick wouldn't find out....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

Sequel Prequel Info Surprise

"Sarnic just knows everything."

Haha....not quite.
Where did this comment come from?
Well....from me actually knowing information nobody else did. ^^;;

What happened?
Well...I was hanging out with some Institute Council buddies.
For a Wednesday Movie Night. With Pina Coladas! :) Nummy goodness
Anywho.
The movie of the night was....
Monsters Inc.

Near the end of the movie a couple of the boys commented,
that they should make a Monsters Inc sequel.

My response?
They are...but it's a prequel.

Everyone turned to me.
Wha?

Yah. They're making a prequel called Monster University that will come out in the next year or two. It basically focuses on how Mike and Sully meet.

Oooooh.

Then a bit later. One of the guys commented.
They should make a movie where Boo is all grown up with her own children....
and they get trapped in the monster world.

I leaned over to the guy next to me.
-Because I wasn't going to try and shout over everyone.
And said.
That was the original plan for the sequel. Boo would be all grown up with kids of her own and she designs toys, which look a lot like mike, sully and other creatures and she ends up in the monster world again possibly.

lol I can't remember the rest, I looked up the information in high school.

lol the other were like ()_() How do you know all this?!

And my response....
was... "Because I stalk things."
Haha...not the greatest thing to say. I was trying to think of something nicer to say then 'obsess.'
I don't think stalk was that great of an option lol.

And that was when the line was said. "Because Sarnic knows everything."

Yah...I don't know everything.
but as I've mentioned before....I can get obsessive about things.
I can get curious about things.
And so....I go to my friends of Google, Imdb, and Wikipedia to look up stuff.

And at some point while I was in high school.
I got 'curious' about pixar films. And plans for the future. If there were any sequels and the like.
Because Pixar was cool!! and still is cool! the films they make are amazing!

lol and so, I discovered that there were plans for a sequel with Boo grown up.
and a couple years later, I discovered plans for a prequel instead of a sequel.
Somehow the information stayed in my head.
And walla.

Sarnic appears to know everything ;) haha.
Nope. Just some good old curiosity being put to work. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

We had captured Loki and he was being prepared for transport back to Asgard in my neighbors living room. He was standing in a square box being covered by tarps like an origami project. Where they would take one corner, fold it around him. Take another corner, fold it around him a different way. Each time the tent covering him got smaller and lower to the ground. 
Unbeknownst to the folders. Loki had a plan. To escape. Soon enough they realized...that the prison transport thing had been folded too small to fit Loki.
They opened it...and saw nothing.
Loki had escaped!
He'd shape shifted into a small white dog (looking like a white Dalmatian/Labrador/nospots) and escaped through a trap flip door the transport had been placed on.
Now we had to catch him.
I ran from the house, but had to turn back to drop off a...bazooka and some arrows in a black and red quiver that was six or so feet long before I ran after the white dog Loki trying to catch him...though at some point I became a beagle, and I was trying to help him....

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away...
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

Passing Around the Lock

It's always an adventure when I venture into the Institute.
Something usually happens there.
Usually not what I was expecting :) lol.
Today...I ran into Brother CS.
Okay I didn't run into him, I went by to visit him.
and he had this Itouch that looked rather beaten up.
A cracked screen, pieces of the main part missing.
But he was trying to figure out how to find out who it belonged to so he could return it.
Only problem?
It was locked.
And obviously he didn't know the passcode to get into it.
So the search to figure out who the owner was...seemed like a dead end.
But...it was an Itouch.
I have an Itouch.
I haven't locked mine.
But I do know a couple of tricks to get into the ipod without unlocking it.
Okay...like one. lol
you see if you press the...button on the bottom twice.
You can have a couple of things come up.
One of the things are the music buttons. Play, go back, go forward.
But there is also a camera that comes up as well.
And if you hit the camera button...you can access the camera and the pictures it holds.
Thinking on it now...I bet at that point I could have hit cancel and gotten into the rest of the ipod.
I can do that with my own Itouch, but as the other one was locked...idk.
Anyway,
Looking through this person's pictures...
It reminded me of that conference talk given a couple of conferences ago.
It was by Elder Cook. And talked about some adult leaders who found a purse left after a dance, and how the contents of the purse told a lot about the girl.
Well...looking at the pictures, it was a similar thought.
What could we tell from this person from the pictures they took?
It was fun :)
I hope Brother CS finds the owner.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

When Wards Combine

Since school has gotten out, I've been staying up pretty late.
Okay...I was staying up pretty late the two weeks left of school as well...
I just got to sleep in later the past week or two. :P lol.
Anywho, whatever the case, it's been a while since I've had to get up before 10.
I will occasionally wake up before 10 naturally.
But needing to wake up 'early'
as in like before 9....
I haven't needed to do that.
Until today.
Why?
Well...last time I was at church -last week- that ward started at 1pm.
Because I was home, and I went to a singles ward there. :P
But this week....I was back in the college singles ward.
And church...starts ta 9:30.
*sighs* I was hoping that our ward, when it combined, would go to the other wards time. I think it was at 1pm as well.
Nope. They went to our time. So 9:30 it was.
Well...I set my alarms, for the first time in forever.
And well....
my alarm clock...heh I set the time for pm by accident instead of am...
it was nearly 3am. I wasn't thinking too clearly I suppose lol.
So my alarm clock didn't go off.
And I didn't hear my cellphone alarm which went off fifteen minutes later.
I was super tired :P lol after all it was only like five hours of sleep.
Well Kikay woke me up at 9:15 by asking:
Are you going to church today?
Yah... yah I am.
So 7ish minutes later I was dressed and ready to go.
:) Yay for still getting to church on time.
And after the first hour, my roommate Ti came up to us.
-I was so tired that it was only after I sat down in the pews that I realized...Ti left before Kikay and I...we should have sat by her.
lol apparently we sat right in front of her. I didn't realize.
Anywho afterwards.. she and Kikay complimented me...
on how I could get dressed so fast and still look good.
O.o I hadn't thought I looked that great having gotten dressed in like 7minutes.
lol. But it was a confidence booster to have others think that I looked great after hurrying to get dressed lol.
I figured I didn't look that great because I still had that "i just got up' sleepy look.
^^;;
Apparently Kikay and Ti are jealous that I can get dressed and look good so quickly.
Because it takes them longer to get ready.
To each their own speed I suppose lol :)

I was distracted soon after though...by a *blink blink was this supposed to be awkward?* moment.
Why?
Well in the middle of the first hour...
I realized.
Hey. Our wards are combined for the summer.
Combined...with my old bf's ward.
-He lives a couple of floors above me, but I haven't seen him in months.
And now....he's engaged.
()_()
I did a quick glance around but didn't see him, or his fiancee.
But soon after that conversation with Ti and Kikay, I headed to our next block.
And...as I paused to chat with a couple of LDSSA members. (One might be moving in to my complex!! :D I hope he's in my ward lol.)
There he was suddenly. Passing right in front of me with his fiancee in tow.
It was like *blink* there he is *blink* and now he's gone.
I barely recognized that it was him before the two of them were halfway down the hallway.
I wonder...if he did that on purpose. Walking right in front of me like that.
Idk..I'm not sure if he would recognize me. I had straightened my hair...but I don't know if that was enough for him to not recognize me. Anyway, I wonder if he did do it on purpose to say "Hey look, I moved on and I'm engaged!"
:P lol. I've moved on too...not engaged though. Still I wonder if walking right in front of me was deliberate.
Because..at the end of the third hour...he did it again. Walking right in front of me with the fiancee in tow.
hmmm Idk. It was a surprise to see him after so long.
And I had no idea what to say to him.
"Congrats on getting engaged?" I'm not sure if that would come off....as...jealous? or snide...when I'm trying to be sincere. After all...we broke up almost a year ago...
*shrugs* I really don't know...
Perhaps I'll say hi next time I'm in church lol.
I wonder how awkward that conversation will be....if it happens.

Speaking of potentially awkward.
Brother R pulled me aside during church...or well he came up to me in the hallway as we were waiting to switch rooms with another ward.
And said that I had a certificate waiting for me in the Bishop's office.
O.o
A certificate? For what? I haven't filled out any paper work....nothing to get a certificate.
Though I figured it was Institute related...since that's about the only reason why certificates show up at the bishop's place.
And after a loooonnggg wait after church. I got the certificate.
Or should I say certificates.
Two certificates of advanced achievement passed graduation.
From the institute.
You see I already graduated from institute...a year...two years? ago.
So these certificates basically say
"congrats for over achieving!"
and then
"Congrats for over achieving twice over!"
lol
The bishop said that he was going to wait until next week to give these out in front of everyone.
But he gave me my two anyway saying that he'll still mention me in church.
I almost said for him to keep them until next week...
I took them home instead.
And I'm still on the fence about it.
I like being in the limelight.
But with two certificates...I think I'll be happy to stay out of it lol.
It's halfway embarrassing enough to have to get up in front of everyone for one.
but for two...yah...
I'm happy to just take them home without any fanfare. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

There was some sort of invasion or war going on. I had left a building and was going to take a bus or train home, but there were blockades and fires and people searching...I think they were searching for me. So I had to be careful with what bus I took and kept my head down until I reached a school/house place. And in there...I was basically running for my life. They were coming. They were killing everyone they found. So I was dashing around up and down stairs, in and out of rooms searching for a place to hide so they wouldn't kill me. I ended up...behind a couch underneath a small table with a blanket covering me. Basically praying that they wouldn't find me. An individual found me. They were dressed in black. And as they picked up the blanket...a scent coming off the blanket caught their attention. It was like the Imperio spell as it was shown in Harry Potter. The scent distracted them as they smelled it holding the blanket -cloak- close to them in so much that they didn't see me and moved on.
It seemed like everything reset again. And once more I was trying to find another hiding spot.
I went into a store...a shopko? Target? And I saw one of my cousins Che working as a cashier. I thought she worked at B&R still. But I was interested. She had a job. So I was asking her questions about that job and how I could get one, when Shane Gibbs came up to me and asked me for help on his anatomy homework. I was surprised, but willing to help. He was working on the digestive system and there was a term called the Chlea that he couldn't find anywhere, and since I'd already taken anatomy, I would know the answer. And I did. I told him that the Chlea was the name of the valleys in the folds of the stomach. He didn't seem positive that that was the right answer though. So I told him I would google it. I pulled out my Ipod touch and I was googling a Chlea when....
I was at a school/house party function. Playing music. doing something with a group of people. My group were...not popular. They were the geeks and lonelies and such. Not the popular kids at all. But something I did caught one of their attention. They wanted me to come back and be in their group. One of my friends told me to wait. an the first five people sitting on a bench...got food from a burger place that the popular guy had played for. Only the friend sitting on the other side of me had miscounted. They hadn't thought that the guy with the baby in his arms counted as two people. So they ended up not getting any of the food, but I shared my chicken sandwich and fries with them as well. as we waited to see what the guy wanted me to do.

Then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

Editor's Note: Upon waking I did search for what a Chlea actually meant.
Chlea...is a girl's name.
But Chela is a pincerlike organ terminating certain limbs of some arthropods like a crab.
Cool! It was an anatomy term! :) lol.

Chela can also come from Hindi (cela) from Sanskrit (ceta), meaning "slave" or "servant". In English, the word means a religious student or disciple. The other derivation comes from Greek (chele) and Latin (chela), meaning "claw", now specifically that of an arthropod.
(words copied from Wikipedia)  :D

Home?

Are you moving home?

O.o
That's such an odd question.
And I've been getting it alot lately.
Why?
Because it seems to be the knee jerk response.

I'm talking to a person and I say "Yah! I just graduated from college!"
And then they say "That's great! Are you going to be moving home then?"

O.o When did the concept of graduation = moving home?

Perhaps it's because I was at home when most of these conversations took place.
And the people were probably wondering why I was there.
..yep...just visiting....you know...had stuff to do up here, so I'm staying for a couple of days....
Not moving home. lol silly people. :)

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I was in an uncles house. I think it was Uncle M...but it seemed like a conglomeration of alot of different Aunt/Uncle houses. And...the house was kinda like a hotel...a factory...it was a weird place. I was with this guy. He was cute. thin, dark hair. teenage age. And it seemed like something similar happened to him as happened to the prince in Mirror Mirror. He sometimes displayed dog like characteristics as we wandered about this huge building. Like going to the bathroom wherever he wanted to...it was odd to see him so nonchalant about it. Anyway, we were avoiding someone, going all over the building, down stair cases, up staircases trying to reach something...

then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D

The Results

They came out today.
My grades.
My final grades.
The final final grades I will receive.
Since I'm now a graduate.
Since I'm now done with school.

What were they?

EoI    - A

PoI    - A

DatL - A

CCC - A

ItC   - A

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I got Straight A's!!!! 4.0!!! Sweet!!! :D

Which means my total GPA for my schooling is a 3.84 :)

^^ Woot! :)

This definitely means.... I will get my diploma!
YES! :D lol.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Isn't There Something Due Tomorrow?

This is always the weirdest part of the year.
The moment when summer vacation has come.
And I no longer need to procrastinate homework that is due tomorrow or the next day.
It's a time when one wonders...how did they end up with so much free time.
And what to do with that free time.
It's just....odd those first couple of weeks, though I had a taste of it on spring break and Christmas vacation.
But now...it's even stranger.
Why?
Because if I choose to...I will never have another homework assignment due again.
I've graduated!
Monday doesn't bring the dread of a new school week.
The knowledge that homework needs to be done.
I don't know what Monday will bring actually...
I'm still trying to wrap my head around the graduated fact.
Lol at times I feel like I've just graduated high school again.
And I'm heading out to go to college.
....but then I realize.
I've done that.
I've finished that.

No more homework for Mondays.
Tuesdays.
Wednesdays.
Thursdays.
or
Fridays.
I'm done.

Weird.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

Convocation

You should be able to see her.
Black Robes, Green Stole, White Tassel.
You can't miss her!
And then....
walked in everyone...most of us wearing...yep.
Black robes, green stole, and a white tassel. ;)

lol no worries. That didn't happen. But I was thinking it today. :)
For today...was....basically a repeat of High School Graduation. lol.
Yep...today...we sat...and sat...and sat...
listening to name after name after major and name and major being announced.
There were around 450 of us today :)
Compared to yesterday's graduates of 4,634.
Our school of HS (not High School.) is one of the bigger schools.
And it seemed to go shorter then yesterday's convocation.
Until....the endless line of names.
And then time seemed to crawl by.

But not right away.
You see, my Language Department was the first group to be called. ^^
Sooo it went by really quick and high tense excitement for the first few minutes of name calling.
because we were standing, pictures, name called, walking across stage, diploma sleeve....weeee!! it was happening!
And then... we sat and sat and sat and sat.
AS the other...400 someodd people go their diploma sleeves. :)

I wish we could have gotten our diplomas right then.
>.<
But they have to check our grades and make sure we pass all our classes before they can give us our degree.
And apparently...that's a long process.
Since we were told not to expect them until July.
Dun dun dun. A birthday present for me then :) lol
If I pass all my classes.
;)

Ah. Sweet relief.
No more classes, no more school, no more homework, no more tests. :D
So exciting! :)

And thus...it came to pass..
That I graduated! ^^ Yes!

And what isn't a graduation without something random happening?
My random thing?
I got a phone call as I was in line.
Of course.
Important moment.
Getting ready for the calling of names and degrees.
And my phone started vibrating like crazy.
At least it was on vibrate lol :)
Who could be calling me at this important moment in my life?
The eye doctor.
My contacts are ready ;) lol
-I didn't answer the phone, I got the voice mail a while later...after everything was over with and done.

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

-Sarnic Dirchi

The Dream

I had come back. Back from a different...world...from living underwater.
But not to stay. i was just dropping by my home.
Because I was homesick, I needed to pick something up.
I was trying to avoid seeing anybody I knew...because I knew I couldn't stay.
But then, my younger sister Rachel opened the white door of our red brick house.
And...i couldn't leave. She was so surprised and happy to see me.
I also saw my other sister Stephanie as well, and we ended up having a party...in my parents backyard. Where the Schaers, and Gibbs family was.
They were having a family reunion party. And all were happy to see me.
I went up and down the food line.
Getting fruit, veggies, and huge burrito sized...penine? noodles? I sat down to eat...

and then the unholy tones of daylight pulled me away....
and I became myself again. :)

-S.N.D