The Good, The Bad, and The Earl

I have to go to work in less than an hour, so let's see if I can get through this quickly.
Also, a special thank-you to Ashley for leaving her compy at the Apt… :)

So here's the thing.
Within the last month, so much has changed. I live in an unknown land, with strangers and friends. I work at a different store (same company), and out of all the changes the biggest one is MEE (Psych reference).
It's been hard… but it's been the most rewarding month of my life. Everyday I grow and progress towards my goal. I couldn't be more excited to go and serve our Heavenly Father.
Coming this far has taken a lot of pushing, prayer, guidance, friends, and faith; but I know things are as they should be. This is where I need to be right now, I know that. It's an incredible feeling to know that you are guided and loved by our Heavenly Father. It's a feeling that he gives freely, if you are willing to open your heart and your mind.

So many things have happened that I couldn't even begin to explain. I've had to make some of the hardest decisions of my life these last couple weeks. It hasn't been easy, and it still isn't. I don't know if it will ever get easier, but I know that the Lord won't give me something that He knows I wouldn't be able to handle.

I've received my answer. It was a truly ineffable feeling. I'll attempt to put words to it anyway..
It was just the warmest, most sincere love that I've ever felt. It was beautiful.

 I truly hope that whoever reads this reads this does so with an open mind and heart. I know I seem kinda like a "Jesus Freak," lately, and maybe I am :p. I just want everyone to experience what I have.

I know that our Heavenly Father knows us. He loves us so much. He sent His Son to live and die for us, that through his perfect example we may come closer to Him, and that by his sacrifice we may live forever. It's a priviledge and a responsibility that I don't take lightly. I know that through faith (verb, it's what you do), we can find peace. I bear witness of the truthfulness of these things. I know that if anyone opens themselves fully to the Spirit and they try to search for answers, they'll find them.
I write these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Earl out

The Inverse of Earl

I was talking with a friend recently and I stumbled over some words and what I think I said was something about me being an Inverse. I don't remember what we were actually talking about so I can't actually say what the context was. Anyway, it's an interesting statement because in a lot of ways, in the last two weeks I have turned things around completely.

For the first time in my life I know what I want, and the individual steps on how to get there. Also, the motivation that has been lacking my whole life, is now here in full force.

SO much has happened and I've changed a lot of things in my life for the better. With the Lord's guidance and strength, I'll be just fine :).

I just moved out, too.

Things are looking up :)

Earl out

Get it together, Earl

Okay, I just want to say one thing: While I am doing better at this whole "life," thing, I really need to be even mo-betta'. Like, furserious. I'm doing much better with a lot of things, but the root issue is and always has been that for whatever reason, I'm quite unmotivated. Here's the shimmy: There's plenty of aspects/things/whatever in my life to motivate me, I just for some reason have the hardest time acting on it. It's frustrating, to say the least :/. I'll figure it out soon, just you wait. Then you'll all see. :) Earl out

Where to Start...

I'm not even going to begin to try and recount my life for these past 3-4 months. I'll just kinda hit the big points I suppose.

1. Christmas was awesome.

2. New Year was awesome.

3. I don't remember January.

4. Valentines day was a success.

5. Spring Break down in St. George with my best friends was an epic success. One that will live on in my memory for the remainder of my days. Oh the joys, the heartache, the terrible purple drank, and the gut busting laughter in bed. Fond memories.

6. April Fools Day, also known as MINE AND LIZZIE'S ANNIVERSARY: Success. We decided to celebrate the whole weekened because this year was a leap year so Saturday was technically a year (365 days), while Sunday was our calendar anniversary. It was nice. Never done a year consecutively before. Look at me, all growing (not) up :).

That's it. haha

Another thing to note:

After much flip flopping and many months, and almost years, of indecision, I've finally made up my mind about going on a mission. The epic answer is....

I'M GOING.

Yes, I am taking FOREVER. Believe me, it's felt like a varitable eternity..

I know what you're thinking.

"Pft.. There you go again, Earl. You're such a tease. I love teases."

Well shut up. I know I haven't been the most concrete in my decision making process, but it's final. It's decided. It's done. The die has been cast. The train is leaving the station. The smokers have lit the bed on fire. I'M GOING.

It still might take a while.. If you really want to know what's up, ask me. Maybe I'll tell you.

I decided to go for many reasons; none of which I shall list in this post. Again, if you want to know more just ask and ye shall receive.

That's exciting, right? Know what else is exciting? Ke$ha is white.

I know, right? Who knew?

Anyways, as this post winds down, I would just like to say,

Sorry

for being absent for months.

I suck.

Do I feel bad?

Not really. But social protocal dictates that I offer up a public apology, so there it is.

Also, there was something else I was just about to type, but I was too caught up in the Big Bang Theory reference to remember what it is. I hate that. I always forget things that I'm going to talk about. Then I think I almost remember it, and then it leaves again, just as quickly as I had almost re-grasped it.

Have something you want Earl to discuss in futute posts?

Know of a flexible job? Comment below!

Good luck on your date!

I will!

Earl out

Lots

Hello, all.

Let's begin.

Jessie Keefe is Lizzie's (my girlfriend) older sister.

Brief history of Jessie and I:

I started to date Liz forever ago, Jessie hated me. I don't think because of who I am, but just because she was obligated as the older sister to.

Life went on.

Or so I thought?.. (haha)

In recent times, (like six months ago?) we have become good friends. It all started back when Liz had to go to some cultural festival for one of her classes and she invited me to go with her and her sister and her sister's boyfriend (Mike).

It

Was

Awesome.

We then began to call our little group 'The Collective.' We, as a Collective, have since had many a good time, and the Collective has expanded. Not officially, but we have had other people occasionally join us in our awesome-ness.

Anyway, in summation:

We've bonded.

Partly due to our mutual love of greatness,

Partly due to me liking her things on Facebook,

and Partly due to our mutual love of blogging.

Now, to finally get to the point of this whole deal(io):

I was hanging out with Cameron (Best Friend), Lizzie, and Kassi the other day. We were watching I am Number Four (I am actually number four.. just sayin'). Then, enter Mike, Jess, and Casey. They wanted me to eat a sardine.

I couldn't.

I don't know why. It smelled bad, it looked bad, and if I had eaten it, Lizzie would have never kissed me again (bad).

Anyways, the movie ended, then we went upstairs and I spent some time with Mike, Jess, and Casey in the beloved Couch Fort (many a good time).

We spoke of many things, but eventually Jessie piped up and said,

"Earl, you've been on my mind quite a bit recently, and I'm torn."

Mike interjected,

"You really have, Earl."

"Okay, well shoot!" I said.

Then she told me about why she was torn with me.

(If you wish to read further upon this subject, read her blog! I suggested she post about it because sometimes it helps to get things out in word form)

http://jessie-keefe.blogspot.com/

By the way, she is a much better blogger than I am, so follow her, or something.

Now, to share some of my thoughts on this.

Jessie, I have a solution.

While I'm gone, just always make my non-existant-but-spiritual?-presence always there/known while I'm gone.

:P

Haha or just destroy any suiters that come her way. Either might work.

Sorry but I won't get more personal than that on the interweb. Besides, I think I made my opinions on this subject kinda clear earlier.

Anyways, it's late. I was going to post about Christmas (success) also but I'm gonna go say "HI!" to my bed.

Also, show some love to one of my best friend's blog.
http://stevestories.blogspot.com/

Earl                                                                                                                                            

           out.

Hump Day! (Wed-nes-day)

Alright,

I guess it's time for another blog post.

I know what you're thinking:

"No way, he just posted like a few days ago!"

Well then here's a little bit of a Festivus miracle. Even though it's not really Festivus.

I have no clue what to write about today.

Lets talk about Christmas presents.

First off, let me just say that I have the best girlfriend ever.

Quick side note:

There's this movie on TV, like there always is when I wake up, and it keeps having this music that comes on and I SWEAR it's the beginning of, 'Let's Get Down to Business.' Now I want to watch Mulan.

So back to business.

I have the best girlfriend ever. :)

This picture is from a photo booth at my friends wedding (I'll get to that laters). Sorry for the poor quality, but I think you get the picture ;).

You see what I did there? Ha

Fun Fact: I had never done a photobooth thing before :p.

Another quick side note: Me and Liz are having a lot of firsts lately! We thought we had pretty much done most everything(don't be creepy) together but we're finding more things that we need to do! I'll see if I can come up with a list.

Anyway, back to Lizzie being awesome.

We're not being very sneaky/surprising this Christmas(or as the Keefe family likes to say, 'Cri-mas').

It all started with me saying something about going to the mall and I saw this jacket I wanted but couldn't really justify buying.

So you know what she did?

She bought it.

Love that girl :).

As far as other Christmas present adventures go,

Sorry another side note: This movie on TV, SUCKS. The acting is awful.

As far as other Christmas presents go, I'm being rather successful this year in spending and dividing up my money!

I still have like..3-4 things to get, but for the most part, I'M DONE.

Bring on the Christmas.

New Topic: The Wedding.

My twin Nicolle just got married on Monday. I hadn't seen her in over a year and it was so good to see her! Kinda weird that she's married.. but I'm happy for her :).

Oh, she's not really my twin, but back before we parted ways after High School we started to hang out quite a bit and we realized that in a lot of ways, we're very similar, she we decided that we are twins.

It was a good reception! The picture I posted earlier was from a random photo booth they had set up there! It started going so fast though and we weren't really ready for any of those three pictures, but they turned out awesome anyway. Win.

They also had Coldstone cater the event, and when we went to go see what flavors they had, we found something better than all of the ice cream flavors combined!

Nicki Ballou.

She was running the little stand! We talked for a while and caught up and stuff. It was good. Good. Gooood.

Other best thing about the Coldstone stand? Gummy bears. Not just any gummy bears; baby gummy bears mixed in with adult gummy bears.

So we ate, we hugged, we talked, we danced (I wish I was better at that whole dancing thing), and we left :p.

All in all, it was a good night!

I wish I had more pictures this time. I'll try and be better about taking pictures randomly day-to-day so that if I get the urge to blog later then I'll be able to make it more interesting for all you folks out there.

Did you like my last post? It got the most views and comments out of all my posts. If you liked it, for whatever reason, then let me know of another opinionated subject and I'll throw out some justice.

I don't know how I could possibly 'throw out some justice,' but it just felt right to say.

Anyway, comment on this post with an idea of something you wanna hear about and I'll make it happ'n Cap'n!

Earl out.

Skase

Hello.

It's been a while!.. Ha, sorry about that. I doubt many of you really check back daily, or even weekly with high expectations and hopes of finding a spanking new blog post. But if you do, then I imagine that your thoughts would go something like this:

*wake up*

"Hmm, what a marvelous dream that was... If only t'were real. Alas, Earl hasn't posted on his blog in fortnights. Oh... if only."

*gets outta bed to go to computer(or maybe you check it in bed? creep.)*

*gets onto earliv.blogspot.com*

....

"OH HAPPY DAY!"

If this is you, I apologize, for many reasons..

Anyways, here I am again. Back to the bloggin world. I can't say that my visits to this realm will be often, but I will try my best to make them substantial in some way or another.

SO, here we go..

Life, is good. Can't complain. Great friends, great family, that's all ya need right?

Last night was a free concert downtown at the Gallivan center. I almost literally froze my foot off. Lately my middle-left(driver-side) toe has had poor circulation. I know this because sometimes I can feel it start to die, and I look down at my feet (I was next to you and you were right there next to me and I said "GO!"..(that song just popped into my head when I typed that)) and that toe alone will be DEAD WHITE and all of my other appendages will have NEC*. Creepy. The concert was awesome, though. Anberlin decided to do a free show, just because they love us Salt Lake City-ans.

Isn't that grand?

Other than that, my life is pretty much clockwork. Okay, not really. It just feels that way because a lot of the time I'm bored, and that word and  the word 'clockwork' are connected in my mind.

K

Now to the title of this blog post:

'Skase'

This word is greek for, Blow up.

That's what my mind was just doing.

I'll tell you the tale of why this was the case.

So there I was..

eating Lucky Charms for breakfast.

My mind began to wander and it came upon a topic which I shall not discuss in the post(if you reaaaally want to know, ask me in person or over text or something). That topic led me to this topic that truly made my head want to Skase.

At this point in the story, I finished my breakfast, and continued to the family room to drum on my Invader drum pad.

I began drumming and my mind continued upon the tangent it had reached during LCT**

Then I went into my room..

Then I needed to go to the restroom.

Come on, who doesn't occasionally ponder things of depth whilst on the can?

Then, after taking care of all the necessary hygeine(sp?) things, I left my room,

 with the intent to-

blog. (For some reason, this picture, and the one I had of Anberlin, don't want to fully appear..sorry)

To preface this part lemme just say a few things:

 I plan on serving an LDS*** mission soon.

A friend of mine in the Utah band just had her missionary come home!

My good buddy Aric has been getting.. well shafted from some women (this'll come into play here soon.)

Enough preface-ing.

My mind hit the topic of girls waiting for missionaries.

My stance on this topic for the longest time has been that girls shouldn't wait for missionaries; and this is why..

I always thought that the girls needed to make sure that the guy they were waiting for was the one that they truly wanted to be with, and in order to have this decision be made for sure was to date other guys while their missionary is gone, that way, when he gets back, if he's still her favorite, then it's what's meant to be.

Some things about that opinion still ring true to me, but for the most part,

My opinion has changed.

Disclaimer: NO, I'm not posting this saying that this is how things should be in my life or in anyone's life. Everyone's decision is their own. This is merely my opinion on the subject because it seems to frequently come up nowadays.

My opinion has changed for a lot of reasons. First off, I know how this looks: "He's just changing his opinion because now he's the missionary leaving and he doesn't want to lose his girlfriend to some other guy while he's gone."

Regardless of how I feel or what I think is going to happen with my life while I'm serving, I changed my mind for what I believe to be logical reasons. (I try not to make decisions based soley upon my emotions.)

So here's a few reasons why.

(In no particular order)

• Assuming the girl is waiting for her missionary in the manner described above; what happens with all the other guys she goes out with while the missionary is gone? When he gets back, she'll probably want to be with him, yes? So the fellows that she dated while the missionary was gone just get tossed, quite immediately. How is this fair? Regardless of whether or not anything physical happened between them, the emotional damage to the guy is completely unjustified. He was kinda used.
• From the missionary's point of view, and from the guys on the other end's point of view I guess; they're just back-up plans. If things with the missionary don't work out, then look! How convinient that she's already dating someone else (back-up plan-ed). If things don't work with all the other guys and then the missionary returns home, oh cool! All the other guys didn't work out so I guess that makes the missionary the back-up plan.
• Point is, if you know who you want to be with then why date other people?

 LJ, the girl whose missionary just returned, waited the full two years, and I'm happy for her and her missionary.

Aric, my buddy, has been treated like crap from a few girls that have been fake-waiting, and that's not cool.

I dunno, that's just how I feel.

Anyways, I might post again pretty soon-I might not-but I hope that all of you people who read this, have a wonderful holiday season. It's one of my favorite times of the year. I'm not a fan of cold weather, but it does have a kind of beauty once snow starts to fall.

Good things about December in Utah:

The Lights at Temple Square

Cuddling up for warmth

Giving

Receiving

Spending time with loved ones during the break

School winding down

Bowl games

Chillin' inside with friends playing games, watching movies

Playing in the snow

Lots.

Have a Crazy Cool Christmas, e'rybody.

Earl out

*NEC-Normal Earl Color

**LCT-Lucky Charms Time

***-Latter-Day-Saint