cross your fingers!

still feeling pretty opinionated these days.


today... I noticed something. In fact, I noticed a few things...


1. I appreciate it so much more when speakers in church teach with the scriptures. This morning, we celebrated my little brother's birthday with a big breakfast and presents, while kelli and sean were still in town, so I wasn't able to make it to my own ward. I hadn't been at church last week either, because we had a huge floor set at work, so I was able to make it just in time for Devin's 1:00 church, which was a life saver. I see such a huge difference in my life when I start off the week with the spirit!


Anyway, we've both noticed a few things about speakers in his ward: the first girl, Penny, and also the other 2... did the typical "tell a joke to lighten the mood" routine. Sure, you can be funny, but there is a time and a place. I didn't come to church to hear your joke. I came to learn about the gospel, and feel the spirit. Sometimes, I get it. Because sometimes, they are applicable, and don't cross the line... but most people aren't funny, or take it too far, and it disrupts the spirit.


The second speaker, Kaden did an excellent job. The only talk we both truly enjoyed! We actually know Kaden, through Kylee, so it was a good surprise to see him speaking in church. The third speaker was great, too, forgot his name, but he also told too many jokes.


The other thing we noticed, though, is that rarely are the talks given in Sacrament meeting involving the scriptures. Are these not the foundation of our religion? I would appreciate it so much more if I were learning more doctrine, rather than hearing your mission stories (no offense... incorporation works, though...).


2. Devin's Dad is an excellent cook. Devin's Aunt had a bit of an emergency, so his mom went to help out, leaving his dad to cook dinner! He made delicious beef strouganauff, but joked the whole time that if I stayed with Devin after this meal, I must really love him! Well, yes of course, but it really was good! Very impressive, haha


3. (this is what I had originally meant to talk about) Games are only fun when you win. Okay. Maybe this isn't the case with all games, I agree, but with most? Losing sucks, and we all know it!


Exhibit A: When Dash and I first started dating, we were addicted to Angry Birds, the app, along with the rest of the world... and it was so much fun to play! But after we'd been stuck on the same level for who knows how long... we got ticked off! It got legitimately frustrating.


A few other addictive games came and went quickly, but obviously didn't hold our attention... until now. I don't know HOW IN THE WORLD this happened... but we are both insanely addicted to Vegas Style Soliatire. It's bad! Vegas style (we get asked this a lot...) is regular Solitaire except it's draw 3, you can only go through the deck 3 times, and there is money on it. Every time you restart a game, you got $52 in the hole... ever card you get stacked on the aces is $10... sounds simple, but trust me, it all adds up. We're usually in the hole a good $200.


Now since Solitaire is purely a game of chance, and luck... we hardly win. And by hardly I mean we usually have about 3 wins in every 25 games. And we play well over 25 games a day! I don't know what about it is so addicting-- oh  yeah I do...


THE DESIRE TO WIN!


When you have played 5 rounds, and haven't won anything, and are in the hole $350... you will play. until you win. indubitably. which leads to endless games of solitaire, because once you win... you realize how much fun it was, and want to win again! It's a horrible cycle, and we've been sucked in.


Also... without the drive to win, there would be no competition. Because everyone hates losing. Everyone. Even if you aren't a "sore loser"... I guarantee you still don't like losing! We've been biologically programmed with this sort of pride!!!


SO... the moral of the story is... games are only fun when you win. When you don't win, they  just put you in a bad mood, mostly.


the end.


ANOTHER THING I NEED TO GET OUT:


IT'S A PRETTY STANDARD POLICY THAT COMPANIES DON'T HIRE ANYONE UNDER THE AGE OF 16. AND THAT'S FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, AND TOTALLY UNDERSTANDABLE. BUT WHAT GETS ME... IS WHEN COMPANIES ONLY HIRE AT 18. IN A LOT OF CASES, THIS MAKES SENSE. CHILD LABOR LAWS, ETC, ETC... WHATEVER.


WHAT REALLY GETS ME... IS WHEN COMPANIES SAY THAT THEY HIRE AT 18, BECAUSE "IT'S A MATURITY LEVEL THING".


REALLY?


I KNOW PLENTY OF 16 YEAR OLDS THAT ARE SIGNIFICANTLY MORE MATURE THAN SOME 26 AND 27 YEAR OLDS! THIS IS RIDICULOUS.


AGE, AT LEAST BEYOND 16, SHOULD NOT BE A FACTOR AT WORK. DEALING WITH SERVING ALCOHOL AT RESTAURANTS WITH LIQUOR LICENSES, AND SITUATIONS LIKE THAT ARE AN EXCEPTION, BUT BASIC RETAIL JOBS? COME ON!


YOUR MATURITY LEVEL, IS VERY, VERY LOOSELY BASED, IF AT ALL, ON YOUR AGE. NOTHING ABOUT HOW MANY YEARS YOU HAVE BEEN ALIVE HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY YOU ACT, AND HANDLE SITUATIONS, AND INTERACT WITH PEOPLE IN A PROFESSIONAL MANNER. THAT IS BASED ON YOUR PERSONALITY, THE WAY YOU HAVE BEEN RAISED, AND THE KIND OF PERSON YOU ARE!


I'M MOSTLY COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE MY LITTLE SISTER WILL BE 17 IN APRIL AND STILL HASN'T FOUND A JOB, BECAUSE NOBODY HIRES UNDER 18. AND THIS IS A RECENT THING. SHE HAS APPLIED AT PLACES I WORKED AT WHEN I WAS HER AGE, SO APPARENTLY THEIR POLICIES HAVE SINCE CHANGED! I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS.


AND ALSO... I JUST WANT MY SISTER TO GROW UP A LITTLE AND GAIN SOME SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY! SHE NEEDS IT... DON'T WE ALL?!


OKAY I'M DONE.


p.s. remember when i had that interview for the promotion at work a while ago? i didn't get it, because i didn't have the avaliability to work full time, since i was in school full time, and we ended up hiring my awesome manager, LAUREN, who is the best. BUT, there is another CSL position opening! Tim has been promoted, so his job is now available! I am interviewing for it tomorrow -- I cannot even BEGIN to tell you how much I want this job. It is the BEST JOB EVER. I already LOVE bbw, and I plan on staying there for a long, long time, so being a manager would be even better!


Plus, I really need a full time job anyway! I will go crazy without anything to do (like i already have!) so... keep your fingers crossed for me! I'm pretty confident about the interview -- i'm really good at them, but i've got some steep competition! The other girls applying would also make GREAT managers, and I would be so, so happy if any of them got the position! I would love to work with them, but I also REALLY want to move up the company! So tomorrow, I'm turning up my WOW factor. aaaaahhh i'm a little nervous!