Spontaneous Snowball Fight

Today was the Sabbath. During church it started snowing. Fab-u-lous! It kept snowing and snowing and just wouldn't stop. Later there was the fireside, which during one speaker he talked about how 10 infants from one family died. And before that he spoke of way sad end of life stories. I was actually more disheartened after the fireside then before. The purpose was to inspire us to do Family History, I left not inspired in the least. Any who we, apartment 4, were in charge of doing ward prayer. We decided to introduce ourselves by picking various Apples to Apples cards for each other. For Jeffrey one of mine was Whoopi Goldberg and mystical. One of his for me was Helen Keller and Mad Cow Disease.  Nathan put cabbage and Rosa Parks for Ben. He in turn put neglected and lemons for Nathan. The ward pretty much thinks we are the bees knees, the holy grail, THE Shiz.
On our way home we ran through the snow and down the hill. We are not sure exactly how it started but we assume Ben started it and then Tina threw one. Who really knows? But all we do know is that a mad chaos ensued. Snow was flying like crazy. People were getting hit in the face and getting whitewashed. It was pretty much the finest thing one could do in church clothes. People started joining in from the 3rd floor and from there about every window and door at this complex was hit by a barrage of flying glistening frozen H2O balls. I cannot fully describe how this was but I will attempt. Imagine you are on a deserted island and a talking, flying monkey comes out of the bushes and says "You my friend have fine taste in horse's shoes." After saying so you both proceed to perform a Viennese Waltz as the native islanders pelt you with a cooked goose and mercury from his planetary alignment speaks these words "there's no place like home, there's no place like home.' While tapping his 2 shiny ruby moons together. That pretty much describes how wonderful that snowball fight was.
Afterwards we had some cake for Cassie's birthday, she's 21 and can go into bars now. It was a splendidly spontaneous Sunday.

Most the people threw a snowball like a Whalesch gentleman.

Corndogs, Bananas & Gummi Bear Brownies

Today was Friday, great evening. My good friends Travis, Josh, Garrett and Alyssa, and new friend Abbie. We started the evening with fighting a weebler in Trav's vehicle. For those of you who don't know what a Weebler is...neither do we but Josh fought it. In his own words "It bit my butt." As we were entering into Trav's 4 wheeled metal trap, he warned us to be careful of the (Wii. Weasel,  or Weebler), it's subject what you heard. Anyway problems, solved.
As we entered the Institute for the snacks at the Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band concert. We found that the free ice cream, the reason we went, would not be served until later. We sat patiently through some fun songs. Then came on The I Love Corn Dogs song. After hearing the greatest love song towards a piece of fake meat stuck on a stick that I ever heard. We found that the ice cream was being served in the foyer. They had bananas out to make them sundaes, but bananas are icky. Anywho, Garrett took the liberty of writing Ben's number on a banana peel to give to a girl. Ben found his prey, a beanied blonde. He approached her and we all dispersed through out the room to partake in this glorious moment. After some walking lessons from me, he was ready.  He went up and said "You're so cute, it's driving me bananas." And he gave her the banana. And he walked away. I take no credit for his exit, not at all what we rehearsed.
We got home and ate the Gummi Bear Brownies Nathan made for us. We played some rounds of Apples to Apples then on to Just Dance 4. During one of the numbers Ben gets a text from...Banana Girl. Nathan said when they get married they should name their children Banana 1 and Banana 2. I hear bells... As we participated in the One Direction song I got a little to into it and hit the light and felt a sharp pain in my eye. Thankfully there was no
glass in my eye. Tonight was so great. I loved it.

Whale you accept this banana?

Hulk Donuts, they need a little more sugar

So today to celebrate the inauguration of President Obama, Human Rights day (aka Martin Luther King Jr. Day) and no school we decided to make donuts ( and yes, I know, I misspelled donuts, its faster and easier to spell it as such). Where else would we do it at...the Perrenouds. Duh with Stink gone to Japan and Fryin off in Columbia, Mom and Dad need some visitors.
Upon my arrival it was discovered that the donuts were made of wheat dough. It was justified by both Hillery and Carrisa, as well as noted as healthy. Which when they realized that we were deep frying and glazing them, they shocking did not qualify as 'healthy food'. The food was then labeled as nothing food, like water. It does no good and no bad. Except the fact that without water in 3 days everybody dies so its not nothing, nice analogy though. It was also noted by Hillery that Dad does not act like a normal diabetic. And we all know how diabetic acts...wait no we don't what does that mean 'he doesn't act like a diabetic'? Any who I am super grateful to Hillery's mother who made the dough because the girls almost killed the yeast. The could have faced charges and considerable probation if mom hadn't of stepped in to save that poor bacteria.
Me and Nathan were in charge of the glaze to which Nathan put WAY to much vanilla. to counter balance we needed sugar, lots of sugar. Every 30 seconds or so, Nathan would say a little more sugar and would pour a little more. It got to the point where we almost used an entire bag of powered sugar. We then separated into smaller cups to place food coloring. I made some interesting blues and greens, and towards the end Ben made a nice yellow. But Nathan made Hulk Green, it almost was like the holographic stuff of the holographic pokemon cards. Shiny and luxurious it taunted me jovially saying "Haha, you know what? Chewing on pencils does give you cancer!"
So for lunch we had donuts.
We came home from Brig to go to our Home Evening and we went out to Angie's to clean the sink. My group ordered oreos, caramel and blueberry jelly. It was good, got teeth freeze once and Nathan got a brain freeze several times and to win Nathan drank the sink dry. We were the champions! To make our victory ever sweeter then the sugar we just ate, I got the coveted bumper sticker that state "I cleaned the sink at Angie's". Life was great. We came back to finish all the homework that we procrastinated to do over the weekend that we obviously did not do. And that is how we celebrated our celebration of Human Rights.

Donuts for Lunch and Ice Cream for dinner, what the Whale were we thinking?

To get an A in Shakespeare there is only 'One Direction' to go

Well this post has been a long time coming. 3 days, wow such a long time. I missed thee blog. Well if the title didn't give it away I have been doing my Shakespeare homework. I had the task of reading many sonnets and picking one to study and analyze. Then I was to write a sonnet based around my sonnet of choice. I choose 23 where the poet can't seem to say how he feels towards his love, so he writes it. I couldn't decided where to start so I thought to myself "Hey Ryan what interest you enough to spend 3 hours studying about to base a sonnet?" The answer came 'One Direction'. To get me inspired I listened to One Direction for a solid hour. (which is nothing new to me) After many readings of their lyrics I came to the conclusion that I could not write is solely on 1D lyrics so I went half 7 of the 14 lines are from their lyrics. I Shakespereized many of their lines. If you can figure out which lines are theirs and which are mine kudos to you.

I cannot hide this even though I try,
'Cause this love is only getting stronger.
E'en though I might seem like the quiet guy,
I may not stay silent any longer.

Of thee in my head I paint a picture.
I see thee every time I close my eyes.
Life without thee would be such a failure,
Though to thee our love might be a surprise.

Just can't help but feel like we belong,
E'en though my love for thee has gone unsaid.
To prove I'm right, I put it into a song
And I keep playin' it inside my head.

Mi Lady even if I wanted to
Some things just seem to good to be true.

I hope you liked it. I did.
I think 'Whale'iam Shakespeare is the best!

Understanding in Jeans

Well today was no normal Sabbath. Not only was it my first Sunday in the Logan YSA 23rd ward, nor did the frigid temps have anything to do with it. As I awoke this morning at 8:34 for 9 o'clock church. I begrudgingly rolled out of bed and knelt down to pray. This was how my prayer went 'Dear Heavenly Father, Oh crap I forgot church pants. Please forgive me. Amen.' I made the classic blunder of not only forgetting church pants but a white shirt, so I wore a red shirt and dark jeans to church. They were at least dark and most importantly clean. So I was giving the Lord my best with what I had.
Church was fine and good. No one mocked that I wore jeans which sadly shocked me, I guess I assume the worst in people which is probably my second worst character trait behind compulsive lying. Anyway so we find our way into sacrament meeting and sit by Travis and my roomies. We get to the sacrament hymn and I had a beautiful experience. Now usually my blogs are totally comedic and are the bright and humorous star of people days but now I would like to share a spiritual moment I had during church and what I would call more or less a revelation or in better words a greater understanding. During my mission to Uruguay many people did not have the desire or in many cases the finance to afford what we typically call Sunday clothes. What I always told people was come in your best and God will understand. If we go to church with the right intent he is pleased not if we go with the right wardrobe. As I sat at church for the first time in my life in jeans and not a white shirt and sang Hymn 169 'As Now We Take the Sacrament'. The words started to take on new meaning,

1. As now we take the sacrament,
Our thoughts are turned to thee,
Thou Son of God, who lived for us,
Then died on Calvary.
We contemplate thy lasting grace,
Thy boundless charity;
To us the gift of life was giv'n
For all eternity.

2. As now our minds review the past,
We know we must repent;
The way to thee is righteousness—
The way thy life was spent.
Forgiveness is a gift from thee
We seek with pure intent.
With hands now pledged to do thy work,
We take the sacrament.

3. As now we praise thy name with song,
The blessings of this day
Will linger in our thankful hearts,
And silently we pray
For courage to accept thy will,
To listen and obey.
We love thee, Lord; our hearts are full.
We'll walk thy chosen way

I realized for the first time that a true disciple of Jesus Christ has nothing to do with how we appear but how we are. God wasn't judging me for my lack of apparel. He was judging on my lack of scripture study or whatever else I lacked this week. He wasn't fixated how I looked to others but to him. It was a very special moment that I had in church today. I don't want everyone to think oh dear Ryan is just using his blog to talk about how great he is and WAY more spiritual he is than everyone else. That would be absurd because everyone already knows that. I just wanted to share that in case you ever wonder how you seem in God's eyes you don't go to a mirror you go and do what he asks. Serve others, obey his commandments, Pray etc. Then you will see how he sees you.

Today we also went home teaching and ate stuffed peppers for lunch and had pizza with Apt 9. They are awesome. Well today was a really good Sabbath, with or without slacks.

I guess I am just one Whale dressed guy.

 

Fear the Beard of Gandalf

Well for those of you who don't know last night at the Utah State vs. San Jose State game there was a beard-out. Everyone wore a beard. It was great our apartment went all out by making our own personalized beards. Jeffrey had a Fu-Manchu crossed bred with a duck tail beard. Ben went aggie blue with an A painted on. Nathan had a four layered black wild west style. And me? I went with a plain beard that made me look like Hannibal Lector when he has the mask on. But that was fun,  I didn't look so bad with my hipster glasses and my U-State hat on. I also made several extras to give to friends.
We headed out to the game and were outside in the snow for just a few minutes, 30 to be exact. We got in and RUSHED pushing to get the best seats. I was shoving and yelling at Hillery and Sarah to get a move on. We got on the 3rd row, YES! So we are just so pumped to cheer on our aggies when I see a news camera interviewing people then he sees us, me and Nathan, and beckons us over. We get over and I tell him that there is a blue beard. He tells me to get him over. So there we are me, Nathan and Ben being interviewed for TV. I said that made my day, little did I know what was coming next.
The game starts and I felt so right to back in the student section. 32 months away from school and 34 months away from an Aggie Basketball game. I sure did miss it.
Halftime comes and there was a spectacle of children jump ropers, they were very good. They start unfolding the famous people to pass out to the student section. I saw the wisest person that ever lived on Middle-Earth, no not Gimli, the other G character, Gandalf the Grey. I claimed him and my life was forever changed. Gandalf already had a beard but I wanted to comb it so I ask the strangers around me for a comb and nice lad on the 4th row lent me his comb. I look around to show my friends in the other parts of the student section my glorious gift. I saw Carissa and Donny afar off and they were well pleased, like a salmon who has just tasted victory in their short and very pointless life.
I gave the comb back but continued to stroke his magnificence. We got towards the end of the game and winning team losing team chant came around. My heart was full, a TV interview, Gandalf and public shaming. As we left I told my mother to record KSL news. She did and told me they showed Ben and Nathan stroking their beards. I was a little bit upset that I wasn't on TV but it guess I couldn't have it all.
I believe that we whale win, I believe that we whale win, I believe that we whale win.

Boots do come in pairs

For those of you who don't know yesterday was long, stressful and frustrating day for me. 2nd day at school and found out I have to read 18 plays this semester between 2 classes (Oh the down side of being a theatre major), also that I would not receive practicum credit for directing ACYI's musical and to top it all off my computer doesn't read adobe so my book was in Korean, oh and my 80 problem grammar assignment was to be done. Needless to say I put on a somewhat happy face, I even made the apartment dinner with Ben. We had orange chicken and rice if you were wondering and it was not half bad.
Now to the reason you all want to read my blog, Boots, no not the cute ape friend of Dora, but the ones they put on your car if you are illegally parked. I received a text around mid-day from my roommate telling me my car was booted. Now for those of you who don't know the first week of school each my 3 semester have all be terribly frustrating. My first semester I was SUU in Cedar City and I arrived and my room card wouldn't work so I got the tech people to come open my door. I put a shoe to hold the door open and I keep moving in. Then I went out to get a drink and talk to my RA and I come back and I must have moved the shoe and was locked out and had to call the tech dude again (he was way less thrilled then I was) he fixed it and I did not shut my door that night. The next morning I still was the only kid on my floor, I had to be to school early for my Ambassador's Program training, they had yet to connect the hot water so I took a cold shower. Then I went off to campus to buy breakfast food, the granola I bought was like $3, it was so ridiculous. Anyway later in the week I find out that my scholarship was not full tuition but half and that was one phone call home I did not want to make. I bawled the whole phone call.
Anyway transfer to USU for spring (really should be called winter because it snows until mid-April) My first morning I look out my window and I have a parking ticket before I start any classes. Apparently in Logan you cannot park overnight on the streets, didn't know that at the time. Anyway So fast-forward to this semester, I call the guy to come take the boot off I waited from one until about 630 or so and he came and took off for free because my landlord hadn't given us our parking passes and the boot man did say we only do one free removal. My landlord earlier in the day over the phone said he would come by tonight and give us the parking passes but that until then I should park in the street, well the dudes took 5 hours to come by, so I forgot about that. At eight we went over to the Library to play Library Tag. I told Jeffrey, my roommate, to call Wes to pay our rent and get our passes. So after some tag and homework I came home. As I was walking into the parking lot I wanted to say to the rest jokingly that my car was booted again. I walked up I saw those two tacky fashion faux pas boots on my car and my heart literally dropped. Karma is a Bih. So I called the company to remove the boots. On the phone when I was giving the directions to my apartment the man on the phone said "weren't you the guy I just unbooted 2 hours ago?" I had to say yes and I felt like the biggest idiot on campus. I started reading my scriptures to get some good Karma. I went to bed and woke up still booted and had to call again at 7, read my scriptures again and prayed and said if I have to pay, I'll pay. I meant it, it was only $25 and he came by and took it off for no charge because I finally got my parking pass. So karma is not a bih, it is just and fair, I did forget, my bad. But I actually live here so I got it off for free. I feel like everybody won, Me, Myself and I.
I was rather proud of myself not to lie or brag. I was grumpy yes but I feel like I didn't get mad at any of my roommates so that was a great stride for me and  my patience. No harm no foul.
All's Whale that ends Whale

Tyler Himes, Slenderella and marriage, all in a day in Idaho with Hillery

Well today was quite a day I went with Hillery who went up several notches in my top friends list she is at least in the top 8, if not higher, to Rexburg for a mission friends' open house. Our little adventure started out with a bang she walked out in sweats. ( I knew she had a skirt underneath her sweats) She gets in and the first thing she says is "I have a skirt on don't worry." Skip the formalities of Hello how are you, we must be friends. We decided that we would have lunch in Idaho Falls(IF), but where we knew not. Hil saw a sign for restaurants and she noticed a Smitty's pancake and steak Diner. We stop at Idaho Falls and go to the Temple, as we walking up Hill thought that the Joseph and Mary statue was made of actual snow. In the visitors center I look out a window and see a guy and say "Hey it's Tyler Himes." It wasn't. Hil says something like that she is short and what not. I then realize that the guy is a groom and he is standing by a bride in white. I then comment that I thought the bride was the Mary and Joseph statue. We both starting laughing so hard the sister missionary with us thought I was an Idiot. We then ask the old lady at the front desk of a great place to eat her in IF she mentions Smitty's across the bridge, we both responded that we knew where that was. It was destiny.
We go in and it was very...rustic...and...quaint. I LOVED IT. We get our menus and after seeing something that caught my eye I was dead set on buying it. I got the Slenderella. Chopped sirloin steak, peach and cottage cheese salad & dry toast. She asked me how I wanted my meat cooked. I paused, I wanted to respond good but I couldn't I got Well done. We then joked about how it stated dry toast, isn't all toast dry? And the name Slenderella, WHERE ON EARTH did you get that name and why would you put it on a menu? Anyway it came it was a hamburger patty and the 'salad' was less then impressive, the toast was not crunchy. So one might think it was a fail, I disagree I would go back.
We get on the Highway and the Highway splits and we are not heading towards Rexburg. After driving sometime before the next exit we turn off and see these great big pop bottles at a gas station. Worth the detour. We get to Rexburg and go to the Temple and drive my Panache a store where Hillery's favorite blogger Brandi Lyn works, her blog Kittens and Cardigans. We get to the open and yep over dressed.
We are chatting with the people there and everyone is telling us we should date so I lean my head on Hil and she immediately says "Don't touch me!" Everyone laughed. Later The mom of the Bride comes in and says "I heard your husband was the funniest person in the MTC." We cut her off and said we are not married. We actually talked about eloping whilst in Idaho. But Hillery's mom would not be so thrilled with that. So funny. That comment made the whole trip.
We headed home with some great moments and laughs that made it all worth it. It is days like these where I am thankful for great friends and the simple things of life such as random road trips.
Keep whaling.

The Thank YouTube

So I for one love YouTube video. They are so handy, I can catch up on the seasons of America's Best Dance Crew, watch America's Got Talent auditions, flash mob dances, One Direction music videos and much more. I decided to list some of my personal favs to share the joy I have received since I first viewed them.
-To start off with of course Guy on a Buffalo. I mean when you put a majestic mountain man on a buffalo to some voiced over banjo music you cannot lose. The beauty and simplicity of him as he glides through meadows and discovers babies and gets straight up mauled by a cougar is unparalleled. His grace is matched by no man.
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Lmkm5EF5E
-A new movie posted on fbook by one of my mission friends. Mister Rodgers Remix Garden of your Mind. Is a wonderfully produced video featuring Mr. Rodgers doing what he does best, teaching children to expand their horizons and broaden their minds. The editing 'twas world class and had me emotional at several points.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFzXaFbxDcM
-The last one is Hobbits to Isengard. The plot in this gripping thriller had me on the end of my seat the entire time. I cannot fully comprehend the character development that takes place it left me yearning and wanting more. For those lovers there is a 10 hour version of this movie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uE-1RPDqJAY
I hope that you can partake of the immense joy I feel towards these videos. For those who desire to know my new favorite song it would have to be Imogen Heap Hide and Seek. It is too great.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYIAfiVGluk
Whales 4Ever

New Year, New Whale Blogger

Well this year I decided to make a blog. I notice a severe lack of Whale blogs on the internet so I took the initiative to write one. So I now have met all my goals I can now do nothing but watch Law & Order all year and be satisfied. I am absolutely clueless on what I will write. I guess I will write on how I rung in the New Year. I was at Ben Sharp's awesome party. I played the game Truth be Told ( THE best game to play with your friends) after laughing over answers such as Turkish blinds, birthrate in the winter solstice, nibbling and sitting on whale carcasses I decided to go down and bust a move and a hip dancing. Dancing with a globe was quite an enjoyable experience. Then it was time to have the cake for Taylor & Travis, it was cute when Ben fed them their cake. When the time came I of course did NOT kiss anyone, very typical of me I was awkwardly at the edge of the group. Was a great way to end my 2012. I finished my mission November 2nd so these past 2 months have been strange and great all at the same time. This morning I was quite excited to go out to eat. Denny's! So excited I didn't bother showering, my friends just love how alert and attentive I was to everything they were saying and doing. We went because Kristina, one of my best friends, is leaving for Japan again today for Young Americans.  She will be gone for 3 months to teach music and theatre to poor underprivileged Japanese children. I hope she loves it. So back to why I am writing this blog I think the main reason is to get people to laugh. Also if I wrote all this on my Facebook status some might be a little annoyed. Hope you keep reading, really it doesn't matter I going to keep blogging.
Whales 4ever