Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Then one day you look and find 5 years have got behind
Anyways, I have decided just for my own pleasure, to write out the last five years of my life in a sort of memoir, or summary. I will be writing this more for myself than any of you as it will be just a recap of each of the last five years of my life so that I won't grow old and forget about what life was like at this age. It probably won't be too entertaining, but if you care to get to know me that much, then read on. You can look forward to the next couple of posts being a past year in the life of Shaun. I might get bored though and throw a random one in there just to keep you few readers on your toes. To end this, here is a song that I kind of stole the title to this post from. In case you haven't noticed, pretty much all of my titles are stolen from songs that relate in some way to that post. This one is quite good, so I am going to share where I stole it from. Here it is:
Time
Ticking away the moments that make up a dull day
You fritter and waste the hours in an off hand way
Kicking around on a piece of ground in your home town
Waiting for someone or something to show you the way
Tired of lying in the sunshine staying home to watch the rain
You are young and life is long and there is time to kill today
And then one day you find ten years have got behind you
No one told you when to run, you missed the starting gun
And you run and you run to catch up with the sun, but its sinking
And racing around to come up behind you again
The sun is the same in the relative way, but youre older
Shorter of breath and one day closer to death
Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time
Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines
Hanging on in quiet desperation is the english way
The time is gone, the song is over, thought Id something more to say
-Pink Floyd
Monday, May 12, 2008
I'll let you be in my dreams if I can be in yours
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Those Were The Days
A couple weeks ago , during a class break, I decided to go get myself a candy bar. I had been craving one for quite some time now and I couldn't even remember when the last time I had one was. So I went down to the little concession stand and noticed there was no price listed for any of them. I pondered what the price might be for a second, and decided to go ahead and get it. Once I saw the price get rung up, I immediately regretted my decision: $1.16 for a candy bar. Being the frugal man I am, I hate spending money on such pointless things as candy even if it is just a dollar, but I especially hate it when it is over a dollar. Now I am not too ignorant to know that this price isn't really out of the ordinary, but I guess I kind of hoped being at a school they would maybe have cheaper prices since everyone there is a poor student. After 5 years of college, I should definitely know better than this. With everything from books to food, the only time you get cheaper prices for anything as a student is when you are off campus. So anyways, even though I wanted to reject the cashier right then and there, in order to avoid any embarrassment or whatnot, I pulled out two $1 dollar bills and reluctantly handed them over for this overpriced reese's peanut butter cup. After leaving I reminisced about my old grade school's vending machines where you could get a candy bar or bag of chips and a soda for exactly $1. Thats right, 50 cents for a soda, or 50 cents for a food item, or $1 for both. It was the best deal ever really. Those were the good old days. The prices were never raised until sometime midway through high school which is when I stopped buying from them. I'm sure my parents can talk of the days when they could get both for a quarter or something like that, but I am just glad I was born in time to experience really being able to get something satisfying with just 1 dollar.
I then proceeded to eat this item, and I didn't even enjoy it. If sugar poisoning was a real disease, it felt like I was injecting it right into my veins by eating this thing. Have peanut butter cups always been that stinking sweet? I have always loved those things, but this one seemed to taste like I might as well have been pouring sugar down my throat. I was sorely disappointed by this high priced item I just bought. Thats all folks.
Monday, May 5, 2008
God Put a Smile Upon Your Face
The next time was 5 minutes later. She must have stepped next door for a few minutes. This was good because now I was no longer caught off guard, but had some time to get my wits about me. Unfortunately other customers were about, so I couldn't give her my full attention at first, but she went ahead and ordered in her usual semi-demanding way. It was now just me and her. Her small order was quickly coming to a conclusion with nothing as much as a smirk even cracking yet. I had to think fast, but what can I possibly say or do that is remotely worth a smile? I settled for the only thing to come to mind. Uhh, "How's the weather out there today?" I asked. Is there any small talk more ordinary or mundane that that? Thats like the standard topic of discussion when you have absolutely nothing to talk about with someone but can't stand the silence. Its so easy because pretty much everyone knows something about the weather and can easily comment on how they like it, but its also so boring. Is that really the best this little brain of mine can do? how lame.
Nevertheless, it worked. This small little expression of saying something that wasn't required in the transaction, but was just said to acknowledge the other person as an actual person, actually was able to bring out a short but sweet smile directed right at me. Almost disappointingly easy. She looked up, smiled brief but big, and said something like, "it's great, we can sure use more days like this." Yippee I thought, my feeble effort actually worked. I made her smile, or maybe just the weather did, but if so, it at least was my bringing up of the weather that brought it out. It was short and maybe not as grand and exciting as hoped for, but it did indeed happen, and she really did look genuinely happy for my existence that split second. Maybe next time I will introduce myself just for the heck of it, or maybe not. I will at least try for a string of consecutive visits with a smile. We'll see how that goes. Thanks for reading.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Wait till the summer comes along
So far, I can't seem to break my habit of putting on a sweater before I step outside only to find out that it is much too warm for multiple layers. I do really like sweaters, but it will be nice to no longer need one. I am so excited to have free time to do things I want without some sort of paper lingering over my head that I know I should be doing instead. Such things might include reading a book that isn't required for school, or perhaps fully recording an entire song, or some sort of writing project, who knows. I just hope I'm productive in some way. We have already had a few glimpses of how wonderful it is to have concerts at the coffee garage with the doors open and tons of people around, and it is quite an enjoyable experience. Plenty of bike riding will take place as well. There will be weddings and road trips. Even though I have already experienced a cross country road trip of my own, I can't help but be a little jealous of Caleb and Tori's month and a half long adventure across the eastern half of the country. But Joe, Diana, and I are hoping to conquer the west with a little road trip to my hometown and many stops along the way. That is definitely something to get excited about. Oh so much to look forward to. For some it has already begun, but for me, I have a little less than 3 weeks to wait, and when it finally comes it will be oh so sweet. What are you looking forward to this summer?
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Some Mother's Son
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Here Today
Yesterday I daydreamed of the future. I was visiting home for a big family gathering . It was at Aunt Mary and Uncle Lori's house as they always have been. Aunt Mary still called me Baby Shaun as she always has, and Uncle Lori gave a good long speech and prayer as he usually does, but with me was something new, a wife and kids. Crazy, I thought, seems so unfathomable, but that just may happen someday. Everyone was there, and instead of me wandering around by myself, as a single member of a big family, occasionally mingling with others, I was now a small group of people that were members of a much larger group. Pretty vivid for a daydream I suppose; I really thought it out. It was weird to imagine.
Today I will live in the moment. I will go out and enjoy the day. I will get done what I need to, and I will enjoy The Invasion concert tonight alongside countless good friends.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Weekend Update
It fit better into the shakim household blog, so thats where I posted it. Its my Idaho family blog in case you are wondering, and everything written was referring to them, so thats where it belonged. Ok, thats all.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Real dialogue from the counter of Flying M
Customer: What do you have that tastes like chocolate milk?
Me: Umm, I could make you chocolate milk.
Customer: No, I had that, didn't like it. I'll take whatever she got.
(Once they left I laughed for hours thinking about this)
Sunday, April 13, 2008
The smile you smile
1. I can't use the "we know the same people" approach. Thats too easy and anyone smiles in a situation like that.
2. Likewise, I can't be introduced to her. I won't allow it. Everyone smiles when introduced, or at least they should. After all, the best way to make a good first impression to people is to be smiling. No one likes a frowner.
3. She can have no preconceived notion of me being someone she should be nice to. I must be a complete stranger. I have to bring out this smile by my simple charm and nothing else. This may be difficult to uphold since she has seen me a number of times now and even in places outside the coffeeshops employee-customer scenario, but a smile was not received there either.
So there you have it, my latest goal in life, to bring a smile out in an elder lady. I hope it doesn't sound like I am trying to get a smile from an old hag or anything like that. I know of nothing but good things about this person and she is no doubt as friendly as I am. I know plenty well that I am not all smiles, especially during my commute to and from school when, after a late night of homework, I want people on the bus to just leave me alone and sit next to anybody but me. But these are just my personal experiences with her thus far, and I want to change them myself without the help of others. It should probably be a regular practice to try to make people smile, but lets just start out with this. I don't know what I will do to achieve this the next time I see her, but I hope something will come to me. Wish me luck.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Good Day Sunshine
toilet paper
Monday, April 7, 2008
Crazy Squirrel
Kathy's Eulogy
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
April Fools Recap
AIM IM with charlesthrice4/1/08 12:45 AM
charlesthrice: shoot man.
charlesthrice: i just read your blog.
charlesthrice: and now it's april fool's day.
Shaun King: oh really
Shaun King: it is
charlesthrice: but the one thing about your idea...
charlesthrice: the kaysha one...
charlesthrice: Well, I talked to her today...
charlesthrice: it was kind of a big talk for us.
charlesthrice: Like biggest ever.
Shaun King: wow, sounds big
charlesthrice: I mean, I'd told her my feelings before
charlesthrice: but she'd never told her feelings back the way she did today.
Shaun King: crazy
charlesthrice: bro, i think i'm going to marry her.
charlesthrice: and i think she wants to marry me.
Shaun King: haha, that would make me pretty darn happy as well
charlesthrice: it's kinda blowing my mind right now.
Shaun King: and I can't help but laugh remembering a few months back when you once again told me you were over her for good
charlesthrice: it's like i've had butterflies in my stomach ever since i talked to her.
charlesthrice: hahaha...
charlesthrice: oh man.
Shaun Kingso: what did she say, if you don't mind sharing a little
charlesthrice: Shaun...did you even pay attention to how i started this conversation?
Shaun King: dangit, april fools day
charlesthrice: hahahahahaha
Shaun King: I just got hosed didn't I
charlesthrice: oh man...
charlesthrice: The truth is...
charlesthrice: i did talk to her today.
Shaun King: i'M SUCH A FOOL
Shaun King: i am pretty much the most gullible guy i know
Shaun King: I guess I just wished it to be true myself
charlesthrice: well, i really did talk to her...
Shaun King: well thats good
charlesthrice: and the thing is...
charlesthrice: it wasn't good.
charlesthrice: cause it all just started coming out...my feelings i mean.
Shaun King: wait, so the feelings are back?
Shaun King: wait, you aren't fooling me again are you
charlesthrice: no...she totally shut me down.
charlesthrice: for good.
Shaun King: ah man, sorry bout that
charlesthrice: nah. i'm fooling again.
Shaun King: I'll never trust you again chad
charlesthrice: But the truth is, i did talk to her today! First time in a couple of weeks...but we didn't talk about feelings at all.
charlesthrice: oh man shaun......it's april fools day!
charlesthrice: you can't trust any man!
Shaun King: i'LL NEVER TRUST YOU AGAIN FOR THE REST OF THE DAY
Shaun King: oops, didn't mean to yell that
charlesthrice: hahaha...i hope so.
charlesthrice: let this be a lesson--i don't want you being had any more today! You have to be the hadder!
Shaun King: hey can I post this conversation as a blog
charlesthrice: Speaking of which--any ideas for the april fools?
Shaun King: I'll try
charlesthrice: Oh man, Please do!
charlesthrice: hahaha
Shaun King: you can also feel free to do so if you wanna show people how good of a fooler you are and how dumb I am
charlesthrice: hahaha
charlesthrice: oh man.
Shaun King: but, sadly, no ideas yet, been kind of a hectic weekend
charlesthrice: well, if you and i were sitting here face to face, you would've known. I've got nothing for a poker face
charlesthrice: shoot man.
Shaun King: yeah, I can picture your face now and can easily see the laughing deceit in it
charlesthrice: oh man...i think i'm ok with being a really terrible liar.
charlesthrice: i'm pretty gullible myself actually
charlesthrice: i was actually voted 'most gullible' in my senior class--i didn't even realize i was until i got my yearbook. Then i started asking people if i was gullible and they were like "OH MY GOSH! MOST GULLIBLE PERSON I KNOW."
charlesthrice: it was harsh.
Shaun King: wow
Shaun King: think you could convince Caleb of what you just told me? or does he know too much to know better
charlesthrice: hahaha...
charlesthrice: i think you could
charlesthrice: any chance you're with him now?
Shaun King: nope
Shaun King: I might not even see him tomorrow actually
charlesthrice: oh man.
charlesthrice: well still. you can use this by all means.
Shaun King: oh I plan on it
Shaun King: if i see Caleb can I tell him about this conversation as if its truth?
charlesthrice: oh yes
charlesthrice: please do
Shaun King: think he'll buy it?
charlesthrice: hard to say...i think he could
charlesthrice: but it's one of those things, he might think, "Why haven't i heard it from chad or kaysha?"
Shaun King: we might need to get Tori in on it, that might make it more believable
charlesthrice: and think you're trying to fool him.
Shaun King: cause it happened this late at night and I just happened to be up still for you to tell me
charlesthrice: How about I'll call tori in the morning and get her--like trick her. but after i tell her the truth, i'll tell her you and i are getting caleb and she needs to get in on it
Shaun King: sounds like a plan
Shaun King: better than nothing anyways
charlesthrice: absolutely
So thats the beginning, later on in the conversation I got him back, but we didn't get my permission to publicly display that part of the conversation. Just know it was equally good, or equally bad depending on your perception of it.
Unfortunately, nothing big ever ended up happening. Chad did get Tori in the morning, but at night, I feebly tried to get Caleb, but pretty much just ended up getting fooled myself as Caleb just acted like he didn't care, and then mocked me at the end for trying. Apparently my not so good friend Joe tipped him off beforehand. So overall, April Fools day was a big failure. Maybe one of these years I'll pull something big that will live on in infamy. Until then, live happily.
