14 days!

     Two weeks, just two weeks and Ill be in the MTC! 

2 more days of horror at work!

Life is getting exciting...funny.

funny because I have no problem with loosing anything,

even my two serenading guitars.

This is the same month that I started my papers last year.

The same month when my family and I moved out.

The same month brought my 1st true girlfriend.
My last fall semester...yep its been a year since R.C.C., no regrets haha the school is a trap

November was my time to make decisions.

     A mission was on my mind, every day. It was a big choice, a choice if chosen would lead to progress in myself and in my Heavenly Fathers Eternal plan. To let an opportunity pass would result in the down fall of both. Ive known for a long time that a Mission would be the best two years of a young mans life. As a reluctant teenager I knew it. I'm grateful for my leaders who put up with me. For every Sunday that I took the gospel lightly and for every ridiculous assumption that caused myself to stumble over the simplest principles of the gospel. I'm thankful for a Mom who took me to church and let me decide if I wanted to wake up at 8am and go to church for 3 hours! A mom who woke up early to make breakfast for both her sons and still make it to Seminary 6:15am.
     Not long ago I remember being confused about serving a mission. I was a young teenager, probably a teacher at the time. Each week my mom would take my brother and I to mutual. After a while I started becoming bored with it and I thought it was a waist of time(what was I thinking). So for many Tuesday's I sat in the car with my mom in our usual parking spot, waiting for it to end. Many nights I argued with my mom, saying," why must I..." or "why do I have to serve a mission?". On one of these nights one of my leaders must have heard me arguing with my mother, she, doing her best to guide her son in what she knew would be best for him. Yet this man who I had known my whole life came to our car. His name is Randy Nelson. Even now as I think of what words to say, I remember the feeling of being angry and confused. As I listened my anger turned to peace and my confusion turned to understanding. He told me how he was in the same situation as me. His father wasn't a member, never gave him support about church, and how he had to know for himself if this gospel was really true. He reflected on his mission, saying that he would never replace his mission with anything else. The choice to serve a mission changed his life forever, he honestly wouldn't know where he would be without it. He knew that he would never have his family if it were not for this choice to prepare and honorably serve a mission. But it was clear that I had to go and establish my faith to understand what I should do.
     Since that night I have come to know many other men in my ward who were also born into part member families. God is mindful of all his children. He entices us with great choices linked with blessings. His hope is that through our choices we might remember what it was once like to have lived in his presence. He loves us, so much that he has placed his elect disciples in our path to personally help us.How grateful I am to have been blessed with words of council and direction given by God and his loving servants.

                                                           Last week I was at a Ska show,

 which I didn't enjoy... and in a few months Ill be listening to this!

  Mariachi bands!!!

     Those will be some fun times! I'm learning more about my mission the closer my report date comes. Some say the food is excellent, some say its a beautiful city, some say that Puebla is a Dangerous place. But where in the world are you free from danger? I die almost every day on the freeway, could it get any worse?They suppose that it could. But I think God trusts me, so much that he has sent me thousands of miles outside the border of my own country. This gives me confidence that I will be safe. Missionaries are seen as two but they walk and talk as three. Christ will be with me and my companion. Our words will be weak and distorted, yet Christ will make them strong according to our faith.

   

Ok Time to finish this blog!

        
Well this has been resting in my mind and I feel that I need to share them with you...
     As my report date creeps closer and closer I feel the need to reconnect with my friends. First of all this is something that I am not good at. Its hard to do, and when I try it seems like my efforts fall through. (that rhymed!)  My job is like an asian sweat shop! By the time I come home, all I'm thinking about is a shower, food, studying the gospel and taking care of the material things that are needed for a mission; buying luggage, clothes, shoes, shots, geneology ect
     Yes they are excuses but very good ones in my mind. Yet I feel sorry that I haven't been committed to my friends, even before I got my call and before I started this ridiculous job. Friends, there will be changes and I will find ways to be with you who have been so dear to me. I certainly do not wish to forget you over the next two years.
      I appreciate living in California for many reasons. Members in the LDS church experience trials and opposition throughout the world. Where ever you go the church will be the same, but individually as members we are faced with trials and opposition ranging in all levels of difficulty. Sure I could have been raised in Utah, its a wonderful place full of members with unwavering faith. Say if I were to be raised in Utah, would I be the same? Would I understand the Priesthood that my brother and I bear? Would I have the same desire to know the scriptures? Would I feel the same about Temple marriages and eternal families? Would I know what a good husband and father is?Would I have equal respect for women and people with different faiths and lifestyles? I can honestly say no, I know I would not be who I am. California is a place of testing! The diversities of culture, people and moral standards literally are a refiners fire. Reading the scriptures has helped me to know Gods plan and why life is hard. Scriptures like Hel. 14: 31, Morm 9: 28, Isa 48: 10 have helped me know why.
     Back to talking about friends. I miss them, especially my best friends Matt and Mike who are out serving missions on opposite sides of the world. I cant wait to join them in their efforts to spread the gospel of Christ. Every moment of every day is so precious. Time is counting down and its getting hard to make plans with friends. Its not like I want to redeem myself, I just miss everyone so much already. Sorry if Ive been overbearing, I realize that I try so hard that it might freak you out haha but time is in a pinch and I cant help myself.
     Lets see... what has been funny in my life lately? Oh ya! I've been going to my brothers water polo games and there is always funny stuff happening. For instance someone will get hit in the face with a ball, or the opposing team will score on the wrong side. The funniest part is watching the coaches. This week a coach had serious anger problems. He commanded his team like a drill Sargent. He would sit down and then seconds later he would stand up, over and over. I'm sure if you video taped his actions and ran it in high speed he would look like a, a...something that goes up and down, I cant think so use your own imagination. And the funniest part was when he told a guy to reach down into his speedo and see if he had a pair hahaha just imagine him screaming it for everyone to hear.
     Part two of the funny stuff...Yesterday I was with a missionary because his companion was sick. So we were driving and he see's the sister missionaries blissfully driving along. He tried getting their attention but they looked at him with confusion. Then he takes off his missionary badge and waves it at the driver whilst we are driving and approaching a stop light. I start braking and they don't because they are entranced by Elder Fenchy's looks. I am then screaming my head off telling them to BRAKE!! Dont worry they didnt die, but it was a close one. The light turns green, everyone continues to drive and I pulled along side of them so Elder Fenstermacher could apologize. They gave us the look of Death, they never want to see our faces again. And on that Bombshell this blog is finished, yesssss





  

Shoes

Why does buying shoes at the Mall feel great? Well I'll tell you...

     I rarely buy clothes, especially shoes,and three years in the same shoes is quite the commitment for some people (like my brother). These shoes have been through so much and they deserve to be blogged about.

     I bought these for my senior year, so that's almost three years. And look at them, still awesome. Yes they are faded, yes they are ripped, yes they have a natural curve from the thousands of miles I have walked in them. These are my first pair and seriously they've been the best shoes I have ever worn. When my feet are happy, I am happy. Job well done in my opinion. Converse are the    best and they will never change. 
     As I prepare for my mission, I realize that everything I need I don't have. So everything will be brand new! I feel very spoiled at the moment. I hardly ever treat myself to anything so I guess that's why I feel that way right now. This is why :

BEHOLD   

      My new shoes! Like I said, I don't have everything for my mission yet. I always ask the missionaries what I will need for my mission. From what they have said, it seems like I need 2 pair of dress shoes, running shoes, shoes for service work and shoes for my P-day. I feel like a girl saying shoes so much. Anyways for those of you who aren't familiar with Missionary life, preparation-day, called p-day, is one day set aside each week during your mission (including your time at the MTC) to take care of personal needs, such as laundry, cleaning, haircuts, write home, do service, and exercise. These are my future P-day shoes. 

     I bought them a few hours ago at the Tyler Mall. I forget how cool it feels to buy new shoes. The process thrills me. Walking around, finding a shop that sold red converse. Asking an employee for the shoes in my size. Seeing them come out of the back room with a new box. Unwrapping the crunchy tissue paper and smelling the fresh rubber. Carefully lacing them up and checking where my big toe is inside. Paying for something with no thought of cost because you know its worth every penny. But I missed an important step! I didn't wear them out of the store. I think its because my mom wasn't with me and she usually is when I buy shoes and stuff. She will always ask me if I want to wear them out, but this time I was on my own and I forgot about it.

     I walked out with a bag, standing in my old scuffed up chucks. It didn't take long to figure out I was missing out on an epic opportunity. So I found the nearest bench and graduated to the new chucks. I felt like Benny "The Jet" Rodriguez from The Sandlot, one of my favorite movies. There is a part in the movie when Benny has to "pickle" the Beast, so he brings out his secret weapon, shoes guaranteed to make a kid run faster and jump higher,...P.F. Flyers. After I tied the final knot, I arose a new person just like Benny. I still felt awesome without the inspirational horns. I cant wait to scuff them up and break them in!

My Dream!

My dream life has been through the roof for the last six months. Especially after seeing Inception. Here is last nights dream...

     I was standing in a store in line to buy a ticket to win American Idol! The chances of me winning were 1 in 12,540,189, yet I bought this ticket at the expense of nothing hoping to be the next Idol. My dream then diverted to me working and making hundreds of tires, but it was Friday meaning Pay Day. So I left my job and traveled to the Hawaiian Islands with all my best buds. We were driving along a dirt road passing straw huts with smoke rising from the chimneys. My dream stopped! I woke up in sadness that I would never be an American Idol. So I used the bathroom and slid back onto my futon bed in hopes to start my dream where I left off.
     I concentrated like never before to get back to Hawaii and incredibly I did! Now I was in a cramped straw hut eating imaginary food with my friends and nice Hawaiian locals who took us in cause it was now raining. Then my dream shifted to me talking to a girl. I remember asking her where she was from and she didn't know. But she only said that because her parents could hear us and she didn't want them to know her secret. We left the straw hut and I followed her deep into the Rain forest. When the coast was clear she quickly pulled branches and vines off, throwing them left and right. Clouds hung over us and through the darkness I could see a shiny dome illuminated by the moon. The frantic uncovering stopped and then I saw it. It was a spherical space capsule that plunged itself halfway into the ground upon impact. The clouds cleared and the moons reflecting light rays caused the port holes and mysterious writings to glow, as if it had a pulse. She was an Alien!  Yet a nice alien, who trusted me. Her name was Alena Tulleal.
     Then I flashed back to the straw hut where all my buddies were watching the American Idol contest waiting for the winning numbers to be revealed. I pulled out my ticket and there it was The Winning Ticket! Ryan Seacrest said I had to be in Hollywood in one day. I wanted to be there in one day but wasn't sure if it were possible, so I flew like Go-ku on Dragon Ball Z with a trail of fire propelling me back to California. I touched down and realized that I smelled and my clothes were ripped to pieces because I flew too fast. My friends went to go find a Limo and I searched for a shower. I walked into a public spa filled with steamy men taking showers, luckily there was one enclosed shower left . Once I was clean I realized I had no clothes or shoes. With no towel at hand and dripping wet, I contemplating what to do next. I ran out and jumped into a stretched limo with all my friends who were all dressed up. They bought me a suit and nice clothes and as I put them on. Something wasn't right, we were not going to the American Idol Finale, we were on our way to play a game of White Elephant.
     We were in a large room with 500 people encircling a tall mound of tires that I make everyday. In this mound of tires is a grand prize, mind you there are thousands of tires stretching towards the ceiling. Number one gets called to pick a tire. He stands, walks over to the heap of tires, picks one up and walks back to open it. He popped it open but to no avail; there was no prize. Number two was next, which happened to be me. I stood up, walked towards my hated tires, scanned up and down deciding which to choose. And then it hit me! I don't have to choose from this hopeless pile, I can take number one's tire. I turned my head and looked at number one's face. He looked relieved and happy that I was about to choose from the pile, but he was wrong. I turned around and walked straight for him. With each step I took he sunk into his chair with fear. I took his tire and left the game. Yes I know that is cheating but hey its my dream. Inside were two silver rings. I tossed the tire and stuffed the shiny rings into my pocket.
     We booked it back to Hollywood, double parked the limo and I ran as fast as I could to get inside of the American Idol Finale.The ushers took me in and guided me to the back stage. I stood be hind a curtain as Ryan Seacrest slowly read the winner.  Thousands of people were cheering for me waiting to hear my name.
AND THE WINNER OF 2010's AMERICAN IDOL ISSSSSSSSSSS..............BRYCEN FLORES!!! The curtain raised and people cheered and shouted for joy not knowing who I was. Ryan Seacreast asked me questions as if it was a hard thing to win American Idol and I said something heroic which electrified the audience. Then he said that someone was here for me, I wondered who it could be...my parents? my best buds? Nope, this is how it went.
Ryan Seacrest : And here she is ladies and gentle men, all the way from the Hawaiian Islands is Alena Tulleal! She gracefully walked to meet me at center stage but as soon as we saw each other we ran and embraced each other in gladness, crying for no reason. Ryan Seacrest walked up and broke us apart with his microphone and asked me if I had anything to say. So I knelt on one knee, pulled out my silver rings from the white elephant and asked her if she'd be my girlfriend. The audience went wild and Ryan was jealous. Alena said yes and she became my first alien girlfriend.

THE END

Yep

     This is a FLAMING hot sticky rubber tire. Two pair's of gloves separate my hand from 350' of smoking hot tires. This one in particular smells really bad, so I trim off the excess rubber holding it up in the air as if I am praising a false God. 

     This is me standing next to "Monster One". Everyone calls them Monster machines but I usually just say, "The right one or the left", and all the lifers that are over me demand that I call them Monsters, but I'm only going to be working for another month and a half so WHO CARES!
     I'm the only one who wears long sleeve shirts, ear plugs and a face mask. I'm not a wimp! They all have reasons, let me explain:
  -the long sleeve shirt protects my arms from horrible burns, and guess who hasn't been burned yet?
  -the ear plugs dampen the sharp noises from the air hoses
  -the face mask prevents major headaches, and Ive never had a headache until my first day. Plus I don't want to get The Black Lung Da-Da-Daaaa!

All these things help me be more efficient and work more hours

Lets see...something random...Oh Ya! Last night I was sleeping having tones of cool dreams and then out of no where I started laughing hysterically. I paused my dream and thought, "was that real?" and I shrugged it off and continued to snowboard. But this happened a few times and I woke my mom up, that's how loud I was laughing.

Randomness/ Truth?

     my eyes are brown and always have been, but when it rains they turn green. When I get bored I often stare off to the side of a light and unfocus my eyes to stretch the light rays. Glen Hansards songs depict my life. My hair falls to one side and nothing will stop it. Ive been through many forms of art.
      I was very dedicated artist during high school, but it all stopped when I started college. I did make a logo for my brothers fixi-bike club, but that’s really it. I know that I loose strength as an artist each time I pick up one of my guitars, yet I play them and seem to forget the joy of art and the process that happens with each creation and Idea. It’s a talent I need to renew ASAP. My art took me places; it brought friends and all sorts of opportunities. Guitar hasn’t done anything for me really, Im just an average guitar player. Seems like its been a good distraction when my life feels like its been shoved into a blender. So it has been a good thing that I can fall back on when things rant so great. But I remember that my days of art were happy. I felt free, it felt natural, and never felt like there was a need to learn. With guitar I have to learn so many things to make something come out of a piece of wood. Both hands have to be in sink, one has to be in rhythm and the other has to be one step ahead to catch the sound of each strum or finger pick. It hasn’t been natural and playing has been a struggle since day one. Its just saddening how I let something so natural be replaced by something that hasn’t been natural.
     I fly complicated kites in the windy season, some pull hard and others do tricks. One is a four string trick kite and so far I am the only one that can fly it and know what I’m doing. Not trying to brag, its just another natural thing that came to me, with no training or assistance.
     I’ve been growing daisy’s since January and still no flowers. As of now I'm down to just one surviving daisy, which is currently infested with ants. I’m not sure what to do...
     My love life never went anywhere from high school till now. I’ve learned a lot from these drips of water from the faucet of love. Some have been completely stupid and I laugh at those memories at times. And then I get to my more recent experiences from the time I turned 20. I had a couple of experiences, both let me know what its like to be loved, to be seeked by someone. The feeling of being loved is wonderful, and when it runs out there is nothing more painful. Overcoming someone is a great feeling of relief; it always feels good to stand on your own two feet. I laugh at myself because I feel cursed because of the lack of experience and the lack of interest girls my age give. Or even if there is something special with someone, there are always things that get in the way. I often wonder how I would deal with these things without the gospel. I always find comfort in the scriptures. I’ve been blessed beyond imagination up to this point, its amazing that there is more in store for me if I continue to press forward and follow our Savior with all my might. I just know that there is someone out there preparing them self for me, who will seek to be with me for who I am. “Someday”, like I always say.  
     My timing has just been terrible. I really don’t feel in my prime. I’m sure I will once I get back in 2 years. I just don’t want to come back completely changed. I’m afraid I’ll come back cocky, and fearless. Which is all good, but its a trait that really gets on my nerves, which is why I’m not cocky or stuck up with pride. Its something I really dislike and never wish to become.
So I have been rambling and being random for the past 20 min. Not really a Blog but hey Its me right?

Well, this is everything...

     This weekend was great and not so great, but I'll leave the not so great part out and focus in on the good. My mom and I took a trip to Provo Utah. Packing for it was kinda funny cause my whole closet could fit inside my suit case, but who needs new clothes when they are months away from a mission anyway. Our drive up was good, except for having to dodge a massive semi-truck tire, other than that we had a safe trip up.
     We stayed at my Grandparents house which has never changed, I love it. They talked to us for an hour just catching up and talking about my upcoming mission. My plan was to sleep and recover from our long drive but my grandfather is an amazing person and I couldn't pass up my chance to talk to him. We ended up talking for over two hours about temples and all sorts of experiences and gospel truths. The spirit engulfed the room and my desire to serve became stronger than ever.
     Later that night I found a friend and had a great night with her. Finding her was an adventure in itself, I haven't ran that much in months. We had the hardest time finding a place to eat, and ironically we had In-n-Out. I waited patiently for two months for this one night with her, it was everything I had hoped for. We played guitar and shared songs, those were some good times.
     Saturday I could pretty much do whatever I wanted. The plan was to check out the BYU campus, and right as I was about to leave, my Grandmother asked me where I was going. So I told her. Then she decided to drive me to campus and give me a tour. But before we left she had me help her back out her car, which was funny cause she ran into her trash cans. I wasn't feeling so good at that point, I even asked her if she was able to drive. It was early and the campus is only a few miles from her house so I got in her car and figured that my chances for surviving were still good. She gave a great tour from her car and I really appreciated it.
     I went back to BYU on my own a few hours later to get something to eat and have a little adventure of my own. The food was Amazing! The first bite I said,"YUM" indicating that the food was super good. Oh and before that I checked out the store. Man it was cool. It felt like a mini Barnes and Noble mixed with office max and Aaron Brothers. I bought my first Spanish BoM and read it as I ate my delicious wrap from L&T, which i barely finished. I walked it off during my adventure and now I have decided that I am going to BYU when I finish my mission.
     Later that day I walked the grounds of the Provo Temple for the first time. This was the first time I went to the temple in jeans and a T-shirt. I parked and debated whether or not if it would be appropriate. I was very indecisive so I txt'd some people and they were like ya its all good. What an experience it was, even though I felt like an underclass member. It was cool cause I started at the very front and there were so many people walking the grounds and attending the temple. By the time I reached the doors of the Temple no one was there. Just me, my cheapy's and my camera. Everything stood still, hard to say what and how I felt in those moments. 
     Latter that day I went to my first BYU game! It was so packed, I've never seen that many people at once. After half time my cousin and I looked for better seats and we ended up getting free ice cream!(another yum experience). The game ended and our family met up at my cousins house where we played a game. I forgot what it was called but everyone had a role as a wolf, which, peeping girl, citizen, Cupid, God, and other characters that are on the tip of my tongue, I just cant remember. Anyways I kept dieing somehow and it was a great game. Funny how I play games in Utah and no were else.
     Monday my mom and I went to the Missionary mall. Its a great store! They have this huge map of the world with hundreds of pins to show where all the current missionaries are. I put mine on Puebla Mexico. Unfortunately I didn't have the money or the time to get anything. But they gave me a free tie and I bought some really comfortable shoes. Ever scene Cloudy with a chance of Meatballs? I'm not sure what spray on shoes feel like but I can imagine that it feels like my new shoes! Btw Ive had the same Sunday shoes since I was 12, crazy right, well now you know why this is a big deal haha.
      Oh, my cousins Rachel and Becca took me to the freshman cafeteria...place, cant remember the name but it was amazing, the food was great and I didn't even feel like I was in college. And then I spent the rest of the night with Becca and her hilarious roommates making shakes, playing guitar, speaking Spanish, playing capture the flag and watching Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Great night and a wonderful way to end this vacation. There were a lot of firsts in this trip. Wow it was great, I love Utah