A too-warm September week.

This week I worked a lot less. They hired new people so my long hours are probably endangered until it gets more into Annual Curriculum time. I was scheduled until 5 Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, but on Tuesday they told me to leave at 4 and Wednesday they told me to leave at 12. My paycheck won't be as big, but free time is always nice.

I had two packages arrive. One was a new adapter for my laptop, and one was the MoTab's new Christmas album, Glad Christmas Tidings with David Archuleta. I like their new tradition of a new Christmas album every year. Their 2007, 2008, and 2009 albums were especially fantastic. I wouldn't ordinarily listen to it early, but it arrived with a defect. The little circle that keeps the CD in place is broken so it was rattling around in the case, so I need to listen to it to make sure it works. I'm listening to it now, and so far it seems fine. Buying an album from Amazon gives you a free download, so I downloaded "Into the Ocean" by Blue October, but then I found out that the promotional credit wasn't added yet, so I had payed for that. So when the promotional credit was actually added, I downloaded "Hair" by Lady Gaga. (Don't judge me!)

This week I set up my Super Nintendo for the first time since being home from my mission. It's kind of fun, but my mission gave me a new perspective on life. Video games are a complete waste of time. I made a rule not to watch TV unless I was doing something productive while watching (e.g. exercising or cleaning). I made no such rule with video games, simply because video games require your full attention. Now, I suppose in some situations video games could have their positive aspects. Some Wii and Kinect games involve physical activity. It can be a good way to socialize. But holed up in my room, working out my thumbs and my eyes while rooms go uncleaned, decorations go un-put-up, books go unread, and countless other things go undone, it's not good. Sadly (or perhaps fortunately), I can tell that the Super Nintendo is aging.

Yesterday I had a mission reunion. We had our own session at the Draper temple, followed by a barbecue at our mission president's house. I went with my old companion Elder Love. I liked it more than the previous reunions that just was mingling in a church gym. I had two other companions there--Elder Warren, who was my roommate for winter semester, and Elder LaPratt, whom I didn't talk to because he is pure evil. I think we mutually ignored each other. Which is good because I might have said something I regretted. I probably really wouldn't have--but I kind of like to think that I would tell him off for his evilness and hypocrisy.

This week is looking to be an ordinary week--except that I turn 23 on Thursday and there is general conference this coming weekend!