Super Wheatgrass Man Strikes Again!

So yesterday I went to Jamba Juice and I got a wheatgrass shot. I think they've gotten smaller... Anyways, after I swigged it, I had one of those moments where you just look at the camera and grin with this look in your eyes like you're about to take over the world because you just did the best thing in your life!
And then it happened...
My ankle brace just popped off and I started running... so fast I was like a blur and I didn't even know where I was going until I was at her door... you know, the "her" from the last blog entry. Ya, and she answered and was like, "Wow, there's something different about you. I guess I'll go out with you after all!" Zing! I swept her off her feet and we were at the Music Dance and Theater showcase only moments later. We were sitting there and all the sudden ninjas were all around us! So I kicked them all in the face so heroically that she fell in love with me right on the spot! I was like, "Sorry baby, but there's other business I have to tend to." And I sped off again in a green wheatgrass shaded blur...
The next day, I woke up and I was still feeling it, so I jumped to the Marriot Center and soaked up as much of the leadership conference (for superheroes on wheatgrass) as I could while staying awake at the same time! I figured then that it was time to temper the hype so I settled down for a moment in the temple. It was there I received the revelation that I was the handsomest man on earth... but only on wheatgrass. So I took out the next girl and she mentioned something like "Salad bar" for supper and I was like, "I just had the equivalent of 32 pounds of raw vegetables... I don't have to eat anything green for like a MONTH!" Fuddruckers it was, where I broke a record in my personal history and downed a pounder! And I didn't even feel bad afterward. At the Polynesian show, she was like, "Todd, you smell like you just mowed the lawn!" And I was like, "Why, thank you, but it would never work between us." So I jumped onto the stage and danced with the Tongan princess. She was large, but I had just had wheatgrass... After her heart was melted and the crowd cheered for us and threw tortillas and cabbage heads onto the stage, I whispered in her ear, "Wanna go to Jamba Juice?".... Kamate!

Ok, so all wheatgrass did was give me an over-active imagination. But believe it or not, there are some elements of the story that are true. Unfortunately, the Tongan princess is old and I would never dance with her, in case you were wondering.

The Deja Blues

It seems I've been here before... beginning of the semester and I do something silly and prove that I am a Martin and therefore injury-prone. The verdict from the health center today was a high-ankle sprain. That effectively puts me out of work for two weeks... so what's the first thing I do? I celebrate my poverty by asking a girl out!! And she said she'd get back to me later. Sure, I suppose she needs a few hours to think of an excuse. That's what I get for asking out a white girl...
Nevertheless, I am determined to see the Polynesians, Native Americans, and assorted Latin Americans dance and sing this weekend! In celebration of the international month that I never really did (come on, who was I kidding?), it only seems appropriate. I will continue to ask girls to come with me, and if I only get rejection after rejection, it's ok... I've been there before too.

Of Skates and Boards

I've tried a few new things lately these past weekends. Saturdays are always open for me in the evening, so, being usually dateless, I have the opportunity to go out and have some fun.
Last week was actually kind of a date. This girl had a birthday, so I called her up to go see August Rush. She didn't get off work until nine, so she provided a counter-offer: disco skating. I can count the number of times I have roller skated on one hand (I roller blade much more), so I thought I would go throw myself around and provide entertainment for everyone else. Eight wrecks spelled success! It was a lot of fun, and I even tried using the bathroom with skates on. Messy... All I had to pat for it was nine dollars and two great blisters on my right foot. Of course, I wonder if the excessive amount of sweat I produced was good for social relations... Does anyone else seem to sweat a LOT in these situations?
This week's adventure was a bit more costly. I took a ghastly leap from my comfort zone and accepted the invitation to go snow-boarding with my roommates today. Now, I can count the number of times I have been snow-boarding on one finger, and it was not the most pleasant experience. But I went forth, dropping the necessary 62 dollars (ouch!) for board and boot rentals along with a day pass. The excitement went awry almost right away when I took an immediate embarrassing fall off the first lift. "Hey dude, don't forget to duck!" So I watch my roomies zoom down the hill as I took a time out to nurse my freshly twisted ankle. When I finally manned up, bit the pain, and started down the slopes myself, the pain was quickly forgotten in the thrill of the moment. Hoowah, what a blast!! I even went down from the summit for my last round, and didn't topple off the edge of the mountain. I did so much better than I did like three years ago! The weather was great, I didn't feel cold at all until snow got down my pants numerous times. At the end of the race, we returned to the car, and the thrill of the moment was no more. Now all I feel is the acute discomfort of my soft-ball sized ankle.
So my right foot is blistered up, and my left is twisted, possibly sprained. Don't I need these feet for work?
Anyways, you can tell my nephews that they may own in the virtual snowboard game in Texas, but Uncle Todd does the real thing! And it hurts...

My Reflections of a Prophet

One of my earliest memories of President Hinckley involved the Astrodome, a golf cart, and my dad. You all probably know what I am talking about...
I remember many general conferences when I would wonder to myself, "Why would a prophet of God speak so much to the people of earth concerning such temporal and seemingly mundane matters? Perpetual education fund, food storage, education, staying out of debt... How does it all tie in to his calling as prophet, seer, and revelator?" I remember when I received the answer as well... The Lord is teaching His people to be self-reliant. We can go much deeper than this, perhaps later.
I remember the end of my first general conference in the mission field, and how much I literally missed the voice of President Hinckley like I missed my own family. Perhaps it was only because it wasn't the voice of my trainee...
I remember the October conference of '06, when the final song was "We Thank Thee O God For a Prophet", and all the conference center stood in honor of our aging prophet.
I remember a devotional here at BYU last year, where President Hinckley spoke. The Marriot Center was packed, and all throughout campus all ears were for him. I think I caught a glimpse of how much the people of the church love him.
I remember realizing how his departure from this life would be like an honorable return after a most successful mission. I think part of him longed to go home, to be with his friends he had served with, with the wife whom he loved, and to be with the Lord who ever walked beside him. Much like Ally, the departure from this life is a glorious thing, though we all miss him very much.

A New Semester

It's Friday night... what do I do? I write a new blog! Hoowah!
Anyways, though the semester started on a sorrowful note, it seems that there is something different this year. I actually enjoy ALL my classes! Really! Even calculus, believe it or not. From Balinese music to the Foxtrot to church history, it all seems to be expanding my horizons in some way. The only damper on the semester is work. It's funny how every game you get yelled at, and then when the game is over the people come up and apologize and say you did a good job. Whatever... does the spirit come back that quickly?
If only I had a female to complete me... maybe I'm looking in the wrong places. It's time to celebrate international appreciation month! No dating white chicks in February. We'll see how I can expand my horizons there...
One more thing, my roomy Austin and I are going to get a business going that sells T-shirts with sayings on them like, "What the French, Toast?!" or "Pants" (inspired by the RM) in which case people would be like, "Woa, is it pants or a T-shirt?" Maybe even seasonal sayings like, "I'm a funny T-shirt for Halloween". Brilliant, huh? Don't steal the idea!
Well, I'm gonna go be a third wheel. Everybody enjoy the three day weekend!!

The Miracle of a Life

It has been a long time since I last writ (wrote) on this thing, mostly because I've simply been with those who read this, so there's really no news you don't already know. Most of you who are reading this are already acquainted with the events that have recently transpired in my life. Most of you have already heard my testimony and my feelings of the occasion. But I am not mighty in words spoken as I am in words written, so let me expound.
In my life I have always had two "anchors to happiness": my family and my faith. No matter what comes, I always had a source of peace, comfort, and acceptance through these "anchors". I thought that my family could be taken away from me through accidents, feuds, and other unthinkable tragedies, but now I know that this family is as solid as my faith. Though death may separate us for a time, I truly understand now the eternal bond we have within our small community of Martins. This is one of the many miracles brought about by the life of my sister Ally.
We also see the strengthening of our bonds to one another who remain behind in this struggle of mortality. Not since early summer have we all been together. Perhaps never before have we all been so selfless in our dealings with one another. Mom and dad's extended family as well went out of their way to be there. Friends from out of town came, sacrificing time and gas money to show true friendship. And let's not forget our wonderful town of Danbury. Perhaps I under appreciated our local neighbors during my stay there.
It seems so many other wonderful things came about from Ally's example to us. It is true we miss her very much, but her passing can be seen in a joyous light when given the right perspective. The greatest miracle of all is that the miracles continue to happen even after her stay with us. Ally fulfilled her mission here, and has now returned home in honor.

All this seriousness... maybe you're wondering if it's the same person writing. My jovial self is still there and quite apparent, I just feel older lately. Not just a few days older, but more like an experience older. Know what I mean? Probably not... of course, who can comprehend what goes on in my vastly imaginative and absent mind?

Update from the Winter Wonderland

From the slowness of my internet, it's more difficult to be motivated to actually blog, so this one will have to suffice for the last week and a half. I would include pictures too, but what a hassel!

It all began with an ugly sweater party... I took a trip to the local DI in hopes to find something really unruly that would earn me ample attention, but alas I settled for an actual decent sweater that was not too ugly, but certainly itched. Being elected the first one to choose a white elephant gift, imagine my delight when I unwrapped my very own empty pack of gum and scratched ASL learners CD. Nobody stole my gift... As the party died out, I returned to my apartment to find my good roomy Austin on his way to Seven Peaks to ice skate. I took the opportunity to aquire a new skill, and failed miserably, though it was fun to fall once. Not bad for my first time on the ice. On the morrow we broke the fast with lasagna at one of my roommate's parent's house. It was so good I pondered a fourth helping... for DESSERT! I slept very well that night, having temporarily escaped the pains of perpetual hunger. The next week went by, homework and tests came and went in a blur, and the weekend rolled around... Party Time! Well, for most people. I spent Friday with Jake and Lindsey mainly, and that's a reward in itself. I get to witness firsthand the unnatural growth of Andrew Alfalfa-Grass Russell. Lately I am terribly funny to him, and nothing makes me happier in life! Not even Divine Comedy, which I enjoyed with a fun date. Is there an end to all the mormon cultural spoofs? Nope... and they still make me laugh. So as I wrote 'Z's in the snow, the mark of my alter-ego, and got pelted in the ears with snow balls, I realized how wonderful it all is. There's a magic in the air with all this snow business... perhaps it's related to Christmas? But I feel life frolicking and singing like a disoriented TMA major. College life is like a snow-board downhill for me. A lot of wrecks, but some smooth rides in between.
Here's to the wet pant legs and runny nose of December!