Your Tears

Dear Cute Girl Who got Yelled at Right Before Her Shift Began at the BYU Creamery on Ninth,

I am the guy who was sitting by himself on his computer at the bar of the grill. I believe that I was the first person to notice the tears coming to your eyes, and I was also the first person who you probably hoped hadn't noticed. As you were holding in your emotions your co-workers approached you. I know how stressed they had been up until that moment, and I am grateful that they were patient with you but I recognized that that wasn't enough.

At first I tried to ignore you because I didn't want you to feel embarrassed. I was then overwhelmed with concern for you. I racked my brain for anything that I could say to you to cheer you up. No words seemed sufficient. I just wanted to give you a hug. People say I'm a good hugger after all. I wanted you to know that in this room of strangers, there was one person who cared. I watched as you accepted responsibility for what happened even though the mistake made was not entirely your fault. I felt so much respect for you. You were even optimistic as you spoke. Not only were you beautiful in the outside, but also on the inside. I began to imagine how proud of you God must be.

I don't think I'm an evil person by any means, but I began to wish that I could know that God was proud of me. Suddenly I was overcome by a new emotion: I felt more alone than I have in a long time. Just then, you accidentally threw a piece of lettuce at me. I'm not sure you knew that it hit me, but in that moment I felt so real. I felt alive; I knew that I was there even though no one around me had any idea who I was. In that moment, you taught me something about myself that I don't understand.

I offered a silent prayer on your behalf and sat pondering for a few moments about what I might be able to do. Nothing came to mind. I left from the store fighting back my own tears. Those tears are still ready to flow as I type this.

I'm not sure I've ever felt so much compassion for a complete stranger. I just want to say that I love you, and I wish I could have been there for you instead of just their. Sorry for telling your story on my blog. If you ever read this and want me to take it down, please send me an email. But before you do, please know that you changed my life somehow today for the better. Like I said, I don't understand fully what you taught me, but I know that I won't be the same anymore.

Thank you for your Christlike example.

-Ben Brown

My 2.0

So this semester is a pretty exciting one for me.  Because I'm in college, I decided I'd take everything about myself and make it better.  Let's look at a few of these things shall we?

What probably brought you hear was my weight loss comment.  I've been formulating a workout/ eating schedule because I have a goal to lose weight.  I weighed in last week at 339 lb. and this morning the scale read 328 lb.   I wanted to weigh in tomorrow but I was to excited to check because I knew I had dropped quite a bit.  I have been going to the gym early in the morning and therefore going to bed earlier.  I've been eating healthily, don't worry people I'm not starving myself; I still eat plenty of food, trust me.  I maintain a good balance of carbs and protein to keep my metabolism revved up throughout the day, and enough protein to compliment m weight workouts.  I imagine this will help me with some of these other goals that follow too.

This semester I'm taking classical voice lessons.  First, I'd like to share how grateful I am for the vocal training an experience I have obtained from working with Mr. Tutwiler and Mr. Keirstead at Hylton.  My vocal coach is continually impressed by how much I already know.  That being said, I hope to just get even better.

I'm also taking an advanced volleyball course this semester.  My coach Lee Jay is so great.  He's a no nonsense kind of guy when it comes to volleyball.  We literally run drills all of class.  It's like we're training for competitive play.  I love it.  I'm so glad that he critiques our form because mine needs it.
This is a picture of my roommate and I with the BYU Men's Volleyball Team, currently ranked no. 1 in the nation.  They inspire me to work and play hard whenever I watch their games.

Anyway, by the time I go back to Virginia in April, I'll have had this extra dose of awesome.  :D

Feel free to ask me how my fitness goals are going.  You know, keep me accountable and whatnot.

Love you guys!

Oh, and if you are female, please consider submitting an application for my Valentine competition.  Just clink the picture of my precious baby sister at the top of the page. :D

My Kid History

Tonight I participated in a rare cultural phenomenon.  I went to a pre-screening for a YouTube video.  What is that?  Who does that?

Well, I do.

I even brought a date.  Her name is Beth and she is super cool.  I would begin to list all of her wonderful qualities but this post isn't titled "My First Date with Beth" so...

If you haven't heard of KID HISTORY by now, it means one of two things:

1) You don't know any Mormon's with a computer

or

2) You don't like clever comedic timing and children (Facial disgracial)

So Beth and I got to see Episode Ten of this web series before it is released to the rest of the world online.  Kid History is a web series in which "Kids Talk" and "Adults Act."  They are very humorous and the fact that the kids generate most of the material makes it even cuter, and thus funnier.  Somehow the word got out and went all the way from Utah, all the way to Virginia where it was introduced to me and my family.  My younger siblings are huge fans; we constantly quote these videos in our household.

 The premiere was an exciting event.  I have to say my favorite part was when they brought up all of the kids who were present that had participated in production.  What a unique life experience for them. :D

Afterwards there was an opportunity for a meet and greet with the adult cast.  Based on the nature of these videos, you know they have to be pretty cool right?  But did you know they were this cool?

Hopefully I made enough of an impression that if they make a "Dinosaur" Kid Snippet they will include me in it.

My Laquesha

Thinking about applying to be my Valentine?  I'll tell you now, you will have a much better shot at winning if you are a real person.  Although I will admit, the falsified ones are funny.  They represented 8% of the applications that I received last year.  I'd like to share this one with you that some friends submitted. 

Just to clarify, I did not write this. Enjoy.

Name: Laquesha

Phone Number: 313-HOT-MAMA (313-468-6262)

1. What were your first impressions of me and how do they relate to what you think of me now?  If we've never met please answer this question last.

well i be seein you from a distance. and i just be like shoot boi he is my kind of man. which is all man.  like fur serious. i still dont know you super great an all but i would like ta get to no you, cuz you be lookin all flyy. well pretty flyy for a white guy.

2. Why do you want to be my valentine?

so you can buy me things. im finna be sittin at home by myself that day if i dont. shoot.

3. In the Rodgers and Hammerstein's musical The Sound of Music, Maria sings a song about her favorite things.  What are a few of your favorite things?

cherry kool-aid

boots with the fur

waffles

when de bus be heer on time

4. Have you ever seen the Justin Bieber movie and what are your honest feelings about this Canadian icon?

uhh he's kinda little but oooo dang he still be super fine. mmmhmm. i mean nothin compared to my feelings fur dis ben brown kid but ya he be fine.

5. Hypothetically, if we were dating, which movie/book/celebrity couple would you compare us to?

Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon. 

6. Please share one of your top three most embarrassing experiences.

one day i be drivin in ma ride and i turned ma phone on to record me a liddle video on da way to the perk. and some trick g-snached ma phone and posted da video of me and my crusty crust lips all over them internet. shoot. i be so red.

7. Have you met any famous people? Who would you like to meet and why?

i am famous. people meet me.

8. What is your favorite flavor?

flamin hott hott

9. If a book was written about our love story, what would the title of the fifth chapter be?

"dang boy, wat be dat smell?!"

10. Please write a question of your choice and answer it.

why dis survey be so long?

i just want you, why should i have to open this survey, think of answers, type it up, and email it ta you? shoot man. i am a woman.





The whole time reading this I'm just imagining Glozelle Green like:

My Hero

If I never need one, I know who to call.  This is seriously one of the cutest things I've ever seen in my life.

One Minute Doc: Super Meg from Michael Paul on Vimeo.