Sleep...I wish.

Sometimes at night I have trouble sleeping. Usually its not even that anything is wrong, or I'm in pain or something, sometimes I just don't feel like sleeping. Sometimes, like tonight, I just have so much on my mind I can't get my brain to calm down enough to sleep. Lately I feel like nothing in my life is going the way I want it to. School sucks. If college is supposed to prepare me for the real world, how come it just makes me feel stupid most of the time. Granted I know there are things I can do to probably make it easier for me, but I still don't know what those things are. If anyone can tell me how to fix it, please share. I welcome your suggestions, no matter how stupid and wrong they are. I'm sick of studying for exams, feeling good about what I've studied, then doing terrible on the test. I'm sick of worrying about grades and keeping up with all the "smart kids". I'm sick of worrying about dental school, and that I may not be good enough. I'm sick of life. I'm sick of girls. Why do they have to be so frustrating? They don't know what they want, and when they do they don't tell you. Am I supposed to read your mind? Sorry, not possible sweetheart. Tell me what you want me to do! I'm sick of girls lying to me. Telling me one thing for this reason or that, then a week later changing their mind. I'm sick of trying to open up to people, then having them only pretend they care. Is it too much to ask to have someone to share my life with? It must be because every time I try, it doesn't work. I'm sick of trying to be a good person, and having it mean nothing to anyone but me. No more Mr. Nice-Guy world. You have brought this upon yourself.

Life in the Fast Lane

Blogging is hard. I think it's just hard to find time between all my crap that happens everyday to sit and write. It's funny that I say that right now because I just gave a speech recently about the importance of keeping a journal, and one of my points was that we all have different excuses why we don't keep a journal. One excuse I talked about was how we often say we don't have time to write. My solution was blogging. So here I am avoiding my blogging because I don't have time when really it's supposed to be helping with allowing me the time I need to write. In the near future I will post the link so you can see my speech online. I wish I could be more like my friend Janet. She is such a great blogger. I like reading her blog because it is simply everyday thoughts directly from her head. No holding back. That's what blogging is about I'm realizing, just writing. Writing about life, love, happiness, sorrow, good, bad, questions, and answers. I want to do much much better at blogging, and be more like Janet.

A lot has happened lately in my life. Since I've written last, Thanksgiving happened. It was so nice to go home for a few days and hand with my family. It was awesome because my cousin Gus was there. I hadn't seen him for almost 5 years! It was nice to catch up with him. Thanksgiving I ate way too much of course. Who doesn't? I'm not much of an eater in the first place, but I like to make an exception on Thanksgiving. We saw the movie "The Blind Side" Thanksgiving night. It was so good! I love Sandra Bullock and she did a great job. I also love football, and great real life stories, and this movie was a great combination of those things. It was so great to be home, and I can't wait to go back very very soon!!

Another great thing that happened right before Thanksgiving break happened while I was playing in my indoor soccer league. This summer I really got into soccer, and I have been really impressed with my soccer skills. So impressed that somehow my cousin Chad talked me into joining his indoor team, even though I never have played indoor soccer before. Let me first say that we did not win ONE game. The last game of our little season, I was chasing after the ball, and some queer from the other team was behind me. Our feet got tangled together and I fell forward and he fell on top of me, and ended up sitting on the back of my head, very forcibly smashing my face into the ground. You need to understand that the ground we play on doesn't have any give like grass does, in fact its basically concrete covered with very very thin carpet. Needless to say, it did not feel good getting my face squished. I thought I would be fine. Let me sit down for a while and I'll be back. Nope. Wrong. I didn't feel better very quickly. I can handle headaches, I've had migraines my whole life, but this time I just felt like I couldn't relax. We eventually headed back to my grandma's house. I wasn't driving, and honestly I don't really remember much about what happened that night. I guess as we approached my grandma's house, I sat up in the back seat, and Kalicia asked if I was ok, and if I needed to throw up. I said no, and as we pulled up to my grandma's house, I puked in the backseat of my own car. Amazing I know. I opened the door and fell out of my car onto the cold, frosty grass, dripping in my own barf. Somehow I took off my shirt and shorts, leaving me just in my Rainbow Hot Pants (a pair of colorful spandex). My grandma thought it was a joke when we burst into her house. I was in bad shape, and since I threw up, they wanted to take me to the hospital. I so didn't want to go, I just wanted to relax, and the only way I let them take me was because I figured the stupid hospital would do something about my headache. Just in case you didn't know, if you have a head injury, the hospital will do nothing for you. They did nothing for me, short of letting me sit in a bed, waiting for two hours for them to scan my head, tell me I'm fine, and send me away with two pills that didn't help me at all. Thank you hospital. Thank you for nothing. I feel much better now, and after that night I suffered only slight headaches and a slightly swollen face for a few days. It has not scared me away from soccer completely.

Swollen face from soccer.

This week is finals week. Today I took two finals, Chem 106 and my student development class. I felt pretty good about both of them. My chemistry class has been pretty tough this semester, and I think my professor has finally realized that he may have made the class a little tougher than it needed to be, as most of the exams have had a average in the 50's. I felt much better about this final and hopefully it will turn out well. I only have my Physiology final and my New Testament final left. Both are proving to be much harder to prepare for than I originally thought. I hope to be done by Thursday morning. Then Saturday I get to go home!!! And I am soooooo stoked!!! Then Christmas, and that will be awesome too! I can't wait to be home with my family. We can go shooting, and sledding. It's gonna be sweet.

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

Eulogy for Riley Scott Christensen

Here is the eulogy I wrote about myself a few weeks ago. Sorry it has taken so long to get it up. Enjoy!

My dad was never a very big person, at least not in stature. But that never stopped him from living a big life. When he was as senior in high school, my dad was 5’5” and a 125 pounds, but still played on the varsity football team. His dad always told him to “Live Big”. My dad lived by the saying, “Go big or go home.” Dad lived a big life.

Dad lived big in his business endeavors. He always dreamed of being successful, and he was. In college dad graduated top of his class at BYU and then attended the University of Washington Dental School. He then graduated from Ohio State’s Orthodontic program. Dad moved back to Washington State to begin his long career as an orthodontist at the top of his field. Dad was an innovator, and a leader in his work. He created many advancements to make orthodontics easier and more efficient, as well as less expensive. He was known throughout the country as the developer of the Scotts device. Dad and his brother went into business together later in their lives to develop and manage a new resort at the Gorge, a popular outdoor amphitheater where many popular bands play, in the town of George Washington. The Hacé Resort is still very popular and thriving. Dad lived big in his everyday business adventures.

Dad loved helping people and couldn’t get enough of it, so it was no surprise when he created an outreach program in his small hometown of Royal City, Washington to give dental care to those who can’t afford it. Dad’s “Don’t Stop Smiling” program is continued on today. Dad was also involved in many humanitarian projects all over the world to give dental care to those who need it. Dad will be remembered for his big heart.

Dad had a big family. He is survived by over 100 members of immediate family, including his 10 kids, nearly 50 grandkids, and an increasing number of great-grandchildren. He had a lot of love for us, and always did anything he could to make sure we were taken care of.

Dad had a big appetite for adventure. It seems that he has done everything. Dad has traveled the world. He has been involved in many humanitarian projects all over the world, helping people he didn’t know. Dad had his pilot’s license, loved deep-sea fishing, and was even in a band, “Tooth-Hurty” with his good friends. He had a big desire for all things that were exciting.

The gospel played a big role in dad’s life. He knew the importance of the gospel and loved to serve. Dad was a leader in the gospel his whole life. He served as a bishop, and a member of a stake presidency, a mission president, and a temple president. Dad would never be the first to tell you about the things he has done, and has remained a humble servant of the Lord his entire life.

Dad lived a big life. He played big, and now its time for him to go home. He is going home to be with his biggest fan. He is leaving behind a big legacy. He will be remembered for his big heart, and big adventures. I know that dad would want us continuing to celebrate his big life.

Eulogy

It has been quite a little while since I have posted. It's kinda hard to know what to blog about sometimes. So much going on, and I want to only blog about the best things, but I feel it's all pretty good, so I don't know which to write about, and which to leave out. I have decided that everything I blog about doesn't need to be awesome, and it's ok to leave some awesome out. So here is a little taste of awesome for ya.

This semester I'm taking a public speaking class. It is probably the most awesome class I have ever taken. All of my other classes I feel are useful, but only in specific instances. This public speaking class is teaching me how to be a better communicator to the world around me, and I feel like I can use what I'm learning in my everyday life, not just certain times here and there. I love it.

This week our assignment was to write our own eulogy. At first I was confused and thought it would be so stupid to try and write about my own life like I had just died. It ended up being an awesome experience. I learned so much about myself. It was supposed to be designed to end up being completely made up because it's all things that have happened later in my life, which haven't happened yet. I thought it would easy, but it ended up being really hard to decide what dreams I had that I wanted to come true. After I had written it, I decided the things I wrote about dealing with my pretend life, actually turned out to be things I really want to accomplish. These things are actually things I would love to happen. I wrote about becoming an Orthodontist, having a charity program, traveling the world, have a family, owning a business with my brother, being in a band, loving deep-sea fishing, having my pilot's license, and serving in many ways for the church. I would love all these things to happen! It was such an eye opening experience. I also learned so much from listening to other people's eulogies, and I found myself examining my life and whether my priorities were where they needed to be. I would recommend this activity to anyone. Do it! Changed my life.

A Lot of Life

Well kids, a TON has happened since I last posted. Life just gets so dang crazy, and then I just forget to post about my life, and then I fell bad because I haven't posted, but then I don't really feel like I have anything to post about. The cycle never ends. But here I am, here to give you a glimpse into the Life of Riley.

Winter semester ended down at BYU. Sad to see it go, but really happy to see it done. I won't mention my grades, but I'll say I feel like I got outa there just fine. I'll be sad to see the people I grew close to go. Along with the end of the semester means I had to quit my job. Yes, Riley Christensen had a job. Amazing I know. Last fall I told my self, "People, people, we need to make some money!". So I decided to get a job. I said to my self, "Dude, where you gonna work?". I responded with a resounding "I have to idea." Then I thought to my self, "You took a gymnastics class. Your little cousins go to gymnastics. You are pbobably about as good at gymnastics as a five-year old. You could probably teach five-year old gymnastics." I agreed with myself. I went down to the gym and shared with them what me and my self were thinking. They too agreed with my self. So they gave me a job to teach five-year olds gymnastics. And I loved every minute of it. I will miss those little dudes, from trying to get them to understand my jokes, to basically lifting them around the gym because they can't do anything themselves, to laughing when they try to help each other, or try to count to five, and somehow end up with 8 fingers sticking up. I will miss it!!!!

I've been home from serving my misison in Nevada for over a year now. It has been so crazy to be home, and not a day goes by that I do not think about all the people I know and love there. My friend Austin is leaving to Colorado, and my cousin Jacob is leaving to Norway, both on June 10th. I am very excited for them to go, and as scary as it is for them, and as crazy as it was for me, I would love to go back and do it again. Some of the best times of my life happened in my mission, along with some of the worst, but I wouldn't change any of it for anything.

Right now I am home from school for a month or two. I'll head back to summer school at the end of June to continue of my quest to be a contributing member of society. School is hard, and it's not my favorite thing to do, but I figure I might as well get as much done now while I'm into it. I don't expect to ever not be into it, but I'll probably get tired of it eventually. But I also decided that if I wasn't in school for 20 bagillion years, then I'd be doing some of the very same things outside of school, that I would be doing while in school. So bring it on, I'll take whatever I can get. While I'm home I'm working for my dad at his chemical fertilizer plant. It can be a lot of fun, and crazy at times. All the guys that work here I know pretty well and have grown up around a lot of them, so I really love working here. Some of my duties include mixing fertilizer to put in trucks to send to fields to be spread. Sometimes I spray weeds. I do paperwork. And I love to shoot birds. I guess you could call me pest control. Mostly I just do whatever they tell me to do, the second they tell me. I believe my official title is "Saddle Mountain Supply Biatch".

I have officially decided that I am getting in shape.  Strong shape.  Good looking shape.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'm giving up my sweet nectar of life...Dr. Pepper.  It will be hard, but I have to do it.  

That's about all that is going on right now in my life. Soon I will return to Provo and continue living the dream. Life is good. No matter how rought it may get, and how stressed I may feel, or how many things I feel don't go my way, I''m happy. Now if I could just find a way to share my happy...

Passion in Life

So I'm sitting here trying to decide what to post on.  I'm sure that the few of you who will ever read this are wondering why Riley is so terrible at keeping his blog updated.  I've decided that I'm just not passionate enough about it.  And then I came upon a really scary realization...I'm not really really passionate about anything.  I mean there are a ton of people who have this one thing they are really good at and they do it all the time.  Some people ski every weekend.  Some people hike, while others ride their bikes in the mountains.  If Utah is supposed to be this amazing place to get involved with the outdoors, why am I not involved?  Mr. President (Darren) says it's because I don't wake up early enough.  It is true that I'm not a morning person at all.  I'd rather stay up and sleep till noon, then go to bed early and get up at the butt-crack of dawn.  Not my thing in the slightest.  I love to ski.  I love to hike.  I love to ride bikes.  I love to do a lot of things.  But am I passionate about them?  Not really.  That needs to change.  

I don't really know why this coming out right now.  But I'm beginning to see a few other changes I need to make.  I'm getting tired of my job.  I work at a gymnastics gym.  I'm not great at gymnastics, but I love teaching it to little kids.  Well I think my lack of experience is getting to me.  This realization came as two, yes two kids this last week pronounced proudly that there were taking private lessons now.  This announcement was accompanied by a huge smile and a wave to their "other" teacher.  Ouch!!  I didn't think that I was much of a person that likes change, but at the same time I get bored of the same thing over and over again. 

A few months ago I was trying to figure out how I could attract more women to me.  Don't get me wrong, I've always has swarms of ladies all over me.  I have broken many a stick trying to keep these screaming, gorgeous, love suckers away from me.  I tried to change the way I talked, walked, and even stood.  For a while I worried it wasn't working.  But now this is not so much of a problem now.  No, I didn't get uglier, I just maybe found someone who I didn't want to keep away from me.  Either that or she is just stronger than the rest. 

Now I'm trying to figure out what to do with my life.  Orthodontist?  Dentist?  Doctor?  Physical Therapist?  Athletic Trainer?  Fertilizer?  So many things that I just don't know!!  I need help, and as much of my family will tell you, not the kind of help that just anyone without a phycology degree could fix.  

But I'm moving on.  I'm still getting up every morning/afternoon.  I'm still enjoying life and I look forward to the many new adventures each turn in life brings.  What is in store for Riley?  Stay tuned to find out.  Mostly because I'm not really sure yet.  

25 Random Things About the Most Interesting Person You Know (Me)

1. I am level 1 and level 2 boys gymnastics coach. I took a class at BYU last Spring and fell in love. I'm pretty much the best gymnastics coach these kids have. What have I learned from them? Stupidity is established at a very young age, and I think that I'm catching a small glimpse of what I was like when I was a young lad. 

2. Last semester I decided I was going to learn to play the guitar. Well I did. Whether I'm playing Flight of Concord's "The Most Beautiful Girl in the Room" or Death Cab for Cutie's "I Will Follow You Into the Dark", I love to play the guitar.

3. I have an uncanny ability to make people laugh. 

4. Contrary to what much of the world will think, I am actually a shy person. When I'm first meeting people, It's hard for me to be open. But once I warm up to you... Watch out baby!!

5. I'm a hopeless romantic. I want my life to be a movie. I want to live a "Chick Flick". 

6. Sometimes I get really really bad headaches. I have since I was a little kid. I don't really know why. Maybe I have a brain tumor. Maybe I just know too many women...

7. I have Asthma and I am allergic to just about anything. Grass, hay, weeds, animals, just about anything. It's really a miracle I'm still alive. You should be grateful.

8. My newest obsession is trying to figure out a way I could get a wish granted by the "Make a Wish" foundation. I know it's a non-profit organization that helps children with life-threatening diseases and stuff...but I just want it so bad. Maybe I could convince them that a cough could be life-threatening. My wish would of course be to go to Disney World with by best friend. 

9. I love to play the piano. I'm one of the few, the proud, the awesome that DIDN'T quit piano lessons as a child. I mostly use it to lull women into a state of hypnosis, while my natural charm takes over and they can no longer resist me. 

10. My life is burdened with shockingly good looks, and along with that burden comes the consequence of having people think I'm much younger that I actually am. Not a day goes by that someone doesn't think that I'm not in college. Once, I was 21, and this lady thought I was in middle school. Story of my life.

11. My stature is currently right around 5 feet 4 inches tall, 130 pounds. I have a brother who is 6 feet 1 inch tall, 230 pounds. I don't know how it happened, but all that is important is that I can still beat him up...to a certain extent.

12. I was on the cover of a magazine. May 2003 Ensign. Check it out. I'm the dude in the yellow shirt walking away from the camera. Boo-Ya!

13. My excuse for just about everything is "I'm a dude. Dude's don't have to know that." Most of the time it works.

14. The place where I grew up, Royal City, is the best place on Earth. I'm a farm boy at heart, and some people even say I have a slight accent. If I could support myself being an Orthodontist in Royal City, I would move there in a flash.

15. I served my mission in Las Vegas. No better place to serve. Some of the perks, meeting Gladys Knight, teaching the Zodiac Killer's son, and having guns pulled on me in the biggest trailer park in the world. 

16. One of my dreams is to write a song someday. I've tried, but try as I might, my musical abilities just aren't wired that way.

17. Another one of my dreams is to be in a movie. A real motion picture. I think I have the ability, now I just need to know the right people.

18. I don't like chocolate. I can handle a Snickers bar, or a chocolate with caramel every now and then, but a Hershey bar or a chocolate kiss, no way.

19. My worst fear is clowns. For real. Any clown. Even the happy ones scare the funny right out of me. Next in line for fear, spiders, snakes, and drowning.

20. I don't really like feet. I don't like them at all. So keep them away from me.

21. I placed 8th in the State wrestling tournament my Sophomore year of High School. And that was my first year wrestling ever.

22. I have a belt buckle in the shape of a lizard, and another that is a replication of the doorknobs of the Salt Lake Temple.

23. I can't stand the noises that people make when they sleep. Nothing bothers me more than the smacking and sniffing and breathing and snoring that people do while they sleep.

24. Some of my idols include Yoda, my father, and my mission president.

25. I am a very picky eater. I like plain hamburgers (but only if I can make it myself), no green food (meaning vegetables, except corn and peas). Eating in general is just not a huge concern for me. Sometimes I forget to eat. But give me some ice cream, and some dry cereal and I'll be good forever.