Netherlands?

So I just stopped by here today... for the first time in months. Yikes. I'm sure lame, aren't I? Anyway, I checked my stats, and apparently people from the Netherlands have been here. I know right? I don't even know anybody in the Netherlands! Whoever you are... thanks for reading. I guess.

And thanks to you, noble reader, for your patience with me. I'm not a very good blogger, I admit. In fact, for a while I debated getting rid of this thing. I've decided against it. I figure I need a way to let the world know my deepest thoughts and feelings so that you, the reader, can consider yourself among my closest friends.

And other than that, I don't have much to say right now.

Off the beaten path

The other day I was lousing around playing video games (nerdy, right?) and something cool happened in the game. Naturally I turned around to tell my brother about it and, guess what, he wasn't there. He's on a mission.

I keep thinking that he'll be back soon, that he's at EFY or on vacation or something. Guess what... he's not. He's on a mission! I'm jealous but at the same time not.

That being said, I get to go with my family back to New York this week and cannot wait, no sir. That being said, I'll create a list of fun, off the path things for you to do if you're ever in the greatest city in the world.

1) The Dumpling Kingdom. It's a place where you literally walk through a hole in the wall into a basement kingdom. The roof leaks when it rains, nice Chinese ladies try to set you up with their daughters, and you try not to think about what would happen if ICE decided to stop by and say hello. Oh, and they make you delicious dumplings. I'm sure you could find those in a more reputable establishment, but these are VERY cheap, and the experience is half the fun.

2) Flushing Meadows Park It's the site of the 1964 World's Fair which, by the way, pioneered the use of visitors' centers in the Church. Today it's got a bunch of left overs from the fair, including the Unisphere, and is home to several museums, including the Queens Museum of Art with its diorama of the city (very worth it), the Queens Science Center, the Queens Botanical Garden, and the Queens Zoo (which is lame).

3) I'd say the Brooklyn Bridge, but it's on the beaten path.

4) Grimaldi's Pizza. It's the best pizza you'll ever have. You can find it right under the Brooklyn Bridge, though I'd recommend going early in the day or you'll have a long wait. It's worth it though, and, no, they don't take reservations (unless you're somebody famous like Michelle Obama), and they absolutely do not take cards. Cash only. They have an ATM for a fee, of course.

5) Chino Bake. If you want a heart attack, this is the place to get it. Basically you go in and point at what you want from the giant display case, so the nice girl who doesn't speak English can fetch it for you. Don't try to get it yourself! I hear the last person who tried lost his hand. I also like to make up my own words as to what the people on the Chinese TV are saying.

6) Coney Island. Take almost any train in Brooklyn to the end and you'll be there. Don't plan to swim; the beaches are all nasty and hypodermic covered. The boardwalk is tons of fun, and you can always eat at the original Nathan's hotdogs. Even though they are very, very good they are a bit (read: EXTREMELY) overpriced, so don't plan to fill up there. Along the boardwalk are tons of fun sideshows and places to eat.

7) Prospect Park is tons better than Central Park. It was designed by the same people and is actually considered their masterpiece. It has a lot more history (the Battle of Brooklyn was largely fought here and at nearby Greenwood Cemetary) and fun things to do, like rowing in a lake. I guess you can do that in Central Park, but Prospect Park will be a lot less crowded.

8) Greenwood Cemetary is also fun to visit if you're a creeper. I liked it. The garden-like feel is cool, plus loads of rich and famous people are buried there. It's also the highest point in Brooklyn, so the view of the city is great.

I'm sure I'll come up with more as time goes on, and you're always free to ask for more if you'd like. Gosh, I just realized I started this post talking about how I miss D, then ended it talking about my own mission. Oops... oh well. I'm too lazy to divide the posts.

New PMG

UPDATE: Okay, so there wasn't actually a new PMG, but I think these suggestions are still valid.

It's confirmed! A new Preach My Gospel in the works! This is great news, by the way. It's not that I don't love the current edition, it's just that it needs some work (as all first edition books do -- just ask William Grandin). Here's what I hope will change, arranged in order from most important to least:

1) I want an optional pre-1st lesson lesson. In my mission, our Chinese program struggled with helping the people they taught understand basics. Kids in non-Christian cultures often grow up without even the basic understanding of who God and Christ are (beyond that they are the American deities), thus forcing missionaries to punt and explain to them what a prophet is, who Christ is, and why it's important that they listen to the missionaries as more than just an amusing novelty. This lesson obviously wouldn't be for everybody. Certainly not. But having an official version written by prophets would be a lot better than a version made up by a particularly bright 19-year-old kid.

2) A section on how to work with less-active members. In the current PMG it says to work with local leaders. That may be great for the inter-mountain west, but elsewhere in the world priesthood leaders and Relief Society presidents are so overwhelmed by the enormous problems they already face that they can't pay too much attention (or don't care to pay attention to) the vast, inactive majority of their ward or branch. I completely understand and don't fault them at all. But something needs to be done. The Brethren ought to (in my opinion) include at least a little section on how to treat less-active members, what kinds of lessons to be taught, and how much to contact and work with them.

3) An improved section on working with members, specifically how to help them fellowship. I was a JW Bible student for a while and felt SUPER fellowshipped and welcomed by their missionaries. Though I never even entertained attending a service at the time, I had no doubt that I would be welcomed by everybody there, and if I were to go to one today I would be given the "hand of fellowship" far better than our LDS congregations.

4) A section FOR regular members -- you know, how to initiate Gospel conversations in real life, etc. I think it could help to have a standardized reference for members. After all, if Chapter 9 and its accompanying tips on how to find people to teach can help missionaries in infinitely more diverse situations (and it does!), then a page or two could do wonders for Brother and Sister So and So in the Provo 1st Ward.

And that's what I think. Obviously many more changes could be made by people far smarter and higher up than I am, but as I am fresh from two years of daily PMG study, this list is what I would change if I could.

The First Post

Hello! I decided to start blogging since it seems like the cool thing to do. I'm a history major and I'm not (too) weird, hence the title of this blog; I know there are those of you out there who disagree, but don't worry -- I completely understand. That being said, I hope you enjoy reading my musings from time to time. I won't promise to be an every day super-blogger, but I will be frequent so that those of you who know who I am can stalk me. Oh, it's also so that those of you who don't know me can wish you did, because I'm pretty dang awesome.