My Blue Christmas

So, all looked bleak. The Mission President was adamant that I was not to see my parents. I could call them, and only collect at that, and that's it! He said it would be unfair to the other missionaries in the mission that don't get to see their folks. In fact, he took it so far that he callled me in to the mission home. Didn't pick me up, had me walk to the mission home. When I got there, he handed me a post card. It was already addressed to my folks. He told me to write out the places I planned to be so that they would know exactly where not to be. For a laugh, I pointed out that I would be eating breakfast at IHOP. He said he wanted the part of town and intersection too so that there would be no mistakes...in case they wanted to eat at IHOP as well!
He also said that they would recieve instruction from their Bishop and Stake President to stay away from me as well. Well, Christmas morning comes along, and I'm eating a lonely breakfast, when who should sit down at my table, but my parents! My father had a look of mock shock on his face, while mine was genuine. He admitted they had gotten the postcard, and that they had sent me a post card in return, stating that they had plans to eat at that particular IHOP as well, and that as my father and home priesthood leader, he was instructing me not to eat at that IHOP. He looked at me with a grin and said "Didn't you get it? I dropped it in the mail last night?"
Well, of course I didn't, as the "last night" he referred to was Christmas Eve. In fact, I just got it this afternoon in the mail. I honestly thought he just made that up. I should have known better. The lawyer in him just wouldn't allow him to jump through loopholes without creating some kind of "paper trail" to back him up.
Please don't mention any of this to my mission president, but they also brought my presents. How nice. I got a Tomtom GPS for Christmas. I appreciate it, and I know how expensive they are...but let's face it, I don't have a car, or a companion...I suppose I could put it on my bike, but we're only allowed to ride our bikes if we have a companion.
Maybe I could carry it in my pocket...but why? I know Provo like the back of my hand! They also gave me a couple of DVD's. R rated ones too. That was real nice of them...but the TV's at the ward building come with tape players, not DVD players...Maybe I'll have to hit Walmart and pick up one of them $30 ones with my MSF. That could cause trouble if there's a sneak inspection. At least I don't have a companion to rat me out...

A blue, blue, blue, blue Christmas

Well, it's been a while since I have posted, but that's just because I've been so busy. I still have no companion. President said he was considering putting me in a threesome but the stake president has been on his case to have missionaries in the 3rd Ward. He thinks someone needs to keep an eye on it and he can't have High Council members there all the time. I don't see what the big deal is, I LOVE the 3rd Ward. Though I'm not so sure they love me. None of them have come over here to read my blog. And they say they'll feed me when they are in church, but then they never do. I don't know how to react. That's ok, the price of Ramen is still VERY low.
But it looks like it will be a blue Christmas. My parents live in the same stake, but I'm not allowed to see them on Christmas. President says it's the rules. He says I can still call them, but I have to pay for the call out of my pocket. He says I have to go get a phone card and call them. I don't know, it all seems a little silly to me.
So, I'm getting ready for Christmas. I would spend it with a member family, but haven't been invited, except for Brother Tibble. He seemed very excited at the possibility of me visitng him foor Christmas. He even invited me to stay over Christmas Eve. I don't know how that will work. He has a studio apartment with a hideaway bed. Where would I sleep?!?!? I don't want to think about it.
So, I'm stocking up on the near-beer (Coor's Non-Alchoholic!!! I have to buy it in my P-Day clothes or they won't sell it to me.) and have some DVD's to watch on the big day. Not sure if I'll take a TV home from the church or just go straight there to watch. (Shh...don't tell!)