I am at my Uncle Chris and Aunt Sherie's house. They call it "The Sobek's House."
Yesterday my Uncle Chris came to pick me up at the temple at 12 noon. He asked me if he were to pick me up at either 11 or 12 and I said 12 noon so that i can still do my service before I leave. That particular Friday morning I was asked to help with the flowers in the pujari room. I had cut off the stems of the carnations and put them in plastic baggies. Then I swept the cooler out and put the roses back in. I also helped to sweep the other floor in the room where they were arranging the flowers and bring in clean buckets. And lastly the nice Mataji I think her name is Narayani from what I remember. She asked me if I can make flower garlands big or small and i said I could do both. She had asked me if I coud make Srila Prabhupada's garland but I had to decline because I was leaving early that morning to go to my Uncle Chris's house. But I felt so honored that she asked me to make Srila Prabhupada's garland. I told her I can help Sunday when I come back. Then after I helped in the pujari room, I went to help in the kitchen for two hours. I wanted to help them as I know they were short on help.
So after my Uncle picked me up we went to a couple stores. He went to this german store and bought liquor. Yuck. Then he went to this store called the Kitchenette to buy wire whisks. And lastly he surprised me by taking me to this music store. I thought he was going to get me a musical instrument but it was not the case. He had bought me a Beatles Trivia Pursuit game for a Christmas Gift. I thought that was nice of him. I could play the game with my dad when he visits I suppose. Then we went to his house. I asked if I could have the password to his internet and he told me where i could find the password on his modem so now I am using the internet. I was able to do my homework assignement from Maharaj since he wanted me to listen to at least one Prabhupada lecture a day. I listened to one already this morning as I will be busy later today at my Aunt Karen's house.
I went to bed at 9pm last night and woke up late at 5am. Good thing I wasn't in the temple I would have been mad at myself for missing Mangal Aarti. But I did my rounds as soon as I got up and had them finished by 7am because I didn't want to do my rounds around my family members. It'd be too distracting.
My Aunt Karen is having us celebrat Christmas on Christmas Eve. We have to be at her house by 3pm today. I think we willl be having dinner at 4pm then my Aunt literally hired someone to be Santa Clause to bring presents for everybody. And then afterwards it's just social hour. Me well Im not too crazy about the whole idea i feel a lot more comfy at the temple doing my service and thinking of Krishna. But I am doing this out of duty for family members as my guru Maharaj said it is okay to spend time with them just not too much time with them. So I had permission from him that makes me feel a little better but still.
But anyways it's nice being with my Aunt Sherie and Uncle Chris they are funny people. My cousin Matthew is here too but he was highly intoxicated when he came in. I think he's got a bit of a drinking problem and he's younger than me. He even offered me a beer and I said NO thank you right away. My Aunt Sherie asked me if I wanted any eggs for breakfast and I immediately said no thank you to that too thinking of my four regulative principles I must follow 1. No eating meat fish or eggs 2. No intoxication 3. No Gambling 4. No illicit sex. Im sticking by those principles because I do not want to spiritually harm my guru Maharaj. I know later they will have Christmas desserts all of which I have to decline because they have eggs in them. Oh well. I just hope my Aunt has something vegetarian otherwise I will just have a salad and that's it which is fine for me Or i can make something for Krishna and myself whatever vegetables she may have if she doesn't mind. I will ask her later.
