Indiana Jones

I have grown up watching some great films, such as: Ghostbusters, Back to the Future Part II, and Star Wars. But above all that awesomeness, their was one film that stood supreme: Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. I have lines from that film ingrained into my mind that I do not realize I knew. I have grown up idolizing Mr. Henry Jones Junior. He is my hero. I have tried to become just like him, whether I realize it or not. So now all I need is a Fedora and a lion whip. I want to be an archeologist. He is such a stud.

Henry Jones Senior is pretty great, too.

Homcoming 2011

Random Access Memory

Backup of first week if junior year.

Inside my brain for Tuesday, August 23, 2011.

4:20 AM

It's way too early. The temple is worth it.

5:10 AM

Josh Brown is a real stud.

6:00 AM

I hate seeing pretty girls at the temple because I can't talk to them.

7:15 AM

Why am I at Kneader's? This is such a girl place.

7:20 AM

Chabata bread is really good. I'm glad I can chew without my jaw popping. This food was overpriced.

7:30 AM

Wait school starts at 7:45?

7:45 AM

Does the five minute bell start now or end now? Where the heck is Ceramics?

7:46 AM

Why did I take Ceramics?

7:47 AM-2:15 PM

School wasn't the best choice this year. I should gone to college with my friends.

2:34 PM

Did an episode of Doctor Who get recorded?

The rest of the week was very similar. I don't enjoy school.

Here are a few things that I have been thinking about for the past week:

I really enjoy sleeping past 7:00.

Enough said.

I need to get out of Physics.

Ms. Layosa is the reason guys are afraid of girls. What if they are actually like her? She just couldn't replace Van Dijk.

What if the PE class I signed up for is actually a girls class?

Legitimate concern. Turns out it's a CO ED class. Close call.

Why do I have a locker in Zimbabwe?

My locker location sucks. Out by the C-Gym is never convenient.

You often see more flaws in yourself while others see more strengths. While both are skewed, together they make up who you really are.

I found this out while watching my friend play football.

Getting recognition is really great.

I am glad the girl I chose to ask to Homecoming is so terrific.

See future post titled Homecoming 2011. Just to let you know, her name is Alese Norton. Some relation to Sam. Surprising?

My eighth grade self would be freaking out right now.

I have two classes with a girl I had a crush on in 8th grade. It isn't as great as I had imagined.

She is really awesome.

I think this about every five steps during lunch. PGHS has some great young women.

Can you be in Sam Norton's family without being perfect?

If you know a Norton, you know exactly what I mean. If you don't, the only way you'll understand how great they is to meet them. They are sooooo nice and have such strong testimonies. I bet their parents are as proud as punch (that's a saying, isn't it?). To see more about Sam, keep reading.

Glasses are always good.

I didn't wear my glasses to school Friday. It isn't fun.

I have suspenders and a typewriter. I have it made in the shade.

Mr. Palmer has a very sleep inducingly melodious voice. With limits, of course.

I almost fell asleep once and fully passed out with exhaustion another time. He likes sleepers, I guess (I wrote that at 1:30 in the morning, don't judge me).

Justice League of PG.

I am going to start a club with this title. I call Superman.

Do people realize how grateful I am for them?

I want people to know how much I appreciate them, because it feels good getting recognition. That is why I started project: Letters. If you don't understand, you will soon enough.

I think I could be student body president.

I know a lot of people and apparently at PGHS, I'm famous. I have big shoes to fill, if I were to follow Nate Church. Luckily I wear size 12. But really many people told me to run. It sounds pretty enticing.

How will I survive this year?

I lost my senior friends. Brock, a constant in my life since birth is leaving. I am taking super hard classes. The girl of my dreams is just out of reach. It will be hard, but the Lord will help when he can.

Friends

Samantha Carter.

Here is a great example of why I gave Lindoners a fighting chance. She is terrific! She is always happy to see me and she has tried to kiss me twice. She helps me know I am wanted.

Samuel Norton.

Once upon a morning side a member of our stake presidency said he knew one person who was always Christ-like. Sam is that person. He should've been translated years ago. He is my friend even though he doesn't have to do so. He is never negative and never have I heard of someone disliking him. He is a great guy and a great role model.

Katie Clark.

She plays basketball and she is real swell. She was the first girl ever to tell me she had a crush on me. She soon realized the errors of her ways, stopped liking me and we've been friends ever since.

Marissa Smith

She may be one of the people I miss the most. She is extremely beautiful and has such a strong spirit with her. I loved seeing her at school and I miss her. She likes me (I don't know why) and we are great friends. She is a terrific actress. Soon she will be on Broadway co-starring with Daniel Radcliffe.

Trevor Ward.

This kid is a stud. Last time I checked, every single girl should be hoping to date him. He is funny and smart and has girl handwriting. How much better can you get? He is my best friend and we can talk about anything. He is awesome.






I really appreciate those of you who read my blog. It is always great to have a place to write down how I feel. I also like when people say I am funny. I am glad you think I am funny and not crazy.

Typed with love

If you want a letter, I want to send one to you. Give me some mail info. Like your address or P.O. box.

School

It is upon us. Like an execution, it will be at the dawn. It will be worth it. No matter how much I hate school, it is not for my own happiness. It's for the kids. My kids. And my wife. They deserve it. So here comes another year. Two people have already told me who to take to homecoming. I choose the first. I have high hopes and I am as nervous as ever. It will be the hardest year of my life yet. But it will be worth it.

Goodbye, eh.

I have nineteen days with my best buddy in the whole world. Sure we fight and yell at each other, but we are the best of friends. I love Brock and I feel like Doug McKenzie when he leaves Bob. It will be tough. We didn't even get to electrocute each other at the looney bin.

Separate Ways

This is a time of departure. It is a time of tears, a time of warm hearts holding dear memories of those who changed our lives for the better. As life goes on, we miss what was.

But we can't let what was rule what will come. As we blow our noses and wipe our tears, we must remember something. We must know that as one spot in our lives gets vacated, it gets filled. Life goes on. Friends come and go through the years, but memories last forever. So make the most of the time now: be friends, be happy. We can remember when we have nothing else to do. Make friends with those you don't know. Be the person people want to never leave.
Keep moving on, because no matter how bad "goodbyes" are, "hellos" are always just around the corner.

Seminary

Friends

 Last night I had the chance to talk to some friends of mine who I won't get to see often. I hate goodbyes, but I love parting words. I hope to be quoted in my parting words with someone. Anyways, I talked with a good friend of mine. It was great. There are those people that you can talk to and you feel good. Content is irrelevant. You just enjoy each other's company. You don't worry about what you say, because they know you well enough to not care if you are a goofus. Here are a few of my friends that are like that:

Jessie Marquis

We had Health together, but thanks to Brock, we became friends. She is so nice and completely non-judgmental. I think that her soft-spoken nature is the best way you could be. I hate being so loud.

Keven Carlson

Keven is probably my oldest friend. We have been friends since before Kindergarten. He has great taste in music (with the except of country) and apparently we act similar. He and I are fools, so we work well together.

Delanie Doyle

She'll probably thank me profusely for putting her on my blog again. Delanie cares. She doesn't do it just for me, yet it feels special. She can make me happy about myself any day.

Taft Robinson & Trevor Ward

I was going to separate these guys, but they just work so well together. We have endless amounts of stories and could laugh for days for Daddy Cakes. We watch Goofy wash an elephant and play Gauntlet Legends. When we call each other, we don't really converse; we mostly just say random sentences then meet somewhere. What better way is there?

Zack Hulsey

Zack was one of the first senior friends I made at PGHS. He is so great and he is my hero.

Brock Duclos

As an older brother, he is caring. As a friend, he is loving. As a best friend, he is more than I could ask for. He's moving and we are brothers in the spirit and in the flesh.

I like not having to be liked. It is likable.

The Price Is Right

One of my absolute favorite shows to watch when I was younger was that show. My brothers and I watched it almost every day during the summer. When I was sick and didn't go to school I would watch it. Bob Barker was one of my heroes. I can recite for you any life insurance commercial or scooter commercial. Jitterbug. Hoveround. Jitterbug. Diabetes testing supplies from American Life Insurance.
Then Bob left. I have watched it less than five times since then. I will still be on it, however. It will be awesome. Trevor and Taft and I will be driving to Cali to be on it.
Did you know you can get life insurance for less than 35 cents a day?

Write of Passage

I am not an idiot. I know "write" is not the same as "rite." You'll get my point in a bit.

I love English. I love reading novels, writing stuff (hey, like a blog!), and just thinking about how to form a sentence properly. I don't just read a book, I study it. I make sure I get the full meaning of the text by paying attention to spelling and grammar. English is what I live for. So I have a chance to write stories and get paid for it. I really think that I could be good at that. When I write, I feel like my mind produces the text of my life. When I finish a paragraph, I am always completely satisfied with it. Otherwise, I would not be done with it. I find myself accidentally writing essays in my free time. I live to write.

I wonder if Kurt Vonnegut felt this burning passion to change the world through words. I wonder if this is how Harper Lee felt as she wrote what billions have read. I wonder what it takes to be great. Will the name "Duclos" appear as much as "Rowling"? Can I  become great? Can I succeed?

Off

Have you ever just felt off? There is something that seems vital to your existence that is missing and you do not know what it is? I hate that feeling. I am pretty sure that is how I feel right now. My brain knows something is wrong, I just don't know what it is.

The other day I went boating as a kind of scout activity. I went with Taft and my leader, Hillhouse, and his family. I had a load of fun, even though the entire time the water was choppy. I am pretty sure that I almost died after every bump of the tube. Taft and I would sit lay belly down on the tube and grab on to the handles like the Batpod.

Like this.

It is a great arm exercise. My grip was shot after a five minute ride. It was the best.


Tomorrow I am hosting an Avatar: The Last Airbender Marathon. It will be great. My friends (I got another one, so now I am up to three!) will be there. I am psyched. I will see my friend Marissa Smith, who I am pretty sure I haven't seen since graduation. She is awesome and one of the nicest, prettiest girls I have ever met.

I plan on having a good night of sleep. I might go hiking tomorrow?

Oh Brother of Mine

Once, back when he played Tee-ball, he let me run the bases with him.

I have five older brothers. I've lived with them from 3 years to 16 years. The age gap goes from 30 (Nick) to 16 (me). My next oldest brother, Brock, is my best friend in the world. He and I are two and a half years apart. He was three grades older than me. Until he went to scout camp for the first time, we had seen each other every day of my life. He and I have many stories together and I love him so much.

All the brothers: (left to right) Nick, Bob, Cory, Kendall and Brock and I are on the floor.

In 36 days, my brother, Brock, will be leaving for two years. He is going to go spread the gospel in Puerto Rico. I will miss him.

As our time together grows to a close, I think of what we have done together:

• The hours of watching The Last Airbender and asking, "Did Jet just…die?"

We grew a watermelon.

• Talking about my "one job" (opening and closing the sunroof whenever we go somewhere).

Us with our oldest niece, Noel.

• Watching Get Smart (the television show) and busting a gut laughing.

• Thanking the guy at Subzero whenever he flips smoke at us.

Awkward picture with Kendall's ex.

• Shooting pool and listening to The Shins.

• Playing ping pong "like Leave It to Beaver."

Picking up Cory from the airport.

• Following the "I cook, you clean" method for Top Ramen, popcorn, and any other food.

• Quoting "To Kill a Mockingbird".

Dropping him off.

• Discussing the gospel.

• Going to the DI and then getting lunch specials.

Shopping at the DI.

• Playing Frogger in the front room (with Evan Kirby's help).

• Sorting Halloween candy and trying to keep our mom from seeing the gum we got.

• Being a nickname duo (Black and White, Brock and Roll and Wyatt the Quiet Riot, Broccoli and Stink Cheese (I was the Stink Cheese), etc.).

In Disneyland with the Robinson Family and the Busby Family (Taft is so fat!).

• Watching Psych and fist bumping.

• Selling popsicles in the summer and him sending me out to "advertise" (I would walk around the block barking like I was on a board walk while he manned the station). I wasn't allowed to eat "the profits".

I really didn't want to get into my suit again.

• Being creeped out by basically anything related to Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask.

• Being confused by random things our dad texts us.

Chilling at Bob's wedding.

• The time I crashed into a car and was rushed to the ER, he rode with me to the hospital and brought the teeth that got knocked out in a cup of milk.

He leaves too soon. I love my brother, but I'm afraid among all these great memories, there is way too much fighting. I regret the lack of love I showed over the years. I love him so much and I know he will be great on in the mission field. There is pain and joy in the past, but there is much hope for the future.