I don't understand

I am an easy going guy. I don't often dislike something. As of now, I have no enemies or anything. I have a couple things I don't like. Among those are two things: country music and non-Christian Christmas music from January to the day after Thanksgiving.

Apparently that is unacceptable. It's not that I try to impose my beliefs on the matter on the whole world. I just prefer that if someone is with me and they refuse to turn off that kind of music, I prefer not to listen. 

Apparently I am a jerk for that. Apparently just because I don't want to listen to that, I am the worst human being on the planet. I feel that I have a right to live my life how I want. It's not like I am killing people or something, but I feel so judged.

So I don't care anymore. Go ahead and hate me for it. It is my choice, and really it's not that horrible of a choice.

Things I did today

Well, it was a busy one.

• I started out helping Nicole answer Trevor to Homecoming. I did that basically all day. She wanted me to stall him. I didn't really need to, but I accidentally did anyway. 
• Then I had some school. 
• I made a survey on if people in my Medical English class had robbed graves and why. It will be a hit.
• I felt a kinship to Newton and Aristotle and Galileo as we discussed them in Chemistry.
• I filmed some Student Council kids during third period and after school. 
• During lunch I made grilled-cheese panini for two girls that I never, ever thought would be at my house eating my food, Nicole Tucker and Kaylee Whiteley. 
• I told a story for Open Mic in Radio that technically happened to my best friend (but I said it happened to me).
• I fell asleep in my front yard in a chair that was waaaaay too close to the trash (I was too lazy to move it).
• I got picked up by Nicole and Annysela Medrano and we went to Buffalo Wild Wings.
• I did the Blazin' Challenge at BWW for On Campus. The challenge is eating 12 of their hottest (about 300,000 Scoville Heat Units) wings (bone in) within 6 minutes without any drinks and you cannot wipe your face.
• I cried while doing said challenge.
• I dominated said challenge in a beautiful 3 minutes 46 seconds.
• I washed my hands really well, but not well enough because in the car I rubbed my eye and basically burned it to a crisp.
• I went to DI and purchased the book A Thousand Splendid Suns for $2.00.
• My "friends" Nicole and Nini talked about how hot guys were and made me really uncomfortable.
• I helped Nicole really answer Trevor with a giant pair of pants on his windshield.
• I was the mascot (which incidentally is not the best thing to be after downing 12 wings and drinking milk which you can't fully digest).
• I watched PG dominate Provo 41-7.
• I went to McDonald's with Trevor and Nicole.
• I got home and edited a video to show my parents what I did this afternoon (the challenge).
• I texted this really great and awesome friend of mine who I didn't really get to see today, Maren Parsons.
• I blogged.

So you could say I have been a little busy. That is literally nothing of my whole day. I got random texts throughout the day talking about eating pants (in the Spanish language, no less) and I also witnessed the craziest fight I've ever seen at school.

It was a near champion day, I'd say.

The face of complete joy .02 seconds before the face of gut-retching pain. Love it.

That's me for you

It's weird. I am prolly the only guy who loves cooking, writing, calculating, filming, editing, computing, socializing, hiking & camping, scientifically researching, and religious pursuits. I have sooooo many things that I just love. I spent the last hour looking at recipes. I have a blog. I (I can't believe I am about to say this) sometimes enjoy math. I not only love filming/directing, I love studying from the greats. I get in a mode when I edit and I do things I never thought possible. I love computers (I know that isn't what computing means) and I could not imagine what would replace their spot in my heart if they were to just disappear off the face of the earth. I am a social tornado. I am no social butterfly because really that would mean I am graceful. More like a social duck. I am a social duck, but I love it. I have spent so much time living outdoors that I am just as comfortable sleeping in a windstorm as I am in my bed (though the bed is a lot less of a challenge). Then hiking…well if I loved hiking any more I would prolly have to drop out of school to satisfy my needs. I love science. Biology is my pride. Biotechnology is my favorite. I spend my free time pondering stuff like this. When I become famous for my writing, it will be a science fiction novel (then of course I will become famous for directing the film based on my book). Lastly, I have my religion, which is my life. Really, I love studying to become a missionary, which is what I will prolly do once I finish this post. That is what W.R. Duclos means.

 

"What a catch."

I don't think I have told you this, but I have a great friend that I just started to really get to know. We have become friends this summer. Her name is Nicole Tucker. She is great.

Today was a bummer day. Sentenced to paying for my own lunch because my mom found out I had money followed by tool running (getting tools for my dad while he fixes cars (which happens to be a lifelong activity for me)) and then the dreadful, "How does your room look right now?" Cleaning for hours was bad enough, mixed with washing a dirty car, but finally it was the evening and I could hang out with someone. 

Psych. Everyone was busy. Literally everyone I talked to had something they were doing that they couldn't include me in. A date. Family time. Girl's night (and if I get so much as one sarcastic comment regarding my ability to attend such social gatherings, I will kill the commentator). I was stuck at home on one of those nights where home is the last place you want to be. 

Confined to my lazy chair on my front lawn, watching Homestar Runner videos on YouTube (what does this mean?), with the night approaching 10:00 PM, I knew that there was little hope to salvage my evening. How wrong I was.

Nicole, the friend I mentioned earlier, back from her date that started at 5:00 (who does that?), asked me if I wanted to accompany her to Men In Black III. I readily accepted her merciful offer. 

We got to the theater and the people we were with had a hard time discussing logistics. I then realized that our evening may not be spent at the theater. Of course, that caused me to jump in line to get popcorn (I love theater corn, any way I can get it). After placing my order for the smallest corn, the smallest drink, and the smallest Swedish Fish, I was made aware that we were indeed seeing MIBIII. 

Cue Nicole joining me. I had just pulled out my wallet to pay for my refreshments when she says, "Do you want to make this a date so I don't have to pay?"

Some people. I said yes, of course, and paid an extra $3.50 for her ticket. I made her laugh every two seconds, so you can understand why our friendship is so great. The movie was very impractical, but that's beside the point. It was a great night. One of the best I have had in a while.

One more thing. One of the most legen(wait for it)dary things that has ever happened to me happened tonight. No, I am still VL. Yes, I was complimented on my good looks, but that was not momentous. No, I did not kill a man. Stop guessing and let me speak. I found out someone hates me. Because I don't slander, I will not reveal the name in a public area such as this. It was literally one of the moments of my life when I found out. All my guilt and any sentiment I had for being a jerk was wiped clean when I realized this person was just as guilty, if not more so, as me. 

For months (seriously, months) I felt as I would imagine a conspiracy theorist feels: There is a huge lie and everyone believes it besides me. It got to a point where I almost believed the lie. It got to a point where I looked at my own perspective as saw that I had been biased and unruly in my judgement. I never gave in all the way. The world had me convinced that at least a portion of my mind was that of the bad guy.

Then I was informed that what I didn't abandon for the security of falsehood turned out to be the truth. And even though a majority of the world still bought into it, a few people saw the light. But I still was convinced that the other person, the one who hates me(:)) was the better person. That they didn't dislike me for the very valid and fair reasons that I couldn't stand them for. But then from their own words I realized that I was right. I was not crazy. I was the good guy the whole time. Not a bad guy at all.

So when I say that finding out someone hating me is legen(wait for it)dary, realize that it literally was one of the best things that could ever happen to me. I think I will sleep guilt free for the first time since last October. 

Negligence.

So I haven't blogged for a while. Because I did not feel like it for a while. Because my life and thoughts were so boring for a while. Because I was on the Trek. But now that (all three) has ended. I am back.

First item of business: I just got a new computer. Which I paid for. It is a MacBook Air. I feel so happy that my life savings are now invested in a device that is so flipping cool. I mean, check her out:

Her name is Serenity (after the Battle of Serenity Valley). That model's hand is beautiful.

Hopefully this means that I will blog more. It prolly does. I am dictating this part. I think this is pretty cool technology. .!?,;@Number #$person how are sign time sign Asterix I'm () sent this in. I got a little carried away talking.

Also, I went crazy with the pictures. A slice:

This is Awkward

I don't know how to tell you this, so I'll just go right out and say it: I have been having the best few weeks of my life and I have not wanted to write on my blog. Sorry. But we can move on. 

Ha. It's funny how I cannot choose what to write about because I have had so much fun. So...I think I will put it off again. Sorry I'm so awkward.

The beginning of the end

This is it. The first real day of my last Strawberry Days as a child. This week may very well be the best week of my life. I have a hike to my favorite place. I have a group date with some of my favorite people. I won't get stuck on horse duty at Huck Finn Day. Seriously. It is Strawberry Days!!!!!

And that's why I have a best friend

I haven't seen my best friend, Trevor Ward, since Sunday. It isn't just that we haven't seen each other, it's that our communication has become limited to two phone calls. Now I am sure that I sound like a clingy guy, but you have to understand. Trevor and I have seen each other almost every day for the entire school year and if we didn't see each other we were texting or talking on the phone.
I really feel weird without him here. I stopped shaving my face. I have not gone to bed before midnight, even if I had work at 6:30 in the morning like today. I started to take showers at night instead of in the morning (I actually have no idea if that means anything, but I bet it does).

You know that's right. He's Gus, obviously.

Trevor and I think the same things. Right now I have no go to evening plans. I don't have someone to spew my Space Center mission ideas at. I can't even enjoy good food. I have gained five-ish pounds in the past three days. I smell bad. I don't do laundry.
Goodness I sound pathetic. But I don't care. I don't think I have even actively pursued coming in contact with a person of my age all week.
On the upside I have made over two hundred dollars in the past three days, which totally rocks.








I really need to do some laundry. Seriously.

Well I meet a person

I was asked to Morp two days before. I am the last minute option, apparently. I also hardly knew the girl that asked me. But I said yes because Megan Francis had already ruined my plans for the night by asking Trevor to Morp. That is how I met Sadie Dodson.
She is a spaz, sure. She thinks that the host of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is the one who makes the questions. She also quoted everything possible in her graduation speech. She drew a picture of me (which is basically not the only reason I feel compelled to write this).
No but for realz, she is pretty great. I was peeved when we became friends because it was like two weeks ago and now she is graduated. Which really sucks. It was a good few days together and Morp was pretty amazing. You're jealous now. Sorry for having good friends.

She drew this. Pretty great, neh?

Also, I updated my book because, let's be real, the additions I made into my second edition at three in the morning was filled with typos and grammar errors and stupid things. I like this one better.

Here comes the worst time of the year.

Remember me last year at this time? Yeah, I hate graduation. It makes me cry. I don't like crying, because all my friends laugh at me. Last year will be nothing compared to this year. I am going to cry so much. Just to let you know. At least it'll be the last graduation I cry at.

The Shins have some good friends

So I am going to a concert with the one non-relative I've been friends with longer than anyone else, Keven Carlson. We are join to see one of our top bands, The Shins. But they also have two other bands playing with them, which didn't seem too great when compared to The Shins! Then I decided to start listening to the two artists. One is The Head and the Heart. Well I should have heard them before I love them soooooooooooooooooo great. Ditto for the other band, Blind Pilot. They basically bring tears to my eyes. Awesome.

Well that was the worst and the best

I had a bad day because of a certain teacher. I don't want to think about that. I had a great day today. Trevor and I went shopping for our priest's quorum Graduation Party and then Taft, Trevor, Maren and I ate ice cream and worked on the guys' resumes and Maren's math homework. I cannot remember a day in my life in the past two months that compared to how relaxingly summerish it was.

After Trevor and Taft left, we decided to listen to Maren's iPod. You know how sometimes you are listening to your music with your friends and a kind of obscure song comes on and you feel compelled to explain what it is so they feel more comfortable? Prolly not, but I do that. So as we listened, she worked while I wrote recipes for my Prostart class (a class in which I passed the final today!). As we listened, I very much forgot we weren't listening to music I chose. A song came on which I love a ton, but I thought my friend might find it obscure. As I got her attention so I could explain, my heart melted with happiness because the music we were listening to was music she chose. I love my friend and her wonderful and unique taste in music. She truly is awesome.

Then we went to the graduation party. It was great. I will miss Dalton and Aaron and David and Hayden and Cooper. They really are great guys and I hope the best for them. While at the party, I needed to use a toilet for needs that not even a male could solve in a bush. That is when I found out that the bathrooms were locked. Which, of course, made me need to go ten times more. I called my friend Delanie, who lived nearby, and asked if I could use her bathroom. Is it bad that it didn't even faze her with my randomness and complete strangeness? Probably. I guess by now my friends are used to me asking random things like to use their bathroom. I am a weirdy. By far my favorite character in this whole franchise. His name is Gus, after all.



Also Trevor and I answered the girl who ruined my plans Saturday for Morp (coincidentally she ruined my plans by asking him). We broke apart mini powder sugar covered doughnuts that spelled out "YEEE." I think that conveyed the message.

Shaken, not shtirred.

I went to Prom and felt like one Sir Sean Connery as Agent 007 of MI6. Let's just say my date was aware of how I felt. She may have made it sound better than it really was. I was more accurate.

More Prom stuff will be up once I get pictures. I am mostly excited to see pictures of her because boy was she beautiful.

Today I was put to the task of getting my cousins' cat out of my grandparents' home. Let us just say that I do not do well with felines.

FOR CLAY

My friend, Clayton Ellis, just got called on a mission to Montreal, Canada, French speaking. So I am writing this. That is all.

Just kidding. Ha. He probably doesn't know this, but the Duclos family traces it's roots to the Montreal area. I am of French Canadian decent. I am pretty sure we are from his area, but I could be wrong. I also believe that there are lots of Duclos' living in that area. So Clay, I better have at least fifty Mormon cousins from Canada in two years and a few months. Seriously though, I am glad you are going. Maybe you tell people your friends with a Duclos and they feed you. It could happen. You are awesome and a great example to me. Thanks for all you do.

Also, there is a Brockville in your area. I just thought that was pretty funny.

I feel vague

Something about the last few posts makes me feel as though I am being extremely vague. So I am just going to say it like it is.
I guess Wednesdays are pretty busy for me now.
Today I didn't eat any real food until about 6:30 at night. Smart, but not really. I saw a really pretty girl. I got the impulse multiple times to throttle a kid. I went to a history review with my favorite history teacher, Mr. Newman. I did my radio show. I watched my friends play lacrosse. I froze my hands and toes to the point of no circulation while I watched my friends. I ran around the track at a very high rate of speed. I found out that Maren can look amazing even after she has played an entire game of lacrosse in high speed winds. I defrosted my toes. I went to the Mr. Viking pageant. I lost my voice. I wanted to throttle that kid again. I also wanted to spend my entire day talking to that girl. I watched Psych. I ate some chicken. I still want to kill that kid and talk to that girl. I probably won't do the prior (ever).
Oh and can I say Wen-di Adair is just the best? She really is pretty dang great.
That was my day. I doubt your day was as eventful. If it was, I am sorry. It kind of sucks.

Also, I drew this.

Happy Birthday to my friend

He was born 203 years ago. What a great man. When we meet again in the spirit world, you bet I will be hugging one of my biggest heroes. I love this man.

I am really happy right now.

I am happy. I do not know why. Maybe it's because I just got off one of the best dates of my life. Maybe it's because I had steak for dinner. Maybe because things are just okay the way they are.
Note: The difference between me and a girl blogger is that a girl would put a smily face after that sentence. I am not a girl. Definitely not.

I'm not above conformity only because I don't want to be called a hipster

I'm not following the rules.

They want me to say twelve random facts about myself. Random they get.

1. I have a freckle in my left palm.
2. I choose the color of my reversible belt every time I where it by closing my eyes and flipping it until I lose track of which side is which, then put it on.
3. I can go to sleep anywhere. The sidewalk outside a Pizza Hut at 9:00 PM in the middle of winter? Easy.
4. I could spend thousands of dollars on formal wear. I love good looking suits.
5. I hate most of the music played. I hate country. I hate whatever they play at dances. I hate it all.
6. I hope I get a scar on my chin like Harrison Ford.
7. I make videos.
8. I hate math.
9. I was disappointed when I got a 29 on the ACT without studying.
10. Pancho Villa almost killed my great-grandfather.
11. I want to make people feel emotion from the things I make.
12. I wear size 12 shoes and am 5'11".

Now they want me to answer some questions. Fine.

1. Favorite musical? I don't watch musicals. Les Miserables.
2. How many cavities do you have? Too many. It's not my fault, blame that quack of a dentist.
3. Favorite (dirty) song? I have standards.
4. Country or dupstep: which is worse? Crap is crap as far as I can see. Why dig through it?
5. Favorite catchphrase that someone else says, not you? Since you didn't give parameters for not saying it, I'll choose something that I borrowed from someone else. "I've heard it both ways."
6. Would you rather dance in the rain or go on a romantic dinner/movie date with that special someone? The former because dancing in the rain sounds pretty useless. I mean really, there are better places you could dance as well as better things to do in the rain.
7. Favorite video game(s)? I would say the Zelda series and Mario. I stick with the classics. Also, Goldeneye of the N64. So clutch.
8. Which do you like better, Psych or The Office? The Office was best in the second season then lost it's flare, whereas Psych met it's true potential in it's second season and kept going up. Since the seasons are basically comparable, timeline wise, I'd say The Office in the beginning, then Psych for most of the two.
9. Favorite person to text or call? Probably Maren Parsons. She has really good taste in everything and very often her texts make me want to marry her. Example: Me too! Haha and bookshelves... I just... Really like bookshelves. So great.
10. Would you rather eat cupcakes or brownies? I would go for a piece of steak. Was that one of the options? No? Isn't it always?
11. Favorite attractive famous person? Zooey Deschanel has got my famous person heart. She is pretty awesome. Also, Emma Watson.
12. What is the most important lesson you feel you've learned in your life? Easy. The day I learned about Trigonometry. It really taught me how much I loath math.

I am not going to spread this cancer. Do what you want. I love you, bye.

If you had a pig nose, I'd hate you

There is a really horrible movie called Penelope. I hate it because it was a horrible movie. Flat out. I did not have a good night last night. It started with me hoping a certain girl would be at the PG varsity basketball game. One tragic defeat to the gay pioneers (gay because they are purple) and a migraine later, I was let with nothing but disappointment. Cue horrible movie.
I went to Carley Sturgis' house to watch Disturbia. The funny thing about wanting to watch a movie is that it is almost impossible to do so without a copy of it. Without a copy of Disturbia, I was hoping that we could watch the amazing football film, Rudy. We decided to leave the suspense and action genre to a much more, I'd say, crappy genre: romance. My migraine hated it more than the rest of me and told me by hurting even more.
Here is something that I found out when I am forced to watch a film that I am not interested in while having a migraine: I get very sarcastic and find joy in angering people. I entertained myself with the reactions to: pig noises, fake excitement at an especially cheesy (or as the other viewers would say, "romantic") scene, and multiple comments about the predictability and stupidity of the film. Remember that although I was being a jerk, I was in a load of pain.
So that is how my night went. If you are jealous it is only because you were in a car crash which resulted in you getting every appendage and the loss of feeling and nerve function in all of you, because I am pretty sure that that would be the only thing worse.


My head hurt really badly.

Two Years

So I turn 19 in 727 days. I can be in the mission field as early as 727 days from now. I went to a farewell for a great man who I probably won't see for about four years. Zach Harris is one of my heroes. It made me realize how much I am going to miss the people I've known for longer than a year and a half. Like Nate Church or Taft Robinson or Trevor Ward. People like Josh Brown and Nate Cutler and every other guy who'll be leaving. (Hey all you girls out there- I probably won't miss you while I am gone. Take it personally if you'd like.)

I really love the church and I love the gospel. It can make miracles happen. I know it's truth and I strive to be like our Savior always. Seriously, He loves us more than words can describe. I would do anything I could for the people I love. I can't imagine anything that would make me scared to save even a single person. That is what makes what the Savior did so important. I didn't volunteer. The sacrifice was too much for me. I can't comprehend that. If the sacrifice was too great for me, the Savior loved us more than I could understand in this mortal world. It amazes me to know that He loves me that much. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. I know the Book of Mormon is true. I challenge you, reader of my blog, to study the Book of Mormon and pray to know it's truth. I promise nothing but blessings will come. I know that He loves you beyond anything ever. Remember that in times of trial.

I usually hate the stuff I write a few months after I write it, but not this. I wrote this a while back, but the truth of it is still the truth. Check it up:

I am proud to say that I am very brave (at least in past circumstances I have proven myself). I believe that, if needs be, I could do anything. If the situation was grave enough, I would be victorious. But I am not fearless. I submit to you my greatest fear: I fear that those I love and care deeply about don't care about me, or worse yet, dislike me. I am afraid that my friends who I would die for think of me as next to nothing. I fear that my best is not good enough. I fear I am a nuisance. I always think it and I hate it. I don't know if I'm anything worth caring for.

But then I remember someone, the greatest person ever to love. I remember our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He loves me. He knows who I am and still, He loves me. He rejoices when I make good choices, even when I am alone. When I make bad choices, He waits with open arms of forgiveness. No matter the problems in my life, He and my Father in Heaven will support me.

Jesus, my older brother, loves me enough that He died so I may be eternally happy. He suffered pain and scorn because He knew it would be worth doing. And He did not do this just for me. He did this for my friends, my neighbors, everyone who has been on this earth or will be on this earth. He is our shepherd, the voice in the dark, calling us to the light. He did so much for us because He loves us. He loves me.

So from now on, if you ever wonder, Am I good enough?, just remember, He knows you are and no one else can even compare.

Original post here.