Gosh

I just had a crazy night. It all started at 5:00 when my friend, Cora Owens, took me on a date. We went to Taco Amigo then went to see The Hobbit. When we got back to the car and she turned on the radio, we heard the words, "PG" and "Triple overtime." All thoughts of the beautifully written and emotionally moving film I had just seen left my brain. Pleasant Grove played against Lehi High School last night and won in quadruple overtime 109-107. I listened to the rest of the game and then called Trevor who was there. We talked a bit and it was great. Awesome job, Vikings.

But that was just the beginning. 

After I hung up the phone with Trevor, I get a text from my good friend and Pleasant Grove Sports Network's play-by-play commentator, David Brinkerhoff. It read, "Hey so Jeremiah Jensen from KSL wants us to edit the film for him.  Want to come to Russ' room and help us edit? Plus you can turn Kurt's music off." In my defense, Kurt's music is about as tasteful as this.

I was in my underwear watching Saved By the Bell when I got offered the chance to edit something that would actually go on television. I am not going to lie in saying that that is one of the coolest things that has ever been offered to me.

The only problem is that it was already 11:00 and I was planning on going to bed soon. Of course within minutes I was fully clothed and at my mother's bedside begging for her approval. She said yes as long as I updated her on how long I would be (I figured it would be two hours, tops).

After making a quick Wendy's run, we started into the work of editing the footage for a highlight reel. 

Five and a half hours I worked. 

From 11:30 PM to 5:00 AM I edited, searching through over an two hours of footage and separate footage for a total highlight reel time of 3 minutes. And right now, I am finally editing my masterpiece. 

This is my biggest break in the field of editing. Forget that Wednesday the school played the copy of Ferris Bueller's Day Off that I edited, this actually will have my name attached. I am going to make it big. Just watch.

I'm smarter than I thought

I thought I sucked at Calculus. I was doing bad compared to the other students. But I ended up averaging at a B- and getting a 3 on the test. Then I found out that I am not too bad because I wasn't in a lab class. Apparently, a lot of people say they could not get through Calculus without their Calculus lab. I am just smart, I guess.

Applied

I am officially grown up. Because I just applied to the University of Utah and it's Honors College.








I still had to use my mom's credit card to pay for it, though.

H-omecoming

PG football makes me lose my voice. I yelled so loud today at the football game against Lehi. 45-11? Yeah, we destroyed. Tomorrow is the Homecoming dance. I am going with Kirsten Marquis. She is super awesome. Really. I cleaned a car today for four hours. Free of charge. I realized that I will never fall in love with my sister, Nicole. I love soccer. But I love American rules football best. Did I mention we destroyed? I was the fan of the game for my senior Homecoming where we destroyed Lehi. I got a plaque and everything. So great. I really like this girl, but I don't think she likes me back. She could, though. Good news, I think at least five sophomore girls are in love with me, though. Being the oldest at school sucks. I really love football.

"I'm totally bummed school is happening again this year."

It is my last year of school. I am nervous. Not. I am scared. Not. I am stressed. Not. It will be The Dark Knight Rises. Batman Begins was sophomore year. Nervous. Afraid that it wouldn't work. Then comes along junior year with The Dark Knight. Fun, lots of work, but still fun. Then finally, the pièce de résistance; the final chord: senior year. The year before set it up for a great cliffhanger. So here are the first few moments of moments of senior year. And they look promising.

Near death and bird whispering

So after I went post happy Saturday, I went on a hike to my favorite area in the world, Indian Springs. Taft and I went up there. As we neared the spring, I noticed a rattler as big as my arm at its thickest point three feet from Taft and about a foot off the trail. Let us just say we booked it out of that area. So yeah, I came a foot away from almost certain death.
Today, I was trying to impress a girl (pretty far fetched, right?). Anyway, we started talking about the hummingbird feeder on my back porch. She was enthralled that the hummingbirds would stop flying to perch on the feeder. For some reason, this conversation reminded me of a story I was once told about my brother, Bob, and him holding a wild hummingbird. All I remember from the story is that he held his hand next to the feeder for a long time without moving and it landed on him. I hadn't much foresight as I said, "This will take a minute." I really didn't have any clue or even any hope that it would work. But sure enough, as the first hummingbird approached, it perched on my outstretched finger. I guess I am really impressive, but it really isn't a big deal. I didn't get a video and when I tried again for seven minutes while recording, I ended up with nothing. But I mean, ha. I am pretty proud of my ability to go headfirst into that. Good educated guess.
I will eventually continue writing the book that I am always thinking about on Friday. It just sucks because as the highest student in any of my teacher's English classes on the CRT (I aced it with 100%), it's hard to believe I have a C-. Actually it's not too hard when you know that my English teacher hates me. But we won't name names because I don't slander people.
School? Stupid. Next year will be better.
Also, this post has a lot of labels. It is just that everywhere.

I can be passive aggressive

I have an English teacher who I less than like. He told us to write a paper answering a question: How long does one wait before eating Peeps? He deeply implied that he wanted the focus to be patience, but he never expressed it, just implied it. I am such a snairch.

A Philosophical Journey Through and To Peeps

Throughout human history, man has strived for one thing above almost anything else: food. This quest, once it became a constant, transformed into a journey to find the most decadent flavors possible. Man found sugar, one of the most prized palette tantalizers ever to be consumed. Through thousands of years of refinement, mankind created a substance unbeknownst to the world: the marshmallow. A creature under extreme scrutiny, the lowly sugar confectionary sought a higher state of being. In the year of 1953 A.D, 1100 years after the birth of the marshmallow and 2800 years after the use of sugar in diets, the two products melded into one final definitive creation: Peeps. 

It has been stated that, although the candy Peeps is delicious in its own right, one must wait a certain amount of time to properly enjoy these heaven sent creations. To these soothsayers and concubines one must say, “Nay!” Since man first roamed the earth thousands of years ago, he has been striving for the ultimate of ultimates: the one delicacy to rule them all. Through the refiner’s fire only one treat has made it: Peeps. Why, therefore, should man wait another few days to enjoy the ambrosia that for so long stayed out of man’s reach? Who are we, the product of generations of struggling mortals, striving for this holy grail, who are we to hold our noses up for any longer than we must? In what world does this ignorance do justice to those who never had the opportunity to enjoy this manufactured goodness? Not the world where you would like to live. To the people who depreciate the value of instant sugar covered goodness, I say, “NO MORE!” We must immediately plunge into the heavenly velvet, the manna from heaven, in order to truly do justice to our ancestors. The instant that seal breaks, we must do more that sit idly by. We must take action. This is my plea. Amen.

Suckishness

Sorry this has been the most boring blog in the freaking world lately. I have not really had the time to write that I wish I had. For example, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday I was gone for fourteen hours. WIth the exception of 9 hours last night, I got a total of 15 hours of sleep. I have had math up the wazoo and it kind of sucks.

But I have had some good stuff in my life. I had an undying hatred for someone at the beginning of the week who I now love (not that I trust him, you can love somebody and still not trust them).  I also have been rocking it at work and tore apart more computers in two hours on Tuesday than I usually did all day when I started working there.

I also took a math test on Friday that I felt went really well. It was fun. Ha. Just kidding. Math is never fun. I made doughnuts (I don't like the other spelling, "donuts") from scratch on Monday. Devil's Food Cake and they were delicious.

I watched the edited version of IMDB's #10 highest rated film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. I have yet to finish it, but I really like it. Great acting, great cinematography, and great directing. Jack Nicholson is a visionary with some of the scenes he made up. But don't watch it unedited. I could tell a lot of editing was done and I would not watch it if I did not have AMC's editing prowess backing me up.

I also went to Washington D.C. and Nashville, Tennessee last week for spring break. I ate so much food last Thursday and Friday, I almost exploded. Thursday night I had the bright idea to go running after eating beyond a normal person's capacity. I went into the hotel exercise room which had a whole wall with windows into the pool area, where there were a couple of teenagers.
After a quarter mile, I felt as though my everything was going to die, so I wisely stopped running as to avoid exploding ribs and smoked turkey onto the carpet. As I sat and composed my stomach, I realized that the teenagers had taken notice of me. But, the only thing they had seen was me running at a leisurely pace for a quarter mile that resting for a long time. Needless to say, I felt like a spaz. Then for a reason unknown to any scientific proofs or religious revelations or philosophical discoveries, one of the girls waved at me. I made sure she was waving at me (it had to be me because I was the only one it could've been), then awkwardly waved back. Cool story.

There is this girl I like who I haven't seen for a majority of the past two weeks because of vacations and stuff. She is just the best. This is going to sound super cliche, but she brings the best out of me. With her beautiful expressions (seriously, I have never seen anyone else who cannot contort their face into an ugly look, but regardless of what she does, her face is always beyond perfect), she really makes me want to be as perfect as she is. I am so grateful for my friendship with her and would not trade it for anything (except maybe a flying DeLorean with a flux capacitor). Seriously though, best person award goes to her.

This has been my life for the past two weeks. I have had a great time and a horrible time. I have wanted to sing, "Hallelujah," and I've wanted to shoot a burro. But all in all, I'd say it was a worthwhile time.

P.S. Also, I started a novel that I will be sharing soon.

I Intend

I am running for office. The office of Student Body President. I'd appreciate your support.

Here is my letter of intent:

To Whom It May Concern,

I was born in Pleasant Grove. Well, technically I was born in American Fork, but I prefer not to let it be known. Ever since the day I left the hospital in AF, I felt a pride in my community unknown to anyone who lives outside of Pleasant Grove. The first day I had a home it was not my house, it was the City of Trees.

I have since grown to know my community and love it more. I was a Viking before I was anything else. I have never considered the prospect of attending any other high school besides Pleasant Grove High, even if it meant hours of commuting everyday. I put this school’s interests above that of my own in many ways, from attending every football game to painting myself blue (on occasion). I have pride in being a Viking.

This school has had many Duclos’ walk its halls, but is now down to its last. I feel it is my duty as the finale of a series made great by this school to be in a position where I can give back completely what Pleasant Grove High has given us. The reason I am running for student office is because not doing so would put at risk not only my self respect, but my family’s honor. I cannot just leave this school after it made my brothers what they are today: a cancer researcher, a doctor, an airplane pilot, an English teacher (in Taiwan) and a future biologist. 

Growing up solely in Pleasant Grove, I have learned characteristics that make up true leaders. As long as I remember, I have been in the garage every Saturday working on neighbors’ vehicles with my father and brothers. I learned self reliance as I walked the mountains we call our backyard. Through church, scouting, and volunteering for the fine city of Pleasant Grove, I learned to lead with a love for my followers that makes them want to follow me.

I have been raised as a member of the LDS church. Through opportunities in my religious community, I have been able to gain qualities I believe will make me a better leader. While attending church one Sunday, I volunteered to be in charge of a youth activity, thinking it would be a simple task. This commitment ended up me putting in over forty-eight hours worth of preparation. Once at the activity, I had the privilege of taking charge of everything from introducing speakers to announcing meals to telling people to be quiet so others can sleep. I feel that this experience, among many others provided to me by my church group, the Pleasant Grove Youth Council, and other organizations, has helped me prepare to become a quality student body officer.

Now, if I were you reading this, I would be thinking, Well, gee, this Wyatt kid sure is full of himself, but I assure you that is not the case. I have many flaws, probably more than most. I spent a majority of my grade school years getting that drilled into my head by my classmates. I know that to be a good leader, I cannot expect everyone to love me or even like me. I won’t expect that because I am not a leader now and I don’t expect that now. I am aware that the title does nothing for a man, but that a man must live up to the title. 

I am running for student office because I believe, despite my flaws, I can live up to the expectations set by my predecessors. I am running for my honor as well as the honor of the Duclos name. I do this thing because I believe what Mr. Abraham Lincoln once said of America is true for the school that I love, “How hard it is to die and leave one’s country no better than if one had never lived for it!”

Forever in the service of my fellow men,

Wyatt R. Duclos

Seriously though, voted for me. If you can, that is.

Samwise Gamgee

Have you ever titled something with the intentions of writing basically anything but what the title implies? I have just done so.

Today I got home from school planning on finishing my math and English assignments and then going to see a cool kid open his mission call across the street. Eureka took mind and I would achieve almost everything but that. I ate two breakfast sandwiches and watched two episodes of what is beginning to be one of my favorite shows. As I started the third episode, I promptly fell asleep. I am really good at not doing homework. It takes a lot of work for a person to get this far in their education and still maintain a serious lack of homework done.

Another thing. Tuesday my ratio of sleep to awake was 1:5. It ain't very fun. Don't try it. Take my word for it. Yesterday I was running of a total of nine hours from the last two nights combined. Seriously I must be doing something wrong.

In less than twenty-four hours my entire life will be about 9! times simpler. Maybe even 10! times. I really hate school. I don't think they really care about us. I love people though. Thanks for reading my blog. I appreciate the support and feedback I get. Maybe someday someone will give me money to do this.

Stay Up Late Writing

A stupid paper about a stupid lie for a stupid class that has a stupid teacher and then have the stupid printer break. Then you might feel the way I feel right now. I guess those other three assignments would've been worth tackling before the stupid five page paper. Stupid.

Slughorn

These two are basically the same person. Dare to counter me. They even look alike. Seriously, I can't see any differences.

Everything is okay

I sure do enjoy my life. It is one of those times when you can't think of anything bad. I've been hanging out with two of my best friends, Trevor Ward and Kassie Hamilton. I have had the best week.

Here is my next week:

• Special Needs Sacrament Meeting tomorrow at 8:45 AM.
• No school after Tuesday
• I'm going on a date with the beautiful Lauren Miner. We are doubling with Trevor and his date, Megan Francis, and we are going to see our Curley, Taft Robinson, in the play, Into the Woods.
• I have something Wednesday. I'll get back to you on it. I forgot.
• Thursday is Thanksgiving. I sure do enjoy that November gem.
• Friday I don't have to avoid Christmas music. Seriously, we can avoid listening to that stuff until after Thursday. An entire month is plenty for any genre of music.
• Saturday I don't have school.
• Sunday is Sunday.
• Then back to school (but we don't think about that).

Another thing. You know how I want to be an author? Well, I got this book that a majority of high school students would mistake for a phonebook. It is not a phonebook. It is the 2011 Writer's Market, which holds every single publisher in the United States. For an author, it's pretty dang awesome. I decided I couldn't waste a resource like that, so I decided to do something. I am in the process of writing a short story which I will submit until it is published (probably in 2058). I am really excited. I will post the story, first draft, when I finish.

Needless to say, my life is going by perfectly.

Teaching Assistant

I am a teaching assistant for one of my favorite teachers, Mrs. Gallagher. I TA during A3, which is a sophomore English class. It is supposed to be Honors, but these kids are as dumb as dirt. I am pretty sure that at least two of the students hate me because I caught them cheating my first day on the job. It is not really my fault, though. They were being so obvious about it! I couldn't believe they were surprised I caught them.
Also some kids are in this class who I know, like Kassie Hamilton, or that one girl with the ridiculous name, or Brittney McArthur or Micaela Doyle. Happy birthday to her sister, Delanie. I hate school. I wish all the teachers had sense like Mrs. Gallagher or Mr. Dalton or Van Dijk.
I wish I had a better class to TA for. If they are reading this, they should really be not creeping. I miss my brother (surprise there). Have a good week.

Plagiarism?

I steal stuff from my blog in order to write papers for English. I feel it is dishonest somehow. I don't really care, though.

Iron Chef

Sorry I suck at blogging lately. I had finals, Halloween, multiple things to cook, girls to woo. I really haven't got the time. In fact, I should be sleeping right now. You are welcome for entertaining you.

Wooing Clark Kent style.

I transferred out of BC Calculus. I got a C-, but I thought I was just stretching myself too thin. I had very little options for transferring into classes for my this period classes. I ended up getting into an advanced foods class called prostart. It was kind of overwhelming to get dropped into it mid semester, but I think I can do it.
Right now we are basically going Iron Chef style. We need to get an appetizer, an entree, and a dessert cooked in one hour with only two burners for cooking. Not only am I new to the class, however, but my group is comprised of two other guys and we basically started from today, thus we are behind the other groups. Today after school, I practiced making Rice Pudding. Check it up:

I plated it myself. For an amateur, I think I did pretty good.

I am excited. I feel like a loser because I haven't been asked to Sadie's get. That sounds really pitiful and whiney, but this is my blog and I will say what I want. I didn't really want to say that. I haven't been looking at what I am typing, I am just staring at the ceiling. I won't correct any of the mistakes I may hbe made in this paragraph. But seriously, I would like to be asked. I am such a loser for resorting to the internet to show my sadness. Why should I be sad anyway? There are more male than female students at PGHS anyway.
I really enjoy being a part of KPGR. It is the only thing that I always want to do. So listen to me on Wednesdays on KPGR 88.1 FM, from 3:30-4:30. Don't think about it, just do it. If you want to call in to talk to me or to request a song (or both), call in at 801-785-KPGR or 801-785-5747. I will love you forever if you listened.
I am sucha whiney little pansy this post. I want you guys to do so much. But really it isn't that much. Do you guys have questions about me? You could ask me like in the comments. Sure.

Spoilers

The Don't-take-a-picture-of-me-even-though-I-look-super-pretty-and-you-want-to-remember-this-moment-forever look. You'd be surprised how often I get this.

I will post more soon. Don't start crying.

Story Time!

I haven't posted for a while and I have too much to do to write a whole post, so I just found a story I wrote. Here you go:

How The Brothers Eluded Death

By Wyatt Duclos

Once there were three brothers, Roose, Hagson and Rubius. They were the best of friends and loved each other very much. They and their mother, Belle, lived in a small cottage on the coast of England. The mother was very kind to everyone she met, and put her own needs behind the needs of others. This caused her to become very ill. She would soon die.

Her oldest son, Roose, was very worried. There was absolutely no way to delay his mothers death. So he thought and thought. He finally realized the only way was to stop Death from taking his mother. He told his brothers this idea. He decided to travel to a far away land to The Cave Of Death. This cave was full of the worst ways to die, a different death for each cavern. But at the back of the cavern, lived Death himself. So Roose entered the first cavern. The large cavern held a giant. Roose, knowing that giants were very stupid, let his guard down. But as soon as he stepped into the cavern, large, hairy tarantulas swarmed him. He was paralyzed. Death, sensing his presence was needed, went to Roose. Now what most people do not know is that before Death takes a life, he asks their final request. If the request is a good cause, Death fulfills it. But if it is selfish, he makes them die a slow, terrible death. So, he ask Roose his final request. Roose replied that he wanted to become the master of Death. Death found this a selfish reason and had the spiders slowly eat him, one of the worst deaths Death had inflicted.

After waiting weeks for his brother’s return, he finally guessed the truth. So, Hagson being the eldest, started devising a plan. Since going to Death did not work, he thought he should bring Death to him. He would pretend to have a heart attack then capture Death. Hagson plopped down in a chair and did not move at all, having his brother, Rubius, fetch him junk food. So after  a week of doing nothing and eating junk food, he decided it was time. With all the acting ability he could muster, he faked a heart attack. Death soon walked in Hagson’s room, prepared to take a life. Death asked Hagson his final request. Hagson leaped up and said he wanted to capture Death. Hagson then grabbed Death’s arm. But wherever Hagson touched Death, his skin errupted in flames. The flames spread and Hagson was finally consumed by the fire.

Upon walking into the room where his brother’s charred remains laid, Rubius decided it was up to him. He waited for Death to approach his mother’s bedside. When Death did, Rubius then spoke.

Said he, “Please do not take her life. She is a selfless, kind person. She still has good to do in this world. Leave her, but instead take me. You took my brothers, whom I cannot live without. would, please do this. It is the only way my family can finally be happy.”

WIthout hesitation Death raised his scythe. Immediately Belle started into a coughing fit. Gradually it got better. Rubius looked away and when he looked back, a beautiful young lady sat before him. Then Death turned to him. Rubius closed his eyes. It didn’t matter if it was here or wherever you go when you die, if Rubius was with his brothers, Death could not prevail.

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.

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.