A couple of things to note:

- My new goal in life: watch all the Star Trek movies. I'm determined. I can't be stopped. Trekkie marathons, here I come.

- The other day I ran two miles, it nearly killed me. The next day I did thirty pushups. That was even worse. The whole day I could barely write on the white board. No more physical exercise for me.

- You know, until I started coaching girls I never really realized how much girls cry. They don't whine nearly as much as guys, but they sure do cry a lot (which isn't a bad thing, it's just kind of overwhelming sometimes).

- Continuing the coaching note, I told a girl on the team that she had the same number as Larry Bird. Her response: "Who's that?"

- On another coaching note, I really, really want to a get a technical foul. I'm just not really sure how to go about it. Maybe I should pull a Coach Dale in "Hoosiers" or maybe I should just stand up when it's really quiet and start cursing up a storm . . . don't worry, I'll think of something.

- I went on a date last week. I have thus satisfied my quarterly quota. Please don't bug me about it again until April.

- I watched two fantastic movies this month, "Sabrina" (old and new version) and "The Magic of Ordinary Days." They both are so good. I would recommend them to all. A movie I wouldn't recommend though is "The Mayor of Casterbridge." It has to be one of the most depressing movies ever made.

- Little Chad was ordained a deacon today. If you see him walking around Salem Elementary be sure to give him a high five.

- Lately I've been missing Europe. Sometimes I really wonder why I was born in the North America. I swear deep down I'm European.

- Four years ago this week I skipped elders' quorum to watch the Colts play (in my defense I was in Brigham City where the elders' quorums are probably apostate anyway). Anyway, the Colts lost to the Steelers in one of the most depressing games I've ever watched. I learned my lesson. This week I stayed at church. Colts won. My testimony is strengthened. And I hope the Colts know they have me to thank.

- Now let's just hope for the Colts' sake that I can resist watching the Super Bowl.

- And finally, let me give you a quote. I never watch late nite shows, ever. However, I read this quote from Conan and I really liked it. Here it is: "All I ask is one thing, and I'm asking this particularly of young people that watch: Please do not be cynical. I hate cynicism. For the record, it's my least favorite quality. It doesn't lead anywhere. Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, I'm telling you, amazing things will happen."

Good bye

Achtung, Achtung

Some of you kids might wake up tomorrow morning and think to yourself, "I wonder what Mr. Wright's (a.k.a. Andrew T., Skinny, Squints, etc.) students think about him." Well, the opinions definitely span a wide range from "Mr. Wright's crazy" to "Mr. Wright is the most boring teacher in the world" to "Please, please, I'm going to stab myself in the neck if I have to go to Mr. Wright's class again".

However, I think the following exerpt will give you a little insight into the general mindset of those whom I bore to tears on a daily basis.

This was published, unbeknownst to me, in the December edition of our school newspaper.

A student (to remain unnamed) wrote: “I wish, I wish, with all my heart, for Mr. Wright to have a lady friend, in a land apart” (Dragon Tales). Tis the season to give the gift of happiness and love, and my gift for Mr. Wright is to find a woman whom he can love an cherish forever and ever and ever… hopefully this Christmas, my wish will be granted for this young man. Maybe someone can love him and his gorgeous green van enough. Go get ‘em Mr. Wright, you tiger you!"

Yes, this was published in the school newspaper and yes, I did fail said student because of it (although they do deserve credit for mentioning the sweet green minivan).

Thankfully, the following picture was NOT published: