I’ve been told by this very demanding person I know (no, her name is not Karen Ericson although she does fit that description) that I should update this here web log. I, being the humble person that I am, submit to said demands.

Ten things you should know:

1 - The World Cup has been fantastic thus far (excepting the below average performance of the Three Lions of course). Myself, I’m rooting for the Netherlands or Spain. If Brazil or Argentina win it all, I’m never watching sports again. The Lakers and Brazil/Argentina winning their respective championships in the same year would be unbearable.

2 - I leave for Greece/Turkey/Switzerland on Saturday. Please be nice while I’m away. If I never come back, you’ll know that I accepted Islam and am working in a Mosque.

3 - Speaking of religions, I’m still convinced that one of my callings in life is to become the first Amish Mormon.

4 - I went to soccer camp last week. I consider my soccer team my collective bodyguard/advisor. Whenever I have any questions, I go to them first and if you ever want to kick me in the face you’re going to have to fight through them first.

5 - My current two favorite songs: 1) "The Call" by Regina Spector and "You Could Be Happy" by Snow Patrol.

6 - I can’t wait for school to start again. Really. There’s just nothing like boring teenagers to death every day.

7 - I will have you all know that I was successful in reaching my goal of going on a second date before September. Yeah, I know, I didn’t think it was possible either, but miracles never cease right (and no, she’s not related, nor is she blind).

8 - It was my enemy Stephen Frandsen’s birthday this month. I hope you punched him in the face if you saw him.

9 - I recently went and saw Toy Story Three. The company was fantastic and the movie was quite good, but I’m not sure what all the hubbub is concerning this 3-D stuff. Quite overrated if you ask me. Plus, those glasses make me feel pretty foolish.

10 - If you ever have the chance to see the great stone face down past Delta I would highly recommend it. It’s pretty sweet. If you have any questions about how to get there, direct them towards Nathan K. Rees.

And that’s all.

In Memoriam

The son

The brother

The Missionary

The Single Guy

The Preacher

The Teacher

The Husband

The Traveler

The Coach

The Father

The Thinker

The Student

The Chef

The Goof-off

The Musician

The Tour Guide

The Bishop

The Grandpa

The Example to the End

Gone Fishing for the Summer

I be done teaching for a bit. This marks the conclusion of three solid years of teachifying. I think three years is a good point at which to look back and analyze. Thusly I here construct a list of what I done learned as a social science teacher at the Payson Senior High School.



1) I still don’t really have a clue.



2) Teenagers, for all their good qualities, are relatively tactless.



Example:
Student: Mr. Wright, if you ever want to get a girl you’ve got to change your wardrobe. Those clothes are pathetic (editor’s note: This comment may well be true, but the presentation could use a little revising).



3) My students, most of them, are surprisingly perceptive. They generally catch on pretty quick when I’m just winging it (except those choice few who can’t even remember what subject I teach. You tell me Ry-masta, is it World Civ or U.S. Studies).



4) However, the limit of their knowledge is occasionally quite humorous.



Example:
Me (to one of my students): Come on, I know you know which president was shot in 1963. Student: No, I really don’t know.
Me: (after a sigh): It was John F. Kennedy.
Student: See I didn’t know. I thought it was JFK or something like that.
Me: John F. Kennedy is JFK. They’re the same person.
Student: Really? I though JFK was that black guy.



(Scout’s honor this is a true story)



5) An incredibly effective way to manipulate the masses is through food. It’s unbelievable really.



6) I apologize most profusely to all my female friends who associated with me when I went to high school (all two or three of you) with whom I used to argue about the fact that teenage boys were more mature than teenage girls. It is an absolutely indefensible position in retrospect.


7) My biggest challenge: Trying to decide what to do with students’ cellular devices. If you have any ideas, let me know. I’m pretty sure that their over dependence on cell phones is having a much more negative impact than they can possibly imagine.


8) My principal (despite what other teachers may say, the bunch of malcontents) is an amazing man. Currently he ranks in my top five male/fatherly influences.


That list is:
My Dad
My Mission Presidents (I count them as one, just so I can have another spot on my list)
Dr. Frandsen
Principal Peery
Coach Peterson


And that’s all


P.S. My new favorite song: Temporary Home by Carrie Underwood (soon to be Carrie U. Wright since she’s going to marry me).

And I ask you, what's wrong with that outfit?