Hello

Well hello there. I’ve got a few thoughts.

- As some of you recalcitrants know, I be the girls soccer coach here at the Payson. Can I just say that I don’t think a coach could be prouder of their team than I was this year with mine. We finished third in region, had a winning record for the first time in over a decade, went to state for the first time in seven years, and played quite well against a very tough Snow Canyon team in the playoffs.

- I’m pretty sure that success is because the team knew that if Lauren discovered that I was a horrible coach (which I generally am) she would probably leave me. And the last thing those girls wanted was for Lauren to leave (they know how socially inept I am). Thus the team played extra hard just to help me out and make sure Lauren stayed.

- I’m pretty sure the other reason we did so well was because Big Stew helped this year. Too bad he’s going back to the terrestrial kingdom in the spring.

- You know, that last point brings up an interesting question. If Payson is the Celestial Kingdom (which it obviously is since we get the temple) and Spanish Fork is the terrestrial, where does that leave Salem and Springville? I would go with Springville being telestial and Salem being outer darkness, but if that’s the case how do you account for Springville’s nickname (the devils)? It’s definitely a topic to be debated. Actually, maybe it goes like this:
Payson--Highest level of the Celestial
Spanish--Lower level of Celestial
Maple Mountain--Terrestrial
Salem--Telestial
Springville--Outer darkness
(I’m really thinking those last two are interchangeable)

- I wonder what the school board thinks about this.

- By the way, boys soccer team, the girls have set the bar pretty high for you. I expect great things.

- Have I mentioned that I would like to here state that I have a new found respect for coaches the world over. I’ve decided that anybody who has never been a coach has absolutely no right to criticize anybody who is a coach. From now on, I promise to be much nicer to anybody who chooses to enter such a profession.

- Here is a list of my five current favorite things:
1 - Lauren E. Farrer
2 - The soundtrack from Cold Mountain
3 - Teaching AP European History (I’m a horrible teacher, but my word those students are smart)
4 - Payday (that’s on Friday if you were wondering)
5 - The start of the NBA

And that’s all

Dear Children,

1. My brother came off his mission on Thursday. Do you know what one of the first things he said to me was? “You sure do have less hair than you did two years ago.”
2. With my loss of hair and advancing age I really do need to get married here pretty quickly.
3. Course, that means I’ll have to get over my fear of cooties which is much easier said than done.
4. I’m so excited for the General Conference. I think that even if I weren’t Mormonified I would still enjoy listening to Elder Holland, President Eyring, and President Uchtdorf.
5. I really, really like eating at McDonalds.

And that’s all

Back to School

Leute,

I haven't written in a bit and I apologize. I noticed that a couple commentors have requested pictures of something. Next time I promise.

Anyway, school started on the 24th of August and I must say it's good to be back. In fact, it's so good to be back, I'm going to write my ten current favorites regarding my workifying at the Payson High School

1. Beating Salem Hills High (a.k.a. Timpview of Southern Utah County) in soccer.

2. Standing on the sidelines during the football games and acting like I'm actually doing something (actually, I'm pretty sure everybody knows I'm completely useless, but at least they still let me stay there).

3. Teaching U.S. history. 19 years after having my first U.S. history class (Mr. Daniel's fifth grade class) I still love learning about the history of our country.

4. School lunch.

5. Judging the contestants at Payson Idol. I'm pretty ruthless, in case you were wondering.

6. Working for my boss Principal Peery.

7. For once having something to look forward to after school gets out.

8. Trying to keep my students from being bored completely out of their minds (occasionally I succeed, but that's only when I bring food to class).

9. Walking into a classroom and knowing that not all of my students hate me (in fact, I think I've almost convinced one or two of my students that they might actually learn something in my class.

10. Coach Chapman and Coach Johnson. They're my guiding lights.

And that's all for now.

A List

Well hello there. It has been some time since I wrote one of these. My apologies. I will do better. In my defense I did write something about cellular devices a bit ago but it sounded too bitter so I didn’t post it. Also, I tried to write in the Europe but just getting Internet access was fiasco enough, let alone trying to post something when everything on the website was in Turkish.

Anyway, enough of that, let me listify. Nothing like a list to help things come into focus.

1. Did you know that you cannot access YouTube in Turkey? It’s true.

2. School starts this month, I’m so excited. It’s such a good feeling to actually know that you’re getting something done (so that you know, I haven’t done anything this summer, I’m such a waster).

3. My mother just asked me why anyone would want a cell phone (she’s been on the phone the last hour). My honest answer: I have absolutely no idea. When I was in Switzerland last week my host mom gave me a cell phone. It rang for me three times. I refused to answer it all three times. When you hate talking to people it makes absolutely no sense to have a cell phone.

4. I watched the movie Inception. I have a rule that you can’t put a movie on your "Favorite Movies of All-Time List" until it has stood the test time (meaning can it withstand multiple viewings and still not be boring), but I’m pretty sure Inception is eventually going to make the cut. I just have a feeling.

5. Soccer season started this week and my brother Big Stew has agreed to finally join the goodness. I’m excited. Now if only I could figure out how to coach.

6. I think football has an unfair advantage over all other major sports because the season has such a great starting time. I mean, by August the boringness of summer is pretty much unbearable and you’re just looking for some kind of change.

7. I love football. It’s not my favorite sport to play, but it is definitely my favorite time of year. However, this year I’m going to be a little more subdued because I’m still upset with Payton Manning. In fact, I think I might have to take down his poster in my classroom for a little bit until he earns back my trust.

8. I went to Athens Greece four weeks ago. I’m just going to be honest and say that I was not impressed at all. I could do with never visiting that place again, ever.

9. I’m listening to Bob currently singing "Mr. Tamborine Man." I love it.

10. So there’s this little pizza place in Salem called "Lotsa Motsa Pizza." I’m pretty sure there are at least 534.75 improvements they could make, but I’m still obsessed with that place. If I hadn’t spent all of my money in Switzerland last week (can I just tell you how expensive that country is, unbelievable) I’m pretty sure I would go to Lotsa Motsa every day for their buffet. It’s amazing.

And that’s all.

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?