It Was A Vacation I Won't Forget

On my first day in Paris I was lost and confused. I didn't know where I was and how to make my way around the town. I came to write and that first day was a train wreck. I had nothing. My first page lay blank but as the next 4 months rolled along it began to fill. The next day was similar to the first. Nothing popped out and I just wasn't finding what I needed to find. Thoughts of, "This isn't for me, Why am I here, Sleep.." popped into my head. For the next six days I came with an attitude to learn but left with nothing. I was back at square-one... lost and confused. Then the magic started to kick in. I left my distractions in the hotel room and began to focus on the small details. I took my time and didn't rush as much. I was starting to get the fever that was hitting the streets. The man next to me was a tourist. He was here to see the sights, take a couple of pictures but then board a plane and return home to his "normal" life. He didn't want much and every once in a while he would comment on how I was wasting my time. Paris was where I tasted hope. Paris was where I bought a journal that hasn't missed a day. Paris was where I learned how to write my emotions instead of speak. Where I learned to keep things to myself rather then tell the world. Paris is where I learned to be patient. Every morning I would awake and point to a map. The place I point was where I decided to go that day. Wandering Paris was a dream. It seemed unreal some days. Then there were days that you felt in the moment. Emotions would come from all angles. Happy, sad, confused, angry, passionate, were just a couple. Paris was an adventure.Paris was a vacation that I will never forget.

Shake The Dust

Shake the Dust

This one's for all those girls that got away. This one's for all the bus driver's that never get a Thank You. This one's for all the single parent's trying to raise kids on their own. This one's for all the kids growing up without a mom. This one's for all the girls that have an eating disorder. For the old man that stands on the side of the road begging for money. This one's for teacher's that get ignored. For that one shy kid that's afraid to tell that one cute girl that he likes her. This one's for all the veterans. This one is for the children that lost their lives... This one's for the high school dropouts. This one's for all the starving kids in Africa. This one's for the men that created the term "ginger"... This one's for all the coaches that are as passionate about the game as Coach Nickols. This one is for all the people that get made fun of. For the kids that eat lunch alone, for the kids that are in search of just one true friend. This one is for my future wife, my future kids. This one is for all the good role models that lead by example. This one's for all of the people that made me who I am today. This on is for the Facebook Stalkers. This one is for all the SEXY LADIES. This one my friend, is for you.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

It's the most wonderful time of the year. I mean you can't argue with the weather. I love the snow and it's finally starting to come around. Then you've got basketball starting up and the playoffs/ bowl games for football are coming around. Fantasy football playoffs are starting. It's hot chocolate season and in a week we'll have a nice long break from school! It's my favorite time of the year. Now that I think about it though, this could be my last Xmas for a couple of years with the family. I might be on my two year deal at this time next year if I choose not to go to a semester of college first. Anyhow I love this time of the year!

Jealousy

Sick

“I cannot go to school today,”

Said little Peggy Ann McKay.

I have the measles and the mumps,

A gash, a rash and purple bumps.

My mouth is wet, my throat is dry,

I’m going blind in my right eye.

My tonsils are as big as rocks,

I’ve counted sixteen chicken pox.

And there’s one more—that’s seventeen,

And don’t you think my face looks green?

My leg is cut, my eyes are blue—

It might be instamatic flue.

I cough and sneeze and gasp and choke,

I’m sure that my left leg is broken—

My hips hurt when I move my chin,

My belly button’s caving in,

My back is wrenched, my ankle’s sprained,

My ‘pendix pains each time it rains.

My nose is cold, my toes are numb,

I have a silver in my thumb.

My neck is stiff, my voice is weak,

I hardly whisper when I speak.

My tongue is filling up my mouth,

I think my hair is falling out.

My elbow’s bent, my spine ain’t straight,

My temperature is one-o-eight.

My brain is shrunk, I cannot hear,

There is a hole inside my ear.

I have a hangnail, and my hart is—what?

What’s that? What’s that you say?

You say today is… Saturday?

G’bye, I’m going out to play!”

-Shel Silverstein 

This poem makes me so jealous simply because I just want to be a kid again. I remember faking sick so often when I was in Elementary school. I liked school but I always liked to have a day off once in a while. Plus I could convince my mom of anything at that age. I especially did it a lot in 5th grade because I wasn't a big fan of my teacher. 

The Perfect Crime

    What is my perfect crime?
I drive to Canada. Find a man. His name is Justin. Justin Beiber.  I stalk him looking for any opportunity to strike. It's late and he goes inside. I sneak through a basement window. I become aware of my surroundings. I hear him. Do I hide? No. I strike and she is there! This is where the story gets interesting.
Her name is Selena. She is one of the most beautiful women in the world. JB has left the room. I approach her. She smiles, as if knowing I was already coming. We flee into the city, get into a hotel and make love all night. She awakens and I am gone. On her night stand lays a piece of paper saying, "Thank You." Her purse is gone. Do I take the cards? No, they are already cut into pieces and thrown away. I have $1,000 in cash and memories about last night.
Months later she notices a contact in her phone named, "That One Night" She calls and lets me know she is in love. I tell her to meet me in Cabo. She arrives but i watch from a distance. She is surrounded by body guards. She has played me it's all a trap. I already knew though. I am laying on a rooftop just south of her. I call her phone and tell her to turn around. She moves and I take the shot. She is gone. It was all for the better.

Long Drives

Todd: So where would you fellas like to eat?
silence.......
Todd: Wendy's, KFC, or something nicer?
silence....
(slams TV shut)
Todd: So where would you guys like to eat?
Boy in the Back: Does the movie pause?
(everyone is now either frustrated or laughing)
Todd: Ok, I know this great Chinese place down the road. It's a great deal but its a little more pricey. Also, they have some of the best crap legs in town.
Boys: Ok let's do it!
          Ya, I'm in.
           All eat anything...
Todd: Ok, it's a deal.
Boy in the Back: Actually can we go to Wendy's?
Everyone: Shut up zach!!

The Break

This break has been a lot of things for me. Fun, full, happy, sad, scared, worried, regret, guilt, and more. I look back on the last three days and see happy and sad memories. Basketball with boys and being full while watching football are the things I will cherish forever. Then there are the mistakes I made. I would just like to publicly apologize to my friend (hopefully he reads this) and say im sorry for being stupid and making a dumb decision. 
                Sincerely, 
                                  Your best friend and bro 

Summer Days

How To Win It All

It takes a lot of hard work to make it all the way to the end. You have to put in a lot of time to achieve your goals. You have to put in the time if you want to be successful. Champions aren't made from laziness. Now you could apply these steps for anything in life. Sports, education, getting girls/boys. You just have to follow the steps and take every opportunity you get.

1) Put in the time. You always have to be willing to find time in your day. Tyler Haws is a very successful basketball player and he was at his church every morning in the summer at 5AM shooting hoops and dribbling for hours. If you want to be successful it's about the little things. Challenge yourself to improve on one thing every single day.

2)Take advantage of Opportunities. You don't get very many opportunities. When that one shot rolls around you have to been ready to shoot. Always be prepared for anything that is thrown your way.

3)React to Adversity in a Positive Way. Everyone at some point in their life faces adversity. A loved one passes away, you get laid off, you get cut from the team. Everyone has their own challenges. What defines a person is how they react to it. Do they thrown in the towel and quit or bounce back and work even harder. It's up to you.

4)Seize the Moment. When you finally get your opportunity and are prepared bury it. It's yours for the taking and don't let anyone stop you from achieving what you can.

How to pick a JJ team name.

This is my second year playing Junior Jazz and every year we have the same problem. What should our team name be? It has to be funny but also show that you mean business. All 8 (oh wait 9) players on the team have their own thought to be clever ideas but they all get shot down. It was this or heroin, purple turtles, ya i'll play, ill tempered sea bass, Arabian sand goggles,  are just to name a few. It is always hard to pick one name. But this year I think we've struck gold. Hope everyone has been practicing because our team has one goal and that's a championship.

Go Team Go!

#teamreeder

Grand Theft Poetry

FOCUSED ON THE GAZELLE

"You're Fired!"

"Don't touch me," he growled. 

Just take time to mess around. Get Lost. Wander. You never know where it is going to lead you.

The angel watched him thinking, 

I'll be missing you.

as he stared out of the window,

remembering his father telling him that stars were just far away suns.

The visits from his aunt and uncle showed

how he now lived and how his family cared.

I think the word he's trying to say is PLEASE.

The wail of sirens swirling all around him,

I told him that I would try, but

he didn't care.

It wasn't really like a horror romantic tragedy

and after it was all over,

I threw up a few times because

we are human.

and

we know how to stay focused on the gazelle.

Roll Tide

If anyone watched the Alabama vs. LSU game Saturday night then they got a good show. I am a huge bama fan and they had a great game against the tigers on Saturday night. The game went back and forth, then at the very end of the fourth quarter on a second and long the LSU defense blitzed and Alabama hit them with a nice screen pass that went all the way. I love watching football and I love my tide. With that win the are still in the drivers seat to play in the SEC conference championship and then the National Championship if they win that game. I can't wait for these next few weeks to come about. I guess this post kind of shows how much I love the game of football. As everyone at school knows the seasons going to end for us in the next two weeks sometime regardless if we win or loss. Now I want to go out as a winner so hopefully we get some things cleaned up and take down the Diggers this week. I also love the game so much that I plan on coaching later in life. I think it would be really fun and I would like working with younger kids. I don't know, just some ideas for my future.

I Remember

I remember shooting hoops on my little plastic hoop inside at my old home. That's the farthest back I can go. I was 3. I remember going to the Dinosaur Museum for the first time and playing in the sand for hours. I remember filling up with gas for the first time. I remember walking through the red woods and just looking up. I remember getting hit by a pitch and getting the wind knocked out of me. I remember a kid named Evan on my team ran to third base instead of first. I remember breaking my jaw and biting my tongue in half. I remember the day I got my license and I lied about my height and weight. I remember having not one but both of my seizures. I remember burying my great-grandpa on a cold cloudy day. I remember being the tallest  in 1st grade and then the shortest in 8th. I remember the first time I talked to that girl. I remember winning my 8th grade football championship. I remember scoring my first touchdown. I remember almost quitting. I remember almost transferring to AF. I remember driving down the west coast and wanting to buy a beach house. I remember going to Disneyworld.  I remember being in the shamoo show. I remember playing wiffle-ball all summer long and having it never get old. I remember watching Space Jam everyday for one summer. I remember finding a Nintendo 64 under the TV on Christmas Day.

 I remember hiking 24 miles in three days. I remember having a 24 marathon with Dillon. I remember moving away from all my friends. I remember going driving on the freeway for the first time. I remember playing with my friends down the street. I remember learning how to ride a bike. I remember running into a tree when I was running to catch a football. I remember almost getting caught. I remember lying to my parents for the first time. I remember sneaking out. I remember my 6th grade teacher getting engaged in class. I remember then having a substitute for two weeks. I remember going to the space center for a field trip and I was the captain! I remember going on my first date. I remember my first nightmare and I got shot. I remember mooning a family picture.

Bleach

Why doesn't bleach work for everyone. This last week a lot of members of the football team bleached their hair to show the school that is was the playoffs or something. I tried to bleach my hair a little while back and it didn't work? WTF? I was really looking forward to it and it didn't happen. I left it in thirty minutes past what the directions said and nothing. I guess I could always try again and give it another shot. I just think it's pretty stupid when things don't work out, but I guess that's life. We humans, always have this perfect picture painted in our head but it rarely if never happens. We always get our hopes up and eventually have them crushed by the reality of the world. I hope Mitt Romney wins, I hope our football team wins the state championship, I hope I get called to a warm place on my mission so I can get a killer tan, I hope I get into a good college. I hope for a lot of things but I wonder if they will ever happen. i guess only time can tell...

Lazy

Every person on earth is lazy. It's part of life. Everyone has those days when they just feel like doing absolutely nothing. I am lazy, my friends are lazy, my parents are lazy, everyone is lazy. What defines you is how lazy you are. Do you take five days off a week or just one? Do you ever slow down and relax?

Laziness is good for you. It helps you relax and just think about life. But if you do it to much you develop bad habits that are often hard to break. Often people that are lazy are followers (sheep) rather then doers.

I guess what I am trying to say is it's okay to sit back and relax every once in a little while but don't become a couch potato!

The Doorstep

So I have been sitting at my computer for thirty minutes now thinking of something to write. Well here goes nothing.

Do you know what the number one question is the day after a high school dance is (at least for the people I talk to), What happened at the doorstep? Seems like everyone has to know. 

Did you hug ?

Kiss?

Anything?

How was it?

How Long?

What'd you talk about?

I guess this is just a part of high school. 

Drop Everything and Just Listen

You been given a direct order to fed for yourself, because we now live off time.

For those of you that haven't seen the movie In Time, you should. It's about normal citizens like us living in a whole new world. There is no money value, only time. If you run out of time you die. You can always earn more, but even if you're one second late, YOU'RE GONE.

Time is all that matters now. That's your only order. To live! Would you take another's life to live, because they sure do in the movie. I just like to imagine what our world would be like today if it all came down to time. Some can live forever, while others don't even make it to the twelfth birthday. It's a harsh world but I think in a world like this you can get to see people from a whole new perspective and who they really are. 

Car fights

If you live in a family with multiple siblings, some younger or older then you can probably relate to this post. My family went up to Salt Lake for a couple of days during fall break and it seems like every time we all pile into the car together a fight breaks out within five minutes.Some nudges someone, or throws a wrapper, spits in someones face and next thing you know it is all out war. 

My two little brothers are punks and I'm always tempted to hit them back, but being the oldest I have learned from experience that I always take a majority if not all the blame and punishment.

I have found the cure to end the fighting! If you want to learn how it's very simple but takes a little $. Get a DVD player in your car! Everyone puts on headphones and the car ride is smooth sailing. Everyone is into the movie and has to use all there attention on focusing at a 8" TV screen. Trust me it's worth it. Best decision my parents ever made!

What does duct tape even do? I have searched around my house for fifteen minutes now and I can't find one strand of duct tape. It is handy in some situations but why can't you use normal tape or athletic tape instead? 

I like horse tape. I spat with it at every football game now, ever since Baron Gajokowski introduced it to me. (I am not a follower.)

Where did the word duct even come in to duct tape. When I was a kid I always thought it was duck tape and you used it to tape ducks or something like that. (I was a strange kid.)

Screw duct tape, I never even use it.

Now bricks on the other hand are very useful. Without bricks the three little pigs wouldn't be alive today. 

My house is made out of a lot of strong bricks and I like my house. I like bricks, especially the ones with holes in them. With the holes the bricks can be used for so many more things.

-pencil holder

-toothbrush and toothpaste holder

-decoration for a fish tank

-prop a door open

-break bones

I made a whole list of what bricks can do and what duct tape can't do. 

BRICKS>duct tape.

Called To Serve

I am a mormon. I think you could of guessed it. Considering a majority of the class is I feel I can speak openly about it. This weekend at general conference the prophet for my church made an announcement that will affect me, my family, and most if not all of my friends lives and near futures. A young man can now serve the church at the age of 18 years old instead of 19 if it is helpful and if the are willing and worthy. When I first heard this saturday morning I was with my friends and I thought a friend was pulling a joke on all of us. I was shocked when I heard it from my own parents. This means, (if I choose to) that directly after high school I can serve a two year mission for my church. That's in less then eight months and I'll be the first to say it, "That scares me."

 

 



I am going to die!

Bob...
ya...
Are you afraid of death?
ya....
Me too. There's no way out of it. You're going to die. I'm going to die. It's going to happen. What difference does it make if it's tomorrow or in eighty years? (much sooner in your case) Do you know how fast time goes? I was six like yesterday.
me too..
I am going to die.. You are going to die. WHAT ELSE IS THERE TO BE AFRAID OF?

I love the movie, What About Bob, and when we watched it in class I was kind of bummed because this is what I wanted to blog about. I did it anyways.

We are all going to die. For some it will be sooner then later. One of us might die in the next five years. Some might live until we are 105 like my great grandma. Ask yourself though, do you even want to live to be 105? What is there to do. My great-grandma leaves the house twice a week. For a hair appointment and the grocery store/library. That sounds like a pretty boring life to me. She doesn't even go to church anymore because she says it's to much of a hassle. I don't want to be 105. Maybe 90 but those last 15 years sound like hell.

What else it there to fear? Once your dead your gone. No more fear of spiders, snakes, heights, the dark. We all need to let fears go. It's ok to be afraid of some of the things I just mentioned but don't let a fear of something get in the way of chances you will regret not taking. I love the quote that says, "You will miss 100% of the shots you don't take." Always take chances. It's a part of life.

Wolfpack

In my English 12 class our teacher assigned us to pick a biography to read. I choose a book on the legendary coach Phil Jackson. When addressing the Chicago Bulls for the first time as their new head coach he shared this quote. I think it is very cool and might take a little thinking but I thought I should share it.

Now this is the Law of the Jungle-

as old and as true as the sky;

And the Wolf that shall keep it may prosper,

but the Wolf that shall break it must die.

As the creeper that girdles the tree trunk,

the Law runneth forward and back- 

For the strength of the Pack is the Wolf,

and the strength of the Wolf is the Pack.

I really like the last two lines of this poem. They hit me and just made me start thinking of my teammates and my friends. 

 It also made me think of Alan in The Hangover. "I only had one wolf in my wolf pack... but now with you two, now we have two more in the Wolf pack!" 

Watching the Clock Tik

I'm thinking about you like day thinks about night,

like dark thinks about light, 

like wrong thinks about right,

like pilots think about flight.

I'm thinking about you like Cougars think about Utes,

like veggies think about fruits,

like trees, plants, and flowers think about roots,

I am thinking about you like land thinks about the night sky,

Like little kids that believe they can fly,

like dazed students asking themselves, WHY?

I think about you like flies think about frogs,

like cats about dogs,

like runners think about going on jogs.

I am thinking about you like life thinks about DEATH,

like druggies think about meth,

like old people think about that last gasp of breathe.

I think about you like artists think about art,

like moms think about shopping at Wal-Mart,

like Steve Carroll thinks about Get Smart.

I am thinking about you like teens think about Yolo,

like awkward boys dream about not being flying solo,

like Levi thinks about saying, "Sick Bro....."

I'm thinking about you like the Universe thinks about Earth,

like Earth thinks about a newborns birth.

I'm thinking about you like two wants to be one,

like a worried father thinks about his only son,

like bullets think about being loaded into a gun, 

like all the pirates think about their rum,

like how you have so many best new friends when you pull out a pack of gum.

I'm thinking about you like rich thinks about wealth,

and poor people only care about good health.

I think about you everyday, 

in every which way,

but as I go on and on,

it seems to be fading away...

Fantasy Football

What makes fantasy football so competitive? It really is just a game. Why is it so important that everyone plays and wins. At the beginning of every season every member of the leauge says he or she is going to win this year. What makes a good fantasy owner? Yes there is a big difference if you are checking your line-up every week, but if everyone does that then what is the advantage? Is it luck?

I think it is! All the information is online. You can search about any NFL player and within ten seconds you can find anything you want to know about them. Doubtful, Questionable, Probable, what they are projected, where they went to college, what number the are on the depth chart. Everything is at your hands. I believe that while fantasy football does take a little checking up on and strategy, but are we the ones playing for our team? NO!

I believe that fantasy football is 80% luck and the other 20% is strategy. You can do all the research you want but you don't know who your players are going to preform on Sunday? Here's another thing I've noticed. If you have two players you can't decided on, generally if one of those players takes the field on Sunday or Monday Night Football they get the start. Why is this? Are they going to do better on national TV? No, it's a mind game. We just want to see the score and then figure out how many points they need to get us. It's all just a game people.

That's it, but you've got to love the smack talk! I'm currently 2-0, (about to be 3-0) and by the end of this week, I'll be the only team left undefeated! Go Ray Rice!!

I Am Not Afraid of the Dark

I'm afraid of walking home alone at night by myself. I think of everything bad that can happen. Someone will start to follow me. The street light will flicker out and my phone will be dead. No light.

Fears are what keep us alert. If we weren't afraid then how who'd we show emotion. Image watching a scary movie and not being frightened or having nightmares about it that night. Just sitting there in silence with no fear.

I guess everyone has there own fears though. That's what helps define us! I am afraid of a lot of things: the dark, heights, snakes, and clowns, but nothing scares me more then DYING. Imagine passing away at our age, 16-18. A whole life ahead of you. All of it is gone. No college, no marraige, no family, no career. Nothing. That is what scares me most. That's why I want to live everyday like it's my last.

I don't want to have fears and when I do get scared I will tell myself that I can do it. You have to have a positive attitude and not shy away from things or you'll miss out on so many oppurtunites. If you want to ask that smoking hot girl out, do it. Sign up for the talent show. Go on a road trip. Be an hour late for curfew if you're having fun. Just do it! Don't be afraid...

Happy Birthday!

Birthday: the day in which you where brought into this world. Yesterday one of my good friends celebrated his 18th birthday. Yep he can buy dry ice now and vote but that's about it. Nothing to big but he's getting older. The thing that got me thinking is when people kept saying, "Your a year older now." No he's not! He's a day older. A birthday is a celebration for one day. 24 hours that's it. Everyday we become one day older. We learn something new everyday and we progress in life. A birthday is just a significant day, the day you were born. I guess it's just one of my pet peeves. You don't become a year older in just one day. It's a progression throughout the year and on that one day you get to celebrate it.
At my church they say, "You've had a birthday shout hooray, we want to sing to you today. One year older and wiser too. Happy birthday to you." No no no, you are one day older. That's it.
Peace

All You Need Is Love

The beatles said it the best, All you need is love. I think a part of love is forgivness and I hope that maybe we can forget that this post is a day late. Love can be anything. Love is unbound. Love depends on who you are. Everyone can have there own opinion to love.
Love is an Ipod that is on shuffle. I wrote this in my journal and this is my favorite one. You don't know what is going to come next. When your listening to a great song you love it but you know it won't last forever. If a song comes on that you don't want to listen to you can just hit next and skip to the next one. Love can be confusing, fun, and heartbreaking, but the great thing about love is you can always decided what you want.
Love is like school, somedays you want to be there and some you just want to fake sick and move on. You always have the choice not to show up or just zone out and let everyone that you don't care. Or you can let everyone know that your interested by being awake and having normal conversations. Then there are those people that are desperate for love and answer every question in class and always have something to say. They're just trying to get everyone's attention.
Love is everywhere. Almost every song, poem, book, movie has some sort of love in it. Love can be so small and short for some, while so long and lasting for others. Can love last forever? That's a question for all of us to answer. We all have our own opinions and that's what makes all of us ourselves. Love is defined by who we are and how we act.

College

Today my family and I went to my grandma's house for Sunday dinner. While I was sitting at the "little kid" table with all of my younger cousins, my 6 year old cousin asked, "You're almost 18 right?" Yep I am. Then he asked, "Are you going to BYU?" That got me thinking and throughout this year all I've been hearing about is college college and college. It's right around the corner and I haven't given it any thought. I don't know if I'm just to lazy to get working on applications or if I just don't want to grow up. I'll be honest college sounds like a great time but I'm not ready yet. I still have that little kid inside of me. Sometimes I can't stand my parents but I can't even imagine moving out. It would be nice to have freedom but that also comes with a lot of responsibility. I want to stay in High School. I don't want to graduate, it's already wierd enough to think I'm a senior. Well who knows? Who honestly knows? I don't know where I want to go to college? I don't know what I want to major in? I don't want to grow up!

Humans

I am a human. I was brought into this world by a father and mother. I know I'm a human because I bleed, laugh, sing, dance, sweat, and most importantly make mistakes. Robots are ideally perfect. Aren't they? Computerized to the point where nothing can go wrong. Well I make a handful of mistakes almost everyday. I piss my mom off. I forget my homework. I don't walk a dog. Yes, I'm not perfect and I don't think anyone else is. Like Hannah Montana sang in the good ole days, Nobody's perfect! Everyday you should always to try to improve and get better at anything you can. If you are doing that and trying as hard as you can then you're moving in the right direction. That's why I am a human. If i were a robot life would be full of dull and boring moments. No emotion and that's not living!!

Welcome to Miami!

Hey my Name is Big Will! In Alpine, Utah, born and raised in the neighborhood is where I spent most of my days. Well that was me as a kid. Always messing around try to find something new to do. I am a creative kid and that's why I choose to take this class, "Creative Writing." I define being creative as being yourself. In years passed I sometimes didn't say things or didn't do things just because I was afraid of what others might say or think. But this year I am going to be me.
On that note im hoping this class goes well this year. The first two class periods were okay. The teacher is great and most of my classmates I can deal with but, I can't stand this football players. They act like the own the class and its really getting on my nerves. Who knows though, maybe things will settle in. Well there's that. I'm excited for this class and we'll see where it takes me.
Peace.