West High Mock Trial / I still have vigor for life!

*Insert song "Anthem" from Chess*

As soul-sucking as mock trial is, this last week is proof that you should never let anything get you down. After losing our semifinal trial by what was essentially one point, I was pretty devastated, and so was everyone else. We had performed well, but the scores didn't show it. Additionally, it was not our best, so we perhaps felt that we had left some loose ends. 

Just days after I had moved on, our Red team lost in finals to the same team that had knocked us out, leaving us with 2nd and 4th in state. Most people would be thrilled, but when you know things could have been different, you're quite simply crushed. This was also the same team that beat us (unfairly) last year in finals, so it was a slap in the face. They aren't even all that good... *Incoherent mumbling* 

After all the misery and devastation and fury, I'm alright: I really, truly am at peace with the 2013 mock trial season. West High's senior teams had a good showing, and next year we'll just work twice as hard and use twice as many post-its and do our absolute best and we shall vanquish every opponent and dominate every courtroom and beguile every judge! (Sounds charming, no?)

But something new happened this year: West High's junior team took 1ST IN STATE (in their junior division). Last year we got 3rd, and the year before... Not so hot. But the 2013 West High junior team took STATE. STATE STATE STATE. West High fully supports winning. ;)

Junior team - state champs!

WHMT Black team (missing Vivian)

WHMT Red and Black teams (mostly everyone is there)

Yours truly,

Scout

Salt Lake City

You know what I love? I love Salt Lake City. I mean, I love all of Utah, don't get me wrong, but gosh, Salt Lake! I know that for the majority of people, it's somewhere else that hits them outta the park, but for me, it's Salt Lake. I'm reminded of the song by Brandi Carlile called "Caroline", part of which reads:

I have seen things in the sky 
Stars and lights and birds and I,
I've been Rocky Mountain high, told them all about you
Because you are still the only thing that constantly amazes me.

I love the road and I've been blessed;

I love you best.

Absolutely nothing compares to Salt Lake City when it's midday and people are on break for lunch and they are busy walking and talking; the region's on the verge of spring and the crusty, grey-and-white snow lines the sidewalks and you hear your heart in your ears and you look into the sky past the tall buildings and it's blue after the rain and torn by tree branches. In that moment, your heart is stolen and you are completely lost in love. But here, to explain further:

"You know that thing when you see someone cute and he smiles and your heart kind of goes like warm butter sliding down hot toast? Well that's what it's like when I see a store. Only it's better," continued, "But what's even more spellbinding than that is a new place: it has new streets, new people, new architecture, its own unique culture, etcetera. It is all new."

Salt Lake is magic to me, even Pioneer Park. Actually, maybe especially Pioneer Park! I mean, come on: during the summer, when it transforms from its usual state and transcends to the site of the farmers market? Magic! This kind of magic you collect from enjoying a walk along the downtown blocks of Salt Lake City is comparable to the kind of magic you collect from listening to Paul Simon's album Graceland. It has healing powers! It gives you a miraculous sense of wellbeing! It's the exact kind of magic I felt today when I chose to walk from the City Library to West High. The walk took me right through the heart of downtown Salt Lake and what with the sun and the streets and the jaywalking and all the people I didn't know and a great playlist playing, I had a transcendental experience. I'm telling you, brother! This is magic! I'm sure I'll write more about my hometown in the future, but for now, this is all - here is my humble offering to the spirit of Salt Lake City.

Best of luck,

Scout