I have so many things I want to write and say.
Here is a summary:
The birth was very hard. It was the most painful so far.
I love little Jim. He is the most congenial baby we've had yet, and that is quite an accomplishment on his part. He eats well, and he takes at least one long night period (4-4.5 hours) during which I get a little sleep. He never cries, except when we change his diaper. He is just very agreeable.
I am working very hard to make sure I don't do anything requiring much effort so I can fully recover as soon as possible. I am overly eager to return to a way-too-busy way of life with way-too-many goals. My goal is to rest as fully as possible for 2 weeks. I have one week to go. So far I feel good and get about 3 one hour naps/day. (Royal's been home to watch the girls.)
We found a great deal on a house. We made an offer yesterday. As long as there isn't something seriously wrong with the house that shows up on the inspection, we hope to move in June-ish. (close at the end of May, and then fix it up for a month or so.) The bank has a week to respond to us, so it may be a while before we know.
We'll find out next week if they accepted our offer.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Announcing our New Arrival
Please Welcome with us
James Michael
James Michael
born at 3:44 AM
8 lbs and 8 oz
dark hair, and all the right boy parts
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
The value of thrift
You know, the science of spending less money but living well is just so personal. Not only does appropriate thrift depend completely on your personal values, but appropriate thrift also depends greatly on your individual situation.
Here's an example of the first principle: (thrift depends on your values)
When we were attending SCAD, our main goal in life was 1. stay married and 2. Get Royal through college. So, we didn't value embellishing our home, for instance. We didn't spend much time or money improving our home decor. A great carpet sale would not have "saved" us any money.
Now, on the other hand, our main goal in life is 1. Keep growing a stronger marriage, and 2. Enjoy our life as a family. So, beautifying our home, and obtaining an appropriately sized home, is a greater priority. We've spent much time, mental power, and money toward the goal of getting a beautiful home since we moved here. We are almost ready to buy a home, and a great sale on carpet could save us a lot of money!
Here's an example of the second: (Thrift depends on your individual situation)
We live 5 miles from a small Amish community. We now buy 2 gallons of raw milk from an Amish family every weekend. It costs us $1.50/gallon, plus transportation expenses. In that 2 gallons of milk is 4-6 cups of cream. So, we get about a pound of butter, 3 cups of fresh buttermilk, and 1.75 gallons of milk every week for $3 plus gas (about $1.50/week).
Any other time in my life so far, raw milk would have been either unobtainable, or prohibitively expensive. Not to mention the organic butter and buttermilk.
By the way, Raw milk tastes like milk, only better. And its a whole lot better than homemade soy milk. (Another thrifty alternative to storebought cow's milk) But the main reason we love it so much is that our lactose-intolerant daughter has no problems digesting it.
(bytheway, we're still pregnant.)
Here's an example of the first principle: (thrift depends on your values)
When we were attending SCAD, our main goal in life was 1. stay married and 2. Get Royal through college. So, we didn't value embellishing our home, for instance. We didn't spend much time or money improving our home decor. A great carpet sale would not have "saved" us any money.
Now, on the other hand, our main goal in life is 1. Keep growing a stronger marriage, and 2. Enjoy our life as a family. So, beautifying our home, and obtaining an appropriately sized home, is a greater priority. We've spent much time, mental power, and money toward the goal of getting a beautiful home since we moved here. We are almost ready to buy a home, and a great sale on carpet could save us a lot of money!
Here's an example of the second: (Thrift depends on your individual situation)
We live 5 miles from a small Amish community. We now buy 2 gallons of raw milk from an Amish family every weekend. It costs us $1.50/gallon, plus transportation expenses. In that 2 gallons of milk is 4-6 cups of cream. So, we get about a pound of butter, 3 cups of fresh buttermilk, and 1.75 gallons of milk every week for $3 plus gas (about $1.50/week).
Any other time in my life so far, raw milk would have been either unobtainable, or prohibitively expensive. Not to mention the organic butter and buttermilk.
By the way, Raw milk tastes like milk, only better. And its a whole lot better than homemade soy milk. (Another thrifty alternative to storebought cow's milk) But the main reason we love it so much is that our lactose-intolerant daughter has no problems digesting it.
(bytheway, we're still pregnant.)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Still Pregnant
What else is there to say?
Whine, whine.
Complain, complain.
Get busy and pretend that having a newborn is easier than being 9 months pregnant. (Hahahahahaha....)
Try not to think about it.
I did take pics at the shower, Bytheway. But, they are on film. So, chances ofyou seeing them in the next 3 months are remote. Just thought I'd let you know. But, if any of you have a good digital camera lying around, just send it our way. We won't be offended. ;-)
Whine, whine.
Complain, complain.
Get busy and pretend that having a newborn is easier than being 9 months pregnant. (Hahahahahaha....)
Try not to think about it.
I did take pics at the shower, Bytheway. But, they are on film. So, chances ofyou seeing them in the next 3 months are remote. Just thought I'd let you know. But, if any of you have a good digital camera lying around, just send it our way. We won't be offended. ;-)
Friday, February 29, 2008
Musings of an almost-not-pregnant mom
Well, its finally that time of day when there is peace on earth... or at least in our home.
It's Nap Time!
So, why aren't I sleeping, you may ask.
(Well, I'll pretend I didn't hear you since I'm already onto another thought.)
I am secretly hoping that this will be my last week of pregnancy. This pregnancy has been easy: very little physical pain, very little nausea, very little fatigue(And, its a good thing, too, since I have 2 children to keep up with.), and (shockingly) a fairly modest widening of the girth. Its widened a lot, but it is more basketball-belly and less whole-body-blob than my last 2 pregnancies.
But, now, at the end, the easiness of it is giving way to pain, aches, fatigue, nausea (strange to me at this stage, but anyway...), and chaos in the household. I've never wished for a friend who wanted to do my laundry before... Anyway, I was sort of thinking the household chaos would not ensue until after Junior was born. NOT!
Tonight the Relief Society is throwing a baby shower for me... So, maybe I'll remember a camera, and have some pictures of the HUGE belly for you! Maybe not. My memory has been a rare companion lately.
My friend Ann recently asked me why I'm not giving birth at home. And, you know what? I didn't really have an answer. I hope someday to be the kind of person who has a great, logical reason for all the choices I make. Or, at least, A spiritual prompting. After I showed Grace some under-water birth videos, she asked me why we don't have our baby at home, in the tub. I told her it was because we didn't know a doctor who would help us do that. But, really, I guess I was just too busy this time around to try to "beat the system". So, I just picked a DR from our insurance, etc.
Catch y'all later.
It's Nap Time!
So, why aren't I sleeping, you may ask.
(Well, I'll pretend I didn't hear you since I'm already onto another thought.)
I am secretly hoping that this will be my last week of pregnancy. This pregnancy has been easy: very little physical pain, very little nausea, very little fatigue(And, its a good thing, too, since I have 2 children to keep up with.), and (shockingly) a fairly modest widening of the girth. Its widened a lot, but it is more basketball-belly and less whole-body-blob than my last 2 pregnancies.
But, now, at the end, the easiness of it is giving way to pain, aches, fatigue, nausea (strange to me at this stage, but anyway...), and chaos in the household. I've never wished for a friend who wanted to do my laundry before... Anyway, I was sort of thinking the household chaos would not ensue until after Junior was born. NOT!
Tonight the Relief Society is throwing a baby shower for me... So, maybe I'll remember a camera, and have some pictures of the HUGE belly for you! Maybe not. My memory has been a rare companion lately.
My friend Ann recently asked me why I'm not giving birth at home. And, you know what? I didn't really have an answer. I hope someday to be the kind of person who has a great, logical reason for all the choices I make. Or, at least, A spiritual prompting. After I showed Grace some under-water birth videos, she asked me why we don't have our baby at home, in the tub. I told her it was because we didn't know a doctor who would help us do that. But, really, I guess I was just too busy this time around to try to "beat the system". So, I just picked a DR from our insurance, etc.
Catch y'all later.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Old Websites Part 2
After making SpiralEye, I went to college and made Ubernube after my first year. Still pretty lousy, but getting better, I think. It hosted my very short claymation video work in progress and my industrial design work. (that was a fun class!)
Here are a few pictures from it:
I'm particularly proud of my design solutions in Unicron V2.0.
A few years later I added more recent work and sketches to "Floating Islands".
I actually still like this design out of all my sites the best. It has the feel I like the most. A little dreamlike, and it's really easy to navigate. That's nice too.
A couple images from there:
I also put up some old work that hadn't appeared anywhere else before:
More tomorrow.
Here are a few pictures from it:
I'm particularly proud of my design solutions in Unicron V2.0.
A few years later I added more recent work and sketches to "Floating Islands".
I actually still like this design out of all my sites the best. It has the feel I like the most. A little dreamlike, and it's really easy to navigate. That's nice too.
A couple images from there:
I also put up some old work that hadn't appeared anywhere else before:
More tomorrow.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Old Websites
Hello! Royal here. Around 2000 I started learning how to make webpages, and I made my very first one. Since then, I keep making new ones and abandoning the old ones. It's surprising how some of them are still floating around the web.
First, there's SpiralEye. I slapped up some thumbnails and some MIDI files and was really happy with the website. Now I think it's pretty lousy, but it does still host some of my older artwork from high school. I even posted some of my very first computer generated work. A couple pictures from there:
More tomorrow.
First, there's SpiralEye. I slapped up some thumbnails and some MIDI files and was really happy with the website. Now I think it's pretty lousy, but it does still host some of my older artwork from high school. I even posted some of my very first computer generated work. A couple pictures from there:
More tomorrow.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Extreme Pine Wood Derby
The Elders got together last Friday for our own "Extreme Pine Wood Derby". It was a lot of fun. I placed third. Check it out!
Now! Reposted for your cleaner, better enjoyment!
I still win third in this version!
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Extreme Pine Wood Derby
Metacafe put up some not-nice thumbnails at the end of my Pine Wood Derby Video, so I reposted it above, minus the additions.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Exposive Derby Experiments
My church Elder's Quorum, filled with mostly 30-something men, is holding a Pine Wood Derby just for us. No holds barred, with the only stated rules being: no destroying other cars, and no pyrotechnics (one Elder complained immediately on both counts; he planned on making a tank). Kits were handed out, and a dozen men left with visions of a spectacular derby win dancing in their heads. There were various ideas on how to power the wooden cars: a CO2 cartridge, a mousetrap, elastic bands, model rocket engines (someone missed the "no pyrotechnics" rule). I had another thought--A GIANT ELECTROMAGNET!
See, if you make an electromagnet and attract something like a steel bolt, that bolt actually becomes a small magnet itself. If you then reverse polarity on your electromagnet, the bolt's magnetic field will also reverse. If you do the reversing fast enough, however, there isn't time for the bolt's magnetic field to reverse, and the two magnets repel each other. If you have a very powerful and somewhat dangerous electromagnet, the bolt becomes flying shrapnel.
You can make an electromagnet powerful enough to hold up 250lbs using some wire and four AA batteries. But that's not powerful enough to propel a Pinewood Derby Car to first place! No, you need something with a bit more power. Like a 12volt, 125amp Cold cranking car battery.
Car batteries are different from AA batteries in that they can kill you in many ways. It takes a single amp across your heart to stop it, cold. Most car batteries have at least 100 amps, and many deaths occur from people accidentally completing a circuit with their body. Also, if you accidentally short out the two terminals of a car battery by dropping a wrench across them, for example, not only will the wrench weld itself to the battery, but the battery will heat up rapidly. If the wrench is not removed quickly both the wrench and battery could explode, showering the vicinity with caustic sulfuric acid and molten metal.
This is dangerous, kiddies. DO NOT try this at home. I didn't. I tried it at work. My workplace is good for such experiments because it has other trained technicians, expensive and useful computers and test equipment, and a great sprinkler system. So I haul my supplies there.
My highly skilled coworker, Frank, eagerly helps me hook up the circuit. I've got jumper cables, standard 3-way light switches, a small bit of house wire, and a giant battery. What could go wrong? I put on gloves and safety goggles and think twice.
"Hey, Frank, do you think the light switch might melt?" Frank assured me it wouldn't: "Nah."
Sparks flew as I warily hooked up the last jumper cable clamp, ready for anything.
Nothing happened.
Then the house wire crackled loudly and expelled a huge puff of smoke. I leaped backwards in self defense. Frank started yelling "Shut it off! Shut it OFF!" like a manic two-year-old. And then I realized something. The battery was shorting out. I quickly gathered my courage and extended my 3 foot long arm about 3 and a half feet and turned off the light switch. Frank frantically hacked through the housewire with a packing tape dispenser.
Only then did we comprehend the smoke was rising towards sprinkler system. That would not be good for all the expensive electronic equipment in the room. We were two Keystone Kops looking for a vacuum. I stood on the workbench, my head an inch from the ceiling and blew at the smoke cloud. Frank finally found the vacuum (and power cord) and I started roaming the room, sucking in smoke as fast as possible.
You'll be glad to know the sprinklers never went off. We were glad, anyway. We did a quick look around like naughty 10-year-olds and found, to our relief, no one in building had seen our exploits. Then we did what any clear-headed men would do in such a situation. We hid the evidence and ran away. Well, walked away, on a "break."
Later that day I cut open the light switch with a dremel, which stunk a little as it melted the plastic cover. It didn't stink nearly as bad as the leftovers from "the experiment", though. When I finally opened the switch, I saw that it had indeed melted, acting exactly like a fuse. I hadn't actually done anything when I had so bravely shut it off.
My boss came in the room right then and asked what that terrible burnt smell was. I pointed to the dremel and the light switch and he nodded knowingly, "Oh, I thought it was a short circuit."
Frank and I looked at each other for a moment, and laughed our heads off. I'm buying bigger switches next week. Frank swears he won't help me anymore. That's fine. All the Pine Wood Derby glory shall be mine.
See, if you make an electromagnet and attract something like a steel bolt, that bolt actually becomes a small magnet itself. If you then reverse polarity on your electromagnet, the bolt's magnetic field will also reverse. If you do the reversing fast enough, however, there isn't time for the bolt's magnetic field to reverse, and the two magnets repel each other. If you have a very powerful and somewhat dangerous electromagnet, the bolt becomes flying shrapnel.
You can make an electromagnet powerful enough to hold up 250lbs using some wire and four AA batteries. But that's not powerful enough to propel a Pinewood Derby Car to first place! No, you need something with a bit more power. Like a 12volt, 125amp Cold cranking car battery.
Car batteries are different from AA batteries in that they can kill you in many ways. It takes a single amp across your heart to stop it, cold. Most car batteries have at least 100 amps, and many deaths occur from people accidentally completing a circuit with their body. Also, if you accidentally short out the two terminals of a car battery by dropping a wrench across them, for example, not only will the wrench weld itself to the battery, but the battery will heat up rapidly. If the wrench is not removed quickly both the wrench and battery could explode, showering the vicinity with caustic sulfuric acid and molten metal.
This is dangerous, kiddies. DO NOT try this at home. I didn't. I tried it at work. My workplace is good for such experiments because it has other trained technicians, expensive and useful computers and test equipment, and a great sprinkler system. So I haul my supplies there.
My highly skilled coworker, Frank, eagerly helps me hook up the circuit. I've got jumper cables, standard 3-way light switches, a small bit of house wire, and a giant battery. What could go wrong? I put on gloves and safety goggles and think twice.
"Hey, Frank, do you think the light switch might melt?" Frank assured me it wouldn't: "Nah."
Sparks flew as I warily hooked up the last jumper cable clamp, ready for anything.
Nothing happened.
Then the house wire crackled loudly and expelled a huge puff of smoke. I leaped backwards in self defense. Frank started yelling "Shut it off! Shut it OFF!" like a manic two-year-old. And then I realized something. The battery was shorting out. I quickly gathered my courage and extended my 3 foot long arm about 3 and a half feet and turned off the light switch. Frank frantically hacked through the housewire with a packing tape dispenser.
Only then did we comprehend the smoke was rising towards sprinkler system. That would not be good for all the expensive electronic equipment in the room. We were two Keystone Kops looking for a vacuum. I stood on the workbench, my head an inch from the ceiling and blew at the smoke cloud. Frank finally found the vacuum (and power cord) and I started roaming the room, sucking in smoke as fast as possible.
You'll be glad to know the sprinklers never went off. We were glad, anyway. We did a quick look around like naughty 10-year-olds and found, to our relief, no one in building had seen our exploits. Then we did what any clear-headed men would do in such a situation. We hid the evidence and ran away. Well, walked away, on a "break."
Later that day I cut open the light switch with a dremel, which stunk a little as it melted the plastic cover. It didn't stink nearly as bad as the leftovers from "the experiment", though. When I finally opened the switch, I saw that it had indeed melted, acting exactly like a fuse. I hadn't actually done anything when I had so bravely shut it off.
My boss came in the room right then and asked what that terrible burnt smell was. I pointed to the dremel and the light switch and he nodded knowingly, "Oh, I thought it was a short circuit."
Frank and I looked at each other for a moment, and laughed our heads off. I'm buying bigger switches next week. Frank swears he won't help me anymore. That's fine. All the Pine Wood Derby glory shall be mine.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Hello, my name is Elizabeth, and I'm a perfectionist...
Well, Royal and I are taking this "Wellness Class" from a therapist in our stake (geographical area composed of a dozen or more Church congregations).
And, I was just reading my homework in the class notebook. I thought this was interesting:
We are like a person standing on a see-saw. (imagine this.)
Unless we stand in the very center, the see saw tips and we go down. The center represents moderation in all things, and the path of constant repentance and following Christ.
Going down one side represents perfectionism.
Going down the other side represents Outward rebellion, or sinfulness.
So, then there is this chart describing characteristics of the 3 possible paths:
Perfectionism
Following Christ
Outward Rebellion
And guess what? Perfectionism has a whole lot in common with rebellion!
But, at any rate it is interesting to me how I, being a perfectionist, married a perfectionist.
PS: Here's our latest family portrait. Look closely for several "hidden" stories.
And, I was just reading my homework in the class notebook. I thought this was interesting:
We are like a person standing on a see-saw. (imagine this.)
Unless we stand in the very center, the see saw tips and we go down. The center represents moderation in all things, and the path of constant repentance and following Christ.
Going down one side represents perfectionism.
Going down the other side represents Outward rebellion, or sinfulness.
So, then there is this chart describing characteristics of the 3 possible paths:
Perfectionism
Following Christ
Outward Rebellion
And guess what? Perfectionism has a whole lot in common with rebellion!
But, at any rate it is interesting to me how I, being a perfectionist, married a perfectionist.
PS: Here's our latest family portrait. Look closely for several "hidden" stories.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Where have all the blog posts gone?
Greetings, Friends!
Time has been passing us like a whirlwind for a few weeks. To summarize:
Each of us has been sick 2-4 times in the past 4 weeks with a total of at least 5 different illnesses.
Fun times, right?
Our first hen died. It was really shocking actually. One night, Royal went into the coop to change the water and shut them all in, and found her lying dead on the floor. No injuries. The next day, I did find a mess in the nesting box which means she was probably sick and hanging out in there all day before she died. I am definitely concerned that whatever she had may have infected our other hens. But, I don't see what I can do except watch and wait.
Royal buried her in the yard near where a dead tree just collapsed (lots of loose, not frozen ground there.) I told Grace about it, and she would like to put a small marker on the grave for a little while. We'll probably do that sometime this week.
A large tree in our back yard fell down in the middle of the night last week. Our landlord knew the huge thing was dead, and had been dead for a looong time, but we didn't know. It was pretty unsettling. Lucky for him and us, he owns a bull dozer and had no problem turning that rotted tree into fuel for his wood stove at home.
Royal turned 30! Yea! He is getting handsomer, believe it or not. I tell him I like how he looks with a little age on him. We got him an Xbox and a movie he wanted.
Royal and I are taking a Wellness class together offered by the church. Its once/week for 12 weeks. So far, its been really good for helping me see things in a different perspective. Basically, the class is a certified therapist teaching you how to have balance and feel the love of God in your life.
Well, its time for me to go now. We've started having family scriptures before breakfast instead of right after. Now, we NEVER miss scriptures. (except when we wake up on Sunday morning already late for church. Man, I hate that!) Its working great.
Time has been passing us like a whirlwind for a few weeks. To summarize:
Each of us has been sick 2-4 times in the past 4 weeks with a total of at least 5 different illnesses.
Fun times, right?
Our first hen died. It was really shocking actually. One night, Royal went into the coop to change the water and shut them all in, and found her lying dead on the floor. No injuries. The next day, I did find a mess in the nesting box which means she was probably sick and hanging out in there all day before she died. I am definitely concerned that whatever she had may have infected our other hens. But, I don't see what I can do except watch and wait.
Royal buried her in the yard near where a dead tree just collapsed (lots of loose, not frozen ground there.) I told Grace about it, and she would like to put a small marker on the grave for a little while. We'll probably do that sometime this week.
A large tree in our back yard fell down in the middle of the night last week. Our landlord knew the huge thing was dead, and had been dead for a looong time, but we didn't know. It was pretty unsettling. Lucky for him and us, he owns a bull dozer and had no problem turning that rotted tree into fuel for his wood stove at home.
Royal turned 30! Yea! He is getting handsomer, believe it or not. I tell him I like how he looks with a little age on him. We got him an Xbox and a movie he wanted.
Royal and I are taking a Wellness class together offered by the church. Its once/week for 12 weeks. So far, its been really good for helping me see things in a different perspective. Basically, the class is a certified therapist teaching you how to have balance and feel the love of God in your life.
Well, its time for me to go now. We've started having family scriptures before breakfast instead of right after. Now, we NEVER miss scriptures. (except when we wake up on Sunday morning already late for church. Man, I hate that!) Its working great.
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