Well now we are back from our travels. It was wonderful to spend Thanksgiving with family. I loved seeing my nieces, nephews, and grand-nephews. I was so glad to see that my sisters and there families were doing well. Sometimes it is so hard to be far away and not see the kids grow up. My younger sister is well and her 2 children are beautiful. They are fun to be around and happy kids. My youngest sister and her family are happy and busy with a great new house. My little "coal" is fun to talk to and growing so fast. My brother is always fun and a funny character. I was glad to see that my parents are well and had a great time with all the family around. We also were there to celebrate there 40th wedding anniversary. I am so bless to have a great family.
We also spent some time with Charles. He is doing well with his schoolwork. We loved being able to be with him. He is a great blessing in our lives and we wish we could spend more time with him.
We also spent time with Kent's brothers family. It was good to see them and know that they are doing well. We saw 2 of their kids and the 3 grandsons. All are well and it was so delightful to hang out and have some fun. The boys are growing so fast and just love to see Kent. I think he is the favorite uncle.
After 10 days in Colorado we went to the "Happiest Place on Earth" More posting about that later.
16 December 2009
06 October 2009
23 September 2009
Utah Trip
Here is some more of the fun we had in Utah. The photos pretty well say it all. We got a little dirty while riding 4 Wheelers. Aren't we quite the beauty queens. Lots of dirt and dust. It took me 30 minutes to comb and wash all the dirt out of my hair. Probably would have been easier to shave my head.
Kent had a great time also. Doesn't he look cute!!
16 September 2009
Utah Trip
It is great to be back but I sure needed a vacation. I feel rejuvenated and refreshed.
We had a great time. Here are the start of some of the pics and memories.
Labor Day we went to the mountains around Fillmore, UT and rode 4Wheelers. This was a blast. The scenery was beautiful. The trees were starting to change colors and I remembered why I miss Colorado every fall.
The sky was an amazing blue and the Aspen trees were blowing in the breeze. There is nothing like the sound of Quaking Aspens.
We could not have had better weather. The Lord answered our prayers for good weather.
22 August 2009
Eternal Love
This is a long post and if you are not interested in my history then you probably want to skip this.
After the comments Kent made in Sunday School and since we celebrated our anniversary this last week I thought it would be a great time to remember our wedding and what we went through to get there. I returned from my mission in late February and by the 25th Kent had proposed. We decided that we would wait about 6 months to get married. This would give us time to get to know each other again and plan the wedding.
About 2 weeks before I returned from my mission The Church announced that men would now have to have previous temple sealings canceled before they could be married in The Temple again. Since Kent had been sealed to his first wife we needed to have this canceled. There were a few obstacles involved with this. The first was we had no idea where his ex-wife even was and the bishop had said that we may need to have a letter from her also acknowledging that there was no chance of them mending this relationship. We decided to proceed without any information from her. After interviews with the Bishop and Stake President Kent was asked to write a letter about why he wanted his sealing canceled. All the appropriate documentation and letters were gathered and sent to Salt Lake City by about the first of April. This was about the time that we needed to order the invitations and make a reservation at the Temple.
My mom was concerned about waiting for confirmation from the First Presidency that his sealing was canceled. We did not have the letter from the First Presidency when we called the Denver Temple to make our reservation. We were told that we could not make a reservation without the letter. We decided that we would have faith to order the announcements with the date and time that we hoped we could get. By the first of May we still did not have a letter but knew we better get the Temple reserved. My mom called the Temple anyway and asked if they would make the reservation without the letter. She was able to talk to a sweet lady that was sympathetic to our story and made the reservation anyway. We promised that we would cancel if we did not get the letter.
Well it was July and still no letter. We were calling the acting Stake President to see if he knew anything. Our regular Stake President was not doing most of his duties because he was battling cancer and was going through chemotherapy. No one knew where the letter was but the acting Stake President had called Salt Lake and found that they had approved the cancellation and we could be sealed. This was wonderful to hear but we knew without the letter the Temple would not perform the ceremony.
Now it was the end of July and the Temple was closing for annual cleaning. It would be open for 1 day before our sealing was to take place and still no letter. We kept praying for this because there was so much riding on the timing of our wedding. We had a deposit on married student housing but we could not move in without being married and we would lose our deposit if school started without us moving in. We were getting married less then a week before school was to start so there was not a lot of extra time.
We had a reservation for a Temple sealing at 10am on 17 Aug and it was about the 13th and still no letter. We needed to consider the very real possibility of not being able to be sealed. We did not know if we should have a civil ceremony and wait a year or cancel the whole thing and wait for the letter. We knew the importance of starting our marriage the right way so we did not want to make that decision. We continued to pray that they letter would arrive and we would be able to be sealed. We had faith that if we continued with the plan of being sealed in the Temple it would all work out some how.
On the 14th we received a phone call from the Stake Presidents wife. She was sorting through some of the stuff that her husband had been receiving during his treatment and found the letter we were looking for. They had the announcement of when we were to be married and knew that we needed this to be able to make our reservation.
We drove out there (they lived on a ranch on the outskirts of town) and picked up this letter and thanked our Heavenly Father that this all was working out. We learned several things through this experience. We knew that we were supposed to be married and that Satan did not want us to be married. From the day we were married we have found that every time we try to do something right we get a lot of resistance. We also can draw on this to know that our Heavenly Father approved of our marriage and we are doing it right. Over the years our marriage has been easy and the outside world has brought a lot of challenges.
Now 15 years later we are more in love then we ever thought possible. We have a great friendship and a passionate marriage. Kent is my love and i treasure all the time we have. No matter what trials we have faced nothing shakes the knowledge that we have a marriage blessed by our Heavenly Father. There is never a day that passes without me expressing my gratitude to Heavenly Father for the wonderful man I married.
After the comments Kent made in Sunday School and since we celebrated our anniversary this last week I thought it would be a great time to remember our wedding and what we went through to get there. I returned from my mission in late February and by the 25th Kent had proposed. We decided that we would wait about 6 months to get married. This would give us time to get to know each other again and plan the wedding.
About 2 weeks before I returned from my mission The Church announced that men would now have to have previous temple sealings canceled before they could be married in The Temple again. Since Kent had been sealed to his first wife we needed to have this canceled. There were a few obstacles involved with this. The first was we had no idea where his ex-wife even was and the bishop had said that we may need to have a letter from her also acknowledging that there was no chance of them mending this relationship. We decided to proceed without any information from her. After interviews with the Bishop and Stake President Kent was asked to write a letter about why he wanted his sealing canceled. All the appropriate documentation and letters were gathered and sent to Salt Lake City by about the first of April. This was about the time that we needed to order the invitations and make a reservation at the Temple.
My mom was concerned about waiting for confirmation from the First Presidency that his sealing was canceled. We did not have the letter from the First Presidency when we called the Denver Temple to make our reservation. We were told that we could not make a reservation without the letter. We decided that we would have faith to order the announcements with the date and time that we hoped we could get. By the first of May we still did not have a letter but knew we better get the Temple reserved. My mom called the Temple anyway and asked if they would make the reservation without the letter. She was able to talk to a sweet lady that was sympathetic to our story and made the reservation anyway. We promised that we would cancel if we did not get the letter.
Well it was July and still no letter. We were calling the acting Stake President to see if he knew anything. Our regular Stake President was not doing most of his duties because he was battling cancer and was going through chemotherapy. No one knew where the letter was but the acting Stake President had called Salt Lake and found that they had approved the cancellation and we could be sealed. This was wonderful to hear but we knew without the letter the Temple would not perform the ceremony.
Now it was the end of July and the Temple was closing for annual cleaning. It would be open for 1 day before our sealing was to take place and still no letter. We kept praying for this because there was so much riding on the timing of our wedding. We had a deposit on married student housing but we could not move in without being married and we would lose our deposit if school started without us moving in. We were getting married less then a week before school was to start so there was not a lot of extra time.
We had a reservation for a Temple sealing at 10am on 17 Aug and it was about the 13th and still no letter. We needed to consider the very real possibility of not being able to be sealed. We did not know if we should have a civil ceremony and wait a year or cancel the whole thing and wait for the letter. We knew the importance of starting our marriage the right way so we did not want to make that decision. We continued to pray that they letter would arrive and we would be able to be sealed. We had faith that if we continued with the plan of being sealed in the Temple it would all work out some how.
On the 14th we received a phone call from the Stake Presidents wife. She was sorting through some of the stuff that her husband had been receiving during his treatment and found the letter we were looking for. They had the announcement of when we were to be married and knew that we needed this to be able to make our reservation.
We drove out there (they lived on a ranch on the outskirts of town) and picked up this letter and thanked our Heavenly Father that this all was working out. We learned several things through this experience. We knew that we were supposed to be married and that Satan did not want us to be married. From the day we were married we have found that every time we try to do something right we get a lot of resistance. We also can draw on this to know that our Heavenly Father approved of our marriage and we are doing it right. Over the years our marriage has been easy and the outside world has brought a lot of challenges.
Now 15 years later we are more in love then we ever thought possible. We have a great friendship and a passionate marriage. Kent is my love and i treasure all the time we have. No matter what trials we have faced nothing shakes the knowledge that we have a marriage blessed by our Heavenly Father. There is never a day that passes without me expressing my gratitude to Heavenly Father for the wonderful man I married.
18 August 2009
New Blog
I got such a great response I have started the work to do this. It will be http://askthesciencenerd.blogspot.com/
I am looking forward to the fun this could be. I have not posted anything yet but please send me any questions your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or you have and I will start the research and translation from the nerd jargon.
I hope you all find it to be helpful I have some ideas to expand to other options but we will see how things go.
I am looking forward to the fun this could be. I have not posted anything yet but please send me any questions your kids, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, or you have and I will start the research and translation from the nerd jargon.
I hope you all find it to be helpful I have some ideas to expand to other options but we will see how things go.
16 August 2009
New Ideas
Just looking for opinions. I know most of the people reading this have a lot of opinions. I have been thinking about starting another blog. I want to start one that simplifies science for moms to help their kids in school and if they ask questions. I know that many moms and dads did not study science and this is always changing. I had been trying to help nephews with some stuff and could not find good resources. I am certainly not trying to profess that I am an expert in science or in education. I just want to see if I can help those who want to better educate their children and do not have the background to do so. I plan to take requests from parents/grandparents that are tying to help children with school and questions. Please let me know if you think this would be helpful to you or if you feel there are enough sources out there to work with already.
Thanks
Thanks
29 July 2009
Clean your computer screen
This is a really great way to keep your computer screen clean from the inside.
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
http://www.raincitystory.com/flash/screenclean.swf
26 July 2009
Help the Environment
This is for everyone that lives in Maricopa County. In order to help us get some grant money please go to this site and take the survey. This is contest to see what county gets the most votes. This will only take a few minutes
http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/
Thanks for your help.
If you do not live in Maricopa County then check with your local county to see if they are participating. (but it better be a smaller county then here so that we are not competing head to head)
http://drivesmarterchallenge.org/
Thanks for your help.
If you do not live in Maricopa County then check with your local county to see if they are participating. (but it better be a smaller county then here so that we are not competing head to head)
06 July 2009
Sunday's Lesson
On Sunday it was my turn to teach the lesson in Relief Society and my topic was "Delight in Service and Good Works"
I posted the following summary on the ward Relief Society page but since it is secured I also wanted to list it on my own blog so to share with others who are not members of my home ward.
Sunday there was a request for quotes used during the lesson to be posted. Most of the lesson was taken from Mary Ellen Smoot’s talk, “We Are Instruments in the Hands of God,” Ensign Jan 2001. There is where she listed 4 thing we can do to be better able to give service in a meaningful way.
“So how do we do it? Amid the pressures of life, how do we become the most effective instruments we can be in the hands of the Lord?
Number 1. Our own conversion must come first.
Number 2. We must wax “strong in the knowledge of the truth”.
Number 3. Service is a key to being an effective instrument.
Number 4. Love must undergird everything we do.
Here is the quote from President Uchtdorf that made an impact on me and I believe many of you as well.
“In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 2008.
I pray that each of us can be effective instruments in the Lord's hands and remember to be the answer to other prayers.
I posted the following summary on the ward Relief Society page but since it is secured I also wanted to list it on my own blog so to share with others who are not members of my home ward.
Sunday there was a request for quotes used during the lesson to be posted. Most of the lesson was taken from Mary Ellen Smoot’s talk, “We Are Instruments in the Hands of God,” Ensign Jan 2001. There is where she listed 4 thing we can do to be better able to give service in a meaningful way.
“So how do we do it? Amid the pressures of life, how do we become the most effective instruments we can be in the hands of the Lord?
Number 1. Our own conversion must come first.
Number 2. We must wax “strong in the knowledge of the truth”.
Number 3. Service is a key to being an effective instrument.
Number 4. Love must undergird everything we do.
Here is the quote from President Uchtdorf that made an impact on me and I believe many of you as well.
“In the end, the number of prayers we say may contribute to our happiness, but the number of prayers we answer may be of even greater importance. Let us open our eyes and see the heavy hearts, notice the loneliness and despair; let us feel the silent prayers of others around us, and let us be an instrument in the hands of the Lord to answer those prayers.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf, “Happiness, Your Heritage,” Ensign, Nov 2008.
I pray that each of us can be effective instruments in the Lord's hands and remember to be the answer to other prayers.
05 July 2009
Just a little help
I have posted links to two websites that I would like everyone to visit. Both of these businesses are owned by people that I hold dear to my heart. This is a great way for me to help them be noticed. Word of mouth is the best marketing.
* Papas Grow Sticks - This is a great product for anyone who moves a lot or is far from family. My dear friend and her husband make these great sticks that are portable to chart the growth of the children in our lives. Please take a minute and look at the site. I think you will find they are cute and fun.
* Marie Wright Photography - She is a great photographer in Southern California. She can handle weddings, portraits and many other things. She also has some photos of Southern California temples that are artistically done. Marie has been a blessing in our lives for years and I love seeing what she has done with the talent she has.
* Papas Grow Sticks - This is a great product for anyone who moves a lot or is far from family. My dear friend and her husband make these great sticks that are portable to chart the growth of the children in our lives. Please take a minute and look at the site. I think you will find they are cute and fun.
* Marie Wright Photography - She is a great photographer in Southern California. She can handle weddings, portraits and many other things. She also has some photos of Southern California temples that are artistically done. Marie has been a blessing in our lives for years and I love seeing what she has done with the talent she has.
17 June 2009
Kent's cooking
Just wanted to brag for a moment about Kent's cooking. We bought some pork (OK 17 pounds in more then some). We got it home and Kent ground up for sausage. He then mixed spices and made Hot Italian and 2 types of Chorizo. This turned out GREAT!!!
11 June 2009
Wii night
Here is a funny one for y'all. Last night the Relief Society the Young Women had a combined activity. We got together and played Wii sports. I have always been anti video game but this was a lot of fun. I got into a boxing match with one of the other sisters and my shoulder actually are a little sore today. 
Hope you get a laugh out of that. The sister who took the pics also put a video on youtube. Here is the link if you are bored and want something funny. Unfortunately it is dark so it is hard to see but neither of us knew what we were doing so it did make for a funny match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c_bMLxk7kw
Hope you get a laugh out of that. The sister who took the pics also put a video on youtube. Here is the link if you are bored and want something funny. Unfortunately it is dark so it is hard to see but neither of us knew what we were doing so it did make for a funny match.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c_bMLxk7kw
06 May 2009
Deal
You can print a coupon for a free meal at KFC by going to unthinkkfc.com. If you use a Mac be sure you use Safari to load the coupon software. I could not get it to work but maybe someone else will have better luck.
29 April 2009
Fun
Just an FYI tomorrow from 5-9pm Baskin Robbins is have 31cent scoop night. Fun and cheap family treat.
27 April 2009
Earth Day
Here is the final Earth Day tip:
This one shows how far one can take the. There are those who will find this funny some will find it gross so just be warned. There are little boys everywhere that would do this also. By the way even I have not become this much of a "tree hugger". There is a new green movement to save water, and add nutrients to your soil. No this is not composting but it is recommended as an aditive for compost piles. It is to pee outside. Yes that is what I said - urinate on your compost pile or around your plants in your garden. The website with more info is peeoutside.org. (it is amazing what is on the internet) This adds nitrogen and phosporus to your soil and these are depleted in most soils. It will serve as a natural fertilizer. Anyone who is my neighbor rest assured I am not doing this, yet?!?!? I just found this when I was looking for new things to add to the green things I already do and found this to be funny. (yes I have a childish sence of humor).
Hopefully someone found one new green thing they can do to help the environment, save energy, and save money. I am sure that with this last tip you are glad that there are no more ....for now.
Happy Earth Day
This one shows how far one can take the. There are those who will find this funny some will find it gross so just be warned. There are little boys everywhere that would do this also. By the way even I have not become this much of a "tree hugger". There is a new green movement to save water, and add nutrients to your soil. No this is not composting but it is recommended as an aditive for compost piles. It is to pee outside. Yes that is what I said - urinate on your compost pile or around your plants in your garden. The website with more info is peeoutside.org. (it is amazing what is on the internet) This adds nitrogen and phosporus to your soil and these are depleted in most soils. It will serve as a natural fertilizer. Anyone who is my neighbor rest assured I am not doing this, yet?!?!? I just found this when I was looking for new things to add to the green things I already do and found this to be funny. (yes I have a childish sence of humor).
Hopefully someone found one new green thing they can do to help the environment, save energy, and save money. I am sure that with this last tip you are glad that there are no more ....for now.
Happy Earth Day
26 April 2009
Earth Day
Earth day tip 6
Sorry I missed posting this on Friday. One of the best things you can do in your home to keep air cleaner is to have house plants. Today's houses are so air tight that during the winter (or summer if you are in Arizona) there is very little air circulation. This means that a home can have a build up of CO (Carbon Monoxide). This is produced when we breath out as a byproduct of animal respiration. Plants then convert this back to O2 (Oxygen) that we can breath. I know that for some (myself included) it can be difficult to keep a plant alive. I have made a commitment to giving it another try so I am starting small with one Jade plant (Jill got it for me and it has been alive for 2 months now). If it makes it through the summer I will be adding more house plants.
Last tip coming later today.
Sorry I missed posting this on Friday. One of the best things you can do in your home to keep air cleaner is to have house plants. Today's houses are so air tight that during the winter (or summer if you are in Arizona) there is very little air circulation. This means that a home can have a build up of CO (Carbon Monoxide). This is produced when we breath out as a byproduct of animal respiration. Plants then convert this back to O2 (Oxygen) that we can breath. I know that for some (myself included) it can be difficult to keep a plant alive. I have made a commitment to giving it another try so I am starting small with one Jade plant (Jill got it for me and it has been alive for 2 months now). If it makes it through the summer I will be adding more house plants.
Last tip coming later today.
23 April 2009
Earth Day
Here is Day 5 tip for Earth Day:
Plug your electronics into a power strip and turn them off when you are not using them. When your TV and other electronics are in standby they are drawing about 10% of the power they normally use. Not only will this help the environment it will help your electric bill.
I am still working on this at my house because we do not like resetting all the clocks all the time but my work computer is always shut off and the power strip off when I am not using it. If the battery on my cell phone or computer need to be charged before I go out in the field I make sure that I charge them during off peak hours so that I am using cheaper electricity.
Plug your electronics into a power strip and turn them off when you are not using them. When your TV and other electronics are in standby they are drawing about 10% of the power they normally use. Not only will this help the environment it will help your electric bill.
I am still working on this at my house because we do not like resetting all the clocks all the time but my work computer is always shut off and the power strip off when I am not using it. If the battery on my cell phone or computer need to be charged before I go out in the field I make sure that I charge them during off peak hours so that I am using cheaper electricity.
22 April 2009
Earth Day
Here is day 4 tip
Since today is actually Earth Day I thought I would encourage everyone to sign up for the Clean Air commitment for Maricopa County at the Clean Air Make More website. If you give them your email address and/or phone number you can recieve alerts about high pollution advisories. This will give you the chance to know how to best protect yourself and your families from days that may affect your breathing. If you do not live in Maricopa County I would encourage you to look for a similar service from your local environmental agency.
Since today is actually Earth Day I thought I would encourage everyone to sign up for the Clean Air commitment for Maricopa County at the Clean Air Make More website. If you give them your email address and/or phone number you can recieve alerts about high pollution advisories. This will give you the chance to know how to best protect yourself and your families from days that may affect your breathing. If you do not live in Maricopa County I would encourage you to look for a similar service from your local environmental agency.
21 April 2009
Earth Day
Here is tip 3 for Earth Day:
When you are out and buy a drink, food or other treat that comes in a recyclable container, (i.e.: plastic - whatever kind you community recycles; #1 and #2 in Phoenix, aluminum foil, or a paper bag) save the recyclable items and dispose of them in you recycle container when you get home. This can be very convenient since most of us park in our garage and keep the recycle container there.
When you are out and buy a drink, food or other treat that comes in a recyclable container, (i.e.: plastic - whatever kind you community recycles; #1 and #2 in Phoenix, aluminum foil, or a paper bag) save the recyclable items and dispose of them in you recycle container when you get home. This can be very convenient since most of us park in our garage and keep the recycle container there.
More Rocks (warning this may be TMI for some)
Anyone who knows me is aware that I have an extensive rock collection. Well I have added another. This one is different and the finding of it was the most uncomfortable I have been when finding a rock. Kent (and others - Thank you Dr. Buss) have said that I have rocks in my head that has helped me to be a geologist. Well now I have a rock in my kidney. What an experience it was to find that out, but I will not put that out on the internet since no one wants those kind of details about my life.
This is an update about to those who were aware that my doctor was trying to find why I still had trace amounts of blood in my urine yet the UTI was gone. We she found it. After looking at WebMD I have decided that this rock can stay were it is.
I just found it funny that someone who has collected rocks their entire lives (just ask my mom about all of them that I brought to her) would now be making their own.
I know that for most of you this is TMI and I do apologize I am just finding this very funny.
This is an update about to those who were aware that my doctor was trying to find why I still had trace amounts of blood in my urine yet the UTI was gone. We she found it. After looking at WebMD I have decided that this rock can stay were it is.
I just found it funny that someone who has collected rocks their entire lives (just ask my mom about all of them that I brought to her) would now be making their own.
I know that for most of you this is TMI and I do apologize I am just finding this very funny.
20 April 2009
Earth Day
Here is day two of Earth Day tips:
Idling for just 30 seconds burns more fuel than turning off the car and restarting it. Turn the ignition off at long stoplights and other lengthy hold-ups. And rather than using the drive-through, just park and go in. When I do use the drive up I will turn off my car if the wait is long (especially when using the prescription pick up at Walgreens)
I know this is hard in the summer which is why going inside is the best option. Besides that I read that you can burn 8 pound a year by parking and walking in instead of using the drive thru.
Idling for just 30 seconds burns more fuel than turning off the car and restarting it. Turn the ignition off at long stoplights and other lengthy hold-ups. And rather than using the drive-through, just park and go in. When I do use the drive up I will turn off my car if the wait is long (especially when using the prescription pick up at Walgreens)
I know this is hard in the summer which is why going inside is the best option. Besides that I read that you can burn 8 pound a year by parking and walking in instead of using the drive thru.
The World Today
With today being the 10 year anniversary of the tragedy at Columbine High School it made me think of what has happened since then. I was listening and reading some of the reports about this day and found out that in the last 10 years there have been 500 students and facilty have been killed in attacks. This made me think of the scary conditions of this world. Please take a moment and pause to remember those lost in the last 10 years and hug our children.
19 April 2009
Earth Day
Earth Day is this week (22nd). I am challenging each of you to do one new thing to help the environment. Here is the suggestion of the day.
Be sure that you dispose of any electronics properly. Check with your local waste disposal service and see when they are picking up hazardous waste in your area.
Be sure that you dispose of any electronics properly. Check with your local waste disposal service and see when they are picking up hazardous waste in your area.
Wild Animal Park
For those who have been following our little wild animal park.
We were able to trap the last permanent resident and she was spayed last week. She is doing fine but sure keeps her distance from us. The only other cats around that have not been sterilized are 2 male cats that come around occasionally. I don't expect to see them much now that there are no available females around.
We were able to work with a non-profit organization to get them taken care of humanly yet stopping them from further reproducing. If any of you have problems with stray cats in your area try contacting Altered Tales. (Or there may be another option with a Google search).
We were able to trap the last permanent resident and she was spayed last week. She is doing fine but sure keeps her distance from us. The only other cats around that have not been sterilized are 2 male cats that come around occasionally. I don't expect to see them much now that there are no available females around.
We were able to work with a non-profit organization to get them taken care of humanly yet stopping them from further reproducing. If any of you have problems with stray cats in your area try contacting Altered Tales. (Or there may be another option with a Google search).
10 April 2009
What I heard on the radio today
As many of you know my job keeps me in the car a lot. Today I was driving around doing some surveillance of potential sources of dust. I put over 70 miles on my car while driving in a 6 x 5 mile square for 6 hours. Needless to say I drove in a lot of circles. During this time I listen to a lot of radio. I have found that on Friday from 12:00-2:00pm (AZ time) is a radio show called Science Friday. I am not always able to time my inspections and work around the show but today I was able to.
I listened to an interesting group of guests, but 2 of them made me smile. One was an astronaut, Don Pettit, who had just spent 6 months on the space station. During his off time he did "random science experiments" as he talked about them I knew that I had to go find the videos so I have linked my 2 favorites here: http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/
The first one, "Candy Corn in Space", is a candy corn explanation of soap and if you enjoy that one then try down further on the page to the "Time Lapse in Space" video and watch the aurora from space.
The second guest that I enjoyed was an oceanographer, Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who has been studying flotsam, as a hobby. Flotsam is defined as: the part of the wreckage of a ship and its cargo found floating on the water. Since there is a lot of cargo lost to the sea every year he has taken to tracking where it goes (with the help of beach comers everywhere). He has just published a book,
"Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man's Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science". I am looking forward to reading it. For those of you who like to read unusual things this may be for you. I have reserved it at the library so when I get it read I will report back.
Thank you for listening to the ramblings of a nerd.
I listened to an interesting group of guests, but 2 of them made me smile. One was an astronaut, Don Pettit, who had just spent 6 months on the space station. During his off time he did "random science experiments" as he talked about them I knew that I had to go find the videos so I have linked my 2 favorites here: http://www.sciencefriday.com/video/
The first one, "Candy Corn in Space", is a candy corn explanation of soap and if you enjoy that one then try down further on the page to the "Time Lapse in Space" video and watch the aurora from space.
The second guest that I enjoyed was an oceanographer, Curtis Ebbesmeyer, who has been studying flotsam, as a hobby. Flotsam is defined as: the part of the wreckage of a ship and its cargo found floating on the water. Since there is a lot of cargo lost to the sea every year he has taken to tracking where it goes (with the help of beach comers everywhere). He has just published a book,
"Flotsametrics and the Floating World: How One Man's Obsession with Runaway Sneakers and Rubber Ducks Revolutionized Ocean Science". I am looking forward to reading it. For those of you who like to read unusual things this may be for you. I have reserved it at the library so when I get it read I will report back.Thank you for listening to the ramblings of a nerd.
02 April 2009
General Conference
Earlier this evening I went to a missionary correlation meeting and one of the Elders shared a spiritual thought. I really liked what he had to say so I thought I would share it. He quoted Moroni 10:4-5 And when ye shall receive these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal Father, in the name of Christ, if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
(a common missionary scripture). Since this encourages one to read the Word of God and then pray to know it is true he related this to this weekends General Conference. He encouraged the group to write down any question that you have about life, the gospel, or other things. Pray for an answer with faith you will receive it, and then watch General Conference and you will get the answer.
I think I will be trying this in hopes of receiving direction and comfort during these times. If any of you try this them please let me know your experience.
And by the power of the Holy Ghost ye may know the truth of all things.
(a common missionary scripture). Since this encourages one to read the Word of God and then pray to know it is true he related this to this weekends General Conference. He encouraged the group to write down any question that you have about life, the gospel, or other things. Pray for an answer with faith you will receive it, and then watch General Conference and you will get the answer.
I think I will be trying this in hopes of receiving direction and comfort during these times. If any of you try this them please let me know your experience.
29 March 2009
Hello
I have been trying for years to get organized enough to have a system to keep in contact with family and friends that are all over the country. This seems to be the best option. I am not sure how well I will keep up or how much stuff will be added but here is another attempt. We welcome the comments and thoughts of all of you.
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