FHE

Family Home Evening tonight was about temples. That is, it was about temples until it got hijacked.

"What is this a picture of?"

"A temple!"

"What is a temple?"

"Let's get ready for Halloween!"

"The temple is the House of the Lord"

"Can you do 'candy, candy, candy, candy'?" [I think this is a Garfield reference.]

"Because of temples our family can be together forever"

"We need costumes! And candy!"

Sometimes, when you think your kids aren't listening, they really are, and they're learning from you. Other times, they're just thinking about Halloween.

Carolina Chocolate Drops

I was first introduced to the Carolina Chocolate Drops around 6 months ago, and every now and then they pop back into my brain. I thin what I find most appealing about their music is how simple and genuine it feels. Maybe we forget sometimes that music can be created just about anywhere. Recording studios and mixing boards are not required. No re-mastering, no mixing, no reverb, no laying tracks. Just music, without all that other stuff in the way.

I don't get to play the piano very often these days; someone either needs to be held and played with, or is taking a nap. But when I do have a minute, as often as not I just sit down and start hitting keys and see what comes out. I'm never quite sure what sounds I'll find. I'm not saying it's particularly good, but its a few moments of pure creation, which isn't something that is a regular part of my day. And that's what the Carolina Chocolate Drops feel like to me. A banjo, a violin, a guitar, a kazoo, a jug. Music.

Whatever doesn't kill you . . .

Is supposed to make you stronger.

Does this therefore imply that the closer you get to death, the stronger you become?

If so, I am going to be super strong now. 20 miles in 3:10. Oh and I can barely move now. Every muscle and joint I am aware of in my legs hurt.

More tubes

We watched this movie recently. More than once, I think.

youtube

Lets marvel at the world we live in for a minute. The World Bank estimates that by 2008 there were over 1.5 billion internet users. Extrapolating from their data, we should be around 2 billion in 2010. And anyone who has spent any time at all on the internet knows that there are 10,000 morons out there for every person doing something interesting. (Hmmm .. . . lets make another category and say that there are an additional 10,000 people who are doing things that most people really don't care about (like this blog), which allows me to not fall in the moron category.) So, that gives us 1 in 20,000 that is doing something interesting. Which leaves 100,000 people doing awesome stuff on the internet. That is an amazing pool of talent. (The trick is weeding out the 10,000 morons.) So, here is a video of something that I never thought possible. I never would have thought about it period.

Yes, I just associated that video with the words "interesting" "amazing" and "talent". Yes, that was a dippy looking kid rocking out some Vivaldi on his accordion. Yes, I'll admit that I've wanted an accordion for a long time. Yes, I'm a dork.

Poopy Diapers

Because that is what parents blog about.

Ella is now 6 weeks and a day old.  I think I've changed 1 poopy diaper.  It's not that I'm a bad parent, it's that she never poops!

Seriously, she only poops like twice a week.  If they both happen while I'm at work, what can I do about it?  (The doctor says that breast-fed babies can poop 7 times a day, or once every 7 days.  As long as she is happy, the Dr isn't too concerned.)  (I'm always amazed at the stuff doctors don't even blink an eye about.  "Your 2 week old baby hasn't pooped in 4 days?  Well, once it's been a week, then I guess you could bring her in.")

Stanley

Maybe my sisters can provide some insight here.  My childhood is filled with memories of Stanley Fudge Cookies.  (I have no idea where the Stanley part comes from.)  They are made from sugar, butter, oats, milk, and cocoa.  Maybe there is another minor ingredient in there, but those are the basic ones.  Melt the butter, mix in the sugar and cocoa (and milk?).  Then mix in the oats.  Stick them on some wax paper on cookie sheets and toss them in the refrigerator.  Once they set up a bit, eat!

But the issue is that whole "setting up" part.  My childhood memories are of cookies that come off the wax paper nicely and have some internal cohesion.  You could break them in half.  But these days, we seem to end up with puddles of viscus goo.  They still taste excellent, but they don't seem to solidify.  What is going wrong?  Is this yet another social blight I can blame upon the deterioration of margarine in America?  Do we need to work on our stirring techniques?  Ideas?