Get out of the car!

This one is self-explanatory...


How many times have you approached the wrong car in the parking lot, thinking it was yours?

"Hundreds attend Global Warming Protest"

"Hundreds attend Global Warming Protest"

A co-worker sent this to me. I thought it was funny.

It causes me to reflect on caring for our earth. My thoughts on this are, global warming or not, we need to care for our earth. It is our home. It deserves the best and I feel that there is a lot we can do to improve our use and investment into renewable energy sources.

To me the idea of "energy independence" goes far beyond drilling for our own oil and independence from oil-producing nations. It means every family having a simple solar system on their homes, being able to be independent from the grid when the power goes out, thanks to a battery that can run furnaces and several florescent bulbs inside, that recharges each day when the sun comes up.

It also means that during really sunny days that the electrical meters on homes are turning backwards, generating more power than their home needs and putting it back into the power grid. That is the way things ought to work.

This same principle applies to finances, food, and so on... ever heard of a garden and food storage?

"And it came to pass that Enoch looked upon the earth; and he heard a voice from the bowels thereof, saying: Wo, wo is me, the mother of men; I am pained, I am weary, because of the wickedness of my children. When shall I rest, and be cleansed from the filthiness which is gone forth out of me? When will my Creator sanctify me, that I may rest, and righteousness for a season abide upon my face?" - Moses 7:48

What a lovely name!

A friend, Scott, showed me a little website a few days ago that will help you to learn a little more about names. It is called "What a Lovely Name." I looked up my name and found out a little more about it:

Loren

Americanization of the German name Lorenz, a variant of the Latin name Laurence. Ultimately taken from the Latin word "laurus," meaning "laurels".

Alternates: Lorin

Tags: American, calm, gentle, independent


That was nice, but I took a few minutes and looked a little further:

Meaning of "Loren"
English name
In English, the name Loren means- Variant of Lorin: Variant of Laurence: From the place of laurel trees. Famous Bearer: conductor Lorin Maazel (born 1930). Other origins for the name Loren include - English, American. The name Loren is a unisex name and can be used for a boy or girl name (male or female).

English Meaning - Variant of Lorin: Variant of Laurence: From the place of laurel trees. Famous Bearer: conductor Lorin Maazel (born 1930).

Origin - English

Christmas Parlor Games

Here are some fun parlor games published by Carma Wadley in the Deseret News. Great for when everyone gets together!

There are writing games, a reindeer word scramble, a drawing game, and many more!

Cool toys...

When I was a kid one of our favorite toys were the two Nerf Men we got for Christmas one year. We threw them all over the house. They were probably confiscated to prevent damage because I don't remember much more of them. Maybe they were so much fun we didn't do our chores. Or maybe my dad made good on his threat that he'd "cut it in half if you throw it in the house."

Anyway, I read an article on Monday in the Deseret News about toys. It highlighted a blog, The Toy Snob, kept by Nicole Bradley that reviews creative, aesthetic, classic-type toys. I took a peek and found a toy that I almost bought for my nephews last year- the Automoblox cars:
You can drive one of these for just $32 plus shipping from a great on-line game and toy store, Fat Brain Toys. They have great deals on pretty unique games and toys. The article also talked about the purpose of toys. I remember that a lot of our play as children was invented and much of it took place outside. I remember spending hours driving our Hot Wheels and Matchbox cars around a dirt hill with my brothers and friends.

These Automoblox cars come apart and even come in smaller versions ($10) and in sets of three for $26. Pretty cool.

The mini-cars:

I had better get married and have a kid so I can get some of these... for the kids, of course.

America's Most Wanted Couple: Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac

Here they are- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac:

Okay- seriously, Fannie Mae is really the "Federal National Mortgage Association" and Freddie Mac is the "Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation." They are two financial institutions, not grandparents, that share great responsibility in the recent financial meltdown. Sure, many individuals were allowed to get in over their heads, and they are to blame as well, but they were merely following the example of the federal government and are living beyond their means. See the National Debt clock here. And here's a recent article on the clock. Apparently it ran out of digits because of the recent financial intervention of the government. Would it hurt to just let these organizations and businesses drown on their own? I am sure that it would hurt, but maybe it would send a strong message and help us and others make more sound investments. If the government were to be compared to a business, I would never invest in it in the fiscal sense. It needs a infusion of new blood, though- a MAJOR blood transfusion. I wish a candidate would balance the budget and create a plan to pay off the national debt.

My brother send me an e-mail about a week ago citing one of the origins of the current financial meltdown. I will quote Kimball from his e-mail:

The New York Times link below explains the hand the government had in creating the current mortgage crisis. The article was written in 1999, and occurred within Clinton's administration. This article was sent to me by my politically savvy friend, Mike Taylor.

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0DE7DB153EF933A0575AC0A96F958260

Today I ran across another article today on DeseretNews.com as well that cited a Republican-sponsored bill that was never voted on in the Senate, possibly in part due to a group paid large sums of money by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to lobby against the bill. Glad to know that a lot of Republicans in the Senate could see this financial meltdown coming:

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705256560,00.html

Isn't it nice to know that we can live life based on sound principles? I found it interesting that it was primarily Democrats in Congress that were primarily voting for the economic bailout proposed by President Bush and that it was a crew of Republicans that did not like the looks of the bailout package initially.

I think that a lot more time should have been spent in analyzing the problem, or that smaller bills should have been passed, incrementally, each with a specific target on what it was intended to do, not a one-size-fits-all mega-bill.

I can remember somewhere in the mid/late-1990's when I was sitting next to a guy in choir practice who was asking what I thought about the national debt. I told him that I thought it would come back to bite us one day and that the government and nation would fall on its face financially if it did not do something to pay the debt. One loses credibility with so much debt. We reap what we sow, right?

What would I do about it?
Turn Mitt Romney loose on the problem. He'd probably help for free.

Stocks on sale! Also homes.

Isn't life all about perspective? And there is always more than one way to view the current economic status of our nation. If you're one that has savings, a great credit rating, and have been waiting to get into the stock market or a house, this may be your big chance!

When the prices of stocks, or homes, generally plunge like they have recently. It's like having a sign saying:

BIG SALE!
Lowest prices in 10 years!
Wahoo!

This is not intended as investment advice, but nearly as an alternative perspective in an economic downturn that anybody knew was coming. Watching house prices inflate the last few years has been ridiculous. My house's estimated value has risen over $100,000 in the last 3-4 years (that's not healthy growth, or normal). On my property tax forms the county listed it as being worth $9,000 more each year in the first 3 years and then in the last year increasing in value about $75,000. And this was at a time when home prices across the nation were dropping, and just as they started to slow and drop here in Utah.

Saturdays

Here's what's happened today, and what might be a normal Saturday for me lately...
1. Sleep in until 8 or so (normally I do like to get up a little earlier).
2. Read (currently John Groberg's, "In the Eye of the Storm")
3. Run (4 mile loop- haven't gone that far in a while).
4. Vacuum
5. Breakfast (2 bowls of cereal and about an hour later, 2 awesome breakfast burritos made by yours truly).
6. Watch the rest of the Texas Longhorns game with roommate as they beat the currently #1-ranked Oklahoma Sooners.
7. Help roommate clean up kitchen because I feel guilty that much of the mess is mine.
8. Load 1,960 lbs. of junk in the old orange flatbed dumptruck (cement chunks, old beams, wood, pipe, and other miscellany). Added a new driveway a few weeks ago and the cement guy did his "cleanout" right in front of the leftover cement. Gratefully there was not too much.
9. Visit the dump as a very light rain turns so snow (that makes 3 weeks in a row). Last week's trip was almost 3 tons and great fun in the rain. The landfill was a muddy, stinky mess and after I dumped my load I felt like I was in one of those events you might see at a truck pull. I was peeling out and flipping mud everywhere. It was pretty fun. Good thing I had "duallies" in back or I may not have made it. :)
10. Hurry and answer a few e-mails that have been sitting in my inbox.
11. Check friends' blogs. Feel guilty about not posting anything. Create this post.
12. Get a little to eat (leftovers from Saturday breakfast last week [blueberry pancakes] and today).
13. Hope to work on finishing a few small rough framing things in the basement "studio" room I am finishing.
14. Get cleaned up.
15. Go dancing with friends at the Murray Arts Center (M.A.C.). Possibly visit IKEA beforehand to check on flooring that is $0.49 a square foot (probably pretty cheap stuff).
16. Bed.

What would I change? A few things- three, in fact. Love Saturdays. Next week I have a 4-day weekend. Awesome.

Ball Game, part 2 (extra innings)

After a little feedback from friends and a Louisville Slugger to the head (courtesy of an anonymous comment on my 'flaky' analogy posted a few weeks ago), I thought I'd elaborate a little on the baseball/dating comparison:

1. This analogy is probably more fitting to a baseball practice or baseball tryouts. Don't take it beyond the pitcher-batter idea.

2. Consider it, women who are pursuing men that are NOT stepping up to the plate does not help them to STEP UP and be a MAN. Men need to STAND UP and put forth their best effort. They need the challenge and the chase. Each situation is different, but a healthy relationship is based on the fact that each person inspires the other to be their best- in a simple and wonderful, kind of way. I would not recommend that women date the guys that are forever languishing in the dugout. But everyone has that choice. The point of dating and life is that men learn how to step up to the plate. The dudes who NEVER step out of the dugout just get booted off the team anyway. Women- be your best and the men that can handle what you dish out will be the ones that chase you. Birds of a feather flock together, but the scriptural reference says it best.

3. Men: It may appear that some women are not pitching at all when you are doing your best to ask for a pitch. She may be pitching or winking elsewhere.

4. Women: Just because a particular fellow is not stepping up to your plate does not mean he is not doing his best to hammer a homer (connect) or get a pitch elsewhere.

5. We have a limited view of each other as we live in our little worlds. Sometimes we become generally frustrated that a certain person(s) is not doing what we want s/he to do. Thus the need to gain perspective from other sources.

6. Amen to the comment left on the post: "It's easy to lose track of the whole doggone' game when you're hanging out in the dingy dugout with the boys." That is very true.

7. Also in response to the same comment: Getting "beaned" in the head with a fastball while sitting in the dugout WOULD be a great wake-up call. It may even put a fellow in the hospital. Lighting a fire under the pine bench in the dugout might be even a better idea.

Dating and courting does really hurt now and then, believe me. The pain can inspire growth and understanding or make one retreat (both can be equally helpful). But it is only when we take the greatest risks that we can expect the greatest returns. Though I often feel like a "Little League" kid when I step up to the plate, awkward and inadequate, I must say that the dating/courting experiences that I have had are some of the most rewarding of my life.

Thanks for all of the feedback- it has given me more insight.

Free Gas!

With gas prices at an all time high, I was surprised by a sign I saw while on my way home from a hike. I had stopped to pick up a few items at a shop when I spotted it:


Wow! Free gas!

What?

Free gas! About 12 miles south of my house- $0.00 per gallon!

Free?

Yes! Frrreeeeeee!

Hurray!

I couldn't believe it either and took the photo above to prove it. I'll have to go there more often!

Here is a photo of the whole storefront:

Look closely at the photo...



Yeah, it's a bike shop- Bountiful Bicycles. I recently re-invested in a bicycle and needed to get a few things. I thought that the sign on the storefront was pretty creative and funny. I used to have a road bike in high school that I rode to work quite a bit between Kaysville and Centerville, and thanks to ebay, I found a decent, used bike in Colorado to replace my aged and crippled Specialized Hard Rock (that is now 18 years old). Now I need to get a second set of rims in order to exchange quickly between mtn tires and road tires, or slicks.

Here is the new ride:

I was surprised that I won the ebay auction. I thought I'd have to increase my bid by $100 or so, but didn't have to. I also am learning to use clipless (eggbeater) pedals for the first time. They're easier than I thought they'd be, although not as easy as toeclips. So far, it's harder to get INTO the pedal than releasing it.

I figure that I'll have to bike well over 4,500 miles for this purchase to pay for itself. With the ride to work and back being a 24-mile round trip, that'll be nearly 200 trips to work. At least it will give me about an hour of cardiovascular exercise each day I ride. Also cheaper than a Toyota Prius and faster than walking!

Diesel Mechanic

(written Saturday afternoon, June 20)

Today I feel more like a man. Why? I discovered the deeper meaning of a weighty, masculine word. There are a handful out there: lumber, football, etc.

Well, today it was "diesel."

No, not that one...

..not this one either...

...this one:

Main Entry: die·sel

Pronunciation: \ˈdē-zəl, -səl\

Function: noun

Etymology: Rudolf Diesel

Date: 1894

1 : diesel engine
2 : a vehicle driven by a diesel engine
3 : diesel fuel

I have been able to borrow my dad's old CASE 680 "Construction King" backhoe to do occasional work. Despite "construction" being part of its name, the yellow beast does a great job at demolition. Now, I am speaking of planned demolition, like when we tore out the old milk-house or pulled the silo over. It also does a great job of smashing things unintentionally- like when one of my brothers managed to mash the rain gutter into the side of the house. I was inside at the time and it felt like the whole house was going to come down. He is not alone- I did thump one of the post that holds up the deck a few weeks ago with the hoe (yes, it left mark).


Besides being a great help when I was in the demolition stages, it has come in handy recently to dig out the area where I am installing a retaining wall and to also bring in the retaining wall blocks. I've made a few temporary roads, haul gravel, rocks, and dirt- of course.

In the course of these events it has broken down at least three or four times. We've blown just about half of its hydraulic hoses, improved some of the electrical wiring, and most recently I had to replace the starter. Thus this blog entry.


It was my first ever "starter-ectomy" (I hadn't even done this on a car) and the old 60's backhoe didn't give it up willingly. Three bolts held it in. One was right out in front, one in back, and the last one underneath. I am embarrassed to admit that I mistakenly worked for at least 20-30 minutes trying to remove another bolt that was located just next to the REAL bolt (the third one) that I should have been removing. This impostor was so tight, and the space so small for my socket and wrench, that I could lot get any leverage. Of course it was when I finally got that darn bolt to budge and was removing it when I noticed that it played no role in holding the starter. Oh well- the fact that I got it loose made me feel good. Of course the real bolt came out lickety-split and I used a lever to heft the huge, greasy starter out. Finally! After over an hour victory was mine! I am guessing it weighed 60-70 pounds. This is a photo of me AFTER I cleaned myself up (I was black up to my elbows) and was preparing to drive to the rebuild shop in SLC.

It took them over a week to find the right parts to rebuild it, and it took me about 30 minutes to put it back in. The backhoe starts much easier now- and without starter fluid. I now have a great respect for diesel mechanics and know why they make about $40/hour. Let's just pray the backhoe lasts another month or two. I don't know how much of a man I am to handle much more than a starter.

Grrrilling!

I always check the news every morning or afternoon on-line. First, I was happy to read that the U of U was able to recover the thousands of medical records kept on data tapes that had been stolen (mine included) with the help of the local police department. Second, I ran into a cool article on grilling in the Deseret News. I purchased a smoker grill last year and have used it 4-5 times to grill. I am still a novice, but I am getting better. This February and March we grilled shiskabobs. Here is a delicious photo the second time we made them:

Here is the title and link to the article in the Deseret News:

You go, grill! 10 tips for a better barbecue

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700239608,00.html

Here's a photo of another grilling event. I have to admit that I am getting a little better at it each time and enjoy using real wood charcoal and also hickory or mesquite wood chunks for flavor. The gentleman in the photo is locally renowned Chef Fei, also known as the "Grilling Master."


Happy Grilling!

Oh yeah- and I read an article recently that recommends not eating burned (carbonized) food. It apparently isn't very safe to eat. Wish I'd known that before our second grilling attempt...

The Condiment Packet Gallery

Ketchup anybody?

How about a little "Bojangles Cajun Hot Sauce?"

My brother sent this link to me. You may have a few in your fridge that you could add to the collection...

They're all here in the
"Condiment Packet Gallery"


Check it out at:

http://condiment.portablefolkband.com/packets.php

Mmmm!

I have a Fairy Blogmother!

When I started this post, I thought that my idea of using the term, "fairy blogmother," was unique.

But alas, I googled it and was disappointed to find almost 7,000 hits.

RATS!


In a month of bloglessness...

My Fairy Blogmother did appear!
I did not know that I even had one
Or that she was so near...

Hovering over one starry night,
Her comment came via e-mail:
"Now Loren, dear, get on the ball!
Your blog is old and stale!"

Blogging requires posts that are fresh!
Each week maybe two or three-
Nearly a month has passed, and still it sits-
Neglected- shame on thee!

Update your blog! Post new thoughts!
Put that mouse and fingers to work!
The blogging life is not for the weak-
it's a duty that you cannot shirk.

Dear Bamamoma,
Thanks for the reminder to keep my blog current. I am also honored that you'd bother to read it between diaper changes. I can't promise that I'll do better, but maybe this exercise in commitment will be good for me... :) I have a thing or two to learn about blogging...

(Author's note: The fairy godmother pictured above in no way represents any person currently living.)

Life in Numbers

This is in response to one of Heidi's recent posts and recent comment/threat that she'd no longer check my blog if I continued to neglect it. For that I am sorry. I am still breathing , thinking, and... just not blogging as much as I formerly did!

1 - Sister (Sarah)
2 - The Goal (Wife & Me)
3 - Years in my house
4 - My "official" family number (I was born the 4th of 9 children)

(in the middle of the family sandwich)

5 - States in which I have lived (UT, AZ, NM, VA, WY)
6 - Months to have ALL of my landscaping done
7 - Brothers (Spencer, Matt, Richard, Nathan, Andrew, Kimball, and Stuart)
8 - is great? Okay- here is something better- that was when I made one of the most important decisions of my life (baptism).
9 - Thousand dollars (the low estimate on the cost to finish the majority of the landscaping, fence, etc.). Trees, plants, & flower beds will add even more...
10 - Years I've worked in public education (1 year in private/business sector)

Jed the Blogger

Okay- Heidi said that she may not even check my blog because I had not written for such a long time. So I sat down and created two posts this weekend. I apologize for my blog-negligence.

This post is primarily "borrowed," but I just had to share it. I think that many of my blogging friends out there are quite humorous and profound (Heidi, Charlotte, Monica, and Sarah, to name a few). But one of my favorites is JED! I love Jed's thoughts and am glad that he is willing to share them. Here are links to two hilarious, recent posts:

Crashing Through Walls

(Jed's perspective on the classic and all-too-often "I want to set you up with the perfect guy or girl" experience)

&

The Way the Cookie Crumbled

(A simple story of courage inspired by love)

Not only do these resonate with me, but in my opinion, Jed has in more than one case put columnists like Dave Barry to shame. Many of you write just as good, or in many cases better, than many columnists that are out there today. A few female bloggers from Utah were highlighted on TV recently and after reading 2-3 of their entries, they are not only lame, but beyond lame. Their blogs were completely worthless. I could not believe that they got so much internet traffic. So to my blogging heroes I say:

Thanks.
...and don't neglect your blog. You never know when you're going to make someone's day!

Got Gas?

This spring I test-drove a Toyota Prius. It's probably the most popular of the hybrid cars and has been around since 1997. During the test drive it was amazing to see the car's battery level increase during my short 10-minute trip. Whenever the engine was running it simultaneously charged the partially-discharged battery in order to restore it to full capacity. When you stopped, the entire car became completely quiet. A few months before I had spoken with a woman who told me it took one tank of gas to drive hers to Los Angeles from Utah. Wow! The only drawback of the Prius? Those over 6 feet tall will be a little short on headroom in the back seat. I think a hybrid car is in the future for each of us. Soon the gas-only sedans will go the way of black-and-white television.


Last week at work a coworker handed me a listing of the local gas prices around town. I thought I'd share the MapQuest link she gave me. I am not sure of how current/accurate they are, but considering recent gas prices, it may be worth it to check your area:

http://gasprices.mapquest.com/

If you live in Utah, here's a link featured on KSL.com:

http://www.utahgasprices.com/Quick_Search.aspx

Because of rising gas prices I've found myself waiting to run errands until they stack up, doing them on the way home from work, walking or running to do local shopping, and also increasing my car-pooling. Trips are now often calculated in dollars, not miles. I also checked the pressure in my tires last month and found them embarrassingly low. Inflating them to around 35 psi (or just under) will get you another 1-2 miles per gallon (as was my case). It'll also make your tires wear a little longer.

Thanks to my brother, Andrew, for the e-mail containing these little political cartoons of gasoline humor. They're a gas! I look forward to owning a car that converts solar energy during long stays in the parking lot into power! I can only imagine what solar panels could do on my house. They ought to come standard on all homes.

I guess that until I start putting my money where my mouth is and actually buy a hybrid vehicle or a new bike, I'll be guzzling gas.

Hey Sarah! Happy Birthday?

(I apologize for the lack of blog entries as of late. I have started an official family blog and have spent most of my free time there. This is a post I originally put there, but modified. If I am found dead in the coming days or weeks it will be because one of my brothers murdered me for posting this picture.)

Okay- the instructions were to dress like a "nerd"- and pictured below is how that was interpreted. It was Sarah's birthday and we decided to have a little fun. In my family you are lucky if someone calls because they remembered it, but Sarah's is never forgotten (though she has a short memory and doesn't see it that way). I guess you could say that she is spoiled, which is probably due to the fact that she is the youngest and our only sister. I think that she thinks she has it rough, and maybe she does, because...

If you went into a restaurant and had been invited to sit with this bunch, what would you have done?

Yes. I would have run as well.

Pictured from left to right are Homie "Hip-Hop" Brown, Bo, Rhett "Hot Rod" Andrews, Kevyn L. Baker, B.S. (aspiring astrophysics student), Dr. Stan Cipek (astrophysics professor), and the flamer, Alf Kimo.

This nerdy, rough, and groovy bunch met Sarah and Steve at the Braza Grill in Salt Lake for her dinner birthday. Thanks to Stevie for getting her there and holding on to her when she tried to run away.

Upcoming Family Events:
April 7th - "Homie" Brown will be in concert most of the day at the Delta Center (on the northeast corner by the Trax stop). Let's support him and drop some change in the can. I heard he'll be playing the new drum that he made. Also Matt's birthday.

April 13th - Kimball gets a life.

April 15th - Nathan said we could drop by for free oil changes on this day for their "tax day special." Stuart will be there to make sure he does it right. About all Nathan can change is a diaper or a channel. (I'm just kidding)

April 21st - Spencer presents his research to NASA (Kevyn will be there to assist). Also Mom's birthday.

June 13th - Rhett will be driving in the Candidagua 500 in hopes to qualify for the Daytona 500 in late June. Also Andrew's birthday.

Just had to share an inspiring thought...

I came by this a while ago and just had to share it.

This blog post is dedicated to my oldest brother, Spencer, who introduced me to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and the starship Enterprise, who boldly went where no man had gone before.

Live long and prosper.

(Note: This post will have more meaning if you grew up in the 70's or earlier)

Help for a poor sole?

“Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”

- Doug Larson

I'll try to keep this simple:
I've had a difficult time finding a pair of shoes the past two months. In my usual stops at Famous Footwear and other local stores I have been unable to find a pair that I liked. I did find a few once, but they did not have any in my size. So this blog entry is a lame request help on the best places to buy shoes!

In a few of my conversations with my farmer-neighbor, the topic of shoes came up. He is quite the internet-shopper and buys his shoes on-line. He also buys seeds and sells his sheep occasionally on-line. He recommended B.A. Mason Shoes. I checked it out and was pretty impressed- except for the fact that once I found a few pairs that I liked, they didn't have my size! I found some of the same shoes at Shoes.com, but wanted to find what places you'd recommend. If you're guy and would be willing to divulge the location of your favorite "shoe-fishing hole," please do! I wear a 10.5 and will be sure that I don't buy the last pair. And you ladies- if you happen to have a little "Imelda Marcos" in you (1,060 pairs?)- or happen to know where the men in your life find their shoes, I'd appreciate any suggestions.

I'd appreciate your help. Now that the snow has melted I think people are staring at me for continuing to wear my moon boots everywhere I go...

What in the heck are you staring at?!
GOSH!

(Halloween 2005)