I'm a Mechanic!

... well, not quite. But I'm pumped. This past week I accomplished my first automotive repair: I replaced the alternator on our van, and the spark plugs and wires on our Corolla! Thanks to a couple friends advice, my neighbors socket set, and AutoZone.

*Anyone who is wanting gift ideas: SAE/Metric Socket and wrench set, or something similar.

Matthias replaces Judas

Wow. Play the song and follow along with the words below.

It is so that my transgressions have born a withered fruit,
The sun has scorched the rising plans;
Alas they have no root, the bleached bones of animals bound by leather strips,
Dance through the air with laughter as i wield this wicked whip,
As you did warn me carpenter, this world has weakened my heart,
So easily i disparage, self-seeking the work of my art,
And there you have come to me at the moment i bathe in my sorrow,
So in love with myself, sought after avoiding tomorrow,
Where do you find the love to offer he who betrays you?
And offer to wash my feet as i offer to disobey you,
Your beauty does bereave me, and how my words do fail,
So faithfully and dutifully i award you with betrayal,
The weak and the down trodden fall on broken legs,
As i walk past a smile i cast, fervor in my stead,
But my bones like plastic, do buckle backward now,
I lay in this field by Judas' bowels and anticipate the plow,
I can not be forgiven; my wages will be paid,
For those more lovely and admirable is least among the saved,
And where would i fit Jesus?
What place is left for me?
The price of atonement is more than i've found to offer up as my plea,
Jesus my heart is all i have to give to you, so weak and so unworthy,
This simply will not do, no alabaster jar, no diamond in the rough,
For your body that was broken, how can this be enough?
By me you were abandoned, by me you were betrayed,
Yet in your arms and in your heart forever i have stayed

Your glory illuminates my life, and no darkness will descend,
for you have loved me forever, and your love will never end

- Showbread

*Yes, that's Reese Roper at the end of the song.

Honey Whole Wheat Bagels

So I came home yesterday and surprised my wonderful wife with a fresh batch of honey whole wheat bagels. It was definitely an experiment, but here's how they turned out! I used the recipe from Heavenly Homemakers.

Notes for next time:

• Remember to add the 3T honey to the bread
• *Don't knead it as long (it was a bit course)
• Make bigger bagels
• Make them all the same size.
• Don't bake them nearly as long as the recipe says. I burnt a couple.

*Turns out it's the type of flour not the time kneading. Most people mix white flour with their whole wheat.

Pollinating Bees

I was walking back from lunch today when I spotted one of my honey bees on the an echinacea on campus. This is exciting! I love seeing my bees out and about. And here is a bumblebee that was also busy pollinating.

Monkey Toy

PS. Watch out for this guy. He made us jump in our seat!

... but he also really cracks Noah and I up!

Toy Story 3 - Thoughts

We went out to see Toy Story 3 this weekend as a part of my fathers day celebration. The kids were pretty excited about it, and they really loved it. On the whole, I really loved the movie. The action was very entertaining from start to finish. The world kept getting larger and larger as the movie went on. And not hearing Jim Varney's voice for Slinky Dog didn't bother me as much as I thought it would.

Amy and I were, however, a bit disappointed. Everything is that much more critical when you know your little kids eyes and ears are watching and listening. The highlights of our disappointment were:

• The Barbie and Ken introduction that subtly brings to mind a crudity. "Love your leg warmers," admires Ken. "Nice ascot," retorts Barbie.


• During the traditional pre-movie short, one of the characters oogles a sunbathing woman. His companion notes his excitement and directs him to an entire pool full of bathing women.
  
  The two characters also start their relationship in a discourse of pummeling fists. One overtakes the other, beating him repeatedly in the face. Both eyes are bruised purple when he falls to the ground.


• Buzz follows one of the foes into what feels like a nightclub where toys are gambling with Monopoly money.


• Mr Potato Head has an affinity for negative words to other toys, but he is joined by other toys with: Heck, darn, doofus, idiot, imbecile, pea-brain, moron, and hell.

Don't get me wrong, we loved the Buzz and Woody and the whole gang. But is Pixar slipping? I'm beginning to think we are going to need to watch Pixar movies with discretion. Much like we watch other movies deemed appropriate for kids.

Picnic table idea

We have wanted to get some picnic tables to use at our new house this year. We looked around, and found some descent pre-built picnic tables at Lowes, but then we got to thinking about building one ourselves. Check out a very initial idea I had. This is the initial design, you'll notice that it is different than the dimensions further down.

I'm sure I don't have all the dimensions optimized yet. But hopefully I will shortly.