Too Much Information

Warning 

** This may be too much information for 

the faint of heart (read - men). **

Ok, so here's my problem. My skin is ridiculously dry right now. I know that it's winter and everybody gets dry skin in the winter, but it is seriously driving me crazy. I basically bathe myself in everything from baby oil to coco butter to intensive moisturizing lotion, but nothing is helping. The humidity level in our house is pretty good (around 50%) so I don't think that adding an extra humidifier would make that much of a difference. That's why I'm coming to you. Does anyone have any foolproof remedies for dry winter skin? If so, let me know. I feel like I'm molting here... See TMI. 

Cute Baby or Man-Eating Worm?

Harper has the uncanny ability to sense when Rob and I are awake. Even though she sleeps in her crib, down the hall, with the door closed, she knows when we are awake. Be it 2am or 7am, if we roll over in bed or (heaven forbid) start talking softly to each other, she wakes up and alerts us (a nice way of putting it) that she wants to come hang out with us. It's really weird. I thought I was the only one that noticed it, but Rob confirmed my suspicions this morning. It makes me think of the movie Tremors (you know, the Kevin Bacon classic). If you haven't seen this movie, don't bother. Basically, a bunch of gigantic worms live in the ground underneath a small isolated town. Although the worms are blind, they can perceive the vibrations that the townspeople make when they drive or walk or do just about anything. Using the vibrations to locate the people, the worms terrorize and eat many of the townspeople until they ultimately meet their match (Kevin Bacon). Anyways, Harper's ability to perceive our micro-movements and whispers reminds me of these worms. I should tell you that I thought of this connection at 4 in the morning. It made more sense then. 

25 Things

So, everybody has been listing 25 random things about themselves on facebook. I thought I'd get in on the action, and since I really didn't have another topic in mind for today, I decided to post it on my blog instead of on facebook. Wow - really long run-on sentence. Sorry. 

1. I love candy. sweet tarts, jelly belly jelly beans, runts, nerds, sour straws... You name it, I like it. 

2. I hate the words pregnant, tasty, and tramp (as in "tramp on the gas"). I've kind of gotten over pregnant, but you will probably never hear me say the other two.

3. I got married in Las Vegas. We didn't elope and Elvis did not officiate.  

4. I don't have any hobbies.

5. My birthday, my husband's birthday, and my daughter's birthday are all in February. 

6. I have a thing about numbers. I only like even ones - 2 and 4 in particular.

7. I get in a bad mood when my house is messy and I prefer to clean when my husband isn't home. 

8. I am as stubborn as the day is long. 

9. I have a brown belt in kempo katate. I was nationally ranked at one time (like 20 years ago).

10. I like dark beer. The darker, the better.

11. I fell out of a willow tree on Mother's Day when I was 8. I had to be in the hospital for a week.

12. I got mono so bad in college that my doctors thought I had leukemia. 

13. I wanted to be named Jennifer when I was little. There were 3 Jennifers in my class. 

14. I bite my nails. 

15. I refuse to wear uncomfortable shoes.

16. I don't carry a purse. I keep a small wallet in my back pocket and my cell phone in my front pocket. Dragging along a diaper bag was a big adjustment for me. 

17. I miss my daughter when I put her to bed at night. 

18. Growing up, I had 3 imaginary friends that were rats. Their names were Copey (with a long O), Carrie, and Houdini. I also had an imaginary brother named Michael. 

19. I grew up on a farm. We had a horse, chickens, ducks, geese, rabbits, cats, and dogs. 

20. One time when I was very little (like 3) I got mad at my grandma and peed on her couch. 

21. I have never been able to accurately describe what my dad does for a living. 

22. I really want to get a tattoo. 

23. I hate green peppers, olives, and cucumbers.

24. Even though Harper sleeps through the night, I don't remember the last time I did. It's been at least a year, probably longer.

25. I really like writing this blog. Maybe I do have a hobby...

Know of Any Good Children's Books?

Harper really likes to read books. From a very young age (3 or 4 months) she cold turn the pages of her board books as I read them to her. Now she will pull books out of her toy box and bring them to me to read. Even though I don't read much myself, I have always had a sentimental attachment to books. I love to walk around in book stores and I love to buy books. I really want Harper to be a more veracious reader than I am, so I figure that I need to diligently cultivate her love of books. This brings me to the point of my post for today. I want to know what your favorite childhood books are. Harper has a birthday coming up and I can't think of a better present than expanding her library a little. So, come on. Help me out. Give me some good suggestions. I've listed a few of my favorite books below.

• The Little Prince - I'm pretty sure that the secrete to life is in this book.
  

• The Lorax - I like all Dr. Seuss books, but this may be my favorite. 
  

• Where the Sidewalk Ends - Just fun and great illustrations
  

• Charlotte's Web - The end is still a tear jerker for me.
  

• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh - When I was little, my imaginary friends were 3 rats  (a story for another day) so maybe that's why I like this one so much.
  

 

Nap Time

Harper is really good about going down for a nap. Occasionally there are some tears. Lately, the fussing has been replaced by playing. She has 2 toys in her crib - an alligator and a bear. Until recently, she hasn't paid a bit of attention to either one of them. But now...

Warning ** This video is not easy on the ears.

The Power of Testimonies

Rob went to Cincinnati this weekend and while he was there, he went to our old church. On the way home, he called me and told me that I just had to listen to the pod cast of the message. So I did. After Harper went to bed last night, I sat on the floor in my living room and had my heart ripped out and my face rocked off (all in a good way). If you want something to think about, click here. You can also find it on Vineyard Westside's podcasts on iTunes. It's long, but worth it. Make the time to listen. 

Helvetica

I watched a documentary last night about the history of Helvetica font. I know. Sounds riveting, right? Well, it actually was pretty interesting. Of course it talked about the basics - who originally came up with the font, where and when it originated, etc. But it also talked about how ubiquitously used Helvetica is and offered up some possibilities as to why that is. Did you know that Helvetica font is the official typeface of Target, American Airlines, Crate and Barrel, The New York City Transit Authority, The Chicago Transit Authority, Microsoft, Jeep, Panasonic, AT&T, most major airports, Sears, Gap, the Royal Bank of Scotland, Tupperware, and 3M just to name a few?

Here is what some graphic designers have to say about Helvetica:

• "Helvetica's message is this: you are going to get to your destination on time; your plane will not crash; your money is safe in our vault; we will not break the package; the paperwork has been filled in; everything is going to be OK."

• "It has a modern attitude which lines up with the aesthetic premises of the 1950s and 60s. Helvetica is a corporate typeface, but on the other hand it's the favorite of hairdressers and sandwich shops. It is the butter on the bread."

While there are many people who love Helvetica, there are also many who don't. Just do a google search and you will find hundreds of online forums devoted to pointing out why Helvetica will ultimately lead to the destruction of the world as we know it. Graphic designer and typographer Neville Brody states "When people choose Helvetica they want to fit in and look normal. They use Helvetica because they want to be a member of the efficiency club. They want to be a member of modernism. They want to be a member of no personality. It also says bland, unadventurous, unambitious."

The bottom line is that I like this documentary and I like Helvetica font. It made me consider something that I see everyday, but rarely ever think about. You can watch a clip of it here. If nothing else, go to the site so you can take a personality quiz that tells you what font you are. Me? I was Helvetica, of course.

Be The Change

Now let's get down to business. All of us.

Happy Trails To You...

I'm Not Touching You

Harper has learned a new game - "I'm Not Touching You".  Note the supersonic squeak. 

A Day In The Life

Last night I found the little notebook where I recorded the major events (diaper changes, feedings, hiccups, etc.) of Harper's first few weeks. After she came home from the hospital, I was neurotic about logging everything she did so I could be sure that she was eating enough, sleeping enough, peeing enough... I was looking over it last night and it occurred to me that I had forgotten how crazy those first few weeks months were. Here is one example from February 26th (6 days old):

12:12 am feeding

3:00 am feeding

3:25 am diaper change

3:30 am feeding

3:40 am hiccups

4:00 am rocking chair

8:00 am feeding

8:20 am diaper change

10:25 am feeding

10:55 am diaper change

11:40 am feeding

1: 15 pm diaper change

1:20 pm feeding

3:00 pm feeding

4:30 pm feeding

6:30 pm feeding

6:40 pm diaper change

6:40 pm feeding

8:23 pm feeding

9:30 pm diaper change

10:18 pm feeding/bed

Pardon Me

With the changing of the Presidential guard close at hand, I have been thinking about what a weird concept the presidential pardon is. According to the Constitution (Article 2, Section 2 to be exact), "The President ... shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." So basically the President can pardon anyone at anytime for anything except impeachment. Doesn't this seem a little counterintuitive based on our nation's foundation of democracy and justice? I don't know. It just seems a little weird to me. 

Here are some of the more controversial pardons throughout history:

Brigham Young fought against U.S. troops during an armed conflict as federal forces tried to install non-Mormon officials in the state of Utah. According to some accounts, Young considered burning Salt Lake City to the ground and taking off for Mexico, but he eventually decided to peacefully step down as governor instead. President James Buchanan later pardoned Young for his role in the altercation.

Jimmy Hoffa was granted a pardon by Richard Nixon on December 23, 1971, as long as he agreed not to "engage in direct or indirect management of any labor organization" for ten years. Once released, Hoffa became a supporter for Nixon's re-election bid.

Gerald Ford pardoned his presidential predecessor, Richard Nixon. Ford would later comment that he did it less for Nixon and more for the American people, as he felt that a pardon was the only way for the nation to move on after the Watergate scandal. Still, many theorize that this action caused Ford to lose the 1976 election.

Peter Yarrow, best known for his participation in the group Peter, Paul and Mary and as co-writer of the song "Puff, the Magic Dragon," pled guilty to "taking immoral and improper liberties" with two minors who had come to his hotel room looking for an autograph. He was sentenced to one to three years in prison, but was pardoned by Jimmy Carter after serving only three months.

Junior Johnson was one of NASCAR’s first stars in the 1950s and 1960s, and he later became a successful team owner in the sport. In addition to his NASCAR ventures, Johnson was a legendary moonshine-running driver. In 1956, federal agents caught the rising NASCAR star working a moonshine still in North Carolina. He received a two-year sentence for the crime and spent 11 months in federal prison. Once Johnson got out of jail, he resumed his dominance of the NASCAR circuit. In late 1986, Ronald Reagan pardoned Johnson for his moonshining past.

Ronald Reagan pardoned New York Yankee's owner George Steinbrenner after he admitted that he was guilty of making illegal contributions to President Nixon's re-election campaign.

The heiress-turned-militant,Patty Hearst, spent almost two years in prison for her part in a 1974 bank robbery before Jimmy Carter commuted her sentence in 1979. Bill Clinton later gave Hearst a full pardon on the final day of his presidency in 2001.

Bill Clinton's half-brother, Roger Clinton, was granted a pardon for his conviction of cocaine possession. While this does reek of nepotism, it should be made clear that Roger Clinton had served his full sentence and the pardon merely restored rights denied him as a convicted felon.

Sippy Cup Saga - Part 1

Harper is learning how to use a sippy cup. For the most part, she is only mildly interested. She has proven that she is fully capable of holding it and drinking from it, but she is much more concerned with its musical properties.

Miscelaineous Music - Window In The Skies

Sounds like Love Wins. to me. 




The shackles are undone
The bullet's quit the gun
The heat that's in the sun
Will keep us when it's done
The rule has been disproved
The stone, it has been moved
The grave is now a groove
All debts are removed

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Love makes strange enemies
Makes love where love may please
Soul in its striptease
Hate brought to its knees
The sky over our head
We can reach it from our bed
If you let me in your heart
And out of my head

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Please don't ever let me out of here
I've got no shame
Oh no, oh no

Oh, can't you see what love has done
Oh, can't you see
Oh, can't you see what love has done
What it's doing to me

Oh, can't you see what love has done
I know I hurt you and I made you cry
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Did everything but murder you and I
Oh, can't you see what love has done
But love left a window in the skies
Oh, can't you see what love has done
And to love I raphsodize

Oh, can't you see what love has done
To every broken heart
Oh, can't you see what love has done
For every heart that cries
Oh, can't you see what love has done
Love left a window in the skies
Oh, can't you see what love has done
And to love I raphsodize

Let Me Sleep On It

So, I've been trying to learn how to do this surgical procedure at work over the past few weeks. It's not an especially difficult procedure, but it does require a little finesse. Basically, I have to locate a specific blood vessel in a mouse (left common carotid artery, labeled lcc in the diagram below), scrape off the smooth muscle layers without puncturing it, and transplant a tissue graft on top of it.

Well, up until this morning, it wasn't going so well. And then, all of a sudden, this morning I was able to do it like I've been doing it for 20 years. I love it when that happens. Actually, that kind of thing happens to me a lot. One day I can't do something and then the next day I can. It's happened with musical ability - one day I can't play something, I sleep on it, and the next day I can. It's happened with physical tasks like being able to ski or cast a fly fishing rod. It's also happened with the ability to understand information - one day I won't get something, the next day I will. The interesting part is that I never put much effort into the equation. It's not like I go to bed willing myself to acquire a new skill while I'm asleep. Maybe my brain needs time to process the new information. Maybe in the heat of the moment, I over-think the task.  I don't understand how it works or why it works, I'm just glad that it does. 

Happy first Harper's moon of 2009!

Science Friday - Solar Powered Slug Edition

Mother Nature is always on the cutting edge of green technology. Elysia chlorotica is a type of sea slug that lives along the Atlantic coast of the US. What sets it apart from most other sea slugs is its ability to run on solar power. It has been known for some time that these sea slugs acquire and store chloroplasts from the algae they eat. In fact, young sea slugs that eat nothing but algae for 2 weeks can store up enough chloroplasts to survive the rest of their lives (about 1 year) on sunlight alone. But there's a catch... Chloroplasts only contain enough DNA to encode about 10% of the genes needed to keep themselves running. The other necessary genes are found in the algae's nuclear DNA. So until recently the question has been, how do the chloroplasts continue to function in a slug cell that is missing 90% of the genes necessary for it to function. Recent studies performed at the University of Maine suggest that the sea slug may be able to steal some of the algae's DNA along with its chloroplasts. When the researchers sequenced the sea slug's DNA, they found that it had incorporated one of the algae's genes that is necessary for chloroplast function. The scientists aren't sure how the slug is able to incorporate the algae's DNA. One possibility is that, as the algae are digested in the slug's gut, the gene is taken into its cells as along with the chloroplasts. The genes are then assimilated into the slug's own DNA, allowing the animal to produce the necessary proteins for the stolen chloroplasts to continue working. Another possibility could be that a virus found in the sea slug will take up the DNA from the algal cells and transmit it to the sea slug's cells. There is still much to learn about how the sea slugs acquire and use the algae's genes and chloroplasts. What is clear (to me, at least) is that nature is cool.

Magic Bread

Two years ago, a miracle happened in my refrigerator. I like eating rye bread for breakfast on the weekends. Because I only eat toast on the weekends, my loaf of bread typically lasts a long time. In fact, it usually gets moldy before I finish it. However, this was not the case with a loaf of rye bread that I bought a while back. I was about halfway through the loaf when the expiration date on the bag caught my attention. It said that the bread had been expired for 6 months. I inspected each of the remaining pieces of bread and found no evidence of mold so I put it all back in the refrigerator. Each Saturday morning, I would take the bread out of the refrigerator, inspect it, find no mold, and make toast. This went on for another 2 months before I actually finished the loaf. As the weeks went on, I became rather attached to my magical loaf of rye bread. I was convinced that it had acquired special medicinal properties. It was a sad day the morning I toasted the last piece. I have had several loaves of rye bread since then and none of them has even come close to the 8 month mark set by my magical loaf. It was a miracle, I tell you. 

My Baby Is Crazy

Harper has entered a new phase of life...temporary insanity. She goes from normal to bouncing off the walls in a matter of seconds. The bouncing is usually coupled with high pitched squeals and/or growls. Toys are thrown. Paper is shredded. Laughing ensues. Sometimes biting occurs. Then, just as quickly as it began, it is over. 

Is this normal? Please help.

Rock Star

Puffs - Take 2

It seems like just yesterday she thought they were rat poison. I guess it's true that your tastes do change as you age.

                                            

                                         

Did you notice how politely she asked for more?

Last Post About The New Year, I Promise

I'm sure everybody is sick of posts about New Years Resolutions/New Year's Eve/2009 etc. Frankly, I am too. But I read a great post by my friend Ann and I want to share her ideas with you. Basically, she and some friends came up with titles for 2008 and did some pre-titling for 2009. 

For me, 2008 was all about "Undeserved Blessings" - the biggest one being my daughter, but I was also blessed with a great new job, a wonderful new community, a consistent old community, a loving family, I could go on...

As I think about what I want 2009 to be about, the phrase "Seized Opportunities" comes to mind. I want to recognize and capitalize on spiritual, professional, and relational opportunities much more in the coming year. I want to stop being a thinker and start being a doer. 

How would you sum up 2008 and what is your pre-title for 2009?

I Am Officially Old/ Cinnamon Challenge

I spent the better part of yesterday in my pajamas. In fact, I spent all day in my pajamas. New Year's Eve totally wiped me out. Luckily, it wiped Harper out too. She spent the day napping and playing quietly with her toys (she's awesome). For a mom and a kid who are used to being sound asleep by 10pm, staying up to see the ball drop was a stretch. Don't worry, I didn't make Harper stay up until midnight. Against her better judgement, she went to bed around 10. 

On another note, at the NYE party that we went to, the question of whether or not it is possible to eat a tablespoon of cinnamon came up. One party-goer took the challenge...and failed miserably. Being the rationalizer that I am, I couldn't understand why it was so difficult. I figured that if I was patient and didn't panic, I could successfully swallow the cinnamon. 

So... I tried it in the safety and privacy of my own kitchen this morning. And...I was wrong (thankfully no video was taken). It was, in fact, horrible. The burning. The suffocation. I too failed miserably. I'm not saying it's impossible. With the proper training and conditioning, I'm sure it can be done. I'm just pretty sure that I am not the person to do it. But hey, you give it a try and tell me what you think. If you are too chicken, watch other people's attempts on YouTube.