Allison's been served. That means that our divorce is finally moving forward. This is something that I've been working towards for months. I've had several confirmations from the Spirit that this divorce is needed and necessary and I've been frustrated with the delays we've had with making this happen.
So, imagine my surprise that when I had finished making arrangements with Allison for her to receive the summons, that I broke down crying. After all the pain and frustration I've already experienced, I didn't think I had any tears left.
This is another reminder that love is complicated. You hurt someone and they hurt you and they hate you and you can't help but get angry when you talk to them and the best thing for both of you is to end your relationship, but you're still sad to see them go. You remember how they laughed at your jokes and how they pushed you to be a better student and how the smell of their mouth was the most wonderful aroma you've ever experienced. Despite all of the reasons that prove you need to go your separate ways, you're still sad about it and wish it could have ended differently.
Not knowing how to process these feelings, I shared them with Allison. She confessed that she was sad too, adding that it was "weird." Yeah, after all this time, it is weird to feel sad about getting divorced. Weird, but, again, for the best.
Friday, July 31, 2015
Wednesday, July 29, 2015
A Fun Challenge
At church on Sunday, I was chatting with a brother when the topic of what I did for a living came up. I've gotten used to the fact that I usually have to explain to people what technical writing is and what my job actually entails, so I was prepared to do just that. To my surprise, this brother knew what technical writing was. Not only that, he mentioned that he took technical writing as a class in college -- so did I and I was one of only two Technical Writing majors in the class. Anyway, so this brother remembers taking a tech writing class in college and he said that he had fun with it. He described it as an interesting challenge that was solved using words.
That is literally the first time I can think of that someone who isn't a tech writer or does some kind of tech writing as part of their job has spoken positively about the subject to which I've dedicated my life. It feels pretty awesome.
I don't expect that I'll have too many experiences in the future where I have someone react so positively to learning about what I do for a living, but I'm happy I got to experience it at least this one time.
That is literally the first time I can think of that someone who isn't a tech writer or does some kind of tech writing as part of their job has spoken positively about the subject to which I've dedicated my life. It feels pretty awesome.
I don't expect that I'll have too many experiences in the future where I have someone react so positively to learning about what I do for a living, but I'm happy I got to experience it at least this one time.
Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Tuesdays with Media: 12 Angry Men
Ian's been taking classes in order to finish off his bachelor's degree. One of his recent assignments was to watch the 1957 film adaptation of the play 12 Angry Men. He asked if I wanted to watch it him and, remembering how helpful it was to discuss the various plays I was assigned with Margot when I took a Shakespeare class, I accepted his invitation.
Before I delve into the film, I feel it worth mentioning that I am very familiar with this story: I read for Juror #11 in sophomore English, I've seen both the 1957 version and the 1997 version, and I performed the play my junior year as Juror #12 (although that version was retitled 12 Angry Jurors since we had a coed cast). What I'm trying to say is that I knew what I was getting into. Although, it had been at least fifteen years since I had last reviewed it, so I was able to have a bit of a fresh take on it.
For those unfamiliar with the story, you can actually watch the full film on YouTube (that's where Ian and I watched it). The basic premise is that a trial has just been held for a young man and the jury is excused to deliberate the verdict. We, the audience, don't see any of the trial -- we have to put the case together based on the different points that the various men bring up. It's mostly a story about how to argue a point and not letting biases affect one's judgment.
The story is told in real time, with no jumps ahead in time. While this is mostly due to it being adapted from a stage play, it works for the story. We see each man's opinion argued and swayed as it happens. In a way, story's about how fragile our own opinions are.
The first thing that stood out to me was that everyone was white. The young man on trial, the judge, the bailiff, and every single juror (even the foreign-born one, Juror #11). One of the points that they argue over is that the defendant came from a slum, and one of the jurors shows his bigotry by saying that the defendant was "one of them." I'm not saying that having strong feelings based on class didn't exist then, but the lack of color stood out.
Speaking of a lack of color, the film is shot in black and white despite color having been available for decades. Clearly, the monochromatic scheme was by choice. I think it was because most of the characters saw the case as very clear or "black and white," so the color choice reflected that.
Another thing that stood out was that everybody smoked. In films today, smoking is used to represent something about the character engaged in it. Maybe he's smoking to look cool or tough or she's smoking to look seductive or filthy. But in 12 Angry Men, the meek Juror #2 smokes a pipe, the analytical Juror #4 chain smokes, the tough guy Juror #6 smokes hand-rolled cigarettes, the persuasive Juror #8 smokes unfiltered cigarettes, the suave Juror #12 filtered cigarettes, they all smoke. It was a different time, and I guess not having someone smoke was considered the weirder option.
If you look at the picture above, you'll see that the elderly Juror #9 has an uncomfortably tight closeup on him. That happened a lot. I don't know if people had a different idea of what personal space meant or if the cinematographer wanted us to feel uneasy, but whatever the reason, the zoom lens was overused.
One thing I noticed this time that I hadn't back in high school was how well each character was written. There was more than one broad stereotype, sure, but each had a reason for voting they way that they did, not all of them good. For example, the only Juror to change his vote more than once was Juror #12 and he was swayed by peer pressure. His motivation is never stated that plainly, but the subtlety with which it was handled made it all the more realistic.
Overall, it was a nice experience to watch this film again. I've grown a lot as a person since the last time I saw it and, since I've developed more as a writer, I better appreciated a lot of the nuances in the script. It was also fun to discuss the film with Ian to help him prepare for the essay he had to write. So even if you aren't assigned by a teacher to watch this film, it's still a great movie with a good message.
12 Angry Men is distributed by United Artists.
Before I delve into the film, I feel it worth mentioning that I am very familiar with this story: I read for Juror #11 in sophomore English, I've seen both the 1957 version and the 1997 version, and I performed the play my junior year as Juror #12 (although that version was retitled 12 Angry Jurors since we had a coed cast). What I'm trying to say is that I knew what I was getting into. Although, it had been at least fifteen years since I had last reviewed it, so I was able to have a bit of a fresh take on it.
For those unfamiliar with the story, you can actually watch the full film on YouTube (that's where Ian and I watched it). The basic premise is that a trial has just been held for a young man and the jury is excused to deliberate the verdict. We, the audience, don't see any of the trial -- we have to put the case together based on the different points that the various men bring up. It's mostly a story about how to argue a point and not letting biases affect one's judgment.
The story is told in real time, with no jumps ahead in time. While this is mostly due to it being adapted from a stage play, it works for the story. We see each man's opinion argued and swayed as it happens. In a way, story's about how fragile our own opinions are.
The first thing that stood out to me was that everyone was white. The young man on trial, the judge, the bailiff, and every single juror (even the foreign-born one, Juror #11). One of the points that they argue over is that the defendant came from a slum, and one of the jurors shows his bigotry by saying that the defendant was "one of them." I'm not saying that having strong feelings based on class didn't exist then, but the lack of color stood out.
Speaking of a lack of color, the film is shot in black and white despite color having been available for decades. Clearly, the monochromatic scheme was by choice. I think it was because most of the characters saw the case as very clear or "black and white," so the color choice reflected that.
Another thing that stood out was that everybody smoked. In films today, smoking is used to represent something about the character engaged in it. Maybe he's smoking to look cool or tough or she's smoking to look seductive or filthy. But in 12 Angry Men, the meek Juror #2 smokes a pipe, the analytical Juror #4 chain smokes, the tough guy Juror #6 smokes hand-rolled cigarettes, the persuasive Juror #8 smokes unfiltered cigarettes, the suave Juror #12 filtered cigarettes, they all smoke. It was a different time, and I guess not having someone smoke was considered the weirder option.
The characters' names and faces.
If you look at the picture above, you'll see that the elderly Juror #9 has an uncomfortably tight closeup on him. That happened a lot. I don't know if people had a different idea of what personal space meant or if the cinematographer wanted us to feel uneasy, but whatever the reason, the zoom lens was overused.
One thing I noticed this time that I hadn't back in high school was how well each character was written. There was more than one broad stereotype, sure, but each had a reason for voting they way that they did, not all of them good. For example, the only Juror to change his vote more than once was Juror #12 and he was swayed by peer pressure. His motivation is never stated that plainly, but the subtlety with which it was handled made it all the more realistic.
Overall, it was a nice experience to watch this film again. I've grown a lot as a person since the last time I saw it and, since I've developed more as a writer, I better appreciated a lot of the nuances in the script. It was also fun to discuss the film with Ian to help him prepare for the essay he had to write. So even if you aren't assigned by a teacher to watch this film, it's still a great movie with a good message.
12 Angry Men is distributed by United Artists.
Monday, July 27, 2015
Mouth Ulcer Attack
I am prone to developing mouth ulcers, known colloquially in the US as canker sores. Unlike cold sores or fever blisters, which are caused by a virus, we don't really know what causes canker sores. Some are caused by trauma (like accidentally jabbing the side of your mouth with your toothbrush), but others just seem to show up without cause. Luckily, canker sores pose no harm beyond discomfort and are easy to treat.
The two most common ways to treat canker sores are the potato method and the salt method. For the potato method, simply cut out a piece of a raw potato and place it next to the sore. This works because there are some enzymes in the potato that kill the infection and promote healing. If I use this method, I'll usually do it while I sleep. This usually only takes one treatment to see a significant difference. For the salt method, you rub common table salt into your sores. This works because the salt dries out the sore and the infused iodine helps to kill the infection. This is usually my preferred method only because I don't usually keep potatoes in my kitchen. If you rub salt in your sores, be prepared for it to hurt -- after all, you're literally rubbing salt in a wound. If you rub the canker sore long enough, one treatment will be enough. Since "long enough" varies from sore to sore, it can sometimes take several treatments before true healing begins.
There's also a third treatment: hydrogen peroxide rinse. I'm not suggesting that you actually gargle with straight hydrogen peroxide, but using a rinse with hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient can work well. I discovered this third method while shopping this last week. After unsuccessfully treating three canker sores multiple times, I was getting rather frustrated. I happened to walk down the oral hygiene aisle for something else, when I saw a bottle of Peroxyl, which boasted that it "promotes [the] healing of minor oral wounds," so I picked up a small bottle. In the two days that I've used it, it's made a noticeable difference. It stings a little while in the mouth, but it's nothing compared to using salt.
While I still don't know exactly what causes me to develop canker sores, I now have a new way to treat them.
The two most common ways to treat canker sores are the potato method and the salt method. For the potato method, simply cut out a piece of a raw potato and place it next to the sore. This works because there are some enzymes in the potato that kill the infection and promote healing. If I use this method, I'll usually do it while I sleep. This usually only takes one treatment to see a significant difference. For the salt method, you rub common table salt into your sores. This works because the salt dries out the sore and the infused iodine helps to kill the infection. This is usually my preferred method only because I don't usually keep potatoes in my kitchen. If you rub salt in your sores, be prepared for it to hurt -- after all, you're literally rubbing salt in a wound. If you rub the canker sore long enough, one treatment will be enough. Since "long enough" varies from sore to sore, it can sometimes take several treatments before true healing begins.
There's also a third treatment: hydrogen peroxide rinse. I'm not suggesting that you actually gargle with straight hydrogen peroxide, but using a rinse with hydrogen peroxide as the active ingredient can work well. I discovered this third method while shopping this last week. After unsuccessfully treating three canker sores multiple times, I was getting rather frustrated. I happened to walk down the oral hygiene aisle for something else, when I saw a bottle of Peroxyl, which boasted that it "promotes [the] healing of minor oral wounds," so I picked up a small bottle. In the two days that I've used it, it's made a noticeable difference. It stings a little while in the mouth, but it's nothing compared to using salt.
While I still don't know exactly what causes me to develop canker sores, I now have a new way to treat them.
Friday, July 24, 2015
I May Have Spoke Too Soon
Remember how Wednesday's post was about how I'm finally sleeping well again after three years of being separated? That's not untrue, but it may not be the way things truly are, either.
Because the anti-epilepsy medication I take is generic, the manufacturer can change but I'm still getting the same main chemical that keeps my brain from seizing. I guess that happened because when I refilled the prescription last week, instead of the dark pink pills that I usually get, I was issued light yellow ones. This is important because whenever I've been off my meds for any length of time in the past (always due to a lack of employment/medical insurance), I experience some side effect during the first week of getting back on them. The main side effect is "drowsiness" according to the label, but feels more like "extreme fatigue." I wrote Wednesday's post on Tuesday evening when the side effect hadn't really kicked in yet. On Wednesday, the fatigue was so bad that I had trouble staying awake at work, despite a full night's sleep. Yesterday wasn't so bad, so I think it's tapering off.
I bring all of this up because I may have jumped the gun in declaring my insomnia gone. I certainly think that using delta wave music helps and I plan on continuing with that. But when I come home feeling completely exhausted and am in bed by nine o'clock, that's not me feeling rested. Add to that the fact that I experienced aphasia multiple times due to my exhaustion and I knew something wasn't right.
If my assumptions are correct, I should be back to normal by early next week. With any luck, that will include going to sleep easily, but not being exhausted.
Because the anti-epilepsy medication I take is generic, the manufacturer can change but I'm still getting the same main chemical that keeps my brain from seizing. I guess that happened because when I refilled the prescription last week, instead of the dark pink pills that I usually get, I was issued light yellow ones. This is important because whenever I've been off my meds for any length of time in the past (always due to a lack of employment/medical insurance), I experience some side effect during the first week of getting back on them. The main side effect is "drowsiness" according to the label, but feels more like "extreme fatigue." I wrote Wednesday's post on Tuesday evening when the side effect hadn't really kicked in yet. On Wednesday, the fatigue was so bad that I had trouble staying awake at work, despite a full night's sleep. Yesterday wasn't so bad, so I think it's tapering off.
I bring all of this up because I may have jumped the gun in declaring my insomnia gone. I certainly think that using delta wave music helps and I plan on continuing with that. But when I come home feeling completely exhausted and am in bed by nine o'clock, that's not me feeling rested. Add to that the fact that I experienced aphasia multiple times due to my exhaustion and I knew something wasn't right.
If my assumptions are correct, I should be back to normal by early next week. With any luck, that will include going to sleep easily, but not being exhausted.
Wednesday, July 22, 2015
Sleep Well
Something strange has been happening lately: I've been getting enough sleep.
A little over a month ago, my mom recommended that I experiment with delta waves, a type of brain wave that's produced when we sleep, that can be induced by listening to certain new age music. I scoffed that something so silly would make any significant difference, but I promised to give it a try. The first night I left my tablet playing, I fell asleep easily. While it hasn't worked every night, it certainly helps things.
Starting this week, I've gone to bed earlier than usual. In the past, I've put things off that I needed to do (like making lunch for the next day or writing my blog post), which often made bedtime later than it needed to be. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times that I went to bed early to just lay there for a couple of hours, so I didn't feel like there was a rush.
So, what happens when you combine a reasonable bedtime with delta wave music? Eight hours of sleep (the nice thing about using the YouTube video I linked to is that I can look how long it's played when my alarm goes off as an estimate of how long I slept; if it finishes playing, I got in a full eight). I'm sure that my acceptance of my divorce and the great, low-stress job I have are also factors, and who knows if this will last; for now, I'll enjoy not being exhausted. Mostly.
A little over a month ago, my mom recommended that I experiment with delta waves, a type of brain wave that's produced when we sleep, that can be induced by listening to certain new age music. I scoffed that something so silly would make any significant difference, but I promised to give it a try. The first night I left my tablet playing, I fell asleep easily. While it hasn't worked every night, it certainly helps things.
Starting this week, I've gone to bed earlier than usual. In the past, I've put things off that I needed to do (like making lunch for the next day or writing my blog post), which often made bedtime later than it needed to be. Don't get me wrong, there were plenty of times that I went to bed early to just lay there for a couple of hours, so I didn't feel like there was a rush.
So, what happens when you combine a reasonable bedtime with delta wave music? Eight hours of sleep (the nice thing about using the YouTube video I linked to is that I can look how long it's played when my alarm goes off as an estimate of how long I slept; if it finishes playing, I got in a full eight). I'm sure that my acceptance of my divorce and the great, low-stress job I have are also factors, and who knows if this will last; for now, I'll enjoy not being exhausted. Mostly.
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Tuesdays with Media: Jurassic World
This past Saturday, I saw Jurassic World with Ian. Here's the trailer:
Jurassic World is the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, but it deviates from the formula used in the previous films by actually having a successful park in operation. That, however, is the only significant way the the plot is different -- there are still dinosaurs that are chasing people (some of who are children) and the theme is "if you use science to mess with mother nature, it will lead to disaster."
The two leads of the film are Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. I think it's funny that Pratt was a goofy, fat guy for most of his acting career, but he got in shape for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy and now he's an action star. Don't get me wrong, he does a fine job; it's just something that no one would have guessed a few years ago. Howard does a fine job, as usual; though I did find it completely unbelievable that her character was supposed to be trudging through the jungle in high heels, but that's not her fault.
Remember how I wrote earlier that sometimes product placement can make a movie feel more realistic? Jurassic World is a perfect example of that. Every attraction is sponsored by some company or another, just like real theme parks. Nearly every ride at Disneyland says "Sponsored by [brand]" right under the ride's name. Heck, Sea World is owned by a beer company and you'd better believe that they remind you of that fact at every opportunity. So, Jurassic World follows suit, but it never felt distracting, just that it was helping to build the experience.
The special effects were great, though I would have liked to see some more animatronics. As far as I can tell, only one was used, and it was great. It was very realistic and allowed the actors to actually touch and interact with the dinosaur. There was at least one other time that an actor touched a dinosaur that was clearly CG and it took me out of the scene a little. Probably not a problem for everyone, but I noticed.
I don't want to include any spoilers, so I'll be careful how I write this next part. There was a minor part of the B-plot that was clearly being set-up as a surprise (it's finally revealed about halfway through the movie) and I figured it out in the first scene. I leaned over and whispered to Ian the plot point and he asked how I knew. I didn't want to have a conversation during the movie, even a whispered one, so I just told him that I just saw it coming. Not a big deal, but I thought it was funny that I guessed it so easily.
And now the big question: is it any good? It depends on your expectations. I went in to this movie wanting to see a big, dumb action movie and that's pretty much what I got. There were a few clever parts that I didn't expect, but all of the surprises I saw coming ("You mean the douchey guy is going to double-cross everyone? No way!"). That said, it was fun. Also, it was less gory than the other films in the franchise. The worst that you see in this one is someone getting swallowed whole by one of the dinos, but there was no dismemberment to be seen on screen.
If you're looking for a fun movie with likable characters to watch while you shut your brain off, Jurassic World is a fine choice.
Jurassic World is distributed by Universal Pictures.
Jurassic World is the fourth installment in the Jurassic Park franchise, but it deviates from the formula used in the previous films by actually having a successful park in operation. That, however, is the only significant way the the plot is different -- there are still dinosaurs that are chasing people (some of who are children) and the theme is "if you use science to mess with mother nature, it will lead to disaster."
The two leads of the film are Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard. I think it's funny that Pratt was a goofy, fat guy for most of his acting career, but he got in shape for his role in Guardians of the Galaxy and now he's an action star. Don't get me wrong, he does a fine job; it's just something that no one would have guessed a few years ago. Howard does a fine job, as usual; though I did find it completely unbelievable that her character was supposed to be trudging through the jungle in high heels, but that's not her fault.
Remember how I wrote earlier that sometimes product placement can make a movie feel more realistic? Jurassic World is a perfect example of that. Every attraction is sponsored by some company or another, just like real theme parks. Nearly every ride at Disneyland says "Sponsored by [brand]" right under the ride's name. Heck, Sea World is owned by a beer company and you'd better believe that they remind you of that fact at every opportunity. So, Jurassic World follows suit, but it never felt distracting, just that it was helping to build the experience.
The special effects were great, though I would have liked to see some more animatronics. As far as I can tell, only one was used, and it was great. It was very realistic and allowed the actors to actually touch and interact with the dinosaur. There was at least one other time that an actor touched a dinosaur that was clearly CG and it took me out of the scene a little. Probably not a problem for everyone, but I noticed.
I don't want to include any spoilers, so I'll be careful how I write this next part. There was a minor part of the B-plot that was clearly being set-up as a surprise (it's finally revealed about halfway through the movie) and I figured it out in the first scene. I leaned over and whispered to Ian the plot point and he asked how I knew. I didn't want to have a conversation during the movie, even a whispered one, so I just told him that I just saw it coming. Not a big deal, but I thought it was funny that I guessed it so easily.
And now the big question: is it any good? It depends on your expectations. I went in to this movie wanting to see a big, dumb action movie and that's pretty much what I got. There were a few clever parts that I didn't expect, but all of the surprises I saw coming ("You mean the douchey guy is going to double-cross everyone? No way!"). That said, it was fun. Also, it was less gory than the other films in the franchise. The worst that you see in this one is someone getting swallowed whole by one of the dinos, but there was no dismemberment to be seen on screen.
If you're looking for a fun movie with likable characters to watch while you shut your brain off, Jurassic World is a fine choice.
Jurassic World is distributed by Universal Pictures.
Monday, July 20, 2015
New Insight
Yesterday in Sacrament Meeting, one of the speakers asked us to look at the sacrament table and think about what it looks like. Obliging, I looked over and immediately thought that it looked like an operating table that we see in movies or on TV, where the patient has died and their dead body is covered by a white sheet. I thought it was strange that I would have such a dark thought, so I dismissed it and listened to see where the speaker was going with this thought exercise.
While he didn't answer the question he raised until the he was about to close, I was surprised to hear him describe the very thing that I had imagined: a dead body draped with a white sheet. He pointed out that this is a visual for Christ in the tomb after his crucifixion. And with the sacrament being an ordinance where we renew the covenants we've previously made that include personally accepting the atonement, the symbolism is perfect.
While I learn new things about the gospel all the time, I usually make connections on my own during my own study and it's been a while since I learned something from someone making a direct point in church. I'm not saying that I can't learn from others, it's just that when we're in a group setting, we're often forced to keep the really significant insights to ourselves because not everyone is at the same point with their knowledge of the gospel and we don't want what we say to go over somebody's head. So not only did I learn something new, I learned it in the most general of meetings.
I can't remember the brother's name that spoke, but I'm glad that he delved a little deeper than is normally the case and that I was able to learn from him.
Friday, July 17, 2015
Second Chance
My first Sunday in my new ward wasn't as nice an experience as I was hoping for. How was my second visit?
Well, Sacrament Meeting was ... distracting. Look, I'm just going to say it: two cute girls that are home from college were the main speakers. With my divorce (hopefully) imminent, I need to be aware of who's around me. Nothing happened -- I didn't even introduce myself -- I just noticed, that's all.
Once Sacrament Meeting ended, a brother came up to me and introduced himself. It was nice to have someone come up and be friendly and we chatted for a few minutes. As we were talking, one of the Bishop's counselors (not the one I spoke to last week) told me that the Bishop wanted to meet with me when I had time. Since I didn't have any obligations, I excused myself to see if the Bishop had time right then. On my way to his office, I bumped into the other counselor, who said that he and his wife wanted to invite me over for dinner. I said that sounded great and that he should let me know when they'd like to make arrangements (I haven't heard back from him yet, but my records still haven't been transferred, so he probably doesn't have my contact information).
I was able to catch the Bishop as he was headed towards his office and he said that if I waited about ten minutes, he'd be able to meet with me. I readily agreed and sat down. Soon after I sat down, another brother sat down next to me and we chatted while we waited for the Bishop to be available. After about fifteen minutes, I was called in. The Bishop simply wanted a chance to talk with me a little and get to know me a bit. I suspect that I'll be getting a calling as soon as my records arrive, though he did make sure to give me his contact information so I can get in touch with him before I have access to the ward directory.
The rest of the day finished out pretty uneventfully, though yet another brother introduced himself before Priesthood started.
I think I was unfair about people not being terribly friendly on my first Sunday. I was expecting more people to introduce themselves to me, but I was the new guy who stood up and said his name in Sunday School and Elder's Quorum: the introduction was done by me, so they didn't need make an effort. How many times have I made the effort when I've seen someone I didn't recognize? Not often enough for me to be disappointed. Plus, last time nearly all of the ward leadership was reorganized, so it was easy to get lost in the shuffle.
I know that the Lord has directed me to live in this ward and one of the reasons why is to meet the next Mrs. Larsen. I was excited to be there, so I wonder if any greeting would have felt satisfying. Whatever caused me to be overly judgmental, I'm glad that I got over it by my second visit.
Well, Sacrament Meeting was ... distracting. Look, I'm just going to say it: two cute girls that are home from college were the main speakers. With my divorce (hopefully) imminent, I need to be aware of who's around me. Nothing happened -- I didn't even introduce myself -- I just noticed, that's all.
Once Sacrament Meeting ended, a brother came up to me and introduced himself. It was nice to have someone come up and be friendly and we chatted for a few minutes. As we were talking, one of the Bishop's counselors (not the one I spoke to last week) told me that the Bishop wanted to meet with me when I had time. Since I didn't have any obligations, I excused myself to see if the Bishop had time right then. On my way to his office, I bumped into the other counselor, who said that he and his wife wanted to invite me over for dinner. I said that sounded great and that he should let me know when they'd like to make arrangements (I haven't heard back from him yet, but my records still haven't been transferred, so he probably doesn't have my contact information).
I was able to catch the Bishop as he was headed towards his office and he said that if I waited about ten minutes, he'd be able to meet with me. I readily agreed and sat down. Soon after I sat down, another brother sat down next to me and we chatted while we waited for the Bishop to be available. After about fifteen minutes, I was called in. The Bishop simply wanted a chance to talk with me a little and get to know me a bit. I suspect that I'll be getting a calling as soon as my records arrive, though he did make sure to give me his contact information so I can get in touch with him before I have access to the ward directory.
The rest of the day finished out pretty uneventfully, though yet another brother introduced himself before Priesthood started.
I think I was unfair about people not being terribly friendly on my first Sunday. I was expecting more people to introduce themselves to me, but I was the new guy who stood up and said his name in Sunday School and Elder's Quorum: the introduction was done by me, so they didn't need make an effort. How many times have I made the effort when I've seen someone I didn't recognize? Not often enough for me to be disappointed. Plus, last time nearly all of the ward leadership was reorganized, so it was easy to get lost in the shuffle.
I know that the Lord has directed me to live in this ward and one of the reasons why is to meet the next Mrs. Larsen. I was excited to be there, so I wonder if any greeting would have felt satisfying. Whatever caused me to be overly judgmental, I'm glad that I got over it by my second visit.
Wednesday, July 15, 2015
A Small Change
Hello, dear reader. You may have noticed that you had to login in order to access the blog. Unfortunately, I have to protect myself.
You see, divorce is a complicated mess of fighting and paranoia. I don't think there's anything on this blog that can be used against me, but just in case, I'm making it private for now, as a precaution.
This blog is important to me and it's important to many of you, so I don't want to take it down, even temporarily, but I also don't want my words used against me. So, here we are, requiring a login just to read about what weird song I like or what recipe I made. Hopefully, this lockdown will only last a few weeks.
You see, divorce is a complicated mess of fighting and paranoia. I don't think there's anything on this blog that can be used against me, but just in case, I'm making it private for now, as a precaution.
This blog is important to me and it's important to many of you, so I don't want to take it down, even temporarily, but I also don't want my words used against me. So, here we are, requiring a login just to read about what weird song I like or what recipe I made. Hopefully, this lockdown will only last a few weeks.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
Tuesdays with Media: Turkish Delight
For the past few months, Ian has been reading his kids the Chronicles of Narnia books. The particular edition that he owns has the stories bound in one volume, ordered sequentially, not according to publication date (some of the later books are prequels). What's important is that they just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Being the good dad that he is, Ian asked if I would make some Turkish delight for the kids to enjoy while they watched the film adaptation of the book. Being the cool uncle I am, I immediately agreed.
Since this was the first time I've ever made candy, I bought some Turkish delight from a store as a backup. Otherwise, I followed this recipe (Ian recommended this variation), though I left out the pistachios. And to better help the kids appreciate the effort involved in making the candy, I had them help -- they were both very excited to participate.
Ever since I had Clara do some stirring on a muffin recipe a few weeks back, she always asks if she can stir when we work on a recipe together. Luckily for her, there was plenty of stirring to do with this recipe. She stirred the candy syrup while it was on the stove and while watching the thermometer: if the temperature got too high, she'd let me know and I'd come over and move it off the heat (and vice-versa if it got too cold) -- and to those who are worried about a six-year-old stirring something on the stove, she never touched the saucepan, only the spoon.
Henry helped by combining the the flavoring we used (hand-pressed orange juice and hand-grated orange zest that I prepared earlier). His favorite part was pouring in the unflavored gelatin into the mixture.
I took over the stirring when it came time to combine everything (Clara mentioned that her arms were getting tired, but she still was disappointed that I took over her job). With everything mixed together, I poured the hot mixture into an 8x8-inch pan that I had dusted with powdered sugar. I then set it aside for it to cool for several hours. At Ian's suggestion, I covered the top with some plastic cling-wrap to prevent cat hair from getting on it.
After four-and-a-half hours, I checked on our product and it was still rather runny. I was really disappointed, but then I realized my mistake: the cling-wrap. By covering the top, I had prevented the steam from escaping, which kept the candy from firming up. Ian suggested putting it uncovered, under the fan over the stove to allow any moisture to be sucked up. Whether that helped or it was going to firm up on its own, I don't know, but after about thirty minutes, I had something that was solid enough for me to work with.
Armed with a paring knife, a silicone spatula, a pizza cutter, and lots of powdered sugar, I slowly worked the Turkish delight from the pan. It was really gelatinous, like slightly firmer-than-usual Jell-O or slightly-mushier-than-usual gummy candy, and pretty sticky. To keep everything in the house from getting covered in a sticky film, I covered every inch of the candy with powdered sugar. This is what the fruit of our labor looked like:
The flavor tasted strongly of orange and was slightly tart, but as Ian pointed out, with it mostly being sugar, a little tartness wasn't a bad thing. The texture was softer than I expected, though not in an unpleasant way. Henry gobbled up any pieces he could get his hands one, but Clara said she didn't really like it. I suspect that she was expecting something that tasted more like fruit-flavored candy and less like fruit candy (if that makes sense), so she didn't like it as much. To have something with which to compare our creation, I pulled out the backup Turkish delight and gave everyone a piece. Henry like it as much as our homemade version and Clara liked it more; both Ian and I thought the store-bought stuff tasted fake and artificial and we both preferred what I made with the kids.
And now the real question: did having Turkish delight enhance the movie-watching experience? Yes, but not in a significant way. I remember as a kid that I didn't know what Turkish delight was and when I asked, the answer I got (at least, the one I remember getting) was "a treat that's popular in England." If I had known that it was simply gummy candy, I probably would have wondered why they just didn't like chocolate. Even so, I'm glad that I got the chance to make this treat with my niece and nephew.
Maybe we'll watch Soylent Green next and prepare a dish from that.
The Chronicles of Narnia were published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Since this was the first time I've ever made candy, I bought some Turkish delight from a store as a backup. Otherwise, I followed this recipe (Ian recommended this variation), though I left out the pistachios. And to better help the kids appreciate the effort involved in making the candy, I had them help -- they were both very excited to participate.
Ever since I had Clara do some stirring on a muffin recipe a few weeks back, she always asks if she can stir when we work on a recipe together. Luckily for her, there was plenty of stirring to do with this recipe. She stirred the candy syrup while it was on the stove and while watching the thermometer: if the temperature got too high, she'd let me know and I'd come over and move it off the heat (and vice-versa if it got too cold) -- and to those who are worried about a six-year-old stirring something on the stove, she never touched the saucepan, only the spoon.
Henry helped by combining the the flavoring we used (hand-pressed orange juice and hand-grated orange zest that I prepared earlier). His favorite part was pouring in the unflavored gelatin into the mixture.
I took over the stirring when it came time to combine everything (Clara mentioned that her arms were getting tired, but she still was disappointed that I took over her job). With everything mixed together, I poured the hot mixture into an 8x8-inch pan that I had dusted with powdered sugar. I then set it aside for it to cool for several hours. At Ian's suggestion, I covered the top with some plastic cling-wrap to prevent cat hair from getting on it.
After four-and-a-half hours, I checked on our product and it was still rather runny. I was really disappointed, but then I realized my mistake: the cling-wrap. By covering the top, I had prevented the steam from escaping, which kept the candy from firming up. Ian suggested putting it uncovered, under the fan over the stove to allow any moisture to be sucked up. Whether that helped or it was going to firm up on its own, I don't know, but after about thirty minutes, I had something that was solid enough for me to work with.
Armed with a paring knife, a silicone spatula, a pizza cutter, and lots of powdered sugar, I slowly worked the Turkish delight from the pan. It was really gelatinous, like slightly firmer-than-usual Jell-O or slightly-mushier-than-usual gummy candy, and pretty sticky. To keep everything in the house from getting covered in a sticky film, I covered every inch of the candy with powdered sugar. This is what the fruit of our labor looked like:
For full effect, play this.
The flavor tasted strongly of orange and was slightly tart, but as Ian pointed out, with it mostly being sugar, a little tartness wasn't a bad thing. The texture was softer than I expected, though not in an unpleasant way. Henry gobbled up any pieces he could get his hands one, but Clara said she didn't really like it. I suspect that she was expecting something that tasted more like fruit-flavored candy and less like fruit candy (if that makes sense), so she didn't like it as much. To have something with which to compare our creation, I pulled out the backup Turkish delight and gave everyone a piece. Henry like it as much as our homemade version and Clara liked it more; both Ian and I thought the store-bought stuff tasted fake and artificial and we both preferred what I made with the kids.
And now the real question: did having Turkish delight enhance the movie-watching experience? Yes, but not in a significant way. I remember as a kid that I didn't know what Turkish delight was and when I asked, the answer I got (at least, the one I remember getting) was "a treat that's popular in England." If I had known that it was simply gummy candy, I probably would have wondered why they just didn't like chocolate. Even so, I'm glad that I got the chance to make this treat with my niece and nephew.
Maybe we'll watch Soylent Green next and prepare a dish from that.
The Chronicles of Narnia were published by HarperCollins Publishers.
Monday, July 13, 2015
Day of Unremembrance
Saturday was the sixth anniversary of the day that Allison and I married. I have some mixed feelings about that.
On the one hand, it's a reminder that, despite all of the effort we both put in, our marriage failed. On the other hand, if I forgot the date of one of the major events in my life thus far, I guess that means I'm moving on.
I suppose then that it's appropriate that I recently refiled for divorce. I made some mistakes about how I handled the first filing (including taking too long to respond), but I think I've worked out the kinks this time. The good people of Howard County, Maryland (the county I was living in when I filed) were even nice enough that they didn't charge me a new fee for refiling, which certainly helped.
Divorce is weird, so hopefully this chapter of my life will soon be finished and I'll be able to start the next one. [Spoilers: I hear the next chapter has romance!]
*"unremembrance" is a recognized, English word, just an infrequently used one
Friday, July 10, 2015
Cornholer
About once a quarter, my work host little get-togethers where we can mingle with each other and get to know our co-workers better. The first one happened right after I started, but since it was a so-called "booze cruise" and I barely knew anyone, I decided to skip it. Yesterday, we had our summer one and it happened during the last two hours of the workday, so even if I wanted to skip it, I kind of had to go.
The funny thing about these office parties is that, at least at first, we just talk to the people we talk to everyday. I sat down at the table where my boss was sitting and a few other people with whom we regularly collaborate joined us. I was having a fine time, eating catered food and talking about non-work related stuff, but I wasn't meeting anyone, which I'm pretty sure is at least part of the point of these things.
Then the games started. There were a two sets of cornhole boards set up and I joined in. I played on a team with an intern that I had never met and we played against my frequent collaborator, Ernie, and the President of Danfoss North America. Now, while I am fairly athletic, I am not a sporty person. I simply do not have a lot of practice throwing objects with the goal of having them land in a specific place, so I wasn't very good. I wasn't terrible (my teammate kind of was), but due to the way scoring works in cornhole, we lost by a large margin. As the loser, I graciously bowed out and was quickly invited to join in on the other set of boards. There, I was teamed with someone that I had seen around, but now finally learned his name. I lost on this team too, but the margin was much closer this time. And since I'm so uncompetitive, I had fun anyway.
These sorts of works parties can often be awkward, so it was especially nice that this was so fun.
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Lost Airtime
I suffer from a form of sleep apnea where my brain gets lazy and forgets to tell my body to breathe. It's weird, since occasionally I'll wake up and realize that I need to inhale, but for the most part it just means that my sleep is not very restful.
In an attempt to sleep better, I recently tried listening to an audio-only hypnosis session. I've tried being hypnotized in the past, but I've never been able to fully achieve "trance," but it's been a while so I thought I'd try again. This time, I was able to become very relaxed and there were a few times that I nearly went under, but each time I stopped breathing. Not breathing is distracting, to say the least, so I woke up enough to breathe, which prevented me from enjoying the full experience. It was still relaxing and I easily fell asleep afterwards, but I was aware of what was going on the whole time.
As far as methods to sleep better go, hypnosis is probably a fine one, but only if you remember to breathe.
In an attempt to sleep better, I recently tried listening to an audio-only hypnosis session. I've tried being hypnotized in the past, but I've never been able to fully achieve "trance," but it's been a while so I thought I'd try again. This time, I was able to become very relaxed and there were a few times that I nearly went under, but each time I stopped breathing. Not breathing is distracting, to say the least, so I woke up enough to breathe, which prevented me from enjoying the full experience. It was still relaxing and I easily fell asleep afterwards, but I was aware of what was going on the whole time.
As far as methods to sleep better go, hypnosis is probably a fine one, but only if you remember to breathe.
Wednesday, July 8, 2015
Sweat it Out
After serving as a feast for the mosquitoes on Friday and Saturday, I went to work on Monday as an itchy, uncomfortable mess. And since I got bit on both ankles, every time I moved my feet, my shoes rubbed against a bite. It was so bad that on my lunch break, I went to the store to pick up some anti-itch cream, which only helped a little.
Frustrated, I decided to go for a run after work to sweat out the allergens -- which is actually not possible. It's a commonly held myth that you can sweat out toxins, like from poison ivy or alcohol, but since the liver processes toxins, sweating more won't squeeze the bad stuff out the body. So saunas are out, but exercise is different because it increases blood flow, forcing your blood to move through your body, including through you liver, meaning any processing will happen faster.
So I covered my exposed limbs with bug repellent and I ran. I ran nearly 7 1/2 miles, despite the over 80 degree weather. For the first couple of miles, I thought I would have to stop because the itching was driving me crazy. But I kept running and the itching subsided and I eventually made it back home. After a desperately needed shower, I looked at my bites. Amazingly, the redness and swelling had gone down on every bite. By the next day, I was only barely aware of the bites that covered my right leg.
I don't know if my understanding about why going on a run helped my bug bites is right or not, but the results are clear enough that I know what I'm doing the next time I'm dealing with itchy mosquito bites.
Frustrated, I decided to go for a run after work to sweat out the allergens -- which is actually not possible. It's a commonly held myth that you can sweat out toxins, like from poison ivy or alcohol, but since the liver processes toxins, sweating more won't squeeze the bad stuff out the body. So saunas are out, but exercise is different because it increases blood flow, forcing your blood to move through your body, including through you liver, meaning any processing will happen faster.
So I covered my exposed limbs with bug repellent and I ran. I ran nearly 7 1/2 miles, despite the over 80 degree weather. For the first couple of miles, I thought I would have to stop because the itching was driving me crazy. But I kept running and the itching subsided and I eventually made it back home. After a desperately needed shower, I looked at my bites. Amazingly, the redness and swelling had gone down on every bite. By the next day, I was only barely aware of the bites that covered my right leg.
I don't know if my understanding about why going on a run helped my bug bites is right or not, but the results are clear enough that I know what I'm doing the next time I'm dealing with itchy mosquito bites.
Tuesday, July 7, 2015
Tuesdays with Media: 2048
Since I mostly watch TV and movies on my computer, I often play a simple puzzle game while I watch. I like to keep my hands busy and puzzle games won't distract from the story, so it's a good fit. I used to play FreeCell Solitaire, but a little over a year ago, I discovered 2048, a simple-yet-satisfying puzzle game.
The basic layout is a 4 x 4 grid and you start with two numbered tiles, usually two 2s, which are randomly placed on the board. To play, you use the arrow keys to move all the tiles the selected direction: hit left, they all slide left; hit up, they all slide up; etc. When two identical tiles are pushed together, they merge, becoming a tile with the new number being the sum of the two base tiles. So, you push two 2s together and you get a 4, you push two 4s together and you get an 8, and so on. The goal of the game is play until you have a tile that reads 2048.
One thing that's interesting about this game is that once you win, you have the option to keep playing. I've actually made it to 4096 several times, but I can't quite make it to 8192 yet. But ultimately, the final score doesn't matter because I only play so that my hands have something to do while my eyes and mind are otherwise occupied.
But you want to see it in action, don't you? Well, take a gander:
I refuse to apologize for all of the time you'll soon be wasting. Have fun!
2048 was created as a school project by teen programmer Gabriele Cirulli.
The basic layout is a 4 x 4 grid and you start with two numbered tiles, usually two 2s, which are randomly placed on the board. To play, you use the arrow keys to move all the tiles the selected direction: hit left, they all slide left; hit up, they all slide up; etc. When two identical tiles are pushed together, they merge, becoming a tile with the new number being the sum of the two base tiles. So, you push two 2s together and you get a 4, you push two 4s together and you get an 8, and so on. The goal of the game is play until you have a tile that reads 2048.
One thing that's interesting about this game is that once you win, you have the option to keep playing. I've actually made it to 4096 several times, but I can't quite make it to 8192 yet. But ultimately, the final score doesn't matter because I only play so that my hands have something to do while my eyes and mind are otherwise occupied.
But you want to see it in action, don't you? Well, take a gander:
I refuse to apologize for all of the time you'll soon be wasting. Have fun!
2048 was created as a school project by teen programmer Gabriele Cirulli.
Monday, July 6, 2015
Eaten Alive
Since I had work off on Friday, I went and visited with the Larsens for a Day Before Independence Day celebration. Ian grilled hot dogs and corn on the cob and we ate fresh-cut watermelon. Later on, the kids wanted to do some baking, so we made some double chocolate cookies that are always a hit -- I let each kid drop one cookie on the baking sheet and they were both eager to eat the cookie that they made.
While I was there, I spent a little time outside with the kids. They love running around outside, but it's extra fun when a visitor does it with them. I was only outside for about thirty minutes, but I got bit four times by mosquitoes, twice on my right leg (I was wearing shorts). I thought the bug bites were strange, since I didn't notice too many bugs the last two summers, but didn't think much else on the matter.
The next day, I spent the bulk of the day at the Simcik's, helping them clean out their garage. When they first moved to Maryland, a lot of their stuff was just shoved into the garage. Now, after three years, they're trying to find everything a home. I was happy to help and it was great to spend time with my good friends -- I even made a dessert that I hadn't tried before to share (it was really good).
Unfortunately, we were working outside and since it was hot, I was wearing shorts again. When I made it home, I counted fifteen mosquito bites, ten of which were on my right leg below the knee. In an attempt to fight against the itching, I took an antihistamine and went to bed.
The next morning, I was so groggy from the medication that I couldn't get out of bed. My church meets at ten, but I was in and out of sleep until after noon. And while the allergy medication did help take the edge off the itching, it had worn off by the time I could function, so I never got to enjoy it.
While staying cool is important, the next time I spend time outside this summer, I'll either wear bug repellent or long pants. Possibly both.
While I was there, I spent a little time outside with the kids. They love running around outside, but it's extra fun when a visitor does it with them. I was only outside for about thirty minutes, but I got bit four times by mosquitoes, twice on my right leg (I was wearing shorts). I thought the bug bites were strange, since I didn't notice too many bugs the last two summers, but didn't think much else on the matter.
The next day, I spent the bulk of the day at the Simcik's, helping them clean out their garage. When they first moved to Maryland, a lot of their stuff was just shoved into the garage. Now, after three years, they're trying to find everything a home. I was happy to help and it was great to spend time with my good friends -- I even made a dessert that I hadn't tried before to share (it was really good).
Unfortunately, we were working outside and since it was hot, I was wearing shorts again. When I made it home, I counted fifteen mosquito bites, ten of which were on my right leg below the knee. In an attempt to fight against the itching, I took an antihistamine and went to bed.
The next morning, I was so groggy from the medication that I couldn't get out of bed. My church meets at ten, but I was in and out of sleep until after noon. And while the allergy medication did help take the edge off the itching, it had worn off by the time I could function, so I never got to enjoy it.
While staying cool is important, the next time I spend time outside this summer, I'll either wear bug repellent or long pants. Possibly both.
Wednesday, July 1, 2015
Moved, Again
Yesterday, I went back to my old apartment and helped Samuel move out.
Samuel was much harder to move out. Not in moving his belongings, but in finding him a new place to stay. He's working two jobs right now, but he's still not making very good money. Even with the ward promising to support him by paying part of his rent, he couldn't find anything that he qualified for, since most places have income requirements as part of the application. Add to that the fact that his family is up for an interview with the American embassy next month to be granted approval to move here, he also needed a place that could quickly adjust to having an additional three people in it. Things were looking bleak when the week before he had to be out, he found an apartment that is large enough to accommodate having his family, doesn't require an income check as part of the application, and is affordable with the ward's help and -- and this is important -- comes with a roommate. Samuel did some coordinating with his fellow countrymen and found someone that was willing to be his roommate on the condition that he'll move out when Samuel's family is approved to move here. The lease is in Samuel's name this time, so that will help his renter's history for the future, too.
With the details finally worked out, we still had to move him. When I moved, I rented a U-Haul so I could get everything in one vehicle. Samuel didn't have that option, so we simply used some pickups that ward members had. Unfortunately, it was forecast to rain hard that day. Thankfully, it rained hard in the afternoon and by the time we got to the scheduled time for the move, the skies were clear.
The move went very quickly. Samuel and I shared a one bedroom apartment, with nearly all of his stuff crammed into the dinning room. I mostly just went through to make sure that he didn't leave anything behind. Good thing I did, because he left behind several things. I also went through and did some basic cleaning to help the apartment staff out.
As I was finishing up, Mark (who had stayed behind to help) told me that before I approached Samuel to be my roommate, that he had thought of the same plan, but we were already planning on Samuel moving in before he could bring it up to me. I took that as further confirmation that our time as roommates was divinely inspired. Mark also pointed out that having Samuel there was a benefit to me as well, since I had my portion of the rent lowered. I agreed and pointed out that having someone in the apartment that likes to talk was probably good for me during my bouts of unemployment since it often helped me feel less depressed by being forced to talk to someone -- it's not that I didn't like Samuel, it's just that being unemployed was very depressing and when I get depressed, I tend to shut down and turn inward; having him around helped with that.
So, I wish Samuel the best. We were roommates much longer than either of us planned on, but it all happened the way it was supposed to. Good luck, 'mate.
Samuel was much harder to move out. Not in moving his belongings, but in finding him a new place to stay. He's working two jobs right now, but he's still not making very good money. Even with the ward promising to support him by paying part of his rent, he couldn't find anything that he qualified for, since most places have income requirements as part of the application. Add to that the fact that his family is up for an interview with the American embassy next month to be granted approval to move here, he also needed a place that could quickly adjust to having an additional three people in it. Things were looking bleak when the week before he had to be out, he found an apartment that is large enough to accommodate having his family, doesn't require an income check as part of the application, and is affordable with the ward's help and -- and this is important -- comes with a roommate. Samuel did some coordinating with his fellow countrymen and found someone that was willing to be his roommate on the condition that he'll move out when Samuel's family is approved to move here. The lease is in Samuel's name this time, so that will help his renter's history for the future, too.
With the details finally worked out, we still had to move him. When I moved, I rented a U-Haul so I could get everything in one vehicle. Samuel didn't have that option, so we simply used some pickups that ward members had. Unfortunately, it was forecast to rain hard that day. Thankfully, it rained hard in the afternoon and by the time we got to the scheduled time for the move, the skies were clear.
The move went very quickly. Samuel and I shared a one bedroom apartment, with nearly all of his stuff crammed into the dinning room. I mostly just went through to make sure that he didn't leave anything behind. Good thing I did, because he left behind several things. I also went through and did some basic cleaning to help the apartment staff out.
As I was finishing up, Mark (who had stayed behind to help) told me that before I approached Samuel to be my roommate, that he had thought of the same plan, but we were already planning on Samuel moving in before he could bring it up to me. I took that as further confirmation that our time as roommates was divinely inspired. Mark also pointed out that having Samuel there was a benefit to me as well, since I had my portion of the rent lowered. I agreed and pointed out that having someone in the apartment that likes to talk was probably good for me during my bouts of unemployment since it often helped me feel less depressed by being forced to talk to someone -- it's not that I didn't like Samuel, it's just that being unemployed was very depressing and when I get depressed, I tend to shut down and turn inward; having him around helped with that.
So, I wish Samuel the best. We were roommates much longer than either of us planned on, but it all happened the way it was supposed to. Good luck, 'mate.
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