Mormon crickets

Ever wonder what drives the swarming of Mormon crickets? Did you know that Mormon crickets aren’t really crickets but katydids? I didn’t either (for both questions). (For more on Mormon crickets, click here.) Anyway, apparently these guys get pretty bad salt and protein cravings, and they don’t just get moody—they swarm, and even eat each other. PMS doesn’t seem quite so bad now, does it?

It's all in the Jeans

There’s something about a great pair of jeans that can make you feel comfortable, casual, beautiful, strong, and sexy all at once. And for some reason, finding those truly great pairs of jeans can be tricky. A couple years ago I found a pair at Gap. They were a good length for wearing with heels or flats. I could easily dress them up or down. They were so great that when I saw another pair on sale, I got them, but there was something different about that second pair. Somehow they just weren’t the same. But that was OK because I still had the original “great” pair. This summer I decided I had worn out that pair of jeans enough that I really couldn’t continue wearing them. I hoped that another pair of jeans that I already owned would step into the position of “favorite pair of jeans.” But apparently none were up to the task, so six months later I finally got some new jeans. And these ones have a lot of potential. They fit well. They are comfy. They’re a little long for flats, but one fold of the cuff fixes that. And they’re fun. All of this and I got them on clearance for just $11. There’s nothing like a great pair of jeans!

Camping

On Saturday morning we packed up stuff and headed out to the coast to go camping. We got to the National Forest where we'd planned on staying and decided there were already too many people there, so we left in search of a better site. Before we found that site, we went to check out the beach. It was pretty, but we didn’t get too close because it was really windy and none of us had thought to bring our protective eyewear. And then it started raining. Three attempts at going to Dairy Queen were busts. Apparently February 25 is not peak season in towns that depend on beach goers for their economy. But the bowling alley was open, so we sought refuge from the rain there. Our camping trip got a little farther off track when we checked into a hotel for the night. It was amusing to see Marty trek through the hotel lobby with our hiking backpacks. So much for roughing it in a “primitive” camp site with no electricity! Bring on the campsites with HBO and king size beds! To put a little more wilderness into our trip, we took a nice walk along a river before we headed home. One of the most unique camping trips I’ve ever had! (Oh, and we did eventually find a Dairy Queen that was open.)

The Results are In!

I like Pepsi better than Coke. It's true. For years I thought they were equivalent, or if anything, I liked Coke better. But I was wrong. I'm certain that I like Pepsi better. (Lori, I hope we can still be friends.)

Also, the mole was benign.

My Family

I've been asked if I have any recent family pictures, and unfortunately I don't really have any. This is the best I've got! Note: Not entirely to scale. (left to right: Marty, Peanut, Razor)

Mormon studies

I know that my last post was a response to an article I read, but this one is going to be too. (I can’t help it. I read a lot of articles…) The article is called “An Outsider Looks in at Mormonism” by Seth Perry and was published in The Chronicle of Higher Education. Unfortunately, you have to have a subscription to read the article from the website, but lucky for me, there's a paper subscription at work (but you can read the first couple paragraphs here; also, here’s something else he’s written). Perry is a PhD student studying the history of Christianity at the University of Chicago Divinity School, specifically, he studies the LDS Church. But he’s not LDS. He begins his article by describing the reactions he gets when people learn this about him. Non-Mormons tend to want to get the inside scoop on the secrets of Mormonism; whereas, Mormons think he must be leaning toward conversion himself. He claims it is plain and simple “an unvarnished academic interest.” It’s refreshing--I guess I’m not used to Mormons being written about in an objective way, but also with respect for what we believe and find sacred. He describes a class discussion that centered on garments: “Like most everything associated with the temple, the garment is deeply sacred to Mormons, and it is not openly discussed. It is thus rarely the focus of academic study, partly out of respect for the wishes of the faithful, and also because plausibly reliable sources are scarce and unquestionable sources nonexistent….But I was more immediately bothered by what happened in the classroom discussion….There was less laughter than modest bemusement, and our professor and many of my fellow students recognized the display as the voyeurism it was. Still, the fact that such an impromptu display could happen among the most self-reflective group imaginable—a group of graduate students in a class on the historiography of American religion—was sobering.” Professionally, Perry recognizes that presently there’s not much demand for non-Mormon Mormon studies experts, but he hopes that will change. And, I guess I do too.

Evolution and Intelligent Design

The Evolution vs. Intelligent Design debate has been in the news quite a bit lately. And for the most part I allign myself firmly on the Evolution side. It's not that I don't believe in an Intelligent Designer (although, generally, I call Him God or Heavenly Father); on the contrary, I have very deep-rooted belief in Him. But my faith isn't science.

Scientific knowledge depends on hypotheses that can be tested through experimentation--the scientific method. My high school biology teacher spent about a week at the beginning of the course discussing what science is and isn't. Even though evolution wasn't specifically in the general biology curriculum, having a "What is Science" section established a foundation for the rest of the year.

All this being said, I was a little disappointed in a blurb in my latest issue of Science. The title of the piece is "Darwin's Place on Campus Is Secure--But Not Supreme." The general idea of the article is that teaching evolution in college courses doesn't cure students of believing in a Creator. Based on multiple surveys done at many univiersities what is being found is that students are becoming more accepting of evolution, but not abandoning all "creationist" sentiments--"they tend to stick to their views on God's role in creating humans."

What bothers me about this whole article is the implication that the object in teaching evolution is to convince students to abandon their religious beliefs. And that it is troubling to the professors if students maintain their belief in God through the end of the semester (after all, these are some of the brightest students in this class who will go on to become doctors and veterinarians). I guess it just makes me more appreciative of the fact that I went to a university where the professors believed as I do that scientific and religious beliefs are not mutually exclusive.

Photos

Marty was looking for some pictures, and as I was helping him find them, I came across these, so I thought I'd post them to let all ya'll enjoy them too.

Fun with Bisquick

Last week I bought some Bisquick so that I could finally get some use out of the Bisquick cookbook that Marty's mom gave me (other than just looking at the pictures and imagining how good everything in it tastes).

Here's one that I've made so far. If you like the Cheddar Biscuits from Red Lobster, I think you'll like these too.

Cheese-Garlic Biscuits

2 cups Bisquick
2/3 cup milk
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
2 T margarine or butter, melted
1/8 t garlic powder

Heat oven to 450. Stir Bisquick, milk, and cheese until soft dough forms. Drop by spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden brown. Mix butter and garlic powder; brush over warm biscuits.

I haven't tried these next ones, but I thought I'd put them out there for you folks with kids and see what you guys think of them... (also, these recipes both note that they are for playing with, not eating)

Easy Fun Dough

1 1/4 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup salt
1 t cream of tartar
1 cup water
1 t food color

1. Mix Bisquick, salt, and cream of tartar in 4-cup microwavable measuring cup. Mix water and food color. Stir colored water into dry mixture, a little at a time, until all liquid is added.
2. Microwave uncovered on High 1 minute. Scrape mixture from side of cup and stir. Microwave uncovered 2-3 minutes longer, stirring every minute, until mixture almost forms a ball. Let dough stand uncovered about 3 minutes.
3. Place dough on surface sprinkled with Bisquick. Shape into a ball; knead about 1 minute or until smooth. (If dough is sticky, add 1 to 2 tablespoons Bisquick.) Cool 15 minutes. Use dough to make shapes and designs. Store dough in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Easy Fun Dough can also be baked just like cookie dough to make holiday ornaments...
1. Heat oven to 225. After kneading and cooling dough, roll dough about 1/8 inch thick on surface sprinkled with Bisquick. Cut out desired shapes with cookie cutters. Or instead of rolling dough, shape dough into desired shapes. Make a hole in top of each ornament using end of plastic straw. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.
2. Bake 1 hour. Turn ornaments over. Bake 1 to 1 1/2 hours longer or until ornaments sound brittle when tapped.
3. Remove ornaments from cookie sheet with spatula to wire rack. Cool completely, about 1 hour. Tie ribbon or yarn through hole.

Squiggle and Squeeze Paint

1/3 cup Bisquick
1/4 cup salt
1/4 cup water
2 T tempera powder (any color)
Glitter, if desired

1. Stir Bisquick, salt, water, and tempera powder until blended. Pour paint into plastic squeeze bottle with narrow opening (e.g., old ketchup or mustard bottle). Repeat with different tempera powders to make more colors if desired.
2. Squeeze out designs onto paper or cardboard.
3. Immediately sprinkle glitter over paint. Let dry. Store paint in covered container at room temperature up to 5 days. Stir before using.

Happiness

First off: yesterday's news. Marty has had a mole on his head that has been worrisome to me for quite a while now. Yesterday he had an appointment with a dermatologist, and--as I suspected they might--right then and there they removed it. They sent him home with a pain killer and antibiotic ointment. As I pressed for more information about what the doctor said, Marty told me, "He asked if I have good insurance." And we do, which is something I'm grateful for. Hopefully we don't have to use it, but I'm glad we have it in case we do. Anyway, although Marty has been a little sleepy (from the pain killer), he is doing well. We will find out more about the mole in a couple weeks. I'll keep you posted.

Today's news: I was browsing in a used book store and I came across the soundtrack for "You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown!" For just $4.95 I made it mine. When I got home I started listening to it, but then skipped to the end to hear "Happiness." As I listened and sang along I couldn't help but think of the things that are "happiness" to me--some of them are listed in the song like two kinds of ice cream (my favorites: Peanut Butter Cup and Cinnamon Carmel Cashew Crunch), walking hand in hand, having sisters (and brothers), getting along, singing together. Other things that would make my list--blankets with yarns, Ferrero Rochers, family, Pogo, fires in the fireplace, Federal holidays, good health insurance, and roasted marshmallows.

And like Charlie Brown, I realized that a little piece of "happiness" (like finding a pencil) can make a day "not such a bad day afterall."

I've done it. I've given in and started a blog. I make no promises of deep, insightful, funny, or exciting posts. We'll see what happens...