Racquetball and pretty legs

So, today Landon called me up and invited me to play racquetball. I knew he played pretty well, and given that I have played twice before in my life, I figured that it would be fun to go and play and practice. However, on my way down, I decided there was no reason why I would not be able to beat Landon at this game—after all, I have the agility of a cat, the speed of a badger, and the cunning of a grouse—how could I lose?

So, we played. The first game I was warming up, and as a result, did not fare so well. I lost 15-2. Remembering the fencing scene of Princess Bride, I thought, “I will have Landon play with his left hand.” So, I did. Unfortunately, it did not serve me well, as it did not change the overall outcome and it decreased my score by 50%, leaving me losing at 15-1.

So, I thought, “What real advantage do I have over Landon?” I told Landon we would play Contact Racquetball, where I could physically block him. But, it did not work out well. I would hit the ball and immediately turn towards Landon to attack him, but, usually my focus on tackling made it so I could not get the ball to hit the wall. I did manage to get to him a couple times, but he still was able to win 15-1.

So, things did not go so well for me on the courts today. Oh well.

In other news, when I went to the locker room today, there was a sign that said, “Free swimming suits, ask for one.” I did. They are apparently not issuing suits any more, so they are giving them away. I got one. Here I am in my new BYU Issue suit, showing off my notoriously pretty legs.

Grandma McKoy

2 August 1927 - 9 December 2007

Sunday evening my dad's mother passed away. I have been thinking all day about what I would write on our blog as a tribute to her and probably the best thing I can do is to make a list of things or memories I am grateful for. But first, a quotation: 'Mercies and blessings come in different forms—sometimes as hard things. Yet the Lord said, "Thou shalt thank the Lord thy God in all things" (D&C 59:7). All things means just that: good things, difficult things—not just some things. He has commanded us to be grateful because He knows being grateful will make us happy. This is another evidence of His love.' -Sister Bonnie D. Parkin Though this is a bittersweet time, and some days we will feel more of the bitter than the sweet, I know that being grateful for Grandma and the memories I have of her will make me happy. I choose to write in the present tense for some of these. Family members: leave comments with your favorite memories, or what you are grateful for concerning Grandma. I AM GRATEFUL THAT...

• Grandma tells the best stories and probably has the best memory of anyone I know (maybe next to President Monson!).

• when Grandma lived with us she would take walks in circles in the family room to get exercise. I don't know if anyone ever saw her do this but she claimed to do it while we were at school/work.
• she had certain soap and toothpaste she used, at least in the latter decade of her great life: Camay soap and GLEEM toothpaste. I never did like that GLEEM.
• I know that death is not the end and that we will see Grandma again! This brings me so much peace.

• Grandma was able to be in the temple with us the day Jeff and I were married.
• families are forever

• I grew up always knowing Grandma, and living close by her for much of my life.

• Grandma and I both wore hearing aids. (I still need mine! But she doesn't!)
• Grandma had a testimony of The Book of Mormon and of tithing (here is a video about her testimoney of tithing)
• she taught me this little poem:

Late one day in the middle of the night Two dead boys got up to fight Back to back they faced each other Drew their swords and shot each other The deaf police man heard the noise Came and shot the two dead boys If you don’t believe my story’s true

Ask the blind man, he saw it too.

• she used let me sit on her lap or run up to her and say "ding-dong!" while I pressed the mole on her forehead
• she raised my dad
• she taught me to play "Peter, Peter, Pumpkin-Eater" on the piano
• she came to my band concerts, even when they were too loud for her I'm sure
• she and Grandpa accepted the Gospel in 1961
• she was and is a hard worker
• our birthdays were only 2 days apart
• Jeff and I took videos of her on Mother's Day 2006
• Grandma bought me a bubble gum ice cream treat at a park one summer day, even though she thought it sounded disgusting
• she always told me the story of when I was little (4) and I thought my Grandpa was dressed up as Santa and I said to him, "Are you my grandmother's husband?"
• Grandma shared her chocolate Velamints!
• the missionaries who served in Grandma and Grandpa's missions still care for them
• she let me and Jamie have sleepovers at her houses in Lovettsville and Arlington
• she let me go with her to get the mail from the P.O. box she had near Lovettsville
• one time at dinner she mentioned that she liked asparagus a lot, but especially when it is "young and tender." Erin and I both looked at each other across the table and said, "babies?" You had to be there.

• she lived in Herndon Harbor House for a while so we could go there and hang out
• she had a crisper on her counter that had these great, tasty and big cheese crackers in it when she lived in Arlington
• she introduced me to Vienna Sausages, our meat of choice now for our 72 hour kits (I would eat them even if it wasn't an emergency - they always remind me of her and how she cooked up some VS and eggs for breakfast once after one of our sleepovers)
• she was so particular about her foods. Salads with no dressing, hamburgers from BK with just mustard, her "about a 1/2 a cup" servings, had to be careful with strawberries or they'd make her legs break out, fried chicken, and boy did she love tomatoes! She also introduced me to apples with a sprinkle of salt - I still love it. (here is a video about, amoung other things, her love of tomatoes)
• I took time to go visit her on my own the times I did these last few years whenever I was at home
• she asked me to sing "I Am a Child of God" to her once a couple years ago at the care center in Fairfax
• she has passed on great recipes to her kids so that we can still enjoy her good cookin', in a way. I wasn't a witness to it, since it happened before I was born, but she always told amazing stories (at least in my mind) of how she would prepare fabulous meals for entire wards.
• Jeff and I were able to do temple work for many of Grandma and Grandpa's ancestors in this last year. There is still much more to be done. I'm also grateful that I was able to tell Grandma that we were doing this, and hear how excited she was.

And lastly, I am grateful, SO grateful, that I was lucky enough to take Jacob to Virginia last month to meet my Grandma. The memory of her holding and stroking his tiny, chubby little baby hand will always remain with me and I'm excited to tell Jacob about it when he's old enough to understand. I love you, Grandma!

Friendless

So, a couple weeks ago I decided to sign up for a Facebook account. I don't know why, as I had no intention of using it, but, I signed up. However, I had no friends. I have had a couple folks try to add me as a friend, but, I have not allowed it.

The bad part is, I want to see accounts of people I knew in High School, but it won't let you unless you are their "friend". It seems way too committal to me. Can't I just see their stuff without all this commitment to friendship?

So, I am friendless. Oh well.

I like how it says, "You don't have any friends yet." The "yet" part really does offer me hope in this sad world. Maybe one day I will have a Facebook friend.

The Parade

So, a couple weeks back, we went to the Christmas parade here in Provo. It was basically amazing. It was snowing a bit, but, it was fun. Jacob enjoyed going. He seemed delighted to be able to participate in such an event. Granted, all he did was just sleep in his little carriage, but, he did seem pleased. Here is Stacey and Jacob (inside his carriage/cocoon) with Santa Claus at the parade.

Interestingly, pushing Jacob around in his little carriage, all enclosed and protected, reminded me a lot of the popemobile. In many ways, Jacob is a lot like the Pope. They are both close to one end of life. Both are loved and cherished by all who know them. Both have some baldness issues (well, the old Pope had more baldness issues than the current See). Both are celibate. And, of course, both ride around in a protected, comfortable, padded little carriage. So, yep, Jacob and the Pope.

Betty Lou McKoy

A couple years back when I was in VA for the summer, I had an idea. I wanted to take a video of Stacey's grandma telling her conversion story. She and her husband were baptized a little bit before Stacey's dad was 8. I have heard the story, but I wanted to get it on video. So, I kept on trying to prompt her to tell the story, but, Betty had other ideas. She told me many different stories about all sorts of things, from talking about her glass eye and hearing aids, to missionaries on her mission who had been run over by trains, to when Mt. St. Helen exploded or about her distaste for ketchup. She was a gem. I finally got a little bit of the story. However, I am posting here some conversion we had about Betty's hearing aids and glass eye. It started when, during my interviewing her hearing aids started to make a noise, so I inquired what was going on. Here is she, Grandma McKoy:

Christmas Decorations

So, Christmas is here. Here are some decorations. We have this little tree, and put all our ornaments on it. It is cute. Unfortunately, the ornaments weight more than the tree, but, so far, it has remained standing upright. This is a Lil' People Nativity Stacey's mom got us. This is a nativity set we bought from a Christian bookstore a couple days after our first Christmas. We love going out after Christmas, and finding cute nativity sets for way cheap. We take them home, revel in how cute they are and in how good a deal we got, and them pack them up. The next year, it is like an early Christmas present to ourselves. Fun. This one we bought at Lew and Dans in Soda Springs a couple days after Christmas. Myrna thought it was ugly, but I think it is cute. This one we got from Deseret Book after Christmas. We ordered it online, and it took forever to get to us, so we picked it up several months after Christmas. This one is one of my favorites. We got it for $1.50 a couple days after Christmas. The pieces are about 1/3 of an inch tall. It is cute.

This is a Heartwood Creek set we bought after Christmas our first year of marriage. In real life, it is very colorful, and pretty cute.

We got this one after Christmas at a Christian bookstore. We found it at one store, but the set that store had left over was missing a piece, so we picked up this one in Manasas on our way to go hiking at another bookstore from the same chain.

So, I determined it was all fine and good that we have these nativities, but I figured that we should allow them to mingle a little bit. SO, we had our first annual Wise Man's party on our dining room table. The Wise Men from each set were invited, and one Camel. They had a pretty good time.

Homeless Hole no More

So, we had a hole where the homeless people lived. But, it was not really their home, as, if they had a home, they would lose their identity. Anyways, late on night little while back, we saw this guy out there with an old lamp (like, a real lamp, with a shade, we think it is from the motel next door), out there fixing the light.

He was enjoying some inebriating beverage as he did so, and did a wonderful job locking up the hole. For those of you who don't remember the pictures of the hole (it was the post just before Jacob came), I am putting up pictures of before and after.

Stacey the Shooter

So, we went shooting today. I guess I learned an improtant thing. Stacey is dangerous behind the barrel of a gun. Beware.

My Pits

So, I have sensitive armpits*. It is not something I am proud of, but, it is my lot in life to have sensitive pits. When I was in high school this was a serious problem, as my pits had some serious problems with some regular deodorant.

So, one day, my mom bought me what she called "special" deodorant (Kevin also got "special deodorant, brand name Mitchum). It worked well. The brand my mom bought me was called Almay. I thought all was well and good, I wore my special deodorant and was able to go around, not smelling, and I didn't have irritated pits any more.

Then, one day, I got to reading the back of the deodorant container. It said "Safe enough to use, even right after shaving." I got to thinking--I didn't shave my armpits. Who shaves their armpits? At 16, I was proud to have what little hair I had. Then I realized--girls shave their armpits. My mom had bought me GIRLS' deodorant.

Well, I was finally convinced that it was unisex deodorant. I have lived under that guise for the last many years. Then, recently, Almay changed their container, from the one on the left, to the one on the right:

From manly blue to PINK AND PURPLE?!? And with decorative leaves, no less! This is definitely not special deodorant, and definitely not unisex, but rather, is straight up girls' deodorant. Sigh. No wonder I turned out as I did.

*Stacey does not agree with this. She pokes me in the armpit and says "look, they're not sensitive." She thinks it is the skin in my armpits that is sensitive. I make no distinction. That would be like my squirting lime juice in her eye, and when she says, "my eye hurts", I would say, "no, it is just your eyeball." Silly Stacey.

Trip to Virginia: Meeting Great-Grandma McKoy

While we were in Virginia, Jacob had the chance to meet my grandmother. We spent an hour with her at the Inova Care Center that she lives at, and while she never responded to us, I felt that she knew we were there visiting her. Her health has been failing for several months now, and it was hard to see her having aged so much in the 15 months since I had last seen her. It was very special to be there with her that day and to let her meet Jacob for the first time. She held his hand and mine for a while and so I took some special pictures.

Maestro Jacob!

Tonight I was witness to a most extraordinary event! Jacob was the youngest person to ever conduct the Klipp-Klapp Galopp, Opus 466, by Strauss II. He won't be two months until Tuesday, but he is so good at conducting that at some times he leads the orchestra with his fingers. He even gives some slight kicks to cue the percussion section. These are things they never taught me in MUS 135 when I learned the art of conducting, so I am thrilled for what my son can teach me. (Somewhere out there, Jeff is cringing as he remembers my textbook from a certain class, Music and the Family, which I took the semester we got engaged. The text, which I still own, is entitled Your Musical Child.) The piece seemed much shorter during filming as opposed to post-filming viewing, so consider yourselves warned as to the length of the song. Jacob made his mom proud tonight by displaying such musical amazingness, and he asked me to share this with you:

Toys

So, Stacey took the camera with her to VA, so I have not had a chance to do much posting. However, now that she is back, I can put something up. Of late, there have been many different scares about toys made overseas not being safe for children. Of great concern were some of the paints being used containing dangerous substances, invoking sickness and coma in little children. Well, with Jacob, we are taking no risk. I have taken it upon myself, as a caring father, to test every single toy before we give it to Jacob.

Trip to Virginia: Meeting Grandpa McKoy and some of Mom's old neighbors

Jacob got to meet his other grandpa last night for the first time. Unfortunately, he was quite hungry when they met, so he will have to endure further photo shoots with grandpa later on. Today there was a little party across the street from my parents' house where Jacob's birth was celebrated. He enjoyed meeting three ladies I grew up knowing, including Mrs. Boyd who hosted the gathering, and the adults enjoyed snacks and a cute, tasty banana cake from a bakery called Edibles Incredibles.

Trip to Virginia: Jacob's First Plane Ride!

On November 6th Jacob had his first experience with being inside an airport (he went to three!) and on a small CanadAir Regional Jet and a 757. He proved to be an excellent traveler, much to my delight. Actual conversation heard when exiting plane in Virginia: (I stand up with Jacob) Man in row behind us says to other man in row behind us: Hey, I didn't know we had a baby in front of us! Other man: Me neither! He was so well-behaved. Me: Thank you! Can you believe I took credit for Jacob's amazingness? Shameful! I suppose I was replying with what I thought he might say. Here he is in his first airport in Salt Lake City, waiting by Gate B9 to catch a quick flight to Denver. He was pretty happy since I had just changed one of his dirtiest diapers ever. Wow. Here we both are after having landed at Washington-Dulles. It was a long journey but we made it! I'll take him anywhere as my lap buddy, but next time we'll go when Daddy can come too!

This Week

Baby in a pumpkin:

So, as soon as we knew that we were pregnant, long, long ago, and received the due date, we thought it would be cute to put our future little baby in a pumpkin for Halloween. So, we did. I first carved out the pumpkin leaving a very large hole to set Jacob in. I drilled two holes in the bottom where I thought we could put his feet through, making the pumpkin look like a little suit. I was very pleased with my work. I thought for a second that Jacob might not like the pumpkin, but, thought up something. I ran hot water over the inside of the pumpkin, so it was all wet and soggy. I was sure Jacob would love it—it was warm, soggy, and cavernous, from every descriptions I have ever heard, identical to the womb.

But, it did not turn out that way. For the most part, Jacob was not fond of his experience in the pumpkin. Interestingly, the first two times we put him in the pumpkin, he almost immediately loosened his bowles and spoiled his diaper, so much so that both were very audible, echoing in the pumpkin. (Rethinking this, perhaps it was like the womb, and he was just doing what he did in those days, just let go whenever he pleased.)

However, after he got upset and dirtied himself, we figured out how to calm him. We would put a pacifier in, and he would settle down very quickly. We took pictures with the pacifier, but, it is much cuter without, so, we took out the pacifier. It would take a couple seconds for him to not be happy again, so, we played the game of putting the pacifier in, pulling it out, taking a few pictures, and then he would cry. It was fun. Interestingly, when one of my friends saw the pictures, the first thing he asked was "Did you carve the pumpkin before or after you put Jacob in." I guess that shows the perceived quality of my fathering amongst my peers.

Eating: We like to eat with Jacob. He is a very pleasant and social kind of boy, so when occasion permits, we allow him to dine with us.

First Econ 388 Test This week I took my first Econ 388 test. It seemed to go alright, but prior to it was perhaps the most nervous I have been for a test in several years (probably since my first Acc 210 test). Thursday through Monday night I just could not understand anything, and was very, very discouraged with how my studies were going. I felt desperately lost and hopeless on Monday night, but, things started to clarify a little, and it went alright. Here is one of the beginning to one of the proofs I had to do on the exam, deriving variance co-variance matrix for Beta given the prederived ols estimator for Beta and the known variance for Y, applying the “useful’ theorem.

E(z) = E(Ay) = AE(y) = Aµy VAR(z) = E(z - E(z))(z - E(z))' = E(Ay - Aµy)(Ay - Aµy)' = E(A(y - µy)(y - µy)'A' = AE(y - µy)(y - µy)'A' = AΣyA' =Σ z

The biggest problem with the test was just the sheer volume of stuff that was on it, but also, some of it was hard for me to understand. Anyways, it was fun, and now it is over.