Presidents Day 2008

Since the kids and I all had the day off, we decided to celebrate by taking a trip to Explora, the hands-on science museum in town. The museum is a two-story playground of experiments and displays about math, science, and discovery. One of the kids' favorites is the air section, where exhibits detail how wind power works. Here, the boys play with pressured air to suspend beach balls in the air:
And here's Allyson doing the same:

Another favorite is the bubble pool, where kids (of all ages) can make huge bubbles. Summer tried to encase the boys in bubbles, and here Ryan decides to try the same with Isaac:

Explora is one Albuquerque sight we haven't taken visiting family to yet, so next time anyone's in town, we'll make a trip. Look for more pictures as we make use of our membership to the museum, especially over Spring and Summer breaks.

New Links

Pretty self-absorbed post here, but isn't blogging all about being self-absorbed?

I've added two new links to the "Roy's Favorite Podcasts" list on the right. The first is NPR's Bryant Park Project, a lively and somewhat irreverent news show with a heavy dose of wit and entertainment. If I was hip 20-something living in New York, I would be on this show.

The second is the more staid NPR Books, a compendium of items on reading, author interviews, and book reviews from the previous week. Given NPR's demographic, their shows tend to feature a lot of bookish pieces, so this hour-long podcast is quite rich.

Super-Computing?

The title obviously refers to Isaac working away on the toy laptop with his Superman cape. But, as there always is, there's a story behind the (admittedly) adorable photo.

Last Friday, Isaac came to work with me. I brought Ryan's toy computer, thinking that it would keep Isaac happy for most of the day, along with the books and snacks we brought. My one concern was that the games on the computer are LOUD, so he wouldn't be able to use it during my meeting in the early afternoon.

As it turns out, we wound up bringing the computer to the meeting, but I explained that he couldn't use it because it was too loud. But after watching me work on my laptop for nearly an hour during the meeting, Isaac got antsy.

Finally, when I wasn't looking, he opened up the toy computer. But, ever the responsible one, he didn't turn it on. Instead, he stared at the blank screen and simply typed. I turned to see him smiling, rat-a-tat-tatting on the keyboard, much the way I was on my laptop (for the record, I was finishing up some PowerPoint presentations for this week's classes).

Once again I was reminded how a young child can make you realize that he's watching--and, even more humbling, trying to be like--you.

Your Advice--Scooter

In a recent blog entry, Summer mentioned a "big thing" that she seems to be sensing. My guess is that it's the impending purchase of a Vespa-type scooter. Here's the scoop, along with a request for advice.


We are a one-car family. Always have been. I take the city bus to and from work. When we bought the new wheels last year, we tried having two cars for a month, but we found that we never had to use both vehicles at the same time, so we sold the Hyundai.


But now, with my new calling, the juggling of times and places that we have carried out for years has become untenable. My proposed solution is to buy a scooter that I could use for both church- and work-related trips. Isaac and I visited a scooter shop near work the other day and I came home with some literature.


Right now I am of three minds. My first choice is the Genuine Buddy, the industry leader and the best-selling scooter in the US last year. It's a classy-looking, well-built machine that is pretty reasonably priced.


I'm also looking at the KYMCO People 150, a higher-end model with 16" wheels. It's got a bigger engine than the Buddy and costs about $500 more.The last choice is a Chinese-made machine called the Diamo Retro. It also has a 150 cc engine (the Buddy has a 125) and comes in under $2000, but I've heard mixed reviews on the make, and I'm hesitant to buy anything made on the mainland (most of the better machines are Taiwan- or Korean-made). Plus I couldn't get a photo from the Flash-based website...

However, Summer and I know, well, nothing about scooters. So your advice is welcomed. If you know anything about scooters, please share your wisdom. If you know anyone (well, anyone whose opinion you trust) who knows anything about scooters, please send them our way. I'll let you know what we finally do decide on. Thanks.

Something's Coming...My psychic ability?

For the past few days I have had this funny, excited feeling (I haven't been able to describe it in any other satisfactory way). But I don't know why. I have often had this feeling throughout my life. For example, I have felt it when there is a change in living situations, change in callings, change in scenery, etc. But, for the most part, I knew what the impending change would be. Only one other time have I felt this excited feeling without knowing why...a couple weeks before I was called to be Primary president a few years ago (although I can't imagine that I would be getting another big calling right now, I am assuming I get amnesty for a while thanks to Roy's new calling).

I have had other experiences where I anticipated the future. Several months before Roy and I were even dating I had a dream about him helping a little girl with curly, blond hair. I also had a dream about a little baby boy not long after Allyson was born.

Foreshadowing? Or craziness?

So is some something coming? Would anyone care to guess what it may be? Let's make a game of it. You let me know what you think may be coming, if anything. Whoever is right I will send you a box of Girl Scout cookies (we'll have plenty) after I know the answer. Good luck!

Books and Their Covers

Here's a quick experience that I found insightful. On Wednesday, I took a sick day to let Summer rest and get over her cold. As part of my day, Isaac and I went to the library and then lunch. As we sat at Burger King, a group of young guys (early to mid 20s) sat down next to us. They were a rough-looking group, and their conversation seemed to be getting a bit tough. I was getting a bit concerned that Isaac might leave the premises having learned some new words and that I would then get in trouble when he showed off his new vocabulary at the dinner table.

But after a minute or so, I realized that I wasn't hearing, "yo mama," but "Obama." And as the loudest member of the group opened the newspaper to the results from Super Tuesday, it soon became clear that they were analyzing the presidential race. As it turned out that their insights were quite interesting, and I found myself silently nodding along with their thoughts.

This expereince said several thingsa to me. First, I was again reminded of the impossible and unethical nature of making assumptions based on appearance. And it indicates in some way how engaged the electorate is this year, expecially young voters who often do not participate in the political process. Not a bad lesson to get from a lunch at Burger King.

And Speaking of Faith...

I try not to post too many serious pieces here, but I found this especially interesting and valuable. One of the podcasts I listen to sporadically is called Speaking of Faith, a public radio weekly show that provides insights into a wide variety of religious traditions and ethical thoughts. A recent episode--one that I listened to just today--focused on the Church, with Robert Millet from BYU's College of Religious Education answering some thoughtful questions with equally thoughtful responses and examples. I found his answers to be a bit bumpy early in the interview, but lucid as it progressed.

But what I found most interesting--and refreshing--about the episode is how well Dr. Millet handled the speculative questions, those from the fringes of doctrine. I have noted in the more well-publicized events of the past few months a tendency for the media and the public at large to look for the wildest perspective, the most strident voice. And Millet's was a calm and thoughtful one that said, in essence, "I don't know how to reconcile all the contradictions of my faith."

Such candor is valuable because it is so rare, not only in theology, but all aspects of our lives. And it speaks to me and echoes my own feelings as I have come to grips with the ambivalence of believing--exercising faith even though the context of my studies and my profession is rife with contradiction.

I suppose what I am getting at is that I find in the interview (and I still need to visit the website more and listen to the uncut version) a sense of my own adult life, my journey from naive proto-faith (what my favorite philosopher, Gianni Vattimo, calls "believing that I believe"), through the wonders and trials of mission life and into marriage and fatherhood, crossing deep chasms of disconnect over the social and political nature of the culture, to what I feel is a mature, thoughtful reconciliation. I don't know a lot of the answers, but I know that I don't know. And in that act, in accepting my limitations and the limitations of my faith, I find peace, realizing that faith is ultimately to believe in the unbelievable.