December Memories

Sicky but a Merry and Thankful Christmas

I and my three Joes had a wonderful time visiting family last week. We started in the western part of the state enjoying the fellowship with my family. We are so thankful for my parents, sister, brother-in-law, and niece. The Lord was kind to give us such a sweet time together.

After our visit with them, we headed east to Joe's folks. There were 8 adults, 6 kids, and 3 dogs. The neighbor's cat made his appearance a few times as well. It is crazy fun there! Back to NB on Christmas Eve. Christmas morning we gave thanks to our Heavenly Father for the greatest gift of all. His Son! After breakfast, we enjoyed a time of giving and watching the youngest Joes (a first for the littlest) unwrap gifts. Then it hit me. Like a truck. I went down fast. Weakness, aches in muscles, fever, sharp pain in tummy. I laid in bed all day. One time I almost fell going to the bathroom because I couldn't hold myself up due to weakness. I stayed this way until Sunday afternoon. Not the way I anticipated spending my Christmas with my family. By God's grace, I didn't complain about my Christmas Day affliction but gave thanks for Christ's work and my sweet family. Joe joyfully served me and cared for the boys even though there was a sermon to prep for Sunday. I am feeling better and now tackling the piles of laundry (which, sadly, I have complained about). Hope you all had a Merry Christmas!

Extruded Polystyrene

Extruded Polystyrene Foam Core with Epoxy Resin Shell

Regular Joe enjoys studying and thinking about aspects of life, including the foam material that is whittled into surfboards.

The greatest message in the world came to the world using the means of marine travel. I think there is good work for the grand purpose of the world in engineering, chemistry, biology, medicine, etc. I’m just not cut out to be one of those workers. But I still like learning a bit about it.

Extruded polystrene is the topic of this blog, or rather, a review of the practical differences in riding a surfboard made from extruded polystrene core and shelled with epoxy resign and multiple layers of fiberglass cloth as compared to riding one with a polyethalene core and polyurethane resin. Exciting, I know.

My college chemistry classes taught me that I am not a chemist, so the whole molecular side of extruded polystrene is not the concern of this review. Rather here’s what I have found it to be like to stand on top of piece of extruded polystrene wrapped in 12 oz of fiberglass cloth soaked in epoxy resin while in certain places on a moving fluid.

Fun. Intrinsically it is not the material but the end use of it. Surfing is merely fun, no matter what it is on. I started on one of those canvas rafts that would eat a hole in stomach.

Float. I think my physics is correct to understand the increased bouyancy due to the decreased weight relative to total volume. The volume is not different due to the material but the lighter weight with that same volume creates more float. This equates to more efficient planning which results in more efficient paddling. This can result in catching more waves. This results in average guys who surf at most once a week more time on a wave per unit of time invested. This results in a better use of time in recreation away from one’s family who is more important than the recreation.

Firm. Extruded polystyrene is more firm or harder than expanded polystyrene and polyethalene. At least my experience on the three different materials indicates this to be so. Add to this more layers of fiberglass cloth and a more durable epoxy resign and you have the next attribute…

Fighter tough. I could say ‘tough’ but tried to stick with the alliteration. I’ve surfed used boards of this material and have just bought my first brand new one of this core and shell and nothing I’ve used surfs as close to the feel of the traditional materials of polyethalene foam and polyurethane resin than this combination. I have but dings in it but they are mainly punctures. When I have dinged it I’ve been surprised that it is not worse. I’ve also landed in positions where I really thought that I would put some serious pressure dings in the deck of the board only to find none.

Lighter weight. I will not repeat the benefit to float but elaborate on another benefit to lighter boards – maneuverability. Lighter boards in the more performance orientated designs enable the rider to move the board with less work. Positioning the board upon the falling lip of the wave or positioning the board under one’s body as they come down from the crest of the wave to the face or trough of the wave is done faster and/or easier (less work) when the board is lighter. Lighter weight in a successful planning design also ends up going faster. This can be used for more enjoyable turns at a higher speed and the experiences of riding places on or above the wave that require faster speeds. Where this is especially attractive is to those average fellows like me who ride small waves 95% of the time. Two areas that lightness is not a benefit is in wind. When the wind is closing in on gale force and is offshore or sideshore the light material does not feel as good as a board built out of traditional materials. The traditional material seems not to be blown off the wave and also seems to absorb or plane through (don’t know which one and I’m sure it depends upon the hull design, too) the surface chop. So when it’s larger surf and hard offshore I prefer my traditional materials.

Conclusion. “More mature” surfers [read: surfers who are less light footed than they used to be, less muscular than they used to be, carry more mass than they used to carry, yet know what boards and dimensions they ride, what shapes work for them, and ride the same style board faithfully] riding smaller waves (less than chest high and not powerfully shaped) should consider expanded polystyrene with epoxy resign for the materials of their faithful shorter boards for the above reasons.

Where PU makes more sense is when one is ‘testing’ a design and thus can get a PU board for less money. When one is ordering a board that he/she will not ride too often, then PU is cheaper and the durability is not a real issue. When one is surfing in a lot of chop on the face of a very fast wave or paddling into a very strong offshore wind the weight of a PU might be to the advantage of the rider over a EPS. For little ones riding boards for short periods of time and thus grow out of them before they wear out PU still makes sense.

Joe’s testing equipment and grounds: extruded polystyrene with epoxy resin boards were thrusters at 5’10 x 19.25 x 2.4, 6’0 x 19 1/16 x 2 3/8, 6’1 x 18 7/8 x 2 1/4, 6’3 x 19 x 2 3/8; keel twin fin at 6’0 x 21.5 x 2 ½. Beach break waves from weak shin-high-should-not-be-in-the-water-surf to chest-high, offshore A-frames to head-high-no-one-goes-to-the-beach-on-a-day-like-this-day slop windsurf in 25 kt wind to overhead, offshore at 20kt, the-crowd-is-a-lot-smaller-on-these-days waves over the course of two years. Joe is about an average rider of a shorter board (read: he pays for all his gear).

The Prince of Preachers

Four years ago, I began my quest to add a new member to our family...a pet dog. Joe was not as excited as me, but he allowed my research and gave permission to get a dog. We chose the boston terrier breed not by chance. We have friends who had one, and I just thought he was the cutest thing. Fast forward to now. Those dear friends are leaving the country soon to live in another and have entrusted us with the care of their sweet Spurgeon. We picked him up on Thursday. Lots of tears were shed. This was a much loved dog by his family. He has seen four children come into the home and lovingly endured all their pokes and pulls as well as gladly receiving their hugs and kisses. We are happy to take him and Gabby is thrilled to have a new buddy, although Spurgeon is trying to get use to her enthusiasm.

Watching cartoons with little Joe.

Spurgeon will be 9yrs old in February

Sandy vs. Martha

Okay, so I am a little delayed in posting about the two desserts I made during our friend's visit.

Swedish Apple Pie was shared with me a by a dear friend, Sandy. Let me tell you, it is so easy and delicious! Now, it doesn't replace the flaky crust of a traditional apple pie, but when you are crunched for time and unable to make a pie crust this is your answer. Very yummy and a new favorite of Joe.

Swedish Apple Pie

Fill pie pan 2/3 full of sliced apples. Sprinkle 1tbsp. sugar (I actually omitted this) and 1tsp. cinnamon over apples. In a bowl combine 3/4 cup melted butter (I used 1/2 cup), 1 cup sugar, 1 cup flour, and 1 egg. Spread over apples. Bake for 45 minutes in 350 oven. Serve with fresh whipped cream or vanilla ice cream. (If serving with ice cream again I will probably decrease the amount of sugar in the batter).

So easy and tasty. You can pop it in the oven while eating supper and doing the dishes. Then eat while you watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer. Guess what we did last night?

Now on to the recipe share by Martha. Martha Stewart that is. I have no picture for various reasons. Pumpkin Cream Pie with a ginger snap crust sounded so good to me I thought I would give it a go. I learned that when a recipe calls for whole milk don't use 2%. Anyway, my Pumpkin Cream Pie turned into Pumpkin Cream Pudding. My guests graciously ate it and it was actually good but not as lovely looking as the picture in the magazine.

Here is the recipe http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/pumpkin-cream-pie-living.

So, out of the two Sandy won! I may give Martha another go with milk that has a higher fat content.