Hunker Down

I was talking with my little sister today and she inspired some interesting thoughts. One of her comments was:

“It’s strange that there is so much to see and do and people get bored, everywhere people are bored”

The conversation actually started about two minimalist blogs: zenhabits.net and mnmlist.com. I think there are good things you can take from their ideas.

So to my point—sometimes in my desire to travel and see the world and essentially do everything there is to do. I think that I miss things here and now. It makes me want to hunker down and use my hands, love my people. Buy some land, plant crops and raise chickens.

Speaking of Chickens, that one seems to have hit the tipping point. Seems like everyone has chickens, everyone wants a ranch-ette or an urban mini farm. It’s all coming back to grass roots. People seem to be turning back to their cultures. There is so much to explore and do just in the USA, just in the west, just in Utah, in my neighborhood, in my yard, in my house. It urges me to go spend time at home with my wife and child, with my family and friends.

For some reason it gives me the desire to build watches. And to put my homemade Dyer Family Symbol on everything, and go have long slow conversations with old people.

New Project - Bobber

Thanks to Mr. Grant McCaleb I have a new project. He is such a good influence! This Bike really needs some work... On friday I put the carbs back on (they were unattached, and banged up) and cut off some stuff to simplify the look, changed the mag wheels to spokes.. give me a few weeks and hopefully it will be up and running.

1936 BMW R12

I mean... whats so wrong with wanting a motorcycle collection?

Kelly D.

We did the Thanksgiving point Scare Crow Festival with Lee, Jo, and Soren.
James and I spent some time on these peddle carts. He was a natural.

Siblings

In all our glory - Together we are the equivalent of a 154 year old athletic she-man! with 11 kids, 4 houses, 9 cars, plus 1 dog. I love my siblings.

• Shara - Was laughing too hard to do anything but jump.
• keri - Wonderwomen and will probably save an entire 3rd world country.
  
• Dan - How does he keep his shirt tucked in? amazing.
• Jeromy - Gap Model
  
• Shane - Just spilt an invisable tight rope and is impacting... painfully

Nielson Ponds

Here is one of my projects. Its a 200 acre foot p0nd.. when I say pond I mean small lake. Easily big enough for multiple boats and water skiers. Its been a fun one for me. (It is empty in these pictures.) It has 2 embankments that combined are a little under 1200 feet long.

I always wonder what people really do for work. I design dams and pipelines, and any water structures, review canal systems to make sure they work, design culverts and such. I do studies on stream and river capacities. I design Fish ladders, spillways, diversions, weirs, flumes.. and things like that. This happens to be the same thing my dad does.. but add more soils and mining...


Stats for Dad:

• 27 feet of head
• 3:1 upstream
• 2:1 downstream
• Filtered toe drain w/ 8 inch slotted ADS separated in to left and right
• its a homogeneous clay compacted at 95% Standard proctor
• the clays optimum moisture is around 18% It was hard to keep it that wet
• riprap D50 = 6 inch (I submitted a memo to Dam safety with wave analysis to get it that small and saved $40,000)
• 10' bottom width spillway 3 to 1 side slopes 3 feet deep with a 3 foot concrete cutoff ripraped for 50'. Max Q = about 264 cfs
• 15 inch outlet conduit - which fills and empties the reservoir from another control reservoir that I'm redoing. with a sand collar and a 4 inch drain pipe seperate from the 2 toe drains
• its off stream and has essentailly no water shed.
• around 23,000 CY to build. (it was an enlargement of a smaller dam not meeting any dam saftey requirments.

Training

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Lauren is now the same age I was when we got married... What a Women!

Yamaha xt 500 - I think.

BIG NEWS - I got another motorcycle for FREE! It pays to do Engineering Design work for ranchers! I'm building this fellow 2 dams. I was at his ranch the other day and he gave me this Motorcycle. I'm not sure if its a 1978 or 79 or 80.. I think its a 79 and I think its a 500cc.

So I have a new project! This bike is going to shine! first major overhauls;

• clean the collaborator (there's only 1!) my cb 550 had 4 stinking carbs
• the handle bars need to go
  
• the seat will be recovered
  
• new plastic up front
• paint
• new break light
• fork boots
  

Oh right and I have to make sure It will even run.... I love motorcycle projects

Rockets

We had an Amazing Family Reunion where the whole family minus a few hardy folks got horribly sick. We managed however to play way to much 'Ticket to Ride' and Shoot a 2 liter bottle 150 feet in the air. Maybe higher, we were afraid of going over 85 psi on the bottle, I didn't want to pick plastic shrapnel out of my face. Anyway there was all sorts of other things we did, guns, 4 wheelers, swimming, shopping for watches.

Observations:

• I am getting to a place where a highlight of vacations and reunions are definitely the kids.
• It seems that playing with cousin is about as fun as life gets. I always look forward to time with cousins. I wonder why this is.
• As I watch the young kids play I realize how old I am, and how old I must seem to them.
• Hunger Games is a good book.
  

New Development

Alright.. so I know that I thought that I had something good going before.. but now I really think that this is better. Who's with me?

I find it cleaner, I like the icon/logo better with the tilted bolts and the box. plus it matches the colors on the program interface..

Vote

Alright.. I need input - top or bottom one? green or blue? (blue like below) The little rivets to the left are just going to be an icon not necessarily part of the logo... any suggestions? I think the bottom one is more engineer like and the top is a little more stylish. I also think the bottom one is more timeless and the top one is a little more with the times. but who says I cant change it in a year or two?

Teaser

This is the First Draft of the New Software Logo!

What do you think?

www.projectrivet.com

Love

These are the most precious things...

James Laughing

Manhatten

James and Dad at the park on south tip of Manhatten.

James loves lakes..

Or at least I think he will.

Lake winner pa sock e - Picture 1

This is an air chair, and my wife in fantastic form. I love the rope in this picture, frozen in time.

Global Warming

31,478 American scientists have signed this petition, including 9,029 with PhDs.

It says global warming science is bogus.

I went to an engineering conference and this big wig Phd engineer from Seattle who is the authority on projecting the effects of global warming on engineering water projects gave a seminar. He taught us how to project the effects of global warming using existing models. At the end of his speech he showed us some slides on the temperature. Interestingly He doesn't believe in global warming, as a matter of fact he said we should be far more concerned in his opinion about it getting cold. This from the guy who gets payed huge sums of money to predict global warming effects, in his defense all he did was apply the global warming predictions made by other scientists to engineering projects, a capitalist.


Read the Scientific article that goes with the petition, its interesting:

http://www.petitionproject.org/gw_article/GWReview_OISM300.pdf

As I side note I don't claim to know the truth about global warming. There's too many experts saying too many things... If you follow the money it looks dirty. I don't personally believe it, but who knows i could be wrong.

James in Maryland

While James and Lauren have been in Maryland recovering, Lauren has been sending me these videos. They are great. The quality is really good for being from her phone.

Saint George

This is a fun bouldering spot.

This looks weak, But I was scared every time I did it. It looks bigger as your going off it. Thanks to Brian T. for this shot. He went off it too.

The Williams and Lisonbees came down... I wanted to put pictures of the whole gang, but all I had was us in swim suits, and Lauren was not going to let those pictures fly... Fun weekend.

SOLD - ish

So, here is the sad story: I ended up taking the Porsche to the mechanic to get it looked at. Turns out the fuel pump was only half the problem, the CSI (fuel injection system) was messed up. So it was going to cost like $700 to fix that business. The mechanic spent $300 bones trying to figure out what was wrong. I offered him the title to the car, he said "The title plus $50 bucks..." I jumped on it.

It was a sad day.. I'm out $200 in total (including my Rustolium paint job). The mechanic will probably have it running tomorrow... and sell it for like $2000. you have to admit the satin black was a definite improvement, not amazing but still pretty cool. I think it looked better in person.

And that is chapter 1 in the story of me trying to own a sports car.

Tooth

James has a tooth, at under 5 months. Bottom right middle tooth.

James in Dots

My boy chillen in his bumbo... look at his chubby hands

Batmobile

Sanding and Primer coat. You can see I already sanded a little on the primer coat in this picture. The flat black idea kinda died. Lauren really hates the idea, I got plenty of negative feedback. I met this professial painter at the autopaint store told him my story and peaked his interst, He ended up at my house giving me tips on how to utilize my air compressor, and paint sprayer better, he actually offered to paint it white for free with me at his shop cause he has extra white paint. But his shop is in Spanish Fork... And he was just being nice he didnt want to, so I declined.

Any way I went to get some gloss black and they were out, so I decided to do the next coat in Satin Black.... pictures to come. The satin is actually pretty nice. its not shiney enough to show off all the dings and imperfections, but its not so backyard ratttle can flat.

Outlier Clothing

These cloths are awesome... I dig the 4 season OG Pant here is there description:

"Crisply professional looking in the office but you can rock them like Dickies with sneakers or boots. They stretch, breathe and are abrasion resistant for comfort in motion. Self cleaning, water and grease resistant to handle the elements. Tailored in New York City for style and quality."

Plus what kind of shoes is that dude wearing, they are rad.. its the perfect man outfit... you have oil and grease resistant pants that look good in the office, and you can work in the garage with them.. or go camping, biking.. etc. Sign me up... minus the $180 price tag.. check out the web site

Porsche 924

So I bought my first Porsche. It is arguably the uglest porsche ever made. I will say that it has some retro charm to it. It was $125.00 dollars. I just thought that I couldnt lose, i can sell it to the junk yard for that much. It doesnt start... yet. Its a fuel line problem cause it will start with starter fluid. Im going to start with the fuel filter, then the relay (fuse), then the pump. i hope its not he pump they are like $200 bucks.. and theres 2 on this car one in the tank and one inline.

It's a 2.0 liter water cooled fuel injected motor... state of the art for 1979, we were born in the same year. the sun roof is HUGE the roof essentaily comes off. The car already looks different.. I took the sander to it. and I have started priming with rustoluem. I think that Im going to paint it flat black, cause the body isn't straight enough to look good at all with a gloss. plus flat black is the new black. look it up.. or go to L.A.

This is my motorcycle substitute. I really wanted a 944 turbo. They have like 265 Hp stock, and look way better, plus they are newer. Hopefully I will make this one look alright, sell it and move up to the 944 turbo. Then after the 944 is fixed I can upgrade to an older 911. Sounds like a good plan to me.

There are other inexpensive options for a fast car. I looked at honda civics. with all the trimmings.. they make those fast!, older Subaru WRX's, older BMW's with big old engines, domestic muscle ( I think I would get a chevy chevelle ). Anyway this is step one on my way to a fast car.

Working towards a pushup...

Well I think that James Kelly would be crawling if he could do a pushup. He gets his legs under him like he's crawling but his head stays down and he motors forward with his head plowing the way. Its awesome, he just wants to go someplace, I dont think he knows where he wants to go... but hes certainly trying to go there.

Early Morning

This is typical of what I leave in the early morning. Its hard to leave, Lucy always B-lines it to my spot on the bed, and James is so smiley in the morning.

Grandpa

There's something Special about Grandpa's. I never really had one, maybe that's why they seem so great. This was the first time these two met.

Dear Lauren, I love you

Here we have the mother of my children, she woke up about 10 seconds before this photo and she still looks like a vision. I decided that our mothers day tradition will be breakfast in bed, luckly pancakes and waffles are things that im actually quite proficent at.

Lauren is certainly going to protest and say; "You cant put up pictures of right as I wake up, its against the rules." But i just want everyone to see how amazing she looks even in the morning, before getting out of bed. I'm so thankful for the care that she gives to James and I. My dad sent her a card and said: Happy Mothers Day, thanks for raising our son Shane... So true.

Dear Wife your the best! Love Shane

Project Bike

Click photo for a closer view.
One of my hobbies is fixing up old bikes, i've been working on this one. Steel frame Univega. It has a head light that gets it's power from a little back wheel power plant.

Poise

In case you didn't see this picture on Nesting Habits. Here is my son and I. James Kelly is 3 months old in this one.

The Pout Face

CycleCart

If I had the time, and money, and a welder, and a handy assistant, I'm pretty sure I would build one of these, Maybe I would put a little engine in the back. click here for a link for more info. I found this on a blog I follow called Dude Craft.

Popular Demand

Click on the photo to see it bigger.

Dan L. Dyer's Grandson

Happy Birthday Dad, your an amazing man! I try to be like you and I hope I can figure it out so that my son James Kelly has as good of an example I as did. Love Shane Kelly.

Mr. Mark Sorenson

There is so much to say about what is right with this photo...

1 Trillion Dollars

Have you seen all the renders of how much a trillion dollars is?

Check it out: Click>> Here
I was Geeken' out over it.
(The link is Black text, It's a design problem, Sorry)

I Had a Dream Last Night

I was with the doctor and I had to cut my hand off. The doc wanted me to do it, he was sure that It was less painful to have me do it. I did it with a reciprocating saw. Turns out it didn’t hurt that much, kinda like a sharp pinch at first and then buttery through the rest of the arm. Then they hooked a new hand on, it was a black dudes hand and worked surprisingly well for not being my original hand.

My interpretation:

The government is totally, ridiculously, fiscally irresponsible. My Grandchildren are broke, and they aren’t even born.

Ok, maybe my interpretation is slightly unrelated. Feel free to interperate, but my gut tells me my interpretation is fact.

Luckly for my unborn grandchild if I buy a GM Automobile and lose my job, GM will pay my full car payment each month for a year so I can keep my nice new car. Wait, GM is broke...

me = upset, paying other peoples mortgages and car payments.

Aunt Keri and James Kelly

These two get along.

First Bike Ride

Intro to Alta

James and I had our first trip to Alta yesterday. Lauren was so proud to show off her skiing Alma Mater. James was pumped to be there, all smiles. We skied with Jon and Jessica Lee, it was a great time.

Mind on his sleve

Here James is letting us know what he thinks about the situation.
"If somebody doesn't pick me up and give me milk there is going to be trouble."

Behind Mommy's Back

James and I have been practicing this behind mommy's back. Lauren thinks that he can't do it anymore.

My blood = 101 degrees C

From the Wall Street Journal:

"Mr. Obama's $3.6 trillion budget blueprint, by his own admission, redefines the role of government in our economy and society. The budget more than doubles the national debt held by the public, adding more to the debt than all previous presidents -- from George Washington to George W. Bush -- combined. It reduces defense spending to a level not sustained since the dangerous days before World War II, while increasing nondefense spending (relative to GDP) to the highest level in U.S. history. And it would raise taxes to historically high levels (again, relative to GDP). And all of this before addressing the impending explosion in Social Security and Medicare costs."

Read the article:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123629969453946717.html

WHHAAATTT !!??... I have way too much to say about this... But Instead I'm trying to finance a house that I can't afford so that everyone else can pay for it... makes prefect sence; spend more then you have, place the burden on others, no responsibility for bad decisions. Then James, my son can just try to pay for that after im dead. Anyway If others have more then me, they deserve to give it to me. I deserve it because I have less... redistribute thier money to me! ride the wave. make sure you dont make too much, or you might miss it.

Post Bath Time

Lauren and James Kelly are in Maryland. Look at this picture of my handsome young man and this bueaty who takes such good care of him... look close... right, now tell me how long you could handle thier absence if they belonged to you...

Recovery Process

An important part of Lauren's recovery process at 3.5 weeks after giving birth. This is not the bunny hill, in fact she eats little bunny's for breakfast before shes skis.