What I liked in 2013 - Toca Boca (or, my 5-year-old has an iPhone)

You're not gonna believe this.  For Elisha's 5th birthday I got him an iPhone.

I know.

But before you unsubscribe from my blog and report me to Children's Services, hear me out.  What we actually got him was a broken iPhone.

Don't call the cops.

OK.  We have an old iPhone that doesn't actually have a phone in it anymore, just everything else.  Someone managed to burn out the cel antenna in it so it still has a camera, wi-fi and apps, but there's no ability to make phone calls.  A friend sold it to me some time ago.

I had it fixed up with a cool aftermarket green faceplate (like this one) and put it in a bulletproof rubber case and then in an iPhone box and then in wrapping paper and now you have a five-year-old with an iPhone.

Why did we get it for him, you ask?  Because the kids love the thousands of children's apps, books and games that are available for smartphones.  I like it because the apps are pretty inexpensive ($8 at most, usually $2 or even free) and it's easy to hide or put out of reach.  You see, the iPhone is a "special" toy.  You parents know the one.  It's the toy you only pull out on special occasions for a treat.  On some slow, rainy Washington day when the kids are driving you nuts, you tell the kids, "If you eat two broccolis, you can play for a little bit on the phone!"

Maybe that's not how you do it, but it is how we do it.  And the broccoli gets eaten and--just like finger paints and Play-Doh--the "phone" comes down from the top of the fridge (because that's where all parents put "special" toys) and we take turns playing games.  Every 15 minutes we switch who gets to play.  The rule is that the operator gets to play any game that's on the phone.

So, that required me as a dad to look up the best iPhone apps available for preschool kids.  What are the best iPhone apps available for preschool kids?  Apps by Toca Boca.

My kids love these games and would play them all day if I let them (I don't).  The company doesn't consider their apps to apps, but rather toys.  So there isn't a bunch of levels or time limits.  The idea is more just to allow the kids to use their imagination to make cool stuff happen.

Yes, this picture is of a phone game.

Trains pick up cargo, cars jump off ramps, sausage is boiled in pots and so on.  The Swedish digital design studio has worked very hard to construct their apps to look real and magical all at the same time.  For example, in Toca Builders (pictured) children use their imagination to operate wooden robots to construct, move and paint wooden blocks in gravity-defying configurations.  Toca Tailor allows a child to pick patterns and cuts for a customized "paper doll" of their own.  (You can imagine how Mariah loves that!)  At $2.99 down to $0.00, not a bad deal for a long car ride back to Oregon.  If you have an iPhone, a long drive and a preschooler, check it out.*

Maybe I'll do a top 20 list of preschooler apps in the future.

*Now, let me just say this.  We have a stack of books that are always available to the kids and we read those all the time.  Plus, we have a play structure outside that the kids love.  All that stuff is probably better for kids than so-called "screen time".  But hey, it's the Pacific Northwest and it rains all the time and so there are good reasons for a few games now and again.  Also, I'm not a huge believer in the idea of "educational" games or toys.  So much stuff that's really just entertainment for preschoolers like ours is sold as being educational.  My opinion on that is that if the kids like it, maybe it will help a little bit.  When I was a kid Sesame Street taught me more how to act like Cookie Monster than to spell.  Whatever.  Cookie Monster is still the greatest.

Just enough

It's happened a thousand times.  I get to the end of my day and finally have time to post on my mostly-neglected blog.  The kids are in bed, the house looks halfway okay, the bills are rather paid.  Enough laundry is done to be able to go to work tomorrow.  Speaking of work: I made my quota today.  I've been trying to fit in an extra project each day, but can't quite make it happen yet.  But it's all done.  Now it's time to blog away.

The problem is I'm physically, mentally and emotionally exhausted.  Everything I have in me was thrown at this day.  There's nothing that I want to do less than anything more.  No more work.  No more traffic,  No more hide and seek.  No more cleaning up messes.  Nothing.

In all of this I can smile knowing this one blessed thing: the day is over.

And I made it.

I didn't have the energy to do more laundry.  I didn't have enough money to pay extra on my bills.  I didn't have the speed to get another project sent off.  But I made it.

In our society of excesses and extremes I keep expecting to get a standing ovation or somehow catch a second wind that allows me to party 'til midnight, but that isn't how today's story will end.

It will end with me going (running) to bed, laying my head on my pillow and--in the 30 seconds it takes for me to fall fast asleep--having the assurance that in the morning God will once again bless me with just enough.

What happened to April?

April is a month I always make fun of.  That's because NOTHING happens in April.  So how do I explain the fact that I've been too busy to post on my blog?

As it turns out, a lot of stuff DOES happen in April, it's just the sneaky stuff.  Like taxes.

After wrestling for three weeks with the Adoption Tax Credit, I finally--with the help of Sue from H & R Block--got our Federal Taxes sent out last month.  Having that done was nice, but for one last time, I had to do my Oregon state taxes.  They wanted money, so I waited until the last minute.

All that stuff takes time and time spent on taxes takes away from time for blogging.

We also went back home to Oregon for the weekend a few weekends ago.  The time passed very quickly, but it was wonderful to see everyone again.  We miss everyone so so much.

I also was interviewed twice for a job downtown Seattle.  It looked good, the interview went well, I was excited about the opportunity and then--they offered the position to someone else.

Combine this with ministry training and the spring adoption event on the two "free" weekends and we were purty busy.  Now that it's May, I hope I have time to reflect and remember the last five years of writing this blog and watch cancer disappear in the rear view mirror.

How to pronounce the names Elijah and Elisha

This must be one of the most important posts ever.

My name (Elijah) and my son's name (Elisha) are very similar in spelling and sound. This has been a point of confusion for a lot of people.

The names Elijah and Elisha are Jewish in origin. They were the names of two Old Testament prophets, Elijah being the mentor and Elisha his protege. So, you must realize, the names are pronounced much different by Americans today than they were by people speaking Ancient Hebrew around 700 BC.

Since the kids have come home, we've had people call both of us all kinds of names. And that's OK. I'm really not too picky about it. And, believe it or not, I'm not quite sure how to pronounce my name.

The pronunciation of Elijah has several variants:

ee-LYE-juh
ih-LYE-juh
uh-LYE-juh
and also
ee-LYE-zhuh ('zh' would be pronounced like 'Asia')
ih-LYE-zhuh
uh-LYE-zhuh

I tend to use the last one (uh-LYE-zhuh) when I'm lazy. From my reasearch, this is almost certainly incorrect, even though it's probably my choice how I want people to say my name. I'll try to be a little more disciplined and tighten it up to the pronunciation I prefer, either eh-LYE-zhuh or eh-LYE-juh. Hardly ever use the hard "ee" sound.

eh-LYE-zhuh?

A lot of this applies to Elisha* as well (i.e., ee-LYE-shuh, ih-LYE-shuh, uh-LYE-shuh as variants). I'm shooting for eh-LYE-shuh.

All of this is, of course, not that important to either of us. We really don't care what you call us, just don't call us late for--you know the rest.

eh-LYE-shuh?

Off to my left, your right, you'll see a poll that asks which pronunciation you prefer to use when you're slaughtering the pronunciation of my name. I gave the options of the four pronunciations I hear most. If I don't have yours, pick the closest one to your version. Maybe it will help me to know which direction to go with this.

My reaction to the "Greatest Gospel Family of All Time" Poll results and why I'm right and everyone else is wrong

All right already. The Gaithers won. BIG TIME! The Gaithers got six votes as compared to two for the Hawkins and one for the Winans. In dead last are the Rambos, the Speers, the LeFevres and the Chapmans, all with zero.

The solitary vote for the Winans was mine. The Winans family has 12 people in it and 11 of them are recording artists, not counting the grandkids. Six of them are GRAMMY winners and BeBe and CeCe Winans are soon to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. And I know that doesn't mean everything, but they are undeniably talented. Anyone out there still like to jam "It's Time To Make a Change"?

How could this not be the gospel singinist family in history?

Of course the family that started the whole conversation in the first place was the Hawkins. It is said that the Winans were just a family who wanted to be like the Hawkins and succeeded. Walter, Edwin, Tramaine and Lynette. They have a total of five GRAMMYs and sold about seven million copies of "Oh Happy Day" way back in the 60's.

Apparently this picture belongs to Getty Images.

Regardless of our efforts, the fans of soul were not nearly enough to top the landslide winners. Bill and Gloria Gaither have been making Southern Gospel* music since the mid-60's. Songs like "He Touched Me", "Because He Lives" and "There's Something About That Name" have sung by congregations all over the world and recorded and re-recorded and re-re-recorded.

The faces of greatness

They've sold at least 40 million albums, which is not hard to do when you've released over 150 of 'em. They've won five GRAMMYs and sold millions of tickets to their Homecoming concert tours. And blah-blah-blah-blah-blah. OK. You win.

Gaithers the greatest?

Looks like Bill and Co. are in the lead as "Greatest Gospel Family Ever" with two days left. Look to your right to cast a vote.

And half of you are thinking, "Who are the Gaithers?"

Walter Hawkins (1949-2010)

When I was a little kid, my aunt Liz used to live with us. And Liz always had a stack of gospel LPs next to the stereo. One of those albums that we used to throw on the Pioneer turntable was called Love Alive III by Walter Hawkins and the Love Center Choir.

We'd jam this rollicking choir album over and over again on Saturdays. Those days as a little kid are probably what gave me the unusual love for gospel music that I still have today. (Not that I like gospel music only out of mere sentiment.) Those were great days and I can still sing along with all those songs on the CD version I bought a few years back.

I was surprised when I heard that Walter Hawkins died last week from pancreatic cancer. I guess he had been fighting it for two years and acted very strong until his last few days. Thanks, Bishop Hawkins, for all the great choir albums. I'm not the same.

Walter Hawkins was brother to Edwin Hawkins who wrote "Oh Happy Day". And was also married to Tramaine Hawkins and had many other talented family members. This got me wondering to myself, "What is the greatest gospel music family of all time?" If you know anything about gospel, check out the new poll.

Oh, and here's a little goin' way back Hawkins:

And it's Chipotle (and In-N-Out)!

Visitors to the blog surprised me earlier this week by voting Chipotle as their Favorite Fast-Casual Chain Restaurant, along with (not a surprise), In-N-Out Burger.

What is Chipotle?  It's kind of like Subway, but with a burrito instead of a sandwich.  They do have tacos and salads and chips, but at Chipotle we all know it's about the custom-order burrito.  Don't get me wrong: I like the place, but among the dozen or so options laid out in the poll, I didn't expect it to take top billing.

My vote?  Five Guys.  After they started opening up different locations here in PDX, I became hooked on the occasional weekend indulgence of a bacon cheeseburger and fresh-cut fries.  Bacon & cheese hot dogs are also a must try.

My vote wasn't automatic, though, because of the West Coast's own not-so-fast food joint, In-N-Out Burger.  This place is awesome.  Burgers, fries, shakes.  All the good stuff!  In fact, someone apparently switched their vote from Five Guys to In-N-Out at the last minute to give it a tie for first place, much to my chagrin.  What's my problem with In-N-Out?  They won't open a location in Oregon.  If they will not stand by me and the fine citizens of the Beaver State, they don't get my vote.

Other fondnesses from the poll: Turkey, Bacon, Guacamole from Quiznos, chow mein from Panda, pizza from Sbarro, bagels from Panera (go get a dozen today).

Dislikes abound as well.  How about the hospital-like atmosphere at Baja Fresh?  It's actually almost identical to a typical Five Guys store, except they have food that matches their look.  Unacceptable.

Sonic and Taco Del Mar seem to be stuck on mediocrity, though I can't have a problem with TDM's Tax Day Taco Giveaway.

Boston Market still can't make it back to Oregon, but I remember the days when we used to get stuck in the drive-thru for 15 minutes while they finished baking meatloaf for some guy in front of us.  Drive-thru meatloaf?  So awesome and so wrong all at the same time.

Noodles & Co. is like Chipotle or Subway, but instead of a burrito or sandwich, the base menu item is a bowl of pasta (and it just don't work).

In case you actually made it to the end of this post (which I will immediately tag myself as boring), is anyone out there interested in a $10 gift card to the very popular Chipotle?  If I get 5 "I love this!" on this post, I'll take that as a yes and type up a special giveaway post.  If not, I guess it's not-so-fast burritos for me!

I've done wrong (New options on the poll)

A serious oversight has occurred. Yes it has. I forgot to put Panda Express and Sbarro on the original poll. I know that by splicing in a new poll below the original, it will allow people to vote who already voted for the original 10, but I figured it was fair since these two very worthy producers of pseudo-ethnic food missed three precious days of voting.

Absolutely unimportant

After a big week of important dates, I have to do something at least a little frivolous. I've added a new poll just to the right ⇒.

What is your favorite fast-casual restaurant? You know the type I'm talking about. That one you go to when you're too rushed and/or cheap to go somewhere nice, but can't handle another $1 burger or taco.

'80s Flashback #1: Soundwave

Here's the first post of a series I may or may not continue!
I ran across this on the web today. It's the 25th anniversary edition of a toy that I thought was totally cool when I was about six. It's Soundwave the Transformer. This robot/microcassette recorder was a part of the (very, very evill) Decepticon force. He comes with his subservient microcassette robots Ratbat, Buzzsaw, Ravage. And, yes, he also comes with Laserbeak, who we all know is one of the most pivotal characters in the Decepticons ongoing war with the Autobots.

It's funny that by the time my kids know what's going on, I'm sure they'll have no idea what a microcassette recorder is. And they might ask why, 25 years after they were cutting edge, you would want a fake one for 50 dollars.

I'll tell you why. Because it's nostalgic. Because it's awesome. Because it's more than meets the eye.

Happy Valentine's Day!

My last post got quite a response when I linked it on facebook, but in lieu of fueling that fire anymore, I've decided to post this totally awesome video (which I also posted on facebook). Click play.



This is SO WRONG! I'll admit I laughed, but not nearly as hard as Tracy McGrady. Why would you do this if you weren't 100% sure?

♥

OK. Since I've been working on the 8 1/2 anniversary recap story for a week and a half, I decided to let that wait and post now!

First, Elisha is sick. Real sick. Double ear infection. Bronchialitis (no clue what makes this different than bronchitis). Concern that the digestive problems he had in Ethiopia are returning. That's a lot of what's been keeping me occupied for the past couple weeks. We would appreciate your prayers.

Second, does the increasing universality of Valentine's day bother anyone else? For years people have been making it a big family celebration, including sons, daughters, cousins, moms, dads, just about anyone. Now it's gotten to the point where people include friends, co-workers and (aaaaaaaaaahhh) pets.

I thought this was about love. Not just love, but I mean loooove.

OK, OK, OH-KAY! We really don't know a lot about St. Valentine, but we think he might have performed a marriage or two. I don't know how the day became such an all-encompassing enterprise.

I'll tell what I'm getting my kids for Valentine's Day: a babysitter.

2009 survey

Here's one of those surveys I thought I'd never post:

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?
Become a parent.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
No and no.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Too many. Joe and Dawnella come to mind.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No. And that's the first time in a while.

5. What places did you visit?
Bainbridge Island, WA; Washington, D.C; Addis Ababa, ET

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?
Money. A whole lot of spendin' money.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory?
June 16th (referral day); July 4th (first pics of the kids); September 14th (gotcha day); May 25th and September 4th (our 30th birthdays)

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Beside completing the adoption, realizing that there are things worth completely selling out for.

9. What was your biggest failure?
My failure to trust God that our kids would be home by the end of the year. Or perhaps my failure to realize that eating tripe and fried goat while in Ethiopia is very risky.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Did you read #9? Let me help you out: swallow a live, angry badger. That's how it felt.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
This is a tough one. Final Cut Express 4, The Screwtape Letters in dramatized audio, tickets to Brian Regan, Dean acoustic guitar, airport shuttle service (life saver)

12. Where did most of your money go?
I think it's a tie between mortgage payments and adoption fees. Naw. Adoption I think was more.

13. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
What God is doing in people's lives.

14. What song will always remind you of 2009?
"Just Wanna Say" by Israel Houghton or "Closer to Love" by Mat Kearney

15. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? totally depends on how you look at it
b) thinner or fatter? believe it or not, I'm thinner (see #9 again)
c) richer or poorer? poorer monetarily

16. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Pouring myself into people.

17. What do you wish you’d done less of?
Probably spending time doing stuff like this.

18. How did you spend your summer holidays?
Frantically trying to get ready for the trip of a lifetime.

19. Did you fall in love in 2009?
With two orphans.

20. This useless question was ignored.

21. What was your favorite TV program?
I don't watch TV. But "The Twilight Zone" definitely comes to mind...

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
I think I'm closer to NOT hating people that I hated last year. God help me not to hate anyone!

23. What was the best book you read?
Crazy Love by Francis Chan, The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis, Hinds' Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard or (just finishing) When Men Pray by Larry Schoonover

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Vicente Infante or maybe Dooney Da Priest. Or Royal Tailor Band.

25. What did you want and get?
Some clothes. Mine were falling apart!

26. What did you want and not get?
A Breedlove guitar and the talent to play it.

27. What was your favorite film of this year?
Not really UP on the latest films. How on earth would I know?

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Went to P.F. Chang's with Anne-Marie and strolled the Pearl District. Think I thought about buying a book at Powell's about the Civil War and then put it back. And yes, I turned 30!

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Being able to continue mentoring in NE Portland.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?
Two words: Good and Will

31. What kept you sane?
Knowing that I'm ultimately not in control anyway.

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Did I "fancy"?

33. Whose behaviour appalled you?
I know this is probably everone else's answer, but Tiger Woods (allegedly) . Wow, what a shock!

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.
I am blessed and if you have food, shelter and clothing, so are you!

What We'll Miss 2009, Part II

#1
Ethiopia

What could I say about Ethiopia? I didn't plan on making it to Africa even by the time I was 60, let alone the week after my 30th birthday.

Three months after coming home, I still have trouble writing or talking about the trip. Is it because it brings back memories of the orphan's face? Or the sick and abandoned? The beggar?

Maybe it's because I cannot explain how people in Ethiopia are happier than people in America. Maybe that makes me too ashamed to talk about it. Maybe.

Still, I'll never be the same after Ethiopia. I miss you most this New Year's Eve.

What We'll Miss 2009

Here's a quick post about some things we leave behind in '09 that I'm really gonna miss:





#10
Pontiac/Saab

GM has announced (with the help of the federal government) that it's 86ing two of their brands for good. Saab is one. Yeah, yeah. Sob for Saab. Never been a big fan, but it's a historic make.

The other one--Pontiac--is a heartbreaker. If you've ever been someone who wanted the Trans Am, GTO, Firebird or (help us!) a Fiero, just know they will be part of American history. The first car I ever drove was a 1985 Grand Am and man it was a HOT ROD. That is until it THREW a rod that went through the engine block and caused the entire thing to seize up for good.








#9
Christian Supply

OK. So a lot of you won't even know/care anything about this. But if you're in the need of some gospel music or a Bible, you could always go to this Mecca of all things Christian (is it OK to even write that?). They had multiple locations in the Portland area, including a huge store on Division that'd been there forever. They're not gone completely, but they've scaled down to a single store on Cedar Hills Boulevard.





#8
Harry and David

Put this in the same category as #9. H&D originated in Medford, Oregon, as a "catalog company". Over the years demand for their unique salsas, dips, fruit baskets and peppermint bark (a must at Christmastime) allowed them to open several stores around America. This year they closed many of their stores due to a shrinking demand for their products.










#7
Blue Dot Guitars

This is even more specific to my own daily life. Blue Dot Guitars was that local guitar shop that every town in the country has. BDG started as Robert Adrian Music about 20 years ago. I took lessons there for a few months and, believe it or not, left knowing a couple dozen chords. Oregon City will never be the same.











#6
Greg Oden

Oden was the #1 pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. The Blazers drafted him in hope that he would be the big guy under the basket that they've been missing since the 70's. Before he played a single game, the cartilage under his right knee shattered and he had to have surgery that caused him to miss the entire basketball season. He came back a year later with all kinds of hopes resting on him. Unfortunately, his left kneecap split into two pieces during a game a few weeks ago. Yeah, he's gone for another season. I'm trying to figure out how to squeeze a Tonya Harding joke in right here, but I can't make it work.






#5
Washington Mutual

This was Anne-Marie's bank until we combined accounts a little bit after we got married. They got caught up in the home loan frenzy and irresponsibly lent out a bunch of money. And that's how a 120-year-old bank suddenly died. Branches completed the changeover to Chase Bank this year.






#4
JOE'S

Formerly known as G.I. JOE'S, this combo auto parts and sports equipment store was the best place ever to buy a Christmas gift card for Dad. It also was the location of the local Ticketmaster kiosk before every had them. They closed all their locations at the end of May.





#3
Midway

These guys put out a ton of popular video games, mostly in the 80's: Spy Hunter, Galaga, Rampage, NBA Jam. Beside that, they were the distributor of a rather famous game by Namco called Pac-Man. All of Midway's holdings were either shuttered or sold off this year.














#2
The P-I

"It's in the P-I". Unlike us, our neighboring metropolis was privileged to have two major newspapers in town until this year. Seattle Post-Intelligencer ended 146 years of print circulation leaving The Seattle Times as the only paper in town. If you've been around Seattle or seen the view of the city from the Space Needle, you'll be happy to know that the P-I globe is not going anywhere.

I'll save #1 for its own special post.

BatManu v. PETA

I don't blog on sports ever. But THIS is way too awesome...



Three days after the Halloween night bat-swat by Manu Ginobili, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has condemned the act, likening it to Michael Vick's dog-fighting operation. After seeing this, I don't think I'd mess with the guy.

I might be a victim!

Last night, Anne-Marie and I went to Target to get a bunch of stuff for the trip. Baby stuff mainly. Along with this I decided to get one of those gadgety sports watches to use on the trip so I can tell time in a couple of different time zones and have an alarm, etc., because using my cel phone isn't practical for that length of time.

We got stuck in traffic while we were driving home so I asked Anne-Marie to get the watch out of the bag so I could set the time. She dug through all the stuff and it wasn't there! We looked on the receipt and, yes, they had charged us for one Armitron gadgety sports watch, but apparently the cashier forgot to put it in the bag. They stole my watch! I called the store and they said to come back in and get another. Now I gotta go back over there tonight and try to broker a deal for another $20 watch.

After getting over last night's watch mess, I woke up this morning to a flat tire. Actually, I didn't wake up to it, I drove a block and a half on it. I got to a nearby gas station and since I didn't have any cash for the air machine, I went inside to buy some stuff and get cash back. After selecting some apple juice and a box of Lorna Doones, the cashier told me they didn't give cash back. I told her my story and she had pity on me and gave me 75 cents cash back.

Looking out the window made it obvious that the Pepsi delivery truck was parked in front of the air machine, but according to the cashier he was "almost done". 45 minutes later I was filling up my completely deflated tire. As soon as I filled it up I could hear a high-pitched whistle coming from a half-inch puncture in the tire's sidewall. Someone SLASHED MY TIRE!

I can't figure out any other way it could have happened. The cut in the sidewall is too clean and is aimed toward the outside of the tire. Unlikely that it could have been caused by any road hazard.

So I drove the three blocks home. By the time I got there the tire was flat again. Thankfully I have a full-size spare that will have to do for maybe a few weeks (months). I had it on in no time and was on my way. I ain't gonna let no tire slasher get me down. Or a disappearing watch. I have a feeling if those are my biggest problems, I'm in pretty good shape.

What I'm reading

To give readers just a little more insight into my life, apart from the adoption, I've added a "What I'm Reading" widget to the sidebar. The three on the list right now are not the only books I own. (I have another LibraryThing account for that.) These are just the ones I'm currently reading.

It's been HOT!

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, there's no news here. Go ahead and move along to your second-favorite blog.

If not, let me tell you: IT'S BEEN HOT IN PORTLAND!

Yesterday had the hottest temperatures I've ever personally experienced. I'm glad to know that today we sink down to a more reasonable 102 degrees.