A Friendly Rant About the Second Law of Thermodynamics

This is a rant about ENTROPY (defined as a measure of disorder in a system).

It stems from 2 recent experiences.
1. First, I took my car in for an oil change, and they told me I needed to spend $500 for rear-wheel brakes and rotors. Then about 2 weeks later my engine light in my car came on and is staying on.
2. Second, my computer contracted a virus and spyware that completely stopped my computer. So I had to pay to get it repaired. They warned me that my computer was about 4-5 yr old and will probably die soon and when it does I will loose all my info so I better buy one of their computers instead of spending money to fix the old one I have. Yeah, no problem. Like I have $1000 sitting around to buy a new computer out of the blue.

Which brings me to ENTROPY and probably one of the worst concepts in physics - The Second Law of Thermodynamics. Now it is confusing, a little like fixing a car or computer, so I may not be totally correct on all details, but the basic idea of the Second Law of Thermodynamics is this. If a system, like a car or computer or glass of ice, is left alone then the amount of disorder will either remain constant or increase. (And it seems like it always increases) Another way to state this is that all things tend to break down and have less energy to work. It takes energy from an outside source (aka - my bank account) to keep them running. Thus, I summarize this as - all things tend to chaos. This last statement is not totally correct because chaos, disorder, and randomness are not the same. But it is easier to remember.

And so, I have to pay out of my nose to have my systems, car and computer, fixed so that later on they can break down again, and then I'll buy a new system that needs more money to prevent it from breaking down again.

And so, I think to myself that the basis for consumerism is actually the Second Law of Thermodynamics and that all things tend to randomness (breaking down).

And that really really sucks.

A Wilson Wonderland

We met up with the Wilsons last weekend and went boating at Jordanelle. We had so much fun that we wore the poor boat out. Thanks to Kathy and Greg for the delicious dutch oven dinner. (I appologize for any spelling errors on names)

Brad and Steph's twins

Ben and Annie

Carol and Steph

Kasididle

Torinna

Vivers

Brov and Elora

Mom's kids (minus Em and Jonah who were stuck out on the boat after it broke down on the lake)

Jared, Tori, Kasidy, and Me playing in the water.

Boat Bow Beauties

The fabulous Mr Benard

Jared tearing it up wakeboarding (OK just crossing the wake) Sorry I did not get a picture of the flips he was doing.

Tori's FIRST wakeboarding attempt!!! Yeah!!!


My cutest nephew in the whole world

His cute dad - Brovwa

The Coach

That's a wet wet dog dog. (Ask brov about the shaggy dog joke)

Me taking Jonah in some nasty dirty water to play and splash. He is still not quite sure about going in the water but I am quite sure I like my cleavage.

Wakeboarding Mania

Tori on the Alpine Coaster. Luckily the guy at the ride told us the carts were attached to the track so we shouldn't worry about falling off the track. Whew.



Cute girls roughing it on the Provo River. Tori astutely said, "it ruins the feeling of being away from it all when your cell phone rings." Unfortunately she meant my cell phone, not hers.



Boating on Deer Creek Reservoir.




Vivian wakeboarding. YEAH! I did not get the picture of her singing and dancing WHILE wakeboarding to one of her favorite songs. -darn

Viv, Tori, and I have had tons of fun hanging out.
1. We went to Raging Waters (yes, it was my chance to be young again) with Kasidy. Everyone got along. Everyone was safe. It was a good day.
2. We went shopping at Gateway and I was able to see teenage girls in action without parents to supervise shopping. I was a little intimidated and confused. All I really remember was the strong smell of cologne and loud music.
3. We went to the Alpine Slide and went on the coaster. Very fun. Then I encouraged (forced) the girls to go on a walk by the Provo River in Heber. They did not think this was the best idea until we saw a moose. I'm just happy I got some cute pictures.
4. We went boating (twice) with my dad and Linda. Viv is a wakeboarding maniac. She LOVES it. She did such a great job and got up on the FIRST try.

Last night they slept at Aunt Kathy's house. They went horseback riding this morning. Now we are going boating with the Wilson's. We will post those pictures later.

Party at Aunt Vickie's House

Summertime! Vacations! Family!

Vivian and Tori here in Utah visiting family. We went to Aunt Vickie's house to see cousins and our cute aunts, Karen and Vickie. We had a very fun and relaxing day eating lunch and practicing the art of conversation. Dan, Kelsey's husband, put together a wading pool and water slide for the kids. What a cool dad. Jonah loved the swings and trampoline also. He was pretty cute running around the huge yard with the big kids.

During Viv and Tori's vacation we went to the Alpine Slide, watched football scrimmage (not their favorite), went boating, visited Matichs and sang karaoke, watched movies and played games with Brov, visited with Vickie/Karen and played with Kassidy, and ate at fav Mexican restaurant. We still have more boating and more boating, maybe hiking, 4-wheeling, shopping, Alpine coaster, and an outdoor concert.


I need to post all of the pictures, but here are some with Vickie and Karen. Unfortunately a few pictures were blurry because my camera was in the wrong mode. They were cute pictures so I posted them anyway, sorry.

McBride Update

Viv and Tori in their dance recital costumes. They are both in jazz and ballet. Tori also had a lyrical dance.
Self-portrait of two goofy sisters. Aren't they just the sweetest angels?
Tori and Viv at Girls Camp this summer. Tori was a first-second year and Viv was a fourth year. It was held in Wisconsin at a YMCA camp. They both had tonz of fun. Viv especially loved canoeing around the lake getting her butt wet in the water in the canoe and running over fishing lines. Tori LOVES hiking (just kidding) but she did like being with her friends. She had a few issues with the inflatable mattress, sliding under bunks, and hanging with spiders. You know, camp stuff.
Viv and Lizzie at Girls Camp. They just finished their 4th year and will by YCLs next year. Don't they look good in the beenie! Authoritative.
Tori is starting pointe class this year. She starts Monday. Here is a picture of her en pointe in her shoes in the store.

ALL ABOUT VIV:

Viv is starting 10th grade on August 13th. She attends early morning seminary at 6 AM! She's definitly NOT a morning person, but she really likes seminary anyway. She's a little nervous for the upcoming year, mainly because she will be taking AP European History, Honors Chemistry, Honors Algebra 2/Trig, Honors English, and Government. She's applying for a scholarship program run by the Schuler Family Foundation. It's a program that not only provides money to attend Ivy League Schools, but also helps the students involved in the program get accepted to prestigious, highly selective schools. Her first choice for colleges will always be BYU, but she'd be willing to consider Princeton or Stanford. Or possibly Harvard. She wants to be either a lawyer or a veterinarian, but she's keeping her options open. She's been invited to attend a leadership conference in D.C. this fall for 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. She's looking forward to her sweet 16 this November! She can't wait to be able to date and drive, although her dad says that dating still won't be allowed! She can't wait until she gets to go to UTAH this summer, because Utah will always be her favorite place in the world. :]]

ALL ABOUT TORI:

Tori will be starting seventh grade this year. She is in advanced math and language arts classes. She really has been enjoying reading the Stephanie Meyer Twilight series. This year Tori was inducted into National Junior Honor Society or as she calls it the nerdy club. She plays the flute in her school band and since she was second chair she got to play the piccolo. And for your information, lest you think she is a nerd, she was voted best dressed in the sixth grade by her classmates. She is very excited about all of her dance classes. She is going to dance Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, and Jazz funk. She is already as tall as Vivian and will be 13 this November. I have a suspicion that Tori is a little boy crazy. She has a secret crush on someone, she won't tell me who it is. I think it must be Jonah (her nephew) because he is just so darn cute.


I am lucky to have such great sisters.