the male guppy, Shadow

the female guppy, Sunset

the female guppy, Silvette


See those whitish spots on the triop's sides? Those are eggs, in an egg pouch. They're adults now. Only took 18-19 days too.

a picture to help show you the size.
The triops will still molt. That skin behind the triop below was actually shed after the triop it was from had eggs (I was going to take it out, and basically throw it away, until I noticed something. When the triop shed it, it left behind it's eggs. I never knew they did that before. So I set it aside.)


I avoided watching tv all day (after Church anyways). I ended up outside most of the day. First, I got food for the mantises (that actually took 30-50 minutes to find/catch 3 flies... pesky things) Then I tried out my old rollarblades, which are supposed to be for size 8, which is 1 1/2 sizes too small now. A little tight, but it worked, though after awhile it started to bother my left foot. Then I came back in, ate, did something while I ate, mowed the lawn, got on my rollar blades again, and ended with a little run (15 minurtes or less). Then I took a shower, and got on the computer (at 6:30 ish).

I did this as an experiment. I wanted to see what I'd fill the time I'd normally be watching TV with. I guess I didn't really realize how much I really watch that thing. that was like 4-5 hours of stuff I just told you above too...

definitely something to think more about.

Now the weather people predicted that it Don would give at least some good amount of rain, but unfortunately the High that's over Texas, like the heat has been doing to people it did to Don. It sucked the energy right out of it. I've seen the satellite view of the landfall, it starts to go over land, then poof it just vanishes. They're gonna need something stronger then a tropical storm...

I've been having trouble, getting a clear picture, which I figured out how to do today (a picture through the water, without it turning out grainy), and I accidentally came across a way to get those energizer bunny triops to hold still on on the edge towards me for longer then a second.

Food... that was the answer. once they find a pellet that I put on the surface of the water, they'll just sink eating it. They'll even stay on their backs.

like this:



As a bonus I got my finger close to it. :)
17-18 day old triop; I'd say within a few days of becoming an adult triop, which is determined by the appearance of an eggsack (unless it's the rare kind of triop, a male triop)

The praying mantises as they stand

Sprout- stage 6 (has been for around a week to ten days now)
Ideal- stage 6 (molted yesterday morning)
Hatchet- stage 5 (3-5 days ago)

also I figured out the name for the last female guppy,

it has an orangish tail, (I thought of it today actually) so I named her Sunset.

so we have Silvette, Sunset, and Shadow. (I just realized those all start with S, how strange)

I also realized Silvette's silverish-blue coloration in her tail fin, is also in her her Ventral fins (fins on her belly). The leading edges of those fins are tipped in that color, she looks great. Sunset does as well, the basically compliment each other swimming around close to one another.

Yesterday after I got up, I just sat in a chair (after I cleaned the one of the sides of the tank of algae, the one I look through specifically.) and I think I zoned out watching the fish swim around. Pretty amazing that there's something so simple, that can hold my attention that long, usually the limit on a simple thing, with my adhd and all, is like 10 minutes max (that's before I've taken my meds for that). This occurred before I took them btw. I think I was watching the fish for over 30 minutes.

dad and I found out that the toolbox that we use to keep the cats from coming up from the basement left a huge rust stain on the kitchen floor. While I was downstairs turning on the washer, he cleaned the rush spot. Mom said a few ideas how to fix this (after I came back up, she got home). Then she went upstairs, so dad and I were floating around ideas, his foil tape (I got that during a second trip downstairs) method (taping the bottom of the toolbox with it so it would slide) got me thinking, about the sliding idea, and then it came to me, use bottle tops, specifically gatorade bottle tops (which I had 10 of which I acquired at the soccer camp). we'll see how that works...
Mom's idea of putting carpet on the bottom of the toolbox was a pretty good one as well

-Running-


The only time I ever really seem to keep going like this (when in physical discomfort, and without anyone's encouragement) is when I run. I just don't want to stop. Though when I'm tired enough I will, unless I have a goal in mind, then I won't. I don't know why I seem to do constantly push through pain, or tiredness while run for long distance (not sprinting). I don't know I think I actually might be trying to get that feeling, and push through it. I think that's what I might like about running (I just thought of that) I've always wondered why I like it quite a bit. Maybe it's a combination as well...

-end running, for now-

How did I get so many gatorade tops at camp?

Well when we first got at camp we ate, and each person got one gatorade. Some of the team decided to fling the tops (actually it turned into dodge the flying gatorade tops). I collected the flung ones (actually I wasn't participating in this "dodging"). Coach then told us to pick them up, and for somereason I decided to keep the ten I had, who knew they'd come in handy ;).

I just wish those politicians would raise the debt ceiling and get it over with...
And this is exactly the reason why I'm going to stay an independant, as opposed to a republican, or democrat. Both parties have some things I like, and some things I don't. Only if there was a combination of the good parts.

Now if I could only find my watch, which I seem to have misplaced yesterday.

Now for some good new, not good, Great News!
Tropical storm don looks like it's going to hit Texas, which desparately needs the rain, maybe the storm could also dislodge that pesky High over Texas as well, ending the extreme heat there. The High has proven to be quite stubborn about moving so far though.

It's supposed to hit Texas Friday night.

tomorrow (spelled it tomarrow first though), is the last day of soccer conditioning, the last two hours, and then a run at Sharon woods (about 3.7 miles). We've done that run for three years counting this one. Coach gave us today off in his words "rest is mandatory". The female guppy I'm calling Silvette is looking closer, and closer to spilling her dough. I believe the other one (who I still don't have a name I like yet) appears to be surprisingly not pregnant. The male guppy I'm calling Shadow, he looks much like one, and he's looks like a past coloration of male guppies that I raised years ago, one of the two guppy's I raised that survived the transitional extinction from the 40 gallon (I think it was) to the 55 gallon.

also dad got the microphone working (installed a plugin that allows you to chat with it on Gmail, it works on the computer I use secondary (Tachyon 2), but the mic won't work on the one I usually use (lightspeed). I tested it between two gmail accounts I have there appears to be some static, but that could be from the mic picking up the sound it had recorded (kinda like making a copy of a copy, it get's fuzzy). kudos to dad. :D
so now the add voice to chat option on gmail's chat works for me, though obviously video won't. (little hard with a video input)

funny I think I was inspired to get that plugin from a dream, not surprising though. My dreams do that a bit. Kinda like what I want, but I'm hesitant to do, but my dreams are kinda like me nudging myself, if you know what I mean.

I realized your own voice sounds a little different then you believe it does. I'm not sure how to explain it, but it does. I also found out with the strike feature in gmail you can make a lot of different things, I created another gmail account so I could test it without spamming someone. I misintrepretted what give invite meant, and sent one to my normal gmail account, asking a person who's on gmail to join gmail looks a bit strange :P

chris.w was taken, so I went with chris.fish.w@gmail (who would've guessed) :P

Today was Mom's birthday, happy 27th mom ;)

Downtown Columbus, before this trip I don't remember when I last saw those skyscrapers; A sign we were almost home back to tree.

looks like this field didn't do so well.

a field of green

shortly after leaving the national Athletes in action headquarters in Xenia, Ohio

the Sun at 7:15 (according to my camera)

the Sun at 7:06 (according to my camera)

these are flowers from around the outside of the building we were staying at. I took these today before the ones above.



a 10-11 day old triop and a 5-6 day old triop below that (picture reposted). I would've used the one of a 6-7 day old triop but the finger in that one is noticeably different, unlike in the 5-6 day old one.



now for some stories, not in the same order, just in the order they're written down...
basic things you need to know, roommates are Ben, a guy with orange hair and freckles, and Will, with brown hair, and likes to eat...

#1 after a conversation...
Will: I'm too tired to eat you.
Ben: Will? too tired to eat! It's the apocalypse! the apocalypse is coming, the apocalypse is coming!
Will: the apocalypse? I don't eat that much! ok, maybe I do... wait I don't
Ben: you ate three servings...
Will: So, three servings isn't a lot!
conversation would continue

#2 a funny thing will said
Will: You know oxygen has to breath too!

#3
Ben: Ahhh,,,, Lehck....
*ben apparently while, attempting to show will something with spray on sunscreen, about application, accidently sprayed himself in the mouth (which was open). He was holding the can of spray-on sunscreen in the oppisite direction.
*it was hilarious, since he only sprayed himself on his tongue, which wasn't going to hurt him in any way :D*

#4
Ben: I can't feel my body
Me: feel that? feel that? feel that?
Ben: Chris, you don't have to take everything literally...

#5 another player named Trent is sitting on a couch after we first arrived at the camp and after we had mostly finished eating.

*Trent stands picks up a beanbag goes over to the couch*
-Note: I spelled the "couch" above coach earlier... someone caught it (not me -_-)

Trent: Ah, double the comfort. *looks with an ingenious look in his eye*
*falls with the bean bag on the couch as he finishes comfort, the beanbag immediately proceeds to fall off of the couch, dragging Trent with it* absolutely hilarious, since I was standing around 10 feet away, watching this all take place :D


#6
Ben: I will take this floor tile out of the ceiling
Me: floor tile?

*I learned later that Trent had called the ceiling panels floor tiles earlier, apparently ben was thinking of this at the time, it was pretty fun. I think I was probably laughing the most out of anyone. I've had people ask me what I'm laughing at before, since they didn't think something was funny. Well, I think a lot of things are funny, even if they are small. They're the ones missing out :)

also will said something with the word sense in it, I used my classic response.

Does it make dollars too?
Ben: oh I get it.. laughs a little not much

*I preceed to repeat/explain it to will
*as soon as he gets it he slaps his forehead

Also ben was throwing pretzels at will, and will was eating them.
*I'm watching the whole time, and I was laughing inside, and sometimes out :P

####joke portion over####

what I wrote in this notebook about our practice at 2-4 yesterday (the third practice we basically didn't even start before lightning struck

"at our practice we picked teams, for power and finesse, a game where a ball is played from a post to be hit outside the big goal box. Another is then played to be hit inside. I was never very good at this game, apparently until today. If you make both you can challenge someone, if they don't make both, they're out, if they do, you're out. I was the last one left [in the last game,] I [ran up and] kicked the first one[, and] my [right] shoe flys off, then I go to the second one, which hits the post and barely crosses the line,{not in notebook: but I hit it with my left, not my natural right} people who are out start yelling, I had no idea why. {note: not in notebook but I actually thought it was because I was still in, but I thought it seemed a little strange for staying in; a little too much} Then someone said 'challenge donny' {I was thinking "what are they talking about I missed the first one... didn't I? another note not in the entry} I asked: challenge?... did I make both? answered with yes"
end entry

I challenged aaron who proceeded to make both, which means I was out. But I saw my shoe fly off, and I heard the ball hit goalie gloves, I marked it as a miss, didn't even look to see if it went in. When the second ball hit the post I was thinking one thing "oh-no".

We played best out of three and that was the third one. I had challenged aaron in the previous two sets of three, and those two times he missed one, so he was out. Strangely in all the other times I've played that game I never made both of themever. In that set of three I made both three times. What was the difference? I remember something George told me about my strike, "don't stutter your steps before you hit the ball". So I experimented yesterday with it, I took my long stride, but not a fast one, I slowed it down, but kept the length. In my first try I made both, I actually heard some people who where out say "woah", I guess it looked nice, probably weren't expecting that from me. Niether was I now if I could aim it better, But that wasn't all I learned about my abilities. I also learned if I have goalie gloves, apparently I'm fairly good. Some things I did like, somethings I didn't, but apparently according to coach during our last drill "your saves more then make up for your mistakes" It's something about the gloves, they give me confidence.

In learning this I hope to pass it on.

But, this was so small compared to what happened last night, I mean it was incredible!
during the last bible study which he was mostly preaching to the three american football teams that were there, he asked those who prayed "the prayer" to come up, I thought it'd be maybe 17 at the most, I was wrong, glad I was. there was over 50, Not including our team, I'd say most of the players of the other three teams came up. Amazing absolutely amazing, So what if I learned I can shoot, so what if I learned I'm a good keeper, So What, that's far more thrilling then that.

Great experience.

hmmm... my shoulder seems to hurt, I think it was from a save, and also for the first time I might have gotten sunburn, but I think I know why. If it is, it's on the top of my ear, which could be, because for years now my ears, for the most part, have had a hair covering on them.

originally I went outside to take a picture of myself, but when I saw this I had to take it as well. Last day before we leave on that soccer camp. Which I'm allowed to take my camera to (Coach said so). We're not allowed to bring electronic devices, like mp3 players, (and like MP3 players). Cell phones are allowed, but only to really call home once we're about to leave camp.



me, (yes, it is me believe it or not) with much shorter hair.

6-7 day old triop; below that I'm reposting the picture of the 12-24 hour old triop
so you can compare the sizes, since the finger size is very similar.

96 today and supposed to feel like 100.
and July 21 it's supposed to be 99 and feeling at 108, possibly worse.

The all time record hi for today is 98, while tomorrow it's 97, two degress lower then the Hi for tomorrow. I yi yi, gah di da... (a new saying I like)

my, my, how they've grown. I'm kinda using these pictures so I can see their growth as well.


luna moth caterpillar

an oragami box I made out of six square pieces of paper around 0.7 CM or 7 MM

I was looking at the triops trying to get a better shot, I look up and see Sprout looking at me with part of that cricket on his mouth, and holding the rest of the cricket. He had a llok of someone caught eating a cookie or something they weren't supposed to be eating (it looked quite hilarious :D)


The Building finished with windows, I'm thinking about changing some things texture wise though.


mapping wise: to use the Linear option in physics, specifically to calculate how high a tank will go with a given Z value use this, plus an example
[source: http://wiki.bzflag.org/Physics]

Height = ( velocity ^ 2 ) / ( 2 * gravity )

Default gravity is 9.81, so in our example:
Height = ( 50 ^ 2 ) / ( 2 * 9.81 ) = 2500 / 19.62 = ~ 127 units

[end source]
also that source has the formula to calculate the speed of WU for the angular setting

It's getting pretty hot, and if it wasn't bad enough It's gonna get worse. I'll be going to a soccer camp, that our school soccer team is going on, and we get to take our bus (oh joy)...

The camp is where ever Athletes In Action is...

I got a haircut, my hair hasn't been this short since 5 or 6th grade. I like it better this way, I realize now...

picture of Sprout
brown body, and green eyes, they mesh well too!


Note: my finger in this picture is considerably smaller then it was in the picture in the previous post

The building again, all it needs now is windows :D

I don't think I need to circle the triops anymore, 4-5 day old triop.
Sprout is at level 6 now. As it stands
-Sprout -level 6
-Ideal -level 5
-hatchet -level 4



progress on the crazy building I'm doing, it turns out, it's not so difficult, now that I've found a method of doing it, the only thing that need to be fixed is the floors, which I will do by making two segments, instead of one... Other then that I could be finished in a few days! :D

the first one is of a version with only clockwise supports, the other is one with both.




I finished creating the word search all I need to do now is figure out a way to get it right, so I can post it.

the US lost, I'm happy for Japan though, since they've been through a lot. Speaking of Japan, they're about to have to go through some more, in the form of a Super Typhoon apparently. Thankfully it appears it'd be weakened to, what is a Cat 2 to us. (which would mean it would just be a typhoon

Last 4 vials! 3-4 day old triop

in the end they'll be around 1-1.5 inches. I think I might make a wordsearch about fish and put on here, we'll see.

Bzflag wise I've been using this for a few weeks now http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JqIPHt-F4sQ&feature=related not sure why but it seems to work quite well for me. Though if someone would have told me it would, I probably wouldn't have believed it.

another funny thing, apparently when I was messing around with the TV remote I tuned closed caption on, and dad couldn't figure out how to turn it off, apparently it's annoying him. So I'm going to fix it (fixing it wasn't voluntary :P)

I joked that I might use it in the future for my entertainment, apparently dad doesn't like that idea. And apparently if I do that, I won't be using the remote ever again, ouchies. Maybe I shouldn't have told him that... Works out when I don't... like the time I found, and set our phone's alarm clock, though I don't know if the purpose was to wake my parents, I believe it might have been to wake me up, though it didn't I know that much, apparently this went on for around a week before I was informed of it, yes it was an accident, I remember now. Why is it the funny things that I cause tend to be accidentle. Apparently that alarm had been waking them for a week (lol, makes me laugh every time. Never gets old, almost forgot about it too). Dad couldn't figure out how to turn it off, fortunately I did.

neither does this:
When I tried to take out a burned out lightbulb, it broke, and my fingers, completed the circuit, apparently fingers can conduct electricity pretty well. Some light was emitted as well.


It seems many times when I try to do something intentionally it tends to blow up in my face... many things in general actually... like when I was 12 tried a random call/hang up, and I apparently dialed someone's number whom had caller ID, never did that again...

It also seemed whenever I did something I always got caught. I wasn't good at hiding things, still not particularly well at it. They knew me way too well, and even if they didn't I was easier to spot me lying, then it is to find scotch tape in our house (we have around 30 rolls in the house). And even if I did, eventually my conscience would get to me, and I'd confess. I'm pretty predictable, I'll usually ask "What if I did so-and-so, what would you do?". In reality most of the time I had already done it (if I could've done it without their knowledge, or I was considering doing it). Now it's more jokingly, being curious what the consequences whould be, perhaps I'm just stregthening the reasons why I shouldn't do that something (I think that's why now). I'm giving myself more reasons not to do something. Kinda like a safety net. I tend to be indirect in my approach when I want something, as apposed to dad who is direct.

For now on my images will be aligned centrally, it was aligned left.
Tomorrow I'll be watching the Women's fifa world cup finale, US vs Japan. If the US loses I won't be too upset, the women of Japan have been through a lot, it makes a happy ending.

I was trying to see if I could use a pipette (large) to get some more eggs unearthed, and after doing so I could only find one triop, then I was looking I found a triop, but not the ones that were missing, one that had had hatched within 24 hours, not one that hatched around three days ago. I repeated my motions, hoping to unearth the supposedly trapped triops, doing this away from the other two. Eventually I got one out, confirming my theory (or she wasn't moving for over 5 minutes, which isn't very likely (slim to none really)). So I had 3 lost 2 making 1, found 1 making 2, and unearthed another making 3, back to where I started, except worse, that new triop is in danger of being canabolized by the other triops. They'll eat anything they can get really, even other triops. This is a good, and bad thing. a good thing since they'll eat fish pellets, which are easy to get (I still have the original food that came with the original packages (I got either two or three total over the years... strike that three, I remember now. Though the containers for the first two are long gone.

Heh, it just so happened triops came with something mom got me awhile back, I tried to grow them, and I tried a larger container, and the one that came with it (I got inpatient after nothing came through the smaller one... at least I think... not sure...) Whatever the senerio, that's what happened. I remember I had basically given up on it, I only kept them filled because of another little creature I had grown abundantly in the containers: Water fleas, or as I believe their also called daphina. I wish I still had them... a great live food for fish, like brine shrimp, but unlike brine shrimp, water fleas inhabit freshwater.

When looking for linux disks in dad's office I found a fun little thing I hadn't seen in ages (plastic or metal)...

A Slinky!

after it went down the stairs the first time, patch looked a bit interested, so I made it go down the steps again (patch was at the bottom), and apparently patch is scared of a slinky -_-

yeah, patch... way to be courageous...
I mean Hope is perfectly fine with a vacuum cleaner, and you Patch, run away... from a slinky... *shakes head

On another note I'd forgotten how entertaining a slinky can be :D
I'm easily entertained.

I mean I can be entertained by a lot, but video games seem to lose their effect after a few days, except the ones on a computer for some reason... I never got the craze over all those shoot em' up games (halo, gears of war, ect...) on gaming consoles, Not a lot of strategy, or thinking involved. just aim and shoot, repeat...

I think listening to politics might be more fun (no offense)

Also I'm working on overkill, and attempt a something else project, I'm not entirely sure I'll finish it, it's taking a lot of mathematical calculations, and taking quite a bit of time. It will be a building, and around 26x26x65.5 that's the Z size without any attenae on the building here's a link to show the building it's designed off of. Though Version One would only have supports running one direction, clockwise I know one thing, It's testing my limits. the one spiral like building in Overkill: hybrid city was a design based off of this, it was to give a taste of the building to come (AKA this one). Fortunately, the building is symmetrical so I will be able to use group for it, in other words, I only have to make one support for it. Now that I think of it, I could just copy and paste that support, switch the signs of all the X's, reverse all of the Vertices in the face part of the meshes, and I'd have a counter-clockwise mesh, duh why didn't I see that earlier. If I make this successfully then It beats all other buildings I've created so far. I'm also planning on alternating the window color every other space between the supports (like the building in the picture, but alternating every other one). So far only one mesh has been created (Z 0-7.5) two meshes on the supports per floor. Actually I, myself, have never seen anything quite like this in bzflag. If completed it's going in Overkill, without a doubt, if it's too big, something else goes first. Or I'll lower other buildings faces on/with meshes. Oh and already Overkill: Hybrid city is 19000 lines. And I've been using groups quite a bit. Though some objects I defined aren't even used.

Oh I forgot to mention in that big container during my first trial with triops, I looked around 2 weeks in, and I was like "What in the world is that!" I had never seen anything like it, around 5 seconds later I realized it was a triop, I got quite excited... I think I clapped a couple times, uttering eeee. Though it could be just my imagination, but I wouldn't doubt it happened that way, I know one thing fur sure, I was overly excited. I still get excited when I see those triops. Just something about them. Though it might just be raising living creatures up, that's exciting me. Perhaps a combination.

I ran at 6:30 AM which was very nice! lots of birds chirping out, and I even heard a woodpecker. Also before the sun cleared the tree line, I walked part of the time too. I went in at around 6:55 I think. Also didn't keep track of mileage or lap time, this was for enjoyment.

I also ran later at 6:28 PM (oh, perhaps it's predictable. I just decided to do it, Though I also did realize I ran almost exactly the same time, but AM). Not as nice as the morning one, not as many birds out, though the sky had a look of rain (but it didn't), I don't know what it is about running before it rains, but that's my favorite time to be outside, wind blowing more, the smell, I also spent time think, and started to talk to myself. I mean like adding to my current thought process. *Example: I start thiking about bzflag... me: ahhh, why do I have to be thinking about bzflag at a time like this... I think... Me: well, I am letting my mind wander. *pause Me: True *end example

*Example2: *legs start getting tired. Me: come, on legs. Don't fail me now. It is your job you know..So keep moving. *pause Me: You can do it *pause Me: that's it... keep goin' *this conversation was mostly just to entertain myself

dad comes in after talking about how hot it is... dad: are you still writing that entry? *look questioningly dad: are you still writing that blog entry? Me: ya dad: and you talk about me. and you talk about me. you talk about me being a fountain... you're a firehose *also point at the screen from a distance

*conversation after I finished the legs conversation... I've been writing this for around 1-2 hours now, dad's refering to my comment about his rambling on his blog... (hence the fountain, and firehose comparison)...

at least I don't have people saying I'm the reason for some character limits :P
Though without a doubt people probably could ;)

next four vials (only four more left!)


a 12-24 hour old triop below, and below that a 2-3 day old one



Like I said, They grow reeeeeeeeeealy fast!

Well I counted a total of three triops today, and now they resemble them if you know what they look like here's a good picture: http://redpox1st.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/triops_12.jpg
Pretty close to an adult. only difference would be a set of eggsacks, which this one either doesn't have, not visable, or the most unlikely case in which it's a male triop. Here's a picture showing exactly how small a two day old triop is. I've put a circle around the triop after looking at the picture myself. Quite small, thankfully they move, otherwise I don't think I'd be able to see them, they're pretty difficult to see anyways. It doesn't help there's white sand in there too...

I jogged today, at first I kept the time, but pretty soon after I started, I decided not to keep track, and just enjoyed the running, loved every minute of it. especially when these group of little kids would keep saying "stop, stop" that could have been the most enjoyable part... strike that, It was the most enjoyable part. I only stopped because my legs were bugging me for more then a half of a mile, probably due to the fact I didn't eat any breakfast, actually nothing so far today when I ran which was around 4. Though I ate something after running. Also the fact I hadn't drank a good ammount of water before was getting to me as well. Quite enjoyable though, there's just something about winding blowing in my face I like (seems to only apply when I run though).

I know I was smiling every times I saw those kids. I also lost track of my laps at the third lap, and when I went to get some water around a little over half way through, I took off my watch, so I wouldn't look at it. (I had put it in my pocket earlier). Also while running my mind tends to wander (when it's not part of soccer practice). A great time to think, and enjoy nature at the same time. I also think at times that I get to run, I mean some people want to, but they can't. Enjoy it while it lasts. I try to. Nothing lasts forever, except the one that is beyond our understanding (God, and his kingdom).

a good quote about how to secure your computer (sorry dad, forgot the guys name again...)

1. don't buy a computer
2. if you do, don't plug it in.

some people have added to it
3. if you do, and you plug it in, don't connect to the internet.


I can almost hear the caterpillar in the picture "How does this work again... Man, why isn't there a how to shed your exoskelton for dummies."

don't worry he made it :P

Also I can hear Sprout now "Hey, this one's mine, get your own"

the first picture was a little bit before I started jogging, nice day out.













Now bzflag wise I realized I go about all of my meshes the same way

if it's a box I'll always start vertice 0 somewhere with the lower Z size (0 for this example) I'll then go clockwise around the inside of the shape from there. once I'm back to vertice 0 I'll go to the vertex that vertice 0 will connect to above, type it, and again go clockwise around, then I'm done. I can use this for every single case like this.

face
vertices 0 1 2 3
matref roof
endface
face
vertices 7 6 5 4
matref roof
endface
face
vertices 0 4 5 1
matref bw
endface
face
vertices 1 5 6 2
matref bw
endface
face
vertices 2 6 7 3
matref bw
endface
face
vertices 3 7 4 0
matref bw
endface
end

I just copy this and paste it to whatever meshes I do that are 8 points. Saves a lot of time. basically in my mind 0-4, 1-5, 2-6, and 3-7 are always paired together. On the non roof faces it's group A, and B, B being the group clockwise of group A, but it's the pair but reversed, so instead of 0 4, it's 4 0. now for the bottom it's clockwise which is 0 1 2 3 for the top it's reversed so instead of 4 5 6 7, it's 7 6 5 4, a good check is this

0 1 2 3
7 6 5 4

if one number and the number below it, does it equal 7? if not, it's wrong. This makes meshes easier, and hard to make mistakes. unless you mistype a vertex coordinate, which happens.

yesterday I cleaned the tank, a task which when it was said and done took around a hour and 15 minutes. This included the Water change, cleaning all the algae I could get off of the sides (some near the gravel I couldn't get). Also this included filling up a bucket of aquarium water and cleaning the sponge from the filter (the water after I cleaned all three parts was very dark (most of it came from the sponge). I also cleaned the filter sides as well. I then preceded to fill the tank up with fresh water (much quieter now). Later I got two female guppies, and one male guppy (the male looks very similar to some of the male guppies I had raised long ago, in fact one of two that survived a die off. The two females are gravid (they have young developing within them, which is why I chose them. I also put water in my triop container two nights ago, so far I can tell there's at least two, more will appear with time, as more eggs hatch. also Ideal molted yesterday, so now he's a level 5 as well, ate a fly today as well.

I was trying to start the mower to no avial, so I put some gas in it after checking (it was low), and it still didn't start, mom then started saying (after a pause and look up to her by me) "Lord, please" I tried it once more as she was finishing please, and "Vroom" it started... Ok, I get the message.

Triops only live around 30 days. They grow extremely fast, usually molting multiple times in one day. Almost all triops are female so a male is not required for reproduction. Easy to take care of as well.

kinda look like horseshoe crabs in shape.

I've been watching the neon tetras and now there's an obvious pecking order, but it seems to only be the alpha ones that are "pecking".

the next four vials, a picture of the 55 gallon fish tank, the mantis tank

I now have four mantises since around 5 days ago. that mantis was the one I had seen a few days prior. It became a stage 5 mantis 2 days ago, while hatchet become a stage 4 three days ago. I thought up of it's name as we were leaving church, Sprout. A reference to it's speed of growth. It's out pacing Hatchet by a sizable margin. The outdoor mantises seem to always outpace the ones grown inside. I've been feeding Sprout flies since they're relatively easy to find.

I added Sprout to my collection of mantises after thinking about it over the course of a couple days. I had gone back and forth about whether I should add him during those few days.

I don't know of anything we've got planned, except soccer practice from 5-7 (Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs) at tree of life (well, obviously)...

The next four vials are below. Happy, early July fourth! I bet independence day (the movie) will be on tomarrow... it usually is. I ran a mile in 6'58 today from 2:33:00-2:39:58

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the luna moth caterpillars are doing pretty well, some are already in their second instar. their second exoskeleton. there are 5 instars, then the pupa stage. Each instar lasts around 5-8 days. I also saw the first mantis outside in at least 2-3 weeks. It was a stage 4 mantis, like Ideal. It also rained, when it wasn't supposed to.

The original container the caterpillar's were in is pictured below. I moved them to a bigger one earlier today. (this was a picture I took yesterday)











































the bottom picture is my dad's picture in the "me taking a picture of mom taking a picture of dad"

actually it's more like "me taking a picture of mom taking a picture of dad, who is taking a picture of me taking a picture of mom who is taking a picture of me taking a picture of mom taking a picture of dad" I could go on... but I won't :P