| How to Express Love in a Long Distance Relationship Posted: 04 Dec 2018 04:00 PM PST Being in a long-distance relationship can be tough, especially when it comes to communication. The most important thing to establish is your love for your partner, but even that might feel hard to express when you're not with them. Being honest and allowing yourself to open up, whether it's over a phone call, video chat, or even text message, will help strengthen your relationship, no matter how far away you are. EditSending Sweet Text Messages - Text them randomly throughout the day. You can show your significant other that they're on your mind by sending them texts throughout the day, not just when you have a specific question or something to say. Check in every couple of hours to say hi, tell them something funny about your day, or just say you miss them. Send something casual, like:
- "Ugh, this day… how's your Tuesday going haha"
- "Hey guess what, I love you :)"
- "Was just thinking about you, miss you so much <3"
- Go into detail when talking about your day to make your partner feel like they're there. Share the things that happen to you in enough detail that your partner really feels like they're there with you. This will help them feel like they're a part of your life, lessening the distance between you.[1]
- For example, you could say, "This dinner took forever haha. The client ordered like 3 appetizers and they were all so fancy when all I wanted was french fries lol. She was nice and I think we've got the sale, but I was so ready to leave by the end."
- Text them about things that remind you of them. When you hear or see something that reminds you of your partner, tell them about it! It'll make them feel good to know that you're thinking about them and being reminded of them throughout the day.
- You could say, for example, "I just passed someone walking their dog and it looked EXACTLY like Buddy," or, "Just ordered your favorite: plain eggs and bacon for dinner haha."
- Send them pictures and videos to make them smile. Send your significant other funny pictures and videos you see online, selfies, and even pictures from your day to day life. You can do this over text or Snapchat, and even start a streak with them by sending pictures multiple days in a row.[2]
- Tell them you love them in different, specific ways. Your partner already knows you care about them, but it never hurts to remind them every once in a while, especially when they're not expecting it. Try to think of a different reason every few days and send it to them without preamble, just to make them feel good.
- Save a couple things to tell them on the phone or in-person. Texting is great for keeping in touch throughout the day, but don't make it your primary means of communication. Save a couple of interesting things to talk about over the phone or on video chat, like longer stories or big events. You want to make sure you have lots to go over when you talk later.[3]
- You could pique their interest by promising to tell them about something later. Say, "The most hilarious thing just happened lol, remind me to tell you about it later!"
EditTalking on the Phone and Skyping - Set up a time to talk every day. Try to keep a regular phone or video chat schedule to make sure you include your partner in your everyday routine. It's also a nice way to check in with each other and hear each other's voices, which can help you feel closer. If your schedules don't allow you to talk every day, come up with a realistic routine that works for you.[4]
- Give them an unexpected call once in a while to surprise them. Just because you set up a calling schedule doesn't mean you can't drop in from time to time! Surprise your significant other over their lunch hour or right after they wake up to put a smile on their face.
- Say something like, "Hey, I know you're heading out, but I just wanted to see your face really quick. Love you!"
- Make sure you have a good idea of their schedule. You don't want to call in and interrupt a class or an important meeting.
- Ask about each other's daily lives when you talk. When you get on the phone, check in with your partner about their day at work or school. Ask about their friends or colleagues, see how different projects are going, and generally express interest in their day-to-day life. This might seem small, but showing that you're invested in what's going on in their life can make them feel loved and special.
- Say something like, "Hey, how's that group project going in your bio class?" or "How's everything with your roommate?"
- Open up about things you can't talk to anyone else about. Beyond everyday life, you can also talk with your partner about anything else that's on your mind. Phone and video calls are the time to bring up any worries or stresses you might have, about your relationship and otherwise. Ask them how they're doing and share what you're feeling too. Listen to them and ask questions, and be honest about yourself as well.
- To bring up something about your relationship, you might say, "I've been feeling kind of left out lately. I'm glad you're hanging out with your friends, but I miss talking with you."
- Talking about deeper issues or feelings might be hard, but it shows that you trust each other. In the end, working through things together will bring you closer.
- Tell them that you miss and love them. It can help your partner to hear that you love and miss them in your own voice, not just over text. Make sure to tell them you care about them every time you talk, even if it's just for a few minutes. Keep your tone positive; moping about missing them might bring them down, too. Instead, focus on how much you love them and how happy you are to be with them, even if it's hard.
EditShowing Love in Unique Ways - Send a love letter. Snail mail might feel old-fashioned, but it's a uniquely sweet way of communication with your partner. They'll be surprised and touched that you took the time to write them a real letter. Texts and phone calls are wonderful, but they'll treasure your letters for a long time.[5]
- In your letter, talk about how much you love them and how they make you feel. Describe the future you see for your relationship and how excited you are to have that with them.
- Set up long-distance dates to make time for each other. Just because you're not in the same place doesn't mean you can't have date nights! Plan to video chat at the same time and do something together, like eating a nice dinner or playing a game. This is a special way to reconnect and spend time together outside of your usual phone calls.[6]
- Make private social media accounts just for sharing things with each other. Create a private Instagram or Pinterest account just for the two of you to share. Post things that remind you of each other, from your everyday life, photos of both of you together, or even a countdown to the next time you'll see each other.[7]
- This gives you another way to connect with each other and express your love when you're not together.
- Plan to visit each other when you can. In a long-distance relationship, it's good to plan ahead and always know when you'll see each other next, even if it won't be for a few months. This gives you both something to look forward to and prevents you from going too long without seeing each other.[8]
- When you do visit, take advantage of the time together! You can do fun activities in each other's towns, but make sure to take time to be alone and reconnect, too.
- Don't put too much pressure on yourselves to have a perfect visit. Don't feel bad if you get into an argument, or if one of you needs to work or study while you're together. Be flexible and understanding with each other.
- Send intimate pictures if you both feel comfortable with it. Sending intimate pictures to your partner can help them feel loved and desired, which is important in a long-distance relationship. It's important to remember, though, that you shouldn't send pictures unless both of you are OK with it. It might be awkward to talk about, but being honest about what you want or don't want can make your relationship better in the long run.[9]
- You could say, for example, "I miss seeing your body. Do you want to send me a couple pictures? It's OK to say no if you don't feel comfortable with it."
- Make sure you have established trust in your relationship before sending any private pictures.
- Send them a care package on special days. If you can't be together on your anniversary, birthday, or Valentine's Day, sending your significant other a thoughtful care package is a great way to make them feel special from afar. You can include things like non-perishable foods, books, small gifts, and other little presents you know they'll love.
- If you want, you can give the care package a theme. A Valentine's Day care package, for example, could be full of candy, chocolate, and stuffed animals, as well as a love letter and a picture of the two of you.
- Send them pictures or collages of both of you together. Sending your partner cute pictures of the two of you can remind them of the times you've spent together, which can make it a little easier to be apart. You can send them a few pictures randomly, on your phone or via email, as a quick, sweet surprise. You can also get the pictures printed and framed to send to them as a gift or even make a collage of special times you've had together.
EditStrengthening Your Long-Distance Relationship - Be honest with each other. Honesty is key in any relationship, but it's especially important if you're doing long-distance. It might be tempting to push doubts or worries under the rug, but that'll just put off the problem, and might even make it worse. Being honest with each other will keep your lines of communication open, and help you both to trust one another.[10]
- If you're worried about your relationship, for example, you could say, "I feel like we don't talk as much as we used to, and it's been hard for me. I miss hearing your voice every night."
- It's especially important to talk to your partner if you're questioning whether to keep the relationship going. Say something like, "I've been thinking a lot, and I'm not sure about doing this anymore. It's been really hard on both of us and I don't want to put either of us through that."
- Work through tough times together. Every relationship experiences some bumps in the road, but they can feel harder to move past when you're not with each other. When you're feeling frustrated, annoyed, confused, or upset, it's important to talk to your partner about it and work through it as a team. Figuring out a solution or a compromise together can be hard, but it will reinforce the strength of your relationship in the long run.[11]
- Don't cut off communication while you're working through tough times since it could create more problems.
- Let them lead an independent life, and have your own, to show your trust. Not being with your partner all the time might make you start thinking about them or pining after them even more. Instead of allowing this to spiral into trust issues, or dedicating all of your free time to talking to them, try to let each other develop your own lives, just as you would if you were together. Pursue your hobbies, try new things, spend time with friends and family, and let your partner do the same.[12]
- Staying busy will also help get your mind off of how much you miss your partner.
- Tell your partner who you're spending time with so they don't get jealous.
- Talk about your future together so you know you're on the same page. If you're in a long-distance relationship, there's a good chance you consider it a long-term relationship as well. Most people don't attempt long-distance unless they know that their partner, and their relationship, are worth it! Still, it's important to make sure you're both in agreement on where your relationship is going. This isn't an easy talk to have, but it's crucial to keep your relationship strong and honest.[13]
- Say something like, "I wanted to talk about where this is going, long-term. I really think we can make this work, even doing long-distance, and I think our relationship deserves a chance, but I want to know where you're at."
- Try to have this talk before you start long-distance if you can.
- Determine early on in the relationship if either you or your partner is willing to move. That way, you can determine how long you'll be apart before seeing one another full time.
- Review and celebrate your relationship often. A long-distance relationship can be hard, but you wouldn't try to make it work if it wasn't worth it. Every few weeks, take a moment with your partner to talk about all that's going well in your relationship: your feelings for each other, the values you share, the ways you make each other better people.[14]
- You can also take this time to take stock of the not-so-good parts of your relationship. Talk about the last argument you had, going over what caused it and how you might have prevented it.
- Sometimes people can get caught up in their day an not be as responsive as usual. Talk to your partner about how to deal with the times where you can't talk to one another.
EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Make a Drone Posted: 04 Dec 2018 08:00 AM PST Drones are small remote-controlled aircraft you can pilot yourself. There are many kinds of drones you can build and operate, but a simple quadcopter is the easiest to build and control for beginners. A simple drone is a great way to get started learning about how they work and practice piloting them before moving up to more expensive and complex platforms. EditBuilding the Base of the Drone - Find a quadcopter design in a book or online for reference. There are many websites and books devoted specifically to building your own drone. The most common kind of home-built drone tends to start with an "X" shape that allows you to mount 4 rotors (called a quadcopter). This design is easy to build and is used even on high-end drones.[1]
- Having a design to follow will help make it easier to decide where best to place each component.
- Once you've finished a quadcopter drone, you can try larger designs that incorporate more motors to carry more equipment like cameras.
- Many drone designs are available for free online if you search "DIY drone design."
- Make a frame for the drone out of metal, plastic, or wood. Begin constructing your frame using the material of your choice. Model plastic, balsa wood, or thin metal (thinner than ) are best. For a simple quadcopter design, lay one long piece of wood, plastic or light metal across another, so it creates an "X" shape with 90-degree angles. Each extending arm of the drone frame should reach toward what would be the corner of a perfect square you could draw around the frame. Choose a frame material that is at least wide to support mounting your engines.[2]
- You can purchase model plastic, thin metal, or balsa wood at most hobby or model stores. You can also find these materials at drone retailers or on websites like Amazon.
- Use glue or duct tape to secure the two pieces of your frame together.
- Don't move on to the next step until the pieces of the frame are secure and any glue you've used has dried.
- Purchase motors, propellers and other electronics from a drone retailer. There are some components of your drone that can't be built from scratch, so you'll need to purchase them. If there is no drone retailer nearby, many hobby stores that carry model rockets and R/C airplanes will carry them.[3]
- You will need to purchase speed controllers, a power distribution board, and a flight controller along with the motors and propellers.
- If you have trouble finding the parts you need, many drone specific online retailers, as well as large retailers like Amazon, carry these parts.
- Drone engines should be rated to produce a total of twice as much thrust as the drone weighs. If your quadcopter will weigh , each engine should produce so the combined total amount of thrust will equal .
- You can often buy these components in bundles.
- Drill holes in the frame to support the motors. Most motors mount using anywhere from 2 to 4 screws. Place one motor at the end of one of the drone's extended arms and make marks where the holes need to be drilled. Then use those holes to guide you when using the drill.[4]
- If you are using self-setting wood screws on a wood or plastic frame, drill the holes smaller than the diameter of the screws so they can work as a guide.
- If you are using metal, drill holes of the same diameter of the mounting bolts you'll use. You will then need to use nuts on the underside of the bolts to secure them in place.
- Cut 4 rings from a PVC pipe to make landing gear. Lay the pipe on its side and mark it where you'll make your cut. Then use a saw to cut all four sections, so you're left with 4 plastic rings made of PVC pipe.[5]
- These four rings will serve as lightweight landing gear for your drone.
- The cuts don't have to be perfect as long as the rings are thick enough to be sturdy, but the better the finish on your cuts, the better the drone will look.
- Stand the landing gear rings on their side and attach them with duct tape. Place one ring on its side beneath each arm of the drone's frame, then use thin strips of duct tape to secure the rings to the arms. The drone will now stand on its own on your table.[6]
- You can use glue instead of tape, but make sure it's completely dry before moving on.
- Keep the rings in the middle of the arms so they don't interfere with the placement of your motors or other components.
EditInstalling the Drive System - Mount the motors on the frame. Place each motor over the holes you drilled for them and then use screws or bolts to secure them in place. Then slide the propellers over the posts extending from the top of the motors and screw the caps that came with the motors over the top of the posts.[7]
- The drone frame now has landing gear and motors, but the center portion of the frame should still be empty.
- Tighten the bolts or screws securely so the motors can't wiggle at all on the frame. Any slack will create vibrations that can make the drone unstable.
- Use zip ties to secure the speed controllers to the bottom of the frame. The electronic speed controllers that connect to the motors should be mounted on the underside of the drone frame to prevent it from getting too top heavy when you add the rest of the components. Zip ties are an easy way to attach them. Run the zip ties through the mounting loops on the speed controllers (or just across them) and over the frame. Then pull the zip ties tight so the controllers are firmly held in place.[8]
- Don't use glue the first time you assemble your drone, as you may find you want to adjust the positioning of different components based on how it flies.
- The speed controllers regulate how fast the motors on the drone spin. This ensures all four motors spin at the same speed so the drone will be level as it flies.
- Secure the battery to the frame. Consider the size and shape of your battery when looking for the right place to mount it. If it's flat, you can mount it in the center of the drone and then mount other components on top of it. If not, you may want to mount the battery on the underside of the drone along with the speed controllers.[9]
- In most applications, mounting the battery in the center of the top of the frame is the best place.
- Use zip ties to hold the battery in place so you can remove it and move it if you need to adjust the weight distribution of the drone later.
- Install the power distribution board. Center the power distribution board on the drone frame, on top of the battery if you placed it there as well. Connect the lines from the speed controllers and the battery to the board once you've zip tied it down.[10]
- The power distribution board relays the right amount of power to each component to keep the drone operating smoothly.
- Attach the flight controller to the drone frame with zip ties and connect it. The flight controller relays information from the remote control to the power distribution board. Position it on top of the power distribution board and then zip tie it down.[11]
- Refer to the instructions for the flight controller and power distribution box to connect them properly, but in most applications, the connection will be one clearly marked wire that plugs directly from one into the other.
EditConnecting the Controls - Buy a wireless remote control system that works with your flight controller. Ask for help at your local hobby store or drone retailer to make sure to choose a remote control system that works with your specific flight controller. Often, you can buy them in bundles, but if not, the remote control system will list the flight controller systems it is compatible with on the box. Choose one that lists your flight controller.[12]
- The remote control system will come with the remote control itself that you'll use to pilot your drone.
- Check to see if your system takes off-the-shelf batteries or is rechargeable. You'll need to power it to connect it to your flight control system.
- Connect the motors to the speed controllers. Run the wires from the motors to their respective speed controllers on the underside of the drone's frame so power can be transferred into the motors once you power the drone up. While these connections may vary from brand to brand, they are usually a simple male/female connection that just needs to be pressed together.[13]
- If your components don't have a simple connector, refer to the instruction manual for the speed controller to assess the best way to connect them.
- You may need to solder the wire directly to a port on the motor itself. If so, check the manual for the motor as well, to ensure you're soldering the wire to the correct port.
- Charge the drone battery. Use the power supply that came with your battery to plug it into a wall outlet. Leave it plugged in until it reaches a maximum charge (usually four hours, but refer to the instructions that came with your battery to check for your specific application).[14]
- You'll need the drone's flight controller powered to connect it to the remote control system.
- Many drone operators choose to purchase and charge multiple batteries, as each one will only power the drone in flight for a few minutes before needing to be recharged again.
- Link the remote control system to the flight controller. Follow the instructions that came with your remote control system to establish a link between the remote control and the flight controller mounted on the drone.[15]
- On many applications, this connection is easy to establish: simply hold the sync button on both the remote control and the flight controller while they're near each other and the two will link up.
- Fly your drone in the air. Turn on both the drone (using the switch on the flight controller) and the radio control. Drone controls usually have at least two joysticks: the left stick controls the yaw (or the direction the drone is pointed) by moving left to right, and the throttle by going forward and backward. The right stick controls the roll (left to right) and the pitch (pointing the "nose" down or up).[16]
- Use the left stick to control speed and direction.
- Use the right stick to control the orientation of the drone (leaning left or right, angled up or down).
- Check with your local laws and regulations pertaining to flying drones before you take yours out.
- Never fly your drone near or over airports.
EditThings You'll Need - 2 Pieces of wood, plastic or metal that measure by
- Flight Controller System
- 4 Motors and propellers
- 4 Electronic Speed Controllers
- Power Distribution Board
- Lithium Polymer (Li-Po) battery
- Remote Control System
- Duct tape
- Zip Ties
- PVC pipe that is in diameter
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| How to Decorate a Christmas Tree Posted: 04 Dec 2018 12:00 AM PST A decorated Christmas tree makes for a very jolly home during the holidays. Make your home festive by following these easy steps. EditPutting the Lights on your Tree - Test your Christmas lights before you hang them on your tree. Plug your Christmas lights into an outlet. Ensure that you don't have any burnt-out bulbs.
- Put lights on your tree. Make sure to do this before putting ornaments on your tree. LED lights are best for live trees as they do not heat up too quickly.[1]
- The Around-and-Around Wrap: Wrap strands of lights around the top of the tree and work your way down to the base of the tree. For a 6-foot tall tree, you will need about 6 strands of lights with 100 bulbs each.[2]
- Put your first light at the very top of the tree to begin. This light will shine on the star, angel, or snowflake that you will add later.
- Secure your light strands by weaving them in an out of the tree's branches.
- The Vertical Wrap: Divide your tree into 3 sections. Each section will have its own lights.
- Begin at the base of the tree and weave the lights up through the branches to the top of the tree and back down to the base. Repeat.
- Connect your light strands to an extension cord and plug it into a nearby outlet.
EditHanging the Ornaments on your Tree - Wrap the base of the tree in plastic. The plastic will collect any needles that fall off your tree. Cover the plastic with a festive Christmas tree skirt.
- These skirts add to the beauty of your tree and also keep the tree's needles from collecting on your floor.
- Hang your ornaments on the tree. Look for branches that are wider apart so that your ornaments won't rest on lower branches.
- Hang heavier ornaments further up on branches, closer to the trunk of the tree. The tree is strongest near the trunk and can bear more weight.
- Hang ornaments near lights to highlight certain ornaments. This works particularly well with shiny bulb, glass, or metal ornaments as these types are the most reflective.
- Spread ornaments evenly throughout the tree. Make sure not to hang too many ornaments on each branch.
- If a branch starts to get too weighed down, ornaments could fall off or the branch could break.
- Add additional decorations. These extras can include bows, strands of popcorn and cranberries, and candy canes.
- Add tinsel (optional). Tinsel makes your tree glitter. Hang tinsel near lights for the shiniest look possible.
- Be mindful with the amount of tinsel you place on your tree. Too much tinsel could take away from the beauty of your ornaments.
- For a more modern look, buy colored tinsel rather than the traditional gold and silver.
- Add the star (or decoration you wish to have at the top of your tree.) Make sure that it is secure and not crooked.
- Turn off the lights in your house. Admire the festive tree you have created and be jolly.
EditGathering Ideas for Themed Christmas Trees - Create a traditional look with solid red, white, silver and gold orbs. The orbs can be glass or plastic.[3]
- Add fake winterberries and silver bells to complete a traditional tree.
- Place silk flowers throughout your tree for a blooming theme. Hang white lights instead of colored lights to accent the flowers.[4]
- Silk roses, magnolias, and hydrangeas are good options for a wintery feel.
- Add richly colored ribbons and little silver orbs or glittering glass ornaments for a twinkling, flowery look.
- Create a nature-inspired look with rustic metal or glass ornaments. Place pine cones throughout the tree.[5]
- Mix bird ornaments in with fake leaves.
- White lights are best for this natural look.
- Hang red, white, and blue ornaments for a patriotic look. Mix glass and plastic ornaments alongside white lights for a tree that could rival the White House's own.[6]
- To get even more patriotic, hang red, white, and blue lights on your tree.
- Hang large, brightly colored orbs for a more modern look. Mod colors include lime greens, purples, bright blues, and hot pink.[7]
- Light strands with large light bulbs mixed with bright small and large ornaments will give your tree a contemporary, edgy feel.
- When buying a Christmas tree, look for trees that have even branches all the way around.
- Avoid trees with large bald spots where no branches are growing because you will be able to hang less ornaments (and it will look awkward.)
- Craft sales may have different ornaments that you may like to add to your tree.
- Know what colors look good together. Blue and silver, red and gold, silver and gold, and purple, gold, and silver, are some color combinations that look great. Combinations like blue and pink, pink and gold, and red and blue look too bright and will not look dainty and pretty on your Christmas tree.
- Never hang candles on the tree as they are very dangerous and can cause a fire.
- Do not overload the power outlets! This is a common thing that many people do at Christmas time, and can lead to a fire.
- If your light bulbs gives off heat, be careful not to burn yourself, or the tree.
- Be careful if any ornaments are broken, the shards can be very sharp. Don't put glass decorations on a tree if you have pets or young children who could break them and cut themselves.
- Never leave incandescent lights on the tree all night long, especially on a live one. Unplug the lights when you go to bed, or you can use a timer.
EditThings You'll Need - A Christmas or a small pine tree (live or fake)
- Christmas tree stand
- Small plastic tarp
- Tree skirt
- Ornaments
- Beads and extra decorations (optional)
- Bows (optional)
- A star or other topper to place on the top of the tree.
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