function getRealVs(V,evals)

    # get real vectors made from the eigenvectors
    
    # by paying attention to this order, things will always rotate CCW
    if abs(evals[1])>0  # if the eigenvalue with negative imaginary component comes first
        Vr = [V[:,1] + V[:,2], (V[:,1] - V[:,2])*im]; 
    else
        Vr = [V[:,2] + V[:,1], (V[:,2] - V[:,1])*im]
    end
    Vr = Vr / sqrt(2)
    return Vr
    #=
    # now get axes aligned so that plan is spread mostly along the horizontal axis()
    testProj = (Vr"*Ared[1:numAnalyzedTimes:end,:]')"; # just picks out the plan times
    rotV = princomp[testProj]
    crossProd = cross([rotV[:,1];0], [rotV[:,2];0])
    if crossProd[3] < 0, rotV[:,2] = -rotV[:,2]; end   # make sure the second vector is 90 degrees clockwise from the first
    Vr = Vr*rotV; 

    # flip both axes if necessary so that the maximum move excursion is in the positive direction
    testProj = (Vr"*Ared')";  # all the times
    if max(abs(testProj[:,2])) > max(testProj[:,2])  # 2nd column is the putative "muscle potent" direction.
        Vr = -Vr
    end
    =#
end
