Random thoughts and a long drive

Uncle Skip I am sorry to say that I do not know to much about MST because I have not been around it in my career. The only thing I know is that there are a few jobs in it such as pollution response teams or vessel inspectors. I am excited to learn more though at school.

Joining the Coast Guard has taught me many things, but the main thing would be how much more I am like my father because of it. I have a lot in common with my mom but I am definitely my fathers daughter. After being in the Coast Guard for over three years I find that I have become more like my father in good ways such as making jokes in a quite room.

On a good day it can take me 40 minutes to get home. Most of the time I am caked in dirt, sweat, grim and paint. On the days when I am my dirtiest and I am in a good mood my mind will start to drift towards Grandpa H. during my drive. Ever since I can remember whenever Grandpa and I would be saying our goodbyes he would look me straight in the eyes and say " Now love, promise me you will wear a dress for me." "Of course Grandpa." I would always say with a smile. Being covered in dirt, grim and paint brings this memory up because it was as if he knew that there would be a lot of days like this for me. In knowing this he wanted to remind me that it was okay for me to be a girl once in a while.

In other news Grr is learning to play fetch!

Funny Line of the Day Goes to Dorothy

There have been some doozies from all the kids, both today, and since her visit began, but the one that made me laugh out loud was watching Tristan and Dorothy having a squirt gun fight at the Lindenfeld's pool. Tristan had a bead on her, and she was getting him, too.

"Who's winning this battle," Dorothy asked, squinting and turning from the water hitting her face, furiously pumping her own plastic weapon.
"Tristan," I called back. "But I think you've both got the basic rules of war down pretty well."
"Oh shoot," she replied. "I want to know the deluxe rules of war."

book reports!

I have finished my book series! And if I do say so myself, it was the best series I have ever read! The Uglies books were definitely worth reading! The ones that I just finished were pretties,specials, and extras. I am going to do one report for all three.

I would recommend this series to teens, and kids who like futuristic books. These books were based on the future and always had me wanting to read more. There are many things that I loved about this series but my most favorite thing was that right after I was done with one of them I would say “oh my gosh! I need the next book! I need to know what happens!” It would always make me feel like I am in the book and if I don’t start the next one soon I would miss it! The detail in these books was also very amazing! I could perfectly imagine what the characters and scenes looked liked. This is the kind of series that I could read over and over!

Overall this series was a complete success! Can’t wait to start my next book!
-Emma-

The 4 Hour Body Book Review

I thought I better jump into this blog with my own entry. The most recent book I have completed is called "The 4 Hour Body". I decided to pick it up after reading a column by the author in Wired Magazine. Essentially the author, now in his mid-thirties, has spent a lot of time experimenting on himself with different diets and workout regimens since he was on his high school wrestling team.

What made the book interesting was he took his own experiences around exercise and diet and ran them like a science experiment. This meant that every little nuance was measured and documented including sometimes getting daily blood tests to see what the effect of certain diets caused on his body. He also worked with many experts in the field of exercise science to try various different workout routines, including some done by professional athletes, to measure there effectiveness. Two that I found interesting was a training plan for an ultra marathon that included almost no distance training but rather 400 meter sprinting and a sports specific weight training program that included working out with weights only once per week. Both programs worked better than traditional methods.

The book was a decent read, I found the lengths that the author went to document and measure things to be a somewhat fascinating. I took one concept away that I will apply in my own workouts which was to focus on doing the least amount necessary to acquire the desired results. I like that idea.

My next book I am reading is called "Reckless Endangerment-How Outsized Ambition, Greed and Corruption Led to the Financial Armageddon". So far the Federal Government is not fairing well.

As for the arrival of summer, I am currently enjoying it through Gabe. He gets to do all the fun stuff and I get to work. Very much looking forward to our trip to Michigan when I get to play also. I join Dot in her desire to have a bonfire...as long as it includes some s'mores.

Hey family. I have finally got on-line to do a post. It seems to me one of the main topics would be of summer. This makes me think of the last time I visited everyone and of a question Tuck had asked me. "What is it like to be an adult?" asked Tucker. Well Tuck, I have a follow up answer. There is no such thing as a summer any more. Unless of course your a teacher or something like that. Haha sounds a little negative but not meant to be.

Mark and I have recently moved into a bigger place with a spare bedroom so if any one is interested in visiting florida your more than welcome. You can meet someone suuuuuper important to me. My giant puppy named Grr!!!!!!!!!! Grr is almost 7 months old now and about 60 pounds now and still growing. I wanted a giant fluffy dog and I sure did get one!

I will be going to school for my job in the Coast Guard finally and I am nervous and excited. It is about 2 months long in Yorktown, VA and when I graduate I will be a Marine Science Technician.

Mark and I signed up for a rock and roll half marathon in Arizona in January. By the way Mark does not like running.

I am still not sure how a blog thingy works but I'll do my best. Love you all!

What I Want To Do In Michigan This Summer

I want to have bonfires, and swim at the Winnie’s, and have water balloon fights, and have relay races, and roast marshmallows, and go on hikes, and roast hotdogs, and ride bikes, and play Ghost in the Graveyard, and play Frisbee Golf, and put Emma’s and my hair in little braids, and make a summer video!

Dorothy Harbaugh

What I Want My Daughter to Do in Michigan This Summer

Wake up early and eat bad cereal, play computer games with her cousins, get poison ivy in the woods, scrape her knee and go crying to her aunt for support, laugh and play and have fun, but also be unreasonable and selfish and a know-it-all city mouse and be put in her place by country mice relatives. I want her to enjoy the space and fresh air and the Michigan sunsets, but also miss her bed and our routines and us - her parents - who love her enough to give her up for a week, knowing full well - she might never want to come back.

Brad

What's up-it's Gabe

I just got done with my first book Moby-Dick, it was good but it took 13 chapters to get good. After that it got better and it was a good book. I liked it because they were fishing for a giant whale. Captain Ahab had his leg bitten off by the whale and he wanted revenge. In the end, Captain Ahab killed the whale but he also died in the fight.

Overall this was a good book but you need to have a lot of patience. It took a long time for the book to get interesting. Once it got interesting it was a very good book.

Now I'm reading Dracula and will finish that today. When I finish that I have to get another book. I will have another report about Dracula in a few days. Until then, bye from Gabe.