Boats, Girls, and Guns, Oh My!

Today Dad and I took the whaler (a ten foot dingy for the boat) out for a drive. We traveled out of the docks that we were in after filling up and into the ocean. Well, technically it wasn't the ocean since Dad and I were inside the outer breakers, but the waves were far stronger. Anyway, Dad drove the boat over to a small dock nearby the Queen Mary Ship, and we checked out a little mall called the Shoreline Village.
After checking out the docks around that area, we accidentally went into a shallow area. Fortunately we managed to get out with only a little pickup: a jacket that had gotten caught on the motor blades. While Dad and I tried to get the jacket of the motor, I noticed a youn couple either in their late teens or early 20's couple making out on a ledge above us (unfortunately, we were too far away to make cat calls). I personally didn't know that watching people suffer was make-out inducing, but you never know. Anyway, the jacket was finally torn off, and the boat was free.
After traveling to a harbor that had few boats moving (it was a cargo harbor for loading and unloading) Dad let me drive the boat. I would like to say I jumped at the chance, but I kept having visions of Dad and I swimming to shore. Anyway, after a bit of prodding I took the motor and away we went. While driving the whaler certainly wasn't easy, it was a little fun and I enjoyed the feeling of control (at least for the first hour and a half. Driving is hard even in a boat!). Then came the scary part.
Dad and I went over to one last harbor and saw that the U.S. Navy was traveling around that spot. Dad explained that the navy uses part of the harbor for their boats and their might be something docked at the harbor. Curious, I drove us towards the mystery zone. It turned out there was a submarine parked there. However, the navy was really nervous about this submarine, so they were redirecting the boats around five hundred feet from the submarine (with boats that had MACHINE GUNS!). Dad told me I should keep a steady speed while boating by, but I was so nervous and inexperienced with driving, I couldn't keep a straight course at a steady speed. I could practically feel the machine guns pointing at my back! Luckily, the navy must have spotted that I was new at controlling the boat, so they let Dad and I go. Anyway, after a few minutes rest, Dad drove us home. The length of the entire boat ride was about thirty-nine and a third miles!!! I would have to say that was a good day's worth of fun. Anyway, at home I rested, relaxed, and wrote up this blog post.

P.S. Here is the map of where we went. I think the map is pretty conclusive.

Dave's Not So Private Journal, Second Try!

Hello and Welcome to Dave's Not So Private Journal!!! For those of you who had been looking beforehand: Welcome Back! Anyway, moving on to the recap!

My name is David (Dave) Alexander Malkoff. I am now 17 years old, and live in a family of four and a half (my dad: Melvin (Mel) Malkoff, my mom: Mary Ann Malkoff, my sister: Sarah (Edith) Malkoff, my dog: Mayim, and myself). I am exactly six feet in height and have short brown hair. I have a large amount of time on my hands, and a hard time talk to people due to Aspergers Syndrome that I had since birth (Asbergers is NOT a disease, It's a BENEFIT!!!!)

This blog was originally created when my family (minus Dad) went on the road for a trip across the USA and parts of Canada. For details, feel free to read the previous blog entries as well as the sister blog (or mother blog since it was created by Mom): Malkoff Grand Adventure. This blog was originally intended to be a day journal from my point of view, rather than a lengthy and bland mass entry like how original blog turned out. Unfortunately, life got complicated and had trouble keeping up with the days, and I eventually gave up.

Now, onto what has happened to the family in short form (more details will be filled in later). We traveled to very many states (as you can see in the grand adventure map, we have been to all states west of the Mississippi river excluding Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. We stopped back at California for rest and repairs (Mom had broken her ankle, we needed to get some things for the online college classes Ed and I were working on, I needed to get something for my sleep apnia, etc.). Unfortunately, at this time the 2nd Great Depression hit, and we were stuck in California (Economic depressions have an odd way of ending vacations early don't they?). With some minor tweaking to accept how to live in one place, we have been living in California ever since (for a larger explanation as to what happened, visit the Malkoff Grand Adventure Blog).

As such, we have reached the part about why the blog has been started up again. Since the return from the Grand Adventure, life has changed dramatically (to be explained later). Two weeks ago, I was allowed to sleep away from most of the family in a boat that we own instead of a house (for more details look at the Gold Plated Hole in the Ocean post in the Malkoff Grand Adventure Blog). Life has changed yet again, and it appears I will have something to write about other than I my finished my college classwork in twenty minutes, then played-insert video game here-for the rest of the night. Also, this will enable my parents to keep track of me without calling every single day and having me scramble the day into a few sentences that sound all jumbled up and is about as civilized and understandable as a drunk bird trying to speak Chinese. Also, this will help me keep in touch with my friends through Facebook (this is because I am TERRIBLE at calling and checking my E-mail). Now onto today's blog!

Today's bright and sunny day was a nice change from the terrible weather we have been having the last few days (I actually heard there was going to be a tornado around Long Beach!). I had breakfast with my Dad, then headed out for my first visit with my grandparents. My Grandpa and Oma (on my mother's side of the family) lived in Huntington Beach, which is a quick bus ride way usually, but as today is a Saturday the buses weren't running as often as I could use (the buses don't run often on the weekends or holidays) so I persuaded Dad to drive me to Grandpa and Oma's. When I got there I watched the new Burn Notice (The boat doesn't have satellite, so we can't watch television there), then helped Grandpa on a woodworking project. He was working on a cradle for my soon to be born cousin. Afterwards, Grandpa and I headed out to lunch at a nearby sushi restaurant named Joe's Sushi (it's very good, and it's all you can eat!), then the movie the Book of Eli (for guys who want action, but not a lot of plot). Finishing up, we rested at Grandpa and Oma's house, then we all went out to Outback Steakhouse (need I say more?). Finally, Grandpa and Oma drove me back to the boat (I don't like taking the bus after 6:00 pm) and I have spent the rest of the night composing this post and getting ready for the big sailing trip for Dad and I tomorrow.