I was just reminded of one of my favorite sayings… an old nautical blessing according to the US Navy website. We said this occasionally while we were venturing.

There are good ships, there are wood ships, and ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.

Okay, so here’s another reason I haven’t been posting. We have a BIG secret. If you’re on AGFMB or AGPT, you might know about our secret. But we can’t post anything about it anywhere that a certain person would be able to see it. Which means I can’t talk about it on here.

Also, what the heck? Why hasn’t there been a Grey’s episode in two weeks?! I am seriously being deprived.

But Harper has so graciously volunteered to guest blog about what’s been going on at college while I’m stuck at the rink. Oh well, I can’t complain… nationals is coming up and I’m super excited!!!

Hey! So I’m not used to this blogging thing – I usually write poetry. But we’ve gotten some cool things here within the past month or so. We got a Nimbus 2000 broom and a wand! Except the wand got taken away from me because supposedly I used it on Marie. That SO did not happen! She just fell!!! Er, we can’t share pictures of that until after the secret is revealed. Sorry. Then we got a new outfit. Sam’s been wanting this outfit for awhile, but it sells for gazillions of dollars on eBay (no, seriously) so we got a replica of it. The replica was cheap and it’s really cute! Plus I get to borrow the hat to use as Sara Crewe’s hat!

Sara Crewe Hat

Sam's Lawn Party Outfit replica

Of course, then we find out that Miss B.’s roommate actually *has* this outfit, like the real one, the super expensive one. Not cool. Ours is still pretty though, right?

Kailey and Marie came back to school with us. Kailey usually goes to Johns Hopkins and Marie is a princess and is taking a year off before going to school. She doesn’t need to anyway, and neither does Sam, but they say they are going because they want to better themselves. Which is really good for them, actually. Piper doesn’t need to go either, but I’m pretty sure she just is because it makes her look good. And might give her a leg up on the fashion industry. Piper is graduating from the Fashion Institute of Technology this year. Lissie is graduating too, from St. John’s.

Last week (for Thanksgiving) I got my hair velcroed to a suitcase, and then we drove up to the outlet. And we got a desk!!! Except, sadly, Kit-Kat have claimed it. Okay, I can’t complain – it IS from their collection.

Kit-Kat's Desk

You can read more about it and see more pictures on their blog.

Well that’s all for now…
-Harper

HAHAHAHA I wish. It’s more like minus thirty. Well not really, but if you spend your entire life in a skating rink, you sure feel that way at the end of every day. So, welcome to my life at the moment. Wondered why I haven’t been posting? That’s because I’m TRAINING FOR NATIONALS!!!! Which means… if I place high enough… OLYMPICS 2010!!!!!

So, yeah. This also means the press circuit has started. Wow. Sam told me to shut up and count my blessings because she’s a princess and gets this 24/7. So yeah, I guess I’ll shut up. But first I’m going to post this article from USA TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And for the record, I’m not taking a semester off school, I went part-time and I’m only taking organic chemistry and the lab. I’m in school from 8:30-9:30am MWF and 8-11am on Tuesdays. That’s it. It’s kind-of nice but also like, skating overload.

Flannery top contestant in the skate to Vancouver
“Nothing can hold me back”
Omaha, NE—November 12,2009: At first glance, Olympic hopeful Cate Flannery appears to be a normal sophomore in college. She lives in the dorms with a few of her friends, belongs to a sorority, and fills her free time with activities that will help her get into medical school. But even in the classroom, Flannery, a native of Kennebunk, ME, stands out. Rounding out her 28 AP credits, Flannery spent her first semester completing her basic classes and doing some intensive skating practice so she would come into Creighton University with junior standing. As a member of the honors program, Flannery had the chance to become immersed in her major the minute she stepped on-campus. And for a studious pre-medical student who is also hoping to compete in the 2010 Olympic Winter Games, her advanced academic standing in all areas has really paid off. “Coming in as a junior and being able to take upper-level classes right away is what will enable me to graduate in four years while still being committed to skating, and pursue a biochemistry/physics double major.” Yes, double major—in the two subjects most college students hate. “Physics makes you think,” Flannery explains, “and biochem really applies to medicine.”
Placing third in Worlds last year and second in Nationals has Flannery set to be a top contender for one of the two spots the US has been offered in women’s figure skating. “I intend to take one of those spots.”
Flannery is nothing but devoted. She should have been out of the running already, as a childhood illness took her away from skating for two years. “I didn’t let that stop me from achieving my dream. It just made me want it more.” Flannery cites her coach, Jennifer O’Halleran, as the inspiration to work hard and stick to skating. “Even when I was at my worst, if I was able to skate, she made me and she wouldn’t take any excuses. I learned not to let myself take any excuses either.” Flannery even chose her college because of O’Halleran, picking a school near where O’Halleran had relocated. Flannery has taken a semester’s leave from school so she can focus on skating. Flannery was homeschooled during her illness, and continued to homeschool afterwards because it gave her more flexibility with skating and academics. “I was able to graduate early, and still practice more than most of the girls at my rink who went to regular school. And I needed to catch up.” In addition to her academic and skating skills, Flannery is also an accomplished sailor. She spent six months of what would have been her senior year of high school traveling the world on a ship with her Venturing crew. “I gained so much from that experience. I got to see things I never thought I’d see, and I learned that I can handle pretty much any situation that comes my way. I also spent most of the trip unable to skate, but I was able to practice ballet to keep my flexibility.”

We just discovered something really cool around here. Miss B. can play Ingrid Michaelson’s songs on piano by ear! Ingrid has really simple and repetitive arrangements, which makes them easy to decipher. (They still sound really pretty though. Simple does not mean it doesn’t sound good! It basically means she plays piano like how a guitar is usually used, just for chords. So all Miss B. has to figure out is what chords she is playing in what pattern and it’s usually the same for the entire song.) I am SOOOOOOOO excited. I don’t play piano but now I want to learn, considering I can’t sing. Sam refuses to sing the lyrics which I think is mean. I think she is just doing it to spite Miss B. though, just to get a reaction. Hopefully!!

She can play “The Chain” and “Sort Of”. When she was trying to figure out “Sort Of” some random guy came up and decided to play this intense arrangement by ear… but Miss B.’s accompaniment was correct. Um, score. Piano hogs are annoying.

So – “Sort-Of”, an example of how Ingrid’s new songs are mastered and basically how she can’t play piano. But, she’s still amazing and that makes it way easier for us. You can hear the notes really well in this video.

In other news, we finished our latest album. -A Knock at the Door-

OMG LEISH. My favorite disease… MB asked me for a weird favorite so of course I had to bring this one up! Leishmaniasis is kind-of awesome because I can pronounce the name and recognize it and it’s rare AND a tropical medicine diease so doubly awesome. Don’t look it up if you get squeamish.

Soundtrack? The Weepies. Something Sam and I actually agree on. Sam loves folk, and I love weird indie stuff, especially weird lyrics.

If you haven’t been following the Confusing Clues Mini-Album series, here are the links to the prequel, and parts 1 and 2. We are taking pics of parts 3 and 4 today. Yes, the confusing clues are FINALLY answered! Oh, I can’t tell you? Say what?!

Confusing Clues Prequel: Move-In Day!

Confusing Clues Part One: Checkers

Confusing Clues Part Two: Emily Plays Dress-Up

So over the past week or so, Miss B. has been learning more about how to use her camera, which is pretty exciting for us. I think our pictures have been decent, but we always had a lighting issue. Miss B. figured out some solutions to that problem: she adjusted the White Balance on her camera so it photographs according to the kind of light we have in our room, she played around with the Fill Light adjuster on Picasa, and most importantly, she was able to figure out a way to use some boxes to steady the camera while it is on the non-flash mode (before, the box shaking had been an issue, but perhaps the ones she used are more sturdy).

Here are our portraits! Personally, in mine, I have to say my hair looks a little messed up, but I just got back from skating practice so you can’t blame me!

Piper

Emily

Sam

Me!

… and it’s awesome. I recommend you listen to all of these songs.

So I Tried a Little Freddy
1. Grace Kelly by Mika
2. How Lucky We Are by Meiko
3. The Remedy (I Won’t Worry) by Jason Mraz
4. Raindrops from the Sun (Hey Hey Hey) by Imani Coppola
5. Fidelity by Regina Spektor
6. Better by Regina Spektor
7. Everything by Michael Buble
8. Answer by Sarah McLachlan
9. Boys with Girlfriends by Meiko
10. Mercy by Duffy
11. They Can’t Take That Away From Me by Frank Sinatra
12. On the Radio by Regina Spektor

Honestly Ingrid… what else throws apples?! I love this line from Ingrid Michaelson’s new song, “Locked Up” off her new album. Okay, it’s not really new to me because Miss B. heard Ingrid play it at her concert last year and showed us a youtube video of the song, but this was its first release. It’s one of my favorites. Miss B. got the CD with some of her friends on iTunes (they split it). It was really exciting; usually we don’t get music the week it’s released.

This week has been… not too great. Well, actually just today. Last night I felt like I was coming down with a cold or something, or maybe my allergies were acting up. It’s definitely a cold. I feel MISERABLE. I went to skating practice because I didn’t have a fever, and Sam totally chewed me out for it. I know my body, okay? I know when I can and can’t skate. I skated fine. I’m used to skating under any condition. It’s basically like if you would be able to go to school or not. I would definitely be able to go to school (thankfully, we have a 3-day weekend) but I wouldn’t feel great. Same with skating, although I guess I can see how you are supposed to rest and not do physical activity. I just conveniently forget that. I’ve never gotten pneumonia in my life, Samantha! Then Piper freaked out because she thought I had swine flu. Which, I don’t. There’s a difference between the way a cold and the flu feels, and plus with the flu you have a fever, which I don’t.

Okay, normally this wouldn’t bother me, but I guess the laying around and contemplating made me even more annoyed. Em and I did have a good game of checkers, though. She won.

And I got another weird letter from Lindsay! What the heck?! This one said “Look to the western sky!” which Sam said was a Wicked reference. I’ve only seen the show once so I didn’t get that right away. Neither of us could think of anything that would mean, though. I don’t know if I like this club thing. All the secrecy/mystery is kind-of fun but frustrating too!

Sorry this sounded negative if it did. I imagine once I feel better, I may be more inclined to be positive. And are we there yet?

Here’s the album of me surrounded by tissue world:
Checkers!

Yay, me.

Also, Ingrid’s new album has “The Chain” on it. Again. Just thought I would let you know since everyone in Ingrid-world seems to be obsessed with that song for no reason. She explained in one of the videos that it is a canon, which does explain why it’s so attractive. Still, I’m more obsessed with other songs.

I got this from Lindsey, Sophie’s classmate.

1. What time did you get up this morning?
Miss B. is working welcome week, so we had to get up at 8:30. That’s actually late for me… I don’t have skating this week and I’m used to getting up at 3:30am!

2. What was the last film you saw at the cinema?
I have not been to a cinema here. The only people who ever get to go to movies are Kit-Kat! I want to see My Sister’s Keeper… but not with anyone else. Too many questions… And The Time Traveler’s Wife looks good; MB said it was really true to the book.

3. What is your favorite TV show?
Grey’s Anatomy. It’s bad…

4. What is your favorite dessert?
anything with apples… like cinnamon apples, apple pie a la mode, etc…

5. Favorite sandwich?
any panini. right now, I’m really loving reubens!

6. Favorite item of clothing?
Oh right now, Hope’s NYC sweatshirt that I’ve kind-of stolen. We’re not going to see her until October, so why not? Otherwise, my skates of course!

7. If you could go anywhere in the world on vacation, where would
you go?
I go a lot of places for skating…but I don’t really get to tour or anything. Probably London.

8. Morning or night person?
I have to be a morning person because I am a skater…

9. Any Pets?
None

10. Texting or IMing?
I don’t really like either. I text a lot though because it’s convenient with skating. But I don’t like when people send chain texts and stuff.

11. Any new and exciting news you’d like to share with us?
I have a great new sweatshirt! Um…jk…it’s not really mine…

12. What did you want to be when you were little?
A doctor

13. How are you today?
Well-rested. Ready to move people in…

14. What is your favorite candy?
Not Kit-Kats for sure. I’d say Twix.

15. What are you listening to right now?
Regina Spektor, which Sam is kind-of mad about…but I LOVE HER! AND… Ingrid’s new CD comes out the 25th!!! SO EXCITED!!!!!!

16. If you were a crayon, what color would you be?
Light blue… like snow

17. Favorite restaurant?
Panera by far

18. Summer or winter?
Winter

19. Hugs or Kisses?
Hugs, and cheek kisses (OH SKATING)

20. What is under your bed?
Oh, wait! I DON’T HAVE A BED! That’s right! Miss B. ran out of space, so me and every doll after me do not have a bed or a room! This is a major fail. Under MB’s bed? Extra bathroom supplies, suitcases, books in a shelf thing, and printer paper.

21. What are you afraid of?
Nothing really. Nothing I would tell the grand online world…

22. How many towns/cities have you lived in?
Just one, until I moved to OWT. Now I’ve lived in 3: Omaha, a town near Cleveland OH, and Kennebunk, ME

23. hearts or stars?
stars

24. Most embarassing moment?
odd questions…

25. Favorite genre of movies?
Action

This party was actually supposed to happen a few weeks ago, so we’re pretending it did. But it actually just happened today because that’s when MB had time to take pictures of it. (So weird, isn’t it? Like we’re in a reality TV show.) It was a ton of fun. I love parties and meeting people and dressing up and all that jazz. I’m starting to become friends with Kailey Anema. She goes to Johns Hopkins, and she’s not sure if she’s doing pre-vet or pre-med. But what we actually have in common is our love of water. Kailey says she tends to make friends over that. I’m a sailor, while she’s a surfer, but that’s enough to get us started for hours. We’re both very determined, science-minded people too. The party was very strange. I had to leave early because of skating, so I’ll post the whole story tomorrow. And I don’t want to spoil it, but it was just…weird. I felt like I was being evaluated or something, and in a way I think I was. But who knows?

Here are some outtakes that won’t appear in the album. I just had fun with them. Sam spent the entire time doing her hair (since she needs to recurl it, she was trying to get it to “look” curly one more time so we didn’t have to take about an hour to wait for her to curl her hair while we were shooting stuff…). So while she did that, I tried on dresses. I really liked this one of Ivy’s but it was a little fancy for the party, plus it had long sleeves so it’d be more for fall or winter. (It’s kind-of got a weird glow, but ignore that. My hair was not cooperating with the flash at the time.)

And this one is of me and Kailey. I LOVE IT.