Barkers Writing Works

#1 Weekly Posting assignments

2004-12-10T08:09:00.000-05:00

Tiss the season to be jolly as well as plow your way through the stores and watch out for the grumpy old ladies that are on a mission to find that special gift. I really don't know why shopping around the holidays is so different then any other day. I end up pissing someone off because I bumped them in the crowded rows, took the last of something, or I think sometimes I just am in the wrong place at the wrong time. I don't mind shopping the only thing I don't like are the stressed out people ready to snap at any given time. I make sure I enjoy it! I love to pick out gifts for my kids because I start to daydream about them climbing out of bed and running out to see what was under the tree. I love to see my kids excited especially when its around the holidays!! So I say screw the Mr. and Mrs. Scrooges and have a happy holiday!!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

English Composition!!! ( What are my thoughts)

2004-12-06T08:04:00.000-05:00

This being my first year at EMCC they schedule my classes for me. I knew that I had to take a English composition class but I didn't realize it would happen as soon as it did. I had been out of school for so long that I wanted to try and get the kinks out of the old noodle before attending the class because I really enjoy writing. I used to write poems and small stories starting back when I was in grade school. As I got older my writing got better but then I graduated high school and joined the military. I really didn't have much time to write after that because it seemed I was either busy or tired.
Getting directly to ENG 101 as a whole I really enjoyed it. I like a lot of freedom when it comes to writing and in this class I had all I wanted. I wrote about beer, processing a dear, and cutting firewood all because I wanted to. I also like the way the class is set up to be online with blogger because I can work on it virtually anywhere. It may be the military in me but I have only one piece of criticism, you only talk for about 15 minutes or so and some of the others wouldn't give you a little respect and stop typing to listen. I found that I was so bothered by it that I really couldn't concentrate totally on your lecture. The little chit chat and tap tap tap of the keyboard almost drove me mad some days. Now that I got that off from my chest I can compare my writing from the beginning of the class until now. I have to be honest I struggled a little on how to present the information that was in my head to paper but in time it came a lot easier. With the guidance I received and having the freedom I did I think my writing is even better then before.
I now have clarity in my papers and transporting thoughts to paper is a piece of cake! ( Most of the time)

All together GREAT CLASS!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-12-02T20:01:00.000-05:00

Frustration - Frustration - Frustration

I was sitting in my nice warm house and my wife approaches me and says, "My Jeep wont start". It was about 28 degrees and dark so I knew that going out wouldn't be very fun. I didn't have any booster cables although I did have a battery pack that is designed for boosting cars but I forgot to charge it. It was at this point I had to go to the local hardware store to buy the cables to jump start it. I thought to myself there im all set I jumped the Jeep and went inside to let it run for a while to charge the battery. After about 20 minutes or so I went back down to the Jeep to turn it off but when I got outside it was already off. Not only did my lovely wife leave her dome light on to kill the battery she also forgot to fill up the Jeep so it ran out of gas. Luckily I had a few gallons in the garage to be able to make it to the gas station. What a evening thank god its over.... There are just some things that don't go right!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-28T20:46:00.000-05:00

The holiday season is here and I couldn't be more excited. I have had two very good thanksgiving dinners one up this way on the 25th itself and another on saturday the 27th. That's the wonderful thing about having two families that live relatively close is that they want to cook and we love to eat. It cuts out all of the hassle of having the meal at our house!! We just show up spend time with everyone and then its time to eat and take a nap. After everything is said and done we go back home to how we left our home and its wonderful. Gotta love family....

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Another Process Essay

2004-11-16T19:05:00.000-05:00

Firewood

Stepping out side my home on Saturday morning on the first step and immediately it hits me. The freezing cold air passes my lips into my mouth then through my lungs to for a second make it hard to breath. After a cough its time to get manly and brush off the cold and get ready to take down a few trees outside my house to not only clear it out but to get some firewood for the winter. My house is on a hill and I have a lot of trees all around me but IM only interested on cutting on the other side of my driveway where its almost level. Eventually IM going to clear all of it out and make a nice place for my children to play. Chain Saw in hand its time to walk through the cold wind down to the area where I am going to cut. I need to pick a good tree, find a safe place for it to fall, and cut it into logs for firewood.
Finding a good tree is not to difficult but you should know what you are looking for. I make sure that the tree that I want is not dead and is made of a good type of wood that will burn hot and for a long period of time. I usually go for maple, poplar, and if IM lucky cedar or hickory. These trees have seem to be the best in my experience, and trust me I have made a lot of errors in my day. I remember back at my families camp I prepared all the wood for the night. I gathered mostly birch which I did not know at the time starts off good but burns fast. I was up every couple hours filling the stove until I was exhausted and slept through the cold. I woke up in the fetal position freezing cold as well as everyone else at camp.
When its as cold as it has been it doesn't take me long to pick out a good tree. This last time I picked four poplars and a maple due to the fact they were next on my hit list on clearing the land. I pick the closest one to the clearing and looked around to see the safest and most convenient place to put the tree when it falls. At my house it usually works out with both of those elements but sometimes the safest place isn't the most convenient. Back when I was younger working in the woods with my uncle I remember on countless occasions that because it was the safest place I ended up carrying huge logs a long way to the truck. Now that I have my spot picked out which happens to be on my front lawn I am ready to fire up the saw and do some cutting.
With two pulls my reliable saw starts and I give it a minute to warm up due to the cold. I step in front of the big poplar that is at the edge of the clearing, and make one final glance to visualize the tree laying on the ground. I always make the first cut down towards the base of the tree in the direction I want it to fall. Next I cut around two to three inches higher but downward to make a wedge shape. Now that I have prepped the tree to fall in the direction I want it to I take a position in the rear of the tree to make the final cut to make the tree fall. I cut an inch or so higher then the initial cut I made in the front of the tree. This is taking out the last of the wood that is keeping the tree erect so it falls in the direction of the wedge. Needless to say it usually falls where I want it to just as long as I follow my own instructions and not rush. Lastly all I do is cut the tree into fourteen to sixteen inch logs and they are ready to be split into firewood.
This may not seem like a very interesting process but when it is bone cold outside you realize it is very necessary. Not only did I get over four cord of wood ready to burn for my family I also made progress on my land to clear it out a bit. I love all my privacy with the trees but I can compromise some of it for a nice place for my children to play and a warm house for them to sleep. It makes all the open soars and sore mussels worth every minute when I save money on oil the way it keeps rising. So although I told myself as a teenager there was no way I am doing wood when I am adult, I find that I am and for many reasons glad that I did it.

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-16T18:56:00.000-05:00

I was all excited last week and I guess it was the fact that I was a little frustrated on how many things that I needed to accomplish around the home that I forgot to write about see the baby for the second time. My wife had the second ultra sound and the baby is actually looking like a baby (kinda). There was a few times that I got to see his/her little hands waiving around and I thought to myself at the time that it was the coolest thing that I have ever seen. I mean for something the size of a cocktail shrimp having a little heart beat and hands still amazes me to this day. For some reason I keep on having this hankering to find out the sex of the baby and I don't know why. Before we decided that the labor part really sucks not only for me watching her in pain but especially for her being in the pain not to find out so there would be a happy surprise after. Of course the miracle of birth is exciting but when I saw that my son was a boy I thought that I was in heaven. So lets see if my curiosity will get the best in me to see if ill find out or not.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Conclusion

2004-11-15T08:11:00.000-05:00

This paper played a very large part in influencing my decision to go to sniper school. It is one of my crazy character traits that I like to know as much as possible to make a educated decision rather then shooting from the hip. I have always been this way, so finding out all of the specifications of the course, talking with others in the same situation online, and talking one on one with my family really helped me get it out all on the table. My wife appreciated the fact that I took the time to find all this information so when she voiced a concern I either told her or went and found the answer. This paper having so much to do with my current life made the difference in my overall decision. I have never in my life had a paper that I have had to write for school effect me the way this one has. Normally the only way a research paper effects my life is that it takes many hours away from it and I never can get them back.

Through my enthusiasm all through this paper it probably comes as no surprise that I have chosen to go to the school. Although I plan on going I am not yet sure of the time frame that I would be able to attend. There has been vital information passed on to me about the new location of the school that I would be authorized to attend. Going to a different school means there are different class dates which I am not yet aware of. Not only am I not aware of the dates but if those dates will fit into my life with the new baby on the way. This paper has had many twists just as my life has. In the begging there was one school available and it was only the four of us at home to be concerned with. Now they changed as I mentioned before the school in which IM authorized to attend and I also have a baby due sometime around the middle of may. My wife and I agree that as long as I either attend the class before the baby is born, or substantially down the road after the birth it would work out ok. So either way my drive and my love of firearms have shown how much they effect my life. There may not be a definite time frame but I will be standing tall in my dress uniform at the sniper school graduation ready to see where it is going to take me.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-14T19:27:00.000-05:00

Its test number three coming up in business class and I have to force myself to get off the couch and study for the last time before the test. It is Sunday after all, which in my household translates to day of Football!! Nevertheless I got a C on the last test which dropped me down to a B+ in the class which is unsat. To me. I enjoy the class and was a little cocky last time because I studied just a little bit for the first test and got a 94 but on the second it was a different story. It is my goal only going part time to school to receive an A.. Lets see how I do shall we! Until after the test,

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-14T19:19:00.000-05:00

The joys of cutting,splitting,and stacking wood for the winter. I remember when I was a teenager helping out my family with what seemed to be a gigantic amount of wood. Between the splinters and the pieces of wood bouncing off multiple body parts I vowed never in my adult years will I have to deal with wood. Well, here I am now many years later complaining about the cost of oil just as my family did. I just finished two large stacks of wood that run along the back of my garage which is roughly four and a half cord of wood. I still got splinters and I have a huge lump on my shin where a piece of wood seemed to bounce off everything like a pinball machine right at me. The end result is a little different this time though. This is saving me money and its to heat my home to keep my family warm which makes it all worth it in the end.... I guess!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Recent Bloggs Visited

2004-11-10T07:44:00.000-05:00

I have not been able to access the blog list for three weeks now. Here i am finally and here are the blogs that i visited and commented on.

http://bethanichipman.blogspot.com/2004/09/things-graf.htmlhttp http:
http://smalltowngrl.blogspot.com/2004/11/contrast-essay-girls-best-friend.html //
denisestories.blogspot.com/2004/1http:/
http://lauraramsay2.blogspot.com/2004/11/
time-flies-when-youre-having-fun.html/thecounty.blogspot.com/2004/http://apaine.blogspot.com/2004/10/classification-essay-2.html 10/classification.html 1/people.html .html

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Getting ready for winter once again at the Barker house is such a treat!! Oh how I absolutely hate to get the wood ready, take the A/C out of the window, and deep clean the garage. Not to mention I waited a little to long because today I was out cutting wood in 30 degree temp. The cold breeze id also blowing in threw the sides of the air conditioner. So its time to batten down the hatches and buckle down for the cold season.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

I Search Resources

2004-11-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

I Search Resources

www.Ft.benning.com - This is where i found the majority of the in depth discription of the school as well as the dates itself for this physical year. This site gave

me all of the requirements that i was not aware of in order to go and the course layout. This is one of the two locations for the military sniper school so there was alot of

useful information, although for my topic of the choice to go to the school itself it only gave me limited information.

www.snipersparadis.com - This was more of the fun and excitement site that juiced me in wanting to go even more. The site contained a lot of pictures and

lists of compitions that you can partake in as a sniper. There were even statements from current snipers that were about latest involvements and advice to others. At first

look at the site i didnt think i could take much out of it due to the fact it looked like a site that was all about the cool aspects of the field but then i dug a little and found the

statements and advise section which i was very interested in. When i was all ready to leave the site i also found a small section where it gave you the proper formula to

calculate windage before you fire. It also went over the weapons information which was very informative and it answered some of my questions.

www.yahoo.com - Being here in this unit in Maine i realized that if i did go to this school i would be one of the firsts to go. So how could i ask someone how

becoming a sniper effected their home life when there are no other snipers that i know of in this area. I think the internet is wonderful due to the fact that i went to

yahoo.com and went to a chat section to see if i could talk to anyone that has gone through with the same issue that im having now. After looking around for a while i found

a military lounge and just began asking a few general questions. Before to long i was chatting with three snipers that have families and it was very informative to hear things

from thier view point.

My Family - Bottom line this is where i got the best feedback from all my research for this paper. Yes i did learn more from the sites listed but when a lot of my

decision is based on how it will effect my family it was good to get it straight from the horses mouth. I took the information that i gathered from the websites and presented

it to my family to recieve a honest opinion. They did not hold back and in the end they are the ones that i am most conserned with so there reaction would hold a great deal

in my consideration of the sniper school.

101st Security Forces Squadron- I Spoke to most of my senior NCO's in my unit about the effects of my current position in relation to me attending sniper

school. Here i also found information about the effects of my job and the amount of delpoyments that would most likely come after completion of the school. While

speaking with the CMSgt. there was also talks of additional benifits that could possible happen with the local civilian law enforcemnt in the area. So all in all talking my

situation over with my superiors turned out to be very informative and also made them happy to seet that i showed interest as well as look out for my family.

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-11-04T20:32:00.000-05:00

I just got back from my trip out of state and I am so glad to be back in Maine. I drove thirteen hours south and it seemed the further south I got the worse the people treated each other. Not to mention the way in life in general, I stopped to buy a soda in Connecticut and I had to drop my money into a small bin and the cashier pulled it onto her side behind the bullet proof glass cage she was in. To me that is not the way to live in fear of another human being in such a way to have to work incased in that way. I did finally reached Virginia and came into the south hospitality I like so much. Its not that they treat each other better then we do but I cant help but like that southern accent. Howdy Yall still cracks me up till this day.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Process Essay

2004-11-04T19:43:00.000-05:00

The sun has yet to rise and IM am out the door already gun in hand ready to battle the freezing cold to out wit yet again another deer. Stepping out from the warm house makes me feel like a little kid for a moment. All I want to do is turn back around and crawl back in bed under the warm blankets. I trudge my way through the cold to my tree stand and set out my tinks. (To the unfamiliar it is basically doe urine soaked into cotton then hung on a tree to attract bucks) I crawl into my stand and get ready for daylight. Daylight comes along with a nice size buck. BANG! The deer drops to the ground. Its time to climb down, clean out the deer and get it back to camp.

The first thing that is done when I am going to clean out the deer is to make sure I that it is a good place to leave the innards so it wont bother anyone. I then take out my sharp knife and make one long cut along the skin from the chest area down threw the stomach and finally to the deers anus. I always make sure that I don't puncture the stomach itself. I remember when I was younger my uncle was showing me how it was done and I just drove the knife in deep and when I pulled it out the smell that came from that deer almost made me throw up. It smelled like a bucket of chum and fresh vomit.

After the initial cut is made the next step is to open it up and pull all of the organs that are accessible and pull them out onto the ground so you can see what work is left to do. This is the point where there is a lot of blood, which is the main reason I do not wear nice cloths hunting. Now that I have the loose organs out of the way it is time to cut the ones that are attached. I personally get it out of the way first and cut out the anus of the deer and work my way forward. There sometimes are small pieces connected to the bones and or meat that needs to be cut away along the way to the front. I save the worst for last! I have to reach up behind the deers ribs up towards its throat and feel my way around for the esophagus. Once I have hold of it I cut it as and give the rest a big tug, which usually the rest of the organs follow suit and come out. I had such a hard time with reaching up in the deer my first time because I was still a little freaked out I actually shot the deer and know IM reaching for something I have no idea what it feels like. It all is second nature now I just go threw the same routine and its over before I know it.

Now that the deer is down and cleaned out, now its time to haul it back to camp. I usually hunt with someone else unless IM behind my folks house so I call over my friends and we each grab a antler and head back. Normally this part of the process is the biggest pain in the ass. IM usually down some huge hill hundreds of feet from a vehicle and its cold. By the time IM finished cleaning out the deer the adrenaline has wore off and its time to pull dead weight a long distance. I did luck out my first time the deer weighed only eighty pounds and it was all down hill to the truck. If only each year was so easy!

This is the end of the process in which I clean out a deer. I go from the hunt itself, to nasty autopsy time work, and finally the heavy work to pull the deer back to camp. This process seems like a lot of work but if you enjoy the hunt and like deer meat the pay off is very much worth. I can go from being a little grossed out covered in blood, to cooking shaved deer meat for sandwiches all in a matter of hours. When my freezer is full and I don't have to go back out into the cold anymore is when I can finally sit back enjoy the seasons outcome. I love hunting!!

Reaction to contrasts

2004-10-27T07:52:00.000-04:00

I thought it was good to read the subjects that people used for there essays. I really like the first one about the father and brother. It was funny how she described them and how it was about them as people and I took it as contrast to different generations as well. All in all they were good and I enjoyed reading them and I may in the future use a couple of there forms of writing they used.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Contrast Essay

2004-10-25T08:20:00.000-04:00

BEEP BEEP BEEP, its seven years ago and the alarm is wailing like a siren off a fire truck and its 11:30 in the afternoon. I used to think, man why do I have to get up and go pay bills. Looking back I thought being grown up and having to take care of all aspects of my own life was rough. I look back on those days and laugh to myself. I only had one job, had to only worry about one schedule, and had all the free time that I wanted. There were many times in my early years that I had time to actually be bored. This all of course was before marriage and defiantly before having kids.

The days of working one job for eight hours five days a week are over and don't have any idea if they will ever be back. Waking up only worrying about getting myself showered and ready for the day in contrast to now was a luxury. Not to mention going by the seat of my pants being able to go home whenever I chose to. I didn't even need to go home if I didn't want to, I could take off for days on end on a motorcycle trip and not let anyone know. Now that I have a family I have to work two jobs and not to mention work around the house. I being the considerate and supporting husband said yes dear go back to college and ill pick up another job to supplement the income. So unlike before I work twelve hour night shifts for the military and pick up extra shifts for the police department. When I do get those wonderful days off I have I usually have something to do around the house. Its normally the usual things such as mow the lawn, clean the garage, bring the trash to the dump. The normal chores that a household has but never realized until I had my own. This doesn't sound like I sleep until noon anymore now does it?

Honey can you stay up for five to six extra hours to watch Blake? I know you have just worked a night shift and your tired but I forgot about this clinical I had to be at today and there is no one to watch our son. She acts like I could say no but how can I someone has to watch our child. As of right now I have four schedules I have to take under consideration when I am making plans. Does my wife have class, Is Blake going to the baby sitters, Is Taylor going to school today. You would think is that's enough but we forgot about one person, ME!! As you can tell the days when my biggest days decision of what type of pizza to order are over. I dictated when I got up, went to bed, and flat out do whatever I wanted to. The only worry I had at that time was making sure my bills were paid on time and my few appointments I had I made. Life was easy!!

Free time is an expression that when I was younger I took for granted. Laying around most of the day watching TV or just being lazy is a thing of the past. If the trash was backed up it just smelled a little, if the dished were not done I ate out of a box, if I didn't feel like doing something I just didn't do it. Now that I have children my free time consists of doing something with or for the family. When there are the few occasions my family are all busy and IM all by myself I use that time to take care the things around the house that I usually cant when my little ones are home. There are some times when I say "Screw it" and when everyone else is gone I blow off a few things I should probably do but I put them off and relax.

IM not one of these people that regret marriage and having children. My wife and kids are truthfully the greatest thing that has ever happened to me in my life. I think its funny is all, that when I was single I thought I had made and couldn't be happier. Now that I have a family and I am constantly busy I truly couldn't be happier. Even when IM dog tired and I have to drag myself up the stairs I look into the kids room and see them sleeping and it makes my heart skip a beat. There is no way that I would trade my life not for being a single man.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Classification Reaction

2004-10-25T07:50:00.000-04:00

I liked this assignment basically due to the fact I actually got to write about beer. I have to be honest I have never had the freedom to write about what I want, especially couldn't believe I got the reaction from my paper I did either. Its nice to be graded on the way the paper is written not the subject! It came fairly easy to me because I do enjoy a good beer and I've been drinking them for a few years now so I just described my personal feelings and experiences. All together I think it went well !!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Recent Bloggs visited

2004-10-22T07:48:00.000-04:00

Here they are:::

http://lindsayatemcc.blogspot.

http://jack25.blogspot.com/2004/09/why-i-am-not-good-student.html com/2004/10/post-21.html

#2 Weekly Post

2004-10-20T07:50:00.000-04:00

Its midnight once again and the Boston Red Sox are in the lead four to two. If this team makes me stay up this late three nights in a row and ends up losing IM going to be pissed. It was a great game, Shilling once again was the man on the mound!! Now a days there really doesn't seem to be a lot of team effort in sports. A lot of players are all about themselves first and the team second. This isn't all their fault I believe it is because the teams are paying outrageous amounts of money and having many stipulations in the contracts. Shilling last night threw a incredible game allowing only three hits and struggled to keep pitching with a blood soaked sock from his ankle injury. He said from the fourth inning on he really had to fight through it. What a team player and what a team go SOX!!

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-10-18T08:14:00.000-04:00

Deer hunting season is just around the corner and I couldn't be more excited. My father and I are making the rather long road trip to Maryland to hunt with my uncle. Although I am excited to see my uncle and of course to hunt, I am not looking forward to the twelve to thirteen hour ride. I've never hunted out of state but I think it will be pretty cool because I get to bag four deer there versus only one here. Its also turkey season so who knows maybe ill be coming home with a big bird and a cooler full of deer meat. IM making myself hungry already!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Classification essay ( BEER )

2004-10-17T21:41:00.000-04:00

Body sore, covered in sweat, and a sun burn that covers every inch of my exposed skin. "Come on throw that last bale of hay up here and lets go get a cold one". I used to live for those words at the end of the day after throwing hay. Some people say there is nothing like a cold beer on a hot day but to me there is nothing like a cold beer period. Although im not just a beer drinker when its hot, I can recall countless occasions coming indoors to get a beer after a long day of skiing or snowmobiling. There is no doubt about it when I want to relax or have a good time there is nothing like a ice cold beer. I know there are a lot of ways to have beer but for me it depends on my mood or situation at the time. There are times when only a can will do, but on most occasions you'll see me with a bottle unless of course IM nestled up to a bar when only a tall frosty one from the tap will do.

On a hot day after being outside working hard there is nothing like rewarding myself with a cold can of beer out of the cooler. Its times like this when I don't want to have to deal with the hassle of finding a place to put the bottle when its gone. I want to be able to crush it and put the can wherever I want without having to worry about it breaking. Its for that reason that I can ignore that slight tin taste you get after drinking the first one. It always seem that after work during this reward phase that im usually with a buddy that wants to go back to our old high school days. "SHOTGUN" is a term that today makes me chuckle but for some reason it still happens every now and again. If you were ever a teenage beer drinker I need go no further.

Its finally Sunday and there is no school, work, and for a few hours no children. To some you might think this is heaven but for me its Sunday and time for football. At this luxurious point there is no possible way a can would make it into my refrigerator. On Sundays im looking for taste not functionality. The taste of the beer from the bottle is almost as good as the fantasy beer commercials. The taste almost makes you feel like your next to a pool with a bunch of hot chicks just relaxing for hours. The smoothness of the beer seems to take all the stressors out of my life just for those few moments I take a sip. "Awe". This is the closest thing to being able to have beer that tastes close to tap beer.

Time to make the journey to my favorite bar. Im going to take you on a journey back in time a little to a Irish pub in Germany where I found the best beer on tap. If there was a beer bible this would be the holiest of all the grails. I looked at the gentleman beside me and asked what should I order for a beer, what's the best? The man chuckled at me and said there's only one lad, that be a guiness. I looked at the bar tender and ordered one. As I watched her fill the glass I watched a significant amount of head form and then she smiled at me. I wondered what the look was for then she took the glass and inserted the spout of the tap into the foam itself in my beer. She maneuvered the glass around for a second and set it down in front of me. She drew a four leafed clover in the foam!!! I raised my glass with a few Irishman and started to drink the best tasting beer I have ever had in my life. This beer had a flavor that I had never tasted before because I thought that bottles were the way to go. Bottles couldn't hold a candle to the way that this guiness made my taste buds dance. Ever since that day when I tried my first beer from the tap in Germany, if im at a bar you will find me enjoying a tall boy filled with the smoothest and best tasting of them all "Straight from the tap".

"Beer" one of the many great inventions of man kind and it keeps getting better as I get older. The taste from when I used to steal a can of my fathers Pabst Blue Ribbon doesn't compare to the bud lights, or MGD. Even though the tastes have changed there functionality hasn't. Im still drinking cans of beer when I go help on the farm, still drinking bottles watching football, and at the bar straight from the tap.

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-10-17T21:14:00.000-04:00

The holiday seasons are coming up once again for another year. This weekend was fun with PUMPKINS!!! If I have to dig out the inside of one more pumpkin so everyone else can carve them out I don't know what ill do. I had what my son called pumpkin guts all over my body. At the end of the evening it all payed off we had a bunch of pumpkins sitting outside my parents house all glowing at the same time. The look on all the kids faces was worth it. They looked so proud at all the work they put into them it made me forget for a moment the fact that my son and niece put a wad of pumpkin guts and seeds down my shirt a few moments earlier. All is fun with parenthood!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-10-15T08:06:00.000-04:00

Baby fever!! If there is such a term my wife is burning up with it. We had our first doctors appointment to see the baby to make sure everything was ok and we found out, indeed it was. In the beginning we were both a little nervous about the welfare of the baby because this time around she was feeling a lot more crampy then the last time. The doctor eased our mind and explained why she was having those cramps in those areas and then came the cool part. There it was in front of me the next little Barker. It was only the size of a peanut but it had a heart beat and all the other little do dads that the baby needs to look like it was going to be healthy. Once again the life time for women music started in my head and I had a little dad moment but it was good. I can't wait for the little bugger to get here because IM sick of calling it a it already. My wife and I waited until my son was born to find out what sex he was going to be and it was the greatest feeling. My wife and I talked it over and agreed to do it again!! What's it going to be????Only time will tell!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Recent 2 bloggs visited

2004-10-14T21:03:00.000-04:00

http://lauraramsay2.blogspot.com/2004/10/attitude.html

http://heatherscollegecomp.blogspot.com/2004/10/intro-to-classification-essay.html

Original Classification Intro

2004-10-13T08:23:00.000-04:00

Some people say there is nothing like a cold beer on a hot day but to me there is nothing like a cold beer period. Anytime I want to cut loose or just relax and watch a ball game there is no substitute . All I know is there are many ways to drink beer but to me there are only three. Depending on my mood or the situation id rather have a beer from a can, bottle, or straight from the tap. Each has its own advantage but the bottom line is they all have the same mission.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Reaction to I Search Paper

2004-10-13T04:03:00.000-04:00

Once again I the biggest thing that I like about this paper is the fact that it has been done in parts so far. I feel like I can see what direction I need to be in early versus doing a lot of work and being way off base. I would hate to do a lot of work and turn in a paper that had content you were not looking for. This is coming fairly easily so far. I don't want to say its a breeze but this subject is pretty important so I want to do well. I feel if I do well I should have a answer to my original question.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

What I know

2004-10-05T21:20:00.000-04:00

Q: What does Sniper school consist of?

A: This school consists of being trained with the M24 Sniper Rifle as well as using a sighting scope to determine windage and range for the shooter. You go as a team of two, one to be the shooter and the other being the spotter. Both individuals are trained for both positions. The class also refreshes map reading and land navigation, not mention that it is supposed to be very physically challenging. There are few exams but the practicals are very strict to the point that the class has a 70 percent failure rate.

Q: When and where is the school going to be:

A: The school I am going to go to if I chose to go would be located at Ft. Benning, Georgia. The dates that IM looking at, because I am in school would be this summer. There are two classes that would fit my schedule they are from 29 May 05 to 1 Jul 05 and 10 Jul 05 to 12 Aug 05. Both the schools are in the hottest part of the season and it would be interesting to see how I would handle those elements as well.

Q: How long is the school?

A: The class is 5 weeks long. This is going to be a bit different then the normal schools I have attended because before I would go to class in the morning and be finished for the day to do whatever I wanted in the afternoon. This class is 7 days a week and as long as they want to make it each day. Also there are multiple days where I would be sleeping in the field itself. Ill admit it the AirForce has spoiled me because I have always stayed in a hotel or a nice bunk house. I wouldn't be having either one at this school so it would be interesting.

Q: Does this school mean more deployments away from my family?

A: I am unsure at this time if going to this school would mean more deployments for the future. Being the first one to go to this school there isn't anyone here at home I can ask about their experiences. My main concern is if I would be attached to a active duty army squad. The Army deploys a lot more then my unit does so I will continue to search and possible get in contact with someone that has been through the training in a similar situation that I am in.

Q: How tough is the school? (I have heard horror stories)

A: So far as I explained before I found the school to be very physically demanding. The school requires multiple timed 5 mile ruck marches and many physical tests. Even the hands on training consists of physical activities like land navigation. I am not talking about some small point A to B quick refreshers, IM talking 15oo meter plus hikes. Also each point is 1500 meters and there are quite a few points. So with little sleep and a lot of physical work for 5 weeks straight I am not surprised there is over a 70 percent failure rate.

Q: What are the graduation requirements?

A: Must not miss more than four hours of training during the entire course.
receive a minimum score of 70 percent during
Record Fire 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5
2 out of 4 Graded Stalking Exercises
2 out of 4 Graded Range Estimation Exercises
2 out of 4 Graded Target Detection Exercises
2 Graded Field Sketches
2 Graded Range Cards
Each of the written 4 Examinations

Q: Could I be attached to any other units?

A: Still unknown at this time and I am doing research at this time to find out if I can make contact with someone in my situation.

Q: Is this class actually what I picture in my own mind?

A: As of right know this is exactly what I thought it would be. I pictured a school that would push me mentally and physically. To be able to put on a gilley suit and fire the M24 itself would be great, but the extra training itself involved as I mentioned before make it all the more tempting to make the decision right at this minute.

Latest bloggs visited

2004-10-04T07:54:00.000-04:00

Here are the two bloggs that i visited that was assigned for this week.

http://ptotheh00.blogspot.com/2004/09/beer-beer-beer.html
http://melissaaudet.blogspot.com/2004/09/worst-teacher.html

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Bloggs Visited

2004-10-02T21:17:00.000-04:00

Here are the four blogs that i visited and commented on:

http://dontb2serious.blogspot.com/2004/09/5-paragraph-essay.html
http://wwwaboutme.blogspot.com/2004/09/i-search-intro.html
http://biggolblogger.blogspot.com/2004/09/weekly-post-9.html
http://lauraramsay2.blogspot.com/2004/09/cause-essay-guts.html

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

History For the I Search Paper

2004-10-01T07:52:00.000-04:00

HISTORY

I raise up the gun up and press it hard into my shoulder just as my uncle had preached a dozen times before letting me have the shotgun. He said, " Boy its gonna hurt like hell if you don't hold her in there good". After taking a few deep breaths I rested my cheek against the butt of the gun and acted like I was really aiming it. In my mind there was no way I could aim it I was scared to death, I was thinking I've never shoot a gun before and he wants me to shoot this thing. The time had finally come, my heart was racing and I know I was shaking but my uncle never said a word. I could feel the beads of sweat start to form on my forehead but it was time I told myself. I closed my eyes and pulled the trigger on the beast. BANG!! The smoke cleared and my ears were ringing, I looked down range at the other end of the sand pit. I actually hit the target! I was on top of the world. After a minute or so passed the reality of a twelve year old boy firing a twelve gauge with three and a half inch slugs in it set in. There was no doubt about it I was in pain!

My first experience shooting a gun is one of the most memorable for me due to the fact it was one of those moments when a boy feels as much as a man at that point as he possibly could. After the pain went away and we fired a lot more I knew that guns would always be a part of my life. I enjoyed target practicing, hunting, and I used to even shot a little clay pigeon every now and again. As the years went on I began to have a larger collection, I had a couple of shot guns, and a few different caliber hunting rifles. Living in the small town of Chesterville there was not a lot to do so when hunting season came around and it meant that I had a chance to go shoot, I was there.

I got older I would say around the age of sixteen when I met a police officer personally. It wasn't on the best of terms, ok actually I was getting arrested for criminal speeding after only having my license for a few weeks. It was at that point that it was finally one hundred percent clear what I wanted to do when I grew up. Even thought this individual was the one that caught me and was informing my parents of the situation, I still respected him. After that I cleaned up my act stopped smoking dope and drinking. Well I wouldn't say totally stop drinking but I slowed down and was a little smarter about it. It was around that time that I showed more interest in hand guns then hunting weapons. It wasn't enough for me to go out and shoot at tin cans and frozen milk jugs anymore I wanted to actually shoot at targets and become more accurate.

Graduation from high school was on approach and it was time to make a decision in which way my life was going to go. I wanted to be a cop but I also loved to shoot so much and the military intrigued me with there weapons. I thought why not combine them both and become a cop in the military. So off to boot camp I go, I showed there that I knew how to shot and when it came to my technical school training to become a cop I was in heaven. There I was firing the M203 grenade launcher, M249 machine gun, the M60 machine gun, and finally the LAW shoulder propelled rocket launcher. I couldn't believe it at the time that this eighteen year old kid from Chesterville, Maine was getting a chance to fire these weapons id only seen in the movies.

Moving on three or so years down the road I came to realize that I did fulfill my military vision as a child but the law enforcement end still was not complete. Yes I was trained for military law enforcement but there is a big difference between that and civilian law enforcement. I still had a fire in my stomach for that aspect and no matter how much I kept telling myself that It was good enough where I was at, I knew it wasn't. I did some research and found myself enrolled in the one hundred hour reserve officer course in southern Maine. I finished the course and applied to the University of Maine Police Department. They accepted my application and I started working for them to fill that void and be able to get the long rifle shooting through the military and the hand gun training through the police department.

So here I stand today still working both jobs, hunting every chance I can, target practicing all the time, and now I have a chance to be trained with the M24 Sniper Rifle. Now is the key word to this paper, my life is nothing like it was as I explained before. I have a wife, two children, and one on the way to watch out for and to take care of .My love for hunting, and shooting takes a back seat if I need to be there for the family. This is the dilemma in which I am trying to figure out in my head and now on paper. Do I go to the Sniper training which would be a great personal gain or is it going to have to much of a impact on my family?

Reaction to the Cause and Effect

2004-09-29T08:18:00.000-04:00

At the beginning I thought it would be a piece of cake to write this paper. I wrote about the night shift so I thought I could go on and on with out a problem and finish the paper in no time. When I started to write I found it hard to find a really good way to describe the feelings portion of the paper. Writing about what happens is the easy part because I just wrote down a few personal instances that happened at work. We talked about it a couple of times and maybe its because I don't like to talk to much about my own feelings but I kept on using "you" instead of "I". After we talked about it and I made some changes it read a lot clearer. I hope we don't need another one of those is this paper "clear" talks in the future.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Cause and Effect

2004-09-28T20:28:00.000-04:00

Bloodshot eyes, head pounding, starting to lose posture in my seat while driving around in circles at the Maine Air National Guard Base. Its four in the morning and IM working the night shift. My third Mountain Dew of the night doesn't even seem to be able to revive me this time. In my own eyes it takes some sort of a night owl to deal with the lack of sleep and all the freak shows that migrate from there homes as the sun goes down. There are many reasons why I like the day shift over nights but the top three are being able to sleep at night, enjoy all given days off, and not having the extra stress due to lack of sleep. For you people that have never worked nights IM going to bring you into my world and show you how my top three reasons for liking the day shift better, effect your body and mind frame.
Being able to sleep at night does absolute wonders for my body and mind. I get to return to the land of the living and be awake when most of the world is. My body feels wonderful after sleeping when it is designed to, not to mention the fact that after sleeping during the night my whole attitude changes. I seem to be more vibrant and have more energy and enjoy life more in general. The reason I say I become more vibrant is the fact when I take a good vacation away from work and get to sleep at night its like I feel empowered. So empowered that sometimes during my vacations I go a little to far. I have rode my bike a little to far, ran that extra mile to give me the all over body aches, and done yard work from sun up to sun down. Trust me the next morning I pay for it with a glass of OJ and a aspirin.
Having time off to me means having time off. When I work nights I get off in the morning and I have to sleep or ill be a absolute wreck. So my first day off I've already slept at least five maybe six hours of it. Then the night comes and hey I've already slept a little and IM not tired. I get my wife asking me to come to bed and sometimes just to spend that little extra few minutes with her I lay in bed eyes open snuggled up and listen to her breath heavy from sleeping sound. I do have to be honest I lay there and sometimes I feel jealous as hell. I want to be able to not know what its like to work nights and be home with the children more. This is why I don't consider the first day off a day off because I am just recovering from work. That is the main reason why I don't get to enjoy all the days off.
The added stress in life that lack of sleep causes to me is the biggest of all of the reasons. No matter what I have going on in my life it magnifies it by ten. I remember my family and I were supposed to be at our reunion at a certain time and we left the house twenty five minutes late. You would've thought it was the end of the world the way I reacted and how it upset me. I had everyone running out of my house like it was on fire. Barking at them to move faster and faster because hey, this was my time they were wasting and I don't get to enjoy a lot of it so " lets move" I said. We got into the car and headed down the road. You could have heard a pin drop the way it was so quiet. Everyone knew I was cranky and think about it, who wants to be the one to set off a bomb waiting to explode. Normally I would have thought it was not that big a deal but because I was tired and cranky I got all upset and it bothered me most of the day.
After all these years of swapping from days to nights I would have thought I would have changed jobs after dealing with these issues for eight years. Not me, I love my job don't get me wrong I was just stating the aspects in which the night shift effects my life. If I could give advise to anyone it would be to make sure that you absolutely love your job like I do before you consider a career that initials shift work. The fact that you cant sleep at night, enjoy all your days off, and receive added stress wouldn't be worth it else wise.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-27T08:30:00.000-04:00

I was all excited over the weekend playing softball I finally had time to let what the vet said this weekend about my mothers yellow lab Tanner. Ill get into the background first! Tanner has been falling down, making uncontrollable head movements, and is very well trained but hasn't been obeying commands. My parents brought him to the vet in Farmington but all they said was here its arthritis and give him these pills. Obviously it wasn't that because it never got better and he has got progressively worse. I asked my folks to bring him up this way to my vet in veazie and they finally agreed because he was getting bad. So she drove over a hour to get here and we got the news we didn't want to hear. He said it could be a brain tumor or maybe possible could be corrected with medication but that was unlikely. Now Tanner has a appointment in portland to get a brain scan and to see what the doctors think.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

I Search Paper Reaction Posting

2004-09-26T20:53:00.000-04:00

I sat down tonight and took a good half hour or so and read the first three I search papers off Mr. Goldfines website. I will talk in general first about them that way I can state what reading these papers has done for me so far. I now have some sort of a format to go with all of my madness in my mind. I felt like I had so much information but was unsure exactly how to start or to finish for that matter. Seeing these layouts opened my eyes for my own ideas which I think are going to turn out well. Now ill get into what I thought about the specifics of each one. Geneology and me: first thing I noticed was the very boring beginning " I decided to write my paper on ___..." It didn't catch me,, didn't reel me! Right Mr. Goldfine! Anyway I liked the way she described Geneology as a treasure hunt that was pretty cool. She ended up making a subject that really doesn't interest me to much make me want to finish reading it. Not to mention the fact I was wondering about my own. For a minute or two.
Weight Loss: Once again that boring old beginning! This person used a neat question and answer format as well which seemed to work out good. I could also tell they knew what they were talking about by the way it was written and the amount of research that appeared to be done.
Biliary Atresia: It had me from the very beginning like a soap opera wondering what was going to happen to her granddaughter. Reading this paper I could tell hit real close to home and it had personality (that's the only word I can think of to describe it). When I say that I mean I could tell that no one else could write that paper due to the fact that it had her feeling in it. Great topic I was interested from the beginning to the end, not to mention I actual got answers in the process.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Conclusion to cause and effect essay

2004-09-26T20:37:00.000-04:00

After all these years of swapping from days to nights you would think that if I was unhappy and I should change jobs right. Not me I love my job don't get me wrong I was just stating the aspects in which the night shift can effect your life. If I have any advise for anyone it would be, make sure you love your job if you work nights! The fact that you cant sleep at night, enjoy all your days off, and receive added stress wouldn't be worth it else wise.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#4 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-26T20:28:00.000-04:00

Well I just had my first experience with blogger not letting me publish one of my posts. Lucky for me I saved it as a draft so I could publish it with this one here tonight. I am really excited because we one the softball tournament that I mentioned in my previous post. The tournament was a round robin and we ended up playing five games over Saturday and Sunday. We ended up the champions with a five and zero record. I had some good at bats, quite a few base hits, a couple doubles, a few triples. The best plays for me at least were out on the field playing defense. I had some pretty good stops and a few bare handed grabs and some good turns to first base for double plays. We did end up playing bailyville in the final game but when it came down to the wire we stepped up to the plate as a team and finished it off for the win.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#3 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-26T20:16:00.000-04:00

All is well in my world!! The newest thing that I've been getting excited about is this years on base softball tournament. Last year the Downeast Police department won by one run and I vowed it wouldn't happen again. I think the team was from bailyville wherever that is!!! We are looking good this year and should be able to win. This tournament is a round robin type and goes all weekend. We are going to play a total of five games, hopefully none of them are going to be back to back because that can wear you out pretty fast under the some circumstances. Wish me luck and off I go!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Another alternate intro to cause and effect

2004-09-24T08:25:00.000-04:00

Bloodshot eyes, head pounding, starting to lose posture in my seat. Its four in the morning and IM working the night shift. My third Mountain Dew of the night doesn't even seem to be able to revive me this time. In my own eyes it takes some sort of a night owl to deal with the lack of sleep and all the freak shows that migrate from there homes as the sun goes down. There are many reasons why I like the day shift over nights but the top three are being able to sleep at night, enjoy all given days off, and not having the extra stress due to lack of sleep. For you people that have never worked nights im going to bring you into my world and show you how my top three reasons for liking the day shift better effect your body and mind frame.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Alternate intro. To cause and effect essay

2004-09-23T20:08:00.000-04:00

Sleeping at night, enjoying all given days off, and not having extra stress due to lack of sleep. It is to all the above the reasons why I love the day shift over the night shift. To me there is no comparison to which shift is better over the other. The people that enjoy nights to me have to be some sort of a night owl and not have a family. What I plan on doing is lay out the way night shifts effect my body as well as my mind frame.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Introduction to Cause and effect

2004-09-22T08:30:00.000-04:00

Hey its three in the morning, are you awake? Because I am and have been working the night shift for almost two years now. If there is one thing that I cannot stand its when your at the point of exhaustion and you start to get a headache. The fact when you get to Sleep at night, enjoy all of your days off, and not have the added stress of lack of sleep are the reasons I like day shift much better then nights.

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-22T08:11:00.000-04:00

I know this may not be the most interesting of topics but im stoked about it. I was at the dentist yesterday and this one woman was able to get this piece of cement off my tooth that I've had on there for 8 years. I have been told in the past " that's a calcium deposit and it cannot be removed". I guess with age comes experience because she looked at that and said, "hey you've must of had braces because you've got cement all over this tooth". In about 3 minutes that nasty looking off color spot on my tooth is finally gone. Well im happy about it anyway!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@stundentone.emcc.edu

Cause and Effect

2004-09-20T08:22:00.000-04:00

Bloodshot eyes, head pounding, starting to lose posture in my seat while driving around in circles at the Maine Air National Guard Base. Its four in the morning and IM working the night shift. My third Mountain Dew of the night doesn't even seem to be able to revive me this time. In my own eyes it takes some sort of a night owl to deal with the lack of sleep and all the freak shows that migrate from there homes as the sun goes down. There are many reasons why I like the day shift over nights but the top three are being able to sleep at night, enjoy all given days off, and not having the extra stress due to lack of sleep. For you people that have never worked nights im going to bring you into my world and show you how my top three reasons for liking the day shift better, effect your body and mind frame.
Being able to sleep at night does absolute wonders for my body and mind. I get to return to the land of the living and be awake when most of the world is. My body feels wonderful after sleeping when it is designed to, not to mention the fact that after sleeping during the night my whole attitude changes. I seem to be more vibrant and have more energy and enjoy life more in general. The reason I say I become more vibrant is the fact when I take a good vacation away from work and get to sleep at night its like I feel empowered. So empowered that sometimes during my vacations I go a little to far. I have rode my bike a little to far, ran that extra mile to give me the all over body aches, and done yard work from sun up to sun down. Trust me the next morning I pay for it with a glass of OJ and a aspirin.
Having time off to me means having time off. When I work nights I get off in the morning and I have to sleep or ill be a absolute wreck. So my first day off I've already slept at least five maybe six hours of it. Then the night comes and hey I've already slept a little and im not tired. I get my wife asking me to come to bed and sometimes just to spend that little extra few minutes with her I lay in bed eyes open snuggled up and listen to her breath heavy from sleeping sound. I do have to be honest I lay there and sometimes I feel jealous as hell. I want to be able to not know what its like to work nights and be home with the children more. This is why I don't consider the first day off a day off because I am just recovering from work. That is the main reason why I don't get to enjoy all the days off.
The added stress in life that lack of sleep causes to me is the biggest of all of the reasons. No matter what I have going on in my life it magnifies it by ten. I remember my family and I were supposed to be at our reunion at a certain time and we left the house twenty five minutes late. You would've thought it was the end of the world the way I reacted and how it upset me. Normally that would have been not that big a deal but because I was tired and cranky I got all upset and it bothered me most of the day.
After all these years of swapping from days to nights you would think that if I was unhappy I would change jobs right. Not me, I love my job don't get me wrong I was just stating the aspects in which the night shift can effect your life. If I have any advise for anyone it would be, make sure you love your job if you work nights! The fact that you cant sleep at night, enjoy all your days off, and receive added stress wouldn't be worth it else wise.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-20T07:55:00.000-04:00

Id like to call this little entry " TIRED". I just got off work at 7 am from a night shift that seemed like a eternity. For the first time I ran out of things to keep my mind occupied. See it started yesterday, kind of like today I got off work at 7 am and went to bed. I didn't get a chance to get much sleep because I had to go qualify for the police department at noon so I got up at 11:00. From there my day was over before it started, I went home spent a couple hours with my kids and got a bite to eat then off to work. Now we are back in present time and you now have a idea of how tired I might be (DOUBLE IT). So today im using up my monday morning bitch session and pressing on. After all my bed is only a couple of ours away from being occupied.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#4 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-17T07:51:00.000-04:00

I used to see how worried my mother used to be when one of us kids used to get sick. I remember seeing the look on her face and knowing she was worried or upset even if it was a common cold. I used to tell her that its no big deal its just a cold but it didn't matter, she hated to see us sick. So here I am so it seems many years later and my son is sick. I caught myself having the same look on my face. Not only the look but I worry about my son all day and night until he is better. Sometimes I worry so much I cant even get a good nights sleep. The doctor believes he does have some allergies and he is on some medication now but I don't think its working as planned. It may be a little to early to tell or maybe I am just a worry wart like my mother, either way I hope he feels better soon and can kick these allergies as he grows up.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#3 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-16T17:17:00.000-04:00

I am actually getting very excited about my I search paper. The research I found has answered a lot of my questions and the fact that we have to list all the questions we have about out subject is a good idea. I've started my list and its funny, I had more questions then I thought. The fact that I am writing about something that is going on in my life right now is awesome. Not only do I not know a lot about my topic, but the fact that this research will play a part in my decision is crazy. I never thought in a million years that a english paper would help me in a life decision. I guess there is a first for everything!!! I hope everyone has a good time with their papers and is as excited about it as I am. I remember the feeling of writing that pain in the ass paper that no one wants to do.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Reaction To Cause essays

2004-09-16T16:51:00.000-04:00

I sat down and took some serious time and read the cause essays a couple of times. To me they have good and bad points that I found. Of course these are personal feelings which means about a hill a beans to anyone else but myself so here we go. I understand what you mean about having a beginning a middle, and a end to the papers. All of them did have that but on the same token the one about love seemed to grab me more then the others. Although I didn't care for the beginning to the Red Sox essay. I am a big Red Sox fan, so I am a little impartial to anything about them but I still couldn't get by the beginning. Like you said before the beginning should grab you and give you some sort of promise. Other then the beginning of that essay I enjoyed reading them and they gave me some ideas for my future writings.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-15T07:53:00.000-04:00

Just when I thought we were going to have to rely on modern medicine a miracle happend.My wife and I have planned to have a child for some time. With my son my wife had to take medication ( cant remember what the hell its called) in order to be able to have a baby. Once again we made the big step and decided to have another child and threw caution to the wind. I wont be to descriptive but we were "Trying" to have a baby! So off we go back to the doctor to get another prescription and play the waiting game until the end of this month. Long and behold after all the time and money I was woken with a blast of excitement that would even wake the dead. All I remember about that moment was her pouncing on me like a tiger on its pray saying IM pregnant! IM pregnant. I really cant describe that feeling. All I know is that IM excited and I keep on thinking of names all day in my head.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Individual Paragraph

2004-09-13T08:43:00.000-04:00

GET THE HELL OUT OF BED, for gods sake its almost noon. Awe, that classic sound that I can never forget. My father after me in the summer time to get up and get my day started. I used to get frustrated with my father for some reason because noon seemed to early to get up. I could blow my mother off for the most part when she told me to get up but when dad came to get you out of bed you just did it. My father is one man that I look up to for just being him. He has always worked so hard and always seemed to keep his cool no matter what our life situation was. Our family had some really hard times and life was stressful. He has always worked two or more jobs for us to get by. I watched this man work himself into a stupor sometimes, his eyes bloodshot and could barely keep his eyes open while sitting in his chair watching television. I think that is why whenever dad asked me for anything there were no questions asked it just happened. How could I give the man that busted his ass for so many years to give me what I needed a hard time about taking out the trash or mowing the lawn. The fact that he had to work so much did take away from our home life to a extent. We really never got a chance to go throw a baseball around like the classic TV family did. Nevertheless he taught me the most important things in life and I don't even think he knows it. He showed me over the years that family comes first, you always need to take care of what is important. Even though we didn't throw the old horse hide around, I know to change a flat tire and change the oil if you know what I mean. I love you dad.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-13T08:14:00.000-04:00

Today is monday and all is well. I went back home to Farmington, the place where i grew up to visit my family. It was nice my mother, father, and sisters all are doing good. My little sister is growing to be not so little anymore. Instead of oh Robbie i missed you all i hear when i come through the door is, "Mom can i go to my boy friends house". Next thing i know i get a peck on the the fore head and out the door she goes. Im not sure if its the fact that ive had children, or maybe just the fact that she is my little sister it makes me sad to see her grow up. She has one year of high school to go and i hear that common phrase out of a teeneagers mouth, " Im outta here after graduation". I can see in her eyes that she isnt going far, well at least i hope so.
The rest of my time at my parents house went to quick. It seems i can just get there and before i know it its time to go. Family is a wonderful thing, as much as they drive me crazy with some of the things they do i will always love em and go home to see them.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#4 Weekly Posting assignment

2004-09-10T07:51:00.000-04:00

Im getting very excited for hunting season this year. I have worked a lot with my dog Molly and its almost time to she how she does bird hunting. Molly is young but she listens very well and picks up on things like no other dog i have seen. She is so loyal, my wife cannot even attemt to snuggle with me without her getting jealous. She will make her way in between us and move her over to the side. I can tell she is happy at our home because of all the attention she gets. If its not from my wife and I its from my kids. Anyway back to my excitement, i am taking her to my parents house out in the counrty and im going to see how she reacts to gun fire. If it scares her to much i wont bother but i think she will do fine. Molly has a nose that wont quit as well. I can pick up a stick and rub it in my hands and heave it in the woods as far as i can. I would make her sit and face the other way and when i send her for it moments later she will come bearing the stick in her mouth. What a great dog!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#3 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-10T07:39:00.000-04:00

There are a lot of stresses in life. Im starting on like that because im starting to feel like im feeling just about all of them at this point. Since I have volunteered my time to help out a department at the university my life has been turned upside down. It seems I always have somewhere to be. Thank god this is only until the end of the month! I usually keep a pretty busy life anyway but to get out of work, go to school, sleep, and wake up and do it all over again (not necessarily in that order) is getting old. At least I know my parameters for a comfortable work load now so in the future I wont bite off more then I can chew. Not to mention the Indianapolis Colts lost to the New England Patriots last night. grrrrr Im still pissed about that one!!
So this is how I woke up this morning. Good morning everyone!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-09T18:14:00.000-04:00

I just finished my unique graf assignment and I have to tell ya it was pretty weird for me to write the way I feel about myself. Telling all my funny stories and life experiences is no problem for me but this last assignment was different. Just as Mr. Goldfine said in class our writings can extend as far as we want to share, but I didn't want my semi shy feelings to ruin the best feelings about myself. When I was proof reading my graf it seemed to me that I was talking really highly of myself but when I read the whole thing I didn't want to change it. I think its because this is one of my best qualities and it is a very extreme feeling I have and I didn't want to down play it. Its funny I remember doing the very basic and not sharing my feelings a hundred percent due to the fact that I had to share my work in the past. It made me so nervous that some of my best work ended up in a folder only read by my mother and I. I want to see what I can do here so I made a promise to myself before the class started that I wouldn't hold anything back. I rewrote the unique graf twice and I think the one I posted is the closest one to how I feel.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Unique

2004-09-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

Its a bird, no its a plane, no its SUPER DRIVE MAN!!

I believe the number one thing that sets me aside from everyone else is my drive. Looking at my driving record IM definitely not talking about my motor vehicle skills. IM talking about the feeling I get inside, the feeling that I am destined for greatness. Just when everything seems great in my life I want to improve it to test myself. I joined the military at eighteen years old to become a military police officer because I wanted to change my life around. I wanted to get out of the drinking all the time, party after party life. I knew that deep down I was not going to be one of the guys ten years down the road pumping gas to make ends meet. After a few years in the military I got that horrible itch again. This itch gets so bad that it seems no matter how much I try to go on day to day and put it out of my mind it burns even more. This itch is to do more and to test myself once again. I went to the reserve law enforcement course so I could work as a civilian police officer to try to satisfy the itch. It has worked for two years but once again laying in bed the burning starts again. I have a great family a wonderful job with the military and a part time job with a police department. Life is good!! It has been a vision of mine to see how "BIG" I can get. When I mean big IM talking as in how much fulfillment I can achieve in my life. I want to look back at my life and be happy with most of my decisions and not wonder what if. Here I am now back to college to get a business degree to make some of my dreams a reality. I refuse to sit back and let all of these ideas I have in my head go to waste. I feel fortunate to have the drive I do. I don't ever want to be content and think its ok not to try new things or challenge myself. The number one thing I hope to pass on to my children is this trait. I want the best for them and to always try to accomplish there dreams.

Rob Barker

Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

# 1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-08T08:30:00.000-04:00

IM not sure if I should concentrate this posting as people pissing me off or the fact I don't have a great deal of patience. I'll describe a few of my run ins lately and my reactions! I guess ill start with a couple of days ago, I was asked to volunteer some of my time to help out one of the departments at the university of Maine. I try as a general rule of mine to help who is in need ( I blame it on my mother) so I excepted the offer and told them I would be there shortly. As I arrive they put me with a individual who has been working with the department for several years so I could learn the details of what I was going to be doing. I really do try to be receptive but this guy has what I call "Little man syndrome". Not trying to be mean but there comes a time when a person inherits a certain amount of power or maybe authority is a better word here and it goes straight to their head. Here I am being the quote "Good Person" and he is speaking to me like I am a bother. The department that I was helping out plays a very miscule part of my full time career and I have been doing my job for a long time. I was patient and receptive to what he had to say but he went over the top, I tried in the best way I knew how to be nice. I couldn't take it anymore, every condescending word that came out of his mouth fueled my rage. I finally interrupted him and explained my situation fully and the fact that I was all set with the instructions and that I had my phone if he needed to get ahold of me. Off I went and never heard from him once and the day went off without a hitch. Maybe I over reacted maybe not.
There I finally got that off my chest and I feel a lot better. Ill stop for now and when I have more run ins ill write it out and you can let me know if IM hot headed or normal.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#4 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-09-03T20:54:00.000-04:00

I absolutely have to write about family time in the hot tub. I just got out and I feel absolutely wonderful right now, there is nothing like it. I bought my wife a hot tub for her birthday and we use it for family together time everyday. Its become somewhat of a tradition at the end the night before bed to go out and relax and talk about the days events. We talked from everything from my wife's nursing clinical, what happened to my daughter in third grade today, and last but not least what snack was today at my sons daycare. I never thought a piece of equipment could turn into something so cool for the family. One of the best parts of it all is my kids are totally exhausted after the long day and when they soak in the tub there ready for a nice long sleep. Even dad here likes the feeling of plopping his jello like body onto the couch to watch television for the night. There is one downfall of this hot tub experience of mine! It knocked me down a notch, I cant be as cocky anymore with my carpentry skills due to the fact when I filled up the hot tub and looked at the water level the porch I built is sloped about a half a inch. Nobody noticed before but now when they get in the hot tub I get "HEY YOUR PORCH IS UNEVEN" like I really didn't notice!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

List and list graf assignment

2004-09-03T07:55:00.000-04:00

Living Room

- Television stand

- Television

- DVD Player

- Xbox

- Stereo with surround sound speakers

- DVD's scattered on the top of the stand

- Spider man action figure

- misc. Children art work

- Oversized chair

- World Trade Center poster/ the one with the lights shining where the towers used to be

- Sliding glass doors with children drawings and writings etched on the glass with glass markers

- Couch with toys sticking out from the cushions

- American flag with signatures from people from other units from my trip to Qatar hanging on the wall

- Pictures of my family hanging on the wall. There are photo's of my kids, wife, mother, father, and sisters.

- I have a Spongebob table and chairs with a bowl and spoon left there after breakfast.

- Stains on the carpet near the Spongebob table where the children are not as careful as there father

- Spiderman bean bag chair

- More pictures on the wall from my wedding.

- Soccer ball that has most of the outer layer chewed off from it

- A wet piece of rope that has two knots on each end

- Matchbox cars scatter here and there

- Chocolate Lab panting waiting to go play

This Person lives a very busy life or maybe is a little lazy its hard to tell so far. As I look around the room and see all kinds of different things scattered here and there it makes me wonder how much time he has. He also has very large and comfortable furniture which leads me to believe that he enjoys to be comfortable when he is actually home. The reason I say when he is home is because of all of the items scattered all over the place and the bowl on the table still there from breakfast tells me he is a very busy person after all. I can tell by the amount of things on and near the television stand that this person likes entertainment. He is very patriotic and loves his job due to the fact of the American flag signed by people from one of his deployment hanging on the wall, not to mention the picture of the world trade center on the wall. He is no doubt a family man with every since of the word! The toys on the entertainment center, spongebob table, matchbox cars , and miscellaneous art works says he likes spending time with his children. He plays with them often or allows them to play with their toys near him so they can be close to him. The chocolate lab is the most beautiful dog I have ever seen. She seems to be very playful and tame and I bet is great with the children that live here. There are no chew markings on any of the furniture and no dog poo stains anywhere on the carpet so this must be a very well behaved dog. The whole feeling of the room screams family and togetherness. This is the warmest and most inviting room of this home!

Rob Barker

Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#3 Weekly Posting assignment

2004-09-02T13:00:00.000-04:00

I was out playing with my little boy this morning when this overwhelming feeling came over me. Its kind of strange to think that I couldn't care for anything more in my life. He can just look at me no matter how I am feeling and smile or make a funny joke and it all goes away. I was just thinking about a lot of things while we were out playing so I think he sensed I wasn't totally there with him. He must have noticed from a distance because he ran about fifty or so feet over to me and gave me a big hug and said I love you. It made me feel really good, once he realized that he busted out his new karate moves with a silly look on his face to make me smile. This boy is only three years old and already knows how to get to my heart. He has made being a father wonderful and not once have I ever regretted making the decision to have him. I thought I was going to have a hard time coming up with ideas to post on here. Now that I have to post these assignments I find myself slowing down and really taking the time out of my busy life to write and realize how lucky I am to have what I do.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#2 Weekly Posting assignment

2004-09-01T19:54:00.000-04:00

Today was a true test of how the school year was going to be for me. This was the first time I had to work my twelve hour night shift and then stay awake to make it to class. I have to admit I was pretty tired at first, I thought I was going to need some tooth picks or something to keep my eyes open. Then I started in with my homework assignment and before I knew it the class was over. That juiced me for my next class, I caught my second wind and before I knew it my business law class was over as well. So I am very confident things are going to go well this year!!
When I got home and opened my bedroom door it was like a light shined down from heaven onto the bed. I could almost hear it begging me to climb in and go to sleep ( I may have been delirious by then who knows).
Here it is eight o'clock at night and my day is starting all over again. Time to put the kids to bed, take a shower, and get ready for work.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Writing about your worst teacher

2004-09-01T07:47:00.000-04:00

Quatro Cinco

I was approaching my second semester in high school when my guidance counselor approached me to inform me in order to play a sport I had to have at least four classes. I had everything laid out, I only had at the time three classes so that way when lacrosse season came in the spring it would be a piece of cake. So after a lot of deliberating I chose to pick up my forth year of Spanish. This was not the best move on my part due to the fact that this was a new teacher and there were not many good things said about her. Class started and everything was ok for only about two weeks. She was prejudice against athletes in general not to mention playing lacrosse meant we had to travel long distances to games which led to leaving class early on multiple occasions. This frustrated her and eventually led to many confrontations and being single out frequently. More games came and I began to have trouble with most of the material and she denied me and rescheduled private meetings for three weeks until I felt I was to far behind. I will never forget the last day, I couldn't stand it anymore, she singled me out for the last time. I stood up and finally expressed my feelings out loud in front of the class and she exclaimed with a smirk on her face, "Funny you should say that, your now on academic probation and cant play lacrosse until I allow you to". I threw my book at her feet and told her consider this class dropped. I told her I was going to speak with the principal about the situation to drop the class for good. She laughed at me and I could tell by the devilish look in her eyes that she was excited, she loved confrontation and didn't think she could be beat. I spoke to the principal and like a good boy I kept all of the notes that were given to her to schedule a time to tutor me. The principal expressed a lot of concern since I showed him my efforts to get help all which were denied. I explained to him that I did not need the class for any reason and my parents were not happy at all with the situation and would support my decision to drop it. The principal called my mother and I will never forget overhearing her over the phone. My mother can speak from her stomach like a drill sergeant in the military. Her exact words were, " All my son was trying to due is make you people happy, he didn't need the class, he wants to play for your school team and you wouldn't allow it unless he took this class. I want him out of that class and still out on the field, she will not cause my son horrible grades because she doesn't want to take time to help him". My Spanish teacher came in at the perfect time as the principal hung up the phone. Mrs. Howard he says, "Mr. Barker will not be attending your class anymore and this will not effect his transcript what so ever". I stood up and with a cocky adolescent attitude told her in Spanish mind you, "Hasta la vista" and giggled all the way out the door. I have never in my life before had ever had to feel so helpless when it came to school work. And hopefully never again!!!!

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

#1 Weekly Posting Assignment

2004-08-31T13:11:00.000-04:00

I dont know how everyone else feels about this class but i have a good feeling about it. I used to write a lot as a kid and thought i would eventually become a writer. I wrote a lot of short stories and tried writing a small book in high school. Its been eight years since i really sat down and wrote a story or anything besides a police report in a long time, so im hoping for the best and im anxious to see what and how i can do with a little more life experience. It also seems like Mr. Goldfine is going to be a very opened minded professor ( Just an observation not kissing up ) and i think with my style of writing it is going to help me not only in the class but with my own personal writings.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu

Hand assignment.

2004-08-30T14:37:00.000-04:00

Here I am sitting here staring at my two hands, wondering what to write about first. Believe it or not these are body parts that have quite a few stories. Lets go back to my early years in high school where hormones took over for common sense. Its a very hot day near the end of the school year, and I am working on one of my so-called masterpieces in art class. As I cut a incredibly thick piece of card board with a very large pair of scissors my adolescent senses took over. My eyes rose to find where a incredible smell was coming from, and when my eyes made contact with the girl the scissors made contact with my right index finger. There was a large amount of blood and my mother had to come to the school so I could go to the hospital for stitches. Looking back the really funny part of the story comes next, not only did that happen that time but there were two more incidents with almost identical outcomes. My mother of all people was right, I guess all little boys do only think of one thing after all.
Lets go forward a ways past high school and after military training to about four years ago. I met the greatest woman in the world who in no exaggeration took my breath away. One year later I asked her to marry me. After she placed the ring on my finger it didn't feel right. In a way I didn't think I could ever tolerate it, it just felt wrong. After a few days it became apart of my hand and I couldn't live without it now. I think the reason why I had those feelings was because I was nervous and little scared. It was not just me anymore I had to take care of I had a wife now. Just as I knew we would ,we fit together perfect just as the ring on my finger does now. I couldn't imagine the ring gone from my hand just as I couldn't imagine my wife gone from my life.

Rob Barker
Robert.Barker@studentone.emcc.edu