Did I Really Do That? 26-30

26. Gone skinny dipping -
Yeah right -
Are you kidding? I have never been skinny dipping in my life....:wink::wink:

27. Run a Marathon -

In the 5th grade, my teacher, Mrs. Hansen, was an avid runner. She talked a lot about running and invited her class to participate in one of her marathons. We were given logs book and then logged the first 25 miles. We could run those miles at recess or at home, as long as we got our log book signed by our teacher or parent.We ran the last mile on the track at the school playground. It was 1/4 mile and we had to run around it 4 times.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice -
I have ridden in a gondola at the Venetian in Las Vegas. They have both outdoor and indoor rides, and we rode the indoor one. It takes you under bridges and cafe's and through the Grand Canal Shoppes. Each gondola seats about 4 people and then there is the gondoliers who serenade you as you make your way through Italy. It's pretty cool.

29. Seen a total eclipse

A total solar eclipse is when the Sun is completely covered by the Moon. I have witnessed two total eclipses. The first one was when I was in elementary school. We used construction paper with pin holes to look at the sun.

A solar eclipse offers students a unique opportunity to see a natural phenomenon that illustrates the basic principles of mathematics and science taught through elementary and secondary school. Indeed, many scientists (including astronomers) have been inspired to study science as a result of seeing a total solar eclipse. Teachers can use eclipses to show how the laws of motion and the mathematics of orbits can predict the occurrence of eclipses. The use of pinhole cameras and telescopes or binoculars to observe an eclipse leads to an understanding of the optics of these devices. The rise and fall of environmental light levels during an eclipse illustrate the principles of radiometry and photometry, while biology classes can observe the associated behavior of plants and animals. It is also an opportunity for children of school age to contribute actively to scientific research—observations of contact timings at different locations along the eclipse path are useful in refining our knowledge of the orbital motions of the Moon and Earth, and sketches and photographs of the solar corona can be used to build a three-dimensional picture of the Sun’s extended atmosphere during the eclipse.

Observing the Sun, however, can be dangerous if the proper precautions are not taken. The solar radiation that reaches the surface of the Earth ranges from ultraviolet (UV) radiation at wavelengths longer than 290 nm, to radio waves in the meter range. The tissues in the eye transmit a substantial part of the radiation between 380–400 nm to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye. While environmental exposure to UV radiation is known to contribute to the accelerated aging of the outer layers of the eye and the development of cataracts, the primary concern over improper viewing of the Sun during an eclipse is the development of “eclipse blindness” or retinal burns.

The second time was just a few years ago when we still lived in Las Vegas. This time, I used Chad's welding hat and sat on the hay stack to view the eclipse of the sun.

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset -

When Chad and I went to California last year. We went to dinner at a restaurant that was right on the beach. We just happened to be there when the sun was setting. The sky was a little cloudy and as the sun stared setting behind the ocean, the sky turned bright pink and orange. It was nothing like I had ever seen before. I wish I would have had my camera.