I was a Girl Scout leader for 10 years. Started out with a regular troop and ended up having an all-homeschooled group a few years later. I enjoyed both troops, although the homeschooled group was my favorite.
The kids were very different between the two groups, I wrote about it here and here. Other places, too. I've had a fun little trip down memory lane this morning while reading about all that, actually.
I have fond memories of the kids, but I love most kids, so that's not surprising. The moms from the first group were not my favorite people, but I didn't hate them. I'm almost certain we hail from different planets, though.
The parents in the homeschool group were so involved in everything we did, and were always willing to step up and do whatever needed to be done. The parents of the mostly public school troop were the drop-off-and-run variety, they couldn't wait to get away.
Don't misunderstand, though. The public schooling parents were nice people. They loved their kids. They just weren't accustomed to being part of things where their daughters were concerned. Kind of sad, but understandable. The school system trains parents out of being the primary influence on their children pretty fast.
Wait. What was I going to say here? I have already drifted away from the topic. Which I do frequently and well. And yet you're still here, reading.
A Girl Scout troop meets in our school cafeteria.
They didn't start off high in my estimation. During their evening informational meeting, which I didn't know about ahead of time so I could put things away, the families and siblings and prospective girl scouts seemed to think MY STUFF had been left out for them! They helped themselves to the dollhouse, the stuffies, the LEGO... stuff was everywhere when I came in the next morning. Apparently putting away the stuff they helped themselves to without anyone's permission after they got them out was a strange concept.
When I saw the mess they'd left, I was pissed off. I talked to the office staff about it. While we were talking, Tracy, the parent committee president said, "Oh yes, I heard that woman say, 'Oh I didn't know there would be TOYS!' as I was walking through the cafeteria."
I wanted to ask her why she hadn't said something, but figured there was no point in doing so after everything had already been messed with. The principal wasn't a happy guy, though. He told me that he'd called GS council and let them know that the informational session had overstepped their bounds. He told them that they were to stay at the end of the cafeteria nearest the doors and that the stuff belonging to Mental Daycare needed to be left alone.
I had an opportunity to talk with the leader after they started their Wednesday evening meetings. She assured me that she'd had a conversation with her girls and that they knew to be respectful of our school and my stuff.
"We just stay down here at this end of the cafeteria," she said cheerfully. "We've had a discussion of rules and respect."
Meanwhile, her daughter was taking off her shoes and socks, bouncing around like Tigger and twirling to admire her dress. While I was finishing up paperwork etc, some of the rest of the gang started to show. They were all bouncy and excited and zipping around like, well, kids. They were at their end of the room, but I wasn't sure they'd stay there after I left.
So although the mom/leader person seemed nice enough, I wasn't confident that she really had things under control, so I started making sure all our stuff is carefully stowed on Wednesday evenings before I go home. All the assurances in the world won't replace things that I paid for myself, ya know?
And although my employer will buy the things I ask for, I have many things that can't be replaced easily if at all. So my stuff is packed/bundled up and I can come home and not have to worry on Wednesdays.
A few weeks after that, the troop was doing a clay project. I knew that because the mom was getting the clay out as I was leaving.
The next morning, our kitchen staff was mystified about all the little white handprints on the stainless steel surfaces around the sink and food prep areas. The kitchen lead person came and asked me if I had let my kids use the sink.
I said that I don't allow my kids anywhere near the kitchen. So she was telling me about the handprints and the mess about the same time the custodian came to show me white handprints and smears across the two cafeteria tables at the other end of the room.
I told them both about the clay project from the night before.
Once again our principal was not a happy guy. He notified GS council that this group had only one more chance. He explained what had happened.
So strange, as there are three bathrooms accessible to kids from that location and instead of sending her kids there, she had let them use the kitchen.
She just seems... oblivious.
But this week I stayed a little later, I'm packing up (again) to move all my stuff from my site. The leader and her daughter showed up early. I let them in.
First thing, the little girl took off her shoes and socks. In a school cafeteria. Then she climbed up on a table and ran the length of it barefoot. Next, she put her butt on the table top and scooted across to the other side where she jumped off and ran around some more, then climbed on another table. I remarked to her, "People eat there, you know." and she jumped off from the top of the table.
She ran down into the storage tunnel. There are asbestos warnings as well as industrial cleaners, old furniture, old books... this and that. It's a huge sprawling space, and off limits to kids, period.
While her mom set up a craft project, she ran barefoot in and out of the tunnel. In and out and in and out and back in again. Barefoot. BAREFOOT!!!
I said to the mom, "That's really not a safe place for kids," and she looked at me like I was an idiot. "I'm sure she's fine," she told me. She turned back to her big shopping bags and started taking things out again.
I gave up and left. What the hell, my stuff was already put away.
But I visited the principal on Thursday morning and told him everything I'd seen.
The troop has two meetings left. And guess who isn't going to be allowed to meet in our new school building?
Yep, I was instrumental in getting a Girl Scout troop banned from our school.
I don't even feel bad. As a leader, I would never have allowed my kids to behave that way. And in my work life I am very aware that I am a guest inside the school. Yeah, they're nice to me there. And my badge gets me in the doors. And I have the alarm codes. But I'm still a guest and I behave like one. What the hell is wrong with people? Doesn't anyone have manners anymore???
Sheesh.
Showing posts with label girl scouts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label girl scouts. Show all posts
Saturday, May 26, 2018
Sunday, February 01, 2015
Call me Mom
A long time ago, I had a Girl Scout troop.
Since our troop was all homeschooled, we had a great deal of parental involvement.
I appreciated those parents so much. They were there for the meetings. They helped me clean stuff up, haul things in and out, showed up to the overnight events and generally just supported their girls and the troop.
I went to the monthly leader's meetings, where we discussed all kinds of things. Shared ideas and crafts and worked together to create events to take our girls to. The women (and the occasional man) leading the troops were nice people, but they just didn't get the whole homeschool thing.
I sat through so many meetings with a common theme... I want the troop parents to be a part of this but no one will step up/why do parents have to stick their noses in everything?
Schizo.
They didn't understand so many things about our troop. As I said, I had parents at every meeting and at every troop event. Many neighborhood events as well. The rest of the leaders were simultaneously envious and completely weirded out by the family involvement.
Whatever. I didn't need their approval then or now. And seriously, they were super nice people. They just had a limited understanding about some things.
They were really bothered by the idea of a multi level troop, too. Very hung up on grade levels and dividing girls.
We attended a neighborhood campout designed/planned by some VERY school-oriented people. There were two elementary teachers and an education/math major on the planning committee.
Within the first 15 minutes of arrival, Lyssa called me Mom. And was informed by one of the other leaders that, "There are no moms at campout, only leaders. You need to call your mom by her first name."
I smiled at her and said, "I find it disrespectful for my daughter to call me by my first name. I'm a leader precisely because I'm a mom."
I gathered all my kids together and told them all to call me mom for the weekend. Fixed that. :)
We were asked to research and make 4 posters about some famous women from history. We didn't get to choose which ones, they were assigned.
We were to put a little card on the bottom of the poster with our troop number and the grade level of the girls.
Not sure what that would have to do with anything, but since we didn't do grade levels, Chrissy* was quite vexed with me.
"It doesn't match the others!" she lamented. "They all have to hang in the dining hall."
And when we stood up to introduce our posters, our whole troop went up with each one, standing united. We all created them, we all were part of it.
My group was the cause of many eyerolls that weekend, which I pretended not to notice.
Chrissy also had the really nice, gentle idea of a public shaming for anyone stupid enough to leave a glove or sock or hat or jacket anywhere. The problem was that no one knew it at the first group gathering when she held up a glove and asked that the owner come to retrieve it.
When the owner walked up in front of the whole group, Chrissy demanded that the child sing a song to get it back.
The little girl burst into bewildered tears of shame and embarrassment. Nice.
So I passed the word to my girls that if they saw anything of theirs up there, "Do not say anything. Tell me and I will get it for you after the meeting."
The rest of the weekend, most of them called me mom. Some of the girls from other troops started calling me mom, too. Out of the 200 or so kids in attendance, I think half of them were referring to me as mom by the end of the weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I started my job, I was given a choice about what to be called, and chose to have the kids call me by my first name. Sunshine was on a first name basis with the kids, and I saw no reason not to follow suit.
Occasionally I get called Mom or Mrs. ___________ <<(insert child's teacher name here)
The kids seem a little embarrassed, but I just smile. And tell them the story of how about a hundred kids called me mom for an entire weekend once.
Eric always says I should just get a t shirt that says 'Everyone's Mom' on it.
I was considering "Middleage Mutant Ninja Mom" but I'm too lazy to research and find out where to get one printed. Maybe sometime.
Meanwhile, you can call me Mom if you want. I've answered to worse.
Since our troop was all homeschooled, we had a great deal of parental involvement.
I appreciated those parents so much. They were there for the meetings. They helped me clean stuff up, haul things in and out, showed up to the overnight events and generally just supported their girls and the troop.
I went to the monthly leader's meetings, where we discussed all kinds of things. Shared ideas and crafts and worked together to create events to take our girls to. The women (and the occasional man) leading the troops were nice people, but they just didn't get the whole homeschool thing.
I sat through so many meetings with a common theme... I want the troop parents to be a part of this but no one will step up/why do parents have to stick their noses in everything?
Schizo.
They didn't understand so many things about our troop. As I said, I had parents at every meeting and at every troop event. Many neighborhood events as well. The rest of the leaders were simultaneously envious and completely weirded out by the family involvement.
Whatever. I didn't need their approval then or now. And seriously, they were super nice people. They just had a limited understanding about some things.
They were really bothered by the idea of a multi level troop, too. Very hung up on grade levels and dividing girls.
We attended a neighborhood campout designed/planned by some VERY school-oriented people. There were two elementary teachers and an education/math major on the planning committee.
Within the first 15 minutes of arrival, Lyssa called me Mom. And was informed by one of the other leaders that, "There are no moms at campout, only leaders. You need to call your mom by her first name."
I smiled at her and said, "I find it disrespectful for my daughter to call me by my first name. I'm a leader precisely because I'm a mom."
I gathered all my kids together and told them all to call me mom for the weekend. Fixed that. :)
We were asked to research and make 4 posters about some famous women from history. We didn't get to choose which ones, they were assigned.
We were to put a little card on the bottom of the poster with our troop number and the grade level of the girls.
Not sure what that would have to do with anything, but since we didn't do grade levels, Chrissy* was quite vexed with me.
"It doesn't match the others!" she lamented. "They all have to hang in the dining hall."
And when we stood up to introduce our posters, our whole troop went up with each one, standing united. We all created them, we all were part of it.
My group was the cause of many eyerolls that weekend, which I pretended not to notice.
Chrissy also had the really nice, gentle idea of a public shaming for anyone stupid enough to leave a glove or sock or hat or jacket anywhere. The problem was that no one knew it at the first group gathering when she held up a glove and asked that the owner come to retrieve it.
When the owner walked up in front of the whole group, Chrissy demanded that the child sing a song to get it back.
The little girl burst into bewildered tears of shame and embarrassment. Nice.
So I passed the word to my girls that if they saw anything of theirs up there, "Do not say anything. Tell me and I will get it for you after the meeting."
The rest of the weekend, most of them called me mom. Some of the girls from other troops started calling me mom, too. Out of the 200 or so kids in attendance, I think half of them were referring to me as mom by the end of the weekend.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When I started my job, I was given a choice about what to be called, and chose to have the kids call me by my first name. Sunshine was on a first name basis with the kids, and I saw no reason not to follow suit.
Occasionally I get called Mom or Mrs. ___________ <<(insert child's teacher name here)
The kids seem a little embarrassed, but I just smile. And tell them the story of how about a hundred kids called me mom for an entire weekend once.
Eric always says I should just get a t shirt that says 'Everyone's Mom' on it.
I was considering "Middleage Mutant Ninja Mom" but I'm too lazy to research and find out where to get one printed. Maybe sometime.
Meanwhile, you can call me Mom if you want. I've answered to worse.
Tuesday, March 04, 2014
I'm the mom.
A long time ago, my first Girl Scout troop attended a neighborhood campout. I think Lyssa was maybe seven or so.
We were all gathering in the morning at campfire area when Lyssa ran up to me to tell me something. She was shouting, "Mom!! Mom!!" as she ran toward me. And one of the veteran leaders, who'd been at it since 1900 or so, stopped her. In a pedantic tone, she said to my daughter, "There are no moms in Girl Scouts. There are only leaders. You need to call your mom by her first name." Lyssa offered no comment, just... looked at her. And told me whatever it was that she came to tell me.
Rather than make a scene and argue, I just let it go.
Until about three minutes later when I gathered my troop around me and notified them (and the various moms who'd accompanied us for the weeekend) that they were ALL supposed to call me Mom.
And for the rest of that weekend, all the moms in my troop and all my girls called me mom. Some of the girls from other troops started calling me mom, too.
I never did address the original person who'd told my daughter that I couldn't be her mom at campout, but I'm pretty sure she got the message. I caught her looking at me more than once with a pissy expression on her face. And for the next eight years or so that I was a Girl Scout leader, she never said a word when my daughter called me mom.
Probably a good idea.
This afternoon, I was signing kids in and making sure they had the stuff they asked for from the back room. Ariana came over to ask me something and started by saying, "Mom?"
I caught it but didn't say anything. Looked up at her. "Yes?"
And she was blushing madly.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I called you Mom!! I am so embarrassed!!"
"Why, hon? I've been called Mom by lots of kids. Don't worry about it at all."
She still felt funny, I could tell. So I invited her to sit down with me and I told her the story of our neighborhood campout and how most of the kids and their moms were calling me mom by the end of the weekend.
She (and Jennifer, who joined us early in the conversation) thought that it was really hilarious that everyone was calling me mom. They decided they were going to call me mom, too, but then promptly forgot about it when they went off to play together.
Eric has said on more than one occasion that I should wear a t shirt that says Everyone's Mom on it. Maybe this will be the year that I get one. :)
It was good to be back to work today. I actually slept through the night (mostly, I did have to get up and pee once) for the first time since I got sick on the 19th.
I'm tired, but I feel really good.
Last year it took weeks for me to come back from this, but I don't think it's going to be quite as bad this time.
Thank goodness.
We were all gathering in the morning at campfire area when Lyssa ran up to me to tell me something. She was shouting, "Mom!! Mom!!" as she ran toward me. And one of the veteran leaders, who'd been at it since 1900 or so, stopped her. In a pedantic tone, she said to my daughter, "There are no moms in Girl Scouts. There are only leaders. You need to call your mom by her first name." Lyssa offered no comment, just... looked at her. And told me whatever it was that she came to tell me.
Rather than make a scene and argue, I just let it go.
Until about three minutes later when I gathered my troop around me and notified them (and the various moms who'd accompanied us for the weeekend) that they were ALL supposed to call me Mom.
And for the rest of that weekend, all the moms in my troop and all my girls called me mom. Some of the girls from other troops started calling me mom, too.
I never did address the original person who'd told my daughter that I couldn't be her mom at campout, but I'm pretty sure she got the message. I caught her looking at me more than once with a pissy expression on her face. And for the next eight years or so that I was a Girl Scout leader, she never said a word when my daughter called me mom.
Probably a good idea.
This afternoon, I was signing kids in and making sure they had the stuff they asked for from the back room. Ariana came over to ask me something and started by saying, "Mom?"
I caught it but didn't say anything. Looked up at her. "Yes?"
And she was blushing madly.
"Oh I'm so sorry! I called you Mom!! I am so embarrassed!!"
"Why, hon? I've been called Mom by lots of kids. Don't worry about it at all."
She still felt funny, I could tell. So I invited her to sit down with me and I told her the story of our neighborhood campout and how most of the kids and their moms were calling me mom by the end of the weekend.
She (and Jennifer, who joined us early in the conversation) thought that it was really hilarious that everyone was calling me mom. They decided they were going to call me mom, too, but then promptly forgot about it when they went off to play together.
Eric has said on more than one occasion that I should wear a t shirt that says Everyone's Mom on it. Maybe this will be the year that I get one. :)
It was good to be back to work today. I actually slept through the night (mostly, I did have to get up and pee once) for the first time since I got sick on the 19th.
I'm tired, but I feel really good.
Last year it took weeks for me to come back from this, but I don't think it's going to be quite as bad this time.
Thank goodness.
Friday, August 30, 2013
One of 'my' kids has grown up...
Linked on my sidebar over there >>>> is a new blog.
And because I don't want you to have to search too hard, I'm linking Davan's blog here, too.
Davan was a small child when I first met her. Five. She was part of our all-homeschooled Girl Scout troop. She didn't like being too far away from her mom. Or her comfort zones.
I enjoyed watching her grow for the next five years. I haven't seen her a lot since our troop disbanded, but have kept up with general life stuff because her mom has been blogging.
Davan was a good friend to my daughter, she trusted us to babysit with her rat, Ari (and I will admit here that I worried the whole time that Ari was here that he would die because of course that's the worst possible scenario... Ari was still alive when Davan and her family came to pick him up... thank goodness.)
So Davan is 15 now. She's traveling. Alone. A long way from home.
I know you're shocked because she was a homeschooler.
You know how it is with homeschooled kids... no social skills, they'll never grow up, never travel, never try new experiences.
Sad, really.
;)
I am posting the link to her blog because I'd love it if a few of you would pop over there, read a bit and leave her a comment.
It would encourage her to blog more, I think. At least that's what comments do for me.
And because I don't want you to have to search too hard, I'm linking Davan's blog here, too.
Davan was a small child when I first met her. Five. She was part of our all-homeschooled Girl Scout troop. She didn't like being too far away from her mom. Or her comfort zones.
I enjoyed watching her grow for the next five years. I haven't seen her a lot since our troop disbanded, but have kept up with general life stuff because her mom has been blogging.
Davan was a good friend to my daughter, she trusted us to babysit with her rat, Ari (and I will admit here that I worried the whole time that Ari was here that he would die because of course that's the worst possible scenario... Ari was still alive when Davan and her family came to pick him up... thank goodness.)
So Davan is 15 now. She's traveling. Alone. A long way from home.
I know you're shocked because she was a homeschooler.
You know how it is with homeschooled kids... no social skills, they'll never grow up, never travel, never try new experiences.
Sad, really.
;)
I am posting the link to her blog because I'd love it if a few of you would pop over there, read a bit and leave her a comment.
It would encourage her to blog more, I think. At least that's what comments do for me.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
I bought cookies!
Ran over to Fred Meyer this afternoon to pick up my migraine medication and a few groceries. Eric is helping install a booth for the annual Home and Garden show and I had the day off. Therefore, I knew cooking dinner was my job. :)
When I came out of the store, there were some adorable little Girl Scouts selling cookies. Now I have already purchased some and usually that means I just donate a dollar to their troop, but the cookies I bought are actually in the freezer at work, so I was temporarily cookie-less.
When Lyssa was a Daisy girl scout, the Daisies did not sell cookies, but they do now. Picture a little five year old in a big swirly skirt topped by her blue uniform vest.
She saw me coming out of the store, twirled around once or twice to admire her skirt, then bounced over to me. "Would you like to buy some cookies?"
I told her I'd already bought some, but thought I might need some more.
She pranced over to her mom.
"Mom! She wants cookies! What do I do now??"
Her mom instructed her to find out what kind I wanted.
Her journey back to me (all of about 10 feet) went like this.
Twirl. Prance. Little tilt of head.
"What kind do you want?"
I requested two boxes of Thin Mints. (As far as I'm concerned, there are no other kinds of Girl Scout cookies.) She twirled away to the card table. Handed me two boxes of cookies and twirled away from my proffered 10 dollar bill.
Her mom reminded her that she needed to collect the money before giving the cookies.
"Oops!" she said. Twirl. Held out her hand for the money.
As her mom handed me the change, she was dancing over to the next person coming out of the store entrance.
So cute.
My normal reaction to cookie sellers is to say, "No, thank you, but I would like to make a donation to your troop."
I give them a buck. Yes, a buck is small, but is larger than the amount they get from council for selling a box of cookies.
When I stopped being a Girl Scout leader it was sixty cents, I don't know what it is now. Not much, I'm sure.
Anyway, I have purchased enough cookies this year. I have ten one dollar bills in my wallet so that for the next couple weeks while the girls are selling cookies, I can give them a small donation.
And I would love to pass that suggestion on to everyone who reads here, although I've said it before. A buck is small to me, but can make a difference to the girls in the troop. Instead of ignoring them (yeah, people do that... walk past like they don't even see the kids) or saying no, give 'em a buck.
I am not fond of GSUSA in general, I feel they exploit the girls for their own financial gain, and that scouting has become a haven for the new age fern sniffer crowd. To the volunteers and girls, scouting is a fun activity that builds kids up, but to the paid leadership it's a gold mine. They never forget that it's a business, and make many decisions that are detrimental to the programs and the girls they serve.
The complete revamp of the program every few years is horrendously expensive, and I'm not aware of any of the changes being particularly beneficial to the kids. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
One of the things that comes to mind when I think about scouting was the instructions that I received when disbanding the troop. On the question of what to do with the money that was left in our troop account (about 48 cents, as I recall, but some troops have hundreds of dollars) the letter had this to say. Paraphrasing, of course, but the gist of it is correct here.
They wanted the girls to donate the money to charity or back to Girl Scouting, of course. Any other use of their own money would be unthinkable!
"Some troops take the money that is left and have a big party or take a final little trip somewhere and spend that money, but what lesson are you teaching the girls when you allow that?"
Hm. Let me take a stab at this one. By allowing the girls to spend the money they EARNED on activities of their choosing, they are learning that the money earned from hard work is theirs? That it doesn't belong to GSUSA or the government or Jesus?
:::gasp:::
Heresy!!
Our troop ended up spending most of the money we had left on a long weekend jaunt to one of the Girl Scout properties. We tie dyed, sang around the campfire, took a hike, had a treasure hunt of sorts, played a ton of games, made noise, stayed up late and got up early and came home exhausted.
I never got paid back for theslightly under $400.00 money the troop owed me.
Eric said more than once when I wavered on a purchase or commented about the money I spent on my troop, "It's for your girls. They're worth it."
They were, too. I enjoyed my time with them and hope they all have good memories of scouting.
So buy some cookies or give the next Girl Scout troop you encounter selling them a few bucks if you can.
When I came out of the store, there were some adorable little Girl Scouts selling cookies. Now I have already purchased some and usually that means I just donate a dollar to their troop, but the cookies I bought are actually in the freezer at work, so I was temporarily cookie-less.
When Lyssa was a Daisy girl scout, the Daisies did not sell cookies, but they do now. Picture a little five year old in a big swirly skirt topped by her blue uniform vest.
She saw me coming out of the store, twirled around once or twice to admire her skirt, then bounced over to me. "Would you like to buy some cookies?"
I told her I'd already bought some, but thought I might need some more.
She pranced over to her mom.
"Mom! She wants cookies! What do I do now??"
Her mom instructed her to find out what kind I wanted.
Her journey back to me (all of about 10 feet) went like this.
Twirl. Prance. Little tilt of head.
"What kind do you want?"
I requested two boxes of Thin Mints. (As far as I'm concerned, there are no other kinds of Girl Scout cookies.) She twirled away to the card table. Handed me two boxes of cookies and twirled away from my proffered 10 dollar bill.
Her mom reminded her that she needed to collect the money before giving the cookies.
"Oops!" she said. Twirl. Held out her hand for the money.
As her mom handed me the change, she was dancing over to the next person coming out of the store entrance.
So cute.
My normal reaction to cookie sellers is to say, "No, thank you, but I would like to make a donation to your troop."
I give them a buck. Yes, a buck is small, but is larger than the amount they get from council for selling a box of cookies.
When I stopped being a Girl Scout leader it was sixty cents, I don't know what it is now. Not much, I'm sure.
Anyway, I have purchased enough cookies this year. I have ten one dollar bills in my wallet so that for the next couple weeks while the girls are selling cookies, I can give them a small donation.
And I would love to pass that suggestion on to everyone who reads here, although I've said it before. A buck is small to me, but can make a difference to the girls in the troop. Instead of ignoring them (yeah, people do that... walk past like they don't even see the kids) or saying no, give 'em a buck.
I am not fond of GSUSA in general, I feel they exploit the girls for their own financial gain, and that scouting has become a haven for the new age fern sniffer crowd. To the volunteers and girls, scouting is a fun activity that builds kids up, but to the paid leadership it's a gold mine. They never forget that it's a business, and make many decisions that are detrimental to the programs and the girls they serve.
The complete revamp of the program every few years is horrendously expensive, and I'm not aware of any of the changes being particularly beneficial to the kids. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
One of the things that comes to mind when I think about scouting was the instructions that I received when disbanding the troop. On the question of what to do with the money that was left in our troop account (about 48 cents, as I recall, but some troops have hundreds of dollars) the letter had this to say. Paraphrasing, of course, but the gist of it is correct here.
They wanted the girls to donate the money to charity or back to Girl Scouting, of course. Any other use of their own money would be unthinkable!
"Some troops take the money that is left and have a big party or take a final little trip somewhere and spend that money, but what lesson are you teaching the girls when you allow that?"
Hm. Let me take a stab at this one. By allowing the girls to spend the money they EARNED on activities of their choosing, they are learning that the money earned from hard work is theirs? That it doesn't belong to GSUSA or the government or Jesus?
:::gasp:::
Heresy!!
Our troop ended up spending most of the money we had left on a long weekend jaunt to one of the Girl Scout properties. We tie dyed, sang around the campfire, took a hike, had a treasure hunt of sorts, played a ton of games, made noise, stayed up late and got up early and came home exhausted.
I never got paid back for the
Eric said more than once when I wavered on a purchase or commented about the money I spent on my troop, "It's for your girls. They're worth it."
They were, too. I enjoyed my time with them and hope they all have good memories of scouting.
So buy some cookies or give the next Girl Scout troop you encounter selling them a few bucks if you can.
Thursday, March 08, 2012
KATU sucks.
Just thought I'd toss that out there. KATU is one of our local television stations. They're no better or worse than any of the other stations, but I HATE CBS and NBC, so most of the time that's where I read the news. I do NOT watch it, can't stand the breathless plastic people on camera... the "On air personalities." Ugh.
I've left comments on their website for one story or another for quite some time.
I don't use profanity, I don't call people names, I follow the rules left for comments... and in the past few days, they've deleted several things I've posted without explanation. Just post it, and then, it's gone. *poof*
The latest was on this story:Girl Scouts stop selling cookies
Well, tonight I tried three times to post a response, and all three of them were deleted.
I think the first one was the best, unfortunately I didn't save it. I DID save the other two, however.
If you didn't want to click on the link, I'll give you the short version. Some girls in Longview have decided that they're not going to sell cookies this year because the local council is closing down their camp, and therefore the money they raise will be going to other camps etc... the nearest one being four hours away. They feel like this is a way to get the attention and the ear of their local council and that it's not fair for the money they earn to go to places so far away.
My first comment was deleted. I didn't save it.
The 2nd comment I left was this: GSUSA makes a LOT of money from cookie sales. They can tell you the money 'stays local' but that four dollar box of cookies nets the troop approximately sixty cents. The troop is much better off if you hand them a dollar instead of buying a box of cookies. Of course one must buy at least one box of Thin Mints or Samoas.
GSUSA and council 'ask for input' from the girls, then proceed to do exactly what they'd planned in the first place most of the time.
A position working for GS pays a good salary and great benefits. Girl Scouting is no longer for the girls, it has become a very lucrative business for the people employed by them.
They keep revamping the program, making it into more of a politically correct fuzzy feel good save the planet thing and less like scouting used to be. The days of pocket knives and canoeing and hiking are receding more and more into the past.
A few years ago, the Columbia River Council decided to close and sell Camp Arrowhead in Stevenson, Washington. The outcry and protesting caused them to reconsider their position and the camp is still open.
I support these girls who have decided not to sell cookies, it gets GSUSA in the pocketbook. The only language they really understand.
That comment was deleted really fast.
So I tried again. Toned it down a bit.
A few years ago, our local council tried to close and sell Camp Arrowhead. The ensuing outcry actually got council's attention, and the camp is still open.
Hitting the organization in the pocketbook is the only way to get their attention. It's important to note that GSUSA does not exist for the girls, it's a BUSINESS. And a lucrative one. The people employed by them make a lot of money and have excellent benefits.
I wholeheartedly support the girls who have made this decision.
Good for them!
That comment lasted as long as the first one.
Not sure why, but evidently they have a position and don't want to post anything that might tell the truth?
So screw you, KATU, here's the real scoop:
Girl Scouts USA and local councils are money grubbers. I'm a capitalist, I get it.
Capitalism is okay, as long as someone doesn't practice subterfuge with regard to the money grubbing. You know. LIE about their purpose.
Girl Scouts tries to make you think that scouting exists 'for the girls' when that's not true at all. GSUSA is a corporation, and corporations exist to make a profit. They can CALL themselves non-profit, but anyone who's been involved with the organization knows better.
It's bullshit.
They exist to make money, and a great deal of the money they make is earned by the girls they supposedly exist to serve. That four dollar box of cookies really does net the troop about sixty cents, and the rest of it goes to pay for council stuff.
They pretend to ask for input from the girls, then they proceed to do exactly what they want without regard to anything but the corporate bottom line.
Evidently, that's what KATU does, too.
So, KATU. Kiss my ass. Right in the puckered up middle.
(Thought about doing a google image search for that one... haha)
I've left comments on their website for one story or another for quite some time.
I don't use profanity, I don't call people names, I follow the rules left for comments... and in the past few days, they've deleted several things I've posted without explanation. Just post it, and then, it's gone. *poof*
The latest was on this story:Girl Scouts stop selling cookies
Well, tonight I tried three times to post a response, and all three of them were deleted.
I think the first one was the best, unfortunately I didn't save it. I DID save the other two, however.
If you didn't want to click on the link, I'll give you the short version. Some girls in Longview have decided that they're not going to sell cookies this year because the local council is closing down their camp, and therefore the money they raise will be going to other camps etc... the nearest one being four hours away. They feel like this is a way to get the attention and the ear of their local council and that it's not fair for the money they earn to go to places so far away.
My first comment was deleted. I didn't save it.
The 2nd comment I left was this: GSUSA makes a LOT of money from cookie sales. They can tell you the money 'stays local' but that four dollar box of cookies nets the troop approximately sixty cents. The troop is much better off if you hand them a dollar instead of buying a box of cookies. Of course one must buy at least one box of Thin Mints or Samoas.
GSUSA and council 'ask for input' from the girls, then proceed to do exactly what they'd planned in the first place most of the time.
A position working for GS pays a good salary and great benefits. Girl Scouting is no longer for the girls, it has become a very lucrative business for the people employed by them.
They keep revamping the program, making it into more of a politically correct fuzzy feel good save the planet thing and less like scouting used to be. The days of pocket knives and canoeing and hiking are receding more and more into the past.
A few years ago, the Columbia River Council decided to close and sell Camp Arrowhead in Stevenson, Washington. The outcry and protesting caused them to reconsider their position and the camp is still open.
I support these girls who have decided not to sell cookies, it gets GSUSA in the pocketbook. The only language they really understand.
That comment was deleted really fast.
So I tried again. Toned it down a bit.
A few years ago, our local council tried to close and sell Camp Arrowhead. The ensuing outcry actually got council's attention, and the camp is still open.
Hitting the organization in the pocketbook is the only way to get their attention. It's important to note that GSUSA does not exist for the girls, it's a BUSINESS. And a lucrative one. The people employed by them make a lot of money and have excellent benefits.
I wholeheartedly support the girls who have made this decision.
Good for them!
That comment lasted as long as the first one.
Not sure why, but evidently they have a position and don't want to post anything that might tell the truth?
So screw you, KATU, here's the real scoop:
Girl Scouts USA and local councils are money grubbers. I'm a capitalist, I get it.
Capitalism is okay, as long as someone doesn't practice subterfuge with regard to the money grubbing. You know. LIE about their purpose.
Girl Scouts tries to make you think that scouting exists 'for the girls' when that's not true at all. GSUSA is a corporation, and corporations exist to make a profit. They can CALL themselves non-profit, but anyone who's been involved with the organization knows better.
It's bullshit.
They exist to make money, and a great deal of the money they make is earned by the girls they supposedly exist to serve. That four dollar box of cookies really does net the troop about sixty cents, and the rest of it goes to pay for council stuff.
They pretend to ask for input from the girls, then they proceed to do exactly what they want without regard to anything but the corporate bottom line.
Evidently, that's what KATU does, too.
So, KATU. Kiss my ass. Right in the puckered up middle.
(Thought about doing a google image search for that one... haha)
Monday, March 05, 2012
Where's my motivation? Where did the weekend go? Why are weeks eternally long and weekends go by so fast they feel like they didn't really happen?
I was looking for my motivation earlier, but got sidetracked by some brownies and a sudden trip to the grocery store.
Eric came into the kitchen to cut up a pork roast we bought at the grocery store yesterday, and when he opened the package, a nasty horrible rotten smell came from it. GROSS!
So we hopped into the car and drove to the grocery store to return it.
I saw three people I knew from work, one from my old school and two from the current school. One of my students was there with her mom and baby brother.
I'm starting to feel connected to the universe.
I wanted to accomplish... something this weekend. And I really didn't. Or not much. Catching up with the laundry and changing the bed are great, but I'm not sure they count as accomplishments. I baked brownies. And while they taste really good and I'm glad I did it, it wasn't difficult to do and DAMN do they disappear fast!
I thought about the upcoming week at work, trying to decide on a theme and mulling over what I have in the back room to use.
March is Children's Art Month, but planning big, splashy projects takes longer than the amount of time I wanted to spend on it over the weekend. There is no school on Friday in our state, so it's a short week for us.
So I'm still pondering. And time is running out.
Because of course it's Sunday evening and I have to get up in only 10 hours to go to work. Not that I'm counting.
The house really is a mess. It's not cleaning itself up, either. I start on a project and look at all that needs doing and I get overwhelmed and anxious and end up doing nothing instead of something, which means of course that nothing gets done.
So here in a few minutes Eric and I will go to our friend's house and feed the attack dog for them while they're out of town. It's funny, though. The dog knows me, but always barks at me when I come over. I hope she will not decide I'm not her friend and chew my feet off at the ankles, I plan to go give her food, but she doesn't know it.
A couple years ago?? Matt went over and painted a mural on one of the bedroom walls. He was there, working alone because the family had an errand, and Eric drove over to bring him a different brush or something, I can't really remember. And Copper, the dog, did NOT like Eric being in the house. She growled at him and did not allow him to pat her little wrinkled up head. She has a wrinkled up worried face, but usually she looks friendly. He said she did NOT look pleased that evening. I'm guessing he will wait outside for me.
And. In my neck of the woods, it's Girl Scout cookie time. We get hit up every time we exit the grocery store. I am not buying cookies for a couple reasons, but I still support the GIRLS in scouting even though I think they're getting a raw deal from National.
So I always hand the young lady a dollar for her troop. That four dollar box of cookies they sell ends up giving the troop sixty cents... so I just added forty cents to that by giving them a buck.
I am sorry the basic tenets of scouting have gotten lost in the middle of the political stuff that scouting has become. It's my understanding, although I have not looked at any of the new materials, that what's being offered to Girl Scouts now is more like a public school curriculum, and that meetings are beginning to feel a lot like homework and worksheets and paperwork.
I know that when I was involved, they were definitely heading that way, and to have a mixed level troop just completely blew their little minds at our local council level.
Silly people.
Anyway, even if you don't want to buy cookies, tell that young woman who asks, "No thank you." And if you can, give her a buck. She will appreciate it.
Eric came into the kitchen to cut up a pork roast we bought at the grocery store yesterday, and when he opened the package, a nasty horrible rotten smell came from it. GROSS!
So we hopped into the car and drove to the grocery store to return it.
I saw three people I knew from work, one from my old school and two from the current school. One of my students was there with her mom and baby brother.
I'm starting to feel connected to the universe.
I wanted to accomplish... something this weekend. And I really didn't. Or not much. Catching up with the laundry and changing the bed are great, but I'm not sure they count as accomplishments. I baked brownies. And while they taste really good and I'm glad I did it, it wasn't difficult to do and DAMN do they disappear fast!
I thought about the upcoming week at work, trying to decide on a theme and mulling over what I have in the back room to use.
March is Children's Art Month, but planning big, splashy projects takes longer than the amount of time I wanted to spend on it over the weekend. There is no school on Friday in our state, so it's a short week for us.
So I'm still pondering. And time is running out.
Because of course it's Sunday evening and I have to get up in only 10 hours to go to work. Not that I'm counting.
The house really is a mess. It's not cleaning itself up, either. I start on a project and look at all that needs doing and I get overwhelmed and anxious and end up doing nothing instead of something, which means of course that nothing gets done.
So here in a few minutes Eric and I will go to our friend's house and feed the attack dog for them while they're out of town. It's funny, though. The dog knows me, but always barks at me when I come over. I hope she will not decide I'm not her friend and chew my feet off at the ankles, I plan to go give her food, but she doesn't know it.
A couple years ago?? Matt went over and painted a mural on one of the bedroom walls. He was there, working alone because the family had an errand, and Eric drove over to bring him a different brush or something, I can't really remember. And Copper, the dog, did NOT like Eric being in the house. She growled at him and did not allow him to pat her little wrinkled up head. She has a wrinkled up worried face, but usually she looks friendly. He said she did NOT look pleased that evening. I'm guessing he will wait outside for me.
And. In my neck of the woods, it's Girl Scout cookie time. We get hit up every time we exit the grocery store. I am not buying cookies for a couple reasons, but I still support the GIRLS in scouting even though I think they're getting a raw deal from National.
So I always hand the young lady a dollar for her troop. That four dollar box of cookies they sell ends up giving the troop sixty cents... so I just added forty cents to that by giving them a buck.
I am sorry the basic tenets of scouting have gotten lost in the middle of the political stuff that scouting has become. It's my understanding, although I have not looked at any of the new materials, that what's being offered to Girl Scouts now is more like a public school curriculum, and that meetings are beginning to feel a lot like homework and worksheets and paperwork.
I know that when I was involved, they were definitely heading that way, and to have a mixed level troop just completely blew their little minds at our local council level.
Silly people.
Anyway, even if you don't want to buy cookies, tell that young woman who asks, "No thank you." And if you can, give her a buck. She will appreciate it.
Sunday, November 09, 2008
Lazy
I had to get up at 7:30 yesterday. At least that's when I had the alarm set to go off. Of course, I woke up around 5:30 because I had to go to the bathroom.
And then, as usual, I started to obsess.
I finally got up about 6:20 and finished getting ready for the workshop. I bagged up a bunch of supplies from my past as a troop leader and made two big bags of stuff for new troops.
Beads and pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks and scissors and paintbrushes and paint water containers and sequins and brads and silk fall leaves and spools of ribbon and markers and string... well, stuff that would have been helpful to me when I started as a leader. The new leaders at the workshop really appreciated it. It was a whole grocery bag full of stuff. Haven't even made a dent in my stuff. I definitely need to do more weeding out.
I'll be taking some stuff to work soon, too. I have no reason to keep it.
::sigh::
My portion of the presentation went well. They liked the games and the Cartesian divers. The tearing up of/taping the picture of the woman gave them food for thought, and they took with them the idea that Girl Scouts should be a safe place for girls to grow.
I didn't get anything done at home, of course. Well, I did the dishes.
Today's plan... laundry, a big pot of lentil soup, and grocery shopping.
I really lead a very exciting life, don't I?
And then, as usual, I started to obsess.
I finally got up about 6:20 and finished getting ready for the workshop. I bagged up a bunch of supplies from my past as a troop leader and made two big bags of stuff for new troops.
Beads and pipe cleaners and popsicle sticks and scissors and paintbrushes and paint water containers and sequins and brads and silk fall leaves and spools of ribbon and markers and string... well, stuff that would have been helpful to me when I started as a leader. The new leaders at the workshop really appreciated it. It was a whole grocery bag full of stuff. Haven't even made a dent in my stuff. I definitely need to do more weeding out.
I'll be taking some stuff to work soon, too. I have no reason to keep it.
::sigh::
My portion of the presentation went well. They liked the games and the Cartesian divers. The tearing up of/taping the picture of the woman gave them food for thought, and they took with them the idea that Girl Scouts should be a safe place for girls to grow.
I didn't get anything done at home, of course. Well, I did the dishes.
Today's plan... laundry, a big pot of lentil soup, and grocery shopping.
I really lead a very exciting life, don't I?
Saturday, November 08, 2008
Workshop Day
I'll be up and around early. No sleeping in for ME today!
I had all my stuff boxed and ready last night. All I have to do is load up and go. I'll add an update to the end of this post when I have a spare moment to do so.
See you then!
I had all my stuff boxed and ready last night. All I have to do is load up and go. I'll add an update to the end of this post when I have a spare moment to do so.
See you then!
Friday, November 07, 2008
Koosh Balls and Team Building
Whew.
After yesterday's post, I got a little nervous about my plans. It's not like me to be so far behind when planning something like this. Today, I'm feeling better, but I will have a bit of preparation to do before the workshop tomorrow.
I'll need to make up some handouts for the attendees with my email address, website information for where I purchased the products I'm planning to use tomorrow, and try to figure out how much time things will take.
Oh, and what order those things will be done in.
We're going to address ugliness between girls a bit. I'm going to bring a picture of a girl from a magazine, and we're going to tear her apart. We will rip off a piece of her and insult her with each tear.
Then, we'll tape her back together and realize that it left scars.
I am going to really impress upon them that a troop meeting has to be a place where all girls feel safe and cared for. And remind them that if it's not happening, it's really the responsibility of the leader to make sure it does.
I even have real-life examples of poorly handled troops/girl issues.
Next, this little gem:
Have you ever seen the Human Knot? Each participant (works best with 8 to 12 people) is given a bandanna or a cloth napkin. They cluster together, and holding the fabric in one hand, give the other end to someone. That person holds her piece of material in the hand that isn't occupied and hands the end to still another person. Eventually, everyone is tied in a big human knot. The challenge is to untangle the knot while still holding the material and have everyone end up in a big circle. After typing that, it makes perfect sense to me.
Is it understandable to you?
Oh, and the reason pieces of material are used is that no one gets their arm twisted in its socket or inadvertently hurts another person. In groups where we have done this activity, it's been fun and the kids always want to do it again. Adults are usually a little more awkward with it, which is of course, part of the fun.
I am also the proud owner of 11 or 12 Koosh balls. I got them one at a time from the 49 cent bin at the local Goodwill. You know what I'm talking about, right? The little balls made from rubber
bands?
When I bought them, I brought them home and ran them through the washing machine with a little detergent and a little bleach to make sure they were clean. After they air dry, they're a teeny bit sticky. A little bit of cornstarch rubbed in seems to take care of that just fine, though.
I've used them at work quite a bit. The kids love them.
I've used them at Girl Scout meetings, too. There are several games a person can play with them as well as just tossing them around. They're fun.
So we'll play a couple games with Koosh balls.
I'm also planning to bring the classroom pack of Cartesian Divers. I'll bring scissors and empty water bottles and cups and teach the leaders how to make a Cartesian Diver.
What? You don't know what a Cartesian Diver is? (And you also don't know that I cannot type Cartesian Diver to save my life... I have typoed it about 14 times in this little blog post. You try it. See how YOU do.)
Anyway, I first heard of them when my sister in law bought a big package of them for Matt. I think he was about eight years old. He adored them. And every group of children I've ever demonstrated them to loves them as well. They're kind of fun. Here's a link to the kind I use.
Cartesian Diver from Steve Spangler Science
(picture stolen from Steve Spangler Science)
I think those little activities will be enough to fill an hour and a half.
And then, I'll probably want to come home but will stay to lend my support to the new leaders who have signed up and want to have fun in their troops.
::sigh:::
I really miss 'my' girls.
After yesterday's post, I got a little nervous about my plans. It's not like me to be so far behind when planning something like this. Today, I'm feeling better, but I will have a bit of preparation to do before the workshop tomorrow.
I'll need to make up some handouts for the attendees with my email address, website information for where I purchased the products I'm planning to use tomorrow, and try to figure out how much time things will take.
Oh, and what order those things will be done in.
We're going to address ugliness between girls a bit. I'm going to bring a picture of a girl from a magazine, and we're going to tear her apart. We will rip off a piece of her and insult her with each tear.
Then, we'll tape her back together and realize that it left scars.
I am going to really impress upon them that a troop meeting has to be a place where all girls feel safe and cared for. And remind them that if it's not happening, it's really the responsibility of the leader to make sure it does.
I even have real-life examples of poorly handled troops/girl issues.
Next, this little gem:
Have you ever seen the Human Knot? Each participant (works best with 8 to 12 people) is given a bandanna or a cloth napkin. They cluster together, and holding the fabric in one hand, give the other end to someone. That person holds her piece of material in the hand that isn't occupied and hands the end to still another person. Eventually, everyone is tied in a big human knot. The challenge is to untangle the knot while still holding the material and have everyone end up in a big circle. After typing that, it makes perfect sense to me.
Is it understandable to you?
Oh, and the reason pieces of material are used is that no one gets their arm twisted in its socket or inadvertently hurts another person. In groups where we have done this activity, it's been fun and the kids always want to do it again. Adults are usually a little more awkward with it, which is of course, part of the fun.
I am also the proud owner of 11 or 12 Koosh balls. I got them one at a time from the 49 cent bin at the local Goodwill. You know what I'm talking about, right? The little balls made from rubber
bands?When I bought them, I brought them home and ran them through the washing machine with a little detergent and a little bleach to make sure they were clean. After they air dry, they're a teeny bit sticky. A little bit of cornstarch rubbed in seems to take care of that just fine, though.
I've used them at work quite a bit. The kids love them.
I've used them at Girl Scout meetings, too. There are several games a person can play with them as well as just tossing them around. They're fun.
So we'll play a couple games with Koosh balls.
I'm also planning to bring the classroom pack of Cartesian Divers. I'll bring scissors and empty water bottles and cups and teach the leaders how to make a Cartesian Diver.
What? You don't know what a Cartesian Diver is? (And you also don't know that I cannot type Cartesian Diver to save my life... I have typoed it about 14 times in this little blog post. You try it. See how YOU do.)
Anyway, I first heard of them when my sister in law bought a big package of them for Matt. I think he was about eight years old. He adored them. And every group of children I've ever demonstrated them to loves them as well. They're kind of fun. Here's a link to the kind I use.
Cartesian Diver from Steve Spangler Science
(picture stolen from Steve Spangler Science)
I think those little activities will be enough to fill an hour and a half.
And then, I'll probably want to come home but will stay to lend my support to the new leaders who have signed up and want to have fun in their troops.
::sigh:::
I really miss 'my' girls.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Workshopping
Classify this under 'what was I thinking?'.
On Saturday morning, I will be getting up and heading out the door to the 5th annual Leader Workshop for our Girl Scout area.
(Formerly known as a neighborhood, now labeled with the lofty term Vista)
I was asked some time ago to host a portion of the workshop. The emails in the past week or two have been hinting that the workshop may be canceled due to lack of interest.
Sunday night, I got a note in my email. The workshop is ON.
So the regular obsessing I do when planning for an event like this one has not happened. I seriously haven't given it much thought at all. I've been just a teeny bit busy with life.
Guess I'd better start thinking about how I'm going to fill an hour and a half with science and team building exercises, huh?
I can do it.
I just can't really scrape together any real enthusiasm for the task.
Send me some, will you? Even a tiny bit of enthusiasm will help.
Oh. And ps... this is my 900th post.
Yep, that's right. I have sat down in front of this very same computer 900 times and posted something.
It's been sort of fun, actually.
On Saturday morning, I will be getting up and heading out the door to the 5th annual Leader Workshop for our Girl Scout area.
(Formerly known as a neighborhood, now labeled with the lofty term Vista)
I was asked some time ago to host a portion of the workshop. The emails in the past week or two have been hinting that the workshop may be canceled due to lack of interest.
Sunday night, I got a note in my email. The workshop is ON.
So the regular obsessing I do when planning for an event like this one has not happened. I seriously haven't given it much thought at all. I've been just a teeny bit busy with life.
Guess I'd better start thinking about how I'm going to fill an hour and a half with science and team building exercises, huh?
I can do it.
I just can't really scrape together any real enthusiasm for the task.
Send me some, will you? Even a tiny bit of enthusiasm will help.
Oh. And ps... this is my 900th post.
Yep, that's right. I have sat down in front of this very same computer 900 times and posted something.
It's been sort of fun, actually.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Still Girl Scouting?
Our local GS council asked me if I'd sign on to be a trainer.
Teach other people how to be a Girl Scout leader.
I gave it some serious thought. Leading a troop was something I really enjoyed for the most part. I know lots of crafts and games and ways to get girls working together... all the usual.
I'm also not a great supporter of GSUSA. I think the program itself is sound, and that meetings and other things the girls do are healthy, wholesome activities, but I don't like the way national GS runs things. I don't like the way they keep tweaking their programs (spending a LOT of money.. much of it earned by the girls) and the way they refuse to listen to the girls or to the volunteers who are the lifeblood of the organization.
This year, they've changed the whole program again. They're working really hard to classify and pigeonhole the girls... getting them into smaller age groupings, mostly based on where they are in school.
I don't like that, and I think that girls would be better served by making the age groups larger. I think the older girls can learn from the younger as well as the little ones learning from the older ones.
What they have now, and are fostering by their current actions, really boils down to envy. They set the little ones up to wish to be just like the big ones. And the big ones, with some exceptions, look down on the small ones, and when forced to interact with them, can be quite condescending.
After thinking about being a trainer, I have decided against it. I'd have to align myself with council and national and agree to act as if everything they do is perfect, and I can't do that in good conscience.
So I emailed them and thanked them for their request but said I wouldn't be available as a trainer.
Then, I got an email from the person who was the chairman of our vista last year. She wanted to know if I'd teach a couple classes at the leader workshop in November.
It's funny. I am not a fan of GSUSA's national policies, but I am a BIG fan of the girls and the original premises of scouting. Helping leaders have better troops on an individual basis is definitely something I can get behind.
So I'll be conducting a couple sessions of the next leader workshop.
Am I undermining my own principles? Am I helping GSUSA with their goals of running a business and making money, or am I simply helping moms be leaders for their own troops?
Both, I guess. But which half of the equation carries more weight?
Off to ponder.
Teach other people how to be a Girl Scout leader.
I gave it some serious thought. Leading a troop was something I really enjoyed for the most part. I know lots of crafts and games and ways to get girls working together... all the usual.
I'm also not a great supporter of GSUSA. I think the program itself is sound, and that meetings and other things the girls do are healthy, wholesome activities, but I don't like the way national GS runs things. I don't like the way they keep tweaking their programs (spending a LOT of money.. much of it earned by the girls) and the way they refuse to listen to the girls or to the volunteers who are the lifeblood of the organization.
This year, they've changed the whole program again. They're working really hard to classify and pigeonhole the girls... getting them into smaller age groupings, mostly based on where they are in school.
I don't like that, and I think that girls would be better served by making the age groups larger. I think the older girls can learn from the younger as well as the little ones learning from the older ones.
What they have now, and are fostering by their current actions, really boils down to envy. They set the little ones up to wish to be just like the big ones. And the big ones, with some exceptions, look down on the small ones, and when forced to interact with them, can be quite condescending.
After thinking about being a trainer, I have decided against it. I'd have to align myself with council and national and agree to act as if everything they do is perfect, and I can't do that in good conscience.
So I emailed them and thanked them for their request but said I wouldn't be available as a trainer.
Then, I got an email from the person who was the chairman of our vista last year. She wanted to know if I'd teach a couple classes at the leader workshop in November.
It's funny. I am not a fan of GSUSA's national policies, but I am a BIG fan of the girls and the original premises of scouting. Helping leaders have better troops on an individual basis is definitely something I can get behind.
So I'll be conducting a couple sessions of the next leader workshop.
Am I undermining my own principles? Am I helping GSUSA with their goals of running a business and making money, or am I simply helping moms be leaders for their own troops?
Both, I guess. But which half of the equation carries more weight?
Off to ponder.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Short Thoughts and Girl Scouts
Those are all I really have time for this morning.
I woke up at 6 with a blistering headache, but not one of the migraine variety. If you've had migraines, you know the difference.
Took two Excedrin and went back to bed until Eric's guy showed up at 8:30. Maggie barked to let me know it was time to get up.
::sigh::
I took another Excedrin about 5 minutes ago, and I'm going to head for the shower and run hot water on my head for a few. After that and a meal, I will probably be feeling up to sorting some pictures.
I need to get them sorted because I'm meeting some of my Girl Scouts today at the park for a picnic and I want to give them their pictures and little albums I purchased for them. It's a largish job. Imagine approximately 50 pictures per girl and multiply it by 10. I sort them all according to which girl is 'starring' in them. If it's two girls, they each get a copy. Group shot? Same thing.
So a bunch of pictures.
When we did our final outing in August, we spent a morning tie dyeing. Someone suggested that we get together, wear the things we dyed and take a picture, which is why our final outing wasn't our final outing after all.
I planned the picnic thing, but not everyone will be there. Some of them have other plans, unfortunately.
I'll get a group pic and upload the shots to Snapfish, where everyone can go and order copies of their own.
Well, supposedly we're getting the front yard landscaped today. I don't know what's involved in installing a double check/backflow prevention device, but I'm guessing it involves having the water to the house turned off at some time and want to be clean before that happens.
Have a good day, everyone. Happy Saturday!!!
:-D
I woke up at 6 with a blistering headache, but not one of the migraine variety. If you've had migraines, you know the difference.
Took two Excedrin and went back to bed until Eric's guy showed up at 8:30. Maggie barked to let me know it was time to get up.
::sigh::
I took another Excedrin about 5 minutes ago, and I'm going to head for the shower and run hot water on my head for a few. After that and a meal, I will probably be feeling up to sorting some pictures.
I need to get them sorted because I'm meeting some of my Girl Scouts today at the park for a picnic and I want to give them their pictures and little albums I purchased for them. It's a largish job. Imagine approximately 50 pictures per girl and multiply it by 10. I sort them all according to which girl is 'starring' in them. If it's two girls, they each get a copy. Group shot? Same thing.
So a bunch of pictures.
When we did our final outing in August, we spent a morning tie dyeing. Someone suggested that we get together, wear the things we dyed and take a picture, which is why our final outing wasn't our final outing after all.
I planned the picnic thing, but not everyone will be there. Some of them have other plans, unfortunately.
I'll get a group pic and upload the shots to Snapfish, where everyone can go and order copies of their own.
Well, supposedly we're getting the front yard landscaped today. I don't know what's involved in installing a double check/backflow prevention device, but I'm guessing it involves having the water to the house turned off at some time and want to be clean before that happens.
Have a good day, everyone. Happy Saturday!!!
:-D
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Hot. Grumpy. But I did get another day off.
I got an email yesterday from the mother of the girl who decided to go home on Saturday night. Part of the reason she wanted to leave is that two girls in the troop were giving her a hard time. I caught the two of them rolling their eyes at each other while she was talking to them excitedly, and mentioned to them after she left that it wasn't very polite to do that, and I knew about one of the incidents (after the fact) but the rest of it was a surprise to me.
I also feel bad, because after I got the email, I talked to Alyssa to see if she had noticed any of it. She had. She didn't come talk to me about it because she said it didn't seem like a really big deal. She knows my policy about trying to stay out of things unless I see them escalating beyond what I like or I'm asked to step in.
I wish she had come to me.
I wish I had known what was going on, too. I feel bad that I was not able to monitor everything that was going on everywhere, although the mom assures me that she doesn't place blame anywhere... either with me or the two girls who were picking on her daughter, and that her daughter is fine and not upset at all now. None of the incidents mentioned were huge, but when you add being away from home, seven years old and plagued by anxiety and being a little quirky anyway, well, she got overwhelmed.
If we were continuing as a troop, it would definitely be 'take people aside and lecture time' at our next meeting. I'm not pleased that the youngest person in our troop felt bullied and would rather have gone home than stay for our last ever outing.
It's gonna be 100 today. That's hot. Very hot for this area. At 11 tonight, the weather jerk says it will still be 85 degrees. Have I mentioned that I hate the heat?
The good thing about today is, I don't have to go to work.
I was supposed to work yesterday (field trip day.) I went in, asked Sunshine, "Do you really need me?" and explained about my feet.
You see, the weekend of standing really killed my feet. I have troubles with them anyway, but this was really bad. Percocet bad. If you've been reading here long, you know how I hate taking that shit. HATE it. Was desperate enough to take some anyway when I got home on Sunday.
Saturday night, while we were still on our outing, it took nearly an hour after we went to bed before my feet stopped hurting enough for me to sleep. I did not have anything strong with me (couldn't have taken it even if I had, since I was supposed to be the responsible party.. ha) and the aspirin/excedrin just wasn't cutting it. I thought that if I uncovered my feet and looked at them in the dark, I'd probably be able to see them glowing brighter and dimming in rhythm with their throbbing.
Had my feets adjusted on Tuesday, which helped a lot, but they were still awfully sore yesterday. Walking is not a problem, I can walk all day long. But standing... oh my goodness. I rented some crutches in anticipation of the field trip yesterday, thinking that I could use them to help me while standing around.
Sunshine told me to go home, that they had it covered. It was good. Another day to help the feet heal a bit. Another day of aspirin and mostly relaxin'. I stayed off my feet as much as possible.
So the only day I'm scheduled to work this week is tomorrow, Friday. For three hours. Not helpful on the paycheck, but excellent for my attitude and general happiness.
Today, Matt and I are running out early to get an external hard drive for this computer. We discovered the other day that we have used nearly all the memory in this one! There was not even enough memory left to delete programs!
(I've mentioned before that I know just enough about computers to be dangerous. I bet you believe me now, don't you?)
After dumping a bunch of files (one at a time... s-l-o-w...) we had enough memory to delete some programs. We'll get rid of even more junk after I go through my pictures.
After we go out early, we're going to come home and sit hard by the AC. I only have a small window unit for the living room. I open all the doors and windows early in the morning, then close them when it starts to warm up a bit, and turn on the little AC.
We close up the rest of the house, keep the lights off, and don't run laundry or use the stove or oven.
I'm doing a little cleaning today, too. Kitchen table is piled high with stuff left from this weekend, and the debris that collects there all the time even when we're not going somewhere.
I once took a class in time management (paid for by the company I worked for... who has time for shit like that otherwise?).
I don't remember most of it, as anyone who knows how I spend my time can probably tell, but I do remember the adage, Put it away, not down.
Evidently that part of the lesson did not reach me.
edited to add:
Out of random curiosity, I looked to see what's bringing people to my blog this week.
::sigh::
I will never be thought of as a greatly respected literary genius, I don't think.
Here's what I found:
1. desert? mashmellows? Interesting that even spelled incorrectly, it leads to my blog.
2. Okay, well that one is straightforward. Except I really don't know how to deal with her, I just don't spend time with her whenever possible.
3. Cletoris. Ah, Cletoris. Always put into a search field by a perv who can't spell. Everyone knows that Cletoris is actually the plural of Cletus and has nothing to do with anything feminine. Cletus lived across the street. Moved. And left a mess. Which I haven't added pictures of to this blog. Yet.
4. Mental dr
Yeah, that's me.
5. Barkdust pitchfork
Huh?
6. 'f'?? Fry? find? follow? flip?
7. I am totally lost with that one. Ideas?
I also feel bad, because after I got the email, I talked to Alyssa to see if she had noticed any of it. She had. She didn't come talk to me about it because she said it didn't seem like a really big deal. She knows my policy about trying to stay out of things unless I see them escalating beyond what I like or I'm asked to step in.
I wish she had come to me.
I wish I had known what was going on, too. I feel bad that I was not able to monitor everything that was going on everywhere, although the mom assures me that she doesn't place blame anywhere... either with me or the two girls who were picking on her daughter, and that her daughter is fine and not upset at all now. None of the incidents mentioned were huge, but when you add being away from home, seven years old and plagued by anxiety and being a little quirky anyway, well, she got overwhelmed.
If we were continuing as a troop, it would definitely be 'take people aside and lecture time' at our next meeting. I'm not pleased that the youngest person in our troop felt bullied and would rather have gone home than stay for our last ever outing.
It's gonna be 100 today. That's hot. Very hot for this area. At 11 tonight, the weather jerk says it will still be 85 degrees. Have I mentioned that I hate the heat?
The good thing about today is, I don't have to go to work.
I was supposed to work yesterday (field trip day.) I went in, asked Sunshine, "Do you really need me?" and explained about my feet.
You see, the weekend of standing really killed my feet. I have troubles with them anyway, but this was really bad. Percocet bad. If you've been reading here long, you know how I hate taking that shit. HATE it. Was desperate enough to take some anyway when I got home on Sunday.
Saturday night, while we were still on our outing, it took nearly an hour after we went to bed before my feet stopped hurting enough for me to sleep. I did not have anything strong with me (couldn't have taken it even if I had, since I was supposed to be the responsible party.. ha) and the aspirin/excedrin just wasn't cutting it. I thought that if I uncovered my feet and looked at them in the dark, I'd probably be able to see them glowing brighter and dimming in rhythm with their throbbing.
Had my feets adjusted on Tuesday, which helped a lot, but they were still awfully sore yesterday. Walking is not a problem, I can walk all day long. But standing... oh my goodness. I rented some crutches in anticipation of the field trip yesterday, thinking that I could use them to help me while standing around.
Sunshine told me to go home, that they had it covered. It was good. Another day to help the feet heal a bit. Another day of aspirin and mostly relaxin'. I stayed off my feet as much as possible.
So the only day I'm scheduled to work this week is tomorrow, Friday. For three hours. Not helpful on the paycheck, but excellent for my attitude and general happiness.
Today, Matt and I are running out early to get an external hard drive for this computer. We discovered the other day that we have used nearly all the memory in this one! There was not even enough memory left to delete programs!
(I've mentioned before that I know just enough about computers to be dangerous. I bet you believe me now, don't you?)
After dumping a bunch of files (one at a time... s-l-o-w...) we had enough memory to delete some programs. We'll get rid of even more junk after I go through my pictures.
After we go out early, we're going to come home and sit hard by the AC. I only have a small window unit for the living room. I open all the doors and windows early in the morning, then close them when it starts to warm up a bit, and turn on the little AC.
We close up the rest of the house, keep the lights off, and don't run laundry or use the stove or oven.
I'm doing a little cleaning today, too. Kitchen table is piled high with stuff left from this weekend, and the debris that collects there all the time even when we're not going somewhere.
I once took a class in time management (paid for by the company I worked for... who has time for shit like that otherwise?).
I don't remember most of it, as anyone who knows how I spend my time can probably tell, but I do remember the adage, Put it away, not down.
Evidently that part of the lesson did not reach me.
edited to add:
Out of random curiosity, I looked to see what's bringing people to my blog this week.
::sigh::
I will never be thought of as a greatly respected literary genius, I don't think.
Here's what I found:
1. desert? mashmellows? Interesting that even spelled incorrectly, it leads to my blog.
2. Okay, well that one is straightforward. Except I really don't know how to deal with her, I just don't spend time with her whenever possible.
3. Cletoris. Ah, Cletoris. Always put into a search field by a perv who can't spell. Everyone knows that Cletoris is actually the plural of Cletus and has nothing to do with anything feminine. Cletus lived across the street. Moved. And left a mess. Which I haven't added pictures of to this blog. Yet.
4. Mental dr
Yeah, that's me.
5. Barkdust pitchfork
Huh?
6. 'f'?? Fry? find? follow? flip?
7. I am totally lost with that one. Ideas?
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
It was great!
The only way the weekend could have been better was if the Good Fairy had flown over the site in her helicopter, happily sprinkling hundred dollar bills over us. I was only about an hour later getting up there then I had planned. Alyssa and I arrived about one. I drive an Expedition (yeah, I know, but it's paid for and the insurance is cheap... even with gas as high as it is, I still drive for about 200 a month.)
The back of the truck was crammed full of supplies and groceries for the weekend. Lyssa helped me unload, and it took us a good 20 minutes to carry everything in. I spent about two hours unpacking, putting groceries away, doing a little mini-inventory to make sure I'd remembered everything, organizing the packets for our trail hunt and making sure all the little details were in place.
I stuck some chicken pieces in the oven to bake when I first arrived, and by the time I was ready to go out and hide the trail stuff, my food was ready. I took time out to eat, and when the next two girls arrived with a mom, went out and hid the packets on the trail. The weather was mostly good, we had a bit of overcast and a very fine mist during the first half of the day on Saturday, but it really didn't even wet the ground. It was a teeny bit chilly on the back deck of the lodge where we did the tie dyeing, but in my personal opinion, that beats the hell out of frying in hot sun while trying to work. The girls did the Caper Chart on Friday night. I let them know that I would not be available to cook or clean up until Saturday night, since I had stuff to help with/do all day on Saturday.
They assigned tasks to everyone, and no one complained. There were people to cook every meal and people to clean up after. There were four moms there, and four group meals to prepare, which worked quite well. (Why they call chores "capers" I don't know. The girls know it means chores. It's not like you're sneaking up on them, fooling them into helping out. "Hey Cindy. Wanna do CAPERS?!" "SURE!! Hey. Wait. Isn't that just another word for chores? Are you trying to put one over on me?")
People arrived until about 8:30 Friday night. I had no formal activities planned, but thanks to some anonymous donor, an old piano now resides in the main room of the lodge. We were treated to several repetitive bits and pieces of music for the evening. Chopsticks, anyone?
:)
I mixed the dyes for Saturday in the kitchen after posting moms near the door to keep the girls out. I'm extremely careful about wearing a mask and not flinging dye powders around, but it's not good to breathe the dust, and I did not want any accidents.
We did breakfast on Saturday (Pancakes and fruit) and then started our morning activity.
Tie dye!
One of the girls (one of the only two whose moms were not able to attend) brought ten things to dye. Her mom had emailed me and asked me earlier in the week if she could bring a little dress and hat for her little sister and dye it. I said that there would be plenty of adult hands and lots of supplies and that it would not be a problem. I guess she took that to mean that her daughter could bring as many things as she wanted. :D It really wasn't a problem except that it took quite awhile for her to complete the dyeing. It was actually sort of funny. We didn't have room at the tables for everyone to work, so only four people at a time could dye. I helped her with a couple projects, then had her go play awhile so other people could use her spot. After everyone was done, I had her come back out and finish. As each project was completed, it was sealed into a large ziploc bag and labeled with the person's name. I printed up an instruction sheet for rinsing and washing. The dye needs to stay on wet fabric for 24 to 48 hours for maximum color retention, so everyone took their projects home still rubber banded and wet.
When she finally finished her stuff as lunch was being served, she had a whole paper grocery bag full of ziploc bags to take home! I had a little giggle yesterday afternoon when I was rinsing the dye out of the three things I made. It took me about half an hour to rinse them. Whoever had to help her with hers is probably still rinsing this morning.
::snicker::
The trail event Saturday afternoon was successful, too. My daughter and one other girl are just not all that excited about doing crafts, so they just sort of hung out with the rest of us during that time. Everyone else seemed to enjoy solving the codes and completing the tasks.
This is a picture of the nut that didn't fall far from the tree. I'd LOVE to show you a campfire picture of all the girls, but can't.
::sigh::
I'll settle for showing you my favorite girl... who is NO LONGER IN BRACES!!
(Photos tomorrow, I hope.)
I supervised cooking on Saturday night, but when I returned to the kitchen after dinner to help with cleanup, one of my girls told me to get out.
"You've done enough for us today," she said. "So go sit down and relax, we can handle this."
She did not have to tell me twice.
Campfire Saturday night was perfect. It wasn't cold out, but it wasn't too warm, either. The girls toasted marshmallows and made S'mores, sang camp songs (I hardly had to lead any!) and enjoyed themselves.
During campfire, the grandparents of one of the girls arrived to pick her up. She had decided that she wanted to go home that evening.
I've never been a leader who tries to jolly a kid out of going home. I think it's disrespectful to the child to do so.
I make sure to inform parents who are dropping off and not able to stay that, "If your child wants to go home at three a.m., you will get a phone call at three a.m."
This particular girl is one of the younger members of the troop, and has had some anxiety issues, too. There was no question about sending her home. With her really huge bag of tie dyed items.
:::snicker:::
We decided that in a couple weeks, we're going to get together at a local park for a picnic. Everyone will wear the stuff they dyed, and we'll get a group photo or two. I'll hand out the pictures from the year and upload the picnic photos to Snapfish for everyone to order as they wish.
The back of the truck was crammed full of supplies and groceries for the weekend. Lyssa helped me unload, and it took us a good 20 minutes to carry everything in. I spent about two hours unpacking, putting groceries away, doing a little mini-inventory to make sure I'd remembered everything, organizing the packets for our trail hunt and making sure all the little details were in place.
I stuck some chicken pieces in the oven to bake when I first arrived, and by the time I was ready to go out and hide the trail stuff, my food was ready. I took time out to eat, and when the next two girls arrived with a mom, went out and hid the packets on the trail. The weather was mostly good, we had a bit of overcast and a very fine mist during the first half of the day on Saturday, but it really didn't even wet the ground. It was a teeny bit chilly on the back deck of the lodge where we did the tie dyeing, but in my personal opinion, that beats the hell out of frying in hot sun while trying to work. The girls did the Caper Chart on Friday night. I let them know that I would not be available to cook or clean up until Saturday night, since I had stuff to help with/do all day on Saturday.
They assigned tasks to everyone, and no one complained. There were people to cook every meal and people to clean up after. There were four moms there, and four group meals to prepare, which worked quite well. (Why they call chores "capers" I don't know. The girls know it means chores. It's not like you're sneaking up on them, fooling them into helping out. "Hey Cindy. Wanna do CAPERS?!" "SURE!! Hey. Wait. Isn't that just another word for chores? Are you trying to put one over on me?")
People arrived until about 8:30 Friday night. I had no formal activities planned, but thanks to some anonymous donor, an old piano now resides in the main room of the lodge. We were treated to several repetitive bits and pieces of music for the evening. Chopsticks, anyone?
:)
I mixed the dyes for Saturday in the kitchen after posting moms near the door to keep the girls out. I'm extremely careful about wearing a mask and not flinging dye powders around, but it's not good to breathe the dust, and I did not want any accidents.
We did breakfast on Saturday (Pancakes and fruit) and then started our morning activity.
Tie dye!
One of the girls (one of the only two whose moms were not able to attend) brought ten things to dye. Her mom had emailed me and asked me earlier in the week if she could bring a little dress and hat for her little sister and dye it. I said that there would be plenty of adult hands and lots of supplies and that it would not be a problem. I guess she took that to mean that her daughter could bring as many things as she wanted. :D It really wasn't a problem except that it took quite awhile for her to complete the dyeing. It was actually sort of funny. We didn't have room at the tables for everyone to work, so only four people at a time could dye. I helped her with a couple projects, then had her go play awhile so other people could use her spot. After everyone was done, I had her come back out and finish. As each project was completed, it was sealed into a large ziploc bag and labeled with the person's name. I printed up an instruction sheet for rinsing and washing. The dye needs to stay on wet fabric for 24 to 48 hours for maximum color retention, so everyone took their projects home still rubber banded and wet.
When she finally finished her stuff as lunch was being served, she had a whole paper grocery bag full of ziploc bags to take home! I had a little giggle yesterday afternoon when I was rinsing the dye out of the three things I made. It took me about half an hour to rinse them. Whoever had to help her with hers is probably still rinsing this morning.
::snicker::
The trail event Saturday afternoon was successful, too. My daughter and one other girl are just not all that excited about doing crafts, so they just sort of hung out with the rest of us during that time. Everyone else seemed to enjoy solving the codes and completing the tasks.
This is a picture of the nut that didn't fall far from the tree. I'd LOVE to show you a campfire picture of all the girls, but can't.
::sigh::
I'll settle for showing you my favorite girl... who is NO LONGER IN BRACES!!
(Photos tomorrow, I hope.)
I supervised cooking on Saturday night, but when I returned to the kitchen after dinner to help with cleanup, one of my girls told me to get out.
"You've done enough for us today," she said. "So go sit down and relax, we can handle this."
She did not have to tell me twice.
Campfire Saturday night was perfect. It wasn't cold out, but it wasn't too warm, either. The girls toasted marshmallows and made S'mores, sang camp songs (I hardly had to lead any!) and enjoyed themselves.
During campfire, the grandparents of one of the girls arrived to pick her up. She had decided that she wanted to go home that evening.
I've never been a leader who tries to jolly a kid out of going home. I think it's disrespectful to the child to do so.
I make sure to inform parents who are dropping off and not able to stay that, "If your child wants to go home at three a.m., you will get a phone call at three a.m."
This particular girl is one of the younger members of the troop, and has had some anxiety issues, too. There was no question about sending her home. With her really huge bag of tie dyed items.
:::snicker:::
We decided that in a couple weeks, we're going to get together at a local park for a picnic. Everyone will wear the stuff they dyed, and we'll get a group photo or two. I'll hand out the pictures from the year and upload the picnic photos to Snapfish for everyone to order as they wish.
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Homecoming
I'm writing this in advance of Sunday the 10th because...
I'll be tired.
Won't feel like posting when I get back but I really want to post something every day. I feel weird when I don't. (Actually I feel weird anyway, but that's a post for another day. Ha.)
I'll have a buttload of stuff to unload and I'll want a nap.
With any luck, I won't have a headache, though. I will be taking three Imitrex with me. I'll also bring Excedrin. Just in case.
Tomorrow (Monday, August 11th) Alyssa gets her braces off. I will be posting a picture or three of that.
It will probably be Tuesday before I catch you up on our weekend's events. I know you're really excited about it. And even if you're not, you're gonna hear about it.
See you 'live' then.
I'll be tired.
Won't feel like posting when I get back but I really want to post something every day. I feel weird when I don't. (Actually I feel weird anyway, but that's a post for another day. Ha.)
I'll have a buttload of stuff to unload and I'll want a nap.
With any luck, I won't have a headache, though. I will be taking three Imitrex with me. I'll also bring Excedrin. Just in case.
Tomorrow (Monday, August 11th) Alyssa gets her braces off. I will be posting a picture or three of that.
It will probably be Tuesday before I catch you up on our weekend's events. I know you're really excited about it. And even if you're not, you're gonna hear about it.
See you 'live' then.
Saturday, August 09, 2008
We're Girl scOUTING!
Ha. Get it? Putting the OUTING in Scouting.
This is the full day that we'll be up in them thar hills. If things are going according to plan (and my obsessive personality almost always assures that they do, ) then depending on the time of day you're reading this, we're doing at least one of the following:
Eating a breakfast of pancakes, fruit and juice.
Tie Dyeing shirts, pillowcases, socks, etc.
Going on a trail hunt. We're starting the hunt by assembling a small (63 piece) puzzle that I painted the first clue (in code) on.
They'll have to go to the Peace Pole that's located outside the lodge to find the compass directions needed to locate the first packet. From there, we're locating the packets I hid next to the trails around the property yesterday afternoon.
The packets contain pieces of a puzzle to be assembled back at the lodge at the end of the hike, a stamp for each packet (the girls stamp their logbooks with the packet stamp, and the packet with their own individual stamp) a balloon that has to be inflated (I used a balloon pump to inflate the balloons, wrote on them in teeny letters with a Sharpie, then deflated them).
To read each one, the girls will have to use the balloon pump they're going to get in their big trail pack. to read the next clue, (those clues are also written in code) and an activity.
In the first packet are a bunch of Sharpies with wood cookies. They're making and decorating name tags, which is a Girl Scout tradition and always fun.
In another packet are the materials to make a dream catcher in the traditional fashion... no pre-made rings here! Got into my supplies and found some feathers. I discovered that feather dust makes me sneeze. Don't you dare suggest it's just regular dust.
Another packet contains beads and stretchy string to make a bracelet or two. One to keep, one to share. As I write this, I am trying to think of a way for them to share bracelets so that no one gets more than one (and no one has hurt feelings) from someone else. Maybe pass them around the circle at campfire?
One packet contains rocks and acrylic paints to make a garden rock... for a houseplant or for outside plants... or just for your bookcase at home.
The last packet (which will not be 'planted' until the morning of the hunt due to animals) will contain granola bars and raisins, cups and a jug of water.
Now depending on what time you're reading this, we may also be sitting down to a lunch of tacos/burritos. It's a smorgasbord of sorts, all the ingredients are there to choose from. We have vegetarian options as well as some hamburger for the meat eaters among us. Chocolate cake for dessert.
If you're reading in the evening, we're having a spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread and salad. And of course a meat-free sauce for those who don't eat meat. We'll add a bit of hamburger to mine, though.
Around 8, we're going to be sitting outside around the campfire. We'll be singing Girl Scout songs, toasting marshmallows and making S'mores.
We'll hang out there awhile before going in to sleep. Really as long as the girls want to. This is our last campfire, after all.
::sniff::
Let's hope everyone is able to fall asleep after our busy day, huh?
And wish me luck.
"See" you tomorrow. Or Monday. Or Tuesday. Maybe even Wednesday.
This is the full day that we'll be up in them thar hills. If things are going according to plan (and my obsessive personality almost always assures that they do, ) then depending on the time of day you're reading this, we're doing at least one of the following:
Eating a breakfast of pancakes, fruit and juice.
Tie Dyeing shirts, pillowcases, socks, etc.
Going on a trail hunt. We're starting the hunt by assembling a small (63 piece) puzzle that I painted the first clue (in code) on.
They'll have to go to the Peace Pole that's located outside the lodge to find the compass directions needed to locate the first packet. From there, we're locating the packets I hid next to the trails around the property yesterday afternoon.
The packets contain pieces of a puzzle to be assembled back at the lodge at the end of the hike, a stamp for each packet (the girls stamp their logbooks with the packet stamp, and the packet with their own individual stamp) a balloon that has to be inflated (I used a balloon pump to inflate the balloons, wrote on them in teeny letters with a Sharpie, then deflated them).
To read each one, the girls will have to use the balloon pump they're going to get in their big trail pack. to read the next clue, (those clues are also written in code) and an activity.
In the first packet are a bunch of Sharpies with wood cookies. They're making and decorating name tags, which is a Girl Scout tradition and always fun.
In another packet are the materials to make a dream catcher in the traditional fashion... no pre-made rings here! Got into my supplies and found some feathers. I discovered that feather dust makes me sneeze. Don't you dare suggest it's just regular dust.
Another packet contains beads and stretchy string to make a bracelet or two. One to keep, one to share. As I write this, I am trying to think of a way for them to share bracelets so that no one gets more than one (and no one has hurt feelings) from someone else. Maybe pass them around the circle at campfire?
One packet contains rocks and acrylic paints to make a garden rock... for a houseplant or for outside plants... or just for your bookcase at home.
The last packet (which will not be 'planted' until the morning of the hunt due to animals) will contain granola bars and raisins, cups and a jug of water.
Now depending on what time you're reading this, we may also be sitting down to a lunch of tacos/burritos. It's a smorgasbord of sorts, all the ingredients are there to choose from. We have vegetarian options as well as some hamburger for the meat eaters among us. Chocolate cake for dessert.
If you're reading in the evening, we're having a spaghetti dinner complete with garlic bread and salad. And of course a meat-free sauce for those who don't eat meat. We'll add a bit of hamburger to mine, though.
Around 8, we're going to be sitting outside around the campfire. We'll be singing Girl Scout songs, toasting marshmallows and making S'mores.
We'll hang out there awhile before going in to sleep. Really as long as the girls want to. This is our last campfire, after all.
::sniff::
Let's hope everyone is able to fall asleep after our busy day, huh?
And wish me luck.
"See" you tomorrow. Or Monday. Or Tuesday. Maybe even Wednesday.
Friday, August 08, 2008
This is the day.
I'm up, I'm packed, I'm taking off way early. Well, if you call eleven-ish early. I plan to arrive at the GS property by noon, even though 3:30 is the official time we're allowed to arrive.
I'm excited about the event, but it's also bittersweet. I really adore 'my' girls. They're just an amazing group, and I'll miss seeing them every week. It makes me sad to say goodbye, but with the changes in my life as well as the changes in the lives of a few troop families, the timing really isn't too bad. I sure hope I see the girls once in awhile, though. And that they don't go ewww when I rush up and hug 'em.
Oh look. Once again, digression. I bet that's one reason you read here, isn't it?
When I scouted out the place a couple weeks ago, I talked to the ranger who lives on the premises. I explained that it's our last outing and that I want it to be special.
She said that there is not a group booked before us, so if I want to be there quite early, it's okay.
All the preparations I can do here at home are over, the car is packed, and I'm officially past full-panic mode.
Or am I?
:::deep breath:::
Okay, I'm gone.
I'm excited about the event, but it's also bittersweet. I really adore 'my' girls. They're just an amazing group, and I'll miss seeing them every week. It makes me sad to say goodbye, but with the changes in my life as well as the changes in the lives of a few troop families, the timing really isn't too bad. I sure hope I see the girls once in awhile, though. And that they don't go ewww when I rush up and hug 'em.
Oh look. Once again, digression. I bet that's one reason you read here, isn't it?
When I scouted out the place a couple weeks ago, I talked to the ranger who lives on the premises. I explained that it's our last outing and that I want it to be special.
She said that there is not a group booked before us, so if I want to be there quite early, it's okay.
All the preparations I can do here at home are over, the car is packed, and I'm officially past full-panic mode.
Or am I?
:::deep breath:::
Okay, I'm gone.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Making a list
And checking it about 47 times. I have been carrying a spiral notebook with me for
::mumbling,blushing and sorta shuffling my feet:::
about four weeks. Every time something pops into my head about our outing, I write it down.
I have pages and pages of stuff. Grocery list, lists of craft supplies, lists of things I absolutely must not forget, actual photographs of all the little hiding places I discovered on my first trip up there to walk the property and a tentative schedule (which is starting to get etched in stone... finally.)
Even with something to help me sleep, I find myself waking up and writing it down.
Last night, I wrote at least seven things on a page. I can even mostly decipher it this morning.
::sigh:::
No one is putting this pressure on me, either. If we went up the mountain for the weekend with nothing but some food and some games, everyone would still have a good time. The girls invent things to do, they laugh, they run around the property, they have a great time together.
It's just that I want everything to be perfect. It's our last outing, and I want them all to have good memories of it.
You're all going to have memories of the whole thing, too, aren't you?
Isn't it nice of me to share my obsession?
And it ain't over yet. I'll be posting at least once more about it with more details of what we're going to be doing. I figure that at least one of you will be able to use at least one idea.
It's a public service! Yeah, that's it. It's not obsession at all!!
::mumbling,blushing and sorta shuffling my feet:::
about four weeks. Every time something pops into my head about our outing, I write it down.
I have pages and pages of stuff. Grocery list, lists of craft supplies, lists of things I absolutely must not forget, actual photographs of all the little hiding places I discovered on my first trip up there to walk the property and a tentative schedule (which is starting to get etched in stone... finally.)
Even with something to help me sleep, I find myself waking up and writing it down.
Last night, I wrote at least seven things on a page. I can even mostly decipher it this morning.
::sigh:::
No one is putting this pressure on me, either. If we went up the mountain for the weekend with nothing but some food and some games, everyone would still have a good time. The girls invent things to do, they laugh, they run around the property, they have a great time together.
It's just that I want everything to be perfect. It's our last outing, and I want them all to have good memories of it.
You're all going to have memories of the whole thing, too, aren't you?
Isn't it nice of me to share my obsession?
And it ain't over yet. I'll be posting at least once more about it with more details of what we're going to be doing. I figure that at least one of you will be able to use at least one idea.
It's a public service! Yeah, that's it. It's not obsession at all!!
Sunday, August 03, 2008
Lazy Sunday?
It's 9:45. I've been up since 7:30. I've showered, put my face on, done my hair, gotten dressed with shoes even. Getting ready to run to the grocery store to get the week's shopping done, then I'll be back home doing more to get ready for next weekend with my Girl Scouts.
It is all starting to come together, though. I worked on a couple clues yesterday, and prepared the packets that will be hidden on the trail. They're not complete yet, but by the time I arrive (early) at the Girl Scout property on Friday, they'll be ready to go hide on the trails around the camp area.
I have dishes and laundry and cleaning and sorting stuff and things to haul out to the shed... and ::sigh:: things to bring IN from the shed, too.
Yesterday, Eric and Matt went on a hike. Matt worked all night long, and when he got home at 9, they packed up and left. He went to bed around five and to work again at midnight. I remember being young. I could have done that... then. NOT now. :)
Eric has been taking pictures with my new camera on his hikes. He's brought home some great shots.
Click on the picture to see the larger version. This particular one was taken from where he parked the car. I've been on this hike myself, actually.
We hiked up to the top of a ridge where it intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail (the one that goes from Canada to Mexico). On the way back down, right next to the trail, we saw fresh claw marks in a tree. Mountain Lion. As we started to drive home, we saw an actual lion crossing the road. There was no way to even begin to grab my camera, it was there and gone so fast.
I'm hoping that when my feet heal up a bit more that I can go out with him again and take a few pictures of my own. And that any mountain lions I see will be running away from me as fast as they can.
It is all starting to come together, though. I worked on a couple clues yesterday, and prepared the packets that will be hidden on the trail. They're not complete yet, but by the time I arrive (early) at the Girl Scout property on Friday, they'll be ready to go hide on the trails around the camp area.
I have dishes and laundry and cleaning and sorting stuff and things to haul out to the shed... and ::sigh:: things to bring IN from the shed, too.
Yesterday, Eric and Matt went on a hike. Matt worked all night long, and when he got home at 9, they packed up and left. He went to bed around five and to work again at midnight. I remember being young. I could have done that... then. NOT now. :)
Eric has been taking pictures with my new camera on his hikes. He's brought home some great shots.
Click on the picture to see the larger version. This particular one was taken from where he parked the car. I've been on this hike myself, actually.
We hiked up to the top of a ridge where it intersects with the Pacific Crest Trail (the one that goes from Canada to Mexico). On the way back down, right next to the trail, we saw fresh claw marks in a tree. Mountain Lion. As we started to drive home, we saw an actual lion crossing the road. There was no way to even begin to grab my camera, it was there and gone so fast.
I'm hoping that when my feet heal up a bit more that I can go out with him again and take a few pictures of my own. And that any mountain lions I see will be running away from me as fast as they can.
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