Words to Live Without

See how long you can go without saying one of these (overused) words or phrases.

• You know
• Anyway
• Apparently
• I mean
• Just
• Like
• Uh
• Um
• Basically
• Whatever
• You guys
• So
• Literally
• Well
  

Pack 82 Family Campout a Roaring Success

Nights were chilly and days were fun at Pack 82's annual spring campout. This past weekend, a double handful of eager Cub Scouts and half a handful of courageous parents ventured into the vast, unpaved wilderness that is Ross-Rhodes Scout Camp on Lake DeGray.

"Mr. Jason, Do You Have a Band-Aid?"

Bear Cub Logan wasted no time in demonstrating improper pocket knife usage by performing a self-induced partial fingerectomy on his left pinky. A 20 minute drive to the ER and two stiches later, Logan was back in action the next Saturday morning at the district pinewood derby and booting the kickball into the outfield at camp that afternoon. Logan's mom could not be reached for comment.

"Look At the Size of That Thing!"

The campers were pleased to see that the lake had risen to normal levels and the fish were biting. At least one of them, anyway. Mr. Jason reeled in an 18" monster later identified by Mr. Rick as a Northern Pike. After a fish cleaning lesson, the curiously hungry Scouts were treated to bite-sized crispy-fried fish nuggets. Tiger Cub Nathan reported that the Pike, when disembowled, revealed another smaller fish that had been its dinner earlier in the day. There are conflicting reports as to whether Nathan tasted the Fried Pike Nuggets or not.

"Which Way Do We Go Now?"

A chosen few Scouts dared hike the Northern Part of the Orange Trail using only their wits, maps, compasses, and dads for guidance. The beauty of nature in Springtime on this scenic mile-or-so trek was punctuated by scattered beer cans and oil bottles washed up from some careless fisherman. The conscientious Scouts picked up trash until their one trash bag was overflowing; then they thoughtfully left the remaining trash so the next group of hikers could have an opportunity to be conscientious. All Scouts and dads having returned to their point of origin safely and in one piece, the venture was deemed a success.

"Daddy, I Saw Something Right Over There!"

Amid reports of polecat sightings in the vicinity, Cub Scouts were forewarned to avoid all contact with black and white kitty cats. Tiger Cub Nathan, noted for his eagle-keen vision by spotting a red fox from a moving train at 100 yards, believed he saw one of the foul-smelling creatures prowling in a thicket near the lake. Although a second sighting was never confirmed, multiple "hearings" of skunks cracking leaves and breaking twigs kept Nathan far from the area.

"There Goes Your Friendly Neighborhood Spiderman."

Scouts young and old proved their strength and agility on the ever-popular Climbing Wall. Only the most determined climbers were able to master this twenty foot tall sheer bluff of pressure-treated plywood. Loose bolts and loose grips sent boy after boy plummeting down, down, down into the waiting embrace of pea gravel and dirt. By the end of the camp, only Tiger Scout Nathan (still skunk free) had surmounted over 3/4 of the Wall before he too could hang on no longer. Wolf Cub Samuel commented, "Look at Nathan! He's just like Spiderman!"

"Throw It! Throw It!"

Two undefeated teams of Cub Scouts squared off for a battle royale of Arkansas-Rules Kickball at the Big Grassy Field at Ross-Rhodes Camp. The game was tied at 72 to 72 in the bottom of the 2nd. All Scouts being happy and excited, the game was called and attention was moved to an energetic game of Leap Frog Freeze Tag. At last report, all participants slept well that night.

"Are There Going to Be Any Other Moms Here?"

The unofficial Camp Mother of the Weekend Award goes out to Bradley's Mom for braving the elements and enduring a weekend filled with hardship, bad jokes, and lots of boys. If only one mom was courageous enough to rough it with the Pack, the Scouts were certainly glad it was Bradley's Mom. For Bradley's Mom baked Apple Cobbler. In a Dutch Oven. On the campfire. Three cheers for Bradley's Mom!

"Breakfasts"

Some are born to greatness, and some are born to low estate. Some are destined to eat powdered donuts, while others are fated to dine on bacon, eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns, sausage, and hot coffee. It all depends on how much time you want to spend cleaning up. Next year we shall more carefully plan the division of labor. Next year we shall all breakfast like Cholesterol Kings!

"Knock Knock"

Heard around the Saturday night camp fire:

Knock Knock.
Who's there?
Cows go.
Cows go Who?
No, silly! Cows go, "MOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

It only goes downhill from there.

Here are some pictures.

Correction

In a previous post, I commented that the column from the palace of Darius might have been leaned upon by Daniel & Co. Regrettably, I had not verified this information prior to publication. Subsequent research has uncovered that the Darius in question was not the Babylonian Darius, but rather the Persian Darius - the ancestor of Ahasuerus, to whom Esther was married. So there's still a Biblical connection.]

UPDATE 4/22/2009: Both Darii were Persian. Daniel's Darius was the Persian "governor" of Babylon after it fell to the Medes and Persians. Darius the Great came a bit later, and he ruled all of Persia.

Paris - Last Day

Went to the Palace at Versailles today - home of the late Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It was cold, windy, and wet outside. We had to stand in a long line to buy tickets. But the palace was beautiful. I imagine if it were built today, it would have linen toilet paper, emerald toilets, and high speed internet service.

Did I mention it was rainy and miserable?

I recommend Chateau de Versailles on sunny Spring days when the flowers are blooming.

But now we can say we've been there.

Pictures are here.

From the Wayback File

What are Dr. Musteen and I doing here? Post a comment if you think you know.

Like Father, Like Son

Posted without further commentary.

London vs. Paris

Here are some of the differences between London and Paris:

1. London feels much less like a foreign place and much more like just a big city. It almost feels like Manhattan, but not as tall. There are Old Places in London, but they have 21st century glass-walled skyscrapers right next door. Not so in Paris. People speak another language. Signs are in another language. Buildings aren't square. Roads seem random in both width and direction.
2. Cars in London seem more like American cars. Cars in Paris are tiny.
3. In London, everyone drives on the left side of the road. In Paris (and just about everywhere else in the world), they drive on the right.
4. London underground trains (the Tube or Underground) are quite a bit different from the Paris trains (Metro). The tunnels in London are smaller and almost perfectly round. Even the walkways are round - like walking through a big hole. The trains in London are round as well, and they fit snugly in the round tunnels. The London tunnels are also very, very deep, requiring long escalator or elevator rides to access them. Paris trains look more like regular train cars - rectangular in shape - but they ride on big rubber tires like an 18-wheeler. The tunnels in Paris aren't as deep - sometimes only a couple of short flights of stairs takes you right to the track. The tunnels are still round - but they are quite a bit bigger. The trains aren't crammed in with a perfect fit.
5. Most of the buses in London are the double decker variety. They are also red. Paris buses are green and single level.
6. London has war hero monuments everywhere. I didn't see as many in Paris. Maybe the French were just hiding them from me.
7. The main difference between London and Paris is the lack of dogs and associated dog poop scattered all over the sidewalks. The French can't seem to pick up after themselves.