Well, O.K. I lied

My last post was about the “regrets” I sent to the AtHomeFamily after receiving an invite to AtHomeDaddy’s 40th birthday party.

Well folks, that was a “plant”.  Yup.  I posted that message to add one more element of deception to an already well planned surprise!

See, the truth is that due to a unique set of circumstances – I actually DID attend his 40th – and he had NO IDEA!!

The next 3-5 posts will be about our trip to Dallas, Meeting with family, working with The Boss Lady to surprise AtHomeDaddy, the party, and the rest of the trip…  It’s been an adventure to say the least!

So, please forgive me for my lie, and be patient…  There is A LOT to tell!!  Stay tuned!

Birthday Shout Out

I’d like to give a shout-out for a happy birthday to fellow Dad Blogger and friend – AtHomeDaddy!  He is having a “milestone” birthday this week!

I was one of the lucky FEW recipients to have recently received a invite to a birthday bash being held in his honor.  Alas, due to my inability to attend this once in a lifetime – bound to make the local news – event, I was forced to send back my “regrets” via R.S.V.P.  

My reply to the invite went a little something like this…

Thank you for the invite AtHomeFamily!

If it was not for my crazy work schedule (and copious amounts of overtime), my wife's work schedule, the umpteen-thousand things the kids have going, the 1400 mile difference, what I can only imagine would be temps that register in the "inside a volcano" range (that would make a Minnesotan like me melt faster than Frosty the Snowman shoveling coal in the devil’s furnace room), and... of course lets not forget the recent Chupacabra sightings you posted about on Facebook - I would SO be there!

Happy Birthday AtHomeDaddy!

I later discovered that I was NOT quite as special as I thought… I was not one of the “FEW lucky recipients”..  No, I discovered that the list of invitees ran into the hundreds (yup, that’s plural…  HUNDREDS (He’s that popular of a guy ya know)) which would have caused me a touch-o-the anxiety (being a bit socially phobic myself)..

While I may not be able to attend – I do look forward to the day I can walk up to him, and shake his hand in person in thanks all the smiles, advise, and just plain old fun he has provided me over the years!
Despite the lack of my presence at this party – I hope AtHomeDaddy has a UNFORGETABLE (and Chupacabra free) 40th Birthday Bash! 

After all, If I recall, this is the “Summer of AtHomeDaddy!” – so don’t have too much fun AtHomeDaddy – Us dispatchers have our “connections” with the local law enforcement!  They’ll be watching you for me!!

A Day at the Beach

The weatherman forecasted an unusually hot day today.  Hot and humid, with a high dew point – and a strong likelihood of some severe storms because of the mix of heat and moisture in the air.

With #2 of 5 away at C.I.T. and #4 of 5 with a friend’s family for a day on one of our many local area lakes (Boating, fishing, picnicking, etc) – the Mother of Five and I decided that we would take the two we had left at home (#3 of 5 and #5 of 5) to the Mill Pond in Lagoon Park (our local swimming hole) for some fun before the “heat stroke weather” arrived.

Since the Mother of Five worked today – we stopped at McDonalds and grabbed a little “picnic” of sorts, and headed off to the park.  After eating our lunch lakeside together, we lathered up with SPF30, the Mother of Five said her “goodbyes” and “I love yous”, then #3 and #5 of 5 and I all headed down to the lake.

I waded in the lake while the kids swam, then sat under the shade of a grove of trees while they played in the sand, then waded in the water again while they swam, then got my chair and sat with my feet in the water while the kids swam, then after being successfully French fried, I moved my chair back into the shade and started nodding off behind my sunglasses as the kids finished swimming.

About the time I was going to suggest getting out and heading home, the two kids came to me and asked if they could head home. 

 

View from our picnic area.

 

 

 

 

Close up of The Mill Pond’s aerator fountain… 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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After lunch, and a few minutes of getting wet, #3 of 5 and #5 of 5 decided the beach needed a “hot tub”, so it was off to work – cooperatively working (unusually cooperative by the way) together to dig a pretty deep hole – then fill it with water…

       

 

 

 

Without a city engineer present to aid us in complying with all Minnesota Safety Regulations, the walls of the hot tub began collapsing in on themselves.  

Before becoming a total loss, #3 of 5 jumped in one last time. 

#5 of 5 and I took this gesture as our opportunity to immobilize him for the time being.  We buried him in the sand up to his chest. 

 

 

 

Eventually he was able to free himself.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Covered in sand, and both feeling a little hot, it was time to head back to the lake….  Piggy back style!

 

A little more last minute swimming before calling it a day…. 

 

All in all, we were at the park from 11:30 until 2:30.  It was a GREAT day!

I’m Too Young For This

How does someone such as myself go about writing a "monumental" post - one that is likely to be viewed by family and friends - copied and pasted, linked to and e-mailed to extended family members (and maybe even non-family or "soon to be" family members) around the country - maybe even the world?

I have asked myself that very question.  I have had a specific topic in the forefront of my mind for the past two months.  I have gone round and round with how to best approach it.  I have concentrated, contemplated and considered.  I have started and stopped.  I have written and re-written.  Through it all, I have not found anything that I was overly pleased with. 

I have therapeutically wanted (maybe even needed) to broach the subject here many times, but due to careful consideration of the timing, there were consequences for sharing this info too soon.   After carefully considering all aspects of this topic - I think the time is finally right - and I have decided that I'm going for the straightforward approach on this one.  Quick and to the point.

I need to add "Grandfather of One" to my "Father of Five" persona.

Yes, the Mother of Five and Father of Five are going to become Grandparents of One.  Wow!  Big news huh?  MASSIVE news (at least in our world).  It does not end there either.  Along with the news of becoming grandparents, we are also adding yet another persona to the already growing list...  "In-laws to One"  That's right.  Not only is there a baby in our future, there is an impending wedding!

This is uncharted waters for us.  How are we as parents supposed to react when our 22 year old unmarried and only recently employed son comes home and shares with us the fact that we are going to be a grandparents, and that he is getting married?  That is a lot of change.  A lot of change in a short amount of time.

There are options...

• There is always the "bury your head in the sand" approach.  We could wish, hope, and pray that what we are hearing is all a dream - all while pretending it isn't true.  This may work - for the short term.  I suspect it will all come crashing down around us somewhere around the ninth month though.
  
  
• We could get upset.  We could rant and rave like lunatics - loud enough to frighten even the in-utero baby.  We could wail and gnash our teeth - disowning the young couple and yet-to-be-born child while we mourn the loss of innocence, lament the demise of society, and grieve the end of the world as we know it.  Perhaps a little dramatic overkill there?  Um...  Yeah.
  
  
• We could be excited!  We could be so happy and enthusiastic that we run out buying cigars, champagne, balloons, and banners for our front yard!  We could shout from the rooftop how proud we are of our son and his girlfriend for their "choice" to procreate - proclaiming this is the best news we have heard in a LONG time!  But, is that true to how we really feel?

What's been going on over the past couple of months is something more akin to a "stew" of emotions.  A little bit of this, and a little bit of that.  Not wanting to speak for the Mother of Five, I can attest to, and share with you how I have been feeling...  I feel disappointment, but at the same time I also feel excitement.  I get angry at myself for feeling disappointed.  I start striving for acceptance.  That's when I start worrying.  Worrying leads me to fear and my uncomfortably with all things "change".  My worry and fear bring me back full circle to disappointment.  It's a vicious circle.  Sometimes it's one of those emotions.  Sometimes it's more than one (or all of them).

Having said many prayers for #1 of 5 and his betrothed, we have spent many hours discussing and reflecting upon the situation.  We have decided the best approach is to do as we feel God would want us to.  First and foremost - while we do not condone what has happened, and how it has happened - we are glad that they decided abortion was not an option.  This baby deserves all the love and support it can receive.  We both strongly feel the best way to do that is to help support this young family as best we can.  If a person's own "family" can not be supportive for them during trying times, who can they count on?  After all, they are happy and excited about this.  In the eyes of this young couple, this is good news.  Why start this baby out into a life of turmoil?  That does not make any sense.

So, we watch.  We have watched their excitement as they plan their future together, as they come back from prenatal doctor's visits (and show off the ultrasound photos).  We listen as they share some concerning news, and are relieved with them as things resolve themselves.   I can not say every one of the decision(s) they have made would have been the decision(s) I would have made, but - these are THEIR decisions to make, and THEIR decisions to live with the consequences (both good and bad) of having made.

I do have to give #1 of 5 some kudos.  He deserves a lot of credit for stepping up and assuming responsibilities of his new roll of parent.  I have seen him transform into a "work 5 hours a paycheck - video game junkie" to a "working two full time jobs to make sure my family will have what it needs" sort of guy.

We have reminded them ad nauseam (in preparation for parenthood) how difficult this is going to be (to the point that #1 of 5 has told me he does not want to hear it anymore - which means weather or not he UNDERSTANDS it, he certainty has HEARD the message), and the importance of their newly obtained responsibilities, but...  They're young.  They're in love.  Their heads are still in the clouds.  They are certainly in for a heapin' helping of some of life's best reality checks - and in very short order.

The question that really needs to be answered is..  What does all this confusion and contradiction mean in the end?  What's the bottom line?

We plan to be there to love and support #1 of 5 and his Fiancé as best as we can.

-- and --

We plan to be there to love and support our first grandchild as best as we can.

Wanna know one upside to being called a "grandpa"??  I can tease my parents (and in-laws) that they are soon going to be known as  "GREAT-Grandparents"!!  Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!!  That may be worth the price of admission (to grand parenthood) right there!!

I do not have photos for this post.  Perhaps in the not too distant future, #1 of 5 and his Fiancé can provide a copy of an ultrasound photo - and maybe a photo of themselves together for a future update??  I'll leave that up to them..   This could prove to be quite an exciting series of posts here on FOF... The "Grandchildren Posts"... (Man, I wasn't ready for that yet!)

Before I sign off here, I want to give a "shout out" to a few special folks out there...

There were a couple of different folks whom I confided in when this info first arrived on my doorstep (and knocked the wind out of my sails).  These special folks were my "sounding boards.  Each of them played different (but equally importiant) rolls in helping me remain grounded as I processed this development in our family history.  I can not thank them enough for having been there - for fulfilling the rolls they took.  They each played a little different part - but each part was unique, important, and essential in it's own special way.  Just letting me get this off my chest was a huge help, but these folks went above and beyond.  It was being there to listen to me, to sharing their own thoughts, ideas, and experiences, to just checking in after not hearing from me in a while...  The things these folks did for me was just what I needed, and just when I needed it too.  I don't feel it necessary to drop any names here.  The wonderful friends that I am talking about here all know who they are, and what they have done for us...  

Please accept our personal, deepest, most sincere, and grateful Thank You's.

Which Watch?

Are you sitting down?  I am about to tell you a little something about myself that may be a little "shocking" to some of you.

I can get a little "obsessive / compulsive" at times...

Yeah, ok.  I know, I know.  Some of you are surprised to hear that this father of five who seemingly has it "all together", just may have a few issues, a few phobias, a few skeletons hidden in his deep dark closet. 

Oh please - spare me.  Let the "sinless" (issue-less, or phobic-less) among you cast the first stone -

(ducking for cover)

Thankfully, my list is short, and not what I would consider "debilitating" by any means.  I have previously mentioned my obsession with lost keys, and my compulsion to find them.  More recently, I have been obsessing over replacing my wristwatch - and it's not the first time I have done so...  

I have worn a total of six watches since I started wearing a watch at the age of 12.

• My first watch was a Timex analog watch - that actually had to be wound.  Yup, no battery - a good old fashion spring loaded wind up watch.  It even had a little window for the date on the face!
• My second watch was one of the new fan-dangled Armitron digital watches.  No, not the LED watches... Nope.  It was an LCD watch!!  It had the date, day, time, and even had an ALARM!  I chose this watch because a good friend of mine had the exact same watch, and I LOVED it!   (Photo is of the exact model)
• My third watch was another digital watch.  A black plastic Casio.  Less "decorative" and more functional.  I was (after all) working in a hardware store, and that watch got a lot of abuse.
• By the time I was in my senior year in high school, fashion had became a little more important.  My fourth watch was an Elgin analog.  I picked up this watch at a local discount retail store (C.O.M.B. for those of you who may remember).

Up until this point - finding "the right" watch was never a problem.  They were either gifts, inexpensive utilitarian tools, or a good deal on a nice looking watch.

Then, somewhere around the time I started working as a dispatcher (still have not heard that story?  Check out PARTS ONE and TWO) I found that my analog watch was less useful as a digital watch.  So, when my fourth watch died I started a search for just the right watch.

After a significant search, looking for "just the right watch", with "just the right features", for "just the right price" I ended up with a Timex T77517 Atlantis 100.  I had that watch for YEARS.  I was amazed at how well it "took a licking and kept on ticking".  A broken band (held together with fly fishing string) kept it running for another two years past it's initial failure.  (I'm too cheap to buy a new watch band when I can "fix" the one I have)

When that Timex finally died (some nine years after I first got it) - I again went on the hunt for "just the right watch", with "just the right features", for "just the right price".  This time, my search took me almost a full year.  I would find the right price, but with the wrong features, or the right features for the wrong price...  But never just what I was looking for.  It was both extensive and exhausting.  (Just ask the Mother of Five... She will tell you.  I drove her crazy during my search.)

After a year long search, I finally pulled the trigger and purchased a new watch!  I ended up purchasing a Timex T77517 Atlantis 100 all over again...  Yup... Afer a year long extensive and exhausting search (that drove the Mother of Five crazy) when it finally came down to it, the only watch that seemed to provide me the features I wanted, for the price I could afford was the same exact watch.  

Fast forward another six years, and the second Atlantis has finally died.  It's band has failed at least twice (I found a GREAT method for repairing a specific ailment of it's band) but with the band having failed twice now, and the battery dead - it was time to start that dreaded search once again...

After the first month, I was tempted... I have stumbled across the T77517 a couple of times throughout my search.  It would be so easy, so familiar - to just grab it and go...  It could be on my wrist, and telling me the time in a matter of minutes...  But, after having worn the same exact watch day in and day out for the past 16 years, I have made a decision...  I have drawn a line in the sand!

It's time for a change.

That noise you just heard???

It was the "gasp" from all my close friends who just heard me welcome a "change".

Bound and determined to NOT wear the same wristwatch for ANOTHER five to ten years - I set out to find something, nay ANYTHING that came CLOSE to what I wanted in my price range.

It's been two, maybe three months so far.  I have found very little that suited my wants / needs.  I found some nice "Data Bank" watches - watches that I can set multiple alarms for - that will display (in text) what the alarm is sounding for (a co worker has one of these, and it's really kind of convenient) - but it's a little more expensive than I care to spend on a watch.  I found some affordable watches that did not have the minimum features I wanted.

But finally, I think I have found it!  Taking a leap of faith, I have purchased a watch that I think fulfills all my requirements - SIGHT UNSEEN.  Yup, I have not seen this watch first hand.  I have not tried it on (important), manipulated the functions, or seen the back light...  The functions and back light are not as important as the fit!  Remember folks, I am a GIANT of a guy.  I have wrists the size of small tree-trunks.  The only other watches I have seen that I liked did not fit.  My last watch barely fit on it's largest setting...

The necessary features this watch has is that it's digital, has a metal wristband, a "indiglow" style back light, a stopwatch and a countdown timer.  It has to be waterproof, and casual enough for everyday wear, but look nice enough for "Sunday dress"... And, it has to be big enough to fit around the "ham shanks" I have for wrists...

Folks, may I introduce you to the WV58DA-1AV Waveceptor made by Casio.  (Description taken from Amazon.com's website)

This Casio waveceptor sport watch is a stylish casual watch bursting with features, making it an ideal choice for world travel or everyday adventures. The distinctive digital display features four asymmetrically divided mini-windows inside the round, brushed stainless steel bezel. The central window shows the time, kept accurate with multi-band atomic timekeeping and world time settings for up to 29 time zones (48 cities). The upper window displays the month and date, and the lower two windows display the day of the week and the waveceptor receiving signal. This watch also offers a daily alarm, countdown timer, 1/100 second stopwatch and an EL backlight with afterglow. The elegant stainless steel band with fold-over clasp and double push-button safety release completes the look. This watch is water resistant up to 165 feet (50 meters) and offers a two-year battery life.

The watch has scored a "four out of five star" rating from the 72 people who have rated it on Amazon.  One of the biggest complaints about this watch is it's overly large wristband, (which some of the reviewers have said will only fit a GIANT)...  Perfect for me!!!

I almost bought the watch a month ago.  The day I went to purchase it, I noticed the price went up seven dollars.  I was not having any part of that (Yeah, don't say it... It's only seven dollars), so I put off buying the watch.  Two days ago, while fumbling around Amazon for something else, I stumbled back onto the link for the watch and noticed the priced had dropped back down!

Needless to say, I am now looking forward to the arrival of my new watch!

You should have seen the look on the Mother of Five's face when I told her that I bought a new watch already (and that it was a different watch than the one she has seen me wearing for the past sixteen years).  It was a mixture of disbelief, relief, and surprise!

It sure will seem strange to have a different watch on my wrist after wearing the same one for the past sixteen years!

If you are in any further need of convincing of my obsessive / compulsion over wrist watches, consider this...  I just wrote what would be considered an "unusually long blog post" where I rambled on and on about my personal struggles with replacing a thirty dollar wristwatch...

Who else would do this?

Now that you know this about me, let me ask you....  What do YOU obsess over?

It's Over.

 

Well, it's over for me.

Out of the fifty blogs nominated for the Nickelodeon's Parents Picks Awards this year, I did not place in the top five.

I never thought I'd win the award, but I had hoped that I would have placed in the top.

Regardless of where I placed, it was fun to have participated!

To see who made the final cut, CLICK HERE.

Thanks to all who voted for me!

V Minus One

Last night (on the 4th of July) marks day one of twenty one (three weeks) that we will be short one child.

After his initial week of C.I.T. Staff Training, #2 of 5 moved into the official "hands on" portion of his career as a C.I.T.

His first week will be filled with helping the staff operate the reservation in a "Day Camp" mode.  A Pack or Den of Cub Scouts come to the camp and partake in a select set of activities at various locations throughout the Reservation.

Weeks two and three are for Weblos Scouts (older Cub Scouts).  They spend a week at the Scout Reservation.  During these two weeks, #2 of 5 has been assigned the position of "Den Chief".  He will be assigned to a Cub Scout Pack (or Den) each week, and act as a "guide" of sorts.  He will ensure the scouts and their adult leaders are up on time, get them to their pre-scheduled activities throughout the Reservation in a timely manner, and ensure they get back to their campsite when they are finished with their daily activities.  He will act as the representative of the Phillipo Scout Reservation to that Pack/Den, helping them out with whatever needs they may have. 

He will act as the "Concierge" to his Pack/Den.

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We had planned on leaving for the camp (a one hour drive) between 8:30 and 9:00 pm.  Due to an extended Fourth of July family celebration, we did not get on the road until 9:30 pm.  We watched the fireworks all over the horizon as we drove through the darkness.

When we finally arrived at Phillipo around 10:30 pm, we found the camp dark and empty.  I drove to the dining shelter (which was dimly lit) and found no one.  We drove to the Gwinn Staff Building and found that also dimly lit with no one around. I called their phone number, and got no answer.  It was so very surreal...  (cue the flashback music)

I fully expected that at any moment, and large figure in a white hockey mask, armed with a grotesquely large machete knife would lumber out of the woods and chase us all the way to Camp Crystal La... Uh, oh wait.  Camp Crystal Lake is no where near Phillipo Scout Reservation, and to the best of my knowledge - Jason Voorhees (or his mother) have never stayed at Phillipo...  Maybe I'm freaking myself out a little, huh?

 

 

 

Ok.  While I was not too worried about being the victim of a machete attack, it WAS really sort of odd, and a little creepy.  The Mother of Five and I decided it was time to leave.  We would return and drop him off first thing in the morning.  Just as I reached the main gate of the Reservation, a car's headlights came into view.  I pulled over and let the car pass, turned on it, and followed it as it made it's way back into the Reservation - finally pulling into the parking lot at the Gwinn Center.

There, we met one of the Full time staffers.  We explained who we were and why we were there.  The staff member quickly welcomed #2 of 5 to the Reservation, and helped him check in.

I walked #2 of 5 back through the woods to his staff campsite and his tent - only to find a bicycle parked next to it.  As #2 of 5 made his way into the tent, he stirred at least one other camper who had arrived earlier and had already "crashed" for the night.

Since #2 of 5 had the only flashlight, I stuck around outside the tent to let my eyes acclimate to the darkness, said my goodbye, and headed off down the trail in complete darkness - leaving one of my brood behind.

While it is true that he will be gone for a total of three weeks (which will seem odd – being gone for so long) - he does get a day off each week - and we plan on having him home to veg out on the couch, watch some TV, play some xBox, and do whatever teenaged boys do when they are not hiding out working in the wilderness.

Disgusting Behavior…

On Monday night our city's third grade girls’ softball team played a neighboring city's team.  The Mother of Five took #4 of 5 (a player on the team), along with #5 of 5 and #3 of 5.  I was running errands, and was headed to the softball game after picking up #2 of 5 from a Boy Scout meeting.

Once I arrived at the field and as I approached the diamond, it was (audibly) evident that there were a couple of spectators present who were being very enthusiastic.

While I myself am not one, I become accustomed to, and have no issue with this phenomenon (to a certain degree).  If you want to shout out to your daughter or your team, who am I to say you should not.  Personally, I am one of the "silently proud" parents.

As I took my seat in the bleachers next to my wife I noticed she happened to be seated (along with #5 of 5) next to the “enthusiastic” male and female.  I settled in for a “loud” game (as I frequently have to – enthusiastic parents are pretty common). After numerous unusually loud cheers for their team, I turned to my wife, and gave her the “What’s up with that” look.

The Mother of Five then leaned over and whispered to me that on several instances - the male counterpart of this couple took his “enthusiasm” beyond what I would expect to or want to hear from spectators at a third grade girls softball game.

Remember folks… This is a game intended to be fun for third grade girls.

I was told that the male half (hereafter referred to as a “man-child”) was overheard calling our coach a “b---h” (i'll let you fill in the missing i, t, and c) on more than one occasion,  and that when the woman he was with (hereafter referred to as the “crazed-female”) told him to “Shush” - he made it clear that he did not care who heard.

Had I been present at the time, I would have politely asked him to refrain from such behavior, and to try and exhibit a little more maturity and decorum for the sake of the young children present - which I fully expect would have induced a profanity laden tantrum of epic proportions - followed with me contacting the local authorities to have him removed - thus solving the problem...

While he may not care - I on the other hand do.  I take exception to having my six year old daughter (sitting less than five feet from this "man-child")  have his little tantrum.  I also care about nine year old girls (players from BOTH teams) who have to hear spectators at their softball game yell disrespectful, profane and truly offensive language directed toward one of the coaches and / or (in this case) their own parent (since two of the girls on the team are twin daughters of the coach and their older sister is helping mom out with the caching).

After being advised of this unacceptable behavior, I became acutely aware, and was focusing more on was these two were saying rather than the game.  Throughout the rest of the game I did not witness any additional (profane or disrespectful) behaviors myself, so I put the matter behind me. 

Above video was taken after being made aware, and while watching for any additional problematic behaviors.  As you can plainly see – they were being very enthusiastic… Nothing more.

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After the game, our team's coach was told by her children (who heard this man-child call their mother a “b---h” from their seat on the  bench) of what they had heard during the game.

Surprised by this, as the couple walked to their car, our team's coach (stress - politely)asked to talk to the both of them.  The man-child and the crazed-female immediately became defensive, and instantly escalated the discussion by shouting and  use of boisterous profanities - including numerous occasions of the use of “b---h”, various versions of “f—k” (I’ll let you fill in the missing “u” and “c”), and as icing on the cake…  “c--t rag” (I’ll let you fill in the missing “u” and “n”) as well as comments directed towards her husband (who was not even present).

I stood by observing the exchange, fearful that the agitated man-child (and maybe even the crazed-female) would take this exchange to an assaultive level. I was worried for the (lone female) coach’s personal safety.

Some of you may second guess this decision... To "stand by observing" rather than jumping in and defending the coach.  First off, she was already taking the high road.  Her point needed no defending.  It was obvious from the dialog which side was dealing with rational thinking and behaviors and which was not.  I believe that my "tapping in" to this foray would have only lead to further escalation. 

My "line in the sand" was if it was to became physical.

During the exchange, the man-child and crazed-female spoke of screamed about an unspecific incident in which they claim our coach had spoken “disrespectfully” towards their team's coach. Our coach asked the couple (on numerous occasions) to share what they felt she had done or had said.  She also reminded them that if they had issue with something that occurred in the game, that she would have been happy to discuss it like rational adults.  Despite her numerous requests for this info, our coach was never given an answer. Instead, she was attacked with a continual barrage of ongoing and highly inappropriate name calling - laden with profanities.

It soon became evident that this exchange was becoming unproductive and going nowhere.  Our team's coach started walking away, yet even as she did, the couple continued to try and bait her into further confrontation.  Once she chose not to participate in this exchange, the couple finally gave up.  They could be heard screaming several final instances of profane beratement through the windows of their car as they drove out of the lot.

From my perspective as a witness to the parking lot portion of what happened tonight, the man-child and crazed-female were both the instigators and perpetrators of this evening’s events.

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I choose to enroll my children in the Youth Sports programs because of the positive aspects of the program.  These are things like good sportsmanship, being a team player, challenging oneself, learning how to work (play) with a variety of different players from different backgrounds, conflict management, the basic rules of the game, and to have fun.

Our team's coach has been an outstanding role model for our daughter!  She has demonstrated (and I have personally observed) several instances of her being a patient, and positive role model by practicing the qualities I mentioned above.

While the coach’s roll for these young girls is obvious, the parents and spectators at these games also have responsibilities to the girls - not only to their own daughters, but to the daughters and family members of those around them.  Spectators (as much as the coaches and players) represent not only themselves and their families - but they also represent their respective Park and Recreation / Youth Sports programs, and the team’s city of origin.

I have had children in Youth Sports Programs since 1993.  In all those years (with multiple children in multiple sports from multiple cities) I have never seen such disturbing behavior from anyone involved (coaches, players or spectators).

Butterfly

No, not the Song Butterfly – By Crazy Town (although – I do like that song!)

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One of my earlier (more vivid) memories is of a caterpillar.  I was about 5 or maybe 6 years old.  I had found a caterpillar and wanted to watch it turn into a butterfly.  I had put it in a jar, punched holes in the lid, and watched it grow.  Soon, it became a chrysalis, and I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of a butterfly – when all of a sudden – the jar just disappeared.  I remember looking all over the place for it, and becoming quite upset…  But like anything with 5 year olds – it did not stay on my radar long, and I was quickly outside playing with the neighborhood kids. 

I may have never given that caterpillar another thought – but about two days later (while playing with one of my neighbors) that I found the jar.  In his yard.  Behind some bushes.  Empty.

I later discovered that he was “jealous” of my caterpillar / chrysalis / soon to be butterfly – so he snuck it outside, hid in the bushes, and stomped on it…  

My relationship with that neighborhood kid was never the same.  I could not get that image out of my head – even to this day – when I think caterpillars / chrysalis / butterflies – I am still reminded of that incident. 

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Our kids school has a WONDERFUL Second Grade Teacher (Mrs. Warden) who has been teaching at St. John the Baptist School… Well, for generations now.  Her WHOLE teaching career to be exact.  40+ years now.  She was the recipient of the 2009 Fox 9 Teacher of the Year Award – (LINK (video too!) and the local paper’s coverage HERE)  Her granddaughter and our #5 of 5 are in the same class, and hang in the same group of friends. 

She is truly an amazing teacher whom we have been fortunate enough to have taught three of the five (so far… Still hoping for Mrs. Warden to hold out long enough for #5 of 5 to be in her classroom). 

Mrs. Warden has a theme for her classroom.  Her classroom is known as “The Butterfly Room”.  Every child in her classroom receives a caterpillar and raises it into a monarch butterfly – and the unit culminates in a mass release of monarch butterflies by the entire class.  It really does leave a lasting impression – one of our Scout Troop’s recent Eagle Scout Project was to build Mrs. Warden’s classroom a Butterfly Garden for the education and use by the entire school! 

#4 of 5 did this two years ago. 

A few weeks ago, #4 of 5 came running into the house the other day with a caterpillar.  She said she wanted to repeat the lessons she learned in Mrs. Warden’s class! 

I quickly thought about my bad experience from the past – but determined to not let that interfere with #4 of 5’s experience, and maybe take a proactive approach at CHANGING my own bad memory into something positive – we got an ice cream bucket, punched holes in it – grabbed some branches, and found a grove of milkweed plants to feed it.

We did care for it, and watched it grow into a BIG caterpillar (compared to how small it was when she brought it home).  Next thing we knew, the caterpillar was hanging from the lid of the container, and curled into the distinctive “J” that means a chrysalis will soon follow – which it did.

Then, during an unusually busy week (and on day three of getting 3 or less hours sleep a night) my very excited daughter and her friend (who was spending the night) came running out to meet me at the car when I pulled in the garage.

GUESS WHAT DADDY!!  GUESS WHAT!  YOU’LL NEVER GUESS WHAT!!  COME ON DADDY – GUEEESSS WHAAATT!!

Lost tooth?  Broken Bone?  Someone cut their own hair???

Too tired to really even try – I gave up immediately.  I was informed that the caterpillar has fully transformed into a beautiful butterfly, and the kids were all waiting for me to come home to release it! 

 

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Well worth postponing going to bed, we grabbed the camera – and shot a few photos of “Tres” (Spanish for “three” – and the name she gave her caterpillar.  I later determined there was no reason behind the name besides “I liked that as a name”)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     

Tres was then released into the wild where “She” (and yes, she is a “she” – there is a way to tell the sex of a monarch by the dots (or lack there of) on their wings) quickly took shelter in our front tree for quite some time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Using the zoom on the camera
I took a last couple of pics of Tres before we wished her good luck on her journey to Mexico.

I think it worked!! 
When I think of caterpillars / chrysalis / Monarch butterflies
I am now seeing images of a happy #4 of 5 in my mind!! 

A Wonderful Whirlwind Weekend

After picking up #2 of 5 from C.I.T. training earlier week, I was staring down the barrel of what looked like one of our hectic, crazy, over-scheduled (i.e. - "typical") weekends.  It quickly turned out to be a WONDERFUL (crazy, hectic, over-scheduled) weekend!

Here is the whirlwind tour!

About a week ago, Best Bud Ed called me and gave me a heads up that he and his whole family was going to be in town celebrating his nephew's graduation, and asked about my availability for getting together.  I checked my Palm Pilot - and noticed a couple of significant entries that would prohibit a lot of time together.  "Work", "Father's Day", and "Boy Scout Hot Dog Booth". 

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The Boy Scout Hot Dog Booth was being held at a local Cub Foods.  There are a total of six shifts per day, for three days.  Each family is asked to sign up for one shift (if they choose) to help of-set the costs of camping at Tomahawk Scout Reservation.  Then, after the list goes around once, it's sent again, and again, and again - until all the slots are filled up.  The profits from the Booth are split among the shifts - and used to help pay for camp.  Having two scouts (and a father who likes to go for part of the week) can add up - so the FOF's name was on that list many times!

Last year - we took four shifts.  This year?  Six shifts.  Yup, SIX SHIFTS!

Thursday - One shift with #3 of 5.

Friday - One shift with #2 of 5.

Saturday - Two (back to back) shifts with #3 of 5

Sunday - Two (back to back) shifts with #2 of 5.

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Despite my not having a lot of free time, we welcomed Best Bud Ed and family to stay with us at our house.  If nothing else, we could have a couple of back yard campfires - and do some catching up...

As Thursday afternoon approached, I was sitting at work talking to (frequent comment-er) "Co-worker".  As I was lamenting the business of my weekend with him, he reminded me that I had scheduled vacation days on Saturday and Sunday.  I told him he was wrong.  I actually argued with him.  I took out my Palm Pilot - and pulled up my schedule.  "Co-Worker" quickly logged in to our computerized schedule here at work (the "official" schedule) and showed me that I did indeed have two vacation days requested (and approved).

CHA-CHING!!!

I contacted the Mother of Five - discussed the changes, and followed up with Best Bud Ed.  Plans were adjusted to allow them to arrive a day earlier, providing us a day for some GeoCaching!

Best Bud Ed and his family arrived on Friday night, and we started off with a back yard rec fire (and some beer, and some cigars!).  After staying out "way too late" on Friday night, Saturday morning rolled around "way to quickly".  The Mother of Five made breakfast for everyone before having to leave to work the hot dog stand with #3 of 5, and then to work.  After breakfast, and getting the older kids settled into some activities, Best Bud Ed and I left the kids in the very capable hands of his wife, and we headed out to Belle Plaine to nab a few morning caches.  (Link Video of my #3 of 5 and Ed’s Youngest)

Best Bud Ed had to "demonstrate" his new cellular telephone.  He is set up with one of those "Fancy Pants" Motorola Droid phones with all the bells and whistles!  His phone has a GeoCachinig Application that offers paperless caching, a live GeoCaching map, and instant logging!  I think that dang phone even has it's own toilet paper dispenser! (Well, ok - it has ALMOST all the bells and whistles you could ask for...  I made up that thing about having a toilet paper dispenser...  I think.)

After a GREAT morning of caching - we headed home to relieve his wife of her child-watching duties - get lunch ready - and even squeezed in a game of Cribbage (inaugurating my new EJHWoodworking Cribbage Board - with a "last minute victory" after trailing behind the entire game!) before I had to head out to the Hot Dog Stand and pick up #3 of 5.

Once I returned, we loaded up both families - nabbed some Mickey-Dee's - and headed to the park.  After a quick "dinner", the youngest kids ran to the playground, #2 of 5 took off with his skateboard to do some "sk8ter" stuff, while Best Bud Ed, #3 of 5, and I set off on another GeoCaching run.

We had a GREAT time caching!  It was wonderful to casually walk some trails with Ed while we "shot the breeze" and got caught up.  It has also been a while since I had one of the kids with me while caching, and #3 of 5's presence proved to be a TREMENDOUS asset to us on a couple of the caches!  At least one cache would not have been found if it had not been for #3 of 5!

HERE is a list of our caches for the day.

After we tired the kids out, it was back to our house for another late night of backyard fire, beer, wine coolers, schnapps, and cigars.

Sunday morning found us at the early (8am) Mass so that #2 of 5 and I could fulfill our final (fifth and sixth) hot dog stand shifts of the weekend.  With the Mother of Five at work again today, dinner was up to me.  I barbequed up some chicken, and we got out the potato salad that the Mother of Five had made for us previously.

With dinner done, we were going to have one more fire pit (or at least start one) before Best Bud Ed and his family had to head out for home.  As Ed and I prepped the fire area - I asked him if it would be easier for him to spend the night - and just head out first thing in the morning.  He checked with his wife - and we all agreed - one more night would be easier (and give us one more full night at the campfire!).   (Link – Video of last campfire)

As the evening progressed, we added a few more bottles to the table, finished off our second package of cigars, and somehow, the cap for the schnapps bottle ended up in the fire pit.

The background behind that is a long story, and involves a wintertime birthday party at Ed's cabin, a large bottle of Blackberry Brandy, a night of vomiting over the deck railing, and a day of "someone" wishing that they had died the night before...

Let's suffice it to say that when the cap goes in the fire - there is no way to close off the bottle anymore.  Not having a way to close the bottle requires the consumers of the bottle's contents to have to empty the bottle.  Thankfully, this bottle was mostly empty - and the vanilla schnapps that was left inside went down easily - without any difficulty, and without any significant "consequences" in the morning.

Speaking of morning... It was 5am the next morning when my alarm went off... Signaling the end of my "Whirlwind" weekend, and the beginning of a LONG workweek (not so long as in the number of days - but extraordinarily long in the number of hours worked each day).

Overall, despite the almost constant activity of the weekend, having Best Bud Ed and his family out to visit - made the very busy weekend a wonderful weekend full of fun and friends!

Back Home after C.I.T. Staff Training

#2 of 5 successfully completed his week of C.I.T. Staff Training.

In addition to a bundle of dirty stinky clothing, and being completely exhausted, he came home with a new name!  Summer Staff are all given a Camp Nickname.   Noodles, for example, is the name of the staff person overseeing all the C.I.T.’s.  A few of the names that stuck out to me in addition to Noodles included Moose, #2 (and I do not mean my #2 of 5 – although that would have been “fitting”), Splash, Twix, Boone, etc, etc, etc…

#2 of 5’s camp name?  Kahoots.    (As in.. “Cahoots - A collusion or collaboration to nefarious ends”.  Whoever gave him that name knocked one outta the park!  It suits him to a “T”.)

At the culmination of their week of training, all parents and family of the Staff members were invited to camp for a Barbeque dinner.  Dinner consisted of Barbequed chicken drumsticks, corn on the cob, potato salad, canned peaches, fresh cut watermelon, a brownie, and milk or lemonade. 

Actually – dinner turned out surprisingly well!

 

After dinner – and an introduction to the primary staff members (sort of like the “managers” of the different areas of the camp) all family / friends of the staff were invited to the fire ring for a viewing of this year’s campfire extravaganza (thus providing the new staff a chance to perform the show as a practice run).

 

Left:  Off to the campfire ring. 

Right:  Arriving at the campfire ring

Left:  #2 of 5, with fellow troop member and C.I.T. “Twix” 

Right:  Scouts as “candles”  Its the 100th birthday of Scouting this year!

Left:  Singing the wild and crazy “Longa Chabonga” song.

Right":  Staff intermingling with the visitors to get them up and singing with the staff!

Then, once they finished the campfire routine, they wrapped up the night with the customary “Vespers”

After Vespers, it was time to head back to the staff campsites to gather their ”stuff” and break camp – then back to the Gwinn center (the Staff Lounge – with a recreation center, and a kitchen) for final check out.

   

 

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He may not realize it yet, but he is becoming a true roll model within his troop, and beyond! 

I am so proud of the young man that #2 of 5 is becoming.