Tampa Turtle

IMHO there are 3 facets (at least)to marriage. The Legal one--I have seen live-ins of many years break up when one partner quits with little consequence. I know the legal property mess alone has caused Mr and Mrs Turtle enough delay to work through something. (Of course we also have common law marriage somewhere--correct? I guess this is the Civil one. The Social One--Marriage is an act in front of community. It is two people publicly committing to being one unit. The Sexual/Procreative One--the traditional view that marriage was required before procreative sex. Not always stric

Pinellas looks pretty good. I work in the "event zone" (where the protesters will be allowed) for the RNC though not in "the box" (The secure area the Secret Service will control--the safest are in america). I am required to be there during that week and will be monitoring the situation as part of my job. I have acquaintances in both a local Occupy group and the police assigned to RNC crowd control. Both have elements that are gearing up for confrontation. The majority are planning to exercise and allow the peaceful demonstration of dissent that is a constitutional right. But some se

Obama is very wishy-washy; I am surprised he took a position. While I would like to believe it was the courage of hos convictions I suspect it was only after much analysis. I don't think he ever had the support of those really opposed to it. He was in danger of losing the support of those in favor. Frankly I am pretty tired of the whole subject.

The regular stuff is pretty greasy...a little goes a long way. The lite stuff is better and less salty.

dkurtenbach, Thanks, I love rules of thumb. Yes we typically run 35-50 on campouts. Odds and ends add up and we haul about 14 boys in a van with little room for cargo. I'd love for a good QM to work all this out.

My son has my Dad's 1943 manual. It is falling apart...cheap pulp paper...but hey there was a war on.

Pack, Ah yes, a Scout is Kind. Ice Cream is better than Bricks.

THAT explains it. Latin not Latinas.

I should read the subject line first. "Atheist dad struggling with cub scouts"--I find holding them with my left arm and using a brick to the head with the right a couple of times usually quiets them down. If you are left handed you may wish to do the opposite. I am not sure why the Atheism is an issue--I pray to God to help me with the rope but it is optional. Those Tiger cubs are squirmy but small.

I'd rather go hungry than eat grits. Went to school in the south, married a Georgia family girl and still can't stand em. Had them every which way. Amazing adhesion properties though--let them dry and you might need a sand blaster to get them off. I guess if it was wilderness survival and I snared a wild grit like Bear Grylls. But only then.

Some of the nude scenes may not be appropriate for scouts.

jblake, Seriously you may be on to something. Send Morse Code by text messaging.

Basement, Oh yeah the salt is an issue especially with the meats. I would cautions guys with Blood Pressure issues on that.

"Invidious" I loved that movie.

I talked to Mrs Turtle about this and she said "sometimes boys (looking at ours) could USE a little hazing. But she hates to see food wasted--so shaving cream yes--food no. She hates the wedding cake smash as well. So opinions differ.

While I am firmly in the "give me a break you call THAT hazing?" camp I agree with Fred. The first couple camp-outs terrify some newbies. Some it is the first time they are sleeping without Mom or Dad in the tent. I have had some who managed to never camp before or it was the first time they had been away from home other than a grandparent's house. They freak over the critters, the Friday night set up in the dark is frustrating and stressful, and they don't have cub scout leaders to coddle them. I am sure some of us have had to deal with a sobbing boy who just wants to go home. Not

Is their a merit badge does bookbinding? Might be a good repair project. My Dad's old 1940's Popular Mechanics for Boys (Still has his Dogs teeth marks from 1943) had lots of stuff on boys making a book press, rebinding books, and making covers. Looks cool in an old school way.

I often start with a packet of instant mashed potatos. Add Bacon, Parm cheese, or vegetables or soup mix. Cooks up fast, cheap, warm, and good. I have used both shelf stable Bacon and the bits in the zip bag for salad. Like others the foil packets for tuna, chicken, or Spam are great. I talked with a grocery manager who said they stock more and more of those things in part because it is popular for homeless and migrants (who don't have fridges). Makes it easy for us! I calculate calories and grams of carbs for a hike. Some of the more experienced boys do that too. I pack a lot of ext

My boys and I have had both spiral and perfect bound. I find with constant use the Spiral lasts longer but pages tear out easy. In any case they must be protected by a cover. ScouterCa's comments are great! I have seen water proof bible covers (for the missionary on the go I guess). A good project for Webelo 2's or Newbies might be making their own covers.

I would like to thank the scouter forums and Merlyn in particular for inspiring me to take on the Troop Chaplain position (assuming I get approved).

I keep wondering if there is some sort of formula for this sort of thing. It is easy for summer camp--everyone is limited to a 14 gallon tub and a day bag for the lap. But pads and sleeping bags add to it. Add a couple coolers for the bug juice, food coolers, flags, dutch ovens, fuel, the list starts to grow.

You guys are rough! As Scouters I think if we can save a couple of future fatties all the hard work will be worth it; I wish I could have avoided a lot of heartache and health problems. I bet I only had 1 out of 4 years I was not fat (luckily one year was when I snatched Mrs Turtle)

I deal with boys and adults on the subject. I usually ask them to continue to wrestle with the issue, keep their mind and heart open to possibilities, and trust their conscientious.

SSS, Very Thrifty. Those big Gatorade bottles are amazingly tough. I have gotten through several camel-baks by now and am ready to give up on them. I may just modify my camelbak pouch to hold the gator bottle and a feed tube.

I am still shaped like ...a turtle...and about as fast. Yet I keep a good pace; once I get the creaking joints going I might as well keep going. I think getting in the best shape that you are able to--wherever you are at--is a good thing. It is a bummer for the boys to have to deal with a Scouter with a massive coronary. I am still terribly out of condition and need to some weight training and swimming. It is embarrassing. I had one butterball scout tell me he was trying to get in better shape like me so that was a powerful motivator. That is the important thing. I can identify