Wordless Wednesday

Just STOP!

My mind is reeling with thoughts from the events in CT yesterday. As I process the information, and deal with my own very small (in comparison) feelings of rage and sadness, it occurs to me that for some reason this event has caused a dramatic change in my way of thinking about gun control laws. Growing up in the "wild west" I think I have always had a pretty open view about people owning guns. I do not "own" a gun myself, but with that said, there are multiple rifles in my home. All of my life, people I know have had and use guns. In fact, if pressed, it would be more difficult for me to name people who do NOT own guns than it would for me to name people who do own them. I have always thought I was a strong supporter of our right to bear arms, and would have agreed to vote to keep that right. Yesterday however, gave me pause. I don't know why yesterday's events were more traumatic than the events of Columbine, or events at Trolley Square, or even the events at the movie theater. In all cases, some crazy person found a gun, and went crazy with it. In all cases, innocent people died at the hands of a person with a gun, and I felt sad, and enraged, but not enough to change my attitude. Like I said, yesterday was different. For some reason, I realized that as long as crazies have access to weapons, this is going to continue to happen. END OF SENTENCE. I don't know all the facts, and I am not going to research them, but it sure appears that most of the time, the guns that are used in these attacks are stolen from honest permit toting gun owners.  It is not the honest permit toting gun owners that are causing the damage. It is caused by their crazy _________ (fill in the blank with neighbor, kid, co-worker, niece  nephew.... etc.) who stole their gun and wreaked havoc with it. I decided yesterday that my view on gun control laws has been completely and totally reversed. I know we have the right to bear arms in order to defend ourselves from tyranny. I am not afraid of the government taking over my home by force. I do not feel like I have to protect myself from tyranny. If  by my giving up my right to bear arms and turning into the government ALL of the guns that are in my home today...if it means that no more little people will be slaughtered at their desks, and that no longer will I be afraid to send my child to school, or alone to a mall, or to sit in a movie theater, then I'll do it. Down to the very last grain of gunpowder.

Wordless Wednesday

Guess what? I can read, too!

For those of you don't know, I have some sisters who are CRAZY readers. I truly don't have any idea when these chicks sleep. Sister SS reads so much she has developed her own ranking system for recommendations. You should check it out here: SS Reads.  She also has 4 kids and a full time job. I have NO IDEA how she does it. I mean, seriously? But, with that said, I just read the Bartimaeus Trilogy by Jonathan Stroud. According to the SS recommendation scale, I would gladly give this series 5 stars.

The synopsis of the books, alla wiki states:

The Bartimaeus Sequence^[1] is a fantasy series by Jonathan Stroud consisting of a trilogy published from 2003 to 2005 and a prequel novel published in 2010. The titular character,Bartimaeus, is a five-thousand-year-old djinni, a spirit of approximately mid-level power (fourteenth-level). The story follows the career of a teenage magician Nathaniel (later known as John Mandrake), and the alternative history of the peak of London's power as a magical oligarchy, through the eyes of the djinni Nathaniel first summons.

The series is mostly told from the perspective of Bartimaeus, although the Bartimaeus Trilogy also makes use of the perspectives of the magician Nathaniel and the commoner Kitty Jones.


Originally, I didn't care much for Nathaniel, but grew to understand him better as the series progressed. Bartimaeus, however, won me over immediately with his wit and down right sarcastic personality. He would be pleased to know that I really liked his style. So, there you have it, proof that I can read, too!

Daisy Super Science

Another Daisy Badge can be found here:

Daisy Super Science

Brownie Home Scientist worksheet

Please remember this is NOT AUTHORIZED by GSUSA, and technically these badges must be worn on the back of the vest as they are not USGSA approved and should be treated as "fun patches."

Wordless Wednesday

Merry Christmas Frankie

This will go in the mail tomorrow so Santa can fill it for you. Love you guys!

Christmas time again...

Well, here we are. Tomorrow is December 1. It is officially Christmas time again. The time of year when everyone is happy, and loving, and joyful. The magical time of year when the normal gloom of the night is pierced by cheerful sparkly-sparkly lights stapled carefully to snowy rooftops. When loving families come together to string popcorn and berries and carol happily while decorating their deliciously pine smelling tree.

Right.

I guess I'd best get busy pulling the old fakey tree out of a box to set it up by myself, hoping all the while that the dog doesn't eat it.
Happy Christmas everyone. I TRULY hope your's is better than Currier and Ives.

wordless wednesday

Daisy Citizens

Another Daisy Badge can be found here:
Daisy Badge: Daisy Citizens
Brownie Celebrating Community and Daisy Citizens Worksheet

Please remember this is NOT AUTHORIZED by GSUSA, and technically these badges must be worn on the back of the vest as they are not USGSA approved and should be treated as "fun patches."

Wordless Wednesday Turkey Version

Test of the new Daisy System...

OK, So everyone knows that I LOVE being a Girl Scout Leader. What only a few people know is that I do NOT LOVE the Daisy Girl Scout Program. It honestly makes me crazy. This last year they ( "they" being the U.S. Girl Scout Council) created some new books, and new curriculum for all levels of girl scouting. The idea behind these books is fantastic, but I think they just went to sleep when it came time to create a Daisy Program. I fully believe they are selling the Daisies short, and it really does get my panties in a bunch. ALL of the Daisy tasks to earn petals consist of reading a story, then doing some sort of activity. Some activities are crafty, some are more "talk about it" but ALL are LAME. ANNNND even if I did love the Daisy curriculum for earning petals, there are only 10 petals to earn. Granted they do have 3 additional Journeys Programs  which have 3 badges each, and 4 "leaves" they can earn during cookie time....so grand total of earn able badges for the Daisy Program are:
1. Daisy Promise Badge
2. 10 petals
3. Journeys = 3 available, with 3 earned badges each = 9
4. Leaves to be earned during cookie time = 2 each Daisy year so a total of 4

Grand total = 24

Now I know that SOUNDS like a lot, but it really isn't when you meet once a week for 9 months, or 36 possible meeting dates per year, and Daisies is a 2 year program. SOOOO it is entirely possible to earn all of the badges during the first year. Now it is true that I try to spread everything out, and take 6 weeks per Journey, and only do one Journey per year, but my point is there are still not enough badges for a 2 year program. After a Daisy earns all of her petals the first year, what is there for her to do? HMMM???

So, in order to solve this problem, I have gone feral and have started creating my own badges and activities for 2nd year Daisies. Some of my leader friends have asked for copies. I am willing to share. I'm nice like that. So here is my first posting of a Daisy badge. When I create these badges, I usually try to tie it to a Brownie badge in the same theme.  I usually make a worksheet that incorporates elements from both badges. This format works wonders when you are trying to combine both Daisies and Brownies in a mixed troop setting. I will also include the Daisy Petal in case you want to use this activity for first year Daisies as well. To make the badges I usually just print the badges page onto piece of iron on style printing paper, and iron it onto a piece of felt, then cut it out and sew it on to the vest. Please remember this is NOT AUTHORIZED by GSUSA, and technically these badges must be worn on the back of the vest as they are not USGSA approved and should be treated as "fun patches."

I am trying to use dropbox for the first time, so if it doesn't work, please let me know.

Daisy Badge: Family Traditions
Brownie: My Family Story and Daisy: Family Traditions Worksheet

Furry Friday

Free Election

From the Facebook Page of  My Friend Robin Williams

November 7, 2012

Friends and family, my dad told me when I was 11 years old we'd need to move, and that his business would soon be shut down. He said the world as I knew it would be over. I was scared for months. Well, the world didn't end, and my dad chose to retire from that same business almost 20 years later. I do think local and national government needs to get back to talking about something they seem to avoid-the economy. I will exercise my rights to push our local and national representatives to focus on the economy. Right now, I'm missing my Alaskan friends (Ernst/Tauriainen) who taught us how to fight about politics, enjoy a good dinner, and sing Glenn Miller songs arm in arm at the end of the night.

I'm posting a status that was borrowed from a reflective, civil, Libertarian friend, who borrowed it from William Pace.

William Pace:

I voted early in this election.

To do this I got into my car and drove less than a mile to a public location. I did not drive through military checkpoints. I was not harassed by live gunfire or falling shells. I did not pass under the menacing eye of manned towers or past entrenched gun emplacements. There were no armed factions waiting to dissuade me or threaten my life. I was not treated differently due to religion, political persuasion or gender. I was not asked to show a federal passport or papers. I was not asked to pay a bribe or asked to turn out my pockets. I was not searched, stopped or questioned (apart from verifying my identity as a free citizen for voting purposes). I stepped into a private booth and exercised my rights unmolested to choose the leader of my country, state, and so on down through the ranks, top to bottom.
I left with a sticker and a clear conscience.
Some of the representatives I voted for won and some of them did not. This happened without the storm front of a vengeful God rolling over the nation. This happened without torch bearing hordes taking to the streets. This happened without locusts or frogs. This happened without shock troops kicking in my door.
This was a free election. Free of explosions. Free of genocide. Just free to choose.
Some of you may talk of secession or emigration, because you didn't 'get your way', but remember…you'll be leaving a free country for whatever awaits you elsewhere.

I get to vote my conscience again in few years.

Wordless Wednesday

http://www.flickr.com/photos/tlcbull/sets/72157631843120792/

Wordless Wednesday

2012 JB 13 Yellowstone

2012 JB 13 Yellowstone, a set on Flickr.

JB celebrated her birthday with a trip to our cabin, and a visit to Yellowstone. Her friend "Tips" came along, too. Happy Birthday JennaB!

Wordless Wednesday

"blast-off"

Here we go again. Bill left for Georgia last night, so I won't see him again until October 11. That's only 10 days. I can totally do this. Even though I don't feel like doing anything else. I don't want to sleep  don"t want to be awake. Don't want to exercise, don't want to get fat. Luckily I don't want to eat either. Don't even want to knit......This morning's conversation with JB
Me: I can't want to go to yoga.
JB: You have to go. You make me go to school.
Me: I don't make you go to school, the government does. It's Obama's fault you have to go to school. Take it up with him.
JB: Right. Like that would happen.
Like I said, I can do this. It's only 2 weeks per month, for the next S.E.V.E.N. years.

Wordless Wednesday

Sunset

To see a panoramic, just click on the word Sunset

Wordless Wednesday

2012 Bear World

2012 Bear World, a set on Flickr.