When I was in second grade, I was in Cub Scouts for a while. I don't remember why I quit - whether Mother and Father just didn't want to be bothered or what - but I remember one Father-son event which involved getting mistletoe from the trees in one of the local parks. We never went camping as a den or a pack, that I recall. And after a while, well, it just kind of faded away. I remember reading "Boys Life" magazine, and thinking it was great - but all that hiking and stuff... well, that just didn't happen. Cub Scouts and I just never... jelled.
Fast forward (mumblenumber) years. This is the little guy's second year in Cub Scouts. He likes the camping events, he likes the Cub Scout stuff, and we're doing the Cub Scout thing... and I'm glad to watch him doing it. Will it be a long-term thing? I don't know - but he's interested in it for now, and that's the important thing. When it comes to backpacking trips in a few years... I don't think I'll be able to do that with him. The evulsion fracture on my ankle's made it iffy. But we can do other things. And I'm so proud of him...
BTW, if you're interested in a simple, quick, cheap cookie recipie, here you go.
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
Beat egg, add to peanut butter and sugar in mixing bowl. Put tablespoon sized blobs on a cookie sheet. Flatten somewhat out with a fork for the traditional peanut butter cookie crosshatch pattern. (Alternatively, add 1oz cocoa powder, and form into the appropriate elongated, pointy shapes - 2nd graders have a low sense of humor and will find the idea of eating 'poop' cookies fun.)
Bake at 350 for ten minutes. Then let cool for a couple of minutes, then slide off onto a plate to continue cooling.
A batch will make about 18 cookies.
Man, I'll type about anything on this blog, won't I?
Comments (6)
You might look into ultralight camping (I can send you a bunch of links) which could give you a load under 20 pounds; even less for overnight, as opposed to weekend, camping. Remember when we did overnights in the Cohutta, lo these many years ago?
Posted by John C. | October 3, 2005 4:51 AM
Posted on October 3, 2005 04:51
At least you're typing. My blog lays stagnant :-(
Posted by rawb | October 3, 2005 8:52 AM
Posted on October 3, 2005 08:52
Ah, yes. the 5 Points Chowder and Marching Society... Remember the bear we saw?
Actually, it's not the weight of the gear I worry about - it's the human framework carrying it. Only way I was able to make it out when my ankle spazzed was to tighten the boot and keep moving - as long as I was moving it didn't hurt too bad - and it was only about a mile and a half to the trailhead. Any further back... well, I'd have made it somehow, but I wasn't a happy camper that day, I'll tell you.
J.
Posted by JLawson | October 3, 2005 9:19 AM
Posted on October 3, 2005 09:19
I feel for ya, Rawb. Sometimes I don't have any idea what I want to write - yet I can usually find something.
Um, you're not allergic to peanuts, are you? Bake up a batch of the cookies and tell me what you think.
J.
Posted by JLawson | October 3, 2005 9:56 AM
Posted on October 3, 2005 09:56
Actually, the weight of the gear does matter; the less weight you're carrying, the less strain on the ankle. You might also consider a hiking staff, or possibly trekking poles, although opinion seems divided on how effective those are, to take some of the weight off the affected ankle.
And, yes, I remember the bear. Do you remember the cubs that came as part of the package? Fortunately, they were determined to go where we weren't, which was fine for all concerned....
Posted by John C. | October 4, 2005 1:50 PM
Posted on October 4, 2005 13:50
Well, I was using my walking staff when I miss-stepped and my ankle folded. Very aggravating. I made sure to keep well out in front of Sue and Aaron, didn't want them to hear the words I was using...
J.
Posted by JLawson | October 4, 2005 9:40 PM
Posted on October 4, 2005 21:40