A Good Man and a Good Name

Thanks to Gary Gunderson for keeping Scouting strong in the South Bay.

http://jamwithjesus.blogspot.com/2015/03/a-good-name-and-good-man.html

Sometimes Making Time is the Only Way to Spend Time

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Yesterday, I went on a hike with my son and his Cub Scout Pack on the Ocean Trails at Trump National Golf Course. The weather was just right for a nice hike and the sites were awesome. As we arrived at the shore line after hiking down the trail a Pacific Gray Whale was cruising around the bay not 100 yards from shore! I told my son to watch the whale and he said, "I saw it. Cool." and proceeded  (with the rest of the boys) to throw rocks into the oncoming waves and run from them as they chased the boys from the shore line. 

The boys also spotted a dead seal, several critters in the tide pools, a lizard or two, rabbits, birds and the guide point out the fauna. Then when we got to the end of the hike the boys played tag and hide and go seek at the park. Myself and the other parents just relaxed and watch the kids enjoy themselves. 

Here is the point. As parents we all try to spend time (quantitative and qualitative) with our children, but, sometimes unless we plan the time and make the time we don't always get to have that time with our children. So, I find it really cool to be able to spend time with my son doing something he will enjoy and remember without the high stress or cost. I scheduled the event months ago and put it on the Packs calendar. If I would not of done that we probably would of just sat at home.

Often, we as parents, make sure our children are involved in sports and other activities, which is good. What I am thankful for about the Cub Scout is that family is part of the program.

3,2,1 Blast Off!

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I hope  you had a great weekend. I did. I ended up taking over leadership of my son's Cub Scout Pack this year and it has been a lot of work but a lot of fun also.

This weekend was out first Space Derby in recent memory. I have since heard rumors that there was a few in the past, but none experienced by any of us now participating. So, as a pack we bought a slick new track, passed  out the kits, had a meeting to start building them and off we went. And off they flew! Some of the rockets went through the track and crashed at the end, flying of the track. Good thing someone thought to bring some fast drying model glue. One or two rockets had so much torque they just spun right off the guide!

One of my top goals was to have maximum participation. In order to do that we used a system called the perfect N which is sort of like a modified round robin tournament. Every racer raced four times, once in each lane. It was great. The only delays were the time it took to wind each rocket. There was also a few technical problems and kinks we worked out on the way but still everybody raced 4 times. Twenty heats is a lot of heats for a space derby.

I know it went well because after the official heats were over people wanted to race some more just for fun. And that is what Cub Scouting is supposed to be, fun with a purpose. Mostly, it was the joy of watching my own son getting a ribbon and a huge smile. Being a dad is very cool.

Good-bye 2010, Hello 2011

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I'm not sure what to make of this past year,2010. I had some good times, some not so good times, and some just plain ridiculous times.

I guess if you are a Republican or Conservative it turned out to be a not so bad year. Unless, of course, like me you live in California where the likes of Maxine Waters, Barbara Boxer, Nancy Pelosi, Gaven Newsom and Jerry Brown still hold the masses under a deep hypnosis of liberalism. 

I am still trying to find a Tea Party in my area. I think the basic ideals of conservative, which the Republican Party so easily strays from need to be advertised and presented in a understandable manner. I am very tired of hearing Democrats and liberals, via their propaganda wing (like la Times) misstating conservative ideals and deceiving the public by withholding the truth about liberals and liberalism. News agencies refuse to tackle the truth. For example,I have yet to see and news article on the fact that in a state run by a Democratic legislature, that since 2005, over 1,200,000 Californians lost their jobs and that companies have taken those jobs to more business friendly states. I have yet to hear a whisper of a call for accountability from the legislature from our press core. That is why so many turn to the internet. May the government keeps its' slimy hands off!!! 

What I did enjoy this year was going on vacation with my family and participating in Cub Scouts with my son. There is nothing like the smile on your child's face when they are enjoying something other than video games. 

May God bless you and your family, our state, and our country.

Have a great and blessed 2011!

Parenting and Scouting, Pop Tarts and Smiles

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The problem with being an A Type personality is it is next to impossible to just to a little of anything. My dad once bought 2 shopping carts full of Pop Tarts, because they were good. I have never bought 2 shopping carts of any one item, but, I find myself diving in head first and going full boar or not going at all. 

I have been consumed by my sons' Cub Scout Pack as of late. I shared on an earlier post how I was volunteered as a leader. I don't  mind. I like working with people and more importantly I want to see my son have a great experience as a Cub Scout. The former leader was a man of many words with little action. I know I can be a man of MANY words but, I hope I back them up with actions a plenty. 

I rechartered our pack. I attended the University of Scouting. I called a parents planning meeting. I sent out flyers to schools in the area (my wife actually did the bulk of the work, she's awesome). I am learning all the things we should of been doing. 

I am blessed to have some great parents in the Pack. Some are beginning to step up and help. And you know what? That really is what being a parent is all about, doing what you need to do so your child can have a great scouting experience. My philosophy of parent involvement is that if you want your child to enjoy something or be successful at it, it is up to you. I want my son to enjoy scouting, so I am doing what I need to do to make that happen. Now as an A Type personality, I have dove in and found myself knee deep in Cub Scouting and to be honest, I am having a great time. More importantly, my son is enjoying being  a Cub Scout too. Two weeks ago, one of the fathers, a member of the Coast Guard arranged for the pack to visit the hanger where the Coast Guard helicopters are housed and repaired. If you could of seen the smile on my sons face when he was being lifted up in the rescue basket and into the helicopter...I swear if he was eating cake the frosting would of been on his ears...that is what scouting is about. 

Thanks for Volunteering, You're the New...

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A funny thing happened on the way to enjoying my son's Cub Scout Meeting, I became a Den Leader and the CubMaster. This is now the third year in scouting for my son and I. I have met some great people and....some other people as well. 

When we first started the Den leader for my son was insistent that she run the show. After a few months, I remember standing in front of the scout house with my friend and his son wondering if it was the right night. As things go, we ended up doing what we needed to do to get our boys their badges and tried to have some fun. We were told we were co-leaders and needed to get trained.

The next year at the first pack meeting I was saying my hello's when the leader greeted me with a hearty, "Great to have you back! You're the new Cub Master. All you have to do is..." It turns out the Cub Master is sort of the master of ceremonies and since one of my alter-egos is a game show host it is not a bad fit. Plus, I got to wear one of those cool shirts with a Cub Master patch on it.

This year the Committee Chair, who really runs the pack, texted me just a few hours before the first meeting with a message that pretty much said he was bailing. Which, in the end may turn out to be a blessing because he was ALL talk with just a smidgen of action. We have since pulled ourselves together and are putting together what hopes to be a great year for our sons. I myself am learning the art of "Welcome back, you're the new...." 

Cheerio Camper

When I was like 5 years old I dreamed of being able to go on going camping adventures. Mom was divorced; we lived with Granny and Grandpa. Money was tight, but love was not. My creative mind had to make do with what I had. So, I would take the empty cereal boxes and run string through the sides and make a backpack out of it. (I’m sure there are other Cheerio campers out there.)Then I would hike around the yard and set up camp. I had a great time.

This weekend my youngest son has a Cen-ten-o-ree camp out. The theme is the 100^th year of scouting which is being celebrated this year. We are really excited about it. The dust should be amazing in and of itself. We choose the meal option because…I didn’t want to be a slave to the kitchen. The food will be catered by fast food giants such as Carl’s Jr., McDonald’s, and Derweinerschnitzel.

The best part, seeing my son’s smile as he proudly adorns his Cub Scout uniform. Here’s to all the parents enjoying their children and living the dream through them.

Thus saith me.

Living Vicariously Through Your Kids

One of the great experiences of being a parent is living your life through your children. Doing things “with” them the things you never did when you were a kid can be quite fulfilling. For me, scouting has been that for me.



Not only do I get to spend quality time with my son and watch him learn a lot of great lessons about life, but I get to “help” him with almost everything. (Yea, I know that pretty soon he’ll want to do it all by himself.) But, I was sucker punched into being the cub master so; now I get to wear one of the cool shirts!



Recently, our pack held the annual pine wood derby. My son won! I am proud to say that HE did do most of the work. The best part was that most of the other dads are engineers (I am in education). I heard a few “nice work man” from them. Sour grapes.



Good job son. Thus saith me