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 strictly adhered to and taking quite a beating these days. The Religious One--That marriage is also a covenant, sacrament, or event before god or between the couple and God. Varies greatly between religions and denominations. I was married in a Methodist church but my (old) Catholic church does not recognize it. The Methodists think divorce is sad but OK but my "hard" Baptist friends think you get one marriage only. When we say "marriage" we may be talking about one or all of these parts. I think in reality most of the traditional marriage concept was a blend of most of these parts woven together...kinda like lays of a rope. Take one out and the whole thing may unravel...I think that is the fear of some. Like or not the times are changing. The religious pollster George Barna finds almost no difference in views toward marriage between self-identified "born-agains" and the general public (except for african americans where support for marriage is very low, and new Hispanoc immigrants where it is very high). The view of casualness of marriage seems to be a generational thing with the youngest cohort having very weak support. I liked how Barna said (to a Christian audience)"we need to stop talking about a culture war; the war is over and we lost. We need to concentrate where we went wrong with several generations of Christians." I have been married 28 years--it is a wonder to me that we haven't killed each other my now. (As for Fry in Hell. Last night my SPL-wanna be son (who has Tourettes) tells me when I say he needs to finish his homework "I hate you, fry in hell!". I was pretty pissed and later he apologizes--sort of. "I didn't mean it when I said I want you to fry in hell; I just want you to shut the hell up.")

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 seem to be looking for trouble. Personally I hope it will be the most boring convention ever. But it has a real possibility of turning nasty.

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 most, but some boys will have a rough night. If they can make it through that first night they will be walking a little taller. I would have the older boys cool it for the first couple campouts. Soon the newbies will running around in the dark playing scout games.

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 extra packets of carbs and proteins because as a Type II Diabetic I have to constantly adjust my diet on a hike. By doctors orders I get to boost my Blood Sugar a bit while hiking (low blood sugar may mean falling or worse). I find that a brisk hike with a pack and a few hills means I burn 35 carbs an hour. (A steep hill may need a 15 gram boost) So I need to eat that just to maintain. AND THAT is the number of carbs in a Snickers Bar. So for once I get a rare treat but have to earn it. I like to look at the Mountain House meals and may get one for a treat. But more often I look at them for inspiration and do a knock off at home. Most of them are beans or pasta or rice concoctions.

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 with that boy--I can tell he is going to have a lifelong battle.