Whew- I made it. For a while there I wasn’t sure I was going to. It’s always tough at work at this time of year (end of fiscal year madness), and this year was actually better than it has been in the past…. Last year I was completely insulated from it and I’m probably just feeling sorry for myself. Maybe it was improper toilet training at an impressionable age  ;-)

Anyway- we all made it! Yahoo! Now it’s time for the weekend. It’s actually sort of a working weekend, but it’s doing what I love- Scouting. I’m directing Outdoor Leadership Training next month so Saturday morning I go to camp to inventory training materials. That’s always fun. Then it’s on to Barnardsville to visit my “little friend.” We plan to go mountain biiking on Sunday. I had to quit biking some years ago when my carpal tunnel go bad, but I’m hoping having lost all this weight will make it better. I’ll let you know.

I’m sorry I haven’t posted much lately. It’s all just gotten crazy. Between the events of the last two years, other demands, job pressures, community-related commitments….. well, I guess I’m just not very good at managing my time (or saying “no”).

Sometimes I miss Bobbi more than ever. She kept the madness at bay, she was my keel, she kep me straight. I guess because she was just such a rock ( a very soft and comfy rock) we all depended on her so much. Her capacity for love and compassion, and understanding (lucky for me). We all miss you Bobbi.

Anyway, I’ve just been slammed. I look at the memory card with photos from the fishing derby and think “man, I really need to post those photos”….. I’m sorry. It may take a little while. I’m sure this madness will pass. Maybe I need a whole lot of therapy! LOL
I’ll keep you posted.

Whew- well, that’s what makes Mondays so special, right?

I just got back from a fast trip to Kodak (Tennessee that is, betweem Gatlinburg and Knoxville). Brother Dave and I drove over to take Brother Sam out for supper for his birthday. It was a great visit with Sam. We all talked about loved ones, both here and “absent.” We love you Bobbi!

Saturday was the Talking Trees trout derby, and I cleaned 305 trout! Wow, my new record. Actually, I had help (s0meone else was rinsing for my about 25% of the time). We had nearly 2500 kids in the water! I have pictures and I’ll upload them tomorrow. Now it’s midnight and I’d better go to sleep!

I’ll keep you posted.

For some reason this post never actually “published, thought I entered it last Friday. Sorry for the malfunction….

Greetings!

Wednesday I had a great visit from my friend John (Cherokee from Knoxville) and his two sons. I gave them a tour of our new data center then we had a great meal at the best local restaurant (Granny’s). John brought gifts from my AISA friends, including a beautiful ribbon shirt with a Boy Scout theme by my friend Mary Ann – Thank You Mary!!!

I took yesterday off, and I had a great checkup. Yesterday was my three month post-surgical exam at the neurosurgeon’s. I’m clean and tumor free! We’ll do another MRI in three months to be sure, but after that (assuming there is no regrowth) we’ll probably go to once-a-year MRIs to keep an eye out for Ygor.

I named my new truck Stitch like the character in Lilo and Stitch. Maybe he didn’t care for the name, because he threw an idler pulley on the serpentine belt. Well, at least it didn’t happen with a truck load of family going over the mountain. Luckily (as if luck has something to do with it) I already had an appointment schedule at my mechanics to check out a louder than I thought normal sound in the engine compartment. Good timing, eh? Today I’m back at work and we be jammin!

Tomorrow is the Talking Trees Fish Derby where I will try to beat my personal best record of cleaning 270 trout in one day (actually it was in a four hour period- wow!). I need to go register Ethan. Ity’s

Yeah, we’re moving now! Sunday was great. Any day I get to see “my kids” is great. I spent the weekend trying to clean…. Sometimes I crack myself up. Anyway, Sunday I had to run to the store and decided to run to the store near Kim’s house so I could go visit. That was wonderful, except I couldn’t seem to leave….. Four hours later I went back to cleaning.

Monday was Cub Scout night, and we had a great time. Ethan and the boys built toolboxes and worked on earning their Bear rank. Then we went out for the traditional Bob-Poobah meal.

Before going to get Boo for Cub Scouts I also got started working with the local library to get my adult literacy project off the ground. While we’re are it we’re starting a book club. Man- that was one busy Monday. In my spare time I went to work! LOL.

That’s pretty much all for now, except I got a nice card from the board of the American Indian Scouting Association (my peeps) and I wanted to say thank you to all of them for all they do and for thinking of me. I love being a “scouter”. I’ll keep you posted.