Ramblings on a Monday night

nothing like a self portrait after a long day.
Not very glamorous

I must admit, that at the present moment....I am Bored stiff. Yes, that's right....Bored! I have the crafting and project bug in me bad. There are a few different projects to which I have started and a few that I would like to do in this head of mine. And, well, the weather is just not cooperating with me to get the ones I've started done. Then there is the blasted money issue of really needing to not spend (work was on the slower end for a while). Sigh...Ugh. What is this girl to do.

Last week, my car got broke into and the stupid thieves attempted to get into Nathan's car and now his driver side door is jammed closed. So tonight, I am stranded, as I let Nathan drive my car to work. Along with yesterday, Saturday and tomorrow night too. Not that he can't drive his car and crawl in via the passenger side. He does this at school...I just don't want him showing up for his job and be seen crawling in and out. I just feel terrible that the nova is in need of some serious repair. Anyway, this is keeping me from heading out Hobby Lobby and spending that money that I really don't have.

Last week the weather was so nice....70-80's. It gave me the gumption to work on my yard/planters. Mom and I cut down all of my beastly plants. The edging has begun and the front bushes and my planters are now crying for my attention. Only problem is that the weather changed to the 60's yesterday and I don't get a thrill working in the cooler conditions. And this was one area of focus that I wanted to have done before leaving for Seattle next week.

I am also falling into Zumba withdrawal. It has officially been 8 days since I have been to a class. I love my zumba time and the gals who come with it. Hopefully, nothing will come between me and my Wednesday evening shake my hips session. However, I did buy a set of 5lb hand weights and a medium fitness ball. I should consider taking the ball out of the box and inflating it for use.

Enough rambling now. Daylight has turned to darkness and I will change into something comfy and attempt to find something to watch on TV.

Eagle Scout Court of Honor

Last night, we finally held Nathaniel's Eagle Scout Court of Honor. This evening has been in the works for many years. He started the Boy Scout journey when he was 12 and was ready to quit when he was around 15. But being the mean parents that we are....we made him continue as he had come to far to not finish. After all was said and done....we think he is quite happy to have reached this accomplishment.

Chris Colby - Master of Ceremony
 Nathan really wanted Chris to be the master of ceremony and had wanted Chris to "Roast" him. Lets just say that like most things that my son does...its hardly ever conventional. 

Nate pinning on Steve's pin
sorry for the blurry picture

 Every time a scout advances a rank, mom is given a pin. It isn't until the scout earns his Eagle Rank, that the father is given a pin.

Pinning on Nathan's Eagle Rank pin

 I was given the privilege of pinning on Nathaniel's Eagle Scout pin

Nathan chose Scout Master Bob Tucker as the person who he would give his mentor pin to. I agree that Bob  (and Patty too) helped Nathan immensely with everything that scouting entailed and earning this rank. But along with Bob, were many other leaders, scouts and friends that all played a part in getting here tonight.

the cub scout bridge

 In our cub scout den, the boys would cross this bridge and sign their name with each rank advancement. Nathan decided that he wanted it at his court of honor and to be able to graffiti it one last time.

In full Eagle Scout attire.
A site that we may never see again

Nathan's Court of Honor was far from traditional, but it made for a fun evening. Many friends and family came out to show their support...and I was very grateful for that. Now it is up to Nathan to remember the skills that were learned and the memories that he gained as he starts his next phase in life.

I've been in hiding

I have been overwhelmed with my marriage...helping Nathan decide on a college that we can somewhat attempt to afford....and well.....life in general. This has pretty much taken me away from blogging the good things to which life has offered. But it is time to grab life and events by the hand and just get on with it. So please stay tuned in for the blogging to return.

Pictures of Nathan's Scouting Years

We are finally having Nathaniel's Eagle Scout Court Of Honor in the next couple of weeks. I have been putting together different ideas for the program. Lots of kids do slide shows. Nathan did not want one, so I put together a photo album that I will have out on the table for people to flip through. Feel free to check it out on snapfish.


http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/projectshareewelcome/l=10646152014/p=34561299424441308/g=88792033/cobrandOid=1000/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPBKlink/

Film Festival Conclusion

Now after the festival was over....Isaac had gone on stage to try and make the audience aware that they did not show his film. The way he went about could have been a bit different...but he is 17. But this was to be the beginning of the drama. Nathan, mom and I left and found out today.

After the festival, each entrant was provided with feedback and score sheets from the judges. While at school today, we come to find out the following:

Isaac and Beau were not provided with any comment/score sheets. Were there films even judged? No one will answer.
Then Isaac was pulled into the principals office where they demanded an apology for going on the stage at the end to make the audience aware. Isaac chose the three day suspension as he refused to apologize to them. But where was the apology to Isaac?

They should have apologized to Isaac...as he was the only one out of 284 entrants to not have his film showed. They could have handled this more appropriately seeing these are leaders to our kids. Call me funny....but how do we expect our kids to act if this is the example shown by grownups (let alone leaders).

Was the film festival fair. Maybe some parts...the entire process...I would have to think twice. During the week of voting, mom had gone to vote on what was to be the last day, only to find out that they closed the voting early. The reply to moms email was vague...we chose to close it early...we hope that you got to vote...{hmm}. Between that and what happened to Isaac...I'm not so sure.

On a good note...Nathans comments and scores were pretty good and he seemed pleased. Also, this suspension probably won't keep Isaac out of college. As many of the colleges got a kick out of Nathans three day suspension for donuts.

Keller ISD Film Festival....unfair...you decide (part one)

Nathan and a couple of classmates entered and had films choose to be featured in the 2nd annual Keller ISD 2010 Film Festival. There were eight different categories (with three different age groups) that they could enter. It was very exciting last month when we found out that one of his three films entered was selected. Nathan has really enjoyed his computer classes and has a teacher that lets the students use their creativity.

However...while we were waiting for the evening to begin...mom and I realized that we were in for a long night. And then the evening began...The host/teacher/director of event worked hard at trying to be funny. He was accompanied by two girls in very unflattering evening wear that tried to follow suit with the humor (sadly they came across as dingy).

Nathan and his classmates entered the animation category. Nathan's film was a flash film titled "The History of  a World" by "Nasty" Nate Wadkins. I wish that I could upload his film because it is very much Nathan. It is not too late to connect to the school site for a viewing. If your real player doesn't work, try another computer...its worth your watching.
http://www.kellerisd.net/community/media/film/Pages/default.aspx

The other Central guys that were in the category are as followed:
"Itchy" Isaac Dalton with his "Techno Chase"
"Stonewall" Jackson Bigsby with his "Normal Thoughts"
"Bubblegum" Beau Begole with his "Devil Eyes"

Now we had to tolerate the K-4th grade categories {UGH!}. Like these youngins really did these on their own. In fact a couple of the same little girls that kept winning, thanked their daddy numerous times for doing these films. I told mom that she had raised me wrong in the fact that I have always had Nathan do his own projects (assisting when needed). I really believe that they should just dump this group for future festivals.

The next age group was 5th-8th. These were not too bad and some really good. The night was coming to an end when we were all surprised that Damon had entered a film and not told anyone. We wondered if he even knew that he was in one.

So Damon Warr, Noah Hellard and Casey Jones entered "The Last Irish-Mexican on Earth". To be honest, I have only seen the snippet from last night, so I will have to go back and watch it.

The evening was muddling along was some entertainment and then it took a serious nose dive (that should have been handled far better). It was the animation category and everything was flowing and then they announce Isaac's name and someone else's film. They did not have his. Poor Isaac....what does one do. Especially with all of his classmates screaming that they have the wrong film and get ignored.... Isaac patiently waited until the end, when he dashed up on stage to try and correct it via 17 yo style. To only have the host smugly laugh and say "yeah, we'll show it sometime..." What was that and how inappropriate for a teacher. Now Isaac was the first to admit that it wasn't about winning. However, he had his family and friends there to see his film and they got someone elses.

Now throughout this night, the host/teacher/director, had two different sets of girls who had a film chose for every category. And these girls won numerous times (no one knows who the judges were). Funny though that they were cute. And yet, they could not get Isaac's film correct. Then the kid (5-8) who won peoples choice had a lame film, but had lots of family voting all the way from Italy.

Anyways, I am glad that Nathan made it....and most of all...that his film was actually his. These guys are all winners in my eyes.