AUGUSTA

Chimo and I took a day trip to Augusta after we finished with Scout Sunday. Even though it was a cloudy, drippy day, we really liked their riverfront. We also made a quick visit to the Morris Museum of Art, where we were surprised to find a painting we were already familiar with by Jonathan Green. Really wonderful. Many nice pieces in their collection. We drove back through Aiken, whoich is a nice little town.

GOOSE

Among the discarded artistic renderings, mostly sketches, that Chimo threw away after bringing some of his artwork back from school on Friday, I discovered this tiny drawing of a goose smelling a flower, and I really liked it. So I cut it out and put it in my billfold. It is only about an inch square.

DAD VISIT

Chimo and I drove up to Jefferson City and Pigeon Forge to see my Dad in his new facility there, and to spend time with my stepmom, Sharon. The visit was less traumatic for me than I expected, as Dad is still in good health and remembers me, though he shows all the usual sign and symptoms of a person suffering from middle to later stages of Alzheimer's. The place is a very good one, it seems to me, though I am no expert. Both times we stopped by we caught him reading (oddly, a book about the coming Apocalypse). We had lunch the first day (the less said about the food, the better). I brought along a converted video of family video from around 1965, and he had little trouble identifying individuals and events, even if his attention wandered. It was nice at least to sit with him a bit, hug him, and say "I love you." We drove up to Gatlinburg one night and walked about, listened to music, and Chimo rode one of those mountain sled rides. Sharon showed us around earlier in the day to he favorite walking spot, Patriot Park, and we had lunch at Old Mill, which was very good. On Sunday she took us out to Cade's Cove in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park, which was very interesting (although I think some of my historical interpretation friends might have been able to do a tad better job there). She later that night treated Chimo to the Island Ropes Course, which he liked very much, and we took a spin on the giant ferris wheel. Hopefully soon I can post some pictures. Herewith are a few, one a little blurry, that I will post now, with the promise of additions later.

COPE

Joey and Chimo attended the Low Cope training course this past weekend at Camp Barstow with Troop 324. Herewith a few shots culled from posted pictures.

SCOUTING LEADERSHIP

A few snips taken from today's Scouting Leadership training that the boys attended with Troop 324.

TIDD MUGS

Here is a pic I don't think I ever posted, from three years back, the three Tidd guys mugging for the camera while Paul was taking a picture.

CLIMB

The boys traveled to Anderson to learn climbing techniques with Troop 324. Joey is in white shirt, Chino light green.

HONDA CHARITY RIDE

Worked with Troop 324 on the annual Honda Charity Ride for Vets. Serving hotdogs, pastries and cookies, drinks. Kept the boys pretty busy for four hours on a really glorious day, well into the 80s. Herewith a few shots:

Joey walking about.

Joey manning the hotdogs, with Zach beside him, and Bruce with the hat farther down the table.

Chimo grabbing more sodas for the cooling bins. He worked most of his time handing out drinks.

TIDD CADETS

It was like pulling teeth, but finally got them to agree to a picture this morning before hauling them to school. Both are marching in the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Columbia. I will try to get pictures of them in route, but they often do not come out well. So here is this, and we will hope for more.

COURT OF HONOR

Joey was finally awarded his Life Scout rank at a small ceremony last night. Chimo was presented with six merit badges. The troop itself was honored for being the top gatherer of canned good, both as a unit and by individuals.

JZ and his parents on the right; Tidds to the left. Scoutmaster Greg Turbeville stands behind the table.

Chimo gets his merit badges. JZ stands nearby.

Joey and JZ light the ceremonial candles.

Joey pins me with his miniature Life badge. I wear over my pocket the rank of each boy. Not official BSA standard, but what the heck. Notice that Joey is about the same height as I am.

ART

Herewith a shot taken from the LPP website that shows me at my desk, behind my monitor, with my sons' art on the wall behind me. There are also some molas (mostly just above my head), a nice silvered icon, and to the left is one of The Chicken Man's (Ernest Lee) creations, which I love. I own five of his pieces.

SCOUTING

Some pictures from tonight's celebration of Harrison earning his Eagle. Here are a few pictures taken by some of the leaders.

CANOEING

The boys joined their troop for a short canoeing excursion to Lake Murray. Here are a couple of pictures.

OA ORDEAL/FELLOWSHIP

Herewith a few pictures from the weekend's Order of the Arrow activities. Chimo became an Arrowman, while Joey advanced to Brotherhood status (signifies by red bars on either end of the red arrow on his white sash).