Metalwork

So the wife and I noted that it's been me that's taking Sander to all these Scouting events, and while that's kind of part and parcel with the whole father-son-thing, it occured to me that if ever there was a merit badge that she'd be interested in going to, it would be yesterday's- Metalwork, specifically silversmithing at the Minnetonka Center for the Arts. But, push come to shove, when Sander was asked who he wanted to take him- it was the old man who got selected.

So, an early rise to drive 45 minutes way to the other side of the Cities, but at least I'll get to watch my son at work, right? Well he no sooner signs in, than he subtly lets his dad know that it'd be okay if dad just disappeared for a while. After all, none of the other dads are staying to watch.

So, I wander around the center. Beautiful facility with lots of cool galleries and work areas. I was supposed to pick up a calendar of classes for the wife- but it slipped my mind. Then I went off to find a McDonald's... but apparently Wayzata and Orono are too hoity-toity for Mickey D's! After about 15 minutes, I give up, have a coffee and breakfast bagel at Bruegger's and then pick up a sandwich from Jimmy John's. Oh, and the other annoyance- neither Starbuck nor Caribou offer Italian sodas (I thought I'd surprise him). Grr...

After lunch, I go find a bar, have a cider and a whiskey, and relax with my book. Ya know, I kinda missed out on watching the boy work, but I really had a pretty nice day to myself in exchange.

All the silver was gone, so Sander made two pieces, one with copper and the other with brass. But all the requirements were met, he had a great time, said he'd totally do it again next year, and I was glad to see that he wasn't the only Troop 49'er there! Stephen did Pottery in the morning, and Graphic Design in the afternoon (Sander's was an all-day class).

Anyway, bottom line is #21, Metalwork, is all done, and Sander's got two pendants to show for his work!

Cinematography done

So, Sander has tomorrow off, and since he had only the tour of a TV production site to do, I thought about seeing if WCCO had tours. Good news- they do! Bad news- their 2 pm tour is already packed. Well, I looked up public access, and lo and behold- they have "open mic" night on Thursdays! I gave a call, and Glen at SCC gave Sander a very thorough and interesting tour. Sander kept saying, "I know where YOU'LL be next Tuesday!" I wish I could say I was more interested, but I'm just not. Still, if I were interested, it'd be a great resource, and I'm really going to try and persuade Erik to check it out, both for himself, and for the other scouts.

Oh, and Sander's movie "Alien Dinosaurs from Mars" will be on channel 15 at 1:30 pm, next Wednesday and next Saturday (the 6th).

Other scouts

Wow- it was cool last night to have William approach me about the Music merit badge. No question, both he and Matt O have all the requirements in their pocket- all that's needed is for them to work with a counselor. So, I'll be contacting counselors to ask if one can join the scouts at a future troop meeting. :)

Dog Care

Two Mondays ago, I was approached by Greg, who felt that he and three other boys would enjoy working on the Dog Care merit badge, and could I arrange a counselor for them. Well, so I turned to my wife, and said, "What do you think??"

She didn't have the book, or the requirements, but was game. I at least remembered the first requirement (discuss the 7 groups and sample breeds from each group), so she ran the boys through the first requirement. There is much more to cover, and there wasn't time last night for her to follow up on that. But good news- a former parent dropped off some old merit badge books, and there on top was the Dog Care one!

So, now she just needs to get registered as a counselor, and run them through the rest. Sander, who was busy elsewhere that first Monday, went through the requirements with Sarah at home, and I guess he's seen enough dog shows on Animal Planet, because he pretty much aced the groups and breeds.

Sarah has yet to set up a schedule or such, but at least informally, I'm noting Dog Care as "In Process" (though he needs to get a card started)

EVEN more Merit Badges!

As if 121 wasn't enough... or 125... or 126... now in honor of Scouting's 100th anniversary in the US, National has reissued four special Historic merit badges. These are part of the original set from 1911, but have been since discontinued. I'd heard rumors, but now they're confirmed.

They will be gold-trimmed, rather than green or silver, and can only be earned in 2010. After Dec.31, they will be deactivated again. So, of course Sander HAS to earn them!

And of course, Scoutmaster Bucky is starting the first of these in February... So, Sander is now scheduled for Pathfinding on Feb.7th... after Scout Sunday, and Pinewood Derby... Oh, and there may be a basketball tourney too... Bleh!

Cinematography all-but-done Friday, Genealogy done on Saturday, Metalworking this Saturday, Pathfinding the following Sunday, somewhere along there Family Life should be done... and hopefully he'll find another couple of service hours by the 12th to finish up his Star requirements. :)

Genealogy- Done!

Saturday, on a very icy morning, we head to the Minnesota Genealogy Society in South St.Paul. While I don't mean to criticize Boy Scout volunteers who are spending their day, often thanklessly, working for the benefit of the Scouts, I have to admit that Scoutmaster Bucky has me spoiled. There is little information at check-in as to what the plan is. Will there be classwork? We are shuttled into a meeting room, and without much guidance, Sander and I start working on the other requirements just on our own time.

I will say that the tour of the library was fun and informative for Sander. He spent 20 minutes at Ancestry.com looking up some of the ancestors I have in our records. He finds some meager information that could be worth following-up on, but when I suggest he look up the name "Eliza Jack" (one of Sarah's ancestors), he finds an actual census record. This makes it much more real for him- a scanned document over a hundred years old. And under place of birth for Eliza Jack: "New Brunswick." At last, the Canadian heritage he celebrated back in first grade.

Anyway, with a lot of work (his comment: "This isn't like school. In school, we do stuff- this is all just writing."), he starts and finishes Genealogy in short order. 19 down!!

Cinematography project complete!

Friday night, we come home and are surprised by the fact that Sander has spent the afternoon working on his movie! He's been editting clips, choosing background music and is super eager to show us. And what he's got is great! Okay, so there are a few more things to tweak up- he needs some sound effects, some additional voice work, his credits need to be polished up, and the sound levels need to be balanced throughout. Well, that's what we spend the evening doing- he records some panicked Mexican citizens in one clip... makes a "wah, wah, wahhhhhh...." sound for the ending.

It's all finished, and can be viewed now at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LEwspoX3mTI

Cinematography is almost done- just need a visit to a TV studio, and Erik's working on that.