... So I Hear You Have a Cat?

Amongst a variety of interesting bloggers and their insightful posts, I can't help but find my posts and/or style of writing "unworthy" of reading. Time is time, and we spend it how we choose. Whether it be squandered or well spent is up to us.

I don't know about you, Reader, but sometimes when I notice a longer post from a blogger I follow, I can't help but ponder, "Will my time be well spent on this particular post?" It all depends of course... Some posts/topics are more interesting than others.

This is what I know: What I choose to read is dependent on my mood. If I feel like reading something more serious, I scroll down my homepage and find a recent post from someone which appears intriguing. If I'm in the mood for something comical... Well, I check if Matthew H. has posted anything new... Haha

Seriously though, sometimes I wonder, "Why would anyone want to read my posts... ?" I mean, if I read the title, "... So I Hear You Have a Cat?" I'd probably roll my eyes and sign off, completely un-enthused.

SO, what I am trying to say/ask is this: Why do YOU read my posts? Are they interesting or intriguing to you? Do they make you smile or laugh?

If you, Reader, have any ideas or recommendations on how to make my posts more enjoyable, let me know! If writing about what I do in my spare time doesn't suffice for a sufficient post, give me some ideas. :)

Anyway, hello!

This passing week I was at Northwoods Boy Scout Camp. SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO many things took place that I have no idea where I could possibly begin. There are so many inside jokes that me and my Scouting buddies shared.

1.) S-Patty

2.) The switchblade incident

3.) Interrogations

4.) Euchre

5.) Late night bug spray

(And my personal favorite)

6.) "... So I hear you have a cat?"

Ahhh, weeks such as these stick out in my mind for all eternity. :) I shall plainly list off the more interesting, eventful, parts of the week. Though sadly, the most interesting details need to be left undiscussed. :(

For those of you who prayed for me as I attempted the mile swim, thank you! Every morning, I faithfully awoke from hibernation and made my way down to the waterfront at 6:10 A.M.. In some ways, it's worse than it sounds, and in others, it's better than it sounds! Believe me, waking up at 6:00 A.M. to jump in a lake isn't the most appealing thought when waking up, but once you get down there, it's a whole different story! While the temperature around you varies from 60 to 65 degrees, the lake water is roughly 75 to 80 degrees! The only bad part about rising early is the undesirable thought of walking down to waterfront to jump in the lake and swim the alloted distance.

The mile swim requirements are as follows:

1. Explain how regular exercise contributes to good health and why swimming is one of the best forms of exercise.

2. Tell what precautions and procedures a swimmer and escort must follow for distance swimming over open water.

3. Under the supervision of a currently qualified certified aquatics instructor or equivalent, participate in four hours of training and preparation for distance swimming (one hour a day maximum).

4. Swim one mile over a measured course that has been approved by the trained instructor who will supervise the swim.

The distances per day were as follows: 100 yds., 200 yds., 400 yds., 800 yds., 1600 yds.. On Friday (the day we swam the mile), Colin, Justin, and I woke up at 5:45 to be down at the waterfront by 6:00. The sun hadn't risen yet. On the way, we picked up Jacob W. and Elmo H. (my rower and spotter, both of which are required for each swimmer participating). We arrived at the waterfront promptly at 6:00 and tagged into the "Buddy Board" under "Mile Swim." At this point, campers from sites around Lake Arrowhead began showing up. When we were all present, Marcus (the Waterfront Director) instructed us to stretch out and prepare for the swim.

After stretching, we took our places on the T-dock. Jitters and intimidation were quickly replaced with confidence as the sun began to rise, leaving me awestruck. I'd never seen the camp lit up by the sun at dawn before! Instead of feeling nervous, I felt strangely relaxed, ready to go. Marcus blew his whistle, and off we went.

Five lengths of the lake was surprisingly easy when I finally found my pace. Sure it seemed as though everyone around me was passing me, but I wasn't bothered, I was taking my time, slowing propelling myself across the picturesque lake in perfect consistency.

The swim took me exactly 1 hour! Yes, I suppose that is a long time for most people to swim a mile... But I simply wanted to prove to myself that I could do it. Now that I know that I CAN, I just might try for a better time someday. Elmo and Jacob rowed me back across the lake. During this return journey, Elmo shared a package of cherry gummy snacks. Haha, if the feeling of inner accomplishment I had already wasn't enough, this small act of kindness made the challenge all the more delightful. Elmo rocks.

Okay, maybe I make the mile swim out to be more difficult than it really is... But that is only because that's how I perceived it in the beginning. After I'd completed it, I realized that it was only time consuming, and not nearly as hard as I thought it would be. Yes, it was a challenge, but it wasn't more than what I could handle. In truth, I think anyone could do it, with the qualifiers as practice of course. :)

The rest of the week was superb! I had lots of fun completing the rest of my badges... Seven in total. I had: "Space Exploration" in the morning, followed by "Pioneering", "Indian Lore", "Metalwork", "Small Boat Sailing", "Basketry", and "Carpentry."

On Friday night at camp, our Troop performed a skit that Colin and I wrote. Basically the story went like this... Picture a group of scouts, all hiking in the mountains of New Mexico. Over the past week and a half, one of the scouts has been ignoring his responsibilities, eating twice as much as the other scouts, as well as irritating them with his obnoxious behavior/mannerisms. In short, this bothers the scouts to the point that they decide to poison his s'more. That night, the scouts give the obnoxious scout (we named him Sid) the poison s'more. Surprisingly though, Sid is so full from eating everyone else's dinner, that he decides to give the treat to the Scoutmaster. The Scoutmaster eats the poison s'more and comically dies on stage. The story ends with the scouts despairing in the misfortune that they're stuck in the mountains of New Mexico, forever to be troubled by the annoying, Sid.

Regretfully, I was not able to observe my masterpiece being performed with my own eyes... For while the skit was in motion, Justin, Nathan, and I were dressing up in Indian regalia for the tap-out ceremony. A really nice perk to becoming a member of the Order of the Arrow is that you are able to participate in the tap-out ceremonies as an Indian Torch Barer. There's a very interesting story to do with that... Haha, ask me about it in person if you think to!

When we got home on Saturday, there was LOTS of unpacking and washing of clothes to be done.

On Sunday,our family (FINALLY) went to see Toy Story 3! I. Loved. It. I didn't laugh as much as I thought I would, but I still found it to be a positive and uplifting final installment to the Toy Story series. My parents didn't like the ending, but me and my siblings found it most fitting. Although Andy was moving on and attending college, he made it a point to pass on his beloved toys to someone who could appreciate them. A very touching scene. AND LET ME JUST SAY, that evil pink bear (whose name slips my mind...) gave me the creeps! And the furnace! Oh my, I honestly thought the toys were goners. Thank goodness for the alien toys and "The Claw."

"... I don't think that's Barbie's handwriting"

Don't know why that sticks out, but it did. :) Definitely making the purchase when it comes out on DVD.

Yesterday (Wednesday), my family was invited to a party at some friends house and we all watched "The Newsies." THAT, was fun. Why can't HPA put that on?! Someday, it needs to be done; it was one of the better musicals I've seen in a while. After the movie we all went downstairs and played some improv games. Oh boy, we love to laugh.

The past four days have been spent in preparation for today! In a little less than an hour, Justin, Nathan, and I will be boarding our charter bus for West Virginia and Washington D.C.! I can hardly believe the time has come... We've literally been waiting for this trip for a year and a half. It's cost $1,500 apiece for us to spend fifteen days out there. We'll be touring Washington D.C. for three days and income Monday is the beginning of the 2010 National Jamboree celebrating 100 years of scouting in the United States! :D Ten days will be spent at the Jamboree where 45,000 + scouts will also be attending. There's going to be hundreds of different activities to be a part of... Including swimming, boating (of all sorts!) snorkeling, scuba diving, rock climbing, the arena show and concerts, and the president is supposed to speak (I guess that's a plus, right?).

The only thing I'm NOT looking forward to... Is Justin Bieber. Do not ask me why, do not ask me how, but they booked Justin Bieber to sing at the arena show. :'( I do not have the faintest idea why the individuals who planned this whole thing thought 43,000 + boys would want to see Justin Bieber in concert... ? Let me make my opinion a little more clear, YOU BOOK JUSTIN BIEBER FOR THE NATIONAL GIRL SCOUT JAMBOREE, YOU DON'T BOOK JUSTIN BIEBER FOR THE NATIONAL BOY SCOUT JAMBOREE. You book Taylor Swift for the National Boy Scout Jamboree...

Oh, so that's why it cost $1,500 to go. It went towards clearing Justin's schedule so he could perform at the arena show...

I swear, if he says, "ARE YOU BOY SCOUTS READY TO ROCK?!" I'm going to casually but seriously ask my neighbor to end my misery by taking me out with his swiss army...

Haha, okay, I'm just kidding... It really shouldn't be that bad. As long as he doesn't revise his lyrics specifically for us scouts.

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Why hello! I started this post a long while ago... Nearly three weeks! I cannot remember where I was going for the life of me with all of that. As soon as I can I shall write a new post, detailing my adventures in Washington D.C. and Virginia. :) For now I need to pack, for I am leaving for TN in the morning. I'm sorry I never had the opportunity to post this before I left on my trip! It's been a little more than a month since I've posted last...

Fare-thee-well! :D

~Jacob