January 1 2016

The Juliette Gordon Low Papers Collection

Traditional Stuff    No Comments    , , , ,

dlg_logoHappy New Year!  Recently I was looking for something online and somehow surfed my way to the University System of Georgia’s Digital Library of Georgia.  Of course, I have no recollection of what I was initially looking for and why exactly I went to this website. It’s one of my bookmarks anyway because there are two sections having to do with my family – the Gordon County Obituaries and Berrien County Historical Photos Collections, if you were wondering.  Continue reading

December 26 2015

What a Great Christmas Present

Reminiscing    No Comments    , , , , , ,

Christmas 2015 has come and gone, and soon we’ll be celebrating the New Year and 2016.  I always remember sending in the new year with Casey Kasem and the Yearly Countdown.  And then turning on the TV to watch the never aging Dick Clark.  Kids today don’t know what they are missing.

Now that I’ve gotten that nostalgic memory out of the way, here’s another one.  I got one of the best Christmas presents from none other than Marla Vickers.  Yes, THE Marla Vickers.  And guess what?  She found her Trip Out West™ journal – and sent me a copy.  I laughed and laughed and yes, even teared up a little reading through it.  Continue reading

December 23 2015

Falls Creek Falls

Hikes & Outdoors    No Comments    , , , , , , ,

After finding out that there’s a hike and an incredible 100′ waterfall on the backside of Big Boy/Cedar Rock Mountain, I knew I had to check it out!

I talked my leader friend Becky into it – well actually, she’s pretty much game for anything so I didn’t have to do much talking even though it’s listed as a short 1.2 miles but difficult hike.  We hiked this trail on a chilly but crystal clear late October morning.

Falls Creek Falls is part of the Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area and joins up with the Hospital Rock Trail (which is even more strenuous) at the falls.  There are also three geocaches along the path.  At the closest part of the trail, WaBak  is probably about a half mile away as the crow flies.  Here’s a contour map:  Continue reading

December 13 2015

It’s My Least Favorite Time of the Year

Random Things That Don't Fit Anywhere Else Kinda Like Me, Reminiscing    No Comments    , , , , , , , ,

No, this is not about Christmas.  But Samona is going to buy me this $42 Gold Award ornament – right, Samona?  😉

We’re on the eve of cookie sales.  Our service unit cookie manager has started sending out notices to cookie moms & dads to sign up for trainings, so you know that kickoff date is coming soon.   It’s January 8th for us which I believe is the earliest we’ve ever started – at least since I’ve been a leader.

January 8th is less than a week after school starts back, so there’s no time to ease into 2016.  We’ve got Daisies this year who will be selling cookies for the first time ever, so we’ve got to get them (aka the parents) up to speed since our service unit wasn’t able to put on a cookie rally this year – which, by the way, has a lot to do with sales starting so early.

I know it’s heresy for a lifetime Girl Scout to admit this, but I dread cookie season.  I’m not going to say I hate it, but I definitely harbor some ill feelings toward it.  Continue reading

November 22 2015

Brownies Unleashed at Summer Camp

Reminiscing    No Comments    , , , , , ,

Front of Senior SashI haven’t shared a story or memory here lately, and for some reason, this one has been itching to get out.  On the way to earning the Gold Award, you had to earn all sorts of awards with breathtaking and awe inspiring titles dreamed up in GSUSA meetings such as Dreams to Reality, Let’s Make It Happen!, Careers in Exploration, The Challenge of Being a Girl Scout, and The Senior Girl Scout Challenge.  There were also some silver and gold Leadership Torches.  Throw in some yellow and green service bars and lots of community and Girl Scout service hours and you’ve got yourself a full sash.  Continue reading

November 18 2015

It’s the Little Things – Girls Guides Pet Peeve

Experiences as a Leader, National Operations    5 Comments    , , , , , ,

dreams to reality
From Nightmares to Reality

Sometimes it’s the little things that get to me.  As we all know, a lot has been made about the Journeys and the Girl’s Guides books.  To be honest, I’m more irritated by the Girl’s Guides books than I am the Journeys.  I guess I remember the late 80s days of From Dreams to Reality (bor-ring!) and Let’s Make It Happen! (sounded like a game show) and Careers in Exploration (high school guidance classes, anyone?) and see those as the frontrunners to Journeys (h/t Da-nice aka Samona’s doppelganger), so I’ve been beaten down by them. Continue reading

November 11 2015

It’s Complicated and Leader Connections

National Operations, Opinions    2 Comments    , , , , , , , ,

Don't Ever Leave MeLast night I realized I have a very dysfunctional relationship with Girl Scouts.  It’s complicated.  Sometimes I’ll get ticked off or feel despondent about how things are going, and I’ll say well screw you Girl Scouts.  I don’t need you.  And then about a minute later, I’ll feel bad and say, oh Girl Scouts, I could never quit you, and I’ll come groveling back.  Forget you GS!  I hate you!  It’s OK GS, I didn’t really mean that…  I guess I’m in it for the long haul.  😉  Continue reading

November 9 2015

Return to Whitehall Forest

Reminiscing    No Comments    , , , , ,

If you’ve read Summer Camp Memories at Whitehall Forest, then you’ll know that summer camp from 1983 was one of my favorite memories from GS.  It was a crazy day camp with all sorts of drama and suspense!  Jenny reminded me that a car bringing a girl to the camp ran into a deer. I don’t think they were injured, but that news was all the talk among the campers.  This followup post may be of no interest except to me and Jenny, but I wanted to share it anyway. music It’s my blog and I’ll post if I want to, post if I want to, post if I want to….  Continue reading