funning in the TN sun.

Went to spend the weekend in Chatt-y-nooga. It doesn't take much to amuse some people.

P. had to make an appearance with the Scouts on Sat. My goal for the weekend was to spend time together, so I had no problem with doing whatever she was obligated to get done. This year is the 100th Anniversary of Girl Scouts, so there have been lots of activities planned to help celebrate this in a multitude of ways throughout GSUSA, and probably world-wide as well. People in Chatty had planned an event that involved walking across a pedestrian bridge that spanned the Tennessee River - pretty neat idea, since something that scouts do periodically is to 'bridge' into the next level of scouting: Daisies to Brownies, Brownies to Juniors, etc as they age grow, progress in schooling and scouting skills.

We gathered with the hundreds of scouts and troop leaders, family members, hangers-on, moms, dads, siblings at the baseball stadium for a short presentation before heading across the bridge. Probably about a  mile walk through downtown and across the river, to a park on the north side. There were lots of activities planned for the girls: face-painting, crafts, music and dancing, a water park, plenty of grass and shade trees for picnics. It was a beautiful, clear, remarkably pleasant, sunny day to be out in the world.

The scouts were given the opportunity to spend the night in the baseball stadium after the ball game was over - they could bring camping tents and sleeping bags and set up in the outfield. Staff members from the local scout office were to be available through out the night, just to be on hand in case of any unexpected problems. Our 'shift' was from 10:30 to 1:30. (This from the person who is usually in bed well before 10:30!) Apparently the camp out  was uneventful. And probably a roaring success according to the multitude of ten- year-olds who were racing around the impromptu campground before the stadium lights were turned off about midnight. I am pretty sure the many accompanying parents felt differently after several/too few hours of less-than-restful sleeping on the grass of the outfield.

I know I slept like a stone when I finally got to bed at 2:00 - and did not wake up at 4:30 as usual!