Cub On Over and Hang Out With 466...

So I found out tonight that due to the culmination of my growing leadership, a few parent's increased involvement, and some really enthusiastic boy leaders, our troop will be bridging 14 cubs scouts in the next few weeks.

Recruiting cub scouts is like an election campaign. You have all these little impressionable guys that are trying to decide which of the four groups of older, intimidating Boy Scouts makes them feel the most welcome, and previously we'd been getting maybe 4 or 5 a year. Right now, our roster has 20 names on it, so we're basically doubling size.

I know it isn't all due to my work, but man it makes my term as Scoutmaster look good, and it's a good indicator that things are finally starting to run smoothly after nearly a decade of struggling.

Needless to say, I am happy.

What's That? I Didn't Hair You the First Time...

Oh, I almost forgot to recount this little nugget:

Last week, while hacking up all kinds of attractive green phlegm, I was without voice for three days. I took it as a sign of a upper respiratory infection, so I ventured into Cowell Student Health Center for a little check-up.

The Doctor was friendly enough. He listened patiently to my story, and asked the generic health care practitioner questions they always do. He checked my ear canals out. "Looks good." And he listened to my nasal cavities. "Looks Good." And he listened to my lungs. "Sounds good."

So, I'm waiting for his diagnosis.. you know, if I'm going to get antibiotics anytime soon or if he thinks it's viral, when he starts to say...

"Has your hair always been that thin in the front? I mean, you've got nice thick hair here *points at locks at the temples and behind the ears* but it's not quite as healthy up here in front *points to front of head* You know, male pattern baldness is a genetic thing... but if we catch it early enough, when the roots are still there, we can treat it. Would you be interested in that?"

*You're-kidding-right? half nervous smile/stare*

"Well, it bothers some people, that's all... Anyway, here's your prescription for some antibiotics, blah blah blah more pitches for hair loss treatment, blah blah blah"

I could not believe that even came up! Anyway, I turned him down. I wonder how many people my age get that kind of presentation...

Hamming It Up...

After careful deliberation, I've decided that I need to get back into some of my older hobbies, even at the expense dropping some of my current pursuits. It just feels like I've grown a lot more tense in the last few years and I can see myself starting to change in the way I interact with everyone-- including my friends. Too much work and no outlet is a bad policy...

So, I dusted off my art supplies and whipped out this little guy this afternoon in the lab. It's the red legged ham beetle, a creature I am doing some half hearted colonization experiments with between blowfly projects. I've got some work cut out for me, as you can see by the misplaced highlights and rough tone transisitons, but considering I haven't picked up a colored pencil since city college, not too shabby...

Feeling Wheely Tired

I thought I found a silver lining in all this, but the mechanic told me all tires have that steel belt woven into them.