SpawnPoint

I got the chance to see a really great movie last week.  Went to Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.  The movie is based on a Stephen Sondheim Broadway musical and was directed by Tim Burton.  Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter were fantastic as the leads, Sweeny Todd and Mrs. Lovett.  Alan Rickman plays Judge Turpin - perfect for the part - he does evil so well.

The music was great.  The story is fairly gory, but there was quite a bit of humor as well.  Guys, after seeing this movie, a visit to the barber will never be the same.

Well, I am just back from our Fall Camporee with my son's Boy Scout Troop.  This was a district event with many other scout troops from our area.  The boys worked on and completed the requirements to earn their Disabilities Awareness Merit Badge.

The weather during the day was beautiful (75-80 degrees), but it was quite chilly at night (in the 40s).  We ended up in our tents fairly early both nights due to the cold.  The entire state of Virginia has been declared a natural disaster area and Friday morning our governor issued a statewide burn ban.  That meant no campfires at night - so no way to warm up other than our sleeping bags.  :)

All in all, we had a great weekend.  The kids had fun and learned a bit too.  The other adult leaders and I got a chance to relax for a while and spend some time with our scouts.  I can't wait for the next chance I get to go camping (December 15-16)!!!

I went to a great movie last night - Across The Universe.  The entire film was based on songs by the Beatles.  It is set in the 1960's among the Vietnam War, protests, psychedelic drug delusions and other various turmoils that young lovers go through.  The main characters are Jude (from the song - Hey Jude) and Lucy (from the song - Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds).  The music was fantastic!!  We left the theater and went to the store to buy the CD.   I can't wait for the DVD!!  Go see it if you get the chance.

Like many of you, it's getting time for school to start here.  I have decided that this is the year for me to go back to college to continue my education, in a totally new direction.  I already have a BS in Accounting with a minor in Business Management, but after 10 years of working in that field - I've had enough.  So, this Monday I will start a class in American Sign Language I.  I plan to become a certified interpreter.  It will take me some time, as I will only be taking one class per semester.  This is something that I have wanted to do for a long time and I am very excited to finally begin classes.  Wish me luck!!

Weeds is back for Season 3!!  I LOVE this show.  It has to be one of the funniest things on TV.  The language is awful, the mother is a drug dealer - but I can't keep from laughing.  Really makes you wonder what happens in your nice, seemingly normal town....

Ok - so I suppose the title of this blog may be considered false advertising by some of you.  I have discovered a new way to "get high" - rock climbing!!  I have gone 3 times in the past week to an indoor rock climbing gym about an hour from my home.  What fun!!!!  It is not only enjoyable, but a fantastic workout as well.  I hope to become good enough to one day use my skills outside of the gym to climb natural rock walls. 

Well...I am at summer camp with my son's Boy Scout troop this week.  We arrived yesterday afternoon and are starting to get into the swing of things today.  We have already seen some wildlife, and no, I don't just mean our 11 scouts.  :-)  The visitors to our campsite last night included 2 deer, several mice and a raccoon, all in very close proximity to our tents.  I was only about 5 feet away from the raccoon, he was very cute, but didn't seem bothered by us at all.  The boys have a very full week of merit badge classes ahead of them, as well as, all of the cooking and cleaning duties around camp.  My friends aren't quite sure why I consider this my vacation, but I love it.  I get to spend a week with my kid and his friends in the woods, relaxing and even learning a few new things.

Well, I made it back from the raft trip and I have to say it was quite possibly the most fun I have EVER had in my entire life!!!! What a rush!! Out scout troop is already talking about taking another trip in October and I can't wait. I did get thrown from the raft a few times, but I did pretty well over all. We went downriver 8 miles through about 20 rapids many of which were class 3 and 4 and ever a couple class 5s. If you ever get a chance to go - take it!!!

I'm leaving this afternoon to go on a whitewater rafting trip in West Virginia.  My 12 year old son and I will be joining other members of his Boy Scout Troop for a trip down the New River near Fayetteville, WV.  I've never been rafting, so I'm very excited and a bit aprehensive.  I'll let you know how it goes.  Wish me luck!!!  :)

Well...tonight was interesting.  I sing in a band at my church every Saturday evening and every Sunday morning.  Our worship leader and drummer also have another band and they play shows in bars, restaurants, etc.  We went to hear them play tonight, and they invited me to sing a song with them.  I've never sung anywhere outside of church before...a little scary.  It turned out ok and I did have fun.