Surprise!!

Tonight I spoke at a Court of Honor for the Scout Troop that I was Scoutmaster of from 2005 to 2006. When the Ward I was in was split, I moved on with the new Ward and became Scoutmaster of the new troop. I have since been released as Scoutmaster of the new Troop and am now the District Training Chairman and an Assistant District Commissioner.

So, when I arrived at the CoH tonight, I noticed several scouts from the second (most recent ) troop I was Scoutmaster over. I didn't think too much of it. I figured they were there to support me as I was the guest speaker. Just after I had sat down, the scouts from my most recent troop were invited up and they presented me with the Scoutmaster Award of Merit. This is an award applied for by the boys and not the adults. They nominated me and did all of the work for the nomination.





They presented me with a Certificate, a large patch, and the above pictured knot. In a million years I would have never guessed that this was coming. What an honor it was to be their Scoutmaster and to see how well they have progressed and to see what fine young men they have become. I very much appreciate the kind words they said about me.

The Van

The van arrived last Thursday. It does have a slight purple hue to it. I have pretty pleased with what I received. The person who had the van before me added on the Roof Rack as well as the Rear A/C system. These would have had to have been paid for out of his own pocket. I was not willing to pay for these myself on the van I ordered. So, I lucked out.

The down side is that when I received the van, the person who delivered it mentioned that the "Check Engine" light was on. So, I have an appointment to take it in tomorrow morning and have it checked out. If the dealer needs to keep it, I will keep driving the venture until the Uplander is fixed.

A "New" Van

With my new career, I was given a company vehicle. One of the other guys just got a new Chevrolet Impala. Usually when you get a new vehicle, you turn your old one in. Instead of giving it back, he held on to it and I received it when I started.

I am dirving a 2002 Chevrolet Venture Van. It is really nice and has 74000 miles on it. In the month that I have had it, I have grown attached to it. The van drives well and has a good, strong engine. This is quite the step up from my previous vehicle, a 1992 Ford Ranger.

On Christmast eve, I received the paperwork to order a new vehicle. The van I am driving is a temporary, since it has already been replaced. It was kept around so that I would have something to drive.

I was given the choice of four vehicles. A Pontiac G6, Chevy Malibu, Chevy Impala, or a Chevy Uplander mini-van. It was a tough choice, but I chose the Uplander. I have some pretty rugged and remote locations to travel to and want something that will do better in those locations. I couldn't see taking a car to the top of a mountain on a snow packed road.

The only other part I was able to choose was the exterior and interior colors. I sent the paperwork in to my boss for his approval and he passed it on to the folks that order the cars. Now it was time to sit back and wait until the spring when my new van would arrive.

Thursday evening, my boss called and said that he had received word that there was a 2007 Uplander available and the fleet folks were wondering if I would be willing to take it instead of a new one. He didn't know the colors or the mileage. What was I supposed to say? I of course said yes. He sent me a message a bit later with the colors and the mileage.

The van is Light Amethyst (silver) with Gray interior. It has 6740 miles on it so far. It should be delivered on Monday or Tuesday. So much for sitting back and waiting.

Where has the time gone?

I just realized that it has been two months since I last posted. What a slacker!

A lot has happened since my last post. I quit my job and went to work for another company. I am a Systems Service Engineer in the Process Control Industry.

I was reading a friends blog, who is also a former co-worker. He was lamenting the stress that happens for I.T. between semesters where he works. I don't miss those days. The holidays were not ususally a happy time for me. That was when I had to work the most. Everyone else was out enjoying their families and I was stuck getting things ready for the students to come back from their break. I never looked forward to those times.

What I do miss though is the daily interaction with my friends. I am closer to those guys (and gal) in many ways than to my own brother and sister. I guess that came from being around them every day and sharing the daily struggles of life with them. I consider them my best friends.