AHG Veterans Day Event

Lots of fun adventures with AHG this month, but the biggest was the Veterans Day event at Sommersby.   The girls take cards and sing for the local senior residents there.   They also had some grommets from recent flag ceremonies to provide to veterans.   The weather was nice this year, and allowed them to visit after some challenging years with COVID in 2020 and rain in 2021.   The girls from our church got to visit Mrs. Elanor and Mrs. Virginia that attend with us.   

But when I asked Ruby and Belle what they remembered most, it was Mr. George.   He was funny and would tell us funny jokes.   He was an Army Veteran that would cut other residents hair if needed.   He told them he charges his customers 50 cents, and always cleaned up his mess.   He was apparently bald and made some jokes about cutting his hair too short.  I love that these girls can make these connections, and have so many opportunities to serve others.  

 

Visit to King's Chair

 I will learn one day that I am not a good judge of leading others on hiking trips.   I really tried to pace myself when alone on this same hike and try and judge the distance and difficulty.   It was not bad, I went very slow can made it in about 58 minutes to the top.  Bad knees and all.   But somehow that does not transition well to others.   They seriously underestimated the amount of water needed, and how does someone drink a whole bottle of water before we are halfway up.   Anyway, not calling any names, just glad I carried some extra.  

It was supposed to be a big youth hike, but Sam and Davis had work on this Sunday,  Cohen got in trouble, Larkyn and Lauren had something else, others said that they don't like hiking...and thus we had Anabelle, Savannah, and Cash.   But it was a fun day, and while a little warm, nice time after church to get to the top of Double Oak Mountain.  

No snakes were seen on this journey, and all were happy to reach the top and jump into the sandwiches and snacks.  After our meal we walked up to Kings Chair a few steps away, and tried to figure out everything we could see.   We saw Chelsea High School.   We saw the Wilsonville power plant.   And we think we saw some portions of Chelsea.   I pulled out a frisbee for the way down, and we had a game where each person would throw it and try to keep it along the trail.   Then I threw one really good, but it went directly into a tree, like most of my disc golf days...but this was not a disc golf disc...it was one of the cheap ones that was given to us at an event...and it immediately shattered into 5 pieces.   So our game was over.  

We took the shortcut down, and Anabelle had a very hard fall on her knee.  I am continually amazed at the toughness of our kids.   I could tell right away by looking at her face that it hurt VERY BAD.   She did not cry, just hobbled down to a bench and we put on a bandaid to a spot with a really bad gash.  I hated that she got hurt because her being there made me so happy.   Hiking is probably not on the top of her list, but she wanted to go as now part of the youth, and I think she likes being with her dad a bit too.   But it was fun to watch her and Savannah connect a bit more on this day.  Time to connect with cash, who is my new mentee, for a bit.   And always fun with Mr. Jonathan.  

Campus visit to the University of Alabama

 Well, I somewhat had to talk Sam into this tour, but he was definitely in for another day off school.   Alabama just has a stigma of non-engineering and greek-life that I remember thinking as a biased Auburn fan, but that same stigma seems to still persist as NONE of Sam's friends would even think about going to Alabama.   Strange to me, as age has told me a diploma is a diploma.   And after this tour, the engineering program seemed very top notch.   Altho our tour guide did not say the word engineering the whole day, which can be a good indicator.  

Another amazing thing was the number of out-of-state students.   Out of all 20 kids on our tour bus, Sam was the only one from the state of Alabama.  I asked some of the parents what is the deal?   One said his daughter has always just wanted to come to Alabama...no real reason, just saw them on TV and fell in love.   Another wanted his daughter out of California and away from them liberals.   And one plump little gal with tassles on her boots, high pitched voice, and three layers of make-up, just screamed Crimsonette stalker.  

After all of our scouting games, we know the campus well, and enjoyed the tour of this College Football powerhouse.   Took our time looking at all the MVPs of over the years that have their prints cemented near Denny Chimes.  We also ran into the national champion robotics team, which was really cool, and while potentially not swaying Sam UA, we both walked away pumped for robotics.  The mechanical engineer that worked for the campus tour was also an extremely awesome advocate for her school.   I have really enjoyed these days with Sam.  Good time to just hang out and chat.   We hit Chick-Fil-A and then Auntie Annies before heading back to the house.  

They also had a discussion with faculty set up for later that afternoon, but we were ready to get back home, so we cancelled that meeting.   So, I guess we will wait and see.  They already have offered about a 40% tuition scholarship, we just got to see what comes back from the general application.  But I don't think Sam would be upset to be a part of the tide.  

CTEC Open House

 This year at the CTEC open house, Sam got to be one of the student hosts.   He also showed off his 3D printed name plate "Mr. President".   He was elected President of the SkillsUSA group that will compete later in the year in Mobile.   Sam has hand another fun year in CTEC, but this first part, he basically became the instructor as they were learning different 3D printers.   His teacher Mr. Hill told the kids that Sam can help if they have any problems.  He is excited about the new semester, as they will finally get to learn PLCs.  This program has been amazing for Sam, and given him a break from the books.   He is in the poster for CTEC below as well.  

Davis was excited to speak with the Automotive Technician teacher, and he has already signed up to begin CTEC next year.  Davis has a friend down the street that will also be in the class, and they both seem to talk all about modifications to their vehicles.  I don't understand what him or Logan or saying, I just nod and whistle periodically.   I am trying to get Belle and Ruby interested, but so far there are no bites.   I really need a nurse in our home, so that is the goal.   But there is also a culinary class and a wood working class...so I still have some time to push them towards a skill.  

Somewhere Over October

 So a few stories, then the pictures...

Sam and Magan went towards sylacauga to take senior pictures, and on their way back, they were starving and ran into a random BBQ place that was very busy on the side of the road.   They walked in and were immediately transported back to the 1980s in a Twilight Zonish twist.   Their server had 80s big hair, making Magan ask Sam if they had actually traveled back in time.   Sam replied that they had indeed...using their VanDeLorean.   Apparently the steak was amazing this place, and I was also told that on the way home, Sam was reading Magan her texts and she actually tried to turn up the volume so that she could hear Sam better.   

Along the lines of the Twilight Zone, this is currently Sam's favorite show, and the whole family joined him one night for a terrifying story about a doll named Tina.   Apparently the dad (Telly Savalas) did not like this doll, and wanted to take it away from his step daughter.   The doll did not like this, and started telling him that he better watch out, and that he was going to die.   And I won't ruin the ending, but let's just say that little girl got to keep that doll, but would need a new daddy.   I thought that was the end of this little story, but then Tina (Channeled thru Belle) started writing messages to Magan in the shower when the walls steam up.   Then the messages started going back about the death of Tina.   Somewhere along the lines, Thor showed up in these messages (Magan!) in the shower, as Thor could kill Tina.  I don't know the full story line, but there were some epic Thor/Tina battles.

I shaved for my role during the Trunk or Treat, and the first time Ruby saw me, her first words were "I don't like the look of your face"

Overheard Belle picking on Ruby, and her reply "Don't say that, I am in a bad mood".

While I was away in Georgia one night, I had forgotten to tell Ruby I was away, and she looked at me on Facetime, and in complete surprise said "Wait, Are you at a hotel?".   When I told Magan about having a king size bed all to myself, she replied "You don't need that, all you like is that little sliver you sleep on in our bed"....Hmmmmm....Should I tell her that it's because that is all she gives me.  

So what happened below...Magan and the girls went to see the High School drama play...a lunch date with Ruby....AHG events on lifesaving for Belle, and favorite Books for Ruby...Crazy facetime moments...Meeting with Bob Myhan on the way to Georgia...Bike riding day with Eli...Davis at his normal gatherings with a load of girls...Sam and I at some disc golf, and yep playing two frisbees he beat me by 2 that day shooting a 54 (Wow)...and Sam won Trainee of the Month at CTEC.