Wow, how time passes so quickly

Wow, look at how time flies. Well, since this is something I'm doing in my spare time, I'll get to it when I can. Especially since being a dad for 4 kids and one "way-too-smart-for-her-age" preen (or tween honestly, I just can't keep up with the title changes theese days), I'm either working, helping friends with their PCs & Websites, or having to prove just how insensetive men can be to my kids.

This weekend, we went camping... That's right just me, 1 woman (the wife), 1 afore mentioned preen (or whatever!), and 4 other daughters of various ages. Which I've really gotta hand it to my wife. She organized the whole thing flawlessly; and since she can't stand the way I drive, I had the fun opportunity to enjoy the scenery. Once we got there, the preen and I set ourselves to the task of pitching our tent. Keep in mind, I'm a rusty boy-scout, who thouroughly enjoyed the camping trips. My preen is a Girl Scout who enjoys the Girl Scout version of camping. (note: I'm not slighting the GSA, I think they're a wonderful organization).

(If you want to keep this short, or are a Girl Scout, please skip the next two paragraphs)
The GS version of camping usually involves mostly in door activities. In fact, the GS run "Camp Trefoil" probably doubles as a resort durring the summer months. It has a full 3 story elevator, full gourmet kitchen, cafeteria style dining hall, game room, a small village-ette with shops, functioning stable, and small marina.( I would imagine that last one is for their "power" canoeing class.) When my daughters are hungry, while at "Camp", they simply visit the kitchen, or order room service.

My scouting experience consisted of being a member of a small group of guys who were placed in an area by our leaders, and having to hike home. Dinner consisted of whatever we could kill, skin, cook, and stomache. Our accommodations were somewhat less ritzy. They usually consisted of 4 boys in a 2 man leaky tent (If you were lucky, you got a more modern tent. If not, you got the leaky and smelly army surplus tent). Fortunately for us, we were all able boddied scouts. If there were any stragglers, well, they were the ones who we'd have to circle back for, and make fun of for about a week. We learned to read a map and compas sheerly out of necessity. 2-3 hour hikes usually ended in seemingly day long survivor style endurance trials, while the leaders tried to decide where we were and what to do. (except that you couldn't get voted off the island). The last actual "Scout Camp" that I saw was a two room building that relied on a centeral fireplace for heat. The main room was a multipurpose room. The other room was the kitchen, complete with wood burning stove and ice box (note: I don't mean refridgerator, I mean ice box). To keep warm, we put a small table at either end of the multi purpose room, put a rope in a bag, and played a game much like basketball, except that the rope-bag couldn't leave the floor, or go out of bounds.

Anyway, back to the point. My preen, who actually has assisted in setting up the family tent before, proceeds to explain to me, the obviously know nothing about tents, father, how the tent needed to be setup. After it failed her way (she still doesn't understand why it failed), we did it the right way, and had it done in 5 mins. She did enjoy hammering the stakes into the ground. Fortunately, we didn't need to do it twice. (We've set up the tent since getting home, and she actually learned how to do it, and was actually able to do a pretty good job of helping set it up.)

Now, my wife is another story completely. She can have the tent setup and ready for use in about 3 mins, 5 if my daughters "help". And can tear that thing down and pack it in about the same time. She has developed good shortcuts for many of the take down items.

Anyway, that's all for now. I may revise this later on, but I just needed to check in. Until then, be good!