GirlTalk

It’s been a while since I’ve blogged, for a couple of reasons: corporate furloughs in March, the completion of a major writing project for the Va. Tech anniversary and catching up from the March furloughs.

Furloughs are about to begin again in May, with our office being closed on Mondays. Since I already am off that day, I’ll be taking Thursdays off.

One thing I don’t get much chance to do, is to go to many events, as what I call a “civilian” or someone who is not covering the news. Most people don’t realize there is quite a difference between covering it from a features or news standpoint and just going there to enjoy oneself.

Finally it dawned on me. I could go to some of these events and take pictures like other people do and post them to the web for all to see. So I have been.
I began a Facebook page for the TNV Features Editor, where I post pictures that do not make the print edition of the paper and often some that do.

This past weekend was the first time I got to test out my new idea I’m calling the civlian on the job. It’s kind of boring souding I know, but with time at a premium and brain cells overworked and overstressed, ease of use and user friendliness are my mantras.

So I finally attended Riverfest for the first time since I moved here in 2004. Why? Because I wanted a boat ride mostly.

I’d been to school (the first time) for marine science/biology. I received an AAS degree in it in 1981 and worked for a New York State University on Long Island in its marine sciences department for two and a half years. I got to go out on the various boats the university owned, from little jon-boats, to the 55-foot research vessel.

We cruised around Long Island Sound and off the southern shore of the island into N.Y. Harbor, where we did the biggest research cruises I ever went on.

It’s been years since those days… almost 30 now… :-(

But once in a while I get the urge to be on the water. So Saturday I fulfilled my wish.

Thanks to the Stonewall Jackson Council of Boy Scouts and a 15 year old from Stuarts Draft High School.

Jacob Flickinger is a star-level Boy Scout. It’s not your basic brand Boy Scout, but it hasn’t achieved the Eagle level either. Flickinger says that he’s working on his “life” level, which is one level less than Eagle.

Not only that, taking that canoe ride has made me begin to consider getting a wee boat of my own, to piddle paddle around in when the urge arises…
And in that vein, I checked with one of the scoutmasters to see if his boys could teach me how do canoe… and as chance would have it the scouts will be holding canoe training this month…

woo hoo!
So I’m supposed to train with them. Will let you know how that goes, if it goes… I’ve learned after 48 years that plans often remain just that…. plans.

Oh Mazie update: She got her first grooming with us. She looked really nice! But we’re still going to have to do it one more time before the summer hits.
She’s got that long hair and lots of it and is already suffering because of the recent heat. If I don’t have pictures up on Facebook of her, I’ll put some up!

Don’t forget to stop by to see some of the goings on here in Waynesboro!