Well, looks like we Marylanders won't be cheering on the Ravens in the Superbowl this year. Too bad, I just hung my purple lights outside near the front porch. What a sad game-so close and yet so far. We did host our neighbors and our friend John (originally from California) for an early evening of game watching and food eating. It was fun, except Tom had to leave early to pick up Allison from work and take her to their Field Hockey games. He said the girls all showed up, but they were short referees and coaches. (mainly the women showed up). Sadly it was over by the time they got home, but I don't think Tom would have been too happy with the results anyway.

I got all my grocery shopping done late Saturday night after I dropped Allison off at work for the night skate session. It was very nice since no one was at the store. We had our first official snow/freezing rain of the winter Saturday morning and I think it scared a lot of people away. I actually had to shovel/scrape the driveway and front walk Saturday morning after driving Allison to her people management class. She took the second class in a series of 6 classes that her work is putting on (mandatory training). Tom and I were very surprised that the class was still going on with the roads so nasty, but the gym was open and the instructor made it in, so we had to go. Fortunately I did not end up in a ditch as they were just getting around to salting and scraping the roads. I stuck to the big, main roads which helped, but we passed a few cars that did not make it on the on and off ramps. And things did not look much better as the day went on. I took Cookie out for a short walk since the sidewalks were so slippery, even for puppy paws. Neither one of us could get any traction. And the salt on the roads burns her feet, so we try to stay away from that.

Tom meanwhile took Scott off to his swim lesson at the Y on Saturday morning. We really don't need Scott missing too many classes since he is not going to make the next two. He has camping one weekend and skiing the next.All for scouts. I ended up taking him to his last scout meeting since they were just having an awards party and Allison needed Tom home for some Chemistry review. I had Scott get a few items signed off in his scout book for requirements for ranks. Unfortunately, he missed a few items at summer camp(hiking 5 miles with a compass and map). No one really keeps track of the requirements for the boys and his troop is a bit small so they don't cover all the tasks. They really expect the boys to get a lot of requirements done on their own. Therefore, any time they are out and about, they have to keep their books handy to get items signed off. And it can't be by a parent. (unless they are scouts and no other scout is around). So we are making progress, but I think it is a bit slow for Tom's schedule. SCott has been working on a very extensive Dog Care Badge(he could publish this report!). And I think we are going to work on his Fitness Badge since he is in gymnastics weekly as well as swimming. That badge is needed for his Eagle. NOt to mention the Pet Badge that we still have to type up. Seems like school stuff keeps getting in the way.

He has been busy working on homework assignments and a religion report all weekend. Allison is a happy child since she just finished a week full of midterms and no homework. But not too happy. I put her to work on a presentation that she needs to give to Girl Scouts for our Houston trip and the Convention. She spent an afternoon putting photos in order for our power point presentation and then worked with Tom on clipping in videos and photos from Utube. Now she has to write up the presentation. She has to present at my GS Leader meeting in two weeks, and then probably again at our Spring Board meeting. Busy girl.

Both kids were home for the MLK holiday last Monday. It gave Allison time to study, and Scott was working on a video for spanish class. He wanted to do a weather video report. Although he did not realize just how tough those projects can be. Tom helped Scott video tape and edit when he got home from work.  But it was Tom that stayed up all night putting the whole thing together and downloading it on a disc so SCott could take it to school. Of course it was due on Tuesday! And they really only had the weekend to work on it. I told Scott maybe next time he shouldn't take on such a big project now that he knows how hard it can be. And on Tuesday afternoon, Tom was at the school presenting the information for the upcoming science fair. That will be in March(no slowing down for us!).

And if that wasn't enough, I signed up my troop for a committee to look into doing a flash mob dance at the Orioles stadium during our Girl Scout night in June. Allison and I already learned that we are singing the National Anthem with the GS choir that night at CAmden Yards(again). Now it looks like we may be dancing too!(what a life!).

Too much to do and not enough time.

On a sad note, our friends the Hejza's in Michigan lost their manx cat Toby from complications due to kidney stone surgery. We are so sorry, he was a very sweet cat.  Scott especially loved him(he actually let him hold him).

The BAltimore Clan