Aloha to Baltimore Area Council (BAC) Scouting Achievements - Eagles and Volunteers

You may recall the Oahu Chief - a statue outside my youngest son's elementary school from Pearl Harbor.

Kalani I Ka Lewa

Ascend to the Heavens

Kalani I Ka Lewa by artist Viliami Toluta’u was inspired by the natural instinct in humanity to be free as we are in America. The young Ali’i (chief) is releasing an eagle into the heavens, symbolizing the potential of children to soar high in life with education as their wings. 

Note the chief released an eagle ... 

... my oldest son completed his Eagle Scout Project in Hawaii.  He created the "Hickam Historic Trail".  I posted pictures on our travel blog, ALOHA ON MY MIND, at this link, link, and link.   We moved one week after Andrew passed his Eagle Scout Board of Review - the Aloha Council mailed his Eagle Award to our new address in Maryland. 

Each spring, the Baltimore Area Council (BAC) recognizes the Class of Eagles from the previous year.  This year, the BAC invited Andrew to participate in their reception.   In 2013, over 400 Scouts in the BAC received the rank of Eagle (with 100+ attended the reception).   

The reception also recognized two teen girls who received the Silver Star for Venture Crew (seated with the Eagles above) and notable adult volunteers (seated below).   Finally, the BAC recognized four more volunteers for working with Socuts with special needs.

Do you have any Scouts in your family?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Maryland Vehicle Administation (MVA) - Driving into the Inferno

Aloha!  I recently experienced an epiphany ... I would like to write beyond book reviews and author promotions.  I would like to write humours musing of daily life.   Let's see if I can amuse you ...  

Last Saturday, we had a "free" morning - no youth bowling.  No scouting events.  I could have taken a long walk in the gorgeous sunshine.  Instead, I drove into the Inferno - my sixteen year old needed his learner's permit from the Maryland Vehicle Administration (MVA).

Driving to the MVA, my mind kept flashing to the insurance commerical featuring a driver who grew a beard waiting at the Department of Motor Vehicle (DMV).    

We dragged ourselves out of the house at 0-dark-hundred to stand in line.   In fact, we stood in line by the entrance with the sign, "Enter here for Driver's Licenses".  Our early arrival placed us fifth in line.   I thought this might not be so bad until I noticed drivers lining up in front of the other door.  I rechecked the sign, "Enter here for Driver's License".   Still, both lines grew long ... and then a uniformed MVA worker instructed my line to join the other line as the MVA only opens one door on the weekend.  This bumped me from 5th to 50th.   Hmm, this did not bode well.

Driving to Ka'ena Point - the leaping point for spirits on O'ahu

Once inside, another MVA worker pulled out the drivers exchanging tags.  They all seem to come behind us so my line did not grow shorter ... but longer as the tags went first.  So let's summarize to this point:

- Early morning
- Long line
- Wrong door
- And no book to read!

It couldn't get any worse, could it?  It did.   When it was finally our turn, I pulled out the required documents:

- birth certificate
- proof of residency
- Social Security Ccard

Er, no Social Security Card.  Although my son knew his number from memory, the agent needed to copy the card.   Naturally, I was polite .... er, you don't know me well. I transformed into a snarky person.  I asked why the MVA needed the card.  The agent replied it was State Law.  She should have stopped at that point but she added, "You also need a Social Security Card to buy a gun and board a plane. Without it, you might be placed on the DO NOT FLY list".   

Driving on the Big Island with active volcanoes

My son suggested that we leave but I asked to speak to a supervisor.   I soon explained that we followed the sign but waited in the long line to realize that I needed a social security card to drive, shoot, and fly.  I am fortunate that I had a calm supervisor who asked if I lived nearby.  When I responded yes, she suggested I retrieve the Social Security Card and come back to her.  She would direct me to another agent without having to stand in line again.   

Upon leaving the MVA, we spotted the Girl Scouts selling cookies.   We bought a box of Tagalongs - at this point only I was having a chocolate emergency.   We ate half the box on the drive back to my house.

With the Social Security Card in hand, we raced back to the MVA.   True to her word, the supervisor referred us to an available agent.  Once our paperwork was processed, my son took the test - 25 out of 25.  We celebrated by polishing off the box of Tagalongs.  Then I observed to my son, "You came here to take a test to prove you could read signs and yet the staff can't read their own signs."  Still, the supervisor demonstrated the Aloha Spirit and I did not.  

Care to share any stories from your adventures at the DMV?

And the adventure is just beginning as we start driving around the neighborhood!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Vintage Truck at Kailua Beach

Aloha to The Big Apple - Midtown and WICKED

For Day 2, we met friends at Macy's flagship store. 

The day was overcast, so I was glad we toured the Empire State Building the previous night which offered a clear view.

We walked up Fashion Avenue (Seventh Avenue) and spotted the Fashion Walk of Fame.

It was fate, then, that this beautiful young lady asked me for directions.   She is a model!  

Closer to Times Square, we found the less fashionable ...

... but still functionable.

We walked over to the Rockefeller Center ....

... home to the NBC Studios.

We didn't have time for the Rockettes ... maybe next trip.

New York is going green with Citi Bikes.

We ate lunch at a deli, including "French Toast" ....

... and strawberry pancakes!

We followed the Yellow Brick Road to WICKED (link) ...

... loved it!  After the show, we stopped in ELLEN'S STARDUST DINER (link) ....  

... famous for its milkshakes ... 

... and its singing staff, waiting to breakout on Broadway!

Do you have a favorite musical?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to the Big Apple - Times Square and the Empire State Building

One of my college friends called me last week with an offer I could not refuse - a midweek trip to NYC to catch a Broadway show!   We arrived late Tuesday afternoon ... 

... and headed to Times Square for the bright lights!

We walked over to the Empire State Building.   Although the observation platform was mobbed with school tours, I squeezed through them to take  pictures.   Above is a view to the south where the Twin Towers once stood ...

... to the Northwest for a peek at Times Square ....

  

... and to the Northeast, featuring the Chrysler Building.

We walked back to Times Square up 5th Avenue, passing by the New York Public Library.

Have you visited NYC?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Back in Times Square with the military

Aloha to Philmont Training - Rockburn Branch Trail

 My older son, an Eagle Scout, is training for a 10 day hiking expedition this summer at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico (link).   The training includes monthly hikes in the local area to prepare for the long haul.   Back in November, his Philmont crew hiked the Rockburn Branch Trail (link):

Come and explore this 415-acre wooded paradise! Rockburn Branch Park offers 7.4 miles of trails that wind through scenic woodlands, freshwater marshes and stream valleys. In the streams, look for crayfish, minnows, water striders and dragonflies. 

Although I did not join the hike, I appreciate the pictures from one of the Scout dads - he gave me permission to share his photos.   I especially appreciate the waterfalls, reminded me of my beloved Hawaii.

The woods look serene ... 

... with suprises around each corner!   Do you a favorite walking trail?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City 

More vintage photos from Boy Scouts - "Take Over Day"

This past weekend, we celebrated Scout Sunday at Savage Methodist Church (link).   The church sponsors my son's troop. Scout Sunday comes in advance of February 22 - the birthday of the Scouts' founder, Robert Baden-Powell. From Wikipedia (link),

In 1906, Robert Baden-Powell, a lieutenant general in the British Army, wrote a book for boys about reconnaissance and scouting.  In the summer of 1907 Baden-Powell held a camp on Brownsea Island in England to test ideas for his book. This camp and the publication of Scouting for Boys are generally regarded as the start of the Scout movement.

The Scouting program for boys and girls is vital to military families.   I share some vintage photos from Troop 97 in Hawaii, dating from February 1974 when the scouts "took over" jobs on Hickam AFB.  Above, the scouts line up for duty with their sponsors.

This scout learns to check ID cards on the flight line.

And these scouts work the duty desk.

Let's not forget the Girl Scouts.  These young ladies wait in line for cotton candy!

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Pella, Iowa - A Touch of Holland

Last summer, my inlaws drove across the midwest from Ohio to Nebraska for a wedding.  They stopped at Pella, Iowa, "A Touch of Holland". 

From its website (link),

Pella was founded in 1847 by 800 Dutch immigrants led by Henry Peter Scholte. Scholte and the other immigrants were fleeing famine and religious persecution at the hands of the state church of the Netherlands. Before leaving the Netherlands, the immigrants decided to name their new home Pella, or City of Refuge, in the prairieland of Iowa.

Pella is the childhood home of Wyatt Earp. Wyatt’s father, Nicholas Porter Earp, settled on a farm near Pella. Wyatt’s brothers, Warren and Morgan, were born in Pella. 

The picturesque town later became known as the Garden City. It is famous for Tulip Time, the annual spring tulip festival.

Wouldn't it be lovely to visit during the spring?  Oh, Spring, please come!   Have you visited a place that resembles another?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore
Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Pella looks authentic - above is a picture of my children
when we lived in the Netherlands.