Training Log Archive: barb

Isabel's team lost 3-2 in a well-played game. Spent a bunch of time gardening, planting the fall greens.

Here's a sequence of shots Dave took in which two Dover-Sherborn players strip the ball away from Izzy.

So Dave just sent me this message: "Don't use your computer to figure out the answer. How many dunkin' donuts are within a mile of your office?"

C • Well? 5

Draft NEOC VP Ed/Outreach report. Your comments are more than welcome! The main thing is to find people to take on some of the tasks - I am maxed out.

So my son David says I totally remind him of Michael in "The Office". I guess Michael is a boss character who is so socially awkward and goofy and politically incorrect that it is too embarrassing to even watch him. David mentioned this as I was describing to him how happy I was that we don't need a permit for the Fells because we are picking up garbage, and other things related to working on the junior high orienteering program.

C • Uh Oh... 5

Created the Study Guide for the kids to, well, study over the weekend in preparation for Monday's (optional) Orienteering Licensing Exam.
Filled out and sent in the form for groups doing cleanup of DRC property.

Study guide has big emphasis on being able to describe your location.

We talked about contour maps in class.

Cambridge is moving to single stream recycling.

C • Recycling 3

In addition to the work commute, went into Boston to inform DRC about the Fells school trip. In the past different things have happened. The first year I got the permit but at that time it was cheaper and easier. Another couple of years when I called they said I didn't need to file a permit. This time I talked to a ranger guy who said the permit would be good. Also arranged insurance binder from school district, though not sure if they're doing it right; I think they are preparing a letter saying we're insured but we need that additional binder naming DRC.

Oo, oo!

So the DCR says we do not have to file a permit for our field trip because we will be PICKING UP GARBAGE - it is considered a community cleanup project!

"DCR considers your day at the Fells a Community Clean-up project and thank you and your students for volunteering to help keep the Middlesex Fells clean! I’ve attached a community clean-up request form and would appreciate your completing the form and returning it to Ellen FitzPatrick (contact information is on the form) and she will be happy to coordinate with you."

Dudes! Is this awesome or WHAT?

They'll even give us garbage bags and gloves! And sticks! Gotta love the sticks!

(In the scoring system, teams get two points if they pick up garbage. For comparison, they get one point for each "landmark" control at trail intersections, and four points for each off-trail "team" control. Oh, and 1 point for each team member who completes a course at one of the NEOC events this weekend.)

I think we need some sort of Arlo Guthrie Alice's Restaurant type song here.

C • Garbage Pick up Counts - Extremely Cool!! 5

to school, then work, eventually home.
Saw Barbara Baker on the way to school and Giovanni near Harvard on the way to work. Both sightings I was spacing out, not enough sleep... Dave had to stay up late printing the orienteering homework for me. He politely suggested maybe next year I do the prep work over the summer.

Four class lectures on orienteering and the field trip. It went pretty well. There was a fire alarm in the middle of one class.

This is an underestimate of the time I spent on the phone and filling out forms to get insurance certificate and a permit for the field trip. I spoke with Mike Nelson; I believe he is one of the rangers in charge of the Fells. A nice guy. Permit is going to cost $35; another drib and drab of money...

On the good news side: the teachers got a grant from the Mayor of Cambridge (not personally, but some program he has?) to pay for the buses to the Fells. And the 5th grade teacher I'm working with has applied for a Target grant for the spring field trip.

The excellent parent who is managing the chaperones is going to provide me with some free color printing. And I don't know how she's funding it, but she'll provide all the prizes/goodies the kids exchange tickets for. Then there are some medical supplies we'll bring along; last year the nurse told me she doesn't have funding for 20 little med kits (= baggies with bandaids and alcohol wipes); she pays for stuff like that out of her own pocket, so I wanted to make sure she wasn't doing that this year. I'll have printed a total of 300 color pages and 600 black and white pages, roughly. And the parent will do another 600 or so in color. I guess that adds up. In the past, I just paid for this stuff, but I really need to start tracking the costs better, especially if this could be turned into something others could run. And maybe get paid for, and/or get grants for.

C • Money 3

Assigned kids to teams; fine-tuned the powerpoint presentation; did some more messing with PDF and printing

Things are feeling rather perfect storm-y with a bunch of current projects piling on. Working full time and parenting are the background. Then there's the junior high orienteering field trip (lecturing tomorrow; have to prep the maps and homework tonight for 20 different courses; field trip 9/24; parents gather to prep on 9/21). The 5th grade at G&P wants to do an O field trip in late September. The 5th grade at Morse school starts with a parent meeting 9/23. NEOC board meeting is 9/22; bunch of stuff to do for that, *and*, it conflicts with the G&P jr high parent meeting at which I was going to talk and answer questions about the orienteering project. I'm organizing a huge neighborhood yard sale and block party for Saturday 9/25. Supposed to put out a Grape Hero (neighborhood newsletter) this week. Oh, and tonight is the City Council meeting where I plan to speak up on behalf of chickens. Public speaking makes me very nervous. October should be a breeze once I get through September.

work commute plus errands

Worked on the orienteering homework and powerpoint presentation.

At Pawtuckaway, trails

Orange course. David & Izzy were both doing a course at the same time. I managed to stay behind them. Isabel's first solo orange.

Altered the jr high O courses slightly on OCAD, so that we have a different finish. Wrote down the lengths as a prelude to assigning teams.

Nice conversations with Jeff Saeger, Ross Smith, Judy K, Deb H, Ian, Valerie, and David Gibbs this weekend.

Ross agreed to pay a royal visit to the school if the kids get enough points on their outing. It's tough b/c Ross works full time so he'd have to race over on his lunch hour.

I want to collect opinions/wisdom from Jeff, JJ, Tim P and others on specific NEOC maps, including potential places to hold an A meet. I need to write it down b/c I can't hold it in my head, at all. I realize I'm not the map person but as Board member I want to get this summarized so as to help with making decisions.

What happened with the Italian mapper we had found?