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We have a fair number of friends and family who live in the commonwealth of Virginia. So, I was a little surprised and dismayed to find out today that almost a quarter of them are fat! Although not the fattest state in the nation, apparently it is the fastest growing. I've always resisted the urge to move to northern Virginia for a variety of reasons, despite the wealth of good jobs located there. This give me one more good reason to add to my list! :-)

Here We Go Again...

Just what the Boy Scouts of America need again is another black eye. Today, it was announced that the director or programs for the national organization has been charged with receiving and distributing child pornography, and he is expected to plead guilty. This is a 61-year-old leader who has been involved with the organization for 39 years. And, he is an Eagle Scout. I am outraged, appalled, and frankly sick and tired of hearing story after story of crime and corruption coming from an organization I have held in such high esteem for many years. I'm not sure how to solve this recurring problem, but it seems that a more rigorous process for becoming an adult leader should be put in place. I have no doubt that the vast majority of adult leaders are good people with good intentions and deserve a great deal of respect. That their reputations are continually tarnished by the actions of a few corrupt and devious individuals is extremely unfortunate and unfair. The survival of the organization rests on the shoulders of these people. Let's continue to support them and not let the actions of a few common criminals reflect poorly on them.

Biker Baby

We paid a visit a couple weekends ago to REI, one of our favorite outdoor gear stores, and picked up a bike trailer for the baby. After all, they were having a pretty good sale! Specifically, we bought the Burley d'Lite, a trailer that can accommodate two children and comes with an adjustable sun/wind screen and what can be best described as a small trunk. We took our maiden voyage last Friday, and the little one seemed to really enjoy himself. He was at least comfortable enough in the trailer to sleep through the second half of the ride. The next day, we decided to take a longer ride, so we headed out to the BWI Trail. We took a short ride on the trail over to the Baltimore & Annapolis Trail, which we rode south for four or five miles into downtown Glen Burnie. There, we stopped to see a sculpture that my father's company had built last year and was installed on the trail at the first site in a series of stops along the new Planet Walk exhibit. On the way back, the baby fell asleep in the trailer again!