Tuesday Afternoon with Tijmen

Today Oliver and I both went over to Tijmen's house for the afternoon. On the way over (I live about a 2-minute walk away from him), I came across this amusing graffiti on the ground with a deranged chicken holding a fish. When I got to his house, Tijmen's sister Emma answered the door because he and his mom were out picking up Oliver. I came in and played Super Smash Brothers Melee until they arrived. We tried out his new copy of Guitar Hero: World Tour which he got for Christmas, while Emma was playing Strawberry Fields Forever and other Beatles songs on the piano in the other room. World Tour was the first Guitar Hero game to include drums and vocals as well as guitar/bass. We switched off instruments, but for the most part I played guitar, Oliver did vocals, and Tijmen played drums. When we got tired of this, we switched to Mario Kart Wii, where Tijmen, Oliver, Emma, and I all did 4-player races. While we were playing, Tijmen's mom made some Gouda cheese-covered bread, and toward the end we also got some really good brownies that Emma made earlier in the day. Mid-afternoon we went up to the field by the David Avenue school where we played croquet for a while. We came back and played Tanks on Wii Play and I left around five.

The Winter Concert

Matthew Shonman tuning his trombone

This past Thursday night was our winter concert, featuring the chorus and orchestra as well as the band. Since the middle school auditorium, the usual venue, is under construction, we had to hold the concert at the high school multi, which was much smaller. Band went first, and we played quite a few songs: A Festival Prelude, O Holy Night, Procession of Nobles, A Chanukah Celebration, and A Christmas Festival. After our section came the chorus, singing numerous Christmas and Hannukah classics, and then the intermission.

Jane Rudy singing in Chorus

At intermission, Matthew and I helped Michael Yanoska carry the large timpani around the building in the dark to the band room since it was too big to use the inside route. After putting away our instruments, we went to the snack bar in the back where some middle-schoolers (including Michelle Watkins and Emma Teering) led by Tijmen's mom were selling snacks.

Following the intermission was the orchestra's performance. They first did a suite by Edvard Grieg featuring the band's percussion section and some other classical pieces, and then performed a really neat tango piece involving improvisation.

Michael Yanoska Drum Captain

Kristen Sanchez Senior Flutist

The Percussion Section Brent Smith, Matthew Johnson, Taylor Jones, Michael Yanoska, Leif Swenson, Andy Bieman, Cory Jones (front)

Thanks to Oliver Bunten for the photos.

Pacific Grove vs. King City

Last night was the last of the football games that we would play at for band. We met at the school at about six, and I was almost late because the computer's clock was off. About a half hour later, we arrived at MPC, by which time it had already become completely dark. We warmed up and went out onto the track, while the JV football team was still playing. The wait took a really long time; what seemed like over a half hour. Finally, it was time to march out and play the national anthem and P.G. Will Shine.

During the first and second quarters, we were completely demolishing King City. At halftime we came down and played three songs: Everybody Needs Somebody to Love, Messin' With the Kid, and Mr. Pitiful. Following this was the senior salute, in which all of the seniors in the band did some sort of salute, dance, or other such thing. Roy Chan, a previous scout of Troop 90, probably had the funniest one, in which he got the trombones to play a background while he sang Can't Touch This. When these were done, we played a fourth song, Rescue Me, and then left for free time during third quarter.

A video of us playing Messin' With the Kid taken by Michael Yanoska:


While the halftime show was in progress, a huge blanket of fog began pouring into the stadium, and it felt like it dropped ten degrees. Within ten minutes, you couldn't even see across the field to the King City bleachers. Our music was fogging up so fast it was sometimes hard to read and the pages would stick together.

At the immediate start of fourth quarter we began playing Tequila from the stands. By this time, King City had caught up quite a bit, and soon the score evened out to a tie of 29 to 29. A referee came over and made some comment to Mr. Hoffman that we couldn't play while they were kicking off because it gave PG an "unfair advantage." The game ended with the tie still in place. We didn't get back into town until after eleven.

This was probably one of the most fun games. The only problems were the fact that we had to wear jackets which made it way too hot, and also the abscence of our mascot Billy Breaker.

Homecoming 2008

This last week was homecoming week. Tuesday through Thursday were spirit days which included dress-ups for "Nerd Day," "Robot Day," and "Neon Day." Riley won the school wide Rubik's Cube competition on Nerd Day. On Thursday we had a cross country meet at Toro Park which was very hot and tiring, and I got about the same time as the last Toro meet. Yesterday concluded the week with a pep rally in the gym with music, guest speakers, competitions, and a really random video of a hypnotized Billy Breaker holding all the football players hostage.

After school yesterday was the homecoming parade which we played in for band. We marched down to Pine Street in a straight line while the percussion section played drum cadences and the rest of us did a horn swing with our instruments. Once we got to Pine, we got into the block formation and played alternating school fight songs: PG Will Shine, Go Big Red, and Red and Gold, broken up by a cadence in between each song. We went down to Lighthouse Avenue and then back up to school on Congress.

Today was the homecoming football game against Robert Louis Stevenson School. For the first time, we actually got to stay for the whole game instead of leaving after 3^rd quarter. Before it started, I went over to say hi to Tijmen, who was selling candy and pom-poms with other people from the middle school band. During the game we played the usual Hey Song, Go Big Red, Iron Man, and the other usual stands music. For the halftime show, we played Beethoven's Fifth, Roll Over Beethoven, which the dance team danced to, and Escorpión. Before the second quarter began again, they announced the homecoming king and queen. Our team won 34 to 6 against the Stevenson Pirates, continuing our league winning streak.

Pacific Grove vs. Aptos High School

The next football game that we played at for band was versus Aptos High. Unlike the last game, it was in the day time, which was not nearly as nice as the previous night game. It was a very hot day at MPC, our temporary home stadium, in the upper seventies. Billy Breaker, our mascot, didn't show up unfortunately.

We did just about the same routine as last time, playing stands music for the first three quarters and then leaving. We once again also did the halftime show, in collaboration with the dance team. We played Hold On I'm Comin', Bend Me Shape Me (which the dance team danced to), and School's Out. Unfortunately when we left our team was losing 22 to zero, so it was pretty much impossible that the Breakers could have won.

Croquet at Tijmen's

After church today I went over to Tijmen's, along with Oliver, for another fun afternoon. We began by playing some assorted games including Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Mario Kart Double Dash, as well as Kirby Air Ride which I brought. Here's a cheat we found for how to make Kirby breakdance in Air Ride:

1) Go to City Trial.
2) Play 2 player with someone. If you can't have a Level 1 CPU.
3) Find a Time Bomb.
4) Set it in the underground area.
5) Get off of your machine.
6) Stand on the edge of a slanted wall that leads to the Underground, and jump. He should appear to be sliding on his side.
7) Be careful, slide so you get hit by the bomb.
8) When the explosion clears, Kirby should appear to be breakdancing.

After we finished playing the Wii, we went over to the field by the David Avenue school and played croquet. We did two games: one huge one that took about 45 minutes and took up the entire field, and a smaller 15-minute one. Oliver one the first game by a long shot, and in the second game it was very close between Tijmen and I but he ended up winning.

The First Football Game

Last night was the first football game for Pacific Grove this year, versus Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. We all went as part of band so we could play stands music and also at halftime. Since the PGHS stadium is being redone, our home stadium for this year is at the Monterey Peninsula College.

We met at the school at 5:30 and got our informal band uniforms, consisting of a polo shirt and a sweatshirt with black pants and shoes. Then we piled on the school bus and drove over to MPC. When we got there, everything was chaotic and Marcy Schaeffer, the drum major, reenacted the parting of the Red Sea to organize us into lines. After warming up and playing the national anthem and school fight song PG Will Shine, we entered the stadium and the first thing we saw was someone dressed up as our mascot, Billy Breaker, who skipped around the track and danced during the whole first half of the game. Every once in a while he would go around the audience in the front row and high-five everyone.

Our band took the spot in the bleachers with some assorted blips of music to play when something good happened in the game, such as Iron Man, Go Big Red, The Hey Song and many others. I have no clue how the game is played, so it was hard to know when we were supposed to play something. It was difficult because we were all extremely tightly packed in the stands, and we were required to wear the sweatshirts on top of the polo shirts, which was really hot even at 9 at night.

At halftime, we marched down onto the track and played three songs in the concert arc formation: Gimme Some Lovin', Green Onions, and Birdland. We followed this with PG Will Shine and then marched back into the stands. We had third quarter off to mill around and talk to spectators. During fourth quarter we mingled with the band from the other school. Unfortunately, we had to leave before the game was over because of transportation issues.

When we got back to the school, everyone was informed that there was going to be a band party at the home of Kristen Sanchez so we all walked down from the school. They had assorted party foods, including chips and guacamole, and a really good punch mixture of ginger ale, orange creme soda, and orange sherbet. The house had a Wii with Guitar Hero so we all crowded in the living room and played that for the remainder of the party. Tyler Chisman challenged Riley to Through the Fire and Flames, the hardest song on the game. Tyler did it on Hard and Riley on Expert. Unfortunately, it was so packed that I had to leave before I got a chance to play.

The PG Triathlon

Today was the Triathlon at Pacific Grove which the scouts volunteer at every year. I was working the station with Matthew, his brother Michael, and Oliver. This year we came on Saturday instead of Sunday, which proved to be a lot easier than the latter. Like always, we handed out cups to athletes, but since Saturday is the elite day, most of them were in too much of a hurry to want water. The last of them came through around noon.

Around the aid station there seemed to be way more squirrels than normal. Everywhere you looked, there were at least two or three, which I managed to get some photos of. I also got some nice macros of the bees which were swarming over the lavender. After we were done working, the triathlon provided a free lunch buffet to the volunteers and athletes, with pasta, salad, and assorted fruits. The t-shirts this year were blue, which was a nice change from the mint green that they traditionally give out. I probably have four or five mint colored triathlon shirts now.

Some of the local "wildlife"...

High School Begins

Today was the first day of school at Pacific Grove High. The first stop was to put all my books and backpack into my locker. A couple of nights ago was orientation, where we got our books, locker assignments, and school pictures. Since my locker was bright pink (a lot of people's were), we came in the next day and repainted it dark green, which apparently is allowed. The lockers are slightly smaller than the middle school ones, but not too bad.

When we arrived, we were ushered into the gym where they were playing Welcome to the Jungle on repeat. We were put into groups with "Breaker Buddies," two juniors or seniors who were assigned to show us around. My group had a few people I know, including Casey Reeves and Callum Gilchrist. We did some icebreaker activities and then went to a rally back in the gym. This included some very random games. First of all was an awkward sort of activity (volunteers only, luckily) where the object was to pop a balloon by hugging with the balloon in-between. The next was something that looked like a pie-eating contest. One person from each grade came up (ours was Cameron Barretto) and used their mouth to find a stick of gum in a tray of flour, then blow a bubble with it. Finally, even more awkward than the first was a variation on musical chairs that involved the girls eating cookies out of the boy's mouth. I'm glad I wasn't chosen for that.

After these activities was lunchtime, where we got free pizza and cheetos. I sat in the outdoor amphitheater with Riley, Michael, Matthew, and Oliver. Following lunch was a short introduction to each class, with little over 15 minutes for each class. My first period is band, with Mr. Hoffman my 5^th grade band teacher who first taught me clarinet. We didn't play, but just talked about complications this year with budget problems. Hopefully we will begin playing by next week.

My second period (homeroom) is the honors history class, American Civilization, with Ms. Griffiths. She seemed nice, but very strict at the same time. Next was Geometry, taught by Ms. Chupka. I got to be in the same class as Riley this period, which was nice. P.E. with Mr. Buller was fourth period, and fifth is Spanish 2, taught by Señora Buller (the P.E. instructor's wife). I got my same Spanish nickname as last year, Guillermo. Most of the same people as last year's Spanish 1 were in this class, and I was seated next to Emily Long. The entire period, Sra. Buller spoke only Spanish, which at first was confusing as I was out of practice. However, it seems like a very effective way to teach the class.

For my 6^th period I had Mr. Bliss for Biology. He was very nice and turned out to be a world traveler and an environmentalist. Tomorrow and Friday we will be watching Dead Poet's Society in class (the phrase Carpe Diem from the movie is plastered above his door). I also got to be with Riley in this class. My final class of the day is honors English I, taught by Mrs. Selfridge. English is usually one of my least favorite classes, but I'll keep my mind open. After all, I was surprised last year that history (with Mr. Gamble) turned out to be my favorite class.

After school, I went to the first official cross country practice, which I am doing with Michael. We have three courses that we do: a loop through the Rip Van Winkle Open Space (our home course for meets), a run down by Sunset Avenue and along the old railroad track, and a third from the school through Pebble Beach and looping around the old quarry near my house. Today we did the quarry loop, which takes about 45 minutes to 1 hour. I got home around 4:15 to do a small amount of homework from Ms. Griffiths and to get a couple of additional school supplies.

Camp Emerald Bay

In lieu of Camp Pico Blanco because of the Big Sur fire, our July summer camp this year was Camp Emerald Bay on Catalina Island. We met at the Safeway parking lot to leave at 2:30 in the morning, and drove about 8 hours until 10:30 when we arrived at the dock in San Pedro. From there, we took a giant catamaran, complete with two snack bars, to the island, where we unloaded our gear and went into camp. Since Matthew happens to be fly-fishing in Alaska right now, he didn't come, so instead I was to tent with Logan Weber. When we got into the campsite, we discovered that there was a larger 4-person tent cabin, so Logan and I shared it with Dean Randall and Matt Helms.

Six AM the next morning was the swim test to qualify for waterfront merit badges. Usually, I don't take it because the water is absolutely freezing at Pico and Chawanakee so I don't sign up for aquatic classes. However, I heard that the water at Catalina would be much warmer, so I went ahead with it. It was freezing, but nothing near the other camps, and you actually got used to it after a while. The biggest problem was that it was salt water, which stung everyone's eyes and mouth. The test consisted of 3 lengths of crawl or side stroke and one length of elementary backstroke. I passed as a blue swimmer, which allows for water merit badge classes. The next few mornings at the same time we did the Sea Lion Swim which consisted of 12 lengths of whatever stroke you want. The award was a "rocker" patch that goes around the Emerald Bay patch.

For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, we went into the dining hall in a line and the staff gave us full plates of food. This made the job of the waiters a lot easier. My Cobra Patrol and the Bobcat Patrol had lunch duty the whole week. The meals were varying and much better quality than Pico Blanco, with a salad bar at lunch and dinner and a cereal bar at breakfast.

Classes started around 9:00 on Monday and lasted through Friday. My first class was the BSA Aquarist class at the Pennington Marine Science Center (an aquarium building with sharks, fish, etc.) and taught about how to take care of an aquarium. Emerald Bay is the only weeklong summer camp anywhere that teaches the class, so it was a good opportunity. We prepared aquariums with filtered water and scenery, and then spent the remainder of the week catching fish and crabs in Doctor's Cove by tidepooling and snorkeling.



Second period was Rifle Shooting Merit Badge, using .22 rimfire bolt action rifles. This class had quite a few Troop 90 scouts which was nice. On Monday we just went over safety rules and other similar concepts, and starting Tuesday we began actually shooting. The two shooting requirements for the badge are labeled K and L. Requirement K is to get five groups of three shots that can each be covered by a quarter. Requirement L is to get five groups of five shots that can each be covered or touched by a quarter. On Tuesday I finished all the K's, and Friday I finished the L's.




After lunch was Canoeing Merit Badge, another waterfront activity. The only other person from Troop 90 in this class was Jake Matthews, so we paired up in a canoe. We learned the power stroke, J-stroke, and push or pull strokes. On Wednesday, we had to capsize the canoe, drain it of water, and get back in it; alone and then with the help of another canoe. On Friday we completed the badge with solo canoeing out to the dock and back, using the J-stroke.

Fourth period was the Snorkeling BSA award, and it wasn't so much a class as just an activity. All you have to do is snorkel a certain number of times, so after Canoeing we would go down and snorkel for an hour. One day we went to the main waterfront area, but the most interesting place was Doctor's Cove, right around the point next to the boat area. The only other requirements were learning hand signals and learning how to empty your mask of water. I didn't bring fins, so I had to rent some from the Snorkel Locker (Davy Jones, proprietor) and return them at the end of the week.

After dinner we had a bunch of free time to go to the trading post to get snacks, souvenirs, or plush frogs with Emerald Bay shirts. Each night, there would be a special on some item, like root beer floats on Monday and Sno-Kones on Tuesday. Some nights we had a campfire where we watched skits put on by the staff or other campers. Our troop put on the classic Shipwreck skit.

On Thursday morning we did a special trip called War Canoe which also gave a "rocker" for the Emerald Bay patch. It consisted of leaving right after breakfast and rowing out in a giant Clipper canoe that seated 5 to 8 people. After about an hour of rowing, we arrived at Parson's Beach where we were to stay the night. For lunch, we had assorted snacks, including apples. There were a ton of wasps on the beach that enjoyed swarming over the apples and eating them. We went snorkeling at Beaver's Cove and then cooked dinner and dessert in a dutch oven. The dutch oven peach cobbler was awesome! We slept "under the stars" (actually, it was cloudy) and then got up early the next morning and rowed back in time for second period.



On Saturday morning I completed the last Sea Lion Swim and packed up. We left on the catamaran around noon and were on the road by 2:30. I rode in Mr. Ryan's car with Michael and Mackenzie Ryan, Brian Long, Joseph Rudy, and Jordan Layne. Mackenzie plugged in his iPod and he put on Steve Miller Band's Abracadabra , along with some other songs, repeatedly until we'd all memorized it. The three vehicles pulled up in the P.G. Safeway parking lot at about 10:00.

Camp Chawanakee

The first camp of the summer was Camp Chawanakee on the beautiful Shaver Lake in California. It was a four-hour drive up to the lake, and I rode with Matthew. We watched both National Treasure movies on the car DVD player on the way up. Saturday and Sunday were basically both days to get situated and get familiar with the site. I went to Chawanakee last year so it wasn't that hard; I already knew where just about everything was. We slept in tent cabins with noisy cots that would creak as you moved at night.

It turned out to be a rocky start when late Sunday evening a certain scout in our troop whose name will not be mentioned threw a trash can in the lake. He then fished it out, threw the lid in the lake, and fished that out too. However, Scoutmaster Randall found out and our whole troop got in a lot of trouble. Also, Dean Randall, the previous Senior Patrol Leader, got in a bit of trouble and was replaced by Matthew, who did a great job for never having been SPL before. Not that anyone listened to either of them.... These incidents put everyone on high alert and our troop's behavior turned out to be pretty good for the rest of the week.

Merit badge classes started on Monday. My first class was Environmental Science, taught by Natti. Even though it wasn't the most enjoyable, it turned out to be the best Eagle-required badge I have done. We discussed methods of conservation and the effects of erosion on the environment, and also did a decomposition experiment with orange peel, paper, and styrofoam.

The next period was Nature merit badge, which turned out to be my favorite. The instructor was Sam, and it was basically an overview of all the nature things they offer, including a nature hike where we identified different plants, and a plaster casting of a grey fox footprint (the bobcat and cougar were already taken). I also took some really cool macros of the plants we identified.



Cooking, my only ScoutCraft class, turned out to be much of a disappointment. The time in class was pretty boring because the instructor Chris would ask everyone the same exact question and it would take an entire class period to finish one requirement. He was funny and nice outside of class, but I think he was assigned to teach cooking at the last minute, since he didn't know anything about it. Much to Oliver's annoyance, he pronounced Oliver's last name Buiertin, to which Oliver would yell, "IT'S BUNTEN!!!" and Chris would follow with "whatever." On the last day of class, we watched him pour brownie mix into a dutch oven and then he said to come back in free time to get the brownies. Free time came around and he said to come back at 7:00, and when we came then he showed us a rubber hand and said, "this is the hand of the last scout that asked for my brownies."

It was also pretty odd because the people in ScoutCraft put up a giant Republican flag next to the American flag at the entrance. Why? "Oh look! An elephant flag! I like elephants!" Very odd....

4^th period was Soil and Water Conservation, my second favorite class. I had the teacher, Grace, for my Geology merit badge last year. She enjoys going off on tangents about random things and was very fun to talk to. We learned about topics of erosion, water treatment, and other such things. When we were to draw Animal Erosion, I drew some Generic Quadrupeds in the picture, and Grace loved them so much that she showed all of the staff.

At lunch, one patrol every day would be assigned to go get the lunch tubs from the mess hall. My favorite lunch was the bean and cheese burritos with peppers. There were Lays potato chips available every day. Mmmm....

My final class was Reptile and Amphibian Study, also taught by Sam. We learned about differences between reptiles and amphibians, frogs and toads, lizards and salamanders, etc. We also met Cherry, the rubber boa in the nature lodge. She would wrap around Sam's finger while she was teaching and stay there the whole time. One of the commissioners also brought in a king snake to show us. The only thing I have left to do is take care of a reptile for a month.



Free time after 5^th period was very fun, and we would spend a good portion of the time playing the card game BS. People would often try to kidnap Oliver's pillow, dubbed "Mr. Puff-Puff" by Matthew. During free time, Malcolm taped ears to his hat to look like Batman, and he would turn it to the side and do a "Pimpin' Batman Rap" which I videotaped. Another funny happening was Wednesday afternoon when I found a rubber rattlesnake behind my tent. I gave it to Ryan, Matt Helms, and Anthony, who proceeded to put it in Dean's sleeping bag. That night at 10:00 we all heard a yell: "IT'S A RATTLER!!!" followed by a huge commotion, before everyone realized that it was actually fake.

One night during free time, I found out that they sell Totin' Chip badges at the trading post, but that you need your card to get one. The Totin' Chip gives permission to use a knife, saw, and axe. Michael and Mackenzie Ryan taught a refresher course which was really easy, but enough to get a card. For some reason, when I got my Totin' Chip at Pico Blanco last year, I didn't even get a card, even though the requirements were signed off.

For dinner, as well as breakfast, a person from each patrol would be selected for stewards, and they would go 30 minutes early to set up the tables. The food was very good; much better than Pico Blanco's, but the problem was that they only gave us 7 minutes to eat. When I was a steward, by the time I sat down and started eating my food, they were already calling for dessert. It was very stressful.

After dinner on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday were campfires. Monday's was at Eagle Point by the lake and the staff sang songs and did numerous hilarious skits. Wednesday's fire bowl was up on the mountain, and it was short. The purpose was to pick out scout-led skits for Friday's. Kyle sang the song "Stand Out" from the Goofy movie. The fire on Friday was very fun too, and the scout's skits were enjoyable, even though they weren't all quite as funny as the staff's.

On Friday night, my dad came to stay and Saturday morning we drove back down to San Jose to prepare for the Walker River trip the following week.

Another Day at Tijmen's

Today I went over to Tijmen's house for the last time in a while, since he is going on road trips and camps for most of the summer. I walked over to his house around 9:30 and we played MarioKart Wii for about an hour until Oliver arrived. For the morning, we did video games, mainly SSB Brawl, and drew with chalk. He got this really cool chalk (and "chalk-paint") that appears 3D when you put on glasses. Much to the annoyance of Oliver, I drew a giant wall-eyed weirdo.

Around noon, we finally got in touch with Yann and he came over soon afterward. We tried to have a water balloon fight, but there were hardly any water balloons. Tijmen got the idea to walk over to Rite Aid and get some balloons, so we walked over and also got ice cream at the stand in the back of the store. After we got back, we had a really awesome water balloon war for most of 2 hours in his front yard. Many times, Tijmen would get on the roof and bombard an unsuspecting Oliver below. As well as using regular water balloons (styled to look like grenades) we would fill up normal balloons so they could hold what seemed like a gallon of water. When we ran out of balloons, we switched over to sprinklers, watering cans, and just about anything else that could hold water. I left and walked home around 5:30 and was home by six.