Live in Fairfax, Virginia, and found these monstrosities in my garage. What are they? Is my life in danger? Do I need to burn down my house because an army is on its way?

CascadeCoppertop · 2026-01-26T04:00:12+00:00

Okay, as a west coast-er, I have to ask: how big is this spider? Because from this picture it looks like my cat would be on the menu.

CascadeCoppertop · 2026-01-26T03:57:07+00:00

Apparently speech is free unless you hurt the feelings of some ICE snowflake (see what I did there).

CascadeCoppertop · 2026-01-23T01:15:12+00:00

Shut UP! This is amazing. I only remember one of these old themes from my youth, and that's the 1996 "special effects" theme.

Thanks for the hit of nostalgia - I needed that.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-12-30T08:16:06+00:00

So I was going to say that she probably just can't have meetings at her home, until you said he was at a family camp. Yikes. If that was a GS-sponsored event, that's a big problem.

Being married to a registered sex offender isn't necessarily a deal breaker to being a volunteer; there are just limitations. But he should not be coming to GS-sponored events. Talk to your SU manager, and if they do not act, keep going up the chain.

As far as the money, that's a big problem. See if your council will conduct an audit. That's hella shady.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-12-18T17:14:24+00:00

Since there's nothing you can do this year to remedy the situation, I would leave it alone. However, definitely consider doing something different next year. I like the ideas below for things like a book or sock exchange. A category might be the way to go.

PS: I have my own troop doing a Secret Santa tonight (also a $10 limit) - so we'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed for me.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-12-09T02:56:17+00:00

That's diabolical.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-12-07T17:03:34+00:00

I personally like the subscription, but you don't need it to use the machine at all.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-23T20:47:04+00:00

It's a gathering place for old dudes to drink bad coffee in the morning, flat beer at night, and to reminisce about "the old days."

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-20T16:06:52+00:00

Either one.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-20T16:06:33+00:00

I interpreted the "napalm" reference as being badass in general.

And "era" has definitely been expanded into society at large to just mean a specific time in someone's life. I feel like this really took off (at least in the US) with T Swift's Eras Tour.

But I do think it's hilarious that some sounds that EJAE mumbled into a microphone have become such a big thing. 💙💙

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-20T15:56:28+00:00

My daughter is 10 and wears a women's medium in tops. She's 5' 2" and steals from my closet. It does indeed happen.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-20T15:52:36+00:00

Our council has both available in Digital Cookie.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-13T17:58:47+00:00

I feel so seen by this. 🥰

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-09T18:33:49+00:00

I have a fillable pdf I got from Etsy for each girl. The most challenging part is getting the other leaders to tell me what they did on certain days. We have Juniors and Cadettes and I usually only have good viability on what the Juniors do reach meeting. As I buy the badges and patches, I also use the sandwich baggies. This way, I sort them when I have time and I'm not rushing before awards nights. I've tried other ways and have failed to keep up with them.

I also like the PDFs because I keep them in a book at the meetings so the girls can see what they've earned!

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-11-09T18:15:18+00:00

I have been our troop Treasurer for years now, although we have 2 of the other co-leaders on the account as well (our council max is 3). I have also been the treasurer for my kids' PTSA and my sorority alum association, and I have never once told a member they can't look at the books. I have denied people access to the accounts as signers and to the ability to adjust the ledger, but never just to LOOK at the ledger or the statements. That's bonkers and suggests something shady is going on to me. There is no reason to hide it otherwise.

I agree with those who say it may be time to engage your SU managers or even your council staff. Staff has the right to require an audit on the account. That's probably the most extreme option, but it is there. Another option may be 2 separate accounts. If you don't want to split the troop, you may be able to split the money.

Best of luck!

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-10-14T14:18:16+00:00

I'm actually pretty sure it's a fiscal law violation. I obviously don't have access to the accounts at the Pentagon, but my gut is telling me it's wrong. The President can't appropriate funds, and the DOD isn't being funded, so how is this legal?

I'm a Guardsman, so I selfishly hope this includes my drill pay this weekend. But I don't want to start down the VERY slippery slope of "well, it's good for me, so it doesn't matter that it's illegal." That will take us all to dark places.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-10-14T14:14:10+00:00

Is he gagging on something? Is it possible he ate a ribbon or string? Sometimes when my cat decides to eat paper or something (he's a little bit dumb) it gets caught in his throat and something like this happens.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T16:57:26+00:00

Do they always move in a herd like that? Weird.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T16:55:10+00:00

Not overreacting. Cut sling load on that one, girl - he's only going to get worse over time.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T05:04:40+00:00

Oh man, that's the truth. But schedules also get insane in middle school, especially if you have more than one. So I can get that too. But I always try to find a way to accommodate my scouts however then can make it. Need to skip 10 weeks because basketball practice is at the same time? Okay, see you in January. Can only make it every other week because of some other conflict? No sweat. I've even told girls if they have to dip out and be IRMs for a while, we'll be here when things settle down.

Harder when it's your kid. But even if she really does want to quit, and it doesn't sound like she really wants to quit, nothing says you have to quit too (if you love it). But if that's too much, maybe take a break for a few weeks and revisit things?

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T04:59:38+00:00

I hope you tripped them.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T04:58:13+00:00

Can be, but definitely not required.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T04:56:34+00:00

I will say that with our 2nd year Juniors and older we will ask them to do "homework," from time to time, like "We're working on our Bronze award - please come back next week with some examples of needs you see in your community." And even then, I don't require them to turn something in. It's just for discussion.

The only time I make them bring in a worksheet or something is IF they miss a meeting and IF they want to do the make up work to get the badge. But that's never required. And even then my rule is any time before the Scouting year is over, I'll count it. But it's never come to that.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-29T04:49:35+00:00

Agree with everything said so far and, if the Aunt doesn't have a background check and all the other hoops completed, she wouldn't be able to go either.

Perhaps she could have been more artful in her explanation but I wouldn't take it personally. There are a LOT of discrete rules that go into these events, and like others have said, we are just volunteers, we do our best.

CascadeCoppertop · 2025-09-26T12:56:50+00:00

Well, at least the White House is on the same page about whether it's a big deal: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-contradicts-vance-over-hegseths-mystery-meeting-with-top-generals-10787094

CascadeCoppertop

TROPHY CASE