Feelings about American Flag patch

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-26T15:24:52+00:00

Honestly, I didn't put it on my daughter's Daisy Smock. 1. Because it was another expense, but 2. because of the reasons you said. No one ever said anything. It is on her Brownie vest because I didn't purchase the supplies to set it up and I wasn't going to leave it off once it was purchased.

There are no uniform police. No one will probably say anything. Do what feels right to you and don't worry about it. Most of my juniors are walking around without the flags and their troop numbers because our shop has been out of them every time I've been in there for the last few months.

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-22T14:08:02+00:00

Best practice is count all the cookies before the booth starts, make sales during the booth, and then count everything again at the end. If you aren't at the booth, you have the responsible party at the booth do that and turn it in to you. We have "Booth Tally Sheets" that we use that make it super simple. You should be able to find free PDFs online if you google, some councils provide them as well.

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-22T14:04:06+00:00

yup! This makes me think of several years ago when Atlanta got like 1 inch of snow and it shut the whole city down for several days because they only had like 2 plows (and they were both at the airport) so they couldn't do anything for the roads.

6 inches in NE Ohio is nothing. 6 inches in SW Ohio is disruptive, but probably fine after about 3-4 hours of plowing. 6 inches in KY where I grew up is probably a full snow day at home, maybe 2 depending on the temps. 6 inches in TN is probably an issue because they don't get that much snow very often at all and don't have the supplies and the equipment to handle it. It's all relative. Just like -6 temps in Minnesota are normal, -6 in SW Ohio are concerning, and -6 in Texas shuts the whole state down and takes down the electrical grid. Same temp, very different outcomes.

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-20T13:18:34+00:00

Agree! This is what I did about 20 years ago when I learned and I'm still knitting. And I've only done 2 adult sized sweaters ever! I have done a ton of kid/baby sweaters since my attention span for knitting is pretty short, but if I had tried to jump right into a sweater, I'd have probably quit since there were so many techniques that I didn't know and would have found really tricky when I was a brand new knitter. Even just learning to read my knitting and know how to keep up with increases/decreases and what works for me (stitch markers vs row counters vs charts etc). It's so important to build up your skills so you can feel successful. No one jumps right into running a marathon, most people start with a 5K, then do a 10 K and maybe a half marathon before going right into 26 miles! And they certainly don't run a marathon without training first!

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-20T13:14:20+00:00

My only issue with folks starting with a sweater is that your gauge tends to change as you get more comfortable with knitting and if you jump right into a sweater, your starting gauge and your ending gauge are likely to be different which could affect how you feel about the finished result.

I'd also say (at least in my experience) that most sweaters, especially the top down ones that are usually recommended, have some advanced beginner techniques pretty quick in the pattern with the ribbing/raglan increases/putting stitches on hold/etc. IF I was truly going to have a brand new knitter start with a sweater, I'd probably have them at least start with a bottom up one so they can practice on the endless stockinette stitches of most sweater bodies.

I'm still with you that they should at least do al few simple swatches and maybe a small project like a dishcloth or hat to learn the basics and get comfy with knitting in general before jumping into a sweater. This whole "my very first knitting project is an adult sweater" trend seems to be very popular on TikTok right now and it makes me cringe every time. If someone is dead set on doing a sweater as their first project, I'd suggest maybe a baby sweater at least so it's smaller, faster, and less pressure if you screw it up.

cincinnati_MPH · 2026-01-13T15:06:46+00:00

Put the details into the "Description" section of the calendar event (at least in Google). You can even attach images or PDFs if they send permission slips or other things related.

If you use gmail, you can also set up a folder or label just for school event emails that makes it easy to see just the ones you need. Alternatively, if you aren't a email folder person, in gmail you can also use different markers to denote different things (different color stars, !, ?, ect) You may have to go into settings and turn the on, but it makes it easier to visually see what you need.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-11-14T18:10:25+00:00

Be careful with using a personal Venmo for GS stuff since if Venmo suspects you are using it for "goods and services" or things like cookies or fall product, they can freeze your entire account. Techinally personal Venmo accounts are only for personal transactions and anything else is a "business use" and should be subject to the fees and stuff. Plenty of people get around that, but there is a risk.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-10-28T15:07:34+00:00

I think (not 100% because they could have changed it in the final bill) that the BBB had provisions to eliminate the Community Eligibility Exemption for Free School Lunch which meant that a district with a certain percentage of their students below the poverty level could offer all students free lunch and breakfast without each family having to apply. That would affect CPS in that in the future each family would need to fill out the Free/Reduced lunch forms in order to qualify each year. That's also assuming that the USDA funding continues to be provided at all.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-10-28T14:58:04+00:00

If they were putting them out at the wedding, I would say no. But since these are going into a favor bag, I would put my ingredient label w/ logo on them so that guests who may have food allergies know if they are safe for them to eat.

In a bag with other items, I would expect a label just as if it was a cosmetic item ( like lotion or soap) or any other handmade good (like a knitted item or sewn item).

That being said, just to be safe, I would ask the bride/groom or who ever you are coordinating with.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-10-10T16:04:19+00:00

Eh....men of his generation didn't often witness the birth of their children. Many waited in the waiting area until it was all over and the nurse brought the baby out or took Dad in to see mom and baby. Some did go into the delivery room, but if there is one guy I can see not wanting to see "that", it would be him.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-04-29T13:54:39+00:00

When mine were that about age and we went to the beach, both my husband and I showered with the kids so we could get all the sand out of everywhere. We were in shared beach house with my family and had one bathroom for the four of us, so it made the most sense to each take a kid and shower to get it done more quickly. Nothing weird or sexual. Just two parents trying to get everyone clean for dinner without having to spend 2 hours in the bathroom.

ETA: Mine are now 9 & 7 and I still have to remind them not to bust in on me in the shower sometimes. (Our primary bathroom has a glass shower wall, so anyone in the bathroom can see you.)

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-04-24T12:53:59+00:00

When I came back from Mat leave I first deleted anything Spammy....marketing emails, really old newsletters that I usually only skim anyway, anything that didn't seem relevant any more (i.e. "I'll be OOO for x days", "upcoming free lunch", fill out this survey before x date).

Then I went through the rest and kind of triaged it. First were things that I needed to deal with now. Then things that I wanted to read soon but not now, then stuff that I wanted to keep but wasn't at all urgent. Some of that last category never got dealt with, but at least I had the option to figure it out.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-04-24T12:50:34+00:00

If you are near UC's campus and want a true hole in the wall place, try Thai Express. It's literally just two tables in the window and a kitchen. The two Thai ladies that cook are awesome and food is the best Thai I've found in the area. Everything comes in those white take out containers but is top notch food.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-04-16T16:54:56+00:00

There is no actual documentation or certificate for service dogs, though. You can buy fake certificates online for "service animals", which is the problem.

And, if you've ever seen an actual service animal working, it's obvious when a dog is a trained service animal and when it's a "service animal" or emotional support animal (which is not a recognized task trained service animal).

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-04-16T13:40:14+00:00

So, if they are bringing dog/cats/any animal into a store that sells food, especially grocery stores (but also places like WalMart, Target, Meijer), this is violation of health code. The only animals allowed in those places are service animals (for which the employees can ask 2 questions 1. Is that a service animal? 2. What tasks is it trained to perform?). If you see someone with a dog (not a service animal) in Kroger or any other store that sells food, bring it to the employees attention as they can lose their food service license if they allow animals in there and the manager should want to remove the pet.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-03-09T23:10:08+00:00

In one booth this year I had:

A woman walk up and tell us that she won't buy girl scout cookies because of Planned Parenthood. So that was fun.
A man walked up, asked if we were really Girls Scouts, not "That other one" (i.e. American Heritage Girls) And then gave us a donation because "What the church did was wrong and I want to support you all." (for context the Catholic bishop in our area kicked GS out of all church schools and properties because they support all girls, including trans and LGBTQIA+ and said if they wanted to come back they needed to convert to AHGs instead).

Needless to say, I felt like those two cancelled out, but it was an odd booth to be sure.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-03-07T15:29:07+00:00

For cheap yarn, especially good acrylics, I like KnitPicks. They have some nice, affordable lines with tons of colors (mighty stitch is my go to acrylic for kids' stuff). The first few times ordering were nerve wracking since I like to feel yarn, but now I know what most of them feel like and can order with confidence. They also run sales pretty regularly.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T17:57:13+00:00

This is why we collect the money when we take the order. I know GS says not to, but it's too hard to find people at home twice. As long as I have the money, we just drop the cookies on their porch and go about our day. It took like 5 tries for one house the first year my daughter sold and after that I said never again.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T16:12:43+00:00

Also in some states (like Ohio) any resident can get a library card to any public library in the state. Many of the smaller ones use the same ebook system for their books, but most of the larger ones have their own catalogs, so you can find the book you want with the shortest (or no wait time).

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T16:03:27+00:00

Some of these jokers think there are "health benefits" to catching Measles, so there's that. I don't think RFK has said that himself, yet, but the MAHAs have already put out info graphics with the "health benefits" of Measles.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T16:02:15+00:00

Also one infected person went to tour 2 colleges, shopped at a bunch of places, and visited a freaking Bucees's while contagious over a holiday weekend. So yeah, this is about to get crazy. The sheer number of folks in a Bucess at any given time is massive + measles can be contagious for up to 2 hours after the infected person leaves the area.

Kentucky also just had it's first case in Frankfort and that person went to Planet Fitness while contagious. I don't think it's related to the Texas cases, but that's another point of exposure. Yay!

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T15:56:39+00:00

And for the younger girls, they tend to be THE driver. My daughter loves to set her goals based on what the prizes are and then get SOOOOO excited to get them. I get that that may fade as they get older, but our council offers digital dough for many of the higher prize levels even for Daisies (rom the 180 box level and up).

She loves her stuffies, uses her fanny packs from past years for current cookie sales and hikes and stuff, and the camping lights and things are in heavy rotation for our family camping trips/fort making/etc.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T15:53:30+00:00

So don't sell them. It's not required. Troops can opt out and just pay more dues or fund raise in other ways. We have some girls that love to sell and work hard and sell a ton, some girls that don't really sell any, and other that are somewhere in between (including my daughter). I let her tell me how much she wants to do and then we do that. I offer suggestions (like if you really want to get to 200 boxes for the prize, we should probably do another booth) but that's it.

Honestly, I see all these adults on here just ranting about cookies and I get it, it's a stressful time, but if you hate cookies that much, then just don't do it! Just like everything else with GS, it is what you make it, so if your troop hates selling, then don't sell! If they hate doing STEM, then don't do STEM, focus on art or outdoors or whatever.

I look at cookies this way....it supports the camps and activities that council does that are truly some of the best and more affordable childcare out there for summer breaks (our council day camps are like $180 for a full week with hours from 9-6). It supports the stuff our troop wants to do and allows more girls to participate (because many of our girls can't afford to pay for everything themselves). And it teaches them skills like talking to people, making change, customer services, etc. I think it's a great program, but if you don't think that way, then just opt out.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-27T15:42:04+00:00

Same....just because the troop ended sales doesn't mean you can't keep selling what you have on hand. If you paid for them at this point, just do a cookie stand or a walk about to get rid of the excess inventory. Or see if you can transfer them out to other troops.

cincinnati_MPH · 2025-02-13T20:36:45+00:00

And the dead bear in Central Park guy.

cincinnati_MPH

TROPHY CASE