What's the deal with airboats?

Before we went camping this weekend at Lake Kissimmee State Park, someone warned us to take earplugs because of the airboats. We didn't, of course, because the rest of my family can sleep through anything and the earplugs would annoy me enough to keep me from sleeping!

Thursday night was very cold and we did not hear much. Friday night I know there were airboats out on the lake until at least one in the morning. Saturday, the cold front came through at night, so we heard rain, not boats. (And our awning ripped away from the camper when it became too full of water, but that is another story. We thought the entire weekend would be dry.) I never saw a single airboat on the water during the day, although I did hear them occasionally.

So, my question is, what are people doing out there in airboats on Lake Kissimmee in the middle of the night? I'm not talking one or two, on Friday night it sounded like bunches! We called them giant mosquitoes because of the whining sound of the motors. It sounded like they were having a lot of fun, but I have no idea what they were doing.

Anyone been out on an airboat?


---Katie

And speaking of parents who won't make their kids behave....

I think those shoes with the wheels in the heels (heelies?) are pretty cool. I think they must be a lot of fun. But I don't get parents who let their kids wear them and use them just about anywhere. We were in a restaurant last week where a couple of kids wheeled back and forth from the salad bar, salads in hand. I saw a *young* kid on them wheeling along near the glassware section in Dillards or Penneys over the holidays. I am just an old fuddy duddy to think that kids should not be *skating* in restaurants and department stores? I don't think I would be bothered too much if they were doing it out in the mall as long as it wasn't crowded and they weren't mowing down senior citizens, but really, parents, is everything your kids do just fine?

---Katie

AirTran got it right.

Just in case you have been watching the morning shows or CNN, don't believe everything you hear about that family that was removed from the AirTran flight here in Florida. They were not removed because the kid was crying too much. They were removed because they could not/would not get their kid buckled up and the plane could not depart unless everyone was seated and buckled in. These parents were of the type who do not believe in using physical force on their child. Can't wait to see this little princess when she is fourteen.

---Katie

Pastor Schmeling's trial is on.

Pastor Bradley E. Schmeling of St. John's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Atlanta, GA, is being tried this week for being in violation of ELCA sexuality standards for clergy. He is gay, which the church knew when they called him, but he has acknowledged that he is now in a relationship with another man, a former ELCA pastor, which is violation of ELCA standards. His church supports him completely; the charges were brought against him by the bishop of his synod. He is clearly guilty - he openly admits that he is in a sexual relationship with his partner. The trial's purpose is to determine what the consequences will be.

In August of 2005, the Churchwide Assembly voted to continue its prohibition of ordained clergy being in sexual relationships outside of marriage between a man and a woman. A pastor who is gay or lesbian is expected to remain chaste. It will be interesting to see how this trial turns out.

Because the trial is closed, I cannot find any information about what is going on inside the trial room. The Lutherans Concerned website and the American Lutheran Publicity Bureau website have discussions of the trial and perhaps info about what is happening outside the trial.

---Katie

I guess the holidays are really over.

I really enjoyed the holidays this year. Both of my older kids were home and we had a great time. I'm having trouble getting back into the swing of "normal," hence the lack of blogging. Plus I have been doing a lot of stamping since the beginning of the new year.

But I am back and I do have some things to comment on. Hope someone is out there reading!

---Katie