In Which Bear Hat Vacations in Maryland

Bear Hat attended the United States Department of Agriculture - Beltsville Agriculture Research Center Field Day, where government scientists presented their research to the public. He sniffed his way through the Chocolate Laboratory's booth of cocoa plants and participated in a chocolate taste test (he liked sample #4 the best). He became a successful hissing cockroach trainer with a prize winning cockroach that beat all of the other small children's cockroaches. He learned about the need to identify insects in streams as it indicates the local environment's health. However, he was especially excited by the opportunity to experience country living and "drive" a tractor.

Also at Field Day, Bear Hat was delighted to meet a fellow bear, Smokey. They compared favorite hunting strategies, which fish are the tastiest, and the time of day it's best to go foraging. It could be said that Bear Hat and Smokey were having a bit of a bromance.

In Which Bear Hat Travels

As of Tuesday, Bear Hat will be on the move! Stay tuned to see where the Sisterhood takes him this week!

In Which Bear Hat Brunches

Bear Hat enjoyed a lovely cappuccino at Sun in My Belly. He very much enjoys Sunday brunches on a beautiful sunny day. And flora.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye, We Now Call to Order the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bear Hat

We, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bear Hat, hereby instate the following Rules of the SotTBH. These rules shall henceforth be followed by all members of the Sisterhood. If said rules are broken, punishment will be Machiavellian in nature.

The Official Rules of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bear Hat

1. Only members of the SotTBH can wear Bear Hat.

2. No males can wear Bear Hat.

3. Only the wearer of Bear Hat can remove Bear Hat.

4. If Bear Hat is forcefully removed or taken from the wearer, she is free to attack the Bear Hat snatcher as a bear would, with claws and fangs.

5. Never disrespect Bear Hat.

6. Never disrespect yourself while wearing Bear Hat.

7. A sister cannot engage in activities of a more intimate nature while wearing Bear Hat.

8. Never wash Bear Hat.*

9. Each sister will have Bear Hat for exactly one week at a time, unless special circumstances are in play.

10. Always document the adventures of Bear Hat.

* In some extreme cases, Bear Hat may have to be washed. These exceptions will have to be approved by all members of the SotTBD.

In Which Bear Hat Visits Yogurt Tap

Bear Hat understands the value of probiotic, natural yogurt, with berries of course. Plus, he loves downtown Decatur.

In Which Bear Hat Attends a Roller Hockey Game

Bear Hat's first outing: a championship roller hockey game in Stone Mountain.

In Which We Come to Find Bear Hat

On the eve of Saturday, May 15, four unsuspecting women, (Let's call them KBW, AGS, SEM and ANS.), embarked upon a typical weekend outing at Ormsby's, a westside Atlanta watering hole featuring a plethora of bar games, two indoor bocce ball courts, beautiful wood paneling, horrific acoustics and an excellent, yet overpriced, beer list. These young ladies were enjoying their communal beverage, (When the beer is that overpriced, one will do for the entire group.), and people watching, when an unusual sight caught their attention. An Ormsby's patron was wearing a bear hat. The young women were immediately drawn to this mesmerizing hat, and each wondered how such a thing could exist, and, more importantly, where they could obtain one of their own. But then, as quickly as it had appeared, the bear hat, and its wearer, disappeared. The girls even began to wonder if it had all been a figment of their imaginations.

Some time later, after having to take celebratory birthday lemon drop shots which tasted mostly like cleaning solution, the young ladies decided to call it a night. The evening had been relatively uneventful, and they were tired. But things soon took a turn for the magical. As they were leaving the bar, there it was: Bear Hat. With its somewhat disconcertingly beady eyes and grinning snout that seemed to say, "Take me, I am yours," Bear Hat sat all by its lonesome on the stairs leading out of the bar. Fortuitous? Yes. A sign? Most certainly. Theft? Could be considered so in some social circles, law enforcement organizations and Amish communities.

Their actions were swift. Bear Hat was soon securely housed in KBW's bag, and SEM, ANS and AGS were prepared to create a diversion, if necessary. The escape proved to be effortless though, as if Bear Hat knew he was now with his rightful owners, and the girls drove off into the night, utterly delighted.

And, so, the Sisterhood of the Traveling Bear Hat, (SotTBH), came to be. The girls decided to share Bear Hat, passing him from sister to sister each week in a monthly rotation, and they also decided to track all the adventures that would ensue, which is what the purpose of this blog will be.

So, welcome, to the misadventures of Bear Hat, and its happy Sisterhood. We hope you come along for the journey.