Possible Black Friday Team

I am multi-tasking today, trying to get everything "done" so I can go caching on Friday. The pot-stirrer has her family here from North ( I think) Dakota, and they definitely have to get him up to speed on some local caches. I, on the other hand, have relatives ( Goldy's side) coming in ( from TN) for the Holiday, and I have been wanting to get them into caching for quite some time now.

Not knowing how I am going to get all this worked in...I was putting off a plan until "later". Well, the pot-stirrer calls this morning...no, I have to pass on a shopping trip...too much to do. She says they are going caching on Friday. Isn't it deer season or something? So, don't wear a cammo Elmer Fudd hat , she tells me. Ya, with a white little "bobbed" tail. Well, I know how my luck runs, and of course, I have a higher chance of being injured in a Walmart on Black Friday at 4 am! ( That is why I never do that!)

So, as I make my pumpkin rolls ( didn't know I could cook?...hmmm...you would be surprised) and throw laundry in...I get to thinking. Maybe we could have a team!!! The pot-stirrer could take the Dakota son-in-law, I could take the TN brother-in-law , 2 sister-in-laws and 1 "potential" brother-in-law. This may work out. This may work out better than the year we went to the "cut-your-own-Christmas-tree" farm and the tree fell on me!

I could probably bring this idea up tonight, while we sip wine and eat "my -secret-recipe" cheese ball. (That I still have to make) I AM thinking this may be the plan.

So, on my mental "to do" list....I have to get to a couple of stores yet....more laundry, a couple of dishes for the Thanksgiving pot-luck....finish this blog...oh, make sure I bring the camera ( had someone find one of my caches, last weekend, and they called me Ma'am...ouch!! Oh, and talking about cache logs, the Alphabet Man found one of my caches, and signed it The Alphabet Man!) Soooo.... add to my list....review blogs, make sure I didn't insult him....( my little one, always says that....mom some people may be insulted by your blogs) let's see, what else...make phone calls, download some stuff...Oh I got to go....

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!!

The Queen of Hide & Seek

Not me... the pot-stirrer! Spent a few hours on Tuesday, getting ready for her first hides! I drug out of the closet all our containers, tape( cammo, grey, black) baggies ( of various sizes), wire, wire cutters, scissors, printed off log sheets, and sorted through FTF and swag items! We put together around 20 caches. My house looked like a first grade art project.

On Thursday morning...our usual day of caching...we set off. Apparently the pot-stirrer has been studying all the caches, and decided that the surrounding "empty" towns need a little excitement! I rode shotgun, didn't even take my GPS. After my last hides and the whole missed number on the coords...I figured I was not getting involved! Well, not too much! Pot-stirrer decides that Cullom, Chebanse, Herscher and a few side roads in between... ( no idea where we were) needed to be decorated with a little caching! Of course, on our way, when I mention, I will have to show her how to " place a cache" in the computer...she about freaks out! Oh no...she thinks these are going under my name! I don't think so...this is your idea, your baby...just step up to a new level!

That argument lasted until we arrived in Cullom. I have been in Cullom only a hand full of times...I got my passion for teaching EMS from Doc, (have not seen him for years) And there is a great little bar/restaurant there that has absolutely the best Grilled Prime Rib! Anyways...when she gets to her first location, she returns to caching mode and the whirlwind of her hides begins!

There are several things we do not see eye to eye on...my driving...and here idea of hiding a cache! There are so many great places out there. She, of course, has her own ideas...which is fine...but we spent half the time..."discussing" the "better" sites. She did let me have a few suggestions, and I just noticed that she put in the log that this location was GG's idea!! Right, give me a break!

I think she placed like 11 caches. I had to race back home, the dogs had a grooming day, but before I even got there, she is calling. Turns out, Reviewer Jones had a couple of comments. This is one of the main reasons I didn't want my name on anything! I swear he "knows" me, and maybe has like a red flag by my name. Anyways, she is totally freaking out...I, of course, am being the "calming" factor! LOL Turns out to be absolutely nothing, he just needed a little clarification. I reassured her that this is just a form letter they send out, nothing personal. Seeing I remained so "calm" with MY incident, I knew how to handle this situation!

Reviewer Jones just had to be sitting around waiting for something to do, because before she even had them all entered...one was posted! And before I even got home from the dog groomers...there was already a FTF!

I had to smile on the FTF... a "local" cacher was the FTF, this was the same person she nearly ran over leaving on her FTF marathon just last week. Poor dude had to sign in as a second to find ( ya, but by a minute!) Just goes to prove what I have already said...you have to get up pretty early to beat the pot-stirrer when she is on a FTF mission!

So to sum up my thoughts of the day...I still think the better hide was by the recliner...with the recliner as the hint. But no...she doesn't like hints...so let me give you a hint...on one end is the recliner, the other end is the "party grove" ( female lingerie hanging off trees, like some kind of a trophy) and the cache is in the middle! I love the cache in the park, finally she gives in to one of my ideas ( she, of course, hates it) So, when you find that one...make sure you log in, as a great hide GG ! HaHa! I think the last hide of the day, was my favorite. She did agree on that location. I probably won't hear too many more complaints on MY driving after that " one hide"...(bump!)

P.S. Decided to take the camera out on our caches...need to get a few photos in the gallery.

Geocaching at any age!

I have been extremely busy, in other aspects of my little life. I actually had to turn down a geocaching day, just to finish a project deadline! Yuks! But, ( hopefully, I will be ready, once again next week.

Remind me and go back and tell the story of the pot-stirrer hanging from a rafter, looking for a cache. No, I was not there, but I was on speaker phone....just in case! What? would I call 911 and give them the coords? Or would I drive out there and take a couple pics before I called for help! LOL

Noticed there was an ad from Geocaching regarding a 7 day Alaskan geocaching cruise! Where you stop at different ports and go caching. The best part...The last stop in Alaska is at Juneau......hmmmmm Ist Sgt could be waiting for us! It is in July...we should consider this!

And before I have to get out of here...I wanted to say Happy Birthday to 1st Sgt. That alone is proof that you can go geocaching at any age!!! LOL Hey, you are what 56? ROFL 1st Sgt was also born on a Friday ( the 13Th) and he turned out pretty good, so all you superstitious people...take note!

I will be back in the geocaching circuit real soon!!

2 More Caches

Not under my belt...but hidden! No big deal, no hoopla, no duct tape excitement...just slipped a couple more out there.

My first intention was to place them on Thursday, after our great day of caching. But, as we drove to the site, we encountered Muggles! So, we drove by and waved back, like we were in some parade or something! Got to love a small town!

I got up Friday morning, feeling the effects of Cache #102. I guess that long, hot bubble bath did not do the trick. My butt is extremely sore, and seeing I did not land on my butt, it must be from all the"rolling on the ground, laughing" that I did.

I hid the caches on Friday morning. Check the coords, and wrote it down! 8 hours later, I go back...and check the coords! I worked the weekend shift on my real job, but go out again on Monday and check the corrds!

I think I am now ready to list the caches. So, be on the lookout...2 new caches! Don't worry, pot-stirrer will NOT be the FTF...as she knows where they are!

Happy Caching!

Geocaching boots

The plan was to head down to a mall, pick up some flavored coffee beans for the pot-stirrer, buy some boots for our winter escapades, while picking up caches ALONG the way. And like most plans...it just didn't happen!

We head off, I have print offs of 15 or more caches...all located en route. But, we divert straight to the mall. We just had to get those coffee beans. I am sure they would not had sold out before we got there, but....I am not driving. From the mall, we head to the craft store...I decide to pick up, the "perfect evergreen swag" for the holidays. 20 swags later, I end up with a 3 foot Christmas tree. That was MY change in plans. It is lunch time....so off for a nice sit-down lunch. Finally, a sit down and eat, never happens when you are out caching with the pot-stirrer. But, then again...who is caching?

After completely over-eating and indulging in 1 margarita, we locate the boot store on the GPS and head that way. Notice, we haven't stopped for even 1 cache. Once in the store, I have to pull myself away from the Christmas decorations, and head for the boots. Really not hard...I pick up a boot, slide it on...fits...throw it in the cart. I am done. Or so I think. I have to locate the pot-stirrer, as she has some wide foot deficit, and is clear across the store, in the men's section. She has boots and boxes spread everywhere! She is looking for the perfect boot!

I try on a couple of Elmer Fudd hats, while patiently waiting. (hats don't work on me) Just when I think we are ready to wrap this up, she glances down and sees what boot, I have picked out. "Is that the boot, you are getting?" Ya, why? "well...it is kinda plain" We are geocaching, not going for a style show. She doesn't think it will be warn enough. So, I start looking all over...I try on a couple of pink ones, just to "stir the pot". She has her boots ( I call those construction shoes) and so she is making suggestions for my boots... No, I don't want anything that ties...No heels! (geocaching in stilletos) No, too heavy...No, I don't want buckles! Nope, too low on the ankle. No, too high up the knee. Nope...just want something to slip on! I finally find something that will work...she claims it is not waterproof! What? Who makes a boot that is not waterprooof!

Now I am in search of a boot, that has a "waterproof" label. I end up buying a pair of "runway priced" boots/shoes that have a zipper on the side, but claim to be "waterproof"! When we leave the store, I smell like tires...it is raining out..it is getting dark. Mind you, we have not gotten 1 cache!

I check my I-phone and see there is 1 right by us. It was a LPC, nice and easy...even in the rain. As I am checking for more nearby caches...the pot-stirrer is headed for Starbucks. I see that there is a cache nearby. No...she's not going, she is getting Starbucks and we are heading home. It is only 0.4 miles away! A true geocacher would not pass up a cache that is only 0.4 miles away! Rain has never bothered her before, besides she just bought boots...but she is not budging.

I have to announce that I will buy the Starbucks, if we can stop for the cache! Well, that worked. It takes less than 2 minutes for this cache..and we are off to Starbucks.

Suddenly rain must not be an issue, as we bypass the drive thru, only to park, get out and walk in the rain. Once inside, she can't decide whether she wants the pumpkin or the Carmel...oh, so she gets both!

On the ride home...the rain has stopped ( of course) but it is already dark out, so I don't even suggest.... Really I was re-thinking the whole day, and realized what I really wanted was my old moon boots from the 80's

The "get winter boots for caching" can now be crossed off my list. Make sure you look for us this winter, I will be wearing Goldy's cammo coveralls...no hat...and my little black designer WATERPROOF boots!

My 100th find!

I start the morning off with scraping the windows and dressing with 2 layers under my hoodie. I throw a jacket in the cache mobile...just in case. Scrounged up some gloves, don't need any boots, but do wish I had a hat. Actually wish I had a head that looked good in a hat!! Today is a normal geocaching Thursday.

It turns out to be a beautiful day ( in the 60's) all the farmers were in the fields and were totally oblivious to our 1 mile loops down every gravel road. We had crossed over the border, which sounds exciting, but really it was just the border to my home town state. The thought process on all this, is get some caches "far away" while the weather is nice...and when " the snow flies" we will get caught up on the caches in our "nearby " area. Well, seeing that our "nearby" caches are also 30 some miles away...It really doesn't make that much sense! But, I guess I can get some relief knowing that when I slide into a ditch, it is at least on some "familiar ground"

By the end of our tour, we pick up 12 caches. For a minute there I felt like Thelma and Louise, but we all know how that ends ...
Today we are not rushed, we are picking these caches up at a pretty good pace. Of course, you always have that one..."so obvious you can't see it" ...the" if it was any closer it would bite you"...and the " how did we not see that cache"...that slows you down a little. I ran into some geese at one cache ( well, not literally) and had time to go back with some food for them...just as I promised.

1st Sgt, who obviously monitors my day to day activity sent me a congratulatory note on my 100th find, and added that he has " created a monster" I mentioned to the pot-stirrer 0n thursday that I was pretty sure I had reached the 100 mark. Her response..."Don't care" I decided right then and there (Ma-ism) I won't even mention it....so I won't!

It was on the last cache of the day, number 102 ( but who's counting) that I was attacked by a killer corn stalk! We were strolling out 1/2 mile to a cache. ( You are told that right up front).. The owner of the cache mentions something in his description about being able to walk through the crops, but don't take them down. He didn't say anything about them taking you down! Try to get the picture here...I was walking, talking, and messing with the GPS, ( I may even have been chewing gum) I decide to "change lanes"...when Bham! I was down! Seeing that the corn had already been combined, I think this would be categorized under light weight division! That stubby little stalk, took me by surprise! I think I did manage to get UGH out, but ...barely. I was down, but not for long! After visually looking for bones sticking out, and mentally assessing the degree of pain, I realized that I had saved the I-phone, and that's what counts!! I did roll over and laugh, just so I could tell 1st SGT that I was ROTGLMAO! The pot-stirrer said I hit so hard, she felt the ground shake...but we all know how she exaggerates everything!

We are going to try to get back to that area "before the snow flies". We will take a right, instead of a left, and ( hopefully) pick up a couple of Scott & Peggy's caches!! (see how I casually mention this...like we have been for years!) Cache on, be safe, and watch out for the killer corn stalks!

Note to pot-stirrer: When your co-cacher "goes down"...you DON'T just step over them and keep walking! LOL ( 100th find..tee hee!)

Geocaching Thursday

We (being me and the pot-stirrer) usually go out caching on a Thursday. It is really the only time our schedules don't collide... So, when the phone rings on a Wednesday... at the crack of dawn I really think something bad has happened. The over-caffeinated pot-stirrer is calling...there are some FTF's out there, we need to get them! Ok, I say, so is that where you want to head out on Thursday...Oh NO! She wants them today~!! Aren't you up? Ahh nooooo... Well , she tells me, she is going..." with or without me". Ok, I am up now. Claims she will be here in 1 hour! Yea right, by the time " 1 hour" rolled around, we already had 2 FTF's!

So, this is how the day starts out! Her caffeine buzz had to be powering her GPS. My signal, was about as weak as the 1/2 cup of coffee I gulped down. We buzzed from FTF to FTF, being all stealth like...she's talking all "low", probably didn't want anyone to "hear "us. Her paranoia was showing...every time she saw a vehicle, she just knew it was someone out to get the FTF! I was starting to get a little paranoid too...I was waiting for someone in a "cammo" outfit, to jump out of the huge mounds of leaves and scare the begeezer's right out of me. Having watched the movie "shooter" the night before probably added to these paranoid thoughts. I really did manage to "get" her ( and it was quite funny) as I was looking up the "next cache"...I told her..."Oh alphabet man, just logged that one as a FTF! OMG...I wish I had my camera ready...that look was oh so worth it! just kidding, I say, really NO ONE is even UP yet, let alone out getting FTF"s

After a record breaking morning, I plead for a breakfast stop. Her idea of breakfast and mine are 2 different things! I am thinking 2 eggs, over medium, maybe crispy bacon, some of those really nice browned chunky potatoes...rye toast...mixed fruit jelly....Ok wake up! I manage to get down a dry Cherry danish from some gas station ...and we are still going...and going... and going. After picking up all the new FTF's , we stop at a few caches that I had already found. She does a really nice job, of adding these to her "found it" list. We did stop at the cemetery, 1st Sgt, you remember, the whole bunny nest incident, where you screamed like a "girl"! Ya, who was rolling on the ground laughing then!

We were back home, before the sun came up...well not really, but we were NOT gone long. Seriously someone has to control her caffeine intake!

Who are we?

(Music opens: CSI theme song...Who are you....)
(Music fades...)

Well I don't know my Up from Down...my North from South ( at times) and I definitely can't sing, but it would be a good opening. I get a nice e-mail from the "nice cacher" and he, has a she, that makes them a we, and she of the we, was the one responsible for the nice save with my totally screwed up coords. Cool! I think that would be neat to be out caching as a "we". Which made me think of the fact...that I really don't know any of these people, but like everyone else ( I think, everyone does this) I put a "picture" with a geo-name. So, in my mind I think I know a lot of these people!

For example...while out caching one day, the pot-stirrer refers to "fuzzy" as a she. No, I say, Fuzzy is a he. How do you know? Well, I don't... I tell her, but I "just know" that he is a he. She insists that he is a she. In my mind....Fuzzy is a he. But, do you know that for sure, she asks...No, but I WILL when I get home, because I am gonna look it up, and I am just hoping HE has , at least, 1 picture in the gallery. HE didn't look like, the Fuzzy in my mind, but he is a he. And I can see where he gets his name. And so the stories go on...only in my mind, do I really know anyone!!

I get the weekly news letters from Groundspeak, like everyone else. And I see where they have these geocaching get togethers...and I am thinking...do these people KNOW each other? Or do you go in and they have a" stick on" name tag that has...what? their geo- name or their real name? And if they have their real name...do you know who they are? ( I think they should have both names on the sticky) I do know for sure, that you would never see "Alphabet Man" on the sticky...because that is really just a name we made up for him. Never met the guy.

After reading the nice note from the "Niche cachers"... I realized no one really knows me.... ( well if you live within a 10 mile radius of me, you would know Goldy, so you would know "Who I AM".. but I am truly harmless, I am not the dysfunctional, wine drinking, "blonde"that I may portray. I write the blog, only to bring an occasional smile to 1st Sgt and Big Sis. Ma sometimes gets a "reading" if Big Sis, stirs the pot and calls her.

Everything I blog about, really happens I just write about it...in a BIG FONT way!

So, happy caching....I am off ( but not speeding) as I just found out...from a friend of a friend of a friend...that the owner of one of my recent, very frustrating, finds is actually a "ticket writer"

COOL!

Ma-isms

Every now and again, I can feel the love from 1st Sgt, with an occasional e-mail regarding my blog. They are usually short...and to the point. I love the one where he informs me " Geocaching is not for dyslexics" Then today, I get another one... hey you were only 45955.7 feet off. 45 THOUSAND 955 POINT 7. Yes...1ST SGT, I am aware of that. I didn't have the exact number, but yes I was aware...that I was a little ways off. I am just thrilled that you actually took the time to convert that to feet. As I read that e-mail and go to the next, I think of something Ma always said... " always have to get the last word in...edgewise"

Edgewise (!?!) Where did she get that! ?! Who says that? Looking back, I realize we didn't grow up with the usual sayings...we grew up with Ma-isms! One of her favorites..." You kids will be the death of me, yet" MA...you are 86 years old!!!

Unless you grew up in the 60's in a Catholic grade school, you probably don't appreciate the fact that on every paper, and I mean EVERY paper ...we had to put J.M.J in the right upper corner. So, when Ma would would be really ticked...she'd Say... "Jesus, Mary & Joseph!" We knew we were in trouble then.

Most kids, grew up hearing the words...you wait until your father gets home. Oh No, not at our house! Why wait until dad got home...Ma could handle this herself! By the time dad got home, we were already half way through our punishment! Or, I should say, 1st Sgt was half way through the pound of dark chocolate. Yep, he had to sit at the picnic table, in the summer...and eat 1 pound of dark chocolate, all because Ma thought he was eating the chocolate chips from the freezer. I guess if we were the type of family... that waited " until your father gets home" ...well, we would never have this great memory, because it turns out Dad was the one eating the chocolate chips. I keep my chocolate chips in the freezer, and every once in a while, I remember, oh so clearly, that day.

Re-thinking all these sayings, and trust me, she had hundreds of them, (" I hope you have 10 kids and every one of them, is just like you ") I was trying to recall who it actually was... trying to get the last word in...edgewise. I was the baby girl so I didn't have a chance to EVEN say anything, so I KNOW it wasn't me. ( Don't start Big Sis) The more I think about it, the more I think it was ACTUALLY Ma, that always got the last word in...edgewise. I can almost bet ( my life) on it, that when my day comes, as I make my way to the pearly gates ( hopefully I have the right coords!) I know I will see Ma ( remember we went to a Catholic school) standing next to St. Peter and she will have that little smirk on her face, and I KNOW what she will say... I can hear it now..." well... look what the cat dragged in."

With this being my prediction, I better get my chance now...So... I am gonna step up to the plate 1st Sgt...and as I picture you rolling on the floor, laughing " whatever" off...I am going to do a first... so listen up... ( maybe you should write it down)

When I hit the Publish button on this screen...I am getting the last word in...edgewise! ( All is Good! xo)

...POOF!