Friday, December 31, 2010
Wrapping it up !
With the New Year just around the corner, I thought I would wrap up the year with one last blog.
The weather outside is delightful,
but soon will become frightful
So, before it starts to snow
Let us go, let us go, let us go!
(cheesy...I know)
Had a caching day planned with Peanut...finally a day that we both had off, DaddyDan "volunteered" to babysit for the triplets...the winter storm warning was not going to take place until 4pm....the sun was shining...so we had plans.
Peanut made all the plans, leaving early again...trying to get some numbers. I text her in the morning....what is the dress code (she answers) stop and grab caches. Ok, that should answer all questions....but....not thinking it out thoroughly...I dress for the day.
Layers ( definitely) ... 2 hats ...(hey it is cold outside) gloves ( actually, the mittens, that lift up with the tops of the fingers exposed...need to actually touch the I-phone screen, to make it work)...boots (definitely boots) with 2 pairs of socks....hate cold feet!) Decided NO to the coveralls (mistake!)
Peanut picks me up ( I do not drive in snow...effectively) I trudge out to the car, weighed down with clothing...geocaching supplies...snackies ( lots of !) ...water (Peanut says...you can get dehydrated in the winter too...really she is always "preaching" that ) We fuel up and we are off. The day is mapped out, going down and over ( I think, that is right) 2 counties, and starting from there.
In hindsight, had I logically thought this through...Hmmm...a few days BEFORE Christmas...means the traffic "in town" would be crazy...so if we are going for numbers...we are going "country"...with that comes ditches, "culverts" , unplowed roads. So...in hindsight...we should have had coveralls!
By cache number 2, we were soaking! I know Peanut snapped a few pics...one of me up to my knees...literally stuck in the snow...and 1 ( or 2) of me lying on the ground. (Not that I fell or anything. mind you) I was a little fearful that they would make the logs, but realized they were taken with MY I-phone....(whew!)
We had a good day with numbers, actually stopped and had lunch. Ended up laughing our butts off, when we realized we were only 50ish feet from a cache. Oh ya, had to go back and get that one!
We had a "end time" in mind...but when the weather started getting sloppy, we thought we would start back...."after a couple more" ! ( Or, as we would say in my family ..."one more") I guess, it was when we saw cars sliding into stop signs and people in the ditches...that we came out of our caching gaze, and decided to head home. Now, we are only 2 counties away! And wouldn't you know, the weather man was wrong...The winter storm warning may begin at 4pm...but in WHAT county? LOL
Several hours later, we got home...unscathed! Of course, I was taking pics of the weather all the way home. You know, in case we didn't make it....everyone would know that we were "aware" of the conditions! And being true geocachers, we were hoping that someone would log our caches for us ( you know, just in case...want the numbers to be right at the eulogy) Peanut, having been a semi driver in her previous years ( has she not done everything!) had no sweat, as she is telling me "semi horror stories! And me...well I ( truly) was not worried...just someone feed the dogs ( oh and...log my caches !)
Oh and one last bit of wisdom...Cold, frozen fingers do not work on the I-Phone! Everyone have a great New Year!
The weather outside is delightful,
but soon will become frightful
So, before it starts to snow
Let us go, let us go, let us go!
(cheesy...I know)
Had a caching day planned with Peanut...finally a day that we both had off, DaddyDan "volunteered" to babysit for the triplets...the winter storm warning was not going to take place until 4pm....the sun was shining...so we had plans.
Peanut made all the plans, leaving early again...trying to get some numbers. I text her in the morning....what is the dress code (she answers) stop and grab caches. Ok, that should answer all questions....but....not thinking it out thoroughly...I dress for the day.
Layers ( definitely) ... 2 hats ...(hey it is cold outside) gloves ( actually, the mittens, that lift up with the tops of the fingers exposed...need to actually touch the I-phone screen, to make it work)...boots (definitely boots) with 2 pairs of socks....hate cold feet!) Decided NO to the coveralls (mistake!)
Peanut picks me up ( I do not drive in snow...effectively) I trudge out to the car, weighed down with clothing...geocaching supplies...snackies ( lots of !) ...water (Peanut says...you can get dehydrated in the winter too...really she is always "preaching" that ) We fuel up and we are off. The day is mapped out, going down and over ( I think, that is right) 2 counties, and starting from there.
In hindsight, had I logically thought this through...Hmmm...a few days BEFORE Christmas...means the traffic "in town" would be crazy...so if we are going for numbers...we are going "country"...with that comes ditches, "culverts" , unplowed roads. So...in hindsight...we should have had coveralls!
By cache number 2, we were soaking! I know Peanut snapped a few pics...one of me up to my knees...literally stuck in the snow...and 1 ( or 2) of me lying on the ground. (Not that I fell or anything. mind you) I was a little fearful that they would make the logs, but realized they were taken with MY I-phone....(whew!)
We had a good day with numbers, actually stopped and had lunch. Ended up laughing our butts off, when we realized we were only 50ish feet from a cache. Oh ya, had to go back and get that one!
We had a "end time" in mind...but when the weather started getting sloppy, we thought we would start back...."after a couple more" ! ( Or, as we would say in my family ..."one more") I guess, it was when we saw cars sliding into stop signs and people in the ditches...that we came out of our caching gaze, and decided to head home. Now, we are only 2 counties away! And wouldn't you know, the weather man was wrong...The winter storm warning may begin at 4pm...but in WHAT county? LOL
Several hours later, we got home...unscathed! Of course, I was taking pics of the weather all the way home. You know, in case we didn't make it....everyone would know that we were "aware" of the conditions! And being true geocachers, we were hoping that someone would log our caches for us ( you know, just in case...want the numbers to be right at the eulogy) Peanut, having been a semi driver in her previous years ( has she not done everything!) had no sweat, as she is telling me "semi horror stories! And me...well I ( truly) was not worried...just someone feed the dogs ( oh and...log my caches !)
Oh and one last bit of wisdom...Cold, frozen fingers do not work on the I-Phone! Everyone have a great New Year!
Gotta Love it!
A "Team" of Geocachers came to the area yesterday! I do not know these people, but what a hoot! (Or at least they sound that way) I check my I-phone last night , love this new technology....ok, ok.....new to me! And I see that I have "30- some" new e-mails. The team, it seems, must consist of at least 3 team members....all out on a cold winter day, trying to grab some caches.
I can say that the cold did not seem to affect their humor. Even when there was no "smiley" earned. As I sat reading the logs, I was picturing the whole thing...At least one of the 3....can not remember some of the caches....Hey ... that is me all over. You go to log on, and can not EVEN picture the cache, but you wrote it down as a find... so you must have found it...but what was it!?! Finally someone who admits it! The snow and cold weather seemed to be of a little of a hindrance ...Ha ha - can relate to that one too!
At one of the caches...a mouse came running out...and they end up writing it in the log...saying...and I quote " you guys are pros" (like I planned the mouse to come running out or something!) NOW that is funny! Yea me and mice!
I guess from the outside looking in... I am "looking" normal. But normal is just a setting on the dryer ! Pros...yea right....they must not be blog readers...and what you do not know... is that half the stuff that ends up being done, does not even make the blog... it is a "unless you were there you would never believe it" type of thing!
So a " pro" ... I am not....and neither am I normal...LOL...but after reading the logs, and looking up a picture they posted, there is one thing I DO know... You "guys" are not normal either! I recognize this!
Sounds like they had a great day of caching, great day of falling in snow, great day snapping pics and just being crazy...now THAT is what geocaching is all about! You really, really Gotta Love it!
I can say that the cold did not seem to affect their humor. Even when there was no "smiley" earned. As I sat reading the logs, I was picturing the whole thing...At least one of the 3....can not remember some of the caches....Hey ... that is me all over. You go to log on, and can not EVEN picture the cache, but you wrote it down as a find... so you must have found it...but what was it!?! Finally someone who admits it! The snow and cold weather seemed to be of a little of a hindrance ...Ha ha - can relate to that one too!
At one of the caches...a mouse came running out...and they end up writing it in the log...saying...and I quote " you guys are pros" (like I planned the mouse to come running out or something!) NOW that is funny! Yea me and mice!
I guess from the outside looking in... I am "looking" normal. But normal is just a setting on the dryer ! Pros...yea right....they must not be blog readers...and what you do not know... is that half the stuff that ends up being done, does not even make the blog... it is a "unless you were there you would never believe it" type of thing!
So a " pro" ... I am not....and neither am I normal...LOL...but after reading the logs, and looking up a picture they posted, there is one thing I DO know... You "guys" are not normal either! I recognize this!
Sounds like they had a great day of caching, great day of falling in snow, great day snapping pics and just being crazy...now THAT is what geocaching is all about! You really, really Gotta Love it!
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Holiday Tips
As The holidays approach...I wanted to pass these Holiday tips along to my Geocaching friends!
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6.. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10.. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great holiday season!!
HOLIDAY EATING TIPS
1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet table knows nothing of the Holiday spirit. In fact, if you see carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum balls.
2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare... You cannot find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one for me.. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!
3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of gravy.. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.
4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports car with an automatic transmission.
5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control your eating. The whole point of going to a Holiday party is to eat other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?
6.. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do. This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of eggnog.
7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.
8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?
9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have some standards.
10.. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner. Remember this motto to live by:
"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand and wine in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!" Have a great holiday season!!
Earth Cache # 2
Well, I think enough time has passed, (since submitting my "test" results on Earth cache #2....) that I must have passed.. The owner, to this date, has not pulled my "smiley" on the cache. So, I either passed, or he feels so sorry for me, that he is giving me the credit. Could be either way!
Earth cache #1, was pretty straight forward, I printed off the questions, got to the site...read the kiosk, wrote the answers, took the picture, and I was done. BUT...If you remember, way back then, it was that caching day, that my Phone died, ( and I mean died!) My computer died...I had to drive to the geek squad store, get the phone reset to factory settings ....only to lose all my pictures ...including the mandatory Earth cache picture! What a fiasco ... getting credit for that cache!!
So, being brave, I attempt Earth CACHE #2... I forgot how fun it was going to be! LOL It was our day out with TN Chad...we tackle the Indian Caves. As with all the Earth Caches I have experienced ( that would be 2 total) you print out the questions, write some answers, and take a pic. How hard can this be? Really, do we need to ask?
The problem.....well, the answers are not on some kiosk....you actually have to know something about geology or whatever! Ya right! The owner, obviously, does not know me! But I gave it my best shot.
One of the questions, ask if you think the rock is harder or softer than some other rock...or something to that extent....Hmmmmm, as I am peering over the edge...Well, if I fall...and hit my head, I think it will be pretty hard. Ok...I have no idea! Can I google this?
Another question, wants you to figure how deep the caves are. Well, deep. I am thinking... pretty deep. I have no idea...so being, the good scout, I thought I would try to figure that out. In my brain, I thought if I did way point averaging, while I was at the bottom, and then did it at the top....It would tell me how far the 2 were from each other, and then I would know how deep it was. It was a thought....I am sure a wrong thought.....I obviously am not an expert on way point averaging, or even a "beginner" I am downright a newbie! It was just a thought...but when I did it, it said 2 feet! And I know it was deeper than 2 feet! (Well, the good news, of the 3 of us there, I was the only one who even knew the term waypoint averaging!)
I think there was a question about the stone being darker or lighter....well once again...clueless. I think we had limestone in a front garden whenI was growing up, it was like a little ledge where the tulips grew. I always thought it looked pretty white....unless it was wet, then it looked darker! Oh okay, we will guess on this one!
So, as you can tell I am not a geologist! And, I really did try to get the right answers. I know that if the owner knew me....He would agree that I should get credit for just showing up....not falling in....able to climb out....and survive without something being broken!
So...my Earth Cache experiences, are really getting up there! Just because you are out Geocaching...does not mean that you know anything about nature and rocks and all that good stuff. Well, at least for me...I am still trying to figure out North from South. Thank Godness, the questions were not based on directions! Can you imagine..."facing North, tell me what....blah, blah....OMG I would still be down there!
Earth cache #1, was pretty straight forward, I printed off the questions, got to the site...read the kiosk, wrote the answers, took the picture, and I was done. BUT...If you remember, way back then, it was that caching day, that my Phone died, ( and I mean died!) My computer died...I had to drive to the geek squad store, get the phone reset to factory settings ....only to lose all my pictures ...including the mandatory Earth cache picture! What a fiasco ... getting credit for that cache!!
So, being brave, I attempt Earth CACHE #2... I forgot how fun it was going to be! LOL It was our day out with TN Chad...we tackle the Indian Caves. As with all the Earth Caches I have experienced ( that would be 2 total) you print out the questions, write some answers, and take a pic. How hard can this be? Really, do we need to ask?
The problem.....well, the answers are not on some kiosk....you actually have to know something about geology or whatever! Ya right! The owner, obviously, does not know me! But I gave it my best shot.
One of the questions, ask if you think the rock is harder or softer than some other rock...or something to that extent....Hmmmmm, as I am peering over the edge...Well, if I fall...and hit my head, I think it will be pretty hard. Ok...I have no idea! Can I google this?
Another question, wants you to figure how deep the caves are. Well, deep. I am thinking... pretty deep. I have no idea...so being, the good scout, I thought I would try to figure that out. In my brain, I thought if I did way point averaging, while I was at the bottom, and then did it at the top....It would tell me how far the 2 were from each other, and then I would know how deep it was. It was a thought....I am sure a wrong thought.....I obviously am not an expert on way point averaging, or even a "beginner" I am downright a newbie! It was just a thought...but when I did it, it said 2 feet! And I know it was deeper than 2 feet! (Well, the good news, of the 3 of us there, I was the only one who even knew the term waypoint averaging!)
I think there was a question about the stone being darker or lighter....well once again...clueless. I think we had limestone in a front garden whenI was growing up, it was like a little ledge where the tulips grew. I always thought it looked pretty white....unless it was wet, then it looked darker! Oh okay, we will guess on this one!
So, as you can tell I am not a geologist! And, I really did try to get the right answers. I know that if the owner knew me....He would agree that I should get credit for just showing up....not falling in....able to climb out....and survive without something being broken!
So...my Earth Cache experiences, are really getting up there! Just because you are out Geocaching...does not mean that you know anything about nature and rocks and all that good stuff. Well, at least for me...I am still trying to figure out North from South. Thank Godness, the questions were not based on directions! Can you imagine..."facing North, tell me what....blah, blah....OMG I would still be down there!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
TN Chad
I survived the Thanksgiving binge! I survived the Tennessee clan! I survived....but barely.
Thanksgiving was the traditional..... family...eat....eat....eat....visit....drink...staying up half the night...drink...shopping...and more food! And this year, once again, we added....Geocaching!
Chad ( nephew) came for the holiday bash...and wanted to give caching a try. Of course, it was freezing! And it always seems colder, when the winter season first starts. By February, we will think temps in the low 30 something...is a heat wave, and we will be running around with just a sweatshirt on. But, it is early on, so we ( really, just me) dressed for the worse. Layers and layers.... hats, mittens, the whole 9 yards!
We set off about 11ish, I had checked weatherbug, and it told me, that the warmest part of the day, was going to be between noon and 4.....so....obviously, that is what I plan. I hate cold! ( Notice in summer, I will put that I hate hot weather and ticks!....There is no making me happy)
We had tons of fun. No ticks! Did see 3 big deers ( or so they tell me...that they were big) Chad, definitely, not a slow learner. I, being the nice hostess, gave him the good GPS. We decided to do some hiking caches, first off, because Chad likes to hike, but secondly, I needed to walk off about 10 pounds of Thanksgiving food!
First cache...TN Chad ( name, seester and I gave him ) walks right up to the cache...and it has a TB in it! Actually it was a Geocoin, and unlike MY first Geocoin, I DID NOT just grab it out of his hand ( Uh....1st Sgt !)
He is a natural....or maybe he is just a guy, that has a sense of direction...either way, we found every cache...in a timely manner...3 travel bugs...12 caches....and a few sore butts!
The Indian caves were interesting. When we first got there, we all "looked down" and warned each other...."do not fall!" I managed to get down okay, and actually back up...and let the record show...No one had to do the whole...."butt push up" Of course, we were cracking up, and saying that we were glad, no one behind us, had a camera.
We celebrated the great day of caching...with more food and drink! So much, for the great calorie burner!
Thanksgiving was the traditional..... family...eat....eat....eat....visit....drink...staying up half the night...drink...shopping...and more food! And this year, once again, we added....Geocaching!
Chad ( nephew) came for the holiday bash...and wanted to give caching a try. Of course, it was freezing! And it always seems colder, when the winter season first starts. By February, we will think temps in the low 30 something...is a heat wave, and we will be running around with just a sweatshirt on. But, it is early on, so we ( really, just me) dressed for the worse. Layers and layers.... hats, mittens, the whole 9 yards!
We set off about 11ish, I had checked weatherbug, and it told me, that the warmest part of the day, was going to be between noon and 4.....so....obviously, that is what I plan. I hate cold! ( Notice in summer, I will put that I hate hot weather and ticks!....There is no making me happy)
We had tons of fun. No ticks! Did see 3 big deers ( or so they tell me...that they were big) Chad, definitely, not a slow learner. I, being the nice hostess, gave him the good GPS. We decided to do some hiking caches, first off, because Chad likes to hike, but secondly, I needed to walk off about 10 pounds of Thanksgiving food!
First cache...TN Chad ( name, seester and I gave him ) walks right up to the cache...and it has a TB in it! Actually it was a Geocoin, and unlike MY first Geocoin, I DID NOT just grab it out of his hand ( Uh....1st Sgt !)
He is a natural....or maybe he is just a guy, that has a sense of direction...either way, we found every cache...in a timely manner...3 travel bugs...12 caches....and a few sore butts!
The Indian caves were interesting. When we first got there, we all "looked down" and warned each other...."do not fall!" I managed to get down okay, and actually back up...and let the record show...No one had to do the whole...."butt push up" Of course, we were cracking up, and saying that we were glad, no one behind us, had a camera.
We celebrated the great day of caching...with more food and drink! So much, for the great calorie burner!
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