Geocaching: The learning curve?

Wrapping it up.....

2011-03-11T15:27:00.007-06:00

Wow....it is hard to believe that is has almost been 2 years, since I started the blog. I am not a writer, nor a storyteller, and I am certainly no Erma Bombeck. I can not believe I have pulled this off for so long. I have been waiting for some time now, for grammar teachers to e-mail me my blog, all kinds of corrections, circled in red...you know all those "run on sentences and dangling modifiers ! ( thanks to kind teachers, it never happened)

I said from the beginning that this was my form of therapy...and it has worked so well.....LOL ( I probably need REAL therapy!) With somewhere around 135 blogs under my belt, and my 2 minutes of fame [ when my blog was mentioned on a pod cast] ( I was nervous as hell!) This is a wrap!

I am thinking that telling strangers how dumb you really are, is not as therapeutic as it may seem! I was trying to determine how to do my finale...maybe with all the pictures, that have been taken...and never posted, but......ahhhh probably not a good idea. They will stay with "the secret album " That being a box of pictures, taken through out the years, all good memories, but some good stories just cannot be shared! Haha! You just had to be there!

I will still be out caching, and I would say that maybe I will run into you on the trails, but it just seems like I never run into anyone on the trails...which may be a good thing for you! If you ever participate in a 5K run, look for me handing out the water bottles. I am still planning on going to some kind of a geo-bash, and hopefully, run into some of the "Big Guns". I would like to study them from afar....maybe I will learn something!

On a recent caching expedition, a friend of mine snapped a pic, which she made me promise would make the blog...so attached is "the promise" And on this note.....

[Ok folks...that's a wrap...Fade to black]

Feeling the vibes !

2011-03-07T18:12:00.007-06:00

I am sure everyone is tired of hearing about the chirp cache...so let's just skip to the finale....I got the darn thing! Which leads me to my current thoughts. I am thinking I am becoming a "geek-o-tech-nology savy person"!! I know....stop laughing...but it is happening. I am getting techno vibes from somewhere!

Back to the beginning, let me explain ...first off...I feel that Best Buy put the "cool" in Geeks...after all, to be a Geek now is cool....Geek squad and all, but let me add to this thought...I , however, feel that the term "Nerd" has not quite evolved yet!

I come to these thoughts after reflecting on my last few months...after putting in a full day of exercise at Perry Farm....I decide that I really don't have the GPS loaded...quite right...for the Chirp caches....so I go "surfing" ( love that term...seeing I can't swim) the Internet...oh ya...google this, google that...find some links, download a bunch of crap...and bingo...I got a " chirp cache compatible" GPS! Now wait...don't be too impressed yet....just last month, I had to ( well not HAD) but wanted to move my desk...which means moving the computer, which meant not having the right length in anything to do any of that. And, we all know, you don't say "can't" to a female.....so I go trekking ( actually I drove) to Best Buy, had already thought of what I needed...don't know any of the proper names, or even if that make something like that) but I go in....go the the computer dept, start looking around...saw something I thought would work, find a Geek, tell him what I want to do...show him what I got...and he said,,,"yep, that's what you need" . I even think he smiles, not the " I feel sorry for you smile" ...but the salesperson smile...(NOT.... the "I am so proud of you smile".) ...but hey...this was progress. Then I fix my Blu-ray, when it stopped working . .. (Well, I just cold started it...which I know works on all medical things, including your heart! )

Anyways, moving on...I am so excited.....My oldest majored in stuff like this in college...Musical something...where she can do lighting, electrical, sound stage and set up venues. She is my "go to" person....my phone calls to her from Best Buy and the like...start out with....Hi, I'm at _____________ ( enter name) and I want _____________ ( enter toy) and do you think I should get ____________ (enter Brand) or _____________( enter whatever) This is ALWAYS followed up with....Is this something I can hook up myself, or do I need to wait for you to come home? ( She lives across the United States) Her responses, usually are something like....you SHOULD be able to....or... oh ya, you can do it, it has pictures ( color coded) or sometimes...ahh...maybe you should wait....I will be home soon, or "do you need this right away? Of course, if I do need to buy something, I am asking for a list from her...now what do I need? ( a what?...spell it....) And as I am walking around the store with the phone to my ear, I am telling the clerk...I need one of these, and this and that. Always a fun time!

But back to my point.....I am thinking she is starting to wear off on me..After all she is related ...not switched at birth...(I was there) ....so maybe, hidden deep down, I have some "technical know-how'! She will be coming for a visit soon, we will try to get some caching time in ...and of course, I have a "list" and if I need anything technology oriented....I will be purchasing it when she gets here...that way she can hook it up for me! ( Hey, mom's aren't dumb!) I will have to take her out on a chirp cache...so all you Caching Geeks...better get some more placed....cuz I am planning on having the remaining 6 found...long before she gets here!

And if I can just brag for a minute....the top 5 students in her class got to set up a venue as an individual project.....when it was her time to pick from the hat...she got Willie Nelson! Yep...that's MY girl!

Flown the coop ...{*}

2011-03-05T19:50:00.009-06:00

After finding my way out of the tunnel, I headed off to get a chirp cache...after all that was the main reason for the day. I should not have been surprised with the tunnel cache, seeing it was the "second" cache of the day...and history proves...We ( Peanut and me) usually get the first one right away, but the second cache is always difficult and usually a DNF ! Just saying.

I head over to Perry Farm...home of a "chirp". I downloaded the same site, {*} that I used for the first cache....Yes, that would be THEE first chirp cache in Illinois, and Yes, that would be me and Peanut as the FTF's ! Even tho it took 8 hrs....Peanut/me, are smarter, wiser, older ( LOL) The downside...I am solo today...and I WON"T even say...."how bad can this be?"

I manage to park, without too much difficulty....no one here! This should be an nice stroll, I think to myself. A mentor told us one time....a multi cache, usually takes you all the way in, and then all the way out for the final cache. See, and no one ever thinks I listen! With that in mind, I head out...for the furthest corner of the park. {*}

I decide to check the GPS for all screens, up and going...this GPS doesn't have the "Chirp cache on/off screen {*} ...but it is new and chirp compatible, so it must be "good to go" {*} after all I just downloaded the software! {*}

I check out the hint...why I never do this at home...beforehand...never ceases to amaze me! It talks about taking a stroll along the Kankakee River...hmmmmm....where the heck IS the river, from here? It doesn't take much to turn me around, and after the whole North/South episode with the tunnel...I am gonna tell you...I am clueless !

I continue to walk, telling myself, that all is good, and this is great exercise. I finally come across a sign that has an arrow pointing to the river....nice, it is on my right. Really? no....that can't be...nah...ok...keep going. I make several twists and turns...and when I say several, I mean A LOT! I walk around every little cul-de-sac {*} ....because I don't want to be asked if ... "I walked half-assed, or all the way" Why do I have the feeling....I am no where near this?

Miles later, and I truly do mean miles....I see that the river is ahead....Thank God, for the signs...but I do come to a "Y" Common sense ( which I have none) ...tells me to go to the left...I pause.....pause...pause...go to the left.

I walk, twist, turn, keep checking my GPS, until I am completely out of the park! The asphalt has gone to a road. But I do recognize the sight of another cache....already got that one. I turn around {*} and go completely back to the "Y" and now I go straight....( would have been the right) {*} and I walk, and walk, and walk. I am getting cold, I am sick of the "scenic" river, I am tired of looking at dead trees, fat squirrels and dead leave, besides that I have to pee!

I continue my trek all the way...out of the park....again! Ok, this is ridiculous...something has to be wrong. Once again I see the sight of a previous cache...at least I have some memory left! I turn around, AGAIN...and head back {*} Once again, back to the car, I go around every little, {*} and I mean every little cul-de-sac...every twist....every turn! The only thing I find, is the same log we "squatted" on...the last time, we were in Perry Farm!

I am frustrated! Normally I would being cramming food, to relieve my frustrations...but after walking ALL those miles...I decide I am ahead...so I do the next best thing...I head off for shopping! Funny how, your butt hurts after walking all day, looking for a cache...but never hurts when you are going up and down the aisles of a store!

With the car loaded with "great buys" I head home...(sigh) Chirpy has flown the coop ?

Hint: {*} = all the Wrong moves!

Is the cache in this tree?

2011-03-03T14:50:00.002-06:00

Well...here is "the tree"....no cache...no smiley! Just another great tunnel adventure! LOL!

Another Tunnel.....Another Disaster

2011-03-02T18:33:00.005-06:00

Feeling confident ( that would turn out to be overconfident) with my last find, I decide to move on. Next one is only like .16 away...across the freaking river, but yet only .16 away! I drive around a little...looking for a tunnel...this is de ju vue' The description talks of this tunnel, that they are surprised it is still there...me...well I am surprised at everything... any more! After scanning the map, (on my I-phone) I then discover it is across the river. ( I think my brain was still in shock...well, Ok, I guess I just don't think!) I drive over and park, at the same spot I had parked for an previous cache...another one that was traumatic! I scan the horizon....ahhhhh, I see the tunnel, actually from the car it looks like the old cartoons...where the mouse hole ( dark arch) is painted on the wall. Well...I'll be...never noticed that before. Gonna go get me a cache! Ya man!

Seeing that I just drove there, without the use of coords, I decide to read the description...you know....!!!!!!!! Sometimes you could just slap people, well, not that bad...but a panic nightmare for me, when people list multiple coords, one is the parking, then the tunnel, and probably the cache itself. Well, who knows if I am parked at "the coords" so I will just move on....to the hint!

OMG....I am walking and reading at the same time ( I know...a true miracle) when I read...go south thru the tunnel....W_H_A_T? are you messing with me? I am always so proud, when I am in an area ( and there a only a few of these) where I "think" I know what direction, I may be headed....and I sure of heck, don't think I will be going South (?) I really think I am headed North....ah sh*t! Let me re-think this...really I think I am going North...anyways...let me just say...I agree that this is a tunnel!

Second guessing myself....maybe I should have parked over on the other side...then, I think, I will be going South into the tunnel ! So, really the only thing left to do, is go thru the tunnel to the other side....OMG...it is dark, creepy...did I mention dark? The "floor" is wet, and muddy...There is graffiti on the walls...ya, real nice...I approach slowly...I swear to somebody...if anything scurry's across, jumps out...or follows me in there...I will come and haunt you from my grave....because I just know, if anything happens...I will drop dead right here!

My GPS beeps, and scares the "bejeezers" out of me! Oh nice...I have lost sattelight, ya, I know... it is dark and creepy in here!! I am heading for the light at the end of the tunnel....literally! I finally reach the other side...and if I have died...I have gone to hell...it may be brighter, but it is not that much nicer!

I do see stairs, and stop to re-read the hint...ok it says...as you go up the stairs...well these stairs are coming down...( if I was entering South) so I must be parked on the correct side....ah who cares at this point...so re-read the hint AGAIN! ...second step and tree on the right....ok, give me a break...I do know my right from my left....but tree? What the.....?

I start to "see " the whole pic...I scan the entire area...I am looking for this cache...I want the darn smiley! I want to conquer a tunnel on the first day...I want....I want....I want !

I snap a picture of my own...and I head back...going SOUTH ( in my opinion) through the dark, creepy tunnel. Did I mention it is dark? Once again, I have reached daylight....my parked car is within sight...I think to myself....

Yes...it is a tunnel (that we agree on!)
I have NO idea...North from South ( I do have a feeling that the owner knows)
I DO know, this is probably not a "GG-friendly" cache
I did NOT get to sign a log
I do NOT get a smiley.... :(

BUT....I got a great pic.......re-read the hint......then check out the next blog......

Trying NOT to make a splash!

2011-03-01T18:02:00.004-06:00

Before I go completely insane, and am dragged off by people in white coats, I decide to go do some caching. Could have been a little warmer out, but I am "hopeful" ...oh and desperate! I download a few caches, and head out...I recognize the location from the title, so I go there first..GPS all set, I get out and head out. As I am getting closer to the river, I decide I better read the desprition.....hmmmmm...ok, a nano ...I have done nano's before. As I get closer, I realize I am headed for nothing that would contain a nano, better check the description again. It is at that time that I see that the Owner has listed it as a terrain of like a 2.5...ok....I am thinking, I am agreeing, as my feet hit the edge of land !

My heels are on ground...but my toes are over water ! Crap...I better check this out a little closer....so I read the hint....ahhhhhhhhhh......I see it, well "it" as the location...not the nano! As I stand on the river bank, I realize ( other than the geese) that there is only 1 car here, and it is some lady...hope she isn't watching me....I am afraid she is thinking...ok, lady if you are gonna jump, you have better odds going off the bridge

I am standing there, looking at the location, agreeing on the terrain, and just thinking this through. I put the GPS around my neck. Can't afford to have that go in. I have all my keys ( that is ALL my keys) on a "Kara-Beaner" ( As Peanut reads this, she is smiling and Very, Very Proud) so I hang that on the GPS...Oh ya, put the I-phone in my pocket, and zip it up! Well that takes care of anything valuable....I have my pen in hand...thinking, just how am I gonna do this?

With the thaw, the ground is a little muddy, but old leaves are present, I step very carefully...not really sure if there is ground under the leaves, or......? I am deciding at this time, that I want an attribute for all the caches...it should be a big GG with a line going through it...meaning, not a cache for Goldysgirl! Well, I could squat, and lean over....ahhhh probably not a good idea. Well, I guess I will have to sit. And so I do...the ground is cold...very, very cold, in fact, so cold that I cannot tell if it is just cold, but cold and wet! I definitely can tell that the river is cold and wet! I am NOW hoping the lady in the car...is indeed watching me, as she will be the only person who can call 911 when I fall in!

I have been on steeper terrains, and sometimes ( even though I have been known to trip over my own feet) I can tell if I am OK...and then there are other times, when I feel shaky, and know this is not gonna work...today I feel 50/50...this can go either way! I lean in...very v-e-r-y carefully...I feel the sight, am holding my breath, trying to feel the nano...ahhh, there it is...now BREATHE!!!!

Cold fingers and nanos, are always a trick, but I manage to get it out, and sign the log. Surprisingly it is dry ( I am not!) Now to return it, without either of us ( me or the nano) falling in ! I can only imagine e-mailing the owner that I dropped the nano in the river! YIKES!

Just as I start to smile...I found it! I realize that I have to get back up! I am on a little bit of an incline...and there is nothing for me to hold on to...grab on to...or even pull myself up with! And so...I have to scoot my butt up the incline. And still with the frozen butt, I can't tell if I am in mud! If these geese start pecking at me now...we are all goners! I "graciously" scoot up the hill, and manage to come to a standing position...holding my head up high...I head back to the car ( I refuse to check my butt for mud, in the presence of "eyes")

I get to the car, and bring up the next cache....well Ma, you always said make a big splash in life...Thank God it was NOT today!

Whaz Up?

2011-02-15T20:03:00.003-06:00

Nothing! And that is the problem. Everyone, I assume, has survived the blizzard of 2011 The most excitement anyone has had in some time...well, me, at least. I was thinking of all the caches...all the wet logs, all the buried caches! Good thing I don't own a bazillion caches, this would be a pain in the butt, to go do maintenance. Spring is just around the corner, according to Phil...you know the groundhog, whom I am a huge believer in. And if you are not family, you won't know this...but Ground Hog Day is my favorite Holiday. Yes....true. Has been since I have been a little kid. Ma would also remind me ( every year...every time, I say Ground Hog Day....that it is Dana Mumby's birthday. I, of course, wouldn't know Dana if I saw her on the street...but you know how Ma's can be)

Moving on....I injured my shoulder training for my 5K...let me tell you, it is harder than you think, handing those water bottles out! I need to get out caching, before I really hurt myself. Plans for the geocache event, are in progress, and I think we may actually have plans to meet up with some "experienced cachers" ....after all, we don't want to seem "too obvious"

In the boredom of the winter, I threatened Peanut that I was going to start a "ditch the bandanna campaign" She claims she wears the bandannas to keep ticks out of her hair. H-e-l-l-o ! it is 10 degrees out! Even I know the ticks are hibernating! So, if you know Peanut...send her an e-mail, telling her to ditch the bandannas....that ought to get her going......LOL!

Suppose to be warming up...sun was actually shining this week...so there is hope...out caching in the mud, is just around the corner!

Resolutions

2011-01-24T17:02:00.004-06:00

I am truly one of those people who "start fresh" on New years day...wipe the slate clean and try a "do over" I hate New Years resolutions, basically I think I am just setting myself up for failure. You know, it is January 3rd and already you are a failure. Same reason I do not go out celebrating on New Years Eve ...4 hours into the New Year and already you feel like crap. I am sure you get the point.

I do, however, like to make goals. Nothing too hard, the usual....participate in a 5K ( when I say participate, that does not mean run, or even walk....participate, you know, like hand out water or something...LOL) I would like to lose the 10 pound holiday gain, but that may be pushing "it" after all these are the same 10pounds I have lost and found again for the last 30 years ( I claim it is still "baby fat") I would like to attend a Geocaching event...uh oh....now I said it...which is something I would LIKE to do...still up for grabs...the thought of running into a few Big Guns....makes me hyperventilate....truly! I do not want to seem like an over-achiever, so I have already crossed out the "learn a foreign language" Just because I am tired of pressing "1" for English....is really no reason to go overboard...so I scratched that idea.

So...the Geocache event...it is out there...in the blog....for thousands to see ( okay all 6 of you) so now I am almost committed. (Using the word committed as in a commitment...not actually committed...which would be a totally different blog) We will see how this plays out. But think about it...rubbing elbows with a bunch of geeks ( and I say that in a good way) There is just so much to learn. And NO hazing allowed with the newbies!

I will wrap this blog up with one of my New Year favorites.... 2 towns away ( which is really only 3 miles) the town sign says....May your troubles last as long as your New Year Resolutions.

NEWS FLASH !

2011-01-09T10:24:00.004-06:00

Well, well, well. In case you have not heard...let me fill you in. Turns out....we now have friends in high places! Seeing I have given up climbing the ladder (blaming in on my fear of heights haha) it is always nice to have someone at the top! Not that we would ever abuse that privilege, really never need to, seeing P-Nut and me are such geo-friendly cachers, you know we replace the full logs, sign within the lines ( well, not always) never cache after dark ( well, not anymore) pick up the trash ( you get the picture) so....staying out of trouble, we should NEVER have to play the " I know so-n-so card" BUT, if we did....it would be so fun to say "H-e-l-l-o people...gives us a break, we are friends with a geocaching big wig!"

We secretly refer to him as a "big gun" ( but do not tell him that) and to think when we met him...he was ONLY a legend, and now a big wig! WOW...we know ( AND are friends, or so we claim...HE may deny knowing us) a Ladder Climbing-Geocaching Legend- Big Wig!

Haha....be impressed! Congrats Alphabet Man!

OK....time to head home !

2010-12-31T10:35:00.001-06:00

Wrapping it up !

2010-12-31T09:41:00.005-06:00

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!

Gotta Love it!

2010-12-31T09:00:00.008-06:00

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!

Holiday Tips

2010-12-19T18:15:00.003-06:00

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!!

Earth Cache # 2

2010-12-19T17:27:00.004-06:00

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!

TN Chad

2010-12-02T19:40:00.007-06:00

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!

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-24T16:03:00.004-06:00

Turkey Earth Cache! ? ! Have a great Thanksgiving...Maybe we will run into each other on
the trails on friday!

We broke the rules

2010-11-21T19:03:00.005-06:00

We are NOT rule breakers....well I can't say that when I was younger, I was a "goody-two-shoes"... maybe a few minor, little, teeny things...no one got hurt ... arrested... or even caught. I can't speak for Peanut (in her younger days)....but the point being...Today, at this time in our life...we are NOT rule breakers. We go geocaching... we pick up the trash....we replace the cache where it was found....we roll the log sheets up nicely...we let people know about maintenance problems.. We REALLY are good...law abiding, geocaching friendly, harmless people. Until today....

Let me enlighten you with a little history ....It was probably sometime in the 1970's, and I think it was a person named Evelyn Wood...she was the guru of speed reading. ( She was to speed reading as Rosetta Stone is to foreign language.) She held speed reading classes. Not that I actually ever attended. ( But, I do read very fast. ) And IF Peanut was EVEN born when those were around...and HAD she attended...she would have FLUNKED !

Now, let's start at the beginning.....

We are out running around getting grocery's...Peanut has a TB to drop off...we pass up a nearby TB Hotel....only because we don't want to waste a lot of time looking....we get our groceries.... 3 stores later ...still running around, crossing all this stuff off our list. When we realize we are close to a TB Hotel, that neither one of us has ever been to. Peanut pulls it up on her phone. We go....it is dark....we need a hint for a combo... Peanut is reading all this in the description... we go for the cache. The owner comes out... we have met him before.... we do small talk... we leave the TB.

On the way on to our next "store stop" we remark that the owner, wasn't real talkative and he seemed a little disturbed. Hmmmm...maybe he was having a bad day. So we are talking about the cache... how WE wouldn't want a cache at our house, that "strange" people would be coming up to at all times of the day and night. And for some, unknown reason, I pull up the cache description...and that is when I read...Daytime cache only!!!!!!

OMG...we both sit there with our mouths in that perfect little "O" :o } We are so embarrassed! Not only does it say Daytime cache only...but it goes into great detail about NOT caching at night!

How did you not read that...I ask....her response....I was speed reading...Well you're no Evelyn Wood....Who is Evelyn Wood? OMG....not only do I feel bad, but you are making me feel OLD and Bad!

The dialogue continues....OMG ( she says) make this all better....Make it better? How am I suppose to make it better? I know I am NOT signing the log ( I say) Oh like he doesn't know it was you.... well you had the conversation about "your series"... I didn't say anything about my identity... but YOU ( my dear Peanut) have to log the TB! And just who else would I have been there with? OK...(she does have a point!)

And so...here I am...trying to make it all better. We are so sorry. And, of course, this is all Peanut's fault...( haha...she said I would blame her...so I am!) And we will promise to read descriptions BEFORE the hunt... scouts honor!

Hope you have a Great Turkey Day!

GG & Peanut

Gotta Go....

2010-11-20T15:54:00.003-06:00

I really have to get out and get some caches! I think I could go caching everyday, and not get burned out!

I heard last night my nephew is coming up and will be staying at least a week following the Gobble, gobble day.....My first thought...I HAVE to take him out caching. And then "they" ( family and such) tell me that he wants to go hiking and such....

Enough said...I have to take him caching. I just hope he falls in love with this ( like I did) and never wants to stop!

I guess I just find it strange, that some people may go caching for a short time or only 1-2 times and then just give it up.

Wow...I must be addicted!

Yo Garmin!

2010-11-10T16:55:00.005-06:00

You are totally missing the opportunity! Now, I don't mean to tell you how to run your advertising dept. or comment on your marketing ideas...or even suggest you do a special promo....I am just saying....you need to listen up!

I have always wanted a movie deal...and I am willing to use Garmin products. I LOVE my Garmin. But with a movie, comes high priced movie stars, and the budget could get high. Of course, I am not disclosing who would play me, but I can assure you, she is gorgeous!

Anyways, It has been suggested that instead of a movie, perhaps it should be a reality show. Now that would trim the budget quite a bit. But with a reality show, you must remember that the characters play themselves! So, before you jump at this idea....you need to see me....And I mean " SEE" me. Could be a problem, but with a good make-up artist, it may work.

The third idea, is just a Garmin promo...And seriously, this is no lie....If we could promote ...." If I can use a Garmin, ANYONE can use a Garmin."

I truly do Love my little Garmin....and I have made so much progress in my Geocaching Life. And you need to consider that all promos do not need to be of such a serious nature. Your Garmin web sites have that stuffy guy, demonstrating the GPS.....when in fact, I would Love to do all that! And think about the Old Spice commercials, if they can have that weirdo ( in a towel...in his bathroom, no less) promoting that product, screaming on a video at the end aisle at every Walmart.....then you could certainly find a good promo for me!

Option 3 is of course, your least expensive route...and I know when the general Geocaching population, gets wind of this...EVERYONE will want a Garmin!

THEN... we can talk reality show. So, have your people, contact my people...Ok, let's be honest right up front...I have no people....so contact me!

Thank You for your time
Sincerly,

Goldysgirl

Well ain't we something!

2010-11-09T16:34:00.006-06:00

Had a short day of caching yesterday....and I can tell you....we are SO excited! The day started off with Peanut in control....she picked the caches and picked the area. I was just riding shot gun, entering the coordinates as we went along. ( I LOVE this Garmin)

Ended up doing a small section of a whole new area....also turns out we found caches from 4 new people. What a day!

One cache in particular, just made our day. We go to this site, and as I am looking around, Peanut continues to read....not at this location.....
turns out we have to go 88 degrees and so many feet to find it.

We scanned the area, read a few logs, recent cachers unable to find it... due to lack of a sufficient Gps... well if my Gps has a degree thingy on it....I am not sure where it was....but I did remember downloading a compass app on my I-Phone, that I had never used. Hmmmm....wonder....well I grab my Phone...and set up the app....in less than 1 minute...we are headed to the cache! I am looking at degrees and Peanut is in control of the feet.

The closer we get to the cache....the more excited we are getting....AND we know we are gonna find it!

FOUND IT! I was so excited...just think, not only getting the cache but using degrees and all on a compass. Now this is a big thing here! I think I had the same feeling, that football players probably have when they make a touch down! We were ecstatic!!!! If I was younger, I would have done a cartwheel!!!

When I got home and was logging my finds....I am reading the description for the first time. The owner reminds us that it is at a big intersection, lots of traffic and to be stealth like.....

Well....I...mean...I am sure... well, you know....we were...ya ...definitely....uhmmm....stealth like... I am sure....I mean....really...I don't think...anyone...uh...ya...noticed us.

GG's and P Nut's caching Adventure !

2010-11-05T18:21:00.004-05:00

Decided to do a little caching...and like the Big Guns we decided on a flight path! Haha....well, that only worked for so long. But...we did get in a nice day of about " 25ish caches" !

Seeing our last cache day was with the whole dog poop cache...you should not be surprised that we ran into another dog poop cache....Unfortunately it was NOT part of the cache....But....I FOUND IT!

Immediately we both knew it! And it would not come off my shoe for anything! Even tho, I was sliding my foot along the gravel all the way back to the car....it remained....and so did the smell! UGH!!!

P Nut ( new way to sign her name, when we are in a hurry) wouldn't let me get in the car. Can you believe that sh&% !! Had to do some fast thinking....I grabbed a bottle of water and tried to wash it off.....yea right...not real good luck there. Fortunately we were equipped with paper towels and the such. Good thing we also had alcohol gel, and the next bathroom stop had some spray Lysol or something, I used 1/2 the can!

Smelled better, looked better, all better ! When I got home I ended throwing out all the water bottles...hmmmmm....which one DID I use on my shoe?

Hey...."poop" happens!

Needed to add a little foot note here: ( A lot of our caches today were By Racer) So....Racer ~ You Rock!

Quick Fix !!! :)

2010-11-05T18:19:00.003-05:00

Well...what did I tell you!

2010-11-05T18:14:00.002-05:00

Haha....there's the poop!

2010-11-02T17:13:00.003-05:00

Decided to invite my "poop master" friend to go find the poop cache. That, of course, would be Peanut. With both of us Nurses, and her having triplets....we think we are well versed in poop!

And so it began....the poop search! 2 adults....looking for poop! And we got it....with the credit to Peanut, who actually spotted it!

Definitely not what we "imagined" we were looking for....that just goes to show....how it is so easy to "read into.... or imagine " a cache. My best hint for this cache...is the owners hint! AFTER finding the cache....I realized he spells it right out for you! So don't worry about the coords...just read, and I mean, just READ the hint!

It was a fun morning...and I have decided that Geocaching is all about the nature trip....just last week I was walking in the woods, listening for bird chirps and this week....I am on all 4's...looking for dog poop! Can't get any closer to nature than that!

So, Here's the poop.....

2010-11-01T17:39:00.005-05:00

On my day off...I went looking....for poop! But, the worse part was I couldn't find it! When you are not actually looking for poop...it is everywhere ! I am forever, seeing....smelling....picking up...or stepping in poop. Except for yesterday.

I had some errands to do, so I thought I would pick up a few caches along the way. One of them turns out to be a poop cache. Which is no secret....because it tells you right in the hint, that it is fake dog poop. And a good thing too....because who would ever think that is what you would be looking for! And it is by or on the bridge...so I guess the most likely thought would be a magnetic...or maybe something shoved under something.....but DOG POOP!

So, here I am in the middle of BFE....looking for dog poop. My first thought ( after searching for some time) How do you NOT see poop? Then I was thinking...is this small poop....like poodle poop? Or is this big dog poop....like you know, some huge dog, that almost looks like a pony.

Still no poop. So, I recheck the hint....which by the way has a lot of details....I do the whole...OK, this is North so that is East....then I go to the other end of the bridge to THAT East. Still no poop! Well, the coords were really bouncing....(and that is the story I am sticking too) but I did actually get to where I was, according to MY gps, about 4 feet. So, if I am right in my thinking that is 4 for me, and about 4 for them...so I search about 8 feet. On my knees running my hands through the grass. No Poop! I even got in my car to check the mirror...to make sure...I knew which way was North. NO POOP!

By this time, I am in some taller grass and I am hoping I don't across the "real thing". But No Poop! So, after "quite some time" I think...this just a bunch of s&%# so I left.

I get an e-mail today, the owner took out a friend, and checked out the whole poop deal. Took about 20 mins or so...but it was found! They adjusted the coords a little...and it should be "good to go"

So, in the morning....while "you's all" having your coffee....I will be on the hunt for Poop!

I will keep you "poop posted"

In case you haven't heard.....

2010-10-24T13:40:00.005-05:00

Around October 15Th, Garmin had a news release announcing the CHIRP....a new twist to Geocaching. According to Goundspeak , they then spent the next couple of days, racing around trying to come up with a CHIRP icon...something you would need to list under the attributes.

On October 19Th... a" Famous Geocacher" in this area, placed a CHIRP Cache. (To get one that fast... he had to have it shipped overnight or something! ....anyways.... moving on...)

Turns out he placed THE ( that would be pronounced THEE) FIRST CHIRP CACHE IN THE STATE OF ILLINOIS!

My response...hmmmmm.

It was posted on Facebook... Everyone was googling Garmin... googling CHIRP... People were leaving comments on Facebook... feedback on Grounspeak... making comments on forums... I am sure it was being "tweeted" on Twitter. It was crazy! Everyone had opinions on the future of geocaching. The Cache listing showed it had 11 people watching the site, AND, the Cache site had over 750 hits!

I thought....hmmmmm.

So while the Geocaching community was busy giving their insight... Peanut and I thought ...screw it ....and decided to go get the cache. And that is exactly what we did.... signing the FTF on 10/22 at 16:03. ( That is 4:03 pm for civilians)

I don't want to give anyone the impression that "we just walked up to it" (even tho the 2nd and 3rd to find... did just that!) ...AH....NO...definitely not "my style" After all...have you ever heard of me "just walking up and finding anything? LOL! :)

So Peanut with less than 200 cache finds, and little ole' me with less than 300 finds...Found it!
Now... think about it....FTF on "THEE First Illinois Chirp Cache! "

Wow...Legends ... ( in our own minds!)

A picture is worth a thousands words......

2010-10-22T17:52:00.005-05:00

Wish us luck !

2010-10-21T21:18:00.003-05:00

Wish us luck...and common sense... the contents of an e-mail I just sent. The reply : Good luck, not sure about the second.

Peanut is finally over her poison ivy...and willing to enter geocaching areas, beyond the sidewalk!

We have a plan...tomorrow we are going out....as close to sunrise as my old body will allow. We have a plan.....we are so excited...we are going for a cache. Not just any ole'cache...but what we are thinking is gonna be a great cache!

The Gps is downloaded....fresh batteries....tom-tom fully charging...I-phones...charging! The clothes are laid out...warm, with several layers, in case we "break into a sweat" The moon is full tonight...so we are thinking...that should be ...Good luck for us!

If we get this cache....if...if...if....there will be no "living with us" Definitely a photo shoot.... if we have positive results. Of course, we are not gonna jinx ourselves, by being ready with ....nice hair-do and make-up...we will just take our chances! I even "downloaded" the song....One way or another...just to get us in the right frame of mind.......

Wish us luck...and common sense.....

"One way or another, we're gonna find ya....we gonna get ya, get ya,get ya....one way or another...."

( Hey, no fools here....by the time I post this blog, we will be on our way!)

Day 2...teaching 1st Sgt!

2010-10-21T21:00:00.003-05:00

I really have to go easy with this....he has already threaten to sue! Ha....let's see, you can have the dogs!

Anyways, out with Peanut...the day of caching was going to be INTERESTING! Peanut, still running gun shy....still on the steroids from her last poison ivy gift. ( I feel sorry for "Dan, the man" you know...women on steroids!...anyways, that 2 law suits now!)

We decide to do a small series...terrain 1 to 1.5 Weather was nice....early autumn ( too hot for 1st Sgt, well anything over 50 is too hot for him, until he is adjusted to "the lower 48"

Turns out 1st Sgt is still doing the numbers game...going north or South, east or west according to the coords....(wow!) We remain silent... ( hard to believe) so as he is heading in, I 'm calling the shots....go more to the right, little more...and he has that same dumbfounded look on his face. ( so much for remaining silent) Peanut and I are grabbing them right and left....Peanut finally whispers to me...."let him get the next one" Ok....I know he outranks her, but really...this is the brother that put barbells over my neck, so I couldn't move! Well, that was a "few" years ago...so....we let him find the next one!

He doesn't know this ...so let's keep it to ourselves!

He finally sees that we are using the compass feature, and...I think we converted him! Or as, he would say..."hell ya!"

The best part...he has been out geocaching on an island...with bears and such, but has the "begeezers" scared out of him...when a little field mouse joins us! And just to make the story clear...he "claims" it ran across his arm....ok...whatever!

It really was a good day of caching...and just to call off the lawyers...his gps did "drop" all the satellite's...( true story) and he did find caches, by just writing the coords on some paper...so really....I was impressed!

But, we have come a long way....and looks like I will be trying to get some caches in Michigan...his new home!

He's Bac-c-c-k-k-k-k-k-k........

2010-10-21T20:47:00.004-05:00

1st Sgt.....he is back. Finally decided to leave the land of Eskimo's, deer, antelopes and BEARS! Well, not sure of antelopes....anyways....he 's back.

We decided to do a day of geocaching....really I decided and he complied. I wanted to show him some recent caches, and see how far we have progressed. Last time he was in town, Was really when he introduced me to geocaching. Boy, have we come a long way....my first hide was a tupperware container, in a bush! I didn't even know about cammo tape yet!

I think he was a little impressed....so I really have to blog about this! Took him out for the slab series...he struggled a little. ( hehe...) But, of course, he found them all. I think the highlight was when I was " guarding" the intersection, while he hunted for a cache...I yelled out the window, that we had a combine coming in from the north and a truck coming down the slab from the west...He looked at me like I was an alien!
I don't think he has ever heard me use north, east, west etc directions! LOL !!!

After a grueling day of doing both my AND Peanuts series...he was whopped !

Next day plans are to go out caching with Peanut! We are going to show him, what caching is all about ! Haha!

We secretly hope we can find some caches, keep our keys in our pockets and our feet flat on the ground! ( Help!)

And the winner is.....

2010-10-02T10:23:00.003-05:00

The Garmin Dakota 10 ! I love this little guy!

I went back to the "mans store" determined to find something. They were still having a problem with the alarms, but it turns out....they do automatically shut off after 2 MINUTES! LOL

Armed with a little internet knowledge, I was finally able to get my hands on this sucker. It is small enough to fit into the palm of your hand. It comes with a nice" rubber , yes you can probably drop it and not do damage" cover. A nice lanyard, not to hang your self, but you can actually sign the log, without putting the gps on the ground. 1 button...yep just one...the screen is all touch screen. ( one of the features I loved on the I-phone) It is geocaching friendly....just download from the computer. It shows the description, hints, logs etc! NICE!!!!! You can log your finds as you go....and it takes you to the next closest cache. Hmmmm....nice, no real thinking involved! It also lets me manually enter coordinates....just in case....and I am sure this never happens....the coordinates are off a little...and someone logs some better coordinates. AND the compass is great...it points in the direction I need to head!!!

WAHOO ! Finally someone who understands ME!

So, I manage to pick it up on sale...then with a rebate....and a saver card....you know how it goes! I was so excited! My biggest learning curve...how to get it out of that stupid hard plastic casing!

Not to make this sound like a GARMIN commercial...but I am sure we can use Garmins in the movie deal! ( hint, hint!)

Down...down...done!

2010-09-13T22:59:00.004-05:00

After the whole key incidence, we are feeling that luck was on our side! After our fill of chocolate....we head for the next nearest cache. No way, am I even touching the keys! Peanut puts them above the tire. As we head down this little trail, we realize that this has to be the path the owner took to hide the last cache. Duh...why we never listen to our common sense is really beyond us...but....we head out!

Half way down the path, reading the description out loud...something is wrong...the terrain is not fitting the area. Re check everything....ahhhh...this makes sense, we are using the coords of one cache, and reading the description of another....see I told you our ju-ju was completely off. We get that all quickly turned around...feeling a little better that this cache is not in a wooded area...we are finally on flat ground, nice dirt packed trail.....and WHAM! Peanuts down! Tripped over....ahhh... nothing...own two feet. Good grief ! We find the cache...head out!

Next cache area...nice little cache...kinda of a grassy area....looks like the last cachers....took some time to find it ( and they are good cachers) I am convinced we can find it...after all we just found keys...in a jungle! Heading down a little slope....and WHAM....I am down! What the ------------? Peanut does a whole photo shoot...as she is laughing...."all I saw was a blur of white...."

Ok...day over....we decided not to press our luck! 2 downs and we are done! Crack open the Mikes hard lemonade...this has been a hell of a day!

Cheers!

UH ...OH

2010-09-13T08:18:00.005-05:00

It wasn't a question, it was a statement. Yes, I had the keys, we both knew it...I had the keys when I locked her car. I had the keys when we entered the woods. I had the keys when I poked a small knot hole. I had the keys on my left hand, ring finger. So....why was it, when I looked down and saw no keys....that I said...I gave them to you. Now really that was said like a hopeful question....but I knew.....I HAD NO KEYS!

We both just stared down at my hands, no keys. I slowly patted my jean pockets, no keys. Neither one of us has said one word....but it was like slow motion as we both turn our heads, and surveyed the area....the vast area of "wooded jungle" The 116 foot circumference that we have just trampled all over.

Ok...remaining calm, let's just do the obvious...use the spare. No spare? No spare at home either? Looking at all our options, we realize: holiday weekend.....no spare key....no Saturn dealers....we are on call for work....and NO...I am NOT calling her hubby!

We did have a small laugh, after all this is our luck and just unreal! The options were narrowed down to looking for the keys . After all we had to make an effort. I decided to start looking while I was practicing the words I would use when I make the call.

Peanut started out with the theory...no way, we are never going to find the keys. I was determined. After searching, I decided we were never gonna find the keys, but Peanut was reassuring me, we could find them. When we decided it was hopeless...we did the obvious....we split up, ... hanging onto our phones....no need losing each other at this point....and started literally searching every inch of trampled down grass!

I can not even tell you where we were, or how long we had been looking, or how I happened to look down and see the keys... embedded in mud...neither one of us can even believe we found the keys...but we did !

Babbling at 100 words a minute, we somehow managed to find our way out of this jungle. After brushing off the bugs, pulling off the cockaburs, and making a much needed chocolate pit stop... we headed off to the next cache. After all, how much worse could this day get.

Wow....we found the keys! (Thanks Goldy)

4 Little Words

2010-09-06T11:04:00.004-05:00

How can 4 little words, wipe a smile right off your face? Well, let me tell you... they did! Let's start from the beginning......Peanut and I are both put on call....decided to go do a little geocaching. Now to be on call for your job...takes a lot of "little requirements" for the most part you stay by the phone and wait to be called in. BUT NO! ... we decide to go caching.

In preparation, we do our hair, put on make-up, load the car with shoes, scrubs....and all the likes. Have to be half way presentable , and we have only a small time frame to get into work....so we feel we are chancing it, but do-able.

First we run around knocking a few errands off the list, then , of course, we have to eat. See, if we get called in, we won't have time to eat. Food is a necessity, it seems!
With a boat race being held in the area...we decide to go get a few caches, " a little further out".

First stop, looks ok. We head across a park, " knowing " the cache is going to be in the woods...outer tree line. EZ!!!!! But when we get to the tree line...our phones ( no longer, worthy of the term gps) tells us, we have some almost 400 feet to go in. Now common sense tells us, that the owner...no way... took this route to hide that cache. This is not only a woods, but it has a jungle inside ! These grasses/weeds/ foliage is way over our head, and they are not the kind you "part"...they are woven into each other. It was like being a tick in macrame. We walk along the outside of the woods, until our little blue ball, lines up....tossing common sense to the wayside...we walk in.

Peanut is a navigational guru..need I remind you...I am not. We purge ahead. The little blue ball is bouncing all right....we are all over the place. The closest we got was 22 feet....and, of course, trying to sharpen up the numbers, we attempt to get a little closer...no way...now we are at 116 feet. Common sense, our ju-ju and Peanut's navigational skills seem to be gone! So, when I say...follow me...everyone should be a little afraid.

Some time later, we come across the cache. We do our little celebratory dance...sign the log, Peanut takes pictures to use as evidence..(.also as exhibit #1,) for when she challenges the term "knot hole" vs "woodpecker hole"

We have to laugh aloud...as we are covered with cocaburs , so much for make-up, hair is full of twigs and leaves. We have to laugh, hope we don't get called in...
So, with those thoughts, we decide to get our act together...first is find our way out. And with that thought....the 4 little words are spoken!

You may be thinking...what? I have to pee.... (nope) which way is out... (nope) is that work calling.... (nope) my phone is dead...(nope) what a great cache....(definitely nope)

WORSE....believe me....!!!!!!

You have the keys........

The Big Guns

2010-09-04T08:32:00.002-05:00

Just as I was getting ready to go out, and do a second attempt on a local cache, I get the notification...the big guns are in town ! Peanut and I had just listed a series of caches in our area. And the big guns were here doing the series! OMG! It is like have celebrities in town.

My excuse for not finding a cache on the first time around, of course, was the "it was getting dark excuse" . But now that I know the big guns are here, there is no way in hell, I am going out with my little blue dot on my I-phone, looking for a cache.

So lock the doors, close the curtains, stay inside! And just like a tornado, they blew through town getting cache after cache! We may take a beating in the logs, but we are so excited they came to do OUR caches !

Next Stop

2010-08-30T18:16:00.004-05:00

I am running out of sporting Goods stores. My mentor suggests I go to Walmart, with a crack about being from down south and all, I would enjoy Walmart. Even my response was not printable. I do stop in Target, and see they have a Geomate for $69.00 You know the little yellow one with the smiling face. I tell myself, to have a little more confidence in myself, and I move on. It was on my next store I see a Magellan.

Immediate flash back. Goldy had a Magellan. He must have used it when he took the paraplane up. I found it when I cleaned out some stuff in the basement. No idea really what it was. I turned it on....nothing...I changed the batteries...I turned it on. All these numbers come up. A " N ' a "W" some numbers, dots, degree signs. Hell, I don't know what it is. I carry it around for a couple of days, and every time I looked at it, the numbers were constantly changing...hmmm...must be broke...I pitched it! If I could go back in time...and if I listened real close, I probably would have heard Goldy telling me...ahh, don't throw that out, you are gonna need that some day.

I go home empty handed.

This just gets better

2010-08-30T17:59:00.004-05:00

The next stop is a sporting goods store...a man thing. I can count on one finger how many times I have been in a store like this. It was years ago, and Goldy was looking for, who knows what, and all I remember was walking around looking at things, and being in total awe that they sell deer pee or something. Ok, moving on...Enter store, greeted with a Can I help you find something? Sure ( being female and all, I can ask for directions) I am now headed to the back left section of the store. Thank God, he didn't send me North East or something.

Sure enough there is a whole section of GPS's...all lined up and ready to play with. I did notice a high-pitch sound, kinda irritating, but I am thinking it is some kind of man toy. I am eyeing the units..I am reading the little demo thing. They actually have them categorized according to geocaching experience. I think I am in heaven. And to make things better, that noise is gone. I pick up the first GPS...and there goes that noise! Did I do that? I ask the salesman. Well, it turns out, the alarm system has gone bonkers, and the salesman doesn't have the right key to shut it off. Good grief! Oh well, I can still look. I think I narrow it down to a couple...I reach over and just touch the screen...and sure enough, there goes the alarm....Ok I am out of here!

Searching for a GPS

2010-08-30T17:16:00.005-05:00

I am being mentored on GPS 's. I have a list a mile long...I am looking at Garmins, Colorado, Oregons and a few other states! But, think about it...when someone with 1 million caches, suggests a GPS....to someone with 300 caches, ahhh there is a problem. I don't have a clue..... I decide I am the "hands on" type of person, I want to see it....I want to hold it, I want to check out all the screens. I have my own list, one of the top requirements is the compass thingy. I hate when they always point North...I want it to point, or at least tell me, what direction I am heading. I want it to be like my rear view mirror in the car.

It is a Sunday, I never have Sundays off, so I really don't know what people do on Sundays....so I decide to get me a GPS ! Ya baby! I grab my list, purse, credit card, you know the whole entourage that go with females...and as a last minute thought, I grab a TB that I need to drop off.

I now have it set up that new releases are sent to my phone, so, of course, I think I am all cool and everything. I saw a new TB Hotel was released and it is on my way, or it could be on my way...so grab the TB

First stop, drop off the bug. I get to the site...I pull it up on my I-phone, I read the logs....uh oh...the coords are off. OMG...I feel for this person...if I knew where they lived I would drop off food! I go to GZ and look in a 30 foot circle...nothing...Ok, no problem, the TB can stay with me.

I head for the GPS store. As I am looking over all the GPs's....a salesman comes over...why yes, he can help. I tell him I need a GPS for geocaching. For what? Ok, now really, even the GPS people are listing that this device is Geocaching compatible...so if you are gonna sell Gps's, I would think the salesperson would know something about Geocaching. Ok, I know nothing about GPS's and you know nothing about Geocaching, so really, cute kid, this relationship is not gonna work! Can you call someone from the Geek Squad or something? He sends over another salesperson. This dude, not so cute, says....you geocache? and he says it like, he was saying...you were in the swimsuit edition of Sports illustrated? I hold my head up, yes I geocache! ( he doesn't need to know) Do you? Ah, no, but I know people that do. I actually had a sigh of relief. You see, if he did geocache, the next thing out of his mouth would have been...what is your caching name....and I swear to God, even being a Sunday, I would have lied. Iprobably would have said I was #2 of Just Us.

The next 30 mins we discuss geocaching. All the geocachers he knows are Geologists at the college....am I a geologist he asks...ah no...do you ever read Sports Illustrated?
We move on...he tries to play with the GPS units and I try to explain Geocahing. So, he asks, you just enter the coords, and it takes you to the treasure? Ah...ya...not my caches....my caches are 30 feet off. Ok...I am done here...off to the next place!

An open letter...

2010-08-30T16:39:00.004-05:00

To all the EXPERIENCED Geocahers out there,

I know you are good, I know you can whip through caches like nothing, I know you can probably find many of them blindfolded. You are good...I am not. I just ask a little favor...don't tell me my coords are off...I know that. I got that message on the first log. I assume you read the description of the cache, I think you may read the logs, probably don't need the hint....but you really don't need to be the 25th cacher that logs that my coords are off.

I have promised Reviewer Jones that I would not be placing any more caches until I got my real GPS. So, until that time comes ( and it is coming) just try to think of my caches as Traditional-Multi-Mystery caches.

Go to the published coords ... That is the traditional cache
From there...head to the actual cache...it will be at least 30 feet away. This is the multi-cache. Deciding in which direction this 30 feet will be...is the mystery cache.

Good luck...have fun...and try not to eat your young ( leave that to the medical field)

Sincerely,

The 30 foot women
(formerly known as GoldysGirl) :)

Ahhhh....THE TUNNEL

2010-08-30T09:26:00.006-05:00

Let me "cache" you up to speed...( haha, too funny, sometimes I can't even stand myself!) Way back when, we (peanut and me) go for a few caches, I actually believe it was an after work cache...anyways, not important, the whole story is basically we couldn't find it. The hint was really detailed...you know the turn right, 12 steps etc. And it says, you shouldn't have to go to into the tunnel. So, this is where we were totally thrown off. What tunnel? We are standing on asphalt, we turn right at the bench, we do the 12 steps ( not the 12 steps I probably need, but...) we look, we look...there is no tunnel We are obsessing about the tunnel. Are we even in the right place? We check the foliage, for the cammo small container...nope...but what is this tunnel? We go in a little deeper, and then deeper, we are definitely out of the terrain rating. We can't find a tunnel.

We go back to the beginning, we take the "other right" ( you never know) and that is a no go. We step it off....12 steps, 12 female steps, 12 men steps, 12 paces...Peanut being Military...does 12 "whatever steps". No cache. Well, it is getting late, and we have to leave. All the ride home, we are discussing the tunnel. Or really the lack of a tunnel.

Not really caring...I mean what is one more DNF ! It was the tunnel that was messing with our brains! I get home....I log the DNF...I casually mention in the log...what is your definition of a tunnel? Haha ( Hey end of story....)

The next day I check my e-mail, Peanut's sitting right next to me....hmmmm, what is this one? I click on it...all it says....a tunnel is a tunnel. Peanut and I immediately do the whole silent...mouth is shaped like an "O"

Now the thing with e-mail, is you really can't tell expressions....was this sternly...ah not really....no explanation points....no smiley...just a statement. A tunnel is a tunnel.

Ok then...we decided we would be going back...turns out to be a loooong time before we went back. And so, when we actually go do "the tunnel" we are a nervous wreck!

Pizza Dude

2010-08-26T18:38:00.003-05:00

We head off to do a few of the caches hidden by Pizza Dude. We can call him that, seeing we just met him recently at our first geocaching Event. What fun....meeting everyone.

Anyways, we really don't know his style, although we had read in some logs, that he was being mentored....great...by who else....yep Alphabet man ! And since you already know my success with that ! Anyways....

We get to the site of the first cache....gps still down....we remember reading the hint about musical instruments or something....we head in. We decide to choose a set up with slides and etc. We first eyed the monkey bars, because we thought it said something about monkeys, but NO WAY...if it was on there, it was a nano...with a super strong magnet. So, we choose the latter.

Now remember this is made for kids, not adult geek geocachers. We climb up the plastic rock wall, and go head in...what a site for any " pass-er-by-ers" Peanut took a picture of me, attempting to get into some little 4 x 4 square. If she wants to live to raise her 3 boys....this will never be posted.

We spent quite some time on this little play set...actually probably more than the kids do. We touched, and tried to undo every screw and bolt on this 1 million part toy.
We, I am telling myself, sat so long doing this, because it turns out we were in a "room" with musical "do-higys".

Peanut heads in a new direction, as I start the e-mail to the FTF dude. I hate to do that...it is like admitting defeat. Really we just wanted a teenie-tiny hint. I think the response would have been just alphabets....like....ROFLMAO !

But, we were saved, seconds before I go to hit the send button, I hear....Got it !

Whew....geocaching without gps is a whole new level of difficulty! Good thing you weren't there to see me get down !

We think we are getting better

2010-07-28T20:09:00.003-05:00

Due to circumstances beyond her control, Peanut misses the 6am caching call. She stops by at 3pm, dressed in jeans and tennies ( it is 87 degrees out) and wants to go caching. Sure....but Pizza Dudes caches, are all terrain of 1-1.5, so what is with the jeans? And...that is when she announces....we are going to get "the tunnel" ! Oh....
"the tunnel", yep I am in...let me change my clothes! (sign #1....we are getting better)

We decide to do a small collection of 5-6 caches in one town, then buzz over for "the tunnel" I have printed off, just the map showing the location of the caches.....hoping to do this in some sort or orderly fashion. ( sign # 2)

We head out on our quest, the 1st stop of the day, will be a cache, that we had been meaning to get to, but never got around to. We stop there first. We are in a park. We get out our phones, and go to our Geocaching applications. Nothing! What? Ok, lets try again...nothing. Well eventually we get a message saying " no communication" So, basically it is saying we are s--- out of luck! Well, we didn't drive out here for nothing! This cache is placed by someone we know, know the style, know what they like, so I decide to do a little "profiling". ( sign #3)

Hmmm....this was placed in their early days, so it will be a cammo hanging, or a taped container at the base of something...tree or bush. Looking around we see, about 10 evergreen trees...that would be #1 choice. So, now we are trying to "think" back to when we read the logs....ok, is this the one where Alphabet man said, he hated this kind of cache...or do we just know that from the cache event? Anyways, lets go with the first thought...the evergreen tree! ( sign #4)

looking around, I choose the cluster of evergreens, in the middle, but in the back...This cacher would not hide something, where everyone would be watching...plus the cache would be reached from the back, thus hiding the cacher even better ! The base of the trees are pretty "open"....so we are going for a hanging.
Past experiences tell me, it will be at 5 foot-ish high, or it will be low, but on a branch where you have to pick up another branch to see it! (sign #5)

So, now we have it narrowed down to 4 trees, I am guessing the middle 2. But I am still trying to figure out the right or the left one...( hey can't tell you everything!)

Ahhh...got it! (sign #6) So much for profiling...makes me think twice about MY next hides! So, we are off to the next cache...hoping our phones will be up soon...
We are clueless on the Pizza Dude!

The grumpy old man

2010-07-27T06:27:00.007-05:00

Monday comes, after a really grueling weekend, I am off to "cache" up on a few things. Replacing wet logs, replacing muggled caches...and the likes. On my to do list, is to go into town, and do a few errands. It was while I was in town, I decide to look up a few caches in the area. I have been carrying a TB that needs to be dropped. The first challenge is to find a cache that is big enough to hold him. Seems like everything is a micro! Ok, so I see where there is one located not far from where I was, according to the log, it looks like a regular size, and according to the map, it appears to be out in the country. Great...no woods...no ticks....this will work out fine!

I arrive in the general area, and slowly drive by, checking out the site, I do a turn around a little ways down the road. I pull up to the sight, and pull off the road, it is on a corner ( typical bush hide) I look around...no one...I get out...I grab the cache...I return to my car. EZ ! As I am signing the log, decide to do a travel shoot ( while in the car) and as I am stuffing this TB into a small container, I see this gentleman, riding down the road on a John Deere tractor. From now on, I will refer to him as Grumpy old man !( GOM) He drives by me...and if looks could kill, I would not be writing this ! He turns left, and drives on. I am now done, and need to replace the cache...I drive down the road, and do a turn around in the nearest driveway, and as I am headed back...here comes GOM ! So, I am thinking, he must be going to mow...and of course, he is going to mow, exactly where I need to return the cache! So, as I am coming to the intersection, I am trying to decide "how to do this!"

The phone rings, and I can tell, by the tone, it is Peanut...."whatch ya doing? " This is good, I will explain the dilemma to her and she will have a good suggestion. As I am sitting at the stop sign, talking on the phone...here comes GOM and he pulls right up to my car window ( on the JD) and he is hollering at me.....hmmmm...so I roll down the window, clearly I am on the phone, but he don't care. So, I tell Peanut, I will call her right back...and as I am hanging up, I can hear her saying...No, don't hang up!

On my side of the phone, I see GOM as harmless, but I am also thinking he is going to be making a citizen arrest ! On peanut's side, she hears GOM, and pictures Barney Fife and thinking he could possibly be carrying the 1 bullet, he is allowed!

The following conversation takes place:

GOM: what you doing? ( sternly)
Me: ( sweet little geocacher) nothing
GOM: what business you have out here? By now, I am taking in the whole look and attitude....he doesn't really look like a fellow cacher...( lawnmower was the give away)....but maybe his kid or something has that cache, and he is seeing if I am gonna admit I am geocaching. So, before I can decide on the game plan...
GOM: There has been robberies down here and I want to know what your business is ! So, by now I am trying to decide if he thinks I am running "a business" from this corner, or if he thinks I am robbing houses! Really? I mean REALLY ! It is noon on Monday...I wouldn't be doing either ! I mean it is only noon! So, I decide to play it straight.
Me: Have you heard of geocaching? ( no answer) A world wide game using Gps? ( no answer)
Me: ( cheery and smiling) Well, there is one hidden right over there, and that is why you may see some people stopping and
GOM: I seen it, plastic container under the bush, but I ain't touch it.
Me: Oh....okay..... so I stopped to get it and
GOM: I seen you

Wow, and he is getting madder, so now I don't know if he is mad, that I am on public property, at an intersection or if he is mad, that I took the plastic container that "he seen"
Me: Well I needed to drop off a Travel bug and ( ok...this is not working) Do you live around here? ( trying to make small talk)
GOM: Yup, down the road there, where you turned in my driveway. I seen you, Been robberies out here
Me: well since you know about this, I might as well just put the container back.
(I get out of my car, holding the cache)
Me: See the little travel bug, he started in Germany, and he wants to go to New Zeland, and I got him in California and ( no response, just staring me down) so I will just go put this back now...

He stands guard, as I go to the bush to return the cache ( mean little sucker) and I am now whispering to the TB...I am sorry, I have to even leave you here with the mean guy, but hopefully someone will come get you, real soon. As I get back into my car...

GOM: You get out of here now..GO! Wow, I was really tempted to ask him, if I had at least till sundown! ( Ma always told us to be nice, but really! )

As I drove away, I can see him in my mirror, sitting on his little John Deere, wearing a little reflective vest, and those glasses, the kind that turn dark, when you are in the sun...with that mean little face, just watching me, making sure I am leaving town!

I sooooooo wanted, to roll down the window and yell at him " My John Deere is bigger than yours!" But I didn't!

( Ma would be so proud!)

Geocaching at the airport

2010-07-20T20:39:00.003-05:00

Here all along I thought there were no geocaches placed at airports. Boy was I wrong!
As soon as my plane landed, I was into my first caching expedition. Actually, it was an unplanned cache. I had my location, I headed towards ground zero. I knew what I was looking for....It took me some time, re-checking the coordinates, looking and searching...and then just like geocaching you get a smiley as you say....I see it!

Just like geocaching! So I grabbed my luggage and I was off.....I did not want to post a DNF ! All my clothes were in there! :D

It's been a year.....

2010-06-11T09:27:00.005-05:00

1st Sgt sends me an e-mail....to remind that it has been a year! WOW...a year of geocaching.
I really don't think I am any wiser ( older, but not wiser!) I have made some progress since day 1. I am richer....Monetary (?)...ah no, as I am still waiting on the movie deal. No... I am richer with Friends and Memories!

I have come across lots of critters, some dead.... some alive.....and some rubber. I have donated lots of blood to mosquito's and named my first tick. I have been scared "half to death" at least twice!

I am happy to say that I have been able to log a few "I found it" along with my DNF's. Grabbed me a couple Travel bugs over the year, and even sent one of my own out.

I have fallen down embankments, hugged a few trees ( to keep from falling) I have been attacked by thorns and a killer corn stalk. I have tripped over my own feet.. other peoples feet and had my hand stuck in a historic monument. Happy to report.... no broken bones...(yet!)

I have slid on the ice, slid on gravel, I have been stuck in the snow and stuck in the mud. I have parked on sidewalks, driven in ditches and jumped out of cars before they were put in park. I have raced to FTF's and ended up on unnamed roads ( not intentionally) Happy to report... ( as far as I know) never caused an accident. (Yet !)

I have been in more cemeteries than a funeral director. I have had to reboot my I-phone, reboot my Tom-Tom, reboot some friends, and reboot my brain!

As far as knowing...Up from Down...North from South, well I am still working on it! I have been lost in woods, turned around, turned upside down and have experienced an occasional "out of my mind". I have been reacquainted with "my other right" ..had a show and tell on poison Ivy was in attendance for the" Latest on Ticks" lesson... and...( best of all) fell in Love with Duct Tape all over again!.

I have learned what a LPC is, a preform, lock -n- lock, Bison tube and a nano. I have come across locks, screws, rocks and magnets ...all containing sign in logs. I now know that a Difficulty of 3 and a Terrain of 2...is all perspective...and I am STILL looking for "the" tunnel. I have re-confirmed my thoughts...that when it comes to hints...Men are from Venus and Women are from......( let's just drop that one)

My vocabulary is full of TFTC...SL...TNLN....FTF....BYOP...SWAG...GPS....CITO....GZ....ETA ...TB! This I get... but I still don't know what OBCJY stands for !

It's been a year....and still having fun! So, to all my geocaching friends...here's to year 2! Let's get older and wiser together! Happy Caching...see you on the trails!

No longer tickless....

2010-05-30T21:51:00.005-05:00

I got my first tick. If I do a statistic page, I could add that to....first cache...first TB...first FTF...100 caches's and 1st Tick!

Who knows where I actually picked this little guy up...somewhere between cache 1 and cache # 10 for the day.

I decided to name him....dead tick...dead, dead tick!

It all started as I was waiting in the car while Peanut ran in for snacks ( she is a good snack person) the whole sweet/ salty/chocolate thing going on. Anyways...I look down on my jeans and there is a bug....a small black bug...right on the thigh of my jeans! So, I do the obvious...I squish him...but he doesn't squish! I am thinking...is this a tick?

Sitting next to me, in the door thingy...is a bottle of nail polish remover...I grab it and sprinkle some on my jeans...okay...I pour some on the jeans...then I take the cap and
hold down "the bug". With my free hand I spray the remaining contents of my "deep woods off" over my entire body.

Peanut returns to the car...she is over come by fumes as she opens the door. "Don't panic", I tell her...but this may be a tick! I lift the cap....yep she says...."it is a dead tick" And then she proceeds to explain, the dot on the belly, the deer tick explanation...the whole burying the head in your skin...the sucking the blood..the Lyme disease....

OMG! I am "feeling" ticks all over me for the rest of the day. The 20 minute shower was not hot enough when I got home!

So far....no sightings!

Anyways ...a landmark... my first tick...a very dead, dead tick!

WARNING.... Don't mess with me...I am armed with nail polish remover!

And so it all begins...

2010-05-25T18:19:00.007-05:00

Previously....on The Blog. Peanut goes geocaching for the first time, and becomes instantly addicted. Turns out she is pregnant with triplets. Summer ends, triplets come....Aunt Yoda buys them geocaching t-shirts. Peanut returns to work. The holidays role around, all 3 boys are finally home, Peanut and I occasionally get a chance to say "hi" at work. The New Year roles around and Peanut switches to the day shift. The car pool begins...

On a typical drive home from work...after a typical weekend shift....Peanut and I are doing the usual chit-chat. I am driving and not paying too much attention. I swear, I thought the car knew the way home. Suddenly I realize that I have made a wrong turn. So, it looks like I will be "snaking along" the back roads, just a few ( lots of few) blocks out of my way. Peanut knows this area. She starts telling of her grandma stories ... she is pointing out a small area of trees, part of a walking course ... and peanut says..." This would be a great place for a cache"

And so it all begins....

Fast forward to the next am....( make that 4:15 am, to be exact) and I am picking Peanut up, for yet another "day". On the ride in, she is downloading the Geocaching site to her Blackberry. Yep, the whole wrong turn has stirred her geocaching addiction! The download is complete just as we enter the Kankakee area ... and she is all excited ... there is a cache, just a few blocks away... in fact it is in the same area that I was driving through yesterday... in fact it is on the walking trail! Yes...yes...yes... Calm down, I tell her, we will stop and "pick it up " after work.

And so it all begins....

Like a kid with a new puppy, she could hardly contain her excitement all day...we were going geocaching! I am trying to hide my excitement ( ha, ha) By the time we leave work I am versed on the childhood stories...the parks, the walking trails, the huge white tree....and on and on. I am just so happy she knows the area, seeing I am "tom-tom less" ( I didn't even know we were going geocaching after work!)

We get to the scene of the squirrel cache and she is out of the car, before ( I swear) I have it in park. There are no words for her enthusiasm ... after making an easy grab ... I check my phone for any nearby caches, and sure enough....THE white tree! Really, if you have done the cache, you know it is not really in the tree, but the hint and the story tell of THE tree. I really, truly have not seen anyone as excited about getting a cache... and this was probably what I was remarking on ... when I opened the cache. OMG... there was a "rubber rodent" of some type on the top...I jumped back so fast, I nearly dropped the dumb thing....this , of course, made the ripple effect...Peanut jumps, and then says..." oh, don't scare me like that!" Yea right...like I knew it was in there! So, like typical 8 year old children...we poke it...and take a picture!

And so it all begins....

We recover quickly and are heading home in record time...2 caches under our belt...I am smiling and Peanut is playing on the Blackberry...oh wait she says...There is a Travel Bug nearby....I want a travel bug...I have NEVER had a travel bug....

And so it all begins....

YES !!

2010-04-22T08:44:00.005-05:00

2 days after our big disappointment, I check my e-mail to see that yet another has gone and found the cache. Unbelievable. I just forwarded the e-mail to my friend, no comments needed...really wanted to see if I would get some type of response. Oh Ya...a response indeed. They are convinced we are going back. And you think I was obsessed! Many e-mails and conversations later...a Saturday "pick-up" was suggested. Well, I work every Saturday...but yes it should still be day light after work. Scientifically, when you run the numbers...blah, blah, blah...it will be ....blah, blah, blah. In other words it IS there!

After "doing my time" at work, and managing to get out on time...we meet up, this time the rendez vous being in the Hobby Lobby parking lot...and not only are we obsessed, we are also paranoid, because we take a different vehicle! I guess we are hoping to out-smart the stake out! LOL The trip out to the cache was quick....the mood was DETERMINED.

No need to park, take the GPS or even shut the vehicle off, we just get out and walk right up to it. AND...it was not there! Had this been my first cache...I swear I would not be into geocaching today as I would be convinced that NOTHING is out there. We searched around for a few more minutes...with every sound someone made was followed by the words...you got it? ... nope ... find it? ... nope ... got it? ... not yet ... find it? ... no ............
and then suddenly I "see " it ... and with that the first good words of the day...."I THINK I got it"

Did you ever want to have one of those great moments where the whole scene is played in slow motion with some really cool music in the background. Music like maybe ... Eye of the Tiger ( wink, wink) well this was the moment. If there were muggles, cops, baby strollers or even a stake out... we didn't see it. But we had the cache. I was snapped back into reality (literally) with what sounded like a photo shoot. If you know me, you know I HATE to have my picture taken ... but, they did go through a lot for this cache with me ... so okay, 1 picture! for all you cachers out there ... go easy on the comments, after all I did just finish a 13 hour shift!

We did end the day with a celebratory dinner. And the chance to write off another DNF. Maybe the obsession came because it was our first time out caching ... maybe because it was a previous DNF ... I know some people say it is in the hunt .... others say it is in the find. Some even get all caught up in the hide ... But for me and GC1MTTZ it is in the name...

Past, Present and Future!

YES !!!

Still looking.....

2010-04-20T08:10:00.004-05:00

Full of burgers and running on caffeine...we go back to the scene. The new strategy ( otherwise known as plan E) parks us in a new location. We get out, GPS's are powered, and we walk right up to the site! We are stoked! We are wrong! It is not there!

Sometimes ( especially when you are trying SO hard to find something) something happens that you lose all sense of everything. This would include sense of direction, sense of worth and common sense. Suddenly our GPS units are a piece of junk, and can't be trusted...so we begin to search EVERYWHERE! I think it was when I was on all fours searching through gravel, when 2 ladies walked by with a stroller, ( true story here) and the 1 lady says to the other..."somebody must have lost something" And in my mind, I am thinking....Yes, we have totally lost our minds. We are two adults, we are not invisible , we are not 8 years old, we are 2 people who will probably be taken away and committed! With that thought...starts the laughter, the " I can't believe this " laughter. Where the tears are coming down the cheeks. The Oh my gosh, my gut hurts laughter , the we are insane laughter!

It was with the turn of my head ( to wipe away the tears) that I first see the cop. We are so far beyond stealth mode that there is no turning back. The cop SUV is circling, and decides to park and watch. He is a short distance off, and had he had a cup of coffee, this would have looked like a stake out. It was when the "other" SUV pulled up and parked a few feet away, that we decided...maybe we should leave.

Not making eye contact with "them". We quietly got up, brushed off the debris and nonchalantly meandered back to the vehicle. My only whispered words..."Dude, you know they are totally running your plates"

The drive home was a little quieter. Actually it did make me think...who would I call to bail us out? Hmm...I wonder if my friend has "friends" or better yet..."friends with connections"

So...another day is done...the cache still not found.

One of My DNF's

2010-04-18T18:57:00.006-05:00

Ahhh...GC1MTTZ one of my DNF's. This cache been used as a conversational tool on several occasions. And then... just recently a friend of mine says, " let's JUST go find it." So, ( it just happens) as I open my mouth to say my typical response, of how I am so busy, I have to get such and such done for a deadline...and all the other excuses I usually come up with...I just say...Ok, let's do it!

So, here I am, in the middle of the week, when my desk is piled high, with "my to do list", with things in the yard that probably need to be... "mowed, mulched or weeded, with all my deadline projects hovering in the background...what am I doing? You got it, I am getting ready to go out geocaching.

The suggestion of lunch had been brought up, and they were convinced they were going to walk right up to this, ( I WAS convinced THEY would walk right up to it) so ... ya, we could do lunch after the find. Why not! Sounds like a plan.

As I was getting ready, I was picturing a nice light lunch outdoors on one of those patio restaurants...you know where all the cool people go...sitting there relaxing, having lunch, acting like they have no cares, no deadlines, no stress. Ya...I can picture this. Ok...enough about lunch, let's just get the cache!

The plan was to meet up, at a mid-point and drive in together. So, it was on the drive-in that I realized I was actually getting nervous ... about a stupid cache! But, all was cool, we discussed "our strategy"...and "what we know for sure"... that is when I finally had to admit...I don't know ANYTHING for sure, when it comes to this cache. Change in strategy... we will approach this cache, like we have never been there before! Good Plan!

We get " to the scene" both GPS units going ... I am having a little deja Vu ...or maybe I should call it flashbacks ... but I know ... my friend is gonna walk right up to it!

Did I mention... I don't know Jack ( with Jack being an expression, of course) we start the search out pretty casual ... then more intense ... then the " you have got to be kidding"...this was JUST found ... it HAS to be here! Hours later, yep I said hours later ... we go back to the vehicle and re-group! Focus people ... Focus! LOL After re-reading the logs, the description, and the logs again ... we realize there are no "hidden" clues in anything we read. Being a little stubborn, we are back ... we are searching ... we (I am sure) are looking like a couple of idiots!

Not wanting to admit defeat..we try the lunch idea. Just to let you know... there are NO patio restaurants, there are NO relaxing people, there will be NO sipping drinks in the sun! Which just goes to show you , how my "mind" always wants the perfect scenario! Haha There are a couple of "slightly intoxicated " people sitting in a dark bar...so that's lunch...hey give us a break...there are only a couple of options!

The relaxing lunch has turned into inhaling burgers. As it turns out, we re-look the original log...and yep, we got a whole new strategy...

I think we are really on to this now!

I Remember Geocaching....kinda!

2010-03-08T13:42:00.003-06:00

Thankfully a cacher sends me an e-0mail to let me know one of my caches needs attention. I like that because, it is not like I routinely drive around and check them out. I get the e-mail on Friday, so with me working the weekend, I decide that I will put it on my "to do" list for Monday. Sounds like a good plan!

The Academy Awards kept me out half the night...and the Awards, is really not my style...unless, of course, I was being nominated for my movie...which is YET to come! Anyways by the time you get to bed, you have been up for almost 24 hours...But, as most of you know...it doesn't matter how much sleep you get, it seems you are up at the same time every day. Thank Goodness I don't need beauty sleep! (At this point, 1st Sgt will say he is ROTFLMAO)

Got through my whole coffee, e-mail, bills, etc routine. Did my work-out, and after going to tan, I decide to swing by and replace the cache. This is when it hits me....I truly am hoping, I don't run into any fellow ge0-cachers!

Normally, this wouldn't be a fear...but, really...here I am, in baggy old sweats, my Punxsutawney Groundhog Day sweatshirt...no make-up, hair is not combed...I have the perfume of a combo...work-out/tanning bronzer going on. No socks, and flip flops. Please do not let anyone be out here!

On the way...out to the cache, which by the way, I DID remember where it was hid...AND how to get there! (LOL) I was thinking back...hmmmm, all the times I was out with 1st Sgt, we never ran into anyone...and when I use to cache with the Potstirrer....we never ran into anyone...been out on my own a few times...and never saw anyone...so I am safe, to think, it will be ok!

The area was pretty deserted...the drive in was MUDDY, and for a second there, I spun a little on the tires, ( no way, would I be able to call someone to get me out...not looking like this) but able to do a little maintenance on the cache, and get out. Whew!

So, with nice weather approaching, and my new found knowledge on "mudding"...I am thinking I should be out soon. So, to all my peeps, don't give up on me yet!

See you on the trails...I will make a point to have my make-up on! :)

Out Muddin'

2010-01-20T10:33:00.006-06:00

This all started back in November....The Black Friday Team. Seester and Potential fell for geocaching that day, and it has been in their system ever since. Potential got Seester a Garmin for Christmas....I got Potential, The Idiot's Guide, and Potential got me wine! The circle is complete!!

With Potential being in TN, some Deer thing, Seester and I ( at work one day) made plans for a geocaching blow out! ( Ya....we work together ) We had a plan and it all took place yesterday. I was loaded down with a variety of print offs, and I swing by to get her...right on time. Already this plan is going smooth. She is dressed in trekking boots, with a designer giraffe purse and a thick cammo coat...which I think is...oh ya...an old one from 1st SGT!! Hmmm...well that is good, maybe all his knowledge will ooze through the seams! LOL

The plan, and you know how the plans NEVER go as directed, is to head out, pick up a few quick stop and grabs, with us eventually landing at a watering hole, for a late lunch and drinks. And actually, this part was a go. The caches were quick...it was the muddin' that slowed us down!!

With just a few caches left, we pull into an "off road" cache. There actually were tire tracks ahead of us, and the snow wasn't really deep....I think it was the frozen snow , and then the mud that was the kicker! Decided not to drive in all the way, but did go as far as the first slope, and parked in a decent area, going to walk the remaining distance. The cache was quick. It was when we went to leave, the whole "3-point-turn-about" that nailed us. Our first thought was to go up the slope, which we thought was feasible ... but the turning round ... was the kick!! There was NO TURNING... we just slid down the rest of the slope ... sideways! After several attempts, back and forth, turn the wheels this way... no try back way... no to the right, well...try the left...we saw mud flying! We are literally out in the middle of no where! I was trying to think of the words, when I had to call my father-in-law to pull us out! ( Seeing he had to do that already once for me...out at the farm) I wanted to go to plan B! We both got out of the car, and surveyed the situation. Hey, we are " college degreed" ... we can figure something out! Armed with rugs, and garbage bags...we do, the almost impossible. I love the part when Seester says..."is this a front wheel drive?" No Seester, right now it is a "NO WHEEL DRIVE"

Once we got it moving, we didn't stop, Seester drove it completely around the whole area, and I trekked back up to the entrance. Had to stop for a photo shoot! Seester got a picture of me LMAO...and in the background you can see the muddy rugs! We kinda wanted pics of the ruts...but nah, didn't want them bad enough to walk down to the crime scene!

We were off to the next cache, flying down the asphalt, getting "mud off the tires" ! LOL The tread on the tires, may be a little worn but, See ... we don't need no truck!

Even with the "mud delay" we were at the watering hole....what? Before they opened!?! What....? Ok, headed off for another cache... really not close by, but close enough to waste some time! At this cache...we decided to park at the entrance and hoof it in...see we are smarter already!

Ended the day at the watering hole , got a great picture of seester in her "designer outfit" and had Gretchen Wilson in mind, as we sat...and got .... "BUD - WISER"!! ( I know, that was bad pun....)

Winter Adjustments

2010-01-15T05:13:00.008-06:00

It was a good geocaching day. The Pot-stirrer lined up a pathless woods series, 9 total. We were on a time constraint, arrived at the Park at 10 am... and left the park at 1:34. We got 6 out of 9 and probably would have done all 9 if time prevailed.

Really my first time out in any depth of snow, and even though I thought I was properly outfitted, I can see there was room for improvement. Definitely should have put on the cammo bibs! I know they are ugly, not like anyone else was out there, but it would have kept the jeans dry! And when the jeans are dry...the long johns are dry....then the socks stay dry...etc ... etc.

The pot-stirrer HAD a plan.... AND a map AND re-assured me, that these caches were just off the trails. OK sounds good...until #2 We are surrounded by a blanket of deep white snow. There are no paths ( hence the name) but there are no trails either! The plan was to work counter-clock wise on her map. Hmmmm....we certainly got distracted from that plan by the 2nd cache. But, that was cool...we were not out doing the Amazing Race, we were just having fun, and turns out we incorporated a huge exercise program with it!

The hat came off, before I even left the truck! Hate hats! And seeing I had a hoodie back up, I was good. Of course, Good would not be the correct word here, seeing the only pic taken of me...was not good! All I needed was a shopping cart, and we would have a poster for homeless bag ladies! DELETE! DELETE DELETE! Whew...won't be seeing that sucker on the internet!

First 2 caches went smooth, Pot-stirrer pulled out a (?) bicycle horn and was blowing that when she found cache #2. Turns out the wizard has a whistle in that bag too. If we were in the Land of Oz, I guess she would say I was the scarecrow, but she definitely would be the Tin Man. Together we would make Dorothy ( lost) and all we needed was to have Toto! ( uh, no thanks!) It was after cache number 3 of the day, that things starting going down hill...and I mean literally. And once you go downhill....the next stretch is uphill! Great butt exercises! It was the sound of ice cracking....that brought to our attention that we were on some body of water. Doesn't even matter how deep it was ( thankfully, we did not find out) but it was just the idea. First thought...even though our combined body weight is not much....we should probably be spread out a little ! Second thought...we are definitely off "the trail" We passed over this cracking area...uh...several times, which also tells me we were going in circles at some point! Good thing I got the waterproof boots!

There may have been no paths, the trails and the water were completely hidden... but we did manage to find the sticker bushes! Those little suckers never die. And I really shouldn't call them little....I have been officially "stuck" everywhere! Even brought one home...got the tweezers and pulled that little trinket out this morning!

The "nice" thing about a hint, or perhaps trying to gather info from some other log... is...well... there WAS no nice thing about it! The dude from Michigan, looks like he did the same as us...came in the hard way from the road. Well, after reading that, decided we must be somewhere near this cache. Oh ya, we were, but just Like Michigan dude...we were on the wrong side! We made so many trips back to GZ on that one. Pot-stirrer kept saying, it was only a terrain of 1.5 ... so her thoughts that we were in too far. And seeing she likes to be right....she was right! On the other note....in the snow, nothing is a terrain of 1.5!

It WAS a good day. The jeans were wet up to the knees, and wet jeans are a real....( you know) Was able to post field notes from the I-phone....cool....downloaded some photos when I got home. If anyone is headed out there soon. Some advice... DON'T ... follow our footsteps! And if you see the "third" bench, or any benches at all, or even some brick building...let us know. We never came across any of that! And remember, the thorn bushes are hungry...and the "body of water" has already been cracked!!

P.S. wear some cammo bibs!

Getting ready

2010-01-14T08:48:00.002-06:00

Well, I am getting ready. Actually going to go geocaching today. The pot-stirrer has picked the location, set the time, and has all the details. I just need to show up! I think the dress code is what is throwing me off. We are actually in a heat wave....30 degrees...and will probably be in my own little heat wave when I get into the car!

I have an assortment of clothing for this type of thing. But I am thinking the cammo zipped bibs, may not be needed, and I really think the 10 pound neon orange 1 piece, whatever that is, is probably not warranted. However, If I want to do snow angels...I need to be wearing something a little heavier!

I think I got the boots down now....I actually have 3 pairs, the black runway ones...a medium, no heel black, to keep your toes warm...and The ones I am wearing, which are like some official, gonna get serious, out in the snow trekking boots. With the thick ( knee-high) socks...and the hot pink/aqua fuzzy footies...I am thinking I should be ready!

Jeans today, are made too thin...so I had to hunt up some long johns! That I discovered has a hole in them...Thanks Dogs! Now that is a sight! Nothing is worse than getting a cold butt. Let's complete the outfit with long underwear top, shirt, hoodie. All this is before the coat!

I really don't want to go with the cammo coat, it is heavier, but I think we are only going a small ways off the trail. So, my regular coat ( ski coat....what?...No, I don't ski...but the coat was cute) a scarf for my neck, a HAT ( there goes my hair) and I guess the gloves will be the problem. Not sure what I am doing for that!

Well, I am off...one small bathroom break, before I hit the cold. I will keep you posted.

My biggest fear: If I fall down, I may not be able to get up!!!

Brrr....

2010-01-08T08:27:00.007-06:00

Well the new Year has started out on a freezing note! Couldn't get any "takers" for a first-cache-on-the-first-day thing. I decided to stay in play with the Tom-Tom...after that whole Black Friday thing...I decided it really CAN do better, if I just knew how to use it! Spent part of the day reading my new Idiot's Guide to Geocaching. Actually a really good book. I think I needed this 6 months ago! I didn't take the title personally, due to the fact that this was written before "me"...but I am sure it was written, because of the "me's" !!

We had a heat wave...with the temp going up at least 10 degrees, so that is when I decided it was time! Had some errands to run, so on the way home I decide to stop and get a cache. I have been passing this spot for some time, knowing a cache was there...so I guess it takes 10 degree weather to talk me into stopping!

The front seat was piled high with some heavy bibs...boots...hat...scarve...mittens...and gloves. I was ready! Of course, when I actually get there, I decide to just jump out and grab this one! With the car running... like someone will steal the car ( ?) ... and I really was going to need that warmth when I got back! The nice thing about caching in the snow...is the previous cachers footprints!! Of course, if they know where they are going it would probably be better. Got this one without too much trouble, walked a few circles myself, just to throw the next guy off. When I got out of the car, I knew I really had about 100 feet to get there ( hence, the no warm clothing) but I did take my pen, my I-phone and my compass swag. Never really considered the pen not working with the whole freezing deal. And if you never realized this before, think about it now... when a pen doesn't write... we always just write bigger and it works. So, after the 4 line hand shaking signature ( sorry 'bout that) ....I snap a photo and trudge back to the car.

My first cache of the new year. My mind is already on overdrive. I really need to figure out how to get this done. Hey, I couldn't find some of these , when the the temps were do-able, the trails were open, and the neon sign was flashing . So, winter may be a challenge...but what the heck, it is not like I will be too busy mowing the grass!

2009 In Review

2009-12-28T07:41:00.004-06:00

It is this time of year, that every TV station, newspaper and show has some kind of a review...listing all the highlights and " low lights" of the year. Hey...why be different? So, let's see what I can come up with!

In Review:

BEST CACHE: Even though, I didn't get it, I will have to say...it was at the Beaver Dam with 1st SGT.

BEST DAY CACHING: My Day out in Dwight with Peanut, caching with the Triplets. (FYI..... triplets are here...all boys, and proud owners of Lil Cacher t-shirts!)

"I AM ADDICTED " DAY: JUNE 9, 2009. first day out with 1st Sgt.

MOST UNREALISTIC THOUGHT: The Movie Deal ( My idea came from the Julia Child Movie, just released this month...Ah, I think it made 6 Million at the box office on day 1!)

MOST FRUSTRATING: Has to be 2 DNF's...The "Cannon" AND the" Corner of 3rd and Main"! ( still can't find those suckers)

BEST QUOTE: " A bad day of geocaching, is still better than a day at work" ( quote from the Lil one, after a almost complete day of DNF's!)

SPEECHLESS MOMENT: There aren't too many...ha ha....had to be when The Alphabet Man signed the Log as . . . . The Alphabet Man! ( oops...busted)

MOST PAINFUL CACHE: Cache # 102...The killer Cornstalk ( even though I had no "physical" bruises, I was pretty sore the next day!)

THE MOST TAKEN OFF GUARD MOMENT: When I was paying a bill , and someone asks me, if I was Goldysgirl!

THE BEST "FIND": Had to be the cammo tape at Wally World! ( I love duct tape)

MY FIRST TRAVELBUG: Alaskan Pooping Moose

MY FIRST GEOCOIN: Hmmmm...I don't know, 1st SGT grabbed it from me, so fast...I never saw it! LOL

THE SCARIEST CACHE: Definitely when I got turned around in the woods! Still freaks me out to think about it!

THE WORST "OMG" MOMENT: When I get the e-mail, telling me I have the wrong numbers on a cache. ( I guess I could also list that as, "my most challenging for anyone to find")

MY FAVORITE "HIDE" : Has to be my " well hung" in the cemetery.

THE "PROGRESS" AWARD: Goes to the "pot-stirrer" having gone from "nothing to do with caching" . . . to . . . "caching addict!"

THE FAVORITE BLOG: Well, let's see.... I have NO idea...you tell me. Send me an e-mail.

So, let's wrap this year up and start fresh in 2010. Let's see what kind of trouble we can get into and out of! Have a Great New Year. Happy Caching in 2010! See you on the trails!

It's Been A Great Run !

2009-12-10T07:34:00.003-06:00

Today it is 4 degrees, with a wind chill of -10 degrees! Welcome to Illinois. First Sgt has better weather in Alaska! 6 months ago...today....I went out Geocaching with 1ST Sgt! The weather was a little nicer, well let's not kid ourselves..it was a LOT nicer than it is today! Wow, I just looked back and read all the blogs the other morning ( my way of procrastinating) and what a great time we had!

I am making some small changes in my life...that have turned out to be BIG changes. But, when everything settles down ( and it will) I will have oh so much more time! But seeing, I only got the Halloween decorations in a few days ago...I would say I am behind a little.

My plans for today ( not going to be aGeocaching Thursday) is to go to" town", have a couple of appointments, pick up a few decoration items, and then home to finally finish off a huge order I have been working on. With the weather being this cold....I may not get the lights out today!

Christmas is only 2 weeks away...The Lil one will be down and I will be spending the holidays with Goldy's family. Any thoughts of Geocaching before Christmas, are long gone out the window!! I am saving those "boots" for January!!

So, I want to take this time to Wish A Merry Christmas, to all my new found friends! Yep...you...people I have never met, but enjoy reading all your logs. A big promise to Scott & Peggy, as I will get your caches ( someday) and I know Prince Charming and family has been hiding tons of them . A special Happy Holidays to the "we" of the nice cachers for putting up with all my "directional " dysfunction and to The Alphabet Man, for taking all the heat in the blogs.

Merry Christmas....Happy Caching ....See you in 2010

The Team....Part 2

2009-12-07T08:30:00.007-06:00

We now have 3 caches under our belt. I would like to think this is going well...but, I really can't admit that... yet. As a matter of fact, I am beginning to have some serious doubts. Seester is entering the cooords, and is doing a great job (or so I think) We are heading across town and going on to finish this quest. It was probably a good thing, I have selected My hides, as I do recognize when the Tom-Tom is not sending us down the correct roads. I am leaning in from the back seat, with the whole...don't listen to that, keep going straight, no... turn right, what the heck, turn left. Finally I have to do the whole, go straight until I say different, and give me that Tom-Tom. Ok, problem solved, it is not that seester forgot the . or even the slash, but like 3 whole numbers, and the driving time was listed for over 11 hours. I really don't recall 1st Sgt having this much problem with me. If memory serves me right (and we all know, it doesn't) I thought I was quite an expert by the 3rd cache.

The next cache is another cemetery. No muggles....good. The team has gone from yelling... to deer stand voices... to no talking what so ever. Actually potential has switched to mumbling mode. We have 3 people walking (with 1 mumbler) but all 3 are just staring down into the GPS and slowly taking steps. All 3 are going different directions. No one is aware of anyone else! They are in what is best described as robotic mode. Seester has the TT, which has still not quite recovered from the driving incident. So when TT says, TURN AROUND NOW, I about fall on the ground laughing when I see all 3 of them, turn in a complete circle and starting walking in the opposite direction. I watch this for several minutes, there is dead silence ( no pun intended) except for Potentials low mumble.

I call everyone over to ground zero. Even SIL, who doesn't have a GPS but loves the history in the cemetery comes over. I start off with... Let's just say, this is ground zero,... uh, that would be where the cache is...where do you think it would be? All 3 glance up, and look back down at the GPS...this reminds me of math class in grade school, when you don't know the answer, but think that by looking at the floor, the answer will appear. OK...let's re-phrase that..what does the GPS say? Well, Seester says that the TT shows the little red car, by a checkered flag. Good...and BIL says the blue ball is almost on top of the green circle...Good...and Potential, well he says he doesn't know why heck the back light on this thing keeps shutting off. SIL is silent. OK... we are here...look around, where would a cache be hidden? Just think...I already told you it would not be hidden at a grave site. Look around, what do we see? No answer, everyone looks down at the GPS. Ok, we have grave sites...1 tree...and grass...any ideas? Seester looks up to the top of the tree. Would anyone bring a ladder out here? No...I am 5'5...BIL starts circling around looking at the grass, Potential is fiddling around with the backlight of the GPS, SIL ( who doesn't have a GPS) walks to the base of the tree and picks up the cache.

On to cache #4... I realize a GPS unit (at this time) is obviously optional, and apparently really not even needed. Since they loved the swag in the last cache, I know they will go nuts over the next, as it was my first cache hidden, therefore it is large and has by now, tons of swag. BIL stops on a dime, but does now realize that he can at least park the truck in the designated area. The GPS units are being analyzed, Seester and BIL start off in the correct direction ( I think they are getting this) SIL ( no GPS unit) says " I found it". Potential has the back light working, but has only 1 leg out of the truck.

I get their competitive juices running, as I mention on the way to the next cache, that they should be ashamed that the only one without a GPS is finding these caches. Well, she says in her southern drawl, I was really just admiring that birds nest. As we approach the next stop, BIL says, I see it alllll ready.. ( big southern drawl there) it is gonna be in that there Cedar tree. My first thought...I TOLD pot-stirrer I didn't want to be known as the "tree lady" and my second thought...Is THAT a cedar tree? Do we have Cedar trees here? Bil slams on the brakes, backs up a hair, leave the engine running, and 3 of them jump out, leave the doors open, leave GPS units behind and are sliding down the grass, going after this cache! Now that is how to go geo-caching!! Well, Potential did make it out of the truck, but was still eyeing and mumbling to the GPS! SIL, once again, was the first to the cache.

I am feeling better ( why?...I am not sure) but I really think they are getting the hang of this. I did have to have a little discussion as to why it has to be placed where you found it, and not where you THINK would be a better place. On our way to the next ( and I am thinking) last cache... Potential sits in the back seat, and continues to mumble and play with his GPS. My ears pop up when I think I hear him say...well we should go about 1 mile north..then turn east...Hmmm...that is interesting ( at this point I know where I am, and that is going to be about right.) Then he says to BIL, are you driving about 63 miles per hour? Yep...Ok , he says, then we are blah, blah, blah above sea level! He is so excited. (I just want to get to the cache.) We pull up once again in a cemetery. Bil stops the truck, everyone is gathering their Units. SIL, ( of course) heads off to a really old headstone. Potential steps out of the truck, eyes glued to the GPS, he is completely silent. Without ever taking his eyes off the GPS. He walks directly to the cache, picks it up and says...I found it! The rest of us are still at the side of the truck. Potential laughs, He says..."I think I got this GPS figured out!" Everyone stands, with their mouths open, and look to me. Well... What can I say?!!

"The first round is on me!"
(It is NOT a coincidence that we are in Erable)

The Team...Part 1

2009-12-03T07:26:00.005-06:00

WOW! Words really cannot describe our day of Geocaching with "the team". The team (out on black Friday) consisted of 1 brother-in-law (BIL) 2 sisters-in-law (SIL) with the 2nd one being, my actual partner-in-crime- at times, that I really do call SEESTER. Oh...and 1 potential ( yet, unlikely) brother-in-law that I will just call Potential. This is a 5 person team, ... 3 GPS devices and...me. Keep in mind, I AM the ONLY person who has ever done this. But because they are totally clueless, this doesn't seem to phase them. I, on the other hand, am greatly concerned! I have taught for many, many years...and I actually have a good reputation that tags along with my "name"...the difference being...I KNEW what I was doing, I was prepared, and I had lots of experience.

A camera could not have captured the day. We probably needed a video camera, or better yet, the whole scene from Goldy's view! I have gathered all my "gear"..and as I walk out of the house, there they are...all lined up in a row. What!?... I ask. "Well, what do we do?" They are all excited. Uh...we will start by getting into the truck. Oh boy...I may turn into 1st SGT by the end of the day.

Potential has brought a GPS unit. He has never used it...it is still in the box...the charger is still in that "impossible-to-rip-open-hard plastic." He DID bring new batteries...he has NO manual...he got it as a gift in HIGH SCHOOL! You do NOT want to know how old this thing is! As we back out of the driveway, I hear someone say...that thing is pretty old, do you think the coordinates are the same? I DID NOT hear that, or so I pretended, and I am thankful that 1st SGT is NOT here!

I am a little smarter than you may think, as I decided to take them to a few of MY hides...rationalizing that I may be a little a head of them, on my part. We head to the first cache. BIL is driving, when Ton-Tom says you have reached your destination...that is it, he has slammed on the breaks, we are parked, we are there. He doesn't care that there are unnamed roads in which we can travel. Nope! we are there. Okay...so we will walk. I was a little excited that no one, not even the guys, knew about coords, and which way to walk in relationship to the numbers. I think they were a little impressed. I gave the credit to 1st SGT. BIL, is trying to follow the "little blue ball" SIL is checking out all the old headstones, Seester (and I) are trying to get the Tom-Tom from driving mode to walking mode, and Potential is TRYING to turn on his GPS. We are off to a great start.

I stand back, to try to get an overall "picture". No one is walking in the same direction. I never had to round up cattle, but I kinda have that same feeling, as I am rounding everyone up...and getting everyone headed in the same direction. At one point, 2 of the team were actually walking together and getting pretty close. BIL must have thought that also, as he yells out (remember he is from TN) "Y'll gone too far now, "yous" a whole lane off." They stop...they look at us...I can't believe they are falling for that. BIL is saying to me... "I've stalled em now, I think I'm gonna get the truck and drive right on over there and get me that there cache, I think I can get there before they do" Seeing, they are only 3 feet away, I doubt that, but, they were clueless so they just walk on by. They are too busy "looking" to see where BIL is heading. Yep...this is going well. Somehow, and I don't know how, SIL and Seester are now together and are searching to the right, and to the left, but no where near the cache. Ok girls, lets regroup, stand back for a moment, and think about the hint. That is all it took, I am not sure if that looked like a NFL tackle or a slide in to home base, but they got it. I need a referee's whistle. And WHERE are the guys? As we head off to the 2nd cache...I mention that Geocahcing is NOT a contact sport, and the guys need to use their "deer stand voices"

Cache #2, is in a park. It is my hide, I don't have one of the GPS units , and I can't even remember what tree it is actually in. I do remember that The Alphabet Man was the last to find it, and he re-hid it "as found or better" This is just a flashback to finding all the other hides from the Alphabet Man. And it is MY hide! So while the newbys are off in 3 different directions... by the swing sets (?!) ...I am slowly circling the trees, looking for my own hide! Geocaching is not for the memory impaired!

Cache #3 is downtown, a VERY busy downtown today, after all it is black Friday! After some time, they find it. When we get back into the car, I re-explain the whole Muggle/ stealth-like theory. I may have to stay away from downtown for a couple of weeks.

It only gets better. I started this blog off with WOW...which really means...why oh why!

Possible Black Friday Team

2009-11-25T10:20:00.006-06:00

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

2009-11-20T17:33:00.004-06:00

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!

2009-11-13T08:25:00.002-06:00

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

2009-11-10T09:57:00.002-06:00

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

2009-11-06T08:34:00.004-06:00

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!

2009-11-05T19:19:00.008-06:00

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

2009-11-05T18:14:00.005-06:00

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?

2009-11-03T20:45:00.005-06:00

(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

2009-11-03T18:19:00.006-06:00

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!

Another Toughy!

2009-10-27T15:10:00.005-05:00

We did manage to have time for that last cache of the day. We were hurried, but it couldn't be as bad as the last one... we think. It wasn't, but it was a tough one. Good one, but not what we were expecting!

We start off with a closed road, so we go around...ya, I have been here in the past, but not driving, so how to get around the blocked road...well don't ask me! We finally park it, and start to walk. We would have been better off, at the closed road sign...but it is good exercise, so we walk it.

The Garmin signal is all over the place, and my I-phone is off...nearly dead! I decide to turn it on, just to get an idea of where we are headed. I am in the middle of no where with just a sliver of green, left on the battery...and the phone rings! And, it is work! You have got to be kidding... I can not be wasting my battery on a phone call from work! I ignore the call...and keep "poking".

I know what we are looking for, from the description...and my location was good, my theory, I thought, was good, and I would have been successful...had this been a "poking cache" The pot-stirrer ( standing right next to me) calls it. She, of course, is not "poking"...but "looking"

I snap another picture...for Ist Sgt, and that is when I realize...AHHHH, "we" ( 1st Sgt & I) have "done" this guy before! I recognize his MO.

Ok...game on, I wish I knew that before going into this! Oh well, I am sure he will place more...with his style, he is a geo-caching addict! There will definitely be more.

Pot-stirrer and the Did Not Find

2009-10-27T14:46:00.008-05:00

It is finally my day off, and I think I have a ton of things to do. Pot stirrer calls and tells me about a cache...she did not find. Turns out she goes caching...without me...on her weekend off! Well, that is the first problem. Anyways, I listen to her tale...and it is a tough one. She goes into detail, telling me all the surroundings, and that is when I say...it is the ( blah, blah, blah) Don't want to give any spoilers!

She says she didn't even know, you could have caches like that! So we spend the next 1 hour, still on the phone, scanning e-bay looking/showing all the cool caches! She is determined...and I want some caches, so we make plans to go caching today...and back to the scene of the did not find!

She picks me up at the crack of dawn, my idea, and we head off. She is driving, I am shotgun. And the I-phone is NOT charging, as I think. Can you see where this is heading? We pick up a couple of not- really- near- by ones, and while stopping for a cup of coffee...I realize the phone is not charging, and the battery is going quickly!

This is the start of my frustration! I shut the phone off, to save the battery...and we head to the scene, after all, she has already been there and I am sure I know what we are looking for! We arrive, and neither one of us, knows north from south...we are very turned around. We start looking...and looking...and looking. Maybe they want you to think it is.... so, we start looking nearby, and looking, and looking. I get the caching stick out and I am banging the heck out of everything, I am poking, stooping , prodding and starting to think some really negative thoughts.

The pot stirrer calls it quits, but I dilly-dally just a little longer. We may be just a couple of girls, but the BA in her "real " geo-caching name stands for BAD A**. I just hate to admit defeat...but we are cold, wet, hungry, and she has to go to work...and we have 1 more cache we wanted to get!

Then out of the blue, I hear her say...there it is. Finally some words, I wanted to hear. I turn and look, and I am so frustrated I can't even get excited! I snap a picture, just to send to 1st Sgt...seeing he is thousands of miles away... I don't think we will be spoiling this for him.

I head back to the car, the pot-stirrer is doing some little cart wheel dance...she is so excited! She can hardly contain herself! As we drive away, I ask her if I can have at least " 1 star" since it was exactly WHAT I said it was going to be...But I just couldn't see it.

When I get home...I log in as "found it" and just said...NO COMMENT. I 'll be dammed if I give any help to the next guy!

Link

2009-10-27T14:01:00.004-05:00

In less than 12 hours after everyone hits the road to home...I have picked up the house... ditched all the left over snacks...threw the "empties" in several different containers...watched 4 episodes of Brothers & Sisters ( wanted to see a normal family) and finally check my e-mail.

That is when I see it! You may have noticed lately, that checking my e-mail, can bring me many different surprises! There I have an e-mail from a fellow geo-cacher....not telling me he has ended up in a bean field, but saying..." I hope you don't mind.... he has added my blog as a link to his site. Wants to have all the geo-caching blogs in one area.

Truly very nice of him....but how did he even find my blog! I check out his site, and see a couple of familiar names...and some really cute baby pictures! I guess he found one of my caches...but he found my blog? Good golly...I didn't think anyone read my blog!

I have to send off an e-mail of my own, to none other than...1st Sgt! He is probably surprised also...seeing that the number counter is so low...who would have thought. But then again...it was only one person. I ask him, if he thinks some of the geo-cachers, might recognize themselves? He said he knew who he was! Dah! That one was easy! I am just a little concerned...

Oh...okay. Well, if you think you are in my blog...you may not be......and,you know, what can I say? It is, what it is.

Ahh..I am sure no one read this.

Family Time...Next Day

2009-10-27T13:45:00.006-05:00

We sat around that night...having a few cocktails ( wine for me) re-hashing the last 24 hours...then we start discussing the good ole days....some of the adventures Big Sis and I had gotten into....and then ( with just the right amount of alcohol) Big Sis decides to read the blogs!

Seeing that Other Sis is not a" blog watcher" ...this could go either way! The more she reads the crazier it gets. By this time, everyone is talking at once, playing out the roles, embellishing to the nth degree... Ma sits there with her, oh so familiar smirk-laugh ( the one where she almost has to hold her teeth in) I am sure anyone looking in....would think we are nuts...but this is just typical family time!

Ma continues to insist that she REALLY did walk 5 miles, in the snow, uphill, both ways to school...but has now added "ask Uncle Billy if you don't believe me!"

As we wind up the night ( I should really say morning) Ma wipes the laughing tears from her face, and remarks...Oh my...I wonder what people think about us, when they read your blog"

"Don't worry Ma ( I reply) no one reads the blogs.

Geocaching with The Other Sis

2009-10-27T07:43:00.005-05:00

While planning my 24 hours with family. I decide to print off a few caches....just in case, we could fit them in. After wining ( or should I say whining) dining and spending all our money...we head back home. I suggest other Sis ride home with me! ( nice move)

It just so happens, I have the geo-caching bag, the I-phone, the TT, and some print offs, right there in the back seat.

I give Other Sis a 2 minute tutorial, and as 1ST SGT would say... we were good to go. Big Sis is following in her car, with Ma ( who now is refereed to as the "Q-Tip) sitting proudly in shotgun position. No Ma, there were no guns involved! Anyways...Big Sis give me " the puzzled look" when I detour and pull off in a cemetery.

OtherSis has set the "coords" and did it very nicely. Hmmm... has she been practicing? She goes right up to the cache, but of course doesn't recognize it...because it it a LPC. So I point it out to her, explaining if she was not a geocaching newby, she would have got that right way!

Off to the next one...I had printed off a few of my hides, primarily because I knew where they were, and it would be easy to teach her. Psychologically, I probably just didn't want to look dumb...just in case I couldn't find it. Learned that lesson when I went with the little one!

We do stop by and pick up a park and grab...not one of mine, but a nice easy find. Ma is just riding with Big Sis... totally clueless!! She did think she saw some kind of animal...."right there ...by the tree... 3 trees down" ....I didn't see anything, but it WAS a bean field, and I didn't want to look too close...it may have been a geocacher looking for the bridge!

Other Sis is doing great! She must have gotten the better end of Dad's navigational gene! As a matter of fact, she is really looking like a pro here. 1ST SGT would have been impressed! Had she been with him in June, he probably wouldn't be on BP meds!

It was starting to get dusk and Ma was getting a little concerned, that we were driving her through cemeteries. So, we headed home.

A good day of caching with the professional newby! But the night is just starting.....

Family Time - Day 1

2009-10-27T07:27:00.006-05:00

Big Sis has been entertaining Ma for 2 weeks now...Other Sis and Hubby are flying in from the Hippie state for a week visit. I get them for 24 hours.

For the next 24 hours, we accomplish/ found out/discovered...in no particular order

hours of shopping at an antique mall

spent boo-coo bucks at a Hobby Lobby

etched wine glasses ( which we put to good use)

Ate a late lunch ( and drank wine) at a brewery

Found the check ( made out to me) that Big Sis "set" down

Spread a rumor to friends / family that a football coach was being fired ( well we thought we heard that on the "muted " tv)

visited coffee shop, several home decor shops and a junk store...( All purchases will probably be in our garage sale next year)

bought wine ( a couple of times)

learned a whole new craft (thanks other Sis)

drove by the ole homestead

reminisced about the good ole days

recovered Big Sis's cell phone ( dropped in a parking lot....before alcohol was started)

Found out Other Sis is indeed a pot stirrer ( but stealth like)

Realized Ma fits in the " short-cute-white-haired-little-old lady category ( with a twist of Maxine)

Downloaded fonts from the computer

BiG Sis still fits the whip-lash-willy driving category

And.....took Other Sis for a few geocaches!!!

Dear Rewiever Jones...

2009-10-23T11:12:00.004-05:00

I guess that is how I will start. I will keep it simple....I will act like this happens everyday...but to other people! I will skip the part about humble pie...Certainly not mention the cammo duct tape excitement ...or... thinking I was climbing the Big Boy Ladder.

I would like to mention the "nice cacher" that found this cache, and saved my butt, but I really don't want to draw attention to anything or anyone ( anyone being ME!)

So, before I write THE note to Reviewer Jones, I want to thank the "nice cacher" for actually finding the cache, for giving me the correct coordinates, for not getting stuck out in the mud, for the nice e-mail, purposely avoiding the whole criticism lingo. For my own peace of mind, I can tell that the "nice cacher" does not live around here, I believe he said something about coming 50 miles for a FTF....good! I won't have to run into him in public, secondly he called it a soy bean field, and even though I don't know a 4 from a 5...I do know, if he was a local cacher, he would have just called it a bean field.

So, thanks again to the "nice cacher" and if you are ever in this area again, and you see some cachers out...I will be the one carrying the 4 GPS units, triple checking all my numbers!

So, here goes... Dear Reviewer Jones,
while reviewing GC #------- I realize that there is an incorrect number on the.......

Trying Not to panic....

2009-10-23T10:17:00.004-05:00

Panic does not look good on me, therefore, I try to avoid it all times. In my line of work....things happen...hearts stop...and crazy things like that...so panic is NOT an option in my job. I don't do panic. So, what is this real weird feeling I have right now, ( may be a small form of panic?)

When I decide to just go ahead and panic, I find myself speed dialing the potstirrer, rambling on and on, about 100 miles an hour, about wrong coordinates....muddy bean fields....5's instead of 4's...miles off the coordinates!! You can never really predict a response from the potstirrer, so when she responds with...." well, they found all the others ones, right?" I guess this doesn't even surprise me. It certainly doesn't make me feel any better! I now have to go into a 1/2 hour dissertation on how this is a WORLWIDE treasure hunting game....how there are over 900,000 of these hidden treasure, and I can not even get mine right! This doesn't seem to phase her. But...if she was the one looking in the muddy bean field, instead of the bridge...well then this may be a different story.

The dogs are getting their exercise, as they follow me while I am pacing back and forth in the house. Ok, let's be reasonable, the cacher that figured this all out...seemed very nice, no swearing , no threats, he even listed the correct coordinates for me. That alone, is a blessing, due to my great directional disorder, I wouldn't be able to get to the cache myself. I was planning on relying on my coordinates, if the cache needed maintenance, because truly, I don't know where they are! So, by having the correct coords, I can actually go to the cache, instead of being in a muddy bean field! The "nice cacher" has a lot , and I mean a lot, of caches under his belt...so he certainly recognizes a "newby" like me.

I decide to make this quick and painless, before all the e-mails start piling up. I go to my log in, and edit the cache. I list the coordinates given to me by "nice cacher". I hit the enter key and....Wa-La! Wait, I see red...uh oh, it is a note....oh great the new coordinates are so far off, from the original, that I can not edit them. What?? It is only a 5 instead of a 4! ( says, the potstirrer) but it turns out, that one number is over 8 miles in error! 8 MILES! That is a long walk!

So, I need to temporary patch this up. Duct tape will not work on this one. Let's see, I will go and edit the story part, and list the new coordinates at the beginning...ya, that should work. I open up the reaming e-mails, nothing too threatening there. The Alphabet man did not find it, he didn't have the " correct coords" great...( eating more humble pie/ better add a little a la' mode to it) Still, no hate letters ....yet!

I do realize that I have to contact Reviewer Jones and get the coords changed. I get a e-mail from the "nice cacher", he tells me the same....just contact Reviewer Jones . Ya, I feel like when you are sent to the principles office. Slowly dragging your feet, trying to come up with a better explanation. I guess I could say, that once you got stuck in the muddy bean field....ruining all the farmers crops...that there truly was a sign there, listing the correct coords, just have a tow truck pull you out ...and then head over the 8 miles ...to a bridge, that actually has the cache!

Ah no...not gonna work!

Victory & Defeat

2009-10-22T10:16:00.009-05:00

Lets see...how did this whole thing go so badly? I make the purchase of a "geocaching" lifetime, by finding the cammo tape...I sit up all night, making 7 new caches. I have them in various sizes, shapes, and colors of duct tape. I head out with the potstirrer for a day of great hides. We celebrate with dinner...all is good. I log all my hides...reviewer Jones, approves them all ( see, I must be getting better at this!) And I am on cloud nine. I have climbed up at LEAST 2 rungs, if not 3 rungs, on the Big Boys Geocaching Ladder!!! Life is good! ( This is the "victory" part.)

I go do a couple of shifts at work...that is where the real money is made (until the movie deal comes in) Now...this is where....the story, in my mind...plays over and over in slow motion. I get off work, I check my e-mail, I see where someone has sent me a note through the Geocaching site. Cool, someone has found one of my new caches! Then I read the note, my gut sinks...I have put a wrong number on one of the coordinates! A 5... instead of a 4! The cache info, takes them to the middle of a muddy bean field! That one number takes them, literally, many miles from the actual cache. OMG...in slow motion I can see my head banging on the desk...I have just fallen off the Big Boy Geocaching Ladder! I glance at my e-mails and see I have 12 messages from Geocaching! I can not possibly bring myself to even read them.

I brush myself off...lots of dust, at the bottom of the ladder, I go to the kitchen and grab a fork...I start eating humble pie. ( This is the" Defeat" part)

Caching with the dogs

2009-10-18T22:25:00.007-05:00

I have to take the dogs to the groomer, conveniently located near a cache. So , after the whole "spa" day, we head out for a "found it"! Yea right... we find ourselves, in this stupid ditch, that of course, contains water, that we just visited a few days ago. Couldn't find it that day ( in the rain) so have returned to the scene of the crime. I am thinking this is in the drainage pipe. And due to that line of reasoning ( since my last visit) I have purchased, a mag light. Hot pink...wouldn't want to get it confused with the potstirrers! This, of course, is a joke, because the potstirrrer would NEVER own a hot pink mag light. Hey it was 8 bucks at Wally world, and I think it is cute!

We drive to the cache, pass it up several times, realizing that since our last visit, the corn has been combined...and I don't even recognize the place. Finally agree on the spot, park down the road, and since I have the dogs, I have to totally shut off the car, and do a lock down! Normally we stop for caches with car running, doors open, middle of road....well you get the picture!

Now I am not one to say, that the dogs are not well behaved, but just this morning, I had to do "the ole' grab one by the neck -as he jumps out the window -after hitting the auto window button- in his hyper stage!!

This, of course, is why you never see a log in, with the words...found this cache while out with the dogs today, also why Goldie always said...."never tell anyone, I own a poodle" And to make matters worse, couldn't find the stupid cache! I swear, it is not there!

It is all in the name

2009-10-18T22:16:00.007-05:00

After the celebration dinner, I return home to enter all my new hides. 1 glass of wine later, and I am feeling pretty confident. I really want to use the name, "well hung", out at the cemetery hide.. but was starting to chicken out. But then again, there are caches called BFE #1, and BFE #2... but I think... does everyone know what BFE stands for? I actually have a friend (Dr.) that comes from the E in BFE, and wonder does he know what BFE stands for? But I also realize, I could never really ask him that. So, as I re-think this whole thing...I realize that 1st Sgt was in E of the BFE.

So...1st Sgt, do people in E of the BFE, know what that stands for? And is E in BFE...really BFE, or is it really where we live now...are WE in BFE?!! Hey, let me know, I would really like to sleep at night!

So, being the person I am, really the chicken I am...I use neither the word well or hung.

Cache 7

2009-10-18T22:01:00.004-05:00

I stay up half the night, making me some new caches. I make 7, all different sizes and shapes. I am truly on a roll. I have duct tape, I have swag, I have great ideas! I have informed the potstirrer, that in the afternoon, we are heading out! Of course, it is raining...what else is new, but we do head out, and we are in search for the best hides ever! We go a couple of towns over, and start looking. We drive and drive, look and look. I am serious now, I am stepping up...I am gonna play like the big boys. These are not gonna be any easy hides, we are gonna challenge everyone! We are gonna have a great hide...a great cache! There are so many potentials, but we finally narrow it down! I am sure it was quite the sight to see, 2 people, facing a tree, gps in hand, checking coords! Several hours later, and 7 hidden caches, we grab some dinner...in celebration! Yes...I have now entered the league with the big boys! We discuss, our favorite hide...I think I really like the "hanging" one in the cemetery. I think it will be tough! I also consider , calling it "well hung", but chicken out ( Don't need the geo-caching, slap on the hand)

Feeling pretty good, about myself, I call it a night...yep! I have just entered a new league, I am one of the big boys!

Survival

2009-10-14T07:42:00.004-05:00

We survived! In less than 2 1/2 hours, we found 6 caches! One was a nano....my first ( potstirrers second) Had to take a picture, set it right there next to a chap stick lid. Nice...those nanos are nice! Note to self: get some nanos. Was the FTF on one cache, made us feel pretty good, as a familiar name was on all the logs, except this one...wonder if he couldn't find it! I was feeling pretty good, when my "sense of direction" led me the correct route...around a bridge construction site. Yep, 1st Sgt, you are correct...Goldy has my back.

As usual, went off the planned course, when my I-phone says there is a cache...2.3 miles away, I think we should go. 9 miles later...I think the 2.3 miles, is "as the crow flys". All turned out great. Couldn't pass up that "one more" cache, and it was actually big enough to drop off a travel bug! The rain stopped, not sure when...but when the squeaking of the wiper blades, throws off your concentration...you realize the rain has stopped. My shoes... and clothes ( of course) are still wet!

We survived the whole... off the road...no you are still on the road...the ignore the muggles who are gawking at us ( in the rain)....wave to the muggles, let them know we are having a good time.

We survived the whole...back the car up and go to the left...no the right....no wait...do a 3-point-turn -about.

We survived the whole...look there, at the blue thing... that is it....no, that can't be it...ok, that is it...they can't hide them there.

We survived the whole...what end is the west end of the rail...west end of the rail, or west end of the lot...where is west...my i-phone says I am heading southeast....so west is...no, that can't be right.

Hey! We survived....and had a good time (soaking wet...in the rain)

Words of Wisdom

2009-10-14T07:06:00.006-05:00

My first flash back of MA, was when the potstirrer said "You won't melt". ( 1st Sgt and I have heard that all our lives.)

I gather all the information on a few caches, in a selected area, and we head off in the cache mobile. Good thing the wipers work! It is not only raining...it is cold...it is overcast...it is grey! So, not only the wipers, but the heat, the defrost, and the lights...were all put to use. I dressed for the occasion, or so I thought! Tennie whoppers, hoodie, warm socks, rain coat. We head to our first destination. I pull off the road...or so I think...but potstirrer claims I am in the middle of the road. Who can possibly see? It is raining too hard. Who would even be out here on a day like this! Our first cache is by a ditch, and with ditches...comes water. Within seconds I am soaked, my tennie whoppers are sloshing, my socks are saturated, in fact, I have water half way up the legs of my jeans. My I-phone is wet, and I need those little windshield wipers on my glasses. And I am thinking it is a magnetic... in the drainage ditch! Of course...she has a flashlight!

My second flashback of MA..."you kids don't even have enough sense to come in from out of the rain." ( back me up on this 1st Sgt!)

Fever

2009-10-14T06:36:00.007-05:00

It is not swine flu, it is not the flu at all. It is not a cold, sinus infection or pneumonia...it is a fever. The potstirrer has a fever, and it started in the Dakotas. She will inform me...that it was North Dakota, but unless you live in the Dakotas, I really don't think North or South makes a difference.

She has returned from the family vacation, and she has geocache fever. This may be terminal, as I noticed that many other caching friends, have had it for years. She has hung with me for 50 some caches and really showed no signs, then out of the blue...it has her. I am thinking it came in the Garmin box.

After a 13 hour drive back, to the infamous state, of road construction, potholes, and lousy weather. She calls...wants to go get a few caches. Seeing the weather has been nothing but cold and rainy, I had actually made a dentist appt. for noon. Oh...that doesn't matter, she says...it won't be dark for hours. We will still have time.

As I leave the "plaque pickers" office, I give her a call. Yep, she still wants to go...Yep, it is raining where she is. Yep, she has checked the radar. Yep, it is pretty much orange.
Well, it is not like we are gonna melt, she says. ( Flashbacks of MA.) Yep, she will meet me in ten.

Oh ya... she has the fever.

Garmin vs I-Phone vs Tom-tom

2009-09-18T13:23:00.003-05:00

Since I brought up the subject of checking out the potstirrer's new GPS, I thought I better follow up with that. She, actually bought the Garmin, for the car, but since it has lat and long coords, we decided to check it out for geocaching. The nice thing about her Garmin, is it speaks the name of the street to turn on....my TT, is 1 year old, and only says " turn right" or whatever. I know 1st Sgt would have loved if my TT said the street name, because as he will attest...when it said "turn right"...I turned right...right at that second! As, 1st Sgt is holding on for his life and screaming..."it said in 500 yards...that was not 500 yards, 500 yards is a football field!" Okay now...so I loved that feature. My TT has a bar screen at the bottom, when you are in walking mode...kinds lets you know if you are getting closer to the cache. Hers got better the more she messed with it, but... I think I like the TT better. Her walk screen showed the river, which I DEFINATELY needed when 1st Sgt "STOLE" that cache from right under me...just because HE was on the correct side of the creek. I will probably be 90 years old, and still remember that beaver dam incident.

But, the I-Phone is really second to none! That little sucker can put me RIGHT ON! And now that I can actually read, to a degree, the coords...even a bouncing satellite won't throw me off.
The down side to it all, is that geocaching with the I-Phone can drain your battery so fast! Especially when we are at a DNF for over an hour, just because it is the Alphabet man's...we think we gotta stay and look forever!

So, that is my findings...you decide. Potstirrer thinks she is going to "save up" and get a pre-loaded geocaching Garmin. In the meantime...she will be off to visit her family...and at least know what street to turn on!

Pay backs are hell!

2009-09-18T12:42:00.004-05:00

I have been dealing with poison ivy or poison something for 3 weeks now, and the worst part of it... is I think I got it doing yard work in my own backyard! I, of course, wait 3 days to see if it actually something, so when it blisters, I break down and get the $36.00 Zanfel. Knowing that this will do the trick...I can't wait to tell 1st Sgt..how fast that worked! So, I do my usual shifts at work, wearing long sleeves, in the middle of summer, and stopping every couple of hours, to scrub with this crap! At night, I added the Calamine lotion, because waking up every 2 hours, scratching...is no way to get my much needed beauty sleep! I threw the Benadryl gel in the garbage, with a note to self, never to waste my money on that. The cortisone cream was not working...ok maybe it was old or something. I finally break down and ask the Doc for a RX for solu-medrol dose pak. Yep!....Cortisone. Now I hate taking cortisone, not that I think it will make me any more deranged than I already am, but why take the chance. So, now I am dealing with 3 creams, cortisone pills, long sleeves, day and night, and add a benadryl pill at night to help me sleep! So, when I wake up in the morning and see some on my leg...I start to have a little anxiety! Like maybe, this isn't poison anything, but I am being eaten alive at night by a spider or something! This leads me to completely strip all the linens, and de-fumigate the house! Of course, this is how I spend my day off!

The Zanfel tube is done...the cortisone pills are gone... the calamine lotion is empty...the "poison" area is dried... red... and scarred! But I can scratch anywhere on my arms, and a nice big rash appears! Just great! And boy, does it ever itch.

So, I go to the self-help section, in my mind...and remember when I had a reaction to Motrin...the very pricey specialist prescribed a 3 drug treatment plan, all meds you can get over the counter, all weird meds that really don't make you think of a rash treatment. But there was a scientific explanation and it worked! So, now I was off to Wallie World to get yet 3 more drugs, also picked up a calamine-cortisone cream for good measure, oh and ya, throw in that bottle of Aveno lotion!

I don't remember this treatment being such a slow process. The itch-scratch cycle is driving me mad...or maybe it IS the cortisone! Needless, to say I am at wits end. So, I break down and lower myself to ask for 1 more RX for the cortisone pills! Good Lord!

The following Tuesday was my first day of some relief...so I go out and mow the yard, after all, I am on every drug combo you can imagine! 2 days later, I am feeling much better, so I do my day of geocaching...in the woods...hey, might as well test this out! As I write this...the horror of itching is starting to fade, with just 2 days left of the pills...I may make it after all! On the other hand, this constant "grazing" in front of the refrigerator....is all Cortisone related!

Hey, what can I say...but...Sorry 1st Sgt...I really didn't mean to laugh at your poison ivy! Pay backs are Hell!

I will "cache" up with you later...got to get a snack!

A great day of caching

2009-09-18T12:17:00.004-05:00

The potstirrer worked overtime, so our day starts a little later than usual. But I am ready, print-outs, bags, I-phone, the whole works. I pick her up in the "cache-mobile" and announce I am riding shotgun. I have always wanted to do this, instead of being the one driving, navigating, settting corrds, etc....After all, we are off to test out her Garmin. Since, I have the paperwork, she has no idea, we are doing the alphabet man's caches! Good thinking on my part. We started off in a town, she use to be a medic in, so she knows her way around. That saved us a lot of time. Beginning at the furthest of our " 2 town" day, at the furthest cache, we worked our way in. We stopped at 11 caches, only 2 of the caches were NOT the Alphabet mans. Only 2 were DNF, ( of course, they were the Alphabet mans) 1 of those 2...just was NOT there, and the other was my fault, with a dead battery. Ended up with 3 travel bugs, 1 being a total surprise. And dropped off 1 bug, that we had picked up earlier in the day. The highlights of the day, was probably when we got one of the Alphabet man's cache...rated a 3 on being hard ! But really blew our sails away, on the very next cache, being a DNF, with a rating of 1.5!! Our last cache of the day, was purely on description, as the battery in the I-phone was DEAD!....it was very much past DUSK! And for some reason of the grace of "Goldie"...I checked my "other right" and found this one....better yet it had a TB in there...had just been placed there that evening! We signed that log in the DARK...and literally had to feel our way back to the cache-mobile!

The low points of the day....hmmmm, maybe scarfing down 1/2 a hot dog while en route....or perhaps walking a trail for 2 miles out of our way, not realizing the battery was too low to even pick up a signal!! The dejuve' was at a roadside pick up, when the hint said the "south" side of the road. I am not sure how the conversation started...but I know it ended up with me saying..."Yes, 1st Sgt"...then we laughed! So, all is good. The sun sets way too early anymore. Cuts down on our number of caches for the day.

We have a whole stack, we didn't get to. So, something to keep in mind, the next day we go.
Oh...and how do I know the potstirrer is now addicted? Probably when she said, we better get some good boots for the winter!

The potstirrer and her new GPS

2009-09-17T11:14:00.006-05:00

Well, the potstirrer has come a long way. First no interest in geocaching at all. Then...she goes along for the ride..so I don't get killed. Then she realizes that she is there...to drag my broken bones out of whatever woods I might be in. Suddenly she is starting to "follow" the blue dot on my I-phone. Next she is following coords...and looking at the compass! Before long...she is picking out wooded caches, and takes over the I-phone...while I am picking thorns out of my toes!!

And NOW...she is hooked. Tee-hee. She is taking a long distance drive to visit family...and tells me she needs a gps...but maybe she will get one that can do a little geocaching. (Yep!) She tosses that around for awhile, and finally just does it. She is now a proud owner of a Garmin...with lat and long settings, so she can go caching! She, of course, is also concerned that she won't be able to find the caches, with just the Garmin...but, hey I did a whole day of caching in Dwight, with just the Tom-Tom.....so we are good to go ( as 1st Sgt says).

So, today is the "test" day for the Garmin. I stayed up half the night, plotting and picking...just for a good day of caching. I got a stack of print offs, and am heading out the door.

What I didn't ( and won't) tell the potstirrer, is.....99% of today's caches ....are the Alphabet mans! Hey, I had no choice...he is EVERYWHERE!

I will keep you posted!

The Alphabet Man

2009-09-17T10:51:00.007-05:00

I have been dealing with the alphabet man for some time now. That is not his name, of course, or even his geocaching name....but that is what I call him. I have never met him, but I know of him, from his caches. He is EVERYWHERE and he is TOUGH. And we are just a little bit afraid of him. When I first started caching with the potstirrer....we would pick caches in an area that had several nearby...no big deal...but if we took a lot of time to find one...sure enough it was the alphabet man. At first we thought it was because it was a micro, or even an nano. We have found other peoples micros...but his is tough. Then it got to a point...if we couldn't find it right away...we would check to see if it is HIS! Then we got to the point of seeing if it was his BEFORE...we even started looking.

When we DO find one of the Alphabet man's...we are feeling good...walk a little taller, like yea we got one from the Alphabet man! But when we don't...it is like WHAT???? The last couple ( with the lil one) the DNF's...were, of course, the alphabet man. I didn't even warn the lil one...about him, but what was I thinking? Letting her first attempts to be the Alphabet man! So, in disgust I log on as a DNF...I think he could "tell" somehow that I felt defeated, because HE GOES AND CHECKS ON THEM! OMG...and...of course...they are there and they are fine...and then, of course, all these other people find them after me! Now I really feel like a CHUMP!

I checked out a picture of the Alphabet man...and he looks normal. From some of his comments, I think he may have a sense of humor. Never seen a picture of him smiling ....hmmm. I noticed he has not looked for any of my caches...and I am sure that is because they are just too easy for him. And I am OK with that.

But the grand finale to all of this...is that potstirrer called and says we are geocaching in the am! Pick out some good ones. I ask if she wants to do the Alphabet man's that I DNF....she groans. Ok, I will pick out a whole new location....that is whenI realize that the Alphabet man is EVERYWHERE!!!

We go in the AM...stay tuned!

Caching With The Little One

2009-09-17T10:35:00.003-05:00

My little one came to visit for the day...we decided to do a dinner and movie. The dinner was rushed (in order to get to the movie in time) and the movie was terrible...still waiting for a plot! The good news was that while getting ready for dinner, I check my mail and see that someone has found one of my caches! Great....but the lil one, wants details. So I go into detail, the drive to and from, the dinner, actually stayed quite for the movie, and then on the drive back. Yep, she wants to go do a couple in the morning. Really I think she doesn't believe me, but...we head out in the am. Let's just say the "caching aura " was completely off! Not a good day for caching. I started off screwing up, a cache name we were going for, but with the coords of a nearby cache. Makes for a long walk in the woods. And still a DNF to boot. After clearing our heads and filling our gut...we go for #2.....that would be #2 as a DNF! I am pretty sure at this point, that she thinks I am making this up. We head off for one clear across town...thinking the whole area has "bad karma", but I divert off to a little isolated one I was wanting to find. Thank God...we found it...or else I am sure she was ready to have me committed! All morning she kept eyeing me, like maybe I had more than 2 glasses of wine the night before....and perhaps I had stayed up all night drinking, or something. So, I was saved.....we head for #4, for the day, and it starts to rain...we get to the general area, it is now pouring...we are soaked...no way! We head back to the car. The day seemed like a bust! We are hot...we are soaked...we feel defeated...we crash at home.

Then it hits us...when you can't find them.......hide them! We throw 2 caches together....head off to the next couple of towns....and DONE! Feeling better all ready.

Updates

2009-08-18T11:12:00.003-05:00

It seems like it has been forever, since I have been caching. So, I guess I will just give you some updates!

I was reviewing the logs of some of the caches we "didn't find" and see that on the same day we were standing on the street corner for over an hour, some one ELSE "found it" and then goes on to log an easy cache! WHAT!!! You have to be kidding!!! I mentioned it to the pot-stirrer. I can not even print her response here!

The cache for the "cannon" was logged by the owner, as being replaced. Hmmm...so that probably means it was NOT there, the whole time. Of, course, 1st SGT thinks it is in the missile! I am going to have to talk the pot stirrer into going back to check that one!

Big Sis, did get a GPS unit, not within the time frame , or the store, that 1st SGT and I bet on, but she did get one!

Second Sis is coming to visit ( from the hippie state) sometime in October. She wants to go geocaching! But... ( hang on) she is bring MA!! OMG!

Big Sis came for a visit, brought along her GPS so we could go caching ( after I set it up for her) Well, I really can't comment on the whole day, but when she left , I noticed she left me her whole geocaching warehouse....bag, containers, swag, pencils, buttons, note pads and a couple of caches ( pre-made, ready to place) She did take the GPS ( to sell on e-bay) and even though she says " I am done!" I hope she will still cache with me some day, but more important, that she laughs about this some day !!! :)

1st SGT has found all the caches, on his island, and has sent out a travel bug in honor of Goldy ( final destination....here) I, in turn, have sent out a travel bug with a final destination to him. Hopefully the travel bugs have 1st SGT and Goldy's sense of direction.

The pot stirrer is vacationing in another state, but promises to go caching, when she returns. The ticks and skeeters should be at a minimum by then.

I am still waiting for the movie deal.

A little slice of tradition

2009-08-18T10:35:00.007-05:00

Sitting around the other day, bored, along with the other half million bored people. Logged into Facebook, to see if any one's life was as boring as mine. I see my niece ( Goldy's side of the family) writing that she is bored. Suddenly I get an idea.....we can go geocaching together! I IM her, she being a typical teenager, it goes as follows:

me: what r your plans for today
niece: don't know
me: do u have to be anywhere today at a certain time?
niece: no
me: do u want to go treasure hunting?
niece: what kind of treasure?
me: secret...yes or no
niece: when
me: now... yes or no
niece: I guess
me: tennis shoes are mandatory, this requires getting hot, dirty, walking outside...still in?
niece: I will get ready.

Whew, talking to teenagers is almost impossible...that and they text 100 words a minute!
So, I head off and pick her up. This is the middle niece, and I decided to ask her, because she is an athlete ( in case I get hurt, she may have to drag me to the car) she's not yet into perfume, make-up and foo-foo clothes. perfect! On the way to the first cache site, I explain about geocaching , travel bugs, muggles and latitude/longitude. It is kinda nice, when you, as the grown up, do the explaining, because they can't tell if you know what you are talking about or not! However, she did know the muggle from Harry Potter. I gave her print offs to "study up" on the drive to the woods! Yep, we did 5 wooded/trail caches, and her first cache was a travel bug. I snapped a picture of that ( I may need to use it for blackmail some day) She did really good, got her first thorn berry scratch ( didn't even whine!) and turns out she does have a sense of direction! ( go figure) By the end of our 4 hours, we were dirty, tired, sweaty, hungry and smiling. It was a good day. I decided lunch was in order, she had no preference, so I stopped off at an A&W root beer stand. We ate and talked, I swore her to secrecy and gave back her cell phone. I think she missed at least 40 texts while we were out! As I drop her back home, I ask how she liked geocaching. She says, "ok"......back to teenager mode.
As I drive home, I look back on the day, and realized that it was only a day to her...but someday she will talk about the time, "aunty" took her treasure hunting, she probably won't remember the date, or even the year, but she WILL remember, and I really hope she remembers the A&W visit too, because....that is where we ALWAYS stopped after a great family day outing. It was OUR family tradition! I am sure she has already told her friends and swore them to " don't tell anyone".....typical teenagers!

I want a movie

2009-07-28T18:49:00.004-05:00

Turns out, my computer was not the only thing with a virus...Yep, got me one too! So, 5 days into the creeping crud, I finally am able to tackle a doctor for a prescription. ( Hey, I offered to go to the office and pay the co-payment) Anyways, missed 1 shift at work, and have been on bed rest ...going on 3 days. YUK!! Remind me to be very sympathetic when Peanut goes on bed rest. Since the earth cache failure, the computer has been fixed...cha-ching....the I-phone appears to be functioning, I have read a complete book, and watched HGTV for 24 straight. ( If, you ask me...Tonisha should have had "her show cancelled" after that last episode of Design Star) Day 3, I am able to swallow my own drool now, so I head out in the yard to weed. Ask Big Sis, what I think about weeding. This is when I realize, I need a cache...I need a life..I need to blog. And that is when I see "it". "It" being the commercial on the new up and coming movie. The movie where the girl, needs a life, decides to cook her way through Julia Child's cookbook, and write a blog about it! Really now...based on a true story, no less! Hey....I need a life, I write a blog, I go Geocaching....I want a movie! How do these things happen to everyday people!?!

So, I decide what I need to do, is set things straight....I Love my TOMTOM....I Love my APPLE I-phone...I love ATT&T ( well, I did have a heated conversion with them, recently, coincidentally exactly 7 days BEFORE my I-phone crashes) Let's just continue...my backpack is a REEBOK, oh and I Love it...my shoes can be any brand they want....I sign my logs with a BIC...my monitor is a DELL...my computer...............

Earth Caching

2009-07-28T17:26:00.005-05:00

Pot stirrer calls me up, she's out "camping", wants me to come out for the day...maybe we can do a couple of "caches". Well...now, for someone who really isn't into geocaching....and to suggest we go caching, then she must really be bored. Seeing, I have roped her into a few things, I decide I will go, for a day of relaxation. I check the local area, and yep, right in the same park...is an earth cache! This will be my first earth cache. ( so, why don't I have an earth cache listed with my "finds"?, well...that's where the story begins.) I read the instructions to make sure it is not TOO hard...and then ...print! The next AM I set off, TT , cache print out, back pack, walking stick ( I know, it is just an earth cache) and all the usual good stuff. TT gets me there in 1hr 35 mins, not bad. Got to explore all the back roads...nice drive. After a quick tour of the park, we set the coords and get to the earth cache. Really didn't need any coords, just headed over to the informational kiosk. I answer the 4 questions, and click the necessary picture to qualify, actually I take 2 just to be sure. Done! Now that was easy. So, while we are in the area, lets head out for one more. The pot stirrer, says this...NOT me. My memory is just a little blurry, but I do recall, slipping jeans over my shorts, grabbing the OFF, and the walking stick. Why I left the "tennie whoppers" in the car, well, I thought we were just going for an earth cache. We end up in a terrain 3, difficulty 3 woods, the cache was placed "before the leaves were out", no hints no ...nothing...just a message of "Good Luck". In hindsight...always go with your first instinct....always go to the first place your I-phone takes you...and never make little clicking noises to the deer standing right in front of you. The deer actually was not the problem, he just stood and looked at us..to see what WE were going to do. I would have taken a picture, but the only camera I had, was on the I-phone that I was using to navigate. We did find the cache, and actually before the sun set. We did click a picture of my feet in my flip flops afterwards. Along with the pictures of deer on the road back to the park. And I am sure someday we will laugh about it all. The fact that I sat down on a log to pull stickers out of my feet....the fact that the ammo box that was sitting right next to the log. The fact that we were so far in the woods...I decided we should leave via the cornfield. The fact that the pot stirrer is freaking out, because the corn stalks are hitting her in the face. The fact that I even was smart enough to think of the cornfield,(corn always goes in a straight line, and always ends at an opening) We may laugh at the fact that my TT took me a different( and wrong way) home... The fact that it took me 4 hrs to get home. The fact that my I-phone crashed...The fact that while trying to re-boot my I-phone, The computer crashed. The fact that I had to drive to Best Buy that same night and Apple had to reset the phone to factory settings. The fact that I lost all my pictures on the I-phone.. resulting... in the fact that I didn't meet the requirement of the earth cache. Yep, we will laugh about it all someday....just not today!

The Feisty squirrel

2009-07-20T12:39:00.003-05:00

We leave our street corner and head out for the next cache. The first problem with a name like "the feisty squirrel" is that the name alone will suck you right in. We read, the cache....ok sandwich size lock and seal. At least it is NOT a micro! Hint reveals..."hollow". The second problem is that you need to read the entire cache. So, we wasted at least 15 mins at the wrong entrance. Yep...we are at a huge forest preserve, trees, creeks, wild life, thorns and ticks! I just never learn...do I? We realize the mistake and head off for the correct coords. OK, path is open... muddy... but open. Should we go in...or come back on a day we are physically and mentally prepared? Well, the pot stirrer points out, that the cache is a few feet from parking. She heads off...with both the TT and the walking stick! I stumble through the thorn trees at least 5 feet behind her. "you, would recognize poison ivy, if you saw it?" "right?" Yep, she replies "we are in it". The clue of hollow is useless, seeing every other tree is hollow. No feisty squirrel in sight. We continue. I am thinking due to the recent "no find" cannon, and now the street corner, the pot stirrer is determined she is going to find this one! In hindsight, we should have taken the trail, THEN crossed over. But, that , of course, would have been too easy. 27 hollow trees later...2 ticks...lots of deer poop...and a gps bouncing signal... we(actually) she gets the cache. I, in the meantime, am trying to get my jeans untangled from a thorn bush. Satisfied with her success, and a little smirk, on her face, we head back for the car. "do you want to check out the feisty squirrel?" I ask. "he is suppose to be only 2 feet northwest of here." "What?...you mean the RABID RODENT that will probably attack us, and be gnawing off my ankle, while you are running out of the woods, trying to call 911?"

I tell you, where does she come up with this stuff?

Yo! That's my corner....

2009-07-20T12:03:00.005-05:00

When I planned for the day of caching....I went with the "Spirit Quest", all cemeteries. Then I added, 1 "in town" and something about "The Feisty Squirrel" caught my eye. Feeling pretty good after the "Spirit caches", we head for our 1 "in Town". We suddenly find ourselves, on the corner of 3rd and main in some "po-dunk" town. Not sure what the population is...but they do have a zip code, so they must be on some kind of a map. This town consists of a post office, and 2 bars. Hmmm....In front of the post office, is a letter drop box, a newspaper stand ( chained to a telephone pole) and 1 garbage can with a flip top lid. How hard can this be, you ask? Well, don't ask! We couldn't find it! We started out "stealth-like" running our hands along items. Nothing. Ok, let's read the hint. It says, Harry calls it "diagonally". Who's Harry? the pot stirrer inquires. Like I would know. I've never been here. Harry could be the post master, he could be the town drunk, he could be some kid, or even a dog! However, if Harry is a dog, and he can say "diagonally", then we are definitely taking him with us. So, with the clue "diagonally", I head across the street to check the 3 remaining corners. One side had a bank, now closed, with broken windows, and weeds coming out of the sidewalk cracks! Check....nothing. Across the street from there, is a half falling down building, used to be perhaps, a bar and grill? Check weeds...nothing. The last remaining corner , consists of an empty lot, actually, no weeds. Check...nothing. So, we are back to the corner of 3rd and main. After searching for at least 40 minutes, the pot stirrer goes to the car and returns with (?) paper. What? I inquire. She informs me, if she is going to stand any longer on this corner, she would at least want to appear, as if she is passing out religious pamphlets! Now, realize she is wearing a neon orange softball shirt, with a bar logo silk screened on the front and the name BAR WENCH printed on the back. Right...religious materials! Me, I am wearing jeans, terrain 3 shoes, sleeveless top and my Foster Grants. ( I don't want to be recognized) So, in 40 minutes, we have gone from "hookers" to "bible- beaters". The search continues...no luck. The previous logs tell the tales of multiple attempts at this cache. We are no longer be stealth-like. The pot stirrer is literally picking up the trash can and looking underneath! I am having deja vu of "the cannon" cache. The townspeople are starting to stare. ( All 4 of them! ) We have been on this corner for 1 hour now... It is time to go. I ask the pot stirrer if she is leaving, or is she just gonna stand there and wait for her "Marlboro Man"? Boy, if looks could kill!

Day Trip and Flashbacks

2009-07-18T19:22:00.015-05:00

I finally scam the pot stirrer into a day of geocaching. As I " prepare" for the day....I find myself in a flash back....

"day trips" to Eagle Lake. Those REALLY were the good ole' days.
There were no cell phones... no yelling for "shotgun"... no fighting... no gps.. a real no hassle! Ma packed the station wagon with1 blanket, 5 towels, 1 wash rag , a jug of grape Kool-aid ( the real stuff, made with sugar), 5 aluminum tumblers in assorted colors, 1 baby bottle or "Tommy tippy" cup ( depending on " the baby's" age) filled with jello water, a loaf of bread, jar of peanut butter, grape jelly , 1 butter knife, 2 floats, ( for the older girls) a sand bucket ( for "the baby") and us 5 kids. To this day I could not find my way to Eagle lake, because once in the car, we sat in" birth order." Which put me, backseat... middle... no window. ( the beginning of my directional disorder!?) Us girls wore pedal pushers, or sunsuits, ( bathing suits underneath!) and flip flops. Seeing "other sis" never went barefoot in the water ( ? ) she got to wear tennis shoes. The unwritten rules, consisted of: no going out "over our heads"... no bickering... no bellyaching ...no "splashing". And , of course, the 30 minute-after-you-eat-rest-or you will drown rule. No sunscreen in those days, so when we got home (sunburned) Ma would lather us up with Noxzema. I look back, I think.....Noxzema?... What the....

So, as I pack the car for a day of geocahing, I make sure I throw in... 2 cans of off, several pens, pad of paper ( yes, 1st Sgt) , lots of swag, walking stick, TT, I-phone, cables to charge everything, computer print outs ( for pot stirrer) extra shoes ( for different terrains) bottled water , couple diet cokes, alcohol gel, mosquito repellent bracelets ( thanks Big Sis) paper towels, extra baggies ( some one's log may be wet) a trash bag, ( we might need to cache in, trash out) sunglasses, and a chapstick. And you wonder where I get this?!

Six hours, 8 caches, 1 potty break and exactly 100 miles later... we return!! No Noxzema needed!

The Team

2009-07-15T09:48:00.006-05:00

My "stats" are down. I go and check on my own hides, to make sure I can find THEM! Add a geocoin, to one of them, to boost some business. Hey, people MINE are easy hides, no ticks, no scary woods, it has everything but a neon sign pointing to it! As I search some new caches, I see that some people, must cache in teams. Like the log will say, "found with Team Razor". Hey, now... that is a new idea. That may be the answer, I will get a team together, we will cache together, pick ticks off each other and have great stories to tell. Ok now.....who could I put on a team? Well....peanut is having triplets, so that is definitely a big NO! The pot stirrer, is really not into geocaching, especially after the whole cannon thing. My friend Ray is STILL gone. So, that leaves.... uhhh, no one. Well, I guess I have my "other" friends. Before the days of geocaching, I got through the winters with netflix. So, I am up-to-date and personally friends with quite a few people. So...on MY TEAM, the first pick, of course, is Goldy, he would Love to do this. Then Grissom ( from CSI) he would be perfect for all the bugs, picking them up and calling them all by their Latin names. And since I truly do believe in Love stories, I will let him bring Sara with him. Now, I know, 1st Sgt, you would want Mariska Hargitay ( Law & Order: SVU), but NO, you can't. Besides 1st Sgt you will be with Jonas (from The Unit) You two can Roger this and Roger that. He is also the Allstate insurance spokes person, just in case. Now from Lost, I kinda like Hurley, ( we walk about the same pace) but in reality, everyone loves the "bad boy", so I am going with Sawyer. You should realize by now, that I would never take Jack, because he is a doctor...and I deal with Doctors all day long. And let me assure you, NONE of them, are like Jack! Besides Jack needs to stay on the island and repair Fiona's ( Burn Notice) lips. There is no way I am taking Michael ( Burn Notice) with the sunglasses and the suit, I think he will be an easy target for Muggles. So Sam it is. After all, Sam reminds me of Big Sis's husband. ( Pinkie ring and all) So...there is THE TEAM. Someone have their people contact my people.

Note to self: I need to get a life.

Consult...1st Sgt

2009-07-12T20:39:00.002-05:00

I still wake up itching, but I no longer dream of ticks, I am dreaming of cannons! Where is that cache? I decide to send off an e-mail to 1st Sgt. I tell him to look up cache # blah, blah, blah. I tell him we scoured the cannon, we couldn't find it. I tell him it is a "magnetic", so "You think it is a bolt? What say you?" And then when he responds, it just totally rips my mind. Now remember he is clear across the United States! He responds, " It is in the tail of the missile" What? I just KNOW he is smirking! The tail of the missile. Did I TELL him there was a missile there? NO... Has he been there? NO... Did I check the tail of the missile? NO.. Does he know what the heck he is talking about? Probably. This is killing me. How, did he do that? I put, what little brain cells I have left, to work. I re-read the cache info. Yep, it refers to the previous cache. I look up the original cache. Here it tells the story of a veterans memorial park, it talks about the various memorials, and the people in his family that served. It does not mention cannons or missiles. It does talk about "right wing" and "left wing" politics. NOW... we are talking, so I deduct that 1st Sgt reads the original and guesses the missiles due to the "right and left wing" comment. After all, the missiles would be under the wings, right? Hell, I don't know! I relay the info to the" pot stirrer." Even though she doesn't let on, I think she is down right impressed. I know I was. She thinks he "googled" an earth map, and saw the missiles? Yea right. The pot stirrer won't go back. She says it is not there! She says the gps did not take us anywhere, BUT the cannon. She says, she was more intimate with that cannon anything in her life! She is NOT going back! Period! Well then... This still killing me, is it in the missile? Is 1st Sgt right? Did he google the site? Well, the only way to find out is...just as I did. I put the cache on my watch list, and after the next person finds it, I will go back... in the meantime, I tell myself it has been muggled! ( Geez, " in the missile")

Loser, loser, loser

2009-07-12T20:23:00.004-05:00

This whole tick thing has me paranoid. I have washed all the sheets, all the comforters, shampooed the carpets, and inspected the dogs. I even touched my " roots" up with some hair color, knowing the smell alone should kill anything that is crawling. But I continue to have nightmares about ticks, woods and flying monkeys. To cure this, I am going out for a normal day of caching, and I am taking the " pot stirrer". Now, she is the first to admit that she doesn't have the " drive" to geocache, as I do, but she goes along, "to keep me alive". Nice. So we head out to a town...how hard is a town? We pick up a couple of "no brainers" and then we get to the park. This is a cache, that has been adopted from a previous owner. According to the story, the previous owner disappeared, or something. The cache had been disabled, but some cachers,( who had found the cache earlier) checked on it, the cache was still there ( kinda hard to find) in a cool hide, so they adopted it. Still following me? So, we follow the present directions, which doesn't say too much, but it takes us to a cannon. We know it is magnetic. We search....we search...we search. No luck. We read the other logs. We have been in the same place as everyone else. We found the birds nests, we found the wasp nests, we found everything but the cache! We had our hands in every nook and cranny of that cannon! It is not there! Ok, so one of the other logs said it was " a find" on his 4th try! No, way we are getting it today! We are going insane. The "pot stirrer" is fed up! It is not here! So, we reluctantly leave. I am starting to feel these losses. I am starting to take this personally! I am ready to turn in my geocaching patch. I am not worthy. But, I say on the way home...maybe it is a bolt? Yep, that has to be it... a green bolt.

The "other " cache.

2009-07-12T20:05:00.003-05:00

When I finally make it back to the car, I realize my hands are shaking. That was ridiculous! What was I thinking? So I turn on the I-phone, and head for my next cache. Hard to believe, I was lost in the woods for 45 minutes! The next cache is on a trail, where I was with my friend, the pot stirrer. Not a bad trail, but a long one, so I think I will just go to the college, the back corner of the college, and cut into the trail. Not like I have ever been that way, but it should work. So, when the TT wants me to turn ( into a "bad" neighborhood) I ignore him...I will just go to the college. I arrive safely, no one in sight...but according to my I-phone I am no where near this cache. Ok, enough is enough. It, of course, must be the I-phone. So, I leave and go to the entrance of the trail, so If I have to walk 3 miles, then I will walk, but I will go home with this travel bug! There is one car there ( empty) and now I am paranoid, so I need to re-think this. I check the info on the I-phone ( yes, of course, I bypass the screen warning of how geocaching can be dangerous ) So, wait, what side of the river is thing on? It wants me to go on the other side, by the boat docks. ( Yes, 1st Sgt's gps system points out rivers and creeks... of course it does!) But MINE does not. Hmmm...it is a holiday weekend, there is a fishing derby taking place. With every boat , there is at least, one drinker. Oh screw it... I am out of here. So, I head home. I dial the pot stirrer up on the phone. Now, normally everyone answers the phone with hello, or yea, or something. Not, " did you get the travel bug?" So, of course, I answer " Nah... decided not to, What?...margaritas? Sure, I am on my way". I am such a loser!