Wrapping it up.....

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 !

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 ...{*}

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?

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

Another Tunnel.....Another Disaster

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!

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?

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!