I had a Wood Badge committee meeting this morning at the council offices, which took up the rest of the morning and into the early afternoon. Just four others could attend, one of them Sonia, my good Bear friend. After the meeting we decided to check out the new cache that Freddi502 put out just a few miles away. Freddi502 is the caching name for our good Bear friend Vickie. Her son actually put out the cache, a two-stager.
It was drizzling a bit as we searched, but that was good in that it helped a little in fighting off the skeeters. Sonia didn't have the coords so we used my GPS to find the first stage. We were having a bit of trouble so Sonia went back to her car to get her GPS. While she was gone I found the first stage. We went on to the second and final stage and found it. I traded travel bugs and we both signed the log.
Since we were so close to Vickie's house, we went on over and interrupted the deck-wrecking project that was going on. We had a nice visit for a while with Vickie and her DH, Jim. Wish I could have cached the afternoon away with Sonia but I had an open house to go to so we went on our way.
When I got home, changed clothes as Freddi herself (Vickie's large dog) had left lots of little presents all over me (aka dog hair) then we got the Gold Wing out and rode it over to the open house, which was for one of Eric's friends. When we got there, Steve had me get out the plate that he puts under the side stand for the bike so it doesn't sink into the ground. I reached in and pulled out...a wad of goo. Seems like, when Steve went on his trip a few weeks ago, he stuck a banana into the pouch behind the backrest and obviously forgot about it. It did not feel pleasant...glad I'd stuck the card for the graduate behind the plate instead of in front of it. There was only a tiny bit of goo on the envelope, wiped it off and none the worse for wear.
Anyway, the open house was nice. We got a chance to talk with some of Eric's friends from his church. Eric is getting baptized next weekend, I'm really looking forward to that. Came home after the open house and just getting the laundry done as well as logging Freddi's cache. Also talked to my mom and looks like the weekend straddling July and August we can look forward to having them as company. Will have to move Scott's boxes around to make room in his room for them. That'll be nice to have them here!
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 29, 2009
Quality rather than quantity (or: why my feet are sore tonight!)
Today was my last (for now anyway) Friday of working in the morning, caching in the afternoon. I won't be working on Fridays with rare exceptions unless my schedule changes again. Anyway, since I've had several nice "numbers run" caching days lately, I decided to go for quality over quantity today. My count was 4 of 6 - total count is up to 1663.
First cache was on the way to Aman Park, my planned destination. Nothing special about the cache itself, but it was supposed to provide a view of an eagle's nest with baby eagles getting ready to fly. I found the cache easily, but unfortunately couldn't catch a glimpse of the nest.
Anyway, on to Aman Park. I had four caches on my list: finishing a 2 stage multi I'd been working on for a year, a 4 stage multi, a single stage cache, and another single stage cache that involved a long hike. The 4 stager was closest, so headed that way. GPS reception was spotty at best. Finally got to the first stage and couldn't find it, even with the clue. Oh well. On to the next cache, the single stager. Took a lot of bushwhacking and different trails, but somehow finally ended up in the right place and the find was easy. Checked my GPS and thought I could get to the long hike cache. Ended up at a dead end with "no trespassing" signs. Had to turn around and head back. I'm sure the young couple picnicing along the trail wondered what the heck I was doing!
Decided to go for the 2 stager that I'd started last year - all I needed was the final. I really have no idea how I got there, but finally did. Again, lots of bushwhacking and different trails as the GPS reception was bouncing all over. From there, decided to go back to the car. So after another hike, made it to the car. Took a short break and decided to go for the long hike cache after all since it was "only" about a half mile away. Yeah, that was like the crow flies. The cache page suggested that I follow one trail, which was an easier walk but definitely longer. Finally made it to the right area and discovered I'd have to cross a creek. Looked for a shallower area, found one a few hundred feet downstream. Decided to just cross in my sneakers as they are really old ones anyway and I did have dry socks and spare shoes in the car. Well "shallow" still had me up to my knees but I made it across. Unfortunately I couldn't find the cache so finally decided to cross back over to the other side of the creek. I followed the creek a little ways and did get a lot closer. But the cache was supposed to be in plain sight and I didn't see it. I was getting too tired to cross that creek again, plus I couldn't tell the depth as easily and was afraid it was going to be deeper than I wanted it to be. So, even after the long walk, didn't get the cache. It happens sometimes. About 20 minutes walk (3/4 mile) back to the car.
It was getting later in the afternoon but still had two caches at Grand Valley I wanted to do. Since I was only 3 miles from GVSU at this point, decided to go for them anyway. The first was a 4 stage cache on a nature trail from the Calder Art Center - a very well done cache with metal tags for coords and an ammo can final. With the scenic walk, just the way all caches should be. I was getting pretty tired by this point, though, and glad the walk wasn't any longer.
The last cache was also a 4 stager, first stage involved getting some info off the campus map sign in a certain place. I got the info, but it didn't fit in at all, didn't make sense. If I'd updated the cache printout, I'd have known that the sign had been changed so the cache info needed had needed to be changed. So didn't get that one.
Headed for home and a quiet evening. I have a Wood Badge committee meeting tomorrow morning, Steve is going on a ride with some Gold Wing friends so I'll possibly get in some caching after the meeting. The ride was last minute, he just got called tonight. If not for the meeting (and as the treasurer of the association I can't get out of the meeting) I'd probably be going with him.
First cache was on the way to Aman Park, my planned destination. Nothing special about the cache itself, but it was supposed to provide a view of an eagle's nest with baby eagles getting ready to fly. I found the cache easily, but unfortunately couldn't catch a glimpse of the nest.
Anyway, on to Aman Park. I had four caches on my list: finishing a 2 stage multi I'd been working on for a year, a 4 stage multi, a single stage cache, and another single stage cache that involved a long hike. The 4 stager was closest, so headed that way. GPS reception was spotty at best. Finally got to the first stage and couldn't find it, even with the clue. Oh well. On to the next cache, the single stager. Took a lot of bushwhacking and different trails, but somehow finally ended up in the right place and the find was easy. Checked my GPS and thought I could get to the long hike cache. Ended up at a dead end with "no trespassing" signs. Had to turn around and head back. I'm sure the young couple picnicing along the trail wondered what the heck I was doing!
Decided to go for the 2 stager that I'd started last year - all I needed was the final. I really have no idea how I got there, but finally did. Again, lots of bushwhacking and different trails as the GPS reception was bouncing all over. From there, decided to go back to the car. So after another hike, made it to the car. Took a short break and decided to go for the long hike cache after all since it was "only" about a half mile away. Yeah, that was like the crow flies. The cache page suggested that I follow one trail, which was an easier walk but definitely longer. Finally made it to the right area and discovered I'd have to cross a creek. Looked for a shallower area, found one a few hundred feet downstream. Decided to just cross in my sneakers as they are really old ones anyway and I did have dry socks and spare shoes in the car. Well "shallow" still had me up to my knees but I made it across. Unfortunately I couldn't find the cache so finally decided to cross back over to the other side of the creek. I followed the creek a little ways and did get a lot closer. But the cache was supposed to be in plain sight and I didn't see it. I was getting too tired to cross that creek again, plus I couldn't tell the depth as easily and was afraid it was going to be deeper than I wanted it to be. So, even after the long walk, didn't get the cache. It happens sometimes. About 20 minutes walk (3/4 mile) back to the car.
It was getting later in the afternoon but still had two caches at Grand Valley I wanted to do. Since I was only 3 miles from GVSU at this point, decided to go for them anyway. The first was a 4 stage cache on a nature trail from the Calder Art Center - a very well done cache with metal tags for coords and an ammo can final. With the scenic walk, just the way all caches should be. I was getting pretty tired by this point, though, and glad the walk wasn't any longer.
The last cache was also a 4 stager, first stage involved getting some info off the campus map sign in a certain place. I got the info, but it didn't fit in at all, didn't make sense. If I'd updated the cache printout, I'd have known that the sign had been changed so the cache info needed had needed to be changed. So didn't get that one.
Headed for home and a quiet evening. I have a Wood Badge committee meeting tomorrow morning, Steve is going on a ride with some Gold Wing friends so I'll possibly get in some caching after the meeting. The ride was last minute, he just got called tonight. If not for the meeting (and as the treasurer of the association I can't get out of the meeting) I'd probably be going with him.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Happy Anniversary!
Today Steve and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. Picture it. May 28, 1983. Steve just turned 30, I was 22. East Columbus Christian Church, Columbus, Indiana. A relatively small wedding, probably less than a hundred guests as I recall. My dad had trouble finding a hotel room as it was the same weekend as the Indy 500, all of my Wisconsin relatives (including Dad) ended up in a very nice suite at the Holiday Inn as that was all that was left. A nice afternoon weather wise, and a great ceremony. Reception at the church afterwards, then Steve and I crammed into the back of our Volkswagon Rabbit (the only time Steve ever sat in the back seat) and did the traditional noisy drive around town. We came back to our house where he did carry me over the threshold. We picked up our luggage and left for Redbrush Park, about 20 miles south of Columbus near Seymour, where we spent our honeymoon weekend in a treehouse. Really, it was a little house built into the side of a hill, when you went out the back porch there were lots of trees and nowhere to go but way down, so it seemed like a treehouse anyway.
Anyway, fast forward 26 years. Last year, for our 25th, we did the circle tour of Lake Huron and spent the evening of our anniversary at a nice restaurant and exchanged some very nice gifts. This year was more low-key. When Steve finally got up (he's still on his forced "vacation,") I fried him some cornmeal mush, one of his favorite breakfasts. We then exchanged gifts - I gave him the mp3 player which he seemed to like (hope so!) and he gave me a rosebush and a new sports watch. Then I had to go to work....if I'd known he was going to be off I'd have requested the day off myself. Oh well.
When I got home from work, we went to dinner in Lowell at the Flat River Grille. Upscale, fancy food, very nice. (I had a partial gift card that paid for most of the dinner.) Then we had decided to go to a movie but had about an hour to kill so browsed around Meijer for a while. Then to the movie. I thought for a while we would have the theater to ourselves (Night at the Museum Smithsonian) but about five more people came in right before the movie started.
Then home and I'm writing in my blog before I go to bed. Not thinking I'll go to sleep right away because I ended up with three diet cokes (or pepsi's) tonight. Not a smart move when I have to work in the morning.
Anyway, fast forward 26 years. Last year, for our 25th, we did the circle tour of Lake Huron and spent the evening of our anniversary at a nice restaurant and exchanged some very nice gifts. This year was more low-key. When Steve finally got up (he's still on his forced "vacation,") I fried him some cornmeal mush, one of his favorite breakfasts. We then exchanged gifts - I gave him the mp3 player which he seemed to like (hope so!) and he gave me a rosebush and a new sports watch. Then I had to go to work....if I'd known he was going to be off I'd have requested the day off myself. Oh well.
When I got home from work, we went to dinner in Lowell at the Flat River Grille. Upscale, fancy food, very nice. (I had a partial gift card that paid for most of the dinner.) Then we had decided to go to a movie but had about an hour to kill so browsed around Meijer for a while. Then to the movie. I thought for a while we would have the theater to ourselves (Night at the Museum Smithsonian) but about five more people came in right before the movie started.
Then home and I'm writing in my blog before I go to bed. Not thinking I'll go to sleep right away because I ended up with three diet cokes (or pepsi's) tonight. Not a smart move when I have to work in the morning.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A quiet weekend.
A very quiet weekend, no caching though I did go do some cache maintenance at Roselle Park (my Beef caches.) Got my planters planted, with purple and yellow pansies. Pansies are hard to find, you have to go to a regular garden center, Meijer's garden center doesn't carry them. Also discovered the joys and tribulations of taking the netbook outside...good reception but oh, the skeeters can be merciless! Also got started with digging out the basement. I'd never got back into my eBay stuff and shipping area after our little basement flood, that was long overdue as I hope to get back into the eBay on a limited basis since my hours are being cut next week.
Went back to work yesterday, one last long day. They won't be as long on the new schedule. Steve called me down last night to sit on the beemer to figure out some placements on it for wiring and stuff. He might actually be able to bring it out of the basement today! He showed me where I could plug in my mp3 player so that the sound could be routed through the headphones. Made me (finally) come up with an anniversary idea for him - his own mp3 player with songs we both like (most of mine is Christian based and he doesn't care for that, unfortunately.)
I picked one up for him today, the same as mine (Sansa clip - 2GB) except mine is blue, his is black. Hope he likes it. I know I'd thought about an iPod touch but decided he wouldn't probably use it enough. But then I saw he'd built in the capacity for an mp3 player, and that was that.
Also had a doctor appt. this morning. Weight down 2 #, A1C down to 6.7 from 7. Not fantastic but holding my own. It will be 10 years this fall since my diagnosis of diabetes, so far no complications which is good. I know if my weight went down more that would help.
Scott has new pictures posted on his Facebook - of the deployment so far.
Tomorrow is our 26th anniversary, we're just planning on dinner and a movie, probably the new Night at the Museum one.
Went back to work yesterday, one last long day. They won't be as long on the new schedule. Steve called me down last night to sit on the beemer to figure out some placements on it for wiring and stuff. He might actually be able to bring it out of the basement today! He showed me where I could plug in my mp3 player so that the sound could be routed through the headphones. Made me (finally) come up with an anniversary idea for him - his own mp3 player with songs we both like (most of mine is Christian based and he doesn't care for that, unfortunately.)
I picked one up for him today, the same as mine (Sansa clip - 2GB) except mine is blue, his is black. Hope he likes it. I know I'd thought about an iPod touch but decided he wouldn't probably use it enough. But then I saw he'd built in the capacity for an mp3 player, and that was that.
Also had a doctor appt. this morning. Weight down 2 #, A1C down to 6.7 from 7. Not fantastic but holding my own. It will be 10 years this fall since my diagnosis of diabetes, so far no complications which is good. I know if my weight went down more that would help.
Scott has new pictures posted on his Facebook - of the deployment so far.
Tomorrow is our 26th anniversary, we're just planning on dinner and a movie, probably the new Night at the Museum one.
Friday, May 22, 2009
Cache Maintenance
It's Friday, and I'm not out geocaching. Weird but I've done enough of it over the last week to last a while. Though I did sorta do some caching. Explanation coming.
Started the day by getting some membership cards finished for the Wood Badge Association. Got them ready to mail, and also started putting together my first Iraq care package for Scott. I had printed off some suggestions from the AFP&S lists last winter when we first thought he was going. (That acronym stands for Air Force Parents & Spouses.) They say - NO porn, booze, or meat. Two out of those three, of course not. But I had bought some beef jerky, thinking it was just a ban on pork, so had to take that out of the box. So far I have some crackers, some trail mix, some reese's pieces, and some powdered gatorade packets. Also some Reader's Digests and a few McStar Wars Toys. There's a little bit of room left, will think it over more for the rest of the weekend.
Went out to the post office, then headed for Roselle Park where there are four geocaches that I've placed there. It was time to do some "owner maintenance" as it's called, since someone had logged the day before that one of my logs was full, plus they couldn't find the one that I already suspected had been washed away in the spring flooding.
First stop was my cached named "Roast Beef Revisited." I should mention that all of my caches in this park have beef somewhere in their name since the former use for the land was for the Ada Beef Co. Just a little tie to the past. Anyway, RBR is tucked into the limb of a tree where I placed my first cache, "Where's the Beef" and was placed when I archived the first cache as it was too prone to floods. Well, today I still had to deal with some water issues; there was some brush under the tree limb which allowed me to stay dry but the cache was really jammed down into the limb so once I finally got it out to change the log, I decided to archive it instead and use the container to place a new cache. The container is a "preform" pop bottle - the heavy plastic that they expand to make a 20-oz pop bottle. Makes a very sturdy cache container! It's about 4" long before it's expanded, you wouldn't know it was to be a pop bottle but for the top that looks just the same.
Went on to the viewing platform, farther down the same path I was walking. Decided to place the new cache (old container) in the viewing platform area. I'm calling it "No More Beef" as this will probably be the last beef cache I'll place as the flooding is really quite the issue more often than usual. Moved on to the location of my AWOL cache, "Roast Beef Sandwich" (it was in a tupperware sandwich container) and, sure enough, it was gone. I wasn't surprised, I had a feeling it had been washed away in the flooding. So moved on around the path.
Finally came to my oldest cache in the park, "Here's the Beef." It was the 2nd cache, after Where's the Beef, and is my best placement in the park, up high enough that the floods won't affect it. There may be times when the trail is flooded, but it won't reach the cache. BUT - there's still a scooped-out area very near the cache that still had some flood waters in it. Seems to be the Olympic swimming pool for the newly-hatched mosquitoes, as I was fighting them off the entire time I was at Here's the Beef. Traded travel bugs there as the bug that had been placed yesterday, Scout Bug, was a scouting/geocaching bug and I really wanted to get it! Probably one of my motivational reasons for doing the maintenance today, I'm sure!
I walked back to the parking area, and would have checked on my puzzle cache, "Scrabeefle," which is in that area, but muggles were in the area and there's no way I could have done it discreetly. So will save that for another time.
Then a trip to the garden center where I (finally) bought flowers for our planters - purple and yellow pansies this year. Did a little browsing for an anniversary present for Steve - I'm thinking about an Ipod touch, trying to decide if he'd use it enough. He'd be able to access the internet on it, would be good for trips. Decided to gather more information and wait to see if they go on sale the first of the week. He's definitely not a techno-geek but I think he could use this. Or is it just wishful thinking on my part? (Yeah, I know, that's how I ended up with my first GPS - bought it for Steve, he didn't like it and with my blessing regifted it to me for my birthday that year. )
Started the day by getting some membership cards finished for the Wood Badge Association. Got them ready to mail, and also started putting together my first Iraq care package for Scott. I had printed off some suggestions from the AFP&S lists last winter when we first thought he was going. (That acronym stands for Air Force Parents & Spouses.) They say - NO porn, booze, or meat. Two out of those three, of course not. But I had bought some beef jerky, thinking it was just a ban on pork, so had to take that out of the box. So far I have some crackers, some trail mix, some reese's pieces, and some powdered gatorade packets. Also some Reader's Digests and a few McStar Wars Toys. There's a little bit of room left, will think it over more for the rest of the weekend.
Went out to the post office, then headed for Roselle Park where there are four geocaches that I've placed there. It was time to do some "owner maintenance" as it's called, since someone had logged the day before that one of my logs was full, plus they couldn't find the one that I already suspected had been washed away in the spring flooding.
First stop was my cached named "Roast Beef Revisited." I should mention that all of my caches in this park have beef somewhere in their name since the former use for the land was for the Ada Beef Co. Just a little tie to the past. Anyway, RBR is tucked into the limb of a tree where I placed my first cache, "Where's the Beef" and was placed when I archived the first cache as it was too prone to floods. Well, today I still had to deal with some water issues; there was some brush under the tree limb which allowed me to stay dry but the cache was really jammed down into the limb so once I finally got it out to change the log, I decided to archive it instead and use the container to place a new cache. The container is a "preform" pop bottle - the heavy plastic that they expand to make a 20-oz pop bottle. Makes a very sturdy cache container! It's about 4" long before it's expanded, you wouldn't know it was to be a pop bottle but for the top that looks just the same.
Went on to the viewing platform, farther down the same path I was walking. Decided to place the new cache (old container) in the viewing platform area. I'm calling it "No More Beef" as this will probably be the last beef cache I'll place as the flooding is really quite the issue more often than usual. Moved on to the location of my AWOL cache, "Roast Beef Sandwich" (it was in a tupperware sandwich container) and, sure enough, it was gone. I wasn't surprised, I had a feeling it had been washed away in the flooding. So moved on around the path.
Finally came to my oldest cache in the park, "Here's the Beef." It was the 2nd cache, after Where's the Beef, and is my best placement in the park, up high enough that the floods won't affect it. There may be times when the trail is flooded, but it won't reach the cache. BUT - there's still a scooped-out area very near the cache that still had some flood waters in it. Seems to be the Olympic swimming pool for the newly-hatched mosquitoes, as I was fighting them off the entire time I was at Here's the Beef. Traded travel bugs there as the bug that had been placed yesterday, Scout Bug, was a scouting/geocaching bug and I really wanted to get it! Probably one of my motivational reasons for doing the maintenance today, I'm sure!
I walked back to the parking area, and would have checked on my puzzle cache, "Scrabeefle," which is in that area, but muggles were in the area and there's no way I could have done it discreetly. So will save that for another time.
Then a trip to the garden center where I (finally) bought flowers for our planters - purple and yellow pansies this year. Did a little browsing for an anniversary present for Steve - I'm thinking about an Ipod touch, trying to decide if he'd use it enough. He'd be able to access the internet on it, would be good for trips. Decided to gather more information and wait to see if they go on sale the first of the week. He's definitely not a techno-geek but I think he could use this. Or is it just wishful thinking on my part? (Yeah, I know, that's how I ended up with my first GPS - bought it for Steve, he didn't like it and with my blessing regifted it to me for my birthday that year. )
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
All my different worlds colliding
It is really a bit disconcerting sometimes when all your different world come together at the same time...
I went to work this afternoon, and attended our regular weekly staff meeting. The first world that coincided with my work world was my scouting world. Our groundskeeper talked about an Eagle Scout project that would be taking place. Weird to hear about scouting in my workplace.
Even weirder, though, was the sight of three geocaching containers on the conference table. As is the custom, each of us give a little "report" on what's been happening in our area over the past week. When it came time for my boss give her report, turns out two avid geocachers (who I happen to know by their caching names, and know that they are members of our organization) have asked permission to place several geocaches on our grounds. I've considered asking permission for the same but for various reasons never got around it it.
So here I am, and my boss asks if anyone is familiar with geocaching. Hmmm....guess I'm outed as a geocacher. That's ok, just never felt like anyone would be interested. So I gave a short course on what geocaching was all about (the two minute version) and the powers that be will consider letting the cachers place the caches, with restrictions on night caching. Hmmm...if these are placed there's no way I can NOT get the first to find honors...
Oh, and to distract me further...a staffer who just had a baby a month ago (and I'll be watching the baby in a few weeks when she comes back) came to the staff meeting, brought the baby, and wouldn't you know it it was my turn to hold her about the time the geocaching issue came up! Talk about being pulled in two directions!
Scott update: He has made it to Qatar. Brief e-mail says it's quite hot there.
I went to work this afternoon, and attended our regular weekly staff meeting. The first world that coincided with my work world was my scouting world. Our groundskeeper talked about an Eagle Scout project that would be taking place. Weird to hear about scouting in my workplace.
Even weirder, though, was the sight of three geocaching containers on the conference table. As is the custom, each of us give a little "report" on what's been happening in our area over the past week. When it came time for my boss give her report, turns out two avid geocachers (who I happen to know by their caching names, and know that they are members of our organization) have asked permission to place several geocaches on our grounds. I've considered asking permission for the same but for various reasons never got around it it.
So here I am, and my boss asks if anyone is familiar with geocaching. Hmmm....guess I'm outed as a geocacher. That's ok, just never felt like anyone would be interested. So I gave a short course on what geocaching was all about (the two minute version) and the powers that be will consider letting the cachers place the caches, with restrictions on night caching. Hmmm...if these are placed there's no way I can NOT get the first to find honors...
Oh, and to distract me further...a staffer who just had a baby a month ago (and I'll be watching the baby in a few weeks when she comes back) came to the staff meeting, brought the baby, and wouldn't you know it it was my turn to hold her about the time the geocaching issue came up! Talk about being pulled in two directions!
Scott update: He has made it to Qatar. Brief e-mail says it's quite hot there.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Da Bears - 5/18/09
We sure missed having Vickie and Joe with us last night. Here are the rest of us, complete with our bears wearing their new red wool jackets.
Just missed my personal record
I just missed my personal finds record (42) yesterday while caching in the Holland/Zeeland area. Ended up with 41 finds. If I'd have found all my DNF's (did not find) I would have had 60. So I think it was a pretty good day regardless.
Got up at 7 and was out the door by 7:30. Had loaded the car the night before so I wouldn't forget anything. I was almost to the M6 when I realized that I had forgotten something - to eat breakfast! Stopped for a donut and juice at the gas station - not the world's best breakfast but thought I'd better eat something. Got to Zeeland about 8:15 (I think) and started right in. Cached my way through Zeeland, then the plan was to work my way over to Ottawa Beach Road so I could do the cache at the Park Twp Airport that one of my Bears (Fitz) put out. I was there by about 1 p.m. and made that find. It was #20 of the 41. Then went to a park across the street, ate my sandwich while watching the dogs play in the nearby dog park. Of course there was a cache at that park, too. My afternoon took me along the north shore of Lake Macatawa, then into Holland itself. By this time I realized I wouldn't get to everything I'd planned to look for, so skipped the caches that were right downtown and concentrated on those south of downtown. Got to cache #40 about 6:15 p.m., then realized I'd need to find a fast food place to change into my scout uniform (in their restroom) so went over to 16th & US 31, found a Burger King, and changed my clothes.
Went back towards the church where Brian's beading was going to be held, stopped along the way to do one last cache (yep, in full uniform) which was only 3/10 of a mile from the church, then had an enjoyable evening watching my last Bear get his beads. Being a troop guide for Wood Badge has been such an amazing journey, it's hard to believe that this part of it is done. But I've made some lifelong scouting friends through it.
We were all presented with our Bears (stuffed, but don't tell them that) red wool scouting jackets. Fitz's wife, Jessica, made them for all of us. She could go into business making miniature scouting uniforms! But I'm sure there's some BSA regulation prohibiting that...
Home by about 10 p.m. after a long but satisfying day. I know my marathon caching needs to take a break for now but it sure has been fun to get 78 caches in two caching days almost back-to-back!
The picture posted with this blog is from Holland. Their world-famous Tulip Time festival was last week, but some of the late-blooming tulips are still quite nice!
Scott update: things were postponed until today. He is packed and ready to go.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Get a Clue (times 22)
My friend Carolyn and I went off on another geocaching adventure on Friday. I met her at the park & ride by the interstate at 7:45 a.m., and off we went for the area south of Lansing. Our plan was to find (hopefully) all of the new geocaching series, "Get A Clue" which would be 22 caches, and a few others along the way. Each of the GAC caches had a clue that said "not the XXX" which were caching places, types of hides, and hide containers. By process of elimination (think the board game, Clue) you ended up with coords for the final cache. We did find all 21 of the regular caches and then the final, too.
Many of the caches were in cemeteries. As long as it is not a hide that is disrespectful to the "residents" it's ok. Not my first choice of hide location, but ok. The final was in Mason, south of Lansing. We first went west and southwest of Mason, then went across south of Mason, through Leslie, then up to Danville which is southeast of Mason. We did some in that area, then headed up to Mason where we did a few more, then to the final. The final gave us the most trouble, there was a decoy hide and the final ended up being very close by but cleverly hidden so we had to search for a while. Plus, a light rain was starting by then. After that, we started towards home but did seven park & grab caches on the way, in Mason and Holt. 37 caches was the final count for the day. Started about 9 a.m. (by the time we got down to the area) and found the GAC final at 5 p.m. Got home about 7:15 p.m.
Carolyn is getting better at finding caches, she can't say I haven't shown her a variety of hides! I also found my #1600 milestone cache in the afternoon. That's what's pictured above.
And I'm gonna do it all again tomorrow. My last Bear (Brian) is getting his beads tomorrow night in Holland. I don't have to work again (my little guy is on vacation with his parents) so am planning to spend the whole day caching in Holland (Michigan for those long-distance readers.)
After that I'm probably not going to do so much in the way of all-day caching out of town for a while. My hours will be cut back as of the first of June, and I won't be working on Fridays. So that will limit things.
Talked to Scott yesterday - he has to report at 10 a.m. tomorrow his time
Thursday, May 14, 2009
The go-kart demon!
Last night was our Awana book finishers party, at Craig's Cruisers. This is a place that has indoor and outdoor go-karts, miniature golf, bumper cars, bumper boats, laser tag, video games, and a pizza/pasta buffet. Wednesdays is all you can do and eat for $20. And our church paid for us to go.
I didn't ride with the kids as I had to come straight from work. Got there about 6, and after getting my wristband, ate a quick dinner of pizza & pasta, then went out to play. Drove a go-kart on the outdoor track, then went to find some kids to play with. Found a group of four Sparkies along with some teen leaders, so signed up to play laser tag with them. I had fun, but didn't do so well...it's pretty sad when kindergarteners and first graders get a better score than you! Our team won, though, I think thanks to the "other" people (not from our group) on the team.
Next I took a first grade boy to the indoor go-kart track, as he was not old enough to drive one himself we took a double kart. He's just beginning to read well, so he read every caution sign along the way, several times.... After that, we went on the bumper cars, then he rode a "frog jumper" ride which was up-and-down multiple times, made just for kids. Then it was just about time to go so we got everyone on the bus and off they went. As I had driven, I could have stayed another hour until the place closed. Debated that, but it's just not as much fun without friends. And besides, there were a couple of caches in the general area as long as it was still light... so found three caches, the last just as it was getting dark so I didn't break my "no solo night caching" rule.
Still no word from Scott other than he's finished outprocessing and just waiting for the word. I'll be out caching with my friend Carolyn all day tomorrow (I have the day off) so I hope he doesn't call then.
I didn't ride with the kids as I had to come straight from work. Got there about 6, and after getting my wristband, ate a quick dinner of pizza & pasta, then went out to play. Drove a go-kart on the outdoor track, then went to find some kids to play with. Found a group of four Sparkies along with some teen leaders, so signed up to play laser tag with them. I had fun, but didn't do so well...it's pretty sad when kindergarteners and first graders get a better score than you! Our team won, though, I think thanks to the "other" people (not from our group) on the team.
Next I took a first grade boy to the indoor go-kart track, as he was not old enough to drive one himself we took a double kart. He's just beginning to read well, so he read every caution sign along the way, several times.... After that, we went on the bumper cars, then he rode a "frog jumper" ride which was up-and-down multiple times, made just for kids. Then it was just about time to go so we got everyone on the bus and off they went. As I had driven, I could have stayed another hour until the place closed. Debated that, but it's just not as much fun without friends. And besides, there were a couple of caches in the general area as long as it was still light... so found three caches, the last just as it was getting dark so I didn't break my "no solo night caching" rule.
Still no word from Scott other than he's finished outprocessing and just waiting for the word. I'll be out caching with my friend Carolyn all day tomorrow (I have the day off) so I hope he doesn't call then.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Mothers Day
It's been a nice Mother's Day. Last night, Eric and Steve and I went out to dinner, at Brann's. Had a nice steak, it'd been a while. Good to just be able to sit down with each other and have a nice dinner, I miss that since we don't do it so much now that Steve's dad isn't up to it.
Woke up this morning, found a beautiful bouquet of roses, a card, and earrings from Scott and Eric (Scott of course did his part with Eric's help.)
This afternoon, just got off the phone with Scott, a nice long talk with all of us together. He is now on standby and ready to go whenever they give the word. As I said in my previous post, God will take good care of him. But as a mom I worry. Of course.
We (my sisters and I) sent my mom a framed photo collage of our trip with our thanks for the trip of a lifetime written on the frame. She got it yesterday and sounds like she is thrilled with it. Mom is still jet lagged but had a great time. Haven't yet talked to her in any great detail but hope to soon.
Now we're leaving to go see the new Star Trek movie to end a great Mothers Day.
Woke up this morning, found a beautiful bouquet of roses, a card, and earrings from Scott and Eric (Scott of course did his part with Eric's help.)
This afternoon, just got off the phone with Scott, a nice long talk with all of us together. He is now on standby and ready to go whenever they give the word. As I said in my previous post, God will take good care of him. But as a mom I worry. Of course.
We (my sisters and I) sent my mom a framed photo collage of our trip with our thanks for the trip of a lifetime written on the frame. She got it yesterday and sounds like she is thrilled with it. Mom is still jet lagged but had a great time. Haven't yet talked to her in any great detail but hope to soon.
Now we're leaving to go see the new Star Trek movie to end a great Mothers Day.
A beautiful spring afternoon
Geocache report for Friday, May 8
I had finally finished a challenge cache called the Slacker's Half Dozen Challenge, by finding one of my Belding caches last week. So my destination this Friday was the area around that cache, in southwest Kent County. Started off heading south on Byron Center Avenue, stopped in a park for a cache I'd started last summer, couldn't find the second stage of what looked like a long multi. Found that second stage today and to my surprise it was actually the final. So my long walk took about 10 minutes tops. I had put off going back to that one several times because I didn't want to take the time I thought I would have to take. Also found one nearby, then headed south.
Found one called Proud Papa, put out by a cacher who took some time off with a new baby, and is now starting back into caching. Then to a 4-stage multi where I couldn't even get the first stage because there was mowing going on right where I needed to look. So on to another park about a mile or so away. In that park, I found a 3-stage multi which was a nice hike around the park, then another single stage cache nearby. There was an entire school having a field trip near the single stage cache, but I was able to slip in and out unnoticed. Then went back up to the 4-stage multi.
This time I was lucky that the mowing was finished. This first stage was near the park entrance. So got those coords and proceeded into the park. This park was full of muggles enjoying the nice spring weather. I tried several times to look at stage 2 for the next coords, but with too many muggles. So I'll save it for another day. Went on to my objective for the day, the Slacker's Half Dozen Challenge. The challenge was that the first cache you found had to begin with the last letter of your caching name. It was hard to find a "Y" cache! The next cache had to begin with the last letter of the previous cache, and so on. Took 6 months to complete the sequence. Got to the area and discovered it was quite swampy. Wasn't prepared for that so didn't get the cache.
Then went on to another park, took a nice long walk and got two caches. One was in the middle of an apple orchard (not active but the trees were in blossom which was really pretty.) I had been to this park last fall and there was illegal hunting going on which stopped me from getting the caches then. Went on from there to a travel bug hotel that was at the far end of another park, which had been closed for winter before (would have been almost a mile walk back to the cache.) Had a "mom" moment while traveling to this park - the song "Letter from War" came on - always a tearjerker for me but especially now. I know he's in God's hands but is still hard to think about sometimes. He's now on standby, will post more in my next post.
One last cache across town, much closer to home. This cache was on a nature trail behind a school in Forest Hills. I used to sub there quite a bit back when I was subbing but nevr knew there was a nature trail there. It had just come out the day before but I was the second to find, not the first. Home after that, logging caches at the end of a beautiful spring afternoon.
I had finally finished a challenge cache called the Slacker's Half Dozen Challenge, by finding one of my Belding caches last week. So my destination this Friday was the area around that cache, in southwest Kent County. Started off heading south on Byron Center Avenue, stopped in a park for a cache I'd started last summer, couldn't find the second stage of what looked like a long multi. Found that second stage today and to my surprise it was actually the final. So my long walk took about 10 minutes tops. I had put off going back to that one several times because I didn't want to take the time I thought I would have to take. Also found one nearby, then headed south.
Found one called Proud Papa, put out by a cacher who took some time off with a new baby, and is now starting back into caching. Then to a 4-stage multi where I couldn't even get the first stage because there was mowing going on right where I needed to look. So on to another park about a mile or so away. In that park, I found a 3-stage multi which was a nice hike around the park, then another single stage cache nearby. There was an entire school having a field trip near the single stage cache, but I was able to slip in and out unnoticed. Then went back up to the 4-stage multi.
This time I was lucky that the mowing was finished. This first stage was near the park entrance. So got those coords and proceeded into the park. This park was full of muggles enjoying the nice spring weather. I tried several times to look at stage 2 for the next coords, but with too many muggles. So I'll save it for another day. Went on to my objective for the day, the Slacker's Half Dozen Challenge. The challenge was that the first cache you found had to begin with the last letter of your caching name. It was hard to find a "Y" cache! The next cache had to begin with the last letter of the previous cache, and so on. Took 6 months to complete the sequence. Got to the area and discovered it was quite swampy. Wasn't prepared for that so didn't get the cache.
Then went on to another park, took a nice long walk and got two caches. One was in the middle of an apple orchard (not active but the trees were in blossom which was really pretty.) I had been to this park last fall and there was illegal hunting going on which stopped me from getting the caches then. Went on from there to a travel bug hotel that was at the far end of another park, which had been closed for winter before (would have been almost a mile walk back to the cache.) Had a "mom" moment while traveling to this park - the song "Letter from War" came on - always a tearjerker for me but especially now. I know he's in God's hands but is still hard to think about sometimes. He's now on standby, will post more in my next post.
One last cache across town, much closer to home. This cache was on a nature trail behind a school in Forest Hills. I used to sub there quite a bit back when I was subbing but nevr knew there was a nature trail there. It had just come out the day before but I was the second to find, not the first. Home after that, logging caches at the end of a beautiful spring afternoon.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Looking back on the trip...
Had a little bit of extra time this morning so finally edited my trip posts to add a few pictures. Most all of the one and a half people who regularly read this blog have already seen my pix but just in case you haven't....
Just to let you know, the madame of the Hotel Vauvilliers must not have tried to charge me for those four cancelled nights as they didn't show up on my credit card bill.
Mom and Aunt Martha are in Paris right now, coming home tomorrow. I'm really enjoying reading about all of their adventures in Paris - they've seen some of the same things that I did, and others that I didn't. I really enjoyed the description of Sainte-Chapelle; my quick write didn't do it justice! I think I'm mentally planning for my NEXT trip to Paris (no timetable yet of course) - I want to explore the Left Bank much more than I did, also get up to Montmartre on more than a wet and cold bus ride. I think, oh about a month or so ought to do it! Dream on, dream on. But it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?
Just to let you know, the madame of the Hotel Vauvilliers must not have tried to charge me for those four cancelled nights as they didn't show up on my credit card bill.
Mom and Aunt Martha are in Paris right now, coming home tomorrow. I'm really enjoying reading about all of their adventures in Paris - they've seen some of the same things that I did, and others that I didn't. I really enjoyed the description of Sainte-Chapelle; my quick write didn't do it justice! I think I'm mentally planning for my NEXT trip to Paris (no timetable yet of course) - I want to explore the Left Bank much more than I did, also get up to Montmartre on more than a wet and cold bus ride. I think, oh about a month or so ought to do it! Dream on, dream on. But it doesn't hurt to dream, does it?
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Our baby is 24...
Got to talk to Scott tonight. I wished him an early birthday, and he reminded me that it was past midnight in Germany so it WAS his birthday already! Hard to believe he's 24 already. That was the age I was when I had him.
I remember that day all too well. It was a Saturday, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. in labor. Steve took me to the hospital, I was admitted, and things progressed rather quickly. Scott was born at 9:16 a.m. Steve was pretty dazed by the end - we have video of my mom asking him about the baby's name, Steve read off the card, "21 inches tall." Somehow that never stuck as Scott's nickname.
He may be our firstborn, but he'll always be our baby. Hope he has a great birthday!
I remember that day all too well. It was a Saturday, I woke up at 3:30 a.m. in labor. Steve took me to the hospital, I was admitted, and things progressed rather quickly. Scott was born at 9:16 a.m. Steve was pretty dazed by the end - we have video of my mom asking him about the baby's name, Steve read off the card, "21 inches tall." Somehow that never stuck as Scott's nickname.
He may be our firstborn, but he'll always be our baby. Hope he has a great birthday!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Shedding some extra clothing...
I spent a good part of today dealing with my excess of clothes. I've been meaning to do this for quite some time but decided this would be a good day to do so. I ended up with four large bags of clothing to take to Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Some are not in style any more (dig those big shoulder pads!), some just don't fit and may never fit again. So off they go! Thought about the garage sale route but that takes up a lot of time and I'd just rather be done with it.
Felt good to have a little space in my closet again. Now it's just full, not overfull. Room to move things around, too - so that the winter clothes are all together again, the summer clothes are all together.
Felt good to have a little space in my closet again. Now it's just full, not overfull. Room to move things around, too - so that the winter clothes are all together again, the summer clothes are all together.
Friday, May 1, 2009
The rest of the story...
Couldn't resist trying a short but sweet post previously. Of course there is more to the story than that!
Picked up my friend in Lowell at 1 p.m., then headed towards Belding. Stopped along the way to do a cache out in the country, then made it to Belding. Went east of town to pick up some caches, then headed north. Was almost to a cache when the road was closed due to water issues (we've had lots of rain.) Remembering Eric's bad decision with high water and the (old) outback, we opted to take another road. Good decision. Got that cache, then arrived at the next one. Had to walk a short while for this one, it was in a pretty precarious spot. Had my friend wait on the path, didn't want to have to explain to her husband why I was not bringing her home from our adventure! Another caching family arrived as we were trying to figure out the best way to get to the cache (we'd spotted the likely location by then.)
After they told us to watch out for snakes, the Mrs. in the group got to the likely location first, pulled away the wood covering, and found the cache. However, she was reluctant to stick her hand down that hole because of aforementioned snakes, so guess who volunteered.... all the while I kept saying, please don't let there be snakes in this hole, please don't let there be snakes in this hole. Normally that doesn't bother me too much but the thought was too fresh in my mind! Steep climb back to the path but we made it.
Went on to do a bunch more caches in and around Belding, a nice variety of containers but not as much hiking as I'd have liked to have shown my friend. Had one park on the list but by the time we got to it, was getting late and it was time to head home. There were three caches in that park, a multi and two regular caches. I'd done the multi and one of the regulars, but it would have been fun to watch my friend look.
Home alone tonight - Steve is working late and Eric is working. He had his orientation at Grand Valley today, I'm hoping he has everything straightened out for his classes as Summer Session starts next Monday.
One good night's sleep does not begat another -- couldn't turn off the thought process and ended up on the couch so I could read myself to sleep.
Found out my mom and aunt went to Versailles yesterday -- it was fun reliving my own visit. Think they had nicer weather, hope the statues outdoors were uncovered - but more crowded than it was a month ago. They get to Paris tomorrow, then home in another week or so.
Picked up my friend in Lowell at 1 p.m., then headed towards Belding. Stopped along the way to do a cache out in the country, then made it to Belding. Went east of town to pick up some caches, then headed north. Was almost to a cache when the road was closed due to water issues (we've had lots of rain.) Remembering Eric's bad decision with high water and the (old) outback, we opted to take another road. Good decision. Got that cache, then arrived at the next one. Had to walk a short while for this one, it was in a pretty precarious spot. Had my friend wait on the path, didn't want to have to explain to her husband why I was not bringing her home from our adventure! Another caching family arrived as we were trying to figure out the best way to get to the cache (we'd spotted the likely location by then.)
After they told us to watch out for snakes, the Mrs. in the group got to the likely location first, pulled away the wood covering, and found the cache. However, she was reluctant to stick her hand down that hole because of aforementioned snakes, so guess who volunteered.... all the while I kept saying, please don't let there be snakes in this hole, please don't let there be snakes in this hole. Normally that doesn't bother me too much but the thought was too fresh in my mind! Steep climb back to the path but we made it.
Went on to do a bunch more caches in and around Belding, a nice variety of containers but not as much hiking as I'd have liked to have shown my friend. Had one park on the list but by the time we got to it, was getting late and it was time to head home. There were three caches in that park, a multi and two regular caches. I'd done the multi and one of the regulars, but it would have been fun to watch my friend look.
Home alone tonight - Steve is working late and Eric is working. He had his orientation at Grand Valley today, I'm hoping he has everything straightened out for his classes as Summer Session starts next Monday.
One good night's sleep does not begat another -- couldn't turn off the thought process and ended up on the couch so I could read myself to sleep.
Found out my mom and aunt went to Versailles yesterday -- it was fun reliving my own visit. Think they had nicer weather, hope the statues outdoors were uncovered - but more crowded than it was a month ago. They get to Paris tomorrow, then home in another week or so.
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