Saturday was the 6th annual Age of Discovery Geo-Event, held at Hager Park in Jenison. I headed over that way and arrived a bit after 9. The event was to start at 10, so I decided to get in some of the new caches in the park before the event started. Found four of them pre-event, two of them had stickers in them for Age of Discovery so decided I'd better take one. Good thing I did as they were part of a game we played later.
Headed for the event at the other side of the park, got to meet and greet quite a few of my geocaching friends both old and new. We played a scavenger hunt game where we had to get signatures of people that fit into different geocaching categories (like who has found a cache in a foreign country - that was my favorite line to sign!) A good way to get to know more about the people whose names you've only seen on logs before now.
We had a hot dog lunch with potluck additions. I had to stop at the Jenison Meijer and pick up a dessert since I had forgotten my stuff on the counter at home. Oh well. Good food, then several geocaching friends and I set off to find the other new caches in the park, and grab the stickers for the game we needed them for. Caching at this event is interesting, you're usually with 3-4 people and end up meeting one or more other groups of 3-4 at the cache site. So not much challenge there, but still a lot of fun.
Got back to the shelter area and one of my geocaching friends helped me figure out what wasn't right in my attempts to load cache info on my nuvi. He got everything working fine and now the cache info on my 300 closest not founds is on my nuvi and I don't have to bring the paper printouts anymore! Also, when I'm driving past a cache a signal will go off so I know it's there and I can then use the nuvi to get to the cache location. Sweet.
Then the door prize drawing. I've never won a door prize at a geocaching event. Surprisingly, my streak stopped today. I won a ready to hide geocache which was in a RED tupperware container! I'm thinking it was possibly a set-up but that's ok, I'll take it. Also won two other ready to hide containers, one had an event geo-coin in them. So a wonderful time was had at the event.
Even though it had started to drizzle by then, I decided I would try to grab a few caches on my way home. At the second cache I stopped at, ran into two geocaching teams that I knew. They helped me find the cache I was looking for (height was an issue, thankfully they were taller than me) and also another one in the same park. Then they invited me to go with them to find a new series of seven caches that had just been published that day. I didn't have any information but was able to slowly enter the coords at each stop and follow them in their cars to get to the area.
My find count at the end of the day is 1998....
Sunday - went to church, then over to Burger King where they have free wi-fi access. Had been there a little while, checked my e-mail to discover that a new cache had been hidden at the Lowell Meijer 15 minutes earlier. No problem EXCEPT that I had left my GPS at home. Saw it on the counter that morning and thought I wouldn't be caching so just left it there. So tried to find it based on the description and clues. No luck. So went home (just 3 miles) and got the GPS, went back and found it quickly. I was the first to find, my 15th FTF in 4 years of caching. So NOW I'm at 1999 finds. Have just made plans with a geofriend to go to a night cache tomorrow night to make it 2000.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Bowling with my boy
Friday afternoon was cold and rainy. Not exactly typical summer weather. So I just putzed around the house, getting things done. Didn't go caching since I was planning to be gone at a caching event the next day. Eric comes into the room and says, "let's go bowling!" Now this is his standard idea when he's bored. He was surprised when I said, "sure, why not?"
We went to the local bowling alley. They are running a summer special, 1.5 hrs of bowling + shoes for $5. So for $10 I got an hour and a half of quality time with my son - priceless! We split the six games that we managed to bowl - I won the first, third, and fifth - he won the second, fourth, and sixth. I wasn't sure we'd get that sixth game in, but Eric really wanted to, he was behind 3-2 in our count at that point. We had trouble getting decent house balls - the one I finally ended up with was a bright green 11 pounder with a quarter size chip in it. But it still worked. Eric had trouble getting one that fit his fingers correctly. Got to bowl, talk a bit, and just spend time with my boy.
One interesting sideline: during our bowling time, a group of 4-5 young ladies came in, dressed in formal gowns (mind you this was 5 p.m. on a Friday) and one was wearing a tiara. They spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of each other with the bowling balls, I'm not sure they even started bowling before we left, though they did have a lane turned on for them. That was a bit unusual. But of course we don't go bowling that often ourselves so maybe formal gowns are the new trend for bowling.
We went to the local bowling alley. They are running a summer special, 1.5 hrs of bowling + shoes for $5. So for $10 I got an hour and a half of quality time with my son - priceless! We split the six games that we managed to bowl - I won the first, third, and fifth - he won the second, fourth, and sixth. I wasn't sure we'd get that sixth game in, but Eric really wanted to, he was behind 3-2 in our count at that point. We had trouble getting decent house balls - the one I finally ended up with was a bright green 11 pounder with a quarter size chip in it. But it still worked. Eric had trouble getting one that fit his fingers correctly. Got to bowl, talk a bit, and just spend time with my boy.
One interesting sideline: during our bowling time, a group of 4-5 young ladies came in, dressed in formal gowns (mind you this was 5 p.m. on a Friday) and one was wearing a tiara. They spent quite a bit of time taking pictures of each other with the bowling balls, I'm not sure they even started bowling before we left, though they did have a lane turned on for them. That was a bit unusual. But of course we don't go bowling that often ourselves so maybe formal gowns are the new trend for bowling.
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Honoring a fallen hero
On Sunday, August 16, a West Michigan soldier, Nicholas Roush, lost his life in Afghanistan. Hard as any of these situations are, this one seems just a bit harder because, but for the grace of God, could have been my own son. Scott is (as he quoted in facebook) 73% done with his deployment, he is in a relatively safe area, but he is still in a war zone.
Anyway, when I heard that the family wanted the route from the airport to their home church lined with people yesterday afternoon, of course I wanted to be there. Got there in time to join a large group of people all there to show their respects to this fallen hero. Quiet talking beforehand, sharing our links to the military or just our feelings about wanting to be there.
The procession passed. Makes it very real to see a military hearse with a flag-draped coffin in the back, followed by cars carrying obviously grieving family members. After the procession passed, back to the car. There was only one piece of music that I had with me that I could play, it was the service song medley that I have on a CD.
God Bless the Roush family and Nicholas for his ultimate sacrifice.
And Lord, continue to keep my Scott safe.
Anyway, when I heard that the family wanted the route from the airport to their home church lined with people yesterday afternoon, of course I wanted to be there. Got there in time to join a large group of people all there to show their respects to this fallen hero. Quiet talking beforehand, sharing our links to the military or just our feelings about wanting to be there.
The procession passed. Makes it very real to see a military hearse with a flag-draped coffin in the back, followed by cars carrying obviously grieving family members. After the procession passed, back to the car. There was only one piece of music that I had with me that I could play, it was the service song medley that I have on a CD.
God Bless the Roush family and Nicholas for his ultimate sacrifice.
And Lord, continue to keep my Scott safe.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
First adventures with the kayak
Took the new kayak out for its first journey yesterday. It loads right up into the car, with the seats down. Of course, since we haven't figured out where to keep it in the garage, it's been in my car since last Thursday when Steve gave it to me.
Headed for Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids where there (supposedly) is a cache that's been there since 2003. Unfortunately, the last time it's been found was last fall - no finds this year despite several attempts. So I wasn't too optimistic that I would be able to find it.
Got to the boat launch area and discovered there was no off-road parking. Street parking was very popular - it took me a few trips around before I was lucky enough to find a spot. Pulled the kayak out and went over to the boat launch. Off I went! A nice easy paddle, about 3/10 of a mile, over to the cache area. Saw some swans along the way and got a few nice pictures. Got to the area, pretty lily padded and reedy. Nothing bigger than a kayak or canoe could get over there, I'm sure. After a lot of looking, gave up the search. Took some time to take pictures of some of the water lilies and (tried) to take pictures of me in the kayak. Got me but not the kayak too much.
Paddled back to the boat launch. My arms were starting to feel it! Loaded the kayak back up and decided to head towards Jenison and the Grand River Park, where there was a cache on a small island in a lake (Beaver Island Challenge) and a cache a mile upstream on the Grand River (Sunny's Grand Isle.)
Got to the park, pulled the kayak out and decided to go for Beaver Island first. Getting ready to go, saw a car pass by in the parking lot, stop, then start backing up towards me. Thought maybe someone was going to tell me I couldn't kayak in the little lake. No, they were fellow geocachers who stopped because they recognized me. They didn't think I should go out there on my own so stayed on shore and waited for me. This was good because they kept my camera and got some good pictures of me in the kayak.
The trip across the little lake was about a tenth of a mile if that. Landed on the little island, got out of the kayak and found the cache after a short search. It was just above my reach, though, and fastened to a tree. I was able to stand on a lower branch, sorta climbing a bit, and reach the container base. I used the top as leverage and managed to unscrew the base and retrieve the log. After signing the log, I ran into trouble. Just couldn't get the height and leverage needed to screw the base back into the top. Even a bit more climbing (and I have the scratched up arm to prove it) didn't do the trick as I was trying to hold onto the branch with one arm and screw the base with the other. Plus my arms were already tired from the paddling. So ended up carefully tucking the base into a crook of the tree just below the top. Then went back to shore, retrieved my camera and thanked my friends. They shared some chocolate with me and helped me get my gear squared away. Decided not to do Sunny's Grand Isle as I was already tired and tired plus alone plus a mile upstream didn't sound like a good plan at this point.
So did do a walking cache in the park that I hadn't yet done, and one more on the way back home, but I was pretty tired by this point! I had planned to do a night cache last night with Golfdiva as well; but the rain didn't hold off long enough and spoiled our plans.
Today it's raining as well so no outdoor fun.
Headed for Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids where there (supposedly) is a cache that's been there since 2003. Unfortunately, the last time it's been found was last fall - no finds this year despite several attempts. So I wasn't too optimistic that I would be able to find it.
Got to the boat launch area and discovered there was no off-road parking. Street parking was very popular - it took me a few trips around before I was lucky enough to find a spot. Pulled the kayak out and went over to the boat launch. Off I went! A nice easy paddle, about 3/10 of a mile, over to the cache area. Saw some swans along the way and got a few nice pictures. Got to the area, pretty lily padded and reedy. Nothing bigger than a kayak or canoe could get over there, I'm sure. After a lot of looking, gave up the search. Took some time to take pictures of some of the water lilies and (tried) to take pictures of me in the kayak. Got me but not the kayak too much.
Paddled back to the boat launch. My arms were starting to feel it! Loaded the kayak back up and decided to head towards Jenison and the Grand River Park, where there was a cache on a small island in a lake (Beaver Island Challenge) and a cache a mile upstream on the Grand River (Sunny's Grand Isle.)
Got to the park, pulled the kayak out and decided to go for Beaver Island first. Getting ready to go, saw a car pass by in the parking lot, stop, then start backing up towards me. Thought maybe someone was going to tell me I couldn't kayak in the little lake. No, they were fellow geocachers who stopped because they recognized me. They didn't think I should go out there on my own so stayed on shore and waited for me. This was good because they kept my camera and got some good pictures of me in the kayak.
The trip across the little lake was about a tenth of a mile if that. Landed on the little island, got out of the kayak and found the cache after a short search. It was just above my reach, though, and fastened to a tree. I was able to stand on a lower branch, sorta climbing a bit, and reach the container base. I used the top as leverage and managed to unscrew the base and retrieve the log. After signing the log, I ran into trouble. Just couldn't get the height and leverage needed to screw the base back into the top. Even a bit more climbing (and I have the scratched up arm to prove it) didn't do the trick as I was trying to hold onto the branch with one arm and screw the base with the other. Plus my arms were already tired from the paddling. So ended up carefully tucking the base into a crook of the tree just below the top. Then went back to shore, retrieved my camera and thanked my friends. They shared some chocolate with me and helped me get my gear squared away. Decided not to do Sunny's Grand Isle as I was already tired and tired plus alone plus a mile upstream didn't sound like a good plan at this point.
So did do a walking cache in the park that I hadn't yet done, and one more on the way back home, but I was pretty tired by this point! I had planned to do a night cache last night with Golfdiva as well; but the rain didn't hold off long enough and spoiled our plans.
Today it's raining as well so no outdoor fun.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Happy Birthday to me!
Well, it's official. I am now on the final downward slide to a half-century of living. 49 and counting. My birthday has come and gone, and it was a good one.
I guess you could say it started last week when the e-mails started pouring in. Didn't realize I'd signed up for so many "birthday clubs!" So far I've had a free burger at Red Robin; free ice cream at Baskin Robbins and Coldstone Creamery; and a free dinner at Pietro's. I still have dessert at Fazoli's; a burger at Ruby Tuesday; and a meal at Noodles to partake of this week.
When Steve got home Thursday night, he pulled me out to the garage where he showed me the kayak he'd bought me for my birthday! It's a one-seater, small enough that I can fit it into the car (with the back seats down) and get it in and out myself. Now I can go get some of those kayak caches! Eric bought me a new life jacket to go with it. Steve bought this a few weeks back and stored it at his dad's so I wouldn't know about it. So I guess I have to take back -a little- of what I wrote in my last post about him not ever wanting to have fun.
Friday I left for Yankee Springs State Park and our Bear campout. (See previous posts for more info about DA BEARS) Did quite a bit of caching along the way and arrived about 4 p.m. Friday night was a time of renewing our friendships and sitting around the fire.
Saturday morning (my actual birthday) we had to go up to Coopersville for a scouting kickoff program. We all agreed there were probably better ways we could have spent the time but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. On our way back, we stopped at my Fruit Ridge Rest Stop cache so that they could find it; then stopped at the scout office. Closer to camp, we stopped for fresh sweet corn and also for a cemetery cache across the street from the farm stand.
We spent the rest of the day swimming, talking, and preparing a big feast for dinner. We had burgers & brats, a couple of dutch oven dishes, roasted corn, fruits, and other goodies. For dessert, we had a chocolate dutch oven birthday cake! Except for my family, I can't think of anyone I would have rather spent the day with.
Yesterday morning, we broke camp then went to find the geocache that Joe (one of Da Bears) had hidden for us on a previous scout camping weekend. He had also left travel bugs for each of us, named after our bear mascots. That little hike took almost an hour, and by the time we were back we mutually agreed to put off kayaking. So my little kayak has yet to see its maiden voyage! But I'm glad in retrospect because if we'd kayaked, I wouldn't have made it home before a storm came later in the afternoon.
Once home, I opened other cards that had come over the weekend, and Scott's birthday present to me - nice German pottery, a pie plate and a pottery apple. Steve and Eric took me out to dinner at Pietro's, where I received a free birthday dinner; I chose Lobster Ravioli, it was good.
Fell asleep at the computer logging caches from the weekend, so I know I was tired out! An excellent birthday thanks to all my family and friends.
I guess you could say it started last week when the e-mails started pouring in. Didn't realize I'd signed up for so many "birthday clubs!" So far I've had a free burger at Red Robin; free ice cream at Baskin Robbins and Coldstone Creamery; and a free dinner at Pietro's. I still have dessert at Fazoli's; a burger at Ruby Tuesday; and a meal at Noodles to partake of this week.
When Steve got home Thursday night, he pulled me out to the garage where he showed me the kayak he'd bought me for my birthday! It's a one-seater, small enough that I can fit it into the car (with the back seats down) and get it in and out myself. Now I can go get some of those kayak caches! Eric bought me a new life jacket to go with it. Steve bought this a few weeks back and stored it at his dad's so I wouldn't know about it. So I guess I have to take back -a little- of what I wrote in my last post about him not ever wanting to have fun.
Friday I left for Yankee Springs State Park and our Bear campout. (See previous posts for more info about DA BEARS) Did quite a bit of caching along the way and arrived about 4 p.m. Friday night was a time of renewing our friendships and sitting around the fire.
Saturday morning (my actual birthday) we had to go up to Coopersville for a scouting kickoff program. We all agreed there were probably better ways we could have spent the time but ya gotta do what ya gotta do. On our way back, we stopped at my Fruit Ridge Rest Stop cache so that they could find it; then stopped at the scout office. Closer to camp, we stopped for fresh sweet corn and also for a cemetery cache across the street from the farm stand.
We spent the rest of the day swimming, talking, and preparing a big feast for dinner. We had burgers & brats, a couple of dutch oven dishes, roasted corn, fruits, and other goodies. For dessert, we had a chocolate dutch oven birthday cake! Except for my family, I can't think of anyone I would have rather spent the day with.
Yesterday morning, we broke camp then went to find the geocache that Joe (one of Da Bears) had hidden for us on a previous scout camping weekend. He had also left travel bugs for each of us, named after our bear mascots. That little hike took almost an hour, and by the time we were back we mutually agreed to put off kayaking. So my little kayak has yet to see its maiden voyage! But I'm glad in retrospect because if we'd kayaked, I wouldn't have made it home before a storm came later in the afternoon.
Once home, I opened other cards that had come over the weekend, and Scott's birthday present to me - nice German pottery, a pie plate and a pottery apple. Steve and Eric took me out to dinner at Pietro's, where I received a free birthday dinner; I chose Lobster Ravioli, it was good.
Fell asleep at the computer logging caches from the weekend, so I know I was tired out! An excellent birthday thanks to all my family and friends.
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Having fun on my own - necessary or selfish?
I have come to the conclusion over the years that having fun as a couple just doesn't happen too often for us. Sad but true. I am married to a pessimist who can always find a way to suck the joy out of whatever circumstances life hands him. So if I'm to enjoy life, I have to seek out ways on my own, I guess. That seems selfish from some angles but I think it's necessary for my happiness quotient.
Anyway, yesterday was one of those days where things just went right and it was a good day. I started the day by presenting a Geocaching 101 session at Gilda's Club for the members. Attendance was light but those who came enjoyed themselves. After leaving Gilda's, I went to Richmond Park to do the tribute series of caches recently placed there. All was well until there was a person sleeping in their running truck parked right where I needed to search. Had to come back later but, even with the truck gone I couldn't find the cache so couldn't complete the series. Stopped by another multi which I'd started about six weeks ago and was able to finish it. So a total of six caches for the afternoon.
Nestled in there was a trip to the scout office where I bought two copies of the new 12th edition Boy Scout Handbook (one for me, one to send to Scott.) Nicely done. Also wanted to pick up a new roundtable planning guide but they hadn't yet ordered them...grr...they should be arriving in about a week or so now that they are ordering them.
After the last cache, my goal was to make it to Celebration Cinema in time to see Julie & Julia. Didn't think Steve would be interested so used the free ticket that I'd received from buying pop-tarts earlier in the summer. The showing was scheduled to start at 3:25; I got my ticket at 3:43 and walked into the theater in time to see the opening of the movie. There must be way too many commercials and previews these days.
Watched the movie - I really enjoyed it. Then stopped by Coldstone Creamery since I had a coupon for a free dish of ice cream for my birthday. Enjoyed it while picking up a few things at the nearby Meijer, then went on home.
Just a really nice day.
Anyway, yesterday was one of those days where things just went right and it was a good day. I started the day by presenting a Geocaching 101 session at Gilda's Club for the members. Attendance was light but those who came enjoyed themselves. After leaving Gilda's, I went to Richmond Park to do the tribute series of caches recently placed there. All was well until there was a person sleeping in their running truck parked right where I needed to search. Had to come back later but, even with the truck gone I couldn't find the cache so couldn't complete the series. Stopped by another multi which I'd started about six weeks ago and was able to finish it. So a total of six caches for the afternoon.
Nestled in there was a trip to the scout office where I bought two copies of the new 12th edition Boy Scout Handbook (one for me, one to send to Scott.) Nicely done. Also wanted to pick up a new roundtable planning guide but they hadn't yet ordered them...grr...they should be arriving in about a week or so now that they are ordering them.
After the last cache, my goal was to make it to Celebration Cinema in time to see Julie & Julia. Didn't think Steve would be interested so used the free ticket that I'd received from buying pop-tarts earlier in the summer. The showing was scheduled to start at 3:25; I got my ticket at 3:43 and walked into the theater in time to see the opening of the movie. There must be way too many commercials and previews these days.
Watched the movie - I really enjoyed it. Then stopped by Coldstone Creamery since I had a coupon for a free dish of ice cream for my birthday. Enjoyed it while picking up a few things at the nearby Meijer, then went on home.
Just a really nice day.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Day trippin' down Memory Lane
Friday saw me at home all day. I could say it was because I had lots to do but in reality it was because Steve's battery died on his car, rain was forecast (so no motorcycle riding) and he needed to take mine since I didn't have to work. So regardless, I was home.
Decided to take on a long-needed task of hunting, gathering, sorting. Videos & DVDs. When you have to temporarily relocate a bunch of them to a suitcase so that company can come, it's time. We have a large shelf in our bedroom (formerly from the video store) which held a mixture of VHS and Beta (yes, BETA!) tapes; there were more on a dresser in the bedroom; the TV stand held a bunch; and there was the aforementioned suitcase full, relocated from our dining room table.
Started by pulling all the Beta tapes off the shelf and boxing them up. I didn't even think we had the Beta machine anymore; Steve assures me it's in the basement somewhere. Anyway, don't think we'll be using it anytime soon. So out they went. Then pulled together all the VHS from all the locations. Kids movies went on the second to the bottom shelf as I don't think we'll be using them anytime soon either. The shelf above held taped TV shows of interest; above that were movies taped off the TV; top shelf was for "real" movies (those bought from the store.) The bottom shelf was reserved for videos like our wedding and those of the kids.
All the DVDs now fit under the TV where they will be most used. The job took all day, ok with a few breaks now and then. Steve suggested, that since I had "found" his home movies on VHS tape, I should make a DVD of it to preserve them. Now I'd had a dual deck recorder for over a year but never got around to using it for recording DVDs from VHS. Found out it was a lot easier than I thought; it just records in real time which means that the entire tape has to play.
After making a copy of Steve's home movie VHS tape (I'd already burned mine a few years back) I decided to get started on the rest of the VHS home video tapes. So yesterday I was able to watch our wedding, start to finish, and then started watching Scott's baby tapes. I really sounded like quite a moron at times talking baby talk to him, trying to get him to talk back on tape! But I'm sure he didn't care one bit. As I finished up last night, I had three DVDs burned, and was up to January 1988. Lots of cute stuff I'd kind of forgotten! Eric was only mildly interested, he just couldn't believe how young we all looked! Just wait until he sees his own baby tapes...
So it was a nice day tripping down memory lane! And I'll be doing more of it today, I have one more VHS tape of Scott's, then a few of Eric's before I'll have to get started on the 8mm tapes. Hope our old camcorder still works so I can hook it up to the DVD recorder.
Decided to take on a long-needed task of hunting, gathering, sorting. Videos & DVDs. When you have to temporarily relocate a bunch of them to a suitcase so that company can come, it's time. We have a large shelf in our bedroom (formerly from the video store) which held a mixture of VHS and Beta (yes, BETA!) tapes; there were more on a dresser in the bedroom; the TV stand held a bunch; and there was the aforementioned suitcase full, relocated from our dining room table.
Started by pulling all the Beta tapes off the shelf and boxing them up. I didn't even think we had the Beta machine anymore; Steve assures me it's in the basement somewhere. Anyway, don't think we'll be using it anytime soon. So out they went. Then pulled together all the VHS from all the locations. Kids movies went on the second to the bottom shelf as I don't think we'll be using them anytime soon either. The shelf above held taped TV shows of interest; above that were movies taped off the TV; top shelf was for "real" movies (those bought from the store.) The bottom shelf was reserved for videos like our wedding and those of the kids.
All the DVDs now fit under the TV where they will be most used. The job took all day, ok with a few breaks now and then. Steve suggested, that since I had "found" his home movies on VHS tape, I should make a DVD of it to preserve them. Now I'd had a dual deck recorder for over a year but never got around to using it for recording DVDs from VHS. Found out it was a lot easier than I thought; it just records in real time which means that the entire tape has to play.
After making a copy of Steve's home movie VHS tape (I'd already burned mine a few years back) I decided to get started on the rest of the VHS home video tapes. So yesterday I was able to watch our wedding, start to finish, and then started watching Scott's baby tapes. I really sounded like quite a moron at times talking baby talk to him, trying to get him to talk back on tape! But I'm sure he didn't care one bit. As I finished up last night, I had three DVDs burned, and was up to January 1988. Lots of cute stuff I'd kind of forgotten! Eric was only mildly interested, he just couldn't believe how young we all looked! Just wait until he sees his own baby tapes...
So it was a nice day tripping down memory lane! And I'll be doing more of it today, I have one more VHS tape of Scott's, then a few of Eric's before I'll have to get started on the 8mm tapes. Hope our old camcorder still works so I can hook it up to the DVD recorder.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Catching up...
I knew I hadn't posted for a while, but didn't realize just how long. I got home from the geobash on Sunday the 27th. My mom called that evening and said they'd be coming on Tuesday night or Wednesday. (She asked if that was ok, of course.) Well, I'd been planning to get the house super cleaned before she came so had to do it all in a day and a half. It was done but not quite as thoroughly as I was planning to. Glad she didn't look in our bedroom!
We had an enjoyable 6 day visit with my mom and my stepdad. Most of the time, we watched movies, played on their wii, and just sat around and talked. We did make a trip into town to use the internet at the library, and went into town to get haircuts as well. The guys went to the driving range a few times and a few other errands. And we all (except Steve) went to Eric's church with him on Sunday.
Monday and Tuesday were full work days for me. I'm trying hard to keep the house looking nice; for those who may not be aware it's not my strong point.
Yesterday, though, I really needed to get out there and cache. After a 10 day break, I was ready! And no, not just to feed my "addiction," I really needed to go to Belding and find a certain cache that could only be opened by a key which was in my possession. Automatic FTF!
So I set out just before 8 a.m. and headed for Belding. Did a few caches on the way there, then headed toward the certain cache. There were people nearby so I went to another nearby cache first, then went back to this one. People were still there! So I went down the road some more and did a series of 3 caches along a trail. Nice ones. Then back and finally I could get the certain cache. Now I had to drop the key (with travel bug tag) in a different cache so someone else could find it. Only 2 caches left in Belding. The first was one that Carolyn and I had tried back in May. With a nudge from the owner, I spotted it this time. Then the last one, which involved a 3/10 of a mile walk each way in a nice quiet park. The best walk of the day, and I put the key inside. Moved on from there to Ionia as it wasn't even noon yet. (I remember having 16 caches by just before noon.)
Did some serious caching in Ionia the rest of the day, and I have the city pretty well cleaned out except for a few DNFs. Also got over to Lyons/Muir, a few miles east, and found a cache at a beautiful little park overlooking the river. I found my #1900 milestone in Ionia. Liked it so much I kept the cache. (There was a swarm of bees in the lightpole skirt, I was lucky not to get stung when I lifted the skirt. Luckily the cache fell out. But every time I tried to lift the skirt to replace the cache, they swarmed again. Since I'm seeing the cache owners next week, I just kept the cache to give to them when I see them.)
Arrived home about 5 p.m., and just as I was unloading the car, Steve came home from work so couldn't have timed it any better!
This morning, just puttering around, then to work. Needing to prepare for my children's church lesson on Sunday and my Geocaching 101 session at Gilda's next Wednesday.
We had an enjoyable 6 day visit with my mom and my stepdad. Most of the time, we watched movies, played on their wii, and just sat around and talked. We did make a trip into town to use the internet at the library, and went into town to get haircuts as well. The guys went to the driving range a few times and a few other errands. And we all (except Steve) went to Eric's church with him on Sunday.
Monday and Tuesday were full work days for me. I'm trying hard to keep the house looking nice; for those who may not be aware it's not my strong point.
Yesterday, though, I really needed to get out there and cache. After a 10 day break, I was ready! And no, not just to feed my "addiction," I really needed to go to Belding and find a certain cache that could only be opened by a key which was in my possession. Automatic FTF!
So I set out just before 8 a.m. and headed for Belding. Did a few caches on the way there, then headed toward the certain cache. There were people nearby so I went to another nearby cache first, then went back to this one. People were still there! So I went down the road some more and did a series of 3 caches along a trail. Nice ones. Then back and finally I could get the certain cache. Now I had to drop the key (with travel bug tag) in a different cache so someone else could find it. Only 2 caches left in Belding. The first was one that Carolyn and I had tried back in May. With a nudge from the owner, I spotted it this time. Then the last one, which involved a 3/10 of a mile walk each way in a nice quiet park. The best walk of the day, and I put the key inside. Moved on from there to Ionia as it wasn't even noon yet. (I remember having 16 caches by just before noon.)
Did some serious caching in Ionia the rest of the day, and I have the city pretty well cleaned out except for a few DNFs. Also got over to Lyons/Muir, a few miles east, and found a cache at a beautiful little park overlooking the river. I found my #1900 milestone in Ionia. Liked it so much I kept the cache. (There was a swarm of bees in the lightpole skirt, I was lucky not to get stung when I lifted the skirt. Luckily the cache fell out. But every time I tried to lift the skirt to replace the cache, they swarmed again. Since I'm seeing the cache owners next week, I just kept the cache to give to them when I see them.)
Arrived home about 5 p.m., and just as I was unloading the car, Steve came home from work so couldn't have timed it any better!
This morning, just puttering around, then to work. Needing to prepare for my children's church lesson on Sunday and my Geocaching 101 session at Gilda's next Wednesday.
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