Summer Celebration

I attended yet another great caching event. This one was located at Enid Lake in MS and sponsored by several geocaching organizations (G.O.W.T., M.S.G.A., DeepSouth, DeltaGeo,). It was Celebrate Summer in the Midsouth hosted by Lacey(Lacey38655) and Scott(SniperChicken). Cgeek and Hoot rode in one vehicle while Hogfanbam and I pulled my boat with the other vehicle. We stopped in Hernando to grab Elite Cachers #1 by Bomb280 and pick up some last minute things at the store. We arrived at Enid Lake after a short drive and immediately put the boat in the water. We anchored the boat and went up the hill to see everyone. After a wonderful meal and distribution of the milestone awards, we (Ash, Bruce, Wanda, Bambi, and I) went to hide a cache. We used the boat, of course, and spent the day taking people across the lake to find the hidden treasure. During this time, I was able to get to know some folks a little better. The kids had a great time driving the boat. The day was beautiful!!! Scott and Lacey planned an awesome event and I hope we do it again!

Congratulations to the following cachers who all received 1, 2, or 3K milestone awards:

Lacey38655
Sniperchicken
Bluecanary
Pushmataha
ADS1
Pater47
Slipnot007
Davidmac

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience. The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him. He goes "sight-seeing." ~Daniel J. Boorstin

7/7/07

I haven't spent much time talking about Geocaching in my blogs, as I have not done much caching during this time. The times I have gone out caching have been much more memorable than when I was caching constantly. Take, for instance, Pcsenn's 1K Event hosted by Prontopup in Dyersburg on 7/7/07. The Memphis folks started 7/7/07 out by having breakfast together. We were able to hear some of Mackheath's stories from his trip home, we were able to visit with Tuck Sackett one last time, Gaylemae told an interesting story, and we were able to finally meet some new cachers.

After leaving breakfast, we met in Dyersburg. Folks were not too sure what to expect at the event. I had been out of town without a computer and when I returned, at the breakfast, I got caught up with some issues. I was told that some folks were not going to attend Phillip's event because they might feel uncomfortable. Titansfan's event was even brought up in a negative light andI don't really know why. I and everyone at the breakfast thought his event went great! I guess it is all in how you choose to view things. At any rate, I think that everyone that attended Phillip's event had a terrific time. I know I did! Congrats, again, Phillip!!!

I was able to spend some time talking with some folks that I really had never spent time talking to in person. I REALLY enjoyed the conversation. We discussed a cache by B@ashful and Jimmylogan that had turned up missing. I tried for Stories in Stone on my previous trip to Chicago and couldn't find it. Luckily, B & J replaced the cache after lunch and a crew was able to "find" the cache before the ice cream event!

The Don't Forget Dessert event was hosted by Cgeek. The Turtle Sundae...Yummy! At any rate, we all got excited again about the possibility of doing a cache called Cache Raider by Canoe Guy that B@ashful and Jimmylogan got FTF on. They talked about what a neat cache it was and many of us were hooked. We all followed B & J in a 5 or 6 car caravan to the cache site. We had a blast! I am not going to discuss much about the cache as I don't want to give anything away, however, make sure to go prepared when you attempt this cache! Spiders and snakes...yuck!

This was a great day spent with awesome people. I was so sorry I was not able to make it back the following weekend for Bashful & Jimmylogan's Ice Cream Social. I hear it was a terrific event!

Travelers never think that they are the foreigners. ~Mason Cooley

What Happens in Vegas...

Las Vegas...what a city! Before I left, someone asked me why I was going to Vegas when we had Tunica less than an hour away. They said, and I quote "Vegas is just like Tunica." Well, I won't be too hard on them since they are one of my friends, however, Vegas is NOT just like Tunica! First, you have the mountains. I know, Tunica has the river...but the MOUNTAINS...beautiful! Then, all the beautiful hotels, casinos, restaurants, pools, and shows...I couldn't get enough! The first night there, we saw Spamalot. I don't think I have ever laughed so much during one show. It was great! I saw Lionel Richie on the last night. It was his opening night and he put on a great show. He looked just like he did back in the day and the women were going crazy over him. It was full of energy!

So far, from March to now, I have been to Florida, California, Chicago, back to Florida, back to Chicago and then Las Vegas, Navada. Wow! I didn't even go on all the trips that I could have gone on. I had an invitation to Greece, Colorado, and Canada. I will have to save those trips for later! See what I mean when I say "Whirlwind."

Las Vegas - my favorite desert mirage. ~Val Saintsbury

Tuck & Spencer

I am going to dedicate this post to two guys that I have known for a couple of years. I met them through a hobby in which I participate...geocaching. I have mentioned this hobby briefly in a couple of my other posts. The reason for dedicating this post is that, these two guys are moving their families away from this area. Steve and Barbara Spencer (Spencersb and BabyBarbara) are moving their family to Oregon. Michael Tucker and his wife (Tuck Sackett and Tuck's Treasure) are moving to Texas. These two guys, along with 3 others, started GOWT...a local geocaching organization. Steve was the founding president and Mike the founding vice-president.


I will miss these two guys more than they will ever know. We have gone through good times with each other and we have also weathered a recent "bad" time. Our group has become stronger as a result of our experiences and now it is time to say good-bye. I wish both of these guys and their families the best of luck and I want them to know that they will be in my prayers.

"A farewell is necessary before we can meet again, and meeting again after moments or a lifetime is certain for those who are friends."
- Richard Bach -

The Boat

OK...now let me ramble for just a while on one of my favorite things to do...play on my boat! I think I have always loved the water. My parents had us taking swimming lessons at a very young age. I can remember going to the community pool on the first day it opened every year. My mom would also take us to the Michigan Dunes during the summer and I loved playing in Lake Michigan. As I got older, I realized that I really enjoyed boating and skiing. I love the water!

I purchased my first boat about 17 years ago and have bought another since then and that is where I like to spend a great deal of my summer. I wish someone would hide a bunch of caches around the lakes at which I like to spend time. I could do two things that I love at the same time.

I have been in a funk lately, and I took the boat out the other day. I had such a great time. It made me forget the drama of my life. The sun felt good, the water was smooth as glass, and life was great. I was so happy until I had to take the boat out of the water and go home. Oh well, this just gives me a chance to think about my next trip out. I can't wait!!!

“When the tides of life turn against you and the current upsets your boat, don't waste those tears on what might have been, just lie on your back and float.” -unknown

Naples, FL-Spring Break

Even though I went to Naples back in March, I'm just now getting a chance to write about it. It seems to be coming at a good time since my posts of late seem to be a little on the negative side. I will take this opportunity to remember a very good time. Not a lot of partying, just some relaxing good times with close friends.

The flights to and from were not so hot, but the company was great and so was the weather. My sister and her husband have a nice place down there, very close to the beach. The routine for the week was getting up, going downstairs to work out, and then out to the pool or beach...whichever we chose for the day. After that, showers and out for the evening. It was quite a break from my normal routine of burning the candle at both ends. It also came at a great time since it was during a time when some folks in a geocaching organization that I belong to decided they had nothing better to do than attack people that I care about on the forums. It was great getting away and not reading the "trash" for a while. I wish more of my friends could have been there to enjoy the great time!

“True friends are like diamonds, precious and rare. False friends are like leaves, found everywhere.”

Drama

My friends had always talked about a yearly trip they take to Florida. I have always wanted to go to experience this "great" time. I was invited and accepted. Turns out...mistake. This had to be one of the worst trips I have EVER taken. Part of it was my own fault, however, most of it was not.

Within an hour into the trip, there were signs of bad things yet to come. From that point, it only got worse, except for a small amount of time that included beach, sun, and "shipwrecks." I personally spent the last three years of my life drama free, except for a small amount of drama within a geocaching organization of which I am a member. This trip had enough drama to make up for the last three years. Anyway, the first day in Florida barely came to an end before new drama began. This, unfortunately, included me. It shouldn't have. I wish it didn't. Live and learn, right? So much drama went on, that at one point, one of my friends walked into the room and asked "Are we on TV?" It was very much like one of those reality TV shows. The next best part of the trip, for me, was the drive home and even THAT had drama.

At any rate, I think I'm going to go back to my drama-free life that I enjoyed before all this and hope that it won't take forever to recover. My lessons learned are to follow my gut and "walls are in place for a reason."

Too often travel, instead of broadening the mind, merely lengthens the conversation. ~Elizabeth Drew