Purrfect Satisfaction....

As I was digging through pictures taken recently-- I ran across one that I almost didn't get!

The Kid doesn't come around very often these days-- too busy being himself! But on the occasion that he does- me having a camera handy and him be willing to allow it to be snapped are getting further and further between.

But, the sheer satisfaction on Jess's face after capturing (and subduing, somewhat!) Katrina Kat is priceless!

She, of course, is NOT pleased-- but, she did allow it long enough for this shot. Katrina came along after he'd moved on; so even though he IS the most feline intuitive person I've ever known (besides his daddy) she is extremely skittish around him. Heck! She's that way with us! It's also interesting to note that HIS cat, Samson, is close in attendance and just waiting for the chance to have that lap all to himself! It didn't take long!

Purrrrfectly Priceless!

Geocaching... the experience!

After a less than successful start the first day out caching-- the second day dawned bright and clear. Pop and I headed up the interstate towards LR-UAMS and I was fascinated watching the progression on the Magellan's road navigation system. I realized as we sailed past the rest stop where the cache resides there was a mark I'd not seen on the previous outing. Oh!! So- THAT'S WHAT it's supposed to "DO" when I get close! Well-- maybe I can figure this thing out!! We'd meant to drive past, btw, as I needed to meet class and then check into clinic before traipsing around after a cache!

On the return trip I was really pumped!! I was gonna find it! I was just sure of it! The minute we pulled into the rest stop I knew two things. One- that it was located at the end of the park and by deciphering the hint, I was gonna be "logging" this one! I took off; armed with the GPS and my cell phone (to call back and let him know I'd found it!). The closer I got- the larger it loomed on my screen (no, not really- but, it seemed to!) and as I was almost there realized I'd failed to bring the camera out of the truck. Called Dad to tell him to bring it- and lo and behold- he'd failed to put his phone ON him and was following in my tracks. Okay-- no biggie. No camera to capture it; but, he would help search! Yippee!! It was debatable whether or not I'd been able to pique his interest!

Soon I was within 20 feet and amongst the briars when I realized this is not going to be as easy as I thought! The leaves were so thick back here- I was just thankful it wasn't tick and snake season! I'm in a dress for pity's sake!! Neared 12 feet. 8 feet. 6 feet. Well- I'm almost that tall! If I were to fall in any direction I'd probably hit it with my head! Had to remind myself to LOOK at the terrain rather than the GPS screen. Hmm.... well.. nothing but a lot of leaves and logs. Okay... look for a pathway. There did seem to be two. By this time I've handed the unit over to Dad so I can actually give my full attention to looking for subtle clues.

Dad kept taking a step forward and then a step backward- then two sideways, turn 90 degrees and repeat. Do we call this the geo-dance?? I'd already done that! I'm walking around him-- peering. FINALLY I spy metal! Ahhh-- that's IT I squeal. Uhh... wrong. It's an abandoned traffic sign. Close but no cigar. I keep looking. Dad's not getting antsy, but, I know he's not gonna want to spend a whole lot of time here. Hmmm..... wait a minute! What's THAT??? Dad-- roll that log over! And, sure enough! There it is! How very clever! The log has been hollowed out to easily slip over an ammo-box and conceal it from weather and non-gamers.

There it was in all it's glory! My first cache find! It's marked "geocache" on the side-- I'm in heaven! There should even be a travel-bug in this one! At least according to the geocache site! And, there it is! A cute little bear and the "tags". There are some other trinkets besides the log book! I quickly remember that arghhh-- I'd forgotten to bring my item to trade. Oh, well! I could still sign the log-book and be a part of the game! Dad seemed to be excited for me-- and as we walked back to the parking area; he was concocting ideas for items that would be easy to construct and leave for future cache trips!

A big thanks to cachemates for their placement of the cache. And, to Dad for his patience and willingness to put up with this- yet another "lark" of mine! I so look forward to the next adventure!

Here are the coorindates for my very first cache:
N 34° 21.166
W 092° 53.377

Dad and I talked "baseline" and survey points the rest of the trip home. Surprisingly-- we'd had almost this same discussion last Fall when we were talking about America's migration and settlement. How the surveyor's first came when it was known as the Louisana Purchase and then again after the War of 1812 and made land-grants for compensation to soldiers and how our family had moved on account of this and several other reasons. Wouldn't the surveyor's be delighted to use a GPS these days! Which got me to wondering if our local surveyor used it- I chanced to meet a neighbor who used to work with our local office and he said that they didn't- yet! But- that eventually that all the little ones would be going that way, too.

Oddly enough-- the subject of jobs using GPS came up again this week as I was reading my former neighbor's (Miz Pat's) account of her g-son, Billy, particpating in a Job Shadow Day. He was assigned to the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department Environmental Division crew walking transects in the Cache River area recording GPS readings and looking for evidence of the Ivory-Billed Woodpecker.

I've had a number of folks email me that this subject is fascinating but that they just don't "get it". Well-- me neither! I just know that I need to get "out" in order to get some exercise and marrying the "nerdy" gadgt part is just icing on the cake! I don't understand all the geek-speak on the geo-caching site; but, I'm having fun and I hope to have pictures from the next search. THAT"S the real appeal to me! If you want to join me on a site or suggest one- please feel free to leave an annonymous comment here or email me!

Top 20 Reasons that We’re Glad Our Sister is in Mexico on Vacation, and We’re Not Jealous of Her...

Top 20 Reasons
that we’re glad our sister is in Mexico on vacation
....and we’re not jealous of her...

(in no particular order)


20. Our dogs won't be mad at us for going away and having gone to a big body of water and playing with Frisbee without them; and our cats won't be mad for us going to a big sand-box without them.

19. We can flush toilet paper down our toilet.

18. We get to smell the aroma of wet dog coming in from out of the rain instead of the stench of sour bathing suits.

17. We get to remove our damp pantyhose and heels at the end of the day; instead of brushing the sand out from between our toes.

16- We get to hear people tell us, "You look tired this afternoon." instead of "You look tan and refreshed."

15- We don’t have to hide the key to our room safe in a strategic place in our bathing suit.

14- We don’t have to summon enough hot air to blow out the whole 41 candles on our birthday cake.

13- We can understand the conversation in the booth behind us while having dinner out without using our phrase book.

12- We can enjoy watching our trees and spring buds freeze and die without worrying over a hurricane.

11- Our sexy underwear wasn’t rifled through by the TSA at the airport.

10- We can enjoy a glass of tap water.

9- We can chip off fresh ice from the ice storm and add to our glass of tap water.

8- We enjoy the exercise provided by freezing our buns off while retrieving firewood, instead of a walk on the beach.

7- We can clean our own homes, and don’t have to tip for maid service.

6- We don’t have to use our lint rollers to clean the pet fur off of the suitcases to travel.

5- We didn’t have to go to Victoria’s Secret for new thongs, or shop for specialty underwear just to take a vacation.

4- We get to enjoy discussing business with our husbands instead of refreshing banter over a margarita.

3- We get lobster flavored soy and meal replacements instead of a freshly speared lobster plucked from the ocean.

2- We can gas our own cars in the cold wind with our money that we didn’t spend on underwear, to drive to work or run errands without paying for a taxi.

1- We don’t have ugly impressions on our backsides from being passed out in a hammock for too long.


from Sally & Nancy.... Happy Birthday ROBIN!!!

The Valentine's Day GPS launch!

Today, I was awoken at 6 AM with a lovely new Magellan Global Positing System from the Mr.

I was thrilled; and spent a good part of the day (after I woke back up around 10!) trying to get acclimated to the new unit. I'd never gotten all that familiar with the Garmin unit I'd borrowed; so, I've still got tons to learn in navigational tactics.

By about 2 o'clock; Mae and I had gone to visit the local Civil War Soldier Statue and documented it as Waypoint #2. Waypoint #1 being (of course!) HOME! Still not exactly sure what I'm doing.. but- at least I can accomplish that!

By about 5 o'clock- the dogs and I were ready to make our first venture to search for an actual cache. Not the wisest of decisions; going with no other company than the dogs (one of whom is not the best away from home or on a tandem leash).

Oh, well. We took to the Island Point trail at Lake DeGray.
After the first 1k feet I realized that there was NO WAY I was going to be able to:
a.) keep myself from falling down if I kept my eyes on the GPS screen;
b.) keep the dogs from wrapping themselves and me up in the leashes; and
c.) ever hope to finding the cache.

But- hey! We were OUT, on the trail headed towards the lake and the temperature was pleasant for walking!

I did finally decipher the clue given (with the co-ordinates) while trying to juggle the camera, the GPS, the map AND the leashes. How funny is this?? The clue reads: "I've fallen down and can't get up!" I was just hoping it wasn't prophetic!! Well- the clue gave me enough to look for; but, there were sooo many of them (downed trees) it could actually be and I still don't know the GPS well enough to actually allow it to direct my steps. I will give the dogs credit. Wrigley, especially, can follow a trail quite accurately and is pretty good at pacing. He and I have been walking together long enough that we can both anticipate one another's movements and he did his best to "lead" Sandy-dawg along to the edge of the lake without dragging me down the bank!

They enjoyed dipping their paws in and posed for a picture or two. Again, Wrigley knows just what is expect of him as my most willing photographic subject and I thanked him for it! We were a little too early to witness the sunset even though we passed a couple obviously on their way to the island point that would have just enough time to get settled in with their picnic to enjoy it. I started once to ask them if they were cachers but didn't want to hold them up.

Sandy-dawg was most relieved when she realized we were back at the car. I was relieved I'd not fallen down! Wrigs and I were both happy to drop her off at her house and get home to our comfy sofa and some dinner! Perhaps, I'll get some help in understanding the machine a little better and in the meantime, Dad has an extra lap-top I can use for caching and loading the GPS coordinates.

There is at least one cache on our way to UAMS tomorrow and there are TONS of them between here and Fayetteville when we take our trip this weekend! Dad isn't nearly as interested as I'd hoped he'd be; but, Kim's hubby, Sandy, does seem interested and they do like to hike- so I may have some trail-buddies after all.

Maybe I can even get Mr B himself interested enough to drag the canoe out and up a river to see what we can "see"! He was especially concerned that the GPS unit he purchased had two qualities... a.) it MUST be crash-worthy as I've not got the best record of staying on my feet or from dropping expensive electronic equipment and b.) water (and coffee!) proof! *Grin* He knows me only too well! All in all- a pleasurable day even though I didn't find my first cache! Maybe that's just as well! The dogs couldn't have taken pictures of it happening anyway!!

Coincidences abound!

For some time now, I've been noticing this "other" red Crown Victoria ('95 model) running around my lil' town.

Yesterday-- I was stunned to see it at the gas pump when I pulled in to gas up! I got out of my car and the young man looked up and all I could think of was... "nice car!" He grinned and said, "Yeah, yours too!"

As I was gassing up I wondered if his car had similar "issues" as mine. So- I asked him. "Hey! How many miles you got on yours"" and he replied that it was over 250k. Mine only has 183k or so; so there was a good chance that they did have the same transmission problems. I asked him that- and he said "Yeah! Like between 60 and 70 it shimmys!" Mine does that between 30 and 40 and apparently it's not uncommon with that year model.

He continued, "I have a '72 Chevy pickup; but, my dad gave me this when I was having to commute to Hope." How weird is that? My car is a recylce from my Dad to my sister and then to me! He said "We call mine the Grandpa car!" and yet again- I've referred to mine as the "Grandma car" ever since Scott N. made that comment driving home from the movies one night!

He looked at mine and said "Yours is looking a lot better than mine." It does and I was thinking that's because I've not let a teenager drive mine much! When he say "Nice meeting you- my name's Jesse Patch" I was so stunned! I asked "J-E-S-S-E?" and he nodded and I said that's my child's name!

Then, before he left he said "I'm the assistant manager at Pizza Hut, look me up when you come in there!" and I was so shocked! I live just around the corner from the Pizza Hut!

Life's like that! So many parallels. So many coincidences. They are fun and surprising when you've driven past them time and time again and finally have the opportunity to stop and just make casual exchange! And... it's more than pleasant when for a while I'd seen that car and seen the young men in their ski caps and thought they just looked like a bunch of young hooligans- only to find out they are just going to school and making a buck at the local pizza joint.

I love my hand-me-down sedan. It's a joy to drive and now it'll blink it's headlights at the "twin" car in town!