That Old Numbers Game

A week ago, I hit my 700th find on AQ. I hate to get hung up on numbers, but it was a thrill to see that '7' come up. I have more finds than that in my real logbook so I'm not sure what it means, if anything. I wish I could be like those people who don't care about logging their finds on AQ but I can't. I get a charge out of it and it makes me smile. Something that makes me smile must be okay so I suppose I shouldn't worry about it.

Catching Up

I see I haven't been here for quite a while. I always make a new resolution to make regular entries and then fail miserably. Such is life.

I have been doing a lot of boxing. I set a goal for myself to get out and box more often. There have been so many weekends in the past that after working all week I just didn't want to make what is almost always a long drive to a hike for boxes and then a long drive back home. I am happy to say that I have been working to keep that goal. I say "work" because sometimes it can be very hard to make those drives. But I almost always have a great time boxing and am always glad I made the effort to go.

I have been to Back To Our Roots in West Dover, Vermont, Susquehanna Sorjourne II in Binghamton, New York, I Love New York in Mt. Kisco, New York and most recently, Summer Is Here in Stanfordville, New York. These were all great gatherings but have to admit my favorite was Susquehanna Sojourne II. The organizers requested that no letterboxes be brought to the gathering that wouldn't be hidden with clues. So there were no table treats to keep everyone inside all day. Everyone hit the great trails and found lots of beautiful stamps.

Considering all the rainy days, I am happy that I was able to do as much boxing as I have so far this summer. And I'm not done yet!

Boom and Crash

One of the larger limbs on that beautiful tree broke off in the wind today and fell across the sidewalk. Luckily no one was hurt and it looks like the cars that were there might have just gotten some scratches.

Dark, windy and COLD April day in Gotham

Middle-Aged Butt

HAH! Made ya look!

Contrary to what you folks out there in the heartland may think, Gotham is not just tall buildings, taxicabs, and crowded sidewalks.

This is the view directly outside my livingroom window this afternoon. My tree (I think of it as my tree) is in full bloom and is stunning. Spring is indeed starting to spring.

Why am I not outside in this stunning and springing day you may ask? I was on a much needed and well deserved vacation this week, and I boxed my middle-aged bum off. I was out on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and on Monday I planted a new box in Manhattan. Today I rest, if you can call doing battle with the Laundry Monster resting.

I am also carving a stamp for a boxer who is planning a big series and had one of the carvers pull a disappearing act, probably because of that much over used excuse, "life got in the way". If you make a promise to carve and can't keep that promise, you let the planner know in plenty of time for them to find someone else. As the person who asked me to do this said, "I would have pulled the 'get ugly' switch weeks ago. But I digress, as I often do.

Back to the old work grind on Monday. Retirement cannot come too soon!

Winter Blues BEGONE!

While I was lying around the house for the months of January and February, gazing mournfully out the window at the snow and ice while I recovered from minor foot surgery, I made a promise to myself to get out and box more often, long weekend drives notwithstanding.

So far I've been pretty much true to that promise, having made a couple of nice trips up to the Rhinebeck, New York area, veered over to the Red Hook area and generally wandered around various and sundry historic sites and preserves. I am working my way through a list of boxes planted by 3 blind mice. My how that man can carve! He's just informed me that he and the family will be planting quite a few more in the next couple of months. I'll never get caught up!

Closer to home is Mt. Kisco and the Westmoreland Sanctuary. This is a lovely, quiet little place to hike and find some hidden gems.

Today I was just "up the road" in Rockland County, New York. Many people think you have to take a long road trip to "get out of the city", but that's not the case. Rockland County is chocked full of beautiful places to hike, and tiny little villages and towns along the magnificent Hudson River.

Lots of pre-July and August I just want to stay inside with the air conditioner going full blast boxing to do!

Woo-Hoo!