Movin' On Up

To the east side. Of the Hudson River that is. I'm heading forty-five minutes north of Gotham and out of the five boroughs into Westchester. I'll have a view of a wooded hill and the Hudson River from my living room window instead of the houses across the street. Sunday is the big day and I am so happy I could just spit.

This is the view standing in front of the apartment. That's what I'll see from my big living room window. And I'll be all moved in before the NEXT snow storm hits on Sunday night!! Yes. Another snow storm. Monday. But I'll be snug in my new place drinking hot chocolate and puttering, organizing, reading, looking out the window at the snow. And watching Mikey The Cat get used to his new home.

Life is good and I am blessed.

Why I Love Cemeteries

My love of cemeteries predates my love of letterboxing. I have an old photo of me (which I can't find!) lying in repose on top of one of those above ground vaults in New Orleans, eyes closed, with arms crossed peacefully across my chest. My sense of humor has always been more than a little morbid. I love them for many reasons. Here is one of them:

You turn the corner onto a dead end, drab, boring, even somewhat shabby little street in upstate New York and drive to the end. You turn right into the grounds of the cemetery that you couldn't even see from the street because the entrance area is hidden by trees. In front of you rises a very large hill, covered in grass and old gravestones. You drive up the winding dirt road and find a shady spot to park your car. Then you start to walk up and back.....and back, and back, and back. Hidden from the street is this huge cemetery that just goes on forever. You walk all the way to the back. As you walk you see stones that are so old the dates are no longer visible. You find the 19th century gravestones at the very edge of the cemetery along the treeline and the nearby pile of stones that hides the letterbox.

So many cemeteries are like this, totally hidden and unexpected, full of history and the lives of those that rest there. I think it says something positive about our culture that we have continued to keep these places in our hearts and minds even though some are so old and neglected the stones are toppled over and broken.

The planters and finders are often the only visitors to some of these old places. I'd like to think that the residents welcome our brief and respectful company.

What A Rush!!

Yesterday I found a box in upstate New York that was planted almost a year ago to the day by some visitors from Georgia and never found. I love it when something like that happens! It's a raised fist, "YESSSSSSSS!" moment. Clever clues, out of the way location, cemetery! (always a plus), cool hiding spot, safe, dry, and still in pristine condition. And it was a well carved, cool little stamp to boot.

It's not listed as a mystery box, so if you're ever nearby you should check it out. It's lonely.

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gBoxId=195244

No, it doesn't take much to make me happy.

Really? Neon?

Okay, I get it that you are new. I get it that you seemingly haven't found box one, or at least not on AQ. And I suspect your 'find count' of zero is the true one. You plant and join on the same day. They are 'store bought' stamps of God Help Us..............butterflies. You are eager to plant. I get it. And yes I went and found those 'store bought' butterflies. But I was interested in that particular location. I had never done any boxing even close to there and never even knew about the place. So sue me, I went and found the butterflies. It was a pretty cool location. I saw some cool stuff I wouldn't have seen had I not been there. The 'store bought' stamps won't cause my logbook to spontaneously burst into flames. No, really.

But newbie that you are, the concept of hiding the container so that IT CANNOT BE SEEN FROM THE TRAIL is pretty basic. And those bright, neon, bluish containers that look like little suitcases (huh?) and are not in any way, shape or form waterproof......really? In your journey of newbiness did you not pick up the water tight, HIDDEN thing? I am in spite of some opinions to the contrary, a nice boxer. I managed to hide them so that NO ONE CAN SEE THEM. I wrote you a nice.............yes it was nice.........note telling you that they could be easily seen and that I hid them. I made a nice, neutral public comment. My niceness abounds. HAH!

Quest, County of Broome

If you're near Binghamton, New York, you HAVE to do the Broomequest series! I busted my letterboxing posterior this weekend and still don't have all twenty-five of them. Wonderful images and a grand tour of the area! Most of them are really nice hikes so make sure you have time to devote to the effort. It's not a mystery series, so, here 'tis...

http://www.atlasquest.com/showinfo.html?gBoxId=210384

And when it's time to refuel, head for Nevoles Family Pizza in Johnson City. You can sit down and eat or take out if you are sweaty and stinky with dirt under your fingernails. Living here in Gotham it is hard to impress me with a pizza but this was really good. And when I travel I am never far away from a cupcake. I hike. I eat. Baked Euphoria's coconut was to die for. And three different people came in there to pick up their cakes so everything else must be really good!