Many many thanks to both Grumpy and Grinch for a delightful afternoon/evening!

When we arrived, BR1 was already there, ensconced in a big easy chair with his laptop. Apparently, the hotel he is staying at considers "Free Internet" to mean the same thing as "Internet Free". He was therefore online trying to find Mapquest directions on how to get to the mini-meet he was already at. Once BR1 has his mind set on something like "getting directions", there is no stopping him until he does.

Grumpy Grinch were inspired by my dear Uncle Don and Aunt Gwen to create a "House Box", a box hidden somewhere inside the house. Katie-bug was NOT going to be satisfied until she found it, and find it she did! She put the rest of us grown-ups (well, for the sake of argument, let's just CALL us grown-ups, ok?) to shame when she found it before we did! We then settled in to munching on snacks and drinking beverages and chatting, along with a little exchanging and stamping. And munching. And a few beverages. BR1 made me promise to post that these were NOT (necessarily) adult beverages. Think Jenny will believe me this time, BR1?

Deniserows and arrives in Willow Glen. I can only imagine that parties always liven up when deniserows shows up - she is such fun! We were just settling down to a delicious meal when SJ Honey Bunny and her darling daughter Tata made their entrance. Katie-bug and Tata hit it off right away, but after we picked it back up and brushed it off, it was as good as new.

Grinch had some clip-art books that she shared with Katie and Tata, and the girls had fun tracing images that they liked. One image, a monkey, Katie liked SO much that she begged me to let her carve it. I had some carving materials and my tools with me (along with Katie's Safety Glove) in my now-cootie-infested backpack, so why not? We transferred the image to the white PZKut, and Katie showed the (ersatz) grown-ups just how this whole carving business is supposed to be done! She decided that this would be her new Signature Stamp, and has changed her trailname to "Monkey Me".

I guess that makes Don a monkey's uncle?

More laughs and stories and getting to know one another, along with some most excellent coffee, as the evening wound down. As we were leaving, we decided to do a little group night-boxing with some nearby urban boxes GG had planted recently. Deniserows had never night boxed before, and THIS time BR1 was prepared with an actual bona-fide flashlight instead of boxing-by-cellphone-screen.

The first box was in a children's park that supposedly closed at dusk. We didn't see anywhere on the sign where it said WHICH dusk, so we went on the assumption that they must have been referring to some future dusk, and the fact that it was nearly 9 PM was moot. Thank goodness the three "adults" (me, BR1, and deniserows) had a kid (Monkey Me) along for cover! Naturally, while we were there, the sprinklers came on. Fortunately, the box wasn't anywhere where we would need to get wet, although we were more than willing to sacrifice BR1 to the water gods if necessary. Katie and I distracted any attention by playing on the swings (push harder next time, Katie - I want to go higher!) while BR1 unnecesarily used his 10,000 watt flashlight to look for the box. Deniserows and shakes her head in disbelief. We found the box, and Monkey Me got to stamp into the first box with her new stamp.

After this, deniserows and said she had a long drive home, so we wished her a safe journey as she departed. The remaining 3 children... er, boxers... decided to get one more box. This one was hidden near a WONDERFUL metal sculpture in downtown Willow Glen. I have lived near this area all my life, and had no idea this sculpture was there - isn't that just the COOLEST thing about letterboxing??? Anyway, we snagged this box without too much incident (and despite the odds, without any Police involvement), and called it a night.

Thanks again to Grumpy Grinch, deniserows, SJ Honey Bunny and Tata, and of course to the always fun BR1 for a delightful and interesting evening!!

-wassamatta_u and Monkey Me

Ughhh. What should have been a four hour day of work in the city turned into a 14 hour fiasco. I would have sooo rather have been in the south bay instead. :-(

a BUG was transformed in more ways than one...the rhino sculpture was the pinnacle of GG's awlays awesome boxes...and yes the reason I was late into Denver is that I had forgotten my flashlight at home...so I borrowed a landing light from the 737...hence the electrical problem in Charlotte...think the airline will miss it???...thanks to all for the great time, good friends, and wonderful memories...we should thank GG for the shindig...and KoTL04 wants to meet everyone in the future...especially my west coast doppleganger...aka wassa...
Be Safe...
BR1

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I guess that makes Don a monkey's uncle?

As you can imagine I have been known to be called various things.

I figured that actually I'm her Grand Uncle, and that is pretty grand.

Uncle Don

Photos are posted in the Willow Glen Album. And a photo of a special guest seen in the daylight.

deniserows
but admits she can also night box

Tata and I had a great time meeting all these crazy people. Tata is still talking about Katie Bug. Just 2 days ago: "Remember when we met Katie Bug?" "Yes." "That was cool." She was mighty impressed by the big 7 year old who played with her. The "adults" were mighty nice to me too. I also have to say that I'm a little bit disappointed that I didn't get a Cootie--probably shouldn't admit that outloud--but I wanted to see how the whole Cootie thing worked. Oh well, there's plenty of opportunity for future bug infestations.

I'm planning on going to Monterey for the event there. Anyone else going?

SJ Honey Bunny

I'm planning on going to Monterey for the event there. Anyone else going?

We will be there too... and we will make sure you do not leave cootieless =o) LOL!

Cheers!
Rhea

I'm a little bit disappointed that I didn't get a Cootie

Did you check that bag of fish closely??????

deniserows
"hi! i'm from Alaska. Here's some salmon!"
direct quote from the master quotemeister...Wassa hisself

I'm planning on going to Monterey for the event there. Anyone else going?

We are planning on being there, and Katie-bug... err, I mean Monkey-Me is VERY much looking forward to seeing Tata again!
-wassamatta_u

Woo hoo. i'll get to see katie bug in monterey!!!

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Woo hoo. i'll get to see katie bug in monterey!!!

You must mean Monkey Me! :-)

Grumpy Grinch

Oh that's right, I almost forgot!

Woo hoo. i'll get to see katie bug in monterey!!!

WOOHOO times ten!!
WE get to meet the infamous Maiden1974!!!!!!!!!!!!
-wassamatta_u

Hmmmm.. I should start working on a lovely box to bring with me, with devious clues. I'll have to start thinking about it.

Maiden