So, I got the most wonderful Christmas present ever today!
My dearest Kitten, knowing my love for The Da Vinci Code (and eyeing the cryptexes sold in certain catalogues), bought me my very own cryptex!
After unwrapping it, I discovered that the 'default' password for the cryptex didn't work- guess what she did!
Turns out the password was 'hidden' in the little card attached to the gift, and once I opened it...I found a clue!
Yes, a CLUE!
This clue led me into the next room, where I pulled out a small, flat wrapped present. Inside....was a stamp and ANOTHER clue!
Six stamps and clues later, I finally found the final gift of the series, which was an awesome hand-created new logbook! (because she knew I only had a few more pages left in my current one :D)
And what were the stamps, you ask?
Six lovely portraits of the six men to play James Bond! :D

Was that awesome or what!?!?!

CQ (lovin' his new logbook, nifty stamps, and SWEET cryptex!)

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Was that awesome or what!?!?!

Whatever you do, never let this woman go. =)

She makes the rest of us look like cads, though.

-- Ryan

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Whatever you do, never let this woman go. =)

No kidding!!!

I had to look up what a cryptex was because I haven't read the book or seen the movie.They don't give those things away do they?

Shiloh

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Whatever you do, never let this woman go. =)

Never!

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She makes the rest of us look like cads, though.

Nah, I don't think so....just...traditional :D

CQ

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I had to look up what a cryptex was because I haven't read the book or seen the movie.They don't give those things away do they?

Nope, not that I know of :D
It's a fun present, though! I already have all kinds of personal traveler- related ideas for it, too! :P

And you haven't read the book OR seen the movie?
Oh, man, come on! Pick one and check it out! (personally, the book's better, of course, but the movie actually wasn't half bad :D) I HIGHLY suggest the Illustrated version- includes tons of paintings, photos, drawings, etc...makes reading the book way cool.

CQ

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Whatever you do, never let this woman go. =)

Yeah, she sounds like a keeper!

DebBee

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lovin' his new logbook, nifty stamps, and SWEET cryptex!

I feel myself turning green!!
I am so jealous....a cryptex...and clues...wow!!!!
surely kitten got smoochies after that :)

dixie - glad it was fun for you!! Merry Christmas!

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Pick one and check it out!

I've been thinking about buying the book. I avoided it at first because of all the hype.....that kind of thing usually turns me off to something. I'll keep an eye out for an illustrated copy.

I wanna go build myself a crytex now. (I'm a tinkerer)

Shiloh

http://www.webcryptex.com/

I suppose you already knew about this.

Shiloh

Thanks, Shiloh. That was fun. I added that site to my bookmarks bar, so I can go back daily.
Have a Merry and a Happy--
Chickadee

WOW!! CQ!!! I am SO jealous. I'm the only one in our team that enjoys the carving and hiding part of letterboxing. Everyone else is in it for the hunt and hikes.

Wish they would do something like that for me! Like GT said never let that one go!

A VERY Merry Christmas to you both!!!

Lani
Team Springamajack

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Was that awesome or what!?!?!

Sweet! What'd she get ME??? (bouncing up and down)

The S & H

My wife gave me plenty of nice worm socks. They should come in handy, don't you think? Maybe, I let you wear some of my nice new wool boot socks and you let your wife be responsible for showing my wife how to come up with a birthday present for me in August? Hmm? (They are some cool socks!)

Well, I didn't know about it. This is such a cool sight!

I got a retractable hiking pole...
and of course those sheets of PZcut that came in the mail the other day from the AQ santa.
:)

dixie

I got a new phone, one that will interface with my PDA so I can have web access on the trail. That way I can look up more clues from the trail or do research while I'm out there instead of having to call home. Woo hoo! My MIL gave me money, which I do believe is going to a new pair of hiking boots. I desperately need some sturdy hiking boots.

Maiden

...i didnt get nuttin for christmas.....
for letterboxing anyway...
buuuut...our refi went thru (woohoot) and I am going to take care of it myself...
Any recommendations for good lighted magnifiers?

I know how you feel.... *sigh* All of my hints for LBing stuff went ignored, but......

I got some really cool stuff from the hubby, and the rest of my family!

It's a Bones Season 1 week for me!!!! ;)

moonshowr

PLUS....it looks like our box got found today!!!

Thanks zoemomma and family!!!!

moonshowr

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My wife gave me plenty of nice worm socks. They should come in handy, don't you think?

LOL You DID mean WARM, right? Because I'm not quite seeing the practicality of socks for a critter with no feet! :-O

The S & H

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...i didnt get nuttin for christmas.....

(looks in sack) I got a rock. Ooops...wrong holiday! :-)

We got D & D stuff and my grandmother to FINALLY come for a visit! :-) Also got a trip to Toronto with Grandma Shug, courtesy of her son/mydad, who wants to her to have the best time ever on her first trip out of the country.

Frankly, having Shug (like any good Southern granny, she always called us her little shugs, so that's what we grew up calling her) up here is the best gift ever. I have lots of cousins and aunts and great aunts and uncles that seem to always need her to do for them, but this is the first time that she's been able to just come and relax while someone does for HER. I'm having a lot of fun giving back to her for her many years of silent dedicated service. She's finally starting to relax and enjoy being pampered and I think THAT is the best gift of all.

The Highlander thinks his best gift was when she came in the front room after he'd made breakfast and helped her get all that she wanted done today, then she looked him in the eye (with tears in her own) and said, "You're a good man, Charlie Brown...my granddaughter done good."

The (wishing she still lived close enough to hug both her dad AND granny in the same swoop) Sprite & the (proud to be a full time member of Shug's Fan Club) Highlander

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I'm not quite seeing the practicality of socks for a critter with no feet! :-O

Turtle necks for worms :)

Shiloh

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best time ever on her first trip out of the country

Back in 1979, I drove my Grandma to Florida to visit with my brother and sister-in-law. We all went to Disney World. In the past, the family that lived with her had always left her behind when they went on trips to Florida. She told us tearfully, as we drove back to my brother's house in FL, that those were the best 3 days of her life. Pamper your Grandma. Oh, and get her to tell you about 'the old days'. The car trip to Florida with my Grandma was so interesting. I had never had a chance to just talk with her before. I learned all kinds of stuff. She was a true survivor. (Widowed with 4 kids in 1936)
Chickadee

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Back in 1979, I drove my Grandma to Florida to visit with my brother and sister-in-law. We all went to Disney World. In the past, the family that lived with her had always left her behind when they went on trips to Florida. She told us tearfully, as we drove back to my brother's house in FL, that those were the best 3 days of her life. Pamper your Grandma. Oh, and get her to tell you about 'the old days'. The car trip to Florida with my Grandma was so interesting. I had never had a chance to just talk with her before. I learned all kinds of stuff. She was a true survivor. (Widowed with 4 kids in 1936)

Well, this is just the same, but the opposite direction. I'm a native Floridian and Shug was from Alabama and moved to Florida when my dad was a kid. She's here in upstate NY with us and that's already been the biggest thrill of her life because we're the ONLY of her many grandkids that she can visit that even HAS their own place (with the exception of my brother, the rest live with their parents). We don't have any kids for her to play with and visit, but in a way, that's been good, too. She always ends up taking care of the other ones, like the default babysitter, so we're a welcome change.

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just the same, but the opposite direction

Everybody lived in NC except for my brother back then. Now everyone lives in NC except for my brother and his family in SC and my daughter in AL. Sounds like your Grandma is still this side of 70. Enjoy.
Chickadee

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Sounds like your Grandma is still this side of 70. Enjoy.

Actually, she's 83 now, but still stepping as high as she can! A fall this year slowed her down, but she's determined to not let it get to her.

Santa didn't bring my hiking boots, but my mommy did :) Gotta love mommies. So I"m off tomorrow to break them in :)

Maiden

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Oh, I really don't get anything for Christmas and I really, really like it that way! My husband and I do not get anything for each other for Christmas ever (though some years we decide the house needs something and will decide on some purchase together).

Now before people "feel sorry" for me, you need to understand that, for me, truly the most peaceful, stress-free holiday ever was that year of "nothing", and getting nothing makes me smile remembering it. I realize it sounds crazy but it's true and I feel very, very lucky that my husband honors that.

Mama Wolf, I completely agree! My husband and I give each other "token" things, just so there's stuff under the tree - our son would have hysterics if we didn't. He has more fun watching other people open gifts! He pestered his dad til he took him to McDonald's to get me a gift card, so I could get "5 big tea's". It's the kids joke - "You know how Mama is about her sweet tea!" I gave my husband some t-shirts and things for his new truck, and he gave me a new measuring cup, a steamer basket and a ceramic heater - lol!! All stuff we would have gotten at the next visit to Target anyway ;-))

But we don't buy for family members either - in my family, we draw names, and exchange donations to charities - with each name is one's favorite charity (i.e., my brother got my name, and gave a donation to the Presbyterian Children's Home nearby, where I volunteer several times a year). My husband buys a few token things for his family (but that's his job and his problem ;-)).

So this year was great - I had "nothing" to do between school being out and Christmas (except sew my kids Christmas PJ's , wrap everything, and spend the day at the pediatrician's with Baby Fox...), and we spent a whole day letterboxing - woo hoo!! It's been fun, and relaxing! And like Mama Wolf said, we get to play with the kids stuff ;-))

Mama Fox

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Mama Wolf: Oh, I really don't get anything for Christmas and I really, really like it that way! Now before people "feel sorry" for me, you need to understand that, for me, truly the most peaceful, stress-free holiday ever was that year of "nothing", and getting nothing makes me smile remembering it. I realize it sounds crazy but it's true and ....

Its nice to know that I'm not the only one who feels this way too. I thought I was just wierd and alone. I'm not going to go into why I feel this way,

But my wife is learning that getting nothing is good. But I could see on her face the expectations of something, so I went and got a few things that we neede for the house and car that I was going to get anyway next payday. Wrapped them up, with the dog and cat trying to help and gave them to her Christmas morning, She had to go to work, so I grabbed the dog and went letterboxing!

TK

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She makes the rest of us look like cads, though.

funny that was what sprite said
earlier....i just wanted tp giv ehim something he would like, cause he woulnt let me buy him things so i made them, and then turned around and had the cryptex shipped from across the pond....
i really just wanted to make him go letterboxing for christmas presents :)

kwm