Lone R

Thanks for sharing this. I'm on the opposite side of the country but I appreciate the message: We do need to be reminded every now and then. We do need to take care of the environment and encourage the same in our peers. That being said I would be furious if a vigilante removed one of my letterboxes... but I appreciate what they are saying: We need to tread lightly and not damage the environment. We all have see bad letterbox placement decisions.

Geocachers here in Virginia outnumber letterboxers 20 to 1. Caches are everywhere... and they usually have collateral wear and tear in a twenty foot radius. A few of my letterboxer pals geocache.... but I just dont get it. To me it's garbage in a box... just like the vigilante blogged.

Parents with the battiest kids are the first to point at another child and yell "Brat". Parents with the bullies are quick to accuse others of bullying.

Honestly, you might benefit from finding a way to develop a cordial (after all they are your neighbors) yet distant relationship. Talk to Holly about how she can handle the different reoccurring situations; give her When the mom calls with a complaint, listen politely and tell her you will deal with it appropriately. Suggest that the girls take a break from each other for a while. You could even let her think it is a "punishment" for Holly.

I would also make myself very unavailable in the afternoons. Seriously--pick your kids up from school and go to the park/mall/wherever for an hour or so for the next couple of weeks. Let the mother know that you will not be home and will not be available to keep Ella. IF possible, enlist a sympathetic neighbor to keep an eye out and notify the proper authorities if Ella is home alone, but don't allow this lady to take advantage of you any further!!

Good luck--having been in similar situations myself you have my sympathies--and empowering thoughts!

Hey my sister is a boxer who lives in Savannah. You met her at the Frightened in Freeville event. Do you want her personal contact info? SHe would love to take you out.

Please don't apologize. Just focus on healing. Don't worry about anything, especially AQ.

I agree on the help part completely. Even though DH helps quite a bit, it's like I owe him when he does.

Silly me, I thougt it was a reference to this family...
http://www.duggarfamily.com/

roly-polies

So I jumped into my car to drive from Miami to Jackson, TN since my mom nearly died from pneumonia (She's stubborn and wouldn't listen to anyone and go to the ER). But she's been getting better and I have got to leave today. Well I'm not so sure that's going to happen now since in the middle of the night the baby woke us to eat and I started hearing a siren. My husband looked at me confused (he's from North CA) but instantly I knew what it was only hearing it once as a child when we lived in AL for a little bit. So he freaked out and ran to research online and check the weather, and I tried to go back to sleep. I've had the worst headache since, and the driveway is practically washed out. And the siren keeps going off. I'm not sure what to do at this point.

I did my first night boxes in Savannah. Loved them. You should try to sneak out! Cumberland Island is a very enchanted place. You will love that too! Enjoy your day!

I'm glad you're making it to Cumberland Island at least!! If I was there we could gang up on her and go get at least one box. lol

talk to you when you get back. Can't wait to hear allllll!!!

MM

We are headed that way Memorial weekend for the train ride. I dont suppose you hid any while you were there?? :)

I live on Whidbey Island, and I could l go out and collect whatever boxes this person hasn't managed to find.

Many of the Whidbey boxes are planted by folks who are not from around here. I could assume that you guys would like your box with me rather than in the trash. But I could also see that some of you may want to just take your clues down for a while and leave the box where it is. I would welcome feedback from the community about how you feel I should proceed (just start pulling, or wait for folks to ask me to). If I collect one of your boxes, I will let you know, and we can arrange for its return to you.

I also can get to Anacortes and Mt. Vernon/Burlington. If you have any boxes out there you'd like pulled, let me know.

I have a couple of busy weeks coming up, but I could get out as I can and get to what I can before this person does.

Thunderbird

Stay safe! Calm down, take an aspirin, listen for news, plan accordingly.
Care about you, dear, will be watching to hear from you again that you and your family are safe,
OD

I've missed you! And though I was praying for you, I realize now that I've slacked-off recently. Apologies -- recommitting myself to praying you through.

Where and how do you create a HIPS entry? do you supply clues for it or just let people stumble across it at events? thanks for any advice!

I agree that Mark aka moose man is a tricky moose...now all the agree buttons are Go Sharks...hahahaha...

be safe...

BR1

San Jose just can't be a real hockey town. Way too warm.
Are you KIDDING me??!?!?!? It got down to nearly 55 degrees last night!!! I almost had to put on a long sleeved shirt!

It was 32 degrees the other night here and I have been leaving my window open to air out the room and to cool the room off...and it feels wonderful...and San Jose is a really nice place to visit...even if a certain wayward moose wants to stamp in with crack pipes instead of the stamp found in a box...

Go REDWINGS...

be safe...

BR1

Right now I am in southern VT working, and there are actually moose crossing signs every where to include the interstate...I will take a pic and post it on here so that wassa nows where to cross the street to avoid jaywalking tickets....

hahahahaha....

Be Safe...

BR1

You guys are too nice! Turning the BOM into a Blue Diamond series... all of the guest carvers are terrific! And we have 8 more to go!!!

thanks from all our guest carvers!
mud

Oooh, Amtrak! Another shining example of excellent gov't-run operation taking over for failing private enterprise!

i already had wire cutters and i already had a nice zippered case of tools from Stampin' Up so i was good to go. However yours is all nice and color coordinated, i am so jealous.

deniserows
the blue one which technically is really turquoise in her mind

I would love to go with you but am not around.

would love company besides my husband!

Send him up here to my husband and than we can both be happy. LOL

Hey whazzup with the GO Sharks button? HHHmMMMm???? wassa

deniserows
into the shark tank

What is most frustrating to me about what this so-called "Forest Defender" is doing is that s/he claims to be "saving" the areas by removing letterboxes and/or geocaches, yet doesn't realize that the majority of us who participate in this activity do it because we appreciate what the great outdoors has to offer. I know that there have been times when our family has left a park location in better condition than it was in by picking up stray plastic bags or other garbage on our way to/from a box. It's unfortunate that this yahoo has decided to strike at a community who in all likelihood would be an ally in this quest to clean up. I don't know about GCers, but aren't we asked in the etiquette and "rules" section NOT to go into protected areas and NOT to disturb areas that are delicate?

My family began letterboxing last year, as a way to get out and discover the natural beauty of Washington State. It has helped us to see that there ARE a lot of careless and destructive people out there, and I'm willing to bet that the ACTUAL trash we have found on the trails were not left by letterboxers. By participating in letterboxing I have grown to care a lot MORE about the environment and the impact of humans on the natural habitats of the planet. By getting out there on the trails and seeing it all for myself I have gained a 1st person perspective that I would never have had if I hadn't started letterboxing.

And now for the angry side of me: Jeez, what d-bag...

Am i just special or is the California board special. Anyone else got this button?
Wassa, are you having fun playing your buttons? Love it!

deniserows
specially to SJ

I only saw the Go Sharks button after you pointed it out. I pressed it. I've been wearing a lot of teal and black lately.

GO SHARKS!!!
SJ Honey Bunny

I have an HIP traveling event box. I just attach it to the event and my clues are vague. But I think the name of the box can be a clue too, might not even need clues. But really, it's all up to you!

So I assume we will NOT see train stamps planted at Amtrak stations from you any time in the near future

Are you riding the train from Osceola? or Stillwater? If you are going to Osceola, remember that the bridge (Hwy 243) is closed. If you are riding the train from Stillwater, be sure to let me know since that is my side of the Metro area.

I dont suppose you hid any while you were there??

I did not hide any boxes yet. I only have one box that I may request as a permanent plant. I'll have to borrow the park's GPS to mark the coordinates so I can fill out the form.

On a side note, there are several boxes that "She Who Plants" planted and Art Gekko adopted (in or near Wm O'Brien). Some of the boxes are missing ... so be sure to check the "Found" reports before spending time searching. I was especially disappointed to see that A Bit of Scandinavian Humor is MIA. That box was my first American find; it was in a lovely location; and it is so close to Wm O'Brien!!

Oh, how very special. I know this will mean the world to her. It's a set? I am sure they are all beautiful and she will definitely treasure them.
ervetchick

It looks like it is just the California board. :) We're special.

SJ HB

I agree, take care of yourself, we'll be here when you're ready.