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Re: Our friends down south
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7877 by BrewHiker
Sep 3, 2005 4:00am
Thread Board
Wow, thanks for posting that. I hope you are right. I don't know him well enough to know where his house is located....all I know is that he lived in Metairie, which is described as the first suburb of New Orleans. It's located on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain between the cities of New Orleans (near the Superdome and Convention Center, and Kenner, (where the New Orleans International Airport is). He has been so kind to a new boxer like me and he was the first I thought of when I saw where the worst flooding was located....and I know he had a couple of dozen boxes in and around New Orleans.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family and all the others in that devastated region. I hope they hear from him soon and maybe someone will let his fellow boxers know that he is safe.

LW
Re: Our friends down south
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7877 by BrewHiker
Sep 3, 2005 6:14am
Thread Board
We met Boxdn in NO on the 6th of Aug. this year. He was very helpful and even replanted his Ohio coin box for the day (just for us because we are from Ohio.) He did mention that he was planning on moving back to Mandeville, but for the time he was still living in Metarie. He had managed to evacuate and replant many of the local boxes for Hurricane Ivan, but I don't know if he was able to get them evacuated this time.
My husband and I spent 9 days (our honeymoon) on a boxing expedition from Tallahasse to Baton Rouge. We are just heart broken about the current conditions of all the beautiful places we visited. Just from reading through the logbooks of the boxes we found, we feel like we know the local boxers. We pray they are all safe and sound.
VA: Mystery! Sept. 17 -- Nick Danger update
Board: Event News and Planning
Sep 3, 2005 6:54am
Thread Board
Last time on Nick Danger:



Nick Danger was staking out the Boddy mansion hoping to learn something new about the “Death of a Salesman” when he discovered that other detectives were doing the same.



Suddenly a shot rang out! A woman screamed!



September 2, 1935

Friday

11:59pm



A woman screamed. A shot rang out. Our first instinct was to jump up and run to the scene.



“Wait!” I yelled.



“You think we should stay back before the killer realizes we’re here, and escapes?” asked Detective Nevis. “That’s clear headed thinking.”



“No. My foots asleep and trapped under a root. Oww!”



All the lights suddenly turned on in the mansion and several on the grounds. The front door opened. A woman in black appeared at the door.



“Ollie, ollie, in come free!” she shouted.



“Huh?!” replied dozens of muffled voices from the shrubbery.



“I know all you famous private detectives and letterboxers are out there hiding and watching. You might as well come join us. Everyone’s here. We can have that ‘end of the novel big denouement’ scene. You know where the detective gathers all the suspects and announces, ‘What the murderer failed to realize was ...’ and ‘No one suspects the real murderer is...’ So come on out back. I have a pavilion for us out back in the park. It’s a party. I guess you people call it a gather.”



Mystery! A Fall Gather in Northern Virginia
Saturday September 17th

11:00am to 4:00pm

http://cozymysteries.tripod.com/mysteryafallgather/index.html



Heads popped up sheepishly over the hedges all around the grounds. I gawked foolishly at all the famous detectives there. Such great impressions:



Pink Panther ............................................. [by Penguin Patrol]

Tintin ......................................................... [by Nisha]

Edgar Allen Poe ....................................... [by Natty Bumpo]

CSI ............................................................. [by Music Woman]

Cat Who...Hid in a Letterbox ................ [by Lord & Lady Bug]

Blues Clues .............................................. [by Knights of Colombo]

Spy vs. Spy .............................................. [by Knights of Colombo]

Arsenic and Old Lace ............................. [by Knights of Colombo]

Colombo ................................................... [by Jan of Team Little Dog]

Who Framed Roger Rabbit .................... [by J. Litke]

The Hitchcock Series .............................. [by Gallant Rogue]

Sherlock Holmes ...................................... [by Chuck Straub]

X-Files ....................................................... [by All Daydream]

CSI traveling event mystery series ....... [by Warrior Woman]

Murder She Wrote ................................... [by Team King]

Poirot ......................................................... [by Sewsowbizzy]

Nick and Nora Charles, The Thin Man .. [by Sewsowbizzy]

A Study in Scarlet .................................... [by Sewsowbizzy]

Nancy Drew ............................................... [by The Trekking Shoe

The High-Rise Private Eyes .................... [by The Trekking Shoe]

Hardy Boys ............................................... [by The Trekking Shoe]

Murder on the Orient Express ................ [by Scarab]

Harry Houdini ........................................... [by Postmystress]

James Bond ............................................... [by Yuri Nahl]

Austin Powers – Int’l man of Mystery . [by Poison Ivy]

Where’s Wanda?? ................................... [by the Phantom Phiddler]



I wondered how they managed to all hide themselves in the woods! [And hid they are, all around the gather. Ed.]



Signed,

Nick Danger

Third Eye, Private Investigations

for Mystery! A Fall Gather in Northern Virginia

---------

What we don’t know is how many people are coming. If you have not signed up for the gather yet on AtlasQuest.com, please do so or write us. If you have signed up you will have a nice clue packet on hand for you the day of. It will contain the clues to the boxes and some little extras!
Re: Our friends down south / Boxdn
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7879 by Mn8X
Sep 3, 2005 8:08am
Thread Board
Hey Everybody!!
I went to get my phone (I had left it in the van)to give a LA boxer Boxdn's number, he had called this morning and I missed it!! He left a message that he's alive but they got hit pretty hard. He said he's camping out and doing okay, just trying to survive. He told me not to try to call cause they are trying to keep phone use to a minimum. He asked that I let everyone know he's okay. Thank God!! I may try to call in a few more days to see if there is anything we can do. I hate it that I missed his call, but at least we know he's okay.

Pass this info on to anybody that needs to know. I'm posting on SE and LaMiss.
Keep praying.

bzmom
Re: The Cost of Sending a PLB
Board: Postals
Reply to: #7720 by iSignASLily
Sep 3, 2005 8:39am
Thread Board
Before the trend to make lighter, cheaper boxes I recieved one that cost $15.00 to mail. It was in a hand made wooden box and had lots of "stuff' with it. It was well done, BUT, it was a shock.

The heaviest one I've ever sent cost about $7.50 to mail, but everyone that got it knew exactly how much it was going to cost when it went out and it couldn't have been made any cheaper.

Maiden
Re: Good Source for Journals?
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #7779 by Norasta
Sep 3, 2005 8:54am
Thread Board
Best thing in the world.... an art sketch book, the ones with the black cover that Norasta described, then slip it in to an Oberon Leather journal. They're sturdy, beautiful, and then it's the COVER that people tend to think of when they think of your journal. I'm currently on book 5, but have the same cover.

Maiden
Re: Our friends down south / Boxdn
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7881 by bzmom
Sep 3, 2005 9:19am
Thread Board
Awesome! Thanks so much for letting us know. If you reach him again and there is anything we can do to help.....please post.

Lock Wench
Re: Good Source for Journals?
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #7883 by Maiden
Sep 3, 2005 9:23am
Thread Board
Oberon Leather Journal? Where can those be found? I dislike my book and will be very happy when it is filled which will be soon.
Katrina Survivor info
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7881 by bzmom
Sep 3, 2005 12:54pm
Thread Board
Hi folks,

I just came across this useful website for tracking down Hurricane Katrina survivors:

http://www.hurricanekatrinasurvivors.com/home/

It will take you to a site that allows you to enter a person's name and it will let you know where the individual is (provided they've checked in with authorities).

We just learned that a dozen of our relatives safely evacuated out of New Orleans (not sure how their homes fared but they're alive) but we're still worried about several more in the Mobile area. Hopefully, I can find them on this website.

Hope this helps folks track down their loved ones out there...

dvn2r ckr
Re: No way to empty the trash
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #7873 by Green Tortuga
Sep 3, 2005 1:11pm
Thread Board
Quote Nope, but don't worry about it. AQ will automatically remove anything from your trash folder that's more than a month old.


Thanks for letting me know. :-)

Quote Seems like a lot of people are bothered at having old mail pile up in the trash can!


You can count me on that one, no reason to clog up valuable space...somehow I enjoy watching it vanish, makes me feel like I've just tidied up something..."why yes, I just took out the trash!".


catbead
Re: Mohawk Valley is becoming a letterboxing mecca
Board: State: New York
Reply to: #7875 by Lock Wench
Sep 3, 2005 2:07pm
Thread Board
Chimney Mountain, huh? My old stomping grounds! A climb to the top is merited for some pretty beautiful picture taking and exploring of the caves there. Just be sure not to climb the Chimney itself...locals get quite irritated about having to have helicopter rescues *again*. ;o)

The Adirondack Museum is one of my favorites. Pick up "Woodswoman" by Anne LaBastille and you'll get the feel for the area.
Re: The Cost of Sending a PLB
Board: Postals
Reply to: #7720 by iSignASLily
Sep 3, 2005 2:20pm
Thread Board
I recently created and sent two PLB's that cost roughly $3.40 and $3.65 to send. I felt HORRIBLE that they cost this much but did include in the clues that the box ran about 1.5 pounds.

However, today I sent a PLB that I got in the mail (still not sure how because I'm not signed up for it) and it cost $5.40 to mail!!!!!!!

OH MY GOSH!!!!!

Does anyone else feel that is TOO MUCH money to mail a PLB. I was embarassed at the cost of the one's I sent.

Any feedback?


When I first started with PLB's, they often went via Priority Mail, so $3.50+ was common. Once the PLB rings started, it became very expensive, so folks started emphasizing First Class Mail more.

Now the trend seems to be under $2 per PLB--with many folks combining them (rings, again) to save on postage.

We are having great fun now with the Stamp In...Stamp On...PLB Ring. Each PLB has to fit in a regular letter-sized envelope for 37 cents (although many require 60 cents, due to the thickness of the envelope).

If they still cost $3.50+ each time, I'd have dropped out a long time ago. They are pretty manageable this way.

Thanks,
FamilyMan
Re: The Cost of Sending a PLB
Board: Postals
Reply to: #7751 by Kaaren the Vampire Slayer
Sep 3, 2005 3:09pm
Thread Board
And now I am stressing because I feel I have to create elaborate boxes and hand-made log books, when all I thought I was doing was sending a stamp & log book around so other people can see what I carved & vice versa.

After receiving approximately 300 PLB's now, they are all over the place. Some folks are really into the "experience" thing--which is a lot of fun. Some folks like to send the basic logbook and stamp--and these are terrific, too.

I had a similar problem intially--I received the HI Y'ALL PLB from She Who Plants. All the bells and whistles, and her incredible carving skill to boot. How do you compete with that?

Well, you don't.

I have ZERO artistic ability--when I told my wife and daughters (quilters, crochet-ers, knitters, weavers, scrapbookers all) that I was going to carve a stamp and make a logbook....well, let's say that they were kind.

But punching holes in 3X5 cards, discovering that they make little clippy rings for these things, and that I could get a recognizable image from a stamp--let me tell you! It was the height of my artistic experience, and I'll never forget it.

Each box is an experience and should be appreciated for the effort. I enjoy each and every one on its own merits.

Make a box that you like, that reflects your talents and skills. That's a box I want to see.

Thanks,
FamilyMan
Katrina Efforts
Board: Saving the World
Sep 3, 2005 3:38pm
Thread Board
As you probably know from watching the efforts on the news, Houston has become a major staging ground for evacuees. Besides the bond all of us on the Gulf Coast share of knowing that a hurricane could come this way, many of us here in Houston survived or in our particular case missed by 2 inches the flooding of Tropical Storm Allison.

The city has certainly rallied, but providing support to evacuees will stretch our social services infrastructure to the max (and it was already stretched). I have been working with the largest food bank in the area. As a yardsstick, the food bank distributed more than 25 times as much food to the local shelters and food pantries yesterday as it does on a normal day, and yet the demand is still high. Food and supplies are streaming in from throughout the city, the state and the country. The Bank has to figure out how to increase capacity quickly, so that donations can be processed and distributed quicklly to those in need.

The same is true of our local Salvation Army, our Goodwill Industries, our JobWorks programs, and our school districts, as we try to accomodate so many who have absolutely nothing. All of the agencies here are doing heroic things trying to make sure that Katrina's victims feel as welcome as possible, given the ordeal that many of them have endured and the hard road that is yet ahead. Yesterday, I met a family of 45 who were staying in a two bedroom apartment. Although they are not technically homeless and therefore they don't count in the official shelter figures, clearly they need the support of multiple agencies in order to figure out how to get through the next few weeks and the rest of their lives.

These scenes will be played out in communities across the entire US as people come to stay with friends and relatives or are relocated to anywhere in the country there is available shelter space. I urge you to check with your local food banks, Salvation Army, Red Cross, church, jobs program or charity of your choice. The national organizations do a terrific job, but it is the local agencies on the front lines and they need support as well.

Went on a little longer than I meant to, but hey, this board is entitled "saving the world," and that requires a lot of words and a lot of effort.

Dewberry
Re: New here to Letterboxing, I have some ??
Board: Homeschooling
Reply to: #7808 by SHH
Sep 3, 2005 4:38pm
Thread Board
What I have done is give them "positions" such as back-pack man (to carry the log & stamps, etc), camera-man (to take the pix), navigator (to read clues) and the most priced position is the one who gets to find the box once we get there (they get to have their picture taken with the box). This seems to help, as we rotate the positions. Also, slurpees and other treats also help!

this is a cool idea!
hmm!
I also would like to do a hitchhiker and track it with the kids.
thanks for the idea, hopefully letterboxing will become a bit more active out here in BC and a hitchiker would actually make it out of the country. I believe Funhog had one sit for 2 years in one spot.
blessings to you all!
Re: Our friends down south / Boxdn
Board: Letterbox Chatter
Reply to: #7884 by Lock Wench
Sep 3, 2005 5:20pm
Thread Board
I did call Boxdn's cell phone again. His message said there is no cell reception unless he gets to a certain place, therefore why he's not using his phone. His message also said that their houses were fine just didn't have power, etc. I left everyone's number who had given it to me and let him know we were all here and ready to do what ever he needed. After hearing his message, I feel like maybe he's not in such bad a shape as so many of the others out there. I'm sure he'll let us know if there is something we can do.

bzmom
Re: Possible events in NY
Board: State: New York
Sep 3, 2005 7:00pm
Thread Board
Some of the letterboxers in the eastern end (phynstar, Buggylou, Minpin Lovers, myself) are hoping to host a gathering in Thacher Park outside of Albany. It is a
gorgeous place and I also like the idea, LockWench, of seeding a new area. This
is a big place with only a single (but beautiful) box in it. We are thinking of
hosting it next October when the scenery is really breathtaking and it's not too hot.

Also, readers of this board, please note: my son is NOT Tony (who was also at the WNY gathering last weekend), but Chile Boy (real name not Tony). I know why
you confused them, but I don't want to confuse those of you who know I only
have one son... :-)

Tamsyn
Re: Mohawk Valley is becoming a letterboxing mecca
Board: State: New York
Reply to: #7888 by alwayschaos
Sep 3, 2005 7:56pm
Thread Board
"Chimney Mountain, huh? My old stomping grounds! A climb to the top is merited for some pretty beautiful picture taking and exploring of the caves there. Just be sure not to climb the Chimney itself...locals get quite irritated about having to have helicopter rescues *again*. ;o)

The Adirondack Museum is one of my favorites. Pick up "Woodswoman" by Anne LaBastille and you'll get the feel for the area."

Hey...maybe we were stomping around at the same time! I am an Adirondack veteran..having grown up hiking there and going to school nearby. My mom was the first person to complete the Adirondack Quest and she did it in record time. My dad is still leading hikes all over the mts at age 76. He used to do some search and rescue on a volunteer basis but quit it in his 60's. :)

I have some great pics of Chimney Mt and some very fond memories of the area. It was the first Adirondack letterbox I made but I still haven't planted the darn thing! I thought it would be a great central place to introduce other boxers to the Adirondacks....and provide them plenty to do. I continue to explore caves even though I absolutely fear bats...but I have come a LONG way. :)

So did you grow up there or are you just a very frequent visitor? I am thinking about bringing some friends to the Elizabethtown watershed area/Boquet River. Talk about dealing with a lot of rescues! Whew!

LW
Re: Possible events in NY
Board: State: New York
Reply to: #7894 by Tamsyn
Sep 3, 2005 8:08pm
Thread Board
Oh dear..I am soo sorry. I was absolutely enchanted with Chile Boy but the only boy name I wrote down was Tony. Please, Chili Boy...forgive me. :) So what IS your real name??

Thatcher Park would be great! There are so many great hiding places out that way..Cohoes Falls, all the great caves, the Petrified Sea area, Vroman's Nose..why we could be busy for a long time! I think that is a wonderful idea. We are lucky to have such a beautiful state with so many varied areas to explore.....one of the most stupendous waterfalls as well as HUNDREDS of smaller ones, the Finger Lake winery area, gorgeous mountain ranges, one of the greatest cities in the world, rolling farmland, a great Erie Canal Park coursing through the middle of the state...why it's almost impossible to choose!!!

And of course one of Chile Boy's favorite areas...Moss Island. *grin*

LW
something else hidden from sight...
Board: Miscellaneous Oddities
Sep 3, 2005 9:16pm
Thread Board
We've got another addition to the list of things people are hiding:

http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:U_2NPYSuzLAJ:www.chicagoreader.com/pdf/050812/050812_ot_publicdisplays.pdf+%22chicago+reader%22+%22public+displays%22&hl=

Read the "Never Mind the Lime Wire" part.

Lisascenic
Re: something else hidden from sight...
Board: Miscellaneous Oddities
Reply to: #7897 by lisascenic
Sep 3, 2005 9:58pm
Thread Board
Now that's an interesting concept... a musical treasure hunt!

Y'all be sure to check out the site listed on page 2... intriguing...

StarSaels (F99)
Re: The Cost of Sending a PLB
Board: Postals
Reply to: #7889 by FamilyMan
Sep 4, 2005 6:32am
Thread Board
I wonder if they could be sent "book rate". VERY cheap (usually pennies), but slow.
Kim
Re: Katrina Efforts
Board: Saving the World
Reply to: #7891 by dewberry
Sep 4, 2005 6:48am
Thread Board
Yes! This event will alter many southern states that are absorbing the majority of the displaced citizens. What to do with the entire population of a major US city? It's staggering...

Examples: Two county hospitals where my hubby works have taken more than 300 new patients in 48 hours. I know a nurse in Birmingham who tells a similar story. Their entire neo-natal unit is now filled to capacity and they are moving new babies to Memphis. Many patients (including the babies) come without family or paperwork showing their medical history, or clues about medications--it's almost a guessing game. New national laws restricting the release of medical information (HIPA) will mean people calling to look for their relatives or babies can be told nothing over the phone. They'll have to wait. (How maddening that will be!) Nursing homes are trying to make room for the elderly and frail. Atlanta has taken more than 40,000 people so far. (We're farther away than Houston, but they are reaching us now by air force planes landing at Dobbins AFB.) The GA Tech Collusieum is full and they are filling new venues. Many people who are here say they don't plan to go back to NO. That's a lot of new citizens in a hurry!

Please donate to Red Cross, Salvation Army, Second Harvest, or a relief agency that you trust. This will be a long and difficult journey for everyone in the US, and particularly in the southeastern US.
Re: something else hidden from sight...
Board: Miscellaneous Oddities
Reply to: #7897 by lisascenic
Sep 4, 2005 6:48am
Thread Board
I've enjoyed a mix CD that i got out of a geocache. One of the local geocachers, after progressing through a series of different signature items such as buttons, etc. eventually came around to the mix CD idea. It's a good way to learn about new music!
Re: something else hidden from sight...
Board: Miscellaneous Oddities
Reply to: #7897 by lisascenic
Sep 4, 2005 6:54am
Thread Board
"Sounds" like a fun one. I wonder how the tapes are protected from the elements.

Another idea would be book tapes!

phynstar
Re: Mohawk Valley is becoming a letterboxing mecca
Board: State: New York
Reply to: #7895 by Lock Wench
Sep 4, 2005 7:52am
Thread Board
I grew up in North Creek, about half an hour away. My husband and son spent a week in July backpacking the area of Siamese Ponds wilderness, fishing and just having 'boy time'.

I'm not able to scramble up the mountain like I could years ago- I r e a l l y take my time going to the top now, but try to get up there as we can when I visit the parents.

Someday I'll get to go home for good. Until then, this gathering sounds awesome.

I have a box I carved about two years ago for the Train Depot in N. Creek. Just haven't planted it yet. Left it with my parents thinking they'd plant, but it's still there. If this gathering pans out I'll carve some more and ask my dad for great ideas in hiding spots.
Re: something else hidden from sight...
Board: Miscellaneous Oddities
Reply to: #7897 by lisascenic
Sep 4, 2005 9:46am
Thread Board
For anyone interested in learning a bit more, here are a few links:

http://illcutyou.com/tapes
http://www.foundcity.net/maptags.php?user=chicago_tapes

It took me a moment to figure out why these folks were using cassette tapes, but I think it has to do with the word "Loop." Chicago's Loop...tape loop....loop d loop d loop...

Here's a particularly interesting link from the illcutyou site:
http://www.open-loop.org/index.html

hmmmmm....

Lisascenic
Re: Good Source for Journals?
Board: Atlas Quest Announcements
Reply to: #7788 by Maumee Muse
Sep 4, 2005 9:51am
Thread Board
We just bought a nice (seemingly hand bound) unlined book at IKEA for something like two bucks. Very nice block printed (looking) cover, too!

I like the smaller Moleskin books, that look like passports. I used to love getting my passport stamped. The smaller books have perforated pages, which is nice for me, because I don't always get my stamping right on the first try!

Funny, how difficult it is to find unlined notebooks....

Lisascenic
Photos on Clue Page
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Sep 4, 2005 10:11am
Thread Board
Is anyone else having a problem printing the photo that is sometimes with a clue? It hasn't been a problem until I got to one where the photo is part of the clue. I was able to print the photos that were posted on letterboxing.org.
Scooters Mom
Re: Photos on Clue Page
Board: Letterboxing Help Desk
Reply to: #7908 by Scooters Mom
Sep 4, 2005 10:15am
Thread Board
Scooters Mom,

I can't print out the picture with the clue, but what I can do is right click on the pic and then click "Print Picture". It comes out on another page, but it works great.

VictoriAnna