Cacher of the Month - October 2007

3T's&aG

3T's&aG (Big T, Q!(another T), G and T)

How did the initiation rite of passage: 'you're not a member of the MBGA until you've been bopped by Tobey in the chatroom' evolve?

LOL! Nice question to start off with. You know, I don't exactly know how this started. I've been told its because I like bopping but I guess you'll have to visit the chatroom to find out for sure. Don't expect to be bopped right away, either. These things take time.

What was it about geocaching that got you hooked?

I first heard about geocaching in an article that was in the Free Press in July of 2004. After reading it, I got hooked on the idea of trying geocaching and then proceeded to do some research to purchase a GPSr that would suit my needs and my budget. When the GPSr finally arrived and I was able to figure out how to enter co-ordinates, Q! and I headed off to find our first cache, Bison Castle cache because we knew the general location of it having worked at the UofM campus for years. We rode our bikes and lo and behold, our arrow kept pointing the other way. Having no idea what I was doing (some say this hasn't changed much), I had no way to confirm my co-ordinates. So we went back home and tried again the next day. We found it fairly quickly and I was instantly hooked. There were so many aspects of it that appealed to me and mostly I felt that it was a great opportunity to get outside, especially as my kids got older.

As event coordinator for the MBGA your organizational skills are legendary. Where did you develop those skills and how do you manage the diverse obsessive-compulsive interests of geocachers? It must be like herding cats some days.

That makes me sound almost legendary in itself. Let's get one thing straight, my organization skills are nothing near legendary as normally I am flying by the seat of my pants. I have managed to amass a committee of "peons" who help me out immensely. Truly I wouldn't be able to manage without them. Ask any Mom though and they will tell you what kind of skills it takes to organize a family's life.

What are some of your other passions/hobbies/interests?

Um, what are you saying? There's another passion besides geocaching? Surely you jest. My two biggest hobbies are geocaching and scrapbooking. I do like to read, I enjoy hockey, playing card games, walking and spending time with my friends and family.

Your integration of scrapbooking into geocaching is very impressive. How do you manage to combine those passions and what project is currently on your table?

I absolutely *love* being able to scrapbook my geocaching adventures! Pretty much anything is scrapbookable, though. Currently there is one geocaching related layout on my table but I can't reveal what it is at this time. Scrapbooking is like geocaching as far as ideas go. I have about 1000 ideas for layouts in my head just like I have ideas for caches. Getting the time to bring those ideas to fruition, however, is another thing entirely...

How do you fit caching in with all the other things you are working on?

Sometimes it's very hard to fit caching into my life and there are times when I don't get to cache as often as I would like to. The thing I love about it though, is that you can do it alone or with friends and when I am out caching, I totally forget about everything else that's going on in my life. Nobody wants anything from me except to go caching. I find it to be a huge stress reliever.

What is your favourite caching story?

Ah, there's a lot of caching stories but the one that sticks out in my mind the most is the evening I went to Beaudry Park with the 2 infamous reptiles that we all know and love. First there was Turdle stripping on the side of the highway (shirt only) and then the next time we saw him get out of his vehicle, he had a different pair of pants on! Wha? And when it comes to a choice between who to follow, you know you are going to have an interesting journey no matter what choice you make. I followed Lizardo. Probably not the best choice I could have made but entertaining none the less. Caching with those two is always good for a few laughs, even if they make fun of me endlessly! Good times!

What are your geocaching words to live by?

Hmmm, I don't really think I have any.

What are some things you don't like about geocaching? What are your pet peeves?

I think I have two pet peeves...no wait, 3. I'm not a big fan of micros in the forest. Especially in a place like the Whiteshell. Every cache has its place in the world and surely if the hider managed to make it out there to plant a cache, they could have found a spot for a bigger cache. I also don't care for when food items are left in caches. That doesn't happen very often though and if I find them, I usually remove them. And for those who know me, know I hate the caches that are more than a 1 T on the 3T's&aG rating scale! However, that's a personal thing and the hider, for the most part, isn’t thinking of my stature when they make that hide. I usually curse and then I get over it.

With whom do you normally go geocaching?

I have a variety of caching partners whom I enjoy caching with! My husband, the defector Q!, is one though due to familial circumstances, we cannot cache together that often. I have enjoyed caching with in the past: MHz, TurdleEggs, Lizardo, OHMIC, *Butterfly*, Dani, Junglehair, ginny212, many others and of course the now infamous WOW! trip to Minneapolis this past spring! 10 women and over 100 cache finds! I do cache alone but I prefer caching with someone else. The social aspect of the sport really appeals to me.

If you could cache anywhere in the world, where would you like to go?

Europe. Ireland. Scotland. But really, pretty much anywhere. Too many caches, not enough time.

Can you play a musical instrument?

Not unless you count a homemade child's instrument made at school or Girl Guides!

What is in your iPod/CD player right now?

I just got an iPod a couple of months ago and I love it! I have a variety of music on there from Doc Walker, Bon Jovi, Keith Urban, AC/DC, John Cougar, Carrie Underwood, Wham!, and a lot of 80's stuff! There's no doubt that I'm a child of the 80's!

Does your family share your geocaching passion or tolerate it?

Q! definitely enjoys geocaching but isn't obsessed like I am. On more than one occasion while driving along with me pointing out that there used to be a cache there.... and there...and oh, over there, he's told me to stuff it! My kids seem to really enjoy it when there are other kids involved and have had a blast at the last few events that we have attended.

What is the most memorable cache that you have found (or tried to find?)?

I'd have to say Blitz: Raiders of the Cache Stash is my favorite! The whole day of caching in the area was one of my favorites yet and that cache just topped it right off. Also on my fave list is Stuntman's Needle in A Haystack, The Holy Grail (in Minneapolis) and Geeny,Gmeeeny, Gminy, Gmoe. There are many more great caches that I have done but those are a couple of the memorable ones for sure.

What kind of GPSr do you use?

I use a Garmin 60C currently but my first GPSr was an ETrex Legend. I have to admit that I really like the color feature of the 60C.

What is the most interesting/unusual place that geocaching has taken you?

I really don't have an answer for this one. Most recently a couple of the Minneapolis caches that the WOW group did were interesting, if not unusual Mr Little Guy's House and The Holy Grail. Both were really neat locations, for totally different reasons!

Which geocachers do you respect or standout to you the most?

I have respect for a lot of cachers and am proud to be a member of the Manitoba Geocaching Community. I am always amazed at how well everybody gets along and all that we do for each other. I have to admit that The Stuntman is one cacher whose caches I have always enjoyed. Needle In A Haystack is one of my favorite all time caches. I had loads of laughs and many frustrations at that one. I'm also very sad that Master Instigator felt the need to leave this great hobby behind. His log for Bent Elbow Expedition brought me to tears.

What kind of books do you prefer to read? What was the last book you read?

I'm a huge reader and a big fantasy buff. My favorite series of books is The Belgariad by David Eddings! I fell in love with the characters and the story when I was 14. Currently I am reading a novel called Darwinia by Robert Charles Wilson and I can't wait for it to be finished. I'm finding it to be quite a tough read. I have quite a stack of books on my nightstand and I think I will attack another James Rollins novel next. I read Excavation recently and really enjoyed it.