Two and a half days...

 It's hard to believe it's been a few years since I've posted a new blog, but I'm feeling like I need a place to release the inner demons that have been circling just in time for Halloween.  So much has happened since I last posted.  Retired from LL Bean after 27 years.  Started working for Beacon Hospice as an intake receptionist in Auburn.  Got transferred to the Augusta office, took a new job that's starts on Monday that has me working from home and I start vacation on Tuesday.

My youngest graduated from high school and is working full time as a mechanic in a local auto shop.  His father joined him recently, so they get to carpool!  I'm not convinced that's for the best on some days... Christopher like to sleep to the last minute and his father likes to get to work early... some days they get there just when they need to punch in!

This past Wednesday we had a Halloween party at the Auburn office - where I'm spending the last few days before going remote.  Halloween music including Monster Mash and other classic at one point evolved into a conga line (thank you Beetlejuice.) We had eyeball pong, spider ring toss and pin the wound on the hospice works (butterflies in the stomach included.)  Food and drinks and guessing the amount of candy corn in the jar had everyone in a happy mood that afternoon.

I got home, shared a quiet dinner with my boys, then was reading in bad when my phone went off.  In an instance, everything changed.  An emergency alert cut through the silence that had descended upon our house.  And I turned the tv on to watch the horror unfold.  Facebook was blowing up.  People were posting all sorts of information - some good, some bad - it was hard to decide what to believe.  Someone had gone into two buildings and opened fire on people gathered to have an evening of fun.  I know these locations; one was on my route to and from work.  I had just driven past it three hours earlier, not even giving the location a second glance.  Now the bar is all over the news, road blocked around it, police blocking the driveway entrance, camera men perched at the top of the hill, their cameras pointing down to it, non-stop.  Just waiting for any bit of information.

The local tv stations started covering pieces of the story.  Some were at the bowling alley, some at the bar, others at one of the local trauma centers.  The area went into a shelter in place order.  Then the helicopters started flying overhead.  Minutes marched on into hours.  I'd scroll through Facebook posts from friends in the area.  Got up and slid the deadbolt locks into place on all of the doors.  Went back to bed to repeat tv news, scrolling through Facebook posts, watching schools and businesses post that they would be closed.  At two am I turned off the television, with it off the fly-bys from the helicopter were just that much louder.  I tossed and turned.  My phone chirped, waking me up.  Needless e-mail drops.  Tried to sleep again, and again the phone went off.  So much for sleeping.  I turned my phone to silent, maybe that would help.  

Three hours later my alarm went off.  With the shelter in place order in effect, and roads blocked in my town as it was where they found the gunman's car, I didn't think I was going to work.  I wasn't alone.  Hannaford groceries closed statewide, L.L.Bean closed for the day, all locations and my town was now a ghost town.  It felt like the first day of the Covid pandemic lockdown, only scarier. This time police were everywhere.  Maine was the lead story on the national news - for the worst reason ever.  We were the location of the largest mass shooting of the year.  Eighteen dead, 13 more injured and a gunman still on the loose.  Maine - home of what we felt was the safest place in the nation.  Statistics even backed the claim.  We are also one of the most armed states - most people in Maine own at least one gun, if not many.  Yet in less than twelve minutes, that feeling of safety was stripped away.  Last year - the entire year - we had 29 murders.  In twelve minutes, we rocketed to the biggest mass shooting in the nation this year.  It seems unbelievable.

My work was closed.  The boys wanted to go to work, but with the roads blocked, I convinced my husband to call out for the day.  Christopher came out of his bedroom around 8am wondering why they weren't going to work.  We spent much of the day listening to the sound of the helicopters overhead and waiting for any piece of news about finding the gunman.  The news was non-stop coverage, much of it simply on repeat - reminding us over and over again of the little we knew already.  Eight of the dead had been identified, ten were waiting to be identified.  A drone flew over the bar as body bag after body bag was removed on stretcher after stretcher.  And we continued to wait.  

Posts of marking ourselves safe seemed mundane in the midst of the horror unfolding around us.  Yet, as we posted - friends were relieved to find out about our safety.  It seemed so unfair.  After too many hours of never-ending news coverage - I had to shut it off.  People still new very little and craved more information.  More police arrived from neighboring states, Federal agents arrived to help, Warden services were helping to canvas the area.

Then we thought there was a break, they surrounded his father's house thinking he might be there.  I watched again, hopeful that the ordeal would end.  Minutes ticked by as I watched tactical vehicles in the houses' driveway flash beams of light on the house.  Again, reporters by the hundreds gathered on the hill to watch and wait for things to unfold.  After a little more than an hour, they realized Card was not in the house. Another night he was out there.  Another night of unease as he remained free.  And his last know location was less the 2 miles from my house.  

Exhaustion eventually took over and I slept, waking to another day of sheltering in place.  The roads in town were open, but most businesses (including my office) were closed.  People were posting where was the closest location to get medication, get diapers, get milk.  The local store in town opened for limited hours.  Most other businesses, except one gas station - which remained open during the whole ordeal - remained closed.  One local pizza place opened in the middle of the night and had made food for the officers that were sweeping the area.  

Through the bad, moments of togetherness started to break through.  In the store, 2 Portland police officers went to get sandwiches and drinks for their officers.  One of the town citizens saw and paid for the food.  She had friends who had made it out of the bowling alley alive and was very grateful for the continued police presence.  More than 350 officers from all over had come to support the local police. The thin blue line was widening here in Maine.  Maine is a large state with so many close-knit communities, those were all coming together to support each other.  Hearts in the profile of Maine where Lewiston sits started to pop up as profile photos for so many showing solidarity for those effected and directly impacted.  Me included... just a tiny post to show we are all linked so close even in the distance that this state sometimes has.

Sitting here, typing this - those small gestures, people offering to help one another - makes us feel closer. Even while we are once again closed off in our own homes for safety.  Waiting to hear anything that might bring this to a closure.  It feels so heavy, the waiting.  Once again, my phone starts to beep.  Those almost dreaded sounds at this point.  This time, different.  They have found the gunman, and he is dead.  A huge sigh of relief, yet still disbelieving it's all over.  We can now start to heal.  It will take a long time to get there.  It will take all of us to get there.  We are listening to the leaders of our state's law enforcement brief us on how they discovered him.  But we can sleep knowing we can do so safely.

It's been the longest two and a half days that I can remember.  And I'm old enough to remember many good and bad times.  None have felt so close, so real, so unnerving. I continue to sit in a state of relief.  I continue to want to hug my son tighter (much to his dismay) and have hope that positive moments start to build.  It will be days, maybe weeks before some will recover from the feelings that have settled into their life.  For the families that lost a loved one, 16 families - it will never be the same for them.  I pray they find each day brings a little more hope - my deepest condolences can never be enough.  

The Final Flight Roundup

So it's been more than a month since the end of the Final Flight... and I'm still in recovery mode.  Granted - we were working extended hours at work - and this fell right in the middle of it - but I'm still cleaning up the aftermath.  And then to add to my pile - I've been down and out sick for more than 10 days.  But with the help of my fourteen year old son - I'm beginning to see the day light.

First and foremost - I have to say how overwhelmingly humbled I am that so many came to Maine in January for what was our final LLBean event.  And while many bemoaned the demise of the event - it was the final event.  I has run its course - we have run out of themes that work for this kind of event - and to think - it started out as a whim.  An over the top suggestion from a fellow boxer.  And its been six years over overnight boxing craziness.

So many memories that were made possible by the letterboxing community as a whole - because I certainly couldn't have done this by myself.  Of course, I would have never even made it through the first year - let alone the fifth - without Amber (Teacup) being by my side and telling me what I've missed and catching all those details.  Helping me put out boxes that eight hours later we had to pull in the wee small hours while most people slept, due to the event being in a retail setting.  She kept track of hundreds of stamps that were mailed from all corners of the US - so many carvers have contributed over the years - and she had to keep all the series in order.  Not a small feat.  She really was the backbone to the event - I was merely the face.  So to her - I can never say thank you enough.

And there have been others through the years who have stood by us and offered assistance as we've needed it.  Susan, Ray and Heather (HappyDaze and Nittany) have managed the force that was the pre-gather for five years.  They not only managed it - but turned it into an annual event in itself that so many looked forward to.  And while things that happened there - hopefully stayed there - they too offered their time and energy to keep one piece of the bigger pie successful.  Again - a heartfelt thank you to all three of them for sticking by me during this crazy event.

I would be remiss if I didn't give thanks to Nany and Doug (Angel Treads) who stepped up this past year and helped host a second pre-gather because so many folks decided to attend this event this year.  And along the way there have been others, who stepped up to provide support, carve the event stamps and make pathtags.  Mainekokopellian, Crafty Lobster, foraych, Gargoyle Girl, Alisha Misha, Irelander and so many others.  All of your generosity of time and talent made me look good as an event organizer.  I was honored to showcase your art for others to share and see.  And grateful for time given to plant and collect stamps after the event was over.

Then there are the hundreds of carvers that sent your talent to Maine for these crazy events.  Your generosity is so appreciated and everyone enjoyed finding all of the treasures you have sent over the years.  Too many too many to thank - I wouldn't even know where to start - but believe me when I say - you provided so many hours of pure inky goodness to my event that was measured by the hundreds, thousands of positive comments left by everyone that found your tiny pieces of art over the years.

And then a special thanks to everyone that has attend these events over the past 6 years.  They required a leap of faith for most of you as this kind of event had never been done before.  And we have had some crazy moments.  From battling sub-zero temperatures to folks carting boxes away and putting them back just far enough away from their original location that at 4am made finding them pretty challenging.  Snacks were shared - OMG those cranberry bars!!! - and exchanges made.  People came from near (Because why on earth would you travel hundreds and thousands of miles to stamp up at 2am???) and farther that I would have imagined!  Traveling has been challenging - driving in sheeting rain, sliding off runways at the airport, and navigating through blinding snow... yet you kept coming back.

I have to admit - having so many folks return year after year is a bit of an ego boost.  That you came and had a great time - even better.  But along the way - there have been challenges.  This year more than any other.  An added dimension - trying to block rooms at the Comfort Suites for those attending - turned into my own private hell at times.  And there were moments when I wanted to scrap it completely.  But through the good fortune of finding a couple people at the hotel who were willing to step up and actually manage sorting through the mess - it all worked out in the end.  And from what I've been told (as I came home and slept in my own bed) it was its own round the clock event!  People were crawling around the hallways at all hours collecting stamps that folks brought in from all over the US to share with their new found friends.

The hotel piece was an unexpected success that I was amazed actually fell into place.  The staff there stepped up and gave us free reign and we did managed to make use of every nook and cranny of the halls, rooms and common areas.  People could get some sleep (at least I think some folks slept - others I'm not so sure) while others - working on ink fumes, stamped up images from event boxes, postals, and mystery boxes throughout the night.  There was plenty of ink to be had at the hotel alone - that some folks never even made it to the actual event - but just stayed at the hotel and enjoyed that!

But along with all of the good times, there were some bad ones.  Broken boxes planted by a fellow boxer was probably the biggest surprise.  I'm not sure why - any boxer would just break a box to get into a stamp - that was clearly meant to be a challenge and not just a grab and go.  We try to say - not every box is for every boxer.  I even had to pass on one of those boxes because my brain was toast.  I would have loved the image - but it was more than I could handle (Thanks for the assist to get the two I did get!) and I knew to move on.  There was more than enough out for people to get that breaking someone else's box is inexcusable.  It goes beyond anything and any realms of respect that I even understand.  And all I can say to RIClimber - whose box was destroyed in the process of the hunt - I'm truly sorry that someone did this.  I appreciated the effort you made to create the challenge - as there are those folks that love those challenges, and I hope that you continue to create them in the future.

There has also been talk - e-mails sent - and personal confrontational attacks about the fact that I am single-handedly destroying letterboxing with my events.  Now mind you - from the onset, I never billed this event as a traditional letterboxing event.  It's been held in a retail store.  We were looking for stamps following clues - in a STORE - in the middle of the night.  And yes - we put stamps out and a few hours later we pull them.  We do write clues - people do have to go find them - but they are not on a traditional trail out in the woods... mainly because the trails in Maine in January are covered in FEET of snow.  I put out these disclaimers knowing that these events were not meant for everyone.  I did try to accommodate as many people as possible over the years - adding variety with mystery clues, drive-by series and this year - trail series.  Knowing that everyone wanted a different experience.  And trying to give everyone something that they can enjoy is not easy.  But to say I'm trying to destroy the hobby - is not true.  I'm an event planner by trade.  So I know that to make an event successful - you need to be as diverse as possible while still maintaining the core of the event.

But to send vicious e-mails and to confront us at another event - and then have the gaul to ask if there were any boxes still left out after we "tossed out boxes only to pick them up 3 hours later" is unbelievable.  I didn't say anything at the event - mine or the one I attended - but just to clarify - it is NOT acceptable to trash an event organizer and her committee and then EXPECT to be able to swoop in and get the traditionals left out after the event.  I did try and blacklist this person from my plants - as the only ones left are my plants, but I was told that other than actually going in and putting up restrictions that would preclude her from getting my boxes - there wasn't anyway to prevent her from getting them.  And because I want the rest of the community to be able to find them without having to leap through restrictions... I've left them.

Mind you - I have no respect for the boxer that seems to think trash talking another boxer is okay to do… and while I'd love to call her out publicly - I have too much respect for the hobby to not do that.  Others probably hold this person in high regards - which is your right.  But when I say - creating a large event - even an untraditional one - has its challenges - dealing with negative people is certainly among the reasons I'm kind of glad these events are over.

I love to create events.  I love to write clues, gather fabulous art from other folks and share them on a platform that others can enjoy them as well.  I love being able to be around like minded individuals and enjoy getting together for companionship and fun.  But I do not like being attacked publicly and privately by someone who has done nothing but be a self-serving member of this community.  These events take more time that most people realize.  They have put strains on my friendship with Amber and others, some completely disassociating themselves from the hobby completely.  It's hard to organize successful events without having fallout.  But it is the fallout that has me making my final statement.

While I have enjoyed hosting numerous events over the years - I will be hosting my last event next year with the library event.  It is clear - that my time hosting has run its course.  It is time for someone else to step up and put their spin on this hobby.  So yes - there will not be another event In Freeport in January, I will also host my final event next year at my library - as that too has run its course.

It's been fun, I've met some incredible people, but I've also seen some of the worst of people.  And if I contributed to that - I'm truly sorry.  To those that have enjoyed my events - I thank you.  To those that have supported me and my events - I am forever grateful.  To the new friends I have made over the years - I cherish our new found friendships.  But for any part of the hobby that I have 'destroyed' in anyone's eyes - I'm am extremely sorry.  Its not always easy - but I do try to uphold what is the best of letterboxing - at least the way I see it.  God speed and my you have nothing but success on every hunt you take in the future.  Kathleen aka. mudflinginfools

It's been a crazy week - NYC

So Thursday morning arrived.  I hadn't slept much - so when the alarm went off at 5am - I was already awake.  Colleen (my sister) was picking me up at 5:30.  She said it was on her way to work.  Now mind you - she probably can make her own hours because she is the boss - but I think she normally starts much later that 6am!  But she offered - so I took her up on it - that way I didn't have to roust anyone else out of bed at the wee dark hours to get me to the bus terminal.  And when she pulled into the driveway - my niece and nephew were in tow... they looked much more awake than I felt - but I was running on adrenaline as I didn't dare drink coffee... I'd need the bathroom the whole ride down there! But I went into the terminal and waited to board.  I had never traveled on Concord before - so I didn't know what to expect.  They offered us bottled water and pretzels as we boarded... and all I could think was - this is a nice gesture.  I found my seat all the way in the back and noticed they also stocked coffee, water, juice, snacks, yogurt and fruit for us.  This is getting better and better... to bad I've never run a Keurig... so I watched the first person get their coffee - then I managed to make myself a cup of cocoa.  I settled into my seat and waited to depart.  I was heading to NYC!  And Ashley was getting married in less than 12 hours!  How did that happen so fast?

I sat back and left the driving to the bus driver.  We were supposed to arrive at 12:30 so I had a few hours to kill... I tried to sleep - but I was still too wound up and the girl across the aisle wouldn't stop talking on her phone, so I popped in my headphones and turned on my IPod.  The bus had free wifi so I played on my kindle for a bit... but then I must have fallen asleep - because they were starting the second movie.  The first one was about astronauts - not interested.  The second one - The Good Dinosaur - still no interest...  I played with my kindle some more and managed to pass enough time that a third movie had started.  I had no idea what it was... but with Robert Duvall and Michael Caine it couldn't be all that bad.  So I plugged my headphones into the jack and started to watch the movie.  It was pretty good and I enjoyed what I was seeing - but then the NYC skyline came into view... the movie drifted off into being a slight distraction.  As we got closer and closer, I got more and more excited.  I had no idea where the terminal was that I was being dropped of at... but Ashley knew and she was meeting me there.

About ten minutes later, the movie forgotten, we pulled up at a bus stop.  No terminal.  Just a bus stop.  Between two really tall buildings.  Somewhere in the middle of NYC, 373 E 2nd St to be exact.  But I got out, grabbed my bag and started to look around.  I went to the end of the buildings.  If I crossed the street there were benches - so I opted to do that.  I called Ashley and she told me she was 'underground and about 10 minutes out."  Okay... I took a photo of the big clock on the side of the building.  Watched traffic go by and realized across the street was the UN Building.  I thought about getting closer and trying to cross traffic to take pictures - but Ashley was on her way and I didn't want to wander too far away.  So I sat and watched the traffic roll by... which was fun to start with, but then the fact that I was wearing black capris started to set in - I was slowly baking... now anyone who knows me knows I'm not a sun bunny... so I lasted a few more minutes before I decided to head back to the bus stop and the shade of the buildings.  I had just crossed the street when Matt and Ashley yelled at me from the other side of the street.  Back I go and we all hug.  But no time to hang out on the streets, we had things to do.

Up first, we had to walk to Grand Central Station... we weren't going inside, just meeting up Cassie - Ashley's maid-of-honor - so that we could continue towards wedding central.  Of course, I had my camera out at every opportunity - much to Matt's dismay.  Every time I stopped to take a quick shot, Matt rolled his eyes.  "Yes Matt, your future mother-in-law is playing the tourist, get over it."  Once we had Cassie added to our entourage we headed to the subway.  Don't ask me which one - I have no idea. But Ashley handed me a card and told me to run it through the scanner... what happened to those cute little subway coins???  Ah well, technology.  I swiped my card and pushed the bar... nothing.  "Swipe it again and when it says go, then push."  I swiped again, waited and pushed.  Made it through - but I had no idea what I was trying to read.  And without glasses - I probably couldn't read it anyway! So we made it to the platform and continued to walk... and walk... further down the platform.  We finally found what I could only guess was the 'sweet spot' for subway rides.  We waited, it was loud and hot.  Luckily - the wait wasn't long... we stepped on the subway and held on.  There were lots of folks heading where we were going.  Not surprising - there's lots of people everywhere.  People got off - people got on.  Cassie and Matt debated on the best place to order pizza from.  What type of pizza to order.  How many?  Cassie was having a major pizza craving after dieting (not sure why - the girl could disappear behind a side view of a sheet of paper) so she was HANGRY for pizza! Three stops later, we got off.  Up the stairs we climbed and started to walk.  And that's when things started to get interesting.

We departed the subway at Spring Street.  A quick logistics conversation had us breaking apart.  Ashley headed off to go to a job interview.  What else should she being doing on her wedding day??  It IS NYC... so that's where she headed.  Matt, Cassie and I headed off in search of cheesecake, flowers and pizza.  We made it to the cheesecake place.  Eileen's Cheesecake - a notorious spot for cheesecake.  Matt and I picked out  fruity flavors while Cassie fought to order pizza - conceding to a second choice as where she wanted pizza from was too far away and wouldn't deliver to Chinatown.  Next up, flowers.  Ashley had directed us to a location but we thought we were looking for a street vendor.  We were in search of flowers that were blue... hydrangeas are a bit big to put in your hair, but we couldn't find the florist.  Back and forth we walked on one street.  We were in Little Italy and Matt was getting antsy.  Cassie was getting frustrated.  Their smart phones were dying - and I have a dumb phone which was of no use to anyone but me.  Cassie texted Ashley and back we walked down the street we'd but back and forth on a couple of times.  We finally found the florist - not what we thought we were looking for and Matt and I went in to search for flowers.  Cassie held down camp outside while we finally found a couple stems that would work for Ashley's hair.  One was even blue!

Another thing off the list we reconnected with Ashley.  Interviews in NYC are FAST!  And we started to walk.  By now I was pretty sure we were just walking in circles and all I could do was try and keep up.  We made it to an intersection and Matt and Cassie crossed and got pizza.  Ashley and I waited - mainly so I could catch my breath!  New Yorkers walk FAST when they are on a mission!  But we still needed to pick up champagne... I asked Ashley where that was and we crossed just as the pizza carrying duo emerged.  Did I mention that it was in the 80's while we were doing all this power walking?  Ashley had run out of water - but thanks to Concord Bus Lines I had a bottle of Poland Springs in my bag.  It wasn't cold - but it was wet and she downed it.  I did get a sip out of the bottle - but she needed it more than I did.  This time Cassie and I went in to pick up the champagne... it was cool inside :)  So we picked up our bottles and as a group we were now juggling my adventure duffel, and boat & tote, a bag of cheesecakes, flowers, a gallon of orange juice, two bottles of champagne, two pizzas and Ashley and Cassie each had a purse.  We were ready for anything and could have an instant party if we had to stop in the middle of the street!

We continued to Ashley and Matt's apartment, going around and around in circles again... didn't we see that already?  Wait I need to take a picture!  Matt's eyes rolling into the back of his head.  In all honesty - those quick photos gave me a chance to catch my breath!  But I kept them in my sights and while I didn't catch up to them - I didn't completely loose them!  We made it to the apartment and up one and a half flights of stairs we made it to their air-conditioned apartment.  Oh my God!  I've never seen so much stuff in such a small space!  They had mastered the use of bookcases to their maximum! I'm pretty sure their whole apartment would fit into three rooms in my house.  We dropped our stuff, ate pizza, drank mimosas and then Matt crashed. At this point, Ashley took a quick shower - but didn't wash her hair (it washes the good luck away) and Cassie and I had another mimosa.  Matt had been asleep about ten minutes and Ashley had just emerged from the shower when people were knocking on their door.  Matt's parents and brother had arrived!  Quick introductions were made before they headed off to the wedding location around the corner.  But not before Matt's father, Arthur informed me in no uncertain terms that at his house I'd sleep in a bedroom, not on the couch.  They were getting married at Whiskey Tavern.  Cassie had managed to get dressed and had her make-up done.  She ran off to check on the wedding location while Matt got dressed.  Ashley was still hanging out waiting for Matt to leave.  Back Cassie came and she managed to get Matt out of the apartment.

Ashley finally could get dressed.  And she was lovely.  Her dress was perfect for her.  Her flowers were in her hair and she was just radiant.  While it wasn't the wedding I had managed for her - it was also perfect for her.  Before I had left work on Wednesday - my boss had asked if we had the old,new, borrowed, blue thing covered.  That had put me in a panic - but somehow we managed to pull it off.  Cassie had let Ashley borrow earrings that were old - her grandmothers.  New of course was the dress, borrowed was my mothers ring (That way - in some sense - she had her brother and sister with her when she got married.) And blue were the flowers in her hair.  We even managed to remember the shiny new penny for her shoe compliments of Amber!  So we had things covered.  I quickly changed into different clothes and off we went to get married.  We walked around the corner and we were ushered to the back of the tavern.  The owner had set up an instant chapel of sorts.  He had made banners and had a trellis set with lights.  There were hearts everywhere and it was charming.  The immediate family was ushered into the tiny chapel and we lined both sides of the entry (it was in essence a hallway) and Matt waited with Rob (the tavern owner and ordained minister, who was performing the ceremony.)

The music started - wait - what's that?  Starship?  Nothing Is Going to Stop Us Now.  Perfect - she picked the theme song to the movie Mannequin.  It was one of her all time favorite movies... I just didn't know it worked as a wedding song.  I should have guessed that a theater major wouldn't pick the traditional wedding march to walk into - at least you can sing (in your head) to Starship!  In started Ashley - and if I could have - I would have started to cry... but the adrenaline was still rushing through me at being here to begin with.  She was radiant, her smile was stunning and she made her way to Matt.  Rob shut off the music and started the wedding vows.  Again - another twist to tradition.  The vows were edited to include lyrics from the same Starship song Ashley had walked in to, they were quite clever.  Before long, the rings were exchanged, they kissed and they were married.  They walked out past us and we all exited into the tavern - which was now in full swing!  And it was loud.  But just like any wedding - it was photo time.  So back we all went into the room and the cameras were pointing our way.  Pictures of the bride and groom.  Then with the parents, flash, flash, flash!  Ugh!  How many photos does that girl need with me in it??? Unlike Ashley who is super photogenic - I look like something out of the movie IT... even without make-up I look like a clown.  Next up was the grandmother - and Matt's grandmother is a hoot!  She kept telling us to hold her purse and not loose it "It has my million dollars in it!"  The photos continued, flash, flash, flash!  Even not being in the picture - I was beginning to feel like a stroke was coming on.  But the crazy camera girl finally had done all the damage she could do and we all went back out into the tavern.

The place was PACKED!  Rob had saved two booths for the family and had made photos of Matt and Ashley that were hanging on the walls.  They were hysterical!  Clearly this guy has a wicked sense of humor.  And he even provided the wedding cake!  Hostess cupcakes with vanilla cookies and licorice candy for decorations!  With a photo of Matt and Ashley (big heads on little bodies) as a cake topper! We shuffled around for a bit and then Matt's mother, Eleanor grabbed my arm and said "It's too loud for the old people here.  Join us for dinner."  I thought, okay.  Why not.  When in Chinatown - go with the locals.  I told Maggie - another of Ashley's friends at the wedding what I was doing and headed off with my daughter's in-laws.  Might as well get to know the new family.  Eleanor gave me a family history lesson as we walked towards the restaurant.  It was fascinating to hear about their family, like any American family and how they lived, worked and played in the area.  Things had changed, the family meat business was now an ice cream place.  But as we stopped to look into the basement - actually Eleanor and her brother looked - I waited on the side walk - it started to pull together.  Family is family - no matter where you are and no mater what nationality you are.  After the brief stop to look at the greatly improved basement, I learned where they went to school, which was now an elderly community center.  Historic buildings were pointed out, people milled around and with Matt's grandmother in tow - the pace was less frantic.  Much more casual.

We made our way to Mott St and the restaurant we would have dinner.  Now mind you, i'd already had pizza - so I wasn't all that hungry - but I was willing to enjoy the adventure.  And this is where like any other family in America - things became very evident that families are families are families - no matter where you are.  We entered the restaurant and told the host how many there were in the party.  "There are 10."  "No there are thirteen."  "There aren't thirteen, how do you come up with thirteen?  There's only ten of us?"  "We need a table for thirteen, the girls might join us."  "But they are still at work.  They won't make it in time."  "We need a table for ten."  The restaurant people are moving chairs and tables.  Pushing tables together, then apart.  Finally they roll a table top out of the back and place it on top of a table.  The 8' round table becomes a 10' round table - enough for thirteen.  That is - if thirteen people show up.  We start to sit down.  "I'll go in the back with grandma,"  I offer.  Others start to settle into their seats.  We fill up the five to grandma's left.  Eleanor and Arthur sit next to me leaving one spot empty.  They start to remove that setting - "Wait, that's for Matt's brother.  Bring back that chair."  "Where is his place setting?"  "Here, we have an extra one."  "Sit between grandma and me.  What do you think you want?"  I'm looking at a menu that is thicker than some small novels I've read - and it's mostly written in Chinese.  "I'm here as a guest, what ever you order, I'll find something to eat."  "What can't you eat?"  "Well I can't eat most seafood, but..."  "Stop ordering all that seafood, Kathleen can't eat seafood."  "Sure, they are doing all the ordering, but will they put their hand out to pay for the check, no."  "I don't eat a lot of Chinese food.  I mostly eat spaghetti."  "Can you eat clams?"  I shake my head no.  "She can't eat clams, order something else."  "Okay, that's chicken.  You can eat chicken, right?"  Across the table, ordering and discussion about what to order is going on in Chinese.  "That's a fish dish.  Can you eat fish?"  "You should be able to eat the vegetarian dish.  It's mostly mushrooms and fungus."  No, fungus is not mushrooms, its a different genius."  "Do you want more tea?"  Food shows up and is put on a carousel in the middle of the table and it spins towards us.  "We always serve the eldest first."  The first pieces of chicken go on grandma's plate.  "You can eat this.  It's Chinese chicken."  "Do you want rice?"  The chicken get's spun around the table and a second dish is added.  "You can't eat clams?"  I'm shaking my head as I try to figure out how to hold the chopsticks to pick up the pieces of chicken that are sliding around on my plate.  "Can someone get the girl a fork!  She can't eat with chopsticks!"  I feel myself start to slide lower under the table.

Grandma on my left is now adding food to my plate.  Eleanor on my right "She can't eat that!  It's shrimp."  Off my plate - over to grandma's plate.  My teacup is refilled.  You can eat this.  It's clean broccoli.  You can eat broccoli, right?"  I shake my head yes.  "It's been twenty-five years since I brought in all that jewelry that I didn't declare and I still get pulled aside and searched."  "How was the tennis match?"  My teacup is filled up again. "Here, try this.  It's Buddhist vegetarian casserole."  I put a tiny bit on my fork and bring it to my nose.  I can honestly say I've never smelled anything so foul.  And somehow I had to put it in my mouth and swallow.  Buck up and down the hatch!  UUUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!  I need more tea!  More tea!  More tea!  Spin that carousel, I need more clean broccoli.  Oh, there's melon under there now that the shrimp are gone.  Melon is good.  Cherry tomato, yup that's good too.  More tea.  How many cups have I had???  Oh this is bad.  I can't have caffeine after 11am and it's 7 at night.  So throughout the meal, the family chatted about simple family things.  Trips they'd taken, how kids were doing, normal family things.  Matt's parent's kept telling me all of Matt's secrets, because I just needed to know some things and meanwhile Matt's grandmother kept trying to give me different food.  No thanks to the chicken head.  No I'll pass on the fish bones, even if they are cooked extra crispy.  Please!  No more tea!  Ugh!  "Of course they did all the ordering, but do you think they'll pick up the check?  Of course not."  "Stop worrying about it.  Just pay."  Ron calls in the middle of all this to chat.  "What are you doing?"  "I can't talk right now, I'm having dinner with Matt's family."  "You're doing what?"  "I'll call you later."

We make it through dinner, almost two hours later we are heading out of the restaurant.  "Someone get grandma!"  I help Matt's grandmother down the stairs to the side walk.  "I like you.  You're a good girl."  Okay - sure.  We slowly, and I mean SLOWLY meander back to the front of Matt and Ashley's apartment.  Here we start to say our goodbyes to different members of the family.  Matt's cousin joins the group.  Introductions are made to each other.  Ron calls again.  I step away from the group.  "Hello.  Yes, we are just finishing dinner.  I'll have to explain it to you later.  Did you need something?"  "No I just wanted to talk."  "I'm in NYC and you decide you want to talk?  We don't talk when we are both sitting in the living room.  How's Christopher?"  "Okay, I'll talk to you later, go to bed."  By this time we have stood outside of the building for about thirty minutes.  I start to wonder off towards the tavern.  I make it back and am introduced to Matt's two cousins.  "Yeah, we were supposed to join the family for dinner but we were scared.  Then we found out that you were there alone and we felt bad.  Boy are you brave!"  "It was fun."  "You're just saying that."  Into the tavern we go.  Yup - still loud!  "Mom, you're back.  Do you want something?"  "Yes, Peachtree and cranberry with Stoli and lime."  Ashley laughs.  "I'll go get it for you."

We sit at the bar for a few minutes.  It's almost ten o'clock now.  Matt's cousins and I chat for a bit.  Ashley joins us and eats a taco.  What else would you eat on your wedding day? We decide we've had enough and head back to the apartment with Cassie and Maggie in tow.  We are now in need of cheesecake!  The girls each have a beer... I'm still trying to come down from my tea high.  The girls decide they are going back to the tavern for a while.  Matt has to work in the morning so he head's off to bed.  Ashley takes another shower and finally washes her hair :)  And then she goes to bed.  I'm left in the living room with the remote to the air conditioner, my kindle and the chirping of the smoke detector in the hallway for company.  I'm exhausted!  I need to sleep.  Off with the A/C.  On with the A/C.  My eyes just won't close.  I finally drift off into a fitful sleep.  I'm still just too keyed up to sleep well.  I'm in NYC and Ashley just got married.  It's like it's a dream and it's only Thursday!  I should be at work!  I wonder what tomorrow will bring?  I don't know but I'm too tired to think about it.  What was I thinking drinking all that tea?  Who's on Facebook?  No one - it's a week night!  Ugh... just a few hours of sleep... off with the A/C.  How about some Solitaire?  On with the A/C.  Sleep.....

It's been a crazy week!

So back on the 17th I started my long weekend - a second one in the month.  During August we are typically busy monogramming backpacks.  So I had gone to second shift to help and support the extra business... but it never really got THAT busy.  Besides - it was summer and I wanted to take a couple days off when it was actually warm.  So on Thursday, as a family we went to Aquaboggin.  I had the boys captive in the wave pool and we had a 'quality' water filled chat.  After all - no TV's, no phones, no x-box was in sight - so it was a golden opportunity.  As you can expect - they were less than impressed - and they quickly ditched me for the slides.  Imagine that.  But it was a good day spent with family.

Friday Ron had to work... so Christopher and I puttered about and packed the car for our weekend in Rangeley.  We were leaving around 1, as soon as Ron got home and had taken a shower... so we started to gather things for the trip.  Games, bedding, food, and other essentials.  For those not in the know - Rangeley is where LLBean has cabins that they let employees use at a super super price ($100 for the weekend) and they provide boats (outboards, canoes, kayaks) and all the gear... if you go in the winter they have snowshoes to use... but they are 'off the grid.'  They have power and indoor plumbing - but NO INTERNET, no TVs, no video games... they encourage you to get OUTSIDE.  But they all have cards in case it rains :)

We managed to get everything we'd need piled in the car - it looked like we were leaving home for a week.  Ron did the few things he needed to so we could leave and we headed off.  We stopped for a late lunch at Margarita's Restaurant in Augusta.  I had been craving a margarita for a while... so one was not going to do the trick.  The first one went down smooth... so when Christopher ordered the lava cake for dessert... I ordered a Rosarita.  Liquid dessert in a glass.  Just what the doctor ordered - okay maybe no medical doctor would order a margarita - but many of my friends did!  So on we continued (yup Ron was driving) - but the rain was being persistent.  So we had to make a quick trip to get new wiper blades.  It's important for the driver to be able to see where you're heading!  We made it to the cabins just as the rain started to break.  We hustled everything inside and things started to fall apart... Ron forgot to bring his pillows - and I wasn't sharing mine - he forgot extra clothes (really??? It's raining - you didn't think you'd stay dry all weekend did you?) - but he said he was set... he had his book and underwear... men!  We quickly made beds and put stuff in its place and we figured since we had brought all sorts of food we should eat dinner.

After dinner we played a board game as it was still drizzly outside and then we all went to bed... well I did.  The boys stayed up and did who knows what.  I think they watched a movie on the computer... but I went and read.  The next day we just relaxed over breakfast... with Ron cooking, the smoke detector was going off in no time.  The bacon didn't do it - but the French toast did!  That also managed to get Christopher out of bed.  After breakfast we went into Oquesset for their small town festival and toured the craft booths.  Then we went back and headed out in the outboard.  It was beautiful on the water.  There was absolutely no wind and the sun was broken up just enough by the high clouds to keep you from baking.  After that Christopher and Ron went out in the kayaks while I read on the water's edge patio.  They puttered around on the water for a while - making friends with the geese and ducks in the area.  Then Christopher decided he wanted to go swimming.

The water in Rangeley is COLD!  All the time!  I'm pretty sure that last of the ice melts from the lake on August 1st and it starts to re-freeze on August 30th!  But he managed to get in and I was encouraging him to swim out to the float.  But he was freaking out.  He wouldn't put his feet down because he was convinced the lobster were going to bite him!  He had me laughing so hard at his crazy beliefs - that at one point he was sure the sharks were going to get him.  He finally swam out to the float after Ron got back into kayak and 'escorted' him to the float (which was about 25 feet from the shore!)  It was wicked funny.  We went back and ordered pizza for a late lunch and hung out reading.  We were all ready to cook s'mores over the fire pit when the rain started to POUR down.  My car windows were still open - so Ron ran out and got those closed - the the s'mores were out.  But we had chicken to cook - so he started dinner.  Ugh... no more food.  I passed on the chicken, but the boys nibbled on it. The rest we packed up and brought home and figured it would be an easy re-heat for dinner Sunday.

Our evening plans diverted - Ron started to teach Christopher how to play Rummy.  Christopher is not much on card games - so he doesn't know how to hold his hand - except to place everything in piles on the table.  So the first 2 hands Ron beat him easily.  I was heading to bed to read but stopped to help Christopher along... that hand Christopher beat his dad by more that 140 points!  (Yeah - I like card games and am pretty good.)  Christopher begged me to stay and help him - but my book (number 3 for the weekend) was calling my name - so I left him to his own devices and I think he didn't fare as well without my help.  But with the boys making microwaved s'mores and playing cards in the background, the rain  falling outside and all that darkness... I quickly fell asleep. On Sunday we had to leave - but we managed to have bacon and French toast again... packed up our belonging and cleaned out the cabin and bid the camps good bye until next time.

We stopped at Small Falls and the boys enjoyed the walk up the falls while I read more of my book.  Normally I do all the driving - but Ron and I made a deal that he was driving this weekend... so I enjoyed being able to read!  But it didn't last the whole way.  In Augusta he finally conceded that he had driven enough, so I took over.  He managed to do most of the driving - I just had the last 40 minutes... so I couldn't really complain.  We unpacked the car - dumping stuff in the dining room.  I just needed to chill for a few minutes and then we could take care of everything.  We watched the evening news and then the phone rang.  And this is where the fun starts!

I had planned on calling Ashley.  But when the phone rang - Christopher got it.  I heard him say a couple things - one of which was "I'm pretty sure she doesn't know about that."  Sunday was her last day at her current job.  She was working 60+ hours and just didn't have a life - and who wants to live in NYC and not have a life to enjoy it??  So when I heard it was her - I wasn't surprised.  That was short lived.  I asked her how her last day went - and as last days go - it was pretty smooth.  Her boss and co-workers gave her a party and a gift card.  (Better than I expected)  Then Ashley said something I wasn't expecting.  "By the way, Matt and I are getting married on Thursday."  My heart stopped.  I think I blacked out.  I didn't hear her correctly.  "You're doing what?!?" was my answer.  "Getting married.  On Thursday.  At Whiskey Tavern.  Where we met.  It's just around the corner."  "Hold on.  I'm having a stoke." I remember saying over and over again.  "I mentioned this to you - we've spoken more in the past month than the whole time I've been in NYC."  "No Ashley, we've spoken about your job.  When you mentioned getting married - you said in the future.  In my mind - 'the future' was next April, next May... NOT THURSDAY!"  (I could hear Matt and Ashley's friend Cassie in the background... "I thought you told your mother?"  "I thought I had told her.")  No Ashley - we had talked about you leaving your job... not getting married on THURSDAY... like in 4 days!  I stopped breathing - I knew I was having a stroke.  Ron was taking photos of me because he thought the whole thing was hysterically funny.  I was having a meltdown!

"I thought you might get married in Maine when you came home in September."  I remember saying to her... "But then Matt's family can't be there."  "I don't care about Matt's family!  It's about the bride's family!  How are we supposed to be there?"  "Well I didn't expect my family to be there."  There's that stoke feeling again... I see darkness starting to envelop me.  She can't be serious?  The groom's family is more important that the bride's???  How did this happen?  She used to be such a smart logical child.  And now she's giving her mother a stroke.  "Well I'd like to be there - but it's on Thursday!  How am I supposed to do that?  We're coming in October and I'm coming again in November.  How am I supposed to be there on Thursday?  I'm having a stroke."  There was more to the conversation... but I don't remember much more after the series of stokes started to take effect.  So I finally hung up.  I looked at Ron and he said "It's funny."  Funny?  Are you freaking serious????  I walked into the kitchen and put my dinner in the microwave to re-heat it as during the conversation I has missed dinner.  But after it was in the microwave - I grabbed my keys and walked out the back door.  Christopher came running after me... "Where are you going?"  "Leave me alone, I'm running away!"  And I got in the car and drove away.

Of course I didn't run too far... just to Amber's house.  And as soon as I got there she knew something was a foot.  "What's wrong?  You look like hell."  "I'm having a stroke."  "What does that mean?"  And I proceeded to bumble through my conversation with Ashley.  "Of course you are going, you're the mother of the bride!"  So we discussed the pros and cons... to which she replied "You are going.  I'll pay if I have to - but you are going.  Besides, I have a very reasonable payment play." (This is why we are friends... she has been there so many times for me I've lost count.  But I did pay for my own bus tickets.)  After a couple more phone calls - I went home and booked bus tickets to NYC.  I was going to my daughter's wedding in just 4 days!  How was I going to sleep?  My mind was racing.  Home again... I ate dinner, made my bed and took a shower.  At 9:15 Christopher came in the bedroom and asked if we could play LIFE (because I told him I would after dinner.) and I melted.  He's such a good kid and had no idea how in a simple phone call my week had just turned upside down.  I promised him that I would play after I got home on Monday... I was going back to day shift in the morning and I needed to go to bed.  Little did I know - I probably should have played the game - because I didn't get a whole lot of sleep!

I went to work and started to scramble to get the time off I needed.  My boss was on vacation - so I needed another supervisor to approve my time... not that it was a huge problem - what boss would deny time off for a mother of the bride???  That taken care of - at lunch I checked my e-mail.  What's this?  I've been invited to have lunch with Steve Smith (the new company president) for making a cost savings suggestion that my division is going to adapt!  It concerns overtime pay... so I was wicked excited.  One more thing to make me light headed this week... I'm having problems focusing... can we make the week ANY crazier???  Not possible!

I must have spoken too soon... on Tuesday I went in to work and another message in my inbox... I'm being head-hunted by the Red Cross.  Now I've been with Beans for 2 years this September - so it would have to BE the BEST job offer ever for me to leave... but it made me feel pretty darn good.  Then On Wednesday - the person I nominated for Bean's Best won!  This is totally cool!  I was so happy I was crying like a baby!  Just need to get through a cocktail reception with the United Way.  It was great seeing all my peeps again... or at least most of them.  But I had to bug out early.  I was leaving for NYC at 6:30 in the morning!  I still needed to pack!  I still needed to shower... oh and I think my family wants dinner!  This week has been unreal... and the exciting part hasn't even happened yet!

Team MudCup's Adventures in Rhode Island

We woke up to a sunny, if breezy Monday morning.  Most people would have been enjoying lounging in bed - but we had an agenda.  And it involved coffee and hot cocoa.  And in all fairness - we had slept in trying to finish drying out from our foray into the deluge that was the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew.  We slowly pulled ourselves together - gathered our belongs - and headed off in search for the elixir that soothes the morning beasts.

A quick stop at Dunkin, with hot beverages and muffins in hand - we plotted our first three destinations.  All were within a few miles radius of our hotel, so we wanted to pick those up first.  This will be important in a few minutes - so stick with me.  Now I had lived in Rhode Island 30 years ago so I had a distant memory of street names.  The problem was - back then I mostly took RIPTA (the bus system that can take you EVERYWHERE in Rhode Island.)  In fact - I didn't learn to drive until I was a junior in college and got my license in this fine state - where parallel parking is done on the left side of the street (much easier to do in case you are wondering.)

So as we ambled along some of the roads - they turned a dusty page in my memory.  But as most of northern RI shares all their street names - it wasn't much help.  As you can image - things have CHANGED.  But the GPS plotted our route and I blindly followed along.  Making a hasty left turn into a cemetery for personal pursuits of debauchery.  Once that had been laid to rest - we meandered along to our first box.  We found said box without issue - as thankfully the cemetery was not huge and we had picked the correct entrance on our first pass.  This is not always true.

After dutifully inking up, doing some box maintenance and replacing it in its hidey hole - we again left a token of our appreciation for the locals to find.  One thing we try to do - as we crash out of state locations - is try to leave something for the locals to find after we're safely back over the border in Maine.  Many times we also litter our way from box to box leaving HHs.  This was our mission in Rhode Island as well.  So another token was plotted and left for the northern RI boxers (though with the state only being 50 miles from tip to toe - those in the south will probably find them too.) and we continued on our journey to our next box.

This one gave us a bit of a chase.  Those little city pocket parks are sometimes hard to find - even if you live in the same town.  But the clue writer gave appropriate markers - and after a much required u-turn, we pulled in a started our quest. Like slayers of dragons we hopped sure footed onto the sidewalk and read the clues.  Now my toes were beginning to get chilly - I had only donned my slippers on the way out of the hotel.  Teacup often just wears her beloved "crocs" while out boxing - I thought I'd try to pull it off in my fleece lined slippers.  But not having a back to protect my heel - my tootsies were getting chilly.

Now here's is where I insert my 'ah duh' moment of our trip.  As we sat at Dunkin earlier - pulling clues together - Miss Teacup questioned me "Didn't we have more clue sheets?"  "Why yes we did, a red folder full of inky instructions to veritable gems hidden all over the state, why do you ask?"  "Where are they?"  "I don't know? I wonder if some miscreant took them as we slumbered in our hotel?"  "Well that's no fun.  I guess we'll have to do with your smaller list of inky quests."

So as Teacup stood at our latest quest - I thought I ought to at least put on some socks.  So I jumped out of the car and popped the trunk.  Not only was I missing my socks (I actually had some in my duffel bag as back-up) but I was missing my sneakers as well.  It was then quickly determined that in our haste to seek our morning elixirs - I had left behind the bag that had not only my 2 pairs of sneakers - but also the folder of clues.  So let me state - I apologize for thinking anyone in Rhode Island would sneak into my car for sheets of inky quests - but they were good ones - and in my early morning fog - it was the best answer I could come up with... next time we travel, Mom will check to make sure I don't leave anything behind - I promise.

This is where said GPS holds magical information - like the address of the hotel we had just left an hour earlier.  Pulled up from our 'recently visited destinations' list - we traveled down the roads we just came, back to the hotel to pick up my stuff.  Magically - earlier mentioned clues were safely tucked in the bag with my sneakers.  Many thanks to the hotel staff for being prompt at cleaning our room and having them at the front desk on our return visit.  So with a quick "thanks Mom, I'll try to look better next time," we plotted our third address.

Easily found, we pulled up next to a boxers front yard and pulled our stuff together.  Since we now had quests a plenty - we needed to up our game plan.  So we decided to divide and conquer.  Head south, pick up 3 possible quests - cross east over the bridge to the land of splendor and excess (also referred to as Newport by many) and then plot our way due north - back into the city for more inky goodness.  With the course set - we headed south.

Down to the lands of greener pastures, open spaces and hopefully missing the CT border.  But our destination seemed to be an exit in CT... with a quick look at our gazetteer - I quickly axed the notion of a CT visit today and took the last known exit in Rhode Island.  Happily - this did take us to a much sought our bear in the woods.  With the sun on our backs and not a moment to lose - we slayed that bear and returned him to his haunt.  After a required rest - and another drop off - this time for those southern boxers (and more than likely some very close by CT boxers) we headed back north.  There was sure to be a flat tire in our future.  But alas - we came up empty.

We ventured further, finally heading due east.  Rolling hills (not a one) and meandering corners (lots) had us ducking in and doing another quick u-turn.  It would seem - unknown by me - that we had a sassy little Delaware Chick along for the ride.  It would seem - she was in search of a dashing red head of feathered nature during this trip.  Well - we didn't think we'd find such a match amongst the tall ships and marbled features of Newport - so we set out for a more like location to host a meet-and-greet.  After making sure our sassy passenger had found a satisfactory place to roost... we continued into Newport.

So glad it was after Labor Day weekend... because the traffic was starting to pick up.  But first, up and over the bridge.  Then up and over another bridge (the toll taker was very sweet at mentioning that he had just returned from visiting Maine the previous weekend - Teacup kindly invited him back) and down into Newport.  A quick turn and we had to divert.  Dead people call to us.  We feel the magnetic pull of the tombstones.  They speak to us in their own way and we find comfort in visiting with them.  Evidently so did a bunch of kids on bikes as they were making passes back and forth and we had to keep a sharp eye to avoid picking up and extra wheel along our journey.  Our tire guy doesn't like it when we find a spare!

We drove - okay crawled - tortoise slow - down the main drag of Newport Harbor.  Fall shoppers were everywhere loading up their credit cards with highly (un)necessary purchases and sipping mint juleps on restaurant balconies while us lowly folk tried to make our way out of traffic.  Amazingly enough - a kind driver from MA (I know, huh?) let us merge in front of him so we could take a drive along clubhouse row (Bellevue Avenue for those not in the know.)  Now when I visited the mansions more that a few hundred fortnights ago - you could park in front of the houses you toured - it would seem now that they are are a hotly pursued destination best reached by trolley service.  And had we been lingering long enough to do such - we might have - but we continued along.  We took the road to one section of the Cliff Walk - and quickly thought better of it.  Love those tight u-turns with everyone piled up waiting to do the same dance steps we had just done.  And other than that missed stop sign - we start to find our wait out of Newport.

The one way streets would be a slight hassle - but we finally made it out - tail between our tires and pointed the GPS north bound to Seekonk.  We were heading in the right direction - with thoughts of finding something new and unique to eat.  Do you have any idea how many Subway and McD's are around when you are NOT looking for them?  They are freaking everywhere.  Alas - somehow along the way - I missed a much needed exit and we ended up heading to Fall River.  Now as much as I enjoy Fall River in the springtime... a fall trip there was just not in our plans.  And the added suggestion that Cape Cod was just a hop-skip-and a jump further did not enlighten my mood.  I was beginning to get a headache, I needed a bathroom and I was getting hungry (Reason number one why we usually start our day with a big breakfast - because by the time we realize we've missed lunch - it's dinner time!)  The coffee and muffin from 7am was just not cutting it any longer.

So after a quick deliberation, and Teacup's ever so slight nod of approval - we opted to cut out Seekonk and a return trip to Providence and chart homeward instead.  Once we managed to get northbound - or at least heading towards Boston, we pulled off for a comfort stop - mind you the gas we picked up and the liquid we left behind were only two things required to make us truly happy.  We did concede to snacks to tie us over to 'real' food... and set forth north once again.  When signs sounded hopeful - we pulled off - only to find the closest thing to real was Wendy's.  I don't mind Wendy's and I love their Strawberry lemonade... so it filled the requirements with burgers and fries - not healthy Bean options - but when in Taunton...

Back heading north and the traffic was picking up.  Well getting busier - because we were actually slowing down not going faster.  And at times we were at a dead stop.  Probably a good choice to head home when we did - as it would seem it was going to take us much longer than anticipated.  We continued along - finally making it to the tunnel.  Now heading south - we were able to zip through with relative ease.  It was a little busier - and thus a LOT more stressful for Teacup heading home.  The continual honking folks insisted on doing had her almost out of her skin by the time we reached the end.  But we made it - and then my GPS went tip-top crazy.  It wanted us to take Route One home.

While yes - Route One is a lovely Sunday drive on a slow day in December - I can only describe it as a choice of insanity on a sunny fall day in October.  Thankfully I took my sanity pills earlier (Smartfood popcorn in case you were wondering) and stayed on I-93 until it ran out.  Or MA decided to close it.  But now everyone wanted to be on I-95.  And when I say everyone - I mean everyone.  Most of whom were less than patient about it... but I stuck to the back side of the ambulance in front of us - just in case their services were needed prior to getting through the mess.

Not sure what had been happening north of Boston over the weekend (did Boston evacuate due to Matthew???) because EVERYONE was heading south into the city.  And those lanes were bumper-to-bumper all the way to the NH/Maine border.  We did pull off in NH - as Teacup had to meet up with a whole fleet of grey haired stateswomen for some directions on fall traveling.  But nothing can make a couple girls happier than when we have to pay that $3 toll to return home once again.  Making it home by 6pm had our families concerned that we were not feeling up to par.  But it did feel good to be home.  After dropping Teacup at home, I pulled into my driveway.  Grabbed a few things and had to laugh.  There in the back seat were Teacup's beloved crocs.  Upside - she can walk to my house from hers without the need of the GPS to retrieve them.

So while we enjoyed our couple days over the border - we were glad to be home once again.  Next stop - we are heading due northeast.  Let's see if a trip inside the state can rack up more miles than one outside of Maine (464 miles if you are curious.)  But for now... I'm kicking my feet up and reading the rest of my book.  Another vacation trip success story complete.

Team MudCup goes to the Zoo

In Rhode Island no less!  For months we've been toying with a visit to our tiny little neighborhood state.  But do you know what that means?  Crossing through one state to even get there.  And top of that - which Teacup probably didn't know before she finally said yes to the trip - was we had to drive through Boston - and the tunnel!

So we plotted.  We printed clues... had folders of them.  For such a tiny state - they sure do cover every bit with those hikes!  Knowing we had a limited amount of time - and we do like to get a variety of images from a variety of folks - we had to limit ourselves to drive-bys and strolls.  There just wasn't enough time to pick up everything we wanted.  But we had enough clues if we got stuck there for a week!

So we gathered up our gear.  Gassed up the alternate MudCup mobile (the official one can only handle one state line crossing) and set off.  Now - we know our habits - so to be on the safe side - we stopped at 6am at IHop for breakfast prior to hitting the state line.  Good thing to - because once we got started - we didn't want to stop for lunch!  Now - all week we'd been tracking the hurricane.  It was toying with us.  We were going, then we weren't. Then it seemed like the hurricane was going to corkscrew off Florida and the northeast would be spared.  Okay - we can go... and as we departed IHop - the rain started.

We drove on and the rain was consistent - but not heavy enough to cancel.  Heck - we've boxed in thunderstorms and blizzards, a little rain was not going to prevent us from getting animal themed ink.  We made it over the first border... even over the second into MA without any incidents.  Traffic was very light - seems folks tend to sleep in on a Sunday morning.  We headed for the tunnel and Teacup started to get a bit anxious... but traffic was light and we made it back out into the rain without incident.

Welcome to Rhode Island... three states away from home and things started to get a bit dicey.  The rain was getting a bit heavier and my GPS didn't seem to understand one-way streets and streets closed for what I later learned was supposed to be a parade - which ended up getting cancelled due to the rain (lightweights in our opinion.)  So after navigating - and giving a 30 year old commentary of some of my old college haunts - we finally made it into the zoo.  We had 20 minutes until the zoo opened - so we took a ride through Roger Williams Park.  Now this was where the heartier souls were hanging out.  A road race was in progress - and there were walkers, runners, baby carriages and wee folks all out in the morning rain.  We navigated around them and enjoyed our rainy views.

Back to the parking lot - we finally entered the zoo... picking up a couple maps - we headed off in the direction of the Educational Center as the event had been driven inside due to the rain.  It wasn't too cold - but the rain does reek havoc on logbooks :)  We registered and started stamping up event boxes.  So many great images from events in previous years to choose from.  We tried to get a sampling as we waited out the rain.  But it would seem - the rain was not going to let up any time soon.  (We'd later find out that the hurricane had changed it's course again - and the northeast managed to pick up a pretty heavy band of rain - YEAH!!!  Good for the drought conditions - bad for logbooks.)

We were sitting quietly stamping up images and enjoying the dry conditions when a local visitor started to approach.  Now - when you are at a zoo, one would expect to see animals.  And when it's hosted by a zoo keeper - you might even expect to see a few visit up close.  Well... there are some animals Teacup would just as soon NEVER and I mean NEVER like to see - under ANY conditions.  So when I happened to mention that there was a snake heading her direction - and we were stamping up animals - she mistakenly thought I meant a stamp.  So when the woman approached Teacup with what Teacup described as a "BIG FREAKING ANACONDA!" you can imagine the table moved.  I quietly explained that my friend didn't particularly like snakes (a gross understatement) and the woman tried to convince Teacup that it was just a small friendly snake - I have no idea what type - as I was trying to keep Teacup from running BACK TO MAINE at that point.  She finally got the hint and moved along.

The crowd was small - but everyone seemed excited to get inky.  And everyone was so helpful - they helped us figure out the clues so we would have a fighting chance (lack of smart phones - this will be a problem again later.)  But we had a fighting change of finding the stamps - and after quickly downing a turkey wrap shared by Nittany (Teacup stuck with the Reeces) we gathered up the essentials - happy to leave all our extra gear and headed out with our black ink pad, clues, map and logbooks tucked in Ziploc bags.  With one hand clutching umbrellas - we headed out.  Teacup navigated our journey - directing us in through buildings and around the animal exhibits.  Some animals wanted to just sleep through the rain - the moon bears and red panda wanted nothing to do with the rain - while others seemed to enjoy it thoroughly.

Boxing in the rain - did prove to be a bit challenging.  But between our two umbrellas, tucked between our shoulders and chin, pulling out logbooks, opening up pouches and fishing ink out of pockets while standing in strange positions to keep everything dry - we managed to get through our first few boxes.  We struggled a bit in the Adaptation building... but with a little bit of assistance we managed to get our bearings and found what we needed.  We then headed out and down around the corner - finding a few more.  The boxes by the Moon Bear gave us issues - so we headed forward - thinking we'd try again after we found some more on the list (and with an assist from Nittany, we found the two we missed later.)

We visited with a majestic eagle who seemed not impressed by the rain and danced around quickly forming mini lakes along the paths.  Some we didn't miss and our toes were starting to get a bit wet.  But we ambled along.  We visited with a red panda who on our first visit wanted to sleep through the rain - but on our second pass by decided to show his face - but got quickly bored with the photo session and gave us his back.  Time to move along.  We headed along the path and visited a few more animals.  Some willing to come out of hiding - others not so much.  Clearly - for many we had hit nap time.  As we were not starting at the beginning - but the middle/end of the clues - there were times when we weren't exactly sure which way to head next.  But we meandered along and picked up a few more images visiting with the red wolf and then stopping to go inside to find the giraffes.  After snapping some photos, we went off to watch the Harbor seals.  Every time I tried to get a photo of them - all I got was their back end - they move much faster than my camera focuses!

So we headed off to the Outback Trail.  Here we visited the flamingos who were perched in their pond heads tucked in - not too thrilled by the rain and clearly not interested in visiting with us so we headed off into Tropical America.  I entered first - and after our encounter in the event center - I cautioned Teacup to NOT look LEFT and just move forward.  It was STEAMY in the building and being as wet as we were - I felt like we were in a sauna.  With a few muggles to wait out - it took a bit to pick this one up before we could once again head outside (avert your eyes Teacup!) and went back to the Conservation Cabin - which amazingly enough eluded us the first pass.  The building did not present as what I would describe as a 'cabin' in nature - so we originally walked right past it.  The only way we found it was by having fellow boxers clue us in - thanks Viena for the assist!  We decided to head back to event central for the raffle and to pick up a new set of clues and a dry map... both of ours were quickly disintegrating from the rain - its very hard to keep multiple pages dry when you are trying to hold them, an ink pad, a pouch, a stamp and an umbrella with only two hands!

Back at event central, we tried to dry everything off after assisting our next interactive visitor through the door.  Seems a friendly little armadillo was coming to play.  With his schedule of visiting hospitals and nursing homes we were glad he could fit us into his schedule.  So after finding about the armadillos busy schedule - we moved on to those raffles - there were some beautiful items.  Teacup managed to win some very large slabs of pink stuff and new carving tools (and two more - which she respectfully declined)... I came up empty handed - but the money raised went towards helping out the cheetahs.  So with a second set of dry clues and a dry map - off we headed after bidding our hostess a thank you and good event.  First stop - the gift shop - it hosted a box :)  Then we went back to visit our moon bears - who had decided enough was enough and were no longer out playing in the rain... back past that frisky red panda, and another pass by the eagle.  We stopped to take photos of elephants splashing in their pool.  And headed off towards the cheetahs.  Well - Teacup did, I stopped to press a penny then had to yell out to find her.  She had moved along to try and navigate the clues around the Aoudad - and since we didn't see one - I still have no idea what it is - and their path was a lake on both ends.  Squish, squish!

We made it over to the tree house - where we came up MIA on one of the boxes :(  Played in the tree house - okay I did while Teacup stamped up our image and then we moved along.  We were running out of time and needed the last couple images.  Stopping to take photos of all the pumpkins - I'm still wondering, did Ashley say yes???  We'll never know.  So we moved along to the photo booth - where some folks were stamping up the image inside the booth.  There was a young couple waiting - clearly NOT letterboxers - so we took the stamp across the path to the wall and let them get their photo taken in the booth (which we were told was very dry inside.)  Getting the last box proved to be my downfall.  Getting to the end, and lacking any sort of attention span - I stepped right in the middle of the lake protecting the box.  I had been directing Teacup mostly successfully around them while she read the clues throughout the day - but nope - I missed this one completely.  One soaked foot!  Good thing it was our last box.  We headed back to the car where we needed to meet up with Nittany to do a rescue mission and a stamp hand off for Letterboxer's Christmas event - you are all joining us, right?

So after that - we THOUGHT we'd try the boxes planted around the park.  Teacup and I looked at each other and agreed - time to find the hotel.  We made it safely to the hotel - not missing our exit this time... registered and headed up to the room.  With Doherty's Ale House in walking distance - we left the car keys in the room and walked over in the rain - we were already wet... so it's not like we would get that much wetter.

It was early - and the Pats game had ended - so the Ale House was pretty quiet.  We perused the cocktails (we are not Ale girls) and I picked out a Falling for You Cider and Teacup picked out something with muddled blueberries and bourbon.  In my head I questioned her choice - but let it go - maybe she was feeling in the mood for a bourbon cocktail (considering she's never drank bourbon before - I wondered.)  It took a while for our drinks to arrive - seems the bartender had to go out back and pick the berries before they could be muddles and put in the snifter with the bourbon... now upon its presentation to the table in said snifter - I thought Teacup might be in over her head - snifter generally denotes LACK of mixers... and I was correct.  That baby was going to be strong... evident when Teacup started to breath fire after the first sip.  Her eyes rolled slightly backwards and she tried to catch her breath.  I took a sip of mine - fall splendor in a glass over ice.  A prefect mixture of cranberry vodka, spiced pear liqueur and cider over ice.  Served with a slice of apple.  It was wonderful.

We ordered after pondering what I can only describe as an eclectic ethnic mixed menu.  I can't remember seeing so many food styles and ethnicities on one menu... clearly they would have failed my college menu creating class. But Teacup picked out a steak sandwich and I stuck with a burger.  Our waiter, Michael noticed Teacup's lack of interest in her cocktail and replaced it with a Falling for You Cider and made Teacup happy.  He divulged to us that even the bartender questioned the likability of Teacup's selection.

We finished up our meal with Teacup getting her dessert to go - and I drank mine :)  Back at the room - we found a news channel and learned that we probably boxed during the deluged that went through the state.  Took showers and settled in for the night to let the rest of the rain pass while we thought about our plans and hoped for better weather on Monday.  Not sure when Teacup ate the cake - but she didn't bring it along the next day - so she must have enjoyed it while I was in the shower.  But for now - we can put to bed another successful event for Team MudCup.  I wonder what the rest of the state has to offer us tomorrow?

Good Friends and Plan Changes

So - for me it's vacation week.  And lucky for me Teacup is my friend... because she is willing to go to random places that she's already been to help me get some boxes of that very long Maine box list (I need 450, she need 96!)  So she is willing to go to places she's already been.  I do try to make sure that wherever we go - we do try and get something that's on both our lists... but with her only needing 96 - its HARD!  (Plug to Maine boxers - Teacup list is WAYYYY too short.)

So when I mentioned a day trip - and she needed a box in Carrabassett Valley - and we both needed a box in Wilton and a couple in Jay - she happily said she was game for a day trip.  Little did she know that I'd come up with a CRAZY idea over breakfast.  And as I mentioned it to her - her eyes started to roll slowly to the back of her head.  But it was early - 6am early... and without the added will power of her first cup of tea - she agreed to my misadventure.

So after we finished our breakfast and knew we were set for our morning of boxing - off we went.  Plugging in our first stop - Jackman, Maine!  Now if none of you have ever been to Jackman - there is only ONE ROAD to get there and back.  One.  You can't get anywhere from Jackman except maybe Canada (15 miles further) which was NOT an option for Teacup... if you think she doesn't like boxing out of Maine - start mentioning the Canadian border - it's not a pretty sight :)  And it takes approximately 2 hours to get there... just to pick up a box.

But she agreed... and off we trekked. The drive was long - and we actually ran out of things to talk about - which never happens.  But we did pick up a box along the way, then checked on another that was surprisingly still viable after 6 years.  Further north we drove... watching the temperature and driving through banks of thick morning fog.  The weather folks (Tom Johnston specifically) promised a sunny day... but we were doubting him.  But the temperature slowly climbed the further we went north and the fog did indeed burn off (granted we were up in the mountains - so it didn't have far to go to burn off.) and the views were spectacular!  Jackman - and all of 201 was at foliage peak.  And Mother Nature had done a fine job with her paintbrush in the area.  The colors were vivid as we drove north along the river.  The sun making the colors pop in their brilliance.

Along the way - we passed a group of 'town elders' gathered outside a local store - clearly it was the town meeting in progress.  We thought about stopping and asking to be put on their agenda - but figure it would just confuse the locals - so we continued north.  We drove through Moscow - and there was something we've come to love finding along our random routes - a wall of birdhouses!  And they were in all sorts of colors, shapes and sizes.  A wonderful random expression of art along our route!  We finally made it to Jackman - and navigated to the box.  Afterwards we needed a pit-stop to fill up on gas and grab a juice...

Jackman was lacking locals - in fact - everyone around us was from Canada : )  And they were all heading south.  Probably getting one last trip into the state before our borders get locked up after November 8th - not that that would actually happen - but Canadians were clearly making sure they got that fall trip in, just in case.

So we opted to continue south - after all we still needed to get to Carrabassett Valley... we stopped at the overlook to take in the view... (Later I will realize why having a smartphone could be an asset) then a bit further - passing the troll on a stick and a frog on the pole... stuck behind a chain of vehicles (all with Canadian plates) heading south.  Folks would pull over to take those required shots of the fall colors and then move along.  We stopped to take photos of the birdhouses before trying our luck at something in Moscow that Teacup vaguely knew the clue to - but the box had been out for 12 years - so after some random digging around - we opted to move along.

We stopped at the historic location where Benedict Arnold and his army made landfall before crossing further north into Canadian.  And did a few u-turns as we took a look at a few spots where we thought things might be stuck.  Now we realize when a location is listed as along 'Route such and such' that you should probably believe it - but when given the option of avoiding a city and cutting off a section - we'll take that 'A' option instead.  So while we needed a box on 201 - our first trip through we missed it because we jumped on 201A.  Because the GPS didn't come up with the location at all... and looking at our map - we figured the scenic overlook would be along the river - not in the middle of land.  Guess what - we were WRONG.  On the upside - as soon as we found it on our return trip south - we recognized it as some place we'd already visited before for a box.  Happily - this time there wasn't a wedding in progress - but we were there with LOTS of Canadians ;)  Fortunately for us - they were too busy checking out the 'scenic view' to notice Teacup heading in and out of the woods :)

So another box under our belt and we were finally off to Carrabassett Valley.  Before we could get close - we thought we were going to need an emergency run to the store to pick up some eye bleach! It was hard to miss - but there on the front lawn of a house was a human dressed as a zebra that was quickly molting out of their hide - I can not make this stuff up... the only thing missing was the clown make-up or the fact that we weren't at Walmart at 3am!  But I digress.

We got to our destination and headed out on the trail at 12:50.  The sun was high in the sky and the weather perfect.  But we were prepared - because it was fall in Maine, the sun sets early - in the mountains the weather can change without notice and we were heading out on a section of the Appalachian Trail... famous for eating hikers whole :)  We had snacks, water, bananas, clues, charged cell phones and blazes.  Even if they were the wrong color.  But the clues were 6 years old and the paint looked relatively new.  Now if only the person with the spray paint had brought a chainsaw - maybe our trip would have started out better (having to climb over 3 downed trees should have been a tell.

But we ventured on - because this is one of 96 boxes on Teacup list.  And the only way to remove it - is to attempt it.  So we scrambled forward.  Bushwhacking to try and find blazes - but only finding hoof prints - we trudged along.  Over rocks, under trees, across boggy moss, then 25 feet of actual trail.  The blazes were sketchy - but Teacup was able to find enough to trudge forward (she did have chalk with her and added a few of her own so we could get back to the car!  Pays to be a previous scout parent!)  We continued along, down the trail, down and over fallen debris, around more crap and reached a river... well it wasn't much of a river as we haven't had rain in ages... but it was a river of uncertain rockage.

So it's at this point that Teacup and I start to question our sanity.  I can't afford to break a leg trying to navigate to the other side of the river and up the hill that's less than pleasant - and she's part billy goat.  Besides - if she doesn't get to where she thinks the box is actually located - it stays on the list.  I know my limits - I'm terrified of falling - even more afraid of hitting bottom - and KNOW - that if I did get hurt - Teacup would have to save herself because she wouldn't have been able to get me out (but she could save my logbook!)  So we had a slightly heated debate about her going forward - we felt we were more than half way to our needed location - and me waiting behind.  After more than a few exchanges - she reluctantly agreed to head across.  I found a cushy spot of dry moss and proceeded to wait her out.  I texted a few friends, chatted with Christopher about what he was doing and made Mainekokopellian a little jealous as he was holed up at the office while we were out in the great Maine outdoors.

Teacup asked for 5 minutes, her 5 minutes is sometimes a much random time frame.  I was giving her thirty minutes and then I was going to call her on her progress.  Twenty-five minutes into my time frame - she made her way back across the river.  No luck - but off the list.  Too much damage, too much uncertainty - but a pretty educated guess that she was in the right location.  So I gave up my seat so she could rehydrate... and we headed back to the car.  The trails sucked as much on the way back as they did on the way in... and at one point Teacup offered me her walking stick.  I clearly suggested that might not be a safe option for her and for her to hold on to it :)

We finally heard cars.  We knew we'd make it out alive!  We both agree that we do not understand how anyone who thinks hiking the AT is fun????  Those trails are the succubus of all trails.  Also - with so many folks going missing on them (because not every section is clearly blazed) - we wondered why the AT Boundary signed didn't have QR Codes on each of their signs.  Then hikers could check into more locations with a quick scan of their phone.  Can someone mention to that to whomever maintains the trails?  And maybe someone could get a chainsaw and cut down those first 3 downed trees as well?  Maybe even clear the trail to an actual trail instead of bushwhacking?

But back to the car - no box :(  Sad pandas... so off we drove to our next spot.  Ice cream!  It was only an hour away... but we felt we deserved it - and it was past lunch - and we survived the AT - so all things  lined up as hopeful and as we made our way into Farmington - we pulled into Giffords for a couple sundaes (they were closing in 3 days for the season - and I was just beginning to want ice cream as it was finally cool enough to eat it again - even if it was 76 degrees in October!)  With sundaes in tow - off to search out a cemetery box.  A quick find later - we went off to Jay to get our last 2 boxes.  We had attempted them before - but the trails had been under maintenance since their planting in May.  And after our previous attempt - we felt we had a better handle on their locations.

In we went, meandering down the trail - and run straight into the trail maintenance crew.  Great!  How are we supposed to get the last two boxes without tripping over them?  So we took a side trail - in hopes it would work out to what we needed.  Nope, not for the second box.  But we did get the third and were able to log into the logbook.  So - not wanting to tip off the grounds crew of boxes being on the trail - we opted to head off the trail.  This did not make Teacup happy.  But we resigned ourselves to having to come back a third time for the middle box.  But then I had an idea - we could get to the middle box by remote access (from the road) - so we drove through the construction zone and entered via the ATV trail.  After just a few minutes - and no sightings of the locals - we found the box!  Woohoo!

Needing to get home - we ran back to the car (so we could catch the flow of traffic while we could) and started to head home.  We had a long day under our butts and some lovely images for our troubles.  But the best part - was enjoying the misadventure with a friend.  Even if she did roll her eyes at me - we had a good day.  And with any luck - our trip to Rhode Island will be even more fun!