Our 1st Wedding Anniversary

Today we celebrated the one year anniversary of the best day of our lives. There's been a box planted by my mom to commemerate today. Reading what she wrote about us made me feel really special. It was a great day. We got to a Stone Mountain Christmas around 5pm. The picture above is us at the 4D movie. We enjoyed walking around and seeing the lights and festivities. We stayed for a few hours and then ate dinner at Provino's. It was delicious. We then headed home to eat some of our delicious wedding cake. Deane, a friend of my familiy, has been saving it for the past year. She did a great job- it was still delicious! We burned our unity candle has we watched the Majestic. Then, we talked for a while a went to sleep. A great day for both of us.

A Recent Picture of Darren and I

This picture was taken at Darren's Mom's Birthday on November 10.

Another F200 Picture

We hit F200!

Today was a great day- much better than when we hit F100!

First, we hit Chik-fil-a to get some food in our tummies before heading out. Then, we headed to Mark's to pick him up. He greeted us with a yummy bag of Halloween candy. Thanks Mark! After that, we headed over to Stone Mountain. We pulled into the parking lot of the walk up trail. After getting our gear together, we sat on some rocks at the bottom to await the arrival of TRex.

Trex arrived, and we were off for the top of the mountain. It was a perfect day to go up the mountain. The weather was beautiful. It wasn't too hot or too cold. We reached the top and walked around for a bit before heading to our detination.

Finally, we were at Hawk's View. What a beautiful spot! We decided on this box by Granny and Paw Paw to be #200. They have been some of the most wonderful people we have met while letterboxing.

The four of us sat and stamped in. We all exchanged with TRex as well. It was great to hit a lettorboxing milestone with our first letterboxing buddy and our newest one, too.

After stamping in and enjoying the view, TRex took us to some places on the mountain we'd never been before. It was so beautiful. We saw the most amazing cedar tree. Then, we headed down. We talked for a bit, then said our goodbyes to TRex.

We decided to check on a few of our boxes while we were there. Mark also wanted to check on Stone Mountain Mystery. We hadn't been there in a year or so, so that sounded good to us. WEll, we found more than we expected. I'm sure you saw Mark's post on the LBSE board that he was bizarroed. I think Mark's stamp is much better. I don't undersatnd though. Why is this guy doing this? What is he trying to prove- that he's a better carver? Well, I think that if this is an indication of what's to come, we have nothing to be worried about. Our SE carvers can hold their own!

Thanks Granny and Paw Paw, Mark and TRex for making F200 a zillion times better than 100!

We received this travelogue just now from Mark. He spent a great day at the Mountain today. Thanks for sharing about with us, Mark.

Desi and Darren,

I had a hoot tracking down your boxes today. Very
clever hiding spots...but wait, let me tell the story.

My good friend Amyrica and crew were out scouting
around at Stone Mtn. and I could not get up there for
the life of me. Frustration at that soon sucked into
deeper doom when the Dawgs lost another one to their
sworn enemies: Florida Gators. I tried to sleep early,
giving the day up as a loss and a lesson. But I kicked
sheets all night, flipping and flopping in my delirium
over letterboxing. I just couldn't rest, and I had an
extra hour due to the time change. I said, "uh, He&&
no. Not today." I rose at 7 and showered, severely
determined to do something with the day.

I grabbed bread and peanut butter, a tired banana, a
pack of pop-tarts, and 2 cheese sticks. I added 2
waters, an orange juice box, and a beer. I didn't know
what the beer was going to be for but I wanted to be
prepared for anything. "Aimless Endeavor" by Beloved
was pulsing out of my Mac as I got the gear bag ready.


Usually upon departure for a grand day of boxing I
would grab a map, my car keys, and my letterboxing
bag. Today I was without wheels, but a good set of
feet so I started trooping. I got to Stone Mtn. about
9:30 after a mile walk.

My first duty was to check on Gardening Granny and Paw
Paw's Happy B-day Great Grandmother Frances.
Everything was smooth so I moved onward.

I, in a moment of sheer impulse, went for the walk-up
trail and to attempt the intimidating Real Easter
series by the Drgdlgs. Most of the intimidation comes
from having to climb that rock. I nabbed 2 on the way
up.

I checked on my box on the top and alas it is gone.
What a good and faithful friend it was...I can only
hope the winds took it. I decided to depart after that
less I disturb the other natural beauty up there.
T-Rex, sorry. I dejectedly ate a chesse-stick and was
silenced by the beauty around me. Hey, that stamp
could have been a lot better anyway, we all know it.

So, on the jarring descent I discovered another Real
Easter clue and sat down for a smoke and some h2o.
Life was nice yea about 11:30 on a cat-nap sunny spot
on the mountain. I had miles to step before I got
home...onward.

Amyrica had secreted some special package in one of
the Stone Mtn boxes, thus my journey and its
importance. I must secure the most valuable cargo. All
is well and safe Amyrica.

My next stop was for rest. I pooped out where the old
swimming hole is located, somewhat near the Cherokee
Trail and the grist mill. I paused for station
identification and nipped at a pop tart. Lots of folks
around these parts, and moved on through a very
celebratory Asian birthday party. I smiled and began
to feel the miles in my kicks (feet).

As I departed, I took the time to search down a drgdlg
box nearby. It was a good stamp and I was on the
dodge/sneak plan with the looming crowds. Rehiding is
the hardest. The impulse to slither off is so
provoking within crowded scenes, but I had to keep
checking it from all sides. It is hidden, I'll be able
to sleep tonight. Whew.

The other side of the mountain is a gray blur. I
wandered into a rhythm of stepping and looking at the
views. It all became a very enjoyable green and
fall-patterned roadway stencil on an infinite roller.
I almost passed up the Radio Flyer. It turned out to
be not only my favorite drgdlg stamp, but the best one
to turn out all day in my logbook. Too cool.

I double-stepped it. I consider rash, crazy mindfarts
of attempting FORE!, another good 3 miles from where I
was currently located. I had a HH! Maybe swooping back
over to GG/PP's HHH? Delusions all! No...in the end I
opted to save my legs. I headed out of the park and
hit downtown Stone Mountain. I didn't head toward
home, nope.

I went to the splash pad for the SE Gathering:
Brigadoon Pub. Walked in, drank a few, ate some wings,
and headed home.

5 boxes. 7 hours. 9.4 miles on the kicks. 3 beers. 10
wings. 1 heck of a good day.

Thanks Desi and Darren for some awesome boxes and
adventures,

Mark

Congrats MookyDipper and Eidolon!

Congratulations to MookyDipper and Eidolon! They all found F200 while we were in Charlotte last weekend. Funny thing is, each of their finds was one of our boxes! MookyDipper found James K. Polk for F200 and Eidolon found Andrew Johnson. Congratulations!

We had a GREAT time in Charlotte!

We had a great time in Charlotte this weekend. We spent most of Saturday boxing with Eidolon, MookyDipper, and Artemis. We made some memories that will last a lifetime.

I will always know to stay away from the skull penetrating spiders.

If I ever want to visit a graveyard at night, I always have friends I can call to go with me!

Don't ask the waitress if there's a box hidden in the bushes outside. Not only will she not know, she'll think you're weird for the rest of the night.

I still wonder what those women in the white car were doing!

Jesse is very good (and enjoys) attracting cooties. Darren is very good ay disposing of them!

When you hide boxes out of state, it is always good to bring the clues back home with you!

When you go to sleep on an inflated air mattress and wake up on a deflated one, there's a problem!

There are so many more memories I could add, but I won't now.

For My Granny clues posted

I have posted the clues to the For My Granny letterbox. It has a long story with it, so I won't post all about it here. Please go find this box if you can. It has a special place in my heart.

We are heading off today for the Tarheel Treasure Hunt Gathering in Charlotte, NC. It looks like we'll get to meet a lot of new letterboxers this weekend. When we get back, look for clues to new boxes we have ready to plant in the Charlotte area. We are at F182 right now. So, there is a big possibility we'll hit F200 while we're gone this weekend. I'm sure it will be a much better day than when we hit F100!

This is a picture of Darren and I at our wedding on December 18, 2004. I LOVE this picture! Darren looks so handsome! This was the best day of my life!