Stopped by Lake Murray this morning to search for an elusive geocache. When I got back to the vehicle someone had smashed the window and rummaged around inside. They didn't take anything that I could see.
Didn't find the cache, either.
Window guy can't come till Monday, and it's going to rain this weekend, so I gotta tape the window with plastic. That has to be good for the paint!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Over Hill, Over Dale
I hit the not-so-dusty trail this morning in the dark to search for the geocaches on the west ridge of Spring Canyon, north of the 52 and west of Santee.
It was a chilly and misty morning in MTRP. The frogs were croaking, and there was a bit of water in the streambeds. And puddles on the trails to negotiate in the dark!
On the trail in Spring Canyon.
I keep passing these shot-up cans, I better take a picture to remember them by.
Climbing up the trail out of the canyon I saw a deer, so I got out the camera, but it was gone. Then I saw a hawk sitting on a wire, so I took a quick pic.
But it flew away! So, we get to look at some interesting slippage of land.
Artistic shot of power lines crossing a canyon.
Looking southeast towards Spring Canyon, Santee, and Cowles Mountain, from the ridge.
Elephant geocache.
Blood from getting stuck by pointy things near elephant geocache...
SpongeBob Squarepants geocache. These were the two cuties of the day.
Well, this one was SUPPOSED to test your ability to spot the geocache in the center of the image, but something went wrong!
I reduced the size and saved it at full quality. Pooh!
This dad and daughter duo passed me (with no warning) as I was heading back to the truck. Daughter is not wearing a helmet, and was riding like a maniac!
These guys took the muddy path, and I took the somewhat drier path.
Well, that is it for today. I found fifteen caches, I think. I'm sure I didn't find two. And that makes nine hundred and twenty career total.
It was a chilly and misty morning in MTRP. The frogs were croaking, and there was a bit of water in the streambeds. And puddles on the trails to negotiate in the dark!
On the trail in Spring Canyon.
I keep passing these shot-up cans, I better take a picture to remember them by.
Climbing up the trail out of the canyon I saw a deer, so I got out the camera, but it was gone. Then I saw a hawk sitting on a wire, so I took a quick pic.
But it flew away! So, we get to look at some interesting slippage of land.
Artistic shot of power lines crossing a canyon.
Looking southeast towards Spring Canyon, Santee, and Cowles Mountain, from the ridge.
Elephant geocache.
Blood from getting stuck by pointy things near elephant geocache...
SpongeBob Squarepants geocache. These were the two cuties of the day.
Well, this one was SUPPOSED to test your ability to spot the geocache in the center of the image, but something went wrong!
I reduced the size and saved it at full quality. Pooh!
This dad and daughter duo passed me (with no warning) as I was heading back to the truck. Daughter is not wearing a helmet, and was riding like a maniac!
These guys took the muddy path, and I took the somewhat drier path.
Well, that is it for today. I found fifteen caches, I think. I'm sure I didn't find two. And that makes nine hundred and twenty career total.
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Two Posts In One Day?
His new Hello Kitty blanket and her new Snuggie.
Yes, I realized I have a lampshade on my head. I am quite the card!
Xmas tail-less cat has a Maker's Mark ribbon to adorn him.
And that is all for TODAY!
Yes, I realized I have a lampshade on my head. I am quite the card!
Xmas tail-less cat has a Maker's Mark ribbon to adorn him.
And that is all for TODAY!
The Day
Finished Time For The Stars, by Heinlein, AGAIN, and started The Kedrigern Chronicles Vol. II, by Morressy, AGAIN.
Yes, the library was closed on Xmas eve. Whose stupid idea was that??
I got to the door a few seconds after a woman left. I didn't realized she hadn't come out of the library. The joint was locked up tight. I wailed, "But I need something to READ!!" The lady smiled.
Yes, the library was closed on Xmas eve. Whose stupid idea was that??
I got to the door a few seconds after a woman left. I didn't realized she hadn't come out of the library. The joint was locked up tight. I wailed, "But I need something to READ!!" The lady smiled.
Friday, December 24, 2010
A Caching We Will Go
I checked my email at ten this morning and found there was a new cache just listed, and no one had claim First To Find! And it was over by College Grove! I printed out the particulars, including a cache at The Grove itself I hadn't looked for yet, then rushed... no, I had to wait a couple of impatient minutes for the Grocery List to be completed--my excuse for sneaking off.
I got there and found I was THIRD To Find. Missed it by thirty minutes.
I went over to The Grove and spotted the cache there, and even touched it, but couldn't open it because of couple of muggles were sitting on the bench nearby, and they weren't moving anytime soon. Oh, well, at least I know where it is!
I hit a few stores on the way to the grocery--Dixieline, Target, Wal-Mart, and Trader Joe's. And Michael's. Couldn't find anything much, gift-wise. I weep.
Got the groceries, headed home. Spotted a couple of women lurking suspiciously around some bushes. I pulled over and approached them, and called out, "You ladies can't be geocachers, you're too well-dressed. Not scruffy enough!" Turned out the younger lady was ZoePDX from Portland, down visiting her mother and showing mom her new hobby of geocaching. I told her it wasn't in the big bush, but I couldn't remember exactly where it was. I spotted it, eventually, and gave her a couple of minor hints, and she found it too. I took off, as the groceries were probably melting.
When I got home I found I had missed Brenda's visit for the second year in a row. But, I still got the cookies and candy!
I got there and found I was THIRD To Find. Missed it by thirty minutes.
I went over to The Grove and spotted the cache there, and even touched it, but couldn't open it because of couple of muggles were sitting on the bench nearby, and they weren't moving anytime soon. Oh, well, at least I know where it is!
I hit a few stores on the way to the grocery--Dixieline, Target, Wal-Mart, and Trader Joe's. And Michael's. Couldn't find anything much, gift-wise. I weep.
Got the groceries, headed home. Spotted a couple of women lurking suspiciously around some bushes. I pulled over and approached them, and called out, "You ladies can't be geocachers, you're too well-dressed. Not scruffy enough!" Turned out the younger lady was ZoePDX from Portland, down visiting her mother and showing mom her new hobby of geocaching. I told her it wasn't in the big bush, but I couldn't remember exactly where it was. I spotted it, eventually, and gave her a couple of minor hints, and she found it too. I took off, as the groceries were probably melting.
When I got home I found I had missed Brenda's visit for the second year in a row. But, I still got the cookies and candy!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Rain Rain Rain
The San Diego River seems to be leveling off at 4,000 cubic feet per second flow and at 11.5 feet. We went for a little drive down to Missing Valley to check out the flood.
In Mission Valley at Camino Del Rio North and Ward Road. Flooded, a car stuck in water. Hey, isn't there a geocache on this corner?
Where Mission Center Road crosses the San Diego River. That car is stuck in the water.
Heading west on Camino De La Reina traffic is pretty well stopped. I wonder why?
Oh, here is why! The 163 underpass is flooded! I thought it was only the connecting road to Fashion Valley that flooded! Everyone has to turn around and go back the way we just came!
A fortuitous break in the turning traffic allows a peak at the flood, it's up to the barricades!
We avoided the freeway madness and came back via University Avenue. It got dark! Here we see University Ave. in La Mesa, nearish to Helix High School, in the rain.
Is the rain over, yet?
In Mission Valley at Camino Del Rio North and Ward Road. Flooded, a car stuck in water. Hey, isn't there a geocache on this corner?
Where Mission Center Road crosses the San Diego River. That car is stuck in the water.
Heading west on Camino De La Reina traffic is pretty well stopped. I wonder why?
Oh, here is why! The 163 underpass is flooded! I thought it was only the connecting road to Fashion Valley that flooded! Everyone has to turn around and go back the way we just came!
A fortuitous break in the turning traffic allows a peak at the flood, it's up to the barricades!
We avoided the freeway madness and came back via University Avenue. It got dark! Here we see University Ave. in La Mesa, nearish to Helix High School, in the rain.
Is the rain over, yet?
Rain Rain
It's been raining all night, it's raining right now, the San Diego River is flowing at 1,070 cubit feet per second (normally is around 10 CFS) and it is almost six inches over the road at Fashion Valley at 8.43 feet (normally around 2 feet), according to the USGS Real-Time Water Data for San Diego at Fashion Valley site.
I just finished Dewey : The Library Cat, by Vicki Myron. A touching story of a bedraggled kitten found in the book drop of a small-town library in Iowa.
I'm still plodding away at the Pearl Buck Christmas story collection that I haven't mentioned before, I don't think.
Too rainy to go geocaching, I've taken the garbage out, I guess I'll have to go read some more!
I just finished Dewey : The Library Cat, by Vicki Myron. A touching story of a bedraggled kitten found in the book drop of a small-town library in Iowa.
I'm still plodding away at the Pearl Buck Christmas story collection that I haven't mentioned before, I don't think.
Too rainy to go geocaching, I've taken the garbage out, I guess I'll have to go read some more!
Monday, December 20, 2010
Drippy Monday
Quite by accident, we got a new sink and faucet installed today by Steve the plumber! Now we have non-dripping hot water in the bathroom!
I had turned the hot water off some years ago, as no one seemed able to fix the drip properly. The plumber came by the other week, by misteak, as it turns out. He was directed to the wrong apartment. He saw our situation and talked the property manager into approving a new faucet for us! The old one was the original from the 50s, I'm sure.
I hope I still have some of that yellow paint around!
C. took a picture of the tail-less cat under my shirt.
I just came back from geocaching, that's why my pants are slightly muddy and the hair is mussed. Plus, I'm a slob!
Found this pretty little wheel while geocaching at Grossmont College Sunday morning. The back seems to have a ball-bearing. What do you suppose it is? It's about an inch in diameter.
I watch The New Adventures Of Old Christine at lunch every day. I love it! Here's a line from the show that I thought especially humorous, as I used to be an electrician, of sorts, back in the day.
Richard (the dad, a contractor) to Richie (his young son), as I recall it:
I had turned the hot water off some years ago, as no one seemed able to fix the drip properly. The plumber came by the other week, by misteak, as it turns out. He was directed to the wrong apartment. He saw our situation and talked the property manager into approving a new faucet for us! The old one was the original from the 50s, I'm sure.
I hope I still have some of that yellow paint around!
C. took a picture of the tail-less cat under my shirt.
I just came back from geocaching, that's why my pants are slightly muddy and the hair is mussed. Plus, I'm a slob!
Found this pretty little wheel while geocaching at Grossmont College Sunday morning. The back seems to have a ball-bearing. What do you suppose it is? It's about an inch in diameter.
I watch The New Adventures Of Old Christine at lunch every day. I love it! Here's a line from the show that I thought especially humorous, as I used to be an electrician, of sorts, back in the day.
Richard (the dad, a contractor) to Richie (his young son), as I recall it:
At my job, we hid a bunch of barbeque ribs in the wall. We're gonna freak out the electrician.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
It's Raining
Yes, it IS raining now, and it has been raining or sprinkling for the last four days, mostly.
I went geocaching this morning in the Santee and El Cajohn areas. Found one cache that I've been looking for for (Yay english!) nearly a year.
I'm reading Julie & Julia. No, I haven't seen the movie! I haven't seen a LOT of movies. I think my attention span has diminished woefully. Probably because of the internets.
But I digress...
That author sure has a potty mouth, but she knows it. I feel quite the ass for having judged Julia Child so many years ago on such superficial qualities as her looks and raucous voice. I hope I'm a better person now, but probably not. Know thyself.
By the way, I don't see an easy way to read the comments without checking EVERY post, except for the oncs I see to moderate. And I don't see an easy way to comment on THOSE, so don't expect any especial replies to comments. I don't know how the big guys handle their comment-ers. Maybe other blogging programs work differently than blogger.
Yes, I did copy'n'paste that paragraph from my bicycling blog.
I went geocaching this morning in the Santee and El Cajohn areas. Found one cache that I've been looking for for (Yay english!) nearly a year.
I'm reading Julie & Julia. No, I haven't seen the movie! I haven't seen a LOT of movies. I think my attention span has diminished woefully. Probably because of the internets.
But I digress...
That author sure has a potty mouth, but she knows it. I feel quite the ass for having judged Julia Child so many years ago on such superficial qualities as her looks and raucous voice. I hope I'm a better person now, but probably not. Know thyself.
By the way, I don't see an easy way to read the comments without checking EVERY post, except for the oncs I see to moderate. And I don't see an easy way to comment on THOSE, so don't expect any especial replies to comments. I don't know how the big guys handle their comment-ers. Maybe other blogging programs work differently than blogger.
Yes, I did copy'n'paste that paragraph from my bicycling blog.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Sunday, December 05, 2010
West of the Dump
Got up early and headed out to Santee to deal with the geocaches on the ridge just west of the dump. Access is through Spring Canyon under the Highway 52 bridge. I parked at the Equistrian Staging Area in Mission Trails Regional Park, so it's a bit of a walk just to get started!
I didn't find the geocache under the bridge, so I headed up the canyon. Even though it was still nearly not dawn, there were several people already hiking the trails.
I found a couple of caches in the valley that I didn't get the last time I was here, then headed up a steep trail towards the ridge. There were three caches on said steep trail, one I couldn't find, and two that I did.
When I got to the top I headed north to find the northernmost cache on the ridge. Because of the military installation to the north and west, one has to be careful not to cross 'the line'. To the east you can look down upon the Santee dump. If the wind is just right, you can smell it, too!
The northern-most part of the dump complex.
There is the dump up on the hill. You can see Cowles Mt. in the background.
I headed south along the ridge, finding caches along the way. Tons of fun!
An hour ago I was down there in Spring Canyon.
El Cajon has its normal haze.
You can see forever from up here! Highway52 bridge over Spring Canyon, with Fortuna Mt. in the background.
Here are some examples of geocaches I found today.
A mortar round container makes a nice watertight hide.
Didn't someone sing a song about Blue Bison? Anyone?
This kind of container is called a Bison, after one of the manufacturers.
A camouflaged Altoids tin.
Now that's a nice 'treasure chest'!
Pill bottle hiding under a guy wire cover. Almost missed this one!
Cute gingerbread cookie tin, with lucky horse shoe.
The only wildlife I saw today was two battling bugs. What kind of bugs are they, I ask?
You can see the whole route at Gmaps Pedometer! It claims I walked 6.8 miles. Feels like seven to me!
Don't forget you can usually click the images to see bigger versions!
I didn't find the geocache under the bridge, so I headed up the canyon. Even though it was still nearly not dawn, there were several people already hiking the trails.
I found a couple of caches in the valley that I didn't get the last time I was here, then headed up a steep trail towards the ridge. There were three caches on said steep trail, one I couldn't find, and two that I did.
When I got to the top I headed north to find the northernmost cache on the ridge. Because of the military installation to the north and west, one has to be careful not to cross 'the line'. To the east you can look down upon the Santee dump. If the wind is just right, you can smell it, too!
The northern-most part of the dump complex.
There is the dump up on the hill. You can see Cowles Mt. in the background.
I headed south along the ridge, finding caches along the way. Tons of fun!
An hour ago I was down there in Spring Canyon.
El Cajon has its normal haze.
You can see forever from up here! Highway52 bridge over Spring Canyon, with Fortuna Mt. in the background.
Here are some examples of geocaches I found today.
A mortar round container makes a nice watertight hide.
Didn't someone sing a song about Blue Bison? Anyone?
This kind of container is called a Bison, after one of the manufacturers.
A camouflaged Altoids tin.
Now that's a nice 'treasure chest'!
Pill bottle hiding under a guy wire cover. Almost missed this one!
Cute gingerbread cookie tin, with lucky horse shoe.
The only wildlife I saw today was two battling bugs. What kind of bugs are they, I ask?
You can see the whole route at Gmaps Pedometer! It claims I walked 6.8 miles. Feels like seven to me!
Don't forget you can usually click the images to see bigger versions!
Friday, November 26, 2010
In The Hills Again
Since joining the "Pro" ranks of geocachers (that is, I pay THEM money) I've access to a lot more caches, which is good, but sometimes it entails returning to places I've already been.
Like the hills of Santee!
So today, coughing mildly, I headed out (late, I overslept!) to them thar hills! The sign at West Hills High said 40 degrees, so I put my mittens on.
I parked at the usual spot, a few houses away from the cactus, and headed UP a hill. And after finding a few caches I headed DOWN a hill. Then UP again. Then DOWN again. Yah follow?
Saw this car in one of the DOWN parts.
Several of the caches had the theme of 'Don't Cross The No Trepassing Line'. The military and and a ranch don't seem to want any geocachers on their land, for some reason, so we must keep a lookout for the white signs. And the white trucks. They got the guards! So, here we see a line white 'No Trespassing' signs heading into distance. Oh, yes, I came DOWN that hill, then UP to point where I took the picture.
This geocache was so empty-looking I decided to leave the Yellow Man in there.
I survived the big outing, found twelve geocaches, and pretty much cleared THIS area.
Now, it's on to WEST of the DUMP!
Like the hills of Santee!
So today, coughing mildly, I headed out (late, I overslept!) to them thar hills! The sign at West Hills High said 40 degrees, so I put my mittens on.
I parked at the usual spot, a few houses away from the cactus, and headed UP a hill. And after finding a few caches I headed DOWN a hill. Then UP again. Then DOWN again. Yah follow?
Saw this car in one of the DOWN parts.
Several of the caches had the theme of 'Don't Cross The No Trepassing Line'. The military and and a ranch don't seem to want any geocachers on their land, for some reason, so we must keep a lookout for the white signs. And the white trucks. They got the guards! So, here we see a line white 'No Trespassing' signs heading into distance. Oh, yes, I came DOWN that hill, then UP to point where I took the picture.
This geocache was so empty-looking I decided to leave the Yellow Man in there.
I survived the big outing, found twelve geocaches, and pretty much cleared THIS area.
Now, it's on to WEST of the DUMP!
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Back To The Hills
Since signing up for the Pro-Level membership at Geocaching.com I have found a bunch of caches in places I've already been. Been several times, in some cases. So, it's back to the Santee Hills for a bit of do-over.
The sun was just coming up when I made the first find at a park in Santee, off of Mast. The last cacher couldn't find it, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it rather easily.
I don't know just WHO put all these canyons here, but it is up and down, up and down. Fall seems to be the time to out here, though, not a lot of weeds to stick in the shoes'n'socks, and it it not too warm. In fact, I was wearing mittens for the first hour.
Here are some of the geocaches I found, to show you some of the various ways they can be hidden.
Fake rock!
Nifty military surplus container reused for geocaching. They know their waterproofing!
Camotaped Lock'n'Lock container.
Can you see the yellow container in there?
Santee Boulders is a popular bouldering spot. I've seen folks carrying mattress-size pads out here on the trails and did not know, at first, what they were up to. No one was there today, so I took the opportunity to pose for some amusing photographs.
Holding up a giant rock at Santee Boulders.
Being pulled into a crack by a troll, I'm sure!
Only one Did Not Find for the day, some interesting hides, and lots of successful hill-climbing. And only a bit of sunburn! A great morning out!
The sun was just coming up when I made the first find at a park in Santee, off of Mast. The last cacher couldn't find it, so I was pleasantly surprised to find it rather easily.
I don't know just WHO put all these canyons here, but it is up and down, up and down. Fall seems to be the time to out here, though, not a lot of weeds to stick in the shoes'n'socks, and it it not too warm. In fact, I was wearing mittens for the first hour.
Here are some of the geocaches I found, to show you some of the various ways they can be hidden.
Fake rock!
Nifty military surplus container reused for geocaching. They know their waterproofing!
Camotaped Lock'n'Lock container.
Can you see the yellow container in there?
Santee Boulders is a popular bouldering spot. I've seen folks carrying mattress-size pads out here on the trails and did not know, at first, what they were up to. No one was there today, so I took the opportunity to pose for some amusing photographs.
Holding up a giant rock at Santee Boulders.
Being pulled into a crack by a troll, I'm sure!
Only one Did Not Find for the day, some interesting hides, and lots of successful hill-climbing. And only a bit of sunburn! A great morning out!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
That Shiny Thing, or, Epic Serendipity
I went over to check on what the kids were doing on the computers. One of them had a strange-looking image on there, but she quickly scrolled past it. I asked her to scroll back. I looked closely. I shouted out, "I've GOT one of those! I've been trying to figure out what it was for TEN YEARS!"
And you people on the web were NO HELP AT ALL!
My brother gave me this shiny thing back in 1999 or so. He found it in the Lost Articles box at a restaurant (or bar?) he was working (or not!) at. I posted it back in 2007 on my picture page, with a plea to help identify it.
Nothing.
It took a child, a mere child, to make it happen!
It turns out it is a sugar refractometer. It is for measuring the sugar content in beer, wine, and syrup. And the like. A link to how to use one.
Now, where did I hide the darn thing?
And you people on the web were NO HELP AT ALL!
My brother gave me this shiny thing back in 1999 or so. He found it in the Lost Articles box at a restaurant (or bar?) he was working (or not!) at. I posted it back in 2007 on my picture page, with a plea to help identify it.
Nothing.
It took a child, a mere child, to make it happen!
Scroll down past the giant pic!
It turns out it is a sugar refractometer. It is for measuring the sugar content in beer, wine, and syrup. And the like. A link to how to use one.
Now, where did I hide the darn thing?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Of THIS, And Of THAT
I took three hours of vacation time today.
This is how I spent it:
What else has been going on?
Meh, I rode the bike to work today.
Becca came in the other day to fax. She forgot the fax number she was calling, so she asked me to look it up on the interweb. I did so, then she found it on the paper she was sending. She said, "I am the big funny woman!" I said, "Becca, I think you are thinking in Spanish again!"
A rather short sixth-grader came up to me and announced how much he liked this school because of all the girls here. I said, "Oookaaaayy." He said, "Yah, my old school didn't have nuthin'!" The eighth-grade girls sitting nearby were quite amused.
A couple of retired teachers (subs) were sitting around the library discussing my notorious crankiness and other amusing anecdotes, at my expense. But one said that I am beloved.
I went to a workshop yesterday and was treated to a video of how not to act as a library staffer. Oddly, it was pretty much me! I said, "But that's what I do, I do CRANKY! And, I am beloved!" The presenter said, "(insert my name here), you are a special case."
That's all I got.
This is how I spent it:
What else has been going on?
Meh, I rode the bike to work today.
MILDLY AMUSING (AND SHORT!) TALES FROM WORK
Becca came in the other day to fax. She forgot the fax number she was calling, so she asked me to look it up on the interweb. I did so, then she found it on the paper she was sending. She said, "I am the big funny woman!" I said, "Becca, I think you are thinking in Spanish again!"
A rather short sixth-grader came up to me and announced how much he liked this school because of all the girls here. I said, "Oookaaaayy." He said, "Yah, my old school didn't have nuthin'!" The eighth-grade girls sitting nearby were quite amused.
A couple of retired teachers (subs) were sitting around the library discussing my notorious crankiness and other amusing anecdotes, at my expense. But one said that I am beloved.
I went to a workshop yesterday and was treated to a video of how not to act as a library staffer. Oddly, it was pretty much me! I said, "But that's what I do, I do CRANKY! And, I am beloved!" The presenter said, "(insert my name here), you are a special case."
That's all I got.
Saturday, October 09, 2010
This'n'That
Found this on my desk. Check the expiration date. SURELY this hasn't been sitting there since 1996! My desk was moved into this building in 2002, I think. You mean to say I haven't cleaned my desk in fourteen years?? It's possible!
Saw this gigantic electrical receptacle on a little building attached to a community center. That's a receptacle for serious amperage/voltage/frequency! We used to work on these back on the air base. They plugged portable generators into them. What do they plug in HERE?
Just around the corner was this sign. What have they got in there?
At the grocery store today I saw a guy sitting on a chair in the bed of his rather large pickup truck, just a talkin' on his mobile phone. He was there the whole time I was shopping. I thought he was probably some kind of disturbed, but a cart guy was talking to him like he knew him.
Well, that's all I got, LATER!
Saw this gigantic electrical receptacle on a little building attached to a community center. That's a receptacle for serious amperage/voltage/frequency! We used to work on these back on the air base. They plugged portable generators into them. What do they plug in HERE?
Just around the corner was this sign. What have they got in there?
At the grocery store today I saw a guy sitting on a chair in the bed of his rather large pickup truck, just a talkin' on his mobile phone. He was there the whole time I was shopping. I thought he was probably some kind of disturbed, but a cart guy was talking to him like he knew him.
Well, that's all I got, LATER!
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