What I've been up to:

-Still not boxing a whole lot because of my stinkin knee. I finally saw an orthopod last week who said I need an MRI. YAY! That will get me closer to knowing what's wrong. And the closer I am to knowing what's wrong, the closer I am to being back on the REAL trails. Seriously, the drive-bys are KILLING me. Give me some vertical hills and glacial boulders and deep running streams I need to jump across. This easy boxing is for the birds.

-In spite of that I am 11 boxes away from hitting 500. 11! Such a big number yet I can remember almost every box. It's been an amazing year and a half since I started this crazy hobby. AMAZING.

-Went out with Katchick and Redbarnphotos to plant a series near Katchick's work which was fun. Today was absolutely perfect. Not too hot, not too cold, the scent of the leaves intoxicating and the company captivating. I will never forget this day as long as I live, the sights and smells and friends. Although neither one was into my one-woman dance party. I even busted out my own rendition of Jump Jump but neither of them were having it. Party poopers. I found a geocache when we were planting a box in a sweet outcropping on the side of a hill. I stole a blinky shamrock shaped Bailey's light from it as retaliation for a geocacher stealing the stamp out of the birthday box Katee planted for me. Juvenile but I don't care, it's a sweet blinky light.

-I've fallen a bit off the LTC bandwagon. They're just so much work and I've got so much going on right now. I think I'm going to finish up the swaps I'm committed to and then go on hiatus. I don't know, I say that all the time and then sign up for another swap. Guess I'll wait and see.

-Oh, did I mention that Redbarnphotos (aka Maryann) bought me the GREATEST PRESENT of all time??? It's a journal made out of a vintage Trixie Belden book. Seriously, I cried when she gave it to me. My wonderful kitty girl, Miss Trixie, was named after none other than Trixie Belden herself. She's similar to Nancy Drew but not as well known. My grandma gave me my mom's books when I was little and I fell in love with her, she was so strong and independant and solved all her own mysteries herself. I told Maryann that that's who Trix is named after and then she surprised me with that journal. I am going to make it into a Trixie themed scrapbook because it's perfect for it. To think, I never would have met such an amazing, thoughtful caring person like maryann had it not been for boxing. Brings a tear to your eye, doesn't it? :P

I was just wandering through my profile when I noticed that I need 2 more exchanges to reach 100 people that's I've met through letterboxing. That's just amazing to me. A little over a year ago I attended my first gathering (WNY) and was scared to be in a group of people I only knew by a stamped image. I remember sitting in the car and telling Katchick that even though we drove 2 hours to get there, there was NO WAY I was walking into that pavilion (little known fact: I'm horribly shy. I cover it up by incessant talking :P).

So a little over a year ago I had no idea that Red Barn Photos would become such a good friend that would help me buy luggage and who my cat actually approved of. I had no idea that Craftymouse was obsessed with crafting (and Twilight!) as I am or that Dandelion was more addicted to feathers than his cat. I didn't know that Aceohearts boys would cuddle with any person around or that Fuchsia Fairydust and Camper Dude were some of the most articulate children I'd ever meet. I had no idea that Walker63 was a man you could trust to stick his hand in the grimy hidey hole as the sole hero in a group of women or that The Point was so sweet and nice.

I didn't know that JackBear could carve stamps and put them on a beer bottle (and therefore becoming Brentaroni's favorite boxer) or that Kitten without mittens could carve images so tiny that I had trouble believing they weren't magic. I didn't know that 3 Blind Mice had such beautiful little girls or that I could meet Infinity out on the trail at 8am on a Sunday morning and talk about our love of Get Fuzzy. I didn't know that Jiggs had such AWESOME and wonderful kids or that he was one of the jolliest guys I'd ever meet. I didn't know that 1/2 of The Doctors B was the only person I'd ever meet outside of college that I could talk Devonian invertebrates with or that Lock Wench was just as short as I am :P I was completely unaware that Party Pig and Wes would drive across a high school lawn to try and find a trailhead to get to a box or that I could exchange with Green Tortuga without even knowing who he was.

A year ago I had no idea that the 98 people I have met even existed and now I call some of them my good friends. Katchick is leaving me soon and I'm sad to lose my letterboxing partner but I know that finding someone to go with me is only an AQMail away. So thanks for the last year, New York. I can't wait for the next one :)