After finding our initial box in June 2002, we have since found letterboxes in 18 states and placed them in 13 states; 4 countries: Aruba, Bermuda, The Netherlands, Great Britain; and on a cruise ship! Thanks for stopping by our website and we appreciate your continued support.
"Have fun and just get out there & box!!!"
Email us: mjpepe1@comcast.net (Mark) or suepepe1@comcast.net (Sue)
Saturday, February 26, 2005
Our Weekly Goodies . . .
This week's Box of the Week is Wild Rover's Freedom Schooner Amistad Letterbox. Along with the clue to the box, the reader will be taken back in history as the story of this watercraft is told. This is a perfect box to choose for Black History Month, as well.
Our Poll of the Week asks for your opinion of the ongoing and developing saga of GW Bush, his Presidents' Day interview and the acrid response by her Ladyship Prisspot. Vote now!
"I will not be called a liar by that Lady Prisspot. Our reports and intelligence prove that she was caught drinking from a bottle of wine and munchin' on some Polly O string cheese. She's the liar! If she keeps this up, I will release the photo that our intelligence community has in their possession that will put an end to this sad chapter in letterboxing!"
While trying to install a new driver for my new 17" flat panel Dell monitor, I really did a fine job of frying my computer! It's out of commission until the end of next week, when I hope to get it back. In the meantime, I will continue to post, although not quite as frequently from my son's computer and my office PC - when work doesn't get in the way!
Enjoy this Sunday's 2nd Winter Drive! For details, check our gathering page located in the right column and keep an eye for posts on the LbNE talk list. Sue & I cannot attend due to a prior commitment.
Warrior Woman emailed me today. She's sending out the new Boo Boo Box to us shortly, which we will monitor and send out to those injured in the line of boxing duty. There is quite a list already of those deserving a little letterboxing care & love. The BBB page will be updated next week with some FAQ's as well as the names of those on the list.
Don't forget Sunday's Chat Session on the Newboxers Talk List, beginning at 9pm. - and get out there andd box!!!Wish I could be there!! Enjoy your weekend and get out there and box!!!
We just received an urgent and pungent response from Lady Prisspot to our interview from Monday with George Bush. LP feels that the GW has maligned her good name and has sent a retort that she would like printed on this website! If she weren't such a lady - I wouldn't be able to print all she said.Stop back tonight for the complete text of her reply!
A post Tuesday on the LbNE talk list virtually went unnoticed as there was no followup posts or discussion about it. It came from "Quinny75" and the post read:
"Only 11 more days til the Last Great Race begins in S.E. New England! Stay tuned for more details"
It seems as if there is a new mysterious letterboxerwho planted 2 new boxes in Simsbury, CT today. Sea-cret is the nameand mystery is their game. Check out these new boxes Shell Man and Frog-Catcher.
Thanks to Mumma & Bunnyboy who emailed us today. She reported picking up our Russ 'Hiker HH at The Bass Hole letterbox in Yarmouthport, MA. She plans to move him up north soon.
Thanks to all who sent emails inquiring about Sue's health after her fall yesterday. She's one tough cookie - never even bruised!
Yesterday, while we were letterboxing in West Hartford's Westmore Park, Sue slipped on her way to find a box while I was stamping into another. Intent on the clues, she slipped on a patch of ice and landed flat on her back. Besides having the wind knocked out of her, thankfully she's none the worse for wear and is fine.
Thought we'd have to enlist the aid of that Boo Boo Box! I told her that we were leaving but being the trooper that she is, Sue insisted we forge ahead. We finished that series and did the second and even stopped to eat dinner. I wonder how she'll feel in the morning? It's a good thing she's a physical therapist and somewhat prepared for the fall! Even though most of the snow is gone in CT, we found out that you still have to be careful out there, especially in the northern exposures, where the sun doesn't shine. Have fun and just get out there and box . . . . but be careful!
Lightnin' Bug posted clues today to a very clever boxcalled Douggerware. Located in Mertztown, PAthe clues are very cleverly written and we hope you take the time to read them. To check out Lightnin' Bug's Lair, which we host on this site, click here.
Sue worked until 3pm today, but as soon as she got home, we headed out to Westmore Park in West Hartford - home to rtrw'sCoffee Series and Christi'sAnimals of Westmore. In just under 2 hours, we were able to get 16 boxes total.
Seems as if Der Mad Stamper has gone from saintly to evil. Either way, we like him just as he is! Although these boxes are located on the left coast, we thought those of you out of the area might like to solve these just to keep those winter boxing brain cells intact!
I heard from several people tonight that wanted to vote on our Poll of the Week but "couldn't find it." I proceeded to email them back - "Just look near the bottom of the right hand column." I checked it out later tonight and I couldn't find it!
After a check of Bravenet Internet Services, our hosts for the Photo Album and the Poll of the Week, we learned that they have shut down their servers for an upgrade. Please be patient - they should be up and running, as well as the Poll of the Week, by Wednesday. Thanks!
Thanks to Don from CA who emailed me this story about Geisha Girl and her Valentine's Day Story that she posted on the SoCal talk list:
Hi All!!
Allow me to tell you about my love for letterboxing… or in this case, letterboxing for my love (this sounds so cryptic, but it will all become very clear to you by the end of this story.)
Last Friday, 2/11, I got a message through the LbNA website from a new letterboxer named "StevieFranklin2005" in regards to my Wooly's LB. The message was as follows:
"If I find your Wooly Letterbox on Saturday (2/12/2005), I will place a hitchhiker stamp in it! I hope I understand your clues. PLEASE look for my stamp on Sunday; I am quite proud of it."
I haven't been doing this LB'ing thing for very long, but the email did seem to be a little outside of conventional LB'ing protocol. I've always viewed HH's as little surprises, and here this guy was, declaring to me that upon the discovery of one of my boxes, he was going to triumphantly plant a HH there to show his conquest. I was a little amused by the fact that this person was so enthusiastic about planting a HH, he absolutely HAD to tell me about it and ruin the surprise. I attributed this behavior to the possibility that he was so new at this that he didn't know any better.
Anyhow, I emailed him back and told him that I was sure it looked very nice and that I looked forward to seeing it.
I told my boyfriend about it that night, and we both chuckled. My boyfriend is not as interested in LB'ing as I am. He doesn't care much for carving stamps and hiding them, but he does enjoy finding the stamps with me, as well as the places it takes us to. He suggested that we should check it out when we had a chance. Seeing that he actually was up for some minor letterboxing, how could I refuse?
So Sunday, 2/13 rolled around. Since it was Valentine's Day weekend, he had made dinner reservations for us at a nice local restaurant for 7:30. We had spent that morning running a 5K in Chinatown, and then afterward stayed there for the Chinese New Year festivities. By the time we got home in the afternoon, we were bushed, so we took a nap, and he woke us up at around 6PM and said we should get ready to go out. Now, my boyfriend is typically not a very punctual person, so I was impressed that he wanted to get up a little earlier so we would have some time to go look for the HH and still make it to the restaurant in time. I figured he thought I would enjoy stamping the HH in my logbook.
It was pretty much dark when we got to Wooly's hiding spot. I'd never really been there at night, and was surprised to find that the location is pretty well lit, with a warm yellowish light emanating from the streetlight. We retrieved the box and I sat on a bench and opened it. I saw the HH wrapped in a napkin sitting in a little baggie. The first thing I noticed was that the HH didn't have its own logbook. I looked in my Wooly's logbook and saw that C-Bear and Koko had been there that day and stamped in, but no HH imprint!! I couldn't help but think that StevieFranklin2005 definitely was new at this, and that he should have at least looked up how to create a HH somewhere online. "Well, I'll just look at the stamp itself, then," I thought to myself. I took it out of the bag and unwrapped it. It wasn't as impressive as StevieFranklin2005 had described it to be. It only had a few words and some hearts carved into it. I kind of figured out what the words said and found that it was a Valentine's Day themed HH!! I was beginning to think what an interesting idea it was to place a themed HH in my box, when I heard my boyfriend ask me, "So what does it say?" I looked up and saw him busily kneeling down tying his shoe.
"It's funny," I said, "It says `Will You Marry Me?'"
"Well, will you?"
I looked up at him again, somewhat confused. There he was, kneeling in front of me, with a little box in his hands. I was totally floored!!! The ring was beautiful! And OF COURSE I SAID YES!!!
Today I got an email from C-Bear and Koko telling me they had found my box and that there was a personal stamp in there for me. I found that hilarious! Thanks to the two of you for not having mistaken the stamp for a real HH, and for contributing to the best moment of my life!!!
I have always been appreciative of the places that LB'ing has taken me to, but never did I imagine that it would take me here!!!
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY EVERYONE!!!!!
Congratulations to Geisha Girl! This is a Valentine's Day that she will never forget! Hope you all enjoyed it.
In the spirit of the day, Our Box of the Week is Irish Tinker'sEternal Love. For all of you romantics, this is the ultimate story of love everlasting! Located in Coventry, CT, we hope you get a chance to stop by and see this monument to love!
Our Poll of the Week asks if you've ever received a Cuckcoo Clue.
Sue & I spent the day with Tony & Veronica in Avery's Tract in Waterford, CT. Ended the day with 19 finds, including a HH. Not bad for 5 hours work! I know, only in CT!
The bad news was that Music Woman & Kreepy Kelli, who were in the same park ahead of us with Butterfly and Bluebird, had a car accident as they were returning home. Our thoughts are with them. While Music Woman was not seriously hurt, we're still awaiting Kelli's status. Best wishes for a speedy recovery to both of them!
Don from CA just posted the following to the big talk list:
"After Funhog produced the Cone-u-copia for the Pinecone Pepes, it is my guess that this little event will probably start a new phase in letterboxing. Since many of us rely on complete data reporting along with other minutia, I have given this particular event much thought and consideration. What would the recipients do with their bounty? Send them off as hitch hikers? Plant them in a multiple box series? What could they be considered in the PFX count? Since these are complex questions and many could only be answered by the recipient I have limited my focus strictly to what they should be called and I wish to submit---S count. Now if you consider that the recipient is unaware of the number, type, content, style, or even that they will be receiving them at all, then the S surely fits, and that S will stand for "SPAMps." The Pepes could now proudly list in their count S 17."
Be sure to check out our up-to-the-minute letterboxing count in the right column - it now proudly displays a new "S17!" Thanks Don!
Mark & Sue with Funhog on a recent day of boxing
And thanks, Funhog, for all of the fun, the stamps and our new S count!
JBean has just opened a new HH Hostel, called Cozy Cavy's Hitch Hiker Hostel. Located in Portland, CT, this hostel is call a cozy, snug little spot, with room for only 2! Don't forget the hostel rules - you can only take one away if you leave one but all are welcomed to stamp any of the HH's into your logbook!
The Event Stamp from the First Winter Drive by Brian of TeamGreenDragon
Chrissy has decided to hold the Second Winter Driveon Sunday, February 27. Watch the LbNE talk list for more details. Sue & I will be unable to attend as we already have plans with some close letterboxing friends. Hope you all have a great Drive. Check out our New England Area Gatherings Page for specifics and links to all of the great letterboxes in Lebanon, the location for this second drive! We'll post details as they become available so check back!
Our Box of the Week is the May Day Lillies' The Graduate letterbox. This was inspired by the recent college graduation of half of this CT letterboxing team and is located in West Hartford, CT.
Our Poll of the Week is based on a recent email I received from another letterboxer who was in somewhat of a quandry and wanted some advice. After receiving a postal letterbox, this boxer noticed a HH had been placed in with the PLB but found that the HH was of a religious belief other than hers. She emailed me, asking our opinion on how she should handle this HH. Please vote your opinion on this matter.
An invitation to take part in a web-based survey was been posted to the talk list this morning that examines the profiles and behaviors of letterboxers. This research is being conducted as part of a doctoral dissertation about letterboxing. Any visitor can complete the survey, and all responses are anonymous. Click the graphic above if you are interested.
Talking Turtle of the Alphabet Bandits and Kreepy Kelli are putting together a Fear Factor type weekend gathering that will include camping, swimming, contests, stunts, prizes, night boxing and more. Vote for the weekend you are able to attend by visiting the LbNE talk list and voting in their poll of available dates. Will we be asked to eat worms???
As if there wasn't enough competition between these 2 teams and their fans already! It seems that the May Day Lillies of CT have planted 2 new HH's - one celebrating the Boston Red Sox and the other the New York Yankees. The contest is that the HH that visits the most states when the Sox and Yanks meet for their first game of the season will be declared the winner! It's like Rosie Ruiz meets the Major Leagues! We'll be following this one very closely, right Seth?
Just heard of a great new gathering being planned in the great State of Maine! Merenwen & Olwe, hosts, have chosen Sunday, March 13th as the date and theirnew art store, The Art Guru, as the place. The Art Guru is located on Main Street in Gorham, ME. More details to follow in the coming days but plan on a raffle of letterboxing needs, hitchhiker hostel, carving contest and special event boxes located in and around Gorham for the event. So leave the date open and hope to see you all Down East at the Guru!
Letterboxing enthusiasts hide and hunt weatherproof containers in remote or scenic places. Each container holds a logbook, a rubber stamp and stamp pad. The planter of the letterbox distributes clues to it's location via the internet, Word of Mouth, on websites or via other means. Clues can be easy to difficult. Finding a letterbox may require a combination of skills such as mapreading, orienteering, and puzzle-solving.
Letterboxers carry their own logbook and personal stamp when hunting for hidden boxes. Upon finding a letterbox, they will imprint their own logbook using the found stamp, and leave their own stamping or personalization in the letterbox's logbook. Some artistic letterboxers carve and even design their own stamps and logbooks. Letterboxes are hidden in various locations throughout the world.
Letterboxing has its beginnings in Dartmoor National Park in England, where the first letterbox at Cranmere Pool was placed in 1854 by a Dartmoor guide named James Perrott, who left his calling card in a container there while guiding tourists through Dartmoor.
bravenet.com
