The Wrath of John

So last night was cheesy fun. The Dryden theatre shows old movies. This month, each Thursday night they are showing one of the Star Trek movies, preceded by an original Star Trek episode. So last night it was "The Space Seed" followed by "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Now, I have probably seen Wrath of Khan like a hundred times. We pretty much wore out a VHS tape of it. I probably know every line of dialog (nerd alert). Seeing it on the big scene was fun though. I hadn't seen Space Seed a hundred times, and it was really a treat to see it in this way. The best part was the overacting by Khan, and how he quickly converts the lady McGivers to his side. And of course the stunt doubles in the fight scenes are just too much...never did they think that we might some day be watching this on a 20 foot screen! Hellooooo, that doesn't even look remotely like Kirk! Too funny. I was waiting for a lot of audience participation in the movie, aka Rocky Horror Picture Show. People shouting out lines or the like. Nope, everyone was pretty quiet, but the laughter at the absurd parts reminded everyone how melodramatic it all is. Most of the audience was middle-aged balding males (oh, come on, they would say the same about me!), but I was surprised that there were several kids. The one in front of me had a phaser he made out of legos (must be dad wouldn't let him play with his real one he probably has in a collection under glass). Some other kids down the aisle I could hear saying to Dad that they were scared when the landing party goes into the abandoned space station. Never realized that there were SCARY parts in that movie! But the biggest laugh (and some applause) of course came when Kirk shouts out his famous "Khaaaaaaaaan". Anyway, it was all good fun, and reminded me when I was 8 and couldn't get enough of this movie. Next week is The Search for Spock, preceded by Amok Time. As the announcer said before the movie, "We see Spock go through puberty way too many times."

Lock to Lock

Jackbear's Den will be on a short break for a week. That's because Jackbear and friends will be on the Erie Canal for a week. You can check the daily reports on Lock to Lock.

Ithaca Gathering

This was our third big letterboxing gathering, and our first in Ithaca. I had been looking forward to this one for months, even got a campsite months in advance. Well, by shear coincidence, Lock Wench got a campsite right next to mine (she wanted mine, but I already had it reserved). Well, that meant one thing...organize a campfire after-party. So we planned for weeks. It was sneaky, it was Dartmoor themed, and it turned out really great. Lock Wench made an exact replica of the Cranmere Pool letterbox from Dartmoor, and called it CampNear Pool (see above). Sahalie pitched in her carving ablilities and made the Phantom Windmill and the Old Clapper Bridge. I carved for Duck's Pool and the Dewer and the Wisht Hounds (the legend that inspired the Hounds of the Baskervilles). We launched invites at the main gathering. The gathering in Stewart Park was great. I met a lot of "famous" letterboxers who have been boxing a long time. Mark and Sue Pepe were there, sooo nice, can't wait to get to know them more. Team Green Dragon...sneaky devils, and master carvers. Silent Doug slipped me a secret clue to an incredible box. Green Tortuga put in an appearance. I got so many cooties and personal travellers this time, I think I got more then of the letterboxes. So it was an action filled weekend of boxing. It was really hot though, so it did slow up down. Lostgirl and Wyvern did take us to some letterboxes in the morning, but it was getting hot already! Anyway, this one will be memorable for all the mystery and intrigue that surrounded it! Can't wait for the next one!

Lilac Festival

We have been wanting Sandy to come to Rochester for the Lilac Festival for some time. This year, we got our wish. Sandy took time out of her busy retirement schedule to come and visit us for the weekend. We set out to the Lilac Festival early to beat the crowds, but on a cold day, the crowds were small. We loved looking at all the flowers with Sandy, and had fun planning our own gardens. We had a bit of fun letterboxing too! We had to be real sneaky finding the boxes that spelled out LILAC, as they were hidden in crafty places along the paths. The lilacs were gorgeous, but the smell was magnificent! Thanks Sandy, for coming out and making this our most memorable Lilac Festival yet!

Wine and Herbs

Laura and I have made this an annual event, the Wine and Herb Fest on the shores of Cayuga Lake in the Finger Lakes. This year, we had Eric and Julie along, and we had a blast! We got to all 16 wineries in a day! Yeah, I didn't drink very much, so I could drive, just a sip here and there. But not only to you get the wine, but you get an herb at every winery, and get to tastes foods made with the herbs. Oh yeah, and you get the recipe for the food. How can you beat this! You can't, that's why we have gone for the last four years! It was a little drizzly, but we had a lot of fun, and congrats to Eric and Julie, who are engaged to be married! Way to go guys!

Fun with Friends

In April we had a lot of fun with our good friends Lauren and Sarah at the Rochester Museum and Science Center! We checked out a ton of exhibits, including the new Mastodon above. This is a great museum, and I got to see parts I hadn't seen before (and I work there sometimes!) We had a great time, and we loved spending time with Sarah and Lauren, they are such smart girls. Well, I can't really think of a better way to spend an afternoon. Till next time!

Easter Tradition

Laura and I have this Easter tradition. It doesn't involve eggs, or funny hats, or a big ham on the table. It's about renewal. Its taking the time to go out into one of our favorite destinations, the outdoors. Spring is beginning, and the plants and animals are responding. Its a time of beginnings. So we take the chance to find a new place to explore, a new place to hike. We feel that new sense of wonderment, as we witness nature's rebirth.

This year we went to Ganondagan, a historic place near Victor, NY. The Seneca people lived here, in a village known as the "White Village", or the "Town of Peace". We explored the trails through the woods, and read the many interpretive signs here telling about the people and the plants that live here. We searched for skunk cabbage and bloodroot. We listened to the songs of the birds, and we watched the cascading water in the brook. It is easy to see why the Seneca settled this place, it was very magical.


After our hike we stopped for some ice cream, then off to Durand Eastman Park on Lake Ontario. We had been here before, but we had several letterboxes to find here that we had never got around to finding. We had a lot of fun finding these, though we did make a few wrong turns along the way. But the park was full of people, and we enjoyed the warm weather, and the dramatic topography. We had a full day, and slept well that night, dreaming of the next time we could take this time and forget about our daily grinds and enjoy our other home.

Here Comes Peter Cottontail...

Look who visited Laura this Easter, it was Peter Cottaintail, Mr. Easter Bunny! OK, so I hate to break it to everyone, the Easter Bunny doesn't exist. Oh, how that devastated me when I was a kid, even worse then realizing there was no Santa. I remember the day my mother told me. I was pretty amazed. I was always kind of clueless. Well, maybe to ease my childhood pain, or maybe to just live out my mascot fantasies, I volunteered to be the Big Rabbit this year at the Univerity's alumni breakfast. Yup, did the whole thing, high fived the kids, let them sit on my lap, posed for pictures, clowned around. I think I did o.k. for my first time as a furry rabbit. I think I must have had training as duckweed. Anyway, it was a fun time, and got a free lunch and some baseball tickets out of it, but I think the photos are the real payoff.

Beard Deconstruction

I grow a full beard in the winter, and shave it all off in the sping. Here's what happens in between.

First we have the full chop and full goatee look.




Next we have the fu-man-choo!







Don't forget that french waiter goatee!








And last, but not least, the flavor savor!

Migration Sensation

Migration Sensation is an event held in Shreve, Ohio during the end of March to celebrate and educate the return of many migrating birds. Sandy and Dick have been inviting me for a few years to come, and it never worked out. I was very happy that this year it did! We got up early (for some) and went to the Shreve Elementary School to register and collect a map to the various locations for birding in the area. We started at Wright Marsh, a complex of man made berms that create wetland areas for various bird species. We saw a wide variety of red winged blackbirds, sparrows, and a few geese. After that, we went to Shreve Lake and were very excited to see a Common Loon. Well, this isn't so "common" in Ohio, and it one of the first I've seen outside of the Adirondacks. We then moved on to see the Eagles. This is always a treat to see, and very exciting to see them on the nest. We also got a great view of a Belted Kingfisher. We then headed back into Shreve for a great lunch at Des Essenhaus. After lunch we went back to the elementary school and checked out the vendors area, and watched two great lectures on Ohio's Woodpeckers, and on the Barn Owl.
I was very amazed all day long to see a large Amish population into birding. These young boys would walk by me with thousand dollar scopes and tripods! It was very cool to see. We also visited with a old member of the Laura's band down in the swamp, as she led children in scooping for aquatic life. Then we picked up Brian, and headed back out to see the Eagles, and its a good thing we did. We not only got to see the two eagles we had seen in the morning, but also saw an immature eagle circling about as well. The whole day was a treat, and though I didn't add any birds to my life list, it was a very educational day, and we got to see some very special birds! I recommend this event, and hope I can make it again next year. Remember to bundle up though!