I may be a Geocacher forever...

 I love it so much.

As you've read before if you're actually following my antics - there's a new thing called an Adventure Lab.  It's another part to geocaching!  Basically takes you on a little adventure hunt around somewhere giving you bits of history and what not.  We did our 1st one in Julian, CA and decided to do the one in the Orange Circle yesterday!

There were 4 stops, each with a bit of history.  It was super easy to navigate around because of course I'm familiar with the area.  After the 5 stops - you have to figure out these equations with hints from each stop to get the coordinates for the final cache.  It took us a bit to figure it out, but finally Pat was like "Wait...what are all those Oranges?!?!" and problem solved.  Hand the paper over to math boy and we got it!

Took us a min...

Why are there Oranges in all of them?

Oooooooh!!!!!

Needed to be a part of the puzzle solving

After finding the final cache!

Yup....friggin math!!!

 

So Pat and I headed out across the street to try again for that cache that some person was journaling on last time we were there.  Luckily no peeps looking for inspiration so I was able to find it!  Yay!  They told us to write down the number for a "bonus" cache...not sure what that means but I plan to email the guy and find out!

Such pretty views!

S.P.O.R.!

Left a Unicorn

What is this number for?????

On my Birthday I did a little geocaching.  I posted it in my B-day Blog but here it is!  A Dana Point Harbor find!

Happy Birthday Cache

One Saturday morning when we usually would hike it had rained, so we opted to walk down Nohl Ranch Road.  It's a good size hill and there's a little park at the bottom that has a couple of caches.  One I don't think is there anymore, but we found one that hadn't been found since March of 2019!!  It was a scramble up a muddy hill but we got it!

Pat hiked over to it 1st and found it!

Pretty little park!

So one day I tried to get us out of the house for another Adventure Lab.  It was a bit chilly so we decided to do the ARTIC one!  This is the one by the really cool Train Station across from Honda Center.  I was hoping to do stuff inside, but it was actually all around the outside of the building.  It wasn't as interesting as the last couple, and the kid wasn't into it at all, so I just got one picture of them counting the bike stalls for one of the puzzles.

I liked the Angels "A" in the background!

There was a geocache to hunt for later across the street but we could not find it.  Since the kid was over it we headed out, but I did send the CO a request for a hint!  He told me to Google William Painter.  Dude invented the bottlecap!!  I know what to look for now!  So the next day I went back by myself and found it!  Woohoo!

I know what that is!!!

BOOM!  Sad face into a smiley face!

One weekend we decided to hit up Yorba Regional Park again.  Pat & I went New Year's Day and did some caching, but there were a few we didn't get.  So grabbed the kid and the dog and had some fun!

Look at that yellow belly!

So there's apparently a cache out in the middle of the lake.  I want to take one of these swans and find it....

Hi friends!

Found it!

Little obvi...

Now I'd heard of a S.P.O.R. (Suspicious Pile of Rocks) but this is a S.P.O.P.!

Hit up another Adventure Lab today.  Great Park in Irvine!  It was a bit on the hot side, and unfortunately super crowded so sadly I only got to log sad faces.  The bonus cache after the Adventure Lab had too many people - which were totally staring at us by the way.  WTF!!!  Then we tried to find another one, and again - damn Muggles just staring at us!  I'm like LOOK AWAY!!

Ugh!

Then we looked for a third one and it was blocked off for construction.  

So sadly the cache part of the day was a bust.  But the Adventure Lab was fun and it is always nice to get out!

Pat figuring out the puzzle at the end.  He's the whiz so I always let him do it!

Never realized there's a timeline on the ground!

Great Park Adventure Lab!

Stop 3

Stop 2

Stop 1

So - just geocaching the days away!!

COVID Scare...

I wanted to share this because I really don't think it's being talked about enough what a mental toll this thing is taking on everyone.  I can't even imagine what people are going through who have lost loved ones to this thing or are battling it themselves.  But there's this unspoken rest of us who are dealing with something we've never dealt with before.  And it fucking sucks.

 So, we're finally, after a year of this damn thing, starting to turn a corner.

Cases are down, vaccines are being distributed, we're doing better.  In fact we actually moved into the Red Tier last week.  So even though there is a still a ways to go (Fingers and toes crossed we don't retract again) there's some hope on the horizon.

After a year of this thing I had my 1st scare.

We had a little scare around Christmas when we, masked up and socially distanced and very carefully saw our families but one member who was not part of our family pod waltzed in unmasked with his unmasked kid and proceeded to talk to everyone - hugged me before I knew what he was doing and infuriated my boyfriend.  Later that week we found out he tested positive.  Now the timing of it all and the fact that we were masked up and safe we weren't super worried, but that weekend we cancelled any errands or anything we were going to do just out of precaution because you know - we give a shit.  All was well though so bullet dodged.

The real scare I had was just this week.  We have to get weekly tests at work.  Every Monday morning I go get my nose swabbed for our "rapid" test and then stare at my phone for the next half hour hoping they don't call.  They only call you if you're positive.

Monday I got that call.

"You have a "faint" positive" the guy on the other line said.  I felt my cheeks flush and my blood pressure skyrocket.  "Do you have any symptoms?" He asked.  I squeaked out a little no.  He told me I had to come back so they could do a PCR test.  These are the more invasive ones and you have to wait 24-72 hours for a result.  I was then sent home and told to quarantine until I got the results.  I drove home sobbing and told my boyfriend what happened.  We were both totally weirded out not really sure what to do.  He told the kid when she came home from school and she was weirded out too.  I got a call later with the girl asking me all kinds of contact tracing questions and how I should quarantine.  It was so awkward.  She was nice as hell and said she was pretty confident this was nothing and this happens...blah blah BUT STILL!

Pat decided he'd cook instead of me.  I ate with them but not at the table with them.  I then went upstairs and stayed in the room the rest of the night, away from them.  He thought I was over-reacting a bit but I just didn't know what to do.  I had to send a text to the 3 other people I did a social distance film shoot with on Sunday.  I had to text the friend I walked with on Friday morning.  I'm always safe but still.  I was mortified.  Everyone was super supportive.  I couldn't stop crying.

Over and over in my head I was trying to figure out what we were going to do if the results came back positive.  The kid wasn't going to be able to go back to her moms house which she would not be happy about.  Who would come in to work and get the checks?  Should I just hide in my room every night?  Should we all wear masks in the house?  We were already probably exposed to each other right?  If my test came back positive then Pat and Elise would go get tested.  If they were negative then I'd def have to stay away from them.  Pat tried to make me feel better saying it's not necessarily me that brought it in, I just happen to be the one that's tested.  But even still - I felt like I had the plague.  

I'm a hugely social/touchy feely person.  I need hugs.  I need touching.  I need human contact.  I need social interactions.  I know it's only a 10 day isolation if your positive with no symptoms but isolation is a word I hate.  I don't do well.  My moderate to severe anxiety is amplified.  And boy was it.  I didn't sleep at all that night.  Horrible dreams.  I felt sick to my stomach all the next day.  Pat kept asking if I'd heard yet.  I know he was antsy too.  I was an emotional wreck.  I emailed the people twice but they kept saying no results yet.  It could be a few days.  I wasn't going to make a few days.  I was spinning out of control.  People just don't talk about anxiety.  I called my mom and she said I wish you could just relax until you know.  Me too mom.  Me too.  But unfortunately anxiety doesn't work that way.  It's a nasty bitch who sets you off.  I took a bunch of CBD oil, was trying to do breathing exercises, was trying to stay busy with work but I was a mess.

Then it came.  I was in a meeting at 3:15.  I saw the phone and shouted into the computer I had to take a call.  "You're test is negative"  I actually started shaking.  I was so relieved.  I had worked myself up into a frenzy.  I ran upstairs to tell Pat and Elise.  I then text the peeps and called my mom.  I can't believe how much my body let go.  I was shaking and crying.  I've had to accept the fact that my anxiety over the years has got way worse.  But you guys - this kind of shit SUCKS.  I basically had a 2 day anxiety attack because I "might" have been positive for COVID.  This pandemic is kicking our ass in so many different ways.  

We need to talk about this.  We need to share our stories.  We need to know we're not alone.  COVID is deadly but it's also damaging to our mental health.  People need to understand and empathize with that.  I'm exhausted today because of the turmoil my body went through the past couple of days.  Mental health is no damn joke.  

Birthday and Self Care...

I had an interesting revelation the other day.

I haven't been truly taking care of me.  

I mean I haven't been totally neglecting myself but there's been a shift.  I moved in with my boyfriend and his little and then a month later COVID hit.  Combine trying to navigate our way through a pandemic and adjust to living together turned into the longest but shortest but weirdest year that I've officially decided to just look at as one big long bad day.  Honestly 2020 was truly a blur of depression, anxiety, fear, etc.  Yes we of course had good times and good moments and I'm very grateful and all that but this blog isn't about that.  It's about the fact that I realized I lost myself a bit and that's not good.

Our trio has now adjusted to living together I'd say, and we do have some pretty regular routines - especially with COVID when those options are super limited.  I think for the first part I was always concerned about entertaining them.  Making sure they were happy.  That everything was always kosher.  Little did I realize I fell down that path and that's all I've been doing is worrying about everyone else.

I've learned how to navigate running a household, because yes - I kind of run it.  I make sure it's clean, orderly (without being too naggy), try to make sure the boy and his kid and the dog are happy and dinners happen on time and etc etc etc.  I do feel like I've brought a caring women's touch to the place and I of course plan to keep it up and I like it, I do.  But I need to start fitting in some true "me" time.

Throughout the pandemic I was constantly trying to not sink into a giant pit of despair and depression, and this did consist of some self care but it was more about surviving.  We seem to be starting to see the other side of this thing and I need to start focusing on myself more and stop worrying so much about everyone else.  I mean - I'll always worry about everyone else, but let's put some Jami in there shall we?

The other day I was standing in my bathroom staring at my ginormous tub.  I realized I haven't take a bath in almost a year.  So one night of our usual TV watching I opted out for the last couple of hours and ventured upstairs, closed the door, put on a facemask, turned on some soothing music and soaked in my huge tub.  It was glorious.  I remembered how much I love how relaxing baths can truly be.  I then meditated rather successfully and had one of the best nights sleep I've had all year.

I realized - I need to do this more often.  Not only more bathtime fun, but just taking the time to do things that I truly enjoy.  Just do them.  So that's my goal.

My birthday ended up being a product of that goal.  I also realized it had been over a year since I had set foot on a beach.  I love the beach.  I used to go all the time.  But again...pandemic...depression.  Plus Pat isn't a huge beach guy so when he and I do get out it's hiking or some other just as lovely outing, but not usually ocean.  So - I decided to take the day off work, grab my camera and hit the beach.  Here's the result of that!  Beach Day 

Which is another thing I have missed this year - taking photos.  I so miss the hell out of my little photo/adventure group.  We were hitting up some cool places and having so much fun and I know we will again, but it's been so hard to not see that crew.  When I took my camera to Idyllwild and Julian last year when we did safely escape for a few days - I loved it.  My pictures came out so good and it was so fun to shoot again.  My dear friend Amber ventured out with me a couple of times - masked and social distanced of course - and we did some mini photo days.  I loved them.  Here's a result of one of them.  Oak Canyon  Why am I not getting out and shooting more?  This is also a goal.  Just do it.

I need to take care of myself and my mental health.  I can still love on all my people and care and worry about everyone else and still care of me. I've lost a little of me and I need to get her back.

I did have a just lovely birthday!  Quarantine or not.  I made the best of it!  All throughout the day I was receiving texts, posts, calls and all kinds of love.  It made so happy and even though I was alone most of the day I felt the love.  The night before we celebrated a little at the house since the kiddo was here.  Pat got me a delicious rich cake and they sang happy birthday to me!

So rich and so good!

On the day you'll see in the link above the pictures I took!  It was so nice and quiet.  I drove down to Capistrano Beach to look for rocks/sea glass.  I had seen a friend post about it a few months ago and I've been wanting to get down there and check it out myself.  So lovely!

This is 45

I collected rocks and sea glass and now have it on my makeshift desk to remind me of the lovely day I had!

I then hit up Dana Harbor and treated myself to a lunch, looking out over the boats.  The waiter was so sweet when he found out I was alone on my birthday but I assured him I was having a lovely day.  

Got to have some bubbly for my birthday!

Then I drove to the other side of the Harbor and did a little geocaching!  There were a lot of people so I only found two - but I found two!

The 2nd pic didn't come out - but I found 2!

Around 2pm or so I headed back to Orange and mom wanted me to stop by so I could have birthday fun with them.  We sat outside and visited and she, Stacy and my Grandad showered me with gifts.  She even decorated the dining room knowing I would be walking through there to the outside!

So apparently my mom was trying to blow up the 4 and it blew up...so - Happy 5th?  LOL!

When I got home some friends had sent me a Bunt Cake!

Flowers from moms garden, bundt from friends and baked goods from mom!  This birthday is gonna get me fat!

Then when Pat finished up his workday he took me to a yummy sushi dinner!  Because of course - that's what I must have for my birthday dinner.

I truly had a lovely birthday and I look forward to getting out of this pandemic, finding myself again and ready to tackle 45!

More Geocaching Adventures...

 I've noticed some other Geocachers have found like thousands of these things!!  I'm proud of my almost 200 finds.  

But seriously....like some peeps have like over 20K finds.  MY GAWD.

Anywhoo - working my way to the thousands!  Well...hundreds anyway..

Another park visit - we hit up Steve Ambritz Park in Orange.  It's unfortunately right by a dump site so there's a bit of a smell.  The 1st one we found was a little free library!  These are my favorites.  We knew ahead of time, so Elise and I each brought a book to exchange out.  Found the cache and moved on.

Love Little Free Libraries!

We searched high and low for the 2nd one there, but couldn't find it.  The Santa Ana River Trail is right behind the park, so we walked it a bit and I found one.  I also realized there's a bunch on this trail so a future adventure must happen!

I see you

 Found another great park!  Carbon Canyon Regional Park!  This is def going to be a re-visit!  They have a really beautiful little Redwood Forest!  So rad!  Lots of muggles but I did find a couple!

Pat's eagle eye spotted the fishing line holding this one

That's where it was!

Redwoods!

Super Pretty!

I see you

This one had a Travel Bug!  I didn't take it of course because this girl can't fly.  But cool to find one!

Hey there's a dam!

Happy Hot Dog

Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pat and I tried out a new hike!  Was stoked for new sights but it was also loaded with geocaches!!!  There looks to be a whole slew more farther down this trail, but we'd probably need to park closer.  It's the Bell View Trail down in the Rancho Santa Margarita area.  Very cool!  You're basically on a walking trail for a while (Lots of big beautiful homes to see) then it spits you out into the canyon for as far as the eye can see!  I also earned 2 souvenirs!!  Got a total of 14 finds (4 DNF's)!  Apparently forgot to take a couple of pictures, but it was such a successful day!  I think that's the most I've found on one trek!

A pretty start at the mouth of the Trailhead

1st find!  S.P.O.R.

This looked like a creature from a horror flick

2nd find!  This was so cool!  It was inside the fence post!  Left some swag in this one

King of the World

3rd find!

Logging my 4th find!

4th!

Number 5!

Number 6!

I was hoping not to pull out another hand or spider....

8th Find!

Yay new trails!

Love these fuzzball flowers

Thought find #9 was in here...

Nope it was in that one

10th find!

#11!

Geocaching Couple

12th find was a fun one!

Souvenir

Souvenir #2!

 Hit another Park Day at a new park.  A little one called Cedar Grove. There was one cache there.  It's actually right by Peters Canyon, so we ended up walking over (Elise biking) over that way and walked the flat bottom trail I used to go on all the time.  But this time Pat showed me a little side trail called the Creek Trail!  I didn't even know that was there! There was supposed to be a cache just off that one, but I think I found the destroyed container instead.  I did log it and commented like the guy before me saying I'm pretty sure I found it but I think it's ruined.

 

This one was a great camo - magnet on the bottom a little walking bridge of the same color!  Pat of course found it.  I really think he's way better at this than me!

I'm pretty sure that was the cache container....

What a pretty little side trail!

There's been this one near work that I've been wanting to hit up, but it's a highly populated Muggle area and tends to be a homeless draw.  But sometimes you can catch it just right and we did this morning!  My friend Jen brought her precious squee pup and and I got to break her Geocaching Cherry!  This was one of those you fill up with water and the cache appears!!  So cool!  The log was too wet to sign, but it got a favorite anyway!

Love this girl!

There it is after I did the water trick!

Headed out to our trails across the street to find a re-hidden cache.  The dude found mine (I was so excited) and he mentioned he re-hid his.  It was one of the places we wanted to hide ours so we were excited to check it out.  Sadly there was some chick journaling or something right on top of it!  Pat and I were so tired from our hike we couldn't wait it out.  But we did find two that day.  So it was a 2 for 4 day.  There's another we looked for I want to go back and try again.  So - we'll be hitting up the trails again to get these!

Nice easy find!

Hey luv!

Such a pretty day for a hike

I see you

We had another day of getting out and finding a new park.  It's the cutest little tucked away pocket park.  On our way we stopped at a shopping center Pat saw one at.  It used to be a school forever ago, but now is a strip mall.  It's so cool to find these little bits of history!  I love geocaching!  They find me parks and history!  We also returned to another park we've been to before to hit up a new one and look for one we've tried to find before.  It was so hard and I finally ended up emailing with the Cache Owner (CO) and they helped me out.  It got a favorite because it was so clever!

This one took us awhile, but one of the comments mentioned great camo and based on the hint we knew the location.  A tough one but we got it!

History!

The cutest little pocket park

Hello cache!  Can ya see it down in there?

This one was a tribute to Wizard of Oz. So cute!

Think that's just a bottlecap?

No it's a friggin cache!!!

So there ya are friends!  

Loving it!

Will keep blogging it!

I will "Cache Them All!"