Goodness! Such a lot of chatter! Sorry I missed so much, but it
was WAY to pretty outside today to stay in and sit at the `puter.
Sadly, there were one or two points I needed to address, since they
were directed at me, so I warn you now! Do not read this post!
Stay away! It's all just more blah, de-blah, blah, blah...

Still here? Ok.

To Saunter (note: some letterboxer names may have been changed to
protect the innocent):

"So then who gets to decide what the "extreme" is and who
the "ridiculous people" are? You? :-)" ~ LOL! Well, I guess we
ALL do, don't we? At least for ourselves. It seems like your mind
is pretty well made up, no? ;-)

"As far as traveling goes, personally, if I'm going to be traveling
to an area, I take the time to do things like join the regional
list..." ~ Oh, you mean like the three I'm already on? And the
regional group blog I'm on? Plus this national list, of course -
make for a full inbox some days!

"Oh, that's right! You don't have the time! So the proper way for
EVERYONE to play the game is to play the game based on YOUR time
schedule and how you prioritize YOUR time." ~ WHOOP-WHOOP-WHOOP!
Look out! Here come the Snark Police! ;-D

"David was the only one throwing a temper tantrum..." ~ Wow. You
read an awful lot into what he said. Including intonation. That's
a real talent! I didn't get "tantrum" when I read his post, but I
guess I'm just dim like that.

"Because I've never attended a gathering and probably never will."
~ Sad, that. Lots of nice people. You might like one or two, maybe
make a new friend. I know I did!

"Think of all the research you could have done while you were
traveling 900 miles to that gathering." ~ Actually, I was working
on some of the more mysterious clues for the gather boxes while on
the plane! Does that count?

"I would rather search the internet in hopes of finding some of the
more obscure boxes than partying." ~ That's fabulous. I had a
great time at that gather and hope to go back next year if they have
another one.

"But somehow I get the feeling that YOUR priorities are the PROPER
priorities. I think both priorities are pretty reasonable for the
people who hold them." ~ Again, I think you may be reading a lot
into what I had said. I think mayhaps YOUR priorities are PROPER
for YOU and MINE are PROPER for ME! Whatever! :-) This is
cracking me up!

"...or hittin' the road with a couple of friends to find a few of
the more obscure letterboxes we've researched and found clues to."
~ You box with others? I find that surprising! You sound like a
solo act. You know, a lone wolf. Also, from the looks of the list,
you spend the day typing...did you get out at all? I hope so I
think the Weather Channel said it was lovely all over the Midwest
today!

To David:

"Many people plant their boxes to bring people to new places. Some
just go there for the box and others take advantage of nature as I
hope they do. Why would I want to make that opportunity hard to
find? Thank you John and Ryan for your LBNA and AQ."
~ Hear, hear! I was so thrilled to hear from a boxer, driving from
New Jersey to California this summer with her husband and
three "crabby" kids, who got off the highway to get my series in
Tower Grove. She thanked me warmly and was downright effusive about
this lovely urban oasis that she otherwise would never have
seen...it just made my day!

To AutumnHen:

"Wow! Take a pill -- you are awfully rude." ~ Thank you; I will use
you as a shining example of politeness! :-D

"Why do you think it is okay to be a finder but not a planter...hunt
for letterboxes without ever offering anything in return (which you
seem to feel is okay)" ~ Whaaah? I never said that! Sorry if I
misspoke somewhere... I can't seem to find the reference for your
inference. FWIW, I started planting three months after I started
hunting. Because I'm a giving nurturer like that.

"there are many people who feel the hunt is not just about finding
the box, but also about sniffing out the clues." ~ Right. So they
should sniff out clues, and not just pop over to the big lists and
grab those simple little easy spoon-feeds, don't cha think?

"That would be about as silly as saying that a person who makes
difficult clues is being exclusionary because some people just
aren't going to be able to figure them out." ~ I think most people
who enjoy this game as more than a passing fancy enjoy the more
difficult clues! I have worked out puzzles for boxes I'll probably
never get because they're just too darn far away but I did enjoy
the puzzles. And I have those clues stashed away, in case fate ever
does blow me their way. I've got "Dancing Men" saved to work on
during holiday break, but I don't anticipate getting to New England
any time soon...maybe if I work it out, I can email the planter and
get a digital photo of the stamp!

"Nobody owes you anything, certainly not to put clues smack dab in
front of your face. Lucky for you many people do, so you should
still have plenty of boxes to find without putting too much extra
effort into it." ~ Here come the Snark Police again! Quick!
Hide! Oh, wait that was another example of politeness in action
Yes, I'm a lazy, lazy boxercould you please read this clue aloud
for me, I'm too laaaaaazy (Sorry. All this snarkiness is
infectious ;-)

To Stinky Pop:

"Might as well just merge with geocaching at this point." ~ My
friend who started my addiction calls them "geotrashes". Having
only seen one, I have to agree with herwhat a waste of good
tupperware!

To stargazermama:

"Now 4 years later, it's still the end of the world? Mapsurfer
hasn't raptured you guys yet?" ~ ROFLMAO! Priceless!

As an official "there are no rules" person, I hereby proclaim that
all boxers have the right to handle their clues in any manner they
see fit. And the rest of us have the right to roll our eyes and
sigh." ~ Sounds good. My clues will now contain the
disclaimer "You may not search for this box until you have planted
one yourself, and posted clues here, and sent me a personal note
fawning over my great clueage." Ouch! I sprained my eyeballz! :-D

To Coaster Man:

"If they don't want to post boxes on the internet that is fine. But
don't go crying that other people do, and further use those
resources to get clues themselves. What is it? Either the internet
is good or not." ~ Good point. Leads me to (drum roll, maestro,
please)

the one that started it all

To Fido:

"Really, it's too bad that others can't realize that listing clues
online is a poor way to go." ~ Does this mean that you prefer the
Dartmoor method, folks just dig around in parks looking for SPORS?
Does it mean you actually DO list online, just not at one of the two
big sites? Does it mean WOM is the way to go? If others don't
realize this, what do you know that we/they don't? Please, impart
your wisdom, slowly and clearly so even a big dummy like me can
understand. Seriously. I'd like to know your beefemail me off
list even. Curiosity kills, ya know.

"And to answer your question about what my problem is with people
finding clues online and searching for my boxes? Well, that's more
complex." ~ Oooo...mysterious. I love a mystery! ;-D

Goodness, but I'm long-winded tonight. I'm glad I type fast! I've
learned a lot skimming thru these posts (yes, I deleted some half-
read and wanted to respond here mostly to those kind, lovely, gentle
folk who chose to spend so much of their time today responding to
me). Since I'm a relatively new boxer in a region somewhat devoid
of activity, these lists are my main connection to the hobby. I
know now that I need to spend a lot more time on google. I've
learned which folks on this list have a splendid sense of humor!
And I've learned that there's probably a gazillion boxes in my area,
but everyone is playing off-line and won't tell me.

You know, if you've read this far, you deserve a prize. Tell ya
what email me off list and say "Rutabaga!" When I get my big
series planted (which, granted, may be a while yet), I'll email you
the clues a month before I post them to AQ. Thanks! Have a good
week!

~ rozebud (it's a sled. A very, very sleepy sled. G'night folks!)