Another Hobby

Friday I got an email from a buddy of mine in Marin County. He was in my area and wondered if we wanted to get together. But of course! We spent most of Saturday and Sunday with him and his lovely wife. He's one of the top geocachers in the world.

We met for lunch at McMenamin's in Bend, and afterwards we went to the High Desert Museum. They were having a "mining" day, and there were lots of docents dressed up and acting in character as people from the mining days. We walked through a mining town exhibit, where several of the docents were talking to visitors. The sheriff warned us about the temperance lady, who tried to get us to sign a petition to make the town a "dry" one. We spoke to another woman, who was describing an historical area in Pendleton, Oregon. I asked if that was several hours away in northeast Oregon, and she said you go north on I-80 and then go east. My buddy, ever the sharp one, said, "How do you know about I-80?" She realized that the character she was playing from the 1800s wouldn't know about I-80, and covered her face with a fan in shame. I used to role-play all the time. It should have been me that caught her out of character!

After the museum, we hit a nearby geocache (you use clues and coordinates from the internet to locate hidden caches). Yesterday, we met for lunch in Sisters at the Coyote Creek restaurant (yum), and found some more geocaches. Then we went to Lava Butte and hiked to Benham Falls, finding several more geocaches. Now I'm hooked.

Just what I need, another hobby.

Tonight, Connie and I attended a book club at the Sunriver Books and Music store, where author Michael Donnelly answered questions about his book False Harbor, which we had all read. It's great being able to ask the questions you have about a book. Especially when you're writing one yourself. The proprietor of the bookstore has a real passion for books, and it shows when she helps you find things to read and suggests books you might like. From the first time we shopped there, she remembered us and what we liked. That's the best kind of salesperson there is.

We got a call from our daughter Debbie after we got home. We were in bed watching Heroes. I put the call on speakerphone, as I always do, so Connie and I can both chat with Deb. The cat heard her voice and came over, marked the phone and laid down next to it, purring. Poor Deb. She misses the cat. It seems to be mutual.

Now the house is quiet. It's a wonderful thing when you find friends who you get along with so well, and also share so many interests. I miss them.


Posted by Dave    Blog Tag: Chatter