5, 6, 7 open up the pearly gates!

A prize for the person who knows the song i am referencing above!!!

Don't ask me where i've been for the last 3 clues!!! i really meant to update this every day but the hunt, a little bit of booze and exhaustion has gotten the best of me.

here are the last 3 clues:

Clue #5
There once was a clue that drove you-know-who
To threaten a heinous act
We'd use it again but we're afraid of his pen
My friend, that's an unfortunate fact

- We think this is supposed to steer us toward Como. Joe Souchery (you know who) has been a popular guess as to who writes the clues. he disputes this fact and in 2003 blasted the clue writers for writing stupid clues that no one can figure out. Those clues lead us to Como.
http://www.coolercrew.com/archive.php?location=1052049141&start=1

Clue #6
All ye who look should honor the book
As one who stood for hope
Much was built in the name of the kilt
Look sharp now and never mope

- Now this one may send you running toward Highland- Kilt, etc. BUT we think they are just trying to fuck with us. the way the clues have been- they aren't going to give us something this obvious.

Clue #7
If you should go look high then low
One could see it from a bower
If it's your bent you might seek a tent
To protect in case of shower
Take note of the wood and do what you should
To extract the prize for yourself
Build a bridge to your dreams as high as they seem
Leave nothing behind on the shelf

-Hmmm, where do i begin with this one- again it seems they are trying to steer us toward Highland- High is in there twice (and i think the clue writers are....) and the tent COULD refer to Circus Jurveus or whatever- which is a childrens circus training program which performs in highland- BUT they don't perform in a tent- it is a big green dome building (thanks boyfriend for figuring that out, and reading over my shoulder... :) )

So where are we????? we spent yesterday in Como and Phalen. We are returning to Phalen today. i am 70% sure it is at phalen and about 30% sure about Highland. I really think they are trying to steer us in the wrong direction- or it is possible that they haven't revealed the park at all and are just pointing us toward where to look in the parks. i am excited about our 30+ degree temps and the steaming hot thermos of coffee and bailys waiting for us to drink. :)

hunt memory- so far this year my favorite hunt memory is from yesterday. as we were driving around parks we called my mom to see if she had any ideas for us. with us on speaker phone at her house and her on speaker phone in my car- i appreciate all of her help and she's going to keep noodling for us. :)

i will take some pics today while we are out and about!!!!!

Fore!!! I mean Four.

This is a visual aid demonstrating my life for the last 4 days:

I AM TIRED.

Tomorrow is the last day of work until we are off for the hunt!!

I'm sure we'll be up until 2 again tonight.

There is something wrong with us.

Here is the 4th clue:

How fun is the snow how far will we go

You really ought to go see

Get up for the mission and not just the wishin'

Get into the game- its all free

We are planning to go out and scout Phalen tonight, but it is rather cold. it was negative 1 two hours ago. so we'll see. i like the last line of the clue- get into the game, it's all free. i think this is referencing Arcade Street- an arcade is where you play games, but unlike real arcades- the street or the game are free for use.

Hunt story? Digging up 3/4 of an hill leading down to a large amphitheater. my bad idea. i'm pretty sure boyfriend is still made about it. this was before we had adequate tools. i was using my feet and he was using a garden spade- as in a small handheld one. :)

Mission: Medallion, Day 3!

Clue 3:

We've scanned the county to hide our bounty
And keep you on your toes
It may sound risible, but our puck's invisible
Although it might just stick to your nose.

We are focusing 90% of our energy on Phalen park/Keller Park. This is mostly because of Spoon Lake, the golf course, Sophia St. (meaning wisdom) surrounded by Frank, and a bunch of other male named streets. Damn you pioneer press!!! You steal 12 days of my life!

We are running on no sleep and plan to stay up for the clue again tonight. i'll be really freaking glad when it is friday and we can sleep in a bit before getting out and hunting.

hmmm.... favorite medallion memory for the day-

last year at Central there was some crazy lady wandering around yelling at people for litering and ruining the park. when i say crazy, i don't mean the endearing, charming quality that someone like myself posesses. i am talking screws loose, A finger short of a mitten, a sandwhich short of a picnic crazy. she came up to me as i was exploring the lake and told me that she " was sick and tired of treating the park like garbage." went on to say that the next dog she saw in the park she was " going to grab it from them and give it to a police officer. " I smiled and walked away and warned the on coming kid that she was going to yell at him about his cigarette. sure enough she did. aside from the crazies, we had a great time talking to a guy who found it a number of years ago, and two buddies who hunt with a group every year.

Mission: Medallion, Day 2!!

We're ready! Are you?

Our Supplies.

Clue #2:

The point of all this is so that you won't miss

Your big chance to grab all the cash

Now gather your guys and a gal who is wise

You'll have to do something quite rash

Our thoughts so far:

*Regal Runt is either simply "the medallion" or possibly it is wrapped in a white castle or whopper junior package.

*gal who is wise could be referring to St. Kate's or Harriet Island (Parks namesake was the first teacher to organize schools in St. Paul.

*In a park with a golf course.

We are focusing on Highland and Hidden Falls at this point. I think all the Harriet Island hubbub is a red herring. I would like to note, that i find it curious that neither of these clues doesn't scream COMO!! Como usually works for every clue for the first couple and there are some die hards out there that continue searching there regardless of if the Clue Writer comes right out and says GO TO ROSEVILLE. Nothing matches Como so far. i just think its curious.

This noodling was brought you by this favorite hunt memory (courtesy of Boyfriend):

2005 Crosby (again). Being on the phone with Kate (our undercover espionoge agent) discussing last minute info that she had stolen from a co-worker. Watching the guy watching us. We are sure he was the PP on-site spy. Piecing together all of the clues. Finding the Life Saving device. Knowing 100% that we walked over the damn thing. Calling the Hunt Hotline (programmed in our phones) every 30 minutes.

Gloves, mittens, hats, scarves, granola bars, nuts, smokes, booze,

a flash light and a sweet ass head lamp(which is OBVIOUSLY mine).

Farve is a LOSER!

HAHA bitches! No Green Bay Super Bowl!!!

Go ELI!

Official Day One!

Boyfriend and have been "Noodling" for the last 24 hours. Let me mention, we have been noodling from the warm comfort of our home. Here's what we are confident of-

*In a park with or near a golf course.
*May be wrapped in something pertaining to photography, the news paper, or possibly Prince.
*It is probably not in New Brighton. Damn it!
*We think it's in a bigger park.

*We won't have to DIG for it, although it is probably under something.
*The puck may or may not be smaller than in previous years- although this is not helpful as no one really knows what it looks like.

We spent some time at Savers today and i managed to get a good deal on basically new boots... now i just need snow pants. we also bought snacks as we prepare for our long hunting days. on a side note- i really hope that Farve and the ass packers go down tonight.

I am going to try to write about a favorite hunt memory each day- or something we look forward to each year. there has to be a driving factor in why we continue to hunt in the cold every year.

One of the things i enjoy the most about the hunt is figuring out the clues. In 2005, i got us to the right park, we were there on the right day. After scouting out Crosby a few days before, we were confident we were in the right place. after a delicious meal at Denny's- we headed to the park. Boyfriend had used his Law & Order triangulation method to determine the spot we should look. turns out he was right. once in the park we became distracted and didn't stick to that plan, but he was exactly right. I've got to listen to him more often. it was a beautiful day for hunting- warm enough that once we were moving we could take off our coats and work in our sweatshirts. i am hoping for that type of weather again this year- but i have serious doubts that will happen.

Less than 6 hours til the next clue comes out!!!!!!

You Dig?

It's finally here. we have been waiting with anticipation for the end of January. why? because we are crazy. we are looking forward to wandering the frozen tundra. The St. Paul Winter Carnival Medallion hunt officially begins tomorrow. The first clue is actually in the early edition of the Sunday Paper, so we already have our hands on the first clue. Here it is:

You've joined the hunt for the regal runt

To prove searching does pay
Don't dig a hole or knock down a pole
And the golf course is out of play

Last year Jake took home the cake
With a clue a bit off level
This year we'll rinse off all our prints
Lest this hunt go to the devil

The key words that stand out:
Runt, THE golf course, dont' dig a hole, rinse off all prints, devil.

We first started doing the medallion hunt in 2005. this is our third hunt. Our first year it was located in Crosby park. That still stands out for both of us as our favorite hunt. it was fun to get out in the winter and actually hunt- where we'd always just hoped to. in 2006 when it was found at battle creek, we knew the location, but it was found on the day we were planning on looking and we were both at work. last year at central park for hunt number two, we talked to a number of interesting people, and burned A LOT of calories. i will never forget being there on the final night when the final clue came out. people were waiting and there as such intense energy. it was truly the calm before the storm. one phone rang and this guy took off running into the woods. pretty soon 200 people were all running after that guy- we didn't know where we were going or what we were looking for. i have never ran so fast in my life. lanterns and flash lights bobbing, people digging everywhere- all for nothing. the medallion had been found 10 minutes before the final clue. good times. you dig?

Knitting Class!

Got Knit?

I was recently asked by my boss to teach a knitting class. An e-mail went out and 7 people signed up! I sent out a list of supplies and on Monday, I held my class. I am still a fairly inexperienced knitter, so it was a little intimidating. What i was surprised to find was how much I actually knew, and it was interesting watching people struggle with the same issues that i did when i first started. here are some pictures. we're going to have a follow up class in 2 weeks to see how everyone is progressing. On the left you will see Alien, I mean Eileen being beamed up to the mother ship. :)

Most of the class- R to L Eileen, Brianna, Jackie, Anne, Stephanie & Kim.

Ann showing off her needle skills.

Broccoli Cheese Bake

Here is one of my latest lo-carb creations.
I've lost 12lbs and still going strong.

Boyfriend loves chicken spaghetti. Now that I am back on south beach, I am choosing to not eat noodles. I prepared Boyfriend his regular chicken spaghetti and reserved some of the sauce for me. The following recipe was prepared as an individual meal, but the sauce recipe probably serves 3-4. Don't ask me why I didn't take a picture of this......

Broccoli Cheese Bake

For the Sauce:
1 Tbs Olive oil
1 garlic clove
1 onion
Salt & pepper
Oregano
Your favorite brand of spaghetti sauce
1 chicken breast

For the Bake:
1 cup broccoli
1/4 cup part skim ricotta cheese
Mozzarella cheese
Parmesan cheese

Sauce: Heat olive oil in a medium sauce pan, on medium heat. Mince garlic and onion. Sauté in oil until onions are near translucence. Cut chicken into cubes, add to onions and garlic. Season with salt, pepper and oregano to taste. When chicken is cooked through, add spaghetti sauce. Simmer to desired heat.

Bake: Put Broccoli in an oven safe bowl. Steam in microwave using saran wrap for 3-4 minutes. Drain water. Smooth ricotta over broccoli. Lightly sprinkle mozzarella and parmesan on ricotta. Bake at 325 until cheese melts and slightly browns. Top with chicken spaghetti sauce.

Sebastian the Camera Man

a cute picture of Sebastian!!!

he was helping me take pictures of yarn.

he is very helpful!

Save Journeyman!!!

Save Journeyman!!!

http://savejourneyman.net/

Halloween!

MySpace Countdown

Funny Stuff.

I was driving to pick up boyfriend from work so we could go out to lunch. Apparently, the Minneapolis Fire Department now sells advertising space on the back of their trucks. Much like the ads on buses. I found myself laughing uncontrolably when i realized the advertisement on the back of the truck was for Quit Plan. as in Quit Plan for Health- some insurance companies program to, get this.... stop smoking. stop smoking on the back of a fire truck. hilarious!

Strawberry-licious!

On Sunday, I had to face the reality that Monday I would be doing a fast/cleanse of my body for 4 days. I decided we needed a delicious dessert to look back on and remember, long after the the last of delicious food had left my system. Here is what i created.

Smarties Strawberry Shortcake
425* 10-15 Mintes, yields 4 biscuits

Biscuits
1C Flour
1/2 Tbs. Baking Powder
1/4 Tsp. Salt
1 1/2 Tbs. Sugar
1/2 stick COLD Butter
1/3-1/2 C Milk
1 Large strawberry, or 2 med.

Strawberry's
Slice desired # of strawberries, coat with sugar, set aside for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally until syrup is created.

Directions
Combine Flour, Baking Powder, Salt and Sugar. Cut butter into flour mixture using a knife, fingers or pastry cutter. Desired consistancy has butter mixed in well, and a few small pea sized pieces. (think pie crust). Create a well in the middle of the four/butter mixture. Grate the strawberry(s) with the large end of a cheese grater, into the well, add milk and stir.
Divide dough into 4 parts, form into a ball. Bake for 10-15 Minutes until biscuits are slightly golden.

Tastiest Drink of All...

How to make a kari

Ingredients: 3 parts intelligence 5 parts self-sufficiency 5 parts empathy

Method: Combine in a tall glass half filled with crushed ice. Add a little cocktail umbrella and a dash of lovability

Username:

Personality cocktail
From Go-Quiz.com

Update City!

This is a random blog of random things.

First and foremost, Winter in Minnesota. It wasn't so much "winter" anymore as we had crossed the threshold to spring, but sure enough March 2nd, 3 days before my Birthday, Winter reared it's ugly head again. Considering global warming and the mild, mild winters we've had the past couple of years, boyfriend and i took pictures to document the event. I'm not sure what the final snowfall total was, but i think it was somewhere in the 18" range. madness. i can't remember it snowing like that for a very long time.

This was the view from our Living room window:

This is the GIANT icicle outside our bedroom window:

This was our driveway. Please take notice that we don't own a shovel, and Boyfriend is in fact shoveling with a broom. The second picture is the wall surrounding our patio, it is about 4 feet tall.

NEXT!

Knitting. I finished this bag. It was the first "real" project I've completed. it has fake cables and multi colored yard. i am giving it to my friend for her birthday in April. i don't have a name for it. near the end of the project i started calling it the bitch bag because i was NOT HAPPY about having to do the kitchener stitch, and it looked like shit. but i am happy with the end result. it is a small bag. big enough for a wallet and your cell phone and not much else. the strap is long enough to cross over your chest. I'm not familiar enough with knitting verbiage or knowledgeable enough to even know what yarn i used, so if you want a GOOD knitting blog, check out Laura's. Boyfriend has been calling it the hippie bag, so i guess I'll run with that. i used sock yarn. what kind? what is it made out of? i have no freaking clue. Now the snow is gone, we pulled out the patio table and chairs last weekend, and enjoyed a day of 81 degree's last Monday(less than three weeks after the blizzard). welcome spring! next week on Easter we are headed to Vegas. welcome trouble!

Yummy Recipe

I love to cook, and due to my new diet, i am limiting my carb intake. So here is what i had for dinner last night. Boyfriend wanted chicken spaghetti, i didn't want to eat the pasta, so i ate this!

1 chicken breast
1/2 cup FF ricotta
1 egg yolk or 1/8 C egg beaters
Oregano to taste
1 minced garlic clove
salt/pepper to taste
spaghetti sauce

Pound out chicken breast to flatten. flatten as thin as possible.
stir ricotta, egg yolk, oregano, minced garlic and salt and peper together to a smooth well mixed consistancy. Spray pan with cooking spray, lay chicken breaste on pan, pile ricotta mixture into the middle of the breast. pull two sides of chicken breast together and secure with a toothpick.
season the top of the breast with salt and pepper.

bake for 1 hour at 400 degrees.

cover with spaghetti sauce.

variations: i would love to make this with spinach, and or add parmesean to the ricotta mixture. i jsut didn't have any of that on hand. :)

enjoy!

Birthday Blog

It was my birthday on the 5th. It was pretty un-eventful, and it was exactly what i wanted. Boyfriend gave me the first jewelry, diamonds even, of our relationship. He gave me a journey diamond penant. it is beautiful. other than a crappy ring from a former boyfriend, i have never gotten "real" jewelry from anyone, at least nothing of significance. :) Here is what it looks like!

Here Fishy Fishy Fishy!

You Are a Mermaid

You are a total daydreamer, and people tend to think you're flakier than you actually are. While your head is often in the clouds, you'll always come back to earth to help someone in need. Beyond being a caring person, you are also very intelligent and rational. You understand the connections of the universe better than almost anyone else.

What Mythological Creature Are You?

grrr arg.

Your Monster Profile

Psychotic Dictator You Feast On: Coffee You Lurk Around In: Sewers You Especially Like to Torment: Hairdressers

What's Your Monster Name?