Spotlight on Mrsbillwolf1 (Celeste) !

NCGO Treasurer

My real name is Celeste Slater.  I am retired food service business owner, full-time grandmother and part-time geocacher (upon asking my children, they would say full-time geocacher and part-time grandmother).  My immediate family consists of my husband Bill (we've told the kids for years we never married), three children/their spouses, six grandchildren and 3 puppies all residing in North Carolina.  An adopted daughter and numerous foster children who we are in contact with living outside NC.

I have to thank wrlwnd, one of Bill's co-workers for getting me (us) into geocaching.  I gave Bill a Garmin V GPS for Christmas 2004, so we could find specific places in and about NC without having to take an extra hour or so to get there.  He took the gift into work to read up on it and to ask if any of his co-workers knew anything about GPSs.  That is when Eric questioned Bill's intent and then asked if Bill ever heard about geocaching?  Eric brought up the website on his computer and navigated around the site, it piqued Bill's interest.  Now, he had to get me to see this neat website.  I listened to what Bill had to say, read the home page and said "okay, whatever."  So, on December 29, 2004, Bill registered on geocaching.com with our caching name:  billwolf1, Bill from his name, wolf from people claiming that our puppy looks like a wolf, and 1 is me.  In the forums though, I go by mrsbillwolf1, so folks don't confuse me with Bill. 

Our very first cache find was nittany dave's "Wavery Micro Micro" GCG7RJ.  Early morning of January 8, 2005, armed with his Garmin V, our eager puppy (geo-puppy) and I headed out to our first conquest.  Bill stated that we would be looking for something small and the hint was "something about the name of a rock-n-roll band that had a song about an 'Evil Woman'".  I knew from the hint, where we should be looking.  While in the vicinity, two guys show up with GPSs in hand, looking for this very one.  They had no idea what the hint meant, so I enlightened them.  The guys turned out to be NCGrimbo and mark the shark.  Cache found, log signed, I was hooked!  We went out the next day and found cache #2, Bill was hooked.  At dinner that night, we told the kids about geocaching.  We became 13 strong in searching for caches until we purchased GPSs for each family (2 months into caching) and they splintered off to become USMC2052 (with Gabi Girl and Caching Pig), JGH Team and HuntersGlenn (with MooMooCacher and The Crocodile).

I have two memorable caching moments, first being in the Bahamas at "The Caves" GCC411.  While searching in the front part of the cave, a family stopped to take pictures at one of Black Beards hideouts.  They questioned as to what we were doing and we explained about geocaching.  Next thing we know, they are searching the cave with us.  Bill found the container, I signed the log, the family looked at the goodies and thanked us for sharing the experience," that 'bout rounded out their vacation".  We all parted.  The second moment came a few months later while at horsegeeks "The New and the Old" GCMXQ7.  We had HuntersGlenn, USMC2052 and JGH Team (known in our logs as the gang) along with us.  Jenn started having hard contractions (she was due any day).  We were searching high and low, and no, she didn't want to leave until the cache was found.  It was the last cache on my "To Find" list.  The container was found, log signed and Jenn wound-up on complete bed rest until The Crocodile was born 11 days later.

My "Ideal" cache hunt would be a nice stroll along a paved greenway, with very little to no bushwhacking to the cache.  I have decided to let Bill do all the bushwhacking caches, saves me from scratches, bruises etc.  I like park and grab micros when caching alone and while on cache runs.  I do like meandering strolls to find a nice size container.  When caching with the grandkids, I try to seek out the larger sized containers so they can find "treasure" and do their trading.

Events!  Best thing about them are the people who attend, for whatever purpose the event is held for.  To me, events are mini family reunions.  We cachers come from all walks of life, and are the friendliest group of folks I've met by far.  I enjoy chatting with everyone, and if I didn't talk to someone at this event, I will make a special point to talk with them at length at the next one I see them at.  Events are wonderful.

I wouldn't want to take a famous person dead or alive, caching with me, but I wish I could have my dad back for one day to take along.  For numerous of years before he died, he walked around the near-by lake and adjoining park every single day (rain, snow, hot, cold).  He would bring home all sorts of items he found i.e. toys, books, movies, some tucked away in a tree, under bushes, or just left abandoned in the open.  He would relate his tales and while visiting home, he'd point out to me where such and such was found.  Geocaching starting several years after dad passed, but I am sure he would have enjoyed it.

Besides the family gang, I got my sister and sister-in-law into caching.  In the past two years, neither one of them have yet to log a cache on geocaching.com, but love when I visit so we can go caching together.  One of our foster kids' became a cacher while visiting us last summer.  She has gone back to Colorado  and is ready to place her first hide.  I got my nephew and his family into caching while staying with them last year in Nevada.  Both Bill and I talk to people everywhere, anywhere about geocaching.  If they try it, that is good.  If they don't try it, it is their loss.  The song "On the Road, Again" comes to mind for a good caching anthem.

I have a small arsenal of GPSs to utilize when I leave the house.  Beside the Garmin V that usually sits on the dash of the geo-SUV, I take either the Vista C or the 60csx.  Maps for the most part have been put away, and I take at least one GPS with me when I travel.  I like to play with the 60csx on the plane to check how fast the plane is going, at what altitude we're flying at and watching the route we're going on the map.  Only once on a flight from Reno to Phoenix, that the flight attendant told me that "that particular device is not allowed to be utilized while in flight". 

Any interests or passions outside of caching?  Hmmmm.  A few things come to mind like gardening, housework, visiting non-caching (how absurd!) family members, playing cards with family/friends and shell collecting.  I've stayed at several beach front properties to attend out-of-state caching events, and not once step foot on the beach to pick up a seashell.  Something definitely not heard of pre-geocaching.  I still play chess with my nephew on-line every now and then and keep up correspondence with family/friends via cell (they claim I never answer the house line, I wonder why, lol) and occasional email.  I still read and do Sudoku puzzles.

I don't have any personal goals in caching, just caching and meeting folks along the way.  I had thought of not logging any more caches after reaching 5,000 finds, but Bill talked me out of that.  I've enjoyed caching alone and with Bill, but caching with friends is a blast!!!  I've had so much fun caching with Team Horsegeeks, Bushwackbob, Tigerz, WE4NCS and Pinkdolphin, to name a few.  Never a dull moment when you have Jason trying to beat you to a cache! 

If I could place a cache anywhere, without restrictions.....does it have to be on Earth?  I guess it would be in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, mon.  Bill and I tried to have a Virtual Cache there several years ago, but the reviewer claimed we were asking for a "vacation cache"  which he vetoed.  Said we needed to leave that space available to locals to place a cache there.  But without restrictions, I'd like to have a virtual cache at the Bob Marley plantation.  Way cool place, mon.

Signature trade items, no I don't have any at this time, but considering a personal geocoin.  In the beginning, I placed whistles, compasses, magnifying glasses and D-rings in caches.  I do move TBs and geocoins along and have been leaving behind un-activated geocoins from my collection.  The coolest thing I have found in a cache was a 6 inch troll doll with neon pink hair.  A blast from the 60's, how cool.

As far as advice goes for newbies, it would be:  1.  Join NCGO;  2.  When seeking a cache, use your eyes first; 3.  Use some logic in where a particular sized container might be - with a few exceptions of some off the wall places I've found ammo cans; 4.  Follow Fishingfools mantra, when in doubt poke it with a stick.  5.  Remember this is a game/sport, so have FUN!   In placing caches for all of us to find, use common sense and follow 2, 3, 4 and 5 above.

The price of gasoline is ridiculous and yes, it has curtailed my caching excursions a bit.  I have had the great pleasure and opportunity to cache a lot with Team Horsegeeks and from the beginning, we've shared expenses, which has been a great assist.  As for finding the time to cache and/or attend events, is centered around my dog sitters' schedule.

I am very grateful that I was invited to attend the first of many meetings regarding GW5, so thank you!  As co-chair (horsegeeks was my cohort) of the Food and Beverage Committee, I drew on my experiences as a caterer that we had to set a theme, budget, locate a doable venue and corral a massive pool of hard working volunteers in order to pull-off the largest (to date) and best international mega event.  I am a very detailed oriented individual so, planning the menu, trying to stay within budget (the rising costs of food and goods was hair-raising) and having a say in the kitchen facilities was a big plus. Since the largest catering job I'd had was for 1,000 people, what was a few more hundred hungry folks to feed?  No sweat!  Pricing items, writing up the orders, and doing the shopping was a pleasure - thanks to wimseyguy and horsegeeks.  Coordinating the volunteers for prepping the meat (just under 1,000 lbs. combined steak and chicken), cooking all the meat  (which included a couple of whole pigs, hamburgers and hot dogs), meat slicers and choppers, salad preppers, vegetable slicers, soda dispensers, dish washers, cake decorators (I gave a 30 minute mini basic cake decorating class the morning of GW5 to about a dozen folks), icing makers (my secret recipes were revealed), food runners and servers.  The volunteers worked their fingers to the bone for three days.  On a lighter side, I gave out unofficial GW5 aprons to some key folks as a special thank you.

Someone mentioned to me later, they were in awe as to how I could be giving instructions in the kitchen, answer my cell phone and help the geocacher on the other end to locate a cache, and go back to "my job" without skipping a beat. A piece of cake!

I guess I'm just a glutton for punishment, lol, as I volunteered to help out at GW6 in California this year.  After getting the run-down from the caterer, we (about 2 dozen fellow volunteers) were told to "figure out what we'd be doing amongst ourselves" for our duties in the serving line.  Shauna (from Groundspeak) asked me if I was "in charge" again this year?  No, but I quickly took charge to designate folks for each station and appointed a few reviewers as our food runners.  We had all the attendees through the 4 lines in less than 80 minutes.  Our hosts had allotted 2 hours for serving the masses.  I can't wait for next year, as I volunteered to help out at GW7.

Energy--Hmmm.  As a breast cancer survivor, I have learned to live each and every day to its fullest.  My mantra is "I'll sleep when I'm dead, but for now, there are things to do".  I have daily conversations with God (hint:  my source of energy).

Someone nominated me for Treasurer last election and I accepted it.  I lost by one vote - guess who forgot to vote?  Several months later, when the Treasurer decided to step down due to family matters, I was asked if I'd still be interested in the Treasurer's position?  I accepted.  As an organization, NCGO was in its infancy.  I set up a journal ledger, got the banking paraphernalia, passwords and got on board, keeping NCGO's finances in order and accounted for.  I ran unopposed in this year’s election, so I remain the Treasurer for another year and get to tell folks that "we're broke".  If anyone is interested in account numbers and/or passwords, furnish me with your active account numbers and passwords and we'll trade.  No takers?  I didn't think so.

IMO, NCGO can go very far, but we need everyone to get involved, and I don't mean to just go out and cache - that too, but also by supporting YOUR organization.  Support by volunteering for local and state-wide activities,  purchasing merchandise from the NCGO Store and /or CafePress, bidding on items in the Silent Auction or purchasing a raffle ticket at special events.  Geocaching is a non-fee based hobby and NCGO membership is free, so any form of donation is appreciated. 

Note:  The questions are removed because Celeste felt  it would read more like an article.  Who was I to argue, after all, if that’s the way Celeste wants it, that’s the way we’re gonna do it!