Friday, August 28, 2009

Listen to HeadHardHat on the Cache-A-Maniacs Podcast Show
















I had such a fun filled day when I recently met up with Darryl (Darrylw4) and Drei (Firefly03) in Roseville, Michigan. Not only was I going to be able to interview these two wonderful podcast hosts for my
GeoSnippits show but they were going to interview me for their Cache-A-Maniacs podcast.

We had a great time setting up the video and sound for both shows which also allowed us to get to know each other better as well. Once the two interviews were complete we also were invited to the Geocaching Roseville Event where a lot of caching goodness, camaraderie and great food ensued.

I look forward to coming back to Michigan soon to do some serious geocaching with Darryl and Drei in the not too distant future.

So now, sit back and relax while listening to this ole HeadHardHat gab about himself in the Cache-A-Maniacs Podcast.

Note- After you click the link below just click the grey word Pod next to the title.
You can listen to the entire show here: Cache-A-Maniacs Show #141

Remember to come back and see the two part GeoSnippits Interview with the Cache-A-Maniacs.
You can see the two part GeoSnippits interview here: GeoSnippits Interviews

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Thursday, August 27, 2009

Big Thank Yous to a Small, Small World

Absolutely must send out a quick shout to all my blog readers and viewers of GeoSnippits. My strength is growing and I am just shy of getting back onto the geocaching trails.

Thank you for all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers for my recent bout with a rather nasty MRSR infection. What truly touches me is the world wide scope of people I communicate with each and every day. It really is beginning to be a small world after all and I couldn't be happier.

Just for kicks here is a list of countries where viewers have either visited my blog and/or have contacted me. I know the list changes daily but I found it rather exciting...

United States
United Kingdom
Canada
Germany
Portugal
Netherlands
Australia
Sweden
Belgium
Ireland
Austria
Europe
Norway
Japan
Romania
New Zealand
Spain
Slovenia
Hungary
Brazil
Bolivia
Philippines
Puerto Rico
Russian Federation
Singapore


So once again thank you so very much for all the continued fun and communications. Please keep them coming for they are greatly appreciated.. in any language.

-HeadHardHat

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Almost Dieing Really Sucks But Beats the Alternative

Well if you have been wondering where I have been for almost the last two weeks the answer is flat on my back and basically fighting for my life. Yeppers you read right the big HHH came THAT close to geocaching on the other side of the pearly gates. Hmmm wonder what kind of swag they have in heaven? Anyways..

Long story short about two weeks ago I developed what I thought was a spider bite in a very delicate place. My touche to be exact. It started about the size of a marble, was hot and painful. I didn't see any ring like a recluse would cause so I decided to wait a day or two to see if it would just go away.

The next day it had grown to a nice golf ball size. Disturbing yes but again redness and still no ring. By the third day it was the size of a baseball and started to develop red lines on the lump and now redness was spreading all over the place.

I refuse to go into the verbiage my wife was willing to use on me for waiting up to this point because this is a family blog site. Let's just say if one thing wasn't going to kill me, I would still not be out of harm's way. So that was when I went into urgent care to show the doctors my, wait for it, pain in the ass.

There is nothing like going to a total stranger and saying, "hey come look at my butt," but this was serious and at the time I did not understand what was actually happening. You see somehow I came in contact with MRSA a nasty infection that can kill a healthy human in a couple of days if left untreated. For me being a diabetic it is even more of a danger. Especially if ones blood sugar is out of control. This means your white blood cells are not able to fight infections like they should and you are in a whole heap of trouble when this happens. Guess who had not been taking good care of himself like he should. Again the wife lets me know how big of a weenie I am, told you so this, told you so that... Point is she was right and it almost cost me a permanent dirt nap.

Won't go into any further details but I now have an extra super-sized dimple on my bum that wasn't there before and a whole new understanding for when the doctor tells you to keep your diabetes under control. I spent the rest of the two weeks weak as a two year old and hoping the tons of antibiotics I was on would work. There are resistant strains of MRSA that do not work with antibiotics and then you more than likely will die from it. Fortunately for me they did work but the doctor said if I had waited another day they may not have and that would have been bad.

So take some advice from an old fool who learned a lesson he can now continue to teach to others. If you are diabetic and think you can continue to do things your way and believe there are no consequences for not doing what is right then you are a fool like me. You need to get your sugar under control then keep it there. Want a dirt nap? By all means keep doing what you are doing but don't tell me I didn't warn ya. The price of not being there for your family and friends is just too much to pay.

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Thursday, August 13, 2009

GeoSnippits Interviewing the Cache-A-Maniacs

Yes the wait is over. The Interview of the hosts of the very popular podcast Cache-A-Maniacs is on the air. Well okay it on You Tube and ready for your behind the scenes pleasure. Come meet Darryl(Darrylw4) and Drei(Firefly03) and find out how Cache-A-Maniacs got started, what type of geocaching Darryl and Drei like and so much more. Enjoy this rare look at the world of Podcasts and the people who make them.

Here is Part One of Two:


If the viewer does not show above click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xl1kIStJwM0

Here is Part Two of Two:


If the viewer does not show above click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjpyCAPuJco

You can contact the Cache-A-Maniacs at http://cacheamaniacs.com/

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Sunday, August 9, 2009

GeoSnippits Heading For Television on Michigan Magazine TV

Yes it's true, spread the word. Geocaching is going to have air time on the television airways.

GeoSnippits is a very popular series of geocaching tutorials and useful information that can be found on You Tube and the GeoSnippits website http://www.geosnippits.com. This geocaching phenom hosted by Andy Smith a.k.a. HeadHardHat has grown greatly in popularity over the past year and has been featured on GPS company websites like Trimble Outdoors and to help teach movie goers for the geocaching film FIND ME.

Now the GeoSnippits series is heading for the networks, the RFD Network to be specific and Michigan Magazine TV. Dell and Barry have been hosts of Michigan Magazine since 1989 and even with Dell in semi-retirement Barry continues to bring the amazing aspects of the Great Lakes State to viewers in all 50 states.


GeoSnippits will bring an adventure filled perspective to Michigan Magazine TV by showing it's audience the treasure seeking fun of Geocaching. Geocaching is an outside activity that utilizes GPS units with the help of satellites in space to find well hidden caches placed all around the world. GeoSnippits will feature areas around Michigan itself and other parts of the country as well.

Michigan Magazine TV can be seen twice weekly on the RFD-TV Network. Click Here to see show times and channels for your area.

Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Travel Bug Farmers Daughter Makes Goal To Germany

If you read my blogs on a regular basis you most likely have come across posts (FD Background Post) about the adventures of a special travel bug known as Farmers Daughter. It is a memorial to my first wife Sharon who lost her battle with cancer in 2001. To pay tribute to her and to help bring cancer awareness to others I sent this TB out into the wild.

It had achieved it's primary goal almost immediately as I have received logs, emails and other messages stating how important this travel bug has been to so many people touched by cancer. It will continue to do so for as long and where ever it may lead.

On a happier note it has met it's second goal. Sharon had always loved the six months she spent in Germany and always wanted to go back. In a sense, she now has. Farmers Daughter has just recently moved from the United States into Europe and is now in a geocache residing in Baden-Württemberg. It currently has 6511.5 miles and I hope for many more.

There is so many ways that geocaching can effect our lives. Much more than the healthy walking and the fresh air. Sometimes it can touch our soul.


Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Home Again

Found this nice ammo box at the North Carolina welcome center.
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Last Ohio Geocache For Awhile

Note cammied pill bottle to my left in tree. About to go into West Virginia heading for North Carolina.
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Maintenance On My Ohio Cache

Still in great shape after over a year at a turnpike service plaza. Added a 2nd log book just in case but otherwise it is up and running.
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Monday, August 3, 2009

Filming For Michigan Magazine TV in Ann Arbor, MI

Beautiful day in down town Ann Arbor, MI. Can we say muggles everywhere?
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Sunday, August 2, 2009

Behind The Scenes With The Cache-A-Maniacs

I had a ball yesterday with Darryl (Darrylw4) and Drei (Firefly03) the hosts of the very popular geocaching podcast "Cache-A-Maniacs". I was extremely fortunate to catch up with this dynamic duo during my road trip across the Great Lake State of Michigan. This was a rare but wonderful situation where they were able to do a face to face audio interview with me and I in turn could do a GeoSnippits video interview with them. Most of their weekly shows are done inhouse and over the phone.

The other fun aspect to the interviews was that we were able to do them outside and in a park. The 5th Annual Roseville Geocaching Event happened to be that same day so not only did we get to meet face to face but we attended one heck of a geocaching event ta boot.

I'm not going to go into all the details of what happened but to give you just a taste from behind the scenes in the photo you can see Drei on the left with Darryl in he middle and a wonderful shot of my back. You can also see the mike setups that were used as we recorded their portion of the show. It was really a pleasure talking and beginning a friendship with two individuals that have such a strong passion for geocaching and also what they do in their craft of the media world.

You will be able to hear my interview on the Cache-A-Maniacs show as well as the Cache-A-Maniacs interview on GeoSnippits in the very near future. Please be sure to stay tuned for all the fun.

If you want to get THE scoop on all the hottest geocachers out there go to the Cache-A-Maniacs website here --> http://www.cacheamaniacs.com/


Please don't forget to visit our GeoSnippits Geocaching Tutorial Videos Website at http://www.geosnippits.com

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Food, Fun and Geocaching Friendship

Had a great time today at the 5th annual Roseville Geocaching Event in Roseville, MI.
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Just Won This

I just won this complete with swag geocache at the 5th Annual Roseville Event. Roseville, MI
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