The Canine Waymarker: An In Depth Interview

Here at Team Hikenutty headquarters we have one team member who is of the canine persuasion. Since this is going to be a slow weekend for me, as far as waymarking goes, I decided to take some time to interview Frodo the Waydog and get his take on this fascinating new family hobby of ours. In the following interview "H" will be my portion of the interview and "F" will be his.

H: So Frodo, I'd like to do an interview to get a dog's perspective on waymarking. Do you think you have the time?
F: I'll pencil you in between the 11:30 licking of my butt and my 5 hour mid day siesta.
H: I'll give you a chicken strip afterwards.
F: Well, why didn't you say so! Let's go.

H: So Frodo, tell me a little about yourself.
F: Hmm.. Well, I am a member of the rat terrier breed of dogs. For the uninformed out there, that's "rat" because I'm a ferocious terrifying rat hunter, not because I look like one. I strike fear in the hearts of rats, possums, squirr--
H: You pee yourself when the doorbell rings.
F: You're not going to print that are you!! That pee is to ward off intruders. Urine can be a great deterrent to some, you know.
H: Tell me about it. [Pause] Anyhow, let's get back to the interview. Do you have a favorite food?
F: Oh, food, now that's a great topic! I would say my favorite food would be those dried chicken strips you get, but I'm also quite fond of the occasional snot filled tissue. Oh, and pine cones, those are tasty. Oh, and I also like snacking on twigs, good roughage, you know. Umm... q-tips are good, especially if they've been used, and... well, I pretty much eat anything. But chicken and paper products would have to be on the top of my list. (BTW, Quilted Charmin is soft AND tasty.)

H: Do you have a favorite activity?
F: Humping my blanket. DEFINITELY, humping my blanket.
H: What about waymarking? Do you enjoy our waymarking adventures?
F: Can I be honest with you? [H: yes, go ahead] Other than a few categories, I'm not so fond of it.
H: What?!!! I thought you loved it? I thought you were enjoying our family adventures.
F: Well, first of all, do I have the option to not participate? NO. Honestly, it completely stresses me out. There are always a bunch of people around, cars, squirrels that you won't let me chase... How could that be fun for a dog? I get so anxious that I crap all over the sidewalk and then you get all pissy about it. Like I can help myself?!! Why don't we geocache anymore? I really miss that. Out in the woods, crashing throught the underbrush, hunting squirrel-errr, I mean hunting down a metal box. Those were the days.
H: Well, you said that there were a few categories you enjoyed. Which categories are those?
F: Without a doubt, Off leash Dog Parks. That is the best category to ever hit that website. No one will EVER outdo that category. Also, I think you should really consider trying to find some Dog-friendly restaurants to waymark. Oh, by the way, I'm still angry about you putting me in the car while we waymarked that pet cemetery. I tried to tell you that peeing on a headstone is a form of honoring a dearly departed dog. It's not like I pooped on it. I only poop on the cat graves. But would you listen? Noooooooo.
H: Any other comments on waymarking with team Hikenutty?
F: I really think you should stop dissing the fast food categories. I mean, some of those places give out dog biscuits in their drive-thrus. That's attention to detail. Only a FINE culinary establishment would hand out dog biscuits. Plus, Hikenutty, Jr. drops me a french fry on occasion. So, are we done yet? I need to go lick my balls. Oh, wait? That's right. Someone had them cut off! Hmm. Who could that be? A psychopath? A teste-munching zombie? Oh that's right. It was you.
H: Frodo, get out of here. You're such a whiner.
F: Wait, you promised chicken! And do you think you could throw in a chunk of those liver treats?

Peer Review Peeve

Okay, it's time for my midweek rant. I recently had a category that I created go through peer review. For those of you who are new to this - If a person wants to create a new waymarking category, they first have to form a group of officers to review the posted waymarks, and then after the category is written it is sent out to the waymarking community for a vote. Waymarkers vote yea, nea or abstain, and also post CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM.

I have no problem with the process. In fact, I love the process. If a category isn't clear, or doesn't meet the websites criteria and fails peer review, the creator comes out of it with a batch of CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM that they can use to tweak the category.

My problem is with the few waymarkers who leave comments like "No wow factor", "Blah", "Redundant"... There is one guy who always writes "No wow factor" when they vote "nea" and I grind my teeth every time I read it in a review. I'm fine that the person doesn't find it interesting. There are many categories that I actually can't stand, however, that doesn't mean the category doesn't have merit to a large group of the waymarking community. But why oh why don't they add some suggestions as to what they think would be more interesting! What about the new guy who might not fully understand the process? Be nice, be helpful. That's all I'm asking. Argggggghhhh. I know it will never change, but it feels good to bitch.

My category that just passed peer review was "Master Architects - The International Style". I used some of the criticism I received to rework it a bit and now it's even better. In fact it had its first waymark posted today by Saopaulo1 - a highrise apartment building by Oscar Niemeyer in Sao Paulo, Brazil. That's his (Saopaulo's) picture of it at the beginning of the post. Back in a few days to talk at you some more :)

PS: Thanks to the blog readers who have contacted me and been so nice about the blog. I'm glad you like it!

Industrial Strength Waymarking

Today we found ourselves back in industrial Tacoma, waymarking the mouth of the Puyallup River for the River Origins, Confluences and Destinations category. Now THIS is the Tacoma I remember from childhood. None of the beautiful museums and the active arts community. No, what I remember is the stink - what was fondly called the "aroma of Tacoma." These days the smell isn't nearly as pervasive with EPA regulation of the paper mills, but if you wander down Portland Ave to the heart of Super Fund Central the stink is still alive and kickin'. After taking some pictures of the dismal destination of the Puyallup River and jumping back in the car, my husband asks me, "Ughh, did you step in shit!". And, honestly I had to check, because it's hard to tell the difference between the smell of industrial Tacoma and a steaming heap of dog poo. There are so many Super Fund sites that I haven't even bothered trying to waymark them. It's too hard to figure out where one ends and another begins.

The day was dismal - a steady rain pouring from steely skies - but the weather tied in well with the gray stinky spot we waymarked. Why waymark such a disgusting spot, you ask? Well, herein lies one of waymarking's greatnesses. It isn't just about fun and pretty locations - it's also about informative locations that make you think, and sometimes informative isn't pretty. The Puyallup River waymark highlights what can become of a glacier fed river when the environment isn't protected.

Commencement Bay on the Puget Sound is ringed by EPA Super Fund clean up sites, and right into the middle of these toxic tide flats flows the Puyallup River. The Puyallup is fed from glaciers on Mt. Rainier and has a fall run of Chinook salmon. Coho, chum, and pink salmon are also found in the river, along with steelhead, sea-run cutthroat trout, and a threatened species of bull trout. Sockeye salmon are traditionally indigenous to the basin. Look at the picture - do you really want that salmon on your dinner plate to have swum through a Super Fund site? It may have done just that.

I posted in 6 new categories this week: TV Stations, River Origins et al, Nature Centers, Ice Skating Rinks, Lighthouse B&B's, and Publicly Held Corporate Headquarters. Okay, I'd better sign off and go grab my decon box. I'll be back to talk at you in a few days.

Waypolls and Waybooks

I added a couple of features over the last couple of days that I wanted to tell you about.

First, I added a "waybook" recommendation section on the sidebar. I'm a book junkie and I thought it would be fun to share some category specific recommendations with you. Now, yes, if you hover over the book name it will give you Amazon.com info and you can link over to Amazon, but you can also go to your local library or indie bookstore if you feel like it. It's not like I'll get rich off the 35 or 40 cents Amazon will give me if you buy the book from them - that's not the point at all. My plan is to pick a category, or maybe two, and make some suggestions of great books (or music) that are specific to that category. I started out with Route 66 and suggested some books that I've been reading/have read, and a soundtrack for roadtrip music. I'll add another group of recommendations when I have the time to look through the categories. If you have any suggestions, be sure to leave a comment and let me know.

The second feature I have added to the sidebar is a waymarking poll. Right now I have about 1 visitor a day to the blog so I don't know how much the poll will tell us. However, it seemed like it would be fun. I've started with a benign question, but will move on to some of the more controversial stuff that gets argued about in the forums. Ta-Ta for now. I've got to go plan where I want to waymark this weekend.

The Ignore List - Thoughts from a Waymarking Snob

Last time I commented on lame categories in the forums I was called a nazi elitist and other juicy tidbits so I figure I'll rant here where no one can stop me. :)

Sometimes I think that I must have the longest ignore list on the waymarking.com website. I LOVE the ignore list feature. Right now my list is at 5 pages and growing weekly. In fact, this weekend was an "ignore list" weekend where I found myself waymarking spots so I could knock specific categories off onto my ignore list where I don't have to see them. Some of the categories are on the ignore list because I'm just not interested in them. They're fine categories that I'm sure some people love, but they just aren't categories that I really care about. However, many categories are on there because I find them useless, unnecessary, and a black eye to the hobby of waymarking.

Waymarking can be divided in many ways but most people consider it to be split along two lines: the useful categories(restaurant locations, businesses, etc.) and the interesting (historic spots, odd places, etc.) I'd like to add a third section to this waymarking taxonomy: the lame categories. Why, oh why, does anyone need to know how to find a McDonalds, Burger King, Walmart or even Starbucks, for that matter?! Here, I'll explain how you find one - drive down a freeway - take an exit off the freeway. There, you've found the aforementioned spots. I joined the Starbucks group for awhile because, I'll admit, I frequent the establishment. However, after awhile I felt the same way about it as I did about the fast food chain categories. It isn't a useful category. There are much easier and more thorough ways to find those McNuggets you crave. Try the yellowpages.com or calling information on your cell phone.

I'm not forcing my opinion of what is useful and interesting on anyone. I love Starbucks, but don't find the waymarking of them necessary. Maybe as wifi hotspots - that's useful - but not as a Starbuck's location. I just don't want waymarking.com to be thought of as an incomplete yellowpages website. Let's waymark the historic, interesting, unique, quirky or downright weird spots on this globe. Now that's useful.

Okay, I know there are a few of you dying to argue this point and call me names again, so BRING IT ON! I can take it.

Embracing the Inner Geek

Well, it's official now. Everyone that reads the Tacoma News Tribune will soon be alerted to my true state of geekiness. On Saturday morning Troy, my husband, and I went waymarking with a TNT photographer. She followed us around for about an hour as we waymarked several historic buildings and a community garden. In this picture we're at Fire House No. 1, which is on the U.S. Register of Historic Places. Troy is being photographed taking a waymark and you can see by his expression that he's not yet buying my "embrace your inner geek" stance.

I thought that wandering around with a photographer taking pictures of me waymarking would be embarrassing. Actually though, I felt like it made me seem a little less weird. I mean, if you're on your own and you climb up a wall to take a picture of a weed-filled community pea patch, people start to wonder if they should cross to the other side of the street. But if someone with a giant camera is taking a picture of you taking a picture of weeds and dirt, well, people are going to assume that your doing something legitimate. Either way though, I didn't have to worry as it seems that citizens of Tacoma are all still sleeping at 9:30am on Saturdays.

After we had done a few waymarks the photographer said goodbye and headed off to her next assignment. She had to photograph some new immigrants finally arriving after their relative has worked for something like 5 years to bring them to the country. Great story, but I don't see how it can compete with a spot on waymarking. We'll see. ;)

If you're interested in seeing the waymarks we did with the photographer, here are the links: Neighbors Park Community Garden, Fire Alarm Station, McIlvaine Apartments, and the Fire House link above. I'm guessing the story will be out in the next couple of weeks and I'll post a link to the article when that's available.

I've been outed!! Wayouted!!

Yes, you read right. I've been outed! No, not that way - my husband and I are still together. It's my waymarking habit that has been outed. The Tacoma News Tribune is doing an article on waymarking and they've interviewed me for the story. You see, up until now this waymarking habit is something only my family truly knows about. Now all of that inner geekiness I've been hiding from my friends will be out in the open. Those weekends spent searching for interesting intersection names and ginormous everyday objects will be known to all. Oh well, I suppose it had to be. At some point I have to embrace the inner geek and stop hiding it from those I love. Oh, the freedom!! The joy!!

On Saturday I'll be waymarking with my husband and a News Tribune photographer, and on Sunday I'll be waymarking in the land of geeks, Redmond, Washington, home of Microsoft and Nintendo. I'll write about it here on Sunday or Monday and give you the status of that inner geek embracing I'm working on.

Cemeteries and Toxic Waste

So this last weekend found me waymarking in toxic waste and a cemetery. A little depressing for a weekend jaunt, but hey, a waymarker's got to do what a waymarker's got to do. I'm not going to make toxic waymarking a habit though, as I don't own any tyvek clothing.

The cemetery we visited was a pet cemetery in Kent, Washington. When I read about this place I figured it was some yahoo with some extra property, looking to make some money. Turns out that the place was for real. It was started in 1948 and was filled with granite markers, some quite ornate, and pictures of favorite pets. Frodo the waypup yowled his grief from the CRV (actually he just wanted to get out and pee on a headstone, but the grief sounds better.) I left pondering yet again why a cat gets to live 20 years, but a dog only 10. So unfair.

My husband actually joined me in this caper and I think he is getting interested in waymarking. I suppose waymarking at a superfund site isn't exactly the way to win over geocachers, though. Next weekend I'll have to find a category to hunt for that he might enjoy. Pizzerias? Nude beaches? Hmm... X that last one.

All in all it was a very fruitful week with postings in 8 new categories: Neon Lights, Wendy's, Dive Sites, Piers, Outdoor Rec Stores, Superfund Sites, Funny Mailboxes and Pet Cemeteries.

Getting started

Well, after years of making fun of bloggers willing to share all (I mean ALL) the unremarkable details of their lives, I myself have started a blog. And I suppose my waymarking adventures will be unremarkable (and undecipherable) to all but my fellow waymarkers. That's okay.

My plan at this point is to document my waymarking adventures and some of the weird places and situations that I find myself as I attempt to gather the posting requirements for yet another waymark. At this point I have 370 waymarks posted in 176 different categories. I'll also try to highlight some great waymarks that I see get posted to some of the categories that I'm an officer in. If you take the time to sit down and look you can find some fantastic points of interest: Caves in Oman, a sculpture garden in Germany, a little known waterfall in Yellowstone National Park... The spots are endless and now I have a place to make note of the great ones I see posted on the site.

For now I'll sign off. I'll be back soon to figure this blogging thing out so I can start highlighting my favorite waymarks and telling my geeky, wacky tale of WayCool (to the chosen few who understand the appeal :) waymarking. In the meantime, if you want to find my waymarks, my username on waymarking.com is Hikenutty. Check them out.