Learning From the Masters

I haven't played many Pokemon go Raids with my Pokemon group recently. I have had one or two, but not many with most in the group.

Today, I knew that one of the main guys that has two accounts who has been playing for six or more years was going to play during "raid hour" which is every Wednesday at 6 p.m. wherever you live in the world. Many people remotely raided and another long time player who is also a master came to play the last raid with us.

We played several raids together and one of them got a near perfect shiny which is rare. The other "master" then showed me that he had 3 perfect shiny's which I have never seen before. I couldn't believe he has so many. Also, they aren't wimpy Pokemon, but powerful Pokemon, so to see three perfect and powerful Pokemon was cool.

I then asked them if I could take pictures of their "perfect" Pokemon totals and couldn't believe that they both have around 80 shiny Pokemon each. They were really proud of their stats. They spent a bit of time talking best move sets, powers, and fighting strategies for some of the newer Pokemon. I only have 9 perfects, but I am on my way!

Frankly, I can't quite keep up with everything they are talking about, but I really think that for the six months I have been playing, I am doing fairly well. I have been able to share things I have learned with people who have played much longer, and I have learned something from each person I visit with about Pokemon. 

Each time we meet together I learn something new. I appreciate so much that people are willing to share their time and information with me. I love that Pokemon has brought me a new group of friends. 

Have a blessed day!

Pokemon Meet Up - Love My New Friends

I have shared so much in the past few months about playing Pokemon. My girls have shared so much with me about how to play. 

On my last visit to Princess One's home, she and her husband taught me about the benefits of trading. They trade all the Pokemon they catch each day in hopes of getting lucky trades and have learned that if you get a random "lucky" trade, often times, they will give you two lucky in a row, so if you get one, trade a good one for the next trade. It actually worked and we got two in a row. 

I meet up to do raids with the local group a few times a week as we have a bit of a routine and if there are special raids or community challenges, we go out. 

The other day, someone posted saying they were at a gym and wanted to raid for a legendary Pokemon. It was the biggest group I have ever raided with. We had seven of us local and three were doing two devices, and my friend Matt and several others from the group joined in remote raiding. One of my family joined in as well. It is funny because the group is getting to learn the playing names of my friends and kids because they will jump on the raid if they can. I invite them all each time I do a group raid and if they are available, they will join in. 

I love when I get a shiny doing a raid as it is usually a bit better / stronger / higher power shiny as a pattern, shiny Pokemon are usually very weak. Even though they are better than other shiny Pokemon, they aren't usually as strong as the normal Pokemon. 

I decided to take a photo as there were many people at that raid. It was fun as we were able to win really quickly. When you raid with people you are friends with, you get more poke balls at the end to try and catch the Pokemon after the raid. I had 22 balls at the end of the raid! Usually, there are 16ish as there are two or three of us playing in the raid. 

I have really gotten to love the people in the group. They are so helpful and we talk after the raid about life and what is going on in our world. I have gotten closer to some than others, and a few have been my friends for many years. Who knew that playing a game could bring such amazing people into my world. 

I am still learning things. Just yesterday, I learned that you can dodge the attacks thrown by the larger Pokemon in raids!  These people who have been playing since the beginning and are in the mid to higher level 40's, they are such a wealth of knowledge on things and I continue to learn things each time I meet up with them. 

Yesterday, I was able to share something with them on where to be to get five spins at a time if you need to get more poke balls quickly. I don't get to share much with them, but I like when I can give back in some way! 

I have collected 300 higher value Pokemon to trade with all the kids when we go camping at the lake. I told them all to save higher ones to trade with me. It is nice that we can connect with this as well as in other ways. I used to feel left out when they would talk Pokemon terms, now, I can join in the fun! 

Have a blessed day!

Great Bunko Reunion

My Bunko group met tonight. One of the members who moved last year came back for a visit tonight. 

I had a great night rolling three bunko's and winning the biggest prize. It has been a long time since I won the biggest prize. 

We then sat and visited with those that wanted to stay late. The hosts husband came and out and we all visited and caught up until 12:30 a.m. It was amazing to be in her beautiful back yard with lights and water features sitting on her comfortable deck furniture. 

I appreciate these women. More than half of the group is still original from when I started it over 26 years ago. It is so nice to catch up on what all their kids are doing. We have experienced so much of life together. 

I feel so grateful to have such a wonderful bunko group. Have a blessed day!

Frisbee / Disc Golf - New Activity

Princess Fives boyfriend's family are avid Disc Gold players. They each have their own special discs that they play with and they have little carry bags and some have up to 8 different discs that they use to get different throws. 

I am actually good at throwing a Frisbee, but the discs are heavier and drop faster.  They taught me to throw the heavier discs, but they kept hitting my middle finger knuckle. I almost got a blister and had to change how I throw. I ended up holding it differently than how I would a Frisbee, and after two rounds, I was starting to get the hang of it with the lighter discs.

Princess Five is quite good and has her favorite discs and her own bag to carry them. She is really cute doing a grape vine step wind up. 

I was consistently double par on each hole but for my first time, that wasn't all bad. There is a bit of a learning curve. 

I also liked that we went late enough that it was cool in the evening so it wasn't so hot while playing. 

I would do it again and think the grandchildren would enjoy playing. 

There are courses all over the place and apps that you can look up different courses. I didn't know it was such a big thing. Now I do. It is a fun activity and I think people of any age would enjoy it!

Have a blessed day!

A Fun 1111 and a Thanks to Matt

I am on a Pokemon local group that will text when there is a large pokemon raid going on. They will meet up or do a remote for the raid. 

I did a raid with them and even though we won the raid, I asked someone in the next car to try and catch the large Pokemon, they were not able to catch it for me. 

The next day, they had another raid for the same Pokemon, I was out at Walmart returning something so I stopped on my way home and we once again won the raid, but I threw three balls trying to hit it and missed all three. 

I got out and went to the car behind me and it just so happened that it was one of my bunko friends husband. I asked if he could help me catch the large Pokemon as my throws weren't always great. He was able to catch the Pokemon for me. 

I laughed as he had 2 games going at the same time. He had a phone and an ipad that he was playing on and was able to catch the large Pokemon on one, but not on the other. What I found out at that point was that not everyone in the raid catches the same Pokemon. I had no idea. The one that he caught for himself was a lower CP point than the one he caught on my phone. I didn't know that was a thing. 

I stayed and played a bit longer on my way home and caught this 1111 CP point Pokemon and smiled to myself feeling blessed that the many people I have been meeting playing this game have been really kind. There was a "task" that makes you trade Pokemon with someone else and nearly every person I have met that plays this very much plays two games so they can trade with themselves, get lucky and special / shiny Pokemon and trade them to their main game, and kick themselves out of Pokemon Gyms at strategic times to get coins etc. 

Since I already am wasting so much time playing one game, I cant justify playing a second game, nor do I want to do that, so I needed to find someone to trade with locally as that is something that can only be done in person, so I saw a young couple in the car next to me playing and knocked on their window asking if they would be willing to trade with me. 

They were willing and both traded with me so I could finish that challenge / task. I asked if they were in the local raid group, they weren't. I was able to put them into the group so they would get the texts when there was a raid going on. Then, I was able to share all the cool things I have learned from the others in the group who have been so patient telling me facts and tricks that even some of my girls don't know. 

Every person plays the game differently, but the main majority are trying to get perfect Pokemon and develop them into a few different levels so they have strong Pokemon at each battling level. I am learning and have been evolving the more balanced / perfect Pokemon and have been learning to win battles as I learn which Pokemon are better with different types of Pokemon. 

My friend Matt is sweet. As he has more time to play, he gets really far ahead of me in levels and then waits for me to catch up. I have been limited by not having enough space as you have to earn coins. You collect coins by putting Pokemon in gyms and taking over gyms. I guess he got tired of waiting for me to earn enough coins, so he purchased me a $50 apple gift card so I could use it to purchase Pokemon coins and build my space for Pokemon and items. I have had over $20 on credit on my apple account for a VERY long time. We had over $100 at some point, but the girls have downloaded songs over time and I didn't know I still had that amount on my account. Here is the post to someone getting us gift cards.

I figured out how to use the gift card and purchased some poke coins so I could expand my storage. I think I will use some of it to let all the girls / guys purchase some remote raid passes so we can all do some battles together! I have been doing several raids with Matt and a few with the girls, but mostly doing local raids when I happen to be out and someone posts one. 

I am really enjoying making new friends. My bunko friend added me as a friend when her husband arrived home after helping me catch the larger Pokemon and doing a few trades. So, now I have a bunko / Pokemon friend combination, which in my world, is better than any Pokemon I could catch! 

I wish Matt could find some friends playing near him to be able to do the larger raids with, but I think people in the west are sometimes more open to a stranger approaching them than those in the East. It is a culture thing. 

Thanks for the gift card Matt. I am blessed with good friends, and good Pokemon Go friends! 

Have a blessed day!

A Few New Pokemon Friends - Fun Weekend

I shared a few weeks back about my friend that visited me from the East Coast, and how he saw me playing Pokemon and then downloaded it, and now we are both about at the same level in the game. Here is a post about that.

He bought passes for my daughter's family and I to join in an event this weekend where you can catch NEW Pokemon. All of us had busy days scheduled, and the even was only from 10 to 6 during the day, but after my busy day of making beds for a charity, I went to the cemetery and started playing hoping to catch the new Gratitude Pokemon. 

I put lures on three stops at the same time, and burned an incense which is supposed to attract Pokemon to you. I had a ton of cars stopping at the LURE stops as they can benefit others who stop at the spinners and boy did they stop! Because it was an event, there were LOTS of people out. 

I didn't get to play much on Sunday due to other conflicts and church, but there is a real interesting thing that has been happening with all of this. 

Last night, as I was finishing up for the end of the event, I left the cemetery and went to the park near there, and then to another park and looped to a college that has a few stops. When I turned to go to the front of the college, I saw a truck turn after me and thought maybe it was a police truck. I wanted to get out of the way and also spin a stop at the baseball fields, so I pulled into a parking lot. The truck passed me and looped through the other entrance and headed towards me and pulled up at the drivers side window. He actually looked like he could be a police officer off duty. 

He leaned out his window and asked if we were "POKEMON FRIENDS?" I laughed and said that I was only friends with my kids and a few others I had met. He then asked if I wanted to be friends. Of course, I am cautious. He then told me he was in the military unit near our town and lived in a larger city a few hours away. He then said he was supposed to meet someone to trade "Lucky" Pokemon as you can only trade with people you have become good friends with over time. He then mentioned the name of the person and it was one of my dearest Bunko friends husband! 

At that point, I figured the guy was safe and he was wasting time as he was here for guard weekend and they were through for the night and headed out in the morning. He showed me so many things about throwing the poke balls, which ones to evolve, which to leave as "dark" ones, how to cheat the game in some ways, but it seems like everyone has a few cheats up there sleeve! ha ha He traded about 15 Pokemon with me hoping to get a lucky trade as the values change randomly as you trade. He showed me one from out of the country he got in the military, and some cute cactus ones from his weekend in a south west state that are regional type Pokemon. We also talked about how he started playing for his Son and I started for my children, and it seems like most adults that play it have started for their kids.

He then asked if I was on a "group" that was local that he was on. He asked if I wanted to join when I told him I had only been doing this for under two months and he hooked me up with the group, and they all did a remote raid and I was able to get a large shark Pokemon. He helped me throw the poke-balls after the raid to get the larger Legendary Pokemon as I am not great yet at hitting excellent throws. 

I talked to him about miracles in my life, why I started playing, about my brother leaving for a mission to South America and how I ran into him at the cemetery visiting my mothers grave this week etc. Here is a link to that post. It was interesting to me that I could almost instantly become friends with a stranger and share my feelings on faith and God so quickly. I shared in my church congregation today about how God will use you where you stand if you are a light and friendly. 

I was literally driving out of the church parking lot today when I got a text from a lady in that new group I joined saying there were people going to do a raid at a park a few blocks away. I drove over and was able to win another large Pokemon and this time I caught it myself! There was another at the same location, and we beat the five star Pokemon, but in the end, I didn't catch the Legend because my throws aren't the best yet. We drove to one last one a few blocks away and fought one more, and once again, we won the battle, but I didn't catch the Pokemon due to my lack of excellent throwing skills. ha ha. 

After the battle, the woman I was talking with as we were waiting for the last guy to show up, she got out of her car and started talking to me. I turned my car off and we talked for two hours and I guess I didn't turn my keys all the way back as my battery drained and I had to jump start my car! However, I once again was able to talk with her about God as she has a very young daughter that has kidney failure and just found out her son has the same genetic issue with his kidneys and we talked about faith in God and asking for our needs with faith. 

She reminded me so much of myself in the things she was dealing with, and she is also a nurse, and I felt that God put me in those peoples lives for a reason. I was amazed that God could use me where I was as long as I was willing to share, and even playing a silly time draining game! 

I gave the woman my number and told her that if she ever wanted to talk, walk, needed help with her daughter or anything, to give me a call. She allowed me to give her two huge hugs while we talked as I could see she is in the middle of a huge trial. It made me count my blessings and realize how truly charmed my life is compared to so many others. 

I accidentally deleted my friend Matt's profile on the game trying to invite him to the gym battles, but was grateful I could just add him back and they restored our friendship level. It was a very interesting weekend, but was wonderful that I could meet another few friends! 

Who knew Pokemon could be such a friend maker in my world? Have a blessed day!

Unexpected Layover

I went to a city to see three specialists, and one of them ordered a test that can’t be done in my small town, so I ended up needing to find a place to stay so I could have a test done in the morning on an empty stomach.

So I’m just doing a quick post to share that today. On a good side to that, there are lots of Pokémon Go stops. In fact in the space of a few blocks, there are more gyms and stops than in my entire town. In a square mile around the main bospital there are probably three times the amount than my town. Within five minutes my allotment was full and I had no room for more.

I also have gotten probably 25 different Pokémon than I can get in my small town! I need to get out more often! Ha ha 

Have a blessed day!

Pokemon is Fun But Addictive

I started playing Pokemon a month ago today. I started just before my friend from back east came for a visit. 

I didn't play it much while he was here for the first few days and I spun a few Pokemon stops while visiting downtown in a big city. My friend laughed at me and made fun of me for playing it. 

We had a big 100 birthday party which I posted about last week. While there, my friend downloaded the Pokemon app as he didn't know anyone and played it for the few hours of the party. As we left, he apologized for making fun of me for playing as he was having fun playing it. 

One night we drove around in circles at the cemetery playing and laughed up a storm as we thought about how my kids would think that is so funny. 

We played at the national parks and as we could at state parks, and when we stopped to eat. In a month I got to level 25, and he is right behind me on level 24. 

I feel like it is such a waste of time but at the same time, I have been able to connect with some of my girls who play and with both of my son-in-laws who play. My friend and I send each other gifts through the app each day and I see a bunch of cars driving around town over and over as I go to places were there are Pokemon stops. The other day, I held up my cell phone and made a new friend as she held up her phone and I went over to her car and we became friends at a cemetery! 

I never would have guessed that I would be able to meet friend over a cell app. It is interesting to me how in-depth this app is. I am sure they are gathering all sorts of data about peoples movements, home life, shopping, and also getting people to purchase toys in the app. 

It tends to get you hooked up front but then things seem to calm down. I love that Princess three has been playing it for so many years and she is at level 38 and her husband who started when they got engaged is at level 37 as he plays walking to and from classes so gets more time playing. 

It will be a fun thing to bond with since most of the family plays the game now. It will also be interesting to see if I will ever have anything that is helpful to trade with them since they are so much further in the game than I am. 

Princess four said I got her back into playing by asking questions etc. Since Princess Five is so busy in life, she doesn't play but so we wouldn't bother her with any Pokemon stuff, Princess Four having lived in Japan as a missionary, she make us a family group in Japanese for our Pokemon stuff. It has been fun finding things to visit about in our group. 

I warn any of you reading this, don't start playing until you have some free time! 

Have a blessed day!

I Have My First Friend - Pokemon Friend

My daughter Princess Three got into the game Pokemon Go about five years ago. One fun day she asked if I would walk to the cemetery with her as there is a Poke Gym there that she wanted to go to and see if she could take it over. 

I didn't know what that was, but the fact that I could spend some time with her, I was all in. I usually walk at the cemetery when I go walking so I was just happy to have someone to walk with. 

She got her now husband into it, and then she got her sister into it, then she got her brother-in-law into it, and he got his wife Princess One into it. This process has taken years, but when we go anywhere, they all get excited to trade Pokemon and do battles etc. 

When we go to remote locations, they get excited to put them into the Gyms as they get to "Own" the gym and earn more points or powers or something like that. 

They get excited on holidays as they can get new Pokemon that are just out on holidays. Princess One got involved so that she can connect with her husband who has started using the app to walk to and from work everyday. He also has started riding his bike to and from work. 

When I am with them all together either on the phone or in person, now I feel like they are speaking a new language. They talked me into downloading the app and I called Princess Three and asked her some questions but she mentioned that I could "google" questions about it. 

I have been going to places on my way to and from errands so I can get Pokemon and get treats at the landmark spinners. I don't know what they are called officially, but you visit them and spin the center and you get some treats or prizes. 

I have NO clue what I am doing, but it did take me almost a week to figure out how to throw the Poke' balls, and there are center targets that disappear telling you when to throw, but it took me lots of days to figure that out. I also have no idea what ones to collect as I keep getting the same ones coming to me all the time and have fought the same ones over and over. 

I realized that I don't want to get the same ones, and waste the balls on ones that I already have. One thing I hadn't figured out was the sound. The song is really annoying. There is also a noise when the Pokemon show up. I got frustrated with the sound and asked a few people if they knew how to turn it off and hadn't had time to look it up. 

I was shopping at one of the thrift stores in town today and passed a guy I have never seen before. I noticed he was wearing a Pokemon shirt. I asked him if he plays Pokemon Go and he looked confused for a second, so I explained that I am new to the game to connect with my kids, but I am annoyed with the music and wondered if he could help me turn it off. He was with his two brothers and they were in town visiting their mother for Easter / spring break. They thought I was funny asking a stranger for help due to a shirt, but they agreed that the music is annoying.

He was SO kind that he would take 1/2 hour of his time to explain so much of the game to me. His brothers were so funny texting him from the car saying they were waiting, and then eventually came back in to get him and I thanked them for being patient while he helped me understand some things and that he was my first friend. 

Truth be told, he told me so many things in such a short time that I don't remember much, BUT I loved that he was so excited to share his knowledge with me. I joked that my girls are all adults but talked me into this. He then told me he plays it to connect with his 27 year old daughter. They left, and I checked out.

I headed to the other thrift store in town and laughed so much when I saw that he had entered the store about 20 feet ahead of me. He said that if I needed more help, he had dropped his brothers off as they had been to that store the day before but he wanted to check it out. I didn't ask him any more questions about the game, but I told him how I go to the stores most days looking for the jewelry bags just to get out of the house and maybe find some gold and silver. He thought that was interesting. I asked if I could take his photo for a blog post and he was willing. 

I know it is going to always be more than I will ever figure out as they have so many different foods, candy, power powders, stops, a thousand different Pokemon with different powers and traits, and there are gifts to give and stickers to collect and it amazes me that people spend so much time on this, but I am willing to put in a little effort into figuring it out to connect better with my girls and their husbands. 

I am not sure how into it I will get, but I can see how it could be addictive trying to collect them all etc. 

I am grateful to my new "Friend" who became my first "friend" on my Pokemon game! 

Have a blessed day!

IQ Twist by Smart Games - Fun Solo Puzzle

I found a small puzzle game at a thrift store a few months back. I love puzzles and games and usually enjoy doing them with someone.

I don't start large puzzles because I can't stop until I finish them, so it is a treat when I can find puzzles for one that I can figure out without taking to long to do them. 

This little puzzle is actually quite fun and has different degrees of difficulty. It is called "IQ TWIST" and is by "Smart Games" company.

When I haven't been feeling well with Covid and strep this past month, I could sit in my chair and just do a puzzle and figure it out to distract myself for a few minutes. 

I find it fun and challenging. Some of them have taken me up to an hour to figure out but I didn't mind as feeling so tired, it was good to have something to keep me busy. 

The puzzle comes in a small case the size of a large sunglasses case. It holds the pegs, booklet, and game pieces and snaps closed. It is something I would suggest. It is nice and fun for one which is not always the case. 

So, I recommend this game / puzzle. The booklet tells you where to put the little pegs, and then you have to figure out where the pieces go around the pegs. 

Have a blessed day!

All Out Nerf Battle War Fun - Annual Family Activity

My kids were all coming for the first time in six years for Christmas this year. For about a year, I have been buying up used Nerf guns at thrift stores trying to buy all the same types of guns so we could have an all out Nerf battle over Christmas. 

After purchasing about 10 guns that are the same, I kept looking for foam soft tipped bullets. The one thing about Nerf Bullets is that they get lost or broken. I wasn't able to find more than a few used foam bullets. 

I started researching online for inexpensive bullets and found 1000 bullets for under $35 shipped! It was worth taking a few minutes to compare as there is a huge variety of prices for the same exact thing. I knew we wouldn't need that many bullets, so I sold off bags of 100 red and 100 blue soft tipped bullets for $20 locally selling off about 500 bullets and making more money than I spent on all 1000 bullets I ordered. I loved that I could make some money on the bullets covering what I bought and helping pay for some of the used guns I purchased. 

I kept an eye out at thrift stores for cute and fun sunglasses for eye protection. I purchased enough glasses for men, women, and children. Most of the glasses were new but purchased at thrift stores and were kind of fun shapes. 

I also kept an eye out for cheap string pull back packs so that each gun had a pack and a spot for bullets so everyone had enough bullets. I found new bags for $0.50 each. 

I was able to find two birthday NERF sets that had tattoos, stickers that we put on the back of the bags, and we put tattoos on before heading out to have our Nerf Battle War. 

The sun was bright so I had a hard time getting good photos. I actually set up a video camera on a tripod but because the playground was so big, everyone took off and you couldn't see much on the longer video, so I tried to move it and because everyone was in and out of the playground equipment and running from the bullets, the video is a bit boring. I think if I had a go-pro on, it would have been more exciting. 

EVERYONE said they wanted to make it an annual event. I was glad I had glasses on as one hit my on the side of the head right on the glasses, also with the kids playing, they can't aim as well, so the eye glasses were for sure a must. You have to plan on losing some bullets. For some reason, one of my daughters wanted to see how many we lost in the game. At the end, we all stood a few feet apart and walked the playground, but the bullets went onto the soccer field and basketball courts, so in the end, we lost between 20 and 30 bullets. 

Everyone had fun with this and we did have a moment of "hurt" feelings with one of the kids getting shot as even though the bullets were soft tipped, they still sting when they hit. However, the crying didn't last long as they wanted to get out and shoot some more. The 3 year old was just happy to run around picking up the foam bullets. 

Years ago, I made a bunch of marshmallow guns and we take them camping or to the park. The problem with them is that in the heat, they start to melt and you have to clean them up at the park and they get sticky and make a mess. So we have enjoyed having massive battles over the years, but after having this NERF battle, I am going to sell my marshmallow guns and just keep these Nerf guns instead. Of course, the marshmallows cost less per game, but can only be used once. Since I made money on purchasing the bullets by selling some, we can always buy more and sell some off and there is no cost for the game / war / battle. You could even rent out the guns and glasses for parties. If someone rented them for $50 for a family party, you could lose over 1000 bullets and still make money! 

I see no negatives for this activity. It was really fun and I think worth all the time collecting the guns. I am going to keep looking for that exact gun at thrift stores as our family is just going to keep getting larger. I keep it all in a labeled tote for easy access and storage. 

Thanks for watching and have a blessed day!