Jackalgirl

...and here's the donation receipt for the JRC. Thanks again to Write Shop Robert, and to everyone who looked! Keep tuned to this thread for more auctions in the future!

As soon as I get mine in the mail, there will be a third (unless that's the other one you're talking about). : )

Nicely done! I think they turned out just great. : )

And a big CONGRATULATIONS to Write Shop Robert, who is our WINNER! As soon as payment is arranged, I'll post the donation results here. Thanks so much for looking! : )

Howdy! Okay, so maybe getting these updated once a week is beyond my capabilities, sigh. But I did just update the standings, and now I've got a tickler in my calender to yell at me every week, heh. It looks like there's been an upset -- Moozilla moves into first place! Most Original Tag & Squee! Cowtests The cowtests for these two categories closes out on July 18, 2011, which is a mere month and some in change from now. From the Cowtests page: If you've got an interesting/original and/or cute-as-a-button tag you'd like to submit to either (or both) cowtests, please send me a photo and a writeup via greatcowtagrace@grafikato.com. I'll add it to the list of entries for the applicable cowtest(s). I'd also welcome neat photos from the racers, too, so if you see that someone's posted something cool and you want to brag about it, please don't hesitate to shoot me an email to greatcowtagrace@grafikato.com. I'll touch base with the cacher for permission to post the photo and add it to the gallery if an affirmative is received. Cheers!

Indeed! Just five hours and change left to go!

Just five hours and some change left on this auction of 14 sweet pieces of filthy, filthy pirate lucre. And for a good cause, too! Beautiful, wonderful coin. And some of 'em are engraveable. How could you pass this up?

They're up for sale at the site, too. There should be some photos of actual coins presently -- if I have to photograph mine when they come, I'll do that. : )

Ahoy, mateys, especially those not o' the crew this year -- If doubloons give yer heart joy, an' if ye be wishin' t' donate to help those in Japan and New Zealand still sufferin' after their huge earthquakes, check out this auction o' mine! It comes courtesy my incredibly generous and good-hearted crew. But don't tell those scallywags I told you they're so sweet. : )

BEAUTIFUL photos! Way better than mine! : )

Ahoy, mateys -- If doubloons give yer heart joy, an' if ye be wishin' t' donate to help those in New Zealand still sufferin' after their huge earthquake, check out this auction o' mine! They come courtesy o' the huge generosity of my wonderful, wonderful crew. Take a look!

Ahoy, mateys! Thanks to the incredible generosity o' me crew o' this year <wipes away a tear, those dear dear scallywags o' mine>, I'm happy to announce that I'm putting up a bag o' loot for auction. The auction is good for 7 days and ends on June 5th at 11:33 GMT. Feast yer eyes: The Japan/New Zealand Bag o' Loot This attractive, completely hand-made pirate's pouch contains 14 gorgeous pieces of filthy, filthy lucre to satisfy your corsair's heart. All coins are unactivated and fully trackable on geocaching.com and also feature the 2011 Doubloon project's unique icons. I'm starting the bidding at USD $84.00, which may seem high, but it comes out to $6 per coin. The individual coins are 1" in diameter and are customized in small lots: none of the editions in this treasure bag has more than 30 coins (out of a total order of 1129 coins), so each one is an XLE. Each coin comes with two inserts for the winner's convenience: a "do not trade, activated geocoin" card, and an "unactivated, trade up!" card. I pay all shipping costs and 100% of your winning bid will be split right down the middle, each half being donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society and the New Zealand Red Cross for relief efforts in the wakes of their respective huge earthquakes from earlier in the year (and even though the news related to relief efforts has been dwarfed by other news, there's still a considerable amount of work to be done: in Japan alone, somewhat shy of 10,000 people are still missing). So please take a look at this auction and place a bid, if ye dare!

If you're not sure about the foam you've bought, just make sure that you buy foam that is marched as "archival quality" or "acid-free". I know that paper often has acid in it, which may after time discolor (and might damage your coins). Likewise, make sure that the PLASTIC that you're buying is made for archival (the stuff you buy for storing baseball cards or other collectors' cards should be okay, if it's specifically designed to hold collections, and should be marked as "acid free" or "archival quality"). The regular PVC coin flips are not acid free nor are they archival quality. They seem to do all right although I've noticed discoloration on some of my coins in which the flips were split along a seam: I think the problem is that when air gets into the flip with the coin, that's when discoloration happens, but tightly-packed, flat, un-messed-with coins in PVC flips seem to be doing fine. GBG, I admire your organization. Your binder looks awesome! My coins are packed into a stack of something like 10 plastic boxes. ; )

That looks like one of the My Personal Geocoins from Sepp & Berta. If it is, go ahead and send them an email about it. They're awesome, very nice, and do not bite. : )

Heh. Now, with only 20 coins available at a time, they'll be gone within 2 seconds. ; )

I'm open to suggestions. Oh, well, heck, when I get home, I'll send you an email!

I saw a dragon today, running with a new mom & baby/baby stroller on the running path on base! Oh, wait, it was just a dog. A beautiful dog, but not a dragon. Drats!

What a beautifully detailed coin! All the goodness of interlace (and dragon) are there. And it's a spinner, so cool! I think my favorite thing about it is its all-metal front. It's really well done. Kudos on an awesome lead-in, too. Great story! I'm going to have to keep a close eye on the dogs I see from now on. ; )

I really wish I had something you wanted to trade for one of those AEs. My regular sets just came in the mail and the photos don't do them justice. They just can't capture how wonderful the coins are when you turn them in the light. Worth every penny!

YAAAAAAAAY! Please, o please release the Kraken!

Niiiiiice. I'm going to be out of money this summer. ; )

I've gotten the race standings list updated! If you find a log with particularly nice pictures and would like me to post about them on the site, let me know (I'll contact the cacher for permission to use the photos first, of course) -- if you take any that are cool, please don't hesitate to shoot me an email (greatcowtagrace@grafikato.com) and I'll put up a blog post about 'em. In the next day or so (family/time willing), I'll start pulling together and reposting details about the upcoming non-racer "cowtests", too, for those of you who bought regular tags (which are, btw, still available). Go cows go!

Howdy! Ah, those awful activation codes. I sent them out on the list, and I'm so sorry for forgetting -- I always forget those. : ( So there will be TWO insert sheets I'll make: one for activated codes and one for gifts (that'll have the activation codes on 'em). Sorry, sorry!

Just to back up what Moozer said -- please get your cows into the event if they're not in there already. I think most of 'em are, but there might be some stragglers. Mooove it! ; )

A good TB hotel doesn't need a "take one/leave one" rule. It gathers up bugs automatically due to its good location and other good cache qualities. If TBs aren't collecting there naturally, the owner should consider the cache's size, location, security etc., before attempting to set a rule (that he or she can't set, anyway). I'll chime in and say: clear it out. Especially of the bugs that have been there for that long. Get them moving; their owners will thank you!