Don't be Fooled! Metal Detecting is HARD!

I recently received the following instant message:

"...you find so many great things, I wish I were as l lucky as you."

I paused for a long moment.

Often times I sit in amazement over the gobs and gobs of great things I see displayed on Facebook and YouTube every day. I sigh and gaze dreamily at belt buckles, box plates, and gold coins. So the idea that someone perceives me?... As lucky?... In metal detecting?... That took me by surprise.

"I work very hard for all of my finds, they do not come easy." I replied.

It suddenly occurred to me; if you've never metal detected before, and the only thing you know of the hobby is what you see on YouTube and Facebook, you are being deceived!

The deception is not purposeful or malicious... I myself am guilty with my own videos by not showing all the trash I dig. I mean, who wants to watch 15 to 20 minutes of me digging canslaw.

It's boring!

Certainly I focus on the best finds. This is true of most YouTubers and Facebookers. It isn't meant to be misleading, but in many ways it is. So please allow me set the record straight. Metal detecting, at least in my neck of the woods, is HARD WORK

Anyone brave enough to dig with me is guaranteed to spend hours, even days at a time, with sometimes little to show for it. You will suffer near heat exhaustion in dry sandy fields in the beating sun with 100 degree heat indexes. The air will be so heavy you can barely breathe and you will sweat just standing still. Mosquitoes, flies, and gnats will drive you to the brink of madness (and we're not even going to discuss the ticks and chiggers, or the completely over-grown woods with the meanest velcro-like thorns you have ever encountered). You will dig hole, after hole, after hole of aluminum and pull rings--or worse, wander back and forth on a massive field with nary a signal

Metal detecting is not always one fabulous relic or coin after another. In fact, that type of digging is very RARE where I live. The potential is certainly there for pockets of goodies, but most of my finds were produced after a valiantly fought battle in some of the most difficult conditions. And they're certainly not right next door. My best locations include up to a two-hour commute (one way) and have no guarantee of producing.  It's all part of the detecting adventure.

So tease me if you must when I loose my mind over that general service button or I become ecstatic when I find a mercury dime or a civil war bullet. You see, these things are tough to come by around these parts, and I cherish each find as if I've just dug a million dollars--Because to me, especially the historical artifacts, they are treasures. I would love to live in an area where I can walk out the front door and dig 1800's coins and Civil War or Colonial relics--But that is simply not a reality for many of us.

But you know, the way I look at it, as hard as I have worked to recover each of my finds...I think maybe, just maybe, I appreciate them a little bit more.

xoxo Siren Kimmie (HDIC Girls Rock Metal Detecting)
© 2018 Siren Kimmie/Girls Rock Metal Detecting. All Rights Reserved.

Check out Girls Rock Metal Detecting at all of these fine establishments:
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Ello: https://ello.co/sirenkimmie

A Farewell to Steve Ward - Historian, Digger, Friend

I received some very sad and shocking news late Halloween Eve regarding the passing of my friend Steve Ward. I haven't said a whole lot as it has been a little difficult for me to process. I am not looking for condolences (those should be saved for his family). I simply wish to honor him in my own way, the only way I know how really... and with that I give you the following video and words. The song is one that Steve wished would be played at his funeral (Jimmy Buffett "A Pirate Looks at Forty") so I am honoring that here as well. Rest easy my friend, until I can hold you to that AT Pro challenge you issued me a few days ago.

Click here for Farewell Video

xoxo Siren Kimmie (HDIC Girls Rock Metal Detecting)

© 2019 Siren Kimmie/Girls Rock Metal Detecting. All Rights Reserved.

Check out Girls Rock Metal Detecting at all of these fine establishments:
Online: http://www.GirlsRockMetalDetecting.com
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GirlsRockMetalDetectingOfficial
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsRockMetalDetecting
Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WeRockMetalDetecting/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsrockmd/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GirlsRockMD
Ello: https://ello.co/sirenkimmie

I'm Not a Joiner

Are we ready for a rant?  Okay, so, I am a member of a whole-lotta Facebook groups, this much is true.  Though some may consider this egregious, I love each and every one one of them.  They are made up of, mostly, like-minded individuals who enjoy metal detecting. While I certainly cannot engage in every single group daily on any grand scale--I depend 100% on my news feed and Facebook notifications to keep me involved.--On each page I post one or two video links a month, a meme, or blog here and there.  Beyond that I'm frequently scrolling, commenting where I can, liking posts I enjoy, and in that way I am differentiating by individual people not the groups themselves.

To me, Facebook is a gathering place, much like the city center.  There are a ton of shops, businesses, bars (or pubs if you will) downtown. While I can go inside any one of these establishments, I generally prefer to be outdoors, lounging on some cafe sidewalk chair sipping a glass of wine.  I sit and observe...watch the people go about their business, petting someone's dog as they walk by, complimenting someone's shoes, or just nodding a friendly hello.  Sometimes I'll pop in a place, sing a song, then drop the mic and walk out the door (proverbially speaking of course).

In this analogy, if I'm in your group and I don't always engage--If I simply wish to "walk in and sing my song" and I decline a game of pool or darts; are you going to ask me to leave?  Truth of the matter is, maybe your patrons ENJOY my brand of "music".  Or maybe my version of Ballroom Blitz filtered out into the street intriguing a few people to stop by.  Or, hell, maybe I'm simply background noise, adding to the over all atmosphere.  Regardless of the role, it is all part of the spirit isn't it?  

As I've said before, I'm an introvert. So, by nature I am not a "joiner".  I have friends and family who get aggravated on a regular basis because they don't hear from me enough. So maybe you can appreciate that I put my heart into everything I create and am giving a little bit of myself with each new video, blog, meme, or what have you.  This IS my form of participation. So if you're telling me, the introvert, how I should interact within your group, and if you enlist nothing more than individuals who are being threatened with removal if they do not frequently comment, I'm best left out anyway. 

xoxo Siren Kimmie (HDIC Girls Rock Metal Detecting)

Check out Girls Rock Metal Detecting at all of these fine establishments:

Online: http://www.GirlsRockMetalDetecting.com

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GirlsRockMetalDetectingOfficial

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/GirlsRockMetalDetecting

Facebook Community: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GirlsRockMetalDetecting/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/girlsrockmd/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/GirlsRockMD

Ello: https://ello.co/sirenkimmie

Copyright © 2016 Siren Kimmie (Kim Price) Girls Rock Metal Detecting. All Rights Reserved.