Every year, the Greatest International Scavenger Hunt the Would Has Ever Seen (Gishwhes) invades the lives of thousands of people. For one week, they find time to accomplishing things touching, silly, bizarre, challenging and occasionally moderately embarrassing, with their registration fees going to the Random Acts charity.
This gem is the brainchild of actor Misha Collins, who plays Castiel on Supernatural. He gets other celebrities involved too, generally willingly. William Shatner actually plays, for example, and various challenges involve players sending a variety of crafted items to others, who sometimes need to pose with the item, retweet the post, or some such.
One item did, however, require us to tweet a same-sex kiss to @RickSantorum. I’m guessing he didn’t volunteer to participate.
All teams have 15 people on them, often scattered across the country or even the world. This year’s team, codenamed MorallyAmbiguous, consisted of friends in Green Bay, cousins in Des Moines, their friends, cousins in Chicago, and a friend in the Lansing, MI area.
With over 200 different challenges, there’s a lot to choose from. I tend to do more artistic ones. Last year I made a poster for a sci-fi movie starring Misha Collins and Queen Elizabeth II, for example. I also built a throne of kale, was pampered as a stormtrooper, and recreated a scene from Stonehenge Apocalypse in 1:87 scale.
Last year, Gishwhes was one of the high points of my year. This year wasn’t quite as exciting for me. I didn’t find as many interesting tasks, and at least a couple team members felt similarly. There was stuff I could certainly do, but they weren’t necessarily fun, and ultimately the point it to have fun. Granted, they’ve been doing this for several years, and they aren’t repeating tasks (otherwise people would just save stuff from previous years), so I’m sure it’s quite a task generating a fulfilling list.
Still, we came out with a decent haul of tasks, and I’m certainly willing to join next year, time allowing.
Construction Paper Gala
You’ve just received an invitation to the annual Color Me Pretty Construction Paper Gala. Design and wear an elegant gown consisting of only construction paper.
Created by myself and Amber Vergauwen
Robert Downey Jr. in Salt and Pepper
Let’s see a portrait of Robert Downey, Jr. or Ironman made entirely of salt and pepper. Tweet it to him (@robertdowneyjr) with @gishwhes in the tweet.
Zombie Croquet
Let’s see a refined game of croquet on a public lawn of a historic site. All participants must be zombies.
Victorian Smartphone
When Alexander made the first phone call on 10 March, 1876 he could not have foreseen the birth of the ‘smart phone’ generation… Or could he? Using late 19th century technology and parts, build the smart phone Alexander Graham Bell would have built if only he’d had the time.
Our smartphone comes complete with a CPU, keyboard, calculator, game app, handset, external speakers, camera, weather app, stock ticker app, power switch, mail feature, output device (currently displaying an ASCII cat), clock, battery meter, accelerometer, music player, and light.
Mustache collection
How do you do it? Everyone on your team has such beautiful mustaches? Do you have some sort of hair growth cream you slather on or pills you all take? Let’s see a grid photo of everyone on your team that features your mustaches prominently.
Pin-up
A drawing, painting or digital image (no photoshopping of existing images) of Misha and the Queen as 1950 pin-up BFF girls.
Yarnbomb
Yarnbomb something in your town that shouldn’t be yarn bombed.
Hipster Trap
The problem with growing kale is that hipsters are always trying to sneak into my garden to steal it! Show what a trap would look like to catch these pests. Extra points if you capture (alive) a real life hipster.
Gardening Tip
Stand in front of your garden holding up a sign with your best unorthodox or hard to believe gardening tip for the First Lady of the United States. Tweet it to @MichelleObama and include “@gishwhes” and “#gardeninghack”
Devil’s Tower
Using food found in your refrigerator or pantry, recreate a national landmark. You may not use gummi bears.
Origami Centerpiece
A stunning origami floral centerpiece.
An Inspiring Book
Tweet a picture of you holding up your most inspiring book or book title with the hashtag #booksnotbullets and @gishwhes.
Landmark Pizza
Present an artistic depiction of a famous Italian landmark – on a pizza.
Queen Clicker Zombie
Paint a stately, magnificent portrait of world or state leader after they’ve turned into a Clicker zombie.
This image is based on Queen Elizabeth I’s rainbow portrait.
By Amy Williams
Dinomite’s Fluffy Bites
Contribute the recipe for ‘Dinomite’s Fluffy Bites’ to Allrecipes.com and get at least 20, 5-star reviews from people who enjoyed the recipe.
Legalese Bowling
Translate your favorite slogan into legalese.
Hammock Over a River
Kick back in a hammock that’s suspended from trees on opposite banks of a river. (Make sure it’s a safe section of a river to be suspended over.)
Conspiracy Theory Party
Throw a conspiracy theorist party complete with tin foil hats and suspicious guests.
@RickSantorum tweet
Tweet a photo of two men or women kissing each other (clothed) to @Ricksantorum. We need to see the Tweet with #facerealityRick @gishwhes.
Changing the World
Do the one thing that you think, if everyone did it, would change the world for the better overnight. Caption the image or video with what you’re doing.
We also had a handful of video submissions, but I’ll include those in another post.