What do I want for Christmas? I don't know. So many things I want, so little money for it. Christmas isn't about that anyway.
I have been looking at rifle scopes. I had the idea that I wanted a better scope for deer hunting. Trouble is, I don't need it. I have a decent one now on both deer rifles. I helped my uncle pick one out for his rifle last month. I am conviced I did pretty well.
This is what I picked for him: http://theopticzone.com/detail.aspx?ID=3974 That is the best price I have seen on it too. Nearly $100 cheaper than everywhere else.
I might get the same one for me. I decided this year that I wanted a better scope for hunting in the timber. My 4.5-14x40 doesn't have a wide enough field of view. I had a nice buck running through the trees, and I had a hard time finding him in the scope. I still got the deer, but I could have made a better shot. I figure I want one gun, my .30-06, set up for hunting in the woods. Most shots would be less than 200 yards. Now, I am not going to use open (iron) sights. I wanted to get one of these: I still might. I dunno. I read on a couple forums that the image is not flat. Maybe doesn't matter. I would like to look through one before I buy it. Nobody round here carries them. Another minus is the 1/2 MOA adjustment clicks. I'd prefer 1/4. I think it is more meant for muzzleloaders and shotguns. Anyway, it has pretty good optics with a wide field of view, and the ballistic plex reticle if I ever need it for a longer shot. I would use the rifle at home too, were shots can be 20 yards out to who knows. It is very light weight also. You end up carrying your rifle a lot more than you shoot it. This rifle currently has a Swift 3-9x40. Which is not as bright or as sharp as the Nikon. It was a good scope for the money, I and really can't complain about it.
The other scope that I want, is for my 'beanfield' rifle. This rifle would be used out in the wide open. Shots could be pretty far. I don't know how far, I'd have to see how well my rifle and I can shoot. As far as I can hit a paper plate every time I guess. For that, this is the scope I want. The optics are as good as scopes costing quite a bit more, the eye relief is constant, and generous, the exit pupil is large, at over 5mm. Field of view is actually wider than the 3-9x40 Light transmission is really good. If I could have only one rifle and scope, this is the one I would want. (Thank God you can have more than one!) It has side focus adjusment, another really cool feature. Only downside is I would need new rings for the 30mm tube. That is minor. And the cost, which is not minor. This rifle currently has a Weaver Grand Slam 4.5-14x40 on it. Which really is a pretty good scope. If I got a new scope, I have other rifles that have el cheapo's that I could replace with the Weaver. This is the rifle mentioned above. As to why I was using it in that situation in the first place, well, it is a long story.
Anyways. I want a bullet drop compensating reticle. All of these scopes have that. I don't know why I need this, the money would probably be better spent on a good laser rangefinder.
I want bright sharp optics that work well in low light. Both of the Nikons have that. I think the Burris is pretty good too. Nikon does make a 2-7 power, but it doesn't have the BDC and it costs more.
It is pretty sad to be dreaming and drooling about stuff like this that I don't really need.
Monday, December 18, 2006
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Fart jokes.
Q: Why didn't the teacher pass gas in public?
A: Because she was a private tutor.
A real life fart joke:
A: Because she was a private tutor.
A real life fart joke:
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Home
PSA: Due to the fact that the turkey hunting wasn't very good this year, there will be a slight delay in providing free turkeys to first commenters.
Otherwise, the black hills deer hunting was pretty good. We filled our tags early and spent a couple days coyote hunting, and still came home a couple days early. We were even fussy about our deer, passing up anything that didn't have at least 4 points and a few that did. No, I didn't take a camera with me. It never occured to me. I really feel that I have failed my readers. Both of you.
The hunting has gotten much better sincs they went to a limited draw, but we would rather go back to the unlimited licenses. It is more important to us to get a license every year than to try to shoot a trophy. I had a turkey license (my first for the hills), but I only saw 3 turkeys, and they were flying. We had 3 coyote sightings, which we considered to be too few, due to the fact that we were trying to call them in. We decided that the coyotes must have died off in that part of the hills, as there was scant evidence of their existance. Last September, while elk hunting, we were overrun with them.
This is the traditional vacation in my for my dad and my uncle. I have been going for the last 15 years or so. It is mostly a mens vacation, altough sometimes the women come. My mom has never gone, but my sister has gone a couple of tines What could be better than a week in a tent in the Black Hills in November? Where else can you spend a week on vacation for less than $150 per man?
The practical jokes weren't too good this year. I only sent a few pine cones home with the other hunters. The dead squirrel on the tow hook of the pickup was discovered too soon. My uncle did send a stick of firewood home with a friend. It is not known how long it will take him to find it though. My uncle is the main practical joker, putting firewood into vehicles, duffle bags, sleeping bags etc. And a rock against the side of the outhouse really wakes you up. The best I ever did was throwing a pack of firecrackers into the woodstove in the middle of the night.
I've been trying to catch up on what went on while I was gone. The wife took the opportunity to paint nearly the whole damn house. I actually had to help with most of it before I left. She painted the bathroom a deep red. It now resembles some sort of dungeon, as the new paint absorbs too much light, and you can't see too well with all the lights on. Now I have an excuse for missing! Really, I don't know what was wrong with white paint.
I purchased a trail camera. I set it up at home in the shelterbelt before I left. It took about a 8 pictures. Three of them were deer. Nothing was apparent in the other pictures. One picture was a small 4x4 buck. If anyone cares I'll put it up. If I get a pic of a big one I'll post it.
The hunting seasons are winding down and winter is coming.
Otherwise, the black hills deer hunting was pretty good. We filled our tags early and spent a couple days coyote hunting, and still came home a couple days early. We were even fussy about our deer, passing up anything that didn't have at least 4 points and a few that did. No, I didn't take a camera with me. It never occured to me. I really feel that I have failed my readers. Both of you.
The hunting has gotten much better sincs they went to a limited draw, but we would rather go back to the unlimited licenses. It is more important to us to get a license every year than to try to shoot a trophy. I had a turkey license (my first for the hills), but I only saw 3 turkeys, and they were flying. We had 3 coyote sightings, which we considered to be too few, due to the fact that we were trying to call them in. We decided that the coyotes must have died off in that part of the hills, as there was scant evidence of their existance. Last September, while elk hunting, we were overrun with them.
This is the traditional vacation in my for my dad and my uncle. I have been going for the last 15 years or so. It is mostly a mens vacation, altough sometimes the women come. My mom has never gone, but my sister has gone a couple of tines What could be better than a week in a tent in the Black Hills in November? Where else can you spend a week on vacation for less than $150 per man?
The practical jokes weren't too good this year. I only sent a few pine cones home with the other hunters. The dead squirrel on the tow hook of the pickup was discovered too soon. My uncle did send a stick of firewood home with a friend. It is not known how long it will take him to find it though. My uncle is the main practical joker, putting firewood into vehicles, duffle bags, sleeping bags etc. And a rock against the side of the outhouse really wakes you up. The best I ever did was throwing a pack of firecrackers into the woodstove in the middle of the night.
I've been trying to catch up on what went on while I was gone. The wife took the opportunity to paint nearly the whole damn house. I actually had to help with most of it before I left. She painted the bathroom a deep red. It now resembles some sort of dungeon, as the new paint absorbs too much light, and you can't see too well with all the lights on. Now I have an excuse for missing! Really, I don't know what was wrong with white paint.
I purchased a trail camera. I set it up at home in the shelterbelt before I left. It took about a 8 pictures. Three of them were deer. Nothing was apparent in the other pictures. One picture was a small 4x4 buck. If anyone cares I'll put it up. If I get a pic of a big one I'll post it.
The hunting seasons are winding down and winter is coming.
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
A hunting we will go
Leaving tomorrow at 4 in the AM for the Black Hills. Gone till December.
You all have fun at work.
You all have fun at work.
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Bits n pieces
I've been busy, and been gone, so I haven't had time to comment on current events.
The abortion ban was defeated. I don't know why for sure. I'd guess it was due to not getting the message out. Part of the reason was, proponents claimed that there was an exception for rape or incest when the words "rape" and "incest" never even appeared in the law. So the argument over whether or not the provision was there distracted from the argument over if it SHOULD be there. I think a lot of people voted against the ban believing there should be exceptions for rape and incest. Nobody put out an ad trying to convince them otherwise.
Now the ban allows anyone to take the morning after pill before a pregnancy test can establish a pregnancy. This was the so called rape and incest provision. I think the abortionists scored some points pointing out that there was no real provision. (In my opinion, a rape or incest exception means that there is a specific exemption that applies to them and excludes them from the ban.)
The alternative would be that my so called conservative state is pro abortion and I don't really want to think about that.
The ban will be back in two years I'm sure. Whether or not it is in its present form or not I don't know. I don't know how a so called rape or incest provision would work. Can a woman who is 4 months pregnant decide she doesn't want the baby and cry rape? What is the standard of proof? Does the man she accuses get prosecuted? I would definitely support strong penalties for falsely accusing someone of rape to get an abortion.
So don't sell your stock in coat hanger factories just yet.
In other happenings, I went west river deer hunting. It was nice getting away. It was also very physically demanding. We hunt in the badlands. Very rough country. I like hunting out there, but the public land is very crowded. I guess we go more just to be in such a rough and beautiful country rather than to shoot a deer. There is no off road vehicle traffic allowed in this unit. So if you get a deer, you have to have a way to get it out. For us, this is a strong incentive to only shoot a deer if it has large antlers. Nobody wants the work of packing out a doe. Last year I shot two deer out there. One was a buck, and easy to get out. Only one mile to pack it out and all downhill. The other was a doe, and I dropped it as it ran across the dirt trail. We literally drove down and loaded it up. The intense hunting pressure makes it hard to find a buck big enough to shoot. They don't live long enough.
This year, only my brother got a deer. Which was good. He's not much of a hunter. He wasn't really into it when he was younger. He is not really an outdoorsman. He had never gotten a deer before. For perspective, I've shot somewhere around forty deer and he is older than I am. So he was getting pretty frustrated and wanted to give up hunting. I wanted him to get a deer before he quit completely. At least he got that monkey off his back. He was pretty happy. It was only a forkhorn, but he made one heck of a shot to get it.
My uncle and I shot the heck out of a poor coyote. Then we skinned it in the field and brought the hide back. Maybe I can get a few bucks for it.
We saw something that was pretty unbelievable. It snowed the day we went out. Then it got nice and the snow melted. The soil in the area is what they call gumbo. When it gets wet, it has the consistency of peanut butter. It sticks to your boots, and your feet get really heavy. It gets to be really hard to get around, and pretty unsafe. It is like trying to stand on a greased up pig.
The point of all this is, when the snow melted, the roads were slick. We had to leave the truck at the bottom of the hill and walk to camp. We and four other pickups couldn't make it up the hill. The next day, it dried out a little, and all the pickups had made it up the hill. But there was a new one, with Indiana license plates. The guys in it looked like a couple hippies. The pickup was a ford ranger, and it was a two wheel drive. This, to us, was the height of idiocy. To drive that thing down the hill was one of the dumber things I have even seen. But, it got more interesting. Of course they couldn't get up the hill. They had gone down to the creek and loaded the back end up with rocks till the springs were squashed flat. They got stuck at the base of the hill right in front of us. We figured they were screwed. We had to pull a 4 wheel out of the same spot that morning. Amazingly, the driver kept rocking till he got unstuck. He yelled to the passenger, who was talking to us, "Are you coming along or are you going to stand and talk to them?" I figured his chances would have been better with us. Then, my uncle let them try the hill in front of us. We could not believe they were even trying to get up, there was no way they would make it. Yet they kept trying, driving up 20 feet and then sliding back down. After 20 minutes, they made it up the steepest part. We all would have bet $1000 that they would not have made it. Their tracks were actually steaming. It took us three tries with a four wheel drive and brand new off road tires to make it up. Now they had made it through the worst part, but they still had a long way to go to get to the top. After we got up the worst part, we had to wait while they got up the next part. They kept getting stuck, and we kept thinking there is now way they would get out of this one, but by some miracle they kept getting out.
After a while, they made it up to where the traction was good for a little ways, and then got bad. The driver kept trying to start out in top gear, but he couldn't get the back wheels spinning. So he would rev the engine way up and let the clutch slip. After he tried this a couple times the truck quit moving forward and came down the hill in a cloud of white smoke. The clutch finally burned up. We could smell the clutch stinking when we first pulled up. They let us go past to the top of the hill. We didn't think it would be too long before they walked up looking for help.
We marveled quite a while at the sheer persistent stupidity of these guys. When we went down the next morning the truck wasn't there. Somehow they got up. They had to have about ruined that truck and must have nearly burned off the back tires. If you see a black ford ranger for sale on eBay from Indiana, pass on it.
My brother and I saw a bobcat. The second time I have seen a wild one.
The abortion ban was defeated. I don't know why for sure. I'd guess it was due to not getting the message out. Part of the reason was, proponents claimed that there was an exception for rape or incest when the words "rape" and "incest" never even appeared in the law. So the argument over whether or not the provision was there distracted from the argument over if it SHOULD be there. I think a lot of people voted against the ban believing there should be exceptions for rape and incest. Nobody put out an ad trying to convince them otherwise.
Now the ban allows anyone to take the morning after pill before a pregnancy test can establish a pregnancy. This was the so called rape and incest provision. I think the abortionists scored some points pointing out that there was no real provision. (In my opinion, a rape or incest exception means that there is a specific exemption that applies to them and excludes them from the ban.)
The alternative would be that my so called conservative state is pro abortion and I don't really want to think about that.
The ban will be back in two years I'm sure. Whether or not it is in its present form or not I don't know. I don't know how a so called rape or incest provision would work. Can a woman who is 4 months pregnant decide she doesn't want the baby and cry rape? What is the standard of proof? Does the man she accuses get prosecuted? I would definitely support strong penalties for falsely accusing someone of rape to get an abortion.
So don't sell your stock in coat hanger factories just yet.
In other happenings, I went west river deer hunting. It was nice getting away. It was also very physically demanding. We hunt in the badlands. Very rough country. I like hunting out there, but the public land is very crowded. I guess we go more just to be in such a rough and beautiful country rather than to shoot a deer. There is no off road vehicle traffic allowed in this unit. So if you get a deer, you have to have a way to get it out. For us, this is a strong incentive to only shoot a deer if it has large antlers. Nobody wants the work of packing out a doe. Last year I shot two deer out there. One was a buck, and easy to get out. Only one mile to pack it out and all downhill. The other was a doe, and I dropped it as it ran across the dirt trail. We literally drove down and loaded it up. The intense hunting pressure makes it hard to find a buck big enough to shoot. They don't live long enough.
This year, only my brother got a deer. Which was good. He's not much of a hunter. He wasn't really into it when he was younger. He is not really an outdoorsman. He had never gotten a deer before. For perspective, I've shot somewhere around forty deer and he is older than I am. So he was getting pretty frustrated and wanted to give up hunting. I wanted him to get a deer before he quit completely. At least he got that monkey off his back. He was pretty happy. It was only a forkhorn, but he made one heck of a shot to get it.
My uncle and I shot the heck out of a poor coyote. Then we skinned it in the field and brought the hide back. Maybe I can get a few bucks for it.
We saw something that was pretty unbelievable. It snowed the day we went out. Then it got nice and the snow melted. The soil in the area is what they call gumbo. When it gets wet, it has the consistency of peanut butter. It sticks to your boots, and your feet get really heavy. It gets to be really hard to get around, and pretty unsafe. It is like trying to stand on a greased up pig.
The point of all this is, when the snow melted, the roads were slick. We had to leave the truck at the bottom of the hill and walk to camp. We and four other pickups couldn't make it up the hill. The next day, it dried out a little, and all the pickups had made it up the hill. But there was a new one, with Indiana license plates. The guys in it looked like a couple hippies. The pickup was a ford ranger, and it was a two wheel drive. This, to us, was the height of idiocy. To drive that thing down the hill was one of the dumber things I have even seen. But, it got more interesting. Of course they couldn't get up the hill. They had gone down to the creek and loaded the back end up with rocks till the springs were squashed flat. They got stuck at the base of the hill right in front of us. We figured they were screwed. We had to pull a 4 wheel out of the same spot that morning. Amazingly, the driver kept rocking till he got unstuck. He yelled to the passenger, who was talking to us, "Are you coming along or are you going to stand and talk to them?" I figured his chances would have been better with us. Then, my uncle let them try the hill in front of us. We could not believe they were even trying to get up, there was no way they would make it. Yet they kept trying, driving up 20 feet and then sliding back down. After 20 minutes, they made it up the steepest part. We all would have bet $1000 that they would not have made it. Their tracks were actually steaming. It took us three tries with a four wheel drive and brand new off road tires to make it up. Now they had made it through the worst part, but they still had a long way to go to get to the top. After we got up the worst part, we had to wait while they got up the next part. They kept getting stuck, and we kept thinking there is now way they would get out of this one, but by some miracle they kept getting out.
After a while, they made it up to where the traction was good for a little ways, and then got bad. The driver kept trying to start out in top gear, but he couldn't get the back wheels spinning. So he would rev the engine way up and let the clutch slip. After he tried this a couple times the truck quit moving forward and came down the hill in a cloud of white smoke. The clutch finally burned up. We could smell the clutch stinking when we first pulled up. They let us go past to the top of the hill. We didn't think it would be too long before they walked up looking for help.
We marveled quite a while at the sheer persistent stupidity of these guys. When we went down the next morning the truck wasn't there. Somehow they got up. They had to have about ruined that truck and must have nearly burned off the back tires. If you see a black ford ranger for sale on eBay from Indiana, pass on it.
My brother and I saw a bobcat. The second time I have seen a wild one.
Monday, October 30, 2006
On a quiet evening
It is always exasperating this time of year, with pheasants and ducks and geese and bowhunting for deer all competing for my free time. Saturday morning I went hunting geese. The geese didn't cooperate, we got skunked. As I always say when that happens, "I shoulda went bowhunting." It is a good problem to have, I realize. I really shouldn't complain.
I really get frazzled when we are hunting geese and I see a nice buck out snooping around for does. During October, the deer are concerned mainly with putting on weight for winter, and the bucks are getting ready for the rut (mating season for outdoor illiterates). The deer get their routines changed by the grain harvest, and they get disturbed some, by waterfowl hunters, and especially pheasant hunters. So they go pretty nocturnal during October. Especially the bigger bucks, who have to be pretty wary to survive long enough to get big. So during October, bowhunting is often unproductive. I went out a few times this year an only saw one deer.
Then the rut happens. Gradually the deer activity picks up during the daytime, the bucks rubbing their antlers on small trees and making scrapes on the ground. The big bucks start moving around, establishing dominance over the smaller ones, and looking for receptive does. In other words they get a little vulnerable. When the does start coming into heat it is an explosion of deer activity. The deer can be out moving around and any time of day. When this happens, I want to be in my tree stand.
It is during the transition, from low deer activity and few sightings to high activity that I have trouble deciding what to do. The transition coincides with the peak of the waterfowl migration. When I sit in the tree and see no deer I wish I had gone goose hunting, when I go goose hunting and can't get under the geese, I wish I was bowhunting. I wish I could go on vacation from the middle of October till Christmas.
I went bowhunting Saturday evening. Bowhunting is my favorite way to hunt deer. You are alone with your thoughts. Nature is happening around you. Pheasants cackle, ducks and geese and blackbirds fly by. Some neat things happen. One time I had a hawk land in the top of the tree I was in. One time I had a robin land on my arrow. I heard something kill a rabbit a few nights ago. And you sit their and listen. Your ears tell you what is going on. Well not really. They tell you something is going on, and exactly what is up to you imagination. You hear that rustling in the leaves, and of course your start imagining a huge buck coming down the trail. You look and listen, straining to hear over all the other sounds, the wind rustling the leaves, trees creaking, leaves falling, geese honking in the distance, bluejays and crows and blackbirds. Usually when you locate the source of the sound, it turns out to be a squirrel, or a rabbit. You can get to hate those dang things. But they are fun to watch sometimes too.
It was after sundown. Legal shooting hours go from 1/2 hour before sunup to 1/2 hour after sundown. I heard something to the north. This was after a couple squirrel false alarms, and what I believe was a pheasant sneaking through the grass. Whatever it was, the thing that I heard, it was taking its time. I heard some small twigs breaking. Crunches in the leaves. The minutes dragged on. It was coming closer, but far too slowly. I figured it had to be a deer. The deadline for shooting was close, if not past when I finally heard it coming crunch crunch crunch down the trail through the fallen leaves. It was getting dark. I finally saw some movement, there he was. It was a buck. I raised my binoculars, not needing the magnification, but the light gathering. He caught the movement of me bringing up the binoculars. He looked at me, I looked at him. He wasn't sure what he had seen, I was in full camo with a face mask. But he knew he had seen something. He did the trick deer usually do, put his head down, pretending to feed, but his eyes were on me. I tried to stay still, trying to get a feel for how big he was. After a bit, he seemed to lose interest in me and worked a scrape in front of me. I kept looking him over with the binocs. Is he big enough? I decided not, and the shot angle wasn't the best anyway. I could have shot at him while he worked the scrape. After a a few minutes, he took a couple more steps and then turned off the trail, away from the lanes I had cut through the branches to shoot through. I think in the back of his mind, he knew something was up there, and though he didn't know what, he didn't want to find out either. I had another brief shot opportunity as he worked his way out of the trees and into the corn field for the nights activities. I waited till he was far enough away that I wouldn't scare him and then walked home.
He was a medium sized four point (on each side), probably a 2 year old. In a couple years he could be something special. I don't think I will take a shot at him even if I get a better chance. But it certainly made it worth the trip out there. No griping about being out chasing geese.
I saw him again Sunday morning. He was out sparring with a smaller buck. This time they were about 300 yards away, and I was in a different spot due to the wind direction. I wanted to watch the fight, as I have never seen one. I got distracted though and missed it. A small doe had appeared out of nowhere behind me and was looking at me. I stood looking at her, hoping she wouldn't spook. She finally lost interest and went into the trees. When I turned back to the other two deer, the small buck was much closer, and the 4 point was moving along the slough, having chased him off. I looked at the smaller buck. He had at least 2 points on one side, and no antler on the other. Either he didn't grow any or they broke off in a fight. He caught my scent and took off. I had to leave to get to church.
The time change pretty much eliminates the evening hunts now, except on weekends. I can go out in the mornings before work, for a while. I might be a little late, but the boss doesn't care. Since I can't hunt in the evenings, I can make up the lost time then.
Sorry this got so long. I really enjoy bowhunting if you can't tell.
My first blog pic: My biggest buck. I may never top it.
Never mind, can't get the picture to post right now. Will try later.
Update 11-1
Here is the photo. It doesn't do the deer justice. I have been out bowhunting a couple more times. I saw three small bucks, including (I think) the one described above trying to molest a young fawn this morning.
I really get frazzled when we are hunting geese and I see a nice buck out snooping around for does. During October, the deer are concerned mainly with putting on weight for winter, and the bucks are getting ready for the rut (mating season for outdoor illiterates). The deer get their routines changed by the grain harvest, and they get disturbed some, by waterfowl hunters, and especially pheasant hunters. So they go pretty nocturnal during October. Especially the bigger bucks, who have to be pretty wary to survive long enough to get big. So during October, bowhunting is often unproductive. I went out a few times this year an only saw one deer.
Then the rut happens. Gradually the deer activity picks up during the daytime, the bucks rubbing their antlers on small trees and making scrapes on the ground. The big bucks start moving around, establishing dominance over the smaller ones, and looking for receptive does. In other words they get a little vulnerable. When the does start coming into heat it is an explosion of deer activity. The deer can be out moving around and any time of day. When this happens, I want to be in my tree stand.
It is during the transition, from low deer activity and few sightings to high activity that I have trouble deciding what to do. The transition coincides with the peak of the waterfowl migration. When I sit in the tree and see no deer I wish I had gone goose hunting, when I go goose hunting and can't get under the geese, I wish I was bowhunting. I wish I could go on vacation from the middle of October till Christmas.
I went bowhunting Saturday evening. Bowhunting is my favorite way to hunt deer. You are alone with your thoughts. Nature is happening around you. Pheasants cackle, ducks and geese and blackbirds fly by. Some neat things happen. One time I had a hawk land in the top of the tree I was in. One time I had a robin land on my arrow. I heard something kill a rabbit a few nights ago. And you sit their and listen. Your ears tell you what is going on. Well not really. They tell you something is going on, and exactly what is up to you imagination. You hear that rustling in the leaves, and of course your start imagining a huge buck coming down the trail. You look and listen, straining to hear over all the other sounds, the wind rustling the leaves, trees creaking, leaves falling, geese honking in the distance, bluejays and crows and blackbirds. Usually when you locate the source of the sound, it turns out to be a squirrel, or a rabbit. You can get to hate those dang things. But they are fun to watch sometimes too.
It was after sundown. Legal shooting hours go from 1/2 hour before sunup to 1/2 hour after sundown. I heard something to the north. This was after a couple squirrel false alarms, and what I believe was a pheasant sneaking through the grass. Whatever it was, the thing that I heard, it was taking its time. I heard some small twigs breaking. Crunches in the leaves. The minutes dragged on. It was coming closer, but far too slowly. I figured it had to be a deer. The deadline for shooting was close, if not past when I finally heard it coming crunch crunch crunch down the trail through the fallen leaves. It was getting dark. I finally saw some movement, there he was. It was a buck. I raised my binoculars, not needing the magnification, but the light gathering. He caught the movement of me bringing up the binoculars. He looked at me, I looked at him. He wasn't sure what he had seen, I was in full camo with a face mask. But he knew he had seen something. He did the trick deer usually do, put his head down, pretending to feed, but his eyes were on me. I tried to stay still, trying to get a feel for how big he was. After a bit, he seemed to lose interest in me and worked a scrape in front of me. I kept looking him over with the binocs. Is he big enough? I decided not, and the shot angle wasn't the best anyway. I could have shot at him while he worked the scrape. After a a few minutes, he took a couple more steps and then turned off the trail, away from the lanes I had cut through the branches to shoot through. I think in the back of his mind, he knew something was up there, and though he didn't know what, he didn't want to find out either. I had another brief shot opportunity as he worked his way out of the trees and into the corn field for the nights activities. I waited till he was far enough away that I wouldn't scare him and then walked home.
He was a medium sized four point (on each side), probably a 2 year old. In a couple years he could be something special. I don't think I will take a shot at him even if I get a better chance. But it certainly made it worth the trip out there. No griping about being out chasing geese.
I saw him again Sunday morning. He was out sparring with a smaller buck. This time they were about 300 yards away, and I was in a different spot due to the wind direction. I wanted to watch the fight, as I have never seen one. I got distracted though and missed it. A small doe had appeared out of nowhere behind me and was looking at me. I stood looking at her, hoping she wouldn't spook. She finally lost interest and went into the trees. When I turned back to the other two deer, the small buck was much closer, and the 4 point was moving along the slough, having chased him off. I looked at the smaller buck. He had at least 2 points on one side, and no antler on the other. Either he didn't grow any or they broke off in a fight. He caught my scent and took off. I had to leave to get to church.
The time change pretty much eliminates the evening hunts now, except on weekends. I can go out in the mornings before work, for a while. I might be a little late, but the boss doesn't care. Since I can't hunt in the evenings, I can make up the lost time then.
Sorry this got so long. I really enjoy bowhunting if you can't tell.
My first blog pic: My biggest buck. I may never top it.
Never mind, can't get the picture to post right now. Will try later.
Update 11-1
Here is the photo. It doesn't do the deer justice. I have been out bowhunting a couple more times. I saw three small bucks, including (I think) the one described above trying to molest a young fawn this morning.
Not looking good
From the Sioux Falls Argus liar:
The determining factor in my opinion is turnout. For us pro-lifers, we have been waiting for years to get the chance to vote on this. For some, abortion is the One Issue, it totally defines how they vote. The congressional race is a blowout, the governors race is a blowout, nobody cares too much about the other issues. Most of the other stuff is already decided. But the prolifers care very deeply about this, and will not be deterred from the polls. Even if we lose.
Pray for a blizzard on November 7.
I am doubtful, but I am going to vote no matter what.
A new poll finds most South Dakotans would vote against the state's
ban on almost all abortions. But, as a previous poll found, the ban would have
broader support if it allowed women to receive abortions for cases of rape
and incest.
The determining factor in my opinion is turnout. For us pro-lifers, we have been waiting for years to get the chance to vote on this. For some, abortion is the One Issue, it totally defines how they vote. The congressional race is a blowout, the governors race is a blowout, nobody cares too much about the other issues. Most of the other stuff is already decided. But the prolifers care very deeply about this, and will not be deterred from the polls. Even if we lose.
Pray for a blizzard on November 7.
I am doubtful, but I am going to vote no matter what.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
The spotlight is on us
On November 7th, a very important issue will come before the people of my state.
Of course, I'm talking about Referred Law 6.
It is an issue that is getting the attention of the whole nation, with money coming in from the whole country on both sides.
I will be voting for it, but I'm not sure it will pass. I see a lot of signs in front yards supporting the ban. I have not seen a single sign against it (other than billboards). I think opponents are afraid to put up a sign. It says a lot about your position when you are ashamed to admit it. Apparently some of the pro life signs have been hit by vandals. I suspect if there were any pro ban signs they would get the same treatment, probably worse.
If the ban on abortion fails, it will be because it does not allow exceptions for rape and incest.
If you really think that there should be such exceptions, come back after reading this. I am not sure how it will shake out, the only polls show support for the ban is behind, but catching up.
Even if the ban is upheld, it is almost certain that we will relect Stephanie Herseth, a strong supporter of abortion. That confuses me; we're a State that is strongly pro life. Another thing that really makes me angry, is that the National Rifle Association has endorsed her. She is a Democrat and supposedly has said that she would support Nancy Pelosi for majority leader if the Democrats retake the house. Her very presence in the House adds to the possibility of the Democrats taking control. And the Republican candidate recieves the same A rating on gun control issues. Nice call NRA. Why endorse a candidate at all when both candidates support gun rights? And if you do, why support the one that gives more power the the gun grabbers in her party? I will not be renewing my membership. I will probably have to write them a letter explaining why.
I expect voter turnout will be high for the pro life side. I am sure the churches will have the congregations motivated. This will be the first time in 30 years that anyone in the US will have a chance to vote on abortion instead of having the court dictate to them. For the pro-life crowd, this is the Big Chance.
I am not sure what motivates the other side. The House race will probably be a blowout, so there is no desparation to make sure Herseth is re-elected.
If the ban is passed, I am afraid it will only be the beginning of the fight.
Of course, I'm talking about Referred Law 6.
It is an issue that is getting the attention of the whole nation, with money coming in from the whole country on both sides.
I will be voting for it, but I'm not sure it will pass. I see a lot of signs in front yards supporting the ban. I have not seen a single sign against it (other than billboards). I think opponents are afraid to put up a sign. It says a lot about your position when you are ashamed to admit it. Apparently some of the pro life signs have been hit by vandals. I suspect if there were any pro ban signs they would get the same treatment, probably worse.
If the ban on abortion fails, it will be because it does not allow exceptions for rape and incest.
If you really think that there should be such exceptions, come back after reading this. I am not sure how it will shake out, the only polls show support for the ban is behind, but catching up.
Even if the ban is upheld, it is almost certain that we will relect Stephanie Herseth, a strong supporter of abortion. That confuses me; we're a State that is strongly pro life. Another thing that really makes me angry, is that the National Rifle Association has endorsed her. She is a Democrat and supposedly has said that she would support Nancy Pelosi for majority leader if the Democrats retake the house. Her very presence in the House adds to the possibility of the Democrats taking control. And the Republican candidate recieves the same A rating on gun control issues. Nice call NRA. Why endorse a candidate at all when both candidates support gun rights? And if you do, why support the one that gives more power the the gun grabbers in her party? I will not be renewing my membership. I will probably have to write them a letter explaining why.
I expect voter turnout will be high for the pro life side. I am sure the churches will have the congregations motivated. This will be the first time in 30 years that anyone in the US will have a chance to vote on abortion instead of having the court dictate to them. For the pro-life crowd, this is the Big Chance.
I am not sure what motivates the other side. The House race will probably be a blowout, so there is no desparation to make sure Herseth is re-elected.
If the ban is passed, I am afraid it will only be the beginning of the fight.
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
On gay old pedophillia
My political memory may be short, like the rest of my memory, but it seems to me that the Republicans reaction to a scandal is a bit different to the reaction of Democrats toward their scandals. The Republicans seem to disown offenders in their own party, while Democrats circle the wagons. At least that is how it seems to me. I think it is right for Foley to resign, even though apparently no actual crime was committed. Republicans have are not defeinding him. Somehow Clinton can perjure himself, and sell pardons and Democrats look the other way or defend him. Newt resigns after an affair, Clinton doesn't resign after several. An perjures himself and lies outright to the public. Doesn't seem like the Democrats apply the same standard to themselves that they do to the Republicans.
You have to hand it to the Dems though. Aside from the obvious timing before the elections, nobody seems to be asking who is behind outing Foley. And as Steve at Hog on Ice points out, it really seems to be a hachet job. They have come a long way from the screw ups with Dan Rather and the National Guard story. That story was probably true too. It is unfortunate, that the Democrats do not have the honor to resign when their skeletons are dragged out of the closet.
You have to hand it to the Dems though. Aside from the obvious timing before the elections, nobody seems to be asking who is behind outing Foley. And as Steve at Hog on Ice points out, it really seems to be a hachet job. They have come a long way from the screw ups with Dan Rather and the National Guard story. That story was probably true too. It is unfortunate, that the Democrats do not have the honor to resign when their skeletons are dragged out of the closet.
Friday, September 22, 2006
You know you're a gun nut when....
You buy reloading dies for a gun you don't even own!!!!
At least I got a good deal.
(44 mag carbide RCBS $28)
At least I got a good deal.
(44 mag carbide RCBS $28)
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Say What?
Say What part one: Quote of the day
Joe Carter: "Anyone who thinks the Democratic Party is good for the poor or minorities or thinks that Republicans are for small government hasn't been paying attention."
Say What part the second:
I didn't see this coming.
Joe Carter: "Anyone who thinks the Democratic Party is good for the poor or minorities or thinks that Republicans are for small government hasn't been paying attention."
Say What part the second:
I didn't see this coming.
Friday, September 15, 2006
Friday
I am going golfing this weekend. One last hurrah with a college buddy before I put away the clubs for the year. It is now huntin' season, with seasons for various species now open or opening soon. As usual, I am not prepared, not having enough shotgun shells loading, nor deer loads perfected, nor bow sighted in and practiced, etc. But if the lawn will stop forcing me to mow thrice weekly and I get my potatoes dug, I still have some time to get ready.
My suspicions were confirmed. My wife stayed down there all day and half the night, to get Ty's autograph. She did finally get it, at least that is what she claims it is. I could not discern anything in the scribbling on the paper that she showed me. So she stood around all day, and came home footsore, hungry, and thirsty, just to see Ty. Luckily, he wasn't too friendly, or this might have ended up like a country song. He came down the line, signing stuff, not saying anything, and when he saw my wife, he said "hey how ya doing?" or something like that. That's right, the only one he spoke to was my wife. I knew that I should be worried. Fortunately, she was too starstruck and weak in the knees to jump the barricade. So she came home, we met for supper at Applebees. Marital bliss resumes. I think I may have to ban that show on the premises though.
Today I will be passing by the Cabelas store, so I am pondering a shopping list. If I don't go in with a list, I might go nuts and could come out with maxed out credit cards. Self control is tough in such a place.
Everyone say a prayer for Jeff. I wish him a speedy recovery.
My suspicions were confirmed. My wife stayed down there all day and half the night, to get Ty's autograph. She did finally get it, at least that is what she claims it is. I could not discern anything in the scribbling on the paper that she showed me. So she stood around all day, and came home footsore, hungry, and thirsty, just to see Ty. Luckily, he wasn't too friendly, or this might have ended up like a country song. He came down the line, signing stuff, not saying anything, and when he saw my wife, he said "hey how ya doing?" or something like that. That's right, the only one he spoke to was my wife. I knew that I should be worried. Fortunately, she was too starstruck and weak in the knees to jump the barricade. So she came home, we met for supper at Applebees. Marital bliss resumes. I think I may have to ban that show on the premises though.
Today I will be passing by the Cabelas store, so I am pondering a shopping list. If I don't go in with a list, I might go nuts and could come out with maxed out credit cards. Self control is tough in such a place.
Everyone say a prayer for Jeff. I wish him a speedy recovery.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
Extreme Home Makeover, Giraffe Edition
A big deal in my area now is the house for Extreme Makeover Home Edition. They are building it about 30 miles from my house. I went down there on Sunday with Mrs. Giraffe. We parked in a wheatfield 2 miles from the house, waited in line for 45 minutes to get on a bus, got to the site and them stood around watching them paint and put up stone on the front. This was Sunday, they started with a hole in the ground on Friday afternoon. The foundation was laid, the house was framed, roofed sided, sheetrocked, and they were painting it in 3 days. There were swarms of people around in blue t-shirts. Each crew has a specific task, when done, they get out of the way for the next crew. We couldn't see much, and the only cast member we saw was Eduardo (I think, I don't watch the show). After standing around gawking at nothing for an hour, we were lucky to only wait 15 minutes for the bus back to the car. I kept telling her we should leave, but she wanted to see Ty. Of course we didn't, he wasn't even there. About the same time we were there, my niece ran into him and some other cast members at a gas station in Brookings.
I thought it was a waste of time, but apparently Mrs. Giraffe didn't, because she went back early this morning. She called to tell me she she was the third car there. Today is the reveal date, and they are only letting in 1000 people. It is now 2:30 in the afternoon, and I haven't heard from my wife yet. She has been there since 7:00 A.M. The family was supposed to arrive at 2:00. So, if I blog even less than normal, it is because my wife ran away with Ty Pennington and I have gone hunting him.
I thought it was a waste of time, but apparently Mrs. Giraffe didn't, because she went back early this morning. She called to tell me she she was the third car there. Today is the reveal date, and they are only letting in 1000 people. It is now 2:30 in the afternoon, and I haven't heard from my wife yet. She has been there since 7:00 A.M. The family was supposed to arrive at 2:00. So, if I blog even less than normal, it is because my wife ran away with Ty Pennington and I have gone hunting him.
Thursday, September 07, 2006
Via email
I used to have a Labrador retriever & I was buying a large bag of Purina at Wal-Mart and was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog(?). On impulse, I told her that no, I was starting The Purina Diet again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IVs in both arms. I told her that it was essentially a perfect diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry & that the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.
I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall, black guy who was behind her.Horrified, she asked if I'd been poisoned. I told her no, I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls and a car hit me.
I thought the black guy was going to have to stagger out the door.
I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall, black guy who was behind her.Horrified, she asked if I'd been poisoned. I told her no, I'd been sitting in the street licking my balls and a car hit me.
I thought the black guy was going to have to stagger out the door.
Friday, August 18, 2006
What a week
It has been a very long week. We have finally been getting some rain. Too late for the corn crop but it will help the soybeans. Much better off than some in that department. West of here they are baling up the corn because they aren't going to get a harvest. I haven't mowed my lawn for a month. I have to do that soon. The weeds are growing, but not the grass. That makes it look really ugly. Starting to get tomatoes and cucumbers out of the garden. Will have a good potato crop, because I watered them. Bad year for a garden. Nothing came up. A lot of people had that problem this year.
Loaded up some .223 shells and shot a few groups with my AR. Wow. One group measured 0.33 inches. At 100 yards with 5 shots. The higher loadings were around an inch, but showed pressure signs. I will take the accuracy over the speed in this case. I loaded some more to see if I can repeat it, but I haven't had time or good conditions to shoot. If I can repeat it, it will be about the easiest load development I have ever done. I will post a photo if it works out. Load was 26.0 grns Varget, 55 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tip, CCI primer, Federal case. I could post links to Hodgdon and Nosler etc., but if you don't already know you probably don't care. Varget is a pain to get in a .22 case, but I don't shoot that many rounds. It will be my coyote load.
I got licenses for Black Hills deer, 3 fall turkey licenses, a two tag West River deer license. I will also get an archery deer license and probably at least one East river tag and a blackpowder tag. Potentially 7 deer if I get all of them, which I won't. It ends up being far more deer meat than I can eat, but I don't hunt only for the meat. That reminds me, I have to get dog food. My mutt has been dining on the deer sausage that I made for the last couple days because I'm out of food for her.
It is shaping up to be a huge year for pheasants. We had a 40 year high in population last year, and as far as I know, there will be even more this year. I have not seen any projections for this year yet. The Canada geese had a good hatch this year, the first around here in about 3 years. A lot of them have left, taking the young up into North Dakota. I don't know why they do that, but there is always a noticeable decline in goose numbers right before the season opens. They have tracked geese that nest here and go all the way into Canada after the young can fly.
This is shaping up to be the best year for hunting that I have had in a long time. My brother has left for college, so I might not hunt as much as I had when he was here.
We froze a whole bunch of sweet corn. It turned out OK, but I want to do better. I think if I drained the juice out of it, and put butter in it and a little salt, it will be excellent.
I have about a 30 pound watermelon in the fridge at home. I think it is time to see if it is any good.
Loaded up some .223 shells and shot a few groups with my AR. Wow. One group measured 0.33 inches. At 100 yards with 5 shots. The higher loadings were around an inch, but showed pressure signs. I will take the accuracy over the speed in this case. I loaded some more to see if I can repeat it, but I haven't had time or good conditions to shoot. If I can repeat it, it will be about the easiest load development I have ever done. I will post a photo if it works out. Load was 26.0 grns Varget, 55 grn. Nosler Ballistic Tip, CCI primer, Federal case. I could post links to Hodgdon and Nosler etc., but if you don't already know you probably don't care. Varget is a pain to get in a .22 case, but I don't shoot that many rounds. It will be my coyote load.
I got licenses for Black Hills deer, 3 fall turkey licenses, a two tag West River deer license. I will also get an archery deer license and probably at least one East river tag and a blackpowder tag. Potentially 7 deer if I get all of them, which I won't. It ends up being far more deer meat than I can eat, but I don't hunt only for the meat. That reminds me, I have to get dog food. My mutt has been dining on the deer sausage that I made for the last couple days because I'm out of food for her.
It is shaping up to be a huge year for pheasants. We had a 40 year high in population last year, and as far as I know, there will be even more this year. I have not seen any projections for this year yet. The Canada geese had a good hatch this year, the first around here in about 3 years. A lot of them have left, taking the young up into North Dakota. I don't know why they do that, but there is always a noticeable decline in goose numbers right before the season opens. They have tracked geese that nest here and go all the way into Canada after the young can fly.
This is shaping up to be the best year for hunting that I have had in a long time. My brother has left for college, so I might not hunt as much as I had when he was here.
We froze a whole bunch of sweet corn. It turned out OK, but I want to do better. I think if I drained the juice out of it, and put butter in it and a little salt, it will be excellent.
I have about a 30 pound watermelon in the fridge at home. I think it is time to see if it is any good.
Monday, August 07, 2006
on men
I have been trying to get this one posted for a while. I couldn't get it right.
Res's post gets me thinking again about something that I have pondered before.
Some misconceptions about men: Women seem to think that sex is only a physical thing for men, they just want to get laid. When a married man complains about not getting enough, he is just whining, it doesn't really mean anything to him. He's not fussy about who he does it with, any warm body will do. If you withhold it, he can take it.
But that is not the way it really is.
Women are supposed to be the ones who tie emotional needs to sex. A woman need to feel loved to have sex. What they don't realize is, a man needs to have sex to feel loved.
I think there are two reasons for sex from a man's point of view. The first is primarily physical. It is the release, relieves stress, endorphins, etc. I think women see this part clearly. They may see it as him using her just to get his rocks off. And she is somewhat justified in believing this, as some men are doing just that. For a happily married man, it is more focused. He may still 'just want to get laid' once in a while, but he only wants to do this with his wife. Obviously there are different seasons in a mans life, the physical need will diminish. (he will only want it once a day)
The second part for men is the emotional. They may not be too aware of it themselves. It is the glue in a relationship for men. After a fight and make up, she may want to cuddle, he wants sex. For him, it is how he knows they're OK. Women need to be told that you love them, men need to be shown. This may be the reason that a man doesn't respect a woman after a one night stand. She gave him something so valuable for nothing. Or why a man who doesn't get laid much might fall in love with her. Because she gave him something so valuable.
Of course, a man can have casual sex and not think much of it. He is just taking care of the physical. That probably explains most unfaithfulness too. Such acts are immoral and he should be treated accordingly. I am talking about marriage, and what a man needs out of it.
If a man loves a woman, he needs to be loved back, and the way he is wired to feel that is through sex. It is important to understand that it is not just blowing off steam, it does matter to him who he does it with, and it is necessary for a healthy marriage. And if you withhold it, you are being unfaithful, because he can't take it. He will get frustrated, be short with you, and since everyone knows how well men express their feelings, he most likely won't be able to tell you why. This won't put you in the mood, and things just get worse and worse. Res posted on the what. I am trying to convey the why: Sex for men is not just what they desire, it is a need.
So, the way to a man's heart is not through his stomach. He will love it if you cook him his favorite meal, give him a nice gift, or tell him you love him. But the effectiveness of those things are seriously reduced if he has SRS.
Res's post gets me thinking again about something that I have pondered before.
Some misconceptions about men: Women seem to think that sex is only a physical thing for men, they just want to get laid. When a married man complains about not getting enough, he is just whining, it doesn't really mean anything to him. He's not fussy about who he does it with, any warm body will do. If you withhold it, he can take it.
But that is not the way it really is.
Women are supposed to be the ones who tie emotional needs to sex. A woman need to feel loved to have sex. What they don't realize is, a man needs to have sex to feel loved.
I think there are two reasons for sex from a man's point of view. The first is primarily physical. It is the release, relieves stress, endorphins, etc. I think women see this part clearly. They may see it as him using her just to get his rocks off. And she is somewhat justified in believing this, as some men are doing just that. For a happily married man, it is more focused. He may still 'just want to get laid' once in a while, but he only wants to do this with his wife. Obviously there are different seasons in a mans life, the physical need will diminish. (he will only want it once a day)
The second part for men is the emotional. They may not be too aware of it themselves. It is the glue in a relationship for men. After a fight and make up, she may want to cuddle, he wants sex. For him, it is how he knows they're OK. Women need to be told that you love them, men need to be shown. This may be the reason that a man doesn't respect a woman after a one night stand. She gave him something so valuable for nothing. Or why a man who doesn't get laid much might fall in love with her. Because she gave him something so valuable.
Of course, a man can have casual sex and not think much of it. He is just taking care of the physical. That probably explains most unfaithfulness too. Such acts are immoral and he should be treated accordingly. I am talking about marriage, and what a man needs out of it.
If a man loves a woman, he needs to be loved back, and the way he is wired to feel that is through sex. It is important to understand that it is not just blowing off steam, it does matter to him who he does it with, and it is necessary for a healthy marriage. And if you withhold it, you are being unfaithful, because he can't take it. He will get frustrated, be short with you, and since everyone knows how well men express their feelings, he most likely won't be able to tell you why. This won't put you in the mood, and things just get worse and worse. Res posted on the what. I am trying to convey the why: Sex for men is not just what they desire, it is a need.
So, the way to a man's heart is not through his stomach. He will love it if you cook him his favorite meal, give him a nice gift, or tell him you love him. But the effectiveness of those things are seriously reduced if he has SRS.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
If you haven't seen this.....
Warning, the following image may cause wildly varying reactions in its viewers, including but not limited to: vomiting, nausea, cold sweats, night sweats, insomnia, hysteria, hysterical laughing, erectile dysfunction, fear of museaums, fear of lizards, fear of Democrats, voting Republican, genital warts, genital herpes, loss of bladder control, loss of bowel control, stupefaction, and blindness.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
for the intrepid
If you maintain an erection that lasts for more than four hours after clicking the link, leave this blog and never return.
YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
for the intrepid
If you maintain an erection that lasts for more than four hours after clicking the link, leave this blog and never return.
Monday, July 24, 2006
So while shopping around this weekend I saw the following chambered in .44 mag:
1. Taurus Tracker $400 new
2. Ruger Blackhawk $295 used
3. Ruger Redhawk stainless $600 new
That Blackhawk is tempting because of the price. I am not sure I would be satisfied with it, because of the way it loads. Seems like a PITA to load and unload, and slow too. You would never need more than 6 shots while hunting, and if you did, you already screwed up. In that case you would most likley be tracking, and have time to reload.
I am not sure I want to spend that much money to get the Redhawk, for sure not right now. The Taurus tracker seems a good compromise, but the differences in construction are apparent. The Rugers are definately more solidly built.
Right now I am going to wait. I will be in a bigger town in a few weeks, and will have to do some more shopping where there are more stores, better selection, and more competitive pricing.
Unless I can't help myself and just go buy that Blackhawk.
1. Taurus Tracker $400 new
2. Ruger Blackhawk $295 used
3. Ruger Redhawk stainless $600 new
That Blackhawk is tempting because of the price. I am not sure I would be satisfied with it, because of the way it loads. Seems like a PITA to load and unload, and slow too. You would never need more than 6 shots while hunting, and if you did, you already screwed up. In that case you would most likley be tracking, and have time to reload.
I am not sure I want to spend that much money to get the Redhawk, for sure not right now. The Taurus tracker seems a good compromise, but the differences in construction are apparent. The Rugers are definately more solidly built.
Right now I am going to wait. I will be in a bigger town in a few weeks, and will have to do some more shopping where there are more stores, better selection, and more competitive pricing.
Unless I can't help myself and just go buy that Blackhawk.
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Haloscan commenting and trackback have been added to this blog.
Well they were here for a little while. And now they are not. Haloscan says "can't find server" partway through on the auto install, and I can't get the manual to work.
I'll keep messin' with it.
Well they were here for a little while. And now they are not. Haloscan says "can't find server" partway through on the auto install, and I can't get the manual to work.
I'll keep messin' with it.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
What should Giraffe Shoot?
Well I got an itch. A couple weeks ago my brother bought a .357 magnum. Now, I have always been more into long guns than handguns, and more into auto's than revolvers, so I don't have a revolver. But now I think I have to get one. Because I shot my brother's and I got the itch. I might not actually buy one for a while, but I am going to put it on my list.
The criteria are:
The criteria are:
- I want to be able to hunt with it. State law says you have to have a minimum of 500 ft/lbs energy at the muzzle. (I assume this means with factory ammo.)
- It would be nice if I could shoot a lower power shell with it, like shooting .38 special in a 357 mag. Or the .44 special in a 44 magnum.
- I want to be able to buy brass and bullets cheap. I will be reloading.
- I don't want something that will break my wrist or something that requires a muzzle brake. So that rules out the .460 and .500 S&W magnums.
- I don't want to spend a huge amount of money, I may buy used. My brothers was used and went for $340.
- I prefer the option of mounting a scope. I might not, but I want the option.
I don't know a lot about wheel guns. I think I want single action. My brothers works on single action or double action. I mean he can cock the hammer, or pulling the trigger rotates the cylinder and pulls back the hammer. This would be preferable. Also, I want the cylinder that tilts out of the frame, rather than the type where you eject the shells one by one. Unless there is some big advantage to that I am unaware of. I could buy a .44 mag right now for $300 where the cylinder is fixed and you have to kick out the shells one by one.
For chamberings, I am thinking 357 magnum, .41 magnum or 44 magnum, leaning more towards the 357 or 44 for cheaper ammo. I would prefer a longer barrel, maybe 6-8 inches. This is not going to be a concealed carry or self defense gun. There isn't much need of that here.
So, what do you think. Recommend any models?
Update:
Comments deleted when haloscan was added:
The order might be wrong and there are some goofy characters. (from my email)
Res ses:
Buddy,You want to go 44 mag. double action.If you’re going to do this do it right. The 44 is a good gun on deer. I got a nice 5 pt with mine. It’s a good back up gun to a rifle. It serves well for home defense. It sucks for CCW. I can shoot mine at 100 yards with good accuracy making it decent on deer/antelope/elk/moose/bear/lion/goat/big-horn. There are 3 realistic choices for a hunting gun, regardless of brand they should be a six inch barrel. Shorter barrels aren’t as accurate at 100 yrds and longer barrels are to bulky to use quickly.Rugar: hands down the toughest/strongest/most durable American made revolver from a major manufacture. Like a craftsman tool, if it breaks (not likely) they fix it. The redhawk will serve you well, the super redhawk is designed to take a scope. I’ll get my 2 cents in here on scopes for pistols, if you need one you shouldn’t be shooting a pistol. Leave it off, its bulky and screws with your ability to handle the gun, if you need it and it breaks in the field you will be use to depending on it instead of iron sight shooting.Smith and Wesson model 629. For most this is the definition of what a 44 mag should be. I’ve got one. I shoot it. I like it and it can be loaded down to accommodate my wife shooting it.Dan Wesson. Its lighter than a smith and its real classy. They are a good shooter. If I had a chance and extra $ I’d get one myself.Reloading for the 44 is a snap. You can buy several boxes of ammo and reuse the brass. I load mine down to 730 fps with 185 grainers for the wife to shoot and it kicks less than my 45 acp. I can load it way up to nearly 1500 fps with 250 grain partition gold that I use when I’m in grizzly country. A 240 grain semi jacketed hollow point will take a whitetail at 150 yards no problem, at 30 yards the exit wound through the rib cage is a mere 2in with no meat loss, I know I’ve done it. My brother uses his 44mag in a marlin carbine to shoot deer every year, even with the slight gain in fps with the longer gun he still doesn’t waste meat.I bought my 629 12 years or more ago used, I’ve shot it a lot and its still a great gun. Any one of the three brands is worth having. I don’t know about Taurus as I’ve never owned one. If its gonna be a used gun, I’d stick to the 3 I’ve mentioned, excepting I’d buy a Freedom Arms revolver in a hart beat, but that would mean it would be single action.Res
Equus Pallidus ses:
Tyhe ruger blackhawk is a damn good choice, it is all of the above in your post. It is a single action 44mag which can be loaded with 44sp bullets. The acurracy of them are uncanny. My brother own one and I own the redhawk which is the double action version.His blackhawck just handles better and is well balanced for a 44mag.I even got the load for ya.24.5 g winter 24.0 g summer of win 296240 grain jacketed hollow point, I prefer the XTP's
and
Get the carbide reloading dies, you'll thank me later
(I knew that already)
and
That 240g XTP was a hornady if I didn't make myself clear.
( I knew that too)
Res ses:
The partition gold is a better bullet to put behind 24 grains of 296. No they're not cheap but when you care enough to use the best they are worth it. You'll be pushing nearly 1500 fps with a 250 grain chunk of hurt.
Res
Friday, July 14, 2006
weekend
Headed for the land of 10,000 lakes for the weekend. Going to Valley Fair on Saturday, and then to a Twins Game on Sunday. The Twins look like they may start a losing streak. Must have heard we were coming. It's always fun to watch your team lose. The last time I saw the Twins play they lost. Of course, that had to be more than 15 years ago.
This is the wife's idea of a vacation. I have to do things with her once in a while so that I can go hunting with my vacation time. The Twins game is just so I have a reason to go. I am not all that excited about Valley Fair. Never been there. Maybe it will be fun, but I will have to pretend to be bored so she doesn't try to make me waste more vacation time on it.
This is the wife's idea of a vacation. I have to do things with her once in a while so that I can go hunting with my vacation time. The Twins game is just so I have a reason to go. I am not all that excited about Valley Fair. Never been there. Maybe it will be fun, but I will have to pretend to be bored so she doesn't try to make me waste more vacation time on it.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
rambling
Book review:
I ran out of material to read so I re-read couple of books. Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause. I like all the books by this author. They are historical novels, and the author tries to be accurate in respect to history. One thing that strikes me, is how close the American Revolution was. We really should have lost. We had such a small army. It seems strange that with such a large population we lacked for volunteers. It seems the hand of God was in it. The British had us over a barrel several times, but Washington always made his escape. If we hadn't had help from foreign officers and the French, we likely would not have succeeded. Not surprisingly, men didn't want to leave their farms and families to fight a war against their own country.
Our successes were mainly due to finding vulnerabilities and striking them, rather than direct confrontation. Another thing that is striking, is the poor performance of the militia. They ran, time and time again. They dropped loaded weapons without firing a shot. As I read, I wanted yell "fight for your freedom you cowards!" The militias were good for general harassment of the British, but in a larger engagement, they were more likely to turn and run. This was used as a strategy in the battle of Cowpens. The movie The Patriot portrays this battle.
As Res pointed out, some of the abuses we suffer under our own government are worse than the ones they fought against. But, few would be willing to take up arms today to fight. I guess the big difference is our chains are gradually being put on. Also, most people are apathetic to the situation. We have a more direct involvement with our government, so some still feel we can solve our problems politically. And now, as in those times, the more idiotic segments of our population want more government intrusion. Too bad we can't tar and feather them.
I ran out of material to read so I re-read couple of books. Rise to Rebellion and The Glorious Cause. I like all the books by this author. They are historical novels, and the author tries to be accurate in respect to history. One thing that strikes me, is how close the American Revolution was. We really should have lost. We had such a small army. It seems strange that with such a large population we lacked for volunteers. It seems the hand of God was in it. The British had us over a barrel several times, but Washington always made his escape. If we hadn't had help from foreign officers and the French, we likely would not have succeeded. Not surprisingly, men didn't want to leave their farms and families to fight a war against their own country.
Our successes were mainly due to finding vulnerabilities and striking them, rather than direct confrontation. Another thing that is striking, is the poor performance of the militia. They ran, time and time again. They dropped loaded weapons without firing a shot. As I read, I wanted yell "fight for your freedom you cowards!" The militias were good for general harassment of the British, but in a larger engagement, they were more likely to turn and run. This was used as a strategy in the battle of Cowpens. The movie The Patriot portrays this battle.
As Res pointed out, some of the abuses we suffer under our own government are worse than the ones they fought against. But, few would be willing to take up arms today to fight. I guess the big difference is our chains are gradually being put on. Also, most people are apathetic to the situation. We have a more direct involvement with our government, so some still feel we can solve our problems politically. And now, as in those times, the more idiotic segments of our population want more government intrusion. Too bad we can't tar and feather them.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Tough Girls
Another thing about movies, is the Hollywood cliche. I call commen elements that occur in many movies a Hollywood cliche. An example of this would be any time a car falls a vertical distance of greater than 5 feet, it has to explode. Or any time you really need a car to start, it won't.
Today's cliche for discussion is the Kick Butt Woman. This all started in the comments at Vox's.
Examples:
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill
Renee Russo, Lethal Weapon 3 (I think 3)
Jenifer Lopez, Enough.
GI Jane.
Well the pattern that emerges is any action movie that has a woman in it. The funny part of it is, I think some women actually believe this crap.
As an example, there was a chick at my college that actually wanted to play on the football team. She was serious. I suppose it didn't come from movies, rather just the regular feminist crap that there isn't any difference between men and women. She even talked to the coach. I think he told her she could try out, just to humor her. He probably wanted to get in her pants. She never did try out. I think she came to her senses, or maybe playing on a intermural flag football team made her realize she wasn't even a good female athlete, let alone ready to try out for a collegiate mens football team.
She wasn't alone in this attitude. There was another girl, that tried to tell us that anyone could make the team if they tried hard enough. More PC bullcrap. I know, it is partly true, some people do make it based on hard work rather than talent or ability. But there are some people who are just not athletic, and it is obvious that no amount of practice or training will put them at a superior level. And that doesn't make them less valuable as people, they just aren't going to the NFL.
I suppose someone could comment about they know girls who made the local high school team. (well if I had readers that is.) I say, "yeah, right. Is she a kicker?" There was a girl that played football at my school. It was long before my time. I heard she had a concusion just about all the time, and she wasn't there long. Amazingly, she played center. I imagine that would make things very interesting for a high school aged quarterback.
Women who feel they are the physical equal of men are mistaken. There is a reason that men's track and field records are better than women's. There is a reason that male gymnasts don't compete in the same types of evens as the women. Ever see a woman on the rings? There is a reason there is an LPGA and a WNBA. And that reason is, women can't compete with men. There are thousands of men who can't make the PGA that would fill the LPGA if they were allowed. (off topic, I can't believe the WNBA has survived this long. Women are less interested in sports, and as a man, I find the WNBA very boring. Nobody is watching. *)
And for any women who thinks otherwise, the first full speed football practice in pads would convince most of the error in their thinking.
I hope I haven't offended any women with this post. After all, their are many ways in which women are superior to men. All in all, men and women are of equal worth, we just aren't the same.
Today's cliche for discussion is the Kick Butt Woman. This all started in the comments at Vox's.
Examples:
Uma Thurman, Kill Bill
Renee Russo, Lethal Weapon 3 (I think 3)
Jenifer Lopez, Enough.
GI Jane.
Well the pattern that emerges is any action movie that has a woman in it. The funny part of it is, I think some women actually believe this crap.
As an example, there was a chick at my college that actually wanted to play on the football team. She was serious. I suppose it didn't come from movies, rather just the regular feminist crap that there isn't any difference between men and women. She even talked to the coach. I think he told her she could try out, just to humor her. He probably wanted to get in her pants. She never did try out. I think she came to her senses, or maybe playing on a intermural flag football team made her realize she wasn't even a good female athlete, let alone ready to try out for a collegiate mens football team.
She wasn't alone in this attitude. There was another girl, that tried to tell us that anyone could make the team if they tried hard enough. More PC bullcrap. I know, it is partly true, some people do make it based on hard work rather than talent or ability. But there are some people who are just not athletic, and it is obvious that no amount of practice or training will put them at a superior level. And that doesn't make them less valuable as people, they just aren't going to the NFL.
I suppose someone could comment about they know girls who made the local high school team. (well if I had readers that is.) I say, "yeah, right. Is she a kicker?" There was a girl that played football at my school. It was long before my time. I heard she had a concusion just about all the time, and she wasn't there long. Amazingly, she played center. I imagine that would make things very interesting for a high school aged quarterback.
Women who feel they are the physical equal of men are mistaken. There is a reason that men's track and field records are better than women's. There is a reason that male gymnasts don't compete in the same types of evens as the women. Ever see a woman on the rings? There is a reason there is an LPGA and a WNBA. And that reason is, women can't compete with men. There are thousands of men who can't make the PGA that would fill the LPGA if they were allowed. (off topic, I can't believe the WNBA has survived this long. Women are less interested in sports, and as a man, I find the WNBA very boring. Nobody is watching. *)
And for any women who thinks otherwise, the first full speed football practice in pads would convince most of the error in their thinking.
I hope I haven't offended any women with this post. After all, their are many ways in which women are superior to men. All in all, men and women are of equal worth, we just aren't the same.
Movies
I don't have many friends now, being somewhat of a loner. I said loner not loser!.................
OK, OK, loser. Have it your way.
Anyways, back in my college days, one of my friends used to get pissed when I was critical of movies. I thought movies were stupid, when they were not believable. I am not a big fan of most action movies, where the good guys come out at the end without a scratch on them. You know, the Vin Diesel and Chuck Norris type. I must not be alone, because there are websites that make fun of them. I want the movie to make me believe that what I am watching could actually happen. in other words the movie does a good job of suspending my disbelief. So, the scene the first Die Hard when he is falling down an elevator shaft and catches himself by his fingertips, well, that sort of ruins things for me. That is still one of my favorite movies, because the hero goes through hell, and the movie does a pretty good job of pulling you into it. There are not as many moments where you say, "right, like that is gonna happen."
Now, this is not to say I wouldn't like to watch a movie like Star Wars because it obviously can never happen. Fantasy is a separate class. I just don't like movies that defy the laws of physics or common sense.
Another movie I loved, right up till the end, was True Lies. I actually was ticked off that they ruined a perfectly good movie. The turning point from good movie to bad was when she drops an Uzi and it falls bouncing down the stairs, firing and killing bad guys all the way down. From there, the movie devolves into crap where people run around on the wing of a harrier jet in flight, and take a ride on an air to air missile.
Since I got married, I don't watch as many movies, and my wife rents most of them now. And the type of movie my wife picks is a whole 'nuther type of movie agony.
Does anyone have suggestions on movies to see?
OK, OK, loser. Have it your way.
Anyways, back in my college days, one of my friends used to get pissed when I was critical of movies. I thought movies were stupid, when they were not believable. I am not a big fan of most action movies, where the good guys come out at the end without a scratch on them. You know, the Vin Diesel and Chuck Norris type. I must not be alone, because there are websites that make fun of them. I want the movie to make me believe that what I am watching could actually happen. in other words the movie does a good job of suspending my disbelief. So, the scene the first Die Hard when he is falling down an elevator shaft and catches himself by his fingertips, well, that sort of ruins things for me. That is still one of my favorite movies, because the hero goes through hell, and the movie does a pretty good job of pulling you into it. There are not as many moments where you say, "right, like that is gonna happen."
Now, this is not to say I wouldn't like to watch a movie like Star Wars because it obviously can never happen. Fantasy is a separate class. I just don't like movies that defy the laws of physics or common sense.
Another movie I loved, right up till the end, was True Lies. I actually was ticked off that they ruined a perfectly good movie. The turning point from good movie to bad was when she drops an Uzi and it falls bouncing down the stairs, firing and killing bad guys all the way down. From there, the movie devolves into crap where people run around on the wing of a harrier jet in flight, and take a ride on an air to air missile.
Since I got married, I don't watch as many movies, and my wife rents most of them now. And the type of movie my wife picks is a whole 'nuther type of movie agony.
Does anyone have suggestions on movies to see?
Friday, May 19, 2006
Why I'm not a professional trader
Because I suck, really. You have to be honest with yourself. Are you good enough to manage your own investments? I am not, so far, so I fired myself.
But I still do dabble a little in stocks. Because I want to learn how to trade/invest for myself. I have a pitiful amount of money left in my account that I opened back in 1999 (great timing). I have a Roth IRA that has a little more. My main 'investment' is my 401K and the pro's are investing that.
I currently own one stock. Finisar incorporated (FNSR). I have have some paper profits in it. It was not a good trade, though. I wish I had owned Titanium Metals (TIE) as long as I have owned Finisar.
My problem has been inexperience and poor discipline. I don't sell when I know I should. I should have sold FNSR at 5.25. I could have bought it back at 4.25.
Now the metals are roaring. I should have been in that. Or the oils. Shoulda had Ultra Pete.
But it is easy to tell what you should have done. It is worse when you are right and still get it wrong. I owned Etrade at 4 bucks. It tripped my stop and I never got back in. I new it was right, because a new bull market was starting. It was a cinch that new accounts would open and more trading would happen at Etrade. Etrade went to 15 bucks pretty quickly. Now it is at 24.
My efforts have had less than stellar results so far. I have sent myself back to the minors. Well, actually I never made it to the majors. If I never do get there, I will be fine. But I am not going to quit either.
Note: To see what I am talking about with UPL and TIE look at the weekly charts.
But I still do dabble a little in stocks. Because I want to learn how to trade/invest for myself. I have a pitiful amount of money left in my account that I opened back in 1999 (great timing). I have a Roth IRA that has a little more. My main 'investment' is my 401K and the pro's are investing that.
I currently own one stock. Finisar incorporated (FNSR). I have have some paper profits in it. It was not a good trade, though. I wish I had owned Titanium Metals (TIE) as long as I have owned Finisar.
My problem has been inexperience and poor discipline. I don't sell when I know I should. I should have sold FNSR at 5.25. I could have bought it back at 4.25.
Now the metals are roaring. I should have been in that. Or the oils. Shoulda had Ultra Pete.
But it is easy to tell what you should have done. It is worse when you are right and still get it wrong. I owned Etrade at 4 bucks. It tripped my stop and I never got back in. I new it was right, because a new bull market was starting. It was a cinch that new accounts would open and more trading would happen at Etrade. Etrade went to 15 bucks pretty quickly. Now it is at 24.
My efforts have had less than stellar results so far. I have sent myself back to the minors. Well, actually I never made it to the majors. If I never do get there, I will be fine. But I am not going to quit either.
Note: To see what I am talking about with UPL and TIE look at the weekly charts.
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Bowfishing
Today, if I have a little extra time, I am going bowfishing. For the outdoor illiterate, bowfishing is not fishing for bows, it is fishing with a bow. And arrow. The arrow is attached to the bow with a string. You shoot, and hopefully hit a fish, and pull it in with the string. The arrow has a barb on it to prevent the fish from slipping off.
The target is rough fish, carp and suckers. The reason is mostly just for kicks. These fish aren't much good to eat, although I may smoke a couple if I have the time and ambition. Otherwise, they make good fertilizer when buried in the garden. Last year my brother shot one that was over 25 pounds.
One needed piece of equipment: Polarized sunglasses. I recommend them for any fishing where you want to or need to see the fish. They are not xray vision, but they do help some. They seem to make all they difference some days. Otherwise, see your local archery shop for equipment.
But I also have to plant potatoes, carrots, and onions, check my pocket gopher traps, maybe mow. So, I might not have much time for sticking fish.
The target is rough fish, carp and suckers. The reason is mostly just for kicks. These fish aren't much good to eat, although I may smoke a couple if I have the time and ambition. Otherwise, they make good fertilizer when buried in the garden. Last year my brother shot one that was over 25 pounds.
One needed piece of equipment: Polarized sunglasses. I recommend them for any fishing where you want to or need to see the fish. They are not xray vision, but they do help some. They seem to make all they difference some days. Otherwise, see your local archery shop for equipment.
But I also have to plant potatoes, carrots, and onions, check my pocket gopher traps, maybe mow. So, I might not have much time for sticking fish.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Fuel
I remember back in the 80's. The price was around 65 cents. Can you believe it? The price has gradually increased with time. Today, the price is a whopping $1.49!
What?
Where can you get gas that cheap?
You thought I was talking about gas? Oh yeah, I said fuel. I meant that other precious liquid, Pepsi. Today, the price has increased to $1.49 for a 20 0z. Bottle. This is over $9.50 per gallon! How much do you suppose the ingredients for a bottle of pop cost, a nickel? I figure that at $75 per barrel, the raw ingredients for a gallon of gas cost $1.90. This doesn't include refining, or transporting the gasoline.
A gallon of gas supplies enough energy to move my 5000 pound vehicle 17 miles. A gallon of soft drink will just make me fat. Just a little perspective on the comparative value of gasoline.
I am not cheering gas prices higher, or saying oil companies aren't making huge profits. I just wonder at the selective outrage. If anyone is gouging, it is Pepsico and Coca Cola.
What?
Where can you get gas that cheap?
You thought I was talking about gas? Oh yeah, I said fuel. I meant that other precious liquid, Pepsi. Today, the price has increased to $1.49 for a 20 0z. Bottle. This is over $9.50 per gallon! How much do you suppose the ingredients for a bottle of pop cost, a nickel? I figure that at $75 per barrel, the raw ingredients for a gallon of gas cost $1.90. This doesn't include refining, or transporting the gasoline.
A gallon of gas supplies enough energy to move my 5000 pound vehicle 17 miles. A gallon of soft drink will just make me fat. Just a little perspective on the comparative value of gasoline.
I am not cheering gas prices higher, or saying oil companies aren't making huge profits. I just wonder at the selective outrage. If anyone is gouging, it is Pepsico and Coca Cola.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
How not to get fleas
A quick note about the Duke Lacrosse team. Vox is making it apparent that he believes no rape occurred and she is making the whole thing up. Other people are proclaiming that the players are a bunch of spoiled rich kids. As if that has any bearing on whether or not they are guilty of rape. I saw a father of a couple of the players on TV this morning claiming that his two sons are anything but privileged.
There is one thing that they are guilty of: Poor judgment I suppose a lot of kids that age don't think clearly. I know I didn't. If you go to that kind of party, those are the kind of things that can happen to you. Being falsely accused of rape is one of the milder consequences. Real rapes happen. Drunk driving happens. Kids die from overdoses and alcohol poisoning.
Joe Carter posted a few days back about the hippies that had to re-learn the rules of hygiene. As our country continues to move away from God, people will find out the hard way that morality is not designed to keep us from having any fun. Rather, it is designed to keep us from experiencing the consequences of immoral behavior.
So anyway, I'm not saying don't have any fun. But if someone tells you lets about a great party, "they even hired a stripper!", maybe that's one you should decide to avoid.
Stay away from the dogs, you won't get fleas.
There is one thing that they are guilty of: Poor judgment I suppose a lot of kids that age don't think clearly. I know I didn't. If you go to that kind of party, those are the kind of things that can happen to you. Being falsely accused of rape is one of the milder consequences. Real rapes happen. Drunk driving happens. Kids die from overdoses and alcohol poisoning.
Joe Carter posted a few days back about the hippies that had to re-learn the rules of hygiene. As our country continues to move away from God, people will find out the hard way that morality is not designed to keep us from having any fun. Rather, it is designed to keep us from experiencing the consequences of immoral behavior.
So anyway, I'm not saying don't have any fun. But if someone tells you lets about a great party, "they even hired a stripper!", maybe that's one you should decide to avoid.
Stay away from the dogs, you won't get fleas.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Take my wife, Please
RED SKELTON'S RECIPE FOR THE PERFECT MARRIAGE
1. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.
3. I take my wife everywhere..... but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!" .. So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me "In the lake."
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling "Am I too late for the garbage?" .... The driver said "No, jump in!"
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.
12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked "What's on the TV?" I said "Dust!"
1. Two times a week, we go to a nice restaurant, have a little beverage, good food and companionship. She goes on Tuesdays, I go on Fridays.
2. We also sleep in separate beds. Hers is in California and mine is in Texas.
3. I take my wife everywhere..... but she keeps finding her way back.
4. I asked my wife where she wanted to go for our anniversary. "Somewhere I haven't been in a long time!" she said. So I suggested the kitchen.
5. We always hold hands. If I let go, she shops.
6. She has an electric blender, electric toaster and electric bread maker. She said "There are too many gadgets and no place to sit down!" .. So I bought her an electric chair.
7. My wife told me the car wasn't running well because there was water in the carburetor. I asked where the car was; she told me "In the lake."
8. She got a mud pack and looked great for two days. Then the mud fell off.
9. She ran after the garbage truck, yelling "Am I too late for the garbage?" .... The driver said "No, jump in!"
10. Remember: Marriage is the number one cause of divorce.
11. I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.
12. I haven't spoken to my wife in 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.
13. The last fight was my fault though. My wife asked "What's on the TV?" I said "Dust!"
Saturday, April 08, 2006
On the intenseness of gazelles
My wife and I decided we are going to get out of debt. We have been working on it for quite a while, but we are going to get serious. We already paid off our credit card debt, not that we really had much. Now we are working on the home equity line of credit. Then her car loan, and last my student loan. With the cash flow diverted from servicing this debt, we can pay off our mortgage in a few years.
Now there are a couple of problems in the way. One, the house needs an exterior remodel. New soffits, siding, windows, shingles, etc. I figure this could cost about $15k. And it needs to be done this summer. And another one is our children. Or rather the lack of them. We aint got any, and she wants some. I don't know if we can wait long enough to pay off everything. She will be quitting her job when we have kids. I say don't have 'em if you won't raise 'em. Plus she doesn't make enough justify being a working mom. Another problem is health insurance. We get it now from her job, and my employer doesn't offer it.
So I am considering paying off all our debts except the mortgage, and paying that down as much as we can till baby one arrives. Then maybe refinance the house to a ten year loan or something that I can handle on my income. I doubt the interest rates will be that favorable in a couple years though. It would be so much better not to have any house payment at all.
So one of the things we are going to do is a written budget. I learned about this from Dave Ramsey. We have been planning on this for a few months but we never actually did it. So I made up a excel spreadsheet. Every dollar is supposed to be accounted for.
I know this will be hard. I am going to try to quit buying worthless things like junk food and junk drinks. I don't drink alcohol (much) so I am ahead there. Mountain Dew will be hard to quit. I need to lose 30 pounds anyway. I drive a 10 year old pickup. I will have to keep driving it till it quits. Even though I hate the rusty pile of crap. I am considering ditching our cell phones. They are no longer under contract and we don't use them much. Cut out the fat everywhere we can. If we can do it, we will retire very comfortably barring any catastrophes.
But, it is hard knowing I won't be able to buy any toys. Or buy a new truck. There are quite a few things I want that I know I won't be able buy once we have kids. I guess I will have to grow up some. Thus far in our marriage we have just split up the bills and each kept our money separate. We can't do that any more. I have to face the fact that some day I will have to support a family and that it is no longer just my money anymore. Time to be a man.
Dave Ramsey's book talks about getting "Gazelle intense". You "live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." That is our goal. I am going to have to learn self discipline. Work more overtime. (I should be doing that right now). While the rest of America averages over $8,000 in credit card debt, and is one lost job from being homeless, we want be debt free. We will not be slaves to our payments.
I hope we have the stones to get it done.
Now there are a couple of problems in the way. One, the house needs an exterior remodel. New soffits, siding, windows, shingles, etc. I figure this could cost about $15k. And it needs to be done this summer. And another one is our children. Or rather the lack of them. We aint got any, and she wants some. I don't know if we can wait long enough to pay off everything. She will be quitting her job when we have kids. I say don't have 'em if you won't raise 'em. Plus she doesn't make enough justify being a working mom. Another problem is health insurance. We get it now from her job, and my employer doesn't offer it.
So I am considering paying off all our debts except the mortgage, and paying that down as much as we can till baby one arrives. Then maybe refinance the house to a ten year loan or something that I can handle on my income. I doubt the interest rates will be that favorable in a couple years though. It would be so much better not to have any house payment at all.
So one of the things we are going to do is a written budget. I learned about this from Dave Ramsey. We have been planning on this for a few months but we never actually did it. So I made up a excel spreadsheet. Every dollar is supposed to be accounted for.
I know this will be hard. I am going to try to quit buying worthless things like junk food and junk drinks. I don't drink alcohol (much) so I am ahead there. Mountain Dew will be hard to quit. I need to lose 30 pounds anyway. I drive a 10 year old pickup. I will have to keep driving it till it quits. Even though I hate the rusty pile of crap. I am considering ditching our cell phones. They are no longer under contract and we don't use them much. Cut out the fat everywhere we can. If we can do it, we will retire very comfortably barring any catastrophes.
But, it is hard knowing I won't be able to buy any toys. Or buy a new truck. There are quite a few things I want that I know I won't be able buy once we have kids. I guess I will have to grow up some. Thus far in our marriage we have just split up the bills and each kept our money separate. We can't do that any more. I have to face the fact that some day I will have to support a family and that it is no longer just my money anymore. Time to be a man.
Dave Ramsey's book talks about getting "Gazelle intense". You "live like no one else so later you can live like no one else." That is our goal. I am going to have to learn self discipline. Work more overtime. (I should be doing that right now). While the rest of America averages over $8,000 in credit card debt, and is one lost job from being homeless, we want be debt free. We will not be slaves to our payments.
I hope we have the stones to get it done.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
I am morose
Well, being the go getter that I am, I just completed our taxes. No refund. I am paying in again this year. About 500 bucks. Somehow, the withholding gets screwed up. Or we just make too much money. Ha!
I put all the information into H&R Blocks website, and when I got done the charge was 30 bucks. The reason I did this is because I used them last year. What a joke. I really didn't feel like punching all that crap in again, even though I could have done it for free somewhere else. So I paid it. I am making a note not to use them again next year.
It is somewhat depressing. Everyone I know got a refund and blew it long ago. Well, at least I know our government is putting it to good use.
Somebody cheer me up.
I put all the information into H&R Blocks website, and when I got done the charge was 30 bucks. The reason I did this is because I used them last year. What a joke. I really didn't feel like punching all that crap in again, even though I could have done it for free somewhere else. So I paid it. I am making a note not to use them again next year.
It is somewhat depressing. Everyone I know got a refund and blew it long ago. Well, at least I know our government is putting it to good use.
Somebody cheer me up.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
April 1st, 2006
I woke up early this morning to go hunt some geese. I pulled a good on on my wife, telling her that overnight a tree had fallen and was draped across both our vehicles. Of course she bought it. Today, when I should have been working, I was over at Res Ispa's and read his April Fools post. Then I went directly to Bane's.
That is what is somewhat embarrassing. I was just commenting on April Fools and then I almost fell for one. So anyway if you haven't heard the new, Bane died. Is it hot down there Bane?
Mysteriously, he was posting in the comments on the nude chick post a half hour before LL posted the news. It must have been awful sudden.
I was too slow to get any geese this morning, they were about done flying before I got there. My hunting crew was there only 10 minutes before me and they had 7 when I got there. Got quite a bit of shooting a little later on, but no hitting. I haven't been able to hit a thing all spring. Anyway, I have not been able to force myself to accomplish any work, so I think I might just go back out huntin'.
UPDATE
ITS A MIRACLE! HE'S ALIVE!
And he's posting in the comments on Hog On Ice!!! (The time stamps are a little different, but one of the posts came about an hour and a half after he 'died'.)
Or is he? Maybe its a ghost.
That is what is somewhat embarrassing. I was just commenting on April Fools and then I almost fell for one. So anyway if you haven't heard the new, Bane died. Is it hot down there Bane?
Mysteriously, he was posting in the comments on the nude chick post a half hour before LL posted the news. It must have been awful sudden.
I was too slow to get any geese this morning, they were about done flying before I got there. My hunting crew was there only 10 minutes before me and they had 7 when I got there. Got quite a bit of shooting a little later on, but no hitting. I haven't been able to hit a thing all spring. Anyway, I have not been able to force myself to accomplish any work, so I think I might just go back out huntin'.
UPDATE
ITS A MIRACLE! HE'S ALIVE!
And he's posting in the comments on Hog On Ice!!! (The time stamps are a little different, but one of the posts came about an hour and a half after he 'died'.)
Or is he? Maybe its a ghost.
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Springtime
It is spring. Res is talking about gardens. The lakes are opening up. That means the ice is melting for you urban types. Winter is over and that is a reason to feel pretty good. The robins are returning. I just bought two packs of .22 shells for the spring varmint blasting. The gophers are out.
And that brings us to the scourge of springtime. The gopher you can't shoot but does so much damage. The pocket gopher. If you live in an area that doesn't have them, count your blessings, but be prepared, they are coming. We have been seeing them in the higher elevations of the Black Hills now.
I used to trap them when I was young. There was a local farmer that would pay me 5 bucks apiece for them. This was in the 80's. I caught as many as I could, but I only managed to stay even with them. I only had a few traps and pocket gophers are difficult to trap.
A few years back I bought my own place. Fifteen acres of a former homestead. A lot of it has trees, but the old cattle pens are home to pocket gophers. I have not been able to get rid of them. One spring I caught seven of them. Last year I only caught a couple. It rained heavily, turning everything to mud. If you don't catch them the first time, they plug the hole, and when it is muddy you can't find it again. I have tried poison, and putting small amounts of gasoline down the hole with some effect. But I still have them. If I could get rid of them, I would be free of them for a while since they plowed up the alfalfa field across the road. That was an endless supply, always moving in.
I am resolved to get rid of them this spring before the mosquitoes get bad.
And that brings us to the scourge of springtime. The gopher you can't shoot but does so much damage. The pocket gopher. If you live in an area that doesn't have them, count your blessings, but be prepared, they are coming. We have been seeing them in the higher elevations of the Black Hills now.
I used to trap them when I was young. There was a local farmer that would pay me 5 bucks apiece for them. This was in the 80's. I caught as many as I could, but I only managed to stay even with them. I only had a few traps and pocket gophers are difficult to trap.
A few years back I bought my own place. Fifteen acres of a former homestead. A lot of it has trees, but the old cattle pens are home to pocket gophers. I have not been able to get rid of them. One spring I caught seven of them. Last year I only caught a couple. It rained heavily, turning everything to mud. If you don't catch them the first time, they plug the hole, and when it is muddy you can't find it again. I have tried poison, and putting small amounts of gasoline down the hole with some effect. But I still have them. If I could get rid of them, I would be free of them for a while since they plowed up the alfalfa field across the road. That was an endless supply, always moving in.
I am resolved to get rid of them this spring before the mosquitoes get bad.
Friday, March 24, 2006
I don't get it
I see a lot of young boys nowadays, who are wearing earrings in their ears. I am talking about 10 year olds. Are their parents out to lunch? Am I just getting curmudgeonly in my old age? Now, I am not even old; I don't even have any kids yet. But when I do, if I have boys, they will not be wearing jewelry under threat of the pliers. Till they are 60. I even don't see why girls need to wear jewelry at that age. And the place I see all these metal headed kids? In church.
I must be tragically unhip.
I must be tragically unhip.
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
See how smart I am?
| Your IQ Is 130 |
 Your Logical Intelligence is Below Average Your Verbal Intelligence is Genius Your Mathematical Intelligence is Genius Your General Knowledge is Above Average |
How did I do so bad on logical intelligence?
Dreams
I usually don't remember dreams. But I really had a weird one last night. I was at a grocery store. All of my extended family was there, because my grandma died. In the store. So we were all sitting down to eat. In the store. Then I found out that my cousin had died. Also in the store. So while we were sitting down to eat, a girl I knew from college shows up. She is wearing roller skates. She is wondering what is up because it is time for roller skating. Somehow our tables had been set up in the part of the store usually set aside at this particular time for roller skating.
That was some grocery store. I did have a mild case of indigestion. Would that cause this? Too bad we don't have a prophet around to interpret this one.
That was some grocery store. I did have a mild case of indigestion. Would that cause this? Too bad we don't have a prophet around to interpret this one.
Monday, February 27, 2006
Testing
It has come to my attention that you need to log in to blogger to comment on my blog. I changed the setting to now allow anyone. My apologies to my reader(s) for any inconvenience.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Giraffe reports, you decide.
My home state is once again trying to be the mouse that roared. Hopefully, we will be successful. If so, there will be much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the blue states.
Here is the deal
What do you think?
Our state is taking on a large financial burden in challenging this. It has been speculated that a fund will be set up to help defray these expenses. I will post a link if such a fund develops so that you can contribute to the fight if you wish. I am sure lots of money will come in on both sides.
UPDATE
From Zek, a commentor ar Vox's. This is just disgusting
Here is the deal
What do you think?
Our state is taking on a large financial burden in challenging this. It has been speculated that a fund will be set up to help defray these expenses. I will post a link if such a fund develops so that you can contribute to the fight if you wish. I am sure lots of money will come in on both sides.
UPDATE
From Zek, a commentor ar Vox's. This is just disgusting
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
An old draft post I have to put out:
Res Ipsa started a blog. Another one I check daily. He started by posting about RCBS, and telling what a create company they are, and how good their customer services is. I have a few issues with them as a reloader. Not RCBS, but their parent company, Alliant Techsystems. I am just a little disgusted that Federal cartridges, another Alliant Techsystems company, sells factory steel shotgun ammunition that outperforms anything that you can reload. Federal sells wads, but not steel shot wads, and Alliant powder sells powder, but apparently not the high performance powder used in the factory shells. I don't understand why they do this. So I am stuck using Alliant's powder, and someone else's wads to produce shells that don't perform as good as factory. Well, that is not really true. What I mean is the premium factory loads are better than the best handload recipes. Reloading is about saving money, but it is also about better performance.
Steel shot reloading for waterfowl is just about a dead art anyway. The cost of the shot and wads has gotten higher, and the quality of factory ammo is much better and the price is much lower than it used to be. I still have some loads that beat factory velocity, but I can't match speed they get with large payloads.
Res Ipsa started a blog. Another one I check daily. He started by posting about RCBS, and telling what a create company they are, and how good their customer services is. I have a few issues with them as a reloader. Not RCBS, but their parent company, Alliant Techsystems. I am just a little disgusted that Federal cartridges, another Alliant Techsystems company, sells factory steel shotgun ammunition that outperforms anything that you can reload. Federal sells wads, but not steel shot wads, and Alliant powder sells powder, but apparently not the high performance powder used in the factory shells. I don't understand why they do this. So I am stuck using Alliant's powder, and someone else's wads to produce shells that don't perform as good as factory. Well, that is not really true. What I mean is the premium factory loads are better than the best handload recipes. Reloading is about saving money, but it is also about better performance.
Steel shot reloading for waterfowl is just about a dead art anyway. The cost of the shot and wads has gotten higher, and the quality of factory ammo is much better and the price is much lower than it used to be. I still have some loads that beat factory velocity, but I can't match speed they get with large payloads.
WND, getting a little unbalanced
So I went to WND this morning, and saw that the number of opinion articles had doubled. So I clicked on the line for The Cheney Incedent just to see what could possibly be said that hasn't been said yet.
WHAT THE HELL!!!!
You would think that if WND was going to add writers from the left they could find someone with the mental capacity above that of a bowl of oatmeal. On second thought, it might be more difficult than first imagined to find any signs of intelligent life on the left.
WHAT THE HELL!!!!
You would think that if WND was going to add writers from the left they could find someone with the mental capacity above that of a bowl of oatmeal. On second thought, it might be more difficult than first imagined to find any signs of intelligent life on the left.
Thursday, February 16, 2006
Shooting
So Nate was talking about deer cartridges a while back. This is a subject that I love. I am a gun nut, and a hunting nut. I read endlessly about guns. Not so much about hunting. Hunting you just have to do. I get pretty bored with most of the hunting magazines that are out there. They seem to be aimed at the novices. I just got a subscription to Rifleshooter, so far I like that one. I like articles that have a little depth to them, not just gun p-rn. I also handload my own ammo, both for rifle and shotgun. I haven't shot factory ammo at big game for about 5 years. I still have to buy some shotgun shells because I can't keep up with the volume I need for waterfowl hunting. Plus, you don't recover all your empties, and some of them aren't any good. These loads are very powerfull, up to 3.5 inch 12 gauge.
I hate to go into too much detail on this. Probably bore the heck out of most people.
I hate to go into too much detail on this. Probably bore the heck out of most people.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Odds, Ends
Any minute the wife is going to call when she gets off work. We are going for supper.
It was heartening to see that a couple people visited. Bane sometimes links to others and says something to the effect that he "despairs of ever being a writer" after reading someone's post. I got a lot of that going too. I really don't get the admiration for Hog on Ice though. Dude, if you ever grace my blog with your presence and read this, really, who cares about his damn TV cabinet. That is probably unfair because he used to write good stuff. He as much as admitted that he was only blogging to get his book published, and now that he accomplished that he doesn't care anymore.
Heidi wrote once about not wanting to reveal too much. I don't have to worry much about it cuz I don't really blog much. But if were to, it would concern me. I don't care what people I don't know think of me. But there is just something about putting it all out there, I would be embarrassed if someone I knew read it. Don't know why, but there it is.
The biggest obstacle is I blog from work. Dialup at home. I can't blog when I should be working, so I have to do it after work. Hard to find the time and privacy. I really need to cut down on the time wasting during working hours.
Phone ringing, bye for now.
sweet land of LIBERTY
LaShawn Barber was asking what makes this country great. So I have to throw in my two cents.
1. Ambition. Our forefathers landed on this continent and saw opportunity. Sure they killed most of the Indians, that might have been a little bit wrong. They moved west knowing that with hard work they would be able to own their own land, get a little slice, the American Dream and all that. Of course there were many failures, but it is the trying, the sacrifice, the work ethic that more often led to success. And it still is a great route to sucess. I suppose it is ironic that greed, which is ambition gone to far, is partly responsible for what makes America not so great. Liberals try to destroy ambition by giving people money for nothing, (welfare, entitlement programs) and denying them the fruits of their labors (high taxes). Is our work ethic as good as it once was?
2. Christian values and morality. It is our values, derived from Christian teaching, that hold our society together. Helping others, giving to the needy, selflessness. Love. My dad used to shovel snow for our neighbors just because. I don't think many people do that kind of thing anymore. Bill O'Reilly is a tool and an idiot but he is right when he rants about secularism. Secularism pollutes ambition and our values. Ambition is no longer about getting enough to raise a family. Now we put family aside so we can get enough. Ambition is now about keeping up with the Jones'. I think God blessed this country. I don't think He will continue to do so if we as a nation worship material things. Liberals go out of their way to ridicule traditional values. They are in all out attack mode on Christianity.
3. I believe that the most important thing that makes this country great is freedom. Freedom to say what you want. Freedom to make your own choices. It is very telling that the ideal of liberals is socialism, and socialist countries are the least free. The liberals want to infringe on freedom by taking away guns. Private ownership of firearms makes this country great. The second amendment guarantees the rest of the Bill of Rights. So join the NRA dammit. John McCain sided with Feingold to create the abomination that bears their name, and Bush signed it into law. Freedom slowly chipped away. Or taken in big chunks.
So to sum up: ambition, Christian values, freedom, and the NRA are good.
Liberals are everything that is wrong with this country.
1. Ambition. Our forefathers landed on this continent and saw opportunity. Sure they killed most of the Indians, that might have been a little bit wrong. They moved west knowing that with hard work they would be able to own their own land, get a little slice, the American Dream and all that. Of course there were many failures, but it is the trying, the sacrifice, the work ethic that more often led to success. And it still is a great route to sucess. I suppose it is ironic that greed, which is ambition gone to far, is partly responsible for what makes America not so great. Liberals try to destroy ambition by giving people money for nothing, (welfare, entitlement programs) and denying them the fruits of their labors (high taxes). Is our work ethic as good as it once was?
2. Christian values and morality. It is our values, derived from Christian teaching, that hold our society together. Helping others, giving to the needy, selflessness. Love. My dad used to shovel snow for our neighbors just because. I don't think many people do that kind of thing anymore. Bill O'Reilly is a tool and an idiot but he is right when he rants about secularism. Secularism pollutes ambition and our values. Ambition is no longer about getting enough to raise a family. Now we put family aside so we can get enough. Ambition is now about keeping up with the Jones'. I think God blessed this country. I don't think He will continue to do so if we as a nation worship material things. Liberals go out of their way to ridicule traditional values. They are in all out attack mode on Christianity.
3. I believe that the most important thing that makes this country great is freedom. Freedom to say what you want. Freedom to make your own choices. It is very telling that the ideal of liberals is socialism, and socialist countries are the least free. The liberals want to infringe on freedom by taking away guns. Private ownership of firearms makes this country great. The second amendment guarantees the rest of the Bill of Rights. So join the NRA dammit. John McCain sided with Feingold to create the abomination that bears their name, and Bush signed it into law. Freedom slowly chipped away. Or taken in big chunks.
So to sum up: ambition, Christian values, freedom, and the NRA are good.
Liberals are everything that is wrong with this country.
Thursday, January 19, 2006
Young 'uns
Hiedi posted about kids and advertising. It was about how people are suing cereal companies for marketing to kids. It is a sad commentary on our society that parents can't say no to their kids. My parents didn't buy all the crap sugar cereals. We ate corn flakes, Total, Cheerios, Oatmeal, stuff like that. Bad things happen when you can't tell your child no. "Because I said so" was often the only reason we got when we were kids.
(Alert: I have no kids, yet, so I am not an expert on raising them).
I have inlaws who have a 4 year old, and let her do whatever she wants. She gets her way, because she knows that all she has to do is outlast her parents. She has a stronger will than they do. Now they just had kid # 2 less than a week ago. We were visiting them in the hospital. Kid number one was bouncing off the walls, misbehaving, jumping on furniture, etc. Mother was trying to feed the baby, kid #1 kept bothering her while she was doing it, with no consequences. Mother eventually fled the suite to feed the baby in the nursery. Kid #1 now tried to leave the room repeatedly to find mother and the baby. Father sat through all of this eating his own supper, just let her have her head. He apparently has no problem with his little demon running around a hospital maternity ward unsupervised. I would think that parents of such a child would try to get control of her before the baby arrived. Who knows what a kid like that can do when she doesn't have any boundaries.
It is quite a contrast to children raised on my side of the family. None of my siblings are married or have children, but my cousins are raising proper ladies and gentleman. You will not hear those kids talk back or refuse to do what they are told. They are still kids of course, but you just don't see them yell "no" at the top of their lungs because they know they won't get away with it.
Not so with my young niece. Christmas wasn't much fun with all the noise. You have one kid misbehaving, and 4 "adults" begging her to sit down and eat or she wouldn't get to open her presents. Of course she didn't eat her food, and she did open her presents. I just wanted to tell them all to shut the hell up and let her be so I could have some peace, or actually make her listen to them. Threatening children with consequences has no effect if they know you don't mean it. It is hard watching that kid grow up, knowing she is in for hell when she gets older. I think it is going to really be tough forcing rules on her as a teenager when she is so used to getting her way now.
I am getting warmer all the time to the idea of having some rugrats of my own to raise up right.
(Alert: I have no kids, yet, so I am not an expert on raising them).
I have inlaws who have a 4 year old, and let her do whatever she wants. She gets her way, because she knows that all she has to do is outlast her parents. She has a stronger will than they do. Now they just had kid # 2 less than a week ago. We were visiting them in the hospital. Kid number one was bouncing off the walls, misbehaving, jumping on furniture, etc. Mother was trying to feed the baby, kid #1 kept bothering her while she was doing it, with no consequences. Mother eventually fled the suite to feed the baby in the nursery. Kid #1 now tried to leave the room repeatedly to find mother and the baby. Father sat through all of this eating his own supper, just let her have her head. He apparently has no problem with his little demon running around a hospital maternity ward unsupervised. I would think that parents of such a child would try to get control of her before the baby arrived. Who knows what a kid like that can do when she doesn't have any boundaries.
It is quite a contrast to children raised on my side of the family. None of my siblings are married or have children, but my cousins are raising proper ladies and gentleman. You will not hear those kids talk back or refuse to do what they are told. They are still kids of course, but you just don't see them yell "no" at the top of their lungs because they know they won't get away with it.
Not so with my young niece. Christmas wasn't much fun with all the noise. You have one kid misbehaving, and 4 "adults" begging her to sit down and eat or she wouldn't get to open her presents. Of course she didn't eat her food, and she did open her presents. I just wanted to tell them all to shut the hell up and let her be so I could have some peace, or actually make her listen to them. Threatening children with consequences has no effect if they know you don't mean it. It is hard watching that kid grow up, knowing she is in for hell when she gets older. I think it is going to really be tough forcing rules on her as a teenager when she is so used to getting her way now.
I am getting warmer all the time to the idea of having some rugrats of my own to raise up right.
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