First Ski of 09

So we went skiing on Christmas day. It was around 0 degrees but nice and clear. The skiing was rough as there wasn't a trail yet. I told Sharon that it was as bad as dragging out that elk. Which, by the way, is very tasty. We saw a bald eagle, some turkeys and of all things a wayward roadrunner. I have no idea what he/she was doing up at 9000' in two feet of snow. Maybe he was a snowrunner? Skiing the next day was better as the trail was broken. Still cold again though. We'll be heading up again for New Years and more skiing. I think I'll fire up the wood fired hot tub too. Later.

Elk Hunt

So the elk hunt was a big success in that we finally got one. My back held out, and my heart too even though it took us four hours to drag this thing to the Highlander. How many people go hunting in a Toyota Highlander? We actually had an Elk go over a cliff into a ravine rather than become food for us. Now it is food for the wolves and coyotes. Next hunt is the Handgun javelina coming in February. Sharon and I are even still married after making her get up at 4:30 every morning and go hunt in the freezing wind and snow. She is even considering going again next year. Who would have ever thunk it. HA

Back

So I am back to my old backpack although I lightened the load substantially. Deer hunting went well and I only carried the backpack for one day as I wasn't getting into my stuff in it. Didn't get a deer though. Next is Elk hunting on Dec 11. Sharon and I are both hunting and I dread dragging two elk out of the forest. Then in February it will be handgun javelina hunting. So there you have it. Also have a pistol shoot this weekend and quail hunting. Talk at you later.

Experiment Failed

So the new backpack thing totally failed. It translated all the weight to my hips and legs like it was supposed to but then they hurt like hell. So the remedy is to lighten the load on my old backpack which I probably should have done to begin with. My back is doing well right now. We just went to La Jolla last weekend and had a great time as usual. This weekend we are going to Show Low to fine tune Sharon's rifle as deer season is fast approaching. In addition we both have elk season in December. Never a dull moment at our household. Here is a pic of Sharon and a Bonito she caught.

Rambling

So where was I? Shutdown is over and life is somewhat back to normal. At least as normal as it gets in my world. I have to wonder what is up with all this texting stuff. Do we really need to be in each others back pocket so much? It's the same thing with Facebook. That is just one big texting machine except you can post pictures and other neat stuff. What was wrong with e-mail? Is it because you would have to put so many people on your CC list. Maybe I'm just too old. Heck I don't even have cable and I'm still doing dial up from home cuz I get it free through work. Do you suppose it's my New England up bringing? My daughter wants me to get texting and I considered it but there is no way. I want to hear her voice not get little pieces of gossip or whatever all day long. So I saw a dead badger on the side of the road the other day and stopped and brought it home. I'm thinking that I can make a badger claw necklace for my Grandson once it decomposes enough and maybe paint the skull. It'll probably take over a year but I can be patient. Something is already ripping open its stomach and having a snack. Starting to putrify too. So I went to an orthopedist for my back and I have a bulging disc at L4 and L5 which is pushing against my spinal cord and causing my issues. My regular Doctor has me on Gabapentin for this and it is working wonders. I am supposed to go to physical therapy but when you work 50 miles out of town it is a bit difficult to get a convenient appointment. So I told the physical therapy people to forget it that I couldn't afford to take off that much time from work and that I would just do it myself at home. HA I've done it once. But I have started rowing again at work during lunch and after looking it up on the net I have changed how I do it. So far so good. Isn't the internet wonderful? How did we ever survive without it? I also bought a new backpack which I hope to try out this weekend. After all deer and elk season is coming. I think the trees may be changing too so hopefully I'll be able to publish some pictures.

Vacations Over

Actually it has been over for awhile but work has been way too busy to think of anything else but work and keeping my sardine can together. We ended up driving 8,000 miles and going through 17 states and Canada and visiting 6 National parks or Memorials. We drove straight through to New York in 43 hours. We spent two and a half weeks in New York plus took Melissa and Hunter to Gettysburg during that time. Then we went to Michigan for a graduation party. We were there for four days and then we were off to Mt. Rushmore and the Badlands and Yellowstone and Bryce and Zion. Then it was home and back to the real world. Most states were pretty clean except around the major cities. I guess that no one wants to get out on a freeway with rushing cars going by to pick up trash. But I can say that every state we drove through was doing road construction. So maybe the stimulus stuff is working in that area. Eventually I'll get some pictures posted. Talk at you later.