Shooter Grrl

Thanks Paul - I'm glad that you two are going to make it though! Tell Sharon I said Hi

I was the RO on that stage on Friday and we didn't move ya hot. I know the Sat/Sun crew did, but IMHO it's just asking for situations like this that have no clear cut answer. When I'm Queen of the Range, I actually try to make sure the shooters aren't in a position to have unfair happenings!

I've always/only used Cingular since it was pacbell in the bay area. The best advice I ever received was to go TO THE CINGULAR store - not a "dealer" or other "add on" place, but directly to cingular and find out directly from them which phone/network/service they recommend. This has been an extremely successful way for us to transition our service each and every time we've moved.

"Hot" walks are not covered in the rules. Based on this alone, I would restart the shooter if he asked. I'd qualify it under Uncle Vinny's new "no start" rule

Yup - me too The Littmans won't be there - y'all miss us now, ya hear

GAH! Anyone over 5ft needs to be chopped off at the knees!!! I have never ever seen a tall person unable to actually complete the durned course because some idiot put the bottom of a port higher than 5ft! Been there, done that - lost the match thankyouverymuch!

I drive past the "Big Bone Lick State Park" sign everyday! I saw the Boring/Oregon City sign last week at the Nationals! But where was my favorite? At the end of my street in California was a One Way sign above an a sign with arrows pointing BOTH WAYS

I disagree Eric. I don't think prize tables are the reason. I'm guessing it has more to do with the ever changing rules and their complexity and the "reputation" of the match contents. USPSA Multi Gun is a 3 year old match now - and it has shown it's growing pains in the past matches. This one went well, with a great mix of stages and much better rules. (The only real valid complaint about the match is the "nearness" of the targets on the bays and that was an accident - the club, for an unexplained and unknown reason, cut the bays about 40ft shorter than the match asked them to!) I've convinced myself (and I may be wrong) that the location and the growing pains exhibited the last 2 years is what caused such a low attendance. The first 2 matches were in the best possible locations that almost always sell out. People that don't shoot go to matches in Vegas and Reno. It was pretty much die-hards in the wilds of Oregon this year

USPSA has a tournament director course that you might want to consider. I haven't seen any of the material, only heard "of" it!

I'll go anywhere once What makes me go back is legal course designs and range officials that don't appear to be making up commands on the fly!

Well Kurt - I didn't shoot this match, but I did work it. I didn't go to '04 nor '05 so all I can comment on is my personal opinion as an RO/Shooter Support attendee. Twas an awesome match dude There were 2 stages that required you to use all 3 guns. One was completely freestyle (Stage 2), not a box nor port in sight, the other was the usual portfest "shoot as you see 'em" caca. (Stage 11) There were 2 long distance rifle stages and 1 close up rifle hosefest. There was one pistol only and one shotgun only stage - all the rest were a mix of 2 guns. And one of them even required 2 long guns - I hadn't seen that before and trust me, it caused just a few discussions among the staff on the "what if" side of things. The DQ's were WWWWAAAAAAY down this year! I was working the stage where the box caused the safety to come off and trust me - NO ONE wanted to DQ him. We all talked and honestly tried to find a way out of it, but safety has to come first. The prize table was not along the lines of the DPMS, but good grief, USPSA is a volunteer unpaid staff and not exactly one of the largest rifle company's in the country! For what it was, the right to call yourself a National Champion, the prize table was above ordinary. We got some mainstream sponsors this year - Oakley had actually had glasses on the table and Truck Vault was a sponsor as well. The location was beautiful! The RO's sweltered, but when it came to actual match day, I had to borrow a jacket and then finally gave up and went and bought a sweatshirt! It was an easy drive to the hotels and range from the Portland Airport, but I gotta say - Flying with 3 Gun gear sucks! We're discussing not going again, ever, to any match if we have to fly to it. So all in all, I think you would have enjoyed the match.

Kinda but not really Stage 1 and 2 are next to each other. Stage 3 through 11 are in a row and around a corner. Stage 12 is all by itself out in the field. The issue is getting from Stage 12 to Stage 1 and then from 2 over to 3 - BUT, the shuttle does work - so I don't think it's going to affect you guys at all. What you do need to plan for is a lack of sustenance. It was 3:00pm before we got lunch today - I'm really really hoping that it's just cause they didn't "preplan" and that when the main match gets going that the food will be at the range and ready at lunch time. I went to the local store and bought some powerbars and other fillers though, just in case! There is also a SMALL cafe close to the range if anyone gets desparate.

Nope - max temp at 5:30pm was 94 on the car temp after sitting in the sun all day. It really wasn't uncomfortable at all! Don't forget to bring my $64 The stages look awesome guys! I gotta get some gear so I can play too! BTW, 300 yds is a FREAKING long way away!

I talked to Sam-I-Am on his way home from the match and his exact words were "I shot okay, but..." then he started to tell me all about how well our friends did. Guess ya did shoot "okay" Hoppie! Good job!

Okay - we're here. So far, I can say that the hotel is decent, the bed is sleepable, the coffee is drinkable and they have a smoking patio. More to follow later - if/when I finish my homework and go to the range

I'm a CRO and travel to large matches to RO when they'll have me. I also travel to major matches just to shoot. I usually try to RO at least 2 majors a year and then shoot the rest. Locally, I belong to one club and lately have been THE embedded RO for them. I've also designed stages and gone to help setup (only twice though During ALL matches, I tape and/or RO. I rarely set up steel though cause it hurts my arm too bad. I believe I'm the norm and the poll has pretty much proven that too (at least here in our Enosverse - the rest of the world be damned!)

We drove a rented one of the 4th of July weekend, sucked gas like it was O2 - worse mpg than my truck! The AC system sucked - never really cooled off. Other than that, it's FAST and quite fun! Not as sneaky as say, a CTS-V, but we still caught some snots off guard as they were looking at the back end of a station wagon

MERLIN ORR - you know better - everyone right now make sure your serial numbers are logged in at least 2 places, and neither of those places should be in the safe with the guns!

It hurts - been there done that - spent 2 years in braces and casts - finally got sick of not shooting - took 'em off and decided to live with the pain. The plus side - pains not so bad anymore

Oh cool - maybe I'll get to be a CRO after all (or put with Happy Hanna or yourself or Carl! We'll be there Monday night Kev - when you going?

Can I call you and Clint "TN Boyz" all weekend And ya did go to A Class right?!?!?

Thanks everyone. It really means a lot to me to have the sympathy and commiseration. It was truly one of the worst things I've lived through. You see, Smiley was my "rescue" kitty - she rescued me at one of the darkest hours of my life - she gave my life a purpose where there was none. Sigh - I could go on for awhile but I can't see the damned monitor anymore. 'Night all!

I'd play in a free league - but I don't pay for that sh*t

My 15 year old cat, Smiley, was euthanised at 12:15pm this afternoon. She's better off, I'm not! It really really sucks to be *that* responsible for another life (even if it is an animal life!) Be free my old grrl - you'll live in our hearts and memories forever

The Littmans will be in Tennessee - see y'all there!