bonedaddy

A frantic hunter calls 911 on his cell phone. As soon as the dispatcher answers, he starts yelling "HELP, HELP, MY FRIEND IS DEAD, MY FRIEND IS DEAD"! The dispatcher says, "now calm down sir, why do you think your friend is dead ?" In a shakey voice the hunter replies, "he...he's just laying over there, he's not breathing, his face is blue, and his skin is cold and clammy." The dispatcher says " OK sir, now this is very important, I need you to put the phone down and go over there and make certain that he really is dead." A few seconds later the dispatcher hears what sounds like a gunshot.....................then, the hunter comes back on the line. "OK, now what ?"

http://popper.calibration.com/ You'll need to scroll down near the bottom of the page and send an e-mail to the majordomo to subscribe to the news letter. This totally confused me, I thought a majordomo was a high class butler or something. Finally I got it right though, and the news letters are really great with pictures and all. The shooters in the Eastern Colorado clubs are great folks and they know how to run a good fun match. My sister lives in Denver, so I try to get down there to visit and shoot a couple of times each year. I'm just 3 hours north, up I-25. enjoy, -Sam

Jack, the Showdown is now held at PSAC in Aurora, 4th July weekend. It's real close to the Denver airport. The match was a little laid back this year because the state champs was held earlier and I think everyone was pretty tired. I've heard Showdown 2003 is likely to be a real "hell for leather shootin match". The Eastern Colorado clubs are pretty tight with each other and publish a monthly e-mail newsletter with information about matches and such. Would you care for a link?

I find that for me, the ability to "be positive", is all about seeing the good that comes out of the negative. So, I believe that evaluating a failure as a failure is a huge mistake. There is much more motivation for me in falling short of a goal, than in reaching it. Failure often shines a blinding white light on just exactly the reason the goal wasn't met. Then, there is a great point of focus! And so learning becomes easy. On the surface, this may sound like a cop-out. But, in reality, it is a simple fact of my life. I set three main goals for the past year in shooting and met them all, in some cases exceeding expectations. Dang, that's never happened before! Now my goals are gone and I'm just waiting, as patiently as I can, for some inspiration about new ones for next year. Honestly, I'm feeling pensive and sort of irritated about it. It's like when the bully says he is going to beat the crap out of you after school. I'm thinking, "I can beat this guy". But, the guy I'm practicing to beat is ME. I've been watering the seeds and here I set, just staring intently at the dirt, waiting for something recognizable to break through to the surface. (Wow, cool, right after I wrote that I heard rain drops on the roof.) All in all, the past year was pretty sweet. It's probably fear of not reaching the goals that is keeping me from setting some really outstanding goals for next season. I need to face that fear and overcome it before the next goals become clear. Does all of this rambling have anything to to with how to stay positive? Yeah...... it's in there somewhere.

Quote: from THS on 4:48 am on Oct. 2, 2002 Changed my mind, and edited posts. I'm not leaving; instead I'm going in with both feet to make it better. Tom Tom, It's good to rant sometimes. Thanks for providing some inspiration for me today! I admire your attitude! Keep the faith! -Sam

This guy robs banks about as well as Streisand does Shakespeare. "Alas, poor Molars....... I knew them well". http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...ime_robber_dc_1

Hmmm.......well.....I suppose it IS possible that there may be another MAFG or two around here......... Thanks for the new acronym! Since I am also oil field trash and a college drop out, I have often wished for some letters to put behind my name that would introduce me as someone a bit more genteel. Here Sir, is my card: bonedaddy: MAFG, CD, OFT As far as my speed of movement in a match, I'm thinking "spry" might be a fair description. Yeah, spry, that's my goal.

Quote: I'm not one of those "fastest shooters" but I move pretty good for a middle-aged fat guy. jk, I'm so glad there's FINALLY another middle-aged fat guy on this forum. I've been posting here for over a year as the lone representative of our species. Hey Bro, WWWWWHHHHHAAAAASSSSUUUUUPPPPPP???

Erik, that's the stage I was telling Ron about alright. I had spoken with a couple of guys on the SS that didn't engage it and whooped my butt. Naturally, I assumed that most of them skipped it. Thanks for setting me straight on that, I been thinking wrongly about it all this time. But, that was one fun stage. It would have been cool to see Travis smoke it. I remember a stage in a club match where the last target was a sporting clays rabbit (disappearing), activated by a falling popper. That sucker was 12 yards out and rolling fast, I was surprised by the number of folks who took the shot. It was five pts in a 120 pt stage, I passed.

Erik, that brought back fond memories of the "Beverly Hillbillies". I loved that show. In one favorite episode, Jed and Jethro were invited to "shoot" a round of golf with Bankster Drysdale.

This one is a genuine hoot. It supposedly was an actual letter sent to a man named Ryan DeVries by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.Wait till you read this guy's response-but read the letter before you get to the response- Mr. Ryan DeVries 2088 Dagget Pierson, MI 49339 SUBJECT: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Dear Mr. DeVries: It has come to the attention of the Department of Environmental Quality that there has been recent unauthorized activity on the above referenced parcel of property. You have been certified as the legal landowner and/or contractor who did the following unauthorized activity: Construction and maintenance of two wood debris dams across the outlet stream of Spring Pond. A permit must be issued prior to the start of this type of activity. A review of the Department's files shows that no permits have been issued. Therefore, the Department has determined that this activity is in violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. The Department has been informed that one or both of the dams partially failed during a recent rain event, causing debris and flooding at downstream locations. We find that dams of this nature are inherently hazardous and cannot be permitted. The Department therefore orders you to cease and desist all activities at this location, and to restore the stream to a free-flow condition by removing all wood and brush forming the dams from the stream channel. All restoration work shall be completed no later than January 31 2002. Please notify this office when the restoration has been completed so that a follow-up site inspection may be scheduled by our staff. Failure to comply with this request or any further unauthorized activity on the site may result in this case being referred for elevated enforcement action. We anticipate and would appreciate your full cooperation in this matter. Please feel free to contact me at this office if you have any questions. Sincerely, David L. Price District Representative Land and Water Management Division This is the actual response sent back- Dear Mr. Price, Re: DEQ File No. 97-59-0023; T11N; R10W, Sec. 20; Montcalm County Your certified letter dated 12/17/97 has been handed to me to respond to. First of all, Mr. Ryan DeVries is not the legal landowner and/or Contractor at 2088 Dagget, Pierson, Michigan. I am the legal owner and a couple of beavers are in the (State unauthorized) process of constructing and maintaining two wood "debris" dams across the outlet stream of my Spring Pond. While I did not pay for, authorize, nor supervise their dam project, I think they would be highly offended that you call their skillful use of natures building materials "debris." I would like to challenge your department to attempt to emulate their dam project any time and/or any place you choose. I believe I can safely state there is no way you could ever match their dam skills, their dam resourcefulness, their dam ingenuity, their dam persistence, their dam determination and/or their dam work ethic. As to your request, I do not think the beavers are aware that they must first fill out a dam permit prior to the start of this type of dam activity. My first dam question to you is: (1) Are you trying to discriminate against my Spring Pond Beavers or (2) do you require all beavers throughout this State to conform to said dam request? If you are not discriminating against these particular beavers, through the Freedom of Information Act, I request completed copies of all those other applicable beaver dam permits that have been issued. Perhaps we will see if there really is a dam violation of Part 301, Inland Lakes and Streams, of the Natural Resource and Environmental Protection Act, Act 451 of the Public Acts of 1994, being sections 324.30101 to 324.30113 of the Michigan Compiled Laws, annotated. I have several concerns. My first concern is - aren't the beavers entitled to legal representation? The Spring Pond Beavers are financially destitute and are unable to pay for said representation-so the State will have to provide them with a dam lawyer. The Department's dam concern that either one or both of the dams failed during a recent rain event causing flooding is proof that this is a natural occurrence, which the Department is required to protect. In other words, we should leave the Spring Pond Beavers alone rather than harassing them and calling their dam names. If you want the stream "restored" to a dam free-flow condition please contact the beavers - but if you are going to arrest them, they obviously did not pay any attention to your dam letter, they being unable to read English. In my humble opinion, the Spring Pond Beavers have a right to build their unauthorized dams as long as the sky is blue, the grass is green and water flows downstream. They have more dam rights than I do to live and enjoy Spring Pond. If the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lives up to its name, it should protect the natural resources (Beavers) and the environment (Beavers' Dams.). So, as far as the beavers and I are concerned, this dam case can be referred for more elevated enforcement action right now. Why wait until 1/31/2002? The Spring Pond Beavers may be under the dam ice then and there will be no way for you or your dam staff to contact/harass them then. In conclusion, I would like to bring to your attention a real environmental quality (health) problem in the area. It is the bears! Bears are actually defecating in our woods. I definitely believe you should be prosecuting the defecating bears and leave the beavers alone. If you are going to investigate the beaver dam, watch your step! (The bears are not careful where they dump!) Being unable to comply with your dam request, and being unable to contact you on your dam answering machine, I am sending this response to your dam office. Sincerely, Stephen L.Tvedte

1/10th of a percent? You're already there! Ron, it looks like I won't be coming over tomorrow for the super-classifier. BM wants to go to the mts. and enjoy the colors of the season. (There is never enough time to do all the things that need to be done.) I look forward to getting back to the shooting and seeing all my friends again. Of course I'll be totin' several shootin' irons tomorrow and a backpack with a little food & water and mucho ammo.

Update one month after stating the thread..... Very useful insights from everyone. Thank you all for helping me to reflect on it. I finally got my truck back together today. There's four tons of hay in the barn and two cords of firewood stacked by the fence. I'm staring to feel like practicing again. But, there's still a little something out of place that's keeping me from starting again. When I start back, I want to spend the next six months or so taking myself to the next level. I guess the thing I'm waiting for is some sort of inspiration about what I need to change. Without proper change, it will be totally impossible for me to become any better shooter than I was when I quit. Change in life is always a certainty. And risk is always involved. We risk waiting for things to just "happen" to us. Likewise we also take risk when we make changes on our own. So, the best I can do is to try and identify the changes that are needed to get to that next level. Attitudes, techniques, and information..........it's begining to coming into focus......this is going to be a great trip, to somewhere. Oh, that reminds me of one of my favorite movie lines. At the end of "Paint Your Wagon". Pardner says to Ben, "I guess there's two kinda' people in the world Ben, them that's goin' somewhere and them that ain't." Ben says. " Yeah, there's two kinda' people in the world all right. Them that's going somewhere and them that's going nowhere."

Thanks for the kindness gm. I wish your shop was close to my house.

Here's why I like the guys who specialize in shooting better than chain stores. Gun ownership is a common bond between like-minded folks, sort of like the forum here. If we fail to support our privately owned businesses, the big corporations will run them out of business with low prices. CAUTION: RANT MODE ON ("Oh no", you may gasp, "big corportations just don't work that way".) Hehehe, hide and watch kiddies! Then, after the CEO, CFO, and half the board of directors has absconded with the net worth of the corporation through bogus loans, stock options and incentive bonuses, the cut backs and layoffs will begin. The first thing to go will be the gun counter. Believe me, we would be in a world of hurt without the businesses who dedicate themselves strictly to shooting. Twenty years ago, average CEO salaries were 20 times the average worker. ($20K worker - $400K CEO) And I believe the CEO's earned it then. Today the ratio is closer to 400 to one. ($40K to $16 Million). And the genius makin' the $16 mil has managed to run the company broke! So, if you think the guy who owns the local gunshop is a crook, you ain't, as they say in corporate America, "gettin' the big picture". Buy gun stuff from Gun People, the little bit extra you pay is the insurance that they will be there when you need them!!! Whether it is on-line like Brian, or down the street from your house, get your gun stuff from our allies, OK? Rant mode off. Thanks, I feel better. -Sam

"God bless Wyoming, and keep it wild." Helen Mettler, age 15................Last entry in her diary, 1925. Thanks, Helen. It's still a great place!

j1b, I'm glad you're coming back! I totally respect and admire you for talking about it with your wife first. If MOMMA ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy. I must have been hanging around in "C" class last time I watched you shoot with the Super Squad. I don't think too much has changed since then. There are fewer boxes to shoot from nowdays and more "shooting areas". 165 PF is nice. There are several highly ranked youth, which I find quite enjoyable. But not so many that we've had to incorporate that dreaded purple dinosaur on any stages I've seen. Speed is widely found. But, accuracy is still the thing that seperates the men from the boys. In addition to alot of dry-fire, I'd recommend working alot of triangle drills and other shooting on the move stuff.

Thanks Flexman! Yeah, that Ghost Dog.....I think he's getting through to me. Remember the rain we shot in? It was awesome. But the Super Squad, it rained even harder on them..... they could have chosen to wait on that last stage. But, they didn't! That's why they ARE the Super Squad! Just one time before I die, I want to shoot with those guys. It would be like getting to share a taxi with Bob Dylan.

That sounds like quite a stage, Duane! Were the pieces of steel you mentioned 8" plates by chance? (I want to set this one up in the back yard.) BTW, how many people managed to clean it?

Movement is a distraction designed to carry us away from the shooting for a while. Swingers are a distraction, as are soft cover, drop turners, disappearing targets, ect. The distractions pose a question. How much quicker can one shooter return to the shooting compared to another shooter facing the same challenges? (The disractions are part of what makes the game interesting.) We make a mistake if we choose to feel resentment for a particular type of challenge. We should not mentally surrender to the challenge of the course, by resenting something about it. (Yeah, I know you're short, fat, slow, and old.) Resentment over anything places us at a distinct disadvantage to a guy or gal who is happy as hell that the targets are small and distant, its half a football field between boxes, and its raining too hard to see. The most successful shooters just deal with the distraction and get back to the shooting faster. Now get out there and win one for the Gipper! And drive it like you stole it!

http://www.eaacorp.com/ Bill, maybe there is a customer service contact number somewhere on the EAA homepage? Surely there is a major distributor on the east coast. Good luck!

Chris, I may be totally out to lunch with this advice. But hey, that's the chance you take when you pose questions on an internet forum to fellas with handles like Flexmoney and bonedaddy, right? Several competent shooters I've had the pleasure of training with had a similar affliction. I'm quite sure you could easily work the trigger on that CZ in .22 seconds. Maybe, just maybe, the reason your splits are slow is that you're sort of "obsessing" over the sight picture. Forget about shooting "A"s for 300 rounds or so. Just turn the badger loose and hose 'em. At .45 splits you are probably "seeing much more than you need to see" to fire the shots. At 7 yds, it doesn't matter if there is an equal amount of daylight on each side of the front sight. Once you get used to it, a good seven yard sight picture may be simply that you just "see" your front sight. Just for kicks, tape 'em up and point shoot some Bill Drills. You'll be suprised, and I hope over-joyed, at what you can get away with for a sight picture and still shoot all "A"s. Drive it like you stole it! -Sam PS: you'll be a little slower at ten yards than seven, but work at seven for a while and learn to trust the speed. (Edited by bonedaddy at 5:27 pm on Sep. 2, 2002)

Anybody who's feeling guilty about being a possible "sandbagger" should take a theraputic glance at this years Nationals results. Top sixteen is "Big Dog" territory and it looks like about 82% seems to be the average for 16th place in both Limited and Open. I believe the current classifiction system works about as well as anything we could devise. There's real reality all around us. so who needs "reality" TV PS: Reality TV, tha't got to be an oxymoron doesn't it? (Edited by bonedaddy at 6:38 am on Aug. 31, 2002)

Tory, I'm glad you're OK, even if your gun is not. I've been present when a few guns have blown. Of all the cases I'm aware of, there was always something abnormal that caused it to happen. Sometimes bullets can get rammed back too deep in the case. A standard charge of fast burning powder, like Clays for instance, can really ramp up the pressure in a hurry if the bullet gets jammed back by recoil while it is still in the magazine. Maybe you could have a local gunsmith that you trust, or a friend who has blown a gun or two, take a look at it. Take a little time to sort things out. If you were shooting handloads, there are a great many factors that would be difficult to prove legally. I really sorry this happend to you, Tory. I have felt the similar pain in the hands and in the wallet.

Ah say, ah say, I was nervous as a Montana sheep on prom night.