Success & How to be a Master Tracker

After a two year drought, my freezer will soon be full of venison. I seriously didn't think that yesterday's hunt was going to be fruitful. Jim and I sat in the blind for about three hours with nothing but birds to keep us company. He took a nap, I text messaged a friend, and then we decided to get up and roam around. After about 30 minutes, we walked into a field and I spotted a whitetail doe grazing on the edge of the woods. I quickly brought my rifle up and frantically searched the area with my scope. I finally located the deer and realized my scope was zoomed in a bit too much since the deer filled the entire view. Anyhow, I held my breath and fired. The fell, got up, and ran to the left and out of sight behind some trees. Just then two deer ran back from the right heading for the adjoining property and jumped the fence despite my cries otherwise. I told Jim that the deer sprang over the fence rather spryly since I had just shot it. He agreed but headed over there to look for blood. I went to the location where the deer was initially shot so I could begin to utilize my master tracking skills. Jim joined me and quickly found the blood trail. We followed the trail for about 20 yards when it abruptly stopped. Jim said he would head around to the right and I proceeded to circle the thicket a few times to see if I could find the trail. Neither of us was successful. We met back at the last spot of blood and was just about to give up when I turned around and saw the deer laying 5 yards behind us. And that is how to be a master tracker!

Family of Elves

The girls are having a complex trying to remember when they dressed up like elves and danced at the disco.

The thin red line of gluttony...

As I was stuffing my face over the past four days, I kept thinking that this next bite is going to be the healthy limit. Then I would take another bite and another piece of pie and some ice cream with banana pudding on top and so on. I should have stopped. I wanted to stop. I just couldn't. The holiday food is like a drug to me. I still have Christmas to go. And New Years. That's a lot of fudge and sausage balls and black-eyed peas (New Year's food is kind of out of character for the rest of the holiday season. It's probably to make up for all the gluttony that goes on in November and December).

Speaking of gluttony, where exactly is that line and did I cross it? I mean, I felt like a beached whale all weekend. Exercise didn't even cross my mind. Well, that's not entirely true. It crossed my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. I did get up and walk to the kitchen numerous times. So technically, that's 1 situp per trip.

In all seriousness, I am thankful for all the family I was able to spend time with over the holiday. It was a wonderful time full of joy, cheer, scolding my children, watching football, and generally just being happy.

One other note, I am having a hard time being thankful for my low-def cable at home after experiencing hours of HD Football. Sherry won't let me remedy that situation........

Looking for deer in all the wrong places...

I spent the weekend, well most of it, trying to shoot a deer. I saw plenty of deer, especially Saturday morning, but did not get a shot. It was a comedy of errors from the start. The first two deer I saw that morning were hanging out well into the thicket where shooting would be pointless. The third one sneaked up on me and then stepped into a bush and I didn't see it again. The fourth and fifth one waited until I had climbed out of my stand, laid down my rifle, and began gathering my gear before they showed themselves. These were a decent buck and a doe. They slowly walked out of sight as I moved toward my rifle and were gone by the time I put it to my shoulder. The sixth one I saw was shot by my friend Jim. The seventh one was running too fast. The eighth, ninth, and tenth was just too far away for a clear shot. That was Saturday morning.

I spent Saturday afternoon at the MTSU vs. North Texas game. Go Blue Raiders. Unfortunately, there were no deer in attendance.

I drove to our hunt club in Hickman County Saturday night...late...real late. Sunday morning found me deep in the woods watching two does and a buck go by. None gave me a clear shot. Sunday afternoon was devoid of animals of any sort except for some noisy squirrels. I should have gone home. A friend of mine mentioned that God was punishing me for skipping church to go shoot harmless animals. I countered with a day spent enjoying His creation couldn't be against His will for me. I was praying from time to time. You know, one of those "bargaining with God" type prayers. Like, "Father, I'll be happy with your will, but I sure would like to get a deer. Any assistance would be deeply appreciated." I think I'll stick with that.

There's Just Something About the Ryman....

Walking up to the Ryman Auditorium in downtown Nashville creates a sense of expectation....expectation of what might happen over the next few hours. This converted revival hall seems to impose a sense of reverence as you walk into the concert hall. Maybe its the wooden pews or the high windows or just the weight of all the history that has occurred within its walls. All I know is that it takes a good showman to bring the audience out of this reverential state to their feet singing and dancing.

Last night at the Robert Earl Keen concert, Sherry and I experienced this transition over the 2 hour set. By the time he wrapped up with a rocking version of The Road Goes On Forever and a completely unplugged acoustic version of Walkin' Cane, the crowd was on their feet wanting more. To say the least, this was the best REK show that I have ever been to.

As we were leaving, there was a feeling of needing to remain behind. I think that is the spirit of the Ryman....it keeps a piece of all who perform there and a little of all who show up to listen.

When the "Terrible Two's" Move Into the "Threes"

I love my daughters dearly...

Dealing with an obstinate three-year-old is extremely trying. Extremely. I can handle whining and pouting, but outright defiance is a different story. I thought all that happened when they turned fourteen or something. Anyhow, nobody said being a parent was easy I guess. So if you are the praying type, please offer one up for Sherry and me to learn how to cope with and discipline our kids effectively. We need patience. I don't have much. We did learn that our youngest daughter does feel remorse over her misbehavior, at least at times. She broke into tears when she noticed Sherry caught her doing something wrong. I guess that's a start.

Click here to see our youngest doing what she does best.