More Snow



Another storm predicted for the North East.  Can they get a little more accurate than 1 - 2 feet?  Big difference, 12" I can take care of the driveway and still get to work by 9 or so.  24", work may not see me that day.  All during deer season I hope for snow but after December 31st I really hate it.  I have come to accept it, being born and bred in this area (except for a few years away for college), but I don't have to like it.

My nieces do consider this sledding, no really, this is much better than going to the crowded golf courses and going down the hills.  They would actually rather have one of my boys (their cousins) tow them around.  I don't usually allow this, the boys goals of sledding "maximum carnage".  So it is up to Uncle to do the towing.  "Faster, faster, we're not afraid"!!!

The apples don't fall far from the tree.  Nothing like seeing your passengers blow up in a cloud of powder!!



Still No Name

Only three more weeks till puppy time!  I have yet to decide on a name for the boy.  Not because there hasn't been enough input (nieces, sons, friends and Deer Wife), but because I just want to make sure it's the right name for him.  Caitlain's name choices of Fluffy, Squigles and Scrunchy are on the back burner for now.  Jenna's choices of Call of Duty, Football and Snowflake have also been put on simmer.  Bryan's choice was just one, Quint.  "What the hell is that Bryan?"

"It's from Jaws, Dad." 

"What could that possibly have to do with my hunting dog?"

"Nothing, I guess, but I like the name."  So I suppose if I ever do get blessed with grandchildren, the boys name will be Quint, because he likes that name.  People keep this in mind next time you drive by a tractor-trailer, because it could be Bryan driving it!  I have stopped talking to my younger son, Bob, because he is just crazy.  He may have given up a name or two, but I prefer to ignore much of what he says.  The Deer Wife has offered some good hunting names, Trigger (Lone Ranger's horse), Gunner, Tracker and quite a few others.  Then I came with Dakota and Cooper and a few others, I know it will come to me when I get the dog, it has to, I don't want to just call him "Dog".

I have been on a mass catalog ordering spree, the mailman is going to know that we are getting a new dog, he will probably be able to tell the breed.  In a few months the fragile packages will start to arrive, loaded with pheasant and quail eggs.  Holding houses, flight pens, recall pens, the lumber yard will like the idea of me getting a new dog.

I know the dog comes from good lines and good breeder.  Anything that is wrong with the dog when is comes to hunting will be all on the trainer!  That is why I am spending so much time on reading and watching all the information I can absorb.  I know there will be mistakes, I am hoping they are the small ones that I can fix easily.

Life can be pretty funny at times and not so funny other times.

Rough Day

What a range of emotions I went through today, happiness, angry, sad.  A true roller coaster of a day.

I awoke still excited about the coming opportunity of training my new German Shorthaired Pointer.  I'm smiling thinking of the interaction between the current dogs, cats and nieces.  It should be entertaining and rewarding, having a new puppy.

Paul Cellucci has ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), Lou Gehrig's Disease.  I do not know Mr. Cellucci personally, but I know too much of ALS.  A few years back, I lost my brother-in-law, Jimmy, at the age of 35.  All those emotions immediately boiled back to the surface.  I have been married for some 26 year.  I had known Jimmy since he way 11 and had seen him grow up.  My brother-in-laws are the closest thing to brothers I ever had.  He was an awesome, awesome guy and I think of him and miss him quite often.  I could write for days and days about this horrid disease, the way it ravages the human body, the agony, the pain, the stress on caregivers, family and friends.  I could write about the experimental treatments, the highs and lows, the hope and the shattering of dreams.  I choke up when I think of his body failing but his mind still sharp as a tack.  ALS is a death sentence, there is no cure.  Mr. Cellucci, my thoughts are with you and your loved ones, live each day to its fullest and fight as hard as you can.

Officer John “Jack” Maguire did not need to die!  The bleeding heart Massachusetts populace and leaders are just a bunch of spineless sheep.  Progressive, my ass, you people of the parole board released a dangerous criminal.  You should be held personally responsible for the death of Officer Maguire, it is all on this board of 6.  You let this career criminal out to continue the only life he ever knew.  In a "shall issue" state, where a police chief can refuse a permit to a citizen of this fine state with the a simple word "undesirable", you released a person that was sentenced to three (3) life sentences!!  What the hell were you thinking!!  I jumped through hoops conforming to your little dog and pony show, just to receive a permit.  Others are refused under the guise "the police are for your protection", yet you release dangerous lifelong criminals back on the street.  Are we here for your amusement?  Is it all just a show to you?  You put us all in danger, LEO's and civilians!  So some slug can have another chance to live among us?  I guess I am just too dumb to understand these progressive thoughts, too simple minded, too naive, too something.  I hope these 6 members of the parole board never shut their eyes again without seeing the image of Officer Maguire.  I hope he haunts their every thought and every dream.  They should never forget that they were an accessory to murder.  May Officer Maguire's family find comfort from friends and fellow officers.

The Newest Addition

Went to visit the new boy last night.  He is still 4 weeks from coming home.  He is unnamed, that will come when he develops a personality.  I really do love the German Shorthaired Pointer breed, I find them to be very, very intelligent.

Sorry for the picture quality, taken with a cell phone

What Are The Odds

Well I held off on letting my boss know what I think of his job.  Brings a Johnny Paycheck song to mind.  My Deer Wife mentioned something about odds?  In Roulette, I usually take even.  50% chance just like black or red.  If I am feeling wild and crazy, I might bet 1st, 2nd, or 3rd section or row.  Wooohooo look out for the wild man!!!  But I thought a 50 % chance of winning mega millions would be a good bet and should let my boss know.  Cooler heads prevailed and I just decided to wait.  I also held off on a couple of my purchases that I will make tomorrow after I collect my money.  Can you say Hummer, drive it like you stole it!!  Thanks Honey for the reality check.

Odds of winning Mega Millions:  175,711,536 to 1

Odds of being an astronaut: 13,200,000 to 1

Odds of winning an Olympic medal: 662,000 to 1

Odds of an American speaking Cherokee: 15,000 to 1 

Odds of injury from fireworks: 19,556 to 1

Odds of injury from shaving: 6,585 to 1

Odds of injury from using a chain saw: 4,464 to 1

Odds of injury from mowing the lawn: 3,623 to 1

Odds of fatally slipping in bath or shower: 2,232 to 1

Odds of drowning in a bathtub: 685,000 to 1

Odds of being killed on a 5-mile bus trip: 500,000,000 to 1

Odds of being struck by lightning: 576,000 to 1

Odds of being killed by lightning: 2,320,000 to 1

Odds of getting away with murder: 2 to 1

Odds of being the victim of serious crime in your lifetime: 20 to 1

Odds of dating a supermodel: 88,000 to 1 

Odds of getting hemorrhoids: 25 to 1

Odds of being born a twin in North America: 90 to 1

Odds of being on plane with a drunken pilot: 117 to 1

Odds of being audited by the IRS: 175 to 1

Odds of having your identity stolen: 200 to 1

Odds of dating a millionaire: 215 to 1  

Odds of finding out your child is a genius: 250 to 1

Odds of catching a ball at a major league ballgame: 563 to 1

Odds of finding a four-leaf clover on first try: 10,000 to 1

Odds of a person in the military winning the Medal of Honor: 11,000 to 1

Odds of winning an Academy Award: 11,500 to 1

Odds of striking it rich on Antiques Roadshow: 60,000 to 1

Odds of getting a royal flush in poker on first five cards dealt: 649,740 to 1

Odds of spotting a UFO today: 3,000,000 to 1

Odds of becoming a saint: 20,000,000 to 1

Odds of a meteor landing on your house: 182,138,880,000,000 to 1

Chance of dying from a car accident: 1 in 18,585

Chance of dying from any kind of fall: 1 in 20,666

Chance of dying from accidental drowning: 1 in 79,065

Chance of dying from exposure to smoke, fire, and flames: 1 in 81,524

Chance of dying in an explosion: 1 in 107,787 

Chance of dying from exposure to forces of nature (heat, cold, lightning, earthquake, flood): 1 in 225,107

Chance of dying from choking on food: 1 in 370,035

Chance of dying in a terrorist attack while visiting a foreign country: 1 in 650,000

Chance of dying in a fireworks accident: 1 in 1,000,000 

Chance of dying from food poisoning: 1 in 3,000,000

Chance of dying from legal execution: 1 in 3,441,325 

Chance of dying from being bitten by a dog: 1 in 700,000

Chance of dying from contact with a venomous animal or plant: 1 in 3,441,325

Chance of dying from being bitten or struck by mammals (other than dogs or humans): 1 in 4,235,477

Chance of dying from a shark attack: 1 in 300,000,000

Chance of having a stroke: 1 in 6

Chance of dying from heart disease: 1 in 3

Chance of getting arthritis: 1 in 7

Chance of suffering from asthma or allergy diseases: 1 in 6

Chance of getting the flu this year: 1 in 10

Chance of contracting the human version of mad cow disease: 1 in 40,000,000

Chance of dying from SARS in the United States: 1 in 100,000,000

Chance of American man developing cancer in his lifetime: 1 in 2

Chance of an American woman developing cancer in her lifetime: 1 in 3

Chance of getting prostate cancer: 1 in 6

Chance of getting breast cancer: 1 in 9

Chance of getting colon / rectal cancer: 1 in 26

Chance of beating pancreatic or liver cancer: 1 in 9

Chance of beating thyroid or testicular cancer: 9 in 10

My Best Recipe

Well, another deer season has come and gone.  In my earlier years of hunting I had to come up with some creative recipes at the end of the season.  It's all in the spices.

• 3 Tbsp Kansas City Steak seasoning
• 1 tsp spicy garlic salt
• 1 Tbsp parsley flakes
• 2 Tbsp Franks Red Hot
• dash of pepper
• 1 egg
• 2 cups of bread crumbs
• 1/2 cup 1/2 & 1/2
• 1 expired unfilled deer tag (antlerless or buck will do)

beat egg and mix with red hot and 1/2 & 1/2.  In a separate bowl mix dry ingredients.  Rinse permit under water.  Dip in egg mixture then dry mixture and through the egg again.  Cook in hot oil for 2 minutes per side.
Serve over rice with country gravy.  This is my best recipe for unused antlerless tags.  What the hell am I doing with doe tags left over?  If I had seen a deer I wouldn't have any tags left.

Striped Bass should be heading north and be in our waters in 5 months!  Squirrel season opens beginning of September.  Partridge, Pheasant and Quail mid October.  Bow should be open mid October also.  I still have late season goose and coyote.  I should try this recipe on goose, I have never liked goose, can't get much worse!

Stay tuned, I should be picking up a German Shorthaired Pointer puppy in a few weeks.  I have a feeling there will be some good stories forthcoming.  Thank God 2010 is over, I am looking forward to the challenges of 2011!!!  Bring it on!!!

Snow

Well, typical New England weather.  Four days ago it was the blizzard of 2010 and today, January 1st, it's 60 degrees outside.  Water is running off everything, the snow is melting quite fast.  "If you don't like the weather...........  Wait a minute" is a very true to life comment here in New England.  I saw motorcycles out today, on more than one occasion.

I had packed the bikes away in the barn, so I'm going to need a lot more warmer days before I can ride.  I need the snow no melt some 40 odd yards to get to the driveway.  I know, I know, it's only January, it's way to early to start thinking about riding.  Deer season ended yesterday, December 31st, what else would I be thinking of?