• 19:06 On the one hand, being snowed in means we can't get the stuff done we'd intended, but on the other hand it means boxes are actually bein ... #

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Today was more waterfowl hunting. It was nice weather, even though it was cold, too nice of weather. We managed to bag one teal drake one merganser drake and a bright shinny green head mallard. We missed a lot of other ducks. Once again we'll be trying again tomorrow.

Keep your powder dry and your tomahawk sharp. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your nose in the wind, watch your top knot.
Restore the Bill of Rights With Fully Informed Juries.

So yesterday while everyone else in the mid Atlantic area was hunkering down because of the "winter storm" my brother and I went water fowl hunting. It was an adventure to say the least we didn't hunt where I had intended because of the winds. So we hunted in one of the rivers on the western side of the peninsula, a bit down river from where we hunt resident geese. Well, got out late and while we were putting decoys out we had a buffle head land in the decoys. Of course neither of us had a firearm ready. We ended up knocking down five duck, though we were unable to retrieve one of them, I think it was a gadwall. The four we did shoot were three drake buffle heads and one green wing teal hen. My brother shot the teal, his first duck. We saw duck fly all day. Thanks to the Old Man for the early Christmas presents of more decoys which proved their worth yesterday. Some of the decoys we received were a half dozen buffle head decoys which we had eleven buffle head pitch into during the course of the day, though we only took shots at five of them. At one point during the day the Old Man received a phone call from the local fire department in the area where we launched the boat inquiring if he knew about his boat being out in " this kind of weather". At about three thirty in the afternoon the weather cleared a bit and we could see the far shore of the river, several hundred yards away and fewer ducks were flying so we packed up and headed for land.

It was a really good day for us, the best day my brother and I have had duck hunting the second best day I've ever had.

Now I'm back in the land of heavier snow fall with my wonderful wife and the dogs.

Tomorrow more waterfowl hunting if all goes well.

Keep your powder dry and your tomahawk sharp. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your nose in the wind, watch your top knot.
Restore the Bill of Rights With Fully Informed Juries.

The outcome of the great blizzard in Kernersville was about 6" that is now a lot of ice after a modest melt yesterday.  Nighttime and morning driving will continue to be hazardous until enough of this stuff melts and is absorbed/evaporated.   Nighttime dip is into the mid 20s.  Daytime is mid/upper 30s, but forecast to rise up into the 40s over the next couple of days. 
The dogs have had a blast playing in it all, especially Sandy.  Surprisingly her Arthritis issues seem to be better....  I've made sure she is at max dose of her anti-inflammation medication just to be safe.  It's a joy to see them having a battle royal rolling around out there.

In other news...  We have a sale contract on the old house with a closing planned for mid next month!  It is not for the price we really wanted, but it appears it is the best we are going to get.  Unfortunately, monies are still being spent on it to address some inspection concerns and issues that have arisen.  UGG!!!!!!!!!
Early yesterday morning there was a bad wreck in front of the place that took out the mailbox and damaged the yard.    When I have pictures from the Realtor, I'll see if I can tract down a police  report and pursue repairs with the responsible party's insurance.

Today will be a whirlwind of house cleaning getting ready from Jonna's oldest - with his girlfriend and the youngest to visit over Christmas.   

I have started doing homework to prepare the resume package for Society Chirurgeon.   I've received feedback from some information inquiries, obtained helpful resources and communicated my intentions;  thus the process is in motion and I can start preparing.

• 18:49 So glad I got 4WD on this vehicle -- the roads are miserable. 25 MPH is speedy on I64 right now. #
• 20:02 @blechlit Union Mills is at a standstill - maybe .2 in 45 minutes. #
• 21:51 @Iseulte count your blessings - we've been sitting in the car for the past 3.5 hours trying to go 14 miles. #
• 00:49 Well, we rerouted, but US15 isn't moving either. 6:15 and counting to go 14 miles. Now taking gas conservation measures and killing the ... #
• 00:51 Engine between 25-foot moves. #
• 01:58 @blechlit -thanks -it is the suck. Lots of folks out here with us. I do want to know what cereal box some of these idiots got their li ... #
• 02:54 *Sigh* broke a wiper blade. Also, detour off 15 onto 644. #
• 03:03 Moving again slowly. I think if you don't have AWD or 4WD you're in the ditch by now. #
• 04:02 Home 3:45am. 9.25 hours & not quite 10 gals.of gas to travel 14 miles. #
• 04:28 Oh, and it's a couple inches above my knees and still falling, finer, but at a good rate. #

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I just read the responses to the local newspaper's announcement about "wintry mix" heading our way. Someone mocked the habit of Southerners panic buys of milk and bread under such conditions--to which someone wondered if all those people were planning to make a milk sandwich....

chuckle

I feel a little better today. No, I still am processing my grouchiness--which ealdthryth forced me to acknowledge is pent up frustration from other things (in addition to my righteous anger at Dolores Umbridge) that has found a focal point. Unfortunately, I really don't see how one can compartmentalize and divy up rage into proportionate sizes suitable for venting....

At any rate, I did a bit of retail therapy and stimulated the economy a bit by purchasing Christmas presents. I did get a present for myself, too--the Brian Setzer Orchestra Ultimate Christmas Collection. Once I got home, I then spent several hours creating the faces for the Yule Toy Tourney archery targets while listening to the BSO. It's a little difficult to remain completely Grinchy while listening to that.... Heh.

Now I just have to hope that the weather doesn't end up causing us to cancel the archery tournament. That would be moderately annoying after I went to this effort....

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Pay Attention Fu

I disrupted the household routine by heading up to the third floor to work on the archery targets. The cats took the opportunity to explore, but didn't get into any trouble. Josie acted the most inquisitive of the cats. She decided to explore under the desk, inside the open stereo cabinet, and any where else she thought she could squeeze. I kept hearing "Snf! Sniff! SniffFFF!" throughout the room.

Later, she decided that I was not paying enough attention to her, and started wandering around near me emitting Mrows. Josie got fed up with me not reaching down to give her ear-scratches and petting, so she reared up on her hind legs and tried to grab my elbow while making those über-kyoot mrrranh noises. She was contented to be scooped up and placed in my lap...until she had a fit of ADHD and hopped down again.

What a sweet kitty!

Hi readers - Tasha (Wolfie's widow) is doing well, as you'll read for yourself below, and she is spreading the love she and Wolfie shared by asking folks to do things that make my heart sing. I've been doing these things since my own major illness in the late 90's, but I've never shared the list with others, as she's doing.

What a love they have (NOT had, she's still feeling it, and hearing about it from him, too!) to be getting through even death with grace and peace!!!

"So many of you have said how his art inspired you, and how you were touched by his humor and kindness and generosity. Here's what I want you to do:

If you see someone having a bad day, ask them what's troubling them. Give them a chance to vent. Sometimes that's all they want.

Pay random compliments.

Share. Share your time, share a joke, share a hug, share a drink.

Appreciate the beauty of the world. Everyone has a story, and they want to tell it.

Help people. Even getting something off the top shelf in the grocery store can make someone's day. Think of what helping with the clean-up after a party can do.

Play.

Be kind. Be loving. Be awesome to one another.

Don't forget him. Tell stories about him. Tell the people you love how you feel. I never missed a chance to tell him that I loved him -- don't ever miss a chance in your own lives.

Thanks, y'all. Go forth and do good things."

LOVE YOU, Tasha!!! Love all the folks that prayed and sent energy to you both, too. Thanks all! Spread the love!!!

I may have lost my mind! I've decided to submit a resume package for a Society level job. Fortunately, this is for a position I am very familiar with and actually think I could do well. I hope to have it completed by Twelfth Night and then ask friends with past experience at that level to assist me with proofing and editing before I submit it to Milpitas. Again, I may have lost my mind!

Today I went deer hunting again. This morning I was hunting with a partner in crime. Between seven thirty and eight he shot a monster of a doe. It was at least three years old by the look of its teeth. That makes number six for him, and I've been there for four of them. I of course didn't see any today. Though I did take the liver and heart of the one my partner in crime shot. Tomorrow, is another day and another try. Unfortunately because of class I'll only have the morning to hunt. Though I'll have Friday morning to hunt also. Saturday I'll be hunting waterfowl again.

I was thinking about it earlier today, if I had shot at and hit all the deer I should have so far this season I'd have nine deer. Oh well there's still a few more weeks to go.

Keep your powder dry and your tomahawk sharp. Keep your nose in the wind and your eyes on the horizon.
Restore the Bill Of Rights With Fully Informed Juries.

So no luck today or yesterday. Such is life I guess. Though today was a bit discouraging seeing I had squirrels dancing around. Oh well.
I'll try again tomorrow.

In other news I ended up with an A in my art class. Only one more night of class of American Politics and I'm free for a bit. Hopefully by spring I'll have swapped schools and started into the Wildlife Management.

Keep your powder dry and your tomahawk sharp. Keep your eyes on the horizon and your nose in the wind.
Restore the Bill Of Rights with Fully Informed Juries

• 22:15 Apparently it's time for bed. I went to take my antibiotics and grabbed the Pounce Moist Tuna Treats instead. #

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That is the only possible reason I can think of as to why Wolfie was allowed to pass from this life this morning.

Hail Valhalla! A Great Warrior enters your halls today! Prepare to make him welcome!

His stalwart Shield Maiden, Tasha, stays behind, defending his memory evermore.

----------

Thank you, gentle readers, for joining me in sending healing love to Wolfie and Tasha these last six weeks, as he's battled H1N1, and she's been resolutely at his side. Wolfie was, I believe, 41 years old, and in terrific health when this ordeal began. Cover your coughs, people, and stay the hell home when you are sick; *nothing* is worth this.

Your continued prayers for Tasha would be a personal favour to me; any and all flavours welcome. Thank you.

I keep wanting to smash something. I could not sleep last night because I kept running through what could have altered the outcome, and could come up with nothing. Yet again, in yet another organization, one person has managed to ruin things for everyone else. I'm too outraged to write coherently and without excessive language. My only consolation is that ealdthryth will now be spending more time at home with me and the kitties instead of wasting it on people that do not appreciate nor deserve her dedication and diligence.

I am more upset on my sweetie's behalf. A couple years ago, she thought she was returning home to a place of spiritual safety and fulfillment only to find that the real-world analogue to Delores Umbridge had taken control during her absence. Oh, it can't be that bad thought my wife. Alas, up until this year, things went reasonably well for my sweetie. That is, until "Delores" was thwarted in her repeated attempts to force panic-based financial decisions to fund whatever hidden agendas she was pushing.

Sunday, "Delores" managed to lie to, bamboozle, panic, and manipulate the organization into doing her will--in such a way that made it patently obvious that rational thought could have no effect on the outcome. Realizing the wisdom of Kenny Rogers was appropriate, ealdthryth decided that it was time to walk away.

I feel as though a measure of our Christmas joy really has been stolen.... The irony is that even though she was a direct target of the machinations, ealdthryth is far more likely to bounce back from this than I am. She will find another outlet or activity to replace it--something I have failed to do.

I am still baffled as to how such toxic people get to be in charge of things....

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In For a Landing

Rather than rage further, I will tell one good thing that occured this weekend. In spite of the weather, I got a little bit of our annual tackification done. The front yard is now a landing strip for the WWI Flying Ace, Snoopy and his holiday-bedecked Sopwith Camel.... Our little snowmen stake lights mark the edges of the runway. I doubt that I will do anything else this year, though.

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Tower Fu

I had been wondering why the cats were not climbing around on their tower of late. For several months, I hadn't seen or heard any of them playing on it. All of a sudden they have renewed interest. Josie was perched up on the top tier last night and eventually fell asleep into the traditional "face plant" position. I have no idea why I think it is cute, but I tend to be besotted with our kitties' cuteness.