Friday, May 26, 2006
Dancing With Ugly Women
I have just returned from the Veteran’s Hospital in Muskogee. Purpose of the journey was to have a Colonoscopy done. The procedure was cut short as it seems I was resisting the meds given to render me into a comfort zone for the procedure. But, I am pleased to report that the Doc’s were pleased with what they viewed up till that point. To make up for the lack of complete Colonoscopy, a Barium procedure is being scheduled. Been there once already. Hated it.
Now, the rest of the story.
On 19 February, 2005, I stopped smoking after puffing away since 1970. Someone once told me that if I quit smoking that foods and such would taste better. I will state at this time that some of the foods I enjoyed as a smoker are barely tolerable today. They taste like crap now.
Now here is my thought on several aspects of smoking that I will not try to claim as scientific nor religious. It seems that the farther away from smoking I have moved, the more aches and pains from old injuries become more prevalent. Could it be that nicotine masked the aches of my youth?
Ok, that was not several aspects but if you consider all the aches and pains that have came to light since I stopped smoking, you could, if you stretched it far enough, classify it as several.
In the past year I have lost two friends that can be traced back to my teenage years. Both deaths came as a complete surprise. They will be missed.
Three weeks ago I either tore or several strain the tricep muscle in my right arm which gives me lots of trouble and pain. This led to some painful moments at the recent gathering in Breckenridge, Texas, when shooting some of the larger caliber rifles, such as two different 45-70’s and my 300 WSM. Some might advise padding to absorb some of the recoil, but that was tried some on the first day of the gathering without much success.
Now here is a bit of a side bar story I feel must be told. I often read on Go Go Varmint Go Forum about one good guy or another. Here is my tale of what I consider to be typical of an Honorable Texan.
My friend Pecos is a crusty Texican. Plain spoken and sun weathered by the Texas sun. He is also a Brother in Arms. He retired from the U.S. Army as a senior NCO. He is also one of the best riflemen I have ever had the pleasure to know. Over the past couple years he has taken three of my rifles which were sub-MOA shooters and made them even better, without rebuilding the rifle. Just tweaking it here and there and finding the right bullet verses powder mix to make it shoot right.
At a recent shoot, Pecos was match testing my Browning Micro-Medallion (7mm-08), along with his Winchester Model 70 in 6.5-06AI. Some worm decided he needed those rifles more the Pecos and broke into his car, and stole them while Pecos was elsewhere on the range.
Most people I know would have called me, advised me of the situation and asked me what I wanted to do about the situation. But not Pecos. He is a true Texas Gentleman. And a result of what is often referred to as being trained in a Brown Shoe Army. He called me after he had arranged purchase of a new rifle and scope.
Now here is what my feelings were on the situation. I believe Pecos to be completely guiltless in the situation. He lost much more then I did with the lost of his Ackley. And to be completely honest I might have just wrote it off and picked up another rifle at a later date. Or at least agreed to a lesser priced rifle such as a CZ.
What Pecos did not know was what I had invested in the Browning. The scope on it was a Bushnell Dawn to Dusk that I had won in a postal shoot on the old Shooters.com. The rifle was bought with a $90.00 investment in stock with a company that went belly up less then a week after I cashed my stock in so I could buy the Browning. Pecos put a Burris Fieldview scope on the new rifle and a little research shows that scope is worth nearly twice what the Bushnell cost. And even though the Micro-Medallion is no longer offered, the Micro-Hunter he bought to replace it MSRP’d in at nearly 50% more then I paid 12 years ago for the one lost.
I offered to pay the difference in price on the scope, but Pecos being Pecos refused the offer. Now this is where my Marine NCO version of integrity kicked into high gear. I was pissed at Pecos. I completely understood his reasoning and defend it with vigor. But you do not screw a Brother.
Now, having shot my Winchester Model 70 in 300WSM with this bum shoulder, I was not looking forward to much more pain. After all, at my age, this shoulder may never return to 100%. And my lovely bride expressed her concern to further damage to the shoulder and bluntly told me to get rid of it.
I discussed the rifle situation with her and we both agreed that giving the 300WSM to Pecos would compensate him for the additional funds he spent replacing my Browning and he would have either a base to build a new Ackley from or he could trade/sale it for the same purpose. Trick here is not to insult Pecos cause I’d sure hate to have to shoot him in the little toe out of self defense.
Then luck reared it’s red head the weekend before the shoot. I was offered a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 for a modest price. Now I had considered one last fall when I bought my 336C in 35Remington. I’m not recoil sensitive, but why beat yourself to death when it not necessary. And the 35Rem is a real good hog caliber.
So at the range in Breckenridge Texas, everything came together. Got my new Browning, which shoots better then the old one. Got one sweet shooting 45-70. And just so have it, Pecos fell in love with the Marlin. Yes, I shot it and Yes, my shoulder complained loudly.
When I left Texas, I left the 45-70 there. It is now it the property of Pecos. We are not even, but I feel better now that Pecos has a hog gun he enjoys. But I still owe him.
What of the 300WSM? Well, that belongs to another shooter who really enjoyed the beast. Everyone left happy.
Would I leave another rifle down there for tweaking? In a New York minute.
What does this have to do with dancing with ugly women? Well, during the time spent beside the campfire on the range at night, many old memories came to light. Stories told and laughter heard across the mesquite.
I have often spoken the words, “Life is too short”. Let me complete the phrase.
“Life is too short. You have to dance with Ugly Women.”
As my life clock slowly winds down, I can look back and say without fear that I have had a blast. And I intend to keep having fun. And maybe dance with a few more ugly women in years to come.
If you do not understand my meaning, then I feel sorry for you. Cause life is too short to take it too serious.
Semper Fidelis
26 May 2006
Kellyville, OK
Now, the rest of the story.
On 19 February, 2005, I stopped smoking after puffing away since 1970. Someone once told me that if I quit smoking that foods and such would taste better. I will state at this time that some of the foods I enjoyed as a smoker are barely tolerable today. They taste like crap now.
Now here is my thought on several aspects of smoking that I will not try to claim as scientific nor religious. It seems that the farther away from smoking I have moved, the more aches and pains from old injuries become more prevalent. Could it be that nicotine masked the aches of my youth?
Ok, that was not several aspects but if you consider all the aches and pains that have came to light since I stopped smoking, you could, if you stretched it far enough, classify it as several.
In the past year I have lost two friends that can be traced back to my teenage years. Both deaths came as a complete surprise. They will be missed.
Three weeks ago I either tore or several strain the tricep muscle in my right arm which gives me lots of trouble and pain. This led to some painful moments at the recent gathering in Breckenridge, Texas, when shooting some of the larger caliber rifles, such as two different 45-70’s and my 300 WSM. Some might advise padding to absorb some of the recoil, but that was tried some on the first day of the gathering without much success.
Now here is a bit of a side bar story I feel must be told. I often read on Go Go Varmint Go Forum about one good guy or another. Here is my tale of what I consider to be typical of an Honorable Texan.
My friend Pecos is a crusty Texican. Plain spoken and sun weathered by the Texas sun. He is also a Brother in Arms. He retired from the U.S. Army as a senior NCO. He is also one of the best riflemen I have ever had the pleasure to know. Over the past couple years he has taken three of my rifles which were sub-MOA shooters and made them even better, without rebuilding the rifle. Just tweaking it here and there and finding the right bullet verses powder mix to make it shoot right.
At a recent shoot, Pecos was match testing my Browning Micro-Medallion (7mm-08), along with his Winchester Model 70 in 6.5-06AI. Some worm decided he needed those rifles more the Pecos and broke into his car, and stole them while Pecos was elsewhere on the range.
Most people I know would have called me, advised me of the situation and asked me what I wanted to do about the situation. But not Pecos. He is a true Texas Gentleman. And a result of what is often referred to as being trained in a Brown Shoe Army. He called me after he had arranged purchase of a new rifle and scope.
Now here is what my feelings were on the situation. I believe Pecos to be completely guiltless in the situation. He lost much more then I did with the lost of his Ackley. And to be completely honest I might have just wrote it off and picked up another rifle at a later date. Or at least agreed to a lesser priced rifle such as a CZ.
What Pecos did not know was what I had invested in the Browning. The scope on it was a Bushnell Dawn to Dusk that I had won in a postal shoot on the old Shooters.com. The rifle was bought with a $90.00 investment in stock with a company that went belly up less then a week after I cashed my stock in so I could buy the Browning. Pecos put a Burris Fieldview scope on the new rifle and a little research shows that scope is worth nearly twice what the Bushnell cost. And even though the Micro-Medallion is no longer offered, the Micro-Hunter he bought to replace it MSRP’d in at nearly 50% more then I paid 12 years ago for the one lost.
I offered to pay the difference in price on the scope, but Pecos being Pecos refused the offer. Now this is where my Marine NCO version of integrity kicked into high gear. I was pissed at Pecos. I completely understood his reasoning and defend it with vigor. But you do not screw a Brother.
Now, having shot my Winchester Model 70 in 300WSM with this bum shoulder, I was not looking forward to much more pain. After all, at my age, this shoulder may never return to 100%. And my lovely bride expressed her concern to further damage to the shoulder and bluntly told me to get rid of it.
I discussed the rifle situation with her and we both agreed that giving the 300WSM to Pecos would compensate him for the additional funds he spent replacing my Browning and he would have either a base to build a new Ackley from or he could trade/sale it for the same purpose. Trick here is not to insult Pecos cause I’d sure hate to have to shoot him in the little toe out of self defense.
Then luck reared it’s red head the weekend before the shoot. I was offered a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 for a modest price. Now I had considered one last fall when I bought my 336C in 35Remington. I’m not recoil sensitive, but why beat yourself to death when it not necessary. And the 35Rem is a real good hog caliber.
So at the range in Breckenridge Texas, everything came together. Got my new Browning, which shoots better then the old one. Got one sweet shooting 45-70. And just so have it, Pecos fell in love with the Marlin. Yes, I shot it and Yes, my shoulder complained loudly.
When I left Texas, I left the 45-70 there. It is now it the property of Pecos. We are not even, but I feel better now that Pecos has a hog gun he enjoys. But I still owe him.
What of the 300WSM? Well, that belongs to another shooter who really enjoyed the beast. Everyone left happy.
Would I leave another rifle down there for tweaking? In a New York minute.
What does this have to do with dancing with ugly women? Well, during the time spent beside the campfire on the range at night, many old memories came to light. Stories told and laughter heard across the mesquite.
I have often spoken the words, “Life is too short”. Let me complete the phrase.
“Life is too short. You have to dance with Ugly Women.”
As my life clock slowly winds down, I can look back and say without fear that I have had a blast. And I intend to keep having fun. And maybe dance with a few more ugly women in years to come.
If you do not understand my meaning, then I feel sorry for you. Cause life is too short to take it too serious.
Semper Fidelis
26 May 2006
Kellyville, OK
