As some of you know, I took a bit of a vacation a couple weeks ago. I didn't advertise it in advance, because I didn't want to let the world know that my house would be empty, especially since Angela didn't come along with. That, and because some of you probably won't approve of my activities. Angela doesn't. Is it a bad sign that Dick Cheney is spending this week doing what I did a couple weeks ago?

Anyhow, I went pheasant hunting with my father outside of Miller, South Dakota. It was a fun time, but a bit exhausting and somewhat painful.

For those of you who have never been pheasant hunting, I can tell you how to simulate the experience. First, get up in the morning and drive out to some farm land. When you get there, pick a nice spot, stop the car, get out and get into the ditch. Now start walking. Every 5 minutes or so, have someone punch you in the shoulder.

Now cuss and make up excuses for why you missed such an easy shot. Suitable excuses include "I was up to my knee in a prairie dog hole," "I didn't adjust for the wind," "It looked like a hen to me," "This borrowed 12 gauge doesn't really fit" and "Damn this steel shot! If I were shooting lead, I'd have had that one easily."

Repeat until sunset.

Anyhow, after nearly two boxes of 12 gauge shells over the course of four days my shoulder was pretty sore. Repeated injury sure makes a bruise spread and persist. Angela says it's karma. Revenge of the pheasants.

Well, it's been a decade since I did any wing shooting, so I didn't do much damage to the pheasant population. I've told Angela that I need to buy a 12 gauge that is the same model as my 20 gauge. That way I can leave the 12 gauge in Wisconsin and bring the 20 gauge out here to get some practice shooting skeet. After seeing my arm, Angela says I should buy a boat and go fishing instead. Looks like I win either way. ;)

So it's back to work for me. I've got two proposals to NSF due on Nov 15. One for SETI, one for modeling the 3D structure of interstellar gas in the Galaxy. Wish me luck.

... so I didn't do much damage to the pheasant population. ...

So it's back to work for me. I've got two proposals to NSF due on Nov 15. One for SETI, one for modeling the 3D structure of interstellar gas in the Galaxy. Wish me luck.

As some of you know, I took a bit of a vacation a couple weeks ago. ...

... Anyhow, after nearly two boxes of 12 gauge shells over the course of four days my shoulder was pretty sore. Repeated injury sure makes a bruise spread and persist. Angela says it's karma. Revenge of the pheasants.

... After seeing my arm, Angela says I should buy a boat and go fishing instead. Looks like I win either way. ;)

So it's back to work for me. I've got two proposals to NSF due on Nov 15. One for SETI, one for modeling the 3D structure of interstellar gas in the Galaxy. Wish me luck.

"I'm trying to maintain a shred of dignity in this world." - Me

From the writing style of your "outdoor adventure", I recommend you try reading some Patrick McManus books.

From the writing style of your "outdoor adventure", I recommend you try reading some Patrick McManus books.

Next time Angela wants to upload raccoon pictures, I'll include a picture of that section of my bookshelf. I've been a big fan of his since reading his article/story "The Patrick Priciples" in Field&Stream circa 1979 or so. I don't think that story has ever made it into one of his collections.