Finally, in the woods

Monday was the first day I’ve had a chance to go deer hunting this year.
With Jett and the job and all, it’s just been tough to find time. Anyway, it’s been really hot until this week so it didn't matter.
I tried out a new spot for the first time. I have access to the 50 or so acres behind my house now, so that cuts out a 15-minute drive and the extra planning of going to Terrell.
I was so anxious to get out there this week. It’s been a long time since I’ve hunted somewhere new and given I hadn’t been this year at all, I was itching to get a chance.
But I didn’t see a thing.
It was a great day to be in the woods though, about 45 degrees, rather cold for October here.
The leaves just started changing.
I had a lot stacked against me. I didn’t have any food out (corn is $9.99 a freaking bag!) and I’ve opted (or been forced, depending on how you look at it) to try the ultimate challenge – taking a deer, with my bow, from the ground.
I don’t have a treestand up and Monday, I was pretty much sitting at the base of a tree. I had cut a few shooting lanes the other day (actually spooked one deer while doing it) and cleared away leaves at the tree, which is next to a fallen log. But after about an hour, really before that, I realized I need to get a little better set up. I found my old hunting bucket and I think I’ll also use my old camo umbrella/blind to shield my right side.
I’ll get it figured out.

Closing in on a year

Pretty hard to believe, but Jett's going to be a year old in less than a month. Here are some updated photos of him......Here's Shanda with him.


Now, here's the two JPs together.....



Here's two of Jett trying to rule the TV.....

A real adult week

One thing I've learned by watching Jett the last 10-plus months is how much I envy his joy and innocence.
I mean, his biggest problem of the day is when we set him down to go get his bottle, he whines...and we're back with it in 10 seconds. Then he guzzles it. Man, tough life.
There's no gas problem, no election crap to watch, no monetary crisis, none of that adult stuff to worry about. For me, the worrying is almost worse than anything. I'm already worried about my upcoming prostate exams and that's like 12 years away!
I had two things, other than that stuff, just nail me this week. First, a good friend of mine called and we talked about some serious problems he's facing. I don't want to elaborate, but it's serious stuff (yeah, I know, good teaser...sorry).
Then, I heard about the death of an old girlfriend from high school, Angela Isenhour. She died in a car wreck this week.
Shanda and I saw her a few months back at Chili's in Mooresville and at Denver Days a few years before that. Other than that, it had been basically since high school since I'd seen her. But that makes two former classmates of mine to die in recent months, the other being Chris Huffman.
I wasn't close to either one in recent years, but both of those kind of hit me hard.
All that stuff sure makes my Cubs losing in the playoffs (after leading the NL almost all year!) pretty easy to take.
Anyway, sorry to be down in the dumps. Had to vent a little.
As for what else is up, since I haven't updated this blog in a while, I just turned 28. The big 2-8. Whatever. They're all the same now anyway.
As usual, I tried to drag my birthday out for a whole week. I did, too! I took my birthday off last Tuesday, then went out to eat with Shanda and Jett that night at Beef O'Brady's in Denver. Shanda's family took us to eat Saturday (Kobe in Cornelius) and my family came over Sunday with Untouchables wings/pizza.
We also have another cool new neighbor. He just moved into a new house across the street and we've chatted a few times. He's a hunter, outdoorsy type and I think we'll hang out some. Shanda thinks I'm stalking him. He does have a four-wheeler, flatscreen TV, a jeep, an awesome house and deck, and a canoe.
So can you blame me?