"Pull!" Gale "Annie" Gets Her Gun

(Check out the latest on what folks are sayin' 'bout "The Creek"...http://www.somethingwagging.com/2012/08/02/the-guilt-free-blog-award-edition/)

Good Morning (Afternoon, Evening, Night) Faithful Readers,

It could be (and has been) said that my husband and I are "hobby-aholics."  Although we've settled down a bit over the years, I think one's brain functions better when they learn new things.

So many of you won't find it hard to believe that "Santa" gave me a shotgun in the mid-1990s.  We needed to find something to do together that didn't involve young kids... this would definitely fit the bill.  Ironically, we lived more than 45 minutes from Mad River Sportsman's Club when we were shooting. We moved to within 15 minutes-ish thirteen years ago and haven't been there since.

Like with most "extreme" (to me) hobbies, it started with Mark.  He had guns before and is very knowledgeable about collecting, repairing, etc.  I, of course, had never even touched one (just like the motorcyle post. "Harley & Me"--see index.)  I still have some fear of handling my Browning Semi-Automatic, but that's probably a good thing.

Mark hired a coach and suggested I take a few lessons.  Nobody could explain it, but I hit most everything.  I still have some of the shells.  One of my best physical attributes used to be my vision.   That must have been why I was "Gale-Annie" Oakley LOL!  (BTW, my middle name is Ann.)

Another step to improve my accuracy was to have my gun "fitted" by a master gunsmith near Bowling Green, OH.  You take him the gun, he runs some tests on you and decides what will make you a better shot.  Then he makes some adjustments.  I will NEVER forget our conversation as I am sailing through the tests busting up target after target:  Me (giddily laughing):  "Tom, I have no idea what I'm doing!"  Tom (with major look of disbelief):  "You know what, I believe you!  There is no logical reason for it as you are all over when you aim, then you magically wind up at the right place! "

A bit deflating, but true.  Oh well, I can live with "dumb luck" as it appears to impress those around me.  I did have a hard time answering questions involving my "technique."  I'm afraid I wasn't much help to them.  I don't know isn't a definitive answer!  I do believe in shooting ahead of a target, but that's the only sound advice I have.

Of course shooting a 12 gauge shotgun isn't nearly as hard as shooting with a rifle because you can still get a piece of something in the shot pattern.  A bullet either hits or misses.  So, I am not an expert by any stretch of even my vivid imagination.  BUT...

Mark thought it would be fun to test our skills during a real tournament with real rules as well as folks that really shoot.  It wasn't just a little tournament either.  Mark is methodical and very good, so was in a much bigger, more advanced class.  I went into the women's non-pro class with maybe five times ever shooting in my life.  Lo and behold, this shotgun packin' mama actually won a trophy!  I scanned it for proof...LOL!

It proudly hangs alone on the wall among Mark's many awards:

If it wasn't so expensive, Mark and I would probably still be doing this every now and then.  But, it was fun while it lasted.  I highly suggest at least trying it once.  Your local club will rent you a gun and provide everything you need.  For more info on a place in your area try "Sporting Clay" magazine either at the store or online.

Until next time,

Gale "Annie"

Some Things Just Aren't Funny I: Puppy Mills

1/27/2015:  I just saw a preview of the "Go Daddy" Superbowl ad promotes puppy mills and I am appalled on so many levels.  Those of us who breed and show purebred dogs are very careful and selective about where our puppies go (and go to great expense in our care, selection and guarantees).  We all find it despicable that there are people who call themselves "breeders" who prostitute their dogs and sell from a website, then ship them to people without caring where they go as long as their credit card clears.  This ad not only shows that, but that the puppy came back home only to have the "breeder" tell them to "get back on the truck!"  Please know they aren't breeders, but frankly, "screwers of dogs for profit only."  NEVER, EVER BUY A DOG FROM A WEBSITE!  YOU WON'T GET WHAT YOU PAID FOR AND WORSE, YOU ARE KEEPING DISREPUTABLE PEOPLE IN BUSINESS!

This article addresses puppy mills and backyard breeders.  It was a bad situation then, but worse now with internet sales...


Hi,
I had a nice blog all finished for you except for one photo that I can't find.  Until then, I thought I would share something from many years ago.  It's not funny, but I think it's still informative.  It won numerous awards in its day including "Writer's Digest" and Dog Writers' Association of America honors.

Now, there are a few differences in pet marketing since the 1980s---we've managed to get many pet stores to either quit selling puppies or at least they are placing shelter puppies.  We "dog folk" don't patronize pet stores that sell dogs, especially since the advent of pet supply stores.  That's a good thing.  

However, we didn't have to deal with the internet back then and now we do.  I can't stress enough that you should never buy a dog online.  This isn't a lawn mower part, it is a living thing.  You can't believe everything you read and that is really true with websites.  Most are in it totally for the money.  They aren't scrupulous in their sales--they don't care where the pups they "manufacture" go, they are overpriced and poor quality, they'll ship anywhere and sometimes they take your money, then you never see any puppy or not the one you "ordered."  Often the dogs live in the same disgusting environment called a "puppy mill" that you will be reading about shortly.

Another marketing issue is so-called "designer dogs."  Don't be fooled into thinking these are anything but overpriced mutts.  Labra-doodles will never be a real breed, nor will yorkie-poos, cock-a-poos or any other poo...  My blood pressure goes up every time someone tells me they bought a mutt for huge bucks when there are so many deserving dogs at shelters and pounds for the price of shots and spay/neuters.  These folks prey on people's emotions and in most cases, lack of knowledge.

Anyway, I will get back to humor next time, but for now please read and share this post.  I saved it as a PDF, but can't seem to get it to work, so please forgive me once again if this is a bit hard to read.  There are six pages, with unavoidable gaps between.  Whenever I tried to cut it out it shrunk the words!)

Until next time,

Gale