Duck Hunting 2009 - Through #2 of 5's eyes.

Hmmm... It turns out that my kid has better timing that I do...  You see, tonight he asked me to print out a paper he typed up for English class.  As I printed out his paper, I started reading it.  As you can see here, he wrote up a summary of our duck hunting trip before I have. 

Below is a copy (exact.. Not a single change made) of his version of "Duck Hunting 2009"

Enjoy!

========================================

Duck Hunting - 5th hour English

    Have you ever gone Duck hunting?  Well I have, and it was so fun that it was like taking the funest thing you have ever done and multiplying it by five.  Although it was a long drive to stay for three days.  We stayed at my Dads friends’ cabin.  By the end of this story you will know so much about the trip it’s almost as if you where their with my dad, me, and my dads friend all in a in the duck boat.

    First part about my trip you need to know about is the drive their.  Let me tell you without saying something ells that it was boring!  It unfortunately was an entire three and a half hour drive.   Although we had things in the cat to do, it all got boring after about two hours.  The ride got longer, and longer as if it would never ever end.  Finally about 9:00 pm we got their, and we where way to tired for our own good.

    The very next day my dads’ friend said “its chore day since the hunting opener is tomorrow.”  Just the thing I wanted to do today” I replied quite annoyed.  Then my Dad said “well nobody wants to do them but they have to be done.”  “Well no one wants to do them less than me I replied.  But he was right.  But chore day is a day at the cabin where if there is anything that needs to be done, for example wood cut for a fire.  No but their was plenty of wood, so we got the very wonderful job of taking down the metal dock that weighs about 200 pounds.  Finally we get it done and we could have fallen a sleep on the floor we where so tired.  It was good to get the dock job out of the way.

    After chore day we got up at 4:30 in the morning to get dressed for hunting.   We loaded up the boat and set off to find a good spot.  Boy was it cold driving the boat to the the spot.  You could feel the cold air rushing past you as you sat in the boat.  We finally find the perfect spot just around 6:00 after we set out all the decoys.  We sit their in the quiet, so quite that you can here your own brain more than you can here anything ells. It was around 7:00 when splash a wood duck landed right in my firing zone.  Then I picked up my gun and bang I killed the duck.  About 8:00 we headed in and I was the only one that got one.  Boy was I proud of myself.

    The last day we where their we went out the same time and where ready and waiting the same time.  Except this time I went with my dad’s friend and my dad went alone.  I didn’t see anything in my range, but my dads friend did and bang he got one two.  About an hour later at 8:00 we where about ready to pack up when bang bang. Two shots went off around where my dad was, and sure enough he got one as well.  We got in the boat, picked up the decoys and headed for where my dad was and we saw him holding a duck. We went in and packed up. We where going home.

    We packed up the car, and some how we all got in.  After checking the cabin and making sure it was locked we got in the car and…my dad lost the keys again.  We looked fore about 15 to 20 minutes when suddenly…he found them in his pocket.  Then my dad’s friend said ” you know what some things never change.”  “No they don’t I replied with a smile and got into the car as.  I took one last look at the cabin as we drove away. 

    This story means a lot to me because we only go up to the cabin once a year.  What means even more to me is that it showed me how to enjoy what nature has to offer.  Most people do not take the time to stop and think about what life really is.  I used to never enjoy nature because I didn’t think I hade than patients for it, but it turns out I do.  I Hope you enjoyed reading this story as much as I enjoyed telling it.

The Unexpected Slumber Party

Yesterday, my closest friend Ed called me and shared a story that was too good not to share.. 

After getting off the phone, and thinking about it - I dropped Ed an email, and asked him to write the story down.  I felt it would make a great "Guest Post", and since a couple of the major participants of this story are "regulars" for our hunting trips, I felt it was a great fit for Dad's Outdoor Journal.

Now, I do understand that it helps to know the characters involved (personally), but given the circumstances, I think a lot of people can appreciate this little story.

Take it away Ed...

----------------------------------

An Unexpected Slumber Party

Last Friday, 06-27-08, I got home from work about 11:30pm.  After talking to my wife, Jodie, for a bit I decided it was time to hit the sack as I had to work the following morning.  I crawled into bed and Jodie was doing some last minute things around the house (turning lights off, locking doors, etc…).  I remember Jodie coming into the bedroom to check if Jake (our dog) was on his bed.  Jake sleeps on his pillow next to my side of the bed.  A few minutes later, Jodie returned to our bedroom and told me that Riley (our next door neighbors dog and Jake’s best friend) was at our back patio door and was barking to be let in our house.  Before we let Riley inside, Jodie checked our neighbors’ house and did not notice any lights on.  We both figured they accidentally left Riley outside.  Jodie let Riley come inside and make himself comfortable for the night.

Lets back up in time a bit.  Riley is a 12 year old Golden Retriever.  My dog, Jake, is an 8 or 9 year old mutt.  We think he may be part Springer and part English Setter with a bit of PITA mixed in J.  Since day one these two dogs have been best of friends.  Often visiting each other’s homes.  Playing often with tennis balls, chasing squirrels up trees, and taking 16 hour naps in the sun on the deck.  Once in a while they will find a really good stick and begin chewing it together, one on each end of the stick, working their way toward the middle.  Both dogs are in the finer days of dog life and work hard at trying not to work too hard.

Back to Friday…Jodie placed a blanket on the floor for Riley.  He made a quick check of his accommodations and proceeded to fall promptly to sleep.  Being that it was well after midnight, Jodie and I decided not to call and wake up our neighbors.  We’d just let Riley out the following morning to go back home.

Saturday morning, Jim calls me to see if Riley had spent the night with us.  “He sure did.” I replied.  After speaking with Jim for a few minutes, I found out that he had gotten up a couple time during the night to see if Riley had come home.  We started to talk about the events that led up to last night.  Jim said his son had come to visit with his puppy late that night.  According to Jim, when that happens, Riley gets no rest.  The puppy has a ton of energy and will not leave Riley alone.

As soon as Riley spotted the puppy, he made his way to the door to be let outside.  As near as we can figure, Riley left Jim’s home and made his way to ours.  Riley knew exactly what he was doing.  He wanted to go someplace warm, quiet, safe, and comfortable for the night.  He was dog tired and wanted to get a good nights sleep without that puppy interfering with his plans.  What better place to crash for the night when you’re in a jam than your best friends home.  After a quick couple tail wags, both dogs went to their beds and fell fast asleep.

----------------------------------

I hope everyone enjoyed! 

Thanks Ed - A truly great story about "friendship".