Well, I continue to thank those who continue to read and support my brother and I in what we're going through in our personal lives now that we're not overseas. Thank you!! It's much appreciated.
So it's been a while since I've posted anything on here. I apologize. However, if you remember some of my previous posts I've mentioned that I was missing the one thing in my life that I just didn't have...a woman that loves me and I that I love. WELL, blame it on Leslie for me not posting anything on here...Leslie is absolutely the woman of my prayers, dreams, wishes, and thoughts. Therefore, the computer, TV, going out, and every other distraction has been REMOVED/REPLACED by Leslie. I absolutely love her! I feel like I sound like my brother in some of his posts... love love love...there's just one way to explain it...she's an answered prayer. Period. We both realize that God has placed us together for a wonderful reason. I honestly believe I will spend the rest of my life with this woman.
SO the past 6 months have been pretty ok. Been working, and enjoying my new love. If you know me, I've been home for about 10 months....and if you know my history and what I like to do...it's about that time. Right now I'm in the hospital hanging out with my grandparents. My mom's mom is the reason we're here. We're playing the waiting game.... it's not fun. I started to go home yesterday afternoon, but I turned around and came back. My family supported me so I could miss 3 three more days of work. What a blessing. It was so hard driving home last night...and finally I turned around. I'm so thankful to have the family I have. The road ahead will not be easy...but we'll make it.
I guess I could sit here and type and type about things that have happened and this and that....I think I'll put some pics up here in a few hours. I'm gonna go have dinner and get my camera. Well, I'm also pretty distracted right now...sitting here in the room with about 6 others in the family...More to come...
Out here,
SGT Wormy
Sunday, December 20, 2009
Friday, December 11, 2009
Around the World
You will see how the title is what is it. I will be all over the place on this one. I am willing to bet that I do not finish this tonight, but I am going to try.
I put a comment on my facebook that I was going to delete people if I do not hear from them. The main reason for that was to prove a point. I know that I only did that an hour or so ago, but it goes to show that I was halfway right. Right away I got several comments. I understand that everyone is not online at the same time, I am not that stupid. I am willing to bet that most of you on here have either a facebook or a myspace and possibly even a twitter account. OK, now that we have that established. What percentage of the people that are "friends" have you actually met in person? I know that there are some on mine that I have never met, not seen in over 10 years, or will never see again. For good reason, some of them will stay. It is a great way, and easy way, to stay in contact with high school classmates and know when the next reunion is. Better than an outdated mailing list or phone roster. I know that with the military you will be moving every few years, and at times to another country. Not to mention phone number changes. OK, the rest of the people on there? The hotty you found on a friend's list. The person that you met in an airport? The one that you hope to meet one day but know you won't? Why are they there? Do they really care what you are up to? 500 friends on your list? Are you serious? Is it all a numbers game for you? For that reason, I am cleaning house.
Buck. My wonderful dog. My backup alarm clock. My personal stink bomb. The alarm goes off and he knows that it is time for me to get up and let him outside for his potty break. If I hit snooze. He tells me that I know better and will not let me go back to sleep no matter how hard I try. The best is when I am sitting on the couch, enjoying a good night of TV when I hear a weird sound and after it registers what it is, it is too late. I am running for my life. The smell, oh the smell. It is enough to make anyone gag. You threaten to cork that ass, and he thinks I am playing. Then, another surprise. Another blast of warm ass air. I guess it is his way to make sure I am still alive and functioning. Well I am when I kick his ass outside and hope he takes care of business before he comes back. Which is usually in the yard across the street and the house just sold.
Five year old little girls. The smartest. The funniest. The cutest. OK, not the smartest, but they sure make you think. It does not take long for a day to change from good to great when you are in the presence of such an angel. Courtney is my angel. She is my reminder of all the blessings in life I have. She never ceases to amaze me. I love her to death and hope that her mom finally realizes that she love to spend time with me and my family.
Just a few little thoughts i was having. She is getting tired and so am I, so it is time for bed. Expect part 2 soon.
SGT John Strader
I put a comment on my facebook that I was going to delete people if I do not hear from them. The main reason for that was to prove a point. I know that I only did that an hour or so ago, but it goes to show that I was halfway right. Right away I got several comments. I understand that everyone is not online at the same time, I am not that stupid. I am willing to bet that most of you on here have either a facebook or a myspace and possibly even a twitter account. OK, now that we have that established. What percentage of the people that are "friends" have you actually met in person? I know that there are some on mine that I have never met, not seen in over 10 years, or will never see again. For good reason, some of them will stay. It is a great way, and easy way, to stay in contact with high school classmates and know when the next reunion is. Better than an outdated mailing list or phone roster. I know that with the military you will be moving every few years, and at times to another country. Not to mention phone number changes. OK, the rest of the people on there? The hotty you found on a friend's list. The person that you met in an airport? The one that you hope to meet one day but know you won't? Why are they there? Do they really care what you are up to? 500 friends on your list? Are you serious? Is it all a numbers game for you? For that reason, I am cleaning house.
Buck. My wonderful dog. My backup alarm clock. My personal stink bomb. The alarm goes off and he knows that it is time for me to get up and let him outside for his potty break. If I hit snooze. He tells me that I know better and will not let me go back to sleep no matter how hard I try. The best is when I am sitting on the couch, enjoying a good night of TV when I hear a weird sound and after it registers what it is, it is too late. I am running for my life. The smell, oh the smell. It is enough to make anyone gag. You threaten to cork that ass, and he thinks I am playing. Then, another surprise. Another blast of warm ass air. I guess it is his way to make sure I am still alive and functioning. Well I am when I kick his ass outside and hope he takes care of business before he comes back. Which is usually in the yard across the street and the house just sold.
Five year old little girls. The smartest. The funniest. The cutest. OK, not the smartest, but they sure make you think. It does not take long for a day to change from good to great when you are in the presence of such an angel. Courtney is my angel. She is my reminder of all the blessings in life I have. She never ceases to amaze me. I love her to death and hope that her mom finally realizes that she love to spend time with me and my family.
Just a few little thoughts i was having. She is getting tired and so am I, so it is time for bed. Expect part 2 soon.
SGT John Strader
Provoking Thought
I have been thinking a lot about my past and the past of some of my friends and even current situations of friends and little bit of mine.
Before you read too far, I am not talking about one person, or to one person. I am talking about everyone, including myself, and to everyone.
You know we go through life with friends and family, and even ourselves, that come to us for advice, or just vent to us about a relationship or situation that is in front of them. It is strange to me that some of the same people would have told me what I tell them. Get out if you are not happy. Why would you put yourself in a situation where you are not happy? Why would you settle for something just because it is comfortable, not happy. Why not realize that although you will suffer a little and be unhappy for a period of time, think about the end result. A happy life in the end and not just going through the motions. I have settled in the past, and I was miserable. I know people that are settling now, because of age, kids, or whatever the reason. There is no reason for that. I have learned in the last year so many things. I have learned more than can expressed here in a short blog or a long blog that would keep attention long enough to get the point across.
I have talked to friends and others that are in situations they want out of. Or they are now with some one who is not who they thought they were. Look at my example: Tessa took me for a ride that I was not expecting. Now she is taking another for a ride. Not to trash some one on here, but blogs are for opinions. Lets say that you meet some one that has been married and divorced twice in a year, wouldn't that throw a red flag up or cause some big neon signs to come on telling you to wake the hell up and look at what you are doing? Just wondering.
OK, got that out of the way. Here we are in a life where the economy is going to hell. Everything is about who is better than the other. What celebrity is sleeping with who. Well, there is one thing in our own lives that we can control. Our happiness. You need to find it. I am not a believer in divorce, weird for some one who is divorced twice to say that. There are times when it does make sense, although you pledged and swore in front of God and family that you would be there in sickness and health. I have never heard anyone say, "until I am unhappy, then I am gone." Since when is that part of the vows. I know that I just said if you are unhappy, make some changes. Well, if you were unhappy and got married, it is time to make the changes in the marriage to find the happiness that you need. Once again, advice from some one who has two failed marriages. How ironic.
One of the main issues that I have experienced and seen friends go through is lack of communication. If you are not able to talk about everything from the dog farting and making you sick, to the world, then you are not with a friend. If you are in a relationship with some one, they need to be a friend.
Why am I talking about this? Well, I have talked to several friends and people recently that have learned from mistakes and these are some of the things they have learned. I was going to go on and on about this, but I decided suddenly in the last paragraph I was not going to. The main reason, we learn from our mistakes and continue to make the same ones over and over again. I know that if I cannot pass a PT test for the army and I am overweight, I will not be able to get promoted and will not be able to reenlist. Well, I always let myself get out of shape and overweight. Then I have work extra hard to make up for it. Once again, there is another lesson in life that I have learned.
I wanted to go on and on and hopefully open some one's eyes. Maybe with what little I said, some one will open their eyes. Hopefully.
SGT John Strader
Before you read too far, I am not talking about one person, or to one person. I am talking about everyone, including myself, and to everyone.
You know we go through life with friends and family, and even ourselves, that come to us for advice, or just vent to us about a relationship or situation that is in front of them. It is strange to me that some of the same people would have told me what I tell them. Get out if you are not happy. Why would you put yourself in a situation where you are not happy? Why would you settle for something just because it is comfortable, not happy. Why not realize that although you will suffer a little and be unhappy for a period of time, think about the end result. A happy life in the end and not just going through the motions. I have settled in the past, and I was miserable. I know people that are settling now, because of age, kids, or whatever the reason. There is no reason for that. I have learned in the last year so many things. I have learned more than can expressed here in a short blog or a long blog that would keep attention long enough to get the point across.
I have talked to friends and others that are in situations they want out of. Or they are now with some one who is not who they thought they were. Look at my example: Tessa took me for a ride that I was not expecting. Now she is taking another for a ride. Not to trash some one on here, but blogs are for opinions. Lets say that you meet some one that has been married and divorced twice in a year, wouldn't that throw a red flag up or cause some big neon signs to come on telling you to wake the hell up and look at what you are doing? Just wondering.
OK, got that out of the way. Here we are in a life where the economy is going to hell. Everything is about who is better than the other. What celebrity is sleeping with who. Well, there is one thing in our own lives that we can control. Our happiness. You need to find it. I am not a believer in divorce, weird for some one who is divorced twice to say that. There are times when it does make sense, although you pledged and swore in front of God and family that you would be there in sickness and health. I have never heard anyone say, "until I am unhappy, then I am gone." Since when is that part of the vows. I know that I just said if you are unhappy, make some changes. Well, if you were unhappy and got married, it is time to make the changes in the marriage to find the happiness that you need. Once again, advice from some one who has two failed marriages. How ironic.
One of the main issues that I have experienced and seen friends go through is lack of communication. If you are not able to talk about everything from the dog farting and making you sick, to the world, then you are not with a friend. If you are in a relationship with some one, they need to be a friend.
Why am I talking about this? Well, I have talked to several friends and people recently that have learned from mistakes and these are some of the things they have learned. I was going to go on and on about this, but I decided suddenly in the last paragraph I was not going to. The main reason, we learn from our mistakes and continue to make the same ones over and over again. I know that if I cannot pass a PT test for the army and I am overweight, I will not be able to get promoted and will not be able to reenlist. Well, I always let myself get out of shape and overweight. Then I have work extra hard to make up for it. Once again, there is another lesson in life that I have learned.
I wanted to go on and on and hopefully open some one's eyes. Maybe with what little I said, some one will open their eyes. Hopefully.
SGT John Strader
Monday, December 7, 2009
Christmas and Those Taking Advantage
That time of the year is upon us. It is time to give and not want to receive. I have a lot to say on this one and I might be all over the place, but you should expect that from me.
Lets start with an update on the situation with Courtney and Christina. I talked to Christina yesterday about me getting more time with Courtney and we think we can come to an agreement without mediation and court. Lets hope that is true. We talked about it a few times yesterday and it appears we are getting somewhere. We will find out when the attorneys talk. To add to that, it is strange how some one can walk out on you, Tessa, and tell you that they never want to see or hear from you again, but they are calling your first ex wife and telling them to read the blog. Tessa wanted to make sure that Christina saw the blog "Confession Time". Well, if I was worried about it being known, I would not have posted it. I posted it hoping to give courage to those out there that were/are like how I was. Plus, if you leave some one and don't want anything to do with them, why are you still reading their blog? That turned into a conversation with Christina about how my life has changed and how I am not the same person she married and knew a few years ago. I am sure she is not either. People change with time and the things that happen to them.
With all that said, on to my Christmas this year. I decided that other than Courtney, I am spending my money to help some one this year that needs it. I said some thing about this a while back and the responses are great. I never expected so many people to reply. I am glad and excited, now I need to make it happen soon. I think that mom has the right idea and the right person for me. I have already put some people in contact with those that need help and glad I could help some one this year. I hope the ideas of people that need help still come in. I can always pass them on to some one else that can help.
OK, now the part that is really kicking me in the butt. Christina and her mom informed me that Courtney is wanting the infamous Zhu Zhu pet for Christmas, along with every other kid in the world. Well, I can understand standing in line and getting ONE or TWO for your kids. I also respect people need to make money, but the hell are you cleaning off the shelves of these toys that are for KIDS just to jack the price up on Craigslist and eBay? $50 and $60 for an $8 toy is stupid and out of this world. I know that people want to make that buck to pay a bill, but remember, when you are doing that you are keeping toys out of kids hands that really want them. When a family is struggling to pay bills but want to give a kid a good Christmas, why are keeping them from affording a toy their kid wants. I looked on eBay for them and was shocked that people are charging $15-$30 for shipping after you pay $50 for the $8 toy. That shipping is stupid and insane seeing that you mail one in a flat rate box at the post office for less than $7. You say that you want to recoup some of your cost. Have you ever heard of the cost of doing business? You are making a $42 dollar profit just on the base price, before you include shipping. Why do you need to make a profit on shipping? Are you that greedy and heartless? The few times I have sold on eBay, I did free shipping. You need to realize what you are doing to our children. Some of work crazy hours and days were not able to go the craziest shopping day of the year. I fell victim to the price gauging on these toys because my daughter wants one. That means that will probably be the only thing she gets this year. If you are one of these people who are making such a profit, I am sorry you are like that. Oh, and I bet you feel good too knowing that you spent all that money and now there is a health concern with them. I hope the price bottoms out on them and lose money. I am not usually like this, but it really bothers me. I have several friends and family who have been looking high and low for them only to find out the only place to get them is eBay and Craigslist.
To everyone, Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family!!!
SGT John Strader
Lets start with an update on the situation with Courtney and Christina. I talked to Christina yesterday about me getting more time with Courtney and we think we can come to an agreement without mediation and court. Lets hope that is true. We talked about it a few times yesterday and it appears we are getting somewhere. We will find out when the attorneys talk. To add to that, it is strange how some one can walk out on you, Tessa, and tell you that they never want to see or hear from you again, but they are calling your first ex wife and telling them to read the blog. Tessa wanted to make sure that Christina saw the blog "Confession Time". Well, if I was worried about it being known, I would not have posted it. I posted it hoping to give courage to those out there that were/are like how I was. Plus, if you leave some one and don't want anything to do with them, why are you still reading their blog? That turned into a conversation with Christina about how my life has changed and how I am not the same person she married and knew a few years ago. I am sure she is not either. People change with time and the things that happen to them.
With all that said, on to my Christmas this year. I decided that other than Courtney, I am spending my money to help some one this year that needs it. I said some thing about this a while back and the responses are great. I never expected so many people to reply. I am glad and excited, now I need to make it happen soon. I think that mom has the right idea and the right person for me. I have already put some people in contact with those that need help and glad I could help some one this year. I hope the ideas of people that need help still come in. I can always pass them on to some one else that can help.
OK, now the part that is really kicking me in the butt. Christina and her mom informed me that Courtney is wanting the infamous Zhu Zhu pet for Christmas, along with every other kid in the world. Well, I can understand standing in line and getting ONE or TWO for your kids. I also respect people need to make money, but the hell are you cleaning off the shelves of these toys that are for KIDS just to jack the price up on Craigslist and eBay? $50 and $60 for an $8 toy is stupid and out of this world. I know that people want to make that buck to pay a bill, but remember, when you are doing that you are keeping toys out of kids hands that really want them. When a family is struggling to pay bills but want to give a kid a good Christmas, why are keeping them from affording a toy their kid wants. I looked on eBay for them and was shocked that people are charging $15-$30 for shipping after you pay $50 for the $8 toy. That shipping is stupid and insane seeing that you mail one in a flat rate box at the post office for less than $7. You say that you want to recoup some of your cost. Have you ever heard of the cost of doing business? You are making a $42 dollar profit just on the base price, before you include shipping. Why do you need to make a profit on shipping? Are you that greedy and heartless? The few times I have sold on eBay, I did free shipping. You need to realize what you are doing to our children. Some of work crazy hours and days were not able to go the craziest shopping day of the year. I fell victim to the price gauging on these toys because my daughter wants one. That means that will probably be the only thing she gets this year. If you are one of these people who are making such a profit, I am sorry you are like that. Oh, and I bet you feel good too knowing that you spent all that money and now there is a health concern with them. I hope the price bottoms out on them and lose money. I am not usually like this, but it really bothers me. I have several friends and family who have been looking high and low for them only to find out the only place to get them is eBay and Craigslist.
To everyone, Merry Christmas and God bless you and your family!!!
SGT John Strader
Deer Hunting and Thanksgiving
I have been trying to get on here while at work so I can update you all on the hunting trip to WV for Thanksgiving. To say the least, it was a blast and it was great to see some family.
I left here around midnight on Fri night/Sat morning and go to WV like I had predicted, in time for breakfast. The trip there was exciting, like all my road trips. I loaded down the truck with all my gear and the 120 pounds of hamburger that my family needed to add to the deer when it is ground up.
About an hour into my trip I noticed a camper with a trailer pulled over on the opposite side of the road. So, being the person I am, I went up the road and turned around and came back. For an hour we tried to put a larger trailer that had a blow out on a smaller trailer. We finally realized the smaller trailer was not going to handle it and we moved the gear to the smaller trailer, including a 17foot john boat. I never realized how heavy those things were.
So right off the bat I was an hour behind, but who cares, it is vacation afterall and there were no deadlines to meet. A few more hours up the road there was a very large buck in the middle of the road that was having a hard time walking. It appeared to have a broken leg and was walking in the middle of the road. I almost hit it, which woke me up and scared the crap out of me. I was not too sure where I was, or even what state I was in at the time, and did not care. I was just hoping that they had the same laws as Tennessee regarding roadkill. If you call it in, you can take it home. Well, this buck had a nice rack and look healthy other than the broken leg. I called it in, drove up the road and turned around once again. I got out looking for him once I got back to where he was and could not find him or signs of him, so I continued on my journey.
I arrived at the house in WV around 9am worn out and ready for a nap. We ate breakfast and i got my nap in.
Once I woke up, dad and I went up on the hill to place my treestand. We found a good spot, so we thought, and headed back to the house. We sat around the rest of the afternoon and waited for people to start showing up and watched some college football. Sun morning rolled around and we sat around discussing our plans for Mon morning while more family started arriving. Jeremy finally got there late afternoon. Finally everyone was there. We had a great dinner and all headed to bed early hoping we could sleep. The anticipation was killing us and we were all excited, no matter how little or how much we showed it.
Monday morning finally rolled around we were up, ate our breakfast of fried eggs, biscuits, and whatever meat we had that morning. For me it was a glass of milk to hold me over. By 530 about all of us were on the way to our stands waiting to see who would shoot first. Well, it wasn't me, Jeremy or Dad. Once the sun came up and we could see, you could hear the movement all around. Jeremy and I were pretty close, as was dad, although he was on the other side of the creek from us. It wasn't long that I realized I had faced my tree stand in the wrong direction. I had a few doe walk behind me and I could not get turned around to get a good shot and let them walk on to Jeremy thinking he was take one. We could both hear them between us, but could not see them. Then Jeremy came on the radio immediately after a shot was fired up the mountain from us and very close. He could see some one coming on to our property. He jumped out of the stand and headed towards them. To spare you all the drama, and make it short, some one shot a buck that was on the line and came onto our property. While Jeremy was running them off the property, the buck went back to the other side and the guy was able to claim his deer.
We never saw the deer again after that. Or any other deer the rest of the day. That afternoon we heard dad shoot. Dad called me and told me he shot one but could not find it. I went down to help him and we never found it.
Monday night we were all back the house with 2 deer killed and hanging in the smoke house cooling off. We all sat and enjoyed a nice dinner and told the stories of the day. We discussed our game plans for Tuesday. Once again, we were in bed early waiting for the second day and hoping for more luck.
Tuesday morning was like Monday. Up early, breakfast and hike up the mountain. Once again me and Jeremy could hear some deer between us on the hill, but could not see them. They headed down the hill towards dad and we let him know. It was not long after that we heard a shot. Then another. A few minutes later two more shots. We called dad on the radio and he told us he got two. Once again, dad shoots his two at the same time. Must be nice.
Come to find out, he shot a doe and when he was walking over to her, a spike buck was standing there looking at dad, so he shot that one too. This time we did not have to help him. He went and got the tractor, and took them to the house. Jeremy let a couple doe walk that day and one came over to me late that evening. I could not get a shot, and it was too small for me to shoot. Once again, me and Jeremy go home empty handed.
Wed morning was the same. Eat and hike. This time it was cooler and a little rainy. Everyone already had a deer except me and Jeremy. Around lunch time, Jeremy decided he was going to stalk a little and I was moving to Dad's stand. It was not long after that Jeremy shot. This time he did not shot 7 or 8 times like usual so I was concerned it was not Jeremy. But it was. He shot a very small doe. When I say small, my dog Buck is bigger. He took it to the house and returned a little later. He was stalking again and I was in dad's stand waiting. It was about the time for the deer to come past dad's stand and I heard Jeremy shoot again. This time he shot a big doe. At the same time, the deer were finally in front of dad's stand. It was my turn. This time we all had a deer. I ended up with one of dad's deer to take home.
I sat at home all day on Sat and Sun cleaning deer and packaging it. I now have several pounds of deer burger and some deer steaks in the freezer.
There was a lot more that happened on this trip. Like Buck going crazy every time he saw a deer and wanting to chase them. We let him one day and thought he would never come back. He was loving it.
We had a great time and I was blessed with getting to spend some great time with family in WV while mom was at home with Courtney. I was not able to make it to Tennessee to see Courtney like I had thought I would be able too. But this weekend I will be seeing her. I cannot wait either.
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I am sorry this was delayed.
I am going to go ahead and write another one regarding Christmas and some of the things that are going on the world with that.
SGT John Strader
I left here around midnight on Fri night/Sat morning and go to WV like I had predicted, in time for breakfast. The trip there was exciting, like all my road trips. I loaded down the truck with all my gear and the 120 pounds of hamburger that my family needed to add to the deer when it is ground up.
About an hour into my trip I noticed a camper with a trailer pulled over on the opposite side of the road. So, being the person I am, I went up the road and turned around and came back. For an hour we tried to put a larger trailer that had a blow out on a smaller trailer. We finally realized the smaller trailer was not going to handle it and we moved the gear to the smaller trailer, including a 17foot john boat. I never realized how heavy those things were.
So right off the bat I was an hour behind, but who cares, it is vacation afterall and there were no deadlines to meet. A few more hours up the road there was a very large buck in the middle of the road that was having a hard time walking. It appeared to have a broken leg and was walking in the middle of the road. I almost hit it, which woke me up and scared the crap out of me. I was not too sure where I was, or even what state I was in at the time, and did not care. I was just hoping that they had the same laws as Tennessee regarding roadkill. If you call it in, you can take it home. Well, this buck had a nice rack and look healthy other than the broken leg. I called it in, drove up the road and turned around once again. I got out looking for him once I got back to where he was and could not find him or signs of him, so I continued on my journey.
I arrived at the house in WV around 9am worn out and ready for a nap. We ate breakfast and i got my nap in.
Once I woke up, dad and I went up on the hill to place my treestand. We found a good spot, so we thought, and headed back to the house. We sat around the rest of the afternoon and waited for people to start showing up and watched some college football. Sun morning rolled around and we sat around discussing our plans for Mon morning while more family started arriving. Jeremy finally got there late afternoon. Finally everyone was there. We had a great dinner and all headed to bed early hoping we could sleep. The anticipation was killing us and we were all excited, no matter how little or how much we showed it.
Monday morning finally rolled around we were up, ate our breakfast of fried eggs, biscuits, and whatever meat we had that morning. For me it was a glass of milk to hold me over. By 530 about all of us were on the way to our stands waiting to see who would shoot first. Well, it wasn't me, Jeremy or Dad. Once the sun came up and we could see, you could hear the movement all around. Jeremy and I were pretty close, as was dad, although he was on the other side of the creek from us. It wasn't long that I realized I had faced my tree stand in the wrong direction. I had a few doe walk behind me and I could not get turned around to get a good shot and let them walk on to Jeremy thinking he was take one. We could both hear them between us, but could not see them. Then Jeremy came on the radio immediately after a shot was fired up the mountain from us and very close. He could see some one coming on to our property. He jumped out of the stand and headed towards them. To spare you all the drama, and make it short, some one shot a buck that was on the line and came onto our property. While Jeremy was running them off the property, the buck went back to the other side and the guy was able to claim his deer.
We never saw the deer again after that. Or any other deer the rest of the day. That afternoon we heard dad shoot. Dad called me and told me he shot one but could not find it. I went down to help him and we never found it.
Monday night we were all back the house with 2 deer killed and hanging in the smoke house cooling off. We all sat and enjoyed a nice dinner and told the stories of the day. We discussed our game plans for Tuesday. Once again, we were in bed early waiting for the second day and hoping for more luck.
Tuesday morning was like Monday. Up early, breakfast and hike up the mountain. Once again me and Jeremy could hear some deer between us on the hill, but could not see them. They headed down the hill towards dad and we let him know. It was not long after that we heard a shot. Then another. A few minutes later two more shots. We called dad on the radio and he told us he got two. Once again, dad shoots his two at the same time. Must be nice.
Come to find out, he shot a doe and when he was walking over to her, a spike buck was standing there looking at dad, so he shot that one too. This time we did not have to help him. He went and got the tractor, and took them to the house. Jeremy let a couple doe walk that day and one came over to me late that evening. I could not get a shot, and it was too small for me to shoot. Once again, me and Jeremy go home empty handed.
Wed morning was the same. Eat and hike. This time it was cooler and a little rainy. Everyone already had a deer except me and Jeremy. Around lunch time, Jeremy decided he was going to stalk a little and I was moving to Dad's stand. It was not long after that Jeremy shot. This time he did not shot 7 or 8 times like usual so I was concerned it was not Jeremy. But it was. He shot a very small doe. When I say small, my dog Buck is bigger. He took it to the house and returned a little later. He was stalking again and I was in dad's stand waiting. It was about the time for the deer to come past dad's stand and I heard Jeremy shoot again. This time he shot a big doe. At the same time, the deer were finally in front of dad's stand. It was my turn. This time we all had a deer. I ended up with one of dad's deer to take home.
I sat at home all day on Sat and Sun cleaning deer and packaging it. I now have several pounds of deer burger and some deer steaks in the freezer.
There was a lot more that happened on this trip. Like Buck going crazy every time he saw a deer and wanting to chase them. We let him one day and thought he would never come back. He was loving it.
We had a great time and I was blessed with getting to spend some great time with family in WV while mom was at home with Courtney. I was not able to make it to Tennessee to see Courtney like I had thought I would be able too. But this weekend I will be seeing her. I cannot wait either.
I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and I am sorry this was delayed.
I am going to go ahead and write another one regarding Christmas and some of the things that are going on the world with that.
SGT John Strader
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