On the very last day of the season, I was lucky enough to shoot a buck! I don't have any pictures right now, but my friend has some I'll put on as soon as I can.
After skinning and butchering the deer, I was stuck with what to do with the antlers, and I decided to make my own European mount. It didn't look that hard, so in about 2 days I did it. Here are some pictures of the process. Here's the head right before the process...
Just starting to boil.
After about an hour and a half.
Sarah was excited for some brain stew!!!
At about 5 hours the skin started to kind of fall off.

After that it was a matter of scraping off skin, cleaning out brains
and other tissue, and then boiling for another couple hours.


These three were before I soaked it in Hydrogen Peroxide,
to make it whiter and clean off any last tag alongs.
And here is the finished product!
Now I will mount it on a plaque and post pics of that later:)

Ahhh!!!! It always happens, I go to gun shows and leave disappointed never having the money to buy all the cool things I see. Well not today! After church I ran down to the fairgrounds just to check it out, and a nifty little .45 followed me home! "Honest mom, it just looked so lonely, I couldn't just send it away!" Anyways its a Star Firestorm M45, which is modeled like a 1911, though a little smaller. I shot one before, but it was in .40SW, and I love 1911s so I had to buy it! And at $295, it was a darn good deal. I got my mom to sign all the legal stuff promising her she could shoot it sometimes... It came with a standard 6 round clip and two 8 round extended clips. With a nickle finish, this heavy little gun is real pretty.

My entire upper body is sore, very sore. Especially my forearms. Ouch... But its all worth it. I have a new favorite sport, a sport that gives me exercise, fun and a huge rush. Snake chucking! Just kidding, rock climbing. It is amazing. Today I spent all afternoon climbing indoors at Crux Climbing Walls, an amazing indoor climbing place in downtown Eugene. My friends Dylan, Daniel and my sister Grace and I had alot of fun. Then, Dylan, Grace and I were walking up towards Skinner Butte, when my friends Dustin and Lisa Smith drove by on their way to the Skinner Butte Columns. So, I went for my first outdoor climb, and all I can say is, I'm still shaking from the excitement! I climbed a fairly hard one, it was about 60 feet. I cannot wait to buy some gear so I can do it more often, like every week. I learned how to belay, next I'll try lead climbing...
I didn't have my camera, but I found these pictures of the Columns online...

Maybe it's because I can relate to them, but I have always had a place in my heart for drifters, homeless and less fortunate peoples of the world. They really are nice people, and I get extremely frustrated with people who treat them less than they really are...
All that being said, tonight my parents hit a homeless kid. He was in his early 20's, heading for California, and he ran out in the road to get his puppy. Unfortunately, it was dark and my dad was going 55, and the kid Frankie's head went through our windshield. Miraculously he lived, and the dog was OK too. He had for friends with him, all heading to Modesto California on the next train they could hop onto. After everything was cleaned up, mom and I took his friends over to the hospital to check on his friend. A lot of people probably thought we were crazy, picking up some drifters late at night in a dark parking lot, but they were the most thankful group I have ever seen. They were very worried about there friend, and I feel like we were doing what Jesus would have done. He wouldn't have cared that they were dirty, possibly had been drinking(or doing drugs), and didn't have the cleanest language. He still would have done all He could to help them.
It just makes me so mad when people, especially people professing to be Christians, have no sympathy for them. I have had very good friends who are homeless, and they are no different than you and me, but have run into hard times.
But to make a long story short, Frankie will be OK. He got busted up pretty bad, both legs broken, but he is alive and that is pretty incredible. Tomorrow, we'll go try to get him some new Carhartt overalls, because the paramedics cut off his very worn pair he was very fond of.
Anyways I am so thankful God allowed me into the lives of these young drifters, and hopefully will show Himself to them through our actions.

I just got back from a weekend of looking for the big buck of the Southern Oregon woods, but he is safe for now. Tyler and I left on Friday and hunted all day Saturday and some of Sunday. It was fun, and we saw near around 40 does, but not a single male deer... besides the scads of fawns we saw. We stayed at Tyler's friend Mitch's ranch, a sprawling 2,000 acre land of magical wonder for a guy who likes guns, machinery and wide open space. When we got there on Friday night we were informed by Mitch we were going to try to catch some poachers who cut the locks on his gates and shot some deer. We waited till all hours of the night armed and ready, but to no avail... they didn't show. We saw several herds of elk every day, so that might be a fine place to go come elk season. For now we'll just hunt around here, but maybe later we will go back. I am very jealous of his ranch, and his gun collection which includes several very nice pieces, such as an M1 Garand, M14, FN Fal paratrooper model, 1895 Winchester in 30-40 Krag, a Krag, and a whole bunch more... I could have spent weeks there shooting all his guns. Maybe next time I'll get pictures.

Oh man.... My calves are so sore. I started running seriously again today, hopefully keeping that up for a while. It was hard for me for a while, with the hospital and after effects, but now I am doing good. I am going to a food allergists to see exactly what foods I am allergic to. I already know I'm lactose intolerant, but it is suspected I am also gluten intolerant. That would mean I have to stay away from all wheat products, and most other processed foods. But the good news is, by eating like that, I will be eating better than most other people in America. Lots of meat, fruits, vegetables and lots of rice:) Which is good, cause I love rice.
On another note, I'm going to sight in my rifle tomorrow for deer hunting:) Yeah!!! So much fun. Hopefully I'll go on a bear hunt or two before that, maybe even getting one with my handgun. That would be sweet...

I just got back from the Shakespeare festival in Ashland, it was amazing!!! I went last year as well, and considering its considered the best Shakespeare plays in the country, it was very well done. This year we saw All's Well that Ends Well, Much Ado About Nothing and Macbeth. I have to say Macbeth was my least favorite, it was too dark, depressing and hard to follow. The other two were hilarious. It is an amazing thing to go to, so if you haven't ever been, I highly recommend it. Ashland is centered around this festival, and people all over the world attend it. I even met two girls from Italy there!!! I went with our English class, so my friends and I also wandered around Ashland checking out shops, listening to live music of all types and playing football and Frisbee in the parks. I didn't get any pictures, but my friend did, so I may get some to put on the post...

Hey, its been a while since I've posted anything, but wow! It has been a busy summer. I am especially stoked because tomorrow morning, my friends Dylan and Brannon and I are heading up to Clear lake to hike down the McKenzie River Trail. We are making it a three day backpacking trip. It started out with my friend Dylan saying we should run it, making that a 20 mile run. But we decided to save that for fall's cooler weather, opting instead to make it a fun camping trip. So yeah! I will bring my camera along and hopefully have some good pics to post on for any interested readers.

Wow... It has been a long time since I've posted anything. But happy 4th of July! I love this holiday. To start it off this year, my buddy Brannon and I ran the Butte to Butte, a race long revered by runners all around. It is a great 6 mile run, and the first thing you run up a huge hill! It was alot of fun. Here are some pictures of that. A lot of friends ran it, along with 2,500 others! It was great. Before.... And after.

I love the 4th of July. And here is a message for all those who think they can take on America.To life, liberty and the pursuit of freedom...

Those who know me well know that I can't see an instrument without looking it over, trying it out and seeing what it sounds like. Right now I have two acoustic guitars, a banjo, a mandolin, a tuba, and an electric guitar. Oh wait, make that two. I was at Glory Days Antique shop in Springfield with my mom looking for books, and I stumbled upon a room upstairs filled with instruments. Looking at the guitars, I saw a headstock that intrigued me. And what do you know! The headstock was connected to a beautiful electric guitar. A Bently Les Paul. Shaped like the famous Gibson Les Paul, this guitar sounds beautiful. The twin humbuckers still worked, it just needs a little bit of rewiring for the treble/rhythm switch. I picked her up for $99! What a great find! Bently guitar company has since ceased to exist, but people who own them say they would rather have a Bently than most any guitar you can get. Wow!

I guess I get it from my Grandma, but I love English. Or to be more specific, I love literature. I could do without the diagramming sentences, spelling and all the other technicality's of writing, but I devour books. While in the past I've lent towards science fiction, fantasy and westerns, I've gotten very into Shakespeare. I also love short stories. What sparked that interest is Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales. It is amazing to read those in the original text. What alot of people don't realize is that English has three periods. Old, middle and modern. Shakespeare and King James is (gasp!) Modern English! The Canterbury Tales and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, and books from that period are middle English. It is greatly influenced by French, but surprisingly easy to read. Old English is hard to read. You'll find it in books and poems like Beowulf. It has alot of German mixed in with it.
Here is a expert from The Canterbury Tales, and if you remember that there are no silent e's, you'll find it is like a poem...
"In southwerk at the tabard as I lay
Redy to wenden on my pilgrymage
To caunterbury with ful devout corage,
At nyght was come into that hostelrye
Wel nyne and twenty in a compaignye,
Of sondry folk, by aventure yfalle
In felaweshipe, and pilgrimes were they alle,
That toward caunterbury wolden ryde."
Aside from English, my legs are killing me. I ran 15 miles in 2:10 yesterday, and my body won't let me forget it. I had alot of trouble getting out of bed this morning, but something I read sticks in my mind. Running never takes more than it gives. I will leave that open to interpretation.

I had been seeing carp and trout for weeks in the canals at Alton Baker park, and finally I had to get some. It was slightly drizzly, but a couple friends and I braved the cold and cast a few into a certain "productive spot", near a bridge. It took a while, but I caught two rainbows, and a 15ish inch carp. The trout were only about 10 or so inches. Apparently my flies were too good for them, so I stuck a worm on the hook and cast it in. The carp was a lucky hit, I snagged him in the tail and pulled him in. It was a workout for my fly rod, but good stuff.
Not a very pretty spot, but here are some pictures...

Well, got an email back from the people in charge of the marathon, and turns out, I get a 10% discount... Yeah. That puts it in the $90 range.. Ouch!
Yesterday I had a great run. I ran about 12 miles, up Hendrix hill and around. My legs felt dead the whole time until about 10 miles, when I got a second wind and fairly well sprinted the next 2 miles! It is amazing when that happens. I am getting ready for an all day concert this Friday, so I am working out my lungs for the tuba. Now that's a workout!

I was disappointed to realize that to run in marathon I now have to pay a fee of $105 dollars! If I don't pay to be entered and just run the race, I am in danger of being labeled a "bandit"(which personally I think would be cool), and being kicked off the track(which would not be cool). It is a sorry situation, but a email was sent to see if it is possible for poor students like myself get a lesser cost to run... We will see what happens.
On a not so minor note, I was intrigued due to the fact I am now labeled as a "right wing extremist" by homeland security, due to the fact I oppose abortion and own firearms. I suppose if they knew I was a Christian I would be a threat to national security! It's a messed up world where those who advocate for the right of the unborn to live are labeled dangerous...

Well, my marathon is coming up. I ran 12 miles today up Hendrix Hill and around the outlying area. Running is just about the best therapy I can think of. I mostly like to run trails and along the Willamette river in Alton Baker park. Great fun. Here's some pictures of the area I like to run.

A couple months ago some friends of mine and I went snow shooing on the Crescent Lake path. It was alot of fun! We spent three days out on the trail, slept in tents and snow caves, and hung out in little shelters along the way. Here is a video of a snow cave my buddy Dylan and I made..

From Shooting Illustrated, one of the weirdest coolest things I've seen in a long time...
Aaron

At a remote location on the North Island of New Zealand, an eccentric visionary named Dr. Grordbort has assembled a small but potent arsenal of Aether Oscillators, which function on gaseous energy rather than powder and lead. Created by his Senior Conceptual Designer Greg Broadmore, the most imposing of these is the F.M.O.M. Wave Disrupter. Looking like a 1930s Flash Gordon ray gun, it is both futuristic yet Edwardian in appearance, although Broadmore states they have all been hand built within the past three years.

Considering its exposed gauges and weight, the Wave Disrupter is not user-friendly. In fact, it can be as disastrous to the person firing the gun as to the intended target. “When you read the instructions,” Broadmore laughs maniacally, “you’ve got to think, ‘there’s no way I can shoot this thing without killing myself.’”
Operation of the Wave Disrupter starts by ensuring the Compressed Inverse Ether Phial is at least 6⁄7 full before charging. Then the pressure dial is carefully adjusted until a resonance of 523 Hz (Hertz)—a perfect pitch of high C—is reached. A tuning fork is provided for this purpose. The Wave Disrupter must be discharged within six seconds and the wave must not be emitted longer than 42⁄3 seconds. Shooters are cautioned by the company to avoid looking directly at the wave, which complicates aiming, as the gun has no sights.
“These things vibrate at an uncomfortable level,” Broadmore warned. “They feel like they’re going to explode in your hands and you’ll be struggling to hold onto it once you charge it up. There is no recoil, but once you’ve dispersed (fired) it, the thing will be oscillating like crazy. It could very well leap out of your hands if you aren’t holding it tightly.”

“The conical rays of the cones expand outward from the gun,” Broadmore explained, “so the further away something is, the more likely it’s going to get hit. Conversely, the energy reduces with distance. So you’re talking an effective range of 30 to 50 meters (approximately 98 to 164 feet), although you might be able to cause damage to something beyond and have absolutely no trouble hitting it (because of the expanding conical rays), but the most extensive disruption would be within 50 meters.”
I can’t recommend the Wave Disrupter for home-defense, because it would not only take out the bad guy, but everything around him, including, given enough distance, the entire neighborhood. It would also be impractical for plinking or hunting. I discovered during testing that you can’t find your target afterward.
Available in a limited edition of 500, the Wave Disrupter is only legal to own for those with a BATFE Class MCMLXIV FFL. To obtain this license, you must be willing to submit to DNA testing, several polygraph tests and a rigorous battery of “probing examinations.” After receiving your paperwork, usually about six to eight years after initial filing, you must surrender your first-born son to obtain an import license. These small inconveniences are well worth the pride you will feel as the only guy on the block capable of vaporizing it. For those still interested in purchasing one, April Fool’s!

— Rick Hacker

NOTE: Special thanks to Academy Award winners Richard Edlund of Richard Edlund Studios, CA, and Peter Jackson’s WETA Workshop in New Zealand for creating the lead photos. Non-functioning Wave Disruptors really are available from WETA for $660 and make a lovely conversation piece.

It looked like it was going to be a sunny day this morning, but unfortunately the clouds took over and it was just another gloomy afternoon. Hopefully tomorrow will be nicer.