I've spend the last three weeks on leave from official work to work on Hooter Manor. It's coming together slowly but surely...all but one room is now floored, and I've successfully installed 5 interior doors and put down some trim. Now I've got a few more days of work before OFFICIALLY being marked off the State Park books, and the big Final Move is this weekend.
After Sunday, I will permanently no longer be a resident of Northeast Arkansas. I will miss being close to many friends...and probably I will miss being so close to a substantial pet store, but I think that's about it. I will NOT miss the mosquitoes, the drab landscape, or most of all - Terry Wood. He's a radio dj and self-proclaimed local celebrity. I can't stand that guy, and he's EVERYWHERE. On the radio, and on TV on local commercials. Someone needs to inform him that he's not only less than funny...he's incredibly annoying. I long for the day when I don't turn on the radio to hear "ol' Terr" crack a joke about a current event, which is never funny, then end it with his trademark "heheheh, yuk, yuk, yuk."
Speaking of turkeys, I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving! Ours was great! We began with a trek north to Mo to see my clan. Trent was back from Iraq and brought his girlfriend Hannah, who is pretty darn awesome. Tye showed up sans girlfriend as she unfortunately had to work. It was great having everyone together, and is one of the best visits to home I can remember. We had the big family doin's on Thanksgiving, which was also very enjoyable, along with the food, which was beyond enjoyable. We headed out Friday evening to join up with Marden's family for their Thanksgiving on Saturday. I'm still stuffed with turkey, stuffing, turkey, sweet potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie, and turkey.
And can you believe it???? Mizzou Tigers are ranked #1 after a great game against KU...the first time since 1960. :) Sorry Kansas friends...better luck next year. :)
We found a little time to do some deer hunting for the second round of deer hunting season, which started on Thanksgiving day. Marden and I both had pretty horrible luck during the first season. Both of us were handed nice bucks on a platter, but neither of us could deliver. I'm still suffering from being spoiled last year, when on my first day of my first season I bagged a nice 8-pt buck (which I still really think committed suicide), while Marden got an even nicer 8-pt the next day. Two first days of season, two nice deer - then we could just relax. THIS year we're feeling the deer hunting lumps. So far I've shot at and missed a 6-pt., then had another 6-pt stare me down from 20 feet away while my brain took a vacation. Marden had a nice deer stand broad side and pose, but he shot and missed, too. The rest of the season has been filled with sounds and glimpses of bucks, but none that bore any fruit. And the does. LOTS and LOTS of does, which are not legal to shoot unless you are in possession of the elusive Doe Tag, which we both applied for but did not recieve - which they seem to know...does are as thick as pea soup (Marden and I had a herd of 11 does stand in front of us at one point). I believe that these nefarious critters know exactly what they're doing. They enjoy seeing us dressing in a riduculous get-up, spilling stinky doe pee on our boots, and sitting in the freezing cold for hours on end wondering if we are still in possession of our butt cheeks or if they froze off. Those that actually get shot must be your random idiot deer. Regular deer season is nearly over, and it looks like we're out of luck for filling the freezer with yummy venison this year and will have to start buying ground beef again, unless Marden gets out his old bow. Archery season goes through February. As for me, I'm out of patience and am waiting for the next chance to go fishing. I can handle a surly trout much better than a taunting deer.
Ode To Hoss:
On a very sad note, during the weekend Mom and Dad's longtime indoor Himalayan cat, Hoss, had to be put to sleep. He was very old and his health had really declined during this fall. He made a sli
ght rebound, but took a nose-dive the last few days. I remember bringing him home when I was still pretty new to driving, smuggling him into the house and hiding the little ball of fur in my room from Mom before we stuffed him in a box and gave him to her as a birthday present. Hoss had a great life, spending his days in the lap of luxury with a nice big house to roam. He enjoyed a big sunny bay window to lounge in, another window overlooking numerous bird feeders, a front porch on which to get some fresh air, and occasionally some leaves in which he dared poop like a wild kitty in the jungles of South America. He'd also worm his way into the recliner with Dad, and sometimes get caught on the couch where he was not supposed to be. I think his favorite was staying with Grandma, because she'd let him sleep on her bed. He will be greatly missed.
ght rebound, but took a nose-dive the last few days. I remember bringing him home when I was still pretty new to driving, smuggling him into the house and hiding the little ball of fur in my room from Mom before we stuffed him in a box and gave him to her as a birthday present. Hoss had a great life, spending his days in the lap of luxury with a nice big house to roam. He enjoyed a big sunny bay window to lounge in, another window overlooking numerous bird feeders, a front porch on which to get some fresh air, and occasionally some leaves in which he dared poop like a wild kitty in the jungles of South America. He'd also worm his way into the recliner with Dad, and sometimes get caught on the couch where he was not supposed to be. I think his favorite was staying with Grandma, because she'd let him sleep on her bed. He will be greatly missed. Some people choose not to have pets for this reason, but I still feel the joy that pets bring is well worth having to endure letting them go at the end of their short life spans.
So here I am, back to work for this week waiting for the weekend and my final day as a park ranger. I'm both excited and a little sad. I'm very glad I decided over 5 years ago to pursue this dream and was able to see it realized. I'm glad I'm not sitting in a dead-end job somewhere still wondering if I could ever be a park ranger, and I'll be leaving this job satisfied that I not only did it to the best of my ablitity, but I hopefully did some good along the way. And I can leave excited by tomorrow's potential...we'll see what's on the horizon. At the least, it should make for interesting blogging! Well...hopefully minus the idiots...
Stay tuned for the latest Mullethunt '07 update!!!
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