Mass Media or slap of reality?

I took my daughter downtown this afternoon, shes only 1 and a half, but Mom had spent some serious time making the costume.  It was almost as if she had an alter ego the second she put it on.  We went from napping in the car-seat to lil batman/stevie wonder in no time.  It was incredible.  A few repairs from the local hardware on the spot, binder clips, pocket sewing kit etc were needed right away, but lil batman almost had to be held down to make them.  It was great watching her, she was cute and having a great time strolling up and down the streets of downtown, the light drizzle didnt even faze her.  It got me to thinking later that night as I watched droves of little kids  up and down the street, about half of them accompanied by a car parked and moving about every three houses or so.  Some fathers lighting the way, 35 lumens shining on the children as they walk house to house.  Is it mass-media or halloween reality?

I remember as a kid, pillow case in locker waiting for the bell. Game on.  House to house we went, usually running untill about dark.  After rounds were made, sometimes twice, especially for the folks dishing out the full size candy bars we went home.  Sure, are parents looked over the goods, making sure nobody hooked us up with sharp objects, beer, smokes, scrambled eggs etc.  But they never followed us around as we trick or treated our way around the burbs of Chicago.
But, nowadays you here everything online, on cable, at a lighting fast speed.  Dont hike, you might get eaten by a bear, or shocked by one.  Did you hear about that ladys monkey who turned on her?...Dont want to ever own one of those.  Dont eat this dont eat that, heaven forbid you swim in the ocean, you ever watch shark week?  Is it mass media or legit halloween fear.  Cant you atleast get out of your car and walk with your kids?  Enjoy it a little?  Or are you in the car to make a clean escape from all the things you have read on the internet?  Happy Halloween

Everything on the mountain gets eaten

Just a few days ago, I took my fly rod out for its last "serious" walk of the season(most likely).  Unless a few events fall right into place.  I fished a tributary of the Yellowstone.  I didn't see a single other person except for the friend I was with all day.  The cottonwoods and aspens that lined the river were golden and some were falling with the breeze.  I got the pleasure of throwing streamers all day, watching brown trout, some attacking with reckless abandon.  Others looking, I'm sure some not looking at all.  Not a spectacular day, but a good one, complete with some cow talk, a distant bugle and the smell of elk.

All the colors, the snow in the high country and that nice bite of fall in the wind.  It renewed my passion to get out and hunt, after all we are going to need some meat in the freezer. I look forward to getting back and connecting a little.  Not just shopping for the package of meat in the refrigerated section.  It always reminds me of my wife, In fact she told me that when she was younger she just sort of assumed that there was a "meat" compartment in an animal.  Like you just sorta opened up the drawer pull it out and send the critter back to pasture. Getting on the ground, doing the work, the right way with respect for the game, thats what I look forward to.

Thank you Barry

I spent my younger years growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, in fact, the first super bowl I remember is the 1985 Chicago Bears beating the New England Patriots.  The "fridge", Jim Mcmahon, sweetness.  We even stretched out in P.E. class to the super bowl shuffle.  Everything should have pointed me in the direction of being a bears fan.  But on one Thanksgiving day at my grandmothers house in Iowa, I watched this little guy in honalulu blue with the number 20.  He rushed all over the Broncos for 200+ yards and from that point forward the Lions have been my team.
There was a few good years, even an NFC championship appearance.  But lately its been awful, first team to go 0-16. Ouch.

At one point, I read an article calling them one of the worst franchises in all of sports.  Between my love for the Cubs and the Lions I sorta felt doomed. Now this year, the lions have come out hot, and are on Monday Night Football for the first time in 10 years, 10 years!  I love Thanksgiving partly because it was the one time of year I got to see my favorite team play.  Now this year people are talking about them, there is some excitement, its almost weird to me but I love it.  Just a reminder I guess, some things that you have to wait for are some of the best.  I'll be around for the ride.  Word is, Barry will be doing the intro to tonights game.  I cant wait.  Thank you Barry!

Dog Days of.....October??

Its early October right?  I went to a pals 30th bday party last night at around six thirty.  On the way I was looking at the thermometer in the car.  It was 75 degrees, really?  I love to elk hunt, especially in early and mid September.  I like a little bite in the air in the fall, warm afternoons are ok, but highs in the 80s and stuff? come on.  How is a guy supposed to get real excited about walking around with a bow in a t-shirt and cutoff shorts?

The last good bull I saw was on an afternoon hunt last week, he was tucked into a little shaded fold in some sagebrush looking for shade, panting and trying to catch a nap anytime his cow was sitting still for more than a few moments. I didn't even bother calling to him, I knew he was in no mood to move too far too fast. He looked hot, tired, and over it.  I sorta feel the same way,  the weathers got me down,  I know that cool bite in the air will be here soon enough, and I'm sure the fever will return with it, until then.