The Darnedest Things

Darn#1
We had some crazy weather come across us yesterday. Last night Lightening took out my Mother's answering machine, my Cousin's pump on his well and some other deivice, I think a phone, and somewhere in between them it ran into a man's house burning a hole in his carpet. It's Winter time...Four day's past Christmas. Monday I left out early heading off to go Hog Hunt with Twister. It was blowing Snow for most of the way and there was some Black Ice close to my place. At the same exact place I found the Truck on it's side it was terriably slick. As I went down the Mountian I saw the lights of a new Mustang warming in someones Drive Way. Coming back across the Mountain, at said place, I saw a shiny new red Mustang with it's front in the air and it's tail end sitting right where I found the truck. Now, that was a red truck. High up on the Mountains there was ice and snow. Clouds hanging on the high Bald's of the Nantahala's. The roads below them, in theBurning Town Community, were Icy at times. It's not been below Feezing in a few day's, then Thunder Storms. This occurs, it's alway's a wonder though.

Darn#2
We didn't Hunt with Dog's. It was far too windy for them, so, we scouted a place instead. I had my .308 in case of a Hog or Bear, and Twister had a 12 Gauge he could take a variety of Game with. He shot a Squirell that just hung in the tree...Holding on to life as it was loosing hold of a limb. Finally it fell and I climbed up the bank and got it. The thing was just laying there on it's stomach, motionless...Not even a twitch of the eye. I grabbed it by the tail and still not a motion. I took it on down to Twister, nearly 15 yards away. He reached a hold of it as I looked away and the next thing I know he's throwing that Squirell onto the ground. The thing was still alive! It bit right threw his glove and if it hadn't been for that it would have taken him to the bone. Anyway, lot's of Hog Sign.

Darn#3
I've had competition for my time latley. Suddenly I'm back in favor of the Ladies. After I put a new Radiator in my Truck the Heater Core went out. It was blowing steam, fogging my windows. It was 12 Degree's(F) and I had no heat in the Truck. It was a 5 hour and 20 minute job...The Core was less than $25. Friday, the day I had much rather have been Hunting on, that I instead worked on my truck on, I found a message on my Machine from the night before. It was my Ex Girl Freinds Boy Freind drunk saying he'd kick my ass. I've never spoken a word to this boy...Sometime Christmas Day he left a message apolagising. Go figure...Darnedest Things.

Happy Daburn New Year
Appalachian Intellectual

A Public Service Announcement. 

Words, Politicians and Animals

Heading up to a "Hot Spot", Pisgah Game Lands, Transylvania County NC,

The word Pisgah comes from the Bible. I may stand to be corrected, but, that is where Moses was shown the Promise Land. The eastern side of the Balsams is the Pisgah National Forest, Mt. Pisgah is a part of that range.

Why does the Radio DJ follow up a really cool Ramones Tune with a lame 311 song?(Sorry Amy)

One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
I'm no fan of Alaska's Senator Stevens. I'm no longer a fan of Sen. McCain either. However; both men have done something good over the last few day's. As any US Citizen that reads/hears/watches the News knows there has been a hoopla over the issue of torture. Sen. McCain pushed for a Law banning the use of torture by the CIA, it has passed the House. Though some Laws already apply to it, it's a "Moral Victory"...Before you start calling me a weak minded pacifist, understand that there are three levels of War, from top to bottom, Moral, Mental and Physical(Read Sun Tzu or investigate Col. John Boyd's theory's) Moral is the most powerful one. Doing the "Right Thing" speaks volumes. It's been recently said(in one of several peices that I have read) that "Perception is everything in 4GW". Having the Moral High Ground will make you freinds, gain respect of your peers and cast shadows over your enemies...All without you actually doing something to them. As Warfare elvoves(it is Darwinian in nature) you will see a return to Chivallary. So, no, this is not a hollow gesture or useless compounding Law...Unlike Gun Control Laws.
Seanator Stevens is known for Pork. He used one of his Pork Tricks to place drilling in ANWR. He placed it on the Defense Budget, citing that it is a Defense Issue..."That this Nation not be subject to the whims of other Countries for energy", a close quote to what I remember. His action made it very damaging for someone to vote against the Bill because it was for Defense and Katrina releif. Now, the Senate has blocked it. This is actually something useful(I'll explain), that makes you wonder why they don't block the useless Pork in other appropreations. Hmm.
Fighting over ANWR is senseless. We've all heard the slogans.."No Blood For Oil"...."The War In Iraq Is So That Oil Companies Can Be Rich"...All stemmed from the Left. The Author of Imperial Hubriswarned us of our Energy Issues. By the way that is a Book the Left loves to mention, yet, must never crack the cover of. Our Oil consumption is a part of our Enemy's Issue/Propaganda Complex. Beyond a doubt, Oil is our Achilles' Heel. Three further readings by Robert Hirsch, [1] [2] [3] may interest you on the subject of World Oil Production.(IE. no new discoveries of Oil since the 1960's). We cannot operate without Oil, until we find something to replace it...However long that may be. Someone decided to actually do something about it, even if he may be motivated by pouring Money into his State, the Man is right.
Lower Oil prices would be good for our Economy. Countries go to War Economicaly, Spiritually and Physacally. A stronger Economy is part of surviving on our own terms. Here we had a chance to have not only our own source of Oil, but, to play against our Enemy's Propaganda. A chance to strengthen our position. A chance to place us on the Moral High Ground. In my personal opinion, we've been cheated.

Hot Spots and Honey Holes
A "Hot Spot" is a good place to Hunt Deer. A "Honey Hole" is a great place to Hunt Deer. I didn't get a Deer this year. All I saw were Does and then nothing on Doe Day. Thanksgiving Morning right at 0900 I had a Doe walk in on me. She stayed with me for half an hour before catching my scent or seeing me one. Then a couple of minutes after 1000, my Hunting Partner shot. It was a nice 6 Point Buck with big scratches down his neck from fighting. It was tough to get it out of the woods, it had gone down an embankment at about a 70 degree angle for 40 or so feet.
The next day we were Hunting higher up on that mountain. Both of us in a Ground Bllind in different locations. At 0930 thought I heard him shoot back off to my rear. He heard it and thought that it was me that shot. I turned on the Radio and never heard from him. Later at about 1040 I heard something to my right rear, wich had a slope I couldnt see down. It sound almost like a Man. When a Buck drags his right leg it will sound close to a Man going through the woods. Whatever it was could have easily crossed the crest of the ridge behind me and I would have never saw it. I had litle choice. I knew whatever it was it was just out of eye sight. I slowly stood, turning as I shouldered my Rifle and saw the Deer. It was about 20 feet away. I thought it to be a Doe, but, watched it through my Scope to make sure there were no Spikes. It was a Doe. She turned her head away and I eased back down in position. I hoped she would bring a Buck in, but, she left after 10 more minutes. A little bit later my Partner came over asking where my Deer was at and me asking him the same.
Last night he called me. There's an old Mountain Preacher that hunts that too. That was his shot that we confused for each others. The Buck he shot was a 10 Pointer with a 20 Inch Spread. It was following the Doe that I saw. Does will hang around after a Shot. She then went along the ridge in my direction. If that Preacher hadn't been there...Don't cha know it coulda been me.

Look at that date. The 18th. That's how long it's taken me to type all of this.

Well, you Happy Heathens, Merry Christmas
Appalachian Intellectual

Off in the Nantahala Game Lands, Macon County NC

A note about the word Nantahala, it's Cherokee, slightly coruppted and means "Noon Day Sun". It's named after a settlement where the sun only hit it at mid day in the Winter time. It's said that it means "Land Of The Noon Day Sun", the Cherokee were not as romantic with their language. They were very practical in their names for places. It was and still is a practical language.

It's been a busy week for me and I'm glad that it's over. The Ice Storm didn't effect me too much, but, put a damper on things none the less. There was ice, but, it didn't freeze the roads too bad here. There's a few areas with out power. In Henderson County they were hit hard. I'm told it's like a War Zone over there. I was supposed to have a compant Christmas Party there, but since tthe place had no Electricity it was cancled. A family party was cancled today becuase there was no power to my Aunt who was hosting it's house. Thursday night I slept close to my Fire Place. There was a wind and I feared that it would brake more tree's and lines and knock out my power. The wind just knocked the ice off of everything. Once you got down in the Valley's there was still ice and there still is at over 4000 feet...At least Saturday there was. I didn't have my Camera, I could have taken some fine pictures.

I put a new Radiator in my truck in the freezing rain and dark. It's not a hard thing to do, but, agrevating doing it by a head lamp.

The President is going to talk tonight at 9. I didn't expect that. Maybe I'm just misinformed or unaware...heck, it's been a week and what you read here is only a tip of it. I wonder what it's about. Undoubtably it has to do with the "Four Letter I Word"...Iraq. I suppose by the time anyone reads this I'll find out.

Every time I hear about something opening back up in New Orleans it is a Tourism thing. That town is a whore...No one has respect for a tourist town.... The reason they didn't ship those folks out of there is because it would be bad for buisness if they some how dodged the bullet. Read the book "Rising Tide" and you will understand.

I've hardly read a Blog, so, if I'm absent...please excuse me. It's certainly nothing personal.

I have words of substance to come...bare with me.
Appalachian Intellectual

My 5 things

Confession time...

1. If I'm typing and I see a word mispelled or a Capital that I missed, punctuation etc, I back space it in mid sentence. I only edit after I write the sentence or paragraph. So, sometimes I get flustered and say to heck with it...if that breaks someones heart, they better stay at home.

2. Not only do I categorize my bills in my wallet, I carry around ATM receipts for weeks. The wallet get's fat and I chunk them.

3. My ears itch alot(Will you stop talking about me!?) so I scratch them with my car key's. You like that don't you Murf?

4. I put Ice in my Coffee, I only drink it at work.

5. I'm alway's teasing Bosco. Sometimes I make up little diddies about her and sing them like a Lounge Lizard. She grins.

Most everyone willing is tagged, so....Nada Children
Appalachain Intellectual

I Want To Go Bear Hunting

Looking across the Davidson River Valley, Balsam Range, Transylvania County NC.

I have alot on my agenda the next few day's. Still, I want to go Bear Hunting. Wish me luck.

I'm back from three day's at my Division Headquarters going through a pre processing for my pending deployment to Iraq. It went well. So far I'm impressed with Divisions plan to make this go as smoothely as possible. I'm the Non Commissioned Officer In Charge(NCOIC) of my "Increment". That is the people being activated,procesed and shipped to the Pre Mobilization Site. I make sure everyone is accounted for, taken care of, facilitate for as well as the Liason for any issues. I don't mind it a bit, it makes it that much more interesting.

We received Shots and so on, Legal stuff and so on. Financial stuff and so on...do you get it? Alright.

I don't like Charlotte. It was a fine country when the Catawba's had it. Gleanng from early Explorers all of that country down in there was mostly Prarie. Now, it's a big over blown Suburbia. Loud, crowded and becoming void of it's values. If there is any Big Southern City that I like it would be Birmingham, it's twilight atmosphere. I don't mean that in an attractive way, Birmingham is just living in a twilight. People won't let her forget her past, but, she stares down the shame. There is still some of the good South there. Not Charlotte. I don't think it exsists in Atlanta now.

I'll have more to say, but, since I sat here and wrote a post that was lost(Recover didn't work) I'll stop here.


I realy dig Elizabeth Vargas' new "doo".
Appalachian Intellectual

Bad Things Happen

If there is a recurring theme so far this Hunting Season, it's finding vehicles on their side in Macon County. Twister and I came up on this wreck Saturday after Thanksgiving. This poor Mountain Biker hit a "Wash Board" in the road and lost control. They were not in the car, apparently getting on their bike and riding down to get help.

The last day of Deer Season here is "Doe Day", the only time you can shoot a Doe with a Rifle.* It never has been a good day. The Weather is bad, Freezing Rain, Snow, Sleet or just plain Windy, and I have had Drill on that day several times. Once the Crank broke in my truck on that day. Yesterday I had a Radiator Hose blow off and the fitting, made of plastic crumbled. Now, I have to get a new Radiator. But, back to the Hunting. Thursday was a good at mid morning, I just wasn't in the right place. Friday the winds were high. When the Tree tops are swirling, the Deer take cover. Saturday was much the same. Even so there is a lot to be said about this Hunting Season so far.
That boy had fun...He walked up Mountains grabbing tree's and limbs to hold on, sat and shivered in the cold for hours trying to stay still and he at least saw some Sign. I think he enjoyed when that Wood Mouse ran down the log next to his leg. We didn't see any Deer, but, we had fun. Theres no substitute for fun, I've tried every single one.


I have to go out of town tomorrow. I'll be back Wednesday. I have to go to a pre processing deal on our pending deployment to Iraq. I still need to get a thing or two ready. So, if I don't respond don't be offended.

About that wreck, if you come to Southern Appalachia and travel our Forest Service Roads, know this...If it's on a bank, whoever has the outside bank doesn't pull over. The one on the inside bank does. The outside could be weak. I don't know how many times I have had to pull over because some Mountain Biker or Suburbanite turned Hiker doesn't realize this. They just keep barreling by. I don't mean to be rude, but, I'm going to stop on one day and explain this to them. I've actually seen where someone slid off a weak bank on account of it. Frankly, Yuppies are rude.

* You can shoot a doe in Bow Season and the last day of Muzzle Loading season.

Hey, I'll say something nice before long...
Appalachian Intellectual

A Few Random Things

Jumper, Glory and my .308 Winchester(Wincester Model 70), above the Little Tennessee River Valley, Macon County NC.

I have many things to do. I'm off of work tommorow and going Hunting. I beleive it will be a good morning. Winter Weather is moving in and the Deer should move first thing. 24 hours out of a storm the woods go dead, then jump alive right before it hits. Friday and Saturday I will have a 14 year old boy with me. He's the son of some freinds and no one in their family Hunts. He's a good kid and wants to Hunt...heck he's dieing to Hunt. If he doesn't get to go then he could get lost from the sport, an American Tradition.

Holiday or Christmas? It's Christmas...hence Christ, the day we celebrate his birth. If you don't beleive in him, then don't celebrate it. How hard can that be? The whole thing is a bunch of non sense and we have better things to do than to worry about offending some one. It's so darn comercialised anyway.

I'm reading a book by H. John Poole, Militant Tricks, he states that today's Soldier in Iraq uses 22% more fuel than a WWII Soldier. That's very interesting, but, not suprizing. The American Soldier today also packs more Fire Volume than his WWII and Korean War Grandfathers, not Fire Power. M-16 variants are not as powerful as a Garand. But, that's not the reason he uses more fuel.

The last book I read was Neil Boorts Fair Tax Book. I passed it on to a Co Worker and made Twister a beleiver. Want to know more? Go here.

Remember the story I shared? I've started to pick it back up...it's getting tossed in my head again. What does that have to do with you? I'm not sure....

Resist Cultural Marxism...
Appalachian Intellectual

The Sunday Evening Post

The Balsam Range, Transylvania County NC.

I havn't been home this early from Drill in a long time. The one good thing about Christmas Drill is after the party on Sunday, we get released early. Then, the three and a half hour drive home. I don't mean to be all Bahumbug, But, it's no big deal to me. It's a family event, but, most don't bring their families. Once when I had one they sat in the car for over an hour while I sat in a Traning Meeting. My Company Commander found out and excused me early. Never again.(I was in a different unit then).
It's nice to be home early for a change. Usualy it's 8:30-9:00 here latley. So, my griping aside it's not all bad. There was no Santa Claus this year. I was being sarcastic in my mention of that in the last post.

It was pretty uneventful. Everyone asked me about the Jolly Red Head Giant, my buddy who retired. He's dropped off of the Earth. We planned a party for him which he protested and wouldn't return e-mails or calls. Not even about Hunting! Can you beleive that? He wouldn't even return a call about being in on a Bear Hunt. "I don't need no party...blah blah blah". So darn modest. It was cancelled. At Ft. Lewis this year he walked into the shower with a Beer in his hand. I'm thinking about getting one of these soap dishes that hangs over the shower head with a Beer can glued to it saying "for a whole bunch of service, have one on us".

I'm not realy in the mood to post, so, I'll stop right there.
I do have one thing to add...I don't like Sunday nights, that goes back to Childhood when we lived in SC. But, Sunday night was a fun night. The Station I pick up out of Athens GA would(yes, past tense) play the Atehns and Atalanta bands from 7-10. That is where I discovered such great bands as Drive By Truckers and Southern Bitch...and I like the sexy voice of Jucifer. But, now it's a short lived hour or so. It sucks like a cold pouring rain! There, it's out of my system.
Appalachian Intellectual...