Happy Holidays

From our family to yours – Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, and many blessings in the New Year!

My YouTube Channel is Up and Running

As an early birthday gift to myself, I set up my very own YouTube Channel. It will also be listed in the Pages section of this blog. I hope you’ll enjoy sharing my life in video!

Women on Target

October 25 dawned as a cool grey day, but the weather didn’t dampen my spirits as I donned jeans, a sweater and a rain jacket, and headed up to Sir Walter Gun Club for the Women on Target all-day seminar hosted by the Women of the NRA. There were 60 women attending, all of us eager for a full day of learning about firearms from trained and licensed instructors, including members of some local youth rifle teams. We separated into squads of 10-12 women each and under the guidance of our respective squad leaders, went from station to station throughout the day, getting instruction and hands-on practice shooting paper targets and steel plates with a variety of .22 pistols and revolvers, 9 mm pistols, .22 rifles, AR-15 rifles, and finally tried our hands shooting skeet clays with shotguns. The instructors were exceptionally well qualified and very patient as we learned safe handling and proper operation of the various firearms. It was a full day of fun, extensive knowledge, empowerment, camaraderie, delicious food, smiles and bonding. There were mothers and daughters, sisters, co-workers and friends – women of all ages, from all walks of life, all united by a desire to learn about the various shooting sports and the safe and proper use and handling of guns. There were so many smiles and so much laughter, even Mother Nature couldn’t resist and parted the clouds by early afternoon to take a peek at the festivities…

Stay…if only they could

Zoe passed away peacefully this afternoon at 2:10 p.m., on her favorite couch in the company of her loving family, with her veterinarian and assistant in attendance. Rest in Peace, Baby Girl. We will always love you.

Hiking at Umstead

It was such a nice day today that Steve and I decided to head over to William B. Umstead State Park for a hike on the Sycamore Trail. While there, we saw a whole plethora of native flora and fauna including some very cool spiders, as well as several interesting ferns, trees, moss and fungi. The trail snaked its way along a rock-strewn creek for the most part, although it did feature an overlook branch which took us to “the cliffs” section which is apparently the remains of an old mining quarry. The hike was a lot of fun for me, since I’d never been on those trails before, only ever having ridden my bicycle on the fireroad portions of the park – and Steve made good use of Mother Nature’s ever-interesting backdrop for creative photo opportunities!

An Ordinary Life

I met a very interesting young woman today. She is a coworker and friend of my husband’s who, surprisingly enough, had asked him for the name of my firearms instructor as she is very interested in learning to shoot and possibly entering some IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) competitions. When I stopped to consider why I found that surprising, I realized how serendipitous my foray into the world of shooting sports was. Although I was raised in the country, in a family who owned several guns and responsibly and legally hunted regularly, I still grew up with the misguided and erroneous mindset that guns are inherently evil and would randomly jump up and start shooting on their own volition. As a result, rather than a healthy respect for the deadly potential all weapons – even kitchen knives and baseball bats – possess, I developed what I believe is a very common irrational fear of firearms. I didn’t want to see them, hear about them or have them anywhere near me – convinced that they would take it upon themselves to fire randomly upon innocent victims, purely on their own. Since our society so often seems to imply that only dangerous radical extremists or murderous psychopaths - or at best, hunters or cops - could possibly have any interest in guns, the sane, sensible, law-abiding, responsible, average-citizen type gun owners tend to keep their firearms interest to themselves for fear of being indiscriminately and inaccurately labeled. This is unfortunate because it tends to perpetuate the misconception of what most gun enthusiasts are actually like.

I, for example, am a middle aged woman. I work a regular job, pay my bills on time, have no extreme political leanings (in fact, I’m pretty moderate politically speaking), am environmentally conscious and recycle, support animal rescue and advocacy organizations, enjoy riding bicycles, playing tennis and running, and love my husband and family. I’m somewhat spiritually-minded, though not a religious zealot, and am neither a far-left liberal nor a far-right conservative. I enjoy a pretty sunset, and worry that I need to lose a few pounds. I have bad hair days, and cry at sad movies. I enjoy watching my cats and dogs play and show off. I love the mountains and the beach, and appreciate a good cup of coffee on a chilly morning. Although I know many responsible hunters, I personally don’t hunt – in fact, I don’t even eat meat. In essence, I’m fairly ordinary, and would almost certainly not fit the stereotype of a “gun nut”. However, I do enjoy putting holes in paper targets, hearing the “plink” when I send a bullet into a metal “popper” downrange, and learning skill and speed tactics that could someday save my life.

Fortunately for me, a couple of my friends – also just regular people – were willing to share their interest in firearms with me, and even took me out shooting for the first time this past January. Their willingness to share their interest in guns, combined with my husband’s gentle and persistent invitations for me to join them on a range outing, opened up a whole new world to me, and for that I’m very grateful. I’ve met so many wonderful ladies and gentlemen at the local IDPA shooting competitions, and have found a sport that satisfies my analytical and precision-fascinated mind. The shooting sports have given me an activity where my total focus must be on what I’m doing right now, at this very second, and nothing else – what a great way for me to forget about all the little stresses of the day.

IDPA Competitive Match

And believe me, I sincerely and honestly hope to never, ever have to draw my gun for any reason beyond competition and target shooting. I take every precaution to avoid situations and circumstances that might give criminals potential access to me.  However, I realize nothing in life is guaranteed despite our best efforts, and if this sport just happens to teach me how to provide myself the best fighting chance I have to defend my life in the event, heaven forbid, it ever became necessary, well, is that such a bad thing?

Competing in Indoor IDPA Match

I realize sharing this side of myself with others may alienate a lot of my friends, but I feel that closing off and hiding this part of me would be a great disservice to my fellow sportsmen and sportswomen by allowing perpetuation of the myth that “normal people aren’t gun enthusiasts”, or that “only hunters, cops or criminals have guns”. I’m neither a hunter, cop nor a criminal, but guns are a part of my ordinary life. And I hope that shortly, they’ll be a part of my husband’s friend’s life – who knows, perhaps one day soon she and I will be attending an IDPA match together.

Time Just for Us

Steve and I decided that some time away, just for the two of us, was in order to provide a respite from the stresses of everyday life, work and routine, and to give us a fresh outlook on things. So we spent a weekend getaway at the Scenic Overlook Bed & Breakfast at Pilot Mountain. Upon our arrival, we decided to head to the park first, where we hiked up to the overlook itself.

There, we enjoyed the breathtaking scenery and fresh air, and just spending time together in a beautiful natural setting. After arriving at the inn, we found our suite to be quite fabulous, including spectacular views of the private lake, flower-ringed gazebo and Pilot Knob; whirlpool for two  complete with scented bath salts and candles; two fireplaces; and extra comfy sofas with tons of fluffy pillows. We were greeted the following morning with a home-cooked full breakfast served to us in our room. Our hosts couldn’t have been more welcoming, and Steve and I both felt totally rejuvenated and reconnected by the time we made our way back home. If you’ve never taken a day – or two or three – just for yourself, give it a try. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

202

202. It was the slowest score of all the competitors this past Tuesday night at the Durham County Wildlife Club, and the only one over 200 (think golf, where lower scores are best). But it was my score, and considering it was my first ever IDPA (International Defensive Pistol Association) shooting match, I was actually quite happy with it. I’m especially happy to report that I didn’t receive any safety violation procedural penalties (to my knowledge anyway) other than being warned a couple of times about letting the muzzle point more toward the ground rather than the backstop while I was moving to cover. My shot accuracy was decent, for me anyway, even firing one-handed, and I only noticed one hit on a non-threat target which occurred in my first shooting string. The course included some targets at greater distances than I’d shot before, and this was also the first time I had fired while moving – both advancing and retreating – and I surprised myself by being able to do this reasonably well.

Being a newcomer to this sport, I was quite nervous at the start, with the usual “What if I miss all the targets, forget how to aim or, gasp, drop my gun???” Luckily, none of that happened, and the friendliness and helpfulness of the other competitors quickly put me at ease, even though my stomach was in a giant knot from the time I arrived at the range until the Range Officer asked “Shooter Ready?”. It was at that point my focus narrowed more than I think it ever has and all I saw were the front sights (following a brief glimpse of the target locations), and all I heard was the Range Officer’s voice. No sound other than that – no spectators’ voices, no noise from my shoes on the gravel as I moved from cover to cover, not even the sound of my own gun when it fired.

I also discovered, somewhat to my surprise, that even though I was surrounded by firearms, including the loaded one in my own hand when I was on course, I don’t think I’ve ever felt safer participating in any of my other sports than I did here. The Range Safety Officer was always right behind my right shoulder, with eyes constantly watchful of my gun to ensure safe handling at all times; the timer/scorekeeper was close behind my RSO; and other RSOs were ever watchful of the other participants as they awaited their turns on course. Safety is paramount at these matches, and the more experienced shooters are wonderful at mentoring those of us who are new.

All told, I had an unbelievably enjoyable foray into competitive shooting, and in addition to more matches coming up, I’m also looking into some local classes by a couple of the RSOs to improve my gun-handling skills and perhaps even eventually my scores.

Dichotomy

Is it hypocritical to steadfastly support the Second Amendment, yet also support the ASPCA and Humane Society? To believe strongly in human rights, yet also honor a woman’s right to defend herself against an assailant using whatever means (or weapon) may be necessary? To care deeply for the environment, yet also enjoy the shooting sports?

As an animal advocate, vegetarian and naturalist, I find that many of my friends aren’t quite sure what to think when they discover that I also am an avid – and, I might add, routinely training and practicing - shooter who stalwartly supports the Second Amendment of the United States. 

To me, this dichotomy is actually perfectly compatible. By the very nature of my belief that all life is precious, that also must include my own.

“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand”.~~Susan B. Anthony

An Exciting 24 Hours

It started last evening when Steve ran into the house, urging me to come out into the yard. As soon as I stepped off the porch, I was led to four tiny baby birds, barely hatchlings, lying under one of our evergreen trees. They had apparently fallen after their nest was shredded by severe storms earlier, and appeared to be newborn songbirds, most likely Robins or Cardinals. At first, I feared they were dead, but closer inspection revealed their tiny chests rising and falling as they struggled to hang on to life. I quickly ran back into the house and searched online for a local wildlife rescuer. It was immediately apparent that Angels do indeed exist when I luckily found Ashley, a wildlife rehabilitator about 10 miles from us. I called her and she walked me through constructing a temporary nest for the hatchlings and instructed me on gently stroking them to check their body temperatures and placing them into the nest. She then verbally guided Steve and myself on making them some food by soaking dry cat food which we then fed them very carefully using tweezers, making sure to insert the food down the right side of their throats to avoid choking. At this point, since it was getting dark and the mother bird had shown no signs of returning, we elected to transport the newborns to Ashley’s home where she could finish rehabilitating them in order to release them back into the wild once they are strong enough. I’m happy to report we got a phone call this morning to let us know that all four babies are doing very well!

Then this evening, after a very stressful and busy day at work, I received a phone call from Comp-Tac, informing me I had won a C-TAC holster in their Free Holster Contest! I’m beyond excited about winning such a great product from a top-notch company with unsurpassed customer service. My previous experiences with Comp-Tac, both the company and their products, have been nothing short of exceptional, so I’m quite thrilled about this news!

And after all this, I still managed to get in a pleasant 45-minute bicycle ride in beautiful weather alongside the man I love…

Yep, it’s been a good 24 hours!