Magic

Tonight was a good night. Now that I have a sight again, I can focus on the dot and just shoot. Had some of those magic moments where you know it's going to be in the center before it gets there. Not thinking about the bow, not thinking about the release. Feels SO good and I've really missed that feeling. Everything is starting to come together. Even while being eaten by voracious mosquitos, when it's too dark to see where the arrows are until you walk down to pull them.

On a completely separate note, I checked the stats of this blog to see if anyone is paying attention to this self-indulgent nonsense. Apparently you are, so as long as you keep reading, I'll keep posting.  <3

Not just another post

Alrighty then. It's definately time to get down to business. Did get to shoot a very nice "real" bow last Monday. My left arm has gone completely to pot from not holding up anything besides itself all summer. Boo. On the bright side, I had a great time using a sight and a stabilizer again. And by sheer will (ok, maybe luck) managed to put a few in the x-ring before the end. At any rate, did well enough to be encouraged and excited.

Today switched up to another bow to add 5 lbs more to start working up to 30 lbs. The next time you see me, check the guns. Seriously though, this is going to force me to get to the gym and do more than hit the elliptical machine. Want to be able to shoot 70m next year. There. I've said it. It's gone public.

Slightly off topic, looking where the elite shooters get to go - check out the backdrop on this World Cup venue in Utah a few weeks ago. http://www.archerytalk.com/vb/showthread.php?t=1276828
Jamie Van Natta's dad gives a nice day-by-day overview of the event with lots of pics. I think I would be lulled into not paying attention with all those mountains.

Just Singin' in the Rain

Lessons learned from shooting in the rain this morning:
  You can only get so wet. After that, it really doesn't matter.
  When your hand and your grip are really wet, it is impossible to grab.
   It is possible to focus when you have a water drip on your nose and rain in your eyelashes.
  
I think my leather tab is sufficiently broken in now.
Shooting in the wet is fun. I highly recommend it. Especially if you shoot indoors all winter along.

Tomorrow I will finally start working with Doug again after many weeks working solo while he was at the USA Nationals and a few other major shoots.  Looking forward to shooting some longer distances, and finally working with an olympic style bow.

"What a glorious feelin'
I'm happy again"

Focus Pocus

Finally, after two months of this I've shot a decently tight group with a bare bow.

I am a firm believer in an equilibrium when you have a bad day (or week) that evens out when you go shoot. You are more focused and end up shooting much better for some reason. It's like the world knows that you've had enough for a day and throws you a bone. 

As someone else said to me recently, it's a good feeling when you are on. You don't get it every time. As in last time when I hit everything BUT the target. Fence. Tree. Ladder. Hedgerow. Put a hole in one of my arrows - as in NOT a robin hood, but hit from the other plane - through a hanger arrow. Scratch and dent special.

This made up for it.