Thursday's Thought

This is mostly just a shout out to all of those competing at Nationals right this very minute.  Would I rather be there than at my computer??  Um, YEAH!

Good luck everyone and shoot well!

Plan to work, work the plan

Question #1:  It's been 90++ degrees out all week and I have been outside shooting because:

A:  My bubble is a little off
B:  Structured plan that has me sweating
C:  Fun new gear!!
D:  All of the above

 
Tuesday - well anticipated and given it's proper due with a careful assessment of my choices by Mr.Kelly. Everything was measured, considered, deemed keepable - or not - assembled and topped off with an appropriate adult beverage. What's it like to shoot? Like butta. Only betta. Heck, yes!


 
Plan to work, and work the plan, or something thereabouts. Note to self. Be careful what you ask for. Now working new strengthening program Week #1. Fridays are the toughest, which is fine since by that point I need something else to focus on besides the usual frustrations of the week. My motivation to get the gym is weak at best, goals keep me in line and from bustin' out ma jeans.  Like the 5K from last month. Have I been running since?  Ahem... yes, well....I picked up a 40 lb bag of topsoil this morning without thinking about it tho. Huh. Things should be getting verrry interesting at the end of this cycle.

Tomorrow, we score.

Thursday's Thought

“It’s so Fluffy! I’m gonna die!”

Yup, brand new equipment is in the house.  It’s like Christmas, only way better.

More on this coming shortly along with some bow p-o-r-n.

Enter at A sitting trot.

Warning:  This post has nothing whatsoever to do with archery. If this isn't what you had a taste for today, the regularly scheduled programming will be back in the next post.

Every mid-July, our fair section of New York state is host to riders and horses from up and down the East coast. If you have been a long time follower of this blog (and thank you, btw) you already know that I pretty much came out of the womb pony-mad. If you are new to the sport of eventing, it's left over from the military days where horse and rider were tested for endurance, obedience and skill over a dressage test, (day one) a cross-country test (day two) and a show jumping test (day three). It's not for the faint of heart.

My own Cody-monster was my dressage partner for a long time and while watching I realized that right before his body decided it was time to trail ride instead, we were doing all but one of the elements of the Preliminary Level tests. And it wouldn't have been a hack job.Which did me proud for my pony and made me miss riding horribly at the same time.

The first time you spectate at one of these events you will notice a few things....
Uber-fit, braided horses with banged tails snorting rhythmically with their canter strides. Women with 60 years of horse show sun damage saying "tsk" under their breath at a bumpy canter depart. The endless parade of golf carts shuttling owners to watch their investments take their 6 minutes in the ring. The pat on the neck and the nose to tail stretch after the final crisp salute.


It was good for my heart and soul to be surrounded by this for a bit, and who knows, I might have to rejoin it at some point. There's more to life than archery.

Perfect Practice Makes Perfect

"Only those who attempt the absurd, achieve something impossible."

The Blue Angels are in town this week and have been flying over town at noon and three to ramp up excitement for this weekend's show. When you are driving to the store, and they fly over you in practice formation - amazing they manage to pull off the things they do and not end up in a fiery heap. At least they have a reason for practicing besides not crashing and burning.

This sport really has no real reason anymore, there are no wars fought with bows and arrows in our neck of the woods (not talking about lesser funded nations here). It's just a sport for the sake of the sport. Absurd, really.

Lucky 79

Mebbe not so lucky for the rabbit, eh?

This is officially my 79th post on this bloggy. Never thought it would still be going, but here we are. Thanks to ya'll for still following my nonsense. (Edited to add: Just checked the stats for this. Was pleasantly shocked to see how far away some of you are - Cork, Bratislava, Pittsford (kidding), Portland, Istanbul and Pasadena - You guys rock!) Have had a bit of writer's block lately, so not much posting.

Seems like after April is over, we all go our separate ways until fall and I have missed my regular archery peeps.

My other fav kind of peep!

So this week has been great for touching base with a bunch of you. Have missed you guys- you know who you are! Archery attracts the best sort of people, IMO. Smart, dedicated and willing to help you out or get you to laugh if you've had a crap day. Plus, they cook well (I am not friends with people who don't like to eat and eat well!) I am typing in a bit of a food coma right now as a matter of fact, courtesy of some archery friends.

Also toying with the idea of going bow hunting this fall. Yup, for deer. Not fully convinced I will do it yet, but figured I'd better get the paperwork done in the meantime. I always reserve the right to change my mind on any decision. There's a lot I don't know, and a lot I am not sure I can actually do. Not the shot itself, the messy stuff that comes after if you did it right. Am sitting through the safety course this weekend, so that box is checked. Interestingly, there are equal girls to guys in the class - go ladies!

This event may be more my speed for the long haul, though. Would love to be shooting on that grand lawn this week in Torino at the World Championships.  In the US, only 10% of archers shoot this style, in Europe, only 10% bowhunt. See, I'm learning all kinds of good stuff in my class.

Road Trip! Or Squeezing the Charmin.

So, to celebrate the 4^th of July, we hit the road… to Canada.

Seriously, I avoid driving through Canada like the plague, mostly from sitting at the border sucking diesel fumes for way too long. But, in the search for an upgraded system and some tester bows to pull, Matt and I headed out to The Bow Shop, a mere 3 hour run over the border.  

Bow shop owners are generally a friendly bunch. Add in a dash of Friendly Canadian, “Hey, sorry to keep you waiting, eh.” 

If 3-D is king where you live, you know that it’s hard to find recurve equipment in a shop to fondle and squeeze before buying.  Would love to know where ya’ll shop to find your recurve stuff – please post in the comments so everybody can check out your fav spot, too.