Last night I was thinking about how I've been blogging and tweeting about shooting opossums. This really isn't a big deal around here. Everyone has to deal with critters/varmints (whatever you want to call them). Having said that, I am sure there are a number of people out there who think I shouldn't be shooting these opossums. In fact, I keep waiting for one of them to make a snide comment about it.
Time out: I just had to take a shot at a raccoon that was on my back deck. For all my adventures with raccoons, check my past posts... By the way, I got a shot off, but it is going to take more than one shot from my 22 take take down a boar coon (unless I were to get it in just the right spot, and I'm not that good of a shot when the target is moving).
Back to the opossums...
I'm not going to get into how ridiculous I think PETA is, but I will say that if one of them had an opossum coming into their house and pooping all over the place, I'm pretty sure they would change their mind about letting the rodents be.
And for those who would say that having opossums get into your house is what happens when man encroaches into the animals' territory, let me say that that is a bunch of hooey. My house has been here for 10 years. Prior to that, this was a field, and has been since the early 60s. There are hundreds of acres of woods surrounding my house for the opossums (and raccoons) to hang out. Opossums do not need to set up house under my house!
So PETA can kiss my dead opossum!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Small Town Girl With A Gun
I am stalking opossums...big time. I shot two tonight. One ran off, although I don't think he'll make it and one is dead below my deck. I have my opossum gun at the ready and my opossum trap set. I know they're not all dead yet because after shooting the latest one, I heard one walking on the duct work under my house.
They are living under my house, up in the insulation around the duct work. I can hear them stomping on it. They MUST GO!!! The whole dang family of them!
They are living under my house, up in the insulation around the duct work. I can hear them stomping on it. They MUST GO!!! The whole dang family of them!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
How Many Books This Year???
According to my LibraryThing list, I read 32 books last year. I'm a little disappointed by that. I feel that as an English teacher, and a lover of books, I should be reading more than that. I would think 52 books (one a week) would be more what I should be reading. Obviously, I watch too much TV.
I finally managed to change my LibraryThing wigit to list the books I have read so far this year. February is half over and I've only finished 3 books! That's terrible. To be fair, I've been reading a lot of old issues of photography magazines, and that has been taking up part of my time. I'm going to try to make an effort to spend a little more time reading for pleasure!
I finally managed to change my LibraryThing wigit to list the books I have read so far this year. February is half over and I've only finished 3 books! That's terrible. To be fair, I've been reading a lot of old issues of photography magazines, and that has been taking up part of my time. I'm going to try to make an effort to spend a little more time reading for pleasure!
Gotcha!
I finally got that stupid opossum last night. I had shot it last week, but it was just a flesh wound (and not the Monty Python type) and he ran under the house. I hadn't heard/seen him in almost a week and hoped that he had expired from his wounds, but no such luck.
I was sitting in my living room last last night when I heard one of my "cats" eating their cat food. Since the "cat" was an exceptionally noisy eater, I was suspicious and decided to check it out. It was the opossum. He ran outside, so I put some food on the porch, turned on the porch light and waited. Sure enough, he showed up. I got my gun (remember the super old 22 rifle?) and an extra bullet (just call me Barney Fife!) and slowly opened the door with my rifle cocked and ready. I shot it in the head from about 4 foot away, quickly reloaded and shot again. He still managed to stumble his way down the porch steps, but based on all the blood, it was a mortal wound. I wish one shot would have killed him instantly, but either I didn't get off a good enough shot, or the 22 just wasn't enough to do the job quickly. I hate to think he suffered, but I'm pretty sure he didn't suffer long.
I only hope that he was the only opossum and I haven't been dealing with an entire family and this was just one of them...
Don't forget to check out my photoblog: Views From A Small Town
Also, check out my Flickr page for more of my photos or to be one of my contacts.
(Not my picture - I got this off an animal control site)
I was sitting in my living room last last night when I heard one of my "cats" eating their cat food. Since the "cat" was an exceptionally noisy eater, I was suspicious and decided to check it out. It was the opossum. He ran outside, so I put some food on the porch, turned on the porch light and waited. Sure enough, he showed up. I got my gun (remember the super old 22 rifle?) and an extra bullet (just call me Barney Fife!) and slowly opened the door with my rifle cocked and ready. I shot it in the head from about 4 foot away, quickly reloaded and shot again. He still managed to stumble his way down the porch steps, but based on all the blood, it was a mortal wound. I wish one shot would have killed him instantly, but either I didn't get off a good enough shot, or the 22 just wasn't enough to do the job quickly. I hate to think he suffered, but I'm pretty sure he didn't suffer long.
I only hope that he was the only opossum and I haven't been dealing with an entire family and this was just one of them...
Don't forget to check out my photoblog: Views From A Small Town
Also, check out my Flickr page for more of my photos or to be one of my contacts.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Two Day Weeks Are Exhausting!
We only had school Thursday and Friday this week due to all the snow. The kids were surprisingly well behaved considering (except for my last class of the day, but they tend to be the exception to all the rules...) It was weird only have two days of class, but last year we had two weeks in a row with only one day: the Monday of one week, then the Friday of the next due to a huge ice/sleet storm.
Last night I finally went to the grocery store to re-stock the pantry and fridge. I was dangerously low (or out) of some of my favorite items. I guess that's what happens when you're stuck in your house for four days strait!
As I left my house to meet my Mom and SiL to go shopping, I saw the opossum that has decided it lives in my house. This time, it was walking around the front of my house. I slowly retreated back into the house to get my gun (which is the world's oldest 22). Of course, when I got back outside the stupid thing had taken cover. I swear it knew what I was planning. I stalked it around the house, but to no avail. I got tickled while doing so as a mental picture of myself formed in my mind: there I was, quietly stalking an opossum...in my work clothes; gun in hand. I still had on my good shoes and I was traipsing around in my very soggy yard (all that snow melting) trying not to get my shoes all muddy. I could only imagine what my students would have said if they could have seen me. After they stopped laughing that is.
So I have set a trap for the opossum. It is getting into the house through the cat door on my back door. Since it has to come up onto the deck to get to the back door, I am putting out food on the back deck in order to lure it to one spot (not in the house) so I can shoot it. I'm keeping the porch light on and occasionally looking out the window to see if it has taken the bait. So far no luck. The other day it had eaten some of the food, but I missed seeing it out there. I guess I should be more vigilant.
Wish me luck!
Last night I finally went to the grocery store to re-stock the pantry and fridge. I was dangerously low (or out) of some of my favorite items. I guess that's what happens when you're stuck in your house for four days strait!
As I left my house to meet my Mom and SiL to go shopping, I saw the opossum that has decided it lives in my house. This time, it was walking around the front of my house. I slowly retreated back into the house to get my gun (which is the world's oldest 22). Of course, when I got back outside the stupid thing had taken cover. I swear it knew what I was planning. I stalked it around the house, but to no avail. I got tickled while doing so as a mental picture of myself formed in my mind: there I was, quietly stalking an opossum...in my work clothes; gun in hand. I still had on my good shoes and I was traipsing around in my very soggy yard (all that snow melting) trying not to get my shoes all muddy. I could only imagine what my students would have said if they could have seen me. After they stopped laughing that is.
So I have set a trap for the opossum. It is getting into the house through the cat door on my back door. Since it has to come up onto the deck to get to the back door, I am putting out food on the back deck in order to lure it to one spot (not in the house) so I can shoot it. I'm keeping the porch light on and occasionally looking out the window to see if it has taken the bait. So far no luck. The other day it had eaten some of the food, but I missed seeing it out there. I guess I should be more vigilant.
Wish me luck!
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Snowed In
Just another snowy winter in The Ozarks. No school for the past two days, and they've called off school for tomorrow. We now have added two days to the end of the year and have lost four days of our 5-day spring break! So how have I spent the last two days...
This picture isn't great, but it shows what the field behind my house looked like Monday during all the snow.
Monday: I did some laundry (sort of...), but mainly I surfed the internet a lot and watched an all-day Grey's Anatomy Marathon. This was a marathon of my own making; I had about 17 episodes saved on my Tivo and managed to get through most of them. So, basically, I didn't do much.
Today: I finished the Grey's marathon, did the dishes (well, I unloaded the dishwasher), studied some photography tips, spent 3 hours figuring out how to get my Linksys wireless router to work with my DSL and then called my DSL provider to complain about my speed (paying for 1.5mbps and I'm getting 270kbps).
Stupid Linksys tech support wanted me to pay them $30 for their help. Seriously? I hung-up and searched the internet and finally figured it out myself. By the time I called them, I had already spent over an hour working on it, I sure wasn't going to pay them $30 bucks when I knew I could figure it out if I spent some more time on the internet searching for an answer.
My DSL provider is sending someone out tomorrow to figure out why my speed is so slow. My mom is calling them too because hers is a lot lower than what she's paying for too. We're on the same main line, so...
I'm enjoying the time that I get to work on my photography. I've got lots of books and magazines that I need to read through. I learn more and more every time I pick one up. Plus I've been learning a lot about how to edit in photoshop. I used to only use photoshop for more design projects, not editing photos. Needless to say, I have a lot to learn.
I got my new camera backpack in yesterday. It is HUGE! Way bigger than I thought it would be. Mostly it is just a lot deeper than I thought it would be, and it is hard foam, so it doesn't get any smaller. The depth of the pack is really too much for small lenses (and I have two). Anyway, it will be what I use when I want to carry all my equipment. I'm tired of carrying two bags shoved full of equipment when I know I will want to use multiple lenses. It's especially frustrating when I know I'm going to want to do some macro shots.
I'm hoping to get more photography stuff done tomorrow. I really need to grade the Macbeth tests I brought home with me, but I feel like this is my spring break and I don't want to spend 3 hours of it grading tests...
Hope you're enjoying your February!
This picture isn't great, but it shows what the field behind my house looked like Monday during all the snow.
Monday: I did some laundry (sort of...), but mainly I surfed the internet a lot and watched an all-day Grey's Anatomy Marathon. This was a marathon of my own making; I had about 17 episodes saved on my Tivo and managed to get through most of them. So, basically, I didn't do much.
Today: I finished the Grey's marathon, did the dishes (well, I unloaded the dishwasher), studied some photography tips, spent 3 hours figuring out how to get my Linksys wireless router to work with my DSL and then called my DSL provider to complain about my speed (paying for 1.5mbps and I'm getting 270kbps).
Stupid Linksys tech support wanted me to pay them $30 for their help. Seriously? I hung-up and searched the internet and finally figured it out myself. By the time I called them, I had already spent over an hour working on it, I sure wasn't going to pay them $30 bucks when I knew I could figure it out if I spent some more time on the internet searching for an answer.
My DSL provider is sending someone out tomorrow to figure out why my speed is so slow. My mom is calling them too because hers is a lot lower than what she's paying for too. We're on the same main line, so...
I'm enjoying the time that I get to work on my photography. I've got lots of books and magazines that I need to read through. I learn more and more every time I pick one up. Plus I've been learning a lot about how to edit in photoshop. I used to only use photoshop for more design projects, not editing photos. Needless to say, I have a lot to learn.
I got my new camera backpack in yesterday. It is HUGE! Way bigger than I thought it would be. Mostly it is just a lot deeper than I thought it would be, and it is hard foam, so it doesn't get any smaller. The depth of the pack is really too much for small lenses (and I have two). Anyway, it will be what I use when I want to carry all my equipment. I'm tired of carrying two bags shoved full of equipment when I know I will want to use multiple lenses. It's especially frustrating when I know I'm going to want to do some macro shots.
I'm hoping to get more photography stuff done tomorrow. I really need to grade the Macbeth tests I brought home with me, but I feel like this is my spring break and I don't want to spend 3 hours of it grading tests...
Hope you're enjoying your February!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Frustrations Abound
I have had a few frustrating moments over the last few days...
My junior students have spent the last 2 months or more begging me to be their class sponsor next year. They are losing both of their sponsors after this year (one to retirement, one to a job change). At our high school, each class gets two sponsors their freshmen year that go through the next four years with them. Senior year is a big deal because the seniors run all the concession stands at games in order to raise money to go on senior trip. Today I finally capitulated and told them I would do it (I just did it a few years ago and it is A LOT of work for very little pay). I told the principal that I would do it, only to find out that two other teachers already said they'd do it over a month ago, but they just hadn't told the kids yet. The kids aren't going to be very happy about it because they thought that I was going to do it and they were excited. The teachers that are going to do it are not core teachers, so the students don't really know them. They will do a good job, I just know the kids will be disappointed. I'm glad I don't have to do it though.
I ordered a new lens for my camera and paid extra so it would get here sooner...it didn't get here sooner. I was so disappointed. I tracked it on UPS and they say there was weather delays. Ridiculous. They can say that just so they don't have to refund my money. I know what the weather was like; there's no reason for a "weather" delay. I keep watching UPS today, but it hasn't updated at all, so I don't know if it is going to be delivered today or not.
My other disappointment is my new DSL. I finally got it hooked up yesterday (although not to the wireless router. Can't seem to get it to work yet), but after checking the speed, I was only getting around 260kbps download rate. I am supposed to be getting 1.5mbps speed. That's what I'm paying for. I was getting over 300kbps with my stupid satellite internet. I'm going to have to call them because this is ridiculous!
Good things have been happening too, but I needed a "vent" post!
My junior students have spent the last 2 months or more begging me to be their class sponsor next year. They are losing both of their sponsors after this year (one to retirement, one to a job change). At our high school, each class gets two sponsors their freshmen year that go through the next four years with them. Senior year is a big deal because the seniors run all the concession stands at games in order to raise money to go on senior trip. Today I finally capitulated and told them I would do it (I just did it a few years ago and it is A LOT of work for very little pay). I told the principal that I would do it, only to find out that two other teachers already said they'd do it over a month ago, but they just hadn't told the kids yet. The kids aren't going to be very happy about it because they thought that I was going to do it and they were excited. The teachers that are going to do it are not core teachers, so the students don't really know them. They will do a good job, I just know the kids will be disappointed. I'm glad I don't have to do it though.
I ordered a new lens for my camera and paid extra so it would get here sooner...it didn't get here sooner. I was so disappointed. I tracked it on UPS and they say there was weather delays. Ridiculous. They can say that just so they don't have to refund my money. I know what the weather was like; there's no reason for a "weather" delay. I keep watching UPS today, but it hasn't updated at all, so I don't know if it is going to be delivered today or not.
My other disappointment is my new DSL. I finally got it hooked up yesterday (although not to the wireless router. Can't seem to get it to work yet), but after checking the speed, I was only getting around 260kbps download rate. I am supposed to be getting 1.5mbps speed. That's what I'm paying for. I was getting over 300kbps with my stupid satellite internet. I'm going to have to call them because this is ridiculous!
Good things have been happening too, but I needed a "vent" post!
Monday, February 1, 2010
My New Project
It has been o' so long since I have posted anything.
I have been busy working on setting up my new side-business. I've always wanted to work on selling my photography and I have finally decided to do something about it. I am now in the process of creating a photography business based on natural light portraits and nature photography. I've just begun and I have a lot of practice to do and a lot to learn. Right now I am doing photo shoots for free in order to get the practice, but I hope to begin charging for shoots and editing soon.
I just ordered a new lens yesterday (Nikkor 50mm f/1.8) and I am really excited about getting it and starting to shoot with it. I have already asked a few of my students (11th grade girls) to pose for me. They love to do stuff like that and it will be great practice for me. Until the weather gets warm enough to shoot outdoors (currently there is still 3-4 inches of snow on the ground), I am studying technique and looking at portraits for inspiration.
I would love to say that I will try to keep up with this blog, but I can't promise anything. I have so much going on right now that I have let this fall to the way-side. I am hoping to post more often though, so don't give up on me just yet. I have a lot of fun doing it, but I've gotten out of the habit...
If you want to check out my new photography sight, here it is: Gifts of Nature Photography
I have been busy working on setting up my new side-business. I've always wanted to work on selling my photography and I have finally decided to do something about it. I am now in the process of creating a photography business based on natural light portraits and nature photography. I've just begun and I have a lot of practice to do and a lot to learn. Right now I am doing photo shoots for free in order to get the practice, but I hope to begin charging for shoots and editing soon.
I just ordered a new lens yesterday (Nikkor 50mm f/1.8) and I am really excited about getting it and starting to shoot with it. I have already asked a few of my students (11th grade girls) to pose for me. They love to do stuff like that and it will be great practice for me. Until the weather gets warm enough to shoot outdoors (currently there is still 3-4 inches of snow on the ground), I am studying technique and looking at portraits for inspiration.
I would love to say that I will try to keep up with this blog, but I can't promise anything. I have so much going on right now that I have let this fall to the way-side. I am hoping to post more often though, so don't give up on me just yet. I have a lot of fun doing it, but I've gotten out of the habit...
If you want to check out my new photography sight, here it is: Gifts of Nature Photography
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