A Hunting we will go

I've never been the caliber of hunter who makes all his shots or could provide enough game to feed himself, even if I had been living in America prior to settlement. But it can be enjoyable; getting fresh air, taking the dog who can't hunt for a walk, trying to get in touch with the wild or some such thing, and occasionally getting a feeling of joy when all your nerves and muscles react in near perfect harmony, it's a shotgun so close counts, and you bring the gun up, aim, fire and have the bird drop. There is a certain amount of skill involved, and not just in the shot, though that is obviously important. Knowing where the birds will likely be at a given time of day, watching for movement in the grass, listening for the sounds of birds, being able to react in a short time, lining up the shot, and should you be so lucky as to down the bird, pouncing on it fast because a pheasant will absolutely disappear upon hitting the ground. If they have a faint pulse and two good legs, the will run and leave you as hopeless as Wiley Coyote. Not to say it takes a supreme effort to get a bird, but it isn't as easy as people who have never hunted tend to assume. Given the dull senses and lack of lightning reflexes, humans aren't exactly suited to hunting small fast birds, so they better know how to shoot.

With all this in mind, I was quite happy to have a successful hunt this afternoon. One bird, one shot, one meal, and one very happy puppy, after she got the heart and liver that is. I think she was a little upset that I wanted to head home after getting a bird.

Another thought that happens this time of year. Why exactly are Red Sox fans the most tortured group in baseball. Just sheer numbers should dicate that sooner or later you will have a string of luck at the right time. Numerical odds would say it is impossible for that team to catch as many bad breaks as it has. I won't go through the abominable history, but just the last few nights have been all too typical. In the casino of life, the Sox would seem to be the ultimate cooler. I know the Cubs and White Sox have gone longer since their last title, but no team seems to get teased as much as the Red Sox. Put achingly close, only to have it snatched away at the last minute. The Geneva Convention should have outlawed such forms of torture. Well, it is only a game, but a game that many people care about a lot, more than their children in some cases. In short one would think the Red Sox were more overdue than a college student's parking ticket.