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I hunt. Yes, I’m an avid hunter. I shoot all kinds of game from soft-furry little animals to big game. All harmlessly done with my camera. So, when I saw this picture in a sportsman catalog I couldn’t imagine why someone would want to attach a gun to their camera. What’s the point of taking pictures of your local wildlife and then blowing them away?

It just seems impractical.

OK, year #3. It’s a tradition. Jen and I joined a bunch of folks from church to raft down the Clark Fork river in Montana. Please note that next year is just around the corner so if you’re planning on a visit, you might want to contact us (in March) to make your reservations. It’s a LOT of fun.

Somewhere below this group is a raft. Jen’s the cute one in brown baseball cap. I’m up front… probably crying.

Group shot. (click to enlarge)

I think that the local newspaper, The Daily Bee, deserves it’s own category on my blog. Here’s the latest from the police blotter.

At what point does driving become excessive when driving under the influence?

Some people think that God doesn’t have a sense of humor. I beg to differ. 
I realized something this week given to me by “the voice of God whispering in my ear, giving me a revelation that extended biblical truth” (quotes to emphasize the heresy. Although, I admit, this entire post should have quotes around it). Anyway, I came to the realization that Jesus was probably the life of the party, that he liked to joke a lot and loved pranks. No, it’s not documented in so many words, but that’s where I come in enlighten you (please send $249.95 check or money order to our address for further “revelations”).

My Experience: The other day, I slipped and cut open my leg while getting out of a boat. When the pain subsided I began walking to shore where my friend Jim and his wife, Diedre, (don’t worry, there must be a million men named Jim married to women name Diedre here in North Idaho so nobody will know who I’m talking about) were standing there watching this unfold. After looking at my leg, I realized that I needed to get to the hospital emergency room. So I said to them, “Can you give me a ride to the emergency room?” To which, Diedre folder her arms, cocked her head to one side and said, “Yeah Right!” As if I would joke about such a thing. This hurt more than just losing my leg the sharks in Lake Cocolalla… well, no, I didn’t lose my leg but if I did, it wouldn’t have compared to the pain of not being taken seriously.

Can you imagine?!! What kind of person doesn’t take such a statement seriously? I’m like so disappointed in humanity. In spite of being mortally wounded (almost), I mustered up the energy to say that, “No, I’m serious,” and then showed her the hole in my leg before regaining some credibility.

Jesus’ Experience: Jesus, having been crucified on a cross to pay for the sins of the world appears before the apostles, alive!! And one of his apostle (maybe more than one apostle but this one was documented), didn’t believe him until Jesus showed Thomas his wounds.

Does anyone see the parallel here? 
Saint Thomas (that has a nice ring to it) probably didn’t believed Jesus (and this is conjecture on my part based on personal experience) because Jesus was always joking around, playing pranks and was clearly the life of the party. There you have it, proof that God has a sense of humor or he would have struck me with lightning by now. No that’s just too obvious. He probably pushed me as I was getting out of a boat because he knew before hand that I’d write this post… I get it, he’s such a kidder. Using omnipotence and omnipresence to play jokes on people. Ya gotta love it.

Our local newspaper lays claim to 18 awards a newspaper contest

Anyone reading this knows better. I’m sure the staff works really hard. The joke is the “best product possible”. The Daily wanna-Bee took home 18 awards that ran the gamut from headline writing, sports coverage, photography and finally, reporting on the “juvenile detention facility dilemma” (their words, not mine). There were only several newspapers in the competition. The Daily Beest took home 18 awards. You do the math — everyone went home with an award for something. I’d like to suggest and award for the use of the smallest type, ceativest spelling, and biggest coloring contest image (rather than providing news).

Many people here belittle the Bee as garbage. We however, faithfully subscribe to the only paper in town that won 18 awards and is published by David Keyes that is the only paper in town.

While hopping out of a friend’s boat, I slipped on caught his leg on a hook used to tie the boat up. The thing that made this rather dramatic is that the hook wasn’t sharp. It was blunt and so the injury was more of a tear. The doctor sewing it up said it was the nastiest injury today. While waiting for hours in the ER I had enough time to sneak in the bathroom and get a quick picture. Sorry it’s not too clear but then again, you don’t really want to click on the image below to enlarge.

BEFORE STITCHES
(sorry they’re blurry so you can’t get the full effect, it’s hard to take pictures under your leg while standing in a hospital bathroom, trust me):

AFTER STITCHES

I’m really sorry if this grosses you out. I’ll work on my tan this summer and not have that gross pasty white skin by fall… I mean the season “fall” not the next accident.