Shotgun Instructor: Another thing I never thought I'd be called!

As outrageous as it might sound, earlier today I became a certified Shotgun Instructor.    wow.

Hubbie became a certified Muzzleloader Instructor.    (And he's really into the whole Flint Lock thing.)

We spent the entire weekend taking classes and shooting with many other people from all over the state (and one from Iowa) becoming certified in different disciplines of the 4-H Shooting Sports and Wildlife program.  To give you an idea of just how big the Shooting Sports, 4-H program is here, in our county alone, there are seven, SEVEN! certified Shotgun Instructors, four Muzzleload Instructors, many, many Rifle and handgun peeps, Air gun/BB, Archery and then there is the Wildlife program!  Last year at the State Shoot, there were about 900 kids.

Our Senior Wildlife Bowl team won the regional competition a few weeks ago, and they are going to the State Wildlife Bowl this upcoming weekend.  I'm so proud of them-and not just because my dd is on the team!  They work really, really hard.  (In case you don't know what a Wildlife Bowl is, it's like the game show Jeopardy, but all the questions are about stuff the DNR would know.  It really is amazing how much stuff these kids know!

So.  It hasn't even been one whole year since our entire family started shooting.  If you had asked me if shooting and firearms would ever be a part of my life, I probably would have laughed myself silly.  And I certainly would have never thought there would be a firearm vault in my pottery studio!!  Toto....I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.

I'm planning on getting my Conceal/Carry permit this summer.  (Not that I'll ever conceal/carry, but I do feel very strongly that the right to do that is important enough that I'll spend the time and money to have myself counted amongst those of the same mindset.)  

Like I always say......Never judge a book by it's cover :-)

Next:

I'll be grading High School Algebra tests for three weeks in May........

Only a moment ago.....or FIVE years! Gasp!

I am going on a job interview this afternoon.  In preparing for the "experience" I gathered up all the pertinent information about my recent past and realized that I haven't formally applied for a job in *gasp* five years!
How in the world has it been that long?!  It's one of those "it-feels-like-both-five-minutes-ago/that-was-an-eternity-ago" moments!

It's not that big of a deal.  It's for a temp job grading tests.  (Drats!  Testing!  That's something I probably should have been doing with my kids!  JK ;-)  I think as a 9 year veteran of Homeschooling, I just might be qualified in all the important ways, such as, reading virtually illegible handwriting and grasping what they really meant in the three words they completed the essay in....and other such vital test grading skills.  (I'm secretly a little excited that I may be able to pass the algebra test and grade math tests!  We'll see.)

N has to have surgery.  Tonsils have to come out.
R has resurfaced as the sweet girl I knew was still in there.  (even if only for a moment.)
L is doing SO well in Learning RX.  I can't say enough about that program.
C has lost over 55 lbs!  I'm so jealous!
I finished the Olympic Sweater!!  Go check it out on my Ravelry page!  (I'm energyfree247)

TTFN,
Karen

Just one of the many virtues of Really Yummy Fiber!

Llama.  Yes, yummy, soft, elegant, smooshy Llama.  Such a fabulous distraction!

It's a tattoo.  (I'm finally getting around to installing a zipper ;-)

My feeble mind

Today I go to the Neurologist to see if the many hours of physical therapy have indeed aided in the healing of my damaged neck muscles (from the concussion in Dec.) I still have a couple of major knots, but one day they will move into their own homes ;-)

Raising a 14 year old girl is an oxymoron of gargantuan proportions! It's more like taking a herd of kittens on a white river rafting adventure. Followed by base jumping. Followed by an habanero pepper eating contest. Followed by skydiving. While wearing an eye patch. With one hand tied behind your back. Hopping on one foot. On broken glass. And making sure all the kittens survive. Unharmed. Mostly.

Redhead started "Brain Therapy" this past week. She likes it, and I think it has the potential to literally change her life. Funny, but I have the sneaky suspicion that I'm going to feel suddenly wealthy when all these little buggers are making their own money and not spending ours :-) I hope I live that long!

I guess I'm mostly concerned about BHB. He's being quiet. Too quiet. I've been on this playground long enough to know that chaotic noise is chaotic, but good. Quiet--that's where the false sense of serenity can sneak up on you and wallop you into next week!

Hubbie has lost over 50 pounds now!! Woot Woo! He's lookin' fine! He's also feeling really good. That's nice for a change.

On my knees, breathing in and out........