"Foreshadow of a Fatality"

Alternatively titled: "Better than a Butterball"

Now, those of you who know John, know that he has always been a very motivated and disciplined person. He succeeds in life and in reaching his goals by harnessing his inner drive and using proven techniques. In addition to his persistance (which is how he obtained both his lovely wife and his fulfilling job), he uses visualization and planning. He has always been a strong believer in writing down your objectives and goals, reviewing them, and assessing your progress. Just ask his personal training clients and students

Case in point: About 6 weeks ago, Toby wrote the ominous message you see here (see the 28th) on our April calendar. Oh, not the "8pm - 6am OT"..... the "I Kill Turkey!" part.

As you can see by the pictures below, including the date-stamp. I think he can check this "goal" of his list as "completed."

BEFORE: AFTER:

Big Winner!!!

Well, not really THE big winner, but John did win something with the buck he shot during archery season near Pittsburgh.

He entered a big buck contest and out of about 1000 entrys, his buck scored #14!!!

He won $99!

It will probably all end up back at the archery shop, ... but that's okay with me=)

Montana - Part 3 - The Hunt

We arrived on a Thursday so Mark took off work from Friday – Sunday for both weeks we were there. During the week, Toby was going to have to hunt on his own. He had Mark’s GPS, so the biggest thing he was worried about was being able to bugle. You see, finding an elk is like finding a needle in a hay stack. If you can get the needle to talk, it would be a little easier (especially since in archery you have to be sooo close to get a shot). So he practiced, and Oh Heavens! Sunday night he barely paid any attention to anyone. He sat outside and bugled. Wyatt, a great bugler according to the experts, bugled along with him. Oh, the cacophony! I was ready to shove that vacuum-hose-grunt-tube down his bronchial tube! But anyway, he went out on Monday and actually got one to call back. Tuesday he actually chased one around the canyon for hours but the bull never let Toby get closer than 50 yards. Wednesday it was pouring rain so he stayed home (elk don’t talk when it’s raining). Thursday, he had a lovely assistant and got within 30 yards. (I’ll tell you about that day in a later post.) Friday I prayed like a mad woman. In order to get meat back on the plane (my main objective), we really needed to get one no later than Saturday. I was on pins and needles until I heard news… and then I was devastated. They bugled, called him in and got within 20 yards. He was standing behind a Christmas tree type pine and Toby needed just one more step to get a good shot. With his bow a quarter of the way pulled back, they waited. Later, Toby said that he was pleased with how calm and focused he was. So, he and Mark are on baited breath. Toby was certain he was just going to take one more step….. but NO! All of a sudden he took off in the other direction, NO!, leaving Toby with nothing but a full quiver. This pic was taken from where Toby was standing to shoot. Can you see Wyatt in the center of the screen? That's where the elk was. That would be his best position of the entire 11 days. We came home with suitcases full of clothes instead of bricks of frozen meat. Oh, how I longed for a freezer full of a healthy, lean, (the original) “organic,” protein source.
However, we also came home with a ton of memories made with our family. We are so thankful to Gramma and Grandpa for transporting us everywhere and spoiling us, to Mark, Amie, Wyatt and Garrett for opening their home to us, providing meals, and just taking care of us. Not only do they put us up, but Toby gets a world-class hunt from an awesome guide for just the cost of his license. Mark could have worked or hunted himself on those days. Instead, he took his tag-along younger brother out to get one. We would never be able to afford to send even Toby out west on a hunt of this magnitude not to mention sending us girls too. We really appreciate it. Thanks Mark!

Montana - Part 2 - Camp

When we got to Mark's Toby didn't even have much time to tour the new house. He was packing his hunting clothes into a duffle because he and Mark were immediately heading up to the mountains to camp a couple days (ie hunt during the day, but instead of coming home at night, sleep right there.... in amongst the bear and mountain lion and wolves and I was sure glad I wasn't there). The tent they slept in was about 2 ft high, 4 ft wide, and 6 ft long (if they were lucky). I saw it when they set it up to dry back at home. Good thing they are related. I don't even think Nat would have used that thing as a play house. I really wish I had a pic (Toby deleted it I think.)

They took food and supplies (ie. baby wipes) with them, but did manage to round up some fresh meat for dinner one night. Other than the brotherly camaraderie, the camping trip was sort-of a bust. The canyon was full of signs of wolves, but no sign of elk. They came home empty handed but had a new appreciation for their beds and their age.

Speaking of age, it really doesn't matter that Toby is 8 years younger and hits the gym most days of the week. It probably helped that Toby was training on the Stairmaster in prep for the trip, but Mark still just flies around those mountains like Tarzan did in the jungles. The way Toby talks, he'll literally run for yards across a downed log spanning a ravine 30 ft below. He'll glide down the face of a cliff 5o ft, just touching his feet to the ground at a couple points and swinging off snags along the way. I went out with Toby one day (you'll hear that story later) and I can really appreciate the sheer Craziness of that! Especially when Tob said, "you know how you trailed me at times? That's how far I trail Mark at times." Holy mackerel. You may not be able to tell here, but he's a fearless, high-flying mountain man.