Life’s rarities!

[PantyFanatic]

Have you ever been where you really didn’t want to be, doing what you really didn’t want to do? But it worked out better than expected.

Tuesday night my son and I went to a big outdoorsmen banquet and fund raiser. It is a big one for the serious sportsman, with over 1,200 people from all over the State each year.

Now I have nothing against hunting as my kids were brought up as shooters, but we just don’t hunt and I guess I’ve brainwashed them the same way:o. I’ve never felt threatened by anything in the woods beside other people.:rolleyes:

My son-in-law (super kid, my daughter is a very lucky girl) and his whole family are into it BIG time though. They hunt EVERYTHING! Bow, black powder, shotgun…………
Every year his family gets two tables for eight at this $50-a-seat affair and fills them quickly. And they’ve RESERVED us each one of these sought-after tickets for the last 4 years.

You have to take at least another $50 so you have a few different tickets in front of you after the dinner and all the State bureaucrats comments.:rolleyes:
They have a BUNCH of raffles and drawings and chances for all kinds of sporting equipment. Silent auctions for $200-300 outdoor “art” paintings,… the 50/50 raffle was $1400 for the winner, the nights GRAND PRIZE was a $3,000 shopping spree at Gander mountain (mega sporting goods store). You got the setting.:)

His brother has been going to this for 20 years and has NEVER won anything more than a door prize.:(
Every year my son and I go because we were asked.:rolleyes:
Every year we win one of the BIG prizes.:eek:
An over-under shot gun the first year, a GPS unit, a days fishing trip for 6 in the Lake Erie islands.
DAMNED if we didn’t win a black powder muzzle loader rifle this year. LMAO
My son and I just sit there making remarks like….
“how come we never win something nice like that fly-tying kit?”
“or the pith helmet with the mosquito netting?”
“geez….. I hope we never come up against a guy with a real gun”
“how does it heft?….. you could always hit um with it”
“heah Steve, did you drive your pick-up tonight? We need help to get all this stuff home.”
It just drives them nuts. LOL We’re looking forward to it each year now.;)

So tell us about the times you fell into a pile of shits and came out with a new suite.

[celticangel]

Last year my then live-in s/o done the dirty on me big time and after soul searching I threw him out----------he left me with a nasty assault and the wee lap top------------it was through "Fred"(the lap top!) that I got on to one of the many dating sites-----and met Dm!

[LixyChick]

LMAO PF! Ain't it always the way? Was just wondering........Do you want to sell that muzzle loader? LOL! Hubby would love one! He has been "hunting" since he was a very young boy (he's now 36) and he has NEVER gotten one single deer.......EVER! He shot one once but it ran onto someone elses property and a guy that owns the property shot the deer as well.......and he claimed it! Hubby was pissed! But I digress......(as usual).

It so happens that just this past weekend I fell into shit and came out smelling like a rose!

I've been feeling rather weird about the age I have become this past birthday. I had the same reaction on my 25th birthday when I recieved a cake from my co-workers that said, "Happy 1/4 of a Century". I know it's just a number.....but I don't particularily like the sound of this number this year. Well anyway......I had kept really quiet this year about the days passing and it would soon be my birthday. Usually I am nudging anyone near me and saying stuff like, "I sure do like silver alot better than gold anymore", *hint, hint*....LMAO! But this year I told hubby in no uncertain terms......"NO CELEBRATION of any kind"! Let's act like it's any other day and just let this one pass. I actually begged him at one point.....because I kept getting a feeling, an intuition.....that something was in the works. He assured me...straight faced, looking me right in the eye.....that I had nothing to worry about and to stop reminding him. He said the day would pass uneventful and everything would be fine. We went clothes shopping that day because he hates to pick out stuff for me........he says I always say I love it and then I hardly ever wear it.

We then went for a drink and he told me he made reservations for a fave restaraunt for that evening. I got a little suspicious because he went on and on about the evening plans. Timing seemed to be of the essence. He kept looking at his watch. Hmmmm?? We went home and he went to the barn to cut his hair (he shaves it close, himself). I was told to put some of my new clothes on (which I would have anyway...and he's never told me how to dress before). Hmmmm? He came in and called our close friends and stood by the bathroom door talking a little louder than usual, and telling them we were going to dinner at 7:30 and that we would meet them for a drink at a club we go too....at 7:00. Hmmmmm? We really didn't have time for this if our reservation was at 7:30.....but, ok, the restaraunt was kinda close. We got to the club at 6:55 and went in I hugged my friends and they wished me a happy birthday and then my girlfriend said, "Hey, (so-and-so) is in the banquet hall and her birthday is today too. Wanna go meet her real quick? Hmmmmmmm???? I looked at my husband and sneered! He just shrugged and said to hurry...we had to go soon.

Up to the double doors of the hall....I could hear the party going on inside. My girlfriend started to open the doors and stepped back behind me so I had to enter first! Flashes started going off......I saw family and friends and co-workers filling the room! Everyone yelled SURPRISE! I screamed and started to cry....my hands up to my mouth and (I bet) the biggest shocked look on my face anyone has ever seen. I heard a co-worker say, "This is the first time I have ever seen her speachless"! Everyone laughed.....cause it's true! I was speachless! I had a feeling something was up......I was hoping I was wrong.......but I just felt it.......and I didn't want it to happen. But as I looked around the room and saw all the happy faces of just about EVERYONE I knew.....the dread melted away! And just when I had started to regain my composure.......from the corner of my eye I saw a figure coming towards me that I knew so very well! Someone.....(I later found out it was our friends that we had met for the drink)....had gone to New Jersey and picked up my baby sister. I haven't seen her since.......well, damn.....I can't remember since when but I think it was since the summer of 2001 (long story here and I'll spare you that). I turned to her and screamed again! I had just talked to her that morning and we both said it would be nice to come and get her but with the unpredictability of the weather lately and her 13 y/o son having to stay at home alone it just wouldn't be prudent. Yet, here she was.........I cried and sobbed heaving sobs again! I have 2 other sisters but baby sis insisted that I would have more fun if they weren't invited.....LOL! She was right.....but that's another long story I will spare you from for now.

I regained some composure again and then started to make rounds and hug each and every person there! One friend pointed to a table at the back of the room and it was full and spilling over with gifts! I was in shock again! I had never had a surprise party and I have never had so many people want to buy me a gift before....with the exception of my weddings (but that wasn't just for me alone). I swear that the best gift they all gave me was their presence........a show of friendship and love......and that all the packages in the world wouldn't compare to the fact that they came to share the evening with me!!!!!

I found out through the course of the evening that my husband and our friends had been planning this party since my last birthday. This age was a more significant number and apparently I had mentioned back then that I had never had a surprise party (this statement...I do not remember uttering.....but they did). Well.....needless to say, hubby is not in the doghouse! He said he had been scared shitless ever since they started planning this and even more so recently when I started balking about not making the day into a big deal! He is now sighing in a well deserved relief!

[dicksbro]

I guess today almost qualifies. Got home this morning and our Oldsmobile isn't in the drive. Get in the house and my wife informs me she had to drop it off at the garage as something was leaking all over the drive. Just got through with more than $1000 in unexpected expenses and now she tells me they're estimating more than $1000 in repairs to the car. (What's that ol' thing about 'when it rains ...')

Plus, we won't have the car back until Monday since they have to order parts.

Anyway, we had purchased an extended warranty and they were checking on whether it applied.

Ends up, it not only applied but they found that there was an outstanding recall on the car and so they're going to fix that as well. Plus, they're giving us a loaner to use until the car is fixed.

Sounds like good fortune to me. [Looking up ... "Thank you! We needed that! :) ]

[PantyFanatic]

Who said Pixie people don't live right? ;)

[Irish]

LixyChick---Word of suggestion.How well do you know the way
that your hubby does things?The reason that I ask is that I know
quite a bit about firearms.I used to do Handgun competitions.I,
purposely,never got a Muzzle Loader,because I know me!I am a
most powerful freak.For example,my shotgun,is chambered for
magnums.Even for regular shooting,I use magnums,because I know that I can.Even with cars or motorcycles,I always had to build the fastest.When I bought pistols,I had to have at least,one
44 Magnum.Why?Because it was the most powerful PRODUCTION
handgun.For that reason,I never got into muzzleloading.I know
me and I would probably try to put in those extra few grains of
powder.You want to make sure your hubby wouldn't.I know that I
would,even if I told my wife that I wouldn't. Irish
P.S.Just trying to help!

[PantyFanatic]

:D :D :D

LMAO~ I had to come back and update this thread.
Last night was the annual Woods and Water Banquet in Ohio. We had been told, right after the holidays, that our tickets had been set aside. :rolleyes2

This year, sin-in-laws family had reserved 3 tables, even though our best estimate was 1,000 at best were in attendance. We are starting to feel at home among the familiar faces of our annual visit. :)

We had a nice sit-down dinner, kibitzing as the half dozen models walked around making ticket sales for a variety of prize drawings and even enjoyed watching the live auction of a “Bountiful Heritage” print that the artist, Adam Grimm was present to sign, for $1,125. (Some sportsmen are much more art lovers than I am)

As the 8 side games winners were being drawn, we were being harassed about the past years good fortune and who was going to get to set next to us this year, just as one of our ticket numbers was called. :grin:

The joking retorts of this being the last year we are going to be invited seemed to carry a bit more sincerity as my son returned with the 20 gauge BROWNING, BPS Hunter Pump Shotgun. :rofl: Son-in-laws brother is still waiting to win his first ANYTHING and maybe we will have to go blow something up if they keep giving us all these hunting guns.

My question now is how do I get this luck to happen with something I actually want? :rofl:

[nikki1979]

lol well u cud sell it make a profut and buy somthing u want LOL !!!! glad to hear ur good luck hun!

~nikki

[LixyChick]

Oh PF! Your shoes must stink to high heavens by now hun!

Poor son-in-law's brother! Give him the damn gun! LOL!

TY for bumping this thread. It's fun to read of your fortunes...and to reread my babblings about my 45th!

Wow! I used to be quite a talker, eh?

lmfao!

[Lilith]

Shouldn't you be entering some sort of Victoria's Secret give away :D

[osuche]

My question now is how do I get this luck to happen with something I actually want? :rofl:


Let's start this discussion by listing some things that you want. :hot:

[Irish]

PF---I assume,that's a picture of your son.When you look at him,you probably,think the same thing that I think,when I look at my daughters."How,
in Hell,did I make something so good looking?" Irish
P.S.Fatherly pride-Both of my daughters,were models,before they had kids
(responsibilities).

[wyndhy]

to take it to the extreme... ;)
i started a day with someone using a real sharp knife---in the vicintiy of some real important organs and one super-important little body---to slice open multiple layers of tissue only to move on to pressing and pulling and generally torturing selfsame area and i ended the day on some nice'n'dopey pain meds and a baby in my arms...twice :D

[dreamgurl]

Suddenly I can hear " shhhh! be verrrry verrrrry quiet. I-I-I'm huntin' silky things"

[sodaklostsoul]

Suddenly I can hear " shhhh! be verrrry verrrrry quiet. I-I-I'm huntin' silky things"
:rofl:

[PantyFanatic]

"I hope we win a gun cabinet this year. Our other ones are too full."

"We should have brought the truck tonight. How are we going to get all the stuff we win, home?"


Just practicing for the ball busting again this year. ;) It’s that time already and I know this crazy luck HAS to be played out. I can't believe it's the 7th time and tomorrow night my boys and I will be at the banquet again and have all our tickets laid out on the table. I offered to trade tickets with son’s (-inlaw) brother at Christmas time, but he didn’t see the humor in it then and I doubt he’ll have changed much by tomorrow night. :D LMAO

I’ll let you know how it goes tomorrow about this time. Wish us luck. ;)

[Loulabelle]

I'm hoping that's going to happen to Fussy tonight.

We're going to a dance class. Or rather I'm dragging him to a dance class, which I think he could really enjoy if he gives it a fair chance, but he's said he'll only go once, and if he hates it he's not going again. :(

I will again, remind him of how much of my week is spent enduring football matches on the TV because he wants me to share in one of his greatest pleasures.

[Oldfart]

PF

A reload kit for a .308 if you win one.

[BIBI]

WELL??????

Did you win again?

[PantyFanatic]

NOTHING! …. NADA! ….. ZIP! ….. ZILCH! :(

I guess we knew it had to come to an end. :) We sure don’t have any complaints after all the goodies we’ve received. I think the brother felt better than if he had won something himself. (He didn’t spoil his record. lol) It was still a fun night with my boys and a good meal.

Besides the side games which there had to be at least 20 and we had bought some kind of chance on at least 6, they gave away 57 prizes, many of them top drawer items. This year’s Grand Prize was a 4 person, 5-day, fly-in, fishing trip to beautiful Lake Dumoine. It included air fare from Cleveland, a modern cabin. Boat, motor, gas, fishing license and all applicable taxes. :D

The prize was a new one and fantastic, but I think it was what changed our luck.:( They even sent two guys in company uniform to present the prize. :) I shouldn’t have bumped this thread ahead of time. It gave time for evil to work it’s ways.

If you look closely, I think you can see bumps on their backs where they have their wings folded.

[osuche]

Ya know, you got a couple of happy, healthy, sexy boys there. :)

Glad you had a fun evening out together....

[Steph]

NOTHING! …. NADA! ….. ZIP! ….. ZILCH! :( I think the brother felt better than if he had won something himself. (He didn’t spoil his record. lol)

That was my happy ending. :D :D



[QUOTE=PantyFanatic]This year’s Grand Prize was a 4 person, 5-day, fly-in, fishing trip to beautiful Lake Dumoine. It included air fare from Cleveland, a modern cabin. Boat, motor, gas, fishing license and all applicable taxes. :D


Second prize was a week long trip to Cleveland? :confused:

[PantyFanatic]

...Second prize was a week long trip to Cleveland? :confused:
No.:( Second prize was the same Canadian trip for 10 days.











:D

[BIBI]

No.:( Second prize was the same Canadian trip for 10 days.



:D


HEY!!!

[PantyFanatic]

Not to worry. ;) It wasn't really to Canada. It was to Quebec.

[PantyFanatic]

This happened last Monday and I’ve been dieing to make this post all week but I just got the pics todsay and this seemed to be the most appropriate place to post it. It seems the melting of two families is not going well,:( at least from my son-in-law’s, brother’s view.

As I’ve mentioned, my kids were brought up being comfortable in the woods, but not as hunters. Well last year the out-law, I mean in-laws, talked my son into going turkey hunting with them. He enjoyed the day out and got his bird.:) So this year, both of the boys talked my daughter into going out with them to their property over towards the Pennsylvania line.

My son had driven out straight from his second shift job the night before and left the cabin ahead of the rest while they shared past hunting tails and my daughter was wondering if her invitation was just to be the breakfast cook. They were ready to leave 45 minutes later, just as my son comes through the door and asks “what do you do the rest of the day? :D” as he held up his 15 pound bird. They tell me that all the eyes went to the bad-luck brother instead of the turkey. He sat there for a while, then just shook his head, picked up his gun and left. lmao :D

Now my son-in-law and daughter are in their stand and enjoying the beautiful day in the woods, but not seeing any birds bigger than blue jay. After 2-1/2 hours, they were not getting hopeful for the morning hunt. Just then two jakes come out of the brush and head into the woods toward my daughter. She’s slowly bringing up her gun and listening to “ok! Shoot one of them. Shoot one” as she whispers back “wait! wait!”. ...... *BOOM*

My son-in-law's jaw drops almost as far as the TWO turkeys do when he realizes there was only one shot from the 16 ga..:eek: ROFL I’m told he got the same look on his face as his brother had earlier. :D They haven’t heard from the brother since he found out, but they are checking all the psychiatric hospitals now.

ROFLMAO :D




(I TOLD you I brought them up as shooter,..... just not hunters.) ;) LOL

[Oldfart]

Hey PF, wher kin ai git me a pair of them turkey gloves?

[Steph]

This happened last Monday and I’ve been dieing to make this post all week but I just got the pics todsay and this seemed to be the most appropriate place to post it. It seems the melting of two families is not going well,:( at least from my son-in-law’s, brother’s view.

As I’ve mentioned, my kids were brought up being comfortable in the woods, but not as hunters. Well last year the out-law, I mean in-laws, talked my son into going turkey hunting with them. He enjoyed the day out and got his bird.:) So this year, both of the boys talked my daughter into going out with them to their property over towards the Pennsylvania line.

My son had driven out straight from his second shift job the night before and left the cabin ahead of the rest while they shared past hunting tails and my daughter was wondering if her invitation was just to be the breakfast cook. They were ready to leave 45 minutes later, just as my son comes through the door and asks “what do you do the rest of the day? :D” as he held up his 15 pound bird. They tell me that all the eyes went to the bad-luck brother instead of the turkey. He sat there for a while, then just shook his head, picked up his gun and left. lmao :D

Now my son-in-law and daughter are in their stand and enjoying the beautiful day in the woods, but not seeing any birds bigger than blue jay. After 2-1/2 hours, they were not getting hopeful for the morning hunt. Just then two jakes come out of the brush and head into the woods toward my daughter. She’s slowly bringing up her gun and listening to “ok! Shoot one of them. Shoot one” as she whispers back “wait! wait!”. ...... *BOOM*

My son-in-law's jaw drops almost as far as the TWO turkeys do when he realizes there was only one shot from the 16 ga..:eek: ROFL I’m told he got the same look on his face as his brother had earlier. :D They haven’t heard from the brother since he found out, but they are checking all the psychiatric hospitals now.

ROFLMAO :D




(I TOLD you I brought them up as shooter,..... just not hunters.) ;) LOL

ROFLMAO Girl power!

[PantyFanatic]

Well it's that time of the year and we are going to the big hunting/fishing banquet again.:D Last year we did not attend for the first time, but it wasn't because we came up dry the year before. It was because BOTH of my boys were unable to finagle their schedules and not be working, a firefighter and the other a cop.

Last year we told the brother we would stay home just so he could have a chance. (It didn't change his luck.:hair: ) :roflmao:

[gekkogecko]

Hey, at least you don't have to cut off each others' heads for the prize.

[Oldfart]

Can be arranged.

16ga?

12ga for the OF.

[PantyFanatic]

Last night was the big Woods & Water banquet. :)

My son and I came up dry after buying chances on half the place. :( LOL But we still did great with sonoutlaw winning a new $450 Mossberg (http://www.mossberg.com/products/default.asp?id=11&section=products) (453145). :cheerlead That was more than wanted and needed after a terrible accident that took place the day before hunting season opened last fall. Nobody was hurt, but it was something I didn't post about because of the devastation and shock for everybody around here. The long labored and center of family interest and year round activity was burnt to the ground along with truly irreplaceable mounts and other trophies as well as a number of the family guns. So this win was much better than all the gun prizes we were blessed with in years past. :D

Even the jinx brother (Joe Btfsplk), won a pair of binoculars. :thumb: It was a winning night for our table, even if not for my son and I. Maybe we won't be 'booed' when we arrive next year. :)

[Oldfart]

It's a lovely looking gun.

I had a 12ga Mossberg 500ATP 20" until a mongrel bastard Prime Minister banned them after the notorious Port Arthur Massacre.

Pumpies played no part in the killings, but they were swept up in the rush because of a "perception of violence".

[dicksbro]

I didn't see anyone in red-green suspenders? :confused:

[PantyFanatic]

...I had a 12ga Mossberg 500ATP 20" until a mongrel bastard Prime Minister banned them after the notorious Port Arthur Massacre.

Pumpies played no part in the killings, but they were swept up in the rush because of a "perception of violence".
We have been trying to have that done from time to time here as well. I wish I could feel a safe as you now that you know ALL the guns have been turned over to somebody that will instantly be there to protect you. I'm sure you sleep much better without guns in society (surely wackos and criminals were first to turn them in) and in the knowledge that all aggression and greed has been eliminated. You lucky bugger, you. ;)

[Oldfart]

They haven't taken guns out of the community, I replaced my semi-auto .22 with a bolt action and my pumpie with a coach gun.

They left me my pre-WW1 mauser which can easily put a bullet through a half inch of mild steel plate.

Go figure.

[Irish]

I would like to offer a point of view that I'm sure MANY will disagree with!
My father(disceased)was a Connecticut State Policeman & also a town Auxilliary policeman.He told me that if you don't have a firearm,in your house
for protection,you are making a BIG mistake!He said that if you called the police for help,that by the time they were notified & responded,the crime,
probably,would allready be over with!
I know many "What-Ifs" wil be brought up but if I lived my life,worrying about
"What-Ifs",I wouldn't have done anything & led a very boring life!It's a "choice" situation! Irish :devil:

[gekkogecko]

They left me my pre-WW1 mauser which can easily put a bullet through a half inch of mild steel plate.



Oh, a fellow Mauser owner. What model?

[sodaklostsoul]

My dad always had guns in the house (loaded in the closet). I even had a *ladies* gun in my dresser drawer, it had these big wax bullets in it. :D

[PantyFanatic]

.....big wax bullets .....
Are you talking wad cutters or something else?

[sodaklostsoul]

Whats a wad cutter?


Never mind, got the answer in chat from ya. :D

[Oldfart]

gg,

Mine started life as a Gew98, manufactured at Obendorf 1898 at the earliest, 1917 at the latest. It was modified to K98 standard for WW2, went to Israel as war reparations, modified to 7.62 by Browning and probably saw action (again) in '67.

Sold off cheaply as obsolete and surplus to requirements, bought by me in '85.

She's had a long life.

[PantyFanatic]

:bump:

Well, tonight it's that time again. :) Tonight we will see how the gods of chance feel about us this year. :wish:

[BIBI]

:bump:


Well??????

[PantyFanatic]

:tear:

Well,......... as you may have guessed by now, we did zip.:( The event was very much in tone with the times. They were lucky if there was 500 attendees. You can see from the large tumbler behind the 4-wheeler grand prize in pic 341.jpg that ticket sales were slow. Normally drum is truly full to the top. I have seen years where they honestly had to stuff them in.

Each year they have an attractive young lady running around selling 50/50 raffle tickets. Most years the winner's half is $1500-2000. This year the pot was $780. That says it all. We came to the conclusion that the odds just weren't high enough against us to win any more than a cap and 'The Deer Hunters Guide' DVD door prize.;)


Here are some pics of the main prizes that brings everyone to this annual event. (325, 326.jpg)

The door prize table and some of the 32 'silent auction' items. (329, 327.jpg)

[PantyFanatic]

I like to give you pics of one of us holding a good prize but this year I can only show you pics of some of the limited chance items. LOL (331-334.jpg)


They did do one thing this year that was different and interesting. A live auction for a 10 week old Brittany Spaniel bird dog as auctioned off. They set $100 as opening bid and got $600. (338, 340.jpg)


It was still a lot of fun and a very good meal as banquet dinners go. :D

[Neige]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww cute puppy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Oldfart]

338-340, 3 puppies?

[dicksbro]

Looks like you maybe had fun, PF! Might have been smaller than in the past, but stll looked like a pretty good turn out. :thumbs: