Woe is me....

[Hoss 350]

Allright, friends, no one else seems to be too sorry for me, so I’m coming on here hoping for some sympathy.

Washington State, being the liberal bastion that it is, has managed to reduce our hunting seasons for big game down from over a month to ONE week with a weekend tagged on each end. That’s right, 9 days . So, understandably, during the 18 days of big game hunting that I am allowed every year by the State (9 for elk, 9 for deer) I am quite hard to come by.

Usually, my truck is covered in mud, and with any luck, blood and guts in the back… but I digress…

Given that my opportunities to hunt big game are restricted to a mere 4.94% of the total years in any given year (4.92 on a leap year ), I make the best of it by spending as many days as possible in the hills hunting. I try to take both weeks off if I have enough vacation, and if I do not, then I usually make two four day weekends (one for each season) and two regular weekends, therefore missing only 4 days total of the combined seasons.

This season, however, has brought large changes in the family structure, and they are ALL falling RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE of my elk season, much to my chagrin. Worse yet, every one of the changes revolves around my MOTHER IN LAW….. (As an aside, I have paused at this point to pray to God almighty that my wife does not EVER, EVER read this blog to see what I have been up to…. ).

Actually, I’m just kidding, I love my MIL like my own mother, but she is causing me to SERIOUSLY rethink that…. Just kidding again….

She lives in DALLAS, TEXAS. I think we can all forgive her for that. (actually, she lives in Arlington). By trade, she is a baby-catcher. That means she is an RN/LPN that specializes in childbirth. Does the term midwife apply? I guess she is a very modern, very technical, 21st century midwife, but I don’t know if RN’s necessarily favor being called midwives.

HEY BUDRO, maybe she caught your most recent addition, what hospital did you go to?

Anyway, for various reasons (not the least of which, I believe, is to be closer so she can begin pressuring us for grandkids IN PERSON every night instead of just OVER THE PHONE… ) she has decided to move to Spokane. I am very happy for my wife, since she is excited to have her mother nearby. I am certainly not against it, I’m thinking “free babysitter” when the grandkids do start to come… Okay, just kidding…. Okay, no I’m not….

She just visited us last week to interview with local hospitals, and they made her an offer she couldn’t refuse. She accepted, put in her 2-weeks in Dallas, and is now due to start work at Spokane valley Hospital the middle of November. I’m very happy for her, because she is extremely excited about the whole thing, and I think the money is better, etc, etc…

Now, to those of you wondering how I could possibly have started this talking about hunting and ending with the MIL moving up to Spokane, here is where it all ties together and gets interesting…

I am booking a flight to Dallas DURING ELK SEASON to go down, load her stuff in a u-haul, and then drive her back up to Spokane.

What a good SIL I am, huh?

And just to clarify, I would give up my ENTIRE elk season to help her if that is what it took, and I wouldn’t begrudge her a single day of it, but I would still be BUMMED OUT that I missed it, as I am now BUMMED that I am going to miss a very good portion of it.

So, to the purpose of this post. I am looking for sympathy. I needed a good whine, and now expect you all to feel sorry for me. I kind of feel dirty.

Of course, in lieu of that, I will take beer and barbecue from any Texican brave enough….. That will always make me happy….

Stupid family that I would give anything for. It sucks to actually love your family and not be able to tell them to take a hike whenever you want… Okay, maybe it doesn’t…. I guess all-in-all, having family is one of the best problems a guy can have….

 

[twildman]

Good Lord!

I can't think of anything worse happening to you!!!!!!!!!!!

Missing hunting season, AND HAVING YOUR M-I-L MOVING TO THE SAME CITY!!!!!!!!

Friend, you not only have my pity, but my condolencses (or however you spell that word)

Ghastly, ghastly indeed. Sux to be U!

 

[powerboatr]

what date?
i would say if its a doable day we texans should be able to at least stop by and laugh as you pack

never thought elk was a big deal

i geuss the elk get off easy this year

mil close by, yep you need to work on making some babies,
there is nothing finer than grandkids
wish we had them first

i feel your pain mine lived with us for a year
but we managed

 

[Tbar]

what date?
i would say if its a doable day we texans should be able to at least stop by and laugh as you pack

never thought elk was a big deal

i geuss the elk get off easy this year

mil close by, yep you need to work on making some babies,
there is nothing finer than grandkids
wish we had them first

i feel your pain mine lived with us for a year
but we managed

How bad would it suck if I drove by the MIL's house and blew an elk call................



Tbar

 

[Fire1]

How bad would it suck if I drove by the MIL's house and blew an elk call................
Tbar

Man one word off the end of that sentence and a whole new picture is painted.

But really we should all go by and watch, with beer.

 

[bad_bad_bubba]

Man one word off the end of that sentence and a whole new picture is painted.

 

[RSG]

I am booking a flight to Dallas DURING ELK SEASON to go down, load her stuff in a u-haul, and then drive her back up to Spokane.

Stupid family that I would give anything for. It sucks to actually love your family and not be able to tell them to take a hike whenever you want… Okay, maybe it doesn’t…. I guess all-in-all, having family is one of the best problems a guy can have….

Hoss
Nice sentiments, and well said!

Here's a selfish idea. Drive your Ford SD both ways and you can spend a bunch of quality time with yourself at least one-way, unless your wife wants to ride along. Spokane to Dallas should come out to the equivalent of at least one of those long weekends of elk hunting.

You don't have to take any baths or showers enroute, so you can have the same quality feelings (and smells) I get when hunting . Just keep your gun shucked, and no napping (this isn't a stand, it is your front seat!). And you can sleep in the bed to simulate the camping experience.

 

[platinum01]

:beer::beer::beer::beer::beer::beer:
Here have many of these at it should help a little bit. Sorry about the mother in law. Well be nice to have free baby sitter. Both parents and MIL live with in 5 - 10 miles from me.

 

[Got Diesel]

Sorry to hear about the hunting season there Hoss, that really sucks. That just means that you need to fill tags early. No pressure or anything. Having the MIL close by won't be a bad thing.

 

[dpantazis]

Hoss-

you are doing the the right thing! think of all the wife/MIL cred you will get for this. btw: i dont have this disease, yet. MIL closer will hopefully get you more help arournd the house to go hunting.

elk hunting: sounds like WA is doing some heavy duty management. any chance of a lottery for unclaimed/unfilled tags. what about idahoe? the boys up there should be some help.

in general, welcome to my world- come fall, i am trying to find way to get more time off to go and play. right now, the salmon run is winding down. duck season just started and pheasants are a couple of weeks away.

put that GSP to work- eastern WA and oregon have good bird- pheasant hunting. respectable at lease.

if all else fails, throw up your arms and scream! head west to ND/SD for some fun. disappear for a couple of weeks.

dennis