Stress Management......

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Dave McCracken

Moderator In Memoriam
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I NEEDED to shoot today. Life has its moments, and some moments are painful.

Pain has been a frequent companion lately. While I have the usual aches and pains old age is subject to, there has been added the fact that my skeleton has taken some hard hits and more wear and tear than mostl.

I get a new hip Monday. Meantime, I can take painkillers and get comfortably numb, or I can go shooting. It's a very bad idea to do both. Sucking it up, I went shooting.

So, under a gray sky here in Mostly Moist Maryland, I went to PGC for the Geezer Squad shoot as usual. Only the new guy, Brian, and Superreverb showed today, due to the weather. And Superreverb was there only to return the NEF single I had lent him for his kids. With a few 28 gauges now under his ownership, he has little need for this 12. And little time to shoot, with birthday parties and a busy schedule. But,he took the time to return my shotgun.

Thanks, SR.

I started off with a standard drill for me, shooting from odd angles and distances, trying to take the birds with one shot but using the top barrel as needed. 24/25, and it felt so good to be shooting. My body has detachable parts and feels best with them attached. My favorite part these days has " Beretta" on it. After 8K rounds, it's become a death ray.

Then Brian showed up driving a classic Road Runner with a punched out 500 CI engine. We shot a round of singles to warm up, then waited while some other folks used the range. After the crowd thinned, we shot.

Brian used his well worn 1400 Trap, with lots of choke, and his reloads. I had the IC tube in the bottom barrel and the IM tube topside. My loads were my pet 7/8 oz of 7.5s at 1200 FPS.

Let me tell you about Chinese trap. Using a standard trap, shots are taken from skeet positions 1, 2,6,7 and the last five shots from behind the 27 yard line at a point of your own choosing. Distances vary from 20 some yards to 45 or so. And the targets are close to edge on from the closer posts, meaning a high shot density and precise placement are essentials.

There's tougher clay games. But, I've seen class A trapshooters leave after their first round of Chinese with their lips moving and they do not come back.

Did I mention there's a possible delay at launch after "Pull" is called up to 3 seconds or so like Olympic Skeet?

Yup. Chinese is a good change from normal clays and for someone seeking to forget about life for a few minutes, it's an informal and beneficial therapy.

So we shot. Brian tried a couple slick moves when he pulled for me and I responded in kind. We stayed neck and neck, both of us shooting well. I hit 3 of the 5 shots from the way back and ended up with a 20.

Last week was a 19, the week before my personal best with a 23. Anything over 19 is pretty good at this game.

By then the pain was back, aggravated by standing up for so long. I said goodbye and loaded up. I had to get to two medical appointments and meet WW.

The day felt good, and I'll carry the memory with me as I spend these next couple months convalescing. As I headed out and let the pony run, I noticed I was singing along with Dicky Betts.

"You're my Blue Sky, You're my sunny day".....

See you in a few weeks. Good shooting.........
 
Here is hoping that you are up and around sooner than you think you will be. My mom had 2 hip replacements (same side because first one did not take due to osteoporosis -spelling???), a knee replacement, and a hip wired together (the one above the knee repalcement because the pin for the knee did not allow that hip to be replaced). They had her on her feet after each in remarkably little time. She still gets up and around and is 84 this year, had those ops some years ago.

If you are younger than that, all the better. The younger you are when you have it done, the quicker the rebound.

Hopefully all will go well for you. My bet is that it will, and you will be shooting again in no time.

All the best,
GB
 
Dave, you've proven what I've always known, a good day shooting trumps 2 lortabs any day. Dad's had 3 hips done (on the same side, finding a doc for that 3rd one wasn't easy) and they just get better at them every year. Hopefully by the time I have mine done it will be out patient. But the Monroe Clan will put some good thoughts your way, can't hurt any.

And BTW, while you're in the hospital, take the lortab. They catch you shooting pidgeons out your window, even with a .410, they'll stop coming for your bedpan.:D
 
Thanks, folks.

Glenn, I'm 61. Doctor says he's using a "Minimally Invasive" procedure and using superglue. No staples, no drains.

John, I've nothing to prove. I'll take all the painkillers I can get.

The sparrows can wait.....
 
You'll be in my prayers, Dave. It's no picnic, but you'll be up and around again before you know it.

Springmom
 
The day felt good, and I'll carry the memory with me as I spend these next couple months convalescing.
Click to expand...

Wishing you a speedy recovery. My buddies and I will bring out our 870 Wingmasters this weekend and break a couple hundred clays in your honor. :D

All the best,
Ken
 
They're getting really good at the replacement joints these days. Do the rehab exercises religiously and you'll be WAY better than before surgery. Best of luck, Dave!
 
I'll be 62 next month and just went for an MRI on my back and hip today. I'm tellin' ya, all the old injuries come back to visit.

This weekend at Raahauge's in Corona, California they having the twice-yearly shootfest where all the manufacturers bring their wares and you can shoot just about any firearm you want. This might just be a good way to do some stress management. I get to test all the goods I never collected and don't have room for.

Good luck with your new hip, Dave! I may be following you down that path and getting one myself.

Ed
 
Dave,

Sending best my friend.


Mrs. McCracken,
Don't forget the rubber band shotgun and balsa wood airplanes.

These will help Dave recover faster really.
You toss the planes and Dave gets to shoot these with the rubber band shotgun.
Trust me on this, as I have experience in this.

[Note to self, mark off MD as another state a wife wants to hit me with a cast iron skillet]


Steve
 
God bless, good fortune, and come back soon. Know you'll be missed and your return eagerly anticipated. Gentle men are always missed.
 
Thanks for your help with making choices on shotguns Dave.

Case you didn't notice, I started a thread under General Discussion called "Old age ain't for sissies" using a quote from you dating back to 2002. You are just proving you ain't no sissy.

I have customers older than you who had hips replaced and were back square dancing in weeks. Get up and get moving old man.

Best of health to you,

Grandpa
 
Good luck to you Dave. You're one of the greatest sages of shotgunning I've seen anywhere and your insights will be missed.

I had a hip replacement nearly 10 years ago and the improvement in my functioning was tremendous. The surgery has improved a lot since then and recovery is faster. My dad and sister also had hip replacements.

Being stuck in a hospital is mostly extremely boring. If you have access to a laptop you can use one in most hospitals these days. Set it up right on the bed table ad you can still stay in touch while you're bedridden.
 
Thanks, folks. Looking forward to getting back in shape.

Grandpa, I'll check out the thread, even though I usually stay out of GD. Keeps my blood pressuure down.

Credit is due. The first time I saw that quote was from DML, a member on TFL and here.

Steve, the good news is WW has no cast iron skillets. I note her solid maple rolling pin is now hung up near the stove with a tag that says "4 Steve M"......

And thanks to all.....
 
I note her solid maple rolling pin is now hung up near the stove with a tag that says "4 Steve M"......
Click to expand...

This is Great!
She is gonna make me Fried Pies when I come to visit.

Mrs. McCracken,
Thank you darlin', listen, when you ain't tossing them planes, and picking up rubber bands and handing them back to Dave to shoot again, you have to make him Fried Pies.

This helps in healing up - really!

I mean the smell of them thangs in the kitchen will have Dave get up and exercise hisself , getting up to go sneak one.

I did a rotation in the Ortho unit and took folks to Physical Therapy.
So I know folks will do better if the pain med is given about 30 min before PT, and when they do PT "ADLs" (Activities of Daily Living) such as dealing with steps, opening doors and the like, PT used items to replicate.

I really did get Fried Pies and other Desserts for the folks to eat.
They negotiated having to get up out of a power assist chair, and getting to the Kitchen.

My classmates and I were really liked by the Ortho Unit with our patients.

Yeah I know, I "are" good at times. *wink*


Sending Best
 
One goal? Nope.

Plenty of them.

Including, running them at Chinese trap.

And, seeing Daughter married.

And, teaching grandchillun to shoot, fish and spit watermelon seeds way off.
 
Hang in their Dave. Take it easy and relax a bit. Get well soon.

But out of consideration for your convalescence wouldn't this be the perfect time to lobby for a 28 gauge Wingmaster? ;)

My only surprise is that Steve didn't mention it. :)
 
My only surprise is that Steve didn't mention it.
Click to expand...

PJR my friend, I wuz waiting for you to mention it.

I already have a solid maple rolling pin with my initials on it - you don't. *yep*

Oh I may be a dumb old southern boy, still even I know a proper kitchen is best interior decorated and equipped with more than one rolling pin, cast iron skillet, copper kettle, single shot behind the door...etc.
-Multiples give balance and ambiance, along with providing back ups.
Redundancy is something I believe in as we all know.

I mean while rolling out dough to make Fried Pies for Dave with the solid maple rolling with my initials, yours will be doing back up and interior decorating duty.
Dave's WW can smack his son and daughter while fixing them pies with yours to keep their grubby paws off of Dave's Pies.

*smart huh*

Trapper needs to get a rolling pin with his initials as well...
Will Fennell's needs one too...

Dave's WW will have the whole Collector Set before THR gets done . *grin*


*I'm helpin'*
 
Actually, I was waiting for Steve to suggest a method for using 2 single shot shotguns as makeshift crutches, then swinging them up for Upside Down Flint Rubble Bubble Trap and runnin' 'em 25 straight...

Dave, I'm sure you'll gut it out. Once the initial aggravation is past you'll be enjoying your temporary role as ornery old fart in your new favorite chair while you grow into your new hip. Steve will offer endless suggestions for shotgunning with limitations (when asked, or not *wink*) You do have a .410 available..? Failing that, popcorn loads ready for the 28...?

Feel better,

gp911
 
Thanks, Paul. Considering recent price bumps, I'd rather lobby for a pallet load of ammo components.

And, my slightly early Father's Day present is a 42" LCD TV with all the premium cable channels. Can't complain there.

Steve, she just asked me to sharpen up some kitchen knives, including that big Sabatier chef's knife.

Best stay quiet for a while.

GP, there'll be few limitations in a month or so. I've plans which include....

Some dove shoots, and some range time with friends like Calliope and johnmcl. Extra time with the Geezers too.

And, I probably will bite another bullet and get NSCA Level One Instructor certified. This will add another arrow to my instructing quiver and also get me a couple days top level instruction. Cost is reasonable, considering.
 
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