Ithaca For Your 15th.

Saturday was my son's 15th birthday.On Friday evening we went out for dinner and enjoyed dry aged prime bone-in Ribeyes at Fleming's in Radnor then proceeded to the Waterfowl Club for the last day of the Duck/Goose season. When we awoke early Saturday morning, it was warm and there was no cloud cover so we did not anticipate any action in the blinds...and we got none....a pretty weak season overall.
The action came when I presented this birthday present to my son:

Ithaca SKB 200E 12 Ga S X S, 28" barrel, chokes are full & mod, raised rib, nice scrolling on orignal coin finish, single selective trigger, auto safety, orignal recoil pad, 14" LOP, stocks are very nice, excellent condition.


After we put away the decoys and took off our waders,I went to the truck and pulled out an Orvis "leg-o-mutton" break down case, handed it to the boy and said "Happy Birthday." When he opened the case and I showed him how to put this fine double barrel side by side shotgun together, his face nearly cracked in half from the giant smile. He mounted the gun a few times to get the feel against his shoulder and cheek and said something to the effect of "this is awesome."
We then went behind the decoy shed where we placed a clay pigeon launcher on the back of one of our ATVs. He proceeded to go 4 for 5 on his first set and it was obvious the gun was a decent fit and he could handle it well. We shot about half a box of clays then cleaned her up and put her away. The kid is thrilled! This Saturday he is coming with me to a Tower Shoot...so he will get a chance to try out his new gun in some real wingshooting.
He had previously been shooting a youth model Browning Gold semi-auto. I told him since he was 15 it was time for him to have a gentleman's gun...a double gun...a 12 ga. so he can really reach out for the birds.I suspect it was a good birthday for the lad....

Art in Boxing

We attended the boxing matches in South Philly on Saturday. Sadly, my welterweigth had to scratch due a hand injury from sparring.Nevertheless,it was a great card and we saw some excellent bouts.
The lady shutterbug of Keyartphoto shared this photograph with me from her friend Chris Toney. This is a very artistic snap from the Rosado v. Sotto-Karas bout. Something about this photo really captures the energy and struggle of the fight.

Semi-Sleeper Sports Movie

Dennis Quaid,Jessica Lange, Tim Hutton and John Goodman take us back to a slightly different era of College Football. Quaid is the hot shot QB who rules LSU but struggles with life after College and after the NFL. Lange is the Magnolia Queen-College Sweetheart who blossoms into a strong woman in her 40's. Now that "Rudy" is tainted by his recent swindling....this film should be next to "Remember the Titans" on your football movie watch list.
This is an entertaining film with some good acting and an engaging story. Plus...Hutton's character ends up teaching History at Lehigh.

The Planter's Punch Brand

Mixing Gin and Dark Rum to form a bastardized Daquiri is somewhat suspect. However, the result is pretty damn good. I would suggest sticking to Planter's Punch...the recipe is on the bottle. Or a Sharkbite: Myers's dark..Orange juice, Pineapple juice and a splash of Grenadine...I consumed countless Sharkbites at "The Bluffs" in Bayhead.
I really like Myers's with tonic and a large wedge of lime...that is my "go-to" drink all Summer. It is also delicious in hot cider after skiing or in hot tea after an afternoon in a cold,damp goose pit.
According to this old advertisement...one drinks the cocktail described while watching polo in Jamaica.

Jenna is Coming

In a few days I will have a new addition to my hunting dog line-up. A wash-out from a Field Test and Hunt Test breeder/trainer....she should be fine for my waterfowling pursuits. Her disposition commends her to the dual role as a house-dog and companion for my other dog and the Family.
While combing the various Lab-rescues and shelters since the passing of our sweet Dixie...I came across this girl.We are all excited and this Spring will afford plenty of time to train her to my purposes.

Pinaud

For that classic and old-school, just-left-the-barbershop scent...check out these products. Bowman has them all....Clubman after-shave...Bay Rum...surgical grade styptic pencils...talc as fine and pink as Bermuda sand(the pink is great for dabbing under the collar when wearing a tie....keeps the neck from getting beat up on sweaty Summer days...and blends in...not visible like white talc...but they have both....shave talc and regular. The Osage rub is an ethereal experience. After showering and shaving. ..douse on scalp and face...the eucalyptol and menthol combine for a freight train rush of cool refreshing bracer. The Clubman shampoo is great...and to keep the fragrance consistent they have a non-aerosol deoderant as well.They have mustache wax and quinine hair tonic...these are the products on the counter at your Grandfather's favorite barbershop..the one with deer heads on the wall and Playboy on the table and where they talked about Willie Mays or Stan Musial or even Ty Cobb...Jack Dempsey and the Army/Navy game...coffe always hot and scissors and clippers always sharp as Hell...like the jokes and ribbing between the Barbers. By the way....this stuff ain't expensive at all...very reasonable.

Tragic

Back in 2010 during the Winter Olympics I posted about Lindsay Vonn: Gorgeous and a beast on the downhill run. She is still winning World Cup Races.
Today we have the sad news that Sarah Burke has died from the injuries she sustained on 1/10/2012 while training in Park City,Utah. Burke was talented as Hell...beautiful and successful in her field of competition...a dream girl on many levels. Now she is gone...her organs have been harvested and the World has lost something special.