On the first weekend of November, I shot my last major “run-and-gun” match of the year, the Citrus Challenge IDPA tournament (www.idpa.com) mentioned earlier in this blog.  This past weekend, I shot what I expect to be my last major “stand in one place and shoot the damn gun” match, a Glock Sport Shooting Foundation (www.gssfonline.com) event in St. Augustine, Florida.

Had a great time at both, learned lessons at both.   At Citrus Challenge, it was reinforced for me that when you get old, the “running” slows down before the “gunning.”

At St. Augustine, I was reminded – not for the first time this year, or ever – that if you want to perform well at a tournament, you really ought to train for it.  Entered in five “gun categories” at the Glock Shoot, each of which consists of three shooting stages, I shot my average on the cardboard targets but was sloppy and off-pace on the steel plate stage.  I haven’t shot the “Bianchi Plates” all year except at four matches, and it showed.  Pace is particularly critical on reaction targets.  I had come back from a deposition in a fatal shooting case on the opposite coast barely in time to get caught up on work mail, and put the guns into the car before the match.

Another lesson: my job requires me to do some shooting almost every week, and that at least keeps you consistent.  In this case, the consistent performance gave me a “gentleman’s C” overall grade that kept me from having to go into therapy or anything, but also showed that consistency can be the key to mediocrity.

On the plus side, my Significant Other is on a roll.  The preliminary results show that she was high female in the Civilian event.

My final lesson: I should model on Frank Butler. He was the 19th Century marksman who challenged Annie Oakley to a shooting match. She kicked his butt; he saw his future; and he devoted the rest of his life to being her manager.

Of course, Ms. Oakley may have been more manageable than my Significant Other…

1 COMMENT

  1. The words “manage” and “Significant Other” have no contextual meaning or application except in a reference such as “My Significant Other managed to help me appreciate my shortcomings”.

  2. The words “manage” and “Significant Other” have no contextual meaning or application except in a reference such as “My Significant Other managed to help me appreciate my shortcomings”.

  6. Manager of the Evil Princess, some how I can’t see you managing and giving up your trigger time.
    Won’t be long so happy Thanksgiving to “yall”.

  7. Manager of the Evil Princess, some how I can’t see you managing and giving up your trigger time.
    Won’t be long so happy Thanksgiving to “yall”.

  8. Mas, you want to talk about slowing down ok. 26th of this month I will be 53 but last January my back said it is time for the back surgery and I didn’t listen. Oct 23 I had my back surgery. I now have a scare from my crack to the middle of my back. 6 titanium screws 2 titanium rods a spacer and a cage to hold the bone graft in place until S1-L5 fuse together. But the day of my surgery I was walking on a walker around my room. Next day I was doing trips up and down the hall. I shoot every week but not for the last several months. I thought I was going to go into DTs from not shooting. But last week less than 2 weeks from surgery I was out in the back yard shooting. Now I’m looking at double knee replacement left and right shoulder replacement. But it will not keep me from getting out and doing something that I love. My DR. tells me you have to remember you are 70yrs old and I said thanks Doc love you to. Don’t know if you remember I told you about starting a radio Gun Talk show well my back put that on hold for I don’t know how long. If I have to I’m going to open the window and shoot from the warm because if I get a chill it goes clear to my bones. I was long winded because I have been wanting to get into IDPA do they have a worn out shoot in IDPA? I couldn’t run if a bear was after me. And I go to a friend cabin in the Smokies Mtns. where there are plenty of black bear. So I make sure I have my 10mm with some hot handloads on me at all times. Ah shit if you want to delete this go ahead I guess I had to talk to someone about guns even if they don’t talk back. I’m always glad to get your blogs I have learned a lot. With no hope of going back to work I may have to start me a blog. Don’t know if anyone would read it. I have been trying to use Dragon text to speech because I type so slowly but I have yet to get that stupid program to understand Hillbilly. Well at least I hope I have brought a smile to your face because that’s something I enjoy also making people laugh. Ever get close to La Fayette,Ga. let me know and I might be able to find a quart jar of corn liquor. Might even find 2 one you can take back to Fl. with you.

  9. Mas, you want to talk about slowing down ok. 26th of this month I will be 53 but last January my back said it is time for the back surgery and I didn’t listen. Oct 23 I had my back surgery. I now have a scare from my crack to the middle of my back. 6 titanium screws 2 titanium rods a spacer and a cage to hold the bone graft in place until S1-L5 fuse together. But the day of my surgery I was walking on a walker around my room. Next day I was doing trips up and down the hall. I shoot every week but not for the last several months. I thought I was going to go into DTs from not shooting. But last week less than 2 weeks from surgery I was out in the back yard shooting. Now I’m looking at double knee replacement left and right shoulder replacement. But it will not keep me from getting out and doing something that I love. My DR. tells me you have to remember you are 70yrs old and I said thanks Doc love you to. Don’t know if you remember I told you about starting a radio Gun Talk show well my back put that on hold for I don’t know how long. If I have to I’m going to open the window and shoot from the warm because if I get a chill it goes clear to my bones. I was long winded because I have been wanting to get into IDPA do they have a worn out shoot in IDPA? I couldn’t run if a bear was after me. And I go to a friend cabin in the Smokies Mtns. where there are plenty of black bear. So I make sure I have my 10mm with some hot handloads on me at all times. Ah shit if you want to delete this go ahead I guess I had to talk to someone about guns even if they don’t talk back. I’m always glad to get your blogs I have learned a lot. With no hope of going back to work I may have to start me a blog. Don’t know if anyone would read it. I have been trying to use Dragon text to speech because I type so slowly but I have yet to get that stupid program to understand Hillbilly. Well at least I hope I have brought a smile to your face because that’s something I enjoy also making people laugh. Ever get close to La Fayette,Ga. let me know and I might be able to find a quart jar of corn liquor. Might even find 2 one you can take back to Fl. with you.

  10. Mas, you want to talk about slowing down ok. 26th of this month I will be 53 but last January my back said it is time for the back surgery and I didn’t listen. Oct 23 I had my back surgery. I now have a scare from my crack to the middle of my back. 6 titanium screws 2 titanium rods a spacer and a cage to hold the bone graft in place until S1-L5 fuse together. But the day of my surgery I was walking on a walker around my room. Next day I was doing trips up and down the hall. I shoot every week but not for the last several months. I thought I was going to go into DTs from not shooting. But last week less than 2 weeks from surgery I was out in the back yard shooting. Now I’m looking at double knee replacement left and right shoulder replacement. But it will not keep me from getting out and doing something that I love. My DR. tells me you have to remember you are 70yrs old and I said thanks Doc love you to. Don’t know if you remember I told you about starting a radio Gun Talk show well my back put that on hold for I don’t know how long. If I have to I’m going to open the window and shoot from the warm because if I get a chill it goes clear to my bones. I was long winded because I have been wanting to get into IDPA do they have a worn out shoot in IDPA? I couldn’t run if a bear was after me. And I go to a friend cabin in the Smokies Mtns. where there are plenty of black bear. So I make sure I have my 10mm with some hot handloads on me at all times. Ah shit if you want to delete this go ahead I guess I had to talk to someone about guns even if they don’t talk back. I’m always glad to get your blogs I have learned a lot. With no hope of going back to work I may have to start me a blog. Don’t know if anyone would read it. I have been trying to use Dragon text to speech because I type so slowly but I have yet to get that stupid program to understand Hillbilly. Well at least I hope I have brought a smile to your face because that’s something I enjoy also making people laugh. Ever get close to La Fayette,Ga. let me know and I might be able to find a quart jar of corn liquor. Might even find 2 one you can take back to Fl. with you.

  21. Tony, thanks for reminding me how blessed I am. I always told my kids when they were coming up that, no matter how smart you think you are , someone out there is smarter, no matter how tough you think you are, you’ll run across someone who can pin your ears, and no matter how bad you think things are going, someone is going through worse than you are.

    Keep your chin up friend. As my dear mother used to say,”this too, will pass”.

    Wishing you a short path to recovery and permanent relief from pain.

  22. Tony, thanks for reminding me how blessed I am. I always told my kids when they were coming up that, no matter how smart you think you are , someone out there is smarter, no matter how tough you think you are, you’ll run across someone who can pin your ears, and no matter how bad you think things are going, someone is going through worse than you are.

    Keep your chin up friend. As my dear mother used to say,”this too, will pass”.

    Wishing you a short path to recovery and permanent relief from pain.

  23. Tony – please allow me to give you some hope. I’m 66+years old; have had back surgery (not as extensive as yours), BOTH knees replaced, BOTH shoulders reconstructed, BOTH carpal tunnel/hands done, have been putting off a foot “rebuild” for five years, injections in both hips (advanced osteoarthritis) – actually, I could go on, but it bores ME, I can imagine what it does to you! My point? You have lots of time left – enjoy it, brother! We share a passion for guns and shooting + we have a great place to talk about it here. Stay safe – condition yellow – 100%.

  24. Tony – please allow me to give you some hope. I’m 66+years old; have had back surgery (not as extensive as yours), BOTH knees replaced, BOTH shoulders reconstructed, BOTH carpal tunnel/hands done, have been putting off a foot “rebuild” for five years, injections in both hips (advanced osteoarthritis) – actually, I could go on, but it bores ME, I can imagine what it does to you! My point? You have lots of time left – enjoy it, brother! We share a passion for guns and shooting + we have a great place to talk about it here. Stay safe – condition yellow – 100%.

  25. Tony – please allow me to give you some hope. I’m 66+years old; have had back surgery (not as extensive as yours), BOTH knees replaced, BOTH shoulders reconstructed, BOTH carpal tunnel/hands done, have been putting off a foot “rebuild” for five years, injections in both hips (advanced osteoarthritis) – actually, I could go on, but it bores ME, I can imagine what it does to you! My point? You have lots of time left – enjoy it, brother! We share a passion for guns and shooting + we have a great place to talk about it here. Stay safe – condition yellow – 100%.

  26. A couple days ago, I learned that Gun Owners of America (GOA), is launcing a letter campaign, to prevent the Liberal Democrat’s, lead by Harry Reid, from using the Lame Duck Session from passsing a C.R., or a Budget to ensure that the anti-gun ObamaCare, will be fully funded, before the Republicians assume the majority, in Jan. of 2015.
    If you want to partisipate, go to http://www.gunowners.org/alert11142014.htm, and join with them in this effort to STOP THE LAME DUCK DEMOCRAT’S FROM USING THIS BACK DOOR MEANS TO FUND THE ANTI-FIREARMS OBAMACARE BEFORE THE REPUBLICANS TAKR OVER IN JANUARY OF 2015!

  27. A couple days ago, I learned that Gun Owners of America (GOA), is launcing a letter campaign, to prevent the Liberal Democrat’s, lead by Harry Reid, from using the Lame Duck Session from passsing a C.R., or a Budget to ensure that the anti-gun ObamaCare, will be fully funded, before the Republicians assume the majority, in Jan. of 2015.
    If you want to partisipate, go to http://www.gunowners.org/alert11142014.htm, and join with them in this effort to STOP THE LAME DUCK DEMOCRAT’S FROM USING THIS BACK DOOR MEANS TO FUND THE ANTI-FIREARMS OBAMACARE BEFORE THE REPUBLICANS TAKR OVER IN JANUARY OF 2015!