The year draws to a close, so I't would be proper to put down our best memories of the silhouette season past. Let me lead off.

It has been a tough year for me , as some of you who are privy to my domestic situation know. Let it be said only that I've survived 3 attempts on my life and survived. My attorney says not to say more. I am thankful.

I am thankful that we had at the Old Fort Gun Club at Fort Smith a complete season. We were not weathered out and survived the bad road to the club and have come through it the better. Our sister clubs in the Gulf, due to Katrina and her like were not so fortunate. We continue to have a good thought for you. For our club, will strive to have an even better season next year.

I am thankful for the opportunity to once again shoot at Winnsboro. David and Jerry put on the best shooting circus in the country. Lot's of fun, if you missed it DON"T miss the next one. World class shooters, world class prizes, world class friends.

I am thankful for my extended shooting family. The folks at Tulsa Red Castle (Suzy Kessy makes the best cookies in the world and you guys stay away, she is my patron saint), Benton Gun Club, Chiken George, Greg Sullivan, Frank Bray, Leroy Squires, and all the rest that made me feel welcome, even though I was insane enough to drive 2 1/2 hours each way on Wednesday to shoot with them, Dawg, who bought all the beer and Scotch and got drunk enough that I convinced him to buy ribs after the Kentucky State Championship, Nick, his running buddy, Melvin, my traveling companion (has gps never gets lost) Fabian Conneley (ever heard an Irishman say "Get Er Done"?), Cathy, Chris, Chad Winstead (Nicer people and greater competitors you will never find) Troy Lawton and his son Kevin, who put up with us duct taping him (Kevin) on his birthday in Phoenix at the nationals and pounding him with water balloons, Mary Watkins, who was ever gracious and kind, Coates (Mary's son) a good kid (he hates that) that I never got tired of trading barbs with., Karl Stephens (Karls not internet savvy so if you see this and see Karl tell him I am thinking of him) who was my traveling companion to Phoenix (Karl will never ride in a rental car with me again, you rent it you drive it like it was stolen, right. And anyway, you drive the wrong way down a busy street in Phonix AZ and folks will get out of your way, I've proved that) My local club which is prospering and bringing new shooters into the fray, Doug and Sarah Greer, who made us feel so welcome and at home in Kentucky, and all the rest of you guys and gals that I have come into contact with this past season.

I am thankful for the NRA, which sanctions this mess we call Sillhouette shooting. For better or worse, they publish the little orange rules book that makes for such spirited conversation. And I am thankful for the NRA for putting on the Nationals. It was a special feeling for me, just being an ordinary shooter, to stand at attention on the opening day and hear the National Anthems played from each country represented and to know that I was a part of that, representing my country in some small way

I am thankful for the folks that make this board possible, where freedom of expression is not suppresssed.

I am thankful for the folks like Mark Pharr (not singleing him out, he just comes to mind) and all the other custom gunsmiths that provide us with guns that shoot better than we do. Even if you have to poke the empty case out with a .49 cent dowel from the muzzle..

I am thankful for the three sponsors of the Southern Trifecta Chuck Deason in Fla, David McLemore and Jerry Breitupt (spelling?) at the Southern Nationals in Winnsboro, and Frank Bray and Chiken George Rhode and all the folks at the Benton Gun Club that make all this happen. These folks give sacrifically and when you go to one of their shoots you most likely never realize the work that goes on behind the scene to make all this happen. Thank you guys, and I hope to abuse your hospitality once again in 2006.

There is so much more to be thankful for, and if I have left anybody out it is because of a failing memory. Guys and girls it has been a great year. Let's have a better one next year.


John Neihouse

After re-reading this I raalize that I have left out a whole lot of memories. I guess you can't put them all down. Like shooting in Kentucky side by side with Mark Alred's boy, who won class A and being so impressed with the gun safety and savvy of this young man and the closeness between him and his dad. I won't try to put them all down. Please jump in here with your favorite memory of 2005. It was a good year.

Time is running out on my day, will try and reply later. There re a TON of things that went on this year for me. Many new friends, spent quality time with many old friends (excluding the 9 day stent with Culpepper in a CAMPER ...WTF Was I thinking....), hope I didn't loose any friends. Brief highlights.....

10. Meeting the guys from Washington in Fl and LA this year..hope to go to Pel el next year..

9. Getting to see Limey take to Crawfish like a back woods in-breed child...LOL

8. Eating Sheri and Kevin's cooking and having some kind of Louisiana Cheesecake after

7. Living with Culpepper in a camper for 9 or so days...

6. 2005 LA state air rifle match...what a blast.

5. Getting to see Bill R. blow up and shoot a 25 in a match he was supposed to win...Sorry Bill but was a highlight...

4. Spending quality time with a "Lady of the evening" in a sleezy hotel room this year in Jacksonville!

3. Getting awoke out of a strange bed in AL at the state match this year (TaTonka!)

2. Getting in my new Pharr built rifle

1. Getting 10 or so miles down the road in Winnie last year and realizing TL's and Cullpepper's cobler is still in my fridge!!!!


Too many to list really... but as you could see Winnie made quite a few... Expect no different next year....

I love the Dawg, Chiken, but 10 DAYS in a camper with him alone......How didi the stronger of the two of you not kill the other???? LOL I gues you all can see this sport, at least for us "up and coming, or bottom feeders" is more about the people than the sport. I for one will never forget the way that Chiken, having to poke the empties out of his Pharr gun (some kind of technical glicth) borrowed Ed Kessey's gun( Kess is another one of these great silhouette characters, but leave Suzy alone, she is my patorn saint) and shooting 7 turkeys in a row in HIGH, GUSTING winds. Maybe it's more about the Indian than the Arrow??? Anyway, what a hoot this season has been.....You othe guys chime in....Don't worry, your wives don't read this board....

It is so hard to pack all the memories into a page so I'll just concur with John and chicken cause I was there for alot of it. But I will add

10. this forum where we can be us

9. Katrina and looters still makes me smile

8. Kentucky if you were there you know, if not you should have been

7. Al state, Greg Sullivan saying "Man that's a knife" and Rats, Rats

6. TL telling me in AK, thats your third crossfire, well no kidding, I was here for all of them

5. GA state Ron Cope telling me I just cost him 2000.00 dollars, Ron you'll love the gun

4. AK when Chuck Deason thought the gate was locked and I walked all the way down to Chick's trailer, Banged on the side and thought he soiled himself, Dude you were scared, Then he goes up and shows chuck how to open an unlocked gate. PRICELESS

3. Karl Stevens buying me beer, what a joy

2. Watching Chick try and fix a trailer toilet, you would never believe what he can do with a coat hanger......hey ....that kinda sounds like the muzzel loading .22 rimfire thang.

1. All of ya'll, each and everyone of you have left me with memories, mostly ones I look back and smile or laugh at. Your concern for me and mine during Katrina, made it seem more bearable, I have been blessed to know you all.

All right enough of the mushy stuff ya'll go practice, ya know the season is starting soon.

This thread is an excellent argument for at least occasional suppression of freedom of expression and a fine example of the dangers of letting "us be us."

Chick,

I think AJJ said you need suppression, you been eating alot of beans.

AJJ,

You throwing rocks, I think I saw a rock, you not throwing rocks at me are ya........... ....... ......that was a rock. Gotta get me some more learning on them hidden agenda, lawyer writing words, think thats what they call a tounge in cheek thang. Ain't that what yer good buddy ol billy clinton did when he was pointing at that 70 year old reporter and said "I never had sex with that women". That's right he WAS a lawyer too.

Rocks is Rocks LMAO

Dawg,

When the hell last year did you shot in Alaska? (AK)

Chick,

Well what is it, forgot to turn on my state checker

The drive to Nationals through a snow flurry to arrive in 95F heat!
Five days of shooting in 95F to 105F with winds gusting to 25 mph.
Watching a Corvette drive over my glasses, and knowing I had another pair.
Evenings at Jerry

Never have I met such a crazy bunch and enjoyed it any more than I have this year.

All the hours on the road traveling with John who is all ways entertaining. Great guy!!

Calling my first matches this year has been an experience, just ask Kessy, he had to tell me to say fire a couple of times. I think he was just ready to shoot, what

I do not have a top ten, but have enjoyed this past year as I shot fairly well for an old man, just not as old as Sandbag Sandlin, and did not make a complete a$$ out of myself except in Arkansas on the last day of the Trifecta! I hope to attend more matches this year for the good times and companionship of great people.

For the benefit of Dawg and Nasty Nick, I will say that the phrase "NO TALKING ON THE FIRING LINE!!!" brings back the most memorable event of the year! All that I will say regarding that is that pay back is hell! Just ask Dawg!

Now that 2005 is coming to a close, I want everyone to know that we are in full attack mode on the planning of the 2006 Southern Nationals, so be prepared for a bigger and better match. If you have any suggestions as to how we can make our match better, please do not hesitate to let us know. Everything that we so was ideas that were stolen from another shoot!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
David "duckgumbeaux" McLemore

Well,

I've always wanted to 'spot' for the Swedish Bikini Team...

http://www.swedishbikiniteam.com/galler ... egoryID=27

You DID ask...

"Big Earn"


Something just seems WRONG about a mental image of you sitting around looking at soft core porn.....AND DON'T give me that "Photography is my hobby routine"....


PS> Thanks for the link!

I don't look at soft porn.
I look at HARD porn and sometimes the soft stuff shows up while I'm searching...