Hog Hunt

Note: Before reading this blog please read this. There are graphic photos in this blog. If you have a squeamish stomach you may want to close the blog and not continue reading on.

You would think with this first picture - "What an angel. Sleeping so peacefully." My little baby was going to take a step to manhood with his first kill. He was going on his first hunt to shoot a wild boar.

I much prefer this first photo to the ones that follow. Here he is sleeping away during the drive. Vern and Superman had a long 7 hour drive to their destination so there was plenty of time for some zzzz's.

Here is Mr. Kool having some lunch. Where do you think the boys would go on a weekend away? You guessed it - Hooters - hamburgers and boobies!

Here they are at the destination and doing some target shooting. Vern is great about following the safety rules and listening. I am very proud of him for this. It was grey and chilly for most of the trip but that did not deter the enthusiasm.

Here is the first photo from the actual hunt. The guide is helping Vern set up the shot and aim at one of the boars. It is hard for me to tell from the photo but Vern said it was about 100 yards. When Vern took the shot no one thought he hit anything. Superman thought he saw one of the pigs stumble but they all ran off. Soon after, one of the other guides noticed some blood and one of the hunting dogs found the severely wounded hog a little ways away.  They took Vern over to the hog and he had to finish killing the pig.

Here is proud Vern with his kill. I think this is what they call the "money shot", as all hunters pose by their kills.  Vern told me it is a great way to blow off some anger and testosterone.  I believe him although I can't relate being female...it seems sick and wrong to me.

 Next is one of the more graphic photos. After they kill the hogs they ride in a truck and take them back to be weighed and gutted.  I just say YUCK!

They decided to keep the hogs and took them home. In this next photo they are skinning the animals and preparing them to eat.

Vern is 100% in on the entire process. In this photo he is taking the skin and head off of the boar.

Vern is very proud of himself and he should be. This is a big step for him. He kept begging Superman to bring the head and skin of the pig home. Superman kept trying to dissuade Vern from this. Nothing was working. What finally convinced Vern to toss the head and skin? Bugs (I can only assume fleas.) were found crawling all over the skin and head. Vern was finished with asking to bring it home after he saw those. (Mom cheering at that!)  Vern did bring home the meat which was bug free and gave to his dad. That was nice.  I asked Vern how it tasted as they ate one of the pigs that night for dinner. His reply - "Oh not to bad, I think the ham was chewy."

Here is Vern the next morning and a couple mornings after. He was very tired and worn out after his weekend away. Superman - well he ended up getting super sick and missing some work. Guess those boys shouldn't play if they can't take it. 

It's all up to you...

So it is that time of year again - school conferences.

This time there was a theme to the conferences but I will get to that in a minute. I believe I have talked before about how in middle school the conferences are student led. This means that the kids talk about their grades and papers they have done. The teachers walk around and talk a bit if you have any questions. I understand why they make kids do this but would rather have a more traditional talk with the teachers.

So Vern starts going through his papers. I see many individual grades below par. I ask him what is going on?  I get back "I don't know."  What can you do to improve this paper next time? "I don't know." You get the picture.

Finally a teacher shows up to talk about Vern and his grades. They proceed to say along the lines of the following: Vern is doing well but sometimes does not pay attention in class.  I think Vern could do better.  Next teacher: Vern is not working up to his potential. Vern is choosing to rush through his papers.  Next teacher: It is all up to what Vern chooses to do. Vern grasps the concepts very well but needs to apply himself. Next teacher: (Math) Wow, Vern has really improved his grades and how he acts in class. He is doing much better than first semester.

So the theme really rang true with all the teachers. Vern you are at a juncture in your life where you can choose the outcome. You are an extremely smart kid that grasps ideas at a much higher grade level. What will you choose to do with your gifts Vern?

It is all up to you!!!