I made this blog to tell about my experiences and thoughts while sharing products that have worked for me, being a quadriplegic hunter, fisherman and outdoorsman. It will mostly be everything hunting but with a little life mixed in.
Here are two websites to remember if you ever want to find
out anything about spinal cord injuries.
You can join the CareCure forum to collect or acquire information
if you are a person with a spinal cord injury, family member, caregiver, health
care professional, researcher or a friend of a person with a spinal cord
injury. This spinal cord injury message board is run by Rutgers University.
CareCure has over 70 forums where there is discussion about everything
from life, care, legislation, advocacy, sports, travel, pain, caregiving, technology,
relationships, politics and much more. No subject is taboo, trust me. I have
learned a lot of pros and cons about different medical procedures I have had
done and/or might have done in the future. There a lot of great suggestions
that can only come from someone who has gone through it.
This website has just popped up that I think will be another
good resource of information. It is called SPINALpedia. I have just become a
member and am just figuring it out. But it looks like it will be a great place
to share ideas and do research.
There used to be a website called apparelyzed. But for some reason the owner of the site took it down. You can't even go back in time in the Internet world to get any of the info. It is a real shame. That was the best website out there and it is all gone.
If you are looking for more information about spinal cord
injuries whether you yourself are injured, am a friend, family member or
medical professional, I encourage you to take a look at these websites. The
amount of information on them is mind-boggling. If someone has thought of it is
on there.
For you trail cam aficionados here is all you need to know
for the new trail cams for 2017. If you are looking to buy one for yourself or
you are going to buy one for someone, hint hint, there's more information on
this website then you need to know. Click the link below.
Dreams are crazy thing. Some people think they have meaning
and others do not. I do not know which way to think but this is how my dreams
work.
I rarely dream. Or I rarely remember what I was dreaming
about. But when I do remember it is usually not a good dream. You would think
dreams would be something "dreamy." Not so much for me.
When I dream I would say pretty much 100% of the time I am
not able bodied in the dream. Meaning, I am not running around the base paths.
I am not hiking through the mountains. In my dreams I am not in a wheelchair
either. In my dreams I am pretty much like a blob on the floor with two arms
and a head sticking out. Weird stuff. The only way I move is if people grab me
by the hand and drag me around. It is crazy and not very pleasant when I
remember my dreams. I would much rather wake up oblivious to what has been
streaming through my mind all night.
A lot of people who are paralyzed have similar dreams like
this. It is crazy to read about other people's dreams and what they go through
in those dreams. Sometimes they are not in a wheelchair. Sometimes they are in
a wheelchair. Rarely they are like my dreams and get dragged around. In a small
percentage, they are able bodied in their dreams. I have not found any explanation
for these types of dreams. I imagine there is no explanation that can be
scientifically proven.
I don't know if I want to dream that I am running and
walking around only to wake up and realize that it was just a dream…
It is crazy how the brain works.
Another thing that is weird is when I think about myself
going down a hall or down the driveway in my wheelchair, in my mind I picture
myself walking. I do not picture myself in a wheelchair. Like if I am with a
bunch of people and everybody is standing around, in my mind I picture myself
like everyone else.
I know the wheelchair does not make the person. The person
makes the person. But sometimes it is not very confirming at what the brain
thinks of and perceives as real.
Have started setting up trail cameras. Excited for the upcoming season. There should be some big boys roaming around that I know made it through the off-season. #moultrie #mossyoak
2016 Memorial Day weekend I took a little vacation West
River. During this little five-day hiatus I didn't watch any news programs or
SportsCenter. It wasn't anything I planned on doing it just happened. I haven't
watched any local or national news since. I also haven't watched any sports
programs besides games. A year has gone by and I do not miss it at all. I am
glad I am ignorant on the current events.
Before this last year I would watch local news at least
twice a day if not three times a day. I would also watch national news at least
once a day. Along with getting information from TV, I read at least two or
three newspapers a day. If I would miss one day of newsgathering I would feel
lost. I felt like I was not doing my part in keeping up with the day’s events.
I have come to realize that knowing all this useless information did not
benefit me at all. I have learned over this last year that events that happen
elsewhere in the country and world that do not affect me don't bother me. That
might seem a little selfish but my life is truly more enjoyable.
I have learned that if something doesn't affect my friends,
my family or myself it doesn't matter if I know about it or not. I used to
follow local and national politics quite closely. I have come to realize that
politicians are going to do what they want no matter what I think. I still
contact state representatives on issues that affect local policies. In fact I
just got a letter back today from one of our Senators. But of course the letter
was the regular response in a template format.
I still read the headlines in two or three local newspapers
a day. But I rarely read an article unless it truly has some effect on people I
know. I never read political articles anymore. I pretty much just read feature
stories on individuals who are making a difference. Politics have gotten way
too polarizing and way to he said she said. To me it is all a bunch crap. If
you can't stand for the greater good, you have no reason being in politics.
I also used to watch SportsCenter at least two times a day.
For some reason that Memorial Day weekend I chose not to follow any sports
stories. I still kept up with who won and lost but that is it. The stories that
come out of SportsCenter and the like are pretty much pointless. Most of the
stories are about contract negotiations between billionaires and millionaires.
I just got sick of athletes complaining about how they can't feed their families
on $20 million a year. Good grief.
Now all of this not caring doesn't mean that I'm not going
to vote like some pixie fairy. Not voting is never acceptable. So when November
comes around I will have to do a little research on the issues and candidates
but just enough to get the gist. And I am for sure not going to get my
information from corporate media. I will do my own investigating from multiple
sources on each side of the issue and each side of the aisle.
I hope all of this talk doesn't make me sound like some
antigovernment tofu eating hippie.
So what I've learned over the last year is that life is too
short to worry about crap that you cannot help with more control. I'll also
learned that I really don't care if Latrell Sprewell can feed his family on his
multimillionaire salary. I have also learned that it doesn't bother me that I
don't know what our president is doing. Because he is going to do it no matter
what I think anyway. As long as he doesn't take my bow tag away, I really don't
care.
This year started off with a bang. I spent New Year's Eve at
a cousin's wedding reception in Detroit Lakes. It was entertaining. I put on a
good performance. I overindulged. It was a blast. Stuff and things happened… I
may share couple of those stories, I may not…
Anyway, I knew this was going to be my last hurrah for a
while because I was getting my new seat cushion and back rest for my wheelchair
January 5. Getting these new components added to my chair meant it was going to
take some time for my body to get used to them. The process of getting
everything fitted took about three hours. I had to get in and out of the chair
about five times. It was an exhausting day. But it was going to be well worth
it because the new supports would be way more comfortable and way more
forgiving on my body.
It takes a while for a body to get used to new supports and
components. Skin breakdowns are a very real possibility if you push it too
fast. It takes a while to get your, in the chair stamina/endurance up. For the
first week after getting these new attachments I could only be in the chair for
a couple hours a day and not continuous days. The second week I could be three
hours a day. The fourth week was 3 1/2 hours. The fifth week could be four
hours a day. I knew I wanted this to go well so I followed their instructions
to a T. I did not want to push it and go backwards. Everything went well and I
did not have any skin related issues or breakdowns. I was pretty excited about
the new components on my chair.
So February 4 I decided to get the town and do a little
celebrating Clint style. I met some friends up at the Spare Time and had my
first Morgan 7 in over a month. It did not suck. About midway through the cocktail
I started feeling poorly. But I did not blame the alcohol. I knew better. I
sucked down the rest of the glass and started feeling worse. So I decided to
have a glass of water. It didn't help. I knew something wasn't right. So I had my
buddy bring me home. I believe I was home before 11 PM. Sad. I decided to check
my temperature and found out it was 103°. No wonder why I didn't feel good. I
knew it wasn't the alcohol. So I pounded some aspirin and I actually felt
pretty good for the next day and a half. Stayed home for the Super Bowl and
felt good. I even canceled my clinic appointment I made for Monday because I
felt normal. Tuesday was a different story.
I got in the chair around noon on February 7 and started to
feel poorly again. Checked my temperature and it was back up to 103°. I was
also experiencing autonomic dysreflexia (AD). I decided to go to the emergency
room in Lisbon to find out what was going on. I figured it was a UTI (Urinary
Tract Infection). I get UTI's a lot because I produce kidney and bladder stones
faster than a rabbit on a first date. After a quick initial test it was
determined there was an infection but it wasn't a UTI. So they decided to keep
me overnight. The next day they figured out that I had a blood infection. So I
stayed over another night and they pumped me full of antibiotics. Thursday the
doctor came into my room in the morning and told me they wanted to ship me to
Fargo because they have an ICU. I guess the nurses in Lisbon were freaking out
just in case I went septic. I guess I don't blame them. I know most of them and
they were quite concerned. I didn't realize how bad it was until later. I only
ever heard of septic shock on TV shows. So I figured it must suck.
So that day, Thursday I got an ambulance ride to Fargo. It's
not as fun as it sounds. I got there just in time for nurse shift change so
that was a cluster. I had three nurses within two hours. In that time I also
had a doctor check me out and go through my history. He was neat. Can't
remember his name.
Friday morning I had a passel of doctors in and out of my
room poking and prodding me. They were trying to determine blood infection
originated from. They found the source and surgery was scheduled for Saturday.
In the meantime they were pumping me full of some powerful antibiotics. The
surgery happened around 11 on Saturday morning. They cleaned out the infected
site and told me I could probably leave in a couple days. It turned out to be
three days because I got home on Wednesday, February 15.
Since that time I have been trying to heal the infected site
by being on complete bed rest. The only time I have been in the chair is when I
was going to a doctor's appointment. While on bed rest, I have had physical and
occupational therapy for couple weeks after I got home. Also since I got home I
have had home health two or three times a week, every week. That still
continues. I also continued IV antibiotics for six weeks when I got home, which
I had three times a day.
In the beginning of this process I didn't think it was going
to take that long but shit happens. I just keep reminding myself that hopefully
when this is all over I will be better off and better than ever. There was also
just glad I was at home and not in the hospital during this process.
This is the longest I have ever had to be on house arrest.
It was a total of 92 days on bed rest. I have had two other times when I had to
lay down to heal up. In 2007 I had to lie down for three months in the hospital
to heal up my back after surgery. That hospital stay sucked except for the
handful of nurses who made the stay tolerable. The other time took place during
the summer of 99. That time I also had to lie down for three months to heal a
pressure sore on my leg. There was a lot of PlayStation, Skoal and Mountain Dew
consumed that summer. Good times.
Last week I was told I could get out of bed but very
selectively. Just because I am off of complete bed rest doesn't mean I can do
whatever I want. It is going to take quite a while to get my "in chair time"
stamina back to the usual six hours a day. As of now I am limited to 2 hours a
day in the chair. Plus I need to tilt back every hour for at least five
minutes. Plus, I cannot get up on back-to-back days. Every couple weeks I can
increase my time being up in the chair as long as there are no setbacks. So you
can see that this process is going to take a while for me to get back in my old
form. The new backrest and seat cushion should help eliminate some of these
breakdowns in the future. I am hoping by hunting season I will be able to sit
whenever I want. Priorities.
Again, I do not want any sympathy. That is not the reason
why I wrote this. I wrote this just to show what it takes to be a quad and to
live life. Everybody has problems, able-bodied or not. It just depends on your
perception and attitude of life. Ulcers are just a part of life for a quad.
Especially if you are out and about as much as I am. But that's the price we pay
for trying to be normal.
2017 Timeline of
Stuff and Things:
February 4 - started feeling like crap
February 7 - went to Lisbon emergency room
February 9 - transferred to Fargo Sanford
February 11 - surgery to clean infection
February 15 - discharge, went home
March 10 - got wound VAC
March 24 - removed PICC line, no more IVs
April 20 - still healing well, hurry up and wait
May 4 - removed wound VAC
May 10 - can start getting up limited time. Two hours max.
The nurse patient relationship is unique. It can be a
special bond. I don't know if it goes the same for the nurses but knowing
enough of them, I assume the relationship means the same for them.
It is crazy what they'll do for a patient. The things they
have to do, the things they choose to do, the things they want to do and the
things they are obligated to do for a patient are way beyond what most people
would do for another person. Some professions are more than a job. Being a
nurse is one of them. It is a more of a calling than a job.
It's amazing what you will share with a nurse, someone you
probably just met. It goes way beyond the physical stuff. It is more about the
personal stuff. It's amazing what they will share with you. Sometimes I think
patients become a sounding board. That is perfectly okay for what they have to
put up with. I have gotten close to quite a few different nurses over the years.
The conversations can get quite entertaining and sometimes eye-opening. The
filters are pretty much off.
The amount of energy they put into every day taking care of their
patients would be overwhelming for most. The amount of things they have to put
up with would be way too much for most people. They put up with patients and
their families at their worst. I can't believe what I have seen them put up
with, especially from the families. And they do this every day, over and over
again.
The stress dealing with patients would be hard to leave at
work. It has to take a toll on their personal lives. Nurses give a lot of their
personal time and a lot of their lives to helping others. The devotion to their
careers is immeasurable.
I have so many examples of kindness, generosity and just
pure friendship from this special relationship. There are too many examples to
share in this post of the unselfishness they have shown me through the years
wherever I have received their care. I could type forever.
I have the most respect for nurses and what they do. So
thank a nurse next time you see one. Thanks for everything you have done for
me. I am indebted to you.
Thanks for reading, Clint
PS: When I use the term nurse I mean that to encompass
certified nursing assistants, nurses’ aides, etc.
I can't believe I'm going to write about this and actually
post it in a public place. But some of the stuff is just too good not to share.
Some of you have witnessed stuff and things that have happened to me. Some of
the randomness that happens to me is absolutely not normal. So sit back and
enjoy.
I have kept names out of these stories to protect the not so
innocent… Also, you'll notice there are no pictures. I will keep it that way.
At least I hope there is no evidence out there…
This story is a classic. Some of you who are reading this
could probably add some more details because you watched and laughed. But
here's the gist. I was in a quaint little village not too far from Enderlin for
an anniversary party. The family of the couple has been friends of ours
forever. Anyway I was minding my own business talking to a table full of
friends outside of the party when all of a sudden I felt a tap on my shoulder.
I looked to my right and the next thing I knew there was a face right in front
of mine. She said, "I know who you are." I said, "I have no idea
who you are." She said, "Let's get to know each other." Then all
of a sudden I noticed her tongue down my throat. Good grief. The next thing I
heard was someone yelling, "She is married!" I had absolutely no clue
who she was. I didn't know if she was married, single or confused. Then someone
pulled her away. Geesh. I swear it wasn't my fault.
Here is another doozy of a story. Steven and I decided to
go to Lisbon one night. We prefer the Cattleman's, so that's where we headed.
When we got into the bar there weren’t many people at all. We headed to the
back and passed one table of older ladies. When we got to the back of the bar
it was dark and we were the only ones back there. We decided to grab a table,
have a couple cocktails and decide what was going to be our next option for the
evening. I don't know if Steven saw her coming up behind me but I had no clue
what was going on. All of a sudden this older lady has her face right in front
of mine. Again, I have no clue who this lady is. She doesn't say a word. And
you guessed it, the next thing I know is her tongue is down my throat. I backed
away and she finally caught on. I don't remember the conversation after that
but I do remember telling Steven, "Let's get the hell out of here!"
We decided to go to the F & L to reassess the situation
that just unfolded. Things got neat there also. The older lady went there too.
A new friend that I met that night was told the story about the older lady and
her wondering appendages. This new friend could tell I was a little
rattled/scared and we came up with the safeword "sailboat" to yell if it
happened again. The older lady tried to violate me again and I forgot the
safeword but I was able to evade her advances without any repercussions, except
for the nightmares.
We then hightailed it home. I almost technicolor yawned all
over the shaggin wagon on the way home reminiscing about the evenings events. Geesh…
Good times.
I have been violated once at O'Kelly's, many times. This
isn't why this used to be my favorite stop in Fargo. The owner, employees and
Pepsi products were the reasons I kept coming back. FYI, Morgan Pepsi is a lot
better than Morgan Coke. There are just too many stories that happened there to
try and condense into a story. O'Kelly's, where everybody knows my name… Or
did.
I have been to Woody's once in my life. That one time was
entertaining to say the least. I met a bunch of buddies there just for a get
together. There were probably 10 of us. Per usual the cocktails were flowing
and one thing led to another. One of my friends wanted to go for a ride on the
back of my chair. So he hopped on back and I pushed my way through the crowded
bar. I wasn't making any headway so we came up with a plan. We decided to make a
racetrack around the bar by pushing people and tables out of our way. After a
couple hot laps we were asked to stop. Thankfully we were not asked to leave,
yet.
Being the fine respectable people that we are we obliged and
decided to relax for a bit and have some cocktails. During this time there was
a lady eyeballing my buddy. So I went over to her and asked her what was up.
She wanted his name. I told her he was happily involved with his girlfriend.
She then asked what my name was, with a proposition. Any who, about that time
her husband came into the bar looking for her. He was not happy. I talked him
out of beating one of us up. They left. So we went back to the racetrack. Then
I was asked to leave.
There are a bunch more stories from throughout the territory.
The Fargo VFW, O'Leary's, Hooligans, Lonesome Dove, Dempsey's, Bismarck Tavern,
The Empire… Oh the memories… But I have to save something for myself and the
innocent bystanders.
In a lot of these stories the husband or significant other
wasn't too impressed with me. But I always figure I am not the one that is
happily married. It isn't my fault their wife/girlfriend is morally relaxed…
It is hard not to ask, "Why me?" But it doesn't do
any good. Of course I look back and think how my life could be different. I
think everyone does that. But being different doesn't mean it would be better.
No one can ever know that. Some people just dwell on the bad things. Your life
is going to suck doing that.
This is what I think when I ask myself, "Why me?" It
might sound weird for me to say but I don't think my accident could have
happened to anyone more suited or prepared to deal with it. I am not tooting my
own horn. I believe that to be the truth. The main reason I believe this is
because of the support that I get day in and day out. It is truly overwhelming.
If I need anything, all I need to do is contact one of my family members or
friends. My family and friends are truly the best. They don't suck.
Instead of asking, "Why me?" You should try
asking, "Why not me?" Crap happens to everybody. It is how you deal
with it that makes it worse or not. Depends on your perspective.
I am not a big believer in that karma crap or things happen
for a reason theory. My theory is, "Shit happens, deal with it!"
That might sound a little simplistic but life really is
simple. Your life might suck sometimes but it isn't going to suck forever. The
sooner you realize that the less it will suck.
First off, I do not take happy pills. Not that there's
anything wrong with that but that is not why I am usually in a good mood. I
have had people assume that I take drugs because I am positive and happy. I
guess I was just born that way.
I cannot stand people who feel sorry for me. There are a lot
more people way worse off than I am. Of course there are days I feel sorry for
myself. And those are days I do not like. Feeling sorry for yourself is the
worst possible attitude you can have. It gets you nowhere. The only thing you
attract is more pity. I have seen enough stuff in my life and been through
enough stuff in my life to know what works and what doesn't. Negativity and
self-loathing never works. Just remember, your worst day is probably someone's
best day…
Like I said before being positive isn't always easy. I know
some people that wake up in the morning and must think to themselves,
"What am I going to be pissed about today?" That has to be a crappy
way to go through life. Take a look around, I bet you know a couple of these
people. I am not trying to say that every day is balloons and lollipops for me
but every day isn't the end of the world either. Some days I wake up and think
how in the hell do I do it. But then I kick myself in my ass and trudge
forward.
It might seem like I have all my stuff together but some
days holy shinto… I don't have those holy shinto days very often but when I do
it sucks. When I do have one of those days it is usually because I cannot do
something I want to do. It usually has to do with something physical that is
impossible for me to do. These things usually don't bother me but like I said
some days suck.
One thing that really gets me down some days is when I
cannot help people way I want to. Especially when I have friends in need who
could use help doing a project, building something, repairing something or help
with something that requires muscle. I used to be good at that stuff. I also
enjoyed doing it.
Another thing that helps being positive is just knowing some
people. Sometimes just knowing a particular person makes you want to raise the
bar higher. Knowing them makes you happy and positive. You know who you are…
(Took this pic on the way to McLeod. Got home at 4:30 AM. Good times.)
If there is one thing I cannot stand, it is when people
complain about mundane and tedious stuff. Next time you complain about doing
something dull like cleaning the house or doing a chore, remember there are people
out there that would love to be able to do some of your monotonous stuff.
I did not write this to make people feel sorry for me. I did
not write this to have a pity party. If that is what you took out of this, you
did it wrong.
As outdoorsmen we all need to do our part to make sure our
hunting, fishing and trapping heritage will be continued for generations to
come. That means we all have a responsibility to ourselves and future
generations to uphold and follow laws, rules and regulations set forth by our
game and fish departments. Whichever state or country we are in. Most of these
laws, rules and regulations are self-explanatory and pretty much just common
sense. But common sense isn't so common anymore.
One thing I have never understood is poaching. Evidently
some people get a thrill out of killing something just to kill it. Just typing
that makes me cringe. Every year there seems to be cases of poaching throughout
our area. When just one of these cases makes headlines it puts a negative
spotlight on the hunting community. I am not saying they shouldn't make headlines
but I am saying it should put a negative spotlight on criminals, not the
hunting community. There is a difference.
Hunters and outdoorsmen give back billions of dollars each
year from the tags, permits, licenses, guns and ammunition they purchase that
goes directly into protecting and regulating wildlife and public lands. They
also give back in the many outdoor clubs and wildlife groups they are members
of that give back to the wildlife and communities in which we live. But each time
a poaching story hits the news, all of the good publicity we do get goes right
down the drain. It gives the anti-hunters ammunition to spew their
misinformation throughout the media.
Hunters and poachers should not be used in the same breath. It
gives a black eye to the hunting community when media outlets say something
like, "Hunters were caught shooting deer illegally." It should say,
"Poachers were caught shooting deer illegally." Hunters are not
poachers and poachers are not hunters. Hunters are outdoorsmen who care about
the game they chase. Poachers are criminals who don't care about anything but themselves.
The definition of poaching: Poaching is the unlawful or
illegal taking of wild plants or animals, such as through hunting, harvesting,
fishing, or trapping. The law concerned may be a law of property, of
regulation, or of local or international conservation and wildlife management.
We need to start policing ourselves. The easiest way to do
that is to report any violations that we may see when we are in the field. RAP
(Report All Poachers) is the program that the North Dakota Game & Fish
uses. Each state has their own program for collecting information on poaching.
The RAP program is completely anonymous. So there is no reason not to call. Everyone
should have these numbers in their cell phone. These numbers are also on your
hunting and fishing licenses.
(Numbers for North Dakota.)
Another thing people get confused about hunters is
"Trophy Hunting." People hear the term trophy hunting and they think
hunters are just out for something to hang on their wall. People think hunters take
the head and leave everything else. When media use the term trophy hunting it
gets everyone up in arms and gets the anti-hunters something to bitch about
that day.
Trophy hunting to me and to most hunters is taking the
oldest, biggest and wisest male animal of that species out of a group of
animals. Taking the oldest and the biggest does not hurt the species at all.
They are usually past their prime for breeding. These trophy animals are on the
downhill in the lifecycle.
I myself do not consider myself a trophy hunter. Just
because of the negative connotations it brings up. But I would definitely be a
trophy hunter if I had the opportunity to shoot a trophy. I am a little too
trigger-happy when it comes to waiting for trophy. I like to fill the freezer.
I am a trophy hunter until the snow gets too deep or the temperatures get too
low. I guess I am a fair weather trophy hunter.
Littering on public and private land has really gotten to be
a problem. It seems you cannot go anywhere without seeing some type of trash.
It is really noticeable in the spring of the year when the vegetation has
started to grow. There is no excuse for littering. I know a lot of hunters and
fishermen who have started bringing garbage bags along just to pick up after
other people. This shouldn't be necessary. Please take out what you bring in.
I hear a lot of hunters complain that the landowners are
posting up "their" hunting spots. First of all, it is the landowners
right to post their land, they have the right to do whatever they want with it.
Second of all, with how some hunters treat and disrespect other people's land
and property, I can totally understand why landowners are posting up their
property. How would you like it if someone came into town and walked around
your yard without asking and left garbage strewn around? I bet you would call
the cops.
Another thing I hear from hunters is that they still hunt
land that is posted because they believe that the landowners did not properly
follow the rules for posting land. This is just crazy to me. I can't imagine
the amount of arrogance and gall it takes to have this kind of thinking. If you
have a no trespassing sign in town, that is all that needs to be done. People
know that they are not wanted on this specific piece of property. But some
hunters believe that if a no hunting sign isn't properly signed and dated, it
is still legally open to hunting because of a technicality. If you believe
this, you'd be wrong. I have been told by game wardens that the law is on the
side of the landowner, and it should be.
(This sign is legal in the court system.)
I hear a lot of different things every year about no hunting
signs. People believe a lot of different things about them. If you don't know,
read the regulations for your state. Every state is different of what they
require on no hunting signs. Notice it does not say it needs to be dated or there
needs to be a phone number. Some states do require this but not North Dakota.
Just because the sign has a place for this information does not mean that it is
required. Here's what it says in the North Dakota proclamation about posting
land.
Because of the above reasons I don't blame landowners for
posting their land. So it is up to us as sportsmen to abide by the laws and
regulations, report poaching and pick up after ourselves to keep land open. It
isn't that hard.
Sometimes I experience things that are not so nice. This first
story is a doozy.
I was with family and friends at Paradiso in Fargo. As we
were going to our seats we went through the bar in Paradiso and I heard this
one guy say, "Look at this guy, he is lazy!" I didn't say anything
right away, I don't know why I didn't. But as we moved away I asked my buddy,
"Did you hear that?" He heard it and I had to do everything to not
get him to turn around and beat the living snot out of that twat waffle. If it
ever happens again I am going to take the reins off whoever I am with so they
can throat punch some sense into the next shartstain.
Sometimes adults can be real douche canoes. I tend to notice
that more adults stare at someone in a wheelchair more than children do.
Sometimes when I am with friends they notice people staring. They usually ask,
"Doesn't that bother you?" Most of the time staring doesn't bother me
because I know they are just curious. If it is a kid I just let it slide. If it
is an adult then it is another ballgame. Sometimes I like to stare right back
at them until they are uncomfortable. Other times I come up with some smart ass
comment and that usually deters them from staring again.
Here's a story that takes the cake. I was sitting in the van
of course in my wheelchair, outside of the grocery store in a handicap parking
spot. An old lady comes driving by staring at me. She drives around and comes
back again. This time she gets out of her vehicle grabs her handicap placard
signed thingamajig over car and starts waving it at me. I am just sitting in my
wheelchair and my shaggin wagon shaking my head wondering what medication is
old lady is on. Pretty soon she marches into the grocery store and comes out
with the manager. He has a pen and paper in hand and is about to write down my
license plate when he notices that it is a handicap license plate. He then
notices me in the vehicle and mouths the words, I am sorry. The old lady still
did not get it. Geesh…
I don't like using handicap parking spots. I really don't
care if I have to park a mile away. I have an electric wheelchair that goes 13.5
mph. Depending on whose radar gun I am using. Sometimes I wonder how many
people who use those spots really have some type of disability, permanent or
not permanent.
Next time you are somewhere and there are a lot of handicap
spots, pay attention to the people that hop out of their vehicles and run into
whatever event is going on. I am pretty sure most of the people with those
placards steal them from their grandma.
I have actually been told this, "I bet you're in that
chair just for the parking." Yeah you jack wagon, it is well worth it not
being able to walk just to get a better parking spot.
Anyway, these are just a couple things that grinds my gears.
There are more but this is good enough for now.
