We have some weird weather going on for November in paradise.  This weather would be normal for April or May–butt loads of wind, possible chance of a Tornasty, OKC news channels are over-sensationalizing what is actually going on in NW OK.  And it all makes people nervous.  Especially parents.  

      Had a dad that lives in central OK call because his daughter wasn’t answering her phone.  Tammy got her to answer and everything was fine.  Parents are supposed to be concerned.  That’s their job.  We are watching the weather and taking precautions here.  But, just as some parents are nervous about the weather out here.  Tammy and I get a bit concerned about the crap storm going on globally.  And we have a daughter that isn’t always easy to access during her travels.  So, you find things to keep your mind occupied.  Tammy cooks more than usual and keeps her phone, iPad and TV close by.  

     And me, well, I am at war again.  The battle of the birds in the barn is over.  At least until next spring.  The flies are pretty much gone.  The wasps never stood a chance this year.  The mice and rats are a year-round struggle.  I think a bunch of them drowned this year.  Most of them are immune to the tom-cat blocks that I have used.  And many others met their demise in other fashions.  I’m not yet at war with isis.  I am fighting a black/white war.  Not a race war.  Just a battle against Pepe Le Pew.  For some reason, skunks are thick this year.  They are attracted to goat feeders and dog food.  We have already limited the access to these tasty morsels.  

     In the middle of this wind storm, as Tammy was moving the corgis indoors, she spotted a striped cat in the tree row south of the house.  I grabbed a .22 with a light and headed out.  Couldn’t get a clear shot as the smell cat headed south into the pasture.  Sometimes, you just don’t want to shoot through an 11 wire fence.  So, I ran back to the house and grabbed a 12 gauge scatter gun.  With a light on the bill of my Special K cap and the skunk gun in hand, I headed south through the goat gates and into the pasture.  Yes, I ran to catch up to the smeller.  I almost got too close, but he is no more.  And he didn’t get a shot off at me.  That or the wind blew the smell away.  

     Hopefully this storm passes without doing damage.  

      Skunk hunting reminds me of a college story.  I was pledged to a fraternity.  We had a pledge meeting before classes started our freshman year.  We had to sit in a circle and each person tell some interesting facts about themselves.  This was to help us get to know each other.  I was set to go last.  Each pledge recited their resume–valedictorian, all-stater athlete, 4.0 student, band member, Eagle Scout, etc.  Looking back, it was an impressive array of students.  As each pledge told their story, it circled around towards me.  There was one dude left and then it would be my turn.  This dude had sit with his head slumped.  When it came his turn, he looked up, scanned the room and  announced his name–all 4 names and then his hometown–“Orlando–as in Oklahoma.  Not Florida, where the mouse lives.”  He had my attention.  He continued, ” I was born in the floorboard of a ’59 Ford truck and my favorite hobby is hunting skunks with baseball bats.”  I knew right then that I would get along with this guy.  

      Did I ever mention that Duke’s actual name is Connely Duke Kelln?  The Duke part comes from my Grandpa Duke Schneider.  That Connely dude is now, like a citizen of the year, banker, proud parent.  There are more stories.  

      Here’s to hoping that everybody can weather the storm.  Keep your head up and always be prepared to hunt a skunk with a baseball bat.  Or attend an AC/DC concert at a moment’s notice.  Dang, I miss college.