Outdoor Writer

Proof that God exists.MP4

Not yet. I still have one BR to tile. I've had the tile for years but just haven't got around to doing it. Once it's done, tho. it will be for sale. I even have a brandy new, never used blade for it.

I've a got a 10" diamond saw setup. I bought it years ago for $189, knowing I would be doing almost the entire house and two baths with all tile. It's electric and actually has a small submersible pump with a tube to direct water onto the blade and not the saw motor. Besides keeping the dust down, it's MAIN purpose is to keep the blade cool. It's the older generation of this one.

Saeed wrote this one on April 10. This is Lauren. She is a good friend and an ECMO/ICU nurse at my hospital. She is one of our best. An incredibly kind human and a badass nurse. Today she stood up for healthcare workers as protestors descended upon the State Capitol. She stood in silence as people called her a ‘fake nurse’ & ‘paid actor’ amongst other horrendous things. Ironically, she has spent many days in the Covid ICU caring for our sickest patients. She stood for those who are on life support and have no voice of their own. She stood for the 42,604 Americans who have died so far. She stood for her colleagues; nurses, therapists, techs, janitorial staff, doctors and security amongst others. She stood up for those very protestors who hurled obscenities at her. When they inevitably contract Covid-19 and transmit it to their loved ones, Lauren will be one of the first faces they will see when they are admitted to the ICU. She may also be one of the last faces that they ever see. When in their ignorance and hubris, they have caused the demise of their own mother or father, Lauren will be standing in silence next to them yet again, this time in mourning. She made us all incredibly proud today. We extend an invitation to those who believe that they are being stripped of their civil liberties or that this is a giant hoax or that healthcare workers and the media are sensationalizing this pandemic for our own vested interests. To those who would turn a global pandemic into a twisted partisan issue. To those who foolishly believe that this virus discriminates based off of political ideology, race, religion or creed. We invite you to come spend a day in our Covid ICU with our nurses, therapists and physicians. You will spend the day wearing an n95 mask which will pretty much cut off circulation to your face. Don’t worry, you will get used to the sensation after a while. You’ll also get used to the dull constant headache that becomes a fixture after you have spent the day rebreathing CO2. You will learn how to don and doff PPE each time you interact with one of your patients. You will learn to live with the constant uncertainty of wondering if you have already caught the virus. If tomorrow will be the last time that you see your loved ones for the immediate future because you will need to start self quarantining. You will learn the familiar subtle change in tone of the code bells prior to a ‘Code Blue’ being called on the overhead. As you rush into a strangers room, you will gaze upon their lifeless eyes and blue lips. You will frantically begin to perform CPR, painfully aware of the fact that with each chest compression, you may potentially be aerosolizing the virus. You will watch as we place invasive central lines, arterial lines and chest tubes. You will stand at the head of the bed with us while we intubate a Covid-19 patient, inches away from their mouth, always cognizant of the damage that can be done with just one cough. You will stand next to us when we tell a husband over the phone that his wife has passed away, surrounded by strangers in space suits. The worst part of it all, he will not be allowed to see the love of his life to say he loves her one last time because of the infection risk it poses to him and other members of the public. You will stand in silence as you listen to another human express the deepest level of anguish possible, the tone of his cries seared into your memory. Perhaps then you will understand.

FWIW. The following was written by Zahid Saeed -- University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Fellow · July 1, 2018 to present. Dear Arizona, I’ve spent the last five years completing my medical training at some of the finest hospitals in the Valley. In that time, I’ve seen incredible cases, with some great saves as well as my fair share of death. It all pales in comparison to the last three months of my career. I’ve spent the better part of that time in the ICU dealing with Covid-19. The physical, mental and emotional toll of this pandemic has been heavy on me, as it has my colleagues. I see it in their eyes. In the tones of their voices. Something has changed. It’s not just profound fatigue, it’s resignation. Resignation to the fact that patients continue to pile in, at an exponentially increasing rate. That some of these patients are the sickest that we’ve ever seen. To the fact that our community has seemingly abandoned us and many are convinced that one of the most difficult & turbulent periods of modern history is somehow a hoax or conspiracy. The irony of being called a healthcare hero does seem to echo rather hollowly. That voices of medicine, science & reason are being drowned out by the incessant nonstop drone of conflict, division and partisanship. The system was never designed for a pandemic, that much is clear. That is a discussion for another time. The Governor’s statements and actions have been a matter of grave consternation to healthcare workers all over the state. Nero fiddles as Rome burns. The number of cases in AZ have climbed by nearly 300% since May 1st and have roughly doubled since Memorial Day, according to data from Hopkins. In the last twenty four hours, there have been 1014 new cases. For a moment, please try to fathom the kind of stress that is placing on our healthcare system. Our ICU’s are almost full. AZ hospitals are at above 80 percent capacity at this time. Clinical staff are stretched thin everywhere. The thing with these patients is that they consume a ton of resources and manpower because of how sick they are. They also have very protracted hospital courses. The average patient usually requires 3-5 days to come off the vent. Covid patients require weeks to wean off the vent which creates a myriad of associated issues. Severe deconditioning, delirium and multiorgsn failure are commonplace. These patients often require deep sedation. Unfortunately many IV infusions typically used in the ICU such as Fentanyl, Nimbex are in shortage on a global scale. Hospitals have dealt with drug shortages for decades and the influx of critically ill patients has made it much worse. I continue to pray that I will never have to keep someone awake on the ventilator due to a lack of medication availability like other colleagues in Covid hotspots have. Non critical care nurses are being trained to bolster our nurses. Similarly, physicians from all specialties prime themselves to practice a type of medicine that they may not have signed up for. I keep hearing people talk about a second wave that is going to hit but we’re still floundering in the first one. To my fellow citizens who feel that it is okay to ignore the warnings of health officials, doctors and scientists by refusing to wear masks, social distancing and other basic measures; please for a moment, consider the repercussions of your actions. Yes, you are young and healthy and you will likely have a mild illness but are you willing to put your elderly grandparents at risk? Or your parents who most likely will have some form of comorbidity that will increase their susceptibility to severe illness. Or a younger sibling who may have asthma. If you are a parent, are you willing to risk exposing your child to Covid, especially as more and more cases of a syndrome known as Pediatric Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (PMIS) are being reported. Also, please recognize that being young and healthy does not mean you will not contract a severe infection. This is not a hoax. There is no financial incentive for physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers in this. There is no magical drug for Covid-19 regardless of what politicians and Big Pharma tout. At the end of the day, if your loved one ends up in my ICU and requires intubation, mechanical ventilation, ECMO, CRRT or other invasive therapies, will you be able to resign yourself to the fact that you will not be able to come into the hospital and hold their hand or tell them you love them? Can you accept the fact that if despite all our efforts, we fail and your loved one dies, a stranger in a space suit will hold up an IPhone so that you can FaceTime for the last time before we proceed to take your loved one off life support? If you still believe this is a giant conspiracy, maybe consider volunteering at your local hospital or clinic to see what the ground realities are because nothing I say will be able to change your mind at this point. In the meantime, we will continue to weather the storm and brace for difficult days ahead. Sincerely, A tired Critical Care fellow

Two different bucks, IMO. Check out the tip to tip spread, too.

Geez, they sure don't give 'em away, do they?? 😮 I use a Worksharp when the knife gets really dull. In between I'll often touch up an edge with my Spyderco Sharpmaker system.

As Forrest Gump said “Stupid is as stupid does.”

And...other than a reputation as a serial poacher, what did he get for his $18K? He sure didn't get a truck. Duh...

You guys are cracking me up like in waiting for the kill to finally die. 🤣

Guess the wolves didn't get all of Wyoming's elk.

GAME AND FISH NEWS June 3, 2020 Enjoy free fishing in Arizona on Saturday, June 6 PHOENIX — The Arizona Game and Fish Department (AZGFD) invites you to fish Arizona waters for free Saturday, June 6. It’s an ideal time to take out the family for some fun and relaxing outdoor recreation. Arizona’s Free Fishing Day is celebrated as part of National Fishing and Boating Week. On Saturday, no fishing licenses are required for persons fishing any public waters in Arizona. “Whether you’re an experienced angler who wants to introduce a newcomer to the sport, or someone who’s always been interested but never took that next step, this is an ideal time to head out to your nearest community lake,” said Christopher Cantrell, aquatic wildlife branch chief. “Or take advantage of cooler weather by fishing a lake or stream in Arizona’s high country.” Remember that bag limits and other fishing regulations are in full effect and must be observed on Free Fishing Day. Children under 10 can fish for free all year long in Arizona, so this special fishing license exemption means that older kids and parents get a free pass for the day, as well. If you’re not sure how to fish and would like to learn, check out AZGFD’s learn to fish video series. Once you’re hooked on fishing, remember to buy your AZGFD fishing license. It’s just $37 for Arizona residents. Anglers can also share their fishing success stories and photos to the AZGFD FishAZ Facebook group, as well as connect with other anglers around the state. Try fishing — you’ll like it!

The American Medical Association has weighed in on Corona strategy: The Allergists were in favor of scratching it, but the Dermatologists advised not to make any rash moves. The Gastroenterologists had sort of a gut feeling about it, but the Neurologists thought the Administration had a lot of nerve. Meanwhile, Obstetricians felt certain everyone was laboring under a misconception, while the Ophthalmologists considered the idea shortsighted. Pathologists yelled, “Over my dead body!” while the Pediatricians said, “Oh, grow up! The Psychiatrists thought the whole idea was madness, while the Radiologists could see right through it. Surgeons decided to wash their hands of the whole thing and the Internists claimed it would indeed be a bitter pill to swallow. The Plastic Surgeons opined that this proposal would “put a whole new face on the matter. The Veterinarians say, This virus is real I Shih Tzu not!!! The Podiatrists thought it was a step forward, but the Urologists were pissed off at the whole idea. Anesthesiologists thought the whole idea was a gas, and those lofty Cardiologists didn’t have the heart to say no In the end, the Proctologists won out, leaving the entire decision up to the turkeys in Washington.

GAME AND FISH NEWS May 22, 2020 Ben Avery Clay Target Center to reopen sporting clays course Wednesday Operational changes include scheduling shooting times online PHOENIX — The targets soon will be flying again on at least one of the sporting clays courses at the Ben Avery Clay Target Center (CTC). For fans of one of the fastest-growing shooting sports, the 15-station “Rattlesnake” course will be available — by online reservation only — beginning at 7 a.m. Wednesday, May 27. In the meantime, customers can reserve a shooting time by visiting www.azgfd.gov/scheduleashoot. At this time, CTC and the rest of the ranges are unable to accommodate walk-in customers. Any changes to this policy will be based on reopening guidelines for businesses and customers, as outlined by the Governor’s Office. “We would like to thank all of our customers who have taken advantage of the new reservation system,” said Jonathan McCraw, CTC range manager. “Their cooperation, along with their willingness to embrace new operational changes, has allowed us to move forward and offer sporting clays.” To ensure public health and safety protocols are observed, and to maximize opportunities for all who choose to shoot sporting clays, customers should familiarize themselves with the following: “Rattlesnake” will be the only course to reopen Wednesday. Other courses could follow suit in the future, based on additional reopening guidelines. Start times will be scheduled in 30-minute increments, beginning at 7 a.m. and ending at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday through Sunday (for example, 7 a.m., 7:30 a.m., 8 a.m. . . . ). Shooters should arrive no later than 15 minutes before their scheduled start time (up to five shooters are allowed per reservation). Conversely, shooters who arrive later than 15 minutes after their scheduled start time will have their reservation canceled. Each shooter will receive a shooting card that is preloaded with a total of 100 targets ($26). The used cards can be placed in a drop-off box at Station 15. Note: Gold Cards will not be accepted. There is no time limit. A shooter is finished once all 100 targets have been shot. Shooters can purchase shotgun ammunition, and eye and hearing protection, online when making a reservation online. Staff will be conducting sanitizing procedures throughout the course based on CDC recommendations. To maintain social distancing, safety officers cannot provide personalized instruction. A “zero tolerance” policy will be strictly enforced. Any shooter who operates his or her firearm(s) or acts in an unsafe manner will be required to leave the facility. Note: In another effort to maximize opportunities for all shooters, CTC has made bunker, international skeet and doubles trap available Wednesday through Sunday (they previously were offered Friday through Sunday). Again, visit www.azgfd.gov/scheduleashoot to make a reservation.

A few COVID-19 witticisms... Of all the things I learned in grade school, how to avoid cooties was the last one I expected to use! People keep asking “is coronavirus really that serious?” Listen up! Casinos and churches are closed. When heaven and heck agree on the same thing, it’s probably pretty serious! Now that teachers finally have a chance to use the restroom, there’s no toilet paper. Well Groovy Guys and Groovy Gals of the ‘ 70s… our grandkids just knocked our Blizzard of ’ 78 stories out of the ballpark! Shout out to all the parents who never taught their kids respect and now they’re stuck at home with the little s**ts!!! The longer this goes on the harder it will be to return to a society where pants and bras are required. Cops these days will be like…come out with your hands washed! Day 31 of quarantine…ate all the snacks and food…clothes no longer fit… but I’m still wearing gloves and mask for my protection. Never in my whole life would I imagine my hands would consume more alcohol than my mouth! Ask not what staying home on the couch can do for you, but staying home on the couch can do for your country. Police confront nudist sunbathers over not wearing facemasks amid coronavirus outbreak. Ladies…time to start dating the older dudes. They can get you into the grocery store early. I don’t like the fact that my chances of survival seem to be linked to the common sense of others. I can’t believe I can walk into a store to buy weed, but I have to meet my hairdresser in a dark alley with unmarked bills to get a haircut! Have to say that the Class of 2020 outdid themselves with Senior Skip Day this year! With so many sporting events cancelled, they’re having to televise the World Origami Championship…It’s on Paperview. Everyone is posting memes and talking about coming out of this quarantine with a new skill or side hustle. I’m just sitting here wondering how I never noticed there’s a turd in Saturday. Not to brag, but I haven’t been late for anything for the past 31 days! Sitting at the bar in the kitchen at night. Tried to pick up my wife. She gave me a fake phone number. WTH… It’s been a blessing being home with the wife for three weeks now. We’ve caught up on everything I’ve done wrong for fifteen years. Have you noticed that since beauty salons are closed, selfies are down 68%? Breaking News: Wearing a mask inside your home is now highly recommended. Not so much to prevent coronavirus, but to stop eating.