The XX- DANGERS-XX of cabin fever

[gray wolf]

Don't know about you all but I am finding being a shut in do to cold, snow, and General **** for weather a bit trying on the old nerves.
I know we all go through it but I was wondering if any of you find it detrimental
to some of your STUFF.
Here are some of the things I have noticed:
#1--I walk from room to room, sometimes with a blank stare on my face :-?
#2-- I hate this one, If the wife takes notice--and she don't miss a trick--I get this.
Well if you need something to do--WHY DON"T YOU--and you guy's know what comes after that. --Take out the trash--Paint the molding in the bathroom---
Fix the sink--go for a walk---play with the dog--Etc, Etc.
#3--Back and forth to the store looking for a new gun rag to read.
#4--Watch a movie for the second time --that I hated the first time.
#5--Load ammo using only the powder trickler, so it takes all day.
#6--Bend thing that should be straight ,and straighten things that should be bent.
#7--I find myself fixing things that ain't broke and breaking things that work perfectly fine.
#8--Tried my hand at cooking--messed up the kitchen and got grief from you know who.
#9--Get ask--Are you OK? yes dear fine here--Are you sure? yes dear--
You don't look fine!--am fine dear--you don't sound fine! am fine dear--
Why don't you shave? yes dear will shave. Etc,Etc.
#10-- Walk in reloading room and move the chair,
go back in reloading room and check the scale,
go back in reloading room and move the 308 bullets to the left side of the shelf from the right side of the shelf.
#11-- Go out to the shed and get the lead pot and clean it in the living room.
Very,Very bad idea. ( that's when the fight started) :-?
WHAT ? wudd I do wrong? :confused:
And so the day's go by till spring.
Is it here yet? :coffee:

So do you guy's find being a shut in a little nerve racking?

[snake river marksman]

Yep! I know the feeling well. The thing is, the snow won't go away on the valley floor till mid April, and I won't be able to get into the "high country" till mid June. Luckily, I have a whole bunch of 223 brass that needs prepped and some 45acp and some 9mm and some WW that need to be cast.

[mrbill2]

I know where your coming from. I'm up to my butt in SNOW and spring looks far away. Guess all we can do is wait.



Dear Diary

Aug.12 Moved to my new home in Pa. It is so beautiful here. The mountains are so majestic. Can hardly wait to see them with snow covering them. I LOVE IT HERE !!

Oct.14 Pa is the most beautiful place on earth. The leaves are turning all colors and shades of red and orange. Went for a ride through the mountains and saw some deer. They are so graceful, certainly they are the most wonderful animal on earth.
This must be paradise. I LOVE IT HERE !!

Nov.11 Deer season will soon start. I can't imagine anyone wanting to kill such a gorgeous creature. Hope it will snow soon.
I LOVE IT HERE !!

Dec. 2 It snowed last night. Woke up to find everything blanketed with white. It looks like a postcard. We went outside to clean the snow off the steps and shoveled the driveway. We had a snowball fight (I won), and when the snow plow came by, we had to shovel the driveway again. What a beautful place. I LOVE PA.

Dec. 12 More snow last night. I love it ! The snow-plow did his trick again on the driveway.O HOW I LOVE IT HERE

Dec.19 More snow last night. Couldn't get out of the driveway to get to work. I am exhausted from shoveling snow. Damn snow-plow.

Dec.22 More of that white stuff fell last night. I've got blisters on my hands from shoveling. I think the snow-plow hides around the corner and waits untill I'm done shoveling the driveway. That so and so !!!

Dec.25 Well Merry Christmas! More damn snow. If I ever get my hands on that sob who drives that snow-plow,
I swear I'll kill him. Don't know why they don't use more salt on the roads to melt the damn ice.

Dec.27 More white stuff last night. Haven't been inside for three days except for shoveling out the driveway after that snow-plow goes through every time. Can't go anywhere, car is stuck in a mountain of that white stuff. The weatherman says to expect another 10" again tonight. Do you know how many shovels full of snow 10" is ?

Dec.28 The weatherman was wrong. We got 34" of that white snow this time. At that rate it won't melt till next summer. The snow plow got stuck up the road and the driver had the guts to come to the door and ask to borrow my shovel. After I told him I had broken six shovels already shoveling all the stuff he pushed in my driveway.

Jan.4 Finally got out of the house today. Went to the store to get some food and on the way back a dammed deer ran out in front of the car and I hit it. Did about $3000 in damage to the car. Those deer should all be killed. Wish the hunters had killed them all last November.

May 3 Took the car to the garage in town today. Would you believe the thing is rusting out from all the damn salt they put all over the roads.

May 10 Moved to Georgia. I can't imagine why anyone in their right mind would ever live in that god-forsaken state of Pa.

[Herb in Pa]

Prepped 2000 9mm's for loading
Shovel driveway twice a day
Look for stuff to purchase online (it's amazing what you think you can use)
Watch the weather channel with dread.........40"+ here so far this month

[Cherokee]

Yea, I've already done all the stuff that was going to keep me busy during the winter. Now I gotta find some more stuff to do without irritating the wife.

[Hickory]

You need to pick up your favorte gun go to the woods and shoot something.

[Trey45]

you need to pick up your favorte gun go to the woods and shoot something.

+100 !!

[Dale53]

Gentlemen!!

You've got to STOP this. I nearly fell off my chair laughing my A$$ off. Love it! Love it! Love it!

I live in Southern Ohio. We don't get much snow (the average February, we get something like 5" of snow). This February, we have 23" on the ground and more coming. I AM helping to keep the economy going tho', the out of work construction workers are shoveling snow - by the time the winter is over I will have spent the cost of a new revolver (I'm getting too old to shovel snow).

Mostly, I am BORED. I have done some bullet casting (when I can dig the snow away from the casting barn, that is). I have also some reloading and a little shooting (my home club has an indoor range). We are in good health and THAT'S good, so no complaining...

"This too will end..."

Dale53

[SharpsShooter]

That white **** just keeps coming down out here. The kids have missed school eight days straight now and it looks like tomorrow may make it nine. We got another 3 last night and expect 6-10 today. I'm considering digging a tunnel to the shop and trading the Ford for sled dogs. I slipped a couple weeks ago as I was shoveling the shop ramp off. There was ice under the snow and I landed on my ****. I went to get up and as I reached for the handrail, I noticed my hand looked odd. I pulled off my glove and discovered a dislocated thumb. Just like the tough guys in the movies, I grabbed it and pulled it back into place. (OUCH) Then I went down town and bought a splint. It is not too painful unless I bang it into something or try to grip with it. Then though it feels like the Gestapo is hammering on it with a dull hatchet so I am damn careful. Try shoveling with one hand. Ha! Ha! :bigsmyl2:

SS

[clodhopper]

This winter I was laid off Nov 1 after working steady for many years. I could see the writing on the wall and had time to prepare, no real debt with house and cars paid for, so last summer I purchased supplies to remodel a bathroom and redo the plumbing.
Being cheap I only could tear off enough sheetrock in a week to fill my 90 gal trash container, so early this winter there was time to melt down several buckets of lead scrap stashed about.
Tore the floor up and removed rotted subfloor and screwed patches on damaged floor joists, burned the scrap in the wood stove and kept tearing off sheet rock, about two sheets per week.
Now finally done with project, tile floor, new tiolet, sink shower, a limp wristed shade of paint on new sheet rock.
Newly cast bullets are piling up around here.
Cabin fever is setting in, monday with a peice od 1/4" mild steel, sawzall and mill file I made a new camleaver for a lee six cavity mould, hoping the mild steel will not break like the cast one supplied with their mould, the project hinted at what it would be like to be a Khyber pass gunsmith during the russian occpation of Afganastan.
Yesterday dawns nice with clear skys and bright sunshine, so it's off to range
three miles from home a fog bank engulfs me and it is cold and cloudy the rest of the day, got some shots off and came home with about two gallons of hand picked lead nuggets from the berms.
Today I want to build a jig to hold a 10-22 stock so a flat can be routed off the cheek peice and a large enough peice of wood glued on to give proper cheek weld
instead of the jaw weld Bill Ruger would have us use.
Keep busy guys, there is gotta be something that needs done.

[223tenx]

Sharpshooter,
When I first read your post I thought it said you went to town and bought a pint instead of a splint. I though, man, this guy knows how to suffer.

[jdgabbard]

Mr. Bill,

That is some funny stuff, sir! And I know exactly how it feels. Oklahoma has had its share of snow lately. Ready for it to warm up.

[Ed Barrett]

I would like it to just be warm enough for me to have feeling in my trigger finger. I made it to the range the other day and between the shivering and numb hands I didn't do much. I think the polymer frames on some pistols would be a selling point for winter shooting. My stainless .40 S&W seemed to pull all the warmth right out of my hand. Can't wait for spring or at least 45 degrees.

[DLCTEX]

We haven't had near as much snow as most of you, but we're not accustomed to much. We've had more snow than in the past 20 years I've lived in the panhandle. Very few shooting days since Christmas, like 3, and work has been slowest since I went in business here. I've loaded and cast more than we'll shoot for years. I'm looking forward to the arrival of a mould for the 480 Ruger and dies for my friends new 7mm Express/280 so I will have something to do besides read back issues of gun rags(I'm back to 2000 now).

[Rocky Raab]

The snow is gone here in the "lowlands" of Utah. All but in my garden, where it's still a foot deep despite four days of drizzly, icy rain. Four more days of it predicted, too. At least I don't have to shovel rain.

But 35 degrees and drizzling is too miserable to go out in. The local lake still has a foot of ice - under six inches of slush. Ice fishing is over unless I go high up - where the drizzle is snow and the roads are blocked. Range won't open until April.

No shooting, no fishing, no golf. Maybe I'll take up drinking.

[NoDakJak]

I lost a snowshow while struggling through soft fluff. The binding on the other one was frozen and wouldn't release. Verdamnt thing left me dangling upside down in a eight foot drift. Was afraid for a while that I would be there until spring. Finally managed to slip my foot out of the Mucluc and get upright. Next time I will wear regular boots with that set of snowshoes. On second thought, I'm just getting to bunged up to even go snowshoeing. Neil

[1Shirt]

Can't offer much sympathy, as we still have some white on the ground that was there in early Dec. Yah it has settled down a bit and the over 2 ft. is probably down around
6". In that same length of time, think we have had two days that temp went above freezing, a couple of degrees maybe. Got the car washed on one of those. Forcast is for 33 tommrow, and if it gets into the 20's by 10:00 or so I am going to go to the range come hell or high water. Have three rifles that I bought during this period that have not had a round thru them. Having an unshot rifle in the house over a day or two is almost a sin against common sense. Wife says I have cabin fever and it is one of those times when she is right. Have loaded just about all the cases that I could find empty, cast, sized, lubed, arranged, rearranged and rearranged the rearrangements. And then I heard via Rush this a.m. that blowhard Gore is now worth in excess of 500 mill with his warming ****, and when he was VP he was worth just 2 Mill. Oh well, tommrow is another day Scarlet!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[Rock]

All this winter talk has me seeing advantages to being snowed in.

I can't find time to cast or reload because I have to mow the lawn, trim the hedges, paint the house and go to the rifle range every weekend...... damned California weather.....

[mroliver77]

The lack of sunshine here depresses me in the winter. Even when I have something to do there are days that I just cannot muster up any energy to get moving. It is getting worse with each year too! I have plans on building in a shooting room above the shop that will be heated and soundproofed with tunnel and window to shoot downrange.I want to get some "happy lights" out there also. Mebbe next winter will be better.
Jay

[buck1]

AIRGUNS, gluestick boolits, or turn your 22 center fire in to a 22 cal airgun like thing with a primer pocker cutter and LR primmers, and no powder.
Beats taking out the trash!...Buck

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Cabin Fever ? what fever? been up here in Alaska so long I don't know which way to go...M

[bearcove]

Now I remember why I winter in NM not AK!

[Echo]

I understand totally. It was eight above here today. Well, eight above the average of 68*. High of 76* and I had to take off my jacket driving my tram...

[runfiverun]

you guy's are killing me, this has been one of the best winters i remember for quite some time.
it only hit -38 plus wind chill so far this year.
iv'e seen mud already,and the antelope are moving back into summer range.
the snow ain't 5' deep and the road to the range has been open all winter, of course we still got 4 months till spring.
it's been right near 0 most every night, and to almost 25 in the daytime, i rarely wear my coat most days after 10 o'clock.
the highway has been open every time i need to go home or to work i am starting to like the new weather system.

[largom]

Usually this time of year I start cutting firewood for next winter. In the past 2 weeks we have had almost 48 inches of snow. Can't get to woods to cut firewood. Been somewhat busy keeping 1/4 mile driveway open so wife can go to work. Have cast up several thousand boolits past few days. Today got the Bobcat out and opened a path to my 50 yd. target. Might get some shooting in if wind settles down.

Yep, I'm ready for spring! Larry

[Frank46]

Well today the hound got out of his fenced in play area. spotted him running through the cut down cane field. Stopped the truck honked the horn and in he goes.
Always wanted a dog named Bob and now I got one. At least this time we knew where he was headed and got there before he did. Sunny and 65 degrees. gun show this weekend. I have a whopping $60 in my wallet. Can't get into too much trouble with only $60. May or maybe not. Have only work a shirt jacket once so far this winter. Outside of the rain its been pretty good. Relatively speaking. Frank

[lwknight]

Yup! I probably won't need to do any more casting till 2011. Well... maybe some.

[Lawnjockey]

Have you considered porn?

Jocko

[NSP64]

Just wait till spring when all this snow melts and FLOODS everybody!

[BD]

Bobcats, coyotes and snowshoe hares. Not good eating, but plenty of fun hunting, and your wife will love the coat.
BD

[phaessler]

I am glad I am not alone. Wife says I am worse than a kid pacing around cursing the tv, the weather, the news, lack of sunshine, the wind.
Moved out of New England 6 years ago to escape the winter, became a stay at home dad in the process. Have enjoyed it until this winter, first storm was 24", second was 12, then 8 the last one. All within one months time. Hasnt precluded any activity indoors, have cleaned every firearms at least three times, have the nicest neatest cleanest pile of brass ready for spring, even the scrap brass is bright and shiny.
Luckily I have kids to keep me on my toes, and although they have missed 11 days of school so far, was neat to shoot bb guns in the basement (reads outdoors if my wife was here), and to sort and make a counting game out of taking inventory.
Longing for range time and green grass. Funny how range dues are paid in Janurary, and I havent been able to shoot since before Christmas, but lucky to have a nice place to shoot.
Just not used to winter anymore, goin' south has turned me against a season I used to like, but I look back and say, wow, what was I thinking there.
Pete

[Dale53]

Bobcats, coyotes and snowshoe hares. Not good eating, but plenty of fun hunting, and your wife will love the coat.
BD

Well, I haven't eaten any Bobcats or coyotes but I have sure enjoyed many a meal with a handgun taken snowshoe hare. In fact, my wife and kids voted snowshoe hare as the number one wild meat EVER!
They have eaten cotton tail rabbit, squirrel, quail, grouse, deer, elk, and moose. Snowshoe is #1 on their list.

Respectfully yours,
Dale53

[BD]

The snowshoe hare we had in northern Maine was just as tender as a canadian goose leg. It ranked pretty low on our preference scale, just above the lower foreleg "roast" of caribou.
BD

[gray wolf]

Maine Snow-shoes are NASTY.

[1Shirt]

Well, I got to the range today. There was a logger who was pulling a log out from behind the range, and he had plowed one lane into the range. Not realizing that some of the snow in there was drifted 18-20", I proceeded to pull in, and stick my 4 wheel drive. The logger was kind enough to pull my old butt out, and then proceeded to push a double wide path to the gate so that I could turn around. It was obvious that no one had been on the range since the last few snows, and the crust on the drifts was hard enough to hold my 240 lbs. Anyhow, I got to shoot my CBA Winter match (poorly), and put a few rounds thru my new 375 H&H, and new to me 44 Marlin, just to say that I had. It was about 22 degrees when I started shooting about 10:15 or so, and it had warmed up to 30 by the time I left around noon. There was little wind, mayby 5-7 knots, but sun glasses were essential with the sun out and snow glare. Snow due tonight and tommrow, so will probably be at least a couple of more weeks before I will be able to get out again, but sure did feel good to pull a trigger and bust a few caps.
1Shirt!:coffee:

[ghh3rd]

So do you guy's find being a shut in a little nerve racking?

Nope! Not to bad here in Florida :-)

[HABCAN]

Yup, although the highway is bare and dry, there's really no reason to go out except for things like milk, mail, baccy or whatever. Mebbeso 8" average total snow + drifts here and there on the ground. It's the verdammt 'Bastogne Weather' ice fog that grinds ya down. 'Sunny Alberta' has been just a dream for weeks now. Been colder than usual also: had quite a few days of -25*F. Today, overcast again (!) and +19*F. Expecting and sincerely hoping it'll all be gone as usual by May.

Cast so much LAST winter (indoors) had nothing much to do THIS winter. Waiting on GC's (arriving soon, YAY!) to finish up that hoard. 'Smelting season' in the garage upcoming next two months: too muddy to get in to the Ranges. May is yard cleanup and greenhouse/garden prep, so 'Shooting' won't happen 'til June, dammit.

[Kraschenbirn]

Finally got a half-way decent day last Thursday...temp just above freezing, wind less than 10 mph, and a little intermittant sunshine. Tossed my "new" (to me) M91/30, 100 rds of ammo and a themos of coffee into Jeep and headed out to range. Had to kick in 4WD to get past gate but didn't even get my gear carried up to firing line before another three guys showed up in a Jimmy pick-up. Waded drifts to set targets at 100M and 200M berms and, by the time we got back, there were two more shooters (in a minivan) just inside the gate trying to make up their minds whether they'd be able to get out if they went any farther. Took the Jeep back up to gate and knocked down drifts enough that they could get out of drive and into parking area. Guess I wasn't the only one trying to shake the "cabin fever" syndrome that day.

Bill

btw: I think I'm gonna like that Russki...a 1939 Tula with Finn "SA" and "D" receiver stamps (possible Winter War capture?) and a near-pristine .311 bore...shoots Privi 185-grainers into 4" @ 100M. Next step is developing CB loads now that I've got some Boxer-primed brass to work with.

[hydraulic]

Yesterday it occured to me that I haven't fired a shot since last year. Picked up my p38, drove out of town to a bare spot on the pavement and fired a clipful into the ditch. Picked up my emties and came home. I feel better now.

[280Ackley]

Got to the Fremont gun show today. Look what followed me home. Found 3 boxes of loaded PVI for my Swiss at $12 @ a good mold for a good price and a 35 Rem XP100. Sold 2 guns and came out even for money. Good day.:bigsmyl2:

[MT Gianni]

We got back from 8 days in Orlando Thursday. It was great, temps in the 50's with rain and wind. There were no lines at the resorts, people bundled up like it was below zero and we had a great time. One day hit 70 and we went to Typhoon Lagoon. We had fun considering it was the end of Cheerleader week and a lot of Brazilian and Argentine teenage girls were visiting for there summer. Nice to be back home where the snow is here and temps are hanging around 30.