The Wilds of COTW

 Call of the Wild: I often think of a excerpt from something when I was a kid. A hunter comes back with his dog and meets up with other hunters and their dogs to discuss their personal hunts good or bad.
The hound starts a conversation with another dog. (I'll use the lab since I don't remember the breed and insert my own COTW dogs in the mix.) I named my hound Slim Pickens for the actor that told stories about hounds when I was a kid.
Slim is asked by Alphie (the name of my lab) 'So what is it like working with her?' (Meaning me or my character)
Slim responds, "I really feel sorry for her. Her sniffer is non existent."
"She can't smell? She can see then, right?"
Slim shakes his head, "No, her eyesight is worse. She uses something she calls binoculars to help her."
"So does she have something to assist her in smell?"
Slim hangs his head, "Alas, no. And worse she can't run to save her life. It is those two legs of hers they really slow her down. If it weren't for me she would be lost! She really needs me so I look after her. It is what a dog should do when paired with such a handicapped human."
"But how does she protect herself if she is so poor in senses and movement?"
"Ah! That is where she is ingenious! She has a wonderful device that can take down a bear at over four hundred yards! (In the skit it was two miles and of course the hunter was male) And I've seen her fight with those lame things she calls hands. What she can do with those is incredible! We were at a bar and some stupid man decided to attack her (not really but it was in the skit) and she took him out in no time at all. It was amazing! I feel well protected on that front but I still hold my own with my powerful jaws and teeth."
"Of course as any dog would."
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I realize that it isn't quite the same as the original skit. I was after all probably about nine years old when I heard it.
So, moving on, I would really love to see horses in COTW. They would be much quieter than the ATV and if they were done well (like Red Dead Redemption II) you could shoot a critter from horseback and haul extra gear. Of course I think you should be able to pack extra gear on the ATV but.... I would also like to see some more rpg added to the game. I really do enjoy the quest and hunting with the dog. Especially now since one update or another has removed the dead eyes from the dog. That was rather eerie and I found I couldn't look at the dog. In fact I kenneled him for quite awhile but he is so darn useful! Sure there are times when he seems more intent on doing his own thing and like a normal dog loves to get between you and your shot but there is no replacement for the early predator warning he gives.
I've noticed that Slim seems a little older as if he is aging in the game. There is nothing that denotes this is a thing but it is the way the dog acts. I don't want to trade him off for a different dog but I would like to know if this is actually what is happening.
Often I swear I can smell the strong scent of pine, the dampness of the earth, the decaying leaves or feel the heat rising off the desert in the different reserves. Of course, my son, is quick to point out, "You feel the heat from your computer and the pine tree is right outside." He is such a cold dampener to my rpg feeling.
Slim looks up at me, wags his tail and says, "I can smell it too! Let's go on a hunting expedition! I'm ready!"
An animal cries in the distance so I take out my binoculars and peer off to see if I can find that illusive animal. I look down at Slim, "Come on boy. Let's go."
We carefully trudge through the thick grass and I cringe with each crunch. Slim is happily sniffing everything while a light drizzle begins to fall. He whines and I stop. Slowly I lift the binoculars and begin to peer in all directions. There just beyond that copse of trees I see the brown fur. The smell of its wetness fills my nostrils and I noticed its ears twitching. So I aim my rifle at the unsuspecting animal. It is only a hundred yards out. It should be fairly simple for the .243 to hit it at this range. The shot rings out, the animal goes down then miraculously it shoots up and runs off.
I look at the rifle. Have I loaded it with rubber bullets? For that must be the case. Slim and I investigate the area but there is no blood, scarcely any tracks and no carcass
s for us to find. I sigh. Definitely rubber bullets. I'll have to have a word with the Supply Master and maybe he/she can see about ordering in a horse. A quarter horse would be nice. They tend to handle the thick woods well.
Fade to black: The blog it seems is more popular than the videos so I will probably update it from time to time.
As for the sims I play on occasion though I'm uncertain about the EA business model. If they keep displaying adds on my computer as popups I look for Microsoft to declare them a malicious program like they did CCleaner. I've turned off notifications because I don't appreciate anything invading my space like that. It is like someone coming into your house without knocking or asking permission. It is trespassing. And generally, people who do that have ill intents. I know not always there are good friends that do it to surprise you for one reason or another (surprise party comes to mind). My experience takes me to the more negative forms though.
The fourth of July is nearly upon us! I expect we'll be having a barbecue of some nature. Whether that means headed out to the woods some where or staying home. It will be just us and the critters. I hope everyone has a good celebration and remember that this is the greatest country on the face of the earth. If it weren't millions of people wouldn't want to come here. And they were trying to come here before the current traitorous (insert names of many politicians since 2016 - republican, democrat & independent).