I gots the winter blues!

[OutOnaLimb]

What do you guys out there do around this time of year to keep from going coo coo? I dont know about ya'll but here in Colorado we watch it snow about 10inches, (yesterday) and then the sun comes out to melt off the snow accompanyed by 50mph winds. (today) Compounded by the fact that all my gear is still stolen and I had to buy the bare nessesities just to go do some trim jobs, but I dont think Mother Nature likes me much. If it wasnt for this box connected to a bunch of likeminded guys such as my self, that I sit infront of and annoy my girlfriend with every night, I think I would be climbing a padded cell wearing a custom made saddle that laces behind my back. I am thinking about learning to splice and have the cool video enroute. And I have broken out the girlfriends sewing machine and started making rope bags. (hey they are easy to make) I am thinking about some cool gear bags when I get better with the sewing thing. I guess my question is, besides maintenence and some storm work here and there, what to you guys out there do to calm your cabin fever? Maybe I should just start spending my winters in New Zealand or Austrailia.

:Monkey: Kenn

 

[TREETX]

I have never had to deal with the winter blues........until now.

I have so much to do - last month I had school. This month it is getting my certs together (I am now certified to legally climb in Germany!). Always busy making new contacts for contract work.

In Tx, it would get cold for a day but never very long. Winter meant a long sleeve shirt. The high for this next week here is 34F with snow, snow, and snow.

I have the winter blues for sure. The weather is just blah. Pretty much the same as you, I try not to let it get to me and spend the time getting my ducks in a row...

Getting things I need. Like a 200ft rope, new bull rope, blocks, slings, loopie (Nick )......being ready to strike when the iron gets hot...or at least a little warm

 

[ROLLACOSTA]

we have that much rain and wind overhere its unbeleivable...mother nature sure doesnt like the uk...i loose that many days ..i ve got too the point that im thinking of down scaleing too one truck and one chipper..winter overhere starts in october and finnishes in may ...im sure other proffessions laugh at our low paid high risk occupation plus the phones stopped ringing

 

[NeTree]

I'm buried this time of year. Slows down in the middle of winter, though- but that's okay. There's always cordwood to split!

 

[Jumper]

Try living in Kabul for five months with seven more to go. Knowing you were one of them snake eating Airborne Rangers I am sure you can relate(very AB here but I was a box kicker/rigger so Ranger courses were out of the question).

If cash is not an issue, in no particular order....go skiing (You are in CO after all), learn to skate and play hockey, go to the gym or do PT everyday, walk the dog/get a dog, bake bread, learn to skydive (if you already know how to freefall, get your USPA civy license), plant next years garden indoors from seed.

And since this is the Commercial Tree Care Forum, why not take a course in some aspect of tree care you are not familiar with, or order some books on the same.

Locked in Camp Julien, Kabul

Mitch

 

[TREETX]

If cash is not an issue, in no particular order....go skiing - go to the gym.

I hit the gym 3-4 times a week to prevent the "I'm in here getting weaker and the trees are out there in the jungle getting stronger"

Just bought a new snowboard yesterday. I am only an hour from good slopes and 2 hours from great slopes....

 

[Jumper]

Originally posted by TREETX
[

Just bought a new snowboard yesterday. I am only an hour from good slopes and 2 hours from great slopes.... [/B]

and no doubt only five minutes away from a supurb Pils

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I am thinking about gettin an industrial sewing maching and making up a bunch or rope and throwball bags and maybe a line of gear bags for arborists. We used to go down to the riggers shed all the time in Bragg and sew up our Ghillie suits or fabricate some funky holsters or extra pouches for our rucks. Who know, may make a fortune. A combo of Ranger Joes, meets Sherrill.

Kenn

 

[Jumper]

If you get that sewing machine, get your USPA Riggers license and repair parachutes. I won't say there is a fortune to be made, but there is a steady demand for industrial strength sewing.

Ghillie suits, you were really into that snake eating stuff. I worked with an lot of freefallers in the Canadian Forces, mainly as a follower on freefall courses, best years of my life so far.

 

[Curtis James]

If you were a Ranger what were you doing at bragg? The only Rangers I served with were the ones that got tossed out of their Bat. for missing formation. I was at the 1st 325 A.I.R. I would have stayed in but my wife wanted me home not in the field. We never got to play with the riggers. Unless it was for shoot shake out. I do miss it at times, But the trees have always been my calling. I was using my parachute bag for awhile, but it was stolen. now I am using my duffel bag. Keep me informed on your Ranger Joe/Sherril gear, if you make a quality product I'm buyin! The stuff we used in the service sure was durable! Oh, I just thought of it ,you got your tab. I was thinking you were saying you were in a battalion.

 

[Gypo Logger]

Hi Kenn, during the winter one can develope Season Affective Disorder, a precursor to Scurvy, due mainly to lack of full spectrum light and vitamin D&C, which is compounded by inactivity.
Get out on a frozen lake in the direct sunlight on a windless day and cross country ski in shorts only while you eat some fresh off the vine, Myers Lemmons from sunny California.
This would even make Jack the Ripper a nice guy.
John

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I will keep that in mind Jumper, but wasnt the Canadian Airborne disbanded for a little screw up in Somalia back in 93? Curtis, When were you with the 1/325? I was right across the street from you. White Falcons all the way. But before that I was with 2/75 untill I broke my leg and got sent to Division. Did a year in Korea, 1/503, and then finnished up 2 years up in Dahlonega as a Maurader Squad leader. I was in Scout Plt. with 2/325 so we didnt do a lot of chute shake out. But we were always down at the other end of Ardennes at the rigger shed playing around with there sewing machines. I will keep ya posted on some of the stuff I will be makin though.


RTLW
Kenn

 

[Jumper]

I was with the Regiment 1985-97, Airborne Service Commando, as the QM, then returned to the "family" as a demo jumper with the Canadian Forces Parachute Team (SKYHAWKS) for the '89 show season, followed by 3 years at the school training people in aerial delivery techniques. I ended up with 106 static line jumps, and about 700 freefalls. Yes the Regiment was disbanded in March 1995 by an idiot PM and an egghead Minister; it all had to do with damage control after a couple of incidents a few years earlier in Somalia(I was there on the recce in Oct 92) Long sad story. So now we only have jump companies, one of which is here in Kabul as part of the 3 Vandoos Battle Group in a leg role. I got my US wings in 1990, and the brit ones in 91.

I agree with the SAD observation below by Gypo. I have been really ill a couple of times and it is always in the fall/early winter. Get a light made to combat this, and eat well. As stated, activity helps a lot, which is probably why I have not experienced it this year, plus the days here are not as short in Dec as they are in Canada, and I have been busy work wise.

 

[OutOnaLimb]

I hear ya jumper, I had heard about the regiment being dismanded and thought it was a crock.... It kinda sucks when your trained to be Pit Bulls, but expected to act like Poodles. I never got a chance to train with you guys, but we trained with the German Falshimjaeger and the Brit Para. Got both of my wings from those countries. I was a senior rated jump master with only about 60 jumps that actually got counted on my jump log. 90% were night mass tacs. I kinda like night jumps cuz you cant see whats out the door, Just a green light and and they guy behind ya pushing. Between you, me and the fence post. Im still a little scared of heights. Ya just suck it up, drive on and get the job done.

"The sky, more so than the sea is terribly unforgiving of even the slightest mistake"
:Monkey: