Hey Kith, Kin, and Kithn Kozens

I'll be traveling tomorrow so I won't be online for a while, something has come up that I need to take care of. So remember to pray for me if you will. Thanx so much.
Photos to come when I get back.

Treeing the Cat
as told to Knight_of_Renown



     My friend, Mark B., who is a Sixth Degree Black Belt, and Master in Tae Kwon Do, and my children's instructor, had a harrowing experience. What started out as a  simple walk for him and his dogs became a walk of a very different nature. His path reached a fork; in one direction the path of life and the other the rocky precipice of death.
     Mark had gone for a walk with his three dogs, and had spent the better part of the afternoon covering several miles of mountainous terrain. His two small dogs were ready for a well deserved rest and upon returning home that evening they hurried into the house. Mark himself somewhat winded from the arduous climb across the steep countryside was looking forward to what he saw as his just deserved rest as well, and plopped himself into his easy chair. He would have remained there but for Bo, his Husky/Malamute cross. Bo's insistent barking soon began to wear on Mark's nerves. Certain that it was a neighbor's kitty that the dog had sniffed out, Mark hollered out to Bo to hush. At that moment the pitch in Bo's tenor voice became a wildly growling snarl. The importance of this escalation in the dog's aggressive behavior was not lost on Mark. He rushed out to see what the dog had cornered.
     As he did the timber of the dogs voice changed again signaling the retreat of whatever he now had at bay. Mark not wanting any trouble with his neighbor for another cat destroyed ran in pursuit of his errant canine. He had to turn on his flashlight as the sun had set sufficiently for him to need the additional light to see where he was headed. He was soon retracing the very steps he had just covered on his walk, when the trail took an abrupt turn and headed up a steep  and rocky incline. On his walk Mark had worn his SIG 357 pistol on his hip where it still was. In his hands was a 'Mini Maglite' flashlight, and his walking stick. Trying to follow Bo's barking Mark struggled up the steep hillside, but as he drew near Bo quieted making it difficult to pinpoint his exact location.
     Mark had traveled up fifty yards or so scrambling because of the sheerness of the incline. Hearing Bo's panting and shining his torch in the direction of the sound he saw his winded companion. Bo was looking intently up into the tree he was under which was just ahead perhaps fifteen feet up and to his right. Where Mark had stopped was just up hill of a large pine which conveniently helped support him and kept him from sliding back down the abrupt decline. Shining his torch up and into the tree which Bo was directly under Mark was now able to see indeed the cat his dog had treed.
     The wide set of the glowing orbs and the wild scream shook Mark to his core, but having no time for fear as the sound of the crashing of limbs signaled the rapid headlong decent of the Mountain Lion! Switching his torch to his left hand, with his right hand  he quickly drew his weapon, but the quickness of the wild cat was quicker that even Mark's well honed and relentlessly trained body. The lion had reached the ground before his pistol had cleared his holster completely!  Just as the cat planted his paws and leaped toward Mark with deadly certainty, a blur of fur, claws and snarling teeth. Another contestant entered the fray, Bo! The Lion in mid launch just inches from Mark and certain death was met by his original adversary, in a crushing tackle that sent both four legged fighters rolling down the hillside.
     Mark completed the draw and tracking the cat fired several shots at the rolling form. In turning he moved away from the support of the tree and began his own rapid slide down the rocky hillside. He continued to shine his light at the retreating figure of the wild cat who quickly made it to the relatively level meadow at the bottom of the hill.
     Thankfully Bo stood away from the large cat who  was now facing away from Mark. Taking this opportunity Mark fired another shot hitting the predator between the shoulders. The Lion quickly turned but was hampered by something as he tried to rise to his full height with both paws extended, those paws armed with claws made to rip the guts from his prey. Mark fired two more times striking the chest of the lion dropping him to the ground temporarily. Worried and uncertain as to how many more shots it would take and how many he had  left Mark stood waiting on the cat to die. The cat lay down and stared, panting. Blood evident from many wounds across his body, but the will of this master of the wild refused to be dominated, even by death.
     Sure that the cat was hurt badly enough that it would not be able to retreat, Mark returned home for more ammunition and help. He quickly called Fish and Game and as the officer lived nearby he was there within thirty minuets. The officer and Mark returned to the area of the confrontation, only to find that the cat was not where he had left him. Cautiously casting their lights across the meadow they found the large cat several yards away, lying down and still panting. Several of the wounds were chest wounds and were releasing air from the winded cat. The officer remarked on the sheer will to live that these large cats have, and not taking any chances walked gingerly around behind the cat and fired a bullet just behind the cats ear, and into it's head. The cat continued to pant and remained as if nothing could rip away the life it held to so tenaciously. The officer advance a few more steps and with a closer aim fired in the same spot. Finally, the cat slumped to the ground his final battle decided by a more dangerous foe.
     Some would feel sorry for the poor cat, but put into the same situation there is no  question whether or not they would fight to the death. The question would be who would come out the victor. I think of the lifelong training Mark has undergone, the pistol he had so judiciously carried, and of course there is Bo. Without Bo the cat would have been able to reach his goal, and this story would have had a much different ending. Yes, he was rewarded! The biggest Ribeye Steak Mark could find. Cooked medium rare, just like he likes it!
     All tolled Mark hit the Mountain Lion nine(9) times with his 357cal. Once in the hip at the base of the tail severing the spine, once in the side going thru the stomach, three times in the chest exiting the other side, once in the neck, once in the back, and then the two shots in the chest from the front when he had reared up. The officer then shot him twice in the head just behind the ear.  All together it took eleven shots to bring down this One Hundred Sixty Pound, Puma. It is one of the largest Mountain Lions ever killed in this area and is now on display at the Fish and Game Museum in Las Cruses, New Mexico.

Mark and Bo, and the 160lbs. Mountain Lion. Pure mussel, teeth, and claws!


Stock Photo of Mountain Lion.

Bah da, bah da da da
Bah da, bah da da da
Bah da, bah da da da

Monday, Monday, so good to me
Monday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Monday mornin', Monday mornin' couldn't guarantee
That Monday evenin' you would still be here with me

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day
Monday, Monday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Monday mornin', You gave me no warnin' on what was to be
Oh Monday, Monday How could you leave and not take me

Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
A-you can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday, Monday, so good to me
Monday, Monday, it was all I hoped it would be
But Monday mornin', Monday mornin' couldn't guarantee
That Monday evenin' you would still be here with me

Every other day, every other day
every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Monday comes, but whenever Monday comes
A-you can find me cryin' all of the time

Monday, Monday, can't trust that day
Monday, Monday, it just turns out that way
Oh Monday, Monday, won't go away
Monday, Monday, it's here to stay
Oh Monday, Monday
Oh Monday, Monday

Written by John Phillips
Made famous by The Mamas and The Papas

Okay, Who can sing along with this when it's on the radio, cell ringtone, or Ipod?