15 Jan

Leaving for SHOT, Eye Injury, and New Daughter!

Steven K. Ledin,

Leaving for SHOT tomorrow morning early. Monday is media day, and this Riflescopeblog.com gives me credentials to play with the other writers during this event. After about 20 SHOT shows, I’ve never been able to attend. It’s held at a local range, and we’ll shoot all the new stuff from scores of manufacturers. Several people from our marketing group will attend and film some shots. We’ll try to keep everyone informed about new products and developments.

This whole week I’ll be wearing 5.11 Taclite Pro shirts and pants with 5.11 Tactical Trainer boots and a Galco SB3 leather dress belt. It’s not that I’m a spokesperson for 5.11, but they make my favorite clothes for a working trip of this kind. The shirts and pants are airy and comfortable, and the boots have been favorites for a few years when I’m not wearing dress shoes. I’ll walk lots of miles carrying plenty of weight, and my backpack of choice is also from 5.11 Tactical, the excellent Rush 12, which is also my every day pack. I use some lightweight BLACKHAWK!, and Propper clothing, as well. It’s gonna be a ton of work, and much of it will be fun. A bunch of us are also looking forward to the Sky Jump from the top of the Stratosphere. It is the highest controlled free fall in the world, at about 855 feet or the equivalent of 108 floors! Yow!

A piece of plastic I was prying on in the kitchen shot up and caught me in the eye. It cut my cornea and the white of my left eye in several places. They put a giant protective contact lens type cover over it while it heals. It will stay in for over a week until I get back. If you’re looking for fun, this is not it. The last couple of days were brutal, but today it’s a bit better. It won’t make anything easier. I’ll be playing hurt again with a trashed right elbow and shoulder, also. Could be worse.

We got a new doggie! A new daughter in our home! This is My Shirley’s dog. She really misses Rad. Shirley named her Tinker Bella. She’s a pit bull we got from a local rescue center taken from a family for neglect. She’s got some fighting scars, but a great disposition and is full of love. She will certainly act as a crime deterrent. Her head is giant and thick, and full of intimidation. I startled her when I went to the bathroom without the lights on early in the morning and she came at me like a bulldozer until she realized I was Dad. We both love her immensely already.

I hope your new year is going well for all of you! I’ll report on SHOT in a week or so, but you’ll be able to see some films taken there almost in real time!

About Steven K. Ledin

Steve has never not known guns. Before motorcycles, money, or girls, they have always been part of his life. He was tenured as General Manager of one of the country’s largest gun stores and ranges, a buyer in a big box sporting goods store, and is currently OpticsPlanet’s Director of Product Intelligence. He was a US Navy gunners mate, and is an NRA certified instructor in ten categories, as well as an Illinois CCW instructor. He shoots competitively and has hunted from Alaska to Africa. He thoroughly loves life with his beloved wife, Shirley, and their three wildish dogs Tinker, TranRek (pronounced “Train Wreck”), and Crash Almighty. He is a stubborn stage 4 cancer survivor not yet ready to cash in his chips.

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