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| Four days later, Jessi, Destiny and Meagan proudly display their paintball mementos |
Chronicles of a Girls Adventure Club
Monday, May 21, 2012
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Adventure #5 - "Why are we doing this??!!"
Without a doubt, this month's adventure was the most dreaded, feared, apprehension-riddled and reluctantly approached adventure to date. What could have had our panties in such a twist, you ask . . . PAINTBALL!!!!!! Meagan chose this adventure because it was something she has never done and has always been scared to do. Little did she know, she would turn out to be the most fearless of us all! She sent an email to the rest of us a few days ahead and released a few clues as to the dress code and environment we would be in. These clues allowed most of us to figure out what it is we would be doing, and then began the horror stories . . . "it feels like getting slapped with a wet towel," "my brother laughed at me when I told him we were doing this," "it feels like a rubberband snapping you at close proximity," "you're going to be covered in bruises," "it HURTS!!!!"
After a few days of stewing over the certain pain we were going to endure, the time finally arrived. We drove north on I-435 to Jaeger's Subsurface paintball. That's right, paintball . . . in a cave!
Meagan had pre-printed the liability waivers off their website and presented these to us in advance. As we arrived, Lisa read aloud some of the wordage, "I understand and acknowlegde that the sport of paintball under certain circumstances may be an inherently dangerous activity that can result in the loss of life, eyesight or hearing, or a serious injury even to those who have experience in the sport. I also understand and acknowledge that there is the chance of being injured by a falling rock . . ." As you can imagine, this did little to allay our fears.
We arrived on site approximately 30 minutes earlier than our scheduled timeslot, so we drove back to a gas station we had passed en route for a little liquid courage.
At our designated time, we made our way inside, signed our waivers, paid our fees and headed to the bathroom to change into our paintball gear. Don't let me mislead you here. By "gear" I don't mean shinguards, knee pads, elbow pads, or body armour (all of which we would have gladly accepted). Our "gear" was two to three layers of old sweats, tees and jeans we didn't care about potentially ruining with paint stains. Needless to say, after applying all layers, we were feeling quite hot and sweaty. And thus ends the chance of any cute or flattering photos coming out of today's adventure.
We were given a brief, 5-10 minute crash course into the world of paintball: rules, regulations, equipment usage and courtesies were all reviewed. Basically, we would be divided into two teams and the object of the game is to take out the other team's players. You are "out" when a paintball hits you AND splatters. Paintballs that do not rupture, do not count. Once you are "out," you must leave the field. Game ends once one team annihilates all members of the opposing team. No shooting within 20 feet of each other. If you are daring enough to find yourself within this close proximity of an opposing team member, you must yell, "Surrender!!!" That player then surrenders and is out of the game.
For our first game we were divided into two teams: yellow team and blue team (see above photo for team rosters). Yellow team also had one 12 year-old boy, and blue team had two 14 year-old boys. I should add here that one of our biggest fears going into this was that we would have to play with strangers <gasp>, so the fact that these dreaded strangers turned out to be pre-pubescent boys was a welcome relief.
Each team assumed their positions at opposite ends of the field and then the whistle blew and it was game on. Jessi, Alli and I were hesitant to leave the relatively safe confines of our bunker so we stayed behind while Preston, our 12 year-old teammate, set out to conquer the enemy. Within a few minutes, Preston was out and we were left to fight our own war. If memory serves me right, I think Alli took Meagan out next with a shot to the thigh, and then someone took Alli out with a shot to her ribs. By this time, Jessi and I had made our way out of the bunker and were now huddled behind a couple of barrels while bullets ricocheted all around us, some even finding their targets. Unfortunately, none of the paintballs were splattering upon impact for either Jessi or myself, leaving us to take a repeated beating. I was hit right behind my left ear and thigh, while Jessi received several hits including the back of her arm, knee and a few other unmentionable places. At this point, survival seemed remote, and a painful future inevitable. In an act of desperation, I picked up an intact paintball off the ground and squeezed the paint onto my leg, thereby declaring myself out. (Not my proudest moment) I don't remember Jessi surrendering, but we must have looked pathetic and hopeless enough for the referee to blow the whistle and call the game. Blue team: 1, yellow team: 0.
We left the field for a momentary reprieve before the next game. Upon removing our facemasks, we saw that there was now a large group of men preparing to play. We all agreed we wanted nothing to do with them, so Ibegged and pleaded kindly requested that we be allowed to play a quick game, just us girls, and promised we would then promptly leave the premises, never to be seen again. The referee liked the sounds of that as I believe he was just as wary of us as we were of his beloved sport.
We took our places on the field once more, same teams minus the boys. Yellow team stuck with our cautious approach, lingering behind our bunker while the blue team made their way to our turf. Meagan later filled me in on what was going on on blue team territory. She said that she and Lisa were strategizing sneak attacks and covering for each other, while Amy hid behind a barrel for most of the game. One of these sneak attacks worked out for them and resulted in Alli surrendering to Meagan. I remember hearing Alli yell, "Ahhhhh!!! Don't shot me!!!!" As she walked off the field, hands raised above her head, I felt a mixture of envy that she was now safe, and the familiar sense of defeat creeping up on me. Jessi and I continued to defend our barracks, shooting rather blindly at anything we thought could have been a person. We finally worked up the courage to leave our protective bunker, only to run out of paintballs within the first minute or so. No ammo = no bueno. Game over. Blue team: 2, yellow team: 0. Turns out no one took any hits in the second game (where did all those hundreds of paintballs go???) and Lisa and Amy skated out of there with not a single battle wound.
Once the second game ended, we could not wait to shed our extra layers, breathe unimpededly and regain our peripheral vision. We made good on our promise, and called it a day, although I felt I could have kept playing if it would have been just us. Final verdict? I think Alli said it best, "that was a lot more fun than I expected!" While we all agree paintball is definitely a "boy-sport," and probably not something we will ever choose to do again, I think it's safe to say that we are all glad we faced that fear and can now say we have done it. Once again, I saw these amazing girls trample their trepidations, let go of their inhibitions, and release their reservations, all in the name of adventure. I am so proud of us for stoically completing this rather painful challenge, and I thank you all for being such brave women! Paintball . . . check.
After a few days of stewing over the certain pain we were going to endure, the time finally arrived. We drove north on I-435 to Jaeger's Subsurface paintball. That's right, paintball . . . in a cave!
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| A place that I'm pretty sure has NEVER seen an all-female group of patrons . . . until today!!! |
Meagan had pre-printed the liability waivers off their website and presented these to us in advance. As we arrived, Lisa read aloud some of the wordage, "I understand and acknowlegde that the sport of paintball under certain circumstances may be an inherently dangerous activity that can result in the loss of life, eyesight or hearing, or a serious injury even to those who have experience in the sport. I also understand and acknowledge that there is the chance of being injured by a falling rock . . ." As you can imagine, this did little to allay our fears.
We arrived on site approximately 30 minutes earlier than our scheduled timeslot, so we drove back to a gas station we had passed en route for a little liquid courage.
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| Sitting in our cars in the parking lot of Jaeger's, building up our courage by way of our mouths. |
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| All suited up and ready to battle! |
For our first game we were divided into two teams: yellow team and blue team (see above photo for team rosters). Yellow team also had one 12 year-old boy, and blue team had two 14 year-old boys. I should add here that one of our biggest fears going into this was that we would have to play with strangers <gasp>, so the fact that these dreaded strangers turned out to be pre-pubescent boys was a welcome relief.
Each team assumed their positions at opposite ends of the field and then the whistle blew and it was game on. Jessi, Alli and I were hesitant to leave the relatively safe confines of our bunker so we stayed behind while Preston, our 12 year-old teammate, set out to conquer the enemy. Within a few minutes, Preston was out and we were left to fight our own war. If memory serves me right, I think Alli took Meagan out next with a shot to the thigh, and then someone took Alli out with a shot to her ribs. By this time, Jessi and I had made our way out of the bunker and were now huddled behind a couple of barrels while bullets ricocheted all around us, some even finding their targets. Unfortunately, none of the paintballs were splattering upon impact for either Jessi or myself, leaving us to take a repeated beating. I was hit right behind my left ear and thigh, while Jessi received several hits including the back of her arm, knee and a few other unmentionable places. At this point, survival seemed remote, and a painful future inevitable. In an act of desperation, I picked up an intact paintball off the ground and squeezed the paint onto my leg, thereby declaring myself out. (Not my proudest moment) I don't remember Jessi surrendering, but we must have looked pathetic and hopeless enough for the referee to blow the whistle and call the game. Blue team: 1, yellow team: 0.
We left the field for a momentary reprieve before the next game. Upon removing our facemasks, we saw that there was now a large group of men preparing to play. We all agreed we wanted nothing to do with them, so I
We took our places on the field once more, same teams minus the boys. Yellow team stuck with our cautious approach, lingering behind our bunker while the blue team made their way to our turf. Meagan later filled me in on what was going on on blue team territory. She said that she and Lisa were strategizing sneak attacks and covering for each other, while Amy hid behind a barrel for most of the game. One of these sneak attacks worked out for them and resulted in Alli surrendering to Meagan. I remember hearing Alli yell, "Ahhhhh!!! Don't shot me!!!!" As she walked off the field, hands raised above her head, I felt a mixture of envy that she was now safe, and the familiar sense of defeat creeping up on me. Jessi and I continued to defend our barracks, shooting rather blindly at anything we thought could have been a person. We finally worked up the courage to leave our protective bunker, only to run out of paintballs within the first minute or so. No ammo = no bueno. Game over. Blue team: 2, yellow team: 0. Turns out no one took any hits in the second game (where did all those hundreds of paintballs go???) and Lisa and Amy skated out of there with not a single battle wound.
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| Blue team and yellow team, post-battle |
Once the second game ended, we could not wait to shed our extra layers, breathe unimpededly and regain our peripheral vision. We made good on our promise, and called it a day, although I felt I could have kept playing if it would have been just us. Final verdict? I think Alli said it best, "that was a lot more fun than I expected!" While we all agree paintball is definitely a "boy-sport," and probably not something we will ever choose to do again, I think it's safe to say that we are all glad we faced that fear and can now say we have done it. Once again, I saw these amazing girls trample their trepidations, let go of their inhibitions, and release their reservations, all in the name of adventure. I am so proud of us for stoically completing this rather painful challenge, and I thank you all for being such brave women! Paintball . . . check.
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| While I am proud to say no tears were shed during our paintball adventure, it may have had less to do with our fearlessness, and more to do with the fact that all body moisture was being profusely perspired through our pores. :) |
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Meghan & Mitch got hitched!
Congratulations to our Meggie, who tied the knot on April 21!!!!! The ceremony was intimate and personal, and the reception turned into a full-on dance party! We all had a blast and could not have asked for a more memorable day. Best wishes to the ravishing bride and her lucky man! We love you guys!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Adventure #4- "Shit happens"
Today we turned down the fear factor a few notches, but still stepped outside of our norm and had a fabulous time! Today's adventure was horseback riding!!! Planned by Amy, this was something she had NEVER done in her life, and something she has always been curious about. While the rest of us have been horseback riding before, it has been many many years . . . primarily Girl Scout camp experiences from the early 90s. So, while the anxiety level today was relatively low, the excitement scale remained as high as ever. Adding to the fun, we ditched our usual "Fearless Femmes" tees, and instead opted for cowgirl attire: boots, jeans and button-downs. Our outfits made for adorable pics, if I must say so myself:
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| Not bad for a bunch of city girls! |
We were each assigned a horse and assisted with mounting the saddle.
Once in place, we began our single-file stroll through the pasture, fields and woods adjacent to the stables. A brotherhood of playful and jubilant collies and Aussies that live on the land accompanied us on our ride, providing entertainment along the way as they taunted each other and sometimes even the horses. No more than a few minutes into our ride, we were reminded horses display little inhibition when it comes to their excretory system. Cori threw out the old adage, "shit happens," and in retrospect, I realize she was trying to prepare us for the non-stop poopfest we were about to endure.
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| A few random shots from the day |
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| Everyone waiting while . . . |
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| . . . Meagan's horse stops for a drink |
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| Lined up for a drink from the trough |
We came to find out that just like us, each of our horses had their own habits, social circles and personality flaws. My horse, Rula, "likes to bite," but "only the other horses, not people," according to Cori. Meagan's horse, Mystique, likes to eat . . . a lot. Jessi's horse, Twigger, also likes to snack and is known on the ranch as "the boss lady." Alli's horse, Reno, the sole male of the group, fittingly is "the ornery one," and is also Twigger's boyfriend. Cori said Meghan's horse, Fashion, "doesn't like any of the others." She showed us she can be a bit of a B when she kicked Lisa's horse, Horizon, who I decided suffered from allergies based on her coughing fits. Amy's horse, Rosa, is one big mamacita!
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| Straight out of a John Wayne movie, here we all are at our horseback riding adventure |
So how did we feel at the end of this adventure? You tell me . . .
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| Destiny & Rula |
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| Meagan & Mystique |
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| Jessi & Twigger |
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| Alli & Reno |
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| Meghan & Fashion |
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| Lisa & Horizon |
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| Amy & Rosa |
After our ride, Amy and Lisa had other committments to get to, but the rest of us headed to Stroud's for some good ole' homecookin' and fried chicken! During our 45-minute wait, I struck up a conversation with a group of women (approximately aged 50-70) after they had asked me to take their photo in front of the farmhouse that is now Stroud's Restaurant. They were also a group of coworkers that had morphed into close friends. After I told them we were part of an adventure club, they were proud to inform me that they (too) had been on an adventure (of the driving variety) of their own, and that they were lucky they made it to dinner. They were as pleasant and friendly as could be, and even invited me to the retirement party they have planned next month for one of their own. I thought it was so cool that they were out with their girlfriends, on a Thursday night, making memories! I want to believe that when we reach their age, we will be doing the same thing. :)
And of course, they thought our club was the neatest thing, and advised, "you all should jump out of a plane!!!" Hmmmmm . . . . . .
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Adventure #3 - "If you ain't first, you're last!"
Finally, a secret, surprise adventure! For the first time yet, the details of our adventure were kept secret until we all arrived at our meeting spot this morning. I planned this, our third, adventure and released limited clues to the other girls earlier this week via email: 1) It's an outdoor, weather-permitting activity; 2) It's less a test of our abilities, and more a test of our anxieties; 3) Wear closed-toed shoes. It was fun to see what everyone made of these elusive clues. Responses included; "You'd better not make me puke, Deitch!"; "Just tell me it's not bungie-jumping!?"; and "Will I pee my pants?" Clever little Lisa actually figured it out! As Amy later reported to me, Lisa shared her speculations with her, "I think we're doing the Tom Petty driving experience!" While I know blasting a good ole' rock song while driving is always a good time, I can't imagine it could top riding shotgun in a real NASCAR racecar, as we were about to do at the Richard Petty Driving Experience!
We met up this morning, and I revealed the day's plan through a series of photo hints. Everyone was super excited about the adventure, although I'm not sure whether it was the riding in racecars or the wearing of jumpsuits that was most tantalizing - haha. We drove from Overland Park to the Kansas Speedway in KC, KS. After arriving at the speedway and paying our fees, there was no question that priority number one was a preparatory emptying of our bladders . . .
After visiting the facilities, we got in line for our ride and were each given jumpsuits, flame-retardant caps, and helmets to wear. We shared many laughs at each others' expense over how ridiculous and unattractive we looked in our get-ups, and we most definitely drew a few stares as we made fun of ourselves throughout the entire process. From Jessi's XL jumpsuit she was drowning in, to Lisa's small head size ("Excuse me, do these helmets come in XXS?"), to my look being compared to a Star Wars Jedi in that awesome black cap, we had plenty to chuckle about. Not to mention, it was 80 degrees out on this unseasonably warm morning, and we were wearing black shirts UNDER our full-coverage suits! Needless to say, there was a lot of sweating going on. Check it out for yourselves; are we hot or what?!?
After about an hour and a half of waiting, we were finally up! They had six or eight cars running; a mix of Dodge, Chevy and Ford, painted in bright colors and adorned with company logos. Alli and I were escorted to our cars first, followed by Meagan and Meghan and then Jessi, Lisa and Amy. Neck stabilizing devices were attached to our helmets, and then we crawled through the window and took our seats. We were strapped in, instructed on how to operate the emergency release on our belts and window, our photo was snapped by their staff, and we were told to "enjoy the ride!"
My driver's name was Troy. I asked him if he was a safe driver. I can't recall his exact response, but I do remember there was nothing reassuring about it. As I sat there, awaiting the inevitable roar of the engine, I couldn't get Cake out of my head . . . "Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time. The green light flashes, the flags go uuuuuuuuuuuu . . . . . ." and we were off! Troy cranked the gearshift, unloaded on the accelerator, and it was suddenly so loud I couldn't hear myself think, let alone recite the lyrics to one of my favorite songs from high school. I wasn't sure where to look: straight ahead at the approaching turn; to my right at the concrete wall that seemed way too close; to my left at Troy for reassurance that everything was as it should be. I wouldn't say it was scary. I wouldn't say it was sickening. It just felt fast. Very. Very. Fast. As we made each turn, my head was involuntarily pulled to the right. I made it my goal to try and keep my head upright, but failed miserably. The gravitational pull was too strong, and a reminder of just how crazy awesome it was that I was there, experiencing this once in a lifetime activity!
One thing I was trying to look for the entire ride was a speedometer, which I never found. As we were pulling back into the pits, I asked Troy if there was one. He said "no." I asked if that was normal. He said, "It's better not to know," but assured me that we were driving at close to 165 mph. We came to a stop and someone was immediately there to unbuckle my belts and assist me with crawling back through that window. Meagan was approaching my car, as she was to be the next rider. I told Troy she was my friend and to be safe with her. As we each walked away from our cars there were only smiles and lots of thumbs up to be seen. Everyone said they enjoyed the experience, although Alli and Meghan found it to be slightly nauseating.
While I can't think of anything deep, spiritual or enlightening to say that we gained from this adventure, I can say it was pretty darn fun and something we will never forget. So glad that I could share such a memorable activity with this group of amazing, fearless, and unforgettable women! One of whom has not yet been mentioned . . . Brandi finally joined us for an adventure! While she was unable to participate herself, she was a great sport and came along to snap photos, guard our purses and cheer for us!
We also met another fearless femme while we were waiting in line. There was a mature, gray-haired woman standing in front of us who seemed to be there by herself. My curiosity was peaked, and I asked her if this was her first time. She said it was, and that her family had given her this experience as a gift for her 80th birthday, which she celebrated this past January. She went on to tell us of her love for NASCAR racing, which has taken her to tracks all around the country, and her adoration for some of her favorite drivers, of whom she would say, "Oh yeah, he's cute!" Turns out, she was not alone either. She had at least ten family members there to cheer for her and capture the momentous occasion on film. What a great memory for their family! Here's to you, Mitzie! I hope that you enjoyed your special day as much as we enjoyed you.
Now, our individual, adventure-specific photos for your viewing pleasure . . .
And what could be more appropriate than a lunch at Hooters after a day at the Speedway?!
We met up this morning, and I revealed the day's plan through a series of photo hints. Everyone was super excited about the adventure, although I'm not sure whether it was the riding in racecars or the wearing of jumpsuits that was most tantalizing - haha. We drove from Overland Park to the Kansas Speedway in KC, KS. After arriving at the speedway and paying our fees, there was no question that priority number one was a preparatory emptying of our bladders . . .
After visiting the facilities, we got in line for our ride and were each given jumpsuits, flame-retardant caps, and helmets to wear. We shared many laughs at each others' expense over how ridiculous and unattractive we looked in our get-ups, and we most definitely drew a few stares as we made fun of ourselves throughout the entire process. From Jessi's XL jumpsuit she was drowning in, to Lisa's small head size ("Excuse me, do these helmets come in XXS?"), to my look being compared to a Star Wars Jedi in that awesome black cap, we had plenty to chuckle about. Not to mention, it was 80 degrees out on this unseasonably warm morning, and we were wearing black shirts UNDER our full-coverage suits! Needless to say, there was a lot of sweating going on. Check it out for yourselves; are we hot or what?!?
After about an hour and a half of waiting, we were finally up! They had six or eight cars running; a mix of Dodge, Chevy and Ford, painted in bright colors and adorned with company logos. Alli and I were escorted to our cars first, followed by Meagan and Meghan and then Jessi, Lisa and Amy. Neck stabilizing devices were attached to our helmets, and then we crawled through the window and took our seats. We were strapped in, instructed on how to operate the emergency release on our belts and window, our photo was snapped by their staff, and we were told to "enjoy the ride!"
My driver's name was Troy. I asked him if he was a safe driver. I can't recall his exact response, but I do remember there was nothing reassuring about it. As I sat there, awaiting the inevitable roar of the engine, I couldn't get Cake out of my head . . . "Reluctantly crouched at the starting line, engines pumping and thumping in time. The green light flashes, the flags go uuuuuuuuuuuu . . . . . ." and we were off! Troy cranked the gearshift, unloaded on the accelerator, and it was suddenly so loud I couldn't hear myself think, let alone recite the lyrics to one of my favorite songs from high school. I wasn't sure where to look: straight ahead at the approaching turn; to my right at the concrete wall that seemed way too close; to my left at Troy for reassurance that everything was as it should be. I wouldn't say it was scary. I wouldn't say it was sickening. It just felt fast. Very. Very. Fast. As we made each turn, my head was involuntarily pulled to the right. I made it my goal to try and keep my head upright, but failed miserably. The gravitational pull was too strong, and a reminder of just how crazy awesome it was that I was there, experiencing this once in a lifetime activity!
One thing I was trying to look for the entire ride was a speedometer, which I never found. As we were pulling back into the pits, I asked Troy if there was one. He said "no." I asked if that was normal. He said, "It's better not to know," but assured me that we were driving at close to 165 mph. We came to a stop and someone was immediately there to unbuckle my belts and assist me with crawling back through that window. Meagan was approaching my car, as she was to be the next rider. I told Troy she was my friend and to be safe with her. As we each walked away from our cars there were only smiles and lots of thumbs up to be seen. Everyone said they enjoyed the experience, although Alli and Meghan found it to be slightly nauseating.
Here's a before and after comparison to prove that we all survived unscathed . . .
While I can't think of anything deep, spiritual or enlightening to say that we gained from this adventure, I can say it was pretty darn fun and something we will never forget. So glad that I could share such a memorable activity with this group of amazing, fearless, and unforgettable women! One of whom has not yet been mentioned . . . Brandi finally joined us for an adventure! While she was unable to participate herself, she was a great sport and came along to snap photos, guard our purses and cheer for us!
We also met another fearless femme while we were waiting in line. There was a mature, gray-haired woman standing in front of us who seemed to be there by herself. My curiosity was peaked, and I asked her if this was her first time. She said it was, and that her family had given her this experience as a gift for her 80th birthday, which she celebrated this past January. She went on to tell us of her love for NASCAR racing, which has taken her to tracks all around the country, and her adoration for some of her favorite drivers, of whom she would say, "Oh yeah, he's cute!" Turns out, she was not alone either. She had at least ten family members there to cheer for her and capture the momentous occasion on film. What a great memory for their family! Here's to you, Mitzie! I hope that you enjoyed your special day as much as we enjoyed you.
Now, our individual, adventure-specific photos for your viewing pleasure . . .
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| Lisa |
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| Meghan |
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| Alli |
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| Brandi |
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| Destiny |
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| Meagan |
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| Amy |
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| Jessi |
And what could be more appropriate than a lunch at Hooters after a day at the Speedway?!
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Adventure #2- "I have a lot of fingers"
While the idea is for the planner of each adventure to keep the details a secret up until the last moment, somehow this time around we all knew what was planned, and I think it's safe to say we were all STOKED!!! Adventure #2 was to involve each of us shooting live ammo from REAL handguns!!! In other words, today we transformed from Fearless Femmes to "Bad-Ass Bitches," as Alli so bluntly described it.
We met at Amy's condo for instructions on safe handling and correct shooting of firearms. Her cousin Duke, a Johnson County police officer, graciously offered to be our brave and patient instructor for the day. We started with the basics . . . "this piece is called the barrel . . . the slide . . . the grip . . . the muzzle," and learned how all these pieces fit together to form a deadly weapon. That's right, a DEADLY WEAPON!!! I was completely caught off guard by the instantly sweaty nature of my palms from the moment that black metal object came into view. This adventure was going to be more nerve-wracking than I had prepared myself for. Meghan must have been feeling a similar anxiety as she said, "Why is this making me more nervous than flying down a mountain did?!?!"
As none of the six of us had ever handled or fired a pistol before, we spent sufficient time going over proper hand positioning (keeping our grip "tight on the tang," our awkward thumbs in check, our finger ALWAYS OFF THE TRIGGER until ready to shoot) and body posturing (arms straight, elbows locked, knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart). Then we each took turns loading and unloading the (empty) magazine, and practiced our aim by lining up the front and rear sights. Who knew there was so much to think about??? The officers on my favorite TV shows, "CSI" and "Criminal Minds," make it look so easy and thoughtless . . . I guess watching these shows must make real cops feel similar to how "Grey's Anatomy" makes us real medical professionals feel.
After we were deemed "ready," we made our way to Crossfire Recreational Center in Independence, MO. The front "lobby" I suppose you would call it was just as I expected . . . glass cases full of firearms, framed photo of George W. Bush behind the counter, "iPack" T-shirts available for purchase, and a blue-eyeshadowed, middle-aged woman running the show. The facility and location (Independence) were an "out-of-our-comfort-zones" experience all on their own! Duke, being the only one who's spent any time in such venues, said that comparatively, Crossfire was actually a pretty nice facility. I couldn't argue; everyone was friendly, prices were reasonable and they seemed to have a smooth operation going.
Anyway, after signing our lives away completing a minimal amount of paperwork, we donned ear and eye protection and ventured from the relatively safe confines of the lobby into the shooting range . . . <dun dun dun>. The loud blast of gunfire had us all a little jumpy, and when I realized that the bullet casings literally fly out of the chamber after discharge, any amount of bravery I had left suddenly abandoned me. Duke went first, showing us how it's done, and then . . . it was my turn!
I approached the ledge, systematically went through every step of the process in my head, and then slowly . . . very slowly . . . eventually . . . pulled the trigger, and what do you know? I hit the target! Not the bullseye, just the target . . . and I couldn't have felt more accomplished! In that moment, all hesitancies and doubts were swept away like the plethora of casings scattered on the floor. I kind of liked this. In fact, we all did!
As each of us "stepped up to the plate," took aim and fired, it quickly became obvious that we were all pretty damn good too! If I recall correctly, Alli was the first to hit the bullseye dead on, but we all had multiple shots within the small circle surrounding the "X". However, Lisa preferred to aim for the head . . . I wouldn't mess with her if I were you!
We each took several turns, varying the distance to our target, and trying out two different types of guns. Three or four rounds in, we all started feeling our biceps tightening . . . does this count as a workout? :) After an hour and a half or so of shooting (and sufficient photo-ops, of course) we called this adventure "a success" and retreated to familiar territory for lunch at Coach's.
From this adventure we gained not only a potential "once in a lifetime experience," but also a boost in confidence. It's amazing how invincible and in control you feel when you approach such an intimidating and powerful force and take command of it. Firearms have long been an unfamiliar and scary concept for many of us. Today we not only faced that fear, we dominated it! (Disclaimer: by no means am I trying to suggest that we feel we are properly prepared to carry concealed after one abbreviated lesson, but I would say it's a future possibility for some of us!)
Unfortunately, two of our Femmes were unable to join us on this adventure. Meagan was celebrating her grandmother's 85th birthday, and Brandi . . . well . . . wasn't allowed . . .
That's right, there's going to be a Fearless Baby Femme joining us in June!!! Congrats to Brandi and Jon! We love you B. Lew!
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| The Fearless Femmes dominate the shooting range! |
We met at Amy's condo for instructions on safe handling and correct shooting of firearms. Her cousin Duke, a Johnson County police officer, graciously offered to be our brave and patient instructor for the day. We started with the basics . . . "this piece is called the barrel . . . the slide . . . the grip . . . the muzzle," and learned how all these pieces fit together to form a deadly weapon. That's right, a DEADLY WEAPON!!! I was completely caught off guard by the instantly sweaty nature of my palms from the moment that black metal object came into view. This adventure was going to be more nerve-wracking than I had prepared myself for. Meghan must have been feeling a similar anxiety as she said, "Why is this making me more nervous than flying down a mountain did?!?!"
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| Duke, our awesome instructor! |
As none of the six of us had ever handled or fired a pistol before, we spent sufficient time going over proper hand positioning (keeping our grip "tight on the tang," our awkward thumbs in check, our finger ALWAYS OFF THE TRIGGER until ready to shoot) and body posturing (arms straight, elbows locked, knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart). Then we each took turns loading and unloading the (empty) magazine, and practiced our aim by lining up the front and rear sights. Who knew there was so much to think about??? The officers on my favorite TV shows, "CSI" and "Criminal Minds," make it look so easy and thoughtless . . . I guess watching these shows must make real cops feel similar to how "Grey's Anatomy" makes us real medical professionals feel.
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| Duke showing us the ropes (Teddy wanted a turn!) |
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| Lobby sign- made of bullet casings |
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| Our expert guide getting after some paper bad guys! |
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| A pile of bullet casings that were constantly being swept up by employees. You wouldn't believe the amount! |
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| Duke supervising- what a brave and generous guy |
As each of us "stepped up to the plate," took aim and fired, it quickly became obvious that we were all pretty damn good too! If I recall correctly, Alli was the first to hit the bullseye dead on, but we all had multiple shots within the small circle surrounding the "X". However, Lisa preferred to aim for the head . . . I wouldn't mess with her if I were you!
We each took several turns, varying the distance to our target, and trying out two different types of guns. Three or four rounds in, we all started feeling our biceps tightening . . . does this count as a workout? :) After an hour and a half or so of shooting (and sufficient photo-ops, of course) we called this adventure "a success" and retreated to familiar territory for lunch at Coach's.
From this adventure we gained not only a potential "once in a lifetime experience," but also a boost in confidence. It's amazing how invincible and in control you feel when you approach such an intimidating and powerful force and take command of it. Firearms have long been an unfamiliar and scary concept for many of us. Today we not only faced that fear, we dominated it! (Disclaimer: by no means am I trying to suggest that we feel we are properly prepared to carry concealed after one abbreviated lesson, but I would say it's a future possibility for some of us!)
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| Lisa- couldn't believe how comfortable and at ease this sweet lady was with handling the gun right from the very first moment |
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| Meghan- probably maintained the best shooting posture, and one of the most consistently accurate shooters! |
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| Amy- "the ballerina," preferred to stand in ballet's third position than per our instructions :) |
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| Jessi- "You look good with a gun in your hands!" Enough said. |
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| Destiny- not afraid to get her hands dirty (i.e. the only one strong enough to fully load the magazine) |
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| Alli- great aim from the get go, and the most likely to return to the range. You can call her Dirty Harry! |
Unfortunately, two of our Femmes were unable to join us on this adventure. Meagan was celebrating her grandmother's 85th birthday, and Brandi . . . well . . . wasn't allowed . . .
That's right, there's going to be a Fearless Baby Femme joining us in June!!! Congrats to Brandi and Jon! We love you B. Lew!
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