The Mat-Su Outdoorsmen’s Show is this weekend

Well, my shoulder replacement surgery has been delayed. When the anesthesiologist came in to introduce himself, he noticed a rash I had on my lower legs, just above the ankle. I’ve had the rash for several years and hadn’t thought anything about it. The surgeon looked at it and decided to postpone the shoulder surgery out of caution for possible infection.

I’m guessing here, but I think the rash is fungal in nature since after arriving home from the hospital, I applied an anti-fungal prescription cream I had been given to treat another rash a while ago. The next day, one leg was totally fine, minus a couple of scabbed over sores and the other leg was almost as good. I’ll be seeing a dermatologist this week and, hopefully, will have a good diagnosis and treatment regime by evening.

The surgeon told me the surgery would be delayed maybe a month to get the rash under control. That could take us into May, which means I’ll probably have to get a repeat on all the blood work and urine analysis. I already have a stack of blood work test results a half-inch thick. Needless to say, I was both frustrated and disappointed with the day’s events. My summer is now basically ruined regarding the planned events I was looking forward to because of heal times being pushed ahead by a month or so. The best laid plans of mice and men….

On to cheerier news. The Mat-Su Outdoorsmen’s Show starts this Friday at noon and runs through Sunday at the Menard Center. The doors open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday and close at 5 p.m. General admission is $10 per day. Sunday morning from 10 a.m. to noon admission is free.

There is a broad array of vendors scheduled to be present: folks selling everything from fishing and hunting guided trips, boats, motorhomes and trailers, chambers of commerce promoting their home areas, fishing and hunting equipment, ATVs and UTVs, various food trailers; in short, just about anything and everything outdoors related.

I like to go to see the new items being promoted and to take advantage of some of the best prices of the summer season. I also enjoy meeting up with old friends and making new ones on occasion and catching up on stories from previous outdoor adventures. The food isn’t bad either!

I also enjoy the seminars that are presented each day. This year’s seminar menu contains something for just about everyone. Friday’s seminars include free construction training and off-grid and solar applications; how to stop severe bleeding and halibut fishing 101; information about the Alaska Military Youth Academy; being bear aware when out in the Bush and building better boats.

Saturday’s seminar schedule contains repeats of some of Friday’s presentations along with: how to master your handgun draw; the lifecycle of a loan; intro to the Board of Game; approach to RV service, maintenance and repair; information on the West Susitna Access road and project; trawl bycatch in the Bering Sea and Gulf of Alaska; and information about the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area.

Sunday’s schedule also contains repeat presentations along with: adventure awaits, unleashing the power of podcasting in outdoor storytelling; backcountry canoe access skills; and wilderness first aid. Like I said, something for everyone.

When I first read the list of seminars, I thought I’d like to attend several of them. The problem I have is timing, since some seminars of interest are being presented at the same time as other ones I want to see, and the seminars I want to attend are spread out over all three days of the show. Back when Tony Russ owned and operated the show, he let me attend for free since I was writing promotional material for him to use for the show and presenting the occasional seminar.

Now that I’m just a civilian like everybody else, and being retired on top of it, affording $30 dollars to attend the full show is a bit beyond my reach. I’m going to be reviewing the seminars, again, and prioritizing them as to interest and which day they’re being presented. Then I’ll look at which day to attend the show. I also need to allow time to look at the displays and items to learn what’s new and what I can’t live without.

All that and nursing a bum shoulder and hoping nobody would bump into me very hard while walking around. It’s tough to get old!