The Sun is out, I have to ride.....

but Mothers out there... you would be so proud, the men are washing their hands longer in the public restrooms.

Safety first, or some reasonable amount...

I come home to an empty house, I don't know where my wife is, but I am certain that she is fine and will be here when it suits her. I don't track her cell phone, I don't call because my day is ruined and I don't worry because I recognize that she is an adult and can take care of herself and will find me when she needs more firepower or old wreck of a thug to snarl with his false teeth.

Ah, she is home and all is well. Not perfect, because the President is on my television and pre-empting my ABC World News - but I have missed it for the last seven days, so another won't hurt anyone except the pill sellers, and I don't get more than my doctor makes me. I am sure the President isn't going to fly his corporate jet over my home and scare me silly - C-17s, C-130s and some other stranger stuff fly close enough already. But then Air Force flying by is the sound of home to this former paratrooper. I know that swine flu is bothering some folks, but more people will die of drug addiction and he is already working with the Mexican President on that problem.

I do think the government is more in the way, and working way beyond its capabilities now than ever before. Things slow down, don't get done, but are measured and recorded endangering trees and the flow of real communication on the Internet. I give you a story, I want to protect my Trusty Triumph and its rider, so for the last two days while rain pours upon Washington it hasn't been out - I protected it, and drove the Caravan which hasn't been washed of the dusty from Idaho farm roads. Today, it was raining again when I woke, and I was willing to bet it would be clear by afternoon - so I protected my motorcycle again leaving it in the garage. Think of how safe its rider was in his cage, with seat belt fastened and helmet with full face shield and gauntlets on. A reflective vest would have completed the "safest motorcyclists on the road" theme. Of course, the motorcycle gets much better mileage, the rider smiles and laughs when riding on only two wheels and bound by physics to the surface below. And the Sun was shining, my neighbor is cutting his yard, the deputy's yard and likely the neighbor across the street, I am such a slug. I just blog about how protected I am, just hit those keys tenderly and nothing bad can happen to this so well protected person. Oops, I tripped over the stream iron's cord, and it came flying at me, it was hot and wet and so unwanted.

well, I have heard that one can't have progress nor profit without some risk, and only those folks that think they are more responsible than I - have the time to come up with all their safety rules that some of us can't spend the time reading.

Upon Reflection I am not as represented...

Wasn't it wonderful to get back to work yesterday? I had six bins of mail waiting for me, six! that was at least two trips up and down the long stairway, but one of the mailmen carried one of my bins up after me on my second trip and I thanked him. He probably thinks I am a bit too old to be loaded down, but I am not, yet. I finally had a little control over the library by the last movement of the day, my crew had dumped all that happened while I was gone (only three work days and covered by the ladies). By Thursday I expect we will have all the new books linked and in circulation, the ILL requests back up in powerful numbers and on the way and my supervisor will have straightened out my wandering from procedure that she found while working my station.

I came home to my American Rifleman, NRAstore, GunNews Magazine, CMP Sales Catalog - 2009, my LAST ISSUE of rider magazine and a letter from my mother in North Carolina. I continue to clean up my stuff and organize everything, so slowly, preparing to run out and away next time I get a chance. I have been caught telling toddlers to ESCAPE! RUN AWAY NOW while they aren't paying attention. Otherwise you will become a responsible adult and forget how to laugh joyously escaping the monsters that will tickle you. Mothers don't always love my better qualities but the toddlers do.

I find my nametag from the Boomershoot 2009, and it says more than I have earned. I was Media and Spectator - so I have written and I did watch (I loved all the watching and what I saw). But mostly I felt like I was flying under false colors, Joe Huffman was stretching it when he allowed me to come as a Gun Blogger - I am really Just the Library Keeper (and if you ask my supervisor I might not be that either, but I do like the title). Tam listed many of the things that a Gun Owner might be, qualifiers to pin down how one uses and looks at guns and those activities around them. I could see myself sometimes in the one area and sometimes in another and that still doesn't make me a Gun Blogger - I think I write about my commute on the motorcycle as much as the shooting activities, I have limited knowledge (and don't share much of it) about anything mechanical, chemical, tactical or ballistic in shooting. I look at the firearm as only a tool, and not really a center point to my life.

No, while I was at the Boomershoot from start to finish what I was doing was watching the people, seeing their passion and performance, listening for their pride and pushing their pondering about whatever they brought to the conversation, from children to older than I folks I was soaking them up to put them in the blog - this blog which is more about people and my thoughts than it is about guns - for the gun is only a tool and I have some and know what to to with them sometimes, but the people I meet are more the wonder in my life. Y'all take care out there.

Joe Huffman Ry Alan Derek Kevin David Matthew

Sometimes I really do well, and others...

I asked my wife once, why she married me - what was so special about me rather than that banker that got so rich. She said I had a large nose and I kept my promises. Well, the nose wasn't ever going to get smaller but that keeping my promises is a tough one to live up to. Before I went on my merry adventure into Idaho and the Boomershoot she made me promise to go to church on Sunday, and my response was I should become Catholic, they had a real morning mass. I was thinking of all the Boomershoot goodness I would miss if I went to church, I started thinking of ways around my promise and in general being a potentially lesser person than she wanted me to be. But as I tooled around the beautiful farm land, and found the shaded snowpacks that haven't seen the Sun, I found the answer to my quandry - The Cavendish United Methodist Church is sharing their pastor with the Orofino Church and so it has a service that starts at 8:30 AM and I would be back at Boomershoot by ten for the FireBall! Don't tell me that the Lord doesn't work in mysterious ways. Wonderful people invited me in and shared coffee and tales, and I find that the couple that is providing curly fries and burgers are also members of that church, and I got a coffee cup with a picture of the church. The only log church in the Northwest that I know of.

Saturday night we had all gathered for dinner at the VFW, raffles and talk about shooting. I won a level for my unrailed rifle, which means I have to buy the rest of the stuff - so many choices and only so many years left of me to enjoy it all. I did represent myself as a member of the RWVA and talked a bit, so someone came over to ask for some help getting a shooting range in Spokane for Appleseeds, seems the Department of Natural Resources wasn't helping him, I think the Fish and Game folks would be better. They really do want hunters and shooters. I went and slept in the Caravan that night, determined that I will repack all my emergency stuff, I was very warm in the mink blanket but wanted five more inches of stretch room since I haven't shrunk enough yet.

Sunday is really the big Boomershoot day, lots of shooters, all kinds of firearms, some way to beautiful to shoot, but they shoot them any way. One hundred and fifty pound shooting tables that allow a perfect shot with each gentle stroke of the trigger, tents that look like bunkers I have served observation time in, shooters on the ground, a couple shooting off hand (?) but not making an explosion. Lots of explosions, lots of great shots and fine shooters and spotters. I did get the see the Anvil launch, and the fire ball that didn't work as well as the one the bloggers had started a grass fire with - maybe next year. I had taken over a hundred and sixty shots and replaced the batteries in my digital camera once, and I still had two more memory cards and whatever was left on the card in the camera. Talked cars, talked scopes and spotting scopes (I listened) and listened to the almost constant boom of those tiny targets going off way across the valley, 375 to 750 meters. Time to go home before my Vietnam flashbacks get started.... and seven and a half hours later I was, home and safe and my wife looked at my pictures and listened to my story and we slept into the work week. Time for breakfast.

It's already Saturday, my library is closed...

Back on McNeil Island, they probably didn't miss me for those three days. I was wandering the end of the Precision Firing Clinic yesterday and asked some questions about Optics - I know nothing and willing to seek counsel, I was given a handout and a quick class on rails, rings and scopes, doesn't seem to be a book on the subject that my teacher could recommend, but I know someone in Library research that might find a gem or two. Really nice professional, and very helpful men putting on the clinic. I picked up a grey long sleeve tee shirt with embroidered logo - and I don't do trademark and logo stuff but somedays being cool is almost as important as a nice warm long sleeve shirt to keep the Sun off.

In the fashion department I found out that I am not the first shooter to think bib overalls are the shooter's meow, and coveralls work well for rolling around in the dirt on prone positions - this isn't a bowling league these are serious shooters and working at their craft. They love work clothes. I spend some more time talking to Ebby's master, and playing with Ebby. This fine dog is going to get me thinking about adopting one, and that is a good thought that fits my procrastination pile well. Love playing with good dogs. As I jogged gently through Orofino this morning I thought my hearing was going, at six-thirty the Sun was up, but not one barking dog during that hour's jog --- either they are still inside sleeping with their families or there is a rule that dog barking can't happen until after nine on Saturday and after ten on Sunday. I did hear some morning birds so it wasn't my hearing, but the whole town was pretty quiet except for the slap of my shoes on the sidewalk.

I did go looking for motorcycles Friday, and an Australian working in Seattle area, showed up on his Suzuki motorcycle, two extra fuel tanks and no rifle, but there are rules about foreign nationals with rifles in our country. Nice guy has to do I-5 commute for work and he goes HOV lane. A couple on a Ural with sidecar are here, the sidekick in the sidecar asked why the brakes in the sidecar don't work as she stomps on them when she needs to slow down. The rider is a writer and is here to write an article for a Motorcycling magazine - they brought two rifles, cameras and high interest - this is for me like a two-for, both motorcycles and rifles. I even know they have three children - how do I find all this out? Must have been listening to their end of the conversation. I could become a participating human if I keep it up.

When they concluded the day with the High Intensity Shoot I decided that it was time for me to go find a place to hide, out of the Sun and wind, Friday had been a long day - you should see the tables and rifle mounts and the long range shooting and spotting and the bangs and the booms. I drove down the long windy road, munching on apples. Until you get on the County roads the farm roads seem to be gravel and very dusty - it all collects on my back door and window. I made it back to the motel, took a hot shower and woke for real about twelve hours later - I must have been Sun poisoned, vampire librarians can't handle that much heat.

Well, I felt fine when I woke, made the coffee, put on the jogging clothes and went out on the town, one of the nicest ways I find to see the local area. I jogged here and then there about forty-five minutes into the jog I found the Orofino Cemetery and I stopped to visit those that made my world so well. Looking for Veterans mostly, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam. It is true, they do have sailors in Idaho, one served in both World Wars and lived into the 1980s. One of the Vietnam Vets became a Deacon, there is hope for us all. I ran on back and shaved showered and packed out to drop off my key. I went to breakfast with the Priest River girl's slow pitch softball team (I was in the same building - no I didn't talk to any of them). I had a constantly refilled cup of hot coffee to wrap my always cold hands around (cold hands warm heart). For breakfast I got two eggs over easy with two biscuits and gravy and I promptly attacked the eggs and biscuits chopping and mixing and swirling it all around in the gravy until it was a rich feast of fuel for the day. Another great day to be me.

I park and enter the library and find they have my name in the computer, I am officially an out of state visiting patron. So support your local library, one never knows what famous or infamous blogger may drop in for information, this is a great country.

If I knew it all I wouldn't be on the road and so alive!

Okay, no one knows what they don't know until they learn about something new (that they didn't know), get the idea? I am officially William Earl Dungey, Media, Spectator at Boomershoot 2009. I have thought about my mother, my wife, my two friends, my relatives and people I am relating to, and wish you could be here sharing the great stuff I have been soaking up as fast as I can. Oh, and I should have brought the Trusty Triumph because there is this series of long climbing and descending twisty two lanes that I made the Caravan purr through - I would have been so leaned and rolling into it on the motorcycle. The landscape is all of God's best, rivers, rocks and green clad, the people who don't know me from anybody actually wave a welcome, the local public library is open, helpful and busy - how else would I get on the Internet to post a blog? WiFi - costs and I am so overloaded now. Speaking of libraries, Breda has been mentioned by Joe saying that we have something in common - but it was the shooting that keeps them coming back. I also saw the famous almost Tam's pistol from Blackwater (?) some people have such interesting lives and adventures.

Joe is a wonderful host, a very nice man and extraordinary. I wish Mrs. Clark, my highschool Chemistry Physics teacher could have gotten my attention like Joe did while giving us the history of Boomershoot and the mixing of the reactive agent that would explode when shot by a rapidly moving bullet - better than 1500 fps. All except for his current mix are on the internet, which he is using today while I type, his target manufacturing team is creating the booms for this weekend: a few today, more tomorrow (used for the shooting clinic being held) and the really big day on Sunday.

One bit of Joe's best wisdom I share: Change a veriable and don't do the testing and get burnt. He has lots of stories to prove it. Three chemicals, one fuel, zip lock bag and cardboard box, garden stake and rubber band. Some hot accurate shooting sport and no neighbors and you could have a smaller version of this event. But watching the coordination, the pride in performance and the amount of work that is going on to make this happen - this will not become common any time soon - this is way beyond my lazy bones and levels above my scientific/technical expertise. This costs about $1.00 per pound for the target chemicals. Lime is added to change the boom effect, and GREEN!, help leach away the lead bullet core badness from the soil - farmers and grass lawn growers like it for acidity change. I learn so much more than how to hit the target, not having even talked about that.

After discussing safety, history, short demonstration of reactive mixture mixing followed by a two round two burst demonstration of the power of small targets, a hands on (for those qualified and trusted by the certifiable, oops, certifying ATF) practice of building their own targets was done, with the intent of blowing them up. Those involved got to wear plastic gloves, aprons and eye protection, when setting off targets we added hearing protection and I got to take notes, pictures and add my questions and comments (hopefully when it was helpful). I did also help put the fire out that the one extra punch Fireball and its potential got started in the already burnt area of a field. I can do putting out small fires having done it once in a while in my life. I did get some great shots, and can't wait to get back to my computer to download them and work on them, others have posted some great one.

At the dinner at the Ponderosa in Orofino, Idaho, I was explaining something about my camera that I couldn't do, and one of the shooting/bloggers took my camera and showed me how to do it, and I have been doing strange stuff with it ever since - another thing I didn't know that now I do. Always learning. Met the father of one of the Boomershoot Crew (First Mate) and his fine dog Ebby, met the husband and wife team (Ma and Pa) of the food stand, they have a son in the Navy, in Naples, Italy with their grandson - whom they met when they travelled there more than a year ago - Idaho is famous for their sailors? Small world or just getting smaller, not being a real Gun Blogger, just the library keeper is very happy that everyone he has met on this trip is acting like we've known each other for years and being comfortable. I was listening the past two days to a bird in the field, and figuring it must be quail and knowing that someone watching birds, taking pictures and making a dairy home would like to have seen the quail run across the road this morning as I tooled up that twisty road, and probably gotten a great picture. Eagles flying, does and fawns are out and one herd of brown steers in a fenced lot and on the other side one lone loose steer nibbling at the greener grass - for the last two days - he must have the secret password.

Dear Mister President (knowing my friends (2) and family might miss this blog) I do want you to know, that real Americans are having a wonderful time learning new things, sharpening old skills and creating a better community of citizens - all wrapped around rifles, long range shooting and exploding targets - with safety and good sense always in mind. Don't you wish you were here, but then the Secret Service would be taxed to the max, just remember we did think of you while we were having fun with guns, and wish you all the best in what you do in our service. Take care, Earl.

if I wanted to see the West, just go East...

I finished the chores, took a shower and packed the Caravan, and hit the road, dropping off real mail for my mother. I notice after driving over the Cascades that I am entering the real West, they have horses, cattle, desert looking country where the Columbia Basin hasn't been lifted up to the big sprinkling systems. Barns are either falling apart slowly or now made of space age materials. I took the turn off at Vantage and thought how wonderfully empty the road is compared to I-90 to the north. I am passed by an Air Force couple and later I see them pulled off with emergency flashers on, so I stop and ask if they are okay, they are and I am gone again, they catch up miles and miles down the road.

I have finally seen Pullman, yes it was in the dark, no I didn't stop except for fuel, but that counts - now I know everything about Washington State University, I have been there. Might see it in the daylight going back. I am in Lewistown, Idaho, named for Jerry Lewis I think but then I remember Clarkston isn't named for the candy bar - is there still a Clark Bar out there. One of the problems with getting old is they keep improving all the stuff you liked the way it was. As I drove into the West I kept singing old Western Ballads and thinking about Cowboy movies that could have been made here. Why go to Spain for Italian Westerns, didn't Ford use some prime property in Monument Valley or some such?

Well, for entertainment to lull me to sleep I picked up some gun magazines to leaf through, knowing I am not really a gun blogger, but still working on that American Rifleman, one of the Nation of Rifleman (or so I pretend to be - such a joiner I am not), don't you wonder how Kim is? Hope all is well in his life.

Conversations with my self... the guy I hardly know...

I wake early, dreams of running roads in the military (do they still do that?) individuals, pairs, groups, clumps and platoon to brigade formations running in the morning calling the Sun up, getting the sweat out of the alcohol before the shower will take the stink of Strawberry Hill away. Loved that part of the Army, my life was five mile minimums for so long. I have returned to road work, the foot feels fine the weather is almost perfect and my body protests weakly but that has to do with overcoming the Gravity of the LazyBoy recliner and the Winter fat. I am not going to get seriously into shape - no racing, competitions, Mister Hardbody calls, nope, I am an old man and being able to move is all I want now. You all know that walking thirty miles a day, or jogging with the dogs on the hunt for twenty to twenty-five miles is the base humans were designed for, seven days a week, fifty-two weeks a year until your teeth were ground down or fell out or competing tribes of other peoples attacked and ate you if you weren't better armed or aggressive. Someone out there thinks we should have talked about it, but there are only so many women around to take and convert to our way.

This is the birthday of several people and the Earth, I guess. Happy Birthday, Wyatt! Melissa! I have only awe of a planet that would put up with me and the rest of Humankind, which aren't too much (kind). Wyatt provides my look at beautiful women that I would never be brave enough to talk to (my favorite war story is when the Miss America contestants were flown into our firebase, and we had to put shirts on, and they were so nice and friendly and I couldn't say one word - not even thanks for being here and being you - nothing, I was so unworthy). Melissa is another Library Keeper, and she called for some of my knowledge yesterday, she didn't get much but not her fault. I found out that she has been to a Boomershoot in her past -- now that makes two library women that are not within their stereotype, the world has more surprises if I just pay attention.

I didn't ride my motorcycle while I was Appleseeding, but the last two days have been right in the perfect and don't miss the opportunity zone (so I haven't), I keep wondering if anyone that doesn't ride a motorcycle understands when I wiggle the bike that it is a reflection of the great fool grin hiding under my face shield? I pick up and load out the Caravan and depart for Idaho today - so my blogging will slow to a stop, I don't have a portable PC which is one step I might make to being electronically leashed, but being frugal (or just plain cheap, take your pick) I travel light. I do have to work on my community service today, the yard must be attacked, clipped, edged and groomed. So I have things to check off my list so the world according to Earl will be as good as he can make it. I tried to clean up the McNeil Island Library yesterday, I had started my day with a little briefing for four visiting ladies, about the library and what we offered the inmate patrons in materials and services, then worked the day through with my three almost four man crew, we haven't seen the last hired since they took him off for mental evaluation. As I am going to Boomershoot I worried about the library, but the Program Manager and my Librarian Supervisor are covering the three days, so all services will remain - and some will be done so much better than I could ever manage. I will get questions about why some things are the way they are, I will get some kind of mention of that isn't the way something is supposed to be done (I miss a lot of memos), but I am always glad if they still let me have the job when I return with all my faults found. My crew has been admonished to report to work on movements not earlier, and I told them that I expect them to report to work and to do the best they can in the library and working with the ladies (they keep saying they want more time in the yard but they aren't serious). They will reveal secrets about their versions of the library operations that I don't even know, and since they are a more mature crew I likely won't hear about how I appear to them from my supervisors when I return. I do know that they will tell me everything that the ladies do that is better than I (okay with that) and all that the ladies didn't do while I was gone that I would have (I do keep explaining that the supervisors still have their own jobs to do at the same time they are keeping the library open - there isn't any slack in our operating staff, everyone has to do more than the Governor and government pays for).

And just to wrap this up, those wonderful women that visited my firebase in Vietnam, had more Field Grade support in cool uniforms with Black Ops guns and air coverage than the poor under strength Infantry platoon that came out of the bush to secure our base while we packed up and departed. I was very proud to lend our shower to the Grunts and show them how to heat the water in the fuel barrel, so they could have a hot one. Would have done it for the ladies but they were flown back to the civilized section of the warzone, with airconditioned trailers, hot water and hot meals. Still thanks for coming by, it is good to remember what we were fighting for.

So you did remember 19 April, 1775, yesterday?

The day the people of Massachusetts got very serious about restoring their rights to govern themselves, very serious. You can Google it, and the Wikipedia covers it a bit, but don't go to most American High Schools for any detail, go to your libraries and know they wrote books differently in the 18th and 19th Century about which we continue to write about in the 21st Century. It must have been important and my question is where would you have been on that day?

Today is the Boston Marathon, and since I am on the West Coast and three hours back from the East except on Mainstream Media (tape delay with Live printed on it), it should be starting soon. It was once on the same day as the celebration of Patriot's Day, the 19th, but the race got more important than the day and so was placed for coverage, advantage and tourist bucks. More people KNOW about the Boston Marathon than the 19th of April, 1775, but that is how the world works. It is still one of my un-run marathons, but I would be so far back that the support crews would be sweeping the chutes up and packing the timing machines by the time I got in. It would be more interesting to walk from Charleston, to Lexington, to Concord, the North Bridge, and back to Meriam's Corner, to Parker's Revenge, through Lexington (again!) to Charleston and safety, but following those poor British flankers tracks would wear me out, but it could be done in a couple days well. Seems the military is always cursed with LONG interesting days.

I find returning home after time spent on the ranges with shooting stuff doesn't cure me of my addiction to finding out how the normal people of the world are behaving. Looking for email about my far-flung family relations and relations that are only friendly is justified but most other things, can wait for my devotions, exercises, sweating, cleaning up and going to work. It is Monday and the Library calls. My second PC is spinning and chirping at me, and I thought it was using electricity for power - it couldn't be wind up, could it?

Gosh, what was all the fuss about?

Friday night and I am alone, packing for the weekend. I bought some new work shirts, six, two colors of blue, work trousers four pair, I will wear them out in the wash more than in the work, but that happens when one isn't using the rocks by the stream to beat the wash out once a week, love washing machines. My wife laughed that all the new clothes look the same - I will change the ties, although if I really found four or six that were the same but basically perfect - I would be wearing them all the time. Black paisley, in silk?

I checked our financial situation, and thank you investors in Wall Street, our mutual funds and some other investments are going up in price, like gasoline. I am sure that Washington DC would like me to blame their efforts in the corrections, but I figure the Chinese are buying in while things are cheap. The more they own of our souls the harder it will be to say NO to them, but they are still Communists thugs aren't they? Don't buy real estate in Taiwan. For sure it wasn't the twenty extra bucks (forty in two worker families) that showed up in our paycheck. Remember that, at the next Tea Party - the government does understand that reducing taxes does stimulate the economy - they also know if they don't keep their fingers around your throat that you might start to think you are boss, and they wouldn't like that. They do want you to petition the government, not tell them what to do and when, just ask them nicely and they will see if they can help. Anyway, we are a few thousand dollars ahead of the debts, better and better. But then our home wasn't in an Economic Crisis - just those real smart types in the big cities, they don't buy their clothes at Dickies.

Lots of Appleseeds going on across the nation this weekend, and we will work on everyone's safe shooting and paper punching perfections - hope to see lots of Riflemen recorded for our Nation's future. This is one of those special weekends: April 19th, 1775 is to be remembered the day that your neighbors stood up to the terrible government that was trying to snatch their leaders and take away their cannon, ammunition and military stores (and we can't even have machine guns now without a tax stamp - and our founding fathers had cannons of their own?). I do so think that everyone should read deeper into the Revolutionary War - it was not something to gloss over, it was a painful birth of a new independent nation, one without a King, one where you would be what you could make of yourself. Yep, good shooting out there and have a safe weekend, hope the farmers get the temperatures they need for planting and all those you love are safe and healthy, no matter where in the world they serve, y'all sleep sound for somewhere our service people are on watch and awake and aware to protect us.

The noise level is reaching election pitch...

Media is sounding alarms over the shootings, but not enough sorrow. Their entertainment isn't changing from murders, shootings, violence, solving crimes, sex, and the romance of going wrong to presenting moral, uplifting and enriching products to fill the screen. Yes, I do know where the Hallmark Channel is, but I don't normally watch that, and I don't watch most of the trash either, I have too many DVDs and videos with what is enriching when I have the time to be entertained.

Time magazine's cover offered the way to victory in Afghanistan, but I remember the victory in Vietnam they supported and I know Vietnamese that suffered for it. The picture was good, and if that military man would only take his cigarette smoking twenty-five feet away from the doorway it will be legal in Washington State (if he were a prisoner he couldn't smoke).

My wife watching a Korean soap opera commented on my girl friends (you know who you are out there) and I looked at her and laughed - then realized that four couples on the show were talking about their cheating spouses and love interests. Asians have a completely different take on civilized behavior, but because she is presented with the various situations she puts her husband (once a fine figure of a man) in their position and gets a bit miffed and jealous - and I am not worthy of being written into a drama - certainly not about the war between the sexes. It made me think of one of my war stories.

I participated in Vietnam, mostly on a firebase in the middle of nowhere. And there were some Vietnamese that wanted me dead and gone and did discourage me and my fellows from staying - only two major rocket attacks during my ten months there - four rockets each time, four months between reloads, only one did significant damage to a personnel bunker - but I only needed the one to become really impressed with 122mm rockets, knowing the Soviets launched them in salvos. A sister firebase not far away, Firebase Mary Ann, was attacked by sappers in the night and it was up close and personal and not for America a good day. When the Monsoon showed up and the roads washed into muddy mess, and the helicopters couldn't fly for resupply we ate through the food to the C-rats, so that was my war, not much but all mine.

A Major from Battalion came out to inspect, visit, see the Battery and the troops - one of those things good officers will do. He met our commander and First Sergeant, asked questions, looked at the CP, the mess hall, the maintenance area, (probably the facilities for body functions - the officers had a special separate one - although the burning waste smelled the same), and then he started looking into the personal personnel bunkers, to see how we slept, pictures on the walls, books we read and stuff we valued. He did finally lose it, his temper and his cool, when he saw the hunting bow with broadhead arrows one of the gun bunnies had mounted on a twelve by twelve support beam above his bunk. The Major couldn't believe we didn't have better and complete weapons control like they did in the super large headquarters support base where he came from. He tore the bow and arrows from the beam and ranted and raved about the lack of discipline and leadership - and took himself and his good leadership to his aircraft and off our firebase.

I went to the rear twice, once for a two week leadership school, and once for a promotion board, and both times I had to put on my shirt (and wear it all day!) and turn in my M-16 rifle and ammunition until I got ready to leave, or we would be under attack and I would get to line up and be re-issued the rifle and weapon and told where to go fight. That go fight wasn't practiced so I could spend all my time drunk or drugged out of my mind (I didn't) when I didn't have to pay attention to school or my future. They did have a pretty big fraggin' problem in that large headquarters and support base - any is a large problem, but that base was much more than it was at the little base I lived at, and the Major was very aware of how little protection all those locked up weapons and ammunition did for him as he walked the night between the O Club and his hooch, or trailer. On my firebase in the middle of NOWHERE someone threatening another soldier with a weapon wasn't tolerated - we tolerated drug abuse, drunks, disrespect of a humorous vein (smile when you say that), but someone grabbing a weapon with ammunition (all of our weapons had ammunition) would be jumped on by eveyone close, weapon taken, soldier secured and a helicopter and MPs called for to remove said threat. Never got to shoot outs, mostly whatever was the trouble got fixed off base by doctors and UCMJ.

So I don't care if everyone gets issued a weapon and ammunition, and they are responsible for their use and conduct, been there and done that and we didn't wear t-shirts until the cold rains returned. About that registering weapons thing, I have always carried my weapons with numbers registered, and when the government in its greatness issues me a fine modern or historic semi-automatic or automatic (although that is not my first choice) rifle or machine gun I will honor their numbers all my days. Time for breakfast and I never did get to my point, what you think is keeping you safe in major cities Chicago, New York, Washington DC, isn't - Seattle with concealed carry and stuff has a much lower murder rate than those cities and it isn't because of the Latte stands where the lasses wear so little...

Work week is waiting for my attention...

I rolled up some coins, $12.50 worth, and will deposit them in the Credit Union savings, wrote a check for my wife and her household maintenance, paid the internet service charge and telephone bills. I have stimulated the economy, and I update the last month of my wife's Savings account and our family worth in cash is a couple thousand over our debts, we can breath. Amazing how intelligent the Federal government is on sneaking a little extra back into our pay checks. And Applebee's has 2 for twenty, which is almost exactly what the freeing up of my income tax with-holding were... if we liked them better we might have dined there yesterday.

Is there any hope of the government making that with-holding deduction reduction permanent? No, they aren't that smart, the media is going to attempt to convince them that they need to save the Mexicans and children of America from Assault Weapons (again?). But this is the same America that continues to buy more than the CMP can process, another warning thank you for too much business and lowering inventories this weekend. I feel so unprepared for shooting much this month, but I think I only get to shoot one more day live for record, two days of teaching coaching (Appleseed 18-19th), four days of supportive observation (BOOMERSHOOT!). Best I be doing a lot of study, drills and maintenance on the firearms. Be good for all the best reasons.

Easter in the Great Northwest, and my heart...

It is raining on Easter and the Sunrise in its glory is behind the clouds. Don't you know it is beautiful above the clouds and beyond the bounds of Gravity and Earth's grip? So often one has to be a pilot to see the beauty of our home -- far from the grit and grime of our lives. It rains here on Easter. A cool refreshing rain, turning the grass and moss into a gleaming green, rich and alive. The flowers are blooming, birds courting and flying off to safer nesting areas. It is Easter and I am reminded that Spring is a new beginning, to get started on that harvest for the returning Winter. We are blest with the opportunity to do it again, to do it even better; it is time to be about Love's business.

Gun News and then back to battle... long ago...

I did watch Diane Sawyer and her co-host presenting a show "If I only had a Gun", and I don't think she is going to carry a gun any time soon. She wants to protect those children that she won't teach to behave from having drugs, poisons, prescription drugs, guns and damn fool stunts watched on other media that children seem to want to copy and improve on; "Fast and Furious" anyone?

I had one of the inmate workers look up causes of death in the United States - and firearms were not the leading reason children die, but they do seem to be something the government should be able to control. The government can't control illegal immigration, alcohol and drug abuse, can't stop murder by other means (not of firearms), illegal gambling, tax evasion, rape, child rape, arson and a few other crimes against people and property, but somehow the media believes that the government can control firearms. Our government can't even protect us from its agents when they decide to kill everything that moves and let God sort them out. Not often moral is our government, but then government isn't a being with a soul and a real relationship with God.

Ah, well, ABC News is related to Time magazine and Disney, they do live in a fantasy world and this was supposed to be a real test of what would happen if.. isn't this the network that does Super Nanny? - and I know my son never lacked for rules, reasons and care - what is going on in America? Are there any responsible adults out there?

Teach a chosen few how to handle a pistol, give them a pistol to conceal (?) put them in a classroom of undercover (working for ABC) folks and bring in a bad guy to kill them all. The bad guy knows where the cameras are, which of the folks has the gun and that he has to take out, the tested person has to pull the gun that they think is loaded with something that won't kill and take out the bad guy (which is not really a surprise! today you are going to die scenario - but closer than I practice). Okay, and they did get the results they wanted, no one was able to survive the attack or kill the attacker. They didn't put everyone in the classroom without a gun and see how many survived, but that wasn't what the show was about.

The show was designed to convince the Oprah crowd that carrying a firearm for your own defense won't work - you aren't good enough, don't train enough and the killers always have to win so we can sell advertising time on television so we get rich and you are just another victim - of so many things that you should fear... hmm, that last must all be mine. Yep, my errant thoughts have intruded. I have always said, I did all my killing in cold blood and tried to teach that, but not being in the killing business now I don't mention that, I do stress that emptiness and becoming one with the weapon, the target and the moment will work - but that is Zen and y'all are anxious Americans, always in a hurry to get to the point you can never reach. Take care out there, go gently, focusing front sight on target, squeeze. Diane Sawyer can't hit with her own skill set and production team, but then we did watch the last election didn't we?

Comment from other blogs: One Sensible Progressive Tam's Recommendation John the Texaner

I watched Zulu this morning, cough lingers, I drink more liquid and wonder if it is time for Cromwell; what do men fight for, what is the cost and what is freedom - standing on your own and doing the best you can for all that you love, works for me.

Feed a fever, starve a cold...

or is it starve the fever and feed the cold... I get all my home spun wisdom mixed up with techno trash (just four of these blue things and chase it down with some Jim Bean). The fear of aging isn't in the not being able to pick up the lady over there - it is in the fear of not being able to saunter over and tease her into taking your hook. Looking like dead wormed over and feeling like road kill that wasn't flattened enough by the first car, just doesn't put one in the mood to tango, sigh (actually one of those deep from the brisket tearing the lungs into the throat coughs) ugh! Finished two long naps, two gallons of honeyed lemon tea, video Last of the Mohicans, and going back to reading Fusiliers about the 23rd Royal Welsh in the American Revolution (we get to name it cause we won otherwise it might have been Adam's Rebellion). Or maybe Zulu Dawn would be work.

Just a quick note about being...

a dangerous old man. The Appleseed Shoots tell stories about the 19th of April, 1775, and a couple of the favorites are about Dangerous Old Men. But visiting some blogs have made me aware that the real gun toting crowd isn't just about guns and bullets, but exercising the whole body to train for the need how ever the situation breaks. It isn't just malfunction drill, or dummy rounds or caps, it is about no light, too much light, silence and deafening explosions and blasts rocking and eyes closing tight for dust or fear. Loading with the weak hand, reloading with one hand, is the magazine in a position to get to it, or is it under a couple of layers of clothing, at the end of a limb you can't get another limb to? Lots of things to consider, to practice, to test and to try. Most of all to be ready to struggle without wasting energy, without burning up the necessary fear found chemicals.

So, start with warm ups, stretches, reps for muscle movement of body weight, for span and control. Stop and clean up, eat and go to work, come back and warm up, stretch, reps for max weights on muscle groups, then switch to dry fire drills, malfunction drills, target engagement, concealed positions, room clearing, roll down, roll up, roll right, crawl low, crawl high, see how deep you can get with the worms and the grass, finish with dry fire from all positions - prone, sitting, kneeling, squatting and standing. Should be done four or five times a week, but then most of the gun carrying public don't really think they need to be ready for the real bad guys - and we all know how much fun real work is - very satisfying, but not fun.

So the next time you see a cop run down a thief on foot, remember how many times he should have been practicing running and sprints with gear on - instead of hoping AirFOUR News helicopter is video taping the perp... I guess my message to myself is whatever I am is what I am bringing to the crisis - can I swim well enough to rescue someone? can I run far enough fast enough to break away from someone that wants to harm me, can I get outside and out of my porch lights in time to memorize the car and its plates, and occupants - before I shoot them (and where would I shoot them and what is beyond the target that may need to live to see tomorrow). And most important, is everyone I love safe at the end of the day.

Time for another Honey Lemon tea for my cough and congestion. Take care out there.

And don't blame it on that...

Tuesday night a patron asked me something and I told him it happened on Monday - which seemed like several days ago - I was loading my days with lots of work, which is good, and the motorcycle rides were like a vacation, but you might not understand. Still for the last few days the rumor mill and local newspapers have talked about the closing of McNeil Island Corrections Center to save money because we aren't taxed enough when we don't spend the money for purchases. Now the Federal Government sent out the software to give us some of our money back to stimulate the Economy (but they know if the economy is stimulated that they will get more from the rich fat cats that will rake it all in). But in Washington, they would like to add an income tax to get more money to spend, and yes the voters will get to turn it down, and the politicians will pass it anyway - someone has to pay for sports complexes in Seattle, don't they?

Back to my work days, the inmates are saying that forty of them are going to Connell, Washington as part of the closing of McNeil Island (could be they are going to add to the population at the new facility at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center, so they can get operating at full speed.) That rumor is as good as the one where everyone is going to get an earlier release date because they can't afford to keep everyone locked up. The drug offenders like that one the best - they are always sure that the drug laws don't protect anyone and drugs never hurt anyone - but then everyone believes in fairy tales when they are young and foolish, or old and foolish. Still, everything inside the library is finishing with "it doesn't matter they are going to close this place soon", no matter what the subject, the problem, the service, the END is near.

So, I am looking at changing work - or just retiring at sixty-two (nah, I would die if I retired too early), but this whole economic downturn might be designed to move me into another field (I am so self centered). If I wasn't so good at paying my taxes properly I could have worked for Obama in Washington, DC. Now I will have to see what is out there I can help with in America's future, which is where I seem to have spent most of my life. All because the elected representatives couldn't manage a budget - is there a message there?

Monday Morning Blues...

Well, no Blues really. I did have to get up and move quickly enough to see the doctor at 8:30, his office. I did wheel my motorcycle out on an empty stomach and ride through McChord AFB with my best reflective vest on under my loaded backpack with reflective belt. The military knows how to protect people, they load one down with stuff, certification and lock up the ammunition so when the Mongol Hordes show up no one can shoot them before they ride over your arrowed pincushion of a body. Just pile the heads over there as a marker, thanks. I really don't care about wearing the vest, I like solid reflective tapes to call attention to me and my motorcycle in the darkness, but I do think I am smart enough to figure that out on my own - doesn't take a General. Probably the same guy that says concealed carry will not be honored on his post/base (The Commander).

I was a little early, but they opened the door and allowed me to ground my helmet, backpack, leather coat with reflective vest. Then I get weighed, blood pressure measured (don't ask way too high since pretty young women are messing with my body and my mind isn't on the motorcycle), blood drawn and doctor comes in to talk, measure, tap, listen and tell me what is good for me. Gentle manner and I now know that exercise will kill me one day, but good that I have been exercising or I would be dead - I have a load of medications to return to, another appointment in June after Hawaii. I go out and put the gear back on, knowing the other old men in the waiting room are just jealous that I am riding a motorcycle into the beautiful day and adventures. The drug store explains how much of my medications are covered by my two medical insurances - my wife has three and still one has a co-payment, sigh. Can't wait for universal care, or actually I can wait a long time. If they had universal forms and medical records keeping for the patients I might be convinced they cared.

I get an eight grain roll and black coffee at Starbucks as I wait for the pills to be piled. Then I ride off to find every Sunny Day Chrome Shining motorcyclist in the McNeil Island Department of Corrections has filled the motorcycle parking lot, lovely - it is good I was wearing sunglasses, the reflections are blinding. It is a better day for motorcycling than library work, but I park, walk to the dock, ride the ferry and see my supervisor, my inmate clerks and patrons and work on through the day, until the ride home in the evening. I have an anxious waiting by the open garage door wife (?) and I know I am not late, but have a great grin for the picture and knowing that dinner is waiting, Salmon and vegetables, hot coffee and Monday Night Raw where we find out who won what at WrestleMania 25, which I was too busy and too cheap to pay for a view.

I am so centered on myself this Monday, that except for worrying about brother traveling to Mom, Mom preparing to move to North Carolina, milk pick up in New York and the state of shooting sports in the United Kingdom (right up there with Henry the VIII's jousting, I believe) I have no idea how Barack has saved me from those evil folks in North Korea with their ICBM launchers. Time for my breakfast gruel and exercise that will kill me.

Palm Sunday like it ought to be... baseball!

I shouldn't write about the stuff that doesn't affect me, and I shouldn't write about the stuff that does. But since I have a niece knee deep in Snow in South Dakota I thought I should share that Spring has arrived with a "Worth the Wait" attitude. I dressed and went to choir practice early, made a pot of coffee and started singing Christmas carols - I love God rest ye Merry Gentlemen. They brought me back to today and our programs soon enough, we had the service all the songs and Communion, the day is full. My friend and I talked after, then I went out (since my wife is off with the ladies of her generation and church). In the game, on deck and then at bat, a solid single.

Range 15, Fort Lewis, and my M1 Garand. I only fired twice, eight rounds at fifty yards, sight adjustment another eight rounds at one hundred yards and I am happy with my rifle and promising myself more dry fire practice for the best of reasons. I did have more ammunition, but the beauty of the warm Sunny Spring-like day was not to be wasted, I had my rounds in the black and would be back. I met a brass rat, he harvests and reloads and sells them to folks to keep his ARM from kicking him out of his home - all retirements aren't equal. I also had some interest in my M1, from other shooters and a young man without a clue - he asked me if it was a Mauser - I laughed at that and told him what it was, I don't think I am qualified to own a Mauser, I am several rifles over my limit. A nice day and I kept the target, for analysis later. That is like hitting a double!

I went home and sure enough, my wife was still missing so I wheeled the Trusty Triumph out, put on my desert gauntlets, helmet and D-harness boots and I was gone. I did have to get a ride in for fuel, for fun and for fantastic frolic. Harley-Davidson had emailed me about a test ride at the local dealers, but there were so many sunshine riders out that I wasn't slowing down unless it was a red light, stop sign or an emergency. The day was perfect, the bike leaned so well, the smiles creased my ancient laugh lines, I never stopped but found what I was looking for and returned home happier than I deserve. That was like hitting a triple and driving the runner home.

So this time my wife was cleaning her car, and I suggested we go walk the park and we did, then I filled up my Caravan and got it washed and cleaned it up on the inside when we got home. And I washed and shined my Trusty Triumph, because I am just not the kind of rider that worries about what he looks like, only how he rides the road. Walking with my wife and working around the home is a home run, well, and all baseball should be so meaningful and steroid free.

With the government and the economy out of control...

The Media will concentrate on Gun Control, citing the recent attacks of lone gunmen upon the defenseless innocent law biding citizens, adding the number of victims up and wondering when it will all end. In my home there was much more anxiety about the North Korean missile launch and what will happen. Probably because my wife is Korean and she doesn't fear me with guns as much as the media thinks she should. I told her that if the United States government had feared the Korean missile launch it would have been bombed, just one laser guided bomb and the threat would have been over - and it never happened, although President Obama thought the launch was an illegal act - which I am sure was never written anywhere in Hangul for Kim to read. You do know that there doesn't seem to be any problem with Gun Control in North Korea?

So we are going to have media examine the American gun culture, again. Diane Sawyer has a special about arming for self defense. Which I would be happier about if she really had been armed for the last twenty years or so... is there a reporter that does carry? that shoots any firearm regularly? is there a successful reporter or correspondent that does believe in the Right of the People to Keep and Bare Arms? Notice the loud roar of them, or is that a deafening silence? I really don't know, but if there is one I would be happier. I do know that John Stossel has done his best to point out the myth. ABC 20/20 Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity with John Stossel, Myth #10 Gun Control Reduces Crime. On U-Tube forever!

Well, it is Palm Sunday and time to prepare for church, Luke 22:36. Be good out there, be very good. I will shoot this afternoon - but then it is still a legal activity where I live. Go gently.

Pay up, lay down your bets, getting in the game...

I do buy Lotto tickets, one per drawing, knowing that it is the best tax on the poor and mathematically challenged ever devised -- but then I never figured the Government was Good, just opportunistic and amoral. Thirty-five cents goes to the State, seven cents goes to the vendor, then there is advertising and maintenance costs - the remainder is paid out to the winners. If there is only so much Luck in each person's life, then I have had all of mine and I am happy, I don't expect to win the big one, but then I do want to play - I just don't gamble, being I never risk what I can't afford to lose.

I was thinking about all that today as I paid the bills, and balanced my books and almost made it out of the hole... I paid a lot down on the bills and loans, and was hoping that with that surge of the Stock Market (based on whimsy) I would be ahead of what I owe... but not yet, as I paid the bills the pool of cash shrunk, so I am around minus eight hundred dollars of even. Not that I couldn't think I was ahead - I never figure the sale of the home, cars, motorcycle, guns and china services, furniture, computers, televisions and such. I also never figure I will die and the insurance will pay off much if my heirs are watchful and aware. With the full court press of President Obama and his folks I am sure that there are surprises in my financial future - when you add up all the taxes on people and the new improved government services they want to fund with the tax on those rich folks they will coming after mine soon enough. If there were to be a great change that would free up the FREE MARKET, it would be one tax payer, one tax collector in the United States.

I am only Earl, but I pay taxes to the Federal Government, the State Government, The County Government. I once had broad shoulders, but weighing me down has rounded them a bit and bends my back. Why do I put up with such foolishness, it wasn't always that way, was it?

Daffodil Parade, tomorrow!

There is snow up north and in the mountain passes, the Daffodil Parade is tomorrow and the weather should be perfect, although my friend Hal said where he grew up seventy degrees was put on the coat weather, it won't get to sixty here until Monday, maybe - shorts and t-shirts.

What are you going to do when they close MICC?

One of my patrons asked me that on Monday night, thinking I would worry about losing my job, I smiled and said "I guess I will have to find another one, just like I found this one." But the buzz is that the State of Washington is broke and going to close up many things and everyone is going to be in terrible trouble. KING 5 News breaks the story about McNeil Island Corrections Center being offered up by the Senate, so it must be true. Of more import to me is the number of VIPs from the Department of Correction that are coming to look around - what are they looking for? They weren't here before?

I think the entire ECONOMIC CRISIS is manufactured to get people frightened, obligated to the government, and staring into the lights of the oncoming train wreck. So I am not worried and lifting some great thoughts from a lady I decide to iron my shirts, one of which is pink, but mostly blues and watch Serenity not that I identify with any of the heroes and heroines but I really do believe that males must engage in combat in order to succeed in reproduction - one isn't supposed to happen without the other - ask Darwin. I am so happily broken into my mold. Y'all be good for the best of reasons, no one from the government messes with the good folks, they don't need much attention.