Yep, they really haven't been paying attention...

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

It is ours, we built it and we can take it back, take it down, turn it into something better, or.... we can completely ignore those that swear to uphold and defend it and then do what they ...... please. Especially when it don't please us, the owners...

My cookie function is disabled, see how...

Earl's cookie function isn't disabled, I have it set where I want it and thank you very much. Many of Earl's functions might seem disabled, but cookies I was just munching on happily as I checked in on the farm... they are gone and I am here - disabled, not likely. I am reaching the exciting climax of Monster Hunters International, so I know about disabled... Since it is a long weekend I also have The Probability Broach by L. Neil Smith, Alongside Night by J. Neil Schulman, and The Art of Manliness by Brett and Kate McKay (Brett is Kate's son but she needed a man's assistance to sell the book - men don't read books by women about being Manly) I made that up, they claim to be a husband and a wife team in Oklahoma and on the net - but I will only visit the website if the book is good. If it doesn't have boys and youth engaging in fights until about twenty-too old for that nonsense I won't buy a copy for my grandson.

Big news today, on the 13th of January there will be a meeting between my supervisors and DOC representatives about how much library you get for next to nothing, I have to attend as the resident expert - but they will listen kindly and do what they want. The weekend following is when I go to get Rifle Instructor certified. Rain and cold here, can't see the moon (Blue), I get to take myself and wife to her church to pray in a new year tomorrow Early... of course. Time for another mug of coffee and a nap. Until they decide to rebroadcast the ball falling on Times Square for us West Coast of fly by country... motorcycle it, it is beautiful out there... in the Summer.

How does that happen...

Today I wake to dreams of setting up a range for an Appleseed shoot. That is different, not the normal jogging around Fort Bragg with brick barracks and long roads and busted plumbing. I printed out my letter from the General Government Transition Pool Coordinator, if they get me a lesser position I can stay in the pool until I get one that meets my old position, but not if I get a position that is higher than the one I was laid off from. I still wrestle a bit with the laid off and worthless than I once was... should have kept killing for country, that business doesn't really dry up does it?

Well, I have sent out gifts to the neighbors on FarmVille, visited and helped where I could (feel like when I was a teenager working for a buck an hour on chores), plucked turkey feathers and asked my neighbors for dairy cows - I bought another barn and want to fill it, for milk and fertilizer and no worries about real cows, production, medications, manure and such. This virtual life is almost so easy - I am in the wrong virtual world though, all my neighbors are women and none of them have rifle ranges on their farms, but they got penguins and gnomes and such, sigh. Medications and breakfast calls, and another cup of coffee. Have a great last day of 2009, I have to wrap it up in the library and do my final reports. My cousin, preaching in New Zealand, has already welcomed the New Year, I expect the in-laws from Korea to call and talk to my wife, since they started their holiday, too. In Korea wanting to be a modern country they put the normal three day Lunar New Year on the regular calendar New Year, and found their people wanted the three day celebration for both - the people weren't wanting to give up their three day Lunar New Year, ever. I think the government went back to New Years Day as a one day event, so the production lines don't slow down too much. But the three day Lunar New Year will be waiting and on its way. Blue Moon tonight, don't you know. If you get a clear sky. Happy New Year!

Looking for a position...

Talked with my wife, it is okay if I want to go to Afghanistan, for six months. I have a niece going to the Gulf Region for six, she's Air Force and needs a bit of a break from South Dakota wind and chill. My son, in Hawaii, wants to go with her since he is dying on paperwork drill. I never understand why Headquarters staff units don't schedule more dismounted, on one's back, staff exercises of three to five days - where one could really learn about the heavy burden the lower ranks carry... nevermind, not my military any more.

I opened my mouth about opportunities to Shoot Boss and instruct at Appleseeds in 2010, and the lack of scheduled ranges. Then realized that I hadn't gone out and talked anyone into hosting one weekend next years, so I have the addresses, will write a nice polite letter and include some promotional flyers and see if I can stir up some interest. Well, time for cup two of morning coffee, and breakfast. Those that aren't in the Revolutionary War Veterans Association or on the Appleseed trail, reading this (one or two of y'all) look around for 2010 schedule and look into attending one Appleseed, with folks you would like to shoot safely alongside. You could learn something and have a wonderful time - if it isn't raining, snowing and your brass isn't freezing after ejection on the snow pack. There are sunny days some where.

What should I do now? it isn't dark enough...

Yesterday was a bad day, I was coming down from Christmas high and the heaviest fattest I have been for a long time and looking for a place to crash and break into pieces. Most of my wallowing in the self pity slop was about the job, I really looked at not doing this anymore - I had to fill out my applications for future employment with the Office of the Secretary of State, the same office that has decided they don't need me anymore. Of course, it isn't that they don't need me, it is that they just don't have any money to pay me what they think I am worth - or they have exactly how much to pay me that I am worth (not one red cent!).

So today after a good nights sleep with dreams of military bad boy on the block reminding me of when I was almost heroic but certainly a trouble no one wanted to meet in a dark alley or steaming jungle or on desert sands (doesn't that make my heart glad? yes it does), so today - I am over it. One day I will have to study those seven steps in whatever and find where I should be, that I am missing. So what do I call my blog once I am not Just the Library Keeper anymore? My name is Earl was already taken by a bad comedy about Redneck stereo-types, and it had such potential.

Filling out that form starting from current job and going back is a chore, and it allows me to remember when and where I moved on and the whys - why did you leave - better job at higher wages wasn't always the reason. And how many months did you work there - I liked the time in the Army (the reason for the military dreams) over three hundred and some very odd months worth. I did some of my best research under duress yesterday when I was rudely interrupted by pushy patrons that wanted my attentions, I did save some miss-addressed materials from going where no books were needed nor expected, I did tote that barge and lift that bale - there weren't a lot of institutional libraries open yesterday, other folks know how to take time off for family and festivities.

Still there were indications I am not as good as I should and wanna be... I don't like being a wanna-bee... I should be already. An inquiry to the Revolutionary War Veterans Association about my status, as Shoot Boss, got me an answer that no Senior or Master Instructor had mentioned that I was worthy. I had been prodded to check, and the answer was what I was thinking all along, when they think I am they will tell me so. This morning I was thinking that I wouldn't feel like a real Shoot Boss until I put the whole package together - get a range, set up a date, gather a crew and people that want to pay and attend with attention. That day I would be a real Shoot Boss, not just the only instructor not fast enough to say "I am too busy or not ready to be in charge" which is kind of how I got to be in charge, although I keep telling myself it was to pull some of the burden off of Wheeler44, who had too much on his plate. That was the second indication of poor performance in one day.

The third was really all mine, and made me think I was already sixty-too old to take care of myself. I got on the ferry for the ride back home and found no Caravan keys in my pockets, no keys in my backpack, no keys to open and start my return trip to my home, the safe haven. Sigh, so did I leave them in the ignition while distracted by the new GPS navigator my wife gave me? Did they fall out of my pocket on the ferry, in the parking lot, in the leaves on the trail down to the dock, were they still on a desk at work in the darkened library? Didn't matter, I had to call my wife and ask her to drive out to the parking lot with my extra set of keys. Her response was what would I do if she wasn't there? Well, I could walk home, I could go back and sleep on the floor in the library, and I could just wait until a long legged red head showed up with my winning Lotto ticket and the car of my dreams. No I didn't mention that last - I wasn't completely gone out of my head. I did say thank you as she drove up and gave me the key. When I opened the door the keys I was missing were on the driver's seat, either fell out of the pocket while getting out of the car or never got into it. Nothing lost just out of place, like my whole day as me, a bit out of place.

It wasn't all bad, I did notice we still had daylight at four-thirty sunsetting, that is an indicator of a returning to global warming and motorcycling in happiness. And although I did pull my wife out of her groove to rescue me (she is so smart about not beating me up with it) she had a wonderful soup, dinner and salad waiting for my attention, homemade soup. That and a nice warm bed to dream in and I could be a better person today and will proceed like I am. Y'all have a good one, a day, a parachute jump an opportunity to trash the bad guys where ever you are; y'all have a good one.

What kind of a guy are you? don't ask me...

William Earl Dungey

You too, could use too, too often, but the remainder of the words are pleasing, maybe I use than too much also.

William just discovered his Top Words (according to a computer, you know)

1):good - used 16 times
2):work - used 15 times
3):more - used 14 times
4):better - used 13 times
5):wife - used 12 times
6):life - used 11 times
7):today - used 10 times
8):than - used 10 times
9):mother - used 10 times
10):too - used 10 times

Yeah, it was interesting, FaceBook, of course. I did go to church, sang as best I could - no one left when I did, had coffee with my friend and went and shot three of the four rifles I had with me at the range on post. The fourth rifle was already sighted in and the other three had adjustments to be made after I had adjusted the sights for one reason or another. Answered email and added my opinion to the world of shooting mats (everyone needs an excess opinion, I have lots to share on almost everything).

Okay, so I didn't do so good today, half a slug...

I was very happy to receive my M1 National Match sights, finished with my LTRs, and did do my forty rounds of dry fire, making sure I called the shot and followed through so no one could say I have a happy finger. Now my wife has social obligations to make me semi-civilized, I will be a nice guy for those hours for sure, for sure. Yes, I did exercise, but I also was reading Monster Hunters International and playing a wargame, I give in to temptations way too easily.

Well, now what are you going to do, its over...

Christmas is over, but that was just the celebration of the birth, there is a whole life left to study, follow and teach and preach about. I have always thought at the back of my mind and on top of the "to do list" is to retire into Lay Preacher - just to follow a family tradition. Well, they were mostly really ministers all properly school trained with churches, and my cousin really did break out and go to seminary and is a minister in New Zealand, meaning I don't really have to cover my generation.

Being the real Earl, not my grandfather the Reverend Earl Martin Smith, I spent part of my holiday putting new sight posts on my Liberty Training Rifles, Remington Model 597, 22LR semiautomatics with adjustable aperture sights. And I am looking forward to going to the range today to sight them in and take them to the next Appleseed, no more scheduled for me in 2009, the last two got started at 8:30 AM this morning and there aren't enough scheduled for 2010 to satisfy me let alone Fred. He wants some 20,000 new shooters this coming year, or some even bigger number.

Since I don't really know if I will have a job after the 12th of February, 2010 - which is Lincoln and my mother's birthday, she will be 82 this year - I am open to scheduling my year around where I can learn more about rifle marksmanship, teach, coach and assist in marksmanship programs everywhere. If I were to be as smart as Paul Revere, I would join every possible rifle club, shooting event and support if nothing else - he belonged to every committee on every possible group for Liberty and Civic Improvement in Massachusetts, and mostly what we know about him is his horse riding ability and some smithing work, he was so much more than that. Anyway, back to being a better me, exercise and breakfast await the sluggard, everyone else has done their's already, haven't you? or are you with Earl, a sluggard?

What did you get for Christmas...

don't you know I hate that question, it goes right along with 'what did you get your wife for Christmas?'

Well, I got what I needed most. folks. Yes I did. Got to spend Christmas with my wife, instead of snarling hormone-infested young bucks with no alcohol, women nor purpose in life (temporarily) while we wait for some truce to end, or an attack to react to. I got to see my son, daughter-in-law and grandson on this computer monitor a few minutes ago and know there is wonder out of the control of the fools in Washington, DC. I get to build another family warm memory for those future years when it is colder and more alone than I really want to be. And I do get to say, that I love all of you (yes, even the lurkers I don't know) more than you know - because I do believe you are greater than you know and when your love gets great enough it will be wonderful. And so you now have something to shoot for, wonderful is just a bit up the way there. Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas, of course we wish y'all a great one...

We went to work, but the day really got quieter, as the email dropped off since many libraries were closing a bit early today. I was working on my job application as I did the normal routine, I noticed in the library the inmate patrons are very much like the soldiers I spent holidays with - far from hearth and home - far from good times and laughter and joy and traditions of celebration. It was quiet in many lonely minds in the library, in the prison - even with volunteers, family visits and the best food the Corrections cooks can come up with - it isn't home, and how ever one got to this place, it wasn't where one wanted to be on this day, one wants to get away. The ferry ride home was quiet, seems like a large boat for so few staff going home at the normal time. The roads were packed, and I stopped to pick up some medicine and found those wild eyed last minute shoppers looking for that perfect gift.

At home my wife has gone all out on decoration of the table and our home for the holiday, red abounds and extra pictures of Keegan are posted everywhere - just in case I don't remember him. Candlelight Christmas Eve service at 11 o'clock and we join them it goes onto 12:30 but no one leaves early, no football game or basketball game waiting, and all want to be together tonight and they are. People we haven't seen in a long time are here, one night of the year. Merry Christmas, to all of you where ever you are, those far from home working and serving I won't forget. I mentioned to my wife the years we were separated by miles of mountains and oceans on Christmas Days, but we thought about each other - being alone really isn't a good thing. Live in Liberty and always live in Love.

My thousand words, plus...

Have a safe and very merry Christmas.

Good News! the brain scan shows a brain...

and little clumps of nothing out of the ordinary. My blood pressure is fine provided I keep smiling and laughing with the best of them, the cholesterol is in great shape, HDL way up there everything else well under the limits, happy face! Don't have to visit him for six more months and that is lots of motorcycle time in the future. I had fasted to visit his office and have my finger stabbed by the assistant, so I was looking for some coffee and thought seriously about the bikini bottomed latte stand, but then Starbucks has food to go with their coffees, but as I was about to make a choice I saw MacDonalds and got a real breakfast feast and a medium Mocha, that was enough for the walk down to the dock and work. I do make some good choices in my life, actually I have made mostly great choices in my life... I read The Book.

Thank you, Oleg Volk

Nice work, makes me wish I could be the shooter.

Well, go off and pout in a corner why don't you?

Hmmm, got behind getting my wife's car serviced and reading my book. I did look at the new cars but they aren't real Cadillacs they are now Government Motors Company wanna-bes, and I didn't like the wheel treatment, nor screen grill (nor the PRICE! are they nuts?) So I drove off and listened to the Blues while screaming down the highway to see if anything shakes off or blows up. Good music, some real old stuff. I headed for the dock and was too late for the second ferry to McNeil Island, so I stopped at Western State Hospital and used one of their public computers to log on and leave tracks, I submitted a leave request and announced my library was closed because of no coverage - didn't point out I had no interest nor investment that day in better behavior. I talked with my co-worker about the changes, the Program manager has posted the positions cut and changed and didn't put names to them - but we know that there are real people in the solution not just .5FTE (full time employee) one is never half a person but could always be paying only half attention. The co-worker is more certain that this isn't a great thing for Earl, she thinks I have a calling to working with the patrons in our libraries. Until yesterday maybe I did, other folks know much better where to place the money and the effort, just ask them. Well, I didn't want to sit around doing nothing productive so I said good-bye and drove off with more Blues, nice car and the Sun is shining (almost motorcycling weather).

I went to see Invictus and I recommend it. I haven't been to South Africa, and I do like to see what the intent was of great men, now if they can just hang on to it... a republic. The theater wasn't full, and this movie should be seen, but hasn't any Zombies, teenage Vampires or Werewolves nor romance. and it has to make one think about more than most Americans would. Well, it didn't cost what AVATAR did, and it won't make as much money, but it is fine work and I am glad I have seen it, South Africa is back on my list of countries to visit before they blow up or blow away... Home early, have a doctor to fast tonight for his check up tomorrow, and back to work before Christmas sneaks upon we. Back to reading Monster Hunters International.

A day for contacts and messages.... I share...

I got a really good start yesterday, up early, and on the routine, then stopped after breakfast to call my mother in North Carolina. Sharing a bit of Christmas joy away from each other, she is having her white Christmas and we will be praying for melting of the roadways so she can get to my sister's for their traditional pizza dinner and playing with presents all day. I also made an appointment with the service department to get my wife's car serviced. Off to work, dropping off the last bill of the month, near the bikini barista stand, two lively very young ladies there this morning. I walk to the dock and nap on the ferry, I have started to read Monster Hunter International by Larry Correia, cause Tam has.

On the way into the prison a teacher, that has used our library, stopped me and asked about his parents wanting to donate money or books - I answered and he will get back with me after the holidays. I get a telephone call on the Librarian's office phone, behind a locked door, I pick up in the workroom and it is the Program Manager with the news - which I can't discuss with other Washington State employees until it is released to the general public by the folks that have made the decisions. She is the only one I know that reads this periodically, so I think I am clear. Good conversation, but I felt sorry for her, they give her the knife to make the sacrifices and the blood starts flowing and something very beautiful and nice is now slowly pumping its reason onto the floor, and she has nurtured the Institutional Library program for too long not to care, and no matter how curt her emails and fast and strictly professional her work habits, if I had ever drunk alcohol with her I would know she cared about us, lonely Library Keepers. I knew it anyway, even sober I am not totally out of touch with people's emotional state.

Back to work, I receive an email from my supervisor:

Subject: Are you there?

Just wondering what's going on.
I got the call this morning....my last day in my current position is Feb. 12. I guess it's ok to tell you.....

ILS Principal Librarian
Washington Corrections Center Library, et al.

the blood continues to pump out on the floor... back to work, the inmate patrons come in and talk about the changes coming, most of them will be going to other prisons, Connell's Coyote Ridge Corrections Center or Twin Rivers Unit in Monroe, depending on their programming needs. I get told I can't win the Lotto and leave and that I have a place here forever, they do like certainty in their lives, as long as the library stays open, I do mention that we don't do libraries at camps, which I have been saying for days since Department of Corrections posted their plan, kind of for everyone to know. The Corrections Officers are already moving on to other jobs or planning to and talk about the changes daily in front of the inmates and other staff. Good intentions gone bad, rumors and wonder that the Governor couldn't handle the budget of this state, and wondering if she just wants a tax hike. After the afternoon open hours there is Recall and the inmates return to their housing for count, it is busted and they do a Recount, lots of temporary holiday staff fumbling?

I get time to reflect and receive a call from a staff borrower about keeping her book a night overdue, no problem, we don't fine anyone and she did call. I then sit down and write an answer to the email above:

Subject: RE: Are you there?

I have been thinking, in between all the other stuff, and it isn't a reflection on being cast off - told that one isn't needed any longer --- the group that hired me... there were three people that sat on the panel that interviewed me, only one remains working with WSL today, many I have worked along side of are retired, gone on to better situations for them or on to adventures we get only a postcard of, haven't they heard of FaceBook yet? I had twenty-seven years in the Army, faces etched in my mind where I refuse to remember the name, and I still get emails (one on FaceBook actually) from some one that remembers me for what I was when in his life. Even in the short time I have been in the Corrections I have people contacting me that worked with me, or knew me from when I was in that other profession, or people I have never met that want to help donate books - one of the teachers here asked for his parents, which would be better money or books as a donation. I told him books, but everything could go to the Washington State Library Institutional Library Services and it would get used well.

So Elizabeth, and all those that have the uncertain future hovering over them, we all make a difference and we all count and if the patrons could vote for our jobs and salary increases they would. I saw it every time the budget axe came out at Tacoma Public Library, the people we serve know what we do and they would rather have us than not. This could be the spark that starts the fire and gets one to write a best seller, paint a masterpiece, to find a better job at higher wages, to go where no man has gone before. America really started with people that weren't doing well where they came from, and they made it better when they arrived if they didn't die of starvation or disease, they did have to work at it, but they made America because they left where they had no great future.

I will have to admit, it doesn't seem like a normal day on email here at work at all. Then it isn't a normal day is it? And Hope was the last spirit to fly out of Pandora's box, the one she wasn't to open.

I send it out and get an email response from another Library Keeper that wants to know if I got The Call. The answer doesn't please him, since it is evasive and I should trust him, and he tells me that he didn't get the call - and I tell him that his telephone is monitored and they know he is thinking of retirement, I also tell him if I had received the call they wouldn't want me discussing it with anyone. And he just got my chits for working at the Women's Correction Center made. A nice evening shift, with one of my inmate clerks returning from a day long visit and one of my clerks wanting to go sing carols in the Chapel for doughnuts - someone is remembering the season. They, someone foolish, complained about Christmas decorations in one of the units and all were taken down - I have a ceramic lighted tree on my reference desk counter, it isn't coming down until after the New Year.

Ah, the interesting part of the day, go home to tell the wife the news, and discuss a bit about the options. She does decide to stick with me, although I have always told her that banker would have made her more comfortable. I eat dinner, look over the mail, read the new American Rifleman, and CheaperThanDirt catalog, all to the WWE and RAW with divas and dancing big men, and little guys, too - they showed part of the trip WWE did going to visit the troops in Iraq, and I commented to my wife how young they all looked - the troops. I check in and harvest and plant and help out on FarmVille and then post an email to all those that might know of a place I could fit better and that might just have sympathy, but that really know, like I do, that the economic problems of the country aren't even close to over, and if you thought the big bailout was bad - wait till you see what the fools are going to do in the name of climate control and health care - because they so deeply care (but haven't a clue).

I really don't need sympathy, actually I have all I need and will get on with it but the response from my sibling is immediate and I share:

I am so sorry for you and for your patrons. Literacy and libraries are necessary to help heal this world (faith and family first, but the 2 L's are high up there, too). I'll keep you and your patrons in my prayers.

one sister

Sorry to hear this. I don't suppose almost 2 months is long enough for the people's rebellion to accomplish something before it's too late?

Meanwhile, I have my application in for some health insurance - $5000 deductible & its still $313/month. Maintenance dr visits are covered, everything else falls under the deductible, including prescriptions. I am going on the basis that I am basically healthy, put the $ saved through the high deductible away & maybe down the road I will have the ability for greater coverage, but 5 more years & medicare comes into the picture anyway.

Someone is coming to look at the truck tonight - I may yet get it sold! (would be nice - just in time for Christmas!) We are still waiting for word on the house we are attempting to buy. I say we, but it's really Paula & Dan, but with a little help from me for my room & board. I have looked at some small, decently priced homes, but don't want maintenance & upkeep & don't know the area & people (meaning having friends) well enough to be comfortable on my own.

Hang in there. I found a job in spite of 16-17% unemployment in this county. Someone greater than I is watching over us.

the other sister

Aurora is closing 4 of their 7 libraries. That starts to look pretty thin for 300,000 people. At least they gave you nearly two months notice. (Not that that will be enough time to have a job waiting when you're done.) A few of my friends have been laid off and haven't found new work yet. The extended unemployment is helping, but that's still half of what they were getting. Keep us informed on what you're doing. Let us know if we can help.

my brother, don't you know I love them all more than I will ever tell them?

Well, the picture I share is what a prison library looks like when the government decides that it isn't necessary any longer.... or the one I took when we took out the rug and laid down the tile, but you get the idea. I really will be fine, God has given me everything I need and I just have to use it well.

Just think, 2010, the phone number for upstairs...

Well, in my working world, it is also next year's number and I am trying to get ahead of all I want to accomplish next year. Only three things on my calendar by me (sixty-too old, NRA Rifle Instructor Certification, trip to Hawaii for vacation and seeing grandson, son and daughter-in-law), one by the government of the National level (April 15th TAX TIME!). Just now there isn't much of a schedule for Appleseeds in Washington, a good selection for North Central Idaho, and Boomershoot is on (ride my Trusty Triumph to that? good idea - the winding road from the river to the top has to be cool on a motorcycle). The remainder of the year is uncertain, don't know that I will have the same job, seems the Governor doesn't like me or couldn't extract enough money from tax payers to pay the cost of the government she is running wild with... well, that is one way of looking at it. I do know that I will be working, am not sure how not to work, although I understand there are some people that do it all the time, I just am not that smart.

Went to church, practiced with the choir and then Hal (my friend) and I entered on the choral introit, instead of waiting for the first hymn.... but maybe we know what choral introit was supposed to mean? Doesn't matter, I wasn't going to allow Hal to be wrong all by himself - that got me into so much trouble when I was younger - now they just think I am a harmless old man. On the last hymn we left for the benediction, with everyone else, but the choir director wanted us back up front for the finale, a special medley of Christmas songs - which we actually did so much better than we had during practice - but having so many voices helps smooth over the mistakes... The sermon was about the Child, John the Baptist actually, I think the Pastor is saving the other baby for the Christmas Eve service. Well, it all made me aware that my home is still behind in the neighborhood and family Christmas decoration derby. I put up the decorations from Germany, Korea and other interesting places we have been. So between FarmVille visits, football and wargames I did get the house looking a lot like Christmas. Y'all have a great one.

Somedays you need to know...

what Earl learned today: the cost of food in the Commissary continues to rise and fears of closure of the McChord AFB Commissary to help build a newer bigger one on Fort Lewis are rising. The Triumph Dealer had a full parking lot, and did have both the Big Bad Thunderbird, 1600cc, and the current America, 865cc, in a very nice two tone blue with saddlebags and half shield. I wasn't in the market but was looking, they do look good.

The final thing is that AVATAR is a fine science fiction adventure movie, the natives are nine feet tall and blue. The bad guys are grubbing little profiteers... you could write the script, but the whole thing works and is so believable in 3D and Dolby - might be worth Blue Ray some day, but maybe not. Still my official reviewer of all science fiction movies stayed awake and aware and entertained and cheered for the good guys the whole way through the movie. I enjoyed the day away from my computer, thanks. And I will forgive what's his name for the Titanic - which I thought was great except for the love story.

Christmas is coming and Earl is getting fat...

can you please put a penny in the old man's hat? It is raining here, almost a constant, and I took full advantage of not needing to wake to anything awaiting me... and slept for an extra two and a half hours. I needed it, I had gotten the notice my Midway Order for National Match sights was on the way (ordered so long ago I think it was last year - but might have only been January), that stirred my 'I want it' emotion and I hit the Internet shopping maze - that is so overblown. I went to Amazon.com and ordered five DVDs, only one was a current movie, Defiance. The other four had left a mark in my memory and I wanted to see them again to scratch it. I also went to NRA shopping - they want you to have high speed up and download, and it just isn't worth the wait in my computer cave, FarmVille is already too slow. I am about to hit level 19 there, can build a home and raise a family... well, almost. I still haven't named the animals, so I do know it is only a game. At NRA Store I got a new Life Member cap and a long sleeve Life Member shirt, will have to black out the scrambled eggs on the bill. I also got a reversible fleece, which I hope I like since I haven't one now. So there are only two things my wife can buy me for my happiness this Christmas, a couple long sleeve bright red turtlenecks - Large, and cushy socks.

I haven't checked my Lotto tickets yet, but my dreams on the first half of the night were military and I was looking at polar bear furred parkas with sheep skin lining and white stocks for my M14. Hmm, don't you know that dreams are failed mental connections getting organized? As I remember from a past life, wolf fur is better.

Plans for today, decorate a bit, less than a week left. Be safe out there.

Knowing when to say Good-bye...

I don't really say Good-bye much, don't say it well and hardly mean it if I do mumble it. I think it comes from my father always moving us on to a better job at higher wages, and we would leave a neighborhood and friends and family behind and on we would go. I seemed to be chasing someone just like me that had just left - that was also a bit unnerving - to think I had a twin I didn't know about. I would be happier with the Good-bye if it were "God be with you!" as it was long ago, always easier to ask a blessing than to sever a friendly familiar fellowship with a heartless and cold good-bye.

Seems there are rumbles of change in the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, Funfaler said good-bye and Fred sends out a message about it, this is a volunteer organization and opting in and opting out is a choice, may we make the right one, always. I know that our lives, family and friends have an effect on our ability to go with the job, the hobby and any new adventure (if to venture is to try, is adventure to try harder?). When your family and profession support your passions it does work well, when the Governor or the Chairman of the Board change the vision and the compensation it might be time to move on, to say good-bye.

I am only looking back and measuring the years affect on me, I am a GRAND-FATHER! now that is so much cooler than just being a Dad - but I did like that title, and still deserve it periodically, that is a big thing in my life. Obama being President, either a great one or a bad one will never measure up to the birth of Keegan William Dungey - in my life. How do I know? Well, I remember Eisenhower's re-election, so I know it will affect me, but not anything like THEY want it to. Probably because the Presidency is about money and power, and the baby is all about Love. One day the government will try to tax Love, to control the issuing of it, and the creation of it but it isn't going to happen. They don't believe in it, sigh.

I went from being an M1 Garand wanna-be (I owned one and wanted to shoot it well) to an active Shoot Boss and Instructor with the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, making a difference in people's lives - knowing that they all can take that rifle and target and make the shot so much better than they could before we met. Safely, imagine that you anti-gun nuts. I probably look harder at safety with firearms than y'all ever will --- quaking in fear in your darkness, no enlightenment in your life is there? You are afraid of the thugs and the guns, the guys and their guns and the children and their guns. The only thing you should fear is the LORD, and you might not have that right yet, but I am hoping it pops up on your to do list. I do invite all the non-shooters to come out to an Appleseed and learn about how to use the rifle safely, effectively and enjoyably.

I wrapped up my last Appleseed, e-letters to the crew, pictures posted in the After Action Reports (AAR) links on the left, and only wish I had had Wade there and that the whole crew had gone to dinner on my dime, I need a social secretary when my wife isn't around, she does keep me seemingly civilized. But even as I get to be sixty-too old to be that anymore, in my heart I am still the guy that kills the enemy and breaks things - no wonder my dreams are always military and in barracks with broken plumbing and floating feces... one day I might be re-born always hope.

Have a happy holiday, think well about those far away doing the best they can for whatever reason they were given, cherish in your heart the friends and family you can't be with, hold close and love all those you can be with and take us out of 2009 as a better people and working on making 2010 just plain wonderful, drive safe, and please don't run over the jogger nor the motorcyclist - even if he isn't me, he is still loved by someone.

You can tell it is Christmas...

By all the BUY ME stuff in the mail. It is finally warm and wet enough to think about getting the Trusty Triumph out of the garage and smiling and out right laughing on my way to and from work. In the mail yesterday was a nice large envelope from Triumph and I was hoping it was a calendar - but it was a wall size poster of the Triumph Thunderbird, all 1600 cc of power, six speed transmission and other good stuff. Sigh, I am not even tempted - but when I check my Lotto tickets, if it is the big one - I could go get a test ride, in Hawaii, couldn't I. The one I like has some modifications, for cruising comfort, I am getting so set in my ways.

Coming off a real high, and into the dark deep...

I don't have the luxury of a day between Appleseed shoots and work, when I get home I upload pictures, unload the Caravan, check and reply to email, look at the RWVA forum for new input, and say hello to my wife as she feeds me a hot dinner, to sleep and next morning another computer check, dress and off to work. Those fine folks over the weekend made me so proud, the only thing I missed were a couple of children, they are always a joy to watch grow with their rifles. Still it was great to do the Appleseed and tell my wife and the world about it when I got home.

At work it is darkness, the budget cuts, the closings. My first meeting was with the Associate Superintendent - I mentioned when they change the prison to a camp it won't have a library, she mentioned that when it becomes a camp it won't have an Associate Superintendent, yeah. There are meetings about jobs, miles to the next one, time tables for the change over and the employee options on next. Normal chatty email is dry, lacking joy or any tone. Work is being done but the kidding and the jokes are gone - did see a great little clip of a police dog attacking and taking down a shooter - awesome! But I am not getting much support from my co-workers in their little libraries in the far reaches of the state - lonely hermits we will become. It didn't help that some political henchman put out an email to everyone that had something to the effect that the Federal money for prisons and mental hospitals should be released to be more flexible, so they can use it for other stuff. Sounds to me like I need to find more employment or that winning Lotto ticket.

Yeah, in my case more employment is first choice. Still I am not gloomy, there are too many good people in the world doing the best they can, and will always be so. So, although I will soon be sixty-too old to do much about it anymore. I will write my good-bye another day. I have work to do.

When I make a mistake, it is for the best...

I needed some pictures of a presentation, important presentation, and I picked Tanya to shoot the pictures, cause she shoots fine and is young and impressionable... not really the latter. But she took the camera and went with the flow.... and I didn't check the setting so, I got a second video of this great event, the two IIT4s I am presenting their RWVA Instructor hat have met all the Progress Checks and been on the range with me too many times to count, okay, I had to go to Idaho to find Leslie at three different shoots, but Todd came to Castle Rock and got his Rifleman patch and drove on from there, and he lives on the other side of Washington State, so when I say drove on, I mean it. He brought his wife to shoot today, and she made Rifleman, too. Now a bit more work with their daughter, (and she has been shooting on the ranges with Appleseed, too) and another solid RWVA family will have arrived. It doesn't get any better than this. No matter what the alarmist would tell you this is a great thing.

Go to FaceBook, sigh.

I asked if someone was going to take pictures of a big bundled up man (me), doing his final Appleseed Shoot of the year, and Tanya even got my words. Sorry, you get the whole effect, but ignore me, the other two are the great ones, the future of Appleseed in the Northwest. Go get 'em, tdow and WesternRose!

His name is not Bob, it is Joe Smith....

doesn't that sound different than Bob? Well, I have been wrong before, but I have watched Joe shoot Rifleman on the AQT often enough I really ought to know his name, and he drove across Washington to shoot at Castle Rock, the last range I saw him at was in Idaho - that is dedication, and I understand he also likes family visits and combining the two. Anyway, I thought I would video his style for his enjoyment, he still won't give me that fine rifle but he probably thinks I wouldn't shoot it as well as it deserves, and he might be right.

One of the best parts of working as a highly paid volunteer instructor is the reward of watching people do so well with rifles, safely and really on target, enjoy a day or two with other like minded people and everyone going home with another fine time to talk about around the water cooler - do people do that anymore? Well, still, I have a great time enjoying the shooting and the relating of the tale of April 19, 1775 when America rose up and was counted as "knowing very much what they are about". Do you? join us one weekend and find out.

Why this weekend for the Constitution?

Just because I need another reason to shoot, and I only helped fourteen people shot well and better. They traveled many miles to coach, instruct or shoot. Seems to me that there should be ranges and qualified instructors everywhere, but then I understand I am not in the center of American Culture, just a quaint Ol' Timer. Why this weekend for the Constitution shoot? Well, I think I know but then read that Quaint Ol' Timer bit again - when I went to school they still had prayer in the morning with the pledge of allegiance to THE FLAG.... and what it represents. Yep, a quaint Ol' Timer.

How do you tell if you are doing enough...

When the procrastination piles keep getting bigger, cause they love to give you what they couldn't handle? No, that can't be it. I just checked my last year's worth of high paying work with the Revolutionary War Veterans Association - twelve times I have gone to the ranges to teach, share and encourage rifle marksmanship and the story of April 19, 1775. That isn't too bad, especially since two of those times I got to settle down and shoot and learned something new, I am always learning something new, and meeting some of the nicest people.

I called into a Conference Call, to listen and discuss the current crisis in our Public Employment - like out of around one hundred people in the organization, twenty to twenty-five of them are going to lose their positions. There aren't any decisions with names on them yet, and I have my mortgage taken care of so I am really fine, and if the Mega Millions comes my way I will have to learn how to share it wisely, always learnin'. I feel sorry for those managers that have to try and keep the ship afloat in the mission they have, while cutting the throats and tossing the bodies overboard of the people that were helping them move forward. They aren't bad people but that is the ugly part of their job. Human Resources and State Law have laid out procedures that will be followed so everyone is treated with respect and fairly in opportunities to transfer and continued service. I know all the people that I have worked with in Institutional Library Services, everyone of them is a much better person than I, all of them are doing a great job, and we do still have two vacancies to fill - so you know it isn't one of those great jobs with tons of perks and fooling around. They all work alone in a prison library, with thugs - some of which are really trying to improve their life and need good library services - the ones that aren't trying to be better you could have for Chinese Body Parts, but I am never going to be smart enough to know when they could change. As they get older the elementary school attitude gets really old and they do like getting smarter and respected for hard work and dependability - but it does take some aging.

Speaking of responsibility, back to the Christmas cards and packing out for tomorrow's Appleseed. No matter what the weatherman in his studio heat with background pictures of Buffalo behind him says - I think the weather will be good as a reminder of those Continentals at Valley Forge learning how to drill, or those soldiers of America, trying to bring peace and security to Iraq and Afghanistan, there are those that will be unsung, no names in the books, but they stood up and went into battle leaning forward. I best not forget them while at the Mall... some tiny sins are heavier than the law of physics allow.

Frozen pipes, burst....

Need I say more? Nah, didn't think so.

The Budget Bell has bonged, bonged and ....

Our Governor, on her way to Denmark, dropped off her Budget and her wish list for when we get higher taxes. The correction in the cost of Corrections was dropped at the same time, all very interesting for any State worker (ME!). McNeil Island is going from Medium Security to Minimum, although they aren't taking the water away from around it. There are no libraries at the minimum facilities manned by Washington State Library employees, we do send books and CDs to them. So in January, when this is supposed to happen some kind of an adjustment might have to be made. By Earl's rules of order, I have to find another post, and the Human Resource folks will help - I did get an offer to work in the biggest and newest library at Coyote Ridge Corrections Center - it was un-official but there are openings, I suspect she just wanted me not to be gloomy, I am not. I always figure that something better will happen.

Speaking of better, I seem to have a box of Appleseed Shoot goodies, promised delivery is tomorrow, Friday, so with all the help from my friends, the RWVA Central and my own preparations we should have a great Winter Appleseed - what did they call that Apple cider that was frozen to remove the water content and only the alcohol was left - the good stuff? Applejack? I probably have the whole process wrong, but that is what happens to fellows that quit drinking badly so very long ago. If I don't see you on my range this weekend, okay Wade's DAR, you have a great one and remember to make every shot count, targets were put on the Earth for a purpose.

Gosh, you should have seen the grandson last night, if I win the Lotto the wife is off to Hawaii for hugging time.

Where are they when the virtual visions blurs....

Can't find the Revolutionary War Veterans Association this morning, but I did pet all my FarmVille animals and win a Blue Ribbon which is now announced on FaceBook - I exist! Sort of, I have crops to harvest before I pull out to work this morning, leaving the fields fallow until I return tonight. In the real world, it is warmer but still frozen outside, with the promise of glacier building moisture this weekend, smile for I have to drive in that stuff.

The real me is fatter, I didn't throw the good stuff out that my wife is trying to please me with - she knows I don't need it, but that I will be a pig about it and it is time I grew up and took charge of the stuff I stuff inside me. But I was so calmed by the time petting the virtual animals and waiting for the beans to grow that my blood pressure was only 119/72 with a heart rate of 45 beats per minute. Time for coffee and devotions, the world has done well without my participation last night, all my dreams were military running and marching and brooding brick barracks.

The picture is in case anyone has forgotten about June. Enjoy.

PS I don't think the ATF has grabbed the servers from RWVA, but they did upgrade and most likely the storm has cut power and service to many areas back East, like it does here, and my computer doesn't do very well on a diet of coal oil, not at all.

And as Johnnie said "How cold is it....."

Well, it was warmer yesterday and the baristas that normally wear so little that the fine church ladies talk about them, and my wife wonders that I don't get my coffee there (I am too cheap and shy), the Baristas were all dressed, long sleeves and long johns (just guessing about the latter). Today it is colder, what was the title of that movie "An Incovenient Truth" by Al Gore? Well, I did take a picture of our bird and cat bowl from the backyard, and it is ready for the Stanley Cup finals, no worry about breaking through that ice, it is ready to start a new glacier. The Polar Bears are happy, and hibernating already. it is dark up there. The penguins in the south are fishing and Mankind has sent its smarter than the average leadership to Denmark for Climate Control Conference, sigh. Do you really think we can bring back the dinosaurs? Should we? Twenty-one degrees of Global warming here, no Trusty Triumph today.

What can I say...

Not much actually, harvested, plowed and planted, checked the neighbors and continued to marvel at the differences in farming methods, or lack there of, between people that I think I know so well. But then looking, now it is a bit organized in the computer cave, I wonder what I was thinking, knives, guns, books on combat, beside the stuffed toys, Smurfs and you don't want to know how many Castle Lego and Playmoble and other sets I have boxed and waiting a bunch of boys to entertain. Okay, girls could play with them, too, but would they want to? My wife reminds me that I have to start on my son's room soon. Okay, where is all that stuff going to go? That is on tomorrow's procrastination pile, but the weather will make it happen. Now off to breakfast gruel and exercise to make me a bitter old man, oops, better old man.

Getting things cleaned up around here....

Procrastination is terrible, I will get to it tomorrow, really. I will. Since I was cold bound to the home this morning I started going a bit mad and actually cleaned (well, almost cleaned - but certainly organized and straightened) the computer cave. And tonight when I get out of my work clothes I see that my wife has my cleaned linen stacked on the chair, waiting for me to put them away. Why do we put things on chairs, no room on the tables since they are piled with computer stuff and books and speakers and lights and stuff. There is so much stuff in America we have to buy storage for stuffing it away until we need it... kind of like those karate books of mine from the 1970's, by the eighties I wasn't opening them anymore, but they are on the shelf behind the monitor, waiting for someone's attention. Still I am happy with the cleaned computer cave, about as organized as my farm on Farmville, best check in there, petting the animals can be fun, some of them jump for joy!

No real snow, yet...

I have been working on Saturday's Appleseed, inventorying what material I have on hand (not enough, never enough), sending out the POI for the two day event to the IITs and interested parties - those day's will be shorter than this weeks. I had tried to get the lawn mower to turn over and start so I could cut, thrash and bag the clipping and wayward leaves, the mower is smarter than I and I put it away, chore undone. It is cold, bitterly and the wind is blasting more of that Artic Global Unwarmed stuff our way, it is cold. But then, being just a Library Keeper, I keep remembering Henry Knox, fine man of books that he was, and his mission to get the guns from Ticonderoga to Boston for General Washington's use. So, between the 82nd's work during the Battle of the Bulge and good old Henry Knox's example of leadership and perseverance - I guess I can weather well the two day Appleseed, wish you were here.

Now since the NRA has been labeled ...

a terrorist organization by the Anti-Gun Goofs, I thought I should do more to promote their affect on my life. So I am taking a page out of SailorCurt's blog life and going to see if I can become a Certified NRA Rifle Instructor. I also am looking at joining the local Tacoma Rifle and Revolver Club. It isn't like I have anything I need to be doing more during that time, is there? I haven't signed up for anything with the RWVA in 2010 yet, only one Appleseed left for me this year. Then I settle into Holy Day glow and warmth of fireplace and comforters, at least until the Sun returns to after four in the afternoon.

Well, Hello how are you?

I seem to have moved into Farmville, being set in my ways I am not buying anything, just trying to keep whatever I plant from withering away. Haven't named any of the animals (I am not completely gone yet). I do have a life, honest, I think I do anyway.

Getting closer to Appleseed time at Castle Rock, Washington. Getting closer, the 10th, to the date to turn in all the reports to my higher. Getting closer to Earl's personal frustration with leaves and stuff all over the uncut grass called a yard surrounding his home. There aren't any - not a one - decorations for the coming Holy Day of Christmas. My cousin forwarded a request to send a Christmas card to the ACLU that is trying to take the Christ out of Christmas. Cute, but I still need to get the Christmas cards out for family and friends to send our best wishes and blessings to them.

Okay, just remember, it will be 2010 all too soon, have a wonderful December with all that you should be celebrating - the Love in your life and that warm puppy full of wonder - don't lose the good stuff in the hunt for satisfaction, the grass will get cut, bagged and dumped. There will be some good shooting, lots of laughter and hugs and kisses - especially for the new kids on the block, this is about babies isn't it? From Christ to the New Year to that newest grand or great grand child - the old folks know what this season is all about.

Yesterday's question was: Would you prefer "Pops" to "Old Timer"? Ahggg! What is wrong with 'Earl'? I almost always answer to it, unless you are really an especially sweet young thing - I am so much smarter than that, but wish her well anyway.

Just when you thought that Tiger Woods should...

go do what he is best at, I go to work and link onto the conference call for the Institutional Library Services, sigh. Maybe I should worry about Tiger's problem, he doesn't want to hurt anyone and knows the media wants blood for their advertisers' joy in attracting strange folks, foolish with their money. Sorry, Tiger, best thing to do is go learn another sport and close down the machine that made money on your skills. The media hates a real hero and what they would call a loser - they would never take responsibility and family over a billion dollar industry. But your father and mother would. If you want I have a fine team and DAR and you could learn to shoot a rifle better on the 12th and 13th of December, you could move your family to Iowa or Minnesota and never look at a green until Spring finally shows up.

In my real life, since Tiger doesn't read my blog and didn't ask my opinion:


For the ILS Conference Call, I was ready to ask again to change the check out on CDs to one week, to not allow reserving the CDs, to stop ILL CDs, but didn't see the larger picture, just looking at what bogs my day down here. Then the call was about deep budget cuts, and what to do. So sad.

In my email I see I have an opportunity to attend a seminar on the Retirement opportunity, so I have logged myself and my wife into one on the 27th of February in Tacoma. Which is less than three months away, Time flys.

I will look at my normal work and the reports to do today, think about the stuff I can do to help keep the ILS open, and I will start looking for another job - because I don't ever get the feeling that the Library is a single enity - ILS is among the forgotten, and shouldn't be. IF this were a military operation, the rear area would have the air conditioned stuff, cold beer and hot coffee - but supplies and troops would flow to the frontlines. In this library they cut the front lines off, cutting the ability to do the best, so everything at the Main Library is fine... and I have seen other libraries, they do almost the same thing. Maybe they could use my talents in Afghanistan for something interesting for a year or two - if I were in uniform (too old and cranky) it would seem strange. Must be some civilian work I could handle.

Don't worry, we will do our best at all we have to do, and when we get the right information for the right people, when we make a difference we will be really proud. We get about two of those most days, at least two. Thanks for the opportunities, and don't sweat the budget cuts and the big guys in the backrooms - we already know they don't love us and aren't coming to do our jobs when we are gone, because we are better than them. Cheer up Laura, I haven't been late recently that I remember (memory one of the first things to go).

Wouldn't this be an interesting blog post? Yes, it would.

What is that in the darkness?

Driving home last night I noticed the snow falling and the piles of it plowed off to the side of the road. But not really, it hasn't snowed down here yet, we have had frost and some thoughts of rain freezing, but we aren't in the ski slopes and at elevation so no snow. The Christmas lights going up all around are what takes me away to snows in Minnesota and Pennsylvania and Germany and Korea - I have memories of Christmas Lights and snow, church bells and snow, cold and hot cocoa or some strange canteen cup full of instant coffee, creamer, sugar and Swiss Hot Chocolate mix -- wanting to drink it before it got cold and wanting it to last all night since it warmed me so well. Mickey Mouse boots, sniffles, rolling up the snowballs into snowmen, hot diesel stoves to warm the troop tents with dirty liners, some stoves always missing parts, less energetic soldiers stealing fuel and parts from others, generous soldiers sharing hot drinks and food with those that just came in from miles of frozen travel in open trucks or by foot. Is there a rule that Lieutenants can't read a map and won't listen to someone that knows a shortcut? What is really strange is that I am going down memory lane, and there are soldiers out there living in the cold, frozen and frosty - every day this Winter. Don't forget them during the holidays, we have their backs I hope.