May Day, May Day, May Day....

My neighbor cut his grass, my wife has her clamming gear out, I bagged the daffodil bulbs and swept the porch. Homeland Security is helpless in the face of oil that comes when no one can contain it. It is said that three back up systems to cap the well didn't work, that is a 100% failure rate. Consistency should be worth something, although from the first I was sure it was Eco-Terrorists demonstrating in the worse possible way how easily it would be to destroy the world because of off shore drilling. Everybody knows... Think Pink, don't forget Mother's Day, May Day, and my wife's birthday. Time for flowers, we have had enough showers, the boats are parading tomorrow in Seattle waters.

You are being deprived by over protections....

I was thinking about how much I miss by being a fat and happy American, not that I am really missing anything, but the world is so much bigger than my government will allow me to be touched by. For the protection of my culture and values and safety. German film making produces Das Boot and it with subtitles or dubbing makes it to America, and I can and do own a copy so I can enjoy a real story well done about something from long ago and far away. Although there was a time I could almost understand most of the German, it has faded but I don't have subtitle problems unless the translation is very poor.

It came to mind because I like historic Korean dramas, and I am currently watching Slave Catchers (on my cablevision), (The Slave Hunters for the commercial world). Now I will have to confess to really liking the characters, even as they get killed off one by one, and as the episodes go by I learn more and become deeply attached, two of the heroines are on my list of must save, get the rifle out and the time machine... of course that will never happen. Still I can cheer the heroes as they plod on against the evil Second Minister, the cultural bias, the lack of support for change in the society, the fear they will die before they succeed. From the King (minor player) to the lowest slave all interesting characters and plots within plots and always great acting, action, and suspence. Thank you Korean entertainment industry. I will be watching. Although I do warn anyone that doesn't know, it is possible for the director/writer to kill off all your favorite folks before the end of the story - life happens. Only twenty-four episodes, sigh. Never enough of a good thing.

My point about protection, it that there are lots of great films out there, we know a little about the Japanese, Chinese, and some European, but there are lots of countries doing good work - and they don't get a lot of airing in the United States. Now if someone can make enough money on the film, you will see it here in America, but otherwise you might never get the chance. Same with books, stories about other countries and how they see the world, those have always interested me. I guess I had best get out more and cross borders. If Legends of the Fall was about a family in Canada - was it really? Nope...

But I would love to have a list of movies done during the last three years, so you could see how many of them I would never watch - and that is a large number of expensive productions that never got my money - sorry Hollywood, you just don't tell great stories often enough nor well enough or I am just not your audience.... yep.

Mrs Murphy dies and I am watching To Hell and Back...

Audey Murphy's story done cheap in Washington, still I like watching the M1 Garand in action, the 3rd ID marching on the airstrip at Fort Lewis, the victory in World War II. I get an email, about the library services at McNeil Island. My last day there was February 12, now it looks like the budget ax is going to chop again. Today I was reading about schools, failing schools in America. How does that happen? How does a SUPER POWER, the only one left, have failing schools - colleges that have to teach high school subjects, while the high schools offer Advanced Placement programs. Ah, well, I had best get to work.

Thinkin' of Jeffro... and big truckin'...

I had dropped my Caravan off for services and maintenance, anything to help stimulate the economy and deplete my financial reserves, and was walking to the doctor's for my appointment. It took two hours and I made it only four minutes late. But while I was walking I saw another of these trucks go by and thought again like I had the last time I had seen one, with its lead and trail vehicles with the warning lights and signs. Now this isn't a wide load as it is longer and kind of strange. One propeller from a wind turbine, just one, at ground level not far off on that hillside like we normally seem them in threes. There was another truck with another propeller and warning vehicles following. Don't know if they make them locally or it is just where they get dropped off for truck pickup. Still, it is nice to know that the Economy is still moving stuff, besides mouths in Washington, DC.

Doctor visit was unremarkable, except he wouldn't cut my arm in the office and I have another surgery scheduled in May, my last but we won't tell him that. They tried to get it on my wife's birthday, but I told them no, not on that day. Now I have agreed to all the risks of the treatment they can proceed. Walk back stopping at Wendy's for a salad and a coffee, two hours later I am done with agreeing to the mechanic's recommendations and superior knowledge and skill. Don't you know that will cost me. Is the next Federal Program going to be universal mechanical insurance?
South Tacoma is a long stretch of automobile dealers and used car lots, and I wondered, in the horse and buggy days, there were probably a lot of horses around, lots of horses. And dealers....

Nobody loves me....

My wife sleeps restlessly and late because she had strange dreams, and then cautions me to watch out for sexy women.... I am not even going there, all my sins need to be violent and deadly which means not much anymore of anything, God smiles. I am off to see my surgeon, Doctor Chang, for the follow up on my cancer operation -- that all sounds so important (my surgeon, my cancer operation) but it isn't. As I left his office the last time I asked the receptionist if she was going to be on time to open up for my appointment, she wasn't there, the office isn't open and I am certain she doesn't love me anymore. I shouldn't have made mention of her late starts in front of the doctor. Now, if it was something came up, one would have thought that they would have called me to re-schedule, if it was an emergency they would call later and do the same. But since they don't love me, the doctor is just going to let me die without his further cutting away my arm. Having time and refreshed with a White Chocolate Mocha from the No Bikini coffee stop, I head off to the dealership to look into making my ride safe and sane enough to take my wife to my next Appleseed, otherwise she won't go with me... so she says. When I park my Caravan in the parking space I see the folks, make an appointment and walk out to find a truck has blocked me in, so I do a quick video of it, and then go look at the new cars, so I can have STICKER SHOCK!! how can they sell any cars at that price? The salesman asks if I need anything, I mention that I need the truck that has blocked me in moved. I need to leave the showroom, I can't afford to sneeze in the same area as those priceless artifacts. I get back home and read that Tam is telling every one that the lip on the bottom of the 45 cal magazine is designed to use to help disassemble the 1911 pistol, and aside from being able to read Tam daily I do wish JMB was still designing fine firearms today, really. You see, no body loves me. No I am not going to show you the video, the word picture is enough, y'all have been there before.

I am back to reading Caesar vs. Pompey in Greece, and I did call and find out that I made a mistake, the appointment is for tomorrow. I would think my mind is going but I have one of those nifty appointment cards in my wallet and the date is clear.

It isn't worth the time to watch...

A special five night lesson in American History, so badly done, so badly done. And all those bright smart people supporting the comments about it, sigh. If you wondered why it doesn't work, part of it is the California forests for New England farmers to clear, Maine might have been better, Vermont still as a few trees in large clumps. The battles of Lexington and Concord blurred and didn't happen the way presented in the re-enactment. Okay, they tried. But I found more history in the Bank of America commercials than in the major part of the show. I have way too many books on American and World History to put up with anymore. Sorry History Channel you will have to find something else to tease me with, might as well go back to Hollywood as the final expert on how it really happened. National Treasure 15, where the truth lies... funny, I do think that the next Appleseed shoot I go on, I will hear what a wonderful coverage that documentary was. Captain Isaac Davis did get shot and killed, right there on television (not a bridge in sight, no fifes nor flags flying). Ah, History, were you there?

NCIS can find me now...

Not that any of the thousands of agents of the Federal Government would want to find me any more than all those blondes in California would, but they all could. Remember remove battery or leave your cell phone at home when you don't want prying eyes following your every move.

I went and found a place to get a cell phone and wireless service for my laptop computer. That is all in preparation for moving out on vacation, motorcycling across the country, my brother is getting Yellowstone set up for us, and keeping my wife watching my every move. Sure enough money talks, and they have my money and now I can talk. I immediately turned off the telephone, went home and watched Hurt Locker.

I will have to get the booklet out and figure out how to turn up the ring tones, which are set at sounding like a rotary phone ring, I do like that. If I heard music I would start dancing. I wonder how many voice mails it will keep before it starts denying them? No, I am not going to check daily, my wife is the only one that has my number, and leaving it that way works for me. If I gave the number away someone would think I want to be called and I don't. I won't put it down on any applications for anything either.

I didn't get the cell phone with camera, and don't ask about texting, that came with the wireless internet service (I only know where it is, not why I would ever want it). I am so backward in my electronic communications, email - blog - facebook and face to face under neon lights.... that will be enough for me.

Nice to know that Boomer Shoot is going well...

without me, sigh. (View from North Central Idaho) As I gain more freedom from being a wage slave of some employer and sinking into the "entitlements for me first old folks" I am bound by my wife's fears of my drifting farther from normal. Anything outside the house or yard is a bit too far for some folks' fears. If you asked Earl I would think I am becoming very much like the mice in the garage. There are some tall glass vases where we cut a slice of apple for the bait (kind of like this house here - beautiful and full of function) and the mice smell, get tempted and jump in to nibble on the apple. And often enough can't get back out, often enough that I have to dump them into the garbage. So the next time you sink into your recliner after a hard day, and start nibbling on the snacks and watching those lovely ladies on DVD and television - just remember, you aren't a mouse and it is possible to leave the home (you did it much more when you were younger and still searching for passion and adventure) it isn't a slippery glass vase... or is it?

Okay, wake up and cut the grass...

I have just finished reading the third of the four fictional accounts of Caesar's life, loves and victories. Very well written, and now I can get to the last of them (the book that spiked my interest in getting them all), after I do some more maintenance work on my personal life. Like jogging, exercise, paying bills and edging and cutting the grass. I am waiting on my crops for one more picture of the FarmVille game farm, I like it but don't want to bother the world with my toys and imagination, time to get back to work. Something about put the toys away when I become a man.

Sometimes quiet is very good...

I once subscribed to Foreign Affairs Journal, a fine piece of work, and one of the nicest things was that I could tear out the advertising pages since they were on both sides of a page, and have only the information I needed left and I could then read it from cover to cover. You want thirty minutes of evening news, seems you have to watch for over an hour, the remainder of the time is advertising of things to buy, things to come, really. I loved listening to FM radio back in the day, seems they had no commercial sponsors that would interrupt the flow of music, that was lovely. You can't get that now. So for quiet I must go jogging down the road, without an iPod and headset, just me in my mind, there is quiet there save for the ragged breathing.

One of us is still working...

One of us has worth to the society at large and the world's future... she does well with them.

About caught up on rest...

yet the rain still falls. I have my tools and shoot support box to fill properly. I once was a very organized soldier, that could pack trucks and trailers in complete darkness and repack them the same way after breaking down camp, but now I am creative and kind of toss stuff into the Caravan, thinking that when it get entirely out of control I will buy a bigger vehicle and trailer with my Lotto winnings. I bought knee pads for some reason, thinking that they must be helpful for shooting on the ground and have never ever felt they were worth much after trying them out, why are soldiers wearing them? They get put on the pile of good intentions that aren't worth investing anything in the future.

I am finishing the second book about Julius Caesar and it is great, wonder how the fourth will end? Did I tell y'all that I can still fold up an Aviator's Kit bag to wear under my parachute harness so I have something to pack my parachute into when I hit the ground? No, well, then maybe you don't want to know that I can still figure eight the parachute from one end to the other and take the belt through the loop so the riggers can find it, hang it and shake it out in the shed... so much knowledge and so little use for it now.

Watching Korean television...

and they were showing wild hogs tearing up the mountain sides in Korea, they hunt them with dog packs and rifles. But like Farmer Frank will tell you, the damage they do is terrible as they root and kill and tear the soil up for erosion. Why am I watching television in a foreign tongue - because when I turned on the television there wasn't anything worth watching, the number of stations, channels and band widths with absolutely nothing on is amazing (kind of like 150 apps for your iPhone and you only use three). Okay, I did see the Space Shuttle land, that was smooth.

I did get all the shooting stuff out of my Caravan yesterday, uploaded video on YouTube.com, posted to Facebook and left tracks, comments and pictures on the Appleseed forum and here in Just the Library Keeper. All ten of you can find out about that weekend somewhere. I am about to shift gears, getting prepared for Hawaii and the grandson's first birthday! I have one more Appleseed activity before we depart, then on Oahu I get to meet some shooters (competitive shooters) that would like Appleseed to come to the islands. And then when I get back, I have the USA Motorcycle Tour by Earl & Trusty Triumph. Do you think they would sponsor me? Maybe not, but it will be good to visit my mother, friends, sisters, cousins, niece or nieces and ride some with my brother and nephew (who rides a Triumph, just not a cruiser). Yeah, got to shift gears for more speed and control, or less speed and more control. Wheels have to keep turning to keep it from laying on the ground.

Gosh, I am so tired.. . dangerously so...

Seems I was driving back from Castle Rock after today's shoot, and I turned in at the Madigan Gate and woke up. Re-fueled and drove home, way too tired when I did that, it was a long day. only four instructors and twenty shooters, two more Riflemen produced or awarded, any way, they did make it. Debi thought she had problems with her scope or rifle and asked for help, and I was sent to see if I could shoot. Something Appleseed Instructors never get to do much. Kind of like being a Librarian and having no time to read. Anyway, I happily got under the 10/22 without a sling settled in and started testing ability to use that rifle and scope, a couple of flyers a bit of adjustment on my position (NPOA) and I settled into breathing, pause, and sqeeze while focused on the reticle on the target - HIT!, and again and again, and Lori decided she could load anothe magazine or two for me, and more hits and more happiness. But it wasn't all about me, so I gave it back. Then learned that shooting the corner of the target is the best way to confirm the scope is fine - sure enough Debi put two rounds on top of each other on that corner, so it worked. Like I said, a great day, in the SUMMER SUN, my face glows bright red.

Back on the road again!

Yesterday, thirty shooters, five instructor types combined to produce four Riflemen, increase everyone's proficiency, honor fourteen fallen from the battles on 19 April, 1775 (a volley fired from the East coast through the country to the West Coast at 1 PM PDST), and still I am not done, back on the road. Y'all have a wonderful Sunday, y'hear?

One more brisk jog in the sunshine...

and then I clean up and pack out to Castle Rock, WA, for the Appleseed Shoot. Since it is almost now, 235 years since the shot heard round the world, on April 19, 1775 at Lexington and Concord and then all along Battle Road back the neck at Cambridge. Something to ponder on, those of you that aren't going to the range this weekend, those of you that don't remember how this country started and why the United States of America won the war before the first shot was ever fired. Lots of good books out there to read about the subject. I did watch an A&E special on the Revolutionary War and its beginnings, and they did miss the details - but it is very difficult for those today to understand the talk, the thought, the sense of destiny that the people had in their community. Their personal sense of Responsibility - knowing that all good would only come from their own actions, not something that was luck, or Royal decree. Only their own actions, the way they saw the world that was and what they wanted it to be. And they would risk death to make it so.

Last year's picture from April at Wade's DAR (Designated Appleseed Range)

Just had to report that the silly grin on my face...

is from going to the libraries and getting grass seed at Home Depot, upon my Trusty Triumph, lovely weather the girls are wearing less so the Sun soaks into their tan. The ride was very nice, why do I own a cage? Oh, the terrible rains and all the stuff I have to carry. But the motorcycle purrs.

From Pierce County Library:

Busiest Year Ever at Pierce County Library
Inline

People joined up, visited, checked out, and logged on at Pierce County Library in record numbers in 2009, making more than 2.5 million visits to a library, and increasing visits to the Web site by 65%. Library visitors got help finding jobs and improving computer skills, participated in events, and checked out best-sellers and DVDs at their Pierce County Library.

Looking for work, information, help on homework and just a nice place to browse books.

NRA Women's Wilderness Escape Event

NRA Women's Wilderness Escape Event, I might get to help out, that is interesting. I have the applications now to find two references. New Mexico calls, didn't Kit Carson do some neat stuff there? Could I ride the Trusty Triumph that far? sure don't have any Pony Express horses.

Later note: It isn't going to happen, I am not available, hope everyone else has a great time.

Yes, it is Tax Day, although it doesn't seem like it...

They added more taxable items in Washington State, the Federal government wants its share of our work, and if one doesn't work well enough they might send you money back. It makes that virtual world so nice since they haven't gotten around to taxing it. Aside from illegal people scurrying across America, how many unknown, uncounted and under-appreciated human beings are truly free of the link to the governments' rules and such? Never enough.

How things grow and be gone...

Here in my part of the Great NorthWest, Mount Rainier (before was named so by someone in debt to someone named Rainier) erupted and spread rocks and mud upon the rocks and mud from its last eruption. It probably did more but I couldn't tell you from my yard, but I do know about the rocks and mud. So when someone planted a tree in my yard it has to allow for rocks and mud. The great tall firs and pines around have a similar challenge, growing tall enough to get the sunshine and roots enough to stand tall and get moisture (there isn't much moisture problem in Western Washington). Now with all that moisture and all those rocks the trees don't send roots deep into the ground looking for water and such, it is right there near the surface and that is the depth of their roots. It only becomes a problem when the great winds blow, since all that moisture is softening the ground, the wind blows and the tress topple - if there are a great forest of them they share and shear the wind's power and don't have to worry too much, but when developments and clear cuts happen the wind gets to them and one by one they go down. Happens everywhere in bad weather, solitary big old trees coming down in high winds.

I was cutting the stump of a red maple out of the front yard, wife had decided it wasn't in her comfort zone, so Earl has to remove it. It wasn't too difficult, just keep chopping with axe until all the roots are gone and then pull the stump, since it didn't have that deep running tap root. Feeling ready I finished it off today, will get some grass seed and seed the area over later.

As I cut the roots away, I kept thinking that America is just like that lovely Japanese Maple that was there. Beautiful, decorative and oddly non-functional would be words that relate to both. And when I think of how shallow the roots of our citizens raised on television education and promises for change and hope - I think that great winds are going to topple so many of them, consider how normal we think living with drugs, auto thefts of Hondas, and copper cable thefts. There weren't that many petty criminals during the Great Depression, were there? Maybe one has to be raised in adversity to build a stronger core, deeper roots and stronger values. How shallow are Americans? Well, the ones covered by media seem to be very shallow. Drive in another telephone pole and some steel cabling to hold that old tree of Liberty up?

Just showing up is most of life...

FarmVille finally came up with puppies, I bought a free one (paid for with 300,000 farmville coins, not FV dollars) and named him - you remember when I once said that I don't name my animals on FarmVille. Well, I did, and as I would walk the place he would follow around, and when I walked the neighbors' farms he would sometimes be there, and sometimes not. I thought maybe the farmer didn't like nor permit dogs, but then I checked the dog collar and found it wasn't my dog - it was the farmer's with a different name! I have been had, punked, made a virtual fool of... by software designers, ugh!

When I was very much younger, I was learning to play piano had a wonderful teacher, but I once volunteered to play a piece for the church we belonged to, and didn't tell my teacher, nor really prepare for it. So it was not only bad, I had shown up, but it was terrible that I tried and it was the total end of my music career. My teacher moved to Las Vegas and I stopped all music lessons, kept studying war. Much more reward for being anti-social.

Big weekend Appleseed Shoots, and it will be interesting where I am going, I could be the only instructor, only representative of the RWVA. Seems that there is silence from all the normal participants - could be they think I know they will be there, or could be they still aren't free enough to participate, could be they are working hard to keep a roof over their family's heads or many things. But right now I am talking to the only person that answers my mail - my self and he isn't sure about what is going to happen except that it will be the best he can make it.

Remember that old hippie thing "What happens if they give a war, and no one shows up?"

Yes, I am retired but there are prison libraries still...

For those still following for information about prison libraries.

This comic.

Sunday isn't it?

Motorcycle riding weather, this afternoon, what are you doing?

After the service a cup of coffee and a couple cookies in the Fellowship Hall, I was out on the motorcycle wondering where should I go. So I went up the Pacific Highway to the center of Tacoma, to the expressway to Ruston Way, to Ruston, through Point Defiance Park, noticing that 5 Mile Drive is so much easier on a motorcycle than it is jogging it during the Sound to Narrows Run. Back through Ruston to Proctor by the University of Puget Sound, where a lacrosse game was being played, and onward to home. Nice fifty miles, not enough speed with twisty roads but it is still cool outside, this was a great warm up for when it does warm up.

So to scale now...

My wife wanted her shellfish and seaweed license and I got most of my fishing and hunting license for the year, too. Seemed to be a good idea, now to get out there and hunt! My sister seemed to want to know the scale of a picture, so I thought you could have this one -- scale beyond measure, it is virtually not there and yet it is. All in my mind. All on FarmVille... now back to Genghis Khan. He is starving the Chin capital, for reasons that he doesn't have a nuke or two in his back pocket and the walls are thick.

How to go a distance from ...

I wanted to walk with my wife today, she wanted to also but not too far away. Being old does that to one, everything outside one's door or comfort zone is far away. No reason not to drive miles to go walk except for the carbon foot print we would leave on our adventure. So, we decided that Spanaway Lake Park was far enough (about three miles by GPS) and since I don't like boring repetitions of anything we were going to a different park. I would park the Caravan in the center, we would walk it clockwise instead of our normal counter-clockwise and we were going to do it twice so we would see a different park. And it worked.

We didn't go down the rabbit hole, but did find it, too.

Who put them in charge?

I watch way too much television, kind of like being stuck in the commute with only PBS to listen to - makes one's mind twist a bit too far from normal. See I didn't say Left or Right - just from one's normal. All of us have differences, and NONE of us fit perfectly the stereotype of what group we consider ourselves, we all have a name that is unique and an identity as an individual.

I have a point, since I caught the President Obama telling his interviewer that "Sarah Palin was not an expert on Nuclear Arms" or some such, and the interviewer gave him a by - since she didn't ask when he had become and expert on Nuclear Arms. Having had my personal experience with Nukes I am sure I am, by President Obama's criteria, more of a Nuclear Expert than either of them and I should have had the opportunity to negotiate with the Russians. But then I am not the President.

But I keep remembering the phrase "Controversy creates Cash" and the media continues to cover whatever it can, and slants the news so you think there is a problem where there might not be one. The President doesn't have to answer anything about Sarah Palin, his proper response would have been the Russian President has more to do with America's nuclear programs and policies than the American media or Sarah Palin. It is the media I have a problem with, I don't really think the President is smart enough to give answers that would make me happy.

I think I am tired of the media defining the Tea Party movement, the Gun owners positions, the state of our schools, the ability of our countrymen to do what is right and good more of the time than not. Story today, homeless boy gets into West Point --- okay, there is so much wrong with that story I am amazed. When I saw the pictures of the bright healthy young man, with diamonds, big ones, in his ear lobes,
I wondered why he was homeless - could probably get a job and work for an apartment for his family, whatever size it was. Honest, one can do work, and rent a place to live at sixteen. Not easy, but it beats wearing glitter in one's ears by a mile. They really expect a young man, labeled by the media, as being homeless to attend and graduate West Point and go out and lead soldiers in combat and bring them all back after accomplishing the mission. Good luck, hope he has really great platoon sergeants that busted their butts helping their families keep a roof over their head and food on the table. I do wish them all well, but if the media is going to hound them for coverage of the miracle (which isn't really), I hope what West Point has to offer is absorbed by the young man, he could be a great General someday, first he has to get beyond entry and four fine years of education.

Just the media has a funny way of looking at the world. They really think if they didn't report it, investigate it, and explain what it really means - I couldn't understand what is happening around me. But I do, I turned the Korean News on, and I don't understand that at all, and I am much smarter for the time spent there.

Trade Liberty for Security and have neither....

In my family home as I was growing up, we never locked the doors unless going on a vacation away. We also had dog or dogs that would bark, but I don't remember them getting to growling at anyone. Finally after moving into the city again, when a drunken coed came into the house and crashed on the sofa, which alarmed the dog and my father came down to investigate with drawn WWII Japanese saber (nah, he didn't know how to do anything with it, but it looked bad) they decided that the front door had to be locked against drunken and stupid young people.

That whole thing came to my mind as I was jogging proudly today, I was happy, the Sun was shining and except for the whistling wind I could make better progress than the earlier part of the week. Then I returned home and found I had the key to my wife's car in my pocket. The house was securely locked, I know I could bust open the door - having done it once in a panic to get to work - but I had no where to go. So I was stuck (lacking Liberty) for the Security of a home I couldn't even get into.

I did the smart thing, cut the grass, cleaned the roof a bit and the gutters. I could do all of that, because the tool shed wasn't locked. A lot less security but I had the Freedom to access and use my tools. What is that thing about locking up your firearms? Having control of them is going to be better. The picture is of a neighbor's home, flags flying, seems like very nice people.

Yes, my wife knew exactly what I had done when she came home to find me outside the house. Yes, I did get a lot of good work done under duress, now back to Genghis Khan.

Things change but sometimes the old way is...

best. I had an Economics professor that said the government hates strong families and will do all it can to break them down: subsidizing divorce, single parenthood, retirement homes and food stamps - that way the people have a debt to pay they can't overcome. I notice some truth in that, but don't expect a change anytime soon. This morning watching Korean television a financial adviser is giving a class on the importance of solid families in building strong nations. Now, I do want you to understand that Korea is picking up most of the things I don't like about Western values, but they do it all from an Asian point of view. But the first thing that rang true was the strength of the nation is in the families that take care of themselves and have a bounty they can share, that they are strong enough to add to the wealth and power of the nation. The strength of a country isn't in the number of rescued corporations, unemployed nor banks with lots of property they foreclosed on, the strength of the nation is on the working people, the functioning families and community of people that care to work together. The strength of our nation cannot be built on what we can take from those that have and give to those that don't - but on what those that have can share and help those that don't. Current government seems to believe that you will improve health care by taking a lot and giving back so much less.... does that make it a strong nation?

Hmm, just a few more shopping days til Christmas

I finally fell quietly asleep while the television buzzed on, then got up and went to bed. It has been busy being me for the last few days, the time moves on, I meet and work with good people, I learn new things about computers, software, cameras, and the internet and I grow, and grow older. I have to get back to reading about Genghis Khan and then Julius C. maybe if the mood strikes me I will find a firearm and go shoot a target or two.

Computers and Internet aren't smarter than me...

are they? I am having trouble uploading pictures on the Appleseed forum. Couldn't be my fault so I will blame the Federal agencies that are watching out for terrorists and citizens with shooting habits. No truth there. But I am getting ready to watch Shooter and reinforce such silly beliefs. I am watching it for the old guy in the rocker, expert on all things about shooters and shooting, the hero who is killing men because "they killed my dog" and the hot romantic interest. I loved all the Bobby Lee books, he like I am getting older.

As for real shooters, I give you Troy's choice in the picture... he shoots left handed, with his son and right handed rifles, until he decided to clean our clock and shoot Rifleman (210 and above), then he pulled out a black rifle with improved sighting stuff. Except for helping him in his sling adjustment I did nothing but stand back and watch. His score was 245 points on the AQT, and he got his patch and could take his family home happily. Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!
Thanks to a correction by the newest Red Hat in Idaho.

Yea! and another Huzzah! Huzzah! Huzzah!

You know that good tired, really good, really tired?

Yep, that is me. Drove for hours on Friday, except when I was waiting for I90 to clear the wreckage near exit 47 where they had a multiple vehicle and spinout blocking accidents - waited for hours as the snow flurries flew pushed by gusting wind winding through the passes. Good sound sleep except for the patrolling dog warning the wild world away from the hilltop home I am staying in this weekend. I am on their wireless, too cool for an old Pony Express fan like me. One of Kit Carson's better jobs I always thought.

Have a new, not designed by Earl, green RWVA Shoot Boss hat and a hooded sweatshirt to increase my projection of calm professional expertise. It must be working, my crew was awesome today, and the shooters outshooting most first day shooters I have experienced. Four earned their Rifleman patches, two were youth often feared with dangerous firearms access, but they lived up to their parents and honest shooters expectations. Another youth (anyone twenty and under, glad you asked) that wow'd me and I took a short video of him, was a left handed shooter, with a right handed bolt action 22LR, shooting along side his father with exactly the same challenges.




Anyway, a very full day here in Idaho, the weather that we had was snowing, sleeting, hailing (twice), gusting boldly (blowing target corners free) and periodic rain broken by bits of blazing Sun trying to warm us. Still the rewards are great!



Long commute to get to the range, long drive back and funny that I am beat, even a hot shower can't keep me awake much more, but I just had to share in case the world ends tonight, or you don't hear from me for days as I do one more Appleseed day tomorrow, and then try to repair my farm on FarmVille based on all the lovely cool small farms I have been looking at as we drive through this part of mid-Northern Idaho. Later (pictures, videos, and any links) but the laptop does work on the road.

Good morning, going out?

Friday, isn't it? I have packed a bit, seems I have a place to be in Idaho and I don't want to leave anything I must have behind. This is Good Friday, when you can give it all up for those that aren't paying attention, don't care and won't matter. There are the others that get the message and will make the difference, always hope there are enough of them. Be careful, and Care Full, out there and remember God Loves You.

Book Review

Not that you should pay attention, the book I sent my mother to read wasn't appreciated, seems there were too many weapons and lots of excess death, bodies abound. It fits with the fact she is a woman, and I a man and we don't see nor think about the world in the same way - which is the point of my reading The Female Brain.

This quick review is of The Dangerous Book for Boys, by Conn and Hal Iggulden.

Excellent, and dangerous yes. Would I bar it from homes, libraries or prisons? NO

I will likely buy one for my grandson when he gets closer to reading and finding out about not being a child and certainly not a girl, and his mother and my wife will worry about me having lost it all, but then that is my role in the world.

Two great parts,(there are lots of great parts - even poetry and English grammar), Advice about Girls, number seven and eight nail it perfectly. Having been without them often enough to know about that 'one long football locker room'. Don't look it up, ladies, this book is about boys and what men need to share with them, honest. The second part worth mentioning is Dog Tricks and number 15 is perfect, for boy and dog. Only missing Heinlein in recommended reading was a short coming, but then you will read what draws you, and they had lots of good stuff that I have read and recommend. This is an Earl recommended book for boys, they do need to read more, Dads, uncles and interested adult males check it out - you should know what is out there they might read and enjoy.

A Day for Earl at last.....

Checking our Lotto tickets, we win big! April Fools, only I didn't actually buy any for last night so I may not be as big a fool as folks in higher places think. I did find out that virtual toilet paper is used in FarmVille for TP'ing the barn? I wasn't in favor of throwing that stuff into trees and over homes when I was much younger and stupid - one only being likely in the case of the other not necessarily so.

April Fools Day, my father told me of the one he remembered, since it was Sunday - Easter Sunday in 1945 and he was participating in the attack on Okinawa, watching the Kamikaze suicide bombers flying in to attack the ships. Army Combat Engineer he didn't have to stay on the ships, his work was on the island.

Email has been interesting here, got contact from a serious shooter in Oahu about getting into the Revolutionary War Veterans Association and Appleseed shoots. Now, you loyal readers, and my mother think I am a world famous personality - but my wife will let me know that no one is paying attention so I was interested in how he found my name among many. I answered his email, and he answered, and we slept on that. This morning I contacted him again, and find an email telling me to expect some information about someone trying to get Appleseeds started in Hawaii from one of the senior members of RWVA. Very interesting.

I had an email from a cousin with an offer to stop and visit on my motorcycle tour, but he didn't include his new address - I will reply, I would like to stop and see him. He is hosting the Dungey Reunion next year. My niece emails and asks if Ryan Dungey - famed motocross rider, which her sons watched race recently in Florida (her husband has a fondness for such foolishness and shares with his sons). I had to acknowledge that 1) I don't know 2) the family name isn't that common 3) and he is from Minnesota (where I was born and many of us lived once) 4) and he rides motorcycles (just not Trusty Triumphs).

The email from my sister in Florida explained she has the same problem I do with typing on a laptop and big fingers making whole sections of typed thought disappear. Must be in the DNA? She also told me that she would be driving her vehicle to Tennessee while I ride the motorcycle - she isn't as passionate about fooling around on two wheels and mentions the rain - which she knows I don't care about - she does. She always had much more sense than I did, I was Adventure Training in the Great Smokies and since it rains almost daily up there among the clouds I was constantly asked for some of my fire to start theirs, some folks don't do well with wet wood and no patience. It was a great letter to catch up on her life, plans and thoughts.

All the email except the RWVA stuff was caused by the current collapse of my AT&T Worldnet accounts, for lack of interest by their bean counters and my moving on to free blogger and hotmail.com stuff. If anyone is looking for me, from where I once was point them in this direction, or tell them to Google "William Earl Dungey" I am that easy to find. Just hope NCIS never starts to track me and my paper/cyber trail. I only know I didn't do it and don't do well in interogation rooms.

I leave you with my personal info-mmercial, having admired Breda and others with their cooking skills, this is how one makes gruel (in my microwave anyway). Always remember that Earl is a guy, reads about Mongols living on blood, mare's milk and curds softened by sitting on them. Yeah, its a guy thing.