I have heard about turning the television off...

but what would we fill our time with now that spinning and weaving are done in China for us? My wife is about to break out of the cave, her healing is about to go into the physical therapy phase, and she will be returning to work in the New Year. She rented the entire series on the first Queen of a Korean nation, it was Shilla. It is only partly true but lots of martial arts, flaming arrows in the night (only film makers love hundreds of flaming arrows - the bowmen never did). Sixty seventy minute episodes, six to a DVD, ten discs. And no commercial interruption. Of course I still have a pile of books, all my accounts to account for and the New Year is starting without employment - and I like the freedom but not the response of staying home waiting for the world to arrive here, day two and more light snow covering the ice on the roadways. We are off to the doctors, hers and mine, and I am not even on Medicare yet. Take care out there.

Man creates God in his own image...

Gosh, it is Wednesday and this has been rattling around in my head since I saw the very large inflated Santa Claus at the used car dealership while I was on my way to church on Sunday. The whole meaning of Christmas is economic activity, that is how we measure the success of the holiday. No longer happy to have it as a Holy Day, just a nationally recognized legal holiday - and if it falls on the weekend one gets the closest workday off with pay. Thank you Caesar Augustus, for taxing all the World, it wouldn't have been Christmas without more government and economic activity.

Aren't we proud of the mini-skirted Santa's lasses dancing on nightclub stages in Japan and Korea, with Santa Claus and a large bag of goodies? America, you are a trend setter.

Of course I know that isn't what Christmas is about, it is about a baby born to fulfill a promise or a prophesy. And such a humble beginning, why wasn't the babe at least adopted by a royal household like Moses was? I mean if Hollywood were to write the story, wouldn't that be better than just strangers in town, babe born and stupid shepherds coming down from the hills to see. I mean you know that shepherds aren't the brightest of the Chosen people, the priests and rabbis are off at religious duties, writing and reading scrolls. They sleep inside and lock their doors against the thieves and drunken riffraff. Only shepherds would be awake at night watching sheep, only they would see an angel and heavenly hosts singing. Shepherds, they even smell like sheep. How holy is that?

Okay, go to Matthew Two, now we are talking about power and prestige, Kings and Magi, royal house and wizards of old. Yeah, and the government reaction to the news there might be competing royal lineage? Well, crush it of course, send the legions to eliminate the terrorist at the earliest identified age, all the boys under two, and if you can't tell how old they are, get those, too. Don't you know that it didn't pay to be a boy before Title IX, not in Bethlehem. King Herod was an equal opportunity killer, his family had a few choice sudden deaths, he didn't just pick on children. So we have an example of Royal conduct, and what we may expect from a King.

Then there are many Christians that want to be ruled by Christ the King, the anointed one. I do remember that Christ didn't take up a throne, actually thought about it and then told Satan to get behind him. It was the wrong focus, but he went out and was baptized by a shocked cousin John, then gathered some fine fellows to teach and set about preaching and teaching. Not very powerful at all, not royal, not IN CHARGE, no CIC linked to his name. And he loved, everyone all the time, he wept once, must have been smiling and laughing the rest of the time, his only conflict was driving the money lender out of the temple, and I am sure he wasn't really happy doing that but needed to make the bold statement. He had been at the temple before and hadn't done it many times earlier. I would bet that none of them were as marked as he would be later on his way to the cross...

God is all, powerful, knowing, loving and bigger than my life can imagine or encompass. And I am not anyone that knows God by more than a little study, some great responses to my prayers, and that Christ was humble and bowed to the will of his Father. There may be streets of Gold, Heavy Heavenly thrones and choirs of angels and saints -- or there may be joy, happiness and foot washing of the weary travelers having gone through that world of woe. Just cup of wine and a piece of bread and Thou. Amen

I like John Wayne movies, but he was always...

The Duke, which was fine but you might miss the real story if he was the star. But you would be entertained, like reading Louis L'Amour novels. I bought every LL book in print while in Vietnam, to read. Got them and found I couldn't read three of them in a row - because he used too many similar pieces of Western color for his texture. Okay, the plots were really simple, too. But as a stand alone for empty time, they always satisfied my thirst for American heroes.

Anyway, I read True Grit and while wandering the military saw the movie with John Wayne, it was pretty true to the book, but it was the Duke and that meant it couldn't be bad, mean, ugly. Really, the Duke never played the ugly of drunkeness, although he played drunks badly. And I read The Shootist which is another great book, but once John Wayne starred it missed the mark, and was a fine final film for an actor dying of cancer, about a shootist dying of cancer. My biggest problem with the film was they didn't end it the way the author intended - Opie had to kill the Duke, and they didn't go that way. Still got the point across about the evils of gun fighters and such, but Opie and John were still clean.

Today, I recommend True Grit, the 2010 edition, but read the book first. The directing makes all the difference - the acting is great, but you have to know the characters, the makeup is awful real, the shooting is as bad as it really was, and the story is again about a young farm girl going about her father's business and life as it was in the late Indian Territory, which we hide a lot from today. I do like the trailer, but then I am so old fashioned and the voice sings to me. I do hope you appreciate the dirt, the blood and the grime. One day they will bring the smells into the theater to wash out the popcorn and butter, and then movies will stop being entertainment, but they wouldn't make any money would they?

A virtual Christmas Card from Earl

May your day be MERRY and bright! It is Christmas!

Christmas Day, and the memories tumble in...

people live in their pajamas on Christmas morn, seems to me. Since I wasn't one of those that goes to sleep clothed unless I am driving or just too tired riding the motorcycle - well, I have one of my black suits with blue shirt and bright red ties on. Yeah, I am dressed for church this morning. I turned on the computer around the take medicine and get that fresh cup of coffee - and thought about when I spent Christmas Eve in Vietnam writing everyone that I missed them, to including President Nixon at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC. There was a truce on, but one had to go to the bunker just in case, everyone brought their plunder from family and friends Stateside, a red sheet covered the chart tables, and we covered it with booze, cookies, fruit cake (my mother's famous rum soaked one), snacks and rock'n rock music on the tape player. It wasn't really Christmas - that was hours away on the other side of the world and we were living under sand bagged bunkers waiting for rockets and mayhem.

Tradition in my mother's house is the reading of Luke 2 before one gets to opening the Christmas presents, although Santa's gifts were large and up front for the children. Then the food, cookies and milk, and opening gifts one by one.

Being on the West coast and three hours behind New York I have come to the realization that Santa doesn't come from the North Pole to my home, he starts in the far west at the international dateline and flies west before the Sun. This morning I opened my computer, found a welcoming email (why is anyone on the computer this time in the morning?) and checked facebook, then started this blog post - and the power went out in the house, standing in my Sunday best, in the dark, trying to write something to share (or get it off my mind) and it is gone into the darkness... Lights come back on, wife cooks oatmeal, and I find most of this was saved automatically... blogger waited just for me. Y'all have a very happy Christmas, Threecollie found a calf waiting in the barn. All we get is a child born to us this day in the city of David. If I could spell Alleluia! I would, but I will just sing it.

They don't know what they are writing about...

Could be writing about myself, but the NRA, in the Editor's Letter for January, 2011 issue of American Rifleman published: "...a group of 17 Americans of the 328th Infantry Regiment, 82nd "Rainbow" Division ..."

Well, no one is perfect, they had good intentions, and those guys are all dead now anyway, so who cares?

I do. The 82nd Division is the "All American" the 42nd Division is the "Rainbow"

Both units are alive and well, they have associations of former members, it does matter.

I still think the NRA is a fine organization, but too close to Washington, DC and too far away from the American Riflemen and women... which is why there aren't as many shooters everywhere as there once were... but that is only my opinion and I have be wrong before. I did find both the Christmas Spirit and interest in Shooting in New England worth sharing. I really liked reading where this team is located. Get them on the Appleseed trail young and early.

End of the Year reflections already...

On facebook someone comments that 2010 wasn't a great year, but then they didn't go to Hawai'i to be with their grandson and family, ride a motorcycle across the United States meeting bloggers and friends and family - some of which were all three. Maybe they were Democrats voted out of office in November and wondering what kind of a life they would have after the New Congress cleans house. I got to work fifteen Appleseeds, hug pretty girls, my mother and my wife - not at the same time - and continued to shoot better all year.

Now I do have to report that having a minor surgery for cancer wasn't on my wishlist, it being successful was great. My wife's doctor and hospital time went well and not too often. I haven't been starving this year - over eating is more the problem than lacK. I haven't run, nor worked, nor invested my earnings well... nor enough - but that isn't the year's fault, if I looked in a mirror I would find the perpetrator, or his reflection.

Nope, the year 2010 was great, the Trusty Triumph purred, the rains mostly held off me, the grandson had smiles just for me because I was paying attention, my wife continues to try and make me a better man - because she loves me and will miss me when I am gone, and I am known by the company I keep - on the internet, facebook and in church and on the range. Good folks out there, thank you for all you do.

Mending and repairs... raking later...

I have a button to replace on my shooting jacket, and I get the Army sewing kit out, thread a needle, and knot the end and start. I notice that they save a lot of money by having only the least amount of thread holding the buttons. Multiply by hundreds and it does add up. I have been reading about the Marines in WWII, Pacific. I don't think I recommend joining the Marines, their officers have inflated opinions of themselves - but maybe all officers have that except the really good ones. But, aside from the French Foreign the Marines will go to the sound of the guns first.

I started off with Robert Leckcie in his book, Helmet for my Pillow: from Parris Island to the Pacific. I like it, it does read like a poem, or a song that you can't get out of your head. I really liked that he was writing about it as a participant, not an observer, a historian, a reporter and definitely not an entertainer. When he said he didn't know where he was, I could relate to that, I loved the nick names of the officers he served under - he had some good ones. Then I moved on to With the Old Breed at Peleliu and Okinawa, by E. B. Sledge. Read them in that order, or go watch reality shows about living in the jungle - nah, read them.

How have you prepared to celebrate the birth?

It matters in your heart, how you prepare to remember the birth of a Savior, you won't feel right until it is - Christmas can become a chore, something you wish you weren't part of, something to get beyond and into the New Year, where we hope things are going to be so much better.

I hope that the idea of a child born to be the hero and sacrifice that I am not is a central part of your experience. I know that every child I meet, I expect great things from, and I am always most happy if I can get a little laughter, a smile for me, a chance to play in their world for a little bit. There are still wise men searching for the child, a savior, a ruler of the world a new King - seems that none of the current crop live up to their promise or promises. Flawed don't you know?

I have things to do in the yard and home, preparation for visitors more important than I, and I do it for my wife (who will always be more important than I). I have hung two stockings and looked up Charlie Brown's Christmas Tree, for I don't have any real visible preparations for the day, the economy isn't going to recover on my wild spending spree, only virtual gifts on farmville.

I wish you all the most important part of Christmas -- Love, real love and warmth and joy. If you get it, it will be there for many years down the road of time.

Keynote Speakers - Tea Party meets "Fred"

Jack Daily


Jack Dailey is a successful entrepreneur as well as the founder and Executive Director of The Revolutionary War Veterans Association (RWVA) and Project Appleseed, a 501(c)3 organization composed entirely of volunteers. Wijavascript:void(0)th a strong focus on American heritage and rifle marksmanship, Project Appleseed has become one of the fastest growing grassroots programs in the nation.

Jack believes that 21st-century America is a nation that has lost its roots, often comparing it to a sinking ship. And he aims to change that. Trusting that he would find fellow Americans who hold these same beliefs, Jack created Project Appleseed. Project Appleseed is designed to rouse a sleeping nation to the peril of forgetting its heritage. It does this by waking individual Americans to the history they've never been taught or don't know about, but will want to pass on once they are awakened to it.

What is an Appleseed? On the surface, it’s a two-day rifle marksmanship clinic. But dig a bit deeper and the marksmanship will be revealed as the means to an end; that of conveying important aspects of America’s heritage. About one thousand instructors, all of whom are themselves expert marksmen, frame their teaching by re-telling stories of April 19th, 1775. These stories are really at the heart of an Appleseed.

Why this oral history? Because the events of Lexington and Concord show the way ordinary people risked their freedom and lives to take a stand for liberty and self-government. Because of this, Americans today enjoy an option their colonial ancestors did not fully have. We can change our government and correct the course of our nation through the system the Founders left to us - the power of the vote, the power of the pen, and the power to become a part of the process. But it requires ordinary Americans to appreciate, and then pass on, the values of liberty and self-government won for us by the Founders.

How is Project Appleseed doing? Five years ago Appleseed began with the daunting goal of doubling every year. As Appleseed looks forward to celebrating its fifth birthday this year, it has been able to meet that goal. In 2012 Project Appleseed will have passed on our American heritage to one hundred thousand citizens and in the year 2016, the program’s all-volunteer instructor corps will have taught one million.

Is it possible to keep up with this goal beyond 2016? Absolutely! Every volunteer in this program is dedicated to seeing Project Appleseed double its attendees every year into the far future. And what makes the attainment of this goal possible? Ordinary Americans – your neighbors, friends, family and co-workers – who have made their own decision to break out of their comfort zone, approach fellow Americans, and share with them what makes America the exceptional nation it is.

Jack is a native of North Carolina who has spent significant time in Tennessee and Chicago, IL. He holds a B.S. from North Carolina State University, an M.A. from Vanderbilt University, and a J.D. from Northwestern University, graduating magna cum laude at all three institutions. He served as a captain in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1966-1973. Since 1999 he has written as “Fred” in Shotgun News, offering “down home” advice about marksmanship and life in America. As the Executive Director of Project Appleseed, Jack has been interviewed by Fox News and the New York Times Magazine. He currently resides with his wife, Joann, in Ramseur, NC.

(Keynote speaker at Tea Party Convention)

Dreams and remembering... can't write that book...

My dreams were of being in the military, called to a place where all the senior sergeants and commanders would meet the new commander and waiting, ten minutes, fifteen minutes, a half hour, and finally a full hour. The commanders were worried that something would be happening at their units because they and their senior sergeant weren't there - the senior sergeant were thinking about another big mug of coffee, the bikini barista at the latte stand or how to pay for the kid's college this year. They knew the junior sergeants were running the show at the unit and if they couldn't handle the boss and top being away, it would be good to know. There was some big operation about to happen. Woke up, always best to find one somewhere else after those dreams.

My disquiet for the day is not remembering the command to snap into the good tight body position after exiting the aircraft. I remember check can'o peas!, prepare to land, land! do it in the four directions, but not the command to snap into the body position. Ugh! new theory arises, the amount of memory one has with the past has a direct correlation with the amount of pills one takes to mess one's mind up while controlling blood pressure and stuff....

After Googling, and wikilooking I come to the conclusion the missing command is "Hit IT!" where upon the well trained paratroopers (of my day) would snap into the good tight body position and count "one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand...." hoping for an opening shock.

The Love of Christmas‏ (from my mother)

Dear family and friends,,

What has been the love of my life has been Christmas, always since I was a really little girl. The artificial tree my folks bought after my sister was born, and we had it till I went to college. They told me that at last it had caught on fire, so they had to buy another one. By that time, I had had lots of living Christmas trees, never had an artificial tree till Don got sick, and then I bought an artificial tree.... Now my daughter made me a stuffed Christmas tree, as cute as it can be! Has lots of little ornaments on it. I really enjoy it! (and it fits my small room).

Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat, please put a penny in the old man's hat, if you haven't a hay-penny will do, if you haven't got a hey-penny God bless you! Got a box from Janet, which I'm saving till Christmas day itself to open! Always, Christmas is wonderful, being on the north or south of the equator! I have a worker here who is a genuine South African. I am happy about the cards I've gotten. Gotten my new great grandson with the name of Garrett, which was my father'seminary's name. Who knows what he'll be, but that's alright! We never know even ourselves! But it's fun thinking about what it might be! (Got lots of ministers, my grandfather, my uncle (who married Don and me) my niece, my father, ) You all have a wonderful Christmas time, I am so glad I have so much family and so many friends, which I love so very much, Melba, Mom, Grandma, Geegee

Address book... what is that today, where is it?

Yes, I am late for Christmas cards and gifts - my mother would be shocked, sure that I have lost the Christmas Spirit she so carefully cultivated in her family. A very wonderful time of the year, and we got to get cards and letters from all over the world - from friends and family. She would line the mantles, door frames, doors with the cards for this year, and take last years cards and cut them up for decorations on boxes for gifts and such. I once was organized enough that I had a great address book, and the name of the person was written in ink, and the address and telephone number was done in pencil - for I was in a mobile military society and as often as I changed the homestead many of our extended family and friends did also. But then I retired, and plunked myself down, and didn't update, or thought that I could keep it on a computer, so easy to update and keep track of.... until I lost all the stuff on the one computer to bad things, and then when reconstructing didn't want NCIS to hack into my information on friends and family... not that they were going to - but it is on television so it must be true. Although their keystrokes don't look real enough to me.

I was recently asked for some addresses - but I haven't found them yet, so I went to a source that isn't answering the request, but I am still working through so I have pieces of what I want and building. In the end, like too many rifles (what? there is no TOO many of a good thing) you need the one that will do the job, at hand when you need it. The computer isn't it, so back to name in ink, address in pencil in a book beside the dictionary and within reach. So y'all can send me your updated address and telephone number by email, so I also get your email address at the same time. Or don't and that will be one less potential commercial contact list that you would be on.

I do know that my mother was excellent at the baking, cooking, the sharing and loving of us all at Christmas. And she loved to get presents and cards, and hugs and kisses, and memories of sights, scents and sounds of Christmas. Since I can't be with her this year, you are all invited to her side, keep us all in your prayers - that was my experience for many deployments far away on the other side of the world or country - in your thoughts and in your prayers. There are good people out there missing us now, remember them all. Merry Christmas, if I can find your address you might get a belated card. Love y'all anyway.

One doctor visit left for this year...

Both my wife and I have to finish the year with a doctor today, nothing important but bothersome... My father and mother kept saying that as long as they weren't ill at the same time they could make it. I really understand that.

I have been testing my foot, and find running on my toes possible and I want to get to it. Being fifty-five pounds over my fighting and loving weight is not where I want to be. Although, if I were still sporting the white beard, Santa Claus would be a potential job right now.

UPDATE: my wife gets off with one follow up visit in four weeks, I get two more doctor visits, another prescription, and two specialty clinic visits and no partridge in a pear tree, sigh. And to add to my frustration, I don't think I need any of it now I have the test results... it is my doctor's idea and he don't shoot.

I once enjoyed Rush Limbaugh, but when I found him making comments about the military preps for the invasion of Haiti - I discovered that he really didn't know anything about weapons, military or what was going on - but it didn't stop him from presenting an entertaining emotional whine against whatever would get a larger audience for selling his sponsor's products. Looking harder at Fox, MSNBC, ABC and CBS news - I find the same central goal, controversy creates cash - which could be a great title for a book about professional wrestling entertainment. One of the central formats for BBC News is a lack of emotion in their reporting - careful word choice to give the report without too much color content. During Gulf War I, I listened and transcribed the BBC reports so the paratroopers in my unit would know how the world looked at what we were up to. As one of my college professors wrote to me, they were covering the war like a professional football game - color commentators, graphics and play by play and instant replay.

My brother says they have a study that proves people that watch FOX News aren't as well informed as those that watch other news shows. Probably the same groups of folks that run around doing studies and polls for gun control groups and other special interests - whatever one's cause we can make a survey supporting it (growth industry).

All of the above was a great reason to break out the Lord of the Rings DVDs and watch the first one yesterday. Wonder if they are going to get to Mordor...

Getting time to balance and close the accounts...

I received a warning notice again, for my mother, about some stock that is soon to fall into the State of West Virginia's hands as unclaimed - since my father's death. My sister knows about it, and will probably get it fixed as soon as the amount falls into the state's hands - but we don't seem to be in a hurry to claim it through the fine fellows that keep sending her notices that they would help her out for a fee...
but it jars me to keep working on consolidating my own vast (just kidding) piles of plunder I left in various places as I kept moving at the whims of the Department of the Army. One of the piles of plunder is maturing on the 23rd of December, contact that institution, contact the institution I want to move it to, and make notes, sign papers and send off in the mail. I am sure most of many things can be done in email, but the internet is full of holes, so spies and assassins lie in wait for my fumble fingered mistakes, where is Kit Carson and the Pony Express when one needs them?

Calling on the telephone, this call was recorded, finding the helpful Concierge (no, I had no idea how to spell it) in Valley Forge (I jumped in that park in August of one year - beautiful thick grass to land upon) but I know now how to execute a proper indirect rollover. I have done some before, but allowed myself more time for proper transfer paperwork. Second call, typed letter, made copies, envelope and seal, stamp and send with Christmas cards. Await the check.

One of the reasons that I don't think much of Congress was taking a very simple IRA program, deposit up to $2000 of earned income per year and get the same amount entirely deducted from your income for tax purposes, allow to grow untaxed. Then they started fooling with the amount based on individual incomes and how much could be deducted, and we have to then adjust how much tax one pays based on how much of your IRA was taxed or not (bias?). Only lawyers with accountants have to love that, not the working public, drove individual investor tax payers away. Yes, it did. It was too painful to participate - we would rather get tired at work and slumber at home than work twice as hard to go only so far and then have to work again in retirement trying to figure out how much is to be paid.... ugly tax code. They did say if you wanted to carve a statue like David you couldn't give it to a group of politicians - they wouldn't have allowed a religious figure to be seen naked in public without some kind of tax, would they? Not without a balancing one of Goliath laying in the mud and the blood with his head cut off.

When did going to a doctor visit start to be like...

taking the car in for service? They open it up, find sludge and suggest flushing the system, new synthetic fluids to extend the life of the engine, parts requests and further appointments. I was laughing (quietly to myself) at another blogger's comment about human beings now outliving their teeth, which in the scope of human life is a fairly recent event. Even the development of refining sugar for sweetener only balanced the longer life possible with improved agriculture, science and medicine, and larger civilizations with professional armies and law and order. As I left my doctor's office with four prescriptions, two immediate appointments and one six months down the road I began to feel like a well used car - still getting around, safe enough to drive, but needing a little more care and not going to the race track anytime soon. I was also getting that feeling that I wanted to delay any more service calls - so I wouldn't find out any news that I didn't want to hear. Yeah, I am serviceable but no longer hot, sexy and more horsepower than brainpower. Macco doesn't cover the body work and paint job I would need to be considered a good trade-in for one of those eco-friendly fellows over there. Just park me over in the corner in the sunshine.

Don't you want to know what happened?

Big news story and you know there were consequences but the coverage never got back about what happened.

In the case of the young lady that had brought a car to school with a rifle in it, locked in the trunk, and having to be immediately suspended and face a trial by the school board ----

you do want to know what happened don't you?

Demarie DeRue

Those poor email boxes of the school board members, must have been full... seems the town came out to support her.

Hibernation announcement

I don't like saying good-bye, so I often just am not there when you turn around - forever being just a pleasant memory, I hope.

But I am going into hibernation from Appleseed and RWVA -- or taking time to prepare my taxes properly, or better prepare to meet my Maker (whose name isn't evolution), or going off to learn how to shoot better. That last one was the reason I went and joined the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, back in the day. Before there was an Appleseed in Washington State. A long time ago. I joined a second time and bought my CMP M1 Garand and took it and my Stevens target rifle to Yakima in October of 2008, meeting Wheeler44, Wade and Garth Vader. I was shooting along side Nate, who did make Rifleman and earn his patch with his AR that weekend. He was just farther ahead on our quest to master the rifle. I only scored enough to be encouraged to attend an instructor boot camp in Woodland, Washington in December, went right from there into an Appleseed at Wade's DAR (designated Appleseed range) working as an IIT.

It has been a great two years for RWVA and Appleseed and my participation. There are other things awaiting my attention. I expressed my feeling about being left behind before but my life is larger than RWVA and Appleseed and much shorter than I am prepared for, that procrastination pile is looming. I am fat, certainly not as good a Rifleman as I want to be, and I don't love enough. All things I need to address seriously and when they are back in balance I should be ready to see what has happened to Appleseed and RWVA, so off to hibernation to become a better Rifleman, husband, and Earl. With the Lord's help I have courage. Y'all be good out there and go with God, gently.

Home again is good, my home and I being here...

Woke up in the late darkness of the night, and spent a long time talking to my wife about family and friends far away and long ago. Finally talked into a warm glow, I get up and make coffee and go turn on the computer and almost finalize my Internal After Action Report for the fine Appleseed at Eagle Creek, Oregon. I sent off the Promotions report to dond, and the crew earning them. Only one piece of paper and the money order for the walk-on shooters' fees and I will be ready to announce my hibernation. My mind no more in turmoil, I go back to bed and deep into dreams of otherwheres, I always think there are great stories there but never remember to write them down when I awake.

When I wake the second time, looking for another mug of hot black coffee I look out to see a strange car in my driveway, and open the door to see what is up. My wife's Ladies' Group is coming to pray, and sing, and talk over tea and eat and talk. All I have to do is run and get stuff and be a big genial guy and proper host (we will try and fool them). As I was away making Riflemen over the weekend, my wife was entertained and cared over by her friends and folks from the church - she reported they had a great time without having to worry about bothering me, since I wasn't home. They laugh and joke and carry on talking about how helpless or bad or bumbling their husbands are, but so good about caring for them and the children. All in Korean, which most of the husbands pretend not to speak. If Robert Jordan were still alive he could write a series of fantasy books about gender politics and communities. Oh, he did but didn't finish it.

I get special rice cake and three oatmeal cookies, they always feed the fellows behind the curtain, then go back to chattering away, happy.

So the problem is the rules were broken...

Not that anyone needed a rule, but if you don't have a rule to break then you have to fall back on the Ten Commandments and God as a judge. It is so much better to have a government to establish the rules, bring offenders to justice and the PUNISH them, because any punishment from a vengeful God will be eternal... or so the reasoning goes.

Another point is that the judges, juries and lawyers can all be bought - they just cost so much more than an honest man, much. The nightly news covered the demonstrations promised by some extreme sect at a funeral, the same group protesting the honoring of the war dead. Now, if the news report - didn't have color video, reporters questioning, and NATION WIDE exposure - if they had just texted it on our screen for us to read in black and white? Would it, the protest, have been effective at all? The terrorists won the war against America with the crashing of four aircraft, and your federal government has lost track of 119,000 aircraft - which could be used for drug dealing or crashing into government buildings or hospitals or schools and since they haven't got that under control they are going to be much harder on none registered fliers and their aircraft soon. In Britian in WWII the cities were bombed and bombed and no one took a day off, they kept going, how soft civilization has become.

But remember, I will tell you that there are four rules of safety at my Appleseed, and if you fail to follow them there are consequences, could kill someone, but I won't hang you from a tree because you didn't get the first lesson, we will work with you to the point you get them and live by them for the weekend, or we will suggest that you sit and watch.

Message to school board members everywhere...

I understand that a female student at your high school told the school administration that there was an unloaded rifle in her automobile. And for some very stupid reason, such as a Montana law which needs repealed - the school board wants to expel her. She will be so much better off home schooling or self-education than staying with fools. One is known by whom they associate. Y'all be good to her and be smarter than words written in fear and frustration by politicians. When I went to high school almost every vehicle in the school parking lot had rifles in them during deer season, Ligonier Valley High School class of '66. Thank you for your attention, Earl


Of course, in civilized Eastern states the student is too young to bear arms. I am going to pray about this, the LORD knows that no sin happened, men are fools aren't they?

So how is it going? is it gone yet?

Last night I was frustrated, I was looking for some information that I knew had to be where I was looking, and it wasn't there. Time travel does exist, don't want to ever go back in time - because what I would be looking for isn't there. It is a different world, just going back forty years in one's own life (you youngsters would not understand) the disorientation would be total nuts. Yep, forty years ago in my own life I would be surrounded by tobacco smokers, in restaurants, bars, offices, ash trays everywhere... and that is only one thing. How about every hardware, department and gun shop had firearms easily obtained - cash and carry? No background check - it was the WILD WEST with gun fights at every corner. Or maybe not... The information I was looking for wasn't there, because it was Wednesday not Thursday (time travel has always existed) and when I realized I hadn't left yesterday but would have to wait for tomorrow I could go to bed and sleep.

The sleep was disturbed, by my normal military dreams, in the artillery and we had to store the mortar base plates for the infantry, because they didn't want to be bothered with making sure they didn't get fired during the darkness. If you had enough time in uniform you might understand OVERKILL and PPPPP, but then you might have those silly dreams, too.

I am struggling with reorganization of the stuff of years and yesterdays, too many videos, so many DVDs, and I will watch most of them again before I die - didn't see any that I haven't watched more than once. No commercial interruption is wonderful, although commercials are like all the hot babes in entertainment - I am so out of it that I am not running down to buy the latest medicines, auto insurance, electronic toys, or sweaty moments of almost mutual pleasures.... but then I don't buy what the media is pushing anyway. So settled in my ways, considering all the stuff I have to box up, move, store and throw away... I am glad I am not buying and saving it for the day I might need it.

The picture is of the me I never see, and it was way back, years ago that my son said I had a hole in my hair... it just gets bigger.

Nice to know people far away care and help...

Shameless advertising for the US Postal Service. Lots of well wishers from the cybersphere for my wife, thank y'all very much. She is doing very well, has something like forty videos to watch while I do the laundry and clean and organize the house and make sure her tea doesn't boil away.

And, since it has been cold enough in the last few Appleseed to shake and shiver our Rifleman's best scores away (although several probably shivered on to the target) we haven't had the famous Winterseed Rifleman patch to award. But they finally heard our complaints loudly in the East (no we aren't working with the government - these guys came through!) and Western Rose sent by EXPRESS MAIL, from Idaho's snow covered hills, some great Rifleman Winterseed patches. Now I am praying for snow covered fields in Oregon and chilling winds - how strange is that? Very, no matter the weather, we will have a great Appleseed. Maybe if Sunday is light I can shoot some AQTs myself between progress checks of my crew. There are slots left if you are so inclined to brave the roadways and find us. Eagle Creek, Oregon and you thought all they had was Ducks and Beavers... nope, they have Eagles, too.

Christmas season, don't forget those in illness...

Quick trip, less than half a day, to the hospital for medical care for my wife. She is fine, but I got a whole day of watching folks that aren't at the Mall, at work or in good shape getting into the hospital for the holidays. And all you real healthy ones that drink and drive - don't.

Lots of stuff to share out there, a hug and a hospital visit, a friendly greeting to the staff, make the Holy days and the holidays bright with love. Got to go, I am a practicing nursing aide... and it isn't my best skill set. But got to try.

Life was easier once, didn't have to think too much...

There I was sending out the Period of Instruction and Progress Check requests to the crew for this coming weekend's Appleseed. There are THREE MAJOR APPLESEEDs this weekend, one in Lewistown, Idaho, one in Yakima/Moxee, Washington and the one I am supposed to Shoot Boss in Eagle Creek, Oregon. Which means the Revolutionary War Veterans Association will be stretched a bit but still I think all the will be covered and completed well. This one is my last.

Anyway, I got a call from Patient Administration for my wife, who isn't home, who won't be back until six this evening or later. They say she can't be found in Medicare, but that is a government program, they lose people all the time. So she asked for more information to insure that my wife's number and name were correct, then for my numbers and name so they can take us to the cleaners - it is all a scam. We ended the conversation much better than we had started it - I don't do well interrupted. The radio is on, 60s and 70s music, no commercials no talk.

On facebook, like anyone should really care, seems to be a lot of changing the profile picture to some cartoon character. So I went immediately to Elmer Fudd, with a rifle and shushing y'all, works two ways so well. I have always thought of myself as Goofy, especially when Goofy had a younger version skateboarding around him, but I guess I am really thinking older - you should see the profile picture I have prepared for my upcoming Hibernation from Appleseeds, until I have a better view of the world. New World Order is so much fantasy - since there was never an order to the Old World. Thank God, that Man's imagination and fears are so foolish. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom. Y'all take care, y'hear?

Stepped out of the computer cave today...

Went shopping, wandering around with real people not those 'only met upon the net'. I have been trying to find a time I was more alone in the midst of so much going on. And couldn't, being a loner to me was just being quiet and watching. Not anti-social just not always feeling like I fit in. Wonder if that was because I was cautioned or chastised by adults for the errors of my manners, lack of grace or just plumb scared of beautiful girls. Luckily I see myself as a old man now, that has a certain freedom from having to be something I am not (a much younger man). I don't look at the rest of my life the same way I did when I thought I wouldn't make it to forty, ha, ha! Sure beat that number by a bunch. At this time I am not building up a climax to the story of my life -- not sure where it would have been, I think I know all the good parts, and once when younger I was sure of all my missed opportunities - years after I had missed all their signals. One gets so much smarter in cool thought than heated hormonal surges... Ah, well, time to get ready for a fine exit a satisfying conclusion to the best that I could have been and all that I am.

Pictures, don't you know I love lookin' good....

President Obama did a wonderful thing today, he left Washington, DC, and visited a major Airbase in Afghanistan. Excellent move, Mister President. I would be happier if you would have taken the entire Congress there until the conflict is over. It will never happen. Nice leather jacket, sir.

I am really proud of this picture, I look like GRUMPS, almost a "Gramps" but not so happy. It is part of a larger picture with beautiful ladies, and I cropped them out since I am a very married man. No, I did save the larger pictures but I can't share, they never released the rights. I did get three avatar pictures from the exchange, and a guilty feeling since I haven't given the photographer all the pictures I promised their way, will have to work on that. The good pictures brightened my day enough to make me want to go outside in the Sun, and play with the idea of a ride on my Trusty Triumph - which is still patiently waiting for my attention. It was a great day for it, but I didn't go -- bought two bottles of wine and two bags of apples. My priorities are almost perfect.

Facebook has my edited pictures, I have some more to work on, I am not very photogenic, and getting old - Three Collie has a long way to go to catch up with me, but then she is very much in the public eye (writes for a local paper) and I am not for good reason.

Mid-week, and where are you?

Well, it isn't Brussels. My wife is making kim chee in the kitchen and garage - it is a big autumn operation, not as big as it would be in Korea, even with the cabbage shortage they would still be making do. In the news, Korean, they are talking about the second strike from North Korea, the Republic of Korea's response and the Joint American and Korean naval operations in the Yellow Sea. And on the Today show? Well, they didn't have the explosions of the incoming artillery, the canned pictures of the might of the North Koreans and the Republic flying and shooting and training. You must have missed the re-broadcast of the North Korean news announcers telling their people about the defense of North Korea from the Americans and their running dogs the ROK. You didn't get the pictures of the chubby young son following his aging, sickly father around with the many be-metaled generals in attendance. I am sure when the man that owns wiki-leaks is properly punished that China (our great trade partner, or is that our great lending friend?) will tug upon the leash of that North Korean dog, so our other great trade partner might not get eaten up.... rabid pit bull against Jack Russell Terrier? Oh, can't we just get along? Let's all sing --- okay, America doesn't really have to worry about North Korea - Russian and China are greater threats, but really, do you ignore that biting snapping dog forever?