Wandering, copying and posting for y'all...

I really liked this. Since I really hadn't thought about where Laconic reply came from. I learn so much from the internet and am missing breakfast. Thanks to J. Huff.

I am just a bit stunned...

My grandfather, Rev. Earl Martin Smith, worked very hard on World Peace. He is gone now, but I having spent a large portion of my life in the World at or preparing for War, understood it isn't easy standing up for Peace. So imagine my shock at the latest Nobel Peace Prize - I can only think that someone thinks of it as a reward in consolation for his not getting the Olympics in Chicago. Really there are people out there working hard on Peace right now, not just talking about it, really working on it.

So you want to make my day?

There I sit being polite,cooperative and listening in the ILS Quarterly meeting and I am blind-sided by Jill telling me that someone in the Office of the Secretary of State is editing our ILS blog postings, correcting grammar, adding pictures and other stuff that makes it better... I was almost ready to blow the building up, I have calmed down since and am not interested in getting the proper amounts of stuff to make mayhem happen, leave it all to the next earthquake or volcanic erruption.

I really think that helpful editing is like the defensive player tipping a beautiful spiral pass.... it isn't going to hit the target, not the way the passer intended.

So, OSOS, I think I am off of the library blog business - I really thought that a blog of institutional library folks with challenges, successes, passions and problems would be read by others in the library community, just because. Not everything can be entertainment nor entertaining, many of the blogs I read are just about what the author thinks worth writing or posting. And they go from awesome beautiful pictures to heart wrenching sadness and the Blues at their blueist. I know that when I did something worthy (not often as I should have hit it out of the park) I want to record it, I don't think I need to know who read it, nor why (they could just be trying to understand English from America) but I don't need anyone to edit my postings to their own direction.

Well, I am not going to do more than think there are an amazing number of fools and foolishness in the World, and continue to pretend that I am not one of them... I can fool myself most of the time.

Don't answer that...

Somewhere someone is going to reach out and try to sell you something, don't answer that call. I pay money every month for a way to be informed of new and better and must have products and services, the television is full of stuff I should tell my doctor about, get and use to make me just much more wonderful.

If I weren't such a responsible adult and only half of the team that runs this commitment, I would start shutting things down until I could reach out when I wanted and leave a message and not gather any in my passing. With free email, blogs and facebook one doesn't need a personal computer, only a keyboard with internet access - free at one's local library in America. But then one could cut that last chain that binds one - and flee the Terminators of original thought and human interaction... don't answer that.

There are good days and there are bad...

There are really, and I wonder why the day felt so wrong and so bad. I got to ride my motorcycle to work, that was a good thing although the promise of rain awaited the afternoon and evening. I had four bins of mail and two boxes of books, so it was two trips up and down the steps but that wasn't a problem. Maybe the email with the announcement of the resignation of one of the other library keepers bothered me or started the darkness descending. The crew showed up, and worked well, the patrons showed up and bothered everyone - but that is their job and they do enjoy it. Still I guess it is the feeling of alone, in the midst of peopled plenty. There was that very formal and threatening Memo from the Communications Officer of the Office of the Secretary of State, all about blogs and their proper use and the destruction of your life if you misuse a blog or the State Owned equipment and Heavens won't help you if you actually say something that isn't in accordance with the Office. Sam Reed is a better man than the memo, but he does get protection and loses my support because of it. Those two items could have been my weights dragging my Will down... Will being my grandfather's, and mine and potentially my grandson's secret name. Everyone should have a secret name.

There were other things in the email but I wasn't picking up on anything that didn't have to do with my support of the library, I was too gloomy. I guess looking at Time magazine and People magazine during processing and finding out that I hadn't made the 100 most influenza people or BEAUTIFULL people for the year bothered me. All I know about beauty is that it begins and ends in the heart, and grows as it is shared, and I like to think that influence can't be measured by polling data, money raised, ad campaigns won - influence is butterfly effects and finding out that something one did or said had a good result somewhere beyond the scope of the originator.

I told my wife about Socrates today, it was part of a discussion she was listening to and she wanted to know why he was important - since she hadn't heard of him before. Yesterday, I processed and linked many of our new books and two about the start of the Revolution had come in, Lexington and Concord and Paul Revere's Ride. I told the inmate workers to look up Samuel Whittemore, and they did and read about him. I would get to tell the story one more time as I rode the bus from the dock to the parking lot where the Trusty Triumph waited, wet with the afternoon downpour. The rain - which broke for my time on the road going home and I was mostly dry but very happy when my wife opened the garage door for my motorcycle. By the time I had some hot bean soup warming me up I was a happy man again, blest as always. Wonder if I will ever go back to work?

The noise level is reaching election pitch...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who am I, and what am I doing writing the Pres?

Well, I had written the President, care of his new pad. I was polite and specific and knew there was a lot on the President's desk to get handled. So I wasn't sure I would ever get an answer, but figured that my letter is with trillions of others for the Presidential Library somewhere (Chicago?) some day.

Last night I received my answer from the THE WHITE HOUSE, Washington, D. C. 20502. Inside was a card to Dear Friend (I only have two friends, and no one there is one of them - oops, not counting blogging buddies). The point of the postcard response is that my opinion counts but only online, WhiteHouse.gov, to learn more about President Obama's views on a range of topics. My voice is shaping our country's future (and all that work I put in those almost forty-some plus years?).

So, if you care about tomorrow, and are a gunny, a right winger, bitter clinger, Bible thumper, a Rite Wringer, or just a normal nice person with a point of view about tomorrow, do stop by and leave your tracks at the White House blog. They need lots of help, a lot of help.

Not this one: WhiteHouse.com nor this one: White House W. that one is just history. Now all you truely Bible and Gun clingers out there without a PC, get to the local public library and link up. But then you wouldn't be reading this blog, would you? See you on the road, wave and say hello!

I loved to read the Sunday comics, and the daily's

They are talking about the extinction of the daily newspaper across the country and I look at my own life with and without the newspaper. Being young and limber once, I knelt with my two big front teeth resting on my bare knee and went through all the Sunday, in color, comic strips - to the point of impressing them into the flesh, I hadn't moved anything except my eyes over the pages my hands had turned. Lil' Abner, Terry and the Pirates, Gordo, Blondie, and many others I may have forgotten. Red Rider? Little King?

I did find the other sections of the newspaper finally, my dad talked about them, I got interesting in the stock market, letters to the editor were always a favorite, and then the want ads - where what I wanted was always there although the money may not have been in my pocket. I did find my first motorcycle in the newspaper, I have looked for jobs in the newspaper and found them. Look where that has gotten me.

I still look at the comic strips, but only on the Internet, I still read letters to the editor - although they seem to be the comments to the blogger's current post, since I stopped getting newspapers delivered to my home years ago. To me, newspapers became too heavy and costly and slower than I wanted my information. Just like television is becoming. They are concerned about selling ad space - this is where they think their money is - and they could be correct, but if I don't buy the paper and read it who will buy ad space in a medium that doesn't reach me? Not that I am important to anyone except me. So the papers are folding, the magazines are wobbling, the big networks News tries to be local, the local network news tries to be "breaking and world reaching" and their advertisers bore me away with drumbeats of commercial enterprise. I do doubt that I read any ads on any blogger's page - but I do object to the load time since I am only DSL not super high speed instant transmission - how much delay at light speed is the Moon from Tacoma? Don't add video, and giga-bytes of bits and I will get there soon enough. Does my mind work faster than light speed, or have the powers that be loaded the message to the point of my not picking it up to read?

I was wandering the Revolutionary War, for stories to tell, and found a book my mother had given me in 1975, The Boys of '76 by Charles Carleton Coffin, my copy by Grosset & Dunlap, with illustrations and drawings by Wallis Sturtevant, copyright 1876, 1904, 1918, 1924. Except for the idea of Liberty, Freedom and heroic effort there are no commercial messages. Save for the message from my mother "To Earl, Christmas 1975, Mom" I was in California about to go to Oklahoma to serve as a Drill Sergeant. Don't see that much information and entertainment being given in Kindle, the first kind or the second, but then I am a stick in the mud and don't jump on all the new technology - I have seen it break down when really needed.

Well, the weather men weren't correct, my home is much lower than 1,000 feet and that is snow on the roofs, and those are clear blue skies, no rain today... we know so very little about anything that we should always be in complete awe of what we see.

Just a minute while I put the fire out...

seems I have been thinking about improving myself so the last years I spend on Earth are worthy, but then I was busy and couldn't get around to it... Americans are so busy they watch ninety minute movies in three hour blocks with the other ninety minutes taken up with commercials for things they aren't going to buy soon anyway oh, but I do watch the evening new on two different networks to make sure my plans fit the world's or the way the MSM reports the world's - neither of my grandfathers would recognize that world view but they didn't get HDTV, did they? Speaking of things I am not going to buy, snake oil medicine men surround the terrorists from the Middle East and Banking & Wall Street, I have to worry about breathing, liver problems, ED, women that may become pregnant, high blood pressure, joint pain when playing badminton (not one of my activities), and why the Lavitra woman doesn't think I am her man... I remain so confused

In our ease and need for speed of transmission we shorten words to IMF, IBM, NBC, CBS, Sex (instead of reproduction - if they taught reproduction in school instead of sex would it make a difference?), do we shorten everything for time, or because we can't spell those longer words? I remember listening to the English broadcast on shortwave from the former Communist China - all the visiting VIP (see what I mean, I can't spell Very Important People) were given the entire title 'The Vice Chairman of the Super Committee on Small Subjects in Large Palaces for Historical Continuity and Community' lovely long flowing titles instead of VCSCSSLPHCC as we know her now

well, I was supposed to warm up some soup for my dinner, my wife left me for social obligations and happiness and I sank into making up chamber flags, re-packing my range gear box for the Caravan, and reading a book and watching Godfather II and burning my soup on the range... luckily my wife returned and smelled the almost baked soup--- she says she doesn't dare leave me alone -- see what a smart woman I married? and she wants more insurance on me and the house... well, that last isn't really true but should be.

Yeah, AWOL... all my get up and go ... went!

I woke up tired Thursday, and all the blog crawling in the world wasn't getting my blood pressure, heart rate nor attitude up, I was almost a member of the walking dead but I was so tired I didn't even walk to the dock - I rode like a sack of potatoes the bus. I did open the doors, did turn on the computers but I was not really in attendance at work so I decided to take Friday off of the hamster wheel and rest. President Obama won't notice, my taxes are filed and my assault weapons are only in his mind.

I have my wife's garden to turn the soil, add compost to and rake out a bit. I have to renew my concealed carry at the Courthouse (where I must turn in my pistol for safe keeping while I am there - but the Police Sergeant says his men will protect us all - and I believed him until he asked for my knife). I have to do some monetary fund transfers at the bank, pay some bills, buy fuel for the Caravan. I have to get a red sweatshirt, document protectors for three ring binders for my Appleseed Instruction material and schedules. I need to stop at two gun shops for a check on a scope for the Model 70, and possible National match sights for the Garand. I should exercise lightly after my devotions and hit the road for some time with Nature and sweating. And if I do it all right and correctly I will go back to reading The 47th Samurai by Stephen Hunter. I caught back up on Battlestar Gallactica last night but then I really didn't since I have whole seasons of strange relationships between friends lovers and enemies I will never understand - still when they got down to Earth and found it radioactive and a wreck - I was finally able to see what happened to the cast of LOST and that beautiful island they had lived on so badly. Terminator VII will be so much better... if the Governator will just run out of term limits.

Having wandered to politics, remembering you can't force me to be better, braver nor beautiful, I give you what is wrong with America from Kevin's Corner The Smallest Minority , something to think about - but I like to remember it was my father and mother that are responsible for the fellow I am today - not Darwin, President Truman, Stalin nor Gary Cooper. See how quickly I prove I know what is important in my life... it isn't in the media.

Hope you all (y'all) have a chance for a real day off and time to sit over breakfast with ur signif othr and TALK. Lost arts in America: conversation, caressing the soul, romance, penmanship, spelling and grammar. Blog on!

The best of ideas...

As I jog I think, and my thought for today is 'go out and do good stuff, and only good stuff' and with that I leave you having started my thought for today the same way...

Just when I thought I could be free of cyber chains...

I get dragged into Facebook by one of my favorite ladies, sigh, and that gets me to stuff I didn't know Facebook has, "Give a Gun"? Which drags me off to another and then another and I am so behind already today. Someone asked for my contact information, and he already had my email in two areas, the telephone is only answered here by me when my wife might be calling - I do dislike politicians, pollsters and salesmen that call me "Bill". I must turn this machine off and go to my day - or it won't be mine. I have only a short time to get there...

Just before I head off to bed, early...

I was reading about a demonstration in Raleigh North Carolina, on the 4th of February, by the Gun Guys & Gals. Okay, they aren't Gun Guys & Gals, they can be called RKBA concerned folks I would guess (yes, I had to figure that out, I am so out of it). I was amused by the Rules of Engagement, for they want to take all MY Rights away during My participation in OUR Demonstration.

Now, for the record, if I weren't working to pay taxes and bills, and I lived in North Carolina (which I did three times with the 82nd Airborne Division) I would dress with white shirt and tie, nice trousers, shined shoes, gloves, shooting glasses and a good coat for the weather, and a hat without logo. I would do that because it fits what I think is important to say - I do care that they repeal all the infringement on our right to keep and bear arms. The politicians need to hear it over and over, until they fix it.

Of the three email messages to my elected representatives in the Federal Government, I have received one email answer from Senator Murray, and I will thank her for acknowledging my message and my existence. There are two typed letters out there still unanswered, but I have some patience, there is a crisis outside my home they are taking care of first. And "NO", the Senator did not jump on my point of view neither for nor against, but restated her fears and her mission to calm them, without exactly saying what she would do. Actually, she thinks she is doing it for me, our families and communities as a national crime-fighting strategy. She didn't seem to favor arming the militia so we could fix the security problem, which I think is a real winner. Ah, well, I have been wrong before, I could be again.

Along with trying to teach safe, responsible firearms use, writing to my representatives in government at all levels, and speaking up clearly when people try to demonize the arms and the ammunition; along with that I need to invite media types, and anti-gunners to come shooting with me and other good citizens. I have no idea why the gang bangers and common thugs seem to have the only firearms coverage, when there are so many good people doing very well with their arms every day. There always have been more good people than bad ones, more sober folks than drunks, more honest people than liars. Unless you are counting politicians only? All the ones I know (0) are honest as they know how. Ah, well, good night y'all, there are watchful service people wearing camo, military gear and bearing arms all around the world tonight, we are safe. Your local community watch (MILITIA!!) is working, too?

Good sleep, bp is good, and I can share...

I admire the efforts some bloggers put into food, the pictures and recipes one can almost smell the love and warmth. So as I was called to breakfast in my home and I looked at the scrabbled eggs with cheese, sliced tomatoes, and toast, the aroma of fresh ground coffee and the Korean music in the background I thought about getting my camera and sharing. But the telephone rang, I lost my lady love to the instant communications monster, and I reverted to the savage brute that only she can sooth. I cleaned my plate (I haven't eaten slowly alone since OCS) and took the picture and took my coffee and ran, back to the computer cave to share, sigh. It really was so beautiful and the coffee is awesome.

What's keeping you up at night?

I have been trying to prepare my taxes, download TurboTax 2008, under Firefox (NOGO 3x) then back to Windows, it works! then since I care I write the incoming President about my good wishes for America and the 2nd Amendment. You did, too, didn't you?

Stepping out of character...

A wife with a car and a problem, so I had to dodge and weave and change stride, and take time off to take care of it. So the Library was closed Thursday afternoon, those normal Thursday patrons are going to believe that ever since Thanksgiving the POWERS that BE (ever referred to as 'they') have it in for them. I got to watch the coverage of the splash landing in the Hudson, and think about how cold it was there. I paid the tab, drove the vehicle around, testing it and listening to satellite radio - the Blues show - my kind of music. Stopped at the Tacoma Public Library to see what was new on their shelves and then onward to the home. Normal food for dinner, evening at home with Heinlein and too much coffee. Wake and prepare for today as my wife backs the car out of the garage I hear the Blues, not her kind of music. So, taking my cup of fresh morning coffee, I walk down the drive with her, stop her as she turns, wait until she rolls down the window and reach in and change back to her Korean station. She says 'thanks, you really love me' and I tell her she doesn't know how much. She responds with 'get some shoes on!' Yeah, marriage is like that.

Dear Senator, about Law Enforcement & Firearms...

Taking the time to ask your support of the 2nd Amendment. Especially the first part of the well regulated militia defending the free state. I believe that is often glazed over, but all your voters and potential voters are supposed to be in that militia and there aren't enough public shooting ranges, common use weapons and ammunition in storage for the citizens that don't have their own. This is something that should be fixed pretty soon, one never knows when the militia would be needed. Certainly need a participating public in securing the defense of the nation. We also need to get rid of all the laws that infringe upon the right of the people to keep and bear arms - some of us can afford the weapons and the ammunition to maintain our proficiency. Thanks for your time and your great service. Earl

One gets Blest, but never feels Blessed ... still

I really don't do well enough for accolades, nor award nominations, I am still just hanging out or hanging on. But I do like being me too much to be someone else. So, name six things I am extremely grateful for (knowing that if the government finds out they will try to take them away?)

1. God
2. Family
3. Love
4. Friends (all two of them that didn't go shooting with me - today)
5. Good people everywhere - many more than bad people anywhere
6. Earth - Man's personal Garden of Eden (don't mess it up, folks)

The second award is named the Lemonade Award. Hmmm, maybe when life hands you lemons, you learn to make lemonade or lemon pie. It's just a matter of perspective. I do know this, no matter how large we feel our problems are, there is someone somewhere who has it so much harder. The world doesn't end when we are given a problem to overcome. No, life goes on...



The Lemonade Award tells me to pass it on to 10 other bloggers that show attitude and/or gratitude.

Ah, I lifted the above picture and text from Little Drops since she tagged me; and I thought I was picked for my sour disposition - and I don't add sugar to much in my life after reading Sugar Blues. But some folks read between the lines, peek behind the curtain, or expect more from me than I could ever deliver - in spite of the History of Earl.

I can pick ten with attitude and/or gratitude, my daily visits are there for a reason - they have both:

SailorCurt
Jeffro
Brigid
BBWolf
Ambulance Driver
Wyatt Earp
Sensible
Marianne
Old NFO
Bullet slinging Bookmarm... Breda

not that I would ever tell them they have been tagged or selected, but those that never visit my blog have ways of knowing who has linked and when and where. They all deserve these two awards and would, if they weren't doing such incredible creative stuff, play along.