Okay, Happy Birthday, MARINES!

Probably one of the few things I am jealous of the US Marine Corps is that they really know how to celebrate their birthday - the Army has buried its under Flag Day I think, and for some reason they don't know how to party.

So today, for a force that began in a tavern, Happy Birthday! from a former paratrooper, who was always glad to be shot at along side you, wouldn't have wished it any other way.

Just keeping you posted...

Seems our Program Manager is caught in Florida, flight grounded by high winds which we shan't name. She has to catch a later flight this week. The rains will be here, although they say Thursday will have a break. The rains come in bands like waves upon the beach and I did jog and walk yesterday but then was well soaked in the evening drive. I have lost, last week, one of my better workers to the Chain Bus, he had to move on to Monroe Corrections Complex. That made me short, and sure enough one of my other better workers has two afternoons of group counseling to attend every week before the end of December, and yesterday they had the Veterans Banquet - yes, we have Veterans inside our fences that are in State issue serving time, we also have them in Corrections Officer uniform and admin - there are Veterans everywhere - just not as many as there were at the end of the draft in 1973. The Republic of Korea, Israel and Switzerland still have almost universal military service for various reasons.

I had attended for eighteen weeks Infantry OCS at Fort Benning, GA, in the Fall of 1967. Got pretty close with the rest of the platoon. Years later as a First Sergeant I was running the streets of Fort Bragg and saw one of my platoon mates, now a Major in Special Forces and we talked in his office. He had once been visiting a Federal Prison on some mission or other, and had run into one of our platoon mates in the administration of the institution and they talked and caught up, then the administrator, called on a telephone and they brought in a prisoner, who just happened to be one of our platoon mates. Strange, no guarantees of how well you will do, just because you had a chance it all comes back to what you choose to do and act.

Back to reality of today, I had best take out the garbage and get ready to run, have to make better choices, my wife told me no early retirement - I have to keep on keeping on... but the government wants my tax contributions, so I already know. Do remember to honor the service of our vets tomorrow - from this vet it is embarrassing to see free meals and such, but tears flow when the children who I hope never know war say thank you. Their future has always been what it was about, we don't want to dwell on our past.

Full Moon tonight? Howling anyone?

Would love to tell you about my Appleseed Shoot at Castle Rock, but my wife says I need a shower and to get some rest. I don't complain, I had roast turkey, stuffing and trimmings for dinner after the drive home. I leave you with Kelly and his M1 Garand, don't you know he was having more fun than most? Well, I do, take my word for it he had two great days shooting his M1A and M1 Garand, and he was still smiling when he downsized to his Ruger 10/22. The young fellow knows how to have a good time.

How did mild mannered Clark Kent use that phone booth?

I am switching gears from Library Keeper to Shoot Boss, and I am just as far behind as ever. The shoot box did arrive, and my wife moved all fifty-three pounds of it inside from the porch. It doesn't have every thing I wanted, but more of some stuff and it will all keep to the next one whatever I don't use. My range clothing is laid out, the rifles cased, the other stuff already in the Caravan, it will need fueled up tomorrow very early, only two hour drive down I-5. I opened both IAAR and AAR on the Appleseed forum, and established a link on this blog to get to the public one. One last check in the morning of the load and the paperwork - I have to file everything upon completion with the folks back East, which will be fun, since Monday I have to do inmate payroll and the October reports, I did send off the end of October stuff today.

Oh, on my being Superman, my heart doctor says I am wasting my money and his time unless I come up with something better than a faint, once. I do like that opinion. I did report for my brain scan, to see if I had one, if it was taken over by demonic possession, if an alien life form is living there and spying on humankind.... results will be Monday. I do know that I really can relax deeply, that MRI machines are noisy, and that hospital gowns that open in the back are only for the convenience of the staff in covering patients, not in making patients happily securely dressed.

Okay, now I am really ill....

I don't believe in Zombies, although people tied to their televisions, cellphones and such may be closer than I want to realize. Still today when I went to check with my doctor he had other specialists listed to see about how to improve me. Sigh, and my mother loves me the way I am, except for the far away and apart stuff. Anyway, my doctor wants me to see a Cardiac Specialist and get a Brain scan - anyone that knew me as a Drill Sergeant and Senior NCO would immediately know the doctor was trying to find a heart and mind - which were removed in my first NCO Academy for my future professional growth. What my doctor and I talked about is confidential, but really I wasn't buying it and probably won't anytime soon without something else changing.

I walked down to the dock today, like most days, and a bright red BMW pulled over and stopped and the window powered down, so I stuck my head down and around (hoping for that beautiful long legged red head of my mythology -- it wasn't) it was a sharp looking soldier with three metal proficiency badges above his left pocket and sunglasses on his head "Hey, Old Timer, would you like a lift?" Which is not the way to sell me a refrigerator in the Artic, Old Timer? do we know each other? "No," I answered, "I do this for the exercise and thanks for the offer." He drove off, I hadn't even been limping or anything but he was looking out for me. Ladies, he was a keeper if you could catch him... like I would know what a keeper was today.

The only other thing of note today was that I called BlogTalkRadio to make may opinion known on Gun Nuts Radio: Self Defense hosted by Breda of Library, Guns and Bacon fame. So I chatted and no one paid attention to me, and then I called and was nicely thanked by Caleb - but I probably sounded like an old man when I asked why he hadn't shot in his latest self defense opportunity - his answer was correct - the threat was gone so he didn't shoot. I also wondered but didn't ask why he was a target of the fool with the knife, what made him a potential victim? Still, since he threw his coffee at the perp I thought that was the first good move, getting his pistol out next was second, and not saying "put your hands in the air" was the third good non-move.

Okay, almost time to go get the hot shower and get to bed, I am so far behind in work and will crack the whip tomorrow. Since another doctor has my Thursday afternoon tied up in his office and lab. Can't wait to find out about the Brain Scan, I know there must be a good picture of my mind somewhere.... blank slate of course... I did get three green ball caps to use as Shoot Boss this weekend, two are perfect colors, no sewing on them yet. But the color becomes me... I hope.

The measure of a man...

Friday night, I was really tired when I rolled home in the Caravan, and waved good-bye to my wife going out to her Ladies Bible Study. Hmm, there were other things I once did on Friday nights in another life long ago and far away, and seemingly happily ever after. So I have Willie Nelson singing Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain on the television, and am thinking about the week.

I check my weight, blood pressure and heart rate daily after rising, and I am always making comparisons between the me I know and the one y'all do -- some how you have made judgments and mostly think well of me, or that I am a bit off the mark. Constant evaluations - how do I measure up, how am I, how do you do? The measure of a man... yes, those of the female gender may play, too. But I think you are way too hard on yourselves. We really like soft cuddly sexual objects, if we had wanted hard plane surfaces we would never have left the shop, with the wood work or automobile bodies. Honest, sitting on a couple thousand pounds of raging bull has no sexual gratification, that is the combat struggle that men need to rage back with... not about sex at all.

Being older and gentler I don't seem to have to rage in combat much anymore, although there are some trespassing turkey takers I thought fondly of taking out. A phrase my son once used in the presence of a lady - who immediately identified it as being one of my thoughts for solutions to problem people, I was very basic Bad Guy once, proudly.

Still, it seems to be the week I am evaluated, I was measured and found wanting, and that was a shock - who me? You talkin' to me? Yes, she was. I get a blog post out of it and a Face book mention, then more folks weigh in and the tower officer is mentioned in dispatches, unfavorably. Everyone seems to be getting measured against their level of professionalism, and the ideal, don't we wish we never fell short and we ask forgiveness but not often enough. The whole incident reminded me that I need to pray for my enemies more often - seemingly I don't have as many as I once did, I often think I prayed too hard for the Vietnamese Communists and not hard enough for the poor Iraqi troops (those guys were hope&helpless) but recently I haven't had much time to think about my enemies - don't have direct contact and haven't been shot at, been the target of tactical ops or sudden mischief. And the ones that the media and the White House have never seem to be mine.

Today I finish my week with my professional annual evaluation as the Library Keeper at McNeil Island Corrections Center. My supervisor gave me my evaluation, it went well since it is the third one we have done, and we are more willing to talk and trust each other and look to the next year and what we can do to improve and make it a better operation in line with the Library and the Department of Corrections' mission and the needs of my patrons. Don't worry, all my faults she knows about were noted, but so were my proper adjustments in performance and attitude.

When you need to improve it helps to have some independent eyes looking at you critically, like a coach. Still, I like to set my own standards, always have.

I wanted to be thought well of by my father, to measure up to the man he was. I want to be loved by God and not fall short, still working on that one. I want my mother's love and pride and seem to have had that always save those terrible teenage years where we weren't ready for my foolish breaks for freedom - and I still tell little boys to run away and escape to adventure. I want to be stronger and faster and healthier, and don't want to pay the price to get there - but I do measure it and I am still moving out and getting somewhere. I want to get the smiles of lovely people, good folks everywhere, ladies and little children. I want to be trusted to take care of stuff; for myself and those I love and those that need me, the real me. I want to live in love with it all, until the echo of that love comes back and warms me to a brilliance I didn't know I have.

Walking in the dark and wet...

Yesterday, just a sleep ago...

The rain was at a temporary truce, fog bound the Western Washington, so the Trusty Triumph rolled out of the garage and turned on to warm up. At nine thirty in the morning I wondered at the number of fools running without headlights, it was thick fog. Interesting trying to gauge where I am in the ride when I can only see the road just around me, makes the journey a bit longer. I seem to be one of three riding a bike to work. Park it 'til evening return trip - what was that point about Daylight Saviings Time? It is so dark so early I have completely forgotten.

My sister mentions walking through the fallen leaves, the fat Maples await the stirring of my feet, and I am always taken back to the mountains of Pennsylvania and their colors for the weekend tourists. Homeboys soak it up while looking for deer. Which reminds me that it is hunting season and I haven't seen one - but as I look into a little valley in the woods, there she is. Looking back at me, pistol range and I am not carrying, So I talk to her about where she is, how she looks and wish her luck. Wondering if the hunters of yester-year would have let her go for another year or a bigger one around the corner, and would they have talked to her - probably.

In the evening as I walk out the gate of the prison and across the road I find another deer waiting for me - must be a sign, this one is feeding on a particular clump of vegetation and ignoring me, but most long legged females do so I am comfortable being a fleeting distraction. Again, we are talking short pistol range - less than twenty-one feet, and silly me, I start talking to her, too. Since the island is a National reserve there isn't any hunting on it, the deer population is large, only the coyotes and bumbling bears make an attempt to thin the population. Maybe I should think about hunting this weekend, enough to find some I could shoot, for me it is the time on the hunt more than the meat, I wonder if I can pick up a cougar instead. I wonder a lot.

First day of deer season here...

Of course I am interested, we can't shoot any in the Seattle Parks that have signs posted that there are no guns allowed - so I figure that is where all the bucks with more sense than rut will gather. Unfortunately for them, the rut rules, and Mayor Nickles knows that he was in violation of the Constitution of the United States of America, since he isn't going to be mayor soon, it doesn't matter. The city will pay the lawsuits, but it does show that fools still get elected to important positions and then don't know how to obey the law, doesn't it? Maybe a civilsuit against the fool instead of the office? I would be for that, his pockets aren't that deep but look at the message.

State Wildlife best guesstimate of 120,000 hunters looking for Bambi and close relatives there of, they had better not go to the city parks. I played a wargame, and packed the Caravan to go shooting paper in the pouring precipitation (RAIN!! with Thunderstorms and winds). I enjoyed the expanse of shooting positions, seems that those crowding me out the last few weekends are among those 120,000, go get'm guys and gals! I keep expecting to read about another deer harvested in Idaho, but haven't yet. Anyway, it was fun shooting, although I wasn't shooting like I thought I should be, wanted to blame it on the firearms, but they couldn't defend themselves and so I didn't. When I finished all that I could do, I decided to build my confidence back up and pulled the target rifle out, slung up, and started feeding it one bullet at a time, and shooting, one at a time, break the finger from the trigger, open and eject, cock the hammer, reload, close up and take aim and fire. Called my only flyer, and I was happy - that rifle still loves me and I had a group I could live with and brag about if I were that kind of a fellow.

I do think I am stuck in a different Century sometimes, single shot target rifle with iron sights, and that really works for me. And I don't have to hear about my happy finger, cause every shot is rebuilt from the floor, the sling doesn't move nor the non-firing elbow, but the rest does. well, I have damp rifles to clean, adjust and oil up a bit. Don't you just love the rain? Helps keep the blundering hunter sounds and scents down, but then the deer lay quieter than men, don't they?

Good guys shooting today, lent my binos for them's shooting too far and not knowing where their rounds were going. I talked to a young man (yes, they are all young now) with his new Assault Rifle (an AR with a Thompson Center barrel - sixteen inch) he wanted something he was familiar with - and was cleaning the crud off of it since it wasn't clean when he got it (?) someone was probably playing around before his purchase. He said it was for home defense, I asked why he hadn't purchased a shotgun, and he said that was on his list of to buy, but it would come after his CCW purchase. We went down and talked to another young man (I did say they all were young now) that had been firing his pistol but was now shooting his IMI Galil Assault rifle in 5.56mm. They talked rapidly about what was good and their next purchases (seems building an armory is high on their priorities) I had to laugh and mentioned something about the young being in a hurry. Do keep investing in arms, looks like there are young buyers out there, probably building them in Iraq and Afghanistan daily. Good guys, there was also a young family at the end of the line, all their rifles were the best the Communist could send America, bolt actions and semi-automatics.

Well, I have twelve new CMP chamber flags and one 54" synthetic sling (AWS all weather) by Turner Saddlery with the CMP logo, in brown, will look good with the M1 Garand, in the rain. Will leave the leather on for now. Leather like fine wood has a soul, as opposed to plastic and stamped metals... got to go and get the house ready for the return of my lovely wife. Later

This October is hard on old guys....

Facebook picture of Earl being cared for by Kum Cha after running his head into a tree while chasing a ball hit by some of that next next generation, sister sitting nearby, Florida (yes, it is colder here in Washington, and WET).

sometimes small town guys go farther than one thinks...

I have always called Ligonier Valley my hometown, but I didn't live in the town and was living on Darlington Road along side the Loyalhanna Creek that cut through the Chestnut Ridge that lay West of Ligonier Valley. I left for college and then adventures with the military service of my country and its best intentions. So I think having been elsewhere and seen and done a bit I can pretend to be a ex-resident expert on small town boy goes far.

I was thinking of that at the memorial for my friend and brother-in-law, William Gerald Leibel, Jr (Jerry), today. He kind of stayed home while I was wandering but then I realized that he had traveled to England with my sister to visit their daughter in her Air Force service, had gone to Colorado for the Renasiance Fair wedding of my brother's son, gone to Hawaii to visit and attend the wedding of my son in the Navy and in love, he did get around.

The minister said kind and good words about Jerry, and knew we all cared very much about Jerry and knew he couldn't catch more than we were sure Jerry was a very good man - in a fight, in a family, in his role as father - all a very good man. But they, my sister and her daughters picked a perfect place to say good-bye, it had a long white sand road to get to the park, the creek was perfect to the jumping fish and the dolphin, the breeze was cooling and the day was fine and we remembered Jerry and our lives with him. My mother had written her memories and I and my sister read them and shared our thoughts about her memories, good thoughts.

As I thought about how small town boys leave and travel, and that Jerry really hadn't, I looked a second time and realized he wasn't frozen in that place nor our hearts, but was going out with his daughters and wife, and his son-in-laws, and grandchildren into their futures. Kind of always there, a solid reference an anchor when you wanted an expert opinion - well, their dad would have done it this way, or would have said this about that, or not said anything at all unless it was 'do you need any help?' That part of Jerry that he gave away with his love will go on into our future, and we will be happy to pass it on, wherever the road leads us.

Another day for the MOTORCYCLE!

And I rode it to work, and I danced it and flew it back home after - one shouldn't have a love affair with artwork built of metal and plastic fueled by mid-grade gasoline - but I have fallen from my ideal so I laugh and smile and get second looks from hot young women in SUVs with cellphones (wondering what she is looking at). Lots of real motorcycles out today, and we roar (or they do, I am going gently) but I am happy, yes I am, and just think --- the government did nothing to stimulate me, how does that happen?

You do remember not to trust the Government...

I am getting old and I keep forgetting that the Government is not on my side - that is important, I only have two friends because I trust them, everyone else is suspect and below them is the government which I KNOW is trying to take all my extra for themselves.

I bring this up since I went to shoot at Fort Lewis Range 15 today. Having spent lots of time with my rifles over the past few months I thought it was time to shoot my carry pistol. I grabbed the case and away I went, passing all the bicyclists on their way to Portland from Seattle. When I got to the range I asked for a box of 9mm, and they didn't have any. So your government (of the people, by the people and for the people) doesn't have what it takes to run a good range. They do own sixty percent of General Motors Company, and that could be where all the 9mm is hiding.

Well, it is my fault, not the government's, so I shot what I brought and hit the target with every bullet, fifty percent of them in the black. It has been a bit since I was shooting double action short barreled firearms at twenty yards. I do have rounds in the pistol case: .22 LR, .45 APC, 9mm Luger. I am now placing forty-five and nine millimeter in the ammo box in the Caravan.

Why I ever trusted the government, they have done this to me before but I think they will get better the next time, and it doesn't happen.

Aren't they working on Universal Medical and the Economic Stimulus? Yeah, sure they are.

Just wanted you to know, they were paying attention

I check what is written, and blog posts, and I watch for real people I would have loved. Got to be happy in life, there are so many Great Ones. Yeah, and he knew about shooting, well and for cause. Hope Heaven is happy, another good one to man the walls, watch from the towers and hold back the darkness.

Do read the story about the M1.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Just when I think I am up to speed, I slow down...

Yesterday was the big celebration, you know the one working folks do for it being FRIDAY! After four days of grinding out the labor and putting in the time they are ready to go home in about nine hours and party! So Happy Friday, and TGIF, and all are cried and laughed about. Surviving another week and two days of one's own time, no supervisors, no work, no way!

I was on my second motorcycle riding day of the week, the weathermen tried to make me believe it was going to rain - but I was betting the other way, and I had such a smile on my face from Thursday that I had to ride, rain or shine, on Friday - after all what is life about if it isn't about when one rides the Trusty Triumph? Well, my life anyway. For sure it was ten degrees warmer on Friday and I didn't lose my fingers to the wind chill like I had Thursday. On the way home I would cut through Spanaway Lake Park and at twenty miles per hour lean into the gentle curves and roll out, one doesn't really have to go too fast to enjoy being an old man on a bike.

I have lost one inmate worker, he is off to another level of custody, didn't obey the rules well enough so next week's chain will take him to the joint at the end of this world - Clallam Bay Corrections Center. The other three are in great form, although one is preparing for transition back into the world outside the fence and guards, I have requested six new candidates to test and interview for the position, I have about four new kites asking for the position only the Sikh seems a best possibility. His name may not even get on the callout. I will work with what is offered. Look, it is the end of another month, and I haven't finished most of the things I wanted to, but then I do have today and tomorrow and too long work days (Monday and Tuesday 11:3o to 20:00).

In my personal life, that I seem to share with a family and my two friends, I seem to have rippled the fabric of harmony and togetherness. I am like that. I am singing badly again with the choir, but the director understands she won't have all my attention and attendance, I have things to do and promises to keep. Even my wife has convinced me to consider seeing my doctor again, but he might not like me when I tell him what I think, but he might.

Well, the rains have returned, just for me so I can get out of doing the lawn and the daffodils droop a bit, still their bright yellow is uplifting, the Winter may really be over... it is just the cooler type of Spring - unless skiing is your passion, the slopes are open and working. Must be time for a nap - I come home on Friday and after dinner have the worst time trying to keep my eyes open - I missed the Diva match on Smackdown - and my wife didn't even wake me but we were heading for bed early (9:30 PM!), it had been a trying week and nine straight hours of sleep seems a fine reward for the weary.

Take care out there.

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...

When I was young...

I had too much money and so I purchased three rifles from Winchester of Hong Kong, didn't everyone? My father asked why my Model 70 was in 30-06 and my only answer was that I thought that was a good round (I had no real idea, but I knew that one worked for deer and Pennsylvania). Since I declared today a rest day from exercising I took the rifles out and looked at the Model 70 for scope mounting, and decided not to... cause I have no knowledge about scopes and the rifle as it stands now is pure beauty. I must be the right size, cause all my rifles fit me so well, or I fit them well, another day it is good to be me. Funny that I like all my rifles, want to really be perfect with the M1 Garand, but love the beauty and perfection of the Model 70. Maybe I could get both of them National Match sights... sure.

What political party are you? just interested...

The last political party I gave money to was the Democrats for the primary campaign of a Senator from Nebraska, Vietnam Vet and father. The last party I picked so I could vote in their primary was Democrat. But then although I believe in many things, I don't believe in the Democratic Party and I know that the Republicans aren't really better just different a little bit... Like I am a Life Member of the National Rifle Association (which I almost lump with those two major political parties - being so far away from me, my life and efforts for better'n) but I get to do more in shooting with the military and the Revolutionary War Veterans Association, CMP and Washington Arms Collectors (the last I haven't really done anything with but I read their news). Nope, I am Earl, and I guess it only matters that I care enough to be interested but not enough to think I should do something about any of the above or all of the above.

I have my life, and loves, and I have squandered much of my life - and enjoyed doing so. But I think working on being strong enough and disciplined enough to survive all the terrible stuff that is to come and to work hard on improving and increasing the LOVEs is where I am at for the near future - which is all I have left, having spent the first parts of my life enjoying more and building so little... you can get what you aim for, or not really see your target and just let fly.