Promise not kept...

He showed lots of promise, he had promise, his birth was a promise to a prayer request.... he didn't live up to his promise, he was living a lie....

I like to think I was a promise that my mother dreamed of long before she ever met my father... but then I am the central figure in my story. She had dreams, designed and sewed her own wedding dress, she waited (remained virgin) until the day she married, she wanted to cuddle and nurse a baby, change its diapers, sing to it, and tell it stories. And one wouldn't be enough, she wanted a small gang of babies, one after another. She believed in planning for the next one. Only one unplanned blessing, all welcome, all promises in answers to her dreams.

I guess like most plans, they are destroyed with first contact with the enemy, in my mother's case and my promise - her dreams met my desires. In diapers I would break out the slats of the crib to get free of it, I would fall out the second story window (too young to explain), would jump from the same window for an opportunity to see the circus downtown, escaping my nap. She was ironing and looking out the lower window as I landed, and started to cry because I was busted. I didn't get to the circus, but likely took the nap.

She gave me a love of stories, reading, and my own dreams and exploring my questions about the world, almost fearlessly.

I will have to confess I have had a wonderful life, even the bad parts were not that bad (I lived with only minor scars and few nightmares over time), but I haven't lived up to the promise my birth was for my parents. My father had different thoughts for my growing than my mother had, and he allowed more options on my life, and support for the strange ones I chose. Still didn't live up to the promise.

I had play football for a couple of years in junior and senior high school, line thug. When my scores for the National testing came back and about ready to graduate high school, Mister Starr, the football coach and Biology teacher told me I could have gone to college on a scholarship if I had continued playing. He was referring to my academics, not my sports skills, I did go to college, was in love with the concept of education, but I went off to the military since it was my choice. Finished college in the military, which is the hard way.  Never met my promise, but my mother was proud, my wife was proud, and my friends were happy.

I never became a lawyer, minister, politician, business owner, or teacher... just a line thug, a fine thug.

I think I would like to believe I am a Norman Rockwell Relic, just a throwback to a better era, a kinder time,  when men were gentlemen, and hard working providers and heroic anchors to solid families in the community.  But then if it were true, it would be a promise kept.

April Fools everywhere...

I have had a great day, new picture for the header, one of the neighbor ladies planted that tree years ago, and has sold out and moved, but she was always wondering if the tree was in good shape. It is.

I did pay all the bills, sent out the checks, balanced the books and know I am so much smarter than all those fools in Washington DC and the Federal Reserve Banks that think they know better than I. They probably don't shoot straight either.

I went to the YMCA and worked out, kind of just starting over again, but 5K rowing machine, 2.5 miles on elliptical in thirty minutes, and six point nine eight miles on the bicycle machine. Heavy sweat, breathing fine, and hot shower and nice lunch with wife. Pay another bill, make the entries and go out to cut the grass in the temporary sunbreaks. Finish the front yard, then rake and sweep up the tailings so it looks good. Figure on saving the back yard and general yard maintenance for the rest of the week after progressively more exhausting workouts at the YMCA.

I want to look so pretty by May... or something. I cannot continue dying by recliner. The only thing I didn't do today was dry fire in preparation for Saturday shooting. There is still time.  The Trusty Triumph got switched on today, and the battery looks solid, so will clear the deck and check levels and pressures and get out on the road soon...

Them's fightin' words where I come from...

Haven't thought that way for a long time, interesting to be reminded of it. Normally it would lead right into a good ol' scuffle (which I would always think I won after it was over). You can build a reputation quickly that way, then if they have ever heard of you by reputation you will never have to get to that phrase nor the fight. Very likely why our wonderful military force isn't winning wars completely and decidedly. No victory dance on the graves of our enemies. We get a reputation for being a kinder gentler service. Actually, the reason we don't win wars and influence others not to fight us, is completely political.  The United States of America has not fought a real war since 1945, their military has be almost constantly under the threat or engaged in combat operations during the same period. If it were good Christian virtues making us friends with our enemies after combat, having a beer with the buddies, I would be happy. But it is a bunch of fools thinking the power of their money will buy them a lasting peace... and those that can be bought, are corrupt and not to be trusted. Those that buy other people with money aren't to be trusted either.

It is my understanding that the President is launching his anti-American campaign and promoting alternative life-styles without guns and non-John Wayne movie heroes. By the time he gets to California to raise more money the film industry is going to have more action heroes chasing their same sex lovers across the screen (or those of that persuasion will be protesting adverse working conditions). Don't worry I have stockpiles of old fashioned entertainment, my wife wonders why I don't turn on the television in the evenings now, but I am being told that (by MSM) all the family programming has wonderful homosexual couples everywhere. I am getting so old that two women kissing just doesn't do it for me any longer. Actually, I expect women to kiss and hug, I don't thnk much of men that kiss and hug, only children and their wife or mother. Old fashioned and a cultural thing I should be able to be re-educated away from it in the camps.

Marriage, did see Suze Orman complaining about how little protection her partner has from the government for their relationship. Being as wise as she is, her partner and she have invested as they could for their partnership from the moment it became serious. Without government assistance nor interference. Best way for a solid relationship, keep the lawyers, government, Oprah and Dr. Phil out of your relationships.

Anyway, since Left is the new Right, and re-defining marriage to include every potential PETA objection, High School Diplomas don't mean an educated potential citizen/worker/tax payer. What will they tell us they are going to be doing in the Re-Education Camps? With all of us too old to change, use us for body parts?

The picture came from:

Girls, Guns and Government's and it is a great one. I labeled it a fine fellow that doesn't trust his government, so he up guns.  Works for me.

Had to stop my devotional study this morning...

I am not pleased with Facebook fellows and am thinking about too much.

Seems the media has gotten excited about the US Supreme Court deciding about two cases where marriage will be only between a man and a woman.  I think that what the Court will decide is if the voters have any say in the future laws of the land, they will not be able to say that two people of the same sex have an ability to reproduce offspring, they will not be able to say that two people can love each other for the rest of their days bringing their love and blessings to the community of people that surround them and Glory to God in the Highest.

Scientifically, it is already established that some almost sexual act between two humans of the same sex will not produce nor reproduce a human being. I am of the certain but unproven (to me) opinion that scientifically and with medical intervention the half of one adult can be joined to half of the other adult and produce something un-natural but really human if brought to term and life.

I am also of the belief that if the life is started, it is real and could grow with care and lots of love - but I have no idea why one would want to do that, spend all that time and effort when there is a beautiful and natural way to have conception, birth, and raising a child into adulthood. All proven and blessed by God's love and most people's. I do not believe in abortion, but then I don't think making laws about it will change the stupidity, criminality or evil of the deed. The fool woman needs real love, the innocent life terminated needs your prayers, and there should have been more outrage that it is still an accepted choice for poor choices and bad behavior. The morality of slavery is the same morality of abortion. I am saddened that either existed, certainly sad that such disregard for real life is so lawful but so sinful.

I do say that you and all humans should love more - love others to the point of giving your own life to save theirs. So I have no problem with two men loving each other, women loving each other or men and women loving each other. But then I don't foolishly believe that anything they do is not wrong in the sight of my mind - or theirs - or their community - or in the Eyes of God and His guidance to us.

I am much too much a sinner to be preaching, especially about something I don't experience nor have studied, except that people loving each other to the point of giving everything they have, including breath and life itself for another is the way of the LORD. I do know that stupid laws, poor judgement and just disregarding scientific and moral truths won't make the world a wonderful place. It was wonderful when I woke up, without the fool adjustments by fools. I trust in the LORD, the others I will pray for, since they will need saved from the government.

John Brown wasn't hung because he believed that abolition of slavery was worth his life and the life of his followers. John Brown was hung because he fought the law, led an insurrection, and the LAW won. The government didn't have any love for those, right or wrong, that attack it in its stupid behavior.

Now, back to my devotional study, would love to get my walk with the LORD right before I am found wanting.  Pray for us all.  Amen

Call the shot, tell yourself the truth...

Step six in shooting well, Follow Through and Call the Shot. Every real shooter knows that, and with that information you begin the Rifleman's Dance, you called it 'good' and it was six inches low - so something changed and you have to change your sight picture for the next shot (as you check to see if your sights are still tight). So holding higher on the target your next shot should be on, or you will have to continue to adjust until it is.

Three stories have really disturbed me: Pennsylvania Football players and coach caught in rape trial and stupidity scandal, no, I am not happy with the drunken female victim (who was not dragged off the street and drugged to that helplessness) - that Violence Against Women program ought to help her.

Then there were the two tough teenage punks with guns holding up mothers pushing baby strollers. Something all those high speed Gangsta films promote. When they couldn't get tons of money from the mother without a hovering husband (stealing from women that can't defend themselves goes right after raping them to make the trophy babies in certain subcultures in America). So they shot the baby five times in the head. You will not see their trial on television - they are protected by being stupid, young, and raced.

And the last story, the crowning glory of so modern, scientific and progressive America, they are finally going to charge a doctor with murder for killing living babies in failed abortions. What happened to doctors that would do no harm?

Not enough love in the country, not enough adult behavior and responsibility. There is no value in other human life? I guess I will have to be very ashamed that I am part of the problem, I haven't demanded that the country change, what difference is there between the those stories and the culture of Sodom and Gamorrah? None. I don't expect the media, the government nor the law to have any answer to the problem, since it is individual and human. We aren't teaching our children well, we allow stupidity to be more present in their daily lives as wonderful choices than serious solutions to bad decisions. My fault, may the LORD forgive me.

Now to adjust my aiming point.

Sign of better health, strange dreams...

Woke from a dream about losing my credit and debit cards during some transactions. What I had been carrying around weren't my cards. I checked my wallet immediately.

I also decided that if it warms up just a bit I will go shooting, that I didn't do last weekend. Being rainy and chilly.


So, conversation at the range is about ammunition shortages, not hitting well today, and that is a neat rifle. I was getting my rifle sighted back in, and have it close.

I am reminded of the Provincials and the British Regulars - the Regulars had some training, thought in volley fire and charge with the bayonet. The provincials had some training but thought in individual shots to hit real targets, like game and predators, they also paid for their ammunition and equipment. So every time a provincial shot it was for a purpose and would be talked about.

I think I need to get one of those jobs where they buy my ammunition for work and practice, had one once. Is there a chance Homeland Security would be looking for old undercover fatmen?  
 
At home I find another email from the White House, keeping me informed of all that the President has done to stop gun violence, which by my count isn't as good as the drift adjustment I have just made to my front sight nor the fine Riflecraft RS-1 sling I have put on my favorite,  Shucks, I will have to return to the range and improve and finalize my sight adjustments next weekend. When it is warmer.
 

Almost time for Men's Bible Study, I get to bring the brownies.  

I am not worried about my perception of the government...

Nope, I am pretty certain that they mostly fools committing folly.

I am concerned in what the government's perception of me is... You see, I haven't up gunned, stockpiled tons of ammunition and SWAT equipment for normally beneficial agencies.  Nope, not I.

Nope, I am concerned that Medicare hasn't cured my cough and cold and stuffy feeling, my wife makes Lemon tea faster than I can awake back up to drink it.

I am looking forward again for resting another night away, picture is of my manly sleep wear. Sweating every night, so it get washed daily, sheets, pjs and Earl.

Nice to be under drone watch, to monitor my assault rifles and equipment. Just think my hacking uncontrollable cough is going to give my hide position away.

Although, I took a quick trip to stock up on necessary food stuffs this morning, the Sun was shining and the shelves were full -- I am passing the gun show in Puyallup this weekend and probably not shooting that target rifle either.

Back to reading and falling asleep as needed, The Forgotten Man.