Cold rains return... the moss will love it...

I want to make May a wonderful month, so I keep trying.

Yesterday the rain stopped long enough for the drying of the yards, and since beauty is in the eye of beholders, I mowed my front yard, the empty home next door and then really chopped at the home across the street. Their big dog thought I should be barked at or that was his job. After I just finished and put my mower away, someone drove up and fed the dog and spent the night. It will be easier to clean up now the first hack attack.

Next project for today, pay bills, shop for groceries and make the bed... I do have some reason for moving. Hope your trips are safe and profitable.

May Day! happy May Day...

Turn over the pages of the calendars and start anew! Go out in the rain and find the beauty, the richness, the glory. God is good... and then there is Man.

Someone asks which rifle is better. "The one you have, with ammunition that you can hit targets with, son". All others are just beyond utility - for whatever reason or excuse.  Sounds like most of my life - chasing dreams or thoughts, and sure enough catching some of them, making them mine, finding some of them better or worse than I in my limited capacity had thought. I am using my Senior Class 5x7 picture as a bookmark in "The End of Sparta" by Victor Davis Hanson. Interesting how the Thebes and allies went up against the best and broke them finally.

Well, I am sure I have a day full of adventures and things that I would like to accomplish for all those that I love and those things I love to do. Rain keeps coming in waves of clouds, then the Sun and beautiful blue skies break through, and then a repeat. Do you have any idea of how much the grass and other green growing things love it just that way? Buds and blossoms blooming, nature is booming.

It is a very temporary endeavor... Historic but only...

... as long as you can keep it. The Republic of Benjamin Franklin and his fellow delegates to the convention in Philadelphia of 1787. We are now engaged in a great uncivil discourse about the future of the tattered mess made of the original concept, and strangely both parties are pretending that there is only their party's way to greatness again. The popular media is also pretending that only the official news sources are professional and competent enough to explain what is only "Common Sense", hoping to capitalize on the ignorance of the general common folks. So many pretending, so much pretension and all we notice is 'smoke and mirrors' just more illusions of the magicians. What can we believe in? It doesn't seem to be in our government and its goodness.

I had very little trouble fighting against 'godless Communists' in my early years, was very proud to do it well but upon reflection I realized I was fighting fools exactly like myself. Misled by their leaders, who were never in the jungles and mud with us as we struggled. How does that happen? As I grew much older and cynical I noticed that separation of church and state (which I support because the government is so ineffective) means to modern Americans that there is no honor, no moral backbone, no reason beyond money or fear for doing what the government requires. And that is our 'God'less government. I hold that the government requiring certain behavior is the first sign that it believes it is godlike in its scope and power. This false sense of its reason for being becomes central to its inability to convince its citizens to do their best. Remember, the citizens formed the government, and in its dishonorable path to its greatness, the government became their worst nightmare. The Constitution was to contain the power of the government, not to enhance it. Only those that own the government want to make it more powerful, to oppress those in opposition, to suppress discourse and discord.

I watched as a fine Bible Study, followed by a potluck feast (no luck in that really) turn into a loud passionate defense or attack on the other members' thoughts about the economy, the Presidential race and politics in general (they are all EVIL!). I kept my focus and cool, for I know that America is gone and what calls itself the same is only a shadow pretending to be... but I marveled at the energy, misinformation and dedication to fool ideas I found in the loudest men. This country isn't ready for the number of good meaning citizens denied the voice by the politicians and parties in charge.

Okay, girls, get your gear!

I am old and very out of it, but the country of America has decided that women can serve in combat units - true equality has been reached. Social engineering is constant. Just more evidence that America is dead or has gotten totally stupid.

This is the very same country that has decided that violence against women needs Federal protections, for the women not the violence. I still remember my wife being very glad our first bed was King size so she could be farther from my thrashing nightmares.

So, how is it going to work? I am still sure that two military members in the same family with constant deployments is very destructive to children's upraising. But then like we always knew, if the service wanted you to have a spouse they would have issued you one. Or you have to be promoted to sergeant before you may wed... social engineering doesn't win any wars but then, the military could just be the government's program to influence completely the future of its members - civilian citizens are so outta control.

Silence is a form of communication...

It has been very quiet in this house the past few days, seems I crossed a line or tripped up or made living with me tougher than it should be. I got busy and attacked the windfall behind the fence and chopped or sawed it to smaller pieces and made piles of it deeper in the woods. In old Europe that would have been picked up and added to the fuel piles of tiny homes of older people. I was using the saw and the clippers and a branch at a time and sometimes the whole tree trunk went away. The rain slowed and finally stopped then started then stopped then started then stopped.

Finally it was finished, the green will grow in our direction again, the struggle for sunshine of plants is constant in the warmer times, but that is always small branches with leaves. I got to take her out and show her the clean up, and it was impressive enough to start conversations and I got a fine steak dinner out of it, and to read "Hawk in May" by Gillian Bradshaw. Nice day...

Looks like Blogger changed the software for posting, I am not sure about how much I like it yet, multiple pictures is nice but then they never asked me and blogging is so old fashioned (time sense of humans shrinks with lack of walking everywhere).

So what is your American Dream? do you want to share...

Tis the season for politicians to tell us that they are going to: Restore America, Hope, Change, and Continue on the Road to Prosperity... or some such. Did you see your dream in their words? Or is your dream wrapped around the life you live, the work you do, the education you are working at, the family you are building, the improvements to your faith, the attention you pay to God?

Most people building dreams aren't waiting for the government to get out of the way, to provide them an opportunity, to tell them what to dream or that theirs is an impossible dream. They are going to do the best they can and doing all they can to avoid conflict with the local, state and national authorities. Isn't that a shame that they are afraid of their own government's interference? This is America, land of opportunity, go live your dream!

Between bouts of work on the yard, a haircut and drooling over the firearms now on sale at the local base exchange,(Colt is selling to civilians again!) I thought about how different my American Dream is from the one on television. As I looked at rifles and pistols, I talked to a couple of men and maybe my almost field jacket and my patches from NRA and RWVA were like an invitation to share thoughts, for sure we did, about what was on the shelve, what we wanted and how others in our lives would look upon it. I am still working on making firearms familiar and safe again. Where I don't get bullied by the anti-gun forces with their lack of logic. I don't think our lives should be lived in fear, of anything except the Lord.

They have started a special line for people that pay to be more special than the other air passengers, for a hundred dollars Alaska Airlines and TSA will pre-screen you and make your life getting on the aircraft easier. I have held since 9/11, all they had to do to make it quick and uniform just roll everyone up in shrink wrap and treat them like luggage and put them on a cargo shelf until landing. A special container sleeper with a tube fed and disposal attached would be the luxury way to go. I shouldn't have to live my life afraid of another terrorist attack, but the government refuses to allow me to carry weapons on aircraft - because of what? the fact they can't control my actions. This is the same government that can't control their agents in performance of their duties and the appropriate conduct when in public. I guess the government is lucky most of us are ignoring their poor performance - or we might just vote them all out.

My American Dream is stuck, in long ago and far away -- back when the Federal Government was bound by the Constitution and the People had Rights the government couldn't take away. Where was that? Before President Jackson moved the tribes out of their homes? Somewhere back there, where we didn't understand what we did to the least of these you have done to me?

You didn't miss me? I didn't get your text either...

In the Great NorthWest, Doug and Helen hosted the Washington State Appleseed Patriot Day celebration - too many words but in honor of those that paid the price of Liberty on April 19th, 1775 or the Marine in Afghanistan 2012 we took time to tell stories and fire a volley in honor of them as we taught marksmanship and heritage.

Reputation proceeds me, and you do know how difficult it is to live UP to the tales of how wonderful you are, don't you? There were so many people at the dry farm in Bickleton, WA that I remembered from years and many Appleseeds ago. I was welcomed in the dark on Friday night then walked towards the parking lot to find a space to park and go to sleep, driving four and a half hours makes me tired. I was startled by an energetic teenager jumping out at me in the darkness, he was happy to see me, and after I slowed my heart back down I was glad to see him, but his voice is deeper and he has another inch in height. His sister finds us and then the rest of the family and other instructors show, the host worries about my sleeping arrangements and offers a cot (how many years did I sleep on cots - many, many). I would sleep in my Caravan and breakfast in the morning. Coffee coming from all directions - many thanks!

As we set up the target line and started preparing for the first day of the shoot, there were lots of helping hands with more driving in or coming up from the camping site. By eight the registration table and assignments were set up. It wasn't very long before we were starting the introductions and safety briefing, preparing to bring rifles to the line. I helped instruct and gave my sage advice to the other instructors and the shooters. Way too much advice but it was what I had to offer.

As with most Appleseeds, there were many shooters with family and friends, many repeat Appleseeders (some of which had already made Rifleman) and many shooters that had never fired their rifle very much before this first day. Instructions were many, points of instruction often hidden inside of lots of padding and missed. I remembered my first Appleseed, and I can't recall ever being taught Natural Point of Aim (although it must have been part of the instruction) just I missed it for worry about my rifle or lack of focus. There were a lot of Red Hat instructors and the lines were safe and tips and reinforcement and coaching constant. I concentrated some of my efforts with Mike and his Mosin, liked his attitude and how vigorously he worked at learning that fine old firearm. We did get one AQT done on the first day in the blazing Sun and steady whirl of the big blades of the wind farm (do you have any idea of how much noise they make?) After closing for the first day and cleaning the line of brass and getting most everything packed up for Sunday, the Shoot Boss had the instructor meeting and we talked about what went well, could use some improvement, and suggestions for making it smoother in the morning.

I had noted the beauty of the night sky as I started to go to sleep Friday night, almost wishing I had a moonroof on the Caravan, but not enough to cut one out. On my second night I watched the stars come out in the Heavens above my head, then looked at the horizon and noted there were a lots of red blinking fallen stars circling our position - those whirling wind mills continue into the darkness - cutting the air to produce tornado and hurricanes in our future. I sleep deep and hard until almost daybreak, when I would have a library dream, my supervisor cut my access to the internet and I left a yellow sticky saying something about how I would tell him I quit but I no longer had email. Woke up to a fine Sunrise, and Cinnamon Rolls made by Helen our hostess. I unwound about three in the morning savoring them slowly. The field sermon was fine and we prepared to have another great day of Appleseed. My coffee came from Nick (French Press) and Joni, perked perfectly and enough because the remainder of the day was to drink water to stay ahead of dehydration.

The firing line got set up, shooters organized, rifles brought to the line, and reviews of yesterday's materials starting with safety, then the particulars of marksmanship as we checked the first Red Coat and then sighting squares. I became the coach of a boy named Austin, and he had a lever action with open sights and no sling. But he was paying attention and worked with me to become better. When he had troubles, shooting his father's target or shooting during preparation time, he got very upset with himself and tearful. But I talked him through what had happened and how he was going to fix it so he didn't have those problems again that day. He was very eager to be better, to show his parents and friends what his targets looked like and ran to and down the target line. His father thanked me for my patience and coaching, later his mother did also and as I said he was a fine boy and it was what we did with the shooters - her eyes teared up a bit and made me uncomfortable (it wasn't a big deal helping shooters, nothing to cry about). This wasn't the first time I had run into ladies that got emotional about something about the way Appleseed worked.

I was worn out by the afternoon, and spent my time scoring AQTs for the shooters, finding out that I grade hard and that I can still make arithmetic errors - might as well, they can be filed with all my other types of errors. Over all shooting got better as the day went on, repeat Riflemen (Troy, Ty and others) and many shooters that were doing better than they had earlier - until the heat and the tire got to them. Travel time also cut into their day and they started departing a bit earlier than the last rounds on target. Still the last Red Coat targets were impressive and everyone reported to have had a great time. I read about Lexington from the British point of view from the book Fusiliers, the story of the 23rd Infantry, which would go from Lexington to Yorktown supplying officers and fighting in many of the major battles of the American Revolution.

A short Instructors' meeting and clean up of the range and packing up and out, the farewells take the longest and most of us know we will meet again on the trail, and are looking forward to those days. Appleseed and the Revolutionary War Veterans Association are worth my time and best efforts, hope it all comes together.