I am such a old guy...

I left my wife and went off to shoot a few rounds and talk to other shooters about their firearms and things. Haven't seen seven young folks in sniper prone behind their bipod'd high speed reach out and get them rifles like I did today. I asked if they were from the same unit, but it wasn't, they just shared the moment and the idea. They were all zeroing their scopes at a hundred yards. Very tight groups and way above my skill set, but then I don't really use optics at all. I confirmed my zero at twenty-five, did some NPOA proofs (to my foolish mind, needs reminded) then moved the target out to 100 meters for more work on Rifleman's cadence. Nothing to brag about, just enough to make me smile about the  results and the improvements as I settled into the shot sequence and better habits. I guess the best thing was the gentle jog back from the 100 yard target line because I feared I might be holding up the next course of fire. Nothing better for getting my heart racing, especially before I shoot. Oh, I know some cute younger lady could, but I don't want to be any trouble, the World is already in a fix I didn't cause.

When I returned home I found my retired wife had gone shopping for our son, and would spend the rest of the day away. So I put the video of Deadman's Walk on the VCR, and watched carefully. I think Corporal Call is playing Sherlock Holmes on CBS now. I had started the day with watching Defiance about the brothers that saved thousands of Jews by not cooperating with the established authority. I do like those stories. Still, I am only being entertained by the reminder, no real people were harmed nor died in the production of the film, the Historic facts were much uglier a reminder of the Evil that dwells in the hearts of men.

It has been raining around here, but the good Lord often will send strong winds at the range instead of drenching downpours, so I have remained blest (yes, I like spelling it that way, because Microsoft and Google don't). Have heard more rumbles of discontent with Windows8, and I still haven't conquered my current software. But I am very happy with my relationship and understanding of my M1, a very fine battle rifle.

Mr OReilly is not Right, kind of left of middle...

I am laughing at many funny things, no matter what the Atheists believe in, they do believe in Nothing - don't they? But my interest is in how traditional Christmas is as an American holiday. Now believers in the Bible and the New Testament, do probably know that Christ was born in Bethlehem. Long before Macy's, Target, Cosco or Sears/KMart were ever selling Christmas Cheer. And everybody knows that Christmas cards made Hallmark the cable channel to get all the wholesome value Christmas Romance and entertainment. What so many complain about is that the United States is always celebrating that defeat of the Hessians in Trenton, Royal Colony of New Jersey That was long before the current governor, the Royal Governor then was Benjamin Franklin's son. Actually, the Puritans frowned deeply when finding folks frolicking and feasting around Christmas. Those jolly Dutchmen of New Amsterdam, oops, New York, knew better they even had a real Saint Nicholas tradition. But the Germans and Swedes were using an evergreen tree, but they didn't call it a Christmas Tree either. "Oh, Tannebaum, oh, Tannebaum"...

There is the inclusive "Happy Holidays" which die hard party goers will use as an excuse to party hearty. That way everyone can celebrate, nothing wrong with saying Happy or Holidays, nor Happy Holidays - it is all positive. That God or Jesus makes people quake has little to do with either, mostly has to do with guilt and certain knowledge the people quaking don't want to change stupid bad or even evil intentions. Not what Christmas is about at all. Have a very happy one, and it is a Holy Day, the holiday thing is from folks that couldn't spell.

Today I listen to OReilly talking about the fiscal debate - and his worry that the Dollar will fail if the government doesn't take proper action. But those that KNOW, already have written off the Dollar.

Time to get to work...

I went out to buy some wine today, found they aren't making it fast enough for me, I also got a paperback book. The second one I have purchased this week, at $9.99 per book. I was wishing I were twenty and single as the checkout chick asked for my birth date to verify I was old enough to buy the wine. At my real age and wisdom it only means that I wish the beautiful young lady the best of life and love in her life, it never would have been me at twenty and single.

I got into my auto and listened to NPR talking to the lady from California, House Minority Leader, and she was telling the nation that 'everyone knows'. Which meant she hasn't a clue, but she is enjoying the fame and the times. I am convinced that the Democrats are not serious about anything except what is good for themselves, and their pretend voting blocks and favorable media limelight. I hope we go over the Fiscal Cliff, because that isn't the problem, the problem is never in the jump, it is always in the landing.  No one talks about how far down that landing is going to be, and how fast the nation will be traveling to slam into it. Both Political Parties and the Main Stream Media are sure there is a bridge out there to reach the otherside. Only in their minds.

And what do you do when all the world is shopping?

I went off to shoot this morning, at Range 15 of Joint Base Lewis McChord, only forty-eight rounds, the last twenty four aren't covered up, the earlier ones are and most of the earlier ones were under the bull, somewhere. Met some nice people, talked a lot about Russian ammunition, then as I walked the line there were a more than a few of the Soviet Union's contribution to the war on global gun controllers.

I did my normal heroic Earl firing a rifle poses, and I did video of my performance to review later. Mostly, I was just having fun, posting targets and walking the range, the rains had blown away for a bit.
Just enough that after a lunch with my wife, I went out to cut the front yard for the first time in a bunch. If the Sun were out more the grass would have been higher.

Men's Bible Study at Rudy's home tonight, I will keep out of politics, economics and jokes. I should be just right in prayer and comment on the lessons. Y'all be the best.


Should have shown a before and after picture of the back of the target stand. You would be , impressed, or not. Fifty yards first eight, all others at 100 yards, prone.

Day after, rebuilding...

Too much to be thankful for, contact with loved ones far away, and re-thinking what is truly important. I spent too much time looking at video from the Desert Storm/Shield days. Both sides of the world, back at Bragg and out in the sands of Saudi and rocks of Iraq. I have actual footage of our first invasion of the state of Iraq.

We were so much younger then. Notice the watch on my left arm, the compass on my right? Learned that from Panama jungles, works in the sands of Saudi, too. Same pocket folder I carry now, older model Leatherman multi-tool, on my belt that you can't see. There is a loaded M16A2 out of the picture close to hand along with the webgear and helmet. I take no joy in talking to a camera, it never looked like my wife.

My home smells of old people...

I noticed that while helping my wife making the bed, this is the last use from those sheets, but the kingsize pillow cases will stay forever! Need new pillows. As I put the clean folded sheets back in the linen closet, I find some other really old sheets - that need to be gone, too.

Since I am down to only one cable connection and I have a large broken television - I start thinking of buying a new flat screen for watching video and dvds, and if I am going in that direction I ought to look at a blue-ray player... understanding that the Blues sound better.... so with tons of 'Buy Me! for you' commercials haunting the airways, I am more likely to yield to temptation and grow the economy of Asia a bit. Nothing electronic is made in America, except electronic dollars backed by the power grid. They don't exist when the power is gone.

Since I have a couple of televisions not hooked up, I put one on a VCR and can watch one of my hundreds of movies when I want. Now the weight of that broken television is too much, almost and will be a struggle - if I can find someone that wants a broken one. Life is tough, then I realize I have too much, and that is why it seems so tough - well, that kills that buy something. Better keep looking for a job. Work is good!

I had to laugh, when I first arrived in the 82nd Airborne Division, the Thanksgiving Day feast was awesome. Total dress up, chow down, everyone there all the commanders, families and food! The servers and cooks would get Friday off and had a three day weekend as their reward. There were only two days off for goodness in the old Army (19th Century) - your birthday (which the lower the rank the less likely to be awarded, but a good sergeant would make it happen) and Thanksgiving - a day the entire Army would take off and celebrate (if possible). But then in the good old days the troopers lived in platoon bays, the NCOs in two man rooms and everyone used a common latrine and showrooms.

Fast forward to making the Army just like a civilian job, two to four man rooms with personal bathing facities, snack bars and no battery messhalls. And give the troopers four day weekends and cars - they are gone, mostly to back home as they can. The Thanksgiving feast is still big stuff, and the command and NCOs dress up and bring families and dine well, but it isn't Thanksgiving on the Yalu in 1950 before the Chinese Communists send those volunteer divisions against the United Nations in the frozen Chosen.

What does happen is a lot of deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the units are tightening up again and Thanksgiving away from homebase is special - the President could drop in, you never know. That is nice. But back home, they still want the big feast, the unit dining together and the good stuff that civilians hardly understand. So today, through the miracle of Facebook, I find the 3rd Brigade of the 82nd posting pictures of their Thanksgiving Feast. Wednesday! Yes, the modern Army can provide, all the beauty of the unit dressing up, coming together for the celebration and still giving everyone a four day weekend. Considering how long they have been fighting in the far corners of the world, I think that it is a great idea! Airborne! All the Way!

Preaching to the choir... almost...

Make bacon and eggs with toast and coffee for breakfast with my late sleeping wife, and we talked about what to do after she retires. She has no experience with having nothing to do all day, and needs to make sure she doesn't end up like me. She has many ideas and some of them are interesting to me, but attitude needs always to be positive to hear well. Today we talked about gyms to visit or use. Talk is cheap, my only complaint of worth about the YMCA was that we paid for more than we used. Which was our fault, not the Y's. We determine that we will explore the options and pick one in December. The sounds of love at work, adjusting to change.

Off to church and combined service, packed house is always a good sign. It was combined so we could be special for Thanksgiving. The Pastor had a fine sermon and told a little story about his son and his school, then another one about homeless fellow met in Portland. All the stories were geared to the Thanksgiving theme and worked well. Attitude being the first thing, I really enjoyed the service, since I had come to worship and not to be entertained, amused nor patted on my back. There was a dinner after, with all the trimmings. So we ate and talked, and I got amused and started teaching. One man thought that the stock market was gambling, so I had to explain why stocks are good and derivatives are bad, and salesmen aren't to be trusted. Personal examples of investors were sitting at the table, and they testified.

Then our Sunday school teacher showed up and asked my opinion of a Walther 9mm, postwar manfacture and a price from Cabela's. So I asked a lot of questions, gave my opinions and talked him out of the temptation. But the conversation was a keeper, and he made sure I knew he wanted to go shooting with me at the East Gate range (which is Range 15 where I normally shoot). After we were done the Pastor came up and said hello, which surprised one of the men - that he knew our names. But I assured him a Korean pastor knows everyone's names, and if he wasn't looking at us he might have to be told which Korean lady we were married to, or our first male child's name. Anyway, it was my chance to tell the Pastor I enjoyed his story about his son and their relationship. He missed the relationship thing, and thought I was speaking about the broken English, and I told him that was a bad term the proper term is Korean English. Then I told him we had been talking about shooting and when his son was old enough I would be happy to teach him gun safety and marksmanship. That got a bit of wide-eyed panic in his eyes, seeing he is sure that Christians don't shoot, or that Guns are tools of the Devil. He didn't say so, but my wife was sure it was in that direction. Still gun talk at church, the promise of a shooting date, influencing the future economic activity of church members and worship of the Lord and celebrating Thanksgiving - which for believers is a daily activity.  Time for a nap?