I am for some great things, but I can't convince you...

I so really like representative government, working for us. I can't convince those that get into government to be what they should be -- they get off center and screw it up, instead of nailing it.

I didn't want to follow a family profession, Methodist minister, sure that no one would listen to me about how to save themselves from whatever judgement awaits beyond, they haven't listened to me about excess drinking, drugs, casual sex and general stupidity. So, although I know what I should do in my life, I find the idea of being a pastor beyond my ability. Still, I try to sing hymns, but not to that professional level, just the joyous saved sinner kind.

I convinced a few of the men in my wife's church that I like shooting and I could help them improve and have a good time shooting with them. So we set up to be here today, at Range 15 at 09:30, but I was alone, one had called to cancel last night. The other two were younger and less free to come and go as older worn out fellows. Still there were other shooters and at ten we started shooting.

I have brought my Browning Challenger II, Ruger MarkII and lots of 22LR. I hadn't unlocked and loaded nor shot the Browning in a long time. It showed, I had feeding problems and it was shooting way too low.

For my personal happiness, the Ruger was still on and still fine, I was a bit flaky but that was why practice. Right? Well, I finally was very happy, scheduling another fine day to tune up the Browning, it is so pretty. I packed out, there was a line of shooters wanting a lane. I walked the line looking at form, targets and firearms. Found a very beautiful 1903A1, and another old guy shooting it.

He was shooting the three hundred steel with iron sights, and I watched a bit, I can't hear the clang. So I started off by asking if he was ready to give up that rifle and he started telling me about it. He also reloads, uses his own cast bullets and wanted me to shoot it to see how nice the recoil was, now. I didn't bite at first but another shooter did, and he continued to talk about that rifle and his reload.

I did get swayed to sit down and shoot about ten rounds, at the steel targets at three hundred and paper at a hundred. First time for those sights and I was pleased and happy. But he didn't give up the rifle, but made the shooting part of my day brighter.

I will be back, not that I need a reason to go shoot, but since I can't drag anyone else to the range, I will just go support those attending anyway. Having fun!

Has anyone found my mind? seems to be straying...

I am excited, wanting to check the mailbox, for Christmas cards and stuff, and looking for my key ring, and looking...

We did receive a beautiful book of pictures from Hawaii, it is a collector's item. Several Christmas cards have arrived, and my wife has hung them for display. Always fun to see what has arrived from whom and where. Still I can't find my keys, they are on a snap link (of course). I have to straighten my stuff, looking.

I pull out my pistols to clean and pack them for tomorrow's shooting at Range 15 with men from my church. A great way to spend Saturday morning, we are going to the Messiah concert in the evening. But where is my mailbox key? I put all the clean clothes away, but no keys under them, check all the jacket pockets. Frustration!!!!

So I start cleaning the pistols and admiring my legacy from my grandfather, William (Will) Edward Dungey,  Rumor was that he purchased the pistol for adventures (?) or opportunity in the less lawful Dakotas, truth is likely that he thought he should have something - dependable, not too expensive nor heavy - just in case. Mom's story is that as he sat in the recliner, limited by his stroke, he asked after it. No one got it for him. Probably got tired of daytime television. The knife was made by him -  all of stuff from around his farm work, still sharp, although I did put it on the stone and oil it, and the leathers. Still upset about no keys, and I even got the trash can to the curb and back - still no keys!

Well, I grabbed my wife's keys, hanging on the key hook, and went out to check the mail box.  The mailman hadn't delivered yet, he must be off and replaced, which means a later delivery. But that is okay, I have lots of time and now I have my keys. Seems they have spent the entire night and the morning hanging from the mailbox door.  My house key, car keys, the gun case keys, the mailbox key and keys I have forgotten the reason for... all there, patiently waiting my return. This getting old is tough.

Seems my excitement about a Christmas package, and talking to the crew chief cutting the timber just got in the way of taking my key and locking the mailbox. Bear with me, I can fix the Federal Debt but finding my keys is troubling... y'all have a great day!

Just don't leave us, common everyday things, hang around unappreciated we do have some utility, use us!

Nice neighborhood, no one used my missing keys against me.

The worst of my wife's fears are falling down...

We live beside a piece of wooded ground, very beautiful, until the ground soaks and the wind roars and the trees fall upon our homeowners' dreams. So she has been at me to do more with the danger, and I don't, except to cut the bush back from the fence and clear the fallen from the fence and tool shed. Today we woke late, chain saws ripping through our dreams and nightmares. Well, that is gone, gone and still going...

It isn't as beautiful, nor threatening of my wife's worry - she will have to go back to warning me to stay out of strip clubs with pole dancers...

Discipline, the act of doing the right thing when no one is watching...

Discipline is a most important characteristic of the military person, and for all the successful humans that I have ever met, there are a few billion of them out there that I can't speak about. You first seem to run into discipline as a kind of punishment to remind you of the best choices of adults around you for your behavior. Normally a parent or grandparent, but there are others. Then along came the military service and a new definition of discipline that I could love even more - because it meant I took the proper action in the absence of orders, oversight or cynical watchers/scoffers. That feels good, and is the best procrastination protection around, just be disciplined and you will finish those tasks as needed, now.

To make a good shot your marksmanship builds on discipline, the better efforts are self motivated, you are trying to beat your best, constant evaluation, honest assessment, and practice perfectly. I must get back on track, and I can't wait on the President nor Congress to make Earl's life and loves better - I have a certain point of view that tells me they have little idea of how to pay down the massive debt, nor spend only money they take in, or ask more from their money men buddies and the poor that can't help themselves, they have no discipline and don't seem encouraged by popular media to know the problem, nor find the answers. I feel lucky they don't carry firearms much, they don't look like they could hit the target.

Snow falls, but you could leave it in the way until Spring, only the Ice Age might make it a problem and that enligtened media is harping about Global Warming, not a problem.

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.