Well, back to normal - awake in my own bed and not having to get up...

  I have had a great Appleseed weekend, at Port Townsend, teaching marksmanship, history of April 19, 1775 and helping America gain two more Riflemen qualified citizens...

  My Facebook account shows me a memory posted from 2010, same time in May, but it is at Wade's DAR in 2010, look at the people, no shade nor popups, equipment line right behind the firing line, lots of shooters lots of fun. But HOT!

  And when I posted it, I did mention that I hadn't cooled off until arriving home to the shades of those tall trees behind our home. This weekend was cooler, I had forgotten to bring my sweatshirt or shooting jacket or sweater (travel light, freeze at night) , also seems I hadn't had enough water to stay healthy.

  During in processing, there wasn't enough effort to putting name tapes on the shooters, day two we fixed that.  All instruction presented, one AQT on Saturday, about five on Sunday. Two Riflemen patches earned and presented. All shooters progressed very well. I was really proud of how far Dylan had come from his first to last AQT, steady upward progress, as he grows into his rifle he will make a mark. Gabe did well, but he was distracted his concern for his son and still learning that all his body parts affect his shot, when he got off that support foot toe gravity steadied the position very well. I expect his next Appleseed will be the one he earns a Rifleman patch. I did forget to mention video taping your shooting positions and techniques for later review.

  Lucas had a coach and competition, Lisa providing an excellent opportunity for the crew to find out if we were reaching the shooters, she was listening and practicing exactly what we presented and enjoying the events and the people. Our second Rifleman patch was earned on the second day, but she hadn't been with us on Saturday much, so I think everything she knew and practiced was all from Appleseeds and instructors in her past and just the desire to show Dad what she could do, and she could do, definitely.

  It is always a bit unsettling to hear your name mentioned as being some how responsible for someone's start in the Revolutionary War Veterans Association or Appleseed Project, but I did hear it. Seems I am remembered, and I always think reputation becomes bigger than the reality if embellished enough. When they mentioned the You Tube video I almost blushed. Still I am happy that I have been a member, off and now steady on, since 2005.  And that I can continue to make a small contribution to making America the very best it can be, in Liberty under the LORD.

  No pictures at the range, although long before lawyers there are some old Appleseed pictures and links on the left side of my Blogger site: Earl's View, focus on the front sight. So I give you a picture of the Marina where three of the crew and a shooter slept on a boat.  Everyone helps out in many ways, to promote the program, make coffee and danish happen by breakfast and to just speak well of the efforts, I am so thankful there are so many that Seventh Step so well with such great results. Hope to see y'all on the trail or another Appleseed, one day.

So 'they' aren't covering the conservative view much...

  Silly, herd mentality isn't a free thinking independent liberty lover of the LORD weakness.  Group think, fads and fashions and foolishness abound in the lost - cause everyone does it, everyone sees it, and everyone knows it - so it trends.  Pet Rocks, trolls, and beanie babies? Not in many homes, because they weren't really a common value just a trend. I would think, that media and politicians want you to be part of the everyone - and only for exploitation and their power.

   Conservatives are those quiet folks on your street, that don't bother you, mow their yard and teach their children to be polite.   If there are as many conservative, quiet folks as I think, Donald Trump will have difficulty being elected by them. One on one maybe Ben Carson sees something the media hasn't found, but Mr. Trump isn't coming to the YMCA nor the rifle range nor my church to meet me - I will never know, and I have seen enough poor manners and bad behavior to know that is not the person I want for America's President, but then I think America hasn't figured out how wrong they have made their own world, yet. So who is elected might not matter...

  Conservatives will work to keep their neighborhood safe, clean and happy - but not with loud noises from overwhelming technology. Just by kind quiet Hello, please and thank you. I am sure there are more good conservative folks that don't want labeled that enjoy Facebook for its real value and there is never a trend among them, they keep moving and talking and posting and their friends enjoy and like here and there, but no surges nor purges needed. These are good folks.

You don't fit much, do you?

  Nope, I am all that you see, and so much more.  But recently they (you know 'they') have been saying all kinds of things about me and my kind. And I have to look around to see whom they are looking at... and I am the only other person and what they are describing can't be me.  At Murphy's 5 and dime I was once looking over some magazines and paperbacks and two elder ladies (old women) were talking about a skinny boy with tight trousers and too long hair, so I looked around and it had to be me.

  But they say that if I don't want Hillary to win, I have to vote for Trump, and I don't think that is the way the world works. I don't do what everyone else does, ever, mostly. If I do it, it must be something that I want to do and it needs my attention.  Now in America, there are many, many more of us than there are of 'they', and the whole effort for centralization of government, money, banking, medicine, and morals is to make us better sheep to be shorn. 

  I don't have any trouble being prolife, even if it is a minority view (which it isn't). I have no problem not reading what everyone else is reading, seeing on television, using the same poor language choices, finding brunettes better than blondes. Finding smiles better than words to tell me about the person.  If there is a Presidential candidate that wants my vote, they have to be better at being a leader, cause I don't follow just because they have the authority. Convince me, it doesn't take a lot, just some of your time and trouble - I was once pretty smart and that may be the problem with current culture - it just isn't as smart as I am. Rather watch a good magic show. Wouldn't you?

She made me human, and that was a real achievement...

   Mother's Day 2016, and everyone knows all about mothers. On a Sunday morning news program a woman talks about government maternity leave acts and how America must progress to be right. Isn't this the same government that says abortion is legal? My mother even took a young woman into her home to prevent one abortion. So she would reserve the right to protest effectively government stupidity, but paid maternity leave is much better than most government ideas, it supports love and life.

   I was blest to have my mother, and until she really got to know me she always hoped I would be so much better than I became.  I had her songs, her hugs, her stories, her care for my hurts (and I am no more affected by gravity now than I ever was) and poetry.  What young boy could ask for more? We imagined, built castles, played heroes and became family - I got brother and sisters and we could all scramble for her love and attention, not realizing how wearing we could become, probably because there was an enforced mid-afternoon nap.

  She was firm, kind of, and she set standards that weren't the same as everyone else's. I had a serious talk about my male sexual functions and waiting until I was married for it. Because that was what my father and mother had done, but those are old values and so unrealistic.  I was thirteen and going on a first date with a young lady and had to know the rules. It must have been very effective, I really was far away from hearth and home before I slipped into sexual sins...  Like my smoking and drinking, it would take some recovery time to clean up and fly right... but then resistance to evil was part of the training of parents to children, for everyone's safety and good health. She did better than she imagined, in my alternate home/family I was trusted and welcomed, and two adult women had a loud and lively discussion about me and my trustworthiness with other children and no adults in house. I never felt so honored by adult women that I thought highly of ever again. And I didn't betray the trust of either woman. Mothers, they are the first touch of civilization upon young male humans, because I do think that without them the boys will never be softer, the clash of bodies will always be for conquest and victory, where would the gentle touch be?

   I could depend on my father for sane reaction to my accidents and hurts, he never ran to save me, calmly walking and making help happen. But when I had my motorcycle crash and was being taken to the hospital, I kept insisting that they talk to my father, not my mother because she would be overtaken by her imagination of my hurt and trauma, she really could get into sharing my pain. She was a romantic and Dad was pragmatic.   But I could always entrust her with my treasures, like the lady love of my life, while I was sure Dad had reservations left over from his war or just a hard judgement of his son's foolishness... it all worked out, my mother could talk to my father and we would get ready to make the family greater, if I was really as adult as I thought.

   I would say that I miss her, but that wouldn't be the truth, for I will always have her in my life both DNA, and our years together and apart, she would make me write at least once a week as we were apart, and I still dream and talk to her in my mind, and I look forward to the day I will again be back inside that special love she gave so much of...

Day four of Earl's hard work pays off programming....

  My wife is getting all dolled up... since we are going out. I have crashed after sweating away three pounds on the rowing machine and bicycle at the YMCA, really you don't need to know but I was caught with the 'I want to win King of the Hill' before I start working on my other race challenges, and I only needed eleven points today, so I went for fourteen. And after wasting four months of non recording for the annual challenges, which I signed up for all three today, hoping to finish them all successfully before I expire all parts and warranty.  2016km or 1253 miles, 50K (50,000) calories, and the All In (which seems to be all challenges for the year).  We will be working on all those loose parts, glad they changed the bicycles out for the bigger screen newer models. Anyway, a great day at the gym.

  I stopped and purchased to decks of cards, Bicycle Dragon Back cards, regular size, for Canasta or whatever. Blue and Red backs, nice cards.  I opened the pack and found America has gone politically incorrect while I was not watching. The Blue deck has Blue Hearts and Blue Diamonds, so the next time I am playing cards and feeling the Blues - this is my deck.

This program at the YMCA is working, I am level three now...

  I haven't figured out if I am Lawful Good or Random Neutral, and the DM won't tell me. I often wished I could have lived as the Initiate Brother, the book is much better and the Bearer is awesome as he gains his powers.  Still the ActivTrax program is bringing me along well. I don't like Jack Knifes but I must get them done, I don't like Body Front Lunges but they do make me use my body as it could be used - so get used to it. Level three? Only if there are a hundred levels.

  On my Expresso.com account I am entered in three challenges starting May 6, and seems like I have already entered the Mountain Madness or whatever it is called. I have to score fifty points and with only two rides in two days I have already 22 points, two more hard rides and I will make my fifty then I can settle in and just run up the totals.

   Have signed up for two Appleseed events, I have missed them. And I have to get the Trusty Triumph back on the road, and recycle all the glass containers.... empty liquor bottles... 

Domestic death is mostly caused by?????

   Gravity, silly. More people die from falling around the home than all other causes of death. As long as everyone doesn't go Hollywood and full auto and artillery in frustration. The Congress, as with the Affordable Care Act, refuses to pass a law or repeal the current law of gravity, we are doomed.

   Being an older old man I have a great fear of falling, on the motorcycle, from a ladder... heck, even the thought of falling at the YMCA has had me about three years of clutching with one hand the lockers as I draw on my pants when I put a foot through the leg holes. Until yesterday, yesterday I stood on both feet, held the underwear or trousers with both hands and stuck my feet through one at a time... without leaning on a wall or anything.  I think the skills and flexibility have been waiting on my mind to smother my fears of falling, or maybe that bloated belly had to get out of the way... such an ugly picture in my mind (luckily I don't watch it just do it). Sure enough, I did it twice again this morning feel younger already.

At the church two weeks ago I caught a very well used Bible, and took a picture of it.  The brother is wearing it out well. End of the month tomorrow, and May Day is Sunday, the Communists will march, no telling what North Korea will do.

Just defeated the last two independent tribes on my wargame,  Time for more coffee and breakfast and the news then off to the YMCA for socializing, sweating, and pushing all my limits except in thought and spirit. Have to get the weed wacker out for edging this afternoon, maybe even cut the grass and clean the gutters... well, that is enough good intentions for today. Be good because anything else is a waste of effort and will mark us as sinners instead of saints.

Alarm! or breaking news! or get up and save the lady, old man!

  Usually I wake and get up first, but not today, my wife is up and off to make coffee when she cries out and calls my name like I am her last hope. I stumble sleepily towards the kitchen and see her using her new selfie stick to take photos of herself and she wanted me to join in the fun. Ah, I will get a coffee instead, I think I already know I don't look prepared to face the world, just another thirty minutes would have been perfect.  I guess I could put the pistol away now, but I didn't go for a gun since that is a last item on my wake up list. Once I slept with a fully automatic AR, but I was younger then and I am so much older now.

   Sleeping good, the old Vietnamese Captain asks if I sleep okay, he encourages, or exhorts the fat folks that go regular to the YMCA. Some of the veterans have more issues with their past than others. I am not really fat, I am just full of it (fat). So my wife makes banana bread but doesn't take it to other places to share, just keeps it within my arms reach.... ugh. I am so weak.  But thankful it is just age not illness, cancer nor criminally slothful. I noted as I left my car in the parking lot, the number of old folks, families (with little children) also on their way to the YMCA.

   In some self analysis- I am known for guns, gun stuff, some military and some Christian persuasion... so I can go to church and get seriously asked about storing pistol ammunition, how long and anything special? In Sunday school I can tell the children that they shouldn't touch pistols, revolvers and other firearms without an adult. And never ever point one at anything, but if they never touched one they are safer, now go get that adult to take care of the firearm. I don't spend much time on it, since the grounding in the Gospel and the Bible are needed most. I do mention that when they and their parents decide it is a good time for firearms safety and show and tell, I recommend the NRA and even me (I have NRA training for it). A very big problem is Hollywood entertainment lies about firearms, what happens when folks are shot.  I ought to ask the Pastor if he would like me to put together a class for families about firearms, especially the families that don't have firearms, don't see the need for them --- and don't see the need for the knowledge. He will look at me funny.  Some of my best ideas get that result from folks that are in charge and control.

    I did get to see Donald Trump's views on the 2nd Amendment, I know Hillary Clinton's views, neither is going to get the stupid gun laws repealed, nor eliminate the BAFTE or merge them with the FBI. I don't favor merging them, Ruby Ridge and Waco, Texas were joint agency operations and didn't go well for the innocent.

    Neither major political party has the answers to the question about what they should do, NOTHING or MUCH LESS, in order to restore the Constitution and set the people at liberty to correct the errors of the recent past (last hundred and ten years or so).  So I will participate but expect failure on the long established suffering the evil born of the good intentions gone wrong. In the end, of this government no longer of the people, by the people and never for the people will perish, cause of lack of history, moral values, and just plain stupidity in office - elected, appointed or hired.

  

Sleepless in almost Seattle (Spanaway if you must know)

  I get up and empty the dishwasher, and then pay some bills and decide to go back to bed, so much accomplished in the quiet darkness of the full home.

   Picked up my nephew and his wife at SeaTac, they travel light, only three carry-ons. Our plans are for Mount Rainier on Thursday, Seattle on Friday, and Vancouver BC on Saturday.

  It has been fun to watch my wife talk almost nonstop.

The week is almost over...

   I was feeling good about my control until Wednesday afternoon, when I decided that I didn't know for sure that I had sent in the mortgage payment.  When returning home, I remembered to check, found that I hadn't and made it good. Went to Awana Club and provided some adult representation and enjoyed the vigorous happy children. Every day except Sunday I have gone to the YMCA for my exercise, often recalling how I wondered at Greeks and Romans that would go to exercise, sweat, clean and oil up every day in the good old days.

   I think that I will vote, casting all ballots tomorrow and getting them all into the mail and off of my desk.  Clean up needs to continue.  We are hosting visitors from Korea, my nephew and his wife, they are coming to visit her family in Vancouver - But I still have no idea if that is Washington or British Columbia, but we meet them at the airport on Wednesday. I will be busy and my wife anxious - the first time her family of any generation has bothered to stop by. It will all be well, I already removed the moss from the tool shed. Will have to stop and shoot some tomorrow, after the YMCA, have to keep trying to get better.

Just a short week ago on an island far, far away...

    The Air Force delivered forty-six passengers safely on Thursday night, and I was met by my son and grandchildren and the good stuff just got better from there. Friday was my son's golf game then swimming practice with the grandchildren (theirs, I never got wet that afternoon). Saturday was the swimming lessons, one on one, for the grandchildren then lunch and going to Sea Life Park. Sunday was Easter Service at Roosevelt High School with hamburgers and stuff after. Then I finally went swimming with everyone in the heated saltwater pool of the condos. What a great time, Monday morning was going out to fly a kites and ride bikes at the local park. I got my kite all the way to the end of its string, very nice wind. Then back home for a fair well lunch to say good bye as my son was dropping me off at the airport on his way back to work, his leave being over.

   I was still happy and smiling days and days after returning, so much so my wife mentioned I should go to Hawaii more often. The place is full of nice people, interesting folks and good memories built until the next time.

Break free, go to Hawaii...

  Notice the decided lack of blogging or intelligent word flow in my internet life... do I have an internet life any longer? I am watching way too many movies, foreign and old school stuff, and the best improvement in my life is something called Activ Trax at the YMCA which is building me into a fine figure of a fat old man, but I do enjoy finding muscles that one has never used to aid in the 'death by recliner' and think in a couple of months I may be prepared for bikini season, which never ever has been about me, but what I can see. There are a few really high school looking types reporting on important news items, but I can't take them seriously because they have no wisdom wrinkles - and they don't talk like they have a message.  Hmm, I might be confusing them with the children at church, but the children at church are having much more fun. Being a Holy week I have no responsibilities for Sunday school or the AWANA, so sneaking off to Hawaii sounds like a fine thing to dream about and mentally prepare for.  Now where is that badge of courage, to impel the little old man out the door and into the sky?

If you are paying attention, you don't have enough to do..

  The point has come that the media is using its 1st Amendment protections to try and destroy the 2nd Amendment.  I kind of laugh about that, since the godless government wants to stomp upon the religious right and rights. But it does all seem to be coming to a convergence and the storm isn't going to be pretty and the destruction savage - because too many people will be looking for heroes and saviors and soothing elevator music. We know we are living in a fantasy world, like the folks from the Great Depression, go to the movies and have a laugh, see how wonderful life could be and should be... all smoke and mirrors.

  I listened to President Obama present his nominee for the Supreme Court, and cynical me thought that this is likely the best Republican choice that he could have made, Judge Bork being way too old. I also tried to imagine Bernie Sanders, Hillary Rodham Clinton, or Donald Trump giving the same presentation -- I couldn't see any of those rising to the level of past Presidents. 

Well, time to finish my coffee and head to the YMCA, using ActivTrax to program me into a fine figure of a fat old man. There could be potential, and I do like to record my progress - OCD is my fool characteristic, which I will address right after I conquer my procrastination.

How did my Sunday worship go? armed and dangerous... sometmes I can be cool

   I woke from a dream about the military as a younger man, which I hope to write about later since it has much to do with how my day went.  First Sunday of the month, make bed, shave and have a breakfast as I watch Sunday on CBS, Jane Pauly's legs are thinner than I remember from her younger years. She was talking to a famous actress I can't remember the name of, but I do remember the movies she got big credit for and a lot that I haven't seen.

   Time to dress, want to remember to carry my tools and still look good, so I get the fresh ironed shirt, and then the last suit I bought, with suspenders. Put it on, with a black tie, tied in a Windsor knot. I am so fat, sighs the man in the mirror, but there is room for not imprinting. So find the dress shoes, start the car and listen to that new noise and my wife and I are off to the church.  After church go to the Fellowship Hall for checking my English Ministry personal data, giving them my email address. I have a doughnut and talk then off to finish the new comers class, great discussions. We will get certificates of completion next week or so.

   Back to the Fellowship Hall, along the way meeting a confident young man munching on an egg roll, and I stop and ask how he is, he says fine and says people tell him he is cute. I assure him that he will outgrow that, and he mentions he still has baby teeth, and I nod sagely and say they will disappear, too. So we go into the almost empty Fellowship Hall except for children's Sunday school classes out a bit early to buy some food to nibble upon. And the teacher that has been taking my class because he is a good man is there and happily gives me back the teachers books and fills me in on where they are. I walk over and talk to Caleb and his buddies, mostly young boys looking for leadership in boy stuff, and I figure Caleb is providing that pretty well. I ask about what they are eating, how much they like it (very Korean food) and they tell me. Even showing me how to dip the the fish dough into the cups of soup... learning always learning.

   The last service, which is Korean language, is over and the main congregation shows up to buy food to support the cause and talk over before they go home or back to the store or restaurant. The first two ladies in are in their twenties and drop dead gorgeous, luckily I remember that I am glad we are on the planet at the same time, but I am the fat old guy with really thinning hair. Now there had been dangerous looking man in English language service but nothing happened. During this fellowship, lots of people moving, buying, eating and socializing.  Suddenly tension breaks out, and Mike is getting ready to deck someone - he comes back to his seat fuming and raging. Seems someone isn't doing what he should, isn't listening and the police might have to be called.  I say a quick prayer after looking to see who the problem is... okay, got it. So I get up, pass him by and talk to the young people around Caleb cause he is about to move out to the playground with his groupies or gang - friends, really. Then I stop in the Men's room, washed my hands and came back and pulled the seat out beside the problem turned mine around so there isn't anything between him and I.  And I say hello, how is it going?, nice group of folks isn't it? looking around at the busy moving socializing going on.  I ask if he liked being here today, was he going to come back next week? I told him they were waiting to take him back to the shelter, where upon he said he didn't want to go with that man, and I grabbed Harold's arm and said he must be a fearsome fellow to offend such a nice man. Harold laughed, former Special Forces type, and then I asked his wife if she were driving.  She said yes, and so I asked the problem person if he would go with her driving, and he said yes. So I thanked him and patted him on the shoulder and told him to come back next week.  Then I went back to my chair since my wife had purchased some food for me and when I got back Mike wanted to know what I had done that made the problem person cooperate and leave with the van. Mike will be reflecting on it for the week, since he is younger and much more aggressive than I, it will be good for him.

     We did a little guy talk about one thing or another and then I decided to share the dream, now everyone has military dreams (not talking about nightmares, just dreams) so when I told them that I was dreaming that there was a woman in my unit, in my dream, and she had decided to challenge and compete with me - they understood immediately when I said 'and no way is she going to win'. Mainly because that is what young soldiers do - with all their competitors, even best friends. She was going to go down hard as I could take her.  And if you are going to be my friend you have to struggle to put me in the dirt and rub my nose in it, no quarter until you say uncle or tap out.  I heard they don't teach life that way any longer, one has to remove his combat patch to not threaten the un-bloodied new guys and gals.

  Ah well, I feel heroic, and I so not. Still I have returned to the safety of my home, Netflix and movie madness, and good looking comfortable 3XL stuff that I could wear three or four weapons under. They will be outlawing hoodies one day.

Ides of March, when Ceasar fell to fury....

Since we are confused and upset and not following the leaders....

  Day four without the YMCA and leaving the home, this cold is hanging on me and my wife gets better and feels free to rejoin society. She hid much longer, but she was much sicker. I refuse... and I can't find my keys since yesterday at the mailbox.

   So today, consider rebuilding the country and mainly, what is needed in a Federal government and what is not.  For the current one is going to collapse when stupidity can no longer be covered up by good intentions unpaid for, or that must be given at the point of a gun.

   No departments of Homeland Security, Education, EPA, BAFTE, Labor, Commerce, and the host of others too numerous to mention.... cause if you don't have contact with them what are they doing? Well, as much as they can to spend money, regulate what evers, and award favors.  And if you think about it, that is what people outside of politics do - so why do we need the government? To protect us, to have neutral courts for deciding conflicts and wrongs. Law enforcement should be local, and I would keep only the FBI for national and international. The Constitution is a well thought out document and has helped stabilize our nation for many years, but layers from lawyers and professional politicians have really gummed up the promises of Capitalism and smaller government. All to their temporary advantage...

  I guess if I were to be silly and make a small effort to make a better model, I would keep anyone from making political office permanent, the higher the office the shorter the time allowed to be associated with it.

  Oh, After several hours of fruitless searching I have found my keys - reminding me of the LORD looking for the lost at every level... but since I can't find my country, how hard it that going to be to find? Yes, it is already long lost... and we didn't notice it disappearing... someone will write history books about how communications and media changed reality... or spread the illusions.

 

Choices, so many choices... how is one to know which is the right one?

  I am not talking about the Presidential election which the two major look like the other parties are running. You get two votes, one in the primary and one in the general election, and then the Electoral College will cast the deciding votes. Even if it were direct voting your vote is only one of many and you have three choices - the third being not to vote. I do hope you know why you are taking a stand and who or what you are voting upon... They, media and anti-gun goofs, have fooled many of the people much of the time. That won't be the final time someone lies to you, you haven't done enough research nor had enough failures to become smarter about what goes on in your life.

  Man is given commands to live by, rules to obey, or just good advice by God, parents, lovers, family and friends and of course by all the wonderful people in government. The ones that think they rule us or that are sure they are righter than we are.  Real life is often making a choice without rules, consultation or certainty of the ultimate effect of the choice, good or bad. Every action or inaction will produce results - time is flowing and the universe spinning and YOU are not in charge of anything except your choice.

  Evil is there and always working as hard as the Holy are, and in between the two are the future saints and sinners... I do hope we all make the correct choices, every day we should get up and make that bed... because we hope to come back and rest upon it...

  Oh, my personal opinion, if you are doing something because of your fear - then you should look at it and see if you could make a better choice from love. I would hold with the doing things with love, I have never been impressed with my petty fears in all my years.

How does the story go... if you are in denial...

So my wife calls me to bed and I shut off the reading lamp, turn off the stereo, and walk to the bedroom, and along the way I fall down and lead with my head and nose. She asks if I am okay, and I have gotten up walked into the bedroom, pulled back the covers and going to sleep, saying "yes, Dear."

  Several hours later I wake to look in the mirror and I find a bit bloody forehead and the bridge of my nose really smashed and bloody - so I go to take a selfie for the History of the event... and posting it on Facebook to gross everyone out- you just have to have a story. Still thinking I am a fighter, I could pretend I took one for the team, led with my face to block the punch, or just allow them to see I am laughing it off. It is not beyond my personal history that someone has smashed my nose at the bridge so well. High school football practice I kept getting Clark's elbow until I moved out of the way faster.

  Some sympathetic noises (comments) also made me go to the second choice for the story, I had too much to drink last night... song from my youth. Saying so to my wife got her off of worrying too much about it. Although her best friend advised that I should see a doctor, I wasn't going to burden the healthcare system, put some Vapor Rub on the wounds after washing the dried blood off, okay, she could apply some vitamin E. Honey would have worked too, but the bugs are back already. And we had seen Revenant and fear bears bumbling in the woods out back.

   The day hiding from the outside world was spent pleasantly with the Cable guy from Xfinity as he checked, repaired and made our individual sets perfect. He really was great, within ten minutes of the time he was supposed to be here, came equipped to do whatever it took.  And still be a pleasant conversationalist.  We talked a bit about the cableset boxes and why new ones are going to be better than the old ones (larger volumes of transmission) and buy the time it was time for lunch, I had two really well behaved universal remotes and a totally new connections and a modern box ready for the improvement. Oh, we had some conversation about the grid, our time in the middle east, our sons, guns, hunting and stuff.  He never asked a thing about my face, guys don't really.

  In my expanded movie availability I watched D. Washington acting as a drunken pilot in Flight, pretty good movie about bad behavior and the government saving us from evil alcohol, and I especially liked the end.

  So today with my intent to go to the YMCA, and sweat and then return to preparing for Spring, I think I must come clean.  I don't know why I fell, I wasn't drunk but do think that my foot lift wasn't high enough to clear something and I tripped, why my hands didn't catch me is more concerning. When asked about scaring, I had to laugh, my whole face is a scar and a scare- time marched boldly upon it. Is it time for LifeAlert? Or just time to realize I ain't that young anymore?


  

What happens when I don't vote for President? nothing, my vote for president isn't an elector vote...

   Want to make a difference, go talk and work for the difference - anyway that speaks to you as a person of concern about the future.  It will surely mean much more than following fools, listening to the media that knows you have no real mind, that is how they make their money - proving you don't really understand how you have been addled.  So the ass and the GOP don't really love you, nor your choice and they are going to be in charge, so do whatever you want it is still an opportunity to not vote for their choice. Always remembering that None of the Above is not a proper name so that person couldn't be a candidate and win all the positions.

   Thank you Jeb! for bowing out so well.  Now if the GOP would, but it isn't noble.

   Do understand it is all coming down, the 'they against us' only works if you are one of the us and not a they.... but as the elite media, money folks and politicians know... as soon as they labeled themselves as special, worthy and elite... they were no longer us. There is time left, to fix the country, the people, to solve the problems to hold everyone accountable.  But it won't sell, no one is running on it and neither party is answering the real need and moments.

   Just remember that not voting for the highest office in the land, makes just as much difference as voting for it, unless you are one of the Electoral College.  Do pay attention and enjoy your loves and life as long as you can, cause the government will be coming for you and it has failed so much and so many times, but it can't stop trying.

Ever dream you are running???

  Woke this morning from a Special Ops training area where I had come back from a run, and cause I still had something in me, I asked if anyone (from the just landed group) wanted to run along and we took off and sprinted a bit then settled into some serious stretching of the stride.  That was a very cool dream, reminded me of the smoking dreams while I was quitting, where it tasted so good in your dream and you woke up thinking to light up another... that real and happy.

   So I turned in the Xfinity box yesterday, power cord didn't match the juncture it was supposed to and I wasn't going to carve it. Jury rigged a splitter and some cable to connect a second box, and it has been not coming to life, but since the regular older box works, I have only a replacement cable before I go back to replace the box.  I can still get the DVD/videon player to work on the monitor so it isn't anything except the box, and cable connection from the splitter. Yeah, time for coffee and breakfast. We are going to try and see Risen today. Only four showings, like Race, seems Deadpool has many, many more.

   I have decided that listening to Donald Trump would be just as bad as listening to Jeb! every day as President, but was happy to see Condie Rice running in California as it sinks below the fold. Wish one could go back to those really real happy dreams... but they have fled, maybe I should just burst out and RUN!

Missing in action, MIA, missing, inaction... not doing enough...

  So Democrats and Socialists everywhere (except in Venezuela) believe that the government will care so well for us in our stupid greed and danger... sigh.

  If governments were so good, they would grow more food, build finer homes, and hospitals and the education would be the very best. Ever wonder why with the Veterans Administration there is a charity partying well on good folks donations to get better care for wounded warriors? If government education so good, that rich children go to private schools and learn more? Remember that government education at college level will produce an officer prepared to work in a rigid environment with the power of the courts martial behind him. You can add all your personal examples of how the government doesn't get it right most of the time, and certainly not on budget or within standards - and any link between private enterprise and government is immediately a warning that there is probably corruption at some level.

   That is enough tonight.  Having no interest in WWE or reports of the political action of the election year, I did my taxes last night, using Turbo Tax.  And I have one missing document and I will owe a hundred and forty dollars which will be in the April check writing pile.  Last year I got a refund of five hundred and more dollars.  My wife and I are now on fixed income, awaiting the collapse of the markets, the government and our entitlements because we trusted the government goodness...  The truth is the government needs our help, I can pay my bills, but they can't pay their bills. And if they just made the dollar worth what it was in most of American History they wouldn't have the current problem... cause the dollar was once very sound, the banks weren't but the dollar was.

   The banks aren't sound again, the markets are better, but then don't buy on leverage...

Took the last blue pill today....

 And I saw no reason to refill the prescription for another bottle, so I didn't.  Life goes on, on Facebook there was some software to make you participate and go 'Ah!' for Friends Day.  Nice little application of fun stuff.  But "Hi, William" never works on telephone solicitations, used car salesmen, nor on Facebook fun... They think I am like all the others.

  As I sweated gently and pushed weigh around (mine and the machine's) at the YMCA yesterday I marveled at the heroic efforts of many of the patrons, there are tons of folks in recovery, or physical therapy, or just trying to remember how the feet need to roll with the walk as they hold on to the railing to keep from falling.

  My wife comes in to ask why her phone says that it can't make a connection - and I don't know, since it isn't my universe, if I were to guess she hasn't waited long enough for it to wake up, or the end of the world is just outside our door, or someone touched the machine to inhibit her happiness. But it wasn't me...

   I didn't do a hard workout yesterday, started feeling ill and so took a hot shower and went home early, and this morning, although I have packed and am dressed for attending the YMCA again, I don't think so... should we blame it on the election cycle, the total failure of government to get it right, this time since they didn't get it right the last time? No, I think it is just olde wearing on me.

  Which is in a way sad, but again it is the way the world works. I spent some quality time, last night,  with the Awana, nothing holding back joy in playing with the children. I was teased by a five year old seeing if he could move faster than I could turn to look. And we don't even know each others name, but I tickled him behind me and he ran away laughing.  Then off to study Bible Verses and be tested by an adult on their memory and understanding. Only pretty smart third grade girls in our group, but now I know where the young ladies that charmed my coffee time as they ate seaweed soup came from, they have much better pay attention skills than I do.

  Am really thinking hard about that ride to the Class Reunion in Ligonier, PA.  It will probably be my final fling at adventurous glories in my own mind.  A good number of folks have said they would like to meet on my route, imagine, meeting real people and sharing a meal and time... like it was in the good old days.  I have to do much better planning about how long it takes to cross country, even my sleeping on the benches at the rest stops won't get me faster than sixty miles per hour when riding, just lots more hours of a day on the Trusty Triumph and down the road. Will have to find a mapping program to share as the planning unfolds, I did get the H-D Ride Atlas out.

   Idaho, South Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, Indiana/Ohio, the rest of Ohio, Pennsylvania, maybe New York and Ticonderoga if they change governors, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Alabama Arkansas, North Texas, Colorado and then streaking for home maybe stopping in rest of Idaho for a bit... whew! That should eat up a lot of August.  Remembering that pictures of me only work if I have given you time for a shot, and here are two from my 2010 trip.

   Take the time, talk and share, for people you could love a little more won't always be there, and there are so many really wonderful ones awaiting us all in the hereafter, but I don't know if they allow motorcycling in the Heavens, only Ghost riders in the Sky....

Who wins? How do we do that?

  So the question of taxes came up in my house yesterday, and my wife wanted to know how much money she had in her IR accounts.  Imagine her shock when I told her the last time I knew or had paper for was from 2013, the year she had set up her automatic distribution, some step on that process had stopped their sending paper copies to our home. I do keep too much old paper records, I still have LES copies, and I can tell you what my budget was in 1973 through Feb 1985 when I went to computers. She would go to the credit union to get the quarterly reports for the in between and I hope start again that wonderful system of mailing the full quarterly report to the account holder.

  This was caused a bit by the Iowa caucus news reporting, very nice MicroSoft app, and sure enough the little captains could figure out how to boost their candidate's numbers quickly, and seemed willing to do so for the cause. Which means to me that not enough has changed in politics. I was pleased that the media darling front runner Mr Trump came in second. He was very gracious after, and that stands him very well. I was pleased enough that Senator Cruz and his team did very well, but mostly happy that Senator Marco Rubio came in a very close to second, third. That was great, the next thing was that before I moved off the cable to our evening WWE session, I get to hear the third place finisher give the victory speech. Wow! How he was covered first, had family and supporters in front of the camera immediately and broadcast first, I don't know. But it happened, he spoke very strongly and well and about all that was important. Finished and I could move on (after all I am not paid to pay attention like the reporters and pundits are)...  

  So we ended the evening with juvenile pleasure in watching wrestling tomfoolery and sipping adult beverages, enough to loosen my tongue and ensure conversation and arouse worry about if I had too much (its okay dear, I can walk to my bed). She remembers long ago and far away and having to care for a much lighter, stronger and handsomer fellow deep in his cups. To sleep to dream and then wake.

   I wake early, as normal, and get up and write up seven checks, put into six envelopes and mail them off.  Looking at the amount left, I will be careful the remainder of the month. Have to learn to spell frugal with a capital letter or all caps.  The Democratic Party sent me a survey to help them against the rascally Republicants, and as long as it isn't on my stamp, okay.

   I go off to the YMCA for sweat producing and stress reducing. Nineteen point seven miles worth. Light conversation but lots of time to reflect as I mindlessly row and pedal ... lots of time. I come to the realization I am not enthusiastic about this election, I am sure the fix is in, as it always is the money folks behind all the contenders are doing more than the voters. In the end, the election held the markers will be called, those responding correctly will be well rewarded and gain power and loot. And that loot is from the nation and the peasants plundered by a very corrupt system. And the fools will respond with it has always been that way.  So maybe this year they, the powers behind the curtain, need to buy my vote and attention.  But they won't.

   It is too costly, and the control of millions is impossible.  I can make my nation and community great, wonderful and powerful again.  At my level, right here in River City.  First response of a real American, question everything and don't comply until it makes sense... and that won't happen too often.  Kind of like wishing for the Kingdom of Heaven on earth, well, where you are act like a saint and it will begin.  Act like a great American and that great America will rise up around you - where ever you go and what ever you do - do it well, do it with courage and love and always do your best, so it maybe blest.

Incoming mail made me laugh...

I graduated high school in 1966, so the fiftieth reunion will be this August 20, 2016. Although the announcement letter is written as 2011, five years ago. Hmm, maybe some one didn't really update the last announcement? 

Ligonier Valley High School class of '66 in 2006

Junior Picture ,65

May 1982 Graduation in Heidelberg

Get some muscle over here...

  Famous last words of the folks that don't do their own enforcement during confrontations. The college lady that thought people should be treated as enemies and terrorists, had to ask for muscle and I understand may be charged with inciting violence for those choice words.

  On the other hand, the FBI and OSP killed the old white man protesting government overreach in Oregon, like Waco, like Ruby Ridge. It will be written in History that the killing was justified, the agents of the government, with body armor, fine weapons and super intelligence knew they were going to be killed as an organization and individual agents by a middle aged white guy with his hands in the air and the potential to not cooperate when confronted by fools with guns. Notice the difference in the Ferguson protests and the Oregon one, all that property damage and death is so different.

  I have long held beliefs that godless government has no intelligence nor soul, and certainly doesn't love anyone. And the government, if it is to replace God, needs to get on to loving everyone -- and I hold that truth to be impossible. Institutions are built by men, and are only as good or bad as the men using them. Corruption is always possible, and seems to be a design feature of using failed humans.

   I did notice that the political candidates for Republican Presidential primary in Iowa (I to have been to that state and used Great Uncle Ernie's outhouse, admiring his matchbook collection, and his wife's button collections and their display.) were running out their Christian values, support of the veterans and ability to fix problems. They didn't convince me of much except they are willing to serve, and only two of them were focused on the problems. The others seemed to focus on their capabilities... this is, after all, a 'me' and 'I' generations. 

  Ah, well, certainly much to pray about, the answers are not on the media feed, nor in the ramblings of old fat men with sleepless good intentions to provide for his loves everywhere and knowing there really aren't supermen or even common heroes when needed, just the very best that he can do will have to be good enough, and it should be if done with love and the LORD. Amen

Still waking too early to have any benefit from beauty sleep...

 This is the fiftieth year since I graduated, class of '66 from the Ligonier Valley Senior High School. The Mountaineers, applied to only two schools of higher learning Drexel and the University of Miami. Intending to study Metallurgy, kind of...  If you really knew me you might think that I wanted associated with that logo more than anything, but I don't think fifty years ago that was its logo.

  Drexel was just down Route 30, which made it too close to home, and I really hadn't considered the Pennsylvania Military Academy, but as they said, their last casualty of the Vietnam War was the Corps of Cadets in 1972.  But then my whole life would have been very different, if it hadn't happened the way it did.

  Getting better at using that bowl holder in the microwave for my breakfast oatmeal, nice, very nice.

   While eating I viewed the cable and find no excitement for this years Presidential primary nor the contenders.  Probably not going to get interested again until November.  I have trouble thinking that any of them are going to do a better job than I am, and I have a lot of my own goals to get under control - triggers being one of them, my relationship with the LORD, and stupidity that once made me so very angry now just makes me want to cry for their misery, especially those that have no idea what they are in my mind.  Too well brought up to mention it much? Yes, but recently it is much more the certain knowledge 'I can't fix stupid' not beyond my personal space, anyway. 

   Time to pack out the YMCA gear and head off to watch the MixxedFit class as I row, which always slows me down. I did a minute on Jacobs Ladder, need to do many more minutes of that each session, along with my normal stuff.  So much to do, so little time, and it does seem to be all my own... and I am talking to myself on the blog again. Take care out there.

The weekend without the snow in the Great NorthWest

  I went to the YMCA, rowing and upper body weight machine circuit, since I hadn't visited the Y the day before. I don't go on Sunday.  After some good conversations, I showered and drove off to the Range, to fire my pistols.  Feeding the Browning Challenger II with Winchester bullets instead of Remington seemed to help, many more rounds will also, and I do need to mark the sights with white or quit shooting at black targets. Since there were two other shooters to my right I was very happy with the target engagement and I was flinging brass at the nearest, especially when I was firing rapidly. The Walther P22 had not a problem. More work on trigger control is called for, especially when I finally get all the other bad habits out of the way.

The top target is the Walther P22 and the bottom target is the Browning Challenger II, the trigger control for both, lighter sights for the second and always more practice. Distance is about 7 meters.
Hot dogs and beans for lunch at home, still trying to warm up, since shooting in rain after working out doesn't seem to do much except accept the chill all the way to the bones.

Live the life of a quietly aging gentleman... and to die a free man...

  We do pick up stuff along the way in life, and some of it we love, some of it we need and much of it was thought to be worth the cost for some comfort... and we have been wrong before. Anyway, when I figured out that I wasn't going to get that Idealimage to make me young and beautiful and noticed that I could be debt free before this year is out. Now I can do that. Then when Hillary is elected by voter fraud in November, by January 2017 I can die and not bother my wife. Or when the dollar collapses or the Communist Controllers take charge, or anything that will stress others because they still have to service their debt masters, it won't bother me.  That National Debt isn't mine, I hold no bonds since President Clinton got funny with the interest payouts.

  My new improved concealed carry is wonderful, no one sees it, comfortable and always at hand.

  Not that my world has ever needed me with a pistol, thank God for His love.

  I am alarmed that the Academy Awards are for movies I wouldn't go see on my dollar, and we should have more diversity... but then the Academy isn't America, just a bunch of folks in the movie industry that are trying to make more money by having an awards ceremony for the public, who can't vote in the selection, see how they discriminate?  Well, I for one am not going to the Academy Awards, and I don't watch them either. I do like to see which movies were nominated and which ones were winners, they are usually worth watching.  I won't be buying them anymore, I have too much and I have noticed that as computers and film making become better and better that I am no longer their audience.  Strange, they don't accept me as I am.

Do go see the movie '13 Hours' ... made my wife nervous...

  Since she was deep into the movie she grabbed my arm, and noticed my breathing and muscle tension --- don't worry, dear, I will be fine when the lights come back on. One of the best combat movies I have ever seen, all the secrets are out there.  Things I think are very important to note:  Political Correctness does not a civilized man make, just because you went to some super spy school or hall of higher learning - mortar rounds and RPGs just won't care.  Muslims aren't all out to kill all Americans, they also aren't all going to help or protect you because you may leave them your work car. And, trust me, just because they say Okay, or give a special Hawaiian sign - they might still find working for the bad guys in their favor.  Americans are too often seen as aliens, foreign invaders, that is the danger in NeoCons, IMF and World Bank.

  Europe and English speaking North America have built a children deficit since WWII, the baby boom masked it - but the idea three to four children family was quickly replaced by mothers going to work and putting the children in childcare or school, like the Soviet Union was doing (which I thought was terrible, when I was a child). Europe had too few workers to rebuild, Germany imported Turks, they are still there, and still not German.

  I watch O'Reilly trying to control the words of one of the women that states 'Rape culture' is the way the Muslims live in some of their nations. The rule about women do not go out alone is because without a man to defend her she is seen as the victim looking for an attack.  He didn't want that said, but the females, in the military and other organizations without armed male protections will be raped, have been and the media has covered it up.  Just like certain Afghan males having sex with children, don't want to look and see the problem, but it doesn't go away.  So many lies and omissions in the media, you have to go elsewhere for truth.

  Well, I need to get back to reading about the Maori Wars in New Zealand, finished the 1840s and am working on the 1860s.  Lovely comparisons to the American experience, still if they had been united there would have been more trouble establishing civilization that could fall under the TPPA. Those that think they are special and know it all, should never stop questioning their facts. It ain't necessarily so.

What? me worry?

  It is very quiet in the house, the trash truck just picked up on our side of the street and is heading to the turn about. I have all my finances accounted for and under control. Since it was offered, and I am old and almost dead, I ran my credit score (which I have never ever cared about) to find they score me at 793. Okay, but if they knew how far I am from winning the Powerball they would have upped it.

   It is so quiet in the house, because I don't turn on the television, the cable is on but the monitor isn't. My wife wakes, asks if I am still here, and if it is cold outside -- no, just cool.  I did watch the debates last night, but Rand Paul is as discounted as his father Ron Paul, they must be very good people.  Dr. Ben Carson will end up on that list, he had my vote last night but that was because he had good answers, and I have never been part of the masses.  Trump made a lot of faces, spoke a bit better (not much but a bit), Rubio and Ted were painful to watch attacking each other, JEB! and Kaisic were in their comfort zone. I don't need to watch anymore debates, still wondering who is going to replace Hillary on the Democratic ticket, especially since all the real potential folks to slow the crash of the economy and the country were on the stage in Charleston. There is no superfool that is needed to get the country right - just all us normal ones, we need to make our little lives better and wonderful and enriching and sharing and caring. It will never come out of Washington, DC, and that New York thing they were talking about last night, everyone knew what that was, and there are great people in New York City and metro - held under the thumb of evil folks with really weird ideas.  Maybe Bloomberg will replace Hillary- he has done so much to so many what would a few more do?

   Well, only sixty bucks left until the end of the month, shouldn't eat too much and that would be a good thing!  Take care out there... I have no winning lottery numbers and a 793 credit score, but God knows I need to lose weight, and pay off all debts and prepare for the passing of 2016 --- Olympics in Brazil and elections on television, and less Facebook. Time for the YMCA, ought to get a job.

Church today was very good...

  The sermon was about what Christians are called to do... and away we go, for sure the gun carrying Christians aren't causing all those shooting on the news, but then I thought about them not presenting their case at a CNN discussion with the President either.  For to me, it will always come back to how much one loves the stranger, the other humans in view... no love and shooting gets very easy, and not ever for a good reason. Just lack of love.  And the gun community does its image no good by talking about how they are going to shoot someone when troubles come, they need to mention they are prepared to be the security of the free State... not that they want to shoot someone.

   The off to hold the Sunday School for the fifth graders and since the main topic was Jesus in control of the creation and the story of his being awakened by frightened fellows, and holding up his hand and commanding the storm and the sea "Be quiet!" and in the calm "Be still" the waves stopped rocking the boat... That can get the little ones' attention when done in the Drill Sergeant mode. Still they never give us enough to teach, and do, the children are fast. So we went out for a walk in the Sunshine, temperature 55 degrees, very nice.  We actually have a wetland south of the main church building, protected by a fence.
 
   I released them for their seaweed and rice soup, with kim chee.  And I sat down to talk to the retired Coast Guardsman, and discuss the football season or whatever.  I found Isaac coming by, he and his brother Caleb weren't wearing their ball caps. But Isaac dropped a plastic frog from his pocket, then we emptied his pockets, sharks, lizard, frogs all over the table, so I started having the frogs do flips.  Fun.

Surprising me, two young girls (third graders?) sat down with their meal and started talking and then included me in their conversation! What? They always speak in pace and pitch above my hearing ability, but they are fun, so I asked their names and we had discussions... did I know these girls? Nope, were they in any of the activities I have been part of with the children, Nope.  Here comes another younger girl with her coat over her head looking like she would trip and spill her tray and soup, she didn't but she sat down beside her sister, and she started talking to me, too.  Where did all this come from? My wife says I make a perfect grandfather or great uncle figure.

   One girl told me she had to move and live with her father, until "what's his name" moved out - now I am shocked, and I am wondering how to speak to adult stupidity to her, but figured after some more conversation that she was already working on it. Well, I did introduce my wife to the two sisters before we left the fellowship hall, figuring if they could use a great uncle they could also use a great aunt, they would call the elder lady 'imo' (which could mean mother's sister in Korean) or the word for grandmother since her hair is white.  Yes, a very good day at church today.

Take a 'never have' shooter to the range to hit the target, safely... and remember all you can't teach him yet...

   So I treat an older fellow, that has lots of opinions and talk and questions, to the trip to the range to fire a pistol, in this case my Browning Challenger II with the gold colored trigger, in 22LR. It is a pretty pistol.  Last night I had taken out the pistol and cut down the amount of stuff I thought I would need.  Like a 1911, a revolver, and another 22LR pistol by Ruger... because I realized this was just a one time deal, and I had more than a new shooter was prepared to find out about.

   Our relationship is more about old guys sweating at the gym and talking about old stuff and far away stuff and trying to be noticed.

   We got our basic exercise in and showered and dressed and then we went to Range 15 of JBLM, I paid and showed him the pistol, how it worked, and I was certainly happy that I went slow, since he didn't have any past firearm training.  But I would stand beside him, demonstrate, and then have him perform what I had just shown him... what seemed so natural to me, was all new to him. Since I was in the 'do it safely always' mode, I didn't get swept but there was one failure to clear the pistol properly. Which I caught, pointed out to him, and then corrected when it was safe to do so.

   We had an unexpected coyote on the two hundred yard line, right in front of the rifle shooters, one must have caught it and the line was closed down until it got off. The day was cool to colder, and by the final few magazine I needed heat and a nap.  All his rounds were on the target, but the little stuff I could only help him one technique at a time. So it took some time for trigger control, and such.  Only using one pistol was a fine idea.  I did get some shooting in, but the primary focus was on him and not me.  A good time.

   The rifle side of the range had a signup sheet for the ones that got there late, as we left the pistol side had the same thing, so there must have been many Christmas gifts getting a work out.

In the cold dreary days of Winter...

  I think the bears are correct, hibernate! Although they probably just get real fat and sleepy and waddle off to bed and birthing. I am reading more, and more, and more.... and not just on Facebook, which seldom has whole paragraphs of ponder. One of my friends has contemplated selling her current firearm of choice to buy another firearm of better choice -- I am old school, I just add one, won't sell but would give away what I no longer need and willing to share.  Which, under gun fool and gun goof guidelines makes me an outlaw... more or less.

  I have plans and intentions to be executed of taking an old fellow (ahead of me by a few years) to the range to shoot some pistols safely. He has memorized all the gun safety books I gave him to read and know weeks ago.  That will be one more fellow that understands more than he could with only the media and antigungoofs for references. Plus, I will get to shoot more and improve performance and take pictures.

  I have been shut off from the cable in this house. Seems I haven't provided enough systems to flood our minds, there are only two of us, and the lady of the house says I should have my own and not bother hers. So I have withdrawn from the regular television viewing room. And I don't turn it on, either. Just think of all the Presidential and wannabees that I will miss. Can you feel the grin on my face at that thought? The other thing I noticed is the lack of time and energy to get up and get something more to eat as I don't want to see the commercials.  Reading is great.

  Aside from the take a newbie to the range objectives, I had a call to convert the heathen and the lost of the World, but it is called the Gospel and I am figuring how to stay ahead of the children in Sunday School, watched them running around and playing in the snow in their playground on Sunday last. Don't know how badly the current governments are going to get the threat and protect the little ones, but I do know just watching my own life and journey - they are in for interesting times.

Sleepless... so get up, stop thinking about it...

  Only so many hours of rest required, and you have been living in a sitting position only exercising your eyes and mind... you don't need more sleep.  So you finally get up, since all your thinking was about how wonderful you are going to be today after you get up... like that will happen.

   So you go get your naked weight, take your blood pressure and your medications and supplements, then start working on the current bills with a hot cup of yesterday's coffee. Bill paying is fun, only two today. Post checks and charges in the Quicken software - just reinforcing the news noticed yesterday - during 2016 the mortgage will be paid off, since last years principal payments were more than the remaining principal I have permission to die off in 2017, my wife won't need me.

  Still very cold and dark outside, little things finished here, will wait for the Sun and read away some more time.

Well, 2016 - so Happy New Year! May God bless it greatly...

But, couldn't it have started on a Monday? Since it is Friday I had to get all the garbage out to the curb, started the dishwasher and colored laundry.  The frozen grass crunched beneath my shoes as I tracked around the yard, the cold clear sky had nothing flying in it, I looked.

I had intended to go shoot this morning, in honor of my reading of the document, but will look into shooting tomorrow at Range 15 of JBLM. I have bills to pay today, and mail, and the YMCA doesn't work without me, and since it is a New Year and we already have two documents for the 2015 tax filing, I expect I will owe nothing again.

Quiet celebration last night, finished off that bottle of wine, in the trash this morning, we didn't stay up until Hawaii celebrated the New Year, just too late. I sat and watched young people at the Space Needle, and complained that the director had too many cameras, had little idea of lasting (seven minute) fireworks against the downtown skyline, it could have been perfect, but they kept trying to catch something cool... and missing the moments, missing all the moments.

Don't y'all miss any moments there aren't enough for us as it is, smile more, share and see you next time on the range.