One to think about…

Maybe they never thought about it, but those who are now grandmothers wore super short mini skirts, tight pants, high boots and many did not even wear a bra.

They listened to Led Zeppelin, The Who, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.

They drove Mini Cooper and powerful motorcycles.

They smoked, drank gin and tonic, whiskey and who knows what else.

They went to music festivals, in the mud, that lasted 3 days, and maybe they even danced naked in the crowd.

They lived very long hours, because they did not have internet, or smartphones, or social networks, and they did not care much about television.

They got home at four in the morning and went to work that morning.

Learn this: You will never be as cool as your grandmothers were.

Someone had to say this.

 

About damned time!!!

More than once I’ve wondered ‘why’ some things were classified for XX years…

And THIS is one of them! 70 frickin years???

The Navy awarded the Navy Cross to retired Navy Capt. Royce Williams last week for downing four Soviet MiG-15 aircraft during the Korean War in what is still the longest recorded dogfight in U.S. military history.

On Nov. 18, 1952, then-Lt. Williams, an F9F-5 Panther jet fighter pilot assigned to the aircraft carrier Oriskany, was flying a combat patrol mission off the coast of Korea with two other F9F pilots when they encountered seven Soviet MiGs.

Full article, HERE.

He should never have had to buy a beer in his life… Grrr…

Thoughts…

I often wondered if I’d make it to 30…

Author unknown, but came over the Mil Email transom.

It seems just yesterday that I was young and embarking on my new life. Yet in a way, it seems like eons ago, and I wonder where all the years went.
I know that I lived them all.
I have glimpses of how it was back then and of all my hopes and dreams.
However, here it is …… the last quarter of my life and it catches me by surprise.
How did I get here so fast?
Where did the years go and where did my youth go?
I remember well seeing older people through the years and thinking that those older people were years away from me and that I was only on the first quarter and that the fourth quarter was so far off that I could not visualise it or imagine fully what it would be like.
Yet, here it is …… my friends are retired and getting grey – they move slower and I see an older person now. Some are in better and some worse shape than me but I see the great change. They’re not like the ones that I remember who were young and vibrant …… but like me, their age is beginning to show and we are now those older folks that we used to see and never thought we’d become.
Each day now, I find that just getting a shower is a real target for the day! and taking a nap is not a treat anymore, it’s mandatory! because if I don’t of my own free will, I fall asleep where I sit!
And so …… now I enter into this new season of my life unprepared for all the aches and pains and the loss of strength and ability to go and do things that I wish I had done but never did! But at least I know that, though I’m on the last quarter and I’m not sure how long it will last, that when it’s over on this earth… it’s over.
A new adventure will begin!
Yes, I have regrets. There are things I wish I hadn’t done …… things I should have done but truely there are many things I’m happy to have done.
It’s all in a lifetime.
So, if you’re not on the last quarter yet, let me remind you that it will be here faster than you think. So, whatever you would like to accomplish in your life do it quickly!
Don’t put things off too long! Life goes by so quickly.
So, do what you can today, as you can never be sure whether you’re on the last quarter or not!
You have no promise that you will see all the seasons of life…. so, live for today and say all the things that you want your loved ones to remember – and hope that they appreciate and love you for all the things that you have done for them in all the years past!
‘Life’ is a gift to you.
Be Happy!
Have a great day!
Remember, it is health that is real wealth and not pieces of gold and silver.
You may think;
Going out is good – but coming home is better!
You forget names – but it’s okay because some people forgot they even knew you!
You realize you’re never going to be really good at anything like golf – but you like the outdoors!
The things you used to care to do, you aren’t as interested in anymore – but you really don’t care that you aren’t as interested.
You sleep better on a lounge chair with the TV on than in bed – you call it ‘pre-sleep’!
You miss the days when everything worked with just an ‘On’ and ‘Off’ switch!
You tend to use more 4 letter words – ‘what’ and ‘when’
You have lots of clothes in your wardrobe, more than half of which you will never wear – but just in case!

Enjoy the time you have, make the best of it!!!

Book promo…

First up is Larry Correia with his non-fiction In Defense of the Second Amendment

Click the cover for the Amazon link!

The blurb-

What Part of the Second Amendment Don’t You Understand?

That’s the question posed by award-winning, New York Times bestselling author, and professional firearms instructor, Larry Correia. 
Bringing with him the practical experience that comes from having owned a high-end gun store—catering largely to law enforcement—and as a competitive shooter and self-defense trainer, Correia blasts apart the emotion-laden, logic-free rhetoric of the gun control fanatics who turn every “mass shooting” into a crazed call for violating your rights, abusing the Constitution—and doing absolutely nothing to really fight crime. 
In his essential new book, In Defense of the Second Amendment, Correia reveals: 

  • Why “gun-free” zones are more dangerous for law-abiding citizens
  • How the Second Amendment does indeed include your right to own an AR-15—and why that’s not an “outdated” concept
  • Why “red flag” laws don’t work, can be easily abused, and ignore a much more commonsensical approach to keeping guns out of the wrong hands 
  • The insanity of “criminal justice reform” that frees dangerous criminals and “gun reform” that penalizes your right to self-defense
  • How we can return to a society that has a safe and healthy relationship with guns—as we had for most of our history
  • Correia’s promise: “Believe me, I’ve heard every argument relating to gun control possible. I can show you how to defend your rights.”

Urgent, informed, with vitally important information for whoever who owns a gun—or is thinking about owning a gun—or who cares about the preservation of our constitutional rights, In Defense of the Second Amendment is a landmark book of enduring importance. 

This is an excellent book for refuting the left’s ‘arguments’ against the Second Amendment. Also, Larry does not set prices on his books, those were done by the publisher, and he has no input to that.

Next is Pam Uphoff with a new novella in her Fall of the Alliance series K.A.T. Antiques

The blurb-

In a brutal cross-dimensional Empire where everything is about ownership and control, and the strongest mentalists rule . . .
Karl Traeger has a problem.

His elderly father has died, and sixteen-year-old Karl is going to be at the mercy of very unsavory relatives.
And since he’s the oldest of his generation—ahead of his cousins in the line of inheritance—he knows his uncle will never Present him: never allow him to demonstrate his fitness for the title of Lord. No, he’ll be one more brain-chipped servant.
But maybe if he moves quickly, before anyone knows his father is dead . . . he can save himself, then get to work saving the people he cares about—maybe even save his budding antiques business.

A stand alone novella in the Fall of the Alliance Series.

This is a fun little series, with good good guys and really bad bad guys! 🙂

Next is Holly Chism with her second book in the Liquid Diet Chronicles Having a Pint

The blurb-

Meg Turner, vampire accountant and investments advisor, has plenty of living clients, but not many among her fellow undead. That’s about to change: she’s been invited to a regional business fair for her kind. She’ll get to meet and greet more bloodsuckers than she really wanted to (hopefully without having to suck up to any of them). than just the two Vampire cops she helped track down and stake her late, unlamented sire—and hopefully make some friends and answer some questions.

Unfortunately, she’s got a Line Progenitor who’s begun invading her dreams, and a serial killer stalking her future clients to distract her from growing her business. Throw in a sick roommate not long before the conference starts, a mafia messenger boy left on her front porch, and only one car to juggle all of her responsibilities toward her roommate and unexpected guest. And then on top of that, she has the business fair over an hour away that features vampire karaoke, nosy, pushy elder bloodsuckers, and one particular elder who’s friends with her unwelcome dream guest. Seriously, it’s enough to drive her to drink something other than coffee or blood.

Just why did she think this whole conference thing sounded like a good idea, again?

This is definitely a ‘twisted’ little series, plenty of laughs and lots of twists and turns in the plot!

Last but not least, Alma TC Boykin has a new novella out in her Familiar Origins Tales Lord Adrescu’s Blade

The blurb-

A legendary sword, and the man who wielded it.

Lord Danut Adrescu returns to his keep to find a mystery and a warning. A battered young Healer who cannot speak, and a vision of battle with a half-bull monster. What links the two? And what ties them to his new sword, a battle-claimed blade made by the finest Italian swordsmiths?

A novella, 30K words.

I highly recommend all of these! They (well other than Larry’s) are good quick reads!

Larry’s will take some time to digest, but it is well worth the time there too!

A friend in need…

Jenn Hast, one of our group has been diagnosed with cancer and is facing a double mastectomy, which they have insurance for, but NOT for the 2 months she’s going to be out of work.

For those that may not know, Jenn did our ‘back office’ for all of our raffles over the years.  However, this time we’re not doing a raffle, as she obviously can’t do the back office stuff.

So, we’re just going to beg for donations to keep them afloat and bills paid while she recovers. I know she says a month, but other friends who have gone through it say 2 months minimum.

If you can spare anything, it would be greatly appreciated!!!

We’ve set up a GiveSendGo for her- https://www.givesendgo.com/JenniferHast

Thank you in advance.

Sports commentary…

From back in the day…LOL

Don Meredith, Dallas Cowboys Quarterback once said: “Coach Tom Landry is such a perfectionist that if he was married to Raquel Welch, he would expect her to cook.”

Harry Neale, professional hockey coach: “Last year we couldn’t win at home and we were losing on the road.  My failure as a coach was that I couldn’t think of anyplace else to play.”

Reggie Jackson commenting on Tom Seaver: “Blind people come to the ballpark just to listen to him pitch.

Doug Sanders, professional golfer: “I’m working as hard as I can to get my life and my cash to run out at the same time.  If I can just die after lunch Tuesday, everything will be perfect.”

Mickey Lolich, Detroit Tigers pitcher: “All the fat guys watch me and say to their wives, ‘See, there’s a fat guy doing okay.  Bring me another beer.”

Max McGee, Green Bay Packers receiver: “When it’s third and ten, you can have the milk drinkers; I’ll take the whiskey drinkers every time.”

Tommy LaSorda, L A Dodgers manager: “I found out that it’s not good to talk about my troubles.   Eighty percent of the people who hear them don’t care and the other twenty percent are glad I’m having them.”

E.J. Holub, Kansas City Chiefs linebacker regarding his 12 knee operations: “My knees look like they lost a knife fight with a midget.”

Vic Braden, tennis instructor: “My theory is that if you buy an ice-cream cone and make it hit your mouth, you can learn to play tennis.  If you stick it on your forehead, your chances aren’t as good.”

Tommy John, N.Y. Yankees, recalling his 1974 arm surgery: “When they operated, I told them to add in a Koufax fastball.  They did, but unfortunately it was Mrs. Koufax’s.”

Walt Garrison, Dallas Cowboys fullback when asked if Tom Landry ever smiles: “I don’t know. I only played there for nine years.”

John Breen, Houston Oilers: “We were tipping off our plays.  Whenever we broke from the huddle, three backs were laughing and one was pale as a ghost.”

Bum Phillips, New Orleans Saints, after viewing a lopsided loss to the Atlanta Falcons: “The film looks suspiciously like the game itself.”

Al Hrabosky, major league relief pitcher: “When I’m on the road, my greatest ambition is to get a standing boo.”

Bill Veeck, Chicago White Sox owner: “I have discovered in 20 years of moving around the ballpark that the knowledge of the game is usually in inverse proportion to the price of the seats.”

Paul Horning, Green Bay Packers running back on why his marriage ceremony was before noon: “Because if it didn’t work out, I didn’t want to blow the whole day.”

Lou Holtz, Arkansas football coach: “I have a lifetime contract.  That means I can’t be fired during the third quarter if we’re ahead and moving the ball.”

Knute Rockne, when asked why Notre Dame had lost a game: “I won’t know until my barber tells me on Monday”.

Jim Frey, K.C. Royals manager when asked what advice he gives George Brett on hitting: “I tell him “Attaway to hit, George.”

Bill Walton, Portland Trail Blazers: “I learned a long time ago that ‘minor surgery’ is when they do the operation on someone else, not you.”

George MacIntyre, Vanderbilt football coach surveying the team roster that included 26 freshmen and 25 sophomores: “Our biggest concern this season will be diaper rash.”

Rick Venturi, Northwestern football coach: “The only difference between me and General Custer is that I have to watch the films on Sunday.”

The great John McKay, who coached USC for a bunch of years and later became the initial head coach of those terrible expansion Tampa Bay Bucs teams, had a few zingers. He was once asked after a lopsided loss what he thought of his team’s execution.  He said: “I think it would be a very good idea.”

On another occasion, after a serious whipping he was asked what the turning point of the game had been.  He replied: “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

Former UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden, “Coaching is highly overrated.  The team with the better players almost always wins.”

Buoys and Gulls…

Welp, after five years of Saturday suppers, things have kinda settled into a pattern…

Other than the number of folks that show up, which varies between ten and twenty-three (that was the most we ever had)…

The menu varies week to week, depending on who’s cooking, so we get everything from fancy to pizza. Last night was chili, courtesy of Ian.

But the one thing that has settled into a pattern, is the table split. The girls have abandoned us and taken over the small table. And we’re not invited… LOL

Of course this leads to wildly divergent conversations over supper, while the girls are discussing various girl things, we usually talk about the doofus of the day/week or some other case/happening that caught our attention. Last night we varied between the kid that ran over the baby and mother with the car who got months in LA being gunned down by ‘unknown’ persons, Darwins, to guns, cars, and, and… LOL

When we move back into the kitchen/den for dessert is when the conversations really get nuts, as two or three different conversations may be going simultaneously, or everybody jumps on ONE conversation. Last night it was writers, publishers, bands, shows, and discussions of various artists doing strange things, and cars, and more guns, with pretty much everybody chiming in.

As usual, there were chapters of WIPs exchanged, commented on, and edits made. This is one of the best things, as far as I’m concerned, because the feedback is honest, pointed, and sometimes pretty funny. To whit, “What in the hell were you trying to do here? Oh really? Well, you missed by a mile. Did you think about…” Or, “Well, maybe YOU knew what you meant but I don’t…”

 

Quickies…

“If you want to know how old a woman is, ask her sister-in-law.” – Edgar Howe

“Old age comes at a bad time.” – San Banducci

“Inside every older person is a younger person wondering what happened.” – Jennifer Yane

“Old age is like a plane flying through a storm. Once you are aboard, there is nothing you can do about it.” – Golda Meir

“The older I get, the more clearly I remember things that never happened. – Mark Twain

“I’m at that age where my back goes out more than I do.” – Phyllis Diller

“Nice to be here? At my age, it’s nice to be anywhere.” – George Burns

“First you forget names, then you forget faces, then you forget to pull your zipper up, then you forget to pull your zipper down.” – Leo Rosenberg

“You spend 90 percent of your adult life hoping for a long rest and the last 10 percent trying to convince the Lord that you’re actually not that tired.” – Robert Brault

“Old people shouldn’t eat health foods. They need all the preservatives they can get.” – Robert Orben

“At my age, flowers scare me.” – George Burns

“It’s like you trade the virility of the body for the agility of the spirit.” – Elizabeth Lesser

“The years between 50 and 70 are the hardest. You are always being asked to do things, and yet you are not decrepit enough to turn them down.” – T.S. Elliot

“At age 20, we worry about what others think of us… at age 40, we don’t care what they think of us… at age 60, we discover they haven’t been thinking of us at all.” – Ann Landers

“When I was young, I was called a rugged individualist. When I was in my fifties, I was considered eccentric. Here I am doing and saying the same things I did then, and I’m labeled senile.” – GB

“The important thing to remember is that I’m probably going to forget.” – Unknown

“We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” – Pablo Picasso

“It’s paradoxical that the idea of living a long life appeals to everyone, but the idea of getting old doesn’t appeal to anyone.” – Andy Rooney

“The older I get, the better I used to be.” – Lee Trevino

“I was thinking about how people seem to read the Bible a lot more as they get older, and then it dawned on me — they’re cramming for their final exam.”- George Carlin

“Everything slows down with age, except the time it takes cake and ice cream to reach your hips.” – John Wagner

“Grandchildren don’t make a man feel old, it’s the knowledge that he’s married to a grandmother that does.” – J. Norman Collie

“When your friends begin to flatter you on how young you look, it’s a sure sign you’re getting old.” – Mark Twain

“You know you are getting old when everything either dries up or leaks.” – Joel Plaskett

“There’s one advantage to being 102, there’s no peer pressure.” – Dennis Wolfberg

“There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus, he does not believe in Santa Claus, he is Santa Claus.” – Bob Phillips

“Looking fifty is great — if you’re sixty.” – Joan Rivers

“At my age ‘getting lucky’ means walking into a room and remembering what I came in for.” – Unknown

“Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician.” – Anonymous

Fiddling…

While Rome burns…

On Tuesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued an order banning the use of Times New Roman font in all State Department communications.

Why is Times New Roman, which was created in 1932, suddenly so problematic? If you guessed it was because the Biden administration determined the font was racist, I wouldn’t blame you for thinking so. Given recent developments, it seemed inevitable that someone would declare that all serif fonts are tools of white supremacy.

The State Department is ditching Times New Roman out of a desire to be more “inclusive” to “employees who are visually impaired or have other difficulties reading,” according to the Washington Post. The paper received a copy of the department-wide memo, which was cringingly titled “The Times (New Roman) are a-Changin.”

Full article, HERE on PJ Media.

It’s not like they have nothing ELSE to do…

Iran, the Afghan refugees, the illegals coming across the border from… EVERYWHERE!

When I see stuff like this, I truly think the inmates ARE running the asylum!

Sigh… I’m going to sit over here and write. Y’all have a good weekend while you can!

Californication…

“Whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting.” Regardless of who said it first, California is ‘fighting’ to take water from other states on a regular basis… But…

Ramirez nails it as usual… Estimates vary between 3.1 million gallons to over 5 million gallons of rainwater is lost PER DAY due to the lack of reservoirs/catch basins in California!

It’s illegal to serve drinking water in a California restaurant unless the customer asks for it. Billboards sponsored by the state urge residents to put a bucket in their shower to capture water for their gardens. These symbolic pittances, along with escalating restrictions on water use by farmers and households that are anything but trivial, are the products of a deeply flawed mentality governing water policy in California. 

Full article, HERE from American Greatness.

I was stationed at NAS Moffett Field in 73 and again 76-77. Both of those times were during the ‘ongoing’ drought out there. You weren’t allowed to wash your car, water your lawn, and I remember ads on TV about toilet use- If it’s brown, flush it down, if it’s yellow, let it mellow.

Gah…

I can remember even then the econazis, California Coastal Commission, and Sierra Club were fighting what Pat Brown had started, and Ronald Reagan was trying to do to mitigate the drought back then. It has only gotten worse, not better.

And not a damned thing has been done! Moonbeam got in after Reagan and promptly rolled over for the enviro whackos and stopped all progress on new dams, catch basins, and reservoirs.

Now they are paying the price, and soon all of us will be too, when the crops aren’t grown, and everything gets imported (if it’s available), or we go without. The central valley used to be a breadbasket for the US, and now, today, it’s a land of blowing dirt and illegals growing weed…

Sigh…