If you are one of my loyal readers, one who stumbled on to me, or came over from one of my friends, just let me say THANK YOU!
I truly appreciate your stopping by and reading my scribbles. I know I’m not a big timer, excellent writer, nor can I keep on a single track (gee, why does scatterbrain come to min…er…where was I)…
I never started this as anything other that a stress reliever and maybe meet a few new folks. I never realized how many new friends this would bring, nor the breadth and depth of knowledge people are willing to share freely.
I can’t promise I’ll write more, or better, or anything else, but I’ll try…
Anyhoo, I hope 2012 will find us all in a better place than we left in 2011 (especially after November), but that’s a different rant…
Stay safe tonight, and have a Happy New Year in your location of choice, with your beverage of choice, and partner of choice.
And if you’re military, thanks for taking the duty; you know what I mean.
Happy 2012 Everyone!!!
European adds are just BETTER than most of what we see on US TV…
And I love it even more when the ‘Free Heathcare’ that was promised turns out to be not so free, and bites one right in the butt (pretty much literally) AND the Huffpo has to report it HERE!
ORPO has a post up HERE with links to the sad saga of Iraq War veteran Ilario Pantano…
But at least THIS time there is no doubt…
Laura at Insert Witty Title Here had an interesting proposal HERE about going in and buying a place like this…
Well, during the trip out West to see the kids, I caught up with my old room mate from 30 (mumble) years ago in the Bay area. Went up and spent the night with he and his wife in NORCAL (they bolted the Bay area 15+ years ago), and ended up at a dinner they were hosting for a few friends…
A couple of the folks I’d met, and shot with before, and a couple I hadn’t and their wives. Miss “Vicky” made a smartass comment to me at dinner and I reminded her I had ‘pictures’ of her in her wild and crazy days; which then got me threatened with death, and the LEO and Lawyer looking for cover (thanks for all the support there guys). And I happened to mention (deflecting the subject as quickly as I could) Laura’s idea.
It provoked a rather ‘interesting’ reaction… Everyone of them kinda looked at each other and “Mike” admitted they’d already done that!
They had formed a ‘ski club LLC’ and bought a ‘ski lodge’ over in Nevada for market bottom price, 10 bedroom/bath suites, other ‘amenities’, and 40 acres of ski trails backing on a National Forest.
They also bought two old (Mid-80’s) Ford Centurion Diesel conversions from and oil firm and had them refurbished from the ground up, BUT did not fix the interiors or repaint em (so they basically look like beaters) and also had hidden disconnects put in so you can’t start em anyway…
And I’m betting there are a few more things they’ve done, as I noticed one of “Mike’s” safes is missing, and his ammo stocks are a LOT lower than they used to be, and at least one reloading set up is not there anymore. And I know he knows electronics and physical security… Just sayin…
The had apparently gotten the idea from one of the guys brothers who is involved with a similar group of ‘nature conservationists’ in Nebraska…
So apparently we’re not totally crazy…
And THAT really scares me…
Gotta give the Brits credit, they do things with class…
Nuff said…
Edit- Inadvertently swiped from drjim who posted this last month…
You Might Be An Occupier, If:
1. You moved to a tent in Zucotti Park because you always wanted a nicer place to live.
2. You quit your job to attend the protests, but your mother continues your allowance and now does the dishes herself.
3. You are confused that you can’t find the Wal-Mart on Wall Street.
4. You are enraged that the taxpayers had to bail out Wall Street even though you’ve
never paid taxes or know anyone who has.
never paid taxes or know anyone who has.
5. You hate capitalism but expect a capitalist to provide you a good paying job with great
benefits.
benefits.
6. You think Socialism has something to do with Facebook, and Capitalism has to do with Washington, DC.
7. You demand a job, forgetting that you were fired for not doing the one you had.
8. You despise the rich even though they pay your share of taxes.
9. You’re a little behind in your rent because your drug dealer insisted on cash.
10. You are very clear in your protest objectives:
“Screw the USA”
“Save the ______ (fill in the blanks) whales, spotted owls, sturgeon)”
“Self-realization is the first step toward self-actualization”
“Down with uh everything!”
“Save the ______ (fill in the blanks) whales, spotted owls, sturgeon)”
“Self-realization is the first step toward self-actualization”
“Down with uh everything!”
11. You think 99 weeks of unemployment is the least the government should give you for the 3 months you put in at McDonalds.
12. You drove a Toyota to the protest, you’re plugged in to a Sony Walkman, talk over a Samsung phone, and play a Yamaha keyboard in a punk band, but you are incensed over jobs being outsourced to other countries.
13. You demand your rights, but can’t quite recall where they are enumerated.
14. You believe you have a right to every penny earned, but the rich do not, and you base your claim on equality.
15. You believe a man is greedy if he worked his way up to CEO on 16-hour days, runs a company employing thousands, and made $10 million last year, but is not greedy if he made $50 million last year for making two motion pictures or shooting a ball through a hoop.
16. You are convinced the system is holding you back from gaining wealth, status, and position. Dropping out of high school, dulling your mind with crack and MJ, a few arrests on your record, and stealing from your employer had nothing to do with it.
17. You left behind trash, feces, urine-soaked sod, discarded clothing, and used condoms after your Save the Environment protest.
18. You know you’re not a Socialist because you stick pretty much to yourself at parties.
19. You want to improve the environment and you have the tattoos and piercings to prove it.
20. You don’t pay taxes, but somehow that’s more than your fair share.
21. You hate the rich, but hope you win the lottery.
22. You haven’t bathed in over a month, but demand to be taken seriously.
23. From the looks of it, “greening” the environment means starting with your teeth.
24. You know your cause is just – because Nancy Pelosi admires you.
Sigh… And THEY are the generation that we’re supposed to turn over to??? I don’t think so…
Poor puppy, his ‘playtoy’ got put away since we got tired of getting the motorcycle tire dropped on our feet…
I’m just wondering how long it will be before he figures out how to flip it over the limb and carry it around again…
And that dog has made me ‘his’ chew toy again this trip, everywhere I go, he’s right there with either a toy to throw, a stick, or licking me… sigh…
At least the dog loves me 🙂
Rest easy, sleep well my brothers.
Know the line has held, your job is done.
Rest easy, sleep well.
Others have taken up where you fell, the line has held.
Peace, peace, and farewell.
–Anonymous
From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not permitted to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning: the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.
-The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ
-Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments
-Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
-Four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke & John.
-Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
-Six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
-Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit – Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership & Mercy.
-Eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
-Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit-Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self Control.
-Ten lords a-leaping were the ten commandments.
-Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
-Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles’ Creed.
Merry Christmas!!
As we come to Christmas Day, I want to wish each and every one a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season with your loved ones.
Sometime tomorrow, please take a minute and give thanks for those who are defending us far from home, be it sitting on the 38th Parallel in Korea, Helmand province in Afghanistan, or at sea around the world or standing watch in any of the innumerable locations where our military serves. They won’t have the comfort of family, and maybe not much of a Christmas Dinner (but the mess halls WILL try).
Remember too those LEOs, Firefighters, EMTs and those manning the hospitals who will get home a day late, but may just save your life while they are at work.
Crucis has a post up HERE about family traditions, and the impact on his life. For us, I think Christmas Eve is going to turn into a tradition of going to the range 🙂


