I'm Back!

Sorry about that! Last week was full of suck and fail.

Thunderstorms rolled here with more than usual intensity starting last Friday and continuing throughout the week. Smoked electrical stuff at work aside, we start here. Internet connection went intermittent Friday night. Saturday was the scheduled Directv receiver upgrade. I don't get it. 

We can put someone on the moon, let them put up a mirror and we shoot a laser to it and determine the exact distance between the Earth and the Moon. In 1969. The best these people can do is tell me a "Professional Install Technician" will be at humble abode from 12 to 4 pm? 

Well, as expected, "Professional Install Technician" showed up around 4. Hey, I am wasting valuable range time here! Dude showed up, work order said upgrade. Unplug, replug right? Wrong! First thing the new receiver did was phone home for a software upgrade. Sheesh, what's the thing running, Windoze?

 












Then apparently the dish needed alignment. All of this stuff was working before, but OK dude, whatever... Then after he got a picture and sound on the TV he was all about me signing stuff. No copies for me of course, but I would not sign the blank customer satisfaction survey nor the "Protection Plan Plus" agreement. Hey, this is leased equipment! You own it not me! 

So he leaves. Not setting the Dolby audio output. So then I run a system test. FAIL! "Satellite configuration error". Dude. I have degrees older than you. 

I set the receiver to the correct settings and go to the range. I will be attending a "Aim Fast Shoot Fast" class in a month. I really need to get busy to meet the prerequisites and get familiar with a new Handgun.

After setting the receiver up I go to the range. Recoil therapy some call it. 

So I go at it with this:

S&W M&P Pro 9mm. The instructor does not like SERPA lock holsters. I can understand. I repeated this event here while dry firing. 



So it will be the one of the other holsters for me! 

Get back home. Internet is out. VOIP is out. At o'dark thirty a tech is digging across the street. Says I should be back on line Sunday AM. Wrong! Even after his temp splice:

 




















I still do not have service on Monday morning. Call TWC. They can have a "Technician" at the house. Guess when? Between 12-4 pm. So I show up around 12. There are three trucks around the temporary splice across the street. MY tech follows me into the driveway of my home. He jumps out and says he must inspect my house wiring. I tell him perhaps he should talk to the guys across the street. 

So, things are a bit better here now and looking forward to range time tomorrow!

Please Stand By.....

We are experiencing technical difficulties. We will resume our normal broadcasting schedule as soon as possible. 

A Moment Captured in Time

One of the joys of being here is to unearth long forgotten mementos. Packed away carefully, protected against the elements, all of these objects are slowly seeing the light of day once again. On one hand they are things to sort; to determine if they really require the time and expense to care for them properly or dispose of.

Tonight I found this:

This picture I could immediately recall in time. The Mustang is mine, the pickup is my Step-Grandfathers. I and the young lady are in front of my Grandfather's house. It is 1979. The picture was taken by my Aunt on that side, my Grandfather's Daughter. 

Aside from the old saw that "you never forget your first", I wonder where she is and how her life is going. 

I on the other hand am reminded of a song lyric: "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then".

This moment in time captured is worth keeping.  

Automation!

Just installed. It is a wonderful thing! 

Case feeder. Hornady forgot to ship two 10-32 machine nuts. I thought, OK there should be at least a pound of those here, but rummaging through the garage was profitless. Then it hit me to try the laundry room. 


I hope my man card will not be revoked, but this saved the day:

I need to get to the hardware store soon! 

OEM Parts

They DO make a difference! Take a look at this. On the left is a new Colt slide stop for a M1911. On the right is the same from Wilson Combat.

Click to enbiggen!

Take a look at the blue lines. The Wilson and STI were both hitting the lower resulting in scratching the bluing.  I don't know if this little ridge results in not doing that, but I had no such issues before.

Take a look at the green lines and the red ones. Remember when I had to file the STI stop for class? The Colt stop seems to have additional contours to facilitate loading of the cartridge with no mechanical interference from the stop.

So now installed, off to the range for testing! I believe that I will have no problems!  

Blast From the Past

LADIES RIFLE CLUB (aka RIFLE RANGE)

Click on the pic to go to the Pathe Newsreel Archives. Lot's of stuff over there!

I have been upgraded!

To "Extra Fancy" at stately manor! Behold the contents of a package that arrived today from the talented and lovely wordsmith Brigid!

See? The Vietnamese Cinnamon is "Extra Fancy"! I cannot wait to try the Cinnamon on some rolls, perhaps some Oatmeal?

As to the Tien Tsin, I am going to try them as well as the Ozark Seasoning in a traditional Lowcountry dish from South Carolina, chicken bog! I don't use the recipe on the link, but it is pretty close! I prefer my recipe given to me by a resident in Lowcountry and more importantly SHOWED me how to make it. I usually bring the heat in this dish with Tabasco or the old standby from my home town Texas Pete. 

I also try to heat up an old family recipe for vegetable beef stew. This recipe was born out of thrift but I do love it and the fact that my Mother and Father each have subtle variations on this old recipe.

Prior to this the only thing "Extra Fancy" around here was this:

Oh, no wait, maybe this:

A thoughtful gesture. Thanks B.!