So With Next's Weeks Activities...

This song ran through my brain. All off the above should be in close proximity. Soon =) 

Going Back Here!

For the first time in over 30 years. Family home with Family. 

A Rifle!

A Winchester Model 9422. In .22 WMR. This thing has been around for over 40 years. I remember shooting this rifle in my early teens. Glad it is still here. 

 

One of These is Easy to Get. One is Not.

So you can blow in to a Ford Dealership and have one of these proudly displayed on the passenger side dash with a decent credit score. 

Easy. "Since 1964". 

Much harder it is to actually have a Mustang from 1964. A true piece of history. 



This one has been through a lot in the 32 years my Family has had it. When Lawyers get involved it gets ugly. Finally after all of that 25 years later it is running and soon to be ready for a closeup. 

Make no mistake, this needs to be done right. I am not an MCA fan boy, but seeing people push cars out of trailers makes me sad. If you have the car, drive it! OTOH, this car is very special and all due actions need to be taken during the cosmetic restoration. 

Soon. Very soon. 

And that is part of the fact I have not been Blogging. I apologize.
 




 

Bowling Pins Shoot

I wandered north to Mr. and Mrs. Curmudgeon's lair yesterday to get in on some head to head pin shooting. Here is Mr. Curmudgeon on the line:


It is always good to see them and as always much food and laughter was to be had. Hey, I know some of these people =) 

 

A Special Picture

So my Cousin is a professional photographer. Left here and went to the left coast some time ago. Now he is reconnecting to the Family here. It has been interesting to watch and participate in. He took the ride up Hawkstown hill with me in the 2013 Mustang as I explained how the game was played oh so long ago. Murphy would have been pleased.

One thing about it, My Cousin can take a great picture.

Old Picture!

So while I was snooping around with a light board and a loupe on some 35mm negatives, I ran across what appeared at first glance to be some images I did not remember having prints of. I tried to scan them, then I realized they were not 35 mm , but Kodak 126 negatives. 

After Tam suggested sending them to The Darkroom, I was rewarded with this image of my Mother and Paternal Grandmother at the beach. Guessing by the cars in the parking lots, it was taken late 60's early 70's.

Fantastic, but I thought I would try out my limited Photoshop skills. I clicked on the "Fix old photo" stuff and was rewarded with this. 

 What a fantastic moment in time! 

What Does This Do?

What does this do? 

It allows you to flip the chassis on one of these to work on it. 

 

It is a Firestone 4-A-30 Air Chief. It belonged to my grandparents. I was very simple in my efforts to bring it back to life. I recapped it and restrung the dial cord. The tubes are what they were then.

I remember pushing the buttons on it back in the early '70's even though it was no longer the entertainment/media center of the house then. It was kept and cleaned though, representing the expense of such an item around 1947 for a mill worker. 

For now, it will stay here with me as it was a gift to me from my parents some time ago. When the time comes though it will go back to where it belongs. My Grandparents house being restored by one of my Cousins. 

Aside from the broken bezel and missing pushbuttons, it is in great shape! Anybody know where I can get some?




 
 

Out with the Old

So what was so very important so long ago has faded in time. My Grandparents house in the mountains of Southwest VA used to be heated with at first several fireplaces then these were blocked off and converted to coal stoves. 

Here is one still standing during restoration. Sadly, the coal shed is gone, but I still know where to find some coal from so long ago. I know some others know where this is in the yard. 

What at one time was paramount to the comfort and safety of this home has been passed by with time. The bricks of the chimneys have been removed as well. As they were laid out in the yard I thought about the over 100 year old bricks. I and my Mother picked a couple up. 

My Mother hates the cold. I get that! This house was very cold despite the best efforts to heat it. 

Although I know the new heat pumps and gas packs will do better now, I do miss the warmth and glow of the kitchen wood stove and the coal stoves. I bet very few people now even know that they existed. 

 




 

Merry Christmas!

I grew up here and that is still the traditional greeting this time of year. Fill in with Hanukkah, meh, etc. as you see fit. 

As usual, I win a company Holiday lunch table ornament. Instead of PTO or gift cards sigh.... 

 Of course it suffered some damage on the ride home!

I have many gifts, I wanted to point out that although some say Blogging is dead I without this medium would not have met so many special people in real life. Some dude with dogs in WV, a barrister in MI? An ER doc in OH (I think) a walking encyclopedia on everything that goes bang in IN, another special talented blogger and author there as well? Some old guy that likes to travel in VA =) ? And so many more. If I did not call ya out don't take offense. And that is the point of this gift. There are SO many of you. Thank you for reaching out as well.  I want to continue that and look forward to meeting many more of you face to face in the coming year. You have been warned =) I live in a small town and I do have friends here but it has been great to meet so many others!

I wanted to get this post out tonight before it gets crazy for everyone. I suggest in the middle of the madness that you mentally step back and enjoy. These times are fleeting and even with the madness involved should be savored. 

I hope all of you look at the magic of this season with the eyes of a child and it is special for you. 


So now. What gift for a special lady? Covered!

 

Hey! OLD NFO! I Found Your NAV Chart!

Hey, NFO, My Father found one of the first nav charts you were issued. 

He thought it might be handy right now for ya! 

Seriously, does this look like the real deal? 

 

What's in Your Closet?

My friend Brigid has a wonderful post up tonight on Pieces of History and as happens occasionally I was rummaging around here tonight as it is a rainy day here. 

I found this:

 I bought this little train set from Monroe Hardware when they announced they were selling everything and moving out of downtown Monroe. Sad really. The building is still there and I remember walking down the wooden floors so worn down by many shoes over the decades. 

A faithful reproduction of the "Hooker Chemical" scheme from back in the day, but sadly I think that would mean silicone and meth now. 

Then this:

See the difference in packaging? Doesn't the "Southern" look so much more appealing than the box below sitting on a retail shelf? This was made during the much derided "MPC Era". Another footnote in history. Inside we find this:

And everything else to run a train set. At least it says "Made in America" as Lionel is made in China now. 


"Pieces of history" my friend said. She wondered who in the future would cherish or discard items. This train is one of my most cherished possessions.

Not even a cataloged set. Apparently the hobby shop cobbled up something for my parents to buy from loose rolling stock. A much derided "Scout" engine to the purists. No matter. To me it is priceless for what it is and what it means. My Mother kept this train for decades and presented it to me a few years ago. I thought it lost in the haze of my youth. 

So now we do still run across some items of interest. 

  

 































ZW and KW train transformers. The largest made. They command a premium now as actually putting 275 watts of AC power on some metal track laying in the floor of the living room would make a corporate lawyers head explode now.

I fear in the age of Xboxes, PS, tablets, etc. that the era of these is done. I don't know who if anyone will be stewards of these pieces of history in the future. Sad, but I am glad they are here to remind me of the sacrifices made so long ago so I could run over green army men with my train! 

Promises Made

And after two plus decades promises kept. I found a little car as I was known for then. This one is special. For many reasons it is so but foremost was the fact it was one of the first.

My Father bought it. We went through the mechanical restoration. Then it got weird. Under a settlement with attorneys to this day I cannot say anything bad about the body shop that viewed this car in that shop as an asset during the paint and body work as he tried to sell his busness. I trusted this person as the two other cars here were done there. That did not happen this time. The only thing I can legally say here is to stay away from any "restoration shop" within 20 miles of Walnut Cove, NC. Sloppy work. They had it for over a year. That killed the mechanical restoration. 

Now, my Mother was always told this was her car. She wants to drive it now. That means much to me as I only remember in my youth riding in a Mustang. The 1971 that was her's is here with me now. The 1967 I remember as well.

Yes, I have been told many times that it is best not to fall in love with a car. They are things to be bought and sold at the end of the day. That is true, but I nor my Father will deny her this. It is a fun, easy car to drive. 

This tag will be on the back of it soon. 

I have waited a long time for this. 
   

Fabulous Prizes!

*cough*, maybe not so much. I'm bringing this stuff for the prize table for the pin shoot this Saturday hosted by the best driver on the planet Murphys Law. If you do not believe me, just ask him.

As an added bonus, you MIGHT get the book signed by the Author. As with so many famous people he is: "Scheduled to attend." 

All kidding aside, cancer has touched my family and this is a good cause. My Father was one of the first to have his prostrate removed by a DiVinci robot over 10 years ago due to that cancer. My Mother has just been through a double mastectomy due to breast cancer. This stuff sucks. Anything you can do would be appreciated. 

I would much rather prefer to see you at the Blogshoot this Saturday as well! A great bunch of people and a good time is to be had!

TBT- The Weapon You Have

I use it a lot when asked but I say to anyone that does so this: "The largest handgun you can conceal and carry comfortably all day in the largest caliber you can shoot well."

For a dear person to me it is this:

Smith and Wesson Model 30-1 in .32 long. She is good with it! 

Now a greater challenge to defend her life is here. No tools we have at our disposal are useful in this case. No training to be had. This is the part that is the hardest to deal with. Breast cancer and the double mastectomy is scheduled for tomorrow.

I hope you will send your prayers, well wishes, good thoughts, whatever you do in these matters on her behalf. 

I will give her another reason to come through this:

If she finds out I put this picture on the interwebz, she will do everything in her power to come through this and kill me =) 

Colt Collectors Annual Convention

So I wander up to Concord, NC today and whip out my tricked out name badge to see what is going on. It has been three years or so since this event was here. 

Your humble host! I suck at selfies it seems =)

We get to it. There was a sign prohibiting concealed carry and so I went back to the car and dumped the Bodyguard. There were many CMPD and other LEO there. 

I always choose times when the event is open to the public instead of members only. It gives me a feel for how relevant the Colt name is to the public. They did advertise on at least WRFX in Charlotte NC for some weeks, but a classic rock FM station? Perhaps clever in targeting that (me) age demographic or money wasted. 

There were exhibits and vendor tables. There seemed to be less than the last time of both. Exhibits there were impressive. I apologize for the craptacular iThingy photos. 

Everything is expensive. RIA is there of course and there was an auction tonight for members. I vacillated on staying and going to the dinner and auction, but. There were NO younger people there. That is saying something as I am no spring chicken. What I bought 3 years ago for 300 or so was going for 900. I came with a mission though. Find grips for my Python. 

Score!

 




























Of course they cost WAY too much, but look much nicer that the aftermarket things that were on it. 

Before

 After


A young friend of mine asked me over a year ago what will happen to Colt when all us old dudes die off. He sorta asked it in jest and he owns and appreciates them too. That is a profound question. The Historian was not there this time that I could see. Historian letters take SIX months and that is after your check cleared? There is little to no retail presence here for new Colt's. 

I seem to be in an abusive relationship. They always meet me with disdain and ask more of me. Yet I come back. I really have no answer to someone that asks why they should pay the premium price new Colt's demand except that they have that rampant pony on them. I hope this is not a dead horse. 

Don't get me wrong. I enjoyed the convention and the vendors and exhibitors were really pleasant. 

I left and had a cheeseburger with my Mother.  

Bad News

Those of you on the book of face already know this. My Mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Lumpectomy was performed and cancer was detected in the Lymph nodes on that side.

She has decided on a double mastectomy. That is scheduled for October 10th. 

I humbly ask for your prayers, well wishes, whatever you do. She is in her 70's. This is not going to be easy. On the other hand we fight. Always. She is a fighter and when asked about reconstruction, well, her reply told me her head is in the game. Decorum prohibits me telling you what she told the doctor. I did do a spit take on it though! She is a smart ass too. I at least can say I get it honest.

 

   

I Missed the Fiddler's Convention

It was last week. I doubt these guys were there. 



There is another close to there this weekend. Can't make that one either. I used to go decades ago. Hey, you have to learn how to flatfoot from someone right? I want to see if they still do the greased pig contest. I doubt it.

There used to be a nightclub in Galax that ended the night with all the lights going on and they played this:



Its long gone. I miss that. 



 


 

Family Reunion. It sorta works like this

More later, but I don't know when. Gotta get ready for CMP Gun Skool this week.

And yes, this is the soundtrack for that. I would go there in a heartbeat if I could. 




Oh, for all the Canon camera haters, the only cousin that actually makes a living shooting photos had a Canon around his neck today =) 

More later! 

Another Passing

An Uncle again from the other side of the Family and I admit I only met him once that I remember. Private Ceremony today and I could not get there. He was a retired United States Air Force Major. 

"Up, up the long, delirious, burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
Where never lark or even eagle flew --
And, while with silent lifting mind I've trod
The high untrespassed sanctity of space,
Put out my hand, and touched the face of God."

Godspeed Sir.