Going Back Here!

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

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!

 

Independence Day REPOST

Today marks the founding of our Country. Brigid comments on the sacrifice of many for us to be who we are as a Nation.

For me today was somewhat therapeutic. Remembering those that gave all. How sad that the politically correct term for today is now "the 4th of July" instead of what it is. A turn away from tyranny won with blood.

So I finished up on this:

This mark is the Imperial Japanese chrysanthemum. It was placed on this rifle to state that it was the personal property of the Emperor. Much like the Enfield that bore the mark of the Crown. 

It is interesting to note that this battle rifle had the mark of a person upon it, an allegiance to one man. This one does not.

The M1 Garand nomenclature bears no mark of a person, just a Nation. Simply put it says: "US Rifle".

My friends that gave me the Japanese battle rifle sent me an Email today: " I gave my Uncle a little heaven shout out this morning in honor of the 4th and his time served to this country". That is where it came from. The "mum" is not defaced, meaning that the rifle was not formally surrendered, some young man brought it back from horrible places and the worst of times. 

Let us never forget.  

More commentary on the M1 here.   

Remember

My friends around the Blogs have remembered the true meaning of today. Of note to me is one post by my good friend with pictures of hallowed ground. Go look. I'll be here when you get back.

Freedom won with blood. We must never forget the price we as a nation have paid.

Yes the tools change, but the people that use them, those willing to answer the call and give all I am truly indebted to. Thank You. 

Never forget. 

The Legend of the Dogwood

The weekend has been a perfect allegory of what this weekend means spiritually. After two days of chilly solid rain amounting to over two inches worth today broke clear and warm.  

The previous owners of this house planted an abundance of trees and flowers that after being dormant over the winter have exploded into breathtaking beauty with new life. 

This is one of seven Dogwoods planted here. I present the Legend of the Dogwood:

At the time of the crucifixion, the dogwood had reached the size of the mighty oak tree. So strong and firm was the wood that it was chosen as the timber for Jesus' cross.
     To be used for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the dogwood. While nailed upon it, Jesus sensed this, and in his compassion said. "Because of your pity for my suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used for a cross. Henceforth, it shall be slender, bent, and twisted, and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross–two long and two short petals.
     "In the center of the outer edge of each petal will be the print of nails. In the center of the flower, stained with blood, will be a crown of thorns so that all who see it will remember."

 























I hope you and yours have a Happy Easter. 

Whoops!

That's what I get for turning on the TV! Productivity for today is through! A marathon:

 

Auld Lang Syne

Yes, it can be a depressing song. I don't care. I remember moments in time and look forward to more of them. A repost. Back in the day the person running the spot blaster or scraping crap off the undercarriage looked like this occasionally on New Years Eve. 

   






















I miss her but I know it has been almost 20 years since we have been together. I always get a bit choked up on New Years Eve

I hope you and yours have a great New Year!

Retro Christmas!

So Mr. Curmudgeon is sorta out of whack after spending 4 hours on the operating table yesterday. For the first time ever I'm sitting here in stately manor on Christmas Eve. I always go see them and celebrate with them on this day. Don't get that statement as a pity party for me. I have a lot to be thankful for, I talked to Mr Curmudgeon and he is up to his usual *ahem* cheer =).  I still find the Holiday Sprint lurking around. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours! 

 

A Thanksgiving Tradition

I have for 2 decades or so been alone for this holiday. No matter. In fact I enjoy it. I started watching MST3K oh, back then during the Holiday. Here is one of my favorite shorts.



I will let the "extension of my manhood car" pass, LOL! 

 

Some assembly required!

A Christmas gift in the works for Mr. Curmudgeon. More items on the way, but here is what we have for now. My goal is to have a SHTF one day "gotta go now bag".

More "stuff" is on the way. Many thanks to my friends in Texas that gave me the idea (AND video) for this. 

So anyone else have ideas for a one day bug out bag?



  .

So the Cool Kids Have Fun....

Murphy's Law and OldNFO get together to shoot some really great looking hardware. A great tribute for Memorial Day. Anytime these two Gentlemen whip a Firearm out it is always interesting. I need to get back up there!

Me? A simple task that reminds me of the incredible price paid in blood for me to do it. I gave the new ride its first bath and polish. Why does this remind me of the huge sacrifice of our Military? Because. A famous quote: "The Ford Mustang is American as hell. No other Country would have produced it, and its slavish love of it's antiquated rear axle pushed with obscene horsepower proves it." Heh. Much like the 1911 or M1 huh?

So we get to it. 

 



 







I don't wax cars. I polish them with Zaino. Much easier to apply, longer lasting, and without the flaky crap to get stuck everywhere. The right shoulder is for absorbing recoil, not the "Wax on wax off" workout. Of course I can whip out the Porter Cable random orbital buffer, the air chisel, air grinder, or the bondo depending on how bad it gets, but this was a cake walk.

So of course while I'm taking a break someone stops by to comment on my work. 

 
 










 Thanks!

So I need to take the new ride on a road trip soon. Stretch my long gun game out. 

See some friends. I can't wait! 

The Rain.

“The rain falls upon the just
And also on the unjust fellas
But mostly it falls upon the just
Cause the unjust have the just's umbrellas”

― Cormac McCarthy, The Stonemason

Heh.  Just like that. 

I hope everyone has a great Easter Sunday.  Me? Well we need to get this back out.   

Well for Today....

I think Brigid has it right. I do have a heart however (cold and black but one) and offer this card to my Blog friends today. 

 














Or maybe this one. 

Thanks I'll be here all the week, please try the fish!

Oh, Ok. An update. Here.




True.  

Santa is Slipping a Bit it Seems

I think I have been mostly a good boy this year, but not good enough to rate this gift:

What's in there? Well a new My Little Pony, derp!  Sorry, just channeling some Erin Palette. 

Let's see what's in the box! 

 

 













I was stunned. Santa must be loosing it for giving me such a thoughtful gift! 

 













In .45 ACP of course.  So I read the manual.  Don't laugh, but I am not familiar with what looks and feels like a 1911 without a barrel bushing up front.

I ran across some comedy gold statements in it.  Take this for instance from page 1: "This Colt product is classified by the ATF Division of the IRS, U.S. Treasury Department, as a firearm or dangerous weapon; it is, therefore potentially lethal!"  Well, duh!  But wait, there's more!  We are up to page 21 after an exhaustive description of all the safety mechanisms.  Oh, here it comes, wait for it: "These safety devices are designed and installed in this pistol to prevent accidental discharge. Of course, this Colt pistol is designed primarily to discharge bullets, and it will do this efficiently when it is loaded and you squeeze the trigger..".  That's comforting and I am glad they cleared up the fact that this pistol does not discharge unicorn tears and rainbows! 
 
For the first time in a long time I am here in stately manor instead of spending Christmas Eve with family.  It's strange. I do have a lot to reflect upon, and am very blessed. 

Merry Christmas to you and yours and a range report is forthcoming! 

I am always glad to see this room and the people that live there at Christmas:

 



Oh, hey! NFO! Can I join the cool kids club now =) ?  It's not a New Agent, but should be close enough, right? 

Christmas Shopping and Random uh, Stuff.

Merry Christmas everyone! I hope the Holiday finds you with Family, friends, and in good cheer.

This Holiday has been sorta different here at stately manor. With the big honking project at work and working weekends I did not decorate the house or have my usual Christmas party for friends. Perhaps the Lionel train will have a chance to run next year. 

Shopping for Christmas is usually delivered FedEx. They did not disappoint.

So you may be asking what's up with the .32 S&W Long ammo?  Well a dear friend runs a old J Frame similar to this one. 

   













.32 Long is not something you just pick up anywhere (or anything else right now). Another friend needs the .380 ammo.

So tomorrow before I run around for Christmas, I get to go to the range and try out the CT Rail Master on my M&P.  It does not fit my holster anymore with this mod, so guess what. I'm carrying a classic tomorrow. 

  











A Colt Combat Commander in a old El Paso Saddlery rig.  The M&P gets to ride in a rug in the range bag for a change.  Hope it does not get used to it!

Today's fun?  Well it looked like this.

The new HAL is singing "Daisy" just enough to keep the plant from calling me at 0430 hours on Wednesday next week.  Still need to work on points for style as they say and much remains to be done.  As they say though, "perfect is the enemy of good enough".  Hopefully next week we will get him up to a point good enough to run but not predict a fault in the AE-35 unit. 

So, if you will excuse me after a long month of work a note to my CCH students last week.  The Sheriffs Office in Meckenburg County is saying that the next date open to accept applications for permits is now Feb. 5th as of yesterday. I fear it will get worse. 

Range owners presented me a gift today after work.  

If you will excuse me, I think I will go drive the remote on the TV and try some of this.

 

A New Toy for Christmas!

One of the problems I have procuring gifts for friends and Family is that most of them are of a sort.  If they want something they just go get it.  I struggle coming up with meaningful gifts for them.  On the other hand, some people seem to just fall right into it.  The guys that work for me nailed one today.  They brought me this:

A big honking Plano storage box for as they say "stuff" and a really impressive DVD collection on WWII.  I love these guys!  We are still working on the big honking project and although we are not there yet, progress has occurred.

Behold:

 














Two operator workstations are live and so is the scale in the background.  More work this weekend though.  


For funner stuff, here is a Crimson Trace Rail Master in Coyote Tan finish on a Smith and Wesson M&P VTAC. 

It appears that Tacticool color "Coyote Tan" is not Tacticool color "Flat Dark Earth".  No matter.  I doubt Better Homes and Handguns will be here anytime soon for a photo shoot!  

I know of the CT laser for the M&P that replaces the removable backstrap.  I really don't want to give up my custom stippled with a soldering iron backstrap, plus I don't know which size CT uses for the laser.  I have small hands for a guy.  I like this one.    
  
So I purchased it as a gift for Mr. Curmudgeon.  I of course need to test it before giving it to him, right?  

 


 

Thanksgiving inside stately manor....

Repost from last year:

This is fiction:




This is reality:

One of those does not look like the other! So lets find a cookbook to help us out:

Maybe not that one. Let's see what else we can find:

Ok, I need to find a baking pan for the turkey. I know I have a couple, lets look around:

Here's one!

Better not use that one. Keep looking and ah ha! Found another one!

Better not use that one either! OK, I found another one I have not re-purposed  I will let you know how it turns out! 


Well, ok, let's start here!

Seriously, I have much to be thankful for. I started this Blog on a whim over a year and a half ago. Of all the things I have, this one little medium has been a wonderful thing. If you look at my side bar I have Bloggers that entertain, inform, and most importantly make me think. I have "met" many here I consider friends. My thanks to you and more importantly the bloggers that encouraged me so long ago. 

I still write for me and a family member that is far away. It gives us something to discuss and helps us stay in touch.

I tried to go around today and wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. If I have overlooked you, I apologize.

A special thanks for those not able to spend today with family due to active service.