Reliving the glory days...

Just every once in a while, I get the urge to get the guns out and head on down to the range just to see if I still have it (yes, that is an implied assertion that I actually once really did have "it").  If any of my old NCOs happen to stumble on this and take issue with this statement, perhaps thinking that they were better, or that much better at this art than I was, I would challenge them to 50 rounds of .45 cal. or 9mm at the range of their choice. Loser buys the beer guys!!

So this past weekend, I got myself down to the local Gander Mountain store and picked up some boxes of ammo to take with me.  The prices there are usually better than at the range.  I think I will also pick up some targets next time as I think they are also a bit higher at the range.  So, having done that, on Tuesday evening I called an old friend of mine (an old WWII gentleman who is still very spry and really knows his way around guns) and asked if he wanted to go down for a while.  He had a bit of a cold and thought he should maybe stay home.  Wednesday was a beautiful day, sunny with a high of 64 degrees.  I wonder if he might have rethought his plans.  Oh, well, maybe next time. 

The next person I thought of was my brother.  He kinda likes to shoot and is thinking of purchasing a gun so he likes to go and look.  He shoots OK, but then, he was a cook in the army.  I guess if you could fire a spoon he would be pretty good.  He told me he too had a bit of a bug, and would pass this time. 

So, I asked my wife if she wanted to go.  She has never been anywhere near a firing range, so this would be a first. So the "Pioneer Woman" said yes and off we went.  She also wanted to stop at the book store to pick up a couple of things she had ordered, so this was really a trade-off.  I can live with that.

Here are the targets from the range. The first one you see is the 9mm target.  The second one is from the .45 cal. Again, the whole purpose behind this trip was just to get back to doing something I once really enjoyed doing.  The secondary reason was that I just got new glasses and wanted to see how much of an impact they would have on my initial accuracy.  Both of these sessions were fired at 20 feet (a normal close contact range) and if necessary, I could make adjustments later.

On this target, you will see three distinct shot groups.  The first group is the center-mass.  A little scattered, but still pretty much on the mark.  the second group is the neck shots.  I pulled one off to the right, but the rest of the group is pretty good (need to work on the horizontal sight picture some).  Then I went for the head shots.  Kinda all over the place there, but still effective.  I have never really felt comfortable shooting the 9mm for some reason.

This is the target for the .45 cal.  Same distance, same progression.  First ones (center-mass) were pretty much on, but just a bit high.  The second grouping (neck) were OK.  I was good with the head shots.  Then I had some ammo left over, so I tried to see if I could hit spots.  I took aim at the outside ring, shoulder levels.  The ones on the left were good, but the ones on the right needed some help.  Might have been a breeze at that time (oops -- forgot, this was an indoor range.  No breeze.  Must have been operator error!).  Then, to finish it off, I thought I would see if I could give this target some pierced ears.  The left two shots were mixed, one good, and one missed him by an inch or so.  The right ones were right on. Could hang a couple of big old hoops on that side (once the ringing stopped).

All in all, it was really fun for me.  Not sure the "Pioneer Woman" was all that cracked about it, but at least she went.  I wanted to get a picture of her up by the firing line with a target behind her so she could post something on her Facebook about her going to the shooting range.  Just to see what kind of comments she would get form her more "civilized" friends.

So, later on as I was cleaning the guns (in my Army days I would have called them weapons -- guess I am getting older, huh!), I got to thinking back to how much I really enjoyed going to the range with my troops.  Seemed like it always rained, or the wind was blowing 100 miles per hour, or it was snowing , or all of the above.  But it was a time for us to come together as a team.  We laughed, cussed, spit, fired, made excuses, bragged and ended the weekend tired and soaking wet, but we really enjoyed it.  All the real soldiers couldn't wait for these trips, and the others (usually the younger and less experienced soldiers) ended up enjoying it because we worked real hard with them and they got to where they could hold their own with the "old guys."

I guess those who don't like guns are pounding their fists on the desk as they read this, coming up with all sorts of names for me and those like me who just really enjoy this sport.  Too bad.  So sorry you feel this way (not really).

A man's rights rest in three boxes: the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box. (Frederick Douglass)

Hooah

What a sight...

I was driving to town this evening to pick up some things just as the moon broke over the horizon.  It was huge!  Can't recall seeing one so big.  Maybe it was just the position it was at in the sky, or where I was in relation to the horizon, but it was full and huge. 

I called my wife on the car phone and had her take a picture of it out our back door. The picture is a bit grainy and fuzzy, but maybe you will get the idea.

If you look closely on the right you can see a pole from the back fence and on the left is a part of a pine tree out there.  You can also see some of the lights from the farm down the road.

Unfortunately my wife didn't get the shot just as the moon was at the horizon.  I called her too late.  I think as the thing rose in the sky, it got a bit smaller.  Anyway, you still get the idea.

Probably won't be sleeping very soundly tonight.

May you have warm words on a cool evening, a full moon on a dark night, and a smooth road all the way to your door. (Anon.)

Hooah

These days are fading...

On Saturday this past seek, we had a really beautiful day out here in the country.  The sun was out, there was still a gentle breeze, but it was not enough to make you put on a jacket.  The temperature was in the upper 60s -- and this is the middle of November.  Getting a day like this is almost like stealing.

I thought about playing golf, but every time I walked by the back door, the pile of cattails down by the burn pit kept calling to me.  I really wanted to get those all burned and done away with before the bad weather came and I lost my chance.  Also, I was also hoping to get rid of that pile before the grass was killed underneath it.   So, reluctantly, out I went.

I have always been one to admit when I have a weakness.  I had just put the last pile of cattails on the fire, and the day was so pleasant, I looked around to see if there was anything else that needed to be done out there by the barn.  And sure enough, there was.  The hammock was still up from the summer and sure was looking pretty lonely from non-use for a while.  So, I felt it was only right that I would go over and say hello.  Well, this led to that, and next thing I knew, I was lying down, rocking back and forth.  There are a lot of people who wouldn't believe me (not that I would take any and every opportunity to lie in the hammock).  They just might not believe me as to how beautiful it was on November14th.  In the flying business, we called this "severe clear."  So I snapped a couple of shots with the phone camera. 

Lying there, I took great pleasure watching the smoke dance around in the breeze, up, down, away from me, and back in my face.  I could also hear small airplanes above, flying around in that great mass of blue sky, and I recalled my days of flying, looking down on days like this, wondering which was the winds were blowing, if at all.  And then I would see some guy burning leaves, creating a wind sock of sorts for me, letting me know what was going on down there. 

Funny how things like that pop back into your mind, when all you originally had set out to do was clean up around the pond.

When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.  (Leonardo Da Vinci)

Hooah 

P.S.  OK.  So how do I top a day like this ... I played golf with my brother and a couple of his friends the next day.  This was an almost perfect day too.  And what is even better -- I shot an 86 and beat my brother by 3 strokes.  Now this might be the last day of the year to play golf, and that means I have bragging rights for the whole winter.    

Winters are pretty long around here, so this could be really fun!!

Light those green lights...

With Veterans' Day being last week, I not only wanted to make sure people knew a Veteran lived here, but I also wanted to let them know that there were people who lived around here who supported our Veterans more than just on that one day.  So, I went to Wal-Mart and purchased some green lights to put out by the garage where they could burn throughout the night and spread the word.

They really shine brightly out here in the country and really stand out.  I hope my neighbors don't mind these lights being on all night, shining in their bedroom windows.

I also think it is important , especially now, with all the crap going on and all the crap being thrown around in Washington, to have them on.  I know they don't shine nearly as brightly in the daytime, but they are still on.

I think there is one higher office than president and I would call that patriot.  (Gary Hart)

Hooah