Christmas 2015, Part 2 of 3...

On Christmas day, we all headed up to Paulding to Luke and Linda's house to have a celebration with them, Walt and Carol, Jessica, Meredith, Brian, Logan and Megan.  We haven't been up that-a-way for a while so it was good to be at their house.  They have do quite a bit to it in terms of redecorating and it really looks nice.

 Meredith spent a good part of the day explaining various aspects of smart phones, downloading some different aps, and putting together a hilarious video on something called "jib-jab."  Somehow this got posted to Facebook.  It really was a hoot.

Luke and Linda have a dog named "Buddy."  It is a spaniel and really good-natured.  So, when we were opening presents, Buddy had to see if anyone needed any help.

I think it's a dog thing.  Our Bailey used to get her nose into the wrapping paper and give the recipient lots of help (wanted or unwanted) as the gift was unwrapped. 

As with all pets that are easily mistaken as part of the family, Buddy had his own present that was his to open any way he could.  Adult humans usually try to pick up after themselves when they unwrap a gift.  Dogs -- not so much.

 

And then, what would Christmas be without a family picture.  Over the years I have been in charge of doing this and have gotten quite good at setting the timer and running around to be in the shot just before the timer delivers that final beep.  Pretty good looking group.


This was a fun time.  We all agreed that we don't do this often enough -- not the gift giving, but just getting together.  We said we were going to try to do better this coming year. Perhaps that is the best gift we could take away from this gathering.

"How could it be so? It came without ribbons!... it came without tags!... it came without packages, boxes, or bags!" (Dr. Seuss)

Hooah

Christmas 2015, Part 3 of 3...

On Saturday evening, we sent up to Lima to spend the evening at Chuck and Mary's house.  All of their kids and grand kids were there.  Busy place.

It seems that Mary had asked Chuck to play his sax for everyone.  He used to play in high school and was a member of a jazz group at the school.  Mary said this was one of the things on her wish list, so Chuck got out the music stand (which he said had not been put up for 30 years or so) and his sax and got an accompaniment disc that he could play thru his TV and entertained all in attendance.  The kids were amazed and the adults were impressed.  Good job, Chuck.

 

Oh, yeah, one other thing...we were also impressed that Chuck didn't need oxygen after holding one of those notes for a while.

Later on, the younger ones were playing a game that ultimately ends up with someone getting pie (or in our case, whipped cream)  in the face.  It looked like fun, so I violated one of my cardinal rules and volunteered to try it.  I spun the wheel and got a "5" and began turning the crank/release mechanism.  As it got to the fifth click, I had not been hit by the quickly melting cream.  I counted myself lucky and prepared to get up from the chair.  Notice the smile on my face.  Well, hold that thought...

because that short bit of luck was quickly erased as I was shamed into another try.  Luckily, the wheel came up with a "2" and I figured I would escape again.  WRONG-O!! After looking at these pictures, I have no idea how that whipped cream missed a nose that big, but I sure was glad it did.

Fun night.  Kinda glad that part of the joy of Christmas is celebrating with children, regardless of how big or old they are.

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.  (Anon.)

Hooah

Christmas concert in Cincinnati with Michael W. Smith...

Pam and I were talking one evening about doing something special this year for Christmas.  We thought a concert might be a fun thing to do to spark the seasonal spirits, so we looked on line for something in the area (or at least in Ohio).  Well, we looked and saw a couple of them, but kinda dropped it and thought we would get back to looking on some other day.

And then we were watching TV one evening and the CMA Christmas program was on and we really enjoyed it.  Great music and songs by country artists, singing songs about the season which brought back some old memories of Christmases in the past.  I also liked it because there were no political agendas or any of that garbage, and they called it "Christmas time" and NOT "holiday time."

So, somewhere during the show, Michael W. Smith and Martina McBride sang a very nice Christmas song.  Pam and I decided that we always liked Michael W. Smith's music so we would look up any of his concerts in the area.  As luck would have it, he had a concert in Cincinnati coming up and there just happened to be two really great seats available.  We got them and planned our trip.  Neither of us had ever been to the Cincinnati Music Hall, so this was going to be a first.  We were excited.

This is the Cincinnati Music Hall.  It was a huge building.  Really Grand.

I took a couple of pix, including this "selfie" while we were waiting for the doors to open.

  

 The orchestra area was all decorated in a Christmas theme.  It is a very nice place.  Our seats were in the second orchestra section, center-stage, row 16.  There was a break in front of our seating row so we were able to stretch out, and didn't have anyone sitting in front of us for about ten feet.  Really good seats.  Don't know how they were available all that time, but we sure enjoyed them.

This makes the third concert of Michael W. Smith's that we have gone to see...Columbus, Ohio; St. Louis,MO; and Cincinnati, OH.  Does that make us "groupies?"

Pam and I used to go to a lot of concerts together when we were first married (Chicago, Three Dog Night, Diana Ross and the Supremes, The Four Tops, The Beach Boys, etc., etc.).  Since then our tastes have changed, and although we still really like those older groups, I/we have settled into music like this concert and TV show where we can understand the words (without my hearing aids) and don't have to worry about any more hearing loss.

What a great evening.  We thought about staying the evening in Cincinnati, but we were planning to leave for NY to see the "kids" in two days and still had some Christmas shopping to do.  

My favorites of the evening ??  His songs, "Heroes" and  "All is Well" were far and away my two "I-would-have-been-disappointed-if-they-weren't-performed" songs.  Both of these hold very special, personal memories for me.  Needless to say, I was not disappointed.  What a great way to kick off the season.

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through! (Author Unknown)

Hooah

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