friends

I used to know a guy…

…who was a friend, a mentor, a good guy.  A gun guy, Gunsite graduate.  A libertarian.  Sadly, we are no longer in touch.

He used to say he’d not know how he’d react if things got so bad in this country, that if he was stopped and asked, “Papiere, bitte!” “PAPERS, PLEASE!”, what he might do?

I’m sorry to say, Bud, that day has come.

Here’s hoping none of us loses their cool if asked.

h/t/ wirecutter, John

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Phone)

I’m kind of an old-fashioned guy.  Or should I say old-school.  I still like revolvers.

But, this doesn’t mean I’m a luddite.  I DO appreciate what technology brings us.  Anesthesia, antibiotics, magazines that hold more than 7 rounds…

And cellular telephones.  Brought to us as a result of the Space Race.

I bought my first cell phone at a gun show (quelle surprise!) in the mid 90s.  Why?  Because I spent more-and-more time in the desert, and thought (presuming service was available) that modern communication was preferable to walking in 20 miles, if my then 8-year-old Isuzu Trooper failed.

And, just like advances in home computers, I’ve grown to appreciate the advances made in cell phones.  But, with my financial condition, I was never able to afford anything past the basic flip phone.  And I’ve kept them long past their expected life span.  Two in eight years.  My last one was on four years, had a screen failure, and was over her contract.  I was paying month-to-month, not able to improve my technological lot.

Until 10 days ago…

My roomie, a savvy businesswoman who lives and runs her business on her smart phone, decided she wanted to upgrade her phone to the new Apple IPhone – and she asked me if I wanted her ‘old’ smart phone!  At first I balked, because I was unfamiliar with the operation (okay, it scared me a little), and I started trolling the Internet looking for new smartphones.  Then, I saw their price!

Okay, you got a deal!   She got her Apple, and I got her htc One S.  And yes, Virginia, it IS a steep learning curve!  But not insurmountable.

The fact that I can surf the Web, check all my email accounts, take wonderful photographs, do text messaging (which I loathe), and even make telephone calls is amazing!  AND, if my four-year old-PC fails, in a pinch, I can even write this blog from there!  That, and check email without climbing stairs – which is a good thing with my disabilities.

Thanks, J. for your kindness and generosity!

PS – I like semiautomatic pistols, too!

PPS – attn FTC, neither htc nor Apple gave me anything.  Go find your own phone!

It’s March 6, Again!

…and I cannot believe I’ve been blogging for TWO YEARS!

Two years ago, today, I began writing this blog.
I’d been on disability, and passed the time on the Internet reading blogs.  I was frankly looking for some female friends who liked guns, and found some female gun bloggers.  Unfortunately, these were in Ohio, Indiana and Idaho.  They became my blogmothers.  (Note-to-self:  find female gun bloggers in AZ!)
I had no clue what I was doing.  Some would say I still don’t.
In the past two years I’ve learned to write in paragraphs, write about those things I know, and to be disciplined. (sometimes)
I’ve written at least one blog post daily (sometimes two, occasionally three, once or twice four) every day.
And I’ve included a cartoon, a tasteful photo of a beautiful woman and a You Tube clip of my choosing, every day, as well.
And a quote of the day.
I told a couple friends locally I was writing a blog, and, before I knew it, I had followers (!)
Follower number 10 was North , the first person not actually known to me at the time.  Since then he and many others have become friends!
As of this post, I have 89 followers, including a female blogger in Pakistan.
Over 164,821 pageviews! (if we include the 84K from the first year’s BLOGGER version)  5,397 comments, (some of which weren’t even from me!)
I’ve written 1,146 posts, about 2/3 of which were of my own authorship (not stolen borrowed or expounded upon from another blog).
And I’ve made many friends in the United States, and around the World.
I’m proud to say I’ve actually met some of these folks, and spoken with others on the telephone.  Some have regularly communicated via email.  A few have become close.  One even gifted me ammunition!  I’m both proud and humbled.
And still amazed.
One of my early followers was my good friend Mark Bell, who passed away February 1, 2012.  He told me one of his first stops every morning was Guffaw in AZ.  I like to think he still stops by.
I will continue to strive to report the facts and truth as I know them, for as long as I am able, and I care to.
And perhaps a few more PI stories.
I’ve tampered with amended The Usual Suspects to add those who have been friends and contributors and delete those who have stopped blogging.  Sadly, some have passed away.
My thanks to all of you for your support.
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
Guffaw

Are You Tough, Mentally?

I used to hang with a nice married couple.  They are good friends, but they moved away.  Fortunately, this was after they became my shooting students, and went on to become teachers, themselves.

I remember them telling me back-in-the-day that years before we became acquainted, they’d gone to a gun show.  And some vendor therein had a sales technique predicting an apocalypse.  His sales spiel was:

When the s*** comes down, you will need ‘X’!

Tactical Intelligence addresses something that most who read this and similar blogs already know:

“The more you sweat in times of peace, the less you’ll bleed in times of war.”

and

If there’s one thing though that we rarely hear about in the prepper circles that I feel is equally as important, it’s building up our mental toughness.

Self-defense oriented folks already are familiar with such precepts:  Jeff Cooper’s Principles of Personal Defense is all about our attitude.

So what are some things that you can do to build mental toughness?

• If you have a flight of stairs in your home, any time you walk down them, go on all fours (great shoulder and chest workout). Or when going up, hop up each step.

• Do a number of pushups or pullups (install a pull-up bar in the doorway) before entering or leaving certain rooms of the house.

• Go without food or water for 24 hours

• When on errands, park your car further out so you have to walk farther.

• When showering, finish the last portion of it with a blast of cold water.

• When watching TV, do pushups/situps during the commercial breaks.

• Try to do as many activities as possible with your non-dominant hand.

• If you’re on the shy side, go out of your way to talk to 3 new people a day and learn something about each of them, or…

• …try singing at the top of your lungs when someone is pulled up next to you at a stop light.

• Wake up an hour earlier than you’re used to.

• When getting your mail in the middle of winter, go out in some shorts and a t-shirt.

• On those nights when you’re exhausted and just want to go to bed, force yourself to clean or do the dishes for 10 minutes.

Practicing a snap kick for 1000 repetitions, or a pistol presentation 1000 times may help you with you physical self – your muscle memory.  But, readiness is not just about the physical.

You should go and read the whole article at the link above, and remember, prepping isn’t just how many guns or rounds-of-ammo or bandages or water filters you have.  What you do with those tools is entirely dependent on your attitude.

For when the s*** comes down…

h/t Karmann & Stan

The Dog House

I now share a house with my roommate, a cat and three dogs.  This is not about the animals.

Keri Russell

My roomie and I were watching ‘The Americans’ (an excellent show about the KGB in Reagan’s USA), and she was remarking about Keri Russell, who plays the female lead.  (Quite a stretch from Felicity, huh?)

And she took note of a small imperfection on Ms. Russell’s upper lip.  Not surprising, as Ms. Russell is quite beautiful.  And inquired, “What’s THAT about?”

Being the know-it-all I sometimes pretend to be, I suggested it was an intentional flaw – as one may not notice beauty without a minor flaw with which to compare it.  (I don’t remember, some philosopher…anyone?  Bueller, Bueller?)

And my roommate, who is quite fetching herself asks me, “So, what’s MY flaw?” -  with a big smile.

OOPS.  Danger, Danger, Warning, Will Robinson!

Of course, she does have them one, but I’m not about to tell her!  Perhaps it’s constantly denying her beauty.  A real modesty and self-deprecation that makes her even more attractive.  After all, if she thought she was all that, she’s be insufferable.

But, please don’t tell her…

I am TRULY Blessed!

Two days ago, I posted about a blogfriend (TM) giving me the gift of ammunition.  For which I am most grateful.

Yesterday, I’m checking the mail for my roomie and I, and there are two packages.  One is for the roomie, something for which she is in need,  the other, a small item, also sent in her name.

Good for her.

So, I bring her her bagel in the living room for breakfast, and take mine to my chair.  Something is on my chair.  Usually it’s the cat, who must be coaxed away by showing her a spray bottle.  Today, it’s the contents of my roomie’s small package.  I assumed it is for her, and she is showing it to me.

It was for ME!!

A  cammie paracord bracelet!  Just because, I’m told!

I continue to be surrounded in my personal life and in my Internet/blog life by persons of generous character.

For this, I am grateful!!  Thanks, roomie!

Ground Hog Eve – AKA February 1

One year ago I was anticipating tomorrow being Ground Hog Day – that silly ‘holiday’ alleged to determine if Winter is on her way out, or lasting six more weeks.  Based on the prognostication of a marmot; a woodchuck.

It was a Wednesday – the immediate previous Sunday, Mark Bell and I had attended the Central Arizona Blogshoot in Casa Grande!  My car is kinda old and infirmed (as is her owner) so he offered to drive us.

We arrived late, but Kevin Baker and company showed us a great time!  We met some other gun bloggers and some other shooters – great fun.  Then Mark drove me back to Phoenix, and we had a late lunch at Original Hamburger Works.  I was unable to attend the shoot this year.

Part of the reason for missing it is my ride is gone.  On Wednesday, February 1, 2012, three days after the shoot,  Mark Bell passed away, suddenly.  His wife called me Thursday, Ground Hog Day, to give me the bad news.  It’s a year later and it seems as yesterday.

I tend to get overly emotional, to react rather than act.  I am getting better.  Mark was my teacher.  I never saw him lose his cool or express strong anger or rage.  He was always rational and soft spoken, even in disagreement.  A man of fine character and deportment.

A few years back, I was in the middle of trying to refinance my house (the one I lost last June) and the appraiser asked that I paint the trim.  Now, I’m no painter, and being disabled would make this an arduous task.  Mark volunteered, and I insisted on paying him, because, after all, it WAS work.  He agreed, and said he would take it out of my extra re-fi funds.  He accomplished the task in a couple weekends, and I got the financing.  And I cut him a check.  This was in late November.

Christmas afternoon I was between family Christmas get-togethers, and there was a knock at my front door.  It was Mark, with a present!  He again thanked ME for letting him paint (!) said he used the money for presents for his family.  There was room for an additional present.  Mine.

I was dumbfounded.  It was the complete Capitol Record selections of Frank Sinatra on DVD!  Wonderful!

Of course, every time I listen to Sinatra, I think of Mark.  And other times, too.

I love you and miss you, my friend.

Remember – hug those you love and tell them you love them.  Because you never know.  Groundhog Day Eve will never be the same.

Wednesday Shoot After-Action-Report

At long last, Bob H. and I were able to get together yesterday and go shooting!  What a great day!

I’ve known Bob since he was my boss at Tom Ezell & Associates, Private Investigation.  Later, he was the manager of my favorite gun store, where I worked part time for a while.

We’ve been friends for 32 years.  He’s one of my newer friends.

We went up to an ubiquitous shooting spot, I-17 North to Table Mesa Road, then headed West.  Unfortunately, much of the previous open range has become private property.  Fenced desert with signs reading No Trespassing and No Shooting!  So we doubled back and shot perhaps 10 miles from the freeway, instead of the usual 20+.

Bob H. ‘at the ready’

It was sad to see all the fencing and just as sad to see all the trash left behind by previous shooters, campers and 4-wheelers.

On the bright side,  I was given some ammo to use and was able to shoot my carry 1911, the one Bob sold me in 1983, aka the Bob H. Signature Model or ‘Bobbie’.

After 20,000 rounds or so, she still shoots like a champ!  We are both ammo-poor, so we each shot under 100 rounds, yesterday.  Silhouettes righted up in brush, and various trash left by others were the targets of opportunity.  Bob shot one of his Glock .40s, which I razzed him about.  As stated before in these pages many times, plastic guns have no soul!  Very accurate, though.

Weather was brisk.  Cool breeze, no flying insects, in the mid 50s.  This was probably 1100 until sometime after Noon.

I was proud of my shooting, as I’m pretty rusty, but did rather well (if I do say so myself).

Then, just up the road to Rock Springs Cafe, where we had lunch.  I got lunch as Bob provided the transportation.  While the meal wasn’t particularly adventuous – grilled hamburgers (which were delicious!) but I had to have a piece of their award-winning pie!  Blueberry Crumb – excellent!  As Jim R. would say, “Ala mode, with ice cream!”

Kinda glad Rock Springs is too far to visit regularly – too many tempting baked goodies!  We returned safely, with plans to ‘do it again, soon’.  Hope so.

Rare As Hen’s Teeth

Today, I get to do something rare (for me) as hen’s teeth.

GO SHOOTING!  :-p

Between not having the funds for ammunition, a decent vehicle for travel and few firearms from which to choose, shooting is indeed a rarity.  I miss it.

Fortunately, my friend Bob (a former PI boss and gun shop boss) suggested we get together as we used to and hit the desert.  He’s bringing an appropriate vehicle and targets.  I’m bringing my 1911 and some ammo, on loan from my roomie!  (aren’t friends great?)

We can’t stay out too long, as Bob has family responsibilities in town, but just getting away – ‘recoil therapy’ – should be fun.

I’ll try to do an after-action report.  Be safe!

Guffaw

On NOT Preaching to the Choir…

Many bloggers have been posting of late regarding the ongoing elimination of rights by the government.  I’ve been one of the folks posting.  And, with the exception of the occasional ‘troll’, I’m pretty much preaching to the choir.

And sometimes that’s appropriate.  We need to support and reaffirm one another.

BUT, what does one do with the community outside the ‘church’?  Friends, co-workers, family who are not gun owners, who don’t participate in the gun culture, who either are neutral about firearms or just a little uneasy with them?

We need them, as well.

Those people who don’t see that when some folks rights are taken away, all rights are on the table for removal.

I’ve one friend, a libertarian, who understands The Constitution and The Bill of Rights and all that.  I’ve even taken him shooting.  Just doesn’t interest him.  He’s not anti, just not a supporter.  A close relative who knows I’d be happy to bring her into the world of guns; to train her and help her to be more self-protective.  But she fears her own temper, so she won’t consider it.

We need these folks, if not in our gun corner, in our political corner.

How do we do that?

Anybody?  Bueller?  Bueller?