Now That's Cool

Had a short chat with the new R&D manager before leaving work today.  He stopped to thank me for helping with some machine issues associated with the top company project.  Just doing my job, but it's nice to be appreciated.

He told me he came to this company because we're doing things that nobody in the rest of the world is doing.  I knew we were unique in this country, but the world?  Now that's cool.

I really like working there because of the people and because of the variety.  Another part of what I like is that for the first time in my career, most of the other engineers are more educated and more intelligent than I am.  Despite that they need me.  I happen to have knowledge and experience that they are missing.

No Hope

For years I've been saying that I used to think that my political/social views were moving right.  And for years I've come to the conclusion that my views have not changed even a little in the decades past.  The politicians, and I'll even say, the majority of the folks in this country have and are still moving left.  I can't see any way for that to change.

The survival of our nation doesn’t hinge on this election. It hinged on the past ten or twenty elections, and we weren’t up to the task. We’ve already failed and our nation is nothing like the land of the free and home of the brave that our founders envisioned. The cancers of socialism and cronyism have metastasized. We aren’t willing to endure the painful side effects of any potential cure, so it’s just a matter of time before the life support machines just can’t keep up any more and we simply succumb to the inevitable.    So says the Captain. 

And as much as I hate to admit it, he's surely correct.  Try as I might, I find it near impossible to have and optomistic outlook.

Most people want security MUCH more than freedom. They don’t want to be responsible for themselves, they want to be cared for by someone else.

Hence the reason there's no way to correct this economic mess.  With half the population getting money earned by others, it's too late, socialism has won.  Those of us who take care of ourselves, by ourselves, are now the slaves. 

Let's enjoy as much of life as we can, while we can, with our heads in the sand.

To Hell - - - Again

Tomorrow I'm off to Pinckney Michigan for camping and 2 full days of paintball at Hell Survivors.  It looks like only 5 of us are going this year.  Of the 12, only my son and I have made the trip every time for the last 8 years or so,  Most are of an age near my son, so I'm the oldest by far.

I love my family, like my job and the people I work with, but getting away to join the battle and shoot people with paintballs lifts the spirit and cleanses the soul.  Sitting in the dark around a campfire drinking, doesn't hurt either.

 - - - - - - - - -

We kicked ass!  Shooting 4 or more of theirs for 1 of ours will do that.

Disturbing as All Hell

According to this article -

For every $1 added to the economy since January 2009, the U.S. has added more than $3 in debt

According to the Census Bureau, 49% of Americans live in a household that receives a government entitlement

When you open the drain, the water swirls and disappears.  We're watching the swirl right now.

Never Enough

I happen to have 40 guns on my inventory list, though 1 is residing with my daughter-in-law, and 3 belong to the Boss.

The daughter-in-law has the Llama MicroMax 380.  It's a scaled down 1911 that she borrowed for her concealed carry class.  The fell on love with it.  In theory she's just watching it for a while, but she'll probably have it a very long time.

Several years ago I was given a rusty Ruger Single Six in 22 magnum.  Internally it was fine, so various types of nickel plating turned it into a beautiful little six-gun.  The Boss claimed it as being too pretty for me.  When she was considering taking the concealed carry class she bought a Bersa 380 for herself, then decided my stainless Walther PPK in 32 was another gun that's too pretty for me.

So of the 40 I can only claim 36 as really mine.  I think I need some more. 

I don't have a lever action rifle.  A carbine chambered in 454 would be nice.

I also don't have a shotgun suitable for the tactical shotgun class I hope to take next summer. 

And then I don't have . . . . .

Good Piggy Piggy

Went to a pork festival today.  Had a late breakfast of all you can eat pancakes and sausage.  In the early afternoon we had sausage, pork chops, slaw and pie.  Again it was all we could eat.  Damn good food, especially the sausage. 

The Boss asked where we could buy some and was told it is a special mixture made just for the festival.  Damn, sure would like to have some for home consumption.

BTW, I was packing all day, past the county LEOs and into the buildings with the no guns signs.  Carrying concealed, means just that.

The Worst

For years I considered Carter the worst president in my lifetime.  The last 4 years have proven me wrong.  Obama now holds that title.  The last few days should have made that apparent to even those with few working brain cells, like Obama himself.

Becoming Ashamed

As a general rule I'm proud of being a citizen of the USA, but I'm ashamed of what we're becoming.  I didn't realize it at the time but it started when I was younger, and close to being drafted and sent to Vietnam.  That war was not fought with the will to win.  The final result accomplished nothing but death. 

Since then, with the exception of our volunteers, we're becoming more and more a nation of wimps.  We've lost our desire to fight back to victory whether the war is against an evil enemy, or to maintain individual liberties.  We're losing to socialism/communism and terrorism has changed our life forever.

What's Not to Like??

The economy hasn't been worth a crap for several years now.  When the bottom fell out I was the engineering manager for a small company owner by a multinational company headquartered in Germany.  We never lost money and were actually making money when corporate decided to move the whole operation out of state.  I was blessed in that I only lost 2 weeks of work before landing another engineering job.  Being a general practitioner has some advantages.

I'm no longer a manager, but I like what I'm doing and where I work.  The new employer must be doing rather well despite the economy.  The engineering department, in my area, has doubled in the past year, and not with cheap people either.  About half of the department has PHD degrees.  I could probably find a higher paying position elsewhere, but that would also come with more hours and stress.  Right now I have diversity of assignments, little stress, and 40 hour weeks in a company that appears to be very stable in a shitty economy.  What's not to like about that?

Vacation Carry

My son, his wife and 2 dogs were about half way through a 1-1/2 mile hike last week when the daughter-in-law said "are you packing?"  She was behind me at the time so I just pulled up part of my soggy T-shirt to expose holster and Kahr PM9.  I don't know if she's amazed or just curious about me carrying most of the time.  Since we were on vacation, I carried the whole time I was awake.  Unless heading for work, I put on a gun before the wallet goes in my pocket.  When it's on me, it stays until bed time.

A couple of days ago the 4 of us were at the still-not-sold big house.  The Boss took the truck to go get some tools.  Before leaving I told her to not get into an accident because my old 45 is under the seat.  The daughter-in-law didn't understand that the Boss would be jailed on a felony charge if caught with my gun under the seat.  "But it's not her gun."  "So!  That's the law.  She'd be carrying concealed without a license." 

Since I can't carry at work or risk losing my job, I keep a Llama 1911 under the seat of the pick-up I drive to and from work.  That pistol cost all of $240 new, so not much monetary value lost if it gets stolen.  It's not pretty and the accuracy is not the best, but good enough, and reliable as all hell.

So why was I carrying a Kahr 9mm on vacation when I prefer a 1911?  Seven rounds of 9mm weighs less that 7 rounds of 45, and my sweat has less effect on a plastic frame than it does on an aluminum frame.  If it wasn't for the damn heat, I'd carry my Kimber.  I had it with me, but it stayed in the cabin.

Dishonest Statistics

Have you noticed how the price of almost everything is increasing?  Chances are your pay is either stagnant or is actually decreasing, so money for discretionary spending is tanking.  So how can prices increase this much when the published inflation rate has been hovering around 2%?  As I understand, the official inflation rate does not include the price of fuel or groceries, the stuff that is required to live.

Does this seem dishonest to you?

The official unemployment rate, as published by the Fed is a shade over 8%.  And it would be even higher if federal hadn't grown so much with the non-productive.  Again, as I understand, this statistic only counts those that receive unemployment.  Those that can't find jobs and give up, and those forced to accept temporary or part time work are not considered.

Is this dishonest?

We are talking about the federal government and politicians here.  Dishonesty is normal.

Fire all of them and start over!

Dog Walking

I've posted before about our 2 dogs, large and small.  The little Shiba (Miko, 7 months) and mixed husky (Thunder, 2 years) are neither used to being walked very much.  We just let them out into the fenced yard for exercise.  Thunder, our rescue dog, and Miko both pull hard on the leash which makes walking less than pleasent.

On this trip we tried a head collar called 'gentle leader' on Thunder.  He doesn't like that loop over his face, but it sure keeps him from pulling.  After a little time on the trail, he simply walks along without pulling at all.  In fact yesterday after he got a little tired he walked by my side and the leash was completely slack.  He seemed to be happier.  I know I was.  Having a pulling dog, pull on the leash, is extremely tiring.

When we get home we're going to get one for little Miko, assuming they're made that small.  She pulls for all she's worth the whole time on a leash.  A choker doesn't slow her down any.  She pulls hard even while being choked.  Jerk and release doesn't work on her either.  She's that stubborn.