Don't just sit there...

"Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there."

~Will Rogers

When it comes to God, Gals, Guns, and Grub... there's no fence sittin' round here.  I'm a firm believer that if you're not moving forward, you're goin' backwards, even when something's on the tracks up ahead.

 "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

~Theodore Roosevelt

I've enjoyed keeping up with A Girl and Her Gun as she moves on after a life changing event dropped her onto a new set of tracks.  Brigid keeps it moving along through life changes and busted knees with her beautiful prose, photography, and bacon-flavored shooting tidbits while challenging us to look at, think about, and feel this life we live.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, 

for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

~Galatians 6:9

So rather than running out of steam... wishing, hoping, wondering, lamenting, or whining... I'm just offering ya'll (and me and the gals) a few words of encouragement to keep you moving... but whatever you do... Don't just sit there...

Ignoring the signs...

A lot of folks I know seem to occasionally end up stuck in a briar patch of their own making 'cause they ignored the signs.  I know this because I am one of them.  As diligent as I am about managing every aspect of life in an honest, loving, caring, patriotic, and God-honoring manner... there are always those little areas that get neglected and then they tend to become significant issues.

It's like my little friend, the scale... he's a brutally honest guy, but we tend to ignore his signs... 230... 240... 250... OMG... WT#... GET... OFF... NOW!  It's like money and budgeting decisions.  Most folks are very careful when buying a house, a car, a boat... we'll haggle with the car dealer over $200, yet many of us waste that much every month on little items that have no collective importance other than momentary satisfaction a second after we observed them in the check-out aisle.

I sometimes wish I could come up with an idea that would provide a substantial income from others ignoring the signs... like maybe selling folks bottled water.  Yep, folks will collectively spend three to five bucks for every gallon of bottled water they consume, an amount of water which would costs pennies from the tap, and gripe about the cost of gasoline... count me guilty of that on occasion.

Work is creating a big decision for me right now.  I have to decide next week if I'm coming back next August.  I love a lot of what I do... you know... the actual work and teaching part... but I'm so tired of the politics, two-plus hours a day on the road getting there and back, picking up the slack of others who aren't doing their job, but getting the same pay... and raises have been non-existent most of the last decade... they did give us a one percent raise the same year they took away our three-percent retirement match... but, hey, I do have a job.

It seems I've had a few job opportunities over the last few years and many signs that it might be time to move on... but I got comfortable with the crazy routine I'm in somewhere along the line.  I've ignored a lot of little signs along the way and I'm starting to pay for it with stress and my physical health.

Taking a que from Frank over at Corn, beans, spent brass, an empty page and a deadline, I'm not sure it's fun any more and the signs seems to indicate that.  Not to sound too cynical, but there many in this current generation of college students who project a lazy, somebody owes me, mama still takes care of me via cell-phone attitude that is disheartening.  The hard-working students who seem to truly care are what keeps me going.

"Why did you fail my kid?" "Well, he didn't show up for half his classes or complete two-thirds of his assignments." "Do you know how much we're paying you and this university?" "Do you know if you had spent that money on a new car verses your lazy kid, you'd still have something to show after the last year?"  Oh, wait... I shouldn't say that... I'm a Christian... well, those cows were out of the barnyard before the gate was closed and Christian doesn't equal doormat.  People have forgotten, they're not paying for an education... their paying for an opportunity to get an education.

Besides, with over thirty-thousand miles on the road every year... I could probably take a job closer to home... if there is one in the current economy... for less money and be dollars ahead of burning through a vehicle with 150,000 or more miles on it every five years.  I'm just trying to go back and read the signs I've been ignoring.

Sometimes I think it's the same way with God.  We pray and ask for answers he's already given us signs for a dozen times in the Bible.  We ignore His true power, asking Him to heal cancer, protect our soldiers, and hurry that lady up so we can have her parking space.

Well, I should probably pay attention to the sign over my daughter's bedroom door at this point.  It says, "NO WHINING"... I guess I'm still... ignoring the signs...

Empty chambers...

Empty chambers look like this...

Empty chambers look like this...

Empty chambers look like this...

Empty chambers DO NOT look like this...

Our friends' teenage son learned a gun safety lesson on their farm this past Monday... Don't try to catch a dropped gun!  Accidents with firearms can happen, and thank the Good Lord this young man's injury doesn't have any permanent or long-term physical implications.  He's a good kid and has handled firearms for years.  It can happen to just about any of us.

As an experienced and long-time shooter, hunter, former law enforcement officer, NRA certified instructor, and 4H Shooting Sports instructor... I have found that the most important part of owning and/or using firearms are the safety rules.  

So let's review the Gun Safety Rules:

NRA Gun Safety Rules:

- ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction

- ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until ready to shoot

- ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use

...and the additional rules for using or storing a gun.

Col. Jeff Cooper's Gun Safety Rules:

- All guns are always loaded.

- Never let the muzzle cover anything which you are not willing to destroy.

--> - Keep your finger off the trigger till your sights are on the target. 
- Identify your target, and what is behind it.

Two other thoughts on this topic...
1. Do you have a blowout kit handy, or a first-aid kit, or even a plan - just in case?
2. You can argue all day about self-defense calibers, but that little .380ACP went through this young man's hand and then went through the sidewall of their vehicle's tire, leaving them with a flat-tire.  Just some food for thought.

Follow the gun safety rules.  Make sure your gun is unloaded when not in use... keep it pointed in a safe direction... and check three times... for empty chambers...

Target Meister: Wyatt Earp Target Stands...

Over the years it seems that I've owned, built, or borrowed just about every kind of target stand or other target holding-device that was ever made or cobbled together.  After looking around for several months last year at different target stands, I decided to weld up some IDPA-style target stands and began getting my steel tubing order together when I happened across the Target Meister web site.

After checking over the costs of building my own, I could still make the target stands I wanted for about $35 each, but then there was a fair bit of time and labor... plus painting... and the Target Meister Wyatt Earp Target Stands looked just about like what I was going to build... so I called and talked with Clint from Target Meister and then I ordered six of his target stands.

They arrived carefully wrapped and boxed, two to a package.  Even though these stands will be kicked around, set down in the dirt and mud, then tossed in the back of the truck... the care and quality of the packaging clearly indicated pride in this product... and best of all, it's made in America by good folks like you and me.

The stands have solid welds and a quality finish in bright orange so you don't forget them at the range or run 'em over with the tractor and a bushhog while mowing (not that I would have ever done anything like that before to previous target stands).

The upright steel tubes each have two "spring" tabs welded inside that hold the sacrificial 1" x 2" wood furring strips firmly in place so they don't wobble and yet they don't bind up when it's time to pull them out for replacement, storage, or the trip home from the range.

The uprights are spaced just right to work with targets for IDPA, USPSA, or other shooting and competition needs.  Aside from IDPA targets, for the past few months we've just been using some leftover 18" x 24" corrugated plastic sign blanks we picked up at a significant discount from a local sign shop.  

Another nice touch to these target stands are the plastic end caps for the steel tube "legs" that keep them from filling with dirt, mud, and water.  I would imagine that you could also fill the legs with sand, lead shot, or some other weight if you were using the stands in high winds, although they seemed to work well for us as is until the wind gusts get much over 20-25 mph... in higher winds, we've just tossed a sandbag or two over the legs.

When the shooting is over and the smoke clears, these target stands stack up for easy transport and a minimal storage foot-print.  As I've said before, I don't like to review or recommend anything until I've had some significant time with the product.  While I had previously mentioned these target stands, we've now had ample time to use them and as far as I'm concerned, you can't find a better made target stand for the money and Clint, the owner, even emailed us after the order had shipped to check on our satisfaction with his product.

So if you're looking for something tough enough to face you when you draw your gun, take a good look at Target Meister: Wyatt Earp Target Stands...

Chick Flicks and Ballistic Tips...

This is one of those days each year where guys find that the "temporary memory loss" excuse just doesn't work... and if you do remember it, you can bet that the best gals are not judging your gifts by the price tag, but by how well those gifts indicate that you know them.

Now that I'm getting on in years and the gray hair of experience should be passed on to other poor fellas who have yet to learn from their mistakes... so here are some random pieces of advice to consider...

+ Put the right gal's name on the right card and spell it correctly...
+ Do not buy her anything related to cleaning the house...
+ A text message does not replace an actual card or carefully written letter...
+ Do not buy her clothing... if will either be too big or too small...
+ Cheap roadside roses often still have thorns...
+ No Thigh-Masters... just take a bullet and put us out of your misery...
+ You can add your own to the list here: _______________________

If ya'll have a terrific country gal like the sassy redhead I'm married to, she'll probably appreciate something you did or made over something you bought... but don't think they don't like a few things bought for them now and then.

A couple of ideas you might consider: cook her dinner (and do the dishes afterwards if you want a romantic rendezvous later on)... clean the house (a sure-fire move towards some undercover fun)... polish her Henry Golden Boy and clean her 9mm... or you could get her a good book (like Kathy Jackson's The Cornered Cat)...

If all else fails... try some Chick Flicks and Ballistic Tips...

Sheepdog 101: What's your little girl made of?

The news reported today that a two-legged varmint tried to snatch a little gal out of a Walmart down in Georgia.  The low-life grabbed her and picked her up, but the feisty little gal kicked and screamed... finally being let go as the ex-con ran off.  As my wife and I discussed this story, we reflected on lessons we have tried to teach our daughter.

So what are little girls made of?  Well, that depends on the ingredients you choose... such as sugar and spice and everything nice... and two or three cans of good ol' turbo-charged, diesel-fueled, country-fried whoop-ass!  

Takin' a quote from the Bible... 1st Corinthians 16:13 reminds us to, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong."  Gals (and guys) have to be alert and aware, stand firm in your faith (and mindset), have courage, and be strong... and be ready to kick, yell, punch, scream, claw, stab, rip, bite, scratch, or shoot a two-legged varmint as soon as he pounces on you.

As Christopher Robin said to Pooh, "Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."  When the time comes, we've told our daughter to do whatever is necessary... and we've done our best to prepare her skill set and mindset to do just that.  

I truly believe that any compliance, pacifism, or delayed response to a physical attack on you is ultimately more costly than if you just go nuclear on the piece of garbage the moment you're attacked... and for you concealed carry folks... guess what... my daughter can't... she's only 16... she can't even have a pocket knife or a tactical pen at school.  We're not talkin' paranoia... we're talkin' preparedness.

My hat's off to that little gal down in Georgia... and as far has her Momma goes, yeah... she left her alone in the toy aisle... then again, you can't always guarantee you'll be with your kids every minute either... even if you try.  So the big question from today's Sheepdog 101: What's your little girl (or boy) made of?

You cross paths with good folks every day...

Been bloggin' now for about eight months and I've had the opportunity to read a lot of good stuff out there and even develop some good friendships.  This week, a couple of nice folks sent a Leibster award my way... a big thanks and hat tips to That Texas Lady and Aaron over at The Shekel...

The rules of the award are as follows:

1. Copy and paste the award on our blog.
2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award
3. Pick our five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.
4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.

Seems that most of the good folks I know are already awarded, so if it's a repeat... my apologies... but you deserved the recognition anyway...

Home on the Range... I have no idea how many followers Brigid has, but she's a classy gal with and iron will, a heart of gold, and a cooking ability that is second to none... a great encourager to me starting this blog.

Bullseye Babe... is just getting her feet wet with this blogging thing and I'd like to encourage her as Brigid did me...

It's a Small Town Life... Michelle's got a great eye for takin' terrific photographs and enjoying that smalltown, country life...

MA-rooned... Jay is a great guy and has a good blog...

Fill Yer Hands... just a regular guy who enjoys guns...

Now I know this list isn't complete and I don't know all my awardees personally, but I think their blogs are worth a look... you cross paths with good folks every day...

1942 Colt M1911A1: Rock solid after 70 years...

During February, 1942... Lt. Edward O'Hare became the first Ace of World War II piloting his F4 Wildcat, in just four minutes, shooting down five Japanese "Betty" bombers... President Franklin D. Roosevelt instituted "War Time", better known as Daylight Savings Time and signed Executive Order 9066, resulting in the internment of many Japanese-Americans... a Japanese submarine fired at an oil refinery near Santa Barbara, California... Donald M. Mitchell applied for the first patent of a mobile telephone... musicians Graham Nash, Peter Tork (yes, the Monkeys), and Carole King were born along with the anti-gun Michael Bloomberg...

...and our Colt M1911A1 was manufactured by American workers and craftsmen in Hartford, Connecticut, then delivered to the U. S. Army for service.

Now I know that 2011 was the 100th year anniversary and recognized the enduring genius of John Moses Browning's design of the 1911, but of particular interest to me is this Colt M1911A1 that came to us from my wife's grandfather who served through two wars... WWII and Korea... a grandfather who took a liking to his grand-daughter's husband... and left this pistol to us with the condition it remain in the family.  Some day we'll have the honor or passing it along to our daughter.

We're proud to have this pistol in our collection and as we have no "safe-queens" here... it gets a regular workout just like all our guns do... and just like it did with my wife's grampa.  We keep a set of Colt rubber grip panels on it as the original grip panels you see here are becoming a bit fragile with time, but the gun still works well, better than anything of it's age has a right to.

A few years back, we had the gunsmiths at Springfield Armory's Custom Shop check it over, carefully go through it, give it a four-pound trigger job, tightened the slide-to-frame fit, and hand-fit an Ed Brown barrel bushing that not only has this gun keeping two-inch groups at twenty-five yards, but has the bullets hitting dead-on with the original sights... amazing handy-work and they also returned all the original parts they replaced (springs, bushing, etc.).

You should see the excitement of our 4H Shooting Sports kids or local Boy Scouts when they get a chance to see AND shoot a real piece of American history, a piece of American ingenuity... of American exceptionalism.  That's right folks, there is only one United States of America... and we're darn proud to be Americans.

If you look at this gun, you might be in awe of the incredible design, manufacturing, craftsmanship, and skill that produced it.  If Americans could produce this seventy, or even one-hundred years ago... I know we can still do amazing things today... we can produce men and women with even greater capabilities today... folks that are proud to work and proud to know what it means when we say, "Made in America".

This old gun does show some wear, some marks, some age, some imperfections... but with some care, effort, and common sense... it's still working like it should.  Like our country, it ain't perfect... but I can't think of anything else that's better.  

We have a local boy who recently came home from Afghanistan... a Marine Scout Sniper... who came home after stepping on an IED... he's lost both legs above the knees and has some additional injuries... and it happened just three weeks short of the February 7th end of his third and final deployment.  He still exhibits a pride and attitude that should put us all to shame.

Ya know folks... I think of the service to our country by those who made this gun... of the service to our country by those who carried this gun... of the service to our country by those who still carry guns on our behalf... and I think that we can do better... for ourselves and for their honor.

That's what I tell the kids and those who we show and let shoot this gun... this is an example and symbol of America at it's best... so get a firm grip... ok, now squeeze the trigger straight back... and fire a 1942 Colt M1911A1: Rock solid after 70 years...

Start off for work before daylight...

"The preacher man says it's the end of time..."  It's been in interesting day 'round here, mostly because it seems to be the same as all the other days.  Same news, same happenings, just another day.  Start off for work before daylight...

"The interest is up and the stock market's down..."  Lot of good folks still hurtin' round here and not much I can do about most of it.

"And you only get mugged if you go downtown..."  Just amazes me how both the banks and even local idiots are stealin' from their friends and neighbors.  The local boys and girls with badges can barely keep up.

"Cause you can't starve us out and you can't make us run..."  On one hand I'm finding good stuff for decent prices at local auctions... then ya feel the guilt 'cause someone else is takin' it on the chin for your bargin.

"Because you can't starve us out and you can't make us run..."  We've got a lot of folks and friends just hangin' on with all they got.  There's still a good spirit among folks that ain't completely broke yet.

"Ain't too many things these ole boys can't do..."  I guess we're better off than a lot of city slickers 'cause you can still make do and there's still a sense of community between the cornfields.

"Country folks can survive... we say grace and we say ma'am, if you ain't into that we don't give a damn..." Men will still hold a door for a gal and tip a hat in these parts... and even Good Samaritan a stranger with a flat tire along side the road.  It ain't all bad, but sometimes as Yogi said, "It's deja vu all over again..."

 

"The preacher man says it's the end of time..."  It's been in interesting day 'round here, mostly because it seems to be the same as all the other days.  Same news, same happenings, just another day.  Start off for work before daylight...