It Was a Long Night

Without sleep. I've taken a rare day off. The guilt of it weighs heavily upon me. How government leeches and parasites live their lives firmly attached is beyond me.

She just stepped from the shower and yelled, "Well, let's at least make a run to Costco."

Replied, "Yes, Dear."

She further explained we need to shop for new family room chairs, big ones with ottomans - leather. I explained we're deep into a depression and cannot afford them.

She flicked my ear.

So now you know.

Stephen

Just Me and The Owls

Here it is zero dark four thirty and I'm still reading. It's just me and owls.

The owls perch low in an old live oak just outside my window. Its been said their flesh closely resembles that of chicken.

NVG's or Surefire, I wonder.

Stephen

LightHeaded

I was late for work this morning.

Sleep eluded me until just after 0300. I'd barely closed my eyes when I felt a light touch and reality again slapped me in the face.

Record time with the shave and toothpaste, a slap of Old Spice, and I'm out the door.

Inside the shop I flipped switches and filled the till with cash and jerked a cup of coffee and with newspaper in hand I settled back to read. Granted I was a bit woozy, distracted, and chalked it to my lack of rest but I also felt as if I'd forgotten something important.

Five or six minutes into the newspaper I reached for my coffee and it hit me. My belt seemed wrong. I reached around. I forgotten both of my spare magazines. Trivial granted. Still, it bugged me to death.

It must be understood I've carried concealed for many years, probably longer than many of you have been potty trained. So long in fact I felt as if I'd left behind my right leg.

No worries. Tomorrow I will sit around a camp fire and relax, and shoot, and chew the fat with my friends.

Besides, my piece holds twelve rounds. If I can't hit the target (or some booger) with twelve rounds I might as well take a seat on the sofa and watch ball games with the rest of the hoople-heads. 


Lord, I'm getting old...

Stephen




 

Sleep

It's 0315. I can't sleep. The house is quiet other than the hum of this laptop. I don't know why I lack the ability for a full nights rest, but there you are...

In a few hours I'll jump into the shower and pack a few items in my bag and leave to take Little Bit to breakfast and school. The thought of it makes me smile. Afterwards to my shop and then an afternoon with the cardiologist. The thought of that doesn't make me smile...

Anyhow.

The Pimp came in twice today. Called me six times. He must be in a world of hurt. On both visits he arrived with pieces of crap handguns....and I mean bad. One was a Cobra .25, the frame hand painted black. His asking price was silly;  $175.00. I offered him ten bucks. The second isn't even worth description. It was a little revolver with at least three missing parts. I told him it was a paperweight. You'd of thought I'd kicked him in the teeth based on his reaction.

Just before I closed the shop he phoned again...told me he wanted one more try. Said he had a Sig Revolver chambered in 32/20. Said he'd bring it by today. Really, he did...should be interesting.

I hear an owl...beautiful. Lonely sound. I live next door to a game preserve. The wildlife add richness to the nights. I never know what signs I will find during the morning hours. There are always the tracks, scat, leftover pieces of fish from the river, feathers and fur. A couple of years ago I found two baby 'possums asleep in my yard waste trashcan, cute little boogers, with teeth.

Think I'll switch out my carry piece today. Maybe my Smith model 19. Not sure yet. Any suggestions. Even though she's chambered in .357,  I pack it filled with plus 'P' .38's. Hollow points. The trigger is to die for, as they say. This is a file photo, mines prettier....

Rambling, aren't I...

I've just set a pot of tea to the flame. Not sure why but I find myself drinking far more tea than coffee while at home. Weird.

Many, many years ago, while in Africa, I had a fella make me a cup of tea. It had a green tint. Said it would make me strong and produce a great many children (as he offered his youngest daughter to me) and said I should drink the tea in one large gulp. It was thick with canned condensed milk and sugar. I did as he asked. I hallucinated for the next ten or twelve hours. Headache like you wouldn't believe. When I awoke my wristwatch was missing and my day pack had been searched. When asked what in the hell he'd given me he just smiled and said a long life. The girl was all smiles. Don't ask....

I never did like Mombasa.

Just before her death I took my mother to British Columbia, Victoria. She collected tea cups. Victoria is famous for its bone china. She was in tea cup heaven. Before we left, I swear, she had at least one of everything, including porcelain tea bobs. I'll never forget the trip. She smiled for a week. Died a few months later. See, this is what happens when one can't sleep. Memories are killing....

I need to get away for a while. Take a trip. Zone out. I never use the term, vacation. I've never taken a vacation and returned home rested. Never. It's a myth. Now, I've taken many trips and found them relaxing, peaceful and at times even enjoyable. But never restful.

It's time for us to make our annual trip to Cedar Key. Spend some time kicked back with a good book in my lap. Snoop around the place and find the best local fresh seafood market and utilize the condo kitchen and make a meal worth my time and efforts, screw restaurants. Watch the boats slip in and out of the channel, and hopefully, sleep as the thunderstorms pound the tin roof. I like to stroll over to the west side of the island and take a seat on the seawall and watch as the sun sets. For some reason its better on Cedar Key. Perhaps its the lack of people which leaves the island quiet - few vehicles, horns, sirens. 

Unfortunately, for the first time in my life, I now find myself with health issues. The rest of this month is heavily scheduled with doctor appointments, and now I understand they want me to take rehab. I asked for what reason. I'm fine. No, they replied, you had a heart attack. Big friggin deal. I left the hospital the second day, feel fine, and damn sure don't have time for three time a week rehab sessions. Anyhow, Cedar Key is off until at least May or June. Damn it.

Not sure what the problem is with my wi/fi of late. It cuts in and out...ticks me off. I wanted to run over to my friend Matt's new blog and provide a link and tell all you good folks of his return. I'll try later this morning. If I must I'll post this and return and edit for the hot link. Not sure if the problem is my system or Comcast. My bets on them...

Done, please take a moment and run over and say hello. He's a nice guy and a fine friend.

Sweet Wife just came in and asked if I'm okay. She worries about me more than usual. Bless her. I dearly love her. I stole her, as 'they' used to say, from the nest. She's six years younger. Just a baby. We met at a local festival; her all blond wearing heels in tight jeans. She didn't stand a chance. Ah, youth.

At that time I had a small apartment on the beach a few miles and in another town north of here. She lived out of state. I spent many a late night driving home from her parents. I'd find myself hanging my face into the cold morning air, while driving like a maniac, in the wee hours of the morning, in order to make it to work on time. My first phone bill, after I met her, was six hundred dollars. In real money....think about it. She liked to talk. Then again, what woman doesn't.

Hey, I need to hit the shower. I truly hope you have a great day.

Later,

Stephen

The Wee Hours

Sleep wasn't in the cards for me last night, nor this morning. Strange how that works. I climbed from my nice warm bed and roamed the house, skimmed the interwebs, drank milk. Didn't help. So I went out to the garage and begin to sort ammunition.

I have one corner of our garage dedicated to old and fairly new ammo cans, not quite as large a pile as in years past. I've relocated quite a bit of it...for obvious reasons. Over time my home stash had spread out and had become a pain in my path. I began to sort and clean and re-stack. The owls kept me company, their hoots soothing, as I worked. It was peaceful. 

During my labors of organizing this disarray imagine my surprise when I come upon a cardboard box filled with over a thousand rounds of 5.56. A wonderful gift of treasure I'd completely forgotten. I stood there like a statue for several seconds, and could not for the life of me remember when and how I'd acquired this unexpected extra thousand or so rounds.

Then, I find a plastic bag and pulled it from the stack and find inside about fifteen boxes of defense shotgun loads...double and single ought buckshot. I'd forgotten it, and again, have no idea how I acquired it. Thank goodness I had a couple of empty ammo cans.

I lost sleep but at least I'm richer for the experience.

Have a great day. Think I'll make another pot of coffee. 

Stephen

Bits and Pieces

I took the day off yesterday. Didn't write a single word. Read most of the day. I'm sure many of you have got locked into a good novel and refused to set it aside...well, that's what happened. It felt good, too.

And, I must admit my laptop wasn't working very well...allowed Little Bit to use it to play computer games. When she gave it back she had surfed the Internet for on-line games and had downloaded so much junk my computer was next to worthless. I held my tongue. Took me several hours to clean out the mess. She clicked and downloaded two different tool bars...little booger.

My good friend, Duke dropped by the house this morning and we chatted and jawed for over an hour. Sure was a nice visit...I've missed him. We had a good talk. When my shop is open he'll drop by at a moments notice, jerk a cup of coffee, and we'll talk for hours. Since I've been stuck here at home for the last month he hasn't had the opportunity to just pop in on a moments notice. We spoke of many of our fellow bloggers - don't worry, he didn't bad mouth everyone....
He fled when the day nurse arrived. He's squeamish.

Oh, 45er, Duke dropped off the nice package...thank you very much for the nice gift. I'll tear into the jerky very soon. Like I said, I owe you one. 

Isn't this gun blog community filled with nice people. During my illness I received some wonderful support and many very nice gifts. I've received beautiful homemade candy from my friend PISSED and his lovely wife. A bag of coffee beans - some of the best coffee I've had in many years, from my buddy, mmasse that lives in my favorite state, Idaho, and so many other nice gestures I've lost count. Thank you all very much. Like I said above, I owe each of you one...if help is needed, just yell.

A few days ago one of the nurses arrived with a drippy nose. Didn't wear her mask. My immune system, now, is very compromised. Guess what. I haven't had a good nights sleep in two days. Cough all damn night. So as not to disturb Sweet Wife's sleep I left the bed this morning at 0200, made a pot of tea and sat and drank about six cups, with honey, to ease my affection. Fell asleep in my chair about 0500. Long night. Little Bit asked me way I 'looked funny,' this morning. Gave her my story.

"Papa."

"What, Honeybun."

"You can have one of my teddybears, it'll help you sleep, Papa."

You've just got to love little girls.

   
Now, if you'll excuse me I've many comments to answer and a good novel to read. I'll see you good folks later.

By the way, the nurse said I should be released this coming weekend. I can smell the cordite.

Stephen

Long Nights

My nights of late are long. Sleep and I aren't friends these days. I refuse medication for a mere brief and light caress of sleep's momentary peace.

I type this as the clock moves a few seconds beyond five a.m., my second cup of coffee is bitter. I'll schedule this waste of words to post later this morning; my promise of a post - even one as sorry as this effort.

On a happier note my son took Little Bit to visit Santa. I was shocked. Needless to say Little Bit loved it. Here is a picture from his cell phone....not the best quality, but proof none the less.

Seems Santa makes rounds at local car shows.....

Cool here this morning. No wind of which to speak. I need to burn a few pounds of gun powder. Alas, another day at my little business.

I'll see you nice folks later this evening, God willing.

Take care.

Stephen