A Day of Adventure

Sweet Wife should be home within the hour. She called ahead and told me to, in her words, "Clean up and make yourself presentable before I get home."

I said, "Yes dear."

We shall sally forth for a day of adventure. Business and legal related stuff unfortunately. Birth Mother has sneaked her way back into our lives, and since she's our only hope, we shall make all attempts to get her life back on track. She has issues.

This is my way of saying, there is hope.

Not sure when I shall return today, but I'll try and update when possible.

Keep your fingers crossed and if you're so inclined, whisper a prayer for us.

Stephen

Bits and Pieces

This is the fourth day I've been without the company of my lovely Sweet Wife. Sure is quiet around here. She should be home tomorrow. Since her departure I've lost myself in books.

*****

I've made great progress on the rusty ammunition. I still have a few pieces of the 7.62x39 left then will move on to the 9x19.

*****

I lost my oldest Rosemary plant to the flood. Ticks me off. I'm down to one plant. I was out in the yard yesterday and found it dead. Rosemary hates wet roots. I love to cook as much as I love to shoot, so I view this loss like the thief of a favorite rifle.

Since I've mentioned rifles I need to break open the gunsafe and clean my M1A and take her out to the range and strain her barrel. I've haven't fired her in quite a long time. I'm certain she misses me.

*****

I hear rain. Its a soothing sound on an early Sunday morning. Here I am with a good cup of coffee, my Sunday newspaper, and a very quiet house, and the gentle sound of rain. Perfect if you're a hermit. I can even hear my stomach growl. Guess I should eat breakfast.

Back in the day my mother always made the same breakfast. Bacon and eggs served with grits, and if we were very lucky, redeye gravy and biscuits the size of your fist. Those biscuits were flaky and soft as an angles breast, and I'd drench mine with butter. I'd cut my biscuit in half and place two slices of folded bacon in the middle.

Lord I miss her. I haven't eaten a decent breakfast since I was seventeen years old.

When I was about twelve I'd fantasize I was a cowboy with a saddlebag filled with my mother's bacon biscuits and a canteen of sweet iced-tea. This childhood dream always ended with me riding down that lonely western trail with a grin of happiness. I mean, what cowboy wouldn't be happy with a saddlebag filled with bacon and biscuits as his pony trotted towards adventure.

 *****

I read in the paper this morning that the author, James Lee Burke, has just published a new novel, Creole Belle. I haven't read a Burke novel in quite a long time and think I'll order this one in hardcover. I've mentioned before, on this blog, I'm not a fan of his politics but I do like and enjoy his writing style.

He's the best prose stylist this country has seen in many years. Just an FYI.

*****

Next weekend we have a gunshow in town.  One of my friends asked if I'd attend. Not sure. I'd like to but he forgets I must work for a living and my shop is open on Saturdays, the best day in my humble opinion, to attend the show. Then again, I might sneak down on Sunday. Deals are to be had on Sunday it's just the good stuff has been sold.

Besides, I always spend far too much cash when I attend. I always walk the show with little things in mind, like spare parts, or books.

I collect the works of Ragnar Benson. Gunshows are great places to fill any hole in your Benson collection. He appeals to those of us in the gun culture. If you haven't read his books, well, shucks, I feel sorry for you. He's not the best writer in the world but when your books are banned in California and other liberal jackass states you must be doing something right to piss off the government wussies.

As I've said, many of his books have been banned and many are out of print. His early works were published in low numbers and as a result demand high prices. I have many holes in my Benson collection. Then again I've duplicate copies too so if any of you out there have this habit and own a few Benson books and need one - give me a yell and we'll swap.

I had a guy once tell me he's deathly afraid to have any copy of Ragnar's books in his home, mostly due to the subject matter. I asked him to leave my presence. I don't suffer fools easily.

Anyway, if you're man enough, find a copy and spend an afternoon with a real man. Any of his books will do to bring you back into the club.

Later.

Stephen

Thanks and Welcome

To my new friend and follower, Rick. My friend I promise to always answer your comments. As I've said many times before it might take me a few hours and in rare cases days but please be assured I will answer. If I miss your comment, let me know.

Now, let's take a walk down the trail together.

Again, thank you and welcome. You are now among friends.

Stephen

Concerning Events In A Little Country Cemetery

My life is hectic and my writing has suffered because of it. Please be patient with me. I'll explain soon.

In the meantime I read a story this morning written by an old friend. We were, once upon a time, very close. Then one day we had words. It wasn't pretty, and as a result of the words thrown each at the other, our friendship was torn beyond repair. We haven't spoken since that fateful day. None the less on those rare occasions when he writes I continue to read his blog.

I respect, for the most part, his views.

Anyway, if you have a few minutes read this.

I'm sure the link will shock the heck out of him. He believes I hate his guts. I don't.

After all, once upon a time he was my friend.

Stephen

Bits and Pieces

It is extremely hot and humid here this morning. These hot and damp days are perfect for breeding blood suckers. When either of us return home and hit the garage door the mosquitoes fill the area before its shut.

Last night I went out to my reloading bench, which is located in the garage, to change the rusty rounds I had in my brass polisher. I was covered in mosquitoes within seconds. Mosquitoes remind me very much of democrats. Both are blood sucking parasites.

*****

I shall play bachelor this weekend. Sweet Wife leaves tomorrow evening for a very long weekend in South Carolina. We have a niece determined to ruin her life. She plans to wed a fairly nice young man, a missionary of the Baptist faith. My niece just recently returned from a life in France. I'm sure it softened her brain, hence the wedding. 

Oh well. I hope their lives together are filled with happiness and wealth.

I will miss Sweet Wife. The next few nights will be very quiet in my home. It's a good thing I just received  a three DVD boxed set of the movie, John Adams. I wanted to watch the movie over Independence Day weekend but my order didn't arrive in time.

So this weekend, in the quiet of the night, I shall set my books aside and be entertained with the richness of our countries forefathers and their fight for our independence.

*****

The old timer came in and with a heavy sigh and took a seat. He squirmed around a bit, shifted this way and that, adjusted his trouser legs, retied his boots.

I waited.

"You know, Stephen, this damn country has gone to pot."

Me, "Sure has."

"Are you aware these damn kids," his waves his arms as if to encompass the whole of them, "can't even read and write?"

"I know." I'm brief like that while engaged in conversation.

He continues, "And, it's that damn Obama's fault."

"Yes Sir."

"You don't talk much do you."

I chuckled, said, "Not when I'm listening."

"Good. Can't abide a smart ass or a man that just runs his mouth all damn day."

He's seventy-six, give or take a year.

I nod, said, "Neither can I."

Then, "Okay, now here's the big one. What do you think about that Yankee, Romney?"

"Not much to tell you the truth."

The old man rubs his belly, checks his fingernails and then gives me a very stern look - you know, like an old man about to lecture your butt. "You're a dumb-ass, you know it."  Like that....

I only allow old men and women to speak to me in this manner. So, I said, "Yes Sir, I am."

He smiled. "Stephen, you are aware he's the only man we have to replace that Arab in the White House."

The old man had to raise his voice as I'd moved back into my office to pour my tenth cup of coffee. I yelled back, "I am aware of that fact. What's your point?"

Out of left field, "You have any new used guns for sale?"

"No, not today." He mumbled. Then, "What the hell is wrong with you. You're acting awful strange."

"Nothing, just a lot on my mind." I'm still in the back where I stand at my office window and watch a squirrel  as it climbs a tree.

I hate politics.

The old man stands and walks inside the office. I offer him a cup of coffee and he takes one of my spare cups into the restroom and gives it a good wash, returns and pours.

Then, "Well, answer my question. Do you not believe he's better than Obama?"

I turn to the old fella and place a hand on his shoulder - Its bony, his skin loose under his shirt. I like him, but not today.

"Bubba," I say, "At this point in time I'd be willing to vote for a yellow dog over our current president."

The old man slams down his cup, walks back through the shop and out the door. Didn't even say good-bye.

Some days are like that around here.

*****

Think I'll change the channel on the shop's television and catch a few minutes of the Tour de France. Its the only sporting event I like and watch. You can keep your football, compared to the bike riders in this event football players are a bunch of wussies. Baseball, boring. Basketball players, give me a break. Put them all on a bike and tell them to ride flat out for a hundred and twenty miles, much of it uphill, and see how long they last.

Besides, I like the shots of the French countryside. Its a beautiful place, even if its people are a bunch of Socialist.

Later.

Stephen

A Long Day

Sorry for the lack of post today. I've had a long and tiring day. My mind is numb. I'll try and write something tomorrow.

Until then.

Stephen

Work Day

It's my day off so I guess I'll work. The grass needs a cut and I've ammunition to polish and pack, and I should pull out the a/c filter and give it a good bath.

Last night around 2300 while reloading my brass polisher I noticed a regiment of mosquitoes had taken residence in my garage. Two or three had packs strapped to their backs and upon closer observation those packs appeared to be transfusion units - little IV bottles and tubes.

Just think what it'll be like when I walk outside....

See you good folks later.

Stephen