Bits & Pieces

I've done away with that silly 'sign in word doohickey' thing that pops up after a nice person leaves a comment on my blog. It always drives me nuts when I find it on other's blogs. So, it's gone from mine. Just leave your comments and rest assured you'll not be asked to jump through hoops for your kindness.

Another pet peeve of mine is the 'your comments will post with blog owner approval.' What's with that stuff? You either want me to comment are you don't. Make up your mind. If some idiot has the balls to leave obscene wordage on my blog, guess what, if I haven't the time to track you down and mash your face into the sidewalk, then I'll just ban you forever....but approval...give me a break. Rant complete.

This morning, as usual, I rise, shower, dress and drive to Little Bit's house and take her to school. We stop for breakfast and a chat first. We're eating among a group of Coast Guard personnel, discussing their jump suits when Little Bit said, "Papa, why did I have to dress this morning and why did you come get me?"

Blink-blink.

"Because, my love, you need to go to school. It's, after all, Wednesday."

"Not really, Papa."

"Not really what? Wednesday?"

She laughs, darn near spits a mouth full of orange juice all over me, then, "No, Papa, you didn't have to get me today 'cause school's out for the rest of the week."

Me, mouth wide open, vacant glazed eyes, slightly redden faced, "What." In a rather loud voice. And, I catch myself just before letting out a few choice curse words. I do a one tenth second draw with my cell phone and call her so called father.

"Duh, yeah."

"Boy," I said (and yes I called him, boy) "Is Little Bit's school in session today?"

"Well, duh, yeah, I suppose so...?" How the kids today raise the last vowel on their sentence. "Why?"

I drop the call and phone her school. It's out. Teacher conference stuff. Sixteen mile round trip drive for nada.

I bring her back here to my office and she sweeps it clean..."Papa, I want you to keep this place clean, do you hear me."

"Yes, Sweet Heart."

I made her so called mother get out of bed and drive down here. Makes you want to slap someone....

Not this angel, others....

Ping, change of subject...

I've accepted the offer of writing a review for Lucky Gunner. So in the near future a box of .45 ACP should arrive in the mail and I shall blast the heck out it. What the heck, right, a chance to sling lead downrange, then write my thoughts in hopes some of you will purchase a fifty round box. Shame the pain I put myself through for the good of mankind.

Anyone have one of the these they'd like me to wring out....

Later,

Stephen

Query & Oversight

For all my gunny buddies out there....have you ever conducted business with Lucky Gunner? I was recently emailed asking if I'd review their products and would like a little feedback. Thanks.

Now, a few days ago I posted my 'groups' adventures with the antenna tower we lowered and moved. During the writing of the post I mentioned a few of the core members of our group and a couple of new auxiliary members too. The one person I failed to note was my good friend, MDR. He's our long range member, living way out there in the hot, cow pie wastelands of North Texas. He may be stranded in Texas, but he's still a valued member and even better friend. Sorry, Bubba, that I overlooked you. Got a few things on my mind and I'm not quite firing with a full load of late.

To the rest of my blogging friends I will make a hard effort of catching up on my blog reading today, Lord willing. If I fail to leave a comment, please, forgive me. Between my business and the demands of life I feel kinda torn. I'm on my second pot of coffee and it's not yet noon.  My trigger finger is itchy. I need to shoot, something....

Stephen

It Worked

Your prayers have worked. Thank you very much. This is a quick one (I'm busy, first day back and all) but wanted to let all my good friends know my brother is better. Still hospitalized, but better. I spoke to him this morning via phone and he seems cheerful. He's far from well, but with the grace of our Lord he'll continue his fight.

Again, thank you all very much, I'm blessed by your presence.

Stephen

Quiet Time

Today I shall rest and read. I've a few minor chores but afterwards it's me time. If the spirit of my muse rises to slap me a good one perhaps I'll post later this afternoon.  I've noticed a disturbing tread lately in the sleep patterns of Little Bit, on those nights she spends with us. I'd like to share my thoughts on my late night observations of Little Bit's dreams, but I need to think about it before I write of my fears. Or, if I should even worry. The great love one has of a child inflicts much damage at times, for those that take notice.

Seems much itches my conscious lately. Went to market yesterday and walked the isles and noted the price increases. A jar of mayonnaise for eight dollars...bread at three. This isn't a good sign. Inflation is eating us alive my good friends. Gold and silver have tanked due to the worries of investors in the European default possibilities and concerns of the EU dumping more currency in Greece; in order to raise capital to lend, banks must sell gold....bad stuff. Disturbing.

Time to jerk another cup of coffee and allow my mind to numb. Oh, and have you noticed the price of coffee lately.....better stock up. Coffee and ammunition should be stocked deep.

Rambling, aren't I. Sorry. See you later.

Stephen

Update

As of 11:00 p.m. eastern, my brother is still in the emergency room. He is not allowed visitors. His immune system has been compromised by a raging infection in his kidneys, bladder, and prostate. Doctors found a golf ball sized tumor on his prostate. A specialist in infectious diseases has been called and is on the case.

Thank for your kind words and prayers.

It will be a long night.

Stephen

Post Script

Forgot to mention my friend Duke , a very valued member of our group wasn't able to attend yesterday's tower fun. He's attending his son's wedding. We wept. Also our good friend and another valued member of the group, Jim, is on an extended leave of absence. We miss him. He's the group's medic. Come back soon, our brother.

I'm sure if I had failed to mention them I would have gotten one of these.

Food prep is underway. Later.

Stephen

Tower Update

I'm sorry but this will be brief. I've just received word my younger brother has been taken to the emergency room with a life threatening illness. Not much I can do at present, other than prayer. So this will be a post of pictures and a few notes.

Now to bring you up to date. Since my last adventure with my group and the post I wrote of the trip, I've added a few new followers. To bring you nice people up to date allow me a moment of explanation. I had an idea many years ago of forming a group of like minded individuals to support and defend each the other in times of either man made or natural disaster. Simple, huh. Try it. But fighting all the odds against, I succeeded. This success was due to the hard work and time of the nice men and women that joined hands with me in this adventure. They are the individuals due all the credit. They took my dream and made it possible.




I am still very reluctant to expose much about our group. But, by using careful wording and revealing nothing of our location, preps, and other details, I believe it safe to chat with you good folks of our labors.

Recently we were given a tower, a damn fine antenna tower, a beauty, all we had to do was move it. Ever hand dug and moved a 40 foot tower that's had the base sunk into four feet of concrete. It isn't easy. By utilizing hundreds of feet of rope, pulleys, a jeep, shovels and muscles and a few carefully chosen curse words, we 'got 'er done' in record time.

I ask, please excuse my poor photography. Above is one of our new members, let's call him AF1. The tower (left in the picture) still has vines as decoration. Here we're just beginning to dig. Little did we know there was a huge ball of cement underground.

This fine looking feller is Senior Chief. He has just climbed the tower (harnessed) and is striking a pose. He's attached a strap and hardware. We used a block and tackle in a large pine, and three other ropes to ease the tower and antenna to the ground. We did not want the antenna (at the top of the tower) to be harmed. This is one nice and expensive gift (thousands) and treated it as such....as you can imagine.

Sorry for this blurred picture. This is Rebel steadying the ladder for ShooterSteve as Shooter secures the block and chain in the pine. From here we ran a rope to the western side of the tower.

We begin to dig.

Above (as is the rule for all my photos) here we have ShooterSteve (best master electrician in North Florida) and Senior Chief. I think they've spotted a squirrel and are debating the best course of action to bring it down. They chose sticks.

An hour or so later, success. It's down, and more importantly, with no damage. Now the work begins. Rebel used his Jeep, and with the help of our new friend, Tim, eased the beautiful tower down like an Angel's caress.

Above we find new recruit, AF1 and Senior Chief dancing an Irish jig in joy.

There she rest. After a couple of hours of tractor work (Thanks to my Father's loan of the tractor and my nephew Dusty's tractor skills, we had the tower with its sock of cement back at the Boar's Nest. I swear I lost ten pounds. The heat and humid conditions were awful. Time for lunch on the Boar's Nest deck. 

My Father, in his electric wheel chair, sits just off deck as the rest of us take a well deserved break and eat lunch. The fellow to the left of my father in the boys pants and slippers (we'll correct his dress soon) is AF2, soon to be an auxiliary member of our group.  He is the nice guy that gave us his antenna tower. The least we can do is add him to our group, he does qualify. He just needs to complete a few steps in the process. He will make a very nice addition.

Another random shot of the legs of AF1 and Senior Chief....at parade rest.


I need to post and run. I've a dinner to cook, calls to make. Little Bit and her parents and little brother, Sport Model, are eating dinner with us tonight. I shall make a Shrimp Etouffee today. The shrimp stock is simmering as I write. Ever peeled three pounds of shrimp. It's fun.

Hey, this has turned into a long article for one that began as a quick note. Please, have a good evening.

Stephen