Ruger's Aucton To Benefit The Light Foundation

This week Ruger is auctioning a revolver that is still in the current catalog.  It's a Blackhawk in .30 Carbine, with a 7 1/2" barrel.  This revolver was manufactured in 1977, and has been residing in Ruger's safe for all these years.  I remember visiting with a Korean War vet about forty years ago, and he was overjoyed when talking about Ruger making a gun in .30 Carbine, because he had carried an M1 Carbine when he fought in Korea.  It's a popular caliber with many Blackhawk owners, and you will like it if you buy it.  100% of the proceeds go to benefit the Light Foundation, so Click Over to read all about it and place your bid.        Update:  Sold for $905!

Do You Remember The Joyful Feeling...

...you felt as a child, when you returned to school, and smelled the hallways and the school kitchen, and saw your schoomates, after several days at home with the mumps, measles, or other childhood malady?  That feeling came to mind last week when I returned to work after three weeks off, and felt none of that joy.  I've worked for over 48 years with only two weeks of unemployment, and I guess that I am losing my enthusiasm.  Going back to work brought this poem to mind.  I heard it first from Cliff Arquette (as Charlie Weaver) and the author has never revealed himself.  It's timely for us old dudes.

My Get-Up-And-Go Has Got Up and Went

Anonymous
Old age is golden, or so I’ve heard said,
But sometimes I wonder, as I crawl into bed,
With my ears in a drawer, my teeth in a cup,
My eyes on the table until I wake up.
As sleep dims my vision, I say to myself:
Is there anything else I should lay on the shelf?
But, though nations are warring, and Congress is vexed,
We’ll still stick around to see what happens next!

How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!
When I was young, my slippers were red;
I could kick up my heels right over my head.
When I was older my slippers were blue,
But still I could dance the whole night through.
Now I am older, my slippers are black.
I huff to the store and puff my way back.
But never you laugh; I don’t mind at all:
I’d rather be huffing than not puff at all!


How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!
I get up each morning and dust off my wits,
Open the paper, and read the Obits.
If I’m not there, I know I’m not dead,
So I eat a good breakfast and go back to bed!


How do I know my youth is all spent?
My get-up-and-go has got up and went!
But, in spite of it all, I’m able to grin
And think of the places my getup has been!
 
 Well, I'm still a wage slave and can't go back to bed, but the sentiment of this poem is right.  Every morning when I wake up, it's like Groundhog Day.  I just went straight from reading glasses to tri-focals, tinnitus has been my constant companion for twenty years, and I don't walk a 40 as fast as I used to.  I guess I need to get out and burn, cut, or shoot something.

Tuesday Turbo

Ready, Willing, and Able

Back To The Old Grind!

The Holy City

Pop A Pair Of Postals, and Send Mr. Completely Get-Well-Wishes!

 If you have been checking Mr. Completely's blog you know by now that he is in the hospital because of triple bypass surgery.  Because of that, he hasn't posted the March scores yet, so I want you all to show Mr. C some love and send him more targets to score when he is up and around.  I know nothing would make him happier than getting a bunch of Well-Wishes in his In Box with target scans attached.  So, head over to his blog, roll down the page to his March e-Postal instructions and print your targets.  Do it this weekend, because he will be up and around soon, ending the March contest by posting the scores.

While you are making preparations to head to the range be sure and print out the April target from the Couserveative UAW Guy's blog, and shoot that contest tool  These monthly contests are great for honing your trigger skills, and you will enjoy the fellowship with bloggers and blog followers.

Not My Victrola

Cobblestones is a nice little fox-trot by Ted Lewis in 1927. The slide show is a great bonus.

Crankin' It Up

We're going way back to 1904 this week to have a listen to Pryor's Orchestra, playing what they say is an Arabian Intermezzo.  Sounds OomPah-ish to me.

Weekend Steam: Valve Timing On A Steam Engine

Tree Planting Payoff

Crabapple trees are a common landscape tree, and most are planted because they fit in restricted spaces, and they have showy colors from both flowers and fruit.  The fruit is more important than most of us realize.  Northward bound robins feed on these trees, and this week I saw a flock of Cedar Waxwings feasting on the colorful fruit. 

These trees can be used in urban or rural settings.  Plant them away from sidewalks so folks don't track the little apples into homes.  Expect to see robins and turtledoves nest in these trees.