You Call It! The State of Diss-Repair

We'll start out with an easy one!

A) Sidegogglin'
B) Swayback
C) Ramshackle
D) Cattywampus
E) Whopperjawed

PS:  Brat will be on tomorrow evening!

Sign Up For The Rendezvous!

You will have a great time at Gun Blogger Rendezvous VIII, September 5-8, at the Silver Legacy Hotel in Reno Nevada.  New friends, new guns, old guns, new experiences, new skills; and it's all for a good cause!

Here's is some of the action from 2010 and 2011:




 And, this year, a new activity that you can add to your set of skills!

Wedging On The Edge

 I was asked to tip this tree over, because it was weighted heavily toward some improvements, and the site staff was nervous about cutting it themselves.  A large limb threw the weight exactly opposite the way we wanted this tree to go, and the top had to be swung over about seven feet to reach the balance point. The face cut revealed that the tree had begun to rot, and the entire width of the hinge was punky with white rot. Normally, the hinge in this tree would handle about ten feet of back lean/weight, but the rot lessened that by an unknown amount. Everyone stayed well back while I drove the wedges, and if you listen closely you will hear fibers popping as I hammer. All's well that ends well, and everyone involved learned a bit more about limits in handling back weight. I got to leave after the tree was on the ground, and the grounds crew got to clean up all that wood.

Note at the end how widow-makers rain down around the stump.  Always get away from the stump when the tree tips.

Ruger's Auction To Benefit Youth Shooting Sports Alliance

Ruger's auction this week is a rare and very desirable GP 100 .357 revolver with mystery markings.  CLICK HERE to go to Ruger's GunBroker page for the description, and to place your bid.

Injury; Insult

This was a fine little truck, not too many years ago, and I fondly remember the man who drove it.  He made a forest on his land.  His ride does not deserve to have a blue barrel stuffed into the engine compartment.  R.I.P., Ike.

Never Pass A Place...

                                     

...to visit a rest stop, or words to that effect, because a fellow might need to take... a rest.  On a recent trip home from Iowa I was feeling great and zipped right by a convenient stop at Hannibal because Troy was just over an hour ahead, and I didn't need to stop.

Then, I started getting sleepy.  I chugged a coffee; then I chugged another coffee; then a Water Joe.  I woke up, because I now needed a rest stop!  No problem; 45 minutes, tops.  Oops, an alligator in the road.  Some trucker up ahead is having problems.  Then, the traffic bunched up and crawled to a stop.

Five miles in an hour.  I finally passed the unfortunate parties that bumped into each other when the remains of the left rear tire let go.  I made it to the Troy Wal-Store in better shape than the guys who met by accident, and I don't intend to pass through Hannibal without stopping again.

Eyes And Ears!

Back To The Old Grind!

Not My Victrola

VictrolaMan posted a very interesting record.  He calls it The Runaway Slave Song, but that's not what the label says.  He is probably trying to avoid nasty comments on his YouTube channel, and that's a pretty good idea.  I recognized the tune right away, and the lyrics are changed very little, from Banjo Sam, that Grandpa Jones recorded many years ago.   Punch the play button and have a listen; it's a catchy little tune with the banjo played in pre-Scruggs style.

Weekend Steam; Who Knew?

I was surprised to see Regaskin's recent videos of old engines at a show in Ireland.  I have read engine magazines for a whole lotta years, and I don't recall reading any reports from the Emerald Isle.  Here is a video of model steam engines on display at the Eyrecourt rally, County Galway, Republic of Ireland.

Crankin' It Up With Brat The Cat

I'll See You In C-U-B-A Medley, February, 1920. This record is from early in Prohibition, and folks were either heading for Canada or the Caribbean for a little relief from the drought.
 Not so far from here There's a very lively atmosphere
 Ev'rybody's going there this year
 And there's a reason
The season opened last July Ever since the U.S.A. went dry
 Ev'rybody's going there and I'm going, too

 I'm on my way to [Refrain:]
Cuba, there's where I'm going
 Cuba, there's where I'll stay
 Cuba, where wine is flowing
 And where dark-eyed Stellas
 Light their fella's Panatellas
Cuba, where all is happy
 Cuba, where all is gay
Why don't you plan a
Wonderful trip To Havana?
 Hop on a ship
And I'll see you in C.U.B.A.
[2nd verse:]
Take a friend's advice
 Drinking in a cellar isn't nice
 Anybody who has got the price
Should be a Cuban
Have you been longing for the 'smile'
 That you haven't had for quite a while?
 If you have, then follow me and I'll show the way

I'm on my way to

Cuba, there's where I'm going
 Cuba, there's where I'll stay
 Cuba, where wine is flowing
 And where dark-eyed Stellas
 Light their fella'sPanatellas
Cuba, where all is happy
 Cuba, where all is gay
Why don't you plan a
Wonderful trip To Havana?
 Hop on a ship
And I'll see you in C.U.B.A.

Remember Pine Ridge Jack?

Our good friend Jack, of Cisne, Illinois has won the top spot in the Cattle Baron Class (over 70) at the State Single Action Shooting Society Championship, held at Sparta, Illinois last weekend.  Jack shot ten stages in two days, with 24 or 28 shots per stage, and missed only three plates.  Jack told me that he wasn't worried about a couple of competitors, but he had to shoot hard every stage to beat two that were pretty good.  Well, they aren't quite as good as you, Jack!  Good Shooting!

Jack lives on the same farm where he was born 77 years ago; and produces row crops, cattle, and basset hounds.  He has a little firearm business on the side to pay for his Cowboy Shooting hobby, and he is my go-to when I need a firearm transferred in or out of Illinois.  Jack is a pretty good gunsmith, as was his daddy before him, and every hour you spend with him talking about guns is a priceless education.  Congratulations on the new belt buckle, Jack!

Molly and Her Folks Are Going To GBR!

I see over on Mr. Completely's blog that Molly and her parents are planning to be at Reno.  That is all the more reason for you to attend.  Molly is an inspiration to all the shooters who meet her and have the opportunity to see her shoot.  She has rare ability that soon has all of the men shooting video so they can capture a bit of her magic, and maybe improve their ability by studying this teenage prodigy.  Here is some video of  Molly shooting a Sig-Sauer .40 Cal, and a Ruger Mk III at the 2011 Gun Blogger Rendezvous:



And, one of Molly's videos shooting a Steel Challenge stage a few years back:



 Here is the recent NRA video featuring Molly:

You meet the greatest people at the Gun Blogger Rendezvous, and you will have the time of your life, shooting a variety of guns, watching others shoot, learning new skills and useful shooting information. CLICK HERE to go to the Gun Blogger Rendezvous site, and register for Reno.