The war with The Gnome has resulted in his defeat. The best part is, he doesn't know he lost!
That's the most amusing thing all year.
I retorted to his post and gave the unvarnished facts, even included the warts on my face. My full disclosure, including my mistakes, got him to change the subject.
From his reaction, I think that he feels that me admitting that I had made mistakes and missteps that he is vindicated. My mistakes weren't the point of the retort and most of the other readers have seen it. Ha HA!
Since I made my retort, I have felt a weight removed from my soul. Like having a tumor removed. I've had a bit of a grin on since. I am really happy to have this off me, and I get great amusement that he's still fighting the war while the rest of us are having dinner after the peace conference and talking about where to put the new factories and what sort of trade alliances will spring from the new peace.
'Tis strange times we live in, no?
29 April 2007
27 April 2007
I'm Losing My Mind
I can feel the tendrils of thought slipping away.
I don't know if I will get better, or worse before I get better or get worse and not get better.
I do know I am not being myself. Or if I am being myself, I don't feel like me anymore. Did that make sense?
I don't know if I will get better, or worse before I get better or get worse and not get better.
I do know I am not being myself. Or if I am being myself, I don't feel like me anymore. Did that make sense?
Name That Movie
Burgundy. Please, God, tell me I have not inspired something burgundy. Red. Red. *Red*. *Red*, Charlie boy. *Red*! Is the color of sex! Burgundy is the color of hot water bottles! Red is the color of sex and fear and danger and signs that say, Do. Not. Enter. All my favorite things in life.
26 April 2007
I Am An Evil Person
Well, not really.
Long time readers are aware of the bullshit politics that were associated with the car club.
I've left it pretty much alone, but last night fired a salvo across The Gnome's bow. He posted on the Impala SS Forum bragging about winning the "Best Fleetwood/Roadmaster" at the GOFASST spring show. His was the ONLY Fleetwood or Roadmaster there. Such pride he must feel for winning by default.
So I asked if he really was bragging about that situation in a reply to his post.
His wife replied asking why I couldn't just leave him alone. Poor Gnome.
My reply was a listing of the grievances the club has against him.
I do so love Flame Warre!
The best part is his wife's reply referenced my post to the INC FLA club page on Yahoo. She, at least, has been lurking in the pages of the club that gave Gnome the punt. Why can't we leave him alone, indeed?
Long time readers are aware of the bullshit politics that were associated with the car club.
I've left it pretty much alone, but last night fired a salvo across The Gnome's bow. He posted on the Impala SS Forum bragging about winning the "Best Fleetwood/Roadmaster" at the GOFASST spring show. His was the ONLY Fleetwood or Roadmaster there. Such pride he must feel for winning by default.
So I asked if he really was bragging about that situation in a reply to his post.
His wife replied asking why I couldn't just leave him alone. Poor Gnome.
My reply was a listing of the grievances the club has against him.
I do so love Flame Warre!
The best part is his wife's reply referenced my post to the INC FLA club page on Yahoo. She, at least, has been lurking in the pages of the club that gave Gnome the punt. Why can't we leave him alone, indeed?
24 April 2007
Mom Stuff
Mom wants to give me her car. That's nice of her! It's a 2002 Honda Civic EX sedan, 1.7L, automatic. And knowing Mom, extremely well maintained.
All I have to do is go to Denver and get it. That's not as bad as it sounds, Mom has offered to pay for a plane ticket, pay for food on the trip and pay for the gas it takes to get from Denver to here. Literally, "I am paying you to come take this car off my hands!"
Unfortunately, for me, it's not going to be available until after Memorial Day. June is when the schedule here goes berserk. The Lovely Harvey's graduation is June ninth. I really want to see her walk to get her diploma. The good news is that The Lovely Mother In Law, will be down for the graduation. That means that I there will be someone to look after The Boy if I am gone for a few days.
Middle of May is much better for me. It's also more likely that Mom will be alert and herself to visit her.
I worry that if I wait until after The Lovely Harvey's graduation I will miss the window and Mom will gone in mind, if not yet in body.
I cannot afford to make the trip twice.
All I have to do is go to Denver and get it. That's not as bad as it sounds, Mom has offered to pay for a plane ticket, pay for food on the trip and pay for the gas it takes to get from Denver to here. Literally, "I am paying you to come take this car off my hands!"
Unfortunately, for me, it's not going to be available until after Memorial Day. June is when the schedule here goes berserk. The Lovely Harvey's graduation is June ninth. I really want to see her walk to get her diploma. The good news is that The Lovely Mother In Law, will be down for the graduation. That means that I there will be someone to look after The Boy if I am gone for a few days.
Middle of May is much better for me. It's also more likely that Mom will be alert and herself to visit her.
I worry that if I wait until after The Lovely Harvey's graduation I will miss the window and Mom will gone in mind, if not yet in body.
I cannot afford to make the trip twice.
23 April 2007
Mom Update From McSister
Dear Friends,
This update is overdue, I apologize. Mom is still at the Hospice and I think she will be staying here. Our alternatives are locations with shared rooms for little savings, so for now, we are settled.
After speaking with mom's oncologist, we received more specific info and mom said she wanted me to share this with you. The tumor in her hip has not only grown, it had doubled in size from her previous scan. The aggressive increase is one of the main reasons the Dr. suggested hospice. We pushed the Dr. for some understanding of timing and they were resistant to predicting anything that would give us false hope or hope falsely, but we pushed. With their experience and understanding of this disease, they are estimating 3-4 months. That is an estimate only and no one can be specific. They do feel that it is an aggressive cancer though.
Over the next few months, we can expect the pain in mom's hip to increase. We can also expect her breathing to become more and more labored. She's on oxygen and has been since we left the hospital in February. The Hospice nurses are giving her lots of pain medication and it seems they are increasing the amount she takes every other day at least.
Some days are good, some are bad. Yesterday/last night was one of the bad ones. This morning, she felt "just fine". I anticipate this will continue to be a roller coaster for her as the cancer continues to spread. She has said that she feels herself going further backwards every day.
She's sleeping more and more. It is helpful to call around meal times if you are going to do so (8, 12 & 5 all mountain time). Getting woken up from a good sleep is tough (I'm usually the one waking her up though). She's had a few visitors which has really made her spirits soar (thank to you guys!). She can't talk much so the phone calls are tough, but she still loves walking down memory lane. If you want to call to remind her of a story or experience, she would love it!! She still appreciates a good joke too - nothing is off limits, but we all know that. This is Mom we're talking about!
She has also asked me if I think it is weird to plan your own funeral. I said I didn't think so, so she's glad that she can contribute some ideas and plans for the memorial when that does finally take place. I agree that she should be as involved in these details now as she would like.
This is hard on all of us, especially Mom, who is one of the bravest and toughest women I've ever known! We appreciate your support and the cards/letters you've been sending. Going forward, my trips to her condo are fewer and farther between, so please send letters directly to me, and I will take them to her.
McSister
This update is overdue, I apologize. Mom is still at the Hospice and I think she will be staying here. Our alternatives are locations with shared rooms for little savings, so for now, we are settled.
After speaking with mom's oncologist, we received more specific info and mom said she wanted me to share this with you. The tumor in her hip has not only grown, it had doubled in size from her previous scan. The aggressive increase is one of the main reasons the Dr. suggested hospice. We pushed the Dr. for some understanding of timing and they were resistant to predicting anything that would give us false hope or hope falsely, but we pushed. With their experience and understanding of this disease, they are estimating 3-4 months. That is an estimate only and no one can be specific. They do feel that it is an aggressive cancer though.
Over the next few months, we can expect the pain in mom's hip to increase. We can also expect her breathing to become more and more labored. She's on oxygen and has been since we left the hospital in February. The Hospice nurses are giving her lots of pain medication and it seems they are increasing the amount she takes every other day at least.
Some days are good, some are bad. Yesterday/last night was one of the bad ones. This morning, she felt "just fine". I anticipate this will continue to be a roller coaster for her as the cancer continues to spread. She has said that she feels herself going further backwards every day.
She's sleeping more and more. It is helpful to call around meal times if you are going to do so (8, 12 & 5 all mountain time). Getting woken up from a good sleep is tough (I'm usually the one waking her up though). She's had a few visitors which has really made her spirits soar (thank to you guys!). She can't talk much so the phone calls are tough, but she still loves walking down memory lane. If you want to call to remind her of a story or experience, she would love it!! She still appreciates a good joke too - nothing is off limits, but we all know that. This is Mom we're talking about!
She has also asked me if I think it is weird to plan your own funeral. I said I didn't think so, so she's glad that she can contribute some ideas and plans for the memorial when that does finally take place. I agree that she should be as involved in these details now as she would like.
This is hard on all of us, especially Mom, who is one of the bravest and toughest women I've ever known! We appreciate your support and the cards/letters you've been sending. Going forward, my trips to her condo are fewer and farther between, so please send letters directly to me, and I will take them to her.
McSister
Bryan Adams Got It All Wrong
The 1993 edition of "The Three Musketeers" is on high rotation on Starz. The end credits are Bryan Adams' song, "All For One". It's all about love and how that all will be better with more love and unity.
The motto, "All for One, and One for All" is not about a romantic relationship. It's about the brotherhood of arms and esprit de corps. In a nutshell, it's a pledge that you will sacrifice yourself to save your comrades (one for all) and they will all die to save you (all for one). It's very hard to explain to people who don't just get it. And, of course, there is no need to explain to those who do.
Heinlein understood it when wrote "Starship Troopers". The MI answer would be the Musketeer answer.
Heinlein understood it when wrote "Starship Troopers". The MI answer would be the Musketeer answer.
22 April 2007
A Long Dry Spell Is Over
Through creative horse trading, I obtained a cat-back exhaust system for my Biscayne SS.
Yesterday, we put it on.
Fit is very nice. Something is rubbing though in the back. I think a pipe is against a heat shield or something. Too sore from using my
flabby muscles to crawl under there and find it.
Even though the pipes gigantically huge, they are tucked under the car really well, the rear pipes aren't sticking out hardly at all, very
subtle.
It sounds great! Nice deep note. A bit of a drone from 40-55, but not too bad. The drone isn't too loud, and the radio can defeat it.
Overall the rumble and gurgle are very nice, noticeable but not too loud. My car actually sounds like a muscle car now!
There's a definite seat of pants improvement in the power. The engine revs up faster and seems to pull harder. The vacuum gauge is reading about 3-6" more mercury under most loads, so I think the engine is not working so hard for the same effect.
Special thanks to both Corvette John and Marv! Corvette John for the use of his garage, welder and welding skills. Marv for abandoning his post as observer and jumping in to help. Left to my own devices, I would have skipped the over the axle part.
UPDATE:
I found the place where it's rubbing. There's a little bracket that traps the leads that come from the rear ABS reluctor. I have bent it out of the way and it doesn't seem to be rubbing anymore. If it starts again, I have lots more room to bend.
Yesterday, we put it on.
Fit is very nice. Something is rubbing though in the back. I think a pipe is against a heat shield or something. Too sore from using my
flabby muscles to crawl under there and find it.
Even though the pipes gigantically huge, they are tucked under the car really well, the rear pipes aren't sticking out hardly at all, very
subtle.
It sounds great! Nice deep note. A bit of a drone from 40-55, but not too bad. The drone isn't too loud, and the radio can defeat it.
Overall the rumble and gurgle are very nice, noticeable but not too loud. My car actually sounds like a muscle car now!
There's a definite seat of pants improvement in the power. The engine revs up faster and seems to pull harder. The vacuum gauge is reading about 3-6" more mercury under most loads, so I think the engine is not working so hard for the same effect.
Special thanks to both Corvette John and Marv! Corvette John for the use of his garage, welder and welding skills. Marv for abandoning his post as observer and jumping in to help. Left to my own devices, I would have skipped the over the axle part.
UPDATE:
I found the place where it's rubbing. There's a little bracket that traps the leads that come from the rear ABS reluctor. I have bent it out of the way and it doesn't seem to be rubbing anymore. If it starts again, I have lots more room to bend.
19 April 2007
Sadness
I was sitting here today thinking.
I went through a lot of effort to stay in touch with a couple of people I knew from Iowa. A few have been kind enough to stay back in touch with me.
I think that zero calls since I moved here is a hint, huh?
CRM, I am looking at you. I stopped by every time I was in Ames to stay in touch. We've sent change-of address and change of contact information every time its changed. We invited you and your wife to our wedding.
You didn't bother to reply even once, did you? Didn't drive the eight whole miles to Nevada to see the wedding.
What I want to know, is what did I do wrong?
All I can think of is that I am a gun owner. Your distancing yourself from me seems to stem directly from my standing up to JS (and winning the debate) over the gun thing. It that it?
If it is, what a demonstration of liberal tolerance! You alienated the only one in the group who dared to be different. Ironically the gun-toting conservative didn't have an issue with your being gay. I guess conservative tolerance is more tolerant.
I went through a lot of effort to stay in touch with a couple of people I knew from Iowa. A few have been kind enough to stay back in touch with me.
I think that zero calls since I moved here is a hint, huh?
CRM, I am looking at you. I stopped by every time I was in Ames to stay in touch. We've sent change-of address and change of contact information every time its changed. We invited you and your wife to our wedding.
You didn't bother to reply even once, did you? Didn't drive the eight whole miles to Nevada to see the wedding.
What I want to know, is what did I do wrong?
All I can think of is that I am a gun owner. Your distancing yourself from me seems to stem directly from my standing up to JS (and winning the debate) over the gun thing. It that it?
If it is, what a demonstration of liberal tolerance! You alienated the only one in the group who dared to be different. Ironically the gun-toting conservative didn't have an issue with your being gay. I guess conservative tolerance is more tolerant.
18 April 2007
My But Aren't Memories Short
Monday was the worst mass murder in American history? MY HAIRY BALL SACK!
16 April 2007
Gun-Free Victim Zone Pays Off Again
... for a killer.
When are we going to learn that banning the presence of guns just leaves the people who won't go nuts and start shooting innocent people defenseless? Over 50 people shot and 31 killed and nobody shooting back. Because they obeyed the law. Because that law left them defenseless when someone who was breaking the law started killing.
There will be cries for more gun control. Ignore it.
As we can see, banning the legal possession of firearms did nothing to save anyone.
UPDATE:It's even worse. Virginia allows for concealed carry on campus. Virginia Tech bans guns on campus. Unelected bureaucrats made this decision. A decision that murdered 31 people. Congratulations.
There will be cries for more gun control. Ignore it.
As we can see, banning the legal possession of firearms did nothing to save anyone.
UPDATE:It's even worse. Virginia allows for concealed carry on campus. Virginia Tech bans guns on campus. Unelected bureaucrats made this decision. A decision that murdered 31 people. Congratulations.
15 April 2007
Ressonance
When there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
...
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
Is there room for one more son
One more son
If you can hold on
If you can hold on, hold on
I wanna stand up, I wanna let go
You know, you know - no you don't, you don't
I wanna shine on in the hearts of men
I want a meaning from the back of my broken hand
Another head aches, another heart breaks
I am so much older than I can take
And my affection, well it comes and goes
I need direction to perfection, no no no no
Help me out
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
And when there's nowhere else to run
Is there room for one more son
These changes ain't changing me
The cold-hearted boy I used to be
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
I got soul, but I'm not a soldier
...
Yeah, you know you got to help me out
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
You know you got to help me out
You're gonna bring yourself down
You're gonna bring yourself down
Yeah, oh don't you put me on the blackburner
Yeah, you're gonna bring yourself down
Over and out, last call for sin
While everyone's lost, the battle is won
With all these things that I've done
All these things that I've done
If you can hold on
If you can hold on
14 April 2007
Something Really Odd
I am watching "Dogfights" at the moment and I am struck by something odd. An old man, wearing a Medal of Honor, saying, "I'm no hero." Well, Col. Jefferson DeBlanc USMC, I won't call you a liar...perhaps our definition of hero differs.
The episode is about Guadacanal, and all the old dudes they are interviewing are F4F pilots with the MoH. James Swett is also being humble.
I'm a dedicated simviator and I like the high fidelity slight sims. The F4F from Guadacanal has a lot of trouble with the Zero and Oscar. These guys make it seem easy, it's not. I have all sorts of advantages over the real life situation and I can barely match their achievements. I am cheating and I can't keep up!
The episode is about Guadacanal, and all the old dudes they are interviewing are F4F pilots with the MoH. James Swett is also being humble.
I'm a dedicated simviator and I like the high fidelity slight sims. The F4F from Guadacanal has a lot of trouble with the Zero and Oscar. These guys make it seem easy, it's not. I have all sorts of advantages over the real life situation and I can barely match their achievements. I am cheating and I can't keep up!
12 April 2007
A Confrontation
Recently I was taken to task for not putting my ass on the sharp end if I felt so strongly about the war.
In Sep 1990 I was separated from the US Army on a medical discharge. I broke my leg so badly that not only would rehabilitation take longer than I left in my enlistment, but I was ruled permanently disabled by the injury.
As of September 12, 2001 the VA refused to recategorize me as fit for service. The following April, when the company I was working for went bankrupt, the VA still ruled that I am unfit physically for service. They have confirmed that there is a small stress riser in my right tibia that will cause another break if subjected to the loads the Army would put it under. One of the bone fragments from the original injury is not where it started.
In draft terms I am either 4-A or 4-F.
The recruiters really wanted me too. Prior service, college, supervisory experience.
In Sep 1990 I was separated from the US Army on a medical discharge. I broke my leg so badly that not only would rehabilitation take longer than I left in my enlistment, but I was ruled permanently disabled by the injury.
As of September 12, 2001 the VA refused to recategorize me as fit for service. The following April, when the company I was working for went bankrupt, the VA still ruled that I am unfit physically for service. They have confirmed that there is a small stress riser in my right tibia that will cause another break if subjected to the loads the Army would put it under. One of the bone fragments from the original injury is not where it started.
In draft terms I am either 4-A or 4-F.
The recruiters really wanted me too. Prior service, college, supervisory experience.
11 April 2007
Vocabulary Corner
Todays vocabulary word: Meretricious. Mer-e-tri-cious (mer´ə-trish´əs), adj. [L. meretricius < meretrix, meretricis, a prostitute < mereri, to serve for hire] 1. Originally, of, like or characteristic of a prostitute; hence 2. alluring by false, showy charms; speciously attractive; flashy; tawdry.
09 April 2007
Bad News From Mommyland
Mom's moved into the hospice full time. Her teeny condo is too much for her, that's not good at all.
The Lovely Harvey tells me that this sort of move is normally indicative of a 4-6 weeks until the end. Major bummer.
McSister tells me that Mom is actually feeling better now that the chemo is getting out of her system, she has an appetite and her spirits are excellent. Of course, she's getting metric buttloads of pain-killers.
The Lovely Harvey tells me that this sort of move is normally indicative of a 4-6 weeks until the end. Major bummer.
McSister tells me that Mom is actually feeling better now that the chemo is getting out of her system, she has an appetite and her spirits are excellent. Of course, she's getting metric buttloads of pain-killers.
08 April 2007
More Cool Pictures For You To NOT Comment On
Totally retro! Even got the 'Nam era 20 round magazine and the stock set at the proper XM177 length. The proper length is too short for me.
Marv's modified bayonet on my anachronistic bayonet lug.
Marv's modified bayonet on my anachronistic bayonet lug.
05 April 2007
On A Whim...
Marv came over to grab some parts he's gonna modify for The Lovely Harvey's car, he also brought his AR with him to show off his modified bayonet. The slip-over flash-hider is larger diameter than the norm, so he had to make the hole in the quillion larger. Looks cool!
On a whim, I mounted the Aimpoint 1000 to his rifle to see how it looked,
Looks good! With the risers it's at a comfortable height and it co-witnesses with the back-up iron sights well.
Marv looks through it and...
SOLD!
He likes it!
On a whim, I mounted the Aimpoint 1000 to his rifle to see how it looked,
Looks good! With the risers it's at a comfortable height and it co-witnesses with the back-up iron sights well.
Marv looks through it and...
SOLD!
He likes it!
03 April 2007
Almost Retro
Trying the old AimPoint 1000 out on the VKb.83/07. I think it looks cool! Better than it did on the Bushmaster M17S anyway. It's a bit low here though.
