30 November 2012

Artistic Expression

For those keeping score at home:

This is art.

















This is not.












You can tell the difference because Glen Beck didn't get an NEA grant for his work.

HT: Emperor Misha I

Halfway Ouchie

My upper jaw has now been disassembled and abraided. The toll so far is one tooth which will be replaced by an implant when 1) the bottom jaw has been similarly abused and 2) the funds become available. So far I've put more than 3K into the upper jaw with a similar amount to go for the bottom, and that doesn't take into account the cost of the implant.

Brush your teeth and see your dentist regularly kids, this becomes very important later on.

28 November 2012

Good Luck!

The Powerball lottery is up to 550 million dollars, over a half a billion. That's a whole lot of zeros. The drawing for the second biggest pot in Powerball history happens tonight.

The cash option, before taxes, would end up being 360 million dollars and some change. If the tax burden, local and federal, ended up being 50% that would still be a bit over $180 million.

They say that money can't buy happiness, but for $180M I think you could probably rent it for a while.

27 November 2012

Let's Try That Again

Friday I will once again venture into the woods in search of the North American hoofed rat.

Hopefully this time I will have more to show for my efforts than a cold rear and stiff joints.

But for now, work, and then Thursday another round at the periodontists.  Yay me.

24 November 2012

Updates

"Operation: Tamalanche" is coming to a successful conclusion. Raffles have been conducted, prizes are being handed out, and bills are being paid. The bratty little sister of the gunosphere did a bang-up job both naming the operation and providing the kind of support that most of us forget about. Sometimes, more than money to pay for the procedures, we just need something to make us smile. Well done Erin.

Yet another thing to be thankful for. I am thankful that I am allowed to be a part of a community like this one.

The lights are up both inside and out, a feat not accomplished in the past two years. This year...it just seems right. Unfortunately the candy canes that usually line the front walk did not survive the year, if I can't find more as the season goes on maybe I can find some in the after Christmas sales. It just doesn't seem the same without them. I could also use a couple more strings of lights for the roof.

It's easy to get wrapped up in things that annoy, confuse or frighten us, but this year I think I'll take the time to do what the season is meant for...think of possibilities and the things that are right instead of wrong. I have a lot to be happy about, and I'll bet you do, too.

On the agenda for tonight - Youngest Son wants to go to the skating rink again. He's had a great couple of weeks in school, a marked improvement over what came before, so off he goes. Dad won't skate, but there isn't any admission (they charge a "skate rental fee" even if you bring your own skates) and they have complimentary wifi, so I'll sit with my laptop and buy an outrageously overpriced soda and wait on him.

Have a great night everyone!

22 November 2012

Traditions


Happy Thanksgiving

Here's hoping everyone has a great day today.

Remember to be kind and considerate.


21 November 2012

Travel, Interrupted

We were supposed to be taking Brother In Law to Florida this weekend to get a welder he had purchased. The plan was to have Thanksgiving dinner with Eldest Daughter and then take Pop out to lunch on Friday. Alas, the welder guy isn't going to be home this weekend and so we aren't making the trip after all.

Eldest daughter and Pop are disappointed because I won't be there, Middle Daughter is happy because I'll be home, and I've missed yet another opportunity to take the Baja to Florida.

How sad is this, the Baja has been to sunny Florida more times than the Mustang convertible. Something is wrong with that statistic.

Verbosity

Using lots of big words in a sentence doesn't make you smart. It just makes you wordy, and often, boring.

Good Lord

Can someone please inform (butt)SHARK that "live pigeon shoots" use clay targets, not actual winged rats?

UPDATE: Seems that I am wrong, this event actually DID use actual winged rats. Thanks Kevin.

19 November 2012

Headline News

According to the local fishwrap car/deer collisions are on the rise. They attribute this to mating season, which every female of any species knows is the time where the male half turns into a giant genitalia. It just makes it all the more bitter that I sat five hours in a tree and saw nothing, only to come so close to filling out a deer tag with the Baja.

I have an idea. I think hunters should be able to line the roads with deer stands, pointing into the woods and with enough distance between them for good coverage. The stands would be outfitted with headlights and horns and hunting from these stands would be permitted at night.  Every once in a while, instead of spraying doe scent, the hunter would flash the lights and honk the horn. If the current state is any indication the deer will flock to these stands where they can be harvested.

No more wrecked cars, reduced carnage on our roadways, and full freezers. It's for the chiiiiildrennnn!

No.

Just no.

17 November 2012

Cashing In

I thought this scam had run its course. I guess California hasn't heard.

At first it's funny, but keep in mind that the businesses in California have to buy into this not-so-polite fiction that carbon credits mean anything for it to work. Just one Hank Reardon and the whole house of cards comes crashing down.

This is California however, so all the Reardons have gone to Texas by now.

On the up side, since California is supposedly at the forefront of every trend I should stock up on ink and paper. I'm sure I could find a jpg of Algore's signature on the 'net somewhere...

HT: Miguel at GunFreeZone

16 November 2012

In Search Of


It's cold in a tree stand, and it's a long way to climb.

It's even worse climbing down but at least gravity helps. This is not always a good thing.

I could have bagged my limit of tree rats, but I think 7.62x54R is a bit of overkill for them.

Speaking of 7.62x54R, Mosin Nagant is the very definition of "long gun".

I found Fusion cartridges so next time I'll use the Saiga. Max range is going to be less than 100 yards so it should do fine.

And finally, I saw more deer (one, to be exact) on the way home.

Operation: Tamalanche - An Update

It's working.

Thought you'd like to know.

Still a lot of nice prizes, if you haven't done so why not?

OK, off to the killing fields now. AAR...after.

Fingers Crossed

Oh Lord, please let it be so.

Lose Your Job?

Thank your union.

15 November 2012

Operation Tamalanche

I approve of this message.

(expletive deleted)

Another one of those nights where I'm going to drink myself to sleep and forget it ever happened.

Good thing last night was my Friday.

14 November 2012

Minutia

mi·nu·ti·a  [mi-noo-shee-uh] noun, plural mi·nu·ti·ae Usually, minutiae. Precise details; small or trifling matters: the minutiae of his craft.

Wounded Warrior Project, a charity to which I have donated and participated in fundraising efforts for, has apparently bowed to politically correct pressure. They have done good things in the past, and I wish them continuing success, but sadly it appears as if they are no longer interested in associating with my kind.

I got a tax bill for my sisters car, I am on her title because I am a co-signer on her loan. She lives in Virginia and it appeared as if the county I live in here in North Carolina wanted me to pay the taxes on it. After contacting the tax office I came to the realization that she lives in a county in Virginia of the same name as my county here in North Carolina. To add confusion to the mix the city in which the county seat is located has the same name as a city here in North Carolina, although the North Carolina city of that name is not in my county. I'll reserve my opinions on the subject of personal property taxes as applied to mobile property, suffice it to say I'm not a fan.

UPDATE: she never lived in the county of the same name, they just saw Virginia tags + the name of the county the car is registered in and sent a bill. Fortunately she has updated the address so this should not be a problem next year.

I have been invited on a jaunt in an effort to slay the evil and nefarious North American hoofed rat, AKA Odocoileus virginianus, or the common whitetail deer. I have several different options as to the tool to use in said dispatch; I can go with the Franchi, or go with the Mosin (yes I have soft tip ammo for it), or go with the Arisaka (the range will likely be less than 50 yards so I'm not worried about my inability to hit the broad side of a barn from the inside at long range), or maybe do something completely unusual and use the Saiga. .223 is legal here in North Carolina, and I've been looking at this for ammo.

But tonight, it's work for me.

12 November 2012

What I Did On My Vacation

If you are like my kids no doubt you are wondering where I went when I ran away from home.

Here's a hint.



This video was created by friend and Mustang Forums member JJ Wyatt.

11 November 2012

At The 11th Hour Of The 11th Day On The 11th Month...

To all members of the US Armed Services, thank you for your service. Happy Veterans Day.

To all veterans of military service worldwide, Happy Remembrance Day.

nummy!

I did another round of shredded pork today, but the roast I got was way too big for the crock pot. Into the oven it went, at 250 degrees, for about eight hours flipping every couple of hours. By the time it came out of the oven it was fall-apart tender, if it had been any better it would have eaten itself.

I just took a key lime cheesecake out of the oven, it has to cool for a couple of hours and then go in the refrigerator for about 3 hours. I should be heading off to bed about that time, I wonder how much of it will still be left when I get up. Maybe if I leave it in the springform pan...

Back to work tomorrow (technically tonight since it's after midnight, but I haven't been to sleep yet) so I'll be up all night doing laundry and such until the wee hours of the morning.

Everybody try to have a good week, ok?

10 November 2012

I Love My People

http://oldnfo.blogspot.com/2012/11/raffle-for-tam.html

http://injennifershead.com/?p=4432

http://www.lifein3d.net/2012/11/09/once-more-with-feeling/

http://zercool.blogspot.com/2012/11/something-something-to-something-cancer.html

http://lurkingrhythmically.blogspot.com/2012/11/you-find-someone-to-carry-you.html

http://maypeacebewithyou.blogspot.com/2012/11/tams-nose.html#links

http://www.dragonblasts.com/?p=222

http://mausersandmuffins.blogspot.com/2012/11/trials-by-fire-some-words-for-tam.html

http://www.ma-rooned.com/2012/11/we-get-by-with-little-help-from-our.html

http://www.agirlandhergun.org/2012/11/09/tam/

 http://mcthag.blogspot.com/2012/11/for-tam.html

 http://www.atomicnerds.com/?p=6219

http://thelawdogfiles.blogspot.com/2012/11/okay.html

This is just a small sample. One of our own is in need. She has not asked for anything, nor would she, but as Matt G said "we need her more than she needs us."

Lots of nice prizes being offered at some of these links. We would do this for nothing at all, but the fact that so many have stepped up with a "Hey, you know I've got one of these I'd be willing to donate to the cause" just illustrates the point.

These are my people. It's an honor to be allowed to associate with them.

Let The Games Begin

Layoff notices have started showing up in the mail.

We will no doubt very soon start to hear the squealing from the little piglets lined up at the trough when they find it is empty, and getting emptier.

The sad thing is these Obama voters who thought they were getting revenge on the evil capitalists will not be able to associate the layoffs with the election results, and when the economy hits the skids in a big enough way that the media finally has to pay attention no one will remember the stoopid riech-wingers who predicted it...just like no one remembers the prediction of Freddie and Fannie collapsing.

I might be living in my car by the time it's all done. I won't be able to license it because I won't be able to afford the car tax, but at least the car itself is paid for.

Maybe I should buy an old school bus...just in case...

09 November 2012

A Time To Give


Every year Virginia International Raceway hosts holiday laps to benefit the Salvation Army, and every year the Heart of Carolina Mustang Club participates.This year we had some help from Mustang Forums Carolina Chapter.

The day was bright and dry, but a bit chilly to start out. It eventually warmed up to the low 60s by noon. Track conditions were about as close to ideal as they could have been, and we had a lot of fun driving the course.


Many thanks to all who participated.

Tip Jar

You go hit it.

She can get better. This is good.

I still hate this fucking disease.

07 November 2012

The People Have Spoken

MOAR Hope and Change!

06 November 2012

Cast Your Vote

Today is the day, and like the song says...if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice.

Two things of note at the polling place today. First, the guy in the booth next to me when I started was OC'ing. Technically a no-no since the polling place was on educational property, but no one seemed to mind. I left mine locked in the trucklet.

Second thing is one of the candidates for a local race (county local) is a Mustang enthusiast. I saw her one day on the road and my little Firefly got a thumbs up from her, she was driving an 06 mint green V6 with her campaign signs on it. I had to look her up when I got home. She was at the polling place, I told her she got my vote just for the Mustang (not really but it helped).

I did not see any shenanigans at the polling place, which is to be expected since we're a little out of the way here on the back side of nowhere. In and out in less than 5 minutes, no muss no fuss.

I think JayG is wrong, BTW. Based on my SWAG (Scientific Wise-Ass Guess) method of counting car stickers and yard signs NC is going red this time, possibly in a big way.

I guess we will see tonight.

04 November 2012

That Was Nice

Two days of not being the answer to everyone's problems.

Back home now, back to work tomorrow.

Well, it was nice while it lasted.

02 November 2012

Lost Boy

I'm running away from home tomorrow.

I am quite deliberately not telling anyone where I am going. I am not publishing a route map, I am not filing a flight plan, and I am not disclosing my location.

This is killing Youngest Son because he is convinced that I am running off to have fun without him. And he is absolutely right.

I will have my phone in case I have to call someone, but otherwise it will be firmly set to the O-F-F position.

I will have the portable elf-box, so you may get a postcard from the road.

Or not...

Every Now And Then

my resolve to defend your right to say what you want regardless of whether or not I agree with you gets sorely tested.

I would still rather live in a country where you are permitted to be an ass in public than live in a country where you are not.

This Title Is Rated PG, The Content - Not So Much

I hate this fucking disease.

No, actually I don't even like it that much.  I just don't have the words to describe my deep visceral loathing of this particular affliction.

And what's worse...there's still nothing I can do about it.