Xmas

Got drafted to go to St Francis to serve Christmas dinner. #2 brother is coming up for New Years,I'm on call for the weekend. My haul for the season, got to spend the weekend with Mom, sent #3 brother some money for the Neices/Nephew. #2 brother's son is getting a trip to the Smithsonion Museum of Natural History to catch the 3D Dino movie.

Me, I got a SIG P210 Legend as my Grail Gun. Hope Yours went as well.

A child

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, 'Fear not: for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'"


" Blessings on you this day. "

We now return you to your normal program

Last week during the monsoon that rolled up the east coast, we lost power thursday night for three hours. Right as the Prez was about to speak. For some reason I thought of this scene from "Used Cars" with Kurt Russell.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqlJvGvtOvY




I'm a bad man.

9/11

Lost some friends that day. Andy Fredericks, Squad 18 FDNY. Mike Curtain, ESU, NYPD. Ray Downey, Special Ops, FDNY. All good men.


WE carry on.

Traffic

Apparently I am Popular in... Korea. South I think. The counter doesn't differentiate. Who knew?

DADT

Have no issue with the Alt Lifestyle, just don't include me or wave it in my face. Get aggessive about it and we can go rodeo in the parking lot if'n you want. Don't really care. However given I have worked with these folks on the green side and the LE side, They come to work like everyone else and do their job. That is all I care about. What you do behind closed doors or your bedroom ain't none of my business. Bring it to work and disrupt my happy place, you and me gonna talk. Same goes for the Female side of the equation, Do your job. Me happy. Be a Diva, Me get heap big pissed off and I become the evil twin of the nice Sergeant you used to work for.


Graduated from The Citadel way back when. When The Supremes said we had to admit women, we bit our lip and said "Yes, Sir" and went back to work. When the NOW harpies found out the new female cadets had to meet the SAME standard as the guys, they responded "That's not what We want". Don't give a damn, This is our sand box and you want to come play. These are the rules. Don't like it, tough. Go somewhere else.


Having said all this, I don't have problem with the individual. It's the political movement and those that pander to them I despise. Don't think for a second that those who bat from the other side of the plate can't fight like a bastard. Ever hear of the Sacred Band of Thebes? Look it up, There will be a test. Likewise for the Distaff side, Female writer penned a book called "Shoot the Women First" about Female terrorists and their dedication to their cause. She described where a guy would look at the odds and say "OK, ya got me", the Female pulls a Gat and starts singin'. You wanna join the team, Good. Do your job, Don't disrespect the Organization YOU asked to join and keep your piccadilios a 100 miles from the flagpole and I'll swear you in myself. Be an asshole and I'll be doing the paperwork to remove you from the force.


Tom Kratman wrote on this in an article. I link it here with his permission.

http://www.baen.com/AmazonsRightBreast.asp

4th

Remember those in Foreign Lands and distant shores. Thank God we have such folks.

Kal's Gram

Kal over at Trauma Queen's Gram Passed away. For Her.

http://traumaqueen.net/





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMTKb-pgxGI

PVT Dang

Got out of Service back in '90. Came back in in June 2000. The power that be decided I had to go through MOS Transition training. Never mind I was trained to 40 Level but that's another story.

Anyway there are 15 some in the class with 4 SGT's. Me being one of them. The rest are made up of other ranks as the Brit's like to say with a smattering of AF or Navy types being trained up in the Big Green Machine way of doing things. And then there was Dang. Every Unit has one, if they don't they will soon get one or invent one. Dang is/was a lighting rod for Sergeants. Unshined boots, No haircut, No Shave. Not all at once, just something different each and every time. He wasn't even from my unit but somehow he became my burden to bear. He was a slick sleeve Private. That's way old school but basically the only thing lower then Dang was a Basic Recruit with no time in service and Dang was a retread with time on. Kids even graduate from basic with at least Mosquito Wings (PV2) or PFC (E3). Dang had nothing. Shows up one Weekend, Sneakers, No Boots. "Dang, Where the hell are your boots?" "Don't have any that fit me, Sergeant." OK, Skinny as a rail, six foot in bare feet and size 13 Clodhoppers. Christ on a Crutch, Kid. Alright, him fitted out with boots. Next Drill, Boots. NO Shine. "Dang, Why the hell aren't your boots shined?!" "No polish, SGT." Mumble, Mumble... OK, Got to supply, Get Kiwi, rags. Dang, My room 1900 tonight for polish party. But Sergeant, I was going to meet my Girlfriend tonight. "Dang, You'll meet Jesus if you're not there at 1900." And on and on and one. I actually used to look forward to see what the hell he'd do next.

The topper was when we had to go to 2 Week AT for final cert. 1St Army was going to be up to grade the unit as to how well they did compared to the AIT centers. Dang shows up with hair down to his collar and over his ears. "Dang, Get in the Truck." The other SGT asked "Where you taking him?" I guess they thought I was going to take him out and bury him in the impact area but too many people had already seen him. Him and another guy piled in the truck as we headed down to the PX. There was a Barber there who probably lost money on the outside so got hired by the Army. We walk in and sat down. Dang's turn came up and he climbed in the chair. Guy asks how do you want it? I told Him, "I'm paying for it. Just like mine. Skin on the side, just enough to part on top." Aw, Sarge." "Shut up, Dang." He lived, don't know how. We finished up, Everybody got their Certificates. Ran into Dang in Bosnia. He'd made PFC. Not sure how long he was going to keep it. Wasn't a bad kid. Just had to work to keep him up with everybody else.

FOG

I quoted Slim Pickens from Blazing Saddles the other day in the office. Some of the younger agents looked at me with a raised eyebrow. My response, you've never seen Blazing Saddles? Blank looks. Alright, What about Young Frankenstein? No response, For the love of all that is holy, did none of ye get a proper upbringin'? Young whippersnappers, dinna know a good show when ya lead im to it.


For your Viewing pleasure. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbWg-mozGsU

Pat Leister

Didn't know Pat personally but some folks I know did. He was blindsided by a illness and died much too soon. He leaves a family with a couple of small ones. If you would care to, remember him and throw a couple a bucks in the hat. He/I would appreciate it.

http://www.leisterfund.org/

another one

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u97NR--kr-0&feature=related Inspired? Now go shoot.

Shooters

Good tech. I am impressed. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcT1mw0i4fE&feature=player_embedded

Deer Season

This kinda got its inspiration from Farm Girl bulldozing an Elk. http://tractortracks.blogspot.com/2011/03/elksplosion.html Deer Season in the Poconos results in increased deer movement and hence Collisions involving Deer. The Flatlanders think of them as Bambi, I just think of them as Rats with long legs. Anyway. They result in a 20-30 % increase in crashes as they do dumb shit when the hunting pressure like run out into traffic hence I get to write... A lot. One morning I get the call down off the three lane west of town. The township and the Boro are in a pissing contest over police coverage so the State Gets to/has to cover it until they kiss and make nice. It's about 20 miles as the crow files and not in our normal patrol range so I get to make a special guest appearence. I get there about a half hour after I get the call as I was way the hell down in the southern end of the county. It's about 7:30-8:00 and the morning rush is just starting to peter out. She was absolutely incandescent with rage by the time I pull up. Wasn't me she was jacked about however, it was the motoring public. First thing I had asked her if she was OK. Second thing I asked her was if she wanted the deer. She exploded at that. Reason she was pissed. Nine (9) people stop and asked her if they could have the deer, not one asked her if she was OK. She told them that GD Deer wasn't leaving until the cops got there. She had a big old Buick and she had crunched the whole front clip. Tow Truck time. I totally had the giggles the rest of the morning. The deer? Game Commision came and got what was left. Let's be careful out there.

Ruger

I have no emotional investment in this. I have the requisite 10-22 with a fair piece of glass and a Bearcat I use for teaching. Bill Ruger probably saved the Single Action Market with his Black Hawk Series of Revos and his shotties and #1 Rifles are Solid Working Guns. I just never got the warm fuzzy with his Autos either Rifles or pistols. A friend called me the other day and her hubby asked about the SR 9 and LCR. First one, Not bad, no personal experience with it but it feels and looks good. He has a P89 and a shotty but wants to add to the stable. SR 9 good. LCR, somehow I can't get my head wrapped around a plastic revo. Not saying I won't but it took me 20 years to finally warm up to the Glock. YMMV. Now go shoot.

Quantico

Did a Two Week Instructors school there recently. 26 in the class, two 1st Lt's, one 2nd Lt (Anphibs), Two Warrants, a Master Gunnery SGT (E9) and two Gunnery Sgt's (E7). The rest were a mix of Sgt's and Staff Sgt's. To say it reaffirmed my faith in Marines was... an understatement. We'd be in at 0730 each day, draw weapons and start in. End of Day, I'd head for the house and they would be.. Marines on Liberty. To say I got a chuckle out of it was putting it mildly. Half these kids will be in country in a couple of months and I am sure they will uphold the honor of the Force. But for now, They were just being Marines. God Bless You guys, Fair Winds and Following Seas.

First Appearences

Running Patrol one day in the Devils Triangle. New York to the North, New Jersey to the south. The folks from down the river have a saying, "Go to the Poconos on Vacation, Come home on Probation". Yup, Pretty much. Anyway I working the north end of the county and get a call for a suspect Vehicle at an Abandoned Gas Station off the Interstate. Get there and a red Camaro is sitting in the parking lot. Swing in behind and lit the car up with the take downs. Walk up, Contact the occupant and go back to the Cruiser with the cards. I run the vehicle and the Driver when I notice the DL has a moustache in the portrait. OK, Ya hafta understand I'm just a little off plumb here as the driver is wearing white pumps, nylons, a red mini skirt, Sweater, Wrap around shades and a perfectly fetching short jacket. Ahem, Sorry I find it hard to erase the image due to the conflict with the legal pic. Anyway, get done, go back up and hand HIM the cards and told him the reason I was checking him out was due to the location being damaged during the time it was vacant. Told him he was free to go but I had one question.... His response, "Sometimes ya gotta do what ya gotta do". Ok, whatever, be careful pullling out and get out of here. Never assume what you first encounter is what you are really dealing with. Be... Careful out there.

Judgement

When two hundred and fifty tons of Snowplow and Salt is trying to clear the four lane highway so that You, the motoring public can get to what ever destination it is you absolutely had to get to on this totally shitty morning, It would behoove you to hang back a little bit and not try and pass those (7) plows or the nice state trooper and his partner who are flying low cover for them would not be tempted to bury you in a snow drift until the spring thaw comes. I'm just saying.