Rambles

It has been a while, but hopefully this quick ramble finds you well and distracts you pleasantly for a minute or two.

I just finished re-reading The Hobbit. I haven't read it in years. I was home for two days from work and really just couldn't put it down. I had begun reading another fantasy work, but began getting frustrated because, like so much fantasy out there, it suffers from the same personal and moral failings as the author. Hence, I turned to the classic Tolkien to remedy the situation and was not disappointed, not in the least bit.

The new tea order from Upton is in! Ah yes. I picked up a 2008 first flush of the Arya Estate Darjeeling and a tea from Nepal, which is presently brewing. The former is excellent and came highly recommended from my friend out west and fellow tea enthusiast, Jason B. The latter smells awesome and so different from other teas. Since college, I have striven to sample and explore teas from Nepal. I like teas from the region because they are grown at altitude in the Himalayas and are so unique and distinct in their flavor. This latest, which I am now sipping, is fantastic.

I purchased a new stock shotshell carrier from Cabela's for the shotgun. It looks and works prime. Honestly, it dresses up the shotgun and makes it a bit more practical. I need to mount the gun now in an accessible though inconspicuous place, and I need to pick up a safe for the pistol. Guns are an expensive hobby, but when I pump the shotgun or rack the slide, it brings a smile to my lips.

Yesterday, I had a prime Jeep moment. I needed to get out of my yard to work because the Mustang was stuck. No sooner than I threw her in 4 wheel low, and hit the throttle than I was gripping like a fiend and juking up and over a snow/ice covered hill in the yard. The thing is awesome and bad-ass to drive.

Obama's new administration continues the suckfest unabated since day one. If it wasn't for conservative talk radio, I'd feel so frustrated with the socialist actions of our government. I am so glad I do not own a TV. Like so many other possessions, it ends up owning you.

That's it for now. Time to get a move on. Until next time.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Bullet Points

Clare pretty much hit on the head that she could write a whole book about our trip to Chicago, let alone the rest of my break from work. Here are the highlights in quasi-bullet form.

Some of you may recognize the shot gun in the picture as the gift you gave me for my wedding--my personal favorite, I might add--except that it may look a bit shorter to you. Well, if you thought so, you'd be right. I purchased an 18.5 inch barrel from the factory, which installed easily in about a minute. It took more time to unwrap the thing. I tested it at about 20 yards and the Maverick performed flawlessly. If anything, the gun is now even more fun to fire.

Clare and I went up to the National Gallery of Art to check out the Pompeii exhibit. Pretty damn cool, if I may say so myself. In a word, the exhibit featured artifacts from the ancient homes of the rich and famous. Detail on the bronze work was incredible, and of course the sculptures are were astounding. A couple of my favorite pieces included a 1st century B.C. mosaic of Plato instructing his disciples and 2 griffon carved marble pedastals for a table. Also featured, was the head of Nero and Julius Caesar, which, for the historian, adds a fascinating new element to one's historical vision.

I spent most of my time at home chilling out--maybe zoning out is a better choice of words--after our week-long enduro in Chicagoland. We had a great Christmas and fabulous trip. I think much of that is due to our highly organized schedule. Specific highlights included a trip to Commander for one of the best skillet breakfasts I've had in my entire life, a trip to Intelligensia on Broadway downtown, and trekking across the snowy wasteland of Lincoln Park in our quest for the Polar Bear that decided not be there. I could easily get used to living on the North Side for part of the year and in Virginia for the rest of it, I think, if I was happily and independently wealthy.

My new year's reflections are many and multifarious. What the hell does that mean, you ask? I don't really know, except that this year will mark my 30th B-Day. Holy cow. 30. The big 3-0. It's hard to think I am going to be done with my roaring 20s and be 30. For starters, it's a big wake up call for me. A reminder, to not let life pass me buy but to make the most of my talents and treasure in this time on earth. Secondly, it's also a call to gratitude. I am entirely grateful for my family, faith , and friends. True riches in this life are things we cannot buy, unless, of course, your talking about guns. LOL.

And finally, it's a call to reflect, to take a hard look at ourselves, at our goals, attitudes and accomplishments, at who we've become and are becoming. I thought I would have saved the world by now, but apparently that's going to take some more time.

So there you have it, the first Update of '09. Don't less this year pass you by without kicking it's ass! Don't let up. Don't give up. There's only one way to win, and that's with determination. Second place is the first loser and you haven't lost until you are dead, or until you decide to give up in whatever it may be.

So fight! FIGHT! Rise up and kick some ass and take this year by storm!!!!

Over and Out,

--Nick

I discovered a lot of drones in the Midwest

So me and the fam journeyed back to the Midwest this Christmas. It was a great trip and, overall, a great Christmas. We went to the local Cabela's and I hooked up with some serious ammo, a limbsaver deresonator for the rifle (reduces recoil and increases accuracy), and a new non-BPA Nalgene bottle. In all honesty, I made out like a bandit.

And before I continue to the main topic of my post, I just wanted to note that Cabela's has the best and most organized rifle ammo selection out there that I have seen in a big box store, unlike, unfortunately, Gander Mountain. Thank you Cabela's for keeping it real.

OK, so we go visit my family and it's like everyone drank the Koolaide...yes, Obama supporters.

So many people voted for Obama and don't know a damn thing about him, except that "he is definitely better than 8 years of Bush." No matter what, every Obama supporter I spoke with uttered this same piece of drivel, the same damn same thing, practically verbatim, as their final defense for why they support the O. It's pathetic. The liberal media has programmed its drones well.

Never mind that Obama thinks it's ok to throw babies in closet to die after a failed abortion, there is a lot of cooing over Obama amongst the public, just because the news media coos. If Hussein is in Hawaii with his shirt off, it's Camelot. If G.W. golfs with his father, it's dereliction of duty. There is just so much outrage over Bush, just because the liberal media is outraged.

WTF people? I don't agree with every decision Bush ever made, but I am not outraged, except by the bailout mania. Under Bush we had the most prosperous economy ever and no repeats of 9-11. He's had to make tough decisions as the leader of the free world and all he's gotten is a lot of spittle, at least when it comes to the liberal media. So, let me say it, hey liberal media, I've got 2 words for you: FU!

I know not every Obama supporter is of the glazed over type, but so many so easily turned a blind lie to the parade of lies and deceit on the campaign trail. I always challenge them with 20 years of Rev. Wright, and they say, "I don't believe everything my pastor says either." My response: except that racism is a fundamental tennet of black liberation theology. Unbelieveable.

But if W went to a white supremecist Church for a funeral, not that he would, it would be a international scandal. Yet Obama can sit in the pews of Rev. Wright for 20 years, say he didn't know what his pastor thought, and be exonerrated as a political hero.

"Ayers is just a guy in my neighborhood," was another big-time lie. Really? He was also the guy you sat on the Annenberg challenge with for 5 years, and his the same house where you began your political career.

It is freaking maddening that Obama has such blind support, especially from members of my own family. Nobody thinks that he's going to be, as President, the radical they know he's been. Sigh.

The greatest lie the devil ever told is making people believe he doesn't exist.

God help us.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Milestones

This past weekend, figuring it wasn't going to get any worse, I ended my months long hiatus on the bathroom and decided it was time to get cracking.

I spent all of Saturday retrofitting an old wall with new studs and creating a door frame and trim, not to mention figure out a tasteful way to add tile on a wall that's totally out of plumb.

This week I made a special trip to Lowes in search of a paneled solid pine door on clearance and, lo and behold! I found the (almost) perfect fit for my doorway. I needed a solid door to cut to size and was delighted when I discovered that I was able to get it for a fraction of the price. I mean, who wants to pay big bucks for a door?

The end to this project is ever seemingly more in sight with the passing of each milestone. Having a door on the bathroom feels like such a luxury. We also have a festive night light, which was given to us as a gift, that casts a neat red glow all over the place.

Watching this project finally come together is such a thrill. There are some things I would have done differently in retrospect now that I have the benefit of this experience, but hindsight is 20/20. For instance, in the long run it is far easier to build new walls, if possible, than to try and replumb old ones that are out of whack. In the latter scenario you are constantly battling "the line" and having to worry about staying straight in addition to all the normal stuff and that can be maddening and make it difficult to add in finishes.

So even though I haven't been updating as much on the blog as I would like, I've been updating things here at the house (as well as feeding my "Heroes" addiction.) And that's cool by me.

Merry Christmas.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Mumbai in America? Preparing for the Inevitable.

I have long thought since 9-11 that if organized terrorists wanted, they could easily perpetrate a Mumbai-like event here in America. Our infrastructure is wide open and undefended. And even if there were guards everywhere armed with assault rifles, it doesn't mean a terrorist could not strike. It just means his capacity to destroy as many Americans as possible may be inhibited.

So what are we to do? The enemy we face is a shadow. They are essentially guerrillas, materializing when and where they choose to cause the most havoc and inflict the most damage.
Sometimes it's airplanes they use, sometimes suicide bombers, and now we are seeing coordinated sociopathic-suicide killing sprees like the ones in recent days in Mumbai.

Our strategy to exterminate terrorist breeding grounds abroad is not a poor one, but let's face it, we can't kill them all. We can kick ass militarily, but we do not have the resources to wipe out radical Islam short of a nuclear holocaust, and even then there's no guarrantee. There will always be a terrorist camp and breeding ground somewhere. There will always be another Jihadist, if history is any indicator.

And now we are hearing reports of a "likely" bio attack on US soil in the next five years and Iran with nukes during Obama's first year in office. China and Russia support Iran both tacitly and directly, not to mention other socialist enterprises. Our enemies are chomping at the bit to destroy us and our newly elected leader wants to decrease our military and increase the Peace Corps.

In a word, our Commander-in-Chief is not only asleep at the wheel, he is also blind to the threats against America.

But even if he weren't, the terrorists and their affiliates would still be hell-bent on destroying our nation, our culture and way of life. And that's what they intend to do. No government program can stop this, only determined individuals, with actions and prayers to God, honestly, have the capacity to maintain our way of life.

A terrorist can strike at any time, any where--I am surprised they haven't already.

So here are some things to remember in considering the enemy, and a likely, newly-formed attack:

1. Remember that ultimately we can only stop what we can stop. If a massive bomb goes off in our cities or elsewhere, it's aim is not just to destroy as many people as possible, but our way of life too.
2. In Mumbai, like elsewhere, the gunmen attacked where they thought the people would be sitting ducks. Even where there were armed guards, the guards were so scared they did nothing to fight back and stop the bloodletting.
3. The terrorists are sociopaths, and will only stop when they are dead.

So essentially what I am saying is that you and I need to prepare ourselves against not only an attack against our person, but one against our way of life.

Some action items to seriously consider to take steps to protect yourself and be less of a victim:

1. Own and carry a firearm. You and you alone are responsible for your persnonal protection and that of your family.
2. Put together a bug-out bag for your car and other excursions.
3. Take it from someone who knows, consider a bug-out location and create and stick to a plan of action in the event of a natural or man-made disaster. You don't want to end up living in a FEMA trailer, do you, or end at a Superdome?
4. Go to confession.

If the fabric of our life begins to unravel, consider what you will do and where you and your family will go and how you would survive long-term. Most generations have not had it as good as ours in the US of A, but we are in danger of squandering it and losing it.

I don't want to be doom and gloom. But just because this post may seem paranoid doesn't mean there aren't people who are out to get you. It's better to be prepared and never need it, than to know better and be found wanting in the hour of need.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

This is it for awhile...

Sometimes you pick the (fill in the ______), and other times it picks you. This time the rifle picked me, I swear!

Above is pictured a hardly-used Remington Model 700 SPS in .300 WSM caliber, with barely 50 rounds through it. It features a 24" matte finished barrel with Leupold bases and rings installed. It is also composed of a black synthetic stock, molded in gripping surface at wrist and forend, swivel studs and a limbsaver recoil pad.

And I'm telling you, it has my name all over it.

I originally became interested in the Remington 700 after watching the movie Shooter and well-before that seeing some old codgers on tv rebuild a Turkish Mauzer into a sniper rifle. Avid Update readers may recall my post from last year around this time, extolling the virtues of cold weather and showcasing Mark Wahlberg's bad-ass pose on the cover of Shooter, where he happens to be holding a Remington 700 SPS.

After doing some research of various bolt-action rifles, I decided to stick with the Remington 700 because of its legendary performance and affordable price. Out of the box, the SPS is a tack driver, and with the .300 WSM in the chamber you can reach out and touch someone, and handle big game. Not to mention that the 700 is highly modifiable, should you want to move in that direction.

So if Clare ever decides that we need to move to a more conservative state, we will be prepared in the firearms department when it comes to guarding the yard. Cause you know, we need to cover all the bases.

Now it's time to save up for a scope. Peace out.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

New Routine

So I am back to my long-departed ritual of eating oatmeal every day in the mornings. I have to say the effect has been very positive.

For one, I am not craving sugar in the mornings, or hungry until lunch, and I have energy for action. It is also relaxing to work on a full stomach, and not have a piece of my mind focused on food when I am trying to focus on work.

Secondly, I have noticed a large difference in my metabolism. At 11:45, I am damn hungry, and again when I arrive home from work, I am right there. The main thing for me is to eat light for my last meal so I don't go to bed with a heavy stomach. This creates space for being more active and energetic in the evenings instead of feeling like a big lug.

I have been following my oatmeal in the morning with some premium Darjeeling, ordered from Uptontea.com. A robust cup of tea is excellent. You get the jolt of caffeine, but unlike coffee and other substances, tea stimulates the entire person. It delivers the needed "feeling," if you will, according to the situation. To quote one of the Chinese ancients:

"If you are cold, tea will warm you; If you are too heated, it will cool you; If you are depressed, it will cheer you; If you are excited, it will calm you.

I have also been drinking tea in the evening as well. I don't usually feel the negative effects of caffeine when I go to sleep, just more like a smooth transition. I favor green tea, but even the lighter black teas will do.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Conundrum & Gambit

Sorry everyone for the lack of recent "Monday" Updates. I usually end updating on a day that's not Monday, if I update at all.

You see, I am often in a bit of a conundrum as to what to post, so I play around with various ideas until something comes to mind--usually after Monday.

I try not to force the muse these days, because I legitamately fear the consequences. I had to do that back in the day when I re-wrote magazine articles for well-meaning authors who couldn't write worth a damn. So now I just try to take it easy and let the spirit of creativity move when it wants.

Right now I am listening to Chris Thile's new project called "Punch Brothers" on NPR, and it's quite cool. I miss Nickelcreek, but I believe they will reunite in the future after various wanderings to other projects and come up with some great new stuff down the line.

That is, if Obama doesn't end the world first. LOL.

So, in reference to my previous post, I bought a bit of ammo to replace what I've been shooting and made the purchase of a 18.5 inch barrel for my Maverick 88 Shotgun. This way it can be used for home-defense because it will be much easier to maneuver. Next dress-up items for the shotgun include a side-saddle (for ammunition) and a mag extension tube. I may also invest in a tac light for the gun down the line and a kickback reducer for the shoulder. Pics to come.

Right now that's it. I would like to purchase a serious sniper rifle, but that's just out of my league these days. But if that's of interest to you, be sure to visit Tactical Rifle's webpage. They are serious and have a whole host of goodies to whet the appetite.

In the meantime I will continue to convalesce here at home. I've been sick since Friday night, and now I am enjoying the fourth movement of this bastard cold of Antioch, which involves having a sore throat. Hopefully, I will be less of a space cadet today, as yesterday I was pretty much useless to those around me in my opinion.

Thanks for visiting the Update. I will do my best to keep the muse on its best game from now on. But I am not making any promises.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

New Mandate, New Measures

I don't have much to say right now, except that Obama the radical has now been given a mandate to rule by 63 million fools.

Now gun sales have literally skyrocketed everywhere because people are are preparing for the expansion of the People's Republic of Illinois to the rest of the lower 48 and beyond. There almost isn't a black rifle to be found. Personally, I don't have enough coin to keep up adequately with my newfound addiction to guns, but that doesn't stop me from salivating all over my keyboard. I just wish I would have bought my guns years ago.

So I am pondering what I am going to buy next: a Glock 19, a bolt action rifle, chambered either in .308 or .270, or a 1000 rounds of ammunition? I need each of these things. I just have to prioritize.

Part of me wants another Glock, because they are so awesome, and because I won't feel like Clare is unsafe if I am carrying. Yes, we have a shotgun, which is easy to use, but there's a certain convenience to a pistol that makes it more desireable in some circumstances.

I know all of my readers may not be fans of Glocks. We each have our own opinions. For those who wonder about my obsession, I chose to shoot a Glock because it feels right in my hand, in addition to its reliability, quality and accuracy.

The other part of me likes the idea of a bolt action rifle because I can hunt with it, use it to snipe varmints, or if there are roving mobs coming down the street--an unlikely occurance out here in "Buckton," to say the least--I have another means of defending myself.

Thirdly, just getting a thousand rounds for the Glock sounds like a good idea. If the SHTF, you want to have enough ammo to last a long time. Besides, I think it's fun to build an aresenal.

And finally, I also need to pick up an 18.5 in barrell for the shotgun, for home defense, a biometric safe for the Glock, and some other "stuff."

Hopefully Santa will be good to me, because Chairman Obama won't.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

"Change I Can Believe In"

Tactical Thigh Rig

You know, I am usually very frugal about buying stuff, but not when it comes to firearms and their accoutrements.

No, if I see it, I have to have it now. Granted I wanted a Glock 17 for years, and so when I finally pulled the trigger (pun intended) the floodgates opened and the credit card company has never been happier.

Just kidding. Well, sort of. In all seriousness, my firearms interest is not really an interest. It's a need. Yes, I need to have guns. I need to have boxes upon boxes of ammo, "just in case." My house is not just a cottage, it's an armory.

But for those occasions when I can't be sitting inside the cofines of my armory, cleaning my guns while listening to Rush Limbaugh, I purchased a new Fobus Roto Holster for open carry from CopsPlus.com. I wanted something cheap that would form fit my Glock. I also wanted a proven system that would allow for both rentention and quick, smooth drawing. Fobus, a company out of Israel, seemed to be the perfect fit, and for the price I couldn't really go wrong.

But there is a deeper reason I picked this particular holster. It's the option to attach and carry it on a "tactical thigh rig." Now, it's not that I just want to be Hans Solo or something, which is, in all actuality, actually true. Carrying a gun on your belt can be uncomfortable, cumbersome or inconvenient, depending on your situation.

You know, say you get into an X-Wing. Those cockpits are tight. A fast draw to take down a snow yeti climbing onto your hood before take off might be a little more complicated than you think. But if the gun is on your thigh, you should be good to go, no problem.

As it is, I keep everything on my belt--my cell phone, multi-tool, and occasionally a flashlight--and I have this bad habit of placing my hand on my hips to push on this stuff for the hell of it. When I wore my Fobus holster (empty) around town just to get the feel of the thing, I kept having to resist the temptation of fiddling or messing with it.

And finally, it seems far easier to draw from your thigh than your hip, and much harder IMHO for a stranger to attempt to draw it as well.

That said, I very simply chose, without fear of retribution (except from Clare), to purchase the tactical thigh rig attachment. It has not yet arrived. I look forward to testing it out and seeing how comfortable it is. The Roto Holster is very light and comfortable, so I am expecting nice things from the thigh rig, *ahem* excuse me, tactical thigh rig.

Sorry for the delay on the Update. I have been spending a lot of free time checking out the gun forums to expand my knowledge and for personal entertainment.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Of axes, oaks and woodstoves

So...

Because of Isabel's birth, I have been able to take some serious R&R as well as get things done around the house that need being done. The thing about the latter is that I can, during this time off, not feel rushed in the process, do it my own pace, and so enjoy the work moreso than I would normally.

Today, I bought a new axe from Lowe's for splitting wood. Unlike a traditional maul, it has a winged axe head, so you have the wedge qualities of a maul, and the cutting qualities of an axe. Moreoever, the winged axe is 4 pounds lighter, which makes cutting large amounts of wood far easier.

I just got back inside from splitting 15-20 inch sections of white oak (about 14-15 inches in diameter) with relative ease. I am most impressed with the winged axe's performance and have been trying out the different woods I have gathered in my woodstove.

We have been running the stove for the past few days now to take the chill out of the air and get a feel for the heat output. So far it has been remarkable.

This is what I mean. Last year, I ran the woodstove at Clare's parents all winter. It got to the point that I could get the catalytic converter to kick on in two minutes, which, if you knew this thing, is saying something. It means that the fan turns on to help spread the heat from the stove to the rest of the room, but it has to be hot enough to do that.

Anyway, this thing ate wood like no tomorrow. It's an old stove, and they tend not to be too efficient from what I know. I am sure there are exceptions, but, that being said, it burned what it burned, and that was it.

Now enter the Jotul 3, supposedly, according to the company, the best-selling wood stove in the world. I have no idea, so I'll just take their word for it. The thing I like about it, though, is that it creates a very slow, slow burn. Once you get a white hot bed of coals, you can add a small log like once every 4 or 5 hours, and you get lots of heat.

I mean, I am so impressed by this baby, the way it helps your wood to burn slower than it would normally. So for the wood-splitting individual, that means your word splitting time is reduced significantly, time that you could spend enjoying your woodstove. Now, here are some observations of the wood I've been burning, none of which has been "seasoned," other than being dead for a long time:

American Elm: Easy to start, this hardwood burns fast and hot. It's a good wood to start a fire, but because of how fast it goes, not the best for a sustaining fuel.

Black Locust: According to some chart I found, Black Locust is actually the hottest burning wood out there, burning at .057 BTUs (British Thermal Units). As my friend and woodsman extraordinaire Jason Banaszak noted, however, Black Locust may burn [just a little bit] hotter than white oak, but it does not burn longer or cleaner. Point noted, and after putting the two to the test in my stove, I definitely agree.

White Oak: The ideal wood, the powerhouse. It burns slow, white hot, and clean. It yields that classic smell you think of in fall and winter when driving by a house heating with wood. As previously stated, it burns slow and long. It's the ideal wood to heat your house, though it is quite pricy to have it seasoned, split and delivered by the cord. Only Shagbark Hickory burns as hot, but Shagbark Hickories, as my olde friend and farmer Gerald Austin asserts, Hickories are too nice a tree to burn.

Silver Maple: I just chopped a dead one down in my yard, and I have to say, I am rather surprised and impressed by the amount of heat the wood puts out, and for how long it burns. Kudos to the silver maple. I have got a bunch of these at work to chop down, so that means more wood for me.

Boxwood Elder: This is a shit wood. On the list, it is down a good ways in terms of the amount of heat it puts out, and it's a pain to start. I don't recommend this stuff unless you are in the same straits as Poe once was, reduced to burning his furniture in order to survive the winter while at the University of VA. Anyway, Boxwood Elder is for the bonfire pile, not the cord pile.

Over and out,

--Nick-Dog

Pride

Welcome back. Today's post is not about track #2 from U2's Unforgettable Fire album, awesome though it is. It's about other stuff.

Isabel Therese Marmalejo was born October 3 at 16:38. Clare has pics at her blog, and, I'm sure, will continue to post them. Another arrow in the quiver, as they say, and that is a very, very great thing.

In keeping with the theme of today's title, I want to recall an incident that happened yesterday at mass. Because Anastasia was full of energy, I was playing toddler-control in the vestibule. When I arrived back from Holy Communion, I noticed an elderly man, kneeling in front of a pew in the vestibule, struggling to get up. But he couldn't. I came by, asked him if he needed some help, and not waiting for a reply, gave him my free hand.

Unable to lift this surprisingly heavy old man, I helped set himself back down, and went to grab an usher, even though, out of pride, he tried to shoo me off with "I'm ok." Not buying it for a minute I looked around hastily, and thinking that the ushers were probably too old to help anyway, I grabbed a big dude in front of me. Both of us couldn't lift him up, and so a third dude joined us and we were able to finally set him on a pew.

I just wanted to state that I felt priveleged to help this devout old man, who took seriously kneeling after Holy Communion on a stone floor, even though he couldn't get up and probably wasn't sure about it to begin with.

I am glad and fortunate that I took the initiative. My first thoughts were "someday this may be me." No one else seemed to notice, and that bothered me a little bit, because people need people to help them sometimes, and apparently no one in a crowd of 50 saw that this guy wasn't going to make it or hurt himself trying.

So this brings me to my moral: If we are not aware, we miss opportunities to practice charity, not to mention protect ourselves and other people from accidents or worse. Practicing awareness daily allows us to be better people and better citizens, giving us the capacity to step into the moment of truth and make a positive difference.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

The Unthinkable

Yesterday, I did the "unthinkable." I bought a gun.

I did what? I purchased a Glock 17, 9mm. Similar to the sweet-looking gun you see to the left, it is now mine.

Growing up, I came from a non-gunfriendly family, at least in part. My dad disavowed guns as a necessity, while even his best friend, my uncle, owned an arsenal. At an early age, Uncle B showed me his guns when I insisted as a 6 or 7-year-old A-Team enthusiast is wont to do. "Uncle B do you have an M-16?" I remember asking. "No, I have an M-14," which he showed me. And then he showed me the other rifles in his dark, shadowy basement, and how he remade bullets, teaching me the anatomy of ammuntion.

My dad wasn't happy. But I still have the fake reload my uncle made me of an M-16 shell.

I've always taken that experience with me as my introduction to firearms. And when out in the wilderness in Minnesota, I felt safer knowing my uncle was packing.

Everyone has their opinion of firearms, but when trouble arises, even the most outspoken skeptic will feel safer when someone he trusts nearby is carrying.

And therein relies the conundrum, the lesson of Conan, the Riddle of Steel:

"Steel isn't strong, boy, flesh is stronger! ...What is steel compared to the hand that wields it?"

In other words, what I am saying here, is that it's not the gun that's most dangerous, but the person. A gun magnifies a person's decisions, their consequences and his personality. But it's the human will, ultimately, that determines the direction.

When I went to purchase, the conditioning of my upbringing and the anti-gun mantras of the liberal media came to haunt me. But I made the decision that I was going to purchase and that was that. When I arrived at the counter, the place was swarmed by gun purchasers. Some were your typical respectful hunter types, but not a few were punk ass kid thugs I wouldn't trust with a butter knife, but were still able to purchase because they hadn't yet created a record for themselves.

And so when I saw them clamoring for their guns ahead of me, it confirmed me in the decision I had made, and I said to myself, "Yes, damn, I need a gun."

And the Glock came with me.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Farm Boss

If that guy is not the Farm Boss, I don't know who is.

When I saw this guy, I was so pumped. It's pretty much how I see myself in 20 years or so. LOL.

And that's a nice chain saw, too, which brings me to the subject of my post: STIHL products.

Because I live in the countryside, and because I work in facilities, I am very much interested to know what are the best brands for various tools. So when I was on the phone with my dad, who has similar interests (not to mention an encyclopedic knowledge of tools), and he noted that my old parish where he works had just purchased a 20 inch STIHL chain saw, I was interested. Wanting to buy a saw myself some day, and needing one for the chuch where I work, I asked: "Is STIHL a good brand? His answer, "It's the best."

Numerous testimonials attest to his claim and what I have found in my short time becoming acquainted with our new 20 inch MS 290 STIHL Farm Boss chainsaw. (Those testimonials are a great read if that sort of thing at all interests you.) Namely, that STIHL makes a fabulous product.

I am relatively new to chainsaw-ing, but I have found that once you are in the groove with your saw, it is a very manly and rewarding action to cut wood. Chopping wood is one thing, wielding a chainsaw is quite another. It gets the testosterone flowing in a huge way, and after cutting up an entire tree, I felt supremely manly. Don't ask me why, I just did, and I think a new wood stove-friendly addiction has just been born.

In other notes of interest, I just picked up Jerome Corsi's new book, The Obama Nation, and suspect that I will plow through it in record time. Corsi is a senior staff writer at WorldNetDaily, and while I sometimes find their news suspect or dubious, I have no doubt that Corsi's work is an authentic piece of scholarly journalism, to which the Obama campaign's 40-page rubuttal remains impervious.

Juice.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

Inge's Brats

Well, we had our annual fall festival at Holy Family this past weekend. Because of Tropical Storm Hannah, the event was moved inside. That did not stop people from coming, however, or Inge from making her famous brats and saurkraut.

Inge is an elderly women from Bavaria who loves Pope Benedict, is active in the parish, and sponsors the German booth during the festival, where parishioners from every cultural background, come together, cook, and sell their food at festival.

Last year, Clare and I were super-surprised with Inge's cooking, and I kept going back for more. So this past weekend, I knew right where to go. She would not give me her recipe--their are others before me in line for that, but she divulged to me her authentic German source for bratwurt and saurkraut: Rieker's Prime Meats in Philadelpia.

But the goodness does not stop there. The domination gets even better. Inge had leftovers from the festival, and was giving them back to the church to sell or giveaway. Needless to say, I took no prisoners at the opportunity to get some bratwurst. I bought 5 lbs., or 20 premium brats, for 3.29 per pound, Inge's cost, with free shipping and a tub of Inge's kraut! People were scrambling for those things, but at our staff meeting when it was announced there would be some for sale, I exclaimed "Those brats are mine!" I was serious but got lots of laughs, too. That is how I wage war.

I grilled some up tonight and was pleasantly reminded at first bite that, yes, these are the best damn brats I've ever had...

And now I know where to get them.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog

PS-Another great thing about our festival is the raffle. First prize, which I think is 5k, went to one of the volunteers who spent his last 10 bucks on the 3 tickets. He's the nicest guy around, and has been volunteering at the Church over the last four months because he's been out of work. When I saw him, I asked him how he was and he said he was still out of work. I said man that's "rough," and he's like "yah...," and here he is walking around with a t-shirt that says Jesus saves, smiling, but suffering inwardly, but helping anyone he can.

Well to make a long story short and festival great, this guy won first prize the next day. Everyone cheers. He starts crying and everyone cheers more. It was genuinely awesome and I am so grateful that this guy, Harrison, won. Thanks be to God!

Random Monday Thoughts

Hey all. It's an update that's actually on time. Yay for Labor Day.

First, a shout out to John McCain for making a great VP choice. I don't think he could have picked a better running mate. Everyone has their fair share of challenges, but to my mind she was the best choice all along and has my full, enthusiastic support. Hip hip for Sarah Palin!

The bathroom is coming along very well. The plumbing is completely finished. The electrical is nearly complete--just have to wire up the new outlet, finish a little more framing and shiming and I'm ready to close this sucker up. Yes, it's been a long windy road, but it's one I'm ready to see the end of real soon.

It's already feeling like Fall out here. We have some early turners. Our black walnut and our neighbor's sycamore have already started to drop their yellowed leaves. I can't tell you how pumped I am for Fall colors this year. I am excited to see what colors the trees in our yard are going to turn. I am also excited for a drop in temperature, so I can wear long sleeves once again and get my wood stove fired up. I will also take that opportunity to get out to my shed and organize it into a worthy workshop.

Last week I mentioned I recommended a 16 0z. (Estwing) hammer for your bag. I have found this to be the perfect size and weight for most projects. However, if you are going to be framing, I recommend a 20 oz. (Estwing). Four ounces doesn't sound like much, but after a couple of swings the difference is clearly noticeable--your arm is tired and your swings pack far more umph. So, if you find yourself framing and doing rough carpentry, step it up to a 20 oz. You'll be happy you did.

Finally, I just want to say that I've seen a lot of hooked up Jeeps this past month and a half on 55. There's an old Jeep trail that goes up to Signal Knob, so maybe that's where they are going. I don't know, but I definitely want to get on that train.

Ok, time to get ready to go chop some wood. In the meantime, have a great Monday.

Over and out.

--Nick-Dog

The Tool Bag

I wanted to take a moment to talk about something that has become very dear to my heart over the past year or so, especially the past several months: my tool bag.

Last summer, I became inspired at work to assemble a new tool set replete with a domination tool bag to handle all my service calls. My buddy John, who helps with our HVAC contract, always has the latest gadgets in tools, and it is he who first introduced me to this bad-ass electrician's bag.

John D. has since replaced his (two) bag(s) with a backpack to make it easier to climb on top of buildings, but this bag, in my opinion, is still where it's at. I love it so much, I bought one for myself for home-use and began stocking it each paycheck with the best tools money can buy. That way, whenever I need something, it's not a deal. I don't worry about finding a such-and-such tool. I just go get my bag and handle the problem.

So what's in this organized bag of tricks? Glad you asked. For starters, American-made quality steel to begin tackling any challenge. Here's a breakdown of what I consider essential tools, with commentary on the best brands:

1.) 16 oz. Estwing Hammer. Estwings are the best, hands down. Made in the USA, they take the punishment and dish it out. It's worth the 20-25 bucks to have this in your sack. Their patented hand grip reduces shock, which keeps hammering relatively easy on your body, especially if you are pounding away all day. There is no mistaking the quality of this hammer. After you've used it for awhile, nothing else compares.

2.) Klein Pliers. The electrician's choice. Made in the USA. Anything and everything by Klein is Grade A select. I've had a pair of Klein side-cutting pliers for 17 years, and the domination has not stopped. I recommend all their products. In my bag at home, I keep a pair of their diagonal-cutting and needle-nose pliers as well as their wire-strippers.

3.) Screw Drivers. If you go into any home center, you will inevitably see a display with interchangeable, multiple-head screw drivers. These are ok, but I don't like that the heads sometimes come out of the sockets. It's frustration you just don't need. So I recommend getting normal, solid one piece 6 inch philips and regular screwdrivers, and keeping them very handy and visible. My personal favorite is to go with Kleins. Their rubber grip is comfortable and easy to recognize. Like most good tools, you can feel the quality of their craftsmanship each time you use them, and they will last you for years--that is, provided you don't drop them down an elevator shaft.

4.) ChannelLocks, AKA adjustable wrench. Made in the USA. Like many of my other tools, my dad always had a pair in his garage. These things are ready to rock and quality you can trust. Because there are so many situations where no other tool really works, they are a must have. ChannelLock also makes other products, including pliers, and I have a pair of their side-cutters in my bag. Their hallmark light-blue handles make them easy to find in your bag or tool box, a reminder that what you're picking up is a ChannelLock, a name closely associated with quality.

5.) Flashlight. How many times do you find yourself wondering what the last flashlight you owned looks like and where it's at? You can never seem to find it when you need it. Unless, of course, you make it a part of your tool bag. I prefer a small Maglite. It's made in the USA, can take a beating, and work reliably for years. I keep a full-size in my Jeep for emergencies.

Ok, so those are some of the essentials. Putting together an awesome tool-set is a lot of fun, for some of us anyway, and I will be back with more on what you should keep in your bag, if you can't tell already by looking at the picture.

Until then, over and out.

--Nick-Dog

Habits of Late

Hey everyone. Sorry for being such a complete slacker on the Update. I have a myriad of excuses, of course, but you know they're no good when even I'm like, "WTF, I have to update my blog, pics or no."

Yes, I have taken some pics to upload for interesting subjects of discussion, but getting them up here from home is practically a Herculean effort. A couple of would-be posts were doomed from the start when I began uploading pics and the connection died, leaving me repeatedly throwing my hands up in frustration, putting the computer down, and cursing under my breath. Well, under my breath most of the time.

Progress on the bathroom has been intermittent. Some days the commute and work saps my extra energy and I just need to chill. It's partially the fact that I so love just chilling out here at the house. I can relax here, and that feels palatial, even with the un-finished bathroom.

I also think that my inertia has to do with not training aikido regularly, which for me helps me chill out bigtime. This Weds. I made it down to class, feeling like a lethargic tub, but by the end of class, as predicted to myself, I was just juiced and ready to go.

As many of you are aware, my favorite direction for an update topic is aikido and application in everyday life. So in that wise, I would like to say that when you feel like you have no energy, but you're getting sleep, eating well, but working a lot, chances are you may not be having much, if any, physical fun.

Even if it's tossing the old pig skin with some friends, it's important to get out and play. Play is an oft overlooked good. So many people want to be good professionals, for example, that they stay late at the office and put in extra time, but it often becomes for naught when the good of play is overlooked and the person begins to feel like life is closing in on them.

But when you can just get outside, roll around in the dirt, smash people, or whatever it is you like to do, and play physically--in such a way that you are no longer worried about people at work, or that thing you gotta get done--the effect is postively transforming. Instead of worrying about work, or family or whatever, you zone in on catching that ball or swinging that bat that you've totally forgotten about everything else but that moment and can simply enjoy yourself and what it is you are doing.

In terms of aikido, Saito sensei said you should do jo or bokken suburi every day. It's easy to see why, particularly for a modern aikido-ka (or practitioner of aikido) who easily finds himself caught up in the things of everyday life. When you are focusing on completing you cuts properly, not wasting movement, the right method of extension and so forth, everything else fades into the distance and you just find yourself standing in the here and now. Chill.

And that's generally the way it should be.

Over and out, homies.

--Nick-Dog

Inspiration...

Last Sunday, Clare and I took Anastasia and the Jeep for some joy-riding after Church. Now, I used to be critical of Sunday drivers for no good reason, but these days it seems to me to be the most natural thing in the world. You know, to head out for ice cream, or a snack, and a cruise/adventure after Sunday Mass.

Fate first brought us to Woodstock, Va., where I replaced a dying Jeep battery, probably the original, and threw in some more coolant. Ready for further adventure, I took us to Fort Valley to Seven Fountains Road, where I discovered this incredibly spectacular setting.

I rolled the Jeep down into this mini-valley off-road--without a problem, of course--and snapped the shot you see here. For me, it doesn't exactly the do the moment the true justice it deserves, or capture totally the sheer granduer of the surrounding mountains and seemingly elusive Blue Ridge in the distance. Still, it does reveal something of that moment's greatness. When I hopped back in the Jeep, I victoriously proclaimed, "To go where no Jeep has gone before."

In other news, Clare and I just purchased a Jotul F3 woodstove (used) from a guy south of Charlottesville. In case you are wondering why I drove so far to get this thing, let me just first answer that the price was right for this certifiably kick-ass Norway-approved, Norway-made heat source.

Similar to the scene in the picture above, he lived on the short side of a mountain at the bottom of a majestic valley. To get to his house, I took a gravel road through an Orchard that literally had to have had something like 3000-4000 apple trees. It was incredible, especially shortly before sunset when I arrived. I wish I had pics to show, but suffice to say the view felt like the crowning achievement to a long drive. Being already familiar with this area before driving down, I was more than happy to further justify the trip to myself to see some spectacular views. And am I glad I did.

I will post pics of the stove in the future after the install, but for more information on Jotul (which is pronounced "yo-dul"), check out their website.

Over and Out,

--Nick-Dog