Thursday, May 31, 2012
8 Ways to Convince Anyone to Go Shooting
From Guns & Ammo. Really 8 responses to common excuses to not go... but it's a good list regardless.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Who?
Owls, that's who!
On Sunday the park put on a "Live Birds of Prey" presentation, so the newly minted fiancee and I took my grandmother out to see some birds.
In my opinion, they started with the stars of the show and brought the owls out first. I think owls are about the only predator that can give felines a run for their money on purpose-built killing machines. I mean they have special feathers that only exist to silence the airflow around their claws...
In order of size, they had a Northern Saw Whet that was both tiny, and greatly upset about being awake at 3 in the afternoon.
Upping the level in both size and badass looks was the Screech Owl.
Possibly one of the prettiest owls, and quite common around here, the Barred Owl-
And for the show-stealing intimidation in bird form, they had a Great Horned Owl, and he was not at all happy about being out.
It seems that they do the whole "stand up straight" thing when they're calm and relaxed. If they're feeling frisky and mad with something, that's the look you get. Thankfully they're still attracted to the flip on an SLR's mirror, and the people with the birds were kind enough to pause a little longer in front of a "real" camera.
They also had some daytime killers, photos of those tomorrow.
On Sunday the park put on a "Live Birds of Prey" presentation, so the newly minted fiancee and I took my grandmother out to see some birds.
In my opinion, they started with the stars of the show and brought the owls out first. I think owls are about the only predator that can give felines a run for their money on purpose-built killing machines. I mean they have special feathers that only exist to silence the airflow around their claws...
In order of size, they had a Northern Saw Whet that was both tiny, and greatly upset about being awake at 3 in the afternoon.
Upping the level in both size and badass looks was the Screech Owl.
Possibly one of the prettiest owls, and quite common around here, the Barred Owl-
And for the show-stealing intimidation in bird form, they had a Great Horned Owl, and he was not at all happy about being out.
It seems that they do the whole "stand up straight" thing when they're calm and relaxed. If they're feeling frisky and mad with something, that's the look you get. Thankfully they're still attracted to the flip on an SLR's mirror, and the people with the birds were kind enough to pause a little longer in front of a "real" camera.
They also had some daytime killers, photos of those tomorrow.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
An Important Weekend
Took MandaFern up to the Porcupine Mountains, since she'd never been there, and it's someplace my family has been going to since about ever...
We started up at the overlook, because if you've never been up there you do need to at least see the Lake of the Clouds from the escarpment.
After that we went down to the Union Mine Trail, because it's a mile long loop with educational markers and beautiful scenery.
After that we headed down to the Summit Peak trail, went up the tower, and looped up to Mirror Lake. A good 6 mile hike or so. Not a long hike, but the elevation changes will kick your butt if you're not in shape... like us...
After a good breather and lunch we headed down to the Presque Isle unit of the park, because who doesn't like waterfalls?
I had been slightly nervous all day. Manda had commented, but I passed it off as only having had a single cup of coffee before heading out. She didn't, however, notice that I had made sure to not ask her to get anything out of my pack for me...
I made sure we lingered a bit overlooking Manabezho Falls. Shortly we were the only ones standing on the platform, and I knelt down next to her...
"So, I've been thinking... since I'm heading overseas and all, and you're very important to me... ...and there's people. Awkward..."
Another couple we coming down the stairs behind her, and didn't notice me next to her, so we moved back and sat on the bench and waited for them to take their pictures of the falls. As they turned to leave, they noticed my camera and asked if we'd like our picture taken in front of the falls.
Behold the awkward!-
So after a brief conversation about my shoes, I got back on a knee and continued...
I don't think either of us really remember what I said (other than "I want to be with you for a while... a long while... like, forever.") but the important thing is that she happily accepted the tiny object I had been hiding in my bag all day, and everything that goes with it, including me.
I've got more photos from the weekend, and they'll get posted eventually, but they just don't seem as important as these today.
We started up at the overlook, because if you've never been up there you do need to at least see the Lake of the Clouds from the escarpment.
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| Graceful as Always |
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| Good aspect ratio for widescreen wallpaper... ;-) |
After that we headed down to the Summit Peak trail, went up the tower, and looped up to Mirror Lake. A good 6 mile hike or so. Not a long hike, but the elevation changes will kick your butt if you're not in shape... like us...
 |
| I can see Canada, eh! (actually it's one of the Apostle Islands.) |
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| Manabezho Falls... absolutely beautiful view... |
I made sure we lingered a bit overlooking Manabezho Falls. Shortly we were the only ones standing on the platform, and I knelt down next to her...
"So, I've been thinking... since I'm heading overseas and all, and you're very important to me... ...and there's people. Awkward..."
Another couple we coming down the stairs behind her, and didn't notice me next to her, so we moved back and sat on the bench and waited for them to take their pictures of the falls. As they turned to leave, they noticed my camera and asked if we'd like our picture taken in front of the falls.
Behold the awkward!-
So after a brief conversation about my shoes, I got back on a knee and continued...
I don't think either of us really remember what I said (other than "I want to be with you for a while... a long while... like, forever.") but the important thing is that she happily accepted the tiny object I had been hiding in my bag all day, and everything that goes with it, including me.
I've got more photos from the weekend, and they'll get posted eventually, but they just don't seem as important as these today.
Sig-Sauer P290-RS
I think the new changes actually make it look a lot better. I'm sure they'll release a 'rainbow' finish in a few weeks to correct that.
Monday, May 28, 2012
-
It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived. - Gen George S. Patton
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Friday, May 25, 2012
Camping
Off to play up north for the weekend. If I have 3G I'll tease you all with pretty pictures, if not, you'll have to wait.
Back on Monday.
Back on Monday.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
'Yote Repellent
They've been getting brave over the years, so it's good to have something handy to scare them off this weekend if we need to.
B-CC with a TLR-1 and XPS should do the trick, stocked with 55gr. HP, just because it's zeroed for it.
B-CC with a TLR-1 and XPS should do the trick, stocked with 55gr. HP, just because it's zeroed for it.
Clocks are Worthless
Got home from work, tossed in a load of laundry, mowed the lawn, now having a beer. Makes sense... except for that pesky "AM" part of the clock...
All part of the graveyard.
All part of the graveyard.
End of an Era...
As a part-time owner of an award winning beard, all I can say is "God-speed Mr. Axford."
Sometimes it needs to be done for one reason or another. I just hope it's the nudge our luck needs.
Sometimes it needs to be done for one reason or another. I just hope it's the nudge our luck needs.
Excuses...
...Excuses. It's been light around here lately, but in my own defense, I did work 50 hours last week (mostly overnight hours too...) on top of prepping for a switch to Active Duty in a couple months. It was flip-flopping for a little bit, but it's pretty much a certainty now that I'll be spending a bit of time in Afghanistan after a bit in Texas (my own fault... I was silly and volunteered...)
Anywho, I should be getting some stuff up here after the weekend. Going to be in the UP enjoying the wilderness and ancestrial stomping ground, along with the first canned beer in a long time. (Will also have the good ol' Jetboil with French Press for the mornings.)
Anyway, this shift is almost done, and the lawn won't mow itself....
Anywho, I should be getting some stuff up here after the weekend. Going to be in the UP enjoying the wilderness and ancestrial stomping ground, along with the first canned beer in a long time. (Will also have the good ol' Jetboil with French Press for the mornings.)
Anyway, this shift is almost done, and the lawn won't mow itself....
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Sexy Handguard...
Remington RAHG
The more I play with ARs, the more I like modular handguards rather than full-out rail systems. This one looks nice to boot.
The more I play with ARs, the more I like modular handguards rather than full-out rail systems. This one looks nice to boot.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Coffee Helps You Live Longer
Of the 402,260 participants, about 42,000 drank no coffee. About 15,000 drank six cups or more a day. Most people had two or three.And knowing is half the battle!
By 2008, about 52,000 of them had died. Compared to those who drank no coffee, men who had two or three cups a day were 10 percent less likely to die at any age. For women, it was 13 percent.
Even a single cup a day seemed to lower risk a little: 6 percent in men and 5 percent in women. The strongest effect was in women who had four or five cups a day — a 16 percent lower risk of death.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Ow.
First good hard sunburn of the year. Gotta love the Irish complection... I don't think I've ever "tanned."
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Rusk County Honor the Fallen Ride
This past weekend we attended the Rusk County (WI) Honor the Fallen motorcycle ride. Manda's mom is heavily involved with organizing, so despite not having bikes (not those kind anyway...) we still try to go help out when we can.
The rides started as a fundraiser to build up a scholarship fund in memory of SSG Nathan Vacho. The rides also are in honor of two other Rusk County natives, SSG Patrick Lybert and LcPL Andrew Matus, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The ride is a 100 mile loop, with two stops, starting and ending at the restaurant owned by Nathan Vacho's parents (small world side-note, his father also happens to be my first CSM.) There's also a breakfast during registration and a dinner after the ride, along with one hell of a raffle. This year we walked away with a microfiber towel, a Streamlight Sidewinder, a large microfiber towel, and a set of ESS CDIs for Manda (which was good, she forgot to bring sunglasses...) Cro managed to walk away with an engraved Ontario Knives Rat 3, ensuring my jealousy for a while.
They also unveiled a Battle Cross monument that will be the first of several monuments in the memorial park.
I blame lack of sleep, but I forgot to write down the name of the group who funded the statue, but this is the first one they've done, and the next one is going to Virginia in memory of the members of the Spec-Ops community down there.
Overall it was a great weekend, with over 320 bikes and a great deal of money raised for a handful of causes.
Despite Manda and I's lack of a motorbike, G&C was still represented.
More bikes after the jump-
The rides started as a fundraiser to build up a scholarship fund in memory of SSG Nathan Vacho. The rides also are in honor of two other Rusk County natives, SSG Patrick Lybert and LcPL Andrew Matus, who gave the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq or Afghanistan.
The ride is a 100 mile loop, with two stops, starting and ending at the restaurant owned by Nathan Vacho's parents (small world side-note, his father also happens to be my first CSM.) There's also a breakfast during registration and a dinner after the ride, along with one hell of a raffle. This year we walked away with a microfiber towel, a Streamlight Sidewinder, a large microfiber towel, and a set of ESS CDIs for Manda (which was good, she forgot to bring sunglasses...) Cro managed to walk away with an engraved Ontario Knives Rat 3, ensuring my jealousy for a while.
They also unveiled a Battle Cross monument that will be the first of several monuments in the memorial park.
I blame lack of sleep, but I forgot to write down the name of the group who funded the statue, but this is the first one they've done, and the next one is going to Virginia in memory of the members of the Spec-Ops community down there.
Overall it was a great weekend, with over 320 bikes and a great deal of money raised for a handful of causes.
Despite Manda and I's lack of a motorbike, G&C was still represented.
 |
| Cro rolling out for the ride. |
So many photos...
If you like motorcycles, check back in a bit... editing some photos from the weekend.
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Monster (Hunter) Deal
The new three book Monster Hunter collection is available from Baen in e-reader form for a whole $6. I'd been putting off getting them for my new Kindle and glad I did (I've already got two paper copies of each book... a signed one, and a "loaner" copy.)
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Friday, May 11, 2012
Oops
The wiring in the house was getting worked on, so I didn't have power most of the day (8 hour battery on the netbook does nothing when the router and modem are dead...) so not much happened on here.
Done working in an hour, gonna go to the gym and run (they has TVs on the treadmills... I hate running. This makes it bearable.) Plus a hot tub, and I pulled something in my neck over the weekend and could use it. Then maybe sleep... going on 23 hours straight here.
On the upside, once the wiring's done, photo editing should be easier. Got a lot of stuff to push through, including some neat gun stuff.
Done working in an hour, gonna go to the gym and run (they has TVs on the treadmills... I hate running. This makes it bearable.) Plus a hot tub, and I pulled something in my neck over the weekend and could use it. Then maybe sleep... going on 23 hours straight here.
On the upside, once the wiring's done, photo editing should be easier. Got a lot of stuff to push through, including some neat gun stuff.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
22 Ways to Make Coffee
I've got 10 checked off the list, although I don't really consider "instant coffee" to be coffee. I'd definitely like to try more of the list though (like the Aeropress on my Wish List...)
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Excuses...
Overnight shifts plus my tummy treating pretty much everything I've been eating like dairy (yay lactose intolerance!) I'm just looking forward to getting to sleep in an hour or so...
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