Mice Or Men?

"The best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry", Robert Burns

"Prior planning prevents piss poor performance", First Sergeant Purdy

Today my Fortune Cooky read, "You know where you are going and you know how to get there".

What does April hold? In my case, I better have more plans than one.


The News is telling us that Iraq barely avoided Civil War. That place has been in Civil War.

Appalachian Intellectual

Black Fingers...Again

The Drive By Truckers played in Asheville Friday night. They put on a great show. They always do. But, I had to miss them. Not long after I would have gotten home from the show I was up and hitting the road. I went to that Urban Hell known as Charlotte where my Division Headquarters is at. I ran a simulated 9mm Range for the day. I genuinely enjoyed working with everyone who shot on my range. All 10 feet of it. Some I had to give a crash course in Pistol Shooting to, and everyone told me they learned something. That was rewarding in itself. Some were great shots, mainly those who shoot on the civilian side.

For the record I do not like the 9mm Beretta. As you can see from my profile picture, I'm a fan of Sig Sauer. .45 ACP is far superior to 9mm in effectiveness. After nearly 20 years the Army is wising back up and crossing back over to .45. What Pistol it will be is, as far as I know, still being determined.

A while back I asked if I could take my Sig with me to Iraq and was basically told it was out of the question. As for Iraq, here it is I'm told to be ready for Call Up in April and as of yesterday we do not have Orders yet. It will roller coaster. Heck, it's been a year since my "Day In The Life" where I was nearly Cross Leveled into a deploying Military Intelligence Unit.

Oh, yeah. My fingers are black. All 10 of them. I found myself doing more DuraCoating today than I planned for and three pairs of Nitrile gloves and two of some other kind were not enough. I learned some hard lessons with that stuff today. I wish I could have learned it with more gloves. The last time it took over two weeks for all of it to wear off of my finger nails. Any way, both Guns, Magazines and the Knife look great. One of the Magazines is a "USA" Magazine for my Sig which, flat out is a piece of junk. It wouldn't feed no more than two rounds through the Gun. It sits too high in the Chamber. I don't even know if "USA" is still in business. I've never heard of one working properly. It's a test piece to abuse. Test the product. As soon as it cures, if I'm not on my way to Iraq, I'll be thinking of demented things to do to it.

That's it for tonight. You'l are going to have to stop reading right here. Unless your really bored and you can read the whole darn Blog.

You'l be good...
Appalachian Intellectual

News Commentary

My fellow Romans...
The United Arab Emerates are going to cover our back. Or are they? The whole thing is enough to make one nervous. The debate doesn't rage over the Port Deal, it's an outcry against it. Congress say's they are not going to allow it, and the President say's he will Veto the opposition. It's healthy that we are arguing over the deal. Unfortunatly much of Congress is just trying to cover their ass with their constituants. That is their selfish nature. If John Kerry was President, Hillary Clinton would be telling us it's the greatest thing since sliced bread...Or dead Branch Davidians. Maybe even sharing Missle Technology with the Chinese? Who knows. Either way, going for the deal will make for an up hill battle come November. Is it bigotry? No, Americans simply don't trust orginazations of the region. For good reason. We did not go through a Missle strike to kill Osama bin Laden because a Prince from the UAE was Hunting with him. 9/11 Hijackers from the UAE, refusing to acknowledge Israel as a Nation(Isn't our support of Israel what this is all about?) The list goes on...Neil Bortz made a good one. However, we are intelligent enough to know that not all Arabs are suicide bombers.
President Bush may be trying to play Moral Conflict in this, I'm sorry to say in my eyes it's futal. It doesn't bother me as much that a compnay from an Arab Nation may get the contract as much as it is that we've come to that. How many of you knew that we contracted Port Security out to foriegn company's? We are a crumbling empire.

Marriage Contracts
People can be so hoaky about Marriage. They cover it with blandishment making it into bed of Roses that will make life so complete. Anyone with a succesful Marriage will tell you otherwise. Sometimes it's nothing more than a psuedo affectionate slavery covered with blandishmnet...and you get the rest of the sentence. Sometimes it's very suttle, I think we call that codependancy. I just don't get those that sign a contract before Marriage...It's like you don't trust someone. Why get Married then? Folks, I'm not here to preach, I'm 37 and alone, but, then, I'm not living a life of suttle slavery either. I heard about this fellar on the radio this morning that took it a bit to the extreme. He wanted his Wife to sign a contract as to what he expected of her. I warn you it can be a little graphically discriptive. Well, let's all hope the Lady can move on with her life and have a non slavery like, non hoaky, succesful Marriage. Most likley she won't though. The poor Girl all she would get is "Good Behavior Day's", nothng in return. Not even a "I'll help you around the house more".

Someone told me I used too many capitals. I said that I type in Old English, besides, by using capitals for certain things I give them more prestige. Why am I telling you this? Becuase you were wondering too.

Don't Tread On Me Time...
Appalachian Intellectual

This Bobcat snuck up behind me at a place called Cedar Rock Mountain. He was about 6 or 7 feet away from me before I realised that he was there. To make a long story short, he weighed about 35 pounds. That's the Rifle I took him with, a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight with a Lamenated Stock in .308(Hand loaded Seirra 168gr BTHP) It's camo'ed up in Deer Hunting Mode.  

Star Log, Febuary 19th

This is last weekends Snow in my back yard.

Thursday I tried on my Tux for the Jello Wedding. It fit great. Jello Boy's didn't. They ordered another jacket for him. It didn't fit, but, mine fit him. So, I wound up wearing my Dress Blues. Yes, all you fellow Joes, I own a set. Do you think that attracts Chics? Well, it sure attracts drunk Guys. One came into the Reception and congratulated me. I tried to get him to congratulate Jello Boy (I wish he would earn another nick name). He asked if he was in Service. I said no."Well, never mind then, congratulations to you". It dawned on me later I used to work with him. He's a real nice guy. Well, I haven't wore my Blues in almost three years. That was for an Uncles Funeral. I had to pull it out of the closet, dust it off and get all of my badges, awards and so on put on it. Jellouise left a message on my cell phone that I would have to wear them. Jello Boy told me with a grin. Everyone figures I just pull these things out of a bag and throw them on. It's not that easy.

Any way, I think they both enjoyed their Wedding and God Bless them both. Even if me and the Maid Of Honor, Mystery Girl, messed up by not letting them get half way down the isle before I gave her my arm and we trotted off.

I hadn't seen Jello Boy's Dad in a long time. I told him the Shotgun we finished for him looked great. But, Jello Boy hadn't finished the stock yet. "Yeah, I wish he would hurry up and get that thing together". He told me of how when I was a baby I didn't crawl like other youngin's. I just kind of got on one leg and scooted. He said he never seen anything like it before. I assured him I still didn't do things other peoples way. He told me I've done well for myself. I didn't want to argue with him, but, I feel I could do better. Heck, I aimed to do better last year and did, now the IRS is going to take it out of me.

Maybe I've gotten all mean. The whole time we stood there listening to the Preacher do his part I thought to myself how terribly corny Weddings are. I think it would be good if two people symbolically tied two ropes together and gave it a good tug to synch the knot down. Why does no one ever play Bongo's at Weddings? I'm not against Marriage, I'm all for it. I'm just not one to lament.

I took the Tux back today. Jello Boy told me the Manager Lady was hot, that I had to see her. He wouldn't describe her, he only said she wore flip flops and had a toe ring. Heck, any girl that would wear flip flops in Febuary can't be all bad. Well, Hot Manager Lady wasn't there. Nine Months Pregnant Girl was. I asked her when she was due and she told me Febuary 19th and that this was her fourth and last. After I walked around the corner it occurred to me that's today!

This Morning down at the Diner I ate breakfast while cutting up with the Girl at the register and a 79 year old man that's had two Heart surgeries and still lays brick and pours concrete for a living. He said he had to quit Block Work recently, that it had gotten too heavy.

Any way, "let the Midnight Special shine it's ever loving light on me"...
Appalachian Intellectual

Black Sugar

Oh Black Sugar. Bosco has the duty of clearing the drive way of Rabbits and such...Rain, Sleat and Snow. But, for a period of time she did not want to leave the house on a rainy day, often just staring into the rain dubiously. Since she was obviously afraid that she would melt, I nick named her Black Sugar.

A.I's disfunctioal Valentines Gift to you, curtosy of they Drive By Truckers.

Moral Level...
No Moral Face to the endless War
Though poetic, Jay Farrars statement is not true. One never escapes the Moral. Immoral is simply a degree of Moral. Is it not Bad Morals Good Morals?
Sun Tzu said...

By Moral Influence I mean that wich causes the people to be in harmony with their leaders, so that they will accompany them in life and unto death without fear of mortal peril.

The Moral Level is the most powerful level of War. This simple enterveiw is a good primer. An acute observer will catch the key words.
Ones actions or lack of communicates Morals. But, Morals are often viewed through a Prism.

Appalachain Intellectual

This is a Stevens .410 Shotgun(3" Chamber) before being refinished. The bluing was just about gone. When he bought the Shotgun it was rusty, and the stock dinged up. It came from a Pawn Shop, who ever had had the Gun must have left it in a closet. Below is the after picture.

I see that I'm getting alot of hits for DuraCoat. The After picture of the Gun above appears in the post below. Also see Black Fingers and Black Fingers... Again. If you have questions about putting it on. Just e-mail me. Anything to help out a fellow Gun Nut.

.410 Shotgun after the stock was refinished and barrell Duracoated. The stock was sanded down and Polyurathaned. The other parts visable are a 12 Gauge Shotgun that still needs some work done to the stock. Both the trigger gaurd and butt plate are Duracoated as well. We're kind of proud of it. A correction to my Black Fingers Post. It took two tablespoons, not teaspoons to cover the 12 Gauge. 1 1/2 covered the .410.

Just Plain Interesting Stuff...

On Chestnut Knob, Deer Season "05. Pisgah National Forest, Transylvania County NC.

Do you know what's cool? Carrying in Fire Wood in the dark while Rush's "Working Man" play's on the Stereo.

I heard an interesting song on WNCW(The Hippie Station) today. Looking at their Play List I see it was by Marty Stuart. It was a song about an Indian Cheif that was killed at Wounded Knee. Before that was Van Morrison doing Blues. I realy liked it. Any way, Marty Stuart claimed that Big Foot, the Cheif, warned Custer not to follow the Souix into the Litle Big Horn Valley. Custer as we can all obviously see in History saw his name in big bold print as News Papers back in the East proclaimed Victory over the "Savages". Col. Custer made mistakes Strategically, Operationaly and Tactically, I can't help but think of it at every mention of the man's name. He went into the Little Big Horn Valley sure of a win until he saw all of those angry Indians coming out of those Villages. Custer was found wearing nothing but his Socks and an arrow shoved up his penis. Unscalped.

That reminded me of some interesting qoutes I had read this morning. Though you may not like what the man say's, feel nuetral or completley agree, the qoutes are very amusing. Interestingly, two of them are about the French. Mind you, the French are not all bad. Unfortunatly, much of our Military Doctrine was modeled after the French. Fortunatly, many of us realize that.

I see alot of Moral Conflict in the head lines latley. That is not Moral within ourselves, a fight over Abortion for example, or any of the usual internal arguments that are seen nightly on the News. It's the Conflict and Discord between the West and the Mid East. Moral War is what say's we are right(Not just blabbing it), draws your freinds closer to you, casts your enemy in doubt, and as John Boyd pointed out, prevents the seeds of future conflict. We are a long way away from the last one. Moral War takes place on all of our levels of War, as the U.S Army see's them, Strategically, Operationaly and Tactically. Everything from the actions of Nation and Organization leaders to our Soldiers patrolling Iraq showing respect for the people in the neighborhood. Well, with Al Qaudas latest Video's, President Bush's last State of the Union Speech, the statements coming out of Iran and the Cartoon Riots it's really heating up. Strangley as it is, lines are still being drawn in this War.

At Drill I was told, basically, be ready to leave in April. But, that was not definate and would more than likley change. Either way, I have to be ready to leave in April. This is an interesting time of the year.

No real cool sign off, but, just wait...
Appalachian Intellectual

I'm Posting Because I Ought To

The life of a Rockabilly Hill Billy Nerd can be demanding at times. In addition to being in the Army Reserves, holding down a full time job(that now makes us take an hours Dinner Break, stringing out the day) there are other persuits that call for your time. Like meeting folks about a better Tax System. I will post more on this subject when I have more time to write.

I sprayed a Gun down in Duracoat tonight and it felt good. The Gun looks great. It's Jello Boy's old Steven's .410 Shotgun. I think once he assembles it it's going to be a good looking Gun. He bought it used years ago and it was all dinged up. Not anymore. I wore gloves this time. However; my fingernails still have black on them. Do you see that Pistol up there(A Sig Sauer P220 .45 ACP) I'm tempted to make it Olive Drab.

If your on my Blog Roll, you have been SpotBlogged. I'm not entirely absent. There is alot I would like to talk of, but, I also want to sleep tonight. I'm kind of partial to a good nights sleep.

Appalachian Intellectual

I Love Switch Grass

The President mentioned it last night...Switch Grass. I love the stuff. It's excellent browse for Deer and other game as well as cover. It's native to most of the Eastern States. Unfortunately it was over browsed by Farm Animals and in some cases replaced with Fescue, a non native grass. I know it has a high amount of hydrocarbons in it. As for using it in the making of Ethanol, as President Bush mentioned, I'm not sure how that would go. My Ex's Uncle worked for the Forest Service and I quizzed him on the stuff quite a bit. The first year it's put out it doesn't grow well, but the second it takes off. So I've been told. Also if it's cut at less than 8" it will die out. Hence the over browsing by some Animals. I've been threatening to throw some of it out here recently. Maybe when I come back from Iraq(If I go at this time) it will be doing well. I had mentioned it to Dave at Red Georgia Clay, but he said he was too far South for it. Never mind, just being a Rockabilly Hill Billy Nerd.

I really don't feel like posting tonight. I figure I ought to though.I have Drill this weekend. There won't be any posting later.
How the thing works
Here is how a Climbing Tree Stand works. Look at the picture below. Notice there are two parts. The one with the big board attached and another with a small one. The piece with the big board is the part you stand on, the other a seat. If you'll notice there are parts on both pieces looking like boomerangs. Those are blades that wich are attached by Wing Nuts, so that they can be moved. The rails are placed around the tree, seat on top and large part on bottom. The Boomerang blades are tightened down where they fit against the tree. Not seen are two blades on the cut V of the bottom. The three blades wedge against the tree, though not enough to hurt. On the foot piece there are two canvas loops(dry rotted) that the feet go in This is used to pick up the bottom. The seat has two bars with a wedge showing. It's wedged against the tree and is picked up to a manageable highth and wedged back in. The Hunter balances himself on the seat piece while facing the tree picking up the bottom with his feet. Sort of shimmying up a tree. Once in place he turns around, facing away from the tree. It's highly recommended to have a foot peg screwed into the tree to hang the seat piece on once your high enough. That as well as tieing the two pieces together and a safety strap. Falling from a tree stand can cause serious damage to the occupant. I had to drop from one this fall while climbing down. It was Ray's stand and I climbed up it in the dark not realizing it tied together with a string too long. I lost a piece.

That reminded me of my Technical Writing day's. I hope it made sense.

Appalachian Intellectual