More Generosity

You know how I am always going on and on about the character and kindness of those in the gun community? Well, here I go again. These guys and gals rock!!!

I used to be surprised by the level of support, care and fight here, but not anymore. Now when I see something like this, I just nod and smile. Sure it still chokes me up because action born out of true genuine compassion is deeply moving no matter how often it is seen, but surprised I am not.

I don’t think anyone really cares too much about winning the prizes being offered, but it’s fun to win, so head over to Old NFO’s place and learn all about the latest opportunity.

Erin also has a neat idea, so don’t forget to stop by her blog. too.

Tam-Update

I don’t know Tam at all, but I know she could use some support. As a community that prides itself on taking care of it’s own, I knew you would all want to be made aware of an opportunity to do so.

I saw the request here first.

Remember even $5 from everyone who reads my blog alone would cover bills for a good long time. Don’t let the amount, regardless of how “small” keep you from lending a hand.

***update*** YOU MUST GO HERE Or HERE. You can contribute to something positive and also get a chance to win something very cool for yourself.

More On That Preparing Stuff

***Edited to include a video you might find helpful

Well, I know when I hit on something important because my email box fills up quick. I am trying to answer everyone back, but I can’t give each email enough attention, so I will state it here.

The first and most important thing is DO NOT FREAK OUT!! There are certain things we can not control such as knowing what we didn’t know. You and I can not go around beating ourselves up for not realizing sooner that we maybe should have done a little more of this or a little less of that. I have had a pretty good life. Yes, there have been some challenges along the way, but mostly I love all that I have accomplished and experienced and had I known back then what I know now, sure I would have adjusted a few things, but guess what…that is not happening.

The second thing is why are you learning self defense and preparation in the first place? To stay alive right and what is the point of staying alive if you are scared, paranoid, and/or stressed. All that you are doing now should be a way to give you more confidence and add to your life. Most of us simply can not get all that we need in terms of skills or supplies in one lump time period. No problem. Each step forward is actually a step forward(has anybody else come to hate that word?).

I like the idea of balance. It is a huge cliche, but it’s true. For example I take my health very seriously. Always have. I like being healthy and strong, but I also like Martinis and rib eye fat. I don’t want to be so healthy that I live to be 98(I have discussed this age with God and hopefully we are on the same page), but am miserable the whole time because I only ate tofu and drank green tea(I like both by the way) So say I am in the mood for a martini I don’t deprive myself because  if I die tomorrow(not gonna happen) I will be one ticked off newbie in heaven, but on the chance I don’t die(not gonna die) I would kind of like a functioning liver, so one drink is probably enough. Balance. I can only control so much.

Same with preparing. I have no idea if there will be a collapse or a war that ends life as we know it. I know people have called for it for years and years and it has never happened, but I also know the signs are not looking good. Doesn’t matter really. I like guns and ammo so having that on hand is a no brainier. Some extra food, water and batteries most of us have anyway, so adding a bit here and there is not a big deal. For me I am enjoying learning new skills like EMT and life without electricity. Even if life goes on exactly like it is(not gonna happen)I am doing fun things that just might also serve a useful purpose.

Here is a hint…It is ok to have fun and enjoy your life! Even in times of great hardship, uncertainty and fear…have fun. What else is there people? What are you afraid of? Figure out what you are really afraid of and then address that issue.

For me it is not having my family and a life that I worked so hard to have, but when I really stop and think about all the good times and all the bad times they separate out into 2 categories. Life with the people I love and loss of someone I love. Even after I was mugged, the greatest sadness and heartache was caused by the loss of myself and that of E. I had comes to term with the fear of another attack and dealt with how to avoid being victimized again(to the best of my ability), but it took me much longer to say good bye to the old AGirl and I fought twice as hard to restore parts of E that she lost. It has always been the people that matter to me. Liking myself and those around me have always given me the greatest joy and conversely not having them has given me the greatest hardships. Sitting around our dinner table we always have fun and it doesn’t much matter if it is a birthday dinner of crab legs and wine or mac & cheese from a box(yuck though). For me I feel like if I have that, I have everything. Now, I like wine, so I am gonna stock up on that too because well, just because.

I want you all to learn how to better keep yourselves safe and prepare for the craziness that life brings, but I want you to live a life worth living. It is ok to buy those pretty shoes even though you don’t have a years worth of dried food stored up, but you probably should make some kind of deal like one pair of shoes and an extra bag of rice for the storage room. Pick a skill that sounds the most fun and doable and learn it…hunting(that’s mine), sewing, fishing, whatever.

We are going to have a “oh my goodness it is the end of the world” weekend here at the abode soon. No electricity, no running water, etc and I am so tickled excited you have no idea. M, the 14 year old not so much. As a parent her misery is just a side benefit. It makes up for all that morning sickness she caused me years ago.

Yes, I think we will learn a lot from it, but to me it is just another adventure like walking on the Great Wall(such an experience) or learning to water ski. It’s not a chore or a burden or a we better do this before the Zombies come thing. It is something to do and a neat way to spend the weekend even if I never actually have to live like that for an extended period of time(and I am absolutely praying that I don’t).

Make or find a good list and then at whatever pace you feel comfortable start checking things off. I will tell you when I first decided to expand my basic preps I was completely overwhelmed and discouraged by the lists and survival web sites, so I opted not to visit them. I am feel more comfortable, so I do now, but in the beginning I made a very simple list of the items I thought our family could us more of. I also just slowly added. We need gluten free pasta, so every time I did regular shopping I picked up 2 extra bags. I made a conscience decision that every time I went to Costco no matter the reason I would pick up batteries. They have them in bulk at the cheapest price I have found. Little steps and eventually, I had batteries up the ying yan.

Remember to BE CALM. Things are all kinds of wacka right now and there is a ton of anxiety in not knowing, but there are things we can do and the point of doing them is improving quality of life not reducing. I believe we are going to be ok, but even if not(we are). Even if I go down with the first wave of insanity, at least until my time then I will be preparing and learning and I will be joyful and happy and calm.

Now, go buy or do or find something fun for your life.

Something Light

In keeping with the theme of my life…always having fun lets focus on that for a bit and a way you all can help me.

My husband’s office put together a Fantasy Football league and they let me play(mostly they needed more people, but still) Anyway, I won 4 weeks in a row, but have lost the last two weeks…damn Tampa Bay. This week I am up against Arete and since I can’t kick his but in a knife fight, I really want to cream him in fake football, so light some candles, build a shrine, preform your favorite sports ritual and send me some good mojo.

Being Prepared

Yesterday I posted a little link to an article on basic prepping. It was for folks just starting out. I got a surprising number of private messages from folks who are stressed and looking for help.

Other than food, water, ammo, and basic first aid, what is the one(or more) item you have added to your preps that you consider a must have?

I have always had food, water, first aid, flashlights, batteries, and fire extinguishers. Also blankets and a radio. I grew up in Iowa where we had tornadoes and then lived for years in California where we had fires(bug out) and earthquakes(stuck with little resources) Now, our family was never impacted in a big way by Mother Nature, but I was prepared or I thought I was.

When I came here to the gun world and discovered I had some major gaps in planning for long term survival I freaked out a little, asked around, gotmsome great advice and then I decided to use camping as my guide. We love to camp and we almost always doing it in a tent with sleeping bags. Survival kind of. I looked at our gear and found what would work if we were out of say electricity. Camp stove, lanterns, that kind of thing.

i have goals and I would love to move to some land and set up a life where we could still have the comforts of life with little sacrifice, but that may never be possible. What is possible is setting up a system that will work with my current set up and resources. For me the “camping” template worked well and it is fun for the kids to think about. Camping at home as opposed to zombie attack.

When the latest hurricane threatened our area we put our plan into action. Fortunately we were spared, but we found that for the most part we were ready. Still prayed like crazy, but neither myself, my husband nor our kiddos were afraid and we didn’t have to do any last minute freak out shopping. I also felt a whole lot better having Eleanor when the threat of riots was making its rounds.

So, what about the experts out there…can you help my readers who are new to this?

This Is My Country and I Love Her

Ever since I can remember I have watched the election night coverage. My guy’s chance winning or losing, I watched. If my guy lost I was over it in about a second. Even the first time this goof got elected, but last night I could not watch.

I voted and I was full of “youthful” energy and hope. I am always optimistic and I believed there was a chance. This morning I read the news and I was stunned. I didn’t cry or scream or react in anyway. I was literally numb. As the day went on I bounced all over from anger to despair to worry, but now I am just determined.

I have no idea what this means. I really don’t, but it feels different. I am sad. I am sad for what this country has become. It used to be a place where people were proud of working hard and making their way and now it is cool to be famous for no reason and to get something from someone else’s hard work. People are proud to take from their neighbors.

All I know is that I am an American. I am proud of those that have come before me. Those that have fought and died and those that have fought and lived. I can think of no better way to honor them, to thank them, than to fight.

My love for this country is not dependent on who occupies the White House or how my neighbor votes. I like my life here. I like the ease of electricity and running water. I like all the comforts we have, but for me it’s not just words or rhetoric or fist shaking and I know for most all of you it isn’t either. I have no idea how far my words will be tested, but if I have learned anything over the past 20 months, it is that I know what is with fighting for and what is worth dying for and I have no intention of dying.

The world has always been uncertain with no promise of fame, fortune or happiness. Today for many it feels hopeless, but for me it is anything but. We are founded on the principles of idealism and hope and I intend to honor that ideal and all who fought for it with every ounce of my being.

I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.  I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him.  ~Abraham Lincoln

Patriotism… is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.  ~Adlai Stevenson

A man’s country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle; and patriotism is loyalty to that principle.  ~George William Curtis

There are those, I know, who will say that the liberation of humanity, the freedom of man and mind, is nothing but a dream.  They are right.  It is the American dream.  ~Archibald MacLeish

If our country is worth dying for in time of war let us resolve that it is truly worth living for in time of peace.  ~Hamilton Fish

Least we not forget…

America is much more than a geographical fact.  It is a political and moral fact – the first community in which men set out in principle to institutionalize freedom, responsible government, and human equality.  ~Adlai Stevenson

Men love their country, not because it is great, but because it is their own. Seneca



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Question

I received this email from a gentleman that reads the blog…

“I have a question for you though. About a week ago I sent you an email regarding what happens after one has had to shoot someone who was intending to either kill or do great harm to them. From what I have heard in the past….and different localities have their own “laws or rules” on this…. Your weapon is confiscated so they can check to see if it is stolen. Well, for one thing why can’t they just copy down the serial number? It seems to be that it can take forever to get the weapon back to the one that had to do the shooting. Now, I can see that in some cases where things appear “fishey” the authorities might hold onto it until things are clear. But….it appears that sometimes it can take months to return it. If then….some places they just keep it. To me that smacks of a sort of back door gun control if not outright theft. I was kind of hoping you might either tell me your views on this or even cover that in a posting on your blog.”

Any thoughts???

My view is that I, of course, do not that think anyone should take my gun from me, but I also understand that it will become part of the investigation and as such will be confiscated for tests etc. I guess I don’t mind if during the course of the investigation is taken, but I would hope that once all was sorted out, it would be returned and no funny politics would be employed.

I will tell you being arrested and/or losing my gun are two of the many reasons I am conscience about doing all I can do avoid ever having to use my gun. The number one reason, of course, is that I have zero desire to harm anyone ever.

Voting

A while back I received a letter in the mail telling me I had a new voting place. No biggie. The new one is closer to my house so fine. This morning I received a text message telling me that my polling place was closed due to a problem with the machines, but should be back up in 30 minutes. I waited an hour and headed over.

In all the years I have been voting here I have never waited in line. In and out. Five minutes tops. Today I parked 5 blocks away and the line was taking about an hour and forty five minutes. Fine. I was happy to see so many people taking part in the election.

I begin chit chatting with the friendly folks in front of me and one lady asked me where I lived. I looked familiar to her. I was, our kids are on swim team together. I only mentioned the generally area I lived and a polling volunteer said I was at the wrong place. I showed him my paper and he said nope, but let me check. Sure enough he said the paper was wrong and I needed to go the other site. I spent 30 minutes in line in the cold, but I wasn’t in a hurry and getting all pissy want gonna effect anything and I knew regardless I was going to vote, so off I went.

I called my hubby to tell him when he went to vote not to go to xxx. He said he had already voted this morning at yyy because his paper said to go yyy. What?? That makes no sense.

When I got to yyy, the lines were the same…loooooong. This group was not friendly. People were ticked. They too got papers telling them to go to xxx and then when they got there were told to go yyy, then they had to wait because the machines were down Here also. The natives were restless.

Mistakes happen and waiting is fine, but I have to say all the confusion and craziness made me uneasy. I sure hope all of our votes count. If they do then no problem. If not…I’m gonna get feisty.

I am still a little peeved because they were also out of I Voted stickers and I love those.

Good news no matter what happens today, I have 1500 rounds of ammo on its way to my house!!

It Happened

I finally met a not so neat-o “gun” person. There is a young kid in our EMT class that seems like a nice enough guy. He might exaggerate a lot and likes attention, but he is nice and polite, but his gun attitudes cause us to butt heads a bit.

A few Saturdays ago I was having a conversation with another student. He is probably my age, shoots competitively and lives on land he can shoot on. We were talking about an annoying squirrel issue he has. Then he started to tell me about a gun video on You Tube he thought I might enjoy. At this point the young kid starts laughing and asks me if I have seen the video of the guy who  hands his “stupid” girlfriend a “big ass” gun and watches it hit her in the head and cracks her nose open. I tell him yes and I didn’t think it was funny. He tells me she was stupid and should have listened when the boyfriend said tighter grip. Now, I don’t know that I have seen the exact video he was referring to, but my point is the same.

I told him the “stupider”, the less skilled, the more naive, the weaker, the more delicate and/or unfocused, the MORE support they need, not less. If I think someone can’t handle or will have difficulty handling a particular firearm, my approach is to find a safer way for them to do so and if that isn’t possible, we don’t shoot(that has never happened) I also informed him that using a firearm to teach someone a lesson about listening is not a good idea. I said everything matter a fact, but nice.

We also have a set of twins in our class. They are 19 and desperate to shoot. After that last Saturday class they went home with my card and talked to their parents. Their dad is FBI, but has never talked guns with them, at all. Not even basic safety. Anyway, 2 days ago the mom calls me from a local gun shop where she wants to buy a revolver. I try to discourage her for 2 reasons: one the gun shop owner told her women need revolvers because they aren’t cops and if they try to run a semi auto they will just look foolish and like they are trying to be cool. I don’t even know what that means, but it annoyed me and I didn’t want her to spend her money there. More importantly she has never shot any gun of any kind. I told her I really wanted her to shoot first and I would take her and the girls to the range to shoot whatever they wanted. She was frustrated as she wanted a gun that second, but I kept saying you really should shoot a few guns before you buy one.

So, last night at class the twins tell me their mom bought a small semi auto from a different gun shop, but they couldn’t remember which one. In the course of our discussion the young man chimes in.

I agree with the gun shop owner. Women don’t need a semi auto and plus a revolver is better for intimidating people. I ignored him, looked at the girls and said, “Don’t ever do that.” “Don’t ever use your gun to intimidate someone.” “It’s dangerous, stupid and illegal.”

Then one of the girls asked me how many bullets I think is enough. As I am chit chatting the young man said only 5. You only need 5 as pistols are precision weapons. I said, no, they are not. He goes on to tell me yes because with a pistol one has to know what they are shooting at not like a rifle where you can spray and pray.

Again, I look to the young lady and say, I don’t want you doing that either. I want you to know exactly what you are shooting at and then I want you to hit it. Spraying bullets all over without knowing where they are going is dangerous, stupid and could cause you some legal issues down the road.

As an aside, the first thing I told the mom was to sign up for training. I wanted her to do it before she bought a gun, but she was determined to buy a gun that day. However, they all are signed up for an 8 hour conceal carry class. Not with us at FPF. She is paying for herself and her 3 girls, so our classes were out of her budget. Anyway our chats in class are very generic. I am mostly trying to steer them away from rush decisions and telling them to keep an open mind. They are getting lots of advice like from her boyfriend’s mom, who carries daily. She insists they buy a gun with a safety which is why she recommends they don’t buy revolvers. I don’t know.

The girls have good instincts though. They both carry knives everywhere and seem very aware of things such as situational awareness. One girl really wants the Glock 19 and the other twin wants the Ruger LCR. I just keep endlessly saying…both really good guns, but I would really like to take you shooting first. Just for fun. I will bring guns, ammo and pay the range fee. Lets just shoot a little before you buy or wait til after training. They say ok, but smile like that isn’t happening. I mean they really want to shoot with me, but they don’t want to wait to buy their guns. You all know how I bought my gun, so I can’t blame them, but still want them to learn from my mistakes as opposed to perpetuating them:)

As we are talking at the end of class the young man says that a great way to conceal is not to use a holster and off he goes. I look at the girls and said, “Please, do not listen to ANYTHING he says about guns.” With terrified looks they promise.

So, good news is the girls are getting training and preparing themselves before they go away to college next year. Bad news, this goofball guy is walking around my town with very poor gun knowledge and habits.

 

My Rifle Has A Name

I was informed that while I have the right to do what I want, rifles are female, so while I value individualism, I also honor tradition.

“You must do the things you think you cannot do”
Eleanor Roosevelt

“Freedom makes a huge requirement of every human being. With freedom comes responsibility. For the person who is unwilling to grow up, the person who does not want to carry is own weight, this is a frightening prospect”
Eleanor Roosevelt

“In the long run, we shape our lives, and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our own responsibility.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“One’s philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes… and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility” Eleanor Roosevelt
“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“We are afraid to care too much, for fear that the other person does not care at all.” Eleanor Roosevelt

“Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” Eleanor Roosevelt
“People grow through experience if they meet life honestly and courageously. This is how character is built.” Eleanor Roosevelt
My personal favorite and one I try to live by daily…
“We gain strength, and courage, and confidence by each experience in which we really stop to look fear in the face… we must do that which we think we cannot.”Eleanor Roosevelt
So in keeping with tradition and history, she will be known from now on as Eleanor.