Girls With Guns

As far as the "chic in the honda" target...

It only took one magazine to end the situation.

Mark

A Day At The Range...

I spent the day at the range with my wife today. Weather conditions were great and we had a blast. Week days are always nice because the chances are good that you have the entire range to yourself. I picked up a few bad guy targets a few weeks ago and they proved to be ideal. It was refreshing to use the large photo targets as we usually shoot smaller paper targets and steel plates.

Mark

I Thought My Christmas Was Good...

"He who hath the biggest trash pile, haddeth the best Christmas."

- Southern Man Cave

I now know where the Joneses live. This is what it must look like after winning the lottery just before Christmas. When I first saw it, I thought "Damn! I need to take a picture of that." I am proud to say that after Christmas this year, my trash can did not spilleth over.

Forgive the image quality, it was a recon mission with my cell phone.

Mark

A Perfect Pair

551 Griptilian & 556 Mini Griptilian

I recently added two more Benchmades to my collection. I wanted a Mini Griptilian like my wife's (not pink) and could not resist getting his bigger brother also. I do not want to come across as some Benchmade Axis-Locking narrow-minded fan boy, but compared to all other knives I have held... all others suck!

To quote Muhammad Ali:

"Float like a butterfly, Sting like a bee!"

Fast, Smooth and sharp as hell!

Steel: 154CM (Good all around steel.)

Blade Style: Mod. Drop-Point (Good utility shape.)

Locking Mechanism: Axis (Great design.)

Handle Material: GTX (Secure and solid feel.)

Both of these knives are very grippy and light enough for every day carry. These two will be replacing the SOG Flash I & Flash II respectively as my every day utility blades.

The best part of buying a new knife is now I can focus on my next one.

Mark

The NUTNFANCY Project

http://www.youtube.com/user/nutnfancy

Earlier this year I stumbled across a video review of the Glock 17. A month or so later, I googled a video review of the Ruger 10/22 rifle. A few weeks later, I ran up on a video review of the Ruger LCP. That same night, I found a video series reviewing the Kel-Tec SU-16C. I started noticing a pattern. I did what tens of thousands of other gear nuts around the world have done and clicked on this guy's name to see what other videos he had posted. That is when I discovered the most insanely-cool collection of reviews, adventures, philosophy and dangerous things known simply as "The NUTNFANCY Project", or TNP.

With well over 500 video documentaries organized in dozens of categories known as play lists, you will quickly find yourself lost in the never ending selection. His reviews are second to none. It is obvious that he is passionate about the products he reviews and has extensive experience with the topics he covers. I have greatly enjoyed the hours upon hours of video I have watched and can not begin to tell you how much I have learned in the process.

He has turned my knife interest into a sickness and has taken my shooting and outdoor activities to a never before seen level. Unlike many of the TNPer's out there, my wife is also a huge fan. She subscribes and watches on a regular basis. I have made about a dozen purchases based on NUTNFANCY's reviews and have been extremely happy with those purchases.

Keep it up NUTN'.

Mark

Pass the Cool-Aid

Benchmade 940 Osborne

It was a tough decision. I could not decide between the green 940 or the red 960. As the photo shows, I went with the green 940. I have quite a few black handle blades and wanted something other than black. After all, this was not going to be another $30 pocket knife. I really like the lines and design elements of all the Osborne designed Benchmades. So far I have been happy with the decision.

Specs:

Blade Shape - Modified Reverse Tanto. (nice tactical look but good belly for utility)

Blade Length - 3.40 (very capable)

Closed Length - 4.47 (a bit larger than my ideal pocket knife length.)

Handle Material - Aluminum (thankfully not as slick as you would think)

Locking Mechanism - AXIS (smoooooooth)

Blade Material - S30V (first experience with this steel)

Even though the handle is made of aluminum, it has somewhat of a chalky feel. Like the Mini Griptilian, the deployment is fast and smooth. As an added bonus, I have learned that the AXIS mechanism allows you to fine tune the action by way of a locking nut. The black hardware accents the green handle very well. The more I use this knife, the more I like the blade style. Very functional. I have always liked the looks of a tanto but usually opt for a style with more of a belly for utility purposes. There is a purple spacer on the back spine for both aesthetics and added gimping. I was surprised at how light this knife was weighing in at 2.90 oz.

The only downside would be the sharpness of the blade. I do not believe it was even sharpened at the factory. The Mini Griptilian was razor sharp. I mean I could have shaved with this knife out of the box. Fortunately, Benchmade is going to resolve this issue. I will have to send it in but all is not lost. There is a Griptilian headed my way.

Mark

Chasing Butterflies

Benchmade 555 Mini Griptilian

Earlier this year I ran across a few Benchmade brand knife reviews online. I have never owned a Benchmade but knew about their reputation as a premium knife company. Due to the glowing reviews, I was inspired enough to visit Benchmade.com.

My wife did not have an EDC blade for her purse. I ran across a Mini Griptilian model 555 sporting a pink handle. I put 2 and 2 together and ended up finding a perfect birthday gift for my wonderful wife. My wife has everything. If she sees something she wants, she gets it; extremely hard for us to exchange gifts because I am the same way.

She loved it. I loved it. I wanted one. As a matter of fact, I was so impressed with the axis locking mechanism and the feel of this knife that I would have gladly carried this knife if she did not like it... even with the pink handle. Yes, it felt that good.

Specs:

Blade Shape - Modified Sheepsfoot (Looks good but also practical.)

Blade Length - 2.91 (Perfect size blade for EDC.)

Closed Length - 3.87 (Not too large but large enough.)

Handle Material - GTX (Very solid material. Very good grip.)

Locking Mechanism - AXIS (The smoothest knife action I have ever experienced.

Blade Material - 154CM (I am no steel expert but suffice it to say 154CM is not 420.)

This was a home run. She loves it. I want one so bad I can't stand it. Thank you Benchmade!

Mark

Thanks For The America!

So, Mark calls me this morning and says, "Do you still want to make a bet on the Georgia-Tennessee game?" I said sure. We decided that we would wager a CAO America cigar on the game. Based on the line that I looked at, Georgia was favored by 1 point. So Mark was willing to give the point and the friendly wager was made.

FYI, Mark lives in Georgia and is a Bulldogs fan. I live in Tennessee and am a Vols fan. Final score of the game: Tennessee 45, Georgia 19. Enough said :-)

I do like the America, but somehow I think I will enjoy this next one even more than usual. BTW, Mark, no pissing on the cigar before you send it or anything like that!

Dave

Anniversary Cigars!

Today is my wedding anniversary, and the above pic is what my wife gave to me. You see in the picture one of my very favorite cigars…the Oliva Serie G maduro. One that I have never tried before, the Camacho Triple Maduro, which is supposed to be the world’s only all maduro cigar. Yes, Mark I’ll let you know how it is :-)

Also, you see the red tin containing 10 CAO maduro mini cigars. I’ve already tried one of these. I’ll give it a 5 on a 1 to 10 scale. But then the big dog is the tubed cigar to the right. This is the Zino Platinum Double Grande. She said she wanted to get me one “expensive” cigar. She tried to get a Titan, but the place didn’t have one. This Zino is a $32.00 cigar. I can’t wait to smoke it, and I’ll write a review once I do.

Happy Anniversary to my wife, and thanks for the smokes.

Dave

Living The Life...

Let's see. I work 12 hours at the office. When I come home I have a never ending list of projects, home maintenance needs, a honey-do list a mile long and bills to pay.

Meet Spinner & Buzz. Our twin domestic short hair cats that we brought home a little over a year a go from the animal shelter. Doing their best to fill up the litter box and eating at will all day & night long, is what they do while I am at work.

The other day I came home wanting to relax in the "Southern Man Chair", pop open a cold Bud, and enjoy a few hours of SEC football.

Didn't happen. Apparently, this is their house and they have now taken over the easy chair. It's not the first time I have been sent to the couch and probably not the last.

Mark

R.I.P. Bodhi

My wife called down the stairs to me and asked if I had heard about Patrick Swayze. Everyone knew that it was coming for a long time, but I still hated to hear it. I didn't know him except through the movies I watched and interviews I heard, but he has been one of, if not my favorite, actor for years.

The first movie I saw with him was Red Dawn. If you haven't seen it, watch it. Damn good movie for its time during the Cold War. As usual his character was great. My absolute favorite movie of his is Point Break. I have seen it many, many times...I may watch it again tonight.

A great actor, and someone I think I would have really enjoyed sitting down and having a beer with. There was nothing really negative ever published about him that I can remember. He was one of the few people in Hollywood I would really like to have met.

The image above is in the public domain as far as I can tell...if I'm wrong, let us know and we'll remove it.

Dave

Man Cave on Location: Chattanooga

This past weekend, Dave and I met in Chattanooga, TN for a weekend of guns, cards, beer, cigars, and more guns. We started off the weekend at an outdoor public gun range on Friday sending several pounds of lead down range. Then we headed back to the hotel for some ice cold Bud, perfectly humidified cigars, and a friendly game of Texas Hold 'em. I am not much of a poker player but ended up sending Dave home with lighter pockets.

The weather was perfect. We were only able to stay one night but maybe next year we can talk the wives into two nights. I am already thinking about a destination for next year. I had a great time and look forward to doing it again.

Mark

The Tenth Anniversary Decision!

I came home from a hard day at the office. As I start to sit down, my wife (who took the day off) says "Honey, before you sit down, will you go get the rest of the stuff out of the trunk?" I had only seconds to respond. Do I tell her "NO" and "get me a beer on your way back in" or do I bite the bullet and clean out the trunk? I bit the bullet and I'm damn glad I did. When I opened the trunk, there was a long, white box that said "Ruger" on the side.

For the past several months, I had talked about getting a Ruger 10/22 rifle. We already have a few .22 rifles but all of them are old hand-me-downs given to us by our fathers who got them from their fathers. These are priceless and could never be replaced. Even though they are fun to shoot from time to time, I would prefer to have something I would not be afraid to really use. I had one picked out but never told my wife which model. Our 10th anniversary is this month and she goes out and buys the one pictured - the exact model I had in my head.

It is a 10/22 semi-auto Target model with Bull Barrel, Fajen Legacy fully-adjustable stock and upgraded trigger assembly. All that I need is a nice scope, half a dozen magazines and she will be good to go. (The gun, not my wife.)

My wife is the best and I would hate to think what would have happened had I opted for the beer. This is definitely one of the best decisions I have ever made. (Both the gun and the wife.)

Mark

UpLULA from Maglula

Several months ago, I ran across a very unique product. It is called the UpLULA universal pistol loader. It is made in Israel and has proven to be worth its weight in gold. You will be hard pressed to find a negative review of this thing online - and for good reason. I have had success with the following magazines:

Glock 26

Glock 19

Glock 17

S&W Model 669

S&W M&P9c

S&W M&P 9mm. Full size

Beretta 40 Cal.

Ruger .380 LCP

Ruger P94 9mm.

Colt 1911 Single stack .45

Radom 9mm.

Taurus 9mm. Compact

I have yet to run across a magazine this thing can't handle. Not only is it compatible with every magazine I have tried, it is easier to use than any of the factory speed loaders that shipped with the firearms. Superb quality, durable, and inexpensive. I have no complaints with this product and coming from me, that is saying something.

I give it a solid 10 rounds!

Mark

Thanks For The Beretta

I just want to say thanks to my bro-in-law for loaning me this .40 caliber Beretta. This gun rocks. I love shooting it. I'm going to get one just like it somewhere down the road.

Dave

Big Orange Time

It's getting close and I'm starting to get Vols Fever. The first game is this coming Saturday. Check out the orange Bud Light above! I picked up a case of those bad boys today. Does the plate look familiar, Mark? Thanks again.

It's tough to say what kind of year the Vols will have, but hopefully Kiffin will be effective as head coach and there will be great games ahead. There will probably be some trash talkin' on this blog when Tennessee plays Georgia on October 10th. For those of you that don't know, I live in Tennessee and am a Vols fan, and Mark lives in Georgia and is a Bulldogs fan.

Dave

Bachelor Night

This post is a little late, but this past Friday night my wife and daughter were out of town, which left me to have a bachelor night. As it turned out, there was a preseason NFL game on. The Tennessee Titans were playing the Dallas Cowboys at the new Cowboy Stadium.

The above picture is what I fixed myself for supper. It was pretty damn good. Here's the recipe: (1) large size Stouffer's lasagna, (1) can green beans, (2) slices of texas toast, (1) six-pack of Bud Light. Not a bad meal for bachelor night while watching the game.

Dave

Printable Targets #3

This is the last of the target uploads. These two are designed to show you what you might be doing wrong based on where you hit the target. NOTE: these targets are designed for right-handed shooters. They are very good targets and will improve your handgun shooting. Just click the image to enlarge. I get better results by saving the images then printing them via a image editor. Some browsers tend to scale the images back. Have fun.

Mark

Printable Targets #2

These are the two I use the most. Basic 1 inch rings with fades. Just click the image to enlarge. I get better results by saving the images then printing them via a image editor. Some browsers tend to scale the images back. Enjoy.

Mark

Printable Targets #1

I wanted to post a few of my printable targets primarily for me to have access to print them from any computer and for others who might find them useful. These two are your basic 1 inch ring targets. Just click the image to enlarge. I get better results by saving the images then printing them via a image editor. Some browsers tend to scale the images back. Safe shootin'.

Mark

It's Not Rocket Science!

Why is it that when my wife shops for groceries, she spends $150 + and I am able to make it in and out for around $50? It's not like I am only buying junk. Take today for example. My proof is in the photo.

Basics:

Eggs (On sale)

Milk (On sale)

Loaf of Bread (Not on sale but we needed it.)

Parchment Paper (the only item my wife said she needed.)

Breakfast:

Large mixed fruit bowl

Lunch items:

Lunch meat (On sale)

Cheese slices (On sale)

2 bags of chips (On sale)

Dinner items:

Ground Beef (On sale)

Lettuce for salads

Snacks:

2 packs of peanut butter & Cheese crackers (On sale)

2 packs of Publix cookies (On sale)

Other:

Couple 4 packs of Red Bull (It gives me wings.)

1 White Chocolate Kit Kat that called my name at checkout

Game over! Even after tax, I cashed in at a little over $50. Throw in a case of beer and we are still only talking about $75. I do not get it.

Mark

When Lightning Strikes...

This is just a few miles from my house. The storm was intense, but it only took one strike to do this.

Dave

1 Month And Counting...

The days are getting shorter and that means the start of the 2009 college football season is almost here! A few months ago, I had the privilege of meeting Mark Richt, the head football coach for the Georgia Bulldogs and an all-around, class-A guy.

I volunteered to take photos for the event and did not have time to get in front of the camera with him. My wife has already starting to plan a few football parties and the excitement is building. With the X-Games now over, I can now focus on Athens, Georgia and the University of Georgia Bulldogs. Go Dawgs!

Mark

Closet Find

Stuffed way in the back, on the highest shelf in the closet, beneath the blanket of various fishing hats and old clothes, I found an old wooden box that I have not opened in quite some time. This is a collection of Case Knives I inherited from my Grandfather. The one thing that he was known for was his love of knives and his modest knife collection. But not just any knife would do.

He was a Case die hard through and through. He told me many times that some knives are meant to be used and some are never meant to be sharpened. This collection was some of the ones never to be used. But you can see from the wear around the latch that even though he never cut anything with these knives, the case has been opened quite a few times. If I had a dime for each and every time he opened this box, I would be able to pay off a credit card or two.

I found this box today while doing some closet organization. I decided to take a photo to have on my computer and thought I would post a blog entry. I learned the need of a good knife from him and to this day, I have carried a pocket knife damn near ever day of my life. Every time I buy a new knife, I think about how much I would like to show it to him.

Mark

The Smell Alone Is Worth A Visit.

A new cigar shop opened not far from my place of employment. After work, I went in to check it out. As I always do when visiting these shops, I asked for the owners' recommendation. The LegendArio by Camacho was the recommend stick I headed home with. It is much cheaper to order from online retailers, but I have always enjoyed the experience and smell of a quality cigar shop. Forgive the out of focus photo. It was starting to rain and I wanted to get a shot before this guy turned to ash.

It was a long enjoyable smoke. The rains came down and I savored every draw. To me, the perfect setting for a good smoke is late in the evening with a good, hard, steady rain to help drown out the stresses of everyday life.

Mark

Tennessee Handgun Carry Info

I came across a great blog post today outlining Tennessee's carry permit laws: When you can use it, and where you can't carry it. I remembered most of it from the permit class I took, but it was good to get a refresher. The link to the article is HERE. I went on to read some more of this man's blog, which was very good. (Mark, be sure to check it out). The address is www.lesjones.com.

On a side note, even though Mark and I talk about drinking, guns, and other things on this blog, we are responsible gun owners and citizens. Neither of us EVER handles a firearm if we have had anything to drink, and we obey all gun laws. Gun safety above everything if you are a gun owner, and remember that the barrel should NEVER pass across anyone or anything you don't intend to shoot...even if the gun is unloaded.

Dave

Ace Is Back...

Everyone that knows me knows I'm a longtime KISS fan. I have always been a fan of Ace Frehley too. The above pic is a screen grab of his new website (one of the coolest I have seen in a long time, I might add). He has a new album coming out in September called Anomaly, and the countdown has begun. I will be picking up this album as soon as it's out, and I will review it here. It's good to see Ace back in the "Groove". Everything I am hearing is that the album will be in the same vein as his '78 solo album. I can't wait. To find out more, click HERE.

Dave

Cheap-Ass Whiskey

Who would have thought it? My whiskey of choice is Gentleman Jack. However, here lately, I've been trying out some cheaper alternatives given the state of the economy and my economic situation. I generally will drink Gentleman Jack straight, and mix anything else. I mixed a glass of Canadian Mist and Sprite, and was pleasantly surprised that it was very good. Granted, Canadian Mist is nasty straight, but if you do a 30/70 mix with Sprite, it's pretty damn good (30% Mist, 70% Sprite). Gotta tell ya, I enjoyed it.

Dave

"Sticky" Holster Review

I recently purchased the above holster for my Ruger LCP. It is an inside the pocket holster that is supposed to keep the gun from moving around and keep it upright. They call it “sticky” because it is made of a “special high-adhesion fabric” that makes it resist slipping around in your pocket.

I wear cargo shorts most of the time and like to carry in the side pocket. I thought this holster would be exactly what I needed…and it is. It works great. It does prevent the gun from sliding around, and keeps it upright. The way the outside of the holster grips the fabric inside my pocket makes it easy to draw the gun while the holster stays in place. I also like the fact that the holster covers the trigger since this gun has no safety.

If you have an LCP, and carry in the pocket, I would recommend this holster. They’re easy to find…just do an eBay search.

Dave

Fish Crack!

One of the many time-wasting hobbies I have is lure making. I use home made lures most of the time I'm wetting a line. This one in particular, is a balsa popper that out catches any store bought popper I have ever used. It is designed to be used with a popping-cork rig. The schooling Stripers, Hybrids, White bass, Spots and Large mouths go crazy over this thing. By far, the best original bait I have created. I am posting this in the middle of the summer because I am really getting the itch for the fall top-water bite.

Summer fishing is not my forte. But come fall, I will be stocked up and ready for battle.

Mark

Weak Knees...

North end of lake Eufaula on the Chattahoochee River - this part of the river is covered up with these guys. Bass fishing can be phenomenal but beaching the boat to take a leak aint gonna happen. Even though they look fat & happy, they are quick to let you know whose house this is. I believe a camera in the boat is bad luck but when I launch in gator land, I always have one with me.

There is a place on the lake called "The Witches Ditch" that is home to a 18ft. monster. Seeing this girl out of a 18 ft. bass boat sure puts things into perspective.

Mark

Impossible Odds

This is a 5 ft. Alligator Gar. Also referred to as trash fish by most respectable Bass anglers. About 20 of these guys were cruising the shallows. The temptation was too much. I threw in the Baby Torpedo top-water plug and faced the fact that I would probably never see that plug again. It took only 3 casts to get a taker.

He came up out of no where and hammered my offering. Took almost 5 minutes to delicately work him to the boat. While holding him on semi-slack line, I also managed a couple of photos. Seconds after this photo was taken, he threw my plug and retreated back into the safety of deeper water.

I won this battle. I got my plug back. I got the shot. On this day, I was da man!

Mark

A Thief In The Night

Could not figure out what was eating the bird seed during the night. I knew it could not be squirrels due to the fact that they aren't nocturnal. Last night the cats were going crazy. The bird feeder right outside our kitchen window was squeaking back and forth and this little thief was going to town at the all you can eat buffet. I grabbed my camera and through the glass I managed one decent shot.

Now that he has found it, I will need to leave it dry for a while. They are cute and fun to watch but they can carry diseases and will be mean and nasty if they loose their fear of man.

Mark

Perfect Saturday Evening...

How's this for a Saturday evening? Start out with grinding 100% whole grains into flour. Convert the flour into pizza dough. Add a base of home made pizza sauce, red onions, black olives, jalapeno peppers, pepperoni, sausage and mushrooms. Top it off with a nice combination of mozzarella, Parmesan, Romano and Asiago cheeses. Wash it down with an ice cold Bud served in frozen mug. Kick back with a few more cold ones while the NASCAR Nationwide series takes place in Missouri. Finish with a Oliva Master Blends III.

Boogity, Boogity, Boogity! Let's go racing boys!

Mark

New Favorite Cigar Day?

Could have been the low humidity evening. Could have been the ice cold Bud after a long stressful day. And it could be that I have found a new favorite cigar. This is the Carlos Torano Signature cigar. This is a medium-full bodied masterpiece. This is one of the most flavorful cigars I have had. Boasting a Brazilian Maduro wrapper, this is a very complex blend with changing character form start to finish. I do not want to crown this guy King just yet. I need to try him a few more times before I am willing to replace "The Edge" by Rocky Patel as being number 1 on my list.

Another fine cigar by Mr. Torano. Also on my list of favorites are his "Virtuoso", and the Exodus 1959.

Mark

Good. Damn Good!

A few months ago I had a conversation with a co-worker. We were discussing the current state of today's music. The question was asked... "What is it that you do not like about today's music?" I really couldn't put my finger on it. It had changed.

I pondered this question for several weeks. It was this week that I found the answer. Gone were the screaming solos that were so prevalent in "my" rock music. Gone was the originality that separated band from band. Gone was the excitement that could be felt through the recorded performances. It had changed; or had I?

On July 5th, 2009, the debut album from Chickenfoot showed up on iTunes. You want to know what is missing from today's music? Here it is. 100% pure, hard-pounding, organic Rock 'n' Roll. Joe "Satch" Satriani shows that the guitar can, and should be, center stage again. This stage is shared with Sammy Hagar on vocals, Anthony Michael holds up the low end of things and "the glue" keeping it all together is Chad Smith on drums.

Can't wait to see these guys live. I have been a fan of Joe since the "Not of this Earth" album but have never had the privilege of seeing him live. I am not gonna miss this opportunity. Our paths will cross this year!

Mark

The Good, The Bad, And the Ugly

The Good: I have to say, the Smith & Wesson M&P 9mm compact may just be the most comfortable pistol I have ever had in my hands. The gun comes with 3 different grip inserts for a custom fit depending on your hand size or preference. The medium size seems to fit me. The feel of this gun is solid and tight. It has had a diet of Federal premium, Wolf, UMC, and Blazer. Not a single fail to load, fail to fire or fail to eject. So far, so good...

The Bad: The one area that this gun and my other S&W could use some improvement in is the break-down process. With my hands, it is a pain to field strip. With practice, it is getting easier but S&W should really spend some extra R&D time with this. Glock gets it. The trigger. I do not like the trigger. It may be due to the fact that I am getting too accustomed to the Glock trigger pull. It is hard to say what I dislike about it but something about it bugs me.

The Ugly: I was informed by my wife that this is no longer my gun. She says it is hers now. I was told that I had to wash my hands before I even think about picking it up. All the cheap ammo had to be removed. She will be feeding it a strict diet of premium Federal Hollow Point rounds.

Mark

Thank You!

On July 3, 2009, I visited the National Infantry Museum at Ft. Benning Georgia. The museum opened on June 19, 2009. The entire experience was sobering. The main exhibit is entitled "The Last 100 Yards". This represents the fact that the Infantry always takes the last 100 yards in battle. As you walk the 100-yard exhibit, you experience 8 major battles from past to present. The atmosphere, the sounds, the video, the full scale figures, the tanks, the... It is all first class!

There are also separate exhibit halls on the upper and lower floors. After two visits I still have not been able to see all of the exhibits. But I plan several repeat visits to see it all.

To the men and women who have served in the infantry, I would like to say Thank You for going the last 100 yards.

Mark

Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms

Over the past year, I have been slowly working on a photo booth box. What started out as a simple cardboard box inspired by a photography forum post, has turned into a very over-engineered 30-pound wooden box. I am not a seasoned amateur photographer. I have not even reached the beginner level to be honest. But I do have an interest in photography. And I like to build things.

I took some sample shots today and the photo above is the best I could do. I can’t figure out how to get the background completely white. It may have something to do with my light source. I will continue tweaking the box and experimenting with lighting techniques. As my photography skills develop, I will post more photos here on the blog.

In the photo: A bottle of 80 proof Wild Turkey. A fine Kentucky Bourbon that is waiting for me to break the seal. The cigar is a Gurkha Titan. He has been hanging out in the humidor since March of this year. The Titan has become my annual birthday cigar and it was nice seeing the Smith & Wesson model 669 again. We have made plans to head to the range together in the next few days.

Mark

R.I.P. Steve McNair

Former Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair was found dead in a Nashville condo yesterday. I was at a family cookout when I heard the news. As a Tennessean, and a Titans fan, I can say that while he had some minor brushes with the law, he did really seem to be a good guy. He did a lot of things in the community and came cross as being down-to-earth. I loved watching him play for the Titans, and he is leaving this life way too young. We don't know at this point the circumstances surrounding the murder, but it sounds like a murder/suicide based on what they are saying on the news. He had multiple gunshot wounds (including in the head), and the woman that was with him had 1 gunshot wound to the head.

He will be remembered for his toughness in the NFL and for being one of the most all-around athletic and talented players of the game. Click HERE to read more about him.

The above photo is believed to be in the public domain. If this is incorrect, please let us know.

Dave

Michael Jackson News

Is anyone else tired of this? Almost all news in the country seems to have shut down to concentrate on this guy. They spent years demonizing him (probably justifiably), but are doing the opposite now. Whatever...I'm sick of hearing about him. I mean really...let's put things in perspective.

Dave

A New Carry Gun...

OK, I've been wanting a small carry pistol that will just slip into the pocket of my short pants. I have been comparing the Kel-Tec P3AT and the Ruger LCP. Both .380 cal. Everything I have read said they are both good guns, but overall people seem to prefer the Ruger. I have a friend with an LCP, and I really liked that gun, and that's the one I really wanted.

I went to a gun show today and quickly scoped the place out. I saw two LCPs and several Kel-Tecs. The LCP I bought was new and the price was right. Before I got out of there I had two people ask me if it was for sale. I'm looking forward to shooting this little animal. I'll let you know how it goes. Click the pics to enlarge.

I got the quarter idea from Mark.

Dave

Rusty Old American Dream

The early 80’s. Modern guitar tones screamed out of my speakers. Eddie Van Halen was full of energy, rock radio stations were pumping out great tunes and live shows were adding fuel to the fire. I had to learn how to play like that. I struggled, but was persistent - using a cheap acoustic, a borrowed fender and a black Ibanez roadstar (which was my first electric six string). These training tools took up quite a few hours of my day for several years. It was not until around 1986 that I saved up enough cash to walk into a guitar shop and get what I considered to be my first real electric guitar. I rolled the dice and walked out with a brand new magenta-colored Ibanez Power 540. It had a small fast neck, full-floating Floyd Rose, and a hum-bucker bridge pickup that screamed almost as loud as the brighter-than-bright magenta finish. Mothers, lock up your daughters! I was ready to ROCK!

And rock I did. For several years, I played that thing for hours on end; learned cover songs; and played with any other guitar player that had the time. I played in several bands and at the top of my game ended up in a local, all original, 5-piece metal band. It was during this time that I met Dave and we have been friends ever since. But I digress...

I stopped playing the guitar once I started college but never sold it. Two years ago (2007), I pulled that guitar case out and opened ‘er up. Oh my! My heart sank. I had not opened the case in probably 12 years. Every metal part was rusted. I must have put it up after an all nighter of alcohol-inspired jamming. I wanted to play again. But that was obviously never going to happen.

Never say never… I decided that I would bring her back to life. I stripped off all the pieces that needed to be replaced and made sure that I was able to buy parts that would fit. I found resources for every part needed. As hard as it was to do, I took out the 80 grit sand paper and went at it. This photo represents the current state of my restoration project. I started last year and currently have sanded off all the paint and finish. My next goal will be to fill in the dents and scratches and get the body as smooth as possible. I plan to use this blog to document my progress. As a side note, the image also shows an ad representing the guitar and the color as it was originally.


Mark

Is that a GLOCK in your pocket?

Say hello to my new little friend. This little guy has been given the privilege of spending the rest of its life in my pants as my primary CCW. I was looking for a sub-compact carry weapon. Requirements were simple. Had to be small. Had to be able to hold up to the occasional drop, could not be bothered by pocket lint, sweat from the summer heat, the occasional soft drink mishap and most of all, I had to be able to shoot it safely and accurately.

It was small; it felt good in my hand and felt at home in my waistband. Given the fact that some get cleaned in the dishwasher, I did not think I had much to worry about with regards to the pocket lint or Coke spills. But most important was how well would it perform in my hands?

The first day at the range left me a little concerned because of the short grip. I had to tuck my pinky finger under the magazine. I did not feel like I had total control of the weapon. Subsequent range visits took care of that problem. It just took some getting used to. I have ordered a few magazine extensions and also a couple of G19 15-round magazines. I will find the perfect fit.

The image shows my G26 along with the first 10 rounds fired this morning. Using the standard 10-round mag, with pinky tucked, I was more than pleased with the results. I am starting to build up my confidence with this guy and can't wait to play around with the mag extensions. Once this is dialed in, my accuracy should improve and I can start thinking about adding some accessory BLING.

As a side note, you may notice that I claimed to fire 10 rounds but only 9 holes show in the target. The 1st shot was off. I covered it with the quarter. So the verdict is in; I am very happy with this purchase. This is the first Glock I have owned and I say "first" because I put the Glock 19 on the shortlist as a future holstered sidekick. After all, what good is a bulge in the pocket if you're all alone?

Mark