Too Much
Posted 06:00 PST Mon Feb 25, 2008 in
Bloggish
I’m working too much. It happens now and again and I hope to keep this binge from lasting too long. I have three critical projects, or projects that have gone critical. One should go out (for the fourth time) today. The second will be close this week. Then it’s on to the third. (Image courtesy Gunblast.com and used with permission.)
In the meantime, other projects lay about going critical. I think I need a clone.
One of the impacts from my workload is that I’m giving up writing for About This Particular Macintosh. I enjoyed working on the staff for that on-line periodical, but I can’t give it what it deserves anymore. I just don’t have the energy at this time.
I did take Saturday off and putter around Carson City with Wife. We’re looking for a set of antique whiskey glasses — the kind that you see in saloons on old westerns1. A friend recently gave me the idea and I think it’s a good one. Fine whiskey should be enjoyed in classic glasses, not the cheap crap that comes in a box with a fifth of Jack Daniels.
While we were puttering around antique stores Saturday morning, I came across a beautiful Browning Buck Mark .22LR pistol. It looks nearly new and probably wasn’t fired much. The bore was bright and shiny, although a bit dirty (needs a swabbing). The weapon is nickel-plated, and I’m not so sure about that. I think weapons should be blue or black — nickel seems so… gaudy. It wasn’t the really bright nickel, but a little warmer tone and a satin finish. I’m not a big fan of plated weapons, but this just seemed “right.” The grip has rubber insets and the classic Browning angle. If I can negotiate a good price, I might have to own this pistol. I’ll bet it’s a real shooter and feels better in the hand than my Ruger Mark III.
In the same store I found a Ruger Super Bearcat that is the spitting-image reminded2 me of the revolver Mom owned3. The price was pretty steep, though. The revolver was not in pristine condition, but is probably 95%. There is a bit of pitting on the barrel near the front sight. The action was good, however. Again, if I could negotiate a fair price for this weapon, I’d buy it too.
I may have to get some cash and return to the store before I head out of town this week. I have no idea if they will (really) haggle, but it’s worth a shot (pun intended)… and cash is king.
I forgot to mention that the Sunday IDPA match was cancelled because of weather. We had about ten inches of snow Saturday night. We might have gotten the rig down the hill to the range, but probably would never have gotten it out. I was disappointed because I really wanted to shoot the match, but I really needed the time to work too.
1 Speaking of old westerns, Wife and I watched Rio Bravo recently, in Blu-Ray. It’s one of my favorite movies and I was reminded that I enjoyed John Wayne and Dean Martin so much. I think I’m going to modify my Netflix queue to include a few more of the classic westerns.
2 After doing a bit more research, I’m now convinced that Mom’s revolver was a Ruger Bearcat and not the Super Bearcat I found. While it lessens the attractiveness of the little pistol found in the store, the memory remains just as strong. What I now think, though, is that I’d love to find a little Ruger Bearcat in decent condition and buy it as a collector’s piece, for me, and for my kids. Older Son would love the little pistol and the connection to his grandma through it.
3 One of the bits of bitterness that remains in my life stems from something my stepmom did when Dad died. She sold off all of the short guns (I would have bought them had I known) and then would have sold off the long guns had I not put up a fuss. I got most of Dad’s long guns, but she would not surrender Mom’s Ithaca 20ga pump. I carried Mom’s shotgun in the field many times as a teenager when Dad and I hunted together. It isn’t the shotgun so much as the memory that I sought to preserve. Those firearms were a part of our family heritage and we were disrespected when Stepmom sold them off like that. It’s not always about the money.
Hey pallies, never did understand why our Dino didn’t get the oscar nudge for his portrayal of the dude in “Rio Bravo.” It was our Dino’s role of a lifetime….never was, never will be anyone as cool as the King of Cool... oh, to return to the days when Dino walked the earth!
— dino martin peters 25 February 2008, 07:34 #I grew up in an arsenal. Husband has guns but I don’t know where they are. Some of them are my daddy’s. When my brother died, son bought many of his firearms. It is a heritage thing. And memories. Some not so good I might add. Anyway, I am a big huge 2nd ammendment supporter.
— alisa 25 February 2008, 07:42 #Dino: That role was one of my favorites for Dean Martin! I can’t recall many of his other movies, but he was “one cool cat,” as I recall.
Alisa: I grew up with weapons and learned how to handle weapons pretty young. I’ve had an attitude about such things for many years, but a few years ago I was reminded (once again) of the degree of personal responsibility each of us (every citizen) has for our personal defense and the defense of home and community. I’m not paranoid, not a survivalist, nor am I anti-government; I just believe that we (citizens) abdicate too much responsibility to others for things that belong to us (as individuals). I think I should write an essay entitled “The Professionals.” What do you think? ;)
— ruminator 26 February 2008, 06:07 #Hey pallie ruminator, well our Dino did like 16 flicks with the jer…“Artists and Models” is my fav…quite the number of westerns, some dramas and farces, and my Dinofavs of Dinofavs…the four Matt Helm spy capers, where our great man does what he does best…play his cool, hip, and randy Dinoself!
— dino martin peters 26 February 2008, 06:54 #One of Dean Martin’s best is “Bandolero”. No Duke, but it has Jimmy Stewart. I had the fortune of meeting both during the filming of that movie- it was filmed at “Alamo Village” north of Brackettville, Texas. The stars were guests at the Thunderbird airshow at Laughlin, which is where I met them. Jimmy Stewart was an extremely nice guy- spent several minutes talking to an amazed 10 year old (me). I can’t say the same for Dean Martin.
Incidentally, that was the show where Merrill “Tony” McPeak, later Chief of Staff of the air force, destroyed an F-100 in midair during the show. That I will NEVER forget!
— Dazed n Confused 26 February 2008, 16:04 #I’ll put “Bandolero” on my Netflix list. I’ve been running through the Netflix catalog of Blu-Ray disks because we bought a deck last fall. I really like HD, for as much TV as I watch. But, that’s another story.
— ruminator 28 February 2008, 04:18 #