North

Wednesday's Whiteboard Words of Wisdom

2012-03-13T20:36:00.000-05:00

The Cake is a Lie

2012-03-13T05:20:00.008-05:00

...is what my son said, and then laughed. Nerd.

This is the Chocolate Guinness Cake that my wife made.

Brigid also has a Chocolate Guinness Recipe.

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The NRA Basic Pistol Class

2012-03-11T19:48:00.012-05:00

On Saturday, I took another big step towards acclimating myself and understanding guns. I enrolled in, and successfully completed part one of the 2 part / 2 day NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course. I took the course at the only Indoor Shooting Range in my area: Gilbert's Guns - a 25 lane range that is one of the largest ranges in my area where civilians can shoot. It is 22,000 square feet of shooty goodness.

( There are MANY ranges in my area due to my proximity to law enforcement headquarters of various types - FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, etc - but those are not available to the public. )

A year ago, I wrote about my lifelong nervousness around guns. The day after that post, I went and shot a handgun for the first time. It was a thrilling, liberating experience.

Since last year, I've whined and moaned at North periodically about wanting to take the next step in my development with guns. I've wanted to go to the local gun range and sign up for classes. A few months ago, I started reading a book about personal development and the need to shed old habits in place of new ones that will encourage personal growth. By accomplishing things on that secret "I'd really like to..." list, one can attain forward movement and as a by-product - a level of happiness and satisfaction. I made the decision. I signed up for the class.

From the NRA.org website:

Name: NRA Basic Pistol Shooting Course

Short Description: Teaches the basic knowledge, skills, and attitude for owning and operating a pistol safely.

More Details: This course is at least 8-hours long and includes classroom and range time learning to shoot revolvers and semi-automatic pistols. Students learn NRA’s rules for safe gun handling; pistol parts and operation; ammunition; shooting fundamentals; range rules; shooting from the bench rest position, and two handed standing positions; cleaning the pistol; and continued opportunities for skill development. Students will receive the NRA Guide to the Basics of Pistol Shooting handbook, NRA Gun Safety Rules brochure, Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification booklet, take a Basics of Pistol Shooting Student Examination, and course completion certificate. (Lesson Plan 2nd edition, 2009, 02/11)

I showed up for class on Saturday to discover my class wasn't small. There were 12 other adults, mostly my age who had signed up as well. Most of the women were like me - wanting to shed their fear of guns through handling them and understanding more about them. Most in the class had limited to no experience with guns. The instructors for my class are extremely knowledgeable, and I was instantly comfortable with one of the men's teaching style - so I gravitated towards him.

I received several books and pamphlets I'm to read this week at my leisure:

Part one focused on the classroom lecture and physically handling the multiple guns the instructors brought to the course for our examination. Of course, the first thing discussed was gun and range safety - the Golden Rules, general range specific rules, etc. Then they discussed the generic parts of revolvers and semi-automatic weapons. I was EXTREMELY pleased to have been the only person in the class to identify this part of a semi-automatic correctly:

Several of the men in the class instantly said "Clip" out loud. One person offered up "cartridge" - I said "magazine" out loud - and the instructor pointed to me and said loudly "WINNER!"

We discussed misfires, hangfires, and squibfires. During hangfires, the instructor passed around his iPad, and we watched this Youtube video of what not to do if you have a hangfire. As my instructor pointed out - this is proof God is equal opportunity and occasionally shows mercy to morons like this guy:

Then we physically examined revolvers and then semi-automatics up close and personal. All were loaded with dummy rounds, though we all handled the guns with extreme care, as if they were "hot" as the instructors called it. I have really small hands, for a woman. I found most of the revolvers relatively comfortable for my hand, and my trigger reach not too impeded by my physical limitation. This was not so for the semi-automatics. The Glocks were nearly impossible for me, and a few of the Rugers were similarly challenging for me to hold correctly and fire comfortably. It was only when I held a few of the Sig Sauers did the instructors nod and confirm these were ok for me.

Unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera to the class, and only remembered I have a camera on my phone for the semi-automatic portion of the lesson. So I snapped a few pictures - they are a little fuzzy; skills of the photographer and limitations of the camera phone. ( There were more guns on the other side of the room - Glocks, mainly; I only took pics of this selection. )

The stainless steel gun in the picture below turned out to be my favorite - it is a Smith & Wesson 952 - one of the guns the instructor uses for competition, and of course - one of the most expensive guns in the room ( of course! ) to buy, when you can find it.

Next weekend is Part II of my class - A recap of Part I, introduction to sight acquisition and using the sights correctly, gun cleaning and care - and then finally, hands on range time.

As I wrote to a friend:

I've been nervous and skittish around guns all my life. I'm really pleased to realize that is now past tense. I confidently handled multiple guns, and know so much more than I did this morning.
I'm no Annie Oakley, and never will be. But today, I took a big step in personal self improvement, and I'm very proud of myself.

Thanks to everyone who has followed my development from "hoplophobe" to someone with a growing interest and confidence in firearms and marksmanship.

Something Fishy

2012-03-09T20:42:00.000-06:00

Inspired by 45er, here. Much too tired to say anything else tonight. Yummy, though.

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Oddities

2012-03-08T20:17:00.000-06:00

Wednesday's Whiteboard Words of Wisdom

2012-03-06T20:12:00.000-06:00

Quote of the Day - ME!!1!

2012-03-05T12:23:00.005-06:00

After I wrote this on Sweetie's blog, I liked the way it sounded. Yes, to hell with modesty - I'm quoting me.

You and I wear guns to protect ourselves and our loved ones against criminals. The criminals would rather we not have guns, so they can take what they want from us. Property/rape - taking what is NOT theirs.

Along comes the anti. They want us unarmed because it is "better" for them, not for us. They want to take our God-given right to protect ourselves away - taking what is NOT theirs.

I want to keep what is mine. The ugly criminal can't have it. The rapist can't have it. The foolish gray-haired MN liar can't have it.

Criminals and antis are no different.

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Gunday Afternoon

2012-03-04T14:07:00.001-06:00

Time to clean the carry piece. Right?

What ammo for dust bunny?

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The War on Weather

2012-03-03T15:10:00.002-06:00

Some quotes from this 1947 Popular Science:

"...science and the AAF are ready to battle costly storms that batter U.S."

"...could stop the snowstorms that come in from the Great Lakes every winter..."

"...Dr. John von Neumann hopes to find out the 'why' of weather - the foundation on which weather control must be built."

My heart and my prayers go out to all of the families affected by storms in the mid west.

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Happiness is a Friend's Warm Gun

2012-03-03T06:41:00.047-06:00

Subtitle: If You Can't Be With The One You Love, Love The One You're With

I went to the little gun shop where I get a GREAT deal on guns to order the gun that I want.

I hadn't decided exactly what I wanted. I had a few details to select. So I asked my buddy behind the counter what he would pick. He let me know his selection and told me his choices were because that was exactly one of the guns that he owns. I respect his opinion a great deal, so I ordered a twin of his gun.

The shop will get it in... sometime. It is back-ordered, but would be likely arriving long before the first 1911 that I had on order a while back. I don't have to tell my readers about the feelings of anticipation when you have a gun on order.

After some mouse wiggling and icon clicking, he walked out from behind the counter and straight out of the shop. He pulled something from his car. Walked back into the shop with his gun, unloaded it, handed it to me and instructed me to take it out and shoot it sometime in the next couple of weeks. Dude!

Cool. I get to play almost right away.

Wednesday night I will take this beauty out to the range and get the lead out. It has rubber grips and I can decide if I want to order a pair.

The gun is a done deal. Just a matter of time to get it in. But if I were on the fence and didn't know if this gun "fit my hand" (in all senses of the phrase) I can't think of a better way to get acquainted.

I'll owe my buddy.

Doomsday Peppers

2012-03-02T06:23:00.002-06:00

I have to admit that my only reason for making this recipe, other than, well, to eat, was so that I could use the title "Doomsday Peppers" for a blog post. The title is a play on Doomsday Preppers, which seems to be a topic circulating around on a lot of blogs.

The recipe doesn't even use hot peppers like you might expect in order to live up to being all Doomsday-ish. For a criminally hot use of peppers, please see my Green Chili recipe.

Doomsday Peppers are a mildly zesty cheese-stuffed pepper that makes a good side dish for a variety of grilled meats.

These are some colorful miniature sweet peppers. I washed them, cut off the tops, and yanked the seeds out.

The peppers are stuffed with white cheddar cheese coated with onion powder, chili powder and/or cayenne pepper, and chives. A variety of firm cheeses are good candidates for this recipe.

Baked in oven. 400 degrees. I'll have to say "until done" since I didn't time it, and I was making other food items at the same time. Items with bacon, so I was understandably distracted. Serve immediately.

Goes well with beer. *grin*

(Special thanks, hugs, and more (woo hoo!) to the lovely Mrs. North for the Guinness glasses.)

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Second Thoughts

2012-03-01T05:10:00.121-06:00

I have on occasion taken on the job of proofreading and editing other people's writing. I do this sometimes for co-workers or other business endeavors, sometimes for a friend's personal writings.

There are, however, people that are considerably better at writing than me. Or should that be 'myself'? I? Nevertheless, I certainly don't think I'm good enough to correct great writers. You know that guy Shakespeare? Yeah he is one writer I wouldn't even try to correct. Hell, I'd have to be able to make full sense of what he writes in order to correct it. And sadly I'm better looking than I am smart, and I'm not all that good looking...

A good and virtuous nature may recoil
In an imperial charge. But I shall crave your pardon.
That which you are, my thoughts cannot transpose.
Angels are bright still, though the brightest fell.
Though all things foul would wear the brows of grace,
Yet grace must still look so.

Shakespeare's words have been the focus of readers for many years. Their meanings interpreted and reinterpreted. I don't need baggy dance pants to say: "Can't touch this."

Other great words that have the focus of a great many are these, the text of the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution:

A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

Many people have also sought to understand these words. It has been interpreted to verify that qualified Americans have the right to defend themselves with weapons. It has also been said that this Amendment is limited to only military. Perhaps the confusion is that our language has changed a bit over the decades and these words used to parse better several generations ago.

They are so essential to our freedom that it is important that the words NOT be twisted to take away our freedom.

Am I the right person to interpret these words? Am I qualified to change the way that this statement is phrased? Absolutely not.

But I will anyway. 'cuz this is my blog.

If the rest of the parts for my time machine would ever show up, you can be certain that this Amendment would no longer read this way. Because of the effects of changing the past, I would hope that the present would morph into something a little more secure, a little more safe.

The Second Amendment would read differently. Because of me and my time machine. It will remain a mystery as to why the rest of the Amendments are written with a quill, and the ink of the Second Amendment looks suspiciously like a Uni-Ball Signo.

So here is the new Second Amendment. Notice that it has fewer commas.

The right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

I actually made one of the shortest Amendments even shorter. I tried at first to make the Amendment better by adding more explanation to the text, but I'm going with "short is sweet" this time. Besides - can't stay long in the past - I'll be late for something I'm sure.

Why do I think that these are the right words? Because of the men that founded our country. They believed that freedom was a gift granted to them not by other men, but by God. They believed in independence and personal responsibility.

Specifically spelling out that the citizen has the right to bear arms wasn't just thought up one afternoon.

"Hey George Washington. I noticed that some people like gunz 'n stuff. Should we mention that people can keep them without the government rounding them up?"

"Sure, sure. Y'know the muskets and stuff would never be considered serious weapons in the future. Not like we won and want to keep our independence using 'em."

Yeah. You see that I don't write dialog well. Shakespeare I ain't.

The right to bear arms is a simple concept. It is simple to us now as it was simple to out founding fathers way back when. Hence the few words used in the Second Amendment, either the real one, or my modified one. The simple concept is that I have the right to enjoy and defend my life and liberty. I have the right to protect property and defend myself and my family.

That is what free men want - then and now.

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Gun Blogging - Truth Hurts

2012-02-29T19:38:00.005-06:00

(I grabbed sleepy guy from Google.)
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Wednesday's Whiteboard Words of Wisdom

2012-02-28T18:16:00.000-06:00

The North Blog is One

2012-02-23T01:00:00.006-06:00

Thank you for reading and commenting!

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At First Sight

2012-02-21T18:07:00.001-06:00

I still remember the exact moment. There are all sorts of parts of my life I've forgotten and I'm sure tons more that I have yet to forget. But not this. Not that moment. Never that indelible slice of my life. I'll never forget her beautiful smile.

It wasn't years ago, but decades. And the moment is still fresh in my mind. It was only a moment: just an interval of time a bit longer than an instant. I was shot directly in my heart. At that moment my life didn't end, but instead it began.

She walked by where I was sitting. I didn't know that she was going to walk by, but she knew I was there. She planned to make eye contact with me and smile as she went by. She liked me and hoped to get my attention. That she did.

A friend of hers walked by a foot or so in front of her. It was my natural reaction to look up and see who was walking by me. To this day I have no idea who that first person might have been. That person is not part of the memory and honestly I don't want them to be. They only served as a short countdown to seeing her.

It was the early 1980s. She was dressed as you might expect a young pretty student would be dressed. Tight blue jeans. Loose blouse covering in layers, colorful cloth. Warm brown hair with a lot of curl and volume. Shiny, dangling jewelry.

But even what she wore is a a bit of foggy memory. What is perfectly clear in my mind, and I hope will be to the very day I die, is the stunningly beautiful smile that she flashed to me. I cannot express in words my feeling at that moment. I felt "there" - does that make sense? I had been sitting there with my thoughts on who-knows-what. But all of a sudden I was occupying that space, that moment in time. My sight had been turned on to light, my skin awakened to the heat. My lungs filled with crisp clean air for the first time ever.

As she walked by all that remained to my stunned senses was her musky perfume and a perfect memory. That lovely young girl eventually became Mrs. North.

I was asked a decade or so ago if my love for my wife was love at first sight. I thought for a moment and my reply was something about "growing used to someone." I don't know if I ever had thought about it in any depth at all. But when faced with this question at that time I could only think that you have to get to know someone before love can develop. Love can't just snap into being as if the universe had planned it and was waiting for a trigger.

That is where I was ten years ago. Now? I've certainly changed my mind. Yes now I believe in love at first sight. Why didn't I way back then? Or even as recently as a decade ago?

I think the answer is that I've grown older and can see things differently. Bits of my life and the people that are in my life now have different meaning to me. I can look back at the very young me and laugh at how little I knew, how little I could see, and how dull my senses and my sensibility were.

The loving connection that I made was put in place by a higher power. It was God that started the ball rolling with her smile, and then it was His instruction to me in that flash of time to keep the ball rolling. Probably, were I able to hear it, it would have been a simple message like: "Don't mess this up." Over the years I've slipped, but I have not fallen. I've kept this incredible gift.

I know that I have friends that were given to me as a precious gift, and that it is up to me to see their value and to keep them. I can see them differently - like the colors of light not just from red to violet, but deep into ultraviolet. X-rays and infrared. I feel more now - subtle vibrations from years of experience on this Earth. Senses honed from life's trials, from failures and successes. I don't think it was random chance - I believe that I've made connections to friends for a reason.

In a few months my wife and I will celebrate twenty-five wonderful years together. I knew her for a few years before we decided to get married. That first moment we met is still perfectly clear to me.

I believe in love at first sight.

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President's Day

2012-02-20T13:10:00.002-06:00

History, in general, only informs us what bad government is.
- Thomas Jefferson

My movements to the chair of government will be accompanied by feelings not unlike those of a culprit who is going to the place of his execution.
- George Washington

To contract new debts is not the way to pay old ones.
- George Washington

Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among people.
- John Adams

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Refocus

2012-02-17T19:40:00.000-06:00

Maura writes about Clean Eating refocus, but her wise thoughts apply to other things in life, too.

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1500 Rounds

2012-02-16T05:42:00.002-06:00

Email me if you would like this as a desktop background - I have specific sizes.

Edited to add: "Specific sizes" of the picture, not other ammo sizes. I had the most single-brand ammo in .40 so I used that for the photo.

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Wednesday's Whiteboard Words of Wisdom

2012-02-14T13:02:00.000-06:00

Making... BAKON

2012-02-12T18:45:00.002-06:00

Recipe from the web site:

Bakon Vodka Marinated Steak (Serves 6)

• 1/3 cup Bakon Vodka
• 1 tablespoon sea salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt
• 2 tablespoons black peppercorns, crushed
• 3 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
• 2 tablespoons finely chopped thyme
• 3 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• A slice of beef cut from the top of the rump, about an inch thick or 24 ounces

Combine marinade ingredients and put into a closed container with the beef, making sure to evenly coat with herbs. Marinate for 3 hours at room temperature. Or for superior results, marinate for 1 to 3 days in the refrigerator before cooking.

But... I used a chuck roast and dropped the whole mess into a crock pot for the day. It was a family-size roast, but there was nothing left from the three of us gobbling it up.

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In My Heart

2012-02-12T14:39:00.000-06:00

I carry to protect you.
You are in my heart.
Forever.

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Wednesday's Whiteboard Words of Wisdom

2012-02-08T12:52:00.002-06:00

I've been DOUBLE TEAMED!

2012-02-05T20:54:00.002-06:00

Sweetie (that's what I call her) over at

A Girl and Her Gun

gave my evil twin at the Gun Blog Black List this award:

Shepherd K at

Preachers and Horse Thieves

gave me this award:

Edited to add:
Robert M at

MY TUMULTUOUS ADVENTURE

gave me this award:

And I'm tickled to get ~~two~~ three!

Here are the rules:

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog.

(Done 2x!) (now 3!)

2. Link back to the blogger who gave us the award

3. Pick our five favorite blogs with less than 200 followers, and leave a comment on their blog to let them know they have received the award.

4. Hope that the five blogs chosen will keep spreading the love and pass it on to five more blogs.

Here is my list of ~~five~~ ten!

(I would be listing Sweetie and Shepherd in my 10...)

Maura - Who needs to remind me with a club to my head every so often what a remarkable friend she is.

Bluesun - Who dances like a dead man, so I understand.

Rev Paul - Who would have a handful if he tried to save my soul.

Rob - Who isn't feeling well. Send him your best wishes, please!

Guffaw - Usually laughing. I know he will again.

DaddyBear - Will never do 30 days of MY quotes...

Tango Juliet - Has some secret photo that I'll never see.

Pissed - Great times there - especially when NSFW!

Lila - A great friend I'm glad that I made. (Not that I molded her out of clay, or anything.)

Matt - I always appreciate that you make sure I'm OK. I'm an email away.

Ta Da!

Edited to add:
My rule (I make 'em up as I go) is that with a third award I could add another five. Many of the people that I would list have already been given this little award, so I'll just stop there. If you want to see more blogs, go visit the Gun Blog Black List - there are tons there!

Another edit:

45er at

Barrel Smoke

also sent me the award:

And of course he lists more blogs worthy of the award!

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Game Over!!

2012-02-05T19:13:00.000-06:00

The supper bowl is over. The Super Bowl - some time left.

Cell phone pics of Super Bowl foods:

"Red Solo cup, I fill you up..."

Madonna still has her mouth open singing oldies.

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