Wow, lots happening lately…

So I’ve had a very busy week or so.  Let’s see…

I was run off the road at night after it had rained by a guy who wanted to take a turn wide and drive through my lane.  This resulted in me breaking something around the suspension of my front driver’s side tire.  So my new car is now in the shop. I was less than thrilled about that, and to make matters worse, the cops that came to take my statement (for insurance purposes) were complete jerks.  Before even listening to what happened, they basically accused me of possibly being a liar and a drunk driver.  Add to this my already low opinion of the police (in general) in the area and I didn’t have much reason to be very polite back.  I proudly proclaimed that I had just driven back from Fort Meade that afternoon (in my car), had picked up a friend and had dinner in Winchester (driving my car), and had dropped her back off at her house (in my car) right before this happened.  They sort of stumblefooted around after that and just asked me to write my statement down.

I FINALLY got my orders and picked up my clearing papers yesterday.  I go on terminal leave from the Army as of next Wednesday and will be a free man again on September 11th.  This has me very excited.  I feel like I’m finally going to be able to get my life back to normal.

I’ve got a job already lined up for when I get off of leave.  I’m going to be working for HMS Technologies in Martinsburg.  They’re a small business that’s owned by a disabled vet who specialized in government contracts.  They were given my resume (not by me, mind you) and called me to set up an interview.  I really think this job will be awesome.  Pay is pretty good, benefits are awesome (full medical, dental, and eye care!), and every Friday the owner brings in a masseuse and gives each employee a 10 or 15 minute massage!  Friday is also casual day.  And we get miscellaneous holidays off (the day after Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc…).

Now all I’ve gotta do is find my own place and I’ll be set!  I’ve actually got a meeting with an elderly woman trying to sell her house (at an outrageous price, mind you) next week.  I’m going to try and talk her in to letting me rent it from her while she keeps trying to sell it for crazy money.  I already looked at the house once while going through it with a friend of hers who is doing the reality work for her.  He seemed to like me, so I think that’ll help.

I’ve been hanging out with an old friend from my Tae Kwon Do days lately.  Things are a little different now than they were then… we’re both grown up.  She’s really cool, but that’s all I’m gonna say about that for now.  Let’s just say I’m trying to get use to talking to girls again.  LOL.  And she can kill me with her pinky.

Oh, and I got an iPhone.  I broke down and got one when my contract was up for renewal.  I’m actually pretty glad I did, too.  This thing has been really handy, and I use most of the extra features it has all the time.  My only complaint so far is battery life, but I’ve got like three different chargers for it (wall, USB, and car), so it’s not usually a problem keeping it charged.  Also, if I’m not messing with it a lot, it does just fine.

Anyway, so there’s the life update on me.  It’s been a while coming, but hey, I’ve been busy.  Catch you on the flip side.

Keep your powder dry.

Screw you, Toyota!

This is horrifying to me.  If it can run, it can chase us.  And apparently we will have trouble pushing it over.

Keep your powder dry.

Obamessiah as The Joker?

This is a stretch, even for me.

Posters Spotted Portraying Obama as “The Joker”

I’m curious to hear what you, the people reading this, think about this poster.  What message do you think the artist is trying to get across?

Me personally, I think he’s trying to say that Obama is trying to destroy America using Socialism as his weapon, much like the Joker did to Gotham with Anarchy.

Keep your powder dry.

Berkeley County Humane Society Robbed

I found out about this through a buddy of mine I went to school with.  Here’s a link to his article on this tragedy.

Humane Society Robbed

I don’t know who would do something like this.  You’ve gotta be real low-life scum to steal from puppies and kittens!  If anyone in the tri-county area knows anything about this, please notify the Berkeley Co. Sheriff’s Dept. at (304) 267-7000.

Keep your powder dry.

Dad’s in the hospital

So my dad’s been in the hospital for the past two days.  Not just the regular hospital, either.  Nope, he’s been in the I.C.U.  A little backstory.  My dad is retired and mows lawns for spare cash.  He does the whole nine yards… riding mower for the big lawns, push mower for the small stuff, weed eat/trim what he can’t get with the mowers.  He’ll even mow your lawn when you’re not there so long as payment is pre-arranged.

Anyway, so my dad had apparently been feeling ill the previous couple days prior to Thursday, but he goes to mow his buddy’s lawn anway.  Well, his buddy wasn’t there, but when he did finally come home, he found dad still sitting in his truck in a daze.  This guy is diabetic, so he knew what was going on (oh, dad is diabetic, by the way) and rushed dad to the hospital.

Turns out my dad’s sugars were so high even the emergency room monitors couldn’t read them.  It took them all night to get them back down to acceptable levels.  They’re not sure what caused the spike.  He’s still there, but now it’s because he’s got an infection in his throat and possibly one in his sinuses as well.

I went with my sis to the hospital to see him and he looked and sounded really weak.  He’s been under a lot of stress lately because his wife had some lung cancer found.  It’s my understanding that they caught it and were able to remove it, but she’s still been sick because of the treatment.  I think that between that and his diabetes, he just got worn down and got sick and the infection caused the spike in his sugars.

If you’re the prayin’ type, I’d certainly appreciate you sending a few up to God on behalf of my dad.  His name is Richard.  Thanks for readin’.

She’s a fast learner!

So I got a really good laugh tonight.  I got a text message on my phone from my sister that just says, “My daughter just said, ‘dag gone commies’.”

Now, this is particularly hilarious to me because I’m the one who taught her that like a week or two ago.  Tonight, though, she said it unprompted.  Apparently my brother-in-law was yelling at their cat and said, “Dag gone cat!”  At this point my niece looks up real ornery-like and mimics, “Dag gone commies!”

My bruver said it was hilarious because of how mischievous she looked when she said it.  I would have loved to have been there for that!  It would have been priceless!

Almost done

Well, won’t be long now.  I signed my V.A. Disability Rating papers today.  I’m not happy about the percentage I got, but there is always the chance for increase later on down the road.  Now I just sit back and wait for my orders to be cut and my clearing papers issued.  I’m only a few steps away from being a civilian again, and I’m starting to get excited.  I still don’t know what I’m gonna do when I get out, but I have resume’s in at several places and I trust that God will open something up for me since I’m doing all I can on my end.

Keep your powder dry.

Two damn votes! (a.k.a. I hate Democrats)

Well, the concealed-carry amendment I blogged about yesterday was defeated today in the Senate by TWO VOTES!  I am extremely displeased.

Here’s a link to a Washington Post article on the matter…

…and here’s one for Fox News.

Obviously, and this isn’t just my personal bias coming through, the WP article is waaaaay slanted towards the Democrat side of the fence.  They even use a just plain wrong example of:

This means that someone who had a concealed-carry permit for his gun in a state like Vermont — with some of the loosest gun-control laws in the nation — could cross over into other states with their guns and not be found guilty of violating those states’ tighter gun laws.

Emphasis mine.  Vermont does NOT issue concealed-carry permits.  Anyone in that state who is legally allowed to own a gun may carry said gun in however fashion they wish – open or concealed.  Now, would this mean that residents of that great state could travel to other states and conceal carry their firearms?  You bet.  I think it would be great.

They also throw out a bunch of irrelevant facts about various states not giving permits to alcohol abusers or requiring a test of some sort (like WV’s required NRA Basic Pistol Course).  Are they really so naive to think that a gang-banger is gonna go through all the trouble to switch his official state of residence just so he can have an easier time getting permission to carry his gat concealed into another state?

Also, the mention of most states having lists of which states’ permits they will recognize is arbitrary!  That is set by lawmakers who make deals with other lawmakers in other states so they can be friends.  Typically, this means the reciprocity states must have requirements for a non-resident concealed-carry permit that are equal-to or greater than the state of residence of the requesting person.  This is not, however, always the case.  There are many states out there that will gladly have reciprocity with another state for the sole purpose of making it easier on their carry-permit holders FOR TRAVELING!  Look at Utah and Florida, for crying out loud.  Those two states combined cover the majority of the United States if you have carry permits from there.  Visit www.handgunlaw.us for more info.

You know the one stat you never see in the news?  Violent crimes committed by persons issued a concealed carry permit.  Know why that is?  Because it is damn near UNHEARD OF!  People that go through the trouble and state requirements to get a carry permit in their state of residence aren’t going to be the ones out committing crimes.  If something like this amendment was passed, criminals everywhere would think twice before trying to hold up a traveling couple at a rest area, truck stop, or diner along state lines.  Gee… it sure would be terrible if criminals were afraid to commit crimes…

I doubt this is the last we’ve heard of this bill.  I think a few words will get changed and we’ll see it again in another incarnation.  That is my hope, at least.  We need something like this to help reduce violent crime in locations with high-vacationing populations, such as D.C., N.Y.C., San Francisco, and L.A., where a citizen’s right to protect themselves is removed.

Keep your powder dry.

Gun owners, keep your fingers crossed!

This could be a really big deal for us pro-Second Amendment people.  After all, anything that has the Democrats “scrambling” has got to be good!

Democrats Fear Defection on GOP Gun Proposal

Here’s what the NRA-ILA is saying about it:

The U.S. Senate is now considering the National Defense Authorization Act (S. 1390).  As a part of the consideration of that legislation, Senators John Thune (R-SD) and David Vitter (R-LA) will offer an amendment this week  to provide for interstate recognition of Right-to-Carry permits.  There is a very high likelihood of a Senate floor vote on this important and timely pro-gun reform between now and Wednesday.

Now is the time for Congress to recognize that the right to self-defense does not end at state lines.  Under the Thune-Vitter amendment, an individual who has met the requirements for a carry permit, or who is otherwise allowed by his home state’s state law to carry a firearm, would be authorized to carry a firearm for protection in any other state that issues such permits, subject to the laws of the state in which the firearm is carried.

Contrary to “states’ rights” claims from opponents who usually favor sweeping federal gun control, the amendment is a legitimate exercise of Congress’s constitutional power to protect the fundamental rights of citizens (including the right to keep and bear arms and the right of personal mobility).  States would still have the authority to regulate the time, place and manner in which handguns are carried.

Expanding Right-to-Carry will enhance public safety, and certainly poses no threat to the public.   Criminals are deterred from attempting crimes when they know or suspect that their prospective victims are armed.  A study for the Department of Justice found that 40 percent of felons had not committed crimes because they feared the prospective victims were armed. The Thune-Vitter amendment recognizes that competent, responsible, law-abiding Americans still deserve our trust and confidence when they cross state lines.  Passing interstate Right-to-Carry legislation will help further reduce crime by deterring criminals, and — most important of all — will protect the right of honest Americans to protect themselves if deterrence fails.

The Thune-Vitter Amendment represents a giant step forward in the protection of the basic right to self-defense.  Its passage will recognize that the rights of law-abiding Right-to-Carry permit holders should be respected, even when they travel outside their home state.

Gun control groups, including New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s “Mayors Against Illegal Guns” are running ads trying to scare your lawmakers and the American people into opposing this crucial Right-to-Carry reform.  It is critical that your U.S. Senators hear from you immediately.

Please be sure to contact both of your U.S. Senators today, and urge them to cosponsor and support the Thune-Vitter interstate right to carry recipocity amendment.   E-mail and call them immediately!

To find contact information for your U.S. Senators, please click here, or call (202) 224-3121.

Sounds like a good thing to me!  Call your senator!  Let’s make this happen!

Keep your powder dry.

They can power themselves with our DEAD!!!

Upcoming Military Robot Could Feed on Dead Bodies

And people have the gall to claim I’m nuts for warning of a robot apocalypse!  This is downright wrong!  Oh, I’m sure it’ll have some sort of “safety protocol” that won’t let it knaw on my femur after one of its buddies has shot me in the face, though…

Armor. Piercing. Incendiary. Ammo.  Buy lots.  You’ll need it to survive when the robot wars begin.

Keep your powder dry.

EDITED: What did I say?!  Sure enough, now they’re telling us “Oh, it won’t eat people or animal remains…”