You Know You're a GUN CONTROL HYPOCRITE IF....

Letter to Our Senator

Mr. Tea has given me permission to post the e-mail he sent earlier today to our Senator about gun control.  I thought is was so wonderful that I wanted to post it here.

-----Original Message-----
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
To: district27 <district27@senate.virginia.gov>
Sent: Fri, Dec 28, 2012 8:49 am
Subject: No gun control

Dear Senator Vogel,

 

As the husband of a teacher in your district I am very concerned about your recent statements on "gun control".  My wife also has a concealed carry permit and would be willing to participate in whatever additional training the state would deem necessary - if Virginia were to follow the lead of Utah and Texas in allowing teachers to carry in school.  We entrust the welfare and education of our children to teachers every day.  Why can't we give those same teachers the tools to save our children's lives in the event a monster enters the school?

 

6 brave teachers gave their lives in Connecticut attempting to protect their students with nothing more then their bare hands.  Brave teachers also gave their lives at VA Tech in the same manner - trying to protect their students.  Would you deprive the next group of teachers the ability to save the children we have entrusted to them?

 

"Gun Free" zones are not the answer.  They are nothing more then an advertised "Free Killing" zone for the next person looking to right an imagined wrong or looking for their 15 minutes of fame by killing innocents.  The only thing that will stop or slow an animal bent on killing as many people as possible is a responsible person with a gun.  This has been proven time and again, but is conveniently overlooked by the media and anti-gun crowd (but I repeat myself).

 

More "Gun Control" is also not the answer.  Connecticut already has some of the toughest "Gun Control" laws in the country.  Those laws did not stop this monster.  Tough laws didn't stop him in Connecticut and tougher laws in Virginia, or the country, will not stop the next one.  Tough "Gun Control" laws have proven to be a failure in Chicago, New York and Washington, DC.  Why then would you support a concept that has repeatedly failed in the past.

 

Using this tragedy to restrict our 2nd Amendment rights is wrong and will not do anything to stop the next monster.  There are better options out there to protect our schools.  If you want to take positive action - look to the places that have successful programs to protect schools - Texas, Utah and Israel.

 

There does need to be serious and thoughtful conversation on how to better protect our children, our schools, our churches and all places where peaceful & law abiding people gather.  Those conversations need to include ALL sides of the issue - arming teachers, better security, linking mental health records to state databases used to approve gun purchases, etc. 

 

Please reconsider your new stance on gun control.  Don't get swept up in the emotional "we must do something now" and end up punishing the millions of responsible gun owners for the actions of a handful of animals.

 

 

Sincerely,

 

"Mr. Tea" (but he wanted me to make sure I stated that he signed his name on the one sent to the Senator!)

XXXXXXXX, VA

(Just one more example of why I love him so!)

But wait....gun restrictions are supposed to stop this!

The District of Columbia is not far from me and if anyone has been following Emily Miller, you know how hard it is to even obtain a gun in DC.  Since that is the case, do you think the perp in this case cared that they were breaking the law?


Victim Critical After SE Shooting

David Gregory broke the law!

Well, it seems that Mr. Gregory broke D.C.'s law with his demonstration!  It is now known that the tv station asked for permission to have the clip and was denied!

Here is the link: http://news.yahoo.com/dc-cops-investigating-whether-nbcs-gregory-violated-gun-170426968--abc-news-politics.html

Wonder if he will actually be prosecuted????

My Thoughts

I am sitting here looking out the front window.  The scene outside is of my two youngest children and my grandson playing in the falling snow.  Watching this heartwarming scene brings so many things to mind about the last couple of weeks.

A lot of emotions have been going through my mind and heart.  You see, I am a mom, a grandma, and I work at an elementary school.  I am not yet a teacher, but God willing I will be within the next year.  I am also a firm believer that we have allowed our schools to become a place for psychos to come and have a killing spree.

I do not believe that teachers should be REQUIRED to be armed, but I believe that if a teacher has a conceal carry permit and is willing to continue with their training, they should be allowed to carry at school.  Can you imagine how many fewer shootings would happen if the gunman wasn't sure if he would be shot soon after arriving instead of having 10-20 minutes to wreak havoc before police arrived?  I can, and I would love for that to become a reality.

I have been in a couple of conversations on Facebook concerning having armed teachers in the schools.  The most common statement I get is that parents don't trust the teachers to be armed.  That surprises me because teachers are entrusted with so much when it comes to their children's lives, that you would think they could be trusted to have the tools needed in order to protect their very lives.

Well, my kids and grandson need my attention, so have a great day everyone and hug your family close.

Country Tea

Just had to share.....

Thoughts

I sit here thinking about going to work tomorrow and my heart aches and tears well in my eyes.

You see, I work at an elementary school.  Friday, I was still in a state of shock and disbelief about the massacre in Connecticut   That is no longer the case, and I am not sure if I will be able to hold back the tears tomorrow as I see all the students walk by in the halls.  I know I will be hugging every one of my first graders that I work with and thanking God that I am still able to hug them.  So many are not going to be able to do that tomorrow.

I am not even going to talk about anything political or agenda-wise at this time.  There will be plenty of time for that later, since we know there are those already on their soap boxes.  Some were on their soapboxes before the dear little babies were even removed from the school building!

Nevermind

DH just made a major comeback and wiped them both out.


Country Tea

I believe I should be worried

My 11 year old daughter just took me out in the game of Risk.

Oh and her 13 year old brother has the complete western hemisphere.

I am worried.


Country Tea

World Domination Again

Yes, it is Risk time again is the Tea household!


Country Tea

DH and His Buck

It is at the taxidermy's already and will be gracing our home sometime this summer.

The game of world domination!

The game of Risk, that is.  I am not sure if I have mentioned this before, but Mr. Tea can be rather competitive. :-)

So, this weekend became the weekend of Risk. LOL  The kids took a bit of a hard learning curve, but are getting the hang of it.

In honor of DH's spirit of competitiveness, I decided to keep track of some of the things that came out of his mouth as we were playing.  They are as follows: :-)

**This is not "rolling for armies." (This was said while he was emphasizing not to roll the dice on the game board.)

**It's ALWAYS a competition with me babe."

**Your dice get rolled in the Yathzee box, NOT on the board! (see above)

**Cats are like dice, keep them the "f" off the board.

**They can lay down.  It's okay. (I was trying to get all my military men to stand upright.  Hey, I was getting board while DH was conquering the other territories. i.e. the kids)

**This was said directly to me during one of his campaigns: "I'm not stopping at Africa, I am coming right up your ass also."

Oh...there were others, but I had been laughing so hard I stopped typing them up. he he he

Next post will be about the buck and the doe that DH shot today.

Teaching the Girl Child

Backgammon! Should be interesting, LOL

Deer Season

Since rifle season opened up last Saturday, DH has come home with three does.

So, after grinding, bagging, and freezing the venison, here is the final tally:

42 one pound bags of ground meat
8 "nice" roasts
2 "crockpot" roasts
10 bags of loin medallions (enough for a meal for 4 in each)
1 bag of prime tenderloins (splurge meal!)

Now all the towels are in the washer under the sanitize cycle, the grinder and accessories have been cleaned and sanitized, and now I am pooped! LOL

Will be using some of the ground meat for tacos tonight. :-)

I do plan to get out hunting myself before the season is over, but not sure when that will happen.

Unions Showing Strength

I received the following in an email from my dear husband and just had to share!  Guess what?  That means I have my first "guest blogger!"  Of course, that is also the only way my dear hubby will ever blog! LOL

In 1981 the Air Traffic Controllers Union went on strike.  President Ronald Reagan told them to return to work within 48 hours or they would all be fired.  The Union bosses told their workers that Reagan would never do that.  Well 11,000+ Air Traffic Controllers lost their jobs when President Reagan fired them.

In 2012 the Unions at Hostess refused to discuss pension and wage reductions to save the company (which was already in Bankruptcy) and went on strike to prove their point.  The Hostess Company told the strikers that unless the strike ended they would close the company and sell off the assets.  The Union bosses told their workers that Hostess would never do that.  Well 18,000+ Hostess employees lost their jobs today when the company decided to close down.

Oops – How’d that work out for you guys and gals that are now unemployed?  Your Union bosses will simply move over to other union positions (they always take care of their own).  You are left unemployed and out of luck.  How does it feel to be used as a club by the union – and once the smoke clears it appears you are left holding the sh-t end of the stick.

Unions truly served a need and a purpose back when companies worked their employees for poor wages in deplorable and dangerous conditions.  That need and purpose ceased to exist decades ago.  OSHA took over the “deplorable and dangerous conditions” oversight.  And the Unions concentrated on the wages.  And they used the “strike” threat to get more and more for their workers. 

At some point Companies (and Governments) can no longer squeeze out that additional penny that the unions demand and they die.  Leaving the employees (and the tax payers) holding the smelly end of the stick.

All we need now is the Government to pass a law (stating how unfair it is that these poor employees have lost their jobs due to the greed of the wealthy owners) that forces the company to stay in business AND pay the higher wages the Union demands.  It would be straight out of “Atlas Shrugged”.

Well isn't that just special!!!!

Head on over to An Ordinary Texan and find out the bad news about the Wounded Warrior Project!

I am just sick to my stomach!

What does anyone know about the National Military Family Association?  They look good online, but you never know?

So much since I last posted...

The wedding on the 4th went relatively smoothly.  Minor glitch with the minister not telling us to sit down once the bride was up front, but she (the bride) took care of that before vows were exchanged. :-)

Watched their dogs for them while they were on their honeymoon.  I really wish we had a fenced in section of our yard, but we survived and none of them escaped, so that was good.

Kids were dropping like flies all week at school with some type of stomach bug, so who gets it over their three day weekend?  Yeah, this lady!  Oh well, I am almost human again....almost.  Well enough to go back to school tomorrow.

Not much going on in the "gun" side of life.  DH went and sited in his 380 today.  Getting ready for rifle season.

Hope this finds everyone healthy!

Country Tea

But, but....they are a peaceful religion!

"A mob attacked a girls' school in the city of Lahore, Pakistan, Wednesday, demanding that teachers hand over the principal and a teacher, after rumors emerged that the teacher had insulted the prophet Muhammad."

Here is the link:  http://news.yahoo.com/mob-burns-girls-school-pakistani-city-over-alleged-202704863.html

Actions speak louder than words will ever do!

Range Therapy on Friday

It's been one of "those" weeks and by Thursday night I knew I needed to visit the range.  Also that fact that I had not been to a range since my Cornered Cat training meant I was sore need of some practice.

It was a much needed break from every thing and I got to put about 200 rounds through my gun.  I would go back and forth between the modified weaver stance and the isosceles stance.  I am truly torn between them. Sometimes I do better with one and then another time I do better with the other. LOL  What's a girl to do!

I don't get to the range often during the week, so it was interesting to be the only female on the line.  The guy next to me started asking about what I was shooting and why I had so many magazines (I only have four).  I told him that different training classes request that you have a certain number of round loaded and ready to go, so I needed more than the two magazines that came with my gun.  He then went on to ask me about my training.  I think I surprised him with what all I told him. LOL

edited

I needed to edit my previous post.  I am "now" allowed to lock my gun in my car on the property.  I had made a typo that said "not."

People can be paranoid.....

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you have probably deducted from them that I work in the public school system.  Which until July 1st of this year extremely hindered my ability to carry for a large portion of my day.

Since July 1st, I can now secure my handgun in my car while it is parked on school property.  Before that date I was not allowed to do that and could have gotten into ALOT of trouble if I had done so, so I didn't.  Which meant that from the time I left in the morning to until I came home I was unarmed.  I had to decide whether I wanted to run errands defenseless before going home or go home first.  Since I am the type that wants to STAY home once I get there, I usually went defenseless for longer periods of time.

That is NO longer an issue and I am very happy about that! :-)

Now for the real intention of this post tonight. :-D

One of my duties at school is the morning drop off area.  Another teacher and myself stand out there and make sure the kids get out of their cars safely and "remind" parents of the proper way to conduct themselves during drop off time.  Most of our morning drop offs are regulars and know the drill by this point in the school year.

Well today we had a "newbie," a dad that had never dropped his daughter off before, so not only did he not stop in the right place (not a biggie), but he had her on the opposite side of his truck than the side we are on. Not a big deal really, he just got out of the front seat and helped her out to make sure she was safe and the other teacher walked around to help her the rest of the way.  Other than a worried dad that she would make it to class, nothing unusual.

At least until the next car came up and I let that child out.  The mother in the car says "is that guy a cop?"  I said excuse me, since I had no idea what she was talking about.  She then goes on to tell me that the guy in front of her "had a gun on his hip" and wanted to know if he was a cop.  I told her that I did not know, since it was the first time I had seen him.  She started going on about him "having a gun" and it was school property.  I patiently explained to her that it was completely legal in our state to carry your gun on school property as long as you were dropping off a child and NOT going into the building.  He would only be in violation is he parked his vehicle and attempted to walk into the school building, otherwise what he did was legal in our state.  She was not too happy with my "revelation" to her but thankfully went on her way since the line was growing behind her. LOL

When the teacher later asked me what all that was about, her only response was "she would have a cow if she knew what was in your car everyday."  And yes, she is the only teacher there that knows that I carry and exercise my right to secure it in my vehicle while I am at work. :-)

I am still shaking my head over that woman's reaction!

"Write what you know about..."

One of the classes I am taking this semester is on writing.  Specifically using the APA style of writing.  Not exactly the most exciting sounding class, but it is a required course for my degree.

Anyways....the purpose of the above and the title of this post is concerning an article that I had to read for this class.  The article is entitled, "Be a better writer, be a better teacher," and it is a very insightful article.

I have always had visions of being a writer.  I loved writing in school, well, I liked being able to write stories in school.  That is one reason I have had some type of blog for over seven years now.  They have evolved over the years depending on what my life was like at the time.  Which is why THIS one is about my journey into shooting and conceal carrying.

I might not post often, but when I do I hope they are of value.

I have a few "posts" swirling around in my head and I hope to have time to put them to paper soon.

Love you all.......

Updating my blog list on the side

I was informed this evening by my sweetie that some of the links on my blog list were no longer good.  So, I am in the process of updating blogs that have moved and adding new ones.

Be patient please, it is a work in progress. :-)

Trying this one on for size...

This is a picture that my sweetie took during the Cornered Cat training.  I would like something that is "mine" so that I don't have to worry about copyrights or anything like that.  Plus it would mean more if it is of me or someone close to me like my little avatar picture.

So... is this one good or should I keep trying to come up with something?

Looking for a "look"

I am trying to come up with a picture for have as my title image.

I like what I have as my avatar to the side.  It is my daughter just doing her thing with spent casings, but that is not what my blog is about.  I am trying to find a picture of a lady with a gun, but not a "hoochie" momma or someone half naked with guns hanging off her.

I will keep on looking.....

Virginia's Hunter Safety Course

I must say that I was very impressed with the course that was offered.  Many moons ago I took a hunter's course that was no where near as thorough as this one.  It was the bare minimum that was required for the state to say that I had taken a class.  This one was a two day 10-11 hour course that covered ALOT!

The course covered the following (in no particular order since I don't remember exactly):

Handling and safety
tree stand safety
archery
muzzleloading
modern firearms
ammunition
marksmanship
care and cleaning
trapping
turkey hunting
game care
survival
first aid
map and compass
water safety and waterfowl hunting
wildlife conservation and management
wildlife identification
ethics

The instructors were very well versed in their subject areas and what was even more impressive to me was that fact that they are all VOLUNTEERS.  None of them are paid for their time, yet they give their weekends to ensure that those that want to hunt have the best education to do so safely.

Sunday was a fun time.  We had the tree stand safety lesson that day so we got to go outside and see the different types of stands that are out there today.  Again, the instructor for that portion brought his own personal stands to show us!

Then we got to go to the range and shoot some 22 rifles.  I must say that it was the first time I have ever shot in the prone position.  Not the best position for someone whose back was already giving them problems, but I survived. LOL

Edgar Allen Poe

It was on this date in 1849 that Edgar Allen Poe is said to have died.  There is still a lot of mystery surrounding his last days and there seems to be no record of his death or even a death certificate, but we will go with this date, since it is what the consensus has decided.

I have always had a fondness for Poe's writing.  Yeah, I can be a tad macarbe that way.  I remember in 7th grade getting to go on a field trip to the University of Virginia and being in awe at seeing the dorm room that Poe used during his brief stay there:

I was a lit geek then.  What can I say, not many 7th graders were well versed in Shakespeare, Poe, and Bronte to name a few. LOL

Most people think of "The Raven" or "The Fall of the House of Usher" when they think of Poe's works, but my favorite has always been "The Tell-Tale Heart."  Yeah, I am weird that way!

For your pleasure:

The Tell-Tale Heart

By Edgar Allen Poe

TRUE! nervous, very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why WILL you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses, not destroyed, not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How then am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily, how calmly, I can tell you the whole story.

It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain, but, once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! Yes, it was this! One of his eyes resembled that of a vulture -- a pale blue eye with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me my blood ran cold, and so by degrees, very gradually, I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye for ever.

Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded -- with what caution -- with what foresight, with what dissimulation, I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night about midnight I turned the latch of his door and opened it oh, so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern all closed, closed so that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly, very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as this? And then when my head was well in the room I undid the lantern cautiously -- oh, so cautiously -- cautiously (for the hinges creaked), I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights, every night just at midnight, but I found the eye always closed, and so it was impossible to do the work, for it was not the old man who vexed me but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he had passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed , to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.

Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers, of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was opening the door little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea, and perhaps he heard me, for he moved on the bed suddenly as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back -- but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness (for the shutters were close fastened through fear of robbers), and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily.

I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening , and the old man sprang up in the bed, crying out, "Who's there?"

I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed, listening; just as I have done night after night hearkening to the death watches in the wall.

Presently, I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief -- oh, no! It was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself, "It is nothing but the wind in the chimney, it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or, "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp." Yes he has been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions ; but he had found all in vain. ALL IN VAIN, because Death in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel, although he neither saw nor heard, to feel the presence of my head within the room.

When I had waited a long time very patiently without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little -- a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it -- you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily -- until at length a single dim ray like the thread of the spider shot out from the crevice and fell upon the vulture eye.

It was open, wide, wide open, and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness -- all a dull blue with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones, but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person, for I had directed the ray as if by instinct precisely upon the damned spot.

And now have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the senses? now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.

But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eye. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder, every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! -- do you mark me well? I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me -- the sound would be heard by a neighbour! 

The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once -- once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But for many minutes the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eye would trouble me no more.

If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence.

I took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly so cunningly, that no human eye -- not even his -- could have detected anything wrong. There was nothing to wash out -- no stain of any kind -- no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that.

When I had made an end of these labours, it was four o'clock -- still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, -- for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises.

I smiled, -- for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search -- search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.

The officers were satisfied. My MANNER had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears; but still they sat, and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct : I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definitiveness -- until, at length, I found that the noise was NOT within my ears.

No doubt I now grew VERY pale; but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased -- and what could I do? It was A LOW, DULL, QUICK SOUND -- MUCH SUCH A SOUND AS A WATCH MAKES WHEN ENVELOPED IN COTTON. I gasped for breath, and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly, more vehemently but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. 

Why WOULD they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men, but the noise steadily increased. O God! what COULD I do? I foamed -- I raved -- I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder -- louder -- louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly , and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! -- no, no? They heard! -- they suspected! -- they KNEW! -- they were making a mockery of my horror! -- this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! -- and now -- again -- hark! louder! louder! louder! LOUDER! --

"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! -- tear up the planks! -- here, here! -- it is the beating of his hideous heart!"

DH's humor

This was sent to me from my wonderful DH.

Tolerance - A Lesson in Positive Thinking

I am truly perplexed that so many people are against a mosque being built at Ground Zero.

I think it should be the goal of every American to be tolerant.

Thus the Mosque should be allowed, in an effort to promote tolerance.

That is why I also propose that two nightclubs be opened next door to the mosque, thereby promoting tolerance from within the mosque.

We could call one of the clubs, "The  Turban Cowboy", which would be gay, and the other a topless bar called "You Mecca Me Hot."

Next door should be a butcher shop that specializes in pork, and adjacent to that an open-pit barbecue pork restaurant, called "Iraq o' Ribs."

Across the street there could be a lingerie store called " Victoria Keeps Nothing Secret" with sexy mannequins with short burkas in the window modeling the goods.

Next door to the lingerie shop, a liquor store called "Morehammered."  

All of this would encourage the Muslims to demonstrate the  tolerance they demand of us, so the mosque problem would be solved.

To Quote Mr. Einstein

"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."

This is so true.  I am always amazed at how stupid people can be and how there never seems to be an end to it.

Today in History

On this day in 1955 Captain Kangaroo aired for the first time.  It continued until December 8, 1984.

Thank you Captain Kangaroo and Mr. Green Jeans, you made television fun AND educational.

Today in History

Today in 1950 the first Peanuts strip was published.

Thank you Charles Shultz

Issues with posting comments

Is anyone else having issues posting comments?  Not sure why, but I changed the setting to allow anyone to post, even anonymous posters.  Maybe that will help with the issue.

I wanted to post what my Dear Hubby WANTED to post about my post on the outlawing of bombing civilians, but Blogger would not let him for whatever reason.  He posts under the name "Comfortably Numb" for anyone that wonders. :-)

Comfortably Numb wrote:  (and yes, is his a bit of an expert on all thing war related, even if he does not think so!)

While the reasons for "outlawing" something of this magnitude are obvious - unfortunately it proved to be meaningless (as do most sanctions put forth by the current “United Nations”).  Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Russia and the United States (and other nations) all participated in the unrestricted bombing of civilian populations during WW2. 

                            

Nations like Great Britain and Japan were founding members of the League of Nations.  Germany & Russia joined and like Japan eventually left the organization.  The United States was never a member. 

The tit-for-tat escalation of civilian bombing missions during WW2 was used to rationalize the bombings of Dresden & Tokyo (plus many other cities) and the eventual use of the Atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.  Looking back with the hind-sight of 60+ years and the reading of Archives from all participating Nations (not available to the planners and decision makers of the time) shows that the indiscriminate bombing of civilian populations does not lead to weakening the morale of the remaining civilian population or the population rising up and overthrowing the leadership.  Quite the opposite - it often strengthens the resolve of the population and leadership to fight harder against the offending country.  

The idea of a mostly civilian population rising up against the leadership of a modern nation (and overthrowing said leadership) is not feasible for too many reasons to be completely covered in this comment.  Suffice it to say that the weapons available to a modern civilian population pale in comparison to those available to a modern military force.  Such grass-roots style civilian uprisings are doomed to failure because the leadership has just too much power to bring down on this type of uprising.

Even members of the military rising against the leadership in a Coup attempt will often fail for reasons as minor as a strong wooden leg on a conference table.  Who’s to say what would have happened if the leaders of the Coup had succeeded in their attempt to kill Hitler in July of 1944.  Could they have maintained control and stopped the remaining members of Hitler’s leadership – including the much feared SS and Gestapo?  It doesn’t mean the war would have immediately ended.  Other leaders in Hitler’s regime may have overcome the Coup attempt and continued the war to its eventual conclusion.  Without Hitler running the war in its final year, the true German military leaders may have been able to overcome key Allied victories and fought to a different conclusion.

Even the WW2 bombings of specific military targets (including the factories, refineries and infrastructure used to supply the military machine) included mostly civilian areas and large loss of life.  Where do you put a factory – near or in a city.  What grows up around a railroad yard – a city.  What circles a refinery – the civilian population of a city.  Civilians must live near these targets in order to work them.  Automobiles were not as plentiful during WW2 and people normally walked to work.  As good as the Norden bombsight was – it was not as accurate in war time operation as planned.  That’s why there were 1000 plane raids in the final years of the war.  This type of carpet bombing was used against cities to take out the military targets and also the civilian populations.  If it helped the planners and bombers sleep better by saying they were only bombing the military targets - good for them (and I am not disparaging the bomber crews – they fought an incredible battle against German and Japan forces with US Army Air Force losses of well over 50,000 deaths).  The top decision makers knew that civilians were also part of the target list.

The bombing of military targets or civilian populations during WW2 with the resulting firestorms in Tokyo, Kobe, Hamburg, Dresden and many other cities lead to civilian deaths in the 10’s of thousands - in EACH city.  The Atomic bomb attacks on Hiroshima and Nagasaki lead to civilian deaths estimated to be near 100,000 – in EACH city.  Stalin supposedly said that “The death of one man is a tragedy; the death of millions is a statistic”.  It is almost impossible for most people to wrap their minds around this many deaths.  How tragic in your mind were the attacks of 911?  How close did those deaths hit to home?  There were only a few children killed on 911.  There were thousands of children killed in these cities.  There were many cities that lost 10’s of thousands.  Can anyone really grasp what those numbers mean? 

Take a moment to think about 10’s of thousands - men, women and children – dead in a few days or a few seconds – in each city……

ChongQing – 10,000 plus

Dresden – 25,000 plus

Tokyo – 88,000 to 100,000 plus

Kobe – 8,800 plus

Hamburg – 42,000 plus

Hiroshima – 100,000 plus (plus long term deaths)

Nagasaki – 40,000 to 75,000 (plus long term deaths)

Etc….

Can anyone really understand what those numbers mean or are they just a statistic?

Unfortunately, the next major War will most likely involve Nuclear weapons (hopefully in a limited fashion – if there is such a thing) and even if not directly targeted - the civilian population will be directly impacted – with deaths estimated in the millions for each city hit.

The United Nations, your Church leaders or the local Rotary can unanimously "outlaw" whatever they want – and it will be just as effective as what the League of Nations did in 1938.  It is the leaders we put in place or the leaders of opposing nations that will make the final decision on when to push the button.  And we will have absolutely no say in the matter. 

Gotta post this though....

Okay, so I like to look at "today in history" under wikipedia and post interesting tidbits that I find.

This one really stuck out as being rather ridiculous:

1938 – The League of Nations unanimously outlaws "intentional bombings of civilian populations". 

Does a group really have to "outlaw" something like that?  I mean, really??

Hunter Safety Course

I plan to write about the course my son and I took this weekend, but it will have to wait until tomorrow.  I am currently sitting as still as possible with a heating pad to the small of my back.

Not sure what I did besides sit in a metal folding chair for most of the weekend, but that seems to have done it.

Goodness I am getting old!

Today in History

Two totally different people, but born on this date:

1774--Johnny Chapman, aka Johnny Appleseed

1849--Ivan Pavlov, Russian Scientist

What I have come to learn about myself....

I periodically receive an email from the VCDL (Virginia Citizens Defense League) with state news that is of interest to citizens who care about our right to own guns and carry them.  There is always a mixture of articles in favor of and those against us, nothing new there.  This time there was a link to an opinion piece in the Roanoke Times (which happens alot in that paper) that really sparked my interest.

This "writer" thought a very sarcastic rant about how everyone should carry a gun since "I've been told that once everyone is armed and everyone knows everyone else is armed, peace will reign under the threat of mutual assured destruction."  She then actually states that if the idea of shooting someone is against your ideals, then to just not buy bullets, all you need to do is flash the gun around to show how tough you are!  (Can I get sick now?)

Oh and her response to the TRUTH that if guns are outlawed, then only criminals with have them.....

"It's not the criminals who are shooting at us. Criminals, for the most part, want to avoid attention and often buy guns illegally. Mass murderers want attention and usually get their firearms in the same way law-abiding citizens do."  Yes, she really posted that in her article!

I could go on, but what is the use.  People like her would rather die than to take a stand against criminals.  She WANTS us all to be victims.  I can not stand people like her.

I have learned over the last year or so about myself is that I WILL do whatever it takes to protect myself and my loved ones.  That does not mean I will survive, but I plan to do as much damage as possible to the lowlife scum that intends me harm before I go.  Maybe I might even take them with me when I go!

I feel no shame in that AT ALL.

On this date....

in 1937 The Hobbit was published!

The movie will never truly do the book justice (do they ever?), but I plan to see it in a theater to experience it on a big screen.

What I found on our front door....

So, I came home on Tuesday to find this on our front door:

Our neighbor has a client that makes signs and felt this one would be great for us. I like it, but told DH that we need to find another place for it.

Cornered Cat Training

Wow, it's been a week since Mr. Tea and I got to spend the weekend with AGirl at John's range where The Cornered Cat was teaching a training class.

Originally it was only going to be me at the training, but some spaces opened up at the last minute so my sweetie came along also.  I love training with my sweetie!

First day was covering the basics.  Which is always a great refresher! We did have storms come through, so that meant more time in the training room.  We used this time to go over all types of different types of holsters.  We also were encouraged to bring some that we use for a bit of "show and tell."  That was a very informative time.  I have decided that I want to save up and get one of these.  Smart Carry  These will be great for when I wear skirts that just will not work with a belt.  Talk about concealed carry! LOL

Second day was BEAUTIFUL!  The weather was on the cooler side and the sky with clear.  We spent a lot of time on the range.  I worked on changing my stance to the isosceles stance.  I seemed to get a better grouping standing that way than with my normal Weaver stance.  We also work on shooting from behind cover!  I had never done that before.  That was different, really different.

There is so much more I could write, but the most important thing I can say is that it is SO worth the price and if you are ever able to make it to one of her classes then DO IT!

Today in History

(I will post later about 9-11)

1297 – Battle of Stirling Bridge: Scots jointly-led by William Wallace and Andrew Moray defeat the English.

I am married to a Scot, so their history is dear to my heart.  Soar Alba!!

Excitement

Cornered Cat training today!


Country Tea

On this day in history.....

Six years ago today the world lost a great person.  Someone that really cared for animals, especially those that most people misunderstand:

Steve Irwin

On this day in 1920

The author Ray Bradbury was born.

Too long since I have posted.

College courses ending, school going back, going back to work, and college courses starting.  My blogging has been put on the back burner.  I hope to be able to post more, but can't promise anything yet. LOL

Today in History

On this date in 1620 the Mayflower departs from Southampton, England on its first attempt to reach North America.


Mr. Tea had researched and found ancestors that came across on the Mayflower.

Friends, Firearms, and Food

Had a wonderful day.  I am tired and plan to post about it tomorrow, but wanted to leave you with a taste of  what the day held: :-)

Where we were at......

Side by side with my sweetie.  I was on the left.  Not too bad, even if I say so myself. :-)

Tried my hand at skeet shooting for the first time!

Today in History

July 29, 1862 -- Belle Boyd, Confederate spy, is arrested by Union troops and detained at the Old Capitol Prison in Washington, D.C.


She was ratted out by her supposed lover.  Not much love if he is willing to turn her in. 

Gun trumps knife!

Gun carrying man ends stabbing spree at grocery store

Man buys a knife at the store and then "turns it into a weapon" and starts stabbing people.

People are getting worse out there!

Range time

Mr. Tea and I had the opportunity to go to the range this morning.  Gotta love those impromptu dates!

I became rather frustrated with  myself after the first 40 rounds.  At the range we go to, you have the ability to post two targets up at 7 yards.  I had one straight in front of me and what slightly to my left.  I could hardly get a shot to hit the black on the target that was straight in front of me, but was fine on the target to my left.  I was like "WTF???"  Straight ahead, I was shooting low, but turning slightly to my left, was having nice tight groupings.  I put my gun down and took a step back and breathed.  Stepped back to the bench and tried again.  SAME FREAKING THING!  Okay, took another breath and adjusted my stance.  Somewhat better, but still not what I usually do at the range.

Of course, while all this is going on, my sweet Mr. Tea* kept telling me to breathe and not worry about it.  I appreciate the sentiment, but I NEED to figure out what I am doing different and correct it. LOL

I am still not 100% what was going on, but I angled my stance more and was finally able to get most of my last 10 rounds into the center of the straight on target.  At least I ended on a better note, although I feel I need to spend some more time at the range to work "this" particular kink out.

**I have mentioned before that I am my own worst critic, but I honestly know I can do better than what I was doing today!

I might not have been to the range, but I have been busy!

Well, it started with this:

This is some watermelon jelly that I had been wanting to make for awhile.  So, with DD begged for a watermelon at the grocery store I decided "why not!" LOL  But there is a thing that happens when I start canning..... I. CAN. NOT. STOP! LOL

So, I started looking online for some "different" jam and jelly recipes.....which resulted in this:

 These are the ingredients for Margarita Jelly and Strawberry Daiquiri Jam.

Which turned into these:

After those, I then decided to restock my supply of Jalapeno Jelly here.

And then..... I ended the day with Kiwi Daiquiri Jam.

I have been busy!