I am talking here about employer / employee relationships here, but this same argument can be made for any relationship.
While I do understand the idea expressed so often that loyalty to ones employer or company is out dated and even in some cases detrimental. I also understand the bitterness these days towards corporate America as a whole. From the Enron Scandal in the 90's, to the Housing Bailout's and Auto Manufacturers Buyouts recently. It seems that the honest hardworking Middle American is the one to get screwed. Let's face it the poverty stricken lower class is being handed our money with the new "Redistribution of Wealth" programs that our Democrat administration is pushing. Big Business is getting even more of our hard earned money, for what essentially amounts to at the very least incompetence, at the worst out and out fraud. Then with no forethought what so ever they hand out millions of dollars in bonus money to those who essentially ruined our economy in the first place. All in the name of "what's in it for me" greed.
What we must realize is that these corporate and political leaders are a direct result of the "do it if it feels good" and "I need to take care of me first" mentality that came about in the 60's.
They have learned nothing from the tragedies that their attitude and actions have caused. What's worse is that they spawned an entire generation of money chasers and yuppies, who in turn over compensated for their parents and spoiled their 1.2 children. Resulting in an entire new generation of "Entitlement kids".
Where does it stop?
Yes the days of unwavering devotion to ones company seem to be at an end. However, WHY is this? It is expressed by many that the reason for this is, that type of loyalty has so often been betrayed recently that our faith in such ideals is ruined.
While I do agree with this, I cannot help but to feel that this is just a symptom of the larger problem. As a Non Commissioned Officer in the United States Army I was taught by great men that loyalty worked two ways never one. If you require loyalty from your men you must first give loyalty to them. It is not a popularity contest. I have seen loyalty of amazing proportion given to some of the hardest SOB's around. Why? Because they were fair and honest with their men. They required hard work and dedication, but they GAVE hard work and dedication. These HARD men would not ask more than they would do or had done themselves. More than that they kept the faith with their men, they promised nothing they would not give and they cared for their men first above themselves.
I have also seen men of character who worked for lesser men than themselves. Men who gave loyalty a faithful service. Never shirking from their responsibility, striving to do their best even when they knew they could get by with less, and that their actions were not truly appreciated . These men taught me the true meaning of loyalty to one’s self.
The idea that you do not need to be loyal to the company, because the company is not loyal to you, hurts you and those who work with you. It expresses a value to your children, friends, and anyone who might admire or look up to you as a man, which is pure selfishness. It propagates the "what’s in it for me" mentality that is the cause of corporate disloyalty in the first place. Employers have an obligation to their employees, corporations have an obligation to their shareholders, and the public in general, and the government, including the bureaucracy have an obligation to the people which they serve.
These ideals have been fading from our world. This has not happened over night, it has been a gentle erosion of a few grains at a time over the course of decades. It's starts in the life of one man, the example that man sets not with words but by deed, effects the future actions of many. This grows exponentially and spreads like a disease.
I say that loyalty to ones employer is best shown by simply being an honest man. Work to the best of your ability when you are at work. Do the best job you can do always. Never shortcut anything. Give the time, and skills you are paid for, to your job. Take pride in your work not matter what it is. This too is loyalty to yourself and your family. If you must leave your current employer for a better wage, or greater opportunity that is not disloyalty, if you know that you gave the best while employed by them. Loyalty shown to an employer in deed and action will instill loyalty in future generations. Those who come after us will be the new CEO's and leaders of the world. What they learn early will be the litmus that they measure their future decisions against. We must all strive to set the example for our children, of morality, and courage, by holding to our moral compass. I guarantee you that whether you are a doctor, a CEO, or a garbage collector, someone you know has held you up as their example in some way. That may be work related, family relations, or personal hygiene, whatever it is......Stop and ask yourself....."What example do I set by my actions every day" Whether or not you have children, someone is watching and learning from you. Loyalty, and morality are contagious, and the only way to spread them is not through words, but through action. Where better to start than in the work place?
Loyalty in the work place boils down to:
(1) Keeping faith that you will perform 100% the work you are paid to do.
(2) Keeping the secrets of the company to which you are privileged.
(3) Doing all things at work in the best interest of the company. This sometimes includes whistle blowing.
Illegal or dangerous practices are never in the best interest of a company.
(4) Do not talk ill of your employer to those outside of the company. It hurts the company and makes you look bad as well.
It's simple really....DO WHAT YOU KNOW IN YOUR HEART IS RIGHT..... It may be the harder road to follow, but I guarantee that in the long run the burden you carry will be lighter.
No one is perfect, we all grouse, we all slack at times, but day to day, do you put forth the image of someone who gives his best, or just enough to get by? Do your children, friends and neighbors see a man of his word, or a person who can only be trusted to do what is in his own best interest?
I leave you with this thought....Do not worry about what the guy next to you gets away with, while you toil. There will always be those who will try to take advantage. Do not let yourself be drawn into this mentality. The more of us who resist the urge to follow the easy way, at the detriment of others, the more who will follow our example. Good can grow as exponentially as evil. Let's take back or corporations and our government one grain of sand at a time just as it eroded.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Deep Thoughts of Deep Thinkers
Just a few deep thoughts from smarter men than me.
The Constitution shall never be construed … to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams
To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them. – George Mason
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. - Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764
Suppose the Second amendment said "A well-educated electorate being necessary for self-governance in a free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed." Is there anyone who would suggest that means only registered voters have a right to read? – Robert Levy, Georgetown University professor
...arms...discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. ...Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived the use of them. -- Thomas Paine
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson
We should not forget that the spark which ignited the American Revolution was caused by the British attempt to confiscate the firearms of the colonists. - Patrick Henry
Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government. – James Madison
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That "all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people." To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition. - Thomas Jefferson
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. – Samuel Adams
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. – Thomas Jefferson (1781)
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. – Thomas Jefferson
Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. – Daniel Webster (1782-1852)
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. – Thomas Jefferson
When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. – Thomas Paine
The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. – Thomas Jefferson
The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but a swindling futurity on a large scale. – Thomas Jefferson
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. – Thomas Jefferson
The Constitution shall never be construed … to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms. – Samuel Adams
To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them. – George Mason
Laws that forbid the carrying of arms... disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes... Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man. - Thomas Jefferson's "Commonplace Book," 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764
Suppose the Second amendment said "A well-educated electorate being necessary for self-governance in a free state, the right of the people to keep and read books shall not be infringed." Is there anyone who would suggest that means only registered voters have a right to read? – Robert Levy, Georgetown University professor
...arms...discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. ...Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived the use of them. -- Thomas Paine
"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that... it is their right and duty to be at all times armed." --Thomas Jefferson
We should not forget that the spark which ignited the American Revolution was caused by the British attempt to confiscate the firearms of the colonists. - Patrick Henry
Do not separate text from historical background. If you do, you will have perverted and subverted the Constitution, which can only end in a distorted, bastardized form of illegitimate government. – James Madison
I consider the foundation of the Constitution as laid on this ground: That "all powers not delegated to the United States, by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States or to the people." To take a single step beyond the boundaries thus specially drawn around the powers of Congress, is to take possession of a boundless field of power, no longer susceptible of any definition. - Thomas Jefferson
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin
If ye love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home from us in peace. We seek not your counsel, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains set lightly upon you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen. – Samuel Adams
The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbor to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg. – Thomas Jefferson (1781)
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions which he disbelieves and abhors, is sinful and tyrannical. – Thomas Jefferson
Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. – Daniel Webster (1782-1852)
I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. – Thomas Jefferson
When the government fears the people, it is liberty. When the people fear the government, it is tyranny. – Thomas Paine
The course of history shows that as a government grows, liberty decreases. – Thomas Jefferson
The principle of spending money to be paid by posterity, under the name of funding, is but a swindling futurity on a large scale. – Thomas Jefferson
If a law is unjust, a man is not only right to disobey it, he is obligated to do so. – Thomas Jefferson
Friday, November 6, 2009
Winter the catdog
Pet's are amazing in how they can understand a person, quite often, better than another human could. The way they can learn to communicate thought and emotion to us is amazing. Now I am like any other old soldier, an animal lover....Two things that can make any old soldier cry, kids and puppies.
I'm not much of a cat person I'm more of a dog guy....but I don't have time for pets, I'm always gone for one reason or another. So my wife (another dog lover) and I decided after we moved cross country in 2000 that we were not going to burden ourselves again with pets. HA HA!! We should have known better. A few months after we moved into our new home we had a couple of kittens show up on our back deck. The male took to our little girl immediately, and was a very friendly and amusing little guy so we didn't discourage him. I know, I know our first mistake. With him, was a female feline, I'm sure was his sister. Well as the months went on they would come visit us regularly, and we got to feel like we had the best of both worlds. They would come, hang out, and leave! Not really pets, just friends that would come visit on occasion and never overstay their welcome....Well except for the time or two our beloved youngest would smuggle the tom in to sleep in her room. We weren't too happy about it, and to tell the truth I don't think he was all that happy about it either, but he never fussed, he would just go along with whatever "his person" wanted.
Time went by and sometimes we would see them daily and some times it would be weeks, but eventually they grew up. One day our two youngest heard a noise in the back yard. It was raining pouring down buckets and every so often when the wind was right they could hear a kitten in distress. So they came to get me, crying that the kittens are drowning! So out I went to look. Sure enough behind the shed under a pile of rubbish that was waiting to be hauled off. Momma Cat, (as she came to be called) had given birth to a litter of kittens, in a depression, that was filling up rapidly with water. She was nowhere to be found. So I did what any marshmallow would do. I scooped them up and rushed them in to the house. I assembled the troops and assigned emergency tasks for all of them. The love of my life looked at me, glared at me actually. (she knew as I did this was a big mistake!) She then looked at the kittens soaking wet in my arms, and melted. She rushed off for dry towels barking orders to the kids, and that was that. Eventually Momma Cat showed up, and we coaxed her inside to find her babies. At first she tried to take them away, but we convinced her that they were safe, and so started a peaceful coexistence between us. She would come and go as she wanted, eat our food and otherwise ignore us, and we would babysit when she was out. Momma Cat never really took to people, but the kittens were adorable and in time we managed to give two away to a good home. Leaving four....yeah four....I know, I know!! Well each cat seemed to choose a person. The runt of the litter "Rat" soon divided her time between my youngest daughter and my wife, but she made it clear that my wife was her person. The only tom in the litter, who has many names, (most of them are not appropriate for this venue) "Diamond" or "Sumo Cat" or "Bubba" chose my youngest daughter...or she chose him....I know, cats choose people, people choose dogs, but she has a way of bending the will of any creature great or small to do her bidding....let's hope she always uses her powers for good. My son the animal lover, could not decide on one..."Fluffy" had chosen him and he loved her. He also loved "Winter" the timid. Our oldest daughter (who will forever be referred to as "the smart one") chose not to get attached to any of them. Not that she didn't think they were adorable, she was just smart enough to realize the responsibility, (and mess!) and she was already planning for college in a couple of years.
Soon the pecking order was set...Rat (the runt) was queen of all she surveyed. Of course Diamond was King....he tried to bully Rat as well but she usually out smarted and out maneuvered him. Fluffy had staked out her territory. (my son and his room) She was subservient to Diamond and Rat, but near her boy or in his room all bets were off and the others knew it. Fluffy being extremely jealous did not like to share her boy with anyone, including Winter. Winter the Timid was of course at the bottom of the pecking order, and led a rather sad existence. Now, she was fed and well cared for and all that. My boy loved her and petted her whenever Fluffy would allow it, but winter didn't fit in anywhere.
This is where I come in. I had been injured before we moved into the house and had to have several surgeries. After one such surgery I was laid up recuperating for a few months. During this time Winter discovered that if she stayed near me the other cats would pretty much leave her alone. I, out of boredom, started to play with her. If I saw one of the many cat toys laying around I would throw it, and watch her take off after it and play. Usually one of the others (mostly Bubba) would eventually see her having fun and come take it away from her. She would just walk back over and lay down with me. Well as time moved on I became ambulatory and could start getting around more and more and Winter took to following me around. She would follow me any time I got up, and if I stopped anywhere for any length of time she would lay at my feet or in my lap if I invited her. Now I know that she did this as security from the other cats, but it almost seemed to me that she was acting just like a dog to endear herself to me. One day I was lying on the couch and Winter did an amazing thing. She brought me a toy she had been playing with and dropped it on my chest. I figured she wanted me to throw it so of course I did. She did the usual chase and catch and rolled around for a while while I watched. Then she picked it up and brought it to me again!! She just dropped it at my side and backed up with her shoulders hunched like she was ready to take off. Just like a dog. Well I threw it and the process started all over again. Eventually she got to liking the chase more and more and would bring the toy back right away without wasting time. A few times Bubba came and she backed off and let him have the toy, eventually though he tried to take it and she just ran up and laid down on it until he left.
That's how Winter the timid became Winter the catdog.
OK, I know that Winter learned the trick of acting like a dog out of coincidence, not from any desire to conform herself into the pet I wanted..........or did she?
You might change your mind if I tell you about "Winter the Motorcycle Riding Guard Cat"
I know this was a little long for a blog but the story is amusing to me, and I hope you liked it as well.
If any of you liked this, leave me a comment and I will tell the story of Winter the motorcycle riding guard cat.
I'm not much of a cat person I'm more of a dog guy....but I don't have time for pets, I'm always gone for one reason or another. So my wife (another dog lover) and I decided after we moved cross country in 2000 that we were not going to burden ourselves again with pets. HA HA!! We should have known better. A few months after we moved into our new home we had a couple of kittens show up on our back deck. The male took to our little girl immediately, and was a very friendly and amusing little guy so we didn't discourage him. I know, I know our first mistake. With him, was a female feline, I'm sure was his sister. Well as the months went on they would come visit us regularly, and we got to feel like we had the best of both worlds. They would come, hang out, and leave! Not really pets, just friends that would come visit on occasion and never overstay their welcome....Well except for the time or two our beloved youngest would smuggle the tom in to sleep in her room. We weren't too happy about it, and to tell the truth I don't think he was all that happy about it either, but he never fussed, he would just go along with whatever "his person" wanted.
Time went by and sometimes we would see them daily and some times it would be weeks, but eventually they grew up. One day our two youngest heard a noise in the back yard. It was raining pouring down buckets and every so often when the wind was right they could hear a kitten in distress. So they came to get me, crying that the kittens are drowning! So out I went to look. Sure enough behind the shed under a pile of rubbish that was waiting to be hauled off. Momma Cat, (as she came to be called) had given birth to a litter of kittens, in a depression, that was filling up rapidly with water. She was nowhere to be found. So I did what any marshmallow would do. I scooped them up and rushed them in to the house. I assembled the troops and assigned emergency tasks for all of them. The love of my life looked at me, glared at me actually. (she knew as I did this was a big mistake!) She then looked at the kittens soaking wet in my arms, and melted. She rushed off for dry towels barking orders to the kids, and that was that. Eventually Momma Cat showed up, and we coaxed her inside to find her babies. At first she tried to take them away, but we convinced her that they were safe, and so started a peaceful coexistence between us. She would come and go as she wanted, eat our food and otherwise ignore us, and we would babysit when she was out. Momma Cat never really took to people, but the kittens were adorable and in time we managed to give two away to a good home. Leaving four....yeah four....I know, I know!! Well each cat seemed to choose a person. The runt of the litter "Rat" soon divided her time between my youngest daughter and my wife, but she made it clear that my wife was her person. The only tom in the litter, who has many names, (most of them are not appropriate for this venue) "Diamond" or "Sumo Cat" or "Bubba" chose my youngest daughter...or she chose him....I know, cats choose people, people choose dogs, but she has a way of bending the will of any creature great or small to do her bidding....let's hope she always uses her powers for good. My son the animal lover, could not decide on one..."Fluffy" had chosen him and he loved her. He also loved "Winter" the timid. Our oldest daughter (who will forever be referred to as "the smart one") chose not to get attached to any of them. Not that she didn't think they were adorable, she was just smart enough to realize the responsibility, (and mess!) and she was already planning for college in a couple of years.
Soon the pecking order was set...Rat (the runt) was queen of all she surveyed. Of course Diamond was King....he tried to bully Rat as well but she usually out smarted and out maneuvered him. Fluffy had staked out her territory. (my son and his room) She was subservient to Diamond and Rat, but near her boy or in his room all bets were off and the others knew it. Fluffy being extremely jealous did not like to share her boy with anyone, including Winter. Winter the Timid was of course at the bottom of the pecking order, and led a rather sad existence. Now, she was fed and well cared for and all that. My boy loved her and petted her whenever Fluffy would allow it, but winter didn't fit in anywhere.
This is where I come in. I had been injured before we moved into the house and had to have several surgeries. After one such surgery I was laid up recuperating for a few months. During this time Winter discovered that if she stayed near me the other cats would pretty much leave her alone. I, out of boredom, started to play with her. If I saw one of the many cat toys laying around I would throw it, and watch her take off after it and play. Usually one of the others (mostly Bubba) would eventually see her having fun and come take it away from her. She would just walk back over and lay down with me. Well as time moved on I became ambulatory and could start getting around more and more and Winter took to following me around. She would follow me any time I got up, and if I stopped anywhere for any length of time she would lay at my feet or in my lap if I invited her. Now I know that she did this as security from the other cats, but it almost seemed to me that she was acting just like a dog to endear herself to me. One day I was lying on the couch and Winter did an amazing thing. She brought me a toy she had been playing with and dropped it on my chest. I figured she wanted me to throw it so of course I did. She did the usual chase and catch and rolled around for a while while I watched. Then she picked it up and brought it to me again!! She just dropped it at my side and backed up with her shoulders hunched like she was ready to take off. Just like a dog. Well I threw it and the process started all over again. Eventually she got to liking the chase more and more and would bring the toy back right away without wasting time. A few times Bubba came and she backed off and let him have the toy, eventually though he tried to take it and she just ran up and laid down on it until he left.
That's how Winter the timid became Winter the catdog.
OK, I know that Winter learned the trick of acting like a dog out of coincidence, not from any desire to conform herself into the pet I wanted..........or did she?
You might change your mind if I tell you about "Winter the Motorcycle Riding Guard Cat"
I know this was a little long for a blog but the story is amusing to me, and I hope you liked it as well.
If any of you liked this, leave me a comment and I will tell the story of Winter the motorcycle riding guard cat.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hoppe's No9
That smell!! You gun guys know what I'm talking about. Those others of you probably won't get it, but a friend of mine gave me a big bottle of Hoppe's No9 the other day. Of course I added it to my cleaning kit right away, and have been finding excuses to use it ever since.
Funny, that cleaning weapons is a chore for some people. Something they put up with, for the job, or for the pleasure they get from shooting. It's just the bad with the good they have to put up with, like cleaning the stable if you have horses. I enjoy cleaning guns, and it's not just because I love guns and shooting. I never thought about WHY I enjoy it so much before, but when I cracked that bottle for the first time and the smell of that wonderful cleaning agent, that works so well, but is gentle to the gun hit me. I realized, that it's not just a gun cleaner, it's love in a bottle. It's my fathers love. Yep, that's right, Dad's love in a bottle.
The finest memories from my childhood, that I can think of with my father, center around guns and shooting. The first time he let me shoot a gun I was about 7 or 8. I had been hunting with him before that and he had been careful to explain all the safety rules of hunting and handling weapons, but the biggest rule had always been DON'T EVER TOUCH A GUN! When ever we had been to the range, or out hunting my dad would break out his cleaning kit and get to work. What did he use? You guessed it Hoppe's No9. I would sit and watch him as he striped the guns down and carefully inspected and cleaned each part, reassembled and tested the gun. It was ritualistic and calming, often he would call me over and explain something about the mechanism. I didn't always get what he was telling me, but I paid close attention to every word.
To me shooting and cleaning guns became a magical time I got to spend with my dad. So when we were out one day and he set that old beer can down and called me over to him and asked if I wanted to shoot I was so exited I could only nod my head. The shotgun he handed me was bigger than I was! I can't remember what model it was, but it was a full sized 12ga. pump. He patiently showed me how to hold it tight against my shoulder and explained how to cover the beer can with the brass bead at the front of the barrel. Once his instructions were done he took the gun and loaded a shell in it, applied the safety and handed it back. My heart pounding in my ears, I put the gun to my shoulder and readied myself and covered the can with the bead just like he told me. I could feel my father kneeling behind me place his hand on my back. He said "when you're ready squeeze the trigger" and BAM, the shotgun roared and bucked back against my shoulder. If Dad hadn't been bracing me I would have flown three feet back. I looked to where the can had been and nothing was there! With the bead over it I couldn't actually see the can and I was worried I had missed, but now it was just gone! Dad took the gun and asked what I thought. I just asked if I could do it again. It must have been the right thing to say because he just grinned and said "Maybe later, I think we need to get something more your size."
True to his word Dad let me shoot several rifles and pistols whenever we went out, and on my 10th birthday, he gave me my own. A Marlin 22 long rifle tube fed semi-automatic. He showed me how to clean it and use Hoppe's to get all the carbon out, and how to lightly oil the working parts with gun oil. After shooting or hunting in the desert, we would come home and clean the guns. At those times I felt closer to my father than any other, when I smell gun oil, Hoppe's, or just the burnt powder from a round, I remember my father, and the love he showed in teaching me how to safely use and care for a gun.
Is it any wonder that I am now a gunsmith? Thanks Dad!!
Funny, that cleaning weapons is a chore for some people. Something they put up with, for the job, or for the pleasure they get from shooting. It's just the bad with the good they have to put up with, like cleaning the stable if you have horses. I enjoy cleaning guns, and it's not just because I love guns and shooting. I never thought about WHY I enjoy it so much before, but when I cracked that bottle for the first time and the smell of that wonderful cleaning agent, that works so well, but is gentle to the gun hit me. I realized, that it's not just a gun cleaner, it's love in a bottle. It's my fathers love. Yep, that's right, Dad's love in a bottle.
The finest memories from my childhood, that I can think of with my father, center around guns and shooting. The first time he let me shoot a gun I was about 7 or 8. I had been hunting with him before that and he had been careful to explain all the safety rules of hunting and handling weapons, but the biggest rule had always been DON'T EVER TOUCH A GUN! When ever we had been to the range, or out hunting my dad would break out his cleaning kit and get to work. What did he use? You guessed it Hoppe's No9. I would sit and watch him as he striped the guns down and carefully inspected and cleaned each part, reassembled and tested the gun. It was ritualistic and calming, often he would call me over and explain something about the mechanism. I didn't always get what he was telling me, but I paid close attention to every word.
To me shooting and cleaning guns became a magical time I got to spend with my dad. So when we were out one day and he set that old beer can down and called me over to him and asked if I wanted to shoot I was so exited I could only nod my head. The shotgun he handed me was bigger than I was! I can't remember what model it was, but it was a full sized 12ga. pump. He patiently showed me how to hold it tight against my shoulder and explained how to cover the beer can with the brass bead at the front of the barrel. Once his instructions were done he took the gun and loaded a shell in it, applied the safety and handed it back. My heart pounding in my ears, I put the gun to my shoulder and readied myself and covered the can with the bead just like he told me. I could feel my father kneeling behind me place his hand on my back. He said "when you're ready squeeze the trigger" and BAM, the shotgun roared and bucked back against my shoulder. If Dad hadn't been bracing me I would have flown three feet back. I looked to where the can had been and nothing was there! With the bead over it I couldn't actually see the can and I was worried I had missed, but now it was just gone! Dad took the gun and asked what I thought. I just asked if I could do it again. It must have been the right thing to say because he just grinned and said "Maybe later, I think we need to get something more your size."
True to his word Dad let me shoot several rifles and pistols whenever we went out, and on my 10th birthday, he gave me my own. A Marlin 22 long rifle tube fed semi-automatic. He showed me how to clean it and use Hoppe's to get all the carbon out, and how to lightly oil the working parts with gun oil. After shooting or hunting in the desert, we would come home and clean the guns. At those times I felt closer to my father than any other, when I smell gun oil, Hoppe's, or just the burnt powder from a round, I remember my father, and the love he showed in teaching me how to safely use and care for a gun.
Is it any wonder that I am now a gunsmith? Thanks Dad!!
Thursday, October 29, 2009
What's a Yankee any way???
OK this is not my thought exactly as a matter of fact it's quote from Elwyn Brooks White.....you know E.B. White.....the author......the guy who wrote Charlotte's Web, and Stuart Little.
Yeah...I didn't know his name was Elwyn either.....hell I didn't know the same guy wrote both books....isn't Google amazing??....but that's a subject for a different day.
Anyway I work with a lot of Brits....I mean a lot....the company I work for is like 98% British....well it's a British company so it should be right??....unlike Britain itself which is only about 20% British at this point...but that too is a subject for a different day.
ANYWAY....as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself....working with Brits got me to dwelling on the term Yank...or Yankee.
Where did it originate? Why do non-Americans call us all Yankees? Yet in America only northerners are Yankees, or if your from the south, anyone who "ain't" is a Yankee.
So I started looking for answers, I Google'd, I Yahoo'd, I sweetIM search'd, I even Wikipedia'd (Yeah I know..Wikipedia???!).....alas I have come to the conclusion.....no one knows!!! No one!! Oh there are theories and conjectures...some of them are even pretty good, but no one knows!!!
Which brings us back to MR. E.B. White....(if my name was Elwyn I'd probably use my initials too)
During all my "Research" I came across this quote that pretty much sums it all up very nicely and even adds to it a little..I guess if I was a "Connecticut Yankee" I would have known this.
Isn't it Strange that
To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Northerners, a Yankee is an Easterner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.
E.B. White
Yeah...I didn't know his name was Elwyn either.....hell I didn't know the same guy wrote both books....isn't Google amazing??....but that's a subject for a different day.
Anyway I work with a lot of Brits....I mean a lot....the company I work for is like 98% British....well it's a British company so it should be right??....unlike Britain itself which is only about 20% British at this point...but that too is a subject for a different day.
ANYWAY....as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself....working with Brits got me to dwelling on the term Yank...or Yankee.
Where did it originate? Why do non-Americans call us all Yankees? Yet in America only northerners are Yankees, or if your from the south, anyone who "ain't" is a Yankee.
So I started looking for answers, I Google'd, I Yahoo'd, I sweetIM search'd, I even Wikipedia'd (Yeah I know..Wikipedia???!).....alas I have come to the conclusion.....no one knows!!! No one!! Oh there are theories and conjectures...some of them are even pretty good, but no one knows!!!
Which brings us back to MR. E.B. White....(if my name was Elwyn I'd probably use my initials too)
During all my "Research" I came across this quote that pretty much sums it all up very nicely and even adds to it a little..I guess if I was a "Connecticut Yankee" I would have known this.
Isn't it Strange that
To foreigners, a Yankee is an American.
To Americans, a Yankee is a Northerner.
To Northerners, a Yankee is an Easterner.
To Easterners, a Yankee is a New Englander.
To New Englanders, a Yankee is a Vermonter.
And in Vermont, a Yankee is somebody who eats pie for breakfast.
E.B. White
Monday, October 12, 2009
The unspoken lie.
Why is it harder to know you are loved, than when you don't? The responsibility of people caring for you, the need to not let them down, its so hard a burden to carry. When a man is alone, there is a certain anonymity to his action. Mistakes or lapses of judgment are his alone to carry. If a man uses poor judgment he has to move on with life learn from it and grow stronger, but when a man is loved, or worse yet admired by others, those fallibility's are exponentially magnified. The weight of others caring about you and what you do, can be a burden too great to bear. How does a man balance the need to protect those he loves from the realities of himself. With the knowledge that he is not what they have made him up to be? To shatter the image others have created may cause them pain, but trying to live up to the image is next to impossible for most. Realizing that you are not what others see, is not the problem. Realizing how others see you is. When a man thinks others see him as a failure or worse even, mediocre, it is a saddened existence, but when a man is exalted by his loved ones for his success, his generosity, his compassion, it creates a need to fulfill that fallacy that can drive him beyond his limitations. At times, knowing the right choice is difficult at best, but when the fear of failure is increased by responsibility, it can freeze a mans actions. Sometimes any decision, even the wrong one, is better than none.
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