Each night I die....

Each night I die a little. And I do not mean le petite mort made famous by the French. Dreaming my dreams, death comes to me almost each and every night. Stalking me.

Sweats. Panting. Fear. Trembling.

Two nights ago I sincerely believed I was dead. Not that I'd awakened but that I'd experienced the change in consciousness accompanying death. As I plummeted to my death in an airplane, screaming towards impact with San Diego I exclaimed "Oh God, forgive me!" Then all was black upon impact. And my certain death. I felt awake, no longer dreaming but yet all was black. My mind instantly pondered, is this what it is like to be dead?

Finally a glimmer of light pierced the shades. A faint noise was heard. And like a character from Dickens or Poe, I realized it truly had been all in my mind.

Night after night I suffer death in my dreams. Wild beasts, monsters, zombies, criminals, terrorists, natural disaster. And always I die........

Zoo-tography

This morning I was asked, "So what's your plan for the day?" Well at the time I was sitting on the couch eating a bowl of sweet cereal so I said, "Oh I don't know. Nothing or something, I'll figure it out."

A few hours later I was irritated with myself that I had no coherent plan for my day. Irritated! So a little searching and I decide to work on some photography at the zoo. The world famous San Diego Zoo. Well let's just say that forgetting the right lens, leaving without making sure my battery was charged and my cell super low on power that I did not capture any world class photos.

I saw lots of birds and sleeping animals. Or ones standing still with their butt towards me. Great subjects! A day pass is $42, so figure I spent ten dollars a hour while there and it suddenly didn't seem that overpriced of entertainment.

Here they are, my best zoo photographs from today, with only my 18-55 lens on my dslr whose battery died after one hour. And from my cell phone, which also died right as I decided to leave.

Tah-Dah!

How to waste 5 hours in San Diego.

So this year I am buying for myself my major xmas presents. I mean, I know what I want and where to get it better than anyone else. Right?

Well I decided to put some of my guns up for sale and upgrade them to other ones. Giving myself a little extra cash to make it all happen. (they are still for sale if you live in san diego and want to buy something. just sayin')

Evidently, all of San Diego has fallen for the hype that now is the time to buy a gun thanks to the presidential election. No other single reason was proffered by anyone I asked.

Needless to say the result were gun store counters filled 3 deep with buyers all the way across. I had all my documents and stuff required for my purchases. I knew exactly what guns I wanted. And yet it still took 5 hours of my time in total between two stores to get these transactions completed.

Black Friday pick ups will equal Merry Christmas to me!

Veteran's Day

To those who have served selflessly and honorably, thank you.

From the Bible's New Testament, Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

And for my friends in JSOC, continue to keep us safe and keep things secret. Your sacrifices do not go unappreciated.

Iconic picture for those in Baghdad.

Shrapnel from a rocket that detonated very close to me as I walked through a field near Mosul.

Unknown airfield, C130, me, Iraq.

Sorry that I haven't posted a pic lately. Let alone video...

But I did finally learn that on my cell's camera I can adjust the white balance, the iso and other things! Sweet. Time to get a little more precise with that camera. And creative.

First day of boot camp was today also. Having been a real athlete, then having health issues for two years and then basically resting for this year, well it was tough to begin a real exercise program. Go through the pain, thinking you'll die and eventually you're reborn.

Also, winter vacation is set as well barring anything when booking and buying this weekend. The plan is to fly from San Diego to Frankfurt Germany. Then take the train to Strasbourg France to visit the Christmas market that has been extant since the 1500's. After two days there, then train trip to Vienna Austria. Culture and city sights.

Two days in Vienna lead to a train trip to Budapest Hungary. Castle, opera, ballet. Then fly back to the US and A. Each place has a Christmas market and each place has culture and history. And added bonus I've never been to any of these places. Yes!

And now for one of the top 3 sandwiches made, the French Dip. Lunch is on!

What are you doing??

Tactical Thursday

Time to review my training and scheduling for shooting competition. Tactical Thursday. (if this bores you, the Thankful Thursday post below is better)

Here is my competition schedule each month.
1st Saturday- SoCal Shooters up at the Prado Olympic Park in Corona.
2nd Saturday- San Diego Tactical Shooters up at Pala in north county.
3rd Saturday- Lemon Grove Gun Club over in Alpine.
4th Saturday- SDTS up in Pala near the casino of same name in north county.
5th Saturday- free or at the Linea del Fuego steel match. Pistol or shotgun.

Here is my training schedule for the next couple months until revised.
1st week- reload drills 5 days. and shoot 125 rounds all head shots.
2nd week- transition and multiple target drills 3 days. shoot 125 live rounds weak hand only.
3rd week- draw drills 4 days. live fire practice, 125 rounds at 20 yards.
4th week- dry fire drills of complete course of fire. 125 rounds strong hand only.

And as I've found you don't have to be very physically fit to shoot well, I've let mine lapse. So I am joining a bootcamp fitness thing for a few months at Allied Gardens park near my house.

Thankful and Thoughtful Thursday

November is the month of one of my favorite holidays, Thanksgiving. I love the warmth, family, food, no need for presents, fall themes. Just everything about Thanksgiving normally gives me a warm feeling.

This month it seems a lot of bloggers are posting something they are thankful for each day of the month. I think that is a great way to both inwardly and outwardly remember what has meaning for you. 'Cause if it doesn't matter, why be thankful for it?

Right now I jokingly say my occupation is 'housewife', normally in a self deprecating way. But today I felt thankful for my 'housewife job'. How and why?

Well I've had a lot of cool jobs in my life. I assembled furniture for my first real job. Not to bad, got to use tools and not deal with customers. I was a produce clerk for years. Stacked fruit, ate healthy and helped people pick out yummy good stuff for them to eat. And at the time it paid all my bills and gave me health insurance.

I was a receptionist at a real estate office. Only had to work when I got out of college classes and could wear whatever I wanted. And eat snacks at my desk. Also I was a bicycle mechanic. Again, working with something I loved and with cool co workers. A pretty kick back job even when dealing with moron customers.

For big boy jobs I've done things with cool titles, real paychecks and real responsibilities. Saving lives and stuff even. Radiation Safety Officer. Health Physicist. Nuclear Medicine Technologist. All great conversation starters. All using my degree and all paying at least 70 grand a year.

How does all this tie into today? And being thankful? Well I did two loads of laundry, one load of dishes, watered and fertilized outside shrubs, fixed a yummy breakfast, built a target stand, blew leaves away from house and yard, cleaned a shower and two sinks all before noon. With plenty of candy eating mixed in.

I like being my own boss as it were. Seeing immediate results to my work. I like not having to ask for time off. I like being able to pursue my hobbies. I like that I can rest if I feel sick. I like being a housewife, as it were.

So yeah, today after a little bit of thought I felt thankful for what I have and where I am. "It is what it is." Now I'm off to shoot guns and sign up for bootcamp to lose some weight. You know, like any other housewife.