This is a three day weekend for me, Monday being President’s day. Plans include clean up the garage so I can put my truck in it, watching Ava on Sunday and going to church, and Monday my buddy Nate and I are heading for the desert. Nate picked up a couple of cap & ball black powder revolvers. So I figured we should go try those out and I should bring along my muzzle loader. I have TC 54 cal. I have not had it out of the gun safe for a couple of years, time to dust it off and make a lot of smoke. I am sure that we will bring a couple of other guns as well. Just haven’t figured out which ones.


I am thinking about getting black powder deer permit this year. I did not put in for the lottery on deer permits but there always seems to be some left over that can be bought first come first serve. With black powder the chances of getting a deer go way down. This can be a good thing; I would not have to field dress, drag, cut the critter up. But it is a good excuse to walk around the woods with black powder rifle. It is also upland game season and I can carry my shotgun for grouse. I really enjoy grouse hunting and with my new knees I am hoping that it will be more enjoyable this year, besides Grouse are so much easier to drag then deer.

I was looking through the obituaries this morning. It is a morbid habit I know but I still do it and I am sure that you do also. I saw the Mr. Dick Tyer had passed away. Dick was the gentleman that hired me from a blue collar to white collar some twenty years ago. He was a very nice guy and I enjoyed working for him. Dick had been retired for some 18 years. Whenever I see someone I have known pass away I tend to reflect on my own mortality. My heath issues in recent years tend to weigh a little heavier. I am eligible for retirement in 9 days but I plan to stay through the end of 2009. There are sound reasons for staying but it reading obits does make one think.

I do believe it is time for more coffee and then it is off to the garage.