Estrella XXV

<!-- var d = new Date (1237185214 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Mar. 15, 2009

Story time!
Estrella War XXV has passed and will go down in my book as one of, if not THE best war I've attended. My roomies and I arrived early Wednesday morning after a (standard) ten hour drive and were able to find the friends that we were to camp with almost immediately. We took a while to set up camp but were soon ensconced in our seats and yarning merrily away catching up with our friends. Thursday was spent relaxing in camp and scouting out bargains on merchants row. Friday was the day that the official "war" fighting started so most of us armored up and went out to the battle field for weapons/armor inspection. I was pleased to note that we arrived in time to join in on an open field battle. We later took part in a castle battle that will live in happy memory. I was acting as a combat archer and was able to do a great deal of damage to the enemy through the simple method of not making myself obvious until the arrow was on the way. I took out over twenty of the enemy with a combination of arrows and when they were spent, I waded in with my ear-spoon(a unique great weapon) and later with a spear. It was an all-time personal best in battle and I was ecstatic. That set the tone for the entire weekend, good fighting, good friends and reasonably good (albeit cold) weather. Definitely one for the books.Story time!
Estrella War XXV has passed and will go down in my book as one of,if not THE best war I've attended. My roomies and I arrived earlyWednesday morning after a (standard) ten hour drive and were ableto find the friends that we were to camp with almost immediately.We took a while to set up camp but were soon ensconced in our seatsand yarning merrily away catching up with our friends. Thursday wasspent relaxing in camp and scouting out bargains on merchants row.Friday was the day that the official "war" fighting started so mostof us armored up and went out to the battle field for weapons/armorinspection. I was pleased to note that we arrived in time to joinin on an open field battle. We later took part in a castle battlethat will live in happy memory. I was acting as a combat archer andwas able to do a great deal of damage to the enemy through thesimple method of not making myself obvious until the arrow was onthe way. I took out over twenty of the enemy with a combination ofarrows and when they were spent, I waded in with my ear-spoon(aunique great weapon) and later with a spear. It was an all-timepersonal best in battle and I was ecstatic. That set the tone forthe entire weekend, good fighting, good friends and reasonably good(albeit cold) weather. Definitely one for the books.Estrella XXV

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Pluses and minuses

<!-- var d = new Date (1230119157 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Dec. 24, 2008

First the pluses:
I've improved the chances that I'm going to get a handle on my pack-rat piles and get my "stuff" more organized. I just bought a 40 ft. cargo container so that gives me 2560 sq ft more storage area. Of course because I have been able to free up some shop space, I went out and got myself a Harley-Davidson to put in that "free" space (sigh). However the Harley will come in handy for helping me keep my (slowly departing) sanity so it should slow the progression of madness. I have also ordered a batch of helms from a pro armorer so I should be able to outfit at least ten new fighters(YAY!)
Now the minuses: (Rant warning!) As I mention in my profile, I tend to hang out with a younger crowd. Most of my friends are ten to twenty years younger than I. I find women of this age to be very attractive and have become aware that they, on the other hand, are not brimming with enthusiasm at the idea of a partner the same age as their fathers. This of course leads to the realization that I am most likely to remain unattached for the remainder of my life. I find this to be rather distressing. My ex-wife and I had a fourteen year age gap and that didn't matter to her so I find myself dreaming that I will find someone of similar tastes, though I don't hold out much hope. I have found several 80%+ matches, only to be shot down because of the age problem. I'm not sure why I am the way I am but can only keep on searching for that rarest of gem, the younger woman who likes older guys but then a new problem appears. Many women with a liking for oldsters like myself, are looking for a "Daddy" and I don't see myself there. I honestly don't see an answer to the dilemma and can only hope somehow a solution shows up. Thanks for letting me rant. Joyous Yule to my fellow Pagans and Happy Holidays to the rest of you folks out in OKC-land.First the pluses:
I've improved the chances that I'm going to get a handle on mypack-rat piles and get my "stuff" more organized. I just bought a40 ft. cargo container so that gives me 2560 sq ft more storagearea. Of course because I have been able to free up some shopspace, I went out and got myself a Harley-Davidson to put in that"free" space (sigh). However the Harley will come in handy forhelping me keep my (slowly departing) sanity so it should slow theprogression of madness. I have also ordered a batch of helms from apro armorer so I should be able to outfit at least ten newfighters(YAY!)
Now the minuses: (Rant warning!) As I mention in my profile, I tendto hang out with a younger crowd. Most of my friends are ten totwenty years younger than I. I find women of this age to be veryattractive and have become aware that they, on the other hand, arenot brimming with enthusiasm at the idea of a partner the same ageas their fathers. This of course leads to the realization that I ammost likely to remain unattached for the remainder of my life. Ifind this to be rather distressing. My ex-wife and I had a fourteenyear age gap and that didn't matter to her so I find myselfdreaming that I will find someone of similar tastes, though I don'thold out much hope. I have found several 80%+ matches, only to beshot down because of the age problem. I'm not sure why I am the wayI am but can only keep on searching for that rarest of gem, theyounger woman who likes older guys but then a new problem appears.Many women with a liking for oldsters like myself, are looking fora "Daddy" and I don't see myself there. I honestly don't see ananswer to the dilemma and can only hope somehow a solution showsup. Thanks for letting me rant. Joyous Yule to my fellow Pagans andHappy Holidays to the rest of you folks out in OKC-land.Pluses and minuses

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Intolerence, alive and well in the Golden State

<!-- var d = new Date (1226144815 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Nov. 8, 2008

I'm disappointed and saddened to see that the Knights of Columbus and the LDS were the driving force behind the hate crime that was Prop 8 here in California. I have to admit that I'm NOT surprised. Judeo-Christian sects have a long history of trying and succeeding in imposing their moral codes on others. If they could just let those of us who feel differently about things walk our paths, the World would be a safer more peaceful place. I don't expect them to allow gay weddings in their churches if they feel it to be a sin. However, if two consenting adults are in love and wish to live together in a committed relationship solemnized with a ceremony,then they should be able to wed without interference. As a non-Christian clergyman, I would be happy and honored to perform the ceremony for any couple, gay, straight or what have you. I don't understand why these followers of the "Prince of Peace" are so violent in their opposition to people who just want to "live happily ever after." In my many religious discussions, I have been told that the Christian policy is to "hate the sin, not the sinner." So why all this effort to block others from marrying? I'm sure that America being the great nation that it is, will come to its senses and realize that equality of rights and privileges is fundamental to our national identity and that NO group can be an exception to the rule of equal protection under the law.I'm disappointed and saddened to see that the Knights of Columbusand the LDS were the driving force behind the hate crime that wasProp 8 here in California. I have to admit that I'm NOT surprised.Judeo-Christian sects have a long history of trying and succeedingin imposing their moral codes on others. If they could just letthose of us who feel differently about things walk our paths, theWorld would be a safer more peaceful place. I don't expect them toallow gay weddings in their churches if they feel it to be a sin.However, if two consenting adults are in love and wish to livetogether in a committed relationship solemnized with aceremony,then they should be able to wed without interference. As anon-Christian clergyman, I would be happy and honored to performthe ceremony for any couple, gay, straight or what have you. Idon't understand why these followers of the "Prince of Peace" areso violent in their opposition to people who just want to "livehappily ever after." In my many religious discussions, I have beentold that the Christian policy is to "hate the sin, not thesinner." So why all this effort to block others from marrying? I'msure that America being the great nation that it is, will come toits senses and realize that equality of rights and privileges isfundamental to our national identity and that NO group can be anexception to the rule of equal protection under the law.Intolerence, alive and well in the Golden State

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It's THAT time again!!!!!

<!-- var d = new Date (1202802791 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Feb. 11, 2008

Once again the war drums sound in the Kingdoms of Caid and Atenveldt(Southern California and Arizona). My friends and I are about to "travel to strange,exotic places(Ariz), meet fascinating people and "kill" them. The SCA (see earlier entry) is my favorite thing to do and fortunately there are about ten thousand or so people who are willing to do the same. Actually there should be about 1500-2000 fighters on the field. The last few weeks have been a beehive of activity. Preparation of weapons, armor, camping gear, garb and provisions have occupied every spare minute. This last Sunday was loading day. This year, in addition to myself and my roomy, I'm also carrying gear for four other folks and am also transporting three of them. After feverishly working out the kinks in our stuff we came together Sunday to pack it all in my trailer so that on Wednesday all we need do is hook up the trailer, jump in and drive for a short(ha ha)ten hours and then set up camp after we arrive. We spread all our "stuff" out on the driveway and stood silently wondering how all of it could possibly fit into a trailer made of a pickup bed. After staring for a few moments someone dared to shatter the silence and ask the obvious question, "How are we gonna pack all that s--t into that trailer?" As the resident "old hand," I smiled knowingly and confidently said "No sweat. I've done this before with more s--t(a small white lie). As we packed I would point at an item and then indicate where it should be stowed. This continued for three hours, then I tossed my foam mattress on top, covered the whole thing with a tarp, tied it down, spun round and with a flourish said "Voila, she ees done." After receiving the expected applause and accolades of the assembly we adjourned to a local pizzaria to celebrate. The part I've kept to myself (so far) is that it is harder to pack up to come home than it is to go to the event but I think we'll be alright.
SEE YOU AFTER THE WAR!!!Once again the war drums sound in the Kingdoms of Caid andAtenveldt(Southern California and Arizona). My friends and I areabout to "travel to strange,exotic places(Ariz), meet fascinatingpeople and "kill" them. The SCA (see earlier entry) is my favoritething to do and fortunately there are about ten thousand or sopeople who are willing to do the same. Actually there should beabout 1500-2000 fighters on the field. The last few weeks have beena beehive of activity. Preparation of weapons, armor, camping gear,garb and provisions have occupied every spare minute. This lastSunday was loading day. This year, in addition to myself and myroomy, I'm also carrying gear for four other folks and am alsotransporting three of them. After feverishly working out the kinksin our stuff we came together Sunday to pack it all in my trailerso that on Wednesday all we need do is hook up the trailer, jump inand drive for a short(ha ha)ten hours and then set up camp after wearrive. We spread all our "stuff" out on the driveway and stoodsilently wondering how all of it could possibly fit into a trailermade of a pickup bed. After staring for a few moments someone daredto shatter the silence and ask the obvious question, "How are wegonna pack all that s--t into that trailer?" As the resident "oldhand," I smiled knowingly and confidently said "No sweat. I've donethis before with more s--t(a small white lie). As we packed I wouldpoint at an item and then indicate where it should be stowed. Thiscontinued for three hours, then I tossed my foam mattress on top,covered the whole thing with a tarp, tied it down, spun round andwith a flourish said "Voila, she ees done." After receiving theexpected applause and accolades of the assembly we adjourned to alocal pizzaria to celebrate. The part I've kept to myself (so far)is that it is harder to pack up to come home than it is to go tothe event but I think we'll be alright.
SEE YOU AFTER THE WAR!!!It's THAT time again!!!!!

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Safer Schools?

<!-- var d = new Date (1192076263 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Oct. 10, 2007

The Media have just informed me of yet another school shooting. This time the shooter was 14 years old, shot several people, including a teacher or two, then took his own life. The saddest part of this is that not only am I NOT surprised, but I am sure that there are more such tragedies to come.
At the risk of alienating scads of people, I'm going to give an opinion on the whys and wherefores of this situation and offer a few possible solutions.
WHY: I believe that a major portion of the problem of crimes of this type is due to the lack of personal responsibility evinced by our younger generation. They are this way because we elders have been there to tell the youth that it's not their fault that this or that isn't going their way. When a teacher sends home a note that Johnny or Janey isn't working well with others or even working at all, we quite often are angry at the teacher who (we feel) should be spending most of the class time catering to Johnny or Janey, instead of trying to teach ALL of the children. We call the school to complain about the biased teacher, instead of asking how we can help back the teacher in their task to educate the spoiled little darlings. Because the modern world demands that we quite often have two, three, or more incomes to make ends meet, most parents are more than willing to let the schools educate, instill morality and set young minds on the proper path so that Mom and Dad don't have to do all the work. However, Mom and Dad don't give the school system the same leverage that they enjoy with the kids. Parents CAN paddle recalcitrant bottoms when the monsters misbehave, schools CAN'T. The kids know this and take advantage of it, MASSIVELY! The legal system also is far too lenient with the result that people can flout the law for a looong time before they are finally called to account. Thus, most criminals are only somewhat worried about the consequences of their actions and rely on the shyster lawyers to get them out IF they are caught.
Wherefores: There has been a growing trend, not only in the media but also permeating society at large that the private ownership of firearms makes one more likely to engage in violent behavior. This, of course, flies in the face of numerous studies and statistical analyses that show that most violent crimes are perpetrated by people who have been engaging in this type of action previously. The anti-firearm movement is not willing to work against criminals because it is easier to enact "feel good" laws that don't work and then blame the makers and owners of firearms for any subsequent failure of the law. They worry about law-abiding citizens "going nuts" with a gun rather than take action against career criminals who have spent years preying on the innocent. They throw obstacle after obstacle in the way of those who would like the option of providing for their own defense. Waiting periods, "gun-free" zones, lawsuits against manufacturers, "special" safety modifications that would bankrupt the manufacturers and not provide the "safety" that the sponsors promise are only a few of the "litigate them to death" program of the anti-gunners. If we made it easier to carry for self-defense and threw the proverbial "book" at those who can't be trusted to behave responsibly I feel that tragedies like these would be fewer and farther between. If nothing else, allowing the HONEST citizen to defend himself would make it more difficult for the career criminal to pursue his nefarious objectives.
As trite as it sounds, "Society is safer when criminals don't know who is armed."The Media have just informed me of yet another school shooting.This time the shooter was 14 years old, shot several people,including a teacher or two, then took his own life. The saddestpart of this is that not only am I NOT surprised, but I am surethat there are more such tragedies to come.
At the risk of alienating scads of people, I'm going to give anopinion on the whys and wherefores of this situation and offer afew possible solutions.
WHY: I believe that a major portion of the problem of crimes ofthis type is due to the lack of personal responsibility evinced byour younger generation. They are this way because we elders havebeen there to tell the youth that it's not their fault that this orthat isn't going their way. When a teacher sends home a note thatJohnny or Janey isn't working well with others or even working atall, we quite often are angry at the teacher who (we feel) shouldbe spending most of the class time catering to Johnny or Janey,instead of trying to teach ALL of the children. We call the schoolto complain about the biased teacher, instead of asking how we canhelp back the teacher in their task to educate the spoiled littledarlings. Because the modern world demands that we quite often havetwo, three, or more incomes to make ends meet, most parents aremore than willing to let the schools educate, instill morality andset young minds on the proper path so that Mom and Dad don't haveto do all the work. However, Mom and Dad don't give the schoolsystem the same leverage that they enjoy with the kids. Parents CANpaddle recalcitrant bottoms when the monsters misbehave, schoolsCAN'T. The kids know this and take advantage of it, MASSIVELY! Thelegal system also is far too lenient with the result that peoplecan flout the law for a looong time before they are finally calledto account. Thus, most criminals are only somewhat worried aboutthe consequences of their actions and rely on the shyster lawyersto get them out IF they are caught.
Wherefores: There has been a growing trend, not only in the mediabut also permeating society at large that the private ownership offirearms makes one more likely to engage in violent behavior. This,of course, flies in the face of numerous studies and statisticalanalyses that show that most violent crimes are perpetrated bypeople who have been engaging in this type of action previously.The anti-firearm movement is not willing to work against criminalsbecause it is easier to enact "feel good" laws that don't work andthen blame the makers and owners of firearms for any subsequentfailure of the law. They worry about law-abiding citizens "goingnuts" with a gun rather than take action against career criminalswho have spent years preying on the innocent. They throw obstacleafter obstacle in the way of those who would like the option ofproviding for their own defense. Waiting periods, "gun-free" zones,lawsuits against manufacturers, "special" safety modifications thatwould bankrupt the manufacturers and not provide the "safety" thatthe sponsors promise are only a few of the "litigate them to death"program of the anti-gunners. If we made it easier to carry forself-defense and threw the proverbial "book" at those who can't betrusted to behave responsibly I feel that tragedies like thesewould be fewer and farther between. If nothing else, allowing theHONEST citizen to defend himself would make it more difficult forthe career criminal to pursue his nefarious objectives.
As trite as it sounds, "Society is safer when criminals don't knowwho is armed."Safer Schools?

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Hunting the "FUN" way

<!-- var d = new Date (1184564607 * 1000);document.write(makeSmartDateString(d,JOURNAL_FORMAT)); // --> Jul. 15, 2007

Posted an abreviated version of this on another person's journal comment so I've decided to post the full story to mine. Besides, it'll increase my profile completeness percentage.
Some thirty-odd years ago my friend Ron invited me to accompany him on a deer hunt. It was black-powder season and he had a flint-lock rifle to use on the hunt. On the appointed day we met and drove into the hinterlands of North Carolina. We arrived at the starting point of our hunt whereupon I was presented with a pair of chest waders and a handgun. I confessed to confusion and was told the waders would be useful and the handgun was needed to administer a mercy shot if our prey were to be wounded instead of killed. We waded into a swamp and I realized why the waders. We spent a considerable time slogging along until I was signalled into silence by Ron. In the distance, I saw a small buck scanning about for signs of danger. I froze in position and watched as the deer bolted at the click of the rifle being cocked. Sighing, Ron uncocked the rifle and started the slog again with me trailing behind. A while later we halted as Ron re-cocked his rifle and raised it to his shoulder. I heard the loud "clack" of the hammer striking home and the crashing of the deer as it broke for safety. The rifle hadn't fired owing to the wetting of the priming powder. He drew the charge, re-loaded and re-primed, then resumed our slog through the bugs and the stench of methane that came bubbling up from our feet disturbing the muck below us. We halted once more and I waited as the rifle was raised to shoulder again and the primer went off with a whoosh and no subsequent bang. He then drew the charge again ran a dry patch into the barrel, re-loaded, re-primed and off we went. The day draged on and the bugs got worse. We halted for another attempt and frankly by this time I was wondering what I had gotten into. There was a clack, whoosh, bang and I actually saw the ball cockscrewing off to one side and missing the deer by a considerable margin. Ron, at this point took out his remaining balls and after close inspection re-loaded and re-primed. Off we went, slogging through the now waist-deep water. At this point I was entertaining notions of mutiny when Ron's signal stopped me in my tracks. He cocked the rifle, once again raised it to his shoulder and fired, dropping the buck cleanly. I wanted to dance about madly in celebration of the end of our ordeal but was brought back to reality when Ron told me it was time to "tote this critter" back to the truck after field-dressing. Before we left Ron performed a short ritual of thanksgiving wherein he thanked the buck for giving up it's life to feed Ron and his family and thanked the spirits for guiding his hand and the ball to a clean kill. Now I realized the part that I was to play in this adventure as I was signifacantly larger than Ron so I shouldered the buck in a firemans carry and off we went. I won't detail the trip back except to say that the bugs got worse especially the flies which I couldn't get away from. Arriving at the truck Ron and I discovered that I was soaked in deer blood(which explained the flies). The deer and I rode home in the back of the truck. We were met at the mud-room door by Ron's wife Bullet who handed me soap and a towel and banished me to the shower from which I emerged a long while later in a MUCH better mood. After my clothes were returned after a thorough cleaning, I returned home. Two weeks later I was invited to a roast venison dinner and presented with some fifteen lbs of delicious venison jerkey which I was told was my "half" of the deer. Shortly thereafter, Ron presented me with a hand-forged knife with a hilt made of "our" deer's antler and sheathed in buckskin. It is one of my most prized possesions as Ron was killed on his motorcycle by a drunk-driving idiot bitch a few years later.Posted an abreviated version of this on another person's journalcomment so I've decided to post the full story to mine. Besides,it'll increase my profile completeness percentage.
Some thirty-odd years ago my friend Ron invited me to accompany himon a deer hunt. It was black-powder season and he had a flint-lockrifle to use on the hunt. On the appointed day we met and droveinto the hinterlands of North Carolina. We arrived at the startingpoint of our hunt whereupon I was presented with a pair of chestwaders and a handgun. I confessed to confusion and was told thewaders would be useful and the handgun was needed to administer amercy shot if our prey were to be wounded instead of killed. Wewaded into a swamp and I realized why the waders. We spent aconsiderable time slogging along until I was signalled into silenceby Ron. In the distance, I saw a small buck scanning about forsigns of danger. I froze in position and watched as the deer boltedat the click of the rifle being cocked. Sighing, Ron uncocked therifle and started the slog again with me trailing behind. A whilelater we halted as Ron re-cocked his rifle and raised it to hisshoulder. I heard the loud "clack" of the hammer striking home andthe crashing of the deer as it broke for safety. The rifle hadn'tfired owing to the wetting of the priming powder. He drew thecharge, re-loaded and re-primed, then resumed our slog through thebugs and the stench of methane that came bubbling up from our feetdisturbing the muck below us. We halted once more and I waited asthe rifle was raised to shoulder again and the primer went off witha whoosh and no subsequent bang. He then drew the charge again rana dry patch into the barrel, re-loaded, re-primed and off we went.The day draged on and the bugs got worse. We halted for anotherattempt and frankly by this time I was wondering what I had gotteninto. There was a clack, whoosh, bang and I actually saw the ballcockscrewing off to one side and missing the deer by a considerablemargin. Ron, at this point took out his remaining balls and afterclose inspection re-loaded and re-primed. Off we went, sloggingthrough the now waist-deep water. At this point I was entertainingnotions of mutiny when Ron's signal stopped me in my tracks. Hecocked the rifle, once again raised it to his shoulder and fired,dropping the buck cleanly. I wanted to dance about madly incelebration of the end of our ordeal but was brought back toreality when Ron told me it was time to "tote this critter" back tothe truck after field-dressing. Before we left Ron performed ashort ritual of thanksgiving wherein he thanked the buck for givingup it's life to feed Ron and his family and thanked the spirits forguiding his hand and the ball to a clean kill. Now I realized thepart that I was to play in this adventure as I was signifacantlylarger than Ron so I shouldered the buck in a firemans carry andoff we went. I won't detail the trip back except to say that thebugs got worse especially the flies which I couldn't get away from.Arriving at the truck Ron and I discovered that I was soaked indeer blood(which explained the flies). The deer and I rode home inthe back of the truck. We were met at the mud-room door by Ron'swife Bullet who handed me soap and a towel and banished me to theshower from which I emerged a long while later in a MUCH bettermood. After my clothes were returned after a thorough cleaning, Ireturned home. Two weeks later I was invited to a roast venisondinner and presented with some fifteen lbs of delicious venisonjerkey which I was told was my "half" of the deer. Shortlythereafter, Ron presented me with a hand-forged knife with a hiltmade of "our" deer's antler and sheathed in buckskin. It is one ofmy most prized possesions as Ron was killed on his motorcycle by adrunk-driving idiot bitch a few years later.Hunting the "FUN" way

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Here it is nearly six months after the Great Computer Crash and the O K Cupid people STILL haven't contacted me.  I guess that I'll just continue as Armoredbear 56 until they come out of their stupor and help me recover my old profile.