Joshua - Done

It has been a long and interesting journey and now my book Joshua (first draft) is finished. For the last month or so I've worked hard trying to bring the story to a conclusion and I finally have. I had the original story idea for a while but never put it down. I didn't think I could write a novel. Then starting in July of 2010 I started with the thought that it would make a great short story, but it just kept growing. Now I have written my first book, 92,710 words. I have decided to take the advice of a professional author, you know someone that actually gets paid to write. I'm going to leave it alone for at least a few weeks, not even think about it for a while before I do the final edit. For everyone of you that have read my book and especially to those that sent comments or emails (good or bad), thank you. You encouraged me, knowing that there were people reading my words helped me to keep on going. I will not be releasing separate chapters anymore. The next time you see Joshua it will complete, ready for you to read from beginning to end and (hopefully) enjoy.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN - FINALLY

Yes, Chapter 13 has been posted. Thank you for your patience.

People with guns collection # 40

"HE'S A ONE-GUN GUY OFF THE SCREEN

On the screen, many a lad does feats of derring-do with pistols. Off the screen, Clark Gable has proven he can do things with pistols in scoring some high shooting records at the Hotel Del Monte, where he rested before starting work on his new picture 'Cain and Mabel'. He's shown on the Del Monte Gun Club grounds. In addition to pistol work, he's a good trapshooter and fine fisherman." 5-2-36

Sharpy pointy things

THIS is going around the internetz and I thought I would play, I like knives too.

This is my EDI Genesis folder and I've had it for years. I've carried it a long time but it hardly gets used. It's more of a carrying knife than a using one. For you youngsters out there EDI (Edge Design Inc) was a small knife company similar in materials, quality and price range to Spyderco and Benchmade. They went out of business around the turn of the century. Too bad, they made a hell of a knife.

I really like knives!

Mini movie reviews

I've finally been able to catch up on some movies that were recommended to me and been meaning to see for a while now, and yes I do know that it's 2011. Here's the quick rundown.

Oldboy (2003) - Korean businessman locked away in secret prison for 15 years. Now he's out looking for revenge against his unknown tormentor. - Well done mystery with a lot of twists and turns. Will definitely @%&! with your head. B+

Juno (2007) - Quirky teenage girl finds herself in a family way but decides to have baby and give it up for adoption. - This could have easily turned into pabulum but manages to be a touching drama/comedy that doesn't resort to cliché. A lot of great dialog too. A

Black Dynamite (2009) - Comedy disguised as one of those exploitation/action movies that you saw at the drive-in in the 1970s, right down to the itchy polyester suits and grainy 16mm film stock. - If you liked them all those years ago you'll love this. Better than the real ones ever were. B+

District 9 (2009) - Illegal (space) aliens living in the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa. They're lowering the property values and one man is in charge of moving them out, until he comes down with his own special problem. - Highly original sci-fi flick that will hold your attention right to the end. B+

The Killer Inside Me (2010) - Brutal crime thriller based on the classic book by Jim Thompson. Outside he's an affable small town deputy sheriff, inside him a monster. - Incredible performances, especially Affleck, but ultimately can't live up to the source material. B

Gone Shooting - BAG gun day

Decided to go shooting yesterday despite predictions of rain. I just had to get out of the house and get away from it all. I needed some peace and quiet. I knew if I stayed home I would eventually end up back in front of the TV and angry or depressed, or both. I really couldn't take anymore 9/11 coverage.

It might seem strange to some that I decided to go shooting to get "peace and quiet" but it's not. Now days I most often go shooting on family owned farmland. It's a good drive from here and cost me twice as much to shoot compared to the local gun range 10 minutes from my house. But sometimes it's not about saving money. Shooting on this private property allows me freedoms that you will never have on a public range. Then there's the solitude which I needed probably more than to go shooting, at least yesterday.

I have a few guns that I've owed a while but haven't managed to shoot yet. I decided to take my Ruger Government target model .22. It was my BAG gun purchase last April and it has sat neglected in my safe since.

As predicted it did rain but during a few intermittent breaks from the showers I managed to put 100 rounds down range and get a good idea how this Ruger handles. All shooting was done at 50 feet using an improvised rest. Ammunition used was Federal "AutoMatch" .22 Long Rifle. Over the past few months I've bought several boxes of this from the local wallyworld in the 325 round bulk packs. I had yet to try it out and it was a good day for that too. The pistol and ammo performed flawlessly together and I actually had holes touching when I concentrated. The groups above were typical for the day firing with a leisurely (but not super slow) pace.

In spite of the rain I enjoyed myself yesterday and had some quality "alone time," which I probably needed much more than the shooting.

Thanks Tam

I wasn't very articulate in my post earlier this morning. Sometimes I have problems expressing myself when angry. Tam pretty much summed up what I and I'm sure many others feel about much of the news coverage on this 10th anniversary of 9/11.

10 Years

Ten years today. All of those that died on that day and those since. A lot of innocent and brave people gone. I won't be watching anymore. The TV is off, the radio is off, for the duration. The last few days leading up to it have been bad enough, today will be unbearable. Like pigs wallowing in it. Is that all we have left? Is that what we've become?

It's 9/10/11 - I have to post something

How about this little fella who might be a contender for the ugliest dog ever. Heard that old saying, "a face only a mother could love." Here it is.

On reading

Finished reading Stephen King's On Writing. It's an excellent book, part personal memoir, part writing manual. It gave me a lot to think about with my own fiction, gave me some good laughs too. In it I found numerous helpful tips, probably the most useful was also quite simple, something I completely lost sight of since I started writing my own novel. He says if you want to be a good writer not only should you write a lot but also read a lot. I've been so obsessed with my book I haven't read anyone else's in nearly nine months. Sure I've read lots of blogs and countless news articles too, but absolutely no fiction since December of last year. I'm taking what Mr. King taught me with his book and will be applying it to my own. Hopefully Joshua will be better for it.

End of summer (almost)

With the unofficial end of summer we now resume our regularly scheduled header.

Question for the gunnies

How obsessive are you about cleaning your guns? With modern (non-corrosive) ammunition cleaning your gun right after shooting isn't really necessary anymore, but many of us still do. I used to be that way myself, had to clean it right after getting back from the range. But I have relaxed some over the years (or maybe I just got lazy). Now I typically clean my guns the same day or one or two days after. I know some that might wait a week or more and have heard of shooters that don't clean their guns (besides a quick wipe down) until they actually won't function any longer. How about you? How dirty does your gun have to be before you finally can't stand it anymore?