Monday's Missives

A dry stack stone wall on Fort Richardson. I don't know if it is original to the post, from a ranch or from the CCC but it is as stable as solid concrete.

• My new stove is on the way from REI. I had wanted it for forever but couldn't/wouldn't spend the money. A 50 dollar gift card eased the pain enough I made the plunge. It would be cool even if it wasn't made in Murica!.
• Next up will be some new cookware, headlamp and Kelty TraiLogic pack.

  

  Kicking bird was one of my favorite Plains Indians. Mostly because as an onde he did not take crap off anybody but he was also pragmatic and smart enough to know whitey wasn't going anywhere and the Kiowa needed to learn to work with them and he did the best he could...

• My understanding is all the performers who do the halftime show on the Superbowl lip sync. but Lenny Kravitz is basically playing air guitar as I write this. Good grief Lenny- tell 'em no next time baby.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• ProFlowers is inundating me with Valentine's Day offers. The last time I used them they overcharged me by I think it was 30 bucks then offered me a 20 dollar discount on my next purchase as recompense. Fool me once...
• Today (02/06/2015) I got off early. I went to the bank and then slept. Also, I shaved my beard off so I accomplished that I guess.

  

  Aside from our rare (these days) rains this is as close as these boats will ever be to water.

• Recently woman formerly known as wife offered to switch weekends with me for our children so FG and I could plan something for Valentine's Day- not wrong or bad but it made me feel slightly weird.

  

  Gear guy pro tip: Want a 3 in 1 parka but don't want to shell out 2-300 bucks? Get a breathable shell a thick fleece and  a light one. Put the light one on first then the heavy one and finally the rain shell and voila! 

• 02/07/2015 and I have an update to my new stove. It arrived yesterday during my nap. Holy smokes it is lighter- in the shipping packaging than my old stove is by itself!

  

  Found on the parade ground at Fort Richardson after the reenactment.

Fort Richardson After Action Report

About as cool as anything there were the ladies in period dress.

I'll always have  soft spot in my heart for the old T-Patch.

Funny, there wan't a nickels worth of difference between the the Jeep I drove in the Army and the WWII version.

My dad was on a half track during WWII. This one seemed surprisingly nimble and quiet.

One of these guys day is about to get real bad.

• So, I saw a dude get shot today (02/07/2015) anything interesting happen in your part of the world?
• It happened during the WWII reenactment at Fort Richardson. The weird thing about that is it wasn't the first time it has happened. An old friend was a a reenactor during the late 80s and early 90s. During an engagement a guy got shot in the thigh. His unit bought him an original Wehrmacht Wound Badge to commemorate the event. 
  
  
  

  

  There was one Russian and one Japanese soldier there (that I saw anyway). No word on if they recreated the Russo Japanese War.

• I thought about the possibility of a live fire incident in a, Wouldn't it be crazy...? kind of way before I left the house then dismissed it as soon as I recalled the aforementioned event. I assumed those guys would be shook down for live ammo and even guessed they might have to buy their blanks at the event.
• When the guy got hit a woman stepped out of the crowd and used the military hand gesture for cease fire.
  
  
  

  

  I don't know if it was part of the play but this smoke grenade was thrown after the shot.

  
  
  
  
  
  
• The guy playing the German officer was directly in the the line of fire but when he perceived what was happening he turned and walked to the source of the fire calling for a ceasefire. That was really brave.

  

  This is him after the fact.

• There were at least 2 live rounds fired and I could be convinced there were 3. I saw one impact the ground in front and slightly to my left, then when I was turning right to identify the source I heard another live round pass from my right to left. When I turned left to see where it may have impacted I think I heard a third coming from right to left again but it may have been an effect caused by sound bouncing off the guardhouse from 2 or 3 blanks which were fired basically simultaneously.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It is hard enough to believe what is real anymore without seeing somebody get gutshot in the middle of a bunch of guys playing war for an audience.