Government Cheese

I’ve had three different careers in my life. I’ve worked for government and private companies, big and small. I’ve been comfortable and I’ve been dirt poor. But, I’ve always refused to take a government handout.

When I was dirt poor, I ran a small business and did quite well at one time, but suffered an economic downturn in the early 1990s. I ended up making less than I needed to keep the business, my apartment, and buy food. Not a good feeling. In fact, I was eligible for food stamps, government business loans, and other help.

I never took anything, because I always feared the strings that came with that aid. I managed to close the business and sell the small assets I had. I kept body and soul together and soon found work elsewhere. If I’d truly faced starvation, I probably would’ve have taken food stamps and I can’t blame any one for taking them or unemployment insurance. That said, government largess is dangerous.

Taking government cheese becomes a way of life and government seems all too glad to help a person maintain that way of life. A person’s job, in effect, becomes going down to the local food stamp, TANF, Section 8 housing, or Social Security office to fill out paperwork and meet caseworkers.

I’ve seen web comments and posts that wondered if maybe Obama et. al. wants us all to take government cheese. If we do, we can be made tractable. We can be made to surrender gun rights to live in government housing. We can give up privacy for government health care. We can continue to vote in those who grant us such largess. Something to say for this conspiracy theory.

The current administration has been going on a corporate welfare binge to beat all binges. We’ve bailed out banks, auto companies, insurers, and more. Now, the gloves have come off and this administration is showing it wants control. They ordered GM to fire its Chief Executive Officer.

Where in the name of George Washington does the Constitution say that a president can fire a private citizen? What in anything Thomas Jefferson ever wrote or even read gives Obama the power to tell Chrysler that is has to merge with FIAT (same link)?

Let’s face it; this economic collapse was a way for this administration to seize unprecedented power by first giving out billions of our dollars and now pulling the strings. They built on the power that Bush added to the Executive Office and we are now facing a leviathan that could remake the country into its own image.

Beware of government cheese.

NRA Convention and Vacation

I haven’t posted in awhile. I’ve been too angry to do much more than useless rants. I’m angry that the new administration has suggested a renewed AWB, but glad that Pelosi (of all people) slapped it down. I’m angry that the economy is faltering, that Obama insults Special Olympians, and so much more.

Anger makes good rants, but ranting gets tiring after a while. I’ve ranted many times to Yosemite Sam and vice versa. I’m tired of politics, tired of fighting for gun rights—something which shouldn’t have to be fought for at all. So, I’m going to talk about an upcoming trip.

Yosemite Sam and I are going to the NRA Convention in Phoenix. It will be the fifth straight convention we’ve blogged about. We plan to make a road trip out of it. We’ll go to Amarillo, Texas and visit the Big Texan Steakhouse. I won’t attempt the 72-ounce steak. I love steak, especially Porterhouse, but I know my limits.

We’ll visit Tombstone, Arizona and NRA's Whittington Center and do some shooting. Then we will attend the NRA Conference and meet the rest of the bloggers. The way home will also be interesting.

We’re planning a long trip and it will be unbelievably good to leave everything behind us. I only hope that we’ll have no new politics or gun rights infringements to rant about with each other on this much anticipated vacation.

Green Ammunition

A few days back, CNN wrote a report about “green ammunition.” It was in their scary-titled “Planet in Peril” section.

I’m rather tired of all the scare nonsense, shouts of “we’re all going to die slowly and horribly because of….” Take your pick: global warming, global cooling, giant hurricanes, my washing machine. Lead in ammunition is just one more scary thing to add to a “Planet in Peril” list.

I’m not going to debate any of the so-called science in the article. I’m not qualified. I know that anti-gunnies use fear of lead to ban lead ammunition, making alternatives so expensive that no one would want to buy guns. Thus, I take any of the scientists’ quotes with a Red Sea worth of salt.

Unfortunately, anti-gunnies have seized on a germ of truth that makes this dangerous to gunowners--lead is toxic. They can harp on this and anything we say sounds defensive. Sigh.

There was one really interesting statistic though; Americans spent about $1.08 billion dollars on ammunition in 2008. This is truly big business and a vital sector of the economy. Way to go people. Let's strive for $1.2 billion in 2009.

Stop the Train and Let me Off

This has been a strange few weeks. As someone once said, "It's a dark ride." I sit sometimes and stare at the news, at my savings accounts, at where our country is going. It all makes me want to hug myself and rock back and forth. The best reason I don't is fear I would never stop.

We have a president whose staff says he's overwhelmed and not getting enough rest. As if we couldn't see that one coming. Obama's executive experience could fill a thimble with room left in it for my finger.

Our nation's economy is tanking, taking away our life savings. I had a discussion with a few co-workers the other day. I wanted sympathy when I realized that I've lost about $10,000 in my 401(k). They had no sympathy for me. One co-worker is down $30,000 and another is down about $20,000. Somehow I felt better that I lost so little.

There are a few bright spots. Attorney General Eric Holder floated a Assault Weapons ban trial balloon and Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi shot it down. Tickle me pink. I know it's not off the table, but it won't be on the agenda for awhile. My small amounts of silver and gold are worth much more than I paid for them (of course, I'm still buying more).

Here's the thing. I really am wishing the worse for this new, inexperienced, "progressive" president with whom American voters saddled us. He's proved who he is. He wants to radically remake America. He wants government to run/ruin health care, he supports bans on at least some guns, he wants to turn us into what he believes is a caring, sharing, better America.

I don't share his vision. I am a free woman and I stand or fall on my own labor and decisions. I don't want his health care. I don't want his "better America." So, let him and his vision for us fail. In fact, I want an epic fail.

So, what can I do? I can economically go "John Galt." That is, I can withhold the fruits of my labors. I can stop going to restaurants except when traveling. This will hurt the restaurateur, but it also denies the state government sales and meals taxes. I can reduce my spending to essentials like food, guns, ammo, and gold. By doing so, I will reduce the economy by a small amount. I will infinitesimally slow the velocity of money. If enough people do so, we may see a return to governmental sanity.

I never thought I'd want to see a president fail. I never thought I'd say, "I miss W." The administration is about six weeks old, what will I feel in six months or (tremble) six years?

Visit Early and Often

Sorry I haven't been writing here much. I've had a lot on my plate. There's been travel to our place in New Hampshire, work, and assorted other stuff.

More importantly, my mother passed away more or less unexpectedly (she was 84, but in good physical health). We expect to lose parents eventually as we ourselves get older. It's the nature of things. But, we never really cope with losing the people in our lives.

I remember the good times and a few bad times with my Mom. I remember her fussing at me when I was an adolescent, being peeved when as an adult I didn't visit often enough, her joy at my little and big successes (including the shooting medals I won). I miss her.

I live across the nation from my parents. While I called Mom and Dad regularly, I didn't visit often. There was always a good excuse; press of career, cost of travel, sitting in a plane seat for six hours, and others. If your parents live close, go visit them and give them a hug. If they don't; plan a nice long vacation that includes them. They won't always be there.

Obama's versus Ayn Rand

I hate when dystopian fiction comes to life. I mentioned recently that I read Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and felt that we were living in the sad parts of it.

When I read this editorial by David Harsanyi today her magnum opus sprung to mind. The editorial is about Obama's recent directive that holds executive pay at $500,000 if they accept a government bailout.

As Harsanyi points out, you might think this is morally right, but "Why did we just allow the president to dictate the pay of private citizens working in the private sector?" How does Obama have the right do to this?

Here's the Rand connection. An increasingly desperate government launched an economic directive in an effort to end an economic mess they had brought about. This was called Directive 10-289. Another blogger very kindly wrote it all out, saving me the effort.

Here is Point Seven:

All wages, prices, salaries, dividends, profits, interest rates and forms of income of any nature whatsoever, shall be frozen at their present figures, as of the date of this directive.

How long will it be before the rest of Directive 10-289 is promulgated in real life? Jeez, I really hate it when I live in dystopian fiction. I only wish it were fiction.

"You Shot My Dogs"

In the four years that I've been blogging, I don't think I ever did a "read the whole thing" post with just a link. There's always a first. Be sure to read this article; a follow up on this summer's report about a botched SWAT raid. SWAT invaded a Maryland mayor's house, shot their dogs, and terrorized the mayor and his mother-in-law. There is no other description for what happened in that house on that sunny day.

Especially infuriating is this comment from a police chief, "...our people did not know that this was the home of the mayor and his family until after the fact." That is almost an admission that they would've treated a mayor differently than you and me if they had only known.

These raids must stop.

Ted, White, and Blue: A Gunnie Book Review

Ted Nugent has done it again. He’s written another book with a subtitle of “The Nugent Manifesto.” If you don’t know Ted Nugent, where’ve you been living for the last thirty-some years? He’s a rock star best know for “Cat Scratch Fever,” a bowhunter with several TV shows in his quiver (couldn’t resist), and a gun advocate sitting on the NRA’s Board of Directors.

He’s not for everyone. He has an over the top writing and speaking style that is often blasted by liberals and gun banners. I’ve heard him talk at NRA conventions and don’t always agree with the way he puts things, but I can’t say he’s wrong either.

So, I gave Ted, White, and Blue a read. Surprisingly, he somewhat toned down his gonzo, balls to the wall style. Don't worry, he still speaks his mind and pulls no punches, but he wants people to read his book.

The book's been out a few months now. He wrote the book before the election and there are parts that are now a little dated (current events sure move fast). Still, there’s a lot in here that is not dependent on what’s in the news cycle right this minute.

He stays away, for the most part, from gun rights and covers topics that include health care policies, obesity, immigration, fighting terrorism, and other subjects.

He comes down on the side of personal responsibility, except he blames parents of obese children for turning their kids into, “pathetic fat zombies in front of the garbage videobox….” He believes that you need to step away from the doughnut, and that you should pay for your own health care. Fiscally, he wants Uncle Sam to go on a diet as well.

He says forthrightly that, “The people who enter America illegally have committed a crime. That makes them criminals…” He wants them treated as such and shown the door. He believes the War on Terror should be fought hard.

He discusses other hot button issues such as global warming, energy sources, and many more topics. He is advocating something quite radical and yet traditional at the same time. He wants government to leave us alone, he wants every one to succeed on their own merits, he wants secure borders.

On top of all this, he buys ammo by the pallet load. Take a second and re-read the last sentence—pallet load, I am so envious.

I’ve said many times that I want government to leave me alone. I don’t want a government that will take away guns, nor have one that will tell me to go to church. Nugent and I see eye to eye on those points and more. I don’t think I would ever call people “land whales” or say fat “…kids look like miniature versions of Michael Moore.” (Shudder). But that’s just me.

Don't it make my Red State Blue

Sebastian has a link to a story about how California is losing population quicker than mercury drops when Al Gore enters the room.
He goes on to note that these recent residents of the Golden State often bring their big government, blue state mentalities to their newly adopted states. Then we see the phenomenon of a staunchly red state turning purple then finally blue. The lists of states where this has happened is legion. Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, Oregon, Washington State, New Hampshire..on and on.

This has been going on for years.

Some may remember when Connecticut was staunchly Republican. It's ironic to know that Connecticut was one of the few states to not go to FDR in 1932. Pennsylvania, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine were the only other states to resist the clarion call to Socialism in 1932. These all went for Obama in 2008. So much for granite-ribbed, Conservative New England. It is as dead as the dodo.

How does this happen?

Well, here's what I think:

I don't think it is anything intentional on the part of the people who move to more free states like NH, Montana, Nevada, Arizona etc.; it is more that they have grown accustomed to the services that big government provides.

Case in point:

A lot of rural and not so rural New Hampshire town do not provide curb side trash collection. You take your stuff down to the town dump and get rid of it yourself. This keeps government small and taxes low. The thing these new people don't understand is that to keep taxes low, you have to do without A LOT of government services. That means no curb side trash collection, no new million dollar school buildings, no new libraries......

But they are used to and want these things and thus vote for the politicians that inevitably spring up and say they will give them what they want. These politicians are invariably Democratic.

All of a sudden a red state is purple then blue.

And a lot of new citizens of the formerly low tax red state are scratching their heads and wondering why their tax bills are so high.

Unfortunately, this is why expanding or even keeping and maintaining a culture of self reliant limited government is so daunting. The fact is that the vast majority of people do not want to be self reliant. They don't want to pay high taxes, but they want the services that big government provides. But when it gets down to brass tacks, they will pay the high taxes to get the services. Until this changes, we will continue to have this problem.

One More Week

Next Tuesday, President-Elect Obama moves to the Oval Office. Last week, gun bloggers were concerned about a report from The Shooting Wire that the new administration would almost immediately pass an “assault weapons” ban (AWB).

I’ve long believed that will happen. Even though I’ve been somewhat relieved by most of Obama’s cabinet picks and other signs that he may not rule from the left, I believe that an AWB is in the offing. Obama has even promised to enact an AWB, but he doesn’t say when. Obama’s followers will force the issue maybe sooner than Obama would like. They can’t help themselves.

Most people on the left don’t understand guns. Most of them don’t want us to educate them, don’t want to accept our offers teaching them to shoot, don’t want to listen to logical arguments, don’t want to accept that gun ownership is a matter of choice. For too many of them, it’s a spiritual mantra, “Guns are bad, um mani om, guns kill, um mani om.”

There’s no reasoning with gun banners. I’ve spent a lot of time among people who want to ban certain or all guns. I’ve talked to other people who think that citizens should be able to own any gun they want so long as they’re not “assault weapons,” handguns, or .50 caliber guns. Their minds are closed.

We gunnies are very different from gun banners. When we pick up an AR-15 we see a finally crafted machine. They imagine war in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Vietnam, but in our streets.

When we shoot at a paper target, they imagine ragged holes in flesh. When we point out the .223 round is a relatively weak round they imagine “high-powered death lightning.” When we see accuracy, they imagine sniping from the rooftops.

When we pick up a semi-auto AK-47, we see history and crude, but effective engineering. They imagine dead Africans, child soldiers, and gang-bangers killing citizens in Miami (even though rifles are used in about 3% of murders).

When we discuss action pistol competition, they imagine fat white guys wearing camo in a “compound.”

Gun banners can’t accept that we like guns. They want to ban them all especially black rifles, which they view as “weapons of war.” They think they’re creating a better society, but we know that it’ll end in tyranny. Sadly, they can’t help themselves.

Manly Guns II

As Josh indicated in comments to my last post, "Crazy Einar" posted a new list of manly guns (at least they're new to me). This one includes the famous M1 Garand as the second most manly gun. The manliest is the Browning M1919A4 belt-fed machine gun. No argument from me on that score.

This new list includes several esoteric guns. I've never heard of the .600 Overkill cartridge. I'd like to shoot one but only if someone's available to re-socket my shoulder joint.

Yosemite Sam and I own five of the guns on the list and, no, we don't own a Browning M1919A4. More's the pity. Once again Crazy Einar has created a very interesting and enjoyable list.

Crazy Einar identified himself this time as Michael Z. Williamson. Knock me over with a feather. I've read his Freehold series of books and enjoyed them immensely. They're good gunnie reads. There are several other books listed in his site's bibliography that I haven't read. I sense an Amazon order in my future.

Manly Guns

Via Say Uncle, we get a list of the manliest firearms written by “Crazy Einar.” It’s an excellent list as these things go. I do have some quibbles about it though.

The M1 Garand must be included. One of the manliest men ever, George Patton, called it the greatest battle implement man has ever made. Our soldiers used it to defeat the Germans, Italians, and Japanese. It shoots a 30.06 round, which is loud, hard-hitting, hard-recoiling and, well, manly. I would replace the Swiss K31 with the Garand. Now, I like the Swiss rifle. We own one and have shot it often. It’s a great gun, but something has to give.

I‘m tempted to suggest replacing the S & W Model 29 with that company’s .500 Magnum. After all, the .500 is now the most powerful handgun in the world. It fires a truly manly handgun round. I’ve shot one a few times in an indoor range and everyone stops to see what the big noise is all about. And its recoil is not for the faint of heart. However, Dirty Harry used the Model 29 and for that reason alone must stay on the list.

I’m not a fan of Glocks, but that’s just me and would leave it on the list. Now if 1911s were not on the list (number 2 no less), I’d be spilling many more pixels.

Oh, and just a word about this manly thing. As a member of the estrogen persuasion, I accept and understand the description “manly” in regards to these guns. These are no-nonsense weapons designed to kick enemy/bad guy ass. Ass-kicking is usually associated with manliness. But let’s never forget that women can kick ass should the need arise. Boadicea (now spelled Boudica for some reason) comes to mind as does any woman protecting her children.

Finally, Yosemite Sam and I own eight of the listed guns. We don’t own the Model 29 or the Barrett M82 .50 cal. If the government should ban this rifle, we’ll dip way down into our various bank accounts and buy one before it’s illegal to do so (possibly not that particular model, but one almost as manly). As far as the Model 29, I’m not in the market, but I’ve drooled over S & W .500 Magnums many times. Who knows, maybe one might follow me home.

Hearing while Shooting, Part II

Yosemite Sam and I are back at work after taking almost two weeks off for Christmas and New Year's. It was damn hard to get up this morning and make my commute to work. I'd forgotten what 5:30am looked like.

While vacationing, we ended up at a Cabela's and I bought a pair of electronic earmuffs. I blogged that I'm hard of hearing and missed a crucial range command. Many of you gave me some good advice about products. Joel mentioned the Sonic II earplugs. Yosemite Sam and I already own the plugs, but they don't help me at all. They work great for Yosemite though.

I bought a middle of the road pair in terms of cost. They're a pair of Howard Leight Sport Impact muffs, which Jed recommended in the comments to the post above. I haven't tried them out at the range, but I put them on for a few minutes while watching TV. They amplify sound very well. They take two AAA batteries (thanks to Joe who pointed out that batteries are a cost factor).

Thanks to everyone who shared their advice. I'll let you know how they do at the range particularly how well they block loud sounds.

Four Years Ago Today

How about that? The Ten Ring is four years old today. Four years ago, I had this insane notion of tossing my words into the ether and Yosemite Sam didn't yell stop. In fact, he came along for the ride.

We have met bloggers and other people we would never have met. We have enjoyed the ride and plan to continue. Who knows, you may one day read an eighth anniversary post. How about that?

Post-Christmas

Yosemite Sam and I are on our mini-vacation. Needless to say we are enjoying the relaxation and getting away from it all, I am using my Blackberry, so this will be short.

Santa was good to us. Yosemite got a sextant. He is a surveyor and cartographer, so it is right up his alley.

I got one of those flintlock pistol kits. I like working with my hands and have tools and equipment left over from when I did art and object conservation. I've also heard building one of those is an excellent way to understand how guns work.

Enough for now--my thumbs are cramping.

Merry Chirstmas and Happy Holidays

I wanted to wish any one who reads one or all of our posts a very Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and a fabulous New Years.

Yosemite Sam and I are on an all too brief vacation and will continue to blog. Our posts will be short because I'll be blogging from my Blackberry. My thumbs aren't very fast. So enjoy your holidays and if you're traveling keep safe and here's hoping you don't get stuck in an airport.

Hearing while Shooting

Yosemite Sam and I are getting ready for our holidays. We're taking a mini-vacation and plan on getting a little shooting done.

Speaking of shooting, we went to the range last Sunday. While there, I learned that I have to do something about my hearing loss. I was eight-years old when I started shooting. I shot outdoors, but without hearing protection. It just wasn't done back in those caveman days. Since then, I'm religious about making sure I wear plugs or muffs in or around my ears. Still, I'm hard of hearing (ask Yosemite Sam about my preferred TV volume setting).

What happened at the range you ask? Well, I was practicing bullseye shooting and in my defense I was deep in the zone. I had blocked out the rifle shooter on one side of me, the rapid-fire pistol shooter on the other side, and even my dear Yosemite Sam. The range officer called a cease fire and guess what, I was still potting away at my target. Yosemite had to get right up to the back of my head and yell "cease fire."

With that, my gun went to the table and my hands went up. I wondered what had gone wrong and to my relief found out it was no worse than a target carrier that had fallen and the range staff needed to repair it. No harm done, but I still feel bad. I know that when anyone calls a cease fire, it must be immediate and unquestioned.

I'm going to need muffs that block loud noises, but allows one to hear normal speech. I've seen ads for these electronic things, but have never tried them (they're a little spendy). Can anyone recommend a specific brand or model and mention how well they work? Thanks in advance.

Is John Galt at Work

It's hard to believe it's been a week since I last posted and I was doing so good for awhile. Work has been picking up...yadda, yadda, yadda.

Here's something that struck me enough to grab the keyboard and bang away. Have you ever had an experience of reading a novel and thinking that the plot is unfolding in reality?

I've been reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged (link below, and since Rand was a capitalist, I get a small cut if you buy it using my link). Politically, I'm a small "l" libertarian who wants to be left alone, so I was aware of Rand's books, but never picked one up. Dr. Helen's blog post on going John Galt inspired me to buy a copy and I finally cracked it open last week.

If you've ever read the book you'll know that it's comprised of over 1100 pages of closely printed text. It has long paragraphs of densely reasoned ideology that Rand puts into the mouths of her characters. That said, somehow the story and building suspense carries you along fairly fast.

John Galt is one of the three main heroes of the book. Galt has decided that society is irredeemable and that the "people of the mind;" that is, those who produce and use their minds to build bridges, railroads, and steel mills should go on strike by withdrawing their abilities from society.

Galt and others are tired of taxes, regulations, unions, social experiments (paying people based on need, not on ability). Many of America's brightest industrialists along with a musician, judge, movie star, and others withdraw. The society begins to collapse although the strikers give it a shove every now and then to hasten its fall.

That's what struck me: Is John Galt(ism) already at work? Look at the crap around us today.

• Industrialists move production overseas for cheaper wages and less regulation;
• Three car companies are failing partly because of union/retiree contracts;
• Laws encourage risky mortgage loans;
• People feel that they're owed a living simply by being born;
• Our roads are falling apart;
• and more.

Of course, our economy and society is no where near to the collapse depicted in Atlas Shrugged, but one still wonders. It's a good read, slow in places, but something that will raise many thoughts as you read it.

The scariest thought I had while reading the book: what if the best and brightest are going on strike and John Galt didn't invite me.

Call a Waammbulance

The New York Times editorial board has thrown itself a crying fit over the new rule that permits concealed carry in the National Parks. It drips with condescension. Here’s a couple of quotes:

“Anticipating what Barack Obama has called “common-sense gun safety laws,” the Bush administration has rushed through a last-minute gun rule that is the antithesis of common sense.”

It doesn’t discuss why lawful carry of a gun in wilderness is not common sense. I grew up in the West where there are four and two-legged predators. My family always had guns in our camping gear. Parks are comparatively safe and one may never need a gun, but my house is safe and I may never need fire insurance. I still pay for it though.

“The presence of concealed, loaded weapons is likely to change that [safe parks], and it also is likely to pose an increased threat to wildlife.”

The rule change doesn’t change criminal behavior it only allows concealed carry permitees who meet certain conditions to carry a gun in a park. These permitees are among the most law-abiding people in the country. They won’t be shooting indiscriminately or poaching.

Finally here’s the kicker:

“Unfortunately, far too many states have laws that allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. But no one should misinterpret those laws as the will of the people. They too are the will of the N.R.A., which has done everything in its power to force dangerous gun laws through one State Legislature after the next.”

State after state has passed concealed carry laws. In each state, anti-gunners claimed there would be “blood on the streets,” “Dodge City shootouts,” and deadly road rage. None of that has happened. While we can’t prove that crime has not gone down because of these laws, we can show it has not gone up. There is no evidence that these are “dangerous gun laws.”

I don’t know if concealed carry is the “will of the people.” I don’t know how to determine that other than pointing out that legislatures have passed these laws. I believe permitless concealed carry is optimal, but with the current system we prove every day that “the people” have nothing to fear from permitees.

Being able to carry a gun even with a permit is a liberty. I thought liberal editorial boards supported the increase of personal liberty. I guess, not where guns are concerned.

100 Things Meme

I have nothing today, thanks to meetings and other fun at work. Someone did ask me to do the 100 questions thing in an e-mai. Curious people sometimes get answers so here goes:

100 things I've done - items I have done are in bold

1. Started your own blog. (Duh)
2. Slept under the stars.
3. Played in a band. If a high school band counts.
4. Visited Hawaii.
5. Watched a meteor shower.
6. Given more than you can afford to charity. Some time ago anyway.

7. Been to Disneyland. When I was little and to Disney World too, but not to Epcot.

8. Climbed a mountain. If smallish mountains in New Hampshire (in a car), Texas, and the highest point in Florida counts.
9. Held a praying mantis. Yick, no—ever see a close up photo of one of those things.
10. Sang a solo. When younger and in church and I am not a singer—can’t carry a tune in a box.
11. Bungee jumped.
12. Visited Paris. I’ve been there several times and want to go back.
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea.
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch. I can write and draw a bit, but I am not accomplished.
15. Adopted a child.
16. Had food poisoning. That would be the great shrimp incident of 1992—I still have memory of that misery.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty.
18. Grown your own vegetables.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France. Yosemite Sam and I went to the Louvre on a winter evening and were the only people in the room with Mona Lisa.
20. Slept on an overnight train.
21. Had a pillow fight.
22. Hitch-hiked.
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill. But, don’t tell anyone….
24. Built a snow fort.
25. Held a lamb. In a petting zoo, if that counts.
26. Gone skinny dipping. Alright I admit it, now get your minds out of the gutter.
27. Run a Marathon. Are you freaking kidding me!!!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice.
29. Seen a total eclipse.
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset.
31. Hit a home run. In softball in high school.
32. Been on a cruise.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person.
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors.
35. Seen an Amish community. Not up close, but traveled through them.
36. Taught yourself a new language. I taught myself French, went to France, came back and hired a tutor for my next trip, enough said.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied. I am in that position now and happy with what I have (I will accept any and all raises though).
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person.
39. Gone rock climbing.
40. Seen Michelangelo's David.
41. Sung karaoke. See #10 for my singing abilities.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt.
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant.
44. Visited Africa.
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight.
46. Been transported in an ambulance. I've been lucky.
47. Had your portrait painted.
48. Gone deep sea fishing.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person.
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling. The latter not the former.
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud.
54. Gone to a drive-in theater.
55. Been in a movie.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China.
57. Started a business. An art conservation studio.
58. Taken a martial arts class. I’ve taken more than one.
59. Visited Russia.
60. Served at a soup kitchen.
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies.
62. Gone whale watching.
63. Got flowers for no reason.
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma. Not for awhile though.
65. Gone sky diving.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp.
67. Bounced a check. A long time ago in college.
68. Flown in a helicopter.
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial.
71. Eaten Caviar.
72. Pieced a quilt.
73. Stood in Times Square.
74. Toured the Everglades.
75. Been fired from a job.
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London.
77. Broken a bone. I had a greenstick fracture in my arm and my nose has been broken twice (should have ducked).
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle. Been on, but not driving it.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person.
80. Published a book.
81. Visited the Vatican.
82. Bought a brand new car.
83. Walked in Jerusalem.
84. Had your picture in the newspaper.
85. Read the entire Bible.
86. Visited the White House.
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating. Fairly often.
88. Had chickenpox.
89. Saved someone’s life.
90. Sat on a jury. I served on a sexual abuse of a child case, one of the most intense experiences in my life.
91. Met someone famous. Several, but they would have no memory of me (including Fred Thompson, Dr. Benjamin Spock, Frank Church, Dirk Kempthorne, and a few others).
92. Joined a book club.
93. Lost a loved one. Grandparent and I dread the day I lose my parents.
94. Had a baby.
95. Seen the Alamo in person.
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake. When I was little.
97. Been involved in a law suit.
98. Owned a cell phone. You have to ask nowadays, how about “Owned a land-line phone.”
99. Been stung by a bee.
100. Read an entire book in one day.

I'm not going to tag anyone with this. The list is interesting though and it reminded me of the many phases of my life and the things I still want to do. There are a few though I don't want to do at all such as being involved in a law suit, being in an ambulance, and holding a praying mantis.