Rush Limbaugh, the well-known talk radio personality, recently received a letter that Harry Reid and 40 other Democratic senators (including Hillary!) sent to his boss asking that Rush be fired. Undaunted, Rush put it up for bid on eBay with plans to donate the proceeds to the Marine Corps Law Enforcement Foundation. Check out the current bid for this historic document.

Smiles and happy thoughts happen when you look at these gorgeous prize-winning phalaenopsis orchids.

One of the first things visitors notice upon arriving in Avalon is the Casino Building, Catalina Island’s most recognizable landmark. The round, white building raises the equivalent of 12 stories, and is surrounded by the sea on three sides. Built in 1929, the Casino - which is actually not a gambling hall but “a place of entertainment” - played host to dozens of big bands through the 1930s and 1940s. Guests danced the night away to the music of Glen Miller, Harry James, and many others over the years.

The Casino Building is a stunning example of original Art Deco architecture. It has been well maintained over the years and has also undergone much restoration, both inside and out.

Read more about it at Catalina Island Journal. Click the image to enlarge.

After the weekly trip to the shooting range, we set up shop on the patio (weather permitting) for cleaning and maintaining the firearms. Regardless of which guns belong to whom, Verna always cleans the revolvers (shines ‘em up good) and I disassemble and clean up the pistols. She cleans up the shotgun barrels and chokes and I clean up the fore-end, breech bolt and receiver. Once every couple of months, I knock out the pins and clean and oil the trigger mechanisms. We each do the part we like and I think we make a good team.

Clockwise from the bottom:

• Smith & Wesson 442 .38 special
• Smith & Wesson 686 .357 magnum
• Smith & Wesson 908s 9mm 8+1
• Glock 26 9mm 10+1
• Remington Express 870 20 ga. youth model 4+1
• Remington Express 870 12 ga. 4+1
• Ithaca 20 ga. single shot (had it for 41 years now)
• Speed loader and pistol magazines in the center
• The 9mm ammo bucket on the right

Click on the image for the big picture.

We went to get some home supplies today at the local home improvement center. Of course we stopped in the garden shop to look at the flowers. I took so many photos in there, that it was difficult to select which one was best to put on the weblog. It came down to these two; the top is a shot of some daisies in six-packs and the bottom is a hanging basket of petunias (I think).

Both of the pictures make us feel happy when we see them. With all the colorful flowers of many varieties, it was hard to believe that this is fall and soon it will be Halloween! Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.

. . . to see these beautiful Winchester 9×19mm Luger Parabellum rounds. Parabellum is from an ancient Latin credo - “Si vis pacem, para bellum.” Translated, it means “if you seek peace, prepare for war.”

Verna took this artistic photo last weekend when we were doing gun maintenance after our weekly target practice. I use the big version for a computer background picture.

This morning when I went out to the garden to water, there was a huge cereus cactus flower that these bees just couldn’t leave alone.