I took this picture of my hand over the weekend.
Oh, by the way, I was about to clean up the new Glock 26 while sitting on the backyard swing.
Bob
Nostalgic Neon Clock
We went shopping at our local discount emporium Saturday looking for a new clock for the family room. While we were there Verna brought my attention to this little beauty. I guess they must have been a popular item, ’cause this one, which was on display, was the last one in the store. Verna went and got a clerk to get it off of the wall for us, and it now hangs above the entertainment center like a majestic beacon. Oh – and it tells the time too.
Our recent vacation took us along parts of old Route 66 in Arizona; this little nostalgic trinket brings back fond memories. Not just from the last trip, but over the years back to before the 1970s when old Route 66 still thrived. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.
Hot Shots
Whew! When we got to the range yesterday, the cooling fan wasn’t keeping up with the elevated temperatures outside. Good thing we dressed in tank tops to help us cope with the heat.
Shooting was a lot of fun in spite of the temperatures in the range. We each brought our little guns – Verna’s S&W 442 and my Glock 26 – the regular hand guns – the S&W 686 revolver and the S&W 908s pistol – and all three shotguns with wooden stocks – my 40-year old Ithaca, and both our Remington 870s. The video is us emptying the 870s 5-round capacity magazines.
The 2 by 3 paper target did not do as well as we did.
Marriott Fountain
Now that I’m going to transfer to another facility, I will no longer have some of these pleasant places to walk to on my noontime walks. This is a panorama I made of the fountain in front of the Manhattan Beach Marriott Hotel. I will miss the nice places, but I’m still committed to take the walks, scenery or not. Click the picture for the big view.
Pigeon Dung and Reno’s Famous Sign
After reading news accounts about the contribution of pigeon dung to the collapse of the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis, I was reminded about how pigeons similarly factored into the destruction of the famous “RENO – The Biggest little city in the world” sign that spans the entrance to the downtown gambling district. I recall reading a the story in the 1980’s about how the old sign became inhabited by pigeons that roosted or nested in the sign. They got in through gaps in the sign and, of course, pooped while they were in there.
Image right: Reno sign, 1980’s – click to enlarge
Eventually, despite having been evicted several times by the city’s maintenance crews, the pigeon problem persisted until one day there was an electrical short-circuit in the sign. The methane from the dung ignited; there was a minor explosion and a fire afterwards that damaged the sign beyond repair. The sign was removed and subsequently replaced by a newer Vegas-style beauty which electronically beckons visitors to the downtown district. While it’s a beautiful sight, the new sign doesn’t have the old sign’s charm and breaks the promise for a “little city” beyond. Recent visitors to the new Reno, if they knew the old Reno, will know what I mean.
Image left: New Reno sign – click to enlarge
As for pigeons? They’re just rats with wings.
