This nice bunch of gazanias is currently providing color on the patio. I snapped this picture as we were getting ready to clean up the guns after our weekly trip to the range.
Today at the Gun Show
Every few months, we head off to the Gun Show. Today, we took the drive down to the Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, CA.
As most of those who attend gun shows know, there are few guns and almost everything else. We saw jewelry, crystal and optics*, polished rocks, luggage, apparel, bumper stickers, safes and just about anything related to firearms. There is also plenty of stuff having nothing to do with guns or shooting, including a couple of “Ron Paul for President” booths.
* The Swarovski Group manufactures optics for guns as well as fine crystal and jewelry. One enterprising couple has a booth where Pop is selling Scopes in one half and Mom has a nice selection of crystal in the other half.
At one point, an especially pushy saleswoman was hawking stuffed pillows that transformed into “bed pets.” “Lady,” I said, “do you think I came to a gun show to buy a freakin’ pillow?”
In spite of all of the non-gun stuff, we bought a couple of magazines for the new Warthog and Glock 30 pistols, a “Glock” T-shirt, a “Route 66” tote bag, some silhouette targets and a thousand rounds of .45 ACP.
Red and White Amaryllis
We hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving. This beautiful amaryllis partially opened up on Thanksgiving Day and opened the rest of the way today. Look upon it and calm your nerves after a grueling shopping day.
Giving Thanks to Our Troops
This was our post last Thanksgiving Day. It is just as appropriate today as it was a year ago.
We often think about and pray for our troops across the globe. And our efforts go beyond just thoughts and prayers since we routinely support charities such as Wounded Warriors, Soldiers Angels and the USO. Please, if you are able, send our troops a little support as a way of saying thanks for what they do. Keep it going all of this holiday season if you are able.
You should also keep the families of these wonderful men and women in your thoughts and prayers, since they will be celebrating without their loved ones.
Neil Cavuto of the Fox News Channel offered this poignant and insightful thought about those serving in our defense:
Giving Thanks to Our Troops
By Neil Cavuto
I cannot imagine eating Thanksgiving dinner in a mess hall. In a foreign country. In a hostile foreign country. Away from family. Away from friends. Away from all I hold dear.
I cannot imagine wondering whether this meal might be my last. Or the buddy sitting next to me won’t always be with me.
I cannot imagine going through what our soldiers go through every day. But especially “this” day. When we should all give thanks. But they barely have the time to eat. Before they’re back on the line. Back protecting us.
We who debate their role. Some of us who even mock their cause. This isn’t about a war. This is about those who fight it. And endure it. And live through it. In a place we forget. On a day we should not.
I am very lucky to have this day with my family. My creature comforts are secure precisely because theirs are not. It’s not fair. It’s not right. It just is.
They are due our thanks every day. Our prayers all days. But they are due both, especially this day. It’s amazing to me that those paid so little, give so much. Never complaining. Always giving. So that we can sit down in peace. While they stand guard, in war.
May God bless and protect all of our men and women in the armed forces.
Auroras
Last night, we watched a couple of “You Tube” videos; they were time-lapse movies of the skies over Antarctica. In both videos, there were shimmering images of the Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights. This morning, I was looking at SpaceWeather.com and found this picture of the Aurora Borealis a.k.a. the Northern Lights. Andreas D. Skjervold, of Bodø, Norway took this Christmas-card-like photo of the lights as he was out looking for Taurids meteors on November 13. I’d say that Mr. Skjervold got more of a show than he expected that night. Click on the image to see a larger version.
Fog
Over the past several days, it has been quite foggy. Over the weekend, it seemed to stay foggy all day long. I snapped this picture of the sun through dense fog. It was its only appearance the entire day. “They” tell me that it will be clear and warmer for Thanksgiving and the weekend to come. Fine with me. Click on the picture to enlarge.
