Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

Joslyn Place Photgraphy

In today's economy and in our culture of  "Big Box" retail and mass production, I think that it is important to remember that small businesses are the largest employers in the country.  We owe it to ourselves and our neighbors to promote and patronize as many local seriecs and retailers as we can.

I would like all of you folks in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, to meet Kimberly and Meredith.  These ladies own a local business which I hope you will support, in aid of which I have invited them to use my little corner of cyberspace to tell you what it's all about. 

Take it away, ladies.

 

Gunfighter, whom I have the privilege of working with at DC Metro Moms (he's the official Dad), has offered us the wonderful opportunity to guest post on his blog to announce our new business called Joslyn Place Photography.  We are located in Northern Virginia and we specialize in: family, newborn, maternity, pet, teen and group portraits.  Many of our sessions are done right in the client's backyard, favorite park or outdoor setting.  We like to share our work on our blog as well as on our big girl portfolio website.

About The Photographers

We are a team of two, A Laverne & Shirley for this century.  Joslyn Place is wonder twins activated. Or at the very least, we are cousins. We go by Meredith and Kimberly.  At long last our lives have geographically come together in Northern Virginia which isn't too far from where our parents started out back on Joslyn Place in Cheverly, Maryland.  The proximity has finally allowed us to combine forces and share our love of people and life through photographs.  This is good news for you.

 

I, Meredith, am the lead photographer.  That means that while we’re together I’m looking for the right space, the right light, the right moment to capture you being you.  This is, hands down, my favorite part. All you have to do is spend time with your people.  And all I have to do is notice and capture you.

I, Kimberly, am the second shooter.  I began following in my cousin’s creative footsteps and fell deeply in love with both the imagery of the art and the experience of the shoot.  I enjoy putting people at ease and bringing out the comedy of the moment.  I head up the organizational end of things mostly due to my anal retentive nature which, in turn, often leads me in the direction of a great bottle of red.  I like to say that I savor life.

We love the details of all the ties that bind. We love the second where those ties and personalities surface and are captured while you were wiping a crumb off his shirt or helping her avoid the mud. We crave the moments where you can see the details of a misplaced hair, a smirk or a wrinkle and feel every ounce of that thing called love.

Our cameras capture your story so far.

We’ll catch your beauty, your heart and your funny all wrapped up in one.

We cannot wait to work with you.

Meredith & Kim
PPA Members

We have two types of sessions to fit your holiday needs and wallet:

2009 Holiday Package  $500

· Sitting fee (90 minute session)
· Three 8×10 Stand Out Wall Prints
· Print Gift Set (One 8×10, Two 5×7s, Eight wallets)
· CD containing 10 images. Each image provided in color and  B&W with copyright release.

Holiday Mini-Shoot $250

· Sitting Fee (a 45 minute session)
· CD containing 5 images  w/ copyright release – perfect for creating holiday photo cards.

*Along with either package, our a la carte prints, listed below, would be offered to you at 30% off.

PRINTS:

8 wallets (2.5×3.5) = $10
4×6 = $5.00
5×7 = $7.50
8×10 = $10.00
16×24 = $90.00

Check out our calendar for the day that suits you. Let’s take advantage of this stunning fall weather, pretty please.

We can't wait to work with you!
Love,
Kimberly & Meredith

The Problem with "Equality"

In democratic societies an awful lot of time gets spent talking about equality.  For some reason we seem to think that the concept of equality is important.  It's that whole "leveler" mentality... and you know what?  I hate it.

You read that right.  Good ol' Gunfighter isn't so much for the equality thing.  Oh, sure, I believe that people should expect (and receive) equal treatment under the law, but that is where my thoughts on equality pretty much fizzle out.

You see, I believe that the notion of strict equality is damaging to our country.  The notion that everyone's opinion is as good as another person's is absolute crap, and is responsible for so much turmoil in the United States today.  If you don't believe me, I give you this fine group of people as an example:

The "birthers"

What a bunch of effing morons!  Morons, I say.  Why is anyone paying any attention to them?  Why is anyone giving them air time?  Why is anyone paying attention to them in courts of law?  I'll tell you why! It's because we cling to the absurd notion that "my opinion is just as good as yours!", and that my friends, is an entire railroad car full of steaming bullshit.

Look, people have opinions based on their previous knowledge of a subject, event, or person, or their education in related areas.  People also have visceral reactions to certain stimuli.. the reliable "gut feeling", that people frequently talk about.  Opinions, in order to have any sort of validity have to be based on something real, otherwise it's just a notion.

Here is an example.  It is my belief that George W. Bush was a failure as a President for a number of reasons, allow me to cite some of them:  Our country is involved in two wars that we didn't have to fight;  Our economy is in a shambles because Mr. Bush's administration wouldn't hear of regulating the banking industry; and because his administration violated the Constitution on a number of occasions for vague reasons pertaining to "National Security"

Now, you may not agree with those positions, and that's ok, but my opinion in this sense is valid because it is based on tangible things that may be seen different ways by different people.

Here is an example of a non-valid opinion: "George Bush was a GREAT President and will be remembered as such by history.  I have nothing to base this on.  It's just how I feel."

The whole "birther" movement, and other whackjob movements tend to gain steam amongst the benighted and those who feel themselves to be on the fringes.  Much like the old, stupid meme about the American government shipped guns by the carload in L.A. so the Crips and Bloods would go around killing each other, and other black people.  Valid?  No.  Stupid?  Yes.  Given credence by a bunch of f***ing dummies?, oh, hell yeah.

It is time, my friends, to stop pretending that the opinions of the stupid, are as good as those who... well, aren't stupid.  You know you agree with me.

As I said before, I believe that people should be treated the same under the law, without regard to their gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, or what their first language was.  Neither do I think that the law should disfavor the stupid (any more than it already does, anyway), but holy moley, do we have to pretend that stupid, invalid opinions aren't exactly that?

A Memorial Day Reminder

Today is Memorial Day in the United States.  Today is a day that we commemorate, above all others, the sacrificed lives of our dead Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Coast Guardsmen, and Marines.

For a great many people, today is a day off from work, and a day spent with the activities associated with the beginning of summer... and that's fine, just don't forget that hundreds of thousands of American fighting men (and women) have died in the service of their country, fighting on behalf of their government.  Their government, which is by, of, and for the people (that means US).

As we honor our war dead, let us remember that we, by electing smart, well-informed, and sane leaders, are directly responsible for sending these brave souls into battle.

Let us remember that, before we make decisions that may cost the lives of these brave men and women.  Let us remember that their lives aren't to be thrown away, or spent in a cavalier manner.  Let us remember that their dedication to our country shouldn't be misused for unscrupulous political reasons.

We owe those things to the memory of those we have lost, and especially to those we have yet to lose.

Blog Topic Search

You know something?  I've been going through one of my increasingly more frequent periods of not having much to talk about here at my blog (who knew I would miss a certain Texan who used to occupy the White House... he was such good fodder), I thought I would take it to the streets and ask around.

So... once again, I ask you, those two or three people whom I know for sure still read this blog:  What do YOU think that I should write about?  Sure, I know that you have things that you'd like to write about on your own blogs... but what about those things that you just wish someone else would write about?  Just let me know, and I'll do it.  Call it a writing exercise... call it an exercise in social media.  Call it just giving me something to talk about... whatever. 

It can be a subject near to your heart, and I'll give you my thoughts.  It can be about what I do; it can even be about what you do.  History?  I'm in.  Social commentary?  I'm all over it.  Wanda Sykes and the jokes that didn't go over well?  Hit me. 

 

I
 will be your instrument, if you will be my muse.

 

Alright, I'm listening.

 

You know, the last time we did this, I got nearly a week's worth of great ideas. It was awesome.  And since I am not the least bit shy about bribing you, the winner will get a special, exclusive to Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life, giveaway.  So there.  What do you need to do to win?  Well, the winner will be the person that prompts me to write the best post!

 

Oh, and if you are one of my lurkers, who emails me rather than commenting, feel free to get in touch anonymously.  I promise not to out you.

 

Cheers,

 

GF

All The Lonely People...

...Where do they all come from?

In 1966, The Beatles recorded the famous song that asked this question.  The song, as you all know, was about a fictitious person named Eleanor Rigby.  The poor soul... but it could be about any number of people... some of whom you might even know.

Last night, my family attended the Good Friday Tenebrae service at our church, and after the service, as the congregation silently exited the darkened church, I noticed that one of the parishioners, who is also in the small group that I lead, was still seated, and staring forward.  When I put my hand on her shoulder and smiled at her in a silent greeting, she smiled at me with the biggest smile I had ever seen from her, and she reached up and squeezed my hand as hard as I can ever remember anyone squeezing it.  I kept the smile on my face while we had our brief moment, even though I wanted to scream blue murder, because I have some sort of really ugly tendinitis going on.

As D let go of my hand, looking relieved for some reason, I started thinking.  I took stock of what I know of her, and it came to me (and of course, I could be totally wrong here) the she probably hasn't felt the welcome touch of a human being since she visited her children and grand children a month or so ago.  D lives alone, and like so many of us in this area, commutes to and from Washington, DC every day to  work long hours on behalf of of the American people.  She attends services alone and socializes little.  I had/have the feeling that she is lonely.

The thing is, that there are lots of lonely people, some of them are folks you probably wouldn't suspect.  Some of the loneliest people in our society are the elderly.  Many of whom are in nursing homes, or are living alone with limited mobility, and no family nearby to help or visit them.  Is it any wonder that pet therapy is so popular and useful in America's nursing homes?

You may know lonely people who aren't elderly.  A single friend, who is hard-working, fun to be around, successful, and behind her/his own four walls, in a terrible state because they have no one of their own to share themselves with... who have no one to give them a hug or give them a reassuring touch.  The lonely person might be married... because, well... you know... Ozzie and Harriet were fictional characters.

Let's not pretend, my friends, that we don't need those things.  We do.  All of us.

I want you all to do me a favor.  Think of someone that you know that might be in this situation, and the next time you see them, give them a handshake.... put your hand on their shoulder... give them a hug.  Look them in the eye and let then know that you care about them.  Let them know they aren't alone.

I'm sure that we will see D at church tomorrow... I think that we'll invite her to dinner. 

Where Were You When Everything Changed?

Where were you when everything changed? Where were you when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the 44th Preseidnt of the United States? Where were you when our nation actually lived up to it's founding documents? Where were you when our nation lived up to it's rhetoric? Where were you when the old American adage that says that any child can grow up to be President of The United States, actually became truth instead of myth?

Over six months ago, I wrote about Barack Obama being the Strategic African American, that all important pin that will hold things together when times look grim. Well, on this past Tuesday, he became not only the Strategic African American, but the Strategic American.

Everything is different now... and I couldn't be prouder of our country. As you know, I have two kids... both girls. Both of them at once biracial and African American. My oldest child called me from her college campus this afternoon to tell me where she was when The President took his oath (between classes, crowded around a TV with her sorority chums), and how it made her feel.

My youngest daughter watched and wondered why mommy was crying.

Me? well, it doesn't matter where I was, but I'll never forget it.

President Obama has called us all to service. He has called on us to not sit idly by... called us to be a part of what we want this country to become. I plan to continue to do my part, and I hope that you will join me.

This is the year that future generations will define as the year that everything changed... and despite the straits that our country has been left in by past leadership, this time, this age that we are entering will be remembered as the beginning of the best of times in America.

Tommorrow is the Day To Read

I won't be reading any blogs tomorrow.  I won't be doing anything online that isn't work related except emailing.  I'll be reading.

 

Yeah, all of my blogging and so forth will be skipped tomorrow because of something pretty cool that a pal of mine is doing.  Some of you may already know one of my first bloggy pals, Soccer Mom in Denial, if you don't know her, go and read her blog for a while... it'll be worth your time, I promise.

Anyway, SMID (as she is known by those who love her), had the idea, last year, to turn off the PC for a while and reconnect with books.  I couldn't be more supportive.

As you know, I love to read. So tomorrow, I plan to finish two of the books that I am currently reading.

I'll be back on Friday to tell you about them.

Here they are, they are both very different, but really good:

 

"How To Be A Monastic Without Leaving Your Day Job"  A great book about the Oblates of the Order of St. Benedict.

 

"Russian Amerika" by Stoney Compton.  An original tale of alternate history in whic Alaska is Imperial Russian territory... in 1987

The Meaning of Obama's Victory

Well, election 2008 is in the bag. 

We won. 

We won big time. 

McCain/Palin never really had much of a chance.  Neither did Jim Gilmore in Virginia.

I am pleased.  I am pleased beyond words.

On election night, like so many Americans who were hoping for the decisive ouster of the Republican party from the leadership of the executive branch of government... and for an increase in the size of the Democratic control of the legislative branch, I wept tears of joy when the results were in.

Unfortunately, I couldn't share my joy with my family in person, because I watched the results in a hotel room in Columbus, Georgia, where I was teaching a class at Fort Benning.  I guess this is the reason we have to be glad about cellular phones.... Mrs GF and I watched the victory speech together via the airwaves.

Of course, some of the giddy feelings of election night are still with me, because I, like so many of you, poured my heart, soul,emotions, (and money) into this campaign, but in the warm afterglow of a resounding victory, comes the after-action assessment of how things went, and where we stand at the moment. This is where it gets real.

President-elect Obama doesn't need any political advice from me on what needs to get done, so I will leave that to him and his very able team.  What I really want to talk about today is what the election of Obama really means in this country.  What it REALLY means.

For me, Obama's election isn't only about a brilliant political campaign, although it was brilliant in all respects.  Obama's election isn't about racial/ethnic pride, although I am exceptionally, and justly proud of him.  Obama's election isn't about the "end of racism" because having an African-American (or bi-racial) President doesn't mean that racism is ever going to go away, because it won't.  Obama's election... in my view, isn't about those things.  It's about example.

For me, the election of 2008 is about the fact that I can tell my children that they can be anything that they wish to be... including President of The United States, and mean it.  For me, the election was about the empowerment of progressive elements that look into the future, for the first time in a long time, without fear.  This election was about renouncing xenophobia.  This year, my country rejected the notion of pre-emptive war, torture, secret government, and the trampling of our Constitution. 

This year my country, instead of saying NO!, said yes.  Yes to open government; yes to rational National Defense policy; yes to diplomacy; yes to alternative power; yes to humane public health policy; yes to pay equity; yes to sane discourse regarding public education.

In this election, the American electorate spoke not only to our country, but to the world.  We spoke to the world and showed that no matter how grim things can get in the United States from time to time;  No matter how fearful our people can sometimes be, that when pushed to the limit, the people can act in concert and change our government for the better.  Many people thought we couldn't do it... but, you know, we're Americans, and enough of us believed that "Yes... we can!"  and we did.

Now, enough of all of that.  Let me tell you what else this election was about.  I mentioned the word example, didn't I?  Well, I believe that President-elect Obama, did more for this country, and it's people, simply by getting elected, than he probably bargained for.  You see, when Senator Obama made his 2004 speech at the Democratic convention, you could just tell that this young man was the man of the hour.  When he spoke compellingly about the fact that speaking proper English and reading books, and getting good grades was not "acting white", he pushed a door open... the door opened completely last week on election night.

Here is my drift:  There are no more excuses, friends.  None.  No more excuses about "whitey"  No more excuses about "the man"; no more excuses for not studying, not reading, not assimilating, and not speaking standard American English.

No more.

Americans can achieve anything.

Anything.

You just have to put in the work.

Now, none of the above means that achieving great things will be easy.  None of the above means that you can be President just by getting good grades.  What it means is that you now have a living, breathing, tangible example of what aiming high can do for you.

OK, enough speechifying from me.  Get off of your asses, and become part of the solution.

Now.

Shoot 'Em Up Friday - A Special Comment

This target was shot with the H&K MP5N, seen below.

The child I mentioned in the video was shot with a Micro Uzi:

The Vet Who Did Not Vet

In case you haven't seen it yet.

Watch it, yes, it makes us smile, but before we vote, there's many a mile.

So let's not cheer and count our chickens, watch for Fox News sleaze and dirty trickens!

They'll try to steal this, sure as hell, stand by to ring the warning bell.

Too soon to make the early bet, even if the vet refused to vet.

Gird your loins,prepare for battle. Keep your nerve when Sabers rattle!

Face the foe, donate your dough! when we win we'll cheer: GO O!