Gunfighter: A Modern Warrior's Life

...and I am telling you, "I'm Not Going" (yet)

Hi.

You're probably wondering why I am still here, since I told you last month that I was retiring my blog as of today.  Well, there is an answer to that question, and here it is:  Just yesterday, I received a solicitation from a publisher to review a book that I think is going to be super-cool, so when they send me the book, I will give it a read, and tell you what I think.

In the meantime, lemme tell you about my morning. 

Mrs. GF had to dash off to Boston today for a conference, so we all had to head to National Airport VERY early for her to make the 0630 flight..  It was a fast ride up I-95 because the traffic hadn't gotten terribly heavy.  So, we got to the airport, made the drop-off and Soccer Girl and I headed for home.  Instead of taking the usual route back through Crystal City, and around the Pentagon to 395 south, we took the George Washington Parkway towards DC!  Bypassing the northbound on-ramp, we took the south-bound ramp and entered 395 approximately two hundred yards from where we would have entered had we gone through Crystal City and it's myriad stop lights!

Sure, what I said just now won't mean anything to those of you who don't habla the DC traffic, but let me tell you that I probably saved 8 to 10 minutes by going that route.

"Big deal" you say?, well it is to me.  What? You didn't know that I was the King of "making good time"?  Well, there it is... this is my confession (with absolutely NO apologies to Usher).

SG and I got home in great time and were back at the house by 0600, whereupon I made breakfast for my sad child (she misses mommy when she travels) and she had plenty of down-time until we left for school at 8.

On the way to school, I had to make a stop at the post office in order to carry out the instructions that Mrs. GF and SG had given me so I could mail out the bills... by the time we arrived at the post office (0810), Mrs. GF was calling us to say that she had not only already gotten to Boston, but had made it to her hotel!  Well-done, madame!, well-done!

So, after I dropped SG at school, I dashed back up 95 to work, just in time to attend a meeting, clean my beloved M-4, and post this to my blog.  Now, you are going to have to pardon me as I take my leave in order to get my new uniform trousers hemmed and then vacuum the dog hair out of my car.

 

Peace Be With You!

GF

Updates, News, & Other Random Thoughts

You know, I have been a bad blogger of late.

I have let (all six ) of my readers/friends down. I just haven't been putting as much into my blog as I have in years past. I want to tell you, my friends, that it's not you, it's me. The good news is that I am not breaking up with you… and you sure as hell had better not be breaking up with me… I mean, who really needs a well-armed stalker?

Um… anyway, as I was saying: It isn't you, it's me. I have just been seriously busy and distracted for the past several (ok eight or ten) months. I think I told you that I got a promotion… oh, thank you, thank you! I won't bore you with false humility; I earned that friggin' promotion thank-you-very-much! Ahem, well getting promoted meant I that I have been as busy as ever, and with after school scheduling issues, let's just say that I don't have as much time on my hands as I used to. All of this is said to explain a few things, tell you what is coming here at A Modern Warrior's Life , and to follow-up on a few posts and discussions.

 

 

Bear with me while I clear the air.

 

• Heartfelt congratulations and blessings to two people that I am pleased to call great friends, Brother Mick McIntyre who was recently ordained by the Lutheran Church in Canada, has recently been installed as the Pastor of his own parish in Alberta. Likewise, my lovely friend Suzanne has been ordained by the Episcopal Church (USA), and will be reporting for duty as an associate Priest at a parish in New York City. These two people have hearts that are dedicated to the service of God and His church, and I am proud to call them my friends.

 

• Regarding my mother. I reported to you folks in February, that I had to go back to my hometown because my mother was at death's door with cancer. I think that I told you, despite what the Doctors said, that she left the hospital the day after my visit, and went home. I don't think that I have brought you up to speed on the rest of the tale. My mother, within two months of leaving the hospital, has been declared cancer-free. You heard me… I said cancer-free. While I realize that remission can last as short as several weeks, but at this point, every minute that she gets to remain above ground, should be counted as an incredible victory over the odds. There are people that scoff at the notion of miracles. I am not among their number.

 

• In the past year, I have read several books and reviewed them. Some books, I reviewed just because I wanted to share my thoughts with you, and some because I had been solicited by the publishers. One of the books that I read was called American Apocalypse, by an author who goes by the enigmatic name, Nova. Anyway, Nova had been reading and commenting at my blog even before I knew of his book, and when we discussed it, he had a copy sent to me. I read the book, and enjoyed it immensely. I told this fine gentleman that I would like to review his book and publish that review along with an interview here at my blog. Well, to my great shame, even though I interviewed this man, I haven't gotten around to posting it, for which I owe Nova a profound apology. I plan to make amends very soon.

   

• I also plan to bring you another interview with author Brigadier General AJ Tata. General Tata was a fine army officer, who is using the proceeds from his action adventure novels to support the Wounded Warrior Project. Be on the lookout, because that should be fun.

   

• I wanted to use this space for another reason tonight… or this morning… (It is nearly 3 AM as I write this, on a bit of a Vicodin buzz, as I really did something bad to my back today, and I don't think that it is in my interest to lie down). Anyway, I wrote about my next door neighbor a week or so ago and asked for some advice on how to mention her obvious pregnancy. Well, I received all sorts of comments and wisdom from many of you, and I did what I thought was best: I kept my yap shut. I didn't say a word, but wouldn't you know it, I saw her boyfriend in the gas station a week or so later, and he gave me the scoop. I was still determined to say nothing about it to my neighbor, because her behavior clearly said: "Don't say anything" Well, on Wednesday morning, as I was loading the last few vacation items into the car, we had a nice wee chat about the coming baby (a chat that she initiated). She couldn't be happier about the arrival of the baby, which should be in November. I am happy that she is happy.

   

• I have an idea for a book or series of books rattling around in my head. I may actually write a proposal and shop this one around.

   

So that is what is happening, folks.  You'll be hearing from me soon... but for now, Mickey Mouse is beckoning, and we are on our way to the Magic Kingdom. 

Blog Topics: A Solicitation

I usually blog about things that pop into my head, or things that I see or read that I feel the need to express myself about.  Politics and politicians are frequently the targets of my commentary, but not always.  I would like to switch things up and this is where you come in.

As I have done in the past, I am going to let you pick the topic.

That's right.

You.  You out in British Columbia, Canada.  You, that person in Hertfordshire, UK.  My regular visitor from Barbados.  You lovely folks in Australia and New Zealand, and of course, all my countrymen here in the United States.... especially in Lawrenceville, Kansas.

I want YOU to pick a week's worth of topics for me.  Any subject.  Nothing sacred.  No third rail.  Give me some topics to blog about.... and I will spend a week blogging on them.  I won't give you a topic... you can just go with what suits your fancy.  Mind you, if it is too personal, I reserve the right to amend or delete as necessary.

If lurking is your thing, and you want to participate, email a topic to me at gunfighter1173 (at) gmail.com

OK, who is going to take the plunge first?   Don't be afraid... I won't hurt you... much.

GF

The Things People Search For

I'm a curious fellow at times.  It could be because of my incomplete education, maybe it's because I am a nosey-body, but I often have questions, and sometimes I am compelled to ask them, even when the asking alone may expose me as the not-very-well-educated fellow that I am.  Nevertheless, I ask the questions because there are some things that I just have to know... or at least ask about.

Today's question is about the search parameters that usually bring people to your blog.  For my wee humble blog, whose posts recieve so few comments (yes, I am talking to you lurkers), I get a more than reasonable number of visitors who find my blog because of searches for tattoo stories, and searches about Barack Obama's sunglasses.

Really.  Barack Obama's sunglasses.

I don't get it.  Do that many people give a darn about his sunglasses?  Really?

You know something else?  I had no idea that my tattoos were so popular.  Not only is my post about tattoos that I did in connection with Sonia Sunshine's blog, very popular, but pictures of my tattoos have appeared in a few different places, after they were lifted from my blog.  Hmm, I guess I'll have to look into that whole Crative Commons thing today or tomorrow.   Not that I care if someone is using my tattoo pictures to discuss ink or religious tattoos, but just in case people are lifitng other stuff.

Hmmm.

Find Me Here Today

I have been invited to post in a travel series over at the blog of a new bloggy pal of mine named Sunshine, over at her place: "And The Pursuit of Happiness"

I think that you should give her a read... and not just because I had something to say over at her blog.... and not because she thinks I look like PAul Newman.  Go  read her because she is sharp, funny, and a much better writer thank I am.

OK... go.  Click the link!

Sitemeter, Guns, and Church

I have never made any bones about the fact that I am one of the least technologically savvy men on the planet.  Well, at least in the developed world, anyway.  I'm not the guy to ask about computer servers, memory, POP connections, or any of that stuff.  I didn't set up the pc in our home.  I never set the clocks on the VCR's (when we used such things).  My wife's laptop is light-years more advanced than mine, which might have something to do with the twelve hundred dollar disparity in price, but I digress.  I know people that talk about computers in terms that make my head spin after three sentences.  I am in awe of the things that other people know that I don't know... which probably has a lot to do with me deeply ingrained educational inferiority complex.

Anyway, my problem isn't one of programming... today, my problem is about Site-meter.  I got my weekly report from those fine folks who monitor my blog and tell me how many people are visiting and all sorts of things... and you know what?  according to them, I had no visitors last week. 

None.

Now, I am am not so egotistical to think that my blog gets lots of traffic.  It doesn't.  I realize that my life is neither exciting nor glamorous... or even interesting to most people.  It isn't.  I realize that many of my more savvy blogging pals read my blog via Google reader or bloglines or subscription or other means (or just don't read anymore), but I can't accept that NO ONE read, or even visited my blog last week.

Is sitemeter just f***ing with me?

Hmm.

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In other news, I got a new gun on Friday.  There, that ought to excite the search engines.  A brand new pistol, right out of the box, and she's all mine.  Well, that's not really true.  She belongs to Uncle Sam... but my uncle, being a swell fellow, has given her into my care.

It was with some sadness that I turned in my old pistol (it was only four years old, but VERY well-used), but this new gun is of a larger caliber (bigger bullets make bigger holes, you see), and has a few features that that old one didn't have. She's a beauty (pronounced bewdy, if you are in Australia), she is.  Have a look:

I won't bother with nomenclature or anything like that, but I will say this:  I put three hundred fifty six rounds through it on Friday morning, and she shoots well.  Very well.

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We went to church as per usual yesterday, and Mrs Gunfighter had the luxury of sitting in the pew without soccergirl or me, as sg was acolyte, and I was the assisting minister.  What made this day particularly fun was that we had a supply pastor (guest pastor for those that don't habla the Lutheran) who is originally from Ghana.  Pastor Edward was pretty cool, if a little long-winded.  He gave a great sermon, made so much better because of his African accent.  A self-deprecating man, he made us laugh several times during the service, but the funniest thing that happened took place during Communion. 

Now, I know that some of my readers are adherents to the Roman Church, and therefore usually have wafers at communion, and some of my readers are of the LDS church, still others are Baptists, Jewish, non-denominational Christians, and other assorted groups and or non-believing heathens, heck, I even have readers that are Republicans (you know that I love all of you equally, though, right?, especially the heathens).  Well, in our church, during communion we use bread, and as communion is served, the Pastor breaks off a piece of bread, about the size of a quarter, or a half-dollar (remember those?) hands it to the parishioner and says:  "The body of Christ, given for you" and them moves to the next person.  Well, yesterday, Pastor Edward was tearing huge, and I mean huge, pieces of bread.  So large that some of the communicants had to hurriedly tear the pieces into smaller pieces and bolt them down by the time I followed with the wine, saying: "The blood of Christ, shed for you" while trying not to laugh all the while.  After doing this for a while, Pastor Edward looked at me and said, are there many more people?( we were a little more than halfway done) and I said to him, "almost half are left, you might want to go smaller"  Which he found quite humorous... I suppose he was trying to use as much of the bread as possible.  Almost twenty four  hours later, and I am still laughing about it, even as I type this.

There, conjure with that for a while.  I have a date with my new Sig.

GF

Fantasy Sports?

Are you a sports fan?  Are your spouses/lifepartners sports fans?  Are your kids sports fans?  Well, if you are, you should have a look at this site: Family Family Sports.

I'm not into fantasy sports, but this place looks like it could be fun if fantasy sports are something that you enjoy.

Peer Recognition

It's always nice to be well thought-of by one's friends and peers, isn't it?

Isn't that the thing that drives most people? We want people that we know and respect to respect us, don't we? Indeed, we want to be held in high regard by people whose thoughts we esteem. It's one of the motivations behind parenting, to some degree... it's something that partly drives our careers... it certainly is in my field, anyway.

Who knew that bloggers were no different in their desire to be noticed??

Sure, we would all like to be on the radar-screens of people like Dooce, Kos, Firedoglake, The Field Negro, or any number of high-profile bloggers who are the real faces of what you and I do. I confess, I'd love to be noticed... I'm shallow like that, but more than that, I am always overjoyed when someone takes a moment to tell me that they enjoyed, or were touched by something that I wrote.

Today, I had one of those moments. I got an email from Lady M, a contributor at Suburban Turmoil who told me that she had bestowed a coveted Perfect Post award on me, for my post about injured veterans.

Thanks so much, Lady M. Hearing from you was a bright spot in my day. GF

 

Calling All Lurkers

Hi... my name is Gunfighter, what's yours?

I have been pating attention to the traffic here at A Modern Warrior's Life, and I notice you.  You visit, sometimes frquently, yet I never hear from you.  Why is that?  Apparaently you find my content interesting... or at least so horrible, that it is like watching a different train-wreck every day. 

I have to tell you that your silence most offends me (c'mon, without Googling, somebody tell me where that line comes from!).  If you are reading this and you have never commented before... jump in, I promise not to bite you... at least not too hard.

So.  Come out, come out, wherever you are!  You lot in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney Australia... let's talk Rugby or Footy.  Whoever is reading this, looking for information about Kilts in Belgrade, Serbia, let me answer your questions... and tell me what you are doing in Belgrade?  Let me guess, you are a bored embassy worker on the night shift.  No worries, I won't tell.

Closer to home, Helloooooooooooooooooo New Jersey! (again, without Googling, tell me the reference), I see you up there in Morristown... home of Fairleigh Dickinson (or Fairly Ridiculous, as we said when I was a kid).

I want all of you to come out of hiding so I can say hello right back.

C'mon, you know you want to.

GF

Go Read This Blog

Really.  Go read this now.

Eavesdrop DC

Really.