The limitations on loyal shopping...

So recently I purchased a shotgun so that I could teach my 12 year old daughter how to shoot. We have already covered firearm safety with the .22 pistol, so I thought that in addition to the .22 rifle I would get a manageable shotgun as well.

I decided on a 20 gauge, and since I prefer to support local business, I went with a nearby gun shop that a friend works at. I also went ahead and checked the other stores in the area (both big box and local gun stores) to check pricing and customer service. Two of the gun stores did not get my business because of the attitude when we walked in, as well as the pricing on their firearms. The attitude was the bigger issue for me.  The big box stores was a disappointment mainly because I live in the bay area. Most don't carry firearms anymore, and those that do have poor selection.

The purchase of the shotgun went well (as well as can be expected in California) with a small paperwork snafu at the pickup time.  This was mainly due to someone not putting the forms in the correct file when I completed them at the time of purchase.  But all was well in the end.

However, I recently went to visit family in Oregon and out of curiosity looked at the prices at the local Wal-Mart.  I was both happy and disappointed to see the prices and selection in the case.  I could have gotten a similar shotgun for a C-Note less.  Ok, I understand that it is a different state, different economic area, etc…  I consoled myself by picking up a box of 100 shotgun shells for substantially less than I can buy them at home.  Still, it irked me.

Then, while cruising the big box located 20 miles from home, I noticed that they actually had firearms as well.  And they were priced well.  20 miles could have saved me $75. 

All this brings me back to the title of my post.  I want to support my friend’s employer.  I like supporting local firearms stores, since there are too few in the bay area as is.  However, they have most of their product as “I can have it here by the time the waiting period is complete”.  And, in this case, I ended up with a color that was not what was originally requested (my wife hates RealTree, and that is what we now have) due to supplier issues.  I want to support the local gun store, but I can’t.  Money is too tight.  The extra money spent was a couple cases of clays and the range fees.  I don’t have the money to spend on loyalty like that.  It sucks, but then reality can be like that.

Journalism at it's finest...

I was amazed that The BBC News managed to keep the death of Amy Winehouse in slightly smaller print that the tradgedy in Norway.  Now that the autopsy results are out, I am amazed that the media is managing to keep it just below the "not a war" in Libya. 

Other people's money...

My company finally came through on training budget to send me to technical classes.  Every quarter for the last five years they would tell us "let us know what classes you would like to take, we set budget aside for it".  Then when we select classes and notify them we get the "ooh, we don't have the budget for that this quarter".  It became an entertaining game and running joke within our group. 

Well, they fiinally came through and I got to go to a training class for Windows 7.  The training facility was really nice and the teacher was excellent.  What amazed me was that several people didn't show up for the class.  The cost for the class was approaching $3000, which I can tell you I personally don't have.  And the cost is non-refundable, so either way the money is gone.  But even though it was not my money, I can't comprehend blowing off 3K of my employer's money.  I look at this like it is my money.  One of my co workers attended with me and he was less than attentive, repeatedly late and generally acted like he had something better to do with his time.  Now, since I was directly asked how his attendance and performance was in class, I can guarantee that he will not be getting another class paid for byt he company.  Normally I would resist this, but since he did the same thing during an office move in another state and left people hanging, I don't feel bad.  Every class that he screws off in is a class that I can't attend because money was wasted on him.  Even though its not my money, I still respect that it should be used wisely.  I guess there is no accounting for some people's children...

Time gets away...

I realized that I haven't posted on here for quite a while.  I didn't realize that between work and family there would be so little time to sit down and put thoughts to paper...  er, electrons...  I have to work on that.  Maybe I can firgure out a way to do this while I do 30 minutes on the exercise bike.  Of course, I would have to use the exercise bike as well, which has also been a challenge.

Denair, almost ashamed I grew up there...

Sadly, Denair

I read about this yesterday and I couldn't comment. I was beside myself.  I grew up in Denair.  I went to that school.  I am utterly incensed that these school officials would have the gall to order an American flag taken down because of "racial tension".  I would think that this would be a wonderful time to educate the children on the meaning of the flag that represents the country in which they currently live.  They could educate the children on the sacrifices made by the members of our armed forces under and in defense of that flag.  What they have done is the lazy way out, one that is sadly taken far too often by school officials these days. 

I am proud of my Irish heritage.  I celebrate St. Patty's day like others with Irish blood.  However, I don't demand that everyone else give up the right to be proud of their country during that day or all of the days of the year.  If you live in America and think that your country of heritage or birth is so great that you must display that flag year round and complain when someone puts up an American flag in America, I suggest you scoot your happy ass back to that country, whatever it may be. 

An observation on Europe...

So I am reading an article on the UK government pushing a bill that would require a referendum on anything vaguely resembling the recently adopted Libson Treaty.  I was amused when that boondoggle was in process, watching the only country to vote on it turning it down.  The theater that went on afterward (Many in the EU calling the Irish silly for voting no and then demanding a second try) was all the more entertaining. 

I live in America, and I am very proud of it.  No, my government is not the best run, nor are the people of my nation always on the best of behavior.  We have 50 states and they are all important, even the ones I don't ever plan to visit.  However, I look at the EU, and I really have to wonder why so many in Europe are hell bent on reducing the relevance of their countries on the world stage to the equivalent of the state of Massachusetts?

My private reading room.

Years ago I used to make fun of one of my friends because when he went to use the restroom, he would take a book with him.  And usually it seemed that he would cover several chapters while in there.  I was of the "get in, get done, get out" camp and it amazed me that he would take that much time on the throne. 

Many moons later (pun intended) I find that I have a stack of American Rifleman magazines on the bathroom counter that get regular use in that location.  I don't know when this started, but now I regularly reach for an issue while taking my daily constitutional.  My wife now gives me a hard time about it, always calling from the other side of the door "Did you fall in?"

I do my best not to walk in there with an actual book.  I have noticed that several bloggers whom I regularly read have actual bookshelves in their bathrooms.  I think my wife would kill me if I tried that.  Also, steam from the shower would wreak havoc on the books.  We have poor (actually, non-existent) ventilation in our bathroom.  On several occasions when my wife has been away, I have walked in with a book and spent so long there (Ok, just to the end of this chapter...) that my legs went to sleep.  Have you ever sat there so long that when you finally do decide to stop reading, you don't entirely recall if you just relieved your bladder or made a substantial deposit?  Just me? Oh, never mind...