Hardpan Curmudgeon SASS #8967

Just saw it on the news ~ Gov Gav just announced Project Nexus - a new plan to benefit the state! As we all know, california is in an almost permanent state of drought (despite record rainfall) and now has the most expensive electricity in the country. The plan? Simple! Just cover the state's 4,000 miles of water delivery canals with solar panels! Plenty of electricity for "free," plus it'll reduce water loss from evaporation! There's gotta be some sorta science in there somewhere. Prolly gonna be cheap, too!

Lordy... I loaded hundreds and hundreds of .45 rounds with one of these things back in the day. Then I moved up to a Lyman 310 Tong Tool... then an RCBS JR... and a variety of other presses - single stage, progressive, what have you. But that old Lyman still works. Right handy with the campsite tailgate reloading bench.

I wish 'em well with this. I recall Miss Eve Nenjoy had a pair of Gaucho's that were a mite problematic: for some reason, the base pins would stick. It was almost as if they had swelled - weird! Now, about them transfer bars. When my old pard Hank had a .45 Colt slip out of its holster and land on the hammer, I was so impressed by what it did to his leg that I went right out bought my first forty-five. A Ruger. With transfer bar. They don't bother me one bit; all I have to do is remember visitin' ol' Hank in the hospital and watching him heal up for a couple of years. It took the docs a week to decide that he might not lose that leg.

I once accompanied a certain lady friend on a shoe-shopping "expedition." Seventeen pairs of shoes later, I threw in the towel and vowed to never, ever again give in to such a lapse of judgement.

I pondered for a moment on when I last saw a palm tree... then Doh! Have a half dozen or so around the house! I tend to ignore 'em, but once in a while one will be a nuisance. Sassparilla Kid brought home a machine to help clean up storm damage. One particular palm was in a bad spot - so he went at it with the diesel-powered remote-controlled Green Climber robot with grinder attachment. Less than fifteen minutes from tree to mulch. Fun toy!

Winows 10 has worked well for me. For that reason, I wouldn't touch 11; if I must "upgrade" at some point, I'll wait until 12 is released to correct the 11 shorcomings. If you look at Microsoft's history since Windows 95, typically every second release is junk ~ it's almost as if they unload something miserable on us just so they can later sell us something that'll actually work.

Another hint: I knew a couple of folk who had earlier "brass" Big Boys. In both cases, their ejectors failed. I'm pretty sure this weakness has long since been addressed; however, in the unlikely case it should happen to you, replace it with a Marlin 336 ejector. And enjoy the heck outta that thing!

Gee... welcome to california. We have SB 1383, expected to increase our garbage collection by up to a hundred bucks a month by next year. They're nuts. Just plumb nuts.

I'll use my thumb. OR my own forehead. OR chin. Or cheek. Or any inanimate surface. Whatever works and is handy.

Actually... it's my understanding that this represents more fun than most of us guys are allowed to have. At least in these parts....

Interesting. Evidently the Second Amendment applies to illegal aliens (aka "Newcomers," as per the President): https://bearingarms.com/tomknighton/2024/03/16/prohibiting-guns-for-illegal-immigrants-ruled-unconstitutional-n1224214 Interesting.

There's the old saying, "Don't let the door slam ya in the @$$ on the way out." In his case, I hope it does. Several times. Hard. And a few folk from this side of the border along with him.

Are any of y'all familiar with or even heard of the "Federal Firestick" muzzle-loader ammo system? Time to re-invent the wheel, I reckon, and at the bargain price of only about $2.50 a shot. I think I'll be stickin' with my percussion Hawken and flintlock Ferguson for a while.

"Consumable" gifts can be practical, and the ones I give are always appreciated - case in point, the shotgun shells. The key is something that I like to practice: thoughtful consideration. I tend to put a good deal of thought into gifts, and try to come up with sometimes unique ideas - like looking for something that I'm sure would be a happy surprise, usually something the recipients would not likely have bought for themselves. One thing I absolutely will NOT give is cash or gift certificates. I think that's the lazy way out. Anyone I'm going to give a gift to deserves a bit of thought. I just cringe at the argument "Oh! But that way they can get what they want!" There's a bit of a risk; like with @Pat Riot's buddy, sometimes folk don't realize the value of the gift - not just the intrinsic value, but they may not understand the effort. One example: I once gave a good friend and his new bride a pricey Waterford crystal whisky decanter for a wedding present. He was delighted; she just smiled politely and remarked "nice bottle." And then, back about '89 or so I bought the Former-Missus-Hardpan a just-for-the-heck-of-it gift: a really nice Dooney & Bourke purse. After all, who wouldn't like something with an embossed leather duck and a brass duck fob? She was surprised and really liked it, but she'd never heard of the marque - she was more of a J C Penney type. And Penney's did not carry 'em. A couple of weeks later we went to visit an aunt of mine in a nearby city. When we walked in, Auntie looked at the FMH and burst out "Omigawd, L! You have one of those three hundred and fifty dollar Dooney & Bourke purses with the ducks!" The FMH was shocked; she could've bought ten or more of her usual bags for what I'd paid for that thing. But she suddenly really appreciated it a LOT more! And that's okay. The important thing to me is that I know I got them something cool - even if they don't.

You know of which I speak~!! Something like eighteen years ago, on a trip to SoCal, Sassparilla Kid and I had the opportunity to have dinner with Tom and Shawna. First contact - and DAMN, but my jaws ached by evening's end from the grinning and laughing. Some people truly deserve the title "Salt Of the Earth" - it fit them! And Tom is what Louis L'Amour would've described as "one to ride the river with." Someone recently referred to Forty as "Gunny." I always think of 'im as "Cap'n Gunny." (I'm sure you know the story. My God... I busted out in guffaws and snickers just remembering it!) Please pass the Kid's and my best on to the ol' cowpoke....

Damn. Can't understand why I hadn't seen this thread 'til just now. Well... I've been prayin' for Forty for lots o' years; just ramped 'em up a notch! But he's a tough 'un ~ he'll be back on the circuit before ya know it! And for those of you who have never sat at table and shared a meal with Tom, if ya have the opportunity, do it! You'll walk away with a grin that'll just keep comin' back!