Attempting To Keep Up With Posting

So, I have not really kept up with posting like I would like to have.  It always seems like something comes up in my life that keeps me from being able to keep up with a routine of keep regular content flowing to my blog.  It is sad because I was actually starting to get some regular readers.  Sad thing most of those readers are gone now as it stands.  Life has slowed down a little right now.  I am not working 14 to 16 hour days anymore trying to make money.  I do not think I ever posted about that.  I was literally working 6 days a week and putting in 14 to 16 hours per day trying to make money.  I only had Sunday off.  They even asked me to work Sunday.  So when you read my posts about balance in your life I know a little about it from experience.

I am going to be more diligent with my posting.  I am going to commit to trying to post at least one time per week.  I would love to post more often but I am not going to count my chickens before they are hatched.

As always I look forward to comments!

Wadoni

Old Memories

Today I went to my childhood home.  Well at least from the time I was five till I was half way into my seven grade year.  It was nice to see it, and it was a sad experience to see how much it has changed.  I remember the years I was there how hard my parents worked to make it is a beautiful and welcoming place.  The roads were in poor condition and the old walk bridge over the creek was twisted and buckled in several locations.  The lake no longer was kept and clear around the perimeter.  The homes that were there were looking old and neglected.  The old wooden barn that I had spent so much time with my father was laying in a heap of twisted and rotting timbers.  The older stone house had lost it's roof but the stone silo stood in pride, surrounded by new trees and vines trying to hide it's presence to the world.  How I miss the animals, the long walks in the woods, and sitting in a boat lazily floating with my pole in the waters waiting for a fish to bite.  It was nice to take a stroll down memory lane and show my wife where I grew up and the place I so loved.    

Missouri Is Trying to Pass a Lifetime Concealed Carry Permit

I just heard on the news that Missouri is trying to pass a lifetime concealed carry permit. I am pretty excited about this because I have always felt that once you pass the requirements you should not have to keep renewing your permit. I welcomed the change from three years to five years for renewal. I feel that this is the next logical step. I think what has impacted this is finally some fear and stigma of people carrying firearms around is starting to diminish. This is just my opinion and I am sure that some people will be more than willing to point out flaws in my logic. I feel this way though because I have noticed that where there used to be signs stating no concealed weapons allowed have disappeared. I also think as the times have changed and what is unfortunately happening in our great country that it is becoming more and more apparent that law abiding citizens need to have a means to defend themselves always. We as citizens in the United States no longer can automatically assume we are safe no matter where we are at. So I personally believe that this is playing a role in it as well. I would like to see a law passed like Texas where we can open carry no matter where we are at. I would most likely still conceal my firearm but I am not opposed to going places and seeing everyone wearing a firearm.

As I hear more I will post it.

To Become a Millionaire....

So I know we all have these lofty ideals....who does not, right? I know I did....note I said did. When I was in high school that was all I thought about. I was going to have an amazing home with everything that a teenage boy's heart could dream of at the time. I had envisioned I would have this home by the time I was 25....did I mention a garage full of high end cars both new and classics. With a small handful of motorcycles for good measure. Yes, you can say the least I was a dreamer and the fact of the matter I still have dreams but I am more of a realist now. Would I like to be a millionaire still....sure, I think you would find very few people that would say no to that. I however have learned that the path to happiness is not in what you own...it is your mindset.

I have met several people in my life that had large amounts of money. I am not sure if they were at millionaire status but they lived very comfortably and had many a nice thing. However, I noticed a trait that most of them had. They were not happy and for the most part miserable. It appeared that no matter how successful, how nice of things they owned, or how prestigious they became they still had a nagging emptiness inside of themselves. We can speculate all sorts of reasons why they would have this. Some could say they felt lonely because most people only wanted to be friends with them for what they had or could give. It could be chalked up to the old saying that goes something like “money doesn't buy happiness”. I personally feel in the end they were not healthy in their life. No, I do not mean physical health but in emotional and mental health. Sure, they may have physical ailments but I believe these ailments they had manifested themselves from mental and emotional distress over a period of time.

I am sure you wondering what led me to this conclusion, well simply put just sitting down and talking to them over a period of time has led me to believe this. In my life I have the fortunate pleasure of meeting people from all walks of life. From the homeless to people who live rather comfortably to unverified millionaire status. I can say that the people who had the least, but were not struggling to put food on the table often were the most healthy individuals I have met in my life. They appeared to be more stable in day to day life and often were in much better spirits and emotional health.

So is becoming a millionaire healthy? Well I think it all depends on your frame of mind. Will you allow the money to dictate who you are and let it corrupt you? Or will you count your blessings and give thanks to God and live your life as you did prior to your new found wealth? I think that is the key.

In the end I feel it is better for all of us to be rich in love and understanding of each other. Show kindness to people you do not even know. Hold a door open for someone, say hi and smile to another at the store, and practice the Golden Rule. In the end is it not better to be happy and emotionally healthy? I will chose happiness and emotional healthy every time. Also you just might notice things go better for you in your life when you realize this.

Maze Runner the Scorch Trials

So went to see this last night.  I was a little disappointed.  I have not read the books so I am not able to speak to that.  The movie had a few predictable twists.  Some jump scares that did make the audiance startle.  It however to me had a whole Walking Dead theme going on as well.  I will say I was intrigued to know more about the world and what happened.  So yes I will see subsequent movies just to see what happens.  I will most likely eventually read the books. 

Why I love my P2000 SK

I purchased my P2000 SK for one purpose, self defense.  At the time prior to that I was carrying my Springfield XD.  I was having difficulty carrying my Springfield in summer.  I did not want to wear a cover shirt like I have seen so many other people do.  To me it "flagged" me for carrying a concealed firearm.  I decided I needed something that I could carry that was slimmer than my XD but still had a reasonable size.  I personally like to have a full hand grip on a firearm.  I know some people do not mind if their pinky finger is hanging off the grip.  I wanted something that was going to be reliable and of solid build quality.  I also wanted to stay with my 40 S&W cartridge.  I have always been a fan of the cartridge.  It does have a snappy recoil, but when I have looked at videos of me firing my pistol, it is not as pronounced as I have perceived it to be while in the moment of shooting.  I had found myself falling into one of the cardinal sins of concealed carry.  I had stopped carrying my Springfield XD just because I got tired of trying to find a way to conceal it.  So on the hot days if I was not carrying my camera bag I did not have my firearm.  I initially started carrying concealed because I had received a death threat stemming from work I perform.  I went out bought my XD and enrolled in concealed carry class.  As the seasons changed I soon discovered the above issue about concealing my firearm.  After many trips to gun stores and searches on the Internet I decided on my H&K.  I have been very happy with it ever since.  Here are my criteria I was looking to meet.

1.  Needed a minimum of 8 rounds. 

2. Needed to fit all my fingers on the grip. 

3. Needed to be reliable. 

4. Needed to a have a very durable finish.  

5. Easy maintenance.

6. Easy to shoot.      

7. Solid build quality.

8. Needed to have a solid review history.  

9. Easy to operate.  

10. Must be accurate.  

The numbers above were in no order of importance.  It was just in short what I was looking for in a firearm.  The P2000 SK met and exceeded many of those requirements above.  I will admit I was frustrated with a few things when I first started shooting the firearm.  I was aware of one being the L.E.M. trigger mine came with.  I had read that many users struggled with this trigger system in the beginning.  I can say I struggled with the trigger for about 500 rounds.  It was not until I got used to the trigger that my accuracy improved.  My P2000 SK does not have a traditional decocker arrangement that many H&Ks have.  Mine has basically a very long trigger pull, then it meets final resistance till the hammer falls.  It is almost like it has two stages.  The long slack pull and then the final part till it fires.  I had to buy snap caps and practice dry fire drills to finally truly adjust to the trigger and learn how I was pulling my shots of center.  I kept shooting low 7 O'Clock on target with the P2000 SK because of my trigger pull.  Now that I understand the trigger pull I can shoot very well.  I can stack shots on paper now with the P2000 SK.  I am very happy with the trigger now.

I struggled with the magazine catch at times.  I have read some people changed theirs to a different style.  I have kept mine the same.  I just have to squeeze the magazine release with my pointer and thumb.  I understand why H&K designed it this way.  It was set up to minimize the risk of accidental magazine release.  It works well for that for I have never accidentally dropped my magazine.  

The P2000 SK holds 9+1, is very easy to clean, very easy to disassemble, easy to shoot, has never jammed one time since I have owned it, solid reviews, and is definitely much more accurate than me.  I also think with the dual recoil spring and buffer system it may be softer shooting than my Springfield even though is is smaller in size.   

I am still working on monitoring the finish wear of my P2000 SK.  It truly has shown very minimal wear.  I will post pictures in the next few weeks on this.  So stay tuned.  

Here is a photo of the P2000 SK broke down.  Very easy and quick to clean.  I have zero issues with rust either on the lettering and engraving.  I have read that some individuals have had issues with that.  I have also not changed my trigger pull because I have read that some people have had functioning issues after they have attempted to lighten their L.E.M. trigger pull.  It should also be noted that H&K make some of the best magazines.  The quality of the magazines this pistol has is amazing to me.  The only issue, they come with of hefty price.  

 I am currently using Hornady Critical Defense ammunition.  It is expensive but well worth the price if your life should ever count on it.  

I was previously carrying Winchester Silvertip ammunition.  This ammo was highly recommended by my instructor.  He showed me during class the tests they had conducted and it out performed Golden Saber and Hydra Shok.  For the performance to price it is a good alternative, plus you get fifty rounds compared to 20.  

The Mystique of the 1911

I used to scoff and hate a 1911.  I blindly threw disdain and hate towards that antiquated piece of outdated firearms technology.  I would hold my new age polymer framed firearms with their fancy high capacity magazines and sneer as my friend would shoot his 1911.  I would snicker as he missed the target he was shooting at.  I remember shooting his gun and thought, this gun is heavy, the trigger is like pulling a trampoline spring.  I do not know how to describe the feeling of firing his gun.  I remember shooting my Springfield XD versus his gun.  The Springfield was a dream to shoot.  I remember when he shot my firearm and he was hitting the target each time.  I remember seeing the smile on his face.  His response just fortified my mind that the 1911 should be relegated to a time long since passed.  I however did not look at the fact that his firearm was a very cheaply made version of the 1911 from some foreign company.  It very easily rusted and I remember I was asked to refinish the firearm for him.  I remember taking it apart and seeing the very roughly fitted pieces and noticed that the trigger actually was completely broke in half on one side.  It was actually a wonder this firearm still shot and functioned.  It was several years later that I shot a Colt 1911.  It was an old target model probably from the 70's.  When I shot this gun I was in awe.  The firearm had a totally different feel.  It had no slide slop.  It made a sound of utter music to my ears as I cocked it.  The trigger pull was crisp and predictable and I was shooting amazing groups.  I was shocked at how "right" this firearm felt in my hand.  It ran smooth, recoil was smooth as butter, and I could hit the target consistently shot after shot.  I did not want to stop shooting this gun!  I am a convert.  I love the 1911 so much I bought my own finally.  I am now the proud owner of a Kimber Grand Raptor II.  This firearm is a master piece of function and beauty in my eye.  I almost hate to shoot this gorgeous firearm but it is such a shooting pleasure.  I can  hit targets consistently at 50 yards with no problem.  So I am a convert, I love 1911's now.  I am happy to see so many offerings out there for them by other companies and I will be happy to add many more one day to a collection I hope to have.  Will a 1911 replace my daily carry gun?  I am very fond still of my H&K.  I can stack shots with it at 25 yards on good days.  Most of the time I struggle to do that.  However with the Kimber I can pull out out of box and always have a good day with it no matter the distance.  I am not sure but to me there is a mystique about a 1911.  I understand that now.  If you have not shot a true quality 1911 do not judge it by that cheap imitation till you have shot a quality one.