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A year ago a friend showed me a large plastic box he purchased to work on his air rifles. The box had a couple of holders that came up out of the box to rest a rifle on. I asked to copy the pattern of the arms. I had some scrap lumber from an old piece of furniture that I wanted to use to build a gun cleaning and work station.
I measured a few rifles and determined that the station needed to be about 28 inches long. To make it stable and hold what I needed, it was to be about 14 inches wide. That would give me the sides and supports. I would just need to purchase wood for the shorter position, a position that would put the supports 18” apart.
Unfortunately the wood was not flat. All the pieces had a slight crown to them. I determined that I wanted to use screws and of course a good glue. After I put the box together, I sanded the pieces and began to notice the beautiful grain in the wood. I looked at all the screws in the side and wondered if I had done the right thing? Then again, it is a box that supports guns. It is not going in the living room. The screws give it that manly industrial character.
It is also functional. I used it to mount the scope on the Hammerli Pneuma PCP Air Rifle. One of the small screws fell as I was doing the work. It was nice for it to land in the box rather than bounce onto the garage floor. It could have fallen into a great abyss under the workbench to never be found.
When I finish sanding the gun workstation, I will pull the screws out before I put the finish on. They can go back in, perhaps as black or brass colored screws. Hopefully it will take less than the year it took to get this far.
Thanksgiving is a wonderful day. I am thankful for many things. My family is at the top of the list and is very important to me. The opportunity to give to others is also important. We cannot forget our freedom as well. There are many things that we can be gratefully for. There are many things that I have gratitude for and this is a day to give thanks.
So how does one start Thanksgiving Day? Some watch parades, some watch football and others go on a Turkey Hunt. What better way to start the day than hunt a few paper turkey targets.
 Turkey Hunter in action The paper targets did not stand a chance to the younger turkey hunter. With 50 shells the paper turkey targets did not stand a change. Eric shot 90 percent of the shells.
I preferred to practice on my paper turkey with a different firearm, something more classic than a pistol grip shotgun, albeit the shotgun would work better on live turkeys. Nothing like a pretty little Ruger Blackhawk in Colt 45 for a little nostalgia and paper turkeys says Thanksgiving. Thankfully we have the freedom to keep and bear arms. Additionally, I can take my son out and have a little fun. That is also something to be thankful for, even if he did burn through the shotgun shells.
 Why a 45? Because they do not make a 46.
Eric has taken up shaving with a safety razor. He likes the way they shave. He really likes the Merkur Futur. The 1963 Gillette Super Speed was not quite aggressive enough. He will use it if he needs to shave quickly and wants to be assured that he will not get a nick. Knowing that we had a new driver in the house and that there was an 18th birthday, a friend at work came bearing a few gifts for Eric. An Edwin Jagger carbon fiber handled badger hair brush, I Ikon Deluxe Open Comb Razor and a stick of Kells Original shaving soap.
At first, Eric did not what to use the new brush because of it good looks. I explained that the first brush that I gave him was a boar hair brush. That they worked well. However, the boar hair did not have the same smoothness of the badger hair brush. He would then need to decide, Boar or Badger before he started his shave.
A few days later a collection of blades was added. There are more choices for Eric now that he is considered an adult. Personally, I like the Gillette 7 o’clock. We will have to wait and see what his favorite is.
 The look of a concerned driver Today we arrived at the DMV so that Eric could take his behind the wheel drivers test. We began by sitting in line to wait for a driving test administrator. We saw each driving test administrator come out, go to a car in front of us, do the safety test where they check the car out to make sure the brake lights, signals, wipers and other things work.
We still had a couple of vehicles in line in front of us when another test administrator came out. We also noticed a car pull into a parking spot clearly marked, “No Parking – Reserved for the end of the Driving Test.” No sooner did the driver of the car get out and the test administrator was yelling at the person. “No parking. Can’t you read? You cannot park there. It is an automatic failure.” Eric and I looked at each other. The test administrator walked up to the first car which was three cars in front of us. Two cars were with drivers being tested. Would Eric get the man who yelled “Automatic Failure” as his test administrator?
Time passed and we moved up further in line. The next two vehicles in front of us went out with the other two test administrators. The last car came back with Mr. Automatic Failure as the test administrator. We just sat in the car and waited for his return. Eric was showing signs of being nervous.
Mr. Automatic Failure came out and walked to the driver’s side door. Eric shook his hand out the window and said, “How are you today Sir? I got out of the care and walked to the front of the building to wait. I was there just a moment when Eric came to tell me that we had not checked in. Mr. Automatic Failure led us in the building and facilitated us checking in quickly. He was a very nice person and Eric showed great respect. Check in was quick and Eric was out driving for the test administrator. He came back with a smile.
 All Smiles
 Little Rattlesnake Mountain It was a good day for exercise. I asked Eric if he wanted to go and his reply from his bed was no. He wanted to sleep. As for the hike, it was going to be to the top of Little Rattlesnake Mountain. The terrain is fairly steep and there was not a good trail from where I parked. I had to do quite a bit of bushwhacking to get up to the top. I kept my eye out for snakes and never saw one. However, I did get startled once. As I was intently watching the ground, I was buzzed by a small bird. I did not see it coming. I just felt it and heard it as it zipped past my face.
The first cache I grabbed was a puzzle cache named “Nipple.” It is a two year old puzzle that I have been trying to solve and not until recently I was given additional information to help. I knew how to solve the puzzle, I just was using the wrong starting point. The second cache was “Little RSM.” RSM for Rattlesnake Mountain. It was fairly easy to find once on the top. The day was nice with at light breeze. I made the grab and then descended back down the way I came up.
Tonight was the final “Road Show” performance. The Road Show is a 15 minute performance that includes the stage set up of props, doing the production and then taking everything off stage so the next group can get on. It has been a long five weeks preparing the props for the production. We created three 10 foot palm trees, one large tree, and three large rock/bushes. A rock/bush is a rock on one side that then you turn it around to become a bush. Additionally, there were signs, the Jacks Lumber prop and the 8 foot sail boat with a mast and boom.
I told the youth that were in the production that all the props, with the exception of the boat and steel poles to hold up the tops of the trees were to go directly to the large dumpster on the side of the building. The production went well and we grabbed everything and left the stage. The hours and hours that were spent in preparing the props came to an end as they filled the dumpster. We were lucky that we were on stage first because as soon as we were done the dumpster became full. The boat is back in the boathouse. The tools are back in the garage. Life is going to get back to something closer to normal. Sometime next week the props will continue their trip on the road to the nearest landfill. I do not have anything to paint tomorrow. Perhaps I can find something fun to do.
 End of the show I am also proud of Eric, because he was a great help through this production. He was there tonight to help me even with is being his 18th birthday. Props will come and go, but seeing you children making sacrifices to help others make a lasting mark in the world.
The children are growing up. Eric will reach his 18th birthday tomorrow. To celebrate we went to dinner at Famous Dave’s Bar-B-Que. We had a great time and the food was good. We started off with some nachos. Emily and Scott really liked them.
 Disappearing Nachos We also proved to be a thirsty bunch. We all finished our first glass of water and several finished their second glass of water while eating appetizers. The restaurant could not bring us a pitcher of water, so we all received two more glasses of water.
For the most part, the double serving of water disappeared as well.
 The birtday boy acting as cool as a clam After the restaurant, we went home and had cake and opened presents. The evening was a wonderful one.
Sometimes I get tired of these guys. We have delivered four of them to the park in the area because they found their way into the trashcan and could not get out. This one was lucky. Eric and I got a pair of fishing nets. We then moved the board he was behind and netted him. He put up with the photo opportunity and then we let him go and he ran happily down the alley. He probably will be back. If he makes his way into an empty trash can and cannot get out, he will get a free ride to the park.
“Excessive taxation . . . will carry reason and reflection to every man’s door, and particularly in the hour of election” –Thomas Jefferson
I would think that some reason and reflection has been carried to the doors of many as witnessed by the election results. Unfortunately, the reason and reflection did not land as firmly as it should have in the state of Kalifornia.
Hat tip to the From the Wisdom of our Founders blog
 Project Delivered Tonight Eric delivered his last two tables. They are all in place in the lunch area at his school. The school art class chose the color of light blue through a vote. The white table is primer and the art class will be painting it. His project has been signed off and he just needs to do tie up the last few loose ends on his Eagle Scout paperwork and schedule a Board of Review. Good job Eric.
 The old style safety razor meets the new kid on the block Tonight Eric came into our bathroom to shave. He usually shaves in the shower, but has not in a few days. He had is Gillette Mach III in hand and I let him know that was not the proper instrument. I reached for a Muhle Sophist R44SR Classic 3-Piece Safety Razor. The Muhle razor is a wonderful razor using the very finest chrome plating on the market. The handle is made from high-grade resin which is turned from round rods and polished. It is a beautiful razor.
 Muhle R44SR For this shave I put in a Merkur Super blade for Eric. He proceeded to shave his face. His technique was a little difficult as he has never shaven with a safety razor. He was amazed at how close the shave was. He did get one nick on his chin area. I let him know that I had something to stop the bleeding. I got out the styptic pencil, ran it under some water and touched it to his wound. He immediately jumped back. I said, “There you go, it has stopped bleeding.” His response was, “Yea, because you cauterized it.” I guess he was not ready for the burn of fixing a close shave. I always have said, if it cannot cut you, it cannot possibly be giving you a close shave. At lease Eric has now experienced a close shave. Perhaps he will not venture into our bathroom to shave again.
The year was 1977 and our family was putting together some food storage so that we would be prepared for any possible disasters. There were several other families that were doing the same thing. My father put together a large purchase of the white storage buckets. Another person put together a large delivery of wheat. We purchased wheat, macaroni and several other things that were stored in white four and a half gallon buckets. As a kid, I remember lots of white buckets in the garage.
Move the clock ahead 33 years. I am looking for a few 5 gallon buckets for a church project. One of the members donated the three I needed. When I went to pick them up, the memory or all the white buckets and the large pile of wheat came rushing back. One the masking tape attached to the lid of one of the buckets was the year 1977. It has been a long time. I do have to say that I am happy that I am not a teenager any more. Those were difficult times. Then again, perhaps it is time to put up a few white buckets of my own in the garage. There may be difficult times ahead.
Emily was visiting the other day. As I walked her and she opened the car door, I took note of her selection of driving shoes. It appears that there is a pair of driving shoes for most any occasion. Ladies, start you engines and do not forget to choose the right pair of shoes.
 Driving shoes - a pair for most any driving occasion . . .
Eric’s Eagle Project is winding down. It has rained on an off for the past couple of weeks. However, he scheduled a work day today and he had two shifts of painters. Three tables are the blue that the Art class chose and the fourth table is primer white. The art class will paint that table as one of their projects. The tables will be delivered to the school soon.
 Tables are Blue - Can it be True? Once they are delivered and the project is signed off, Eric will be done with his project. After all, there is just a couple of more weeks before he turns 18. Lots of time to spare.
A good friend had four tickets to NASCAR and the boys wanted to go. I had never been to a NASCAR race and Eric said that you need to go at least once in your life. We got to the racetrack early enough to wander around and see the many exhibits. Every driver seemed to have a large retail trailer to sell their shirts, hats, jackets etc.
We then wandered over to the pit area which took a special pass which we had. We asked a few question of a couple of pit crews. Each crew had their pit command center with large TV’s and a satellite dish. The biggest activity in the pits was the gluing of the lug-nuts on to the wheels with some latex weather stripping material that came in a tube. As the put the wheel on, the weather stripping stretches and holds the lug-nuts in place until the air gun tightens them. It was a good place to have a picture taken.
 In front of Jimmie Johnson's pit stop area As a newbie at NASCAR I learned the the cars go round and round the track. Some people were into the race so intently it was intriguing. We had good seats just above the start-finish line. It was also in the shade for the entire rack. It was a good spot for Jacob to rest from the round and round action by just checking out for a while.
We all enjoined the race and made a safe trip back to Riverside
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