June 30, 2010

  • Guns, Targets And Trips


    TALES FROM THE BRAT FARM

    Today was the day that the Beast decided he was going to re-sight all his gun sights (did you get it?) to bring them in as close as he could.  Sounds like it should be easy but not with the Beast's eyesight.   It's tough to close one eye with his glasses on and try to line everything up.  Then you have to trot down to the target, see where the bullet actually HIT and figure from that what adjustment needs to be made.

    He came home extremely pleased with himself for a change.  He got them all adjusted to his satisfaction and had the targets to prove it!  Like I really cared.  Sheesh.  He now feels confident that he can and will hit any deer that comes into his view this fall.  Like I told him, *We shall see.*

    He also started looking for another gun, ostensibly for ME.    He just gets this weird look on his face and says, *You just never know.....*.  Hell, I do.  I would have to be pretty damn certain that my life was in danger before I could point a gun at someone, let alone think about actually shooting them.  The idea makes me very nauseous. 

    I did have an incident years ago when I had my four kids at home and the Beast was probably in the Bahamas fishing, when there was a prowler around my house.  At the time, I owned a nice Baretta .38 but had only used it for target practice and even then for a lark.  It was the very first time I considered shooting someone if they came into my home.  I was very angry, upset and more than a little scared.  Scared enough that it kept my adrenaline flowing and I sat up all night long.  I didn't relax or go to sleep until the sun was fully up in the sky.  But that was the first time I had to consider what I would do if someone actually DID break into my house.

    You have to understand that we had already been burglarized twice and the Beast had finally put a security system into the house.  It's not that we had a lot but we had lost some expensive jewelry and some not so expensive but with sentimental value.  What had upset me most was the vandalism and the feeling of being violated.  It was almost like being raped, it was THAT unsettling.  When you can't feel safe in your own home, where do you go? 

    The prowler wasn't a one time around thing.  I had called the police since I had a friend on the force who was also a neighbor.  He sent over a car and they checked all the bushes and hiding type places and didn't find anyone although they did find a couple beer bottles in one of the thicker bushes that had an opening under the branches and made a kind of cave.  My kids used to play hide-and-seek with cousins and fight over who would use it.  One of the girls usually won....LOL

    It wasn't even a half hour later that I caught sight of someone sneaking around out back once again.  They had been able to hide from the cops and were back.  It was another feeling of vulnerability and also a kind of rage that took over so I got my gun out, loaded it and put it on the coffee table, in full view of anyone peeking inside.  All I had to do was lean forward and grab it.  I kept rolling over the possible scenarios in my mind and made a decision that I would protect my family and myself AT ANY COST.  If someone had the balls to try to enter my home without my permission, I WOULD shoot.  I would also do exactly what my friend, the cop, told me to do.  Just go for the center of the body...chest area or below.  Nothing fancy.  Think of it as a target and pull the trigger.

    His reasoning was this....if they knew you were home and came in, the outcome would doubtlessly be lethal.  It takes a special kind of criminal to do that.  If robbery were all they had in mind, they would wait for an empty house.  With much life experience behind me now, I know what he said was true.  Pity the person that tries it now.  I'm a lot more peaceful on that point than I was when I was younger.

    The Beast is all packed now and ready for his trip.  He will have his breakfast in the morning and we will get all his stuff in the trunk, along with the chicken that was cooked the other day for the dog.  That will go into the small cooler. 

    I swear Baron knows there is a trip in store.  I think the Beast's bags he uses is a signal he recognizes.  He isn't letting the Beast out of his sight.  Even when he has to go out to pee or poop, he almost literally runs down into the yard, hurriedly picks a spot and tries to get it over with quickly before he runs back up to the door to be let inside.  You can almost hear his sigh of relief that the Beast is still there when he plops down beside him. 

    I don't have to pick up Chewlee tomorrow because it's the Princess's day off and I am considering running through the house, naked, with scissors.    It's what Bratfink is always telling me I should do while I have the chance.  Heck, I don't even want to see myself naked!   

    When I took Chewlee to preschool this morning, the kids were all on the playground (which is HUGE).  One of the teachers told me they always start off the day with letting the kids run around and blow off some of their energy before they start the day.  I think that is a great idea and has to make their day a lot easier when the kids are not so full of energy and antsy.  They DO have separated areas of play for the smaller kids so they don't get knocked down by the older ones.  With the way they were throwing balls and running around, I could see accidents happening if they didn't. 

    It sounds like we are going to get a nice thunderstorm here so I will get this posted now while I can.  Otherwise I may lose my satellite connection.  Love you all and I wish you clear skies and a wonderful day.  Drive carefully and remember to smile.