So I'm hearing about this kidnapping in Arizona and I admit that it is a compelling tale. The woman who has been abducted is in her 80s, and that simple fact alone puts this outside the standard bell curve. The locals and the Feds are working the case. From what little I've seen of the local Sheriff, he seems to be straight-arrow.
Hopefully, they will find this lady and bring her home safely.
Newspapers are a relic of a bygone era. In the 20tth century, every town had a newspaper. It's where we got the news, weather, and sports. Classified ads and legal notices. My hometown paper, the Alexandria Daily Town Talk, exists as a pale shadow of its former self. The press is gone; I'm not sure if they print anything at all. At one point, it was being printed in Lafayette, but now I'm not sure at all.
Other newspapers hang on, grimly. The news earlier this week was that the Washington Post was eliminating positions and laying off staff. That seems to be the trend in the newspaper business these days. However, those journalists still have employment opportunities.
That's funny, right there.
There is an old saying about "death and taxes" So far I've cheated death, but once again it is time to deal with the IRS. I despise those sonsofbitches.
Some ignorant twat I've never heard of was talking shit at the Grammys last weekend. Something about illegals and stolen land. Turns out, her house is on stolen land.
I can take the moral high ground here. My land isn't stolen. When this area was first colonized, a guy named Fulton bought a huge chunk of land from the Choctaw. Land north of the river was considered worthless, fit for nothing but pine trees and brambles. Fulton bought it and started selling homesteads. The Choctaw are still around. They own a casino north of here. That same tribe has a small reservation near Jena, LA. When that area went dry, they opened a package liquor store. That pleased the Baptists to no end.
I hit the ground running this morning. Good stuff. Got a lot of stuff done, made progress in a number of projects.
I have our annual state shoot in four months, and it's time to get busy on that. The only problem is that we can't start promoting it until we nail down some details and we simply could not nail then down in January.
The weather was beautiful today, the best we've had in weeks. The weather weenies tell me that we're in for another cold snap. Maybe we are about to turn the corner for spring. I think I saw the scouts for the local purple martin flock yesterday. On the other hand, I have heard that our friends in Florida are having "falling iguana" alerts. So, it's cold in Florida.
Winter ain't over yet. We still have February to live through.
A bunch of guys I went to high school with showed up at the shop on Saturday to renew old friendships.
Food was consumed, cigars were smoked, and they hit the whiskey. My bottle of Stranahan's is now defunct.
I have a bunch oof high school buddies coming over tomorrow, some I haven't seen in 20 years.
This morning, I got a call from a CFDA shooter. He's in town, enroute to a big shoot and wants to see my range. He and his lady will be over this afternoon. He's retired Army, an old cavalry scout. When we get together, no telling what is likely to happen.
I'm prepping a big gumbo for tomorrow, and i intend to violate the Ten Commandments of Gumbo. I am going to add shrimp to chicken and sausage. Bless me Father, for I have sinned.
I will spend this afternoon and tomorrow entertaining. There will be laughter, lies told, and whiskey consumed. I have two very amusing American Single Malt whiskeys for those who choose to consume. There may be cigars, We'll see.
Right now, the chicken is boiling for stock. Belle has gone to the grocer for last minute stuff.
Y'all have a very pleasant weekend.
