You just couldn't make this up - California Democrat firearms hypocracy

California state senator Leland Yee recently went after California gun owners with the apparent goal of turning the ownership of semi automatic long arms into a felony. He attempted to do this by  passing laws that declared common features on these as illegal.  Surprisingly Governor Brown saw how absurdly the law was crafted and vetoed it. Yee stated that he was going to keep submitting the law to the Governor until it was signed.

This week Yee was busted by the FBI for various nefarious crimes including...wait for it...trafficking in guns with international criminal gangs!   So, did he try to pass his crushing anti firearms law to limit the competition in gun sales?

The state Democrats who are now up to three legislative members on suspension for criminal activities are just shocked.  As if they had no idea.  And if the leadership didn't, then what kind of operation are they running?

Maybe, just maybe, the people of California will wise up and vote out enough democrats to put some balance into the completely democrat dominated state government.

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/california-state-sen-leland-yee-indicted-weapons-charges/story?id=23082339

The Second Amendment - a Thoughtful View

The Huffington Post, frequently a hotbed of in your face leftism, has taken a different direction with the linked article below regarding the second amendment.  Note that I didn't accuse the HP of in your face 'liberalism'.  Liberalism is not in itself a bad thing and in decades past being a 'liberal' meant that a person was a broad thinker open to progress and the embracing of new ideas.  leftism however is a cover for compulsory socialism and on its far fringes collectivism and anarchy.

Anyway, the HP posted a thoughtful article about the second amendment and its importance for moderating the behavior of our government on all levels.  As is written in the article  "...And then there are those who view the government as neither good nor evil, but merely a powerful entity that, as Thomas Jefferson recognized, must be bound "down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution." To this group, the right to bear arms is no different from any other right enshrined in the Constitution, to be safeguarded, exercised prudently and maintained."

Read the entire article here:http://www.huffingtonpost.com/john-w-whitehead/the-second-amendment-a-sy_b_4980918.html?ncid=txtlnkusaolp00000592

The right to keep and bear arms may seem to some to be something that belongs in the past but let me say that a right forfeited will never, never be secured again.  This right is simply too valuable and too significant a symbol of the special place that the individual holds in this nation to relinquish.

Read the article and then think of those who fight mightily to remove the right to keep and bear arms from the citizenry.  If this right is forfeit then what will be next?

An armed man is never a slave.

 

The Missus' new kitchen part drei

 

Here we are into week three - or is it week four of the grand kitchen remodel.  It is now starting to look like a kitchen.  The cabinets and counters are positioned and the tile is being set in place.  The Missus and the Artiste had a summit meeting recently about the liberties that the Artiste is taking with the Missus' plans and desires for the grand kitchen, the Missus didn't get everything set back to where she wanted it to be but she did get some small victories.  Such is how it goes when remodeling is happening.

 

 

The tulips are a nice touch!

 

There was much anxiety whether the sink would fit or not where it was planned to be.  It fit after the Missus got tough.

 

Nice tile work on the counter!  It is limestone with tiny fossilized sea shells imbedded in the tiles.

Mr. and Mrs. Grouch visit Older Son in D.C. Part III

We visited D.C. and Older Son at his place of employ the day after the big snow storm that shut down the city.  Traffic was still somewhat snarled and it was cold!  The Missus finally got to wear her new winter coat in the environment that it was intended for.  We didn't see too many sights but it was interesting to note that tourists were still seeing the town even with the snow, the ice, the cold, and the city closing due to random snow and ice storms.  Touring is not for sissies!

 

 

We didn't have much time at all to see the usual spots in town.  Maybe we will pass through the area again this summer on our visit to our families in PA and NC.  Young Son will be working as an intern in D.C in the summer - a perfect reason to come again!

 

 

The Missus checks out the reflecting pool and the Washington monument.

 

The Washington monument repairs are about done!

 

Robert E. Lee's home and the national cemetery in Arlington VA. 

Mr and Mrs Grouch visit Older Son in DC - part II

By mid day Sunday the government operations in D.C. were announced as closed due to the impending snow and ice storm headed our way.  It was a bit ironic because it was our rainstorm from California that followed us all the way across the country to the east coast!  Too bad we were able to be followed so easily.  We had hoped to do some sight-seeing in D.C. on Monday but that wasn't going to work well with all of the roads closed so we decided to shelter in place and see how the Old Dominion handled a heavy snow.

 

Sunday evening it was raining and overcast but not cold enough to snow.  It seemed like it was going to be a bust.  Monday morning early I was woken from my sleep by the characteristic sounds of a snow plow scraping by on the road outside the window.  Oh boy, it snowed after all!   I don't know why the Missus and I were so excited about it snowing but it was fun.  Because of the snow everything in the area closed down.  We all tried to see a movie that afternoon but the theaters were closed.  Walmart however was open and we bought snacks and I checked out their ammunition supply which was in a much more bountiful state than the WMs in Southern California.

 

We offered to buy dinner so we got pizzas for four to go from a nearby pizzeria, came back to Young Son's place and watched 'Captain Phillips'.  A good movie. 

 



 

Older  Son's backyard covered in snow

 

 

The Missus and I went for a walk in the snow.  It was icy under the snow but we managed not to slip and fall.  The Missus finally got to try her new parka in the correct weather conditions!

Stay tuned for part III

Dutch Liberation Day and Il Silenzio

I received this in an email.  It is worth watching...The Dutch suffered so grievously in the war and remember all of the nations that help liberate them from the Nazis.  We visited the Netherlands when we were stationed in West Germany in the late 70s.  They were a very friendly and cheerful group of people who spoke excellent English!  We asked one man why the Dutch spoke English so perfectly; his reply was that they had to, no one else spoke Dutch!

About six miles from Maastricht, in the Netherlands, lie buried 8,301 American soldiers who died in "Operation Market Garden" in the battles to liberate Holland in the fall and winter of 1944-5.  Every one of the men buried in the cemetery, as well as those in the Canadian and British military cemeteries, has been adopted by a Dutch family who mind the grave, decorate it, and keep alive the memory of the soldier they have adopted.  It is even the custom to keep a portrait of "their" American soldier in a place of honour in their home.    Annually, on "Liberation Day," memorial services are held for "the men who died to liberate Holland." The day concludes with a concert.  The final piece is always "Il Silenzio," a memorial piece commissioned by the Dutch and first played in 1965 on the 20th anniversary of Holland's liberation. It has been the concluding piece of the memorial concert ever since.

 

 

 

 

This year (2008) the soloist was a 13-year-old Dutch girl, Melissa Venema, backed by André Rieu and his orchestra (the Royal Orchestra of the Netherlands). This beautiful concert piece is based upon the original version of taps and was composed by Italian composer Nino Rossi.  (Actually the piece is based on an Italian cavalry call very similar to 'Taps'.  Either way it is very beautiful).

 

Mr and Mrs Grouch visit Older Son in DC - part I

 

 

The Missus and I were invited to visit Older Son and his Lady Friend at their home outside of Washington D.C. this past weekend.  The weather at Grouch Estates was wild, wet, and windy when we left on Saturday.  We were in the middle of about the only rain that we have experienced all season and it seemed to be all coming at once. 

 

We fought our way through the rain to the airport, on to the plane and six hours or so later we arrived at Dulles airport to be met by Older Son and his special friend.  We were warned that the weather was going to turn to rain and then snow. Yikes!  We decided we better do some sightseeing as soon as possible.

 

Sunday after church we headed off to nearby Alexandria Va. for sightseeing in what turned out to be a somewhat soggy afternoon but we had fun anyway!

 

 

 

Mr. and Mrs. Grouch were ready for the rain and the cold.  After all we were born in a place that has weather like this all the time!

 

An interesting colonial era building that of course houses a Starbucks shop.  There is probably a Starbucks already on the moon.  Note that the building was owned by John Fitzgerald.  Any connection to JFK I wonder?



 

John Fitzgerald's pride and joy, now a Starbucks.  From the street it looks like the building is leaning towards the waterfront behind it.  I guess after a couple hundred years a bit of leaning is allowed.

 

The Missus outside of the building known as the Torpedo Factory that in fact used to be a torpedo factory!  Now it is a three level haven for artists and their studios.  There is some great art going on in there.  The markings behind the Missus seem to indicate that the street is higher than it used to be and that flooding is certainly possible.

Here's proof that torpedoes used to be built here.

 

The Missus being good and posing where I asked her to.

Another historical site

 

A fountain from a cannon!  Not your usual historical sight.

 

 

He gave his all for his honor

 

The Missus was done in by the trip.  More to follow!