I remember sweatpants, also. Maybe that was early misleading reports before we had all the facts?

Maybe that was early misleading reports before we had all the facts?

But that never happens!!

Well, it can't be that Wikipedia is wrong!

I really think part of our problem with guns in this country is that we've aged out of a population where a majority of the males either hunted or spent time in the military learning gun handling, so that firearms have become more of a fantasy weapon rather than a practical tool to be respected.

I don't want to be all anti-game, here, but in actuality the only experience most kids have with or about guns is in video games. Your character handles guns with ease and expertise and you have that familiarity, at least mentally, and I think that contributes a lot to the casual relationship kids and young men have toward guns.

H picked up nearly all of our guns at the on-post Rod & Gun clubs when he was in the army. He's shot mostly at military ranges, or civilian ranges in military towns. But truthfully, he's lost a lot of interest, and even though we live close enough to hear firing from the county sheriff-police-state patrol qualifying range, he hasn't--we haven't--been by there more than a couple of times.

Living rural, we used to go plinking fairly often, but we're no longer rural. Even if we had permission to shoot on someone's property, bullets travel, and it's not safe. I was, probably still am, a decent shot with rifle and handgun, but it's not something I go, "Oh! I should go out to the range today and shoot some." It's loud and noisy and full of strangers, a lot of them full of swagger, and, just, no.

Of course, the *best* times we ever had at a gun range was Black Powder days. Ginormous booms and swirls of smoke and the smell of burnt gunpowder. Grins and mustaches and cowboy hats and fake-swagger. But those don't seem to happen locally. Part of that fun was the ritual of loading--powder, patch, percussion, etc. before going BOOM!

I don't know, it just all seems grim and portentous and not any fun at all, overlaid with paranoia about storage security. I don't think it would bother either of us to give up the guns we still own.

Except the black powder pistols. We'll be keeping those because pretty, and lots of fun memories.

My brother is a libertarian gun nut. We do not see eye to eye on gun laws, to put it mildly.

So I was given the option of pretty much going anywhere or doing anything for the big 65 and I thought about it a bunch and decided to stay home. I ordered yummy food take out for DH to pick up and I am considering movie options to watch in the comfort of my own home. This time of year is such a horror to go out. Long lines everywhere to eat and forget movies without a reservation. This will be so much more relaxing. Now choosing between The Favourite, Annihilation, and Three Identical Strangers, or RBG. Yes, I know, not even remotely similar. DH says I should choose something he would normally roll his eyes at rather than thinking of which he would like best. Awww. I'll go out more after Easter/Passover when all the tourists leave.

Timelies all!

I have a purring cat on my lap. Good way to start the weekend.

BTW and on a completely unrelated subject - my sweatshirt dresses that I ordered off a link on, iirc, msbelle's FB arrived and I got a spontaneous compliment from a fellow shopper at the grocery store the first time I wore one (tossed on over fleece pants to run to the store, even) so I feel like that worked out really well! Possibly too casual wear to work, although my work is pretty casual so I might be able to get away with it on the occasional Friday. Clearly good for running errands and should be outstanding for heading to the gym.

That sounds great, Laura. Enjoy!

Part of me wants to suggest that for the big 65 going out for an Early Bird special would be appropriate but I've been doing that for years with no excuse, so probably that part of me can shut its yap.

Happy Birthday, Laura!