Random Smile

So, you ever have one of those moments where something you enjoyed in the past shows up- you weren't thinking about it, you weren't even thinking about anything related to it, it just happens to show up- and it just totally makes your day?

I had that happen yesterday as I drove home because this happened to pop up on my radio.  It made me smile the whole way home despite DFW traffic.

Date Night

The young-ish married couples at our church have long had a "babysitting co-op."  If your church doesn't have one, and you have kids, consider starting one.  It's awesome.  Basically three times a year we end up babysitting all the kids of the other parents in the co-op (about 10 this year, including our own).  In return, we get nights out roughly every other week. 

Did I mention it's awesome?

So, last Friday was the first co-op night of the new year, and my wife and I decided to make it special.  So what did we do?  The most romantic thing in the world.  We sent hot lead at high velocity through paper targets.

Yes.  Our date that night was to go to the gun range (it was my wife's first time shooting a handgun).  Then we went for food, but you don't care about that.  No, you care about my wife's first time firing a handgun.

We used my Springfield XD9 (I've blogged about it here before), and she had fun.  How'd she do?  Well, see for yourself:

 

Those are both pictures she took of her first target.  She was proud enough that she insisted on keeping the paper itself, and then taped it to our wall to take these pictures.

The shots in the 10 and X rings were after she had a better feel for the pistol.  The ones mostly in the 9 ring were her fist several shots.

One major downside to this date, however.  I think I'm going to have to buy her a handgun (the XD is just a little too big for her hands), and one just simply isn't in the budget right now.

First world, second amendment problems.

On Bipartisanship

Every now and again I think it's nice to set aside the politics and bickering.  Occasionally, we all need to come together for the common good, and just try to understand one another.  So, in the spirit of universal brotherhood, I think we can all agree:

I need one of these. 

Heck, I'll be magnanimous and say we all need these.  I've been promised a flying car since I was 9, and that's just that I remember.  I will accept, as a valid substitute, a flying motorcycle.

Side-mounted machine guns completely optional, of course.  Maybe they'll put that in the premium upgrade package.

God Bless Texas

Later this summer, in Lewisville, Texas, a Dallas suburb, the Eagle Gun Range will open.  Eagle Gun range is going to boast several amenities, among them, air conditioning (rare for gun ranges in the area).  They're going to invite boy scouts and girl scouts, corporate get-togethers and (ready for the awesome?) kid's birthday parties.

According to the proprietor, shooting activities for the kiddies will be preceded by a 30 minute instruction and safety period.  Only after the instruction session will the kids be taken to the gun range itself where the rifles- BB guns and .22s- will be waiting.  After all the kids are done shooting, they'll then be taken back to the other room and be served cake and icecream.  I guess that's the kid equivalent of waiting until you've put the guns away to have your beer.

As you can expect, there are supporters and detractors.  Count me among the supporters.  Heck, I'm hoping they'll host a party for 30-somethings. 

You can find the Eagle Gun Range online at http://www.eaglegunrangetx.com/.

Update: Apparently this is old news (per Vic at the Ace of Spades HQ).  Why didn't y'all tell me?