tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-201471262024-03-07T02:17:22.277-06:00Lagniappe's LairLagniappe is gone now, but his memory lives on.Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.comBlogger3854125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-42875545682485059782022-08-18T18:05:00.004-05:002022-08-18T18:05:49.159-05:00Getting prepped<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> Getting ready. One event for sure, but maybe two. <p></p><p>It’s possible that we’re gonna get another hurricane here in New Orleans. So like anyone with any awareness, I’m getting equipment overhauled and groceries stocked in. This nice old dual-fuel lantern is part of the kit. I picked it up years ago in broken state from some garage sale or flea market and never did anything with it. It got packed away and forgotten about in my attic where it sat for years until I recently rediscovered it and ordered the missing parts for it. And here it is, lighting in the first try after probably a decade or more in pieces. Gotta love these Coleman products. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X4lLwepDoo58P5VRsrole_7NvDzNhVBPjpcz-vPEPJRnjkPiZmFdX-a3qyibtDvP6Wr8CWqY27F94rQ7xAzTUoPtRwgwvVvBRbPQ23yoZXurq16ErmD6b-tWo7c3r3uSl0zJhsMDScz98980dpeN9NsFjHpEPW2-xG4etoUeBVPiU3XJrw/s3616/359226DF-C35C-45CA-AA68-8F41E0A5F978.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3616" data-original-width="2312" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9X4lLwepDoo58P5VRsrole_7NvDzNhVBPjpcz-vPEPJRnjkPiZmFdX-a3qyibtDvP6Wr8CWqY27F94rQ7xAzTUoPtRwgwvVvBRbPQ23yoZXurq16ErmD6b-tWo7c3r3uSl0zJhsMDScz98980dpeN9NsFjHpEPW2-xG4etoUeBVPiU3XJrw/s320/359226DF-C35C-45CA-AA68-8F41E0A5F978.jpeg" width="205" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I used to collect these whenever I found one for sale cheap, figuring they’d be handy in power-out emergencies. I’ve used them a lot both back in West Virginia and here in New Orleans when the weather has put the regular lights off, and being a pack rat, I’d amassed over a dozen of them over time. When Hurricane Ida came last year, I offered them to neighbors who had no alternative light sources but probably not surprisingly, the kind of people who live in hurricane-prone areas without back-up gear tend to not want to learn how to operate devices like white gas lanterns, and I was able to loan out exactly none of them. <div>I’ve just gone through them all and I only need two in my house; one for the bedroom and one for the living room/kitchen. So I prepped three, giving me a spare, just in case. The rest are getting packed for the other event, which is actually a certainty. In roughly six weeks, Merida and I will begin to move our stuff out west and set up our new homestead out at the mines. And it’s there that these lanterns will all find a use, cleaned and overhauled and placed at various locations underground. For my mines out there didn’t have electric lights back in the day and they sure don’t have any now. The nearest active power line is miles away. So these old lanterns, many long-ignored, will now find new utility lighting up areas of my mine workings. I’m kinda glad now that none of my non-prepping neighbors wanted any of them last year. </div><div><br /></div><div><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A3KcNmyXMIOHs3DZAhi3P5wBenfgIz1wqhMdo6QXtm7oj0rf_FBnpfb3ZgZ37QqndEi2Pv8RBdTslZK1wha1Ah21bxc129GG7xYoCJFaUlhprJ_tUg33z9wxGqS1mSZydqD99CWGMiiwzqP39LI7X2pa4aUtZxQfWobRNUtPxpUONPWVYw/s2048/CD1D19C5-4A59-48A7-9EA7-95FA17B5AD27.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0A3KcNmyXMIOHs3DZAhi3P5wBenfgIz1wqhMdo6QXtm7oj0rf_FBnpfb3ZgZ37QqndEi2Pv8RBdTslZK1wha1Ah21bxc129GG7xYoCJFaUlhprJ_tUg33z9wxGqS1mSZydqD99CWGMiiwzqP39LI7X2pa4aUtZxQfWobRNUtPxpUONPWVYw/s320/CD1D19C5-4A59-48A7-9EA7-95FA17B5AD27.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qoe4UZcrwSBTQbsWQRTG1gjWGZhxec57-hNzzYvcIXpYHtOZlkTm1I42oYY3dz-q6LIKioIYXABQa-JmaOHJHbSj-wT2D03S4dINgdsuLK3tetX_RVLHlrtD8dn0_P_ILz2VL7YABnxnvzzYw9k4nKSTsRLAfEfcUKKxWkwn3sj2AaTK4g/s2048/55979C3F-6927-4BDA-8CD1-EAAC59092123.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qoe4UZcrwSBTQbsWQRTG1gjWGZhxec57-hNzzYvcIXpYHtOZlkTm1I42oYY3dz-q6LIKioIYXABQa-JmaOHJHbSj-wT2D03S4dINgdsuLK3tetX_RVLHlrtD8dn0_P_ILz2VL7YABnxnvzzYw9k4nKSTsRLAfEfcUKKxWkwn3sj2AaTK4g/s320/55979C3F-6927-4BDA-8CD1-EAAC59092123.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUS7m_5XRU0mYoH3oOBWSl7SReB1SRr2i_7RfjYpDnoTsBJzhPJYHDBdt6hQytbsScP3raEzTftH-g6i_5mJEaUbE6SfLjO8PmrrBMHUoxwmphz7mHY8pMh0vYI13MhcXym7IyKG8Hg1e6Dn8soQOrd-jGNc0DVZt6tTrpfz6UwYAUhgIAw/s2048/C02CC488-1955-482E-9CCF-D3F6066D196A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrUS7m_5XRU0mYoH3oOBWSl7SReB1SRr2i_7RfjYpDnoTsBJzhPJYHDBdt6hQytbsScP3raEzTftH-g6i_5mJEaUbE6SfLjO8PmrrBMHUoxwmphz7mHY8pMh0vYI13MhcXym7IyKG8Hg1e6Dn8soQOrd-jGNc0DVZt6tTrpfz6UwYAUhgIAw/s320/C02CC488-1955-482E-9CCF-D3F6066D196A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW4TcixPnTM8X9xsekgjsHFfY4OhLrl_D3z20ElePlad9veJsWdI6tU1ip3iDc9cphdZrQNPJsuJ76WvC6onB1STD6FPX6GQi-8f9ruF8Ud50KADVGAGKDzHesPWV1gdc0puB2ni5mymHi2Q1NP3i6JJ8zbvZA52QRfmCvZcH6Us-IfqcPw/s2048/E1F16012-23DF-4F8F-9B59-ACAB51E2D9A8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW4TcixPnTM8X9xsekgjsHFfY4OhLrl_D3z20ElePlad9veJsWdI6tU1ip3iDc9cphdZrQNPJsuJ76WvC6onB1STD6FPX6GQi-8f9ruF8Ud50KADVGAGKDzHesPWV1gdc0puB2ni5mymHi2Q1NP3i6JJ8zbvZA52QRfmCvZcH6Us-IfqcPw/s320/E1F16012-23DF-4F8F-9B59-ACAB51E2D9A8.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg1ciUK7o0igpYzT8oe1bj9gYiX6-tc8B-ZQcEBfnTCpiG6AANjM0WBooSN8_a1xF315Z1DJJKcA0veNt8UCFCd8-Fe4D-wltIMfNcwB5AbdTdG9BbV1K-Q63z3Ke-zN9_UvDOblzUsVz6Q_8Cg5_B6fTRwGNKy-opCaigr8fbgiqvjur3g/s2048/691C0EAB-E321-43B5-A227-903A12E3C474.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTg1ciUK7o0igpYzT8oe1bj9gYiX6-tc8B-ZQcEBfnTCpiG6AANjM0WBooSN8_a1xF315Z1DJJKcA0veNt8UCFCd8-Fe4D-wltIMfNcwB5AbdTdG9BbV1K-Q63z3Ke-zN9_UvDOblzUsVz6Q_8Cg5_B6fTRwGNKy-opCaigr8fbgiqvjur3g/s320/691C0EAB-E321-43B5-A227-903A12E3C474.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-81953862687446804592022-06-18T10:28:00.001-05:002022-06-18T10:28:16.724-05:00Boneyard!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Flying into Tucson this morning passing over the AMARC storage facility at Davis-Monthan makes for a nostalgic view. If I could have just one…or twelve!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEXLlIpKkHWdT8ympVQdPm-kkTN0eMed-7uqeXIXdQagdYU-GNr19-N66UGJh5GNY_2R_o35dPoJRzHrEtRElRCth5i4oRhyHBBZmv2_eJNmD5u34vf3Q1eIGJj7KJ4hc9ZSyd0CMFy2uYd1cyv-LHWj3gz5FrGaOcEC3OsWq8DxlTq3XwQ/s4032/17B9E851-CF2C-44FC-9446-681518196232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGEXLlIpKkHWdT8ympVQdPm-kkTN0eMed-7uqeXIXdQagdYU-GNr19-N66UGJh5GNY_2R_o35dPoJRzHrEtRElRCth5i4oRhyHBBZmv2_eJNmD5u34vf3Q1eIGJj7KJ4hc9ZSyd0CMFy2uYd1cyv-LHWj3gz5FrGaOcEC3OsWq8DxlTq3XwQ/s320/17B9E851-CF2C-44FC-9446-681518196232.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-9cFdoykuaomWeoJOQ7PXDt4JsqhYhEubyFO3hTgIGZDGLrZdjntjFbYXfFSB4i5C2R4KFHQvYR4uFr1MhYmh5Xj72V5dIEA9KXuklph-dzTE432_tP8b554m6VvQqacu0ddY0oqSdY_xj7mIuFsG-qVFY6ymm9JDc7SAzIvyUCjscSoXw/s4032/B16B0FB1-3148-4A67-8EB6-6511CB8D4D59.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK-9cFdoykuaomWeoJOQ7PXDt4JsqhYhEubyFO3hTgIGZDGLrZdjntjFbYXfFSB4i5C2R4KFHQvYR4uFr1MhYmh5Xj72V5dIEA9KXuklph-dzTE432_tP8b554m6VvQqacu0ddY0oqSdY_xj7mIuFsG-qVFY6ymm9JDc7SAzIvyUCjscSoXw/s320/B16B0FB1-3148-4A67-8EB6-6511CB8D4D59.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-29930865425055012662022-06-16T21:45:00.002-05:002022-06-16T21:45:50.634-05:00Still trying me<p> So walking Merida this morning and we reach a disagreement as to which way to go. I want to turn left and go home but she wants to go right. I told her no as I turned left and tried to lead her but she came to a stop and ducked her head and the collar slipped off over her head. </p><p>Free dog. </p><p>Murphy would have taken this as a sign that he was destined to be somewhere else. A chase would have ensued. But what does Merida do?</p><p>She plunks right down on the sidewalk and waits for me to put It back on her, which I do, praising her. Then she gets up and I try to pull her home and she stops and digs in and pops her collar again. Then she plops right back down and waits for me to reattach it again. </p><p>She wants to go right but I’d already told her no. That matters to her. She won’t go without me but that doesn’t mean she’s going go give in without “asking” again. </p><p>And she did it to me a third time too, once more going to ground as soon as she was untethered. Not running off, but not going home, either. But after I hooked her back up for the third time and got sharp with her, she finally fell into line and hopped on home next to me. </p><p>Weird little dog. I think I’ll keep her. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVv1bWNf4pAw0V0Cp3GTUphadrFWX9t02xrWSO3OoaoUwNcfVnguYHhvC1Me2XHMIYqnNooG-Ab-M1bWPaKZ22WziUDg369vQsIWhwB2gFsoxoQuM1LbpYwh9rGnpgqUa_rSmXiDIuqKRRsQYQ2ZySa1WZYhBU-B29YGJ2bSiAPU_qlQHZQ/s3033/24CF1573-88DD-4265-911F-5534CEA06F9E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3033" data-original-width="2653" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguVv1bWNf4pAw0V0Cp3GTUphadrFWX9t02xrWSO3OoaoUwNcfVnguYHhvC1Me2XHMIYqnNooG-Ab-M1bWPaKZ22WziUDg369vQsIWhwB2gFsoxoQuM1LbpYwh9rGnpgqUa_rSmXiDIuqKRRsQYQ2ZySa1WZYhBU-B29YGJ2bSiAPU_qlQHZQ/s320/24CF1573-88DD-4265-911F-5534CEA06F9E.jpeg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-42939396402694620952022-06-12T18:28:00.002-05:002022-06-12T18:28:59.747-05:00Merida’s interesting day out<p> So what do you do when your little dog has her yearly veterinary appointment and the vet’s office is in the middle of the city’s large Pride event?</p><p>You take your little dog to the circus!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QagmHqPSQmpan3a9rZJ8-SZ3ySIVHPSKdurXer7dDaUuOohVZ5ShLtoV_ICx_CeCpIIVHfgvyg6sjGzln72C9-tNzEWI2PBpXLXSLVo_oZtDcEmaRxjl6JY8oYAEZmii6_OP7du2UQCMQyhKVXnueT9B_U6kg9SGFC07yUz4sdVf2v7KXQ/s4032/02C991CF-CE53-42D7-8B98-D1FEC88013A6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4QagmHqPSQmpan3a9rZJ8-SZ3ySIVHPSKdurXer7dDaUuOohVZ5ShLtoV_ICx_CeCpIIVHfgvyg6sjGzln72C9-tNzEWI2PBpXLXSLVo_oZtDcEmaRxjl6JY8oYAEZmii6_OP7du2UQCMQyhKVXnueT9B_U6kg9SGFC07yUz4sdVf2v7KXQ/s320/02C991CF-CE53-42D7-8B98-D1FEC88013A6.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMwfa2Q7ORrACRBH4TchK3ce8QrQ6qboJinqc0bBltlLuWcZMP8uoeD1DCHGz83P1UyWAcajrGNEurAKEPCky8hJdlm30lAVuhDm2ujNW0QQXkTYZTAaX8MngKwhlq3tiQKCkTaxIarctNrwLpeUO4A1JTBX_Nl6tTPgUoT_6bNoUFM5e_A/s4032/5DA0A348-15F8-478A-9F1C-C7A40E1A3992.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;">“What has been seen cannot be unseen!”</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">At least there was no shortage of cute girls to look at. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Side note: Just because the dog is 25% off, that doesn’t mean that her vet bills follow suit. Candy bars and ramen noodle lunches again for a bit. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-19470721102132454432022-06-03T09:18:00.002-05:002022-06-03T19:03:44.576-05:00Look at me. <p> I am the Captain now. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VldIDUMW24lhYNMio_UEtyfIW1wLYK0uhss2PPT3ntLwI5VDfTFNKbuTlPzpk12HvHwlkCs5oBkbVA7wrb513-zDe81kYdNfxBG3SM3uIMK-JeBjwkh3f46tkgKbu0Vsk1hFf0oG1LZuYtiWJjnpuVyuTjVBOoc9kGu2TIoLJJsAghDa-w/s2048/5B7000B8-E22F-4DF9-97A5-9B0A2FC66876.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VldIDUMW24lhYNMio_UEtyfIW1wLYK0uhss2PPT3ntLwI5VDfTFNKbuTlPzpk12HvHwlkCs5oBkbVA7wrb513-zDe81kYdNfxBG3SM3uIMK-JeBjwkh3f46tkgKbu0Vsk1hFf0oG1LZuYtiWJjnpuVyuTjVBOoc9kGu2TIoLJJsAghDa-w/s320/5B7000B8-E22F-4DF9-97A5-9B0A2FC66876.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Merida is settling nicely into her new role as Queen of the Realm, Overseer of the Lair. And all-around good dog. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She was lost for a bit without her Shepherd siblings and clung to me constantly, but she seems to be over it and has assumed command. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">As for Murphy and Belle, they are together again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYwi1Bas76XDuqB2MHR30-ugONUSDgy5eLGal5vyzfbDPt--6v8xjRfQ9Z6f3eAvgoOBzOdGMxWRf5Ur3MTm7JoLY_xoeJaommOM7NkKRcZ7BZXSj4heoVPQUxVAoMhJjl1RmJ9BjzjTPJUWRwMQQmyJN8q1OE2_Zn478536Udh0ATga1FQ/s3436/6DEB6BBD-DB70-4424-A454-558472CECB4E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="916" data-original-width="3436" height="85" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYwi1Bas76XDuqB2MHR30-ugONUSDgy5eLGal5vyzfbDPt--6v8xjRfQ9Z6f3eAvgoOBzOdGMxWRf5Ur3MTm7JoLY_xoeJaommOM7NkKRcZ7BZXSj4heoVPQUxVAoMhJjl1RmJ9BjzjTPJUWRwMQQmyJN8q1OE2_Zn478536Udh0ATga1FQ/s320/6DEB6BBD-DB70-4424-A454-558472CECB4E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Honored always. </div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-53457690078984868282022-05-19T22:22:00.006-05:002022-05-19T22:22:54.040-05:00A chapter ends. Murphy joins Belle.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> It's no secret that Murphy was old. He's graced this blog for over eleven years and he was two when he first came to live at the Lair. back in <a href="https://lagniappeslair.blogspot.com/2010/12/hes-here.html" target="_blank">December of 2010</a>. He was a different sort of Shepherd than those that came before him. He was strong-willed and stubborn due to a history of abuse and neglect and he marched to his own beat. I never really tamed him, but we became friends and we understood and respected each other.<p></p><p>His health had been going down for some time. Like Lagniappe before him, he suffered from Canine Degenerative Myleopathy, a disease that slowly eats away at the nerves in his spine. He managed well but he was getting slower and weaker over time, even as he compensated for his declining back legs with more muscular forelegs. His eyesight was going and his hearing was gone, but I was slow to notice because he took his cues from the other dogs, mainly Belle, when it came time to bark at someone.</p><p>When she left last month, his decline became increasingly apparent. I never posted it here; it was just between us. And he never stopped trying. Even as it got harder for him, he soldiered on through sheer willpower and orneriness. That dog didn't know what "quit" meant.</p><p>Still, the writing was on the wall. I could see it and he knew it. He spent more time close to me and he slept against me every night the last few weeks, something he's never done before. I promised him I'd get him home, and I prayed to God for just that: let me get him home one more time.</p><p>Well yesterday we made it home. He'd had a rough night the night before but he was still up and walking yesterday morning. He was awake and alert the whole drive home from Seguin, Texas. But when I pulled into the driveway, he couldn't get out of the car without my help. He struggled up the steps, crossed the threshold, and collapsed on the floor. His floor. He was home but this was as far as he was going. I knew it in an instant. This was serious.</p><p>The vet was closed already but the office manager is a personal friend. She came in minutes to help with him, and then she called the vet at home and got an order for meds, which she went back to the office to get. Other friends came and helped me get him back onto his bed, and we moved it to his spot by the window. He couldn't get up again, We both knew it.</p><p>Last night I slept next to him on the couch, his bed moved so that he was right below me. When he'd stir, I'd pet him and talk to him, and give him more pills. And this morning, when the vet opened, I loaded him up and took him in. It was hard, but he's been my friend for a long time, and I owed him this. I stayed with him until he was gone, gone at the hands of a vet staff who he knew and who knew and liked him. He was my friend.</p><p>Eleven years. Thirteen years old. And I'm sad that it's over but I thank God that He blessed me with this wonderful companion for so long. Right now I believe that he's with Belle again across that Rainbow Bridge. And with Lagniappe. And Oliver. And Brandon who came before them. My Pack. Waiting for me.</p><p>And until we're reunited again, Merida and I will still have each other. And you'll get Merida stories and pics. 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3629" data-original-width="2953" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEuud8A6UMZlhG-6p9jHQligN0xLFN2JvzDNpka5CRKQZKhe38Se9ooHkmZmRqsTCq8Q82pGGJ5YdAHz5FONVo4UWUecnjblIyTajhks0Br_VDaxP1E2oh9lpP2gQTuAvwQb2em1qaZaRxqWTm7DGXQkXHij85fhiiCLrrP3fkN2R-KTSiA/s320/FDEA8309-6D75-4054-ADE8-EBDDE07F0898.jpeg" width="260" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhMtVb25PiNIxlmXQme-_VL-EWGtlHScumvsEPcGjFQTsYQDvo_0jIwUGSXHvxYMDDjcx66cTGNwYVEDiOy2LUt7EwydkSOCocqYCY1Qwlp-Z_3Ga_y6Tx7HFjf6dsrP5lTlp3fcjb5nquH0auzDAnFFc10zwyhrxgwJQo5h6X3MCiBEs2Q/s4032/505891EE-D8D5-4182-877F-9CB01FC6D47B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyhMtVb25PiNIxlmXQme-_VL-EWGtlHScumvsEPcGjFQTsYQDvo_0jIwUGSXHvxYMDDjcx66cTGNwYVEDiOy2LUt7EwydkSOCocqYCY1Qwlp-Z_3Ga_y6Tx7HFjf6dsrP5lTlp3fcjb5nquH0auzDAnFFc10zwyhrxgwJQo5h6X3MCiBEs2Q/s320/505891EE-D8D5-4182-877F-9CB01FC6D47B.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div></div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-12094514257325845752022-05-16T07:27:00.000-05:002022-05-16T07:27:09.479-05:00Always Vigilant<p> Beautiful old Murphy. Last night he was dozing by the trailer while friends and I sat around the fire. Suddenly he got up, came to us, then stood fully alert staring off into the dark and growling. We saw nothing but when we threw a spotlight out there we saw it—coyote. 250 yards out. Saw it’s eyes, watched it run off. We had no idea but that old wonky dog knew and he put himself between us and it. What a magnificent animal. My friend. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-2_WH1cR3_xkDGxSGF8UNSIi7FifoTfr6tL4SE3-V80812fULAXtVFb-QSpPm_N6Ii43nvAtMUpkmXoDvghzd-mDoZ_67EdNkwA_B-YWpD4a1UOlJkgH0xKddMfEun26yPVuY2RZNOs7och3qwAgGkCxBOTt_572RriOtv-NXNhxYOFYOw/s4032/8E0C343B-3258-4F42-9711-C54105095F02.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-2_WH1cR3_xkDGxSGF8UNSIi7FifoTfr6tL4SE3-V80812fULAXtVFb-QSpPm_N6Ii43nvAtMUpkmXoDvghzd-mDoZ_67EdNkwA_B-YWpD4a1UOlJkgH0xKddMfEun26yPVuY2RZNOs7och3qwAgGkCxBOTt_572RriOtv-NXNhxYOFYOw/s320/8E0C343B-3258-4F42-9711-C54105095F02.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-33051240733732685622022-05-05T01:14:00.003-05:002022-05-05T01:14:30.697-05:00They’re heeeere…<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnVieZhlva4emoIPnGmiH7nxHgPXaBKDnDGcsnpn9GjoHSweJQDzun-mvINYqKvGFehpc7Ns_UOnwkyJguSH-tKqtZyAEY7IejI1G4muLz6DB-ZKijPd-UbC6Yc-xAEYvPhBkMxIYX_RQp_bSj8n7Z2qzEvS9LzH_AxvtCz7b9mZyk3DRw/s4032/F6541B4D-8B1A-4A44-8BE5-CFAD2A97D89E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtYnVieZhlva4emoIPnGmiH7nxHgPXaBKDnDGcsnpn9GjoHSweJQDzun-mvINYqKvGFehpc7Ns_UOnwkyJguSH-tKqtZyAEY7IejI1G4muLz6DB-ZKijPd-UbC6Yc-xAEYvPhBkMxIYX_RQp_bSj8n7Z2qzEvS9LzH_AxvtCz7b9mZyk3DRw/s320/F6541B4D-8B1A-4A44-8BE5-CFAD2A97D89E.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> I’ve seen them before, closer to town. I know they’re out here. But last night I heard the coyotes barking to each other close by. I couldn’t see them in the dark but I knew they were in my valley last night. Several of them. The dogs heard them too. Merida seemed curious at first but I think she picked up on the concern in my voice when I summoned her sharply and she made a bee-line for the trailer and leapt inside. Murphy was another matter. <p></p><p>In his day I have no doubt that Murphy could have bested a coyote, probably even a pair of them. But this isn’t his day any more and he’s old and arthritic. And there was more than two of them out there judging by the barking. Still, Murphy stood, like Horatius of old, staring down into the valley, ears back, hackles up, and letting out a long low growl as if he was ready to defend his home, his sister and me. It was all I could do to get that aged but magnificent warrior dog back to me and the safety of the trailer. His spirit was ready, of that I had no doubt. He knew they were a threat but he was game. </p><p>And now the dogs stay in the trailer from duck until dawn, unless I’m out there with them standing overwatch with a flashlight and my Ted Stevens model Winchester 94 from Sears and Roebuck </p><p>They were out there again tonight too, if anything even closer. I have no doubt that they know we’re here. Tonight I sat outside in the dark, beer in hand and the Winchester across my lap, and I listened to them. Primal. Awesome. And this is their home, so I bear them no ill will. I just hope that they keep their distance for another week and a half, and if they do we’ll be gone, leaving this bit of desert to them.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkCWH8bHzGlAc7yyJBpLEKWE8dpVuGu8_ah06Omf5rwTFMgiu8K-d0afMzt19AbPmzbq1BDAg22X7DqxQzq09ydeWxYOVejAxmuUShk_p06Y-h7TYWf5lbWfLzqVc0jYHjyM2BlFZTGdFtkW_ca2s1GGUVyW9x6AXgiAFUMw4yyoRHXmPYA/s664/020771FB-3F0C-4D7C-B3A0-13B52DD788BA.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="664" data-original-width="561" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkCWH8bHzGlAc7yyJBpLEKWE8dpVuGu8_ah06Omf5rwTFMgiu8K-d0afMzt19AbPmzbq1BDAg22X7DqxQzq09ydeWxYOVejAxmuUShk_p06Y-h7TYWf5lbWfLzqVc0jYHjyM2BlFZTGdFtkW_ca2s1GGUVyW9x6AXgiAFUMw4yyoRHXmPYA/s320/020771FB-3F0C-4D7C-B3A0-13B52DD788BA.jpeg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-78071821885947905242022-04-28T13:16:00.000-05:002022-04-28T13:16:15.776-05:00Some people just exist to entertain the rest of us<p>This past weekend, I had a group of people come out to my property to see the mines. For a small donation to the restoration fund, I decided to show them around a bit. I agreed to meet them down by the country road and lead them up some old abandoned roads to a site. But had I realized how entertaining they were going to be, I might have donated to them. </p><p>They came out, a group of ten, in three vehicles. When I got to the pull-out where we were meeting, one of the drivers, Simon, was inspecting the bottom of his Hyundai, which he’d just damaged by driving over a rock on the ground. </p><p>This is the desert. We got rocks. A lot of rocks. They just lie around and most of us avoid them. But Simon took this one on and damaged his front bumper, the skirting beneath it, and the skirting inside his left rear fender well. I guess he wasn’t very good at the game “Rock, Paper, Scissors, Plastic” because everyone knows that rock ALWAYS beats plastic. </p><p>But the day was fresh and everyone was excited to see the place so they decided to fret about that later and I led them three miles to the site. On the way up, Simon bottomed out again on a washed-out road section and tore a faux skid plate loose from the bottom of his car. This plate came loose because his wife Stacy, also present, had hit something with it a few months prior and some mechanic on the cheap reattached it with zip-ties as a temporary fix until she could get it properly repaired. Of course she did not get it properly repaired, because she assumed that since it was on. It was fixed for good. So she didn’t get it repaired or tell Simon. Fast forward to this morning, and now she’s fessing up, but the car is still kinda jacked out here 50 miles from the nearest shop. And then when they’re quibbling amongst themselves about this, someone else in the group “helpfully” suggests that it probably would have held longer had Simon not hit the earlier rock. Now EVERYONE jumps into this argument except me, and I’m just standing back with my donation money figuring out how best to explain my “no refunds” policy, when someone notices that the Chevrolet Equinox that Tyler drove up in is sitting on a completely shredded rear tire. Apparently it went flat some time back and NO ONE NOTICED, not even him or his passengers. So now the tire is just rubber shreds around a trashed rim. </p><p>Yes, these are city folks. Out of Los Ángeles. Surprise. </p><p>so now Brian, the only apparent Alpha in the group, gets everyone focused and oversees a tire change on the Equinox (yeah, have fun going back to LA on that donut) and then he jacks up the Hyundai and uses some wire from my tool kit to fix the hanging plate. He works fast and well and I’m impressed, but the whole time he’s running a monologue about people who can’t drive or maintain vehicles and he’s pissing some of the other people off. </p><p>No refunds. </p><p>Finally he’s done, and everyone is cross, but I start my tour intro and get most everyone focused back on why we’re here. The cars are forgotten as I take them in and lead them down what I call a “bunny trail” tour that requires no crawling or climbing. They get into it, and two hours later when we emerge, everyone is in good spirits. I get thanked and everyone gets back in their cars, but Tyler doesn’t want to descend the road on his donut so he begs Brian to drive it down to the pavement done eight miles away. Brian makes a u-turn to get out of our parking area and runs right over a stone fire circle someone had built, literally the only obstacle on a flat parcel the size of a football field. Remember how Rock beats Plastic? Well it broke off the bottom of the SUV’s bumper and then punched in the lower section of the air conditioner condenser. Cue escaping Freon. Enjoy your drive back through Death Valley with no a/c. </p><p>The last thing I heard as I was leaving was Brian cursing and Tyler asking him about whether or not his insurance company was going to fix that. </p><p>Yeeks!</p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-78599886781573265702022-04-27T10:38:00.005-05:002022-04-27T10:38:55.596-05:00Little Merida is stepping up<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> For years, the watchdog combo in the house was Murphy and Belle. They kept eyes on everything and barked at all threats with authority, including UPS and Fed-Ex trucks, the evil mailman, and other encroaching dogs walking by. One could be back in the bedroom with me, but if the other one looking out the window in front barked, the bedroom dog would race straight to that window too, barking all the way down the hall. They were a team like that. <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oq04vY8UC1l5k2eLRcGmR9Ul40QukTzzeYWTlr-MG3HuQi476fzvNb673h0pmaf2i-ZEtv8I5PPFMnPQE495BcS_nR3pJHcrwfMmcQhS4roI1F35Dylm1tgqPflIi35JVvM_9Jzd5qruK6J8aP18wUksg5-V6ir6lAa-6sde3zrJknnhKg/s4032/44902DCF-82DC-4E98-8C14-B5B1E0AC4615.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4oq04vY8UC1l5k2eLRcGmR9Ul40QukTzzeYWTlr-MG3HuQi476fzvNb673h0pmaf2i-ZEtv8I5PPFMnPQE495BcS_nR3pJHcrwfMmcQhS4roI1F35Dylm1tgqPflIi35JVvM_9Jzd5qruK6J8aP18wUksg5-V6ir6lAa-6sde3zrJknnhKg/s320/44902DCF-82DC-4E98-8C14-B5B1E0AC4615.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>And while they warned off every possible foe, Merida remained blissfully unconcerned inside her safe house bubble. Never a bark or growl from this one unless she was going after a chicken or another small dog at the dog park, before she got banned from the dog park that is. </p><p>Since Belle’s passing, Merida has begun to assume some of her role as back-up to Murphy, even starting to bark just a bit when people come around. She’s never done this before but she’s doing it now. Not a very authoritative bark yet, as if she’s unsure if she’s allowed, but she’s getting there. </p><p><br /></p><p>Yesterday she arrived. </p><p>As many folks know—or not—I’m staying in a trailer now out on my western land. My land with several open mines, which I am in the process of securing. I do have signs up right now though, like this one atop an 800-foot incline shaft. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07VwCKh95CuPrQe-fpw0CowMrGQMbVW5EA3iPdEwJ88pDfqjSwAvAXx6pY8-OFZdzQqkXwjQnzCS9iL0Mn025Ds1nDIJBkGZbB-2g22Mu-RsFQMWYEK2-YREkxTxg6hFL_ifvcIyBK7wab7CTrxT87sk-GLTfUecd63OE5N5NDz7D_hx1Uw/s2910/090279F0-96D2-443A-A360-04C5A30CA310.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2910" data-original-width="2466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg07VwCKh95CuPrQe-fpw0CowMrGQMbVW5EA3iPdEwJ88pDfqjSwAvAXx6pY8-OFZdzQqkXwjQnzCS9iL0Mn025Ds1nDIJBkGZbB-2g22Mu-RsFQMWYEK2-YREkxTxg6hFL_ifvcIyBK7wab7CTrxT87sk-GLTfUecd63OE5N5NDz7D_hx1Uw/s320/090279F0-96D2-443A-A360-04C5A30CA310.jpeg" width="271" /></a></p><p>I was napping in my trailer yesterday, and Murphy was napping on a rug I’d bought for the dogs out front of the trailer. Merida, being weird, was sleeping in the dirt underneath my SUV on the other side of the trailer. This trailer is about a hundred yards from the open shaft above. </p><p>Suddenly I hear Merida, still under the SUV, going “Wuf. Wuf. Wuf. Wuf…”. It was hesitant and soft but still she was barking, so I got up to check it out. </p><p>Three nimrods had walked up onto the site and were getting ready to rig a rope to descend that shaft. </p><p>Murphy, bless him, doesn’t hear too well any more. He missed their approach on foot just like I did. Normally people drive up and we hear them coming half a mile out. But once he figured it out about when I did, he was big dog barking and limping his way towards them with Merida alongside him. </p><p>I got there right after they did and had a little talk with the trespassers to make sure that they understood that this is my land now and access is restricted now, then sent them on their way. But they might have gotten right by me and Murphy had lit little Merida not stepped into Belle’s role and sounded her first real alarm since she’s been with us. </p><p>Good girl.</p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTk8vvIeIHEwUqE73m2ywhbA8UBN1SjE8RgiCF97qiH0ysnggMcYGqFvoVH0XEoojhoCk5YCELtPhxzfTxWHnzk6UBjhmK2sC8MyXp12MSrkVAqDKFc7lZM6ZA4Lz-L9pcXBrOlCcZxCW2eS6TqsURKtXSv0Caaf9DZNmaKoSv3366fRoZA/s3534/2FB0CB60-1B40-4794-BF47-1C0373E91C42.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3534" data-original-width="2763" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTk8vvIeIHEwUqE73m2ywhbA8UBN1SjE8RgiCF97qiH0ysnggMcYGqFvoVH0XEoojhoCk5YCELtPhxzfTxWHnzk6UBjhmK2sC8MyXp12MSrkVAqDKFc7lZM6ZA4Lz-L9pcXBrOlCcZxCW2eS6TqsURKtXSv0Caaf9DZNmaKoSv3366fRoZA/s320/2FB0CB60-1B40-4794-BF47-1C0373E91C42.jpeg" width="250" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS3cTFGFNtZm8ADJ3uS8VMkFDVvwDGYwWyehqAga6TwtNdW70saAG32hcb6LDM71Yql8UxgaQedaP9whdF5OzOaICuhqbutsM3F47gMliB31zjgsHHe7mPMy235D6sasLdZMNevAUAYsILPBwE4fHuAYwWLw90KurK4Jqie68161m_wwu8g/s3024/8DF24E46-5141-4BFF-9948-36CB9E2ADB24.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2363" data-original-width="3024" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaS3cTFGFNtZm8ADJ3uS8VMkFDVvwDGYwWyehqAga6TwtNdW70saAG32hcb6LDM71Yql8UxgaQedaP9whdF5OzOaICuhqbutsM3F47gMliB31zjgsHHe7mPMy235D6sasLdZMNevAUAYsILPBwE4fHuAYwWLw90KurK4Jqie68161m_wwu8g/s320/8DF24E46-5141-4BFF-9948-36CB9E2ADB24.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-54096053427036030272022-04-18T21:32:00.001-05:002022-04-18T21:32:53.873-05:00We‘re doing ok. New horizons<p> The sadness has passed and the other dogs are back to their regular weird normal. Murphy table-surfed a loaf of bread off the table last night and I had a hard time being too mad at him. </p><p>And also yesterday, I took an evening walk back on my land, and for the first time both dogs followed me instead of just staying by the trailer. They walked/hopped/limped a mile, and I had to smile at the sight of two wonky dogs following their equally wonky master through the desert. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8Uj5cPiNawTwG_s9WRMrH-DPR8VuUclmc1VwePL19qy8YqYGkA0z98G4aoTPQ7H-7Sby9oceNr129ovCqaoYJr0m7l6K_ObDFsx4SMtBTK5eqT7cjVGnrkKwD0BGwvMwHuVjw36WXtG7f_6R3WHk-ELFqr3HZ44-g32SP1H5PQcXRP-4Cw/s4032/8EC63EB4-0B4F-48FB-9FFF-2C63FCFA2267.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip8Uj5cPiNawTwG_s9WRMrH-DPR8VuUclmc1VwePL19qy8YqYGkA0z98G4aoTPQ7H-7Sby9oceNr129ovCqaoYJr0m7l6K_ObDFsx4SMtBTK5eqT7cjVGnrkKwD0BGwvMwHuVjw36WXtG7f_6R3WHk-ELFqr3HZ44-g32SP1H5PQcXRP-4Cw/s320/8EC63EB4-0B4F-48FB-9FFF-2C63FCFA2267.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFlw-TMMRlgXByvbxqjn9EDQF__FZIkWM5VipA6FPFBqTUwTyrimMOOEn1APmWruVeBZpUpg2mPYgKHEnV0gdaW6Qg4Kvk3tm2Ue39hjt6QeAd0UtZGGiZwg0wxqmxNRdgttoOj_0tw5UcZFjxVJLvi9tEWa2Pa5oNF-RCwbFuGl1ycRF4g/s4032/72A9ECE5-00D0-4D3A-9A5C-7E5234C5D901.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiFlw-TMMRlgXByvbxqjn9EDQF__FZIkWM5VipA6FPFBqTUwTyrimMOOEn1APmWruVeBZpUpg2mPYgKHEnV0gdaW6Qg4Kvk3tm2Ue39hjt6QeAd0UtZGGiZwg0wxqmxNRdgttoOj_0tw5UcZFjxVJLvi9tEWa2Pa5oNF-RCwbFuGl1ycRF4g/s320/72A9ECE5-00D0-4D3A-9A5C-7E5234C5D901.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypDF84jVbYBKG904b8cc_EtxU5yxuYFz6QT5_2NYecWWJb5gH9GxJPCzankvw0uSFwleGa1esbS9erI0SvwETUF926Aqt3GJxHNHGc9i5jSsvDVoTC3NWS0IBKGnyO2rNRkkOAcOezrORORDzoZ_NBaXIhAfNdRLxhTxGF6d93Xw-dQTLMw/s4032/A838A114-1089-4195-8CD3-EBBBFEBADB37.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypDF84jVbYBKG904b8cc_EtxU5yxuYFz6QT5_2NYecWWJb5gH9GxJPCzankvw0uSFwleGa1esbS9erI0SvwETUF926Aqt3GJxHNHGc9i5jSsvDVoTC3NWS0IBKGnyO2rNRkkOAcOezrORORDzoZ_NBaXIhAfNdRLxhTxGF6d93Xw-dQTLMw/s320/A838A114-1089-4195-8CD3-EBBBFEBADB37.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBR-m3Tgq4wj0vg_2eSemDGMqhwGVLqsv9LWEDunjh_IBN01UGs-QBUNUQAJUhs35wEcbjb7ZIsyoKfbDE4RUuBbA-Hblc9r63zJL3FX1Y5Nf_c1kMueIBfx7C1joo_6OVyqdBWDbKkuyi95pPPXCWyv_2OKEM_bwVJQQP9zShEd5Zhlprw/s4032/D6C01256-BDF8-4330-BE3D-AC34DCB5E659.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBR-m3Tgq4wj0vg_2eSemDGMqhwGVLqsv9LWEDunjh_IBN01UGs-QBUNUQAJUhs35wEcbjb7ZIsyoKfbDE4RUuBbA-Hblc9r63zJL3FX1Y5Nf_c1kMueIBfx7C1joo_6OVyqdBWDbKkuyi95pPPXCWyv_2OKEM_bwVJQQP9zShEd5Zhlprw/s320/D6C01256-BDF8-4330-BE3D-AC34DCB5E659.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSzHC1JywcbbfVTPghTM9He4KmbG_RW-kIbBKQ1CuQLvB_dYOoDsNikX9aJ1IOy750X2vYIl_m7P4RgnZfnx-i1QszuZHy6KUyArdMisPdnMy34xkkN-LHW5QQYR5Tv_2CXsSoRQjM8URdT4AnPpXWPFke7MSZk8RAIK1NviXKKQ6jehdQw/s4032/D2566EBE-EC06-4008-821A-CBD9469C5F6C.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRSzHC1JywcbbfVTPghTM9He4KmbG_RW-kIbBKQ1CuQLvB_dYOoDsNikX9aJ1IOy750X2vYIl_m7P4RgnZfnx-i1QszuZHy6KUyArdMisPdnMy34xkkN-LHW5QQYR5Tv_2CXsSoRQjM8URdT4AnPpXWPFke7MSZk8RAIK1NviXKKQ6jehdQw/s320/D2566EBE-EC06-4008-821A-CBD9469C5F6C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div>I love these guys. I really do. <br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-91573288943058067812022-04-11T23:04:00.002-05:002022-04-11T23:04:40.489-05:00Moving forward<p> I’m better now. Not good but closer. The other dogs are grieving and taking comfort in each other. They’ve always maintained a distance between themselves but since Belle left they’ve become very close and clingy to each other, and to me. </p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLVYfnqizn-xGoufEyDdTgmbXptuc751_-J1O3ulNoBdFEctQ090Vubu6Hef8kFfshQU0xr9sFxhMGQ5-_d_8QqBNo947NxAuu3yT208id5cV9s-ULGB2sdQwQtrsP6FaRR5C7J1D99kFkZaojcXfDpIJSG4YIwkZmeHlVO6dCGkotoPi1w/s4032/24AD8F20-1D6D-4D1D-A65B-79A1C8B9794D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbLVYfnqizn-xGoufEyDdTgmbXptuc751_-J1O3ulNoBdFEctQ090Vubu6Hef8kFfshQU0xr9sFxhMGQ5-_d_8QqBNo947NxAuu3yT208id5cV9s-ULGB2sdQwQtrsP6FaRR5C7J1D99kFkZaojcXfDpIJSG4YIwkZmeHlVO6dCGkotoPi1w/s320/24AD8F20-1D6D-4D1D-A65B-79A1C8B9794D.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGj0fK6vH1YjLJT6N18UknjBGY9WKBdMaSeZS3xigVjMdqzHHCsy6pQvx7OxloaghKhUxln1Q-VcOVqHtzIwrMZoftxUA0Ag0HlP0OgqJFrTI6kQBiy508pwbuY50J837YtOCXKa9h_D1rZN2oojJDGJ-V0nIkeUaQiV2k07HfYc3AzhlhQ/s4032/24C6ED4E-F763-4EF9-9DD6-FFB8ED9F3686.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGj0fK6vH1YjLJT6N18UknjBGY9WKBdMaSeZS3xigVjMdqzHHCsy6pQvx7OxloaghKhUxln1Q-VcOVqHtzIwrMZoftxUA0Ag0HlP0OgqJFrTI6kQBiy508pwbuY50J837YtOCXKa9h_D1rZN2oojJDGJ-V0nIkeUaQiV2k07HfYc3AzhlhQ/s320/24C6ED4E-F763-4EF9-9DD6-FFB8ED9F3686.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR5eiuZMinOgLZ-7HQ0e-2Xwa6u_X1pMwLOPmzj66OEGzJrEmVTYBafBaYKNtVfvq8RoF6ASFrrf4TDTk-2FTuK09EHWzPfC9b8gSru-gqQx7aWOJlY1D3v7m_kEqtoVJpmsGODq9u4cfnTmReDY3j5ADwU8rM9nm6RLP5TnMV4BUjjZZCw/s4032/6DE1922B-642B-4F37-AB46-E108FD721CF6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKR5eiuZMinOgLZ-7HQ0e-2Xwa6u_X1pMwLOPmzj66OEGzJrEmVTYBafBaYKNtVfvq8RoF6ASFrrf4TDTk-2FTuK09EHWzPfC9b8gSru-gqQx7aWOJlY1D3v7m_kEqtoVJpmsGODq9u4cfnTmReDY3j5ADwU8rM9nm6RLP5TnMV4BUjjZZCw/s320/6DE1922B-642B-4F37-AB46-E108FD721CF6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">In other news, all day today has been high winds, with gusts as high as 70mph. I don’t recommend this in a trailer but we’re getting through it. In the middle of it all though, two guys showed up in a jeep because the lady at the museum in town told them I was doing tours. So I took a respite from the wind and blowing sand and ducked underground for a bit. And I got paid. Who says there’s no more money to be made in these mines?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0pfokgNT1U4ANcBovmsGQCpI7VAC-YutzNulrORcFa8xfqHtlYTBpSqtRGvbjTltIDtc2W_zKO7w6fQT3500F8WzFvmqYzJ9l77P86telIFjZv6FOySY-w1kwHuySJPlJNyz-MyiqEC3Sq5RxI25gfHFxebCI7YYI0tANZjuDBcJFvd-qw/s4032/0FD80DC6-3808-400C-85B1-5AF0CF9E12F0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0pfokgNT1U4ANcBovmsGQCpI7VAC-YutzNulrORcFa8xfqHtlYTBpSqtRGvbjTltIDtc2W_zKO7w6fQT3500F8WzFvmqYzJ9l77P86telIFjZv6FOySY-w1kwHuySJPlJNyz-MyiqEC3Sq5RxI25gfHFxebCI7YYI0tANZjuDBcJFvd-qw/s320/0FD80DC6-3808-400C-85B1-5AF0CF9E12F0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtrX88wefODeSU-qOWeAW0OFw5SZYJ7vLOZSgOVHbLcYVPKP8eVsW_zkYuKSYrE5fWSJjOWAwXVehT5GUhcGOxlxoh9jzTavAJyh9ewGX9TIJCgG9WEkoJc0CtTdWB2EXo-jZYg1eOvAuAcSfgcuAFiXsVmLOgaKJPLZom7qLaPdWhX8nzw/s4032/1A7DEF93-FCB1-48DE-ACBF-CE45B7DCF9FD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKtrX88wefODeSU-qOWeAW0OFw5SZYJ7vLOZSgOVHbLcYVPKP8eVsW_zkYuKSYrE5fWSJjOWAwXVehT5GUhcGOxlxoh9jzTavAJyh9ewGX9TIJCgG9WEkoJc0CtTdWB2EXo-jZYg1eOvAuAcSfgcuAFiXsVmLOgaKJPLZom7qLaPdWhX8nzw/s320/1A7DEF93-FCB1-48DE-ACBF-CE45B7DCF9FD.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaBqT5uiGR5Ei22YrPfes3-wkxKTBFLaY88jGDr5CQLwAqsXAaBFI5jGMd3_ZaUtqqbxcl03nTJrkWvv_HMm2ZJ1jHKuX7rxA5GlEJJDskD_z8tfPOlH--fKwuMF6jRacU-D9CRRU2AP1-Jbsfp4bWSl2NtXO8inpI1ZrkgF-Ok-zDcgjWA/s4032/7D5805B0-8F0E-43D5-A11A-DBC96DE54497.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaaBqT5uiGR5Ei22YrPfes3-wkxKTBFLaY88jGDr5CQLwAqsXAaBFI5jGMd3_ZaUtqqbxcl03nTJrkWvv_HMm2ZJ1jHKuX7rxA5GlEJJDskD_z8tfPOlH--fKwuMF6jRacU-D9CRRU2AP1-Jbsfp4bWSl2NtXO8inpI1ZrkgF-Ok-zDcgjWA/s320/7D5805B0-8F0E-43D5-A11A-DBC96DE54497.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlpJTCFrsj4PjraD7BwIUsgGPi3AaNelN8UfyPnF_HL0kn6tp-9xYLSiQK4GWKXK0j-OUYtVedCtRMlxaHns_cUTSttVgh8_OgC6mti_-4eE_-e98bbl8rfCmrq4KVqgfwsJQ9BkQAJJXgwPFy9Q6BMycMlUaqWOlN6mfMkIlnB6N_aCDiQ/s4032/18353832-769C-4C99-ADE1-99041A86A17A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRlpJTCFrsj4PjraD7BwIUsgGPi3AaNelN8UfyPnF_HL0kn6tp-9xYLSiQK4GWKXK0j-OUYtVedCtRMlxaHns_cUTSttVgh8_OgC6mti_-4eE_-e98bbl8rfCmrq4KVqgfwsJQ9BkQAJJXgwPFy9Q6BMycMlUaqWOlN6mfMkIlnB6N_aCDiQ/s320/18353832-769C-4C99-ADE1-99041A86A17A.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMlINhsjp_yabUdisfPbzty2ZLcajHXPKjclE7DR_sQRjoMdLz2YDe8ZMx5sTOAVMFTAqAMK-eoRkaw64LEpTHhhPaqNYoAwp3r_wCCLhkq9iX54WYKI3LCDUGgbOQUYu3PcUiqJVSEcd_cAAhP1YR6sfV6EWkmVBDjplWrb8hxk1elwtSg/s4032/A862082D-C90E-401D-9888-7352F02794AD.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBMlINhsjp_yabUdisfPbzty2ZLcajHXPKjclE7DR_sQRjoMdLz2YDe8ZMx5sTOAVMFTAqAMK-eoRkaw64LEpTHhhPaqNYoAwp3r_wCCLhkq9iX54WYKI3LCDUGgbOQUYu3PcUiqJVSEcd_cAAhP1YR6sfV6EWkmVBDjplWrb8hxk1elwtSg/s320/A862082D-C90E-401D-9888-7352F02794AD.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqlZXK-3rCtwnIvTaJKz00JqqTXjBDbxv20fZ9I_KNs4X_wG8l9exISP2TJEvbrVKMMKNtbGFn5bzKTscmsi0VcFt0BjeLY16WiUA0jDb2MLN3dB3QGAWgaJoef3xMaSqb6z9dCYV581XqrPpFwaxjMHmR7fAGr-UNTQS0TEeQitiQz4sPw/s4032/E91316CD-02E7-4D18-ACF0-FC3C60DF4651.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqlZXK-3rCtwnIvTaJKz00JqqTXjBDbxv20fZ9I_KNs4X_wG8l9exISP2TJEvbrVKMMKNtbGFn5bzKTscmsi0VcFt0BjeLY16WiUA0jDb2MLN3dB3QGAWgaJoef3xMaSqb6z9dCYV581XqrPpFwaxjMHmR7fAGr-UNTQS0TEeQitiQz4sPw/s320/E91316CD-02E7-4D18-ACF0-FC3C60DF4651.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We miss you Belle. </div><br /><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-83000412975423705102022-04-09T13:58:00.002-05:002022-04-09T13:58:28.802-05:00Going forward<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> I was doing ok this morning until I went out to the car and saw her empty collar lying on the seat. Then I lost it. She was my special girl </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkV_vOhAkwFlEok-ZiYsQHwz7FGKqAzVf_xskrtvP3molkdiWuDCptsev1rCesNSCSvBGBSQj7TBpFRJA-LsbHSBFaC_BEM_PG13e5-Xe5DiVOmxFRCLcwRHD5oJtYD0Vo2aGp0K2X4FbHHJtejm1DwtzouTNXfbcZlyG9wuFCcInLzfoXA/s2495/2E4D629D-3464-4721-B733-9725B401FA9B.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2495" data-original-width="1996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXkV_vOhAkwFlEok-ZiYsQHwz7FGKqAzVf_xskrtvP3molkdiWuDCptsev1rCesNSCSvBGBSQj7TBpFRJA-LsbHSBFaC_BEM_PG13e5-Xe5DiVOmxFRCLcwRHD5oJtYD0Vo2aGp0K2X4FbHHJtejm1DwtzouTNXfbcZlyG9wuFCcInLzfoXA/s320/2E4D629D-3464-4721-B733-9725B401FA9B.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I’ve still got Murphy though. He’s two years older than Belle and he’s been in decline for a while, hence my lack of posting about him recently. I’ve been expecting him to go for a while now. I’d been counting on Belle to help me get through that when the time came. But now she’s gone and he’s still here, helping me get through that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He misses his sister though, and it shows. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">But he’s still on the job, surveying his new domain out here. We just had a short walk in the desert, just the two of us, and I realize how much I love and value him too. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM7Tb5iyjoND7ThKCkig53eX60rWEWfrWdcSwiwa2at7aPWmFERsflyR5ivFHX4aiJAIf7iXFGOdJIrnOAV8WmiEtwO2g3MAmwmAPW1wHgXz6tYvs_daovnd5WOBI3e3o0OJwkDQfc0w069ooRRdQK-GDUma_pDZJNM1LSgRXwqjE7pijDA/s4032/4525392D-BD26-4057-87A5-BC9C22CE9A44.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidM7Tb5iyjoND7ThKCkig53eX60rWEWfrWdcSwiwa2at7aPWmFERsflyR5ivFHX4aiJAIf7iXFGOdJIrnOAV8WmiEtwO2g3MAmwmAPW1wHgXz6tYvs_daovnd5WOBI3e3o0OJwkDQfc0w069ooRRdQK-GDUma_pDZJNM1LSgRXwqjE7pijDA/s320/4525392D-BD26-4057-87A5-BC9C22CE9A44.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHYyQ8KKBtS81STbUSKCq887cdEhxD_FJwwZpx-xSevSYEt2k_8f0rgII1SWBZJoi7n1wOQAfjt-g5FVzK5dfI6rZm5DLg-T6HccZ2KHSkQi5-UEStBB-iQVXT76z_jtMdHsRB1pDopApnbOOUkIKy9-7fUJFVBP8ceR8TsEuTYDdpLzHxA/s4032/6649D407-A978-4563-9E74-E4B09CF0105D.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBHYyQ8KKBtS81STbUSKCq887cdEhxD_FJwwZpx-xSevSYEt2k_8f0rgII1SWBZJoi7n1wOQAfjt-g5FVzK5dfI6rZm5DLg-T6HccZ2KHSkQi5-UEStBB-iQVXT76z_jtMdHsRB1pDopApnbOOUkIKy9-7fUJFVBP8ceR8TsEuTYDdpLzHxA/s320/6649D407-A978-4563-9E74-E4B09CF0105D.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMSGZyRDbHC0CMJ4hLfMLkA3lQdfiXYY9FhQ9Ve4L56kTD5RZAL2-1qZAfFkC48HAN-R-YSb2tk-nFT4oGQJtayhqQafgD6AEAqcyM6iskqekNBnK-N1oWXhEMKUEiuOYmaEeXTGe6-8fO4NWY6-fU9_I-bgWo6AM7C_WV6iaD_aHh9Eg_g/s4032/2F1D54A8-42D6-47C7-AE00-C3419D20CA51.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMSGZyRDbHC0CMJ4hLfMLkA3lQdfiXYY9FhQ9Ve4L56kTD5RZAL2-1qZAfFkC48HAN-R-YSb2tk-nFT4oGQJtayhqQafgD6AEAqcyM6iskqekNBnK-N1oWXhEMKUEiuOYmaEeXTGe6-8fO4NWY6-fU9_I-bgWo6AM7C_WV6iaD_aHh9Eg_g/s320/2F1D54A8-42D6-47C7-AE00-C3419D20CA51.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzRyz8G66RPd429-f13WokQEZr3Oj5ZFDL2FgrgaWfaBvZlvvQAQM4jMjlmIJ2cW3Y1urKYtRZNs37Kyz7JG0mvBDnfizRhSdBYew9IY4xFq_Vk9mLnRhU3PgSlqhlWp5QP8yQ_LZSB6RKz2U8ThcNq9eGE6FSOAS5LPHNiKeFbLkaNH3Lw/s3374/3D725370-6511-42CC-9CBB-706929154554.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3374" data-original-width="2687" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzRyz8G66RPd429-f13WokQEZr3Oj5ZFDL2FgrgaWfaBvZlvvQAQM4jMjlmIJ2cW3Y1urKYtRZNs37Kyz7JG0mvBDnfizRhSdBYew9IY4xFq_Vk9mLnRhU3PgSlqhlWp5QP8yQ_LZSB6RKz2U8ThcNq9eGE6FSOAS5LPHNiKeFbLkaNH3Lw/s320/3D725370-6511-42CC-9CBB-706929154554.jpeg" width="255" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>Merida is here too of course, but she’s a different little dog I love her just as much, but she’s no Shepherd defender of the realm. What she is though is a cuddler and a smuggler and I’ll admit I need that right now </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q69pXenBFKG91glPXiNKW4fTMN5bOpitYMqpt-c8Jz9YotAQWZAor4gO9GTUkkZhFPwyHhpfNqHENvtCKErQ9s0c2Exj3y0HUXwOMA9Fmd0-kYKCilkxuFDkrinUoCio7ZVNx3iqlDpRaeCC2o3rUKM2hV4p86t-EbzgsGXzuYLe_n0pPg/s4032/921795A3-8DCA-44C3-961C-838F39DDBA1A.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Q69pXenBFKG91glPXiNKW4fTMN5bOpitYMqpt-c8Jz9YotAQWZAor4gO9GTUkkZhFPwyHhpfNqHENvtCKErQ9s0c2Exj3y0HUXwOMA9Fmd0-kYKCilkxuFDkrinUoCio7ZVNx3iqlDpRaeCC2o3rUKM2hV4p86t-EbzgsGXzuYLe_n0pPg/s320/921795A3-8DCA-44C3-961C-838F39DDBA1A.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKceqebL5B5rND6aAl4En3v0OjtWUXNSRXhO56yvU481lytsVDIJyEafv9QkHbSY6-HLWDr2yvJUrNm8qCw9EkG-v1_qlc3CvircXyXrrIpXLVi2aeU5bLDj0844afPbpn177AOtdhX3_T4bAZ296feuYSLX3xx6E9DMI5KB_W14abUbqQvg/s2725/A8BC765E-3391-4B2D-9684-ADDC4FDA3EE2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2725" data-original-width="2636" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKceqebL5B5rND6aAl4En3v0OjtWUXNSRXhO56yvU481lytsVDIJyEafv9QkHbSY6-HLWDr2yvJUrNm8qCw9EkG-v1_qlc3CvircXyXrrIpXLVi2aeU5bLDj0844afPbpn177AOtdhX3_T4bAZ296feuYSLX3xx6E9DMI5KB_W14abUbqQvg/s320/A8BC765E-3391-4B2D-9684-ADDC4FDA3EE2.jpeg" width="310" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3zabxlaoXFYtDUcL_Hhm949afXZ-tc-UHXudR7Bcco5O8v0r2y6FKbMHPzOK3zQpakGvrMMKb3FlCdkspN3HG4mYKYzYMOPxYSeMVUie32w11VXDqCQDHEiE56q1Vyme_f2aJWw7Wz30tXztVslsZ5ddcgPeXudMHv0F1z9DvPLHG5NSrw/s3088/E7CC2540-7D92-4976-B1D8-6EC46555594E.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3088" data-original-width="2316" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik3zabxlaoXFYtDUcL_Hhm949afXZ-tc-UHXudR7Bcco5O8v0r2y6FKbMHPzOK3zQpakGvrMMKb3FlCdkspN3HG4mYKYzYMOPxYSeMVUie32w11VXDqCQDHEiE56q1Vyme_f2aJWw7Wz30tXztVslsZ5ddcgPeXudMHv0F1z9DvPLHG5NSrw/s320/E7CC2540-7D92-4976-B1D8-6EC46555594E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p>Ain’t gonna lie. Today’s hard but I’ll get past it, just like I did when Lagniappe left I know God just loans me these dogs for a while and eventually He’s going to take them all back. If I’m good, I’ll see them again. Meantime I’m grateful for the nine wonderful years Belle was in my life.</p><p>And I’ll resume posting again, in her honor as well as the others I hadn’t realized anyone was still reading these until yesterday and the outpouring of support. These are your dogs too, and I’ll do better from now on.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-23097348344348363482022-04-08T13:55:00.006-05:002022-04-08T13:57:29.239-05:00Miss Memphis Belle has flown <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />This isn't how I wanted my first post in a while to be.<p></p><p><br /></p><p>Miss Memphis Belle passed away last night.</p><p><br /></p><p>I brought all three dogs back out to the mines early this week. We were going to stay until it got too hot before going back to New Orleans.</p><p>Yesterday Belle was fine. And then suddenly she wasn't. She couldn't get up easily, couldn't walk straight, was anxious and distressed. I suspected poisoning or a stroke so I made a high-speed run to the closest emergency vet 60+ miles away. They evaluated her, decided that it was Canine Vestibular Disease, a condition affecting older dogs that would pass with rest and medication, and I brought her home. we spent the evening outside watching the sunset and then went in to bed. She slept right next to me, which she usually only did when she was scared, and I petted her and soothed her every time she stirred or whined. I was hoping the medicines would kick in and ease her discomfort but this morning she was gone. Looks like it was a brain bleed or tumor after all.</p><p>My Belle is gone.</p><p>I took her outside for a bit while I decided what to do next. Both Murphy and Merida lay down right next to her, much closer than they ever would have gotten in the past, since the dogs have always wanted their space, and they stayed with her until I took her into town for cremation.</p><p><br /></p><p>There's a huge hole in my heart right now. But I remember that I was blessed by God with 9 wonderful years with this girl. She gave me nothing but love and obedience, and this is the first morning that I've woken up in her presence without her coming up to give me a gentle morning lick on the face. I'm going to miss those licks a lot.</p><p><br /></p><p>Here's the<a href="https://lagniappeslair.blogspot.com/2013/11/shes-here.html" target="_blank"> first blog post from when I brought her home,</a> end of November, 2013. That was West Virginia. Since then we've seen a lot of the country together. Michigan. New Orleans. And now, in the end, California. She was a blessing and a gift from Heaven and now there's another star in the sky, leading the way to that Rainbow Bridge where she'll be waiting with Lagniappe and Oliver until the day we're all reunited again. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNCtQ1TF8T6HsaDHl971GUJVznd0RJAe58_ptc0nTIo230yJAh9uA994ED5cX7NcyBMvcaVThEa0etRlGpWCpzZPCucbRS9rFR3ksq4qulNlq0ppjN8h8WNOeYz7EIJoM_xpA51PXJukEODxEfJ4emKEAvW2Efoy0l889VL9RrNh85pDJtw/s4032/B51A51DB-ED05-439A-809C-191E7208FD8C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNCtQ1TF8T6HsaDHl971GUJVznd0RJAe58_ptc0nTIo230yJAh9uA994ED5cX7NcyBMvcaVThEa0etRlGpWCpzZPCucbRS9rFR3ksq4qulNlq0ppjN8h8WNOeYz7EIJoM_xpA51PXJukEODxEfJ4emKEAvW2Efoy0l889VL9RrNh85pDJtw/s320/B51A51DB-ED05-439A-809C-191E7208FD8C.jpeg" width="320" /></a></p><p>Our last sunset together.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyid9E0fy2TKx1_PTC4GQHCkWx8wbBy2_aNITMhJekeVyWVGTwMuARn5p9EqAOs8IaywjdqbdUtbUsnFzeinFGUO-HYvdv0flwa_7WFQtmiJNsSAR7u8_f-0QPHTXW28q6zADOZ-6wJ_fQsCDmtzzgioBtLDoHJCq5t6uLnfTLOITElhV8UQ/s4032/E312A60C-D449-4FBC-B508-A4A713C3C03B.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyid9E0fy2TKx1_PTC4GQHCkWx8wbBy2_aNITMhJekeVyWVGTwMuARn5p9EqAOs8IaywjdqbdUtbUsnFzeinFGUO-HYvdv0flwa_7WFQtmiJNsSAR7u8_f-0QPHTXW28q6zADOZ-6wJ_fQsCDmtzzgioBtLDoHJCq5t6uLnfTLOITElhV8UQ/s320/E312A60C-D449-4FBC-B508-A4A713C3C03B.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p>Murphy not leaving his sister. Faithful to the last.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuKEhcsGTnKc6Dzj6UpT2VOhJLLVBu5ih9ylMZsRGUeq8z0uWTf3GV15Q1odiVC23F6eS244rw_fDYpa_YFNvcZo_kFwSXdonfVGeBxPXDbhDULO54HkmjM0ttIQ0KdSqyXc7a5aJTNkIR5MXUTRwabjNKcWoq_gssaoEAe2nlyxojQEVOw/s4032/62827368734__85E53349-B6EC-4001-A25A-07BDCA115C73.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiuKEhcsGTnKc6Dzj6UpT2VOhJLLVBu5ih9ylMZsRGUeq8z0uWTf3GV15Q1odiVC23F6eS244rw_fDYpa_YFNvcZo_kFwSXdonfVGeBxPXDbhDULO54HkmjM0ttIQ0KdSqyXc7a5aJTNkIR5MXUTRwabjNKcWoq_gssaoEAe2nlyxojQEVOw/s320/62827368734__85E53349-B6EC-4001-A25A-07BDCA115C73.JPEG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirgLnacsdepKLwBz2l_kr3fM4XSQvCH8cK4N3lH-H-lGyycWWAfX-e6HDGeXrHDtTV2iN6SLYVRDWiBMQyR6SCQlBADTcRD85Z7kuDRID7ccVcu6P27-mu68shdU83vZg9WUsb5NunAjqRhLjqWF3een6sp6bb0S6LcDeUV7ZSTSN3HEny_w/s3791/IMG_0787.JPEG" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWjqdFeIc6ojrlyv1l3g3eHNWbT2k-Acg32yIIHdMrThokluyzCEe7FP3nxZ8H2Pj8_BDoQM9q-hJrJU19y-rvIKkEs56TVYPUsd4hleIC0pD6GP0QXEEfqcoVWZbGOkEf8Z3w81Y23Iw8M0d7Q4pnRV6J9x-fOTLA9DU1tal_2B4tOSDIA/s320/IMG_8326.JPEG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p> </p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-3130042678457306972022-01-30T01:02:00.003-06:002022-01-30T01:02:34.822-06:00Travels with Belle<div class="separator"><br /></div><p> Since I'd never taken Belle on a solo trip before, I took her this time so we could have some time together. Also, Murphy's too old to travel like this any more, so I left him behind and left Merida to keep him company.</p><p>Belle travels well. She always has. She sleeps and it's easy to forget she's even along. But when we got out there, she got her share of hiking and exploring in.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU7sXZMa1tnrjd53-vmKJp6bIOXyt9OKvZmyZwrMeCqksA86YlMQgRrTi6XrHAmdXWTYK6zBYC7jnhXKWnI5zI4cEE4QPm-453DbasM9C43G3rrl1hR10xrTXwSHIV6429ciHv0IQ7CzUjhoiqJlcZCHxOZfkUgnK-AKIuhM6brVbccovcfA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiU7sXZMa1tnrjd53-vmKJp6bIOXyt9OKvZmyZwrMeCqksA86YlMQgRrTi6XrHAmdXWTYK6zBYC7jnhXKWnI5zI4cEE4QPm-453DbasM9C43G3rrl1hR10xrTXwSHIV6429ciHv0IQ7CzUjhoiqJlcZCHxOZfkUgnK-AKIuhM6brVbccovcfA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaJzq1mBVhNFJtOLm1Uv61WTe22N1j0M-ufxCo35nHhNj8aSCDktVnm75ldJHtciQ68zLEXlWAsaUsSAKlgqbfj59W35Iqrq9Rt5ckISY3lNC8pHrdIF5MyQdVR1pyTUDm-jcDW_WJGIATclQ8mIENNZtgLGPEGlNNE5KSimZj9NaKQoOS5A=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaJzq1mBVhNFJtOLm1Uv61WTe22N1j0M-ufxCo35nHhNj8aSCDktVnm75ldJHtciQ68zLEXlWAsaUsSAKlgqbfj59W35Iqrq9Rt5ckISY3lNC8pHrdIF5MyQdVR1pyTUDm-jcDW_WJGIATclQ8mIENNZtgLGPEGlNNE5KSimZj9NaKQoOS5A=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3dcAA4-_OHgj3CBAqnG9fTLWsWLKE00yCO-T45zSeS8fSF7azo5zd5O8L27ED_iBNRgCXuBEdX4TgG4-am_O7qhHu8pqs7SjS0kfwuUxcpVfTl5egZq_mQMMjgs74THu0yJlxHPORYitJqf1TzqrC3TnRdUT9sBAq-bhKL7XcC_CDVXxErA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3dcAA4-_OHgj3CBAqnG9fTLWsWLKE00yCO-T45zSeS8fSF7azo5zd5O8L27ED_iBNRgCXuBEdX4TgG4-am_O7qhHu8pqs7SjS0kfwuUxcpVfTl5egZq_mQMMjgs74THu0yJlxHPORYitJqf1TzqrC3TnRdUT9sBAq-bhKL7XcC_CDVXxErA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfc664mrFT0zd9kW9M-xG9q5Oue5twLMGFJKqpUMKB9ZjaE9Pr7iRRxmxCPeygt8j8Sx6zUdbMBKP18130dr6MJRnwyEJDGy1tHJweVyFkgfXeQVGVk5G9q1Rr5NWen4irAO8jdig7uttuCHzUVifLKeP-NGtFlHOBUpNsAkjp3slk8uY1uw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfc664mrFT0zd9kW9M-xG9q5Oue5twLMGFJKqpUMKB9ZjaE9Pr7iRRxmxCPeygt8j8Sx6zUdbMBKP18130dr6MJRnwyEJDGy1tHJweVyFkgfXeQVGVk5G9q1Rr5NWen4irAO8jdig7uttuCHzUVifLKeP-NGtFlHOBUpNsAkjp3slk8uY1uw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwd8d_NQV68-O-bDEiImPyF8AtjIxkWt1DHuTmGWBzgx5iRTj_UlA80chJGRnEnBzl32vhwvyNsU17I33W8PrhXs7e19x5WF4qrGq5pT2DTVnQ6ViF7D6JjGWTVESog1l2QCBPCCtmdr9WqxwDYDPxf0nMpyhsQVX7yBDDzF3E7WLC37SXZg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgwd8d_NQV68-O-bDEiImPyF8AtjIxkWt1DHuTmGWBzgx5iRTj_UlA80chJGRnEnBzl32vhwvyNsU17I33W8PrhXs7e19x5WF4qrGq5pT2DTVnQ6ViF7D6JjGWTVESog1l2QCBPCCtmdr9WqxwDYDPxf0nMpyhsQVX7yBDDzF3E7WLC37SXZg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimW2TIYcsDzgME1BzlbMKPtGZhIbmmKs8frTcQVTJ2lLUOCwfaPGabd_by270hc3ccn-ti93MqEz7JaRjrn22Xqe8fjf2eP-wiKGAmRPfALc3dWdRIPWhpwum9KdXDFY80u3qywq373iVnsAQGYKL1U5HB5y3SgTgaETvWSPK3DCtPBUvdaA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEimW2TIYcsDzgME1BzlbMKPtGZhIbmmKs8frTcQVTJ2lLUOCwfaPGabd_by270hc3ccn-ti93MqEz7JaRjrn22Xqe8fjf2eP-wiKGAmRPfALc3dWdRIPWhpwum9KdXDFY80u3qywq373iVnsAQGYKL1U5HB5y3SgTgaETvWSPK3DCtPBUvdaA=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHkfEJBsMaknfCLcxV2SYlKcb_WKW3A0uCkCDtq3kLcoY3g191MzLfYRyfU0wZOnL-e9bSLd9wvwD5eq1lTMo5MyCllRIpfh0UK0V1NvfeC7gID_oUlnhtgWqInZfyeCZCemOruKvw1WOj7WaQYcnCwUT4CDRmqvUdr15NEC4GS_z1XG3gww=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHkfEJBsMaknfCLcxV2SYlKcb_WKW3A0uCkCDtq3kLcoY3g191MzLfYRyfU0wZOnL-e9bSLd9wvwD5eq1lTMo5MyCllRIpfh0UK0V1NvfeC7gID_oUlnhtgWqInZfyeCZCemOruKvw1WOj7WaQYcnCwUT4CDRmqvUdr15NEC4GS_z1XG3gww=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>She was in her K-9 glory.<div><br /></div><div>At night though, it was another story. It got cold, down into the 20's some nights, and Miss Priss wasn't down with that at all. So like the softie I am, I bought a new sleeping bag and gave Belle my old one, and she slept snuggled up in it every night, usually refusing to come out in the morning until the sun rose and warmed the interior of the truck up.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOZDwDbaOARa35AEeySR13cV-G_B5tOhdR8Mh4dm_-Wo2VF75uy4vNLmmJLizHt03KtjV7yYCcxrOEHS3Es8jD3DNZwTtANnSOGCYb1K5171lthDYYp9p37CcC5wQkPTEBNKNVzuC8tymEG17WHmXsJzyz6pP7M09ilLv70Geovu7ZqMlGPg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOZDwDbaOARa35AEeySR13cV-G_B5tOhdR8Mh4dm_-Wo2VF75uy4vNLmmJLizHt03KtjV7yYCcxrOEHS3Es8jD3DNZwTtANnSOGCYb1K5171lthDYYp9p37CcC5wQkPTEBNKNVzuC8tymEG17WHmXsJzyz6pP7M09ilLv70Geovu7ZqMlGPg=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7WqYVYWUsvaZ9jm1_VDIfQ5VdKheMMB_uD_imCwX2QGyfSYx6lg1MfP3nGOLWB2zPoo2AVRAUCkAwN0XpYhAKtgmwJ-T6tG7iDuV-YwcaTuZMl6Lu2XoBwTG2zbc7tXCUAxmnjLtzK__4OzL7vSxh1tktv0aL-cYJtX6xV-uOk2rGFWaFTw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7WqYVYWUsvaZ9jm1_VDIfQ5VdKheMMB_uD_imCwX2QGyfSYx6lg1MfP3nGOLWB2zPoo2AVRAUCkAwN0XpYhAKtgmwJ-T6tG7iDuV-YwcaTuZMl6Lu2XoBwTG2zbc7tXCUAxmnjLtzK__4OzL7vSxh1tktv0aL-cYJtX6xV-uOk2rGFWaFTw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWD2QOCzqpqoRGKkP8LcbFMRBQLgJBerJCS7blVg_vtejX4L48--ptzLywBBMjiW6xqc2yc6gWLwfLEjLsCclRlnzmO5LbWQjRwfKuPy5k1D-suKSiMK_hdJCAGbAErAn8iD-OXzKEHpfdZgDBBTey8V_DLH16DLWrfyTU9U8YyydNLUyFRA=s2742" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2585" data-original-width="2742" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjWD2QOCzqpqoRGKkP8LcbFMRBQLgJBerJCS7blVg_vtejX4L48--ptzLywBBMjiW6xqc2yc6gWLwfLEjLsCclRlnzmO5LbWQjRwfKuPy5k1D-suKSiMK_hdJCAGbAErAn8iD-OXzKEHpfdZgDBBTey8V_DLH16DLWrfyTU9U8YyydNLUyFRA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiobIx2N1w3NuumaaxfgJfDmtZFPqURx6Z8OS7tkRePp9Imsl6vUHmTtLQ0Sz_2Dh2wtkdx8Ncz3vMsZ9DnqQraAWBRYJxsyJMR5BfvItyzyGOrAJH5Hm3Bil5e30g3AK-cRSSsSVzLYIVXFZR2k-eQ-EkLQ1pirHXn7ueYUzbbEnGblYZuTw=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiobIx2N1w3NuumaaxfgJfDmtZFPqURx6Z8OS7tkRePp9Imsl6vUHmTtLQ0Sz_2Dh2wtkdx8Ncz3vMsZ9DnqQraAWBRYJxsyJMR5BfvItyzyGOrAJH5Hm3Bil5e30g3AK-cRSSsSVzLYIVXFZR2k-eQ-EkLQ1pirHXn7ueYUzbbEnGblYZuTw=s320" width="240" /></a></div><div></div><div><br /></div><div>And if that wasn't the goofiest, twice she got up to get water during the nights, and when she realized that she couldn't get back in the bag by herself, she woke me up and I had to get out of my nice warm bag to tuck her back in again.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spoiled? She sure is. But then she's my girl and she deserves to be spoiled.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5fFt_Ist2g8AQpnLedo8TulIlFkjM4BvWyOc-_dqNaC_Kjb3R691pOsV1NO4QVvnq-mvcVv8PrGzSDSvLJ5heOks66MuzoyZ3T6b4Vy8FvKJpBQ54q65K-jqCp-LaUMwhEQ0cy4HGQJ_kv5ZKIoUqVu_IQq2RMJ8X65EnM1SxAGtMywcMYA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg5fFt_Ist2g8AQpnLedo8TulIlFkjM4BvWyOc-_dqNaC_Kjb3R691pOsV1NO4QVvnq-mvcVv8PrGzSDSvLJ5heOks66MuzoyZ3T6b4Vy8FvKJpBQ54q65K-jqCp-LaUMwhEQ0cy4HGQJ_kv5ZKIoUqVu_IQq2RMJ8X65EnM1SxAGtMywcMYA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><p></p></div>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-47190043789637786392022-01-25T23:44:00.003-06:002022-01-25T23:44:17.566-06:00An update...and where I been.<p> As to yesterday's MG sale, the buyer texted me today to let me know that he had gone to the post office this morning, gotten them to give him back the letter with the check to me that he'd mailed the day before (because the Post Office does that all the time, right?) and he was now sending it overnight, arrival for Wednesday. Sent pictures of the check and new Priority envelope and signature requested now. So my guess is that no check really got mailed yesterday, even though he'd said one was. And since he's sending a personal check for some reason (?), you'd better believe that I'm going to hold the gun until it clears my bank.</p><p><br /></p><p>In other news, I'm just back from two weeks out west, camping with Belle on my new mine property.</p><p>Belle does not care to camp when it is in the 20's at night. But she tolerates it now that she has her own sleeping bag.</p><p>Yep, sale is final and I now own a fair-sized chunk of desert land and over a dozen miles of underground tunnels, drifts, winzes, raises etc., And Belle and I just spent two weeks on-site surveying our new domain and occasionally going into town to meet the new neighbors. It's definite now. The Lair is moving westward in the coming months, heading out to the great expanse. But it'll be gradual, and of course there will be pics and tales and more blogging than you've seen here recently.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1CGBURSFBmjtU3YKikAHFctFv-Cj-5UiVipM_92vUNu0OIK1BmtJEE5P4-1qQR7Mp7CpA0oK4p9WZpqm28vy-EJW7tp0E_lkabV5BMP8k92f-vJchM8jFl1Xvx5qIumeo1GBMqyM2jGWUTJQDtjygBIGz1IPPREQ1APRKLdemKm3WmVHqeg=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh1CGBURSFBmjtU3YKikAHFctFv-Cj-5UiVipM_92vUNu0OIK1BmtJEE5P4-1qQR7Mp7CpA0oK4p9WZpqm28vy-EJW7tp0E_lkabV5BMP8k92f-vJchM8jFl1Xvx5qIumeo1GBMqyM2jGWUTJQDtjygBIGz1IPPREQ1APRKLdemKm3WmVHqeg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiyWziJDP03BBSQ4jxyUvb7L25dGg2i4T52G9rpfISioqsCljItxhmxw3tHlCmFO5EKF6fDxsm8S3ukBlEk-tAM06QXwrD2YRbzEAf_O0yklqSkGnCOoncnNcsC82aiuuhbWf4srYUeTdClr6QsVAWjeJIEmGGSMartgXeVraAhxOoMt-s2fA=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE1HHSWmOKfQOgEqsteSpihuHQpnu5N-eyAkjhZVR2Po4hAAxUgraN3lPgXeUgv2VzVrGJ25gx6kNbAJiF23JhFSEZZMB_NcLgZnae1QabC3pjm-xWCJqGN4HrIejuf7nAbyymnJ_1DFV2Fnsr8-uTBIVR-SocPa35yhQ7vIBis8dKbzWQ7A=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiE1HHSWmOKfQOgEqsteSpihuHQpnu5N-eyAkjhZVR2Po4hAAxUgraN3lPgXeUgv2VzVrGJ25gx6kNbAJiF23JhFSEZZMB_NcLgZnae1QabC3pjm-xWCJqGN4HrIejuf7nAbyymnJ_1DFV2Fnsr8-uTBIVR-SocPa35yhQ7vIBis8dKbzWQ7A=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>All there, and all mine. And much, much more blogging to follow regarding this shift.</p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-22308561363081323282022-01-24T17:54:00.000-06:002022-01-24T17:54:11.111-06:00I swear I'm done with Class 3 (Machine gun) transfers<p> Two incoming guns and a few suppressors I need notwithstanding, I seem to have nothing but trouble when it comes to dealing with sellers and buyers lately and I'm done. From being sold an M60 with a bad barrel that promptly exploded on me despite coming from a seller known as a collector and expert on M60's to the Thompson gun that I bought from a dealer who "guaranteed" it but then insisted I only send it to his own gunsmith who just made it worse three times in a row, now I've got the buyer of that same Thompson getting weird with me now that the Form 4 has been approved for my transfer to his dealer. </p><p>It was supposed to be a 50/50 deal, where he paid half the cost up front, with the other half payable when the Form 4 was approved. But now that it's approved, he's going nuts trying to cajole me into shipping the gun to his dealer before his payment to me arrives, saying that "it'll be all right if they pass in the mail" and that I can "trust" him. He's now of course offended and angry that I'm insisting on waiting on payment, which he apparently sent through regular US Mail instead of overnighting it like someone really in a hurry would do or even sending it priority. He's even rolling out the "I was planning on buying more guns from you..." incentive, with the implication that he'll buy more guns but only if I ship this one before getting paid for it. It all adds up to a big pile of "fuck that guy" and I'm trying to figure out what to do it he doesn't come across with the full amount now that the Form 4 has been approved. The gun is boxed and ready to go but it's not moving until payment arrives and clears and somehow this is a massive breach of the "friendship" that he and I never even had and I'm the bad guy.</p><p>Screw this. The gun's not budging and I'm done with the Class 3 game.</p><p>And yes, two more guns are inbound, one from a dealer who already "forgot" to submit the ATF paperwork after I paid for it two months ago, but these will be keepers and I don't plan to sell them. </p><p>The MG community used to be small and exclusive and you could reasonably trust people to honestly and efficiently buy and sell guns that worked, but apparently that's a thing of the past. Now it's hustlers or dealers who don't care moving junk around. Times have changed and not for the better.</p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-61432709769756462482021-11-19T13:48:00.002-06:002021-11-19T13:48:30.909-06:00The Jury has decided...Now what?<p> NOT GUILTY!</p><p><br /></p><p>Now what should happen?</p><p><br /></p><p>1. The Left should learn that when they try to co-opt and shape an event for their own ends, people WILL eventually see through it.</p><p>2. Mr. Rittenhouse should be suing every leftist that has called him a "murderer" or "White Supremacist", and that includes Joe Biden along with CNN, MSNBC, Washington Post, New York Times, and many, many more.</p><p>3. Mr. Rittenhouse needs to get his gun back. Failing that, the rest of us should buy him another one. And send him to a couple good tactical and judgment shooting schools. He really shouldn't have put himself in that situation but he had the right to be there and he survived attacks by multiple leftists who tried to take that right--and his life--away from him.</p><p>4. Someone needs to offer Mr. Rittenhouse a good job and a scholarship. He deserves his life back.</p><p>5. Gabe Grosskruetz, needs to be charged with felonious assault for attacking Mr. Rittenhouse with that Glock pistol. </p><p>6. Every Leftist mad about this outcome should line up and start kicking rocks and pounding sand until they get over it.</p><p>7. At least one Member of Congress needs to invite Mr. Rittenhouse to be their special guest at the next Presidential Address.</p><p><br /></p><p>Yes, this pleases me. </p><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-55161416744890319802021-10-24T21:44:00.002-05:002021-10-24T21:44:58.088-05:00A real sign of the times<p> Last night we had our first New Orleans parade in over 18 months. It was the Krewe of Boo Halloween parade, traditionally the first real parade of parade season, which runs through Mardi Gras (This year, March 1st). And it was rushed and kinda small since the city only green-lighted it two weeks ago. Still, they managed to pull together a show with 14 floats and each one had a complete marching band and/or dance group in between them. It was vintage New Orleans again and for the first time since Covid hit, it started to feel normal again.</p><p>But one thing that caught my eye was this large sign on the very first horse-drawn wagon leading the parade:</p><p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_3Ilekj5ssW0V65GttSi0fB3y5ibf3dYky5TeDnV_y2tqMYGIynh6hyHO2t-vu0PtJhyFKaVxO2MCl-uEI478GQwiPBMNNH5A_F1tBCm8_bX-S0y9sglOEERz4t5_tvyYcZ/s2048/2BBCFAFC-F0FE-466A-AC97-1A544B8013B0.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs_3Ilekj5ssW0V65GttSi0fB3y5ibf3dYky5TeDnV_y2tqMYGIynh6hyHO2t-vu0PtJhyFKaVxO2MCl-uEI478GQwiPBMNNH5A_F1tBCm8_bX-S0y9sglOEERz4t5_tvyYcZ/s320/2BBCFAFC-F0FE-466A-AC97-1A544B8013B0.jpeg" width="240" /></a> </p><p>This isn't Cajun Country or North Louisiana. You'd expect this sign there--and sometimes a lot more--but this flew downtown New Orleans, on the little blue island in the middle of the big red lake that is Louisiana. This it the city that mourned when Trump was elected and voted overwhelmingly for Biden two years later. And last night, this sign led the parade and was applauded. Wow. If that's not a sign of interesting things to come next election, I don't know what is.</p><p>(For those not in the know, all three of you, it's a polite euphemism that means "Fuck Joe Biden". And it's popping up everywhere. Even here.</p><p>As for the rest of the parade, It was fun and I'm still mildly hung over.</p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9Xjd-6FYhXPSscFiVP7-bdi2xD1IcmiM0HYYLT0TdeaV73KAoDYMgNo1UxCRrQdF7dRKMtvEbvfBa_9UltaZNqpsM3mhC_XoOHjVBeXAVEd10k_C0URhWWpmXo09i-KPMfVn/s2048/C5F1578D-3C72-4DDD-BA9D-7A4E46048C5C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO9Xjd-6FYhXPSscFiVP7-bdi2xD1IcmiM0HYYLT0TdeaV73KAoDYMgNo1UxCRrQdF7dRKMtvEbvfBa_9UltaZNqpsM3mhC_XoOHjVBeXAVEd10k_C0URhWWpmXo09i-KPMfVn/s320/C5F1578D-3C72-4DDD-BA9D-7A4E46048C5C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3nMP60fyOXta8ueK67otTzzu51yE1xy9dFPHOd2uCOZIZC2K8i3kO3oOnedvGNqGdtiQV4fAUkdGb2Sa-tfa8GakIm0xMnfQkJd1Ibw0bdvTL3JjpGG1naI1H7AqVe_Hgh-r/s2048/AF3DD42F-6116-4104-A940-5505960D5C4C.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk3nMP60fyOXta8ueK67otTzzu51yE1xy9dFPHOd2uCOZIZC2K8i3kO3oOnedvGNqGdtiQV4fAUkdGb2Sa-tfa8GakIm0xMnfQkJd1Ibw0bdvTL3JjpGG1naI1H7AqVe_Hgh-r/s320/AF3DD42F-6116-4104-A940-5505960D5C4C.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4w05UiFr28jOXm-A-drzjtOIKufSkFCMYKWU4hlFsOe5tPFUdQMURRrMDW_bHttYZFxN-BeFKzqlcWv-jt_CU0mcKgj2hEDRH6eDVAp9he7l7fbsiN9v6yg3v4dEqKhtePvD/s2048/A32A7701-4E4A-4096-A7C1-5FF734B1BF9E.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4w05UiFr28jOXm-A-drzjtOIKufSkFCMYKWU4hlFsOe5tPFUdQMURRrMDW_bHttYZFxN-BeFKzqlcWv-jt_CU0mcKgj2hEDRH6eDVAp9he7l7fbsiN9v6yg3v4dEqKhtePvD/s320/A32A7701-4E4A-4096-A7C1-5FF734B1BF9E.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnUF6MAFi_ypQjmn0TvWZ8dFryNemiGV2lCsWWETCu06fxL7I3aHwSnxGYPxH026omScoyMf19zrmkPtw_9aQbnUOK81dZZLFCDUUwL1-iaJq_KgfChKpl8X94vefOjXJgUMA/s320/3CBFF755-9BAA-40F9-91E2-E75FC0871252.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UqM3M9b0EosJ9jU6CaGKJTMT5RaLVyl24iN0IEu_MJ853BdUFjCR60vMYYE387YB9nsZ9Bn5h5MfBC_rEaYVQhn4JaWXJwCSmdMbBWzQ4n_HyrsxubLRubWj6BVvVTYXvhZB/s2048/B4CF694D-ED58-43DE-AD7B-A7E9330B8CA2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UqM3M9b0EosJ9jU6CaGKJTMT5RaLVyl24iN0IEu_MJ853BdUFjCR60vMYYE387YB9nsZ9Bn5h5MfBC_rEaYVQhn4JaWXJwCSmdMbBWzQ4n_HyrsxubLRubWj6BVvVTYXvhZB/s320/B4CF694D-ED58-43DE-AD7B-A7E9330B8CA2.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-86875145841093670952021-10-02T23:23:00.001-05:002021-10-02T23:23:31.214-05:00New suppressed ammo test…WOW!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;">Today I got in my first new ammo shipment in almost a year. Prices and supply have been stupid as we all know thanks to Democrats and the things they’ve been doing and supporting but I’d been reading about this round and de used to give it a try if I found some at a reasonable price. Well today’s “reasonable” isn’t what it used to be but I managed to find a few boxes at about forty-five cents a round (who’d have thought we’d see the day so soon?) and in the interest of testing it out I bought them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7Q-J6Z-2pIjL3s24SXj19Oq77qiYsycuQhP0uGRsMfYbIAdayXh6fFsoyJ6tgQ7iQkWxR7AtwhzrIIuDgISpbpWnbiBbWq03K9j4sU6TF7IGIFE_7bwdZ90jY7Vox2rB8q9s/s2048/FE8E17E5-A112-4E1F-B1C8-FA3BC1B5ADF3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1266" data-original-width="2048" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ7Q-J6Z-2pIjL3s24SXj19Oq77qiYsycuQhP0uGRsMfYbIAdayXh6fFsoyJ6tgQ7iQkWxR7AtwhzrIIuDgISpbpWnbiBbWq03K9j4sU6TF7IGIFE_7bwdZ90jY7Vox2rB8q9s/s320/FE8E17E5-A112-4E1F-B1C8-FA3BC1B5ADF3.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>As it turns out, I was not disappointed <p></p><p>I wanted a good suppressed round for my Uzi with the Mossad II suppressor, who h so far had not impressed me a lick even with my own 147gr reloads. It was still only arguably hearing safe with anything I’d tried and even at best it was clearly audible at quite a distance. Although it sounded more like a roof stapler than a gun. I was regretting buying the can even though I’d picked it up used for a song even after the transfer. I was used to rifle suppressors muffling shots somewhat but I’d wanted more from the pistol-caliber Uzi and I felt like I’d wasted my time and money. But this test tonight changed everything. </p><p>Shooting just for sound and function, I fired the first round with hearing protection in place just to be safe. The bolt slammed home on the first round and had I not seen the slightest flash at the muzzle and felt the action cycle I’d have thought it misfired. WTF?! That wasn’t possible. Was it? I took the err pro off and fired another round. Then two more. The reports were barely louder than the sound of the action cycling. Now THIS…this was what I’d always wanted from a suppressor. I fired a few more, then pushed the selector into “hose ‘em down” mode and ran the mag out. If I’d had someone there to talk to we could have conversed over the minor noise this thing was making. Incredible. <br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bfz84UL2lypnLQ21vXbp0GrWK9UZkhckebRmKuVaLVrPSyvf3AP3984D7LhYfYg6EP2-jBYVIb7sZH0i3DsHYI5vf-Iz_-xNlK6gIczwAZOFjIEr-62dtanFgPn6NxXCoifP/s2048/C7497519-94D8-42A3-B9F7-2DD042470554.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1284" data-original-width="2048" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4bfz84UL2lypnLQ21vXbp0GrWK9UZkhckebRmKuVaLVrPSyvf3AP3984D7LhYfYg6EP2-jBYVIb7sZH0i3DsHYI5vf-Iz_-xNlK6gIczwAZOFjIEr-62dtanFgPn6NxXCoifP/s320/C7497519-94D8-42A3-B9F7-2DD042470554.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I’m not mad about 0.45 a round any more. Not for that sort of performance. Nice job, Winchester!</div><br /><p></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-40561698953301299432021-09-25T20:44:00.003-05:002021-09-25T20:45:56.308-05:00Murphy’s Day Out<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Today was actually a nice day in Louisiana. No hurricanes, no 90-degree/95% humidity weather...just a nice fallish day. So I packed Old Murphy up in the car and we went out and had a morning, just the two of us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">And no, his sisters were not happy about being left behind. But we needed this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89MfYpvnLu2NjG0z4JWHq4Fh5cbkS2VcQmVZvRRrpQ-IVu4jO7K6ErPXeC31ApNCb0xrMLEOFkJ9ShEBnx1dFmx3THYaXjCWnZMdpOZL-kNJLHWQooNgYCdLQlyzAywd-KgyB/s2048/72208879-AEF7-416B-AC10-FC499A7761BB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89MfYpvnLu2NjG0z4JWHq4Fh5cbkS2VcQmVZvRRrpQ-IVu4jO7K6ErPXeC31ApNCb0xrMLEOFkJ9ShEBnx1dFmx3THYaXjCWnZMdpOZL-kNJLHWQooNgYCdLQlyzAywd-KgyB/s320/72208879-AEF7-416B-AC10-FC499A7761BB.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">It's no secret that Murphy isn't a young dog any more. I got him back on <a href="https://lagniappeslair.blogspot.com/2010/12/hes-here.html" target="_blank">December 8th, 2010</a>, almost 11 years ago, and he was at least 2 years old then. 13 years is old for a German Shepherd. And I'd be lying if I said that he wasn't showing his age.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He was fast once; probably the fastest dog I've ever had, especially when he was bolting away from me, doing his own thing and reveling in the freedom. These days he just walks, stiff-legged and slow. He's got the arthritis. But damned if he don't still get around just fine.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">First time I saw him, he was trying to jump an 8-foot chain-link fence because he was hell-bent on sinking his fangs into me. He wasn't exactly friendly or socialized. And it was a year of constant work before I could even trust him around anyone else even on a leash. But these days he's beloved everywhere in the French Quarter, welcomed in many bars, and a favorite of the neighborhood kids. His jumping days are past though; he can no longer get into the truck without help, and he's even quit climbing up on the furniture. He still gets up on the counter and steals my food though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">He's a lot slower these days, but he's not done yet. Not by a long shot. Still, we're at the point where I like to just go spend some quality time alone with him, and enjoy the world at his pace. So today we went to Audubon Park, where he got a good brushing and a nail clipping (he hates both) but then he got to go walkabout and sniff all the things and get the pets. And of course he had to pose.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVHY8XXMp1DRpMyPsZ5l9k_MiMJ1jeB_SfaKaAYuwBKIrYxXfgesj0WfP8eZrdQu9U0wTEiz4R8O0YM7BCyN3S7ygVlcgNOLbZQZlqpUbK6CfRqIRZIZJP1yXn_DF4IpotU0e/s2048/01AD9339-A960-4698-ACCC-39081B2AFEE3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1702" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVHY8XXMp1DRpMyPsZ5l9k_MiMJ1jeB_SfaKaAYuwBKIrYxXfgesj0WfP8eZrdQu9U0wTEiz4R8O0YM7BCyN3S7ygVlcgNOLbZQZlqpUbK6CfRqIRZIZJP1yXn_DF4IpotU0e/s320/01AD9339-A960-4698-ACCC-39081B2AFEE3.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWIWdJRtahK1oBblTp1wL5hHa4E8r8nF7Lxri_SZ_v_gbCus3xPZ9WbN385narFF0gEH9kY1QFvYu8sfjBw0PrtXghUu2_HgRl2MwxIwplNSRNXVhYoAk9VUosmbgOkWQCI8E/s2048/4DA1E406-F212-4EF8-A23B-CCF17551A0C7.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1808" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSWIWdJRtahK1oBblTp1wL5hHa4E8r8nF7Lxri_SZ_v_gbCus3xPZ9WbN385narFF0gEH9kY1QFvYu8sfjBw0PrtXghUu2_HgRl2MwxIwplNSRNXVhYoAk9VUosmbgOkWQCI8E/s320/4DA1E406-F212-4EF8-A23B-CCF17551A0C7.jpeg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5YfWU9eKgrXLNULlQclDJE4LB18bz-25PPiw8zOdFxs5ygak8c94g02kAvrY8s7W1cICEPQNF7I_dSBCOsXDlbjMycUYaGDmfRGnysMPCdHPxCkKCMRhAGim_Jz9GHVdcXwX/s2048/AF1B8015-19A4-4EBB-90F1-534B935FDFCB.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-5YfWU9eKgrXLNULlQclDJE4LB18bz-25PPiw8zOdFxs5ygak8c94g02kAvrY8s7W1cICEPQNF7I_dSBCOsXDlbjMycUYaGDmfRGnysMPCdHPxCkKCMRhAGim_Jz9GHVdcXwX/s320/AF1B8015-19A4-4EBB-90F1-534B935FDFCB.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyZlqOBAem7T2x9ADd2JXP7ODWiEkGfYVpGF55l41bpNOAp6ISizINnje3j5pKwyG8nBSK2JuQCL8X1NStPUaTI3lmV1ph3BRZraOAxFgDwg5ieoWAqCcGxUHQCMD8NXKg5T4/s2048/B1694C9B-8CE2-439D-BC33-4549539F0744.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCyZlqOBAem7T2x9ADd2JXP7ODWiEkGfYVpGF55l41bpNOAp6ISizINnje3j5pKwyG8nBSK2JuQCL8X1NStPUaTI3lmV1ph3BRZraOAxFgDwg5ieoWAqCcGxUHQCMD8NXKg5T4/s320/B1694C9B-8CE2-439D-BC33-4549539F0744.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnenLmU0bQr7Z0R5yVcNb4jrfdX9_wq1mXINJqzSSzjY10Okzq-wBrhyswv5MVwerpdfafSyDR0VmHArEECsM7K0po2VofoRLTZkRqkbXk6e3kIhdZmCBn4Wdq86f6qSinG3yr/s2048/FD84CC14-0B4A-4CBE-ACD2-3C6A5B287423.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1779" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnenLmU0bQr7Z0R5yVcNb4jrfdX9_wq1mXINJqzSSzjY10Okzq-wBrhyswv5MVwerpdfafSyDR0VmHArEECsM7K0po2VofoRLTZkRqkbXk6e3kIhdZmCBn4Wdq86f6qSinG3yr/s320/FD84CC14-0B4A-4CBE-ACD2-3C6A5B287423.jpeg" width="278" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Then it was home for a nap. It was a good time out but now a nap in the sunbeam by the window was in order.</div>He's a senior now but he's still a serious watchdog and loyal defender of the Lair. And he's still my pal.<p></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-29233081351392478452021-09-11T14:08:00.000-05:002021-09-11T14:08:05.132-05:00New Orleans--return to normal. So ends the great game<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div> So as of yesterday, my freelance mutual aid support gig came to a close. Of the four mutual aid groups I was servicing, one shut down when they lost their own generator (because they never bothered to change or even check the oil--DOH!), another collapsed when the power came back on and the volunteers suddenly had better things to do. The primary person tried to keep going it alone but eventually broke down emotionally and had to quit. She really meant well but got too caught up in solving everyone else's problems and forgot to take care of herself.<p></p><p>Third group, the largest, shifted operations to Houma where the need was greater. I did not follow them. The last group was collecting and distributing supplies from a vacant lot adjacent to the home of one of the leaders but the owner of the lot showed up and kicked them off. His right but still a shitty thing to do considering that he never uses or cleans that lot and these folks at least mowed it and picked up all of the accumulated trash so they could work from it. I wasn't there when the guy showed up but I like to think I could have worked something out with him for another day or two. But that's what I do. I talk while others shout.</p><p>It was getting to be time to shut down anyway. The power came back on finally on Day 11 and the people showing up for help slowed to a trickle. The last couple of days I couldn't give water or ice away and I couldn't pay folks to take MRE's from me. I got stuck with six cases that were "gifted" to me by the aid group that didn't want them back. They were in demand for about two or three days after the storm and then when regular food started coming available, they just piled up...Meals Rejected by Everyone. Guess I'll be eating them for a while.</p><p>Trading was fun and profitable while it lasted and usually benefitted everyone as I shuffled goods from places where is was plentiful to places where it was in demand. Ice, water and food were my primary stock in trade but gasoline was my cash cow, so to speak. We had tons of it at two of the aid stations as it kept coming in, but it was difficult to move unless you has gas cans, which were in great demand. I had several to start with but I quickly doubled my supply by trading gas and other goods for empties and then I used those to take gas to places that needed it but couldn't come to the hub to get it. One in particular was a small coffee shop that stayed open serving the neighborhood by running on a generator. The owner left them one gas can and I supplied them with ten gallons a day in exchange for two gallons of cold brew iced coffee for the hub volunteers, including extra cups and one of their fabulous hot breakfast burritos for me every morning. Another place a couple miles away was selling brats every day the last week and they also got topped off every day in exchange for two brats and a cold beer. And of course my own generator and those of my friends and neighbors stayed full. And while homes were being looted during the last week, my house was always being watched by some of those same neighbors (and three dogs or varying degrees of utility).</p><p>Batteries were also in high demand and I distributed hundreds of them around the neighborhood to power lights, fans, radios, etc., I asked nothing for these since they were all donated anyway but a lot of grateful people are likely to remember me, at least for a little while. That has value too.</p><p>Others will remember me less fondly. The last day most of the people turning up to "request" items from the hubs were the junkies and local "entrepreneurs" who were trying to get large lots of hygiene and cleaning products in the original unopened packaging so they could resell it. Most of the volunteers were either oblivious to this or too uncomfortable to tell them no, but I had no problem being the mean one and telling one lady that no, she could not take two cases (eight gallons) of bleach. she'd gotten them already and I took them out of her wagon, giving her one and setting the rest aside to go down to Houma where people actually needed it. And boy, did she cuss me. We were also giving out umbrellas and she grabbed four and I grabbed three back. Same for batteries as she tried to clip a whole CASE of Duracells only to have me take them all back and hand her eight of each type before sending her on her way. True we had large quantities of these things but we also had no shortage of people who could use reasonable amounts, and if word got around that no one was going to stop these second-handers, we'd wind up inundated by them. So I made my presence and intention obvious at the two largest hubs and kept outflow to individuals down to fair levels. I also took a quantity of batteries to a small hardware store that was open and traded them to the owner for his stock of pepper spray and then I took those back and gave one to as many of our core volunteers as I could since some of the local junkies and freebooters were starting to get aggressive. One girl did end up having to spray a guy who tried to go behind the table and threatened her. Good for her. Again, I was elsewhere, darn it.</p><p>But our best score the last day was when one of the tame junkies (so called because they'd show up every morning and unload my truck and other donor vehicles in exchange for food and miscellaneous whatevers) came around with like a 3-4 week old puppy. He said that he bought it a few blocks away from a trap house (drug den) and that they had more for sale. The pup wasn't weaned yet and the others likely needed saving so I started calling rescues and making arrangements for them while planning how to get that one and the others. This junkie said that he could get all the other pups for $20 each and several of the volunteers, over my objection, quickly pooled their money and gave it to him. I know junkies and I was going to get these pups for trade goods or for free, but they paid him cash. Sighing, I made him take up to where the pups were and there were five more in this house. Our guy when up and paid another junkie $20 for the rest of the pups and pocketed a hundred bucks for himself. No surprise to me. Then he took off, leaving one of our girls to hold "his" puppy until he could return for it. We went in to get the pups and I saw mama dog in the other room, all upset because she wanted her pups. I demanded mama too and the junkie there was reluctant to let her go until I explained that the puppies needed her milk and she needed to be milked because her teats were enormous. He said I could take her for a bit but had to bring her back. Yeah, whatever. I said I would but never intended to as she was clearly starving herself and had a few untended open sores. She needed saving too. She growled at me at first but once she figured out that I was going to take her to her puppies she was sweet as could be. We took all the dogs to a local rescue that will care for them until the pups can be adopted out and then rehome them and mama, who is going to be spayed and medically treated. Truth told, she was so nice I was tempted to offer to take her myself, but I talked myself out of it. This first junkie skated right off to another trap house to score and never came back for "his" puppy, which was just as well because I sent it on with the others. Fuck him.</p><p>So we did a lot of good things this last week, but saving those dogs ranks highest on my satisfaction list. and then at the end of the day Thursday everyone shut down or pulled stakes and now I'm just here, somehow with cash in the bank to compensate me for diesel fuel burned. (That stuff was unobtainable for a while as fuel deliveries to area gas stations with power focused on regular gasoline and I only kept running because I'd stored 20 gallons and topped off the tank before the storm.) I also rotated out a lot of my older packaged supplies like bulk food and batteries into the distribution stream and replaced it with fresh stock. So my emergency supplies are replenished and refreshed and even expanded by all of the discarded MRE's that were literally tossed into my truck, unwanted and unappreciated, when the last two hubs broke camp. I'm in a better place now than I was before the storm. but I worked for it too. I delivered goods all over the area for 8-10 hours a day every day, I ran people to the urgent care, ferried volunteers around, ironed out petty disputes, press-ganged random people into "volunteering" to load and unload trucks every day (Hey, if you're standing around our lot when a truck needs to be filled or emptied, I'm going to put you to work, especially if you're there to ask for free stuff.) I also kept supply stocks at each hub evened out, made pharmacy runs and provided security at the hubs and overnight storage of as many supplies as could be shoehorned into my van every evening, in sum, I did lots of work, helped things run smoothly, and I got paid well in goods, cash and good will which one hopes can be parlayed into future favors should a need arise.</p><p>And here's the dogs:</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8l7mteZ8Rb0poBrFrEe9xZZseH25X0BD1wCPWgkcNBy2KOyyLJaNNMbW7ndVi9TIeb6EX8jEjO0Q8ZrMlsKZ4whyphenhyphenrrhOTv7rVx1ob77HqW4qiOYCkCnMXZ8dntMUkyYyoJ5x/s2048/BFC91D5E-6C8F-4BC7-B16B-A599E6831265.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK8l7mteZ8Rb0poBrFrEe9xZZseH25X0BD1wCPWgkcNBy2KOyyLJaNNMbW7ndVi9TIeb6EX8jEjO0Q8ZrMlsKZ4whyphenhyphenrrhOTv7rVx1ob77HqW4qiOYCkCnMXZ8dntMUkyYyoJ5x/s320/BFC91D5E-6C8F-4BC7-B16B-A599E6831265.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUKtMqImiVhTEyjQVBwOsRvwxqHkrq8-NUJYmXkVmPziXszta_fVU68KI5HMkW0i67o3xtATc5ZnmAuG8rb0ZfTzSXhLbL70dtvZCBEruj_8KlURpuW0a0bOTM2WUTBMUd22M/s2048/9F630F20-14FA-4455-A463-1D488F4158BA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwUKtMqImiVhTEyjQVBwOsRvwxqHkrq8-NUJYmXkVmPziXszta_fVU68KI5HMkW0i67o3xtATc5ZnmAuG8rb0ZfTzSXhLbL70dtvZCBEruj_8KlURpuW0a0bOTM2WUTBMUd22M/s320/9F630F20-14FA-4455-A463-1D488F4158BA.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH-u63zYOmKseIrYuL3xZO9hoTZEGOVLesfy2BIpp1-ulnyIQpnyLw6ktUf8ADejma3xGQmF5DHJVx5JJzK63dtEUdRw_pmZVumL7WbXlcA2VJIjDLsHs1zDM9V8DTSEo-lGe/s2048/AB3FFFC3-4361-410A-A382-B653A7176EEA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjH-u63zYOmKseIrYuL3xZO9hoTZEGOVLesfy2BIpp1-ulnyIQpnyLw6ktUf8ADejma3xGQmF5DHJVx5JJzK63dtEUdRw_pmZVumL7WbXlcA2VJIjDLsHs1zDM9V8DTSEo-lGe/s320/AB3FFFC3-4361-410A-A382-B653A7176EEA.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JISGSOfuZDHiCn2f49B1LOrhNO7Y0YbRidlYRx0iNnBMfxx_8_Ups06qPSTY0pIThx16vgEPpPuiVhz5GVzCF-JBYCS1J4ZuytcTJSFIVuf2G83co9Kba3sL2KDpxdAFb_iT/s2048/AD0A59B4-83A2-4B37-8C9F-E126CDCD7E1D.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JISGSOfuZDHiCn2f49B1LOrhNO7Y0YbRidlYRx0iNnBMfxx_8_Ups06qPSTY0pIThx16vgEPpPuiVhz5GVzCF-JBYCS1J4ZuytcTJSFIVuf2G83co9Kba3sL2KDpxdAFb_iT/s320/AD0A59B4-83A2-4B37-8C9F-E126CDCD7E1D.jpeg" width="240" /></a> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKpS0lNao6SmVeokvdI56SjzB2x8MauckCAl-Xx6JZFyaiWxnLwshVwqcbVFbiJIgcsgCeE7WodrPn_N3X7An3l9vyQRFk76aSUApunXwNtK3rA0_aw19wEpQCjgdx9hb3yyx/s2048/29E46DC8-C08B-428A-834D-08B5E16A16E6.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKpS0lNao6SmVeokvdI56SjzB2x8MauckCAl-Xx6JZFyaiWxnLwshVwqcbVFbiJIgcsgCeE7WodrPn_N3X7An3l9vyQRFk76aSUApunXwNtK3rA0_aw19wEpQCjgdx9hb3yyx/s320/29E46DC8-C08B-428A-834D-08B5E16A16E6.jpeg" width="320" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H0d95CVjpdtzLu2NzNOXAEF2Kr9mY-KAKTUoGStB-mIAEBmKe1Ogak5GurM3ks25w9wtWPo50BdtyfbaGthaDonR2NX48ET4Y7FPWTi5v9o6DW1IM6iDTY-1wPX9Ans8E7GM/s2048/3C507BCF-B2E6-4F21-B6BD-7B885036D68F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H0d95CVjpdtzLu2NzNOXAEF2Kr9mY-KAKTUoGStB-mIAEBmKe1Ogak5GurM3ks25w9wtWPo50BdtyfbaGthaDonR2NX48ET4Y7FPWTi5v9o6DW1IM6iDTY-1wPX9Ans8E7GM/s320/3C507BCF-B2E6-4F21-B6BD-7B885036D68F.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-H0d95CVjpdtzLu2NzNOXAEF2Kr9mY-KAKTUoGStB-mIAEBmKe1Ogak5GurM3ks25w9wtWPo50BdtyfbaGthaDonR2NX48ET4Y7FPWTi5v9o6DW1IM6iDTY-1wPX9Ans8E7GM/s2048/3C507BCF-B2E6-4F21-B6BD-7B885036D68F.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"></a></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pG-VaW0T4IE-2zoPDgEuRQ6yix253pULQb8wQ7_qc5YKYzTtekGlpdCjiFwYLkPYBSHOlVLbZtCzqYTEbcT7fDB-N0S28rtdWgmHLZHdPjHJo5_QvFz4uSfMFYCl1O4FcYXu/s2048/FDC083CF-9B84-428F-9244-8F8BDB2E47EA.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6pG-VaW0T4IE-2zoPDgEuRQ6yix253pULQb8wQ7_qc5YKYzTtekGlpdCjiFwYLkPYBSHOlVLbZtCzqYTEbcT7fDB-N0S28rtdWgmHLZHdPjHJo5_QvFz4uSfMFYCl1O4FcYXu/s320/FDC083CF-9B84-428F-9244-8F8BDB2E47EA.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p><p><br /></p><p>And here's some of the supplies that we did give out, now discarded Friday morning on the curb by someone who wanted them a few days ago but not now. These liters of water keep for ten years and the MRE's for at least five but the ones now discarding them apparently don't worry about tomorrow and more than they did before this recent storm with sent them running to us for this very food and water.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvWf9L9L38OZOD5bZNc1COPAOohr93P53tDwDZWN6lv6wwaYDeyXx96rye3COib43lX91-e-PGue0aQ7oDViGAke4wUM4juHpgOhgRFt3Wxb2gpp7kMMA0ufPtF8nDfagTIjx/s2048/38DB80DC-F61D-424B-AADB-8EF911B0A510.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvWf9L9L38OZOD5bZNc1COPAOohr93P53tDwDZWN6lv6wwaYDeyXx96rye3COib43lX91-e-PGue0aQ7oDViGAke4wUM4juHpgOhgRFt3Wxb2gpp7kMMA0ufPtF8nDfagTIjx/s320/38DB80DC-F61D-424B-AADB-8EF911B0A510.jpeg" width="240" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOVKoXl7nfrg6po_lm2hNG7E35dyX3O5lsD0p08nVzXvHfs2tIbkXRXUDnSK80I8tuw8OshKsN4c4bii6Eg8U6gm8sryemZ5HSgfBg1l_JBJGE8JIa0RbasSM9av9-KvbAaMT/s2048/C8C87426-E3EA-4ECF-9E6D-5A1BED4EA6BE.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipOVKoXl7nfrg6po_lm2hNG7E35dyX3O5lsD0p08nVzXvHfs2tIbkXRXUDnSK80I8tuw8OshKsN4c4bii6Eg8U6gm8sryemZ5HSgfBg1l_JBJGE8JIa0RbasSM9av9-KvbAaMT/s320/C8C87426-E3EA-4ECF-9E6D-5A1BED4EA6BE.jpeg" width="240" /></a></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-6193297562598543392021-09-07T12:56:00.001-05:002021-09-07T12:57:21.104-05:00Day 10 without power. Surviving and thriving in New Orleans. <p> 90’s with high humidity every day and your house never cools down enough to sleep comfortably at night. I’m now making deliveries of ice, food and other supplies around the neighborhoods, so much that everyone in three neighborhoods knows my truck on site and comes out when they here my 60’s rock music blasting like I’m some sort of free ice cream truck, which I am, only I give out ice, batteries, tarps, water, snacks, MRE’s and other goods all day. I’m also now acting as liaison between four different distribution hubs, all within a mile of each other, who refuse to cooperate directly or combine efforts due mainly to ego issues. Ridiculous. So I gotta play Henry-Fucking-Kissinger and make things work smoothly since I’m the sole independent mobile resource that any of them have to get supplies in and out. I leverage this power to make everyone play nice and share and move surpluses to shortage areas so that in the end, everyone in the neighborhoods gets what they need. I’m also the knowledge base of which greedy opportunists are moving from hub to hub, taking large amounts of supplies from all of them every day and doing God-only-knows what with it. We’ve got about a dozen such individuals I’ve had to put on a ban list and educate each of the hubs’ multiple volunteers about. I’m also the rapid response to these hubs for medical issues and disturbances and when not otherwise engaged I scrounge iced coffee by the gallon from the few places that are back open and deliver it to the hubs. All in all, I’m staying pretty busy.</p><p>In return, these groups are keeping me supplied with more than enough gasoline, food, batteries and anything else I might need, so I’m not complaining I’ve created a pretty decent paying job for myself here in Barter-land and as much as I’m rooting for the power to come back on here, I’ll also be a bit sorry when it does. I’ve got a good thing going here and I’m actually turning a fair but respectful profit in surplus supplies in addition to having all of my needs met. The ironic thing is that each of these four hubs is openly anti-capitalist, running the gamut from Socialist to Anarchist, but they each have to rely to a large extent on me, a proud Capitalist, to get their work done and I’m making bank off of all of them.</p><p>Seems like there should be a lesson there somewhere. </p><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-61747444324103989622021-09-04T15:55:00.001-05:002021-09-04T15:55:56.214-05:00New Orleans. Saturday afternoon<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vdOZ96xEGh30Z-5y_O24K1rnMkbPbq6W_ghallE2ZlytOJBaqRMsVdT5vBmWYj99K_cskVZXMivGiF9wAKMOLT3ouG_NQ77R1biH3MvNaSGh5C1h2DLduaBsfgyqPBiwNjaT/s2048/1FC95121-9B99-4A16-8AD3-D820EB6430C8.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5vdOZ96xEGh30Z-5y_O24K1rnMkbPbq6W_ghallE2ZlytOJBaqRMsVdT5vBmWYj99K_cskVZXMivGiF9wAKMOLT3ouG_NQ77R1biH3MvNaSGh5C1h2DLduaBsfgyqPBiwNjaT/s320/1FC95121-9B99-4A16-8AD3-D820EB6430C8.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgUXuYFbAiYy28ko9pk0YmvGlLBCL-4Y9OoAxh46vpZ3QKrTCm6QTnoh1fXtqKpbk0c_ITon3AMMohS9L-U5xUGraIwlREH_75nJrLH87AOsRW1IklGpGuxeRw0TyFtHXKxel/s2048/91EB6659-BD5D-4938-A4F6-4085893E8BE6.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgUXuYFbAiYy28ko9pk0YmvGlLBCL-4Y9OoAxh46vpZ3QKrTCm6QTnoh1fXtqKpbk0c_ITon3AMMohS9L-U5xUGraIwlREH_75nJrLH87AOsRW1IklGpGuxeRw0TyFtHXKxel/s320/91EB6659-BD5D-4938-A4F6-4085893E8BE6.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft1_TW3oswbFTRkZ2_ZTScTAAxGbnaHOkBq6a8M3UGk5yZFPsGqhjK9F-jryRdrKm3pVQ2yse0XjKsraMpw0V6Yorsy_DOHnqM7Bc1E8rB48G2xkylNmeDgvrFadSRRSw0r_T/s2048/4034E24A-C0EA-4870-AB0A-B2D1E30685E5.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjft1_TW3oswbFTRkZ2_ZTScTAAxGbnaHOkBq6a8M3UGk5yZFPsGqhjK9F-jryRdrKm3pVQ2yse0XjKsraMpw0V6Yorsy_DOHnqM7Bc1E8rB48G2xkylNmeDgvrFadSRRSw0r_T/s320/4034E24A-C0EA-4870-AB0A-B2D1E30685E5.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBtOTorQLs7sbj4SagkbodWXcT923MjddkaQJFJtXXscmfvT37Q_NoXDKEapds1OXuhgct0cPuHTsDamjGormWLFAnYTtxY4QUc7fblrwfn-VimwEVcqFp6nxDn9YAwycWpd/s2048/ABC80FA9-02CC-486A-8FF5-B18875C16EC0.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtfBtOTorQLs7sbj4SagkbodWXcT923MjddkaQJFJtXXscmfvT37Q_NoXDKEapds1OXuhgct0cPuHTsDamjGormWLFAnYTtxY4QUc7fblrwfn-VimwEVcqFp6nxDn9YAwycWpd/s320/ABC80FA9-02CC-486A-8FF5-B18875C16EC0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /> Volunteer aid station, one of many, set up by volunteers to distribute food, fuel, cleaning supplies, etc. (Includes gratuitous Merida picture. )<p></p><p><br /></p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20147126.post-1526497311792278882021-09-04T11:17:00.000-05:002021-09-04T11:17:18.490-05:00New Orleans Saturday update<p> Power is coming back slowly to the surrounding areas and gas stations are reopening out in the suburbs. I’ve managed to buy and barter for enough that I’m set for the next week or so and power should be back by then. Spent the morning helping friends put a tarp on their ridiculously steep roof and now moving supplies between various aid stations for local distribution. I’m saving my gas for the generator but I’ve got a ton of spare diesel for the van so I’m donating it to the cause. </p><p>Things are coming together pretty good here and we’re counting our blessings that we didn’t get hit as hard as communities to the west that really took it on the chin. New Orleans, despite the lessons of Katrina sixteen years ago, was still not ready for another direct hit and so many people that were here then still weren’t prepared for even this. No supplies set aside, no last minute store runs when it was obvious this was coming, no evacuating when they could…sad. Others however are bringing supplies in, distributing them, preparing food for others and filling the gaps that the government can’t cover. In short, we’re getting it done and should be nearly back to normal in a week or so for much of the area. </p>Murphy's Lawhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17164780742334950772noreply@blogger.com3