Terrierman

I don't think any of us are going to change anyone's mind on this subject. We clearly have different life and work experiences and our views reflect them.

I want to hear the rest of this story.🙃

I hear that but can't buy it carte blanche. I'm sure there is a mix. I know I never worked anywhere I didn't feel I was treated fairly overall.

Ever hear of delayed gratification? What goes around comes around. And that's a fact Jack.

Mine was somewhere in the 30's can't remember for sure. But they were drafting down into the low 200's that year. If you got drafted you went to basic, Fort Hood and then Saigon for assignment to the field with a bunch of pukes who did not want to be there with a bunch of lousy officers. So, not wanting to do that or flee to Canada, I enlisted in USMC for the shortest enlistment possible. Two years. It was horrid as first but by the end of my time there I was having a lot of fun. Do not regret it at all. My time in Viet Nam was on deck of USS Mobile or USS Denver. Never got SVN mud on my boots.👍

If you'd had a low draft number it would have. Feel free to ask how I know.🙃

USMC does emphasize close order drill. I can still call cadence in my mind. You guys gave me goosebumps with the memories of those days.

If you haven't been there, you cannot imagine what Santa Ana wind is like. This is rough. Santa Ana is tough. At least they seemed that way in 1971 when I was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Fighting grass fire with a flak vest will lighten it right up. Wind and fire are something to behold.

I have to say I think you deserve the finest. Good job Marty for taking Pat out on her Happy Birthday.

I was outside last night with a good light looking for the cat. The stuff in the beam of the light was impressive. Hard to imagine what a 1930's dust storm must have been like.

56 MPH is the highest I've seen on our wind speed monitor. I went to the store earlier. Wind and truck door nearly amputated my foot!

It helps to have an over 16 and under 21 kid too. Built in designated driver.

So, here's a bit of back story. I've been a long time fan of Ruger rifles. I bought this M77 RL new in .270 Win in 1985. It's taken too many deer to count, and a couple of elk. It's always been a good accurate rifle and it's light enough to carry all day. It's got a Bushnell Elite 3200 3x9 scope on it. Good scope too, holds zero perfectly, it's bright, has their rainguard coating that helps keep the lenses clear even in bad weather - and the crosshairs glow for about 15 minutes after shining a light in the lens. Very nice early and late. This rifle is an old and dependable friend. It is in exceptionally good condition, nice slick bore and the stock (cut checkering, not stamped) is not marked up at all. No rust anywhere. But it's time for me to let it go. Since I hurt my shoulder in a fall on the ice several years ago (complete rotator cuff separation and 90% on bicep) it just seems to be slowly getting worse. To the point the recoil from .270 in a light rifle was affecting my accuracy and enjoyment of the rifle. Thus, this post. The rifle is for sale. They bring $1200 +/- on Gun Broker with no scope. I'll sell this one for $1000. Still have about a box and a half of 130 grain Winchester Supreme that the rifle seems to like and the deer don't. So they go too. Here's the rifle: I'm basically in Ozark and will travel a reasonable distance - say 100 miles - to meet if needed. Face to face deal, I'm not messing around with an FFL to ship. Let me know if there's interest. I'm not giving up centerfire rifles altogether. I've got another Ruger incoming, a .223 Gen II American Ranch Rifle. Just ordered a Leupold 2x7 to put on it, rings and some ammunition. The .223 will do anything I need to do now and with almost insignificant recoil. So looking forward to having it. I've already sold my 1942 Husqvarna M38 Swedish Mauser and gave my .30-06 Remington Pump to a grandson. I now only have Ruger rifles. A 77/22 in .22LR with a 4x Nikon scope and a 77/22 All Weather (boat paddle stock/stainless rifle) in .22 Magnum with Leupold Compact 2x7 on it. So I'm down to one manufacturer with three rifles all in .22 caliber. It's good to be me.

Full lunar eclipse tonight/early tomorrow AM. I'd go late.

I've posted about having regular meals with a bunch of college boys that are friends of our grandson and now friends of ours too. I don't worry about a single one of them. College may not be for everyone - and it isn't. But the people that are ready for college and work it are statistically favored to do well in their work lives. It is definitely fun and eye opening to talk with them.