Gun Show...
This past weekend I had a table at the KC Gun & Knife Show at the KCI Expo Center. This is the third month in a row that I have had a table at that venue. I was assisted by my Uncle Randy and my buddy, Rob. We had rifles, shotguns, pistols, revolvers, ammo, magazines, reloading supplies, and knives. A little bit for everyone all on one table (Rob politely mentioned that maybe I should get an extra table next time and so I probably will). The folks that go to gun shows are from every walk of life, every race, and age group. There are vendor tables for firearms, ammunition, military surplus, knives, Scentsy, jerky, turkey calls, reloading supplies, t-shirts, and jewelry. I really enjoy talking to veterans that stop by and reminisce about a certain firearm they used during their military service. Pure historical education. Occasionally you will have someone walk by with a firearm for sale that is a collector's item and getting to hold one as they give you the history is really neat (this weekend we had a fella walk by with a Springfield Trapdoor Carbine from the 1800s). As for firearms sales this weekend, I sold more to women than to men. On Saturday I sold a Ruger LCR with Lasermax Laser to a grandma and learned how to do a firearms transfer to a Kansas dealer (a BIG thank you to She's A Pistol for being at the show and letting all the Missouri dealers know they were there to assist with Kansas transfers). On Sunday, I sold a Rossi Circuit Judge Tactical to a young lady my age who had a vast knowledge of firearms, trigger pull weights, and ammo ballistics that impressed both myself and my uncle; then towards the end of the day another lady around my age bought a Walther P22 Tactical to use for plinking since she enjoys going to the shooting range. Overall the weekend was a success as I walked away with money in my pocket. With all the negative news about firearms in the mainstream media, if you are curious about what kind of people buy/sell firearms I would encourage you at attend a local gun show (cost to get in is usually around $10) and see for yourself...these are my kind of people. 2nd Inning.
Politics...I lean toward the Libertarian point of view. If I had been around during the founding of our nation I probably would have leaned towards the Jefferson camp. It's funny, but if you think hard about many of the policies/reasons you tend to vote Democratic or Republican it is most likely due to wanting the government to stay out of your life as much as possible. Republicans, well the Libertarian Republicans, want a small-central government which would therefore be too small to regulate/oversee every aspect of your life from birth to death. Democrats, the true Liberals by definition, especially don't want the government involved in their lives as that would be the antithesis of being liberated. I would encourage you to check out the Libertarian Party's website and take the political party quiz to find out where you are in the political spectrum.
This ole...hunting camp. When I moved back to the Kansas City area in March 2004, I soon found myself looking for a place to go deer hunting. I spent the next few years going down to my in-laws in Arkansas and paying for the Non-Resident tag to hunt or hunting down in/around Hume, Missouri with my uncle and cousin. Well, after realizing that paying the out-of-state fee was really getting ridiculous and when the opportunity to hunt down by Hume evaporated I went looking for land to lease for hunting. In the summer of 2007 I finally found a 100 acre parcel of land north and just outside Weston, Missouri. The land is all wooded and full of hills and valleys (reminds me of north Arkansas). There is a creepy children's cemetery on the land from the mid to late 1800s. The owner advised me to leave the cemetery alone and that some of the people in Weston had trespassed and stolen headstones to sell in their antique stores (yeah, I don't need that kind of bad juju on me). 
We average around 5 hunters each year and take part in Spring Turkey season (and morel mushroom hunting) then in the fall we kick start the outdoor festivities with Archery season (I've not participated in that as of yet due to not having a bow but I bought one last year and will be ready come September!) then Fall Turkey, Fall Deer-Firearms, Deer-Antlerless, and finally Deer-Alternative Methods. While we hunt on the land we will camp out and during the Fall Deer-Firearms season we will stay up there for almost 2 weeks straight. In 2007, we purchased from Cabela's the Alaknak II 12x12 outfitter tent with a small wood burning stove. The following year we purchased the Alaknak vestibule to add more covered room to store gear from the elements. When walking around the 'Bargain Cave' in Cabela's in 2011 we found a 12x20 Alaknak tent and with such a great price we snatched it up. We now use both tents with the smaller one utilized as our cook tent. In addition, we built a barrel stove to use in the larger tent and it works extremely well. Most evenings at camp will find us sitting around the campfire drinking a few Coor's Lights, debating the merit of certain firearms, getting a history lesson, listening to some Johnny Horton, and discussing our favorite John Wayne movie. 
4th Inning.
Music...I grew up listening to--Golden Oldies of the '50s & '60s!
I remember listening to my mom's old 45 records as a young child that introduced me to variety of musical acts from that era. Then while working for my parents in their restaurant back in the late '80s/early '90s I was forced to listen to Oldies 95 every time I worked with a short-order cook that controlled the radio. Those musical influences have led to an appreciation for some great music. Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, Chuck Berry, The Animals, The Tokens, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons, Dion and The Belmonts, The Beach Boys, Ben E. King, Del Shannon, Bill Haley and the Comets, Bobby Darin, Booker T. & The MGs, Buddy Knox, The Capris, The Champs, The Coasters, Curtis Lee, The Diamonds, The Drifters, Eddie Cochran, The Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, The Five Satins, Frank Lymon, Freddy Cannon, Gary Lewis & The Playboys, Gene Chandler, Jerry Lee Lewis, Jim Croce, The Kingsmen, Lovin' Spoonful, The Mamas & The Papas, Manfred Mann, Maurice Williams, The Monkees, The Monotones, The Penguins, Percy Sledge, The Platters, Randy & The Rainbows, Ray Charles, The Righteous Brothers, Ritchie Valens, Roy Orbison, Sam Cooke, Sam the Sham & The Pharohs, Santo & Johnny, Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, and The Troggs to name a few (all musicians found on my MP3 player). I always feel a connection with that era. My first car was a 1967 Ford Mustang...I love 'Happy Days'...my childhood nickname, Beaver, is from a tv character from that era, and I love that music! I was hoping to catch 'The Million Dollar Quartet' show when it came to town and 'The Jersey Boys' but no such luck this time. But hey, who wouldn't want to be a greaser and wear that T-Birds jacket??? If you ever get a chance check out the movie 'The Hollywood Knights'. Great music and great humor!
5th Inning.
Firearms Corner...Smith & Wesson Model 3. I was watching an episode of Midway USA's Gun Stories the other day and the featured gun was the Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver. This revolver was revolutionary with its top-break design during the birth of the metallic cartridge. The firearm was popular among many outlaws (including Jesse James, Billy the Kid, and John Wesley Hardin), lawmen (including Virgil Earp and Pat Garrett), entertainers (Annie Oakley), and even a president (Theodore Roosevelt). Due to Smith & Wesson not being interested in redesigning the firearm to take the .45 Colt cartridge (used by the Colt Single Action Army revolver) the Federal government decided to go with Colt to supply the U.S. Army. But waiting in the wings were the Russians who liked the revolver and placed huge orders for it (which also trickled out its use to European countries). You can purchase originals that may cost you a small fortune but you can also purchase reproductions by Uberti, Heritage Firearms, and Smith & Wesson.
6th Inning.
American History lesson...Presidents' Day. Per The History Channel--"Presidents’ Day is an American holiday celebrated on the third Monday in February. Originally established in 1885 in recognition of President George Washington, it is still officially called “Washington’s Birthday” by the Federal government. Traditionally celebrated on February 22—Washington’s actual day of birth—the holiday became popularly known as Presidents’ Day after it was moved as part of 1971’s Uniform Monday Holiday Act, an attempt to create more three-day weekends for the nation’s workers. While several states still have individual holidays honoring the birthdays of Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other figures, Presidents’ Day is now popularly viewed as a day to celebrate all U.S. presidents past and present." It is tricky but the proper spelling of the holiday is 'Presidents' Day' NOT 'President's Day'. My nerd moment for the day. Oh, and here in Missouri, Harry S. Truman's birthday is celebrated on or around May 8th by the State government and its employees who get the day off. Fact--George Washington would be 281; Abraham Lincoln would be 204; and Harry Truman would be 129 this year.
7th Inning.
Random facts about me...I sleep on the left side of the bed if you are standing at the end of it holding a knife...I have strategically placed ball caps around the house in case of emergency...I mow the front yard before the backyard...My traditional breakfast during the fall and winter is instant oatmeal but during spring and summer it is cereal...I believe in Bigfoot...I had TWO posters of Alyssa Milano on my bedroom wall when I was in high school...Gina takes out extra life insurance on me during hunting season...I prefer my tea sweet...I have slept a 100 feet from a tiger.
8th Inning.
FFL Factoid...What are 'Firearms' under the National Firearms Act (NFA)? Not a complete list but here are a few:
- A shotgun that has a barrel (or barrels) length of less than 18 inches
- A weapon made from a shotgun that has an overall length of less than 26 inches
- A rifle that has a barrel length of less than 16 inches
- A weapon made from a rifle that has an overall length of less than 26 inches
9th Inning.
Spring Training is here...Throw it at the mascot!
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