Tucked Away For The Winter

Above, the motorhome after getting inside its garage. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that my traveling for the year is over, I put the motorhome inside its garage (the GOCO Beast Barn) for the winter. 

I used it recently for staying in Albuquerque one night as I had an early morning flight to Des Moines the next day as well as for transportation from Albuquerque to home after I flew back via John Wayne Airport. 

Then, I traveled to Lake Havasu for the Christmas holiday. 

I got a lot of use out of the motorhome this year. The longest trip was to Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota in July. 

Most likely, the first trip in 2026 will be the spring clampout with the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus. That'll be around April.

New Years Rain/Snow Showers Possible

Above, New Years snow in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

For New Years Eve, I was considering going to Fire Rock Navajo Casino outside of Gallup tonight. 

However, I am going to skip it as we may be getting some rain and snow showers tonight. We sure do need the water, but braving a trek in those conditions along with drunks on the road is not a great idea. So, I will remain at home. 

According to the National Weather Service for Gallup/Jamestown:

Today

Mostly cloudy, with a high near 55. Calm wind becoming northwest around 5 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

A slight chance of rain and snow showers between 8pm and 11pm, then rain showers likely. Cloudy, with a low around 36. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

New Year's Day

Showers likely. Cloudy, with a high near 49. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch possible.

Thursday Night

A 50 percent chance of showers. Cloudy, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday

A 40 percent chance of showers before 11am. Cloudy through mid morning, then gradual clearing, with a high near 49. West wind 10 to 15 mph. 

Rangers: 13 National Parks Better Than Yellowstone

Above, lounging bison in Yellowstone National Park. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Every American should visit U.S. national parks.

Some are bigger (and better) than others. This is the point of an article by Yahoo! Life. They list 13 U.S. national parks that are better than Yellowstone National Park according to park rangers.

Some of them I have visited.

They start their article with:

Yellowstone may be America’s most famous national park, but many park rangers quietly agree that fame does not always equal the best experience. Heavy crowds, traffic jams caused by wildlife sightings, and increasingly limited access have changed how visitors experience the park. Across the United States, there are national parks that offer just as much natural drama, wildlife, and geological wonder, often with fewer people and a deeper sense of immersion. Rangers who have worked across multiple parks frequently point to these alternatives as places where nature feels more powerful, accessible, and rewarding.

These parks deliver towering landscapes, diverse ecosystems, and unforgettable moments without the congestion Yellowstone now faces. Many provide better hiking access, clearer wildlife viewing, and more opportunities for solitude and reflection. From coastal cliffs and desert canyons to alpine peaks and ancient forests, these destinations showcase America’s natural diversity at its finest. According to those who protect and know these places best, these national parks don’t just compete with Yellowstone, they surpass it.

 

Above, Lassen Peak from Devastated Area in Lassen Volcanic National Park, which made the list.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To read more, go here.

Brigitte Bardot and Guns

Above, Bardot with a Winchester 94 in Viva Maria! (1965).

Brigitte Bardot had an interesting and varied life. She went from sexpot to an advocate of animal rights. 

During her movie career, she used varied guns in her movies, from pistols to rifles. Interestingly, in one of her movies, Shalako (1968) she used a Single Action Army revolver. Shalako is most noted as a western starring Sean Connery.

In Gun Culture (laststandonzombieland), several photos of Bardot with weaponry are shown. 

They start off their post with:

With the passing of the late, great Brigitte Bardot (1934-2025), who held spicy takes about various religions and was a champion of animal rights, it is perhaps fitting to note her work in steel over the decades, particularly in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

To read and see more, go here. 

New Years "Band of Gypsys"

Today is New Years Eve.

It has been somewhat a tradition for me to pop in the cassette (or CD) on New Years Ever of the famous live performance of Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles and Billy Cox that took place on New Years Eve 1969 at the Fillmore East. It has been immortalized in the album, Band of Gypsys. 

Ironically, the album was a settlement of a lawsuit against Hendrix and it was released by Capitol Records in the U.S. instead of Hendrix's usual record label Reprise Records. Hendrix did not like the album cover photo used. He felt that it looked like he was capitulating. 

The Band of Gypsys album includes the greatest version of "Machine Gun".  Everything came together with that song. 

So, for your listening and viewing pleasure, here is "Machine Gun". Happy New Year!

Jeep Drive

Finally, after a week away from home, I got the Jeep out of the garage and did some joy riding.

Since Six Mile Canyon of Cibola National Forest is now closed (as of December 15), I could only go as far as the gate at the old corral on Six Mile Canyon Road.

After that, I drove around our subdivision for a bit and ended up at Barking Spider Acre, where the below photos were taken. While there, my next-door neighbor came over and we chatted for a bit. Noticing that smoke was coming out of his workshop's chimney, I joked, "Are your sending smoke signals?" He replied that it was his wood stove heater in the workshop.

It was nice to take the Jeep out for a ride. I was going to drive it to Denny's this morning for our Tuesday coffee, but it was too cold out (around 29°). I took the Mustang instead.

 

NCL Warns Cruise Demand Weakening

Above, the Norwegian Sky docked at Nassau, Bahamas. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Are cruise demands softening? According to an article posted at MSN, it appears to be the case.

They wrote: 

(Bloomberg) -- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. broke with its cruise peers by warning that cruise demand, which has long defied worrying travel trends, is beginning to weaken. 

The cruise operator saw “softening” in its 12-month forward bookings, though maintains ticket sales are within the “optimal range, even amid ongoing macroeconomic volatility,” according to a statement Wednesday. Despite that, the company maintained its full-year targets. 

“While we recognize there may be potential pressures on the top line, we believe these can be effectively offset by the continued execution of our cost savings initiatives,” Chief Executive Officer Harry Sommer said in the statement.

Shares dropped as much as 20% in premarket trading. 

The thing (after reading this) that first came to mind is that several cruise lines have cancelled cruises even after tickets were purchased by people. People reading stories about cruises being cancelled may have dissuaded them from booking a cruise. Who wants to book a cruise only to have it cancel saddling them with airfare costs to travel to ports of departure?

Inflation may be a big factor as well.

To read more, go here. 

Gun Cleaning, Etc.

Above, the Winchester 94. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

This morning, I cleaned the guns I brought with me to Lake Havasu for the Christmas holiday.

The guns are both Winchesters, one a Model 94 and one a Model 12 shotgun. Both were cleaned and oiled.

As I mentioned a few days ago, I had problems with the shotgun after firing one shot. I think that the gun was not properly aligned (it is a take-down model) and the pump action wouldn't cock. I did some tinkering with it and it cocks fine. I'll have to give it a try-out.

That will have to wait for a few months as the weather is cold out (15°) and there's bound to be snow (eventually).

New Great Stirrup Cay Pier Receives First Ship

Above, the Norwegian Sky with a tender boat alongside at Great Stirrup Cay. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Last year, a friend and I took a cruise to the Bahamas.

One of the stops for the cruise was Great Stirrup Cay, a resort island owned by the cruise line, Norwegian Cruise Line. There, we did some jet skiing.

Upon arrival, the ship, the Norwegian Sky, docked offshore and we were tendered to the island. A pier was in the planning stages at the time. The pier is now completed and had the first ship to dock there.

According to Cruise Hive:

On December 28, 2025, Norwegian Getaway made history as the first NCL ship to dock at the newly completed multi-ship pier at Great Stirrup Cay in the Bahamas.

The 268-acre resort, which is located in the Berry Islands, is the one and only port call on a 3-night sailing from Miami that embarked on December 26, 2025.

“Today marks a historic moment for Norwegian Getaway and in the history of Norwegian Cruise Line to be the first ship to dock at Great Stirrup Cay with the opening of our brand-new pier,” NCL wrote in the Freestyle Daily Newsletter, which was shared in Cruise Hive’s NCL Facebook group.

To read more, go here. 

Silver Near $75/Troy Ounce

Above, a 1945 Walking Liberty half dollar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A few minutes ago, I took a gander at the current spot price of silver at Comex. Well, to say the least, it was hovering around an astounding $75/toz. It opened today at $80/toz.

While gold has fallen a bit, silver is still roaring like gangbusters.

 

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist.

To start off the week and close out 2025, we have Cat Stevens (or Yusuf Islam, who uses the stage names Cat Stevens and Yusuf) with his song "Angelsea" from his 1972 album Catch Bull at Four.

From Wikipedia: 

Yusuf Islam (born Steven Demetre Georgiou; 21 July 1948),[1] commonly known by his stage names Cat Stevens, Yusuf, and Yusuf / Cat Stevens, is a British singer-songwriter and musician. He has sold more than 100 million records and has more than two billion streams. His musical style consists of folk, rock, pop, and, later in his career, Islamic music. Following two decades in which he performed only music which met strict religious standards, he returned to making secular music in 2006. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2014. He has received two honorary doctorates and awards for promoting peace as well as other humanitarian awards.

UPDATE (12/30/25):

I decided to add this song from 1974, also by Cat Stevens, into this spotlight blog.

Stopped At Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Above, the big Jack Rabbit was decorated with Christmas decorations. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Yesterday, I drove home from Lake Havasu City, Arizona after spending Christmas with Holly & Mitch Geriminsky.

Along the way on Interstate 40, I made a few stops. One of which was at Jack Rabbit Trading Post. While there I chatted for a bit with the proprietors Tony and Cindy Jacquez. I has been a while since I last visited. I mentioned that we lost Russell Azbill in October as he enjoyed stopping at their trading post. He liked their t-shirts.  I mentioned that I finally was able to see the inside of the dome of Meteor City Trading Post. 

I picked up a miniature replica sign of their iconic sign that sits out on Historic Route 66. They said that it is one of their biggest sellers.

Above, my new Jack Rabbit Trading Post sign in the den. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

After visiting for a while, I then headed off towards home, with a stop at the Tee Pee Trading Post in Lupton, Arizona for cigars. 

A Stop At The Meteor City Trading Post

Yesterday, I drove home from Lake Havasu City, Arizona.

Along the way, I made a stop at the newly-reopened Meteor City Trading Post. I stopped a few weeks ago, but they weren't open until 10:00. So I made it a point to stop there on the way home.

I bought a t-shirt from the trading post and before leaving, I took some photos.

Here they are:

Possible Snow Tomorrow In Flagstaff

Above, this is what I want to avoid tomorrow. This was seven years ago.

Tomorrow, I am planning to return to New Mexico.

I just checked the National Weather Service and it appears there's some good chance of rain and/or snow showers in the Flagstaff area. I have to take Interstate 40 through Flagstaff to get home. If I can drive through Flagstaff with no problem, the rest of the way should be a piece of cake. 

According to the National Weather Service for the Flagstaff area:

 Tonight

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 26 mph.

Saturday

A chance of snow showers before 11am, then rain and snow showers likely between 11am and 4pm, then snow showers likely after 4pm. Partly sunny, with a high near 41. Southwest wind 10 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. Little or no snow accumulation expected.

Saturday Night

A 20 percent chance of snow showers before 11pm. Mostly clear, with a low around 19. West wind 3 to 6 mph.

Plinkin' In Arizona

This morning, Mitch and I (along with a local friend of Mitch's named Pat) did some plinking in a Bureau of Land Management canyon north of Lake Havasu. We went following a stop at The Bagel Bin in Lake Havasu for a bagel breakfast.

I brought along my Winchester 94 and Winchester Model 12 shotgun. The Winchester 94 worked fine, but after getting off one shot with the shotgun, the pump wouldn't work right and wouldn't shoot. I am guessing that since it is a takedown shotgun, it may have gotten out of its configuration. In any case, I will check with the gunsmith in Grants after I get home to see what's going on. It worked fine the last time I used it.

Still it was fun to do some plinking at a new place (to me, that is). 

Some photos:

Above, yours truly with the Winchester 94. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Above, Mitch with one of his shotguns. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Pat with Mitch's shotgun. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, our mode of transportation, Mitch's Kawasaki side-by-side. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

NM 7-Day Gun Waiting Period Remains On Hold

The seven-day waiting period for gun purchases enacted by the New Mexico Democrats has been effectively ruled unconstitutional by the 10th Circuit Federal Court of Appeals.

A panel of the court ruled the law was unconstitutional last summer but was sent to the full court. But they decided not to re-hear the case. 

From KOB 4:

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The seven-day waiting period for buying a gun in New Mexico remains on hold due to a Federal Court of Appeals decision.

The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver, which oversees New Mexico, upheld a ruling from last summer after two individuals and the National Rifle Association challenged the waiting period law. The law, passed by state legislators last year, was found to violate the Second Amendment.

This is definitely a victory for Second Amendment backers in New Mexico.

To read more, go here. 

The Winchester Model 1894 and the Inventor Who Armed the Frontier

The Mind Behind the Weapon: The Winchester Model 1894 and the Inventor Who Armed the Frontier, video by Engineers of War.

Summary:

The story of John Moses Browning and the Winchester Model 1894. 

Trump Administration Sues Washington DC Over Gun Laws

The Trump Justice Department is suing Washington, DC over its semiautomatic restrictions, saying it violates the Second Amendment.

MSN reported:

Donald Trump-led US administration is suing the Washington, DC, government over its gun laws, arguing that restrictions on certain semiautomatic firearms violate the Second Amendment rights. The US Department of Justice filed the lawsuit on Monday in the District Court for the District of Columbia, naming the Metropolitan Police Department and outgoing police chief Pamela Smith as defendants.

The case sets up a major legal battle over how far governments can go in regulating individual gun ownership.

"The United States of America brings this lawsuit to protect the rights that have been guaranteed for 234 years and which the Supreme Court has explicitly reaffirmed several times over the last two decades,"the Justice Department said in its filing. 

To read more, go here. 

Merry Christmas!

 

John Wayne On John Ford Directing Him In STAGECOACH

John Wayne On John Ford Directing Him In STAGECOACH video from the American Film Institute.

Summary:

In this clip from the documentary DIRECTED BY JOHN FORD (by Peter Bogdanovich) John Wayne talks about John Ford directing him in STAGECOACH.

Made It To Lake Havasu

Above, I took this shot of the sunrise from the entrance to Petrified Forest
National Park. I stopped there for a coffee break. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Well, I made it to Lake Havasu, Arizona.

I will be spending the Christmas holiday with Mitch & Holly Geriminsky. I have done so for the past several years.

I got into town at about 1:30 in the afternoon. This was after driving around 420 miles from home in New Mexico. I got on the road at 5:30 in the morning. 

Above, a rancher put up this sign on his property ten miles east of Seligman, Arizona. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Outside of some wind along the way, the weather was good. It did rain in the evening hours in Lake Havasu. 

I decided to go to bed early as I was tired from the long drive. 

General George S. Patton's Actual Movie Speech In His Own Voice

The actual voice of Gen. George S. Patton sounded nothing like George C. Scott in the movie Patton. But it was rip-roaring nonetheless.

Thanks to Band of Brothers TV, we can hear Patton's voice giving a speech, many phrases were used in the movie.

Here's Gen. George S. Patton in his own voice. Beware, it is explicit:

Gas Stations and Refineries In California Shutting Down

Above, California's lizard Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Marxist Democrats who control the California state government are hell-bent on making the state so expensive that nobody wants to live there. I got out eight years ago.

Led by buffoon Gov. Gavin Newsom's government is causing oil companies to close up their refinery and gas station shops and leave. This will eventually cause the price of gasoline to skyrocket to $10-12 per gallon according to industry experts.

The Federalist blog (by friend and Clamper Gary Julian) posted an article on this. 

To read it, go here.

The idiots who consistently vote for Democrats deserve this misery. This is what happens when you have a one-party state of Marxists.

Duke and Roy At Country Pride Restaurant

During the drive from Des Moines, Iowa to Orange County, California, one of several stops along the way was in Lebo, Kansas at the TA Travel Center.

Contained in the travel center is a Country Pride Restaurant. Jessica and I stopped in for some breakfast. Inside the restaurant dining room were two photos. One was of John Wayne and the other was of Roy Rogers. They were hung next to each other. I didn't notice any other celebrity photos.

Here are the photos:

What Happened To Billy the Kid's Winchester?

Above, Billy the Kid's grave in Fort Sumner, New Mexico in 2024. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Billy the Kid's Winchester: The Mystery of His Lost Rifle video by Ghosts of the Frontier.

Summary:

What happened to Billy the Kid's favorite Winchester rifle after Pat Garrett shot him in 1881? This video investigates the mysterious disappearance and sudden reappearance of one of the Old West's most famous weapons.

On April 28, 1881, William H. Bonney—better known as Billy the Kid—made his legendary escape from the Lincoln County Courthouse in Lincoln, New Mexico. After killing Deputies James Bell and Bob Olinger, he grabbed a Winchester Model 1873 rifle from the courthouse armory before fleeing. Just 77 days later, Sheriff Pat Garrett tracked him to Pete Maxwell's ranch in Fort Sumner and shot him dead in Maxwell's darkened bedroom.

According to historical records, Garrett recovered Billy's Winchester that night. But then the rifle vanished from the historical record for over a century. Unlike other Billy the Kid artifacts with clear documentation, this Winchester left almost no paper trail during the crucial years after the outlaw's death.

In 2021, a Winchester 1873 (serial number 20181, manufactured in 1876) sold at Bonhams Auction House for $300,000, claiming to be Billy's rifle. The provenance states Pat Garrett gave it to cattle baron Joseph C. Lea, who had it displayed at the New Mexico Military Institute from 1898-1925. But the earliest documented evidence is a notarized statement from 1897—sixteen years after Billy's death.

This video examines the evidence for and against this rifle's authenticity, exploring the gaps in the chain of custody, the proliferation of Winchester rifles in 1880s New Mexico, and why the documentation only becomes solid decades after Billy the Kid became a legend.

Classic Rock Music Monday

The stuff that now passes as "music", particularly rock 'n roll, leaves me cold. So, to start off the week, here's a video of a classic rock artist. 

Here's something that seems very recent, but it was released in 2011: "Somebody That I Used To Know" by Gotye and featuring Kimbra.

From Wikipedia:

Wouter André "Wally" De Backer (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈʋʌutər ˈɑndreː də ˈbɑkər]; born 21 May 1980), known professionally as Gotye (/ˈɡɒtieɪ/ GOT-ee-ay, French: [ɡotje], Dutch: [ɡoːˈtɕeː]), is a Belgian-born Australian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. His 2011 single "Somebody That I Used to Know" (featuring Kimbra) topped the Billboard Hot 100, as well as several international charts, and became the best-selling song of 2012. He has won five ARIA Awards and received a nomination for an MTV EMA for Best Asia and Pacific Act. At the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, the song won Record of the Year and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance, while its parent album — Making Mirrors (2012) — won Best Alternative Music Album.

Two Incredible Yakima Canutt "Stagecoach" Stunts

 Two Incredible Yakima Canutt Stunts From John Ford's "Stagecoach" (John Wayne, 1939)

Summary:

"Stagecoach" would be John Wayne's starmaking picture.

His friend, actor/stuntman Yakima Canutt, was the film's stunt coordinator.

Yakima personally performed one thrilling stunt in particular...

...which would famously inspire a similar one in "Raiders of the Lost Ark."

And then there's the next one...

Yakima Canutt would win an honorary Oscar award in 1967. 

Silver Price Keeps Running, Breaks All-time High Again

Silver Price Keeps Running, Breaks All-time High Again video by Investing News.

Silver is currently trading at $67.395 according to Comex.

5 Forgotten Rifles That Are BETTER Than Anything You Can Buy Today!

5 Forgotten Rifles That Are BETTER Than Anything You Can Buy Today! video by Gun-Man Ballistic.

Summary:

Discover 5 forgotten rifles that outperform almost any modern firearm available today. We take a deep dive into the masterful craftsmanship, unmatched reliability, and precision engineering of these vintage legends. While modern manufacturing prioritizes speed, these classic gems were built to last a lifetime. Find out why "newer" isn't always "better" and which historical powerhouses you should be looking for.

Ronald Reagan, Clamper

Above, Gov. Reagan and Michael Landon at the Ambassador Hotel on
 California Primary Election Night in 1980. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Over the years since the mid-1980s it had been said in various circles of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus that every California governor, except Jerry Brown, were members of the Order.

I became a Clamper in January 1984.

Here's a newspaper article on when Ronald Reagan became a Clamper. It was during the time he was governor-elect following the 1966 election campaign.

 

Lou Cannon Dies At 92

Above, President Reagan with Lou Cannon and his wife, Mary Cannon, in 1985. 

It has been reported that journalist and Ronald Reagan biographer Lou Cannon has passed away.

He reportedly died yesterday at a hospice facility in Santa Barbara, California due to a stroke. He was 92.

I have an autographed book by Cannon that I bought some years ago at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

Here is the cover:

Here is the autograph: 

Does This Make Me An Outlaw? (Video)

Does This Make Me An Outlaw? video by Hickock45.

Summary:

A look at firearms that a novice might think I should not own!     Sadly, YouTube must think this makes me an outlaw, as well, since they demonetized this video.  :-)

 

What To Buy In Tokyo's Kappabashi

Above, Kappabashi's Giant Chef. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

During my 2014 trip to Japan, one of the places in Tokyo I explored was the Kappabashi district.

Kappabashi is known as "Kitchen Town" where food preparation products can be bought. I bought three chef's knives while there.

Above, I bought 3 knives at Kamaasa Knife Co. in Kappabashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Japan Times has posted an article on Kappabashi.

They begin with:

In Kappabashi, a roughly 800-meter-long strip between Asakusa and Ueno, locals and tourists alike spill out from a dense row of nearly 170 kitchenware shops. Their shopping bags tell the story — knives, chopsticks, cake molds and plastic sushi souvenirs.

No wonder they call this place “Kitchen Town.”

To read more, go here. 

"Airplane!" Viewing

While in Orange County, California last week, I stayed at my former roommate's mom's house. One night, we decided to pop in a DVD of Airplane! (1980). It had been ages since I last viewed the movie (I have it on VHS, but have (at present) no working VHS player).

It was fun seeing Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) before the upper deck roadway and other changes were made just before the 1984 Olympics. 

Above, Howard Jarvis in the taxi cab in the movie.

Many of the actors in the movie have since passed on, such as Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack, Peter Graves, Leslie Nielson and Howard Jarvis (the man who sat in a taxi at the airport throughout the movie). Jarvis is best known for Proposition 13, the Jarvis-Gann property tax reduction initiative.

The first time I saw Airplane! was during its initial release in a double-feature with Caddyshack at the theaters in the Del Amo Fashion Center in Torrance, California. The theater was full and the audience enjoyed both movies. 

The Shotguns of WWII: Model 1897 and Model 1912

Above, the Winchester Model 12 shotgun I bought last year. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is interesting that shotguns were very effective during World War II, especially in the Pacific Theater.

Winchester's Model 1897 and Model 1912 shotguns terrified Japanese soldiers, with good reason.

War History Online posted an interesting article on the use of shotguns during World War II.

They begin it with:

Aside from a flame thrower, there are few close-range weapons as deadly as a shotgun. Shotguns are terrifyingly effective at short ranges, as their shot spread does not need to be precisely aimed to score a hit. At longer ranges, a shotgun peppers the target with fast-moving metal balls, while at close ranges shotguns can effortlessly inflict horrific wounds. For these reasons, the shotgun has found itself at home in close quarters combat in wartime, sometimes controversially. Until the 1960s the United States’ shotguns of choice have been the Winchester Model 1897 and 1912.

Both of these shotguns started life as commercially-sold firearms but quickly proved themselves on the battlefield.

To read more, go here. 

Erika Kirk Still Supports Second Amendment

Above, Erika Kirk at Charlie Kirk's memorial service. 

Erika Kirk is still a supporter of the Second Amendment despite her husband Charlie's assassination in Utah.

AOL reported:

Turning Point USA CEO Erika Kirk said she still strongly supports the Second Amendment, insisting the assassination of her husband, Charlie Kirk, was “not a gun problem.”

The widow rejected the argument that gun violence was the root cause of her husband’s murder, instead blaming factors like mental health and divisive politics.

“What I’ve realized through all of this is that you can have individuals that will always resort to violence. And what I’m afraid of is that we are living in a day and age where they think violence is the solution to them not wanting to hear a different point of view,” she said during the New York Times’ Dealbook Conference on Wednesday.

“That’s not a gun problem, that’s a human — deeply human — problem.

To read more, go here. 

Winter Two Days Away

Above, the toys yesterday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Two more days from today, winter solstice will kick in. 

Thus far, autumn has been relatively dry. It is hoped that we get more snow this year than last. We can use the water.

This also means that Six Mile Canyon is closed to vehicles. The forest service closes the canyon each year on December 15. So now I have to confine my Jeep driving to the community, down to the Flying J and the area near the shooting range. This is what I have been doing this week since returning from the Iowa to California trip.

Since my Christmas trip to Lake Havasu is coming up next week, I didn't bother to put the motorhome into its barn after returning home.

I got some not-so-good news in the mail yesterday. My homeowners insurer is not renewing my policy claiming there is heightened risk for wildfires in the area. Now I have to find an insurer by the end of January. I have been with this insurer for eight years and have filed no claims during that time.

The weather for Jamestown next week is shaping up as follows per the National Weather Service:

Today

Sunny, with a high near 60. West wind 5 to 10 mph increasing to 15 to 20 mph in the afternoon.

Tonight

Mostly clear, with a low around 38. Southwest wind 10 to 15 mph.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 57. West wind 5 to 15 mph.

Saturday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 35. Southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

Sunday

Sunny, with a high near 59. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph.

Sunday Night

Mostly clear, with a low around 35.

Monday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 61.

Monday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 34.

Tuesday

Partly sunny, with a high near 61.

Tuesday Night

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35.

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 56.

Wednesday Night

A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 38.

Christmas Day

A 20 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 55.

2025 Review

Above, yours truly with the statue of Buffalo Bill Cody at the
 Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

2025 is nearly over. Overall, it hasn't been too bad for me.

But it did start off on a sad note as long-time friend and fellow G-fan Richard Pusateri passed away on my birthday in February from cancer. I did honor his memory in September by making a donation to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation at the Foundation's marathon near Moab, Utah. I directly give the donation to the Duke's youngest son Ethan.

Above, with Ethan Wayne with my donation to the John Wayne Cancer Foundation in Richard Pusateri's memory. 

I did a lot of traveling during the year. The first was to the spring clamp-out of the Lost Dutchman Chapter of E Clampus Vitus in April. The clamp-out was held in Quartzsite, Arizona. 

Healthwise, I am doing fine. I had a Lexi-scan this year and my coronary arteries have no developing plaques. That's a relief!

Above, Mitch and I about to dine at the Irma Hotel in Cody, Wyoming.

Next on the travel agenda, Mitch Geriminsky and I took an RV trip up to Cody, Wyoming to attend the Winchester Arms Collectors Association's gun show and visit the gun museum at the Buffalo Bill Center of the West. Both were enjoyable. From there, we went to the Little Bighorn Battlefield in Montana where Custer and his troops met their demise. After that, we headed to Devils Tower in Wyoming and then to  the Black Hills of South Dakota. We stayed at a KOA Kampground in Deadwood and visited Mount Rushmore and Chief Crazy Horse Memorial. It was a trip I wanted to do since 2020, but the pandemic put a nix on those plans.

Above, yours truly at the Winchester Collectors
Association gun show in Cody. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

I then headed to Des Moines to help my ex-roommate Jessica with packing some belongings and putting them in storage in October. I returned there two weeks ago to help her move from Iowa to California and drove about 2,000 miles to Orange County, California in a U-Haul truck with a car carrier trailer. That trip took about a week. 

Locally, our group did some target shooting at the shooting area next to our community on two occasions. We get together on Tuesdays at Denny's at the Flying J in Jamestown and Saturdays at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup. 

Above, the gang at Grandpa's Grill in Gallup. Russell Azbill,
who died a month later, is in the foreground in the dark shirt. 

Unfortunately, one member of our group, Russell Azbill, passed away in October at home. Apparently, he suffered a heart attack while retrieving a package at his gate. His body was found on his front porch. He was a nice guy and we had similar paranormal interests. He is missed. 

Above, sushi dinner in Ankeny, Iowa with Jessica.

During the summer, I did attend a couple of rodeos. One was the Lions Club Rodeo and the other was the Gallup Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial. Both were at Red Rock Park. 

Weather-wise, our monsoon rains came late and, so far, we've received little snow. We can sure use more precipitation. 

I will be spending Christmas again this year at the Geriminsky's in Lake Havasu. Again, more traveling.