THE PRETTY PISTOLERA

It's a Picnic!

I got a note from Steve a couple of weeks ago.  With everything I had going on I don't remember reading his email (Sorry, Steve).  I'm catching up on all of my email tonight... I discovered his note and this looks like fun:

The Missouri Carry Picnic is on Saturday, October 4th, from 10am - 4:30pm. 

The picnic is at The United Sportsmens Club in Jefferson City, MO. 

Besides yummy BBQ, the activities include a pistol contest with falling steel plates(I heart steel!), rifle range, tap range, multiple gun raffles, door prizes, full auto rental (fun!), a holster swap, and more!  Click here to learn more.

For those of you in the Missouri area, check out the picnic.  It looks like it will be fun for the family. 

To learn more about Missouri Carry, check out their website.

Cravings...

After the past couple weeks, I am desperate to get back to my regular routine.  I am actually craving work, the gym, the mall, and some quality range time.  I went to the gym this morning and took a Body Combat class for the first time.  Holy smokes!  It was a "street-fight" kick-boxing cardio class.  I am sure I looked like a fool since I was the only newbie, but I am so excited about it.  I am looking forward to major calorie burning at the gym all week.  Most of all I am looking forward to Tuesday night.  It's IDPA practice at the local indoor range.  I can't wait to see everybody! 

The past couple of months have been tough.  The last two weeks have been really rough.  I am looking forward to a little normalcy, whatever normal is. 

Now I need to catch up on the mail...

Sad News...

My dad passed away Thursday night after a 3+ year battle with lung cancer.  Fortunately, he made everything as easy as possible for Mom, my sister, and me.  Dad took care of everything so we didn’t have to… funeral arrangements, service wishes, burial plot, absolutely everything.  All John and I have to do is take care of Mom… which is exactly what he told us to do. 

For those of you that know me personally, if you ever wondered where I get my remarkable qualities of planning, attention to detail, and even my control issues… you now know.

 

A Fly on the Wall...

John finally made it home from Michigan at 4:00 AM Monday morning!  Last night was the first time we were able to chat face-to-face since Friday afternoon.

Setting:  The bedroom. 

John:  Did you take your hair dryer with you?

Me:  With me where?  Mom and Dad's?

John:  Uh-huh.  Did you take it this weekend?

Me:  Of course I did.  My mom gets her hair set every week.  She doesn't own a hair dryer.

John:  Oh.

Me:  Why?

John:  (slightly irritated by my lack of comprehension)  I needed it to dry out the Glock! 

 

Pretty Pistolera's Weekend Update

The Michigan State IDPA match was this weekend.  In addition to completing my first "major" match, I was prepared to make huge technological advances this weekend.  I was going to blog from the Blackberry (er, crackberry) and do play-by-play via Twitter.  Blackberry blogging and Twitter have been on my aspirational to-do list for weeks! 

Unfortunately, I had to cancel my trip at the last minute.  My dad's health has taken a turn for the worse, so I needed to be with Mom.  Even though I would've loved John to be with me this weekend, there was nothing he could do for Dad, Mom, or me.  I was super-wife and insisted he go to Michigan with Mike, Thad, Jeff, and Aaron.  One catch... I asked for pictures and a full recap.

The guys are on their way home from Michigan now.  This is what I know so far:

• John is ecstatic with his performance... 1st place SSP Sharpshooter.  He was bumped to SSP Expert.  Overall, he was most accurate.  Also, there was a machine gun side-match (a fund-raiser for the club) where he took 1st place.  He is one happy gunny.
• The other guys are bringing home trophies as well:  1st place ESP Expert, 2nd place SSP Expert, and 3rd place ESP Marksman. 
• Apparently, the prizes were good and plentiful, too.  I even won a set of sights.  I guess you didn't have to be present to win.
• The weather was terrible - seven inches of rain (icky-poo).

Looks like a good time was had by all. 

Hip Hip Hooray!

I had a tentative overseas trip scheduled the second week of October.  I've spent the last few weeks trying to figure out how I was going to get home early then drive to Knob Creek for the machine gun shoot (with a wicked case of jet lag).  Well, it's official, the overseas trip was canceled!  

I've never been to a machine gun shoot, and to be honest, I am a little nervous.  To put it sweetly, it doesn't seem like my typical weekend of shopping, manicures, coffee with girlfriends, and the occasional range visit.  If you're not up to speed on Knob Creek, please read up and consider going... I've heard it's cool.  I am most excited to see the Huey Brothers on the lower range. 

Hey Oprah, You Suck!

Dear Oprah, 

Please do not invite Sarah Palin on your show.  I absolutely refuse to watch your show.  Having Sarah as a guest would put me in a quandary.  Although I can't get enough of Sarah, I couldn't bring myself to Tivo The Oprah Show even if she was your guest. 

Just so you are aware, I've compiled a list of reasons why I won't watch your show or subscribe to your magazine:  

1. I don't need you to tell me how to think or what to believe in.  I can think for myself. 
2. I do not want your spiritual advice.  I've figured that out for myself.
3. I don't need your diet advice.  I know how to manage my figure and control my portions.
4. I do not want your relationship advice.  I don't need you to tell me what I should expect from my husband (especially since you do not have one). 
5. I don't need you to tell me who to vote for.  Again, I can think for myself.
6. I don't need your help with my Christmas shopping.  I do a good job of gift giving.  Don't tell me what to buy.

Quite simply, I don't need you to tell me what to do.

Fair and Balanced...

I cannot get enough Sarah Palin. I am glued to the TV and I'm constantly combing cyberspace to learn more.  I've been willing to read or watch anything just to hear about her accomplishments and political successes... except when this week's issue of Us Weekly magazine arrived in my mailbox.

Apparently 10,000 subscribers canceled their subscription... the tally is now up to 10,001.

Us Weekly, you suck! 

Just to be fair and balanced... Megyn Kelly of Fox News, you rock!

Back to School

Those of you that have been reading for a while know I am a big advocate of self defense.  Bottom line, self defense is a learned skill!  If you recently joined us here at The Pretty Pistolera, please do your homework by reading my Ode to Jeanie Bueller. 

If you are a woman in the St. Louis metro area, there is a self defense class on Saturday, September 14th. The class is offered by the Missouri Competitive Shooting Academy where I took a couple of classes (and learned a ton, by the way). 

The self defense curriculum includes basic self defense and some firearms training. If you need a self defense class or happen to be curious about your self defense options, this class a good place to start.  And, it's inexpensive (only $25, lunch included). Get your girlfriends together for a "girls day" at the range!  For more information about the class visit the MCSA website or email me (link on the upper left) and I'll send you the information.   

One of the things on my "aspirational to do list" is to have a calendar of self defense classes available across the country.  If you know of an upcoming class in your area, please let me know. 

The Pretty Ostrich

For the first time in years (and I really do mean years) I sat on my tush today and did nothing but watch cable news.  All. Day. Long.

To bring you up to speed... two events forced me to abandon FOX News and CNN for TLC, Discovery Health, and Nick at Night:

1. After the 2000 post-election drama I swore off politics.  This was not an easy decision for me, because I love and appreciate the political process.  John and I volunteered as much as our schedule allowed during the 2000 campaign... we worked like dogs!  After the election results were in and both parties ran to Florida for a stand off, I just couldn't take the belly-aching from the talking heads.  I knew if I kept up my political intake this rapid rate my head would soon explode. Once I learned about "hanging chads" I was out. 
2. Although I was done with politics I still watched some news coverage on TV, but for the most part I got my news from the Internet.  On September 12, 2001, I gave up news, too.  Watching the events of September 11th unfold were too much for me. I made a conscious decision to stick my head in the sand. I watched American Idol, a litany of plastic surgery shows, and Full House reruns instead.

Today I had a breakthrough. The selection of Gov. Palin as VP coupled with John's list of reasons why "Sarah rocks" got my attention. I had the TV on non-stop for three days just to learn more about her.  Then, I accidentally got sucked into Hurricane Gustav coverage.  (Flashback: I watched five minutes of Katrina coverage... I saw a child abandon his dog to get on a bus. I absolutely lost it.)  Kudos to Gov. Jindal and the other Gulf State Governors for their preparations and coordinated efforts.  And, super-duper kudos for the "no pet left behind" policy. Well done!

So that is what I did today...  I watched FOX News. This was the first time in years I had the news on for more than five minutes.  John is stoked that we can watch TV together again.  He was having no part of Full House and TLC's What Not to Wear.  

PS - The Michigan State IDPA match is coming up and I did not get in any trigger time this weekend.  Eeeeeek!