Sunday Kipling

No new gun as of yet though I am looking at two in particular; the M&P Pro 9 and the SA XDM 5.25 competition. I should have something bought this coming week but I'm in no hurry. I want to make sure I get what I really need. The shooting is coming along. Competition is a completely different animal compared to what I've done and taught. I'm learning a whole new discipline and teaching it is a case of trying to stay one step ahead of my students. So far so good but I'm sticking with the new shooters, at least for now.

Angus and Lu are doing well. Angus is showing improvement again. We had a scare last month when he came up lame and was tripoding around the house. Doc didn't know so we just kept him down and watched. That was just before the trip out to paint the house so it actually worked out. He spent a week basically just laying around. Now he's apparently taken another step on his recovery. His gait is better than it's been since the accident and he's no longer limping after an exercise session. Great news.

We're keeping our confidence up on the house. I'm hoping to sigh the papers this week. Man, if that happens it will be a massive load off our shoulders. I'm also hoping top get in one last long ride before the weather turns. I have a favorite uncle in Denver and we want to get together for a weekend ride through the Rockies. Gotta happen before it gets too cold up there.

Life is good my friends. I hope this day finds you all in good spirits and with hope for a new day. Never give up. Never succumb to despair. We cannot be beaten, we can only surrender. Have a great week my friends.
Six

We and They

"A Friend of the Family"
From "Debits and Credits"(1919-1923)

Father and Mother, and Me,
  Sister and Auntie say
All the people like us are We,
  And every one else is They.
And They live over the sea,
  While We live over the way,
But-would you believe it? --They look upon We
  As only a sort of They!

We eat pork and beef
  With cow-horn-handled knives.
They who gobble Their rice off a leaf,
  Are horrified out of Their lives;
While they who live up a tree,
  And feast on grubs and clay,
(Isn't it scandalous? ) look upon We
  As a simply disgusting They!

We shoot birds with a gun.
  They stick lions with spears.
Their full-dress is un-.
  We dress up to Our ears.
They like Their friends for tea.
  We like Our friends to stay;
And, after all that, They look upon We
  As an utterly ignorant They!

We eat kitcheny food.
  We have doors that latch.
They drink milk or blood,
  Under an open thatch.
We have Doctors to fee.
  They have Wizards to pay.
And (impudent heathen!) They look upon We
  As a quite impossible They!

All good people agree,
  And all good people say,
All nice people, like Us, are We
  And every one else is They:
But if you cross over the sea,
  Instead of over the way,
You may end by (think of it!) looking on We
  As only a sort of They!