Damsel took me for a drive today to Malaga Cove at the south end of Santa Monica Bay. It was nice enough that we could wear short sleeves and have the top down on her little convertible. We went out and about to get some last-minute items in preparation for our new year’s eve at home.

On our last session at the target range for the year, we left the 9mm pistols at home and took the .357 magnum and the .38 special Smith & Wesson revolvers. In addition to the revolvers and our shotguns, we also took the Glock 30 and Damsel’s Para Warthog. The hand guns are shown ready for cleaning in Damsel’s photo below.

When it was my turn to put up a target for my .45 caliber Glock 30 pistol, I surprised myself when I got 9 out of 10 rounds in the red and black part of the target. Four rounds were in the red, two grazed the red and three were in the black (the one at the left below the 8 is a double).

I shot one round which missed badly and nicked the bottom of the target (out of the frame).

If it’s true (like Robb Allen says) that Sarah Brady cries when you hit a bullseye, I wonder if she snivels when you come close?

I hope so.

Here’s an unusual photo opportunity - a scenic lighthouse with an island in the background with a seagull flying above - thrown into the mix this time, however, is a crummy commercial.

I think the occupants were there trying to spot migrating whales. Taken today at Point Vicente.

Today, we took the old burned-out TV to the electronic and hazmat disposal site. After that, we did the weekly grocery shopping and stopped at the sporting goods store to get some pistol and shotgun ammo and targets - you know - the bare necessities.

Before we went on our errands we made the marinade for some 1-inch thick pork loin chops, We juiced some oranges from our recently-harvested dwarf orange tree, added some honey and coriander with a little salt and gourmet pepper and refrigerated with the chops in a zip lock bag.

When we got home, we sliced up some fresh pineapple and put the slices in to the broiler with the chops. I whipped up a bourbon-orange reduction, and steamed up some rice and broccoli.

On a busy day with lots of errands to run, it’s nice to be able to whip up a sumptuous meal in about 45 minutes. So easy and so good.

We did some post-Christmas shopping at WAL*MART® to get our present to each other, this new 42-inch HDTV. We waited for the after-holiday sale prices to kick in. It sure looks good with “Pirates of the Caribbean - At World’s End” playing on the screen.

. . . in my Daily KOS Mobile.

I believe it’s all there - every conceivable extremist point of view. Where else but in California? The stickers cleverly conceal the fact that the vehicle itself is a piece of s***. In fact, I think the stickers are being used like duct tape to keep the rear end from falling apart.

I guess the NFL knows just who in the hell John Kerry is.

Patriots’ historic game to be available to all of America, after all

Associated Press

NEW YORK — After weeks of insisting they wouldn’t cave in, NFL officials did just that Wednesday. Now all of America can see the Patriots’ shot at history.

Saturday night’s game between New England and the New York Giants on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation’s homes with TVs, will be simulcast on CBS and NBC.

This is sad when Senator Kerry uses his senate seat to intimidate private business.

Last week we took a drive to the harbor area; while we were there, we stopped at the 22nd Street Red Car Station. Damsel took a photo as this holiday-decorated trolley pulled into the station.

I have a special interest in the Red Cars, since my Grandfather was a motorman during the 1930s and 1940s. On a rainy day last year, we took a ride on the red car.

Christmas dinner: roast beast au jus, horseradish sauce, stuffed baked potatoes, broccoli, orange glazed carrots and a small dinner salad. Don’t bother me - I’m eatin’.

Merry Christmas everyone!

From APOD:

Mars and Orion Over Monument Valley
Credit & Copyright: Wally Pacholka (Astropics.com)

Welcome to The World At Night. Sharing the night sky seen around the world, this view from Monument Valley, USA includes a picturesque foreground of famous buttes. Buttes are composed of hard volcanic rock left behind after water eroded away the surrounding soft rock. The two buttes on the image left are known as the Mittens, while Merrick Butte is on the right. Recorded just last week, planet Mars is at the left of the skyscape, a glowing beacon of orange that is the brightest object in the frame. To the right of Mars lies the constellation of Orion. Betelgeuse is the reddish star near the center and the Belt of Orion and the Orion Nebula are farther right. Finally, the bright blue star Rigel appears above Merrick Butte in this stunning view of The World At Night.

Please click on the image for the full-sized view of this magnificent photo.

Yep, you guessed it - her birthday is Christmas eve. Here are the rules if you have a similar situation:

• Keep the two occasions distinctly separate.
• Make sure the gifts are distinctly separate.
• Optional - have an unbirthday for her around the June-ish timeframe. Get her a present then too.

Unless you reload them yourself (and we haven’t started yet), you take your chances when purchasing reloaded rounds.

Today, for the second time ever, my Glock 30 .45ACP pistol jammed on this round. Evidently, a dent in the bullet got caught on the edge of the barrel as the round was on it’s way to be fired.

A closer look at the other reloaded rounds revealed a lot of dings and dents on the bullets. Most of the brass is also dinged up especially on the rim.

As readers of this site know, Damsel can’t shoot these in her Para Warthog. The good news is that her pistol jammed only once today using new ammo.