"Been a day of firsts."
The Major don't drink.
Oh, hi. Went to my first gun show...and changed my first tire.
The gun show was by pure chance. Funny how things happen like that, isn't it? Went up to Dillsburg to my favorite antique barn, and was surprised when the staff actually greeted me. Usually they leave me alone, but this time they noticed the puzzled look on my face when I saw that my favorite militaria vendor's space was empty. "He's at the gun show up the road...do you know about it?" A short time later, I was heading down Siddonsburg Road past the soon-to-be done-away-with Haar's Drive-in, and to the Monaghan Township Fire Company. The fellow at the door collecting admission fees was a WWII Navy vet, who served on a destroyer in the Pacific at the end. He was nice for a little chat. And then into the fire hall. Apparently, fire hall events are a south-central Pennsylvania "thing," so that alone was worth the price of admission.
I'm not one to gush over firearms, but there were some M-1 Garands in truly beautiful condition...that aside, I was after stuff that didn't require reams of paperwork to purchase. Stopping at one table, I found a Navy jumper from WWII, with the watch stripe and cuff trim for a Seaman 2nd Class. I asked the vendor what he wanted. He thought for a moment and said "two." "...Hundred?" I asked incredulously. He smiled half-way, and then said "there's the whole stack here, I could do a package deal." "Like what?" I asked. He began sorting through the items -- eleven blue wool blouses, bell-bottom trousers, undress whites... "Ten dollars." Ha! Freakin' $10 for ELEVEN original WWII Navy uniform pieces. You do the math.
But that was only the beginning. By the time I was done, I had two identified lots (one belonging to a Medical Officer in the Air Corps, the other belonging to an NCO from the Pacific Ocean Area command) in my possession.
What could ruin this day? A tire blowout, that's what! Fortunately, it was at low speed, and turning in to a gas station with ample parking spaces. After playing "guess where the jack and tire iron are," I successfully installed the yellow-hubcapped monstrosity, cancelled AAA, and hobbled on.
Diner with Zack and Shaun was nice as always. Apparently, Ranger Joe himself liked my self-portrait on the whiteboard at work.
Hello, lower back pain. I remember you. Good night, good morning.
Oh, hi. Went to my first gun show...and changed my first tire.
The gun show was by pure chance. Funny how things happen like that, isn't it? Went up to Dillsburg to my favorite antique barn, and was surprised when the staff actually greeted me. Usually they leave me alone, but this time they noticed the puzzled look on my face when I saw that my favorite militaria vendor's space was empty. "He's at the gun show up the road...do you know about it?" A short time later, I was heading down Siddonsburg Road past the soon-to-be done-away-with Haar's Drive-in, and to the Monaghan Township Fire Company. The fellow at the door collecting admission fees was a WWII Navy vet, who served on a destroyer in the Pacific at the end. He was nice for a little chat. And then into the fire hall. Apparently, fire hall events are a south-central Pennsylvania "thing," so that alone was worth the price of admission.
I'm not one to gush over firearms, but there were some M-1 Garands in truly beautiful condition...that aside, I was after stuff that didn't require reams of paperwork to purchase. Stopping at one table, I found a Navy jumper from WWII, with the watch stripe and cuff trim for a Seaman 2nd Class. I asked the vendor what he wanted. He thought for a moment and said "two." "...Hundred?" I asked incredulously. He smiled half-way, and then said "there's the whole stack here, I could do a package deal." "Like what?" I asked. He began sorting through the items -- eleven blue wool blouses, bell-bottom trousers, undress whites... "Ten dollars." Ha! Freakin' $10 for ELEVEN original WWII Navy uniform pieces. You do the math.
But that was only the beginning. By the time I was done, I had two identified lots (one belonging to a Medical Officer in the Air Corps, the other belonging to an NCO from the Pacific Ocean Area command) in my possession.
What could ruin this day? A tire blowout, that's what! Fortunately, it was at low speed, and turning in to a gas station with ample parking spaces. After playing "guess where the jack and tire iron are," I successfully installed the yellow-hubcapped monstrosity, cancelled AAA, and hobbled on.
Diner with Zack and Shaun was nice as always. Apparently, Ranger Joe himself liked my self-portrait on the whiteboard at work.
Hello, lower back pain. I remember you. Good night, good morning.