Celebration

We're having a nice dinner out tonight in celebration of my new and improved employment status. It feels nice to splurge a little without guilt.

Hallelujah!

It appears that I'm going to be employed for a while longer. A mechanical engineering job working for the site's fire systems maintenance organization opened up, and I've been picked to fill it. The interview I had yesterday went well and it's the kind of job that I can have some fun in. Lots of variety, and a fair dose of autonomy. The really good news is that it's within the scope of the next contract to transition, and I'm almost certain to not have to worry about losing this one when that happens. I think I may just celebrate by replacing the Xbox and buying a gun.

Karma

I'm beginning to think I'm suffering from a karma deficit. On top of the job situation, the XBox's death, today we can add a jury duty summons for the month of November. The good news is that since bad things always happen in threes, I no longer have to worry about an Obama presidency.

Arrrrgh!

The XBox died last night. I'll be in mourning.

Uncertainty II

The job situation clarified a bit over the last week. I've been assigned to a site resources pool for the time being. Think of it as the Island of Misfit Toys for adults. Officially it's a ninety day test program to validate the idea of a pool of trained personnel that can be assigned to fill short-term need on-site. Unofficially, it's a place to stash folks like me until the Department of Energy decides to grant permission to reduce the site's workforce sometime after the election. In any event, Fluor's contract has been extended until January 15th, and I'm probably safe until then. With any luck, I'll be able to find something else before then.

In the event I do join the ranks of the unemployed and have to rely on one salary, we're making good progress on our debt reduction program. We've payed off one of our outstanding PLUS loans already, and a quite likely to pay off another by the end of the month. Every bit helps. I'll be happy when the whole situation is finally resolved. I'd sure like to buy a couple more rifles, and a few thousand rounds of ammunition. In the mean time, I'll be shooting the .22s a lot.

Classic

I thought this came out rather well, and after watching Mogambo this morning, too.

Your result for The Classic Leading Man Test...

Clark Gable

You scored 33% Tough, 14% Roguish, 14% Friendly, and 38% Charming!

You're a helluva guy, a real split personality and a bit of an enigma. On the one hand, you're a man's man, tough talking and ready for anything. But on the other hand, you soften your rough and tumble core with a disarmingly smooth exterior, and you make the ladies swoon. You're equally admired by both men and women alike, drinking other men under the table all the while charming the socks off half a dozen lovelies. You're a commanding presence, and you know how to get what - and who - you want when you want it. You're drawn to women who, like you, are savvy enough to deal with the world on their own terms. You work well with spitfires. Leading ladies include Joan Crawford, Myrna Loy, and Jean Harlow. No damsels in distress for you.

Find out what kind of classic dame you'd make by taking the
Classic Dames Test.

Take The Classic Leading Man Test at HelloQuizzy

Whose Policies Failed?

Silk Purses & Sows Ears

Today was an interesting day. This morning we drove over to Grandview for a dress fitting with Mrs. Attila's seamstress. The dress is coming along very nicely and the Mrs. is going to look fantastic in it.

This afternoon, we did a bit of shopping for me. The last time I bought a suit, Jimmy Carter was president, and bell bottoms were in fashion. I needed a suit for an interview with Hyman Rickover. My dear departed mother would say the putting me in a suit is like trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. I can't say that I disagree. In any event, it's been thirty years since a last bought a suit, and I was not looking forward to the process.

It all went well enough, and I think I'll end up looking presentable. I even scored a few points with Mrs. Attila for choosing a shirt that matches the jacket to her new dress. (Just because I don't enjoy shopping for clothes doesn't mean I don't know how.) One thing's for sure though, I'm definitely not the 42L, 16.5/36, 32x36 kid I used to be. One other thing's fairly certain: I won't be buying the next new suit I'll be wearing, and I'll be wearing it for a VERY long time.

Following up on yesterday's post, we also started to execute our disaster preparations. We mailed off a check to pay off one of the outstanding PLUS loans. We should be able to get rid of another before I have to worry about a layoff. That, combined with the asset protection we put in motion yesterday should position us well in the event we need to deal with a layoff. If things go as we hope, and I stay employed, we'll be that much closer to being completely debt free.

Even better news is that our future should be clear long before the next wedding.

Uncertainty

The news was mixed last weekend. Mrs. Attila was picked up by the new contractor at work, but your humble (no, really) servant was not. I'll be staying with the incumbent for the time being. My management assures me that the company doesn't intend to lay anyone off. Since there's still one piece of the contract to be transitioned, I'm probably safe for at least a couple months. I've usually been successful keeping myself employed, so I'm not too worried.

Still, with an economy that can only charitably be described as shaky, I've felt the need to plan for the worst. We've talked with our financial planner and are moving some assets around to protect them in the event the stock market tanks and I end up looking for work. While we're waiting for everything to sort itself out over the next several months, we'll be suspending payments into our IRAs and use that cash to pay off debt. That'll reduce the burden our retirement funds will have to bear in the event we have to liquidate to get our cash outflow down to something manageable on one salary (plus un-, or seriously under-employment pay).

Having a plan is a good thing. Here's hoping we don't have to execute anything more than the debt reduction portion of it.

Stress Reduction

We had an "all hands" meeting this afternoon lasting almost forty-five minutes, at the end of which I knew no more than when I entered. With the contract changing everyone is concerned about their futures, and understandably so. We are 18 days from a major contract transition on the site, and it seems there are no firm plans in place to accomplish the task. There's much motion and activity to be sure, but no numbers for our staffing level to be, no firm description of our work scope, and no budget numbers worth the paper they're written on (thank you, Democrat Congress). It's almost like the winning bidders were taken by surprise when they got the award.

The only thing that I know for sure is that I was asked this morning whether or not I was interested in accepting a position with our new overlords. My answer was of course, yes. I suppose I can breath a little bit easier, but until I have an offer letter in hand, I'm going to be feeling some stress. It's a damn good thing I've got a new gun to shoot. Nothing lowers the stress level like putting a few rounds down range.

Why I Love Opening Packages

Today the mail brought me a new factory guide rod/recoil spring for my XD-40 from Pistol Gear. UPS brought me a Swiss K31 from Samco, and a brick of GP-11 to shoot through it. God, is this a great country, or what?

A Puppy Again

Our Carmen is undergoing treatment for Cushing's disease. Today she decided to play with us outside. We tossed a tennis ball around the back yard like we used to do when she was young, and she chased it with abandon. It was wonderful.

Range Day mit der Karabiner

This afternoon I had the pleasure of taking my k98 to the range for the first time. It has been a very long time since I've shot anything approaching a high power rifle, and I've got to say, it was a hoot. As the photo shows, I was shooting from a sitting position, but not using a rest. This wasn't a great test of accuracy. Honestly, I would have just been happy to hit the target at 50 yards, but was quite happy to find all the rounds actually near the bull. For a 68 year old rifle (rifles,really. I've counted parts from seven.) and 52 year old eyes, I was very pleased. I was even happier when I hit the steel at the 300 yard position on the second try. :-)

Giddy as a Schoolboy

That's what I've been all day. My type 3 FFL arrived in yesterday's mail and I put it to use this morning with a call to Classic Arms. My "new" toy is on the way. A K98 Mauser built for the Wehrmacht in 1940. Here's the catalog description of my baby:

27, 1940M, SER # 6142C - LAMINATED, CUPPED, NICE PRETTY LAMINATED STOCK WITH GOOD GRAIN AND COLOR. HEAVY BLUED CUPPED BUTTPLATE. DEEP DARK LOW LUSTRE BLUE. SINGLE WAR EAGLE. THIS ONE IS UNIQUE IN THAT WAR EAGLE HAS BEEN PARTIALLY SCRUBBED BUT SWASTIKA REMAINS INTACT PLUS 2 SMALL WAFFENAMPS AND BBL STAMPINGS. REALLY NICE BORE. SHOWS LIGHT USE BUT STRONG LANDS AND GROOVES. NRA VERY GOOD PLUS. W/CLEANING ROD BECAUSE IT WAS ALREADY THERE. A VERY NICE RIFLE OVERALL.

With any luck, I'll be shooting it next weekend.

Another Result

131 As a 1930s husband, I am Very Superior Take the test!

Don't mess with me!

What Kind of a Western Bad-Ass are You? created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Charles Bronson You're normally peaceful and friendly, but when trouble strikes you respond with brutal vengeance. And despite having a face like a bashed crab, your sensitive soul helps win over ladies way above you appearance wise. Charles Bronson 100% Clint Eastwood 88% Lee Van Cleef 75% John Wayne 75% Lee Marvin 63%

Something New

I tried something new today and competed in my first IPSC practical pistol match. I was as nervous as a cat going into it, and didn't sleep at all well last night. I even forgot to pack my mag pouch and had to borrow some gear to compete. It was all worth it though. The results aren't posted yet, but I think I held my own. I won't be anywhere near the top of the list, but I'm pretty sure I won't be at the bottom.

Update: Third of nine in the Production division. Thirty-first of forty-three overall. For a first outing, I'll take it.

A Bitter White Guy's Perfect Car

In a flash of inspiration after seeing a gorgeous white Boxster this evening, I've decided that I want one. It must, however, have the following: the personalized plate BTRWHT, an NRA Life Member decal, and a fish magnet. Perfect, don't you think?

Happiness

Is having a wife to buy guns for. This is her Mother's Day present.
Guaranteed to pay for itself in ten trips to the range. The Mrs., you
see, likes to shoot. Keeping her SP101 fed with .38 Special at $66 for
250 rounds, and one box of 250 per trip is rather pricey. 22LR is
blessedly, much cheaper, so even though the Model 317 cost upwards of
$600, the payback period will be over by the end of the summer. God how
I love her.

Happiness

Is having your tummy rubbed.