Shootist

I was nearing Willcox, AZ around 3:15pm and decided to wash my hair b4 going into town. I thought I was away from any houses and pulled off onto the south-side shoulder of W Airport Rd.

I had my hair soaped when I heard shots and the sound of a bullet striking metal nearby. There were trees along the road blocking my view but it sounded as if the gun was aimed in my direction. The shooting continued and I could hear ricochets whining away. I finished up and with shots still coming, slowly pulled forward. The shooting stopped as soon as I started moving. 

As I emerged from behind the trees I saw a guy standing next to a blue-gray house wearing a black scarf over the lower portion of his face. I had the window 1/2 down and seeing me he waved an AR-15 above his head; I continued to slowly drive past as he concentrated on walking toward the house entrance. 

I got the address from Google Maps...8487 W Airport Rd, Willcox AZ 85643 in case you wanna stop by and see if you can engender a repeat performance.

2 hours later I contacted the police. They said cuz no witnesses it'd be his word against mine. I said I just wanted to file a report for future reference. But it was nearly 2 a.m. b4 I fell asleep.

Things are getting out of hand when people start shooting at tourists stopped for a few minutes on the roadside.

Counting Sheep - Rerun

I just noticed we passed into a new year. I picked up some shooting muffs the other day so missed out on the transitional festivities. 

The authorities HAVE managed to reduce the BLAMMING. This IS The West and back in the days of yore (the 1970s) it was quite the fest. Perhaps it was the photo of the bullet stuck, point first, in the roof of the police car that gave them pause for thought. (Thought? Who am I kidding?)

But there's not much happening here. The elder-cat adoption folks have a donor in the wings who's willing to pay cash for a facility. They want 4,000 to 6,000 square feet; enough to have the thrift shop next door. 

The Archery Shoppe only charges $4.00 for half an hour use of the range. What with other archers shooting nearby and folks browsing the stuff, the noise runs me off after about that long.

But about those sheep. A look back at the year's musings prompted this repost. Something about the way things went this last year felt like we shifted dangerously close to forced homogenization.

So, anyway, Happy New Year! (better eventually than never, eh?)

https://newmexnomad.blogspot.com/2019/10/to-sheep-or-not-to-sheep.html

Nature's Humor

My Dionysian proclivities being what they are, a stroll amongst the regal columns of the giant saguaro is always entertaining. "It's to laugh" -- the phallocentric perspectives nature offers in the monuments of Utah and the flora of Arizona. And this one brought to mind the Albuquerque Play Party rule: NO PENETRATION. This is a good example of a freedom -- that of consenting adults -- we've only recently begun to allow. But we have GUNS!

Wisps of Krishnamurti float about (Be in the moment, yuh h'ar?); I delight in their humor. And did this one creep over during the night knowing I'd be ambling by?

I often speak to them all. Though not a devout animist, I tend to anthropomorphize...enjoying as the triad of barrel cacti squeeeeze with pleasure at my notice of their cozy grouping, keeping each other company, perhaps even warm. And the rocks, slooooooowly moving about; you should HEAR their shouts when tossed! I'm always shocked by the way they laud it over their confreres, traveling ENORMOUS distances (10 to 20 feet) -- relative to their usual pace -- in a single bound.

Und "Guten Morgan" tuh you too, yellow flower!

Fun with AR-15

Riff-raff! That's how Andrew described them.

After offloading his bike, they, there were two of 'em, roared off. As luck would have it, they returned the same time as I.

I asked how their ride was; their enthusiasm prompted, in spite of myself, a vicarious appreciation. One then asked if I'd mind if they did some shooting. Feeling beneficent, I said, "Not at all," and asked what they were gonna shoot...an AR-15.

Left to right - Yerz Trooly, Andrew und Anthony

Well, I'd never seen one in real life so I asked if they'd mind if I watched. "Not at all!" they replied.

After a lesson in assembly and internet availability of components and a beer (Lagunitas), I stood back to watch.

Then Andrew offered a turn. As much as I dislike the noise, I've always enjoyed trying to hit the target. And this one didn't do too badly. Sighted for a longer distance, I was impressed with how consistent it was. And as Andrew said, "The grouping is more important that the bullseye."

I'll drink to that!

Preliminary Concern

The Shot