Dances With Pistols

I must first explain that one of the items on my “life list*” was to learn to shoot a pistol. Today Rasputin took me to a local range to shoot a Walther P22.

Photo from Wikipedia 

　
I was a bit nervous to say the least… but then three people showed up at the same time. A shooting instructor and his two students; a mother and teenaged son. (ARG!) I had hope to shoot alone with Raspi.


　
Things were going well. The instructor even helped me improve my grip. (If I hadn’t I would have ended up with a slide bite. Ouch!)

Glossary of Firearms Terminology;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glossary_of_firearms_terminology

　
Side note: Raspi knew the instructor from school. Apparently they trained together to be corrections officers. I swear that Rasputin knows everyone in the world.


　
I had gone through 3 clips of ammo…when I had a panic attack. I had to walk away for a bit to calm down. I was nervous shooting to begin with, but having to worry about where others were standing, combined with the noise distraction of their shots was too much.


I went to sit out in our car for a few minutes. Raspi send me a text to see if I was ok. I told him to go ahead without me, and that I would return when I was ready.


Shortly after I returned, the instructors session with the students ended. (What a relief!) After they cleaned up and left…we resumed firing.


Things were going well. I still wasn’t hitting dead center, but oh well. (More like somewhere within 6 inches of where I was aiming.) I had just fired,  the shell ejected…and…went down the front of my shirt.


Yes I am serious…It was hot yet, so it was BURNING MY STOMACH!


So…I had to dance around flapping at my shirt with my right hand…while keeping the loaded gun (SAFELY!) pointed down range with my left.


Aka: scary burning pistol dance of doom.


So in the end, I didn’t shoot anyone, (or myself) but I got a nasty shell shaped burn on my stomach.


Moral of the story: DON’T wear a v-neck to the range.






　
*I think the term “bucket list” is dorky.
　

Tofee Nut Banana Bread

Rasputin loves banana bread.

I have a great recipe I have been using for years. I however am not content to leave things as they are. I like to tinker with my recipes.

I have tried many variations of this recipe but this is my favorite.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we do!

The Buzz of 1,000 Beasts (Edited, Originaly posted 8-4-11)

Ah blogging….

When I started this blog I had wanted to re-do my blog, to focus on fashion. Lets face it…I am not a fashion blogger. I don’t have a tripod, neat-o brick back drop, or appropriately quirky wardrobe. *Sigh*

So as they say…write about what you know. I know failure. Don’t worry dear reader (If your out there?!) When I fail, I do it with flair.

Early this spring I put in a vegetable garden. Working in the dirt, watching plants grow…sounds relaxing right?

My mom* and I started by laying down cardboard and straw to block the weeds. We planted cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, basil, onions, chives, green peppers, cauliflower, and broccoli.

The battle of the weeds began.

After many weeks of weeding under the hot sun, and sweating my ass off…I started to have ripe veggies!

Last week I walked around the garden to see what was ready. I picked some basil, a cucumber, and some zucchini. I saw that the cauliflower was ready! Yay! I walked around the tomatoes to the cauliflower.

I bent down to grab the head of cauliflower….*BAM*

Ouch! Sting on my right ankle…..

*BAM!*

Left ankle

WTF!

My stunned brain finally caught up. I am being stung by wasps!

Thanks to the Monty Python boys.

*RUNNNNNNNNN!*

I sprinted around my yard screeching in frantic circles.

Two thoughts crossed my mind; 1. Get away from the bees, 2. Keep them away from Cici.

Cici sat across the yard, starring at me. She looked at me like I was a lunatic. Wait…I was a lunatic!

The thing about bees and wasps: they use scent markers. Sound cool huh? Not so much.

When you get stung by one…they mark you. They put the wasp version of a “kick me” sign on your back. So if you get stung. Get the heck out of dodge!

Final wound count: 7

[I will spare you from photos of my pasty white bee-stung legs.]

One on each of my heels (right on the achilles) four on the thigh, and one on the butt.

The following week was itchy, itchy, cranky, and itchy.

So…yesterday I nervously went back in the garden, with Rasputin's gentle prodding.

I began weeding. I was slowly making a loop around the garden. I was finally starting to relax. Things were really looking great.

I was using a hoe to chop down the tall crab grass that had taken over. I was working my way back toward the tomatoes…when I see that the cardboard is puffed up. Huh, that’s weird, there must be weeds pushing it up.

*Chop* with the hoe.

Honey combs and wasps.

Photo from Wikipedia

S***!

I ran toward the garden fence.

I managed to get my right leg over. However my left got stuck and I sort of just fell over. [Keep in mind that I am only 5’4” and the fence is just over waist high. ]

I sprint towards the house (screeching again) with Cici.

And so continues the war with the ground wasps.

P.S. I also have bruises on my thigh from the fence. I rule.







*A few people were confused by comment about my “mom.” I am not in contact with my biological parents. I do have several great friends that are act as adopted parents. I have two great moms, Sue and Lori. Hope this clears up some confusion!

The search for makeup

I have been on the look out for a new makeup company. I have been using a mix of Cover Girl and Mary Kay. I have some issues with both companies…and have been wanting to switch for quite a while.

The trouble is that I have sensitive skin. Changing makeup is a slow grueling process. I can only try one product at a time. Testing each one for a week or more.

Beyond the skin issue I have other requirements. I look for animal testing, ease of purchase, and value for cost.

The HUGE issue I have with Cover Girl, is animal testing. I find it disgusting and unnecessary to test on animals. I cannot support a company that harms animals.

I don't want to use Mary Kay anymore, because I don't have a great relationship with my Mary Kay agent. I like being able to pick up makeup while shopping for other things.


I have also  been experimenting with different make-up techniques. I have found a lot of great tips on Keiko Lynn's blog.

Her tutorial on cat-eye  makeup was very helpful. Based on her recommendation I purchased a cream eye liner and an egonomic liner brush. The brush works like a charm! I love it, so easy to use.

I have been trying out;

Sonia Kashuk Bent Eyeliner Brush

Photo from Makeup and Beauty Blog.

A great review of the brush Here

E.L.F Cream Eyeliner.

Photo from E.L.F's website

I like the black so much I ended up buying more colors!
I also discovered the E.L.F. 100 color eyeshadow palette.

Photo from E.L.F.'s website

 I love it! It has a fantastic selection of colors. The best part is that its only $10.00!