Remington Model 870 Express Combo 247

Disabro and I went to Simmons Sporting Goods (Bessemer, AL) yesterday and bought a Remington Model 870 Express Compact 20 GA Shotgun for the house. We looked at bigger models, but "This affordable pump-action combo is a perfect fit for the smaller shooter. ...this quick-pointing 20-gauge provides rifle-like accuracy...."

It's light and short enough for Mother to fire if she has to. She can't get it up to her shoulder, but she looks pretty tough with it tucked in under her arm

Remington's website is right about "rifle-like accuracy". Disabro set up a target behind the house and we practiced shooting it for a while. Except for the spray pattern of the birdshot we practiced with, I can't tell much difference between this little shotgun and the 30-30 rifle I used to deer hunt with - when it comes to aiming and firing, that is. Absolutely no problem hitting the target, and very little recoil.

These videos show what the recoil felt like to me:







During the Pit Bull disaster, when that innocent old dog was killed, nobody attacked our physical, personal property - as bad at that situation was. Saturday night, for no apparent reason, we were personally attacked. I'd like to catch The Delinquent neighbor attacking us now!

However, it's my most sincere hope and prayer (I asked God last night) that the boy will straighten up and become a fine young man instead of rolling downhill "like a snowball headed for hell".

In other news: All of Mother's blood tests are back, and they were normal. All that's wrong with her now, as far as anybody knows, is her shoulder pain. It seems to ease up a little (not much) with Tylenol and the heating pad.

Remember More Money From Blue Cross?? They did reimburse me yet again - one big fat direct deposit this time. I've been able to afford things like the shotgun, etc., and I'm yearning to improve some other things around here.

Remember The Progression Of Anger - Battling A Demon - where I said

Mile after mile of being tossed around until I felt like throwing up. Where's our great black hope now? Come on, Obama. Why don't you take a ride with me down this highway? Never mind. You're too busy selling us to China, with no hope of ever being our own nation again. And Hillary. Once she was in China trying to promote women's rights - imposing our ideals on a foreign nation. Now she's there thanking them for buying our souls.

Porter forwarded a cute picture via email the other day:



What the sign doesn't say is that she owes that money to China. Seriously.

And finally, it's 8 days until my appointment with Dr. Misery, and maybe it won't be too long after that when I can get back to work.

More Money From Blue Cross? 244

If you're a regular reader, you know BlueCross BlueShield of Alabama recently reimbursed me $2075.00 (one big, fat check!) for their part of my prescription drugs thus far in 2009. That's just this year.

However, I can file up to 2 years worth of claims; so yesterday I picked up a prescription history (from CVS) for 2008. According to that report I spent $2971.82 last year. If BCBS pays 80% on all of them, I'll be reimbursed
$2377.45


In other news:



As I said on Facebook, I hope they throw the book at this guy and his wife. I hope they both have to get legitimate jobs and work for years to pay off the fines. But I also hope they don't break up the family. I feel sorry for the kids, especially little Falcon, but I think they are loved and taken care of - even if their parents are a little of their rockers.

But I could'ave been under the wrong impression, according to this from Associated Press:

Records show that police have responded to the house at least twice in the past year, including a possible domestic violence incident in February. No charges were filed.

Alderden said officials tried Saturday to persuade Mayumi Heene, 45, to go to a safe house, but she declined.

"We talked to her at length about domestic violence, about her safety, about her children's safety," the sheriff said. "We have a concern, but we didn't have enough that would allow us or child protective services to physically take the kids from that environment."

Alderden said the children were still with the parents Sunday morning, and child protective services had been contacted to investigate the children's well-being.

"Clearly, from all indications, Mr. Heene has somewhat of a temper," Alderden said.

The AP article says "The stunt was two weeks in the planning....", and "Documents show that a media outlet has agreed to pay money to the Heenes with regards to the balloon incident, Alderden said. He didn't name the media outlet, but said it was a show that blurs "the line between entertainment and news." It wasn't clear whether the deal was signed before or after the alleged hoax, or whether that media outlet was a possible conspirator."

Wow.

Last but not least, Chesty Puller came up to the house a little while ago. It was so good to finally meet him in person - I hugged him and shook his hand. He's a cute, tall, and extremely nice young man, with above average intelligence and maturity. I'm so proud we have people like him in our military.