Custer Colt

A neat museum in Craig, CO has a verified “Custer Colt”, that is to say it was carried at one time by an officer in his command but lost/stolen/mislaid prior to the massacre at Greasy Grass.

The museum has an extensive collection of old firearms and cowboy gear. Forbearers from my father’s side lived in the area from the late 19^th Century on.  They were connected to many of the names in the exhibits.

Quality of the photographs is poor, taken with a point and shoot, and the workman wasn’t even up to the level of his tool.

https://www.museumnwco.org/

The museum is located in the old State Armory, and entrance is free. They are facing a funding crisis. Blessedly, there is a small but serviceable elevator as the firearms are on the second floor and the restrooms in the basement, important considerations for those of us with a few miles.

Business took me to Craig, and I didn’t have much time to linger. A future post will cover the road trip.

Nanny Shitheads

A rant.

My new dwelling is plumbed and lighted to nanny state shaving water and electricity standards. Pisses me off.

The washing machine only fills as full as someone, not me, thinks it should. Like below.

The low slung toilet creates the best angle to help the colon, if you are vertically challenged. Getting a clean flush can take three tries. That saves water?

The restricted shower head is going away. Only a five minute job, I have the tools and material, and recently changed my sister's showerhead in slightly over thirty minutes.

Next are the light bulbs. Notice the prongs, not threads. These are hard to find locally and not as bright as I want. I'm sure the numb nuts (or tits, can't be sexes) who specified the wattage for these apartments chose what they think we all should use.

Yes, I realize this is a first world problem. Last I checked I live in the first world, thank you very much.  As always, YMMV.

Does Getting Old Bring Wisdom?

Having been on this planet seven and a half decades I am occasionally asked if age brings wisdom. I think not. What it brings is scars, and the desire not to get anymore. Of course, we simply find new ways to get scars, physical and mental.

The Patch

What oilfield workers call their workplace, the patch. The drivers I shuttle haul water. Water comes up with the oil. Where we operate, most wells are connected to pipelines and the product is brought to stations. One station our drivers service is receiving 1,000 barrels an hour. At these stations, the oil and water are separated and our company hauls the water to a central facility. There the water is further treated and then injected into deep wells below the area aquifers.

There are dozens of companies doing this work along with independents.

Other companies specialize in maintaining equipment at various sites. One company has a 6 am meeting. The meetings don’t seem to last long. Sorry, can't get the damn picture upright.

Disclaimer

I know little about the oil and gas business but am learning from the drivers I shuttle. I know more about the politics surrounding the business. Should one look at these drivers and their attire and then think they are dumb, they would be wrong. Their language would cause a mass exodus to safe places, if heard on campuses, but the context would put many an “intellectual” to shame.

Political

In the last general election Proposition 112, which would have severely hampered the gas and oil extraction industry went down to defeat with 57% of the voters rejecting it. Promptly the (P)regressives, having control of both State chambers made it an emergency law and deep purple Gov. Polis signed it. Drilling outside of a few counties has stopped and extraction from existing wells is down in many counties.

 This law is a trial lawyers dream as it strips mineral owners of their rights with not even a semblance of due process or compensation.

All those drilling platforms are readily transportable to other sites.

Drivers

My sister says the qualifications for getting and keeping a driving job in the patch is, “Have a CDL, pass a piss test, and show up consistently”. She may be right. I transport drivers who are making $80,000+ annual. A rough looking bunch, they don’t have student loans in default.

They do spend money, dropping $10 -$30 for food, snacks, and drinks. Pictures below were taken at 0430.

Future

I’m having doubts about how long I can do this job. Age may be biting me in the ass. I certainly enjoy the $361 direct deposit every Friday. That said, putting the passengers I transport at risk is something I won’t do.

My other endeavor, the delinquent mortgage business is picking up. Next Monday will see a trip to Northwest Colorado. That should give me a chance to visit the museum in Craig, CO

Commute

A dangerous intersection I must cross at Pecham. CO. Several years ago a co-workers wife was grievously injured there. While she survived, their lives were altered forever. I remember them every time I cross.

https://www.museumnwco.org/

Time constraints will continue to keep blogging light. Thank all of you who continue to read my scribbles.

Whatever

Those who write detailed, one subject, blogs have my admiration. I don’t share that skill so you get a hodgepodge of unrelated ideas. You have been warned.

National Popular Vote

The deep blue wave that overtook Colorado politics rammed through this piece of crap. Using parliamentary tricks, labeled it “emergency” making it harder to repeal. A petition effort to place the question on the 2020 ballot has succeeded! At the deadline, 227,198 signatures, 100,000 more than necessary, were filed with the Secretary of State who has 30 days to validate them.

No celebration yet. Jena Griswold, the newly elected Secretary of State, has no qualifications for her job other than being a reliable (P)regressive while in the State Legislature. This will be a test to see if she has a shred of integrity. Don’t count on it, IMO.

Recall Polis

This recall effort is faltering. As part of the (P)regressive bag of dirty tricks, several fake recall efforts are running which dilutes the effort and will result in multiple signatures which invalidates all of them.

This bumper sticker is on my car. I get a few social fingers from passing motorists and more thumbs up.

Law and Order

A local Hell's Angel wannabe fired shots at a perusing police officer while on a putt on his hog. After trial, the judge gave him 32 years.  This is not a county that is known for leniency.

A looming problem is the way the state parole system works. Felons are being released on parole, with no home address, or even home, and local law enforcement isn’t being notified. Unless the felon is a sex offender, they are in the wind.

Swetsville Zoo

A quirky local attraction is closing, victim of urbanization. It will be missed.

https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10787

Milk Carton Kid

One of the original milk carton kids, Jonelle Matthews remains were discovered in Weld County by a pipeline construction crew. Age 12, she disappeared on 12/20/1984. Her disappearance had a huge impact on the community at large including a niece who was around that age.

Grandson

Now nine. Time flies.

Veterans Administration

Still fighting but some progress is being made. Have another appointment 8/12 that should lead to the “minor” operation being scheduled.

Dogs

I want to get one and my life is starting to become orderly enough (I’m not on the road all the time) to give one a decent home. In the meantime, all the tiny breeds that the ladies in the building parade need to be petted and have their ears scratched. It is often a gauntlet around the front door. Today I was at my sister’s house, and Riley, the schnauzer, demanded petting and a belly rub.

Section 8 Housing

Let me be clear, I’m not eligible for Section 8, nor do I want to be. That said, the local county office is requiring a birth certificate, among many other documents, from any applicant. Bravo!

Memorial Service

A previous post was about her health problem and, in my sister’s comment, her death. There will be a memorial service at the end of the month.

Life continues. While not original, I subscribe to, “I don’t mind getting old but my body is having issues with it”. I’ll keep on keeping on until I can’t.

Tomorrow I’ll visit the local $25 Chiro office. It is time for another “adjustment”.

NOTE: Not the original title. Brig beat me to it by and hour.

Jobs

This is something I posted on FB a few days ago hoping to change a few (P)regressive minds.

Reflections on the Trump presidency. Eight years ago people I care about couldn't find work. Now all are working. Is there anything more important, on a personal level, than a job?

As I travel around, I see many signs offering work. Three years ago such signs were rare. Some of those signs have been up long enough to become faded and torn.

While I can’t prove it, I doubt many (P)regressives have suffered want, reposed cars, evictions, hungry children and rejection after rejection when seeking jobs.  Many have government jobs and think they are immune from layoffs.

Remember when the Lightbringer told us, “Those manufacturing jobs will never come back”? Subliminal message was you are now government chattel, the fate of many from the War on Poverty.

If people vote their pocketbooks, President Trump will be picking up former Democrat voters, IMO.

Different subject. Why you should avoid flying into Denver International in the afternoon. That is sitting directly over the airport.

As always, YMMV.