More Fires

So, the VFD is working a fire 3.5 Miles NNE of us. Already mutual aid tones have gone out and Texas Forest Service is en-route. Winds are SSW at an AVG of 1MPH so at least it is calm. They are reporting a Barn on fire along with a large grass fire. We'll see how this plays out.

UPDATE: TFS Airboss is on scene and has air tanker and helicopter inbound. He is also directing ground forces to where he can see things they can't. He sounds optimistic.

Go Ahead, I Double Dog Dare You

So, AD is the evil genius behind the Kilted to Kick Cancer fundraising campaign. He has started a little think on FaceBook that the person to makes the largest donation in the next 24 hours, gets a personalized autographed copy of his book. I already made our donation, I dare anyone to top it!

Go to his page, click on either the Livestrong or Prostate Cancer Foundation link on the left and then leave him a comment with name, amount and confirmation number.

Go ahead, I dare you!

Fire Danger

So we are under another red flag warning for the fire danger based on a frontal passage. Luckily for us the fire danger in our area has been downgraded from (/Monstertruck Announcer) EXTREME (/Monstertruck Announcer) to (/Stoner) Very High (/Stoner). I sure am glad they are not pushing a color code system too much for this. If they did, I think we would have moved from Cherry Red to Burnt Orange. We all know that is not a cool color in this neck of the woods. As it is, we are averaging 8MPH winds with mid to upper 20's gusts in the trees. Along with a humidity in the low 30's! Yikes!! That is not good juju.
So, we sit and watch and wait. Hoping someone doesn't pull a bonehead and light up a burn barrel or decide to grille today and torch half the county. That doesn't mean that we won't have one of the multitude of dead and or dieing trees fall on a power line and spark up a blaze back where no one notices for a while.
Damn, I can't wait for a seriously good soaking rain.

Welcome a new blogger

Madison over at Life of an Aggie has recently started blogging. She is also heavily involved in the Student for Concealed Carry on Campus in Texas. So, wander on over and say "Howdy"!

The new Calf is here! The new Calf is here!

So this is our newest calf. 3/4 black Angus, 1/4 Longhorn. I have named him Veal. We shall see but my plan is to fill the freezer with him next spring. That discussion is still ongoing and likely will continue till that time.

Seen at Lunch

A Peace Officer carrying:
A) a 1911
B) in Stainless hand engraved w/ hand engraved grips (Sunday Gun)
C) carried in hand tooled leather duty rig.

Granted this departments official uniform consists of Cowboy Boots, Pressed Jeans, White Stetson and Pressed white Shirt with Silver Start Badge. Fortunately, there was no riot nearby so he was able to enjoy his lunch peacefully. Which is why I didn't get pictures. I really didn't want to interrupt.

Today's other visitors

Well, in addition to Mz Napolitano being here, we had two F-18's stop in for lunch. They just took of and I managed to get them on video for the formation takeoff. Still would rather a formation takeoff of radials but this was still pretty cool.

DHS Visit

Please to make note of the tail number of the Coastie Gulfstream that just landed. That would be tail number 01 as in DHS1 as in Janet Napolitano arriving in College Station.

Asshat Attorneys

These folks give ambulance chasers a bad name. Just the audacity of them already jumping to setup to sue the race organizers or anyone else they can to try and get money because you or they feel you deserve it regardless of the facts really chaps my hide.

Layer of Editorial Oversight

I am sure the copy writer just pulled a stock image of a helicopter to paste with this story. They could of at least pulled an American Military Helicopter. I can't get a clear image blown up of this but it looks vaguely like an Aussie logo. Not really sure but it is most definitely not an American Coast Guard Helicopter.

One Crashes, Another Takes Flight

While tragedy struck in Reno with the crash of P-51 Galloping Ghost, The Millie G was taking flight from Easterwoood Field. Almost same time, at least by local times. It is tragic whenever one of these fantastic machines crashes. However, it is equally or even more so exciting when one of them takes flight. I have been on hand for countless warbird takeoffs and flights, one for it's first flight after restoration (P-38 Scatterbrain Kid II). Each and every time it sends chills up my spine to see a piece of history take to the air. Art has a fantastic post up explaining that if you need an explanation, you wouldn't understand.

Tragedy in Reno

The details of the tragedy are starting to trickle out. I have a dear friend on the flight line crewing for one of the racers who saw the crash and fortunately he and the crew of folks form central Texas are OK. My thoughts and prayers are with all teh folks out there and back here at home effected by the tragedy.

This makes me think of "Acceptable Risk" I have a post of rambling thoughts rolling around but not right now.

I have no doubt that an actual investigation, as opposed to the Monday morning quarterbacking sensationalism that is already going on, will show this to be a tragic accident. I also have no doubt that Jimmy Leeward did everything he could for as long as he could to minimize the damage caused at terminal risk to himself.

Again, I pray for all those directly and indirectly effected and hope and pray for recovery of all those injured, peace for the few killed and sanity for those who had to witness this.

Long term Fire Danger

Take a GOOD look. This tree was in the fire zone of the Dyer Mill Fire. 3+ months ago!!! Last Friday the VFD got called out because the tree was smoking and a new fire had started. Turns out the tree has been smoldering internally for the past 3 months. All it took was a small increase in wind and a broken branch as a way for the fire to get out and another fire was started. We are all going to have to keep a close eye out for some time to make sure none of the trees involved in the latest fires catch back up as weather conditions change.
Stay Safe People!

Latest Random Aircraft Sighting

This absolute beauty came in yesterday afternoon. Unfortunately, I was seriously occupied so I wasn't able to get out there as it was coming in or running.

Post Fire words of wisdom

So, just to let you know, Hank Flemming (Master Gunsmith in Austin TX) has made an offer to those burned out by the fire to bring in replacement guns at what amounts to cost for him.

This combined with pictures from a friend who has a stack of burnt barrels and actions in the back of his truck leads me to a big cautionary word of advice.

DO NOT SHOOT a gun that has been through a fire. Take it to a competent gunsmith and have it checked out. If they say don't shoot it, it is totaled and needs to be destroyed never to be shot again. You r life isn't worth risking on a burned gun. Heat from the fire does good and bad things to metal. Fortunately. there is a good understanding of what effect which temperatures and times have to what metals. Unfortunately, there is no way to measure what temperatures for what times your gun was subject to in the fire. That means the heat treat on the material is compromised.

Just a helpful hint from your uncle Geek.