RECCE ROOM

Today we remember perhaps the most horrific day to have happened to America in my lifetime. My kids learned of these events in school. I learned of them in real time: watching tv and reading the paper.  Yesterday was one of the more horrific days in my lifetime. An absolute icon of America First ideology was senselessly murdered by an assassin. Charlie Kirk was a man to be admired for his faith, his intelligence, and his adherence to principles both sides of the political aisle claim, but rarely demonstrate. Both of my children really enjoyed listening to Charlie Kirk and consuming his material.  Additionally, a great many of my children's friends also followed Charlie. After his murder, I cannot count how many of those youthful friends' social media accounts had posts of tribute.  It truly was a Turning Point.  Here, in memoriam, is a picture of Charlie with me, from October 25, 2020. I was running security on him during a visit he made to my town. I got to speak wi...

One year ago to this moment, I got the call my mother had passed. She is in a better place, this I know. .

I was recruited by Enterprise Rent-A-Car out of college. I interviewed with them about a month after graduation, but did not hear back from them. I thought I lacked relevant experience, so I discovered what they wanted - often good retail or sales or rental experience - and I got jobs with companies that provided that experience. A year later, I interviewed with them, and was hired. I thought it was because of my experience. I was wrong. At this point, I did think it was strange that there was a different recruiter working there this time. But, they said people got promoted all the time, and the previous one had been promoted almost a year ago, so it was no big deal. About a year later, I was taking Enterprise's Management Qualification Interview ("MQI"). The recruiter who had hired me had just been promoted. A new one was taking her place, and going through old boxes. One of the boxes had resume's from two years prior. She holds one up and says, "I wonde...

As a follow-up to the previous post, I must share some of the antics of the old boss, Mark. Remember, this was in 1998 and 1999. I was fresh out of college. I was working at a major Rent-to-Own chain. I was first hired at one of the two locations in Jackson, TN. The manager there was hard, bur fair. Mark was the "Executive Assistant Manager." He rarely did much. Myself and another Account Manager did all of the collections and most of the deliveries and repos. There was an "I/O Manager" (Inside/Outside assistant manager), who backed up on collection, delivery, and repo assignments. The Branch Manager there did much of the selling and setting of the assignments. Mark would yell a lot at me. Mostly "reminding" me to do things I was in the middle of doing. He would call out "Stay Focused" and "Call that Route" a lot. I'm still not sure why. I was usually calling the Route when he said that... and I've always been a very focus...

While trading old memories with a co-worker today, I was reminded of this gem. I was working for a major rent-to-own chain, and I was right out of college. I'd been there about 6-8 months, and was ready to move on to bigger and better things. In fact, I was preparing to start my career at Enterprise Rent-A-Car. It would be this career move that provided the fuel for all the repo stories. I had interviewed with ERAC on three occasions, and they were doing the background check. I knew it would come back clean, so I was simply waiting for the call. One afternoon in late May, I got the call. The phone rang at my place of business. My boss - who was a real "work of art" - answered. He put the caller on hold, and yelled to me: "[Usagi]! There's a fagot on line 2 for you!" The hiring manager from ERAC did not have the most masculine voice, but that was no way to talk about someone. It was however, par for the course for this manager of mine, whose first name was Ma...

When I went shooting this past weekend, I came across an astounding realization. It had to do with a "circle of life" concept. Let me explain... When I was young, Pops taught us all to shoot using old Marlin .22 rifles. We had Model 60's. We (my brother, sister, and I) shot all day using a 550-round box, and maybe part of another. We shot .22 pistols, too. I don't think I shot a centerfire anything until I was about 10, then not again until I was about 12. My brother started with centerfires then, at age 10. Up until then, the lowly .22 had been cheap and fun. But, as boys often do, we wanted "bigger and better." Pops indulged us a bit. We got some M1 Carbines (still have those, though Mrs. Usagi has taken possession of mine!). My brother got a lever-action .30-30. I got a bolt-action .270. We still have those guns. We turned our backs on the lowly .22's. They didn't kick. They weren't loud. They wouldn't do much for self defense. What was th...

My mother, "Moms," is an LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse. She obtained the education and license when I was seven years old. As she has been in the hospital of late, I am reminded of a story she told from her days in nursing training school. The nurses were doing their OB training, much of which was shadowing current nurses in hospitals as they do their rounds. Moms' friend, Carrie* (names changed to protect... er... someone), is shadowing a nurse who is attending to a young mother in labor. The mom-to-be is in her teens - definitely not yet 18 years of age. As is natural, there is pain, and the young mom-to-be is screaming with the pain from time to time. A little background is appropriate here. Carrie* is a large lady - well over six feet tall and at least 400 pounds. (If you think I exagerate those numbers, I invite you to ask my brother, sister, or my dad.) Carrie* is also an "appalachian-American" (read: redneck). She adopts a to-the-point manner of communic...

I don't know how many more posts I will do this year. Maybe none. Maybe a bunch. However, I did want to say to the world that I for one am glad 2009 is ending. This has not been a good year for me. I look forward to the opportunity to start off on a new foot. Things I cannot wait to put behind me that happened in 2009: 1. My dad and his health. Specifically, the weeks he was in the hospital & rehab for his illness, foot infection, and broken hip. I've never seen anybody have as many problems in one time span. - Good news - he is walking now and getting around well. I know he looks forward to playing with the "Little Usagi's" more now that he can get around! 2. The job situation. I got laid off. So did ten coworkers in my department (and even more in other departments). I hate having to look for work for no fault of my own. - Good news - I have several strong opportunities that are nearing a hiring decision. January will likely be an exciting month for me. 3. O...

I remember where I was. Do you? I had just started a new job, and was actually staying in a hotel across the street from the office in Nashville. My wife was still in Memphis, as we had not moved yet. I drove across the street, my car radio was playing "John Boy & Billy show" (Yes, my tastes have improved in 8 years). The cast of the show was unusually somber. They broke the news to me and I'm sure many others. The boss tried to make us focus on work, but so many were not in a mood to focus. We all felt the weight of the situation. My wife was scared that weekend when we moved our things to Nashville. After a brief unpacking, she wanted me to do something to make her feel safer. I grabbed several of my rifles and showed her how to operate each of them. She felt inherently safer.

Today, I got to watch my brother-in-law get married. Beautiful wedding, beautiful bride, great food, excellent singing entertainment at the reception. And the people at the tux rental place didn't even freak out when I open-carried into their store!

When I speak with different people out there about my past employment and interesting things I've done, one of the most common "fan favorites" is from my days with Enterprise Rent a Car in Memphis, TN. I say "fan favorites because a part of my duties there included repossessing cars in situations where renters were behind on the rental fees. To clear some things up, repo's happen in in the car rental business for numerous reasons. Sometimes people's credit cards would max out or decline for some other reason. Sometimes people were getting a car through an insurance company (who was footing the bill) and they were delayed several days in getting their car out of the shop. The insurance company would naturally stop paying for the car, and the renter often would not have left a credit card on file (or it maxed out, or declined). Sometimes the delay was the person did not have the $500 for the deductible to get their car out of the shop. Sometimes people just mis...

This is my first blog ever. I will likely blog most often about my favorite three topics, in no particular order: guns & shooting; fishing; and the martial arts. Of course, I may also talk politics, religion, family, and other fun topics. I welcome your thoughts, opinions, statements, etc. - even if they are contradictory. Let me know what you think.