CCW

Oralia and I are taking classes for concealed carry permits. In Ohio, that's 12 hours of training, including 2 hours of live-fire range time. Oralia is nervous about some of the neighborhoods she has to work in. I'm getting mine partly to keep her company, partly for political reasons--I want the CCW law to succeed. Oralia plans to carry, don't know that I will want to enough to get a second gun.

Our gun is a Springfield Armory XD-40 subcompact. .40 caliber, polymer (nice word for plastic) frame-Similar to a Glock, with an added grip safety, and many say a more natural pointing angle. Only problem so far is that Oralia has a hard time locking the slide open. She can chamber a round, check for an empty chamber, and if necessary she can use an empty magazine to lock the slide open.

Our instructor is a trip--Came to the door in Khaki hat and shirt with NRA patches, and with a holstered pistol exposed. Part of the class is identifying the 6 major types of handgun (Auto or revolver, Single action, double action or DA only). He had examples of each, including a .480--Big enough that a .44 magnum cartridge will fit inside a .480 shell. Also carried a knife that appeared to open like a switchblade. Missing a front tooth. On the other hand, he's charging the two of us a total of $175, and loaning us another Springfield XD 40 so we don't have to share.

beginnings

Don't know what I'm going to include here, or if I'll even keep it up.

I'm working third shift, and sleep during the daytime. Got woke up by the mailman delivering yet another watch, sent "sign for" mail. Couldn't quite get back to sleep, got woke up again by a pizza delivery to the wrong street.