gomopar440
Livin' my life...one gas station at a time.
I've been kinda scarce around here for a little while lately. My recurring back problems have been coming back with a vengance. I'm currently undergoing epidural steroid shots again to try and delay having to get surgery done.
If (when) I have to go under the knife to attempt to fix my back, chances are only 50/50 at best I'll get any better. I don't even want to think what's possible with the other 50%. :dgt: I haven't been able to work on either the car or the boat for over a month as it stands right now.
Some of you know that I had plans to go to school at Wyotech or UTI after I retired from the Navy (1.5yrs to go) as a way to get a start in a custom fabrication type career. This whole issue with my back has caused me to step back and try to take an honest, objective look at the feasibility of that decision.
Remember this post? ---> http://www.moparnuts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17658
I ended up getting that scope but a different rifle for it. In the pic below is my current collection of things that go boom.
- On top is the (used/new to me) Ruger M77 MkII (270 Win) with a 3-9x40 Redfield on the stock Ruger scope mount rings.
- Below that is my Zombie blaster, a Remmington 870 Express Magnum 12Ga Pump with a 18" barrel and the factory full length 6+1 magazine tube. It doesn't get used much due to the recoil, but I'm planning a stock replacement for it to remedy that.
- Next is the All Weather Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle in .223 cal for general plinking target shooting with that new NC Star 2.5-10x40 scope. I just need bigger scope rings (30mm vs 1") to be able to mount the new scope to the Mini.
- The 9mm Beretta 92FS pistol I've had for a few years now. It's actually the 5th one I've had, but the only one I've got left.
- ...Ok, I know the knife doesn't go "boom", but it compliments the collection well. It's a Colt M-16-K auto-unfolder. It was only available to Military/Law Enforcement and I got it when I was working as Military Police back in Mississippi (before PR). Press the side in the right place and it flips open like a switchblade.[smilie=i:
That recent gun purchase kinda snowballed into a lot more than what it started out to be. I've always liked guns and shooting in general and the setups above were supposed to get me back into target shooting for fun. I can still shoot from a bench if needed so I'll still be able to use and enjoy them even while my back is screwed up.
That got me to thinking a little bit. Maybe I don't have to deal with heavy parts and working in cramped areas at odd angles like I would in the automotive industry. I can train to be a gunsmith and then have a career that I should be able to sustain me (and another one of my hobbies :toot
and my family financially even if they fuck up my back so bad they were to put me into a wheelchair. Belive me, I hope it never gets that far. :helpme: However, it would be irresponsible of me to not consider that as a likely possibility given my current condition.
I figured I may as well take advantage of some of the fringe benefits of being in the military while they're still available to me. I requested Tuition Assistance from the Navy and they are paying for an online gunsmithing course. I've been taking the course for a little while now (2wks?) and so far so good. It's a lot more in depth knowledge to gunsmithing that I never knew about. I guess that's why I'm taking the course though huh?
PS: I'm not looking for a pity party about the whole back thing. I just feel like some of you guys are as close as family to me and ought to know what's been up with me lately and why I haven't been around as much.:shifty:
If (when) I have to go under the knife to attempt to fix my back, chances are only 50/50 at best I'll get any better. I don't even want to think what's possible with the other 50%. :dgt: I haven't been able to work on either the car or the boat for over a month as it stands right now.
Some of you know that I had plans to go to school at Wyotech or UTI after I retired from the Navy (1.5yrs to go) as a way to get a start in a custom fabrication type career. This whole issue with my back has caused me to step back and try to take an honest, objective look at the feasibility of that decision.
Remember this post? ---> http://www.moparnuts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17658
I ended up getting that scope but a different rifle for it. In the pic below is my current collection of things that go boom.
- On top is the (used/new to me) Ruger M77 MkII (270 Win) with a 3-9x40 Redfield on the stock Ruger scope mount rings.
- Below that is my Zombie blaster, a Remmington 870 Express Magnum 12Ga Pump with a 18" barrel and the factory full length 6+1 magazine tube. It doesn't get used much due to the recoil, but I'm planning a stock replacement for it to remedy that.
- Next is the All Weather Ruger Mini 14 Ranch Rifle in .223 cal for general plinking target shooting with that new NC Star 2.5-10x40 scope. I just need bigger scope rings (30mm vs 1") to be able to mount the new scope to the Mini.
- The 9mm Beretta 92FS pistol I've had for a few years now. It's actually the 5th one I've had, but the only one I've got left.
- ...Ok, I know the knife doesn't go "boom", but it compliments the collection well. It's a Colt M-16-K auto-unfolder. It was only available to Military/Law Enforcement and I got it when I was working as Military Police back in Mississippi (before PR). Press the side in the right place and it flips open like a switchblade.[smilie=i:
That recent gun purchase kinda snowballed into a lot more than what it started out to be. I've always liked guns and shooting in general and the setups above were supposed to get me back into target shooting for fun. I can still shoot from a bench if needed so I'll still be able to use and enjoy them even while my back is screwed up.
That got me to thinking a little bit. Maybe I don't have to deal with heavy parts and working in cramped areas at odd angles like I would in the automotive industry. I can train to be a gunsmith and then have a career that I should be able to sustain me (and another one of my hobbies :toot
and my family financially even if they fuck up my back so bad they were to put me into a wheelchair. Belive me, I hope it never gets that far. :helpme: However, it would be irresponsible of me to not consider that as a likely possibility given my current condition.I figured I may as well take advantage of some of the fringe benefits of being in the military while they're still available to me. I requested Tuition Assistance from the Navy and they are paying for an online gunsmithing course. I've been taking the course for a little while now (2wks?) and so far so good. It's a lot more in depth knowledge to gunsmithing that I never knew about. I guess that's why I'm taking the course though huh?
PS: I'm not looking for a pity party about the whole back thing. I just feel like some of you guys are as close as family to me and ought to know what's been up with me lately and why I haven't been around as much.:shifty:
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