Unique View From Bedroom

Back in Apple Valley MN we used to look out our bedroom window, and occasionally Shane would drop by.

Crazy Rail One

Shane prefers using the rail instead of the stairs.

Crazy Rail Two

An older video of Shane doing what he does in Montana.

One Glock, To Go

As a Virginia Tech alumni, I've been of course totally shocked watching the events unfold in this peaceful medium size town in the blue ridge. I used to walk by that building everyday, and lived a stones throw from it.

One of the many shocking new statements I've read is this one:

One law enforcement official said Cho's backpack contained a receipt for a March purchase of a Glock 9 mm pistol. Cho held a green card, meaning he was a legal, permanent resident. That meant he was eligible to buy a handgun unless he had been convicted of a felony.

Roanoke Firearms owner John Markell said his shop sold the Glock and a box of practice ammo to Cho 36 days ago for $571.

"He was a nice, clean-cut college kid. We won't sell a gun if we have any idea at all that a purchase is suspicious," Markell said.

Is that really the only requirement for buying an over-the-counter Glock? How well groomed you are and that you don't have a Felony?

You can buy a Glock even though you are on anti-depressants, have been treated in the mental health ward, and have past behaviors that this guy had including stalking warnings?

I'll confess, I've never paid much attention to our gun laws other than hearing slogans about "only the criminals will have guns" and that "they're coming after our deer hunting guns." I for one am shocked to know that I can walk in to a store and s and say "one Glock, to go, please." Just make sure you say please, so they think you are nice.

Virginia Tech

Our hearts go out to our Virginia Tech friends and the whole town of Blacksburg. We moved to Blacksburg when we were 28 years old from Alaska to attend graduate school. Our two years there were memorable in that it was a major transition in career (from Forestry to Marketing), lifestyle (from an island in Alaska to the Lower 48), climate, and even lifestage (from 20's into 30's). We lived right near campus biked through the oval everyday.

Where did you go to graduate school? Virginia Tech I would say. Where? Maybe you know it as VPI? Or VPI & State University? Blacksburg? In the blue ridge mountains I'd say. In recent years I've noticed more people recognizing it because of the football team. But after this week, I'm afraid it will always generate a very different response.