I received an email this morning informing me that our brother Millard had passed away on Saturday.  Millard was very well known in the Trenches.  He and Diggerdan were my friends.  After Digger died it had been Millard’s intent to come to Oregon where we would take his ashes to Gold Beach where Dan grew up.  His failing health made the trip impossible.

Millard was a true friend to me.  Though I never had the privilege of shaking his hand, through email and phone conversations, we had become very close.  I last talked to him I believe it was about a month ago.  I hadn’t seen his comments so I had called him.  He simply said he was okay, but he was backing away for a little bit.  I knew his health was failing.  I wish I could have had the time for just a little more conversation.     Continue reading “Trencher Alert: Our Brother Millard Has Moved On To The Next World”

Sent to us by Atrax.

A short story. I used to do property maintenance for a slum lord here in Wyoming. One time while doing some plumbing upgrades to one of his multiplex properties, I wanted to check on the weatherproofing and winterizing on what used to be an old coal chute.

I found an old manila folder in there. It seemed to be from the mid to late 50’s. There were magazine adverts of women’s dresses, tea sets, the usual girl stuff. But one advert caught my eye. It was an advert for linoleum flooring. showed a happy family spending time in the kitchen. Youngest daughter was on the floor playing with a doll, son was at a desk there doing homework, mother was cooking dinner, and dad was at the dining room table cleaning a rifle. in a FLOORING advertisement.   Continue reading “How gun culture used to be AMERICAN!”