Randall53

Sorry David for the delay to answer you post, but they now accept credit cards. I agree Merv's is great. Small menu but their burgers are the best and the only reason we go there. My wife and I can only eat about half of the home made french fries though. Their fries reminds me of Five Guys. They serve about twice the amount most people can eat.

I've been looking at these: http://www.downsafe.com since even a harness can be dangerous in a short amount of time if you can't get back into your stand.

Love the blade GT. Great pics by that feller in New Zealand also.

I just wanted to come back to this thread one more time to say thank you to everyone for the prayers, thoughts and kind words. My son was buried today at the National Cemetery with all Military Honors. The military did a wonderful job and his mother and I were/are very thankful and proud and so sad at the same time. It's hard to put into words. His love of motorcycles prompted me to contact the Patriot Guard Riders. They also did a wonderful job at the visitation last night standing by the door for many hours in the heat of the evening. The procession to the National Cemetery was led and accompanied by MANY PGR riders. I couldn't even guess at the number. They did a wonderful job and rode through a strong storm and wind for the last 5 miles to the National Cemetery as if the skies were blue. It was a sight to behold and, again, his mom and I were/are very thankful to them for honoring him in so great a way. Mom and I would like to say FLY HIGH our soldier buddy. We'll see you again one wonderful day.

You can imagine how I feel when I see multi-millionaire thugs that won't stand for the National Anthem. I know it's their right, but do your protesting at the voting booth. Not in the face of people like my son. The right of free speech goes only so far, when you begin to step on other peoples graves, I draw a line.

No Sir. You don't sound calloused at all. I'm so sick inside I hardly eat or sleep, and my wife is worse. I can't imagine why a REAL Doctor with a conscience that would even work in a system as the VA. Maybe they do some good, but my son and the look of hopelessness I saw in his eyes the last time I saw him......I can't describe it and will live with it the rest of my life. I was so scared, and my fears became real. PLEASE pray for his mom and for me. Thanks to all who have responded and yet will respond. I am so lost.....I can't reply.

I've not been on much the past few weeks and a few of you know of my step son, who has been like a son to me for 18 years today, that has suffered from a terrible problem with PTSD, depression and anxiety attacks and reached out to me to help. I thank you so very much for that!! I appreciate each of you. He turned 23 this past July and joined the National Guard 6 years ago at the age of 17. All he wanted since he was 8 years old was to join the Army and be a soldier. He graduated high school at 16 years old. He joined the National Guard to take advantage of college assistance programs. His basic training was at Ft. Sill Oklahoma and he finished 1st in his group of over 150 others. He then went to his AIT training at the same location and again finished 1st over a completely different group of the approximate same number as a Missile Control Specialist. Shortly afterwards, he received a letter of congratulation from the Governor of Tennessee for his accomplishments during that time. He was promoted to Sergent 2 years ago at the age of 21. He made 2 deployments to the Middle East with his last one being in 2014. The last mission was a "we're there, but we're not there" kind of secret mission and we didn't even know where he was for a year. He could call now and then, but couldn't tell us where he was. I don't know what happened over there, but he came back just a bit different. Not much, but a bit. Things didn't go well for him at times and he seemed bothered. He tried to hide it, but his condition got worse. We tried to get him to get help, to go to a private hospital and get help, but he resisted over and over again. "I'll be ok" is what he would always say. Finally we were able to persuade him to at least go the the VA clinic here in Chattanooga and he did a couple of times. Each time he went he said they did not take him seriously. The first time he was told that he just needed to "calm down". He didn't get better at all, got worse actually and we were worried. I finally got him to try again. The last time he went was 2 weeks ago today. He told them he needed to see someone in the Mental Health dept and he felt he needed help for PTSD and was having a panic attack right then. He said the panic attack was causing him pain in his chest. They sent him straight to a hospital saying it could be a heart attack. He argued with them and told them no, it wasn't it was a panic attack caused by the PTSD and he had been having them for a couple of years. They ignored what he said and sent him on by ambulance. Nothing was found at all at the hospital, then an hour later he called us to come get him. They have yet to follow up with him at all. They have not called and have completely ignored his cry for help from the Mental Health part of the VA on that day. It's like he never showed up there asking for help with mental issues. He's been living with us for the past 10 months or so and I told him to keep after them, don't give up because we are here for you and will see this through. We had called a Patient Advocate who tried to help, but I suppose my son had given up hope. He walked up to me about 2 hours later and said "well, now I don't know what to do..." I told him again, don't quit...I'll take you wherever you need to go and you know that. He said I know, then walked out the door on the 6th. That was 2 weeks ago and he wouldn't answer anyone's calls or texts. A couple of his friends saw him a week ago last Saturday, then no one saw or heard from him. Friends and family searched every location that could be thought of and 12 of us searched for him around his last know location this past Saturday. He was found on Sunday morning by a man out walking. He had taken his own life. the coroner said it was probably on Monday the 12th or early on Tuesday. I am so sick. I am so mad that some locations of an organization created to give our veterans care is so calloused and useless. Maybe some are not, I don't know, but the local VA clinic in Chattanooga can rot in HELL. If you work at a VA hospital, as I know some here do, don't take this personal. But if you see something like what happened to my stepson happening. DO SOMETHING. Change the organization from within. The VA is sicker than those they are supposed to help!!!!! All of his life, everybody that met my son loved him. He was funny, FULL of energy, loved motorcycles and dirt bikes which he got from me. He made everyone laugh and would help anyone that called him at anytime of the day or night. He had literally hundreds of friends that loved him. He was 1 year away from getting a degree in Computer science, forensics and security. He was brilliant which is obvious by his graduating at 16 years old. He had 4 years left in the military and wanted to make it a career. He had a wonderful life ahead of him and had so much to give this world......He may have had that chance IF the VA "Doctors" had got off their asses and helped him. IF they had not turned their back on him in HIS time of need. Randall53

Good job res308. Keep it up. You have a lot of talent!

I know we have many veterans here and I need to talk to someone privately about getting a family member help at a VA hospital to address possible PTSD issues. This person has done 2 tours and is 23 years old. If any of you have experience with this and can help. Please let me know. I live in the Chattanooga area. Thanks

Thank you and TGO sir. You are correct about His love or us. While things didn't turn out the way we wanted, there is still hope that it will. At least now we are able to breathe and sleep at night.

I want to thank everyone for the prayers. I won't go into detail on a public forum, but while the problems are not health related to my wife or I and have not gone away, the Lord has changed the situation we were in with one problem and opened the door of recovery for another that has weighed heavy on us both. He has also given my wife and I the strength to accept things as they are and leave it up to Him to resolve. The stress my wife and I was living under is much lower now and we have a ray of sunshine in our very near future we hope. We've prayed and will continue to pray for God to speak to the heart of one that needs Him. Thank you all again for your prayers and awesome support. Randall

I just dropped in to say I got too much crap going on and to say prayers appreciated.

I'm truly sorry for your loss. I lost my dad in 86 and my mom in 2007. I love them both to this day and think of them both almost daily. The pain gets easier, but the thoughts and the love stay with you. Cherish them both.

The top one is really awesome. White handles, TGO sig.....and that blade is really badass!!!

Yep. Very true. And it's still cheaper than the gun shows!!

They used to be. Academy in Hixson has them for 28 per 500.

What do ya'll think of them. I've usually stuck with golden's and federals.....Any thoughts? Edited to add: I forgot CCI Standard Velocity for matches.

I wish we had a "Carry Friendly Locations" thread to match the "Carry Prohibited Locations" to give the places that are gun friendly the credit they deserve , but, I'll just put this here for now. I've been going to Merv's at the foot of Signal Mountain on Mountain Creek Road lately to enjoy their excellent burgers and fries. I've been going about once or twice a week for the past few weeks and have noticed no postings. They do serve beer, but since I don't drink and have a pocket pistol (380 Seecamp), I most always have it with me and Merv's was no exception. I was there last Friday for lunch and noticed a man and woman walk in. I noticed they were common folk like most of us both dressed for the weather in shorts, tennis shoes and tee shirts. I also noticed the man was open carrying a mid sized semi-auto I think was a Shield which was very visible on his right side as he was sitting on the outside of a booth. They were waited on and served by both waitresses at some point during our visits and you would have never known he was openly armed. So, I wanted to make our members aware that we have a good place to eat that is firearm friendly for those times you're hungry and want to support a place that supports us. They also have a new location in Soddy Daisy across from the Home Folks restaurant, but I've not been there so, I'm hesitant to say it's not posted, but there's a good chance it's not.

http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/08/05/record-25984000-immigrants-employed-united-states-july/ Record 25,984,000 Immigrants Employed in the United States in July This was my "takeaway" from the article: "In recent years the immigrant population in the U.S. has been experiencing a more fruitful rate of job growth compared to native-born Americans. Since President Barack Obama took office, the civilian noninstitutional population of immigrants has grown by 6,304,000 and experienced a net job growth of 4,609,000. The native-born population has grown 12,579,000 and added 7,392,000." ALSO IN THE NEWS: http://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2016/08/05/94333000-americans-labor-force-july/ 94,333,000 Americans Out of the Labor Force in July - (Down by a tiny fraction of 1 percent) "down 184,000 compared to the month prior." Many of the jobs available are low paying, part time, with no benefits. With literally millions of illegals here and more on the way, the American citizen will continue to suffer in the Jobs market by competition, low wages and lack of benefits. It's sad where we are headed, where the Liberals are taking us and the Conservatives are going along for the ride.

When it's over it'll probably be like the movie Escape from New York for those leaving.

I just screen saved the moment when Negan was swinging the bat at 30 seconds into the trailer. I have an idea, but I don't want to influence anyone. Here's a couple of pics to look at. By looking at the layout and the screenshot, it narrow it down to 2 people in my opinion:

From the article: "Traffic robberies are common in Brazil and motorists are advised to keep their windows closed and doors locked. They are advised to not react or resist." Yeah right. Typical Liberal response right? Like the Liberal advice to rape victims. "poop and pee on yourself.....don't carry a gun!!"

It's crabgrass. I had a terrible problem with it a couple of years ago. I was told each year it grows from last years seeds. Last year, I mowed every 3 days, 4 at the most. The crab grass came up, but I never let it start the stem that the seeds grow on. This is what the chemicals are suppose to do that you buy for crabgrass. It coats the seed and stops germination they say. This year, I had very little crabgrass at all and didn't use the chems, just cut before the seeds could grow. It works, but you gotta stay on it with the mowing. The bad thing is, if your neighbor has crabgrass you will have crabgrass from the seeds blowing into your yard if they don't keep theirs cut like you do.

Hey. I recognize that. That's the CDC recommended swimsuit for the Rio olympic swim team!!

Great looking knife!! Another lucky owner of one of TGO's talented talented knife makers!