Here I Stand

Here I Stand

Friday, November 5, 2010

Shooting in So-Cal

This week I enjoyed my first shooting experience since coming to southern California. Upon the recommendation of the proprietor of a local sporting goods and gun shop – Grant Boys – I drove out to Huntington Beach (not too far from Newport, where I call home) to the Firing Line. This indoor shooting range is small – which could be expected for both an indoor range, and one in Huntington Beach, but it was not crowded, and had a nice atmosphere to it. Like every range I have been to, you signed a liability waiver before shooting, but this was in no way a hassle as some ranges tend to make it. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable without trying to get into a pissing contest with customers over gun knowledge or tactics – again, as some ranges tend to do.


Firing Line - Huntington Beach, Ca


There is, of course, the standard set of indoor range rules that anyone who has shot before knows about – no presenting from the holster, no “rapid fire” (meaning, as usual, no more than one round fired per second) double taps, etc. But no one seemed to take exception when I shot some defensive drills, Mozambque drills, and did quick reloads... basically getting some training besides basic fundamentals out of my range time.

The price for basic range fees was fairly steep at $18, but guests shoot on the same lane for $9, which isn't bad, and the annual membership deal is pretty good. $150 annual fee gets you unlimited range time, as well we 10% off their already cheap (but reloaded) ammo, and it is a family membership. With their initial range fees, this would more than pay for itself, even if you only shoot once a month.

The pro shop had a good deal of handguns in their rental program ($10 a gun, plus ammo prices, but free for members... another plus for membership) if there is something you have been itching to shoot before you buy, and a good selection of targets – everything from standard bullseyes to military style silhouettes and even zombie targets (ya know, for training purposes)


I shot for about an hour, with my .40 cal and my .45, with ammo and targets purchased on site, and dropped about $55 total. Overall, a bit on the pricey side, but a good experience. If I plan on shooting even semi-regularly, then I'll put out for a membership, and cut those expenses by quite a bit – especially if I will be taking students to this range for one on one instruction and private classes.

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Halloween in Hollywood

Last night was my first Halloween on the west coast. At first I was a bit concerned as to whether or not I would actually do anything to celebrate this typically very enjoyable holiday. Jaime was working on Saturday night - she said she didn't want to work on the day of the holiday, and get all the crazies that accompany Halloween in the hospital that night... but as we figured out, almost all of the parties going on for Halloween were scheduled for Saturday, not Sunday the 31st. This left us with a dilemma... we wanted to do something, but not much seemed to be going on. After asking around on Saturday night someone suggested simply “Try Hollywood” - a cursory Google search confirmed that the Hollywood Halloween Carnival was something that we wanted to do.


I have been all over the country for all kinds of parties – Mardi Gras in New Orleans, New Years in NYC, etc. and Halloween in Hollywood is definitely comparable. The carnival website said that they expected hundreds of thousands of revelers, and after being there, I believe it. The traffic getting off on Santa Monica Blvd (4+ miles down from the site) was terrible... one lane of the highway hardly moving, while the rest is empty. The stop and go traffic off the highway and going towards the revelry was mostly stop and hardly any go... we quickly abandoned our original plan to go to one of the parking lots set aside specifically for the event, as it simply wasn't practical to get there, and ended up paying $20 to park more than a mile away, but after sitting in the car for over an hour and not moving a city block, that price was well worth it. I dressed as a Spartan soldier, while Jaime was a Greek Goddess (she looked the part far more than I) and although the press of the crowd was severe, there was a festive, enjoyable atmosphere, without the any of the shady or sinister feelings that accompany many similar events.
The costumes on display at the carnival were insane! There was everything from the store bought “Snooki” and Lady Gaga outfits to home made works of art that would be worthy of Las Ramblas in Barcelona. Los Angeles has a huge gay and lesbian population, and they were out in force – mostly with stylized military uniforms in protest of the “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” legislation that is so prominent in the news lately. Another popular choice, which to my mind was a bit too soon, were the hundreds of people dressed as the trapped Chilean miners who were so recently rescued. My personal favorite were several BP oil chefs, serving up fresh gulf coast seafood, covered in home made, and very artistic black tar.


What struck me as noteworthy though, was that unlike many of the other street parties and celebrations that I have been too, especially those involving the sheer number of people present at the Hollywood Halloween Carnival was that there was not the drug and alcohol infused atmosphere that practically drips from New Orleans events. Everyone was having a good time and enjoying themselves, even though I don't remember a single person who was noticeably inebriated (though I am sure that they were there somewhere.) The scandalousness of many costumes (worn by both men and women) and the lateness of the hour were the only things that would keep the carnival from being a full family event – though one that was still thoroughly enjoyed by the twenty something crowd as well.