I've a feeling we're not in Illinois anymore.

With my WWII obsessed mind always grinding away, things related to the Second World War are always rising up from the backdrop and catching my eye. It is a relentless thing.

As I watched the F1 race cars at Silverstone Circuit this morning, I couldn't help but remember that the track was originally a wartime bomber training base during World War Two. When my wife surprised me with a white chocolate Toblerone this weekend and I immediately thought of the dragon's teeth of the Toblerone line. I happen to work a couple hundred paces from the former Texas School Book Depository, and for some reason I'm reminded more of PT109 than of a guy named Oswald. After visiting the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry's display of a V2 rocket engine, I've never looked at my pepper mill the same way. Even as I walked through the grocery store today, I imagined lobbing pomegranates over the shelves into the deli section and running away with as much charcuterie and cheese as possible. Like I said...relentless.

It's especially telling and odd what catches my eye as different when traveling from one place to another. As some of you know, my move from Illinois to Texas is now complete, and the Otto clan now owns a home in the Lone Star State. I'm fully noticing just how very different Texan culture is. The speech, the attitudes, the politics, near everything.

Even my WWII obsessed eye is detecting the new locale. It came up in an odd way as I was shopping for a paddle for my canoe, (Texas has a surprising abundance of lakes). I was perusing the aisles in a local Bass Pro Shop (a large outdoor/spotsman chain store), and something in the corner of my eye jumped to my attention.

20180706_172929 by Otto posted Jul 7, 2018 at 12:59 PM

I took a closer look, and it was a damned mp40. Not an actual firearm in this case, but an Umarex Legends mp40 CO2 powered BB gun.

20180706_172907 by Otto posted Jul 7, 2018 at 12:59 PM

Now, don't misunderstand me. I do get that guns are a common thing in Texas, a very common thing. While this thing can shoot metal BBs, but it's not going to kill anything bigger than a bird. It's essentially a $199 toy.

I'm also well aware that replicas of WWII weapons that fire BBs are available online, I've even looked them up a few times to soothe my WWII battle weapon fetish. However, this particular situation is quite a bit different from an online store.

While it mildly surprises me that a wide variety CO2 powered BB guns are available in stock at this store. It surprises me a lot more that replica mp40 BB guns are so popular in this area that this store keeps them on hand and in stock at all times. I spoke to a salesperson there and he stated the mp40 is a good seller and it even comes in two flavors; one with a new finish, and one with a "weathered" combat used look.

I guess it's a weird WWII-centric way to notice the differences places, but I found this striking. I estimate more than a few of the members here have a similar WWII obsessed mind and could identify with my perspective.

 

Video of the piece in action here: Legends MP – Umarex USA

 

Don't forget to get your Easy Rider Rifle Rack.

 

Welcome to the South...even if it is Texas.

Have they made you choose a team, yet? I think you'll have to declare a college and a pro squad before the season starts. Choose wisely, your children's future depends on it.

 

A&M and Dallas, of course.

 

I was in Illinois last night with Boss Lady. We went to an actual drive-in to see other extinct critters. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. There was a good crowd for a Tuesday night.