Lola Granola Rambles to Boston: Day 12

On Monday, only Josh had to work. Dani, Jess, and I were free to enjoy the day, so we planned an outing to the "downtown" area where Jess works.

The plan had been to have something to eat and walk around with the dogs, but at 11:00 AM, it was already over 100 degrees and they feared for their puppies' feet. So the doggies stayed home and we set out. (But not until Dani her new bumper sticker on her car. I have the same one, but thought it smart to take it off while traveling through some southern parts of our great country.)

On the drive, Jess and Dani explained that no matter how new Tucson building is, it always ends up looking old. Whether due to architecture or the intense daily heat and sun exposure, all vibrant paint colors fade and even white turns beige and off-white.

We had lunch at Maynard's Market and Kitchen, the restaurant where Jess hostesses.

The restaurant is a fine dining establishment next to the train station and a favorite of former congressperson Gabrielle Giffords. The interior is nice and intimate, with the occasional train rolling by, and the food is fantastic. Dani and Jess split a burger and a mushroom pizza, and I had a potato pizza and a side of fries -- all excellent.

After our meal, we began our walk using the Tucson strategy of surviving when it is ridiculously hot. We would walk for a little bit and then duck into a store or restaurant that we hoped was interesting but at least had air conditioning.

There are several pinup style dress shops downtown and we stopped at all of them. My favorite find was at the first one, Hydra Leather and More, where I purchased the dress below.

Jess also owns it and said if I thought it might fit me, I should try it on. It's like nothing I own, but according to everyone there, it is unanimously flattering on me.

We also walked through the Hotel Congress, which like a McMenamins is a hotel, music venue, and restaurant all in one. It is also the site of where bank robber John Dillinger was captured back in the 1930s.

We stopped at Lindys on 4th for some cold refreshments (Lindys: Fighting anorexia, one cheeseburger at a time). But before that, we stopped at Antigone Books which is like Tucson's version of Portlandia's Women and Women First.

Which is actually Portland's In Other Words bookstore.

A Dar Williams song asks, "And why is it Arizona hasn't gone solar?" and at least the bookstore can respond, "We have!"

After popping into a couple more shops, we went back to their house and contacted Josh to ask him if he could come home early.

The day before I'd learned that Josh is a firearms collector and a bit of an expert. He offered to teach me how to safely operate a gun (something I've been wanting to learn) and after I'd grilled him with questions and discussed with him and Dani about what to expect and the moral ramifications about it all, I decided it was something I wanted to try.

My questions revealed that Arizona gun laws are some of the most lax in the country. I asked if all of his guns were legally purchased, with registration and permits, and learned that in Arizona, registration and permits are not required. But yes, all of his guns were legally purchased and he had taken firearms safety classes and had gone above and beyond to be a responsible gun owner.

Jess stayed home while Josh, Dani, and I went to the shooting range. This is the only picture I took there:

As the facility is actually called "Marksman Pistol Range" and isn't attention to details something one would hope to find at a place where you're allowed to shoot guns?

Inside we signed in, but they never asked for ID or any proof of non-craziness. Josh had prepared me before we left on the four rules of firearms safety (most of which I was already familiar with):

Always assume a gun is loaded.
Never point a gun at something you aren't prepared to shoot.
Don't put your finger on the trigger unless you are ready to shoot.
Always know what is in front of and behind your target.

He also let me know that at any point I was uncomfortable, I could put the gun down and we could leave.

Josh bought the target with twelve circles on it, thankfully not the human silhouette, and moved it about a quarter of the way down from us.

I am proud to say I never fell down.

But, I wasn't shooting a .357 Magnum.

We started with a Browning Buck Mark. Dani shot first and when everything went well, I took my turn. The bullets are .22 caliber and are generally what newbies start out with as the kickback is tiny.

I was pleased with my accuracy considering it was my first time shooting something other than a potato gun and I took a bit to breathe and readjust before each of five shots (of course, I was aiming for the middle).

Next was the Uberti single action army clone chambered in .38 special. Or as Jess calls it, the cowboy gun.

The kickback was slightly larger, but I was still comfortable and more or less happy with my accuracy.

I was reluctant to try a rifle as I was most interested in learning about how to safely handle handguns, but after Dani fired one expertly, I figured I should learn how to operate everything safely.

It was a Marlin 39 A .22 LR rifle.

I was a bit more awkward with it and only took two shots.

Lastly, were two 9 mm, a Browning High Power and a Glock 19.

These were the most "gun-like" to me. I wanted to know how to load the magazine, eject the magazine, chamber a round, and how to turn the safety off and on, as well as how to fire it.

Josh shot first with the Browning and it was clear that the kickback was stronger. Dani was next and I made sure to scoot to my left as the empty cartridges are ejected pretty fast out the side (Josh had advised both of us to wear shirts with high necks as hot metal and cleavage are a bad combination.)

After Dani, it was my turn. There was definitely some wincing (especially after the empty cartridge ricocheted and bounced off my forehead) and I could see the gun jerk up with a flash of fire. But the shock lasted only a minute. For my first time at that caliber, I'm pretty happy with my accuracy. It was the closest I got to the center of a target.

For the Glock, Josh reminded me not to flinch, but to squeeze the trigger slowly and focus on accuracy. Apparently it worked because there are two shots on this target. (Again, the target was pretty darn close, but it makes me think I can hit the side of a barn.)

I hope to never use this knowledge for anything but recreation, but I now know how to handle a firearm safely and I'd rather know than be afraid of it. (Correction: I would still be -- and I think should still be -- somewhat scared of handling a deadly weapon, but I wouldn't be needlessly afraid of the unknown).

Josh let me take the target sheet as a souvenir. I started to try to figure out how I could hide it in my car, then realized that is exactly the first thing I want potential thieves to see in my car. So right on top it went.