Lots of empty tables, supporting the claims that many "regulars" were cleaned out; the "pro" (i.e., FFL-holder) dealers did not have prices that seemed to put of line, but many private tables were certainly proving that pretty much no one is taking Barack Hussein Obama's claim that law abiding gun owners have nothing to fear and no reason to stock up now seriously. (That is, they were charging ridiculous prices for common place items.)
Also, the line to renew membership was fairly short and fast moving, compared to reports of Saturday, and especially compared to the line for new memberships. The NRA membership table seemed to be doing well, too...
On the way, though, I was a naughty driver. I passed someone on the right. The "someone" was a cab driver, in a Prius. He seemed to be having a hard time making up his mind whether he wanted to exit I5 southbound for State Hwy. 18 or not. He was going about 5 miles per hour, in a 35 zone, and had not committed to either staying on I5 or exiting for '18. I wound up going by on his right, and exiting, because the Ford Exhibitionist behind me was getting close. I saw the Exhibitionist in my rear view mirror after I got on '18, but never did see the Prius, so I don't know what he wound up doing...
In the meantime, I saw quite a few cars whose drivers don;'t seem to appreciate the fact that their cars' design usually give them all kinds of visibility* and work to maintain it. That is, they had cleared away this much of the windshield
and this much of the rear window.
(Note that this is Mrs. Drang's 240SX, just before we cleared the entire thing off so she could drive to work this morning.)
I first saw this phenomenon in Colorado Springs, while stationed at Ft Carson. It usually seemed to involve cars with license plates from places like Hawaii, or California.
SO: After it snows, clear all windows, all mirrors, all lights, and you might as well clear your license plates, too, because The man will get you anyway, if you've done something serious enough to merit pursuing the issue. (I.e., not a red light camera...)
The, this morning, I'm out running errands, and stop behind a school bus. Now, in some places, 25 degrees Fahrenheit isn't all that unusual, and people get used to it, but in these parts it's exceptionally cold. So, at 10:15 AM I am stopped behind a school bus and watching a long line of glove-less, hat-less, sneaker-wearing children get on a bus. While their parents stand there waving bye-bye- to them!
Listen, folks, you might be comfortable in this weather, and you are old enough to make a decision to do dumb things, but just because they're your kids doesn't mean you have any right to endanger their health and safety in extreme cold. (I saw only one child who looked old enough to do dumb things for fashion's sake.) If it weren't for the fact that the Washington State Child Protective Services seems to feel that the important thing is for the child to be with his or her biological parents, no mater how obvious it is that said parents are not fit to raise guppies, I'd have been on the phone, hands-free law or no.
Winter can be great fun for kids, especially when you live somewhere that only rarely experiences it. That's no call to risk your child through your own stupidity...
EDIT TO ADD: So there I am, having posted this, run out to do more errands, and at Lowe's I run into a woman wearing a sweat shirt and jeans, dashing to her car with her daughter, 16-ish, wearing flannel "lounging pants" and a tee-shirt.
*Except New Beetles. New Beetles have acres of windshield, and bupkus for visibility...
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