So it sort of was a mess. It was in Shelbyville, KY. A place most of us have never been before. On the bright side, I got to go through Emnence, KY. I didn't know where it was and barely do now. I'm not driving these days, nor am I even walking due to a badly sprained ankle. Makes for fun. Small county fairgrounds are always fun when it rains. More when it rains for several straight days. Pickup trucks every which way.

Due to my claim of being handicapped, we just parked right outside the main door to get my power cart out of my wife's car. But just that long. Wives don't take instruction well at all. I just told her to pull up and shut it down. If the hillbillies don't like it, too bad. They get to wait for a few minutes.

Oh, I forgot to add that her car is foreign, what she wanted. But the GPS is terrible (so are almost all factory supplied units.) I think her Toyota supplied was still looking for Pearl Harbor or Toyiko. It sure wasn't familiar with state and county roads in the back woods. About on a par with Chrysler not even knowing there was a road/shortcut across Markland Dam. That one tried to route me 100 miles upstream. Hint if you're looking at car supplied GPS, save your money.

So the gun show. People everywhere, aisles as tight as Ron Dickson ever made them. And he was the standard for jamming his paying customers and vendors in. Guess I shouldn't fault RK, they generally put on a good show. The best part was parking was free and we got what we paid for. Admission was only $6 and a bargain. On the downside, no food vendors, and only a pop machine.

Lots of interesting guns and vendors I hadn't seen before. Small town shows sometimes are good because we see guns not often seen at the big shows. Small vendors haven't learned the art of overpricing stuff so there are some bargains. It would seem that people try to fill up their table space with stuff. The couple next to us had a great set of K/L target grips with good wood. He only wanted $50 for them and I should have bought them. The other side had a nice Winchester M12 again with premium butt stock. Priced at $900. If I needed another 12ga, that would have gone home with me.

A guy on the far wall had a bunch of MRE's. Price was $50 a case, and riding an electric cart left me with no way to carry one. I discovered a few years ago that kids love army food. Even it the troops don't. There's another show next weekend at the horse park and my oldest son is taking me. I'll buy some then. Kids love all the little presents to open.

Viewing the anterior extension on the young females wasn't as great as sometimes, but then what's an old fool like me doing checking them out.

Carried in guns were plentiful. I've learned to always look at the serial numbers. That from buying a first year M60 a while back, and a centennial with serial 157. Maybe others aren't as anal about serial numbers as I am. Its also how I got Win M70 #202. Studying them is how I decided on buying P210 dash 7 in the middle of the first 400 made. Been my observation that first production runs from quality manufacturers actually have final inspections. That doesn't include this century Remlins.

I went to one in Buffalo, NY today with my 2
B-I-L's. After swearing to never go to another NY Gun show. It was packed by the time we left, as we were there upon opening.

Had a good time with them, but my wife's brother is dragging me down a wormhole. Building our own. Must say I'm not kicking and screaming as we go!

Edit to add, I didn't buy much else, but got an awesome target made of AR500. Got the Hostage target and base for it as shown at targetsolutionsusa.com

Nice thing about MREs - when they expire you give them out on Halloween. Let the kids figure out if they recieved a trick or treat.

Hope you had lunch at Ken-Tex BBQ.

MRE's expire? In the 70's I was issued c-rats with cigarettes in them, 1940 ish.

I gave up on gun shows decades ago now. Zero interest in attending one.

Emenience is the home of a nice small Renfaire each year in June. I eventually lost interest in it as it is the same acts year after year.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
MRE's expire?

Yes. Officially, they're supposed to last 5 years from manufacture, provided they've been stored properly at room temperature or below.

Unofficially, they remain edible for several years past that. Some of the stuff like crackers, candy, etc. will last an extra long time, while others like the fruit, cheese, etc. go off more quickly.

I wouldn't eat an MRE that was more than about 10 years old, and only if it had been stored in a climate controlled area. Much less than that if it had been stored in the heat. (There are orange indicator stickers on the sides of MRE boxes that tell you if it's been exposed to high temps.)

MREs were not designed for long term stockpiling/storage. The older canned C Rations, on the other hand, were designed to last a few decades in storage.

Regardless, even expired MRE's are better eating and more nourishing than what other armies give their troops. Read sometime what the Norkor's supply. If anything.

They are probably better than what other nations eat at a regular meal. If they even get regular meals. The packaging is first class, too. All those sealed packs, each with its own treat or terrible surprise. The first time I offered one up, my grandson yelled "army food!", and they all ran toward the basement. Yeah, that meal cost me more than most restaurants. I had as much fun as the kids, me just watching until there was a pile of either opened or rejected packs.

Looking at one, I discovered a treat of blueberry/cherry dessert. I've had kids and grandkids for nearly 50 years now. I learned to keep my damned mouth shut. Its how secrets are kept and how to get it for my self. Kids even get excited over nasty old M&Ms. Ones you wouldn't eat because the colors have gone dull. It made a boring afternoon at grandma's into a fun time they all remembered. OK, I have a wierd family.

I also learned to pick and choose the best ones for myself or to just put aside for another day. I often read threads where how inedible some vegan or other entree's are. Doesn't matter to young kids, they just pass over the things they can't spell or pronounce. And kids can work together and behave. Since none have experience in these things, they are willing to learn and share. Contrary to some expectations, it was fun for all. Oh, and the grilled chicken fillets were pretty good! Yes, I was bad and ate that myself. Other finicky grandson ate another and liked it.

Heck, I didn't know there was ss a show in Shelbyville, that's about 25 minutes from me. Could have gone by and killed some time.

Maybe next time.


ARman

There's one at the Horsepark next weekend. A little farther than 25 miles, probably. But you get to visit the Horsepark and they do have a food stand. Hot dogs are good there, too. Probably not from this decade, but from this century. Better than the ones offered up at Rupp.