AWOL

It probably seems like I went AWOL again recently. I've been really busy around the house and with work, so it hasn't left much time for blogging. A lot has been happening in the world while I've been AFK, though. Where do I begin?

My beloved Crew has been backsliding. They've been on a 4 game winless streak (3 losses, 1 tie), 5 if you count the Open Cup loss to Chicago last night (penalty kick in extra time). Now I've been following MLS for a while now, and at this point in the season a lot of teams start falling apart due to injury. The Crew is no exception, as they are currently missing quite a few starters. If they can get healthy for the back end of the year, they could still easily make the playoffs.

So... I built a deck last weekend. I've been meaning to do it for quite a while and I finally got around to it. Sydney's birthday is coming-up in a couple of weeks and we really need the outdoor space for people to be. We've got a HUGE patio already, but the deck will allow us to accomodate even more people in the yard. Maybe I'll post a picture or two when it is actually finished. Then again, I keep wondering if I really need steps or not :-)

On a firearm related note: Our illustrious Governor signed Ohio's "Castle Doctrine" (aka "Defense of Habitation Law") into law the other day. Basically, what that means...

A Castle Doctrine (also known as a Castle Law or a Defense of Habitation
Law) is an American legal concept derived from English Common Law,
which designates one's place of residence (or, in some states, any place
legally occupied, such as one's car or place of work) as a place in which
one enjoys protection from illegal trespassing and violent attack. It then
goes on to give a person the legal right to use deadly force to defend that
place (his/her "castle"), and/or any other innocent persons legally inside
it, from violent attack or an intrusion which may lead to violent attack. In
a legal context, therefore, use of deadly force which actually results in
death may be defended as justifiable homicide under the Castle Doctrine.

The bill also included some tweaks to our existing concealed-carry regulations which were sorely needed and long overdue. It's kind of strange to have a Democrat Governor who is so pro-gun. Not that I'm complaining or anything!