The last time I subscribed to Muzzle Blasts was several years ago. They had a promotion/fund raiser going where if you subscribed for a year and paid them a cool grand, you got a copy of David Wright painting "The Spirit of America".
I did and I eventually got a letter saying there was a production delay on David Wright's end.
Yeah, sure there is. You betcha.
So, after a month long wait or so, I called up David Wright for a little chat. Supposedly, there was a problem with his storage facility and all the ones on hand were damaged or some such stuff. In the meantime, I am paying NMLRA a hundred clams a month, but no painting.
Time passes.
Eventually, I got the print in the mail along with a nice little velvet sack about 2"x2" with a very nice NMLRA pin in it.
And so, the rest of the story: During the time when the print eventually was delivered, my mom, the really accomplished artist, was over for a visit. Nice painting, she says. Do you like it? I sure do, I said. And she says, wonderful, let's go pick out a frame for it.
So later that week, we were in San Luis Obispo for some reason or another, and we had taken the print along with us. We went to an art supply shop that did framing and looked around until we decided on one. When I looked at the work order, I saw it totaled out at $600.00 and change. I was aghast. She said not to worry, she would do the down payment. Gee, thanks, mom. I appreciate the help. Only $500+ to go.
So, I paid off the painting and I paid off the framing and that is the last I ever had to do with Muzzle Blasts.
For some reason, I could never get excited about Muzzle Loader magazine. Probably been 20 years or so since I had a subscription for that one. As far as American Rifleman goes, I became a life member somewhere around 1985 or so. That went along OK until about about 2008. Then they just stopped sending me the magazine, which didn't bother me much. I just wish they would stop sending me fundraising letters. I did like Muzzle Loading Hunter but when Basil Bradburry died, the magazine died along with him.
Bottom line is I am not getting anything in the mail and I like it just fine that way. I am tired of empty promises and printing delays and all the other assorted BS they spray out there. I really do not have time to read their junk. I have enough else to take care of.
John (Bigsmoke)
