A long time ago, before I moved to the great state of Georgia, I used to love driving out past the dry lake bed just west of Boulder City, Nevada and practice my marksmanship with my rifles and my pistol.

My idea of the perfect weekend included spending one day out in the desert blasting cans, targets, and other assorted items in need of air conditioning, and the following day spent cleaning guns, browsing for the best new gun parts and preparing for the next weekend.

I never got a chance to go shooting with some of my other friends who had more hardware, and watching a video from AR15 Magazine reminds me what I really missed.

It's been over 13 years since I visited that dry lake bed, and I can still remember which roads to take, how far to drive, and the very spot where I used to set up my targets.

Those were some good times. Many of us would drive out in the morning, stay all day, build a fire on the lakebed that night and head home in the morning. Alas, there are no dry lake beds in Georgia (that I know of), and I am too busy with the wife and kids to sneak away on the weekends (for too long anyway).

Gospel legend Marie Knight has died in New York City at age 84. She came to prominence while touring with Sister Rosetta Tharpe in the 1940s and singing hits such as "Beams of Heaven."

Her manager, Mark Carpentieri, says she died Sunday at a Harlem nursing home of complications from pneumonia.

Rest In Peace, Marie.

Taking a break from everything while I prepare for the week ahead. I have lots to do this coming week, with a project to work on, another health care bill to review, and who knows what else.

Enjoy these photos from a recent photowalk.

While we were bird watching I hurt my already aching and cracked teeth, so I will be searching for dental discounts in the near future before my mouth explodes on me.

Tomorrow is a new day…

The father of Terri Schiavo, who became a national symbol in a closely watched right-to-die fight, has died, his son said Saturday. Robert Schindler was 71.

Schindler, a tireless activist through years of legal wrangling, died from heart failure at a hospital in St. Petersburg. Terri Schiavo, who courts ruled was in a "persistent vegetative state," died in 2005 after the feeding tube that had nourished her for years was removed according to her husband's wishes.

Rest In Peace, Robert, and give Terri a hug from us.

DJ AM, the sought-after disc jockey who became a celebrity in his own right with high-profile romances and a glamorous lifestyle, was found dead Friday at his apartment, which had drug paraphernalia in it, a law enforcement official said.

Paramedics had to break down the door to his Manhattan apartment before they found his body at about 5:20 p.m., the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because family hadn't been notified. There was no evidence of foul play, the official said.

Rest In Peace, Adam.