Remember when you got all excited about the anticipation of an upcoming event? It's not supposed to happen to sixty year olds but I still have the bubble gum brain of a teen-ager and the thought of Minnesota fishing gives me that thrill.
In my garage at the Minnesota lake home are seven rods and reels, three tackle boxes full of literally a couple of thousand dollars worth of fishing lures and a nice fishing boat with all the accessories; live well, fish finder/depth finder(broken) plus every other little gizmo known to catch lunkers. Eight days ago I made a beeline for Ten Mile Lake in beautiful Hackensack, Minnesota. The wife and I have owned the place for fifteen years and since my retirement two years ago I've spent a lot of fish time up there catching--very little. The lake is large, about 5,000 acres. It has a water clarity of 24 feet. This means the fish can see me before I put a Rapala on my line. It's spring fed and cold; not conducive to angling. Even so, you should visit some time. We're in the north woods. You'll see bear and deer.There are more deer in Minnesota than there are mosquitoes. I can find wild deer in Catholic churches---going to confession.
In this part of the world I've waited for a porcupine to cross a road, seen an American Bald Eagle swoop down on the lake to snag an inattentive northern pike. I've skedaddled away from a skunk ambling toward me. I've even cleaned egret poop off my newly stained dock. I've pretty much done it all.
After arriving at the 'Up North' place I opened up the cabin for a good bout of catching the world's tastiest walleye.
Ten minutes in the water and on my first cast I brought in a three pound largemouth bass. Excitement filled my body as I fought the fish and worked the net to land that evening's dinner feast. It was exhilarating! After three more days of nonstop casting, trolling, trying every trick in Al Lindner's fishing book I'd had it. Nothing happened. Now, I like a good challenge as much as anybody but three days of catching nothing was more than frustrating. In the language of today, "it sucked". I jumped in my Mazda and headed east. One thousand miles up and ditto on the return drive for one three pound bass. Doesn't seem fair, does it? We've a bass pond thirty yards behind our Ohio condo. If I catch nothing there I can walk home and I don't have to use any gas, either.
I'm selling the lake place.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
There Ya Go
Three years ago I was in on a new wave of the vernacular now being used across the country. It came from a working buddy who lives in Mebane, North Carolina. He's a very good golfer. No he isn't. He's an excellent golfer. His name is Wyman Woods and he has an easy way with relating to people. Maybe that's because he's been around the golfing community pretty much his entire life. Good golfers know the ups and downs of the game so they don't get excited about a great shot and they keep an even temperent on those shots that make one want to cry and throw up at the same time. Wyman's a fun guy to be around.
Regardless, Wyman introduced me to a term I hadn't heard before. It was "there ya go". The first time I heard it I thought it sounded good even though I didn't know what it meant. I think I said something like, "if I put more weight on my right side I might hit it better". Wyman responded with "there ya go". The term could be used to end a sentence, cut off conversation, offer a surprise analogy or mean absolutely nothing. I'm leaning toward the last. To be precise one usually puts word emphasis on the word 'go'. I might be wrong in this regard but I think the phrase is not used as often by intellectual people. I've never heard my good buddy, Dr. Ramey, use it. I'm not saying Wyman, myself or anybody else isn't smart but Dr. Ramey fills up his vocab with colon, esophagus, medulla oblongata: words like that. Besides, one doesn't remove an appendix then utter "there ya go".
It's now three years later and my wife and I were just recently on a trip to Oklahoma, Dallas, Texas, San Antonio, Kansas City and Boone, Iowa. I heard "there ya go" said at fast food restaurants, gas stations, post offices-----everywhere. I was in the old home town of Boone, Iowa at a Quik-Trip gas station. The cashier was covered in tattoos and wearing a tattered Harley t-shirt. The bill for my coffee came to $1.19. I didn't think I had more than $1.18 without breaking another bill but at the last second I found a fourth penny. I said, "I found one" and he said: well, you know what he said.
So, I'm giving my good friend Wyman credit for starting a movement.
I think my just turned two year old granddaughter would agree. While at her home in San Antonio I told her I found her toy flamingo and she came back with, "do-dee-do".
Regardless, Wyman introduced me to a term I hadn't heard before. It was "there ya go". The first time I heard it I thought it sounded good even though I didn't know what it meant. I think I said something like, "if I put more weight on my right side I might hit it better". Wyman responded with "there ya go". The term could be used to end a sentence, cut off conversation, offer a surprise analogy or mean absolutely nothing. I'm leaning toward the last. To be precise one usually puts word emphasis on the word 'go'. I might be wrong in this regard but I think the phrase is not used as often by intellectual people. I've never heard my good buddy, Dr. Ramey, use it. I'm not saying Wyman, myself or anybody else isn't smart but Dr. Ramey fills up his vocab with colon, esophagus, medulla oblongata: words like that. Besides, one doesn't remove an appendix then utter "there ya go".
It's now three years later and my wife and I were just recently on a trip to Oklahoma, Dallas, Texas, San Antonio, Kansas City and Boone, Iowa. I heard "there ya go" said at fast food restaurants, gas stations, post offices-----everywhere. I was in the old home town of Boone, Iowa at a Quik-Trip gas station. The cashier was covered in tattoos and wearing a tattered Harley t-shirt. The bill for my coffee came to $1.19. I didn't think I had more than $1.18 without breaking another bill but at the last second I found a fourth penny. I said, "I found one" and he said: well, you know what he said.
So, I'm giving my good friend Wyman credit for starting a movement.
I think my just turned two year old granddaughter would agree. While at her home in San Antonio I told her I found her toy flamingo and she came back with, "do-dee-do".
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tea Parties: Five Reasons
I re-printed this article from my guru, Dan Cirucci. Mr. Cirucci is a frequent contributor to the Philadelphia Daily News. He took this piece from Townhall, a column written by Lorie Byrd. I wanted to add some of my own thoughts on the subject of tonight's Tea Parties. For years, as a student in school and continuing through college, then as a high school teacher I implored my students to "get involved"; to be a part of the greatest nation in the history of mankind. We live in a Republic with an indirect democracy. If you want to be heard take to the streets in a peaceful manner. That's the American way. Well, tonight, this will happen but what do we hear from the Left? Republicans, Democrats and Independents who are sick of Pelosi, Reid and the money grubbing congress want to protest and already we're being trashed as anti-American. It's been rumored that ACORN is already involved in disrupting these gatherings. I'm going to downtown Columbus, Ohio this evening; one of 750 gatherings across the United States. I'm taking a camera to immortalize the events. Something big is going to happen and I want to be a part of it.
From Townhall:
Today, thousands of people are expected in all 50 states to join together for over 500 “tea party” protests. Those attending the tea parties will be standing in opposition to rising taxes, more government control over private enterprise and less individual liberty. If you agree with any of the following, you might want to join the party on April 15 to let your voice be heard.
1.You don’t mind paying reasonable taxes, but you don’t believe your wealth should be “spread around” in the manner Congress and the President are proposing. 2. You believed Democrats when they spent the past eight years criticizing President Bush for deficit spending, and you are upset that in just over three months President Obama, along with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, have tripled the deficit.
3. You believe the “Stimulus” bill contained too much pork and not enough stimulus. You believed candidate Obama when he promised to reduce earmarks and reform the earmark process, then were outraged when he signed a bill containing thousands of earmarks.
4. You oppose the current bailout mentality and oppose the bailouts, both past and future. You not only fear the amount of debt funding the bailouts adds to your children and grandchildren, but fear the exercise of control the government is exerting over those it “bails out.”
5. You believe businesses should not be under attack by the United States government, especially during a tough economy and you oppose increased government control of the private sector.
From Townhall:
Today, thousands of people are expected in all 50 states to join together for over 500 “tea party” protests. Those attending the tea parties will be standing in opposition to rising taxes, more government control over private enterprise and less individual liberty. If you agree with any of the following, you might want to join the party on April 15 to let your voice be heard.
1.You don’t mind paying reasonable taxes, but you don’t believe your wealth should be “spread around” in the manner Congress and the President are proposing. 2. You believed Democrats when they spent the past eight years criticizing President Bush for deficit spending, and you are upset that in just over three months President Obama, along with Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid, have tripled the deficit.
3. You believe the “Stimulus” bill contained too much pork and not enough stimulus. You believed candidate Obama when he promised to reduce earmarks and reform the earmark process, then were outraged when he signed a bill containing thousands of earmarks.
4. You oppose the current bailout mentality and oppose the bailouts, both past and future. You not only fear the amount of debt funding the bailouts adds to your children and grandchildren, but fear the exercise of control the government is exerting over those it “bails out.”
5. You believe businesses should not be under attack by the United States government, especially during a tough economy and you oppose increased government control of the private sector.
Mancow
Ever listen to Mancow? He's on the radio in the morning. The show has somewhat of a conservative bent and once in awhile he says some interesting things. Normally, I listen to him as a warm-up to Laura Ingraham. If you desire to catch his act and are close to his home base of Chicago, he can be heard on WLS radio, 890 on your AM radio dial or on syndication, usually on FM early in the morning.
Today, Mancow said this: "Isn't it strange that, in this country, we cannot profile potential foreign terrorists. As an example, it is against the law to detain three consecutive people of middle eastern descent in American airports. So, if you happened to be working for the NTSB at your local airport and stopped Muhammed followed by Ahmed it would be against the law for you to detain and question Osama bin Laden if he tried to board a plane.
Yesterday, it was revealed by news reports that the Office of Homeland Security headed by Janet Napolitano, wants to profile Americans without actually saying so. I am on the "hitlist" for "Nappy" since I have a sign in the rear window of my car saying: 'we vote pro-life'. According to the government, I can be a terrorist threat along with others sporting bumper stickers promoting gun rights, anti-Obama slogans and anything else this current administration deems anti-American.
Today, Mancow said this: "Isn't it strange that, in this country, we cannot profile potential foreign terrorists. As an example, it is against the law to detain three consecutive people of middle eastern descent in American airports. So, if you happened to be working for the NTSB at your local airport and stopped Muhammed followed by Ahmed it would be against the law for you to detain and question Osama bin Laden if he tried to board a plane.
Yesterday, it was revealed by news reports that the Office of Homeland Security headed by Janet Napolitano, wants to profile Americans without actually saying so. I am on the "hitlist" for "Nappy" since I have a sign in the rear window of my car saying: 'we vote pro-life'. According to the government, I can be a terrorist threat along with others sporting bumper stickers promoting gun rights, anti-Obama slogans and anything else this current administration deems anti-American.
It's Your Money
Today's editorial from the Washington Times:
"On April 15, tax day, most Americans feel a little violated as the government peeps into their most private affairs to see what's taxable. The Obama administration views such transparency as a one-way street.
Government secrecy has become the norm under this administration, particularly when it comes to the financial bailout. Exhibit A is a gag order preventing banks from divulging how they performed on the Treasury Department's financial "stress tests." These tests were instituted Feb. 25 to gauge the liquidity of the country's 19 biggest banks and determine whether they could survive another dramatic economic downturn. Federal officials told the bankers to keep mum about how stressed out the tests say their institutions are.
Thus far, the U.S. government has spent, lent or committed $12.8 trillion to the financial rescue. That tab works out to $42,667 per person, or $130,600 per tax filer. It is almost as much as an entire year's worth of gross domestic product, which last year was $14 trillion. The government refuses to inform the public - or even Congress - where all the money is going."
So much for government transparency. And for all you Bush haters, blame him since he started all this massive spending.
"On April 15, tax day, most Americans feel a little violated as the government peeps into their most private affairs to see what's taxable. The Obama administration views such transparency as a one-way street.
Government secrecy has become the norm under this administration, particularly when it comes to the financial bailout. Exhibit A is a gag order preventing banks from divulging how they performed on the Treasury Department's financial "stress tests." These tests were instituted Feb. 25 to gauge the liquidity of the country's 19 biggest banks and determine whether they could survive another dramatic economic downturn. Federal officials told the bankers to keep mum about how stressed out the tests say their institutions are.
Thus far, the U.S. government has spent, lent or committed $12.8 trillion to the financial rescue. That tab works out to $42,667 per person, or $130,600 per tax filer. It is almost as much as an entire year's worth of gross domestic product, which last year was $14 trillion. The government refuses to inform the public - or even Congress - where all the money is going."
So much for government transparency. And for all you Bush haters, blame him since he started all this massive spending.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Guessing Game
What will the course of action be? Does Israel attack Iran first or will it be the other way around? I'm putting my money on the guys with the blue and white flag.
Obama's Faith-Based Choice Is Anti-Catholic
Shock: Nominee to Obama's Council on Faith-Based Partnerships is Anti-Catholic, Leftwing Zealot.
That's what Ace of Spades along with a variety of mainstream publications writes. Why not decide for yourself.
"Of course, of course. Why wouldn't he be?
President Barack Obama’s controversial appointee to the White House faith-based advisory council -- a professed gay Christian who has called the pope a “discredited leader” -- continues to rile conservatives. ... Knox comes to the administration from the Human Rights Campaign, a homosexual advocacy group. His recent comments to a San Francisco-based gay newspaper have prompted much of the concern. Last month, the Bay Area Reporter quoted Knox as criticizing the Knights of Columbus for supporting California’s Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Knox told the newspaper that the Knights of Columbus “followed discredited leaders,” including Roman Catholic bishops and Pope Benedict XVI."
In case you haven't heard, three of Obama's choices for the ambassardorship to the Vatican have been "thumbs downed" by papal officials. The administration keeps sending the names of pro-abortion candidates. That's sort of like naming Hitler to be a liaison with Jews and oven manufacturers.
That's what Ace of Spades along with a variety of mainstream publications writes. Why not decide for yourself.
"Of course, of course. Why wouldn't he be?
President Barack Obama’s controversial appointee to the White House faith-based advisory council -- a professed gay Christian who has called the pope a “discredited leader” -- continues to rile conservatives. ... Knox comes to the administration from the Human Rights Campaign, a homosexual advocacy group. His recent comments to a San Francisco-based gay newspaper have prompted much of the concern. Last month, the Bay Area Reporter quoted Knox as criticizing the Knights of Columbus for supporting California’s Proposition 8, a voter-approved constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. Knox told the newspaper that the Knights of Columbus “followed discredited leaders,” including Roman Catholic bishops and Pope Benedict XVI."
In case you haven't heard, three of Obama's choices for the ambassardorship to the Vatican have been "thumbs downed" by papal officials. The administration keeps sending the names of pro-abortion candidates. That's sort of like naming Hitler to be a liaison with Jews and oven manufacturers.
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