I have another post for my hubby in the works but with the last few days of events in Duluth, I wanted to post this link because 1) I cannot stand PETA 2) this is so typical of them that 3) refer back to #1
This next link is something that is just another angle on how petty, ridiculous, and simply put irritatingly maddening people can be. Perhaps sitting the children in the middle of the road would create more peaceful enjoyment for these people! Jeezus!
Showing posts with label ode to the midwest weather. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ode to the midwest weather. Show all posts
Friday, June 22, 2012
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Balmy Minnesota
Just gotta love being a Minnesotan on days like today and tomorrow! Currently, it's -8 with a windchill of -23 degrees! Wowza! It's supposed to only be for today and tomorrow but I have to say I'm sure glad we don't live further north. Temps up a little further north are currently at -16 and with the wind it feels like -29. And it's not even 10:00pm. By morning, we'll be looking at windchills possibly in the -40 degree range.
Time to pull out the old convertible, hit the highway with the top down and let the hair blow in the wind! NOT!
Time to pull out the old convertible, hit the highway with the top down and let the hair blow in the wind! NOT!
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Our aching backs...
WOW! What a Whopper storm! P and I woke up at 10:00 this morning to roughly 7 inches of snow. We got our two kids out there shoveling with us and that took an hour. We then ran an errand in preparation for the 2 day hibernation, came home and him and I shoveled again. That was about an hour and a half later and there was another 3-4 inches on the ground. Two more hours later P and I went out a third time to shovel...we waited too long and were shoveling 4+ inches. By the time we met up at the end of our really big drive, both of us were moving very slow, struggling with aching backs and really sore left arms....
Now, there's probably another 2-3 inches on the ground laughing at us as we look at it with dread...BUT we decided to wait until Monday to get out there and shovel. With winds at 25-35mph and gusts up to 45mph, we're expecting to have to go fix that damage on Monday anyway....so my back is thanking me profusely.
Our oldest daughter asked me an odd question though. She's the one I dragged through the knee-deep snow in 1991 with that really heavy cast...she asked me if the storm was named A----, her little boys name. (I should note that he's almost 2 years--she had turned two that October.) I thought someone was just messing with her but I thought wrong.....the storm is in fact named Blizzard A----, different spelling. How exactly does that happen? It's just these little coincidences that truly mystify me but in this case, I think that is the coolest damn thing in the whole world! 1991 was a pretty significant year for us with her broken leg and that odd winter storm.....now this.
Just wow....now if ONLY we could win a snow blower or the lottery or something...life would be great then!
Now, there's probably another 2-3 inches on the ground laughing at us as we look at it with dread...BUT we decided to wait until Monday to get out there and shovel. With winds at 25-35mph and gusts up to 45mph, we're expecting to have to go fix that damage on Monday anyway....so my back is thanking me profusely.
Our oldest daughter asked me an odd question though. She's the one I dragged through the knee-deep snow in 1991 with that really heavy cast...she asked me if the storm was named A----, her little boys name. (I should note that he's almost 2 years--she had turned two that October.) I thought someone was just messing with her but I thought wrong.....the storm is in fact named Blizzard A----, different spelling. How exactly does that happen? It's just these little coincidences that truly mystify me but in this case, I think that is the coolest damn thing in the whole world! 1991 was a pretty significant year for us with her broken leg and that odd winter storm.....now this.
Just wow....now if ONLY we could win a snow blower or the lottery or something...life would be great then!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Is it fishing season yet?
We're in trouble I think and lets hope our damn power doesn't go out! I say that because we've had numerous power outages in the last few months from weather and god knows what glitches the power company has had...going out tomorrow or Sunday could prove pretty detrimental with temps dropping and wind chills 25-35 below zero.
We haven't had a storm like this in a long time! The last was that fateful one in 1991 when I lugged our two-year old daughter around in her winter coat and a spica cast in snow up to my knees. I think we went to maybe 8 houses and I just couldn't do it anymore....
Tomorrow....what a lot of snow, holy cow. 12-16 inches? My aching back!
I do hope all the Minnesotans out there heed the warnings to stay home and choose to stay warm, safe and snug in their homes. We have a child who has to work but are urging her to call in and tell them forget it....Oh joy, winter.....so far my predictions for this winter are pretty dead on ..... lots of snow and cold.
And to think, on November 8 we were sitting out on a lake in our boat enjoying our last fishing outing for 2010......
We haven't had a storm like this in a long time! The last was that fateful one in 1991 when I lugged our two-year old daughter around in her winter coat and a spica cast in snow up to my knees. I think we went to maybe 8 houses and I just couldn't do it anymore....
Tomorrow....what a lot of snow, holy cow. 12-16 inches? My aching back!
I do hope all the Minnesotans out there heed the warnings to stay home and choose to stay warm, safe and snug in their homes. We have a child who has to work but are urging her to call in and tell them forget it....Oh joy, winter.....so far my predictions for this winter are pretty dead on ..... lots of snow and cold.
And to think, on November 8 we were sitting out on a lake in our boat enjoying our last fishing outing for 2010......
Sunday, November 21, 2010
This and that
I smell s'ghetti, garlic bread and sauce! Mmm, dinner is on the stove and I'm hungry!
I'm one final away from being finished with Algebra. I am so overjoyed about that! Still at an A in the class so I think I could pretty much bomb the test and still get a decent grade. These last few weeks of math have been the most frustrating classes I've had yet! So much so that I told P I really missed my writing classes. Trade one for the other I guess.
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Man how time does fly. Our oldest is going to host the feast at their house and is very excited about that. Of course I get to bake the pies and make the stuffing..she would! LOL
I figured though I would throw together a couple of pumpkin pies for P's supervisor and a couple of the others he works closely with. Hopefully they'll like it. They've been so good to him there and to me as well. I'll get cookies from his boss or something P and I can share. Great people there who welcome me and greet me like I'm one of their own...and dote on us too. So perhaps a gift would be good for all they've done for us on so many levels.
The weather, well, finally we've been 'blessed' with a white blanket. Last night we were fortunate enough to get some freezing rain which caused quite a few accidents in the state--around 400 or so. Man, one would think we lived in some state down south with all the accidents with the first couple storms around here! Good grief.
The snow storm that dropped a few inches of very heavy wet snow; well it caused our power to go out for 18 hours! Makes one remember how much a running freezer or television actually adds to our life! We were very cold, boiled water for much of the day and were prepared for another night of no power when suddenly...tadaaaah. The relief was great--until we remembered that we had to dig all our freezer food out of the snow and put everything back away. But thank god for small favors, that snow and slightly cold weather saved us a lot of money.
Now here we sit in the warmth of our home, fed and occupied with all the conveniences of electricity. Ahh, life is definitely good.
Hope all are doing well.....
I'm one final away from being finished with Algebra. I am so overjoyed about that! Still at an A in the class so I think I could pretty much bomb the test and still get a decent grade. These last few weeks of math have been the most frustrating classes I've had yet! So much so that I told P I really missed my writing classes. Trade one for the other I guess.
Thanksgiving is quickly approaching. Man how time does fly. Our oldest is going to host the feast at their house and is very excited about that. Of course I get to bake the pies and make the stuffing..she would! LOL
I figured though I would throw together a couple of pumpkin pies for P's supervisor and a couple of the others he works closely with. Hopefully they'll like it. They've been so good to him there and to me as well. I'll get cookies from his boss or something P and I can share. Great people there who welcome me and greet me like I'm one of their own...and dote on us too. So perhaps a gift would be good for all they've done for us on so many levels.
The weather, well, finally we've been 'blessed' with a white blanket. Last night we were fortunate enough to get some freezing rain which caused quite a few accidents in the state--around 400 or so. Man, one would think we lived in some state down south with all the accidents with the first couple storms around here! Good grief.
The snow storm that dropped a few inches of very heavy wet snow; well it caused our power to go out for 18 hours! Makes one remember how much a running freezer or television actually adds to our life! We were very cold, boiled water for much of the day and were prepared for another night of no power when suddenly...tadaaaah. The relief was great--until we remembered that we had to dig all our freezer food out of the snow and put everything back away. But thank god for small favors, that snow and slightly cold weather saved us a lot of money.
Now here we sit in the warmth of our home, fed and occupied with all the conveniences of electricity. Ahh, life is definitely good.
Hope all are doing well.....
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ode to Sliding
As I write this Pat is in the process of helping our son move into his new bedroom. Pat and I painted it on Sunday. Our boy is so excited! Not sure why; he already has the biggest room in the house. I suppose that would be more important to a girl.
While I can't completely admit that this weather is fabulous, I will admit that the shining sun definitely eases the punch of winter. The days are slowly warming but not much. At least today anyway. Having to go out to recess with kids everyday at work, I have to find even the slightest positive to this lovely Minnesota winter stuff. And for the most part, it's not so bad. I have to say I spend more time outside than many do, not by choice. Well, I guess in a sense I know what this job is all about so maybe a part of is is by choice...who knows.
My shivering ceases to exist as I watch the kids romp around in the snow, slam themselves into snowbanks, try to slide the furthest, and hop on the playground slide only to come flying off the other end....it brings to mind all that time I spent outside as a child. Snow angels, tubing, skiing, snow forts, skating, snowball fights but I hated those because my brothers always ended up whitewashing me, but my most favorite--building the fastest sledding hills in my neighbor's back yard. We had metal saucers that flew down those hills. But that wasn't enough, we tried putting water on the trail to ice it up. Little did we know that we had to do that at night when the temps cooled. We never could succeed in that whole icing of the trails.
We built really 'intricate' trails that of course never seemed to work right away...the neighbor girl and I spent hours outside. Curves here, jumps there, around this tree, into that snowbank. Of course, as an adult I'm sure these 'intricate' trails were nothing more than a slightly curved trail that went around shrub branches instead of those big huge trees we used to believe nearly took our lives each time we slid down. I remember thinking how I wished my brothers could come help us once in a great while but that idea soon dissipated; I thought my friend and I had a secret. I did my best to imitate them and what they might do. I was such a tomboy and since it was them who I hung around with most, I learned a lot of great tricks. Boys certainly can be ingenious. ;)
Then there was my own back hill that slid right into a fence...straight down, short and sweet with the excitement of the crunch of the metal privacy slats that were woven into the chain link fence as we got to the bottom. Who could slam into that fence the hardest was the biggest thrill, no jumps, no time to pick up a ton of speed, no threat of slamming into trees...no dangers aside from getting our boot stuck under the fence.
The best hill though was the one at the middle school just across the busy road my mom always worried about us crossing. Now that was one spectacular adventure and always a treat to go to. We didn't get to go there often but when we did it was memorable. Because there were always a bunch of kids using that hill, it was well groomed for sleds and jumps were all over the place. It was a fast hill but it really sucked climbing back up. But why was it the best? Speed and the danger of getting hurt...ahhh, danger. Only a kid and maybe a young adult would put themselves in it intentionally. Hell, some adults as well...but not me, not now. I only wish I was as injury prone as they are.
As I watch these school kids have the time of their lives out in the snow and cold, images of my own snow days come flooding back. I spend most of the recess chuckling at the kid's antics and their bravery and what seems like some sort of shield around their knees and heads. These kids have no care about slamming their knees into an ice hill or diving head first off a pile. They get up, shake their heads and are off to do it again.
While I'm not much for the cold, I can't help but remember that there was a time when I loved it so much that I jumped and squealed when I would see a single snowflake. Then I would run and get some white paper, a scissors and begin the act of cutting a bunch of snowflakes thinking that by some miracle the ground would be white by the time I finished making my own. Perhaps I thought I was helping the snow along by making BIG snowflakes. LOL
I will still go outside during a snowstorm and look up to the sky and watch all the snowflakes falling and even stick my tongue out for old times sake. I can't help it, my childhood never ceases to leave my mind in many respects....finding some joy in what gave me so much joy back then does wonders for the mojo in these very cold months.
Anyway, my break from homework must end now. My last week of this block and I'm procrastinating again......
While I can't completely admit that this weather is fabulous, I will admit that the shining sun definitely eases the punch of winter. The days are slowly warming but not much. At least today anyway. Having to go out to recess with kids everyday at work, I have to find even the slightest positive to this lovely Minnesota winter stuff. And for the most part, it's not so bad. I have to say I spend more time outside than many do, not by choice. Well, I guess in a sense I know what this job is all about so maybe a part of is is by choice...who knows.
My shivering ceases to exist as I watch the kids romp around in the snow, slam themselves into snowbanks, try to slide the furthest, and hop on the playground slide only to come flying off the other end....it brings to mind all that time I spent outside as a child. Snow angels, tubing, skiing, snow forts, skating, snowball fights but I hated those because my brothers always ended up whitewashing me, but my most favorite--building the fastest sledding hills in my neighbor's back yard. We had metal saucers that flew down those hills. But that wasn't enough, we tried putting water on the trail to ice it up. Little did we know that we had to do that at night when the temps cooled. We never could succeed in that whole icing of the trails.
We built really 'intricate' trails that of course never seemed to work right away...the neighbor girl and I spent hours outside. Curves here, jumps there, around this tree, into that snowbank. Of course, as an adult I'm sure these 'intricate' trails were nothing more than a slightly curved trail that went around shrub branches instead of those big huge trees we used to believe nearly took our lives each time we slid down. I remember thinking how I wished my brothers could come help us once in a great while but that idea soon dissipated; I thought my friend and I had a secret. I did my best to imitate them and what they might do. I was such a tomboy and since it was them who I hung around with most, I learned a lot of great tricks. Boys certainly can be ingenious. ;)
Then there was my own back hill that slid right into a fence...straight down, short and sweet with the excitement of the crunch of the metal privacy slats that were woven into the chain link fence as we got to the bottom. Who could slam into that fence the hardest was the biggest thrill, no jumps, no time to pick up a ton of speed, no threat of slamming into trees...no dangers aside from getting our boot stuck under the fence.
The best hill though was the one at the middle school just across the busy road my mom always worried about us crossing. Now that was one spectacular adventure and always a treat to go to. We didn't get to go there often but when we did it was memorable. Because there were always a bunch of kids using that hill, it was well groomed for sleds and jumps were all over the place. It was a fast hill but it really sucked climbing back up. But why was it the best? Speed and the danger of getting hurt...ahhh, danger. Only a kid and maybe a young adult would put themselves in it intentionally. Hell, some adults as well...but not me, not now. I only wish I was as injury prone as they are.
As I watch these school kids have the time of their lives out in the snow and cold, images of my own snow days come flooding back. I spend most of the recess chuckling at the kid's antics and their bravery and what seems like some sort of shield around their knees and heads. These kids have no care about slamming their knees into an ice hill or diving head first off a pile. They get up, shake their heads and are off to do it again.
While I'm not much for the cold, I can't help but remember that there was a time when I loved it so much that I jumped and squealed when I would see a single snowflake. Then I would run and get some white paper, a scissors and begin the act of cutting a bunch of snowflakes thinking that by some miracle the ground would be white by the time I finished making my own. Perhaps I thought I was helping the snow along by making BIG snowflakes. LOL
I will still go outside during a snowstorm and look up to the sky and watch all the snowflakes falling and even stick my tongue out for old times sake. I can't help it, my childhood never ceases to leave my mind in many respects....finding some joy in what gave me so much joy back then does wonders for the mojo in these very cold months.
Anyway, my break from homework must end now. My last week of this block and I'm procrastinating again......
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
DEEP FREEZE!!!!!!
Man does this weather SUCK! Global Warming my butt......this is as far from the world melting as I have seen in a very long time! Black ice, so cold my dog turned into a ballerina while enjoying a morning romp in the snow while I started my truck and had a smoke, so cold it sounds like glass cracking when a car drives down the road that has snow on it......
The older I get the MORE I want to move south for a few months. While I love to look at winter, love those slow snowfalls with the big snowflakes or how the snow sticks to the pine trees.....it's the cold that is really making me hate this time of year more and more every year! Especially this year...it has been BRUTAL!
Anyway....much to do this evening so must wrap this up.
Will be back in a few days..........when it's warm perhaps!
The older I get the MORE I want to move south for a few months. While I love to look at winter, love those slow snowfalls with the big snowflakes or how the snow sticks to the pine trees.....it's the cold that is really making me hate this time of year more and more every year! Especially this year...it has been BRUTAL!
Anyway....much to do this evening so must wrap this up.
Will be back in a few days..........when it's warm perhaps!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
His middle name was......
Every now and then pangs of pain shoot through me. Memories of my father. For the most part, I've been pretty ok with things, a little teary eyed here or a very depressed/shocked-still-in-denial-moment-there. Not a day has gone by since April 20th that I haven't thought of my dad at least one time throughout the day. There's always something that reminds me of him. Today it just happened to be my son. And it's not the first time our boy has triggered this.
Our little guy is still having a hard time with it. He's about like me, tears here and there, wanting something to call his own that was his grandpa's just so he can have something he touched or used. I cannot tell you how I wish I could just help my son understand and feel even the slightest bit better about things although I'm still trying to understand and feel again. I've certainly grown more humble over the last 5 1/2 months.
So, I am now an employee at the school...after years of trying. Our son was very adamant about me not touching him and letting everyone know that "I am his mom"...sort of thing. It's comical really. I have respected those wishes because I certainly don't want other kids taking liberties and picking on him at will. School is hard enough. And so far it's worked out ok...he even lets me tousle his hair now and all the kids in his class are always happy to see B's Mom! So it's all good.
But today he did something completely out of character for him right before he was going to go in from recess. I was getting the classes lined up and he came up. His face looked 'devastated', pained, and like he was about ready to cry. The kid NEVER comes near me at recess and when I say never, I mean him and I don't even say hi to each other before he goes in. It's that line of respect that I'm waiting for him to break. Anyway, he blurted out that there were some kids calling him Elmo....I was quite confused by this because it was such a minor thing. He said he didn't want them to call him that and wanted me to ask them to stop.
I told him I would of course because he looked so distraught by it. Needless to say, I made one of the girls cry just by asking her why she was calling him that and felt terrible because I was completely confused and really didn't see what was so horrible about it...my son who never tattles unless he's feeling on the verge of tears or complete frustration. Then I thought that maybe it was because he gets called various names by his older sisters....it bothered me a great deal for the rest of the day. It just wasn't like him to be so....irritated.
Well, it took every fiber of my being not to walk to his classroom for the next couple hours and find out what was going on with him. But I refused to be the doting mom and decided that I would have to just hang tough until 2:00...I just had a horrible feeling that there was more to this than I realized. I actually started walking to his class two times between my own classes but turned around....it just nagged at me...
So finally 2:00 came around, I went to his classroom and within 5 minutes, he told me what was going on and did I ever feel stupid. I asked him why he was so upset by this and if the little girls talked to him at all....the first words out of his mouth in a quiet voice accompanied by moist eyes were, "Elmo was Grandpa's middle name and I thought they were making fun of it and I didn't like it." Man did I feel like an idiot but I do have one thing that I can counter that with....all my life, I was told that my father's middle name was Edmond....it wasn't until about a month or so before he died that I was given the real story behind his name...and yes, his middle name was Elmo. Somehow it had gotten written wrong on his baptismal certificate. It was always Edmond to me....when he said they were calling him Elmo, I immediately thought of Elmo the muppet and thought it was cute that they came up with such a sweet name...although what I think is sweet is definitely not something my son would concur with.
It all suddenly made great sense to me and I immediately called the two girls over and explained things to them and it was like a shadow crossed both their faces and then a light went on....they understood and I apologized if I had upset them, they both smiled a little smile and gave me a nod...shy little things they are....but Honestly, I didn't yell at them...I just asked a question and the little girls lip was quivering almost immediately....then she started to well up with tears and man...I felt like such a meany. But it's all good now.
However, days like today....beautiful fall colors surrounding me, I can't help not thinking about my father. He would have loved it here today. I took a drive on my lunch to the scenic overlook, the long way back to our house on a road that follows the river...the smell, the colors....I felt my father today, he was near me....Things are easier but at the same time, so very hard when it hits.
Thanks for listening....
Our little guy is still having a hard time with it. He's about like me, tears here and there, wanting something to call his own that was his grandpa's just so he can have something he touched or used. I cannot tell you how I wish I could just help my son understand and feel even the slightest bit better about things although I'm still trying to understand and feel again. I've certainly grown more humble over the last 5 1/2 months.
So, I am now an employee at the school...after years of trying. Our son was very adamant about me not touching him and letting everyone know that "I am his mom"...sort of thing. It's comical really. I have respected those wishes because I certainly don't want other kids taking liberties and picking on him at will. School is hard enough. And so far it's worked out ok...he even lets me tousle his hair now and all the kids in his class are always happy to see B's Mom! So it's all good.
But today he did something completely out of character for him right before he was going to go in from recess. I was getting the classes lined up and he came up. His face looked 'devastated', pained, and like he was about ready to cry. The kid NEVER comes near me at recess and when I say never, I mean him and I don't even say hi to each other before he goes in. It's that line of respect that I'm waiting for him to break. Anyway, he blurted out that there were some kids calling him Elmo....I was quite confused by this because it was such a minor thing. He said he didn't want them to call him that and wanted me to ask them to stop.
I told him I would of course because he looked so distraught by it. Needless to say, I made one of the girls cry just by asking her why she was calling him that and felt terrible because I was completely confused and really didn't see what was so horrible about it...my son who never tattles unless he's feeling on the verge of tears or complete frustration. Then I thought that maybe it was because he gets called various names by his older sisters....it bothered me a great deal for the rest of the day. It just wasn't like him to be so....irritated.
Well, it took every fiber of my being not to walk to his classroom for the next couple hours and find out what was going on with him. But I refused to be the doting mom and decided that I would have to just hang tough until 2:00...I just had a horrible feeling that there was more to this than I realized. I actually started walking to his class two times between my own classes but turned around....it just nagged at me...
So finally 2:00 came around, I went to his classroom and within 5 minutes, he told me what was going on and did I ever feel stupid. I asked him why he was so upset by this and if the little girls talked to him at all....the first words out of his mouth in a quiet voice accompanied by moist eyes were, "Elmo was Grandpa's middle name and I thought they were making fun of it and I didn't like it." Man did I feel like an idiot but I do have one thing that I can counter that with....all my life, I was told that my father's middle name was Edmond....it wasn't until about a month or so before he died that I was given the real story behind his name...and yes, his middle name was Elmo. Somehow it had gotten written wrong on his baptismal certificate. It was always Edmond to me....when he said they were calling him Elmo, I immediately thought of Elmo the muppet and thought it was cute that they came up with such a sweet name...although what I think is sweet is definitely not something my son would concur with.
It all suddenly made great sense to me and I immediately called the two girls over and explained things to them and it was like a shadow crossed both their faces and then a light went on....they understood and I apologized if I had upset them, they both smiled a little smile and gave me a nod...shy little things they are....but Honestly, I didn't yell at them...I just asked a question and the little girls lip was quivering almost immediately....then she started to well up with tears and man...I felt like such a meany. But it's all good now.
However, days like today....beautiful fall colors surrounding me, I can't help not thinking about my father. He would have loved it here today. I took a drive on my lunch to the scenic overlook, the long way back to our house on a road that follows the river...the smell, the colors....I felt my father today, he was near me....Things are easier but at the same time, so very hard when it hits.
Thanks for listening....
Friday, May 16, 2008
HEY, Where's the pot of gold?????????????
So, we went fishing again this evening...and it was done against my better judgement since I left in the middle of taking my final exam for Economics.It has been the week from hell and I am so mentally exhausted that I just cannot even think anymore! I studied hard this week, got a B in algebra but am afraid to even know what I might get in Economics. But the damage is done..I finished my exam as best as I could but am not feeling like I got the gist of it. But what can I do but try and hope for the best....
So anyway, we went fishing as I said above. Didn't catch anything substantial but this absolutely breathtaking fleeting moment on my cell phone camera.
Beautiful day all day today...sunny, warm and calm. We got to the lake to sit at our posts to catch some lunkers and it started to rain. Not horrible but then it did for awhile and then it didn't. We toughed it out since at the same time it was raining that sun was shining down bright and strong. It was the most unusual weather..rain, sun, calm, wind and rain, lightening but only as certain dark rain clouds passed overhead. There was barely ever a moment when that sun went behind the clouds.
Really, it was more freakish then anything but all the same, we looked up from hiding under our jackets and hoodie sweatshirts to see this sight at one point. And if you look closely, you will see the end of that rainbow..BUT NO POT OF GOLD! LOL
It was so close we could almost touch it. What an amazing thing to see. As the rain started to let up, so began the descent of that rainbow, like it was fading before our eyes yet moving across the lake to the other side. Never in my life have I seen something such as this except in the sprinkler or when I'm washing the vehicle or something. It was truly amazing and well worth not catching more then 3 fish for me.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
Opening fishing today
Opening fishing today!!!!!! Yeehaw. While the weather was miserable, cold, rainy...and well, the fishing wasn't all that...the company was great and just being in a boat, on a lake holding a fishing pole...it was really worth it to come home feeling like an iceberg!
Ok, so we did catch a few fish. Not nearly the number we caught last night but today/tonight it was about quality not quantity. Sadly, my friend T didn't catch a single fish! I feel bad for her. Her hubby J caught a few...one of which was a lunker! Of course it had to be a bass which are not legal to catch until much later in the season but WOW, what a huge fish.
While we thought it may have been 5 pounds, I think it may have been closer to 7 or 8 but what do I know except that that was one big bass! It made the one in my side bar picture look like a pee-wee!
Then there was Pat...he caught a few little ones and that was it. I felt bad for him too as he stood in that rain in nothing more then his street clothes and a jacket and toughed out that rain. (Dumb us forgot our rain ponchos in the garage but we made due...our friends let me cover my legs with a rain jacked they had which I was really grateful for) And it was a steady, persistent rain. One much like those that occur on camping trips. Another plus was J and T have a canopy on their boat which on a day like today is a lifesaver! Without that there probably wouldn't have been a fishing adventure.
Me, well, I didn't catch much either...a couple sun fish, a little bass...and another lunker. We estimated mine to be roughly 3 pounds but it very well could have been closer to 4 or 5. And again, it was big and lots of fun to pull that one in. WOW again. What fun. Pat took pics of both but they're on his work camera and our computer isn't set up for that..and besides, I don't know that it was even smart to post the one that I did with bass season not even open yet. But again, its not illegal if in fact you aren't deliberately trying to catch them.
All and all it was a lot of fun and Pat and I are so very thankful to them for inviting us out, once again for fishing opener! Of course it was when we got back to the boat launch that the chill set in. While it was cold out on the water between the rain and the cool air...the ride back to the dock with the anticipation of a warm van and a hot bath when we got home...well, it just made us more cold. Pat and I didn't even have the courtesy to hang out and shoot the breeze with J and T...hell, by that time I was shivering so much I could barely walk. I do hope they weren't offended...we were just very, very cold and all our clothes were soaked through. We were drawn to that running van that had been warming up inside for the previous 10 or so minutes. And warm it was.
We came home, took hot baths and thawed out as best we could. Now I sit here in three layers of clothes, wool socks and slippers and anticipate our next fishing adventure! What a great way to start the season this year. I guess you could say I'm addicted to the sport...until the next adventure.
Ok, so we did catch a few fish. Not nearly the number we caught last night but today/tonight it was about quality not quantity. Sadly, my friend T didn't catch a single fish! I feel bad for her. Her hubby J caught a few...one of which was a lunker! Of course it had to be a bass which are not legal to catch until much later in the season but WOW, what a huge fish.
While we thought it may have been 5 pounds, I think it may have been closer to 7 or 8 but what do I know except that that was one big bass! It made the one in my side bar picture look like a pee-wee!
Then there was Pat...he caught a few little ones and that was it. I felt bad for him too as he stood in that rain in nothing more then his street clothes and a jacket and toughed out that rain. (Dumb us forgot our rain ponchos in the garage but we made due...our friends let me cover my legs with a rain jacked they had which I was really grateful for) And it was a steady, persistent rain. One much like those that occur on camping trips. Another plus was J and T have a canopy on their boat which on a day like today is a lifesaver! Without that there probably wouldn't have been a fishing adventure.
Me, well, I didn't catch much either...a couple sun fish, a little bass...and another lunker. We estimated mine to be roughly 3 pounds but it very well could have been closer to 4 or 5. And again, it was big and lots of fun to pull that one in. WOW again. What fun. Pat took pics of both but they're on his work camera and our computer isn't set up for that..and besides, I don't know that it was even smart to post the one that I did with bass season not even open yet. But again, its not illegal if in fact you aren't deliberately trying to catch them.
All and all it was a lot of fun and Pat and I are so very thankful to them for inviting us out, once again for fishing opener! Of course it was when we got back to the boat launch that the chill set in. While it was cold out on the water between the rain and the cool air...the ride back to the dock with the anticipation of a warm van and a hot bath when we got home...well, it just made us more cold. Pat and I didn't even have the courtesy to hang out and shoot the breeze with J and T...hell, by that time I was shivering so much I could barely walk. I do hope they weren't offended...we were just very, very cold and all our clothes were soaked through. We were drawn to that running van that had been warming up inside for the previous 10 or so minutes. And warm it was.
We came home, took hot baths and thawed out as best we could. Now I sit here in three layers of clothes, wool socks and slippers and anticipate our next fishing adventure! What a great way to start the season this year. I guess you could say I'm addicted to the sport...until the next adventure.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Road rage at it's best
I read this article this morning with my jaw hanging open. I've said too many times how I hate driving in the snow or how I cannot stand drivers that ride my bumper and how I tend to go even slower just because they piss me off. I guess you could say I'm a law abiding citizen when it comes to driving and very wary of other drivers.
While I don't find what this woman did to be the brightest idea...pulling over and proceeding to try to follow this man back to his vehicle... what this jerk did was simply uncalled for and it's really too bad that he got away.
Another thing...not too long ago I read another article about numerous fender benders due to snow covered roads. What stuck out in all of this was a comment by the police. It really wasn't a horrible snow fall that day, just enough to make the roads a little iffy and a need for some caution. It was the comment made by the cops..."people need to just SLOW down". How very true and if only...
When the roads are slippery out where we live, I drive slower...I have rear wheel drive and it makes for some interesting driving. What makes it horrible to drive in though is those vehicles that are 2 feet off my bumper, those vehicles that think they are invincible and can conquer anything...and I know it's those who drive the vehicles. That's just a no-brainer. But what I don't understand is the tailgating! If there is one peeve I have about driving it's those who insist on driving right up the arse of the vehicle in front of them no matter how fast or slow that vehicle is going. I could be going 70 down the road and it's still not fast enough...
Anyway...read this article about road rage in Minnesota. It's just unbelievable....
Star Tribune article courtesy of Southern Canadian: (I couldn't get into the actual article but found this site which appears to have posted it in it's entirety.)
On a side note, I don't frequent this site, it's a little vulgar for me (umm, yeah, i swear and all but do try to keep it to a minimum when writing on the internet)...but all the same, they posted the article with a link to it as well.
While I don't find what this woman did to be the brightest idea...pulling over and proceeding to try to follow this man back to his vehicle... what this jerk did was simply uncalled for and it's really too bad that he got away.
Another thing...not too long ago I read another article about numerous fender benders due to snow covered roads. What stuck out in all of this was a comment by the police. It really wasn't a horrible snow fall that day, just enough to make the roads a little iffy and a need for some caution. It was the comment made by the cops..."people need to just SLOW down". How very true and if only...
When the roads are slippery out where we live, I drive slower...I have rear wheel drive and it makes for some interesting driving. What makes it horrible to drive in though is those vehicles that are 2 feet off my bumper, those vehicles that think they are invincible and can conquer anything...and I know it's those who drive the vehicles. That's just a no-brainer. But what I don't understand is the tailgating! If there is one peeve I have about driving it's those who insist on driving right up the arse of the vehicle in front of them no matter how fast or slow that vehicle is going. I could be going 70 down the road and it's still not fast enough...
Anyway...read this article about road rage in Minnesota. It's just unbelievable....
Star Tribune article courtesy of Southern Canadian: (I couldn't get into the actual article but found this site which appears to have posted it in it's entirety.)
On a side note, I don't frequent this site, it's a little vulgar for me (umm, yeah, i swear and all but do try to keep it to a minimum when writing on the internet)...but all the same, they posted the article with a link to it as well.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Vortex mixed with a disturbing twist
I'm exhausted. It's snowing like an overfilled snow globe right now and I was fortunate enough to get to drive home in it. That was an experience I would just as soon forget about! Getting the vortex effect through the windshield for 35 miles, unable to see the road and guiding my way down the road by the blades of grass barely sticking out from the ditch while driving on what seems like a white blanket, semi's driving by throwing snow up and creating a complete whiteout, anti lock breaks kicking in when I'm trying to stop wondering if I'm going keep right on sliding and people who are really impatient and who hate drivers like myself on days like this. Perhaps if it were lighter out I would have driven faster but driving down a road that has no streetlights, only signs to guide you and fields on either side and it's pitch black, well lets just say it was an eerily tense drive! Whew, now that I have that off my chest.......
I read an EXTREMELY disturbing article today. In fact it angers me quite a bit and I'm sure if you read it it will do the same for you. There's been a story floating around about a missing 4-yr old boy....found dead in his home. Last I heard, they weren't disclosing the cause of death but in a situation such as this, it should come as no surprise that this little guy was beat to death.
Maybe it's just that I'm feeling a bit cranky and tired today, or maybe it's because I grow weary of these sorts of stories, or maybe it's just that I cannot comprehend how something like this can happen no matter how often I read about it...I don't know. All I know is I just finished reading a book I've referenced here quite a bit--A Death in White Bear Lake--and while reading about this little boy today, in the here and now, I was struck by how things like this still occur. It just soured my day to read about this and what a worthless piece of doody this woman is. Sorry, that's pretty mean to say but its just how I feel now! She was able to grow up to be an adult, live her life, have 4 kids of her own and yet....she finds it her right to beat a child to his death because he soiled his pants!
His dad was in the workhouse for breaking his probation....and for possession of marijuana...granted his dad wasn't much better but for some reason, it just bothers me that there's a man who's locked up for something such as this while a woman is free who could kill a child....no the authorities had no idea that she was an abuser, there's no record on her...it just irks me is all.
Read for yourself: Demond Reed had a short life, and a brutal death
Rest in peace little one.....
I read an EXTREMELY disturbing article today. In fact it angers me quite a bit and I'm sure if you read it it will do the same for you. There's been a story floating around about a missing 4-yr old boy....found dead in his home. Last I heard, they weren't disclosing the cause of death but in a situation such as this, it should come as no surprise that this little guy was beat to death.
Maybe it's just that I'm feeling a bit cranky and tired today, or maybe it's because I grow weary of these sorts of stories, or maybe it's just that I cannot comprehend how something like this can happen no matter how often I read about it...I don't know. All I know is I just finished reading a book I've referenced here quite a bit--A Death in White Bear Lake--and while reading about this little boy today, in the here and now, I was struck by how things like this still occur. It just soured my day to read about this and what a worthless piece of doody this woman is. Sorry, that's pretty mean to say but its just how I feel now! She was able to grow up to be an adult, live her life, have 4 kids of her own and yet....she finds it her right to beat a child to his death because he soiled his pants!
His dad was in the workhouse for breaking his probation....and for possession of marijuana...granted his dad wasn't much better but for some reason, it just bothers me that there's a man who's locked up for something such as this while a woman is free who could kill a child....no the authorities had no idea that she was an abuser, there's no record on her...it just irks me is all.
Read for yourself: Demond Reed had a short life, and a brutal death
Rest in peace little one.....
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Mother Nature's games
It's Wednesday now and feeling a bit ho-hum. I really should be doing some homework as I have a test next week but just don't feel like it, it's been a busy week and I just want to do something that I want to do. Put up a post about something.
Remember back when my nephew and his fiance moved down to Florida a couple years ago? How horrible that move hit us? Well, as I write this, they are in the process of planning for their return. We've known this for quite a few weeks actually but hate to talk about things until we know for sure it will be a reality.
So, it's a reality, it's just a matter of waiting...Go figure, they miss the weather! Snow! Cold! Oh, and Minnesota Hockey....I think about us moving to a warmer climate and basking in the warmth of the sun and a sandy beach and just about cry because I look out our window and there certainly ain't no ocean there but a white ground with cold temperatures.
I imagine though that come Christmas time, it has to be very difficult not to have a white ground. The thought of a warm Christmas just doesn't sound all that appealing. I find it funny how us Minnesotans bitch and moan about winter. How cold it is, how we want spring to come, how we can't wait to have our gardens and to go fishing. Winter sucks...it's just that simple.
Bundling up in layers of clothes, getting into a car that nearly cracks like a sheet of ice because it's colder then a deep freeze, the outside temp is so cold that your face gets numb in minutes. The crackling of the tires on the snow, the ability to see your breath, and mostly, the ability to drive in any condition that mother nature gives us on any given day. (although I hate winter driving) And if you have little kids...it's even worse having to bundle them up, buckle them into car seats...thank goodness our kids are older!
But really, winter is a beautiful season. One can always expect to see the tree branches sag from a wet snowfall. Pat always says on days such as that, things look like a black and white photo. White on all the trees, the pines with their branches covered...it's something to marvel in. I can't tell you how many pictures I have, probably of the same tree, of days such as that.
The glistening of the ground. It's like the ground is covered in diamonds on a sunny day. 30 degrees is beautiful, especially when the sun is shining. It's 'no-jacket' weather and what an experience it is to realize that if it were 30 degrees in the late spring or mid summer we would be wearing full body snowmobile suits because it's 'insanely cold' for that time of year. How on earth is thirty degrees beautiful???
Then, another down side is the teasing of mother nature; giving us 30-35 degree days only to follow up with -10 and a wind chill of -25. The extremes are what are probably the hardest and most depressing thing to deal with. Of course we just had a massive cold spell that seemed like we lived in the arctic just a week or so ago. Holy cow was it cold!!!!!! Our van wouldn't even warm up so when we went anywhere we froze! And I understand that this weekend we will have yet another. Today was gorgeous, sunny, warm (about 30 degrees maybe)...in two days it will be so cold that the steering wheel of my truck will give me frostbite.
Now, this started out being about my nephew and his family returning...part of me asks how they could come back to what is winter but deep down, the other part knows exactly why. You just cannot take the Minnesota out of a Minnesotan.
Remember back when my nephew and his fiance moved down to Florida a couple years ago? How horrible that move hit us? Well, as I write this, they are in the process of planning for their return. We've known this for quite a few weeks actually but hate to talk about things until we know for sure it will be a reality.
So, it's a reality, it's just a matter of waiting...Go figure, they miss the weather! Snow! Cold! Oh, and Minnesota Hockey....I think about us moving to a warmer climate and basking in the warmth of the sun and a sandy beach and just about cry because I look out our window and there certainly ain't no ocean there but a white ground with cold temperatures.
I imagine though that come Christmas time, it has to be very difficult not to have a white ground. The thought of a warm Christmas just doesn't sound all that appealing. I find it funny how us Minnesotans bitch and moan about winter. How cold it is, how we want spring to come, how we can't wait to have our gardens and to go fishing. Winter sucks...it's just that simple.
Bundling up in layers of clothes, getting into a car that nearly cracks like a sheet of ice because it's colder then a deep freeze, the outside temp is so cold that your face gets numb in minutes. The crackling of the tires on the snow, the ability to see your breath, and mostly, the ability to drive in any condition that mother nature gives us on any given day. (although I hate winter driving) And if you have little kids...it's even worse having to bundle them up, buckle them into car seats...thank goodness our kids are older!
But really, winter is a beautiful season. One can always expect to see the tree branches sag from a wet snowfall. Pat always says on days such as that, things look like a black and white photo. White on all the trees, the pines with their branches covered...it's something to marvel in. I can't tell you how many pictures I have, probably of the same tree, of days such as that.
The glistening of the ground. It's like the ground is covered in diamonds on a sunny day. 30 degrees is beautiful, especially when the sun is shining. It's 'no-jacket' weather and what an experience it is to realize that if it were 30 degrees in the late spring or mid summer we would be wearing full body snowmobile suits because it's 'insanely cold' for that time of year. How on earth is thirty degrees beautiful???
Then, another down side is the teasing of mother nature; giving us 30-35 degree days only to follow up with -10 and a wind chill of -25. The extremes are what are probably the hardest and most depressing thing to deal with. Of course we just had a massive cold spell that seemed like we lived in the arctic just a week or so ago. Holy cow was it cold!!!!!! Our van wouldn't even warm up so when we went anywhere we froze! And I understand that this weekend we will have yet another. Today was gorgeous, sunny, warm (about 30 degrees maybe)...in two days it will be so cold that the steering wheel of my truck will give me frostbite.
Now, this started out being about my nephew and his family returning...part of me asks how they could come back to what is winter but deep down, the other part knows exactly why. You just cannot take the Minnesota out of a Minnesotan.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
It's time for another Minnesota post
My lovely daughter forwarded this email to me today and it brought many laughs to all of us sitting in the living room because so much of it is so very true. Ode to being Minnesotan.....
Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota:
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through
18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights
each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have ever refused to buy something because it's 'too spendy',
You might live in Minnesota.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March,
You might live in Minnesota.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the
middle of his forehead,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you know how to say...Wayzata...Mahtomedi ... Cloquet
Edina... and Shakopee,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy,
You might live in Minnesota.
If vacation means going 'up north' for the weekend,
You might live in Minnesota.
You measure distance in hours,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know several people, who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in Minnesota.
You often switch from 'Heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow
during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You might live in Minnesota.
You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events,
You might live in Minnesota.
You install security lights on your house and garage and
leave both unlocked,
You might live in Minnesota.
You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and Venison,
You might live in Minnesota.
You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows
how to use them,
You might live in Minnesota.
There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm
at any given time,
You might live in Minnesota.
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Minnesota.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter,
and of course, road construction,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can identify a southern or eastern accent,
You might live in Minnesota.
Your idea of creative landscaping is a plastic deer next
to your blue spruce,
You might live in Minnesota.
If 'Down South' to you means Iowa,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know 'a brat' is something you eat,
You might live in Minnesota.
You find -10 degrees 'a little chilly',
You might live in Minnesota.
You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends,
You DO live in Minnesota!
Jeff Foxworthy on Minnesota:
If you consider it a sport to gather your food by drilling through
18 inches of ice and sitting there all day hoping that the food will swim by,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you're proud that your state makes the national news 96 nights
each year because International Falls is the coldest spot in the nation,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have ever refused to buy something because it's 'too spendy',
You might live in Minnesota.
If your local Dairy Queen is closed from November through March,
You might live in Minnesota.
If someone in a store offers you assistance, and they don't work there,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your dad's suntan stops at a line curving around the
middle of his forehead,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you have worn shorts and a parka at the same time,
You might live in Minnesota.
If your town has an equal number of bars and churches,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you know how to say...Wayzata...Mahtomedi ... Cloquet
Edina... and Shakopee,
You might live in Minnesota.
If you think that ketchup is a little too spicy,
You might live in Minnesota.
If vacation means going 'up north' for the weekend,
You might live in Minnesota.
You measure distance in hours,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know several people, who have hit deer more than once,
You might live in Minnesota.
You often switch from 'Heat' to 'A/C' in the same day and back again,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can drive 65 mph through 2 feet of snow
during a raging blizzard without flinching,
You might live in Minnesota.
You see people wearing hunting clothes at social events,
You might live in Minnesota.
You install security lights on your house and garage and
leave both unlocked,
You might live in Minnesota.
You think of the major food groups as beer, fish, and Venison,
You might live in Minnesota.
You carry jumper cables in your car, and your girlfriend knows
how to use them,
You might live in Minnesota.
There are 7 empty cars running in the parking lot at Mill's Fleet Farm
at any given time,
You might live in Minnesota.
You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit,
You might live in Minnesota.
Driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter,
and of course, road construction,
You might live in Minnesota.
You can identify a southern or eastern accent,
You might live in Minnesota.
Your idea of creative landscaping is a plastic deer next
to your blue spruce,
You might live in Minnesota.
If 'Down South' to you means Iowa,
You might live in Minnesota.
You know 'a brat' is something you eat,
You might live in Minnesota.
You find -10 degrees 'a little chilly',
You might live in Minnesota.
You actually understand these jokes, and you forward them to all your Minnesota friends,
You DO live in Minnesota!
Monday, July 02, 2007
Ahhh, fishing
In the midst of all the chaos, we have had some moments of down time. And in those moments few and far between we have managed to squeeze in some time to do what has quickly become a nightly thing. Or at least as 'nightly' as it can be.
Fishing.........need I say more? But of course.
It's been quite a year so far. We only just started heading out a couple weeks ago. It's cheap, outdoors, and extremely relaxing. And with the past few months and all the stress that's been circulating around, I beg to go fishing right now.
So, our usual fishing spot is where it all began--the place where we had so much fun last year. We went there with worms the first time and it was so choked with weeds that we became quite discouraged of what may be for the year. We did head out with our friends on their boat one evening before our first venture to the shore and that proved to be a pretty bleak fishing adventure for myself while everyone else around me were pulling in sunnies and of course the northern that got away. And this excursion was on this same lake in the same area that we shore fish from. One would think that if we had an opportunity to head out on a lake in a boat that we would demand to go to timbuktu and back but no, Pat and I raved about our little cove. Silly us.
So, we went out on the shore line and the weeds were so horrible that we stayed away until just about 2 weeks ago. We went back and the weeds were nearly gone. We were pulling in sunnies as usual and then our son hooked into what we thought was a lunker. Guess what...it was a bullhead. And it was the biggest bullhead I've seen in my life. And frankly, bullheads are my least favorite catch of the day.
Well, anyway, Pat and I started catching the bullheads too and they were all good size. I've heard they're good to eat but number one, they don't die and number two, they have stingers--or so I'm told. Not once have I EVER touched a bullhead. I think I hate them so much because my brothers scared me when I was younger...hmm, a story that I'll have to write about.
I decided that enough was enough and moved down the shore to a little less weedy area even though the weeds were still lurking there. I casted way out deep past the weeds and waited. Bloop, bobber gone and I yank and wow. To my great delight I had a whopper on the other end. I thought perhaps it was a northern or something. I was hoping to see it fly out of the water in that graceful way that a bass would but it never did.
I got it to the shore and saw neon green, a black spot inside a yellow circle on either side of it's tail and a head that looked prehistoric. That was how I described it to Pat; prehistoric. I thought perhaps a lake trout of some sort--oh, it was about a foot and a half long and weighed anywhere from 2-4 pounds maybe? But yeah, Pat, our son and myself stood there just staring at this thing trying to figure out what it was as it flapped away with my hook deeply imbedded in it's mouth. It was kinda ugly. And the guess' we were coming up with...at one point I said that maybe it was a dogfish. Never seen one or heard one described but since we were guessing. Oh, it had teeth too. Ugly cuss it was.
So we rush home to find out that it was a 'bowfin' or in other words, a dogfish. Hmmmm, lucky guess.
So, this past weekend, we had nothing to do all weekend. The first time since May that we've had nothing to wake up to or plan for. And my selfish side wouldn't allow anyone to intrude on that because honestly, Pat and I are exhausted from all that's been going on! What did we do? Well of course we spent much of it on the prowl for good shore fishing.
Ultimately we ended up at what we now call, our spot. We fished in our spot for awhile but caught one bullhead and said...no more, lets move. It's a little peninsula and one can walk all the way around the point and fish on the east side or the west side.
We chose to fish on the west side on Saturday. I MADE Pat stop so I could get me some crappie minnows. Worms are icky, leeches, well, they aren't so bad but I think bullhead for some dumb reason but minnows, I think northern, bass, crappie...whoppers! hehe
We fished for awhile, caught some sunnies and crappies and I even caught a baby walley. At around 8:25 that evening my world changed. I was hooking into all kinds of fish earlier then this and had found my new spot for the night. I had Pat on one side of me and our son on the other and neither of them were catching nearly as much. Then wham...I hooked something large and it fought a good fight. I got it up to shore and it was about a 2-3 pound bass. Beautiful although it looked a little albino. Not sure why.
After my excitement of that, I threw on another minnow, casted out and wham, another big one...another bass, this one about 1-2 pounds and again, a little albino...Hubby and my boy were perplexed, they were a mere 5-7 feet from my line and nothing!!! I of course was laughing inside and yes, gloating. How could I not. All year my luck had been strange and lacking. Well, anyway, I threw on another minnow and casted out to my spot and wham...ANOTHER big fish. Holy cow, that was just too much in one night. I got it to shore and lo and behold, another nice size bass. This one about 1-1 1/2 pounds.
I did feel bad for the boys, they were both looking a little mopey and frustrated. It was time for us to leave, sadly. It seems that each night about the same time the fish start hitting and then we have to leave. I hate that.
Last night though it was our son's and Pat's turn. They were dragging in bass like crazy, crappie, and our boy was so excited I could feel his butterflies in my stomach as he dragged in a lunker....another bowfin. He was giggling and grunting and was nearly getting pulled into the lake with this fish. Man, can those things put up a good fight and he got to experience it...but it got to the point where the poor kid couldn't reel in. It was to much for him and he handed the rod to Pat.
Oddly, I felt some relief that they had a great night fishing last night. I was a little saddened that I didn't catch more then some good size crappies and sunfish. The thrill of the fight is something that I ache for when I fish.
But the point of this post isn't really the sport of fishing, it's about something else.
I moved away from the boys after my luck in their spot was proving fishless for me. But not because I was frustrated but because I had an urge.
At around 8:30 at night is when the sun turns into that deep orange-red color and you can nearly look at it with the naked eye. Last night there were long clouds streaking through the sky. My urge was to watch the sun set. Questions about what my favorite would be between sunrise and sunset would be hard for me to answer.
The joy of fising for me is just that...sunrise, sunset, the peacefullness on the still water as the loons chatter back and forth in the wee hours of the morning, and the peacefullness that settles on the lake as darkness approaches. How many sunrises and sunsets have I sat and enjoyed with my husband without really even realizing that I'm doing it? How many times have I thought about it the way I did last night, that fishing offers both of these in such a quiet way, the orange glow on the still water in the morning and the orange glow rippling across the water at night...God, there is just nothing more beautiful to me.
I looked over the water and as I did so I said to Pat, "gee honey, it's kind of nice that we get to see the sunset nearly everytime we go fishing". I don't think either one of us looked at it in that perspective before. And add to that that we have our children with us, mostly our son and thinking about what sort of memories these moments might create...life can suck but it's those natural little things that make it so worth it.
Fishing.........need I say more? But of course.
It's been quite a year so far. We only just started heading out a couple weeks ago. It's cheap, outdoors, and extremely relaxing. And with the past few months and all the stress that's been circulating around, I beg to go fishing right now.
So, our usual fishing spot is where it all began--the place where we had so much fun last year. We went there with worms the first time and it was so choked with weeds that we became quite discouraged of what may be for the year. We did head out with our friends on their boat one evening before our first venture to the shore and that proved to be a pretty bleak fishing adventure for myself while everyone else around me were pulling in sunnies and of course the northern that got away. And this excursion was on this same lake in the same area that we shore fish from. One would think that if we had an opportunity to head out on a lake in a boat that we would demand to go to timbuktu and back but no, Pat and I raved about our little cove. Silly us.
So, we went out on the shore line and the weeds were so horrible that we stayed away until just about 2 weeks ago. We went back and the weeds were nearly gone. We were pulling in sunnies as usual and then our son hooked into what we thought was a lunker. Guess what...it was a bullhead. And it was the biggest bullhead I've seen in my life. And frankly, bullheads are my least favorite catch of the day.
Well, anyway, Pat and I started catching the bullheads too and they were all good size. I've heard they're good to eat but number one, they don't die and number two, they have stingers--or so I'm told. Not once have I EVER touched a bullhead. I think I hate them so much because my brothers scared me when I was younger...hmm, a story that I'll have to write about.
I decided that enough was enough and moved down the shore to a little less weedy area even though the weeds were still lurking there. I casted way out deep past the weeds and waited. Bloop, bobber gone and I yank and wow. To my great delight I had a whopper on the other end. I thought perhaps it was a northern or something. I was hoping to see it fly out of the water in that graceful way that a bass would but it never did.
I got it to the shore and saw neon green, a black spot inside a yellow circle on either side of it's tail and a head that looked prehistoric. That was how I described it to Pat; prehistoric. I thought perhaps a lake trout of some sort--oh, it was about a foot and a half long and weighed anywhere from 2-4 pounds maybe? But yeah, Pat, our son and myself stood there just staring at this thing trying to figure out what it was as it flapped away with my hook deeply imbedded in it's mouth. It was kinda ugly. And the guess' we were coming up with...at one point I said that maybe it was a dogfish. Never seen one or heard one described but since we were guessing. Oh, it had teeth too. Ugly cuss it was.
So we rush home to find out that it was a 'bowfin' or in other words, a dogfish. Hmmmm, lucky guess.
So, this past weekend, we had nothing to do all weekend. The first time since May that we've had nothing to wake up to or plan for. And my selfish side wouldn't allow anyone to intrude on that because honestly, Pat and I are exhausted from all that's been going on! What did we do? Well of course we spent much of it on the prowl for good shore fishing.
Ultimately we ended up at what we now call, our spot. We fished in our spot for awhile but caught one bullhead and said...no more, lets move. It's a little peninsula and one can walk all the way around the point and fish on the east side or the west side.
We chose to fish on the west side on Saturday. I MADE Pat stop so I could get me some crappie minnows. Worms are icky, leeches, well, they aren't so bad but I think bullhead for some dumb reason but minnows, I think northern, bass, crappie...whoppers! hehe
We fished for awhile, caught some sunnies and crappies and I even caught a baby walley. At around 8:25 that evening my world changed. I was hooking into all kinds of fish earlier then this and had found my new spot for the night. I had Pat on one side of me and our son on the other and neither of them were catching nearly as much. Then wham...I hooked something large and it fought a good fight. I got it up to shore and it was about a 2-3 pound bass. Beautiful although it looked a little albino. Not sure why.
After my excitement of that, I threw on another minnow, casted out and wham, another big one...another bass, this one about 1-2 pounds and again, a little albino...Hubby and my boy were perplexed, they were a mere 5-7 feet from my line and nothing!!! I of course was laughing inside and yes, gloating. How could I not. All year my luck had been strange and lacking. Well, anyway, I threw on another minnow and casted out to my spot and wham...ANOTHER big fish. Holy cow, that was just too much in one night. I got it to shore and lo and behold, another nice size bass. This one about 1-1 1/2 pounds.
I did feel bad for the boys, they were both looking a little mopey and frustrated. It was time for us to leave, sadly. It seems that each night about the same time the fish start hitting and then we have to leave. I hate that.
Last night though it was our son's and Pat's turn. They were dragging in bass like crazy, crappie, and our boy was so excited I could feel his butterflies in my stomach as he dragged in a lunker....another bowfin. He was giggling and grunting and was nearly getting pulled into the lake with this fish. Man, can those things put up a good fight and he got to experience it...but it got to the point where the poor kid couldn't reel in. It was to much for him and he handed the rod to Pat.
Oddly, I felt some relief that they had a great night fishing last night. I was a little saddened that I didn't catch more then some good size crappies and sunfish. The thrill of the fight is something that I ache for when I fish.
But the point of this post isn't really the sport of fishing, it's about something else.
I moved away from the boys after my luck in their spot was proving fishless for me. But not because I was frustrated but because I had an urge.
At around 8:30 at night is when the sun turns into that deep orange-red color and you can nearly look at it with the naked eye. Last night there were long clouds streaking through the sky. My urge was to watch the sun set. Questions about what my favorite would be between sunrise and sunset would be hard for me to answer.
The joy of fising for me is just that...sunrise, sunset, the peacefullness on the still water as the loons chatter back and forth in the wee hours of the morning, and the peacefullness that settles on the lake as darkness approaches. How many sunrises and sunsets have I sat and enjoyed with my husband without really even realizing that I'm doing it? How many times have I thought about it the way I did last night, that fishing offers both of these in such a quiet way, the orange glow on the still water in the morning and the orange glow rippling across the water at night...God, there is just nothing more beautiful to me.
I looked over the water and as I did so I said to Pat, "gee honey, it's kind of nice that we get to see the sunset nearly everytime we go fishing". I don't think either one of us looked at it in that perspective before. And add to that that we have our children with us, mostly our son and thinking about what sort of memories these moments might create...life can suck but it's those natural little things that make it so worth it.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Ain't no man gonna tell me what to do!
I sure do love a good Minnesota joke! My friend sent this along and it really does epitomize most Minnesota women I know. Ahh, I'm sure that in Nebraska and Colorado the women aren't much different than us but all the same, I chuckled when I read this. Thanks T!!!!
Three men were sitting together bragging about how they had given their new
wives duties.
The first man had married a Woman from Colorado and had told her that she
was going to do dishes and house cleaning. It took a couple days, but on
the third day he came home to a clean house and dishes washed and put away.
The second man had married a woman from Nebraska He had given his wife
orders that she was to do all the cleaning, dishes, and the cooking.
The first day he didn't see any results, but the next day he saw it was
better. By the third day, he saw his house was clean, the dishes were done,
and there was a huge dinner on the table.
The third man had married a girl from Minnesota . He told her that her
duties were to keep the house cleaned, dishes washed, lawn mowed, laundry
washed and hot meals on the table for every meal. He said the first day he
didn't see anything, the second day he didn't see an ything, but by the
third day some of the swelling had gone down and he could see a little out
of his left eye, enough to fix himself a bite to eat and load the
dishwasher.
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Bring it on!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The weather this week has been just beautiful. I drove to a dr. appointment yesterday in the early afternoon and guess what. I had my window cranked down and it felt so good!!! The temp gauge in the vehicle said it was 52 degrees. **note a previous post I did about Minnesotans** LOL
But a dark cloud has been looming in my mind. There's been some articles about the dangers of a drought this summer. A lot of fires, lakes at low levels and this is bothersome to me. For as much as I have adored this winter, aside from the subzero temps a couple weeks ago, we really need some snow! We need the moisture and bad!
I remember the river quite a few years ago, it was roughly 7 feet or higher than usual and it was rushing! Wow. That was the same year I believe Grand Forks was flooded by the Red River. I also ventured to Stillwater and the river was up past the walking paths into the picnic areas and it was touching the bottom of the lift bridge. It was insane.
From the heat last summer and the low lake levels, our week and a half long vacation was really lacking. The fish weren't biting, boats were having many problems launching into the lakes and this was much further up north where the weather is usually cooler. We had 99 degree days at the cabin we stayed at. Just too warm to do much of anything else but sweat while we read books.
So, call me crazy but my belly is full of butterflies right now. People have been talking all day today and yesterday about an anticipated blizzard this weekend!!! Yippee!!! Some say a foot others say maybe 2 feet but that the weather will be horrible. I cannot wait!
Twin Cities / WARM, THEN WHAM! Winter storm on the way
But then again, the weather predictions have been lacking so getting my hopes up is probably dumb but at least I can do that much.....hope.
But a dark cloud has been looming in my mind. There's been some articles about the dangers of a drought this summer. A lot of fires, lakes at low levels and this is bothersome to me. For as much as I have adored this winter, aside from the subzero temps a couple weeks ago, we really need some snow! We need the moisture and bad!
I remember the river quite a few years ago, it was roughly 7 feet or higher than usual and it was rushing! Wow. That was the same year I believe Grand Forks was flooded by the Red River. I also ventured to Stillwater and the river was up past the walking paths into the picnic areas and it was touching the bottom of the lift bridge. It was insane.
From the heat last summer and the low lake levels, our week and a half long vacation was really lacking. The fish weren't biting, boats were having many problems launching into the lakes and this was much further up north where the weather is usually cooler. We had 99 degree days at the cabin we stayed at. Just too warm to do much of anything else but sweat while we read books.
So, call me crazy but my belly is full of butterflies right now. People have been talking all day today and yesterday about an anticipated blizzard this weekend!!! Yippee!!! Some say a foot others say maybe 2 feet but that the weather will be horrible. I cannot wait!
Twin Cities / WARM, THEN WHAM! Winter storm on the way
But then again, the weather predictions have been lacking so getting my hopes up is probably dumb but at least I can do that much.....hope.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
The mysterious appetite of Lake Superior
Ahh, beautiful Lake Superior. Home of the Edmund Fitzgerald and numerous other shipwrecks.
Love that lake, it's the Midwest's version of the ocean, only freshwater and black in color...or a deep dark blue. On windy days, it's the most tranquil yet eeriest feeling to sit at Duluth Point listening to the waves crashing into the rocks.
But to get me to swim in that lake is a whole other story! I'm sure I've touched on this Lake in other posts and my supersticious fear of it. Pat and his good friend Tom cannot figure out what the deal is with me and that lake. Just something about it gives me the creeps. They both wonder how it is that I don't mind Pat owning a motorcycle yet if he even mentions jet skiing on that lake I freak out on him.
Frankly, it doesn't make much sense to me either...perhaps it's because that lake has swallowed many lives with the shifting of the wind. Or the color. It just howls at me whenever we visit...but I have a deep love and respect for it. Kind of creepy.
Anyway, imagine my 'non' surprise at this story. The only thing that does surprise me is how close it is to a place that we visit frequently. Interesting discovery. I hope to learn more about it in the future.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Those darn snow plows
It was a very nice day today except for this:
Serious injuries reported after massive 40-car pileup on I-35
Yeah, we got some snow but it didn't seem to be the cause of this heap of metal! Visibility over a dip in the road caused this.
But that didn't stop the rag news from taking it's pot shots at the plows and MN Dot, oh and Governor Tim Pawlenty. It couldn't be the fault of over confident drivers who think that they can travel the speed of light in questionable conditions.
I drove this morning and really it wasn't bad. The snow blew right off the road as I drove over it. And from the looks of these pics it's looks similar to the road conditions out here. In fact, it was worse where the snow plows HAD been with their salt. It turned the roads into slushy messes. I actually think it was better to not have salted the roads but I guess I'm not a professional reporter or anything.
Monday, February 05, 2007
It's just got to be the feet
Photo of seagulls courtesy of MSNBC--Allen Fredrickson, Reuterssmaller photo courtesy of msn weather
Yikes! It's a baaaaalmy -7 degrees out although it feels like a scalding -18 right now in our quaint little town. Of course when it's time for all of us to crawl out from underneath the heavenly warmth of our beds when we open the door to go outside it will be -13 degrees but there is an end in site. Well, at least according to the MSN Weather site.
We're looking at a stellar 7 degrees above by 3:00pm tomorrow afternoon. Time to pull out the bikini and the suntan lotion, oh, I mean the sunscreen and go bask in the glory of the warmth. And Pat, well, he has decided he's going to pull out the ole motorcycle and drive it to work.
Ok, I'm really just trying to humor myself through this ungodly cold spell that has engulfed us. We're constantly chilled to the bone even covered with oodles of blankets. My fingers are stiff from the ache of running out to start the vehicles every few hours so they don't freeze up. I pity my poor dogs when they must go expose themselves to the cold just so they can go to the bathroom.
But this is really a normal occurance in the great midwest. Bone chilling temps, cars that won't start, breathing in exhaust, hair freezing if it's the slightest bit damp from the shower and hearing that 'crunch-crunch' as you walk up the sidewalk on the littlest bit of snow and the brittle snap of the lone branch in the woods every once in awhile as a critter scouts around.
Although it is bitter cold out, there is one thing that is really special about this time of year. The stillness, the deadness that encompasses us. It is so peacefully quiet out there late at night, stars shining bright and the moon illuminating and casting more shadows than any street light. The saying that the silence is deafening never makes more sense than in the dead of a cold winter night.
So, as I sit here in my humble abode, wearing fleece pj pants, a thick sweatshirt, a pair of socks, a pair of slipper socks topped with my slippers, struggling to warm myself as much as is possible, it is with much love and adoration that even with all those clothes on I am still not warm that I walk back into the bedroom, grab my robe and my blanket and bury myself in them. But even then, there is no such thing as warmth on days like this because the heat rises and the feet remain low...it's all my feet's fault that I'm cold!!!!
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