How cool is my wife?

So Cool.

I bought a new bike since it was just a good deal. The guy delivered it tonight and his wife took him home... that in itself makes the deal all the more sweet.

After watching "24", Lisa and I went out and sat on it and fired it up and stuff. Her words to me before she went back inside were. "good job... have fun with your new toy tonight". If that isn't a supportive wife I dont know what is.

Nirvana's "Black Album"- and Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Review

To many of us, Nirvana's "Black Album" is hard to stomach. I guess it seems disingenuous to release a "Greatest Hits" album without calling it such. In today's modern digital era (of thievery), we can just as easily import these previously released tracks from the other albums and create a playlist entitled Nirvana's Radio Favorites. This title alone would almost make it unplayable on my iPod. I don't listen to the radio- it pains me. Along with advertisers blaring incessantly about the super-sale of subaru's on Saturday, I am just not that fond of the formulaic composition of a rock song that lasts exactly 3 minutes, has one bridge and a catchy pop riff. All of this being said, however, on my way to watch BRMC perform last night at the Wonder Ballroom, I have found a home in my heart for Nirvana's Black Album.

I usually don't go out of my way to put in a CD of songs that have been overplayed through radio, and young-teen mall shops, but I feel most all music has it's place in the world at one time or another. I received a free copy of this CD from a friend-of-a-friend at a major label. It just happened to be one of my 6 discs in the changer last Saturday night on my way to see Black Rebel. As soon as Grohl started huffing on his set to introduce You Know You're Right I knew that this was the perfect CD to get ready for a live concert. Midway through that first song I was ready for rock. If I had listened to an actual BRMC album on the way to the show my own expectations would redirect the experience that the band was going to provide for me that night. But these overplayed radio hits from Nirvana were just right for setting the mood. These songs won't ask one to change their personal tone for the evening. Instead, the album was the perfect appetizer for Black Rebel's 5-Star meal. And I think it may just be the perfect starter for anyone before they dig into the unique experience that only a live show can bring.

(Our Neighborhood) Dogs of War

Scientists find no genetic difference between dog breeds. If one
studied the gene sequencing of a British Curly-Coat Retriever with
that of a Chinese Chow-Chow there is interestingly no striking
dissimilarities. They are all classified as Canis Lupus, or wolf, at
the core.
The dog packs in the most remote reaches of wilderness like the
jungle of Central America need very little "bark" to communicate.
A softly spoken, but high-pitched, "whistle" breaks the silence of
the rainforest as these dogs hunt in packs. There is very little
competing noise when one removes man's presence from the landscape.
Because of this, these dogs aren't exhausting themselves just to be
heard by others. They communicate only what is necessary to get the
desired result. Canis Lupus has been domesticated now, but to keep
his bark from becoming a constant annoyance in your home and yard,
make sure he doesnt feel the need to "compete" for just basic
attention from you and your family.

The Simpsons Live Opening Titles

Makers of the hit cartoon The Simpsons have filmed the show's opening titles using real actors.

Pray for strength

The whole last decade I prayed for direction. Now I just need to pray for strength. That is my personality in a nutshell. Once someone asks me to do something I just do it. I persevere through it. The task of building these boats, or producing some worthwhile video footage, both at quality levels far exceeding anything that is being done, is more than I can do on my own. But I forget to ask anyone for help, or guidance. I don't ask God because I am supposed to toil in the feilds picking weeds the rest of my days. That is what He told me so I figure He won't have any sympathy for how difficult the task is. Tonight, I prayed anyway.

Remember that trip down the D with Lance...

Fisher's

Air-Flos new Ridgeline: Precursor to a Product Review

http://www.fishwest.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?
Screen=PROD&Product_Code=AF30RXP&Category_Code=006flylines

So it has ridges, but as I look close and think about it I think it is too much gimmick. They just created more surface area to attach itself to the water, which would make it more difficult to pull the line off for another cast. I don't mean to go spouting off about this when I have never slung the new goods, but it seems the product is the antithesis to the company's name.

EndLight

Fishing yesterday turned out to be the start of a whole new world for me. I can't explain it now. The river was an old friend, the fishing scene was the same as it was in years past. Water was perfect. Fish were hunted. But I learned something new this season... it just isn't a numbers game. This place is meant to be quietly explored.

I Killed My Last Bear

So it's Friday night and I am gearing up for fishing tomorrow. We leave at 4:45am and blogging is the last thing I really should be doing right now. In a way it is my new approach, I am trying to slow myself down and relax everything about me more, starting with something like this so it will eventually slow down my casting. Anymore I am frantically trying to cover water in an effort to make up for lost time. I used to fish 300+ days a year during college. Now I have a wonderful family and beautiful mortgage. I'll admit, I don't fish as much as I used to.

Anyway, my Beulah demo rod broke two weeks ago on a fish at the Berry. I paid a little in an upgrade fee with it's "lifetime warranty" for replacement. They said that rod had a particular flaw in the wrap on the lowest piece at the male ferrule, and that is exactly where it broke . It was effortless to cast... until those first fateful seconds of hook-up with a real fish. Today, I received a remarkable set-up in return from them. We'll see how it fishes tomorrow but it sure looks amazing.

As I was gearing up I ran across an older can of smokeless tobacco with just a pinch left. I spent over a decade being heavily addicted and now in my later years I want to quit. With the help of the patch (and a secret weapon) I have been getting better. This last old can was thrown away empty tonight. Tomorrow is a new day, but tonight I have killed my last bear for quite awhile.

It's 15 minutes later and I just went through every bag, small medium and large- from Alice pak in OD Geen to my fancy fishing sling dealio (I removed myself from the fly-fishing vest of our grandfather's long ago). I found another can. I scraped it and threw it away empty. I think I have gathered every big leechy and roe-esque thing I have in my arsenal. The older flies are soaking in garlic... (ahem, just to remove any rusty hook smell).

The handheld CB's are charging. I grabbed the power inverter for charging waterproof digital camera's battery. The charger is at Todd's and my battery is dead. Although I have so much crap I think I am only fishing with a small Columbia chestpack, the
mini and a flask. And, of course I'll take my secret weapon.

I tend to recall that gearing up was simpler back in the day when I fished more. It was a combination of being more ready (because I just went days, or even hours, before) as well as having a lot less gear- I just had the basics back then. And, it definitely seems like I caught more fish back then- but maybe my fish tales have just come to life in the present. I'll let you know how the secret weapon fares for me. I am always
excited about experimenting. That is the true joy I find in Winter Steelhead.

Moe's Quote (he owns a bar in Springfield)

They think they're so high and mighty, just because they never got caught driving without pants.