Tenacity

I report to you this evening that I have learned only one thing from life to this day. 32 years have taught me this:

Only one thing within our control leads to success(other mitigating factors in life aside): tenacious-unfailing-repetitive-perseverance.

After struggling 21 hours trolling fishless over a period of 4 days, success has come!

Today, while trolling on beautiful Lake Michigan, I caught this 29.5" 6lb 5oz Brown Trout!

And how beautiful it was to eat! Fresh grilled herb encrusted Trout with asparagus, homemade bread, and white wine....

Set your sights, and pursue with tenacity!

Salmon Eggs, Egg Free Easter Eggs, and Fat Man's!

I spent a glorious day at my parent's house today eating a luscious course that my mother prepared....Her cooking is only rivaled by a meal or two I have had at 5 star restaurants....Amway to name one....Thanks mom!

I then ventured in the rusty reliable Commanche Commander to the Grand River to land a Steelhead......The ol' bitch swallowed up $23 worth of tackle as I snagged the bottom time after time.....A good friend, JP, joined me for some tackle loss......

What an adventure!

It was only after several hours of hand numbing cold that JP and I gathered around my portable heater to toss down a couple of beers and speak of our fishing experiences....You know, there is nothing better, and I do mean NOTHING, than to stand next to another person who's passion for life and fishing as they tell of story upon story of their experiences......What a great time! Funny how the best spur of the trip was when we weren't fishing and instead volleying all of our quips of enjoyment and wisdom from times past.

As I lumbered home I made one last call for the night....To FAT MAN'S FISH FRY! ONE lb of fresh smelt, one lb of french fries, and a 1/2 pound of coleslaw! I may not have scored on the River Grande but I did put down some delicious fish! Here is the Fat Man's beacon in case you too get lost on the seas without a catch:

I must remark at the intelligence and thinking my oldest daughter put into Easter morning. My youngest daughter has been afflicted with a distinct allergy to "eggs" and any byproduct of the sort......So, for this Easter, my oldest was on top of it and told the Easter Bunny that "no eggs were allowed" in her Easter basket.....Here is the note:

Happy Easter everybody! Remember that the true reason of Easter is that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried, and then conquered death by raising from the dead! His sacrifice is our gain! (You can ask me how his sacrifice helps you and I would be glad to explain!)

y9in

Salute! Yet another Country Music Legend!

Man, where do I start with this country legend? He has pumped out so many classics that touch my soul, I can only begin to give you a glimpse of pure genius!

Here is one of his best:

You know, some call me a poet

"He has a way with words" they say.

Well, why then, when I try to tell you the way I feel,

Do all the words just slip away?
Or they come out sounding like the dialogue from a Clark Gable movie

"Well frankly my dear".

Damn.

I just have so much inside,

I want you to know about

And it all means thatI love you.

So what can I say.

You bring a tear to the poet's eye

and you are the rhyme I could not write

And you are love, when the words slip away.
I love you, what can I say?

You see sometimes, words just aren't enough

What is the word for that funny little shaky feeling inside?

That numb, warm wonderful confusion when you touch me?

A poet? No. I'm not a poet.

But if I were,

and I had every word in the world at my command

My poem would still be.......
I love you.

What can I say?

A TEAM T ANOMALY?

My blog has been lame lately. I admit. LAME....It has begun to resemble a "America's Funnies Home Videos" show with that host who I would love to corner in an alley and be in possession of a wooden chair leg I had just broken off to address his lack of acting skills.....So, let's get back to the fire inspired ramblings, shall we? Let us get back to the controversy.....The whackie thoughts running around this mind.....

Today a very wierd occurrence visited me as I played a common game on everyone's computer, SOLITAIRE...I must say that I was paralyzed by what happened.....I must be truthful in saying that this very game has been played by me countless times....And what happened to me today, WAS AN ANOMALY!

First we must examine what an anomaly is. Per WIKIPEDIA, it is the following: everything that differs from expectation. This expectation can result from a document or from a persons notion or experiences.

As I flicked the mouse and played this simple game, take a look at what occurred:

Does anything look out of place? HOW ABOUT THE FACT THAT FIVE, THATS RIGHT FIVE, ACES APPEARED ON THE BOARD? I certify the integrity of this picture....It is not doctored....I was shocked....5 Aces? It is clear that two of the Aces are Hearts and now the Ace of Spades does not have a place to be played.....

I paused and thought of exactly what could be going on....What could this mean?

A computer error perhaps and most likely...I began some self examination and thought about it's signifagance in my life.....5 Aces?

Folks, life has dealt me five aces.....

Even though the game is only suuposed to be four aces, (after all, that is more than a man can handle) I HAVE BEEN DEALT FIVE!

Five aces....Five women.....After all I CURRENTLY live with 5 WOMEN.....

ODD. Yes...

Can you only imagine the pain and mental anguish of having SIX aces dealt onto your heart?

A true ANOMALY

MAYDAY! MAYDAY! MAYDAY!

Some days I feel like I'm walking around on this big green ball we call earth and I'm LOST.





Wish I could just fly away.....





Ever feel like you are flying in circles???





The phrase "MAYDAY" comes to mind...





All kidding aside, took a nice trip to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo yesterday....What an experience....Would recommend a trip!

My Neighbor's Farmer's Blues!

This post is once again dedicated to my neighbor, ol Farmer Ed! I snuck over to his property on my humble tractor with the oldest two girls in tow today and snapped some photo's!

The Farmhouse....(yeah, it is blurry, but my nickname is Jitters so deal with it)

To understand his viewpoint, I will offer to you the lyrics to "Farmer's Blues" by Marty Stuart....

I do long to experience more of ol' Ed's life and the experiences he has endured.....I think I'm gonna buy a six pack and package up some fresh bluegills and interview ol' Ed...More to come on that! Here is the song:

Who'll buy my wheat, who'll buy my corn,

To feed my babies when their born?

The seeds and dirt, a prayer for rain, that I can use.

I work the land, I watched the sky,

I talk to God and wonder why,
But it's the only life I know, these Farmer's blues.

CHORUS

I see the seasons come and go, sending rain, fire and snow.

I'm at the mercy of it all, this life I choose.

Sometimes I hang my head and cry, when That evening train goes by,

Wish it could take me far away, these Farmer's blues.

The tractor's broke, the fence is down,

Put on my suit and go to town.

And ask for a loan, that I know well, they might refuse.

But back at home, still by my side,

The one I love with worried eyes,

Waits for me, to love away,

these Farmer's blues.

We ran out of gas while snapping the pictures and I had to go get more GAS! Typical of how my life goes.....But what precious memories and a glimpse of a pastime that slowly passes by the wayside.....Farming.....

Birthday Bluegills and My Favorite Movie!

Well, it happened. 32. 32 years. Yep. I've survived 32 years. The last 13 years I have survived off God's good blessings and the fruit produced by my own hand. I don't want a cookie...It is shocking to me that I am only 8 years from 40 now. I still get i.d.'d for cigarettes....Last year, I was asked to see my identifcation when going to see an R rated movie....WOW. I do see the slight signs of wear on my body.....Hope the ol' ticker lasts.....

Any good "almostgunlaker" fan knows what my favorite movie is.....It shows the plight of man and the struggle of life.....That's right, my brother surprised me with a special birthday surprise...."Walk the Line". Each birthday I try and think of one thing I'm thankful for about myself. So, here's to my beautiful blue eyes.....

Thanks Bro'.....He is out on Lake Michigan right now as I speak.....He has the sickness too! Today I went out on a secret spot and got my State of Michigan limit of Bluegill in just less than 2 hours......25 keepers! A couple dinks but man are they good fried up fresh with some coleslaw!!!

Happy BDAY! Here's to another 32! (Wait, that would be 64.) Here's to another 64 years of punishing this ol' body and sucking the marrow out of life!

Just a tad of reminiscing here, but the following are jobs that I have held over my 32 years:

Car detailer, Carpet Cleaner, Window Maker, Camp Counselor, Lifeguard, Police Officer, Security Guard (ooooh! that is a good post all in itself!) , Sewage Reclamation Specialist, Screen Printer (shirts/hats), Painter, Fireman, EMT, Weed Picker and Onion/Celery Processor, man-the list keeps going on!

Lake Michigan

My fishing sickness has reached new levels as last weekend I went to Port Sheldon and Holland for some early spring fishing.

The only thing I caught was a sinus infection!

It goes without saying that 4' waves are a little much for a 14' boat! Maybe I don't want to be a crab fisherman on the Bering Sea!

Seafoam, Ice Trolling, and Boat Upgrades

Today I ventured out and met with an old friend! She was cold but inviting.....A familiar sight of "sea foam" welcomed me at the boat launch...

It seems that my sick infatutation with fishing is growin worse and worse each year. You may as well call this "ice trolling" as I was along side the ice which still clings on to stay. You will not last long! Spring is nearly here!

This year's adventures are upgraded to completion with a bigger boat (courtesy of my brother)....

Banana Seat Schwinn Bikes and Daddy's Boots

I must tell you of a life altering experience that happened to me while growing up. Looking back now I was very blessed growing up in the home I did. We had everything we needed and more because of our hard working parents. Only now that I am older do I see how my parents must have struggled to pay for a new house, two cars, and all the accessories that 3 kids needed.

It never once crossed my mind that perhaps I was being slightly ungrateful as I tooled around one summer on my beautiful red Schwinn bike. When the bike was purchased, it was the hottest thing around for kid's fashion that summer. You know what I'm talking about, the ol' Schwinn with the "banana seat". The bike was a beauty with a red frame, shiny chrome fenders, and a chrome chain guard. You could drive this baby full speed through a puddle and those flashy fenders would ford off all the water so that you narely got even a drop of muddy water on your white tube socks with stripes pulled up to the knees.

However, being naive and unaware of the constant daily sacrifice my parents battled of showing up to work each and every day for what could have been pure misery (which later I found out was the case as my father's company ended up giving him a heart attack), the discontent of my summer blossomed one day as I stood at the crab apple tree near the end of our driveway.

You see, I was pouting. I had a new vision of what I wanted. This vision was spawned by the lust in my eyes as I observed several neighbors riding new BMX bikes. Their black "mag" wheels, flashy bar pads, and pure chrome frames eclipsed my mind with infatuation. I had already approached my parents and diplomatically enlightened them with my newest need and was taken back with what I see now to be a frequent answer I give: "maybe next year sweetie." As this screaming want grew at a tumorous rate inside my mind, I formulated a plan for action. We shall call it an "accelerator" to what I wanted to take place-getting that new BMX bike.

In pure genious-istic picturesque form, an idea so cunning and evil snapped into my young mind, I grinned. As I glanced at this crab apple tree with its poisonous red berries and small pokey thorns, I knew what I had to do. "Just break the thorn off the tree, and puncture the tire. Flat tire, new bike. " Perfection. Almost. Make that two popped tires. Even better.

As I swaggered toward the house with my faux grimace to tell my mother of the news, I focused on keeping a sad look on my face even though the satisfaction of my lofty plan being carried out made my brain fire with ecstasy.

Upon reaching my dear mother, I saw the look on her face and immediately recognized the fact that I now had a major problem. The intelligent smile on her face made me suspicious as I began to tell of this disaster of my two tires being flat and the fact that I would need a new bike or be unable to ride all summer. She softly looked at me and said, "Gene, I saw you pop the tires. You can speak to your father when he gets home."

At that moment, I believe I experienced what the occupant of a plummeting plane headed for peril must feel like. My stomach sunk as though I had just fallen off a large cliff and was speeding toward the dangerous jagged rocks below.

After scolding from my father and being bikeless for several weeks, the tires were patched and I soon fell back in love with that ol' Schwinn. The freedom that little red wonder provided me for several summers and the wonderful memories I have including being surrounded by several other neighborhood kids to admire the machine after having beat their BMX's in overall speed, performance, and comfort.

However, that plummeting feeling I experienced knowing my plan had been foiled was nothing compared to what I experienced several days later. This sickening, heart-wrenching pain occurred through self discovery. I clearly recall when the error of my selfishness hit me. It was when I saw my father napping on the couch after a hard weeks work filled with overtime and what I now am familiar with, STRESS. You see, as I gazed upon this sleeping man who was literally knocking minutes off his life each day to toil and provide for me, the sight of his toes sticking out of the torn afghan and the holes in his socks caused a tear to form in my eyes. And when I glanced to the base of the couch, I saw his worn boots that were much in need of repair. They were weathered, torn, and well past the time of their use.

I weeped.

I got that BMX on my birthday the next year. And it's funny that some 22 years later, I can hardly remember what it looked like. I do have a vivid memory of his boots. Today, as I picked up my own boots to go to work, I smiled.

Tuna and Noodles and this weeks "Big Ol' Fish"

Now that this beast is finally up and running I have to pull the plug and drain this exploding mind of mine! I have so many emails from folks with pics and submissions for the ol' blog that it's going to take me a while to catch up..

A good old friend from years past has sent in his submission for some real southern fishing.

Without disclosing too much as he defends our flag on the entire planet , here are some beautiful pics of tuna that ol "Noodles" roped in off the coast of Nicaragua....Beautiful job! Here is this weeks "Big Ol Fish" segment

Nice work! Good to see your face old friend.

My Hot New Hairdo!

Few things in life boost my day better than a fresh new haircut. After letting my hair grow out a bit, I went and got a new fresh look today! Yeah, some may say it's how I used to wear my hair but man does it feel good!

Coyote!!!!!!!!!!!

I have a wild fantasy that I have yet to partake in.

Someday soon, I will indulge. It seems as though whenever the time nears something comes up and I'm unable to go and accomplish this feat.

A good friend has accomplished this task and conquered a wary smart animal.

The wild Coyote in it's natural habitat is one of the most intelligent animals and it's senses are so keen that few capture it. Ol' wild Al managed to harvest this beautiful female Coyote on his first trip! Congrats!

3,2,1 Contact!

Well folks, we are back! Some crabby friends just got a new computer and gave us their old one to use until I make the big purchase and pole vault into the new era of technology.

Much has happened in the time we have been out of service.....I keep taking paper and writing down new ideas for blog posts as they flash into my mind....I have so many neat ideas for spring and can't wait to share them with you....Here's a glimpse of the titles:

Dirty Snow Slush

My Failed Spring Spawn Run

U.P. Tent Camp Photos

Shit is Breaking Left and right!

2yr old fridge and freezer=broke.
My home computer=broke.

Updates soon when I get enough yen to buy a new computer!

Love,
Jitters