Gone Fishin'

This year I took the plunge and got my first ever NY State Fishing License. I did so at the urging of our kids who had both had a great time fishing last year while in summer camp. They asked and asked and asked, and I found reason after reason after reason to not go out and buy my license. Then cam free fishing day in NY state.

My very good friend (and distantly related union brother!) Rick offered to take the family and me out on his boat for the day, and the day just happened to be during free-fishing day. for those unfamiliar, free-fishing weekend is a time in June that NY State allows those without a valid fishing license to go out in public waters and give fishing a try. Well, needless to say I was hooked! (get it? I said hooked, lolol)

The following day I went to Mickeys Bait Shop and got my license and two poles, one for me and one for the missus. The kids already had poles through our neighbor, and their adopted grandpa, Tony. More about him later. I got all the necessary equipment to put a tackle box together and we were off! We've fished a lot of different areas on Oneida Lake, along with the dams in Baldwinsville, and a few different spots in Onondaga Lake. Surprisingly enough Onondaga Lake has some great fishing in it, as proven by the recent

Bassmasters Tournament

Needless to say, we all had a great time this summer, and nobody got a fish hook stuck in their eye or anywhere else! We'll be back next year, and hopefully we'll catch something big enough out of a clean lake to eat for dinner!

Karate Essay

My son Bobby is preparing to achieve his first degree black belt. As you may or may not know, karate is much more than simply waving your hands and feet in an attempt to chop your opponent in half. It combines Mind, Body, and Spirit. As an exhibit to this I offer the Student Creed:

I intend to develop myself in a positive manner and to avoid anything that would reduce my mental growth or my physical health.

I intend to develop self-discipline in order to bring out the best in myself and others.

I intend to use what I learn in class constructively and defensively; to help myself and my fellow man, and never to be abusive or offensive.

Partof Bobbys work towards achieving this
goal is writing an essay about his involvement in the martial arts. The
following is his essay entry:

My sister won a drawing at the Plank Road festival. My mom
asked me if I wanted to join to and I said yes. I’ve gotten physically
stronger, mentally smarter, emotionally stayed the same. I feel I’ve
developed more discipline than I had before and I feel I worked very hard and
spent much time on practicing. I feel stronger and able to defend myself
if I get into that position.

I would like to go on for my 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so
on. I want to be a UFC fighter when I get older and karate would help me
with that a lot. Master Sgcar is dedicated to what he does and he is a
good leader. He is dedicated to teaching us discipline, good leadership,
and to be good kids. Karate is fun and hard at times but I like it.

Attaboy, little buddy!

Dear Dogs and Cats,

(This was sent to me and posted on my old website originally on 11/23/2005)

Dear Dogs and Cats,

The dishes with the paw print that are on the floor are yours and contain your food. The other dishes are mine and contain my food. Please note, placing a paw print in the middle of my plate of food does not stake a claim for it becoming your food and dish, nor do I find that aesthetically pleasing in the slightest.

The stairway was not designed by NASCAR and is not a racetrack. Beating me to the bottom is not the object. Tripping me doesn't help because I fall faster than you can run.

I cannot buy anything bigger than a king sized bed. I am very sorry about this. Do not think I will continue sleeping on the couch to ensure your comfort. Dogs and cats can actually curl up in a ball when they sleep. It is not necessary to sleep perpendicular to each other stretched out to the fullest extent possible. I also know that sticking tails straight out and having tongues hanging out the other end to maximize space is nothing but sarcasm.

For the last time, there is not a secret exit from the bathroom. If by some miracle I beat you there and manage to get the door shut, it is not necessary to claw, whine, meow, and try to turn the knob or get your paw under the edge and try to pull the door open. I must exit through the same door I entered. Also, I have been using the bathroom for years - canine or feline attendance is not mandatory.

The proper order is kiss me, then go smell/lick the other dog or cat's butt or your own. I cannot stress this enough!

To pacify you, my dear pets, I have posted the following message on our front door:

Rules for Non-Pet Owners Who Visit and Like to Complain About Our Pets:

1. They live here. You don't.

2. If you don't want their hair on your clothes, stay off the furniture.(That's why they call it "fur"niture.)

3. I like my pets a lot better than most people and that includes you.

4. To you, it's an animal. To me, he/she is an adopted son/daughter who is short, hairy, walks on all fours and doesn't speak clearly.

Dogs and cats are better than kids ...they eat less, don't ask for money all the time, are easier to train, usually come when called, never drive your car, don't hang out with drug-using friends, don't smoke or drink, don't worry about having to buy the latest fashions, don't wear your clothes, and don't need a gazillion dollars for college - and if they get pregnant, you can sell the children.

Bloo's babies

This is Bloo's baby of the week. Every time we turn around, she's 'adopted' on of my daughters stuffed animals for her own. This is this weeks winner!

She normally does no damage to these toys aside from drowning them in doggie drool. she carries them around, showing them off to all that will take notice. Unfortunately she does like to share with Larkin, Jasper, and Brandy, the labs next door. Once they get hold of something though it's usually mutilated in less than a minute. I gotta fix that hole under the fence one of these days!
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