Kayaking in Winter

Wow, winter in Florida ... 80 degrees and light winds! So a bunch went kayaking today for a 3-hour run down the Little Manatee River. Our host was Jim from Little Manatee River Kayers who took us to the drop off point and then picked us up later to take us back to our cars.

This is my third trip with Jim and I am looking forward to several more. Part of this river is like primeval Florida, untouched. Well, at least until we get to the wider part and then it is redneckville ... where you can almost hear the banjos! Wildlife viewing was at a minimum and all we saw were turtles and the spash of something big! No manatees ... bummer! There were a couple signs warning about manatees, but I guess they can't read so didn't bother to show up.

We stopped at the Little Manatee River State Park ... for lunch and a potty break. It was a great rest period and a time to share some good conversation and catch up on the new movies. Jim has a couple more trip scheduled very shortly and I expect to make the E.G. Simmons Park trip in a couple weeks and do some more fishing.

Website Working

It’s About Time!

Well, after saying I needed to update my website for several years, I finally did! I am getting ready to make a major promotional push the beginning of 2009 and I needed the website up and running. I have been talking to my friend Donna Goodhue in Rutland, VT for a while and she told me to get my butt (sort of lol) on a plane and come up there. Donna is a former student and huge supporter of my teachings and we have been friends for many years now. She is twice past president of the Vermont PPA and now president of PPA of New England. She and her super kewl and very knowledgeable significant other Brad Hale live in Vermont because, I guess, the actually like it in the winter.

Anyway, I digress. I found a flight for $118 roundtrip from Sarasota to Burlington, VT … so I was ready. Of course, my schedule put me there right in the middle of the first and worst snow/ice/freezing rainstorm of the season. A delayed flight out of SRQ (Sarasota) put me into Atlanta too late for the flight so I had to change to Albany, NY and poor Donna had to change direction. I told that I’d call her but she checked and found out my flight was on time in Burlington so she took off. Well, it WAS on time, but I just wasn’t on it! So I landed in Albany, sat on the tarmac for an hour while the found a gate where we could unload and the Donna and I hit the road for Rutland … in really bad weather. Glad she has a Jeep and is a great driver! I wasn’t even scared.

We got there safe and sound and about seven hours later than planned … but the next two days went well and I was very busy. The result of Friday’s work can be seen at asaphoto.com. I am very happy with it and the cost was much less than I anticipated. Then I spent Saturday working on my blogs, two on the website (check them out) and this one. Brad then moved in a set me up for counting visitors and a few other things I haven’t figured out yet.

While I was there, it snowed quite a bit and Brad got excited that he could finally use the snow blower. He was happy! I, on the other hand, am still trying to figure out his IQ! We did some driving around and I DID figure out that, yes, it IS pretty but it is cold as hell and it never melts until Spring when “mud” season comes around. So I went home (Florida!), put on my shorts and went fishing! Sorry to rub it in, Brad! I will say that the trip to the hot tub in almost zero degrees Fahrenheit was a thrill though! Donna, Brad, Caitlan (Brad’s daughter) and I watched the falling stars and enjoyed the 100º plus water!

I had a very early flight on Monday from Burlington so went to the VPP Christmas Party at Ed and Gillian Randal’s in Burlington and poor Ed had to get up really early and take me to the airport. After being delayed trying to find a tug to get us out of the gate and then begin delayed getting into the gate in Detroit because they could not find a ground crew to dock us, I ran to the next gate for the flight to Atlanta, worried that I would miss that one too … but alas, THAT flight was delayed because they could not find a flight crew to fly the plane. Oh how I love to fly! (Yeah, right!)

So now I am up and running and ready to start a new marketing push! THANKS DONNA & BRAD! And thanks to Lola (their Golden Doodle) and Bella the kitty for providing some entertainment.

Christmas 2008

Coral’s First Christmas!

OK, at nine months old, she didn’t have a clue as to what was going on but she had a big first Christmas regardless … like that was a surprise! LOL With five grandparents and two great grandparents, what else would you expect?

Toys were the “gift du jour,” but cute clothes were a big item along with a box of money from her grandma. My biggie to her was a specially designed Rock Hard (RockHardDesigns) “burning water” baby ring. Lesli worked with Rocky to design something special. Lesli said she wanted that (Lesli, not Coral LOL) and that Coral would wear it when she gets older, then Lesli will wear it on a chain and eventually Coral will get it back to give to her daughter … making some assumptions I guess! :) Right now, Coral just wants to look at it and chew on it, like everything else shiny and small enough to get in her mouth. I hope we don't ever had to "retrieve" it ... so she needs to be very closely watched when she holds it. But she loves it!

She got a play kitchen that is sturdy that she can pull herself up on and beat on to make noise. That stays at grandma’s house. Her horse stays there too … and it will be a little while before she can use it herself. But the biggest thing for her was the brightly colored Christmas paper and ribbon, all of which went directly to her mouth. Lesli gave her a roll of ribbon in her stocking becahse she knew! I still think that would have made it a much less expensive Christmas!

She is pulling up now but not yet crawling, unless you count “scooting.” I am not sure she will ever crawl because she wants so bad to stand and walk, already taking steps even if you don’t want to walk with her. She's stubborn and independent! I wonder where she got that! But she smiles and laughs a lot and is a real good baby, even better when she gets her way!

We even got a picture of "four generations" with her grandma (left), Lesli and great grandma ... something not many have photos of.

I had a great visit with the kids, sleeping very well on the air mattress under the pool table. Then after an 8-hour drive home, I am ready for 2009 with high hopes of some great new opportunities!

She growing up!

Lesli & Rikki's daughter Coral Ashlynn … and MY first, last and only granddaughter! lol … is growing up! She is finally on some “solid” food but seems to have some of her heritage fully ingrained in her tastes. Her granddaddy is pretty picky and not a veggie person … and well, her Mom is even worse, so she gets it honestly.

Seems carrots are not her favorite food, you think? LOL

Reminds me of my friend Bubba’s episode with his first child. Seems Mom had to go to the restroom at a restaurant and left Bubba with the baby. “If he cries, give him something to eat,“ Mom said. Of course, the baby cried and Bubba fed him. Seems jalapenos were not his favorite food but at least he now had something to cry about!

OK, we are not THAT bad but Coral is not a huge fan of carrots! Hope she get better!

Good Fishing!

Fishing is becoming a much better experience now.

Why?

Because I am actually eating the legal ones!



This is my first Redfish (Red Drum officially)

Cooked it eight different ways ... and like the skinned and marinated version in the skillet best. And that is the easiest.











And then I caught my first legal Snook ... 28 inches long.

Took it to Pensacola and cooked it and even Lesli liked it.

So now I go back to being the great white hunter (fisher?).

Though I don't eat them (yet!) my favorite fish to catch is the Jack (Jack Cravelle) ... Boy are they fighters!!!!!