35 and counting

What a grand weekend! And boy howdy did I take a bunch of pictures!

the uncooperative guys at the 35th

The milestone 35th reunion happened at Hays High School. Despite a losing effort for the current Indians on the football field (losing to Garden City), those of us alumni able to attend the homecoming and reunion had a fabulous time…not just one evening, but two!

Our class of 190-something produced about 45 of us over the weekend. We all showed up to enjoy ourselves, the time spent with good friends, and to poke fun at the aging habits a handful of us seem to be developing. Better yet, little grief was taken on the thinning noggin, chubby cheeks, and the mid-section bounce that seems to have graced my curb appeal. I guess it is what it is, huh?

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Kettle enjoying

So it is that I got through the remainder of the pictures taken on the Canadian fishing trip last weekend. This was a really fun trip y’all. It is a time when all 3 sons got to spend some quality time together. Mostly, the three of us got to share the trip (and time) with Dad.

At this stage in each of our lives, we find ourselves pulling back together as a family. Our bonds seem to become stronger each time we are together. The joys, concerns, troubles, enjoyments, ribbings, teasings, adventures, journeys, trials, tribulations, risks, and sorrows we seem to share with each other more. What better people to share those with, than with family?

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Kettling Growling

Something special was afforded me on our Canadian fishing trip this time. Not only did the four of us (dad and sons/brothers) get to spend time together, as a photographer I got to snap over 1500 photos in 5 days.

But perhaps the best part of it was when long-time guide Brian (Parker) at Halley’s Camps/Kettle Falls came up to me at the end of Fishing Day 3 with a proposition. It was one I could not refuse….

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Kettle Chilling

Man ‘o man. When a guy is used to 107 degree weather for the last 65 days living in Texas and he goes off to Ontario and wakes up to rainy, damp 45 degree weather…that’s chill’!

I bundled up with just about everything I brought. 2 pairs of socks, 2 pairs of pants, 1 undershirt, 1 shortsleeve shirt, 1 long sleeve shirt, a vest, and then a rain suit…and I still had a chill this morning boating to the first fishing spot.

Another great time on the English River. Fishing was better than yesterday. Shore lunch was “Franks” (Walleye fillet fast-marinated in Frank’s hot sauce, then breaded with 2 parts flour 1 part cornmeal…and then fried in as much lard as the pan holds). Oh good heaven’s my waist line is already expanding.

BTW, the turtle is a Snapping Turtle. Frank (one of our guides) told us we needed to leave him alone (for obvious reasons apparently). The Small Mouth Bass of Tony’s…that won him a Halley’s Trophy Angler Cap for it measuring 18.5″. Maybe that will make up for the one he lost in the lake yesterday.

Today’s pictures come from all 3 May boys…

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Kettle Raining

The rain started about 3 am and it chased us all day long. We all stayed dry for the most part although the fishing was lousy – Tony and I caught more sticks than fish – and the lake claimed a number of our fishing lures.

Shore lunch was outstanding as usual. Had a blast – Dad and I watch a Bald Eagle swoop down for a dead fish about 40 yards from the boat…now that was pretty way cool. We went to the lodge after that show.

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Kettle Falling

We made it into Kettle Falls at Halley’s Camps, Minaki Ontario…Dad, the two OFBs and me. Had a delightful dinner meal – 1/2″ thick sliced ham, scalloped potatoes, and a sliced apple crisp a la mode for desert. So much for my tonnage loss program for the next several days.

Look out Walleye, Pike and Smallies – we’re on the water tomorrow.

But tonight, we got the sights of a wonderful, cool evening with a setting sun and one of the guests brought in a black bear. This is gonna be fun…again (was here in 2009).

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Longhorn League Predunktion

The long awaited, highly anticipated, absurdly accurate Limeyfish.com prognostications for 2011 Big 12 Football…or perhaps more appropriately named: The Longhorn League, The Small 10, The Little 12, The Beebe Ball Busted Conference…I could go on you know…..

That giant sucking sound you hear the in the Big 12 this year…it’s coming from south of Waco…it’s those Shorthorns taking the life (and fun) out of college football…it’s the Maggies trying to sneak out of here with their tailbone pad tucked between their legs…it’s U of You’ve Got To Be Kidding Me H hoping they get into this new minor league of college football that is taking shape. Oh yeah, SMU is annoying everyone by tapping on shoulder pads wanting some kind of deathly attention – I guess that’s sucking too, huh?

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Hard boiled and hatched

Yesterday two things happened of any consequence. One was the last day of tax-free, back-to-school weekend bargains and the other was Hatch Chile – only the best chile out there – shopping day. But the chiles were NOT tax-free…a few were taxing on the taste buds however. Central Market was checked and OMG they had Hatch coming out there ears….

All the food photographed found its way into the shopping cart. Did I mention I love Hatch Chiles? I went crazy stupid on the photos, none of which I know will win an entry into Food magazine next month. But is it not interesting what all type of food can be prepared with the oh-so-versatile Hatch Chile? Continue reading “Hard boiled and hatched”

50 more dropped in the bucket

After thinking I was way behind on my travels yesterday, “they” come up with another 50 More of the Most Famous Landmarks on Earth (Part 2).  So you add the latter fifty to the first fifty from yesterday’s post, and it becomes glaringly obvious I simply don’t get out much.

In this second set of places, I’ve got 47 trips yet to happen. So combining both lists, 93 worldly landmarks still await my arrival (and photography attempts).

Now if we were to take a deep breath and consider landmarks more local (instead of global), my attendance is much better when the “have-you-been-there” conversation turns to the National Parks of the U.S. Continue reading “50 more dropped in the bucket”

I could live here-there

I’m headed back from the left coast! The Royals impatiently await my returned…I think, I hope. They will most likely hop around for a couple minutes performing smile-making antics until they realized “Oops, we’re Scotties”, and go back to their high-brow intolerance of all things human.

Writing this on the flight back to Dallas, I look back and know a grand time was had in San Diego. I had not been to SD since I was a then-chubby kid of barely double digits old. I cannot remember much except “The Zoo”. Bummer! So this time I had my cameras (3 of them) to well-document the trip. This morning we huffed-it around Balboa Park, home of the world famous San Diego Zoo. We had no time to take in the zoo, put the Park was pretty cool.

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Should I be concerned?

Lately, I’ve been fortunate to visit both the right and left coasts – all within the last two weeks. And each time…well, the trip has been…let’s just say “eventful” and that’s not because of the purpose of each excursion.

A couple weeks ago I blogged about my travels to Alexandria,VA. That trip started out with a plane navigation problem that resulted in a cooling fan replacement, then an entire computer sensor thingy switcharoo. All was well…after a 90 minute departure delay.

So today I find myself in San Diego.

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