FREEDOM

"Super Memories"

Although not of age to purchase this adult beverage after Super Bowl IX, but with no age restrictions at that time from pilfering it from my fathers stash and celebrating, not to mention 3 more ring's by the evening of 1/20/1980, Ahh... the last time I could call Pittsburgh PA. my home. Bradshaw, Bleier, Swann, Stallworth, Greene, Lambert and the amazing Franco Harris the "immaculate reception" definitely one of those where were you when that happened? moments. What a great finish to the NFL season, at least for me, born on the south side of Chicago (politically correct or not Jay Cutler is a Vagina!) summered in Wisconsin went to high school in Pittsburgh (School colors BLACK & GOLD)

and had a J E T S leather sleeved jacket as a kid,

(you would swear I was Joe Namath) at least that what I thought.

Well maybe not.

War Eagle!

Toomer's corner Auburn, Al.

Going to elementary school in the Great State of Alabama meant when your teacher asked, what do you want to be when you grow up? She didn't mean a doctor or an astronaut it was more important than a career, it was time to declare your allegiance "Roll Tide!" or "War Eagle!" and thank God I made the right choice.

My Mind Is Freewheeling

Some mornings when I awake it feels as though the night has been a war zone, a constant battle of good vs. evil, my mind a tattered collage of images the senseless ramblings of a madman! I have also noticed on more than one occasion my face seems to be showing the marks of a battle. Then it occurred to me...
Was it Possible? By day a mild mannered tradesman but by night
"The Real American Hero" GI Joe?
Judge for yourselves.

"Out Fished"

Well it was bound to happen, I usually pick my fishing partners more carefully
(and with less skill/luck) call it fate or destiny either way at the end of the day I got schooled.

Back To The Basic's

Crooked River Clermont, Fl

No cast net

No shrimp

No driving

all the way to the coast only to find it's low tide,

Just a hand full of jigs and it's

Dinner, well at least what was left.

Freedom From Tackle Boxes

My newest creation that earns me absolutely no $.

But a very cool way of carrying some tackle out for

a quick trip on the kayak.

Free Lunch

This Spider has been living by my front door for about a month, but today his stock went up, rather than me getting hit in the side of the head like a common interloper as I attempted to access to my domicile by this unpleasant winged creature, I was pleased to learn while away this arachnid and I shared a common goal of hard work and the tireless task of protecting my home.

Pick Your Poison

Quiting... Again... I'm Knot quite sure what it will take to get clear of my newest addiction Tying, knotting, weaving, braiding and generally using up Type 1 para cord up as fast as USPS can deliver it. I guess saying thanks when you get your new bracelet, lanyard or key chain fob is going to be our little way of kicking the habit for good.
So a big thanks to http://stormdrane.blogspot.com/ for all the instruction and inspiration in the art of Knotting.
To all you kids out there remember Don't Start and you wont have to quit, It's no fun being a ~~serial killer,~~ I mean smoker.

Back From The Glades

The fishing was a little slow and and the weather a bit blistery, actually the water temp was 92 degrees and the air temp was much higher, but we had a good time, it just took more ice. I will post the group photo as soon as America's most wanted reviews/releases it. But I would be remiss in not offering props to my fishing partner, Who not being deterred by the sweltering conditions, attempted and was successful in pulling off the "trashcan slam" (Ladyfish-Crevalle Jack-Gafftopsail Catfish). Hooray!

Not your usual "Road Kill"

Imagine hitting this with your Mini Cooper or Hummer, either way it still had to leave a mark.

The buzzards were scared to eat it!

Honey were not leaving that dog out here injured get a blanket and...
What the *%#& is that?

RUN FOR YOUR LIFEEEEEE!!!!

Cockroach Bay

Me and Mrs. Marla in Tampa Bay on Saturday.

Warm-Up For Snook, Trout, Red's and Snapper.

Just got back from Lake Annie... A little tuneup for the everglades, Marla's brand new rod and reel (which she has never used ) performed flawlessly.

Chokoloskee Island

Last year in the Everglades and it's about two weeks until we go back. http://www.chokoloskee.com/Marina.html

Trailer Trash

Spent the weekend relaxing at Avon Park Air Force Range,

Friday was cold, windy and wet and then by evening the weather

took a turn for the worse... by Saturday just cold and windy and

Sunday? well sunny, cold and windy, ahhh heaven.

But with free pine and old semi truck rim we were

pumping out 75'000 BTU's, a few adult beverages

later and it was just right.

The Last Free Launch

Trolling Lake Marion on monday afternoon one of the last "free"

boat ramps in this area, I guess by free I mean we're not

paying taxes to maintain it and launch fee's too!

Freedom Of Choice

Not an easy decision sometimes, " you had better decide whether your hanging on the cross or banging in the nails " a powerful line from the new Mel Gibson film Edge Of Darkness. That statement does invoke the inevitable point of choosing a side, the Saint or the Sinner? Is there an easier way for the undiagnosed depressionist that somehow, I fear lives in all of us? That is without 30mg of Lexapro a few times a day. Perhaps the answer lies in a higher education (that will however exclude me)
or maybe achieving the ultimate level of Zen,
"When you're deluded, every statement is an ulcer; when you're enlightened, every word is wisdom" although I fear Buddhism might actually be grabbing a hammer.The answer is simple if you don't have an allergy to the truth or the label "Sociopath" just trust your conscience.

Freedom

As a boy in 1970's Alabama I knew what freedom was and I fought some day's tirelessly to preserve it. Joe and I with an ever watchful eye on the perimeter would on occasion have to expose the threat that lay only inches from the surface, a swift kick and a hasty retreat to the bunker was usually enough to awaken the sleeping cells. As we readied ourselves atop the hill our enemies would inevitably show, small in stature but great in numbers and strength, hoards of carpenter ants would break the ridge, pinchers raised and antennas scanning their horizon. Armed only with a youthful eye and reflexes I wielded my older brothers single pump crosman BB gun with drone like precision in the eradication of my enemy, at least that's what I imagined Joe told me after the battle ended.

Now my Father free to build his cabin and my mother free to prepare her blackberry cobbler, safe from tyranny and oppression that only five minutes ago threatened their very souls, and to which they were totally oblivious to.

So THANK YOU ! to the warrior atop the hill who protects me,
oblivious or not I am in your debt.

Free Water Bottle's

So here is a new way to look at garbage, sure you could recycle but how about repurpose. These two empty aluminum coke bottle's, parachute cord and two cord stops and you'll have a water bottle for a fraction of what the trendy one's cost. Now make sure you don't scratch the polymer lining off inside or else in twenty or thirty years you might get alzheimer's, Get away from me with those pants you bastards! Who are you people? sorry about that I scratched my lining. These bottle's are 8.5oz just right for a three to four mile walk, I have seen some larger Bud & Bud Light bottle's, shame if you had to empty some of them just to save some coin.

"The Bare Necessities"

It's all in the organization.

Coleman - Backpacking Checklist

Gone Fishin'

We'll I was right, the weather was perfect but no target fish.
One bluegill and one chain pickerel however I noticed something
on the shore while pulling the boat out, Since my foot print is under
and my tire is over perhaps a shotgun would have proven a better
choice than rod and reel.

Global Warming Has Returned!

The frigid conditions of the last couple of weeks are just a memory, and with any luck some rain thursday-friday will reveal a warm and sunny weekend.