THINGS-OPENING DAY-FISHING SEASON



SOME GOOD FOLKS FROM GRANBY-LEFT TO RIGHT-MATHEW-SARAH AND JOSEPH  AHLBERG
THEIR DAD SAID TO MENTION THAT THE VEHICLE IS A 1991 TOYOTA CORROLA WITH
309,000 MILES AND STILL GOING STRONG-THAT'S FROM HERE TO THE MOON AND PART WAY BACK
WOW!

I’M BACK--LOST MY DRIVE FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS—I JUST COULDN’T GET INTO WRITING ABOUT ANYTHING MUCH AFTER HEARING THAT OUR WONDERFUL (?) STATE REPRESENTATIVES (?) WENT AHEAD AND REPEALED THE DEATH PENALTY (MY LAST POST DWELLED ON MY FEELINGS ABOUT THAT)..LET ME REPHRASE THAT—IF I WROTE WHAT I REALLY THOUGHT AND FELT, THERE WOULD MOST LIKELY BE SOME GUYS IN SUITS AND SUNGLASSES KNOCKING ON MY DOOR AND WANTING TO TALK TO ME ABOUT SOME OF MY VIEWS (WHO KNOWS MAYBE EVEN TAKE ME AWAY FOR A WHILE)..AN INFORMAL POLL SHOWED THAT OVER 83% OF THE PEOPLE IN CONNECTICUT SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY—ANOTHER MORE FORMAL POLL SHOWED 63% SUPPORTED THE DEATH PENALTY.. EITHER WAY, A VERY CLEAR MAJORITY SUPPORTED THE ULTIMATE PENALTY FOR THE ULTIMATE CRIMES..AND STILL THE MINORITY WON.. ‘BY THE PEOPLE AND FOR THE PEOPLE’ JUST DOESN’T SEEM TO BE THE WAY THAT THINGS GO ANYMORE—I JUST DON’T GET IT…

RIVER ACCESS PARKING--DOESN'T LOOK TOO PROMISING FOR THOSE WHO SEEK SOLITUDE

ONE OF THOSE DISAPPOINTMENTS IN LIFE I GUESS..BUT THINGS BALANCE OUT..TO OFFSET THAT NEGATIVE WAVE, ONE VERY SPECIAL DAY THAT I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO HAS FINALLY COME AROUND..OPENING  DAY OF FISHING SEASON!!!!  I’VE BEEN FISHING SINCE I DON’T KNOW WHEN..I CAN’T REMEMBER THE LAST TIME I KEPT A FISH, I JUST LOVE TO BE AT THE RIVER DOING MY BEST TO BRING ONE IN--ONLY TO LET IT GO AGAIN..

ANOTHER ACCESS AREA---"I'LL BE BACK "

MY OWN PREFERENCE IS TO WAIT UNTIL THE INITIAL RUSH OF FIRST TIMERS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO FEEL THEY JUST CAN’T WAIT TO GET OUT THERE HAS PASSED..BUT THAT IS BECAUSE THE RIVER IS ONLY ABOUT TEN MINUTES FROM MY DRIVEWAY AND I CAN GET OUT THERE PRETTY MUCH ANYTIME I WANT WITHOUT MUCH TROUBLE OR PLANNING..

I HAD THE PLEASURE OF MEETING ' DANI ' SHE'S BEEN FISHING SINCE SHE WAS SEVEN..
SHE LOVES FISHING BUT PREFERS SALT-WATER ..
DANI CERTAINLY ADDS TO THE NATURAL BEAUTY OF THE OUTDOORS

BEARING THAT GOOD FORTUNE IN MIND I WILL USUALLY PASS ON THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF THE SEASON KNOWING THAT I WILL GET MY TURN WHEN THE INITIAL CRUSH HAS RUN IT’S COURSE AND THINGS SETTLE DOWN A BIT..IT WOULD BE A BIT SELFISH ON MY PART TO TAKE UP THE ROOM THAT SOMEONE LESS FORTUNATE THAN I COULD BE ENJOYING..LIKE I SAID, I’M ONLY TEN MINUTES AWAY..

JUST SO YOU GUYS KNOW --THAT'S DANI'S BOYFRIEND IN THE RIVER ON THE FAR RIGHT

ANYWAY, I FIGURED I WOULD VISIT THE RIVER AND SEE IF ANYONE WAS HAVING ANY LUCK..THE WATER WAS UNUSUALLY LOW, WHICH IS TO BE EXPECTED, (WE ARE WAY BELOW NORMAL PRECIPITATION HERE IN CONNECTICUT)..BUT EVERYPLACE I STOPPED THERE WERE PLENTY OF PEOPLE GIVING IT THEIR BEST SHOT AND ENJOYING THE BEAUTIFUL WEATHER..I ONLY SAW ONE FISH ON A STRINGER (NICE RAINBOW TROUT) BUT I’M SURE THERE WERE MANY MORE THAT I DIDN’T GET TO SEE..

 

TALKED TO SOME FOLKS THAT HAD BEEN OUT SINCE 6 IN THE MORNING AND PLANNED ON STAYING TILL DARK…..OPENING DAY..DOWN AT THE RIVER..SUNSHINE..FRIENDS..IN THE MORNING, GOOD COFFEE..LATER ON A GRINDER AND MAYBE A COLD BEER OR SODA..YEA, EVEN THOSE SO CALLED PEOPLE’S REPRESENTATIVES AND ALL THEIR TALKING IN CIRCLES FADE FROM MY MIND WHEN FISHING SEASON STARTS..IT’S LIKE THEY TRY TO KEEP US IN A STATE OF CRYSTAL CLEAR CONFUSION..WORRIED MORE ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF BAD GUYS—NEVER MIND WHAT THE MAJORITY OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS HAVE STATED..IT’S EASY TO START RUNNING A NEGATIVE WAVE WITH THE NEWS WE HEAR NOW-A-DAYS..IRAN RATTLING IT’S SABERS, OUR TROOPS FIGHTING OVERSEAS, NORTH KOREA BUILDING MISSILES WHILE IT’S PEOPLE STARVE..CRAZY PEOPLE STRAPPING ON EXPLOSIVE VESTS AND TAKING DOWN A BUNCH OF INNOCENT FOLKS.

RAN INTO MY FAVORITE KIND OF PEOPLE ON THE WAY HOME--BIKERS..
MEET 'NONNO' (GRANDFATHER IN ITALIAN) AND HIS LADY 'NETTI '.
BOTH SERIOUS BIKERS, NONNO HAS BEEN UP ON TWO WHEELS SINCE 1969
AND DOESN'T REALLY KNOW HOW MANY BIKES HE'S OWNED. '
NETTI HAS BEEN RIDING FOR SEVEN YEARS--SHE'S RIDEN TO STURGIS-
DAYTONA AND COVERS MORE ROAD IN ONE SEASON THAN ALOT OF GUYS COVER IN
FIVE YEARS..
NONNO IS RIDING A 05 ROAD KING  AND NETTI A 05 SPORTSTER SCREAMING EAGLE..
HOPE WE MEET AGAIN-NETTI SAYS 'RIDE IT LIKE YOU STOLE IT.'

BUT MY MIND IS WIPED CLEAN AND THE CRAP VANISHES FOR A FEW MAGICAL MOMENTS, WITH THE SUDDEN TUG ON MY POLE AND THE VISION OF A TROUT LEAPING IN THE AIR AT THE END OF MY LINE. YEA –OPENING DAY—GOOD FOR THE SOUL AND MIND..SEE YOU AT THE RIVER..

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                                                                            TILL NEXT WEEK
                                                                    STAY SAFE--STAY WELL
                                                                                      JIM

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ON A DIFFERENT NOTE-SEVERAL READERS OF THIS BLOG HAVE BOUGHT MY BOOK AND WANTED ME TO PERSONALIZE IT FOR THEM..NO PROBLEM-I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO DO THAT..HOWEVER, IF YOU DO WANT THE BOOK, HIT THE ‘MY PROFILE’ FEATURE..THERE YOU WILL FIND A ‘E-MAIL ME’ TAB..SEND ME WHAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO WRITE AND IF YOU WANT A HARDCOVER OR SOFTCOVER.. SAVE YOU A COUPLE OF BUCKS ON THE BOOK AND S/H PLUS ELIMINATE THE HASSLE OF YOU HAVING TO BOX IT UP, GOING TO THE POST OFFICE AND SENDING IT TO ME, THEN ME SENDING IT BACK TO YOU..OR, IF YOU LIVE NEARBY I'LL EVEN  JUMP ON MY BIKE AND  DELIVER --WHAT MORE CAN BE ASKED?? 

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THINGS--ME--RANTING AND VENTING A BIT

BY THE GRACE OF GOD I WOKE UP TODAY—GOT MYSELF READY FOR WORK—STOPPED FOR A COFFEE ON THE WAY IN—CHATTED WITH THE CONVENIENCE STORE OWNER FOR A FEW MINUTES AND PUNCHED IN WITH THREE OR FOUR MINUTES TO SPARE..

BIG BOY

THE MACHINES I WORK ON ARE PRETTY INTENSE—I WORK ALONE IN MY LITTLE DEPARTMENT AND I  ACTUALLY ENJOY MY JOB AND THE MENTAL CHALLENGES IT PRESENTS ME ON A DAILY BASIS (FOR THE MOST PART)…HOWEVER, LIKE ANY OTHER MAN-MADE OBJECT, THERE ALWAYS LOOMS THE POSSIBILITY OF MALFUNCTION OR MY OWN CARELESSNESS…THE MACHINES CAN ZOOM FROM BEING PERFECTLY STILL TO 4000 RPM IN ¾ OF A SECOND…IT COULD RIP YOUR HANDS TO SHREDS BEFORE YOUR BRAIN EVEN BEGINS TO FEEL THE PAIN…SO, BEARING THIS UNPLEASANT FACT IN MIND, I ALWAYS ASK FOR DIVINE PROTECTION BEFORE I ACTUALLY BEGIN WORKING..NEED BOTH HANDS FOR RIDING-FISHING-CARESSING-EATING-AND A MILLION OTHER THINGS WE TAKE FOR GRANTED..

BIG BOY'S  LITTLE BROTHER

WELL, ALL THIS IS PART OF THE DAILY RITUAL THAT I GO THROUGH TO PLEASE THE BOSS AS WELL AS THE CUSTOMER WHO IS DEPENDING ON THE PARTS THAT MY MACHINES AND I ARE GOING TO PRODUCE..ON OCCASION I HAVE FAILED TO DO JUST THAT, BUT THOSE INSTANCES HAVE BEEN VERY  FEW AND VERY FAR IN BETWEEN (TWO MAYBE THREE TIMES WITHIN THE LAST EIGHT YEARS)..

ALWAYS HAS TO BE ONE THAT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT

ALTHOUGH I DON’T ALWAYS AGREE WITH THE WAY THINGS GO AT WORK, I DO KNOW MY PLACE..IT’S NOT THE BOSS’S JOB TO KEEP ME HAPPY—IT’S MY JOB TO MAKE HIM HAPPY WITH MY EFFORTS..THE CUSTOMER TELLS ME WHAT HE WANTS—I DON’T TELL THE CUSTOMER THAT HE’S WRONG AND GIVE HIM WHAT I FEEL HE SHOULD HAVE…AND I’LL BET $100.00 T0 $10.00 THAT IT’S PRETTY MUCH THE SAME WHERE EVER HONEST PEOPLE GO ABOUT DOING HONEST AND HONORABLE WORK…EXCEPT IN ONE REALM WHERE THE BOSSES ARE COMPLETELY IGNORED AND THE “WORKERS” NO LONGER SEEM TO CARE OR EVEN BE INTERESTED IN WHAT THE BOSSES WOULD LIKE..

 

STICK WITH ME A BIT HERE..SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS CAROL AND I WILL GO OUT FOR OUR BREAKFAST (OR BRUNCH)..WE’LL USUALLY STOP AND GRAB A PAPER TO READ WHILE WE CHOW..(YES WE’RE AT THAT AGE WHERE WE ARE COMFORTABLE IN EACH OTHER’S SILENCE)..CAROL POINTED OUT AN ARTICLE TO ME, “IS LIFE ENOUGH?” (HARTFORD COURANT SUNDAY APRIL 1^ST )..TO SAY IT UPSET ME IS PUTTING IT QUITE MILDLY.. I QUOTE THE FIRST PARAGRAPH-“ONCE AGAIN THE POLITICIANS THINK THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE, PREPARING TO ABOLISH CAPITAL PUNISHMENT IN THE TEETH OF POPULAR SUPPORT FOR THE DEATH OF THOSE WHO MOST DESERVE IT.” END OF THE QUOTE..

MEET NORM--JUST RETURNING FROM A HOG RALLY AT BATHURST  IN AUSTRALIA
OVER 700 BIKES PRESENT!!
'NICE BIKE, MATE. STAY SAFE AND HAVE A GIDDAY'

POLITICIANS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE OUR WORKERS-OUR REPRESENTATIVES… ‘THINK THEY KNOW BETTER THAN THE PEOPLE’  PEOPLE=US=THEIR BOSSES…IF I DID EXACTLY THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT I KNEW MY BOSS WANTED I WOULD BE AMONG THE UNEMPLOYED, AND JUSTIFIABLY SO. A MAJOR POINT THAT I HAVE HEARD OVER AND OVER IS THAT THE DEATH PENALTY IS NOT A DETERRENT TO CRIME..WELL, IT’S NOT MEANT TO BE A DETERRENT-IT’S MEANT TO BE THE ULTIMATE PUNISHMENT FOR THE ULTIMATE CRIME..IF ONE WERE TO FOLLOW THAT LINE OF REASONING, THE PRISON SYSTEM DOESN’T SEEM TO BE MUCH OF A DETERRENT TO CRIME—‘LET’S CLOSE THE JAILS—THEY’RE NOT A DETERRENT.’

ANOTHER VIEW OF NORMS SWEET SCOOTER--NICE TO SEE A
HARLEY LIVING OVER THERE IN THE LAND DOWN UNDER..
THANKS TO MY FRIEND ROSE FOR TAKING THE TIME TO SEND ME THE PHOTOS
CHECK OUT HER BLOG--ROSE FROM OZ IS BACK--

THE HARTFORD COURANT WENT ON TO GIVE EXAMPLES: RUSSELL PEELER-HAD AN EIGHT YEAR OLD CHILD AND HIS MOTHER KILLED TO ELIMINATE THE CHILD AS A WITNESS; TODD RIZZO, BEAT TO DEATH A 13-YEAR OLD BOY USING A SLEDGE HAMMER TO ‘KNOW WHAT IT FELT LIKE.’ AND OF COURSE, THE CHESHIRE HOME INVASION PAIR-STEVEN HAYES AND JOSHUA KOMISARJEVSKY “SADISTIC MONSTERS” WHO RAPED THEN BURNED ALIVE THE PETIT FAMILY WOMEN (SEE RIDE FOR JUSTICE IN OCTOBER ARCHIVES)..NO QUESTION OF GUILT HERE.. NO TROUBLESOME OR LINGERING DOUBTS..GUILTY!!

ANY REASON WHY A SOCIETY WOULD SEE FIT TO SPEND MONEY KEEPING THESE INDIVIDUALS SAFE, WARM AND HEALTHY FOR A LIFETIME WHEN WE HAVE GOOD OLD FOLKS, WHO NEVER HURT ANYONE, STRUGGLING WITH MEDICAL COSTS? WE COULD USE SOME RESEARCH MONEY TO CURE DISEASE—WOULDN’T IT BE GREAT TO BE ABLE TO SPEND THAT MONEY ON OUR VETERANS THAT RETURN HOME WOUNDED—HOW ABOUT SPENDING THAT MONEY ON SAINT JUDES CHILDRENS HOSPITAL—EDUCATION—TAKING CARE OF GOOD PEOPLE, NOT BEING CONCERNED ABOUT THE RIGHTS OF THOSE WHO HAVE SHOWN NO CONCERN FOR THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS—ESPECIALLY THE GOD GIVEN RIGHT TO LIFE…IT'S OUR MONEY--SPEND IT LIKE WE SAY!!

YEA-I’M SORRY, BUT I JUST HAD TO VENT A BIT..IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE GOVERNMENT “BY THE PEOPLE-FOR THE PEOPLE” BUT IT SEEMS THE MINORITY SEEM TO IGNORE WHAT OVER 65% OF CONNECTICUT PEOPLE HAVE SAID..KEEP THE DEATH PENALTY!! AND USE IT!! THAT’S WHAT THE MAJORITY WANTS!! WE ARE THEIR BOSSES-THEY ARE OUR EMPLOYEES..I HOPE THEY REMEMBER THAT—THEY KNOW WHAT THE MAJORITY WANTS—WHAT IS THERE FOR THEM TO DEBATE?? MOVE ON TO SOMETHING WORTH DOING—LIKE EARNING THE MONEY THAT WE PAY THEM..

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SAD TO HAVE TO SEND SOMEONE TO THEIR MAKER—EVEN MORE DISTRESSING WHEN SOMEONE HAS MADE THAT A NECESSITY BY THEIR OWN ACTIONS..

 THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT OUT A BIT THIS WEEK…..

*********************************JIM**********************************************