Nowhere Bound

This is the first summer I can remember without a big trip.  For some reason I just didn't feel like it this year.  Granted, money is a little tight and all, but the idea of a long road trip just doesn't do it for me right now.  Maybe I'm just tired of doing the long drives solo.  The flights to the Ukraine and Nome lost their appeal, too.  I've never been much of a homebody, but taking the occasional guiding job and just fishing and hiking around here seems to be enough this year.

 Worked in the garage and in the yard, and just kicked back on the back patio under the dogwood tree, with a nice breeze, and listened to good tunes felt pretty damn good.  I've already fished more than I would have if I'd gone up to the Damdochax this summer, and I've also lost 12 pounds since school ended.  Bizarre.

Guiding?

So I'm doing what I swore I'd never do again.  Guiding.  Stay tuned, it should be interesting.  I hope.

Here's a video/slideshow I put together that has much fishing from the last few years.

How Much Is Enough?

Today's mission:
1)  Fish one lake for large-mouth bass, using a spinning rod and a plastic worm.
2)  Fish another lake for rainbow trout, using a fly rod and one of my own hand-tied flies.
Mission Accomplished.

That sounded really moronic.  That is how much outdoor writing reads nowadays.  Did I fish the lakes?  Yes.  Did I catch fish? Yes.  So what?

I've read books and articles by writers who have reached the stage in their fishing lives where they say it doesn't matter anymore if they catch anything, it's all about being out on the water.  I'm not there just yet.  Close, but still not there.  I still need to catch one fish.  Just need to look at a fish up close and take the hook out of its mouth.  That's what I did today, one fish from each lake.  Had some other fish on and lost them, but caught one tough-looking large-mouth and one elegant rainbow.

The first lake was spent paddling around the lily pads and along the brush-lined shore casting into every likely looking pocket.  There were a couple of bald eagles chattering at each other, and there were many small fish splashing around.  There were a few other folks out fishing but I was lucky enough to get the spots I wanted without any competition or crowding.

The second lake I had all to myself.  It's a small lake, with a single house on the end by the boat launch.  The rest of the lake is pretty wild along the shore line.  Never did see one fish rise, except for the several leaps my rainbow executed on its way to the pontoon.  With the wind, I mostly rowed around with a sinking fly line, cruising proven locations around the lake.  Big clouds, wind, sunshine, all made for a grand day out on the water.

No, I'm not to the don't-need-to-catch-anything stage, but it feels pretty good to be completely satisfied with one fish.

Worth It

Our school is participating in a fantastic program called AVID.  AVID is set up for kids who show academic promise but are from homes that don't have a history of attending college.  This is the second school I've worked at that supports AVID, and I've become a big advocate of the program.

The problem with worthwhile endeavors in education these days is that they usually encounter strong opposition from politicians and some administrators.  Also, teachers with massive egos that don't participate in AVID for some reason seem to greatly resent the positive attention AVID receives.

The three of us who teach the AVID elective classes have encountered such opposition this year.  Many of the better, more level-headed teachers at our school have embraced several of the AVID strategies, and have been tremendously supportive.  But, as Einstein once said, "Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds," and we have.

Such opposition requires tons of energy and time to circumvent, time which would be better spent helping kids.  Oh well, such is the hand dealt.  Today, after some semi-violent opposition, we were granted our one and only college visitation.

Was it ever worth the struggle.  A blue-sky day greeted us as we explored our way around campus and completed many a fun task and challenge.  The smiling faces made it all worthwhile.

Dark Sides

I've posted here several times here how much I love coaching track.  The camaraderie yesterday of nine kids pushing each other in friendly competition to make their way through a tough workout was inspiring.  Great kids and a great day.  I couldn't be more proud.

The flip side was the whole mess with trying to get the Seattle Sonics back in town.  A big part of me wants to tell the NBA and David Stern and his sleezy entourage where to shove it.  I grew up with the Sonics being my favorite team and the NBA my favorite sport.  I was in awe of Wilt Chamberlain and loved Lenny Wilkins when I was in third grade.  Dr. J was the coolest guy on the planet to me when I was a teenager, and Magic and Larry brought a decade of the game played at its very best.

As with many things as I get older, the shady characters behind the scenes have tarnished something I grew up with.  Stern is a slimeball.  Those Oklahoma guys must have set him up really nice for retirement.  You could see and hear Stern's ongoing resentment toward Seattle with his little of-handed remark the other day.  Guess the Seattle group was just a little too honest publicly and not willing to sweeten the pot privately for the Commissioner to bless the Sacramento deal.

Too bad for Lenny, Gary, Freddie, Jack, Spencer, Xavier, Gus, Shawn, Nate, Lonnie, Slick, and everyone else that their accomplishments and contributions are being erased by an egotistical lawyer.  Seems to be a lot of that going around lately.  Thank God there is still middle school track.