truth in advertising

looks like it could be another post w/out a pic

almost even a state of the craftsmanshit address '12 edition

people have told me that I don't advertise much or enough

I don't at all actually and there is a reason for that

nor I do much in promoting bamboo as a material 

there is a reason for that as well

why advertise when I simply cannot produce any more rods per year than I currently can?

I guess I could invest a couple g's in some sort of ac

and produce oh maybe a half dozen more rods

but why?  

I am quite happy building six or eight rods a year

I'm not sure how much more wear and tear my fingers and hands can take

I mentioned it in passing below but arthritis is working its black magic in my hands

which means I have to take a lot of breaks to let my fingers relax

especially when I'm planing

which has been a lot this past week

and my hands ache haunt me

I'm more likely to direct a guy toward a nice $200 graphite rod

or the best rod you can afford

than suggest that they get a bamboo rod

why?

that is a decision that is made by the angler himself

a moment when he knows it is right in his soul

to fish bamboo and find out what it is like to fish with a tool that lives

*a couple hours later I was talking on the phone
to just such a guy
nice coincidence?*

wheatley

I've got three wheatley flyboxes

a couple of which I have a love/hate relationsip with

those cool little glass lids stink out loud

they either open too easily or not all

this one happens to be filled w/ flies sent to me

by my good friend roy christie 

I do treasure those and it is why they are kept

in theis fancypants box

disclaimer: of the three I have I purchase one

the cheap one (and the one I use most often)

the other two were gifts

and very nice ones

thank you.

is that so?

I was surprised and semi-shocked this morning

to read that beagles are listed among the dumbest of breeds

while p-nutt is called ding dong or little dumbass

about as often as he is called his name

I'm a bit stunned to hear he's quite dumb

he does play dumb games I'll give him that
he barks like an idiot as well

but whenever he hears the word dumbass

he looks up at the speaker in expectation

I suppose I'd like to think that he is smart

because he is mine

I'm afraid that might not be the case

he does have his mamma wrapped around his finger(?)

ye olde rod shoppe that wrocks

october gets me to thinking of rodbuilding

the gruntwork eh?  the fun stuff if you will

 dropping temperatures have me checking the garage

periodically for temperature

still a mite warm

during lazyass hours

there's one lonely rod on the project list

and I'm itching to get down to it

may be a few daze though as the cathedral is beckoning

and the countdown is on

things I've been thinking about while varnish cures

I've been wearing knee pads for years now 

through various indoor construction and remodels

even painting

why not use them while fishing?

why hadn't I thought of this earlier

but I'm doing it

I've got two sets the good ones and the shitty ones

shitty ones won't cut it so the good ones it is

I think I've posted a pic of my kneepads

back when I was painting the house

thing number two

we carry way too much shit

it's absurd

which is why my experiment w/ the filson chest pack is likely over

I carry too much shit when I have it

I am gravitating toward a sling

before I even saw the sling in question 

I'd decided that everything we carry

should be carried in a camera bag

see the sense in that?

relatively inexpensive

everything that needs to be protected is

and if you've got a camera in there

(which you likely will)

yer limited as too what else will fit

that way yer not a walking flyshop

whatever floats yer boat

tied some wool headed streamers w/ doll eyes the other day

doll eyes are a pain in the ass plain and simple

one of the flies came out pretty sharp

it took four at least applications of superglue to get those eyes to stay put

I have to tie a half dozen muddlers for a swap

I'm not sure I have turkey feathers

and that's just lame

finally as I research things a bit

outfitting yerself for hammock camping or hanging

in the vernacular

is everybit as expensive as getting yerself 

a large strong and easily erected tent

suitable for long stays in inclement weather

you know it happens

unless...you do it yerself

we'll see...

car camping

my backpacking daze are over

and have been for a long time

the convenience of car camping and excursions or forays from base camp

is far too comfortable

I do not have to sleep in a got am coffin sized tent

I set up a jumbo tent

I can set up two cots a camp table and two camp chairs

and still have room to move about

which is nice when the weather dictates yer confined to the tent

I love that

plus I like to be able to stand up in a tent

and w/ a cot I've got somewhere to sit while getting dressed or changing clothes

all that makes it a no-brainer for me

but...

this weekend at the ferry we didn't even bother bringing a tent

just two cots and a tarp

the tarp was stretched across one end of the shade structure as a windbreak

a little noisy w/ the wind

but I jrank enough to pass out and not notice the noise

we fully expected a miserable cold night

but it was right comfortable

this has me rethinking things a bit

at least for overnight burner fishing trips

a buddy of mine camps from a hammock

and has learnt himself how to build them and has built one for me

(he said you have a sewing machine you can make another and he's right)

photo credit to jason jones

we will be giving this a shot right soon

especially since the weather is getting nice again

(recent cold snap be damned)

2012

a new year is upon us

I don't have any idea what's in store

the previous year for me has been mostly marked by hardship

I've managed and will continue to do so

I've spoken in the past about the inanity of making resolutions

especially those of the health and welfare type

which we enter into w/ good and cooperative spirits

until we realize how much got am hard work we've set ourselves up for

and how comfortable it would be and is to relax

that said I have made two minor resolutions this year

health and welfare related

I will not be sharing the resolutions

though I may periodically update you on my progress or lack thereof...

last year I failed in my main goal of lowering my golf handicap to a single digit

I guess we'll have to continue that one...

anyways, at some point in the next two weeks it appears as though I'm gonna lose my planing forms

I guess I just thought they were mine...

and it is frustrating

which means I'll have to figure out the means of procuring a set of bellingers

and rather quickly at that

I am a firm believer that when you replace something anything

you should replace it w/ something BETTER

fortunately all the rods on the bench have all the grunt work done

which I guess means I'll be turning bamboo blanks into fishing rods

as this season progresses

at any rate, we'll manage, it's what we do

"hey, I've got an idea - let's go fishing!"

the holidaze season is over - get yer lazy ass back to work!

behind the scenes pt II

working w/ my graphics guy

(you wrock bill!)

on some preliminary artwork for business cards

which apparently I need...

a sample...

I'm guessing these can barely be seen

all designs are far far better in execution than my crude and simple idea

that's why it's wise to consult the graphics guru

I kinda favor the right side samples

especially the vertical one, but...

standard card format may prevail

what you think grasshopper?

or something like that...

photodump...

my woodpile is growing

vivid carrots

crispy refreshing bright celery

end result = one kickass pot of  homemade from scratch dumpchix

oh one from the shoppe

we're working

bcs championship game

after going 4-0 predicting the nfl wildcard games

I suppose I should offer up my take on this fiasco

while everyone involved in the bcs is busy patting themselves on the back

for finally getting the matchup of undefeated teams

where does that leave the tcu horned frogs?

a clear cut #2?

co-champion?

nosireebob

but that's not even my problem w/ it

my problem is this...college football should be finished for the year

on new years day just like it used to be
not on january 10th...

the big four or five since the fiesta bowl snuck in the back door

have been relegated to virtual irrelevance 

by this stupid national championship game

which in years past has barely determined a TRUE

national champion

in short leaving it no better than what we had

w/ the cotton bowl gator bowl sugar bowl rose bowl and orange bowl

I'll throw the peach bowl in there as well since I miss it

I like knowing how things played out and seeing the final poll on january 2

and turning my attention to the nfl playoffs
where it should be and currently is

and really now while we're at it shouldn't this bcs championship game have a stupid corporate sponsor attached to it since almost all the others do?

I'd suggest a feminine hygiene product...

the summer's eve douche bcs championship bowl

on to my prediction...

this game will not be as high scoring or as close as everyone thinks

31-24

and yes I prefer sec football to pac 10 football

auburn's defense is vulnerable

good night college football

until next year

they'll never get this thing straightened out

wood

they chopped down a couple gigantic eucalyptus trees near my brother's backyard

I helped myself to a couple scraps

I'm curious as to how these will turn down for reel seat spacers

resolutions

I don't make them

there are so many things that I could resolve to do

only to let myself down when I fail to follow through on any of them

so I don't bother

on the other hand I could make a handful of self-serving and indulgent ones

but that's contrary to the nature of the damn thing

of course I want to golf more and lower my handicap

(as if three rounds a week isn't enough)

or go out and fish more

who doesn't want that?

nevertheless I intend to do just those things

just without resolving to do so

thus revealing what a selfish and self-centered bastard I truly am

whoopsie!

I guess I just did that

I do want to continue to do whatever I can to help my friends and family

and gift a few lucky folks w/ a nice fishing pole

do what I can to become a better husband

a better cook

expand my palate and repertoire of techniques

fix one more meal a week

pleasing my wife coming home from work 

to a home cooked meal w/ the enticing aroma that entails

my walk w/ Christ is always a struggle

necessary as it is to my growth as a man and a Christian

forgiveness is in my nature

though my vices are always a battle

(if you know me you know what I'm talking about)

having said that 

I should smoke less drink less stop cussing work harder and more often

spend less exercise more make better choices and decisions

indulge the wife instead of myself

watch less football and golf on tv

do more to serve the Lord

and follow so many other paths to improve myself

yet to resolve to do so is to set myself up for failure

and I won't do that

but apparently I know what I need to do

brrr freezin'!

my wife snapped this shot shortly after I got home

from playing a cold cold cold round of golf

actual temp was low 40s

wind chill had to be low 30s

the cold wasn't too bad but the wind kicked my ass

the wind also caused my golf game to suffer

did I say suffer?  I meant suck

fun nonetheless and I can't think of a much better way to say goodbye to last year 

this year?  

2010

who is this strange girl?

lisbeth salander?

I don't think so

welcome home brianna

I can't wait to see you

merry Christmas to one and all

don't forget the reason for the season

cleaning shoppe

before planing yesterday we tidied up

we of course meaning me

repositioned the lathe to get it off the floor

where I used to store it

again it's unusual to see the place this clean

I wonder how long it'll last...

prolly about a day

why the hell...

aren't we playing golf today?

 no I didn't crash the cart

 squalor on the local links

sheesh  golf course living = urban blight
really you've got to see this place to believe it
merely one example of many
perhaps more will follow

looking toward the agua fria along buckeye road
coldwater golf course
yet another local goat track

getting down

this course actually looks right nice
must be sun city grand?

tools of the trade

don't leave home w/out them

fear the badger

they say fear the deer but the deer ain't so scary.

however it is time for everyone to fear the badass badger

there ain't a team in the country that wants to face them
unless they want to crawl home w/ they tails between they legs licking they wounds
and crying for they mamas

you betcha
bring it on stanford texas fucking christian oregon auburn

but oh no!  you don't want none of this

updated:  #5 in bcs rankings behind stanford(?)
excuse the eff outta me but who have they beaten?
or maybe jim harbaugh blew someone....
stanford *spit*

#4 in ap and usa today polls and I can live w/ that

tools of the trade

every now and again it's nice to take this out for a spin

just because...

I like the reel and I like the pic...

the future's so bright...

a couple of summers back I lost my favorite polarized fishing glasses

I think they were plucked undetected right off the top of my head

while crossing vietnam en route to cambodia on the san juan river

while I have a couple other pair of polarized shades

I think it's high time I replaced the old favorites