Gift Horse

Well I have been out fishing but had my hands too full to take pics.

Had the kids over to Brian's pond to chase the Bluegill through the ice.
No Blue Gill but we got about a dozen Jumbo Perch in just about an hour or so.

Tons of fun!!



I really enjoy doing that sort of thing and hopefully next time I will be able to document it a little bit.

It has been supremely cold and wintry out but the Weekend has turned out to be a great time with the family.

Yesterday Ella and I went to out to a co workers Stable to take a look at her horses.

I had mentioned to Sally that Ella has taken an interest in horses and Sally was quick to invite us

I am not a big fan of big animals and I am always a bit over protective with the kids so when Sally suggested to Ella that she go for a ride I had mixed feelings.

I did managed to put aside my phobia and  relax.





013 from Gene Norland on Vimeo.




Great moment for Ella that I am sure she'll never forget.

Also, a great excuse to get out of the house as well and away from the cell phones and gadgets.

Today we took Rube for a long walk down the Howard Watson trail as a family and it was just beautiful.

Tough walking in the deep snow and we are all tired. Ruby is out cold in the front room.

ZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz.......










As per usual I bought myself my own Christmas present this year. The kids wrapped it and I pretended to be surprised.
It was a super deal off Amazon and I couldn't resist.




It is a Looper pedal called a "Ditto" made by TC electronics.

I am just nicely starting to get into it and I plan on using as mainly a practice tool more than anything.

So far it has provided me with proof that I have some serious Metre issues!!...lol....

Which is good....gives me something to work on.




My New Years resolution is to play music  more...spend more time with the family and  most importantly not to give a shit about work...

So far I am off to a good start!!

2014

003 from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

XMAS

 Well... I have the Christmas blues.

 My job is making really really depressed...it's as bad as it has ever been.

 Sigh..

 BUT!!.. At least I am digging my guitar sound!!

( I am not sure my neighbours, or wife are very pleased about it....it finds its sweet spot tonewise right about when the floor starts to vibrate!!!)

 OT tonight and tomorrow... then straight time for the next two.

 I only have two days off for Christmas but when it comes to shift work, that is better than nothing.

 Merry Christmas

Funktionality - Deep Funky Jazz Beats (2013)

Alright Then

Beads and a 40 dollar breakfast...

I will just have to file it all under the category of WTF...

As offensive as both of these things can be to me I have to admit that each has value.

On four hours sleep , following one of the most trying 3 days of work I have ever experienced, I agreed to go fishing yesterday with Morin.



It was the right thing to do and it was a day of greatness fit for the memory book.

We hiked through the snow with our orange on with the hope that we wouldn't be shot and low and behold we made it.



I do not like fishing during the deer seasons, it is foolish, however, some things are worth dying for and living is one of them.

We only heard one shotgun blast all day.



In fact we only ran across two other souls...and they were fishing. They went up stream according to the tracks in the snow and we went downstream.

Very civilized.

It was a weird winter bite that started strong for me but tapered off significantly. I hooked maybe 7 fishing all day landing only three of those.

Morin put on a clinic with the fucking bead show.

I was genuinely happy for his success but Jesus these fish can be weird...and that can get under my skin a bit...lol.

BEADS!!...jesus...

See below courtesy of JB


I am a stubborn MFer and in truth I think that part of the reason I hold out so long with new tactics is just to get on Brian's nerves.
Fuck him.

Well... I am a believer ...but I am still not fishing them...so there!

:o)

At one point I was resting up against a log in the snow and actually started dreaming... I was that tired.
Last night I went to bed at 7:45 pm and I woke up today at 7:30 am and when I finish this I may have a nap.











This is my 7 day stretch and I am going to get some rest.

In many ways yesterday was a perfect way to start it. I burnt away the last bit of energy I had in the reserve and now I am completely fucking exhausted.

It was a great buffer between the shitshow that is work and who I really am.

The fresh air , friendship , and exercise makes that disparity easy to define.

The last drift of the day tight to the wood pile prompted a strike from a beauty of a buck just shy of 30 ".

I had to test the gear and my shoulder to coax this Mfer from all the lumber and it was a miracle that I ended up with my hand around it's tail.



A great moment from a run that we'd just got done saying really owed us some fish.

Well, we're square now, the river and I,...and always will be.

General Fatigue

My wife turned the big 40 yesterday.

We had celebrated her birthday a little while back by going to Toronto and watching a play.

We are seeing another play tonight as a matter of fact.

The kids are performing in 'Joseph' tonight at the Imperial Theatre in town and tonight is the final performance.



They have really enjoyed it..but I will be glad when it's done...SO GLAD.







I hate Andrew Lloyd Weber. His music is garbage.


 The story of Joseph is one of the most idiotic examples of the Bible's idiotic stories and I have no interest in watching it played out to equally idiotic rock/calypso music.

The kids have worked hard on this..and it has value for them..and I am really proud of them for taking part.

But ....

Anyway...somethings you just have to do.

Last night Kim and I went to a local pub and hung out with the cast of the show in order to celebrate her birthday.
She is pretty hung over today..lol.

She doesn't cut loose very often and it was nice to see her relax....but I hate people and I saw some real human garbage in action last night.

Oh well,

Did get out fishing the other day and the conditions were shit....same old same old.
We caught fish in spite of it but I am really hoping that things shape up a bit before everything locks up solid.

Our contract will be settled in the coming weeks and today I went car shopping. The raise will just about cover the cost of a car payment and the Tercel is fit for the bone yard.

I went round and round with the Mazda salesman and he made me so tired.




The guy I used to deal with is gone. He was a rare straight shooter in a profession of douchebags. I will miss him...
Today I got up and walked out only to have him say "of course that quote in your hand is not the best we can do"

Sigh...

The dance...the tiresome dance.

I may buy out of town just because of that stupid shit.

It will be nice to have a reliable commuter car however.

Kimi wants white..and it is starting to grow on me too.

Come on..

Well here is a new Beer.

I might as well post about beer....the rivers are shit.

Rain, rain and more rain. That's been the theme this year and I am tired of it.




I have had three really good trips to the river...one that was truly amazing.

The 'Amazing Trip' just happened to be the first trip of the year solo.







I dared to hope that it would set the tone to an outstanding season of consistent fishy greatness but it's been a wee bit less than that.

We've caught fish on the few trips in that we've forced but the task of fighting through less than ideal conditions leaves me a little unsatisfied.
.. to say the least.

So we wait..and savour the moderate success ..

It is so easy to get spoiled.

Beer...

There have been a lot of new contenders this year and I admit that there has been a real shift in the Top Ten.

I still follow Creemore with something akin to a religious fervour but there were times this summer when beers like Hogsback and Rockcut were wearing the crown for sure.

Creemore is really not my first choice in the summer months but it is quintessential for the Fall.

...and too be honest...even though it is 09:13 right now...just typing this is making crave one.

That's something.  lol

Lugtread was introduced to me by a good friend and fellow alcoholic.


It is hard to track down but I have to believe that it has a promising future.
Highly recommended.

I have been playing guitar like a mad fool and my sound is awesome. It makes me want to be a better player and god knows I am trying.




I still love the guitar I am playing but I may grab something else in the new year if for no other reason than to provide a dangling carrot to help me get through what is sure to be a very trying winter.

Might make a road trip to Dave's Guitar Shop in WI with a pocket full of mad money and just see what jumps out at me.

I've never done that sort of thing before and the store itself is an industry icon with the owners very impressive personal collection on display.
Worth the trip in my mind...but as always...we'll see.

Dangling carrots are like that...

If the rain ever stops I may actually get some more fish up here, although on the last trip I left the camera at home.

It was kind of liberating.