Gotta Go

And when you gotta go you gotta go..

The river has been GIANT!!

Normally in October we are bitching and moaning about how little water there is.

Not the case this year. The rains came early and kept coming.














Just when you think the river is dropping another cloudburst rolls in off the lake and up she goes again.

Its a blessing really...but it can be very frustrating.

I had a dynamite first trip and I have been dying to get another shot at the water I love so much.

With more rain in the forecast you pretty much have to get in while you can. Some seasons are like that and the windows of opportunity can be very narrow. If you wait for the ideal months can slip by.

I don't like to fish water that is too high. It makes crossing the river a real pain in the ass and actually dangerous at times.

...especially when you don't have the discipline to curb your enthusiasms...

When the bite is on who does???

Oh well...the river has a really good  top on it right now.





 














Hopefully the rain that has been forecast will skip us and I'll get a chance to hit the river this weekend.

Now , with a sincere apologies to my Muslim friends..time for some some smoked porc chops!!

Got the BBQ preheating and the beer a chillin!!

Life Lessons Blow ...sometimes

I am slow...

I just got back from a run and I feel good because of it. I am in 'not bad' shape for an old fucker.

They have been 44 rough and tumble years and I have my aches and pains starting. With the start of every fall season  I inevitably begin to wonder just how many more years I have before I have to start toning 'er down a bit..

I am not out of this yet..and if I can keep the beer gut down by a wee bit of mild road work. well, that is a good thing.

Yesterday I got to watch my son compete in his annual cross country event.

It filled us all with pride and joy but it was also heartbreaking.

There is one boy in the city who unfortunately is just a wee bit faster than Owen.

He had Owens number last year and this year the situation was exactly the same.

It is a 3 km race through hills, fields and wooded pathways and on top of that yesterday was wet and miserable.
All the participants showed guts.

My middle daughter Ella competed in her age group and improved considerably from last year with a placement of 35 out of 96.

I am amazed that she can bring the energy she does to a sport where she is constantly in her big brothers shadow.
She does however, and not only that she is Owens biggest fan and really takes pride in his achievements.

Owen trained hard all year and was hoping for a win. He had decided to start his kick way earlier based on the way the route was laid out this year.
I think it was the right decision and when he came into the last 400 metres he was out in front...Oh my heart was in my throat...




However...the boy from last year was at his heels and out kicked Owen in the end...it broke Owens spirit and he actually fell off and let yet another boy pass him.



3rd place out of about 100 participants.





Poor kid was in tears...

He just kept saying ...I had him...I had him..

All the family was there with all the usual soundbite hallmark bullshit..

"not whether you win or lose"..."always next year"...bla bla bla

And to my boys credit he didn't want to hear any of that shit either. He got beat pure and simple...and that hurts..
It must hurt so bad to be so close....to prepare for something with a goal in mind then to see it slip away ...and only by a matter of metres..

It was amazing to watch really...these young athletes pushing themselves to their limits...a cool little rivalry has developed between them and they will be attending the same high school in a few years...





Both Owen and Jonathan could barely breath when they crossed the finish line and I know Owen left it all out there this time...and for that I am so incredibly proud of him.

Inspiring really.

Sigh
It really is a gift to be able for him to compete at such a high level and for that I am happy for him
.

BUT GOD-DAMMIT!!!!!

;o/

One of Those Days

I yap a lot about 'The Curse'..

And truly I now have my wife and children believing in it.

It is real...undeniable..and I am sure there will be entries in the future documenting other manifestations.

However...the sun shines on a dogs ass some days ..and today was one of those days.

I had missed the first push of fish this fall.



I was scheduled for my three year firearms recert and had to get that out of the way before I could have any fun.





I made a few moves at work in order to change my original scheduled date for re certification from Nov to early Oct.


Usually early October has us praying for rain while Nov is prime.


This year saw some heavy rain early on and the river was in great shape last week while I was playing cops and robbers in Ottawa.
(Re- above 'Curse' )

Morin got out and I was happy for him.

With Thanksgiving taking up most of the weekend I knew that the only day for me would be Tuesday.

Thanksgiving weekend was a really nice one full of food and family.

I don't travel well, and I missed my family something fierce while I was in Ottawa. I resent being away from them for anything.


It was a warm and fuzzy weekend but I have to admit that in the back of my mind I could picture a prime river full of fish falling out of what we consider optimum conditions.












I had made up my mind that I was going to fish Tuesday regardless, even if it meant only a beautiful walk through the woods alongside a river that had little to offer fishwise.

This fall has been a long time coming. The summer was busy and Sept was a write off as well with Union and Work obligations so today is the beginning of some 'ME time'.

What a great start!




The water was skinny but not unfishable and there was no sign of anyone else!!

Perfect day...full of fish..fresh air..and fall colours.



Every now and then it all comes together..and I needed it to.






I'll give thanks for that.
Thanks too for a world class river so close to home. Special thanks for a little roe tying helper!!...and thanks for a good friend..even though he had to work today ...and is a world class douche..lol

Turnaround

Well ... I just felt like it was time for a new entry.

The summer was a supreme test, on many fronts..

I think I passed.

Last year...and in many years previous, Kim didn't get much work as a supply teacher.
Her vocation hasn't quite worked out the way we'd hoped..

In the summer months it all falls on my meager income and I find myself working a lot harder than I would like.

This summer I decided that I would buckle down , man up and really try and put us in a position where most of our plastic debt was clear and we were able to find some breathing room.

This can only be done one way...and that horrible road is OT...From about mid July to just recently I have been working on average 70 hrs a week.
It hurt...hurt a lot..but its over now and the money is starting to roll in.

I am proud of my efforts but still recognize that we are living beyond our means.

I know myself well enough to know that I can't do this kind of push on a yearly basis.

The hope is that this proves to be a much more lucrative year for the teaching front or we may have to make some big changes.

I had been looking forward to the mid portion of Sept as the light at the end of my tunnel. I have most of the month off and really needed to get away from work and spend some quality time with the family.

I decided to take the kids out of school this past week and have some fun.

We bounced around some ideas but ultimately decided on camping at the Pinery Provincial Park.

The family is home a day early after being abused by lightening storms and biblical rainfall. I had images of tranquil campfires and starlit skies underscored by fresh air..
Instead it was test after test after test..

The kicker was when my wife locked the keys in one of the vehicles last night just before we were about to attach the tent trailer i'd borrowed ( reluctantly ) from my brother in law.



She had to drive halfway to Sarnia and meet my brother in law in order to get the spare set...

...meanwhile I am back at the campsite with the kiddies and the dog...all the gear is packed up but chairs around the campfire..trying to roast smores in the pouring rain..

Definitely not a chapter in the book of awesome...and definitely not the 'vacation' I was in need of..


HOWEVER...looking back now after having my morning coffee , talking to the kids and going over my pictures I have to say.. I had a great time.

You take your shots with a camping trip,.....but next year we'll be renting a cabin.









Avery loves the outdoors and was on a mission to locate the elusive Hognosed Snake.
We failed...however we did make contact with bullfrogs ,salamanders, walking sticks, deer, herons, snapping turtles, caterpillars ,wild turkeys and many other little critters that got her all excited.

That was worth it.

Off to Ottawa this week....that city makes me nauseous.
 

The Push

Well since my last post I have almost worked non stop.

I have decided to really buckle down and earn some dough in order to right the Norland ship.

Sometimes you just have to Man Up and get er done.

The amount of Overtime that is kicking around this year is absolutely obscene and I have taken just about every shift I can.
I was scheduled to work tonight but pulled the plug early on today due to just downright exhaustion.


 I have accepted another four O.T shifts for next week so I thought I'd better just relax and take it easy in preparation for it.

I have never worked this hard and it is making me extremely bitter.

We are still without a contract ( been over two years now ) and we  have taken our employer to court over unfair labour practices.

The hearing is tomorrow.

The outcome should be very interesting...and to be honest represents a real crossroads for me.

This country is fucked...and nobody cares.

Our government is so corrupt and out of control that it really is beyond belief...and I am running out of gas fighting the good fight on behalf of people that don't have the guts to stand up for themselves.

I miss my kids...

Today was a good day.

Owen has been watching master chef and has been inspired by it.
Today he asked me if I would help him make Eggs Benedict.

He did 95% of it by himself with very few suggestions by me. To be honest..I probably would've over cooked the eggs without him insisting they come out.
...They were perfect!!

That kid is something else.












Ella has finally learned how to ride a bike.
It took her forever , and it was really starting to get on her nerves... (and mine )..

For whatever reason, she seemed to have a mental block...almost a phobia about it.

I should've forced the issue a long time ago maybe..but either way...the training wheels are off...and she is so proud!!
I am proud to...I am even proud of myself.


This summer represents a terrible sacrifice for the benefit of these people I am responsible for....but that is my role and I am getting it done.

I am shooting for 30 O.T shifts and should be there about the 1st or 2nd week of Sept.

I missed the moment when Ella finally eschewed the training wheels, conquered her fear and began to ride....

Trying really really hard to forgive myself..

I was working an O.T shift...for an employer that is corrupt, and for a public that doesn't give a shit, at a job that I have really grown to despise...




Norlands Chrome from Brian M on Vimeo.


Fall can't come soon enough.

Michigan....Summertime

Well I received a generous offer from Morin to head over to the cabin for 3 days and I was only too happy to take him up on it.
Work has been a progressive shit show and just pulling into the parking lot in the mornings fills me with revulsion.


I have been trying to maintain some perspective with my vocation but it is becoming increasingly difficult.
I used to be so proud of my job...and I am still very proud of certain aspects of what I do.

Some of my proudest moments have come from accomplishments within my workplace.

...but lately..

Its getting harder and harder to tune out the shit and find the good...and its' to the point where I am honestly considering a move.







Its a good job ...and I am blessed to have it....many would kill for it..
I realize this ...but there is no denying that it is making me miserable..and that is no way to live.

Trips to the woods help ...

We'd planned on taking the Hyde to Tippy Pond.

Morin had received some Panfish 411 about the water above the dam and casting  the flyrods for sunfish with a cooler full of beer was sounding like a really cool way to spend the weekend.

Norland curse?



I don't know if I can be blamed for his one.

Long story short USCBP wouldn't allow Morin to bring his truck to Michigan as planned.

My little rice burner has no hitch on it.

Result?  =  Shorefishing shitrats...no boat.

We tried to tie the canoe onto the car but it wasn't really working out too well and we quickly abandoned that notion as well.

It would be easy to say it ruined the weekend...but it didn't.

Friday we just drove up the West Coast making capricious stops along the way. And ..yes ..I did just use the word 'Capricious'..fire away..

The trip along M22 was highlighted by Sleeping Bear Dunes Park, Leland ( love this place..I'd like to disappear here forever ) , Frankfurt ( awesome basket of fried perch on the patio ) , Glenhaven (?) , and the great Traverse City.

So cool...such a great way to spend the day. I would love to get the family over there.

We are trying to talk Kim into coming over but for whatever reason she is reluctant. I can't understand this but I don't have the energy to force the issue.

I have been in situations before where people accompanying you on trips like this are not of the same level of enthusiasm.
It starts slowing but works its way through the entire time until it pretty much ruins everything , at the very least making you self conscious about your own enjoyment.

Life is too short for that bullshit..so as much as I'd like to share this with the people closest to me...for now at least it's just me and Morin...the dynamic shitrat duo..

Saturday we fished Tippy Pond from shore and caught some fish but mostly just drank beer in a really beautiful place.
Fresh air ..and cold beer.
Sunday morning we fished the Manistee River with the fly gear.

Very cool.


I caught about 15 fish with my little 2 wt.

 One of which was an 8 inch Walleye.
That was different.

Caught them all on a nymph pattern that I'd designed and tied myself ...thank you very much..lol

Not exactly a 'technical river' but still very cool to a hacker like me.


I broke the GLX 3wt on Friday.
:o/

 I took it well.
It was long overdue actually and I half expected it.

Owen was helping me load the car on Thursday and it was a very kind gesture considering he was sad I was leaving and even more sad that he couldn't come.

 I was touched...so much so that I didn't lose my temper when he closed the door on my Loomis fly rod...
It wasn't a hard slam ..and I had a close look it it for cracks.

It looked good at the time but when I tried to load er up on Friday...snap...
Sigh...

All in all one of the better trips for me. Enough to rejuvenate and recharge.
For now..

I work 9 out of the next 11.

Sigh