Fishing Friday Again

With as much activity that was going on in the house this week, this is the first I have been able to post. This is a photo that was taken when I was stationed in Colorado. I was fishing in Spinney Mountain Reservoir with a good friend, when this big hen rainbow trout took my olive wooly bugger. This is the biggest trout I have caught to date, and the largest fish I have taken on a fly. I am going fishing on Assateague Island tomorrow, so hopefully I will have more to write about next Friday.

Fishing Friday

I am going to call this Fishing Friday. I don't know if I'll post something on fishing every Friday, but I will today. I caught this little dude earlier this week on one of my days off. Not a great big one, but he put up a good fight on my ultra-light rod. I have also included a poem I had to write for a creative writing class I am taking.

The Brook Trout

Slipping closer to the edge
the boy spies the small trout.
Back and forth, back and
forth they glide silently feeding;
perfect predators in their environment.

The boy observes intently.
Edging back from his perch,
he searches for the right imitation.
He ties the fly on the end of his leader
and asks himself.
Is this the right one?

Slowly, the boy eases back
to the lip of the rock
and gently daps his
imitation on the
surface of the stream.

One colorful little native
noiselessly slides below the fly
and gently sips.
The boy guessed correctly.
The predator becomes the prey.

Melissa's Birthday

I wrote this on the occasion of my wife's birthday. I don't claim to be Shelley, but here goes.

Thirty Years Ago

Oh, that we would have met
thirty years ago.
We could have then been sweethearts
and watched each other grow.
To see each passing day as
a gift from God above.
Growing in grace and knowledge
and in the wonder of His love.
We could have gone to dances
and other such occasions.
Helping to shield each other
from life’s careless abrasions..
We could have shared each others triumphs
as well as all the sorrows.
Though yesterdays were sad
there’s always the tomorrows.
You’re certainly a gift from God
I thank Him for every day.
I know that I’ve enjoyed the time we’ve spent
up till this very day.
I have but one regret
and I’ll say it once again.
Oh, that we would have met
thirty years ago.

Self-Heating Coffee Product

A co-worker has just showed me this product and I think it is terrific. As a soldier who has brewed many pots of coffee in the field, this is a breakthrough who's time has come. I have strained lots of coffee grounds through my teeth after the coffee boiled over in the percolater. I have also had to suffer through cold, stale or the worst, coffee that had cooked in the pot all day. With this product from Hillside, you just pop the tab and voila, six minutes later, a fresh latte. Okay, so it isn't a manly double shot americano, but you have to start somewhere.

Hillside Coffee

My First Bluefish

I have been fishing along the Maryland coast for the past three years without ever catching a bluefish. Well, yesterday I caught my first blue. Needless to say, this particular fish has a long way to go before he approaches the MD state record of 23.5 pounds. It was still great to finally catch one. I ended up catching a total of three, all about the same size. The one in the picture hit a whole finger mullet that was just a bit smaller than he was. I told my wife that this was one optimistic little fish.

Dolphins at the Assageague Island

My wife and I went to Assateague Island yesterday. She had put in for a day off in anticipation of us going to WV to help her mother move into a new apartment. The apartment wasn't ready yet, so we went to the beach instead. Not long after we arrived at the beach these dolphins showed up. There were between 20 and 30 of them swimming north along the shore less than 100 yards off the beach. It was definitely a nice surprise.

Happy Birthday Sis

My little sister turns 25 today. I am proud of her. She has a great family, with her husband Nathan and three great kids, Andrew, Joshua and Aria. I am proud of you Rachel.

Mountaineer Football

Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crispness in the air, and the color in the trees. I love walking through the woods and fields looking for critters to put on the table. But I especially love West Virginia Mountaineer Football. I am very excited about this year. We have some great young players and some solid senior leaders. As long as coach Rod can keep the players grounded we should have a great season, and if all goes well culminate with a National Championship. We open with Marshall today. I hope we pound the pretenders from Huntington. Anyway, enjoy the game with a nice plate of nachos or maybe some wings and GO MOUNTAINEERS!

Colorado Vacation

This is my wife, my son and I at Rocky Mountain National Park. This was taken last summer on our trip from Arizona to Maryland. What an awesome place to spend a few days and soak in the grandeur of God's creation.

Anniversary

This is my fifth year anniversary. I have spent the previous five years with the most wonderful woman in the world. She is beautiful, intelligent, Godly and a great cook. These past five years have been the best five years of my life. She inspires me to reach for the stars, and also keeps me securely grounded. I pray that the next five years are at least as good as the previous five. I love you Sweetheart.

Rockfish

Rockfish
Originally uploaded by mandmgarman.

I caught this beautiful summer rockfish trolling in the Chesapeake Bay on the first day of the regular season 2006. She was 36" and just over 17 lbs. She hit an umbrella rig trailing a 12" chartruese sassy shad in 48' on the eastern edge of the channel across from the gas docks. This was my first trip trolling in the bay. What a great time.

Immigration Analogy

This is what I posted back in June at the height of the immigration debate.

I wonder how many people who wish for open borders would support the following scenario: I come to their house and gently force open a window, or maybe the window was unlocked. I climb in and start living in the attic. No one lives in the attic, so I'm not taking anyone's living space. I do "all the jobs that you don't want to do", like washing the dishes, laundry, etc. I make use of your "social programs" like your refrigerator and your medicine cabinet. I sometimes borrow your car while you're not using it. I generally stay out of your way, but you know I'm there. I might get into a confrontation with your wife or children from time to time, but I'm really pretty harmless. I may even be there at the invitation of your children who appreciate the fact that I am doing their chores. America is my house, and I don't want the non- invited intruders any more than the homeowner wants a non-invited guest in his house.

Getting started

I began a blog back in June, but I didn't post anything after the first post. Then my sisters began blogs, so I thought I had better get with the program. I love giving people my opinion on matters, so this should be fun.