Taking a Break

Day 205

I'm takin' the night off from anything creative or relevant.

Until tomorrow.

Ken

Memorial Weekend Beginning of Summer Season in Houghton Lake

Day 204

Memorial Day, a day of remembrance. We take time to remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their country.

Here in Houghton Lake this also signifies the beginning of the summer season. And the return of the Michigan snow birds.

When vacationers and summer home owners flock to this area for sun and fun, fishing and boating, hiking, camping and golf. For cookouts and relaxing by a campfire eating s'mores and telling stories.

A great way for families to reconnect.

They'll open their summer cottages and inspect them to see what damage, if any, old man winter has done. They'll prime their wells and open the windows. A good cleaning is always in order. A trip to the grocery store and the hardware for supplies. Bringing much needed revenue to the area.

That's the vacationers. The residents are another story.

Much like the bears who hibernate in winter, the residents of our small town hibernate in summer. They stay out of town as much as possible, especially over weekends. They shop very early to avoid the crowds or even travel to another town to shop.

Going "up north" here means crossing the bridge to the U.P. I have to wonder if the yoopers (someone from the upper peninsula of Michigan) feel the same way we do, when we go there in the summer or for snowmobiling in the winter.

Let the fun begin.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

I'm Just Saying...Great Food is in the Conversation

Day 203

"Good company and good conversation can make even a meager meal seem like a feast fit for a king."

My friend Irene would call me up after going out with and old boyfriend of hers and tell me about this great restaurant they went to the night before. She would rave about the food being so wonderful that we would have to go there and eat some time.

Invariably we would go to this palace of culinary delights and each time we would be disappointed. After awhile this became a pattern with us. After awhile I also noted that when we went out we usually talked about business.

When Irene went out with her ex-boyfriend, they would talk about old times and the things they used to do. None of which included business. Also she would have a couple of cocktails.

I wasn't exciting conversation. And just so you know, the topic of conversation was not my choice. I was more like the old comfortable pair of jeans, popcorn and a movie. Sans the cocktails.

So while I was good company, talking business over coffee wasn't the same. Ergo, the meal wouldn't shine as it had the last time with whats-his-name.

More recently my mother, my brother and sister in law and I, had a very simple holiday dinner. Ham, potatoes, rolls and green bean casserole, with cranberry sauce and pickled beets. Meager compared to holidays when I was a child.  But just as fabulous with family and  good conversation. It was all we needed for a feast.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Leeches, Night Crawlers, Minnows or Artificial?

Day 202

I just saw a picture of an angler who caught a 24" walleye, using leeches, on Houghton Lake. It wasn't me. I'm rather squeamish concerning leeches. My brother uses them but complains their hard to put on the hook.

Many people swear by leeches. I can't see the difference in shape and color from a nightcrawler. I must assume the leech moves differently in the water. Fish are attracted by motion.

Nightcrawlers come from earth but will wiggle around in water for a short time. Leeches are water dwellers and will "swim" if put on the hook properly, for a longer time.

My father always swore by small minnows. His favorite fish was perch. I've never had much success with minnows. It seems no matter how I put a minnow on the hook, the hook ends up bare and I don't have a fish. I've hooked them through the lips. I've hooked them through the middle. I've never hooked a minnow through the tail, maybe that would work.

Other than my lack of success with minnows, they just don't last. With an aerator they last a couple of days. Without an aerator they only last hours.

I have great success with nightcrawlers. When bottom fishing with a panfish rig, I use a small piece of worm, thereby I stretch out a dozen crawlers over several fishing trips. I've kept nightcrawlers in my fridge for over a month. If you try this I suggest taking them outside before opening the container to check them, Once dead they decompose quickly and stink something awful.

Here are some other ways to put the bait on the hook.

Artificial bait.

My dad never used artificial bait when fishing with me. He may have when fishing with my brothers, but by the time he got me out there, it was just panfish rigs with two separate hooks and live bait, fished off the bottom. I accidentally discovered bottom bouncing because I was always lifting and dropping my pole to feel the sinker hit the bottom. I usually caught the most fish. Of course, my dad sleeping didn't help his catch numbers.

Now I like to troll with a 2 hook spinner rig. Often, as I troll along, I can feel small fish tugging at the end of the bait. If I was to use a live bait, it would be gone a piece at a time.

Instead, I use an artificial bait that resembles a fat nightcrawler called a shimmy stick. It wiggles as it moves through the water and unlike plastic it has a real feel to it. This causes the fish to keep the bait in it's mouth longer.

Once the fish decides your bait isn't food, it will spit it out. This can take just a few seconds. So you want to use an artificial bait that looks and "feels" like the real thing, so the fish will keep the bait in it's mouth long enough for you to set the hook. I have caught a lot of big fish with this rig.

Another of my favorite artificial bait rigs for trolling is a combination jighead set inside a white shad with a swim tail. I know I wrote I don't have success with minnows, but that's live minnows on a panfish rig. This is trolling while on a shallow lake with an artificial. It works well for bass and northern pike.

I haven't been out yet on either of the two smaller lakes that I like to fish in my two man Bass Raider boat. But I will soon. The winter was mild so the winter kill should be low. That means fewer fish have died during the winter months due to lack of oxygen caused by thick ice.

It's going to be great year for fishing.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Peter Pan

Day 201

I've been reading two of the first Peter Pan stories.

1. Peter Pan in Kensington  Gardens 1906, an excerpt fro the original story The Little White Bird 1902.

2. Peter and Wendy 1911, adapted from a play called Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up 1904 premiere.

All by J.M. Barrie a Scottish novelist and playwright. Very well written and imaginative.

I highly recommend reading them if you get the chance.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Captain America Say It Isn't So

Day 200

What's up with Captain America? I should say, what's up at Marvel Comics?

I've been reading some disturbing things about America's patriotic super hero.

First. Captain America is gay. Say what? His love interest was Peggy Carter played by Hayley Atwell.

HAYLEY ATWELL!!!

Do I really need to say more?

O.K. So what's the story behind this sudden change of sexual orientation? She ruined him for every other girl, so now he's batting for the other team!

Isn't there already a gay super hero out there? Let's leave well enough alone. If that means Cap stays alone, so be it.

I've been alone for years. It's not so bad. Really.

The next most disturbing rumor (?), Cap is really an undercover Hydra agent. Has been all along. That's just wrong in every way.

We always need hero's. People who do what's right. No matter the cost. Now we have a heroic icon betraying us so that Marvel can sell a few more comics? Is nothing sacred?

Oh, uh, does anyone have Hayley Atwell's phone number? Just asking.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Memorial Weekend

Day 199

What shall we talk about, hm?

Memorial weekend will soon be upon us. The traffic in town has already reached annoying levels. Soon the Walmart shelves will be picked over by Friday night. Locals will shop early, or late, but seldom on a weekend.

The Kmart in Houghton Lake is finally closing. I don't think it will cause more than a ripple. I never saw much traffic there, even at Thanksgiving. Walmart will have complete control for this area, not that they didn't already.

We're in the middle of the first rain storm we have had in awhile. Everything is greening here and the rain will help. That also means I will have to cut the grass soon.

Fishing has been improving all over the area and soon the lakes will fill with boats. Now if the wather will just cooperate.

The annual Memorial Day weekend Arts and Crafts Show will be at the Houghton Lake Elementary School next to the library, for three days.

O.K. That's it for now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Burrito Diablo...Ay Yi Yi

Day 198

I went to Taco Bell for a couple of Cheesy Double Beef burritos. I grabbed the usual handful of the Hot sauce packets. I always go inside because if you go through the drive thru, your lucky to get three of the hot sauce packets and I use that much on one burrito.

When I grabbed the packets I noticed they had a new sauce called Diablo sauce. Obviously Diablo (devil), hinting at extremely hot.

Now I'm not some macho guy who goes around eating whole cayenne peppers and washing them down with jalapeno brine straight from the jar. But I can hold my own with prepared fast food hot sauce. So I threw a few in my bag and headed home.

I slathered the Diablo onto my first burrito, assuming it wouldn't be more than a couple of degrees hotter than my usual.

I took a big bite being as I was hungry. My experience has been that most spicy peppers take a few seconds before revealing their full degree of heat. The Diablo sauce was no different. It started with the heat of a small spark. No big deal. But it increased from there to camp fire hot.

I began to sweat.

My male pride got the better of me. I took another bite.

At first, nothing. The flame stayed the same but no worse. I thought, "Is that all you got?"

The challenge was like throwing gas on a fire. I frantically waved my hand in front of my mouth. A futile gesture, or so it seemed. The fanning added oxygen and my eye brows burst into flame.

My stomach started to feel queasy. I had visions of me with my head thrown back, vomiting into the air, spewing lava like a human volcano. At this point, a glass of jalapeno juice would have been as refreshing as a cold glass of iced tea.

At first, I thought I had blacked out. I looked down to see my burrito, innocently resting on the wrapper with a big bite missing. After a few minutes I decided I must have fallen asleep. It was then I realized I was still hungry.

So I picked up the burrito and took another huge bite.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Houghton Lake and Surrounding Area Fishing Report 5/23/2016

Day 197

Houghton Lake:
Last Saturday I went fishing with my brother. There were many boats on the lake but I don't believe anyone was doing very well. I caught two out near Songers Point; one on plastic and one on nightcrawler. Sunfish and rock bass. The water is a little cold out toward the middle so the fish are still huddling near the shoreline, canals and tributaries. Any place the sun may be warming the water.

Lake St Helen:
What I've heard. As I said many sunfish, bass and walleye are being caught near canals. Another fisherman told me he was catching his limit of bluegill and walleye on Lake St Helen at night. He didn't specify "where" on the lake. Usually the best fishing on Lake St Helen is the Artesia Beach area. West of the boat launch although there is a tributary across from the boat launch area.

Backus Lake:
Haven't been on the lake yet. The wind hasn't cooperated for me 5 mph or less is best over 8 mph and my trolling motor has a hard time keeping up when trolling into the wind. Also nearly all of the camping spots are taken as of last Thursday.

Reedsburg Dam:
Water is still high making the river side of the dam difficult to fish. I haven't dropped the boat in there either, though I hope to soon. The wind there doesn't affect me as much because of the smaller size of the flooding. Better wind break.

Last I heard leeches were working best.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Watching Jesse Stone

Day 196

Can't think of anything to write about and it's getting late.

Watching Jesse Stone marathon on Hallmark M&M channel. Tom Selleck was perfect casting for lead role.

Robert E. Parker wrote the Jesse Stone novels with 80% dialog. An unusual writing style.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Fishing Saves The Day

Day 195

Earlier today, as I was sleeping the deep sleep of the dead, a sound came to my ear. A persistent, annoying, soul wrenching noise from the very depths of hell. It was the phone. I let it go to the answering machine. Still in the haze of a sudden awakening, I heard a voice say, "...your cell phone."

Would this injustice never end? I heaved my bulk up from my soft, warm bed, believing only an emergency of the utmost consequence could afford me such rude behavior. I reached my cell phone just before it went to voice mail.

"Hello?"

"Are you at Walmart?"

"Mom?"

"My prescription is ready. I want to know if they'll let you pick it up by yourself, or do I have to be there?"

"I don't know."

Most people living in Houghton Lake do their shopping during the week. Especially at Walmart. The weekenders crowd the aisles from Friday through Sunday.

"Do you have enough for a couple more days?"

"I have two or three left."

I was bristling.

"Good. Then we can wait until Monday."

"Oh. OK. I'll talk to you later then."

Half a pot of coffee later I decided the only form of recompense for my untimely awakening, would be a few hours on the lake. The wind was supposed to be calm and I have yet to catch my first fish this season. A quick call to my brother and I was out the door to meet him at the marina.

As we motored out of the canal I noticed a slight chop on the surface of the lake. The wind was quite a bit stronger than the 1 mph reported on the internet. Still it had been a long winter and I was ready to get out on the lake. Besides we had faced stronger winds and stayed anchored.

After maneuvering past a half dozen bass boats clustered near the canal entrance/exit. A current hot spot, we turned toward Songers Point.

My brothers eyes were glued to the fish finder, watching for the little fish shaped blip that would signal there were fish present. The fish finder beeped letting us know there were fish in the area, just before the shallow water warning alarm sounded off. Apparently there were fish but in only a few feet of water.

My two brothers and I were taught to fish by bottom bouncing with a panfish rig. A panfish rig has two baited hooks: one near the bottom, and the other about eight inches above the first. Held to the bottom using a sinker. For any sport at all, the water needs to be at least eight feet or deeper. So three feet wasn't going to work for us.

Note: Let me say right here, most people catching fish at this time, are doing so in five foot waters. The fish being drawn to the warmth of the shallows.

There were dozen of other boats. Some drifting, some trolling. All in a small area at the edge of what will become the lakes center weed bed in another month. A great haven for all kinds of fish. Large and small. But not today. We moved on.

After several more attempts, we ended up about a hundred yards from the canal. We always work our way back to the marina so we can make a quick exit when we are done fishing.

We were in nine feet of water and I was fishing the panfish rig on one pole and a black jighead with a

black fantail plastic bait below a slip bobber set about two and a half feet deep, on another pole. I caught my first fish of the season on a jighead with a black fantail and a slip bobber set at two feet, on a second pole.

I caught one more on my bobber rig, a rock bass also about eight inches. We went on fishing for another 30 minutes without another bite so we gave up for the day. It had been a nice day. Light jacket or sweatshirt weather. The wind did pull our anchor loose a few times but that's just a part of fishing.

After the sun and the fresh air, I felt a nap was in order. Only this time I turned the phone off.

A perfect end to a relaxing day.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Struggle to Breathe Part Two

Day 194

Last night I drove over an hour to Bay City for the second part of a sleep study. The first night, about

two weeks ago, confirmed I have sleep apnea. Last night was a study to find if a CPAP machine would be beneficial to me.

I was connected to wires all over my head and chest and one finger. The wires all led led to a box on the stand next to the bed. It measured and tracked my brainwaves. I resembled something from a science fiction movie and hoped the nurses wouldn't be able to see my dreams.

A breathing device much like a nasal cannula was placed under my nose to supply me with a constant positive air flow to keep my nasal passages open while I slept. Thus preventing me from snoring or snorting, and to prevent a pause in my breathing. All three of which put a strain on the heart.

I am what is called a "mouth breather". That is, I breathe through my mouth when I sleep, as opposed to breathing through my nose, which is the natural way to breathe while sleeping.

I breathe through my mouth because my sinuses are often blocked. Possibly due to allergies.

To use a CPAP system, I have to breathe through my nose, with my mouth closed. Otherwise the air just blows up my nose and out through my mouth. I have been practicing breathing through my nose and it seems to go well.

The first couple of hours of the study I slept normally. Breathing through my nose was slightly restrictive as I had to work a little to take in and expel the air.

But after the first few hours, I was awake and found it becoming more and more difficult to breath. Sleep became elusive. Panic started to set in.

I asked the operator to turn the flow on the machine up a little, as I was having a hard time breathing. I was told to try to relax and it would flow better. I tried, but it's hard to relax when you feel like you are not getting enough air. Like you are slowly suffocating.

I asked for a bathroom break to catch my breath and noticed one side of my nose was plugged. This could have been the problem.  I went back to bed and everything seemed to be OK. For awhile.

A couple of hours later, I could feel the shortness of breath coming on again. The study had gone on long enough and I was able to terminate. The wires were removed and I wiped the conductive gel from my face and scalp. I could have washed up there but I preferred to shower at home.

Another hour long drive and I was back in my own bed. Sleeping like the dead for five hours.

I don't know if I was breathing through my nose or my mouth. I just know that I was breathing. And that's a good thing.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Sleep Test Take 2

Day 193

I went for a sleep apnea test a couple of weeks ago. Naturally I couldn't fall asleep. Being in a strange bed with wires connected to me and without my sleeping companion (my cat), it was near impossible for me to fall asleep until the last two hours I was there.

Only lang enough to confirm I have sleep apnea but no enough time left for cpap machine testing. For that I have to go back tonight.

So as I struggle not to take my afternoon nap, I decided to write my blog entry early and have it out of the way.

I have had sleep apnea for years but like so many others I have resisted wearing a mask at night to help me sleep. Detrimental to my sex life. That no longer being an issue and the fact that I spend my days as if I have just run a marathon, I decided to give cpap a try.

My weight is a contributing factor but I can't find the energy to exercise. I can't even find the energy to go fishing as I don't believe I would be able to load my boat back into my truck.

I am hoping I will be able to get better sleep and be more rested when I wake up.

If all goes well, I'll be able to keep my resolution to lose weight and get more writing (and fishing) done. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

So I hope I can sleep tonight, so that I may be able to sleep better, every night.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Keepin' On

Day 192

Just keepin' it going. Have to write something. Watching 300: Rise of an Empire. Too much blood.

Switched to Hotel Transylvania. Less blood, more fun.

Ready to go to bed but it's too early. Besides, I just put my kindle reader on the charger. I'm so used to the kindle when I go to bed now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

First Catch of the Season...Almost

Day 191

First let me say, it's a bad day when I have to work to motivate myself to go fishing. I had one of those sleepless nights, last night, that end with me falling asleep just before I need to get up and get going.

My mom calls to tell me, everyone at the senior living apartments where she lives, is just there waiting to die. Just the motivation I need to go fishing and get away from my telephone.

So I squeeze myself into my F-150 pick up truck and drive to Backus lake. My favorite fishing spot. It's about 3 miles off M-18 down a seasonal dirt road. The road is just wide enough for two cars to pass each other as long as one drives up on shoulder.

Before I even have the lake in sight I can already see the end camping site has a camper and two tents setup. As I turn the bend that brings the road parallel to the lake I can see most of the camping spots crowded with campers, cars and trucks. It could be very busy at Backus this year.

I swing my truck around at the boat launch and head back down the dirt road to M-18. Next stop, the gas station and then over to the marina and my brothers pontoon boat.

The marina is on a canal, on the east side of the lake near the Cut River/Backus Creek lake entry.

The boat is in the slip when I arrive so I grab my pole out of the back and my tackle out of the front. Armed with my gear, a container of worms and my super secret "makes the fish bite every time" formula, I step to the back of the boat.

I'm not taking the boat out. I'm just fishing off the back.

First cast, something steals my live bait.

Second cast, I try a small plastic swim tail. Nothing.

Then I have a feeling I should try the plastic swim shad (looks like a large minnow). Bass and pike seem to like it, when they're around and biting.

I attach the shad, dip it in the magic formula and cast it across to the far side of the canal. My bobber dips just seconds after hitting the water. I give the pole a twitch. The bobber goes down and stays down. I give the rod another twitch and the line starts to shake. It feels like a small one.

I tilt the rod back to tighten the line and a fifteen inch bass jumps above the still surface. Shaking his head from side to side. The swim shad comes loose and flies halfway back across the canal. The bass slips back beneath the surface.

A dozen more casts to the same spot brings a negative response. I switch baits several times with the same results.

My nephews pull up and want take the boat out for some trolling. I want to get home and see the season finally of Marvel Agents of Shield.

I wish them luck, but secretly hope for the opposite. If they catch anything. I'll never hear the end of it. Bragging rights. If they do, oh well, the season is just beginning.

Plenty of time to catch a few worth bragging about.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Wolfsbane: Beautiful and Deadly

Day 190

"Even a man who is pure in heart

 And says his prayers by night,

 May become a wolf

 When the wolfsbane blooms,

 And the autumn moon is bright."

The Old Gypsy Woman

I sure am glad this isn't autumn 'cause I'm pretty sure I got some of this bloomin' right next to my house.

Wolfsbane, a.k.a. Monkshood due to the shape of the flower, is found in the northern hemisphere. It is a wildflower and though beautiful, the whole plant is poisonous even the sap. 

It has been used to kill wolves by grinding up the root and adding it to meat left out for the wolves to eat. Thus the common name wolfsbane.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Winter Cheap Shot...Snow in Mid May

Day 189

I haven't been out on the lake much. The weather hasn't been cooperating so far. Too windy or too cold for this old man to get out there. As can be seen by the snow we had today.

Others including my nephew, have had some luck in or near the canals catching northern pike, rock bass and large crappies.

I haven't heard anything about perch or bluegill biting.

The water at Reedsburg dam is still running high, so no chance to try there yet. I did mention before that I tried by the boat launch but had no success, neither did another angler fishing while I was there.

Temperatures are set to go up into the seventies in the next week. Fishing should get better as the temps warm up.

I hope to get out onto Backus lake this week. The winds are suppose to be down for a few days.

Until tomorrow,

Ken 

Turn Down Day

Day 188

"It's a turn down day...nothin' on my mind, just a turn down day and I dig it."

The Cyrkle

Just a Saturday night groovin' to some 60's tunes. Fun music and fond memories.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Friday the 13th AND a Full Moon...Ohh That's Scary

Day 187

Friday the thirteenth and a full moon together. We are doomed to disasters unimaginable.

So now we stay home and lock our doors and pray for this day to end? Or do we follow our normal routine?

I think it's a safe bet to go about your day as if it's the same as any other. After all, any bad luck that can happen to you outside the home, can happen to you inside the home as well. Just in a different form.

The fear of Friday the 13th is called paraskevidekatriaphobia. I can't even pronounce it.

In Spanish-speaking countries, instead of Friday, Tuesday the 13th (martes trece) is considered a day of bad luck.

In Italian popular culture, Friday the 17th (and not the 13th) is considered a day of bad luck.

According to the Stress Management Center and Phobia Institute in Asheville, North Carolina, an estimated 17 to 21 million people in the United States are affected by a fear of this day, making it the most feared day and date in history. Some people are so paralyzed by fear that they avoid their normal routines in doing business, taking flights or even getting out of bed.

A study in the British Medical Journal, published in 1993, concluded that there "is a significant level of traffic-related incidences on Friday the 13th as opposed to a random day, such as Friday the 6th, in the UK."

I think I'll go back to bed now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Traditional or Indie Publishing?

Day 186

Recently I read an article in one of the Detroit newspapers about a Michigan native, Steve Hamilton, who writes crime thrillers set in the U.P. He had a dispute with his publisher. Normally the publisher sets up interviews when a new book is set to be released and other publicity and when the book is released, book signings are scheduled.

It seems his publisher wanted him to make these arrangements for himself. From what I have been reading this is becoming an accepted practice for publishers, who feel they have a lot of cash outlay for a book that has not been proven popular i.e. a top seller.

I can understand their point of view. It is very costly for a publisher to set up a traditional book launch. But in exchange, the publisher pays the author a lower commission percentage.

This is one of the reasons I will go the indie publishing route (at least to begin with). I can retain total control of my book including title, cover art, fonts, distribution and price setting. Plus, I will be paid a significantly higher commission for ebook sales.

Through Createspace, an Amazon company, I can have my novel printed on demand. I don't have to buy a large number of printed copies that sit in my spare room if I can't sell them. If I want to I can purchase as many copies as I want at a discounted price. I could then sell them individually or through an independent bookstore on consignment.

Will it be more work for me to market my book? Yes. But given the direction traditional publishers are going, I would be giving up control, be paid less and still have to do the marketing on my own.

If I get my novel to sell well on Amazon, chances are a traditional publisher will know and make me an offer to publish my book in hardcover or paperback. Should I then wish to go that route.

Selling a new novel can be hard work, but after writing it, marketing it should be a piece of cake.

 Keep the faith.

Until tomorrow.

Ken

Murder Under the Big Top Changed to October 22, 2016

Day 185

The TUT Murder Under the Big Top murder mystery dinner that was originally scheduled for May 13 has been rescheduled due to scheduling conflict. The new date for the murder is October 22, 2016.

Proceeds from this event go to Tip Up Town USA to help pay for the winter festival that is so much a part of Houghton Lake.

Well, this gives me a few more months to get in shape. Or I'll have to play the part of the circus elephant.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Crossroads

Day 184

I am at that crossroads all writers come to sooner or later. I have stories to tell but I'm being lazy and don't feel like working. I new this would happen around this time of the year as fishing season is just beginning.

Also I feel I am putting my stories on the wrong blog. This is suppose to be about Houghton Lake and not my memories of my childhood.

I should be writing about things that happen around here.

Now, as I am waiting for my french bread pizza to cool enough to eat without third degree burns in my mouth, I am once again writing a "puff piece" to continue my blogging record of consecutive days blogging.

So I promise more stories of Houghton Lake; of fishing and golfing and Bud Bash 2016.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Halfway There

Day 183

Officially half way through my 365 straight days of blogging. One hundred and eighty three days straight, one hundred and eighty of those days I wanted to quit. But I have persevered.

Some good stories have come from this blog. Hopefully there will be many more.

For tonight I just say, "Thanks for coming along for the ride. I hope you'll stay for the second half."

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Spring Has Sprung

Day 182

Yes. Spring has finally arrived.

Just today I saw five goose families; that's papa, mama and the babies. All within a few minutes along Old 27.

Unless I'm very lucky I won't see a fawn until June.

A couple of weeks ago, while fishing at Backus Lake, I heard and saw a pair of Loons. Very musical birds. I've never seen more than three pairs during any season there. Usually just one pair. And always only one baby. It could be that that's all that survives. I don't see the baby until it is near full grown.

Last year, while fishing on the same lake in my boat, I saw a mama duck with six babies sunning themselves on a stump.

It is not uncommon to see several turtles sunning themselves on that very same stump; though not at the same time as the ducks.

Soon the turtles will be crossing roads to lay their eggs. I don't know why they cross roads but they do. So be careful, that rock or clump of sod in the road, might be a turtle.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

What Is Mother's Day?

Day 181

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.

I'll call mom on the phone and wish her a happy day. Others will take their moms' out for brunch or dinner. Still others will offer to take care of the house and let mom relax. And, of course, flowers candy and a card from Hallmark (when you care enough to only give the very best).

All in an effort to celebrate motherhood.

But what is Mother's Day?

According to Wiki:

Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on various days in many parts of the world, most commonly in the months of March or May.

The modern holiday of Mother's Day was first celebrated in 1908, when Anna Jarvis held a memorial for her mother at St Andrew's Methodist Church in Grafton, West Virginia. Her campaign to make "Mother's Day" a recognized holiday in the United States began in 1905, the year her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis, died.

Ann Jarvis had been a peace activist who cared for wounded soldiers on both sides of the American Civil War, and created Mother’s Day Work Clubs to address public health issues.

Anna Jarvis wanted to honor her mother by continuing the work she started and to set aside a day to honor all mothers, because she believed that they were "the person who has done more for you than anyone in the world".

So to all of the mother's, even those who find it distasteful to "look like a mom", I wish you a very happy day and a very heartfelt thank you for all that you do.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow...You're always a day away."

Day 180

Uneventful day today. Many things on my mind.

I need to get writing. I was suppose to have a completed poetry chapbook by now.

Also a "how to" book on writing. I have the outline for this but haven't started either.

The poetry chapbook could be written within a week, if I would just set down to work.

If I could just "get to work", I could be a published author by now and living comfortably. Instaed I am a dreamer and procrastinator extraordinaire.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow...You're always a day away." Annie.

Until tomorrow.

Ken

I Don't Care

Day 179

How can I be so damn tired at 8 o'clock at night? In my twenties this was when I went out dancing and carousing.

OK. So that was a long time ago. Still I shouldn't be this tired just yet.

Besides, I heard the older you get the less sleep you need.

I do believe I have been misinformed.

Nothing else today. This blogging every day is getting monotonous.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Houghton Lake Expo a Success

Day 178

The Houghton Lake Business Expo was today and even the steady rain couldn't keep people away. There was networking and story swapping and a general feeling of summer can't get here soon enough.

The Mid Michigan Writers had a table next to the Roscommon County Sheriffs display. Many people stopped to ask questions, either for themselves or someone they knew with aspirations to be a writer.

Food was supplied by several exhibitors including Walmart and Family Fare.

All in all, it was a good day.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Reedsburg Dam Fishing Report-May 3, 2016

Day 177

 Reedsburg Dam May 2016

The river is high and fast at this time so fishing on the low side of the dam is possible but very difficult.

On the east side, space for casting is limited and the saplings and brush that grows by the water, is even or in front of you. This limits both casting and drift area as you must reel in sooner or risk getting your gear caught in the vegetation.

Reedsburg Dam east side May 2016 

The west side with the stairs is completely flooded. You could try fishing from the pedestal at the bottom.

Reedsburg Dam west side May 2106

The new dock at the boat launch is in. I'm not a fan of the dock. Most boats launched at Reedsburg are small and can be easily boarded from the front. The dock isn't necessary and takes up space.

I sat down in my favorite folding chair near the launch to try my luck. It was the only place I found accessible.

I tried several plastics including a swim tail and a fan tail on various colored jigheads. I tried a white minnow with a swim tail. I tried night crawlers. I tried deep, I tried shallow. I tried here, I tried there. Nothing worked. Not even a bite.

I shall endeavor to persevere.

In my experience, the fish start biting by the boat launch about an hour after the mosquito's start biting. It can be a great place to fish in the evening in the summer. If you bring a mosquito net and plenty of insect repellent.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

My Fishing Lament

Day 176

I've been checking the Weather.com site about ten times a day. The weather is either warm and windy, or cold and calm.

Why Mother Nature? Why must you thwart my attempts to go fishing? I'm not going to keep them. I'll give them back.

I've been fishing twice now and nothing. Not a bite. Not even a nibble.

Oh woe is me, that I should live to see, such days as these.

As any fisherman will tell you; a bad day of fishing beats a good day at work, every time.

Until tomorrow,

Ken

Day 175

Tonight is the night I have to do my sleep study. I'll drive an hour and a half to the sleep study center, have wires pasted to my head, have a mask fitted over my nose and mouth, and then be expected to go to sleep.

I have a hard enough time falling asleep in my own bed without all of the accouterments.

Plus I am used to having my cat sleeping with me.

After what I assume will be a sleepless night, I get to drive an hour and a half home. Then get some sleep.

My sleep cycle will be screwed for another 3 weeks.

Well that's all for now.

Until tomorrow,

Ken