How is the Myakka River like a slot machine?
Originally, I had planned to go get my sewing machine after dinner today, and spend the evening with the good ladies (I hope!) of the quilt shop....however...
last night was not a good night for sleeping, as I tossed and turned most of the evening, just trying to get comfortable. Eventually, I dozed off on the couch, waking a few times to a chill. Yup, a chill. We had the windows open and the ceiling fan on, so it got chilly. Besides, I kept thinking about all the sewing I had to do and how to make it happen and what the ladies would teach me, ad nauseum...end result: sleepy upon waking.
SO...as we ate our cereal, Dick suggested that maybe my night driving wasn't such a good idea... well, of course not, as you all know! Number one - I see about as well as a tree in the day and a stump at night, and number two, about 10 minutes into the drive, I'm asleep. Whether I'm the driver or not. Yeah, could be scary!! So, after agreeing to drive myself to the next town & the quilt store TOMORROW, during the DAY (yeah, I know, that will only solve one of the two big issues, but let's hope for the best), we had all day with nothing "planned."
We took the doggie for a walk, then I vacuumed (itself a RARE occasion) while Dick got our fishing tackle ready. We saddled up Sunny (noooo, not really "saddled" her....we strapped her into her new tag-along) and loaded up the buggy and off we went! Uff. Let's just say a full tackle box, 2 rods/reels, Sunny, and a cooler with ice & water are way heavier than I am used to hauling. I am just now beginning to get used to lard-bucket by herself, and then we go load all that other!! UFF! Good thing the roads are flat!!! Dick was good to me tho; he rolled up Sunny's little straw mat and hooked it under the strap on his rear fender. And off we went! Down to the river, and on to how the river is like a slot machine. Oh, wait! Lemme tell ya about the river last night! We moseyed on down about dusk, just in time to watch the full moon rise up over the mirror-like surface. Oh, not quite calm!! Lookee there....over yonder! Oh my, that's a big boy. About 12-14 foot 'gator, just cruising on up the river. Oh, my, he's coming THIS way! We could only see his head, and some of his back, but waaaaaaay back there, is where his TAIL is swishing. Oh, my, he's a lot closer than he was a moment ago. Uh-oh, now he's gone. Where'd he go? Anyone see him? And what's that buzzing noise? Dang 'skeeters! Ok, we cannot find a trace of the big boy and the 'skeeters are beginning to feed. On us. Time to go!! But, it was beautiful while it lasted. Oh, back to today, and the slot machine.
First cast in, my line snarled. Dick was fishing up a storm, but offered to help me straighten it out. That was kind, but I declined his offer, since it was I that snarled it. Got it untangled & back on the reel, and second cast in, got a strike. "Fish," I called. "Huh?" "Fish. On my line." That was pretty quick!! Dick got him off, dunno what it was, but it was pretty & pretty good sized. Next cast got me snagged on the bottom. Now, remember, we are using 2 oz sinkers & relatively big hooks, and $4/pack shrimp (yeah, why we weren't eating them, I dunno.). And yeah, no, I couldn't unhook the bottom. After much flailing and whipping of the rod, I went ahead & bit the line. Yup, literally. Bit the line clean through (apologies to Dr. Robinson) and left the tackle in the river. Very next cast, same thing. So, just like putting money in a slot machine, all I was doing was throwing money (tackle) in the river. I had a hard time with that, besides, it is NOT the eco-friendly thing to do, so I just quit fishing. Besides, I didn't like seeing the little fish struggling & in pain on the hook. There was a dock a bit down from where we were, so after Dick got snagged on the same bottom & lost HIS tackle too, he decided maybe we'd have better luck from there. So, he packed everything up and off we went to the dock. I decided to go ahead & try my luck too...and next cast got me another fishie!! This one was even bigger & prettier. A few more casts & I had my third fish - the biggest & prettiest one of all!! I couldn't stand it anymore, and decided that was enough. NO MORE fishing for me!! Besides, it was honey's turn to catch the big one!! Eventually, his nibbles turned into a strike, and he reeled in a small but fiesty catfish. BUT, we lost no more tackle! Just bait! Yeah, I still dunno why we can't but shrimp for US to eat, but we don't mind feeding the fish!! Oh well, I guess it's good for the local economy.
Through the whole thing, Sunny was curled up under one of the benches, sound asleep. Dunno why we even bothered bringing her mat!! We loaded everything back up (in my basket & tag-along) and off we went. UFF! No less hard!!! But, I guess it's good for the gams!
Tomorrow, during the DAY, I'll be off to the quilt store, by myself, driving, but DURING THE DAY! Wish me luck!
Y'all take care and spend wisely!
last night was not a good night for sleeping, as I tossed and turned most of the evening, just trying to get comfortable. Eventually, I dozed off on the couch, waking a few times to a chill. Yup, a chill. We had the windows open and the ceiling fan on, so it got chilly. Besides, I kept thinking about all the sewing I had to do and how to make it happen and what the ladies would teach me, ad nauseum...end result: sleepy upon waking.
SO...as we ate our cereal, Dick suggested that maybe my night driving wasn't such a good idea... well, of course not, as you all know! Number one - I see about as well as a tree in the day and a stump at night, and number two, about 10 minutes into the drive, I'm asleep. Whether I'm the driver or not. Yeah, could be scary!! So, after agreeing to drive myself to the next town & the quilt store TOMORROW, during the DAY (yeah, I know, that will only solve one of the two big issues, but let's hope for the best), we had all day with nothing "planned."
We took the doggie for a walk, then I vacuumed (itself a RARE occasion) while Dick got our fishing tackle ready. We saddled up Sunny (noooo, not really "saddled" her....we strapped her into her new tag-along) and loaded up the buggy and off we went! Uff. Let's just say a full tackle box, 2 rods/reels, Sunny, and a cooler with ice & water are way heavier than I am used to hauling. I am just now beginning to get used to lard-bucket by herself, and then we go load all that other!! UFF! Good thing the roads are flat!!! Dick was good to me tho; he rolled up Sunny's little straw mat and hooked it under the strap on his rear fender. And off we went! Down to the river, and on to how the river is like a slot machine. Oh, wait! Lemme tell ya about the river last night! We moseyed on down about dusk, just in time to watch the full moon rise up over the mirror-like surface. Oh, not quite calm!! Lookee there....over yonder! Oh my, that's a big boy. About 12-14 foot 'gator, just cruising on up the river. Oh, my, he's coming THIS way! We could only see his head, and some of his back, but waaaaaaay back there, is where his TAIL is swishing. Oh, my, he's a lot closer than he was a moment ago. Uh-oh, now he's gone. Where'd he go? Anyone see him? And what's that buzzing noise? Dang 'skeeters! Ok, we cannot find a trace of the big boy and the 'skeeters are beginning to feed. On us. Time to go!! But, it was beautiful while it lasted. Oh, back to today, and the slot machine.
First cast in, my line snarled. Dick was fishing up a storm, but offered to help me straighten it out. That was kind, but I declined his offer, since it was I that snarled it. Got it untangled & back on the reel, and second cast in, got a strike. "Fish," I called. "Huh?" "Fish. On my line." That was pretty quick!! Dick got him off, dunno what it was, but it was pretty & pretty good sized. Next cast got me snagged on the bottom. Now, remember, we are using 2 oz sinkers & relatively big hooks, and $4/pack shrimp (yeah, why we weren't eating them, I dunno.). And yeah, no, I couldn't unhook the bottom. After much flailing and whipping of the rod, I went ahead & bit the line. Yup, literally. Bit the line clean through (apologies to Dr. Robinson) and left the tackle in the river. Very next cast, same thing. So, just like putting money in a slot machine, all I was doing was throwing money (tackle) in the river. I had a hard time with that, besides, it is NOT the eco-friendly thing to do, so I just quit fishing. Besides, I didn't like seeing the little fish struggling & in pain on the hook. There was a dock a bit down from where we were, so after Dick got snagged on the same bottom & lost HIS tackle too, he decided maybe we'd have better luck from there. So, he packed everything up and off we went to the dock. I decided to go ahead & try my luck too...and next cast got me another fishie!! This one was even bigger & prettier. A few more casts & I had my third fish - the biggest & prettiest one of all!! I couldn't stand it anymore, and decided that was enough. NO MORE fishing for me!! Besides, it was honey's turn to catch the big one!! Eventually, his nibbles turned into a strike, and he reeled in a small but fiesty catfish. BUT, we lost no more tackle! Just bait! Yeah, I still dunno why we can't but shrimp for US to eat, but we don't mind feeding the fish!! Oh well, I guess it's good for the local economy.
Through the whole thing, Sunny was curled up under one of the benches, sound asleep. Dunno why we even bothered bringing her mat!! We loaded everything back up (in my basket & tag-along) and off we went. UFF! No less hard!!! But, I guess it's good for the gams!
Tomorrow, during the DAY, I'll be off to the quilt store, by myself, driving, but DURING THE DAY! Wish me luck!
Y'all take care and spend wisely!
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