I haven't posted since March 28....... - 05/21/10 03:36 PM
Folks, I have the coolest life of anyone on the planet...well, at least it feels like it.
First, it's been almost two months since the last blog. Geez, when I get this busy, there's not much way to stop and take the time to select and load photos to photobucket, post and write.
Not kidding...up and running full bore at or before daylight, then non-stop, with the stage lights on and usually with someone until bedtime. Between spates of doing what I do, there's travel time.
But, I have some nice photos and short explanations to share. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoy being there to shoot them.
Of course, I must start with a photo of at least one grandchild. Jentry is a living doll and a good reason I want to get up and go every day.
Early in April, I headed to Lake Vilbig to electrofish. It's an urban lake in Irving, Texas, and the landowners are salt-of-the-Earth people. I love hanging out with them. Those guys are solid gold. We shocked up lots of bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, some redear sunfish, a few yellow bass, carp, gar and an occasional flathead catfish like the one in the photo.
One of the cool things about working on an urban like such as Vilbig is that you are privy to things in backyards...stuff you can't see from the street. Some folks are pretty creative with what they do...like this dragon next to the water.
On the way back home from Vilbig, I shot a photo of Texas Stadium, the day before it was imploded. Next time I head to the area, I'll try to get a shot of what's left.
After that, April 15, I helped teach a pond management field day for Grayson County in Sherman. Then, it was off to Rockport for Spring Fling and Texas Outdoor Writers Association board meeting. Debbie was able to tag along and turn it into a mini-vacation for her as well.
Then, the actual whirlwind started...lots to do in a short time. My electrofishing boat outboard motor's power pack died and it took two days to repair it. I was able to push up three electrofishing surveys and get them done before heading off on a vacation. That's right, a vacation. My entire life seems to be a vacation and I truly don't know how to act on a real one. Debbie had planned this for several months and I didn't think much about it...until it was time to go. What was I thinking? A vacation in April? I'd lost my mind. That's the peak of fisheries management season. But, I pushed everything either in front of the trip or right behind it...and we headed to Marco Island.
As you suspect, I travel quite a bit. I have some travel tips to live by...and I broke a key one on this adventure. To save $250, I booked a connecting flight. Never book a connecting flight in the spring months if you can avoid it. But, since I could save a good amount of money and catch an early flight, I thought it was a good idea. It wasn't. We sat in the plane at the gate at DFW for 2 hours, from 5:30-7:30 a.m. and missed our connection in Atlanta. We arrived Atlanta at noon. Next flight to Fort Myers? 5 pm that evening. There's only so much you can do at the Atlanta Airport for 5 hours and it's too short to leave the airport and go to the zoo. So, we ate, talked, watched people and slept.
But we got to Marco Island, checked into our accomodations next door to the Snook Inn and called it a day. Here are a few images from the week at Marco Island, Florida.
The Queen and I rode jet skis with a tour guide, looking for dolphins. When we saw a pod, we were instructed to idle up from behind and we could get pretty close. We did and they did.
Debbie and I made new friends, Jarmo and Jacque. These great folks live about an hour and a half north of Marco and spend some time there. Jarmo (pronounced "Yarmo") is a furniture detail specialist. He works with fine wood furniture and has been at it for many years. Jacque, his bride of more than 30 years, is an artist. They come to the area, take lots of pictures and she uses those images as well as what she sees along the saltways of coastal Florida for inspiration for her art.
Jarmo and Jacque have a boat and invited us to tag along to some of their favorite local beaches and hideaways. It was spectacular, refreshing and relaxing. And, the shelling was outstanding. We had to go to the FedEx store, buy a box, bubble-wrap and tape to ship all our shells and goodies from the beach to home base in Texas. Debbie picked up three coconuts to go with all the shells, starfish, sand-dollars and stuff we found. It was pretty cool.
Along our day trip with Jarmo and Jacque, I was able to capture some of the local setting and flavor with my camera. These next few images help tell that tale.
A local, cast-netting for bait in a backwater area.
First, it's been almost two months since the last blog. Geez, when I get this busy, there's not much way to stop and take the time to select and load photos to photobucket, post and write.
Not kidding...up and running full bore at or before daylight, then non-stop, with the stage lights on and usually with someone until bedtime. Between spates of doing what I do, there's travel time.
But, I have some nice photos and short explanations to share. I hope you enjoy the images as much as I enjoy being there to shoot them.
Of course, I must start with a photo of at least one grandchild. Jentry is a living doll and a good reason I want to get up and go every day.
Early in April, I headed to Lake Vilbig to electrofish. It's an urban lake in Irving, Texas, and the landowners are salt-of-the-Earth people. I love hanging out with them. Those guys are solid gold. We shocked up lots of bass, bluegill, threadfin shad, gizzard shad, some redear sunfish, a few yellow bass, carp, gar and an occasional flathead catfish like the one in the photo.
One of the cool things about working on an urban like such as Vilbig is that you are privy to things in backyards...stuff you can't see from the street. Some folks are pretty creative with what they do...like this dragon next to the water.
On the way back home from Vilbig, I shot a photo of Texas Stadium, the day before it was imploded. Next time I head to the area, I'll try to get a shot of what's left.
After that, April 15, I helped teach a pond management field day for Grayson County in Sherman. Then, it was off to Rockport for Spring Fling and Texas Outdoor Writers Association board meeting. Debbie was able to tag along and turn it into a mini-vacation for her as well.
Then, the actual whirlwind started...lots to do in a short time. My electrofishing boat outboard motor's power pack died and it took two days to repair it. I was able to push up three electrofishing surveys and get them done before heading off on a vacation. That's right, a vacation. My entire life seems to be a vacation and I truly don't know how to act on a real one. Debbie had planned this for several months and I didn't think much about it...until it was time to go. What was I thinking? A vacation in April? I'd lost my mind. That's the peak of fisheries management season. But, I pushed everything either in front of the trip or right behind it...and we headed to Marco Island.
As you suspect, I travel quite a bit. I have some travel tips to live by...and I broke a key one on this adventure. To save $250, I booked a connecting flight. Never book a connecting flight in the spring months if you can avoid it. But, since I could save a good amount of money and catch an early flight, I thought it was a good idea. It wasn't. We sat in the plane at the gate at DFW for 2 hours, from 5:30-7:30 a.m. and missed our connection in Atlanta. We arrived Atlanta at noon. Next flight to Fort Myers? 5 pm that evening. There's only so much you can do at the Atlanta Airport for 5 hours and it's too short to leave the airport and go to the zoo. So, we ate, talked, watched people and slept.
But we got to Marco Island, checked into our accomodations next door to the Snook Inn and called it a day. Here are a few images from the week at Marco Island, Florida.
The Queen and I rode jet skis with a tour guide, looking for dolphins. When we saw a pod, we were instructed to idle up from behind and we could get pretty close. We did and they did.
Debbie and I made new friends, Jarmo and Jacque. These great folks live about an hour and a half north of Marco and spend some time there. Jarmo (pronounced "Yarmo") is a furniture detail specialist. He works with fine wood furniture and has been at it for many years. Jacque, his bride of more than 30 years, is an artist. They come to the area, take lots of pictures and she uses those images as well as what she sees along the saltways of coastal Florida for inspiration for her art.
Jarmo and Jacque have a boat and invited us to tag along to some of their favorite local beaches and hideaways. It was spectacular, refreshing and relaxing. And, the shelling was outstanding. We had to go to the FedEx store, buy a box, bubble-wrap and tape to ship all our shells and goodies from the beach to home base in Texas. Debbie picked up three coconuts to go with all the shells, starfish, sand-dollars and stuff we found. It was pretty cool.
Along our day trip with Jarmo and Jacque, I was able to capture some of the local setting and flavor with my camera. These next few images help tell that tale.
A local, cast-netting for bait in a backwater area.