Where do I start? First thanks! I think most everyone will talk about how great it was to match faces with names, to hangout together, to learn as I did from many of the speakers. However it was even more for me and I did not even realize it until I got home. Cody you know me usually quick answers mostly b/c I�m not a wordsmith and pretty busy. However wanted to tell a little story to express what I gained from this meeting. Matt also said to tell everyone what a great time he had. He is now trying to figure out a good name for posting on here.

We arrived in ATL to unreal heat 90 degrees (about 20 higher than normal). I kinda hated to land b/c I was just getting into Bob�s new book. I was the first paid customer btw and proud of it. Our baggage was lost for a brief period but that gave time for my wife to bring in Wyatt my 9 month old. What a feeling to see a smile that big and reaching out for hugs and to be held once he figures out who you are. Once we got home Wyatt and I both took a nap (rare event for me).

After a nap we loaded up in the stroller. We took a walk down to the new fifth pond, tiny one and saw our first fish in there, some fatheads stocked on Friday, cool. Wyatt noticed all the tadpoles as well. Then threw out some food for the hungry trout in pond #2. Wyatt giggled as they feed like crazy since not being fed sicne thursday. From there up the hill to my neighbors pond that my house over looks. I thought this thing needs some fertilizer asap it is so clear. No problem with that however on this day it allowed me to see some amazing things. A big fat crappie was hanging out in the edge of a tree I cut down last year.

Then a school of 6-7 inch bass came by and I thought Lusk would call those teenage punks looking to cause trouble. I saw no less than 30 bass in the next 15 mins as well as 8 different beds being guarding by the males. The weather while I was gone had fired up the fish. I watched a bluegill suck in some algae then spit it out, what Cody did he just consume? I know there was some zooplankton mixed in there. Just beside the male bluegill was a female redear well over 10 inches pulling in gravel substrate and spitting it out I watched it several times, prepping her bed.

We walked back into the cove and there a big 3 lb female was being swarmed by a smaller � lb male bass. Man did she have some awesome patterns. Wyatt could see some of this but also enjoyed the new stick he found he chewed on it like it was a cookie. The dogs were running and rustling in the leaves while I could hear water running into the pond from the upstream source as it trickled over the rocks. We saw a woodie fly in but flew away as Wyatt said �bah� as he pointed at it. I guess they might be using that wood duck box after all. We even got to see a heron fly in and I did not even get upset to see him.

Wyatt pointed as Xena the bird dog (you know they normally do not like to swim) was making a loop around the pond I guess to cool off. We walked back down the hill close to the road just in time to see the Belted Callaway cows the locals call them oreo cows black white then black. They were walking really close to the road. Along came the zebra donkey mix (folks stop on weekend to take pictures) that keeps guard over the cows, Wyatt never got see them better than this. We were about to head back home when the guinea chickens flew close by making that crazy call they make, Wyatt just laughed. I got home and we were gone about an hour and told my wife that was about the coolest hour I have ever had.

I know I would not have enjoyed it so much if it was not for this meeting. I enjoy what I do but am rushed for time on most pond sites. I did not even realize the meeting until then helped me to gain back the passion for ponds and the outdoors that I had when I got into this business. All of this really happened does it happen every day and I just miss it. Either way THANKS EVERYONE! I will try to take some time in my busy schedule to enjoy this wonderful field I work in.

Greg Grimes
www.lakework.com