This is just fun

The one that got away

While at home over Thanksgiving break I found a fish. This isn't just an ordinary fish. It's not the scrod that mom was preparing for dinner and it wasn't Kristin’s goldfish. This was my dad's musky. It's about 4 feet long and he's been hanging out in our basement mounted on a plaque for over 20 years.
A few years ago my mom caught a fish. She's caught several since then, but this one was particularly interesting. He was a big fish; almost as big as my dads. Catching him was fun, bringing him in was tiring, and sitting on him so he didn’t thrash around in the boat was difficult. Literally, we had seat cushions on him.
This was the last day of vacation and we had our fill of fish for the trip. He would make a wonderful set of meals. He'd probably last the entire week. However we couldn't take him with us, and we certainly couldn't eat that much over night. The worst part was that we had no camera. Would anyone believe we caught this monster of a fish without the actual proof? Of course we had no cell phone cameras. There was no reception in the middle of the lake, what good were they.
As this 3'+ pike lay gasping in the bottom of the boat, the three of us sat pondering what to do with him. In between wiping fish scales off our brows, and shifting our weight to keep him from thrashing, we came to our conclusion.
To keep him would mean absolute proof. My mom would have a fish mounted on the wall next to my dad, and we would be able to give the fish away to all the neighbors, have our pic taken with him, and a sense of pride.
To throw him back would mean that he'd live and swim about, making more baby pike. We wouldn't waste a fish.


We threw him back. We didn't need the meat; my mom didn't want the plaque. The lake wanted the fish.

its in the eye of the beholder

I found this today. It makes me think twice about using Photoshop.

http://www.campaignforrealbeauty.com/

your daily dose of what?

It's 3:30 am. This is not an usual time for me. What's unusual is that I have to be up in 3.5hrs for a haircut. Pretty damn early, don't you think?
I hope my hair stylist is awake.
I really hope that he hasn't chosen today to go cold turkey with caffiene.

That man is grumpy without his daily gallon the delectable beverage. I, on the otherhand am very much awake. I just drove from Pittsburgh to Harrisburg and had an iced coffee not too long ago. Whereas it didn't do a damn thing to keep me awake while driving, I now feel like my eyes are being pulled open and my eyeballs are going to just roll out of their sockets.

That just reminded me of Uma in Kill Bill II. Just don't step on the eyeball, please.

...and the kitchen sink

Last night Rachele Brian and I went for a run. This wasn't just a typical jog thru shadyside. It was in Homewood Acres- where they just installed their Christmas lights. It was an enjoyable jog with numerous other runners/walkers. The lights were sparkling, the 12 days of christmas was playing and everyone was adorned with glowsticks and bells. The unfortunate part was that it was 5 miles and 50 minutes of constant rain-on a rather hilly course. Afterwards my legs didn't exist. They didn't hurt, they weren't numb- I ceased to acknowledge thir presence. Today is about the same.
Following the race I came back and made dinner. I forgot about the rice and burnt it. I'm not talking about scorching the bottom- this rice was brown the entire way thru. I smelled it in the other room and thought the neighbors were making some strange dish with peanutbutter and popcorn.
Thinking I might have an relaxing night of sleep, I went to bed early. This, unfortunately, gave my subconsious to come up with strange things to dream about. The best was a large fuzzy black spider. This was a very pro-active spider and when it was frightened(which apparently was all the time) it would charge. Someone finally found a can of Raid and sprayed the critter to death. Don't worry, he put up a good fight. Upon further inspection this spider turned out to be a large mutant sea urchan with legs. Maybe I should make a holster for my Raid can.

Ben, I feel like I should slam my own fingers in a door - can you give me some pointers?

Literary suggestions

I just finished The Life of Pi. The beginning of the book was a bit slow, but it was essential. Without it, the book would be merely the recount of an event.

After reading Pi I realized something. I enjoy Stephen King's books. I don't enjoy them for the gory story line or the horrific events that happen to his characters. What I like is the amount of detail he goes thru to describe the character's surroundings, past history, or current situation. One is presented with a very vivid picture and combined with the nature of his work, it is very powerful. Get attached to these people is common, but unfortunately, most of them die.

Whereas Pi doesn't contain as much detail, it is not essential to the overall motive. King's motive is to frighten you- give you a sensory overload of sight, smell, texture, and atmosphere. Pi is to give a slightly deeper message.


I am open for suggestions on what to read next. I am starting Ishmael, but I have a feeling I'll be thru that in a week or 2. Cast your votes.

envy, failure, and greatness

ENVY
I don't like that word. I don't like its implications or the negative feelings that suround it. When you get down to it- It's probably one emotion that I despise the most. Anger and hurt are there too, but those are for a different post.

I feel its the only applicable word in this situation. Adam recently went to Africa for a trip. I'm not positive where or for how long, but I know he had a good time. I wish that I would be able to go to remote and far off places also. Ok, I just returned from Europe, but its much more difficult for me to travel at this point in my life. I can, but with school, work, and a job search- my opportunities are limited.
I was recently asked- Would I move to another country to live? With the potential to actually move, obtain a job, take up residency, and assimlate into the culture, I was apprehensive. However with the thought of being able to experience a new way of life, language, and expand my world- I would be biting at the bit to go. Most situations that I am aprehensive about are the best ones to be in. I do not like change, and I fight it. I know that it is necessary and I should embrace it more. As I'm getting older, I am becoming aware of more dangers in life- the risks involved and evaluating decisions more thoroughly. Sometimes these need to be tossed out the window and take a chance. Greatness is achieved in such ways. The worst that could happen? Failure. Live, learn, and try again.
Good job, Adam.