Emerald Lake

We went up Thursday and returned Monday.  

Fished with Lee and Carlee.  We soon dropped Carlee off since she was more interested in seeing Kathy than us.  Caught a few but not enough to keep for dinner.  I always enjoy learning about fishing from others.

Cut up some of a large tree down in the woods.  Seems we had more down this summer than usual and that will keep us busy on our next visit.  Will split the logs and use them for heat when it turns cold.  In addition, we finally got Curt back out to finish fixing the space heater--new burner and blower switch--to use in colder weather also.

Painted ceiling in bedroom, dusted walls, and washed windows.  A long process but everything looks great.  We still have more areas to paint.

Went to Lee and Carrie's for Carlee's birthday part.  Great fish fry--must be a fine lake that produces such good fish.  Maybe next trip I will catch enough for us to have a fish fry.

Another memorable visit to the lake.

C-note

It finally happened.  $100 for one visit to a gas station.  I could have spent more but the pump limited me to $100.  Even with my credit card.  Granted, I filled the Expedition and put an additional 7 gallons in cans.  And the price per gallon was below $4.00 per gallon.  Happy days are here again!

Lions First Exhibition

Interesting game.  Some good spots--Kitna to Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams among others.  

And some bad.  Reports are they want to emphasize the running game.  They may be emphasizing it, but they are not successful with it.  Another personnel issue.  Running backs and blocking linemen are needed.  And if they cannot run the ball, the passing game will be adversely affected.  Another result of Millen's drafts.

But it's only preseason.

GO LIONS

Stick a Fork in Them

The Tigers are in a most disappointing season.  Millions paid to bring high quality players to a team that performed well over the last two seasons.  Granted, those two might have been aberrations.  But the off-season signings were to make this team a power.  Only Miguel Cabrera seems to be living up to his pay grade.

The pitching has also been much of the problem, in part due to Dontrel Willis's inability to throw the ball over the plate (his motion is being reworked in Lakeland).  Injuries, age, fatigue.  And pitching is the major part of what the Tigers gave up off season--good, young pitchers.  Granted most were untested, but those who threw well in the "bigs".  And some young positions players were also dealt with disappointing performances by their replacements. 

All that said, we are going to a Tigers' game tomorrow and will have a great time.  We still love to see major league baseball.  GO TIGERS.

Randy Pausch

... has given his last lecture.  He died July 25.

Thank you Randy for sharing your thoughts about childhood dreams.  

Klotz Lake Fishing Camp 2008

On Friday, July 25, Ken, Jim, and I car pooled with Al and Paul from Almont to our first night's stay in Wawa, Ontario.  About 10 hours to cover the 45o or so miles (750 km, eh?)

Saturday morning we drove the remaining four hours to Klotz Lake and unpacked for the week.  

As it turned out, the weather that day foretold the weather for the week--rainy and cool.  I tolerated some rain and drizzle but retreated indoors when it got heavy.  Likewise with the black flies--veterans of this camp say they have never seen it worse.  Ken and Paul got peppered with bites early and often.  I learned my lesson my first time out without repellent and thereafter covered exposed areas with it.  My mama didn't raise no dummies!

On my first excursion on the lake, with Ken and Jim, I landed my biggest walleye of the week, about 20".  Then on my last trip out, with Hank and his son Nick (who taught me the card game Kings to the Corner), I caught my biggest Great Northern Pike at 30" (a personal best).  All in all, I did much better catching this year than last, getting fish in the boat each day.   The knowledge everyone is sharing with me seems to be paying off.

Scott and Hope, friends of Ken, joined us Monday as did Hope's mother's boyfriend, Roger on Thursday.  Good people to be around and good at fishing.  Hope landed the biggest walleye at 28" (she comes up for the break from the kids, fishes little, reads voraciously) which bothered Scott more than somewhat.  To keep his mind off it we had him deep fry our three fish dinners!  Fabulous.  Not to mention Roger's maple syrup for pancake breakfasts.

We finished another fun trip with a straight-through drive getting home around midnight.  Now to get my laundry done.