Golf Day

Spent yesterday playing gold and then high times in the “Old Place” OMG this was so cool.

First we had a round of 18 holes of great golf as a foursome at Malibu Country Club. It was great weather and hot but not too hot. The golf was fun and the betting of skins was merciful light. Jeff, Nick and Brooks were good fun company. I did my fair share of good Drives and Putts. Yet I did burn through a few golf balls. The course is narrow for us duffers. If you have an inopportune hook or slice just leave it to the snakes in that wild rough.

We had many great shots by each of the golfers.. Nick has the best come from behind put on from the fringe that dropped in after a 30+ foot roll down hill and kept Jeffery from going up another skin. I had several long tee shots that landed on the green for a chance at "Greenie" side bet wins. And I got one! This doubles the winnings on that hole.

Then after the round Jeffery and I did a second 9 holes in a fresh golf cart (it is a long course with lots of hills). They even made us a deal on the price of the play as it was getting very late in the day. So Brook and Nick headed home. Jeff and I went on to play a bunch more holes and basically had the course to ourselves.

Delightful cool air and nice lingering light left us out there for a long time. It was so invigorating we kept at it for a long time. So fun.

I’m feeling a bit whooped from a total of 31 holes of golf! Jeffery then took me to get a steak dinner. A super cool place. The wine and steak and beer and banana bread pudding we had last night at the Old Place put me back in shape some. He knew what he was doing. He had been here many times before.

I was impressed with how much fun it was. Wine, Beer, Clams and STEAK. A short menu. Really fun modern update in an OLD western bar that has been there for YEARS.

http://www.oldplacecornell.com/

Dear Reader... Road Trip Tip: If you visit Los Angeles I suggest you rent a convertible so you can drive up the coast of Malibu on a sunny day. And then back via our little bit of “Out Back” of the Santa Monica Mountains. Drive home a back way up Kanan Road and some via Mulholland Hwy. A serpentine snake of a road that will be fun in a convertible and when you have no timetable to have to keep. Then do stop here. Drop out to the Freeway 101 down to 405 and home.

Weekend Warrior Fishing Tournament

Fished in the MDRA Weekend Warrior Jackpot Tournament and Chili Cook Off.

I'm pleased to say I had a great team 4 of easy going fishing friends.  3 are newer members of MDRA.  For a total of 5 fishermen on board if you count me, the captain.  Yep I even get to wet a line.

Darrell was the anchor man who had me down to get bait the day before.  And has an eye on a spot we wanted to work hard.  He has been watching the area and the birds diving on bait in that spot for some time.  John S. was the ace in the hole and cook.  Penelope, now a second year member, also did a bit of cooking to add some spice to the chili.  Jose G. the newest member of the MDRA Board of Directors was also on board to round us out.

Here we are picking up a bit more bait to make sure we have plenty.

Darrell and Penelope on Ramblin'

It was a steller day.  Blue sky and smooth water.  Also comfortable to fish in.  Not too hot.

Here is a nice view we had in the harbor.  The Coast Guard Cutter was out.  The Betty-O was moving to go pick up her passengers for the day.  The sun was up and the Harbor was ALIVE!

Fish Wish Granted:  I/We had a great day on the water with some fun people.  All happy crew!

We even got half the jackpot for our Chili contribution!  

Sincerely,

Keith L.

Below is the area we Rambled about...

View 2011-04-16 Fishing on Ramblin' in a larger map

April - name of the month finally figured out

There was this cute chick that Cesar Whatchamacallit was really sweet on...

and her name was "April" so to entice her into his parlor Cesar named a whole month in her honor. 

He lavished a Month of celebrations called April and had parades for her.


It didn't work but she had a nice shopping spree on his charge accounts. 


His mistake was the parades with all the hunky young men dancing before her all day. 

She took 10 of them home instead to her new mountain retreat. She lived long and happily having multiple men satisfy her every day.

April is a Happy Month.  The Ladies typically get their man/men in the Spring.

Recalling the best fishing prank ever pulled on me.

In a Marlin Tournament Long ago I had a fishing prank pulled on me.

Riding on a 55 foot Hatteras I think.  Owned by a Doctor.  MDRA member a long ago. (before my first boat)

The owner hooked up a bucket onto a trolling rod...  Reel screams! They are yelling to me that it's my fish.  I'm in the top of the tuna tower.  Scrambled all the way down to the deck and fought it until I saw the white bucket roll up.  Doha.  Good for Smiles all around.

I was young and green enough not to realize that I was being played from the get go as you never leave the cockpit area when you are "On" and are the next up in the rotation.

But I was brought along for my young and good eyes not for my fishing smarts.  There was a paid captain and a paid deck hand aboard for the thinking and tying the knots.

I was delivered sandwiches by the owner who did tinker tasks and galley work for the fun of it.  He sure had a lowered stress level once on the boat like that.  He was as mellow as any boat owner on the water I have ever seen.  But he loved to win when the fish came tight!

Good memories.  Just one of the many marlin boats I've had the pleasure to be on.

Thanks for the Fishing Memories.

Sending our best thoughts for strength to Scott and Jean

Our good friends boat has been captured by Somali Pirates.  We are praying for them.

"officials said they are considering a response "  Hope so.  Hope that they get them back soonest.  

They are good sane people.   They were now on the the leg of a vacation of a lifetime that heads up to the Med.  They were well aware of the situation and are very capable sailors.  

The flotilla they joined was supposed to have some support to help avoid this.

Their many friends are all pulling for their safe return.

They were not taking bibles into the middle east.   Some things are way overdone in the news and of course in the stupid blather of reply posts.  

Many of the DRYC members are being very cautious as to what we say to any public media.  We do not want to be part of the story or to inflame any of the nut-jobs out there.   The US State Department will do it's best. 


Pulling for the safe return of our friends.

Key To A Happy Marriage-and Life: Think Like an Economist

I am very appreciative of the points made here in this article...

Key To A Happy Marriage-and Life: Think Like an Economist

Now that I have reached 20 years of marriage I feel the need to figure this out as I am sliding into the second 20 years of this roller coaster.  We have traded PMS for Hot flashes.  We have the moodiness of two teen age boys in the house.  Not to mention I have my own issues and a home office and some work that needs to be done. (I'm always behind with more to do than can be done) - but I digress... This article about the economics of married life is good.

I read that article and it got me thinking.  (see above link)

- Recalling the time I was summarily dismissed from doing laundry since I was not doing it right.  I therefore give no credence to her nagging that she has to do the laundry.
- It is unreasonable for "her" to badger "him" (nag/harangue/torment) when having attempted to be participatory and helpful was told NO.

Similarly it can be just the same from "his" viewpoint, when he works and "she" does not, for him to have to do dishes.  Seems fair to him when she does not help him do his dirty work like doing his filing.

Allowing for the economic sharing of the good stuff (Love/sex/intimacy) also needs balance in appreciating how much each in his/her own way each shares the drudgery of respective work and chores.

Life in a partnership is hard.  Hard choices need to be talked about fairly.  If putting it in the framework of Economics is the way to get it to make since to your partner.  Hoot.  Maybe some marital harmony is achieved.

KL.


PS I was alone on my wedding anniversary so I had time to read.  Trish is in Hawaii.  I sent her flowers.  She left me a store bought card. with "Open on Feb 9th" on it.

PPS Special thank you to Ainahua Florals in Kamuela.  The arrangement that was delivered to the The Fairmont Orchid where Trish was staying were lovely.  

MLPA fight - Fight for openness and public access

If you know what MLPA stands for you are likely a fisherman or an ocean environmental activist.

That seems to be the two sides. But there are a lot of Californians in the middle that is drowned out by the two sets of extrema.

Partnership for Sustainable Oceans is bing misrepresented on
http://www.somethingsfishyaboutpso.com/
As if PSO is some front for money grabbing foreign corporations.

We really need to set up much better duologue with the other side of this issue.
The Brown Act violations are there for all to see. (See WONews articles)

Now if the legal thing works... we will need Fair and Balanced board members to redraw in a public way with ALL input considered fairly.

Hopefully the next set of board members will be inclusive. All users of the states natural resources need to be represented. And balanced with reasonless given to the economic and practical impacts to the fishing community. But in the end the goal is the enduring health of the ocean.

We all can agree to that last part. Both the environmental protection types and the Fishermen (conserve and protect while still usable / conservationists).

OK? "Can we all just get along?"

In the last round of the Enviro's running rough shod over the fishing interests it seems like we fishermen took that Rodney King like beating. But the failure to follow the rules of fair play is there as if on video tape.

Can we say Brown Act violations?
SECRET MLPA MEETINGS - on W O News
and
Coalition Exposes Secret MLPA Meetings - Indybay.org

etc.

We want to be nice to mother nature.

But we do not want the system to abuse those who want to go out and enjoy the fun in the sun on the water.

IMHO

Keith

PS more edits on this will be coming over time.

Super Bowl Commercials

How'd you like the Snickers commercial folks?

Did it work for you? I did not know the actor playing the chain say guy out of sorts.
“just not feeling it…”

Did You like seeing the other worker in Rosanne persona get flattened?

Some may have really laughed at that. Funniest part is that I did not laugh at all.
Must have been the employer side of me seeing the CAL OSHA law suit that results from that hit. And I felt anxiety over the pain suffering and law suit that results. That was odd. Not happy or funny at all.

As I am a big Snickers candy bar fan I would have hoped for a better advert. But this one will not affect my buying habit so it is moot for the manufacturer.

What one of the commercials Will affect your buying tendencies?

Keith L.

homework is tough on parents too

Wow.   Getting the kids to do the homework is not easy on us parents.

Thomas does not do it willingly.  Ouched myself pounding on the desk to make a point.  2 hours after my deadline to have it done by or loose your cell phone.  (which he had back in his pocket by the time he was off to school - as Mom required for her convenience. )  Now I need to get my head around this.   Algebra is hard for all of us.  Putting it off does not make it easier.   How do I get Thomas to see that.  Looking for help.

Just watched this Ted - about the future of education and that we need to work for. 





And saw an interesting one on math. Well on point for me and Thomas today.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIIWzEEC64A
it is 16 min long. But worth it in the end.

Keith

Mammoth short Ski trip - January 2011

Did a little sking with family on the first week of January.  We were rewarded with blue sky's and nice snow.

The mountain has lots of snow. The signpost on the top is so thoroughly covered...

This post is Tall.  Look how small it is now!


Mid week skiing is the best.  Short lines.  Enough room on the slopes for me to get in the high speed runs I crave.  Took some great runs.


I flew home on a Horizon Air flight out of Mammoth Lakes to get back to work.  The plane was a Bombardier Q400.  Wow was I impressed.  Liked it.  Would happily fly up or down from Los Angeles to Mammoth Lakes again in that plane.


Snapped a shot of it.  Then sent it on to my sister in law in Idaho.  Hope she got a laugh out of this.

The flight was smooth and pleasant.  Now that I know they can toss a lot of skis in the back it will be a highly recommended option for skiing friends.


Keith L.