Big Fish, Big Raises and Medical Crap...

Last Thursday, I went down to DaHole in my continued search for the BIG One. It was a beautiful day and I got down there early. My new heavy duty casting rig, I got for my birthday last year, was still a virgin, but today would change all that. I finally got both rigs all setup and in the water. I was reading the paper, er fishing, and all of a sudden, the virgin casting rig rod tip took a dive for the water. I grabbed it out of the rod holder and put it in my fighting belt and held up the rod tip and nothing was happening. I figured I had lost it. Then, it took off, about ripping the rod out of my hands. This new casting reel has a very strong drag and it took both hands to hang onto the rod as the fish was running. It was screaming line off the reel. Then, after a while, it stopped and I was able to bring some line back in. Then, it would take off again. This went on for about 20 minutes and I was getting pretty worn out. This fish was MUCH bigger than the 8'er I caught last year. When it got tired, it would just stop and I couldn't budge it. One time I thought it had somehow snagged the line on a rock or something and I was about to break the line, but then it took off again. I tried to sit down as my back was wearing out, but that didn't work with the little fighting belt I had on. I tried to put the rod butt on the ground while sitting and that didn't work either. Then, after about 30 minutes, my 50# hook leader broke and it was gone - and I was done...

It never jumped and I never saw it, so I don't know how large it was, but like I said, it was MUCH bigger than the 8'er I caught last year. I realized, again, that I didn't have the proper equipment for that sized fish. I am currently ordering a larger fighting belt and back harness to deal with these big fish.

While I was there that day, I must have seen 30 large fish jump all around DaHole. One time I watched three of them jump about 1 second apart, about 40 yards apart, in complete matched sequence. They all jumped the same way and made about the same noise/splash. It was like taking a single video clip and replicating it three times on a computer - pretty amazing.

The weather is getting a lot warmer and the fish are finally back from their long winter rest - and I am ready for them, I hope...

Last Tuesday, as I was driving to the pool tournament, I was using my little toothpick and popped off my two front lower teeth, posts and all, which had been replaced with a bridge many years ago. This totally bummed me out as I really hate looking like that. I went ahead and played, but shouldn't have as I wasn't in the mood and didn't do well at all. The next day, I went to the dentist and he glued them back on for the time being. He said they may last a day or years. I am going to an oral surgeon next week to try and figure out what is going on with my mouth after all the radiation treatment damage. My whole mouth is a mess.

Yesterday, I went to Boise for medical appts and a little shopping. I checked in with my ENT, the doctor that did my operation last September and all is great. The little pocket he fixed in my throat has opened up a little, but is no big deal and he said if it does bother me, we can do it all again...

Then, I went to see the only SLP in DaHo that knows much at all about us Larys. SLPs do all the training and fitting of the 'parts' I use to speak with. This new guy is a little weird, but again the only 'game' in 'town', as it were. He is fitting me with a new gizmo, that if it all works out right, I should finally be able to talk without using my hands and not have all the problems with the glued on plastic plates. We shall see how it all goes, but it will be great if successful.

Pam had her annual review and didn't get her usual 'Stellar' recognition. This was due to the training position she had for a while, and the associated nasty political power grabs, all of which was not suppose to influence her gold support review. Her boss was not right in how it was done and she stuck to her 'guns' and was able to produce documentation, and prove to them that they were wrong - and did end up getting her proper recognition and increased raise. So, congratulations to her for not letting it slide and proving she was right.

Well, I had to mow the lawn for the first time this year, so its back to the 'hell' of warm weather Estate maintenance here in DaHo...