Adventures with rod and reel.

Adventures with rod and reel.

My Uncle was a man of fun hobbies and adventures from building up a Jeep from a crate to luring fish. For many years he didn't have someone on the short side to follow him around of his own so I readily volunteered. To this day I only recall him getting on me about something a two or three times. Once for a cast with a hook grazing him and then later in my days for some not so good of thinking with a life choice. That Jeep took us to some remotely situated holes with the likes of which people take ya blind folded and threaten your next of kin if the secret ever leaves your mouth. My uncle was the type to sneak up on those fish that they didn't see it coming and warn the rest of them. Those fish feared his name. One of those days we happened to be at a spot we called the glory hole. We hadn't been there long and were saving those fish from drowning left and right when all of a sudden there is some serious crashing in the trees and brush near us. The hair stood straight up on my already buzz cut head and I look around trying to see if I was about to be done fishin for life. Then I see it. A badger! Between me and the Jeep now where to go. Almost fell in the good ole glory hole. One wild experience too say the least. Not every trip was as wild with the uncle but good times just the same. I can't recall if I caught my first fish on trips with the uncle but my biggest string full sure was and yeppers it happened at the glory hole. Made many a trip to the glory hole and other goodies along Caulk Creek, corn creek, maple Creek to name a few but the best ones will forever remain a secret between a boy and his uncle.

I have fished many a lake and stream in my many of days. The only time I ventured a fishing trip on a Sunday I found some bad luck. New Shakespeare pole and reel and thinking this was my day to hook the big one. I went early to one of those secret spots and thinking I could get the limit quickly and of course a nap. After a few good casts I get a fine hit to the line set me some hook. Then would ya know my foot had the crazy notion to slide backwards on slippery bottom of a cheap rental tinny boat. Try to save grace and pride I grabbed for the side of the boat and let go of the pole. Scrambling frantically all I could get was a fist full of Moss and water as I see the pole make haste and leave me. I can honestly say to this day even when I wasn't doing the best in life with something's I never fished among other things ever again on a Sunday.

I spent many a trip with a brother in law also. I remember one trip in particular as it was the first time I had gone ice fishing. Early morning, we went to Strawberry where fishing was said to be happening. We punched some holes and did our best to stay warm.  The first fish I hooked as it neared the hole looked too big to come through the small hole. Wow! We were pulling in fish about as fast as we could bait the lines and sink them. About forty minutes later we had the limit and a fine keep. Rather than being cold any longer we headed for a nice grill in Heber for some breakfast. As much as I like to catch fish and save them from drowning, I love me some bacon and eggs too. I'm not much for eating fish so those that know me well know that if you on a trip with me you may well end up with my stringer also.

In the dozen plus years being around various groups of teenagers I have seen some crazy and astounding things fishing. From scouts to foreign exchange students you see it all. Kids catching bushes, fingers, Moss, boat seats, and some of the friends. Yes, and some of the best fishermen and gals. Some of the most fun was finding some that fit the joking of swallowing a story hook, line, and sinker. It always added to the fun of the trip.

Two things that go together are naps and angling. But time spent with family and friends is the most important things. Many of my kids enjoy angling and some even like to eat fish. Lots of great memories with kids and my wife. Fishing with a small boy that graced our family for a time with some special needs was of course a very unique experience but a very special memory too. I look forward to building the same memories with the next generation of anglers in the family now that there are grand kids to have fun with also.

A lot of well-known people enjoyed and still enjoy fishing in its many forms like George Washington, Herbert Hoover, Kevin Costner, and Jack Nicklaus to name a few. But with that said none of those compares to my awesome angling Uncle. But there are a few that may surprise you now and then like Thomas Monson. So if you’re going to set the bar I put my Uncle up there with Pres Monson, and Peter of old, and yes the greatest Fisher of men the Savior. Besides being able to catch fish it is a good thing to catch the souls of men from drowning also.

Sleep deprived and other interesting peeps.

Sleep deprived and other interesting peeps.

Having been a bit in need of sleep countless times in my life, I can see how crazy people can act at times in life. I add to that the sometimes effect of too large a dose of some commonly used allergy remedies. Knowing me to be at a time early in my life missing a few of my digits and being something rarely brought up in most conversations. Normally things said at late night or very early morning hours would be forgotten by most but I challenged a promise that it could very well find its way blogged. Of course I will in my own way tell about the event with some added coloring of embellishment.

During a late night at my in-laws around Christmas, the slightly older bunch were engaged in playing games. A sister in law having come in contact with something that her body deems bad, and thus partook of Benadryl. The comment was made that surely someone must be holding out on the playing of game pieces. I piped up let me see. Not playing the game myself I figured it to be safe. Nope! The sleep deprived and Benadryl impaired sister in law snaps out "don't touch it or you'll lose another finger". Shock filled the room and the shock was extremely viewed on her face. It was kind of sure embarrassment and she was red in the face. She apologized quickly for the rash outburst. To break the thickness of tension I joke of it and gave a laugh. It's all good with me because I know the feeling of sleep deprivation and the combined effects of your average allergy remedies.

Lesson of the story be as we often say things that cause us resentment in moments of anger, delirium, and pain. Remember we are human and we are striving for some day to find some degree of perfection in our lives. Asking for forgiveness for these moments is key. So forgive me for in some way using you (my sister in law) for this posting but it may be of use to some soul someday also. Be careful also as to the things you think someone may have said that are not meant as we take them. Never assume that it was meant as a dagger aimed to stab us and cause pain. Often if we want to be offended we look for things to claim. Always give the benefit of doubt and know that we don't have a full story to go on. Good to pray for understanding and let God. God loves us in spite of our character flaws, lack of sleep, lack of understanding, and times of failure. May we ever be blessed to be more understanding and forgiving of others.

Brown paper bags.

Brown paper bags.

I have been accused of being on one side or the other of the political debate but be it known that I side with none of them. Truth be told I consider politicians to all be in somewhat the same kind of packaging in one way or another. That is right call them what they are bags. Whether it is carpet bags, dirt bags, scum bags, brown bags, douche bags, free bags, dirty laundry bags, trash bags, flea bags, etc. I am kind of like one of those ancient Greeks that liked a show of fight to the finish in the old colosseums. I would of course prefer that none of them win or come out of it alive and it be a total elimination of the participants. Some would want to argue the point of this side is the best or this is the worst and to that I do not debate because they are all politicians. Some of histories finest leaders did so not for gain but to help the true cause of man and the need to be free. Be it as it is we do have possibly a few that start out to be on the right side of freedom but somewhere along the way find power and it grabs them and their egos and drops them in to dark thinking. Yes, there be few who try even at that to always do the right thing but remain the ever increasing few.

Be it to some that voting is of useless nature and that it doesn’t change the course of things I say not true. It is when good men do nothing that evil prospers. As told a few years ago a good religious leader was said to of told a friend that said he wasn’t going to vote. The friend said why vote for the lesser of two evils, because it is still evil. The good leader said vote for the best choice you can see and let God work his hand in making what he can. By not voting we thus allow the greater of evil to rein instead. Being a now constitutional right not seen in many days of past, vote.

 Although many claim that most religious organizations force their hand in the political arena, people still have their agency to vote accordingly. Many still forget that this country was founded on the basic freedoms we have driven by the desire for religious freedom. Don’t ever think for a minute that the drafters of the constitution believed that God did not have a part in their work. In a time when we as a people forget and throw out The Bill of Rights, The Constitution, and The Declaration of Independence and think that we can easily return to being free without the help from Devine intervention in any amount. The thought of repeating history when we either don’t know it or fail to understand it is a fact of the down fall of nations of greatness. We should in no way under estimate the powers of evil and to hold it can have on the hearts of men. Rome wasn’t built in a day but it fell within only just few days.

Remember that to denounce war is saintly but to shun those that stand for us should it be placed upon us is a disgraceful act. During the revolutionary war of the United States of America there were many that protested fighting from leaving the allegiance for the king of England. Many of them suffered at the hands of both sides and they were often considered deserters where ever they were by both sides. Many good people I know serve or have served in the armed forces. I thank you greatly and yes they are under paid and under appreciated by far.

 While I am here I will put it out there also that most if not all law enforcement get a bad rap from a few that choose to not act in a proper fashion with their jobs. For the most part all of them try to do the right thing and be as good as they can possibly be under the circumstances they face day in and day out. There are many that are close friends of mine. There are some people who would like you to believe they are singled out, but all lives matter to someone whether it is a parent, child, spouse, uncle, aunt, grand parent, grand child, or friend. We hope that each day they are safe from those with not so good of intent. There are many unsung heroes of every day to add to this like Fire fighters, nurses, etc.

Remembering the past should if anything helps us to not throw away our future. Stand for freedom and right but stand for a just cause. As Moroni of old said “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and peace, our wives, and our children (Alma 46:12).

May we always cherish our freedom and work to stay free!

Hang'n with a one-year-old.

Hang'n with a one-year-old.

Challenging to some and not for others. Most toddlers have in their fuel tank enough energy at least twenty times of that of most adults. For a few of us it would be more like fifty times more energy. Hanging out with a grandson full of energy can of course be a challenge in keeping up with him but a blessing in keeping my mind in constant thinking mode of how to stay a step ahead of him. He has the built and mannerisms of a bit older and larger version with a Nick name of the bull Dozer. Yeppers if it crashes, bangs, beeps, or makes a big sound he likes it. A can with small tiles is more exciting to him then the contents with in. Whether he is eating a sandwich or pulling the longer whiskers on my face I relish the energy he has. One super proud papa that gets the opportunity to play, attend, watch, and hug him.

On some day in the near future we will of course have to write about the sister with the attitude. But for now it will be another day. They say hanging with your grandkids helps ward off dementia. If that proves true I should be sharp as a tac, unless dealing with our children has damaged my mind in other ways.