Lucy in training

She's currently learning to "sit". And doing a very good job at that.

I hope to have a frisbee partner in the future... we'll see.

Princess Luciana trying to get Holly

She's such a treat. She's not that settled in, yet. Still getting accustomed to the new surroundings.

We were out in the driveway and she saw Holly on the porch. She tried to get through the railing, but couldn't figure that out. She totally missed the stairs. I don't think she's fond of stairs.

Check it out on the video.

Only fish all day, but worth it.

Nick and Chase and I went to Black Shoals (Randay Poynter) saturday to scratch up some largemouth.

Chase caught the first, a crappie, I think, and therefore was the winner of the "hashbrowns". Good on him!

Nick said he lost a healthy one in the first cove to the left, heading south. I think it was on a rattle-trap.

We docked up around 1130 and went back to the truck to warm up. It was a bit nipply.

The water temp went from 48-49 south of the docks and 50-51 up towards the north, more shallow areas.

I got this one on the right bank looking in the "Beaver Spillway". I had tried the left opening and the middle of the spillway and on a whim cast to the right side of the bank that was bare clay with no vegetation next to the water.

When I felt the tap-tap, I figured it was a small fish, so I just tried to keep a little tension on the line. The fish was pretty slow because it was hard to tell if the line was moving. I tugged on the line, felt "La Resistance" and BAM! There he was.

He didn't fight much because I was reeling like a freak! Yelling to Nick to "Bring the Camera".

When it broke water, I realized how nice he was. And then to land him in the boat! "Nice Fish!"

I think all-in-all, we had a good time. It's nice to be able to jam out in a hurry and get to a nice fishing hole with little hassle. Today would have been a great opportunity, but alas, it is better to forge forward than to look backwards.

A huge "Thank You" to our Creator for blessing us with such beautiful natural resources. Amen.

Let the madness begin

i've been dreading this for over 2 weeks. WSB750 has been reporting waits of 3 - 6 hours for early voting.

I told my Daughter we'd have to get up early and maybe we'd be in the front of the line.

Well, we showed up @ 0630 and imagine our surprise!

we've been in line for 30 minutes now.

The line is now twice as long as when we got here.

*UPDATE*
We finished and left @ 815am. The line outside was about a third as long as the line we stood in.

Daredevil Mackie

Shes loving the ramp! I'm just waiting for the "big one". Gotta love it. She's not timid, that's for sure.

Ricky be in the Windy City

Just had some Chicago stle pizza! Sweeeet!

Yet another use for...

Duct tape! Check it out! The ivy is actually taped to the wall! This is at the Days Inn in downtown Asheville,NC. Not the spiffiest hotel I've been in, but a place to sleep and shower nonetheless.

Anyway, for those wondering how to train ivy to climb a wall, study the example above.

An Irish toast...

May those that love us, love us;
and to those that don't love us,
May God turn their hearts;
and if He doesn't turn their hearts,
may He turn their ankles
so we'll know them by their limping.

Creative Office Quips...

1. Obviously you're unable to assimilate my stimulating concepts into your blighted and simplistic world-view.

2. I don't know what your problem is, but I'll bet it's hard to pronounce.

3. Any connection between your reality and mine is purely coincidental.

4. I can see your point, but I still think you're full of it.

5. I like you. You remind me of me when I was young and stupid.

6. What am I? Flypaper for freaks!?!?

7. I'm not being rude. You're just insignificant.

8. I'll give you a nice, shiny quarter if you'll go away.

9. I'm already visualizing the duct tape over your mouth.

10. I will always cherish the initial misconceptions I had about you.

11. It's a thankless job, but I've got a lot of Karma to burn off.

12. Yes, I am an agent of Satan, my duties are largely ceremonial.

13. How about never? Is never good for you?

14. I'm really easy to get along with once you people learn to worship me.

15. You sound reasonable. It must be time to up my medication.

16. You're just jealous because the little voices talk to ME.

17. I'll try being nicer if you'll try being smarter.

18. I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message...

19. I don't work here. I'm a consultant.

20. Who me? I just wander from room to room.

HUH?

People suffering from paraskavedekatriaphobia, the fear of Friday the 13th, can now relax for a while. They won't have to deal with another Friday the 13th until next February

Fresh Puppy Meat

Dude! This is not mainstream as far as I know. Wonder if it tastes like chicken? I had no idea you could order dog meat (and cat for that matter) online. Is PETA making a stink about this?

Get your fresh puppy meat here.

Apparently in China, they're trying to save face. No dog meat during the Olympics. I guess they did the same thing in 1988 in Korea, too.

Things that make ya go "Hmmmmm?"

You gotta be kiddin me!

Out for 4 hours and this is what I get. Be warned, bucket mouths. I will get you. By hook or by ... Crook...creek...sumthin like that. You're mine. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Docks Oyster House

This place was the highlight of my visit to NJ. Talk about top notch! It is a historical treasure if you ask me. I had a Belgian white beer that was to die for, a tomato and onion salad with blue cheese, and a crusted tuna steak that was probably the best in the world...like a sashimi it was raw in the middle, but seared and herb crusted on the outside. WOW.

The Taj was cool, where I played my first real no limit holdem. What a great experience! I made it through 8 rounds, but couldn't catch any decent cards and eventually had to go all in to avoid getting blind/antied out. You shoulda seen me shaking on the first hand...my heart was racing! Truly awesome. Maybe another time i'll do better.

If you never have to go to Atlantic City, jersey, no worries. Its a dump.

What is cool is driving through the countryside . We passed a military test site and Fort Dix - oooh rah!

I'm home now and thankful to be! Catch yall later!

Nice fish!

Caught this one on lake lanier just trolling in my bass buggy. I thot I got snagged on a branch but it kept coming. Heck of a fight for such a small bass.

What a great weekend tho!. Jim, Cindy and james came up and we had a ball! A buncha good grub on the grill, some frosty adult beverages and a killer thunderstorm about 3am this morning. Tons of lightning, thunder and a cooling rain.

Now I gotta get ready to go to philly and do a tradeshow.
Wish me luck!

Nicky G's new lid

Its a bit dry, but you get the point...

What a great time!

We met some great neighbors, ate pork tenderloin off the grill, swam in the lake, went to the water park, went fishing, wrecked on my bike and went over the handle bars, and relaxed. Everyone should have that much fun!

Well, back to chores. Take care, y'all.

Oh yeah. We be camping.

Dude. Simply awesome. Nice evening. Bear grills got nuthin on us. Well, maybe sumthin. Fugedaboutit. We're under the stars.

Gotta go.

Mackie rides a 2 wheeler !

For the first time! Just got the right size bike, took off the training wheels, and BAM! Shes good to go! Sweet!

Just stopped across the border in AL

Wish we had these monuments on every corner! Thanx to all our soldiers, near and far. Semper Fi! Ooh Rah! May God keep you safe.

My little fisher girl

Shes been practicing her casting. Can't wait to get out in the water and hog em up! BTW...I got a new tag for Trout Unlimited . Sweeeeeet.

Oh my gosh! A SNAKE!

I was moving a plant we got at Lowes,and Hello! Theres a little slithery snakey snake! You shoulda seen me trying to catch it.. Trust me, i'm no Jeff Corwin!

So, we have it in Paige's bug cage, waiting to show Mommy!
She'll be thrilled!

Mackie and the caterpillar

She's all about being inquisitive. Not so sure about the snake...

The birds are havin a ball...

I just missed recording a big cardinal on the feeder.

The pollen is thick, we had a pretty sunday and spring is full on. We even have a new nest in one of the ferns on the porch.

I think the birds in the video are finches or something.

BTW...Global warming has shot the temperature to a whopping 45. Oh...yeah..I forgot, the low is supposed to be around 39. And, um, might get flurries in north GA.

Things that make ya go "Hmmmmm..."

A little video of us canoeing

Click here to see point to point on Google Maps

Canoeing the Etowah...

WOW! What a treat. We spent almost 3 hours paddling about 8.5 miles down the Etowah river. It was shallow in some spots but we didn't have any problems getting through .
There was one spot where we had to get 'Tank' over a large fallen log but theres another log next to it that helps.

The weather was perfect and I know that as summer comes this stretch of river will get some good use.

BTW: if you click the pic, it will blow it up and you can see a deer drinking from the river...

Cheers!

[Fwd: Thank you for Contacting Governor Perdue]

This is the response I received after sending Governor Perdue an email through the state website.....I had sent him an email about supporting HB89 which will allow those of us with concealed firearms licenses to carry in places like restraunts, public transportation (MARTA), and parks/WMA's.  People need to realize that laws prohibiting concealed weapons only affects people that obey the law.  Its the perps that don't care about the law and carry wherever they want.  Why not make the field level.  The chances of being harmed by a person with a concealed weapons license are essentially ZERO.  Being harmed by someone that is not licensed is WAY higher.

-------- Original Message --------

Subject:	Thank you for Contacting Governor Perdue
Date:	Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:18:40 -0400 (EDT)
From:	Governor's Office <governor(at)gov.state.ga.us>
To:	rhall(at)rixworld.com

Thank you very much for making your views known.  
Your message will be shared with Governor Perdue.   

Riding the new Razor scooter

She rode it over 2 miles...

Another one bites the dust!

Note to self: trucks and telephone poles don't mix.

Mackie at mulberry

We rode almost 2.5 miles!

Amway Grand Plaza Hotel - Grand Rapids

Can you believe, this hotel charges you for internet access? you gotta be kidding me. $10 for 24 hours of access. Granted, the place is beautiful. The staff are fantastic. But, charge me for internet access????? Come on! Get with the program! My local coffee shop, Taco Mac, and countless other establishments will give up free wireless to attract customers and this HUGE hotel has to charge the guests? WTF?

Grossly disappointed.