It doesn't take a whole bunch to make a summer a summer to remember. A trip to the old Olympia Brewery for some "cousins" from Arizona, a good day fishing with the grand son at Long's Pond, a simple hike through the forest to the bend in the Skookumchuck River by the tracks where you used to skinny dip as a kid... there's so much more, so little time.

I love the fall in Washington State. It comes in unexpectedly and before you know it we're consumed by the fog, the mist, the 80 degree days and 30 degree nights. Fall opens the door for Washington's winter. Fall ensures those storms that have been held at bay by the summer are finally, finally given the opportunity to come ashore. And they do... wind, rain, sleet, trees down, rivers flooding, tides going awry... the fall.

I love the fall in Washington State...

Just some more pics of my office...

So often we get caught up in our daily lives that we don't stop long enough to look around, take a breath and just take in that which is given to all of us... all around us... every day!

Look at what we take for granted and what we fail to recognize.

As I travel in my work I have opportunities to travel to places where very few persons have visited, let alone seen. It's my goal to share some of these with those of us who may wish to see them.

These are places I visited last week while at "work". These places were in need of a puzzle solver and so I went to solve the puzzles. Merrill Lake (upper left), Skate Creek (upper right) and the Carbon River drainage (bottom two).

This is the part of my job that I love...

Enjoy!

From another email...

Thanks Glena for the great email... enlightening and soooo true...


Subject: Mexican fisherman

A boat docked in a tiny Mexican village. An American tourist complimented the Mexican fisherman on the quality of his fish and asked how long it tookhim to catch them.

"Not very long," answered the Mexican.

"But then, why didn't you stay out longer and catch more?" asked theAmerican.

The Mexican explained that his small catch was sufficient to meet his needs and those of his family.

The American asked, "But what do you do with the rest of your time?"

"I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, and take a siesta with my wife. In the evenings, I go into the village to see my friends, have a few drinks, play the guitar, and sing a few songs . . I have a full life."

The American interrupted, "I have an MBA from Harvard and I can help you! You should start by fishing longer every day. You can then sell the extra fish you catch. With the extra revenue, you can buy a bigger boat."

And after that?" asked the Mexican.

With the extra money the larger boat will bring, you can buy a second one and a third one and so on until you have an entire fleet of trawlers. Instead of selling your fish to a middle man, you can then negotiate directly with the processing plants and maybe even open your own plant. You can then leave this little village and move to Mexico City, Los Angeles, or even New York City! From there you can direct your huge new enterprise."

"How long would that take?" asked the Mexican.

"Twenty, perhaps twenty-five years," replied the American.

"And after that?"

"Afterwards? Well my Friend, That's when it gets really interesting," answered the American, laughing. "When your business gets really big, you can start selling stocks and make millions!"

"Millions? Really? And after that?" said the Mexican.

"After that you'll be able to retire, live in a tiny village near the coast, sleep late, play with your children, catch a few fish, take a siesta with your wife and spend your evenings drinking and enjoying your friends."

And the moral is: Know where you're going in life... you may already be there.

An email received... Hilarious!!!

I received this email from a good friend who seems to forward to me all of his email (and other people's email too I think)... nevertheless, this one is hilarious! It's about questions tourists and potential tourists ask Australians. Here it is...

Subject: Visitors to Australia--Question and Answer Sessions


Q: Does it ever get windy in Australia? I have never seen it rain on TV, how do the plants grow? (UK).

A: We import all plants fully grown and then just sit around watching them die.


Q: Will I be able to see kangaroos in the street? (USA)

A: Depends how much you've been drinking.


Q: I want to walk from Perth to Sydney - can I follow the railroad tracks?

(Sweden)

A: Sure, it's only three thousand miles, take lots of water.


Q: Is it safe to run around in the bushes in Australia? (Sweden)

A: So it's true what they say about Swedes.


Q: Are there any ATMs (cash machines) in Australia? Can you send me a list of them in Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville and Hervey Bay? (UK)

A: What did your last slave die of?


Q: Can you give me some information about hippo racing in Australia? (USA)

A: A-fri-ca is the big triangle shaped continent south of Europe. Aus-tra-lia is that big island in the middle of the Pacific which does not.. oh forget it. Sure, the hippo racing is every tuesday night in Kings Cross. Come naked.


Q: Which direction is North in Australia? (USA)

A: Face south and then turn 180 degrees. Contact us when you get here and we'll send the rest of the directions.


Q: Can I bring cutlery into Australia? (UK)

A: Why? Just use your fingers like we do.


Q: Can you send me the Vienna Boys' Choir schedule? (USA)

A: Aus-tri-a is that quaint little country bordering Ger-man-y, which is.. oh forget it. Sure, the Vienna Boys Choir plays every Tuesday night in Kings Cross, straight after the hippo races. Come naked.


Q: Can I wear high heels in Australia? (UK)

A: You are a British politician, right?


Q: Are there supermarkets in Sydney and is milk available all year round?

(Germany)

A: No, we are a peaceful civilization of vegan hunter/gatherers. Milk is illegal.


Q: Please send a list of all doctors in Australia who can dispense rattlesnake serum. (USA)

A: Rattlesnakes live in A-meri-ca which is where YOU come from. All Australian snakes are perfectly harmless, can be safely handled and make good pets.


Q: I have a question about a famous animal in Australia, but I forget its name. It's a kind of bear and lives in trees. (USA)

A: It's called a Drop Bear. They are so called because they drop out of Gum trees and eat the brains of anyone walking underneath them. You can scare them off by spraying yourself with human urine before you go out walking.


Q: Do you have perfume in Australia? (France)

A: No, WE don't stink.


Q: I have developed a new product that is the fountain of youth. Can you tell me where I can sell it in Australia? (USA)

A: Anywhere significant numbers of Americans gather.


Q: Can you tell me the regions in Tasmania where the female population is smaller than the male population? (Italy)

A: Yes, gay nightclubs.


Q: Do you celebrate Christmas in Australia? (France)

A: Only at Christmas.


Q: I was in Australia in 1969 on R+R, and I want to contact the girl I dated while I was staying in Kings Cross. Can you help? (USA)

A: Yes, and you will still have to pay her by the hour.


Q: Will I be able to speak English most places I go? (USA)

A: Yes, but you'll have to learn it first


...may the good Lord help us!

Fishing...

Hell, I didn't realize it until my grandson wanted me to take him fishing but I haven't purchased a fishing license in the State of Washington since 1999. I can only attribute that to 1) working too much, 2) disatisfaction with the State's Department of Fish and Wildlife, 3) lack of good fishing areas anymore, 4) hatchery fish... everywhere, 5) people... everywhere, 6) the price of the licenses necessary in this state to fish for anything in the water from tin cans to steelhead and finally 7) Montana!

Needless to say, when the grandson asked me to take him fishing I went down to the store and bought a license (to the tune of approximately $70.00!!!) and we went fishing... fish we did... fishing. When he went home that weekend we'd fished our little hearts out. But now, with my little fishing buddy back at his home a hundred miles away I'm feeling a bit abandoned.

I have this license, my dusted off rods, reels, lures, hooks, tackle box and other gear... I have all of this stuff ready to go but was slipping back into that same negative mindset I had before my little buddy made his fantastic suggestion to me to go fishing. So, looking at how things are shaking out this year... now that I have the license, the time and the equipment... now that I have all of this stuff resurrected from "the garage" I'd better use it.

I'm in a position now where I can take a bit more time off and do. I actually use my weekends to relax or catch up on things around the house and I take days off in the middle of the week from time to time just to get some simple "down time". So now, now I can go fishing...

Yesterday I met my brother at Lake St. Clair, a multi-fingered lake situated in Thurston County. The fishing at this lake has always been "okay" and the lake has always been one of my favorite lakes to fish. The downside is that you pretty much need a boat and I don't have one. My brother does. He and his boat showed up around 0600 a.m. and we started fishing. We hit every corner, nook and cranny of that lake! We caught some nice fish, returned several to the lake and kept those two that were hooked too bad. Not only did we get some good fishing in but we got some sun and got to spend some good, quality brotherly time together... much like the old days.

Yah, all in all I guess I proved one thing to myself yesterday... fishing is just that... enjoying the peace of the activity, good company and every now and then landing a fish or two. It really hasn't changed since I was a kid... the reason, the activity. It hasn't. I realized I missed it so very much. I prefer fishing the rivers and remote streams over lakes but hey, fishing anywhere is fishing!

I guess my grandson knows more about me than I do... at least when it comes to quality time.

I'd post more but have to get...

...Gone Fishing!