Empty Handed But Happy

I got this pic from flickr.com, and it's very similar to Lake Poinsett, which is one of the many places Irma and I went un-fishing today. I say un-fishing, because we were gone from a little after 7 am this morning till almost 2 pm, and never got a fish on the bank. I hooked a small bass and a perch, but both of them flopped off the hook back into the water before I could get them on the bank. I think maybe the wind might have blown them off the hook. Of course that might have something to do with the WINDY conditions today. When I say windy I mean it was gusty, blustery, breezy, airish and perhaps a tad gale-ish. Oh, and did I mention that it was a bit windy? LOL !! We needed something heavier than your average weight/sinker to keep the hook in the water today. Something along the lines of, say, maybe a brick?! Other than the *windy* conditions, it was a perfect day to fish. Partly cloudy, almost 80 degrees.............It was gorgeous, and just a tad pretty out, too. All in all, a good day of bonding with the daughter, and fishing, too. What could be better? Except maybe actually catching some fish.

So far, all I seem to have caught was a mild sun/windburn, and a suspected spider. I know the spider was there, I evicted him, and now I suspect he bit me during the eviction proceedings. I have a suspicious raised, red bump. Stay tuned. There was also several trips to the (bare, unleafed-out) bushes, so there may be poison ivy to talk about in a day or two. (NOTE: for those gasping in shock and horror, we're talking BOONIES here, so fan yourself and recover sufficiently to at least read the rest of this post before you disown me and resign from my fan club. Thanks.) If there was any poison ivy within 20 feet of me in any direction, I know I squatted in it. It's a given. A rule. There's no leaves on poison ivy this time of year, you know. Any stick, twig, bush or vine is suspect when you are baring your nether regions to the great outdoors, and poison ivy is my personal nemesis. It stalks me, ya'll. I won't know I was even in its neighborhood, and then I start itching. No, itching is too mild a term for it! It is absolute torture, and the only thing that gives me any relief at all is massive amounts of expensive medications. Of course, it might be the shock of having to turn loose of that money for the prescriptions that starts the healing, too, rather than the medicines. :)
Then there's always the ticks and other wildlife, too. *Sigh*..........................

I wanted to catch some of these strange-looking creatures to the left, there. Those are catfish for the uninitiated, and they are some mighty fine eating when rolled in corn meal and deep fried to a crisp, golden brown. They may be ugly, but after they're cooked right and on the platter, I promise you won't care what they looked like. As my Mama used to say, "It'll make you hip up and pop your Thomas!", *whatever that means.* Anyway, catfish is good stuff, and I love catching them. Not that I catch that many, what with the lack of opportunity to go fishing, and the lack of catching anything when I do. Dang........................But I sure like to try!! :)

A few things I took special note of today: Due to the early (for me) hour of our un-fishing excursion, and to my late night/early rising, I ingested copious amounts of strong coffee, both because I just love coffee, and also to aid in preventing my dropping off into a spontaneous coma sometime during our long un-fishing day. That may have contributed to the frequent trips to the bushes, etc, etc. You know the rest of the story, Paul Harvey.

I mentioned in passing conversation to Irma that I heard a bullfrog croaking. Silence......................About 20 seconds later, Irma said, "I hear a turtle." Silence........................We look at each other................I with an eyebrow hovering somewhere in my hairline, she with a puzzled, somewhat vacant look on her face...............She asks, "What did I just say?" I said, with a straight face, "You said you heard a turtle." We just looked at each other, then we both howled till we 'bout wet our drawers. Which, for me, meant another trip to the bushes, etc, etc.

I noted to myself in passing that worm slime and doo is just as nasty and adhesive to all it touches as it was the last time I impaled some of the goo and poo dispensing invertebrates on a sharp barbed hook. Further note to self: Hooks are still sharp and pointy. Yet another note to self: They still hurt and cause blood and much muttering under one's breath, too. Just in case, ya'll, that you didn't know. I suffered to bring you this critical information. Okay, I suffered because of my own stupidity. Moving on.

It's almost 11 pm and I have been working on this post since before 2 pm, between showering, answering the phone, eating supper, looking up free pics of catfish and the lake pic, looking at your blogs, answering comments on my blog and checking and answering email. That spontaneous coma may yet afflict me if I don't get this done and get some SLEEP, perchance to dream.................LOL :) Later................................ ;)