Been A While

I guess there has been a little excitement going on here lately.  My dad had a mild heart attack, but is doing fine now.  My wife had a spot of skin cancer taken off her nose.  It was the basal cell type.  I'm not sure if I spelled that right though spell check didn't nail me on it.  :)  Ben is growing like a weed.  He is all legs now.

I took my daughter and two nephews out fishing the other day to a local reservoir and let them paddle my canoe around for several hours.  They did more splashing, laughing and yelling than fishing, but they had a good time.  One bass was caught by my nephew.  I had one bass on which got off, and then something took my bait but I did not give it enough time to get it all in its mouth so the hook did not set.  At least I'm figuring out what to do a little bit at that particular place.

I've been thinking about what to do with this blog.  I'm just writing some stuff that is mainly only interesting to myself.  Yeah, it gives me something to do, but it isn't useful to anyone.  I have three going now.  One, I pretty much gave up on, and the other is a fictitious diary of a man in the future after the Lord has done away with this world.  It tells of some exploits of the character, mostly supernatural stuff, and I enjoy it.  My intention is to give Believers some things to think about that would excite them about our eternal future, and to give unbelievers a look into things that would make them want to be saved.  I do not know if it is doing either.  I only have one friend who checks it out that I know of.  He seems to enjoy it.

I have lots of things on my mind about this old world.  I am tired of it.  Unless a person has a wheelbarrow full of cash he cannot do anything.  It takes so much money for gas, and then the government requires taxes, licenses, fees, and permits just to enjoy the things God made.  I can't even put an electric motor on my canoe and use it unless I buy a license and put a bunch of numbers on the side of it.  Then there is corruption everywhere you go.  From the federal all the way down to the local government people are working to take away our money and our freedoms.  There is no accountability anymore for politicians nor for big businesses.  You can't get anyone on the phone that can do anything about complaints.  All you get is some sucker sitting in a cubicle who says, "I'll make a note of that in your records."  Nothing is ever done about anything.

I could go on about that kind of stuff for hours, but what is the use.  God told us in His word, the Bible, it would be like this toward the end.  I find myself torn between two things these days.  As an American citizen I hate to see this country destroyed by a handful of socialists.  They like to call themselves liberal progressives, but that is just to cover up what they really are.  With illegal aliens coming in by the droves every day and our government turning a blind eye to the ILLEGAL part and giving them more rights and handouts than a citizen can ever even dream of getting, that alone is taking a huge toll on us.  And I believe our leaders want it to.  They want this country as we know it to fail so we can integrate with the rest of the world.  So on one hand I get very angry about that, but on the other hand I rejoice knowing the time is near when the Lord will take us Believers out of here.  I just hope it is soon.

Surprise Your Host!

My family and I were invited to the neighbors for supper a few weeks ago.  They had several other guests visiting from around the state.  It was a fine meal, the company was good, and we had a great time.

Now, my neighbors are retired from the Navy, and most of their friends are city folk.  I have enjoyed meeting many of them, but they do not quite know what to think of me at first.  I wear nothing but bibbed overalls all the time.  Well, occasionally I will wear shorts while fishing, but even then I mostly wear my bibs.  Those who first meet me seem to get the impression I am some dumb country boy, and mostly they are right.  I am not up on the latest dining etiquette as I do not follow Miss Manner's articles, but I try to eat with my mouth closed and keep my elbows off the table.  Sometimes I catch myself with elbows on the table.  Usually after a bit, though, my new acquaintances get used to me and find I can carry on a conversation about most anything they want to talk about so long as it isn't algebra or trigonometry.

A few days before my dining invitation I had bought a bag of coconut.  Now, you might think I am a lover of coconut, or perhaps I had some recipe to use it in, but you would be wrong on both counts.  Actually, I like to chew tobacco, but to give my mouth a break from it once in a while, I will get a bag of shredded coconut to chew on.  It has the same texture as my brand of tobacco which is in fine cut grains.  I like chewing on it.  Literally.  When I use the coconut I don't have to spit however.

So there I was sitting at the head of the table with high society Debs on either side.  I had done broke the ice and had them laughing over stories and we were getting along fine.  The main course was over and our hostess went to bring out the dessert.  She had lemon meringue pie, a big raspberry cake with white icing, and something else I can not recall.  It probably was not very good or I would remember it.  But let me say that she is a wonderful cook, and in the past several years of eating her cooking I bet she only made two things I did not like.  Actually, it was three.  That is still pretty good odds though.

I was asked what I would like and I said I would have a piece of cake and a small slice of pie.  I do not get invited out very much so I like to take advantage of everything that is offered, you know.  The plate was passed around the table to me, and I politely waited until everyone else had their dessert before digging in, an act totally unobserved by everyone there I might add.  Some of them began eating right away, so any reservations on my part about fine dining etiquette was completely unfounded.  Once the hostess was seated I said something to gain everyone's attention.  I cannot recall now what I said.  Maybe it was, "burp, excuse me" or something.  Anyway, once they all looked at me I pulled the bag of coconut from my front bibs pocket and politely asked, "Would anyone like some coconut to go with their dessert?"

The hostess's eyes bugged out and her jaw dropped open and I could see the food in her mouth.  How un-bon appetite!  As I sprinkled some onto my cake one girl asked me what I was doing with coconut in my pocket.  How rude!  Another laughed out loud.  How impolite!  My wife rolled her eyes and said, "Oh, my god."  I don't know what her problem was.  Still, I did not let their offensive behavior have effect on my good manners.  I held out the bag and asked again if anyone would like some.  They all declined.   Their loss.  I neatly rolled up the bag and returned it to my pocket.  Regardless of how anyone else chooses to act, I refuse to act indecently at the dinner table.

Next time I go over there for dinner I think I am going to take a pipe wrench.  I wonder how they will pass that test?    

Fishing the New River

I had plans to go fishing this week with my neighbor on the New River, but an infection cropped up in my body and I did not feel very well and we ended up canceling.   We were looking forward to catching some bass and maybe a big catfish.  Hopefully I will be better in a few days and we can try again.

Another friend who fishes that section told us there were a whole bunch of muskie in the area.  He has been fishing there just about everyday and knows the places they lay in wait for their prey.  I have never caught a muskie before, but it sounds like I have a good chance at it there.

The New River is a fairly large river.  Like the Nile River it runs north instead of south.  I grew up fishing the section of the river that flows through Giles County in Virginia.  I also paddled canoes and kayaks in my younger days.  Back then I loved paddling more than fishing, and would travel miles at a time from one town to the next just enjoying the trip.  I was pretty good at rolling my kayak.  Anytime I flipped it over I could turn it back up right.  Some days when it was very hot I would roll it over on purpose to cool down.

One section of the river has more citation fish caught from it than any other stream in Virginia.  Seems I heard that over 50% of all citations in the state came from there.  Smallmouth bass are my favorite fish to catch.  They put up a great fight for their size, leaping from the water as they attempt to throw the hook.  There are largemouth bass in certain sections too, and I have caught a few although they were small.  Channel catfish and mudcats are the two main species of catfish on the river though occasionally a blue catfish will be caught.  The other day some guys caught one over 50 pounds where we were going to fish, but there are some in there much bigger.  Rock bass, also called red eyes, are plentiful.  They get about ten to twelve inches and are chunky little fighters.  Bluegill are scattered here and there, and in certain areas there are walleyes.  I have never caught one of those either, and I hear they are one of the best tasting fish you can eat.

The downside to fishing in the New River is some fish are not good to eat.  The river is contaminated with chemical deposits, and it is recommended that a person eat only one portion of fish a month from  bottom feeders like carp and catfish.  The bass are affected in some areas too.  I do not eat a lot of fish, but it would be nice to be able to eat what you catch on occasion.  Still, the fish themselves seem not to have much adverse reaction to the chemicals as they are flourishing very well.  I still hate that the river is contaminated though.  I often wonder if spending all those summer days as a teenager and young adult wading and swimming in the river did not have something to do with giving me leukemia.  You never know.

Since I moved to an adjoining county fifteen years ago I do most of my fishing on the New River from the Claytor Lake dam down through Radford to the Giles County border.  I usually catch quite a few nice bass during a day of fishing.  My favorite bait to use is a purple and black rubber worm.  I run the hook through it dead center so the ends dangle down on both ends.  This is called a "whacky rig" by most fishermen.  I cast it to a likely spot and just let it sink.  Usually if there is a bass near by it will nail it almost immediately.  If nothing happens I slowly reel it in which sometimes gets a strike.  I also like to throw it into moving water and let the current take it downstream.  I have caught a lot of bass which were in the rapids waiting on an easy meal to float to them.  I also have a "secret weapon" that was taught to me by a river captain who guides fishermen for a living.  It is perfectly legal, but I do not tell what it is to just anyone.  One day four of us were fishing and the other three caught five citation smallmouth bass with that technique.  It was the first time I had tried it, and I did not get anything.  Later I figured out I probably had two nice bass on my line a couple of times, but being inexperienced did not realize the bass hit that bait differently than they do most other kinds.  I know what to expect now.  That particular bait is good for catching catfish too.  Now if I can just figure out how to catch a muskie.    

Went Fishing Today

I went fishing with my neighbor today.  His name is Jeff also.  I swear he was born with a lucky horseshoe.  We have fished this certain reservoir several times in the past three years.  I have never caught more than two fish there, usually tiny crappie or bluegill.  Our first trip there Jeff caught a six pound bass.  Today he caught a muskie.  Several years ago we fished while in Florida and he caught a ten pound bass.  I have never caught a big bass, or a muskie.  Still, I am tickled when he catches a good fish.  Just don't let him know that!  That is Jeff with his muskie in the picture.   We released it unharmed back into the lake, so hopefully it will grow up and get to be a huge monster.  We almost always practice catch and release except occasionally we will keep a catfish or some crappie to eat.

It was a good day to be on the water.  The weather was great and very few other boaters were on the water.  We also saw four carp about three to four feet long and a catfish about the same length.  I tried my best to catch that cafish, but he wouldn't bite.  I found out later this evening that when carp are spawning it is hard to catch fish like bass and catfish because they are eating the carp eggs.  Maybe the Next time we go we will have better luck.  Well, maybe I will have better luck!

CORRECTION:  I just found out the fish in the above picture was not a muskie.  It is actually a pike!  Never have caught one of those either, so we are not disappointed.  :)

Little Ben

      A friend on a forum I frequent suggested I name my new Golden Retriever Ben, and I think that fits him pretty good.  Kat said she would like to see some more pictures of Ben, so I took some more today. 
      The first thing I attempted to do was take some pictures of Ben with a roll of toilet paper, the idea was to emulate the Charmin commercial with the Golden puppy.  Well, let me tell you, that is easier said than done.  I set Ben on a blanket with a roll of TP and started snapping pictures.  That little booger went off on the Charmin and tore it to shreds!  I took over 25 pictures, but he was moving around so fast most of them came out blurry. LOL.  Up until then I could have used his picture as a definition of "Laid Back."
      So then I took him outside.  He ran through the grass, jumped over landscape timbers, tried to dig up an ants nest under a stump, "attacked" Cody's tail (my German Shepherd), and chewed up some flowers.  He did all this in about 30 seconds.  Then he did it all again!  I got a few good pictures of him during this time of which I put a couple below.
      Ben is plumb tuckered out after all that play, and he is laying between my feet which he has been doing since I brought him home.  I like the little feller.  :)

     

I Guess I'll Give It Another Try!

My wife and daughter gave me an early birthday/Father's Day present.  A little Golden Retriever puppy!  It is even AKC registered.  I was wanting a female, but the breeders only had one male left.  When they heard I wanted one to help me since I am disabled they even came down on the price, which was very nice of them.  So we went and got it today.  I just posted yesterday I was thinking about getting one, and now here I am with one.

He is a lot different than a German Shepherd!   He is not hyper at all.  He doesn't try to chew my hand to shreds or go running berserk everywhere.  It was an hour long ride back from where we picked him up, but he didn't have any poopin' or pukin' accidents.  He just sat calmly in my lap or on the back seat.  I hope that is a good sign!  The parents were are the premises and they were very friendly, good looking dogs.

Well, hopefully I can teach him a few things.  Especially fetch!  

Looking For A New Puppy

I started looking for a new puppy this week.  Although German Shepherds are my favorite breed, I am thinking of getting a Golden Retriever this time.  Or perhaps a Golden Retriever/German Shepherd mix.  As time goes on and I find myself slowly becoming less able to get around, having a dog to bring me things seems more beneficial.  Golden Retrievers naturally fetch with just a little encouragement.  German Shepherds, in my experience, are not so easy to train for that.  Well, actually, they are easy to train to fetch, but after a while they just refuse to do it.

I have only had one Shepherd that would consistently fetch for me.  His name was Ranger, and he would bring me anything I wanted.  I could get him to bring me a stick, a ball, or even my boots.  Once I shot an arrow and lost it, and Ranger found it and brought it to me.  When he was just about six months old I was standing outside and the wind blew a Walmart bag out of the back of my truck.  It went blowing across the yard and I pointed and said, "Get that bag!"  Ranger took off, grabbed it and brought it to me.  He was such a good boy.  Everything he did was to please me.

With all the other Shepherds I've had, however, fetching seems to be beneath them.  Cody, the male I have now, knows exactly what I want him to do, but he refuses.  I can toss something and tell him to fetch it, and he will go pick it up.  But then he drops it and walks off defiantly.  He will do most anything else I tell him, but fetch is not one of them.  I have talked with others who own German Shepherds and this seems to be the norm.

I did find some mixed Labrador/German Shepherd mix pups for sale in an ad.  I have never been much of a Labrador fan.  They are beautiful dogs, and they will fetch, but they just never appealed to me.  It is one of those things I cannot really put my finger on.  Still, I thought perhaps a Lab mixed with German Shepherd might have the qualities I would like.  When I called about those pups, however, they had already been sold.  

I still think about Erin the little Shepherd I had to let go.  She will grow into a beautiful dog.  Whether she ever would have fetched or not I do not know.  I probably would not have cared if she did not.  But she is gone, and I am ready to find a replacement.  A Golden Retriever seems to be what my heart is set on, so that is what I will look for.  I have found some purebred AKC Goldens for sale but I cannot afford them.  I will keep looking.  Something may turn up before long.

Some Deer Pictures From Last Fall

Here are some pictures I got when I set out a trail camera last fall on my property.  The doe was walking along one of the creeks that runs through my place.   This fellow below came by my tower blind one night.  That is also him in a the other picture.  Evidently the camera going off startled him causing him to whirl away.  

If Only I'd Had My Camera!

No, I was not sitting in my wildlife blind.  Actually, I was waiting in the car at the supermarket for my daughter to pick up some stuff.  Out of nowhere came two little white haired ladies across the parking lot side by side both pushing shopping carts toward the store.  They were shuffling so slowly along it took me a minute to realize--THEY WERE RACING!   Neck and neck they whizzed along in slow motion, going every bit of 1/2 mph.  Each had a look of determination, and when one got a little bit ahead, the other gave her a dirty look and poured it on to catch up.  Then the other got an inch ahead and the other one stepped it up.

I did not get to see who won.  They had not even got close to the store when my daughter came out.  It was hilarious.  Man, if I could have put that on You Tube, I'd be getting a lot of hits right now.  :D

Anyone Can Comment Now!

It will take me a while longer to get used to all the technical things I can do with this blog.  I was just going through my settings and realized that I had not enabled the comments to be available to everyone and anyone.  That takes half the fun out of having a blog if you can't get some feedback!  I wonder how many people have tried to leave a message and could not?  Oh, well, maybe they will come back and see they can.

Today's Appointment at Blue Ridge Cancer Care

I had an appointment at Blue Ridge Cancer Care today for a check up.  As I have noted before, I have chronic myeloid leukemia (CML).   Gleevec is the medication I take which keeps me alive. It is working very well for me, keeping it in remission.  

I took my camera with me today and snapped some pictures.  Above is Vanessa and Debra, the two nurses who I have the pleasure of seeing most every visit.  They are two sweethearts.  And pretty too!  As you can see we goof around with each other when I visit.  I sure appreciate them.

Here is a picture of my oncologist, Dr. Goldsmidt.  He is a great guy, and the best doctor I have ever had.  We get along great.  Well, except for when he had to drill a hole in my butt to get a bone marrow sample and I told him he was pain in my a**.  HA!

The black fox squirrel he is holding is one I personally mounted several years ago.  I made a little rod and reel for it to hold, and put a miniature creel over the shoulder so it appears to be fishing.  I donated it to Dr. Goldsmidt to keep in his office.  Having cancer is serious business, but I hope when patients see the little fishing squirrel it will take their mind off their condition for a minute and give them a smile. 

 

Erin Update

I just got the story of losing Erin posted a few minutes ago when I got a call from the lady at Virginia Tech who adopted her and performed the surgery.  The operation on her bones was a success, though a follow up emergency surgery was needed Saturday night for a hernia.  Erin is doing very well, and after talking with the lady I know she is going to have a good home.  

It Has Been a Sad Few Days

I lost my new little German Shepherd puppy last Wednesday.  I had been doing everything I could to keep little Erin safe, yet in one moment she crippled up beyond my ability to have her fixed up.  I asked my daughter to move the truck forward a few feet so I could let down my tailgate, and in those few seconds Erin ran up under the tire and was run over.  I could tell she was hurt bad, and My daughter and I took her to the Virginia Tech Veterinarian School to be looked at.  Ended up her little pelvis was broke in several places and one leg was broke into three parts.  I was told the operation to fix her would run $25oo dollars.  I do not have that kind of money.  

So I asked them if it were possible, could they attemp to find someone who could afford to have her fixed and I would adopt her out to that person.  If not, she would have to be put to sleep.  They agreed.  So with broken hearts, we left Erin in their care knowing we would never see her again.  I hate it very much for my daughter.  She took it very personally even though it was not her fault.  I know she will be okay, but it does not make these little life lessons any easier to bear.   

Some good news that came out of all this occurred Friday morning.  I received a call from Virginia Tech and a fourth year graduate student from the veterinarian school wanted to repair the damage and adopt her.  I agreed.  So, although I no longer have Erin as my own, at least I know she will be well taken care of.  I am sure she will make a great dog.  She was so confident and brave in all her actions.  It will take a while for me to get over the ordeal.  I still have chew marks on my hands where I was playing with her last week.  

The picture above is the last one I took of Erin.  She rode with me up to my tower blind one morning and I let her play around.

One last note about the people at Virginia Tech.  They were some of the nicest people I ever met.  One doctor in particular was so compassionate it touched me deeply.  I do not want to give her name until I get permission from her to do so, and will update if she agrees.  This lady was standing outside waiting on us as we pulled in and came running over to carry Erin in for us.  She kept us updated as they worked with Erin, and she along with the staff were very supportive of us during the hard decisions we had to make.   

Life is full of what if's and wishing we done something a little different, especially when it involves the loss of something that means a lot to us.  All we can do is learn from those events and hope some good comes out of it all.   Meeting some compassionate people was some of the good that came out of this one.  

My WIldlife Viewing Tower

Between spinal stenosis, leukemia, and being sick more often than not from my medications, I just can't get around very well anymore.  If I am on soft ground I can stand up for maybe 20 minutes.  If I am in the house, I may go ten, but if I am on a hard floor like in Walmart or Lowes, five is the best I can do.  I either take my wheelchair of use one of their supplied motorized buggies.  It sure beats sitting in the truck while my wife is getting groceries.  

As some of you know, I live in the mountains.  My land is steep and thick with pines and mountain laurel.  It is hard enough to get around on if one is healthy, but in my shape I can't do it.  Not on foot, anyway.  

My property had been logged before I bought it, and there are logging roads going all over the place.  I can get a truck some places, but mostly I use my Honda Rubicon ATV.  It is my "Hov-a-round" for my property.  I still can't get everywhere, but without it, I would be stuck at the house all the time.  I just would not be very happy if I could not get up on a ridge and look around some once in a while.

I even built a special structure on my place so I could enjoy the woods any time I want.  Actually, my wife, daughter and two nephews built it for me.  I can't do that kind of stuff anymore.  All I can do is supervise, and sometimes the supervised don't like me super imposing my managing skills.  So, nobody likes the boss.  Who cares?  HA!  

Anyway, at the top is a picture of my favorite place on my property.  It is my tower stand.  Since I cannot climb a ladder anymore, a walkway was installed.  All I have to do is drive up, park, step onto the walkway, meander about twelve feet into my tower, and take a seat.  Most of the time I can not sit there very long as my back succumbs to the pain of sitting on the chair, but what little time I can be there is very enjoyable.  I should have made it big enough for a recliner!  I also should have made the door and the walkway big enough for a wheelchair in the even I won't be able to walk at all one day.  As I keep getting worse, I feel that is a probability.

 I have seen lots of deer while sitting in my tower blind.  I have also watched coyotes, raccoons, grouse, and all kind of birds.  Turkeys like to come through there occasionally, but I have not seen any there yet since we built the stand a couple years ago.  I just have not been there at the right time.  Below is a picture I took recently from inside the blind.  That is a piece of netting in the top right corner.   You can see the poplars getting some green leaves and the red buds are flowering.  I do not know why the are called red bud.  They should be called pink bud.  But I didn't name them.  I just like looking at it.  

A Modern Day Mountain Man

My family comes from a long line of mountain folk.  Being in the mountains is in our blood.  We just can't get situated on level ground, and nothing will get us lost faster than a big flat section of land.  That is scary stuff!  In the mountains, however, we are right at home.  It is next to impossible to get lost in the mountains, but if it happened, we would not care.  Many a time I have just laid down where ever I was at and went to sleep.  Get up the next morning and off I go again.  

When I was nineteen years old, I bought a small cabin on an acre of private land in the heart of a wilderness area.  I moved into it and lived there alone until I was almost 28 years old.  I did have a few dogs during that time, and I had two cats once.  Other than that, I was on my own.  There was a girl or two who tried to impress upon me they would be good living companions, but I did not have time for any of that stuff.  Anybody could get a girlfriend.  Not everyone was free as a chicken on Sunday like I was, and there were plenty of jealous guys who wish they could live the life I had.

 I hunted, fished, and searched for various kinds of edible mushrooms and berries to live off of.  I have even eaten cattails.  Believe it or not, it tastes much like corn on the cob.  Sort of tough though if you pick it too late.  Sometimes, however, when you live off the land you got to take what you can get. 

I had a topographic map of the area on the wall in my cabin.  By the time I moved out there was not a place on that map that was not highlighted which indicated everyplace I ever walked.  Or climbed.  Or waded, or swam.  I loved living in those mountains.  Every hollow was like a room in my house.  Every stream was my water fountain.  Every high place like being on the roof of the world.  I walked the old logging roads at night talking to the Lord all year round unless the weather got too bad.  Eventually it always does get plumb terrible on that north facing slope during the winter.  The sun hits the ground there very little then.  Snow and ice lays heavy on the ground for weeks, even months; and the temperatures in that area are at least ten degrees colder than anywhere else in that county.  Makes it nice in the summer though.  

I left out after living there almost nine years.  I reckon the Lord done did all the work He could do on shaping me up in that neck of the woods, so He had me move down to the evil village.   My dad, mom, and two of my four brothers had bought a place in the adjoining county and moved there.  Yes, it was in the mountains.  I started going to church out there in that valley, and the next thing I knew I was an assistant pastor and married!  We bought us a place next to my family, and I have been living here ever since.  It is almost the same scenario as where I lived in that cabin.  A big mountain behind me, a big mountain in front, with ridges and hollows running all over.  The house sits on the North facing slope and the snow and ice lay heavy on the ground for weeks or months at a time.  I still hunt, fish, and look for mushrooms and berries.   Only difference between here and where I used to live is I can be at Walmart in thirty minutes.  I like it here. 

A Touch of Springtime Color

After a horrible winter things are beginning to green up around here.  It is about time!   I got so tired of being stuck in the house with a foot of snow on the ground for two solid months.  I did not think spring would ever arrive.  It is here, however, and the bitter memories of  February and March are fading away.  It it time to enjoy the sunshine and the flowers.  

My wife took these pictures of some flowers that are blooming around the yard.  I really like the lilac with the Monarch butterfly sitting on it.  The aroma of lilacs is my favorite of any flower.   My favorite all round flowers are tulips.  My wife planted a bunch of them here and there around the property.  Speaking of tulips, the pink flower pictured above is supposed to be one.  If so, it is certainly not the typical type of tulip I am familiar with.  It is pretty though.

I hope you are able to get outside and enjoy the plants and flowers as they resurrect from their hibernation.  

My Puppy has a First Name, It's...

We finally settled on a name for our new German Shepherd female puppy.  Her name is Erin.  She is getting a little more animated everyday revealing new personality traits.  Mainly, she is a little stinker.  

I took her to the vet the other day for vaccinations. The veterinarian said she is healthy which is always a good thing.  I hope we can get her fully inoculated before anything bad happens. This area is notorious for Parvo.  

She is eating her Puppy Chow, but seems to like the big dog's food better.  It is funny to watch her eating out of the adult dog's bowls as they will not go near her while she is eating.  It seems they cannot figure out what she is exactly.  They are slowly getting used to her, and Cody, my big male GSD is beginning to play with her a little.  The picture below right is of Cody running across the yard.  He is beginning to fill out now at three years of age.  He is such a good boy, and he loves kids.  He has even tried to get on the school bus a couple of times!  

The last picture is of Nicky, Cody and Erin together.  It is hard to believe Erin will grow into a big dog like the other two.      

Professional Refinishing

One thing I feel fortunate about is having many friends in various parts of the country.  So, if I can't think of anything to write about concerning myself, I can always tell good things about someone else.  Dave Hawksford is one of those people who I think a lot of.  He is a jolly fellow, easy going, and we enjoy poking fun at each other.  Dave is also a very talented guy.  He is an artist, and his wildlife drawings and paintings are simply beautiful.  Using colored inks and brushes, his skill is phenomenal.  After watching him bring some waterfowl to life on canvas I had to give it a try.  I am pretty good at drawing myself, but I learned that ink and brush art was not as easy as he made it look!   You should check out Dave's blog and see some of his work.  The address is:  http://colonialrestorationstudio.blogspot.com  and the blog is called Inks of Passion.  

Dave is also the owner of Colonial Restoration Studio in Gaithersburg, Maryland.  If you are in need of furniture restoration, Colonial Restoration Studio is the place to get it done.  Dave offers several services.  Some of these services include chair caning, hand stripping, faux finishes, murals, veneering and marquetry.  He even offers artifact and painting restoration.  To learn more about his business go to www.colonialrestorationstudio.com  

Dave began his career after becoming an art major.  He also learned painting conservation from a painting instructor in college as a side study.   Dave started off painting murals and faux around the country in the DC area, then went into the refinishing business in the 80's.

Yes, old Dave is a talented individual, but he is a down to earth kind of guy as well.  I'm proud to have him for a friend.  

Hooked For Life Ministries

Ten years ago Trevor Ruble was working part time for the Virginia Department of Fish and Game’s fishing division as a contract writer and trainer.  The job entailed writing curriculum and traveling around the state to train fishing educators.  It was a cool job, and he really enjoyed meeting new people and working with them.

Then Trevor was asked to work for them full time.  “It was a great opportunity,” Trevor explained, “but I felt God tugging at me to create materials churches could use instead.  I was sitting in an interview for the state job, which was more a formality than anything, and I felt the Spirit telling me this was not where He wanted me to be.”  The game department had already told Trevor he had the job, but he knew God had another purpose.  “I know it sounds crazy to some,” he said, “but I wanted to do what would honor God.  Working with the state I would not have been able to do that.”

So Trevor declined the job offer and started a fishing ministry called Hooked For Life Ministries.  His training as a teacher, his love for fishing, and experience writing fishing curriculum laid the foundation for creating the HFL materials for churches.  Using the Hooked for Life materials, churches across the United States are reaching kids and adults through fishing.  As the HFL website indicates, fishing and faith share many characteristics.  One reason why Hooked For Life has been so successful in reaching many souls is because fishing is not considered a church activity, which can open doors to those who may have had unpleasant experiences in formal religious settings.   

Trevor is uncomfortable taking the credit for the success of Hooked For Life Ministries.  “The way I see it, “he says, “HFL belongs to God.  I just feel honored that He used me and allows me to be a part of it.”  As a personal friend of Trevor’s, I feel honored that God has allowed me to know such a wonderful person and witness the work Trevor and others around the country are doing to win souls for Christ.  

To learn more about Hooked For Life check out the website at www.hookedforlife.org.   You can also contact Trevor personally through the site if you or someone you know would like to be part of a unique and growing outreach for the Lord.

Jeff

What Else Could He Be But A Communist?

I read in the news where an Oregon teacher is being investigated by his school for misconduct after making statements he would disrupt and disband the Tea Party at all costs.  Seems he does not like the idea of anyone protesting big government.  

You know, I can understand (a tiny bit) that someone may not agree with all of the Tea Party philosophy, but to hate the movement to the point of trying to disrupt or discredit it is beyond my understanding.  The main premise of the organization is to promote our constitutional freedoms.  If you are against that there is only one thing I can conclude:  You may be a citizen, but you are not an American.  You must be a communist. 

Fishing the Lower James River

In February Trevor Ruble, founder of Hooked For Life Ministries, and I drove up to Richmond for a half day of fishing on the lower James River. We met up with Captain Mike Ostrander of The James River Fishing School who took us out on his 24 foot pontoon boat. First we went to a few spots to catch some shad for bait with a cast net. Capt. Mike sure can throw that thing! I wanted to try it but figured I would tangle it in something or end up overboard. Capt. Mike did just fine without my help and we had plenty of shad to fish with in just a little while.
Big blue catfish is what we were after, but we could not pass up a couple of promising spots for crappie. Trevor and Captain Mike caught a couple nice crappie each. I think I caught every log and rock within casting distance.
Soon we were set up on our first catfish hole with eight poles baited with cut up shad. They decided the first fish would be mine. In just a few minutes one pole bent over double. I quickly grabbed it, set the hook, and watched the reel smoke as the fish took the line and ran to a big brush pile. It happened in less than ten seconds and I was suddenly left with a broken line. That cat had to be huge!
We fished a couple more spots, and soon another rod was dancing in the rod holder. Captain Mike handed me the pole and the fight was on! It is amazing how catching a fish can wash away all your troubles. For a few minutes I forgot all about my pain, and I know I had to be grinning from ear to ear as I fought the fish. After a bout that went a minute or so, the catfish was netted and brought onboard. It was a ten pounder, and it was the first blue catfish I have ever caught. I was tickled to death.
Next it was Trevor’s turn to sit at the poles. When his catfish struck there was no doubt it was a much bigger fish. He fought it for what seemed an eternity before he got it up to the boat. It was to big for the net so Capt. Mike reached down and grabbed it. That blue catfish weighed 31 pounds! We did not do bad for only half a day fishing.
Captain Mike has a website where you can check out his guide service at www.jamesriverfishing.com. He is a great guy, and he will do what ever it takes to get you on some big catfish. He provides everything needed for the day, and it was pleasant not to worry about transporting poles and tackle. I can’t wait to go back and do it again!

A New Addition to my Family!

I have had several breeds of dogs in my life.  Beagles are cute but single minded.  Rottweilers can be great dogs but you have to be on top of them at all times.  English Setters and Golden Retrievers make a great family dogs besides being good hunting companions.  Growing up we had several Norwegian Elkhounds, a Collie, a poodle, and various mixed mutts.  The breed I have come to enjoy the most, however, is German Shepherds.

You can see our new puppy in the picture.  I have not decided on a name for her yet.  We have two grown German Shepherds, Cody and Nicky.  We also have a little black terrier mix we call Zippy.  I want the name I pick for this little girl to end with something besides "ie."  

She is following my big male around as I type.  Cody is very curious about her, but a little reserved.  The little terrier growls at her, and the Nicky runs away when she comes near.  I guess it will take awhile for everyone to get used to the new addition.  That will include me in the wee hours of the morning when she whines!     

Best Catfish Restaurant I've Visited

My dad and I rode down to Kentucky to visit my Uncle Verlin and Aunt Pasty.  They live in the Paducah area not far from Lake Barkley and the Land Between the Lakes.  We stayed for several days and they gave us a tour of area, even driving me up to cross the border just so I can say I've been to Illinois.  

I bought a one day fishing license and we rode down to a dock on Lake Barkley to see what we might catch.  Personally, I was hoping for crappie.  I cannot stay on my feet long so I took my wheelchair out on the platform, baited up two poles with minnows, cast them out and sat back.  We all caught a few small bluegill to begin with, then yellow bass moved in and we caught a some of those.  I had never seen yellow bass before.  I do not know how big they get, but the ones we caught were around 10 inches long.  We kept a few of the chunkier fish to eat.  At one point I glanced over to see my pole dancing around against the railing.  I grabbed it, started reeling and up came the biggest crappie I have ever seen.  Here in Virginia where I fish for crappie most of them are about the size of my hand.  This one was big as a dinner plate.  It measured 14 1/4 inches and weighed two pounds.  I got two big fillets an inch thick.  Aunt Patsy fried them up the next day and it was delicious.

Speaking of some good eating fish, Uncle Verlin and Aunt Patsy took us to a place about 4 miles below the Kentucky Dam on Rte. 641 called Catfish Kitchen owned and by Wes and Judy Davis. We were introduced to them and they are the nicest people you ever want to meet.  There is a big pond right outside the window full of catfish, and if you come at a certain time you can watch them being fed.  Evidently there are some big cats in there that roll up to the top to eat.   And talk about good food!  After being seated the waitress brought out a bowl of northern beans and a bowl of hush puppies.  When the bowls got low more was brought out until you said, "STOP!" We also ordered some pickled green tomatoes to go with the beans.  It is similar to relish or chow chow, but better.  A spoonful in your beans is very tasty.   They also sell the pickled green tomatoes by the jar so you can take some home.  

 Normally, I do not care that much for catfish.  It usually has a bitter after-taste to me that I find unpleasant, so I was not really that excited about eating at the place at first.  At Catfish Kitchen, however, the fish was wonderful.  I enjoyed the catfish as much as I do any other kinds of fish like snapper, crappie, or what ever is under the batter at Long John Silvers.  So, if you are in the area, I recommend you check it out.   It was so good that when I visit next time I am going to insist on eating there again! 

Jeff   

Make an Outrigger for Your Canoe!

       Being disabled has its advantages.   It makes me think of ways to improve the things I use often to make my experience more enjoyable, accessable, and less painful.   Spinal stenosis is one of the most painful medical conditions a person can have.  I know because I have it.  I also have several other health issues including Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, and if I had the choice of getting rid of any one of them, the spinal stenosis is the one I would let go.  It stinks when you cannot walk, sleep, or enjoy life because of pain.  

One thing I have done since a teenager is canoe and kayak.  Well, the kayak days are over for good, and I thought canoeing would be shot too, but I came up with an idea that allows me a little time out on the water.  I made a set of outriggers for my canoe.  They stabilize the boat so well I was able to put a tall, swivel seat in it so I am not sitting down low on those little butt numbing squares.   It keeps the stenosis from biting into my spinal cord as bad so my legs and feet do not feel like pins and needles sticking them all over.  Also, I can stand up momentarily in calm waters to stretch or to make a little longer cast should I need to.    

Besides being helpful for disabled people, outriggers are useful for anyone.  I made a set for the canoe my wife and daughter use also when we go fishing.  They feel safer when moving around and even allows our little dog to tag along.   Instead of trying to maintain balance and keep one eye on your partner so he or she doesn't dump you over, you can relax while going through the tackle box or baiting a hook.   When I first made my outriggers I was sure people I met out on the water would make fun of me.  That has not been the case at all.  Every year there is someone who will say, "I wish I had thought of that before I sold my canoe!"  

This is something most anyone can make.  The only tools you need is a ruler, pencil, tubing cutters, a screw driver and a drill.   The material you will use for the frame of your outrigger is EMT electrical conduit and some fittings to hold it together.  You will need two (2) ten foot pieces of 3/4 inch conduit and one (1) piece of 1/2 inch conduit.   You will have some left over, but that is better than not having enough.  Conduit is relatively cheap.  It is the fittings that cost the most.  Even so, the money spent is less than what you would have in a manufactured outrigger and it will work much, much better.  

Instead of writing a whole section on how to make this thing, look at the two pictures below which will pretty much show you everything you need to know.  Every canoe brand and model varies in width, length and depth, so you will have to make the adjustments accordingly.  The included drawings are self explanatory, but there are several things you need to take into account.  First, be sure to mark the waterline on the side of your boat with you and your gear in it.  The floats need to be about an inch from the water surface when you are sitting normally balanced, and the line will give you a reference point.  Mark the water line on the side of your canoe with you and all your gear in it.  Secondly, the outrigger frame needs to be placed where it is not in the way of paddling.  In the picture above and in the plans you will see that I used 4 inch diameter PVC pipe with caps on each end for the floats.  They are approximately 2 feet long, but you can vary the length as you wish.  Also, make the conduit frame so you have 2 feet sticking out past both sides of the boat.  Check the pictures out below.  Click on them to make them bigger.  

Jeff

Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

I have Chronic Myeloid Leukemia, also known as CML. Briefly, the disease occurs when what is called the Philadelphia gene breaks off and reattaches itself elsewhere in the DNA. It keeps the white blood cells from fully maturing, and over time the body is flooded with immature white blood cells that are useless against infections. Some people do not realize that leukemia is a form of cancer. Until a few years ago this form of leukemia was an automatic death sentence. Most victims died within a couple years or so. Thankfully, there is a relative new drug on the market that works for most CML patients. It is called Gleevec, or Imatinib Mesylate. So far, I am in the percentage of patients that do well on Gleevec.

When I was first diagnosed with CML it was a total surprise. I had not been feeling very well, mainly fatigued and run down. I also had some soreness in my lower abdomen and blood in my stool. To make a long story short, my doctor did some blood tests and I was diagnosed with leukemia. I also found out that I have colitis which is an inflammation of the colon. It can cause pain, diarrhea, and bleeding. I was admitted to the hospital immediately and that same day the bleeding became severe. Treatment for my symptoms began, and with medication the bleeding subsided after a few days. I was released from the hospital and began my lifelong battle with cancer. As of now, CML is not curable, it is only treatable. That is good enough for me, however.

My oncologist is Dr. Jerome Goldsmidt with Blue Ridge Cancer Care in Christiansburg, Virginia. As I am sure most cancer patients do, I have developed a special relationship with my doctor and his staff. His first move was to put me on the Gleevec. Within a few months we started seeing results. Within a year the leukemia was not showing up in my blood. Then it was time for the real fun to begin. Can you say, "Bone marrow biopsy?"

If you are reading this, perhaps you or someone you know has just been diagnosed with CML and are wondering what to expect. Of all the things one may find out concerning treatment, the thing people dread the most is probably the bone marrow biopsy. I admit I was nervous about it myself. Getting a hole bored through my butt and into the pelvic bone did not sound like very much fun. I looked the procedure up on the internet through Google. I saw the tools used and looked at pictures of the series of steps. The only thing I did not know about it was the level of pain I would have to cope with. As for my experience, I have had worse things done to me. I have had several heart catheters over the years, for instance, and personally, I'd rather have a bone marrow biopsy. The area where the tool will be inserted is numbed. That smarts some, but no more than any other injection. I have never felt any discomfort in my butt where the muscles are concerned during or after the procedure. There is no way to numb the bone so when the tool contacts it, you feel it. As the doctor twists the tool to bore the hole, I did have some discomfort. I never was good at rating pain, but on a scale of one to ten I would estimate the pain at a 50. No! No! I am just kidding! A five at most. I have had several of those procedures done, and I usually tell the doctor to hurry up about three times, argue with him about which of us is the bigger pain in the butt for a few minutes and then it is over. The whole thing lasts no longer than five or ten minutes from numbing to finish. There is never any discomfort to the area when it is over, at least not for me.

During my last visit to Dr. Goldsmidt, I was told that unless it started showing up in my blood again, no more bone marrow biopsies would be performed. That did not hurt my feelings any. I have responded well to the Gleevec thus far, and hopefully it will continue to work for me in the years to come. I am going on my third year with CML. As with any treatment there are trade offs. In my case, although the leukemia is controlled, I have some side effects from the drug. I will not go into detail about them here since those vary from person to person. Some people have side effects initially then they ease up later. Regardless, the benefits of Gleevec far outweigh any discomforts or conditions I have to put up with. To die from CML would not be a simple matter of passing quietly into that good night.

I often think of those who have died from CML just before Gleevec came out on the market. What if I had got the disease a few years before? I would not be here now. For many people suffering from cancer and other diseases in this world it seems their lives often end with too little too late. Thankfully, with Gleevec, CML patients have been given a reason to hope and look beyond the veil cancer often casts over sufferers, keeping them from seeing anything but their condition. Cancer sucks, but I do not have to sit around and worry about it.

Jeff

Welcome!

Once I made the decision to start a blog I scratched my head for two days trying to figure out what to call it. I tried many names and submitted them for availability only to find most of them are already taken. I looked up some of those blogs with those names to find that most of them are not up to date, heck, some of them are just blank pages. Using the thesaurus in an attempt to jog my creative side I stumbled upon the word "transmogrification," which is a humorous word for something magically transforming into something else. Seeing this blog, in part, as a personal journey of lifetime growth, the word intrigued me. So being a moderately talented wordsmith I came up with "transblogrification." Quite the catchy little word, isn't it? Evidently some other guy thought so too, for he has a blog under that name which has about three posts-the last one of October 2009. Dirty rat.

I went with HJA World. My full name is Henry Jefferson Acord. Personally, I think it sounds sort of prestigious. It has a certain ring to it. I would use my full name if I were President of the United States or some other high ranking government official. However, as I am just an ordinary, run of the mill kind of guy, I go by Jeff, although the government, my doctors, teachers of classes I take, etc. call me Henry. If I ever publish a book and you are interested in finding it, look for H.J. Acord as the author's name. With a cool name like mine there is so much you can do with it. So, with all these things in mind (and so much more) I settled on keeping my blog name simple. HJA World it is. I reserve the right to change it in the future if I can come up with something better though.

A writer should stick with the things he or she is knowledgeable of, and I will attempt to do just that. The problem is, I am what some call a Jack of all trades master of none. I know about a lot of different things, but usually just enough to be dangerous. The only area I could say I specialize in is my life. Funny how it includes all the different things I am not an expert on.

I wrote a song once about being outstanding in a field. It went like this:

I knew a man outstanding, outstanding in his field.
He got struck by lightning, buddy, he got killed.
Now, I've done lots of thinking, and I think that I'm right--
I'd rather be a nobody, than standing in my field at night!

That is also what happens to people metaphorically when someone claims to know something and do not. Others will roast them good. Regardless, I feel I have some credible things to share with many people. It may be an event or an opinion from my personal experience, although I hope to have some generally useful information here as well. A little something for everyone. Of course, this will take me a while, so give me some time. Big things start out small; long voyages begin with a step. This is my first step and I hope you will tag along to see where the journey takes us.



Jeff