Month: January 2011

The Burn Center!

We will get to the title of this post in a minute.

Well folks, today is a post-call day. That means I’ve got free time (we will get to the title of this post in a minute). Since I got good sleep last night today turns into a free day to catch up on things that need to get done. On the Agenda:
1. Read educational material (my brain needs exercise)
2. Read non-educational material (the library wants their book back)
3. Laundary
4. Lunch
5. Nap? (I know, today sounds stressful, huh?)
6. Pack for the weekend
7. Practice my presentation (we’re not going to dive into the anesthetic considerations of laryngeal carcinoma laser resection on this post; though “burn center” is a fitting title).
Now that you have an idea of what is on my plate, I wanted to give a little attention to a fun blog (not fishing related) that my cousin, affectionately referred to as Johnny Napalm, as running. The Burn Center is a blog with awesome commentary on all things movie, tv, game, comic related. Let me tell you now, I am not really into comic or video games, but he and I have very similar taste in movies and television shows, so I love reading his reviews.
It has been a month since his last post, so I thought maybe a little help on my side might prompt some new material.
Anyway, if you are into any of these topics, give it a try. It is a worth a read.

Big Horn River in April

So, the idea has been floated. A trip is in the works. Big Horn River in April, here we come. I looked at the hatch chart, and, to no surprise, it looks like midges, blue winged olives, and scuds are the main dish. That being said, I will have to start giving my best shot at tying these bad boys.
Speaking of fly tying…. Guess who just won a re-draw of an OBN gear review give-away?! Well, not John Boehner (Though, that is what I look like when I’m overwhelmed with emotion). ME! Yup! I am gonna get some goodies and try to tie you something pretty. Hopefully it will also be functional. I will fill you in more on that as the time comes. Thanks to Montana Fly Company!

*Tear* Adios!

good morning. good evening.

good morning good morning

to the new east coast
to the top of the south
our appalachian hosts
how lightly the future dances
just out of reach
we imagine each step
but the details retreat
an adventure awaits
on atlantic waves
with new pictures to snap
and fresh seafood to taste
so good evening good evening
to the howling winds
the endless tasseled fields
to our dear midwestern friends

My Leaky Wader Heaven – Let’s Recycle

Well, folks, my waders have caught a glimpse of the light. They might survive their battle a little longer, but we know where the will end up.
Moving across strong, untouched Salmon waters in Alaska. Delicately stalking brookies in toothpick-sized waters in the Wyoming back country. Chasing browns in Utah canyons or on the mighty Big Horn. Fighting grizzlies for the fish in Kamchtka or teaming up with Owl Joneson the Southern Blue Ridge.
Yes, my actual leaky waders (not the website or myself in 3rd person) may just end up in any of these places. They will be reborn and find new life through an avenue I have only, just now, come to discover.
I would like to introduce to you Recycled Waders. It is a small company that brings a second existence to your unintentionally-H2O absorbent breathable waders. They take your breathable waders and either create something for you (at a very reasonable price), or for someone else. This includes Tippet Wallets, Creels, Shoulder or Hip Packs, and even Reel Cases. So whether you are looking to set your waders free or get sentimental and hang on to those puppies a little longer, here is a cool way to do it.

photo by Dave McCoy and Ashwin Rao
I myself and debating on just donating versus purchasing a bag of some sort. Ideally, I would have a bag made from my own material, but we’ll just have to see if they accept the amount of sealant I’ve got laced on those bad boys.
Anyway, a cool company and great idea to delay creating something useful out of those water pants we keep hanging on to.
I’ll let you know when my leaky waders have moved on from this plane and become something new 🙂 In other words, I’ll tell you when I change my wet pants.

My Leaky Waders are Heading to Virginia this Summer!

Well, gentle-ladies and gentle-men, the decision has been made. I matched yesterday into the field of my choice! Ophthalmology. I submitted a list of the programs I interviewed at ranking them from top to bottom, and a computer matched me with Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk, Virginia!

Now I need to learn about fishing out there. I know they have a lot of water. There must be fish, right? I’ve found one guy on OBN, The Grey Sulphur, who is a fly fisherman in western Virginia (not West Virginia). Maybe I’ll snoop around his page a bit. Or just ask him what the deal-ee-o is.
Sara and I won’t be heading out there until June/July, but once there, it will be 4 years. So I have all that time to figure out the fly fishing in Virginia. If anyone has any tips, pointers, hints, suggestions, food for thought, grievances, and so on regarding fly fishing in Virginia, please, let me know! I’d love to hear what you have to say 🙂

OBN Photo Prompt: Favorite Outdoor Places

I will start with the place. My parent’s cabin on Cedar Lake, Mn. It isn’t isolated in the wilderness. It simply is a beautiful place with great fishing and has been a place where I’ve made awesome memories over the years.

That being said… Like many of you, I assume, it is really hard for me to come up with an all-time favorite place. This is partly because I am quite indecisive, and secondly, I am very nostalgic. I really feel the memories attached some of my favorite places. In fact, I think I enjoy the thought of where/who I was at the time in life while at those places. When I was 19, my best friend and I drove from Minnesota to Wyoming and Montana to backpack, and I found some beautiful streams and caught a few brookies on our way up to Cloud Peak. I don’t have any pictures of it. But I love the memory most because of what we were doing at the time. We were kids with a summer off, no responsibilities, and had the wilderness to ourselves. I’ve had similar experiences in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area or while I lived in Scotland for a few months.

I might also be hesitant to commit to something right now because tomorrow I will be finding out if I am moving away from Nebraska. Maybe I worry that committing to one place will set me up for disappointment because I could be moving farther away from it. That could be part of it. If tomorrow, I can decide what my true favorite outdoor place is, I will let you know.
To be even less decisive, my favorite outdoor places are most outdoor places, so long as I am either doing something I love or with good company.
*Epiphany: maybe I haven’t found my favorite outdoor place yet. Or maybe it will be the way I am with movies, my favorite movies seem to rotate and expand over time. Anyone else feel like they are in the same boat?

It’s Snowing Again

It’s snowing again.
Not fat heavy flakes.
Not a dusting.
Like sideways rain
In slow motion.
We packed the car and
Hurried to the golf course.
sara LEWIS and david CLARK
Exploring the Missouri River
Searching for the coast.
Snowshoes tightened,
We surged forward,
Up and down the hills,
Weaving between and under the
Heavy pine branches
That carried the weight of the 37 inches.
Tracking rabbits from tree to tree,
Burrow to Burrow,
We brushed off the weighed down needles
Releasing them from their burden,
And the limbs swung up with a sigh of relief.
Even Atlas wants to set
The world down
Now and then
To rest.
Spring will come
Followed by
Her friend summer.
And fall will make way for more
Snow.

Catch Magazine

Sorry for 2 posts in one day, but I had to do this. I am too excited. I stumbled across this online fly fishing photography and film journal called Catch Magazine. Maybe you’ve already heard of it, but if not, it is gorgeous.

I just spent about 45 minutes flipping through it at watching the videos. They also have all of their past issues archived.

Anyhoo, just check it out. Your life will be better for it.