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I am just a guy who uses fishing and playing guitar to keep myself sane...or at least try to.

Tuesday, January 27, 2009

#6....And a Much Needed Break


Was it 2003 or 2004???
I don't even like thinking about it so I am not going to double check,
Either way It is amazing to me how much time has passed and how much of my life has changed.
I work for the government and for the most part am very proud of what I do ....but like any federal institution my place of employment is a giant clusterfuck..
I realize this now after having been through the fire so to speak.
In 2003 I accepted a position at the public trough. The new job would mean a substantial increase in pay and the shift work would also mean that I would have a ton of time off midweek to fish.
No brainer?!!
Law enforcement for me seemed like a bit of a stretch at the time but surprise surprise ...looking at it now ... I seem to have a knack for it and for the most part I enjoy what I do.
Not many people can honestly say that and in this day and age I realize just how very lucky I am to just have a friggin job!
Part of the condition of my employment was that I successfully complete a 9 week government training program...
...a program with an extremely bad reputation.
9 weeks away from the family in the middle of nowhere....if I fail anything I am out on my ass and the job goes bye bye...
They escort you from the premises and put you on a plane...Thanks for coming out
Ella was 2 months old when I left.
I am the sole source of family income...try that on for size.
:o/
I do not travel well and I hate being away from my family even overnight not to mention I had been removed from a formal educational setting by about 13 yrs.
Obviously I was successful but this
"training"
was far and away the worst experience of my life...(interestingly enough the second worst was another type of government training???)
hmmmmm
Well anyway...enough of that..
On top of the misery of being away the Philistines had the audacity to send me for training through OCT/NOV/DEC....heartless....
The only good thing was that the workload was so heavy nobody really had time to pine for things.
Halfway through the program I thankfully took advantage of a travel weekend.
I believe it was a three day reprieve?
It is funny how the memory is fuzzy...almost like repression.
I don't fly well and chose to drive home on my breaks....all 9hrs.
I remember tearing up when I saw the lights from the chemical valley from the highway....ah Home Sweet Home!!!
I had never failed anything in my life and I am not shy on confidence but the Fed Gov is a wild card and I was stressed out.
I don't know how we managed to swing it but Morin and I got out fishing on that weekend and I will remember that day for the rest of my life.

I don't know what kind of company I was for my friend that day. My heart was aching and the thought of returning to that hell hole of a college was a constant that was almost impossible to shake...but fuck them...that is just what we did.
We caught a lot of fish that day...and like a gift from Heaven ...or wherever..the river was surprisingly quiet.
#6


This fish was the final fish of the day and while to many people it may only appear mediocre .. to me ...because of the circumstances it was monumental.
A beautiful strong clean fish from home....that would carry me through the hellish dirty weeks to come.
I made it...fuck them.
I need that river.
..and friends aren't too bad either I suppose.
;o)

13 comments:

lambton said...

Ahhhhh memories...
I remember that fish ;0)

"Top O the Sausage as I remember down deep in the shit!"
How is that for some crazy red-neck steelie freak dialec
Don't much matter as I know you understand it!
I remember my friend! I remember them all!!!

P.S. Who is the homo in the neo-tights :0(

Trotsky said...

Yeah...we were styling back then eh?
That was the same trip we hit all the Crokers as well.
I do however remember the beautiful fish that were on some stiffs stringer up top... I was glad we were able to sneak that one out from under them or he too probably would've ened up apple smoked.
Great fish.

Trotsky said...

BTW... I really miss that Alaska hat dammit!!!!
Somewhere in Lake O.
It probably got swallowed by a giant Salmon!
LOL

Harv said...

That is a great read and a great fish G! I am diggin' your perspective on life and fishing.

Keep up the good work brother.

Look forward to sharing some laughs, beers and drifts with you in 2009.

Harv

Trotsky said...

Thx Harv.
This list is a silly thing but it is helping through this nasty winter.
I am hoping to do some spring fishing....the sooner the better.
Are you going in the Feb 15 Bluewater anglers Ice fishing derby?

18 Mile said...

I love the list also. Things are pretty slow these days in the B-Lo and god knows I haven't had any tolerable content to add over on the the 18 Mile lately.
I love any one who is a Philospher fisherman. It beats reading all the pimping and dissing of products on the net. CTS vs GLX; New Stanton VS New KingPin. Spey conversions blah blah blah.......

My favorite line of all that has stuck in my craw is the following.
I have purchased product x but before I comment i am waiting for the Manufacturer to comment on my concerns.... If that isnt an underhand slag. Does not concerns mean deficiencies???

P.S. eagerly awaiting the rest of the top 10

out.

Trotsky said...

Thx a lot Joe...
I stay clear of the forums.
I was regular there once but had some weird shit thrown in my face by some cat I didn't even know and that was they end for me.
As for fishing products although I drool as much as the next pinhead over the highend paperweights I recently parted with a collectors item in order to pay for a Jetboat trip in MI and for the life of me I cannot bring myself to regret it.
;o)
LOL
I can't remember the exact quote but Tom McGuane once said something to the effect that his favourite fishing rod is the one with the fish on the other end.
.. damned skippy...

lambton said...

Norland...Tom McCann said "Buy my shoes!" Well F*ck him and his friggin shoes!

BWA ice fishing derby...LOL!!!!!!

Trotsky said...

Your breath smells of Tom Mcanns choda you turd-knocking homo...
I think we should enter the derby and fish through the ice with 15 fters...
We'd probably get lynched...

Trotsky said...

BTW...what happened to your profile pic?

lambton said...

I just changed it to a pic of my C*ck but the sheer size and magnitude of it crashed the Blogger servers so I had to revert back to the old profile pic.
Come to think of it...it's for the better. I don't want you homo's lurking outside my house in the shadows...friggin HOMO's

Trotsky said...

Man...who are you trying to kid...you have no penis

lambton said...

Maybe...just maybe I'll be nice and pick you up a new Alaska hat next April.
I will be certain to rub my junk all over it prior to presenting you with the gift.