This ones for Gary...

I will probably regret this....

I have decided to remove my filter and go "public" again.

Gary can't read my BLOG...and that is that. LOL

I don't know why anyone ...besides myself... would want to read this dribble but whatever.

Here you go buddy...no more lost passwords...you are in.

I believe most of the lurking knuckleheads have lost interest in me anyway and if it goes sideways I can pull the plug again pretty quick.



These pics are from last year but it is an annual event that Torrie and I participate in that is worth documenting.
There are not many things that can tear me away from Steelhead fishing in November but this was the case this year.
Torrie and I played a 2 day Jazz gig at the RBC centre which is the local arena where the Sarnia Sting play.
It is a fund raising event for Kids with disabilities and I was proud to be part of it.
It was with a heavy heart though....
Torrie and I lost a friend to cancer this month. The wife of the guy who builds our guitars.
She was such a wonderful person and I will miss her.
I thought of the Carters more than once this weekend. They have always been good to me...probably better than I have been to them...or anyone for that matter.
Sometimes I think that all we have are the relationships we forge and the value should never be underestimated.
Things end very quickly.


I have no specific faith but I hope she has found peace.



This was only the second year and the turnout was exceptional.

I have to believe they made a lot of money for the kids while at the same time providing 2 days of enjoyment to an area that is desperately lacking when it comes to anything close to unique entertainment.

FUSION LINK

I would go even if I wasn't playing music. Great food, good beer, hot chicks..and the music was pretty good as well!!

;o)

The Creemore Springs guys were there again this year and they took good care of Torrie and I...god bless those guys...best beer in the world IMHO!!

One more fall task then I am back to fishing....Might even sneak out Friday to snipe some skinny water.

Fingers crossed.....

Daddio...(In Law)

Today I did a good thing.

Sometimes it is not about just catching fish...and heres the thing...


Right on cue with my midlife crisis...which I am starting to get a handle on...
..we are NOT getting any younger..

Gerry wanted to get some Steelhead action..and I sure as hell was going to find time and fish for him.


Here is a guy who would lay down his life for all of my crew without hesitation..generous to a fault in my book, and I truly enjoy his company...truly.
Not many people I can say that about.

So we hit the river early ...


The river had started to drop and as predicted was ultra clear..very tricky..but easy to cross.

To my shame I still feel a little awkward when Gerry takes my arm at crossings that I would normally skip across...( somewhere Morin is smiling ) ...

..Gerry I think has a mild phobia about water...
I mean shit ...what is the worst that can happen???

Chilly swim...that is par for my course.

4 for 4 to start the day...but all with wee little fish.


Gerry blew a big fish at the wintering run and that had me thinking that it could be one of those days.

Redemption at the new run...


Gerry hooked a nice 7 lber that really put on a show for him and he couldn't have been happier with the result!!

Very Very cool!!!

I just wish that I'd gotten it on video but it snuck up on me...


The pics were shit because landing a fish, guiding and desperately avoiding disaster is in short clusterfuckish...

Untitled from Gene Norland on Vimeo.

This video is of Gerrys second decent fish from the sausage run...he missed the strike 3 times in a row.
Good thing Steelies are stupid...


Great day....and I even managed a few for myself.

10 fish total....not too shabby considering.

Work looming...sigh

Trip Number 2

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A Long Absence

From the river and here...




I used to get a lot of enjoyment from my online journal and maybe it is time to try and take another run at this sort of thing.




The break has been just laziness really...that coupled with the fact that I have recognized the need to try and manage my energy better.


I have been really active with my music and that is what takes up most of my "Free" time.


However... When October rolls around it will always be time to go fishing.
Those first dreary cold rainy days seem to flick a switch in the soul and everything else becomes secondary.

The river has taken shape beautifully and after a bit of a logistics scramble Morin and I were able to get over the water we love so much.


It appeared early on that we may be a day off for optimum conditions.


The water had that muddy hue that really takes the wind out of the sails but the schedules had been cleared for the day so we thought we'd take our lumps, do some hiking and wait it out...


Good call..

Lots of big fish in the river and as the water cleared we both got our asses handed to us on a number of occasions.


I was 0 for 8 before I finally landed a smaller fish..albeit a beauty..that took the pressure off nicely.
Looking my pics I can see clearly that my new polarized sunglasses make me look like more of a douchebag then I really am...?
I will have to remember to remove those things for the grip and grin hero shots.
:o/


turned out to be a great day...probably top ten for me....big medicine during a spell where I really needed it.


My new camera turned out to be a lot of fun as well. The pics are a little dry but the underwater stuff is going to be a hoot...and besides... I will leave all the artsy stuff to Useless


The upper water is really unbelievable...a supreme gift...like going to church for me...but the walk in and out is my penance.


...a penance that I will continue to gladly pay as long as I am able.


My legs are killing me.

Bluewater Anglers Salmon Derby 2011

Well it has been a very long time since my last post here.

Not sure why really.

There have been many things going on fish wise and other but I seem to have lost interest in documenting any of it specifically.

I will probably regret not doing so.

Today forced my hand.

At right around 11:00 we pulled lines for the last time during the 2011 Salmon Derby.
Gerry and I fished it hard and got right around 30 fish.
We didn't get skunked once during the 10 day event and I think that that is a first for us.
There were some big fish weighed in this year and you needed a 16 lb fish just to make the top ten.
A 19 lb fish will probably win it.
The final tally is not in yet but we are waiting impatiently here because Owen has managed to take the lead today ...on the last day with a 13 lber in the kids category!!!
It was a really great moment for Gerry Owen and I and regardless of whether or not he wins the bike I will never forget the day we all had together. 3 generations of fish nerds.....
Beautiful.
Here is his fish.


Post edit...


Well it is Official...Owen wins the new Bike.
Thrilled we are all....
..as his fishy smokes away in the back yard.
I am very proud of him...his fish was also big fish of the day...but whos counting.
;o)

More Music...

I LOVE THIS....
LOL


None of these cats are human....and Kreisberg is definitely from MARS!

Wayne Shorter

After all this time I am just starting to discover what a heavy dude Wayne Shorter is...
Here are two different versions of his classic 'Footprints'
I have been playing this tune like crazy on the guitar lately..
That little repetitive bass vamp is tits..



But this live version is where we really start to see the genius emerge....totally irreverent approach to music...or art for that matter....really inspiring...



Unreal...

God I am a lazy POS

Resolution?

Resignation?

LOL

Well...
Here I am half way through the first month and I am forcing myself to write a BLOG entry.
I am doing so because I need some type of an outlet.

I have a bit of an issue.


The Midlife crisis is in full effect and it is really starting to get on my nerves.
I am fully aware of it and have the stones to look it straight in the face which I think is keeping me from doing anything super crazy.
Kimi is very supportive even though I don't think she understands or gets the severity of it.
We have a great relationship and I can discuss anything with her ....but this.


I think that in order for her to truly understand the neurotic grip I am in she would have to see the world the way I see it...and honestly I wouldn't wish that on anyone!
:o)
She has faith and at times I find a lot of that hocus pocus laughable..like grown adults believing in Santa Claus ...but it works for them.

I envy that ....

I have become morbidly obsessed with my own mortality.

It is weird ...


It is like all of a sudden I have come out of hazy state of denial about death and realized that "Hey"...I don't get yesterday back??!!
....And it puts great pressure on "NOW" and tomorrow.

It would probably be easier to take if I wasn't soooooo incredibly happy with my life.
My Kids are awesome ...My Wife is great and I want to bang her all the time. I have a good job that affords us a quality of life a majority of people in the world would kill for...
Not to mention great friends and Steelhead.

I guess now that I have arrived in such a great and sought after place I just can't believe that it is going to end??


The way I have been feeling is not all bad.

As a matter of fact if could very well be all 'Good'.

I feel like I am really starting appreciate things...a lot of things that I took for granted ...and I absolutely do not give a flying fuck about the small stuff and at the risk of reducing this little rant to cliche..."it is mostly small stuff"... in the grand scheme of things ..

I have taken a renewed interest in the guitar and all I want to do is play...

When I am at work it is all I think about.

Speaking of work....those knucklehead idiots are sending me all the way to Prince Edward Island for my week long 3 year firearms recertification this February.
Honestly...WTF?

The amount of our tax money these people waste through their incompetence is mind boggling.
Whatever...it should help pass the winter and should give a nice set of days off in early March to balance out my hours....
...Days off that will undoubtedly find me knee deep in a Michigan river praying for a pull...

Unless I die before then..
LOL
...Where is my Guitar???