Sounds like a fun day catching!

Prayers going up.

I was never allowed to donate for others due to a childhood kidney situation. However, I did donate a couple units for myself that were on standby when I had an abdominal aortic aneurysm repair surgery. Do those units count?

Congratulations to you, Papa D. That's a huge contribution to your fellow-man!

Just in case anyone wants to know the author of those magazine stories you are referring to, it is Patrick McManus. I think I read almost all his one-page magazine stories and most of his books. His novels aren't as much for the humor, but his books of short stories kept me in stitches!

So sad for the family situation but so very happy you found the photo! There's a possibility that when she is older she may find you! When I was a babe in arms, my maternal granddad told my parents he never wanted us to come in his sight again. When I was 21 years old, and he was three weeks from death, he asked for us to come see him! I think I know your emotions, but hang on to that picture and hope for the future. You just never know!

Under those weather conditions, I feel blessed to not be there. Even though, I've been managing in 100+ temps, but moderate winds in Texas for several weeks now.

I've heard NH is beautiful but might prefer the pictures versus experience - ha!

Glad you and family had a great weekend! Sounds like a great family, and yes you are certainly blessed in that respect. Maybe next time the fish will be biting as a bonus. Never heard of Ute Lake. What area of the state is it in?

Stuff happens. I don't see any blood in the picture, so maybe it's true: "all is well that ends well".

I think a lot of these city raised people do it because they see others do it.....and, they're curious what they were looking for! It has gotten to the point at one of the Walmart's that I shop, the store had to put out trash bins next to the fresh corn. People find an ear of corn they want and just go ahead and completely shuck it, leaving shucks on the corn display. In MY way of thinking, this little consumer quirk just gives the store justification to sell the corn at 50 cents per ear rather than 40 cents.

That's a little different scenario from one of my old memories. In the college dorm latrine was a sign: "Don't throw cigarette butts in the urinal; it makes them soggy and hard to light"! Oh well.

Yes sir, Frank. Before we had Mercurochrome and Merthiolate and Iodine at home, we used the kerosene (coal oil) also. And, years later in high school football we used a lot of "monkey blood". Oh boy! Ain't it fun remembering?!

I clearly remember all that nostalgia. Then again, I'm almost as old as Mr. Samples - apololgies RJS! My memory of the Mercurochrome was that it was a mild (candy) version of an antiseptic. That was what my dad believed. He thought that Merthiolate was a better (he-man) version of an antiseptic. I imagine it could have compared to pouring battery acid on an open wound. I once fell on a curb and skinned my shin over an area about six inches long. I knew what to expect when I put the Merthiolate on it, so I rapidly dashed it on and tried to hold my breath (and water). Fifteen minutes later the pain was so intense I couldn't tell if I was burning or having cold chills; could have been both. But, the wound didn't get infected!

Based on your enjoyment of westerns, mysteries, detective fiction, you may enjoy the many books by Tony Hillerman. I also have read most of Lee Childs' books - the Jack Reacher novels. I've read a few of John Grisham's books and have a stack in waiting for when (if ever) I can get to them. I've enjoyed all the works I've read from these three. My favorite author is Patrick McManus: outdoor humorist extraordainaire.

Prayers for you Randy. Be calm and have faith!

Sorry about the rod. I know how frustrating it is, but it's done now. The bright side is it justifies a trip to the tackle store to do some browsing. You may find something you didn't know you needed...as well as lucking into a good deal on a new rod.

Those are some nice crappie - thanks for showing them. I particularly love the sight of some of those husky black crappie.