A beautiful winter day on the water...

It's the weekend and we have been invited to go fishing with our friends Rick & Anne on Sea Legs.  Rick's helm is enclosed and has heat and a/c making it comfortable in all sorts of weather.  A beautiful weekend is forecast and we make our way south Friday afternoon.

Saturday morning we awaken to a beautiful day in OB.  The marine forecast is good and we are set to go.  The first order of the day is to find Doggie Day Care for Sadie.  The local vet here provides day care for dogs and I head there shortly after they open, 8am. Sadie rushes off to play with the teenager there, she will be well cared for.  Pickup is between 5-6pm, that will be a factor later.

We leave the Pass with a plan to catch bait and then on to the Tenneco rig looking for amber jack.  As is sometimes the case this time of year, bait was hard to find.  We stopped at several spots to "make bait" but nothing was to be had.  Rick had a proven spot for bait but it was about 10-15 miles out of the way.  Faced with the prospect of catching no bait elsewhere we settled in for the trip to the bait hole.  Sure enough after a few minutes the bait well was full.

When we got to the Tenneco a smaller boat was anchored up, after a few minutes he pulled anchor and headed out.  Our first few drops resulted in large snapper, all over 20lbs.  We vented them and sent them back down.  Still no Jacks.

We had to leave for home by 3:30 in order to pick up Sadie.  Time was closing in on us.  We thought our drops we may be little deep so we scaled back to 60-70'.  Bingo!  Big AJ on the electric.  We fought the fish for 10-15 minutes before we had it on the gaff, fish, 40lb class.  The next couple of drops result in big hits and lost fish but we were running out of time.  We decided to make one last drop.  It was immediately hit and the fight was on.  Unfortunately the line parted and we lost another.  Now we have head back.  Rick turned the boat NW and we begin our 33 mile run in.

Rick had done a great job to put us on the fish and putting bait in the live well.  Bait was hard to find, as hard as I have seen but we got it done.  As the sun went down the heat is on in the helm, the stereo is on, Karen & Anne are enjoying a cocktail, as we head for the hill.

The sunset was beautiful on the ride in.  We dropped Karen at the fuel dock to fetch Sadie.  I cleaned the fish and Rick and Anne tended Sea Legs.

Rick and Anne are such gracious hosts & "fishing buddies".  Rick handles the boat like a pro and we always have fun and catch fish.  We are already planning a return visit next weekend.   Super Bowl & Owners meeting be damned, we are going fishing!!!  A great day with great friends!

The New Year; Plumbers, & Painters.

The holiday weekend began for us on Wednesday 12/29.  I met Sarah & company in Troy to move her out of her apartment.  She is doing an internship at Ole Miss then will graduate in May.  Its a cliche' but it seems she has grown up in a big hurry.  Derrick met us in Troy with the trailer, after loading it he headed to Camden.  I was back to MGM to get Karen & Sadie the Wonder Dog then head south to OB.  It has been several weeks since our last visit and we are anxious to return.

One of the things we wanted to accomplish this visit was to paint the master bedroom.  It was a dark blue, painted during my "Blue Period".  Too dark and confining, we wanted a lighter color.  I figured it would be an easy job, one I could handle, big mistake.  The first coat, a primer, went on without incident.  We then went to Home Depot to pick out a color.  Everything seemed to take forever, leaving TPOS, traffic on 59, picking out a color, my patience was tested to the limit.  Finally back at  the condo I began to apply the final coat.  As  I struggled to maintain my composure I spilled a can of paint onto the carpet, and then spilled another.  Finally the last wall is done.   This is when my Coors Light is missed the most.  We will take on the trim Friday.  At this rate even Sadie the Wonder Dog  won't be speaking to me by New Year.

Oops...

Friday morning I made the decision which should have made much earlier, hire a Painter.  After asking several of my buds at TPOS  got the name of a local guy.  He gave what I thought was a very fair price to finish the bedroom & the living area.  He will start in a week or so, stay tuned.. I'm out a few bucks but we are all happier, much happier.

Friday we noticed a leak behind the 2nd toilet. We think it has been going on quite some time, there is a discolored area below it in the parking area.  A slow leak.  I made my way to GNG Plumbing.  They recognized me immediately as "The Pecan Man" and from my prior escapades at TPOS.  They sent a guy right over and Had it repaired right away.  I am glad I didn't try and fix this problem, it would still be leaking...  Great guys, I would recommend them anytime.

Friday night we have dinner plans with our friends Tommy & Lisa.  Tommy is friends with the owner of the Steamer at San Roc Cay, Jeff.  We had a great meal & an even better time.  Back to the condo for Karen, Lisa & Tommy to enjoy some champagne, iced  tea for me.  We didn't make it to midnight and the Wharf for fireworks, something that seems to happen more & more as the years go by.

Another word about the Steamer.  We had been there several weeks ago during the Oil Spill.  The place was dead and the meal was uninspiring.  Friday nite they had a guy on guitar and the place was packed.  The food was great and the atmosphere was very enjoyable.  Its a great place for casual dining, we will be back.

New Years day we awoke to rain and balmy temperatures.  We both wanted to go to the Polar Bear Dip as observers but the rain kept us away.  Maybe next year.  The day continued with nonstop football which bored Karen & Sadie the Wonder Dog to no end.  The Lifetime channel was a constant on the second TV.  Dinner of Black-eyed peas, hog jowl, turnips and cornbread.  Good luck will surely follow us in 2011!

Sunday morning we awoke to wind and cold temperatures.  Off to church, my friend Alan was not there but it was great to see my friends at OBUMC after several weeks away due to Pecan Season.  I will be back in a couple of weeks.  We left TPOS mid afternoon and headed back top MGM.

It was a great weekend away.  Karen was a jewel working with my lack of patience and my many goofs over the weekend.   2 spilled buckets of paint and not a cross word spoken.  Her love for me knows no bounds....