Today's Mixed Bag

Yesterday was a great day to fish until the wind came up and made it very difficult to paddle a kayak upwind...and even with small anchors we still had to fight our way back into position when the wind pulled us off our anchorage....I took a new fisherman out on Lemon Bay to teach him the ways of salt water fishing and despite every effort to see that he caught fish...in the end it was Monk with a nice Spanish Mackerel, a lady fish, a four pound sail cat that put up one hell of a battle and a nice sea trout of about 22".....and Wayne one puffer fish....we fished with the same bait the same rigs and within 20 feet of each other...I felt like I should hand him the pole every time I hooked one...it he had been a kid I would have....but I thought that as an adult he might take offense to that....the UV index was a nine but as far as I was concerned the UV index for me was about 109... I burnt my legs so bad (I put lotion on everything but them) that today every time I stand up the blood rushing to them and the tightening of the skin as my muscles tense, hurts so bad that I just want to scream out loud....I don't know if this fishing guide thing is going to work if I'm the only one who is going to catch the fish...I'm certainly to much of a die hard fisherman to just sit by and watch my clients fish...

I got new pictures of Dakota today she looks a lot like her Dad but a lot cuter...I'll just throw one in here...I'll fight my instinct to show you all of them.....

I got nine copies of the book in the mail...what a rush....I was happy and sad at the same time...happy to see my book in print and sad to know that if it weren't for a lot of great brothers in arms I probably would not have been here to write it....God Bless all my brother Marines and all service people who have or are now serving their country with pride and honor.......To my sons Kevin, Travis and Kyle...Thank you for your past and present service to our great country.......

Monk

P.S. Just got a call from my son Ryan...he feels bad that he's only mentioned once in my bio and not in my stories...I just want him to know how proud of him I am....a top U of R about to be graduate and one very smart cookie...he is the rock that his brothers and sisters count on...he wants to be a cop and the lucky town that hires him will thank their lucky stars that they did....he already is a fine human being and will make an excellent protector of the people...love ya Ryan.....

Three Weeks Old And What a Doll....

I know baby pictures of grandkids are only interesting to the parents and the grandparents...but I couldn't resist so here are just a couple of the most beautiful baby in the world....Dakota is three weeks old and Livin LaVita Loca.....Mom and Dad are so proud and happy...hey Mom send a picture of you and baby...grandpa has none to show.....Doesn't aunt Kelsey look cute with the baby?.....Its to bad I'm not going to let her date until I'm fish food......as long as I'm on this side of the grass...no one will be good enough for my baby......

Another hard day of working on book two and fishing in the afternoon...actually a lot more fishing than working on the book...just can't resist 80 and sunny.....caught some lady fish and lost a nice Spanish mackerel....will try and remember to get someone to take my picture with a fish just so you all believe me...

Kyle is doing great at the Taki Tiki...talk about La Vita Loca....this kids got it made....now his best friend Galen has joined the Taki Tiki team as cook and is staying with Lisa and Kyle....God bless Lisa....I've been taking Kyle to my friday nite poker game with the boys...or I should say men...very old men....they are guys that I met down here several years ago when an old fishing buddy...Denver..brought me along to the Friday nite event....I've been going ever since and when I go back up north for a couple of months they have to stop playing...because of their advanced age some of them can't shuffle or deal the cards so every Friday I deal for at least two of the five or six guys that show up...when I'm not around the game has to stop for lack of able bodied players...I think Kyle is going to be my summer replacement...I don't think he knows it yet...it will be a pleasant surprise....so don't tell him yet...

Kyle couldn't resist and has purchased another dog....Molly.....and she is the only dog that has ever been afraid of me in my life....I'm the guy that carries dog treats in his pocket for dogs that I meet on the street....I think Molly hates the Hat and sunglasses....I'm working on making friends but she is one tough nut to crack....Pictures (or notice of Molly's or my demise) will be added in a day or two.....

Enjoy the baby pics....I'll get some shots of Molly and the poker jokers soon...maybe even me and Molly as friends....

Monk

I Will Be A Published Author on March 26th...WOW

Just got word from my publisher that the book will be published and available for sale on March 26th...initially from the publisher by snail mail then email on his web site... war-books.com ....by April....no pressure... buy it if you feel inclined....I'll still speak to you if you don't.....Maybe....I'm going to have my first book signing on the 10th of April 6PM at the Gift and Coffee shop here in Englewood on Dearborn Street...come if you can...

I've been working on book two but it's hard to concentrate when the sunny outdoors beckons...the fishing has been good but I haven't had much time to enjoy it because of the two and a half weeks it took to get rid of the flu or whatever it was.....