When I could barely open the car door against the wind, I should have known better. I was going for a walk on the beach with Willie. Sheesh, it was stormy!
I struggled to put on my full length rain coat in the car. Thought that would take care of things. I'd be fine, as long as I had a full length rain coat. Right?
Wrong!
It was so stormy at the beach that I could barely stand up against it! No wind at all at home, but at the beach it was a different story!
I made it out to the beach OK. The wind was at my back. Making it back? I kid you not. With a previously collapsed lung, I almost ended up calling for help! I would make it barely 10 feet, and have to rest. Thing is, I couldn't stand up straight to rest! I literally was panicking! How far is the car? I'd force my head up to see. Too far! Too far!
I bet those winds were 50 miles per hour and up. (Just read that they were around 40 knots. How much is that?) I don't know, but Willie had fun!
I was soaked to the bone after 10 minutes, though! I finally made it to the car! Next time, I think we'll stick it out at home!

May 21, 2012

Can you believe that after all of this time, Willie has never been to the ocean beach? The river is fine for running and frolicking, but the beach? We must go! Today is the day!
It's raining and nasty out, but we can still go to the beach! It isn't very windy, so it will be fine. Nothing like a rainy walk on the beach. Oh, we will be sandy and wet, when we are done!
Yesterday we didn't fish. We got to the launch, talked to a couple people who were taking out already. They said "no fish- and windy and cold" so, we looked at one another and just went home.
Bummer. Yes. We are getting to be fair weather fishers! Never woulda thought! There was a day when rain meant nothing to us. I mean, how could it? If you are an Oregon fisher, rain is a fact of life. That's why the hundreds of dollars in rain gear!
It seems so weird. It keeps hitting me. Yesterday evening I walked down to the river and thought of a day when every single evening I fished. That was my schedule. I ate dinner, and then went out to fish. Rain, sun, tired, what ever... I just went! It was habit.
But, as I age, I seem to be colder and more tired. I "get" the snowbird thinking of going South. I get it! I used to make sport of it, but now? I get it! I do!
Never ever thought I'd be a "raisin" as my girlfriend and I used to call older folks, but a raisin I am!
Today, we are going to face the rain and go to the beach to run! I will be a raisin by the time I'm done, if I'm not, already!
I don't think Bill and I will be fishing until the skies clear. It's a soaker, today. Just pouring down rain. Bill is sleeping in, this morning, so I'm on dog duty.
Willie has been such a good dog, lately. He's much more settled, and much nicer to be around since I medicated him for both salmon flukes and an ear infection. Poor dog. He just didn't feel well, and thus, I think, the wilders.
However, this morning, he's certainly got the wilders. He's been out to chase the flashlight twice, already, and still has steam to go. I'll take care of that, by taking him to the beach!

May 20, 2012

Get a load of that IFISH magazine!
I'm so proud of it! I can't get over how awesome it looks! And, what great articles! It's like... real! A real magazine! Wow!
I've been fishing of all things! Yes! Me! Fishing!
I'm getting ready to go again, this morning!
I went out on the Willamette the other evening with Scott Nichols. It was so fun to go down to the dock and see people I knew!
Oregon City truly is a home away from home! I walked down to the dock, feeling a little bit lost. Where was I? Where was I supposed to park? I hadn't been down here since my Dad used to take me fishing!
But, at the landing, there stood David Johnson and Lee Darby! "Hey, you guys!" Never had I been more glad to see "locals!"
Then, a boat pulled up, which I thought was Scott, for sure. (You know my eyesight...) I laughed, when I realized it wasn't Scott at all, but someone else and his Dad!
"Oops!" I said. "I almost got in your boat!"
The guy said, "You are Jennie, right? That's OK! You can go with us!"
He was from ifish! Yay! More non-strangers!
Finally, Scott buzzed around with his Alumaweld, and a friend of his, was also waiting to go with us, on the dock. I met him, and we had a great time, talking.
Scott took us to all his best holes, including up the Clackamas. That was so fun! We went really fast and saw eagles and buzzards and all kinds of things!
No fish that evening, but who cares? The boat ride, the company and the fishing was a blast!
I couldn't ask for a nicer neighbor!
I'm in Tillamook, and yesterday, Bill was telling me that the place was a little lacking in color. (hint hint) He was reminding me that he missed my flower boxes. So, now I'm flowering two homes, huh? Yep! We went flower shopping and I made hanging baskets and boxes for him. Well, for us, I guess. It just hadn't occurred to me that I was going to have to do two homes of flowers!
Today, we are headed out on Tillamook Bay. It's drizzling out and perfect for fishing. I'm typing as fast as I can, in fear of hearing Bill's motor rev to tell me that I'm late, late, late!
Off I go! I will report, later!

May 16, 2012

Oh! How I love me some sunshine!
I've been feeling actually good lately! Is it the sun? I think so!
I have planted much of my garden, and that makes me feel so good, too!
I was a little hesitant to finish planting the corn. I'll never forget that my Grandfather passed away, shortly after coming into the farm house and exclaiming to Grandma, "Just got the corn in." He sat down in his chair and expired.
My Grandfather lived a wonderful and long life. I loved him so much!
You know, it's a lovely way to go, if we have to go... but still. I always hesitate, when I "get the corn in". I never plant it last!
I bought two raspberry plants to supplement the suckers that I took from Tillamook. I planted two blueberry plants that I bought at a really good price at the Grocery Outlet store.
I put in the cucumbers and the tomatoes from Costco. I'm having so much fun!
I also just must have what Andrew always calls "Grandma grass." My parents took such good care of their lawn, and I promise to do the same!
This is a real challenge, however, with "Willie the auto thatcher" around. He races around the lawn, digging in, with his claws. Huge pieces of grass come up, when he skids to a stop, or takes off at a start! So, I bought some grass seed to cover up his auto thatching, and scattered fresh dirt over the top. My lawn looks a bit like dot to dot Seurat, but it will all fill in. That is, if I can get Willie to the coast, or otherwise slowed down!
I got invited to go evening fishing tomorrow night on the Willamette tomorrow night and I'm so excited! Last time, I was invited, however, I got so excited that my lung collapsed. Lord help me, I've got to be calm!
Anyhow, I'm back! I'm happy! I'm (Dare I say) healthy!
I finally feel good again! Whoo hoooo!
Honest to God, I didn't think it was going to happen --ever again! I was almost to give up. Was I on my way out? Am I getting old? (Never!)
Thing is, when I have these good times, I often overdo it to the point of feeling badly for a while, again. I'm trying so hard to not do that! Rest, Jennie, rest!
None of my lungs are going to go pop!
I feel so good that I just have to scrub the walls outside, and plant the garden, and get things done, while I can!
It's that old ying yang thing. Everything in balance. I'm trying! If I get things done at a moderate pace, I should be OK. Right?
RIGHT!
But, tomorrow night, I don't care. I'm going to fish as hard as I can! Consequences be darned!

...Continued bottom of
May
April
Jennie's Fishing Life, Complete!
I love my life, and it's a pleasure to fish it.