I went to see "The Birds" a classic Alfred Hitchcock movie from the author of suspense. Film Geek didn't think it was scary.
The day after seeing the movie, the very next day as a matter of fact, I went trout fishing in Deer Creek. It was a small creek that meandered through a wooded area as it headed for the Shenango River. The state did a (put and take) stocking of trout and they were easy to catch after they were freshly stocked. It was approaching evening when the fish like to bite.
As I was moving down the creek I noticed some birds flying into the trees around me. The next thing I knew I had 20 birds in the trees, then there wer 60 birds and the about 100 birds just chirping away in the trees above me. I could see birds flockingthe woods. The movie came to mind. Chirp, chirp, chirp!! It became mind numbing. All I could think about was all those birds flying down and pecking out my eyes. That's just the way I had seen in the movie. The birds gathered then attacked. My eyes are precious to me and always have been.
Discretion being the better part of valor, from Shakespeare, I got the heck out of those woods as fast as I could, jumped into my car and headed for home. Those birds ruined a perfectly good evening of fishing. I never saw birds surround me like that again so why did it have to happen right after I saw the movie. Did Alfred Hitchcock send them?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Youngest Grand Children
The grand-kids got ready for Halloween. The youngest grand son dressed as a police man with tickets and handcuffs. He had a lot of equipment. The youngest grand daughter dressed as the witch from "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Our town does a safe trick or treating on Sundays from 3 to 5. It is safer all around for the kids. I walked them around the neighborhood.
Jelly Bean the pomeranian dressed as a witch also.
Jelly Bean the pomeranian dressed as a witch also.
Downtown Kent
Saturday was rainy and cold 45F in Kent. I went downtown at 9:30 and it was starting to get crowded. They tend to go until early morning. Here are some Pirates of the Caribbean.
Here is the portrait of the farmer and his wife. They were stoic and wouldn't talk.
This is looking down Water Street.
This is looking down towards all the bars Kent has; it's is a college town.
Here is the portrait of the farmer and his wife. They were stoic and wouldn't talk.
This is looking down Water Street.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Scariest Fishing Trip #1
I'll now tell you about the scariest fishing trip. I was 12 years old and again fishing the Allegheny River. It was a trip to fish all day long. We went in the morning and didn't plan on leaving until evening. My Dad and I were with my dad's working buddy Red and his son Big E. Red got his name because he was a big Irishmen with red hair and the reddest cheeks you ever saw. He look as if he had been drinking even if he didn't have a drop. Big E was my age and later went on to be a descent division 2 college football quarterback.
We were fishing the west side of the Allegheny River and drive in by car. This part of the river comes directly up against the mountain. I'm sure it was similar to a lot of the West Virginia rivers in that configuration. We drove down the side of the mountain to the river. There was a wooden staircase about 100 yards above the river and the road went down the mountain to a parking place to a bottom that was near the river.
We had fished until close to nightfall and had caught quite a few. The fish we had caught were on a stringer near the stairway . We had worked our way downstream to the parking lot and someone had to go back for the fish near the stairway. I said I would go get the fish and wait for them at the top of the stairway. It took a while to work my way upstream, get the fish and climb the stairway. It was getting dark as I climbed the stairway to wait for the car. The only thing that needed to happen on their end was for everyone to drive up in the car from the valley.
I don't know if you have ever been in unlighted place in a wooded area but the dark sweeps in like there is no tomorrow. One minute you could see the fish you are holding and the next minute you are only feeling the weight of the fish. What's the problem here, I'm ready to go home but there is no car. An eternity passes and finally I see a car start and head lights proceed up from the valley below. My heart was filled with excitement as the car approached. I was so glad to see light and the security of the car.
WRONG CART, WHAT, there was someone else fishing the area. I didn't see anyone else fishing the river. The car passes without a glance. In the dark, even with head lights, I don't think they saw me.
More time passes and there is no activity. Did dad forget his own son? Wasn't I the number one son? How could he forget me? I had no answers, only questions. I didn't think it could get darker but I think it just did. Now I am hearing sounds in the woods as the forest seems to come to life. Is there a bear coming to visit with the smell of fish attracting the bear. Who knows, all I know is it was dark and I was scarred. We used to play in the dark all the time but street lights give you some light and there was always the stars and the moon.
Did you ever start to tremble from fear? I was to that point, no stars, no moon only dark. I had been in the woods when it was dark before but never, ever, when alone.
I hear a car start, Maybe dad didn't forget me. The car climbs out of the valley. I was never so glad to see my dad's car. "Where were you all this time?" I asked. "Was someone trying to get in a last cast?" I didn't care, I crawled into the back seat of the car, still shaking, and fell asleep in the the safety of the dark car.
I never did see a bear in the woods but saw one hanging from a tree once during hunting season. It was a big black bear. I wonder if it was ever near the Allegheny River.
We were fishing the west side of the Allegheny River and drive in by car. This part of the river comes directly up against the mountain. I'm sure it was similar to a lot of the West Virginia rivers in that configuration. We drove down the side of the mountain to the river. There was a wooden staircase about 100 yards above the river and the road went down the mountain to a parking place to a bottom that was near the river.
We had fished until close to nightfall and had caught quite a few. The fish we had caught were on a stringer near the stairway . We had worked our way downstream to the parking lot and someone had to go back for the fish near the stairway. I said I would go get the fish and wait for them at the top of the stairway. It took a while to work my way upstream, get the fish and climb the stairway. It was getting dark as I climbed the stairway to wait for the car. The only thing that needed to happen on their end was for everyone to drive up in the car from the valley.
I don't know if you have ever been in unlighted place in a wooded area but the dark sweeps in like there is no tomorrow. One minute you could see the fish you are holding and the next minute you are only feeling the weight of the fish. What's the problem here, I'm ready to go home but there is no car. An eternity passes and finally I see a car start and head lights proceed up from the valley below. My heart was filled with excitement as the car approached. I was so glad to see light and the security of the car.
WRONG CART, WHAT, there was someone else fishing the area. I didn't see anyone else fishing the river. The car passes without a glance. In the dark, even with head lights, I don't think they saw me.
More time passes and there is no activity. Did dad forget his own son? Wasn't I the number one son? How could he forget me? I had no answers, only questions. I didn't think it could get darker but I think it just did. Now I am hearing sounds in the woods as the forest seems to come to life. Is there a bear coming to visit with the smell of fish attracting the bear. Who knows, all I know is it was dark and I was scarred. We used to play in the dark all the time but street lights give you some light and there was always the stars and the moon.
Did you ever start to tremble from fear? I was to that point, no stars, no moon only dark. I had been in the woods when it was dark before but never, ever, when alone.
I hear a car start, Maybe dad didn't forget me. The car climbs out of the valley. I was never so glad to see my dad's car. "Where were you all this time?" I asked. "Was someone trying to get in a last cast?" I didn't care, I crawled into the back seat of the car, still shaking, and fell asleep in the the safety of the dark car.
I never did see a bear in the woods but saw one hanging from a tree once during hunting season. It was a big black bear. I wonder if it was ever near the Allegheny River.
Gordon retains Chase lead
Jimmie Johnson sweeps Atlanta in NASCAR when he finishes the race under caution. He won all three races there this year. NASCAR tried twice to restart the race but Earnhardt Jr. losing the wheel on the second restart ended the race. Jeff Gordon finishes 7th and the "Chase to the Championship" tightens up. There are three weeks to go and Gordon leads his teammates by 9 points. It's starting to look like a 2 man race with both teammates over 100 points ahead of the nearest competitors. There is a chance someone could catch them but I doubt it.
Nascar now goes to Texas where Tonu Stewart last won.
Go Jeff Gordon!!!
Nascar now goes to Texas where Tonu Stewart last won.
Go Jeff Gordon!!!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Scariest Fishing Trip #2
There is one thing to be explained about this trip. You see I have Ophidiophobia a healthy fear of snakes.
Snakes and I don't need to inhabit the same area of space and time. I don't know if it goes back to the original sin story but I Don't Like Snakes. If I come across one in them in the rough when golfing, one of us will be sorry, especially if I have a wedge in my hand. If one tries to come across my lawn when I'm cutting grass the snake better watch out (spinning blades). If I'm walking along unprotected, I'll turn around and go the other way, simple as that.
So let's go on a fishing trip with the original fishing guy and my younger brother. I was about 13 and he was 11. God forgot to give give the same healthy fears I have. We were fishing the Allegheny River at the Henry's Bend section of the river. It's a beautiful stretch of river and the small-mouth love to get caught at the bend.My brother saw a snake swimming across the river toward the boat. He, with no wisdom at all , decides to hook the snake with his fishing pole. This snake was 5 foot long and black as night. Isn't that the color of a water moccasin is what went through my mind ? We not only have a snake but a snake that can bite and kill you. This is really were the term healthy fear comes to the forefront. He thinks that he should bring it into the boat to unhook it. Now I ask you, why was it hooked in the first place. I have no idea except sometimes brothers don't think things out. Now I'm really scared, there is no way a snake and I will inhabit the same space in a 12 foot aluminum fishing boat. No Way No Way!!!This is when I made the declaration, "If that snake comes into the boat I'm swimming to shore". Now everyone is laughing, except me, and having a good time. He lift the snake closer to coming into the boat. I edge to the side of the boat. The river is wide here and I don't know if can I swim clear to shoreline with clothes on. This entered my mind but was quickly dismissed. Finally Dad told my brother to cut the line. I guess he could see how close I was to the boat rail. That plus the fact that I had no color in my face. Later I let my brother know if anything of this sort happened again he would know another fear. The fear of the big brother Fistophobia.Two down and # 1 to go.
Snakes and I don't need to inhabit the same area of space and time. I don't know if it goes back to the original sin story but I Don't Like Snakes. If I come across one in them in the rough when golfing, one of us will be sorry, especially if I have a wedge in my hand. If one tries to come across my lawn when I'm cutting grass the snake better watch out (spinning blades). If I'm walking along unprotected, I'll turn around and go the other way, simple as that.
So let's go on a fishing trip with the original fishing guy and my younger brother. I was about 13 and he was 11. God forgot to give give the same healthy fears I have. We were fishing the Allegheny River at the Henry's Bend section of the river. It's a beautiful stretch of river and the small-mouth love to get caught at the bend.My brother saw a snake swimming across the river toward the boat. He, with no wisdom at all , decides to hook the snake with his fishing pole. This snake was 5 foot long and black as night. Isn't that the color of a water moccasin is what went through my mind ? We not only have a snake but a snake that can bite and kill you. This is really were the term healthy fear comes to the forefront. He thinks that he should bring it into the boat to unhook it. Now I ask you, why was it hooked in the first place. I have no idea except sometimes brothers don't think things out. Now I'm really scared, there is no way a snake and I will inhabit the same space in a 12 foot aluminum fishing boat. No Way No Way!!!This is when I made the declaration, "If that snake comes into the boat I'm swimming to shore". Now everyone is laughing, except me, and having a good time. He lift the snake closer to coming into the boat. I edge to the side of the boat. The river is wide here and I don't know if can I swim clear to shoreline with clothes on. This entered my mind but was quickly dismissed. Finally Dad told my brother to cut the line. I guess he could see how close I was to the boat rail. That plus the fact that I had no color in my face. Later I let my brother know if anything of this sort happened again he would know another fear. The fear of the big brother Fistophobia.Two down and # 1 to go.
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