Off For a Week

Tammy and I and our friends, the Johnstons, are heading to Lundington, MI for the week to camp, fish, boat, recreate, and relax. It's one of my favorite places ever (that I have been to anyway) and always a welcomed trip in August, though for me it means the winding down of summer too, which is sad. Been taking this salmon fishing pilgrimage to Ludington every year since about 1990 with my dad, but he won't be on this trip as they are currently in Nova Scotia with Lindsey. Talked to her this morning, she is loving the trip, especially the food ~ squirts had like 3 or 4 lobster dinners already ~ and really liked seeing Anne of Green Gables and seeing the actual town the author lived and learning about her life. They'll be returning a day or two after we do.

Hoping for good weather and lake conditions since I am taking our boat vs. my dad's, which is significantly bigger. Lake Michigan is usually pretty navigable for most medium on up sized craft though, whereas Lake Erie can rough up in a hurry.

Have a wonderful week to anyone reading this and, with any luck with the weather and fishing conditions, I'll have some cool pics to post when we return. Here's a couple of pics from last year.

Frank and I after a mornings catch

A Coast Guard helicopter on manuevers near the Ludington pier. How I captured this shot I will never know as it was flying by when I got it. I do know actually... luck. :)

Dad and I with some lunkers.

The Johnstons heading out onto the pier to enjoy a beautiful sunset on Lake Michigan. I framed this shot for them for Christmas last year.

Jeremy, I will be thinking about you and your family and praying for you all. Love you man!

This Caught My Eye

While out working yesterday morning this scene caught my eye. Like a lot of other places in the country right now, it's been very humid here so mornings are very dewey and damp. The dampness coupled with the rising sun highlighted this spider web adjacent to a home I was inspecting. Anyway, I thought it was pretty cool.

On another note... I just love summer and hate to see it quickly slipping away. Last night on my way back home I stopped at Smith's Farm Market and picked up some locally home grown sweet corn to go along with the pork chop/steaks that Tammy had pulled out for dinner. We then went over to my mom and dad's, who are currently vacationing/sight-seeing in Canada/PEI/Nova Scotia with out youngest daughter, Lindsey, and hit their garden for some fresh vegies - tomatoes, green beans, and zucchini. I grilled the zucchini along with the pork chops and Tammy boiled the sweet corn. It was a deliciously fresh dinner.

So, summer's quickly slipping away. We spent a lovely long weekend up at the cabin in Glennie, MI and floated the beautiful AuSable River last weekend. Next week we'll be in Ludington, MI for my annual salmon fishing trip on Lake Michigan with my dad except, my dad won't be there this year. He had to go and throw this big Canadian trip right into our normal fishing itinerary buggering up MY summer! Sheesh, the nerve of the guy!?! So, you'll be missed dad, but I'm goin' anyway. I may get to visit with some RA (RunningAhead - an online running forum/community/logging site I use) folks over on that side of the state like Zoomy. That'd be cool.

Surprises

Don'tcha just love most surprises. I had a couple of pleasant ones yesterday when we got back from up north from the in-laws' cabin in Glennie. The first was the certificate above from the Toledo Road Runners for my Glass City Marathon finish (that was a long 6 - 8 weeks!) and the second was the comment below left on my blog from my Aunt Denise. Anyway, both made me smile... and cry a little too. I know... I'm such a wuss.


"Rick,

I love he pictures. It looks like you guys had a great time. I want to apologize for not getting back to you about Cassy's surprise package. We both cried and laughed. She was soo excited about the picture and medal, I thought she was going to jump out of her wheelchair. Wish you had of been here to see it. She has something to send you, but I am not blog savvy, and have not figured how to send it to you via your blog, so I will get it to you by regular mail and then you can post it on the blog. Cassy and I both want you to know how very honored and happy we were about you running the marathon in her honor. It really meant a lot to both of us, and we don't ever want you to feel bad that she has not been able to run on her own. She runs in her heart, and all of ours. And one day Cassy will run with us all in heaven. She has accomplished and experienced much for someone that has never taken a step on her own in her life. Cassy has no regrets about the cerebral palsey, and as you know, she has never let it stop her from anything she has truly wanted to do. She was very upset when I told her about your stress fracture and all the pain you had to endure.I need to stop now, as I am getting teary eyed. I will try hard to visit your blog more often. Tell Tammy and Chelsea hello, and all of our love to all of you. Wish we could get together and spend time together more often.From your favorite aunt, love and kisses. I am very proud of you!

Love, Denise
Fri Aug 01, 12:34:00 AM EDT "

Thanks for the note, Aunt Denise. I love you too.