Spring Break 2008

Spring Break 2008, pull out the beer bongs and the all night partying, right? Well, we did SEE some beer bongs and some folks who more than likely were celebrating their first taste of freedom into the wee hours of the morning. Us post thirty-somethings could only admire from afar, however. We gave it a good try but the old gray mare ain’t what she used to be.

What we did experience was a great little community about 20 miles west of Panama City, Florida in the pan handle, Rosemary Beach. The Crouse family found this jewel that lies right on the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico. While it’s doubtful any of us in attendance could afford to live in these million dollar-plus homes, it was great to live the swanky life for a week. The town was created in 1995, is a little over a 100 acres, has four pools, a fitness center, a cleaning service, and some incredibly unique houses throughout. The only thing lacking is a tavern but I’m sure that will come in due time.

Al, Greg, and I took off on Monday morning to tackle the inland lakes of Florida that we heard so much about. The destination was Deer Point Lake which is a bit northeast of Panama City. The lake breaks off into some river extensions which have what you are looking for to fish, a bunch of structure. With sunny, but windy conditions, our day was spent casting…..and casting some more. A big goose egg was had by all three of us. The guy we rented the fishing boat from was quite a character. Big Jimbo ran about 350 and his fishing/bait/animal feed/snack/beer shack was quite a scene inside and out. He had about a 50 inch television behind the counter and crap everywhere!!! With a couple of trailers in the front, the place was quite a visual. My picture doesn’t do justice. After returning from our unsuccessful journey, Jimbo, who does have quite the gift of gab, offered us the boat again on Wednesday at a lower rate if we wanted to try again. Well, Wednesday came and the weather couldn’t have been better. No wind and no clouds. We were ready to tackle this lake!! What started out as three giddy fishermen with high hopes ended roughly six hours later with more frustration than my junior year prom night. A big goose egg again. How could it be? We threw everything we had out there and not one darn fish. After consuming a few post fishing beverages, our crying subsided.

Tuesday afternoon/evening we went into Panama City to see if the spring break scene had changed since our time back in 1985. We pulled into a little dive bar called the Beach House. The parking lot was full so we thought this was going to be the place where the wet t-shirt/jello wrestling contests were going to take place. Well, when we walked in the door, our eyes were presented with roughly eighty senior citizens whooping it up. We were advised that Tuesday’s from 2-6 is Canadian “night.” The area apparently has quite a few Canadians that migrate down there in the winter and this was their last hurrah before they all headed back north. Thankfully there were no wet t-shirt contests going on. We ventured from there towards a run down hotel that had a Tiki Bar advertised outside. We walked in the back and got a good chuckle at the scene. The beer bong was out, the youngsters were on their way to Buzztown, and there was dancing in the windows. All the elements were there. After a few more bars and a meal, we called it a night. I think we even made it up until 10 that night. We were feeling crazy!!

All in all it was a great week. I ate like a king (good food from the Crouse family), got a rental car upgrade at no cost, had my own room with a television, personal bathroom, and my own entrance/exit to the house. It was a much needed and well deserved vacation.

Trail Head

Whole Lotta Talkin' Going On

Well, the latest on the downsizing is rather than the 30 days they had previously said would be the time to know our futures (or lack there of), it now won’t go down until May 1st for our department. More time for people to talk….and talk some more. How nice! While our department is in a holding pattern, others have started with the cuts. Most of our training staff has been let go and one of the executive vice presidents is leaving to pursue other opportunities. Isn’t that what being let go really means; pursuing other opportunities? I’m not sure which is worse, having a job and not knowing what will happen on May 1st or not having a job and knowing you need to move on. The gossip is thicker than I’ve ever experienced since I started here in 1990. I don’t do the chit chat game at work unless you are talking about sports so I’m usually the last to hear things, which I guess is a good thing these days. No sense worrying about something that you have no control over. My resume is ready when needed. Maybe I can get that football career I always dreamed of. The Lions seem to be letting all the players go and Millen is a moron. Who knows?

I do know it’s getting warmer each day and that means mountain bike season. I’m itching to ride!!!

I’m off to Florida next weekend so I’ll be sure to bring back some stories from my adventures down there with the Crouse and Ochs’ posse.

Trail Head

The Band

What is sure to eventually be a “Behind The Music” documentary, Saturday night I witnessed the band that, in their time, have put together quite a few verses of some of the world’s more popular songs. Completing an actual song, well…is another matter for the Leechbombs. I’m not sure who is classified as the lead man for the group. Roger seems to be the glue but Keith appears to have the gift of unleashing the fury on lead guitar. Tommy made a cameo appearance arriving from his recording studio in northern Michigan. Also attempting to work their magic were Jim on drums, Greg on keyboards, and Eric on guitar. The three have a thirst for rockin’ the house but have some work to do on their craft.

After getting a call from the manager upstairs (Roger’s wife), the Leechbombs unplugged the amps and settled in to work on some of their new material. One song that is sure to get some serious air play this summer is “Mitchell Sucks At Fishing.” The anger/intensity in Roger’s vocals for the piece really shows through. One would think after listening to the song that Mitchell does in fact suck at fishing.

The summer tour schedule for the group is in preliminary discussions. We’ll keep you updated on any news here.

Trail Head

Feel Like a Number

Some of you may have read the attached that my company is going under a restructuring (read: downsizing) process.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008802200354

We pretty much have been restructuring since 1995 but this one is a biggie. The previous moves

were handled within each state where multiple local offices were merged together. Some employees had longer drives and dealt with it while some said goodbye and moved on. This was how the downsizing process previously worked. They never had to lay off anybody; they just absorbed the work when employees chose to leave. Well, this latest move has field offices in 16 states moving to four regional offices. The company is looking to drop 900+ jobs. The employees with families and homes that they have lived in for some time most likely will choose not to move. This is how the reduction will more than likely be handled. Some might not be given an offer, ever if they were open to the move. What was lost in the article that in addition to the field offices being restructured, moves are being made at the central office here in Detroit; my office. All that was relayed to us is that in 30 days, we will know who stays and who goes. They didn’t mention much as far as if seniority (17+ for me) or other factors will help our cause. A total number wasn’t mentioned. As Tom Petty says, “the waiting is the hardest part…” Needless to say, morale isn’t too high here at the RenCen lately.

With that, in about 30 days, I am having a party. It will either be an “I’m still employed another year” party or a job fair party where you all can tell me where to work. Is there a job out there for sports knowledge? Everybody will have fun either way. There will be no bitterness. It was a good run if it is the end.

Trail Head

Flag Up!

On a calm, gray Sunday morning, the annual Super Bowl morning ice fish outing took place on Dunham Lake; and what a day it was. While we normally fish the northeast side of the lake, due to open water in that area we fished the northern side. With a cast of Al, Darren, Eric, Greg, Jim, Lee, Roger, Tim V., and a crew of kids, the day was taking shape. The grill was in attendance with some nice food and beverage choices among us. I honestly was ready to catch my usual ten or so fish that normally qualify as glorified bait and be happy with that in addition to hanging with the friends. I occasionally put a tip up out and decided to give it a try today rather than just jigging for bluegill/sunfish. I normally just leave the tip up out and pay no attention to it but yesterday, I moved mine after deciding the water was too shallow where I was at. About an hour later I am jigging along and someone calls out “flag up.” I look behind me and there is my tip up with its flag up. I walk over there expecting it to be a false alarm but the line was moving on the reel. After some fine coaching from my fishing friends, I gave the line a yank and started pulling the line in. There was some resistance there and the mystery began. What was going to be at the end of the line? About ten seconds later, a big old mouth reared its head at the hole opening. Wow!!!! I gave it one last yank and this large fellow came up flopping on the ice. Being the fishing expert that I am, I had to ask what kind of fish it was. It turned out to be a walleye; a very large walleye. I’m not much into the “high five” scene but was so giddy along with the group that I threw out a few.

After a few celebratory cocktails, I calmed down and got back to my jigging world. About an hour later, Al walks by and calls out “flag up” but wasn’t sure if he accidentally kicked my tip up. I walk over and the line again is moving on the reel. I pulled the line up and a decent size pike greeted me. Two tip up fish in one day!!! I kept the walleye but put the pike back in hopes it will grow to be a larger fish. Glory days!!! The food and beverages never tasted so good after this conquest. A super Sunday it was.

Trail Head

News?

I'm sorry I haven't posted anything recently. I've been doing some home improvement jobs and honestly don't think anybody cares about those pictures besides the homeowner.

The annual Super Bowl morning ice fish celebration this Sunday should have something to share, ice permitting.

Hey, ho, the Detroit Mayor's got to go!!

Trail Head

Foggy Mountain Breakdown

On a foggy, misty, slushy, and mild afternoon, Doke and I took off to fish Pontiac Lake on Sunday. Not that I’ve ever been there, but it was like London out there with visuals limited to about twenty yards. It was a pretty wild scene when a plane would be heard in the distance from Pontiac Airport and ride right over you but you couldn’t see it. You weren’t sure if it was going to come out of the fog and land on you.

This was my first opportunity to see Doke’s new fishing gadget, the Aqua-Vu. I must say, I need to get me one of these. It basically is a small television with about fifty yards of wire connected to a camera that looks like a fish. You lower the fish/camera down and boom, you see
what is lurking near your lure and whatever else is showing up. The view is incredibly clear. He had quite the setup in his shanty with the Aqua-Vu next to his portable television with the football game on. Besides us two, there were three other people out that we could see. With the fog, there could have been a hundred others out and we wouldn’t have known. It was a surreal scene visually. I caught a couple of small perch and that was it for production for the day. It was good to get out, however.