I looked at the date and was alarmed that I haven’t scheduled some more time off. Well, the cure for that is on its way today. I’ll start by scheduling a few extended weekends next month and maybe a full week off in August and another week in September.

Now the question is what to do with that time off. Planning it might maximize the results I hope for. But it’s always good to leave some flexibility. That day you planned on maybe catching up with some home projects turns into a beautiful weather day and you say to hell with it and point the car East till you hit the beach.

The opposite also holds true, that day you planned to hit the shore looks sketchy and you cancel and finish off the power washing project. I do know I want to do some local travel with my better half. So let me finish here and share some ideas with her.

Random Thoughts of the Day

• When music moves me to dance like it did today, I realized I always have a smile on my face. Maybe I should dance through the day.
• The battle between management wanting the workforce back in the office and the workforce who no longer desires to be at the office is about to take place.
• If rain could get its act together and come when I’m sleeping I’d be a lot happier.
• Someone is going to try to defend the indefensible.
• I love saying things with actions instead of words.

I know the rules about banana’s on a boat being bad luck. But how do pineapples rank? Saw this one sitting on the dash above the wheel and wondered what the protocol is? Maybe its part of a fresh Pina Colada? Maybe just back from a trip to Hawaii. Of course from Maryland in this size boat that isn’t likely. Maybe a new good luck charm. Regardless its about time we start planning the next trip for the Allview Yank’em and Crank’em Fishing Team. I’ve seen our favorite charter boat “Wound Tight” has been pulling in some nice catches.

Pineapple cruise.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I wish our crew had stumbled on fishing earlier and I wish we all had the time to go out often but those weren’t the breaks. But as they say better late than never and the few we have been on here in the waters of Maryland and off the coast of Florida have been great. A day without phones, chores or work. Just fishing, fun, laughter and memories. Maybe that is why it’s so popular.

This is a fine day to start the weekend with. So let’s get stepping Maryland and make it one to remember. Each day is an opportunity not to be lost. Yesterday was fun and we just powered through some issues. I’m looking forward to many special times this weekend. Each little thing I can do, each moment with my better half, children and friends.

Just some sun and the two most important flags to me.
Photo by Mike Hartley

If the truth doesn’t win out, our country is doomed. And we all must be open to the truth. We have serious problems in the country and world to address and what were doing now isn’t meeting those challenges. We need to get to the truth, practice the truth, respect the truth, and start moving forward.

Asking some people “if they think” is a waste of time because they don’t have the answer.

Oh crap, just remembered today is lawn cutting day.

If the pace of events doesn’t slow its going to put fiction books out of business because reality is really stranger than fiction.

I must practice giving back this weekend. That is if I can overcome this back pain. Have a great day all.

Talk about your relaxing Saturdays. Friends, fishing and fun. A wonderful day on the Chesapeake Bay. Well the cookout afterwards with fresh rock-fish and crabmeat was outstanding. What a way to close out the season. Well there is some fishing season left but for our group this was the Fall classic and we will again hit the waters in Spring.

What chill in the air.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Now comes the task of editing lots of photos for friends and getting them in their hands today. Also have the real world coming back to hit me in the face with the work week starting way to soon again. But I’ll have some nice memories of this weekend to enjoy all week-long.

Can you dig it.
Photo by Mike Hartley

A box full of Rocks. Caught our limit and some nice ones including the Master Caster Mark’s fish on top there of 34 1/2 inches. We will be eating well for a bit. But last nights meal doesn’t get any fresher than this. If your looking for a good time and a great Capt and boat may I recommend Wound Tight Sportfishing. Capt Shawn Gibson out of Chesapeake Beach. We have been going with him for years and always have a great time and catch our limit.

Box of Rocks.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I love the water but don’t spend much time on it. Yes I go to the beach a few times a year. Yes there is plenty of water around this area, but I don’t make the proper use of it. The air smells so clean on the water. The views kind of etched in the memory banks. The quiet and no cell phone bring a calm. The feeling of mother nature being in control. The sport of catching a fish. Watching might ships navigate the waters.

Saturday morning on the Chesapeake Bay.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Yes those were some of my feelings yesterday as we pulled out for some fishing with wonderful friends and their families yesterday. Above is our first mate Scoot preparing for the days catch. It was fairly windy but we didn’t care. After last years surfing with a 46′ Markly this trip was a breeze. Speaking of which there were a few sailboats out also taking advantage of the wind.

20+ mph winds kept these guys moving.
Photo by Mike Hartley

I’m guessing a lot of people have pulled their boats from the water already in preparation for winter. I didn’t see the volume of boat traffic I expected for a pretty sunny day overall. Of course out in the middle of the bay it was pretty choppy.

Whipping along.
Photo by Mike Hartley

And yes we also caught some fish. Which was our intended mission. And boy were they good the same night off the grill. Of course I can’t claim the title (Master Caster) this year because one of my best friends Kim, laid claim with this catch. I usually don’t put pictures of friends and family in this blog, especially without their approval but I think he might like this one time. Congrats my brother.

Yeah Buddy, the big one of the day.
Photo by Mike Hartley

So I have been blessed with another great day on the water. Surrounded by my best friends. Time never to be taken for granted, especially when we get to the number of years on our calendars. And when some live far away it always makes it special when we can say we have an officially full sanctioned event.

So as we gather for our last evening together tonight, till the next trip, I think about what these special people mean to me. 3 of them are brothers. And while we are not blood brothers we may be stronger in some ways. It is a relationship with each that I feel I’ve been so lucky to have had and have. We are part of each others family and always will be.

Oh to have the time to stand on the shore and cast my line.  I think I’m having fishing withdraw. We (fishing buddies) are overdue getting out on the ocean to land Moby again. Fishing first thing in the morning is very relaxing. I wish I did it more than 2x a year myself. So the next best thing is catching people fishing at sunrise with my camera. Hell, catching anything at sunrise with the camera or fishing pole is a treat.

Fishing at sunrise in OC.
Photo by Mike Hartley

Random thoughts for Wednesday June 17th.

• I’m adding playing basketball with my kids again in my driveway to my bucket list.
• A bad day at work still beats a good day in the hospital.
• This next election just might succeed in one thing, dividing this country further.
• Donald Trump, and people make fun of Joe Biden. Think of all the entertainment value you would get out of Trump in office.
• I wonder if Newspaper clippings will become collectible items in the future?
• Living in Howard County has been a beautiful thing. But it’s crossed the line of being too crowded for me.
• I’m so proud of my family.