LINED UP AND CONVERSATING

It had been about two weeks since my last surf session so when I checked the online report and the buoy's read 3.9'@ 4-6 seconds with a south west wind I figured it was worth a go out. To all the non surfing folks out there those wind and swell measurements on a sunny 50 degree day in February translate to 2 hours in the water and a whole lot of fun. When you get a day like that smack in the middle of winter in Maine there's good vibes all around. Dogs are getting walked, kids are running around and just about everyone is walking around with that dopey, good weather perma grin plastered on their face. I suited up and paddled out and immediately caught a couple of fun little zippers. It was during a lull when a dude on a paddle board came out settling just off to my left in the line up . I said hi and commented on the stand up paddle  board he was riding as it was a little different than the usual size and shape that you see out on the water. I asked how it surfed and he replied,"I don't know, I just finished building it and this is my first time out". Nice man, "first paddle board ?" I ask. "No, first board ever!" We proceed to talk boards and shape for the next few minutes while alternately catching waves. Conversations in the line up are usually pretty broken by nature. You'll be in the middle of a full on conversation about the last movie you watched when a set rolls through and one or both of you catch the wave, ride it in, paddle back out and resume the chat you were having like nothing happened. Some of the most interesting and memorable conversations are often broken up by 5-10 seconds of surfing, which in turn makes the conversations that much more memorable. Just talking to this guy who designed, built and surfed his own board was pretty inspiring. One more broken conversation and one more session where I left the ocean more relaxed and stoked than I went in. Thanks for reading.

VIENNA SAUSAGE, OPEN WATER AND AL GORE'S INTERNET

Not only did big Al single handedly create the internet he also created global warming; thereby extending my fishing season exponentially. I may have gotten my facts wrong in that opening statement (I actually created the internet, you're welcome) but what IS a fact is, if the weather keeps doing what it's doing, ice fishing will become a thing of the past. I'm not a huge fan of drilling holes in the ice and waiting for that flag to tip but it beats sitting home watching golf on the idiot box and finding reasons not to paint the master bathroom walls. Just a random example by the way, egg shell white exists for a reason. For me ice fishing exists solely for the excuse to go outside, hang with your friends, and cook some deceased animal over a fire. No matter what you're eating, it always tastes twice as good cooked outdoors. Vienna sausage? Fire it up! Spam? You put enough mustard on it and you'd swear you're eating a flattened hot dog. And don't forget the pinnacle of pulverized animal byproducts, the polska kielbasa (no mustard required, although appreciated). Anyone of these delights cooked over a camp stove or even better, a sterno flame, you're in ice fishing heaven. All the open water this time of year has got me fired up to drag the kayak out of the basement, reline the fishing poles, and oh, wait, forget all that I just watched the weather and it's going to be 12 tomorrow. Get a pack of ball parks, some shiners and just a hint of ambition and let's drill some holes. Thanks for reading.

TDT FREE T-SHIRT CONTEST (because, let's face it, no ones's gonna pay for one of these).

More shameless self promotion and  a completely unoriginal marketing idea from the folks at TDT. Alright, technically you need employees to be "folks" but I thought that might make it sound more legit. Here's the rules: I'm a huge (and freakishly tall movie geek). Come up with an alternative line or ad lib on to one of the most quoted lines from one of the best movies of all time JAWS. "We're gonna need a bigger boat". No disrespect to the late Roy Scheider , and I don't think you can improve on perfection but give it a shot. As far as the rules go, be creative. And obviously spelling doesn't count (it clearly doesn't on this blog). The contest? will be open until 6:00 pm this Friday and the winner will be judged by the folks at TDT (just me really) at 6:01 pm and will be notified within a certain amount of time. Said T-shirt will arrive at your doorstep shortly thereafter. After it goes through the mail etc.....