Every Day in May: Lessons Learned…Basic Stuff

EVERY DAY IN MAY CHALLENGE TOPICS, DAY BY DAY

Lessons Learned. Potentially the biggest topic of the whole crazy May Write-A-Thon. But alas, many will be off doing the holiday weekend bit…Memorial Day. So, I will keep it short and sweet.

Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience, Patience

Whether fishing, camping, teaching, mentoring, sharing, encouraging, loving, waiting, talking, listening….patience. You know if this applies to you or if it doesn’t. You really don’t get too many chances, too many mistakes in this particular part of life. Don’t be a jerk.

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Checklists

At least yearly prepare a checklist of fishing gear, camping gear, survival gear, camera gear, first aid gear. If you fish for multiple species with different rods, reels, gear bags, fly boxes it is important to make sure gear you need for one trip (Steelhead) isn’t stowed away in another gear bag (Stillwater stuff) that isn’t making the trip. Even if you only fish for one species keep the list if you infrequently fish. Things I have forgotten: wading boots, fins, spare spools/lines, raincoat, stocking cap, gloves, camera, fishing license/tags, tippet material, my ass if it wasn’t attached.

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Fitness

Age, injuries, surgeries, dwindling health….take a toll over time. I recall not too many years ago wading against fast thigh high waters, carrying heavy gear uphill, kicking and rowing across a big lake. I have seen a chain reaction because of injuries and surgeries. Most of these are because of car accidents, falls and impacts. Maybe more of those could have been avoided. But, aside from injuries/surgeries/recovery-rehab, there is general fitness that must be maintained as one gets older….do it! 

Life Interruptus

Keep the faith. If you have life’s commitments, ‘bumism’ will end. I use to fish a minimum of one or two days a week for quite a few years. Responsibilities caught up. It became impossible to fish more than a dozen times a year and finally a half dozen times a year. How in the hell can a guy that writes a fly fishing blog fish so few times? I have remarked about it before: parent’s medical conditions, appointments, work, hospice, deaths, estate cleanup, prioritizing family needs…on and on. Time, energy, focus are diverted away. And then, if you have kept the faith small windows of opportunity open. Take a breath. Stand up. Find those old checklists. Reassemble the gear. Keep it simple. Go! My opportunities are finally reappearing. I’m ready. Heck, I’ve been tying enough flies to fill a shop.

See, simple truths…simple reminders. You already knew all this. A refresher of sorts.

Every Day in May Challenge: Safety First…Life’s a Blessing

EVERY DAY IN MAY OUTDOOR WRITER’S CHALLENGE TOPICS LIST

A Warning Safety Sign in a bar’s restroom. The bar being in close proximity to the Light Rail System (passenger train of sorts) warns that walking while intoxicated near the tracks could be deadly. The sign was assaulted as most signs are in restrooms with spit marks, etchings and some felt markings by ‘artists’.

I have written here at SwittersB enough times about safety and forethought because I am an expert. I’m an expert because I have fallen, stumbled, submerged, tumbled, crashed, tripped….slipped….and smashed. I have broken numerous rods and I have broken bones. And, this is just the fishing outings. Throw in hiking, backpacking, working on ladders (very dangerous for men) and roofs and believe me when I say the old admonition of “be prepared” or Semper Paratus is sound advice, especially if you stumble about sober as I do. 

Let’s simplify it for the now youthful risk taker and the old wheezer like me….risk assessment, fitness assessment and as a Dirty Harry (Callahan) said “I know what you’re thinking. “Did he fire six shots or only five?” Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement I kind of lost track myself. But being as this is a .44 Magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya, punk?”

No, no..not that one..this one…”Well, you’re a good man, lieutenant. A good man always knows his limitations…” Well, Harry said that in a sarcastic, condescending manner to Lt. Briggs, but the point is know your limitations. 

Life experiences, outings, mistakes, other’s experiences should teach you to size up the risks in a certain move. That two hundred foot descent down a hillside to the river will not happen these days. Too many injuries and tumbles. And my fitness level, despite my efforts to stay fit, has diminished with age. For me, that greatly influences wading safety through the course of a day. Stumbling about while wading or rock hopping the shoreline will eventually result in a broken something. Yes, know your limitations. It is not giving up the pursuit. It is looking before you leap. Eventually, even the young risk taker will learn this.

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On a more somber note, I am attending a funeral this morning for a dear, departed friend. I worked beside him for many years. He was heroic to me. Older, fearless, tough. He repeatedly had my young ass covered. He saved my life on two occasions when “stay alert, stay alive” actually resonated with me nightly. God’s Speed Mac

Tomorrow’s Every Day in May Challenge Topic is Memory

Heat Loss Through Head

I have joked with my family and friends for years through outdoor activities about wearing a warm hat in inclement weather…”Do you know you can lose 75% of your heat through your head?”

Well, of course, some wise ass, smarty pants (WASP) had to do the research to debunk my admonition and my credibility. Here is a small piece re heat loss via the head in different situations. In a worse case scenario of hypothermia, you may want to heed my advice….or theirs.

Here is my daughter, today in Seattle (UW), blatantly taunting me!

Pet Loyalty: The Good, Bad & Pending Times

By your side, dogs are often a household barometer of your mood, your family’s well-being. They pick up on the good, bad and pending. Loyalty beyond conditioning or their needs. Pets are a burden in some people’s minds but year in, year out they are comforting during your worst times. Every once in awhile, as you are lost in your own struggle, look up at that sweet face and give it a rub and a few kind words.

The Penis & The Thumb (Separate & Not Equal)

No, not much to do with fly fishing…well, I suppose the thumb factors in here and there. I was seated in a doctor’s office today for a followup visit, post op. Muscles repairing and nerves tweaking have made for some difficult times of late. ‘Difficult’? 

In the doctor’s lobby, I came upon the November 2011 issue of Men’s Health and perused the insides. Lead story, with a promo from the Editor, our wounded warriors are suffering ever increasing losses of their genitals because of the greater use of IED’s in the Afghan theater. More profound is the VA has a traumatic injury protection program, an insurance policy, that attaches a value to lost body parts: thumb $50K each, foot $50K, hand $50K each, eyes $50K each eye, lips $75K for two lips……the list goes on and on, but according to the author, Bob Drury, there is currently no compensation for the loss of a penis, or testicles. Of course, compounding all this is the probable loss of lower limbs. The Afghan War has become notorious for multiple limb loss per wounded combatant. I am not certain if all combat soldiers automatically qualify for the insurance policy. I hope they do, as seemingly inadequate as it seems.

British Developed Tier II Body Armor Codpiece

Some soldiers have had the forethought to store their sperm prior to heading over seas. Obviously, there is horrendous mental adjustments for the wounded warrior on so many levels. I will simply offer that the VA must develop some form of compensation for the loss of a genital component (regardless of sex). Further research will evolve with genital reconstruction and hormone replacement therapy because of these ever increasing injuries from IED’s.

Yes, I have some pain, but I will get better in time. I am lucky. I am trying to figure out if I will be able to fish this Winter. Others with all manner of traumas are mustering the will to live and somehow adapt.   Attached is a very graphic/violent video…you don’t have to watch it to grasp the reality. 

Strawberries & Booze

“The conclusions of the study state that a diet rich in strawberries can have a beneficial effect when it comes to preventing gastric illnesses that are related to the generation of free radicals or other reactive oxygen species. This fruit could slow down the formation of stomach ulcers in humans.”

Science Daily study report: Strawberries & Booze

Please Stand By: Testing In Progress

Don’t touch that dial….well, if you do, come back soon. Off for a few days to have some fine tuning done on my chassis. Always check out the blog roll for exceptional efforts.

Technical Difficulties for my C7-T1. A little tweaking and mending is in order. See you soon. SwittersB

Anaphylaxis Shock Risk (How To Use Epi-Pen)

HOW TO USE EPI-PEN FOR ANAPHYLAXIS RISK 

 Additional Wilderness Medical Considerations

Sweet Dessert From Paleo Site

Figs & Dark Chocolate Tart

A LITTLE SWEETNESS AFTER THE MEAT

MODERN PALEO + OBJECTIVISM

If you are a vegan you might want to turn away…the principles of the Paleo may make your colon convulse. Go make a green smoothie. Me, I just like a nice steak or beef ribs now and then. But, food for thought and life. 

Water Bottles: Geeze that stinks…..

Clean Bottle Review