What is it about fishing that makes it so wonderful? I bet I could write a book (literally-- no pun intended) on this one question. When I'm on the water, every emotion comes into play-- The anticipation of the day when I'm leaving the boat ramp-- will it be a nice day? Will I be able to pattern the fish and catch "the big one"? Sitting there with a few dozen other boats, waiting for "blast off", the adrenaline building up, and then your number comes up, and the throttle stick gets jammed forward. In an instant, you're going across the lake at 60 miles an hour. It's the closest thing to flying that there is! At the same time, looking around at your surroundings, just enjoying the absolute beauty of it all, feeling the warmth of the morning sun, thanking God that you're alive to appreciate this!! Once you get to your "spot", (and this includes fishing from shore, as well) there's the aniticpation of the bite-- a complete paradox of feelings-- you're waiting for that first "tap tap tap" on the end of your line signaling that age old instinctive battle of life, but at the same time it's a very calm, peaceful time, when it's easy to get lost in yourself-- almost like a focused meditation. Then there's the hit, and the battle's on-- you've got a milliion things going thru your mind, all focused on that fish at the other end-- Is the knot on the lure going to hold? I hope the line isn't too chaffed? Will he measure? Is it a "PIG"? Then, depending on whether YOU win, or the FISH wins, it's either complete elation, or frustration, and either way, it's time to do it all over again. Also, either way, you feel a very special connection with nature that's indescribeable. There's also times when God sends you very special gifts, that have nothing to do with fishing. Things like a beautiful sunrise over the water, as the mist is rising in the new light. Or the time a couple of ducklings decided they wanted to follow me for a couple of hours. Or the best one-- as I was silently going along the edge of the lake one morning on the trolling motor, I came around a point, and there was a doe and her fawn taking a morning drink, and as I came around the point, the doe picked her head up completely startled and I'm sure, wondering how the heck I could have snuck up on them so quietly! but the best part was that once she realised there was nothing to fear from me, she and her fawn went back to their "breakfast", as though I wasn't even there. An absolutely beautiful sight. This is only beginning to touch on what I love about fishing, and why it's very literally what I live for.

Greetings ArtsyCraftsy, Hope this is still around when you return after Easter. I've never been much enthused about doing without something that didn't seem to have much intrinsic value on its own merit, just to impose a more or less artificial sacrifice during some short period, e.g. Lent. Self-sacrifice for its own sake, or as an artificial discipline, so to speak. It seems to me to make more sense to implement, after some previous thoughtful consideration, perhaps, some new idea, concept, chore, service to others, etc. that would have a positive, useful emphasis, whether to me or, perhaps preferably, to others. In the Spirit of my Master, one might say. I have a predisposition to prefer positives to negatives, letting newly developed positive values or activities crowd out the negatives. Sounds good in theory, but not so easy to live that way. Good wishes for coming out after Easter more Christ-like than when you entered Lent - whatever the method. For those who have a different allegiance - quite possibly your belief system might recommend a similar plan: likely your life could stand some similar medicine without doing it much harm. Some such ideas put into practice might improve things slightly in the Central African Republic, Northern Ireland, Sudan, Palestine, Zimbabwe and various other areas. Good wishes to each as you plan and implement a more useful, self- and community-building lifestyle. joyful guy

Hi sock-it-to-'em, You don't even need to put me on your list - if you come here and ask, and I feel that I have anything useful to offer (or just want to have some fun with it) ... no doubt you'll hear from me, anyway ... unless I don't show up for a while. I'll be happy to be on your list: my email address is on my profile - all that you need do is go there. You're the first person in about five years that has made that request, if I recall correctly. I've even offered my phone number to a few, and on a rare occasion, especially if someone seems rather hard up, or deeply distressed, have offered that if someone gives me their phone number, I'll call them. Will you be on my list? Tell me about your training, skills, interests, contacts, vacation destinations, hobbies, experience in maintaining various home, auto, computer, leisure, etc. issues. You've probably become fairly familiar with a number of my training, skills, interests, etc. so that you may have an idea of what kinds of concerns about which you might feel it relevant to contact me. Plus - your email address, if it isn't on your profile. Good wishes for a really fine New Year. ole joyful P.. My friend gave me 5 pair of white sport socks for Christmas ... but no one gave me any underpants: will have to buy some for myself, I guess (if I want to stop the binding-around-the-knees by the half-dozen or so lazy-elastic ones). o j

Georgysmom, I believe you are referring to Heifer Intl. I've given and received Heifer gifts over the years. It's rated 84 out of 100 on Charity Navigator. Appropriate charitable donations can be good gifts. Heifer has nice cards to go with the gift. I agree with so many here. Before internet shopping, I remember endless hours walking the mall and other stores shopping, shopping, shopping, buying. No more! The extended family likes to buy for all the kids, but these kids. Why don't we have two kids exchange with each other??? I've just gone to gift cards for them and refuse to try to shop for kids I see once a year. That said, I have two girlfriends who like to exchange, and that is difficult but hard to stop. I like cash gifts for people who have helped over the year like the trash pick-up guy who works rain or shine.