vernon

83 and I still try to act like I'm WAY better than that but the truth is I'm not. Had several consecutive rounds of 73 - 77 in the last couple of weeks and it went to my head. Now things are getting back to normal so I'm convinced it's because of the wind, my back hurts, the sun's too bright, the pin placements sucked, the rough needs mowing, pace of play was too slow............ You know, the normal stuff!

OK, I hope you clowns are happy now. After reading this Hitchcock post and viewing the indecent photos, I went out to trim up some bushes around the little waterfall and goldfish pond that I have in the backyard. Well, as if I wasn't paranoid enough already I found three of these under the first bush. I knew something had been dining on my goldfish but figured it was a coon or something else of a more civilized nature. Now (and I KNOW one or more of you guys are responsible for this) I have three (or more) eight foot timber rattlers living in my back yard! Contacting Re/Max this morning and this dump will be on the market before sundown. Moving to Hawaii or some other snake free state.

Well, good for you then I say. All I know is that my big mouth and trying to fight the good fight just kept me from getting any farther than I did career wise. You were obviously much better at what you did than I was and a more valuable asset or they wouldn't have let you get away with it either. I wish there were more guys like you around - in a high enough position of authority to make a difference and then actually doing something about it. Unfortunately, as I alluded to earlier, most of the guys in those positions in the COE are active duty soldiers and that kind of thinking and arrogance is kind of frowned upon and is typically dealt with swiftly and with career ending consequences. And not every hill is worth dying on.

You will be. Of course I'll probably be dead then but it kind of goes with the whole age requirement for retirement deal I guess............

Jim never vomits at home..............

You ever seen a grown man naked?

Sounds like an identity issue.....

Heading that way in about 30 minutes. And my attitude when I return will directly reflect the quality of play. Not really. I love every minute of every day on the course or the water. Just keep your dang feet and kids off of MY GRASS!

That's what you think! We've got Sheriff Sally on our side buster!

Have you ever been in a Turkish prison?

Shirley, you can't be serious.

True dat. 15+ mph turns it into LOZ without the big boats to blame it all on. I love Stockton but some of my scariest on the water moments happened on that lake. In fact, most of them.

Oh great. The last thing we need. A guy that employs common sense, understanding and acceptance of other points of view. GET OFF MY LAWN!

Nonsense. In a free and inclusive society, all members of the Jika community are welcome and entitled to the same benefits and freedoms that we non-Jika Americans enjoy. In fact, now that the true hatred expressed by Abkeenan's post has sunk in I'm in the process of organizing a Jika march. I'm sure it won't be difficult to attract national media coverage which, hopefully, will lead to the establishment of the first "Jika Day" and an annual celebration of the Jika way of life. You, sir, would be better served to quickly come aboard the Jika movement before it's too late and you're left to ponder the big "What if?" Jika, Jika, Jika, Jika, Ji..................

Really? How many times have you told your bosses to "shove it" and how'd it go? And of course most of them are there for the paycheck. How many people aren't? Like most jobs in America and around the world you do what you're told to do or you go do something else. I've personally witnessed numerous exchanges when COE leaders were trying passionately to dissuade politicians from proceeding with what they believed to be harmful legislation to little or no avail but at the end of the day the COE ain't in charge or making the final decision. When employed by the federal government not doing what you're told can land you in jail. Most of the higher ups in the COE are active duty, green suit wearing Army officers who will be mowing grass at Ft. Leavenworth if they decide they know better than those they work for. Not everything is like what you see in Washington and on TV.

I'm not sure but I think you just offended the entire Jika community.

Again, don't look to the Water Patrol or COE to solve or fix the problem, look to who they work for and answer to - state and federal government. The WP and COE do not create or establish policy, they only serve as administrators and enforcement agencies and must do exactly as they're told or prepare to train their replacements. The bigger problem is that the legislators and representatives that COULD fix the problem are the very ones that intentionally and knowingly created the problem and are directly benefiting from that which they have created. Look for even more involvement from those who are in the most danger of being voted out of office come next year - most of these shenanigans are nothing more than their next career move or retirement plan depending upon ones perspective. This genie ain't goin' back in the bottle I'm afraid as there's way too much cash at stake and they know that after some initial kicking and screaming we'll all either get used to it or, better yet, just go away entirely. It's a really big "swamp" after all.

Please don't bash the COE for this deal, blame the politicians that tell the COE what to do and when, where and how to do it. NOBODY at the COE stands to make a dime off of any of this stuff and I would bet almost anything that they remain fundamentally opposed to it. However, the politicians will make many, many millions off of the increased "recreation" dollars that are actually all about real estate.

Very nice smile! Now delete the last two photos and you'll have the perfect post................

I've said for a while now that it won't be long until my drive to the lake is gonna be an hour longer. Because I'll be going to Bull Shoals. I've been retired from the COE for almost four years now but this stuff was being bantered about before I left. I didn't know of a single person in the COE that was in favor of it and I doubt there are many now although once the feds have rammed something down their throats they don't have much choice but to put a positive spin on it. Good soldiers, company line, team players and all that crap being what it is. One thing for sure, the Blunts and their associates will make a killing off of this deal. LOZ West has been their objective all along.

He's making that up. I know for a fact that every single morning he runs from KC up to a couple of little pockets past Holiday Island and then fabricates this story about never even starting the big motor. That's what he is alright - a fabricator. A big, flipping, fish catching fabricator.

I've actually never counted 'em but I know both rod boxes in the Z521 are full and two or three rod holes are usually doubled up. Of those, three or four are Kathy's if she's with me or if I'm with my brother he'll have seven or eight which takes up most of the port locker and really cramps my style. Rod hog that he is. Seeins' how I'm four hours away there's no sense in leaving potential users at home. However, since I happen to possess dainty little 13 EE's and move like a ballerina, I never have to worry about breaking anything! Little brother and his 14's do tend to clog up the back deck though which is why I make him stay back there where he belongs.........

As was being discussed in another thread, it doesn't really matter what lures you have rigged up but rather the number of rods you keep on the deck. Seven on each side of the boat is a good jumping off point and adjust fire from there.

Well, then, I'm afraid that the only remaining logical explanation is not complimentary toward your skills. The fishing gods are only overseers after all and their duties and function should not be confused with those of the Tooth Fairy. But the world needs ditch diggers too.............

Really? What'd you do? Charter one of the Ducks?