Friday, April 29, 2011

Fishing vs. Golf

Someone very close to me looked at my first blog and told me that there wasn't much in it for him so here goes another that I hope will at least make him chuckle.

I don't understand the whole thing with fishing.  I have been many times and it really isn't my thing.  At least not fresh water.  The whole idea of just sitting in a boat and throwing a hook in the water with the hopes that some unsuspecting fish will eat it and the you can pull him in doesn't make much sense.  Catching fish is pretty fun but fishing is really boring.  The really interesting part of this is I come from a family of fishermen.  My grandfather, uncles and dad all like to fish.  My kids love to fish and my daughter is a pretty good angler in her own right but it just doesn't peak my interest.

Also, why do fishermen fish from the bank and cast their line out as far as they can away from the shore.  Yet fishermen on a boat will cast their line as close as they can to the shore.  Why would someone spend all that money on a fishing boat when I can spend $20 and get a cane pole to drop in the exact spot a fisherman on a boat has spent thousands of dollars to do?

Now golf on the other hand used to make much more sense. - until I thought about the comparison of the two past times.

While I recognize that the ball is an inanimate object, it never has a chance.  Someone is going to smack it period.  At least the fish can decide whether or not it likes the bait or not.

Also, we golfers are a strange lot.  We chase a little white ball all over several acres of land to hit it with a stick to knock it into a hole.  When we finally achieve the dream of putting the ball in the whole does it stay there?  Heck no, we quickly retrieve it and run to the next tee to start the process all over again.  It's bad enough that we do this a couple of times but we actually attempt it 18 times before we call it quits.

However, I did find something that my golf game and my fishing expeditions both have in common.  The fish and the golf ball - If there is any water on the course, you can bet I will put a golf ball down by the fish.

Also, being hooked in the head with a fishing hook hurts every bit as bad as being hit with a golf ball.  I have had the unpleasant experience of both.  For the person with the fishing hook, you know who you are.  ;)

Serious note - Two of the best men I have ever had the privilege to know both loved to fish all their lives.  They are T.S. Rawle and M.R. Keefer.  Both have went home to be with the Lord and they are both very sorely missed.  If they can read this from there I hope they get a good laugh.

The Minion

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

The Classics

Anyone who knows me understands that this is something out of the norm for me. I have decided to give this a try and see what happens.

My first blog is about books that are "the classics."

Below please find thoughts -

1.  The Old Man and the Sea - Hemmingway
     This book was awful.  I absolutely don't get one iota of this book.  I understand the idea behind it that we all suffer through things in life.  But really, if I want that there are at least 5 networks off the top of my head that I can turn on at 5 p.m. and see plenty of these same types of stories.  It was terrible.

2.  To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
     This book is a must read.  Not only is there a story with a real plot but there is a very important underlying message that we could all learn from.

3.  The Odyssey - Homer
     That book is perfect for insomnia.  I think Homer was an early lawyer because he took a thousand pages for a 150 page story.  At least there was some plot to it and the book is really old.  Other than that, I don't get it.

4.  The Count of Monte Cristo - Dumas
     This was one of the best books I have ever read.  The time frame can cause a little problem but it had more turns, twists and plot changes than I thought it would.  In the end, there was also a very good moral point to this story.

5.  Little Women - Alcott
     I am currently suffering through this book.  Alcott was definitely a tease.  There are brief glimmers of a plot and then more drivel.  Does this ever go anywhere?

This is attempt one.  Please let me know your thoughts.

The Minion