In 2006, I crossed ocean fishing off the BUCKET list -it was a riot of fun -but I do not think I want to EVER do this again. I had fish blood and fish puke - all over from head to sneaker and jumped in the shower after -with my glasses and sun glasses still on!
I fished in the 2006 Ladies Invitational Bluefish Tournament off of Atlantic City , NJ
My best friends sister was Vice President at the time (she is now President) and she helped me with all the arrangements and even set me up in a boat. I had no idea what I was getting myself into -i just knew I always wanted to go deep sea fishing.
The Blues fought like crazy -our heaviest one was 11.6 lbs and I don't think I caught it. The boat and the OCEAN never stopped moving all day except for a 20 min. lunch break!!!!!!!
I Started the day at 3am, met my (3) boat ‘TEAM” ladies at 5am/ Met the Captain ( FV Sea Gold?) at 6 am and we were fishing by 7 or 8 am-whenever the Tournament started. I sort of lost track because it took about an hour to get to the spot(?) in the Ocean that a thingie on the boat said some fish were under the boat. My team had been watching the local fishing reports and talking to locals and said the big fish were to the North of us and wanted to go there -but the Captain would not listen to them. Mutiny already? Turns out those ladies were right and the winning fish were caught right were they said the big blues were running.
I got to steer the boat twice and then I tangled the lines so badly the Captain had to cut them all and I was banned from driving.
The other three ladies and the captain had fished before and lots of stuff didn't make any sense -but who am I to question stuff -well ok I am robin and I question everything -but I was good -ok I was stoned on Dramamine but hey I was excited inside -it just never reached my facial expressions. But, I never got sick.
Because it was a tournament -no one can help you bring the fish ‘in’. My first blue hooked and I thought a whale was on my line and I almost went over the side of the boat! Man, are those little things strong. You wear this belt around your waist with a leather thing that holds the bottom of the rod in a little circle of leather-about at your ah lower tummy -below your navel.
Everyone was shouting directions -no one said don't fall out of the boat -but I picked up quick on that and the captain said don't loose my rod it costs over $500.00 . OH. We took turns -so every fourth time it was my turn to strap on the leather belt and pick up a rod (that I swear got heavier each time) and stand on the little rocking boat and try to catch a Blue. Have you ever seen a bluefish? they have a set of teeth like a four year old and by the end of the day I was slinging them in and out of the ice chest bins, in the bottom of the boat, by their gills -it was such a weird feeling. I touched a living thing’s gills. So by the third time up, I just wanted to go home and gave my turn away -a couple of times. Mostly to rest but once to go to the bathroom -oh “head“.
Now that was a riot -I am sitting down and now finished -so I try to get up -there are no bars to hang onto and the ‘head’ is very, very small -so every time I try to stand up the boat bounces down or up -anyway I was laughing in the head and in there so long -they were getting worried. I finally pushed myself up using the toilet and the walls.
Then tournament ended and I fell asleep on the way back. I was exhausted. I could never have done this if I hadn't been going to the gym for 2 years. What would it have been like to fish where the ‘big’ Blues were running? I was happy to learn that the fish were sold at a fish market in Philadelphia and the proceeds were donated back to the Charity Tournament Fund Raiser. I also heard that some of the Blues went to a local Kitchen that feeds the homeless.
I fought 5 fish and brought 3 into the boat. I lost two back to the ocean - after a good fight at the very end when I let my rod drop. I thought that was pretty good for the first time I ever went fishing. Some of the guys from the gym said I should have started with flounders in the back bays or on a party boat -but then, honestly, I probably NEVER would have gone on this adventure! LOL
Anyway, it was for a good cause and I am so very proud of myself for actually doing this very scary but very fun thing.
Curious about the Ladies Invitational Bluefish Fishing Tournament? http://www.fishlibt.com
This is a cut and paste from a 2006 article -I did not write this:“An interview in the AC Press, a local paper, with the then president B. Gates reported :The Ladies Invitational Bluefish Tournament event benefits the AtlantiCare Ruth Newman Shapiro Mobile Mammography Assistance Fund. In 2006 a record $60,000 was donated to the fund. The Bluefish Tournament raises money in a variety of ways for the Mobile Mammography Fund — from entry fees, corporate sponsors, raffle tickets throughout the year and donations. Helped by good weather, the tournament in 2006, attracted a record 69 boats and 315 women anglers. It helps women without insurance to receive a free mammogram, or get them on a sliding scale. No woman is turned away. The money really stays in Atlantic (and) Cape May (counties) and southern Ocean County, the route of the (the Mobile Mammography Unit).
The boat that caught the biggest single bluefish in weight, The Odds Maker, was the 2006 tournament winner and received the first prize of $1,600. The Odds Maker was captained by John Hartnett, and the anglers were Carole Goss, Carole Connelly, Jackie Moss and Marilyn Abrahms. The boat's top bluefish was 16.02 pounds. The Odds Maker also won the second prize of $1,100 with the day's second-heaviest bluefish, a 14.84- pounder. The top seven bluefish in weight received a cash prize.
The tournament was headquartered at the Sen. Frank S. Farley State Marina in Atlantic City, and at Seaview Harbor Marina in Great Egg Harbor Inlet in Longport. Fishing was within a 40-mile radius from the 1A Buoy in the Absecon Inlet.”
Friday, July 11, 2008
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Family
Last night I went to an open air free concert sponsored by the Greater Wildwoods tourist authority and Coastal Broadcasting. The band was Changes in Latitudes a tribute band to Jimmy Buffett. No I am not a parrot head but i do like music and this band was great. The crowd was great /the food great (J. Otten Caribbean from CH -owned by a little girl, and her husband, from my street all grown up ,married with 2 children)/ beer on tap and a family crowd. Parents dancing with kids /kids dancing alone/beach ball pass/ FIREWORKS and well, just summer fun. Not much cigarette smoke, but I love the smell of cigar smoke and yes they were there also. The best part was picking up my cousin and his wife and Coast Guard son, in the Crest. We all had chairs and sat together /sang the songs /clapped and OK we all stood up and danced together too. smile The most expensive thing about this free concert was the parking (my cousin treated-I drove) $15.00 at the convention center -it was across the street from Fox Park and a great spot.
I spoke later to my best friend and he asked if I would have gone by myself and I said yes, but then i said; ' well, I would like to think yes but I don't know and I don't know if I would have had so much fun.' ( We never lie to each other). I am usually OK on my own and sometimes choose to spend Holidays by myself. This Holiday -July 4- I was feeling sort of lonely by myself. Oh I could have reached out to any one of my friends but I had just had a wonderful weekend past with my girl cousins and a girls only sleepover and then the big WONDERFUL family reunion - and didn't feel like it. I am the only unmarried/un-partnered older cousin and have always been OK with that -well mostly -but since I retired, I thought something is missing. I think I am to young to be retired and I am aware of my age for the first time. weird
Anyway , since the family reunion i realize -nothing is missing-i am exactly where I am supposed to be - in the midst of a warm and loving family. My bucket list keeps me pushing my comfort zone and doing things I always wanted to do.
So the question is could I have rocked on my own in WW in my Penn State collapsible chair?
I would like to think so - but ; I didn't have to .................................my family surrounded me.
It was a HOOT !
I spoke later to my best friend and he asked if I would have gone by myself and I said yes, but then i said; ' well, I would like to think yes but I don't know and I don't know if I would have had so much fun.' ( We never lie to each other). I am usually OK on my own and sometimes choose to spend Holidays by myself. This Holiday -July 4- I was feeling sort of lonely by myself. Oh I could have reached out to any one of my friends but I had just had a wonderful weekend past with my girl cousins and a girls only sleepover and then the big WONDERFUL family reunion - and didn't feel like it. I am the only unmarried/un-partnered older cousin and have always been OK with that -well mostly -but since I retired, I thought something is missing. I think I am to young to be retired and I am aware of my age for the first time. weird
Anyway , since the family reunion i realize -nothing is missing-i am exactly where I am supposed to be - in the midst of a warm and loving family. My bucket list keeps me pushing my comfort zone and doing things I always wanted to do.
So the question is could I have rocked on my own in WW in my Penn State collapsible chair?
I would like to think so - but ; I didn't have to .................................my family surrounded me.
It was a HOOT !
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Creative Writing Class -Favorite Present
I cant think of one present that i can recall as being the best. I do remember one present that I really liked more than most. A Cinderella watch I got when I was 4 or 5. 1956 or 1957. My mothers youngest brother and his wife were home from Texas where he was stationed in the Army and she finished nursing school. I don't know if I had ever met them before , I am sure I had, but I didn't remember it. Their oldest daughter wasn't born until 1958, so i know they were childless at the time.
They were about 23 or 24, and seemed so strange to me. I remember I thought my aunt was a teenager, and had the most wonderful , really high curves in her feet. She wore these high spike heels which she kicked off and sat with her feet under her -on my Grandmother’s couch. My mother said she was family because she was her brothers wife, but I thought she must be a guest because NO ONE in the family was allowed to put there bare feet on the couch or sit on their feet.
Or maybe it was just family under six.
Anyway she smelled like perfume and was very gay and happy and everyone was happy because they were home and everyone was laughing. My Uncle brought his dog , a Great Dane, Sandy. The dog was as tall as my Uncle when it stood up and my Uncle was quite the tallest man I had ever seen. 6’4”. The only space the dog could lay down and still be in the room, with my Uncle, was in front of my Grandmothers baby grand piano. All the younger cousins would pet Sandy, But I was afraid. My Uncle would always talk quiet to me and hug me when i was close to him and so he bent down real close to me and took my hand and patted Sandy along with my hand. it was wonderful, scary and wonderful. I don't think I had ever touched such a large living thing before in my life.
Then it was time for presents they brought for the children. My two boy cousins and my brother and my girl cousin and me. It was close to my birthday so the grown ups said it was a birthday present for me. I wondered why the other kids got presents also. Then I opened the box and saw the Cinderella watch with the pink band. I loved it. My first watch. I had no idea how to tell time and my mother had been practicing with me -I now realized she must have suggested the gift.
I have no idea what the boys got -I am sure something from the PX exchange on base -my brother thinks it was a compass or a flashlight -something neat from Uncle. Our Connie, 2 years younger, didn't seem to appreciate the watch like I did. She was a spoiled only child that lived near my grandparents. We were all jealous of her that she could go to the Grandparents whenever she wanted. Connie decided she wanted Sandy the dog and we cousins were worried the grownups would give into her. But her mother said no. She was allergic to dogs and chocolate and anything else her mother didn't want her to have, or so it seemed to us kids. We were glad she didn't get Sandy. Now we all could love Sandy the dog when they visited. Connie grew up to be a wonderful, loving person and Mom. My brother still teases her about the chocolate.
I still have my Cinderella watch , now with a white band. It doesn't work, I don't think. I am getting rid of most of my stuff, downsizing. But I keep putting the watch to the back of my top drawer. I now realize the memories of that evening are just as precious as the watch. It makes me smile each time I see it.
I will have to ask Connie if she still has her Cinderella watch? But of course she does, no one in my family throws anything away!
I read this on the Avalon Library .org ipod writers site -you may be able to pull it up and listen to it -my computer will not make the link.
PS:
At the family reunion I asked Connie if she still had the watch -she didnt and barely remembers the watch or the occasion.. In fact when she read this story -she only wanted to know if she really was spoiled. I told her: not after her brother and sister were born. I love my family. I am so blessed.
They were about 23 or 24, and seemed so strange to me. I remember I thought my aunt was a teenager, and had the most wonderful , really high curves in her feet. She wore these high spike heels which she kicked off and sat with her feet under her -on my Grandmother’s couch. My mother said she was family because she was her brothers wife, but I thought she must be a guest because NO ONE in the family was allowed to put there bare feet on the couch or sit on their feet.
Or maybe it was just family under six.
Anyway she smelled like perfume and was very gay and happy and everyone was happy because they were home and everyone was laughing. My Uncle brought his dog , a Great Dane, Sandy. The dog was as tall as my Uncle when it stood up and my Uncle was quite the tallest man I had ever seen. 6’4”. The only space the dog could lay down and still be in the room, with my Uncle, was in front of my Grandmothers baby grand piano. All the younger cousins would pet Sandy, But I was afraid. My Uncle would always talk quiet to me and hug me when i was close to him and so he bent down real close to me and took my hand and patted Sandy along with my hand. it was wonderful, scary and wonderful. I don't think I had ever touched such a large living thing before in my life.
Then it was time for presents they brought for the children. My two boy cousins and my brother and my girl cousin and me. It was close to my birthday so the grown ups said it was a birthday present for me. I wondered why the other kids got presents also. Then I opened the box and saw the Cinderella watch with the pink band. I loved it. My first watch. I had no idea how to tell time and my mother had been practicing with me -I now realized she must have suggested the gift.
I have no idea what the boys got -I am sure something from the PX exchange on base -my brother thinks it was a compass or a flashlight -something neat from Uncle. Our Connie, 2 years younger, didn't seem to appreciate the watch like I did. She was a spoiled only child that lived near my grandparents. We were all jealous of her that she could go to the Grandparents whenever she wanted. Connie decided she wanted Sandy the dog and we cousins were worried the grownups would give into her. But her mother said no. She was allergic to dogs and chocolate and anything else her mother didn't want her to have, or so it seemed to us kids. We were glad she didn't get Sandy. Now we all could love Sandy the dog when they visited. Connie grew up to be a wonderful, loving person and Mom. My brother still teases her about the chocolate.
I still have my Cinderella watch , now with a white band. It doesn't work, I don't think. I am getting rid of most of my stuff, downsizing. But I keep putting the watch to the back of my top drawer. I now realize the memories of that evening are just as precious as the watch. It makes me smile each time I see it.
I will have to ask Connie if she still has her Cinderella watch? But of course she does, no one in my family throws anything away!
I read this on the Avalon Library .org ipod writers site -you may be able to pull it up and listen to it -my computer will not make the link.
PS:
At the family reunion I asked Connie if she still had the watch -she didnt and barely remembers the watch or the occasion.. In fact when she read this story -she only wanted to know if she really was spoiled. I told her: not after her brother and sister were born. I love my family. I am so blessed.
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