fishing for words

I’ve finally taken my first big step on the way to learning about and/or how to fly fish. A big envelope arrived over the weekend, which I opened to reveal my very own and first fly rod. While the idea of fly fishing bring to my mind the possibility of great adventures and big trout, the size of this thing is a bit intimidating…it’s nine-feet long. To be more specific, it’s a nine-foot 5-weight rod; the type recommended for beginners who might drop a fly in the steams of the Sierra Nevada. Though I am sure that I’ll try using it a few times during the early summer, now I’m truly looking forward to our basic fly fishing class in August!

After resigning myself to having a pro install the power line for my Icom IC-2720 radio (VHF/UHF amateur radio) in my 2003 Honda Accord, I spent Saturday pondering the position of the head unit and speaker. I knew where I wanted them to go, but it took a bit of pulling and prying to get some of the trim out of the way so I could pull the CD container at the base of the center console. Here’s how it ended up…

The rest was pretty simple, though time consuming. I used a block of wood cut to fit the bottom the CD container, then mounted, via some bent brass straps, the radio control head, with the speaker behind it. Though it might not give me the best sound, I can throw the mic into the compartment and close the door and every thing is out of sight. I ended up running the control cable and speaker wire through the back of the compartment, then underneath it, and since I had the trim removed both wires run underneath the coin pockt/power outlet cover and the shifter cover and emerge alongside the passenger seat, where the main body of the radio will reside. Below is a close up of the radio control head and the speaker.

The mic holder is, of course, made of bent coat hanger and is attached inside the glove compartment door. (Why do we call them “glove compartments” when rarely will on find actual gloves inside?) The mic holder took all of about 30 minutes to fabricate and install. 

Though it didn’t turn out exactly as I had envisioned, I thnk it will work well. Particularly since I now have the control head angled towards the driver’s seat, so it should be quite visible. (The LCD on this unit doesn’t have a wide range of visibility to the side.) During the next week or so I’ll have the power line in and have to decide on an antenna mount. 

Oh, also finished re-screening all the screens this weekend!

My nearly daily commute never fails to alert me to the fact that summer is just around the corner. Is it the flowering of the weeds alongside the roadway? Perhaps the blessing of sunlight during my early morning drive? The shimmering of heat waves above the highway in the afternoon?

None of the above. It’s the traffic. Near as I can figure, it’s not so much the vacationers; it seems to be the folks who work out of doors who compound my commute. The start of their day corresponds with the rising of the sun. (Making hay while the sun shines.)

This year it is especially bad. The number of big trucks — most semis towing bottom dump trailers (for hauling or moving dirt) — seems to have exploded this week. I don’t have a clue as to why, but my windshield is sure taking a beating!

I added a page with some of my custom POI files this morning. The three files cover the California state parks, the California missions (and Costcos in California, Oregon and Washington, with notes on which have gas stations. If you have some to share, drop me an e-mail. Check back for more lists and I may even share my fishing spot POI file… You can also download the files via the links below.

• Costco Stores
• California State Parks
• The California Missions

Though I didn’t spend Memorial Day weekend as expected (no cabin or fishing), I did get out and about.  Saw “X-Men: The Last Stand,” “MI:III” and ”Over the Hedge”…all good films.  “X-Men” is great and “Over the Hedge” is hilarious.  “MI:III” is definitely full of action, but seemed too polished, if you know what I mean.

Also got in some bowling with one son…I won two out of three games, but soon enough I may be on the losing end more often. Also got to Home Depot to stock up on screen material and spline. Re-screened about half the windows in the house. (One of the simpliest home-improvement projects I can think of.) As the house approaches 20 years old, just gotta do some of these things.

 In between the above and video games, sat down with Chris to sketch out plans for a possible chicken run/coop. He wants a chicken or two. Zoning says it’s okay, so we shall see… 

Oh, also tweaked my blog’s appearance. I’m getting better at this. A tweak here and a tweak there and there’s whole new look to my blog. Thought this was a much cleaner look.  Let me know!