Our Fishing Hole

I will be honest and say that there are days that it really gets to me that I don't have a backyard to let the boys go run free in. Of course that seems like the solution to all my problems sometimes. But then there's the days that we can walk right down to our swimming pool, go to the putting green, feed the ducks, take walks around the lakes--it's then that I realize this ain't half bad, especially since I don't have to maintain a single part of it! (but we won't even get into how steep the rent is...) And last but not least, we've got our very own fishing hole right outside our door. This, my friends, is my 'backyard'. And let me tell you, having boys and having this, is worth its weight in gold sometimes.

All it takes is a little Lightning McQueen fishing pole and some cheap white bread to use for bait and it's a guarantee that you'll catch oodles of these little guys. They are easy to catch, easy to release, which makes it possible for mom to take the boys fishing. No messing with worms and sometimes I don't even have to touch the fish. Just the way it ought to be! We always have a great time, and the fact that Tyler doesn't get bored waiting and waiting for a fish to bite make it a winner every time.
But let me tell you, putting that bread on the hook is a SERIOUS job, only for those highly skilled in smooshing up the bread and getting it to stick on the hook.

And there is nothing...and I mean nothing...that beats the thrill of the catch! Even if all you're catching is the size of the palm of your hand, it's a thrill I tell ya!

Well, okay, there is one thing that beats the thrill of the catch for me--and that is getting to spend my time with this young man. I love being his mom!

And in other news...all the talk here is about a guy named Gustav who thinks he may stop by for a visit sometime next week. And he's the kind of pesky visitor no one wants to be around for, so we will conveniently be gone if he stops by.

But seriously, it looks like this storm will enter the gulf by the weekend and there is a lot of uncertainty as to what path he will choose to go, but looking at this map (I drew an arrow to where we live) does kind of put me in a bit of a frenzy. It could go east, it could go west, it's impossible to say at the moment. But we did get talking seriously about our evacuation plan and I am feeling a little bit more prepared today than I was yesterday. After a trip to Sam's Club for water and gas (which everyone else in town was getting too, by the way. Craziness!), making a hotel reservation (that can be cancelled if need be...), a trip to the bank and a few other errands, I feel like we could pack up the car and go pretty quickly if need be. Oh yeah, and of course, I made a bunch of lists. Lists are my way of coping in times of crisis! ha ha Crazy that this weekend marks the 3rd anniversary of Katrina and could possibly be the first major storm and evacuation since then. People are definitely watching things closely since the memory of Katrina is still very vivid for many. So, I guess we'll wait and see.

Of course evacuating would be a pain, but I'm also worried that it could throw our plans for a little visit to Des Moines next week (Thursday thru Sunday). I really want to go and our flights are booked, so I'm hoping that this will all end up being much ado about nothing. We shall see...