August 1

Eep! First of the month bills due including rent - ouch. Must now get busy on the new house stuff as I have big incentives to get into the new house asap. Of course work is crazy with both projects now overlapping deadlines but at least an end is in sight. Then vacation. . . if I can get through the next week or so.

The boys had me wake them up at 5:30AM!!! yesterday so they could go fishing. I think if they added a first period fishing class to their school schedule their parents wouldn't have any problems waking them up. So far, two nice trout are filleted and waiting in my freezer to be eaten; lots of smaller thowbacks so they're pretty happy with the action.

It's so strange to think about how much they've progressed in their fishing skills. They started fishing as soon as they were old enough to hold a pole and I can recall many early mornings at the lake as they happily caught piggy after piggy with worm parts. Then years of tying lines and baiting hooks while they sought the elusive "keeper" fish. And now they're out there on their own, fixing their own lines and poles and only satisfied when several keepers are landed.

Me, I'm happy to sit on the deck and watch time fly by. . .