Fishing from A to Z

Alex and I are planning on doing a little fishing this summer. By a little I mean a lot. During Alex's 13 week summer vacation, our goal is to fish twice a week for a total of 26 times. The twist is that I have plotted out 26 different fishing holes within an hour's drive from home that we are hoping to try. Ambitious? Yes. But we are prepared.

Yesterday, Alex and I attended the Ozark Mountain Anglers Sport Show at the Hearnes Center. We picked up information on various resorts, campgrounds, and public use areas including fishing destinations. We also picked up a brochure entitled "Fishing Prospects 2008" that highlights which lakes and streams are expected to have a good fishing season this year. We received a map of all the state's Conservation Areas, too. Yes we are prepared.

But that's not all. We are also planning to pursue many other outdoor activities this summer including bicycling on the Katy Trail, playing disc golf and ball golf, playing baseball, attending a Cardinals game, camping, hiking, spelunking, swimming, and more. How will we find the time? In the coming months, I will detail our plans and reveal exactly how all of this recreation can be achieved. And of course I will be blogging about our exploits daily so that you can feel like part of the adventure, too. Maybe we'll videotape our adventures and start broadcasting a show on the local cable access channel. I could start a channel on YouTube or convert our tapes to DVD's and give copies to everyone. Big adventures require big preparations. We'll be ready. But is the world prepared for the Naughton boys? (Insert evil laughter here.)

Blog Daddy Officially Endorses Obama

On Sunday, January 20th, George W. Bush will only have one more year to mismanage this great country of ours. After that, I am hopeful that fed-up Americans will have come to their senses and elected a President who will lead us in a new direction. I believe the person who is best suited for the task is Senator Barack Obama. I have several reasons for this opinion.

#1. Obama is not a Clinton or a Bush. Do you realize it has been since 1980 that a member of the Bush or Clinton families hasn't been the President or Vice-President of our nation? If Hillary were to be elected (and possible re-elected) her second term would end in January, 2017. I for one am not willing leave the fate of our democracy in the hands of two powerful families for a total of 36 years. That sounds more like a monarchy or dictatorship to me. How can we allow two elite and influential families to control the destiny of this nation of 300 million people for nearly four decades? To me, that is the antithesis of Democracy.

#2. Obama is a uniter. After decades of derisive attitudes in Washington, we finally have a candidate truly interested in getting past the petty political differences between the two parties in order to bring people together for the good of the nation. Republicans and Democrats are not good vs. evil. One party is not right, one party is not wrong. Things are not "black and white" like that. There are many shades of grey. And there are many areas where people from both parties can agree on how to improve America. Obama will re-united the United States.

#3. Obama never supported the War in Iraq. No, he was not in Congress when Hillary and most others voted to approve an attack based on misleading intelligence. However he is on record opposing the choice to go to war back when he was a state senator in Illinios. Back in 2002, he gave an eloquent and powerful speech against going to war that you can check out on his website. As President, Obama will responsibly get our troops out of Iraq before we find ourselves entrenched in a losing situation for another decade.

#4. Obama will improve America's image abroad. I have heard so many people say "I don't care what the rest of the world thinks about us." Really? Maybe if so many people didn't hate us for the many foreign policy blunders we've made over the years we wouldn't have been attacked on 9/11. Perhaps if we weren't so convinced that we are always right and everyone else is wrong we wouldn't be the object of such resentment and hatred throughout the world. Because Barack Obama is not an old white guy from an elitest family, he may appeal to the rainbow of ethnicities in this country and around the world. Perhaps people from nations who don't thnk they have anything in common with their perceptions of America will begin to remember that America is a melting pot that includes rather than excludes people from all walks of life. If foreigners can see some similarities to us, then maybe a common ground will be sought after and hopefully reached on many of the issues that have put us at odds with much of the world.

#5. Obama has charisma. If you haven't heard him give a speech, then get on Youtube or his website and just listen. Invoking the passion of MLK, Kennedy, and even Bill Clinton Obama is a speaker, a motivator, and a leader. A president has to engage the American people in a real conversation. He can't "dumb it down" or use condescending language. He can't simply read the "company line" off a teleprompter. He has to communicate his ideas in an effective way. He needs to inspire us to improve this country. He must be able to rally the masses to his cause. Instead of scare tactics and deception (the methods used by the current administration) honesty and good ol' fashioned American Optimism need to be employed to garner the support of citizens and make this country better.

These are some of the reasons I support Barack Obama for President. This country is facing a lot of important issues right now. Before you vote, ask yourself if you are ready for real, positive change or if you want more of the same. Business as usual will ensure that our troops will be in Iraq for another decade or more. We will still be fighting the Taliban with a fraction of the troops we need because too many will be stuck occupying Iraq. The sabre-rattling of the current administration may lead us to war with Iran, Syria, or North Korea. I for one am not willing to let my child be drafted and possibly killed in a foreign land simply because the American people were too afraid or ignorant to try to change the direction of the leadership of this once proud and world-respected nation.

I'm voting for Barack Obama on February 5th and I'm hopeful that he will get the Democratic nomination. If so, I believe he can win the general election and begin to heal this great nation of ours. Let's make a difference, Blog Daddy Nation.

R.I.P. Jake

Hours ago, one of the best friends I have ever had in my life died in my arms. He was my dog Jake. After watching him suffer from heart failure and dementia in addition to the usual problems associated with old age (he was 14 years old), we were simply waiting for Jake to tell us when he was ready to go. This afternoon he did just that. When Alex and I got home from school, Jake didn't get out of his bed to greet us. Even when I pleaded with him to get up, he just lay in his bed, which he had soiled sometime during the day. Eventually he staggered to his feet but seemed oblivious to our presence. I picked him up and set him on my lap while Alex and I talked about what we needed to do. When Bethany came home, everyone told Jake goodbye and I took him to our vet. The details of Jake's final moments are mine alone to know.

When I got back home I gave my family big hugs and kisses and then ventured out into our woods- shovel in hand. I picked out a nice clearing in the trees and began to dig. While I labored away, I recalled many memories of my little buddy. We adopted Jake at the Muncie Indiana animal shelter in February 1998. Bethany had just taken her first 13 week assignment as a "travelling"occupational therapist- her first job out of college. She worked at a very poorly run nursing home that literally drained the spirit from her. She came home crying regularly and I felt powerless to help. As Valentine's Day appoached, I had the idea to get a puppy to help keep Bethany's mind off her troubles at work and give her something positive to focus on in her life. When I arrived at the shelter all of the male dogs were in one pen, all the females in another. A precoius female beagle caught my eye, but I thought I should look at the males too, just in case. A throng of dogs greeted me at the fence- barking, jumping up, trying to lick my fingers. I peered through the crowd and spotted a very sad looking dog in the far corner of the pen standing all alone with his head down. I called to him and he started to take a step toward me, only to be turned back by the larger, more aggressive dogs. He managed to make eye contact though, and in that instant he asked me in his own pathetic way to get him the hell outta there. I knew right then that I had found my dog. I went inside and asked about him and the sole employee told me I would have to wait another day before I could take him because they wanted to give his owner a chance to claim him (he was found as a run-away.) Well, because I was there on a Friday, the "one more day" was a Saturday and then they would be closed on Sunday. So I agonized all weekend knowing that my dog was absolutely miserable waiting for me to save him. I came back Monday morning at opening time. The lady at the shelter apologized for making me wait an extra day to adopt him. She felt so guilty that she actually waived the adoption fee. Before I knew it, my new dog was at the end of a leash, walking straight into my heart. It would take Bethany a little while longer to warm up to Jake, but not too long. Afterall, he was a handsome little devil. But at the initial vet visit, our free dog became a $300 dog thanks to a bad case of heartworms. His liver suffered some damage as a result and so the vet joked that this Joliet Jake Blues (as his full name was) should refrain from drinking any beer. "Bummer," I thought. Soon enough, Jake was feeling healthy and happy and we became fast friends while spending our days together waiting for Bethany to come home from work each evening.

Our friendship lasted 10 great years. But Jake was more than a friend, he was like a child to Bethany and I. Having a dog really is good practice for prospective parents. We had Jake in our lives for nearly three years before Alex was born, so he really was our baby. And we made lots of good memories together. The best part is that he lived seven more years after Alex was born, allowing Alex to bond with him, too. Being an only child, Alex has always referred to Jake as his big brother. In fact, Alex used to lick his own "paws" while Jake sat beside him and cleaned his. On several occasions, I caught the human child eating the canine child's Milkbones. Once, I even caught Alex eating kibble right out of Jake's bowl. Brothers they were.

I have many, many Jake stories. Maybe I'll write about some more of them when I feel up to it. For now, I can't type anymore- much less talk about Jake without completely falling apart. If you read this and want to call to express your condolences, please wait a few days or just post a message on this blog. It is amazing to me how much I miss my friend already. The pain in my lower back and in my hands from digging Jake's grave don't come close to the pain I feel in my heart right now. How is it possible to love a dog so much?

I will love you and miss you and remember you forever, old pal. Good-bye, Jakey-Boy.

2008 Resolutions

1. "WWBD?" What would Buddha do? That sounds like it should be a bumper sticker, doesn't it? In fact, I have seen a car with that very decal adorning it in Columbia. It's also the name of a book my friend Kim gave me as a Christmas present. (The irony of receiving a book about another "religion" as a way of celebrating Jesus's birth is not lost on me.) The book offers advice on how to handle life's daily challenges by asking how the Buddha would deal with various situations. I think the world would be a better place if we all asked ourselves "WWBD"before we act or react.

I still have a lot to learn about Buddhism, but I think that I am getting closer to understanding the Buddha's message. Happiness can be attained by freeing oneself from attachment. We humans become attached to material possessions, relationships with people, power, and wealth. When we don't possess these things, we desire them and consequently we suffer because we feel that we can't be happy without them. When we do posses these objects of our desire, we cling so tightly to them that we become fearful of losing them and often we worry and do extreme things to keep them, which also causes suffering. The key to happiness is simply letting go of self-imposed attachment. We will then be free to enjoy the gift of life that the Universe has bestowed upon us.

So my singular New Year's Resolution of 2008 is to ask myself (Buddhist humor: There is no self), "What Would Buddha Do?" This should help me reduce suffering, which in turn will help make others happy, which in turn will help make the world a better place, which in turn will make me happy.

What are your resolutions? If you make your resolutions public, you hold yourself accountable and are more likely to stick to them. Feel free to post them here.

Happy New Year!

Would someone remind me...

Why do I have pets? I woke up this morning at 5:45 to the sound of three dogs barking. One wanted to eat, one wanted to go outside, and one had just shit and pissed all over the front hallway, his bed, and himself. After cleaning that up, I went to work. When I got home, Jake had shit and pissed all over the hallway, his bed, and himself again. Princess had puked all over the front room. Woody pulled off all the items we placed on the couch to prevent him from getting up there. I cleaned up again. Then Jake puked all over the carpet in the family room. Bethany was kind enough to clean that up.

Messes are only part of the joy of pet ownership in the Naughton family. Jake has congestive heart failure and dementia, is half blind and deaf, and has no control over any bodily functions. He will likely need to be put out of his misery soon. One of our goats, Bella, drown when she fell through the ice covering our lagoon recently. Her brother, who has never been apart from her in his four years is now alone. To ice the proverbial cake, when I arrived at work this morning I discovered our store mascot Baxter the Beta fish dead in his bowl. In my haste to get home on New Year's Eve, I forgot to turn the heat back on in the store (it gets very hot in there during the day). It got too cold for him I guess.

So, its been one of those days/weeks/months. I know all the benefits of having pets in our lives. But right now, it isn't much fun to be a pet owner. Let's hope that the New Year brings some relief from the stresses that my family is enduring right now.

Happy New Year.