It's the first part of January, which is also a good time to make resolutions for the new year. So, here are my personal resolutions for the year 2008.
I resolve to:
Catch a King Salmon weighing more than 49 pounds:
I've been to the State of Alaska a total of 10 times on fishing trips for King Salmon and Halibut. On those 10 trips, I have never caught a King over 49 pounds.
This year (my 11th trip), I plan to do so by returning to fish at Sitka in the summertime. 11 is supposed to be a lucky number, so we shall see. Keep your fingers crossed.
Continue to have a "Ton of Fun" writing the Outdoors page:
I have been doing so on a weekly basis for many, many years, and it is a "Ton of Fun."
Heck, not only is it fun but I actually get paid to do it! Plus, I don't have to work regular hours like the other employees. Geez, how can you beat that awesome combination? Yahoo!
Get even with two friends:
Norm Budden (AKA Cheater No. 1) and Bob "Slick" McCulloch (AKA Cheater No. 2) who constantly make life miserable for me.
Time after time, they diabolically plot, carefully scheme and gleefully pull mind-boggling, practical jokes on me. Like the two miserable scoundrels they are, they do so, when just the three of us are somewhere. Then, I get even by writing bad things about them in my Outdoors page.
You would think they would learn not to poke a coiled rattlesnake with a short stick. Oh well.
Get my money's worth out of my 2008 California fishing license:
The State of California charged me $104.20 for an annual, Non-Resident fishing license and another $12.10 for a Second Rod Stamp for a grand total of $116.30.
Geez, I can remember back in "the good old days" when I used to moan and groan when that California license cost me $35.
You can be sure that I will get my money's worth this year, even if it means having to fish with Budden and McCulloch. Yipes!
Get to finally troll from my raft at Winnemucca Lake:
For the last two years, each time that I have attempted to use my little inflatable raft at Winnemucca Lake, the wind has been blowing so hard, when we got there, that I could not get out onto that high, mountain lake near Kit Carson Pass.
So, each time, I carried that darn raft a total of about 4 miles, round-trip, just for the exercise.
Hmmm, I wonder if I could con those two dummies, Norm and Slick, into carrying that raft for me?
Have fun fishing all year:
With Elaine, Budden, McCulloch, Don Hettrick, Rich Bachle, etc., plus the entire gang that will be ice fishing later this month at Wildhorse Reservoir near Elko.
Heck, who knows, I might even finally outfish Elaine on one of those trips! That would be nice.
Have fun in the Great Outdoors:
High on my lists of fun things to do will be fresh water fishing (from shore, in a boat and in my little raft), salt water fishing at Sitka, Alaska, hiking in the high country, wildlife photography, and hopefully, big game hunting in Northern Nevada (if I can draw a California bighorn sheep tag).
My favorite activities are high-altitude hiking and trout fishing.
Get more people to join the Ormsby Sportsmen's Association (OSA) of Carson City:
Being highly biased (I am an Honorary Life Member and the current President), I think OSA is the best sportsmen's club in the entire state. Heck, it only costs $5 for an adult's annual dues or $2 for a youngster, under the age of 16.
That's the best deal in town!
Not get so angry at old drivers:
We have some of the worst in this area and they are easy to spot.
They are always the ones in the large expensive cars driving slow in the fast lanes on divided highways.
They are also the very same ones who drive on Division Street (a through street), who slow down and put on their brakes at each and every intersection.
Hey dude, pick up the speed.
Not get irritated at traffic lights:
The traffic lights at our intersections such as Carson/Long and Carson/Fairview are a giant pain in the butt. Whoever times the light phases must be thinking of big city sized blocks. Hey gang, this is Carson City, not New York City.
Not snicker too loud:
When NDOT talks about the progress that they are making on completing the Carson Bypass and the I-580 project.
By comparison, Rick Gunn has ridden his bicycle around the world in a shorter period of time.
Finally:
If you have not yet made any resolutions, why not do so today.
More importantly, if you do make some resolutions, be sure to follow through with them for the remainder of the year.
• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon
Bet your favorite pigeon which of the above resolutions is the one I want to do the most.
If he grins and says, "Don wants to return to Alaska to catch a huge King Salmon," he could be a relative or a close friend.
• Don Quilici is the Outdoors editor for the Nevada Appeal