Hey, dont’ worry. Your comments are hilarious, and they’re so mild compared to the “abuse” I get from everyone else.

Yes, I corrupted that dog. But I also made her retrieve and run for hours. So she probably lost weight during her stay at “Camp Uncle Friar”.

I’d say most Canadians are aware of how to pronounce the Sault (after all, our country is supposed to be “officially bilingual”). I think Ontarians refer to it as “the Soo” more out of laziness rather than out of ignorance.

At least you guys have a four lane highway up there. Try driving around the North Shore. It’s the 21st century, and we’re still single lane, most of the way.

We dont’ have big smelt runs where I live. This time of year, it’s all about speckled trout in the lakes. Later in May pike (yes, “pike”, hahah) and walleye are open. Then bass opens up in late June.

I’ve been to the Southwest (Utah, Arizona, Nevada) but never been to Texas. Talk about stinking hot! But I hear this is nothing compared to the humidity and heat around the gulf coast. Still, Texas is a place I’d want to see one of these days.

Thanks for stopping by!

I watch the snow on TV news while sipping margaritas in the backyard.

Burger King? Shame on you! :)

Grew up in Michigan, but I’m in Houston now. Miss it like crazy sometimes. (Like in say August, not February.) Please forgive me for laughing at you when I barely know you, but I must. You see it’s a rule I grew up with and I can’t break tradition. The “Soo” is for tourists who can’t figure out that Sault sounds the damn same, and I haven’t heard or seen the word in years (or the word pike for that matter!). Thanks for the reminders. :)

Speaking of fish, do you get smelt where you are? That was always the first sign of spring at home, when the smelt started “running” after the first thaws. Hated cleaning those little buggers under freezing water, but they were tasty!

Again, VERY sorry for having to laugh at you! I hope it doesn’t tick you off so you refuse to come around again.

Dogs are great therapists, arent’ they? I don’t have one myself, but I regulary babysit my sister’s Duck-Toller and I spoil her rotten. (Burger King drive through, anyone?)

Unforunately, she’s not as mellow as your Gilly. Her life goal is to RETRIEVE and she’s constnatly asking me to play. When you show her a ball, her pupils dilate, she pants with excitement and makes a dance with her paws. She looks so damn HAPPY, it’s hard not to feel that way yourself, no matter how bad of a day you’re having.

So you and Ellen are Michiganders? I guess you’re about the same latitude as where Brett and I live. The “Soo” (as we call it here) is about a 7 hour drive.

I agree, this time of year is great, but it will be even greater in a few weeks when walleye and pike season open up.

DEET, anyone?

Thank you so much! It never fails to amaze me how one person’s living hell could be another’s dream location. :)

Great decision! When choosing where to move to get my sun quota, I chose Florida specifically because I would still be near M&D (that’s Mum & Dad for those not up on my lingo) half the year. I would loved to have moved to San Diego, because I feel so at home there, but it was too far away from family and I wasn’t willing to give that up. Moving to Houston was hard enough, and we’re still debating the decision, but luckily it’s not a forever irreversible decision.

Thanks for stopping by!

I made a decision some time ago to make my family prioroty no matter how presssing the immediate work concern. I haven’t regretted my work since. Healthy living starts with prioritising what matters in life.