Since it's a fly fishing blog I'll start off with that but the title doesn't have anything to do with fly fishing. It's been seven days of hell. The minute Theresa and Lauren left I got to work doing a project around the house that is way past due. Yesterday was my last day to get it done but I took a little time in the morning to go fishing. It's deep into June and we still have good, at least for me, striped bass around. I know people say they're always here but I'm not into fishing for them when the temps are up and the river water smells like summer.
I know I'm a "Keep em' wet" guy but I just needed the above one to hold his breath for a second so I could get a different look. The tanks cool, and this one still got a shot in it for a little rehab before going back on his merry way. The cool thing the above fish was in a foot and half of moving water and blew up on the fly as I retrieved it in skittering along the top.
I had some fun with a bunch before the water drained and they were gone to better holding water. Again, while I'm tempted to drive east for some ocean fish, why leave home?
And then there's an update from my buddy Abe who took over possession of the SS Archer. He and his buds purchased it from me while I was up on the Vineyard. On his maiden voyage
he saw 50 fish and had one follow. That's pretty dam cool. He decided to remove the wheels as he doesn't need them. He will make more adjustments to it I'm sure. But the cool thing, and this is why I bought it, just look above, and figure out where one would be with the ladder set up? This gives a fly angler so many more sight fishing options just outside of the point of ladder view. And Abe, please shoot some pics horizontally, it's better for the blog!
And one more update. While I was away Joe Cordiero had given a talk at Kismet Outfitters in Edgartown which included a display and demonstartion of Old Mariner Fly reels, HERE.
When we were at the house a day later he wanted to give me a private tour of the line. And the best part, he and the designer and owner Paul Conover wanted to put one in my hand. Well it arrived. I was hoping to have it before Thursday so I could have the boys
over at Orvis Princeton spin on some backing for me. I'll just have to take a trip over and have them do just that. And Theresa won't mind as she just adores Andrew Hamilton. Creeper....
I'll go into more about the reel after I put it to use. What I can tell you they come from the mind of a guy with great experience, from Fin-Nor, to Old Florida Fly Reels, to now Old Mariner. And mine is a work of art and very easy on the eyes. It will looked great paired with my Orvis Helios 9 ft. 10 wt.
And now why the title of this blog is "Daddy did good....". We bought a 100 year old house. If you know then you know. Ever see the movie The Money Pit? Well this is it, but boy is she beautiful. 5,000 square feet of just craftsmanship. The problem is that was 100 years ago and just about everything has to be redone. We, well I, have tried my best, but there's a ton more to do.
Recently Theresa made the comment that she was embarrassed to have people over, and she was right. I have to do better. We have been living in old, and cruddy, and in half completed projects in or about for eight years. It's time for Daddy to stop fishing and get my This Old House belt on and get to work.
So the minute they left for the week I went to work. Outside of Father's Day, and then a day after Father's Day dinner with Sean and Erin I worked 10 hours plus per day. And I have to give
a shot out to them both for a great treat. I told them I must be getting old as they drove and picked up the bill. Well Sean's 27 and Erin will turn 20 in a few weeks. Where does the time go?
So what did I have to do? Well first was tear up the old asbestos squares on the floor. These were put on with some military or NASA grade designed adhesive. Then it was trying to patch up the hole we've had in the ceiling for about three years. The problem was its plaster over metal lathe. Try matching that up. Then it was skim coating all the walls. The floor molding had those plastic curbs over the wood, again with the same adhesive. Then the best part. Having to thin set the Durock 1/4 concrete flooring down in which the new tile floor will sit on. Do you know how hard all that shit is?
So I did this... all alone. Up and down more times than I could count. I hit my head. I pinched my fingers. I breathed in more asbestos and spackle dust than my already damaged lungs needed. I did it without power or water for two and half days. You know what, "Daddy did good...."
I picked up a carpet at a yard sale for three bucks and made it look as homey as possible. I topped it off with a heart ballon to surprise her when she walks through the door. All that hard work, she deserves it. Now, if I don't get the reaction I'm expecting, I'm leaving her. Just kidding. Now the thing is to finish it. While I have a lot of mojo going on right now, and feel kinda DIY invincible, tiling this floor by my lonesome may be above my pay grade. I'm thinking of getting someone in to do when we head to Ireland in a little over a month from now. After three years, well we moved in in 2018, what's another month. But I can tell you this, Daddy went fishing this morning 'cause he did good.