Fishapalooza Ice Fishing Tournament!

Yesterday I spent 9 hours out on a frozen lake with 12,541 of my newest acquaintances. It was the Fishapalooza Ice Fishing Tournament in Minnesota!

The preparation that goes into something like this is nothing short of amazing, both personally and for the tournament.

This past week I spent two nights preparing my sled with all the necessary equipment; poles, tackle, gloves, slush scoop, a small axe (to break through the ice) and my list of last minute things such as minnows, license, and food.

I got there around 8am as this was the first time I had done an ice fishing tournament. I paid $10 to park at the American Legion, two blocks away from the ice. I pulled my little sled to the ice and there were guys waiting to check your sled to make sure you didn't have a hidden six pound northern laying at the bottom.

By 8:30 I was checked in and told to pick a hole! 15,000 holes were drilled the night before on probably six neighborhood blocks in the middle of the lake. Where to go? I have never fished this lake before so I had no idea of any structure, depth or hot spots. Should I go left or right? Close to the tents or on the outside edge? All the decisions to make.

I decided to do what my fishing buddy Mike always says and fish were no one else is, so I sat in the middle of a block and watched all the others come out on the ice and go straight to the edge. Now at this time you would think I would be smart enough to know they probably know something I do not know, but I had already cleared out 3 holes around me with my trusty axe and scoop -- so why move!

Around 9:30 I am done setting up and head in to the main area to check out all the dealers. I could buy beer from the beer ladies, pizza from Papa John's, a Polaris ATV, A Fish House, Cheese Curds, a Vexlar system, an Ice Auger, Mini Donuts, Deep Fried Pickle, a fur hat, or a host of other items. Yes, it was a little fair 500 yards from shore!

The people kept coming on to the ice and a big sign went up that said "Pink Bikini Fishing Team"! What? I had to see what in the world this was so I worked my way around all the gawking men to see a dozen or so very fit woman in pink bikini's and white fur boots and hats digging out holes! It didn't take long for some of the guys to jump to the occasion to help, but what a scene. I didn't have my phone camera with so I headed back to my little spot to get it as it was way to interesting to see and share. By the time I got back to the area they were in their warming house (go figure) so I didn't get a picture of them for you.

Okay, back to fishing. I head back to my hole around 10:30 and find I have neighbors. Three men from Iowa have set up camp next to me. Chet, Mark and Gramps. Good old boys to say the least! We chatted a bit and introduced ourselves and it was nice to have a friendly few to talk with while we waited.

They were first timers as well and thought like me to be away from the crowded edge would be best. Even though they knew my name they called me "Minnesota" so everything from there on out was "Hey Minnesota want a beer", "Hey Minnesota see any fish yet", "Hey Minnesota what about that Favre guy"? I didn't want a beer at 10 in the morning, I had seen a few fish on the fish finder and I have no idea about the Favre guy.

11:30am, 30 minutes until the competition starts. The music is playing from the tent, there are kids taking $5 pony rides up and around the fishing holes, and all of a sudden the masses of fishing people approach. It is time to get ready!

11:50am the VFW Color Guard walks out on the ice and everyone stands. 11:55am the National Anthem is bellowed out loud by one of the National Guard Ladies present and at high noon two cannons go off signaling the start of the competition! GO FISH!

Three or four minutes later you hear screaming and yelling as the first catch of the day is running from the outside edge to the weigh in tent. Three hours of screaming, yelling and running go on as I look at my hole. Nothing...not a bite, not a bobber bobbing, nothing.

2:30pm I have 30 minutes left. Chet gets a fish and off he runs to the tent. a .5 pound crappie, but he is on the board. I gave him the Minnesota screaming and yelling routine!

3:00pm the cannons sound again and the tournament is over. No fish for me! I pack up my stuff and head to the tents to see the results. The tension is rising and the people are gathering.

Josh, Josh "something or something" come on up. You caught the winning fish, a 5.49 pound Northern. Josh? This kid about 12 years old walks up on the stage and stands there. The announcer again "Josh we need you on the stage". A guy from the crowd says "he's up there already" and the announcer turns to the kid and says "are you Josh". The boy raises his hand and says "I am Josh". The crowd goes nuts! 12,542 fishing people and the 12 year old from Minnesota wins the tournament!

Josh gets one of those huge checks and as his picture is being taken you can barely see his head over the monster check. It's the interview next:

Announcer -what did you catch him on Josh?
Josh - A hook (crowd cheers)
Announcer - Do you remember what color hook?
Josh - Maybe red
Announcer - Do you remember where you caught him?
Josh - I caught him over there (pointing to the lake)
Announcer - Well Josh you now have something for Show and Tell on Monday - Congratulations!

A life long fisherboy is born!

It was a great day and I wanted to share it with all of you. Here are some of the pictures from the day including my new Iowa friends! Can't wait until next year!

Finding Your Purpose

One of the books I have on my shelf is, finding Your Purpose – A Guide to Personal Fulfillment by Barbara J. Braham (2003). It is from the Crisp Fifty-Minute Book series that makes it an easy read. I always love books that start out by saying “Warning, this book may change your life”. What a great disclaimer!

What is finding your purpose? For many this may mean the type of work you do. This book for instance centers on finding the right job that matches your values and strengths. It looks at the difference between just a job and actual work. This is important, don’t get me wrong, but finding your purpose should be more of a quest than just how you make the ends meet. I still like this book though as with everything you have to take what works and adapt it to your life.

One of the ways you can begin to explore your purpose is to look around you and find people or jobs/work that you admire and have said “I wish I could do that”. Who are these people? What are these jobs? What is it about the people or jobs that make you want to do ‘that’? This is the start of finding your personal purpose.

One of the ways I like to think about finding my purpose is to be a mind map. An organizational chart of what I like and want. My mind map changes from time to time so it is good to revisit every so often to make sure you are on the path of purpose. Things change and each of us changes so don’t feel you need to know everything right now.

My Personal Example:

Ten years ago if you asked me what my purpose in life was I would have stated my vision as “I will be the first woman on the professional fishing tour”. This was a great vision and one that I really got in too. I had a trolling motor before I owned a boat, I had every lure you possibly could imagine, I had more poles than I could ever use, I had never fished in a tournament but spent hours watching them on TV, I had every Tactics of fishing book written, in short I was living my vision of my purpose.

Ten years later I still have that passion and desire, but I have changed. Yes, I still love to fish and if money was no object I would in fact do everything in my power to be a professional fisherwoman, but I want more. I want a purpose that impacts others. I want to help others go through life with purpose, dedication, no fear, and support. It is more than fishing for me now; I want others to feel the sense of peace that comes from knowing how valuable you really are. That is my purpose.

My Vision Statement now reads, “I will find a way every day to make a positive impact on a person, event, animal, or cause”. That is my purpose and I have put as much time, money and energy into this purpose as I have the professional fisherwoman idea. I have earned a PhD in Training and Performance Improvement, I have started a Life Coaching business, I have started this blog, I have found ways every day to have a positive impact on something. This is my purpose, this is my life. If money were no object now I would find a way to be a professional fisherwoman who has a positive impact on something every day.

What is your vision? What is your purpose? If money were no object, what would you be?

Lent

Lent is the Christian season that reminds us to prepare for the future coming of Christ. It is full of purposeful days in the Christian belief; Ash Wednesday, Spy Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Palm Sunday, Easter Sunday and many more.

In early traditions Christians were suppose to prepare for the coming of Christ by praying, asking for forgiveness, giving to the poor, and self-denial. This isn’t quite what happens these days and I have heard many people say in the hallways and bus “I gave it up for Lent”. But what did they really give up?

Coffee, tea, chocolate, wine, red meat, and sex are actually some of the most popular self-denial commitments people make, but it begs the question of “so what” and “what else”? I think if you are giving up one of these things either you are enjoying them a little to much to start with, or you never even have them! I can give up wine very easy as I don’t drink, I won’t comment on a few others, but SO WHAT?

There are four areas of preparation for Lent and self-denial is the last on the list. Look at the others; prayer, forgiveness, and giving. So if you have given up chocolate for lent great, but have you meditated in earnest? Have you forgiving someone and asked for forgiveness? Have you given to someone in need?

Living with purpose at Lent means all four, not just giving up the chocolate. There are about 30 days left in Lent and I challenge you to think about this and prepare yourself not only for self sacrifices but also for self reflection, forgiveness and giving.

What would people think if I was asked “what did you give up for Lent” and I said, I take 20 minutes a day to mediate and pray, I have forgiven and been forgiven, I am volunteering every night at the food shelter, and I have given up sugar. Now that is Lent.

Live with purpose and take the time to reflect on what that means for you. Lent is the perfect season to do just that.

The "To-Do" List

I have been trying for the past two months to not be so anal with my time. If you remember earlier this month I wrote how I kept a 'to-do' list for just about everything. Yes, I was a good Franklin Covey student. I gave up the idea that I needed to track everything and for the past 6 weeks have tried to organize myself in a week to week fashion rather than a day to day method.

It works to a point, but I have found that I am missing to many things. On Monday when I write my "to-do" list for the week I am ready to go, and then Wednesday comes along and my 'to-do' list completely changes and I frustrate myself that I didn't think of that earlier. Bad spiral I get in too.

I thought it was a little funny and probably to insightful that this past weekend when I was up north with my folks they gave me a late Christmas gift (they had just put the Christmas tree away and found it under the tree skirt). The gift was a 365 day note pad of "to-do" lists! Yes, my folks had picked on the fact that I was an anal as I knew I was!

So today I resolve to go back to a method that hopefully organizes me a little more, makes me feel a little more confortable with what I have to do, but also reminds me to lighten up a bit.

Last night I sat down while the dog was eating and wrote my 'to-do' list for the rest of the week.

This morning when I got into work I was able to start checking things off the list as I worked one by one through what I needed to do to feel some sense of control and structure.

I than reminded myself that this was just part of who I am. I do not need to write a list for everything and it is okay to go to the grocery store without a complete list of everything you need.

It's the same thing with life. If we are always looking for an order that things should happen, we will miss out on the possibilities of the day. It is okay to have an idea and direction, but keep that bottom half of the page/life open to what comes up. There is always a Wednesday in our week, so embrace the fact that growth and humility come from the unexpected, not always the planned.

Have a great Thursday.

Another Lake of the Woods Fishing Trip

I promised pictures of the next ice fishing trip I took so today is that day. Last weekend my fishing buddy Mike and I headed to Lake of the Woods, on the Minnesota-Canadian Border.
We headed up around 5:30 and we were fishing by 8am. We were around 18 miles out on the frozen lake and about 5 miles away from the Canadian Water side of the Lake. I have posted some maps for reference as well as pictures of what you see when you go out fishing 18 miles off shore in the northern lands of Minnesota.

First bite came about 8:30am and by the end of the day we had 14 sauger or walleye in the bucket.

Enjoy the pictures! This weekend I am in the "Fishapalooza" Ice Fishing Tournament in Forest Lake Minnesota. Me and 5,000 of my new friends will be fishing for the grand prize of $20,000! All I want is 1 fish that counts. There are 104 prizes given away ranging from $20K to a new Skeeter Walleye Boat. I have a 2007 Skeeter Bass Boat, but would love another. Yes, I am hooked, line and sinker in love with fishing!

Things I learned from my Anna Poopsie

It was a hard night to sleep last night. After 11 years of a routine of feeding, petting, cleaning a litter box, and petting some more I had dreams of her. This morning I went downstairs to take my morning shower and for the first time in 11 years she wasn't howling at the door wanting food.

As I was getting ready for work, I thought how much I have learned from my little kitty and wanted to share that with you all today.

1. Stand up to the Big Dogs - When a Big Dog is chasing you, stop, turn around and whack him in on the nose. Stand up for yourself!
2. Take every advantage to eat ice cream - At all cost take a lick of someone's ice cream. Enjoy it and let them know next time they need to bring some for you as well.
3. Eat like it's your last meal - Enjoy and be thankful for what you have. Every day.
4. Find people who like you and than sit next to them, on top of them, in their laps, or on their hips. Let them know how much you love being with them.
5. Get your purr motor running - It warms the heart when you are so content that you purr.
6. Get your yearly check ups - Even if you don't like the human vet, go and get your shots and checked out. It will add years to your life!
7. Be Childlike - When someone gives you a little catnip, indulge and be childlike. Run around like you are 5 again and enjoy every bit of the feeling.
8. Take care of your appearance - Clean yourself and be clean.
9. Take Naps - Find that comfortable area and position and sleep. It's okay to take a nap and refresh yourself.
10. Love unconditionally - look into someone's eyes and say "I love you" by purring, sitting, cuddling, or kneading. It does your heart good and gives so much to others as well.

These are things I have learned from my Anna Poopsie.

Saying Goodbye to Anna Poopsie

Today is a sad day. After nearly 11 years with my Cat - Anna Poopsie Banana, she could no longer fight the Feline HIV, Leukemia and Diabetes she has been living with. At 4:45pm she went to live in Kitty Heaven.

I want to give you insight into this wonderful little furball. First, names she responded too--Anna Poopsie Banana, Anna Banana, Helga (my Dad's name for her), Furball, Little White cheeks, the Hipster (always slept on your hip), Fluffy Tail, and Anna Gertrude. For those of you that spend a night at our home, you most likely had Anna sleeping on your hip all night and bouncing on you around 5am when she got hungry.

I rescued Anna nearly 11 years ago from the Humane Society in Two Harbors, MN where there was a simple add in the paper that said "This cat will be euthanized unless adopted". Well, that can't happen under my watch, so Anna Poopsie became part of my household.

She has lived in Two Harbors, Ely, and Brooklyn Park Minnesota and enjoyed watching and chatting at the birds, eating as much food as she could get a hold of, and sleeping on your hip when you laid down.

With Anna's FIV and Leukemia she wasn't able to be around other cats as she could transmit both to them so every house she has lived in has had a custom door, window or other disabled kitty setting. She was a cuddle bug and could purr with the best of them.

The last 3 months she has been losing a lot of weight and that is when the diabetes set in. She has been on insulin and special food, but her health got the best of her.

So even though every vet that she has ever had - except our current Vet Dr. Tracey - has given her only 2 weeks to live, she lived to a wonderful age of around 11 or 12. She was a wonderful companion and character and she will be missed.

So, raise a glass to celebrate the life of a wonderful Kitty! Here's to Anna Poopsie Banana!