Fishin report for Lake Iwanttobethere..

[Bobby Bass]

Standing on the deck overlooking the water of Lake Iwanttobethere I feel a warm southern breeze in my face. The water has a little wave action today and leaves are washed up along the shoreline. Barney goes out on the dock but merely glances into the water before trotting back to check out the boat house. I have made a pretty good dent in the pile of leaves by the fire pit but the wind over the past few days has brought me more leaves. Maybe later I'll fire up the big mower and make a few passes and do some mulching. A little color has returned to the lake as it seems everywhere you look you see blaze orange. Across the way I can see Elmers blaze orange vest blowing in the wind. It hangs on the old clothes line that is tied from his back porch to the pine tree. Next to it his red wool coat that he has worn deer hunting for longer then I have been alive.

My blaze orange is also out. Stuffed with apple leaves it hangs from the clothes line. I for years have used the trick of apple leaves stuffed in all my pockets and down my sleeves and pants legs. I don't know if it fools the deer but I smell good. Chuck has his orange hanging out to and if you look across the bay you can see other coats flapping in the breeze. Just a few days away from the opening of deer season here at the lake and orange is very common around town. Some guys will not take their coat off for the next few weeks and of course anyone working in the fields is wearing orange. Both Bud and Barney have blaze orange collars and we keep an eye on them. They don't get to run free and are only allowed in Chuck and Elmers yards. Never can tell when some fool will shoot at anything and that is one of the down sides of deer season.

Last week I met up with the guys and we all went out to McDonnell's back forty where he has a gravel pit. All of us shot our guns and made adjustments where needed. Elmer took out his old 30-30 and fired one round and called it good. A box of shells last him ten years and he was down to three. When he asked Big Earl what a box of shells cost he went off for a half an hour talking about "In his days" shells were a dime apiece and ya bought them out of a candy jar. You only paid for what ya needed. Sitting at the picnic table waiting our turn to shoot we talked of old seasons and of course the list was brought out and names checked off. We made sure that everyone was bring the same thing to the shack as they did the year before and the year before. Hammering Hank said the he and Skinny had brought some wood last week and mouse traps were out. I had not been to the shack since spring when I took my walk. I thought for a moment of the gray ghost and remembered seeing them big tracks. I wondered to myself if he was still there.

I was interrupted in my thoughts with an elbow from Chuck. Big Earl was laughing at me and everyone knew I was day dreaming of that big old buck. My turn to shoot and I fired a few rounds and returned to the table. I passed out the do lists, nice having a computer these days. I just printed up copies from last year and we all had our lists for who was suppose to bring what and what the menu was going to be for the week. Elmer asked if it would be ok to bring Marv to deer camp and after some teasing he was of coursed welcomed. Of course he will have to bring cigars and toilet paper. With Doc being the last one to shoot we packed up and headed to the Lodge to continue our planning session.

Sunshine Ray is a pretty popular guy this time of the year as everyone is trying to get the forecast out of him. He has called for warm weather on opening day and no snow. We are planning according to his forecast and I for one am packing my long jons. Big Earl is trying to convince us we should all buy some of his blaze orange umbrellas that he has in stock. I think he ordered to many for Halloween and is just trying to reduce his stock. He found a place that will custom make his umbrellas and after ordering all of them pink ones for flamingo season he ordered blaze orange ones. The front of his store is colorful with the orange and pink umbrellas standing in the rack. I asked Earl if he still has any Halloween candy left, don't know why they don't sell them bags year round. Earl says he does, but they are not so fresh come July.

Well I should get the mower out and go after them leaves. Still have a lot of things that need to be done before I can take all next week off and deer hunt. I will make a few trips back to the cabin for a hot shower and of course check my mail. That and I can't stay to long away from Bud and Barney. O and the wife to.... From Lake Iwanttobethere {111,897}

[Bobby Bass]

Friday before deer hunting is pretty busy here at Lake Iwanttobethere. I made several trips into town to pick up things as I had to go to Ma and Pa's grocery to pick up items on the menu. As you may know I am the camp cook and as soon as the menu was given the thumbs up at our planning meeting I made some changes. Can't eat the same thing every year at deer camp. Of course we will have the usual things like Coney's and chili. Steaks for the first night and a turkey to roast. I managed to get one of them pink geese that Hunterdown has been passing off as a Flamingo. That will be for Sunday night's dinner along with some wild rice. A few loafs of wheat bread from Amy's bakery along with dinner rolls and buns. I have already replaced the lite miracle whip bottle with real miracle whip without the wife knowing. Mustard and ketsup, some hot sauce. The box with can beans and fresh veggies for the stew. The knap sack from the back closet was dug out and inventory went over. No need to replace anything as nothing was used last year.

Went to the General Store to see if Big Earl has his stuff together, he was working the counter as the store was busy. For some reason there was a rush on people buying licenses and of course orange hooded sweatshirts were in big demand. Sunshine Ray's forecast looks like it might be coming true. The bass thermometer was hovering right around 60 which made them heavy orange coveralls look awful heavy. Marv was in the store with a shopping cart of hunting gear and Elmer was alongside. The two of them were in the candy aisle and Elmer was explains that ya want candy but you don't want anything that you have to unwrap in the stand. Elmer was holding up lemon drops and Marv was holding butterscotch buttons. They asked me and I just said I prefer Kit Kats and they both shook their heads at me.

Outside Reed the Realtor shop his bio diesel RV was parked. Reed was loading it and Doc Burriem was supervising. Both of them had been bring their hunting equipment to the office and were now ready to load it in the RV. I didn't know they were driving it to deer camp but I guess the damage from last winter had been repaired and with the new paint job you can't even see the soot from the fire. I did notice something and that is the drivers side is white but the passengers side is green. Asking Reed he said Dug didn't not have enough paint in stock to spray the RV all the same color so they just went two tone. It does kind of match the black rims on one side and the white rims on the other side.

Vicki at the Masterbaiters bait shop waved as she drove by, she to was busy picking up coffee from Ma and Pa's. The bait shop is our weigh in station and she will be open all weekend long. She gives out free cofee to whoever comes in as usually there is a good crowd standing around waiting to see who brings in what. When I went into Ma and Pa's like always the first thing you hear is the jingle of the bell over the door. Ma for a change was not sitting behind the counter watching TV on her little black and white but was busy dusting off cans and packing them in brown paper bags. Pa was no where to be seen but I found him back in the big walk in freezer. He was complaining that his high school kid had not finished cleaning the freezer and with this warm weather he was going to need all the hanging room he had. I helped him move a few of the last boxes around and he gave me my box of steaks and burger that I had ordered. The turkey was almost forgotten but I remembered that I had to get butter. Ma had my can order ready and I loaded it all in the Dodge and was slapped on the back by Ma and told good luck. No sooner had I gotten out of the way when Gus and Skinny walked in. They were there to pick up some of that hot lunch meat that only they eat at camp and of course to talk to Pa about freezer space.

Well by the time you read this we will all be in deer camp. Come Friday afternoon we will all make the drive and one by one we will drive down the grassy tote road then ends up in the small clearing where the deer shack is. We will park under the stand of pines and unload our trucks. Rifles will come out of cases and be stacked along the wall in the gun rack. Clothes line will be strung between the two big pines and jackets will be hung. Wood stove will be started and we will watch and see if the smoke curls out of the stack. With luck there will be no birds nest inside and the smoke will rise. Fire pit will be raked out and a fire started, there is no better steak then the one cooked over the grate on the pit. Darkness will come quick and we will lounge around the fire. Making trips back and forth inside the shack taking turns rolling out sleeping bags and stocking shelves. Mouse traps will be checked and the hanging ropes flung over the pole waiting for tomorrow's deer.

A beer or two may be cracked, the sharp crack bouncing of the trunks of pines. Like parents we will sit around the fire waiting for the last of our group to show up. Then in the quiet of the dark night under the stars we will hear the last truck coming from the South. Even though we are here and he is there we will be in the drivers seat with him as he makes the turn off the gravel road. Has to drive around the fallen Pine and then get back on the grass covered trail. Come around the washout and pass the gravel pile. Drive through the clearing and we can hear him pause as he is looking for deer in the moonlight. Start again and make the last turn on to our trail, There in the dark we can see his headlights as they bounce over the scattered boulders. We all nod to ourselves in the glow of the fire that someday we should move them rocks out of the way. One last turn and he is here. Some back slapping and quick work is made of unloading the truck. His gun is added to the rack and bedroll tossed up on the top bunk in the corner. His knapsack on top. The last steak hits the grill and the smoke mixes with the fire to rise skyward. We all sit back in our assortment of chairs along with Elmer in his rocker and we listen to the crackling and snapping of the fire and the quiet of deer camp. From Lake Iwanttobethere {113,202}

[Bobby Bass]

Well first week at deer camp has come to a close. I must admit it did start off with a bang. Lots happen during the first week of camp and I have already forgotten a lot of things. A few do stand out and I will pass them on to you. As you may know Marv who is Hammering Hank's father in law and the father of the beautiful Tess has joined our deer camp. Elmer and him have become great buds and when Marv heard that Elmer would be coming to camp for two week he asked if Elmer would sponsor him. Well our first night at camp we did big old steaks on the fire pit grill and had a few Hamms. We traded stories and turned in early. Around five in the morning the call of nature called Marv and he quietly made his way out to the outhouse. After doing his thing he was heading back to the deer shack when he spotted a buck in the half moonlight. He quietly made his way into the shack and loaded his rifle. As he went past the window heading for the door he could see the deer still standing where he last saw him. Opening the window he aimed and fired.

Well a couple of things are wrong here, first it was to early to be shooting at deer. Second he didn't open the window wide enough or stick the rife out far enough. Third the blast from the rife shattered the window and woke up everyone from a dead sleep and fourth the deer was not a real deer but a decoy that the Johnson brothers practiced shooting at with their bow. Well lights were found and some shouting followed. Not so much because people were mad is that no one could hear each other after the rifle blast inside the shack. Some plastic was found for a quick repair on the window and Marv was explained the rule about shooting inside the shack which also included shooting at mice. Looks were aimed at the direction of the Johnson brothers when ever shooting mice is involved and fingers are pointed at the shacks baseboards.

Well it was close enough to being getting up time so wood was added to the potbelly stove and pancakes were made and served. Sandwiches were made and water bottles checked. One by one guys left the shack and headed out into the darkness to make their way to their stands. By lunch time everyone was back and no one had gotten off a shot. A few small does were seen but it was almost fifty-five out and everyone was complaining they had worn way to much clothes. I did spend some time on my stand and got in a pretty good nap.

A little rain on Sunday and doe was shot by Big Earl. It hung for a few hours on the pole and then at dark Earl took it into Pa at Ma and Pa's so it could hang in the cooler. Marv brought with him one of them thousand piece puzzles and dumped it out on the table. The rest of the week guys would stand away from the table smoking their cigars or sipping on a soda looking at the puzzle. From time to time someone would step forward and place a piece of the puzzle in it's correct position or toss the piece back in the pile. No one wanted to sit at the table and actually work on the puzzle other then Marv and Elmer. They would sit with their blackberry brandy in short glasses and with their eye glasses resting low on their noses search for pieces. Looking over the picture and sipping from their glasses from time to time the smoke curling up from the ashtray where their cigars rested.

Every morning the Johnson brothers would pack up their day packs and make the hike up the ridge to their stands. Come dusk they would make the hike back down, I don't know how much hunting they did up there but they said they liked the view and didn't want to be bothered by anyone else. Big Earl had brought a case of surplus caramel apples from the store and they sat on the counter for anyone to have. I think they were a might out dated as I watched as Doc tried to eat one. Biting them was out of the question so Doc tried to peel it with a knife. Butter knife didn't work so he moved on up to a hunting knife. After awhile he went out to the wood pile and returning he placed the hunting knife on the side of the caramel apple and pounded a piece off using a stick of firewood as a hammer. Caramel was a tad hard but the apple was still green inside. I didn't even try the apple as I had early seen a mouse sniff at the box of apples and move on without even trying to take a taste.

Guys came and went during the week, weather stayed warm and only one other doe was shot, that one by Gus. Big Earl went back into town and Junior his son took his place. He brought with him a pane of glass and the window to the shack was repaired. I ended up doing that as everyone knows I always have a tool bag behind the seat of the Dodge. Hunterdown was seen and he already shot a few deer, guess he has a better spot then we do this year. I did thank him for the goose as it went over well at dinner the second night. A couple of the guys were even talking about taking up flamingo hunting next fall if they tasted so good.

I spent some time in the stand, got in a few nice naps. Solved all the worlds problems and ran out of Kit Kats. Today I did go home to take a hot shower and pet the dogs behind their ears. Found empty bags on the kitchen table so I know the wife has been out Christmas shopping while I was gone. Also found three apple pies waiting for me to take back to camp so things even out. Hope your deer camp is good and we will see you here at Lake Iwanttobethere.

{114,134}

[Bobby Bass]

Weather here at deer camp is changing, again. We started off with unseasonable warm weather the first week and now we are back in to almost deer hunting weather. No snow yet but it did get cold enough on Friday night that the stove had to be tended to during the night. On the trip to the stand Saturday morning there was a crunch of frost under foot and water puddle were frozen. Friday it rained pretty much most of the day and into the night. The rain did quiet down the woods as the damp leaves and water dripping from branches muffled the walk to the stand in the afternoon. Sitting in the stand the thought of Big Earl's big blaze orange umbrellas was starting to make some sense. I was dressed well and soon I forgot about the drizzle, My biggest problem was trying to keep my glasses clear but that just gave me something to do. The drizzle did stop but then the fog came rolling in, it was that low ground fog that is thick and deep for the first ten feet as it rolls across the forest floor from the swamp. I thought I saw some movement, maybe the top of a rack moving through, dipping and then reappearing on the edge of the swamp. Of course my first thought was it had to be the great gray ghost, the monster buck that I spotted a few times last season. My heart missed a few beats as I tried to get a better look through the rain drops on my glasses.

I waited and watched, still as a mouse with a hawk overhead. Funny how well these old ears work when I am focused. Not moving my body I watched a spot where the ground comes up some. If the ghost was following the trail he would come up out of the fog right there and I would be able to see him and perhaps get a shot off. I watched for several minutes maybe even a half an hour but the ghost didn't reappear. With the overcast sky darkness came quickly, I had to make the choice of waiting a little longer and walking back in the dark or moving now. I was just getting ready to climb down when I heard the sound of a guitar strumming. The damp air and a slight breeze was clearing the fog away and carrying the sounds of the Johnson brothers and their guitars. I waiting a few minutes more, the fog was almost gone or it had just disappeared in the darkness but still no sign of the ghost. I got down from the stand and looked at the only dry spot in the woods, right where I had been sitting.

I made my way back along the trail to the deer shack, the sound of the guitars guiding my way. Walking slow and taking my time I let my eyes be guided by my ears. The music stopped and so did I, it was quiet. My hat sat high on my head and my ears could pick up laughter coming from the camp. I was closer than I thought. I made my way into the clearing and my eyes adjusted to the dancing flames rising high in the fire pit. A big fire was licking at wet wood from the pile that had not been tarped. In the glow from the fire two more deer were hanging from the cross pole and the Johnson brothers were sitting in them cloth backed folding chairs with grins on their faces. I was guessing the deer were theirs.

Entering the shack the pot belly stove was a cherry red and various blaze orange coats, hats and pants were hanging from anything that would support them. Just about everyone was trying to dry their gear out. I got out of my stuff and realized just how wet I was. I might have been walking slowly because of all the extra weight I was carrying. I went in the cupboard and pulled out the clothes line, tying it off to the two hooks on opposite ends of the shack and then hung my clothes. Gus taking his pants off a chair said out loud that he was wondering where that rope was

Marv and Elmer sat working on the second puzzle they had brought, another thousand pieces laid scattered across the table. I took the ladle from the counter and dumped two big scoops of stew in a bowl and a chuck of bread and sat at the end to eat and watch. Barley and Hopps came in and told me of the hunt on the ridge and the two deer they shot. I nodded and congratulated them both. They returned outside to go over to the RV and get in on the Friday night card game that had already started. Eating my stew I was warming up, I didn't know I was cold till I felt the heat from the stove. I watched as Marv was holing up a piece of the puzzle, turning it over and over in his hand till he set it down off to the side where some other pieces lay. I know if anyone was looking at me they would have seen the twinkle in my eyes as I laughed a little inside. On my last trip home I brought a few random puzzle pieces from home, just to add to the pile. From the shack here at Lake Iwanttobethere {114,314}

[Bobby Bass]

Several of the guys had to call an end to their deer hunting vacation as their time at the camp was up. The diehards still remain at the shack including both Elmer and Marv. Sunday we took a long afternoon break as Reeds RV was relocated in the parking area. We moved the RV so the big back window was facing the porch and the TV was placed in the open window. This allowed us to have a tailgate party and watch the football game. The deep fryer was set up and we cooked a turkey, from time to time the bird was brought up to have meat cut off and the put back down to cook some more. Several of the guys were done hunting as a few more deer were hanging from the hanging pole and would be heading back after the football game.

Evenings have been clear and cool, frost greets us every morning but it gone by eleven or so except for where the sun does not hit. The days are filled with sunshine and the nights are filled with stars. A meteor shower is suppose to happen tonight so we may stay up a little later and sit outside the shack and watch. It's not like we don't have warm enough clothes to be sitting under the stars!

I made the ride back to the cabin midmorning to bring back empty pie plates and hope the wife had a few filled ones to replace them. The lake was covered in deep fog that was rolling across the shoreline and creeping up along the access road. Not being in any real hurry I took my time driving along the road. Not that far from where the cabin trails joins up with the road I saw some movement off to the side of the road on the lake side. Coming out from the ditch and crossing was a bully of a buck. I came to a stop and of course like everyone I counted the points, four on each side. I say he was a bully of a buck as he was thick bodied. A massive swollen neck if you could call it that as it looked like his head just grew out of his chest. One big eye watched me as he slowly walked across the road. His head dipping down to smell the ground and then back up again for a few steps before dipping back down to the ground. A dark black nose seem to wrinkle a little and he looked at me and then kept moving. I search with my right hand on the seat of the Dodge looking for my camera that was under my coat on the seat. Not finding it I glance down to find the camera and looked up in time to see the buck slip into the under brush of the other side of the road. With my camera in hand I looked back to see the buck had been swallowed up by the brush and brown grass. "Dang" I said out loud to myself that was a beast. Putting my foot back on the gas I moved the Dodge in a creep down the road, Of course it is deer season you always see nice big bucks when you are not ready.

Not five minutes down the road it happen again. Another buck this one only a six pointer and younger. The big buck was fresh in my mind and I counted points and saw the neck on this one was not nearly as big as the first deer, The coat was a deeper brown and the tail not as bushy. This one came from the lake side like the first but here I could see the smaller buck snorting and his breath rose around him as he walked across the road. He stopped in the center of the road and turn to look at me, pawing the ground with his right hoof. I kept an eye on him as I fumbled with the camera with the other hand. I was just bring the camera up to get a shot when with a hop a skip and a jump the deer was gone from the road. I am always surprised by how much ground they can cover and do it so effortlessly. I got out of the truck and with camera in hand peered into the brush, hoping maybe it had stopped and was looking back at me as much as I was looking for him.

Another truck was coming down the road so I had to move, I drove off but this time I kept the camera in my lap, Two bucks in five minutes, perhaps there would be a third, it could happen. From Lake Iwanttobethere {114,631}

[Bobby Bass]

Just a short update here from deer camp. Last week of deer hunting here on this side of Lake Iwanttobethere. The other side of the lake just started. Looks like they will get the same kind of weather that we had. No snow, no good tracking weather just some rain and some cool nights to wake up to frost. Just a few guys here left at camp although everyone will be here on Sunday for chore day. Everyone will be up to clean the shack and cut wood. Rain gutters will be cleaned although I still don't know why we have gutters on a shack in the middle of the woods. I think a long time ago one of the guys got replacement gutters and the old ones came here. Might have been cheaper to bring them to deer camp then to bring them to the junk yard. I suppose back then they made the roof look good and they do keep the drip off the porch when the sun hits the frost on the roof.

No deer hanging from the pole as everything is down at Ma and Pa's as a matter of fact Big Earl has brought up several pounds of sausage that has already been made. Old Macdonald had already brought Pa pork from Sizzle the pig that we all donated money for feed and Mcdonald raises on his farm during the summer and fall. Sunday breakfast will be sausage and flapjacks and twelve egg omelets. The omelets will be kind of special as we pretty much put all the leftovers in the fridge in the pan. After the football game we will load up trucks and those who can will make one last walk out to the stands and get in the late afternoon hunt. The rest of the guys will hang around till dark and see if there help is needed dragging out a last deer but mostly making sure everyone is out of the woods safe and sound.

For now we sit around the big round table here in the shack and the supper dishes are stacked on the side board. Cigars tips have been cut and smoke slowing rolls towards the ceiling to be caught by the slowly moving fan and spread across the room. The smoke settles in right around the five foot mark in the room, If you are tall enough you can see above the smoke if not you won't even have to puff on a cigar to enjoy them. The old minnow bucket that serves as an ice bucket sits next to the makeshift bar. An ice ladle serves as a scoop to gather cubes to be dropped in to over sized squat glasses. Wild Turkey is poured at least three fingers deep and the tinkle of ice cubes as the glasses are rotated in hands making the amber colored fluid swirl around the cubes. Ratty looking playing cards that were new just fourteen days ago lay on the well-worn table. Poker chips and the key to the executive outhouse sit in a pile in the center. Last night at camp and it is still early yet. From Lake Iwanttobethere {115,320}

[Bobby Bass]

Sometimes here at the lake there is an abundance of things to write about or I am trying to avoid doing something that needs to be done by writing about other things. Deer season on this side of Lake Iwanttobethere has come to a close. The 30-30 had been cleaned and oiled and back in it slot in the gun cabinet. Bud was right at the door when I open it thinking that maybe we would be going to take a walk out back and chase some grouse. This would be a good idea as that is what I usually do the day after deer season but today it's wet out. Fog rolling in off the lake and rain is coming down. Not heavy but enough that you will be wet in a few minutes. Knap sack with the hunting gear is back in storage and blaze orange coats and pants are tucked away in the back closet. Of course I did make sure there were no Kit Kat's left in any of the pockets.

Deer shack is secure and I was the last one out the door. The log book with two sharpen pencils rest on the table and I left the can of WD-40 out so anyone who comes to the shack will remember to spray the paddle lock and to make an entry in the log book for other shack buddies to read. Several guys did say as long as the snow holds off they will be making a few trips into the shack to do some grouse hunting. Wood is stacked in the rack just inside the door and wood for next season has been cut and is under the old lean to where it will stay dry. The replacement window stands out as it is cleaner then the other windows. The window will forever be known as "Marv's Window" A few more pictures were stapled up on the wall and everyone who hunted wrote in the log book. With a four wheel drive truck in front and one behind Reeds RV we got him back out from the shack and on to the main road. Little muddy this year with all the late rain we got.

With deer hunting done the wife is now gearing up for her season, you know Black Friday. I know while I was gone they, the women had a few sessions together. The wife will be gone early Friday morning to drive into the big city and will shop till sometime that afternoon. At least that is what I have overheard as she was on the phone with our daughters. At deer camp Big Earl and Junior his son spent a lot of time talking about what specials they were going to have for Black Friday as even here at Lake Iwanttobethere we have sales. I know they are going to try and get rid of left over pink flamingo hunting gear and also there seems to be a lot of the orange umbrellas. Later today I will go down at the general store as I need to buy some more of them small bread pans. The wife is working on turkey day and will not be home till late afternoon, this means that I will be cooking dinner. I did not have much choice in the manner as the wife had already invited everyone and reminded me that I have been away from the cabin for the last two weeks and, well enough said.

Menu is on the fridge, not much for me to change or add. Turkey, and a small ham, potatoes from the garden along with the last apple pies from the freezer. Home made pickles and corn from the garden. Chives for the tatters and butter from McDonnell's farm. I will start on Wednesday and make small penny loafs of bread that is why I need more pans. Maybe even get a new roasting pan for the turkey. We all know when guys do things we have to make improvements. I am sure the old roasting pan would be just fine but Earl has been trying to sell me a new one all deer season. One of them heavy metal ones with a lid not like them cheap tin ones or heaven forbid one of them roasting bags that shoot a plug out when the bird is done. That would almost be as bad as instant potatoes! Hot cider with cinnamon sticks and cocoa with marshmallows will be served. Of course apple pie with whipped cream is a sure thing. When dinner is done the menfolk will head to the living room to sprawl across couches and overstuffed chairs and watch some football, Deer season will be hashed over and kids will roll on the floor with dogs. Women will retreat to the kitchen where dishes will be washed and quiet talk will be made over the good wine glasses with some stuff that tastes fruity. Smelly candles will be lit and when a man gets up to go to the kitchen it will be quiet, a dead give away that they were talking about Christmas presents.

By half-time the fridge door will be open and the platter of turkey meat will be back out on the table. Butter will be spread on thick slices of homemade bread and pickles added. Turkey or maybe ham slices will find there way to the bread and with maybe some pumpkin pie as an after thought added to the plate the men will make it back to the living room for the second half kick off. Kids will shout out " There is pie" and race each other to the kitchen where more pie will be buried under cool whip and of course a dab will find someone's nose. Dogs will work the room looking for a dropped piece of turkey or maybe a piece of ham will be made as an offering. A few minutes into the second half and empty plates will rest on the coffee table. Elmer will be sleeping in the big easy chair by the window and Chuck will be out in the kitchen talking to the single sister in law. Dug and his brother Del will talk about Dug's truck and they will slip out the back door with a couple of beers. A few minutes later we will hear the roar of Dug's truck till mother yells out the window to "shut that dang thing off" Quiet will return as the boys take their beers and go sit out in the ice house in the driveway.

I'm guessing that will be what Thursday bring us, just another Thanksgiving here at Lake Iwanttobethere {115,688]

[Bobby Bass]

Thanksgiving here at the lake was as predicted, even right down to the boys getting yelled at for revving their engines in the driveway. I think the final count was thirty-three friends and family made the trip and ate my apple pie! Which is OK, I was starting to get a little pied out. Grandsons learn that one of them cans of whipping cream hold a lot of mouthfuls of cream. Grandma was not to happy to see them holding the cans to their mouths and filling them till the cream came out of their mouths looking like a volcano overflowing. Grandpa putting cherries on top of the mounds might not have been a big help or the dogs licking faces afterwards. Turkey and ham was quickly removed from the serving platters and the mashed potatoes made from the garden potatoes were gone long before the store bought ones. Weather was warm at least for Thanksgiving and soon after dinner was done kids were dressed up and out running around the yard. Rocks were thrown off the dock and dogs played their own game of "Chase the stick"

Next day the cabin was quiet for Black Friday as the wife and her daughters all made the trip into the city and returned later that afternoon. I was not allowed to see what was in the bags but I was told to rest assured that a bulk of Christmas shopping had been completed. I did go into town but it was later in the afternoon and most of the crowds were gone. I saw a few items but did not buy anything other then several boxes of candy that were pretty cheap. I did come back through Lake Iwanttobethere and made a stop at the Dew Drop Inn for some hot chocolate and conversation. Monday will be Town Hall meeting day and we have not had a get together since last August. As you know we have both Town Hall meetings and Lodge meetings on the fifth Monday and Tuesday of a month. No Lodge meeting this month but I am sure some Lodge business will be held.

The list was being discussed at one of the corner booths and I looked over the agenda. I see the conservation officer from the other side of the lake is going to make a visit. Rumor has it he is going to talk about our so called pink flamingo season and also something about Hunterdown advertising about fall alligator hunts. As you know Hunterdown does have a hook replacing his one hand and I think there may be some concern if he is the right guy to be a guiding alligator hunts. I am sure there will be a discussion about permits or fees as there usually is. Also on the list was a question from Frank the plow driver in regards to the rumor the state wanted to outfit the county school buses with snow plows. Thought there being that they already had the flashing lights and they do drive the same stretch of road twice a day. Also with kids on board there would be no lack of pushing help if the school bus/plow got stuck.

Christmas decorations are also starting to show up along Main Street. Windows that had been painted by Kartina our town's artist are being replaced with Noel and candy canes. The general Store has its window trimmed out in them new l-e-d Christmas lights and Big Earl has a display of both the new and old light sets along with boxes of scented candles. Funny how Earl also has a display of bagged candy that look a lot like Halloween candy but they have a red bow stuck to them. Canning supplies are no longer on the rack just outside the door but have been replaced with bags of ice melt and ice scrapers.

The long wait has started as the blaze orange hunting coats are all but forgotten now. You might see a few blaze orange hats on some of the farmers but that usually their wife's making them wear them so they can keep tabs on there where abouts from the farm house. Ma and Pa's is a busy place through, guys coming into pick up their deer that Pa has processed. Hammering Hank and Skinny are still being seen driving around town with the wood truck filled. They are still making deliveries even though the weather has been pretty decent the past month or so. Of course there is a lot of sky watching looking for snow and every morning guys get up and look out to see if any ice is forming on the lake. Committees are getting together at the Lodge to discuss the ice house fling and if we will be able to launch on time this year. Going to have to get cold here soon to start making some ice.

Vicki down at the Masterbaiters bait shop has gone off on vacation. So I will be checking in on the place every day. Will just be taking in the ups orders and making sure the tanks are still bubbling away. With deer season done it gets quiet and she has gone to visit her sister I think, well I don't remember as I was looking through a shipment of ice fishing gear that had come in and was not really listening to her.

Still have projects on the Honey do list at the cabin but with the weather I am actually getting things done. Hard part is usually after deer camp I get to come home and put my feet up and do nothing. Usually there is snow on the ground and it gets dark a little after four now so you can't really start a outdoor project. But with the warmer weather the wife reminds me that I can stay out a little longer and just work in the sunshine. Tomorrow I might even put the garden hose away and roll a few more wheelbarrows of firewood to the pile by the cabin. Last time I looked there were still two sucker minnows in the bucket so maybe I'll toss one of them off the dock. I know Elmer and Marv are still fishing behind the tarp barricade they erected on Elmers dock. Even Chuck has been out in his driveway working on his pontoon boat. He had Hammering Hank drag it up out of the lake this fall and is redecking it. He has been saying he was going to do that for years but this year he actually went and got the wood out of his garage and from time to time I hear a saw over there. Hope your turkey day was a fine one and hope you are making ice on your end of the Lake, from Lake Iwanttobethere {116,373}

[Bobby Bass]

Twenty-four degrees out, a very light snow falling from overcast skies and wind coming right off the lake at about fifteen miles an hour. A little chop on the gray colored water and not a leaf on any trees in sight. Buddy and Barney both are laying on the hardwood floor of the Lodge and with their backs to the glowing fire in the fireplace they don't look to be moving anytime soon. Lunch time here at the Lodge and most of the tables close to the fireplace are filled with lodge members and a few bird hunters. The drapes are pulled open on the windows that look out over the deck. Doors are closed as no one is eating out there today. Snow flakes slowly fall onto the railings only to be caught by a gust of wind and sent over the side to continue there fall to the bare ground. Not enough of them to cover anything they lay cold and still till the next gust of wind picks them up and sweeps them away.

More then a few hands are rubbed briskly together in front of the rising heat from the fireplace. Hands hold coffee cups firmly taking in the warmth. The brown jersey gloves normally seen on hands in the fall don't cut it anymore. Not time yet for well worn leather choppers but something with a little more bulk is needed to keep the fingers warm. A few pickups in the parking lot are sporting new pieces of cardboard covering the radiators, time to get some heat in the cabs. Coat racks are not as full as several of the guys are sitting in their chairs with there coats still on. First real chilly day of the season and it takes a little while to get used to that cold breeze finding it's way to any uncovered bare skin.

No sooner do I start to jot down about snow then it stops and now the sun has come out. Bright sunshine streams through the windows and a few guys shift from the fireplace to turn and stretch out their legs in the sunshine. Looking out the window I see it is nothing more then a break in the gray clouds. A few minutes later the sunshine is gone, hidden again and we are back to looking at and listening to the crackling flames in the fireplace. The group of bird hunters look cold, I spoke with them when they came in and they were looking forward to a forty degree hunting day and were surprised when they went out this morning to it being in the upper teens. The idea of spending the rest of the afternoon in front of the fire and trading stories was looking pretty good to then right now.

Yesterday afternoon was spent cleaning out the long lean to next to the Lodges garage. Had some stuff there that need to be tossed away and some repairs made to the metal roof. Several times we reminded each other that we should have been working on the roof in July instead of December the metal roofing can get pretty cold. We did have one of the heaters out there and had to go to the Gas-N-Go for kerosene. After filling the tank and getting a relite we spent some time just standing in front of the heater letting the warm air blast around us. When Hammering Hanks boots started to smoke a little we fugue we must be warm enough to get back to working. So we got the lean to cleaned out and a trip was made to the junk yard. This afternoon we need to go back out and put the end wall back on as it was easier to get stuff out that way. But it was warmer yesterday and we are thinking maybe we will put it off a day or two.

I sit here at the end of the bar and I can hear some of the conversations going on around me. With no woman in the place you might be surprised at the current topics. Christmas decorations at the big table as guys are talking about stringing lights and bragging about what was built during the summer in the wood shops. I have come to the conclusion that guys like making wooden Santa's and sleighs for their yards. A few of them are really into them mechanical ones that do things, you know turn their heads or Santa's that have robot hands that wave at you. Elmer had one that he picked up from the dump, the fingers were all broken except for one and some ladies from the woman club complained that when they drove by Elmers cabin they noticed the Santa waving at them with a rude gesture. Elmer fixed it by putting a glove on the hand but the glove keeps following off for some reason.

Well soon we will be counting days till Christmas, this fall has moved along quickly. I am hoping winter does the same. For some reason I find myself looking forward to summer already. Found a few new bays on the lake here that I want to get back to and fish. This next summer should be a good one as I got a major project done on the cabin this fall and will not have to worry about it next summer. Looks to me like a lot of fishing will be done and I am already looking forward to it. Need to head down to the Masterbaiters shop and check on things, maybe I can get sidetracked down there long enough to not make it back in time to work on that metal wall. Have a good day and we will throw a log on the fire for ya here at the Lodge, from Lake Iwanttobethere {116,955}

[Bobby Bass]

Ok, winter has arrived here at Lake Iwanttobethere. I am sure today we are all sharing the same weather here on the big lake as the first real winter storm has arrived. This end of the lake has some ice on it and the wind is whipping across it. Not a lot of snow has fallen overnight but the wind has collected it in drifts and scattered it in the most inconvenient places, like the front of the garage doors. I had to open the Lodge this morning so I was out at the crack of dawn and taking the jeep I simply drove through the drift in front of the door. As soon as I went through it and broke it lose the wind picked up the snow and it was soon blown across the frozen grass of the yard and swept out onto the ice. The trip in to the Lodge was driven at a leisurely pace as I was in no big hurry. No need for the wiper blades as even though some light snow was falling the brisk wind kept it of the windshield. I did have to dodge several blown down garbage cans and the black recycling lids were keeping pace with me as I went down the winding road.

Being the first one at the Lodge I had to kick some snow away from the back door and turning on lights I made my way to the fireplace. A few hot coals were stirred up and soon flames licked at the dry wood that I took from the wood box. Drapes were pulled back and you could see the lake a little between wind gusts. Coffee urn was turned on next and Coney and chili added to crock pots to warm up. A few more lights were turned on but with no one in the Lodge I just had the ones over the bar on. I poured some coffee for myself and open the laptop at the end of the bar. A few messages addressed to the lake were read and I sent out replies. I heard the crackle of the CB and got up to turn up the volume. Holding a warm coffee mug in my hands I stood in the heat from the fireplace and listen to plow drivers working on the far side of the lake. Stormy Clearweather had called for a lot more snow on the far side of the lake and from the chatter it seems she was right.

Hammering Hank was the first through the door and made a beeline to the fireplace. Rubbing hands briskly he shouted out a HIYA.. " HiYa" back I replied. Skinny was right behind and he took time to take off his fur bomber hat putting it on the wall hook. Next a long well worn wool scarf was unwrapped from around his neck and snagged onto another hook. Choppers were picked up off the wood floor where they had been dropped and stuff down the sleeve of the heavy winter coat. The coat was hung on yet another hook and Skinny pulled off the flannel jacket that he was wearing under the coat. The flannel was spread across all three hooks and only then did Skinny rap his boots against each other and make his way to the end of the bar and a waiting stool.

Hammering Hank made his way behind the bar and grabbed both his and Skinnys mugs. Spooning in four spoons of sugar in each one he splashed coffee in the mugs and added a spoon to Skinnys, the spoon clanked aganist the side of the mug as Hank slid it across the bar. Hank came around to sit next to his buddy and the two of them stirred their coffee and I waited. " So cold enuff for ya" Skinny said. I smiled and doing my best barkeep impression I replied like I was really interested and said "Yup" Small talk followed and of course the doors to the Lodge open several more times as other Lodge member made there way in. Elmer came in and after removing his coat and stirring the fire he took his coffee to the popcorn popper and made the first batch. Soon the smell of steaming popcorn was added to the aroma of the coffee. Next the TV was turned on and we had the big city station on. Guess they were getting more snow then us here at the lake and there was talk of school closings and the first blizzard of the season.

The back door of the Lodge slammed closed and I could hear the sound of stomping feet as Gus appeared. Wearing his heavy coat and his glasses fogging up he greeted us with a Hiya. " I thought you had the morning off" I yelled out to him. " I do, but I am out of eggs at home" with that he took off his coat and shaking it out he hung it on it's hook in the back hall. " So anyone else want breakfast?" The crackling of bacon on the grill and the low hum of the power vent added to the background noise of the Lodge. The smell of the bacon mixing in with the coffee and popcorn smells made the Lodge officially open for the day. A few minutes later and forks were added to the noise as they scrapped across plates cutting eggs and releasing yellow yolks to be soaked up by warm toast that had been smeared with butter and jelly. Elmer being Elmer had to order sausage links and he waited as Gus rolled them back and forth across the grill so they were cooked exactly the way Elmer wanted them.

Jessie the paper boy came in and after hanging his coat he dropped his extra papers on the bar top. Soon toothpicks hung between lips and coffee was being stirred as the guys divided the papers and were soon deep reading about current events. I returned to the end of the bar and watched as the wind swirled outside the windows. I watched as a cushion fell off the couch by the TV Pepper was sleeping on the couch and I had not even noticed she had come in with Elmer. Rolling over and digging herself deeper, Pepper disappeared back under the pillows. Gus walked down the bar refilling coffee mugs and I held mine out for a refill. The CB crackled and Big Earl voice boomed out from the speaker. "Hammering Hank, you got your ears on?" Hank looked up from the paper and Big Earl voice again was heard " Hank I got my self stuck in a ditch, you out there?" Hammering Hank and Skinny looked at each other over their papers and Hank got up to go to the CB Skinny went to the hooks and started putting his flannel on. Looks like there will be a story to talk about later tonight here at the Lodge, from Lake Iwanttobethere have a good one and stay warm..{117,428}

[Bobby Bass]

We are in a little bit of a spot here at Lake Iwanttobethere. Today is the 11th and we should be launching shanties tomorrow as that is when the Ice House fling should be held. But due to the warm November we had this year and the lack of snow we are not going to be able to launch on Saturday. We are making ice, the last few days have been perfect as we barely get above zero and this end of the lake was just given a dusting of snow. The bungee cord has been taken out of storage along with the test log. Hammering Hank and Skinny did do a test fire a few days ago and the log went through the ice. This of course means that it is not safe enough to launch houses. Later today they are going to try it again as like I said we have been making good ice. The problem lies with we are only two weeks out from Christmas which is on a Friday this year and having the launch the day after does not go over well with the women folk. To bad to as the Johnson Brothers have offered to take over sponsorship of the Ice House Fling in a promotion involving their Needabeer. Come to think of it the Johnson brothers have been pretty quiet the last year as they have turned into businessmen here at the Lake. The old brewery is doing quite well and the are running three shifts out there now. The Needabeer brand is in connivance stores all over the county and even across the lake. Their big mug that is covered in Christmas tree lights can be seen out all the way out to the highway and the state named it in their light pollution top ten.

Will be a meeting here at the Lodge later today to pick a date for the fling. We are thinking of maybe doing it midweek so as to not get the wife's upset or on the 19th The only problem with the late fling is avoiding people who are already trying to set up there shacks on the ice and may be in the way. Skinny says he has an idea of wrapping the fling shacks in a protective rubber inter tube. Seems he has a cousin who works in the iron pits and he might be able to borrow a few of them big truck inter tubes without anyone knowing. Hearing this the Johnson brothers offered him a case of refillable Needabeer bottles good for the entire ice season. Already Nytelyter has his shanty in the parking lot and he is willing to be a test fire if we should lose the log. Seeing Nytelyter in the parking lot a few other houses have shown up and they are already starting an ice town. No fishing is being done but a lot of walking around between shacks and you can hear augers being started up and ran at an idle.

Even Gus has gotten on the wagon and today was found dragging out decorations from the basement. By mid afternoon the Lodge has taken on the Christmas spirit as table cloths have been changed over and garland is now tacked up around the main windows. Word spread quickly and guys coming in for lunch started to help hang decorations. Hammering Hank wearing his Santa hat arrived and with Skinny on the other end they dragged a ten foot tree through the door. Using a hatchet they quickly sized the bottom to fit the stand and with a few wires secured to the walls the tree was up. Guys headed for the tree to hang coasters and swizzle sticks but were stopped by Gus and Hank. The boxes of real decorations that Hanks wife Tess had bought were found and bulbs and tinsel along with energy efficient lights were hung. I to got in the act taking a long string of old Xmas lights and making sure they worked I hung them in a giant glob on the coat rack in my office, I added a few swizzle sticks and some beer coasters and my decorating was done.

The main lights were turned off and the drapes pulled closed. The only light coming from the Christmas lights and the red glow from the fireplace and of course the faint yellow light coming through the butter colored windows of the popcorn machine. A few cigars were also lit and there red tips added to the scene. This went on for about five minutes till Tess came in through the front door and threw the drapes open. Turning to Hank she said " You are putting up decorations and you didn't call me!" Overhead lights went on and men headed back to the bar, soon the sound of clicking spoons in chill bowls and a replay of last night's hockey game on the TV was the only thing heard. Skinny slipped out the back door and Hank making a deal of carrying a small branch from the tree made his getaway out the front door. Tess humming to herself had Gus following her around holding a box as she adjusted garland and moved bulbs. Some of the guys got up from the bar and going to put their coats on looked back at the tree and slapped each other on the shoulders, I overheard one to say that it did look better her way.

O and before I forget Big Earl in the ditch the other day was no big deal, He got himself out before Skinny and Hank even got to him. He was moving some canned fruitcakes from last year in his pickup and the load shifted, he just move them to the other side and he was up and out of the ditch. I am not suppose to say anything about him putting last years fruitcakes on the shelf's but Big Earl never throws anything away. Besides as he points out, have you ever seen an expiration date on a fruit cake? From Lake Iwanttobethere..{117,836}

[Bobby Bass]

HIYA from the Lodge here on the shores of Lake Iwanttobethere. We have come up with a solution to the ice house fling for this year. We do have some of them big truck inter tubes from the mine on there way to the lake. We were lucky enough that we can get some shipped down to us on the ten o'clock freight. Hammering Hank and Skinny along with Big Earl and his son Junior have been hard at work on the lake today. Sun was out for awhile and it was not as cold as it has been. Dozens of orange barrels have been dragged out on the ice and placed in a pre planned pattern. The barrels were then frozen into the ice by auguring holes and using the water to freeze the bases in. I can't tell you right now why we put the orange cones out but will let you know when we do have the fling. Right now we will be having the get together on December 19th and the new posters are already being put up in shop windows around town.

We were having coffee down at the Sundown Cafe when one of the old founding fathers mention away for us to launch the ice houses and a way to avoid hitting houses that have already set up out on the ice. We were going to try and get Sheriff Tim to have the shanties moved but we were shown a small printed line in the towns charter about having to honor any houses that are out on the ice by the 15th of December. With the truck tubes on the way and another item being shipped to us from another friend of the towns we will have a way of launching houses. I know this is a little late asking for launch volunteers but we will take the first ten shanties at the landing who want to go. Already Nytelyter is out there so he will be first in the sling. We explained what we wanted to do and he is making some small modifications to his house. The shack door needs to be cut in half like one of them old split backdoors. This will allow us to put the mining truck inter tube around the shanty and still allow the top of the door to be open so the rider can get in and out. In order for you to be launched you have to agree to the split door. Big Earl has donated extra hinges from the General Store at no cost so the doors will still work.

Mike from the junk yard has dropped off the first load of used tractor tires and they are stacked down by the ice. We also want to thank Scott the roofer who has donated a roll of rubber roofing and bonding cement. Hank and Skinny are in the Lodges basement working on the roll and modifying it according to plan. I must admit that until we open the back door it was not taking much Hamms beer to give guys a buzz here in the Lodge. We figured it out it was more from the fumes then it was from the beer.

I am writing this sitting at the end of the Lodges bar and Marv reading over my shoulder says I should mention what the fling is as some who are reading this may not know. This is a good idea so I will explain if you are new to the Lodge and the lake. There are two very large Pine trees on the hill below the Lodge that look out over Lake Iwanttobethere and the public access. For many years now it has been a tradition here at the lake to launch/fling ice houses down the hill and out on to the frozen waters of the lake. This is done using a very large bungee cord that was recovered by Hank at the state fair. There was an accident involving the bungee cord but we won't get into that. The first ten shanties that meet the special needs of the launch are then set inside the bungee cord which is pulled back by a tractor to a a released point that the owner of the shack, who does have to ride inside and then released. The ten shacks are then shot down the hill one at a time to come to a rest on the ice. The farest house flung wins a prize package donated by area businesses which always includes a ice road plowed to their shack and maintained all season. Within the area where the ten shacks settle the ice town is then built, if you stay inside the boundaries of the flung shacks then you get to use the ice roads for free and also the power poles that the co-op installs. If you go back around this time of the year you can read about previous flings and more details. You will see that the ice town is a pretty big deal here on Lake Iwanttobethere.

Well I have to go to the basement here and check on progress, We are using the ice hockey table to do a scale launch test of the fling and I am told that we have enough rubber bands weaved together to equal the bungee cord. We are having some problems with the battery powered John Deere tractor but that problem has been solved by gluing sandpaper to the table. Some money is being exchange as bets are being made if this will work or not. We might have to move the air table upstairs so more Lodge members can watch. From Lake Iwanttobethere {118,158}

[Bobby Bass]

Little sunshine here today at the lake and we did get a dusting of snow overnight. We are still working on our scale model of the pending ice house fling as we have ran into some problems with our model. We had forgotten about the incline from the top of the hill down to the ice. Using some of Gus's mashed potatoes we built a hill on one end of the ice hockey table and after several attempts we think we are close to duplicating in scale what will happen with our new and improved fling. Big Earl has made an offer to several of the ice house shanties to help them move out of the way and then put them back on their spots in order to clear the area in time for launch day but some are remaining stubborn and declared they will not move. Seems they think that we just want them to move their houses because we want to get on their spots. The shanties in question are not locals but are friends of the pink flamingo hunters who were here last fall. These are the same guys who have been trying to book the albino alligator hunts with Hunterdown. They brought in some wheel houses and stuck them straight out from the access, dead center in line where the bungee flings houses.

The orange barrels that have been set up are frozen in snug and three of them are between the shore and the shanties in question. The barrels are in a triangle pattern and Hank did go out and plow some snow making a ridge connecting the three barrels. One of the guys came out and started complaining to Hank he was blocking his access to his house. A brief discussion was had over public waters and if you could stick your house anywhere then we can plow a road anywhere. Cooler heads prevailed and the guy went back to his shack and Hank plowed a road along side of the shacks so they could get in. Nyterlyer, Hunterdown, Skinny, Hammering Hank and Big Earl have all signed up for the fling. Marv and Elmer are still discussing if they are just going to launch the big air streamer ice house or wait and haul it out after the fling.

We are making up on lost time here as the fling did just kind of sneak up on everyone. Parking lot has been plowed and the mini donut wagon is down and chained to the light pole. Several wagon loads of straw bales have already been unloaded as Old McDonnell has brought them in when he comes in for his daily hay rides. This time of the year you can ride for free between the stores on main street as McDonnell runs a hay ride during the mid day. The snow we got has really put everyone back on track and in the mood for Christmas. Even the parking meters are now sporting green elf hats. Outside of the General store Junior is selling Christmas trees with a few leaning up against the store. Most of his stock is out on the highway along with wreaths and cornstalks.

Eggnog is on the menu here at the Lodge and we did get in our shipment of peppermint sticks and cinnamon swizzle sticks. We will go through a lot of hot cider and peppermint snaups in the next few weeks. Sunday night the 20th the Lodge will be hosting it's annual Christmas party. This is just a day after the ice house fling so it will be busy. Stormy Clearweather has given us her long range forecast and it looks like the 19th will be a decent day with temps to climb into the mid twenties. As I sit here today next to a steaming coffee cup that will be welcomed as it is cold and windy out again today. We are making ice that is for sure and some more snow would be nice so when the houses are launched they can be banked with snow. Big Earl has his first order of plastic slides in stock and when we do get snow we will start work on the luge run. Depending on how the ice town spreads out will make a difference in how we bank the snow.

Lodge is a busy place with guys coming in to warm up from working on the hay bale stands and a few more guys are looking over the sign-up sheet for the fling. Elmer and Marv have gone down to talk with the guys on the ice about moving their houses for Saturday. I saw Elmer had his thermos with him so I can imagine what he has inside. The Lodges new video library is taking shape. Hank and myself have expanded the shelving along the wall by the TV and have donated several boxes of vhs tapes. I can't remember when the last time I have watched one and they were just taking up space in the cabin. Hank was having the same problem as when he married Tess she had everything in them dvd's and wanted his storage space. Well before you know it several of the guys started bring in their tapes and now we have a wall of movies to select from. Extra copies have been donated to Marv's shop where they can be checked out for free. Speaking of Marv's it has been growing as he has added a walk in humidor and there is no longer a need to go to the big city to buy cigars any more. I must admit I do feel like a little kid in a candy store as when I walk in there I just kind of get that deer in the headlight look as I see all the different gars to choose from. I ask Marv how he does it and he just says he starts on the top shelf to the left and works his way across. He is on the second shelf now and is still adding to his inventory.

Order day today so I had better get to it. With the fling and Christmas party coming up I will be busy. Just ten days till Christmas and I still have shopping to do, from a busy Lake Iwanttobethere {118,732}

[rcatcherman]

Where in the world are you located in Mn.

[nytelyter]

oh....... you really need to start on page one. this is i think the longest running thread on these boards. and has had more hits than the portable fishhouse modifaction thread. we have all been to lakeiwanttobethere. some tho just dont know it yet.

i am so lookin forward to the fling this weekend and almost as enthralled about the lodge party on sunday night. i am gonna get an early start to the lake probably on thursday and do some scouting but i am sure that i willl steer my way to the backside of root beer island. it has worked welll for me the past two years. i have my runners all polished up and have even added a rudder this year so there will be no collision with the cityits parked off shore. have my trap harness and mast on the shack and will again go to the "wild thing" as soon as i clear the harness and should get ouit to where i want to be.. bobby i would like to order in advance, one of those four pound burgers that i saw the guy from "man vs food" eating there, for my dinner on thursday night that and about 5 pounds of them pub city brew fries, and one of those one gallon butterscotch malts and i should be golden till friday mornings breakfast. mmmmmmmmm i can t wait. have a nice day stay warm today and see yas on the ice. ... paul

[Bobby Bass]

Preparations are well under way here for the Ice House Fling on Saturday morning. The special 2x16 by 16 foot boards have been delivered and Hank and Skinny are working on the modifications to the two atv's. Funny Nytelyter should mention the butterscotch malts as the local maytag guy was here yesterday working on our modified washing machine converted to malt shaker. We did run a test batch of vanilla and strawberry shakes and have been giving them out for free all day today. We did have a little trouble with the spin cycle as it made the shakes a little to frothy but that has been taken care of. The big burger patties are ready to go and we also got our pickles from the state fair, the pickle slices are near big enough that only two are needed to cover the patty and along with the ketsup and mustard in the modified caulk guns we will be able to get orders up in a pretty good fashion. Not to many people know of the Lodges really big burgers that come in the one pound patties and Gus will put them together all the way to the four pound super, gut tearing cheese burger. We usually only serve that one when Doc Burriem is in the Lodge just in case he has to take out his scalpel and reduce pressure

We are waiting on parts for the cattle tank deep fryer but we expect to have that up and running and some test fries to sample on Friday night. The fries have sometimes been mistaken as loafs of French bread. Vicki at the Masterbaiters Shop has been very busy with people already out on the lake ice fishing and with Christmas just days away tackle for stocking stuffers is in demand. Big Earl at the General Store can be seen standing in his doorway, red apron on and helping people in and out of the store. Shovels and ice picks and sleds are stacked outside the door and inside there is a sign with today's discount on toys, lights and decorations. As always a snow thrower with a yellow tag declaring it as the last one takes up space in the main aisle. The General Store is a great place to be this time of year. Lights flashing, free candy canes for the kids on the countertop. People coming and going and a lot just standing in aisles talking with neighbors and friends that they have not seen for awhile. Laughter can be heard and of course soft Christmas music coming from the electronics department. Orange hats perched on silver heads as farmers patiently wait for their wife's to finish their gossiping.

Decorations are all up in town, the main street light is covered in garland and lights blink even during the middle of the day outside of Reed the Realtor office and of course on the barber pole at Burt's. Dug's garage has lights on but they are missing a few bulbs here and there. The sweet smell of cookies is in the air from Amy's bakery and kids going home from school smudge the windows with their noses as they look in at the trays of cookies. Funny thing is there are also smudges higher up as the kids aren't the only ones rubbing their noses up against the glass. Here and there hay lays on the main street as McDonnell and his horses travel up and down the street. The hay wagon carries passengers from store to store or some just like to ride on the wagon and feel and smell hay and listen to horses snort and the clip clop of hooves on pavement. Of course we still have tourist in town, nothing like in the summer but some still return to get the feel of the place in what they call the off season. Those in the know, know that if you greet a shop keeper with a HIYA you will get the discount for locals.

Ski hill is open as they have been making snow now for a few weeks, The garden hose, air compressor and the twenty inch box fan that make up the snow cannon already have two runs covered and open for business. Even some of them snow boarders are here and I overheard a few of them wondering if we will be having the luge open anytime soon. From the sign-up sheet it looks like we have enough houses to shoot out on the ice and we also have a standby list. Marv and Elmer along with Elmers thermos persuaded two more of the guys on the ice to relocate. They both moved off Root Beer Island, they said because the crappie were biting out that way. I think they finally figured out where Mindy and Mandy live and Elmer might have mentioned that the girls never close their shades out there on the island. So as of right now we just have the one shack dead center down from the Pine trees. This morning the test log was fired with just a 1/8 pull and if Skinny was not down there with the plow truck to deflect the log it would have his the shack.

So we busy here, The Ladies Auxiliary has volunteered to oversee the Christmas party/dance. Discussion is on going in regards to the bar being open as eggnog is being spoken about as the featured drink of the night. Marv and Elmer with twinkles in their eyes have said that it will not be a problem and when they are done everyone will have a Merry Christmas. Dan has also promised that his Saint Bernard Grace will be wearing her special little keg that night and along with Dan will be parking cars. Dan will be parking cars but Grace will be in the parking lot. Also Lodge members should note that the ice storage house will be open and there is a rumor that a keg or two of Hamms and Needabeer along with a keg of Whynotale will be stored out there with a supply of plastic cups. Guys are also reminded not to use the women's rest room and just stick to the men's room as women will be at the gathering.

We should have an update on the fling sometime Saturday so until then I hope your shopping is going well and if you do make it out to the Lodge the Ice house door is always unlocked just make sure you close it so Grace can't come and steal any ice. From Lake Iwanttobethere {119,024}

[Bobby Bass]

The behind the scenes work for the Ice House Fling started at the crack of dawn, well actually it was an overcast morning and the sun light was filtered to a dull glow in the sky. The Lodge was well lit up and the parking lot half full by midmorning. The clean white snow that had fallen overnight was quickly tracked up and mixed with the dirty snow to make it look a cream color. A sheet of plywood had been placed over the lodges pool table and it now served as the fling command center. The ice hockey table with the potato mountain having been removed was studied and crews on atv's went out to make final adjustments to the Chute as it was being referred to. A last effort was made to try and convince the two remaining ice houses that had been set up in the middle of the fling path to relocate. They declined and as a matter of fact they took out lawn chairs and secured them to the roofs of their shanties. One of the fellows was a bit taken aback by all of the morning activity and the work crews swarming over the face of the hill. Things really starting getting interesting when the parade of ice houses came winding down the road from town with the marching bank in the front playing poka music.

The band made it way to the hay stage and the ten houses were lined up in a single row down the side of the hill. The converted air balloon burner was ignited and the cattle trough deep fryer was soon sending up waves of heat into the air. The sun started to get a little higher in the sky and soon it could be seen through the clouds which on cue were disappearing. The work crews were down on the ice and were attaching the rubber bumpers to the orange barrels. The two atv's were put in place with the wood paddles and the test log was loaded in the sling. O wait I might be getting ahead of myself here. I forget you have not been around to see the scale test on the air hockey table. OK in a nut shell here is what we are going to do. With the ice houses in the way of the fling we will not be able to simply pull the bungee back with the selected ice house in the center and launch them straight down the hill, that is what we have done in the past. Now we need some way to get them around the shacks already on the ice with out causing damage or in the worse case mark up the ice. So we, with the help of Scott the roofer have taken a roll of rubber roofing, cut it in to long strips and glued loops on the ends. These rubber bands that we have made are then placed over the frozen orange barrels in the ice. They will act like bumpers. Think of it like a pinball machine. For flappers we have installed 2x16x16 foot long boards to the front of two atv's that Dug has supplied. When we launch the houses they should come down hit the rubber bumpers bounce back to one of the atv's and be bounced back toward the side rubber bumpers then on down the ice missing the ice houses already on the ice and glide somewhere down the lake. At least that is the plan.

Of course we know there may be a few problems with this plan one being that the houses are square for the most part so with some help from a friend of a friend we have "Borrowed" ten mining truck inner tubes. These tubes will be placed over the ice houses and with the help of another friend of a friend we have gotten a tank of helium that we will inflate the tubes with. This according to our model will give the ice houses some "lift" and will also give them some bounce when they hit the rubber bumper and the atv paddles. We will leave the tubes on the houses just in case another house coming down the hill hits one that has already been flung. Big Earls log cabin ice house by a vote of the rules committee has been taken out of the random fling and will be the last house shot just because if he goes first for sure he will be in the way. Big Earl has agreed to be going last.

After the last inspection had been made guys climbed into their houses and the doors were secured. Inner tubes were secured around the houses with the top just below the now split doors. This allows the riders inside to still open the doors to get out if need be. The test log was set inside the sling and the dozer pulled back up the hill with a throaty roar and black smoke coming from the upright exhaust pipe. With hay bales lined with people along the side of the hill the test log was pulled back just a 1/8 pull and with the Lodges bell tolling just once the fling was released and the test log sent down the hill. People leaned over the hay bales to watch the log skip over the light snow, hit the ice go airborne for a few feet before landing with a thud. The log was tracking true and heading straight at the guys sitting on their chairs on the roofs of their shacks. Drinking beer on the roof they watching with growing concern as they heard the bell once before the crowd roared and then saw the black blur heading down the hill.

As in most accidents when you retell the story it seems to take for ever for events to unfold. The guys on the shack roofs were having one of them kind of moments. Spilling beer on themselves they stood on the roofs knocking their chairs out from behind them. They turned to each other and pointed back at the black face of the log hurling it's way down the hill. The log leaped into the air and it looked like a torpedo heading in their direction. The log left a trail in the snow behind it and a small puff of snow was sprayed from the front making it seem even wider then it really was. Now trying to back away from the roofs of their shacks they made an effort to move their feet, the beer might have had something to do with the lack of movement as hard as they tried to back up they still found them self rooted to the same spot. The log was growing larger and one of the guys pointed it out to his friends. There seem to be a smiling face on the front of the log but it was not smiling as it grew larger. When all seemed lost the log made it to the rubber band attached to the orange barrels bounced and headed back at an angle to slowly come to a stop to the right of the shacks.

Now a lot was going on here. The guys on the ice decided that the guys up on the hill were crazy. They grabbed their coolers and climbing down from the shack roofs loaded up their sleds and headed away from their shack and the fling. From the Lodge we could just make them out as they headed for the shore. Guys back at the command table were shaking hands all around that the rubber had held and that this just might work after all. Nyterlyer shack was hauled to the sling and the inner tube was inflated with what we hope was the right mixture of gas and air. Both doors were secured and the tractor started to back away from the pines with bungee and house in tow. The bell on the lodges front deck begane to toll, Dong, Dong,Dong, Dong,Dong, Dong, six times no wait Dong, Dong, Eight times, A full pull!!

With a TWANG the green ice house of Nyterlyer's flew down the hill. The house was a town favorite as they all waited for what was next to happen. The green shack hit the bottom of the hill and cleared the shoreline, the mixture of gas and air giving it lift. The house settled in a puff of snow on the ice and headed straight at the frozen orange barrels and black rubber bumper. At the top of the hill we stood and watched and waited.. It seemed like a minute or so and then the roof opened and the sail unfurled. The house took a graceful lean to the left and not even coming close to the barrels it made a graceful arc and sped off in the direction of Root Beer Island. Using the spotting scope we watched it come to stop and Nyterlyter crawl over the inner tube and walk a few feet away before igniting his flare and waving it over his head. Sunshine Ray was doing this years announcing over the skating ring p.a. system announced to the crowd that Nyterlyer was in the number one position. A quick huddle by the launch committee was held and the rest of the drivers were called back to the lodge. A change in procedure was in order. Everyone was ordered not to igniting their flares near their house at the end of their run. We had forgotten about the gas mixture.

After that the rest of the fling went pretty smooth, no problems like we have had in the past. Most of the other houses were launched at half or only 1/8 pulls and through out the afternoon people would stop their eating to go to the hay bales when the lodge's bell sounded a launch. I was going to launch my globe ice house but we could not get a good seal with the inner tube, it kept slipping up so I will have to go out later. The bungee and paddle set up worked great, only twice did a house come back towards the base of the hill to be bounced off the paddles mounted on the atv's We did have a little log jam but that was cleared when a surprise to us all Big Earl being the last house for the day to be launched added my inner tube along with his to have a double. He then requested a ¾ pull The bell sounded and when it went past six people made their way to the hay bales to watch. On the sixth ring of the bell the log shack lurched down the hill and with amazing speed for it's bulk it literally flew down the hill. In hindsight perhaps we should not have put two tubes on it.

Well it was a good thing we left the other tubes on the shacks on the ice. The log shack came off the hill and like a cue ball slammed into the houses already out. From my vantage point on the Lodges deck it looked like a badly placed pool break. The smaller houses were shot out at angles from Big Earls and bounced off the bungee bands or hit the frozen orange barrels square. Some hit each other a second or third time before finally coming to a rest scattered across the ice. No one was hurt but some beer was spilled and Nyterlyter was declared the winner of the distance contest. But it was close as Skinny was removing his inner tube from his shack and broke the valve stem off. As he watched his shack started to move away across the ice and was picking up speed. Heading in the general direction of Root Beer Island the old portapotty was on a collusion course, but it ran out of gas before anything bad could happen.

So with the sun setting other houses were brought out on to the ice and the ice town is once again in place. In the next few weeks streets will be plowed and lights hooked up. I am sure we will be spending some time on the ice and we will have some stories to share. From Lake Iwanttobethere {119,232}

[Bobby Bass]

HIYA from here at the Lodge at Lake Iwanttobethere. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and I hope your shack did not get buried in the snow. Finally have time to stop and catch up on things here. Not that I am caught up but there comes a time when you just have to say enough is enough and sit your self down on a stool and take a deep breath and have a morning Hamms. So I am sitting here at the end of the bar and just taking a breather and catching up on the past weeks events. First for everyone has to be the winter storm that came in slow, hung around for three days and then just kind of took it's time leaving. We went from a few inches of snow on the hill to being a mess in three days. On this end of the lake we were doing just fine with a nice twelve inches of snow falling overnight and then it rained, The fluffy snow soon became slush and then it snowed again making a layer of white that is next to impossible to move with anything other then a shovel or a front end loader. The good news is that in a few days we got more then enough snow to build the Luge and when the rain fell we already had it shaped out so it froze just the way we wanted it to. Today we have some sunshine and business is brisk renting out the plastic sleds.

So where do I start, Christmas party was a good one. With falling snow everyone was in the mood. True to their word Elmer and Marv spiked the punch, as a matter of fact they did it three times. Guys found the Needabeer in the ice house and after they learn to sip the beer that was resting on the ice blocks slow the brain freezes were controllable. McDonnell hooked up his sleigh and was offering rides as we had a good turn out and soon there was no parking in the Lodges lot. A few guys actually spent the night out on the ice. The CB was busy as Hammering Hank and Skinny had to run stuff out to them. They were not expecting all the snow and had to be restocked with them little Vienna sausages, smokes and beer.

A lot of people stayed overnight in the Lodge as with the falling snow and a lots of beer they soon convinced their better half's that it would be better to wait till morning. Frank the plow driver came into the Lodge several times during the storm. With his gallon size coffee mug he would make a pit stop to fill his cup get a few sandwiches and then return to his plow. During the night he was quite a sight as he would come out of the falling snow with the clanking of chains slapping the pavement and his six headlights cutting a hole of light through the falling snow. The one lonely blue light rotating on top of his cab like a beacon in the night.

Snowmobiles buzz through main street followed by ATV's trying to keep up. Of course there was always a few of the high school kids being pulled along behind on water skis. Big Earl instead of being on the ice in his shack was busy at the General Store. There were shovels and bags of salt that needed to be sold and of course he was making clearance stickers for his after Christmas sale. Standing in the door of his store his only change was he was wearing fur boots that his wife had gotten him for Christmas and two aprons to keep warm. Elmer and Marv had their bookstore/cigar shop open. The sidewalk was not shoveled but the snow was away from the main door enough that you could get in and out. Marv being from "Back East" simply said it will melt soon enough. Elmer would just toss a scoop of ice melt every so often in front of the door and leave it at that.

Dug down at his garage has been busy, last I heard he was just about out of shear pins for snow throwers and he was fixing and getting plow trucks out as soon as he could. Sunshine Ray is reporting that we received 22.9 inches of snow from the storm which anywhere is a good total. The snow makes a lot of people happy from those looking for a white Christmas to those looking to make a few dollars moving it around. Since we didn't really have much snow on the ground people were looking forward to shoveling and making snowmen. What's a couple of feet of snow and ice on roofs and not being able to find anything that you left out in the yard.

Now we have had a few days to dig out and the lake has been plowed. More ice houses have been set up and with today's sunshine doors are open and guys and gals are fishing outside of their houses. The wet snow has made the plastic boxes that you fill with snow to make snow blocks a very popular item. Moving snow away from houses the snow is being made into blocks and guys are making walls like castles around their houses. The walls have proven to be a nice idea as the Luge is quite slick and more then a few guys have hit the curve at the bottom and jumped the track. I know at least two guys have hit the snow wall down at Hunterdowns shanty.

Well I am going to help Gus here with the lunch crowd. We are getting an assortment of ugly Christmas sweaters coming through the door. We keep a scissors handy at the bar just so we can cut price tags off sweaters and hats. I am going to try and get out of here early this afternoon and me and Bud are going to take a walk behind the cabin and see if we can scare up a grouse or two for the pot. I will have to get the snowshoes out for sure and take it slow. We are now going to have some cold days but I don't know how good it will be for making ice. Lot of snow still to be moved and the skating rink needs to be tended to. New Years Eve party is next and we have to start getting ready for our first ice fishing contest. From Lake Iwanttobethere winter is finally here! {119,925}

[Bobby Bass]

The women just left the Lodge and now we can take a break for the rest of the afternoon. Gala New Years ball to be held here tonight and the Lodge has been decorated in some kind of "Theme" I don't have a clue as to what the theme is suppose to be, all I know is that it involves a lot of fake flowers and pine cones with colored sparkles on them. All the drapes have been tied open and the wood floor has been scrubbed clean. What I thought was just dark knot holes marking the floor was actually dried dirt. Funny to how they managed to get a lot of them circle rings from the beer mugs off the bar top to. Tables are all covered in white table clothes with green and red stitching and the windows are so clean you can see right through the glass with out having to get real close.

Some sun shine is reflecting off the hoods of trucks parked in the lot and you can hear the music coming from the ballpark which has been flooded to make the skating rink. One half has the public rink and the other half has the ice hockey rink. The girls and little kids are skating around on the public rink and a few younger ones are trying out new skates. Mothers flutter around as the young ones skate with chairs, don't take to long for the chairs to be used as battering rams as the kids figure out how to get across the ice. The rhythmic sound of hockey pucks hitting the boards rings out in the cool air. Even here behind the thick walls of the Lodge you can hear the thump of the puck hitting.

Parking lot is pretty well cleaned up after the snow and ice storm. The Luge has been doing brisk business as several fishermen have gotten wise and have moved their houses so that they are just a short walk from the end of the run. Fishing has been good off Root Beer Island as the crappies are there and right at dusk the lake gets quiet except for the yelling out that way. Right now from my vantage point here at the Lodge I can look down at the ice town and see fishermen walking back and forth and smoke curling out the pipes from several of the larger shacks. The ice road has been plowed and the side roads are also in. Ice has survived and it has been cold the past several days and we are back to making more. Power line will be going up next week and the ice town street lights will be up and running by midweek. The Luge will also be lit and we expect to keep it open after dark. Grace, Dan's Saint Bernard now has the job of dragging the sleds back up the hill. Big Earl made some kind of deal but I think Grace would do it for free, any chance for her to be out on the ice and playing in the snow.

Back here at the Lodge Tess just came in with some kind of fondue cheese mountain for tonight's dance. Her and Gus are trying to figure out where the cheese goes and Hammering Hank is busy in the garage sharpening the fondue forks. I have a bad feeling about three foot long hot dog forks converted into fondue forks. No punch bowl tonight either, The women informed us menfolk that since we were so good on Christmas we can actually drink tonight. Guess our secret spiking of the punch bowl was a success. I for one thought that the ladies were nipping on a few bottles that they had hidden in the woman washroom that night, but I have been keeping that to myself. Pool table and air hockey table have been moved so we have a small dance floor now and balloons have been inflated and are hanging in the ceiling between the lights in a minnow seine. I am guessing they will be dropped around midnight in a " Gala" balloon drop. They were donated by Big Earl and by Reed the Realtor who have coupons inside of the balloons. Knowing Earl I am betting the ones with the coupons were probably filled with helium.

Well I have some credit left on my bar tab and if I don't start drinking here I will not be able to clear it before midnight. Lodge policy is that only debt can be carried over to the new year. From Lake Iwanttobethere have a safe, happy and if the wife lets you a memorable New Year! {120,168}

[Bobby Bass]

Burr, it's a little bit on the cool side here at Lake Iwanttobethere. With an over cast sky and some strong winds whipping snow off the lake, the walk across the Lodges parking lot was brisk at best. I tapped the bass thermometer hanging on the Lodge wall and the red needle did not budge from the ten above line. I grabbed two pieces of split maple from the pile stacked alongside the wall and brought them inside the Lodge. The two logs found there way to the wood fire box and I paused to rub my hands together in front of the fire place. The heat from the dancing flames felt much better then the wind that had found it's way up the small of my back on the walk in from the Dodge. Several tables had members sitting at them and conies in various uneaten lengths sat on plates. Spoons clinking in chili bowls and the sound of beer mugs sliding across the polished bar top greeted me.

Elmer sat on the couch with Pepper at his side, the national news was on TV and it was talking about how old man winter was bring temperatures in the mid twenties to the southern states and how snow was in their forecast. Like Elmer I was thinking how nice a few days in the twenties would feel. Hammering Hank and Skinny sat at the bar with an empty stool between them, still taking grief from fellow Lodge members over the gift exchange I see they are still keeping their distance. I chuckled to myself and thought maybe I should tell them that I was the one that had wrapped up the pack of three men's thongs and put it under the tree with Hanks name on it signed from Skinny.

Tess and Gus have gone through and removed all the decorations and they are all packed back in their boxes and down in the basement storage room. I still have my small tree in the office decorated with the swizzle sticks and beer coasters. I will get around to removing it sooner or later. I pour myself some hot cocoa from the thermos from the back bar and take a stool at the end of the bar. With the warm mug cradle in one hand I use the other to flip through the morning mail, Mark the mailman had already been in. Several letters were set aside for Lodge members who use the Lodge as their mailing address. Mostly credit cards bills that they don't want their wife's to see. A few early spring fishing catalogs and by gosh even a seed catalog. A few invoices that need to be paid and with a few sips left in the mug I was done with the sorting. A blast of cold air made me look up as someone came through the front doors. Looking over my mug I felt the steam from the cocoa fogging the glasses on my face as I watched a pair of long female legs heading in my direction.

Lowering the mug my glasses cleared and I raised my eyes to follow the legs upward to what I would call a very short short skirt for a day like today. A brown leather coat covered up the rest of a very female shape that had a fur bomber style hat on over long blond hair. A white knitted scarf completed the outfit with matching white mittens. The only thing that was not out of place was the bomber hat that she wore like she had just flown in. She paused and looked at the empty stool between Hank and Skinny and then came over and sat on the stool on the end of the bar near me.

"Hello" she said. " HiYa" I replied. She took the bomber hat off and stuffing her mittens in the hat placed it on the stool next to her. Her nails were painted a bright blue and they matched her eyes. Being polite I waited for her to make the next move. Gus came down the bar with a glass of water in hand and asked if she would like some, She simply said no and asked to see a menu. Gus turned and walked away drinking the water as he left. I reached down behind the bar and pulled up our plastic covered single page menu and placed it on the bar in front of her.

" Thank You" she said. " Do you work here?"

" Yes, I do"

"Maybe you can help me" she replied. " I am looking for a gentlemen named Charles, his friends call him Chuck? We are to have lunch here today"

I hate to say it but my mouth might have dropped some when she said Chuck's name.

" Does this Chuck live here at Lake Iwanttobethere?" I asked.

" Why yes he does, I think he said on Bass Lane? Do you know him?"

I just nodded my head yes. She smiled at me and picking up the menu started looking it over. This is when I noticed the Lodge was quiet. Looking away I saw just about everyone looking over their spoons at the gal and no one was eating or talking, just staring away. Well everyone except for Elmer who was asleep on the couch with the TV still on.

Looking back at the gal I saw she hand her hand outstretched and she said" O, how rude of me, Hi my name is Alice and you are?

From Lake Iwanttobethere {120,703}

[Bobby Bass]

Silent Sunday here at Lake Iwanttobethere and I am busy catching up on the Lodges paper work. I did have to stop by the General Store on my way in this morning as the Lodges printer was out of black ink. I was lucky enough that Big Earl had the right cartridge in stock. With the printer back online I started printing out the annual Lodge membership sign up sheets along with fishing contest sheets and schedules for the winter trap league. Also had the schedule for the curling league and a notice that the horseshoe league was canceled due to cold temperatures. To many complaints of gloves being frozen to the shoes when they are tossed. After printed them up a stack of each was placed on the end of the bar and Gus pined one of each on the wall next to the Lake Iwanttobethere fishing map in the hall leading to the washrooms. While he was there he took a cloth and cleaned off all the wax pencil marks on the map.

The map as all Lodge members know is covered in a sheet of plastic and when members find a hot spot that they want to share they make a dot in colored wax pencil on the map. Red for northern, green for pan fish and blue for walleye. Of course you also have to be a member to know that the dot is not placed right on the hot spot but is actually one inch south of the exact spot. We have a group of guys who have been coming up to the lake a lot in the past few years but refuse to get involve in the Lodge or help out. They are not residents nor are they tourists they fall somewhere in between. They don't say HIYA but say Haya as they know there is something about the greeting that is special but don't have it quite down yet. They come in and check the map but don't know about the inch. They also think they are getting the local discount but they aren't. For example, Earl at the General store always has candy bars on his counter by the old crank cash register. The candy bars have a printed tag on them that say 89 cents each. That would be the tourist price. If you come in and say Haya Earl will sell them to you for 75 cents. If you come in and say HIYA you get them three for a dollar. If you are under five and say Hiya you get them for a nickel each. Earl always thought it was only fair that the tourist should buy the local kids their candy.

A commotion at the back door made me turn away from the printer and I watched as Marv and Elmer came running in the back door. Well not really running, at their age it was more of a quick shuffle. Breathing heavy they leaned up against the pool table and slowly peeled off their winter coats and scarfs. They had a few ears of corn dangling from their back pockets and some seed fell from their pants cuffs. Gus poked me in the ribs and pointing towards Elmer and Marv said " They been over at the zoo feeding the pheasants again" I'll bet you didn't know we have a zoo here at Lake Iwanttobethere, well we do. It's not anything special but it is ours. A few years ago it was voted the worse zoo by Zoo Life. Something about how the town had just fenced in an area and called it a zoo. We don't have any tigers or leopards or elephants or even zebras but we do have white tail deer, squirrels and grouse, rabbits, snowshoe hares mice and an eagle some owls a mess of pheasants and some pink flamingoes. Even ducks and geese and for awhile a moose called it home. For tourist from down south it's a zoo and they make donations in the metal coffee can by the sign that says Lake Iwanttobethere Zoo Elmers job as the volunteer zoo keeper is to put out feed in the winter but sometimes he forgets to take all the ears of corn out of his back pockets and the pheasants like to run him down. The bad report came from a small accident with a tourist and a porcupine, In our defense we never said it was a petting zoo.

As I was getting ready to print out the minutes for the last Lodge meeting Alice walked in. Wearing ski pants today and she hardly turn an eye as she made her way to the bar and ordered two conies and a Hamms from Gus. I nodded to her and continued to work on the minutes. No one bothered her as they now know that her full name is Alice Pennypintcher and she works for the IRS and is here to audit Chuck and his maple syrup business. The other day when she was here Chuck came in wearing his funeral suit and a blue bow tie. They talked for awhile and then left together. No sooner had the doors closed behind them and the Lodge was bubbling with conversation and more then a few guys were standing at the windows watching Alice climb in to a dark black suv and follow Chucks pickup truck out the parking lot. Marv came in and wondering what was going on went to the window and saw the suv leaving. " O, I see the IRS agent was here" everyone turned and the room went quiet, "Chuck is going to get screwed" someone said. From Lake Iwanttobethere. {120,931}

[Bobby Bass]

Another cloudy day here at Lake Iwanttobethere but no one is complaining to much. The red needle on the bass thermometer on the side of the Lodge is hovering right around thirty-two which for the middle of January is a fine place to be. Sidewalks are clean as the ice from the Christmas rain snow storm has soften enough that with a little chipping and a good shovel it has finally been all removed. Parking lots are back to their original size as banks have been moved back and driveways are all cleared. Yesterday I had a surprised visit from an old high school bud. Grampa Greg as I like to kid him was in town for the day. A retired air force major he was taking his grandson Kip from one coast to the other. Kip's parents are working on different ends of the country and asked grand pa if he would escort Kip on his cross country trip. Well Greg being Greg thought instead of flying cross country he would extend the kids Christmas vacation and they would drive. Coming to Lake Iwanttobethere was just a natural detour that they had to take.

Greg found me the first place he looked, the Lodge of course. He came in and we exchanged punches to the shoulder and then more formal handshakes. Greg sat at the bar with a cup of coffee and Kip wandered around the Lodge looking at fish mounts and deer heads. Did not take us to long to catch up as men seem to do what takes women hours in just a few minutes. Kip pointing down at the lake ice asked what all the little houses were for. Greg and I looked at each other and the light went on between us. Snow was new to Kip and ice fishing was going to be a real surprise for him. Gus coming up from the basement already had some clothes for Kip to change into as Gus was way ahead of both of us.

Thirty minutes later we were flying down the Luge on a plastic toboggan and leaning into the turn we took the left lane that took us out towards Root Beer Island. Coming to a stop we caught the second toboggan with our fishing gear on it before it could slid by. Ten minutes later we were fishing over some old holes and Kip had his first crappie in his hands and a smile almost as wide as the fish. The sun broke out just enough to glint of the mast of an ice racer that was making a lazy turn in our direction. Kip, with mitten hands over his eyes looked out at the approaching ice racer as it glided across the ice of Lake Iwanttobethere. Greg said " Now there is a sight, is that the old Lady Slipper?" Looking out at the approaching emerald blue ice boat I nodded a yes. The graceful lady skimmed the ice with the sun light twinkling back of her polished metal runners. The sail full of a soft breeze that drove her in our direction. The three of us stood and watched as she made graceful turns closing the distance with each one. "She is beautiful" said Kip. "That she is, almost sixty by now" said Greg. " Actually she is going on sixty-five I replied. She is Dug's boat now, he took off the wood runners with the iron edges and had some steel ones made, I helped sand her down and Dug painted her"

As she made another sweeping turn Greg and I talked of when we sat in the Lady Slipper in our youth and glided across the clear blue ice of Lake Iwanttobethere. For Greg it was like flying and he told me it was one of the reasons he went into the air force. For me it was quick way to get across the lake and visit that blonde who lived on the end of Birch point. With the sail empty of air the boat glided to a quiet rest a few yards away. Kip ran to it's side, slipping and sliding on the ice with the same smile on his face that he had when he caught his first crappie. Running his hands down her sleek side he saw his reflection in her deep rich wood. " Dug pulling his scarf from his face stood up and said "Someone called a cab?" Kip looked at Greg " A cab?" he said. Greg looked at me and turned to Kip and said " Would you like to take a ride?" "Would I" and with help from Dug Kip was loaded into the ice racer and the sail was raised. A gust of wind caught the sail and filled it in an instant. The runners made a high squeal as they rode the ice and the racer moved away from us. A whoop! was heard coming from the Lady Slipper as she rose up on two runners and sped away. Greg turned to me with a smile as big as Kip's and just said "Thanks Bobby." A tear appeared from the corner of his eye, I am sure it was nothing more then some melting snow and I said nothing, even grandpa's get snow in their eyes from time to time. From Lake Iwanttobethere {121,275}

[Bobby Bass]

Middle of winter here at Lake Iwanttobethere and with it I finally got my first cold. Kind of a given that sooner or later everyone gets a cold and that is probably why no one cares if you have one. Other then sitting a little farther away from you at the bar people tend to leave you alone. The wife seeing me with my box of tissue and the smell of a chest rub in the air said " Just go to your go to place" and so I did. In the summer my "Go to place" is the Puddle Humper where I can sit myself with warm wind in my face and hide out in one of the many small bays here at Lake Iwanttobethere. Come winter the 'Go to place" is the ice shanty out on the bay in front of the Lodge. It didn't take her twice to tell me to get out of the cabin and I loaded the Dodge and was out the drive in less that a half hour. Overcast sky today but still warm, that might have been how I got the cold, I was almost tempted the other day to put shorts on as we flirted with forty above. As it was I did spend some times with my sleeves rolled up sitting on the deck. Everyone has their thoughts on how ya get colds. Not enough clothes on to many clothes on, shaking hands, it's in the air. All I do know that Doc Burriem is pretty much right. If you leave the cold alone it will last about seven days, if ya take medicine, stay in bed and baby yourself it will last about a week.

A quick stop at the Masterbaiters Shop and a couple of dozen minnows in the bucket and I was driving down the ice road with the window down and the sound of crunching snow under the tires. I pulled up next to the shack and did a quick look around for any tracks in the snow. No mail in the mailbox so I open the door and connected the battery and turn on the light. Pulling curtains open I looked out the back window and could see smoke coming from Elmers and in the distance more smoke coming from Nytelyters green shack. Going to the back of the Dodge I unloaded the old dairy metal milk crate filled with wood scraps and brought it into the shack. The cooler with my lunch was next along with a thermos and a roll of soft toilet paper to blow my nose. Minnow bucket from the floor of the Dodge went in next and then the pail of fishing rods. I took the blue foam covers off the two holes and with the chisel I broke out the new ice. A few scoops with the metal scooper and the holes were open. Not wasting anytime a few minnows were introduced to hooks and down the holes they went.

The little pot stove door was opened and I scooped out some of the ash inside. The ash went into an old metal pail and I added a few pieces of birch bark and some cedar into the stove. Looking on the shelf I found the box of wood stick matches and on the first scratch on the box the match burst into flame and was placed on top of the bark. A little smoke curled up and I added some more cedar to the small growing flame. With a little puff of smoke the bark caught and the little fire grew. Checking and adjusting the damper I added a little bigger piece of wood and closed the door. With the fire started I checked the floats and the minnows were lively today. Putting the cooler on the small table I poured some cocoa from the thermos and got out my book and blew my nose. The tissue found it's way into the little stove and another stick of wood was added to the fire. Already I could feel some heat coming off the little stove and I adjusted the damper again. Looking down at the holes I am missing a float and I talk to myself and make a grab for the rod. I waited a moment and feel the line in my fingers. Nothing.. Dang. I pull up the line and find a bare hook dripping a single water drop back to the hole. Since no one is fishing with me there is no one to blame so I net another minnow out of the bucket and introudced it to the hook and it is lowered down the hole. I stand and watch for a moment, just in case there is something down there waiting for the second course to be served. After a moment I return to blowing my nose again and feeding the little fire.

Fifteen minutes later I am all settled in. The little pot stove is a cherry red, the small computer fan is blowing the heat from the top of the shack back down on to the floor. Two floats sit quietly in their holes. My coat is off and hanging on the hook by the door and a little steam is coming off the pan on the stove that is keeping my cocoa warm. The little radio hanging from the rafter comes and goes with the voices of a A.M. talk radio show. Not really listening but it is background noise along with the occasional sound of the ice creaking and groaning beneath me. I hear the sound of a truck driving by and look out the window to see Hunterdown heading out towards his shack. I quickly look back down as I am into a good part of the book I brought out with me. Turning the page I check both floats in their holes, take a sip of coca and continue to read. At the end of the chapter I blow my nose, add a stick of wood to the fire and again check my floats. Adding to the routine I unwrap a butterscotch button from the bag on the shelf. Putting the bag on the shelf I smile to myself as I sit back in my easy chair that the wife thought I had thrown away. Since this is my "Go to place" it is not her place. I can actually put something down and come back days or even weeks later and find it right where I left it.

I would like to tell you about all the fish I caught but that did not happen. Other then losing that first minnow it was a quiet day. As the day wore on the wood in the metal milk crate diminished. The cocoa was drank and water from the lake was added to the pan to boil. When it was all boiled away I declared the pan clean and hung it from the hook screwed into the rafter. My sandwich was eaten and I went outside to brush the crumbs off my shirt. I just caught sight of Chuck and that gal, Alice going into his shanty, I thought she had left. I turned to head back into the shack and saw the float in the far hole bounce once and then dive down the hole. As quick as I am I was to slow and lost another minnow, pulling up a bare hook again. With sun getting low I called it a day and loaded the Dodge up with my stuff. I turned the key and set the heater on high and waited as the Dodge warmed up and the little fire in the pot belly stove winked at me and went out. Foam back over the holes and the curtains closed I took the minnow bucket with me and closed the door. Just another cold day from here at Lake Iwanttobethere. {121,841}

[Bobby Bass]

Lodge looks more like a beehive then a Lodge today, of course that might be because we are hosting a fishing contest for the local kids and their city buddies. We might as well just tie the main door to the Lodge wide open as it is standing open more then it is closed. Kids in an assortment of outdoor gear are coming and going or being chased by parents. The plastic sleds are in demand as the Luge has been busy all morning. The kids are taking it down to the ice to get to their ice fishing holes but it seems more of them are interested in coming back to the top and riding the luge back down. Hammering Hank and Skinny have been on the ice most of the morning drilling holes and hauling out hay bales to sit on or to make wind walls to get out of the little breeze that we have. A big bonfire is burning down at the access and a couple of tents are set up with hot beverages for both the kids and the volunteers.

Things are a little calmer here as lunch has been served. Del from the pizza and sub shopp is just cleaning up as the fifty pizzas he donated were gone in a half an hour. I did manage to get a slice that I sat on my office desk only to return to find it missing and Barney licking his lips. I offered Barney some of my pop to wash the pizza down and the dang fool started slurping out of my glass. He got patted on the head and told to go find some water instead. So you think it is ok for me to let Barney eat pizza and drink pop? Of course not but both Barney and Bud are coming up on their tenth birthdays they get a little more leeway now. That and the fact that they have been mauled by kids all morning. Bud has been working with Grace the Saint Bernard hauling empty plastic sleds back up the hill for Big Earl. I know Grace will work for ice cubes but I think Bud is holding out for dog bones. Barney is just working the Lodge main room getting sausage and pepperoni left overs.

Mid thirties here today with an overcast sky. Sunshine Ray has freezing rain heading our way and it looks like we might be getting the same kind of winter storm that we got back around Christmas time. Not as much snow but still it will make things slippery out. We already have sand buckets by the front and back doors and Gus has been keeping an eye on the paths and spreading the sand when needed. Don't make no difference on the ice as how can ya make the ice any slippery. Music can be heard on the outdoor speakers down at the skating rink as they to are busy. Still a few kids skating holding on chairs but them little ones sure do learn quick and now they look like little nats buzzing around the ice from here. Parking lots are pretty full as we have a very nice turn out for the contest and it will come to a close at three. Prizes will be announced and hopefully everything will all be cleaned up before it gets dark. Most people should be well on their way home by the time it starts getting cold enough to freeze things up.

I like these events as we usually have more then enough lodge members on hand to take care of everything. I get to do what I do best and that is just manage. I like to think of myself as being here as a resource so I can help people out. Besides it is a lot easier to tell people where the extra cups are stored rather then having to down to the basement store room myself and dig them out. Even Gus likes these events as he does not have to cook, there is always enough food donated so he can close the kitchen. Tomorrow will be another story as the big football game will be on in the evening and their will be a big demand for finger food through out the game. I did order extra chicken wings and an extra keg of Hamms.

Geeze no sooner do I write this and someone comes in and yells that it is starting to sleet out. Makes riding the luge a little more interesting when that sleet hits ya in the face. Hank just asked where the ice melt is and in my best manager voice I directed him to the basement closet. Normally I would have to be the one to salt down the steps but since Hank is here it will be taken care of. I will go and add some wood to the fire, it's the least I can do. So from a active fun winter day here at Lake Iwanttobethere enjoy yourself! {122,348}

[Bobby Bass]

One of them kind of mornings here at Lake Iwanttobethere. The kind of morning that you smile and tell yourself how lucky you are to be here at the lake. For some reason I was up and out of bed a little earlier then usual. After getting dressed and turning on the coffee pot I pulled the drapes in the living room open and caught the sight of a winter sun rise. The air was calm and over night we had received a few inches of that fluffy dry snow that lands and sits on everything in sight. Even the smallest branch had a head of white snow sitting on it. I was going to turn and get some coffee but I knew that if I did I would miss the sunrise as it happens quickly. So I stood and watched as the light eased up over the far shoreline. Watching I glanced around the yard and saw no movement over at Ed and Eddies squirrel house. Lights were off at Chucks and no tire tracks at Elmers. Some reflection off the metal dock post and I turned to see the sun just turning from a warm glow in the sky to a bright light.

Climbing higher above the trees the light spreads across the lake like someone was shinning a bright flashlight on a white sheet covered bed. The light bounced off the snow covered ice of the lake and now the shanties on the lake were showing their colors. Small wisps of smoke rose from a few of the shanties to mix in with the rays of light coming from an ever increasing globe of light. The sun now was as wide as it was going to get on the horizon and now as it rose you could see it was a ball until in another minute or so it popped free of the earth and rose clearly by itself. Almost like the earth woke up and stretched a small breeze came up and branches trembled. The light snow fell from branches and off the power line. Snow rolled off down the length of fence and the bird feeder shudder once and cleared the snow from it's small roof. For a few minutes it was snowing in the woods as branches moved and the lite snow fell to slowly float down to the ground. Watching in the window I saw a movement off to the side and saw a doe which I am guessing was there the entire time shake snow off her back and flicked her tail from side to side a few times. Like me she to was watching the sun rise and now that it was done she went back to looking for breakfast, her nose in the fresh snow looking for something she might have missed her last time through the yard.

Hearing a click click of claws on the floor behind me I felt Bud come up next to me and lean against my leg. Looking down the dog had the question of why was I up so early on his face. That soon changed as I made my way to the kitchen and gave him a bone from the box. With bone in mouth he headed for his rug in front of the fireplace and I am sure he thought it was a good day, as he got the first bone of the day and his brother Barney was still sleeping and missing out. With coffee cup in hand I went back to the living room and the sun had sky between it and the ground. The only time the sun moves faster in the sky is on a nice summer night when the fish are biting and you are trying to get one good last cast in. Looking at the digital readout for the temperature I see it says 5.0 I am looking forward to when it says 50.0 from Lake Iwanttobethere {122,877}