Wind

Wow, and see, I don't usually post as much about weather as I have here the past couple days, but that's because the weather has been so extreme it bears talking about. I just saw on the news that the horrendous wind we have had all day and was tornado strength this morning, that I posed about earlier, broke off a tree branch and sent is sailing through a car window and impaled a woman while she was driving. That's some WIND.

Blanket Savings

I have often considered looking for new car insurance. It is such an expensive item, and you can't legally do without it, but the one thing I like about our insurance is we can combine all of our cars, plus our boat, and even our house with one company and get great discounts because of it. Others are like that too, and the best way to find out if I can do better rate wise, would be to get a blanket quote from as many of them as possible. One of the problems is that since we got all of our stuff at different times, the policies, even though all with one company, all come due at different times. It would be like starting from point zero and just insuring the cars, then the house, then the boat, etc as they came due. If it was a substantial savings it would be worth it though.

Doggone Difficult

Poor little 6 pound Batty is having some difficulty with the wind this last week, and especially the big winds today. It's pretty tough for a little dog to go outside to potty when the wind is so strong it practically blows you off you're little paws. I feel for her, but it's a little exasperating. I mean, there's nothing I can do about it. I am trying to warn her to appreciate what she has, winter is coming, and if she thinks wind is bad, wait until she tries to squat in 2 feet of snow.

Paths of Life

Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if I'd chosen a different path. A different career choice when I was younger, something like chef work since I love to cook. I think about other choices, and how they may have changed the course of my current path if I'd made different ones. I think everyone wonders about that type of thing from time to time, maybe mostly when things are a little rocky. I think the career choice differences intrigue me most of all. I don't have much time for regretting the choices along the current path, but sometimes I think about totally different paths. Would the choices have been the same? Is there such a thing as fate? Would it have mattered in the long run if I'd made different choices? If there is such a thing as fate, or divine intervention, it probably doesn't. Still, it would have be interesting to have done other things.

Tornado Winds

Well, the weather reports were right. It is WINDY out here. Apparently the tornado sirens went off in town early this morning. Bob heard about it on the radio. We didn't hear a think out here. If we ever really have a tornado touch down in the area, we won't know anything about it until it is too late.

I do remember laying in bed this morning, about 4 am, and listening to the howling wind. It sounded like a rushing train going by the house, and I remembered seeing somewhere that a tornado sounds like a train. I think the description was a freight train, more heavy than what I heard maybe... I don't know since I've never actually heard a tornado, but I do know I prayed this morning. Just a quick, forgive my sins, I'm cool if this is it, type of thing.

Woke up later and there weren't any signs of damage or passing tornadoes. Didn't know about the area spottings of funnel clouds in Donovan and nearby Sheldon until much later when Bob called. Maybe that was it... maybe not. Still didn't hear any sirens.

Keeping Toasty Warm

Well, it's official, winter is on its way. At the very least it can be said, summer is over. I had to break out thelast week, because it got so cold at night. I'm not good with cold. Even with the heater on in the house, I need more to sleep comfortably. The blanket keeps me nice and toasty, but I only need it in the fall and winter seasons. The rest of the year I'm fine with a big blanket, although I'm probably the only person anywhere who sleeps with a big, heavy comforter in the summer. Even on the boat this year I curled up in a blanket when the night temps were in the 70s and 80s.

Big Blow

Living on an open prairie I'm used to feeling like I am in a road show of the play "Oklahoma." I can't even count how often I break out into the theme song from that show. The wind comes 'sweeping down the plain' on a regular basis. In fact, the last week or so has been very windy around here. Now, I find out that tomorrow there is a wind advisory that is posted for two days (until Wednesday night). Winds up to 50 miles per hour are expected to whip through sporatically, and 30 to 40 miles per hour consistently. That's a lot of wind. Batten down the hatches, it's going to be a bumpy ride.

Growing Vegies in Water

Gardening is a great way to get fresh food. I love gardening and always try to have at least a small plot every year. Some years I've had quite elaborate setups and as much as two acres dedicated to various vegetables. One thing I've never tried but may now that my barn is not being used for animals is hydroponics. With a few systems you can grow many types of vegetables all year round, and without worrying about bad soil. I have sandy soil that is difficult to keep in good condition every year for growing vegetables. Gardens leech the soil more meaning I have to go to even greater lengths to develop a solid foundation for the next year. Hydroponics could solve that problem.

Puppy Power

I have to laugh at our puppy. She's six month old that acts like a true toddler child. She works me and Bob like a child would work one parent against the other to get what she wants. Bob isn't around here much, so when he is here for a day she takes total advantage of it to get the maximum amount of play time. She goes between him and I, and it's most noticeable when we are in different rooms. Today Bob was in the office area and I was in the living room and the dog ran back and forth playing fetch with one, then going to the other when the first person got tired of the game, and back and forth all afternoon like that. She's crazy and fun. She can be very exasperating, but funny all at the same time.

Who's Who

When going to a big event, I always hope the participants and guests are given name badges. It is a great idea that alleviates all stress from having to try and remember who is who, and embarrassment if you can't recall a name, or connect names to faces. There are a lot of types of gatherings where name badges, or name tags come in handy. Of course, if you see the same people every day they aren't necessary, eventually you'll remember names, but any big event where you haven't seen the people involved in over a year, like weddings, reunions or even family reunions name badges can be life savers. I really thing name badges should be mandatory at any event where you're likely to have never met most of the other people. That makes talking to new people easier. I like to approach new people, and have no trouble talking to strangers, but knowing their name, or keeping it in the front of your mind as you talk is easier if you have a helpful tag to remind you.

Happy Birthday Spice

Took a new picture today of my 2 year old cockatiel, Spice. I call today his birthday, but really I'm not sure exactly when he was born. It's as close as I can come. I know his breeder, but haven't talked  to her in a while now. Dates and I have never been great friends, I am lousy at remembering specific dates. I used to have a girl with him, but she stayed with a friend and now he's much more attention seeking. He was always friendly, but now he whistles, calls, chirps more, and likes being picked up.

Call To Action

Do you know what two of the most powerful words in the English language are? They are simple words: click here. Those two words hold such a power of suggestion that very often nothing else is required to get someone to click through on an advertisement, or link. Those words imply a result, a destination of choice, a desired outcome, and they provide a great incentive for the neuro-receptors of the brain. Click here, is even better than an actual name, or site name, but the concept is actually very new. Prior to the Internet, of course, the words click here meant very little, if anything at all. That is an indication of how powerful the Internet has become, that simple phrases can cause such a powerful reaction in the mind that they lead to action more than any written call to action of any other kind.

Escape in Louisana

Louisiana seems to have some sort of curse when it comes to escaped convicts. Not too long ago six escapees were eventually recaptured, but now, according to a friend in the state, there are two more on the loose today. I can't imagine the tension and stress of knowing there are escape inmates possibly in the area. You don't want to leave your children outside to play, you're afraid to go out and even answer a door. Sure they're just people, but they're both people with a history of criminal endeavors, AND they're people on the defense.

Learn the Facts and Ignore the Gossip

One of the more powerful products on the market today in the health industry is HGH. There are a lot of pros and cons to using human growth hormones, and before anyone chooses them, they should know as much about the human growth hormone facts as possible. HGHs are used by many as a way of fighting the effects of aging, muscle strength, and to increase energy, among other things. For every benefit there are equal and alarming dangers. However, that is no different from any medication or drug, some that people take regularly and are available over-the-counter. Just like those medications, knowing what the benefits of a product is, and judging the risks against the benefits along with knowing how to best use the product to reduce the risks is important. No product is evil on its own, but the misuse of such products are what often lead to their bad publicity. Many times the negativity spawns gossip that builds the negative into a mountain of horror. Learn from the best resources available what products you can use and if they are right for you before making a decision based on hearsay and gossip.

Installing a Livewell in a Fishing Boat

Boats made specifically for fishing often have containers called “livewells” built in to them. Livewells can be used for two purposes, depending on your desire, or if your boat has two, you can use one for each purpose: holding caught fish in an environment that keeps them alive and fresh until you can process and store them, or holding bait fish to take to the fishing spots and use live. Some boats are not designed specifically as fishing boats, and do not have livewells built in. You can build your own livewell to get the most out of your fishing experience.

Select an insulated container to use as your livewell. Use an insulated bucket, or a ice cooler. The insulated walls provide a more comfortable temperature inside the unit in all weather, and also make it more sturdy. Size isn’t as important as being able to fit your chosen spot in the boat, but use the largest container you can comfortably fit.

Drill two 3/4-inch holes in the sidewall of your boat next to where you want the containment system to sit. One hole must be below the waterline on the hull, the other should be above the waterline.

Apply a generous amount of marine sealant to the above waterline thru-hull fitting and insert into the hole above the waterline. Apply an equally generous amount of marine sealant to the below the waterline thru-hull fitting and insert into the hole below the waterline. Screw both into place with a screwdriver.

Apply sealant to one end of a section of hose and fit over the inside end of each thru-hull. Fit a hose clamp over the end of the hose and use a screwdriver to tighten.

Drill a 3/4-inch hole into the side of the livewell container just below the top edge of the lid. Insert a thru-hull coated with sealant. Screw into place with a screwdriver. Drill a second hole at the bottom of the container side. Insert a second thru-hull fitting coated with sealant into the bottom opening and screw into place with a screwdriver.

Place the insulated container inside the boat where you want it positioned.

Attach the hose leading to the above the waterline thru-hull fitting to the top opening on the livewell with sealant, and a hose clamp. Tighten with a screwdriver.

Attach the intake valve of the water pump to the hose to the below the waterline thru-hull opening with sealant and a hose clamp. Tight with a screwdriver.

Attach another section of hose to the out value of the water pump with sealant and a hose clamp. Place the other end of that hose on the lower opening of the holding container and seal with sealant and a hose clamp. Tighten both ends of the hose with a screwdriver.

Attach water pump to a 12-volt battery, or boat’s on-board battery system. Having the livewell pump attached directly to the battery insures it will always be on during your fishing time. If you prefer to be able to turn it on and off, include an on/off switch between the water pump and battery.

Great Gloves for All Work

Neither my husband, nor I are mechanics, but we do a lot of personal mechanical work on cars, trucks, tractors and now the boat. These are big mechanical items that mean putting our hands into dangerous places. Mechanix gloves come in several styles to protect hands from the dangerous areas mechanics have to put them all the time. They have non-slip versions, safety versions, industrial versions that even have safety tape reflective tape to conform to OSHA standards. These are great for professional mechanics, factory workers, packers, but they also have wonderful uses for the backyard mechanic who needs to protect his (or her) hands. Not only do they come in styles to fit any work or home mechanic needs, they also have great garden gloves to protect your hands from the tools and natural dangers that come with digging in the dirt.

Thumbs Up to Blogger

I haven't uploaded a picture on here in several weeks. I was really surprised just now to see the new platform for uploading pictures. It's nice. I like the way it works much better than the old method. I have to give Blogger big props. In fact, I was a little worried when Google took it over. I thought it would get lost in the behemoth company and lose its edge. It didn't, though. It remains a very solid platform for blogging, and even gets better. The Blogger platform underwent some big additions to its development and design areas making it much better and easier to create unique looking blogs. Thumbs up, Blogger!

Getting To the Right Product

It's a little difficult to determine at the beginning if a diet product will work. Even if someone you know swears by it, that doesn't mean it will work well for you. Finding a colon cleanse that works is often a matter of trial and error. However, you can use what others say about products to get an idea of their general usefulness, and good website reviews and guides are very helpful too. That way you can narrow down the good products and choose the ones you think will work best for you. You may still have to do some sampling, but you create much better odds and get to the ones that work for you faster.

Still Batty

Our puppy is just about to turn six months old. She's pretty well housebroken, but still present some other challenges. Mostly it's just a matter of she's different than any other dog I've had. She's not as cuddly, and she's definitely crazier... but at the same time she's loving and fun. Here's her 6 month picture... still a baby in many ways, but she won't get any bigger. Most of her coat is growing in nicely, but will get a little longer.

Blu is the New Way to Go

Blu ray has taken over the market of video sales. There are a lot of reasons why blu ray is so much better than DVD. Better clarity and more space on the disc are just a couple. However, unlike other takeovers of the past, when you buy a blu ray player, and buy movies for it that doesn't make your old DVDs worthless. You can still play your DVDs on a blu ray player. I tip my hat to the creators of blu ray for that. All other inventors seem to have worked hard to keep their 'competition' down, and make it hard for anyone who wants to change over because they then have to re-invent their collections from the past.

1973 FlashBack to the Belmont

Here's some fantastic coverage of the 1973 Belmont that Secretariat took by an amazing 31 lengths. It was posted on YouTube, and is a great watch along with the commentaries and reactions to this amazing horse's win.

Glass is Great For Decoration Too

There are several types of tile that make good counter tops, flooring, or wall tiles for bathrooms and kitchens. The one I like best is glass tile. It has a wider selection of colors and is more affordable than some of the others. It is easy to use, although requires the same kinds of equipment to install such as tile cutters, and mortar. Glass tile comes in many shapes and sizes, too. I love the idea of using glass tiles to create a mosaic pattern. The crystal look of the tiles makes it a beautiful tile for mixing and matching and creating unique patterns along with mixing sizes.

Big Red

I haven't been able to see it yet, but I have to go see the new movie "Secretariat." I grew up watching that magnificent horse running in races on TV. It was back in the early 70s, and in 1973 the Triple Crown was all his, and not by a short amount either. He took down all around him with his massive stride and powerful thrust. He blew everybody away, and came from behind like a freight train on crack to pull ahead of the pack. He was nearly unbeatable, but he was not without his upsets: what great legend ever is? Legend his is though, and I can't wait to see the movie, and the story behind not only the greatest race horse of this century, but of his owner, the unique Penny Tweedy, a housewife turned mega-horse owner.

IPods Everywhere and Anywhere

As a music lover I have come to understand that IPods are an item I just can't live without. I can carry my entire music library on one little palm-sized unit and play it where ever I go. If I have the right ipod accessories I can listen to it on the speakers of my car, through my boat's stereo, through my room stereo in my office, or just by plugging in the headphones. With the right accessories I can recharge my IPod anywhere. Other accessories make it easy to carry even if I don't have my purse, or if I don't want to hold on to it. I won't ever do without an IPod again.

More Considerations

This is a marina we're considering. Although we do like the one we're at, there are a couple of things such as parking so far from the boat, very steep ramps, and some things that don't work that keep us considering other places. I sure wish there were some closer to us though. I did find one that is a lot (LOT) closer, a lot (LOT)cheaper, but very restricted as far as amenities, and actual cruising space. It's a very small 'pool' on a local river. This one in the video, however, is a very nice marina not far from where we're at now on the Illinois River with lots to offer.

Changing Scenes

It's almost that time of year... sweaters should be coming out of the closet. It's time to get new ones to replace old faithful worn ones. While daytime temperatures still waver in the warm zone of the high 60's and low 70's here, the evenings get quite chilly, and mornings are positively frigid. I have begun dragging the sweater bags out and looking through the old sweaters, deciding which are still good and what ones I need to replace. Shorts are already a thing of the past, and sweat pants, jeans, and slacks are back in. The landscape is still pretty, with changing leaves and pretty autumn colors, but I know that too will be changing soon and the lawn will be white with... ick, snow.

Early Days on the Boardwalk

Boardwalk Empire is still a program I'm trying to love. With it's mega-star cast it should be fantastic acting wise, and it is. The storyline should be on par with the Sopranos... ehhh, not quite. It moves a little slow for my taste. I want to love this show. I like the premise of showing the beginning of the mafia power on the East and as it spreads to the Midwest via a young, soon-to-be boss -- Al Capone. I like all of the characters, and they're well played, but somehow the show still falls flat. I can't really pinpoint where I'd move it along better, I just know that it's living on borrowed time right now on my T'Vo and if it doesn't pick up soon it will be deleted.

Protect Your Mortgage Payments

If you have a mortgage, the most important protection you can have is mortgage protection life insurance. Before we paid off our mortgage we had it. Mortgage protection insurance isn't the same as home owner's insurance. Home owner's insurance protects you by replacing damaged elements of your home, or against injury claims from visitors and guests. Mortgage insurance protects you against problems that prevent you from paying the mortgage. If you lose your job, if you get hurt, or reasons like that where you can't afford to pay your mortgage, you won't lose your home. Bottom line, you won't lose your home, is the most important kind of protection you can give yourself.

Pulling Out

Well, tomorrow's the day. The day we officially end our boating season. We're going out to the marina for the final time this season to pull the boat out of the water. Being the first time, it's a little scary. We've never driven the boat up onto the trailer before. I'm sure it will end up being no big thing, just like backing it off the trailer into the water the first time wasn't a big deal after we did it that first time last spring. It was a fun, expensive, and busy summer. I'm sorry to see it end, but at the same time, kind of looking forward to a good rest. I'll try to get some pictures of us pulling it out of the water for the blog.

Water Bottles to Match Your Style

Using water bottles saves you a lot of money. Filling up the same bottle every time from a water filter, or even a large bottle of water vs buying individual bottles of water is cheaper, but it also takes a lot of the stress off of landfills. Water is good for you, but the plastic bottles it is sold in for individual use is not good for the planet.

Personal water bottles are more convenient too. You're not likely to run out like you could with single serving water bottles. However, the regular plastic water bottles are a little bland. Now you can get water bottles created to match your individual style. You can use as advertisement for your business, or to show your affiliation with work organizations, charities, or other fun companies.

All you have to do is create a fun splash of color and picture combination to make a water bottle your own individual creation that you'd be proud to carry. I love the idea. I have always used refillable water bottles to carry my water when I go out, and even just around the house. The idea of matching them to my pastimes such as for the boat, or just making cool looking artwork for some is a lot of fun.

Soil Minerals for Good Vegetables

Nutrients are the food source of all plant life that comes from the soil. Ground that lacks these elements is infertile, or produces poorly. Rich, fertile ground contains just the right levels of the three main minerals to feed plants without burning them. Plants may grow to some extent in poorer soil, but grains and vegetables will lack flavor and be less abundant. There is nothing that can replace the vital minerals in poor soil, except those minerals, so choose carefully what you use to improve your ground for a garden.

Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium

Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are the familiar NPK on a fertilizer label: the big three are listed prominently on commercial fertilizer packaging. The reason these three elements are so touted by the packages is that they are the primary source of growth and they encourage large, robust plants. These are important as primary nutrients because before a plant can produce delicious vegetables or grains, they must first exist, and be healthy and large. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium do not have much of an impact on the taste of the foods produced, however. In a flower garden that may not make much difference, but in a vegetable garden it is an important point.

Copper and Zinc

Copper and zinc are the two most common names in the minerals considered “micronutrients” in a garden soil composition. They are vital to the development and all around health of the plant, but used in much smaller quantities than the traditional N-P-K nutrients that form the bulk of the plant nutrition needs. Cooper enhances root development. While plants do not need a lot, without it, they do not get the foothold needed to be firm and hold the weight of large plants above ground. Lack of copper also creates dead, curled or wilted leaves in mature plants. Zinc is also a root nutrient, but rather than promoting growth, zinc prevents rot, an element that is vital in the moist ground of a garden soil.

Iron and Manganese

Iron is an important element in plant growth, but not overly abundant in commercial, or homemade, fertilizers because the Earth’s crust has a great deal of iron naturally occurring, and there are few areas that do not have any iron available. Whether they are in a form that is useable to the plants is another story. Iron is absolutely essential in the plant’s ability to draw nutrition and energy from the light it receives. A soil test should produce soil with iron in a 50 – 200 part per million (ppm) range. Scientists are not completely sure how manganese works with iron, but they do know the two work in conjunction with each other, and that manganese is the element that charges the energy iron produces. Too much manganese is a problem, however, and careful application in areas lacking in this mineral are required to produce the desired results. This is especially true in wet areas where pH levels are low. A soil test should produce a manganese level below 50 ppm.

Boron

Boron is another of the mysterious elements that scientists know calcium requires for proper function in plant and animal life, but are not sure why or how it is used. Boron is a member of the trace element category that should be present between 2 and 75 ppm. More than 75 ppm can destroy plants and/or kill seeds. A suggested application level for boron is 1 part boron to 1000 parts of calcium.

Fire is Soothing

Certain elements in a room always create the same type of ambiance, no matter what decor surrounds them, or what design they employ. Fireplaces are like that. No matter what materials are used to create them, what room decor surrounds them, or where they are in the house, they provide a calming atmosphere of relaxation. I always wanted one in my house, and when we moved to this house, we finally got one. Now, whenever I want to bring an element of charm, or comfort to a scene I use a fireplace to create it. You can too. In your books or in your home.

Make Your Car Biodiesel Ready

With the high cost of gasoline, and even gas station diesel fuel, along with ecological safety campaigns, bio-diesel is becoming the fuel of choice for many consumers. It requires a little extra work to make the fuel, but just about anyone can do it in their own backyard. If you have, or buy, the right car, it isn’t even difficult to get started using bio-diesel fuel to save yourself a great deal of money between fill-ups.

Start with a diesel engine car. These are the only vehicles compatible with bio-diesel, conversion or no conversion. Some models do not even require conversions because companies have created specific abilities to use bio-diesel in their pre-sold cars. Car companies that make a bio-diesel compatible model care are Audi, Chevrolet, BMW, Ford, General Motors, Land Rover, Isuzu, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Toyota, Volkswagen, Saab, Nissan, Mazda and Volvo.

Remove any rubber engine/fuel line parts from a diesel car not already compatible with bio-diesel if it is a model earlier than the mid-1990. Diesel vehicles after that time were made with rubber parts that are more resistant to rot and degeneration. The raw oil, and alcohol levels in bio-diesel eat rubber and can destroy hoses, gaskets and o-rings.

Run engine cleaner through the system before using bio-diesel. Change fuel filters and keep an extra one on hand because bio-diesel tends to be dirtier.

Don’t panic if the check engine light comes on when running. Bio-diesel can dilute engine oil making it act like it needs an oil change. Change oil more frequently when using bio-diesel and the light should stay off.

Know the difference between SVO and bio-diesel. Both are made with used (or new) oil, but SVO, which stands for Straight Vegetable Oil, is not distilled and burns differently than bio-diesel. To use SVO you will need to install a converter even on a diesel vehicle. SVO also requires the use of a switch to toggle between straight diesel fuel and SVO because the engine requires diesel fuel to start and shut down properly. The switch is thrown once the car is underway and then the straight vegetable oil is used until shut down. SVO is even more likely to require heating than straight diesel, or bio-diesel.

Install a fuel heating system for your SVO vehicle, or even in a bio-diesel vehicle if you operate the automobile in cold weather that routinely drops below freezing levels. Diesel oil congeals in cold weather and gums up inside the engine and fuel lines. The vehicle will stop dead until the fuel warms up again.

Peace of Mind and Protection

There are several good reasons for having working cabinet locks on your home and/or office cabinets. A few that I can think of, and are personally reasons for me to want my cabinets to have locks are to child/pet proof the lower cabinets. Bathroom and kitchen cabinets often have deadly chemicals that we take for granted as being staples of our cleaning supplies. We need them to keep our bathrooms and kitchens clean and germ free, but somehow they always end up in the lowest, most attainable cabinets. Those types of cabinets are also extremely easy to open, even for less than nimble fingers, or clumsy paws. Always have working cabinet locks on reachable cabinets when there are small children or pets in the house. The next is security. Even if you live alone, having important personal information locked away in an office drawer, or file cabinet is a good idea. No one wants to think about someone possibly breaking in and getting a hold of personal things, but don't make it easy for someone to get your financial or personal info. It may be a 1 in a million thing, but it only takes once, and a cabinet lock is a small price to pay for peace of mind and protection

Wanna Fish For Crab and Lobster Like the "Deadliest Catch" Guys?

Lobster and crab fishing are one of the several open sea fishing styles glorified by popular television in the mid 2000’s and on. Shows like the “Deadliest Catch” show how hard life can be on a boat like that, but leave many wondering just how to start out on their own adventures where the risks are high, but the money is even better when it works right.

Buy an appropriate boat. It must be big enough to handle round open water as you must travel further out in the deeper ocean water in the colder months. Trawlers are a favored style of boat for lobster and crab fishing in deep water. Boats must also be large enough, and have the storage capability to carry tens of thousands of pounds of lobster at each outing. Search online at boat sales resources such as yachtworld.com, iboats.com and boats.com have large inventories of sale boats listed. Retiring seamen may have vessels for sale if you know someone who is retiring.

Learn how to operate your boat safely by taking a boater safety course. Check with the local government in the area you plan on setting your traps to find out if you will need a commercial fishing license, or a special boating license for commercial fishing if you plan on reselling the catch.

Prepare to work long hours on a seasonal basis. There is no starting and ending time each day. The day starts as soon as the season opens, and traps are taken out and released. When the traps are ready to bring in you have to be prepared to bring them in regardless of what is going on, and drop them back down again in a continuous process until the season ends in order to maximize your total catch.

Get physically ready for a demanding and strenuous job that includes a lot of running around and heavy lifting in all types of weather.

Know the best places to set traps to get the most in each set to be a captain. It is the captain’s job to understand how much each trap should bring in, and how to calculate the minimum and maximum possible catch, what the breakeven point in order to cover all costs including that of any employee wages. The captain also needs to know how to fully operate all navigate and communication equipment for safety purposes.

Work your way up from a deck hand if you have no experience in the fishing industry. Deck hands, also known as boatswains, will learn everything about maintaining a boat from the bottom up, how to catch and process the type of fish the vessel is on, care for equipment including nets, lines, winches, and traps. How to fish for bait when supplies are low, and can work up to first mate, and then if ready, captain. To be a boatswain or first mate, you do not need to own your own boat, so it is much cheaper to get in, but many captains do not like to hire people with no fishing experience, so learn all you can ahead of time to prove your ability and worthiness.

Male Enhancement Products Without Embarassment

Being a woman, I've never had to shop for, or worry too much about male enhancement. But being married, and getting older makes me wonder if at some point we won't have to look around for something to help produce a more pleasurable response for both of us. Male enhancement products are not something younger people think about often unless they are very, very small. Older people, especially men worry about it all the time. It's not just about size. It's about performance, ability to perform and maintain an erection. These are things that age, stress, health and disease all impact. It is also something nearly impossible to overcome without help and too many men are terrified of asking for the help they need. Being able to research products online helps alleviate the additional stress of admitting there is a problem, and allows men to use the product in the privacy of their own home.

Installing Underwater Transom Lights

There are several reasons for installing underwater lighting on your boat, or marine vehicle. Professional divers like underwater lights to give them a better view when night diving. Boaters who spend a lot of time in shallow waters use lights to enhance visibility of underwater obstacles. Anglers like underwater lights to attract fish in the early morning or late evening fishing hours. Most of the time, underwater lights are used simply to achieve a brilliant display of color when boating. Whatever your reason for installing underwater lights, you can install them quickly, and easily by yourself in a matter of minutes.

Wire Through Hull

Prepare the boat’s work surface. If the boat is in the water, remove it on a trailer or hoist. Clean the transom with warm soapy water. Rinse the area and dry it thoroughly.

Mark the spot on the transom (back wall of the boat) where you want the lights. Place the light against the area and use a pencil to mark where the screw holes will be.

Drill a hole just large enough to pass the lighting wire through. Insert the wire from the light into the hole and feed through to the inside of the hull. Apply a generous coat of marine grade sealant such as 3M 3500 to the last few inches of wire, and the entire back, and the rim of the light fixture and press against the transom.

Apply a generous amount of marine sealant to each stainless steel screw and drill or use a screwdriver to secure the light to the transom with the screws.

Light Through Hull

Begin with the boat out of the water as in the above scenario.

Mark the spot on the transom where you wish to place each light.

Drill a hole large enough to accommodate the through-hull light fixture.

Apply a generous amount of marine grade sealant such as 3M 5200 around the edges of the light, and place through the hull.

Attach locking bolt to the inside of the through-hull insert and secure tightly with wrench.

Attaching Wiring

Connect the wires of either type of lighting system to 18-guage wiring long enough to reach from the transom to the helm of the boat.

Insert an electrician’s snake from the circuit breaker panel through the boat’s sidewalls down to the transom and attach the 18-guage wiring.

Pull the snake back through the side wall of the boat, up to the panel with the wiring attached. Disconnect the wire from the electrician’s snake and attach to a circuit breaker to control the on/off function of the lights.

Tip

Lights can be attached to the circuit breakers on the helm panel, or inside the cabin of a cruiser at the general circuit breaker depending on your desire.

Warning

Always disconnect the battery power to the boat, as well as any external power sources before attempting to connect anything to the circuit breakers or boat’s power source.