Esox

2010-08-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Made it to warroad tonight. Meet with most the vets. Had a good dinner thanks to the patch restrant. So far it seems that we have a good group. Army marines air force from mostly around the midwest. More to come tomarrow.

Esox.

2010-07-31T23:07:00.000-07:00

well, today brings the first leg of my Operation Muskie trip. I arrived in Grand Forks, ND Thursday afternoon. Friday I was invited to fish with Clear Channel Radio in the Cats Incredible Media Tournament. My partner was local radio icon John Roberts of KJ 108. We were guided by Capt Brad Durick. John Roberts and I started off with a nice double that consisted of a pair of twin 20" cats. From there our luck has slowed, the fish were super finicky and parley hitting the baits. Capt Brad moved us contently looking for fish, we through a spread of different baits and patterns looking for the one that would work. After about 3 hours the clouds began to part and a pattern started to establish. John Roberts and I got into the biggest cats of the day a pair or 29.5" and a 30". These two fish sent us soaring past 1st place with 8 fish that measured 159 inches. The Grand Forks Herald cam in 2nd place with 5 fish the measured just over 100 inches. I tied for biggest cat and John Roberts got to give the Skunk to defending champion WDAZ. The Skunk is a conservation award that is passed to the team that comes in last.
Saturday found Mark Grunwald and Myself in a boat with Fishing Buddy member Justin and Capt Brad. This time were headed to Drayton to avoid the traffic jam that was going on with Cats incredible. This trip was mostly a scouting trip, but paid very nice dividends for us. We started north of the dam, and side imaged a few holes. We boated two but decided to check the fast water below the dam. After a quick load and unload of the boat we attempted to anchor along a break and couldn't hold position right. Immediatly we changed from the 16 to 32 pound anchor.... This move was the right one, 4 minutes after the last rod was launched Justin land a pig of a cat. after a couple pictures and some video we weighed the cat at 20lbs. From their we moved and moved often. This afterall was a scouting trip and there was work to do. 8 more locations after the next 3 hours produced some more kitties... Total for the day was 6 kitties with the 20lber being the biggest. It was a good trip for being the middle of the day with the sun pounding down.
Tomorrow I have to finish laundry and re-pack. We will make the trip to Warroad where we will have dinner with a few of our fellow veterans and begin our official trip on Monday.
Due to the fact that I am not sure if I will have reception on Oak island, I may not be able to blog again till I get back next Friday....
Esox

2010-07-25T15:45:00.000-07:00

Just got back from hayward, Wi. Crystal, the kids, and I spent a week at www.goldenruleresort.com . It was a great week hillighted by the time I got to spend with my sisters, their families, and mom and dad. Fishing was slow for everything except panfish. they were hitting everythign and anything. A couple bass were caught and even though we threw everything we had, we never seen a muskie... On a high note, when I got home and checked my mail I had recieved my archery bear liscense... I am now on a mission to wash the families laundary, and get my clothes put asisde for my Operation muskie trip next week.

Esox

2010-07-07T15:13:00.000-07:00

Well it has been 4 weeks... Let’s start off with Operation Muskie news, First, I finally received my new Ontario fishing license with the correct date, and it has been thrown away or misplace with the mail that was on the counter... So I have now ordered another one. Time is closing in; I fly out in 20 days, and can’t wait. I will be flying into GF and honing out with my cronies’ and old co-workers at Buffalo wild wings that night. FridayHopfully I get to participate in the Cats incredible media tournament. Friday night is the opening events which are always a blast. Saturday I might try to run up to Drayton and chase kitties at the trail race, and Saturday night is still up in the air, but walleye fishing at devils lake is leading.. Sunday is a day to re-coop and repack, Sunday night I need to be in Warroad and will meet a few of the OM guys. Monday morning we meet and have breakfast. After we drive to young’s bay landing, take boats to Oak Island and Walsh's Bay Store Camp. From that point it will be 4 days of chasing fish with teeth.....

Our Hayward vacation is coming up, we leave in 8 days. This one has me jonesing... I can't wait to not only see my folks, but put some hours on the lake with pops and my B-law Art. Now on to Archery Elk season: I had a scare last week tweaking my knee, doc said i may have a pin coming loose and need to start taking it easy... either way i was on crutches for a week and am now in a workout program to build my legs up. two weeks ago Aspen and I went down to the San Isabel National Forest where we will be hunting and did some scouting. We seen 30+elk, and 1 Black Bear.... stuff is starting to fall in place. I purchased a new IR4 Game camera this week and am going to drive down and stick it up this weekend.

On a side note, My boss, his wife and I have been shooting bows atleast twice a week. We He finnaly got his first Robbin Hood on monday... and at 50 yards no less....

2010-06-11T02:30:00.000-07:00

Su just a touch mor info on operation Musky 3... The final list of Vets was released, looks like we have somebody from each branch except Coast guard... I put a post on the OM forums asking where everybody was from. So far only a few replies. Krys says she should have applied just to come up and get away from the kids...
Here is the projected guide list:
Doug Johnson: LOTW and muskie guide legend
Chad Cain: guides on Kincaid in IL and MN in the summer
Paul Klein: Central Wisco guide that spends a lot of time at LOTW
Norm Wild: Central/Northern Wisco guide spends a lot of time at LOTW
Jim Best: lives in Arizona and owns a house on LOTW-excellent LOTW muskie guide
Ed Spoerl: Central/Northern Wisco guide spends a lot of time at LOTW
Pete Maina: legend muskie guide and host of The Next Bite fishing show
Gary Parson: walleye guide and host of The Next Bite fishing show
John Gillespie: excellent guide and host of Water & Woods fishing show
Jim Murphy: incredible guide from MN with lots of LOTW experience
Tom Heneman: Wisco guide and first time he’s guiding for OM
Dick Pearson....

this is going to be azaming week of fishing... Its like the who's who of muskie greats of the past 10-20 years...

2010-06-11T02:24:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm only 50 days away from Operation Musky 3. I now have all my ducks in a row. I got my passport and RABC pass about a month ago, but now i also have my ontario outdoors card and fishing liscnse with the correct dates on them. So since all this was in place i decided to buy my plane ticket to GF. I am going in a few days early to make sure i have time with friends and fishing buddies... and I am staying an exra day so that i can attend Kevin Z's wedding... overall, it should be a good trip coverall all bases... I still need to figure out how to schedule a trip in to go and see Matty B and Jen in Bemidji, but time will tell if there is enough time...

on a side note, I took the family up to where we wil be archery hunting now that the snow is off and we could drive up there.. I forgot how ragged the roads get and scared the be-jesus out of Krys. Over-all it was a good time, I went back last monday and watched a couple of deer, 4 does adn 2 small bucks. Also got to see a nice black bear....

2010-05-10T19:58:00.001-07:00

This weekend we did a bit of home camping... Parked the camper in the driveway camped out... Brison doesnt get the part about not rolling around and shakking the camper... we had a good time.

I got my passport and passport card in the mail today... also got my ontario outdoors card and 8 day fishing liscense... one problem, my liscense has the wrong dates on it... now I need to call up and try and get it changed...

On a side note, my crew and I hike homestead and after wards went found a cafe with the best pie any where around... the place is called heath stone and is in callhan...

2010-05-02T13:00:00.000-07:00

Blue bird project, Sunday 2 May 2010
Crystal, the kids and I went out to Ramah SWA today. We were joined by Rose and dan today.... Bird action on the south side was good, we saw a beautiful medowlark on the fence as we dove in. Bird house 4A has a partial nest, and two others had bit of straw and feathers in them. Alaska joined me for the walk around the dike to the north side... Up there we found a partial next with bird activity in boxes 13 and 13a. Kestrol box B had two Kestrols on it. It was the first activity we had seen at any of the kestrol boxes yet this year...

As for Operation Musky, I got my passport and RABC subbmitted about 4 weeks ago. I did get and E-mail from Jeff W asing about my shirt size and what type of bait casting reel I use. Mark got his RABC send in and ordered his Ontario fishing liscense. I still need to get that done.

As for tryign to get up the moutain to scout for archery season, it sure would be nice if the snow would finnaly give up. A week ago friday we got 14 inches, and 7 of the past 9 days it has snowed on us in some way or form...

2010-04-27T20:49:00.000-07:00

Ok, it has been a while since I have been on... I now live just outside of colorado springs, my fishing maily consist of trout :-(....

Well I am going to Blog about a few differnt things in the next few week... First I am one of 20 veterans that have been accepted to participate in Operation Musky this August. www.operationmuskie.com . OM is a event put on by Walsh Bay camp store on Lake of the woods and muskie fishing icon Dick Pearson. They have 10 of the best muskie guide treat 20 veterans to 3 days of chasing ski's... My good friend Mark (Grizzwald) will also be
on this trip.

A month after OM Grizz will be driving out here to Colorado to join my self, Justin Lubben and Rich T for a week of chasing Elk, Muleys, and bear with bows. I have tried to get up into the moutains to scout twice now, but our latest 14" of snow from friday will prevent me fro another couple of weeks.

Lastly, Crystal and I get the kids out once a week to enjoy the outdoor and we do some hiking of some sort. So I will post about our hikes and what we find and see.

2008-06-27T11:41:00.001-07:00

Got a ride out to devils lake last night with Cateyepike. We had dinner with his Co-worker Steve, then were headed out to the lake with the boat. Just as we were hooking up the boat there was a crack of lighting. We called around and checked weather reports and found that a small storm cell was headed twoard us and should only last 15-30 minutes. After a short discussion we decided to leave the boat home and take the truck so we could get out of the weather if it turned really bad. Also we talked steve into joining us. Steve is from Conneticut , he has only been fishing a few time and never caught a fish. I took steve and got him a liscense while Cateyepike set up the rods and then we took off looking for a wind blown shore line.
Once we neared minnewaukan, we found the wind shifting from the south east to comming from due south. As soon as a spot was picked the rain began and lighting picked up. After sitting and waiting for 20 minutes the storm hadnt let up. Cateye grabbed a rod and cast it out then set it in a rod holders outside the truck where we could see it. Only a few minutes later the rod began to twitch and we had our first fish on. Three walleyes were caught this way over the next hour while we waited the storm out. Once the rain stopped we hopped out and Hobbled to the shore. The strom had the fish in a feeding mood. Steve caught his first walleye just before the rain began again. Once the weather cleared the wind really picked up and made it impossible to tell when there was a bite. WE made a move to a lee shore line and set up again. Steve then proceeded to tie into his largest walleye ever. He caught a nice fat 20 inch fish, we were using colored hooks tipped with leeches lindy rigged with 1/2oz of lead. Total we caught 12 fish, keeping 3 eaters. Steve will be eating like a king this weekend, and needless to say is hooked on fishing..

Esox

2008-05-28T16:54:00.000-07:00

Ok, time to let you all know what went on last week… Last Wednesday Jig-em-up Josh of Burget’s bait in Grand Forks ND and I went to a small dam between Grand Forks and Devils lake. The day started out slow, but about 10 picked up with my nailing a 22 inch walleye on a gray/black rattle trap. No more walleyes came, but did we slay the pike all day long. We caught 13 pike total in 5 hours all between 26 and 36 inches. Later that evening Rich Thorpe and I took Alaska out for her first fishing adventure of the open water season. We went the farm ponds that produced so well all winter long. Alaska was a little scared about being in the boat at first, but quickly got over it and had a blast. Alaska caught the first fish, it also ended up being the biggest at around 30 inches. I caught my first pike ever on a fly rod, that is a great fight and I would recommend it to anybody who wants to try. Total we caught 14 fish ranging from 18- 30 inches.
This past weekend The family and I went to Bemidji and stayed at Rutter’s Birchmont lodge. Our weekend was started with a scare when Alaska and Aspen pushed Brison out of a 2nd story window. Thankfully there was a roof of the first floor only 2 feet below. Saturday was Crystal B-day and we travel the country side utilizing her new camera the kids got for her. We saw Paul Bunyan and Babe the big blue ox, his wife lucette, and Paul junior. On Sunday the we took the kids animal land they got to see Lions, a tiger and bears. They got to pet multiple animals and feed fish. Later that night I meet a guy who earlier that day caught a 47” musky fishing for walleyes, a fat beautiful fish.
This weekend is josh’s Bachelor party and I’m sure I will have a good story to tell from that.
www.ruttgers.com

2008-05-22T14:47:00.000-07:00

Weather has been good the past week, and that is always a plus. Made it our fishing with my daughter Aspen for an hour saturday. We went to A small pond in the town of Grand Forks. This pond is stocked yearly with trout and bluegills just for catch and release fishing. Unfortuanaley on this day there were no fish to be caught, But Aspen had a great time and that is what counts, we saw catipiliars, worms, and insect they were just as good as catching fish.

Later that evenign I got to fish the Red river with Rich T and Josh ( AKA Jig-em-up). We started slow, but thanks to the advise of Captain Brad found the cats feeding shallow. A clinic of Ripping Lips on cats ensued, a total of 14 cats were caught with the biggest being 14 and 15 pounds, and both comming out of water the was less then 6 feet in depth. Attached is a pic of a Channel cat from ealier this year.

For a REd River fishing report be sure to check www.lakestatefishing.com
and for a awsome guide trip contact Captin Brad @ www.braddurick.com

Esox

2008-05-11T17:34:00.000-07:00

Ok, so A new fishing season has arrived, I am going to try to post one a week or more depending on how much I can get out....

Minnesota Opener way yesterday the 10th of May. I took a half-day afternoon/evening trip with Red River guide Brad Durick. Good friend Nick from Fargo came up to tag along as we too our shot at battling the weather and river to find the channel cats that the Red river is know for. As many of you know Opener started with a few inches of snow on the ground for us, and looked pretty gloomy until about noon. By the time 2 o'clock rolled around the snow had melted and it was time to hop in the boat and head to the ramp. Buy 2:30 we were in the river and found a nice cut on the edge of the fast water, we dropped a front an rear anchor to hold position. Now when I say that it was 10 seconds from the time the first rod was set in the holder, I'm not kidding. We didn’t even have the second rod set yet and our third rod didn’t have bait and we had a fish on. It was a nice 8-pound channel, a good start to the day as fast as the kitten slammed the cut bait. our action never stopped over the next four hours, we would have a lul, but never longer then 15 minutes. Our total for 4 hours of fishing was 32 channel cats, that’s one fish every 7.5 minutes. I had a knack for snagging nick chunks of wood, or losing my fish in the snags, nick had the hot hand landing 4 of the first 9 fish and two of the three biggest fish of the day. Nick set a new Personal best (PB) with an 18-pound kitty. The five biggest cats of the day were 18, 17, 16, and a pair of 15-pound fish. It there was any worries about effects of a kill off from last fall, let me be the first to say, don’t worry about them. All of the fish we caught were fat a healthy; they fought to beat the dickens.

I have to thank Captain Brad Durick for taking Nick and myself on this trip, it has made for one of the best openers I have ever had. Brad can be contacted on his website www.Braddruick.com If anybody is in need of a great day on the river, or just wants to get out with a buddy or kids, Captain Brad is your man.

Good day
Esox

2007-10-30T06:33:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since i posted anything, so I guess now is as good of time as ever. Since my last blog, I have assisted with filming a TV show called Cat fishing America here in Grand Forks on the Red river. I made a week long trip to canada with my good friend Rich Thorpe, we fish monroe lake in ontario. I spent a few days with my family, my wife has returned, and Hunting season has finnaly kicked off. I will blog about all these events over the next few weeks.

Esox

2007-07-04T18:36:00.000-07:00

Today I got to take my pops fishing here on the red river. We had a good time, but we are still learnign the river all overagain. he caught 2 cats. Nothign to big, so we will have to try again. But I did talk my grandma barb into getting a tattoo.... IT rocks, she is 71 years old and got her first tattoo...

2007-05-21T18:22:00.000-07:00

LAst week I got to spend a day on the river with My wife Crystal and Our oldest daughter Alaska. It was our day with Mom before she left. WE put the boat in the water at about 1030, then headed down stream to one of our favorite snags. IT wasn't long till we had a hok-up. a 16 inch 12 pound cat. Alaska caught a few gold eye, then her and crystal fell asleep in the front of the boat. I decided to try a new spot that was productive. I caught a few walleyes, and a couple more cats. My total red river score was -291, so it was a good day. Crystal has now deployed down range. She e-mail to let me know that she made it safe. She is working 12 hour shifts 6 days a week. So atleast her time will go by fast. The girls and I are writing her letter each and every day. This weekend comming up my mom and dad will be visiting, so we should have a good time. If anybody want crystal mailing address shoot me an e-mail at falchj@gmail.com

Jon F

2007-05-15T20:52:00.000-07:00

Hello to all my adoring fans... The past two weeks I have been tryign to relax, and most of you know how that goes... I did manage to stomp down a gobbles last thurday. The Bird was 16 pounds, and had a 5 inch beard. I got to make it out fishing twice in the past 4 days... Saturday Mike Hutchings and I we to a small coulie that i heard about from good friend Jig-em. WE sat just below the dam there and pounded rough fish. We caught close to 50 goldeye, drum, sheephead, suckers, and carp. Thanks to the 20 Goldeye, I now have catfishing bait for the next month or so. Since I had this goldeye on hand Rich Thorpe and I hit the river monday night. Conditions were less then we exspected, Wind was out of the North at about 20-25 miles per hour. A mist kept trying to rain on us, but we managed. Weended up boating 7 cats total, 5 of which were over 16 pounds. Rich T caught the most and biggest cat that tipped the scales at 21 pounds and 35.5 inches long. It was a great evenign to get out on the river. Tomorrow I am taking Alaska and Crystal out in the boat. I am trying to spend as much time wiht crystal as possible be for she deploys down range here in the next week.

Have a good day and keep those lines wet.

Esox

2007-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:00

Here i am again, its a weekend and I am at hoem on my computer... With the wife leaving in a few weeks I'm trying to spend some time at home. But I still got out and wet a line this week. For lunhc one day this week Rich and I drove over to the little creek that is behind base and caught a fw sucks to use for catfish bait. It was a good time. Be back next week Esox

2007-04-29T09:03:00.000-07:00

Sorry for teh delay folks, It has been busy here in Falkville. I was in Mississippe for 6 weeks then had to run home for a family emergency. I'm now back and was tryign to get into the swing of things for this up comming open water season when we found out that my wife will be deploying for the summer. I will now play the role of Mr. Mom, it should be a fun experance. I know crystal is thinking that is will be a bit scary.

This past week though I got the boat on the water for the first time. Good friend Rich T, Jessica M from the the dessart and I went to lake of the woods sturgeon fishing. We meet Good friends Brad and Brad from Why-fish Radion and had a great sturgeon excursion. Sturgeon are a preastoric fish that have a dominate bone structure. They grow in excess of 75 inches and weigh just much. our trip produced 25 fish for our boat. The two largest were 49 inches. We had 9 fish that were over 40inches. The brads had great numbers because they had a secret weapon. We were using frozen shinners with a crawler on a 3/0 hook behind a 3oz no roll weight. This was working just fine for us, but the Brads were outfihing us 2-1 because there shinners were salted. That one fact seemed to make a huge differance. Over all it was a good trip. we should be gettign out for trout here in the next week or so. I will keep all of you posted.

Esox

2007-03-02T05:12:00.000-08:00

Ok, I am going to be slamming my post for the past two week up here in the next two days. I am sorry I fell behind, but family and fishing come first... I have ventured back to my little pike pond a few more time even got my South Texan wife on the ice. She was not impressed with me when I drove "Her Truck" onto the ice. She was pale white for a few minutes. We were joined by Brad Durick of www.Why-fish.com and Kent Hollands of www.trophycatadventures.com with his son Kolby. After Brad proved to Crystal that there was plenty of ice (33 inches) we proceed to make a huge box pattern with a X in the middle for our tip-up spread 14 tip-ups in all. It wasn't long till Brad saw the first flag fly. After a quick match of flag fight I ripped lips on a nice 4lb northern Pike. Crystal finnaly got out of the truck and we took a nice picture. Conditions that day were 18 degrees partly cloudy and a slight NW wind. Total 14 flag glew and 8 pike were ice and released.

Check out www.Whyfish.com episode 102 for a little more on crystals first trip on the ice.

Esox

2007-02-16T17:03:00.000-08:00

I took one evening this past week to show good friend Brad Durick or Why-fish Radio a small pike pond close to where we live. We meet up about 3 that afternoon, the tempature was just above zero. Skies were partly cloudy, and a slight north wind was blowing. we drill a 8 hole patters in an "L" shape with 3 holes along the shoreline in about 3-5 feet of water. The other 5 holes were in a zig-zag pattern perpendicular to the others. For bait we used whole 3-5 inch smelt. The tip-ups were set just off the bottom, thanks to a new way I learned on how to set my depth from brad. It was only about 15 minutes till the first flag flew and a 5-6 pound snake was poking his head out of the whole. From there out Flags were consistanly popping every 10-15 minutes and it was there that I learned that Brad can spot a flag 3 minutes before the fish has taken the bait. 5 Fish were Ice and all were released. The largest was just under 8lbs and smalles was just over 2lbs. It was a great way to spend my last evening off before I had to go back to work.

Tomorrow Brad, Kent Hollads from Trophy Cat Adventures, his son Kolby, and myslef will be taking my wife Crystal ice fishing for the firts time. Crystal is from south taxes and thinks that ice fishing is about the dumbest thing she has ever heard of. But some how I have talked her into playing flag tackle. I will report on that and my 3 day trip to upper red next week. Also I made my son Brison a Mobile for above his crib, attached is a picture.

http://www.why-fish.com/
http://www.trophycatadventures.com/

Later
Esox

2007-02-13T17:05:00.000-08:00

All right now that I am back, I plan on putting everything into gear and tightening the drag down. My fisrt fishing adventrue after I got back was thanks to good friend Loren Keiser of Fargo. Loren got me hooked up with Matt Breuer of North Country Guide Service. Matt and fellow guide Scott Hanson lead me on a venture for Perch and Walleye on Lake Bemidji. Althought it was the coldest day in 3 years (-35 degrees not counting the wind chill) Matt and Scott still managed to put me on some nice perch. It was a morning well spent with a bounus of watching a Crawdad tear into on of the dead minnow below our holes. It was a great way to get back into the fishing scene and a good friends were made.

A few days later for my birthdayI was grace with the presence of Jig-Em-Up Josh on the Ice of the western pond. Again a few more perch were stuck that day and great stories were shared while we caught up. The fish were again in a super negitive mode beacuse of the long cold snap that was in the area. Temps were at -15 all day long, not much wind and not a clould in the sky. I believe 8 perch came to play with our jigs. We did notice a funny haze the fisrt 6 feet under the ice. The ice was closing in on 30+ inches think, Josh and I both decieded not to fish again with out a gas auger. More to come Esox

To fish with Matt check out his website http://www.northcountryguides.com/

2007-02-12T14:49:00.000-08:00

I am back from Iraq, and currenly in North Dakota. My family is well and its great to be with them again. Sorry I didn't post for so long, but my access to the site was block from my location. Now that I am back I will be postign regualy with my updates and storys from my trips. Can't wait to hear from you take care.

Esox

2006-10-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

Wow what a week. This week has been my busiest so far. Nothing has gone right. Stuff has broke, every day, or needed to be upgraded. I have worked a 22 hour shift, and two 16 hour shift. But that wasn’t enough. They thought it would be a good idea to have my tent move. So after work today I have to pack all my stuff, disassemble my bed, and haul it all by foot a quarter mile to my new tent. Needless to say I was very tired when I went to bed. But I only got 3.5 hours of sleep before I had to be back at work. That’s enough of me whining.

When I cam into work today I had three packages waiting for me. We haven’t received mail in three day due to a stoppage of convoys. The first package was from Anne-Marie, she sent me some goodies, and Christmas lights. The lights were very useful in lighting our break area that only hand on strand of half burn out lights form last year. Dr. T and Rich sent the 2nd package I dug though. This had reading material, SCRATCH OFFS, and my favorite, the new Artic Cat DVD. The 3rd package I opened was from my folks. IT contained two bags of Lolly pops which my coworkers destroyed in a matter of minutes. It also contained a lot of my favorite reading material. Also in the box from my folks was a stack of over a hundred Thank You cards from the Wisconsin FFA Sectional Leadership Conference. I handed a few to the crew I work with but opened and read each one. On the day that I was really down these were the greatest prescription that anybody could have given me… Katie Thank you. That is what I needed to bring my self out of a funky week.

I have good new to all my family and Friends, Crystal is doing very good, and we are expecting Brison to arrive any day. Have a good day. JON

2006-10-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

I must be real special, cause I now have Three Angles. I got my first package today from my sponsor Anne-Marie. It contained Play Dough. We haven’t stopped eating it yet. JK. It is lots of fun though. Work has been so-so so far this week. Enough to keep us busy. I have spent most of my time learning about Voice over IP. And think I might be starting to get it.

New on the home front. My wife is about ready to pop with our son. I am hoping that she can wait till my mom can get there Sunday. I personally am excited, and can’t wait. I also can’t wait to get home. I have to give a super huge Thanks to my Family for the help that they have pledged. My mom is going up for two weeks and I really hope she is there for the birth. My sister is going up and going to Help out for a weekend right after that. And my dad who is going to take the train up and Bring Crystal and the Girls back to Wisconsin where the rest of the family can stop by. I have a great family, and I want them to know how grateful I am for there Help while I am here.

My friend Jessica came from Grand Forks with me and it just happens that we are on the same shift. She wanted a photo for her parents in full gear. So while she was at it her and I took a picture together doing our real jobs…

Jon

2006-10-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

October 8, 2006

Sorry for the long time between post, I guess that talking to everybody over e-mail I just forgot about it. Here is my new news: I now have an Angel; her name is Anne-Marie. She is from just our side of L.A. She is my sponsor through a website that pairs up deployed troops with a sponsor to send them letters and correspondence, kind of a pen pal.

I have been pretty busy the past few days, I actually go another day off, so that was a nice relief. Again I really didn’t know what to do with that much time on my hands. Work was really constant for three days, which is good because the time passes pretty fast. I went fishing for the first time in a month the other morning. I know, that probably the longest I have been with out fishing since, well I can’t remember. I didn’t catch anything, but it was definitely worth the time. Brad never fear I think I know what my next article is going to be on. Since today is Sunday I get to call Alaska and talk to her, she still thinks that I am “On a Rock”. So my day will be pristine. Adios my friends

Esox

2006-09-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

I finally got a day off. I played a couple of games of poker, watched a movie, and played games on the computer, It was nice to have a break. Here is the news of the week thought. Crystal sent me pictures and in and E-mail letting me know that Aspen started walking yesterday. That is a Super Kewl Thing. Now she is really going to have her hands full.

Today I thought I would write about my living quarters here. I live in a temper tent, with 5 other guys. It is sectioned off using sheets into 6 living spaces that are 8’X8’. In each area there is a twin bed, small folding table, one folding chair, and a wall locker to keep gear in. When I move din I was lucky enough that the person before me left a mat carpet, so I don’t have a plywood floor. Each room has an extension cord running to it for power and a 50 watt light bulb hanging off the ceiling. The tents are surrounded by sandbags. On the front on most tents (mine included) some people have built a common room or vestibule. There range in sizes and some people that have built them were pretty creative. Attached is a picture of one of our tents here.

One a really good note I got a package today from my folks with a fishing rod inside… Watch out…

Esox

2006-09-26T15:42:00.000-07:00

Today is now Sep. 27th, Been kind of busy today. Yesterday Afternoon I had Post Attack Reconnaissance (PAR) training. I am a team leader that would go out after any attack or exercise and access any damage or look for things that are out of the ordinary. It was only about an hour and half long, but that a long time when its 114 degrees out. I hope that I never have to use any of this training expect when we are doing an exercise. I got my 2nd package today, Thanks Doc. T and Rich. Keep the fish coming; we can’t get enough of them. I also got a E-mail from my mother that had some pictures of my new cousins, they all looked like Hamilton’s to me. When I got to work this evening the day shift was working on a issue that we took control of the had fixed in just a little bit. After that we had a regular to do’s enough that is last almost half of our shift. It was good to work kind of made the day go bye. We Got to go for now, keep your stick on the Ice. The picture today was taken while I was lounging at work.

Esox

2006-09-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today is day 8. Funny it seems the same as day seven as far as I am concerned. I told my pops that it was beginning to seem like I was Bill Murray in the movie Ground Hog Day. His reply was that in the movie every day something was learned that was used the next day. I thought that was pretty good advice. All is quiet here, and I am thankful for that. I have started to get into a routine eat, work, gym, shower, and sleep. When ever I do get a day off I have no idea of what I am going to do. Currently in my off time I go to the gym, play bingo, and game a little with some of my co-workers. Later this week I am planning on taking a tour of the Ziggurat. It is supposedly the place where humanity began, the birth place of Abraham. That is something that I have to see just to say I have been there. I hope to have pictures to show you when I get back. This week was pretty long but had some great highlights. Yesterday I got to talk to my daughter Alaska. She thinks that I am “On a Rock” when I am really in Iraq. Every day before she goes to bed her and Aspen (my youngest daughter) punch away at the keyboard to send me a goodnight e-mail. I’m not really sure what there saying but I like reading it. I have made contact through most everybody at home through E-mail. It is a great thing. The older of my sisters Sam does the same thing I do; she gets bored at work and mails everybody. I received my first package two days ago. My parents send it the week before I left. It contained Slim Jim’s, cookies, Rice Crispy treats, and some hunting and fishing magazines and a local paper. The food is a treat that goes quickly cause it just right to share with everybody. But the reading material is where its at. It helps fill the days at work that seem to stretch out forever. Well I will let every body go now and write in a day or two, I will have more to write then. The picture above is of myslef in all my gear It was taken on the plain ride into Iraq Aboard a C-130.

Esox

2006-09-21T14:46:00.000-07:00

As some of you know I am active duty military in the air force. Last week my Iraqi adventure started with a long plain ride from GF to Norfolk, Va. From there I made a trip that lasted almost 24 hours to Al Udied Air base in Qatar. My crew had a two day layover there were we enjoyed out last few days of not working and enjoying our sleep. We were teased wiht a 3 alcholic beverages a day limit. My final plane ride took me to my current location here in Ali air base in southern Iraq. I am working in a communication shop that supports the whole base. On base we work with Air Force, Army, British, Australian army, and the Iraqi Army. I a looking forward to what I am doing for the learning experience, friend I will make and stories I will have for you ll. I am going to try to blog once a week so that you all can keep up with my situation and on goings.

Esox