Looking forward to feeling better!

I mentioned in my last post that I have been feeling a little Blah lately, but I am now looking forward to a better blog this week! I have one friend who has actually known me longer than my own cousins have! My oldest brother, Jeff, had a girlfriend named Debbie Grant way back before my cousins moved here and she was a part of our family back then and I've never forgotten her. When I started working at Viejas I actually ran into her one night as I was clocking in and she was clocking out. We would see each other occasionally and chat and catch up a little and now she is one of my happy customers at the wagon! Over the years she has been through a lot and has learned a lot and she is looking forward to teaching me what she knows about fishing and boats! I'm quite excited to have a day on the water with her this week! So, I will hopefully have some exciting photo's and a good fish story to tell by the end of the week! On top of being able to spend a day with her I get a bonus day off this week!! That is probably equally as exciting at this point!! So...... Keep a lookout for the fish story of the week! I think I'll make both days off fishing days, just to be sure and get a good story!! Still a little in blahzville, but looking forward to the train ride out!!

Friday July 25

This is my other boat! Can you see the helicopter on the back?!

Ok...... The truth is that this is my dream boat! We had a couple of theories why this big beauty was just hanging out in the bay, and the one we decided to agree on was that it probably belonged to a celebrity that was in town for the Comicon weekend here in San Diego. Word was that Paris Hilton was in town and she even made her way to El Cajon to eat at Applebee's right down the street. And I missed it! Oh Well!! Anyway. We really liked this boat and I actually forgot to take pictures of the fish we had caught up until this point and when I took this picture my battery died on the camera! So this next picture was taken from my cell phone.

This is Christopher's baby sculpin. They are some pretty ugly fish and can sting you with their prickly backs but from what I understand they make good fish taco's! This little guy was just about 8 inches tho, I think a taco could eat him!!

So, in our alphabet game, we name our fish alphabetically and this helps us keep track of how many we catch and we come up with some pretty cleaver names!! Makes fishing fun! Well, fishing already is fun, but this is just another added bonus.

We caught up to Y, so that is 25 fish and 22 of them were bass. Pretty good day. We had a couple of 2 pounders and I got the big fish prize because mine was 2 1/2 lb. Chris got 9, so he got the most and that earned him 3 bucks from the crew. Stacey caught the first so she got 3 bucks from the crew and I got the biggest, so really Crenda's the only one that had to pay all three of us and not get any in return!

I've been in a funk all week and haven't really been feeling very social, so it was really because Crenda and Stacey forced me into fishing that I even went. I'm still not feeling very social so today's blog is pretty blahggy. Maybe next week will be better.

Until then............. Happy Blogging

Well.......... Here is the odd catch of the day!

I caught the first fish...... awarding me $4 American dollars!! Then Leslie caught the B fish and while she was taking him off her hook Chris started reeling in and found a little octopuss on the end of his line!

So when we go out we each give a dollar to the first fish, the biggest fish, and the most fish. We had a slow day and Chris, Leslie, Stacey and me all caught 4 each and poor little Crenda was skunked. So, we just gave Chris a buck each for catching the odd fish of the day!

We changed locations a few times and we ended up by the Coronado Bridge where there was a fishing boat stranded with 4 people on board asking for a tow.

So, we towed these nice guys to the Coronado launch.

When we first got to the bay it was pretty overcast, not cold but just grey. Then the Sun came out and we got a little toasty. Stacey said her face hurt, so she took a nice cold cloth and put it over her face..... Don't know if it helped much for catching fish, I think she was disquising the fact that she was taking a little nappy nap!!

Next week should be a better tide and we should have a better fish story to tell!

Until then............... I'm off pimpin' weenies!

Continuing my intro....

"Granny", as we lovingly refer to Judi, is another big part of my life! I met Granny in 1983 when I came back to California after moving to Idaho for a few years. She was the first person to be stuck training me at HGH. She will admit that she didn't really like the idea of training me at first, but then she ended up liking me and we became great friends! My mom was still in Idaho and I was staying with my Aunt Mabel, (a slightly bitter woman at times), and Granny and I just kinda latched on to eachother! She had 4 kids at home, and all but one of them was close to my age! Cyndie, seen in this pic to the right is just a year younger than me. Then we have Rick, who is a year older than me. Then there is Penny, who is a year or maybe two younger than Cyndie, but we've always said that Penny was the more "mature" one! She was mistaken for being older than Cyndie more than once! Then we have Julie, the baby! She was just 13 or 14 when I first met them! Over the years we have accepted each other as family! I love this family like crazy!! Unfortunately for me, none of these crazy people fish! I don't know..... maybe it's unfortunate for them! These pictures, by the way, were of Granny's birthday when she turned fifty something! It was a surprise party and SHE WAS SURPRISED!! This is Dan! Danword as he is often referred to for an unknown reason. I have known Dan since we were 13! He is one of very few people left that has known me this long! Dan and I went "Steady" for a whole day, back in 1978! He was so cute and I was such a brat! We always said that if we weren't married by the time we turned 35 we would accept the fact that we were really meant to be together and get hitched. But I think we may have decided better of that decision! Ok..... ONE of us has made the decision to never bring THAT up!! I love Dan like my own brother! He and I go way back and we have been thru life and death together and we share something that I can't explain, (I still don't want him back!) Crenda and I tried to help him out for awhile and he was doing well, then Mark >> had just gone thru a hurtful divorce and moved back to San Diego and needed a room-mate....... YAY!! We found an adoptive home for Dan!! Sorry Mark! But we thank you for putting up with all you have the last 10 years!! You need an honorable mention somewhere! Mark is another special man in my life. I was his supervisor at ARC San Diego when we first met. He does like to fish and we have had our share of fish stories and boat stories! Mark is a special kind of "special". Our birthdays are just a day apart and we have an understanding of each other that just gets us in trouble! Sometimes with each other and sometimes with others! My mom didn't like him at first, but when I told her of his accomplishments and his hard road traveled she grew an appreciation and decided to give him a chance and they ended up being friends in the end! < Kristen, Stacey, Crenda "Busch" javon> <Peggy Christopher> I have been blessed with some very special people in my life! I will spare you of any further picture plus intro, and sum up the pics with names. Kristen and Stacey are people I worked with at the casino. They have remained in my life as buddies, fishing and other childish games we play! Javon is a very special child! He is Lori's great nephew and one smart cookie! He learned how to fish last summer and he likes me, so he can't be all that bad of a guy!! Peggy!! Speaking of colorful! She has colored my life many times! She has known me actually a little longer than Danword. She was my moms best friend and a co-worker back in the '70s! Peggy has helped me through some moments! I really appreciated her humor and kindness when Mom died. That may sound wierd to need humor in a time of such grief, but it was much appreciated and needed! My mom was a funny lady and I will always appreciate that!! We found some pretty odd times to laugh at life, and Peggy knew my mom pretty well, and knew how important it was for me to keep a level head or lose myself completely!! So, another key player in my mixed up life! And this brings us to Christopher!! He and I decided last year that we may as well get married! We haven't actually done this legally, but we call each other husband and wife, and we have 4 kids already! They are Sharquise, Toeneesha, and the twins, Patron and Margarita! The twins are good little babies! The other two are troublesome and we ship them off to camp or accross the border to sell gum so we don't have to deal with the police!! Are you getting the idea that I am the nut job I promised you?! That's why my people love me and I love them! We are all a bunch of fruit cakes!! And now..... you are a part of my world! Welcome!!! I was going to go fishing today, as we always do on Fridays, but the weather looks gloomy and my back has been killing me lately and I have a new addiction..... Blogging!! I will end this intro for today and I'll be back with more fishing pictures and start telling some fish stories!! Some of them actually have to do with FISH!!

"Please allow me to introduce myself....."

So........... Here I am and there you are!

I am Kerry, from San Diego, and I'm a girl who loves to fish and tell fish stories!!

My cousin, Mickey, inadvertantly may have gotten me hooked on blogging. We'll see how this goes and maybe we'll have the whole G. & J. Thomas family blogging and we'll finally have found a way to keep up with each other!

In the meantime I'll introduce myself and as time goes on I will have to introduce my "Family".

I don't have any immediate family left and frankly, that really sucks! But I do have the best uncles and cousins in the world and nobody could compare to the friends I have! True friends I must say! Not everyone has that blessing to have people who are there for you even when they don't really have to be!! I have been orphanned, but I have been blessed, this I can't deny!

So, as my name implies and as I have pointed out, I am a girl who loves to fish!! This first picture here is my very first shark! I have only caught three and the first two were caught on consecutive days. My third was about six months later after I got a boat. That's right! My first two were just surf fishing at the bay here in Beautiful San Diego!! I've always been intrigued by sharks and have for as long as I can remember wanted to catch one. But if his teeth are bigger than mine, I'm cutting the line! If he's as pretty as this one I want a picture. I mostly catch, picture and release. Every once in awhile someone will want us to bring fish home for them. So, we keep the BIGGUNS!! We always try to take at least one camera with us so we don't miss anything extraordinary!! Except the one! Holy cow! That sucker was as big as the boat as I remember it and by the time I realized how big he was I was slow in getting him to the net, and Leslie, (you'll meet her later) was slow in getting her camera! Sorry folks! The big one got away and we didn't even get a picture!! But I'm telling you, the teeth on that sucker must have been neglected for a long time cuz they were UGLY!!! Now that I think about it.... We probably should have cut the line anyway! He was too big for that little boat and his teeth were bigger than all of ours!!

So......... These are my cousins!! Ha ha ha!!

I'd like to thank them for not cutting the line when I showed up!! They are good people!

I'm pretty sure these aren't ALL my cousins!

Back row from the left is Aunt Chips, everyone loves Aunt Chips!! Then we have my cousin, Norman and two kids I couldn't swear to as to who they are, but I'm sure we knew them at the time! Then on the end is my little bro Danny.

Front row from the left is a little girl (??) then my cousin who we can all hold responsible for getting me on here, Mickey, and next to her in that stylish blue jacket is Suzy, (Scull Breaker), and next to her on the end is, ahh hhemmm, your's truly, The Scull!!

So............ That's it for family family. I do have two uncles left and they happen to be my mother's twin brother, Uncle Scotty, he is Mickey, Suzy, and Norman's Daddy. And dear ol' Uncle Skip, the youngest of their clan.

I promise that as soon as you get a little familiar with me I will make this a lot more interesting!! I just think you may enjoy my antics a little more if you know a little about me first!

I invite you to introduce yourself to me as well, I'd like to know who's peeping around in my blog gloset ('closet' get it!) . Yup! I'm a little odd at times but that's why you're gonna learn to like me and you're gonna get addicted to reading kerrbears Fish stories!

So! Are you ready to meet my other family?! Now let me warn you, THEY are Nuts!! After all

look who they choose to hang out with!!

Next I'd like to introduce my girlfriend Lori. She likes to fish as well, and I'll be throwing out some fun fish stories of her in good time!! This picture was taken on our cruise to the Carribean. They wouldn't let me bring my fishing pole or I'm sure I would have been trolling!!

I used to work at a local Indian casino and that's where I met Lori. That was about 5 or 6 years ago. We would just talk and get in trouble for just loitering at work! Well, let me correct myself! I would get in trouble because Lori wasn't getting her work done!! She still thinks that's funny!!

I'm still confused!!

Anyway........... she's a beautiful girl inside and out! She isn't happy on the inside, but that's what I'm here for! One of these days I'll find a way to make her happy!!

Now, I'd like you to meet Buddy!! He's quite the brave sole!

Buddy is a 10 year old Manchester Terrier. He is the best little guy a girl could ask for!

Buddy was first rescued from an abusive environment and then I took him home with me and did some training and helped him to trust people again and then gave him to my mom and Aunt Mabel as a companion. He was the best thing since ice cream for them! He is such an independent little rascal and entertaining in many ways!! He brought so much joy to these two women it was a blessing to see!! Now since losing my mother, he and I have bonded in a way that I didn't think was possible! We understand each other and we grieve together and he entertains me and keeps Moms joy alive!

My baby boy Rocky was the light of my life before Buddy came to live with us and I believe he was Buddy's best bud as well!!

Meet Rocky!

Rest in Peace

Rocky lived to be 14 years old. He was a Shepard mix, I found at the animal shelter one day.

It was funny how that happened. I was just kidding around when I said, "I'm going to the pound to pick up a new best friend!" I couldn't believe it when I found him! All these dogs were barking and jumping on the fences and I walked by this kennel and noticed this guy! He was about 6 months old I figured and he was just laying there by the fence. I rattled his cage and said something to him and he sat up and moved closer and propped himself against the wall as if to say, "I thought You'd never come!" I fell in love right then and there and that was that!!

He went home with me that day and I took him to work with me that night and the girls I was working with at the time got to stay up a little later that night and they came up with his name.

Rocky was a special boy with a wonderful understanding of the human language, both spoken and unspoken! One day someone said, "Rocky can't jump this high. We shouldn't have to put the fence up this high." Right then as if on command, Rocky looked up at us and jumped that wall just like he had to prove he understood and YES HE COULD JUMP THAT HIGH!

Another time I took a friend to the lake with Rocky and me and she was trying to get him to go in the water. I said, "Nah, don't bother, I don't think he swims, he won't go in." And this was the first time he did something like this. He watched my friend throw a rock in the water and he took off after it!! That was the day he fell in love with the water!! He couldn't get enough! That boy loved to swim and play in the water!! Yup! That's my Rocky!!

Next, I want to introduce my Bestest Friend in the whole world.............. Kardi JonZ!! Her real name is Crenda, but one of her clients called her Kardi JonZ and it stuck!! I will never understand how I could take this young girl who had never even held a fishing pole and turn her into a better angler than myself!! How could that happen?!!

I met Crenda in 1991 at ARC San Diego. We didn't really become friends until a year or two later. As our friendship grew and our lives changed we ended up as companions. I taught her how to fish on a lake that is primarily a Trout lake and that first trip she out fished me!! Not only did she catch one more than me but for every fish she caught it was bigger than every fish I caught!! And she has been fishing that way ever since!! I moved her out of trout fishing and into Bass fishing. She out did me! I moved her from Lake fishing to Bay fishing.......... She out did me there. And as you can see in this picture.... She catches the bigguns on the big water too!! It's MY BOAT!!!! Can't she show a little respect?!!!

I am proud!! She has really come a long way!!

This is my best friend Marshall James Jofess Jingleheimerschmidt and that's his mom Shawnie!

Shawnie and I go back a few years!! I was 24 and she was 20 if I remember right! We worked together at another facility for DD. Shawnie doesn't do much fishing, actually I don't think she has ever gone fishing with me!! Marshall has! He's quite the angler I must say!! That boy took a long time to finally put on the tall pants and now he's trying to grow out of them!! Shawnie and I tell a different kind of fish story! I'm sure if I hang around here long enough......... I'll share one or two with you!!! Another trouble maker that I couldn't live without!! We love each other but we pretend that love isn't in our vocabulary!! I was touched last year when she told me that she was pregnant again and they wanted to name her lynn after me!! Well, it's more than just lynn, but that doesn't matter! All that matters is that what ever you want to call her you get to put lynn on the end of it and it's MY namesake!! How cool is that?!! Not only that but she asked me to marry her!! Well.......... let me put it another way.... She asked if I would officiate her wedding when she married her man Denny!! Now THAT means I'm special to someone!!

I really did!! I got to marry my friends!! That was a great experience!!

That's my boy!! That was taken after our fishing trip with Joe, Shawnie's dad. One of those halibut is Marsh's and one is mine! We did ok that day!

This is Leslie!! She is my other first mate! When our Friday crew goes out on the water, Leslie is the best first mate!!

She has learned how to back the trailer into the water to launch and retrieve the boat. She has also learned how to get behind the wheel of the boat and launch and retrieve!!

I think it's pretty cool to see a bunch of girls go out on the water and get in and out before a bunch of guys!! Leslie is ALL GIRL too!! How about that!!! I'm pretty proud of my Friday crew!! I am confident that if anything was to happen out on the water, nobody would panic and everything would be ok! Way to go team!!

Leslie used to be my supervisor, and I don't really reacall doing much of anything with her outside of work!! We would talk occasionally at work and we may have run into each other at the beach a time or two, and we may have done some crazy stuff at Walmart and accidentally run into each other while we were doing the same crazy stuff, but our friendship and personal lives have only just recently crossed since I've left the casino!! REALLY!!!!