Just a funny little thing....

It cracks me up all the Amish people at come into work and take pictures of the mountain and animals with their cell phones and digital cameras. How does that work?!

Just some pics of lately

Me on our beer run

Me & JP...crazy good times!

JP's feelin good in this pic!


Me, JP, & hen gadwall duck Sunday night

Me & our hen gadwall

JP & his little bro Nick & the hen gadwall Sun. ngiht

JP & hen gadwall Sunday night hunt

Markie Mark- the DU dog

This morning, JP, Ryan, and I went out in the marsh again to bring some din din home. We had two mallards come flying by us, circling in to land. So, we all raised our barrels and shot at em. We had one dead, but it was in the middle of the boat launch canal (too deep to wade to get it), and shot and injured another one....not sure where that one went.

Our dilemma now is how to get our dead duck. We could wait for a boat to come and maybe fetch it for us, but by that time it could be blown to the other side in the weeds. Being a hardcore waterfowl hunter, I stepped up to strip down and swim to get it. I was down to my skibbies and jumped in, swam about 15 yards out and was freakin freezing. I swam back in, dried off with a hoodie, and got re-dressed. The duck floated on.

A bit later, I realized we could walk the field on the other side of the weeds on the other side of the marsh and retrieve it. That's what we did. Why I didn't think of that before I took the polar bear plunge, I have no clue. Regardless, we got our duck. We tried to stalk up in a back pothole and get some wood ducks. We jumped 4-5 up and shot at em, but even the best shooter sometimes misses!

All in all, great day with great buddies!

Fan-freakin-tastic day!

Me, Ryan, & JP went out for a freakin fun evening in the marsh. Good evening, had a hen pintail land in within the first 1/2 hour of being out there. Then JP's squeaky toy couldn't call geese in, but were they ever curious as to what was making such a hideous sound! HAHA!! Going out again Friday morning before work.....great times in the duck blind! Then me & JP went and hung out at his place for a little bit before coming home and prepping the duck for lunch tomorrow!!

One down, one to go....

Had the first part of my intro to biz exam this morning. It was very easy and I feel very comfortable about how I did on it. Part two is Monday. Don't think that will be so bad either.

Went to my law class that I had the test in on Monday. She didn't mention anything about the exam or hand it back. Then finally, at the end of class, she said she had them graded, but hadn't applied the curve yet. WHAT?! Normally, a professor adds a curve onto all the test grades if the scores in the class weren't so hot. We could go up and get our grades without the curve added though. I was almost scared to, because I didn't want any bad news today. I did though. While waiting in line, the two people in front of me had a 58 and a 62. The nerves were getting a little frazzled. It came to me and she told me I got an 86 (remember, that's before she adds the curve). What a relief, I did good!!

Tonight, Ryan, JP, and I are going out hunting. Ryan's never been and likes to give me crap and tell me how much more fun and challenging deer hunting is. I tell him he don't have room to knock it before he tries it! Last night, he bought his licenses and shells to waterfowl hunt. Right after I leave my last class, I'm gonna meet them for an evening hunt! I'm converting everyone in my department one by one from big game hunting to duck and goose! They're both really cool guys, so it should be fun!

The forecast I just heard for weather includes our first snow next week....burrrrr!!

It's Monday...

...and my dragging feet are proof. I am so tired, it was one of those drives to Ypsi I don't even remember how I got here! Last night I was supposed to work 3-10. We are rearranging our department and tried to do a lot of it last night when we closed. Ryan, Brandon, and I were goofing around, I decided to stay til about 12:15. I had to get up for school at 6. Law test in my 2nd class today- then I think I am ditching my last 2 classes that I know we are not doing anything in. But, shhhh...don't tell Mom!!!

Good Morning America!

This is the third time I've attempted to post this....somehow it keeps getting erased! I hope the third time is the charm!

Just thought I'd stop by and blog and say hello! It's been a couple of mediocre days. Worked on my business breifing presentation for Cabela's last night. It's a school project that I have to present on the 27th. It's done now, so I don't have to worry about it! Not a bad project though, researching a company I'm familiar with and like, working with PowerPoint is kinda fun too, even though the new version is kinda difficult to navigate!

Today I don't work til noon, so I laid in bed a majority of the morning catching up on some old "West Wing" re-runs on Bravo. I always did love that show, and wish it was still on. I could always picture myself being one of the staffers at the White House. Nice to imagine sometimes!

Well, hope everyone has a good day!

Weekend Wrap-up

These pictures were taken in Milan today on my way home from school. Fall is really my favorite time of the year!!

Well, it truly was one heck of a weekend. Lots of fun, a few ducks, and very little sleep!

Friday I got off work at 10 and headed straight for Ike's house. We finished getting everything ready for the hunt and went to sleep about 12:30 or 1. We were up at 3 on Saturday morning and out to the marsh by 3:30. We got everything set up, including that sweet blind we built and waited for shooting time (7:11).

About 20 minutes before shooting time, two guys decided to canoe in and set up about 50 yards away from us. Bull crap! We were out there since 3:30! We tried talking to them and they didn't care. Screwed our morning hunt big time. They were using electronic calls (illegal in Michigan) and shooting at swans. Their Mojo duck (a motorized duck that spins its wings to get ducks in your decoys) was attracting everything and they were sky busting big time (shooting at birds no matter how high). Took everything from us. Nothing Saturday morning. We went in about 10 and reorganized for the evening.

Saturday night we went out to state land in Erie and hunted. Ike's Uncle Johnny came along with us. It was off the hook. Thousands of geese and lots of ducks. I won bragging rights until next year, I shot the first duck of the season...a hen mallard. Then Mike shot a drake mallard and a hen pintain. Johnny shot a hen mallard and a hen wood duck. It was really crazy! We got in about 8:30 and got everything organized and ready for the morning. Got to sleep around 11.

We got up at 3 again and met Johnny to go back out to Erie. Got there and started setting up and some guys decided to come in and start setting up at the same time. We tried to reason with him too, and he didn't care. In fact, he actually just threatened to shoot our way (which meant shoot us!) if we didn't move. What jerks, ya know?! So we conceded and moved back to the spot we hunted the previous night. Mike and Johnny got a duck each, no luck for me. Got a teal and an American Wigeon. Came in and passed out for a little bit, then Ike and I went back to the marsh we normally hunt and waited for woodies. One buzzed right over my head after we'd been there about 20 minutes and Ike saw a teal land in the lily pads and shot it. Unfortunately, he lost in the weeds and we never found it. Didn't see any more ducks until after shooting time and two woodies crashed right in the pot hole we were hunting....go figure!

All in all, a very fun weekend with a few ducks. We grilled them last night and ate em...tasty!

Friday I'm heading out in the morning with Shane and JP from work to see how we can do. They're both newbies to waterfowl, so I'll have to impart some wisdom on them!

School was good today. Nothing big to report, just an evening of homework and I'm off work tomorrow. Sounds like a good day to re-coop for me :)

YES! The excitement is building :)

Cabela's offers us outfitters a great incentive program called "Blue Sheet program." Outfitters can check out any item in their department to field test for 60 days- for free! After the 60 days, we can decide to keep it, and we pay cost (which is about 50% off) or they put it in the Bargain Cave and there's no charge to us. And after we return the item, we have to write a little report and present it to an outitter in our department. How great is that!!

Tuesday, I check out a sweet waterfowl coat. Cost: $199.99. It's a 3-in-1 which means it's a jacket with a removable fleece inner liner, and removable hood. It's got neoprene cuffs so my arms won't get wet. It's also 100% waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It's got pockets that are magnetic and stay open to hold a box of shells. It's got everything, literally! I'm just gonna be shocked if it doesn't shoot the ducks for me too! (Well, that would suck because that's the fun part!)

If I decide to keep it, I pay $109. GREAT DEAL! It'll be a little warm for it this weekend, but I can wear the outer shell and be okay I think. But hey, it's a brand new coat for 60 days, and then I can check out more stuff!!

Whoaaa...that was a close one!

Yesterday, I didn't have to be to work until noon. So, I slept in, woke up, did a little homework, watched some stuff on the DVR, and in the mean time, fell asleep! Woke up and hopped in the shower, quickly out the door because I was running late.

I was on North Custer Road in front of Munson Park and the red Focus in front of me pulled off to the shoulder. I just figured they thought I was tailing them close and was letting me pass, so I went around. That's when I saw it....the red and blue lights of the City of Monroe Police car in my rear view. CRAP!

I pulled over just hoping it would be an officer I knew from my time at City Hall. It was. He got out of the car, walked up to my window. "Hey Darryl," I said.

"Late for work?" He asked me, noticing my work shirt.

"Yeah, a little bit. I fell asleep on the couch."

"I clocked you at 56 in a 35, going a little fast," he informed me.

YIKES! I really had no clue I was going that fast. That meant the Focus must have been blazing just as fast as me.

"I really had no clue I was going that fast," I honestly responded.

"Let me see your information," he said as I handed him my license, registration, and proof of insurance."

"How do I know you?" He asked me.

"Well, I went to Pathway with your son, worked in the Treasurer's Office for a couple years and processed all of your tickets, and my brother is a 911 dispatcher for the county."

"Ok, you just really need to slow down," he said as he handed me my information back.

"Certainly sir, thank you so much," I said to him.

Ohhh, what a relief. That's not what I needed at anytime, particularly this week! I guess connections do come in handy. I got to work about 2 minutes a little late. I told the guys in the department about the incident, and on our break, Ryan decided to let everyone know what happened. So, now thanks to him, everyone knows not only about my DNR ticket, but also my lead foot! It's all good though, we jab eachother back and forth and it makes for a fun day!

Made quite a large sale yesterday also. A couple going to Wyoming on a deer hunt came in to get outfitted. Spent four hours helping just them, got great kudos from them and they were just a joy to work with. Both signed up for a Club card. Their bill qas quite hefty to say the least.

Ike called me last night to inform me the handle for the motor on the duck boat broke yesterday as he was scouting. Not good news so close to opening day. We're gonna use his uncle's motor for this weekend. Also, there's not much water in the pot holes we're going to hunt. But the East winds starting this evening should blow some in. Upper 70s and sunny forecasted for this weekend. Could turn out to be blue bird weather (more favorable to see blue birds than ducks), but I really hope not. We'll see some I'm sure in the spot we're hunting. Just could've had more ideal weather for opening weekend, but it's coming! My main goal particularly this season, but would be excellent for this weekend, is to shoot a wood duck. I have yet to get one. And a factoid for you: they're one of the only, if not THE only duck that will go in trees. They are one of the prettiest ducks in my opinion and would love to get one mounted. Will have to wait til late season to get a mountable one though, as that's when they have the best plummage and color. Here's a picture:

Drake (male) wood duck

Busy day today. Slept in because sleep might be scarce this weekend. Preparing for the hunting weekend. Gotta get my gear together, pack a weekend bag, straighten up my room, and tie up loose ends on homework due Monday. I'll be sure to post tomorrow night after the evening hunt how opening day went.

Wheww a minute here....

Hello all, and hope this post finds your week going well!


It has been a very busy week. Working and school are keeping me quite busy, as is getting ready for the day I've been waiting since February for. Duck and goose season open this Saturday.


This past Saturday, Julie got married. It was a very nice ceremony and nice to be with friends and family at the reception. I'm posting some pictures below for you to see. Mom & Dale were in town all week last week, so I tried to spend as much time as I could with them too. It's so great to have them here, and hate to see them go. But I'll make it up north sometime in the next month and a half or so.

School is keeping me very busy too. I had my accounting test last week, which I got an 84% on, very happy with that score. I also had a communications test this week, which I found out I got a 93% on today. All my grades are great, getting straight A's still! I'm currently working on a presentation/ business briefing for the 27th. I'm acting as a marketing representative for Cabela's. I'm putting together a slideshow to present to the class. It's actually kind of fun, especially since it's a company I work for a really do love!

As I previously mentioned, this is opening weekend for waterfowl. Been very busy this week after work and school working with Ike to get the duck boat ready. We re-painted it, built a frame for a blind to go on it, and put the finishing touches on it tonight. We also found what could be a potentially awesome spot this evening in Erie. Also, we saw a field with about 20 deer in it, all does. Saturday and Sunday you'll find me in the marsh!!

So, yes Tisha, I'm still here! Thanks for your comments and I knew I had to get something on here, just finding a moment to breathe and post. I can do it from my phone, don't know why I don't do that!!

A thought...

"Looking for a reason,
Roaming through the night,
To find my place in this world"

October 4

Today's the big day...Julie & Gary's wedding is this evening! It's outdoors and weather couldn't be more perfect. I'm sure I'll have pics to post :)

The wonders of Facebook!

So, it's been an interesting week on the 'net! Mom joined Facebook, which is funny because now she's like a cool college student. Well, actually she was invited by her cousin out in Phoenix (her dad's sister's daughter). So, I added her too, but I also added her daughter who is just a little younger than me. I've never met Marilyn (mom's cousin) or Taylor (her daughter). But for the past day or so, Taylor and I have been constantly messaging eachother back and forth getting to know eachother. That's what's so cool about the internet and social networking sites like Facebook or Myspace, you can find and stay in contact and get to know long lost friends and family even if you've never met! Just very cool! Now I have to figure out how to get to Phoenix to meet them, Taylor did offer for me to come out and she'd show me what Arizona is all about!

Shooting for a B

Thank God, the dreaded accounting test is done and over. I think I did fairly well- at least a B, but hoping for a pleasant surprise of an A!

I was having deep thoughts on the way home today. Driving past the airport, quite a few planes were flying low, landing in. That has always amazed me seeing something so big "floating" in the air. But I was wondering where it was coming from, who was on it, why they were flying and what their story was. Coming home to a family after a lengthy business trip, coming home from a warm vacation, coming to visit family, a wedding, a funeral, a surprise visit? Just something cool to wonder about that I'll never know the answer to.

It's a nice evening here to put on flannel pants and a sweatshirt. Fall in Michigan is here! Have a nice evening everyone!