What did you expect?

Its been cold and snowy here the last week. I take this opportunity to dress comfortable, while being warm. For me that involves layering of sweatshirts, long underwear, Carhartts, romeos, and a hat. I dressed like this the last two days partly due to the weather and partly for a class (we were playing a fisheries game and I was a captain.) I went to Starbucks before heading to campus both days. While in Starbucks I noticed the odd looks and strange faces. It humors me to see people wondering why on earth im not all cutesy in a scarf that matches my Ugg boots, which also coordinates with the new jacket I just bought thats 'so cute!' To be honest....I just dont give a flying hoot what these people are thinking when they see me in my Carhartt pants and jacket. There is something so empowering to me to be able to wear practical clothing in this weather, be comfortable, and be true to yourself. I hate stereotypes and how I am expected to fit into some silly little image that you have of me or women in general. I am sure some of you feel this way too. I dont get why people try to hard to be someone else. You are already yourself, why work 5x as hard to become someone your not? For those of you who know me personally know who I am, and how I respond. Don't get me wrong, I have had to go through some trials to get here and be able to say I am proud of who I am and what I stand for, but I think I am stronger for it. So I challenge you to be yourself, because no one else can be you!

Firsts....

I made this blog to tell of my adventures....so thats what i should get to doing!
I have been straining to remember my first fishing experience, and well I can't remember the very first one, but I will tell you one of the first experiences I do.
I used to live on a small island, easy access to fishing....which was very convienient. We also used to have commercial netters out in front of our house as well. My dad and I would go out after work just in front of our house and put some poles in the water. This particular time, fising had been slow....really slow. My dad told me to go up in the bow, organize, and clean up for a bit while he put the poles out. He had never asked me to do this before I thought it odd, but don't question Big poppa! So I was up in the bow cleaning and I hear my dad start screaming "I got one! Come here, I got one as I was going down, get over here now!!" My dad handed me the pole and I reeled the fish in. I could tell it was pretty big by the weight on the end of the pole. We landed it and it was close to 40lbs!!! I was so freakin excited!!! Only I thought it wierd that when we got it in the boat it didnt move....no flopping, not one hmm.....My dad said it must have been "worn out." But I was still proud of my 40lber! We took it to the dock at the local marina and I proudly showed off my trophy chinook!
(Come to find out, my dad had bought it from the commercial guys and put it on the line and let it out while I was up in the bow "cleaning". Oh boy...thats why I love my dad!!)

Land of the heels....

This weekend I went to Las Vegas with my sister for a friend's bachelorette party. Now let me tell you...I am not a girly girl, which you might have already caught on to and I don't look to other people for approval. I don’t like heels, I don’t wear lil black dresses, and I certainly don't like to spend two hours putting stuff on my face and trying to get intricate curls just right in my hair. I will say, however, that it's fun to get dolled up and go out every once in a while even if it's not my style. So, I tried it. The first night there the three other girls I was with dressed up in their lil dresses; me? I was in jeans with a nice top. Ok, ill admit it! I wore some heeled boots...We had to walk through a mall to get to the strip, and 5 mins in I was already window shopping for the nearest pair of flip flops that was not 100.00, which was unsuccessful. We made it to the first bar (which was still in the mall/hotel area), sat down to have a drink...and not ten minutes later I was hobbling back to the room to change to flip flops. Call me a wimp, but I just couldn’t do it.
Day 2 we hit the strip. I feel like we walked about 30 miles, which was fun, but boy was it tiring. We made it to Toby Keith's I Love This Bar, which let me tell you, I love that bar. Country music playing, monitors on the wall playing country music videos all day, and beer/whiskey served from mason jars...come on, what could be better?
All in all it was a great trip, I learned quite a bit about myself, especially in discussion with my sister. But one thing that was consistently going through my head is that I didn't belong in the scene. I'm not the type of girl who likes to get foofied up, which there is nothing wrong with, its just not for me. Another aspect to this is I am not the type of girl who seeks out attention from the opposite sex. Even if I wasn't in a great, committed relationship, I still would not go out seeking to catch a someone's eye. Call me old fashioned, but im not all about looks, I want a genuine personality, and for me if I draw a guy because how I look, nothing else, it's not worth it. Someone needs to be able to approach me for me, as I am, not as how I am suppose to be. Id rather be the odd girl out in jeans, COMFORTABLE and able to walk the WHOLE night (and the next day).

My dad...

I am just like my dad in so many different ways, so much that more often than not we find ourselves bickering and arguing about the smallest things. We get under eachother's skin, but that's what makes us have such a strong bond. We can get into it about economics or management of Gray Wolves, which has happened before and wake up the next morning like nothing happened which is what I love. We are so similiar, yet so different, but even though we disagree we can move forward. My dad is an amazing, smart man who I love alot. He has provided our family with the most incredible opportunities and experiences. I wouldnt ask for anyone else. I bring up my dad now because he's the one who has allowed me to follow my passion and supports me 100%. No matter what crazy ideas I come up with...He is also my hunting partner and he taught me everything I know about hunting and fishing. So without him, im not sure how much of this would be possible...I keep talking about our adventures, and I assure you I will get to them, but I feel a little insight and foundation is necessary first. So to break it down my dad + me+ guns+ campers, boats and trucks oh my! =Incredible journeys and trouble.

A little background....

It's February, which some of you know is the slow season for any fishing and hunting. Not knowing yet where I really want to take this blog, I decided I would begin by sharing old adventures to catch you all up to speed and in preparation of new ones. I am by no means any sort of expert on...well anything, which I will be the first to admit. I am not ashamed that I take part in such activities and I am proud of it actually....which is why I want to share. Let's start with a little background. I grew up in Western Washington, I am stubborn and set in my ways like my dad, and some of my earliest and favorite memories were getting dirty outside and getting in trouble (which often went hand in hand) with my siblings, cousins, and neighbor kids...I frequently got called a lil boy, which I have no idea why *rolling eyes* (could have been the mullet) or my constant bully like ways telling people not to mess with me or I would do some WWF move on them...which were often pulled on my poor brother and sister which resulted in a concussion or two.
With that being said, here begins my story telling journey....