Yeah, fishing

Bill Trussell made a comment on the last post. "Looks like things are finally coming together". Oh Bill, if you only knew.

The reason I was able to go fishing today is because there is a dehumidifier running in the kitchen to try and dry out all the wet wood so the remediation crew can clean up the mold and then start rebuilding the kitchen. The dehumidifier is scheduled to run through the weekend.  That would make it five days total. A bit damp in there.

Oh, did I mention that they found a leak coming in from a crack in the stucco outside the kitchen window? It keeps getting better and better. I liken it to the Blob. This episode has spread out from the leak behind the fridge to pretty much destroying the entire kitchen.

On a lighter note, because nothing is being done in the kitchen, I was able to run out to Lake Camanche for a little Power Bait dunking. Essentially, I needed to get out of the house, plain and simple.

I figured that parking the red Coleman camping chair at the North Shore spot where I've been fishing the last bunch of times would be about as calming as it could get and I wasn't wrong. That is, with one exception. The wind was blowing straight into my face and is was a bit chilly.  

Wind ruffling the lake

I set up somewhere around 9:00 (I still don't have a watch) and with two rods out, gloves on hands, and hood of my sweatshirt up awaited the first bite. It took about an hour and a half to get the first and only fish of the day. I am now part of the smart phone generation so I can take out my phone and see what time it is.

First of the day

 It wasn't very big. My guess is less than a pound. I got it to shore, took a picture, and cut it loose for another day. I didn't have any intentions of bringing any fish home.

So while I was waiting for the next bite that never came, I hunkered down in the chair, put my head on the chair back. At one point it was warm (for a short period) and the lapping of the waves were just enough to put one to sleep, almost. I did open one eye every so often just to check and make sure there were no fish biting on either line.

The picture below is the next storm front moving into Northern California.

Dampness cometh

The Valley (Sacramento, San Joaquin, etc) is not expecting much rain, but the weather guessers are saying that the Foothills (that would be us) can expect 3 to 5 inches of rain between tonight and Sunday night. Can you say BOAT?

So that's it for today. Not terribly exciting, but very calming. Who knows, maybe I'll get to fish again some time.

Stay tuned. 

Tuesday Morning Kitchen Update

Just a couple pictures with explanations.

Next to the oven, next to the drawer cabinet was the trash compactor (we used it for recycling). 

1-25-2016

To the left of the cabinet on the right was the dishwasher. The 2x4's are to hold up the counter. All that black stuff on the wall is mold to be removed today. 

1-25-2016

More pictures and explanations to follow.

Stay tuned.

How To Fix Your Exploded Microwave In Seven Easy Steps

Last post, microwave exploded. Here is how to fix it in seven easy steps.

1. Watch this video. I give my wife all the credit for finding it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rc7hdGpJQzs
2. Go to Lowe's and get a package of fuses. You only need 20A, but you have to buy a package with 1 - 10A, 2 - 15A, and 2-20A. Also pick up what's called a "Tamper Proof Torx Bit". Apparently Panasonic doesn't want you to fix your own appliances. Little do they know. When you finally find these custom Torx bits, you have 5 different sixes to pick from ranging from $3 to $6 dollars. So you look at them, pick the one that looks the right size (Cost $6.00), and check out.
3. Get home and find that the Torx bit is too big. Return the too big bit to Lowe's and purchase the next two smaller sizes. One doesn't want to run back to Lowe's even though it's only 5 minutes away (used to be 45 minutes one way).
4. Get home and find those two Torx bits are still too big for the screws. It's not like you can take a screw out and take it with you. Return the two bits to Lowe's. The lady at the return desk is now calling you by name.
5. Buy the other three sizes in hopes that one will fit. You can always take the other two back. 
6. You find one that works, remove all the screws, and replace the 20A fuse. 
7. Put the case back on, plug in the microwave (stand a safe distance away just in case), and shazam, a working microwave. 

What ever is wrong with the electric socket will wait until the contractors are done demolishing and rebuilding the rest of the kitchen.

I feel fishing is in my future, sometime.

Kitchen Update

Here's the latest. After a really "to the point" email to the insurance company and the intervention of a Property Loss Solution Company and the upper management of the insurance company, the contractor has taken responsibility for everything.  All will be fixed and the tile floor will be removed and replaced.

The demolition starts Monday. According to the plan, it looks like the only days I'll be able to fish are weekends until April. I don't particularly like fishing on weekends (crowds), but it's better than not fishing at all.

I wanted to fish tomorrow, but emptying the cabinets they plan to demolish has to take priority. Maybe I can sneak out one day next week. It's not supposed to rain until Friday.

Did I mention that our microwave exploded this afternoon? Well, not exactly exploded, but something blew and in doing so, the microwave is dead and so is the socket it was plugged into. We think this house may be haunted. Might need to call Ghostbusters.

Once again, hang in there I will be fishing again.

  

It's Still Raining

I'm not complaining mind you. We need the rain and as much as we can get.

The past week (I can't believe it's been 9 days since the last post) it has been raining or the contractors that have pretty much destroyed our kitchen, coming in (several times) and trying to decide between them and the insurance company who owns what, has put a damper on fishing.

The dishwasher leaked, the garbage disposal leaked and the floor of the cabinet under the sink has collapsed. Water has run under most of the lower cabinets and as usual no body takes responsibility. The only one that has touched the dishwasher and the disposal in the last three months has been the contractor. Both independent inspections say the damage was done in the last month or two. Seems pretty clear to me.  

I apologize for not having any pictures, but when the cabinet under the sink was smashed by the removal guys, they did it so fast I didn't even have time to get my camera before they sealed it up because of more MOLD.

Fishing, it is supposed to rain 9 out of the next 10 days. Who knows when I'll be able to get out again.

Don't abandon me, I'll be back.   

The Bang Continues

Just a smaller bang.

Met Yuki at the usual spot this morning. Yuki caught the first one about a pound. I caught the second and third, both about the same size as Yuki's. 

The first two

 As usual, he's taking them home to smoke.

A little sun shine and blue skies before the next storm

Because of a phone call I needed to take at home, I bailed at 11:30 and Yuki fished on. I hope he did well.

Short and sweet.

2016 Starts Out With A Bang

Yuki and I are supposed to fish tomorrow. Since I had a free day today I thought I'd run out and take a look at Lake Amador and Lake Camanche and see what the recent rains have done to the lakes.

I got to Lake Amador and was pleasantly surprised to see the lake is filling nicely although still too low and much too slippery for this old Geezer to negotiate. I would have taken a picture but the ground was so wet and sloppy I passed.

Second stop was Lake Camanche. I passed through check-in and was advised that the last planting was December 30th and next one would be either today, tomorrow, or Monday. Since I was already there, thought I'd wet a line anyway.

When I got to the marina, if I would have had false teeth, they would have fallen out. With all that rain we've been having, the lake was a good ten feet lower than the last time I was there on  December 18th. I had to know why.  

Just take a look

I asked at the marina and the gentleman I talked to said that all the run off was being kept in Lake Pardee (upstream and also a EBMUD lake) because of a reduction this summer for some type of repairs and the need to fill it back up. On the other hand, with the Salmon run, they had to release water into the Mokelumne River below Camanche Dam which is the answer to the lower water in the lake. 

I parked at the usual spot by the North Area launch and set out the first rod with rainbow Power Bait. Just as I got the second rod (also with RPB) in the water, the first rod started bouncing. I'd only been there a couple minutes.

After a fierce fight and tangling with the other line,  brought the Rainbow in the picture below to hand. Hard to tell and I didn't want to hold him any longer than necessary, I estimate it to be just over four pounds. Not bad for the first fish of 2016.

First fish of 2016

In the process of trying to release him with as little damage as possible, I found out that the waters edge was a bit mucky as you can see from my sneakers.

Yuk

I did get him loose and with a little prodding, he swam away for another day.

Second fish came about a half hour later. You'll have to trust me with the timing as I demolished my watch just before Christmas. I was walking down the hall at home and hit the crystal square on the door knob. I vacuumed it off the floor. Then a couple days later, putting on a t-shirt, I caught the second hand and ripped it clean off the watch. The watch wasn't much use after that.

The second fish is questionable as to whether I get credit for bringing it to hand. I got a bounce on the rod and set the hook. Didn't feel much like a fish, but I reeled it in anyway. Apparently the fish was previously hooked on another line that was tangled around a branch. I guess the fish swam across my line and the branch caught the hook, managed to tangle up my other line and when I reeled in the whole shebang there was a fish there somewhere. It was maybe a pound and since I wasn't keeping any, cut it loose for another day.

While I was waiting for the next fish (that never came) I thought I'd snap a shot and introduce you to El Nino.   

This is El Nino clouds

El Nino weather comes up from the South, isn't terribly cold, but really wet. It's been raining for the last five or so days. The drought isn't gone by any means, but it's a start.

So a four pound and a one pound Rainbow Trout is a pretty good way to start 2016.