Muckhead's Chronicle

Cougar Sightings

I was talking to a friend at the gym the other day (boy does that sound cliché), and we got talking about hiking. I mentioned that Tyler and I hiked Teapot a lot last year, and we were looking forward to hiking this year. We got talking about the increased Bear sightings already this year, and she mentioned that a friend of hers that hikes Teapot almost daily said she saw a Cougar eating a freshly killed deer on the side of the trail.

Well as usual I took it as regular Gym talk, therefore not too seriously, but yesterday I got talking with one of the guys that runs Vedder Mountain Field Supply, the place where Ty and I got our boots and other hiking stuff. He was telling me that not only was it true, but the conservation officers went up the other day and moved the carcass off the trial. I guess the Cougar killed this deer right on the trail that everyone walks. So the chances of an encounter with it feeding were very high. He also mentioned that there have been several sighting of this Cougar (a big male) and a smaller female.

Now I told this to Tyler last night at dinner, and he was a little hesitant to want to hike any time soon. The thing is though a Cougar that is stuffing him/herself on a deer is a HAPPY Cougar and will not be interested in man as a food source. This was also a comment made by the conservation officers, it is a good sign, but it is rather odd to actually see a Cougar, they are solitary animals and rarely are seen let alone feeding. Usually you don’t see them until they are starving and that is not the kind you want to see.

Overall Happy Holidays

Well I must say that it was an overall happy holidays with Muckhead's family and friends. The kids were spoiled as usual, but that is kewl. Tyler got the new GameBoy DS , as well as a XBox Crystal Limited Edition System. Marlee got her Doll's she requested as well as a
Tattoo Limited Edition GameBoy Advanced SP that came with a Barbie game for her. Of course the kids got lots more stuff too but these stick out as the big ones.

Daddy's gift is seen at the right, another addition to my arm, it is a tribal tiger that runs the length of my inner forearm. Mommy got perfume and jewelry, the usual stuff as well and overall everyone was happy. This year we decided to give some very special gifts, that were more personal and closer to the heart. Shaaron is into Creative Memories Scrapbooking so we used our camera, printer, and her talents to make:

• A Wedding Album for my Niece Raina and her new husband Rob
• A Children’s Dedication Album for our very dear friend Tracy and her family
• A Grand Children’s Album for Shaaron's Mom and Dad
• A Xmas Memories Album for Shaaron's Aunt Evelyn that comes out every year from the prairies to spend Xmas with us
• A Barbeque Memories Album for our dear friends Melvin and Cathy Dureen

This was truly the highlight (other than our kids), of what our Xmas was all about giving and seeing smiles on peoples faces, people who we love very much.

Pretty Tame Thanksgiving

We had the 'Outlaws" over and cooked our turkey on Sunday freeing up yesterday to just kick back and not do really much at all. Tyler and I went fishing on the Vedder/Chilliwack River.

Now there's opening a can of worms!

I can remember fishing the river when I was Tyler’s age (10 years old), and you could pretty well fish anywhere. When I got older and started fishing with my buddy Chris, we could generally fish any day anywhere. The last 5-10 years have seen a great increase in fishermen on the river, and it is now to the point where all the good spots are fished by so many guys it is ridiculous. I mean standing 5 ft from another guy, having to cast over your head and hope the guy next to you is as good at it as you or you will be wearing a hook is not my idea of fun.

Today I always end up fishing in a shity spot on purpose so I don't have to battle the crowds, as you can see in the picture of Tyler; there was nobody around where we decided to fish. There is an situational advantage at times that a lot of the out of towners will walk right by some spots and go to the crowded ones because " they gotta be getting fish up there, look at all the guys".

What really gets me is the garbage! I wear a big ass fishing vest, most do, the point here is; you can fit a candy wrapper, a pop can, or whatever you carried out to the river back to your car or at least to a garbage can. The river is littered, and most of the time it is the out of town-ers that do it, many of which just don't care.

Well there's a rant!

My Birthday Party

Well here is the Web Album I promised of my 40th b-Day party. I will also put a link on the side so it is easy to get to for awhile. Shaaron decided to go all out for my 40th birthday and have a big get together.

Well it started with a private Golf Tournament at The Club, incidentally it was a glorious sunny day, an absolutely perfect day for it Anyway, we had a 18 hole golf tourney the results of which are as follows:

Okay, for the record, I did out drive Dana on the long drive, by almost 40 yards, but it was my second shot, and despite the fact that it was my party, I had to be honest and give him the prize.

After the golf we all met at the Chilliwack Fish and Game Protective Association Club Hall, for burgers and drinks, and fun.

I know I had fun, and I would like to thank all those that came out, or tried to. I had a lot of fun with my very best friends.

Thanks....

Wedding Bells

Well it was an awesome wedding, and although I have more pictures I promised to only put up one that didn't include the wedding party (this one is taken from the back of the boat on departure). My niece, Raina was married September19th on Harrison Lake in front of Rainbow Falls. It was a gorgeous day, and I was grateful to have attended.

It was a private wedding consisting of about 30 people, who were chartered up the lake on a small yacht and we witnessed their vows on the top deck. We took over 150 pictures and video and are planning to make a slideshow DVD and DVD video for them. It was quite the day!

Congratulations Rob and Raina!!

Oh and little Emily too!

Chess Tourny

I took my son Tyler to the Chief Dan George Middle School's Annual Chess Tournament on Saturday. He was chosen to be a class representative, as he is not a bad player. We got decked out in his school colours (of which many other kids and parents forgot to wear), and showed up ready to kick some chess-butt.

He won 2 games, 2 went to stalemate and lost one, which was a pretty good effort I think. There were some pretty good players there, including the National Champion for grades 1-2. I was surprised at how many kids were there and how tough the competition was. Any way we had fun, and that is what counts.

Weather kept me away from the golf course this weekend; I hope to get out this week.

Small Changes

Made some small changes (just in case nobody noticed), I added two sections of recent DVD's watched, and current or recent reading material.

No biggie just thought I'd mention it, go ahead return to what you were doing. And if you missed it, do check out the link I put up yesterday.

Someone Special

There are people and there are real friends. I have one such person in my life that is truly amazing. This person has put up with a lot of a very dark side of me and I want to thank them. Just remember that with you I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and without you I truly would be lost.

I am in debt to you, always and forever.

Uphill Climb

Well as many of you have noticed I have not recently been in the best of spirits. You might say I have reached a low, and I do say low point in my life. A personal issue from my distant past, along with no self confidence, is not a good mixture.

The good news is I think I have broken out of it, although it is an uphill climb. I have some very understanding people around me and I thank them for their unconditional support. The approach I have taken is to return a sound body in order to return the sound mind. I also will be working on some things in that great white bone ball on my neck, but I really think the self confidence will come from not being trapped in a big fat ugly body.

I am now over the 20lb weight loss hump on the Atkins way of life, and my exercise/workouts have proved to keep me on the right track. I should soon past the 30lb weight loss mark within a week or so, and more to follow.

It's an uphill climb, but one that I WILL complete and one that I will look back on as a great accomplishment.

Turning Things Around

Change, something that many people often resist, and some are downright scared of. Fact is if you are not willing to change then you are hiding something, in my opinion. Well as you can see some of my most recent posts have not been some of my most positive ones. So in comes the change.

I must say that I have been thinking of it since the end of last year, a certain individual opened my mind, and allowed me to see the world in a different light (you know who you are, and I thank you). So, I have been stewing on it, but like some people change is a big step.

I have started the Atkins Diet and have lost almost 20lbs in the first 2 weeks, and have "90" more pounds to go before I start to level off, so the "Weight Loss Challenge" that I was proposing would have possibly been fixed, to let the cat out of the bag.

Basically I am in the process of making a big lifestyle change. I am very overweight, and I am a firm believer that you cannot have a sound mind without a sound body. The start of the diet is going well, despite being one of the biggest low carb critics (you need to read the facts first).

I have been walking 4km a day, and will be starting at the gym on Monday. I have worked out seriously in the past, and when I say serious I mean almost religiously. Cardio-weights were my favourite, and I plan on doing just that. I cannot run as my doctor has suggested that if I want knees later in life a man my size shouldn't run, yet.

So with that all said, but not nearly done, I have this entry to look back on, the weight loss challenge was only to be an incentive, but incentive must come from within. I have quit some of the most addictive habits on earth, smoking, weed, other drugs, drinking, so why not take that final step.

Maybe some of you can help provide some encouragement; I will keep you posted on how it is going.

For Those That are Close

For those that are close to me, and have a chance in their day to do so:

I Could Really Use A Hug Today ! !

8 Years Ago

It still seems so real, and I know my posts lately have been negative, but today it has been 8 years to the day that my Dad died in our back yard.

For those that don’t know the story I am going to spare you, I am not even going to get to go there. All I can say is I was there, and I am glad I got to see him pass. Today my thoughts are full of the good things we did together, the great things that he did for me.

My morals and demeanor was not something I was born with, my kindness and willingness to give to others was instilled by a great man, my best friend. Thanks Dad

Life's Ups n Downs

Life can give you a kick in the balls; it can go from being something you can only dream of to something you want to run away from.

I just want to let one person know that I will never run away, and I will always be there for them. No matter what.