Husker Tailgates

      There is the parking lot just to the north side of the Lincoln Journal Star parking lot in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska that comes alive on Husker game days. I park here every day of the week when I go to school at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and it is always just seems like an empty parking lot to me. But on game day saturdays there is not a spot in this parking lot that isn't taken by a fan.

      Tents, buses, RV's, and trailers full of televisions and beer coolers flow into the parking lot. As everything is unpacked the drinking begins and the festivities start. There is loud music and football chants to be heard all around and can be heard for blocks all the way into downtown Lincoln. The streets now run red with people wearing their husker gear and heading to their favorite hangouts. And everyone seems to stop by here just to see what is going on. Hundreds of people are packed into this parking lot and bang against eachother while they move around. Beer flows like water, and the football games are shown on all the TVs in everyone's tailgate spot.
     As the game comes closer and its time for the fans to move to funnel into the stadium, the parking lot thins out. There is more room to walk around and to play games and everything isn't so bunched together. The beer still flows and who ever is left behind from the game watches here and still has a great time. This past weekend was the first time I was at this particular tailgate and now I know that it won't be my last.

Fishing Past-time

   Near the house where I grew up most of the second part of my educational process, is a little farm pond. Every year I cannot wait for the fishing season to start just because of this one pond. As I sit on this pond, in my little aluminum john boat, I reflect on everything and kind of clear my head. Its my own little slice of heaven.

Pond at Sun down w/ dead tree

   I usually head out after dinner with my tackle box, my fishing pole, and at least a couple beers. Just nice to be able to go and get away and relax, and digest! As I sit there paddling around this 1 and a half acre pond I notice things that tend to change over time. The water levels going from such a high level last year and overflowing over the dam, to now where it seems like the pond is half its size. There is an old tree in the middle of the pond that must have been there forever. It just recently rotted out and lost the whole upper half of the tree into the water, this created new habitat for all the fish that I am trying to catch. The water is warm like bath water and filled with pond weeds and other dead trees. They seem to move everyday too with the wind making a brand new scene every time I am there. The birds are chirping and the bullfrogs are croaking as loud as they can. The turtles pop up and down curious on what I am doing in the water, looking for a quick free meal. And of course, the fish, dart in and out of logs and the weeds as I paddle by.
   I find my favorite spot underneath a tall tree on the bank that always yields the biggest, hardest hitting fish. I cast out and as I am reeling my lure in, I am anxious with anticipation for that powerful tug of the line that I love to feel. When a fish is hooked on your line there is almost a mini adrenaline rush every time. Once your fight with the largemouth bass is over and you get it into the boat you realize that this is one of the greatest things on earth. The relaxation and the great scenery is what draws me back everyday, and the hard hitting bass are what keep me around for hours at a time. My favorite place on earth is a great night on my john boat, paddling around, listening to RHCP pandora station on my phone, catching as many fish as I can. There's nothing better than that.