MP3...How do these guys do this?

I was listening to Season 5 Buffcasts (basically 2 guys discussing Season 5's first 12 episodes) last night and I was wondering:

How do these guys do this? What equipment do you have to have to do this? Where do they store the casts?

I am ignorant of this stuff since it does not involve gaming. However, between Corey, Toby and mostly Gary, I should be able to get a decent explination.

Please...Make it Stop!!!

For the last 48 hours I have been in massive pain from a broken molar

It cracked awhile ago, in November when I was on my way to NBBC for the BBall Tournament, and it really hadn't bothered me.

Till yesterday.

Now I am on Vicodin to kill the pain and having it removed in Traverse City tomorrow. I"m glad they are putting me out, I don't think I could handle the pain again.

I'm glad it is over

This has been a really draining week for me. Basically the source of the stress has come from the passing of my Grandma; well, actually, the prolonged passing of my Grandma.

I visited her early last week and she looked bad...really bad. I figured she would be luck to make it another 12 hours. My Mom and the hospice nurse thought less. Two more days went on and Grandma was still with us, in body at least.

She finally passed away on Wednesday night, somewhere around 9:45. Angie got to the house at about 10:00. She was bummed not to have been able to see Grandma, but I told her it was good she hadn't. The whole final day before she died, she had only enough brain stem activity that told her heart to beat about 5 times every minute. The result was her blood pooled in her extremities(legs/arms), turning them as black as the keyboard I am typing on. Rigamortius had started to set in.

I didn't go back out after Monday. I wanted to remember Grandma the way she had been. A lovely woman with a heart of gold.

Mom and I did the graveside service. Well, mom mostly. She did a fantastic job. It was short, sweet, and personal. I told her that I thought she might have what it takes to be a Priestess/Prophetess. Angie then mentioned that there was an opening at PRBC and we could put in a good word for her. That caused a few laughs and a big groan from my mom.

Grandma's death did put somethings in perspective for me though. I had been wondering what to say for my part of the service...how to honor a woman like Grandma. When I finally decided what I was going to say, my dad, at the service stole my thunder. It was good though and I was very happy to hear those words come from my dad's mouth. I will try to quote him in intent, not words.

"Grandma B was a special woman and there was no doubt that she loved each and every one of us. She had a way of touching your life when you were with her; the fact that you are gathered here is a testiment to that. Now, with her gone, we have to take up the responsibility of touching the lives of those around us. The best way to honor Grandma is to love what she loved and that is her family."

I don't think there had been a time in my life that I was more proud to be the son of Harold Mertes then I was then. Although I think what he said was a direct message to some of my more quarrelsome family members, Dad hit on a great life priciple.

You honor someone by modeling your life after them.

I can honor Grandma by loving her family.

I can honor Christ by loving what He loved. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16"

God showed his love by responding in an action...giving us the Christ. He did just give us more words telling us of his love. Love was made manifest in Jesus.

I came to a conclusion yesterday that I wasn't will to face until now. My words mean nothing if they are not lived out in my life and actions. Nothing I put in this blog mean anything if it is not evident in who I am.

Truth not lived is meaningless.

Thanks again Grandma for helping me remember that. I hope to honor you by not ever forgetting that again.

Thank you Grandma...I love you

I held her hand today as she gasped for breath, her mouth agape, not even having the strength shut it. Mom told me that she could hear me, but wouldn't be able to respond, so I kissed her and told her that I loved her.

I love her.

I wanted to tell her more.

Mark and I went fishing today. We didn't catch very many, but the one's we did were nice. Three solid smallmouths. . .Thank you for taking me fishing when I was eight. You used to row me across the lake to the pilings and bait my hook, take my fish off, and then row back. You and Grandma Jewel used to talk while I fished off her dock. I still remember my first smallmouth that I caught off that dock; a whopping 13 incher.

The day before Easter, Mom and I played a game of cribbage. I asked mom if she knew who taught me to play...Thank you for taking the time to teach me how to play cribbage, Cootie's, and Yahtzee. To this day I still can't play without tell people about how my Grandma was a Wahtzee Yizard(I meant to say Yahtzee Wizard) and how I saw her roll three Yahtzee's in a row.

Easter Sunday was so beautiful. We were all at my in-laws and my mother-in-law mentioned how warm it was. I nodded my head and remembered Easter dinner at grandma's house at the lake and Mom, Grandma, Rene, Angie and I going for a walk around Bass Lake. I have never met anyone who has made better coleslaw and fresh squeezed lemonade. Picnics at Grandma's could never be topped...Thank you for the slices of watermelon in the morning, great turkey sandwiches at lunch and unforgettable dinners. I loved every one of them and I have the gut to prove it.

She was a good grandma.

She loved me.

It is quite possibly that by tomorrow I will no longer have any more Grandparents left. When I left Aunt Barb's house, where Grandma is, mom said that it wouldn't be long. She was septic(an infection had spread throughout her body) and dehydrated. She could hardly breath.

It was hard to see her that way, but I am glad I went to see her.

Grandma, I love you.

SPRING!!!

I am so excited to see the sun shining, the grass green and the lakes ice free. Spring is such a cool time of the year, especially around Grayling. The town is based on recreation, so it is gearing up for fun as the weather and earth rebirth.

Yesterday was beautiful. Sunny and 65-70ish. Not everything is perfect about spring, but close to it.

RANT: We have had several serious wind storms between last fall and now...the result is trash everywhere. Most of it is not ours, but some is. The girls and I went for a walk yesterday(Amanda has go quite a gut over the winter, so we are trying to walk it off. We figure it will take about six more weeks before she loses it.) and had a great time. However, as we rounded the block we are on, we found several sheets of half cut siding, which must have blown all over last fall. So, feeling responsible, I will have to go over and pick them up today. Though if I leave it there long enough, some of the dirtballs on my block will probably try to side their doghouses with it.

I picked up soooo much Burger King trash in my yard this week, I feel like they should be paying me.

RAVE: I made the mistake of driving by the lakes on Old 27 yesterday...and the were part open. Which meant that Beaver lake would be open. Beaver Lake is at the headwaters of the AuSable and just South of Bradford lake. It has a slight current on it, so it usually is open a few weeks before the big lakes. You almost have to fish it early because it gets choked by weeds once the water warms. It is a nice lake set in a pretty area. I would love to own property out there and then build on it eventually.

Mark was at the house when I got home at about 10. He is working on the bathroom. I told him we were not going to get a better day to fish and said we were going. It took about 3 seconds to convince him. so we finished what we were doing and then left. My sweet sister in law, Michelle, let us use her truck.

Fishing after ice out isn't like normal fishing. There are some specific things you have to look for and they all have to do with what the fish are wanting. Heat and eat.

Where the warmest water is that is were the fish will be and so will the bait fish. Once we found those combinations, which on Beaver it is easy to do, we found the fish. The result was 12 bass, all between 12-18 inches and one pike. The biggest was 18 and 3.4 pounds which is a solid fish for that size lake. I though it was going to either break my line or pole, maybe both.

In the end, it was no match...I'm just too skilled...lol. It was nice fishing with Mark too. We don't do it enough and we fish well together. We both know our roles in the boat and help each other catch fish...though he usually gets the short end of the stick because he is running the motor. He saw the big one, but I caught it because I could reach where it was...

On a different note, I stopped by Ray's yesterday and talked to Steve for a bit. I think I am going to start working over there a few days a week, just for some spending cash. I need the money and it will be something to entertain my time. I think Poker is more a wintertime game, minus a few trips to the casino later this summer when I am rolling in ovetime. It is nice to go play after clocking alot of time at work.

Oh wait, that new kid will be here then too...hmmmmm...maybe I won't be going.