Two good pieces of news this week!
 

My 77 or so year old uncle, Silver Dick Mursch, retired Lt. Col. USAF,
reluctant vegetarian, subsistence fisherman, and great husband to my aunt
Sara said he was thinkin' about fly fishin' for bluegill, bass and whatever
else might hit a fly on the lakes he fishes. Generally, he is a striped
bass and salt water fisherman, but the heat has put the bait fish off,
according to him, and he just wanted to reacquaint himself with the flyrod.

Well we went out to the garage to look thru his fly gear. He had a coupla
old fiberglass rods: Fenwick 8', 5 wt. and Diawa (?) 8' 6", 6 wt. He
probably bought then back in the 70s, I'm guessin'. His reels: Diawa--still
in good shape-- and a Martin--rusted and virtually useless--still had the
old lines on them and were severely dry-rotted. I offered to take the Diawa
reel and restring it for him and provide him with a few flyz. I had a new 6
wt. line at home, and I have more panfish and bass flyz than I know what to
do with, as I rarely fish warm waters. I ended up givin' 'ol Silver Dick 6
boxes of flyz, including a fine assortment of the flyz that Big Dale had
sent me over the years.

Okay, I got 'ol Silver Dick risin' to some fat flyz, so it's time to set the
hook. I dropped by the house, day before yesterday, and got to talkin'
about my fishin' trips with Wally and the gang. SD's eye kinda light up, so
I sayz, "Ya really oughta hit Andre_'s Cree_ with me this Sunday!" SD
responds with, "Can I keep what I catch?" "Of course," I say. "As a matter
of fact, I'll keep my limit too, so you will have enough to make a good
meal."

Now I just gotta buy him a pair of size 8 1/2 wadin' boots and were on the
stream Sunday. I'll set him up with a nice 3 wt. rig and I think I'll have
a new fishin' buddy for a while.

Second piece of good news: I got accepted to the graduate program that I
applied to. It's gonna be a long 3 1/2 to 4 years of night and day classes,
but it oughta be a good learnin' experience.

Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
My 77 or so year old uncle, Silver Dick Mursch, retired Lt. Col. USAF,


Not, the result of a war wound Ihope.

;-)


Second piece of good news: I got accepted to the graduate program that I
applied to. It's gonna be a long 3 1/2 to 4 years of night and day classes,
but it oughta be a good learnin' experience.

Torturous experience with a surprising number of opportunites that
arise for
quiet, less likely to meet another angler, mid-week forays.


Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Good on you, Op.


Steve

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:50:30 -0400, "Mr. Opus McDopus"
wrote:

My 77 or so year old uncle, Silver Dick Mursch, retired Lt. Col. USAF,
reluctant vegetarian, subsistence fisherman, and great husband to my aunt
Sara said he was thinkin' about fly fishin' for bluegill, bass and whatever
else might hit a fly on the lakes he fishes. Generally, he is a striped
bass and salt water fisherman, but the heat has put the bait fish off,
according to him, and he just wanted to reacquaint himself with the flyrod.

Well we went out to the garage to look thru his fly gear. He had a coupla
old fiberglass rods: Fenwick 8', 5 wt. and Diawa (?) 8' 6", 6 wt. He
probably bought then back in the 70s, I'm guessin'. His reels: Diawa--still
in good shape-- and a Martin--rusted and virtually useless--still had the
old lines on them and were severely dry-rotted. I offered to take the Diawa
reel and restring it for him and provide him with a few flyz. I had a new 6
wt. line at home, and I have more panfish and bass flyz than I know what to
do with, as I rarely fish warm waters. I ended up givin' 'ol Silver Dick 6
boxes of flyz, including a fine assortment of the flyz that Big Dale had
sent me over the years.

Okay, I got 'ol Silver Dick risin' to some fat flyz, so it's time to set the
hook. I dropped by the house, day before yesterday, and got to talkin'
about my fishin' trips with Wally and the gang. SD's eye kinda light up, so
I sayz, "Ya really oughta hit Andre_'s Cree_ with me this Sunday!" SD
responds with, "Can I keep what I catch?" "Of course," I say. "As a matter
of fact, I'll keep my limit too, so you will have enough to make a good
meal."

Now I just gotta buy him a pair of size 8 1/2 wadin' boots and were on the
stream Sunday. I'll set him up with a nice 3 wt. rig and I think I'll have
a new fishin' buddy for a while.

Second piece of good news: I got accepted to the graduate program that I
applied to. It's gonna be a long 3 1/2 to 4 years of night and day classes,
but it oughta be a good learnin' experience.

Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

In spite of all the self-denigration, clearly you're a good guy, Mark.

Congrats on the good news...

/daytripper

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Master of Pine Arts? g Is that like Forestry Management or Sculpture?

Good yarn Mark, and good luck with school!
--
Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:



Op --MPA to be, I hope!--




congrats...

but, of course, i know that it's the proximity to app state pulchritude
that's motivating you... g there are poorer excuses for pursuing
higher education. :)

jeff

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

On Wed, 21 Jun 2006 17:50:30 -0400, "Mr. Opus McDopus"
wrote:


(snipped)

Now I just gotta buy him a pair of size 8 1/2 wadin' boots and were on the
stream Sunday. I'll set him up with a nice 3 wt. rig and I think I'll have
a new fishin' buddy for a while.

I see. Purely selfish motives there, eh, Opus? Yah, shure.

Second piece of good news: I got accepted to the graduate program that I
applied to. It's gonna be a long 3 1/2 to 4 years of night and day classes,
but it oughta be a good learnin' experience.

Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Good luck on that degree. But what's a MPA?
--

r.bc: vixen
Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Cyli" wrote in message
...
Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Good luck on that degree. But what's a MPA?
--

r.bc: vixen

Master Public Administration--It's a degree that prepares one to administer
to the public, in a masterful manner :~^ )~

Best I can figure it involves this:
http://www.acs.appstate.edu/dept/ps-cj/checkst/MPA.html

Op

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Stephen Welsh" wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
My 77 or so year old uncle, Silver Dick Mursch, retired Lt. Col. USAF,


Not, the result of a war wound Ihope.

;-)

Nah, nothin' like Tim Strawn (Kid Shelleen's silver-nosed brother in Cat
Ballou). A Light Colonel's insigia are Silver Wings. Thus the nickname.

Second piece of good news: I got accepted to the graduate program that I
applied to. It's gonna be a long 3 1/2 to 4 years of night and day
classes,
but it oughta be a good learnin' experience.

Torturous experience with a surprising number of opportunites that
arise for
quiet, less likely to meet another angler, mid-week forays.

Well, we'll jsut see about that! No amount of semi-advanced learnin' is
gonna come between me and my trout streams!

Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Good on you, Op.

Thank you sir.

Op

Steve

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"daytripper" wrote in message
...

In spite of all the self-denigration, clearly you're a good guy, Mark.

If only that were true.

Congrats on the good news...

Thanks, Dave, I'm pretty excited.

Op

/daytripper

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Stan Gula" wrote in message
news:TElmg.4468$V55.1383@trndny01...
Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Master of Pine Arts? g Is that like Forestry Management or Sculpture?

Good yarn Mark, and good luck with school!

I dropped 'ol Silver Dick's waders off to him this evenin'. I'm not sure
that he realizes that he'll have to fish with me until he wears the felts
off, but I did drop a few subtle hints :~^ )

Op

Stan Gula
http://gula.org/roffswaps

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Actually, I wouldn't have recognized "pulchritude" on campus, if it was
streakin' across Sanford Mall, if you hadn't pointed it out to me. More
than likely, my evening classes will be chocked full of 40 and 50 year old
christian conservative grandmothers! Not a pleasing thought, in my book :~^
(

Op

"jeff" wrote in message
news:9Wlmg.22053$8q.13979@dukeread08...
Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:



Op --MPA to be, I hope!--




congrats...

but, of course, i know that it's the proximity to app state pulchritude
that's motivating you... g there are poorer excuses for pursuing higher
education. :)

jeff

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Dear 'ol Silver Dick assisted me in my endeavors to persevere, when I first
began to cast a fly back in "97 or so. He has always been very active. He
owned a Sporting goods and gun shop in San Antonio, TX for years. He fly
fished Alaska back in the early 50s, while stationed there with the Air
Force. He climbed Mt. McKinley and kayaked white water in his mid-fifties.
So I ain't turned him on to anything. I'm just rejuvenating his fishin'
spirit, I hope.

I have no doubt that Dick will out hike and out fish me next Sunday.

Op

"Alaskan420" wrote in message
news:Aeomg.14295$XJ4.9013@trndny02...
Great post.
It's always a blast to see someone turned on to fly fishing. Young or old.

Ric

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
Actually, I wouldn't have recognized "pulchritude" on campus, if it was
streakin' across Sanford Mall, if you hadn't pointed it out to me. More
than likely, my evening classes will be chocked full of 40 and 50 year old
christian conservative grandmothers! Not a pleasing thought, in my book :~^

Could be a cheap date.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

If history is any indicator, I'll likely remain an electrician the rest of
my days and merely have completed the requirements necessary to achieve an
educational milestone, once again.

Op --ambition ain't us--


"Charlie Choc" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:05:07 -0400, "Opie" wrote:

Master Public Administration--It's a degree that prepares one to
administer
to the public, in a masterful manner :~^ )~

Hoo boy, Op the fat cat bureaucrat. g
--
Charlie...
http://www.chocphoto.com

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

On Thu, 22 Jun 2006 07:05:07 -0400, "Opie"
wrote:


"Cyli" wrote in message
.. .
Op --MPA to be, I hope!--

Good luck on that degree. But what's a MPA?
--

r.bc: vixen

Master Public Administration--It's a degree that prepares one to administer
to the public, in a masterful manner :~^ )~

Best I can figure it involves this:
http://www.acs.appstate.edu/dept/ps-cj/checkst/MPA.html

Op


Sounds cool. And even if you never move into an administration post,
I believe that some kinds of reduction and degrees add to your grade
and / or pay amounts.

--

r.bc: vixen
Speaker to squirrels, willow watcher, etc..
Often taunted by trout. Almost entirely harmless. Really.

http://www.visi.com/~cyli

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
If history is any indicator, I'll likely remain an electrician the rest of
my days and merely have completed the requirements necessary to achieve an
educational milestone, once again.

Op --ambition ain't us--

I figure the odds are real good that I'll require the services of an
electrician long before I need anyone to administer to my public. It's
a goddamn shame, really.......I'm pretty sure I can buy the latter
cheaper than I can rent the former. :(

Wolfgang

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
A Light Colonel's insigia are Silver Wings. Thus the nickname.

A light Colonel's insignia are silver leaves. A full Colonel's
insignia are silver wings. He might not be happy that you've demoted
him if he is a full colonel.

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

wrote in message
oups.com...

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
A Light Colonel's insigia are Silver Wings. Thus the nickname.

A light Colonel's insignia are silver leaves. A full Colonel's
insignia are silver wings. He might not be happy that you've demoted
him if he is a full colonel.


Yes sir, I stand corrected! Though my uncle Dick did retire as a Lt. Col.,
the Silver Wings are for his and my aunts flight training. He flew fighters
in southeast Asia, and she was a flight nurse.

Thanks for settin' me straight, potles!

Op --The Airmen of today will be the Master Sergeants of tomorrow, smoke
pot, drop acid. (Read in the bathroom stall, Langley Field F-15 Intermediate
Maintenance hanger, 1976)--

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
A Light Colonel's insigia are Silver Wings. Thus the nickname.

A light Colonel's insignia are silver leaves. A full Colonel's
insignia are silver wings. He might not be happy that you've demoted
him if he is a full colonel.

We used to call them "phone Colonels" as it is proper to address them
as either Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. On the phone, they would just
answer Colonel XXXXX


Op --The Airmen of today will be the Master Sergeants of tomorrow, smoke
pot, drop acid. (Read in the bathroom stall, Langley Field F-15 Intermediate
Maintenance hanger, 1976)--

Glad I didn't join till 77. Well, did join in '76, but got kicked out
and came back in '77.
Frank Reid

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Frank Reid" wrote in message
oups.com...
Mr. Opus McDopus wrote:
A Light Colonel's insigia are Silver Wings. Thus the nickname.

A light Colonel's insignia are silver leaves. A full Colonel's
insignia are silver wings. He might not be happy that you've demoted
him if he is a full colonel.

We used to call them "phone Colonels" as it is proper to address them
as either Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. On the phone, they would just
answer Colonel XXXXX


Op --The Airmen of today will be the Master Sergeants of tomorrow, smoke
pot, drop acid. (Read in the bathroom stall, Langley Field F-15
Intermediate
Maintenance hanger, 1976)--

Glad I didn't join till 77. Well, did join in '76, but got kicked out
and came back in '77.
Frank Reid

If I recall correctly, they didn't start Golden Flow Testing until '78, and
I know there was a lot of the aforementioned going on in '77. Perhaps you
just weren't a part of the in crowd :~^ )

Op

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Mr. Opus McDopus" wrote in message
...

--MPA to be

That would qualify you to be my boss.

Should I apologize now for ever ****ing you off or is it too late?

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Wayne Knight" wrote in message
. ..

"Mr. Opus McDopus" wrote in message
...

--MPA to be

That would qualify you to be my boss.

Should I apologize now for ever ****ing you off or is it too late?

I'm sure that we can work something out over the next 3 1/2 years. You send
me a current list of *all* of your flyfishin' gear and any acquisitions that
you might make in the future and I will pick out two pieces every two
months. At the end of the 3 1/2 years or longer, if I have any difficulties
in gettin' my Master's--what with the need to fish the gear I pick out--I
will let ya know our status.

Op --IIRC, there's a certain Hardy Smuggler that I have my eye on!--

Two good pieces of news this week!
 

"Mr. Opus McDopus" wrote in message
. ..

--IIRC, there's a certain Hardy Smuggler that I have my eye on!--

Nice try bubba, but there's not a Hardy Smuggler in my possession. And ya
better hurry. I've about gotten over my apprehension and am about to place a
few pieces of tackle on ebay.