The Vegetarian Fisherman

I have been a vegetarian for 9 years.  For the most part, people respect it even if they don't understand it.  I try to show just as much respect to meat eaters as I want them to show me.  A few weeks ago I talked to a girl at a party who was a vegan.  She was spouting off to a group of us about how easy it is to be vegan, making the rest of us feel like crap for not having the will power to say no to cheese.  What she doesn't realize is that being a vegan is easy for HER- not everyone.  Just like being a vegetarian is easy for ME- not everyone.  I understand that my choices are not for everybody, and would never want to make someone feel inferior for not doing what I do.  

That being said, there are a few things as a vegetarian I won't do.  I won't take jello shots and I won't take multi vitamins with fish oil (sorry Mark).  Also I will not go to the horse races.  Once when I was at Oaklawn, a horse broke it's leg during a race.  They killed it right there on the track, backed up a truck and hauled it off.  I decided then that I was against exploiting animals for profit.  

Another thing I won't do is fish.  I grew up fishing at my grandparent's lake house on Harris Break.  Here I am circa 1986 with my cousin Brad.  

 

Last weekend, I went with some friends on a fishing trip to a pond near Conway.   I took my camera, I did not fish.  Turns out I'm a good fishing coach though.  Here is Team Wendell with her very scary catfish I helped her find.

Brian lived up to his reputation and caught the first fish of the day. 

Kristi proving everything can be done with grace.

Brandon wore the right shirt and scared his fish right out of the water.  And despite Robin's sock issues, she managed to reel in this monster Wayne is holding.

Although I do not fish anymore, I can still appreciate what people like about it.  Kicking it on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with good friends in the great outdoors is hard to beat.  Wind, sun, silence, grass, dirt, and bugs.  Even though Tiffany smacked her chicken livers up against my water bottle when I wasn't looking, I love her and fishing anyway.

 

It's going OFF!

As I sat alone on the couch yesterday for nearly 5 hours watching college basketball, I couldn't help but think to myself, "WHO AM I?!  Since when do I care about the SEC Basketball Championship?". To my defense, the sun had not been out in a week and I had cold busch light left from the night before, what else was I suppose to do?  Since the Razorbacks lost their game Friday night, and the Ladybacks lost their SEC game the week before, I guess that officially ends my basketball shooting season.  

On to baseball?  I tried shooting a few games but it turns out I have a deep ridden anxiety of getting nailed by a ball.  The players seem to hit nothing but fouls and the ball moves fast.  I am standing beside first base, trying to hold a camera and lens bigger than my leg and more expensive than my car, and trying to get a shot of the action which might be on first or might be 400 yards away in the outfield.  Everyone says just pay attention to the ball, but this is easier said than done.  Baseball games last like 3 hours- I can't not daydream once in 3 hours!  Maybe I just need more practice, although apparently it is really hard to get a shot with the ball on the bat.  I got it after my 2nd try. 

Beginners luck.

I just might be more of a softball girl.  The field is smaller, the ball is bigger and slower.  There is a nifty little net I can hide behind if the ball comes my way.

 

Maybe the ball on the bat thing will be easier too.

Can you still call it beginners luck if it keeps happening?

You might have seen Mark and I on ESPN2 when I shot the AR v FL Gymnastics meet.  Mark sat in the front row and now has mad respect for the Gymbacks.  I have shot 4 gym meets this year and I love it. 

These girls do amazing things with their bodies, have amazing attitudes, and have motivated me to do more downward dogs in my own life.

We also have a good women's tennis team this year.  Most of the girls are from other countries which makes renaming the photos a little harder.

 This is Aurelija Miseviciute from Lithuania.

She makes a perfect sound when she hits the ball.  I wish I could bottle it up and use it for my ringtone.

Here is our best doubles team.  Nanar Airapetian and Anouk Tigu.

I'll be damned!  The ball on the racket.

My laundry is done and the sun just came out.  Peace.