Confessions of an Outdoorsman!

I have a confession to make about something my sister made quite clear last weekend. I blog about things I’m interested in: books, movies, shows, etc., but I’m evidently not very open with people about my interests. I hadn’t even thought about it really because I grew up when computers weren’t all over the place. There wasn’t one in every household, let alone in every hand. Honestly, I didn’t even join Facebook or Twitter till I started writing books and everyone said, “You have to have a website and social media for your books.” So I did, and now I can’t get away from the damned things. I have Facebook and internet access on my phone so even while I’m out fishing, you might see me reading an e-book, checking messages, Facebook, or even catching Pokemon. Talk about an addictive personality.

And because I can, here is a caterpillar sushi roll I once had.

But evidently I never grasped the whole concept of putting yourself out there. I don’t normally post pictures of meals to Facebook unless it is something spectacular, and everyday things that many people want to see, I don’t even consider posting. It’s not the way my mind works, but here is my first attempt at doing just that. (And no, this isn’t a post about what I ate for breakfast. However, if you really want to know, I had a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.)

Need I say more?

For those of you who don’t know, my wife Marsha and I are avid campers, fishers, and road-trippers. We love going out to the lake, cooking over a campfire and chatting with friends, lounging in a hammock, and throwing a line in (not necessarily simultaneously, but I’ve wondered how well hanging in a hammock would work while fishing). You never know what you’ll see out and about, and the sights can be amazing, especially if you are into road trips. Hell, one winter we even made it to…(wait for it)… Hell–Hell, Michigan that is. I never knew there was snow in Hell, but evidently you can even be the mayor of Hell for a day. It’s all official with a certificate and everything.

Marsha and I camping at Assateague Island (I’m behind the camera)

Often it’s good to just go out for an evening and fish if you can’t take an entire weekend to camp, so Marsha and I go to the local pier or river, whatever’s available, and throw out a line. But we’ve camped on the beach, in state parks, and just about anywhere you can put down a tent… except for one.

I grew up in El Paso, Texas where there were as many cacti on the ground as there were grains of sand, so camping in a tent was certainly not something you did out west in the desert. But on the east coast where vibrant, green plant life persists everywhere and water can be found just lying on the ground like a lazy hound, puddling into lakes, ponds, and oceans, it seems like camping in a razor-thin piece of tarp with nothing for protection is more than okay. It’s fun. (For those of you who don’t know, El Paso has almost every poisonous lizard there is in the world, and I hated stepping on scorpions while crossing the kitchen late at night as a kid. Hurt like a hell! And no, don’t say it. I know what you’re thinking.)

Melissa, Jonah, and Siah on Pymatuning Lake

Here in Cleveland, we go to Edgewater Pier on Lake Eerie to see what’s biting. Sometimes friends will join us and we have a great time boating or just pulling in as large of catfish as we can–although more often than not, we lose more bait and tackle than we catch in fish.

Jonah with nada on the line… yet!

 But sometimes we’re lucky!

This was a pretty good size sheepshead.

And so, there you have it. Outside of books, movies, and teaching, I like the outdoors. Ohio has great spots for fishing, unlike the desert I grew up in. And yes, my favorite colors are blue and green. Who would’ve thought? Something was just missing in my childhood.

So, what are your outdoor interests?

Weston Kincade ~ Author of the A Life of Death collection, The Priors, and Strange Circumstances