Take A Lift...Sunday Tippets, Damsel Style

10,000 Ft. Up!

What comes up, must come down. Yes, this is a true statement...especially in snow skiing.  I have skied now over 20 years...And I can tell you that there is this thing called gravity.  If you didn't have gravity, skiing would be a carefree activity!  No big deal...no effort!  You could hover around for awhile... But, there is this gravity problem.  In fact, there are huge amounts of it.  And for most people, it takes many years of practice to skillfully tackle the gravity dilemma.  Your ski areas are located smack dab on the top of giant piles called "mountains".  Most ski resorts use snow makers, blowing the white stuff...errr...gravity at night!  In fact, they are full steam ahead this winter since Mother Nature hasn't been too cooperative.

 After the gravity is put into place, silly people like myself head up the canyons looking for fun in the sun...or clouds.  We tackle powerful forces that are always trying to suck us into large fixed objects!  We learn that the One Rule of Skiing Safety is: ``Never go up the mountain without knowing how to come down".  And take lessons from a professional!  I speak from experience on that one.  For some of us, falling down in the parking lot and sliding off the chairlift at the top is the natural thing to do! Haha.

Relatives and friends always have the best intentions on teaching how to combat gravity.  But, it truly is best to have a trained instructor to teach a skill that requires the upmost safety rules to do it properly.  Back when I first learned to ski, four friends had good intentions...but, I got going a little too fast and out of control.  The only way to stop was to find one of those large fixed objects!  No, not a tree or another skiier (fortunately), but a large mound of gravity (snow embankment) that stopped me in my tracks...ugh.  The pain.  The embarrassment.  Day over.  Doctor visit.  Knee out. Crutches.  My first experience with gravity and this is the white stuff that they call fun? 

Sunday Tippet:  For those not so brave, here is the best tactic for you... Never go DOWN the mountain. Always go SIDEWAYS, which involves less gravity. You will want to creep laterally along the slope, like a giant parka-wearing crab, until you reach a safe place, such as Orlando. This can take months but it is better than going straight down the mountain like I do most of the time!!  Nah...that wouldn't be any fun!  Just ski the "fall line" (going downhill) with me.  But a warning!  If you stay behind me too closely, you just might enjoy the spray of powder in your face!! : )

I did a short video of my day at Alta yesterday...pretty boring stuff.  But, of course...technical glitch, so I bring you the following ski vid to give you just a little taste of powder.  Just imagine this is me until I get that funny, little cam on my helmet going! (Ok...who's kidding who...I'm not this good!)

Can You Say Ouch? Friday's Grab Bag

Another great fly fishing video by Kelly Galloup...with a few surprises!!!  Makes you wonder if those big fish are worth it...mmmm...ok, the answer is yes!  Fish eating indicators...funny stuff.

Because I Feel Sorry For Him...

Guest Post: From Howard Levett,            Windknots and Tangled Lines

As many of you know, The River Damsel did a guest post on Windknots & Tangled Lines. Let's be clear...I asked her to do it. And a good one it was.  Thank you again Emily! Let's also be clear...she did not ask me to return the favor. Hmmm...

So, if you're reading this on Windknots it might be because The Damsel knows it's not a fair trade-off because I don't know a thing about cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks.

If you're reading this at Damsel's place, it's there because she feels sorry for me because I don't know a thing about cold weather fishing, warm weather fishing, fly tying, skiing or tiddlywinks!

So, without further ado-do is my list of things to do in Utah when it's too cold to fish.

10.  Go visit the Mormon Tabernacle Choir! Whether you like hip-hop, country or rock, these folks are not to be missed. I don't know how they manage to all stand so straight and tall...their impressive.

9.  Find a Utah Highway Patrol Officer and ask him if you can bum a smoke...


RD:  Honestly, do you think that this guy is going to take time to give you a smoke,
 when he is in the middle of his doughnut routine??!!

8.  Go to a bookstore and ask for a book on making wine in your home...

7.  See how many statues of Joseph Smith or Brigham Young you can find in a day...


RD: Ya know, I didn't find any of those, but we do have a fine UHP female officer with her kanine friend!

6. Take a drink out of the Great Salt Lake...

5.  After you do number 6, ask to be taken to a Jewish hospital...

4.  Stop by the River Damsel's house and ask for a cup of hot cocoa...

RD:  And upon request, I might even top it off with marshmallows!

3.  Stand on a busy street corner and yell, "I Believe!!"

2.  After you do number 3, ask the arresting officer for a smoke...

1.  Ask a local where the nearest mosque is...

Well, now that I've alienated every Mormon, Muslim and Utahan in sight...my work is done.

 

RD:  Howard, I'm not sure if you have alienated this guy though...just sayin'!





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"Clean and Cast"... Together!

I wanted to put this story onto my website, as it was previously posted over at fisherous.com

If you have already read this...go on over to Brian's blog...where real trout pictures hang out...unlike here : ) 

 

The "CLEAN and CAST" ... Collecting over 15 sacks of garbage with a group of fellow conservationists (and friends).Enjoying the rest of the day fishing together!  That is what I experienced the first time that I went to haul in garbage with the UFFC (Utah Fly Fishing Club) last year.  What a great way to get some karma!  There is nothing like doing a good deed.  And when you are a fisherman, it feels really good to give back to the passion that gives you so much enjoyment.  I am a Fly Fisher...plain and simple.  I will always be.  It is not something I do, it is who I am.  Those who knew me before I started fly fishing three years ago, often question me with "Why and How"?  It wasn't to be an escape, but rather somewhere that I felt that I belonged.  And when I came across groups of people like the UFFC, it told me that I had found a very good thing.   



Being involved with an organization such as this, helps you appreciate the rivers and streams that you frequently visit.   Conservation, education and participation...is all part of fly fishing.  At least, I believe that it should be.  You always get more out of something when you put more into it.  Plain and simple... And if you can bring a great group of fishers together to enjoy the experience and build friendships...it's even better!  So, we "Clean and Cast".   We clean the river beds and surrounding areas of debris for a couple of hours in the morning and then take a lunch break and fish in the afternoon.  We pulled out tires to lawn chairs from the banks...then, we took this picture by the dumpster with our great finds!  It makes a great day!  If you don't have something like this in your area...I recommend it highly as something that can be organized with a few determined and conservationalist minded people putting it together.  You will be amazed at what a difference it can make!  (And you will probably catch an extra fish that day too...)



Honey, Where Is The Receipt?

Ahhh...a common question in many of our households...Do we sometimes lose important receipts or throw away documents that we need later on?  (Yep...) I recently made a purchase at a department store and chucked the receipt.  Now, I have in-store credit, which is better than nothing, but, I would have rather had the cash back.  A shoebox full of receipts seem to be the norm for most of us.  Every time we make a purchase, we shove receipts in wallets, pockets or purses. We bring them home, sometimes sort them and drop them into a shoebox. (or a drawer that we can't open too easily anymore!)  Here are some useful "tippets" that I found on the internet, to help us now how long we need to keep receipts...

 Credits: eHow.com

  Income-Tax Receipts

 

Any receipt relating to your incomes taxes is especially important and should be kept at least three years, since the IRS can audit (that's a dirty word) you for up to three years. Save all income-tax receipts associated with deductions and credits claimed on your tax return!

Bill Receipts

Even after an account has been paid in full, it's a good idea to keep your bill receipts for at least a year. Bill receipts can include those for utilities, credit cards, rent and loans. Mortgage receipts should be kept forever. (Even if it is the house on the left!)

Minor Purcase Receipts

Some minor purchase receipts, like those for clothing and groceries, don't have to be kept for too long. For clothing purchases, receipts should be kept until after you wear the clothing, because you typically can't return clothing that has been worn. And after consuming the groceries, it's safe to throw out the receipt. (Don't think that you can return something with just a great...errr...big smile!)

Major Purchase Receipts

Major purchase receipts should be kept longer. Major purchases include items like televisions, large appliances, tires and furniture. Typically these come with warranties, so keep your receipt for the life of the warranty.  A new report out says more than one in 10 electronic items purchased are returned to the store by consumers.   A survey by the consulting firm, Accenture, finds many times products are returned because of buyer's remorse. Consumers often blame their returns on a defect, but in 68 percent of the cases, a defect is never found.  

Policy

Most businesses have policies in place on how long they'll accept receipts for refunds and exchanges. Some businesses only allow 15 to 30 days to get a refund or make an exchange with or without a receipt.  Make sure you know the time frame before it's too late to return! (Don't waste your time in line)

Sunday Tippet ~ One more item not mentioned is restaurant receipts...sometimes it is wise to keep them and double check your bank or credit card statement against them.  Just to make sure that a tip is not altered or misread!  And one other thing, we never read our receipts unless we’re taking something back. In some cases, it pays off to double check what your beloved cashier may have rung up.  (It might not be so easy to return or exchange!)

How long you need to keep receipts just depends on who might ask to see them.   A good rule of thumb is that anything related to insurance or warranties can be thrown away once you get rid of the item in question —

  

Footnote:  For the IRS, how long you need to keep receipts can vary. The longest you might need receipts is seven years.  A long time...but, better safe than sorry!!