Big Cliff

Back in the earlier days of CB radio I lived up in French River and one evening we were in a bar listening to a band, they had this rubber chicken hanging up by the stage and one of my buddies dared me to steel it which sounded like a good idea at the time so I did (it's OK, I did return it LOL). Anyway the next day my buddies started calling me the chicken thief. About a week later I got my first CB radio and since everyone used handles I had to come up with one. It ended up being "The Northern Ontario Chicken Thief" which I used for years. There are still some collector cards around from way back then somewhere. When I started getting into message boards, that handle just didn't seem appropriate any more and since my name is Cliff and my son's name is Cliff our friends often refered to us as Big Cliff and Little Cliff..... Big Cliff just sort of stuck.

legal or not, it sure looked like they were having a blast LOL. Now those are the kind of kids that don't have to worry about drugs to get high! if I was a CO and saw them doing that I'd probably congratulate them for thinking something like that up then look the other way in a big hurry! (well, I might kind of keep watching for a bit.... There is nothing nicer than seeing kids use their brains to have some good fun.

I have one of each and prefer the Eagle by far over the Hummingbird. The Hummingbird has the tripple beam transducer which I thought would be good for shallow water. I can sit in my boat and be jigging, catching fish, and nothing shows up on the unit (yes, I've adjusted it) The Eagle is a portable and I can go ice fishing with it and see a small jig in 50' of water no problems. In fact I am thinking of getting rid of the humming bird this spring and mounting the eagle in the boat. Don't get me wrong, the Hummingbird does a super job as far as finding structure is concerned and it will hold bottem up to about 20 mph in 10+' of water, I just find the Eagle preforms better and I have more confidance in it. I'd love to have a high end unit but just can't afford one right now and I'm not sure it would do much more for me than the Eagle already does. I think I picked it up at CTC for about $230.00 a couple of years ago.

Thanks Guys! Glad you're pleaded with it Bill, I really enjoyed having the chance to spend some time with you and look forward to spending some time fishing together.

Jan. 18,08 update. Well, I just got off the phone with Jack and they are doing more tests but they did confirm that there is some cancer but they don't know the extent of it yet. Jack thought he might be going home today after the bone scan and have to go back in a couple of days for the results but he'll be much happier at home! (Jackie might not like the nurses uniform that he got for her though LOL). he sure seemed excited about getting home though LOL. Anyway just wanted to fire off an update because Jack doesn't have access to a computer at the hospital, hopfully he'll feel well enough to get on line soon!

Obviously you have to do what you think is best for you but $50,000.00 sitting in a bank isn't going to make much of a return over the next year or two. Water front properties will have appreciated at anywhere between 10-20%. If this is a short term investment then I wouldn't do it, by the time you paid the realestate fees and legal costs you'd be lucky to break even but over the next 5 years..... Well you'd be well ahead of the game. We bought our place 6 years ago for $175,000.00 we put a lot of money and time into it but could sell it tomorrow easily for $375,000.00 - $400,000.00+. To cap it off we have had the pleasure of enjoying living on the water and love where we are. We'd have had to live somewhere and that would have cost us at least $12,000.00 a year for anything reasonably nice. Try to get that type of return from any other type of investment! So, think about it; $12,000.00 a year for 6 years = $72,000.00. Gain in equity $200,000.00+ = $272,000.00. Net gain in 6 years = about $45,000.00 per year to live on the lake. Not a bad return! But as I said earlier, you have to do what feels right for YOU!

We decided to INVEST in water front property and it was the best investment we could have ever made. It seems that they just aren't making any more of it and values are going up much faster than land locked properties. Renting out is a good option. A friend uses an agency to rent her place out every summer and makes enough to cover her mortage and taxes for the whole year plus she builds equitey in the place and gets to use it when it isn't rented out. Not a bad deal! Based on personal experience, I would say go for it! You couldn't make a better investment!

It's about 2:00 pm, just got off the phone with Jack and Jackie..... Some Dr. came in and mentioned the big C word to Jack and was surprised he didn't know. Needless to say both of them are very worried and waiting to hear back from Jack's Dr.. Jackie has vowed to stay by Jack's side untile they get some answers... "I wouldn't have expected anything less from those two". Seems the nurses have agreed that she can stay as long as she wants to no matter what the visiting hours are. Good on them I say! Good thing they did or they would have found out what a fight really is LOL. It will take a while to find out what is really going on but every prayer will help.... sure can't hurt! Please keep praying folks, Jack would do no less for any of you!

Very nice! It must be very satisfying to build your own rods and then go out and catch fish on them.

IF YOU'VE EVER RUN A BUSINESS, YOU'LL DEFINITELY SMILE HERE !!!!! A man owned a small farm in Missouri The Missouri State Wage & Hour Department claimed he was not paying proper wages to his help and sent an agent out to interview him. "I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demanded the agent. " Well," replied the farmer, "there's my farm hand who 's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $200 a week plus free room and board." "The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $150 per week plus free room and board." "Then there's the half-wit who works about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes about $10 per week, pays his own room and board, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night. He also sleeps with my wife occasionally." "That's the guy I want to talk to --- the half-wit," says the agent. "That would be me," replied the farmer.

All of us who knoe Jack and Jackie know how close they are. I'm sure Jackie is having just as rough a time with this as Jack is. My thoughts and prayers are for both of them tonight.

Congratulations to you and your family! What a beautiful picture! Now go get some rest, you are going to need it!

All the very best wishes on your special day Bernie!

Wow, I didn't realize they grew that big! I think if I was in the bush and thought something that size was hunting me I would seriously think about protecting myself. I wouldn't want to kill anything without a good reason but after it attacked it would be too late and with a crossbow you'd only get one shot.

Well, the Kawarthas aren't that far North and there are plenty of places to fish from shore. In fact I can usually do as well right off my dock in the fall as I can by going out in the boat. Talk to me again in the spring and I'll try to give you a couple of places you can fish from shore to help you out.

Ya, aren't they fun to deal with, I can't wait until we have an option here. Unfortunatly we can't get hi speed or cable out here. Every time we have a line problem they try to convince me to buy their line maint. package or they are going to charge me $72.50 to fix the problem if it is on my side of the box. Funny how it always takes them ywo days to find and fix it when it's their equipment. I called last Tuesday because of a hum on the line. The first available appointment was on Thursday between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm. Some APPOINTMENT! No wonder everyone else is taking business away from them.

Well thank you all for the birthday wishes, much appreciated! I may be getting older but I refuse to grow up!

I am so very sorry to hear that you had to have him put down, it is one of the hardest things we as pet owners are faced with but you did what was best for him and your family. It doesn't stop your heart from aching to know that but you did everything that you could do. Quality of life is much more important than quantity! I do agree with so many others though, head down to the pound and get another dog. There are so many of them that need a good and loving home and too few people with the kind of love and compassion that your home can offer.

Thanks, I just printed my form off and will call my insurance company tomorrow.

OK Moe, I've looked all over the place for that list, I guess I didn't keep a copy of it after I sent it off to you so we'll just have to wing it again this year. No problem!

I sat on the board of directors of two ATV Clubs and have had many meetings with the OPP and town councel. The way the law is written regarding using the roads is: Unless a municipality has passed a by-law ALLOWING the use of ATV's on the sholder of their roads or on the road where no sholder exists then you are not leaglly allowed to operate your ATV in those areas. There are restrictions as to where they can allow the use of ATVs on the roads too based on the number of cars using that section of highway but I'm not going to try to type out the whole thing, it would be spring before I finished. Helmets MUST be worn while operating an ATV on anything other than private property, ask Beans and I, we made the mistake and paid the fines. If you have been in situations where you were operating and shouldn't have been and the cops let you get away with it, it's because they are people too, not every law makes sense and as long as you are reasonable they usually are too but just because you get away with it once, don't assume it's ok. The next cop you see might have just had a bad experience with someone on an ATV. You could have a big bullseye on you. The best thing you can do is drive sensibly, be respectful of others and other peoples property, and wear a helmit. As for sleds not causing damage, just go and look at the roads where sleds regularly cross, those carbide runners sure make a mess of the ashphalt. That being said, if it wasn't for the sleds, we wouldn't have the network of trails that we have today; give a little take a little!

Ok Moe, I'll see if I can find the one I sent you. It was based on the number of items/people expected. We have company this weekend but I'll see if I can sneek a few hours in the morning to look for it. Tony the chicken was wonderful but with the resources we have to work with and the fact that we have to have things ready in advance we have to limit what we offer or we just can't handle it. Trying to keep things warm without drying them out is a bit of a challange. Mind you, if you'd like to work the kitchen with us this year and take care of the chicken...... We'd love to have you there with us!!!!!! I'll bring a BBQ and tank again this year, anyone arranged for the port-a-potty yet? Can we get the smoker again this year?

Well naturally it was diverted what did you expect? Good call there Roy! Ahhhhhh the power of OFC

Well, I'm glad to hear you made it and got some fish to boot. Guess I'm just getting more chicken as I get older LOL. Thanks for the report!

What a wonderful tribute! Sad for your loss, happy you have such wonderful memories!