Learning...

The capacity to learn is a gift...

The ability to learn is a skill...

The willingness to learn is a choice...

                                     Brian Hebert

Let learning continue...

Let the adventure continue...

Fast, Fasting, Fasted...

The following is not medical advice, it's simply my view from Windy Hill.

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Just coming off a 6 day water only fast.  Started Sunday at 3pm and now starting to to come off it with my first food Saturday evening around 5pm. That's 18 plates worth of food missed and 144 hours of my life energy invested in body healing...

So here's the background...

I've been intermittently fasting off and on for over 15 years, usually from Sunday night to Monday night or Tuesday morning. Historically Mondays were busy work days, so it was easy to miss meals and just fast, using the extra 3 hours for productive work, including attending a Monday night men's Bible study.

So I'm accustomed to missing a meal or two and my body doesn't object or complain.  I think it's an easily trained response of mental over physical knowing "I'm in control, and not my body".

Periods of fasting also show up in every major religion.  For Christians, fasting is mentioned in the Old Testament and of course, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, along with multiple New Testament references for us as believers to include prayer and fasting as part of our Christian walk. 

I've read and investigated much on the health affects of intermittent fasting and extended fasting.  Research indicates significant physical and mental health benefits from both.  Among many, one major highlight is helping to control insulin and Insulin Resistance, which when IR is high, diabetes is diagnosed.

Intermittent fasting can include a daily schedule of not eating for 12 to16 hours per day, so that means healthy eating during the remaining 8 or 12 hour window, and no food in the 3 hours before bedtime.  Additionally, intermittent 24 hour fasts are relatively common and safe.

An extended 5 day or 7 day fast is on the upper end, and about as long as recommended for a medically unmonitored fast.

Fasting experts highly recommend fasts for everyone except pregnant or nursing women, and indicate that up to a 7 day fast is likely safe for most healthy adults. 

The longer the duration - the better for health benefits, although any fast of longer than 7 days should have medical oversight to make sure blood markers remain healthy through the fast.

After the first 24 hours of not eating, the body moves from using digested food for energy to using stored body fat, converting it to a higher form of energy usable by the body.  Ketosis is that state of fat burning, which is what people try to achieve with the Keto, Palio, Carnivore and similar diets, which are typically low carb, high protein with healthy fats.

Extended fasting...14 days...20 days...even 40 days have additional proven health benefits based on research, to jack up the benefits for resetting or rebooting the body.  There's evidence of cured systemic health issues such as diabetes, some cancers, mental illnesses, auto immune diseases, high blood pressure and other chronic illnesses are documented. (Read da' books!)

The process that generates many of the disease related health benefits is called "autophagy" - Latin for the body eating itself.

At a summary level, during a fast the significant energy normally used by the body to digest food is redirected, and triggers the cells into cleaning themselves by consuming bits and pieces of old cell parts floating within the cell.  Done all over the body, the results are an overall cleaning of the body at the cell level.  One additional result per research is that beneficial stem cells are released, helping to restore damaged cells back to normal.

The autophagy process is reported to include destroying some types of cancer or pre-cancerous cells, other causes for inflammation, and free radicals within the body.

THIS action and it's long-term benefits are my highest motivation for doing an extended fast.

It's the body healing itself.

So fasting...whether from 12 hours or up to 40 days provides benefits.  For me, they are powerful motivations to see it through to the end. 

My 2025 fast adventure...

I mentioned intermittently doing 24 or 36 hour fasts in the past, typically on Mondays.  I also did my first extended 5 day fast about 18 months ago.

My desire now is to make it an annual thing, so I am targeting the week before Thanksgiving as my fast week moving forward.

Historically, I have gone from 180 pounds to over 195 between Thanksgiving and New Year's.  It's a combination of less outside activity and high availability of calorie dense food during the holidays.  It then takes me to April to get back to 180-ish.  During the warmer months, I often skip lunch while working outside, and every missed meal helps with reducing caloric intake!

My experience has been extended fasting results in both physical and mental benefits.

Physically, I lose weight from burning stored fat.  Also I consider it a body cleansing and reboot process.  On this fast, I did not experience excessive hunger, in fact after the first missed meal, the craving for food ceased. This generally happens when I fast.

It was a water only fast, so ahead of normal meal times, I filled up on water, which abated the hunger urge.

I mark my weight on a graph on the closet wall, and have been taking the measurement every day, for the last 5 years.

I have the data!

Plus about 6 months ago I started to record my activity level for the previous day.  It's subjective and just for me, so I judge rather strict, since it merits a gold star on the graph. And just getting out of bed does not earn a gold star!

So over 6 days, I went from 185 to 173, so about 12 pounds down...

Granted some of that weight is hydration related, but I've been fairly regular on water consumption throughout the fast.

What nearly derailed me was the caffeine headache that started Monday morning and lasted through Tuesday morning.  Nearly 24 hours of level 8 pain throbbing in my head.  I was nearly comatose on Monday (no gold star) and was in bed by 7pm.

Sadly, it's an indication that I've been consuming too much coffee.  And I've not yet decided if I'll start again after the fast.  There's some research based benefits associated with coffee/caffeine, but I suspect excessive caffeine is not providing even more benefits!  But the pain when I stop, and knowing I'm dependent on it are strong motives to quit.

Physically during the fast I had less energy.  I remained active and productive (caught my biggest bass of the last 5 years while fasting!).  But I could tell I didn't have much reserve and tired more quickly.  But that's all good and expected!

Periods of fasting are for body healing...

Mentally, this fast has been a major success.  The Ketosis process mentioned above is amazing to experience.  The brain is operating on a modified high energy source, and thinking is clearer and the ability to focus thought is enhanced.

The best I can describe it, for me at least, is that time seems to slow down and thinking is focused and in the present.  I can think on a topic and stay focused without other thoughts trying to crowd in and hijack my mind.

And much of my "monkey mind chatter" is silenced.

It's a bit like the Matrix, where Neo experiences the world in periods of slow motion, seeing and responding to everything happening around him with thoughtful response, rather than reaction.

It's an enjoyable experience for sure.

I'm calmer now and less reactionary.  More thoughtful, and feeling more in control of my actions.  The world events are out there and not in my head.

The other area to mention is gaining additional control over eating.  After this much time invested in not eating anything, I'm more thoughtful of what I'll allow into my body.

It's easier now to say "No" to high processed garbage, salt, sugar and obvious bad carbs like cookies, crackers and bread. 

Although I still plan to eat a smashburger on a good brioche bun Saturday evening, I remain highly selective on which of the obvious carbs I choose to eat.

This post barely hit the high points on fasting, and there were additional nuances experienced, but this is long enough for now.  I'm off to get some Kiefer to restore my gut biome and start my return to eating...and tonight, the first meal after 6 days will be that grass fed Angus smashburger hot off the griddle! (Update: It was spectacular!)

I'm in a calm, peaceful state of mind, and if there were no other benefits from fasting, that by itself is worth a missed meal or two...

Let the adventure continue...with calmness...

 

0 to 3 mph

 Closing out the season...maybe one more trip left (he says optimistically)! 

Wind forecast was 0 to 3 mph out of the North through mid morning, then increasing to 6 to 7.

Now there's an olde fisherman's saying about the wind...

     Wind out of the South, blows the bait in their mouth

     Wind out of the West, Fishing is best

     Wind out of the East, fish bite the least

     Wind out of the North, don't go forth

Sure it was out of the North...but only 0 to 3 mph...

It was too much temptation to resist!

Temps started out at 26 degrees, rising to 45 by mid afternoon...

Not bad for Wednesday, November 19, 2025, just a week before Thanksgiving!

Oh, but it was cold at dawn!  Only boat at the Lamoka Lake launch. Saw some thin ice heading out through the channel, and fine mist was rising as the lake gave off heat.  The mist was freezing on everything in the boat, painting everything with a sparkly sheen as I entered the lake.

I started on the same pattern, Fishing a wannabe minnow plastic bait on a dropshot rig up the edge from 20 feet to 10 feet, along the same stretch on the Northshore.

Fingers were cold numb, and I had to dip the rod in the lake on about every 3rd cast to clear the ice on the rod guides.  It was freezing fast till about 30 minutes past that wonderful sun rising to warm these old bones.

The lake temperature was 43 degrees...so warm enough! 

And the fish tally tells the story! 

Boated 8, with 6 of them 2 pound plus chunks.  Big solid fish, mostly smallies, plus 3 good hits and a monster that broke off.  Also a couple of toothy snake fish, a Pike and a Perch.  Great action!

And

         The

                  Big

                          Fish

                                    For

                                             The

                                                      Day...

4 pounds and 13 ounces of giant largemouth!

Easily the biggest I've ever caught on Lamoka...or even in NY.

And tomorrow's forecast is for more of the same...

Except the wind will be out of the South! 

Let the adventure continue... 

Lamoka Is Dialed In...

November 15th, 2025 - opening day of gun season for NY deer.

The rut has been on for about 10 days...

Everyone else is hunting...and I own the lake!  

6:15am is still a bit early, even for false dawn, but we're going to launch...we're living on the edge!

By myself today, so the rope-a-boat trick worked efficiently for floating the boat off the trailer, tying it to the dock and parking the truck and trailer.

My old Yamaha is cold natured, but once cranked, it runs well...it seems we have much in common!

45 degree water, 32 degree air temp, and I was hunting my gloves before getting 100 yards down the channel...

Sunrise at the lake entrance was spectacular and a showcase once again of God's handwork! 

Passed up the Island and went straight to the Northshore "drop zone".  Trolling motor down and started hunting the 10' edge to fish deep to shallow, up the drop-off.  

There's a little morning chop, from the sunrise, but the lake layed back down, and the forecast was 1 to 3 mph out of the South through mid-morning, then up to 7 by noon and increasing as the afternoon progresses, with falling temps and rain by evening. 

Just like clockwork...chunks!  Big smallies on the ZMan minnow on a 1/0 finesse hook with a 3/8th drop shot down about 12 inches.  A total of 4 in the boat with 3 other solid bites that I didn't get hooked up.

Just fun, fun fishing...and it's now a very dependable pattern, with bigger than average bass!

Just have to mention this one!  Big fish for the day!  (And the squints are from this old blind guy trying to see the camara in the sunlight!) 

I had it in the boat and had my phone in hand for a photo...

...when my buddy Caleb called for our daily zoom!

He's always big smiles when we connect, and so of course I had to do some show & tell, so he could see what a "real" fish looked like! 

He grinned big-time when I showed him the 3 lbs, 7 oz green monster.

That may be the first real live fish he's ever seen, but it's only the first of a thousand more we plan to catch together over the next several years.

I can hardly wait!

Let the adventure continue...

Listen Up...

 A wise old owl lived in an oak,

The more he saw the less he spoke, 

The less he spoke the more he heard, 

Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?

                                       ~ An Olde Poeme

Let the adventure continue...

This One's Just For Me

This one truly is just for me, a record of a memorable day on the lake!

November 2nd, 2025

It's a Sunday morning, late fall, but perhaps we might still catch a fish???

It was the first day with low wind in a while, and the last day without wind for the next couple of weeks!

The forecast was calm winds, 0 to 3 mph out of the south till Noon, then shifting out of the west at 5 to 6 mph.

Air temp was forecasted as 33° at daybreak, warming to 55° with clear to slightly overcast skies. 

So I met CJ at Walmart at 5:15a ("Fall Back" DST time changed during the previous night). 

We arrived at Lamoka about 6:00a, just before 1st light - perfect!

The Yamaha roared and then purred...signaling the start of another promising fishing day!

The actual water surface temp was 51°, and ended up warming to 52.8 through the morning.

A dropshot rod was rigged beside me, based on the last trip where we caught a couple of good bass on a steep 10 ft to 20 ft underwater dropoff on the North shore of the lake.

We were going to test if lightening would strike twice!

The first fish of the day was a 20 inch pike hitting a shad colored swim bait on the north side - west end of "The Island".  It's always our starting point to get the cobwebs out.  The Pike was a quick hook up, as CJ was still threading his bait on his jig.

Then it was a 15 inch largemouth near the middle of the island.  A couple more hits, then a Pickeral.  CJ caught a couple of bass also off the island if I recall correctly.

Then across to the North shore, and we started trolling along a 10 ft deep edge that dropped into 25 feet...and the day got real interesting!

Lots and LOTS (we lost count) of 16 to 24 inch, 3 and 4 pound hard pulling, chunky football shaped Smallmouths on the dropshot rig with a Z-Man's small fluke/shad bait (green back, white belly).

I was using a 3/8 oz lead weight hanging about 12 inches below the bait.  We were on the shore side of the edge, casting deep and fishing the bottom, retrieving to shallow up the drop off.

Most effective seemed to be a slow drag and pause retrieve, with minimal motion added to the rod.

CJ was also hooking up with a similar shad colored swim bait fished on a jighead pulled along the bottom.

When I say we lost count, it's because it was easily 20 fish between us, with both the dropshot and the jig catching fish.

There was the Pike mentioned, seven or eight Pickeral, even a big 12 inch Perch and the bass...many, many bass! 

We fished around to the Willow point, taking fish the whole time. I had a gigantic Smallie which might have been 5 pounds (in my eyes!) that hit deep, then freight trained from 18 feet, straight up, jumped, cleared the surface, and threw the bait back at me! A spectacular fish that showed its self and earned it's freedom!

Three or four Smallies were caught on Willow Point drop off using the dropshot rig. While CJ scored 3 or 4 Largemouth in a row off the 8' deep flat on the left side of the point. At one point we even had a double, with CJ and I both horsing in some chunks at the same time. 

Somewhere around this time, the wind died back to a calm, almost no ripple period. 

We then continued proceeding along the North shore and fishing down the East shore using the same deep water pattern, continuing to get hits and hooking fish, though a bit less frequently.  As the shore turned south running towards the church camp, the fishing slowed, though CJ pulled out 2 more Largemouths.  The first was a good 18 incher, likely 3 pounds, but second was bigger yet!

CJ had caught the biggest LM of the day, guessing maybe 4 pounds and 22 to 24 inches.

It was at this point, we noticed the wind shifting around to the west, and could watch as the lake churned a bit as the wind picked up and the water started to ripple and waves moved toward us from a dry front.  It was interesting seeing the change, from calm, no waves to the 90 degree shift in wind direction and increased velocity in reel time...I mean real time!

We fished a bit more, retracing part of our path back to Willow Point, but we caught nothing more, and with the wind blowing steady from the dry front, we called it and headed to the ramp.

In Reflection...

It was our BEST day ever on Lamoka, just full of action from first cast before sunrise to Noon. It was one of those days where we didn't need to scratch our heads and swap baits because we were dialed in and catching 'em. 

These were the first Smallmouths of this year, and all were big chunky adults, hard fighting and just F-U-N fish to catch, plus the Largemouth were twice bigger than typical Lamoka bass.

The equipment all ran fine.  The 30 year old Xpress and Yamaha 115 hp motor still run strong and trouble free!

Next time, I might consider shifting to a 1/4 oz weight if the lake calms like it did on this trip. It might impart a bit more natural movement to the dropshot bait.

All in all, it was memorable.  We had one other big November day on Lamoka about 6 or 7 years ago, casting 12 foot deep running crankbaits for Smallies in the same general area as this day, but that day, was lots of action in a 30 minute window. 

This day it was different, we were on fish most of the morning, using an easily repeatable pattern.  It was the perfect close to what has been a good fishing year...

CJ and I have fished more over the last 3 or 4 months, even during midweek, targeting low wind days, which has been productive, and very enjoyable!

And I'm still checking the "Windy" app!  Ever the optimist, maybe we can get one more adventure in before the hard water hits!

Let the adventure continue...

Watch and Learn...

A common adage - though perhaps often too used...

It's typically a parent to child thing...

An attempt to pass on generational wisdom...

Although it's not always delivered well, received well, nor fully appreciated by a young observer...

But I do believe it's an idea which can --- and should --- be reversed! 

There's much we adults can glean from watching children. Whether they're 2 months, 12 years or 42 years old.  But one must pay close attention and have a desire to learn! 

So here is today's "watch and learn"...taught by Caleb, our 9 month old perfect grandson, who I might add, is much like our perfect granddaughter Arden!

Now Caleb's momma requested no social media exposure when he was born waaaay back 9 months ago. 

But she's not the boss of me!!!

So here's a picture introducing the young adventurer, all fastened in and ready to travel from a recent road trips!

The Overcomer

Right now, young Caleb is learning to pull himself erect.

To stand! 

He's doesn't understand it, yet he's learning and internalizing the laws of gravity in pursuit of balance.

It's all being done for the ultimate fulfillment of his strategic goal which he does understand...to become Master Of The Universe!

Though now only an accomplished crawler, he will not just learn to balance and then walk...but he will RUN!  Mastering all of it - in the next 60 days! 

Mark it down, Caleb will be running after Rudolph and The Great Bumble by Christmas!!!

It's enjoyable to watch as he's engaged in extreme focused concentration as he learns to stand.

You can easily see the concentration in his face, the pursed mouth, the sharpness in his eyes, the determination as he processes every wobble and shake.

He's not conscious of it, of building up his muscles and training his body, as he learns to master gravity to simply stand.

He's achieved what we all forgot how to do - Caleb is living in the moment.

He's tuned into his body, feeling for feedback, he's unconsciously learning which muscles are needed to achieve balance, which neurons to trigger for the subtle adjustments needed...and he doesn't even know he's doing it.

He may appear to be just reaching out for the next handhold, but he's actually striving with determined focus towards his goal - to stand...to be free.

And maybe there's another thing to learn from young Caleb...

He's absolutely NOT thinking about anyone who may be watching him.  He cares not whether anyone is judging or thinking critical thoughts of his efforts!

When he does look around, his whole face brightens into the most heart warming smile if he catches you watching --- but --- he cares nothing about what you might be thinking regarding his last wobble!

So what can we aged, wise adults, so full of wisdom learn from watching Caleb?

It might be that WE should become more Caleb like...

Consider...

How much importance do you place on the acceptance of others?

How does fear of other's judgment inhibit or limit your actions?

Are you free with your comments which align with your beliefs, or are they "adjusted" based on the audience?

Are you embarrassed or holding back on the pursuit of your dreams and goals?

Do I look OK?  Is my hair alright?

Should I go introduce myself to that person?

Should I even nod to acknowledge that stranger?

What will they think of me?

Caleb does not carry any of those concerns within him!

We still have so many unattempted adventures to experience.  We have so many goals and dreams that we push still farther out to the distant horizon.

There are still dragons to slay...treasures to be found...universes to explore...fears to conquer...and simple daily lives to live unafraid.

Each can be accomplished using Caleb's mission to stand! 

Focus and Forget!

FOCUS intently on your dreams, your goals, your plans for tomorrow...

FOCUS and pursue what needs to be done next to stand...to walk...to run...to be master of your own universe!

FORGET about "the others", "the judgers", "the they" who don't really matter.

FORGET about how silly you may look as you wobble towards your goal.

FORGET all fears of failing...

Stand...Walk...Run...Be Free!

Let the adventure --- for everyone --- continue...

Rocky!

I dislike the time shift nonsense!

Last night I went to bed early due to the "Fall Back" time change, which required a 4:15a wake-up the next morning in order to be on the lake, and fishing at first light.

I had just fallen asleep and heard J yelling for me...I was positive death was at hand...!

She had let Eb, the mouser kitty in...not realizing he had Rocky the Flying Squirrel in its mouth...

Now, all the YouTube daredevils in the Redbull flying suits are just wannabe flying squirrels. Like the squirrels, they have webbed suits allowing them to start high and glide to lower elevations...ideally in an elegant, controlled free fall.  They both look alike, except flying squirrels generally survive! 

 

So Eb pranced in as only Eb can do...and dropped the squirrel...in the house...but Rocky was still very much alive...

And --- THAT --- triggered the death yell...!!! 

Mayhem ensued with Rocky scrambling around the living room, dodging behind and under anything it could find for cover...

But it was not just running, it was also leaping up into the air and gliding while running wildly...

And me chasing it around with a broom and dustpan (first thing I could grab)...

J was running around shutting doors to keep our little guest in the main part of the house...

And poor Eb the kitty was chasing it simply to get his dinner back!

It was Keystone Cops comedy for about 3 minutes...but we were ultimately victorious and out it went.

I tossed it into the yard with an easy underhand flip from the dustpan, and he gracefully spread his wings gliding off into the dark...an expert YouTuber set free...while poor Eb just meowed disparagingly!

I'm still amazed how beautiful it was, small and compact, with its big eyes and webbed wings.  And I'm pondering how Eb the kitty managed to catch it initially?

Especially considering all the natural capabilities of a flying squirrel to avoid being the star of a blog post!

Let the adventure continue...(but not that one again!)...