Some solid customer service

A few weeks ago I wrote about how my 6- and 8-weight reels were on the fritz and had been returned to Ross for warranty work.  In case you don't recall, I had fallen and broke the reel foot on my 6-weight Ross Vexsis, a brake that I can't entirely blame on the reel.  As for my 8-weight Ross Momentum LT, it was taking on water.  That is, anytime the reel was submerged the drag would fill with water and become unreliable.  This is totally unacceptable in my book.  What good is a reel that can't get wet?

Well, I'm happy to report that during my recent travels the reels arrived back home safe and sound.  

Ross replaced the entire reel frame on the 6-weight--instead of 2 screws holding the reel foot to the frame, the replacement frame and foot have 4.  Obviously, I played a role in breaking the reel by falling on it, but Ross must have recognized the reel's weakness since they slightly redesigned how the foot attaches to the frame.

Ross replaced the drag mechanism on the 8-weight, and the newly serviced reel feels much better.  Despite these recent problems, I have to say that Ross' customer service is great. 

Probably time to get back out on the water and test things out, just to make sure...

A workshop for practicioners

I spent today--from 8:30 this morning until roughly 9:00 tonight--in day one of a two-and-a-half day climate change litigation workshop.  In reflecting back on the day, I'm not sure if I should dedicate my life to fighting climate change or move farther inland, build a bunker and stockpile supplies.  Between government programs to fight climate change that do so little to solve the problem they're hardly worth doing, corporate subversion of the public interest, and a carbon emission trajectory that puts us well beyond levels that any sane person could consider safe, it's all too easy to conclude the problem is insurmountable and head for the hills.

I heard a notable climate scientist today explain in one breath that 350 ppm should be our target, then in his next breath describe how increasingly difficult it would be to obtain even a "conservative"--his word--goal of 450 ppm.  If it's "conservative" to contemplate a goal that all but ensures a fundamental and unpredictable change in the ability of our planet to sustain life, we're screwed. 

* * *

I've read of soldiers, hunkered down on the beaches of Normandy, forcing themselves to move onward up the beachhead only after realizing that staying put meant certain death.  Yeah, the incoming barrage of bombs and bullets may have made hiding behind a chunk of debris or in a crater the safest place on D-Day, but stay put too long and you're dead.

War analogies may grow tired and certainly are overused, but become completely appropriate where the ability of the earth to sustain life is concerned.  At some point, we must recognize that business as usual is certain death--if not for you or me, for many others--and push on up that beachhead.

Tomorrow morning, I'll venture back to the conference room, load up on coffee, consider the fact that my home is barely above sea level, and brainstorm what the hell to do about it.  Do I charge up that beachhead or seek shelter?  Dedicate myself to the cause or head to the hills? 

In truth, I think I'll do a bit of both--and I suggest you do the same.

Getting ready for winter

The days are getting noticeably shorter, the weather's turned cold, and the snow line is working its way down the mountains toward town.  This means two changes around the house:

First, The Wife and I have been spending a bit more time gathering firewood.

We have about 2 1/2 cords collected from down trees in a friend's yard.  I reckon we'll add another cord to the pile.

Second, the moose are back in numbers.  This bull was eating what's left of our front flowers about a week ago:

And this cow found her way onto our front porch a couple days ago:

These hoof prints were about two feet from our front door.  I think they're moving in.

Slinging beads

Evan, Sam and I got out on Sunday--and the fishing was incredible.  We had a ton of doubles and a few instances where all three of us were hooked up.  I'll take fishing like that any day.