Prayer Meeting 01/07/2022

We missed Ted during the Friday meeting this week, but Jay, Tim and I were able to attend.  The weather was, as Jay used to describe it, "raw".  And I couldn't agree more.  Temps were in the mid-teens, and there was somewhere around 6 inches of snow on the ground (give or take), under cloudy skies.  Fortunately, we weren't huddled around a fire on the river, where it would probably have felt much colder.

I was describing a guy that is apparently a friend of one of my daughters and used a term we were all familiar with, but you don't hear used very much: trogladyte.  Think cave man and you'll get the picture.  This of course led to more discussion of the word and a song we all remembered from our youth.  Here's a link for your listening and viewing pleasure:

Trogladyte

Ah, the good old days.

Checking the temp on the 30 or so thermometers in Jay's shop, we discovered that we actually have one in common.  They were purchased by our kids at their elementary school nearly twenty years ago.  The difference in the two is in how they've been used over the years: Jay's has always been inside and mine has always been used outside.  The differences are pretty dramatic.

After Tim left, Jay, Lori and I were talking about the TSA and flying, and how the Airport Nazis confiscated one of my favorite gifts (pictured).  I had flown with it numerous times before an over-zealous agent decided it was a disallowed "blade".  I really miss having it.  Glad Jay still has his.

Great way to wrap up an otherwise busy, stressful week.

River Day 01/03/2022

 First post of the new year - welcome 2022!

Jay, Ted and I got together this Monday at Jay's.  It was a cold day (mid 20's) with close to two inches of snow from earlier in the morning.  Sorry guys, you know I have to give the weather - old habit.

It was nice to see that Jay already has the 2021 camping trip photo hung up with the others.  Seems to be the general consensus that the orange guy in the foreground is a bit distracting.  He is a bit bright.  Sorry guys.

After Jay posted the final blog entry for 2021 it put us up to an all time high for any calendar year since we started documenting - 75.  The previous year had been the leader up to then.  I think we can get even more this year, even though Jay claims he's taking a sabbatical from posting.  I appreciate all the pics that everyone submits.

Great way to bring in the new year.

Oh, the picture from this week reminded me of Christmas, I'll let you figure out why.

Prayer Meeting Dec 31,2021

Happy New Year!

Ted and I sure did miss you guy's for some Poor Mans Cake and cold ones ! Hope you all all have a Great Year.... Spending this past year with you Bastard's has been GREAT!!

River Day 12/20/2021 (Christmas Edition)

 

This post may be a little boring to some readers, but I think it's important to preserve history, in the hopes it gives a little insight to our offspring, family, friends, or any other readers as to how we feel about tradition.  So I'm going to recount here how the Rivertarian Christmas celebration came to be.

Twenty-some years ago there was a group of us getting together at the river every week: fishing, burning stuff, having a few cold ones, smoking stogies and generally enjoying each other's company.  The group then was Jay, Ted, David and me.

I don't remember if it was the 1st winter or not, but definitely early on, each of us had brought a small gift for the others in the group.  Just a little "Merry Christmas" present.  It wasn't planned, or even talked about prior to the evening in question.  Everyone in the group just grabbed a bag, or whatever out of their vehicle and said "hey, I got a little something for you guys".  The following couple of years went similarly.

Eventually we started planning which evening the Christmas exchange/celebration would take place.  We brought or prepared food, we played music (traditional Christmas songs), exchanged gifts, and we had a great time.

The group has changed a little since then; David wasn't able to come, and Tim became a welcome regular (now a full-fledged Rivertarian).   What started out as a happy accident has now become a tradition with us, and is probably one of the most anticipated get togethers of the year, probably second only the the Annual Fall Camping Trip.

I'm pretty sure that each of us put more thought into these gifts than we do for anyone else's, ranging from homemade, to personalized, to functional.  Part of that tradition is also a print from the fall trip, that now includes our fallen brother.

Personally, I can't imagine a year without celebrating Christmas without these guys.

So that's the story of how Rivertarian Christmas came to be.  Hope it wasn't too boring.

From each of us, to each of you, Merry Christmas, and long live the Rivertarians!!

Jay Harper

Tim Harper

Ted Hemelgarn

Mark Morgan

Prayer Meeting 12/17/2021 (Jay's Birthday Celebration)

 

Of all the Prayer Meetings we've conducted, this one was definitely one of the best.  So, the usual suspects were present: Jay, Tim, Ted and me.  The day was also Jay's birthday and he got a very nice surprise: both of his sons, Damon and William, showed up unexpectedly.  Or at least early.  

As far as the weather was concerned, we had mild temps (60ish) but with some rain.  Not bad for the week before Christmas.

There were many conversations going on during the short gathering, pretty much all at the same time.  Lots of laughs as you might imagine.

Really happy to have been part of the evening.

Enjoy the pics everyone!

River Day 12/13/2021

Jay, Tim, Ted and I got together this week for our River Day celebration at Jay's.  Not that it matters much when you're indoors, but the weather was pretty mild: clear skies, temps in the mid to upper 50's.  I've gotten into such a habit of reporting the weather for Mondays, that I just automatically add it.  One of these days maybe someone will look back and ask "wonder what the weather was like that day?".  There ya go.

Ted brought a little item over for show and tell this week, part of a follow up on our chats about Geo Caching during the past meetings.  Pretty cool little device for a micro-cache.  We've talked for years about starting and hiding one, but haven't gotten around to it yet (in true Rivertarian fashion).

Hard to believe that we're rapidly approaching the end of 2021.  I believe it makes our frequent get togethers that much more important.  Time is going to keep on speeding along, so these sessions are well appreciated.

Happy River Day to all! 

River Day 12/6/21

Hello all!! No pictures this time. Tim,Ted, & Jay did a short rainy afternoon get together, having a few laughs and some cold ones. So sorry the rest of you followers could not attend. Have a good week Guys!