Southern Accents

I've decided to stick with the "song title" theme for a while here, mainly because it's fun to write about and I find it refreshing to write about things I have a lot of feeling about. Music has long been a huge part of my life - a timeline if you will - chronicling the years and where I was at various points in my life. While I have never played an instrument, and I have no singing voice at all (note here that in the one and only musical I performed in back in high school, I was asked to speak my lines and only sing when it added to the comedic aspects of the play), but I have been a life-long listener and student of music that interested me.

About the time I graduated from high school Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers hit the scene and a major part of my life's musical score was established. In those early years, Petty's tunes spoke to the trials and tribulations of love, lust and the angst of young adulthood; a perfect soundtrack for that period of my life. But its one of his lesser known tunes from one of his lesser revered albums that has spoken loud and clear to me in the later years of my life.

In 1985 Tom and the Heartbreakers released the album "Southern Accents". While this was supposed to be a "concept album" relating to the group's life growing up in the deep south, a series of events and collaborations diluted the album's original concept and what was finally put out was not what most band members hoped for nor was it as successful as many of the band's other efforts. The record did produce a couple Petty "standards" with "Rebels" and "Don't Come Around Here No More", but it was the title track, "Southern Accents", that touched me like very few songs have ever touched me.

I had heard the song many times as the album was a regular on my turntable in the late 80's, but it was right after my mom passed away in 1986 and I had spent a little time in my hometown of Joplin, Missouri (pronounced "Mizzurra" when you're from there) that the words in this piece really began to hit home with me.

The song starts off straight forward enough:

There's a southern accent, where I come from
The young'uns call it country
The yankees call it dumb
I got my own way of talkin'
But everything is done, with a southern accent
Where I come from


The line about "The yankees call it dumb" conjures up some fun memories; in 1973 I moved from Joplin to live with my dad and stepmom in Forest Lake, Minnesota. While being in fairly close proximity to the Twin Cities, Forest Lake was a small town more influenced by the rural surroundings than the metropolis just down the highway. I never considered that I had any sort of an accent back then, until classmates constantly asked me to repeat myself. Eventually I figured out they just wanted to hear me talk because to them I sounded funny (and the girls seemed to think it was "cute"). Years of living north of the Mason-Dixon Line and a year in Broadcasting school have stripped the accent but I still say "Mizzurra" and I still "warsh" my cloths from time to time.


Now that drunk tank in Atlanta's
Just a motel room to me
Think I might go work Orlando
If them orange groves don't freeze
I got my own way of workin'
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from

As many of you are aware and I have written about before,  my past includes a period of years where alcohol and drugs were ... well let's just say they were "influential" in my life (he says sarcastically). So while this stanza in the song really didn't relate to my life directly, I could relate to the feeling it speaks to. 

For just a minute there I was dreaming
For just a minute it was all so real
For just a minute she was standing there, with me

There's a dream I keep having
Where my mama comes to me
And kneels down over by the window
And says a prayer for me
I got my own way of prayin'
But everyone's begun
With a southern accent
Where I come from

This is the part of the song that really hit home when I listened to it following my mom's passing. Mom was a "southern girl" right down to her bones. She had that enviable talent of speaking like trailer trash in a country club crowd, do it with a smile on her face, a sense of charm and a "Bless yur heart ..." that left others defenseless. My "inner southern accent" comes directly from my mom.

I got my own way of livin'
But everything gets done
With a southern accent
Where I come from

For any of you that have lived in the northern states, and then spent time in the south, one of the first things you come away with is the fact that things move at a different pace down south. I think I have become somewhat of a hybrid over time ... working and living with an energy level more relaxed than many around me, but with a bit more vigor and urgency than is typical of my "southern" roots ... and still everything gets done in its own time. 

If there were ever a song that I'd want sung at my memorial service, this one would be in the running. At one time I even went so far as to rewrite part of the song lyrics to make it more specific to me and my life (sorry Tom but its my funeral and I'll want it sung my way):

Now that clinic in Dakota
Taught me how to live drug free
And words will be my labor
As I write on what suits me
I got my own way of workin'
But everything is run, with a southern accent
Where I come from

I'm very excited about Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers coming to Summerfest in Milwaukee this summer, and I already have my tickets purchased - center stage. I hope "Southern Accents" will be part of the playlist that night, but I won't be disappointed if its not. I'll enjoy the show regardless, and I'll do so with a southern accent, cuz that's where I come from.

Beautiful Loser

"He wants to dream like a young man, with the wisdom of an old man." And so starts a song sung by Bob Seger, a song that from the first day I heard it I was sure it was written specifically about me.

"He wants his home and security, He wants to live like a sailor at sea ..." may seem like a phrase contradicting itself, but I think its that contradiction that really hits home with me. On one hand, the security of home and family is one of those facets of life that keep us all grounded. On the other, the sense that life's adventures and challenges are out there for us to experience.

There are lines that make me feel good when I hear them like, "He's your oldest and your best friend, if you need him, he'll be there again." and there are lines that cut deep with truth that make me know this is me he's singing about, "He's always willing to be second best, a perfect lodger, a perfect guest." 

I told my son once that this was my favorite song of all time, and his initial reaction was one of most folks that hear me say that, "You're not a loser!". He's right, I'm not a loser .... but a "beautiful Loser" is something else altogether.

Seger once said the song was about "people who set their goals so low that they never achieve anything ... underachievers in general". He wrote it, and he's entitled to his opinion, but I don't hear it like that. A Beautiful Loser to me is one who knows his place in the world and understands that it's not on top where he may WANT to be, but rather more like a "supporting role", the character actor in life I guess.  A Beautiful Loser is the "nice guy", the guy that gives of himself in order to be a part of something, often at his own expense, but for the good of the whole.

"He'll never make any enemies, he won't complain if he's caught in a freeze." Well at least the "goal" is to never make enemies, but I did learn a long time ago that you can't please everyone no matter how hard you try. But I do try hard not to offend. "He'll always ask, he'll always say please." Of course I do ... that's' how I was raised. 

"Beautiful loser, Never take it all, 'Cause it's easier And faster when you fall, You just don't need it all". This obviously says different thing to different people, but to me, its a reminder to keep life simple and un-cluttered. A complicated life is .... well, complicated. A good life is made up of a few simple and key components; Love, Family and a good sense of 'Self'.

We all have our own favorite songs; ones that touch a nerve or help us keep a memory we cherish. My personal playlist is long and varied, but this tune will always have a spot at the top. It's a verse that simply speaks to me, about me, and about what's important in life. Sometimes when I'm feeling down, feeling more like a "loser" than a winner, I listen to this song, and it just helps.

A Quarter Century of Sobriety

26 years and 2 days ago my Mom passed away. Hard to believe its been so long ago. Probably still why I don't like April Fools Day ...

25 years ago today I walked into the Heartview Foundation Rehab facility in Mandan, ND and have not used alcohol or drugs since that day. My Mom's death had much to do with that. Well, not her death really; more her life leading up to the day she died. Mom had her issues with substance abuse too. Bourbon and pain killers, often at the same time, kept things "interesting" to say the least during my formative years. I distinctly remember saying to myself that I'd never "be like her".  But in reality, the fruit didn't fall far from that tree .... not far at all.

When she died, she was 50 years old and about 8 months sober. That was the longest I can remember her ever being drug and alcohol free. It was different. Although she had been through rehab a couple times before, it didn't stick. But this time she looked different, sounded different and talked different. This time it seemed it was  finally going to be behind her. Then in a flash, she got sick and died.

Going through her things after she passed I found her Big Book of AA as well as other books from her days in rehab. Inspirational reading material is very common in the "treatment process". Books full of daily readings meant to keep you thinking about why it is you want to get sober and what its going to take to stay there. I knew by this time that I needed help, I just wasn't 100% sure what kind of help I needed. The passages I read in these books really affected me. The more I read them, the more I felt that this might be the answer I was looking for to "fix" my own life.

So, one year following Mom's death I found myself in the Heartview facility talking with an addiction counselor and being told that I was an addict and that if I was ready to quit using, they were there to help and show me how. At that point it was actually a relief, mostly because I was half sure they were going to tell me I was not an addict, I was just crazy. Long story shortened, they did help me sober up ... they couldn't do anything about the "crazy" part of me except to teach me how to embrace it and call it my own. 

I could probably write a book on all the reasons I thought I was justified in turning to drugs and alcohol to get from one day to the next, but to be brutally honest, it would be a pretty boring book. Every addict has a tote full of rationalities to justify their indulgences and I was no different. "Mom drank; Mom shot up pain killers; Mom embarrassed me; Dad's not in my life; I'm different; I don't fit in; I'm not good enough." The reasons are never-ending and mostly irrational, but the bottom line is I was an addict with a disease; still am, although now I simply choose to treat my disease, not practice my indulgences, and live with what life has dealt me the best I can, sober and with the help of my Higher Power, my friends and my family.

It's 25 years later now. I'm still straight and sober. I don't really even think about it much anymore except when the 3rd of April rolls around. I don't miss drinking alcohol, smoking pot or eating mushrooms. I don't miss popping pills to stay up, then popping more pills to come down. I don't miss snorting, toking, slugging or huffing. I'm glad I don't use anymore. I'm still crazy from time to time ... but the only excuse I need these days is "just cuz that's me" ...

Mom, I know you weren't happy about leaving us so early in life. I also know you left those books right where you figured I'd find 'em. Thanks Mom ... I needed that. But then you always knew what I needed.

Building My Favorite Popper for Bass Fishing

I LOVE fishing topwater lures for bass! There's simply few angling experiences more thrilling than the surface explosion of a fish taking a bait as you watch it happen before your eyes. And while there are about as many types of topwater lures as there are ... well, let's just say there's a lot ... I find few are as versatile and effective as a popper.

But as a self-proclaimed "Tackle Tinkerer", I've never found a "perfect popper" right out of the package. For my money, it takes a few modifications to make the Perfect Popper, and it starts with the right lure, a Storm Rattlin' Chug Bug. I like these because they have a more subtle pop than most other poppers, and with the right modification and a little practice, you can "walk the dog" with this bait adding to it's deadliness.

Step #1: Change out the factory hooks for more premium hooks - I use Mustad Triple Grips, including a Mustad Dressed Triple Grip Treble on the rear. (I like a red hook on the front - just personal preference). The feathers of the Mustad Dressed Treble give a much more seductive action than the stiff and flashy dressing that comes on the factory rear hook.

Step #2: I add an oblong split ring for a line tie. I just find this to be an easy and effective way to ensure the best action when working the lure. The oblong split ring also makes it tougher for the line to get caught in the wire of the ring when fishing, lessening the chances of break-offs from line wear. This style of split ring is a little tough to find, but well worth the effort.

Step #3: The final step may well be the most important one, at least as far as making this lure "dance" like no other. I add a Storm SuspenStrip to the belly of the lure near the rear. The SuspenStrip is a small (1" x 1/4") self-adhesive strip of lead tape. The added weight makes the lure sit "tail down" when at rest. It's my opinion that this position combined with the action of the feather tail helps trigger more bites when the lure is at rest between pops, as well as making it easier to "walk" the bait on a steadier "stop & go" retrieve.

 There may not be any "Secret Weapon Lure" when it comes to bass fishing, but in my experience, a well fished popper that has been modified to get the optimum action and attraction is tough to beat. Give it a try on your favorite bass water this season and let me know how it works for ya.

Label Me “OCD” - Organized, Compartmentalized and Departmentalized

I don’t know what it is about being organized that can make one the target of ridicule and side-ways looks, but I’m living proof that it happens. For what ever reason; being organized these days, especially if you’re an angler, gets you some odd looks and remarks from fellow lure chunkers. I admit, I may take it to extremes now and then, but being organized when it comes to my fishing tackle helps me when I get that all-to-precious time on the water.

Some folks’ idea of “being organized” may be a bit different than mine, but I guess it’s all in what works for you. I know one prominent angler (whose name I won’t mention here, but many who know him can guess the identity), would consider himself organized because he can walk into his garage and in a relatively short time of digging through boxes and moving a few things around (lawn mower, bait buckets, landing nets, and more boxes), can find just the lure he is looking for to take on his next fishing trip. Me on the other hand; all I need to do is walk into my “fishing room” and look for the appropriately label box or container to find what I’m looking for. Whose better organized? I suppose it’s all a matter of preference.

Two things are essential to be a more organized angler, time and a good label maker. Time is always the hard one. We all lead such busy lives these days, it’s a wonder we find time to go fishing at all. For this reason, most of my “organizing” takes place over the winter months when I simply have more time for such pursuits. My personal organization is what I refer to as OCD … no, not Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, but rather Organize, Compartmentalize, and Departmentalize. Being both a multi-species angler and a hopelessly insatiable collector of fishing tackle, I find this system works well for me.

Departmentalization is the process of categorizing my baits and tackle for particular species. I have tackle boxes designated for walleye, pike & muskie, bass, catfish, trout & salmon (stream and Great Lakes separately) and then panfish. Anything that doesn’t fit into those “departments” goes into the “Miscellaneous Tackle” department. For those baits that might be used for more than one species, I try to get duplicates so I don’t have to “cross-departmentalize”, or transfer from one box to another.

Compartmentalizing is taking the various lure categories for each species and organizing the various lures in individual boxes or tackle bags. For instance, I have a large bag designated for walleye crankbaits. In that bag I have several boxes labeled for the type of cranks in each box; Medium Diving Cranks, Deep Divers, Rogues, Hot'N Tots, and so on. Soft plastics, spinners and bait rigging essentials I compartmentalize in binder bags, then those all get put in separate bags.

I use the same basic system when it comes to rod and reels as well as fishing line. Most of my rod and reel combos are stored vertically in my home-made rod rack. I try to keep rods designated for specific species and techniques stored together making it easy to find just the right outfits to load in the boat once I’ve determined what the target will be for that fishing trip. Since the ceiling in my basement fishing room is a bit on the low side, rods longer than 7 and a half feet long are stored horizontally in a rack mounted to the ceiling. Fishing line is hung on pegboard for easy access, with any surplus supply stored in a large plastic bin kept under the workbench.

The Organizing is done primarily during the off season when all the boxes are gone through, inventoried and then stored on shelves (designated by species and lure type) in the “fishing room”. When it comes time to go fishing again, I simply read the labels on the boxes and binders, load up what I need in the right tackle bag, and off I go.

The label maker I use prints out nice white labels with black lettering which are easy to read, don’t smear when wet and stay on through just about anything. I know others use a permanent marker to accomplish the same thing, but in my experience, marker eventually fades, and it’s tougher to “re-label” a box in the event I need to.

I understand that my system is not ideal for all anglers. Most of the dyed-in-the-wool muskie anglers I know get by just fine with a less orderly approach; just put a bunch of favorite lures in a tackle box and head for the water. But if you’re a multi-species angler with a larger-than-average collection of fish-catching trinkets, this is a great way to keep everything organized and easily identified.