GEBHART.US

Winter Storm Jan 7, 2010

January 7th, 2010

Our Snowy Back Yard at Night

It wasn’t actually a winter storm…but it was awesome to get snowed in today. Well, really I could have driven to work…but I brought everything (computer and books) home yesterday so that I could work from home. It’s evening now, but it was great to stay home…I always get a lot more done. Worked on marketing materials for a large project we’re pursuing (Caterpillar Logistics Facility) in Clayton.

Amanda is sitting downstairs planning “The Neatway” on her laptop and the two dogs are laying by the fireplace, contributing to global warming – while increasing our family’s carbon footprint. Katelyn and her friend Emily just volunteered to go out on an adventure to McDonald’s to get McFlurrys for us all (she’s going out in a blizzard to get us a blizzard – kinda). She called and her Mom’s jeep quit…we got it figured out (it was between 4WD and 2WD) – I guess that’s neutral…?

Jordan has been up in his room all evening…today was his second day of Sinclair’s winter quarter, so I assume he’s studying (not really). It looks like he’s going to help my sister and brother-in-law work on their house this weekend – they flip homes (and have two going right now).

Posted in Tim's Thoughts | No Comments »

Early in January 2010

January 1st, 2010

January 1, 2009

I’m not even sure if I want to write a blog…especially starting at age 45, but what the heck. If your reading this, you have to realize that it is being written for my own personal documentation and may not be interesting to you. You never know, I may use this information to write a book and become filthy rich someday…or not.

Last night was a great New Year’s Eve. We had a house full (7 total) of kids, Katelyn’s friends. Jordan was out at a lock-in at a local church with his friends…so it was a great night because I knew where everyone was and what they were doing. The kids at our house played wii and watched movies…Amanda and I sat in the dining room in stiff chairs on our lap tops (I have a stiff back today – can I blame that on the kids?).

Today, I got up around 10am and came downstairs to homemade cinnamon rolls (out of a can)…and they were delicious. I ate three because I know that soon, I’ll have to start my annual diet to get rid of Christmas overeating (and reduce my cholesterol & triglycerides). A nice salad with grilled chicken for lunch and I’m getting ready for Amanda’s sister, bro-in-law, and father to come over to watch the big game (Ohio State).

It’s going to be a great year, I can feel it. Tomorrow, I have my first official sanctioned racquetball tournament at The Heights. It’s the Winter Freeze 2010. I’m playing singles and doubles…should be fun if my body holds up.

January 2

Well, my first racquetball tournament was a doozey. Lots of fun and exercise. Okay, for the results of the day…I won 5 out of 8 in my singles match and 0 of 6 in doubles. Better luck next time…can’t wait.

January 3

Church was great today…and tonight!!!

Posted in Tim's Thoughts | No Comments »

Golf Outings 2008 & 2009

January 1st, 2010

Waynesville 2008 Gang

Waynesville 2009 Gang

Crooked Creek 2009 Gang

: In 2008…we faced rain

: Good morning coffee!!

: Mike Dunn wearing the pink panties (it’s an award we give)

: as you can see

: he wears them proudly

: After a hard day of golf, we sit on the second floor deck and smoke cigars, play cards and talk about Rich’s game.

: Hitting 4th has it’s disadvantages…as you see both of my feet leaving the ground.

: Tony Norman lines up

: then admires his shot

: A perfect back swing

: Waynesville 2008 Gang

: Waynesville 2009 Gang

: Crooked Creek 2009 Gang

Posted in Golf | No Comments »

The Great Paddlefish Fish Story (and Lakehouse Fish Cork Board)

January 1st, 2010

Below is a gallery showing some of the fish we’ve caught out of Wood Creek Lake with more coming soon…I hope! These pictures include my great “paddle fish” catch – see Fish Story below.

The Amazing Paddlefish Fish Story (click picture to enlarge)

It was late at night on May 24th, 2007. Chuck, Galen and I were trolling the first large cove north of the Lake House. We really hadn’t got much action, but like true fishermen…we pursued. We were using the heaviest rigs we had…to hold up to trolling speeds.

All of a sudden, my rod tip doubled over…I set the hook (or so I thought) and had one on. I shut off the boat and my fishing buddies reeled in their lines so that we didn’t end up in a tangled mess, like usual. My fish fought hard for a few minutes, then finally gave up as I brought it into the boat with the net. It looked huge.

The moonlight and a small flashlight were all we had to see what I had caught. Using my uncanny sense of touch, I followed the line from the end of my rod tip to the mouth of the fish to find my lure. The mouth of the fish? There was not a mouth where it should have been, there was a bill…like a platypus. The line was wrapped around its bill from the fight…so I unwrapped it (7 or 8 times). Finally, I got the line free and it snapped out of my fingers. Where was my line?…there was no lure, no hooks, no line.

The fish was still in the net, on the bottom of the boat…so I knew it wasn’t going to flip back into the water. I grabbed my rod tip and followed my line to try and find my lure. I couldn’t see well. I started to reel in the loose line. My line tensioned up…finally. My lure was still in the water?…so I reeled another 60 or 70 cranks to get it in. I hadn’t caught this fish with a hook, but literally caught it by wrapping it.

We put it in the live well (to keep it alive of course)…’cause I didn’t know what I had caught. We took it back to the Lake House for photos and then we carefully released it at the boat dock.

The next day I asked about this species at the bait store. Come to find out, the university had released thousands of them earlier in the spring. They plan to come back and harvest them for caviar in seven years. The species eats plankton and doesn’t bite lures or bait like a typical game fish…so the odds of catching one using a rod and reel is really unusual. And that’s my fish story.

-Tim Gebhart

: The Paddelfish

: Holding it by the bill

: Jordan and a “Stick” Fish

: Chad and his mud cat

: Bait

: Adam and Kyra (and her first fish)

: Amanda’s Fishy

Posted in The Lake | No Comments »

The Lake House in London Kentucky

January 1st, 2010

View inside and outside pictures of the Lake House here. Or click here for a tour of the lake. We started going to Wood Creek Lake in 2005…what a blast !!! Following are some pictures of the place and the surrounding landscape.

: Outside the Lake House

: The slope toward the lake

: View looking up from the lake

: The deck overlooking the lake

: Shed

: A look at the lake from the back deck

: Galen’s garden

: Kitchen

: Dining

: Family Room

: Family Room

: Downstairs Bath

: Downstairs Room

: Upstairs Beds

: Upstairs bath

: The Boat

Posted in The Lake | No Comments »

Hilton Head, South Carolina

January 1st, 2010

In Sept/Oct of 2008…We took a great family vacation with Joel, Keri and Kids, and Mom and Dad (Ernie and Renda).

Posted in Vacations | No Comments »

A Feather in Your Cap

November 30th, 2009

My mother told us children, there

Were rules we could TAP

To sharpen our good judgment

As a feather in our cap.

We listened to her wisdom for

That wasn’t a mishap

To have such given treasures as

A feather in our cap.

“Kind words will never die”, she said.

“Harsh words will lay a trap.

To say regretful words – that is

No feather in your cap.”

In every way be honest, for

All cheating leaves a gap

Of guilt to sear our conscience. It’s

No feather in our cap.

It’s said, pride comes before a fall.

The “Self Pride” we must ZAP

Before we get swelled up, and miss

That feather in our cap.

Think more of others than yourself.

We all live on this map

This ‘golden rule’ is needed for

That feather in your cap.

When everybody mends their ways

Oh Boy! We’ll shout and clap

It’s just a great idea for

That feather in our cap.

The Bible holds all proverbs.

Get it out into your lap

It has all rules for living for

A feather in your cap.

“Whew”, I think that I have said enough

I’ll go and take a nap,

To rest my weary mind, for

These feathers in my cap.

Violet Gebhart, February 1, 2005

Posted in Poetry By Violet | No Comments »

My Violet Patch

November 30th, 2009

My little violet patch is like

A paradise to me.

The violets growing are so thick

It’s Heaven that I see.

Does any flower withhold such charm

Or power to change our thought

Into a frame of love, wherein

Loves netting we are caught?

Think how a violet cheers a child.

A cluster or bouquet

Makes glad the hearts of lover’s with

Its sky-kissed blue array.

A Grandma feels much younger when

The riches of this patch

Are gathered up by grandpa to

Romance his lifetime catch.

When springtime came I felt God’s Love

Had overflowed my cup

As I beheld the sight of where

My violets came up.

Violet Gebhart – 1957

Posted in Poetry By Violet | No Comments »

Violet Gebhart’s Poetry

October 17th, 2009

My grandma, Violet, has been writing poetry since…well, I’m really not sure how long. She has hundreds of poems and other writings that I hope to begin posting soon. Many have been published in several booklets, and I know it is her dream that a book containing all of her work be assembled. My aunt will be talking to her soon to find out what poetry she will allow us to post on this site.

Posted in Poetry By Violet | No Comments »