If you happen to be anywhere near Belzoni, MS today, you’re in luck. It is the World Catfish Festival. The festival bills itself as the largest catfish fry.

Just think of all those marvelous ways you can enjoy catfish: cajun catfish, battered catfish, breaded catfish, blackened catfish, Tuscan catfish, the list goes on and on.

I have to admit that catfish is not my fish of choice when it comes to fishing. I prefer bass, myself. It’s those barbs that have me intimidated. If I catch a catfish, it’s purely accidental. Sticky dough bait has no place on my boat.

Yet, a fish fry is sure to be a fun event and worth a stop if you’re in the mood for a tasty fish dinner. Pass the coleslaw and hush puppies! It’s time to fry them up!

Photo by HellCop

As if any of us needs an excuse for this particular holiday. When the sun is shining hot and strong, nothing satisfies your thirst like a refreshing margarita. Welcome to National Margarita Day!

It took a year or two of boating for us to realize that the best on-the-water meals are on the boat. No hassles about waiting for a slip, trying to tie up without hitting anyone else’s boat, tipping the dock boys (though they truly deserve it.). We can make just as good a meal with great drinks to boot right on the boat.

We flip back and forth between the house drink, or in this case, the boat drink. The margarita is right up there. It’s cool and refreshing. That bit of salt is welcome on a hot day. I prefer the shaken, classic version rather than the fruity ones that bartenders have come up with. Give me a margarita and a plate of chips and salsa and I am on this side of paradise.

Now, here’s some margarita trivia for your own celebration. Did you know that the margarita was the drink most frequently ordered in 2008? That amounts to about 185,000 margaritas an hour, making the United States the number one market for tequila.

As I trudge through the 14 inches of snow from the latest storm, I’ll think wistfully of the days of suntan lotion, beach umbrellas, and a nice, cool margarita.

Photo by Trish Parisy, stock.xchng

Ice fishing villages are popping up all over on the lake. It’s that time of year again. This year, I’m taking special note of where they are.

As I see it, it’s useful information about the fishing hot spots. If you look close, it is an updated fishing hot spots map.

The lake changes, after all. There are new docks, different shorelines. Activity patterns change. Runoff varies. All of these things can affect the fishing.

When the fishing opener comes around, we’ll have the latest in fishing news.

This is a topic that I’m sure I will be writing a lot about. Starting this month, my husband joins me as a worker from home. His office downsized. The kitchen table is now his office cubicle.

My job is mobile. I can write anywhere that I have an Internet connection, thanks to Tether for Blackberry. Fortunately, it works out for him too. The best part of it is that we can take advantage of our mutual mobility and take our office to the road, or the water, as it would be.

Our boat will take on the added task of being the lake office should the mood strike us. We’ll have to make some modifications like upgrading the battery both for the boat and my laptop. Connecting won’t be an issue. How the mojitos will affect our work is another story, but one which I am anxious to explore.

We’re also going to have to invest in a new bimini. Alas, ours has seen its last summer. It appears 38 years in the sun have taken its toll. We’ll be replacing it this spring. There will probably have to be a few more modifications, but we will manage. Working from the lake office is going to take the edge off of work.

We are fortunate that we live someplace where classic boats are appreciated and plentiful. By classic, I mean wooden boats in the ilk of Chris Craft, Skill Craft, etc. We had the wonderful opportunity to view one of the more classic boats of our day—the boat used in the movie, “On Golden Pond.”

The boat was purchased via an online auction which of itself, attracted attention. The boat was painstakingly restored, as is required when you are dealing with a treasure. The boat was docked inauspiciously in the beginning of the boat show. A poster told of its link to the famous movie.

I knelt down for a photograph. I had only seen the movie last week. I don’t know about you, but that movie touched my heart in a way like no other. It reminded me of family vacations, of going to the lake, of the thing that that all of us boaters adore—the water.

Our boat borders on classic, being 38 years old. I however, hold enormous respect for these classic wooden boats. You can’t help but stare as they roar by with their engines which exhaust above the waterline. You can appreciate the craftsmanship that went into these nautical masterpieces.

The other day, one of the classic boats on the lake paused to ask us about our boat. This boater was driving a 1920s-era runabout. I was honored to be noticed by a boat fitting of the word, classic.

Arrr, today is the day. Time t’ grab your wench and dram o’ rum. Welcome t’ Talk Like a Pirate Day!

You have t’ admire the imagination o’ the in’entors o’ this day. I mean, come on? How cool is it t’ have a day when you celebrate the sea, boatin’, and drinkin’? It’s a welcome di’ersion from the stresses o’ e’eryday life. Me wager that gi’en time, it will approach the followin’ o’ Halloween.

Halloween gi’es one the opportunity t’ indulge his inner fantasies. If you’’e secretly wanted t’ be a warlock, go for it. How about a super hero? Don your tights and become a dancer. That is the magic behind Talk Like a Pirate Day. You li’e your fantasies in the innocent settin’ o’ the holiday.

Today, Me will let a few arr-rrrs come out. I’ll enjoy a salty dog (the drink!). It’s a great day t’ be a pirate.