Why I hate roller coasters.....

      I've never liked roller coaster rides.  Of course I've never
been on a roller coaster ride but that's beside the point.   I don't
like even watching roller coaster rides.  My philosophy always
was spinning around and flying willy nilly down a track at break
neck speeds only to get sick and throw up is stupid.  That's what
alcohol is for !
      At any rate those aren't the type of roller coasters I'm talking
about today.  Today I am talking about the kind of days that life
let's you think your in command only to drop the bottom out of
your day with a giant 'woosh'.   Of course it's lets you recover and
once again build your self up for the next drop.  This time with a
massive curve thrown in for good measure.  I seem to have these
days quite often lately.    For instance...........
     This past weekend a friend and I fished a Bass Tournament at
a local lake put on by the Steelworkers Union that we used to work
for.   We fish it every year and every year the issues seem to grow.
This year it started early with my inability to sleep the night before.
Not uncommon for me so with three hours sleep I head to our
meeting place.  What ?  road construction.. detour ?   This wasn't
here yesterday.  No problem I can handle this.  Forty five minute
drive turns into an hour and a half but still on time.. Good !   Boat
launched signed in .. good to go.  Let the ride begin.  Fifteen minutes
into the day I hook a really good fish off of an island on our first stop.
What a way to start the day !!   Right to the boat.. buddy ready with
the net .. it turns and 'pop' it's gone.   What a way to start the day.  I
guess the powers to be thought that brief high was enough to hold me
for a while because they left me flounder in misery for the next several
hours.  When it was finally time for another high we both caught
keeper fish about a half hour apart.  Things are looking up.  At least
for the moment.  About an hour before the tournament I lose another
really nice fish.  Lesson learned..I don't fish very well when I'm angry.
My buddy manages to catch one more keeper just before we head in.
I'm disappointed but as we check in we aren't seeing many fish being
turned in so there's still a little hope.  That little hope was put there for
a reason.. we needed another kick in the gut.  lol   Winning places all
had four fish.. we had three.  Those two lost fish cost us a thousand
dollars.  Feeling disgusted at myself now but like I said that's about
normal for this tournament.   Then comes the fifty/ fifty drawing.  And
the number is ........ mine !   One hundred and seventy four dollars !
Small consolation but hey it covers gas and entry fee so the day is a wash !
     So with a few bucks in my pocket and beautiful weather ahead and
the cursed lake in my rear view mirror I head for home thinking this
wasn't such a bad day after all  !  I'm back on top !   Opps.. spoke too
soon.  Somewhere between Rt 22 and Old Washington there is a curve
on a narrow road with a washed out berm.  I know this now as my
boat slipped off the berm and jammed my fender and tire under the
guard rail before popping back up on the road.  They just couldn't let
me go home happy could they !    I'll be getting estimates this week
I'm betting they will be on the up side of the roller coaster ride as well !