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Backwoods Bound Bullet Volume 19 - Issue 6

  Welcome to the June 2018 issue of The Bullet. Summers here and the time is right for dancing in the streets. Well maybe not dancing in the street but time to play in the pool, go tubing on the lake, take a dip in the river or just run through the sprinkler. Anything to cool off. Seems like the weather has gone straight from winter right into summer again this year. How long has it been since we’ve actually had a spring season? Seems like a long time. As they say, times are a changing. Stay cool people.

Enough of the mumble jumble. Let’s get to it. Enjoy the two hundredth and twelfth issue of The Bullet. Until next month, J. E. Burns, Editor-in-chief.

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In this issue:

~ Backwoods Trivia
~ Recipe: Fried Catfish Balls
~ Article: Camping: Be Ready and Be Nice
~ Recipe: Venison and Wild Rice Casserole
~ Article: Snakes
~ What's New
~ Recipe: Reunion Punch
~ Last Minute Stuff

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BACKWOODS TRIVIA: Here’s an interesting one we came across. See if you know the answer to this month’s question.
 
Who was the first U.S. president born in the United States?

Find the answer at the end of this newsletter. Send your trivia questions to mail@backwoodsbound.com.

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RECIPE: FRIED CATFISH BALLS

~ 2 cups cooked catfish, flaked
~ 2 cups mashed potatoes
~ 1/4 cup finely chopped onion
~ 1 large egg
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1/2 tsp pepper
~ bread crumbs
~ oil to deep fry

* Flake fish into small pieces in a large bowl.

* Add the mashed potatoes, onion, egg, salt and pepper. Combine well.

* Shape into 1" balls and roll in the bread crumbs to coat.

* You can season the bread crumbs with your favorite seasonings (Cajun, etc.) if desired.

* Add the balls to hot oil and fry until golden brown. It won’t take long so keep an eye on them.

* Drain on paper towels and allow to cool slightly before serving.

* Enjoy!

Thanks to Tim Kish for this recipe. See more fish recipes to enjoy this summer on our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zfish.html.

Remember to send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com. We'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

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** AFTER THE SHOT TROPHY PLAQUES **

Our handcrafted plaques are made from solid oak not plywood or particle board giving your trophy a solid base to anchor to. Each plaque comes stained with a wall hanger installed. Clear-coating is an available option.

We specialize in unique designs! We’ve done everything from lightning bolts to walleyes to shields to light bulbs, hanging and stand up designs! Just tell us what you have in mind and we’ll make it happen!

No matter what type of trophy you want to display, we have a plaque or trophy to fill the need. Contact us at sales@backwoodsbound.com with your ideas.

Don’t settle for an ordinary looking plaque! Go one better and order your AFTER THE SHOT Trophy Plaque today. Prices start at $32.95. Don’t wait, order today!

Visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/ats.html for photos and information on how to order your plaque. Order with our secure on-line ordering system and pay with confidence using Paypal.

"It only takes a little more to go first class."

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ARTICLE: CAMPING: BE READY AND BE NICE by James Burns

  Camping season is upon us and there are a few things you can do to make your trips safer, easier and fun.

 The first thing to do before you even leave the house is to check your equipment over. Set up the tent in the backyard and let it air out. Check it for holes and patch them. Apply a coat of waterproofing. You can find spray-on waterproofing at about any big-box store for a reasonable price. Check the poles and make sure they’re not cracked or broken. Replace as needed. Picking up a spare pole and a repair kit to carry with you on your adventures is a good idea.

 Not a tent camper but an RV owner? It’s time to flush the water system to clean out the antifreeze you pumped in last fall. Run fresh water through the system until all of the pink color is gone and the water tastes good coming out of the faucets. Make sure to flush the water heater well. They make a little flushing wand that goes on your garden hose you stick through the drain plug to wash out the tank. It works really good to get out any mineral deposits.

  Check all of the appliances. Is the frig cooling properly? Does the water heater operate correctly? Does the stove and oven burn right? Check the 12 volt and 120 volt electrical systems. And most importantly, is the A/C cooling? Be sure to clean the air filter on the A/C unit. Also wash out the coils on top. Poor airflow is a main cause of poor cooling.

  While on top, clean and treat the rubber roof. Check your local dealer for the proper cleaners and protectants. Proper maintenance of the roof insures years of good service. Also check the vents for cracks. Those plastic vents take a beating from the sun and deteriorate over time and have to be replaced every few years.

  Check the sealant around the vents and seams. Seal as needed.

  Make sure to check the tire pressure and don’t forget about the spare!

  When was the last time the bearings were packed? Better to do a little preventive maintenance now than stuck on the side of the road replacing a burned out bearing.

 One thing every camper needs to check over is the first aid kit. Resupply bandages and ointments. Check expiration dates on medicines and restock.

  Is your sun block expired? If there’s no date on the bottle or you can’t remember when you bought it then buy new stuff. The ingredients break down over time rendering it ineffective. When you buy a new bottle, write the date of purchase (D.O.P.) on the bottle with a Sharpie so you can easily keep track of the newer stuff from the older stuff.

 Make sure to have plenty of bug repellant on hand. If you like to hike you might want to use Permethrin to treat your clothes. You can also use Permethrin on tents, chairs, sleeping bags but never on your skin. Follow the directions on the package!

 One other thing you might want to invest in is a weather alert radio. They can run on A/C or D/C power making them very versatile. Once programed and they are very easy to set-up, they will automatically alert you to bad weather 24 hours a day. You can also get the local forecast by simply pushing a button.

 Do your lanterns and flashlights work? Install new batteries and take extras with you.

 Have things that run on propane? Make sure you have your tanks filled and have extra of those little bottles to take along. Don’t forget extra lantern mantles!

 Once you’re at the campground it’s important to remember to that everyone is there to have fun. Being nice to your neighbors and hopefully they are nice to you will make it a pleasant trip.

 Observe quiet hours. Not everyone likes to stay up until 2am nor does everyone get up at the crack of dawn.

 Pick up after yourself and don’t burn trash.

 Only burn firewood that is obtained from a local source. Most states now have bans on the transportation of firewood from out-of-state or from area to area to avoid transporting pests like the emerald ash borer.

 Keep your pets on a leash and don’t leave them unattended. And remember to pick up after them!

 Don’t bring fireworks and be sure to check the rules on having firearms.

 Being prepared for your campout and fixing problems at home will pay big dividends before arriving. Using common sense and being courteous will make for an enjoyable time. Have a safe, fun summer.

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** KAREN'S KREATIONS **

Hooray for the Red, White and Blue! Flag Day, 4th of July and Labor Day are coming up so plan for parties and picnics and SAVE 30% on any patriotic or military themed item!

We are also offering 20% OFF all other themes this month to help you get ready for your summer parties and upcoming special events!


Remember the color of all items can be changed to suit your needs! We can also make custom charms from your photos! Just send us a picture and we’ll make a charm from it. It’s easy.

Our wine charms, bag tags, earrings, bookmarks, zipper pulls make great gifts or make any special occasion special and we’ll personalize them for free!

This sale lasts until June 30, 2018 so place your order now!

Visit us at www.karensglabels.com or e-mail us at Karen@karensglabels.com or call 618-257-1365. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter to get news about our monthly specials and new items!


"Because no wine glass should ever be naked!"

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FUN FACT: Sound travels almost 4 times faster in water than air. Despite the hump, a camel’s spine is straight.” - Jade FitzGibbon

 Send your Fun Facts to mail@backwoodsbound.com. For more Fun Facts visit www.backwoodsbound.com/funfacts.html.

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RECOMMEND AND VOTE FOR THE BULLET

Tell a friend about The Bullet. Just go to: www.ezinefinder.com/rec.html?ez=backwo and follow the instructions. It’s free and easy!

To vote for The Bullet follow this link: www.ezinefinder.com/backwo-vote.html.html.

Thanks for your help.
 
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FISHIN' TIP:  Buzzbaits are great to use when fishing at night for bass. Be sure to rig a trailer hook as it helps to catch short striking fish. Also use dark colors like black or dark blue. The bass can see them a bit better silhouetted against the night sky. – Roy Robertson

Send your tips to: mail@backwoodsbound.com and we’ll post them on the site or use them in a future issue of The Bullet.

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INTERESTING QUOTE: "No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation." – General Douglas MacArthur

 If you’ve seen or heard an interesting or humorous quote send it in and we'll post it next month. Send them to: mail@backwoodsbound.com.

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** CHILI IS GREAT WHEN CAMPING! **

  Summer is here but that doesn’t mean that urge for some of that delicious chili made with Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix is put away with the winter gear. The unique blend of herbs and spices makes a great pot of chili the family will enjoy at home or at camp with NO added fillers or MSG!

  Backwoods Bound Chili Seasoning Mix also makes great dishes like tostadas, enchiladas, stuffed peppers, manicotti, Mexican lasagna and a killer jambalaya. We’ve had customers also use it as a marinade for beef and deer roasts. See our collection of great recipes at www.backwoodsbound.com/zchili.html.

  Enjoy at home or hunting camp in single pot packets or the triple value pack.

  Order your supply at www.backwoodsbound.com/chili.html.

  "Not too mild.... Not too hot.... Treat yourself and make a pot!"

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RECIPE: VENISON AND WILD RICE CASSEROLE

~ 1 1/2 lbs ground venison
~ 1 tsp seasoning salt
~ 1 lb fresh mushrooms, sliced
~ 1 medium onion, chopped
~ 1/2 cup chopped celery
~ 2 cloves garlic, minced
~ 2 tbsp oil
~ 1 – 16oz carton sour cream
~ 3 tbsp flour
~ 1 1/2 tsp thyme
~ 1 tsp salt
~ 1/2 tsp black pepper
~ 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
~ 4 cups cooked wild rice
~ 1/2 cup chopped roasted red peppers

* Place the meat in a skillet and mix in the seasoning salt. Cook until brown. Drain and set aside.

* Heat the oil in the same skillet over medium heat then add the mushrooms, onion, celery and garlic.

* Stir and cook about 10 minutes or until the veggies are tender.

* In a large bowl, add the meat, cooked rice and veggies.

* In another bowl mix the sour cream, flour, thyme, salt, pepper and cayenne together.

* Add the sour cream mixture and roasted peppers to the meat mixture and combine well.

* Spray a casserole dish with non-stick spray and spoon in the stuff.

* Bake at 400 degrees for 40 minutes or until hot and bubbly.

* Serve and enjoy.

Thanks to Patrick McCoy for sharing in this recipe. For more delicious venison recipes to try visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zdeer.html.

Remember to send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com. We'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet.

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ARTICLE:    SNAKES by David L. Falconer

  Snakes. The very word incites some people with a primeval fear of the serpent, one of the oldest emblems of evil.

 As an outdoorsman I have had many encounters with snakes through the years and I expect to have a few more in the future. We travel too many of the same places and every year I encounter a number of snakes, both poisonous and non-poisonous.

  In Eastern Oklahoma we have three kinds of poisonous snakes. The copperhead is the smallest of the venomous snakes and they are known for frequenting rocky areas or old brush piles. One of the largest ones I have ever seen came sliding out from under a large piece of tin I pulled out of a pile of rubble alongside my dad's old barn. We quickly cut his head off with an ax we had laying there handy. It was cold and he was moving slow, but he had set up to hibernate for the winter less than 100 feet from the house.

 Cottonmouths are the most aggressive of the venomous snakes. They are short bodied snakes with a stubby tail. I have been struck at by more cottonmouths than any of the other snakes combined. Twice I have narrowly avoided them with a spry jump over them as they lay in my path. Another time, I leaped straight back as my 20 gauge semi-auto shotgun ripped the snake into several pieces right at my feet in the path home from the creek where I had been squirrel hunting. A shotgun is a devastating weapon at close range.

  Rattlesnakes are the biggest of the reptiles but in my opinion they are the most docile of the three. Perhaps docile is not the correct word, but they are not as aggressive as their smaller cousins except when they are shedding, known locally as "in the blind" because they can not see when they have recently shed their skin. Larger snakes are more likely to give warning bites, dry of poison than the smaller snakes, but a hurt snake is going to empty his venom sack. I have walked back and forth within 6 inches of a rattlesnake before and he never rattled, he never moved and he never struck.

 We owned a rock quarry on our property in Oklahoma and it is nestled several miles off the closest paved highway and rattlesnakes were not uncommon. We had killed several in the quarry where we had intended on working when we arrived in the mornings. This particular time we had put several pallets in a staging area shared by my in-laws for their rock quarry they worked on their property. I had been walking beside the pallets of rock, checking weight tags and documenting what belonged to us. I sat down on a pallet of rock to figure up my total weight in the different classes of rock.

  When I moved the pallets to the loading area, there was a 3 1/2 foot rattlesnake coiled next to the edge of the pallet where my foot had stepped a million times that day. He lay less than 6 inches away and he never even rattled. Thank God I had not dropped my pen and have it roll under the pallet!

  Was I lucky?

  More recently in Goliad on a hog hunt we were searching for a big boar Mike shot Saturday night during the morning on Sunday. We were about to head back home, but I knew Mike had hit that big boar pretty hard and I thought we might find it.

  David Huber, Chris Lucci's friend and neighbor joined us in our search for Mike's boar. I rode with David to where we had filmed the hunt the night before. I had made acquaintance with David when we teamed up to work on a broken video cable that had almost spoiled our first hunt video of the weekend. Beneath that rancher's exterior was a mechanical engineer retired from the Aerospace industry. He had also forgotten more Texas hog lore than most other hog hunters know. I liked him and he knew Chris' ranch as well as Chris does.

 We spread out and moved through the tall grass and mesquite. I had given Mike my .40 S&W Springfield to carry while holstering my Glock 19. That Glock 19 and I know each other well and while the 9mm is not my first choice for a back-up gun with wild hogs I was confident I could put them where I wanted them to go.

  Near the last sight of dried blood, Mike had just moved off from it when David cried out snake and I saw the slithering rattlesnake just a few feet ahead of me. My hand drew the Glock, David firing his .45 ACP at the rattler as it tried to get away in the thick grass. I joined the attack and we soon had several holes in it as David drew a small .22 revolver and shot the snake with a dose of rat shot. Mike stepped in with my .40 and shot the snake through the head at almost point blank range.

  The entire time David Dell had been screaming and running back and forth because through the brush it appeared our arms were extended and shooting in his direction. Okay, maybe not screaming but definitely shouting to let us know where he was at.

 Mike cut the tail off the snake; his foot firmly on the snake’s decimated head at David's insistence.

 As we stood looking at the snake and the rattles David related a recent tale from a friend of his who had shot a rattler in his yard. He shot it with a shotgun and then went into the house and got a knife. He came back out and stepped on the rattler's head, cutting off the rattles and going back in the house.

 The next morning his friend came outside and there was his dead rattlesnake -- with its rattles still attached!!!

  Yeah boy, that raised the hair on my neck!!!!

  If you spend enough time in the woods in snake country you will eventually encounter a snake. Not all varieties are poisonous of course but even the non-poisonous ones can give you a very quick start if they appear suddenly from thick cover or grass. A spread adder bought the farm for popping up right in front of me on the path home from hunting along the creek. My reaction time back in those days was pretty quick and when it came to snakes, I shot first and identified the snake later!!

  An old friend of mine, Jeremy Oliver, and I used to frog gig all over the countryside around where he grew up south of Keota, Oklahoma. We hunted the ponds and the sloughs, taking some big frogs. I never will forget us stalking quietly through the lily pads, water above our knees when Jeremy stopped right in front of me. That's because in front of him was a big cottonmouth intently hunting the same deep voiced bull frog we were after. Then he disappeared into the water.

 If we had witnesses that night you would have seen a biblical experience because I am pretty sure Jeremy and I both ran across the top of that water back to the bank!

 My grandpa tells of an experience his dad told him of fishing Tucker Bottom which is along the Arkansas River in eastern Oklahoma. Tucker Bottom had a lake in it and it was an overflow lake from the rise and flood times of the mighty Arkansas. A cottonmouth tried to get in their boat and one of the other fishermen broke its back with a paddle. The snake put off a scent and suddenly the lake was covered with snakes. They had to shoot a box of .410 shells killing snakes just to get back to the bank.

 Jeremy and I saw this same thing on a smaller scale one night. We had been out for a long time and had gone to some ponds we had not gigged in over a year. Neither of us had a watch and we had been out half the night. Sue, Jeremy's mom came looking for us because she was worried we had went out and got our fool selves hurt, but we hadn't. We had a bunch of frogs and I believe we were only a few from our limit and Jeremy wanted to gig a pond down the road that had been too far for us to walk.

 Well, Sue wasn't too keen on waiting on us and she talked us into gigging a small pond behind the neighbor’s house. We agreed, just happy to be getting to gig some more and she dropped us off, expecting us home in 30 minutes or less.

 Let me state this right now. Jeremy had been dying to gig a snake. Yeah, I know, if you gig one, you gotta get it off the gig, right? Well we had discussed this and Jeremy was sure we could do it. I had a .22 revolver with me and six shots.

 The first thing we encountered was a big cottonmouth in our path. Before I could say anything Jeremy gigged it. The snake struck at the pole and curled up it as Jeremy went to shaking that gig, trying to get that snake off the barbs.

 Cursing and dancing, trying to get the snake off, Jeremy asked me to help him and I said, "Hell no, that's your snake! You wanted him, you got him!"

  Jeremy finally got the snake off and it went to the center of the pond. We started around the pond bank to look for frogs and suddenly there were snakes everywhere. A small slough ran off to the east of the pond and I saw at least two snakes come over the pond dam. I shot all 6 shots from the revolver at snakes and we finally beat it out of there as snakes slithered all around us.

 Jeremy told his mom that she had sent us to the most dangerous pond we ever went to!

 

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** RED RIVER GORGE ZIP-LINE **

The Red River Gorge Zipline continues to be one of the most popular destinations in Kentucky! 2017 was a fabulous year and we’re looking for another great time in 2018!

The Zipline is located in the World Famous Red River Gorge about 60 miles east of Lexington in the Heart of Eastern Kentucky near the Natural Bridge State Park and Daniel Boone National Forest in Rogers, Kentucky.

There are five Zip-lines to choose from with the two highest being 350 feet tall, being the fastest, 50+ mph, and the longest at 1,200 feet and 2,000 feet. These we like to call Racing Lines!

Bring your camera or rent a GoPro from us to record your experience.

Visit our web site for all the details including information about the lodges, cabins and camping available to you.

Visit us on-line at: www.RedRiverGorgeZipline.com

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HUNTIN' TIP:  Now is a good time to set your trail cameras out to see what’s happening on your property. You might get some nice shots of a buck in velvet or some a doe and her young fawn. Place them on known trails leading to bedding areas and food sources. – Todd Robertson

Send your tips to: mail@backwoodsbound.com and we’ll post them on the site or use them in a future issue of The Bullet.

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WHAT'S NEW

  There’s not much new around these parts. We’ve entered the summer lull in the shop. Orders have slowed for our After The Shot Trophy Plaques as it does every summer so if you’ve been putting off ordering yours, now is the time to get it made! Turn-around time should be quick unless we’re off at the lake. Go to www.backwoodsbound.com/ats.html for all the information on our line of After The Shot Trophy Plaques. And remember we specialize in custom designs!

  Pictures from your trail cameras are always needed for our Candid CamShots feature so send in a couple of yours. Anything and everything is welcome as long as it’s not obscene and even then we’ll get a laugh from them but won’t put it on the site. Send them as attachments to mail@backwoodsbound.com. See this month’s photo at www.backwoodsbound.com/funphotos2.html.

  And as always we need new recipes for The Bullet and the site. Recipes for everything that flies, swims or walks are needed so send them in! Send your recipes to mail@backwoodsbound.com. Thanks and we look forward to getting them!

 Planning an adventure this summer? Check out our Fishin’ Guides and Charter Services for listings all over the U.S., Canada and Mexico at www.backwoodsbound.com/guidesfish.html. It’s a good place to start your search.

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** ADVERTISE YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE HERE! **

Over 4400 potential customers could be reading YOUR ad right now instead of ours!

Place your ad here for $8.00 a month! Discount rates for multiple issues.

For more details, visit our site at: www.backwoodsbound.com/advertise.html. Or e-mail us at: sales@backwoodsbound.com.

Deer season is fast approaching so place your ad now!


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CANDID CAMSHOTS

  Chris Vaughn sends us this picture of a doe checking out the camera. Taken in southern Illinois near Olive Branch in November 2017.

Curious Doe


Send your trail camera or outdoor pictures to mail@backwoodsbound.com.

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RECIPE: REUNION PUNCH

Description

A punch drunk at Reunions. No, no! Not a punch drunk, but a punch that is drunk (as in past participle of drink you know, drinked.)

Ingredients

~ 3 – 6 oz. cans frozen limeade
~ 3 – 12 oz. cans apricot nectar
~ 1 – 46 oz. can pineapple juice
~ 3 – 2 liter bottles of ginger ale or 7-Up. Can be diet.
~ Massive quantities of grain alcohol or moonshine is optional - but highly recommended

Preparation

* Make sure all is icy cold and mix it all up in a great big ole bowl.

* You can even fill a couple of the soda bottles with water and freeze ‘em. Then cut the top off and add the chunk to the bowl.

* You could make an ice ring of pineapple slices by putting the slices in a ring mold and adding ginger ale or 7-Up. Let it freeze then float in the punch.

* Warning!! Warning!! Grain alcohol and moonshine are not only highly flammable, but will melt the fruit ring quickly, so drink fast!

* Number of servings: about 50 unless what's his name shows up!

* Prep Time: five minutes (plus refrigerator time)

Our thanks to our buddy Buck Thorn for sharing his secret recipe. For other side dish recipe ideas, visit our site at www.backwoodsbound.com/zside.html.

Send your favorite recipe to mail@backwoodsbound.com and we'll post it on the site or use it in an upcoming issue of The Bullet

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ANSWER TO BACKWOODS TRIVIA: Martin Van Buren was born on December 5, 1782 making him the first U.S. president born a citizen of the United States and not a British subject.

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LAST MINUTE STUFF

  Four married guys go fishing. After an hour, the following conversation took place:

  First guy: You have no idea what I had to do to be able to come out fishing this weekend. I had to promise my wife that I would paint every room in the house next weekend.

  Second guy: That is nothing. I had to promise my wife that I would build her a new deck for the pool.

  Third guy: Man, you both have it easy! I had to promise my wife that I would remodel the kitchen for her.

  They continue to fish when they realized that the fourth guy has not said a word. They asked him, “You haven't said anything about what you had to do to be able to come fishing this weekend. What's the deal?”

  The fourth guy says, “I just set my alarm for 5:30 am. When it went off, I shut off my alarm, gave the wife a slap on her butt and said, ‘Fishing or Sex’? She said, ‘Wear sun-block’.”

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