My wife is wonderful.

I just had a birthday (I'm 2 weeks older than Hawaii. The state, not the island). For my birthday gift my wife reserved a long weekend in a lodge up in Dunsmuir which is a little town right at the base of Mount Shasta.

And for Sunday, she arranged for a full day guided trip to the Upper Sac with Bill Carnazzo as my guide. I've met Bill at an Auburn Fly Caster's meeting and he's a good guy. I'm sure we'll get along great and I look forward to learning all I can from him.

I've been on such a blue funk from getting skunked so often. Many of you have suggested "Go out with a guide" but I could never bring myself to spend the money on myself. Well, my wonderful wife did it for me.

I've never worked with a guide. This will be a new experience for me. I'm as excited as kid expecting a new bike on Christmas.

Wow, just wow!