Telling outrageous
stories to gullible people just to see how much they
will believe. Example: "I was just 'greenin'
him about that, I didn't know he would actually try
it!"
Holey
Joe
A large, manilla envelope
used for inter-departmental transfer of paperwork.
It has holes punched all over it's surface (hence the
name), and is pre-printed with address blocks in a
2 column grid on both sides of the envelope. It can
be used over and over - a great savings in an office
environment.
Kicker
Boat
There are basically
three kinds of boats:
Airboat -
Moves by means of an aircraft engine and propeller,
skims over very shallow water.
Kicker
boat - A boat with a motor on it -
also called a "motor boat". Rather
than skimming the surface of the water, it moves
by means of an underwater propeller which "kicks" it
along.
Paddle
boat - For example a canoe or kayak
- it requires physical exertion and the use of
paddles to move it along.
Lemon
Drops
Take a wedge of
lemon and sprinkle sugar on it. Bite into it, and
while your ears are still puckered, drink a shot
of Smirnoff. Bite into the lemon again.
Note: These are
also called "Women Drops" because of what
can happen when they are consumed without restraint.
Remember, it's a long swim back to camp.
Mating
season
Mating season,
as referred to in these notes, shall refer to ALLIGATOR
mating season, not any personal schedules.
Mating season
is primarily in May and June. Like a group of randy
teenagers, Alligators get quite aggressive at this
time, wandering farther than normal and acting temperamental.
In all the years
I've had my boat on the river I've only had an alligator
act aggressively once. He was charging towards my
boat broadside in the middle of the river. It was
mating season, and he was the same size, shape and
color as my boat, so I'm not really sure of his intentions,
but I was concerned.
I was already
going as fast as I could and he was closing fast,
so outrunning him wasn't an option. I turned towards
him and rev'ed my little 3hp engine like I was big
and bad. He went under and (thank
you thank you thank you) didn't come back
up.
It is best to
avoid 'gators during this time.
Mud
daubers
These are large
wasp-looking insects. Some people say they don't
even have a stinger, and I have never been stung
by one, but something that looks so wicked gets a
lot of respect.
They get their
name because of the way they build their nests. They
find a sheltered place (like the Weather
Station) and collect bits of mud from the riverbank
and daub it (get it?) into shape to make a place
to hatch their young.
The Weather Station
is full of mud dauber nests, but every now and then
the water management guys scrape them off the walls
and ceilings so they have to start all over again.
Doesn't seem to slow them down too much.
Trot
line
A trot line is
a long, strong cord with hooks hanging down at 1
yard intervals. The line is strung across a river
channel so that all fish passing through that channel
will pass near one of the hooks and, hopefully, stop
for a bite.
See this
page for instructions on making and running
a trot line.
Y'all
Much used in the
South, this literally translates as "you all",
meaning you and whoever is with you, as in:
"Do y'all want
to go for a boat ride?"
Sometimes for
clarification "all y'all" will be used:
"Did all
y'all want to go on the same boat?"
(in this case meaning "Are you sure you don't want to leave
someone behind who can notify your next of kin?")
"Y'all's" is
plural possessive:
"Is
that y'all's car
sliding down the bank into the river?"
As with "y'all",
sometimes the "all" is added:
"All
y'all's kids can swim, can't they?"