By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current
Ice Fish’n
I put away the hard water fishing gear until next winter. Too dangerous from here on. We only got out on the ice four or five times. Lorna and I fished the main lake at Giant Goose, east of Atkinson. Twice we had some success with bluegills.
Fishing License Due
Your 2024 Illinois fishing license expires March 31, 2025. If you enjoy trout fishing your Inland Trout Stamp also needs to be renewed.
You can purchase your license, live bait, and fishing gear at E-Z Livin’ Sports Center, 231 1st Ave, Milan, IL. Their phone number is: (309) 787-2244. They open Mondays – Fridays at 7 a.m. – 9 p.m. On Saturdays 6 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sundays 6 a.m. – 8 p.m
Geneseo Izaak Walton League
The next members and guests meeting will be held on Monday, March 10, 2025, at 7 p.m. in the Ikes Lodge, 1 mile north on Route 82. The guest speaker will be Steve Kastorff, retired teacher, author and historian. His program is entitled, “Geneseo Fish Hatchery.” Refreshments served.
Tattoos
For hundreds of years, many sailors have held the cultural tradition of tattooing themselves. I never got into it myself, but I had some Navy buddies that had tattoos.
The funniest one I ever saw was a buddy who had two anchors (called screws) tattooed on his butt. I had another friend who had his girlfriend’s picture on his right arm. What we thought funny is she broke up with him. He went through a painful time getting it erased.
Here are a few listed images used as tattoos by Navy sailors and their meaning. 1) Octopus (means Navy diver), 2) Rose (a lover left at home), 3) Polar Bear (sailed the Arctic Circle), 4) Shellback Turtle (Crossed the equator), 5) Rope (Deckhand and done on left wrist).
When I wasn’t Old
I was about 19 of age or there abouts when a friend of my dad’s stopped at our house. The man was a former German soldier in WW2. On a wall we had a WW2 German rifle. I remember he took the rifle off the wall and said, “Ah, you have a Mauser rifle. I had one of these. It served me well.” I wished I’d asked him more about his time as an enemy soldier. Maybe better I didn’t!
2) Whenever I needed new shoes my mother would take me to a shoe place. I would then step up on a big wooden box and have my feet x-rayed. It showed the bones in my feet. Years later it was found that medically, it was not a good idea.
3) One time, as a kid, I found a clip that held some cartridges. I went to my dad’s work bench and hit the clip with a hammer. “BANG!” Boy, was I lucky as the cartridges were blanks. It was stupid and I got in trouble on that one.
4) When I was young in the 1950s I went to the Mississippi Valley Fairgrounds in Davenport with a friend and his dad. I remember seeing one of the Mer-Benz cars belonging to Adolf Hitler. It was long, black and instead of just two wheels in the rear, it had 4. Funny how some things just stick in ‘yer mind!
5) Remember when clothes needed to be dried out on clothes lines? My mom had an umbrella type contraption that turned in the ground. She put clothes pins in the garments to dry. I wonder what she did in the winter time?
USPS
It’s getting harder and harder to stick-up for my old Altemeyer. I sure hear lots of complaints. Personally, we get good service from our letter carrier, Jan, but forget about “next day service” to and from zip codes 527, 528 and 612..!
I get diabetes medication through the mail and that sometimes can be a problem. Otherwise, being retired, I can wait on most things. I did see on TV that President Trump said he wants to take a look at the USPS for possible changes. There certainly is room at the “Peach Palace” (Headquarters) for improvements.
I have two of my former bosses who receive this column and I’m sure they would agree. Changes are needed. Stay tuned!!!
Humorous and True
1) In Italy, you eat spaghetti with a fork only. Using a spoon is considered uncouth.
2) It is considered improper and impolite to use silverware to eat chicken in Turkey. What about when eating turkey???
3) Keep your right elbow off the table when eating in Chilie. Maybe it’s okay if you have a bowl of chili.
Quote of the Week
“We the people come first, not the government.” - John F. Kennedy