What a great week. The weather has been unseasonably warm. I’ve got new fish babies, the first in 2 years! I was also fortunate enough to give my talk, “Not Your Fathers Danio”, at my local clubs first meeting of the year. Life is good.
Category: General Rambling
Catch all category for general discussion.
At the OCA Extravaganza 2016
While I don’t keep many cichlids anymore, it’s hard to pass up on a chance to visit the Ohio Cichlid Associations yearly Extravaganza. The event marks the end of the year here in Ohio for most of the hobby related activities. Continue reading At the OCA Extravaganza 2016
Fall ’16 Spawning Plans
It would seem as though I’m in a bit of a rut. I had some big plans for work in the fish room this fall. I was hoping to redo the fish room layout, and add some more tank space, but I just can’t seem to pull the trigger and get started. Continue reading Fall ’16 Spawning Plans
Visiting Eric & Regina ( All Oddball Aquatics )
If you have spent much time in the aquarium hobby, you have no doubt heard of Eric Bodrock and Regina Spotti. In the photo above, that’s Regina on the left with Eric on the right and Stephan Tanner of Swiss Tropicals in the middle.
All Oddball Aquatics is the on-line company owned & operated by Eric, and is located in western Pennsylvania, just a bit south of Pittsburgh. Continue reading Visiting Eric & Regina ( All Oddball Aquatics )
Returning to the fish room…
Terri, my high school sweetheart, my best friend, my wife of 39 years was told several years ago that she had a terminal illness. Much too soon, and despite our best efforts, it recently came time to pay the piper. Needless to say, my fish keeping has been put on the back burner for the biggest part of the last year.
My friend Pete Cottle, who lost his wife several years back, offered the advice that I, “Get back into the fish room and focus on them”. As I have always been a big proponent that fish keeping is very therapeutic, I must confess that it sounds like good advice.
I owe a big Thank You to all my friends in the hobby who have been so supportive during this difficult time. This goes double for the folks at CAFE, my local club. If you don’t belong to your local club, you should make an effort to attend the next club meeting to see what you’re missing. People in the aquarium hobby are some of the best folks you’re ever likely to meet.
In closing, to all the Clubs who had scheduled or inquired about me speaking at a meeting this past year, I’m sorry I had to cancel or turn down engagements. I’m hoping to use the remainder of this year to heal and return to the hobby with renewed enthusiasm in 2017.