Best. Girlfriend. Ever.

My roommates, Mike and Gavin, and I have been doing a lot of fishing lately. You might say we're obsessed. Or at least Mike and I are obsessed and Gavin puts up with it.

This was going to be a post about the ridiculous number of ginormous fish we've caught in such exotic locations as Lake Anna, Lake Burke, the Shenandoah River and Great Falls National Park, but that would take quite some time and I'd have to upload tons of photos of really big, awesome fish.

So instead, check out what Carrie got me for Valentine's Day:

Six Rapalas and a "Pro's Secrets for Catching More and Bigger Fish" DVD.

Kick ass.

Tan Doug Tours St. Croix - Episode 2

The ocean view from Doug's porch.

Continuing the storyline from Episode 1:

It's Day Three, I think. I haven't eaten much since Day One, as I have food poisoning, so my "facts" may be slightly skewed. Please correct me in the comments section if in fact I've boogered up some chronology.

As I've said before, St. Croix is just absolutely beautiful.

We started the day out with a little shopping in downtown Christiansted.

(click any pic for the whole album.)

We walked down to the boardwalk and checked out all the sailboats.

Gilligan inquires about a three-day tour.

Then, of course, it's time to check out another beach, at another resort.

A nice view en route to the beach.

Piratey ship (Doug, i can't remember the name), is a National Historic Landmark -- the last pilot schooner used by the US Navy. It offers sunset cruises.

We grabbed a bite for lunch before laying out under the coconut trees. Apparently more people die every year from coconuts falling on their heads than from shark attacks. Having not eaten in 48 hours, I overindulged myself and ate most of a ginormous hamburger. Shouldn't have done that -- the ole gastrointestinal tract, lying in wait, would gather its strength to exact demonic revenge in a few hours.

Country boy and Gilligan pose at the Buccaneer.

My sexy girlfriend.

It was awesome. I was really feeling back on the top of my game after lunch. We floated around, jumped off a little pier and napped in the sun. Those daily naps in the sun on the sand have ruined me. I've still yet to get my body used to a normal amount of sleep each day.

This is what I'm talking about.

Shark bait.

The edge of the Buccaneer beach. Don't sail onto the rocks or you'll end up in Davy Jones' locker.

After our piratey adventure at the Buccaneer, Doug led us to a secret beach. It's pretty amazing being the only people on a beach of the caliber as those in St. Croix. With no open container laws. We hiked around a bit, watched the sun go down and hightailed it out of there while we had enough light to see the mangrove trail.

Miller time.

Where to next? Cheesburgers in Paradise, of course!

Doug ordered a couple rum specialties for he and Carrie, the Cruzan Confusion and the Painkiller, while I stuck to water.

Carrie is a fan.

We watched a bit of Steve Gatz on the guitar before going back to Doug's for the evening.

That's all I've got for today, but check back for Tan Doug Tours St. Croix - Episode 3: An offroadin, tidal poolin, fishin and sunset watchin adventure.

The Pack loses and Lincoln dies

We've begun our seminars downtown. They're pretty cool. Work starts Monday.

Plenty of time today to do a bit of site seeing before the afternoon session.

The Petersen House, or the House Where Lincoln Died, was just a few blocks away, so we hit it first.

Just a couple rooms, nothing spectacular, though it was kind of neat being in the room Lincoln died. The Ford Theatre is across the street. Maybe we'll get to it one of these days.

Ben, Alex, Morgan, Gavin and me.

Apparently, because he was so tall, Lincoln died laying diagonally on the bed. The bed in the room is the same size as the original, which is owned by the Chicago Historical Society.

Clicky for more pictures.

Gavin, Alex and I walked over to the White House, harassed lazy squirrels and just kind of farted around.

The Washington Monument isn't nearly as big as I remember.

My sister and her boyfriend, Jon, joined Ben and I to watch the Packers/Giants game Sunday.

Bad game. Won't say anything about it except that it was fun to get together and eat some burgers, quesadillas and veggies, and drink some beer.