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For many angles, nothing beats sport angling. If this describes you, sport angling in Alaska is simply something you need to experience at least once, but as often as you can!

Alaska, the United States’ 49th state, is home to a variety of different vacation options. Trips to this state can take the form of camping, an Alaskan cruise, or just a sightseeing trip to experience the many different types of wildlife and glacier formations. Another type of vacation can also take place here; a angling trip. While Alaska is known primarily for its salmon angling (for eating), sport angling in Alaska is also a great way to spend some time in “The Last Frontier”.

In order to go sport angling in Alaska, you’ll need to obtain a angling license, if you’re over 16. This applies to non-residents as well as residents of the state. If you plan to fish for king salmon, you’ll need to purchase a king salmon stamp as well - this allows you to fish for king salmon for the year in which it was obtained. Luckily, Alaska has made it easy for you to get your angling license and any other needed paperwork via their state website.

Sport angling in Alaska can take place in any of the three major areas of Alaska - the Southcentral, Interior and Southeast areas. The Southcentral area offers most of the different types of sport angling in Alaska that are available, from Northern Pike angling and ice angling, to Pacific Halibut and tidepool angling. These different types of angling available in just one area make the Southcentral area a great place to take your angling trip.

Also available for your angling enjoyment in this area are stocked lakes in the Kenai Lake area, as well as special recreational angling areas in the Kenai River. One great place to stay while in this area is the Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge. Available at this lodge are such amenities as cabins to stay in and meals included, along with many different types of fish to catch. The Kenai River king salmon can’t be beat, but also available here are silver salmon, sockeye salmon, rainbow trout and giant halibut. The Kenai River Sportfishing Lodge even offers special events where they teach women to sport fish, with their Alaskan Fly angling Adventure for Women.

Sport angling in Alaska is a great vacation for those who want to have an adventurous and outdoor trip. A vacation to Alaska is a perfect way to have fun with your established angling hobby, or even to start a new one - all with experienced guides helping you along the way.

Rick Chapo is with Nomad Journals - makers of rugged writing journals for fishing trips.

[tags]alaska, sport, angling, kenai, lake, alaskan, fish, salmon, pike, trout[/tags]

On the surface, a glimpse into the life of Dara Stewart reveals nothing unusual. She’s got a job she likes, friends and family who love her and a big, dumb Akita named Jake. But after a brush with death from a brain hemorrhage in 2002, Dara’s recovery included having to learn to walk again. For Dara, the normal life she has now, for which she is profoundly grateful, required an astonishing degree of effort and focus.

Relying on simple but powerful life and stress management techniques, she was able to not only recover from what her doctors had expected would be a disabling medical catastrophe, but to go on to find her life’s purpose and to discover a peace that far exceeded what she had known before.

These techniques are available to all of us.

Manage stress: “Meditation was my initial way to relieve stress,” said Dara. As she recovered, she found that a connection with nature calmed and focused her. She combined hiking and meditation into mindfulness walks and volunteered at the Desert Botanical Garden in order to stay in touch with nature.

Exercise: Dara found that yoga, in particular, helped keep her balanced. “It really made a big difference in the stress and the body tension that I was having and also it decreased the numbers of headaches that I had,” she said.

Reach out to friends and family: “The immense support that I got from friends and family reminded me that no matter what happened to me, I was going to be ok,” Dara said. “Whether I died or became handicapped or lived an absolutely normal life, I would be ok.” Diagnosed immediately after a move to an unfamiliar town in California, Dara found additional community in her church and support groups.

Practice self-acceptance: One side effect of Dara’s life-threatening illness was increased clarity of purpose. “It wasn’t a matter of knowing the exact career I was going to have, it was knowing that I was supposed to be here and that there was a purpose for me,” Dara said. “And I didn’t feel at all worried anymore.” Her mantra became, “I am enough, I am everything I need.”

Purge negativity: “I would go so far as to not watch scary movies,” Dara said. “I even limited the amount of news I watched.”

Set boundaries: Initially Dara was careful to surround herself with people who had a positive outlook, and even now, when working in the mental health field makes that harder, Dara says that “what I’ve learned to do now is deflect to some degree. If it starts getting too intense, I take a break.”

According to Dara, the key for having the life she wants is maintaining focus in her day-to-day activities and goals. “As I pursue things, I’m also listening for what I need, which is positive energy in my life, what I want, which is a peaceful life and what fulfills me, which is giving to the world in some way.”

Inspired? Looking for a way to take a leap ahead in your own life in order to achieve peace and happiness? Then you’re ready for personal life and success coaching by Diane Baskind of New Perspectives. Sign up for free tips designed to help you get everything you want out of life at http://www.newperspectivesinc.net

[tags]personal life coach, personal life coaching, personal success coach, stress management, stress reduc[/tags]

For those of us who do help others, an uncomfortable question inevitably arises: how can I help someone else when I’m messed up myself? If I’m overweight, have bad habits, relationship issues, fears and phobias, who am I to offer my assistance to someone else?

We are all on the journey to wholeness. So it follows that we all have issues to address and lessons to learn. If we had to be completely healed and issue-free to be able help others, there would be no healers. Nonetheless, it has been a continuous source of amazement to us to observe people in roles of helping others who do not make any attempts to resolve their own issues. Maintaining a high level of personal integrity is critical in any helping profession.

Our new e-book, The Heart and Soul of Being Therapeutic, addresses common issues that can interfere with helping others. We all need to look honestly at ourselves and do our best to be available for our clients. If you can acknowledge your frailties, you are well on the road to resolving them. Of course, in the role of serving others, you don’t want to become paralyzed by your problems.

Sometimes, it may be most appropriate not to work with a client who is dealing with an issue that you are dealing with, too. The key is to know whether or not your issues will get in the way. Being able to set them aside and remain in a centered and grounded place to help your clients is what is important to the success of your practice. In some cases, the healing that then occurs will be for both of you. In other cases, you may need to refer the person to someone who is in a better position to help.

It is also important to apply the healing techniques you use with others to your own life. Just as people want your help because they know you can help them, so, too, can you help yourself, even if this means seeking out another practitioner to assist you.

To quote a maxim, “Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.” At the same time, trying to be perfect is an issue in itself, indicating that the ego feels that it needs to be better than it is. We all have to develop a level of comfort with ourselves, addressing the issues that cross our paths, while recognizing that we do not need to be perfect.

“I’m Good at Helping Others, but Not Myself”

Susan, one of our holistic healing students, had unsuccessfully tried so many ways to resolve her issues related to weight and relationships that she questioned her ability as a healer, in spite of her successes. Her limiting belief was “I’m good at helping others, but not myself.”

Phillip helped her by using a Break Thru Process, which is described in our “Getting Thru to Your Emotions with EFT” book. This activation process is great for anyone who is ready to transcend limitations, such as quitting smoking, losing weight, or cleaning out clutter.

Susan felt this stuck energy pattern about being unable to heal herself in the third chakra, feeling powerless and victimized. In the Break Thru Process, she saw herself moving along a road surrounded by dead grass. She then came to a rustic gate. Before going through this transformative gate, she had the opportunity to do a final cleansing. She threw all her remaining fear, sadness, and disempowerment into a purple flame of transformation that burned by the side of the road.

She then went through the gate. On the other side, the grass was wonderfully green. She also came into contact with a red-orange healing color, as she began to dance along the road. It reminded her of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz skipping merrily down the road.

Phillip asked her what she now believed about herself. She confidently responded, “I’m a powerful healer, for myself as well as others.”

Three months later, Phillip asked Susan how she felt about this issue of being limited in helping others because she needed healing herself. She commented that she used hiking to help her continue to integrate the powerful shifts from the Break Thru Process. Susan reported that she had gone hiking regularly, and had not had any accidents, which made her feel healthy and reassured about herself.

Previously, accidents and self-esteem issues prevented her from hiking regularly. She felt strong in her body, not a victim of being overweight. She also got many creative ideas while hiking. Susan asserted that she now knew on a deeper level that she could heal herself as well as others.

FINAL THOUGHTS

So if healing others is part of your purpose, you might find Susan’s story particularly relevant. It might encourage you to do your own Break Thru Process.

In any event, we all have a need at times to heal ourselves. It is fortunate we are living in a time when so many healing techniques are becoming widely available. Luckily, you don’t have to be perfect before you can help another. Remember that we are all in this thing together, so it’s natural to help others, taking into account your background, training, and the particular situation.

[Excerpted from the e-book The Heart and Soul of Being Therapeutic: Seven Keys for Getting Thru to Your Clients in Healing Environments by Phillip Mountrose and Jane Mountrose, http://www.gettingthru.org/btherapy.htm]

About The Author

Phillip Mountrose is Director of Awakenings Institute in Arroyo Grande, CA. Information about his e-book “The Heart and Soul of Being Thereapeutic” and free email newsletter the “Soul News” can be found at http://www.gettingthru.org

soul@gettingthru.org

[tags]improvement self, helping others, happiness, therapy[/tags]

“People pleasing can leave you feeling empty and taken advantage of.” Deb Melton

One of the ways fear shows up in our lives and keeps us from living fully is when we become a people pleaser. You know when you are doing it. You pick up the check and put it on your credit card, because you want everyone at the table to admire you and like you more. You say “yes” to your sister who asks you to baby sit for her 3 year old on Sunday afternoon, because you don’t want to offend her by saying “no”. You agree to help a friend move next weekend, because you’d feel guilty if you did not.

Inherent in people pleasing is an expectation that the favor will be returned and if it is not, you are apt to feel disappointed or resentful. You may say to yourself, “I am always doing nice things for my friends, but they don’t seem to notice or be around when I need something.” Two things are at work here, inability to say “no” when you want to say “no”, and inability to ask for what you want or need. This is how fear keeps us stuck in resentment, anger and disappointment.

Saying “yes”, because of fear of loss, when you really want to say “no” allows fear to be in charge of your life, not you. It may not be that your friends and family are inconsiderate jerks! It may be that you are too controlled by fear to say “no”. When you learn to value yourself and see that your needs and wants are as valid as anyone else’s, you are less likely to fall into people pleasing as a way of getting and keeping friends. When you value yourself you are more authentically you, which makes you more interesting and attractive and, consequently, others will like you and value you more too.

Making a request and asking for what you need or want is one of the best ways to move from a feeling of powerlessness to a feeling of having power over your life and what happens to you. But remember, a request is just that, a request. The other person is not obligated to say “yes”; no matter how close they are to you or how many favors you have done for them in the past. When you make a request with stirrings attached, you are expecting a certain outcome and you may be very disappointed if things do not go as you expected. The key here is to come from a place of open intention, not expectation of a certain outcome.

If you want to be able to be able to live this way and stop living from fear and instead live from freedom and joy, call me and I’ll show you how. In a few months you could find yourself living outrageously, being happy, having more fun, feeling more love, living from your passion and feeling a sense of purpose. Many of my clients have found that the support of a coach can make all the difference. Here is what some have said.

“My coaching sessions with you have really turned my life in a more positive direction. You’ve given me tools and guidance that has benefited me more than all my years of counseling! ” Carol Brown, MD

“The biggest gift I have received from your coaching, Deb, is how to trust myself.” Kiara D songwriter, NYC

“Deb provided me with gentle support and was confrontive when I needed it. Through the work I did with Deb, I found a sense of freedom like I have never experienced in my life!” Dana M. nurse, OKC

“I think I have been unhappy for a while and trying to blame others for what I am feeling. I realized only I can make me happy. I don’t think I would have realized any of this if it had not been for your patient and persistence in coaching me. Thanks so much for helping me get my life back on track!” Mary D. Stock Broker, CO

You may also consider joining an on-the-phone Fear Buster Group I have one starting nearly every month. Call me for details. Deb Melton, Certified Fearless Living Coach 303-986-2223

If you liked this article sing up to receive a similar one in your email box each week. Go to http://wwww.denversinglescoach.com/ezine_signup.php

Deb Melton is a Certified Fearless Living Coach trained by The Fearless Living Institute with Rhonda Britten of the hit TV show “Starting Over”.

Deb is testiment to what fearless living can do for you! Trapped in an unhappy married for 29 years, now divorced she is a ski instructor, hiking guide, world traveler and life and singles coach. To learn more visit her website http://www.denversinglescoach.com

If you liked this article sing up to receive a similar one in your email box each week. Go to http://www.denversinglescoach.com/ezine_signup.php

[tags]peoplepleasing,assertive,fearlessliving,startingover,rhondabritten[/tags]

Fact: Eighty percent of papers we keep are never looked at again.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the paperless office? Technology that was to reduce dependency on paper has actually increased consumption. Why are so many papers kept? If it is not easy to distinguish the difference between important and trivial papers, you tend to keep everything, just in case!

It is not the volume of paper itself that is the problem, but rather the decision-making process. Let’s think about a sensible filing system.

Finding Your Way

My scuba diving son uses a Global Positioning System (GPS) to pinpoint the location of sunken vessels and dive sites. My husband has a GPS to set coordinates for hiking trails. This high-tech navigational system is part of the network of 24 satellites placed into orbit by the U.S. Department of Defense for military applications. Over the past several years, it has become available for civilian use. It works in any weather condition, anywhere in the world, 24 hours a day.

The GPS technology opened a world of possibilities. Man can strategically place satellites into outer space, yet haphazard filing systems (paper and electronic) eat up tons of paper and valuable storage areas here on earth. Time, money and energy are wasted when you search for elusive documents. Wouldn’t you just love to have a GPS that works in any condition, anywhere, 24 hours a day searching through a bursting filing system?

Systems

Records management is rarely a priority at home and in the office. It seems that there are more important things to do than deal with the influx of paper. However, if piles of paper and bulging file cabinets are taking over your life and environment, then it is time well spent on establishing a system of retention, retrieval and disposal. As you think about setting up a workable file system, you must stay cognizant of three important points - what to keep, where to keep it, and for how long.

Most papers that come your way are fundamentally unimportant. You read, and then toss. Being able to discern the relevancy of information will help to eliminate pile up.

Then, there is a category of documents that is useful beyond a single reading. These papers must be kept for a certain period of time or archived for an extended period of time. Where you keep these important papers depends on how frequently you need to access them. Current documents are best kept in a file system close to your desk and work area. Older documents can be archived into the attic, basement, garage or off-site. Remember to label all boxes adequately to make the retrieval process easier.

Tax-related documents are keepers. Generally speaking, the IRS has three years to audit a return. For retention of your personal papers, consult an attorney, financial planner or accountant to determine what is pertinent for you to maintain. Another source for tax information is http://www.IRS.gov.

Valuable Asset

Papers are generally kept, either filed or piled, because of the perception that they are valuable. They are useful only if you know where they are and can access the information. Ask yourself, “Can this information be retrieved from some other source?” If the answer is yes, then toss. If the answer is no, then develop a good filing system where you can retrieve the information when you need it.

The key to successful filing is to think retrieval. What will you be thinking about when you are looking for this information? Make sure your classifications, categories and subcategories adequately explain what information they contain.

Personal Information

We have all heard horror stories where important documents, such as a will or life insurance policy were known to exist but never found. Be thoughtful of your family and friends and get your personal information in order, including biographical and medical information, financial portfolios, employment records, property documents, legal and insurance papers, vital contact information and living wills. Put all of these records together in one location. There is no better time than right now to set your affairs in order.

Paper, paper everywhere! Paper management involves discerning what is important and what to toss. It is a decision-making process that can be learned. Clutter is simply the by-product of postponed decisions. Mismanaging the endless influx of paper can cripple your ability to function effectively. Consider the cost of lost opportunities, tasks undone, decisions unmade and information lost. Judith Ann Kirk of Organizing Resources will show you how to manage paper to eliminate clutter.

[tags]get organized,organizing,paper,clutter,time,space,chaos,declutter,filing,file,simplify,organize,[/tags]

Thinking of moving up from shore fishing? The advantages of being on the water are many. I love the closeness to nature, and how peaceful and tranquil it is. Wild creatures are less intimidated by people when they are floating in the water. I have seen mule deer, coyotes, fox, and all kinds of waterfowl. My favorite times have been drifting through small herds of wading elk in my local body of water, Lake Estes, Colorado. I have taken photos of elk from five feet away. They took no more interest in my kayak and me than they would a duck or a loon.

There is also the mobility aspect of kayak fishing. A lot of times if the fish aren’t biting where you are, they are elsewhere. It’s easy to fish a bay here, a point there, a cove on the other side of the lake, the inlet etc… Estes Park is a small town, and often I’ll run across some of my fishing buddies in one of the lake’s honey holes. My kayak has two rod holders so I can troll while I travel from spot to spot. The rod holders aren’t necessary, as you can place your rod in the bow of the boat and troll backwards.

Some lakes/ponds don’t allow boats, but do allow personal water craft. At these places you can fish structures that you can’t reach from shore. As my kayak weighs less than forty pounds…my tackle box weighs more…it’s easy to hike in.

Although float tubes are also a convenient way to fish, I prefer the kayak. Personally, I find them to be more fun on the water, but there are other advantages. To me the most important is convenience. By the time I get to a lake/pond I’m “jonesing” so bad to fish, I have to fight the urge to cast out the car window. There is no inflating, no waders to put on, and no awkward flippers to strap on. I simply unlock and unstrap my “yak” from the roof, throw it in the water and go.

Another very important advantage is speed. In Colorado the weather can change in an instant. In a tube I don’t feel safe if the weather looks as if it could turn for the worse, so I stay near shore. In the kayak, no matter how far out I am, I can return to shore in minutes.

I also like the fact that I can carry gear. It’s easy to tote two or three rods, a tackle box, and even a cooler. This is helpful during camping trips and family outings. I have used the kayak at bigger reservoirs, like Aurora, to carry gear from one side to the other to meet people shore fishing. Sometimes I’ll get lucky and catch one before my buddies get around the lake.

It easily crosses shallow areas in lakes. If you have fished in a tube you know the places I’m talking about. The water is less than a foot deep, but the ground beneath is like quick sand. In a kayak you can drift across areas that are inches deep with ease.

You don’t need a lot of money to get into kayak fishing. Obviously you need a kayak. I have a Heritage Feather Light 9, which was designed for fishing. Before that I fished from an inflatable Sevylor I bought off a Kool-aide vendor after he used it for a display, so any kayak will do. Oars can also be costly. I use a mid-range one now, however, the $20.00 one I had before was sufficient. I used to use a cheap foam and strap roof rack, which could be loaded and unloaded fairly effortlessly. However, I feel safer and more secure with the Thule rack I have now. It is sturdier, quicker, and wicked easier to use.

I highly recommend trying kayak fishing. It is both relaxing and exciting. It can bring you to areas of your local lakes that you have not fished before. It is a relatively inexpensive way to try trolling, which I have found very effective. It is a whole new fishing experience. A lot of lakes/reservoirs marinas’ rent out kayaks for a reasonable rate. So get out there and give it a try, you just may find yourself hooked.

http://www.fishinsecrets.com

[tags]Fishing, fishing from a kayak[/tags]

It is early fall here in Southern Oregon.

The trees are full of color, and so are the rivers and streams.

If you have ever wanted to witness firsthand the majesty, power and persistence of Salmon and Steelhead, then you owe it to yourself to jump in your car, hop the next train or bus, or take to the air on the the next plane to Medford Oregon. And don’t forget your hiking boots.

The Rogue river is home to one of the last great runs of native Salmon and Steelhead in the lower forty-eight, and the wild and scenic section of the Rogue is home to Rainie Falls.To get to Rainie Falls you will have to drive to the town of Merlin on past the hamlet of Galice, and park at the trailhead on the south side of the river just before the Graves creek bridge, which is the start of the wild and scenic section of the Rogue River. Rainie Falls, which at this time of year takes a ten foot plunge over boulders and rocks, and works itself into a solid class five river rating, looks pretty much impossible to navigate from either direction.Most floaters portage around the falls or take and line their boats and rafts down the “fish ladder” on the north side of the river. However, if you are willing to take the two mile hike to this small but natural wonder, you will be rewarded with one of the finest spectacles on this here earth.

The leaping of Salmon and Steelhead as they try and climb the thundering falls is a sight to see.

For most folks, the closest they will get to witnessing this incredible display of fortitude, will be when they pick up the remote and flip over to the National Geographic channel just in time to see a slow -mo, one dimensional group of pixels hurl itself into the air. Tail flapping, body contorted and trying to stretch itself over a natural barrier–which didn’t seem like such a big deal on the way downstream.

All this so they can pro-create and DIE.

Of course the Steelhead just do this to pro-create, so they might be a little higher up on the fish IQ chain.

Now, if I were a Salmon and I reach the falls - I think to myself- ‘Why do I want to exhaust myself dodging sea lions, boat motors, fishing lines, ten foot falls, water borne fungus which can destroy my gills and prematurely end my “fishy sex” run,and even more fishing lines,– just to bury some eggs in the rocks and wait for Mr. Right to come by and spray his fish manhood on my little darlings.’

If it were me, I take a couple of half hearted jumps at the falls, call it good and head back to sea for another three years of gorging myself on fish and ocean adventure.

But thats’s just me.

The fish of the Rogue River have different intentions and God bless them for the effort they make to keep the species in tact.

On this early fall day the fish are extremely active and it almost seems like some sort of pescatorial Olympics is taking place here at the falls. At times, four to six fish can be found at one time in the air. These are big fish too, some going as big as fifty pounds.

It seems like each fish has his own method of attacking the ten foot height, some go into a high arching rainbow leap, some fire themselves into the falls like a bullet, and some flip in the air in a “Fosbury ” style flop. (Incidently, the legendary Dick Fosbury grew up in Medford–I wonder if he got his jumping style from watching the Salmon??)

Over and over, the fish relentlessly try and maneuver over the falls.

Some hit the rocks on the side, some Steelhead seem to have there own spot where they continuously try and hit a “crease” in the rushing water, and others mis- time their jumps and fall feebily short of the falls. On occasion, you see a mighty fish muster the power to reach the magical spot where they can propel their fins one more time up and over the brink to the upper level.

Amazing.

Think about it, these small- in comparison to ourselves- creatures have the strength to leap over a basketball rim. If you or I could do that we could quit our day jobs, sign healthy Nike contracts, and go fishing all day!! In fact,I think Nike should consider the “Slammin’ Salmon” basketball shoe, complete with a smiling Rainie Falls Salmon–because I know I saw more “hang time” at the falls then Michael Jordan has ever exhibited on the court. They could even take the twenty million dollars they would pay an athlete, and put it towards Salmon and Steelhead habitat restoration!!

We must have sat for a half hour, watching the great acrobatics and trying to see if we could recognize the same fish who were taking multiple jumps at the falls. It is hard to believe there is such a great success rate, but judging by the number of fish that make it into the upper river to spawn–most do.

But, not before exhausting themselves at the falls.

There is no fishing at the falls, and if you intend to fish you must go at least three hundred feet downstream.

If you are still in the mood for some more strenuous hiking, you can continue downstream, but the trail is not nearly as worn, there are boulders, creeks and blackberrys to navigate through, and there is plenty of bear sign along the way. We hiked down to Whiskey Creek, and flyfished for a little while for some of the legendary half pounders of the Rogue River canyon.

The days are shorter this time of year so be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to make the round trip-with our late start we only had about an hour and a half of fishing time, and made it out right at dark.

For the most part, fishing was just an afterthought this afternoon…

…The real treat this day, was for Salmon and Steelhead appreciation, and once you witness these great fish in their quest for a return to their birthgrounds, I defy you to not come away with a healthy respect for the Salmon and Steelhead–and perhaps for the great spirit and determination of species survival in general.

A.j. Klott is a writer of fishing humor and the people and characters that surround the fishing world.
He also is peddlar of “Fly Tacks”. Visit his website at http://www.twoguyswithflys.com

[tags]fishing,flyfishing,Rogue river,hiking,travel,Oregon,adventure,flyfishing travel,outdoors,Salmon[/tags]

Before you start
The first thing to decide upon is probably your budget, a family canoe will set you back anything from a couple of hundred pounds for an old second hand model to a couple of thousand pounds plus if you want to get ultra techy, it is both pointless and depressing spending time investigating makes and models which are financially out of reach to you, & please don’t be put off by the prices at top end of the market, the Coleman Journey for example is very capable for the uses most families would demand of a Canadian Canoe and you will get up to 363 Kgs worth of family or friends on the water for around

There are collectors for just about every item that you can think of. Some people collect dolls, while others collect stamps and angel figurines. One of the most popular items to collect is knives. There are various types of knives on the market that appeal to the different interests of knife collectors. One type that is always in demand is the Buck Knife.

Buck knives, created by the famous manufacturers of knives since the first phase of the 20th century, are well known to all the serious knife enthusiasts of the world. Since the year 1902, they have engaged in manufacturing various types of knives ranging from small pocket knives, to contemporary folding blades, to heavy duty multipurpose knives. They have come up with a quality range of great utility knives needed for sports and, recreational purposes such as hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, and for any other non-recreational works.

With such a wide array of various kinds of knives, buck hunting knives have engulfed a great section of the knife market, providing only the quality products that are sturdy enough to be banked upon. They tend to take utmost care in quality control and their knives are crafted from the high quality stainless steel of special grade. By the use of the Edge2X technology they produce sharper blades with prolonged durability. These blades are then treated with heat in order to enhance the durability even more. This is the reason behind the fact that the buck hunting knives are the best brand in the industry today.

There is a wide assortment of buck hunting knives found in the market today. Some of the wondrous items are as follows:

The Alpha Hunter Folder Rosewood is wondrously designed. The artistic rosewood handle infused by resin, is just one of the knife’s components that make is so attractive to own. The blade is another feature that tempts collectors. 3.5 inches long, it is crafted from ATS34 stainless steel. This comes in a sophisticated brown leather jacket that is 5 inches long.

The Alpha Hunter Folder, Guthook, Rosewood is almost the same as the Alpha Hunter Folder with the rosewood handle. But a guthook is added to the knife as a special feature.

The Alpha Hunter 420 Drop Point with Black Handle is crafted from 420HC stainless steel. The tang is full length and the rubber handle is designed to allow the tang to show. The length is 8.5 inches including the Cordura sheath.

The Diamondback is another knife that has demonstrated high quality design. The strong blade combined with the cool handle is why this knife is often soft after. Made of the krayton tactile rubber, this handle looks like the diamond back snake skin. The full length, including the sturdy black nylon sheath, is 9.5 inches and the set costs $27.00.

Most serious collectors will tell you about the high quality level of these knives. There is a reason that Buck knives have been popular for so many years and that reason is there highly maintained standard of excellence. If you want to be the envy of all your knife collecting friends, show off your Buck collection.

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about this as well as a buck knife at http://www.only-knives.com

[tags]knife, knives, pocket knife, buck knife[/tags]

Everyone wants success. People talk about setting goals and positive thinking and getting to the top. However, most of these same people never really define what success means to them.

Instead they think only in terms of the next big promotion or the next raise or climbing the corporate ladder, but few ever stop to really look at where these goals are taking them.
World-renown motivational speaker Zig Ziglar says that to define success, you should stand on the goal line of life and look into the end zone. What you want to see there sets the parameters for your definition of success.

In other words, ask most people what they want from life, and they will say, “I want to be happy.” That’s great, except for two things: they seldom know with any certainty what happiness actually means to them, and secondly, they never actually plan to benor take the time to behappy.

Instead of taking the time to be happy now, most people fall into the when-I-get-over-there-then-I’ll-be-happy syndrome. If you look, you see these kinds of people every daymaybe even when you look in the mirror. “When I get that promotion, then I’ll be happy.” “When the kids are back in school and I can do this, then I’ll be happy.” “When we get out of debt, then I’ll be happy.”

Problem is, it doesn’t work that way. If happiness is your goal; if having been happy is something you really want to see in the end zone of your life, then you have to start being happy today. Not tomorrow, not in a week, not when “X” happensTODAY.

So, how do you do this?

First, you must seriously ask yourself, what makes you happy? What makes you feel alive and completely in touch with the essence of yourself?

Maybe it’s hiking or skateboarding or baseball or running. Maybe it’s painting or music or writing or dance. Maybe it’s something as simple as taking a cup of tea out to the porch to watch a sunset.

Immediately you say, “I don’t have time to do that stuff. I’m busy making a living. I don’t have enough time as it is.” And then you wonder why you aren’t happy.

If happiness is a goal you have, then you must schedule time every day to do something that makes you happy. As Annie Dillard, the author of Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, said, “How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”

The question to you then, is how are you spending your days? The reality is that what you have right now is exactly what will be in that end zone on your last day here. Is this what you want?

If so, congratulations! If not, you can start right here, right now to make a new ending. Decide today what will be in your end zone, and then make the changes to get that in your life today. You deserve it, but don’t put it off. You don’t have a second to waste.

If you’re looking for more of the real “good stuff,” visit Staci Stallings at http://www.stacistallings.com. She has articles, faith stories, and a monthly newsletter chocked full of inspiration and God’s love waiting just for you. Come on over. You’ll feel better for the experience!

[tags]happiness,success,daily,life,end zone,goal[/tags]