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Re: [Killietalk] Levels of killifish zen...
Dave, you should consider submitting this to JAKA.
---------- Original Message ----------------------------------
From: "Koran, David HQ02" <David_Koran at hq02.usace.army.mil>
Reply-To: killifish discussion list <killietalk at aka_org>
Date: Tue, 2 Aug 2005 12:59:22 -0400
>While it may not be unique to chemists we used to say that when you attained
>your Bachelor's Degree you thought you knew everything. When you obtained
>your Master's you realized there was a lot to know and when you got the Ph.D.
>you realized you didn't know squat.
>
>So when do you become a killifish zen master? I know it is possible to be in
>this hobby 30 years and still be an idiot (and I know others, mind you!).
>The first great realization comes when you discover you can't become rich off
>of these fish. The second comes when you discover it is hard to get what
>species you might like. Another is realizing keeping more and more species
>is like juggling more and more plates. Another is when you think everything
>is going right with a species and you pay it less attention, it bites back
>and/or some unplanned mishaps cause you a major setback with the species.
>Another is when you have your regional Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Office
>number on your cell phone directory and know the inspectors on a first name
>basis or know what a form 3-177 is. Another might be the ability to apply
>Latin grammar in naming conventions and never studied Latin or aren't even
>Catholic!
>
>Maybe the real test is being able to say that you have decided which fish you
>want to focus on, actually obtain them and maintain them for 2 or more
>generations and discover you still like having them in your tanks.
>
>I don't want to pile on Fred but in a club show naturally the sponsors like
>the ability to generate money from the fish you sell. They like you wish it
>was more money and I know they feel sheepish when they send you a check that
>after postage gets you a buck or two per fish for your efforts. If you want
>money maybe one should consider sending something more rare or unusual. If
>you are going to send something common, then it should be winning material,
>maybe a prize candidate but if not that, then send an entry buyers want to
>use to introduce quality into their own stock.
>
>If you are providing fish for a club box exchange, think a little, if that
>bag was coming in a return shipment to your club would you be jumping out of
>your seat to get it or are you just hopeful they have one or two members who
>haven't tried it yet? In both of these cases remember the reason for
>providing fish in the first place is to invigorate the receiving
>organization.
>
>Almost 10 years ago while on business I had a hobby altering experience
>thanks to a visit to see Bill Gallagher in San Mateo. It wasn't a mind
>blowing number of species or even show stopping specimens that altered my
>perspective. I had realized I was approaching 50, my son was half way
>through college and didn't appear like he was going to permanently camp out
>in my recently purchased home. I had been keeping killies for over 20 years
>and kept saying I would work on this or that when I finally settled down. In
>Bill's fishroom I saw many of the fish I had long planned on working on when
>this day arrived. Not only did he have this or that fish but he had some
>unique processes in place and a few contraptions built to make his fish
>keeping lifestyle a little easier. Knowing I had always had a bunch of ideas
>in the back of my head that I wanted to try they were also on the "back
>burner". It was then when I left Bill's place I realized I was at that day
>#1 when I would stop putting things off.
>
>So, I don't chant when I pick eggs but I don't curse when the mops are empty.
>I still feel bad when something dies on me and even worse when I notice
>something one day and put it off only to find that next day was a day too
>late. But I am happy with what is in the basement...
>
>Dave
>
>Join the AKA at http://aka.org/modules/tinycontent0/index.php?id=9
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