A list of personal resolutions for the year 2005

By Don Quilici

It's the first part of the month of January, and this is also the time to make resolutions for the new year. So, without further ado, here are some of my personal resolutions for 2005:

Continue To Criticize Carson City's Snow Removal Policy:

Where in the heck are the snowplows when we experience a large snowfall?

Hey, Public Works, all those folks who live in the valley portions are just as important as those who live at higher elevations, so why can't they have their streets plowed, too?

Why was it that I still needed four-wheel drive to travel on Adeline St. in the downtown area on Jan. 1, two days after the big snowstorm?

And, as of this date, many of those same valley streets still were not plowed. That's not only wrong, that's a disgrace!

How about changing the existing "Mickey Mouse" snow removal policy?

Catch A King Salmon, Weighing Over 49 Pounds And A Halibut, Weighing Over 99 Pounds:

I've been to the State of Alaska a total of six times on fishing trips for King Salmon and Halibut.

On those six previous trips, I have never caught a King over 49 pounds or a Halibut over 99 pounds.

This year, I plan to do so, on my seventh trip to the Far North, by returning to fish at Sitka in the summertime.

Seven is supposed to be a lucky number, so we will wait and see. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

Get Even With My Two "Friends" And Fishing And Hunting Partners:

Norm Budden (AKA Cheater No. 1) and Bob "Slick" McCulloch (Cheater No. 2), who constantly try to make life miserable for me.

Time after time, they diabolically plot, carefully scheme and gleefully pull practical jokes on me.

Like the two miserable brats they are, they do so, when just the three of us are somewhere.

Then, I get even by writing bad things about them in my Outdoors page in the Nevada Appeal.

You would think that those two fools would learn not to poke a coiled rattlesnake with a short stick. Oh Well.

Draw A Nevada Rifle Bull Elk Tag, Go Hunting And Bag A Trophy:

With all of the bonus points I have accumulated through the years, this could be the year I finally draw a hard-to-get, rifle bull elk hunting tag.

If I am lucky, I plan to take the following with me on my hunting trip:

Mark Day: To be my personal big game hunting guide.

Norm Budden: To be my gun bearer and to field dress and carry out my elk.

Slick McCulloch: To cut firewood, prepare meals, cook and do dishes.

Don Hettrick: To keep me happy with an ample supply of Manhattans.

Teach Elaine How To Cross Country Ski, Down A Slope, Forward:

With the unbelievable snow depths in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, we will undoubtedly have a deep snow cover until way into summer.

Therefore, I will be able to go cross country skiing with my "sweetie" and to show her the correct way to come down a steep slope.

The last time, Elaine went skiing, she got part way up a slope, stopped (after being warned not to do so!), began to slide backwards, and slid down the slope, while loudly screaming, without falling down, not once but twice.

It was impressive!

Get My Money's Worth Out Of My California Fishing License:

The State of California charged yours truly $89.50 for an annual, non-resident fishing license and another $10.25 for a Second Rod Stamp for a grand total of $99.75. Yipes, that was a $100 bill minus a quarter!

Geez, I can remember "back in the good old days" when I used to complain when that license cost me $35.

You can be sure that I will get my money's worth this year, even if it means having to fish with those two scoundrels, Budden and McCulloch.

Hit a Royal Flush On a Poker Machine:

The Law of Average says that sooner or later, if you play enough times, you will hit a Royal Flush in Poker. That's a fact.

Well, I've played enough times, and now it's time to win for Don Q.

Wow! Then when I win, think of all the fun that I can have in the Great Outdoors with all of the "toys" that I buy with those winnings. Yahoo!

Replace My Little Red Pickup:

I tried twice in 2004 with disastrous results. The first time, a hailstone storm trashed my new, bright yellow, little 4X4 pickup in Denver. The second time, I had two heart attacks, just before leaving for Denver.

Hmmm, I wonder if I'm not supposed to select the color yellow or could it be that I'm not supposed to buy it in Denver?

Geez, maybe I should buy a new, bright orange, little 4X4 pickup in this area. Does anyone know where I can get one at a good price?

Finally Get To Use My Raft And Troll At Winnemucca Lake:

The last five times that I have attempted to use my little inflatable raft at Winnemucca Lake, the wind has been blowing so hard, when we got there, that I could not get out onto that high, mountain lake.

So, each of the five times, I carried that darn raft a total of about 4 miles, roundtrip, just for the exercise. That's a total of 20 miles for nothing!

Hmmm, I wonder if I could con those two dummies, Norm and Slick, into carrying that raft for me this year?

Continue My Feeding Experiment With The Deer At Our Cabin:

Since we built our cabin on that high mountainside near Portola, Calif., back in July 2003, we have been blessed with the presence of many deer.

During that time, I have learned that those mule deer (bucks, does and fawns) love such things as white sliced bread, peaches, pears and apples.

I also learned they do not care for chocolate donuts, banana nut bread (neither do I!) or acorn squash (Yuk!).

So, this year, I plan to see if they like Oreos, bananas and peach pie.

Take A Packhorse Trip Into A Brand New Area:

In the past, I have taken a number of totally enjoyable packhorse trips into the Hoover Wilderness Area of California, with either Bart Cranney of the Leavitt Meadows Pack Station or Tom and Martha Roberts of the Virginia Lakes Pack Outfit.

This year, I would like to take a packhorse trip into the Striped Mt. Lakes area.

I've hiked into that country on five different occasions, but at my age, it would be a lot more fun to ride a "hay burner" than to walk.

Finally, Continue To Have A Ton Of Fun, Writing The Outdoors Page:

I have been doing so on a weekly basis for years, and it is a ton of fun.

As a result of two heart attacks on Aug. 19, I have cut back on a number of personal activities, such as my long-running television show.

However, I do not plan to stop writing the Outdoors page until they throw me out the back door at the Nevada Appeal (While kicking and screaming).

Heck, not only is it a ton of fun but I actually get paid to do it!

Plus, I don't have to work regular hours lie the other employees. H

Geez, how can you possibly beat that awesome combination? Yahoo!

• Bet Your Favorite Pigeon

Bet your favorite pigeon which of the above is the one I want to do the most.

If he grins and says, "Don wants to return to Alaska to catch a big fish," he could be a relative or a close friend.