Tuesdays are "I Tried It Tuesdays" where I'll tell you about something I recently tried -- an item, a movie, an activity, etc.

Today's topic: Fishing with children

Why I tried it: Well..because it seemed like it would be a relaxing thing (at least more relaxing that packing up and shuttle-busing our way to the Key West Phest). It always looked relaxing when we'd walk around Bull's Damn (otherwise known at the Eaton Resevoir) in North East. People fishing on the banks there always looked so quiet and happy...sitting in chairs, casting a line...picnicking.

Plus...the girls got fishing poles for their birthdays from my in-laws (at my request, believe it or not) and they were dying to try them out.

Where we went: Lake Pleasant.

What we took: Fishing poles, kids, food, worms (when you live in the sticks, like we do, you can get them at your friendly family-owned neighborhood convenience store), chairs, blanket, magazines (for mommy), tackle box stuff (don't ask me what all that stuff is or what it's used for...amusing the kids in our case), my husband's fishing license.... and, of course, beer (no fishing trip would be complete without it).

What it was like: Well, in case you haven't guessed...it wasn't quite the serene scene I had set in my head. Though..I will give you that the scenery -- with the lake, the clouds and the blue sky -- was simply awe inspiring. We even got to watch Saturday night's big storm roll in ...and that was phenomenal.

But..back to fishing with kids. Uh..well...it involved a lot of tangled fishing lines, severed worms, "Why-I-didn't-catch-anything????" whining, muddy feet, wet girls, trips to the porta john and one little tiny and very unlucky sunfish. (On second thought...he's a lucky fish...cause we were throwing them all back).

I had visions of sitting by the lake, thumbing through magazines, sipping a cold drink, snacking and watching my husband teach the girls the fine art of fishing. And, really....I need to stop painting these idyllic pictures in my head because life is not a Rockwell Painting. It is tangled fishing lines and hooks flying and drinks spilled and magazines being blown into the water. And..honestly..it's pretty damn funny.

Would I go again? Oh..yeah..definitely. But, I'm letting go of the serene scene and just accepting it for the messy fun that it really is.