We've Got Crabs! And We Like It!

Ladies and Gentlemen, meet my dear friends, Ray and Laure. These are the two crazy people who invite us to stay with them every year at the beach house at Bethany Beach, Delaware. They insist they enjoy having us there, but for the life of me i can't figure out why. All we do is eat their food, sleep in their beds, and cause a general ruckus.

But they keep inviting us back, so we must be doing something right, or they are just certifiable. One of the two.

One morning we decided to take the kids fishing and crabbing. Well, to be more exact, the guys decided to take the kids fishing and crabbing and i decided to follow along and take pictures. Laure came to help keep me sane and to watch her boys have fun. But more to keep me sane.

We went to Assawoman Bay. Yes, you read it correctly. Assawoman. Or was it the Little Assawoman? Not sure, but regardless, you have to admit it is a pretty funny name. I would love to know the story *behind* the name. Get it? Behind...ASSawoman? I know, I am a dork. Ray would know the answer to that question, i am sure. He knows all sorts of crazy stuff like that. Don't you, Ray?


Anyway, i was a little worried about the time of day for trying to take photos, as the sun was out full force. There was a glare off the water and some heavy shadowing. But, i ended up liking a few. I like to the call the one above "Water of a Million Suns." That has a nicer ring to it than Assawoman Bay. Tell me i'm wrong.

We choose this spot to fish and crab. It had a nice little peninsula that the kids could walk out on and explore. You know, cuz the kids got really bored really fast. They are crazy like that.

Meet J. i promised i wouldn't embarrass the kids by posting real names and i will spare them the humiliation of coming up with crazy nicknames for them. Letters will do. J is exactly 6 hours older than Ty. It is hard to believe he and Ty are 11 and entering middle school. Laure and i met when our oldest, J and Ty, were only 3. *sigh* You will meet her other son later. They specifically asked me to post them on my blog so they would be "famous." Well, here you go boys! You are now the famous celebrities of the World Wide Internet. Okay, so maybe famous to the five two readers i have. But nonetheless, famous.

Meet the bait. Yes, i felt compelled to report it as it was. Here Brian is cutting up frozen chicken (in a bucket with water because someone forgot to thaw the chicken! Not naming any names. *cough, Brian, cough*) i got the picture and then quickly vacated the vicinity. I can't handle mutilated raw meat. It is almost enough to make me a vegetarian. Almost.

And who can resist catching the symbol of the beach, the gull. Of course, it is a symbol of the landfill too, but who is keeping track? (Have you ever seen all the gulls at the dump?!? Holy Birds, Batman!)

This nice family was enjoying the day fishing off the pier. While we were there, several boats and jet skis launched into the Assawoman. Now that, my friends, sounds kinky!

After leaving the crab lines in the water for a total of a whopping 2 minutes, the kids would pull up the mutilated chicken on the end of the string and look for crabs. Here Ladybug is trying to catch jellyfish in the crab net. *ick*

Meet D. This is Laure and Ray's youngest son. He is 10. Here he is throwing rocks into the Assawoman (let's see how many times i can say that) because crabbing just isn't as attention grabbing as say, well, just about anything. (This is totally MY commentary and the kids actually DID have a good time. So, just ignore me.)

Ty decided to give fishing a try. I like to call the one above "Helping Hands," and the one below "Father and Son."


Here J and Ladybug check out the crab lines. Nope. Nothing yet. Wait! What is that?


We got one, we got one! Check out this feisty baby. It looks like he is waving. Wave to the baby crab, everyone! He was NOT eatin' size, so back he went. This pic it titled, "Salutations." *smirk*

Waiting, waiting, waiting, and more waiting. Oh yeah, and watching too.

Yippppeeee...another one! This one is bigger. Here Ray is showing us how to put a crab to "sleep." Roll him over on his back and rub his belly. Hey! Come to think of it, that method works on me too! Next time i have insomnia, i will have to have Brian try it out.


Say hello to the Daddy crab, everyone. I like to call this one "Edward Scissorhands." *giggle* i crack myself up.


Same guy, only right side up and awake. This one is titled, "Kung Fu Crab." *snicker*
There was only some many pictures i could take of martial arts crabs and bored kids, so off i went to explore.


After several hours, a lot of sweat, and some bickering later, we decided to head back to the beach house for lunch before heading to the beach. On the way back there was an observation tower, so we climbed up to see what we could see.

i, ladies and gentlemen, was not a happy camper. In case i have not mentioned it before, i do NOT like heights. Especially open heights. You know, the kind where if you sneeze a little too hard you could project yourself right off the edge of the dang structure.

And to top off my neuroses, it was a wobbly tower. So, some smart @ss men i know (again, not mentioning any names...begins with B) who know my horrible fear, think it is funny to make the tower sway a bit. (i wonder if this is still part of the Assawoman. Ooopps! i said it again!)

While taking the picture below, i had to hold in my vomit. Cuz' looking down is not recommended for those with a fear of high places. Just so you know.

And here are the four beautiful offspring of the two families. Notice: Ty is not looking. J is too cool to smile. D is mimicking his shirt and Ladybug...she is not hanging too close to the boys.

A view from the tower. i believe that is algae, although i have never seen it quite that color before.
Ladybug thinking it all over.

And the humdinger of them all. If you thought it was difficult getting the bikers, this really sucked. i hung the camera over the edge of the tower and snapped our vehicles. Our's is the bad@ss truck. Cuz, we live in the cornfields and need that kind of power. I like to call this one, "Noses." I don't know why, it just came to me. ;0)
i hope you enjoyed your tour of Assawoman. Speaking of @ss, stop in tomorrow for an update on the 5K Ass Project. You know you are curious! Admit it!



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Late addition: Living on the Spit just contacted me via the contact button to let me in on some research she did on Assawoman. i thought you may be interested:

Okay, by no means is this a thorough research, but it may get you started. Not only is there an Assawoman Bay and Sound, there is Assawoman, Virginia! Wow, was surprised about that...and it sits on the eastern shore near, you guessed it...Assateague, VA...home to the Wild Ponies and all...so, history says, "Assateague Island is located North and East of the 50 acre Lighthouse Reservation. It received its name from the Indian inhabitants many years ago, a name meaning "A Running Stream Between." The Indians lived here for many years ruled by Chief Kegatank and Emperor Waskawampe, who had two daughters and no sons. (maybe that's where they got the woman part from...no, just joking...)

Thanks Living on the Spit!