tomkiernan

[tomkiernan]

I finally got home from the Keys/Miami at about 10:30 on Saturday night, too shot out to do much more than brush my teeth. After the zonkiest night’s sleep back in my own bed, I woke up about 8 and showered for work. Upon exiting, I happened to look down at my feet; seeing the result of having only been shod in flip-flops or wading booties for a week (and taking only outdoor showers🙌🏻🥰)I was instantly reminded of this quote that blossomed in my brain about 16-18 years ago. Yes, that mud was still there, in both literal & figurative senses. Pretty much been my credo all these years, for better or worse; and somehow it’s worked, in spite of myself. #nevergrowup #growoldnotup #letyourinnerchildouttoplay #tomsawyerlivininastevejobsworld #lastchildinthewoods #floridology Read below for the backstory on this photo, thankfully captured and sent to me by @oracleofdivineideas 😊❤️👍 (at Anastasia State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuUrPatDprr/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16txg7rm0rzbs

[tomkiernan]

When you don’t have to be home from vacation in time to kiss all your girls goodnight, because they’re still on their own vacation in Boston, you can take your time getting home!😂 Finally fulfilled a lifelong dream (however small) and stopped off on the side of the #floridaturnpike to throw a few casts and the fish gods were smiling down! Stuck two #bocagrande bass in 5 minutes and hit the road again! Stopped again in rural Ft. Pierce whilst switching over to I-95 and got another #mayancichlid in a 12’ wide agricultural ditch to put a nice finish on the week, ha! I’m not sure of the Latin word for ‘week’, but I’ll consider the last 7 diems carpe’d AF!😜🤘🏻 #backtoworktomorrow #backtorealitytomorrow #bassonfly #mayancichlidonfly #carpediem #dadontheloose #flyfishing #flyfishingsaveslives #anotherroadsidedistraction (at Vero Beach, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuPqVlsDDK1/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=gk9chea3xdb1

[tomkiernan]

Went on #walkabout yesterday afternoon and knocked another species off the #bucket list! #mayancichlid along with a #bocagrande bass, ha! #mayancichlidonfly #bassonfly #evergladesnationalpark #biscaynenationalpark #riverofgrass #wanderlust #flyfishingsaveslives (at Florida City, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuOalmfDeLX/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7v7khmxqhddg

[tomkiernan]

If this trip has taught me anything, it’s that I probably talk sweeter to tarpon & #keydeer than I do to my wife & kids.🤦🏻‍♂️🤣😍😍🥰🥰😘😘 #booboo #shuggies #dadproblems #flyfishingproblems #neature #bigpinekey (at Big Pine Key, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuNa24oj9qY/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1mhrbmrcovhud

[tomkiernan]

Not to be outdone by myself the previous day, yesterday I decided to explore the #innards of #keywest and go on another #bataandeathmarch on the #SUP for 5.8 miles in search of #juveniletarpon and anything else that would eat a fly. After paddling past eleventeen hundred #juvenilebarracuda (by actual count!😱) that I didn’t want to relinquish any flies to before finding tarpon, I finally found the #silverlode, ha! Then I kept paddling some more, and yet more. Even if I hadn’t found them and not flung a fly all day, it was such a fun journey and a neat side of the city that people rarely see, tucked away behind the #mangroves, #banyans, fences and hotels. To borrow from my @vilanoindians friend @rosstagrams, it was a great day out in #neature, ha! #hiddenkeywest #natureismetal @natureismetal #juvypoon #flyfishing #natureismyreligion #getamongstit #optoutside (at Key West, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuL3NXhjk3O/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=9bv4si40qer2

[tomkiernan]

If you know me, then you know my Dedication:Foolishness ratio is pretty dead center, give or take a few points either way.🤪Went on #walkabout today and found some more #juveniletarpon in some unlikely places! Also hiked 2 miles, roundtrip, wearing flatsbooties, whilst carrying an SUP, 8wt fly rod & a backpack, in 85° weather. Then paddled a mile in between and threw large flies at large, non-committal, barracuda.🙅🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️ Such is life on the #FloridaKeysbackroads. And if it’s not at least 50% #bataandeathmarch, is it really worth doing?!😱😂 #juveniletarpononfly #juvypoononfly #adventureismymiddlename #carpethedamndiem #isurvived 😂🤙🏻 (at Key West Golf Club Community) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuIUolVhbfB/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=hog79vri3cxc

[tomkiernan]

#southernmostsunset cruise in the Whaler with @adam52r & @potcaketheyorkie, certainly #notabadwaytoendtheday!!! #keywestsunset #keywest #smathersbeach #floridastraits (at Smathers Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuFUXj0j-PS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=zs5ivko4b85n

[tomkiernan]

Like #icecube used to say, #todaywasagoodday! Got about a dozen #juvypoon and a couple #barracuda on fly! All between 15”-30”. Been needing a day like this for months!!! #stockisland #keywest #juveniletarpononfly #barracudaonfly #backcountrybackflipper #dionsfriedchicken #keyslyfe #ilovestockisland (at Stock Island, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/BuE2zkrD3da/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=rg27v508rzwe

[tomkiernan]

Been a pretty good trip thus far, ha! #peacockbass in #miami, #traffic on #keylargo, #blueviews on the #overseashighway #rockyhorror in #keywest and #achievingclarity at #marvinkey! 😍 #peacockbassonfly #miamipeacockbass #keyslyfe #dionsfriedchicken #stockislandlyfe #mentalfloss #serenitynow (at Stock Island, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt_4rKPjGd_/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=17dlhvaayqu5j

[tomkiernan]

4 #Truths I found this evening: 1. Even a #skunk can be pretty. 2. Dolphins are pretty awesome to watch feed, except when their dinner is the fish you’re trying to catch.(Re: Truth 1) 3. #7wt rods are fun to throw.4.#mayportnikes are always 2” shorter than you think they are. #swampfoot 🤦🏻‍♂️😂 #sunset #floridawinter #flyfishing #matanzasswing #matanzasinlet #floridaflyfishing #flyfishingproblems #fridaynightlights (at Matanzas Inlet) https://www.instagram.com/p/BtFAvgJjSrG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1bxudlp6v0htw

[tomkiernan]

File this one under #besttextihaveeverreceived. 😬🤙🏻❤️@kiernanerica is currently in #pavones #costarica on a #surf #yoga trip and is evidently #havingagreattime and in a #givingmood!😂 Who knows when it will actually happen, but I’m already trying to decide which boards and rods to take.🤪😍 #wifetexts #textsfromthewife #yay (at Playa Pavones de Costa Rica) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs6kr-FDpNK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=smizdm79otuk

[tomkiernan]

Who’s with me, eh?!😂😱🧠💩#10yearchallenge #sensoryoverload #informationOD #iphoneaddiction #technologyisthebestandworst #thisisyourbrainonsocialmedia #thisisyourbrainonadulting #thisisyourbrainonkids #thisisyourbrainonanxiety (at Anastasia State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs0ZH9VDujE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ov6qx1vok988

[tomkiernan]

These little mud turkeys have been at it for 4 hours plus, and are evidently impervious to cold, too!😂 #mudpies #daughters #sisters #floridawinter #tavinlane #teaganroyalty #mudbugs #happygirls (at Anastasia State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsRRqDcjUvb/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19rhqr1hr49gw

[tomkiernan]

#parenting, I’ve found, is a lot like being those little dudes on #fragglerock that were always building stuff, only to have the #fraggles come through and bash it down all the time, #blissfullyunaware.😱😭🤦🏻‍♂️👷🏻‍♂️👷🏻‍♀️🏠👱🏼‍♀️👧🏼 🧟‍♀️🧟‍♀️💩💩 #teaganroyalty #engineerofmayhem (at Anastasia State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsQ33tADe1U/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=18dq78tve0kdh

[tomkiernan]

Haven’t seen or felt this in 2 weeks. Blue skies and temperatures above 52° at the same time. Wow. #home #sunnyand60 #floridawinter #nofilterneeded (at Anastasia State Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsQy5_6juzq/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1vk1p1xx7gs2c

[tomkiernan]

Scenes from the #toweroflondon. #londontowerravens #exoticanimalart #thecrownjewels #thewhitetower #royalguards (at TowerofLondonTour) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFx-slj5Lk/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1jvaeghheiwlu

[tomkiernan]

#seeingthesights along #theriverthames.😁 #beautifulwoman #navyship #ferries #tugboats #theshard #londontowerbridge (at Tower Bridge) https://www.instagram.com/p/BsFw7hwDV-8/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=oh8y3gcnbbuk