If you do anything life for long enough, it’s easy to fall into the trap of routine.  Take SCMO, for example.  I’ve been running the site for thirteen years now (*yikes*), and time creates certain expectations on the part of our visitors.

They know, for example, that the site ramps up as we approach the local marlin season, and winds down near Christmas. They expect a new Fishing News report every Monday and Thursday, and a witty MarlinBlog posting at least once a weekday. And, of course, they demand their Eye Candy every Friday.

Now, I’m a guy who likes to please others, so I’m more than happy to try and oblige. At the same time, I’m not some show pony who rolls out to perform for the crowds – I like to shake things up once in a while. But even I know there are limits to the experiments – so here’s your weekend Eye Candy …

Odette Yustman is one of those exotic beauties born through the mixing of genetics and heritage. With a Cuban mother and a French-Italian father, this 24-yr-old actress clearly got the best of all worlds. But rather than take in the entire panorama, today we’re going to focus on just one feature – the eyes. And what eyes they are …

Anyway, it’s a oppotunity to continue our “water” theme … one that will do doubt continue until I get a chance to head offshore.  And since that’s not in the cards right now, you can expect your Eye Candy to be on the wet side for a few more weeks …

Maybe it’s the heat.  Maybe it’s because I was stuck in a sweltering workshop all week. Or maybe I just need to get out on the ocean.  Whatever the reason, I’ve got water on my brain.  So when I saw a picture of an actress with Lake right in her name – in a lake, no less – I knew we had to include her as our weekend eye candy.

Now, I have no idea who Lake Bell is.  The good folks at IMDB tell me she’s an 30-yr-old actress, with her biggest credit probably being a role opposite Colin Ferrell in 2008′s “Pride and Glory,” and an 18 episode stint in “The Practice/Boston Legal” a few years back. I watched that show periodically, but I’ll have to confess that I didn’t recognize her from that, or any of the other roles she’s played.   Like a lot of actresses, she’s grinding it out, taking what she can get while looking for that one big break.

Here’s hoping this helps her get it!

Summer’s winding down, and the lazy days are getting shorter. It’s still hotter than hell, and it brings to mind thoughts of lemonade, porch swings, and pie. Hmmm … pie.

Let’s face it – everyone loves pie. I love it, you love it … heck, it’s practically un-American to not like pie. You remember … baseball, motherhood, apple pie? Only a deeply troubled individual could hate pie.

Of course, part of what makes pie so lovable is the warm feeling that comes with it (no, I’m not referring to the “warm feeling” that pie brings in “American Pie”, you sick bastard). Baking a pie takes a lot of time, a lot of effort … a lot of love … so when someone makes that effort on your behalf, it’s a very visceral experience.

Of course, there’s one level of experience if the cook is your mother, and an entirely different one if it’s, say, Mary Louise Parker wearing nothing but an apron.

Here at the Home Office, we love MLP. From her first big role in “Fried Green Tomatoes,” to her turn on “The West Wing,” to her current role as the lead in “Weeds,” Mary Louise is one of those women who doesn’t necessarily play attractive roles, but who you almost inevitably find yourself startled by when you realize how beautiful she is. She had an understated, smoldering sexy that is almost always preferable to the temporary, artificial variety all too popular among TV executives and movie casting agents.

She probably doesn’t need our help, but we want to see more of her (figuratively speaking) so we’re doing the one thing we can to get her a little more, ahem, exposure – naming her our Eye Candy of the week. Think of this as the whipped topping on the slice of pie that is her career.

Here at the MarlinBlog, we want to educate, to entertain, to bring something to your day that will make it a little better for at least a moment.  That said, we know from our email bag that there’s one weekly task we have that our readers value far above the others – selecting the Weekend Eye Candy.

It’s usually a pretty straightforward task.  We look at the events of the week, or the time of year, or some kind of significant milestone that’s occurring, and pick someone who represents it the best.  The real challenge can be determining the right shot of that person to include, but that’s a good kind of a challenge, if you know what I mean.

Sometimes, though, a picture will cross our desk that stops us in our tracks, and practically demands to be used as the weekly tidbit.  This is one of those cases.

Frankly, I have no idea who this is, other than that she’s a model representing Atlantic Swimwear, and rather well, I’d say.  But she does make me think the beach, the sun, and curvy girls, and that’s all good by me!  Here’s hoping it’s good for you, too …

Isn’t it amazing how every decent infinity pool has a hot model standing alongside?  I gotta get me one of those!

Earlier today, I discussed the imminent return of Olympic gold medalist Kerri Walsh to the beach as part of the AVP Tour, and shared the good news that her partner – at least temporarily – would be none other than long-time MarlinBlog fave Rachel Wacholder (how much of a fave, you ask? Just search for her at right …). Considering this is Friday, and I owe you some weekend eye candy, it seems perfectly logical that the obvious candidates would be none other than Team Mom!

Anyone have a problem with that? I thought not …

For those of you who might not remember, or just don’t recognize them from this particular angle, that would be Rachel winding up on the left and Kerri putting on a block at right. Of course, like all good athletes, the girls have their names on their uni’s – they’re right where you’re already looking …

In all seriousness, it should be interesting to see how this partnership gels. Rachel does well matched up with a big blocker like Kerri (remember when she and Elaine Youngs paired up?), and has skills similar to Misty’s – and a couple of extra inches on her. As for Kerri, there’s no one on the beach that can get it by her on a consistent basis. Both need to get their fitness levels back up – Kerri claimed that her first time back on the beach was like walking in quicksand – but that should come quick enough. With a lot of new teams working out the kinks this season, this might be the perfect time for these two. And personally, I’d like nothing more than watching ex-partners Rachel and EY face off in a couple of finals … catfight!

We’re headed into the long Independence Day holiday, and for some of us it’s going to be a longer weekend than for others.  In my case, it’s the best kind of weekend, because not only do we get Friday off, I’m headed offshore for my first marlin trip of the season – always a reason to celebrate.  There’s a birthday happening in there as well, but we’ll have more to say about that when we get back on the beach.

But I know my MarlinBlog readers, and while I’m sure you’re thrilled for me to be going fishing, there’s only one thing on your collective minds:

But Stan … what about the weekend eye candy?

C’mon, didn’t I just say I knew my readers?  Do you really think I’d leave you hanging for four days with nothing more than a picture of a couple of mating Porsches?  Hardly.

So, keeping in the spirit of the holiday, a little selection of what makes America great – hot chicks in flag bikinis.  Have a safe, reasonably sane weekend, everyone!

As you doubtless know, we love to stay abreast of the latest technology here at SCMO. That’s why we just went through the pain of upgrading our forums to utilize the latest vBulletin and Photopost software, and will soon be doing the same to this very blog so we can get the benefits of the industry-leading WordPress product. We’re not just on the cutting edge – we’re on the bleeding edge!

One of the latest trends has been the phenomenon known as social networking. Networking isn’t a new concept – people have been gathering in watering holes for as long as man has been a social creature. But new tools give us the ability to reach out far beyond the end of the bar.

Two of those tools, Twitter and Facebook, have been integrated into SCMO as part of our upgrades. Our Twitter feed includes tidbits from the Home Office staff, info about upgrades and other happenings around the site, and, during the local tourney season, serves as a liveblog for the latest off the water action. Our Facebook page serves as a portal for lots of people to learn about SCMO and our mission, and as an outpost of sanity in the growing craziness of that community. If you haven’t checked the two out, take a moment to do so now.

Speaking of abreast, or to be absolutely correct, four breasts, we’re not the only ones to find the benefit of social networking. Here we have models Doutzen Kroes and Alessandra Ambrosio reminding us that the Victoria Secret models are now on Facebook, too. C’mon, Ale – friend me! I’ll behave … promise …

I don’t know how else to say it that this:

Leonardo DiCaprio has clearly lost his mind.

I don’t know if it’s too much time on the party scene or too much time spent in Greensburg or what, but he’s decided that his relationship with model Bar Refaeli needs a “break”. According to the trustworthy folks at People Magazine, DiCaprio wanted time away from Refaeli to “do his own thing”. It’s not clear if this is a break or a breakup, but the same source indicated that Refaeli’s desire to get serious about the relationship may have lead to the pause.

Now, I understand that DiCaprio’s only 34 and pretty much has the pick of the litter when it comes to women, but c’mon – you really think it’s gonna get better than a 23-yr-old Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition cover model? Do you have any idea how many men out there raised with their Mother’s voice saying, “why can’t you bring home a nice Jewish girl” would slit your throat just to be in your place for an evening?

Clearly, I’m the last guy to ask for relationship advice, but I’ve got to think either there’s more to this than we know, or DiCaprio has lost his frakking mind. Whatever. If Bar’s now available, I feel the least we can do is help her back on her feet by making her our Weekend Eye Candy. Who knows, maybe it’ll help her meet a nice guy … perhaps one who fishes marlin and builds websites …

Everyone loves a good comeback story. There’s just something about being down, and getting back up, that taps something in our psyche – we just can’t help but pull for someone seeking redemption.

Now, that might be part of why Alessandra Ambrosio once again graces our Weekend Eye Candy. A long-time favorite of the Home Office staff, we were all dismayed at her pregnancy and childbirth late last year. After all, this was one of the world’s top models – could she possibly regain her form and place at the top of the heap?

Fear not, dear reader, as this recent Victoria’s Secret shoot attests. Ale’s doing just fine, thanks. Her daughter Anja is healthy, and she’s still engaged to Jamie Mazur, the child’s father. Oh well, we can’t have everything …

Anyway, this “better than ever” theme was more than just a opportunity to run another shot of a fine woman. It’s a reminder that we’ve completed the upgrades to the MarlinNut Forums, and they, too, are better than ever. Swing by and see for yourself, and be sure to check out the new Galleries where you can host your own photos and videos!