It was early Saturday morning (Feb 6^th) on the way back from work. Chris worked all day and all night (We have been hammered with snow and ice) restoring high voltage power lines and was on his way back home when he hit a patch of ice on the interstate. His truck spun wildly out of control, fell into a ravine and abruptly stopped after hitting a tree.

I suppose he was speeding. He liked to do that you know….

He died on the scene.

Chris leaves behind his wife and children.

I have known Chris all of his life. I don’t know what else to say.

That hurt.  

I think I’m done with this post.

Peace,

Bobby

Bullet points.

This could be short or could be long. I don’t know.

1)      Racism. I‘ve seen some discussion on the subject in KCL. All it takes is one human being who is different than another and BOOM you have potential for conflict. Education is the only way to solve racism.

2)      Straight A’s continue for Jovana, our exchange student. The kid should be an engineer. Unfortunately, they have no use for Engineers in her country. Engineers, Physicians and Lawyers are not well paid in Montenegro.

3)      Kelly has been pounded with snow these last couple of weeks. Friday and Saturday they are getting 15-26 inches of snow after having snow all week up in DC. Folks, we are from the beach where the snow never goes…It has officially freaked her out.

4)      Me? Oh I have completely lost my mind. I had two rentals come vacant at the end of January. One is rented already (Wonderful turn around and picked up 45 more bucks a month in rents.) The other? I should have it ready to show in the next two weeks. Those folks were not the cleanest humans on the planet. I will pick up an extra 45.00 bucks in rent there as well. Lots of work. Many long nights!!!

5)      Nurse Ratchet? Um, her mentor and old physician co-worker passed away suddenly about 2 weeks ago. He died of a massive heart attack. They worked together the day before he passed. She has cried everyday since. Not pretty. Actually, I have never seen her depressed. She is CRUSHED.

6)      My brother is working with one of the producers of Lady GaGa on some music tracks. They both went to Berklee together. Frankly, this is his big break. The downside? My brother is a monster in the studio. In fact, he has his own studio in his house. Killer. We are having a divorce party for him on the 8^th!!! It is official.

7)      My little sister? I love her. She is just back from a business trip to Atlantic City. She was excited. Me? You can keep Atlantic City. She has already fallen off the wagon on her running and diet.

      Hopefully, I can fix my golf cart tonight or tomorrow. I snapped a strut off jumping some dunes awhile back. Were we out of control? Yes. Was it fun? That cart should be outlawed.

9)      Superbowl? I see the Saints winning it unless Peyton Manning gets red hot.

10)  I miss you all very much. I still read you but have not logged on to comment or write. I think that status will be consistent for awhile.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

I like -

1) I LOVE the smell of salt in the air. I especially love the way salt collects on our skin while we play at the beach all day.

2) I like running.  I literally run wherever my little mind will take me and I rarely run the same path twice. I run for time and heart rate. Its all I have left now that my Soccer days are over as a player.

3) I am a tone freak. Heavy Strings, Tube amps and vintage guitars are a combination made in heaven. I have a sound that is as unique to my guitar playing as it is to the sound of my own voice. My guitars all bear the scars of this discovery process. I am all about Music.

4) Put me in the water. I love to surf, swim, scuba, snorkel…You name it. Swimming in a pool just doesn’t cut it.

5) Love, Love, Love hot sauces!!! D’elidas from Panama is hands down my absolute favorite but I have to import it from Panama myself!!!

6) I have all but quit drinking but I still love the taste of A few libations. My favorite beer is Dogfish Head 90 minute IPA.  I was once a big Rum drinker and have a sizable collection.  Save yourself some time and trouble and get you a bottle of Santa Teresa 1796 from Venezuela. 

7) Musicians, Artists and Athletes - I get on well with folks who have this sort of intellect.

My daughter - Um, the sun rises and sets on that young lady. it is so cool spend time with the new improved version of myself. Lately she has taken to crushing me in the pool and over the road. I only wish I could sing as well as she does and I’m a good singer. She is an absolutely lovely human being.

9) My wife - She is the go to person for anything that is fun in my life.  She loves adventure.  She is beautiful and absolutely brilliant. I have not met anyone like her before or since. I am a lucky man.

10) For some reason I am great with plants. I view it as a curse actually. While I love plants, I am stretched to my limit. Everywhere I go they seem to follow me.

Certainly this isn’t everything. If you choose to fill your life with love there will be many things about you that will find their way into your very soul.

May the Spirit of Christmas be upon each of you!

Peace,

Bobby

“If you resort to name calling in an argument you automatically lose” - Fijufic

I curse pretty much all the time unless I’m in a heated discussion or argument.  For the sake of this journal I also make sure I keep the lingo fairly clean. In 3d its another ball game. I NEVER curse while making an argument or point.

It has been wonderul having my daughter nearby. She is making me run with her this evening and I suspect she wants to go for about an hour.  That sounds like 6 or 7 miles. GRRRRR…Tomorrow isn’t much better as I think we are all going to swim laps for an hour or so.

I get the sneaky suspicion that my kid doesn’t want me to keel over anytime soon so we exercise together.  Pretty darn crafty that young lady. I think she is just keeping an eye on me.

We all went to dinner yesterday and then to see Avatar in IMAX 3d.  Wow! In terms of visual effects it was one of  the coolest movies I have ever seen.

Snow?  Ha, not us. Everywhere but here folks.  We are just under the snow line.

Christmas?  I’m ready.

Be careful for what you wish. I once lamented about being on the top 10 list  at Jayess for a few years. I eventually got on the list perpetually. The best way to get off that list is to have the website blow up. Now I can write in relative obscurity. This is a wonderful thing.

I look forward to 2010. I have several ventures all coming together at one time. I’m excited and nervous.  Here we go!!!

Peace be with you,

Bobby

My biggest job?  Years ago, I once thought that my job was to work as hard as I can and make lots of money.  I enjoyed my youth and have few regrets about what I have done with it.

I didn’t realize at the tender age of 23 that being a husband was such an important job. I guess I forgot to read the memo.  Balancing your friends, family, wife and career certainly was and continues to be a labor of love.

I was 26, almost 27 when I learned what love was really all about. Having a child come into the world is an overwhelming emotion. I was the first of the family to hold my daughter and to this very day I am the favorite.

Speak of favorite; that is another title I hold near and dear to my heart. I have and will continue to be many an athlete’s favorite coach.  I am my niece’s favorite uncle.  All the Serbs that stay with us will tell you straight away that I am the favorite.  I am my sister’s favorite family member. I am my father’s favorite son. I am my wife and daughter’s favorite human being.  I am my brother’s favorite sibling as well.

One could go an entire lifetime and never be a favorite.

I suppose I have countless friends who think of me in this way.  I don’t have to ask. I already know.

I am loved. No chance I’ll ever be a failure.

There are many of you who may perceive this post as being boastful.

I can assure you that bragging is not the purpose of this message.

To have love in your life you must take considerable risks.  Look for the goodness in people and expect the very best. You will never be perfect. Don’t worry about perfect. Just be sincere.

Will you get hurt along the way? Oh yes. Love can be painful. Just have a loved one die on you and this pain will become real in a hurry.

I can’t dwell on the inevitable. I can only enjoy today. I have no idea what tomorrow brings.

For now, I am happy to count my blessings.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Factoid - In my house, if you know which teams are playing on Monday night football, I’ll give you 5 bucks…This includes my wife, daughter and exchange student.

I rarely get hit but sometimes it happens.

I’m exhausted from the weekend. The Foundation raised almost 8 grand to give to the families who suffered with flooding during our last nor’easter.  Saturday was long and I didn’t get to bed until 3am…Literally a three ring circus!!

I attended 6 parties over the weekend.  At one party I played about 20 songs and everyone listened or sang along. *Whew* the drunks were out in full force!!

Anyhow, I am exhausted. 

May the spirit of the holiday be with you!

Peace,

Bobby

Hmmm,

Just sitting here thinking about life.

I got an email this morning and my sister tells me her Best friends brother in law (and passenger) died in a car wreck last night. These men were 20 and 21 years old.  Single car crash at a high rate of speed. All over the news of course…

God knows I have done my share of that stuff. I guess it wasn’t my time.

My other buddy texted me to let me know his son got into Cornell University. This is the same 17 year kid who wrecked his motorcycle and broke a wrist, knee and ruptured a testicle. We call Chris “Captain Blueball”. Guess it wasn’t his time.

I hit a jetty once when I was surfing. I was knocked out and broke my board. My friend pulled me to shore and I have no recollection of the incident till this very day other than blood all over the back of my head and my broken board.  Ever heard the phrase “Swim with a buddy”?  Trust me it makes sense. You would have never met me if I wasn’t saved by my buddy Bruce.

Looking back, I was upset about my board. I was too stupid to think I could have died. I never told my parents exactly what happened.  You just put this stuff out of your mind.

Every day we live, we run the risk of dying. I accept these risks as a part of life. I would rather live my life as a series of experiences.

We only get one chance.

Make today count. While you are at it, tell someone you love them.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

“It ain’t bragging if its true.” - Mohammed Ali

I have already started talking smack to all of my neighborhood friends about the upcoming road races starting with this year and going into next June. Now of course I make up a bunch of crap about everyone just to make things sporty.

Nothing says “fun” like beating your friends on race day. Unfortunately, Kelly is going to clean my clock this year. Her fitness levels and my age are taking us in different directions.

Are you sitting down?

My wife and daughter have convinced me that swimming laps in an olympic sized pool is great exercise. I haven’t been in a swimming pool for several years.  Honestly, if you push yourself the workouts are more strenuous than anything else you can do.  Shedding weight and picking up speed just happens if you swim.

I still despise pools. YUK!

My folks are in town until New Years. My father has declined quite a bit. He can’t get past his pain and depression so he literally sits around doing nothing.  Please kick me if I EVER get that way.

We have all of our decorations throughout the house but no presents under the tree. Perhaps I can change the landscape a bit during lunch. I have wrapping paper in my credenza and if I buy a few things and wrap them, I can put them under the tree tonight.

Maybe that would put a smile on everyone’s face.

Reflecting back on 2009,  it has been one of the most difficult years I can ever recall. So many changes all at one time.

Looking back in anger would not be wise.

I am grateful for all of my blessings.

May the spirit of the holidays be with you and those you love.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

My kid is back in town because her English Class was cancelled for today. I love it when Kelly is home.

We are going to practice some new songs tonight just for the sake of playing. I always look forward to these moments with my daughter and bandmates. 

We went to dinner yesterday evening and had us one heck of a time with our family and friends. Good lord Mabel went off on the Dish TV people last night when we had a thunderstorm. Secretly, she hates ALL providers be it cable or satellite.  Kelly recorded her and it was hysterical. I felt bad for the customer service associate who handled that call. Apparently, Nurse Ratchet is very serious about watching Gray’s Anatomy… I managed to do a little four wheelin’ on the beach with friends so my streak of never watching that show continues.

Flock of Seagulls concert tonight if it doesn’t get rained out. They were different then and I’m sure they are differerent now. I can play “Space Age Love Song” and “I Ran”. Cool tunes. Love the sound…

Tomorrow we work on the rentals all day and then Sunday we have to go to my cousin’s baptism. The good news?  She lives in Nags Head so maybe me and the kid can hit the water after lunch if the surf is up…we will need our wetsuits. BLAGH!!

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Crazy stuff that goes through my mind…

I have to bite my tongue when someone doubts my playing ability on the guitar before I start. The doubts fade right around 10 seconds into my playing.

The macho code. Truth be told I am always quite spooked by sharks in the water when we surf. Big turtles and dolphins have startled the hell out of me too.

I still don’t understand hair transplant surgery on a dude. Vanity in men just makes me wonder.

I still feel like my Z is brand new after almost 7 years. I can’t describe my connection to that car. I have a similar connection to my Toyota FJ Cruiser.

My brother isn’t going to work out in our band. He has the talent but doesn’t have the drive.

I don’t miss drinking.

My friends and family are all worried about me. Some quietly, some openly. Perhaps I have retreated into my own little world.

I have dreams about buying a sailboat and traveling to the Carribean. I am actively looking for a big sailboat that will handle it.

I need to get pro access. I better find a box to send this hot sauce to Matt with my money while I’m at it…

I have to go to Williamsburg tonight. My “coach” has an office there. I’m so damn paranoid that my peers would know so I travel pretty far to keep it under wraps. It has never been a secret in this space.

I have depression issues when my beloved summer turns to fall.

Here is a paradox. I am very social and friendly. Underneath all of it I am a loner and would be comfortable alone for weeks at a time. That will never happen.

I haven’t slept well in months.

I am human. I’m not perfect. I have doubts and worries.

I think I’ll take a walk and clear my head.

Peace,
Bobby

Doing the solo acoustic mini set between sets…..