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

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

Yom Kippur ends at sundown.  This is the holiest of all Jewish holidays.  During this time they seek out forgiveness of their sins against God and others…Interesting that this is their holiest of all days. I think it to be the most lovely of all traditions and holidays no matter who you are or what you believe.

The fall is here and is evident in the way the shadows dwindle on the landscapes. I will do my very best to embrace the fall although I do not like it.

You can still find me on the beach in my spare time. My skin still reflects my time spent by the water. No worries, I’ll be there through the winter….

Things I love? Hmmm these things are beyond any little list.

This journal has and always will be about the people, places and things I love.

Stay tuned.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Perhaps the best fishing pier on the planet….

Frisco Beach on Cape Hatteras July 2009.

Perspective is a real eye opener. Sometimes, I take for granted the things we do and see.

We have a foreign exchange student from Montenegro. She is the youngest of three girls that have stayed with our family in some form or fashion. Saska is 31, Sanjice is 29 and Jovanna is 17.

They come from a very nice family. They personally know the Prime Minister and all that stuff…Anyhow…getting back to Jovanna.

Hmmm…She is very reserved and only opens up around our family. There is absolutely nothing athletic about her at all. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. There is no teaching her how to surf. Too dangerous. Can she sing? Um, nope. I am polite because I hear her singing when she is happy (Which is often). Ladies and gentlemen; she can’t sing. God bless her pointed little head, even teaching her how to ride a mountain bike hasn’t been easy.

She does speak several languages and can even translate that old Russian in Syrillic if you need it. She is a very applied student and makes straight A’s in all of her classes so far including her AP courses. I have told her that she needs to join some clubs to increase her base of friends at school. Meeting people and making the transition to friendship is difficult for her.

Our trips to The Outer banks and to DC have blown her away. Montenegro is small and they don’t usually take road trips like we do. College life here is very different than their college life.

At the end of the day she tells me all of the neat and unique experiences she has enjoyed with us and that she looks forward to all of the adventures yet to come.

Life is all about the experiences….

Kelly joins us this weekend. I am looking forward to it.

I hope that you and those you love have a wonderful Labor day weekend.

See you on the beach.

Peace,
Bobby

I worked in the lawn and flower beds for two hours after work last night. I don’t mind the high heat and humidity. It comes with the territory. Tonight I’m going over to one of my properties and clearing some overgrowth with a machete after my workout. Believe it or not this is a lot of fun.

You can bank on me jumping in the water afterwards.

Saturday and Sunday? Oh you and I both know I will get my chores done early because we are going to the beach. My Sister is in Frisco this weekend (A village on Hatteras Island) and she will let me know if the surf is up early that morning. If it is, I see myself going down there and spending the night.

Of course if the bay is flat and glassy then I’ll stay home and ride the jetski. I feel like taking a long trip on that thing for some odd reason. Crazy golf cart rides will rule the evening I am sure if I stay home.

Sunday we have some friends coming over to grill some elk meat once we leave the beach. I have never had it and I am looking forward to trying it.

Now that my brother is seperated/divorcing his very cruel wife, we see more and more of him. I think he is coming over with my niece tonight. I do my very best to never say anything negative.
For the sake of honesty she is consumed with anger (just in general) and it has made her a very ugly human being both inside and out. She has let it run unchecked in her life and makes sport of turning it on herself and others. Her anger is an awful curse.

I view my anger as a gift. It motivates me to be a better person. You can harness its energy to do so many positive things. Don’t dwell on it. Recognizing it is 100% of the battle.

See you on the beach. (Hopefully in a good mood).

Oh and for those of you who don’t swim; get on over to the pool and take some lessons already!!!
Sheesh….

Peace,
Bobby

Hmmm…

You know I sit around and chirp from time to time about the things I love and do well. Most folks are inclined to crow about good things in their life and I am no different I suppose.

Ahhh…So then why not talk about the stuff you don’t do so well?

I flat suck at Basketball. I just do. Oh sure I’m a good athlete but my passion for Basketball and desire to play the game ranks right up there with a slug. Want to win? Don’t pick me because I suck.

I will mess with the electrical panels in the house but I don’t like getting jackhammered by voltage when I make a mistake. Yikes!

Alligators? Um, I don’t like them at all. Count me out. I might knock your grandmother out of a wheelchair getting away from those things.

Chickies crying about this or that? I don’t know what to do. The worst is watching my my mom, wife or daughter cry. Why don’t you just nuke me? I don’t know what to say usually. UGH!

Ladies and Gentlemen I cannot rap. Nope. I tried. Several times. Not happening. Same thing holds true with that country twang in an attempt to sing country. Forget it. Neither one of these things are in my blood and musically I believe they are closely related.

Dancing? Oh my God! You and I both know the only reason I”ll consider dancing to begin with is because perhaps I’ll get lucky later with Nurse Ratchet. She likes it. I hate it. Oh, I also suck at it too.

Ever meet a guy who could pick up chicks like a magnet? I’m the antidote for that guy. Let’s just say I am Lerm’s evil anti opposite. The dude has skills. I DO NOT. Hilarious. I have NO SKILL.

I have many flaws. Lots and lots of flaws actually. I am human you know?

I recognize that my friends and family know many if not most of my flaws.

Guess what?

They love me despite my shortcomings….

Not perfect? Who cares?

Peace,

Bobby

I like to tinker from time to time. Most of my tinkering is on my rental houses, guitars, amps, lawn equipment etc…

Lately I have determined that we are not watching 97% of the programming on our Dish Network subscription. I don’t have dishtv in the mountain and with our outdoor antenna we can get more than enough programming. Content via the internet continues to grow exponentially.

Anyhow, I have done a little research and have found plans to make a very efficient Hi-Def friendly antenna to mount in my attic. I have two structured wiring panels and will drop a cable down from the antenna and terminate an already existing coaxial connection in every room of my house. Easy stuff once you wrap your mind around it.

In terms of radio, I listen to wi-fi radio and have it connected to my main receiver which pumps music all through my home. In fact, my main interface is my ipod touch. Between my music collection, slacker radio and pandora we are covered with whatever we want to hear. We can also see movies or pictures on the high def tv if we choose to do so right out of the little gadget.

Watching movies? Use a portable hard drive and you can hook it up to your WDTV interface and watch whatever content you have added to the hard drive in any format you can imagine. In hi def no less!!

I have a HUGE weekend ahead. I’ll be exhausted by Sunday night.

You know where to find me during the day. I’ll be on the beach.

At night? Probably tinkering….

See you next week!!!

Peace,
Bobby