Sheesh,

I’m so creative that I simply post the damn day of the week. *NOT*

Jules is having a baby girl. Jesus, I remember her from way back when. Amazing progress!!!

Life is a big journey. I recall posting about all sorts of things that seemed relevant at the time. I have watched many of you grow (and some disintigrate).  

I don’t have anyting in the tank today.

Changing gears.

I played drums with a local band the other day to fill in for their absent drummer at practice. Kinda nice. They asked me to sign up after the session was over. Oh sure, I can play the drums and like to do it every so often.

Will I join? Nahhh. I have my own band although we aren’t doing anything. My drummer? Oh man, he is one sick player…Makes me go straight to the guitar.

I often wonder if I should hit the circuit once more before I retire for good?

Who knows? I’m just grateful for the gift (or curse) of music…

Part of me wants to tell Shark stories. I better not.

Will they be true? Most of them….

Peace,

Bobby

Hmmm…These last two decades I have spent working for “the man” has been really interesting. I have gone through a rough time pondering this massive change in my life.

I have always had businesses since I was little. You know, newspapers, lawn service, bands, etc…All of them have been successful and all have come to a conclusion more or less. I have always liked being my own boss. Hot tip. My boss (me)  is extremely harsh and worries a lot. I’m only as good as my last at bat. He speaks to me much like Bobby Knight spoke to his basketball players…

I have since expanded to Real Estate (Which is an awful lot of work) and I have an investment advisory business.

I am reluctant to say much about this advisory business other than after I received my first paycheck my wife looked at it and cried.

These were not tears of sadness. They were tears of relief and joy.

I remember hearing the little whispers of doubt in the background. I was on the “call” list from all my friends and family. Will he make it? Will he fail? What will they do? What is to become of him? I am worried for his family ….Blah blah blah.

My sister, daughter, mother and father looked everyone straight in the eye two months ago and said to anyone who would listen “you aren’t going to believe what you will see next”.

Even I didn’t believe it.

My wife lost so much sleep she became physically ill. Doubt and worry of the unknown will do that to you.

I’m here to share a little secret. I was scared to death.

NEVER underestimate the power of your advocates. When I fell down they literally carried me through my worries and doubts.

Flash Forward.

The sleeper has awakened. He is angry.

Angry at who? I’m angry at myself.

How could I have doubted myself so harshly? Why didn’t I do this years ago? What was I thinking?

No worries….My (our) anger is a gift. Harness its energy to propel yourself to bigger and better things.

On to the next deal….Let’s Rock!

Peace be with you,

Bobby

Me? What do I like?

Old 80’s PRS guitars, Mesa Boogie Amp circuits from the early to mid 90’s, Taylor guitars from 89-96. My closest friends are monster musicians.  

Levi’s jeans. Polo shirts. Handmade ties from that persnickity Hong Kong tailor on Madison Avenue.

Love seeing chickies walk on the beach in bikini’s. Long hair is an added bonus.

Dont’cha just love to grill on the beach with a cooler full of your favorite beverages? Welcome to my world.

Favorite Beverages? Beer? Newcastle for everyday and Dogfish Head 90 for a special occassion. I will have a beer or two but have throttled way back. No drinking on school nights. I like being in control. Diet lemonade or tap water most of the time.

Columbian Coffee hits the spot.

I will drink a real Coke once a quarter. What a treat!

Favorite wine? Strawberry Apple (I know low rent right?) out of Bedford, Virginia. Port wine (A good Graham’s) paired with something chocolate after dinner…

Asics Running shoes. Adidas soccer gear for workouts and running clothes.

Oakley sunglasses although I have some Ray Bans and Vuarnet’s from the 80’s.

Favorite food? Hmmm- Love seafood. Cook it correctly and it is fabulous. Especially seafood that comes from a shell. Had some fresh tautog the other night that was to die for…

Favorite music? Alt rock from the 80’s through today, especially if it is ethreal.

Automobiles? I always have a sportscar and an off road vehicle. My poison? A 350z and Toyota FJ cruiser. We only drive stickshifts…

Hugs and kisses from the ladies. Thoughtful people rock!!!

I love mischief of all sorts. Living with me is an adventure I can assure you. Ask my family…

Favorite Sport? Soccer no doubt.

Most importantly I love my family and friends. I would be nothing without them.

Life is beautiful. Is it perfect? Not at all yet I love the imperfections as well….

“Consume the groove” - T-shirt print slogan

Peace,

Bobby

Hmmm let me see, where have I been? I think it safe to say that I have been in a state of purgatory for a little while.

In my little world of work it gets a little bit crazy when you change jobs from one company to the next. You literally resign on the spot, take all of your belongings and walk out the door to begin working for your new company as soon as they legally release you from your old place of employment. In other words, you start work on Friday night and don’t look up until you are finished several weeks later.

You don’t have much time to say goodbye or even think about the relationships you leave behind. That is one part of the job I despise. Unfotunately, they are beginning to lay people off from that office now that I have left. I feel terrible.

Life was so stressful I seriously contemplated suicide. The ONLY think that kept me from dying is the love I have for my daughter and wife. Never underestimate the power of love. In my case it saved my life for I was haunted by a lone gunman who wanted to end everything for about a week.

I am now a Senior Vice President for a new company; Partner of our own Real Estate business and a director for a Charitable Foundation.  

I am overwhelmed by the love and support I have received from my friends and family. I would be nothing without them.

For weeks, I thought the light at the end of the tunnel just might be a train. I’m beginning to think it could be sunlight.

Flash Forward….

I am alive. I am relatively well. I turned 46 years old on Saturday. I am running races and exercising like crazy.

I have been following you quietly. There are several of you I love. Some of you don’t know it so I may make it a point to tell you over the next coming days. Please accept it for it is all I have to offer.

Stay tuned.

Peace be with you,

Bobby

A new twist on an old picture. This one taken for Christmas 2009.

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

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