Changes Happen

There have been several changes in my business. Two of the stores were shut down because of lack of business. Boca Party Supplies did not do very well for several reasons. Even though the store regularly had 400+ visitors a month and was on page one of Google for many of its products, and its blog was on page one for 'formal party blog', there was very little buyers. And without them the business did not support itself. So, I closed it. I also closed the environmentally friendly store and reopened it as a directory of the remaining stores and blog. It will become an entering point for those who see our name on advertising and our truck.

I would like to blame these changes on the economy, but can't. I simply did not have the skill to convert visitors into customers. Part of that is my fault. But I must say that the host of the sites did not live up to their responsibility of providing the training and tools that were promised to aide in our becoming successful. That is why, I figure, that they have been investigated by almost half of the state's Attornys Generals. And in most cases they found it cheaper to settle than to fight it. I can be more specific if you request it by email but will not comment again on it here. Oh yes, I will be moving the other two stores to new hosts in the near future unless something dramatic happens.

On a lighter note, the fishing and crabbing are great. My friend Jon and I have been going out weekly on his 35' Endevour sailboat, and trolling for King Fish and Spanish Mackerel. We are averaging 3 fish a trip. Not bad. We are using 6" gold bombers and the large 'Clark' squid spoons. Jon loves to sail but isn't in to fishing, and I'm a fisherman and find sailing too much work. So, he sails and I fish. We both have a good time and come home with a great fresh meal. I put a couple of my stone crab traps off Jon's dock on the intercoastal and we get three or four claws twice a week. We are trying fish heads and pigs feet as bait. So far the heads are winning.

This past weekend I went to the Suncoast MG Club Jamboree. It was the first show type event I have taken my '66 MGB to and it went well. If I ever figure out how to put pictures on this site I will post some. ( Hint hint, help, anyone.) I am building the car for everyday use, not as a show car, so was concerned as to how it would look with all the others. But lots of 'daily' cars showed up.

Until next time, make every day beautiful. Oh Yes, love your enemys, it really confuses them.

Crab Traps,Earth and SGR

My partner in the 'stone crab business' in the keys (4 traps) decided it was too much work and pulled our traps in, and doesn't want to do it anymore. I told I would buy him out and to just bring the traps here to St Pete. I will put them out here and will enjoy the fruits of my labor. I just don't know when he is coming. Stone crabs, for those who are unfamiliar with them, are medium sized crabs that grow very large claws that are a genuine delight to eat. The good part of catching them is you only take the claws and put the crabs back in the water to grow new ones. I used to get them while SCUBA Diving but decided to try traps this year. We did real well getting as many as 15 claws from our 4 traps. When you grow up as a farm kid it is always fun to harvest your own food, especially when it is a delicacy.

New subject:
Has anyone read "Earth: The Sequel" yet? I just got a postcard telling about it. It is touted to be a positive version of the gloom and doom thing Al Gore did. The authors introduce us to entrepreueurs and inventors who have the tools and products that will reduce the carbon output to levels that will save us frrom global warming. Has anyone read it and if so what did you think? I will be getting my copy this week. You can see a video about it at http://www.earththesequel.com . Tell us what you think of the ideas and the book.

Last weekend I went to a three day training semnar on implimenting "The Secret" put on by the LifeSuccess Academy in Orlando. The academy is a division(?) of Bob Proctor's business. Bob Proctor is the primary speaker on the video "The Secret". It was very intense and covered a lot of territory but was very helpful for me. I grew up, like Jack Canfield, hearing the mantre "Money doesn't grow on trees", and that it was hard to get and keep. I have lived with that 'stuff' long enough and since I have bigger plans than ever now that I am retired. (If you ask I will share them with you.) The point is that with Bob Proctor's book "You Were Born Rich" and Napoleon Hill's book "Think and Grow Rich" you have the the basic text books to get you on the road to a more comfortable and rewarding life. I'm loving life and retirement more every day.

I would like to hear your ideas and opinions on these or any of the previous ones. So please share your perspectives and ideas. Thanks.