Yesterday I closed my two last stores. It was hard to do. You who have been through something like this know how it feels. I am going to take a short respite from the store building business and regroup. I am however building a website for a friend. My friend, Ken, operates a kayak business in Safety Harbor, Fl. called Tocobaga Tours. Actually, he is the guy I got the name for my company from. We worked at the same school for 7 years, just before I retired.
During the break I will be reevaluating the things I did right and wrong. I expect to begin a again based on the experience I have just finished. Real life is just a continuation of school. Sometimes we get 'F's and then we learn and get 'A's. At least I always have.
Keep Smiling!
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
The holidays are over. Are you cheering or sad?
17 February, 2009
How were your holidays? Ours were great. We stayed at home for the first time in 20 years and enjoyed many parties and sharing with our friends and families. 2009 looks like a great year to start new things and improve on the projects we have put off or just didn't have time to get to. There are a number of things I have wished to have time for and couldn't seem to get to. I will spend more time here at home this year and that allows me to work on home projects and volunteer more time to the Red Cross and the VA. I will be rebuilding all of my stores, using a new host and making them more 'user friendly'. I plan to only make one trip this summer, combining an ARMY reunion and traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway from south to north.
What are your expectations for 2009? Are you depressed and worried about surviving or are you looking forward to the excitement and expectation of wonderful things to come? This year will be pretty much you decide. Last year was a rollercoaster for me. Business wise I did not reach my goals. History has shown that years of recessions and depressions have been years of growth for those who looked for opportunities to grow and build. Last year was a year of learning and growing wisdom in my business and I am much better prepared to build and succeed this year. So, I see this year as a time of planting, tending, and reaping the financial and social fruits I planted in the last couple of years.
There is an old saying, "You become what you think about." What are you thinking about? Are you forecasting a year of gloom and doom for yourself, or are you looking forward and open to the opportunities that will be provided by the restructuring of our financial health? Experience and history have proven time and time again that the quote above is true. Think opportunity, financial growth, personal peace. You can make this the best year of your life.
If you haven't seen the video "The Secret", now would be a good time for it. You may go to my blog of 10/1/07 to learn more about it.
How were your holidays? Ours were great. We stayed at home for the first time in 20 years and enjoyed many parties and sharing with our friends and families. 2009 looks like a great year to start new things and improve on the projects we have put off or just didn't have time to get to. There are a number of things I have wished to have time for and couldn't seem to get to. I will spend more time here at home this year and that allows me to work on home projects and volunteer more time to the Red Cross and the VA. I will be rebuilding all of my stores, using a new host and making them more 'user friendly'. I plan to only make one trip this summer, combining an ARMY reunion and traveling the Blue Ridge Parkway from south to north.
What are your expectations for 2009? Are you depressed and worried about surviving or are you looking forward to the excitement and expectation of wonderful things to come? This year will be pretty much you decide. Last year was a rollercoaster for me. Business wise I did not reach my goals. History has shown that years of recessions and depressions have been years of growth for those who looked for opportunities to grow and build. Last year was a year of learning and growing wisdom in my business and I am much better prepared to build and succeed this year. So, I see this year as a time of planting, tending, and reaping the financial and social fruits I planted in the last couple of years.
There is an old saying, "You become what you think about." What are you thinking about? Are you forecasting a year of gloom and doom for yourself, or are you looking forward and open to the opportunities that will be provided by the restructuring of our financial health? Experience and history have proven time and time again that the quote above is true. Think opportunity, financial growth, personal peace. You can make this the best year of your life.
If you haven't seen the video "The Secret", now would be a good time for it. You may go to my blog of 10/1/07 to learn more about it.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Remembering Doris
Today I am be celebrating a very special life. My dear friend. Doris, died the other day. Her funeral service was Wednasday, and I have been recalling the wonder of her life and the wonderful times we shared.
I met Doris when her son, Eric, took SCUBA lessons from me back about 1981. He then worked with me at the dive school and I got to know the whole family. I was living in a duplex in Gulfport Fl and I took a group of divers over to West Palm to do a drift dive. When we got back we we went to their house and cleaned and sorted the gear and I headed home. It had been a long and tiring day and I was anxious to get to bed. I got two blocks from the house when I was stopped because there was a house fire and the streets were blocked. I parked in a neighbor’s yard and walked up to find, it was the house I lived in that was on fire. When the fire was out there was very little left and I found out the fire had started in the other half of the duplex. That night and the next I spent in my van in the back yard. The Red Cross gave me money to buy new clothes and food. They were a blessing but the best blessing came next. Doris, Eric, Mark, and Janine invited me to stay at their house until I could get resettled. I ended staying a month or so, and because of their generosity, had time to find a house to buy. I still live in that house.
Over the years Doris and I became close friends, as her kids moved out and started their own families. We maintained our friendship over the years, even as we moved in and out of personal relationships. We would go to a movie every so often. She helped me chaperone a bunch of students on a Keys trip over Christmas one year. One summer we went to Europe together, and after the tour part, she spent a week with the family of the two brothers she hosted as Exchange Students, and where Eric went, as an Exchange Student, in Saarbrucken. I spent that week with my daughter and her Mom, near by in Germany.
When I found out she had breast cancer, we had lunch regularly together. After she went through surgery and two series of both chemotherapy and radiation she was cured. But it took a toll. She was my motivation to participate in the Susan Komen run/walk for the last two years, and to add a breast health section to my online bridal store, Bay Bridal Shop. When she felt good enough we met at a restaurant for lunch, and when she was tired I brought lunch with me. We had wonderful talks and watched Opra and read Ekart Tolle’s book, and discussed it. With Doris I could relax and share what ever came to mind and she did too.
Doris was an elementary school math teacher. When her students got to high school they always told me how much they had learned from her and how they loved her. She blessed every student who was lucky enough to pass through her classroom.
Doris was a blessing to so many people, as a teacher, and a wonderful Mother, and the best, ‘Best Friend’. Thank you, Doris.
I met Doris when her son, Eric, took SCUBA lessons from me back about 1981. He then worked with me at the dive school and I got to know the whole family. I was living in a duplex in Gulfport Fl and I took a group of divers over to West Palm to do a drift dive. When we got back we we went to their house and cleaned and sorted the gear and I headed home. It had been a long and tiring day and I was anxious to get to bed. I got two blocks from the house when I was stopped because there was a house fire and the streets were blocked. I parked in a neighbor’s yard and walked up to find, it was the house I lived in that was on fire. When the fire was out there was very little left and I found out the fire had started in the other half of the duplex. That night and the next I spent in my van in the back yard. The Red Cross gave me money to buy new clothes and food. They were a blessing but the best blessing came next. Doris, Eric, Mark, and Janine invited me to stay at their house until I could get resettled. I ended staying a month or so, and because of their generosity, had time to find a house to buy. I still live in that house.
Over the years Doris and I became close friends, as her kids moved out and started their own families. We maintained our friendship over the years, even as we moved in and out of personal relationships. We would go to a movie every so often. She helped me chaperone a bunch of students on a Keys trip over Christmas one year. One summer we went to Europe together, and after the tour part, she spent a week with the family of the two brothers she hosted as Exchange Students, and where Eric went, as an Exchange Student, in Saarbrucken. I spent that week with my daughter and her Mom, near by in Germany.
When I found out she had breast cancer, we had lunch regularly together. After she went through surgery and two series of both chemotherapy and radiation she was cured. But it took a toll. She was my motivation to participate in the Susan Komen run/walk for the last two years, and to add a breast health section to my online bridal store, Bay Bridal Shop. When she felt good enough we met at a restaurant for lunch, and when she was tired I brought lunch with me. We had wonderful talks and watched Opra and read Ekart Tolle’s book, and discussed it. With Doris I could relax and share what ever came to mind and she did too.
Doris was an elementary school math teacher. When her students got to high school they always told me how much they had learned from her and how they loved her. She blessed every student who was lucky enough to pass through her classroom.
Doris was a blessing to so many people, as a teacher, and a wonderful Mother, and the best, ‘Best Friend’. Thank you, Doris.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Boca Party Supplies reopening
Good news! Boca Party Supplies, will be reopening in February, '09. This is exciting! I have been able to find a new hosting platform and credit card processor that will make shopping better, easier, and cheaper than with the previous ones. I have also initiated new relationships with my suppliers. It will allow me to reopen the store and offer the same quality products from the same manufacturers at lower prices and with improved service. The site will reopen sometime in February and I will give you the date when we get closer. There will be that same features you saw before, like the 'Hints and Tips' page where there were guides to giving wonderful formal parties and tips on appropriate dress for casual to formal occasions. And there will be much more.
Boca Party Supplies was on page one of Google for most of its formal party pieces and the 'Hints and Tips' page was on page one for "Formal Party Blogs", last year. I am looking forward to recapturing those spots and getting back to serving my wonderful customers and new ones too.
Enjoy the Holiday Season and I wish each of you the happiest and most prosperious New Year yet. Remember, many of the most successful and prosperous business's were started in the worst financial times. Make 2009 your new start.
Happy New Year!
Bob
Boca Party Supplies was on page one of Google for most of its formal party pieces and the 'Hints and Tips' page was on page one for "Formal Party Blogs", last year. I am looking forward to recapturing those spots and getting back to serving my wonderful customers and new ones too.
Enjoy the Holiday Season and I wish each of you the happiest and most prosperious New Year yet. Remember, many of the most successful and prosperous business's were started in the worst financial times. Make 2009 your new start.
Happy New Year!
Bob
Friday, December 12, 2008
Water from Air
I want to tell you about a product I saw this week and get your ideas. Yesterday my friend Jon and I went to see a new water maker that is being developed here in St. Petersburg. Its called Aquventus, and the model we saw demonstrated uses new technology to take water from the air and make it available for drinking. This machine makes about 20 gallons of water a day depending on the humidity.
There are several applications for this technology. Large units are used in military operations, disaster areas, islands where potable water is scarce, and many other places. The size I saw is good for home use for a family, a small office, medium sized boats, and others, to replace bottled water. And they are considering developing a smaller unit for individual use.
I was very impressed with the product and am looking forward to them becoming available for purchase. There are other companies that make these air to water units and after doing a search of them on the web, I wasn't impressed by them. I was however, impressed with the Aquaventus unit. In the short time we looked at it, it generated about a pint of water.
Bottled water is expensive and creates a nightmare in the problem of getting rid of the bottles. Getting the big bottles creates the problems lugging and lifting the bottles and their storage. The air to water solution will solve these and other issues and saves a ton of money. What do you pay for water these days? How would pennies a gallon compare with what you pay now?
What do you think? Would you want one of these units if it was available today? Let us know..
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Great New Children's Books
Reading to children is one of the most powerful tools an adult can use to help them grow academically, emotionally, and socially. Since I first decided to open Buster's Books, my bookstore on the web, one of my greatest desires has been to offer high quality children's books. Great news!! I found a new author who writes books that fit the bill. His name is Michael Sterns. He has completed the first two books of a series about a mystical Indian named Kokopelli. As the reader follows Kokopelli's travels they learn the messages of environmentalism, appreciation of nature's beauty, tolorence of diversity, and peaceful conflict resolution.
Michael describes his first book, 'Kokopelli and the Butterfly' in this way: "A tribal fairytale about a man who loves to explore nature and teaches others to love Earth, her animals and each other."
The second book, 'Kokopelli and the Island of Change', continues the story and the and the lessons begun in the first book.
Another point I am very impressed with is the thought he put into the medium, the books themselves. Michael has designed the books with the reading experience in mind. Each book is "9 1/2" high X 11 1/2" wide; a panoramic size so you may have your arm around your child while reading together." The "state of the art, computer generated illustrations purposely appear on alternating sides of the book allowing children on both sides to feel fully included in the reading experience."
I am so impressed with these books that I am buying them for all my great nieces and nephews, and you will be too. You can get them at www.BustersBooks.com
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving and Keep Reading!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
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.
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.
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