Derek Bobo's Blog

I’m sure my dad can’t take credit for coming up with this quote, but I originally heard it from him:

“We never have time to do it right, but we always have time to do it again.”

So so true.

Against my better judgement I signed up for a golf tournament this weekend. While I know golf very well I have not played much in the last several years. I’m currently on a mission to reclaim my game but so far I’m no where near the player I once was.

The tournament is a 2 day event with about 16 people in my flight. First prize is a set of irons, second a new driver and third a golf bag. I love the game and will really enjoy the competitive nature that comes with a tournament but I wish I was more prepared. The dang rain we have been getting all week hasn’t helped my chance of preparing for the big day.

I guess I’ll check the forecast again shortly and see if I can squeeze in a few holes between showers but it’s not looking promising. Perhaps tomorrow…

My last post was a little gloomy. I wanted to follow it up with one that is more optimistic. I think the following quote gives a good message and provides some inspiration for tough times:

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil, is for good men to do nothing. – Edmund Burke

When times are tough it’s easy to get into a mindset of negativity. I firmly believe that your attitude controls a big part of your ability to succeed in all things. If you are confident and optimistic you’re well on your way to success. It’s kind of one of those things where if you think you’re already beat there’s really no reason to even show up.

So remember that there is still hope as long as you believe it and that if you choose to do nothing then evil will surely prosper.

Along these same lines I think paying it forward is more important than ever. When time’s are tough everyone can use a pick me up and a reminder that there are still good people in the world. If the opportunity presents itself, help somebody if you can.

I generally try not to think about the nastiness that goes on in the world. I have not watched the news in years because I don’t like surrounding myself with the negativity. I get caught up on the highlights via a few websites and casual conversation, but otherwise I try to isolate myself from it.

Lately I’m having a more difficult time ignoring the reality. It’s bad out there. Gas prices look like they are back on the rise. The country is continuing to spend itself into oblivion… and aren’t you oh so happy with the way the bailout is going? Chrysler has announced they are closing 800 dealerships and GM another 1100. There is talk of looking at a national sales tax to raise funds. Unemployment numbers are the worst since the great depression. North Korea is doing nuclear testing. Banks are failing. I’m afraid that as bad as things are, the issues are magnified by greed and corruption.

It’s just really a dark time for the world and specifically our country right now. I suspect we will eventually pull ourselves out of these tough times but fear the worst may still be ahead of us.

At this point I think it’s important for us to get back to the basics of life. How are we able to protect ourselves, our families, and continue to survive with the worst ahead of us? What ways can we continue to provide for our families and ourselves if the worst were to happen? Could you drive on if you lost your job? How about when past due bills start building up? What if you went to cash in your savings and it wasn’t there?

I pray we won’t get to this point but I think it’s time to start looking at ways to help ourselves with the basic necessities of life, finances, and even our sanity to some extent. Trying times can leave a mark that never heals.

I recently ran across this article:

http://ecoble.com/2007/11/18/250000-bottles-amazing-recycled-mexican-island-paradise/

It’s old news but very cool stuff. It makes me wonder what other interesting ideas are out there. Have you seen any similar concepts that put junk to good use? I’ve got to think that economies down people have got to be looking for ways to innovate and make the best with what they have.

Any ideas?

I have an interest in survival. I enjoy watching shows such as Man vs Wild and Survivorman. I also try to do a minimalist camping trip once a year. I basically pack a small handful of items and then go rough it in the wilderness for a day or two without shelter or normal camping supplies.

I’m sure you’ve all seen the fancy survival knifes that have the hollow handle. Inside the handle are a few random items. Usually some fishing line, hooks, needle, thread, and matches. If you’re lucky you also get a compass on the end of your knife. Very cool stuff.

So I had a random thought today that instead of buying a survival knife, how about a survival thermos? It’s a bit bigger than a knife, but you get some considerable advantages. With only a little bit more bulk you now have a container for which you can transport food and water or use them for cooking. Additionally when not in use you have a pretty nice storage device for more items. In a survival thermos you might have fishing line, hooks, needle, thread, matches, compass, rope, mirror, emergency blanket, poncho, magnifying glass, straw, potable water tablets, knife, and maybe even enough room for a freeze dried meal.

So if you’re looking for an affordable, practical, and diverse survival kit, give the survival thermos a thought. If you do, please let me know how it turns out and what goes in your kit.

Check this song out by John Rich – Shutting Detroit down

That’s right, this is another one of my wife’s shows that I watch… or at least listen to while working on the computer. Regardless I think the show sends a great message and hopefully inspire the world to live healthier lifestyles. The most obese country is not one America should be proud of.

And without further delay, congratulations Helen and the rest of the folks who get a second chance at life.

I started learning to play the guitar about a month ago. I’ve been taking a lesson a week at a local guitar shop and playing some every night. I have a long way to go but wanted to offer some words of encouragement to anyone else who is on the brink. While it does seem overwhelming it’s not nearly as difficult as I would have expected. Pick you up a guitar, some picks, and a tuner and get after it.

TIP: While I already had a guitar I noticed that the local pawn shop had a ton of guitars, both acoustic and electric. If you’re on a budget don’t let this keep you from giving it a try.

Here are the resources I’ve found most helpful online:

Ultimate Guitar – Here you will find the tabs and chords for a lot of your favorite songs. I suggest learning your chords and going off of the chord version of songs. If you know your chords and can figure out the rhythm you can learn to play any song!

FreeAndEasyGuitar – Aaron is an amazing self taught guitarist. His site boasts video lessons, song requests, and tablature. Aaron has probably been the biggest help to me so far. Definitely check him out!

Chorder – This site shows the guitar and fingerings for all your chords. If you’re learning a song that has a chord you’re not familiar with this is a great place to start.

The only other advice I would offer for the beginning guitarist is to keep your rhythm (pick) hand moving. All songs are going to have some open chords so if you hit a few extra strings while transitioning between chords no one is going to notice and it will sound much better than having dead spots between chords.

I hope this helps someone who is interested get after their goal. Picking up the guitar was one of the greatest feelings in recent memory. Good luck!

I’ve not been much of a television watcher in recent years. My effors have been focused on my education, career, and other hobbies, but I always managed to squeeze in a couple of shows a week. One of my favorites WAS CSI. With the absence of Gill, Sarah, and Warrick it’s just not the same for me anymore. To make matters worse some of the shows just seem completely weird to me these days… oh well.

My parents mentioned to me that I ought to check out Criminal Minds. I told them that there was no way it could replace CSI for me, but I was wrong. After watching a couple of episodes I was hooked. I’m now as attached to the characters in Criminal Minds as I ever was to the characters in CSI. If you’re like me and have found CSI to fall short lately, give Criminal Minds a look. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.