A dispatch from the Great White North

Yes, I know I've been a very bad blogger. But on a Friday night, with a few flurries flying through the air and a few Fat Tire's in my system it seems like a good time to take you on a little tour. Chances are pretty good there will be a more personal post coming later this week, but for now you'll have to settle for the tour. All of these photos were taken this morning...


Here's an exterior photo. No, the top part of the roof is not going to stay purple. That's just insulation. It will be enclosed in the spring.


Another exterior shot... this one from the shoreline of Lake Bemidji. The convention center portion of the building is closest, with the arena behind it.


Here's an interior shot of what will eventually become the Administrative Office suite. My office will occupy the second window from the right. It will have a nice view of the spacious parking lot and Lake Bemidji will be off to the right.


This will eventually become one of the permanent concession stands. The conduit that you see arising from the ground are for power, water, and the beer lines from the keg coolers. There will be three permanent stands on the concourse level with more on the club/suite level in addition to portable carts.


Here's a shot from the west end of the arena showing the entire arena bowl. The permanent seating concrete has been cast. The 25 suites and press box are starting to be constructed. It will be about 50 feet from the low steel to the arena floor when finished. The load capacity will be over 100,000 pounds so we can do a majority of touring concerts. As you can see, there is no concrete on the arena floor yet. Once major construction has concluded in this area, the chilling pipes for the floor will be installed and the concrete will be poured for the ice rink floor.


Another view from the arena floor... this one of workers making progress on the suite/club level.


This is a photo of the area dedicated to Bemidji State. There will be individual locker rooms dedicated to both the men's and women's hockey teams as well as four visiting team locker rooms for tournaments.


This is the Convention Center Ballroom. It is approximately 10,000 square feet and will be divisible into three separate meeting spaces. Once the heavy ground work is completed, there will be thermal floor heating installed into the entire Convention Center space.

These will be the four meeting rooms in the Convention Center. With portable walls, these four rooms will be capable of being combined into two large meeting rooms. The windows you see look directly to Lake Bemidji. It will arguably be one of the most scenic meeting spaces in the entire Midwest U.S.


Last photo for this tour... Fish houses are springing up all over Lake Bemidji. The ice is thick enough in most places to support the weight of vehicles as you can see. Eventually by the time January 1st rolls around the lake will look like its own separate village.

That's it for now. I hope you enjoyed this quick tour.

Please Stand By

The Essence of Bobness is taking a hiatus during the big move to the Great White North. Things will return to their semi-abnormal, but more positive, routine once I get settled.

A Salute to The Captain

I said my good byes to The Captain last night. He's a reservist in the US Army and will be going away on training my last week of work. There are many people I won't miss when I leave California, but I don't think I'll ever forget The Captain. One of my employees, he truly is a super co-worker and more importantly a wonderful human being. He is always reliable, professional, a great leader and mentor for the part-time workers in his department. He has a tremendous personality and a terrific teacher for the younger staff. In fact, I wish some of the older employees could have followed his example and demeanor.

The Captain will be shipping out overseas following the holidays, bound for Iraq or Afghanistan. With the uncertainty of our direction in those two wars, it could be either of those. It will be his second tour to the Middle East and he leaves behind his wife and 10 year old daughter once again in defense of our country. With his usual preparedness, the people The Captain manages at work are already prepared for his absence. Youngsters of college age growing right before my eyes ready step right in and take the reins of the department with vigor and enthusiasm. He's transformed many lives in just the short two years I've known him.

He's promised to stay in touch. We've traded email addresses. On his way out the door, The Captain told me to be careful and wished me well in my new life. I reminded him I was just going to Minnesota and won't have enemies lobbing bombs, grenades, and bullets at me. In his reliable sense of humor, he turned and said "Don't worry, I'll duck." I gave him a big hug, and slap on the back and assured him, "I know you will."

I'll miss having The Captain around, and even as busy as life is going to get I'll never stop worrying until he comes home safe in 2011 or sooner. A salute to The Captain, everything you could ever want in a soldier representing this country.

Office Space

They've already got my temporary office ready in Bemidji.

I'm a little bit jealous

It's been a strange couple of days since I announced to the staff and others on the campus that I was leaving. Some people have been very supportive and excited about the move. Some have been upset, even to the point of tears in one case. Most have been apprehensive about what will happen next, who will take over, when will the position be filled, etc. For those people, I've tried to be supportive in return and give them as much information as I have gotten from my boss. Overall it is the kind of reactions I have seen other places and I haven't really been too surprised by any of them.

The reaction that I have received that has been unusual is the "I'm a little bit jealous" reaction. I don't mean jealous of all of the positives that this new job brings like opening a new building, having all the latest technology, and hiring your own staff from scratch. I think most everyone would love to be in that situation. The "I'm a little bit jealous" reaction has been to leaving SJSU. Many of the people here realize that things are messed up. Anyone who has read this blog for even a little while knows some of the issues to which I am referring. It is a non-positive work environment that has been unhealthy (at least to me) and at times can be worse. People are jealous that I am escaping. Some people are sad that it is this exact atmosphere that consistently drives talented people to seek out opportunities elsewhere.

But yet they choose to stay. Tied here by necessity, or reluctance to change, or nearing retirement age and just putting in their time, they choose to stay. They wish something could be done, but don't have the confidence the boss can make it happen. Some know the boss can't, or won't, change the atmosphere so they play their games and make the situation untenable. But yet they choose to stay and be a little jealous of those who leave. Privately they share their plans and intentions with me, safe in knowing that I am leaving and won't pass them on to others. "Only X years until my retirement," or "my plan is to only stay until (fill in the blank)." They want to escape, they know what is here can not be fixed, but they only make plans or dream to leave.

Perhaps I'm braver than I think I am. Perhaps I don't fully realize the magnitude of picking up and moving on. I do know that I refuse to work in the environment that exists here. I do know I am extremely fortunate not only to be escaping, but also in finding a dream job in a dream location (winter not withstanding). I know I will feel sorry the good people who remain here and are left to feel a little bit jealous. But they choose to remain.

More Poetry

In a funk
lots of junk
got no spunk
Monday stunk

Empty Shell

Washed upon a sandy shore
Tossed asunder by the waves of life
I am left an empty shell
of a person I once was

A spirit eroded by
the surf's constant battering
A passion extinguished
by the relentless waves

Disappointments and setbacks
forced hope to take leave
With that lifeline broken
All that remained withered quickly

Abandoned by life
Now open and bare
The shell now lies empty
A testament to who once lived there

A new post

Happy 50th!

Phatty Foo Foo

(My darling feral rescue.)

~

Bob, thank's for making my birthday so very special.

We've been through so much together. Remember the morning I ran after the garbage truck in the rain in my nightie and was instructed to leave it across the street for pick up?!!! Yup, me too!!! What was that? Like the 5th time or something? Damn!
~
I love you darling and thanks for always sticking around, no matter what.
~
XO Blottie

P.S. For those of you who don't realize, I'm actually and invited guest. I like to think I'm the vegetarian, softer side of Just Bob!

Happy 50th Blottie!

Follow me to the party!

Talk me off the ledge

Tell my why it's a bad idea to quit my job without having another one lined up.

He became a hero

While I was in Boston at a conference a few weeks ago, I found out that one of my long time friends "T" was battling cancer. Apparently, he has been since sometime in January. "T" is generally a very quiet, private person so it didn't really surprise me all that much that he didn't feel comfortable spreading that kind of news. It did somewhat disappoint me that others that would have known the situation didn't clue in those of us who live 3,000 miles away. In a couple of those cases, it didn't surprise me because since leaving the company 2+ years ago I fell out of favor with them, never a part of their Philly clique.

I got a chance to talk with "T" this morning for about an hour. He sounded different than I remember, a little weaker than before but upbeat. The good news is that his doctor believes that all of the cancer has been removed and did not spread to his lymph nodes. "T" is still recovering from all of the surgeries and will have to undergo one last round of chemotherapy when he is strong enough just to make sure everything was removed. He's had great support from his family and those immediately around him, and has returned to light work even though he's not supposed to be.

In typical "T" fashion, he said it's been an interesting spring/summer. That would be the understatement of the year given his current situation. But he's hopeful, upbeat, and assured me that we'll get together in September when I'm back on the east coast in Providence. I'm going to hold him to that promise, even if he won't have his formerly customary Miller Lite at his side. "T" is the third friend I've had that was diagnosed with cancer. "W" died from colorectal cancer in 1995. "S" died from an aggressive form of melanoma in 2004. "T" is one of my closer friends, someone I know I can trust, someone I can confide in, someone who shares my interests (even if he is a Yankee fan), and someone who shares my values.

I had to fight back some tears and was choked up today talking with "T." I was very emotional about him still being alive and at the same time scared that he may not be sooner than he should. I thought about both "W" and "S" and desperately do not want "T" to join them. I thought about the good times that "T" and I have had, the long conversations, the friendly Red Sox/Yankees banter, commiserating over shared difficulties and celebrating shared successes. "T" became more than a friend during that phone call, he became a hero.

No wonder I hate this place

My mobile neighbors left while I was gone...

Thanks for leaving some of yourselves behind.
Now I live across the street from the city dump.

The handwriting not on the wall

Because Leah tagged me...

Overserved

overserved: an individual who has had waaaaay too much to drink... transferring the responsibility for this drunkenness from the individual to the bartender. "Q"... you were really overserved last night.

I'm still making my way around the Internet... if I haven't gotten to your blog yet give me some time. Anyway, I'm back at the Abode of Bobness after four days at a conference in Boston. Of course, I returned to a shit storm at work but coped with it through my extreme exhaustion. Yes, these conference things are work, but I won't misguide you and give the illusion that it is all work.

Each day turned into night which turned into late night/early morning catching up with friends from around the country. From quiet coffee and conversations to four course client dinners to midnight cruises on Boston Harbor, it was a whirlwind that lasted many hours but not enough days. About the only thing I was expecting to do that didn't quite happen was a trip to Fenway Park for a Red Sox game. At least they won 3 of 4 games while I was there, even if I didn't get to go.

I made some new acquaintances that may become friends, helped out a damsel in distress that had her purse stolen, made some contacts that may help in the job search, was rudely awaken by a random false fire alarm, and took on some added responsibilities within a trade organization. I even learned a new term... overserved. It was refreshing, although tiring, being around a group of people I like, respect, and who have an appreciation for me. It boosts my spirits being around professionals, and makes me yearn to get "back in the game" with these people and escape my current exile. I laughed, I thought, I reminisced, I had a few too many drinks, and left with a renewed hope that there are people working behind the scenes on my behalf.

Overall... some good times with good people with good intentions. A welcome change from my current situation. I can't wait to take all of you with me when I join them back in the real world for more than four short days.

Theme Thursday - Shoe

There was an old woman
who lived in a shoe
her 401k disappeared
and she got foreclosed too

The stock market did fall
a most perilous drop
Soon she moved into
a worn out old flip-flop

This sandal had seen
much better days
There were holes in the straps
that let through sun rays

She had two dear children
with no place to go
Their school was closed down
The state had no cash flow

So the kids did stay home
and played in the yard
They watched over the sandal
Their home they did guard

Down to her last dollar
the Old Woman did get
A crisp lottery ticket
her lucky numbers she bet

When the balls took a tumble
the Old Woman had won
Sixteen million dollars
would bring them great fun

As she raced to the capital
her anticipation grew
Then Governor Arnold
gave her a state IOU

So she traveled back home
to her meager flip-flop
No money for food
She couldn't even shop

The moral of the story
is what can burn ya
when you live in this state
Welcome to California

For Suzanne

For Suzanne... here is the full size photo. Ignore the thinning/balding spot on the right.

I'm Shipping Up To Boston

Be back in about a week... be nice to each other while I'm gone.

The Dropkick Murphy's

Stages of Life

Stages are my life. They have been for a very long time, ever since I got into my current profession as a young adult. Sometimes the stages look like this.


They bring the world's most popular musicians, actors, actresses, comedians, speakers, and performers up close and personal. They bring a cast of characters like Big Bird, Barney, and Mickey Mouse to life for children to enjoy and learn valuable life lessons. They bring local and national politicians to the public, convincing us to vote for them or informing us of what they are doing for us. They are altars for clergy-persons of all faiths and denominations celebrating high holidays and mourning the loss of influential people like politicians and celebrities.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. They feature the beauty and artistry of ice dancers and figure skaters. They bring together a school or community to rally around the home hockey team against their rivals. They dazzle us with fastest and most athletic skaters in the world playing the sports they love the most, sometimes just for fun and sometimes for profit.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. Giants in life running, jumping, shooting and rebounding... bringing a roomful of people out of their seats and on their feet with their sheer wizardry and skills. Dramatic blocked shots, thunderous dunks, and buzzer beating three points shots are the center of attention on these stages.


Sometimes the stage looks like this. The theatrics of muscle bound wrestlers playing out modern day drama plays happen here. The sweet science of boxing and the newly popular melding of mixed martial arts into ultimate fighting take place in the squared circle.

The ironic part of it all is that although my career relies on stages, I would rather not be on stage. I can build a stage and book the entertainment to be on it. I can advertise the shows, and sell the tickets for people to come and watch them. I can park their cars when they arrive, and feed them their favorite snacks. I can keep them safe and comfortable. About the only thing I can't do is entertain them. The stages in my life are for others to occupy. Being behind the scenes is fine for me... thank you very much.

Paradox

I get very torn at times. This is the view outside my window this sunny Sunday afternoon. The mobile home has been parked in the same place for at least two weeks, possibly more as I haven't kept track. I truly do feel sorry for this couple. I have no idea how they came to be in this circumstance, but living your life out of an old travel trailer begging for money is tragic. It hurts me that people have to live this way, seeking the charity of others to eek out the most basic of existences. The other morning he was actually outside sweeping the sidewalk near the trailer like it had become his own backyard. It was so sad.

Then, on the other hand, I don't want this thing parked in front of my home. I don't want people panhandling and begging right outside my very window. A public street it not a mobile home park. What kind of neighborhood is this becoming if this is allowed to continue? What if other wanderers hear about this and bring in their campers? Recently the windshield had one of those bright neon orange stickers on it, so the police are aware of its presence. Why don't they do anything about it? There has to be some sort of zoning laws or codes that prohibit people from just wheeling up one day and setting up camp in a residential neighborhood.

So there lies the paradox. I have pity for these people, but I don't want them here. Do I not say anything as they try to survive, or report them to the police to get them out of the neighborhood? I wish people didn't have to live like this, but I also wish they had not picked my block to do it. Should I be selfish, or selfless?

No time to cry

I didn't get the job I had been hoping to get. I found out today that they have selected another candidate. To say I'm disappointed would be an understatement. To say I'm devastated would be fairly close to the way I feel right now. It was the PERFECT job for me. I would have gotten to return to doing what I'm trained to do and what I enjoy. It would have been in Denver... and I love Colorado. For the past 10 years since I left Colorado Springs I've always said that if I had the chance to get back to the Rocky Mountain state that I would. Get this... the best part of the job would have been that I had no staff. That's right, no personnel issues to deal with because I would have been just another indian and not a chief. Can you imagine finding a job that lets you do what you love to do, in a place that you love to live, and you get to discard the most troublesome part of your life? It was the PERFECT job. Now, can you imagine how it feels not getting the PERFECT job?

The folks in Denver have been great. From all of my interactions with them, they have been first class and professional in every aspect. They are a tremendous group of people and whomever the candidate to work with them is he/she will be very lucky. The selection committee did take the time to point out that they were impressed with my presentation and interview with them in June. Apparently not impressed enough. I honestly don't know what to do next. I obviously can't afford to quit where I am at now, even if it is killing me at a rapidly increasing rate. But there's no time to cry. No time for my standard depression driven pity party for weeks. It's time to move onto the next opportunity, with a resume in at Nevada-Reno for a similar type position. It's not the perfect job, but closer to what will help to make me happier.

Time marches on, and someone got their perfect job today. Maybe I spent too much time daydreaming about how tremendous this was going to be. Maybe I set myself up for a bigger disappointment and heartache than I needed to. I know that vision of a better life was getting me through some trying times this past month. I don't know what to do next. I don't know how to ward off the dark thoughts that will creep in to occupy the place of the idyllic vision. But I'll try, because there's no time to cry.

Still open, kinda

I haven't been a very good or enthusiastic blogger lately. I'm not really sure what's going on, but obviously it's not exciting enough to put into words for the world to read. For the 10 faithful readers over the past week, you certainly are a dedicated group.

Someday something will happen that you'll want to read about. It could be later tonight, this weekend, next week or next month... I don't really know. I'm reading your blogs, and commenting on most. I'm alive... just treading water, keeping my head above the waves.

By the way, just after noon today it was 12:34:56 on 07/08/09.

Hi Megan... Hi Blottie... Hi Leah... Hi Kylie... Hi Cece... Hi Karen... Hi RC... Hi Merelyme... Hi Annie

All American Weekend

Home Made Garlic Hot Wings

Firecracker 400 from Daytona

Cold Miller Lite

Fireworks from my patio

Giants vs. Astros on Sunday

That's what I call an All-American Weekend

Let's move along

Michael Jackson.

He's dead... I get it.
He changed the face of music... I get it.
Many people are sad he's gone... I get it.

Guess what... he's still dead.
He didn't come back three days later so he's not the savior.
Can we move along now and deal with the issues of people who are still alive?

Recycle

Disney made one movie... and they have been retracing it for years.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

Limbo

Limbo... a state of uncertainty, Dante's First Circle of Hell. Yesterday marked two weeks of living in limbo. I wish I could tell all of you more, but some privacy is needed in this instance. Heck, if I'll tell you about irritable bowels and anti-depressants, you must have figured out by now that I can't say anything. I can confirm it has nothing to do with my health, or the health of anyone close to me. Let the speculation continue. (If you really, really need to know... most of you know how to reach me privately.)

Back to the limbo thing. I'm on the fence whether it is worse knowing or not knowing. These two weeks have featured a plethora of scenarios playing out in my head, most of them not good. That's the way my brain works, so it is a challenge to fight off those negative thoughts. The longer I go on not knowing, the more and more I seem to lose hope for a positive result. The few people who know what is going on have been extremely supportive and keep boosting up my spirits. Of course, my blogger buddies have lent their good karma too, even though they have no idea why. That's what I call friends.

As much as I want this uncertainty to be over, I'd rather have a positive result even if it does mean not knowing for some more time. It's difficult to concentrate on the present when I'm thinking about the future. Life is full of "what if's," but this one is more important to me than even I'm willing to admit to myself. Now I know first hand why Dante made sure limbo was included in hell.

An old soul

Yesterday someone at the office told me that I had an old soul. Since she is slightly older than me (about 10 years?), I was interested what she meant by this and asked her to elaborate. According to her, I have a calmness and maturity about me that outpaces my 40+ years on earth. She went on to say that I was wise beyond my years and had a personality of someone who had seen and done more than others my age.

It was somewhat flattering, and somewhat confusing. I do feel like I've been more "grown up" over the years than other people my age. When you lose your father at 12 years old, you feel like you have to grow up pretty quick. You learn all the things that "men" do on your own without the help of the guiding hand of Dad. I taught myself to shave when it was time, and to tie a windsor knot on my own. All of that was secondary to making sure my brother and I were taking care of Mom. She made sure we got the best education possible, there was a roof over our heads, and food on the table. It was the least we could do to make sure that things around the house ran smoothly, the yard got mowed, the hedges trimmed, all of the little fix-it things got done, and we kept our noses clean and out of trouble. It was a middle class life less one important person.

It took away our innocence, some carefree days of youth, and gave us some maturity at an early age. I've always been more comfortable around people older than me. From those early days, it has always seemed that I had more in common with an older generation than peers my age. Whether it be at work, on the golf course, or anyplace else I generally tend to gravitate toward them. It is probably because I grew up around them, they tend to be safe, and there is none of the awkwardness of trying to fit in among those of the same generation. Not that I don't have people in my life my age, but I feel more secure amongst those who are my senior.

While being perceived as an old soul, I often feel like I haven't grown up enough. I haven't done many of the things other my age have accomplished. No wife, no 2.5 kids, no white picket fence. I readily admit I'm not the most responsible person when it comes to my money, having made mistakes that continue to affect me to this day. There is no nest egg in case something happens, not nearly enough in my retirement 401(k), and a whopping $6.71 in my savings account. With all of these insecurities and flaws, people expect me to be the old soul. They depend on that calmness and maturity that outpaces my 40+ years. It is hard for me to reconcile these two wildly separate places inside me. How can I be an old soul when I don't always feel confident about taking care of myself? How do I capture some of the carefree qualities of youth that I missed out on when I'm expected to be the wise and mature one? I'm not sure I'll ever know.

For Blottie #1

Suzy.... since you don't remember posting this I thought I'd help you out. You can thank me later :)


Jun 21, 2009 (18 hours ago)

(title unknown)

from My Rose Cottage Studio by Suzanne

Cece called tonight. Yes. I think to just make me laugh. The woman's hilarious. And yes, I laughed my ass off.

I'm going to be gone for awhile. I'm working on a painting, but will keep you informed.

XO

For Annie and Megan

Click to Enlarge

Pins and Needles

When is the damn phone going to ring? I was expecting it yesterday, but nothing. Now it's Thursday and I'm still on pins and needles waiting. This is not helping my increasing graying hair or nervous anticipation. Fortunately I've been able to try and keep myself pre-occupied, but it has gotten to the point where that is not working anymore. Concentration has flown right out the window, replaced by constantly checking the phone to make sure I didn't miss a call.

I don't know how much more of this I can take.

Blottie version 3.0

The time has come

to heap some praise,
on a fellow blogger
who makes our days.

She's always there
with a timely comment,
when she's not around
we always lament.

She's a great mom
and a definite bibliophile,
Her spirit is contagious
and makes us smile.

She works really hard
and rarely complains,
Her posts are compelling
and her humor entertains.

She's always genuine
and never is fakin',
She loves her toast
and adores good bacon.

If you haven't guessed yet
let me be more specific,
All she needs is everything
She's really Megarific.

Please join me now
and clap everybody
for the wonderful Megan
She's now my third Blottie.

Do you wanna fork or would you rather just spoon?

Let's say you are out at a restaurant and for dessert you order a slice of Key West Key Lime Pie with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. The waitress brings you one utensil with which to eat both items. Would you prefer having a fork or a spoon? I know what I got and would have rather gotten the other.

See you soon

I won't be around much this week. My health is fine and just family is fine. I have a big personal project that I'm working on... so most of my time will be consumed with it. I probably won't have time to visit your blogs... so keep all your best material until next week so I don't miss it.

Catch y'all sometime soon and keep your fingers crossed for me!

One corner of the world

A few weeks ago fellow blogger Leah started a meme showing her favorite corner of her home. Since I haven't been around much lately it has been a while until I got around to taking her up on her challenge. To be honest, I don't really have a favorite corner at the Abode of Bobness, and sometimes it seems I spend more time at work than I do at the Abode. So, here's my favorite corner of my office space.

1. This is pretty cool. One of the people we do business with is from China, and he brought back this collector package of plush toys of all the mascots from the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing. The writing is in Chinese, so I can't really tell you their names. Suffice it to say, it gets people's attention.

2. You can't really see them behind the grease board, but those are my collection caps from all of the places I've worked over the past years. There's one from Colorado College, a Minuteman from UMass, a Wildcat from UNH, a Rhode Island Ram, and a current Spartan from San Jose State.

3. My grease board. Even though I'm a bit of a computer geek, I still use the grease board to keep my "to do" list. There's always something more rewarding about physically erasing completed tasks than simply checking it off an Outlook task bar.

4. Again a little hard to see, but that's my Bob The Builder construction hat. Nope, not life size but still cute.

5. That's a game ball that was presented to me by the UMass Men's Basketball team after their First Round NIT home win in 2007 vs. Alabama. With only a few days to prepare, my staff and I prepared the building for a nationally televised ESPN game. It was a dramatic overtime win and one of the most exciting games I've ever seen in person.

6. This is a medal from our Spartan Triathalon in April. No, I didn't compete, but jumped in and volunteered to handle all of the food preparation and service for the athletes. They tired me out just watching them swim, cycle, and run.

7. That's my "BOB" volunteer badge and Obama coffee cup from last November's presidential campaign.

8. A certificate presented to me by the U.S. Olympic Committee for the work and assistance they were given during their month of athlete processing and staging prior to the Beijing Olympics. The men's volleyball team practiced for three days before leaving for China and they brought home the Gold. Other teams using the facility were Rowing and Wrestling.

9. A beautiful kaleidoscope presented by the Inauguration Committee for all of the work done during the Inauguration of Ann Weaver Hart as President at the University of New Hampshire.

10. A thank you note from Head Coach Travis Ford while he was at UMass. I came in on a Friday night to turn on and operate the video scoreboards during an on-campus visit by a potential recruit for the basketball team. It was a last minute request and was greatly appreciated by the basketball staff.

11. Assorted cups, coffee mugs, logo golf balls and other knick knacks I've collected along the way.

12. Finally, a few photos of friends and co-workers from throughout the years. Some really good times and really good people.

That's it... one corner of the World of Bobness.

National Donut Day

The first Friday of June is National Donut Day. So what is your favorite way to celebrate the day? Mine are:










1. Chocolate Glazed












2. Coconut











3. Blueberry Glazed












4. Butternut













5. Maple Glazed

It's days like this that I really, really miss Dunkin' Donuts.