A professor stood in front of his class and pulled a large jar from below his desk. He then pulled out a tray of tennis ball sized rocks from the same place. After filling the jar with the rocks, he asked if the jar was full. Everyone in the class said, "yes."
He then pulled out a small box with gravel in it. He scooped the gravel into the jar as he shook it and the gravel filled in the gaps around the big rocks.
Again he asked, "is the jar full?" No one answered quickly, this time, but some brave soul said, "no!" "Good," said the professor as he pulled out a pail of sand. He poured the sand into the jar as he shook the jar. The sand filtered down and filled the remaining spaces. Again he asked if the jar was full. All being smarter, they answered 'no' as a group. "Good," said the professor as he pulled out a pitcher of water. He then filled the jar to the top.
The professor then asked, "what is the point of this demonstration?" One student quickly answered, "No matter how full something looks, if you try, you can always squeeze something else in?" "No," the professor said. "This jar is your life, and all the things you need and want to do. What I am trying to demonstrate is how important it is to put the big rocks in first, or you will never get them in at all."
In your life, you have to think of the most important things as the big rocks. Your family, religion, your job and your education. So if you want to squeeze in lots of little things, remember to put the most important things, the big rocks in first or you'll never get them in at all.
(I don't know where I heard or read this story. I took a lot of time management classes in my business life, and it's possible that it was a story to make an important point, which it does very well. My apologies to the professor, students, and original story teller or writer. I have retold the story as I remember it. I would give you all credit if I knew who you were.)
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Friday, July 9, 2010
Wrong way Greyhound
This is for those people who are always picketing at the dog track, because they think the dogs are being abused. They are so wrong. In every facet of life there will be some cruel people who abuse animals and even other people, but from my experience I have never seen any abuse in my many years of working or playing at the dog track.
I had so many experiences that were unique, I hope sharing them will give you some insight into the life of the track people and , so, maybe you see that stupid people like Michael Vick who abuse dogs are certainly out there, but they are not hiding at greyhound parks.
People are always asking how greyhounds learn to chase the mechanical rabbit. Believe it or not, the natural curiosity of these beautiful animals and their desire to run makes what they do very natural. There are many ways to train them but letting them see other dogs chasing something is about as complicated as it gets.
The noise of the mechanical device peaks their interest, and the bouncing, moving rabbit seems to be enough. They just have to relate the sound, so that after you have held them, and let them go as it goes by, then the next step is the box. The box has two doors, one to put them in, and one that pops open as the rabbits passes. Sometimes the dogs get confused and face the wrong door in the box. This generally costs you a few dollars on your wager, because they come out late, and sometimes run into the box operator, who runs accross in front to see if all dogs exited before he closes it and resets it. It's funny to see and no one is harmed in the practice, except the dignity of the box operator.
This story is about a grading session for new dogs. When dogs are new to racing, before the season starts, the track will run what we call schooling (or grading races), to see where they want to classify the dogs for their maiden races. On these days there will be twenty or so kennels, each with their dozen or so new dogs, waiting their turns for the races, which run quickly every few minutes. Dogs are loaded, based on a planned order, and run, then removed and the next ones are loaded.
As I said there were twenty or so kennels with at least twenty 'kennel helps', my job, standing with a dozen or more dogs on leads waiting our turn. The dogs know the sound of the mechanical rabbit and get very excited as the rabbit moves around the track. On this day, one dog slipped his collar as the rabbit started to come around the track. He jumped the fence and started running 'up' the stretch toward the sound. Unfortunately, he was going the wrong way on a one way track. The rabbit is on a long arm, extended out to about the middle of the track, no more that twelve to eighteen inches above the ground. The dog was running toward it when he realized at the last second that he was in trouble. He ducked down and the rabbit passed directly over him. Trouble averted...for a few seconds, for as he raised up, he was met by eight dogs in hot pursuit of the rabbit. There was a huge pile up with dogs tumbling everywhere. The rabbit operator, immediately realized what was happening and stopped the mechanical rabbit. All the dogs caught the rabbit that day, but did not know what to do with it when they did.
It was pandemonium, and a lot of excited owners and kennel people, but no injuries just lots of belly laughs as the story was told and retold.
I had so many experiences that were unique, I hope sharing them will give you some insight into the life of the track people and , so, maybe you see that stupid people like Michael Vick who abuse dogs are certainly out there, but they are not hiding at greyhound parks.
People are always asking how greyhounds learn to chase the mechanical rabbit. Believe it or not, the natural curiosity of these beautiful animals and their desire to run makes what they do very natural. There are many ways to train them but letting them see other dogs chasing something is about as complicated as it gets.
The noise of the mechanical device peaks their interest, and the bouncing, moving rabbit seems to be enough. They just have to relate the sound, so that after you have held them, and let them go as it goes by, then the next step is the box. The box has two doors, one to put them in, and one that pops open as the rabbits passes. Sometimes the dogs get confused and face the wrong door in the box. This generally costs you a few dollars on your wager, because they come out late, and sometimes run into the box operator, who runs accross in front to see if all dogs exited before he closes it and resets it. It's funny to see and no one is harmed in the practice, except the dignity of the box operator.
This story is about a grading session for new dogs. When dogs are new to racing, before the season starts, the track will run what we call schooling (or grading races), to see where they want to classify the dogs for their maiden races. On these days there will be twenty or so kennels, each with their dozen or so new dogs, waiting their turns for the races, which run quickly every few minutes. Dogs are loaded, based on a planned order, and run, then removed and the next ones are loaded.
As I said there were twenty or so kennels with at least twenty 'kennel helps', my job, standing with a dozen or more dogs on leads waiting our turn. The dogs know the sound of the mechanical rabbit and get very excited as the rabbit moves around the track. On this day, one dog slipped his collar as the rabbit started to come around the track. He jumped the fence and started running 'up' the stretch toward the sound. Unfortunately, he was going the wrong way on a one way track. The rabbit is on a long arm, extended out to about the middle of the track, no more that twelve to eighteen inches above the ground. The dog was running toward it when he realized at the last second that he was in trouble. He ducked down and the rabbit passed directly over him. Trouble averted...for a few seconds, for as he raised up, he was met by eight dogs in hot pursuit of the rabbit. There was a huge pile up with dogs tumbling everywhere. The rabbit operator, immediately realized what was happening and stopped the mechanical rabbit. All the dogs caught the rabbit that day, but did not know what to do with it when they did.
It was pandemonium, and a lot of excited owners and kennel people, but no injuries just lots of belly laughs as the story was told and retold.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Driving in the rain, this might save your life
In the summer in SW Florida we get rain, practically every day. This information is for us, but is practical for any driver. Please pass them on to your friends & family.
1. Most motorists would turn on the fastest speed of their wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad. Instead, put on your sun glasses. (any model will do) Your visibility will be perfectly clear, as if there is no rain.
Try it yourself. You still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling. You can see where the rain bounces off the road. It also helps to eliminate the "blindness" from passing truck spray, or the "kickup" if you are following another vehicle in the rain. This should be part of our basic driver's training. It really does work.
2. Never drive , with cruise control engaged, in the rain or when the pavement is wet or icy. If your car begins to hydro-plane, which happens at higher speed in these conditions, your tires lose contact with the pavement and your vehicle will accelerate to a higher rate of speed causing you take off like an airplane. Our teenagers and all new drivers should be told these facts.
Some vehicles will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on. This may need to become a standard accessory on all vehicles.
Tell your friends & family, and if any don't know about this, then you might have saved a life.
1. Most motorists would turn on the fastest speed of their wipers during heavy downpour, yet the visibility in front of the windshield is still bad. Instead, put on your sun glasses. (any model will do) Your visibility will be perfectly clear, as if there is no rain.
Try it yourself. You still see the drops on the windshield, but not the sheet of rain falling. You can see where the rain bounces off the road. It also helps to eliminate the "blindness" from passing truck spray, or the "kickup" if you are following another vehicle in the rain. This should be part of our basic driver's training. It really does work.
2. Never drive , with cruise control engaged, in the rain or when the pavement is wet or icy. If your car begins to hydro-plane, which happens at higher speed in these conditions, your tires lose contact with the pavement and your vehicle will accelerate to a higher rate of speed causing you take off like an airplane. Our teenagers and all new drivers should be told these facts.
Some vehicles will not allow you to set the cruise control when the windshield wipers are on. This may need to become a standard accessory on all vehicles.
Tell your friends & family, and if any don't know about this, then you might have saved a life.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
A successful visit by the grand children
I passed an elderly couple walking with two young people the other day, who were clearly their grandchildren. The grandparents were pointing out different things as they walked along, to these very disinterested children. It made me think of my own experiences when we made our annual trip to SW Florida to visit my wife's parents.
Our children were the same as these. Not really interested in the story of where their grandparents stayed when they first came south or that their favorite restaurant used to be on this corner, but was now closed. These people were struggling, because they were not prepared.
If you really wanted to entertain these young people, you would do something for them that they would enjoy. I cannot tell you what that is, but there are ways to find out.
I suggest that before they arrive, you do the most important thing you can do to be prepared. Find out what they eat, and their favorite snacks. Forget about trying to make them eat better, and please don't try sell them on the benefits of your diet. Ask your children, what their children will eat. Be specific, and go to the store and get it. This is a new place with new sites and sounds, make 'the experience' different, not their snack food. Their idea of coming to Florida may have been Disney World, and instead, they got SW Florida. Try to make them happy they came here. Don't make it worse by telling them that snacking is unhealthy, and suggesting they munch on broccoli and carrots. Ask them to help you bake a cake or some cookies, or that one decadent thing for which you might become famous, "grammas' chocolate sauce."
Make a list of the various activities available here. When the children arrive, and they have discovered you have real food in your refrigerator, show them a list of available things to do, and let them pick. Do not suggest things on which you cannot accompany them. They are here to see you. Spend some time with them, doing the things that will make a fun vacation, with their really cool grandparents. If they are boy and girl, you may need to plan separate outings for them, but that's okay too. You can give up a few of your scheduled personal activities to spend quality time with your grandchildren. They may be required, as an assignment, to write about it, when they return to school. How I spent my Spring Break. Give them something they can't wait to tell.
Remember they would probably rather be on a waterslide than a walking tour of the sites downtown. The museum may be fun for some, but the zoo will get them buzzing. Animals are always a safe bet. Things they cannot see back home, like alligators, pelicans or dolphins. Those, might make you, their favorite grandparents. Spoiling them for a day or two will not destroy their character or damage their foundation.
If there is a birthday or holiday happening while they are here, make sure you are prepared for their traditions. When my youngest asked why the Easter Bunny had not come to Florida, his grandmother had to scramble to help keep the tradition alive for this youngster. She tried her best to be creative, but she just was not prepared.
I only tell you all of this for your own good. The children are resilient and will survive no matter what they do while here, but if you truly want them to look forward to coming back, then prepare your self and your kitchen for the carnage. Good luck.
Our children were the same as these. Not really interested in the story of where their grandparents stayed when they first came south or that their favorite restaurant used to be on this corner, but was now closed. These people were struggling, because they were not prepared.
If you really wanted to entertain these young people, you would do something for them that they would enjoy. I cannot tell you what that is, but there are ways to find out.
I suggest that before they arrive, you do the most important thing you can do to be prepared. Find out what they eat, and their favorite snacks. Forget about trying to make them eat better, and please don't try sell them on the benefits of your diet. Ask your children, what their children will eat. Be specific, and go to the store and get it. This is a new place with new sites and sounds, make 'the experience' different, not their snack food. Their idea of coming to Florida may have been Disney World, and instead, they got SW Florida. Try to make them happy they came here. Don't make it worse by telling them that snacking is unhealthy, and suggesting they munch on broccoli and carrots. Ask them to help you bake a cake or some cookies, or that one decadent thing for which you might become famous, "grammas' chocolate sauce."
Make a list of the various activities available here. When the children arrive, and they have discovered you have real food in your refrigerator, show them a list of available things to do, and let them pick. Do not suggest things on which you cannot accompany them. They are here to see you. Spend some time with them, doing the things that will make a fun vacation, with their really cool grandparents. If they are boy and girl, you may need to plan separate outings for them, but that's okay too. You can give up a few of your scheduled personal activities to spend quality time with your grandchildren. They may be required, as an assignment, to write about it, when they return to school. How I spent my Spring Break. Give them something they can't wait to tell.
Remember they would probably rather be on a waterslide than a walking tour of the sites downtown. The museum may be fun for some, but the zoo will get them buzzing. Animals are always a safe bet. Things they cannot see back home, like alligators, pelicans or dolphins. Those, might make you, their favorite grandparents. Spoiling them for a day or two will not destroy their character or damage their foundation.
If there is a birthday or holiday happening while they are here, make sure you are prepared for their traditions. When my youngest asked why the Easter Bunny had not come to Florida, his grandmother had to scramble to help keep the tradition alive for this youngster. She tried her best to be creative, but she just was not prepared.
I only tell you all of this for your own good. The children are resilient and will survive no matter what they do while here, but if you truly want them to look forward to coming back, then prepare your self and your kitchen for the carnage. Good luck.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Naples Paradise & Opportunity
I am a CPA,(no longer practice public accounting) CCIM, Business Broker, and Commercial Realtor. I live in beautiful Naples and people call me to help them find a good business to give them something to do, and receive a better return on, and control over, their nest egg. Naples is a town without a major industry, except tourism and catering to the retiree. We have many service businesses, that can be easily learned and pay well. Lawn Services, Landscaping, Window Cleaning, Commercial Cleaning, Residential Cleaning, Pool Services, Home Watch, Concierge and Personal Services, just to name a few. Your clientele are wealthy home owners who live here only part of the year. Some for as little as a month or more. Most of these businesses have full & part time staff, and merely require the owner to be a supervisor, scheduler, and or administrator.
If you want to buy a restaurant, there are many available. Lots of people try this industry and find it harder than they thought. A successful restaurant takes the right formula. I cannot define it for you, but perhaps you can do so for me. We have a three masted sailing ship, on US 41 not near the water, that operated as a restaurant, and now sits vacant. I had dinner on the water recently in Olde Naples proper, and that beautiful restaurant business is for sale for $112,000. It used to be so busy, you could not get in, now it is sad that we were one of two tables occupied that evening. Maybe you can bring it back.
If you have friends or family moving here, send me their names, if you have a Florida Real Estate license, I can pay you a 25% referral.
Visit my website at www.TimEovino.com and search for your own type of business. You might find an opportunity that will make Naples, your paradise!
If you want to buy a restaurant, there are many available. Lots of people try this industry and find it harder than they thought. A successful restaurant takes the right formula. I cannot define it for you, but perhaps you can do so for me. We have a three masted sailing ship, on US 41 not near the water, that operated as a restaurant, and now sits vacant. I had dinner on the water recently in Olde Naples proper, and that beautiful restaurant business is for sale for $112,000. It used to be so busy, you could not get in, now it is sad that we were one of two tables occupied that evening. Maybe you can bring it back.
If you have friends or family moving here, send me their names, if you have a Florida Real Estate license, I can pay you a 25% referral.
Visit my website at www.TimEovino.com and search for your own type of business. You might find an opportunity that will make Naples, your paradise!
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Retirement Planning
If your vision of retirement is you at home, full time, you need to alter your plans.
I know the word retirement sounds great. Waking up late, leisurely breakfast, check your emails, make a few calls, buy some stuff on-line, watch TV, run some errands, laze around till dinner. that's the life! There's only one problem; You better be living alone. If you have a spouse, who is not used to you, being around 100% of their day, and now you are sharing the same home office, maybe even the same computer. Something is going to give, and it will be you.
I did this myself, just as listed above. The first thing I discovered, was that, more than a few days of 'sleeping in' will be the first of many issues. My spouse has a home office, and is on the phone pretty much all day. There would be no tiptoeing around and talking quietly while I slept in. Also forget daytime television, that is a rift waiting to divide the house and get you sleeping on the couch, with your TV. You might have gotten away with it on Saturdays for sports, but daytime TV is for maids, cleaning hotel rooms, it is not for you. Your spouse will be putting the foot down very quickly on that.
Now consider trying to share an office space with someone, who has owned this space by themselves for a long time. You may rest there, but not camp. Consider also that they know where things are, and if you start moving stuff in or around, (remember the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" ) then you might consider un-retiring after the battle contusions you will sustain.
So let's take a big leap, after learning all this, you decide you are going to pursue some consulting or volunteer work or some other thing at home in the aforementioned single space. If you think life in a cubicle is tough, try making calls and being told that you are talking to loud for them to think, or too loud for their own business calls. Someone will lose privileges, and it will not be the original inhabitant.
So what is my solution to guide you through the retirement maze here in paradise?
Simple: Change as little as possible in the routine of your spouse. You are the 'newbie.' I suggest that you find a remote distant space within your house to create your own space. If you don't have an extra room, then enclose part of the garage or the laundry room and give yourself a new office. If the washer is annoying, then do the laundry yourself at the end of the day as you are leaving your space. Next, endear yourself by offering to do things which increases their productivity and decreases their stress.
Make lists of errands, and where they are, in relation to different parts of town. Offer to cover a few spouse errands in exchange for quid pro quo ( "a favor for a favor") of your own in separate parts of town. You save gas and the frustration of crisscrossing the town and each other.
Life in retirement can be fun, but you have to satisfy others before you even think about yourself.
Good Luck.
I know the word retirement sounds great. Waking up late, leisurely breakfast, check your emails, make a few calls, buy some stuff on-line, watch TV, run some errands, laze around till dinner. that's the life! There's only one problem; You better be living alone. If you have a spouse, who is not used to you, being around 100% of their day, and now you are sharing the same home office, maybe even the same computer. Something is going to give, and it will be you.
I did this myself, just as listed above. The first thing I discovered, was that, more than a few days of 'sleeping in' will be the first of many issues. My spouse has a home office, and is on the phone pretty much all day. There would be no tiptoeing around and talking quietly while I slept in. Also forget daytime television, that is a rift waiting to divide the house and get you sleeping on the couch, with your TV. You might have gotten away with it on Saturdays for sports, but daytime TV is for maids, cleaning hotel rooms, it is not for you. Your spouse will be putting the foot down very quickly on that.
Now consider trying to share an office space with someone, who has owned this space by themselves for a long time. You may rest there, but not camp. Consider also that they know where things are, and if you start moving stuff in or around, (remember the book, "Who Moved My Cheese?" ) then you might consider un-retiring after the battle contusions you will sustain.
So let's take a big leap, after learning all this, you decide you are going to pursue some consulting or volunteer work or some other thing at home in the aforementioned single space. If you think life in a cubicle is tough, try making calls and being told that you are talking to loud for them to think, or too loud for their own business calls. Someone will lose privileges, and it will not be the original inhabitant.
So what is my solution to guide you through the retirement maze here in paradise?
Simple: Change as little as possible in the routine of your spouse. You are the 'newbie.' I suggest that you find a remote distant space within your house to create your own space. If you don't have an extra room, then enclose part of the garage or the laundry room and give yourself a new office. If the washer is annoying, then do the laundry yourself at the end of the day as you are leaving your space. Next, endear yourself by offering to do things which increases their productivity and decreases their stress.
Make lists of errands, and where they are, in relation to different parts of town. Offer to cover a few spouse errands in exchange for quid pro quo ( "a favor for a favor") of your own in separate parts of town. You save gas and the frustration of crisscrossing the town and each other.
Life in retirement can be fun, but you have to satisfy others before you even think about yourself.
Good Luck.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Summertime Golf in SW Florida with coupons galore.
I have never lived in an area with more golf courses per capita than Southwest Florida. We literally have so many courses that you cannot play them all in a single summer. In the last two weeks my group has played Tiburon, Lely Flamingo, Old Corkscrew, The Rookery and Pelican Marsh.
Greg Norman has his annual televised tournament on Tiburon, and Old Corkscrew is a Jack Nicholas design. These are tournament quality courses and they are available for daily play for $28.
You must have a coupon book, and I am here to tell you about those. If you are a local you know that not only do we have Greg's annual tournament, but we also have an annual Seniors Event which bounces around to the different venues. When you buy a ticket for each of these events, they also offers a coupon book for discount golf in the summer season at over 30 courses. And that's just two of many discount coupon books available to us.
Other discounts cards are available from the local golf shops. St John Neuman Golf Card is $30 and allows discount play on 36 different courses. The PGA has a card, and so do several online tee time websites. You can play lots of courses in SW Florida for $25-$40.
The golfing season for year round residents starts on May 1st each year and the courses are a smorgasbord of tempting, fattening delights. If you have any friends who are members at local golf clubs, the summer is also the 'reciprocal' season. Other courses allow members from other clubs to play their clubs for a reduced rate.
We spent the winter paying $75 to $200 to play these same courses during the 'season.' Now that the 'off season' has arrived, we can play for $25- $40 practically anywhere.
So far since May 1st, The Rookery had the nicest fairways and greens we have seen this entire drought year in our area. The grass was so plush at this course, I wanted to replace the divot rather than fill it with sand from the cart. The greens were actually green, and fast. Play this course if you want a great experience. Old Corkscrew has new personnel and they even have a summer member package which is comparable to many of the local favorites. If you are a golfer, SW Florida is paradise.
If you are bored with your regular foursome, and are a member at Old Collier, Naples National, Naples Grande, Grey Oaks, Mediterra, Pelican Bay, Bay Colony, Olde Florida, Audubon, Royal Poinciana, Hole in the Wall, and of course Calusa Pines, my three-some will buy your lunch, pay our own fees and give you a heck of a match. Call me.
Greg Norman has his annual televised tournament on Tiburon, and Old Corkscrew is a Jack Nicholas design. These are tournament quality courses and they are available for daily play for $28.
You must have a coupon book, and I am here to tell you about those. If you are a local you know that not only do we have Greg's annual tournament, but we also have an annual Seniors Event which bounces around to the different venues. When you buy a ticket for each of these events, they also offers a coupon book for discount golf in the summer season at over 30 courses. And that's just two of many discount coupon books available to us.
Other discounts cards are available from the local golf shops. St John Neuman Golf Card is $30 and allows discount play on 36 different courses. The PGA has a card, and so do several online tee time websites. You can play lots of courses in SW Florida for $25-$40.
The golfing season for year round residents starts on May 1st each year and the courses are a smorgasbord of tempting, fattening delights. If you have any friends who are members at local golf clubs, the summer is also the 'reciprocal' season. Other courses allow members from other clubs to play their clubs for a reduced rate.
We spent the winter paying $75 to $200 to play these same courses during the 'season.' Now that the 'off season' has arrived, we can play for $25- $40 practically anywhere.
So far since May 1st, The Rookery had the nicest fairways and greens we have seen this entire drought year in our area. The grass was so plush at this course, I wanted to replace the divot rather than fill it with sand from the cart. The greens were actually green, and fast. Play this course if you want a great experience. Old Corkscrew has new personnel and they even have a summer member package which is comparable to many of the local favorites. If you are a golfer, SW Florida is paradise.
If you are bored with your regular foursome, and are a member at Old Collier, Naples National, Naples Grande, Grey Oaks, Mediterra, Pelican Bay, Bay Colony, Olde Florida, Audubon, Royal Poinciana, Hole in the Wall, and of course Calusa Pines, my three-some will buy your lunch, pay our own fees and give you a heck of a match. Call me.
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