benboarding

I took off from work and went to Ski Liberty today. I probably shouldn't have, I really should have been at the shop.

I have been reading two different books the last couple of weeks. I have been reading Laird Hamilton's new book, and also Eddie Would Go, the story of a Hawaiian life guard and pioneer big wave surfer Eddie Aikau. Eddie would routinely go out to rescue swimmers and surfers when conditions were so bad no one else would go. (The book is about way more than just surfing. I highly recommend it.)

Anyway, I woke up this morning with a million reasons not to go. I thought about it while I drank my coffee, and you know what......Eddie would go, so I went!

It was good. I needed it. Thanks Eddie.


http://www.surfline.com/surfaz/surfaz.cfm?id=740

http://live.quiksilver.com/2008/bigwave/

aloha & ho ho

Merry Christmas
Peace and much Love to all

ben working

There are two things that I don't like about working retail.

1. It really messes up your eating habits. Lunch is whenever you can get it. It is usually 2 hours after you really want it. You have to slam it down, or else you might not get to eat it. Dinner comes way too late. Watch a little TV go to bed on a full stomach....not healthy.

2. I don't like what retail has done to the Christmas season. Instead of being a great time to spend with family and friends, it is an incredibly stressful time of the year. In most cases the profitability (or lack there of) of the year comes down to December. You can have had a great year, and then a bad Christmas can erase a whole year of hard work. Sometimes a good Christmas can save a bad year. This year has been especially challenging with the economy. If it is busy you have to work hard. If it is not busy, you have to work harder.

Over the years I have pretty much come to accept the bad eating habits. I know that for much of December, I will have no life outside of the shop. Sarah really likes the holidays and she tolerates my general grumpiness (thanks dear).

For the most part , I really like what I do. It is fun and satisfying when we sell someone the right surf, snow, or windsurfing board. It is even more fun to hear about how stoked they are when they get to use it.

Time to get in the shower. HO HO HO it is off to work I go.

Seriously.........Happy Holidays To All!

ben a grinch

This morning the news reported that the senate didn't approve the bailout for the auto industry. The auto union would not go for a pay cut. Screw'm ...let them go bankrupt. The economy is bad. I took a pay cut last month. Hell, I have not even paid myself yet this month. Where is my bailout?

Bah humbug!