May 30, 2023 - Balls, Wood, Work, Voices
Quick note: Thank you so much for supporting Boo’s N.E.W.S.. Favor to ask – could you please forward this to one friend you think would enjoy it?
Nuggets of Information: Get Your Mind Out of the Gutter
I’m always trying to push my body to its limits, and this past year, the limit was bowling once a week. Bowling has been around thousands of years. Ancient Egyptians played a game called "Kubb" around 5,000 BCE, which involved rolling stones towards a target. The Romans also played a similar game called "Bocce." Romans also refined early bowling by introducing nachos & beer and rental sandals.
Here are some interesting stories about bowling:
The World's Longest Bowling Marathon: In 2015, two individuals in the United States set a Guinness World Record for the longest bowling marathon. They bowled for a staggering 134 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record of 134 hours and 44 minutes.
The Fastest Game on Record: In 2006, a group of bowlers in England attempted to set a new world record for the fastest game of bowling. The team managed to complete a full game in just 86.9 seconds, with each player taking turns to roll their ball in rapid succession.
The World's Longest Bowling Alley: In 2015, a unique bowling alley named "Inazawa Grand Bowling Center" in Japan set a Guinness World Record for being the longest bowling alley in the world. Spanning a whopping 1,417 feet and 10 inches, this astonishingly long alley provided an extraordinary bowling experience.
The World's Largest Bowling Pin: Standing more than 30 feet tall, the world's largest bowling pin is located outside the front door of Splitsville, an upscale bowling alley and restaurant located inside of Tampa's Channelside Entertainment Center. I’m pretty sure I could hit that?
Enrichment: It was the Wood Brothers, in the Eastern, with the Shovel and Rope
Last week a group of us went down to the Eastern to see The Wood Brothers, with opener Shovels & Rope. We started out at Grindhouse for burgers, as did most of the crowd going to the concert. Dinner took a while, so by the time we got to the Eastern, we had missed most of Shovels & Rope's set but were lucky enough to catch their last song.
After a short break, The Wood Brothers took the stage. This was my first time seeing either band live, but I had heard complimentary reviews from my friends.
Comprised of Oliver Wood, Chris Wood, and the multi-talented Jano Rix, The Wood Brothers delivered a performance that exceeded my expectations. Their harmonies were solid, and the chemistry between the siblings was clear. Oliver's vocals and guitar skills, combined with Chris's thumpy bass playing, formed the backbone of their sound.
One of the most impressive aspects of the night was Jano Rix's ability to seamlessly navigate between drums and keyboards. His simultaneous play on both instruments showcased his extraordinary talent and added a dynamic layer to the band's performance. I just can’t understand how someone can make melodies with one hand while keeping a rhythmic beat with the other – at the same time. Dude’s brain must be wired differently. I can’t even pat my head while rubbing my tummy.
The show was great, and during the encore portions, they brought Shovels & Rope out to join them for a performance of John Prine's classic, "That's the Way the World Goes 'Round." Huddled closely together, the two bands harmonized flawlessly, delivering a heartfelt tribute.
It was a night of discovery (for me) and I left with a newfound appreciation for the talent and artistry of both bands. Here is a clip of them playing “Luckiest Man” from a while back.
Workshop: What Do I Need to Work On?
This section of Boo’s N.E.W.S. is devoted to things I’ve been working on, originally intended to highlight projects or workstreams that I’m involved with. Lately I’ve been thinking about the very question itself: “What Do I Need to Work On?” It is easier to come up with a to-do list of chores and projects than a to-do list for your life. Taking an inventory of your emotional well-being, your relationships with family and friends, even your relationship with yourself is much more involved, and much more important.
A couple of years ago I read a great book - “10% Happier” by Dan Harris. I strongly recommend it. One fundamental principle emphasized in the book is to avoid trying to transform your entire life all at once; instead, focus on making incremental 10% improvements. If you adopt that approach, the law of compounding will kick in and your whole life will change. A similar approach is outlined in Franklin Covey’s “The 4 Disciplines of Execution”. Check out this video, which shows employees at a grocery store trying to figure out the one thing, just one thing, they could do to make the biggest impact in their areas.
The key is to build the habit of asking yourself that question regularly. I do this and use journaling to identify the recurring themes in my life. Two questions I ask every day are "What drained me today?” and “What is the one thing I could do today that would have the biggest impact in my life?” As I look back over the previous days or weeks, those recurring themes are right there in black and white. This practice has led me to focus on some deep, important questions: How can I improve my relationships with my family members? How can I more effectively support friends that are struggling? How do I forgive myself for the years I wasted not trying to better myself? Sometimes it isn’t easy, but it is always important.
I hope you will take some time to ask yourself what you need to work on. Let me know if I can help.
Selected Content: I Can See for Miles and Miles
Last week The Voice wrapped up its 23rd season and bid farewell to coach Blake Shelton. I love The Voice and was very happy that 19-year-old Gina Miles was crowned the winner. She is amazing – check out her performance of Chris Isaak’s “Wicked Game” and Prince’s “Nothing Compares 2 U”. (Note: The video says the song is by Sinead O’Connor, but the Purple One wrote it, and deserves that credit.) My favorite blind audition was from Thunderstorm Artis in Season 18. Yes – his name is Thunderstorm – and he is from Hawaii. That alone is just ... cool. Watch him perform “Blackbird”. Every time I watch it, I feel like there is goodness and joy in the world.