Levi J. Bobbitt - The Buzz Blog

Sunday, December 24, 2006

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas to all!

I will be going to Cove this year to celebrate the holiday with my family. I hope this finds you all well! Here are some festive Christmas shots of my hometown and business.

Keep an eye out for the top ten of 2006 in the coming week! Though the list is delayed from it's normal debut, it will still be ready to go before the new year! Again, Merry Christmas and happy New Year to you all! -LB

Sunday, December 10, 2006

Top Ten for week of December 9, 2006

1. Keithanne Boeve'
2. Haddie Schmidt
3. Sterling Shetler
4. Chris Gamboa
5. Cynthia Hilden
6. Alyse Fischer
7. Hannah Bobbitt
8. Debbie Bobbitt
9. Carl Bobbitt
10.Kyle Bollman

It's That Time of Year

Yes, the holidays... the wonderful stinkin' holidays. The time where everyone gets so materialistic it makes a person want to puke.

Okay, so I'm not a big fan of the 'holidays.' I have in recent years even been known to get a little depressed around this time of year. I have a wonderful family and group of friends to spend them with, but yet the time of year bores me to death.

I am starting to change my tune though, and focus my feelings on the real reason for the holidays. To give to others, especially those who need it the most. 9 years ago this month I was diagnosed with Lymphoma, and people came pouring out of the woodwork to help me.

Recently, three people I know in the county I live in have been diagnosed with cancer, a couple of them terminal. I think it's time I stop feeling sorry for myself and put positive thoughts their way and pray for them and their families, just like the folks did for me.

Besides, I have plenty to be thankful for -- a striving and successful business which employs people; a great family, and a whole lot of friends. This year I promise to be HAPPIER for the HOLIDAYS!

-LB

Friday, November 17, 2006

A Good Time Was Had By All (until I got sick)

Hello All,

Yeah it's been quite some time (once again) since I've updated. But I am more than happy to update you and hopefully stay on top of it this time around.

First of all, I am writing this blog entry just off the heals of a terribly horrible stomach flu. Yeah, I was in bed for the past couple of days (or on my couch watching TV). I was pretty useless, but got some television and back Tivo recordings caught up on.

My sickness couldn't have come a day sooner or I wouldn't have made it back from vacation. What I time I had... what a time we had... yes I took a friend along and we had a great time!

Chris came along with me to the Oregon Coast, Gleneden Beach to be more specific. We really enjoyed our stay at a beautiful condo which was oceanfront.

It was a much needed relaxing time for both of us! I took a few pictures:

The view from the condo

Inside the condo, the big screen

Chris in Cannon Beach

Manzanita

Chris and I

Tillamook Head Lighthouse

Me in Cannon Beach

We really had a great time, and hope to do it again when time warrants! I also plan to head back to the Willamette Valley in December, but probably won't make it to the coast.

If I don't write before Thanksgiving, everyone have a great holiday!

-LB

Sunday, October 15, 2006

Top Ten for Week of October 14, 2006

1. Keithanne Boeve'
2. Sterling Shetler
3. Haddie Schmidt
4. Chris Gamboa
5. Debbie Bobbitt
6. Carl Bobbitt
7. Hannah Bobbitt
8. Kyle Hook
9. Alyse Fischer
10.Cynthia Hilden

Good Week, Good Friends

Things last week were good, very good. I felt like I was at the top of my game. I got a lot done, and continued to improve my business. My new employee is working out great! I am so excited to have her on board. I hope to have a picture and bio on my company's site (www.lbsites.com) very soon when I launch the new design.

This weekend was rather uneventful. I did go to Joseph's football game on Friday, it was a fun trip and a rather interesting game after two players were ejected from the game. We still ended up pulling off the win, but next week's game could be a little more challenging.

Spent Sunday night watching a movie with some friends at the lake. It was a peaceful, entertaining, yet restful time -- which is something I needed very bad!

Looking forward to another week... doing my best to stay on top of everything -- which is only getting easier with the new help.

More later! -LB

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Top Ten for Week of September 30, 2006

1. Keithanne Boeve'
2. Sterling Shetler
3. Chris Gamboa
4. Jay Watts
5. Hannah Bobbitt
6. Debbie Bobbitt
7. Carl Bobbitt
8. Cynthia Hilden
9. Marisa Gamboa
10.Kyle Hook

It's About Freeegin' Time!

Yes, it would be nice to have an update on this blog, at least once in a while, right? Well as fall is well into gear, I think I will have more time to update you all.

What is going on in my life? As usual my answer is 'a lot of work.' It continues to stress me, but provides me a living at the same time. Do I love doing what I do? For the most part.

Thursday I had a pretty rotten day. One of my friends was mad at me, and a pin head business owner called me to chew me out over things I was 'supposedly' saying about his business. Anything I've said about it has been true. I choose not to mention his name, because it is not worth mentioning. The business is poor, and the customers are treated terribly. This I have evidence of.

So I should focus on the positive. I have a new employee, she is absolutely great. I knew instantly she would be come an asset to my business. She is a quick learner as well. I have true talent on my hands.

Filming a game in Imbler on Friday. Looking forward to leaving the county for at least a few hours. Hopefully Joseph will do well.

Look for new pictures in my photo gallery soon. I've got some pretty big changes coming to my own site as well as my business site. Keep checking back!

Thursday was a crummy day, but this week has been excellent. I thank my family and friends for the strength I have each day. -LB

Saturday, September 02, 2006

Top Ten for Week of September 2, 2006

1. Keithanne Boeve'
2. Jay Watts
3. Debbie Bobbitt
4. Sterling Shetler
5. Alyse Fischer
6. Chris Gamboa
7. Kyle Bollman
8. Kyle Hook
9. Melissa Newhouse
10.Ezekial Hale

A Very Happy Birthday & Labor Day Weekend

2005 was the last time I could celebrate my birthday without the feeling of it being bittersweet. On September 3rd (the day after my birthday) my good friend Lance Strickland died. It was one year ago today that he passed away. I will spend some time remembering him this weekend.

Of course, I also enjoyed my 26th birthday and had a good time. Friday night we filled up nearly half of El Bajio for my "party." I was happy to be able to see all my friends there. I also got plenty of overly generous gifts. It was a good time had by all.

Alyse made me a birthday cake! I was so surprised and happy, then to top it off she and Sterling bought me a set of knives. I have to thank them and everyone else for their pouring of generosity when I felt it was unnecessary. But it is nice to be loved!

This weekend was full of events, my roommate Kyle Bollman officially moved out and headed for Oklahoma. I have my house to myself now. Don't know if I'll have another roommate; at least not in the near future. Several other friends were off to college this weekend now, and it is dawning on me that summer is over. I will just enjoy the moment and cherish the last few moments I have with my friends while they are still around. -LB

Blog News

Blog Updates:

11-25-08

It looks like another cancer-related scare has arisen. I plan on keeping you posted frequently (day-to-day) while I deal with this new "tissue" causing me ridiculous amounts of pain!

11-25-08

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

11-25-08

It seems most everyone likes Gmail. No one can dispute it's amazing spam filtering and junk email blocking powers. As a responsible e-mail host, I couldn't refuse this, and with the help of my technical guru, the switch is being made this week. For those of you on my "lbsites" e-mail system... you should be receiving several e-mails from me this week. If you haven't -- contact me asap! You need these valuble instructions on how to make the switch! If you use Outlook, Outlook Express, or an e-mail client similar to it with your lbsites e-mail... you will want to know how to make the necessary adjustments. Contact me - webmaster@lbsites.com with questions!

9-5-08

When I was a senior in high school my class made waves across the state of Oregon when they decided to give up their Senior Class Trip to donate to me for medical expenses. As you can imagine, this act of generosity did not go unnoticed; finding itself in several newspapers, radio spots, and even on television. I have been working on placing some of the past newspaper articles here on my blog. Check them out!

CANCER HISTORY

I have had cancer two times (and am now battling it a third), the first time in 1997 it was Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma where part of my lymph node was removed and I had several rounds of chemotherapy to kill cancer which was quickly spreading across my body. This time in my life was significant in that I was a senior in high school. It made state and regional headlines when my class decided to give up their treasury to go on a senior trip in order to help me with medical expenses. We ended up going on a trip after all because of the people around the state who decided to donate because they were so touched by what the class did.

The second time I had cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma (diagnosed October 2007), this was treated with 21 rounds of radiation. It created horrible blisters on my foot and caused my entire body to swell. I missed numerous days of work at my job and none of this was expected. By December 2007 I had beaten this with all of the cancer gone.

In July 2008, my left leg began swelling -- this soon turned to pain. At first I thought I had just pulled my groin. This turned out not to be the case as a CT and my oncologist have confirmed that I have lymphoma in my upper left leg. Surgery and a treatment plan will occur in August 2008-on.

I don't take any day for granted anymore, knowing my days are numbered on this earth.

Christian Ambroson

Christian Ambroson, my best friend (of two), is attending University of Steubenville, is one of my lifetime friends and was a regular at my house when I lived in Joseph. I've known him ever since he moved to Joseph from Lake Oswego. I surprisingly have a lot in common with him because I am a lot more like a city person in a small town. Christian felt some culture shock when he first moved to Joseph, but has adapted. It's great to have my good buddy close to home. Though he will spend some time in Joseph with his folks, he will also visit western Oregon during his breaks from Ohio. I look forward to seeing "Vern" when he comes home for the holidays. He and I drove his car back from Oregon to Ohio last spring. It was a long trip, but a trip of a lifetime, a trip of bonding between two good friends.

Sterling Shetler

Mr. Shetler is my other best guy friend. He and I became a lot closer when everyone disappered from the county. Though, I am no better now that I've taken off as well... I do sincerely hope Sterling and I remain good friends. This is a guy who would do anything for you, and even though he's a bit of a hard ass, he has a heart of gold and is a truley loyal friend who I do not take for granted. I even may have him convinced to come to this side of the state to see me once in a while, and if you know him that is unheard of! But he'll have to trust me that the "wet side" isn't all that bad. Sterling taught me to get outside and enjoy life when I owned my computer business. He is probably one of the reasons I stayed half way sane. He's got a 'get er done' attitude and is a riot to be around when he's on a roll.

Antoun Kehdi

This has got to be one of the coolest kids I know. Antoun works for the Oregon Employment Department. Originally, he worked for the ODOT Rail Division (just upstairs from where I work). I met him through my pal Jonathan at work about seven months ago. Since then he and I hang out on almost a daily basis. People at work call him, Jonathan, and I "trouble." Mostly we blame it on Antoun's "shifty-ness." But the truth is Antoun is a really cool guy that we joke way too much about... he's one of the nicest people I know and a good workout buddy too. Now that Antoun is in Eugene, Jonathan and I don't get to see him as much. He was part of our trio and irreplacable. I still am glad I got to know him and am proud to call him one of my better friends.

Jonathan Stephens

What can I say about this kid? Well... he's a pretty cool guy that I just met here in Salem not too long ago. In fact only months ago we were strangers, and now we are good friends because of a little place I like to call ODOT. Yeah, we work together and probably see each other at least 8 hours a day if not more. But he's not just a coworker, he's quickly becoming one of my better friends and just a cool 'doood' to hang out with. Interestingly enough, he has a lot of the same qualities of my best friends Christian and Sterling. In fact, when I'm back home in Joseph, I joke to Sterling and call Jonathan 'Sterling 2.' He actually reminds me more of Christian, but nevertheless believe me 'J dawg' (for lack of a better nickname) is very much his own character. I'm glad to know him, and look forward to the good times ahead!