Jim

Hi, there. I'm Jim. Welcome to my phlog!

This site was written for Las Vegas, then LouisVille. Now, it seems to be about anywhere. In these phlogs, you'll see a lot of my personal notes and pictures. I like to post my observations here to remember life and celebrate it. I'm not religious. I don't pray for good fortune. I'm ecstatically grateful for the gift of life and I think our time should be remembered and not taken for granted. I'm not a writer. I think pictures tell stories so much better than words. I love just about everything in this life, and, I guess that would have to include you. So, if you've seen me, don't be surprised if your picture is in here somewhere. Of all the critters, people are absolutely the most interesting.

<< 11/2007 < 10/2008 Calendar 12/2008 > 11/2009 >>

Fri

11/28/2008 19:50:40

jim Hartwood Acres - Chistmas Lites

Fri

11/28/2008 18:37:40

jim Hartwood Restaurant

Fri

11/28/2008 12:33:08

Jim Not so famous sayings

CelebrityObservations

Why do I have to 'Press 1 for English?'
Every American
When I die, I want to die like my grandfather who died peacefully in his sleep,
Not screaming like all the passengers in his car.'
Author Unknown
If you have a lot of tension and you get a headache, do what it says on the aspirin bottle:
'Take two aspirin' and 'Keep away from children.'
Author Unknown
'Oh, you hate your job? Why didn't you say so? There's a support group for that.
It's called EVERYBODY, and they meet at the bar.'
Drew Carey
'The problem with the designated driver program, it's not desirable ,
But if you ever get sucked into doing it, have fun with it.
At the end of the night, drop them off at the wrong house.'
Jeff Foxworthy
'If a woman has to choose between catching a fly ball and saving an infant's life, she will save the Infant's' life without considering if the bases are loaded.'
Dave Barry
'Relationships are hard. It's like a full time job, and We should treat it like one.
If your boyfriend or girlfriend wants to leave you, they should give you two weeks' notice.
And the day before they leave you, they should have to find you a temp.'
Bob Ettinger
'My Mom said she learned how to swim when someone took Her out in the lake and threw her off the boat. I said, 'Mom, they weren't trying to teach anything!''
Paula Poundstone
'A study in the Washington Post says that women have better verbal skills than men.
I just want to say to the Authors of that study: 'Duh.'
Conan O'Brien
'Why does Sea World have a seafood restaurant??
I'm halfway through my fish burger and I realize, Oh my Gosh.... I could be eating a slow learner.'
Lynda Montgomery
'I think that's how Chicago got started was a bunch of people in New York said,
'Gee, I'm enjoying the crime and the poverty, but it just I sn't cold enough. Let's go west.''
Richard Jeni
'If life were fair, Elvis would be alive and all the Impersonators would be dead.'
Johnny Carson
'Sometimes I think WAR is God's way of teaching us geography.'
Paul Rodriguez
'My parents didn't want to move to Florida , but they turned sixty and that's the law.'
Jerry Seinfeld
'Remember in elementary school, you were told
'In case of fire you have to line up quietly in a single file line from smallest to tallest.'
What is the logic in that? What, do tall people burn slower?'
Warren Hutcherson
'Bigamy is having one wife or husband too many.
Monogamy is the same.'
Oscar Wilde
'Suppose you were an idiot.
And suppose you were a Member of Congress..
Did I just repeat myself.'
Mark Twain
'Our bombs are smarter than the average high school student.
At least they can find Afghanistan '
A. Whitney Brown
'You can say any foolish thing to a dog, And the dog will give you a look that says,
'My Gosh, you're right! I never would've thought of that!''
Dave Barry
Do you know why they call it 'PMS'?
Because 'Mad Cow Disease' was taken.
Unknown, presumed deceased
'Everybody's got to believe in something.
I believe I'll have another beer.'
W. C. Fields

Fri

11/28/2008 05:01:54

jim ..Happy Thanksgiving!

Hey Rodney!!! It's great to hear from you!
Any time sounds like a good time to get together. You pick the date and we'll come.

Fri

11/28/2008 05:01:54

jim (Reply)Happy Thanksgiving!

Whether with you, or as we roam; the gypsies leave you, to make new homes.
We know your voice, we know your face; we know your town, we've seen your place.
We leave our marks each place we go; on starlit beaches, in melting snow.
We never stay too long. Our homes are shelved. Each place we leave, we leave ourselves.
And Holidays are odd at best. We dine with strangers. We laugh and jest.
The cold world of contracting, that's where we are. Whats in between, lies in the stars.

To all of the people we know and love in Las Vegas, Orlando, Seattle, Louisville, Toledo, San Diego, and Pittsburgh
Happy Holidays!!! We love and miss you.

I want you to know, I didn't choose this way of life. It chose me.

Thu

11/27/2008 12:27:24

jim Thanksgiving Day

The sun is melting that snow

The Cracker Barrel Restaurant

Pittsburgh, from Mt Washington

Black Friday Shoppers at 8pm

Wed

11/26/2008 09:06:35

jim Enjoying the snow at work

Tue

11/25/2008 16:56:08

jim Monday was a bad day

Monday was a bad day
- I woke up late
- I was late for a meeting that I'd organized
- I forgot to submit my timesheet
- I got a hateful email from a potential friend
Maybe it wasn't such a bad day.
- I got to sleep in and had wonderful dreams.
- I don't like meetings. Being forgetful is bliss.
- A friend forgot his timesheet too
- I only lost a potential friend
I guess anything can be positive

Fri

11/21/2008 22:29:30

jim Majestic Cruise Lines

Fri

11/21/2008 22:04:58

jim Fireworks - 200,000 People We There

Fri

11/21/2008 19:19:00

jim Pittsburgh from the River

Fri

11/21/2008 08:49:20

jim November 22 Started with a Blizzard

Thu

11/20/2008 01:09:31

jim I miss you. I love you.

It's been hard lately, giving you the love and attention you need.
Its dark outside when I leave, and its dark when I come home.
Add to that, the twenty degree weather and its the cold season,
and there's just not much left of me by 6pm.
Its supposed to snow 1 inch today, and 4 inches this weekend,
but I'm glad for the timing. At least I won't be knocking it off the truck windows this morning at 7am.
Life in Pittsburgh is a little rougher than I'd imagined. I thought it would be more like Louisville.
I keep thinking of Peter, living in the Lake Michigan area. He must be missing Louisville badly.
Rod and his family are having weather like us.
Then again, I think about Florida, Vegas and San Diego. Those guys are having great weather.
Of course, life would be perfect here if we could telecommute !!!

Thu

11/20/2008 00:35:54

jim Wexford Snow - Wallpaper

Wed

11/19/2008 20:03:18

jim Too Much Snow!

Sun

11/16/2008 19:08:29

jim Snowy Days

The snow flurried early this morning. I think it is the most wonderful sight!

Sat

11/15/2008 15:09:08

jim Saturday at the movies

Sat

11/15/2008 05:50:08

jim I am blessed

Its hard to comprehend the beauty that I have seen
It's everywhere!
Its in the flock of geese that flies over me in the morning.
Its in the snowflakes that form on my windshield in the morning.
I love to hear Becky telling me about her day.
I love hearing my brother tell me about his life.
Jennifer and Dustin are a shear delight.
Hearing Mikey talk is a pleasure.
I love the little critters around here. Its all great.
I love hearing about the lives of the people I work with. Its magical!
I love, just about, everything, and what I don't love, can be fixed.
Maybe I'm going senile....but if what I see is crazy, it is right for me.
This is such a beautiful life.
I've been blessed, I guess. I don't need a magical mythical being in a robe to believe in. For me, god is everywhere.
All I have to do is exist and feel. That is enough of a gift.
We are poor, but from what I've seen of the rest of the world, we're rich.
So, no matter whatever happens, I'm good.
I've had a really good life. Thank you god, or whatever.
It's been a pleasure to exist.

Thu

11/13/2008 20:15:04

jim The Moon Over Pennsylvania

Wed

11/12/2008 21:36:24

jim What will survive?

I've read stories about how GM, Ford and Chrysler may fold.
I've read stories about how its inevitable that China and the US will be at war over oil.
I've read that half the population of the world needs to be eliminated.
WOW....
And as I live today, a person who I work with will be replaced by someone from India.
I'm not saying its right or wrong. I'm just saying changes are happening all around us.
And I wonder, where we'll be in 5 years.
I suppose what really matters is, that we continue to do our best at what ever we do.
The American spirit isn't built on stock prices or credit worthiness.
It's built on pride. We can do better than any one else, if our country will lets us.
We are bordered by friendly countries. We are protected by our military might.
Our religious freedoms hasn't killed our country. It has made it a haven for religious freedom.
But I fear, that within the next two decades, those freedoms will die.
Other freedoms will arise as time goes on, but this may be a rocky couple of decades.
Don't expect for things to be like they were. Prepare for change.
We're going through a revolution of sorts.
Good or bad, I believe eventually it will work out for the good.

Tue

11/11/2008 06:42:28

jim So, where is SAE

I miss Squirt's Alter Ego. Sorry I missed you last weekend. We were out and about. I hope everything is alright.

Sun

11/09/2008 16:00:22

jim Wheeling, WV

Sun

11/09/2008 15:13:13

jim Wheeling Island Casino, WV

Sat

11/08/2008 00:35:27

jim Foggy mornings wallpaper

Fri

11/07/2008 23:52:42

jim A Foggy Morning Drive to Work

Thu

11/06/2008 06:05:44

jim Why did Mgm buy the Mirage?

I'm haven't read up on many things.
There's too much information out there, and so much that is not out there.
For example, I don't know why Mgm bought the Mirage, but I'd guess, it would be to merge management, eliminate competition and cut jobs.
I assume that. I didn't read it in the newspapers.
Wouldn't these be terrible headlines?
- "X buys Y, increases profits by firing 40% of the workers.
Management applauded with healthy bonuses".
- "X Property Development increases profits by hiring illegal aliens"
- "X increases profits by outsourcing high tech jobs to India"
haha...seriously though,
These things we don't read, but we see it happening.
We know that is what is going on. I'd think these wonderful decisions have hurt U.S. citizens. For instance, I'd be willing to bet India's education systems are better than ours because of these decisions.
When's the last time you saw the words Made in USA
I realize, I haven't said anything about what to do to cure these problems. Certainly, squashing and strangling big corporations isn't the answer.
I don't have any answers, other than to support the good corporations with your purchasing dollars.
But I doubt that would work.
I need to put some more pretty pictures on here...lol

Wed

11/05/2008 07:28:29

jim Some days are just Foggy

Driving to work early can be a challenge during a Pittsburgh morning. If I'm not scraping ice off of my windshield, I'm struggling to see the road 100 feet in front of me. In contrast, it beats washing the dust off my ride in Las Vegas.

Wed

11/05/2008 06:53:31

jim Obama Wins!!!

I liked both Obama and McCain, but I REALLY liked what Obama said.
And I like his speeches because he's not reading them, and they just sound right.
It'll be interesting watching what he does about the mess this country is in.
By that, I mean, education, health care, economic growth, the credit crisis, human rights, ecology, the energy crunch,
and finally, terrorism.

Tue

11/04/2008 16:52:22

jim If I could live to be 300 years old

If I could live to be 300 years old,
I would start tommorrow, trying to find ways to live 1,000 years.
If I could live to be 1,000, I'd spend my life trying to find ways to live 1,000,000.
But instead, I've spent all of my life, just trying figure out how to survive to 50.
I doubt I'll live to be 60.
Its a crazy world.
Money is the motivator and longevity is not.
We sing praise to people that live past 100 years old.
They can barely see, hear, and walk.
And we spend billions on medical care systems that don't even try to preserve youth.
They mask aging, but don't seem to have a clue on how to really extend a persons life.
Certainly, they haven't found ways to live 1,000 years old.
When they do, I'll sing praise to the medical profession.
Then their motivation won't be money. It will be survival of the human species.
Which I believe, will ultimately lead to the preservation of all life on this planet and possibly the Universe.

Sun

11/02/2008 08:44:12

jim My Songbird

For you, there'll be no more crying,
For you, the sun will be shining,
And I feel that when I'm with you,
Its alright, I know its right

To you, I'll give the world
To you, I'll never be cold
Cause I feel that when I'm with you,
Its alright, I know its right.

And the songbirds are singing,
Like they know the score,
And I love you, I love you, I love you,
Like never before.

Sat

11/01/2008 11:03:01

jim Upside Down Vegas Mortgages

Eyewitness News has learned Nevada now tops the list of states with the highest number of homeowners who
Owe more than their house is actually worth.
So many Americans now owe more than their homes are worth that there's even a new term for it.
It's called underwater borrowers. "That means they owe more than their house would sell for on the open market," said Jack Woodcock with Prudential Americana Group. And it comes as no surprise to local real estate experts that Nevada once again leads the nation in the number of underwater borrowers at a full 48-percent.
That means nearly one out of every two Nevada homeowners is now in this negative equity category.
But local experts who know the market say just because a lot of residents are underwater right now, that doesn't mean they're all going to drown.
"You don't have to drown. Time is on your side," said Woodcock. "It's just a matter of holding out for a while."
Woodcock says those with stable mortgage rates will be better able to stay afloat, but those with adjustable rate mortgages that are due to reset in the coming months are the most vulnerable to foreclosure.
"They need to look at the benefits being provided by the bailout plan right now," he said. And while experts may differ in the length of time they predict it will take for the economy to see any meaningful recovery -- six months to two years -- those who know the southern Nevada market best are confident about one thing,
"I'm absolutely confident that if we're not at the bottom we're very close to it now."
Underwater homeowners with adjustable rate mortgages can contact any real estate or mortgage professional for more information about your refinancing options.
Contact the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors

Sat

11/01/2008 00:00:01

jim Set your Clocks Back Tonight

You don't really want to be early to work on Monday, do you ?!

Fri

10/31/2008 18:13:13

jim Its a Pumpkin Affair

See, Pumpkins ARE good for something!

Thu

10/30/2008 06:30:45

jim Snow, turkeys, and Beaver Pennsylvania

Tue

10/28/2008 22:10:43

jim As I lay me down to sleep

As I Lay Me Down to Sleep

It felt like spring time
on this February morning.
In a courtyard birds
were singing your praise

I'm still recalling things you said
to make me feel alright.
I carried them with me today

As I lay me down to sleep,
this I pray,
that you will hold me dear

Though I'm far away,
I'll whisper your name into the sky
And I will wake up happy

-- Sophie Hawkins

Tue

10/28/2008 21:31:31

jim Mars, Pennsylvania

Only in Pennsylvania do you see outlandish, zany things like this.
Welcome to Mars.

We've driven down beautiful two-laned highways, where pockets of civilization are strewn about the mountainous terrain, in towns with names like Mars, Moon, California, Washington and Beaver. Some towns adhere to the theme.

And we come home, to spaceship Earth

Tue

10/28/2008 06:19:00

jim Will it snow today?

Its 37 degrees outside and it's supposed to snow today and tommorrow.
I am hoping we get some nice flurries.
I'm half alive, running at 60%.
Been sneezing and wheezing, but I'm plowing through this cold with a smile on my face. It's still beautiful here.
Becky's knee got better.
But we're both a mess.

But I love you all *sniff* *sniff* !!!
This Halloween is going to special.

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