Stories's Log
This log represents the Life and Times of the Las Vegas Dude.
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Tue 
07/08/2008 11:43:22
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gabriel WaterSoftener
Mon 
07/07/2008 20:25:46
 jim  The Strip - 2008
Mon 
07/07/2008 20:08:11
 jim  Vegas,NV-Strip View
Sat 
07/05/2008 08:50:45
 jim  Family Spots
Family differences can be hilariously funny.
Growing up, in my family, when you sat somewhere, you stayed there.
If you got up, you came back to the exact same spot.
If someone offered you their spot, they were being polite. You would reciprocate by graciously turning them down.
You would say "Thank you, that's very nice of you, but that's okay, I'll just grab a chair.". 
That was our system of manners and respect. You didn't take advantage of someone elses generousity.
Spots were a big thing in our family.
For years, all of us had a spot on the couch (it was an 8' wide, homemade couch).
- Mom had her spot on the couch on the end
- I had mine near Mom
- Sonny and Dad sat further away at the dining room table. If they sat at the couch, they had an issue to resolve.
- Linda, Grandfather, Grandmother, and various guests had their spots at the end.
- Kelly was a spot stealer, she never chose a spot. She would either stand in front of us, or sit in the middle of the cushons, to take up two spots.
You wouldn't believe how many arguments having a spot picked out, resolved with a family of six living in a very small house.
But all families are not created equal.
I noticed at a BBQ yesterday, that everyone who left the living room came back to sit in a different spot.
There was an easy chair in the living room, and almost everyone sat in it.
One person left their spot in the easy chair to get some pie.
He had to sit on the floor, because in the minute he was gone, someone had taken the easy chair.
In our family, that would have meant WAR !
At the BBQ I had my spot on the couch in the living room.
It was marked by my camera, and my sunglasses, and by golly, if someone took it, that would have met the wrath of Jim.
"HEY, GET OUT OF MY SPOT !".
Someone offered me her spot at the table
I wouldn't take it. Neither Sonny or I will do that. We pick our spots. That's was just our family's way.
No, I didn't slide over because Dustin and Becky got up.
No, I didn't take the easy chair when Gma, Paul, and Emily got up. Robert may have sat there too. lol.
And most of all, NO, It didn't mean I'm a pervert who wanted to cuddle up to the 13 year old, budding, Jennifer.
HAHAHAHAHA!!!!
It simply meant, I was not taking some else's spot.
And by the way, thank you all very much for reading this. You have been very kind.
LOL.
Fri 
07/04/2008 22:24:36
 jim  Vegas,NV-Robert,Jen,Em,Jim,Becky
Fri 
07/04/2008 21:36:16
 jim  Vegas,NV-ArroroPark Fireworks
Fri 
07/04/2008 21:28:18
 jim  Vegas,NV-ArroroPark Fireworks
Fri 
07/04/2008 21:26:32
 jim  Vegas Fireworks
Fri 
07/04/2008 21:00:56
 jim  ArroroPark,NV-Fireworks-Robert,Amy
Fri 
07/04/2008 16:07:01
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gmas,Jen,Becky,Robert,Em
Fri 
07/04/2008 16:06:11
 jim  Emily
Fri 
07/04/2008 15:53:52
 jim  Gmas,NV-Robert,Amy,Jim,Jen,Paul
Thu 
07/03/2008 12:02:01
 jim  Vegas,NV-SkyLine stitch
Wed 
07/02/2008 20:23:34
 jim  Vegas,NV-Venetian,The Strip
Wed 
07/02/2008 20:14:46
 jim  Vegas,NV-NYNY,The Strip
Wed 
07/02/2008 19:58:59
 jim  Vegas,NV-AppleStore,Strip,Becky
Tue 
07/01/2008 12:10:02
 jim  Vegas,NV-BackToVegas CA I15
Sat 
06/21/2008 11:51:54
 SAE  Howl from SAE....
Howl..... That was a mean poster, who made the remark about LV drivers being DUI. Oops, that was me!!! Naughty Puppy!!

Are you out, at Fly's, picking up some pocket knifes for yourself, something for Rebecky and Sonny. And loads of stuff for me, like a juicy steak bone to chew on?
Thu 
06/19/2008 08:56:48
 jim  Vegas,NV-Sonnys-SwassrDrawing
Thu 
06/19/2008 04:53:30
 jim  Energy Saving Light bulbs.
A bill passed Congress that will require people to use fluorescent light bulbs instead of incandescent light bulbs. What's interesting about this is: they are only made in China, they contain mercury, and as such, become hazardous waste when disposed of, and if you break one, you're encouraged to call a Haz-Mat team to clean it up.
I just left General Electric.
They are spending months reinventing themselves. Can't they just stop that, and spend one weekend inventing a better light bulb? I'd think a middle school science project contestant could put something together with LEDs.
I often thought, that by simply replacing the breaker that controls the lights in a house with a rectifier and stepdown transformer, then replacing the bulbs in a house with led's, would be an incredibly simple solution. It would be cheap, the bulbs wouldn't burn out, and we could move on to the next energy issue.
I know that precooling the condensor on home air conditioners with water
can save homes in Las Vegas 30% off their power bill. I know, because I built a prototype. It hooked up to the garden hose spigot and used 1 gallon a day, and it didn't waste any water.
And how about making round tires for cars ? Have you pushed a car lately? The tires themselves provide friction just by changing shape as they roll. Try this with your car....try coasting on a level road to see how fast you slow down. You are slowing down because of all the resistance from wind and road resistance.
I'd think that could be easily be improved...again, by a middle school science fair contestant.
I'd think new cars would be shaped more like a wings than boxes.
Speaking of cars...how about powering them with water ? You could create you're own hydrogen and oxygen at home from tap water. And when the mixture burns, its only by product would be water. That could used for making of a truly unique hybrid engine that doesn't burn petroleum.
And speaking about hybrid engines Is anyone every going to come up with a battery that comes close to 100% efficiency. Most of the energy waisted by braking could be stored in it. Whenever you let off the 'gas' pedal, the battery could be charging.
These ideas are kind of brain dead solutions. Are they too simple ? Or is everybody going through life these days with a cell phone to their ear, and a gameboy in their hands?
Tue 
06/17/2008 05:24:35
 Guest  .Tmf auto aborts an entire batch after 1 error
Instead of IUD, they could have gone with DUI. In which case, everybody would think of Las Vegas drivers.
Tue 
06/17/2008 05:24:35
 Guest   (Reply).Tmf auto aborts an entire batch after 1 error
They could have gone with DUI in respect for all LV drivers.
Tue 
06/17/2008 05:24:35
 SAE   (Reply)...Tmf auto aborts an entire batch after 1 error
Check out the movie "The Big Bus". I was actually in it. I'll pay you three pennies if you can spot me by seeing my ugly mush (face). Really, I was in it. But, the reason I mention it.... There was a character in the movie, who was a disgraced Vet, who had put an IUD in a rabbit....
Sun 
06/15/2008 17:58:56
 jim  Becky has been keeping up.
Life has been moving fast. We drove 1,200 miles in two days to get here. We've changed hotels often and our lifestyles have changed dramatically. It all has taken its toll on me.
I've been working 10 to 12 hours a day, and so far, I'm deeper in debt beyond my wildest dreams. Such is life in the contracting world I guess. I love every minute of it. I'm getting everything I've asked for.
Everyone at GE will be gone by the end of this July.
I would have been gone too. I had the feeling the contract with GE was a little hyped. It was never intended to be a one year contract. I did the right thing by changing jobs last month.
The highlights of Seattle were...
Renee, Jonathon, Don, and our stay up at Mt Rainier.

 

Don calls me every Friday and he probably will for a very long time.
It seems we left a very depressing place to be in one of the worlds most exciting cities.
Everything here is positive.
The people are friendly. Driving is nice. The weather is beautiful.
And the beaches are the best in the world !!!

Sun 
06/15/2008 17:44:50
 jim  Moving is such sweet sorrow.
We spent three weeks at Embassy Suites.
It was only 8 minutes from work.
Everything there was GREAT!!!
Then we had to move.
The rates for the golf tournaments were too high  at $280 a night.
Embassy Suites is probably my favorite hotel, but
I could never afford staying there on my own finances.
We moved to Comfort Inn.
It was only 21 minutes from work and 1/2 mile from the beach.
Everything was not fine.
We were on the 2nd floor at the end of the building.
The only way up was the stairs in the middle of the building.
Our Microwave didn't work, and I had to go down and hump one up.
The paint fumes from the bottom floor triggered my asthma.
I feel lucky to be alive at this point. The rooms were very nice though.
I'd say, any other time would have been a great time to stay here.
Next week we're moving to Travel Lodge.
Its 8 minutes from work, and only 1 block from the beach.
Now that all of the golfers have left with their bags (their golf bags),
rooms are opening up everywhere.
I'm not sure how long we'll get to stay at Travel Lodge though. 
July 4th is on the next weekend.
I would like to extend my reservation, but..
Right now, my contract is in the air. Its supposed to end July 1st.
Hopefully we'll know where we'll be living by the end of June.
Life is good. I'd say
I've hit my peek. I've made friends at work, I love the job, and I've earned a blistery red sun burn that looks really nice on me. Its 8 minutes from work, and only 1 block from the beach. Now that all of the golfers have left with their bags (their golf bags), rooms are opening up. I'm not sure how long we'll get to stay there, since July 4th is on the next weekend.
I would like to extend my reservation, but I'm not sure yet if they are going to renew my contract.
Sun 
06/15/2008 17:41:57
 jim  Youch! Hotel Internet can be awful.
The Days Inn internet is driving me bonkers. I may have to log on 5 times a day on it, and it prompts me for an ID only when I send something very important. Then, it takes me to an xml screen that looks like crap, and I lose everything I sent.
Sun 
06/15/2008 01:57:58
 SAE  Where is Jimmy....
We want more enties from Jimmy...
Thu 
06/12/2008 05:33:26
 jim   Vegas Jessicas Birth - 2008/06/12
Thu 
06/12/2008 05:32:12
 jim  Vegas,NV-JessicasBirth-Sonny
Thu 
06/12/2008 05:19:30
 jim  Vegas Jessicas Birth - 2008/06/12
Thu 
06/12/2008 05:13:16
 jim  Vegas,NV-Jessicas Birth-Sonny
Wed 
06/11/2008 03:39:28
 jim  Vegas,NV-JessicasBirth
Tue 
06/10/2008 03:39:28
 jim  Vegas Jessicas Birth - 2008/06/10
Sun 
06/08/2008 15:27:42
 jim  Solana,CA-Fair Dancers

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