Stories

Wednesday, September 21, 2005 08:44:38 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
SAE's so happy you're enjoying your trip here.
Particularily you seeing Denver and your old neighborhood in CO, seeing St. Louey (my way to harass St. Louisites), Ms. Ida. And more to come in KY on the way, southeast to Florider. Now, just make me one happy hound's AE, and get here, so the party can begin.
Me got a fur cut, so as to not scare Ms. R.
Now, I just need a good dose of Nair over the rest of me body.
Me loaded up on Dr.'s visits over the next few weeks.
With any luck, I will get a good estimate of my crocking day. No, I mean I will get solutions to my medical problems. And a plan of attack to correct some or most of them. Camden has a workout room, and "an indoor sports court" which usually means a handball/racquetball court. Let's play Jimmy. A buck a point? No way, I am broke already. Just use it to get in shape. You for Ms. R. and me for the other doggy AE's out there. HOWL!!!!

Tuesday, September 20, 2005 23:38:31 <Jim>
The days have turned into blurs.
We explored Denver yesterday, and I drove through Colorado Springs on my way to Kansas City. I love Colorado Springs. I graduated there in 1974. Surprisingly, I remembered the town. Its beautiful.
The drive to Kansas was boring!
Flat wheat fields accented by cops stopping people for going 75mph. It smells bad too. Kansas City drivers are insane too. They tailgate for no reason. They get right next to you on open freeways and hang there. They're terrible. PLUS, Kansas City has features like city parks in the road's median so you can't EVER make a U-Turn. On the other hand, Kansas had a pretty statium.
St Loiis has a lot of charm.
It's got cannery row type factories. We went up to the top of the Arch. What a view. One thing I've noticed in every town...city engineers are crazy when it comes to designing interchanges. I have pictures of St Louis's interchanges, and they just don't make any sense. We had a lot of fun.
Ida's house is definitely in the sticks.
It's beautiful there(here). Tree's everywhere, there's a HUGE brick house down the road that sold for $75,000, with 2 acres of wooded land and a pond in 1998. Cigarettes, food, restaurants are about 40% cheaper here than in Las Vegas. Gas is $2.47 vs $3.10.

Monday, September 19, 2005 05:24:31 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Long live Jimmy and Ms. R. both!!!
I am so glad you got to a great start. Keep up that pace, and I am sure, you'll get here with plenty of time to spare before the 26th and will be able to enjoy your eveings on the way.
Don't burn up Ms. R.'s fone. No, please, no...
It's not a Sprint fone.
Keep the posts on the BLOG coming. SO, I know what be happening.
Your job is still here waiting for you. That is, if you still want it...
Hope you gave my physical being, Squirty, a big kiss straight on the lips
as you departed LV. Doggy lips are always so juicy and sweet.

Sunday, September 18, 2005 21:07:24 <Jim>
We took off at 4am this morning and got into Denver at 7pm
Colorado is the worls best kept secret it seems. We drove by Vail and Aspen. The weather is cold, but it feels good, the mountains are gods artwork...they are SO dimensional, the air is crisp and clean and the people are fun.
I miss this state. Damn is it beautiful.
Mikey, of all the things we didn't squeeze into the truck, we've got your TV in there...kewl, huh. Am I still going to have a job there, or will the hurricane blow you guys away.
Its great to FREE!!!
This log is being updated through Becky's cell phone. I'm afraid its going to catch fire!!!

Sunday, September 18, 2005 05:58:22 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Oops
I meant "Missy", not "Misty".. I am so sorry.
Did a little bit of funriture shopping yesterday.
Including a Little Lots Furniture site close to my storage unit in So. Orlando. WIll have to line up at least a bed and chair this week. Going by Camden today to try and get them to committ to the 50 bucks off per month for six months - if you lease for 12 months statement that was on Apartments.com for Camden Reainasse.
Dying to see ya get here Jimmy and Ms. R.
Drive here quickly, but safely. And no speeding tickets for going 120 mph.

Sunday, September 18, 2005 05:40:57 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
SAE is so happy Jimmy got the fone issue(s) resolved.
Poop on Sprint...
And Saturday was also a great day in college Football
USC, UCLA won and Notre Dame lost!!!
Jimmy is feeling emotional about this venture to FL
and I don't blame him at all. A huge venture away from "home" and the ones he loves. I think what is great is that the one he loves the most (Ms. R.) is coming with him. Jimmy... Your eyes are sweeling up with an occasional tear, but in a sense that's good. Remember, Sonny, Robert, Jennifer and whomever else (Misty, etc.) you will miss are a fone call or holiday trip by aeroplane away. And in their hearts too.
And in the meantime..
Damn, am I looking forward to spending the next year (or so) working with you and sharing the apartment with you and Ms. R. You two are so special!!! And don't forget that!!

Saturday, September 17, 2005 20:08:32 <Jim>
I finally got my cell phones Right!!!
Turned in the Sprint phones and got 2 Verizon phones. They are better, half the price, cheaper monthly cost, and I got one working with my laptop on the net in FIVE MINUTES. Sprint either lies a lot or they just don't know their own systems.
The kicker was, when I returned my new Sprint phone to Sprint, they said I had to return it to the booth in Costco where I bought it. So, if I had brought it to Orlando thinking I could exchange it, I would have been screwed.
We're almost all packed.
I brought Sonny over, the kids are here, they're watching TV, and were playing with the laptops. I think Squirt knows we're going somehow. I swung by Robert and Joy's. Its about the third time my eyes got watery since I got the call about Skip.
I spared Sonny from the tears.
I told him I'd see him around Christmas, and now that he's got that cell phone, we can call each other anywhere, anytime. He'll never be alone!
I'm so glad I stayed persistant on the cell phone issue.
It was time well spent. Plus, I can dial into anything, anywhere. I could watch TV on mine, but that seems kind of stupid! Why would I need broadband for watching TV on a 1" by 2" screen? People are crazy, and they make these cell phones for kids!!! I could buy a handheld TV with a bigger screen for $100. I could buy a Gameboy and have much more fun on it.
When I connect the through the cell phone, it wasn't a toy anymore.
I can trade stocks, find the closes Holiday Inn Express, or check my mail. It's business now...and that's cool.
Verizon's rates for 2 discounted phones $69/700 minutes.
I added their special plan for watching TV and all for $15. That's temporary.
My phone $139 has a great speaker phone, a 1.4megapixel camera, takes mini-SD cards, had voice recognition which works GREAT. The key pad is easy to use, clear to see, and I can flip it open with one hand. Its CDMDA means its broadband. It's got Bluetooth built in. I like the way this phone cradles up to your face.
Becky's phone $25 has great speaker phone, its cute, flips open easily, but is tri mode. I can dial out on it from my laptop. It acts like a regular dialup connection!!! Cool..huh.

Friday, September 16, 2005 13:28:25 <Jim>
I just sliced up my leg unloading that AC unit I grabbed for GMa.
I still think that sucked that she didn't take it. A lot of effort for nothing.
We're starting to load up furniture...this should be fun.
We packed up our shirts and Becky did a laundry load. Then we discovered we had nothing to wear...lol.

Friday, September 16, 2005 04:02:05 <Jim>
The sum of our days is greater than our life.
I feel like I'm already on my 1,000th life here on this tiny little planet.
Past life memories seem to come back in flashes, inspired by songs like 'Why do you build me up buttercup baby'
For a moment, I was there. I could have changed anything, but I like it all just like it was.
When I was 11, was I really riding that bus, watching those cute little girls sing that song.
Or was that someone elses life I saw, and I just believe it was me.
This life can be full of mysteries and adventure, or it can be one of those quiet hells people keep falling into.
I told Steve (the bartender at Blue Ox) that I was tired of watching TV.
It was time to plunge myself through the screen and become part of the show again. I asked him if he ever got wild.
He said "I am wild", as he viewed an empty parking lot as if to look for something that wasn't there.
I pray I never get lost in a series of unending and completely forgotten moments.
When I've gotten drunk, I go into a world where everything is forgotten. I lose myself in a place where I'm the only person in in the universe that matters.
Most people seem to go through everyday like that though. Its like their mind is somewhere else.
Steve, looking into the parking lot, gave me the feeling that he was somewhere else
and that it wasn't him at all, that was talking to me.
It was his shell reacting to my what I said with well rehearsed scripts, something he'd learned a long time ago when he was alive and developing his scripts for the first time.
I didn't exist. His day was just another day with no value. The sum of his days couldn't add up to much.

Friday, September 16, 2005 03:40:45 <clarence s>
I copied this email from my nephew. if you can follow it, it's poetry (in its most concentrated form).
You seem to me like a really fantastic person who deserves to be surrounded by community that is not only appreciative of your modern human level, but shares in it as well.
Is it really the year 2005? It is in somebodies living room I am sure.
Unfortunately it appears, for the lot of he/she who strives, the cure is world reconfiguration.
The striver is surrounded by those strapped in hell,
who keep fidgeting with THE wrongest controls EVER for getting out.
Then there are those few loved ones who will call drowning from the middle of the river.
If the striver keeps surrounding himself until he gets it right,
he leaves with a bonus smile on his face, while clutching his bonus (nothing) with fist raised to sky.
You have a wonderful attitude dude.
Hope you have the best of times with your girl in whatever adequate paridise you may be chasing.
- Peace and love. Warren D.

Thursday, September 15, 2005 20:57:15 <Jim>
For the happy and sad people out there...the lyrics toTaxi, by Harry Chapin

It was raining hard in 'Frisco, I needed one more fare to make my night.
A lady up ahead waved to flag me down, She got in at the light.
Oh, where you going to, my lady blue, It's a shame you ruined your gown in the rain.
She just looked out the window, and said "Sixteen Parkside Lane".
Something about her was familiar I could swear I'd seen her face before,
But she said, "I'm sure you're mistaken" And she didn't say anything more.
It took a while, but she looked in the mirror, And she glanced at the license for my name.
A smile seemed to come to her slowly, It was a sad smile, just the same.
And she said, "How are you Harry?" I said, "How are you Sue?
Through the too many miles and the too little smiles I still remember you."
It was somewhere in a fairy tale, I used to take her home in my car.
We learned about love in the back of the Dodge, The lesson hadn't gone too far.
You see, she was gonna be an actress, And I was gonna learn to fly.
She took off to find the footlights, And I took off to find the sky.
Oh, I've got something inside me, To drive a princess blind.
There's a wild man, wizard, He's hiding in me, illuminating my mind.
Oh, I've got something inside me, Not what my life's about,
Cause I've been letting my outside tide me, Over 'till my time, runs out.
Baby's so high that she's skying, Yes she's flying, afraid to fall.
I'll tell you why baby's crying, Cause she's dying, aren't we all.
There was not much more for us to talk about, Whatever we had once was gone.
So I turned my cab into the driveway, Past the gate and the fine trimmed lawns.
And she said we must get together, But I knew it'd never be arranged.
And she handed me twenty dollars, For a two fifty fare, she said "Harry, keep the change."
Well another man might have been angry, And another man might have been hurt,
But another man never would have let her go...
I stashed the bill in my shirt.
And she walked away in silence, It's strange, how you never know,
But we'd both gotten what we'd asked for, Such a long, long time ago.
You see, she was gonna be an actress And I was gonna learn to fly.
She took off to find the footlights, And I took off for the sky.
And here, she's acting happy, Inside her handsome home.
And me, I'm flying in my taxi, Taking tips, and getting stoned,
I go flying so high, when I'm stoned.

Thursday, September 15, 2005 20:29:12 <Jim>
Ate at the Blue Ox, wearing tie.
Just like old times. I had country fried steak.
A song played and I remembered a time in 6th grade just like I was there..
It was "Why do you build me up, buttercup baby".
The whole 6th grade went on a field trip to the Land-Between-The-Lakes in Kentucky. We filled up one bus. Renee Templeton, Suzan Woods, Cindy Harris, all my crushes were there and they were singing "Why do you build me up" to the top of their lungs. I had a crush on them so bad. It was a time I'll never forget.
We ate our dinner.
Steve came buy, shook my hand and asked how I was doing...before I could answer, he was looking out the door at the parking lot. I guess it was more interesting than anything I could say. I told him it was nice knowing he's been around for the last 17 years...I wouldn't be back so, have a good life. He said, you'll be back.

Thursday, September 15, 2005 16:52:45 <Jim>
Ahhhh, the final days of Cutlar Enterprises may be approaching.
I have a new blog set up on LVDude, but honestly, its butt ugly. I'd rather have a picture of a camel's mouth hanging on my wall then to look at its logs. Nice thing about is, it lets you do bold and special effects...bad thing is, its ugly....I may pretty it up real quick...could take an hour.

Thursday, September 15, 2005 07:13:33 <Jim>
This may be crude but
I think we may take off before Tuesday. Robert seems to be the only person here that's going to miss us (well, except for Jennifer and Dustin). Robert's the only person who has come by. Grandma doesn't visit, and she's doing nothing these days.
I get these types of conversations from people here.
Me - "Becky and I are moving"
Them - "I've got a hangnail, do you think I should trim it or cut it"
Me - "Yeppers, we're moving out of state, might not ever be back".
Them - "My toilet is backed up, do you think you could fix it?"
Me - "Yes-siree, we're planning on driving off the rim of the Grand Canyon"
Them - "Do you think my hair looks good like this".
30 years here, and I feel like a nobody.
I think the worst non-goodbye is probably Chuck. I cosigned on a loan for him just 2 years ago.
He lives a half mile away. sheesh.
Then there's Allen, who won't talk to me because I won't give him money.
And my sister, same thing.
Then there's Grandma, who doesn't care if I busted my back bringing over that AC unit, which she refused because she already has her eye on buying a used unit. Honestly, I felt like throwing AC unit through one of their windows.
The only friendly goodbyes I've gotten here have been from Susan Stone, and Robert. Grandma wants to cook us a meal, which she'd be doing anyway. In many ways, I hate Las Vegas with its transient nature.
I'm cancelling 363-4164. The only person who'll miss it is Jeanette in Sacramento.
By moving, I'll be out of the 'Doing Favors for Others' business. I'm so glad too.

Thursday, September 15, 2005 07:10:53 <Jim>
Bought a new cell phone yesterday
Its just like the one Sonny has. I insisted on data access through my laptop. The girl at Costco's Sprint booth insured me the phone has a data cable available. We called Best Buy. The guy said he had one there. I went there 10 minutes later, and he said it was already gone. Now, what do you think...did he lie when I called them. How much demand could there be for a data cable for a Sanyo 8300 phone at 8:30pm. Hmmm.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 20:49:38 <Jim>
Woe...wowee. GMal needs a window AC unit.
I just brought one over for free. They turned it down.
They said they wanted to buy a used one, because it had a heat pump.
Of course, I'm just a stupid ol ex-certified air conditioning mechanic but, couldn't they just get a space heater?
And isn't free with delivery better than not free and with no delivery?
Thinking like this is why poor people will stay poor and rich people will stay rich.
They are spending the house refi money making one stupid decision after another.
And this is the kind of thinking I'm going to be glad to get away from.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 18:16:02 <Jim>
We spent the day with Sonny. I bought clothes, he got a new cell phone.
Pretty cool day. My clothes look great!!! If M2 is casual, I should knockem over when I walk in the door. New hair cut, new clothes, they'll probably promote me on the spot to a CEO. lol
I got 22 items of clothing today!!!
Sonny replaced his precomputer cell phone with a cam phone.
It's a great little unit! Has a camera, can connect to a pc...easy to use menu, plus it has a really nice speaker phone. Nice job Sonny.
We topped off shopping at Red Lobster
I can quit saying bad things about Red Lobster now. What we had was GREAT! Becky had all you can eat shrimp, I had the seafood feast, Sonny had tripolalclalalk fish...it was very good. We shared a plate of calamari. Yum.
The cost for all that was $70.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 15:41:08 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Ultities
Jimmy - I see you got the utilities taken care of. Hun How as they'd say in China (It means "Very Good") - Thanks.
My Bright House
You say 1 digital box... So, that just hangs there somewhere, but you can get all channels on all TVs without being connected to "that" box? What did you mean "only 1 package"? Just curious what you mean - I will be happy with anything. One wired phone. We'll be able to have phones in all rooms though? Autopay? What account did you give them. Remember, we be sharing all expenses 50-50..,
Progressive
Electric - Sounds great. That was a Biggie.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 13:44:41 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
I tweaked LVDude a very slight bit.
Will be lining up furniture for myself this coming weekend. I am looking at Little Lots Furniture for a bedroom set and a recyliner. Hopefully they deliver. If not, then me stuck doing it all by meself.
Kevin Short, the Eastern KY programmer here says there is a guy at a Title Insurance
across the hall here at work who is from Pudacah, KY.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 09:37:58 <Jim>
Sonny won't be moving all of his stuff in.
Honestly, my junk here is better than his junk there. Somebody at sometime is eventually going to have to give up their junk. Since most of Sonny's junk was my old junk...we reasoned the dumpster would be the best place to store it.
Sonny was elated when I told him I was keeping the dumpster.
Here's the house plan:
- Sonny's going to shell out $400 a month and stay here.
- I'm keeping the dumpster, electric, gas and water.
- We transfer his phone, and change his address to here.
- I'm cancelling cable, but may keep DSL/Earthlink (because its tied to Cutlar Enterprises).
- If I keep DSL, I'll need to set up Sonny's PC, or set up one of my two extra ones.
- I'm going to need to pick up more dog food, two shower heads.
In the US, you don't get rich from your hard labor, you get rich off from other people's hard labor.
I stressed the importance of fixing the condo up and renting it out.
Free income should almost never be ignored, and we ain't rich.
Oh, when I Overnighted my check to Camden apartments, I talked to the new owner of the PO exchange.
I told him I thought the previous one went under because they hired minimum wage people to run it. They just didn't care. Then I mentioned the receptionist at this hair salon. I wanted to buy a $50 bracelet but she said she couldn't because she'd already closed the registers. In my mind, she should have been fired for that. She should have taken the purchase, then rang it up in the morning. He thought so too.
He told me, for a small Yellow Page ad, it cost $200 a month.
The signage (under the Albertson's sign) would cost $400 a month.
I thought that was amazing.
He is leasing a hole in the wall for $800 a month. But the signage and a yellow page ad will almost match the cost of the business place.
I'd think the formula for a successful business would be roughly $3 per square foot. That would include the spot with expenses.
For for him, $2,400 a month, to keep even. That means he'd have to work 6x10 hour days and net $11 an hour.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 08:52:37 <Jim>
Saw the Tournament of Kings at Excalibur and did the rides at the Luxor.
I like going to these shows. All of it was fun.
We were laughing with the people all around us. Everybody was friendly and jocular.
At one point I was exchanging wise cracks with this guy who sat 12 people away from me.
The whole row was cracking up.
The Tournament of Kings - Dinner show @ $55 a person.
Over 1,000 guests enjoyed the show that had over 100 characters and 9 horses.
They had a jestor jesting, Knights fighting, acrobats flipping and damsels seducing.
I enjoyed the acrobats the most. The were incredible. I didn't realize a body could do what they did.
Sonny liked horses the best. They had some might fine horses.
Becky liked the pirotechnics. They would show up at the most unexpected times.
Waiting for the show, you have to play some arcade games!
We won at skittle ballish game. I gave my shark doll to Sonny, told him it would make a good Squirt toy.
Luxor rides - 3 motion rides and 1x3D moving @ $30 per person ($20 + $10).
The motion rides were "Reboot", "Comet" and "Search for the Obelisk" was the best!!!
The Obelisk one was by far the best. You tour around in a secret high tech area of a pyramid.
I lost my lighter in the first one. The 19 year old receptionist hottie eventually found it for me.
The 3D Movie "Haunted Castle" was EXCELLENT.
It was by far, the best 3D movie I have ever seen.
I believe they used 2 projectors in conjunction with the polarized glasses we wore to make it work.
The movie seemed very personal, what with the tree branches seeming to swat you in the face and all.
We were 40' up and the castle floor seem like it was right under us.
The movie them awesumes.
You go throught the movie with a musician's perspective.
He inherits the castle if he meets the devil there.
The devil gives him a tour of his musician's hell.
It was all incredible. The sound tracks were the best!
I was beat, and having an asthma attack...but still managed to watch Shrek 3D when we got home.
By comparison, my projector TV with those red and blue glasses were pathetic. I sort of wish we hadn't watched that 3D movie now. awwww.
Yesterday was yet another LONG day of the few we have remaining here.
We are making each day count.

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 09:41:08 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Oh, and you should see the cocktail waitress at the Baked Potato
Well, you've heard of "10 on a scale of 1 to 10)".. Well, there is a 1 to 10 scale for most the world, then there is a 1-10 scale for LA (where the super hotties go to break into Hollywood, Fashion world, Playboy, etc.) that is much tougher. A 10 in most places, would be a mere 7.5 or 8 on the LA scale. But don't get be wrong, I'd take a 7.5 or 8 on this "secondary" scale. Well, the waitress at the Baked Potato when I was there about 7 or 8 times late last year, early this year is a strong 10 on the LA scale. And Israeli (Kosher) too. OH MY GOSH...

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 09:20:53 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
And Robert, take it from me, Squirt's Alter Ego...
Buy real houses, not Dog Houses...
Please Jimmy Please
Hurray and get here!!! Me need to see you and Ms. R.
All I'll say is, I got from the Physical Exam some bad news but also got:
Me wish. Bad Dog. Bad Dog. Go to your Dog House and think things over for a while and wise up.
Listening to my favorite CD right now.
Fusion Jazz group from right within the shadows of LA's Universal Studios and Universl City Walk. Their is a famous, small, jazz club where alot of local studio musicians show off their talents for guests that don't normally get to see and hear them in person and some famous artists "grew up" there over the years. It is called "The Baked Potato" as the only food items on the menu are these monster sized spuds filled with everything from meats to veggies and more. An ex-coworker of mine from about 1984-1991, Sylvania Marqeruita Hunt's (aka: Sylvia E. Hunt) husband used to be the drummer in the house band "Don Randi and Quest" (Don Randi owns the Baked Potato and is much famous in the music - jazz business). I'll go to the club as much as I can, especially when DR and Quest are playing. I'll let Ms R and Jimmy listen to the CDs I have. HOWL!!!!!!!
I should call Sylvania and see how's she's doing
Last I spoke to her was in May 2002, just before I came out ot LV. She landed a IBM programmer job at HealthNet (a Health Insurance Co.) in the west San Fernando Valley - I should see if she can get me in there in about a year or so. She's a great kid for being deathly afraid of earthquakes.

Monday, September 12, 2005 09:30:31 <Jim>
I'm miss the hell out of you too Robert.
You remind me so much of me when I was your age. Somewhere when I was young, I learned long term planning though. Probably from that book I read about Benjamin Franklin. That's what inspired me for college and all the other schools I've been too.
Your emotions are a lot like mine. So are Becky's.
We were both crying when we read your blog. We're all emotional creatures that use our intellect to interact with.
I don't know how many times I teared up while you guys were here last weekend. Almost the whole time I was screaching out "Benny and the Jets" while driving you home, I was watery eyed. If I'd played "Your Song" by Elton John, I'd have been a blithering mess of emotions.
Just want you to know, this isn't much different than us staying in San Diego for a month.
It's not a permanent move (could be, but I doubt it). And the trip has very little to do with money.
I'm going for the adventure, kind of like jumping through the TV's screen and being part of the show.
I'm keeping everything here intact. I plan on coming back and picking up where we were 2 weeks ago again. Only the next time we're, Sonny will be our guest, not Skip.
I love you Robert. Not really like a son, I don't know how I'd categorize my need for knowing you are around.
That empty feeling you have, I know it so well. I've felt it everytime I've moved or lost someone. There's a series of emotions, the sames stages you feel when someone dies, that grab you. Feeling lost, alone, looking back, feeling angry and sad. Its a roller coaster for me. I've learned to like it as much as I hate it.
But this is just an adventure, that's all. An experiment in LIFE.
www.lvdude.com and that AC invention are really the only promising money projects I have going.
This house is making bookoo bucks for me every day. It makes the equivelant of a $15 an hour job. I should go over that math with you sometime.
If you can, BUY A HOUSE. Save, live cheap, rent rooms, do whatever, but accomplish that goal, Robert.
Every month you wait, is $thousands that you've lost. Its more important than owning a vehicle.
Paul was in terrible financial shape before he bought his house. lol. He kept talking about selling it, which was crazy. Now he's got more money than he knows what to do with. Its his house, not his job, that will provide him with retirement money.
I paid Sonny's/my condo off for $34,000, 7 years ago.
That may have seemed like a nice thing for me to do. I want people to think that. That was an investment though. That $34,000 is now worth $50,000. That's an 8% annual return. Sonny's kept the property intact for us.
If Sonny follows my advice, he'll fix up the Condo, and rent it out for $1,000 a month.
That's $500 a piece free and clear for each of us.
With real estate, there's no place to go but up.

Monday, September 12, 2005 02:01:39 <robert>
Hey Jim and Mom gonna miss you Wow I sure am going to miss you guys.
I am sure going to be lonely in a way without you guys.
Vegas is already feeling empty with me thinking you guys are leaving.
You never know how fun or how much you enjoyed some ones company until they leave or are gone.
It is hard for me. I am sitting here thinking of you guys and hoping everything will be great.
It is hard because i know you guys have been their for me the most out of anybody else I know.
Its gonna be hard also at the begining because mom is leaving too.
I always enjoye coming over, hanging out, joking, laughing and all that great stuff.
Boy am I gonna miss you guys.
But I am very happy that Jim you got somthing you kinda wanted to do and get your feet off the ground.
Making some money, thats always a plus lol.
It would be alot better then staying at home and watching movies lol.
Like when we went to hollywood video i was asking about certain movies, lol,
But you guys have seen pretty much everything in their lmao.
That seemed funny too me and your web site is coming along great i love it.
I hope you continue on that too.
Jim you are a very smart man and also prob the best freind/step dad I have ever had
and have taken mom for her funny humor and language lol.
I am glad she has you and am happy that she has soemone that she knows loves her soo much.
Well guys enough of that hahaha.
Anyways I was just saying love you very much adn am gonna miss you very much lol.
We plan on coming over again this weekend one last time.
Maybe I'll barbacue for you or take you guys out. love you

Monday, September 12, 2005 00:36:37 <Jim>
Strange but True
I was watching "The Octagon" which had Ninjas and Chuck Norris in it.
The ninjas fought with sticks and harvesting sickles.
It occured to me that the Chinese were poor. Thats why they ate rice, refried rice and fought with just about anything.
The Ninja sickles (or kama) didn't look like weapons.
With an interior cutting blade and now reach, they seemed like a stupid weapon of choice.
So why would a sickle be used to fight with? I looked it up.
In China, weapons were banned to all but the samurai. However, since sickles were farming tools, anyone could wear them on their utility belt without fear of getting their head whacked because of it.
I suppose, if the Chinese could have afforded forks, the Ninja would have used them as weapons too.

Sunday, September 11, 2005 23:50:56 <Jim>
What kind of hospitality do yo call this?
Something that Mikey said rang a peculiar type of bell in my mind.
He said when you get here, I'm buying you and Ms Rebecca dinner.
I can't remember how many times I've done myself for someone who was coming onboard at my job.
It's hard to remember how times that's been done for me.
Not everybody does that.
The people who offer welcome lunches/dinners seem to treat work like its a social-get-together, and it is.
For me, welcome aboard parties were given by Jerry Newberry/Nabs, Rob/Caesars, Allen/Union Plaza, Larry/Igt. No one offered at Bank of America, Univeral Reservations Systems, or Transaction Software.
I know I've put together countless welcome/going away parties.
It's really nice when people celebrate others coming or going.
Shoot, I've often thought it would be nice if people celebrated a persons passing before they died. Maybe all of the gloom and fear of dying would just go away then.
Celebrating arrival and departure parties isn't southern hospitality.
It doesn't seem to be related to any religion or region, but it sure is nice!

Sunday, September 11, 2005 20:34:34 <Jim>
Damn...I just realized I'll never be normal. I'll always be a planner.
I just explained how I'm going to be spontaneous. I reasoned that moving was just a wild act...not knowing where I'm going, not knowing where I'll be. That's not even close to being true. I'm incapable of being spontaneous. I even plan getting drunk!!!
If things go all to hell in Orlando, I've already worked out a fool proof comeback plan.
I know this house is going up $2k a month in value. I got Sonny to move in here. He'll pay rent. If I fell, I'd just move back, fix up the condo, rent it out, and we'd all make money again. sheesh.
I don't know whats right or wrong with me. Planning things has been so much a part of my life, I do it and think I'm being spontaneous. I'd have to bump my head REALLY hard to fail.

Sunday, September 11, 2005 20:12:27 <Jim>
One last Blog entry before I forget it. I'm reprogramming myself.
I've always had a pretty good guess where my next step was going to take me. This time, I'm floating free. I'm not planning where I'll be 30 years from now, or even 2 years from now.
There is no plan for what I'm going to do next. I'm just walking with no direction.
That seems to be how most people go. They do things without any plan at all.
For every step they make, they either stand, move ahead or fall, with no plans for where their next step is going to go. Like a kid in a candy store, you can't predict where they'll end up.
That can't be that bad of stategy. I'll try it for awhile.
Like getting drinking and getting drunk, I know I can just stop and pick up where I was at before I started.
This trip to Florida isn't about monetary gain. It isn't about getting ahead.
It's about hanging out in Florida with the last best friends I have left. I won't save be saving much. I won't be getting rich. In fact, I won't risking a single thing I own. I will be passing time in a place I've never seen before, and with people I really I care about.

Sunday, September 11, 2005 19:36:40 <Jim>
Ain't we all. Me especially
I'm constantly trying to assign some kind of meaning to a life where there is none.
I feel like a scientist looking for the smallest possible particle...or even the largest possible particle.
The more ya look, the more you find out you have begun to realize anything.
So, here I am, saying, live for the day.
And may everyday be your best.
Becky and I just got our hair cut.
We look marvelous. lol. This will probably be the last time Lisa ever cuts my hair...after almost 16 years. wow.
Now that we are getting ready to leave Las Vegas, I've got to wonder why I ever stayed here as long as I have. Sure, Vegas is a great town, but life is short, and you can experience Vegas in a month. I never moved on. wow.
Moving is going to be an eye openner.

Sunday, September 11, 2005 07:49:05 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
Please don't throw my around your BLOG
Me being the sheer definition of weirdness, you must have meant me when you said "throwing some weirdness into my blog" or however you phrased it... Me really weird. Then again, you knew that.

Saturday, September 10, 2005 21:34:58 <Jim>
Last breakfasts, lasts lunches, last suppers, and the last walks together.
You rarely know when you doing something for the last time.
I like to treat everyday as if its my last. Got nothing better to do today than to have some fun.
And if today was the last time I'll ever see your smiling faces, it was incredible an incredible day. Your smile will last forever in my mind.
Ok, I've asked people what they think heaven is like. It's my turn to have my go at it.
Heaven is much like a day like today. Except its more like everyday than just today. My life would pretty much describe what I think heaven is. I thought I'd throw in a little weirdness into this blog...

Saturday, September 10, 2005 20:12:47 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
Jimmy - Read your email after you have sent the animals back to Fly's employee break room (LV Zoo)
ha ha

Saturday, September 10, 2005 12:22:26 <Jim>
I keep running into apartments that look great, but arent available until 10/7
Shoot

Saturday, September 10, 2005 10:00:36 <Jim>
Apts - 1.7 miles from M2
Camden Renaissance:(866) 786-9867 ext. 4919 631 LOTUS LANDING BLVD, ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL 32714 Type: B2, B3:2 Br2Ba, $938/905 They also have 3br2Ba I'm worried about living in a motel for 2 weeks, because the truck will be loaded. Really don't want to get a storage space, and the shell will leak eventually.

Saturday, September 10, 2005 08:32:49 <Jim>
Addresses In Orlando - I need to locallize my information...this seems like a good place.
M2 - 850 Trafalgar Ct, Maitland, Florida, 32751
Kevin Callanan - 508-297-1337, Cell: (508) 932-3252, Kcallanan@stjinc.com

Saturday, September 10, 2005 07:52:23 <Jim>
Click here: Orlando-Club Renaisannce
I thought I'd sent you the word doc I was working up. Sorry. I meant to say Apartment J.
It would be nice to have 12 feet between the projector and the wall it hits. But thats a huge area.
AT 3'-4' the screen is 30".
At 6'-8' the screen is 60"
AT 8'-10' the screen is 80"
I've got it now at 12'...and the screen is about 9' tall by 12' wide.
BTW-the way they measure TV screens is diagonally...and its the only opportunity I've ever had to use A² + B² = C²

Saturday, September 10, 2005 08:12:39 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
Further Info for Jimmy and Ms. R
I took an alternative look at Club Renaiassne - I will go there this morning and follow up. It's a good looking place, seems well maintained and is close to work. I am repeating myself.. It's got every thing I think we want, so if you want to do that 3 bdrm, "L" unit, then let's do it. I will talk to Jade this morning when I turn in my paperwork about it.
Link to follow to look into a floor layout.
http://www.apartments.com/search/oasis.dll?page=avgrandtour&view=2&property=103017.133.11&resultpos=13&area4=Y&subarea6=Y&allsizes=1&allbaths=1&mode=4096&status=12&state=FL&rgn1=15&prvpg=43&type_listing=1&srt1=0.63&srt2=0.05&srt3=0.62&Rent_Minimum=0&Rent_Maximum=99999&srank=21&nZoomIn=1&PhotoSlotNum=1#photos
I know this is one hell of a long link. I went to www.apartments.com and found the complex. Only thing I think it really gained me was the ability to get rough sq. ft. of each room. Looks like the living room can handle your new projector.
Clearly, the bedroom in the lower right with the connected bath would be for you and Ms. R. I'd take one of the others.

Saturday, September 10, 2005 04:21:46 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
Apartment issues..
While, it's funny. Jeff made a snide remark about "What if they don't have the particular aparment you want?". I guess he can be foresightful at times. I called Friday afternoon after I read your entry about having submitting your paperwork. I called to say I was going to be there Satursday morning when they open to submit my paperwork.
I sopke to Sharon
She did a bit of research and said Jade was handling you guys. I won't worry too much Jade didn't call back, she may just be doing that, today, Saturday.
You say they have a L-2 bdrm. Well, L is a 3 bdrm
So, I assume that is what you mean. I don't particularily care 2 bdrm vs. 3 bdrm. And if the price difference is only $100 (2x50) a month if ok, then I am ok. The extra room we can possibly make a computer room with PVs, small Tandems, even large IBM mainframes. Many apartments I see driving down the road that look like they face a lake, have a full fledged screen (surely removable) covering the entire patio/balcony.
Private Baths..
I've always kept that foremost in my mash (dog talk for "Brain") that we'll all want a private bath. You two will get first choice of rooms, etc. - what ever is decided, and I will work from there. I could use some privacy too, but if you look at a L unit - the maon bdrm has a walk in closet and a very private bath. And while they do not show a door from the other two bedrooms to the second bath, I am sure we can work something out, so I can make it back and forth to a bedroom from the bathroom without not much trouble.
Living room walls....
Looks like the L unit has a fair living room wall for your projector.
Did Jade say anything about early Oct. opportunities?
If they have a J - 2 bdrm unit coming available on Oct 5th, maybe we just hang out in an extended stay hotel for 1 week for the right unit. I wouldn't wait too long, or at all if they have not had any move out notices.
Here's another thought...
Go back to Camden's home page and look at Camden Club, #4, in Longwood (about 4 or 5 miles north of Camdem Renaisse). The commute will be slightly longer, but not really with that much more hassle (traffic). For the same prices, they have units that are 100 to 200 sq ft larger than what we've been looking. The extra footage is nice, but I'd give it up to be closer to work. Other things about the Camden Club property are: We'd have to look at all the floorplans, but given the ONE layout I looked at, the projector may not workout. This property is also within a reasonably close walk to places where Ms. R can find things to do during the days we are at work, if she's so inclinded. Longwood and Altamonte Springs are both nice neighborhoods. Howl....

Saturday, September 10, 2005 00:49:03 <Jim>
Mikey....a quick word....I hope you get this before going to the apartments tommorrow.
Jade there told me they have one L- 2br Apartment available in September. She said she'd call back but she never did. If you want to look at the 3 bedrooms, they're only $100 more. And a veiw of the lake probably isn't important. Probably has mosquito's everywhere on that side anyway.
Becky and I will just want a bedroom with a private bath...
because we like to get naked and when we get naked, we get sticky...lol.
Use your best judgement buddy.

Friday, September 09, 2005 17:23:26 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Me too....
I am taking my paperwork by Camden on Saturday morning.
Medical Insurance
STJ will provide Health Insurance for you beginning Octover 1, 2005. Yea, the first of the month, immediately following your start date on the job. Ir's through STJ, not M2. Remember, STJ is your employer. So there....
Speaking of Medical Insurance
Me going for a physical on Monday, 9/12. Oh please, may the nurse do all the dirty work... I am one very dirty minded AE.
Over and out for now
BARK!!!

Friday, September 09, 2005 12:09:52 <Jim>
Things done.
- Faxed our rental Apps to Camden Apartments. Called and confirmed. They will call back.
- Scheduled an apointment for Lisa (hairdresser) for Sunday @ 5:30pm or 3pm.
- Cancelled the Newspaper
- Need a new copy of Microsoft's GPS/Street Maps.

Friday, September 09, 2005 09:54:43 <Jim>
Florida....what I keep hearing
It's muggy...it's muggy...and it's muggy...lol
Mosquitos are problem, and hair conditioner doesn't work there.
I danced around with insurance again today.
I called the insurance company that declined me recently. They said I got declined for accident coverage, eg-hospital benifits, but I wasn't declined for medical discounts ($900 a year). So that's a good thing.
They said call the Nevada Department of insurance, call the Medical information bureau, get a lawyer, contact the doctor from India that wrote that I was an alcoholic in 1998.
I called Nevada Department of Insurance - 800-733-1110,5,0,5
They said they couldn't help me. Nevada doesn't have much in the way of social services.
She said I could get a fake identity, hire a lawyer, work for McDonalds and get group health.
When I'm 50, I can join AARP.
The good news about health insurance (my nemesis)
Once I get Group Health at M2, I'll be set.
I could have it for just one month, and HIIPA will kick in and help me keep my coverage.
However, if I ever try to get back into individual health insurance, I'll be stuck in the same loop again.
Here's an excerpt of what I told the insurance people back in 2000.

Dear Sirs:
I had a seizure in 1998. I was in pain, ever muscle hurt, my potassium levels were depleted.
My tox screen was negative. The doctor I spoke to was difficult to communicate with.
He was leaning towards diagnosing me as an epileptic. I would have lost my drivers license for a year.
I told him I was hungover from drinking heavily over 72 days prior.
He asked me a series of canned questions and I couldn't understand him.
I told him I was an alcoholic. I told him I drank a six a pack a day.
He wrote in my record that "James Cutlar is an alcoholic. He drinks every day....on and on".
The doctor expanded on what I said.
When I read what he wrote, I was shocked. Why did he do that?
I told him all of those things, so I wouldn't lose my license and my livelyhood.
I didn't realize I needed a lawyer to speak to my doctor in confidence.
I applied for new medical insurance and had to sign a release form.
They discovered the doctors statements and I was declined.
Now, any other insurance company can see I was declined by checking the Medical Information Bureau.
I've been declined repeatadly because I've been declined.
My only recourse, was to go broke or get rich.
A weeks hospital stay would cost in excess of $100,000. Almost anything at a hospital cost over $20,000.
Illegal aliens, and jail inmates get better health treatment than me.
There would be no retirement for me. If I owned 10 houses, I'd lose them after any surgery.
I had to pull equity out of my house.
Is anybody paying attention to this kind of problem.
Or are my tax dollars going to projects for killing people overseas?
America, in my opinion, is in decline.
I think we have had the joy to see the rise and fall of the United States.
The service industry and entertainment industries are our best products.
Without low interest, Americans couldn't afford housing.
If interest rates were to rise, the realestate market would plunder.
The haves would keep. The have nots, would never get to have.
Foreclosures and bankruptcy would follow.
All that needs to be done to bring America to its knees, is to turn up the Prime Interest Rate knob.
We are teetering on insolvency.
Consumer good prices have already eaten up disposable income.
The American family, and American's owning America was our pride.
Our children's education used to be a priority. It is now on the backburner.
7th graders are on a 4th grade level.
And that, is my bitch about the American way of life.
On last thing...the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the following by 2012.
By 2012, you better be managing Advertising, Finance, Medical, Operations or Sales.
You'd better not be working in Education, Engineering, Farming, Gaming, General Operations, Industry,
and worst of all, science (unless its medical).
They hint, the US direction is headed towards Sales, and away from Purchasing and Manufacturing.

Thursday, September 08, 2005 06:37:26 <Jim>
Disney Girls are comin back.

Clearing skies and drying eyes, now I see your smile.
Darkness goes and softness shows, a changing style.
Just in time, words that rhyme, well bless your soul.
Now I'll fill your hands, with kisses and a Tootsie Roll.
Reality, it's not for me and it makes me laugh.
But Fantasy World and Disney Girls, I'm comin' back.
-----
Patti Page and summer days on old Cape Cod.
Happy times and making wine in my garage.
Country shade and lemonade, guess I'm slowin' down.
It's a turn-back world, with a local girl, in a smaller town.
Open cars, and clearer stars that's what I lack.
But Fantasy World and Disney Girls, I'm comin' back.
-----
All my life I spent the nights with dreams of you.
The warmth I missed, for the things I wished, are comin' true.
I got my love to give, and a place to live, guess I'm gonna stay.
It'd be a peaceful life, with a forever wife and a kid some day.
It's early nights and pillow fights and your soft laugh.
My Fantasy World and Disney Girl, have all come back.

Thursday, September 08, 2005 09:49:09 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Jimmy.. Check your email...
Very poetic blog entry you made at 4:22 in the AM...

Thursday, September 08, 2005 04:22:30 <Jim>
Epoch - A particular period of history, especially one considered remarkable or noteworthy.
We just got this house looking great, added wood floors, a projector TV, and the furnitures rearranged. Now we're leaving it as residence, probably only to return as guests.
If you don't move in Las Vegas, the world moves around you.
Over these last 30 years, I've been with so many groups of friends.
I've had over a dozen best friends. All of them have come and gone.
Long term friends are elusive. I've seen people come and go while I remained static.
Noone ever points to a house here and says, "that's where I was raised".
I've lived at eight locations here. Three no longer exist, two I own, and the rest are slums.
Homeowners in Vegas tend to move every three years. I didn't. I've had the condo for 28 years, and this house for 18 years. None of my neighbors have stuck around.
My perspective of Las Vegas has been very unique.
When I got here in 1974, I hated this town's nature.
I could easily make friends one day and lose them the next. I've been married for over fifteen years. Both ex's never call, even though the split was amicable.
I've supported over forty people for periods that lasted over six months.
7 are dead.
2 keep in touch.
3 long term friends from the 80's were shot, another had a heart attach.
I still have 1 friend from the 70's, 1 friend from the 80's, 1 friend from the 90's, and 2 friends from the 2000's.
In Kentucky, where I grew up, most of those people are still there.
My brother is all that is the only person who has seen what I was and what I've become.
Epochs - From dinosaurs to mankind. Did the dinosaurs exist or was it a dream?
I'm hoping that Florida will have a nature simular to Kentucky's. It would be nice to spend the rest of my life with friends who will travel through this time with me.
My diary, this log, and my pictures are all I have to prove I ever existed here.
Without those things, past memories could be conjured up in a dream.
I did do some remarkable things here.
I was part of, or created, several of the worlds first systems. I made a dent.
I remember. The world has changed because of what I've done.
It was not a dream.
My dinosaurs became mankind.

Thursday, September 08, 2005 08:12:28 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
One thing you can say about Robert
- He may be kooky, wanting to move every third day of his life, but at least he's man enough to repay his loans in a timely manner. Clearly Allen is in this world for himself, and himself alone. Bow Wow, sniffel...
The Orlando Sentinel is the local paper.
Pretty decent, given that Orlando and it's suburbs are small and jokeful. I think I have the correct spelling here, off the cuff: www.OrlandoSentinel.com (or spmething like that). Let me know if something catches Jimmy's eye balls regarding real estate leasing/renting.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 21:31:51 <Jim>
Well, Mr Allen Harmon just lost a friend of his since 1971.
I loaned Allen $500 in 1998. He called, asked me for the loan, and I sent him a check. Finally, he offered to pay it back in 2002. I told him to send me a check or forget about it.
Allen contacted me last month hitting me up for money.
I told him I just gave my sister $500, Skip was asking for money and he's dead now,
and why was he asking someone who has been unemployed for 4 years for money.
I guess this ticked him off. He thinks I should have offered him another bum loan.
I said howdy tonight to him.
And there he was, in his usual drunken stupor. Calling me names, cursing me, telling me to eat crap and die.
He didn't care about Skip being dead.
He didn't care that I'm going to Florida for work, or that I'm low on funds.
He didn't care that I would be driving right by his travel trailer's campground.
He said he'd never forget that I didn't give him some money.
Allen just cares about himself and himself only.
I just can't call someone like that a friend. He's a drunken bum that hurts people. He hurt my feelings. It's sad that, of all the friends I've had, I kept contact with him. It's also sad that people can be so self absorbed, they can't see anybody else. Allen is the center of his universe. He'll probably drink himself dead in a couple of years anyway.
So sad.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 18:52:22 <Jim>
Orlandian doesn't sound funny. I like Tampan for obvious reasons. haha
Sonny's moving in here, so the moving pressure is off of me. I don't have to worry about my abandoned house getting raided or graffitied. My mail can go straight into the garbage, it doesn't have to be forwarded. With that said, we could have taken off next Tuesday, but I didn't know that at the time. I'd still like to have the extra week to square some things away. EG: My $1,600 health insurance gave me a $700 check for a refund. Just got a lot of little things like that.
The extra time will help us to find a really good place to hang too!!!
I could easily see the Orlando contract lasting for years and years...cause that's the way it always goes. Personally, I plan on using M2 as a stepping stone to get back to the West Coast.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 20:08:37 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
DARN IT..... I typed for 15 minutes and one keystroke wiped out my huge entry!!! I am going to bite your tires....
Well, if you gotta start the 26th instead, I am sure Jeanne will say ok.. She said ok to Jeff (my friend here) to take a 8 day trip to the Ukraine - two and a half weeks after he started the job.
We're in the Metro Orlando area. Not Tampa!!
If this area was So. CA, Los Angeles CITY, not even LA County, would cover all the 90 miles from Tampa to Orlando and then some. But this is f-ing Jeb Bush land, not studly California. I think San Bernando County in SO. CA is larger than all of Florida or close to it, in terms of square or rectangalur mileage.
I'll email you my address here. But I know when I added Jeff to the box just last week
The lady working the UPS Store (Mail Boxes, etc...) needed Jeff's ID for her files before she could accept his mail. And it's a tiny box. I might be over loading. You want to fax me a pic of your Drivers License (what she wants for ID), and I'll ask her for a box for you separate. She might very well let me do it for you pre-arrival. Or you can wait until you get here, do it yourself, and then start mail forwarding with the USPS office there at 89121.
If you get here the 26th, and we take a comfortable 4 or 5 days to finalize housing
that will work good with me. For if you want to share a place with me, I am finally getting set for doing something "perm" anytime between the 22nd and the end of the month.
Here's another thought
If you (both you and Ms. R) and Jeffrey agree - and want to expand on that housing share thing, then maybe we can split it three ways. Like say, that Camdem Apt. place, the price goes up two hundred for the third bedroom and about an additional 300 sq. ft. and split three ways would save even more dollars for us all. He is quite, hold up in his room with the door closed, 3-5ing to his laptop, so he wouldn't be a hassle. But best you and he might and discuss it between yourselves.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:41:26 <Jim>
Yeeeehaaaaa!!!! I'm almost a Florida Tampan!!!
Guess when I leave I'll be a Tampax!!!
I start September 19th, which should be plenty of time!
TO DO's
-Cancel the Newspaper
-Cancel the Dumpster
-Cancel the Bug Service
-Call forward my messages
-Put change-of-address in at the Post Office (use Mikeys PO box for now).
-Cancel the Bug Service
-Get hair cuts
-Get together with Ricco.
-Buy some clothes
-Eat up our food! Have a cookout!
-Load the Camper Shell back on
-Shrink the file cabinet
-Move Sonny's car over here.
-Store valuables in the Condo's garage.
I just asked Kevin if it would be possible to start on the 26th.
I think they'll go for it. I mean, what can they do? Fire Me...haha. I'm pretty sure they've already got the paper work moving, so, it should be okay.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 15:43:58 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
I am so excited for Jimmy, and for Ms. R.... AND ME TOO...
I get to work with the grat Jimmy Cutlar again!!!! (and you others out there don't!!!!) HURRAY!!! Long live Jimmy. Just one thing Jim. I know I told you that the dress code here is EXTREMELY loose/liberal (shorts, tee shirts and flip flops), but please, no coming to work naked or as a construction worker (butt crack showing). That's be too much for the ladies in the office.
Just sent you an email....
Take a look and reply to my email address (mike -@- ginsburg -dot- net

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 10:17:54 <Jim>
I did the interview. I think it went well.
Of course, my heart is in my throat. They didn't ask any technical questions at all. They just asked me to tell about my experience. Here's what I said:
-I started programming in 1983, on the worlds first Race and Sports Book System.
It was Tandem based, and I was responsable for most of the code, sysgens, operations, and user calls.
-I moved on to the only Airline system in the United States running Tandem.
We got most of the code from Sweden. I was responsible for all their systems including pathway and programming.
-From there, I went on to Bank of America where I was responsible for all credit and debit card routing.
Another programmer and I wrote the pilot program for the ATM Fee system. My primary responsibilities were to maintain the INN switch, which routed ATM/POS transactions to the Card Issuers.
-Then I started at Caesars.
There I had dialup and was on call for all systems, operations, and programming problems.
I wrote an interface with the Tandem that allowed Pathcom users to pull up a customers picture by hitting a function key. I also wrote an interface with Accumail, for online address correction and zip-plus-4 encoding.
-Transaction Software Incorporated hired me to join Mgm in a rehost project.
We were rehosting Stratus programs to Tandem. I wrote a Tacl macro that converted their screens, and servers to Tandem. That project was dropped and Mgm hired me as their consultant to write a data warehouse system.
-After that project was wrapped up, I consulted with IGT, doing a data warehouse for their Slot systems.
However, that system used SQL 2000 and Windows 2000.
-Currently I'm building a commercial website.
Transaction Software offers vary little piece work, and I believe I'm one of only five Tandem programmers left in Las Vegas.
I hope the interview went well.
I was extremely nervous, and this flu doesn't help much. I asked Jean if they had any exciting projects they were working, and she mentioned their FEMA project. I forgot that stood for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, so I studdered a little.
In the end, they asked me when I could be available.
I told them I'd have a four day drive, plus I have a couple of properties to square away.
September 19th would be perfect, and it would give me plenty of time to wrap up.
I couldn't get a bead on their attitude though. I didn't inject any of my personality into the interview. The most we strayed was talking about New Orleans, and the disasters in Florida a couple of years back.
At least, if I blew it, I gave it a hell of shot.
I'd hoped they'd ask me some technical questions though. I've read a few manuals since yesterday. I reviewed Pathway, Cobol85, Scobol, Enable, DDL, FUP, Tacl, Spoolcom, Peruse...I was ready to answer any syntactical question they had to ask. If my interview failed, it would have to be because I mentioned the last Tandem work I did was in March. I called John just in case, to give him a heads up.
Bummer that I didn't get a chance to answer any techie questions.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 08:39:53 <Jim>
That's the thing i like best about renting.
Since this house earns more in appreciation than I have in most of my working history, I'd have to keep it. The way I add it up is that I may be able to save $2,000 a month in Florida. During those months, this house will certainly appreciate over $2,000 a month. Plus, with my $520 payments (now), making monthly cash is a given.
It's my golden goose...haha.
What's the math look like. hmmm.
I owe $110,000. The house is worth $180,000. Unless a nuclear weapon radiates this land, this house should easily be worth $250,000 in two years. And its all tax free income (good ol Republicans).
What I especially like about this neighborhood, is that people are pulling money out of their equity, and actually putting it back into the house. Can you believe that?
Addenmum to my last entry.
I said MaxLinkDepth...it should have been LINKDEPTH...haha.
I finally found a Pathway configuration file. Its was in my subvolume from Caesars. My subvolume had the most sophisticated sources of all too. I'd forgotten that.
I'd replaced Caesars 1,000s of lines of Declarative Section code with 60 lines of code that handled Guardian-err and actually told you what the error was.
Plus I wrote the macros for rebuilding the pathway configuraton cold start file, and implementation macros.
Its all intact and ready to go.
Caesars had several pathways with 100s of servers and requesters. All I needed to do to switch to a different system is type SL for slots, HT for Hotel, and so on.
I can't wait to use them again.
I've generated a bunch of Tandem documention from www3.hp.com site.
The best way to learn something is to document it. So, now, I have my own compressed version of all the Pathway commands, a Cobol syntax page, and a sample requestor/server with all of the main chunks of code.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 11:27:17 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Renting/Selling your house.
Hay, if your serious about it. At least renting it, then maybe throw a few bucks Robert's way to spend a day a week there working to clear it out. Accomplishes two goals. Gets him a few extra bucks, and clears the place out for rental. Then maybe hit some RE agent you can trust (Brian "The Brain" Grady MAYBE????) up for finding you a qualtity renter. Nice thing about renting, is the place earns you some income, and is still yours down the road if you choose to return.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005 07:22:27 <Jim>
It sounds pretty good Mikey.
I've read a few manuals since yesterday. I'm all brushed up..hey hey hey...hey HEY, Yeah Yeah, uh huh (Elvis 'All shook up'). I even brushed upon that Maxlinks.
MaxServers * min(MaxLinks,MaxLinkDepth) = number of simultaneous request to a server.
MaxLinkDepth must be <= A Server's Receive-Control. Table Occurs 5 times.
When a Server reaches its MaxLinks or MaxLinkDepth, another one fires up.
A little brush up. That's all I needed.
Sure wish I had a Pathway configuration file though.
I'm confident I'll get the openning. It'll be nice to get away from Vegas for awhile too. I'm missing Sonny, Squirt and Robert already. I haven't been out of Vegas much since 1974 (except for going on expeditions), so this will an experience.
Who knows? Maybe I will sell this house and buy a Motor Home and some land (in Fiji).
Que sera sera
Florida should be coming into its good season.
Las Vegas is. Its 74 outside right now.
Just wish I had time to clear this house out, and rent it out. I should have bought a projector TV a long time ago. Its easy to move. If the bedroom was gone, everything here would be sellable or storable. hmmm.
We should be (maybe) be able to save $2,000 a month in Florida (or $24,000 a year). Still not enough to retire on after 10 years. We'll still need something else going for us. LVDude will still be a good project. There's nothing else out there that does what it does. I'll keep plugging away at it.

Tuesday, September 06, 2005 15:49:14 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Hurray for Jimmy
On two counts..... First, and foremost, on the interview scheduled for Wednesday, 9/7 at 10am PT and for eating at the wondeful Peppermil with Mr. R and Sonny last night. Nice pick... But I lost you last night while IMing, so the last I knew, you were thing????????? Aside from my Ye Olde Spaghetti Factory thought.
Yea, those Peppermil meals are huge. Especially their salads.
I almost live for their fruit salads. I had breakfast there one time, and it was good too. But, a mid afternoon salad is great with time left to let the gut go down a bit before lying down for slummber.
I will IM with you tonight at 4pm PT.
We can go over what ever. But, I think if you knew what the job involves, and the atmosphere around here, you'll do perfectly. Manner of fact, as long as you don't say anything too far off the wall, it's probably yours already. They tend to only take the time to talk to someone when they have a good feel from the resume. Back in June, I didn't even know they were interviewing Jeff (from Northrop, whom i"ve known since 1987). He mentioned my name in the interview, and as soon as the interview was over, they asked my opinion. Less than an hour later, he got a thumbs up from Kevin.
No SQL to worry about. Pretty much standard Cobol/Scobol/Pathway - Only a little Requestor (Scobol)
So, you will see a lot of Cobol Batch and server work. If the Cobol program is in a pathway, it probably communicates with a communication line that for all in tentations looks like a Requester sending the data across into the server's $receive. I know you know all that kaka, but if you want to know more, we will IM it later today. What Requestor code is out tends to be menus.

Monday, September 05, 2005 23:11:22 <Jim>
Went to Peppermill tonight with Sonny.
The food there is always great! I can't believe there Cob Salads. They are HUGE!
We strolled on into the souveneir store next to Peppermill. They have great deals. Becky and I got 4 Las Vegas T-Shirts for $10, and 2 Thomas Kinkaid looking Dolphin candles. They boil sented oils, and they are very beautiful. Thomas Kinkaid is "The Painter of Light". (i think he's great).
While shopping, Grandmal asked Becky if we'd stop by and fix Dustins computer.
Figures. You give someone a computer, or just help them once with it and you end up always being on call for any problem. We stopped by. I went into Internet Explorer and it worked. So, I guess now, every time a server on the internet is slow, I'm going to get a call. sheesh.
Dustin was laying on his bed while I was playing with the laptop I gave him. I asked him if he'd figured out how to put paper in the printer yet. He said "Printer?". I said "Yea, the one Paul gave you and I installed for you yesterday". He said, "Oh, that one". What can I say, he's an idiot.
We watched Lord of the Rings "Return of the King"
What a Loooonnnngggg movie. No wonder I didn't remember most of it. It's too long. But it was very good. I've still got a mild case of pneumonia. Hopefully, I'll be functional soon. blahhhhhh. Tired of sweating. Becky had an accident, so she's probably got the bug too. Sonny's, mine, and some of Becky's symptoms are parallel.

Monday, September 05, 2005 12:53:17 <Jim>
Yesterday, Dustin did the nastiest thing I've ever seen any kid do.
He was in the dining room and he stepped in some ferret crap. HE YELLS "EWWE, I stepped in something nasty!". Then he walks into the hallway and wipes his feet off, returns, and he sits down right next to the crap.
I asked him if he was just going to leave it there for his Mom to clean up and he said, "I had to clean my feet". I said "I know, I saw you wipe them on the hallway carpet".
Meanwhile, Becky cleaned it up the mess.
Dustin doesn't understand manners. He doesn't understand the Golden Rule.
Most people who choose to disregard these concepts, understand them. He just doesn't understand. He only understands what effects him. He was born without the concept of others and he is capable of doing terrible things. Fortunately, he's not smart enough to get away with anything. He lies all the time, and his lies are stupid.
Grandma gave Dustin a color TV. He now has a laptop, printer, and a color TV.
Jennifer, has nothing. Dustin is a piece of crap, and Grandma treats Jennifer like she's a piece of crap. I think, thats why Becky and Paul are the way they are. Grandma treats Becky like crap, and treats Paul like a king. Becky would give her life for her kids, she's the only truly innocent person I know. Paul on the other hand, well, I won't say anything.
The family is an excellent reasons to get out of Las Vegas. I simply don't want to know what they do.
If we could take Jennifer with us, it would be a blessing. I'd have little reason for returning here. I'd like to save Jennifer.

Monday, September 05, 2005 12:50:43 <Jim>
Antibiotics seem to be doing the trick. I must have had a bug.
1,000mg Ampicillin to start. 500mg a day. My head and lungs seem to be clearing up. My body feels less achey. That's good. I've got too much to do. Don't need to throw up any more.

Sunday, September 04, 2005 14:48:20 <Squirty's ALter Ego>
Jimmy....
Miscalculation.... Since you own a home in Lost Wages (anywhere at least 50 miles from your work location), you are entitled to per diem as set by the Federal Gov't. Without looking at the web site (IRS at least has a link if it isn't on their maze of sites), but here is the story.. $30/hr is gross, as you stated/implied. You'd have $24.85 per hour taken off the top, tax FREE!!!! That is the per diem portion of your pay. The remaining $5.15 per hour is taxed, and it'd be hard, at just about any tax rate, to be taxed much on the minimum wage of $5.15/hr or $206/wk. The $24.85 is dervived (generally speaking) as follows (and I am doing it backwards to try and dervive the amount per day the Gov't says is tax free). $24.85/hr X 160 hours a month = #3976 per diem per month (this is based on a 4wk, 40hr/wk work schedule. I don't know of a firm that will deviate from this equation, as it gets to complex and is close enough for it's purposes. The $3976 is divided by 30 (days/mo) for 132.30 roughly a day. In reality, again without looking, is probably $135 a day. So, add the bulk of the tax you state back into take home pay. Oh, and I do not believe JPMC (JP Morgan Chase) pays above 35/hr... Not 50/hr. So, you're not talking about a lot of money different between them.

Sunday, September 04, 2005 09:25:48 <Jim>
Thoughts to consider about M2 in Florida.
$30 an hour W2 = $5,200 a month.
Taxes should be roughly $1,200 a month. Net $4,000.
Housing cost should be around $1,000.
Maintaining my house in Vegas, $700.
Normal cost of living, $800.
I should be able to save $1,500 a month.
The trip to Orlando is 2,300 miles, or 230 gallons of gas at $3.50, or $800.
A big plus would be to move to JP Morgan at $50 an hour after working at M2.
And that would be worth the $800 risk. I hope I get it.

Sunday, September 04, 2005 09:24:50 <Jim>
I'm feeling better finally.
I'm bummed about the loss on the big screen TV. I had the TV taken apart. I could have finished the repair, but it always comes down to this, getting a replacement part. The service people love their markups, and you have to join their club to get parts at a reasonable price. They have it all worked out so if they charge $100 for a call, they mark up the part by that amount and there's no gain.
So it boils down to this: I'm going to net $350 for a TV I paid $3,000 for.
Thats a pretty bad beating. It was very difficult to haul. I couldn't do it by myself. I'd like to sell it on consignment for $1,000 and have them pick it up, but I'd have to get it fixed first. And there are the Spurlings, looking the unit sitting in the living room. It fits very well.
If I sold it on consignment, they'd take 35%. I'd still have to repair it. I'd still net the same amount.
So, I guess I'll just have to take a beating on it.

Saturday, September 03, 2005 18:29:59 <Jim>
Active ay here.
Took the camper off the truck. Moved the Big Screen TV to Pauls. Plugged it in and it worked fine. Then I adjusted the color guns. Turned it of, then on, and it went on the fritz. $300's probably to repair it. That means I almost should have just thrown it in the dumpster. Phewy.
Lesson to be learned...never sell to people you know. Let the buyer do the hauling. OR, next time, sell it on consignment and let them pick it up.

Saturday, September 03, 2005 08:08:26 <Jim>
Something I may have to consider on LVDude
Is multilingual capabilities. I could either code separate pages using Spanish and English, or code every literal on the screen to come from a database. Hmmm.
- Coding each page with different languages would be a maintenance nightmare.
- Coding each literal as a database column would spin a lot of extra cycles.
- If you look at the code for web pages that allow you to translate the page, all of the literals are coded for each language, the code looks awful.
Then again, hitting the Spanish speaking sector could be a big market.
Billing is my last project now.
Billing should include: Special offer codes, LVDude cash for referrals, a transaction log and a way to backout charges. That should take a couple of weeks to pull off.
Thorough testing will have to be done by both computer literate, and illiterate subjects.
I'll also need a feedback log.

Saturday, September 03, 2005 07:51:02 <Jim>
Still feeling crappy. Busy planned.
I got paging to work on my ads. Paging is always a pain in the sitter.
Todays agenda is:
- Greet Dustin and Jennifer at 10am
- Pick up Robert, Joy and Amy at 11am
- Remove the camper shell and load the big screen TV up
- Hookup the TV at Pauls
- Bring Robert, Joy and Amy home
- Bring Dustin and Jennifer over to Roberts (they're spending the night)
What seems odd to me is Robert and Joy already have 5 people living in their 2Br apartment.
Where are the kids going to sleep? Hmmmm.
I think its a bad idea myself, but I'm probably the only person thinking about it.
I think Robert is letting Tony sleep on the couch.
After he made that decision a couple of days ago, you'd think his plans would have changed about the kids staying over.
BTW-For any SQL coders out there
On the Tandem we used "Where (LastName,FirstName) >= (:LastName,:FirstName)"
That doesn't work with standard SQL.
I had to use "Where (LastName&FirstName)>=('"&LastName&FirstName&"')"
What boggles the mind is, I haven't seen any fixed length columns used in Access. It's all VarChar with a maximum length, therefore, trailing spaces don't exist for LastName and FirstName.

Friday, September 02, 2005 17:52:40 <Jim>
Paul isn't going to help move the TV.
Are you kidding? He'd probably get all in a hurry and destroy it. Robert and I can do the job just fine, and without working up a sweat.
I hope M2 comes together this time.
I'm glad to hear Kevin and Mikey are willing to go to bat with me. Maybe this time it'll fly. I'd love to hear their response to my 2 weeks free offer.

Friday, September 02, 2005 19:43:08 <Squirty's Alert Ego >
First thing Jimmy needs to do is tie his tail down to the chair...
Jimmy.... No promises yet, but Kevin and I just found out that the bloke Jeanne and Bryan hired here at M2, to start next Tuesday, changed his mind and took a job Cashier at a Fly's store that used to be in New Orleans, but is now somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. No, I don't know the guy, nor do Kevin & I know where he is headed instead of M2. But, I spoke to Kevin late Friday afternoon, and after the holiday weekend, we have to both go to bat for Jimmy Cutlar.
You should have double the price
of your TV to $1300 and make Paul pick it up. Isn't he at least going to help load/unload it?
What in the hell is Robert thinking?
Moving Joy and Amy all over the place. And potentially to a bad place, if that friend of his is kooky. And besides, if he is across the street from work, what the heck?
Bark and out....
I am going to go play with LVDude a little bit...

Friday, September 02, 2005 09:29:22 <Jim>
We're hauling my Big Screen TV to Paul's this weekend.
I sold it to him for $650. That means my camper shell has to come off. Robert's going to give me a hand with it.
I gave Dustin my ex's old Compaq laptop.
The monitor is burned out, but I attached an external monitor to it. I just bet Dustin will be playing those stooopid internet games on it all of the time, you know, the ones where you hit the space bar over and over again while shooting X's at a dumb looking monster. Grandmal thinks he won't do it if she tells him not too. uh huh.
Robert's planning on moving again.
I'm going to try to talk him out of it. Right now, he's walking distance from work. He wants to move back to N Las Vegas with his buddy, Tony. I'm surprised about that. They bitched at each other a lot last time they lived together.
Stop it nose!
I've gotta get all cleared up today somehow. Tired of feeling yucky.

Friday, September 02, 2005 11:55:52 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
What be happening with Ms R and Jimmy today?
Prepping of rthe eciting long weekend? Any plans? Justin's new liptop - is it an old junker? Does Jennifer have one too?
GrandMal's job
She lose it? What be the story?
Wouldn't GrandMal home teaching Justin be like a blind man leading a deaf mute?
That's the way it seems to me
I bet Paul's pop-ups were all from porn sites...
Me one very tired dog hunte.
Gotta sleep all the time... It seems...

Friday, September 02, 2005 03:51:33 <Jim>
It was a lazy day yesterday. Feeling the effects of Nyquil.
I hate colds. It was nice not to have anything to do. I setup Dustin's Laptop at Pauls, Wednesday night. What a pain! Wireless wouldn't work. It would have, if I was thinking clearly. I couldn't remember the numbers (EG: 192.168.15.1) which made things rough. Plus, Paul's PC has so many popups, its TERRIBLE! I cleaned up most of them and gave him my Norton Antivirus. Anyway, Dustin is on wired networking now.
Wednesday was Grandmas last day at work.
We sat around and chatted alot. She's intent on home schooling Dustin, even though a really nice middle school that opened 1 mile down the road. I can't argue with her, the schools in Las Vegas are inferior and deadly. Home schooling is very rough though. It takes a lot out of a parent (or grandparent) and Dustin is lazy. It'll be interesting to see how this works out.
I've keep plugging away at LVDude, even though my mind is foggy.
Most of the code I'm adding isn't visible. Mainly moving chunks of code around to more logical positions. I should have ad screen paging done by tommorrow. This project will easily last till the end of September. All I can say is, it better make money. I'd much rather be writing code and maintaining systems in a mountain cabin, than driving a truck around the country.

Thursday, September 01, 2005 11:53:47 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Yet, another chance to devirginize Jimmy's BLOG
Oh, there goes the cherry rolling across the floor. Darn, I am a bad AE......

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 07:02:13 <Jim>
I'm running low on cash, and that's a good thing!!!
It gives me the drive to get my classifieds going. I'm in the do or die mode where failure is not acceptable.
I like the feeling!!! I've been working on this laptop, laying code at Mach 5, with my hair on fire.
STRESS IS BEST!

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 06:27:50 <Jim>
LVDude Progress
- Added a Categories table for the ads.
It's got flexibility for ad pricing built into it. Plus it has a suggested heading format, and all of the possible ad category names (I got them from the paper).
- Added the pixel height of an ad to the Log table.
The Server has no idea how big the ad is on the Requester's screen. It has to know how many Ad entries it needs to serve up to fill the Ad page. Unfortunatly, I've got to get Becky to go in and update every ad for it to be updated.
- I've still got to come up with a more understandable billing scheme.
FREE is what people respond to. I've got to balance the FREE Ads with competitive ad pricing. No one will enter ads on my site if I don't offer free ads (at least not in the beginning). No one will come to my site if it has no ads.
So I need to balance Free ads with the money ads.
- I realized that all the auto ads can easily go to Google images for pictures using the ad title
EG: If the ad heading says "1999 Ford Mustang", I can plug that into a Google image search and it will pull up 100's of pictures. I've been trying to figure out how to allow a user to copy and paste the Google image into the ad, without getting it's associated link to Google link.
In other words, if someone clicks an ad's picture, I don't want it going to Google.
- I don't want to store images on my site.
The maintenance and bandwidth would cost too much. Besides, the internet has images parked all over it. Why use my bandwidth when I can use Googles!
So, all that said, it will take the rest of September to finish this site.
But, it will be the best ad site on the interent. I should add that it is not my intention to compete with EBay or the newspapers. That would be a battle I couldn't win.
I want to own 100's of sites.
- If one site gets a bad name, the other will continue to operate.
- If someone wants to buy one of my sites, I can sell it.
I'm not going to associate www.LVDude.com with say www.SeattleClassifieds.com.
Who knows...maybe I'll end up selling Franchises!!!

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 06:10:02 <Jim>
I was sick all day yesterday.
I guess I have been sick and didn't even know it. Coughing thick flim, head feels woozy, throat is sore, nose is wet and scratchy, body feels like it got hit by a Mac truck. BTW-The new word for cool is 'SICK'.
So if I'm sick, I'm cool...hmmm.
I tried to get Paul's PC setup for Internet Sharing...
Monday, I gave Dustin a laptop for home school. All I needed to do was to get Paul's internet sharing working for wireless. His has a wireless card (I gave him), but he can't find the software. Plus he doesn't have his Windows cab files installed so the card won't reinstall itself.
Paul's got pop ups everywhere. What a mess! Frustrated, he said he'd just buy Dustin a new PC. hmmm. I told him Dustin's laptop works fine, getting it on the internet had everything to do with his PC sharing the Internet. sheesh! Some people just don't get it.
I was hoping to get everything up and running in 10 minutes
It's going to take several hours more. This makes me think of that joke where a woman calls Microsoft because her PC wouldn't work due to a power outage.
I've been sleeping long, odd hours. My LVDUDE site is coming along very nicely.
I get up a 2am, do 2 hours of work on LVDUDE, sleep for an hour and get back up. It's kind of handy.
Most of my best ideas have come from my dreams. This way, there's no lag time between sleep and my project.

Wednesday, August 31, 2005 09:04:15 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
No new entries here from Mr. Jim in three days.
You out there, and ok, Jimmy? I have been without Internet access at the hotel for the past two days. - Their system is a bit wacky. Not as stable as the other hotel chain's.
Thinking of making a change.
Cut my head off and go around as the headless horseman.
Have a dr. appointment for 9/12 (Monday) afternoon
For a physical. Have not had one in about 5 years. I'am dirty minded, so I won't go into hoping the young, attractive nurse does the dirty work. Cough, Cough!!! Sorry Ms Rebecca. I am just in a dirty mind phase in my life.
You hear anything from Jamie?
Interested ears waiting to hear something positive, here in Orlando.

Sunday, August 28, 2005 19:39:16 <Jim>
I'm am SO Burnt out.
I keep wanting to sleep, catching 10 zzz's here and there. Got so many things to do.
Gotta go gotta go gotta go right now, gotta go gotta go right now.
Sam's Club wouldn't give me the 80" screen my projector was advertised as coming with.
I realized that is had to be a mistake when I bought it. The time I was there before, the display kiosk had a $1,000 projector that came with an 80" screen. When I picked up my projector, it was in the same kiosk, but it sold for $780. Large projector screens cost $300+. If they had any of those screens in receiving, I would've gotten it for free. Anyway, I did my good deed. They tore down the kiosk immediately.
I do have a problem with not having a screen for my projector.
My walls aren't big enough. It could easily be seen with a 20' screen.
If we ever do hit rock bottom.
I'm buying a motorhome, and we're going to go from campgroud to campground showing movies on the motorhome's awning. We'll sell popcorn, cola and beer. LOL

Sunday, August 28, 2005 17:45:50 <Jim>
Yesterday was a blast! Robert, Joy, Amy, Dustin, Gma were all here.
We had Black Forest cake for Robert's 22nd birthday. I couldn't stay awake (passed out on the couch). Somewhere along the line, I offered Robert my big screen Tv for $700. I've had my eye on a projector system at Sam's Club for awhile now.
I picked one up. I now own a projector screen TV.
Actually, it's a 1,800 lumen, monitor. It hooks up easily to a VCR though. It's awsum. With my speaker array, TV watching is now better than going to a theater.
The screen is over 120". That's twice the size of my Big Screen TV.
Plus the image is brighter. It hooks up to a laptop for easy presentations. The controller acts like a mouse (like a Power Point mouse). The cost....$780, but the extended 3 year warranty brought it up to $850. That's excellent. It weight 3 lbs.
Once again now, I'm throughly burnt out.
I need to sleep for a DAY!

Friday, August 26, 2005 17:43:24 <Jim>
I know most people are sick of me by now.
I'm obsessing on LVDude. I've coded up an Ad Charge routine.
Next, I've got to set up Ad categories and billing strategies.
Becky read me all of the ad categories from the RJ last night. I keyed them into Access...
When I keyed the categories in, I realized how old their system is.
They've got so many categories and codes. I can see why a clerk has to key in the ads. It's so big, that they had to squeeze Mortgage Loans into Business opportunities.
So that's where my head's been at.
They system just keeps getting better and better everyday. I'm going to take tommorrow off...at least until 9am. I am so burned out.
We're having Robert, Joy, Amy, GMa, Dustin, and Jennifer over tommorrow for Robert's birthday party.
It should be fun. I tried to bribe GMa by telling her I have a 60 cup coffee Urn...haha

Thursday, August 25, 2005 19:09:52 <Jim>
Man, Tandem Cobol would be a blessing!
Creating something unique on the web is a real bitch. I'm pushing myself to finish this site because I'm going to need $ in my cash account soon.
Working back in the Tandem arena would be a break.
I've been thinking about what I'm getting myself into. This website is going to turn out exactly like every job I've ever had. BURNING OUT!
Insurance turned my down.
They said I have to prove I've gone 10 years without a drink. I don't know anyone that doesn't drink in 10 years. Even Becky does. They said I need to get a doctor to sign a note. What the? I pay $100 to see a doc, and tell him I'm not an alcoholic, he writes it down, and 5 years from now I can get insurance.
The insurance/medical systems are so screwed up.
Becky was logged on to LVDude as me.
I thought I was teaching her how to clean up her menu, and she was deleting mine....shoooottttt! Its not her fault.

Thursday, August 25, 2005 18:57:10 <Jim>
I'm so burned out. Been working 16 hours a day on this website.
I'm getting ready to do billing. I did a compress on my access database today and it quit working on my Test Server. It turns out that by design (Microsoft says), Access screws up the security. I had to do security modifications and even a regedit. I didn't even realize Registry keys had security on every key. hmmmm.
I had to ready 20 documents to figure it all out. Finally, I renamed the directory, created another on, then copied in the Access database.
Then I went to My Computer|Manage|Services|Internet Services|Websites|Default Websites|lvdude|1and1|db|All Tasks|Permissions Wizard|.
The magical user name to use for IIS access is IUSR_JIM.
PHEWWWWWW! That just seems sooooo DUMB!!!

Thursday, August 25, 2005 08:32:10 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Trip to Tampa for a fac-to-face interview
Given the way things are these days, employers not paying for much of the out of towners interview expenses, you're stuck. I only checked one aeroline, my favorite Southwest, and a last minute ticket from LV to Tampa costs $299 one way. So, with taxes and such, and roundtrip, you are looking at $600 to $700. If you stay the night, tack on another $30 to $40 tops for a car rental and $50 to $90 for the room. This money is tax deductable, come next filing, whether or not you get the job.

Wednesday, August 24, 2005 22:29:38 <Jim>
I told Becky, she was the last person I every wanted to see on this planet.
That was a complement. It should be anyway...
I told Becky I wanted to nail her on the wall.
That's a good thing. When the light starts to cystalize and fade into blackness, I want her to be my last vision.
So why is it on TV, when someone says "I hope they nail him to the wall", it's a bad thing? What does that mean, anyway? Nail someone to the wall...lol.
I worked on LVDUDE from 2am and all throughout the day.
The site just keeps getting better and better. Its the little things that are killer, like trying to find out how big an ad is on the screen. That sounds easy, but it's not. Nothing is easy without a little creativity. I only wish I had someone else to collaborate with. I haven't gotten stumped yet, but I probably will. I keep thinking of when I go public, and a 1,000 users are hitting my site. How am I going to handle the help desk. I don't want to give out my phone number.
I will need a Q&A log at any rate though. That should help a lot.
Plus I'll need a transaction log just to cover my but.
If the design continues to get simpler, it will end up being the best. I will have a thriving business.
I guess I'm going to bet the house on it.
I replied to Jamie (the Headhunter) about the Florida job at JP Morgan.
She said they wouldn't let me work for free, on a two week trial basis, but they would want a face-to-face interview with me. Now lets see, if I worked two week for free, it would cost me around $3,000. If I flew up there and back for an interview, it should cost me $1,500 on short notice....hmmm.
I not only want to make LVDUDE profitable, I have too!
If I don't, I'll be working for pointed headed cretins the rest of my life. I'll have to put up with the humiliation of applying for a bricklayer job, flying across the country for an interview, just to be turned down because I'm not an electrician.
This headhunter submitted me for a Tandem job, and asked me IBM 370 questions. The IBM 370 was the 2nd most powerful business computer in 1970. Now, its a dusty old box that should be sold in a garage sales.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 16:31:19 <Jim>
I talked to Skip's cousin and his nephew today.
Separate calls. They both said I'd done more for Skip than anyone else. They both called Dave (Skip's Dad and my Step-Dad) a piece of crap. They both said Skip's mom was pure trash and that Skip was too.
My point is, even if they were trash, is the day after Skip's suicide the right time to say it?
Trash calling trash trash...lol.
I hope these people never give anyone a Eulogy....cause they SUCK!!!
At the very least, when someone dies, you either say something nice or nothing at all.
Some people, like myself, don't go through life hating people, and we really don't want to hear other people spouting their hate out.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 14:37:03 <Jim>
I talked to Kevin...
Of course he said they had the experience guy in mind before he even submitted my resume.
It was a nice thought though.
Meanwhile, in the land of Jamie...
I don't know about that girl. She sent me a questionaire for an IBM 370 programmer.
Just today she noticed my resume said that I'm in Las Vegas. She sent me an email to verify it.
In my reply to her I mentioned that I'd pay relocation expenses and work for 2 weeks for free.
She's said the following:
"I am going to work on looking at your resume and start preparing for a manager to view."
Then she wrote "Are you currently in Nevada? Somehow I thought you were living in Orlando…could you please set me straight? ThanksJ
So, apparently she hasn't submitted my resume to JP Morgan yet.
I've always thought that a person's work ethic should be to always do the best job possible.
It kind of looks like Jamies reading my resume at the rate of one line-per-day. wow.
Maybe I'm confused about how these people work. hmmm.

Tuesday, August 23, 2005 16:49:11 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
What be happening with Jimmy?
I hear Kevin Callanan called you.. Like he told me, hopefully next time. And there is a guy here who claims to be really unhappy, after two short months, because he is a TAL/Base24 person, and he doesn't like Cobol. It's more like hecan't code a line of Cobol, if his life depended on it. So, he is talking about taking a Base24 contract somewhere. Any news from Jamie?

Monday, August 22, 2005 13:09:49 <Jim>
David Callahan Leblanc Jr. (Skip)
I'm not sure where he was born, but I think it was somewhere in Louisana.
I'm not sure when he was born, I think it was 1942.
His son died in his arms from cerebral palsy.
His Dad (my step-dad) died in 1985. He was hit by a van on his way to a poker parlor.
His Mom died in 1970 from cirosis of the liver.
His brother, Terry, well, I'd be surprised if he's still alive. He favorite thing was stealing from his friends.
I knew Skip in his finer years, when he tour the country as a pool shark.
I've never seen anybody out shoot him in a game of pool. He was San Diego Dave on the circuit.
He told me he beat Minnesota Fats. Skip said Fats was a better hustler than a player.
I met Scatman Cruthers here in Las Vegas. Skip and the Scatman used to hang out.
Skip used to deal drugs, you see. He'd smuggle them from different countries when he was on tour.
He never got caught. He had a way about him, an aura, that let him slide past anything.
Skip lived with me for over a year.
I tried my best to help him. I guess Ol' Granddad got the best of him.
We drove him to San Francisco in February, where he checked into Rehab. He stayed there until a couple of weeks ago. Then he went on a bender.
He called me in a drunken stupor from a hotel room.
Skip said "Hey Jimmy, I love you bro. Can I stay there?". I said "I don't know Skip, Becky and I are probably going to move to Florida."
He said "Well, I guess thats it. Guess I'm gonna jump".
I told him to sleep it off and call me back.
He must have found his way to an elevator, then stumbled up a stairway to the roof.
I'm sure he jumped with tears in his eyes.
I hope his last view of the world was the San Francisco Bay. Its beautiful.
He's dead now, in our lives.
I'm sure, in what will seem like a split second to him, billions of years in the future, he'll be back. Just like something changing the course of the Virgin River 2.5 million years ago, and now there's Zion National Park in Utah, everything has purpose, everything has an effect, and nothing, nothing, is ever wasted.
Life is a force that replicates itself. He'll be back in some other form.

Monday, August 22, 2005 15:51:03 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Tell me it ain't so Jimmy
About Skip. Not again, someone in Jimmy's life pulls at his heart and hurts him. Jimmy, I am so sorry to hear about Skip. It isn't your fault, so if you're think that, then stop. You helped him all you could. We are all individually responsible for most of what happens to us. I am sadden that he felt this was necessary. But in the end, there would have been little if anything anybody could have done. I'll call you this evening, Jimmy. In the meantime, consol with Ms. Rebecca.

Monday, August 22, 2005 11:44:16 <Jim>
SKIP IS DEAD
He called and wanted to move back in. He mentioned me being his last chance. He mentioned taking a jump.
He did it. He jumped. I got a call from the coroner today.
I'm sure he was drunk.
What a waste. I sure will miss him.

Sunday, August 21, 2005 17:26:24 <Jim>
Wow...it seems people have discovered LVDude and are placing ads in it, already!
I didn't expect that really. Here's the ad.

Need Resume's
I am in need of good qualified people
with STABILITY, for many job openings
of every kind except labor. Please E-mail
your resume to dduffy@headwaycorp.com

Isn't that GREAT! I'm not sure how duffy found the site, but appearantly it looks believable enough to fool a job recruiter. I suppose that means I can't wipe out the database anymore. youch!

Sunday, August 21, 2005 13:43:02 <Squirty's Alert Ego >
I ony went in my lasr entry that...
telling a headhunter that your resume is doctored, can cause them to not want to represent you. And maybe tossing the resume on the spot, without consideration of your talent, enthausaism, etc.
Sunset Park is studly.
A very nice park.

Saturday, August 20, 2005 22:56:11 <Jim>
Roberts party at Sunset Park was a success.
We had a blast. Becky and I picked up Amy's birthday cake and met them at the park. We played frisbee with 5 frisbees, one of which Dustin threw in the duck pond. That kid is something. I went to Barnes and Noble to pick up some programming books. He picks up a book and reads the title. He totally botched the word "Historical". I asked him what it meant. He said he didn't know...WOW. Then I asked Becky and Jennifer what it meant. Both of them knew, but couldn't come up with a definition...wow...anyway. I was surprised.
Sunset Park has some very interesting ducks and fish!
This one duck, I called Einstein, had a big bush on his head (some kind of fluke by nature I guess). There were albino catfish, all kinds of birds and rabbits. Its was cool.
What I like best, was that everybody was so friendly. I invited some guy walking by to play frisbee with us. He played and was pretty cool. The whole event was a HOOT!
Speaking about HOOT, I bought 9 episodes of Green Acres at the store for $9.99
What a Hooterville Bargain. Green Acres and Get Smart are two of my favorite sitcoms.

Saturday, August 20, 2005 10:13:31 <Jim>
The kids are here
Talking kiddy talk. wow.
The more I learn about ASP programming, the more I need to learn.
I'm going to end up with one of those Big Fat Books that are three times the size of the Bible, and are only valid for a few years. I keep hoping I'll find some decent documentation for commands on the web.
I have been relying heavily on intellisense to get me through, but it only works half the time. And its easy to get the wrong idea from the command names.
AddNew...how it works:
Wrong: rsUser.Open("Select top 1 * From User") : rsUser.Fields("User")="Jim" : rsUser.AddNew
Right: rsUser.Open("Select top 1 * From User") : rsUser.AddNew : rsUser.Fields("User")="Jim" : rsUser.Update
Somehow, that's just not logical to me.
I would think the AddNew for the right way would get a duplicate key.
I learned AddNew doesn't add a new record, it repositions the current record to the end of the file.
So I need a manual to explain this bizarre logic.
What I'm trying to do is so simple...then I get hung up on some bizarre ideologies for days.
boo hoo damnit!

Friday, August 19, 2005 14:54:38 <Jim>
I got a questionnaire from Jamie for JP Morgan.
It asked how many years I'd been a Systems Analyst, experience with Cobol, Cobol II, Cobol 370, and MVS.
They said they prefer Systems Development Life Cycle (SDLC).
Cobol II and Cobol 370 and MVS are all ancient IBM terms.
SDLC is Analysis, Design, Coding, Testing, Implentation and Support.
Apparently, there are still dinosaurs out there that still draw projects out for years.
In 17 years of coding, I've never seen the following used:
- Coding Sheets
- Block diagrams for a system.
- Pseudo code from an analyst
- Test specifications.
- I've been a System's Analyst and still don't know what that is. LOL.
I have seen the following used, It works for any idea:
- You meet with the users.
- They present an idea.
- You discuss their ideas and come up with some notes and maybe a few screen drawings.
- They formalize a request.
- You write the code on a test system.
- You enter into an interactive loop: The users try it and you make changes.
- When everyone is satisfied, you implement it.
- You follow up with the users and correct any oversights.
- The users are always more than happy to document the system that they helped design.

I like this article about Life Cycle Development...because it's true.
Life Cycle Development Doesn't Work!
The waterfall model is well understood, but it's not as useful as it once was. In a 1991 Information Center Quarterly article, Larry Runge says that SDLC "works very well when we are automating the activities of clerks and accountants. It doesn't work nearly as well, if at all, when building systems for knowledge workers -- people at help desks, experts trying to solve problems, or executives trying to lead their company into the Fortune 100."
Another problem is that the waterfall model assumes that the only role for users is in specifying requirements, and that all requirements can be specified in advance. Unfortunately, requirements grow and change throughout the process and beyond, calling for considerable feedback and iterative consultation. Thus many other SDLC models have been developed.
The fountain model recognizes that although some activities can't start before others -- such as you need a design before you can start coding -- there's a considerable overlap of activities throughout the development cycle.

Creative thought can not happen in a vacuum.
Your input should come from a variety of sources. Your creation should change during development (unless its extremely simple). Testing should always include time from an actual user.
A person designing a system for Bricklayers must know what they need, not what they say they need.
If you design a system without actually getting out and seeing what people are doing, you are dooming yourself to a never ending project. And you will never create great systems solely from a manager's viewpoint, unless the manager is the user. You need people on the frontline, the actual users.

The first system I ever wrote was a Sports Book system
I thought it worked GREAT! It was logical, fast and extremely easy to use. Then I presented it to the users. I found out real quick, that you can't change the world. They sports betters would stand in line, come up to the clerk and say 110 for $10. The clerks screen was always on the Straight Bet screen, so they'd just key in the number (110 for the Packers), the bet amount, and press enter. Very quick.
My system was designed for ease of use, not speed of entry. In my system, you'd press Straight Bet, Football, select Packers from a list, then enter in the bet amount.
What I didn't realize was what the clerks and customers actually did. That was my first, and only design folly.
I learned my analysis techniques in college. I wrote up the specs, designed the system flow, laid out the files and coded up the system. It was a major FLOP!
Ironically, the specs would be great 15 years later, on the internet. It was simple enough for anyone to use.
My point is, SDLC looks great in a bottle, but its a formula for disaster.

Friday, August 19, 2005 11:26:30 <Jim>
haha...I just got off the phone with Jamie

Email: JaKaiser@TekSystems.com

Phone: 888-275-2398

RE: JP Morgan MC in Orlando Florida

I can't wait to see her response to my offer. I put my initials on the resume. That alone should make it unique.
Its a contract that's already signed! LOL.
I feel like a puppy chaising a butterfly at this point.

Friday, August 19, 2005 14:17:03 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Bow Wow....
SAE is warm, dry and comfy... Me like that. Now, where is that pussy kat I was playing with yesterday.

Friday, August 19, 2005 10:24:00 <Jim>
No way Mikey. I'm responsible for what I say. :)
And proud of it. All I need is one job. If that requires using headhunter, then so be it.
Besides, I never signed a contract with TSI. I didn't need one. I trust them. I've known them since the 80's.
Did you like the wording on that little addendum?
Ya know, I remember fishing with Rob and his brother at Puffer Lake, UT in 1989.
They used silver lures with red spots on them and they caught a lot of fish!
Now, I know fish don't need to see color, so they probably don't, so I asked Rob why they picked that lure.
He said the lure's reflection and its pattern seemed to catch the fishes attention. hmmm
That's really all I want to do.
I want to draw attention to my resume.
I know that the people examining my resume will talk about my offer. I just hope it's original enough.
All I want is one minute of their time. I want them to make a phone call.

Friday, August 19, 2005 13:23:18 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
You've made me one proud, happy (somewhat) SAE.
I'd prefer working with you here at M2, but maybe this is the next best thing. Don't turn the headhunters onto my comments about "doctoring your resume" and similiar statements, but you have no background with here, so good.

Friday, August 19, 2005 08:58:31 <Jim>
I called Headhunters: Kevin and Jamie this morning.
I talked to Kevin this morning. He said a candidate was probably selected for the openning. The candidate has experience with their systems already. I told Kevin, if I were hiring, I'd probably hire that guy.
I called Jamie at Tek Systems and left her a message.
I'm going to send Jamie a resume that includes the following:

~~~ MY OFFER OF CONFIDENCE TO YOU ~~~
I am offering you my services absolutely free, for a two week trial period. I will pay all of my expenses.If I don’t produce production quality software, or if my services are not desired, no liability will be incurred by you or your company. I am confident you will like what I can do for your company.

This offer is exclusive to JP Morgan. My hopes are that you will place my resumè on top your list.
There must be 100’s of qualified applicants for your positions.
I believe I am one of the best programmers available. Let me prove it to you.

* I will sign any Waivers, Release Forms, or Non Disclosure Agreements you require.

Friday, August 19, 2005 09:43:28 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
What be happening with Jimmy?
Anything happening Jimmy? I just talked to a "Jamie" at a headhumter firm (TEKSystems) about something with JPMorgan Chase bank in Tampa, FL. The reason I bring this up, is if you want to persue what she is talking ot me about, I think that'd work. She's is looking to Tandem Cobol/Scobol/Pathway/Std Utils/etc. She doesn't know about your resume being "doctored a bit", and it sounds like JPMC is doing A LOT of hiring. Might be worth your try, Jimmy. The office # is: 888-275-2398.

Thursday, August 18, 2005 14:29:59 <Jim>
But I'm not a 100% pure Columbian Supreme Bean...haha
Be happy Mikey, while your coding in Cobol. In the web world, there must be 100 ways to Insert a record.
I got up this morning, intent on coding all day, tweaking and debugging my website.
I got stuck on this one bug, where a new user registers.
This is the bug:
I select top 1 * from USER to prefill any data not included on the screen, then I change some fields,
and do an rsUser.AddNew instead of an insert into.
It sounds good. It looks reasonable...
It adds the new record, right on top of the one I selected. It's must be using the relative key for an update instead. sheesh. I don't even mess with the relative key even.
I know what's happenning, and its not logical. if AddNew finds a record out there with its primary key, it updates it, instead of throwing an error.
I was talking to Lewis about Microsoft last weekend.
He seems to be under the impression that Microsoft usually makes there stuff work. Man, don't I wish that was true. I've found all kinds of commands that exist, but aren't implemented. They are EVERYWHERE in Microsoft's stuff. Its like they had a meeting and said 'Ok, lets do this', they started it, but forgot to finish it.
Its just bizarre.

Thursday, August 18, 2005 11:40:56 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Gee, that coffee was well named for you, Jimmy..
You are the sumpreme being? In my book, you are.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 18:39:50 <Jim>
Becky is great...she just brought me some Supreme Being, 100% pure, Columbian Coffee.
hehehe...It just sounded funny they way she read it.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 18:22:50 <Jim>
We just got back from Sam's Club. Our coffee pot broke.
Two things happened:
-Becky hurt her back lifting a coffee pot. wow.
-Sam's Club offered, and I'm not kidding, "Naturally Flavored Bottled Water".
The world has gone mad.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 12:46:17 <Jim>
Becky babe got back from Jury Duty.
They obviously don't read their own mail! The letter says (on top):
IMPORTANT NOTICE
UPON RECIEPT OF YOUR SUMMONS YOU MUST CALL 455-4472.
We did, and it said to come in at noon. The jury manager said Becky was supposed to come in at 8:30am. She said she called the wrong number. LOL.
They obviously don't know what they are telling people to do. There was another number listed (after the TTY instructional paragraph) that gave another number to call. Plus there was an 800 number too.
This world is somekind of messed up. I think its funny.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 11:09:15 <Jim>
Thanks Mikey. I sent you an in depth Email
I decided I'd lay my cards out on the table to Susan Stone. I invited her to partner up with me.
I sent her the same plans for the AC unit that you now have.
What can I say...its a shot. There's a lot of things in life that I really don't want to do. I don't like working on cars, fixing plumbing or mowing lawns. I also don't like dealing with business issues, such as tax planning, or setting up meetings. I don't like sales, unless its truely friendly.
Well...I've got to run Becky off to jury duty...
I'll talk to ya in a few.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 13:01:34 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
News from SAE, for what it's worth to Jimmy...
Ran into Kevin Short (the programmer here, whose from Hazzard, KY - well, close enough) in the cafeteria today. I asked him if Jeanne had decided on someone yet, like namely, that guy whose worked here before.The reason I asked him is that he got stuck with running all new hires through the paperwork mess the first day here with M2, sometime before I got here. So, if Jeanne had hired some one, he would have been notified to prep for another spiel.
He said he knew Jeanne was talking to people, but no decision...
That's good news for JRC. Not because you didn't belong at the top of the list, just that other beat you there. I have high confidence, that she will get with you in good time.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 08:55:16 <Jim>
Las Vegas is this country's oasis for employment opportunities.
If you can't get a job here, there is something wrong with you. You either learn and conquer, or you settle. Skip wouldn't learn job searching techniques. I told Skip that bosses hire, not personel offices. Applications can land you a job. Resumes certainly help. A common reference or having a drink at bar with an employer goes A LOT FURTHER.
Applications generate stacks of paper. They all look the same. Employers will thumb through them and look at one line on the whole application.
Resumes add to that stack of paper. If nothing else, the paper feels different in the stack of apps. Theres a small chance a resume will get your application placed on top of the stack. Some employers would rather read a resume than a bland application form.
A call to an employer from someone he knows gets you out of the stack. Your application doesn't even have to be in a stack. If the employer likes what he hears from his friend, he'll call you and tell you to fill out an application. His friend is a second hand contact.
The best way to land a job is by having a conversation with the hiring boss. First hand contact works. First hand contact can happen at a bar, a grocery store, or even online. People, like animals, seek out familiar surroundings. You can tell a conscientious hiring manager from one who isn't, just by looking at the people who work for him. A happy employer surrounds himself with people like himself.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005 08:18:04 <Jim>
I got a call earlier. I ran to the phone hoping it would be an interview notice.
It was Skip. He's in motel somewhere, loaded, and he's talking suicide. Sheesh.
Some of the people that I've helped do well. Some don't.
I helped Skip out for one year.
I tried to pull him out of the sewer. I gave him clothes, a place to stay, money, and my time. I got him a Tams card and helped him with his drivers license. I tried to coach him on how to get a job in Las Vegas. He just wanted to gamble and party. He mistook the love I gave him for charity. We could have helped each other, but instead, for a period of time, he wasted both of our lives.
Time can be a commodity. All of us are running out of it. Skip wasted mine.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 19:25:53 <Jim>
It's a strange world. The news just said you're better off leaving the country for health care.
They said Singapore offers better care at 1/6th the cost we pay.
Also in the news - People on their second career in life, chosing to drive trucks.
They had an older couple that bought a rig, and now drive their truck for a living.
The news said trucking companies prefer older people, and older people love it because nobody wants to hire them. wow.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 12:29:38 <Jim>
Right now, I'm not seeing it...I don't see how these ideas can fail.
I'll let each member sign up other members, using their buddy's email and name.
Once a week, until they respond, I'll send their buddy (from them) an email.
When that person comes into the site, they'll see their name: EG-John's Edition on the paper.
I'll have a special message that asks them to finish registering.
And of course, the email will let them delete their name from the list.

Tuesday, August 16, 2005 11:25:08 <Jim>
Great ideas keep building up. I'm developing marketting strategies.
I think these ideas will work, and won't cost a fortune. Man, with any luck, I'll be selling franchises in a year.
Here goes the plan:
The attractions for a self starting site.
-I'll offer $20 of free ads just for signing up.
-The balance will show on an Account screen.
-I'll set up a PO box, where ad space can be prepaid. Credit Cards won't be necessary for ad space.
-Checks and credit cards will go directly to Cutlar Enterprises.
-Ads will allow ficticious entities, as long as the client keeps their account current.
-Ads will cost $1 per day. That's at least 80% cheaper than everybody else.
The About Page
-I'll state my purpose for the site in an About page.
-It will be sweet. I'll explain how I created the site for myself.
-I'll explain that I just wanted an inexpensive place to advertise my products.
-I'll state how I didn't want to pay $7 a day for a three line ad.
-I won't supply a phone number. All interactions will come through the site or through email.
-I'll say I wanted to key the ads in myself and I wanted to be able to change or delete them on the fly.
-And finally, I'll state that I wanted a site that would be useful.
How my site allows links to other sites besides my own.
The Growth Plan
-I'll mention how the success of any ad depends on the circulation of the paper.
-I'll have an area where a person can sign up their friends.
-All ads will be text only, unless paid dearly for. All ads will have an equal chance.
Logs
-The persons log will contain their ad heading.
-Responses will follow the ad.
-Clicking on an ad will take you to the persons log of the ad.
-It will allow you to respond.
-Responses can selected as private or public.
-In the response, details of the transaction can be worked out.

Monday, August 15, 2005 22:16:55 <Jim>
Coolio. I'm in the loopio. haha
We ate at the great Fiesta. The change girl beckoned us to play slot because they have a Beeg Yumbo Yackpawt. I teased her about the way she talked. It was cool.
What a great deal. It was $26 for three people. The only thing I didn't care for was waiting for a smoking section. I still remember the days when there was a black section. I guess it reminds me of those days. Nothing ever changes much. The smoking section is just 2 feet from the nonsmoking section. 20% of the population smokes. So they dedicate 20% of the tables to smokers. But smokers come in with non smokers. Anyway, the government should not be dictating to small business. In that sense, I'm a republican.
!!!LET PEOPLE RUN BUSINESSES, LET THE GOVERNMENT PROMOTE BUSINESSES!!!
And let consumers regulate supply and demand.
Humanahumana...yip yip haraaaah. LOL.

Monday, August 15, 2005 17:25:08 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Now the question is....
If you can do the LVDude thing from Pudacah, could you still do it if you were on the great, eastern side of KY. Say, in Dukes of Hazard country...
My misunderstanding then on the call then.
Just "Be cool man" as one gang memeber says to another in "West Side Story". It may just be a day or two before the call happens. Then I have complete confidence in you. I don't know the way it is in LV, but even there, I bet things don't happen yesterday, all the time. Relax Jimmy, my buddy... You're in the loop now.

Monday, August 15, 2005 14:25:54 <Jim>
What I am seeing in my latest website format is its enormous potential.
Creating something that is unique gives me a special feeling. I know the site needs a little buffing up, but what I'm seeing in my mind is enormous potential. If I'm not filthy rich by next year, its because I've been incredibly lazy or stupid.

Monday, August 15, 2005 13:51:23 <Jim>
Oh heck no Mickey...I'm on the top of the world.
I've been thinking about LVDude...and have 100s of thoughts circling my mind. I'm far from being depressed. I didn't mean to sound like that.
I've been stewing around with ideas. Most of them are excellent.
Its kind of nice. If I need a board meeting, I talk to all those little guys in my head...haha.
Advertisement could be expensive, but I've got a very low overhead.
Placing a pretty ad takes a minute, tops.
I could easily set my beta site for somewhere like Paducah.
I've noticed their newspaper rates for classifieds are $6.60 for 2 lines...for 1 day.
There's no reason why I can't compete with $1 for 3 lines for 1 day.
I, HAVE VERY LITTLE OVERHEAD...haha.
I need to add those credit card hooks onto my site. That should be fun. I think I'll make that tommorrows project, though. I'm feeling lazy.

Monday, August 15, 2005 16:24:05 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Jimmy.....
I can't stress enough that you are being WAY TOO QUICK to judge the situation. If Kevin or I made it sound like you were going to get an interview without him calling to arrange a date and time, then I apologize for both of us. If you thought the interview was going to be done and over within a day or two, I again apologize. They did speak to their first candidate today at 3PM, someone who worked here before. Several years ago. I cannot predict what sort of result will be forecoming when up against someone who may have left here on good terms. A lot depends on how they like him, and if they think his previous exposure is good enough to stop with him. M2 has tended to react quickly, once "their mind" is made up. But Friday, they were not even 100% they were going to interview/hire anybody. Today at 3pm (Noon Pacific Time), they interviewed their first candidate. Several hours ago, I again put in a good word on your behalf. Kevin is reachable, but in Seattle on business. I spoke to him this morning, and he said he'd check with Jeanne late this afternoon about you. Please (for me and Ms. Rebecca both!!!!) do not equate the lack of a call yet to your worthiness. That call may come in 10 minutes or as late as Wednesday afternoon. When you start thinking that you are worthless because things don't happen at lightening speed, they you're only setting yourself up for suicidal thoughts, and I am too afraid you'll find yourself drinking or pulling a trigger. None of this has to do with your worth to anybody.

Monday, August 15, 2005 12:12:08 <Jim>
Don't tell me I'm so worthless, I don't even rate a call.
Hmmm. It's noon here, so its 2pm in Florida. I should have gotten a call by now.
Part of me cares. Part doesn't.
Once I get the hooks in for my website, I'll be making money in a different way, and I'll most likely get job offers and contracts awarded. I should have it all wrapped up by Friday. Part of me is questioning the part that wonders if its worth going back to a dying trade.
In 10 years, there will be no offers for Tandem programmers.
If client/server keeps its current pace, the Tandem will be an ADO connection. Old style applications should be history by then. Business logic won't even need to be compiled. Why would it need to be an installed DLL?
When you separate the application from the data, you create a demand for a DBA (data base administrator). When you do that, every field, every column, every table has to be generated via a request to the DBA. When you do that, you slow development down immensely.
I coded LVDude in one week. Its unlike any other site I've seen to date. If I see one like it, and I like its features, I can code my site with its features (improved). I'll be able to do that in hours, not months. That is why I will excel in Web development.
Currently, to change an ATM screen, it takes an act of god. If it were web driven, it could take an hour to change. One hour! With computers, generating an idea should be the time consuming project, not development.
Headhunters have asked me if I have any commercial sites.
I will have one. My site will be commercial. And, right now, its hard to tell if its real or test data being view. That's because it is real.

Monday, August 15, 2005 10:45:13 <Jim>
The only thing to fear is fear itself - JFK (a phobiaphobic)...lol
Well, here it is, 10:45am, and the only calls I've gotten are from my big dadio.
Dad is all paranoid about my sister driving out here.
I guess he thinks she'll be drinking the whole trip. I really of doubt that. He's worried she might not have enough money for the trip.
I told Dad not to trip any alarms with her.
She's very fragile right now. She's fallen, and just needs to be helped back up. We all fall. It's not pleasant. She's doesn't need to hear how she's fallen or what she did wrong. I believe she would resent anyone trying to think for her.
Background on Kelly. What I'm going to have to deal with.
She mixes things up in her memory. She remembers things that didn't happen. She constructs her memories from bits and pieces of other memories, and then she tells everyone what she remembers.
In 1995, she told everybody I knew that I drove her from Las Vegas to Colorado Springs on LSD. Most people reasoned that that was not possible. LSD makes you hallucinate. You can't drive. I drove her to Colorado Springs taking NoDoz. Its a 22 hour drive. She drove for 25 minutes and got pulled over. The cop told me take over the wheel. I got 25 minutes of sleep. She sticks to that story, even though its ridiculous. I can agree with her, or argue with her. My tendency is to argue, but what's the point. If you challenge a persons memories and they realize that their memory has failed, they may realize that most of their memories are false. Any sane person knows not to depend their on memory. Pencil and paper work much beter. Memory is fallable, and plyable.
That's the kind of mind I've got to deal with.
It shouldn't be a problem. I think of the problem as a gift. Imagine, being able to implant memories into people through suggestion. Imagine what you could do with that ability.
I think my sister and I can help each other.
She comes off as a very polite, very self conscientious person. She's a good thinker at times. When she's not under someone elses control, she can be creative.

Monday, August 15, 2005 11:57:14 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Mikeyism
Insanity is a way of life.

Sunday, August 14, 2005 22:47:50 <Jim>
Genius is the ability to make insane ideas a reality.
Jimism.

Sunday, August 14, 2005 18:54:33 <Jim>
So now. I have a really good idea. And it works.
I've got maybe 100 more lines of code to write.
Here are my options:
-Submit my site to the search engines and sell affiliated products.
-Sell/install my site to local customers. Charge $500.
-Advertise LVDUDE and let it pull in daily cash.
As it sits, if I scale down the logs for text only (unless you're an administrator), and I go with my own ad site, then administration would be cheap. No involvement.
If I sell my website to business owners, it may be too flexible. In other words, someone could buy my software and create their own LVDude and compete with me. hmmm.

Sunday, August 14, 2005 14:07:16 <Jim>
Where the HELL do you find Personal Ads these days...
I can't believe I'm having a tough time finding some. The paper doesn't seem to carry them anymore. I haven't found anyone that does. Sheesh!!!

Sunday, August 14, 2005 14:01:55 <Jim>
Yea...that would be interesting...Kelly moving in while I'm moving out!
I think that's funny. Kelly comes off as a very sweet person. She has manners and she's smart. She has off periods when she gets all religious, or remembers the past totally different from reality. Haha.
However, she could be a good rep for my ad site.
I could put her on my payroll, and since the site is easy to set up, she could do that too.
Right now, it takes me 30 seconds to set up an ad. It takes about a minute to set one up with a picture. It's incredibly simple to do.

Sunday, August 14, 2005 12:28:55 <Squirty's Alert Ego (SuperEgo and ID)>
I guess I am saying two different things...
First off, the position at M2 is really for Dave, the VP - but I believe Jeanne and Bryan might still do the interview. And I was told (by Jeanne) that the spot will be for both Symmetrix (I'd not sure on the spelling,the other company owned by Mike Muscato, the owner of M2). They are across the hall, and do the Tandem processing on behalf of M2, whose client is JPMorganChase Bank. The main point I wanted to get across was how the interviewing process goes. I can pray that my good words for you helped to keep you on the top of the candidate list. What will NOT happen is M2 calling you without getting a date and time from Kevin, that he has gotten from you, that you are available. And M2, I bet, does not have your phone number until which time a date is made.
Why no "X" rated movies?
Need I say more?
Your sis moving to Lost Wages...
Very Interesting... And if you get in here at M2, you'll be in Orlando, not Tampa. JPMorganChase, the client is Tampa, about 85 miles down Interstate 4 (I4).
Bugs
At Robert and Joy's??? WHy didn't you saving the "bombing" of chemicals, abd just debug the place. HaHa..
Time for me shower. Me dirty from working out, and 3-5-ing..
Howl....

Sunday, August 14, 2005 07:18:31 <Jim>
So what you're saying is:
I shouldn't act like a puppy with two peters when I get the interview. HEHE. I will tone it down.
Its funny how things flow.
My sister is coming up to live here. That's cool. I offered to come down there to pick her up, but she wants to drive. And that's cool.
The way everything is goind to work is, if I get a job in Tampa, she'll move here, and I'll move there. LOL. Who knows, maybe I'll have her promote LVToys. She'd be good at it. She's got a very nice phone voice.
I told Kelly, I've only got one rule.
Be nice. Do unto others, and everything will be just fine.
Robert, Joy, Amy, Tony, Dustin and Jennifer were our guests yesterday.
I picked up Robert and them. He was bug bombing his apartment. Tony followed us, but he already knew the way. The timing was perfect. I'd just picked up 16 bananas, ice cream, shredded coconut, strawberrys, chocolate chips, and some "G" movies. We pigged out on banana splits.
I populated LVDUDE with ads I found from here and there.
I can't seem to find anything anywhere that has Personal ads, that's cheap/free.
SWM seeks SWF For romance and adventure.
Remember those? They used to be the standard. I think they even made a movie called "SWF". I was looking for the format used in those old ads. Hmmm.
In one hour, I'll have it coded where the person who entered the ad can change it.
If someone else clicks on the ad, an email will pop up, allowing them to send the ad owner an email. It sounds pretty logical to me, and, damned handy.
By the time I get done (in two days), everything in the paper will be clickable.
And it will link to something logical. Sounds cool to me. :)

Sunday, August 14, 2005 07:36:20 <Squirty's Alert Ego (SuperEgo and ID)>
If you think the world is too complex. How do you think it looks to a Puppy Dog AE!!!!
Howl... I am overwhelmed by the complexity.
M2 Corp
Jimmy.. You make me laugh... The way it woorks, is the manager tells the headhunter that they are interested in someone, and their availabilty for interviews (days/times). The headhunter calls the potential employee and sees which of the manager's days/times fits. One is chosen, and the manager is called back and the phone interview is scheduled. M2 tends to work fairly quickly. At least from interview to offer of employment. Jeanne, the manager who'd be doing the interviewing, told me that Dave Macloud (her boss, the VP) is creating this new position and it is still in question as to how the person who fills the spot will be kept busy. Whereas she and Bryan (the other IT manager) keep us busy most of the time, but this new position will have more direct contact with Dave and the other part of the companies business.
Ms Rebecca - Keep Mr. Jimmy calm and collected so he doesn't sound too hyper (high)
I am looking forward to hopefully seeing you both here in Florida...

Saturday, August 13, 2005 20:41:07 <Jim>
Now I know this sounds like attitude but
The world is too complex to understand. It's intricacies seem to be designed in such a way that, everything is simple enough for everyone to understand how to survive. Our survival techniques are handed to us.
That being said, if you consider the fact that half the world is below normal, anyone with above average intelligence should be able to flourish.
I don't know how my latest project will work out.
But, everything I've done so far has worked. It would be odd to think that at 49, all of the sudden, my new efforts will be all failures. LVDude should provide enough income to surpass my previous efforts. $1 a day, per ad, at 500 ads, should provide $182,500. That should provide plenty of capital for things like advertisement. Plus there should be plenty of perks, such as permanent ad space, and full color ads that'll kick in even more income.
But my plan isn't to be a local advertiser. I want to hit every major city in the United States with a format that's easy to read, and easy to use.
It starts with one. With faith, it turns into many.
And I've got faith that I'm not going to become an instant failure. I've got balls.

Saturday, August 13, 2005 05:54:21 <Jim>
An interesting note is that I have 155 entries now and the Access Database (mdb) file is still .568 mg.
I like that...that means I won't ever even come close to the 4 gig maximum.

Saturday, August 13, 2005 05:47:36 <Jim>
I also need to add descriptions to the pictures.
It'll be kind of like "A day from Las Vegas" kind of thing. Just to keep things interesting.
- I also need to throw in special features for the ads...such as highlighting and borders.
- On the Credit Card side, I need to have a way to reverse charges, in case the site is down, or an entry fails.
Since Ad Menu Items can be created on the fly, I'll need to monitor this system as it grows.
It shouldn't be difficult. I'll handle all interactions through email...maybe, but I doubt it, I'll provide a business contact phone number.

Saturday, August 13, 2005 05:45:42 <Jim>
Oh...and I need to add a favorites list to the User's menu.
With the ability to bookmark any page that's displayed in the body of the paper.

Saturday, August 13, 2005 05:40:00 <Jim>
Alright...The LVDude ads are populated
It sure looks a hell of a lot better than the RJ ads. Data entry is simple and straight forward.
- I need to add a format filter and a dictionary to simplify the ads. Otherwise, people will put in all caps, and all kinds of silly things out of laziness.
- I need to put in the hooks for Credit Card processing
- I need to throw in the ability to edit the ad after its been place (piece of cake).
- I'm thinking of making each heading an email link to the ad owner. If the person clicking on it is the owner, then it will let them edit it. Owner ads will be highlighted differently.
All that being said, this site is 80% ready for publishing.
I should probably remove the blog entries, since those things are kind of personal.

Friday, August 12, 2005 18:49:37 <Jim>
I can't wait Mikey...
Monday interviews are always weird.
Last night, we didn't see any UFO's...
We couldn't even find the croud. Well, that's life. I had my airplane goggles on for nothing!
LVDUDE classifieds works now.
I must have spent a whole hour on it today. But, it's functional. A few more tweaks and I've got it. Somehow, it doesn't seem as big today as it did yesterday though.
My enthusiasm for new things makes me feel happier than a puppy with two peters.

Friday, August 12, 2005 13:25:47 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Holly Howl....
I saw something streek over the house (Cutlar Residence) last night, heading west - towards the Silverton Hotel. There were 6 silver bullets, in a diamond formation - that must been traveling Mach 25. From my vantige point from up on the roof, I could see them stop over the Silverton for about a minute, then take a right turn towards Fly's Electronics. Once they appeared over the Fly's store, it looked like they dumped their porta-potties. Then they went vertical and disappeared into the sky. I saw on one of them, as they went by at the Mach 25 speed, writting on the side that said "We're here to visit LVDude.com". Jimmy - That is great advertising. My question is, how did you enlist them to provide this level of exposure? Oh, I know. You've got the ear of Tom Cruise, the actor. And as a Scientologist, he is really an alien from another land some where.
Jimmy
Let me know when you get the ear of the management here in terms of an interview. And knock them dead, Jimmy.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 20:15:31 <Jim>
We're going UFO hunting tonight, along with 1,000 other people...lol
The Amazing Kreskin (whose book is one of the few I've ever read) has predicted up to four UFO's will hover over Southern Nevada tonight. An area is set up just south of the Silverton Hotel (where Kreskin has a show).
I'm not expecting to see any Unidentified Flying Objects's.
I am expecting to see Uncategorically Freaky Observers. To me, they are the alien life forms!!! I'll be one of them.
C-Ya'll on Pluto!!!

Thursday, August 11, 2005 19:37:33 <Jim>
I talked to Lewis, Newberry, Becky's Mom, Mikey and my brother.
They all saw my site. Everyone thinks it could be a winner. I know I sure do!
I'm sure its going to make money. Just laying the code, and keeping it simple,
that's all I've got to do. Everything is in place, my corp, my accounts, my abilities.
Every think everything you've done in your life has led you to a particular point.
For me, that would be the point where I'm in harmony with the world. That won't be where this website will put me. I'll come to that point with the money I make off of it. My intentions are good.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 13:57:01 <Jim>
Sheesh...I'm SO EXCITED....
Whereever I'm working...what I've done with LVDude.com will follow me. I'm looking at the premere page, and I'm thinking of how much money it will make. Each page should pull in over $400 a page in income. And, since I wrote the code, I can reproduce something like this for every city in the US.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 13:37:19 <Jim>
I'm all jazzed about Florida...this is a Jazzy day...
Florida will be great!!! I'm waiting for that phone to ring...bouncing around in my chair even. I have an interview battle plan, and I think I've rehearsed most of the possible questions and answers in my mind. Things look good.
Check out LVDUDE.com.
It's layout is extraordinary. It's not fully functional, but, for display it is. The major difference will be, I'm going to have User definable sections. Each section wiil be a log (EG:Ad category). The guest category will be predefined.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 08:55:28 <Jim>
Another note: The classifieds format could be sold.
It will have a better format than any blog I've ever seen. It'll be in columns, not rows.
LVDUDE is special, because the use can customize it.
Right now, the menu is customizable. The page will be customizable next. The sections in the Editions will be whole blogs, in column format. There's no rush on finishing that part.
What it has, is the look and feel of a newspaper. It can be easily printed. Since its almost completely data driven, most of it can be altered by the user.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 08:51:34 <Jim>
I noticed that I can copy and paste pictures into LVDUDE's blogs.
That seems so strange. I didn't expect that.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 08:05:43 <Jim>
This is my plan to generate fast income.
I've set up LVDUDE as kind of a half-assed newspaper. It dawned on me that I haven't found a single site that offers classifieds ads that are simple, straight forward, and free.
A 3 day ad in the Review Journal cost $26.
I've been looking around. Any ad costs over $20.
What if, the purpose of having classified ads is to get people hooked.
Here's the idea:
A person keys in their ad, much like they would a blog entry. It is placed immediately on the top of the classifieds.
An email is sent to them for verification. If they don't respond in a certain period of time, their ad is deleted.
As new ads are placed, their ad eventually scrolls off the screen. When this happens, another email is sent, and a notification on their Edition of the classifieds is displayed. At this time, they have the option of upgrading the ad, or letting it drop.
The ads will be free, but to keep them visible, they'll either have to be reentered, or purchased.
This system can be developed in a week.
Every user will have their own customizable Edition.
For example, John Doe can have Automobile ads appear on his front page.
Rich Japanese guys can have Personals appear on their front page.
The ads will be essentially, a scaled down version of my current blogs.
I want to generate immediate income. I think this could do it.
If it works, it could provide income for years to come, with very little maintenance.
Why do I think I can do better than other websites out there?
Because I can actually program any detail I want. I have all the nuts and bolts in place. My design didn't come from a template. It came from raw, completely customizable code.

Thursday, August 11, 2005 07:59:24 <Jim>
Have you ever just known you are doing the right thing?
I know the AC thing will take off. I also know it's going to take a while for it to turn into income.
What happens if I approach Rainbird with it with a royalty clause and they do nothing with it?
What happens if in those 2,500 worthless patents that get filed everyday, there is something close to it.
What happens if I throw $25,000 into it, and it fails.
I think it will work, but its timing is off.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 14:55:40 <Jim>
Now, I know it doesn't sound like much but...I worked on the floor today.
It's a better way to work out and get back into shape. There's something that seems strange about running on a machine inside of a health club that just seems so unnatural.
After touring the atheletic clubs last week, I realized the following:
The YMCA is far cheaper and much better and they don't commit you to years of membership.
Also, it's better just to work around the house. The accomplishments accumulate that way.
My goal for the week is to finish LVirus...its a classified ad paper.
I should be done very soon. Hopefully I can make it turn a quick buck. I can't believe how easy it's turning out to be. If it works, it'll provide a steady stream of income for years. If it fails, all I've lost is time.
Someone else owns LVADS...but its a flop.
It's too hard to use. Mine will have logs, just like LVDUDE although better. Each page will essentially be 25+ entries from a log. Each log will contain grouped items such as Automobiles for sale, Antiques, and so on. My plan is to offer advertisement space and memembership for FREE. For special ads, or for persistant ads, you have to pay. The free ads will scroll off as new ads appear.
In my mind, it seems like a good idea. At any rate, when I finish it, I can move on to something else. It'll be maintenance free.

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 07:29:32 <Jim>
Me too. I seem to want a nap everyday around noonish.
This growing older stuff stinks. LOL.
At least I'm not growing in Squirt years.
He got ripped off at birth and doesn't even know it!

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 08:39:34 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
I find myself wanting to sleep at the most unusally times. Convinenced it's medically based.
Bow Wow...

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 14:47:30 <Jim>
Hush puppies....do they even sell those shoes anymore?
I've even forgotten what distinguished them from other shoes.
I don't know what's wrong with me. I'm sore, surely, but I'm so sleepy today.
Wow...it's 2:45pm. What is wrong with my HEAD! sheesh...WAKE UP HEAD!!!

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 11:36:12 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Everytime I see "Hush Puppies", I think
you're eating shoes... Isn't that something a puppy dog is suppose to do? Not humans..
Any kind of physical activity you're not used to
will make you sore. Oh, those unused or underused muscles.
What's the news on the visit with the Scumbag Attorney
About your AC unit?

Tuesday, August 09, 2005 08:03:21 <Jim>
It was fish night at Hush Puppies again last night.
It's always fun, when we go there.
Every muscle in my body is screaming at me.
Laying the dining room's wood floor was easy, but it was awkward.

Monday, August 08, 2005 19:14:26 <Squirty's Alert Ego (SuperEgo and ID)>
Howl... Found a new decent mexican restaurant close to the hotel...
Now I know where to go on Saturday afternoons, late, with the intent of staying until midnight, drinking frozen mexican drinks. Yummy.. Jive puppy Jive Talk.
I am looking into several opportunities, among them, one in Tampa...
Jimmy. You want the name and email address of someone (a programmer) at JP Morgan Chase Bank in Tampa. She is the one I replaced at M2. She says JPMB is looking. She may be of help, and since she isn't a headhunter, no headhunter bullshit (at least, until which time, it is necessary..)
Tell ya, her name is Teri Sears (no relationship to the department store) and her email address is: teri.sears@rightbox.com - maybe send her your resume if you're interested, and tell her I sent you.
What'a the latest on the AC unit?
And what did the scumbag (attorney) have to say last week?

Monday, August 08, 2005 10:10:40 <Jim>
The United States sends mixed messages on drugs.
It seems to me that 1 out of every 3 commercials on TV is about alcohol.
Here in Las Vegas, there is a bar on every street corner. This city is built around alcohol abuse.
We see people everywhere drinking. We drink it in church, at the lake, in the mountains. Every 7-11 sells beer.
So, it's ok to drink alcohol, but its bad to smoke pot?
WHY? Doesn't that sound a little like the pot calling the kettle black?
It's okay for Mommy to pop valiums and take sleeping pills.
But its bad for her son to drink.
Its okay to drink at a bar. Its not okay to drive away.
Isn't that insane?

Monday, August 08, 2005 09:52:50 <Jim>
I am not an alcoholic.
I abuse alcohol. I don't crave it. I don't drink it everyday. Rehab would never help me.
The best description for my disorder is being a substance abuser.
However, that seems like a slang term to me. A more adequate term would be a thrill seeker.
Honestly, I don't see anything wrong with that.
I enjoy programming, so I write a program everyday. Does that make me a progaholic?
No. That would be a new, and stupid term for what I am.
One problem with todays society is that it tries to lump a people together with a phrase.
Nigger, whore, asshole, gang banger, beaner, smoker, alcoholic, nut, bum, bible thumper, trailer trash, ass kisser are all terms we've heard to describe people in a derogatory way. People go to extreme lengths to avoid being labeled. For instance, a black person might say he's not a nigger, then call another person a nigger just to avoid being labelled.
My problem is that alcohol is so widely available.
It has never been my drug of choice. I don't even like it that much. I'd much rather be smoking pot, tooting cocaine, or popping a valium. However, society deems those drugs as bad. Alcohol, however, is accepted as a national standard for drug abuse.
And that is a mixed message.

Monday, August 08, 2005 08:50:20 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Where was I when Frued was looking for patients???
Damn...In those days Cocaine was much more available. Manner of fact, it was even an incredient of Coke, the beverage (Coca Cola). I believe that is why, in part, it got its name. HOWL!!!!
I hate computers... But not as much as Mr. Kevin Short does
Kevin is the the bloke here at work, who is from eastern KY, near the town of "Hazzard" - the home of the Dukes...
No wonder I had dreams I was sliding around or skiing. It was Squirty on the new floor.
Strange dreams...

Sunday, August 07, 2005 22:27:55 <Jim>
We were watching "Wanted" on TV tonight. It parallels that Chinese movie "Flying Daggers" for stupidity.
In this episode, there's a brutal bankrobbery where a woman, baby and the manager get their heads blown off by a half a dozen guys with machine guns.
The unit finds where a gun was purchased, check the stores reciepts, then go to the address of the credit card owner who purchased the gun.
OK.
So, at that address, they have a big machine gun shootout with an idiot that's too stupid to live, obviously.
Who would be stupid enough to buy a gun on their CREDIT CARD, then use it to rob a bank, and then, and then,...and then...go home. Now that's pretty stupid.
Who write's these incredibly stupid shows. Wow. They're an insult.

Sunday, August 07, 2005 20:25:09 <Jim>
Freud was a cokehead. He treated his patients with Cocaine.
So much for the Ego, Super Ego and Id. Maslow was my hero!!!! Yip Yip Yip Yipeee!
Hey, insanity should be shared, not kept to ones self. What fun is that.
And to date, I've never heard a single sane joke. They're all based on absurdity!
Meanwhile, back in Sherwood Forest
Squirt keeps sliding all over that wood floor. It sounds like he's tap dancing...LOL

Sunday, August 07, 2005 21:42:43 <Squirty's Alert Ego (SuperEgo and ID)>
Thanks Jimmy. It's great to know someone cares.
Me crazy.. But not enough to do anything serious. Maybe that's the problem. I am full of problems that need resolving, but I either can't or won't deal with them anytime soon. One thing I won't do is subject any really sane person to my craziness. I don't want to be blamed for taking someone down.

Sunday, August 07, 2005 17:04:36 <Jim>
Just checking on ya Mickey.
Glad to hear everything is honky dory (whatever that means). lol.

Sunday, August 07, 2005 17:31:59 <Squirty's Alert Ego (SuperEgo and ID)>
I know have the additional functions of being Squirty's SuperEgo and his "ID" as well.
The responsibility of it all is truly overwhelming. But hell, anything for my little doggy buddy. Psychobabble terms are so much fun to say..
I am still Barking, Howling and licking my belly.
Sorry I missed your phone calls, Mr. Jimmy. I am fine. THe thirty (1.5 litre) bottle of wine aren't helping, but hell, at least my tonque is wet and red. No, all I had was a small glass of the one bottle I've got. I always go through those thoughts when something kicks it off.
Back to "Friends" marathon... Howl...
Howl are Jennifer Aniston, Courtney Cox and Lisa Kidrow!!!!

Sunday, August 07, 2005 13:15:23 <Jim>
David came by today to visit. He's got a degauzer that I can use for a TV that a neighbor threw away.
That should be fun.
We've got most of our hardwood floor down. It's a snap!
Moving things around is the worst of it.
It's interesting to see what's been on the floor since 1962.

Saturday, August 06, 2005 09:20:30 <Jim>
I talked to Dad yesterday. Man, he is pretty lucid for 82 years old.
He hears well, is getting around on his own, he see's ok.
He told me he's got diabetes, heart problems, on oxygen and gets physical therapy.
I suppose that's perfect health for an 82 year old.
We talked about Kelly. She must be in rehab. We both think its the best place for her.
She's so screwed up with religion. She's been trying to please a god that's impossible to please.
When will she learn those voices in her head are her own, not God's. And we all hear them.
I told Dad I offered to pick Kelly up and I'd take care of her.
Dad said, "that's asking for trouble".
I said, "I know, but it would be a good thing to do".
Why wouldn't a good person rather go to hell where he could do the most good. He'd just be visiting.
Along those lines, he mentioned "Jim, have you ever asked anyone what their concept of Heaven is.
With all the religions having a heaven, wouldn't you think they could agree on what it is?".
Man, I laughed so hard, he got that from me and doesn't even know it.
I said "Yes I have Dad".
If a person's goal is to go to Heaven, shouldn't they know what that goal is?
When I started asking that people thought Heaven was like, I heard things like:
Its a beautiful place. People will be healthy.
People with missing arms will have them back. For what...what are they going to do with them.
Its got green pastures. Who cares about pastures. When we lived near pastures, we rarely walked in them.
There's a pearly white castle. Castles are cold and nasty.
Angels have WINGS! That's not even a good design. I do love paintings of Cherubs though.
Its funny if you listen to them and watch their eyes when they describe heaven to you.
They have no idea what they're talking about, but they love to hear themselves say it.

Saturday, August 06, 2005 08:23:23 <Jim>
I talked to Mike (Squirt's Alter Ego) for over an hour yesterday.
He's all concerned about his friend who seems like Dustin in his 50's. From what I've heard, his friend is egotistical, irresponsible, suicidal, and whimsical. In other words, you wouldn't want to be a rider in his car if he was driving.
As far as Mikey goes, I thought of this song by BJ Thomas

Hello darlin', my, it's good to hear you. I'm at the railroad station in St Paul.
How are all the folks I'd love to see them, but girl I'd love to see you most of all.
I've been staring at the rain and I've been thinking, ever since the train left Montreal.
You know I thought I'd love this life I'm living. But now I know I love you most of all.
Many times before, I know I swore that I'd come home to stay,
but it always seems foolish dreams and trains got in my way.
Tomorrow, there'll be snow in Minnesota. But I won't be around to watch it fall,
I'll be headed for an old familiar station, just hoping you still love me most of all.
And girl you know I love you most of all. I miss you baby
Most of all. - BJT

I couldn't imagine moving around the country without someone special to share my experiences with.
Mail, telephones, email, blogs, chat rooms and bars all seem to fill the gap.
I guess loneliness is why those things exist.
But when someone special is laying with you at night, and you awaken to touch that someone, it makes everything seem alright. It's a touch of heaven. Health problems, money problems, all the little problems seem to go away because you know your not alone.
Mikey, brother, you're not alone.
But couldn't you go out, find yourself a Florida Daisy Mae, grab her by the hand and say
"BABY, Be My Sweet Lobster!!!".
You're gonna need someone when we take a sail around the world on my yacht. ** Smiles **

Saturday, August 06, 2005 08:17:51 <Jim>
I'm pretty happy with the look and feel of LVDude.com
But, I need to put a comments section in it. It makes a good looking newspaper and its not hard to update it. With the paper being the first thing you see though, the rest of the site needs to be updated to match.
There are some bugs in it.
- If you have a cookie, but for some reason your user record was overwritten, it bombs.
- It's layout is confusing with the content I put in it.
- I need to figure out how to determine how long an article is. There's no easy way to do that.
- I need to put advertising in it somewhere that fits well.

Friday, August 05, 2005 12:28:12 <Jim>
Ahhhhh, LVDUDE is almost complete!
All I need to do is a few control entries and advertise it. I think it'll be a hit!

Thursday, August 04, 2005 21:07:39 <Jim>
So nice! I got my Casio camera back!
They said the camera lens was broke. BS - I soaked the camera in alcohol. hahaha
The inside of the lens had dust on it an the shutter sometimes wouldn't open.

Thursday, August 04, 2005 19:40:19 <Jim>
We checked out Las Vegas Athletic Clubs today
They are advertising (on TV) $19.95 a month. When we went there, I had dig everything out them.
It is $19.95 a month, but you sign a two year contract. If you pay as you go, then it's $70 enrollment fee, then $45 a month thereafter, but you can quit thereafter. Then the salesrep mentioned how 24 hour fitness charged much more. I told her she shouldn't have said that. Now I needed to see what 24 hour fitness said about them.
I checked out 24 hour fitness's website. Its a worldwide. There's is $50 enrollment, and $45 a month. hmmm.
You know what. The YMCA has everything for $25 a month, no contract.
Now, why would anyone in their right mind join either 24 hour fitness or Las Vegas Athletic Clubs?
YMCA has an indoor AND outdoor pool. Spa, steamrooms, gym, everything!!!
After the first month ($25), they charge $35 a month, which too me means, they think you'll like enough to stay with them. I've been there before, it was the best. Oh, BTW, if you only want to come for one day, it's $15.

Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:43:31 <Jim>
Evolution - Fiction or Fact?
I believe that in the first 10 years of life, we have enough data to surmise the workings of the nature. I think a genious with no arms or legs could figure nature out.
Of course, thats only what I think.
In the beginning, two cells met. They join to create a unique cell.
They multiply.
In a few days, they form a brain and a heart.
The brain is necessary for the formation of the organs.
A sort of evolution occurs. Blood vessels form, the backbone, hands, feet...all that we are.
When we discover new medical technologies, we aren't creating them, we are recalling what the brain already knows.
I've surmised natures purpose is to excellerate evolution through intelligent thought.
It's not survival of the species that's important, its survival of intelligent thought.
We will create something, that will be able to 'live' millions of years.
We will merge with it, as our beginning cells did to preserve all knowledge. And it will multiply.
It will create something better and join with it, and it will multiply.
At some point, evolution equivalent to what's has occured on this planet will take one second.
It may be something say, the size a single cell or a strand of DNA. Sound familiar?
Survival of the self and of the species is only necessary in this point of evolution.
Intelligent thought, no matter what form carries it, will greet God as a brother.

Thursday, August 04, 2005 10:20:29 <Jim>
A theoretical XYZ company with 100 shares and intellectual property as its assets.

The company seeks investors for its growth.
Its prospectus shows a mission statement, a cute device, and a nice office building.
It is essentially a shell corporation at this point.
It offers 50 shares to the public, in traded stocks as an IPO for $1
It now has $50 assets in which he is entitled to $25.
If nothing works out, say, the product hits snags
- the owner can now sell a majority of his shares to the public (I think)
- In effect, he has sold his company for $25, and produced nothing but a dream.
If the product flies
- He pays himself an excessive salary, say $10 a year
If he doesn't hire people
- Eventually, there will be a meeting to vote for a new president.
- At this point, they have to buy him out.
- or the company will fold.
I'm sure this idea is wrong. People with experience, like the Enron group, would have figured out the loopholes.
Hmmmm...something to think about.

Thursday, August 04, 2005 09:55:40 <Jim>
Credit, Interest Rates and the Economy
I learned in Economics that Bond Debt isn't serious.
Its money the government loans to itself.
When the government prints bonds for a project, offers them to the public, the public recieves interest.
The money is paid through taxes. The taxes come from working people.
The projects create jobs for people.
Its a debt that pays itself off. People get employment.
Working people make the dollar work. Anything that creates jobs, increases the value of the dollar.
The dollar has no value, except for what the world places on it. Its a trinket.
Its a medium for barter and thats all.
In todays digital world, everything is turning to computer credits.
When you borrow money to spend on something, you are creating jobs.
We are going through inflation, but not like you'd think.
People are paying off the national debt through their credit cards. The interest rates are low.
Everyone should have money in their savings (except for the stupid ones).
Disposable income is calculated by subtracting expenses from total income.
Guess what, disposable income has gone up.
It looks like everyone is doing better, but they're not. Its a bandaid for an ailing economy.
Total Debt for the American People has gone way out of proportion to their income.
Realestate has shot up phenomenally.
The value of the dollar is shrinking.
Smoke and mirrors is the game being played here.
We've seen depression, recession, inflation, stag-flation.
I wonder what future economist will call this game.
I'd call it Debtflation. LOL.
I think its a cheesy way to pay off the national debt.

Thursday, August 04, 2005 09:46:23 <Jim>
Discover Card problems:

I got a letter for my Discover Card, again, saying they were charging me $20 for being late.
So I called the people, told them why...Why...WHY...WHyYIEYAaaaa can't you get your billing fixed?
- I pay them 2 times a month, trying to be sure they are paid.
- ALL of my other bills are paid automatically.
- I keep filling out their autodebit papers and nothing happens.
- I have 20 bills a month, around $2,500 sometimes, all are always paid ontime
- I've got a perfect credit score and along they come and ding me with $20 for $190 I'd paid 2 times online.
- They are the only thing that would ever show up on my perfect credit rating.
The guy on the phone said they haven't recieved a payment from me since May 5th.
I paid them by phone once again.
Sheesh

Wednesday, August 03, 2005 04:15:56 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
HURRAY FOR JIMMY.. HURRAY FOR JIMMY.. AND MS REBECCA TOO...
I am so very glad to hear a few things from you. No more drinking, and you're joining a club and are going to work out. A buffed and toned Jimmy. Oh, my Gosh. You and Ms. Rebecca need to stock up on workout clothes now. No working out in jeans or tuxedos and the like. Maybe if you take up racquetball, we can play sometime. HOWL!!!!!
I wanted to hang myself at work because of the testing.
I am working on a program for the fourth time for one enhancement. It keeps getting kicked back by JP Morgan Chase Bank because with legit test data, it doesn't work. M2's test environemnts are all screwed up, and none of our test environments are well suited for testing because for some reason out timestamps are not in the correct format. So, I am using a special User ID to grab some test data from the bank's database. I spent the whole day looking for specific accounnt #s they had provided us on hard copy. I was looking in their production environment and it turns out it in their test environment. BOW WOW...
Me just want to sleep for a while.
Not my LV english... I have not been able to get a decent night's sleep in the span of 10 hours for a week or so now. I so much want to devote 24 hours straight to try and get caught up on my sleep.
Oh, and don't think badly about the devil (Drinking)...
It is just one of several devils that will kill you (along with cancer sticks) that is an a totally UNNECCESSARY. DOn't feel bad about giving it up. Swallowing nails, drinking house paint or eating rat poisin isn't something you'd do either, so just lump alcohol along with them. I am so happy to hear this revolation from you Jimmy.
Well, time for me to go for my morning workout.
Later, Jimmy and Ms R....

Wednesday, August 03, 2005 00:24:32 <Jim>
I told Becky how much I love her.
I told her I wouldn't be alive today if she wasn't in my life. I'm right too.
To have a girl like her is truly a blessing. She cried and hugged me. My Becky's a keeper.
My wish is everyone finds love in their life.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005 23:21:10 <Jim>
I think we're going to take Mikey's advice and join Las Vegas Atheletic Club.
We've got to get back into shape. Can't drink any more. Can't do a lot of things any more.
WE MUST GET BACK INTO SHAPE!
Four years of slumming has made my boney butt saggy.
Anyway, getting health insurance has given me hope.
The hospitals won't be cleaning me out the next time my gut explodes. That was the reason why I started spending down in the first place (four years ago).
Now I can get a host of problems fixed.
Going to a doctor and getting diagnosed with diabetes would knock an old guy me out of most driving jobs.
Doctors scare me. So does the Medical Information Data Base.
What they've done to me should be criminal. The threat of losing everything I've worked so hard for, so easily with one illness is scary. My fear was getting into an accident, getting hospitalized, and them charging me $500 a day for a bed and $5 for an aspirin is scary. I knew in 2001 that if I went in with a heart attack, I'd come out homeless or bankrupt or something else terrible. I think my gut busting cost around $200,000 with charges from people I never even saw. That's pretty terrible.
It's easy to forget how we got to where we are.
The fear, was a hospital wiping me out. I decided that was inevitable. I decided I'd spend my money first and enjoy it, rather than let something simple wipe me out. All it takes is for whatever happens to you TO NOT BE COVERED.
My Step Father, mother and grandfather were killed by the hospitals.
They even asked us to decide if we wanted to kill my Step Dad. Mom died from a heart attack 2 days before her insurance ran out. I find that odd.
A nurse asked my Mom why she wanted to keep my Grandfather alive. He was 92.
Hospitals are a business, not a charity. Try to leave one without paying sometime.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005 19:23:35 <Jim>
Why are you going crazy, Squirt Doggy Dog?
Sonny just left, we had Domino's Pizza, and I supplied the tube of anchovy paste...yum.
I gave him a Visible Man and he loves it. I told him eventually I'd get him a Visible Woman, and he could glue them both together. haha.
I'm still feeling a bit hungover after four days, so I thought it would be wise not to go out. Last Wednesday is going to be my last time drinking. The stuff's a killer in my hands. I never should have planned it for two weeks. Dumb idea.

Tuesday, August 02, 2005 17:04:39 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Where's that rope I need to hang myself...
Some things are harder than they should be, and that's driving SAE suicidally crazy. Where has Jimmy been with all his thoughtful entries in his blog?

Monday, August 01, 2005 15:32:24 <Jim>
YES...I've found a box for my AC thingy
I have one, but I need 10 more. I think my plan is close to flawless now.
I've just got to patent the idea.

Monday, August 01, 2005 10:00:30 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
And when CA finally annexs NV, they will outlaw the gaming industry
What the hell am I talking about? I must be crazy... But, it could still happen. Long live my dreams for utopia. Howl.

Monday, August 01, 2005 08:12:54 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
Electric sales
NV sells the electric power to CA, because Guinn is scared to death of Arnold (and CA in general). Arnold sells the electric power back to NV for 1/2 what CA was charged for it, merely because CA is too busy thinking about annexing (and laughingat) NV. Just kidding, I think...
Og, the pain... The pain...
Just call me Mr Smith...

Monday, August 01, 2005 05:05:52 <Jim>
Did you hear about Napolean
He blew his bone apart.
It's funny about these recruiters. They always ask if you've got any commercial sites.
If you had commercial sites, would you be looking for a job? People say funny things.

Monday, August 01, 2005 05:01:11 <Jim>
Hover Dam is quite a trippy place.
It's amazing what they've done. Nevada sells its power to California, then California sells it back to us. I wish I could plug myself into a loop like that.

Monday, August 01, 2005 04:33:39 <Jim>
As The World Turns - Another day in Jimmy's Little Life
We've just been ignoring the world as it fly's through the universe at 80,000 mph. I've been traveling through my innerspace (the bigger universe between my ears) for several days now. Did you know the word universe comes from the latin roots meaning 'one' 'statement'? hmmmm.
I wonder if Jimmy's brain was born that way, or it learned it in the imprinting stage, or it just learned it.
I sucked my thumb until I was eight. Anyway, I'm kooky. Having Becky's kids here for all that time (with lice) would drive anyone past the brink of insanity. No harm done though. Anyway, I was in control. I'd planned a two day vacation from life a couple of weeks before my little bender.
I would have given my left nut to see that shuttle take off.
That must have been quite a sight. I wonder if the shuttle took any oranges up with them.
They could seed the world...haha.
I'm baffled over how to proceed with the AC thing.
How does one invent super glue or postits and make the world notice? My invention isn't anything great, but it deserves merit. I'll see a patent attorney this week. Maybe he'll give me an idea on how to go. I need access to commercially available parts, and that kind of sux. But thinking about it, building the little units at home would be something Ms. Rebecca could do.
My lvdude site is headed in one direction.
The revolving pictures on Cutlar Enterprises is close to what I intend to do. I want to do rotating ads for the startup page. They've got be attractive. Its taking me forever though. Developing a style isn't easy to do.

Monday, August 01, 2005 06:58:39 <Squirty's Alter Ego>
My third opportunity to devirginize Jimmy's Blog...
Hello Jimmy.. You there?