The Life and Times of Jim
Hi, there. I'm Jim. Welcome to my phlog!
This site was written for Las Vegas, then LouisVille. Now, it seems to be about anywhere. In these phlogs, you'll see a lot of my personal notes and pictures. I like to post my observations here to remember life and celebrate it. I'm not religious. I don't pray for good fortune. I'm ecstatically grateful for the gift of life and I think our time should be remembered and not taken for granted. I'm not a writer. I think pictures tell stories so much better than words. I love just about everything in this life, and, I guess that would have to include you. So, if you've seen me, don't be surprised if your picture is in here somewhere. Of all the critters, people are absolutely the most interesting. 
<< 01/2004 < 12/2004 Calendar 02/2005 > 01/2006 >>Sign InView Other Logs
Tue 
01/11/2005 12:00:02
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gabriel NeighborsFence
Sun 
01/02/2005 12:00:10
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gabriel Robert,Joy,Amy
Sat 
01/01/2005 00:00:07
 jim  Becky,Robert,Joy,Amy
Fri 
12/31/2004 17:18:46
 jim  Words to Live By : From Mark at topjan@cox.net
- Accept that some days you're the pigeon, and some days you're the statue.
- Always keep your words soft and sweet, just in case you have to eat them.
- It may be that your sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others.
- Eat crap in the morning and nothing worse will happen to you for the rest of the day.
- If you lend someone $20, and never see that person again, it was probably worth it.
- If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.
- Never buy a car you can't push.
- If you put both feet in your mouth you won't have a leg to stand on
- Birthdays are good for you; the more you have, the longer you live.
- Don't cry because it's over; smile because it happened.
- We could learn a lot from crayons:
some are sharp, some are pretty, some are dull, some have weird names, and all are different colors but they all have to learn to live in the same box.
- A truly happy person is one who can enjoy the scenery on a detour.
- Happiness comes through doors you didn't even know you left open.
Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much
Fri 
12/31/2004 10:02:28
 jim  Auld Lang Syne means OLD LONG AGO?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and days of auld lang syne?
And here's a hand, my trusty friend And gie's a hand o' thine
We'll tak' a cup o' kindness yet For auld lang syne
Here's an excerpt from the song I just don't understand
We twa hae run aboot the braes
And pu'd the gowans fine.
We've wandered mony a weary foot, Sin' auld lang syne.
LOL Everyone!
Fri 
12/31/2004 09:51:06
 jim  HAPPY NEW YEARS!!!
Just be glad you're here and not Phuket, Thailand.
Wed 
12/29/2004 10:28:58
 jim  For no reason whatsover, I checked vital statistic
There are 8,000,000,000 people in the world
Our average life span is 76 years old.
8,000,000,000 / 76 / 365 = 288,392 that die every day.
That works out to 20 people a minute.
That's alot!
Where do they go? That's a lot of people!
The Grim Reaper has to be busier than Santa Claus!
Wed 
12/29/2004 10:20:24
 jim  I’ve had this silly blog up for almost a year now!
Rob was inadvertantly responsible for me writing the code. I wanted to create an online memorial for him. Somewhere along the line, I learned to use Dreamweaver, Visual Studio.net, code HTML and Javascript from memory, and work with the most ugly language I've ever seen, PERL.
Wed 
12/29/2004 10:15:21
 jim  Jerry Orbach died from prostate cancer
For anyone who watches Law & Order (like I do), he played Lenny Brisko.
He was my favorite character on that show.
Tue 
12/28/2004 12:02:01
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gabriel Becky
Tue 
12/28/2004 05:07:12
 jim  The quality of life is!
When someone loves you in spite of yourself. I've got that kind of love coming at me, and coming from me.
That's that special quality...that hug in the night...or that call...or that lick from a dog...that's what makes life special.
I'm rich, not with money, but with people. People (and dogs) are so special.
Tue 
12/28/2004 04:56:13
 jim  Still, this is the thing
What I really mean, is what I say...your's are the sweatest eyes, I've ever seen.
And you can tell everybody...that this is my song...It might be quite simple but...now that it's sung...
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind, that I put down in words...
HOW WONDERFUL LIFE IS, WHILE YOUR IN THE WORLD!
Tue 
12/28/2004 04:47:26
 jim  I’ve got my blessings.
When I woke up at 4am, I just stared at the ceiling. Becky, in her sleep, reached over and grabbed me.
Nothing is more precious than that. That, in spite of who you are, you have someone who cherishes you.
That is why I'm alive. I suppose, that's what Rob didn't realize. He was special.
One year ago...almost today. F...I'm drunk, and this is my blog.
Tue 
12/28/2004 04:42:32
 jim  Well, true to color
I drank at least a 12 pack tonight. Didn't hurt anyone.
Becky and I were even up about $200 at one time.
I think we left flat broke, stopped off at a neighbors. I let their kids toss me around.
All-in-all, I'd call the night a drunken success.
Here's to ya, New Years. I'm still around kickin up the dirt!
All ain't lost till its said and done.
Mon 
12/27/2004 11:48:44
 jim  Nothing about Las Vegas is fake.
We had the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower and the Great Pyramids here first! lol.
Ok, Mikey's right. Everything about Las Vegas is fake.
I used to work at the Showboat (it was in the middle of the desert).
Try to find anybody who speaks French working at the Paris Hotel/Casino; you won't.
Celebrating my first day of sobriety today
I drank a six pack yesterday and a six pack on Christmas. That may not seem like much, but, to an old geezer like me, it is. It looks like its going to be a gloomy week in Vegas, weatherwise.
Rain is predicted for most of the week. It's sprinkling now and the world seems to have a gray hue to it. At least we're not having earthquakes of 9th magnitude. Ewwe.
Sun 
12/26/2004 09:00:54
 jim  Law and Order was filmed right there in Los Angele
Hey Mikey, I thought Law and Order was filmed right there in Los Angeles. We were at Universal Studios and they had signs made up, and a little New York sprawlled out. To look at the way they've got it all set up, you'd think the Dinosaurs on Jurrasic Park were only 2" tall
Sun 
12/26/2004 08:56:28
 jim  There’s got to be a morning after!
Yesterday was FUN! Chuck, Patty, Michelle and Sonny came over. Later, Becky and I went to Grams to hook up with Paul, Jennifer, Dustin, George, D.O.G., Amy, Robert, Joy, Skip, and lets see...who else. It was a very special day.
Today, however, I've got a little beer hangover.
That means...I'm not doing anything today haha (except for maybe playing computer games and watching tube).
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!
Sat 
12/25/2004 20:00:11
 jim  Gmas-Dustin,Joy,Dog,Skip,Robert,Paul
Sat 
12/25/2004 12:00:01
 jim  Jim,Becky,Sonny,Skip,Chuck,Patti,Michelle
Sat 
12/25/2004 08:44:45
 jim  Merry Christmas Everyone!
Nobody's called yet. Becky and I are up and dressed in Christmas colors. The presents are all wrapped. My turkey has been smoking in applewood for over 24 hours (it should be done by now).
The highlight of today will probably be watching Becky's little ones open their presents.
It's 40 degrees outside, so, it's going to be a chilly one today here in Las Vegas.
Ya'll have a nice Christmas, ya hear!
Fri 
12/24/2004 17:33:31
 jim  Yesterday, I got a little tipsy, drank some brandy
I got on the phone and called several people (Butch, Lewis, Newberry,...), asking them the jovial question "Name 10 things you shouldn't do with your pecker". I said, you should never pick a door lock with it, cause you don't know if someone's going to open it. And don't use it as a meat thermometer, or a voltage tester. Now, maybe my sense of humor is kind of wry, but I thought it was funny. Plus, I always like it when people I haven't heard from call me out of the blue.
Robert, Joy, Amy, Rico and some other people came over last night
We shot off 1,000 firecrackers before the police came over. Ricco ran like a deer to his house. I had a push broom out cleaning up the mess. The cops asked if I expoded the firecrackers and I lied...said, nope, someone driving by did it, they must have liked my dumpster. Then I hosed everything down. Never tell a policeman the truth. It always works against you. :)
Took some sleeping pills, passed out. Woke up and Becky was sleeping on the couch.
I asked her "WHY?". She said I was sprawled out on the bed, hard as a rock. She couldn't budge me an inch. So the couch was her bed. She stayed up till 5am. First time that's ever happened. We've been sleeping together every night for 4 years now. Hmmm. Guess those internet sleeping pills work better than I thought! My eyes have been all puffy lately
Is eggnog allergenic? That's about the only thing I could think of that I've consumed thats different. Hmmmm.
Thu 
12/23/2004 09:32:09
 jim  We’re smoking a 15lb ham.
Can't roll it, so we're having to put it into a pipe to light it. lol.
I wrote a program to create HTML Web pages from pictures
It works great here. I put a web page of News Years Eve pics out there. It took an hour to upload. Most of the pictures I saved on my site don't display at all. Some do, which makes it a curiosity to me. Click here to see what I mean.
It has to be my website's host (Earthlink). I've wasted a lot of time trying to get around Earthlink's case-sensitive unix based server. I've had to rewrite my site at least 30 times to get something to work. What a pain! I always have to do some type of voodoo to make things work after I upload. I need a new web host!
Another Christmas away from home
I only received cards from solicitors. I accomplished dream. I've become a nobody. It took some time and effort. I've finally fallen off the face of the earth.
If anybody does read this blog anymore (which I doubt)...be careful what you wish for, you may get it. The Christmas parties are gone (the ones where everybody is happy to see me). No one writes. I burned my bridges to find out who I was when I wasn't standing on someone elses shoulders. I feel like a nobody.
Back when I was breaking up with Ruth in 2000, my world was falling apart.
I didn't want anybody to see that happen to me. I broke off all my contacts and more or less crawlled into a hole, here inside this house. Rob was one of the few people I would talk to. He came over to check on me one time when I didn't answer my phone for a week. I guess he thought I killed myself or something. I should have been worried about him as it turned out. Who'd ever think that Rob would off himself during the holidays.
Another Christmas farther away from home
Christmas seems to morph itself every year. Skip just got up and said "ALRIGHT. PEOPLE!". He's been lusting over that ham we've been smoking. He wanted some and he just got some. yum.
I did a no-no last night. I got my dog disgustingly drunk.
Squirt and I were playing tug-of-war with a rope. He fell over, knocking down my Eggnog. It spilled everywhere. I mopped it up, put it into a bowl, and gave it to him. He'd get up on the couch and stare at a pillow. lol. I'm so bad.
Thu 
12/23/2004 00:00:04
 jim  Gabriel,NV-Rico,Skip,BeckyJoy,Amy
Sat 
12/18/2004 12:00:22
 jim  Vegas,NV-Gmas RobertsTruck
Fri 
12/17/2004 22:27:32
 jim  Just left Jarri (Allred) and Tim Brookes place
Attending the send off for Timmy Allred was pretty much everybody and everybody looked great! We honored Timmy's favorite tradition and had Taco's, beer, soda and potato chips.
I'll say it once again...the Allreds are a rare breed.
Few tears were shed, only good things were said, lots of hugs and laughs, with good times abound
(I like to say that word 'abound').
Fri 
12/17/2004 22:20:10
 jim  I know what I want to do now
I want to be a taste tester for Bud Light, and I want to rate TV show's for the Neilson's Ratings. And I want to do it at home. And, I want to add my test/ratings to my TV's remote control for efficiency.
This way you see, I can work TWO jobs, and fully retire in half the time! OH YEAH! I'm a genious.
Fri 
12/17/2004 00:13:20
 jim  Vegas,NV-Amy,Jare,pix-Rob,Tim
Fri 
12/17/2004 00:11:31
 jim  Four people talked to me about suicide in the last
Two of them did it. If someone talks about suicide, listen, do something!
Its more serious than anyone thinks.
- Suicide is the 9th leading cause of death in the United States
- Suicide is the third leading cause of death for children 15-19 years old.
- 80% of suicide attempters communicate their intentions verbally prior to their attempt.
- 20% communicate the notion that they are at risk through their behavior.
- Depression is a common antecedent to suicide.
- Saturday and Monday have been common days for suicidal acts to occur.
- There is a low percentage (5%) of suicides attributed to mental illness.
- Nevada and Alaska are the top suicide states in the nation
- Suicide occurs most often in April and May or in late fall and early winter
Thu 
12/16/2004 21:02:35
 jim  The Kansas City Interview was a complete bomb!
The techie guy asked odd questions. I wanted to tell him Einstein's words, "Never remember anything you can reference in less than two minutes". He was asking for the names of views that nobody, except for someone that just got out of school, would use. Everything he asked me, I could have told him within 10 seconds if I had a Tandem computer at my finger tips. Oh well. Their loss.
Thu 
12/16/2004 00:11:20
 jim  Vegas,NV-ElementaryChoir-Jen,Dustin,Gma
Wed 
12/15/2004 23:14:11
 jim  Tims death makes me so very greatful for what I’ve
That sounds bizarre I know, but this year I have had good health, great love and I'm still very much alive!
I can still make this a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Years for myself and others.
I only wish Rob and Timmy could have seen things that way. It ain't over till its over. They could have hung out with us and made our lives a little better.
Wed 
12/15/2004 21:43:09
 jim  Another depressing New Year and Christmas is comin
Auld Lang Syne and all that.
I just want us all to grow old together.
I want to love, laugh and smile as my face withers with time.
I want to be in the company of my old friends,
but it gets harder every year, as life fades to the end.
Wed 
12/15/2004 21:18:38
 jim  I know I’m not much of a man, but...
I know I owe my life to this universe and when I die, my universe will die with me. After that, I will be born back to that which delivered me to this place. If you read that a couple of times, it may make sense to you.
I am grateful for this glimpse of the universe
We owe life only one thing in return for this gift, and that is our death. Its our death that gives life. How strange it is to rush it though. It was this gift of life that gave us our only chance to change the future, and make it a better place for the next life. "Our kingdom come, thy will be done, ON EARTH, as it is in Heaven".
Wed 
12/15/2004 19:03:26
 jim  Tim Allred died
Tim Allred -12/14/2004. Tim was a good man. I had known Timmy for a period of over 18 years. We talked a couple of months ago, talked about Rob, suicide, his troubles. He felt his life was going downhill. Losing his driver's license, losing his marriage, maybe thats what drove him to his end. Dreamers and lovers feel a different kind of pain.
Tim spoke with wit and humor. I never heard him say anything bad about anyone, or hurt anyone. He could meet a person at their level of conversation and stay with it.
Wed 
12/15/2004 11:55:54
 jim  Timothy Allred killed himself yesterday
Missy called crying. Oh my.
Something about Christmas seems to bring death.
Tue 
12/14/2004 00:00:31
 jim  Gmas,NV-Becky,Darren RobertsTruck Becky
Mon 
12/13/2004 10:42:18
 jim  Taking The Big Loop as I call it, around Vegas.
We're gonna give one of Roberts friends a ride to the airport. That'll take us through the North, South and East sides of town. The 20 mile drive should take 90 minutes.
Mon 
12/13/2004 10:39:04
 jim  Fenced part of the back yard.
Yesterday was filled with "Fencing On My Mind".
I bought cement, a post and some fencing mesh to at least keep my dog in the back yard. Days like yesterday are just no fun.
Becky and I went to the imfamous Blue Ox
I won $140 off of our $60. I'm happy!
Sat 
12/11/2004 15:18:25
 jim  I called the law on my neighbor
6 Rotweillers were in my yard again this morning. I've done all I could with him.
My only recourse was to get the police involved.
He got the dogs out before the police arrived. I gave him the heads up, and told him I called the cops because he said yesterday, 'Do whatever you have to do'. Now he won't answer my calls.
He's being a total jerk, which makes me want to be a jerk right back.
He put up fiberglass awning material thats 10 foot tall over the fence.
This makes him a stupid jerk.
First of all - It's WAY out of code. Without a variance, a fence can only be 6' tall in this county.
Second - It won't stop a rotweiller from breaking through.
Third - They didn't break through the fence today, they dug under the it.
I told the cops about last night, and that one dog was trying to get inside my house.
So...it looks like I'm calling in a code violation on him Monday.
The asshole must pay!

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