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. 
<< 08/2005 < 07/2006 Calendar 09/2006 > 08/2007 >>Sign InView Other Logs
Thu 
08/10/2006 13:30:24
 Jim  Well I’ll be diggy dogged...I’m well!
I was on my death bed last night. I did some Echinacea, because, well, why not?
I did some in April, and I seemed to clear up.
I did some last night, and I seem to be cleared up.
I don't get it.
My sniffles and snore throat are gone. I have a little bit of a cough, but its 1/10th of what I had yesterday.
My experiment is this...
Becky has been sneezing, just like me, for 3 days now...all red nosed. I gave her some echinacea this morning.
The test will be how sh'es doing tonight.
Thu 
08/10/2006 10:41:48
 Jim  I love these talks with Sonny
We were talking about what gravity would be at the center of the earth.
While talking, I researched different articles, complicated formulas, things people said.
The way the articles stated things, it all seemed so complicated.
I know now, its simple, when its broken down, with all of the confusing formulas and terminalogy.
I started to write the program for determining the motion of an object falling throught the center of the earth, but, haha, it
would take maybe a week to write. The earth would have to be sectioned off by mass, a routine written for the distance and weight of the object as it passes near these masses, and finally, some mile marks for the resulting weight would be generated along the objects path. Not too bad.
I mentioned science had developed a working artificial lung back in the fifty's.
It seems the major problem they have is funding. The lungs are built. They can sustain life. They are powered by the heart.
But, other problems exist, like clotting.
Somehow, we got to talking about Moses, because I was talking to Jennifer about him
Now, I'd read that basically, he went up the mountain, alone, and came back down to his group.
But, before he did all this, he told the people to build a church full of gold and nice things...for God.
I also read, he told everyone to go off and bathe.
Jennifer came up with the classic story about the burning bush, and God talking only to Moses, and she didn't see anything odd about this.
So, I started rereading the Bible on Moses. I about fell asleep on the lengthy portions of what God wanted in his church. Wow. Boring. A lot of gimme gimme gimme in there. I'll finish it up later, but for now, it seems like a great swap for a couple of tablets with chiselled words on them. Actually, from what I've read, it had to be a GREAT IDEA for way back then, to give the people a decent place to go, and to give them some rules to follow...like a club. It would sure beat living in a hut.
Wed 
08/09/2006 22:52:51
 Jim  Becky, the Red Nosed Fun Dear
And me, On Dancer, the nostric rainydear. 
We're both snot slinging sick. I know, its all in our heads.
But I go to the stores and hear people gagging and sneezing so its not just me.
Nellis must be testing pepper bombs left over from the cold war!!! (snarf snarf).
At any rate, I feel like a cow pie, not that I could smell it.
Tue 
08/08/2006 23:16:53
 Jim  Squirty says yelp yelp
Go Squirt Go
Tue 
08/08/2006 23:12:46
 Jim  Another day and I’m still down for the count
Sonny's sneezing. Becky's sneezing. I'm sneezing and wheezing.
People everywhere are coughing and sneezing. Makes me think maybe its not black mold.
I still can't think straight, so, I'm not going to be doing much until whatever I have goes away.
Seeing a doctor was a move in the right direction. Lets see if I can steer it around some.
Erythromyicin, steroids, and Albuterol. I wonder one is messing with my head. hmmm.
Tue 
08/08/2006 11:29:44
 Jim  How much do we weigh on Earth
If I weighed 150lbs in Death Valley, would I weigh 149lbs on Mt Everist?
The difference is insignificant.
Would I weigh nothing at the earths core?
Most PHDs think you would weigh nothing at the Earths core.
You'd be pulled outward equally, in all directions.
Tue 
08/08/2006 02:59:17
 Jim  Squirt turns 2!
Happy Birthday Squirt!
Mon 
08/07/2006 17:37:56
 Jim  UMC-Doctors visit
I went to UMC with severe breathing problems. 
I told the receptions I have asthma, and probably a lung infection.
I also told her I was unemployed, uninsured, and I'd have to pay cash.
The receptionist said it would cost $95.
A nurse checked my blood pressure and told me to relax, she put me in a room and gave me albuterol nebulizer treatment. Later, another nurse came in, and she took 2 X-Rays.
Doctor Fellows came into the room and said I didn't have cancer. Okay...um.
He gave me a prescription for 5 antibiotics (I specified Erythromyicin) , 1 albuterol inhaler, and albuterol for my nebulizer.
He told me to see a Primary Care Physician with one week.
When I left, I went up to the receptionist, and paid her $95.
The receptionist said I'd get an invoice in the mail in two weeks.
Sun 
08/06/2006 16:27:14
 Jim  Why do you let that dog lick your face?
I asked a kid, because the dog just licked his butt, and was licking the kids tongue.
Sat 
08/05/2006 13:16:18
 Jim  Drugs for asthma
Near Magical: Symbicort turbohalers, Seretide inhalers and Serevent aerosols
Xolair - Injections
Corticosteroids
I've tried Albuterol, Primatine Mist, Atrovent...and they all work, um, OK.
Fri 
08/04/2006 08:39:25
 Jim  .Happy Birthday to Sonny
Hey Mikey! Sonny's sleeping.
I put your doggy pic in your log heading. You can delete it if you want.
Sonny said thanks. Dustin has control of his PC.
Fri 
08/04/2006 01:00:00
 Jim  Sonny turns 56 years old
He'll be 56 years old.
Thu 
08/03/2006 20:38:19
 Jim  Picked up Joy and Amy
Joy washed clothes over here. Robert swung by.
Becky made 14 coctail weinees, rice and beans for everyone. Dustin grabbed 8 of the 14 weinees.
Later, he asked Becky if he could have a soda. She said yes.
He came out of the laundry popped the top to a rootbeer, and said "I got the last rootbeer, hahaha".
I told Dustin that was extremely bad manners. If you see there is only one left of something, you ask if you can have it.
You don't brag about taking it. Dustin walked away from me when I was talking to him.
I asked everyone what they thought about what Dustin did, everyone said it was rude.
I told Dustin, I just wanted him to have good manners over here. I wasn't trying to hurt him.
Dustin ignored me, so I called GMa. Her phone didn't answer, so I pretended to talk to her, telling her about what Dustin did. I offered the phone to Dustin, and he wouldn't take it.
He went into the rooms closet, walking away from me again.
At that point, Becky went in and scolded him, but he wasn't listening.
I came in, told him I wasn't trying to hurt his feelings, I was just trying to teach him better manners.
I asked him how he'd feel how he'd feel if I bought him a six pack of root beers, and Jennifer drank them all.
He said, "God will provide me with more". At about that time, I told him he was full of crap. He'd probably yell at her.
He told me not to swear around him.
Mon 
07/31/2006 15:49:27
 Jim  Becky and I are watching the movie
We put it in for Dustin and Jennifer.
Dustin is playing an endless stream of games. Jennifer is drawing pictures with paint.
Its always seemed to work this way. The grownup watch the kids movies. The kids play games.
I jumped on Jennifer for complaining about a sandwich Becky made for her.
She said, "This egg salad has onions, I hate onions. Ewwe.".
I jumped in and told her that she was showing terrible manners.
When someone cooks for you, and serves you, you should never complain about their kindness.
I told her she should have learned this when she was much younger.
She apologized and ate the egg salad sandwich.
Mon 
07/31/2006 14:33:40
 Jim  I backed out of the Big Bear trip
Sonny backed out. He said because his daughter ran away, but she lives with her mom.
My breathing is currently a disability. I didn't sleep much. I wouldn't be much help setting up camp.
All in all, the trip wasn't going to turn out to be much fun, especially for me.
We'll reschedule if and when my lungs clear up.
Mon 
07/31/2006 05:32:02
 Jim  We’re going camping for 2 nights at Big Bear
Our site will be in he mountains next to the lake. It costs $15 a night with water, very basic bathrooms. Its a couple of miles from Big Bear City (eg: McDonalds).
I asked Dustin what he was bringing.
He said, "4 pairs of clothes, 4 pairs of pajamas, 4 pairs of underwear, and a nightlight.".
I told him we're only staying two nights, so, why 4 pairs of clothes, underwear and pajamas.
He said one for today, and one for when we get back.
Dustin said he brought the night light, so I wouldn't need a lantern.
I asked him if it plugs into the wall. He said "yes".
I told him we'll be in tents. He said..."oh"...
I'm still trying to get over him bringing pajamas.
Dustin brought this really nice cross country backback.
I asked him where he got it.
He said from his Boy Scout leaders, but they're not leaders anymore because they're lazy.
I asked him who actually gave it to him. He said, "Well, my friend Sebastion did".
Then I asked, "So your going to have to give it back to him?".
He said "No. I accidentally left it over at his house, so he gave it back to me".
So I asked him, "So, where did you actually first get it?".
He said, "In a warehouse that was full of stuff. The Boy Scout leaders gave it to him, then they got fired".
I may never know where Dustin got his $300 backpack from.
Dustin and Jennifer stayed over.
Dustin was actually pretty good, and Jennifer, as always, was great!
Sun 
07/30/2006 23:50:36
 Jim  Went to Renee’s Hope Chest party
Several people came by. GMa really did a great job with the decorations.
My breathing was terrible and GMa was very accomodating.
She put me on a nebulizer, then beat my back to break up the flim.
She was absolutely wonderful.
Sat 
07/29/2006 22:49:01
 Jim  Sonny’s backing out of the Big Bear trip.
I kind of thought he would. He gets off at 7am on Monday morning and he's usually beat.
I told him he could sleep in the back of the truck during the 3 hour trip.
But ya know, he probably wouldn't be able to sleep. I don't blame him for ditching the trip.
However, it is sad that for him, this will be just another weekend gone by.
Most people only get 4,000 weekends during their life time.
For us, it will be a weekend that we'll remember for the rest of our lives.
Sat 
07/29/2006 19:00:00
 Jim  Helped Robert. Chatted with several people.
Took Robert to the dentist. It was the same dentist who said if Robert had his abscessed tooth pulled, all the teeth in front of it would lean backwards. The tooth above it would eventually loosen.
I know this is a lie.
My teeth aren't leaning. The teeth above my pulled teeth are still there.
I'm 50 and still have most of my teeth.
I know this is the truth.
Robert's dentist wouldn't help him until he openned a checking account.
She took money for the office visit.
She wanted $2,500 for a root canal on one of his back teeth.
Her motive seems obvious. Screw Robert and his financial situation. She told canned stories to make money.
Becky, Robert, Chrissy, Ida, and myself joined in a group IM
It was cool! I really like messenger.
Sat 
07/29/2006 18:19:34
 Jim  What a difference a decent cigarette makes
I switched from Opals to Mistys when I went fo Florida and my asthma went away.
Mistys are higher quality than Opals.
I switched back to Opals after coming to Vegas and my asthma came back.
Now that I've pinned the cause and am smoking Mistys, my breathing has already improved.
Now, I know, I should quit.
But I've heard a lot of things said about smoking that can't be true.
Cancer, for instance. The only person to have died in my family from cancer, did not smoke.
Matter of fact, she's one of the few people in my family that didn't smoke.
My grandfather died at 93. All I know is what I see. What I've seen is not what I've heard. I make up my own mind.
People who don't smoke think smokers are disgusting addicts, but we smokers actually enjoy the habit.
I personally despise the oppression and propaganda from a country that promotes corn syrup, red meat, fried foods, alcohol, nitrates, food coloring and other consumables known to cause premature death.
This country promotes fuels that cause green house gases.
So, I smoke. Its the only rebellious thing I do.
I'm just happy I know whats causing my breathing difficulties, and it isn't Las Vegas.
So, I can stay here.
Sat 
07/29/2006 14:09:55
 Jim  I’m not worthy, oh great one
I pride my self on my ability to fix just about anything.
Well, I've messed up the diagnostic reasoning on myself.
Diagnosing any problem, should include the primary question: What changed?
I assumed the following:
- I was breathing poorly when I left Las Vegas
- It cleared up in Orlando
- I'm breathing poorly now.
- Hence, Vegas must be the problem.
I forgot a few variables.
- I barely drank in Orlando.
- We changed brands of cigarettes from Opal to Misty
My breathing problems began outside of Las Vegas, however, we switched to Opals in Laughlin.
My analysis of the problem is severly flawed.
I assumed have chronic bronchitis (fatal in 10 years), asthma, allergies to desert pollen and dust.
Stupid me, it could be the toxins in Opal cigarettes.
I know I should quit.
But I've been smoking since I was 15.
Why would it hit me like a ton of bricks, right after moving?
See, my logic has holes in it.
Fri 
07/28/2006 22:30:06
 Jim  Lightning strikes a propane facility in Vegas
The explosion went up 300 feet, and burned throughout the next day.
They said the lightning came from 10 miles away.
The storm had winds of 70 MPH, and nickel sized hail.
Thu 
07/27/2006 10:46:22
 Jim  For all those having a bad day
 
Wed 
07/26/2006 05:47:10
 Jim  I really liked Renee’s responses the other night
I asked Renee "How long did it take to put the streaks in your hair?".
She said, "I don't know. Someone else did it".
\Later on, she said "Hey! I really like your purse, Mom".
Then she started taking everything out of it...
Then she was on the phone and asked me "What do you call a sheep's boss".
I said "A shepperd, like Chuck Shepperd, your old boyfriend?"
Blonde moments are fun.
Tue 
07/25/2006 23:59:53
 Jim  Renees Birthday
She'll be 21.
Tue 
07/25/2006 22:58:43
 Jim  Ate Soul Food!
Took Robert around the first part of the day.
Robert needed a ride to cash his check and deposit it in the bank.
Its seems they're always scraping the bottom of their piggy bank.
Ate soul food at a restaurant on Charleston and Valley View
I had ribs, Sonny had catfish, Becky had fried pork chops.
A little pricey, but, YUM!
Tue 
07/25/2006 09:32:55
 Jim  The Patriot Act
I read up on it yesterday morning. Its awful!
So, some terrorists attack the US, and we lose our freedoms.
Is that the way it works? 
Our government now has the power to:
   See what your read at the library
   See what you do on the internet
   See all of your financial transactions
   See all wire transactions
   Search your possessions without a warrant
   Throw you in jail for an indefinite period of time
   Wiretap your phone and monitor your cell phone with a warrent.
All they have to do is say your an expected terrorist, and you are toast.
It sounds a lot like the McCarthy years, where all they had to do is say you are a communist to ruin your life.
The patriot act was a major step backwards for personal freedom.
Thank god that its various components are being challenged by the ACLU.
Tue 
07/25/2006 09:12:09
 Jim  Gasolene and My Truck
I never mentioned, on the way to pick up Becky's kids on Saturday, I filled up my truck.
It cost $75 to tank up. Dayam!!!
Somewhere along the way yesterday, Sonny and I were talking about various science items, and I looked up the discover of DNA. That led me to an article in Popular Science.
Eventually, I ended up on an article about a car GM made in the late 90's called the EV1. 
The EV1 was an all electric car that came out in 1999.
It premiered in Los Angeles as a lease vehicle, cost GM 1 billion dollars to develop, and was scrapped. It got 80 miles on a charge. It could go 0 to 60 in 8 seconds, and it could receive an 80% charge in 45 minutes. With exception of the breaks and tires, the car required little maintenance. The public charging stations in LA were free. The charging stations, charged the vehicle through induction.
Why did GM scrap a vehicle that could end our oil dependance and green house affects?
I read up on this, and they said because people wanted SUV's, not energy efficient vehicles.
Truth be it told, the car was too dependable. It didn't require all the maintenance of a fossil burning vehicle.
Now GM is into hybrid cars.
Mon 
07/24/2006 07:08:17
 Jim  What we learn today may change our lives.
I'm going to contact Brian Grady (a realtor who I've done business with) about renting the condo.
But, this mission is two fold. I'm going to ask him about travelling notaries.
I'm considering a job in Columbus, Georgia that pays $90,000 a year.
A house there cost only $90,000.
The cost of living there is cheap, so most of the money I'd make would go into investments.
If I took it, I'm going to offer GMa and the kids a choice
Come with us, or stay behind.
"In custody disputes between a natural parent and a nonparent, the law presumes the best
interest of the child will be served when in the custody of the natural parent."
If I don't take it, I'll end up in a new career.
My options for employment are getting limited with my age.
If, after talking to Brian, I find out there's a good future in being a Travelling Notary, then
I'll try it here for awhile. If the money is good, I'm going to want to move for health reasons.
I suppose either way, there's going to be a showdown with your Mom.
Wed 
07/26/2006 03:53:13
 Jim   (Reply).What we learn today may change our lives.
I couldn't see Brian Grady either Monday or Tuesday.
My breathing is too labored.
It would be dumb for me to hit him up for work when I can barely speak a complete sentence.
Its a forkin sheety hello of a darned carpy beach!
Sun 
07/23/2006 12:36:16
 Jim  Jealousy
Jealousy is typically used to describe the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that occur when a person believes a valued relationship is being threatened by a rival.
Very possibly, no good has ever come from jealousy.
If a person is jealous of another, problems occur, possibly destroying the relationship in its entirety.
I believe jealousy is a very self destructive and foolish emotion.
So, why do people have the emotion? Insecurity in their relationship with another?
Hmmm.
Fathom this...if jealousy is foolish, and God is a jealous god
Then is God foolish.
The Bible it says, who so ever call another a fool, shall surely burn in hell.
So, does that mean, if I said God is foolish, that I'm going to hell for being logical.
If so, then logically, no one in school should learn logic.
LOL.
Thu 
07/20/2006 16:32:36
 Jim  We got haircuts today.
Mine was getting WAY long in the back. I kind of thought it looked cool...BUT the world is what it is, and if I'm going back to work, I'm going to have to play the part.
Becky, your hair looks great!
Thu 
07/20/2006 04:37:08
 Jim  Do not trust anyone
I got up, wide awake, and saw Robert online. His profile said, Don't Trust Anyone.
I asked him about it.
Robert said he was kicked out of GMas.
He'd gotten into an argument with her, or it sounds like she got into one with him.
It was about us. He said GMa was going to go after Becky for child support.
Apparently, we are wrecking her plans by not calling her and telling her we are here.
She wants to move into a condo with Paul and she wants to dump Becky's kids on us.
She's told us repeatedly she would never give up custody, so, she wants the money without the hastle.
Since Paul and GMa kicked Becky out, took her last check, kept her kids away from her,
and got Becky buried in Family Court (for greed and desire), neither one can be trusted as friends.
Becky even owes $250 to Family Court for one of the months the kids lived with us.
She owes thousands of dollars by now, to the State of Nevada for Safe Key.
To untangle that mess, it would cost us $5,000.
I think Paul and GMa can lay in the bed they made for themselves.
All that aside, Becky and I drove over to Roberts and brought him two jack stands.
Its always nice talking with Robert.
I apologized for our causing problems between him and GMa.
The last thing I want to do in this life is to cause problems. I am a fixer of things, not a problem causer.
The thing is, we haven't done anything to hurt anyone.
I'm saddened. Becky has cried for the lack of love and support she gets from GMa and her brother.
Dustin just called...wow
Wed 
07/19/2006 15:34:54
 Jim  New York New York. Monday, at midnight
Where else in the world do you find crouds at midnight, on a rainy Monday!
Vegas is amazing!
Wed 
07/19/2006 15:24:31
 Jim  Added some rainy day pictures to Vegas
It poured the other night and we were out in it.
We topped things off at the Rain Forest Cafe.
Wed 
07/19/2006 08:41:27
 Jim  Logic and Mathematics
Romance
Smart man + smart woman = romance
Smart man + dumb woman = affair
Dumb man + smart woman = marriage
Dumb man + dumb woman = dumb baby
Office
Smart boss + smart employee = profit
Smart boss + dumb employee = production
Dumb boss + smart employee = boss's promotion
Dumb boss + dumb employee = overtime
Shopping
A man will pay $20 for a $10 item he needs.
A woman will pay $10 for a $20 item that she doesn't need.
General
A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband.
A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife.
A successful man is one who makes more money than his wife can spend.
A successful woman is one who can find such a man.
Happiness
To be happy with a man, you must understand him a lot and love him a little.
To be happy with a woman, you must love her a lot and not try to understand her at all.
Longevity
Married men live longer than single men do, but married men are a lot more willing to die.
Propensity to Change
A woman marries a man expecting he will change, but he doesn't
A man marries a woman expecting that she won't change, and she does.
Discussion
A man has the first word in any argument
A woman has the last.
How to stop people from bugging you about getting married
Old aunts used to come up to me at weddings, poking me in the ribs and cackling, telling me, "You're next."
They stopped after I started doing the same thing to them at funerals
Wed 
07/19/2006 08:34:29
 Jim  Bathroom Walls
If pro is opposite of con, then Congress is the opposite of progress
Friends don't let friends sleep with ugly people
Beauty is only a light switch away.
If life is a waste of time and time is a waste of life, then let's get wasted and have the time of our lives.
Fighting for peace is like screwing for virginity.
No matter how good she looks, some other guy is sick of her shit.
At the Ego Buffet, everyone is full of it.
It's hard to make a comeback when you haven't been anywhere.
If voting could really change things then it would be illegal.
No wonder you always go home alone. 
Mon 
07/17/2006 17:07:10
 Jim  That guy was right about BBQs
Why do people light their charcoal briquettes to BBQ here in the summer?
You don't need to light the briquettes, here, at all.
All you have to do is throw a couple of steaks on the hood of your car and they'll be well done in 5 minutes.
I may have to try that...haha.
Mon 
07/17/2006 17:02:06
 Jim  Spending lazy days in a very cool house
Mr Weather say's its 109 outside, but my wireless thermometer majiggy says its more like 113.
Mon 
07/17/2006 01:00:00
 Jim  Dad’s Birthday
He will be 83 years old.
Sun 
07/16/2006 16:31:33
 Jim  Uh oh...tommorrow is Dad’s 83rd Birthday
Oops...he called and I didn't have it on my calendar. Whooops!!!
Sat 
07/15/2006 09:33:01
 Jim  Las Vegas is larger than Boston
Clark County, NV is estimated to have 1.6 million residents, however, the census bureau must now poll its population on an on going basis, because of its rapid expansion.
Las Vegas is the largest US City founded in the 1900's, which is pretty cool.
That would mean that our sewage, water, yadayada, are all pretty much state-of-the-art as far as the country goes.
Yuck...lol.
I just took a census poll.
The agent was very friendly (coming from Illinois). He said, the Federal Government grants money based on population, and more or less, Las Vegas was getting screwed.
Sat 
07/15/2006 08:14:09
 Jim  Welcome back Mikey
Sorry we got off on the wrong track somewhere along the line way back when.
You've always been my friend.
I've missed you.
Sat 
07/15/2006 05:54:11
 Jim  Forget and Forgive
Isn't that what they say to do?
Wouldn't it be great if we were all that stupid?
Tue 
07/11/2006 19:56:55
 Jim  Dined at the Firelight Buffet
Reasonable prices and excellent food. I really liked the Thai beef salad. Yum.
Becky liked their salad...hehe.
That Atrium at Sam's Town is so special. Its so nice to go to a ittle fantasy world, and its only 10 minutes away.
Tue 
07/11/2006 06:36:35
 Jim  I added wage conversion to the calculator
Its pretty neat!!! It took less than 10 minutes to add it and implement it.
Its under Info | Calculator
Now, if I were still working with WIC for the government...It would have taken two weeks to do it...lol.
A fellow from the Census Bureau and I were talking about how badly the government gets screwed on things yesterday.
Everything I know about the WIC project is a scam. And I know about the trailers, the cash cards, and the companies involved.
Sun 
07/09/2006 14:28:40
 Jim  We did not see Robert and Joy today
I have that guilt to bear. But I'll make it up to them.
They are my favorite people.

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