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. 
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Sat 
08/28/2010 21:16:40
 jim  Epcot Fireworks
Sat 
08/28/2010 18:07:30
 jim  Epcot Germany
Sat 
08/28/2010 17:16:16
 jim  Epcot China
Sat 
08/28/2010 16:31:16
 jim  Epcot Norway
Sat 
08/28/2010 16:07:28
 jim  Epcot Mexico
Sat 
08/28/2010 16:06:06
 jim  Epcot Lake
Sat 
08/28/2010 15:34:00
 jim  Epcot World-Us
Sat 
08/28/2010 15:15:13
 jim  Epcot People
Sat 
08/28/2010 15:15:12
 jim  Epcot - Fountains
Thu 
08/26/2010 07:09:36
 jim  Computer Consultants are a strange group
Travelling computer consultants are a strange group.
We all have two places we call home.

We're broke between contracts, and rich during contracts.
Most people don't want to see us when we're broke, and that's usually when we are hiding in our real homes.

We've done things or are doing things that are outside the realm of normality.
One buddy is walking across the country, another has programmed the Space Shuttle, and another is bartending.
Some flourished with their own companies during the dot com boom, just to fall back into consulting.

You never hear about us, but we do change the world.
I've done some world-first, including adding some stuff to the ATM screens that you see all over the country.

Usually, we come in, do incredible projects, make it work and leave.
If it fails - We are responsible because we are idiots. Fortunately, I've never failed.
If it works - Others are responsible. They almost always get promoted. 
The consultants either move on, go full time, or become managers and never code again.
Rarely, if ever, our names get mentioned anywhere. We almost never get CC'd on the "Job well done" email from the CEO.

But still, it gets into the blood.
We know what we've done. Our abilities to work either independantly or in a group, has molded our ways of thinking.
The travelling is great, the money is good, and we've gotten used to saying "Hello" and "Goodbye".
At night, we either go insane with thought, or we're happy and we do things most locals would never even consider doing.
Its an emotional roller coaster, and the adrenalene rush is addictive.
And it would be hard for me to stop.

(Spoken after 15 years of consulting, 5 years on the road, and 27 years in the business)
Thu 
08/26/2010 07:08:59
 jim  Our second airbed has gone flat in just one week.
Airbeds - Our second airbed has gone flat in just one week.
It turned out our cot had a sharp edge. I wonder if there are other professionals out there who have had this problem. BTW - I'm not sure when or how I got so strange. Its happened slowly after 15 years of consulting.
Mon 
08/23/2010 04:15:06
 jim  Jennifer left Saturday
It's 3am on a Monday, and as usual, I can't wait to go to work.

Jennifer went back to Vegas last Saturday, and I already miss her.
So now, when I say we, I mean Becky and I.
On the flip side, instead of doing just teenage things, we can do adult things too. I'm thinking Concerts!
Fri 
08/20/2010 19:23:44
 jim  Treasure Island, FL - Gators Cafe
Thu 
08/19/2010 07:23:13
 jim  Jennifer is taking off Saturday
She has been so much fun!
We've done a lot of travelling and beach combing in this Tampa Bay Area.
But this is probably the worst time of the year to be here. It's hot and extemely humid.
Tuesday, she gave quite the scare.
She had an asthma attack. Here's my take on that:
Medical care is such nightmare these days. 
Jennifer had an asthma attack and she's on Nevada Medicaid. Medicaid is only covered out-of-state in Emergency rooms.
We found one, and after 2 hours they put her in one of those little rooms where she waited for 2 hours.
Finally after they gave her an XRay, a breathing treatment and a prescription. The whole thing took 5 hours.
It makes me wonder how many people don't survive in those little rooms.
This makes me think
If she didn't have any kind of insurance, I'm sure that visit would have cost $1,000.
For $1,000, she could have flown her to Mexico or Canada, where she could stayed in a nice motel, and she could have bought Albuterol over the counter for $12.
Of course, she could have had a bird flu, in which case, everyone in the Emergency Room might have caught it.
Scary!
Tue 
08/17/2010 20:13:35
 jim  Tampa Bay Skies
Mon 
08/16/2010 20:25:11
 jim  ClearwaterBeach Sunset
Mon 
08/16/2010 20:25:07
 jim  ClearwaterBeach - The Girls
Mon 
08/16/2010 05:14:42
 jim  Lots of Gulls
Sun 
08/15/2010 20:08:47
 jim  ClearwaterBeach-Extras
Wed 
08/11/2010 19:18:20
 jim  Clearwater Beach
Mon 
08/09/2010 03:49:19
 jim  The Only Living Boy in Tampa
It was pouring sheets of rain and I was listening to "The Only Living Boy in New York" in the Westshore Mall parking lot.
Lightening was all around me.
And I was feeling alone, smiling, thinking I was the Only Living Boy who has ever really listened to that song.
It was a good day to have the blues.
I'd heard some things said that took me there
I probably shouldn't listen or care.
Listening attempts to add thought to what is being said, and most of what is said is without thought.
Caring hurts, when what is heard malicious or cold, either through mindlessnes, or out of lack of empathy.
Sometimes I feel like the world is trampling flowers while I'm walking around them.
And I wonder, what is the point.
Sun 
08/08/2010 22:54:30
 jim  Are the flowers natural?
Sun 
08/08/2010 18:36:42
 jim  Apt Birds
Sun 
08/08/2010 17:48:02
 jim  Clearwater - Rt 60 Bridge
Fri 
08/06/2010 20:21:29
 jim  All fame lies in your name.
 I knew a girl who made a fortune and fame in clothing lines way back in the 80's, only to fall grace.
She named her clothing lines after herself.
Her name was, Polly Ester.
Fri 
08/06/2010 20:19:59
 jim  BOY ! IT IS HOT AND HUMID OUT THERE
BOY ! IT'S HOT AND HUMID OUT THERE!!!
The Worlds Deadliest Catch people would catch Steamed Crab here.
It'll probably pour again tonight.
It poured today.
They should have named this state Fluida.
Tue 
08/03/2010 20:42:56
 jim  Clearwater Rain
Tue 
08/03/2010 17:54:55
 jim  RJ Storms
Tue 
08/03/2010 07:19:03
 jim  Antonios, Nails, and Beef-O-Bradys
Becky and Jennifer had their nails done yesterday
(their first manicure). Jennifer picked a color that, well, is pretty unusual, but it sparkles.
Becky's nails were two toned. Looks good.
I met them at lunch time at Antonios, which is an excellent Italian restaurant on our block.
Later, we dined at Beef O Bradys. Today was their Grand Openning. We met the Owner/Manager, the food was great, and guess what, its on our block.
Good food, good times, lots of love...thats what life should be about.
At work, I'm playing the role of problem solver for our somewhat large project,
and believe I'm pretty good at it.
Eventually, all the people in my group come by to ask about something.
It's a privilage I very much enjoy.
On the quit smoking front.
We didn't pull off going cold turkey last Saturday, but we did come up with a nice, modified plan to cut down.
We're keeping our smokes in the back of my truck. Becky's down to 8 smokes a day, and I'm down to 12.
That's really good, considering we were smoking anywhere from 20 to 40 cigarettes a day.
Now this is odd, cutting down on smoking isn't uncomfortable at all.
And when Becky and I go out to smoke, Jennifer comes along. We flip open the tail gate, enjoy the sky show, and laugh about the little things in life.
It goes to show, people can change, and even though change may seem bad, it can be a good thing.
Mon 
08/02/2010 06:57:02
 jim  Hot off the press - Flatworms
After extensive gene therapy at Sensadyn Labs,
a flat worm has actually learned to play the guitar.
It's favorite song - Layla
Fri 
07/30/2010 22:02:36
 jim  Webcamming 2010

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