07/08/2007 13:43:42
jim Louisville,KY-Kentucky Derby-Rod,Jessica,Jim,Becky
| Stories's Log |
| This log represents the Life and Times of the Las Vegas Dude. |
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| Sun 07/08/2007 20:17:35 Jim Moving/Kentucky Derby/River Front Park | |||||||||||||||||||
Friday, we signed papers for the apartment, but we couldn't move in yet. So, we just hung out at Suburban. We ate pizza at Old Chicago's, and I've gotta say, it was the best pizza I'd ever had! Saturday, we moved into our apartment. It took two trips to move out of the Suburban. Then we bought a TON of Walmart furniture (airbed, chairs...) We moved all of that in and passed out around midnight. Sunday, we had to exchange another VCR (without a tuner in it, which we need) Our GPS went strange on us, and we ended up at a Walmart in New Albany. On our way back, we had to go down Albany's back streets. We actually got stopped at a railroad crossing for 20 minutes (I hopped out and picked flowers...lol). Albany's a beautiful, small town with very old Buildings. I64 was out to Louisville, so once again, we had to take a detour and I blew a flat! Finally, about noonish, we got back to Louisville. Churchill Downs with Rod and Jessica. Rod and Jessica met us at the apartments and gave us a lift. They are such great company! Becky picked the horses and won!!! Yippee!!! Ending the day, we went to The River Front Park Cool place. There's a Joes Crab Shack high on stilts over the river. The park has a water jet show, and lots of grassy areas. Kids were playing frisbee football and soccer. It looked like a blast. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sun 07/08/2007 13:43:42 jim Louisville,KY-Kentucky Derby-Rod,Jessica,Jim,Becky | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sat 07/07/2007 16:22:21 Jim See ya’ll Tuesday | |||||||||||||||||||
We're going off line until we get our new internet service Have a GREAT WEEKEND! | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sat 07/07/2007 07:26:34 Jim Living downtown...how to adapt? | |||||||||||||||||||
I'm really excited about this change. Entertainment is in walking distance. A CVS is just a block away. I noticed that most of the Kentucky Towers dwellers don't have a car. To get from the street to our apartment - we have to park in a garage - go to the 3rd floor - walk up a ricketty stair/bridge to our apartment building - go down and around a hallway - take the elevator to the fifth floor - then go down the hall to our apartment #503. There is no convenient way to get from the parking garage to the apartment at ground level. However, if we take the bus - We can enter the apartments directly from the front - take the elevator to the fifth floor - then go down the hall to our apartment #503. So, either we find a place to park at ground level, or we take the bus. This is going to be so much FUN! And I am going to lose weight! | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fri 07/06/2007 15:32:10 jim Louisville,KY-Kentucky Towers-Apt | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 07/06/2007 00:15:38 Jim Our new apartment | |||||||||||||||||||
 We move in 3pm tommorrow...yahoo!!!Kentucky Towers: 513 S 5th #504, Louisville, KY 40202, (502) 585-6300 Our apartment is on the 5th floor of this 1920's high rise. In its hay day, was a ritzy hotel. The Hilton is across the street from it. They are refurbishing it, along with the rest of the downtown area. I'm curious, and paranoid, about moving into a high rise. But this one looks REALLY COOL!!! It has 100 washer dryers, a swimming pool on the 5th floor, an excercise room and shops on the first floor. A Hilton Hotel and a coffee shop are across the street. Fourth Street Live, Louisvilles ritzy party area, is one block away. Best of all, its only 10 minutes to work, the drive is simple, so its unlikely that I'll be blasting the stereo, then miss a turn at 70 mph, and end up headed towards Nashville, like I did the other day. The people are very friendly and mostly attractive.  - A security guard showed us the route from the parking lot to our apartment and was nice enough to walk us through the route. He said its a quiet building.- I talked to a front desk clerk from the Hilton who was smoking outside. She said we were going to love it. She had a lease 4 blocks down the road. - There was a crazy lady sitting at a bus stop yelling things, probably talking to god. - A fellow hit me up for a dime. Another hit me up for a cigarette. - Three girls walked in alone at different times. Each dressed like they just came from a company party. One said she was involved in politics, and just got back from Washington DC. So the people are going to be quite varied, but not threatening. Our next challenge will be finding furniture on a shoe string budget. We won't have an internet connection until Wednesday. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thu 07/05/2007 01:15:48 Jim 4th of July at Rods | |||||||||||||||||||
 - Spent the day checking out webcaming with Sonny, Jennifer and Joy. - Chatted with Gma. It was great! We were actually on our way to downtown Louisville to watch the fireworks over the Ohio, but decided to swing by and say Happy 4th!!! Rod spent about $300 on fireworks, which sounds familiar to me.  We hung, drank a couple of beers, at beer brats.Jessica, Rod and Reese's daughter plays the clarinett...and she had it sitting out. I picked it up, and guess what? I could still play, AND read sheet music. Its been 30 years since I was 1st chair in the high school band. There was a thunderstorm with lots of lightening on 15 mile drive home. Altogether, it was quite a night. We'll be going to the Kentucky Derby's last race on Sunday. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wed 07/04/2007 09:50:00 Jim Apartment follow up is important | |||||||||||||||||||
We saw an adorable apartment. It was in an old brick four plex, right off the street, with parking in the back. There were trees in the front. The owner/manager was outside fixing a window. I asked him why it was broken. He said he didn't know. He showed us the apartment. It was nice, $500 a month, and we filled out an application. I felt ready to take it. HOWEVER... When I was leaving, a guy at the bottom of the stairs gave me an evil look. Then the manager said, "Hey Jose, how are you doing?". Jose dropped his look and smiled. We drove by an hour later. There were three 15/16 year olds hanging out in the hallway. They were sitting on the stairs and they were dressed in gang attire. When the sun goes down, the bad guys come out. I realized why the manager was replacing broken windows. At least I learned that 4 plexes like that sell for $240,000 here. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wed 07/04/2007 05:24:07 Jim They should have built Las Vegas in Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
They should have built Las Vegas here, instead of in the middle of a desert! | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thu 07/05/2007 13:41:10 sae (Reply).They should have built Las Vegas in Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
So, you're hearing voices? First sign of (1) you're getting old, (2) you're losing your insanity, and (3) you're back to programming as a profession. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tue 07/03/2007 06:40:50 Jim Apartment Quandary | |||||||||||||||||||
Barrington's Place Pro's: Downtown. $540, all utilities. We have a 14th floor apartment reserved that looks out over Louisville. Its walking distance from the waterfront, 4th Street Live, Slugger Stadium. Its 10 minutes from work. Con's: Management is flaky. They told us we could move in the 6th. Now, they're saying the 18th. They just told us it was a year lease, not a 6 month, and the buy out was 2 month. We haven't seen a model, or the apartment, only pictures. Parking is across the street for $50 a month. Crescent Center Pro's: Downtown. $750, no utilities. Great looking place. Its walking distance from the waterfront, 4th Street Live, Slugger Stadium. Its 10 minutes from work. Parking is free. Con's: Expensive. Intown Suites Pro's: Next to work. $800, all utilities. A little larger than Suburban. Decent looking place. Con's: Questionable area. Imperial Suites Pro's: 5 minutes from work. $549, no utilities, 6 month lease. Large 1 bedroom on 11th floor. Decent looking place. Very secure. Has a pool (closes in August). Con's: View faces South and kind of sucks. If a North view opened up, it would be great! Breckenridge Square Pro's: 10 minutes to work. $589, 800 sq ft, internet, pool, spa. Nice looking area. Con's: Unknown. Breckenridge Pointe Pro's: 10 minutes from work. $450, $50 utilities, internet, 675 sq ft. A little larger than Suburban. Easy parking. Only 60 units. Great looking place. Con's: 1 year lease. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sun 07/01/2007 00:17:42 jim Louisville,KY-4thSt Party-Jim,Becky | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sat 06/30/2007 16:28:20 jim Louisville,KY-Mtel InTown Suites | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sat 06/30/2007 06:26:13 Jim The IPhone, my next splurge! | |||||||||||||||||||
I checked one out today and I've gotta have one. - They hold 4 to 8 gigs. - The operating system is smooth. - Its quick and extremely easy to use. - It can import Outlook files. - The camera is great. - It has maps. - The interface to the internet is excellent. They'll be coming out with units that have GPS built in. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fri 06/29/2007 21:36:46 jim Louisville,KY-4th St Downtown Bldgs | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 06/29/2007 19:47:50 jim Shelbyville,KY-Mall,SpencerGifts,Becky | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Thu 06/28/2007 22:29:44 Jim I love these lightning bugs. | |||||||||||||||||||
 If Las Vegas had cockroaches with neon glowing butts, they'd be feeding them! I could envision people using cock roaches to light up their kitchen cabinets. You could even put sugar down along walkways for the glowing critters. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thu 06/28/2007 21:23:14 jim Louisville,KY-Apt | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Thu 06/28/2007 18:49:16 jim Louisville,KY-Hote lRoom | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 21:04:04 jim Frankfort,KY-Capitol Dome | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 21:04:04 jim (Reply)Frankfort,KY-Capitol Dome | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 21:04:04 jim (Reply)Frankfort, Ky | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 21:04:04 jim (Reply)Frankfort,KY-Capitol Dome | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 20:12:24 jim Lexington, Ky | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Wed 06/27/2007 07:10:14 Jim Inflatable furniture for the high-rise apartment? | |||||||||||||||||||
Check out: http://www.inflateus.com/original_style_sofas.htm     This furniture is designed mainly for use in dorms. But I think they would look great in our 14th floor apartment. AND, we can take our furniture to the lake..haha | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tue 06/26/2007 23:21:27 Jim Love my new job! It doesn’t get any better. | |||||||||||||||||||
Its nice to know Kevin McD works remotely there from Las Vegas. Maybe I could do that someday too! I think he's responsible for the ATM's on the west coast. I hear his name everywhere now. I'm in development (my forte). I don't have a PC set up, so I'm using someone's elses while their on vacation. My first rogram was a report/update program today, and I had to write it from scratchhhhhhhhh! The program they gave me as a starter was dated 1998, and it wouldn't compile. My first project was fix a database table. The challenge was, to make it look like another table, and to fix its a column to point to existing files on a different system. The files were all moved around to different subvolumes, so I had to search the system for each of the 300 files. These files are used to load some devices with tables and code (I think). So, without them being right, nothing works. They gave me the lattitude to do the project anyway I wished. I guess the project had been passed around. So, my first project involved writing a fix it report/update program using Cobol, Sql, Enscribe, and lots of Tacl. I already have the best macros around there. But...I had to write them from memory, so they could be much better. I put my old macros are on the internet in my blog, but I don't have internet access yet. Everybody at work is great! Their attitudes are excellent. They're eager to see anything I produce. And I'm their guinee pig, I'm told. I'll be leading the way for others to follow. The system I'll be reviving has been dead for a year, and they really want too see it work. So, I'll pretty much have free reign, with project nudges here and there. Most say its a mess. Its not documented, and nobody there knows it. There's going to be a lot of recognition in what I'm doing, and its going to be very visible. So, this job is a perfect fit for me. Its what I do best. I do systems. Its hard to explain to people who haven't had sole responsibility for every program in an entire system. Most programmers work on one or two programs at a time. I've worked whole systems for most of my career. I tend to do whatever is needed to make a system work. This is quite a break for me. I love this kind of work. Its a perfect match! I should go far in this place. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tue 06/26/2007 17:05:10 jim Louisville,KY-InTown Suites-Becky,Jim | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Tue 06/26/2007 08:10:38 sonny Okay Jim - from Sonny | |||||||||||||||||||
I think I see how to use this . Jim I am scheduled to see Grady at the same Starbucks you and I went to . I got your message that you want to close the deal with Mr. Hic. (Hispanic for short) but you are not too keen on the deal itself. I don't understand the mechanics of real estate very well but I believe that Mr. Hic is going to have to put forth some kind of money in order to secure a purchase of the condo. Oh well! I know that you do understand the mechanics and I will go ahead and sign the papers as you , according to Grady have already done. It is now eight seventeen Las vegas Time. Have a good day Jim and Becky. Squirt says Baaaarkkk! (Short for I miss you!)
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| Mon 06/25/2007 22:35:46 Jim First day at work went well! | |||||||||||||||||||
My suspenders popped off from my pants faster than a speeding bullet, though. They didn't have terminal for me, so we tried several different ways to get me in. I eventually wrote a Cobol/Sql report from scratch (well, almost). Slapped some macros together from memory. That was fun. I took advantage of the slack time by running by Barringtons Place. They needed the application fees. They're running a background check on me...sheesh. I've got to get my mortgage company to fax them a statement saying I pay my bills on time. Plus, they needed employer references. I guess I should be greatful that they screen their tenants. Later, Barrington's Place called and said they couldn't have our room until the 18th. Thats a far cry from the 6th of July. I told them we were still, kind of interested, but I'd need an actual date eventually. I have to plan a move. I can't just wing it. I came home, and Becky told me we no longer had our hotel room. She said they said we could stay one night only, if we paid. It turned out we still have our reservation, but they charge weekly...haha.. That Becky! Gosh I love her! Meanwhile, we have an offer on the condo My realtor called tonight at 1l pm. I had to print a document to fax back, and my printer is out of ink. And, I can't yet get on the internet at work...youch! This is a really good ride I'm having here. I really am loving every minute of it. I've found that at times things just work out all screwy, for what seems like, no reason at all. I thinks its fun though. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sun 06/24/2007 14:39:48 jim Louisville,KY-Barringtons Roof Top | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sat 06/23/2007 01:31:53 Chez2199 Live life to the fullest | |||||||||||||||||||
Get on | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sat 06/23/2007 01:29:25 Chez2199 The Chez Mobile | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 06/22/2007 18:36:50 jim Louisville,KY-Sluggers Ballgame Jim,Jessy,Rod | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 06/22/2007 14:25:02 jim Ohio River Road | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 06/22/2007 13:42:12 jim Paducah,KY-Painted Horse,Ohio River,Ark | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Fri 06/22/2007 03:16:36 ruth1941 .I am confused about Ruth (my ex) | |||||||||||||||||||
jim it was me that calloed sonny said i was ruth i asked if you guys had left yet and he said around twelve-thirty sunday he asked how i was feeling and i thought he was asking about when i had to go to quick care. it was not your ex wife that talked to him but me it was ma and he must have thought it was your ex sorry he must have gotten us mixed up since we both have the same first name. hope this clears up the confusion. lol | |||||||||||||||||||
| Sat 06/23/2007 08:13:05 jim (Reply)I am confused about Ruth (my ex) | |||||||||||||||||||
Sonny said she called. She was worried that something terrible was going to happen to me. He said she sounded good, and that she wasn't going to die. He said she said she just has heart palpitations. How does one go from a diagnosis of Stage IV cancer to heart palpitations? Someone is crazy. I'd bet her husband (Ricky) is going crazy...lol. THAT IS SUCH A HUGE LEAP! Her husband said they are in irrecoverable debt. She said she was going through chemo therapy, and they gave up on her. I know prayer can do a lot of good when it comes to illnesses. But isn't that like praying someone didn't lose their head and another one pops up! Now that I think about it...its one heck of a tale! Is it possible for someone with Stage IV to watch Benny Hinn on TV and get cured. Wowsers I should buy one of his DVDs instead of a "Full Workout Video with Chuck Norris" to lose weight. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thu 06/21/2007 08:17:29 jim Notes on Suburban Extended Stay | |||||||||||||||||||
First, the bad things: - The rooms are tiny and inadequate. - There is no storage in the bathroom, not even a hook! - They give you two (one drawer) night stands, and one (three drawer) chests. - The kitchen has one cabinet and no drawers. - The stove is a two burner, no oven, with a dorm size fridge under it. The 2" gap between the stove and the fridge is where we keep the silverware, LOL. - They should advertise their kitchens as having "The Worlds Tiniest Microwave". - The hotel doesn't provide ice trays and there is no ice machine on the property. - The dining table is 2 foot wide, and its wobbly. - We upgraded to a room with a sofa bed, but its not worth the $4 a day increase. - There are no easy chairs. The good things: - A 24 hour convenience store shares the parking lot. We're on the first floor, and have the closest room to it. It takes 40 seconds to walk there. The stores warmed food is Excellent (first time I ever said YUM to a Sloppy Joe). The cops seem to love it too. How we improvised: - We brought a plastic 6 drawer chest of drawers. Its strong enough to hold the hotels 30" TV. - We brought 2 smaller 6 drawer storages units. One is in the bathroom. - We bought a 3' x 4' steel camp table from Sams Club fo $42. It stores like a thick pole in a carrying bag, and folds out to full size and it has adjustable height and width (its amazing). We put it in our kitchen. - We brought a small hot/cold water dispenser. The kitchen table is JUST big enough to hold it. I only booked this room for 2 weeks. Extended Stay America has identical room rates, and probably 20% more area. They offer - A full size refrigerator - A chest of drawers (six drawers), plus two night stands. - A breakfast bar in the kitchen, - two laptop stations, - two easy chairs. - AND, they have ice machines. The down side is, you have to drive to a convenience store. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Thu 06/21/2007 03:08:09 jim Got my orientation. Discovered Indiana! | |||||||||||||||||||
The freeways here take some getting used to. Their off ramps split into other off ramps. Picked up a camp table at Sam's Club Its really cool. Its all metal, totally adjustable, and almost fits in your pocket. Its perfect for two laptops. Went to Ajilon for my Orientation. Those guys are pretty great. Actually, everybody in Louisville is great! It took 2 hours, but I managed to get a T-Shirt from them. :0) Ate at a buffet today. $5.95 per person. They had shrimp, Chinese food, and deserts. What a great deal! Went to Caesars Indiana tonight. It took a while to find, since we just barely knew the directions to it. It looks just like Caesars Palace in Las Vegas used to look 10 years ago.  The Forum Shops are similar to Vegas, Much tinier. They have $22 lobster buffet.  Its amazing how many factories are around Louisville. Across the river from Louisville is where our Crest comes from...wow. 
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| Wed 06/20/2007 18:53:47 jim Colorado is so beautiful | |||||||||||||||||||
Denver Downtown  Denver's buildings seem as tall as the Las Vegas Stratosphere  Its COLD in Denver, even in June!  Eastern Colorado...and lots of it! We crossed about 200 miles of rolling grasslands on I70.  | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wed 06/20/2007 12:02:23 jim Utah is so pretty! | |||||||||||||||||||
Eagle Canyon  The Pass   The Shrubs  | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tue 06/19/2007 16:14:01 jim Louisville,KY-Slums,ChrisSteakHouse | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Tue 06/19/2007 16:14:00 jim Louisville - Kewl Shots | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Tue 06/19/2007 02:00:00 Jim Finally, after 35 hours, we made it to Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
Long drive. We took 3 naps. Utah and Colorado were incredibly beautiful. I even liked Kansas. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Tue 06/19/2007 13:48:47 Sonny (Reply).Finally, after 35 hours, we made it to Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
Sonny,
That's great Jim! Ruth called about an hour after you and Becky took off. She was worried that you might encounter a problem or something. I told her that I would let you know that she called and that you would most likely be okay. After thityy five hours and you are still running now on nothing but caffeine and adrenalin everything must look what you'll be dreaming about for the sixteen hours. I look froward to your further comments in your blog.
All is very quiet here on the home front. Squirt seemed to know that you and Becky were taking off but he hasn't made his usual graphic expression on the living room carpet yet. I guess he can learn after all. I'm taking Jessica with me today, of all places, to the Hilton for that fantastic Star Trek experience. Because of past experience, I will avoid eating in The Quartz or whatever it was, restaraunt. I'll be looking for some more comments about eight or ten hours from now.
Love Sonny
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| Wed 06/20/2007 12:09:29 sae (Reply)...Getting settled into Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
Funny. They had the same Dangerfield comment about Jeffwee Hock. It went "Yea, Jeffwee has a big heart.... but also has a very tiny pee pee". He does drive a Corvette!!! Speaking of Jeffwee, he says she called him too and had trouble pronouncing his name too, and couldn't (or wouldn't) get around to asking the important questions. Like your work abilities or ethic, etc. She kept asking where you two knew each other from. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Wed 06/20/2007 12:58:52 sae (Reply).Getting settled into Louisville | |||||||||||||||||||
Sounds great Jimmy. Better than me. I am fully brain dead. I stayed in a Suburban Extended Stay here in the Orlando, July 2005 for a week and hated it for the tiny rooms. As far as a "bad side of town", I suspect theirs is nothing compared to Heavensville's (L.A.) "bad side". But even there, things are not that bad, as long as you look for the good, and don't give anybody any kaka. Got a call from Becky at Alijon yesterday afternoon, wanting to do a reference check. Seems late in the process. I told her that you didn't know how to code. You act funny around female coworkers, and don't bathe. But that you don't steal, so you're ok. HaHa.... Just kidding. I was in the middle of doing an emerency fix that had to get done RIGHT AWAY and told her you were a good guy and a hard worker, but told her I'd have time. She asked when we worked together, and I told her about MGM and M2. She said she'd email me questions, and that way I could answer offline. She never sent me the email, so you may want to get her my email address. She seems a little dim witted. I say that, because she really mangled my last name, and couldn't understand mike -=-=-=at-=-=-= ginsburg.net was my email address. | |||||||||||||||||||
| Mon 06/18/2007 00:00:00 jim | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sun 06/17/2007 11:55:04 jim Vegas,NV-Gabriel Bye Sonny | |||||||||||||||||||
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| Sun 06/17/2007 02:05:31 jim I just got a delightful call for Be Quick | |||||||||||||||||||
It was a girl who thought we processed loans 24x7. We rambled on, I explained that I'm am just a humble Notary Public, and I only notarized loans. She explained she was from Utah, got into a bind and she needed a loan. Wellio, we ended up joking and laughing about things. Then somewhere along the line she invited me over to offer herself to me. That just figures. If you can't find a woman in Las Vegas, you ain't looking. People come here for many reasons: to vacation, to get rich, or simply just to break the circle they're stuck in. Everyone here is looking for something they feel they can't get anywhere else, and its not friends that they want. Welcome and Goodbye to Las Vegas.... | |||||||||||||||||||
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