Proof that I’m getting curmudgeonly in my old age, as evidenced by my mail folders..

Jim Says:”I am two parts diamond, some say three parts dirt. I say no one moves, nobody gets hurt.”

On April 20, we lost a much loved member of our family. Our 13 year old black Lab “Mac” slipped away quietly around 11 in the morning. He had been unwell for the better part of two weeks and did not suffer.

Mac taught me his own special version of “fetch”. That was when I would throw a frisbee, he would chase it down and catch it mid flight, then drop it on the ground, and run back to where I was. Once there, he would sit and stare at me as if to say, “Are you going to get it and throw it again, or what?”

I’m currently in “The Peach State” aka “The Empire of the South”, or as most may know it, Georgia. I’ll be here for 3 weeks on business and this is my third time in the hometown of Coca-Cola. As you might imagine, a Pepsi drinking yankee ain’t exactly a perfect fit down here. Don’t get me wrong, I’m staying at a five star hotel and getting the royal treatment and really enjoying many of the people I’ve met, but I am by no means a “southern kind of boy”.

I have no individual complaints with this town, I am just about as much of a square peg in the roundest possible hole that you can find when I get south of the Manson-Nixon line. Much like my ill fated trip to Florida 5 years ago, (which I wish I could call “do over” on, but I digress) I just feel completely out of place. I think part of the problem is I just haven’t found the “funny” here. Normally, when I rail on something, the rant comes out as a humorous tirade aimed some benign target. (Just ask me about Star Wars the next time you see me.) I haven’t found that here, yet. Having the weekend to myself, and being able to wander at my leisure with my camera. I’m sure I can find something.

Anyway, that’s the world as I see it. I’m off to the party suite to hang out and relax. I’ll be pretty available the next couple of days, so feel free to call.

Jim Says: I’m fixin’ to head over yonder.”

April 25. Again.

Today, I have turned 42, the ultimate age for life, the universe, and everything. Joining me in doing so is a very good friend, Scott Argiro, or as I call him, “Scotty Hollywood”. As we round this corner, I’ve noticed that I’m aging like a fine wine, while Scott, good man that he is… well, if you happen to know someone who still has an unopened can of Billy Beer…

Others who are/were completing a solar lap on this day..

• Jason Lee
• Al Pacino
• Rene Zellweger
• Ella Fitzgerald
• King Louis IX of France
• Conrad IV of Germany
• King Edward II of England
• Albert King
• Fish (lead singer for Marillion)

April 25 is also DNA Day (look it up!) So feel free join me in celebrating that as well.

Jim Says: “Happy Birthday, Scott! I’ll be calling.”

My fuel budget for the next two weeks has officially been spent.

Next paycheck is due on tax day, and there’s no hope in hell of my being able to pay those, either.

Jim Says:”Blah-blah-blah, Obama, Blah-blah-blah, repbulicans/democrats. Blah-blah-blah… It’s time that We the People, actually did something about all of this! I say we start by voting every single incumbent out of office and replace them with independents.”