tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-97813342011-11-27T15:27:56.703-08:00Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.comBlogger991100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-5699977478083694082011-02-20T20:38:00.001-08:002011-02-20T21:03:26.258-08:00

As there is in many states California has a tax the government puts on the sales of bottles and cans that are sold with various beverages therein. This amazing tool to make our world "Green" is a few pennies per bottle but when you buy a case of something it sure can add up. This tax is called CA REDEMPTION VALUE. And that is exactly how it is displayed on the bottle "CA REDEMPTION VALUE" a

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-13973444687267398612010-10-12T09:34:00.000-07:002010-10-12T09:50:05.832-07:00

Mark my words, there will be an investigation of this organization that will reveal that a very large chunk of the donations they take in are for the purpose of "awareness". This huge tent known as "awareness" will cover things like big parties, travel expenses, elevated salaries, PACs, and other wasting of your heartfelt donations. If you thought that donating to this organization (or the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-86625428868385974442010-10-09T10:30:00.000-07:002010-10-09T10:32:36.234-07:00

I am blogging about wine.More to come.http://www.ourwinelife.com/

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-91783174444734845062010-03-06T23:35:00.000-08:002010-03-07T00:07:08.442-08:00

I was fortunate enough to share a bottle of 2006 Viader "Dare" Cabernet Franc this evening. When I saw it on the wine list I had to have it. I immediately thought of how I could convince the table of mostly white wine drinkers that we should get this bottle. I was quickly encouraged by an associate who wanted to drink red to order it. To hell with the rest I knew what I was doing.When the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-7177639036310965712010-01-31T17:44:00.000-08:002010-02-03T08:27:28.981-08:00

When I think of a great Riesling I usually think of Germany. It think of the region of Mosel. I think of a delicate balance of sweet and acid. Well chilled so that each taste as the wine metamorphoses its way to room temperature provides different flavors. A great wine, a great Riesling, should hit you with a bit of honey, sweet apple and meyer lemon. Though somewhat aromatic it should not

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-35266879915912311852009-11-10T09:48:00.000-08:002009-11-10T12:43:53.555-08:00

In Oz Clark's Grapes and Wines he says that Viognier (VEE-ON-YAY) filled the consumer demand for a white wine with "weight and softness of an oaky Chardonnay without the oak". For me Viognier is currently my favorite white because it combines the crispness of a Sauvginon Blanc with the fruity profile of a Riesling and spares us from the high acid levels of either. For me oak doesn't enter in to

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-42405221307757322422009-09-01T20:47:00.001-07:002009-09-01T21:46:08.384-07:00

Tuesday night is a special night for me. It's the night that AKA Bistro in downtown St Helena hosts a local winery and offers a tasting of their wines for $9. Tonight featured wines from a winery that I didn't get the name of. I didn't get the name because the reps of the winery were dicks. Best I could tell without my glasses is that name on the bottle was Halliburon but I am sure I am

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-48227253828187766262009-08-29T08:33:00.000-07:002009-08-29T09:59:44.970-07:00

I know it's been a while since the last post but livin' the WINE LIFE ain't easy for a pimp. You spend your days smellin', tastin', spitin' and soakin' up all that knowledge. It can be intimidating at times, it can also be very rewarding like the last two days in the Germany/Austria intensive. One strong attribute to these wines is acid. Acid in wine is that element that brings life to a wine,

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-8241447903780887672009-07-22T20:52:00.000-07:002009-07-28T21:49:24.101-07:00

After a day filled with tasting wine and spitting it out to identify it's characteristics but not get drunk a couple of my classmates and I stopped in at V Sattui for some wine tasting. I was quite surprised that what I feel is a tourist trap had a couple of very nice wines including a sauvignon blanc that is not on the tasting list.What was interesting was the tasting room guy that we spoke

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-60981248555167577512009-07-21T20:39:00.000-07:002009-07-26T13:02:22.843-07:00

Toward the end of the first day of the two day class on Sensory Analysis I asked instructor John Buechsenstein this question: "If I smell a wine initially but don't smell liquorish and then after someone else in the class identifies it I can smell it on the next whiff, is it power of suggestion or am I really smelling it?" John's response is that he would side with the conclusion that I have

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-8231468451042403592009-07-20T20:11:00.000-07:002009-07-26T00:41:59.398-07:00

Christie Dufault a frequent CIA instructor and a member of the wine team at rn74 (named after the main route through Burgundy) spent the day showing us the array of tools she has to perform the responsibilities of a sommelier.For the most part I didn't get much from this day of corkscrews. I have opened a lot of bottles of wine and I may not be the best but I get the job done. More important

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-9448045785586374732009-07-19T22:15:00.000-07:002009-07-21T23:31:54.875-07:00

Let me just say that being a wine student living in Napa has it's privileges, but the cost is not getting to see your wife everyday. This weekend I had the treat of a visit from Nina and though it was brief it was definitely appreciated. Friday Night we visited Rutherford Grill (in the city of Rutherford go figure). This place reminds one of the Houston's chain in style but the wine list is far

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-34762248699520953492009-07-18T07:09:00.000-07:002009-07-21T22:11:30.872-07:00

As the first week of the Wine Immersion program ends I am inspired by the things I have a learned and the people I have met. There is so much growth potential in the wine industry and in a time when economic decline has hurt so many businesses, sales of wine has continued to increase. Drowning your sorrows? Perhaps, but it is clear that wine is accepted as an affordable luxury.Just a few

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-18847314218311680742009-07-14T20:14:00.000-07:002009-07-14T22:59:47.169-07:00

My class consists of 23 people that come from many walks of life and have various things they are looking to get out of this program. There are some retirees, some kids fresh from college, a couple people who like me are looking for a new career, a McDonald's franchise owner and the son of one of the CIA instructors.The Orientation was lead by Paul Dray, Associate Director, Professional Wine

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-71347444247407892442009-07-13T07:50:00.000-07:002009-07-14T08:06:26.894-07:00

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Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-64632522412691692602009-07-04T12:27:00.000-07:002009-07-04T13:23:42.769-07:00

I rarely travel for business therefore I usually don't have a tight schedule when I arrive somewhere. Yesterday was one exception. Since I am moving to Napa temporarily I needed to check out various rental properties. I had a very organized and detailed schedule of appts to see various homes away from home. Jet Blue screwed the whole thing up.The flight was scheduled to depart at 9:06am from

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-18409801390443317192009-06-30T10:47:00.000-07:002009-06-30T11:25:39.016-07:00

With the death of Michael Jackson comes a lot of issues. The one that I find interesting is if it is correct/appropriate/acceptable to separate the man from the art. It seems in creativity we find many odd characters and Michael Jackson is the poster child for oddity. Some have vilified him as a child molester, at the very least most call him a weird guy. But what about the music?I spent a

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-43835545752538978732009-06-24T17:28:00.001-07:002009-06-24T17:47:23.051-07:00

To be home on the islands, how I missed it. So many things that seemed so familiar but many of the landmarks of my childhood visits were gone. What to do in 4 days to recapture that feeling of Aloha?We stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and if you avoid the $30 pizza and use the $16/day internet service wisely I think this is an affordable place to stay. We booked the cheapest room possible

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-44175668206039546032009-06-19T13:25:00.000-07:002009-06-19T13:39:25.667-07:00

June 8th 2009 Oahu, Hawaii.It was a cathartic moment for all of us. At a time where I have struggled with my faith or with what it means to have faith in something more than this life. Something more than the hard surfaces I walk on, the heavy weight of the luggage, the savory taste of the local cuisine and sweet smell of the flowers that line the pathways of Waikiki. To see the ashes of my long

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-74166523946534433272009-05-16T08:00:00.000-07:002009-05-16T10:01:25.542-07:00

What a time was had!We sampled food from the greatest chefs, spent an afternoon with the master sommeliers of the Bellagio, and the "wheel of fortune" landed on the $1000 mark! YES!Friday night began with a long line of foodies in anticipation of the surge to the pool area at Caesars Palace where nearly 100 vendors were waiting with their food and drink samples. Some of the attendees included

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-63286622169516715482009-03-30T05:23:00.000-07:002009-03-30T05:23:02.227-07:00

Friday March 20th was a great day in wine country. It was a great day to be off from work. Any day for that matter is a great day to skip work but this one was a special one. The sun was out and the breeze was crisp. Blooming flowers and lush green meadows. The wine, oh such joy in a glass. Yes it was a great day in wine country.Thanks to the folks at Raymond Burr, Ferrari-Carano and

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-5174765049022655182009-03-29T17:05:00.000-07:002009-03-29T17:28:36.784-07:00

What is blogging to you? To me it is talking about that things that intrigue me for the moment when I find myself intrigued and in a certain amount of depth. With the goal of trying to create as polished a piece as possible so that my readers aren't dissuaded by my incoherence.This has become my burden and my joy. I can't tell you how many times I have started a post with an idea I find

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-87100933054336876242009-03-12T10:20:00.000-07:002009-03-12T13:53:47.254-07:00

Wine News:Ordered my first bottle of French wine the other night without the help of the Sommelier. It was actually quite easy as I recognized a region in Burgundy that I had studied in wine class and said "I will take this one". The class has certainly empowered me but also left me humbled when I thought for sure I knew the origin of a particular wine we were blind tasting and got it horribly

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-27115782252902335782009-02-15T19:55:00.000-08:002009-02-16T13:37:26.757-08:00

It's a term applied to wine that has been jostled in shipment. Upset by the apple cart the wine becomes unsettled and it is recommended that the wine sit for a few days before drinking as it may not taste its best.Bottle Shock is a new DVD release that chronicles the struggle of a family winery in 1976 when California wines were just beginning to get recognized by the world. Bill Pullman plays

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-61340911499754916742009-02-03T11:54:00.001-08:002009-02-06T08:54:43.357-08:00

It was chest pains that brought me. That's a golden ticket to the front of the line in the emergency room. Within minutes I was hooked up to an EKG machine and they had discovered that every so often my heart would have an extra beat. I thought this might be proof that I had rhythm but it sure made me feel poor. I could feel this pain in the center of my chest and was overly aware of the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-72934933898642468382009-01-26T14:35:00.000-08:002009-01-26T15:03:38.196-08:00

Tonight is the second night of the wine class I am taking in Newport Beach. I decided that with some exposure to the science behind wine perhaps I could figure out where I might belong in the industry because I clearly don't belong where I am at. The instructor is young but knowledgeable and I have already learned quite a lot. She is also very personable and I am glad she is teaching the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-35854482309467444632009-01-20T12:29:00.000-08:002009-01-20T14:25:44.998-08:00

OK, here is where we start "Peoples President". Our country is in bad shape, we are at war, the economy is in the toilet and Barack Hussein Obama is the 44th President of these United States of America.I am cautiously optimistic regarding the new commander in chief, it kind of feels like when Arnold became the Governator after that hack was recalled. What was his name? Davis, Al no I mean Gray

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-87609952639126354532009-01-07T07:59:00.000-08:002009-01-09T13:42:49.630-08:00

The GOOD:During a recent visit to the Napa Valley Nina & I had the delight of enjoying a nice lunch at the Napa Valley Grille. A combination of breads with olive oil/balsamic vinegar started off the meal. I orders a wine flight called "Red Red Wine" which included an amazingly complex Burgess Syrah. This was followed with a delicious plate of Fritto Misto which consists of fried calamari &

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-11979674430091181532009-01-05T14:03:00.000-08:002009-01-05T14:36:50.533-08:00

Everyone is telling me "I hope this year is better than last" and to be honest it doesn't feel different to me. After a nice two week vacation I am back at my crappy job doing the same crappy stuff. I do plan to transform myself but it's got nothing to do the change in the date.Are you supposed to tip the guy that shuttles you from the car dealer? What about the one that brings your car out

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-57914322900977028612008-12-24T12:47:00.000-08:002008-12-24T13:21:21.331-08:00

Anytime we take on a challenge is it the jumping in that is hard?Is it keeping your pace up?Is it avoiding distractions and keeping focus?Perhaps its the emotional support from the people that love you?Last night it was the shits.Nina and I had just traveled some 960 miles enroute from Fullerton, CA to Portland, OR and my stomach was not happy. I wasn't sure what I had eaten that could cause the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-27513693082726871242008-12-16T13:09:00.000-08:002008-12-16T13:56:28.472-08:00

There was a popular local Newsman in Los Angeles by the name of Ralph Story. Growing up I associated the guy with boredom because it seemed to me that he never talked about anything I cared about. So when Dad watched one of his programs I found something else to do.This year I discovered a two episode series of Ralph's called "Things that arent here anymore" and the "More things that aren't

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-55839680140152341592008-12-11T11:25:00.000-08:002008-12-11T11:48:56.761-08:00

It's just another birthday for me. After the many that have passed in my life the process becomes rather routine. But there are a few attributes to good a birthday.Any birthday that includes a party is a good one. I don't much like getting presents (at least not as much as when I was a spoiled kid) but I like spending time with my friends and family on such an occasion. And when the only

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-35336178727595605282008-11-27T19:20:00.000-08:002008-11-27T20:52:42.749-08:00

For the most part my blog is about me. It's about my thoughts my feelings my adventures and my trials. But today I want it to be about you.I want the few out there who regularly read my blog (and I know it's a small bunch) to open up your hearts and minds and tell me what you are thankful for. As those of you who have good reading comprehension know this is the day two years ago when my Dad

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-73936180377844829062008-11-17T13:40:00.000-08:002008-11-17T15:31:12.776-08:00

I guess I shouldn't have taken my daily walk today. The sky seems pretty clear and the air doesn't smell as bad as yesterday but when my trip was complete I was left with a headache to the power of Tylenol sinus. Alas it will pass soon just to be replaced with the stress of dealing with my co-workers here at Dunder Mifflin West. Here's what we got:The old dude who thinks he deserves respect

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-50207465851494100152008-11-10T12:19:00.001-08:002008-11-10T12:49:25.946-08:00

It seems that November is the month when people die. November 6, 1992 was Mom.November 27, 2006 was Dad.November 9, 2008 was Grandma.One of the things that made my Grandma's passing different was that she was ready. She had lived almost 93 years, had outlived all of her friends and many of her family. She had experienced many things and had a life that after my Grandfather died in the 70's

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-16060449364302998112008-11-09T12:25:00.000-08:002008-11-09T13:26:51.525-08:00

"You know the bible is just like the koran" mumbled the pasty faced, rather tall, hippie lady as she tried to pass off her literature just outside the venue. It seemed that though she was quite demure she still had an agenda with a passion to turn those hate filled Muslims. And what better place but the annual middle eastern festival in Garden Grove, California. The hippy chick was not the only

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-31527715386925191102008-11-06T12:08:00.000-08:002008-11-06T12:24:34.144-08:00

Thanks to Howard Stern we have some audio that validates my conclusion that people do not vote based on the issues. And perhaps they only voted based on skin color.Also the dude is like only a quarter black but clearly the black community loves him.Enjoy: Why Are You Voting for Obama?Looks like Wall Street doesn't like him so far (take tongue, insert into cheek)Before you pass me off as a

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-42818938831585448042008-11-05T08:19:00.000-08:002008-11-05T08:57:33.950-08:00

IT'S DONE!No more can the USA be declared a racist country because a black man is now president.What other things are off the table now?40 acres and a muleReparationsGetting to work on timeThe glass ceiling"The Man"The StruggleThe correct way to refer to blacksAny other race centered excuses for not succeeding"My friends" you now have what you always wanted. A "somewhat" black man is now

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-86068455621638821842008-10-13T13:35:00.001-07:002008-10-13T15:50:06.058-07:00

Yippee! The stock market is up 11% today! We are back baby! We hit bottom and now there's no where else to go but up!Well maybe not.I don't want a tax cut. I don't want rebate check. I want a pay raise. A big one.I want the government to cut corporate taxes so that businesses can create new jobs and afford to pay their employees what they deserve. So that they can keep the good people that

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-65426067424333370072008-10-09T15:28:00.000-07:002008-10-09T15:51:46.499-07:00

How can I be expected to write my normal pithy remarks about the world around me when my investments are falling like bricks from the top of a watchtower?Speaking of watchtowers I recently discovered one of my farmers market friends - the guys that sell me crap at the farmers market so they can hide the sales from the government (are weed sales taxable?) - is a Jehovah Witness. Not that there's

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-75636975515768490892008-10-01T09:12:00.000-07:002008-10-01T12:44:27.652-07:00

If Nancy the Ninny had any sense of diplomacy the "save our economic ass" bill would have passed in the house on Monday but as Steve Martin used to say "NOOOOOOOOOOOO!" She had to go on a partisan diatribe praising the democrats and blasting the republicans. What a Cu*t!When her party's candidate is preaching his plan to work across the isle how can voters believe it with this c*nt spouting her

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-78033265959234930942008-09-29T13:19:00.001-07:002008-09-29T13:51:27.476-07:00

The Raiders are a great three quarter team. They have shown since the disaster of Week 1 that they can be competitive as long as they are balanced. Had the injuries to their running back corps and an important O-Line member not occurred undoubtedly they would be 3 and 1. The fact is that all teams deal with injuries and the Raiders have already shown that they can adapt to change it just

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-58328814202469026052008-09-17T11:54:00.000-07:002008-09-17T12:53:27.929-07:00

Are you getting the most out of your life?If things aren't perfect do you check out of society?Do you have to control everything?Are you not flexible or willing to compromise? Ever.Is this as good as it gets?It seems that time and again I meet people who are so self-centered that they cannot cope with their own existence unless everything stems from their tree of life. They are not interested

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-45401420749617237732008-09-09T09:50:00.000-07:002008-09-09T09:57:40.833-07:00

I recently added the ability for you to become a follower of my blog (see right column) but apparently you can only sign up as a public follower if you have a blog yourself and the fact is that some of us are bloggers and some just don't know the struggle we bloggers face.I think you shouldn't have a be a blogger to a follower of a blogger. But I's don't like it when people who are not bloggers

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-44899807873142363542008-09-04T08:05:00.000-07:002008-09-04T08:46:53.108-07:00

You heard it here first. Come 2012 Sarah Palin will be the boss.Why?Because she single handedly killed the Obama campaign last night. Because she is what the politicos call a "great communicator". I am sick of what has become of our government and I question whether it was always like this and I was just a naive get. At one time I thought the right was about lowering taxes and promoting

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-13409090779300285422008-09-03T13:19:00.000-07:002008-09-03T13:46:04.167-07:00

Are you a person who is open to new things?I like it when people tell me about new things they discover, new cities they've visited, new restaurants tried, etc. Of course for me the source of the info determines the value of the information so I wouldn't take a wine suggestion from someone who prefers it "from the box" because you can easily store it in the garage. At the same time I admire the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-40151356775992335992008-08-12T08:00:00.000-07:002008-08-14T10:31:06.242-07:00

Or whoever you are.The spam letter you sent me:DearestPlease, I want to introduce myself and this businessopportunity to you.My name is Mr James Allotey , a bank accountant,I willneed your assistance in this business transaction.I would like you tostand as the next of kin to my deceased customer,Mr David Clemetson, whodied in a plane crash in January 31st 2000 plane crash.Check thewebsite for the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-9131377755015828682008-08-07T10:44:00.000-07:002008-08-07T10:54:21.071-07:00

Whether Brett Favre is to wear a Packer jersey or not has been up in the air for the last week or so. Well today he became a Jet and to me that makes no sense. I guess he wants to live in New York so he can hear Opie & Anthony everyday on regular radio, those satellite bills can be expensive for a pro quarterback. He said he wants to play for a team in contention, a team good enough to make

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-44078977764286415142008-07-31T11:17:00.000-07:002008-08-05T13:49:07.182-07:00

"Viva La Vida" because death will strike you down one day and all this will be gone.In my favorite track "42" of the latest Coldplay release Chris Martin sings "Those who are dead are not dead, they're just living my head".INDEED.In mine as well Chris.But we are not crazy are we? We might be ghosts. Or at least maybe we just think we are.42, the answer to the greatest riddle of the universe is a

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-67005013226446628852008-07-29T15:00:00.000-07:002008-07-31T09:51:55.426-07:00

A brilliant man once said "Smores don't taste that good, they are just fun to make".Well the other day at the beach in celebration of a special birthday the fire was blazin and the kids were dangling their marshmallow covered "smorsticks" hoping to toast them just good enough so they are melty but not create too much cancer. One of the moms warned "Don't burn them because the black stuff will

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-73055254577613001012008-07-29T14:40:00.000-07:002008-07-29T16:01:04.674-07:00

This morning on my drive to work I started to get a bad feeling. It wasn't the normal indigestion of excessive drinking from the night before, I don't usually start the weeks embibing until Wednesday.I had this feeling of impending doom. I was fearing something bad was going to happen. I though Nina might have car problems or be in danger. Since I vowed to listen to my sixth sense and not ignore

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-14187779241228411612008-07-25T10:37:00.000-07:002008-07-25T10:42:54.326-07:00

A great man died today. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080725/ap_en_ot/obit_pauschhttp://www.cmu.edu/randyslecture/

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-6276479380130708942008-07-17T12:06:00.000-07:002008-07-17T12:58:42.175-07:00

I remember back in the day when shopping was something you did in stores. Today we have the internet so shopping is now something we do wherever there is an internet connection. When purchasing a used car this year I was able to use online shopping to give me the advantage over the car dealer.I started off by finding what is called a “web forum” which is a website where people who have an

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-33640812977142999832008-07-08T12:00:00.000-07:002008-07-08T12:50:20.521-07:00

In putting together a "mixtape" for a guys trip to Vegas I came across some old favorites and some of them stuck. I was amused by the stuff we thought was cool when we were young and I felt nostalgic listening to "The Cure", "The Jam", "Echo & The Bunnymen", "The Smiths". How we thought one band was "gay" when another one that sounded similar was cool struck me funny but we were kids after all.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-12992551132219985162008-07-02T15:41:00.000-07:002008-07-02T15:58:38.496-07:00

Some people call it intuition, some think they are psychic, some think that there is an angel looking over them or a message from a loved one who has passed. I am not sure what it is but it seems that lately my sixth sense has taken over.So I am in Las Vegas and I am walking through the Casino and before I sit down at a table I know whether I will win or lose. It's when I don't listen to my

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-27353327739659310872008-06-30T15:29:00.000-07:002008-06-30T15:56:27.628-07:00

What would you do if you couldn't find your way? If you felt like you had lost your grip and there was nowhere to turn?What if you thought that the world was closing in and you were trapped?You might send an e-mail to some old friends.And that might result in the a trip to Las Vegas.The reuniting of longtime friends for a couple nights of gambling, drinking, and good timesAnd the start of a new

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-84967641348980451242008-06-16T10:59:00.000-07:002008-06-16T11:08:52.524-07:00

The world is too complex to provide understanding.There is too much cultural division to be understood.Our differences make understanding impossible.How can I be expected to understand something if you do not teach me?That's the way it is, it's not for you to understand.To be understood is to let down your guard to impending marauders!Why aren't you with us, don't you understand the consequences

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-58501849418542189452008-06-13T12:02:00.001-07:002008-06-13T12:46:12.568-07:00

I've been told I have the writing chops but I guess it's the reader to decide.Since it's "so you think you can dance" season and my wife and are big fans of the show (american idol who?) I see it an interesting subject to comment on. Each year we are treated with some very talented dancers but it seems to me that what makes this show so great is when the music, choreography, and dance come

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-91620378528926245762008-06-12T08:19:00.000-07:002008-07-17T13:03:10.843-07:00

These are the times that try mens souls. Or at least my neck, back, and brain are not too happy. When you live amongst the vermin that want nothing more than to put you down to get ahead there comes a time when you have to toss it all aside and find a new avenue. There comes a time when we who have been loyal and supportive realize that there is no future in the current environment, no turn

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-89326507701872595712007-03-03T09:55:00.000-08:002007-03-03T10:01:57.639-08:00

With the impending merger of XM & Sirius it is more important today than ever to get the PESTS (POWS) out for Opie & Anthony. No one knows if phoney hoo hoo and his Daddy Karmazi will work with The BOYS so e-mail these guys http://971freefm.com/pages/1537.php and bring O&A and Ron&Fez to L.A. radio where they belong!

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1166132433234137792006-12-14T13:38:00.000-08:002006-12-14T13:40:33.246-08:00

Yesterday I was at a memorial service for my Dad. If I ever had doubt that he was a kind and gentle spirit those doubts disappeared as people who were business associates, colleagues, students of, or just friends came to me one after the other to tell me how kind, caring, and genuine my Dad was.Roy, a guy I knew when I was a kid and would visit my Dad’s TV station, came up to me and said that

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1165958807941720432006-12-12T13:23:00.000-08:002006-12-12T13:26:47.956-08:00

I felt the warmth of my friends and family around me and it helped to ease the blow of what had happened but there was still emptiness. I am still in shock; I can’t get over the fact that he is gone. Sure the support is great but if I am looking for closure I didn’t find it. Though I think this event may be a step in the right direction but I still feel lost.In my dreams that night I saw my Dad

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1165339023941585922006-12-05T09:15:00.000-08:002006-12-05T09:17:03.956-08:00

I have sat down six times over the last few days to write down these words. They may not be completely coherent but I will do my best.On Monday November 27th at 5:15am my Dad died, 7 days after his 68th birthday. Before he left even though he was not able to communicate we were able to tell him how much we love him and he heard us.I send this out to all the people that loved him, knew him, or

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1129840720867643392005-10-20T13:25:00.000-07:002005-10-20T13:38:40.880-07:00

Someone just hit the powerball for $340 million. This person had a 1 in 146 million chance and they hit it. And this person lives in Oregon where $340 million might as well be 340 extillion trillion dillion. More money than you could possibly spend. We all wonder if that will ever happen to us. I am convinced that it won't for me. I found the following article interesting in the words that

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1129233738738797492005-10-13T12:17:00.000-07:002005-10-13T13:02:18.750-07:00

Sitting in Traffic you get to thinking. I would like to invent a device like the remote that turns off TVs in airports that would do the same to cellphones on the road. 80% of the people I see on the freeway are talking on the phone while driving. It is very frustrating when you are stuck behind some idiot concetrating on the phone more than the road and holding you up in the fast lane. If I

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1128718393419450012005-10-07T12:57:00.000-07:002005-10-07T13:53:13.426-07:00

A letter reportedly from the leader of al Qaeda in Iraq to Osama Bin Laden was intercepted in early July that details al Zarqawi's concerns about their tactics in Iraq might turn muslims against al Qaeda. If this letter is legitimate then perhaps we are making progress on the War on Terror afterall.http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/10/07/pentagon.al.qaeda/index.htmlBush's Speech Thursday morning was

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1128372489897107502005-10-03T13:17:00.000-07:002005-10-03T13:48:09.906-07:00

Now that I have a DVR from my crappy cable company taping things for future broadcast is much easier. Is "taping" the correct term when no tape is involved? Being a fan of the vast world of television I sampled all the returning shows from last year and a good number of the new ones. The best show this year is the best show from last year. LOST. JJ Abrams has a second success to accompany

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1128190350033596982005-10-01T12:51:00.000-07:002005-10-01T12:58:56.366-07:00

Listening to Joe Rogan the other day on Opie & Anthony was a blast. This guy really has some interesting things to say. He is actually a student of Man. He has the best job in the world (eventhough he hates it) because it's easy, he works 3 days a week and the money is amazing. But I never thought listening to the host of Fear Factor would direct me toward national geographic.The most

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1128026664270222402005-09-29T13:11:00.000-07:002005-09-29T13:44:24.276-07:00

I am the first person to stand up for the war in Iraq. I feel strongly that in order to insure that Iraq is settled as a peaceful country that U.S. forces need to remain there. I am not overly concerned with the death toll of civilians or military. Not because I don't care but because I understand that when you are trying to exact great change there is a cost.What concerns me is the American

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1127853841979266352005-09-27T13:27:00.000-07:002005-09-27T13:44:01.986-07:00

Ever have one of those weeks when you feel like a dark cloud is following you around?This week is one of those for me. You think that everything you touch will break. Whatever you try to do will be a failure. The feeling of frustration and paranoia that you are not capable of doing anything right and you are incompetent and others know it. I ask myself what I did wrong that I deserve such

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1127767439500383292005-09-26T13:19:00.000-07:002005-09-26T13:43:59.510-07:00

When you schedule a service call for certain cable companies (all of them?) between 8am and 10am it really means after 11am. Also you are not capable of attaching a coax cable to a cable box (otherwise why would we need to schedule an appt with you stupid ass?). I have attached cables to boxes for years. There is nothing like a properly attached cable. How complicated can the box be? Anyone

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1127506678194092642005-09-23T12:50:00.000-07:002005-09-23T13:17:58.203-07:00

In life there will always be people that hate you. There will always be people who no matter what you do will think you are a bad person. Usually these people are relatives that have expectations far beyond reason. Psychos.The other day Nina and I were discussing how no matter what we do that a certain individual in our lives will always think we are bad. Will always be unhappy with us. Will

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1127161090331522552005-09-19T12:50:00.000-07:002005-09-19T13:18:10.336-07:00

This weekend I discovered Bavarian Abbot Ale, imported from Belgium. Nice. With 8% alcohol it about put me on my ass but it was quite tasty with a range of flavors from fruity to spicy in a nice mix of three wheats (Tripel in Bavarian-Speak). All Poulez Fussie's (sic) are not created equal. In Canada we enjoyed a bottle of this variety and it was amazing. Unfortunately I did not note the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1126902045216315112005-09-16T13:17:00.000-07:002005-09-16T13:20:45.220-07:00

Opie & Anthony on XM 202.Stern is done.Whoo hoo Robin, I'm done.Oh Howard you will be going to satellite too.Whoo hoo Robb-in I invented everything.Whoo hoo but I won't be as funny as Jim Norton.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1126815812417915352005-09-15T12:35:00.000-07:002005-09-15T13:23:32.426-07:00

Don't give to Hurricane Katrina Relief.That is don't give until you have properly evaluated who you are giving to and what the people you are giving to will do with your hard earned funds.I am shocked and amazed at the outpour of help that has washed over those who have suffered from this disaster. It is equally amazing that just because a miss-managed international charity that uses a red plus

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1126642456036860662005-09-14T13:19:00.000-07:002005-09-14T13:23:41.606-07:00

Just got back last week from a trip to Oregon & Vancouver BC to attend the wedding of my nephew Warren and his lovely bride Dena and to see my niece Paullllla off to her new adventure as a marketing major at the University of British Columbia. There is a lot to cover and I am sure you will be hanging on my every word.Ya right.The first issue that comes to mind is my rental car. Despite that fact

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1126640872980151312005-09-13T12:44:00.000-07:002005-09-13T12:47:52.986-07:00

Your company failed to reach estimated profits because of your failure to respond to customers needs. About a year ago I e-mailed you about your rewards program and how you should not charge a yearly fee to belong to it and my e-mail was completely ignored. I had been a customer of your company for many years and you lost me. I have not purchased anything from Best Buy ever since. You get

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1115181287827257102005-05-03T21:33:00.000-07:002005-05-03T21:34:47.833-07:00

Back to work, going to school, everything I used to do during the week I now do on the weekend.I get no SleepI'm Busy

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112371825678137342005-04-01T10:54:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:52:11.543-08:00

I am going to hold you people accountable.I am going to tell it like it is and try to explain why your so-called "wine country" is 85% trash.On a recent trip to Temecula, California it became crystal clear why to really experience California wine country you must go North of Los Angeles. For those of you not familiar, Temecula is a small town located in the Northern San Diego County but I

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112373785945349072005-04-01T10:50:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:51:58.536-08:00

We started our visit at Baily Winery. Having arrived around Noon we decide to have lunch at Carol's Restaurant on the Baily property. I had a Salmon Salad and Nina has a Steak. The Salmon was prepared well and served over a bed of greens with grapes, gorgonzola cheese and candied pecans. It was a tasty combination of flavors but the salmon itself didn't have much of a punch. A little seasoning or

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112375871267341222005-04-01T09:59:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:51:42.086-08:00

"Could you move closer to the wall so we can get these other people in to taste".This was one of the wonderful one liner's from the snobby bitch that served us. The fact that she tolerated our presence was so delightful of her. I would not judge an entire wine tasting experience strickly based on the staff but for Mount Palomar I'll give it my best shot. We walked into the dimly lit room with the

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112378270096039182005-04-01T09:49:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:51:22.823-08:00

Maurice Car'rie reminded me of Knotts Berry Farm.They have all this crap all over the place. Jam, jellies, chocolate, gold panning supplies. Oh yes they are big fans of the color pink.Maurice Car'rie is the only winery in Temecula that doesn't charge for tasting. The reason from my perspective is that their wines are nothing special. We tasted the whole list of wines and despite the fact that all

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112379201246492642005-04-01T09:46:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:50:38.993-08:00

We made a detour to Winchester Cheese to pick up some nice cheese combustibles.They make Gouda. Just Gouda. 15 types of Gouda. It's Good-Ah! (sorry about that)The lady who helped us was super nice and the pretzels were from walmart. Woo hoo!

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112378929239131252005-04-01T08:57:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:50:19.896-08:00

Wilson Creek was bustling with activity.Sampling here was 5 tastings for 7 dollars with an extra $3 for a tasting of the chocolate port that comes in a small chocolate cup.The wines here are good with the highlight being the White Cabernet. I have never tasted a white wine made from Cabernet grapes and it was quite tasty. It was one of the most unique wines I have had and it made for an instant

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112380063830715342005-04-01T08:30:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:48:53.166-08:00

I think this place is called a "Family" winery because they let people bring the kids to hang out at the bar. There were so many people at the bar (tasting and not tasting) that when we arrived at 4:45pm we decided to look around a little before tasting. Around 5:01 I got the chance to step up to the bar and told the guy that I wanted to purchase one tasting. He told me that the winery closes at

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112381128262427772005-04-01T07:50:00.000-08:002005-04-01T10:48:36.723-08:00

The woman at this place who poured called the Rose' (Rose-ah) wine Rose (rose) wine.Did she think it was made up of roses?Pompous bitch should get a little learning about accents and tildes and the like before she stands on her podium and declares how many tastes you get as she sharpies your card to keep track. Be sure and use the blue sharpie and circle the glass on the card if they try the port

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1112370526955159222005-04-01T07:45:00.000-08:002005-04-01T07:48:46.956-08:00

Have I slacked off from my mission or what?Anything I say will be thought of as an excuse but at least I am back.To answer the deodorant question I use speed stick or old spice. I do not use anti-persperant because for me they are evil.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1108744119202842802005-02-18T08:25:00.000-08:002005-02-18T08:28:39.203-08:00

Just a note that the comments logic has been changed recently so you do not have to set up a blog account to post a comment. You can also post a comment anonymously. Time for cornflakes

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1108658544628422342005-02-17T08:24:00.000-08:002005-02-17T10:40:57.183-08:00

http://www.thesuperficial.com/This site describes itself:The Superficial is a brutally honest look at society and its obsession with the superficial. It is not satire. It is not social commentary. It is the voice of our society at its worst. It is first impressions without sense of social obligation. It is the truth of our generation. It is ugly racism. It is jealousy. It is honest.But the truth

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1108572616099461272005-02-16T08:08:00.000-08:002005-02-16T08:50:16.106-08:00

If you saw Kiefer Sutherland on "Inside the Actor's Studio" you may have been turned off by the fact that this guy's favorite word is the Latin word "Gravitas" (meaning weighty, heavy). The fact of the matter is though his response seems so pretentious "Actor's Studio" is all about pretentiousness. James Lipton has made pretentiousness an art form but I digress, my acerbic transgressions belie my

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1108330508593576722005-02-13T13:35:00.000-08:002005-02-13T14:07:57.930-08:00

After As you can see we have been busy remodeling our kitchen. Now that it is finally done I am quite relieved. Let me tell you this job was not an easy one.I decided to take on the job of general contractor for this project because I was tired of years of wanting a new space and no results, besides what else is there to do when you got no job. Now mind you (who talks like this?) I have no

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1108330550877107492005-02-13T13:20:00.000-08:002005-02-13T14:11:57.200-08:00

Before Look at this old kitchen. And the ceiling used to be popcorn, the walls used to be white and off-white colors.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1106587614876180672005-01-24T09:09:00.000-08:002005-01-24T09:26:54.876-08:00

After two years of dependability I washed my Motorola T720 into oblivion. Having had both Nokia and Motorola Phones I found that Motorolas to be better, the Nokia I had started malfunctioning within the first couple of months. Had I not left my T720 in my pants in the washer I am sure it would still be functioning fine. If you look through the phones available these days it's a sorry looking

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1106332309063631952005-01-21T09:44:00.000-08:002005-01-21T10:31:49.063-08:00

My ultimate goal is to be objective. People see things with a bias, me included, but at some point in my life I hope that I can reach the point where I can view things with an objective eye. Growing up with a Democrat Father and a Republican Mother I was torn as to which direction to take because I could see the good things on both sides. It wasn't until many years later that I realized

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1106243515616747262005-01-20T09:21:00.000-08:002005-01-20T09:51:55.616-08:00

In the wake of the Tsunami we have seen people show up asking you for help (mostly in the form of money) to relieve the suffering in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Sri Lanka as the death toll rises. It is surely a sad thing and knowing someone who has lost a child as a result has made this personal. I think it's clear that the dollars we have sent do help the cause but can anything that someone

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1104944197419175442005-01-05T08:24:00.000-08:002005-01-10T10:39:03.326-08:00

The other day we are at Target shopping for containers and the like to organize all of our crap. As I was looking at the containers I heard "James, James". Next thing I know Frack is walking up to me. She has no clue that Nina and I really have no interest in her trials and tribulations but she has to tell someone and apparently our kindness during the fire resulted in a new found friendship.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1104602999528497832005-01-01T09:36:00.000-08:002005-01-02T14:37:23.116-08:00

I hope 2005 is a great one for all of us. Nina and I decided to spend New Years Eve at home this year watching the movies Super Size Me, Troy and The Punisher. I thought The Punisher was the best of the three and we didn't even finish watching it. Maybe it was the champagne? Close to midnight we took a survey of the New Years Eve shows and found none of them to be too exciting. Has Ryan

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1104257758923789192004-12-28T08:53:00.000-08:002004-12-28T10:15:58.923-08:00

Having enjoyed a Christmas Eve visit to Home Depot to look at new cabinets for our bathroom Nina and I were approaching our neighborhood at about 3pm when we saw a cloud of smoke in the area of our remodeled masterpiece (or soon to be). As we made our way down the street the tension mounted and I could tell that Nina was about to cry. All I kept thinking about was how much work we had put into

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9781334.post-1103996576454121972004-12-25T09:39:00.000-08:002004-12-25T09:42:56.453-08:00

Welcome to my blog. I have always wanted to spew my views to the public for many years and this seems to be the best way to do it. I hope you enjoy the read because I've got lots to say.

Jameshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02734840786994366887noreply@blogger.com0