Jimscomments3_3

Well, it's just about done, this project of mine that I call Jim's Corner! I know that I spend too much time on this (at times), but oh well, it helps keep me occupied.
    Lately, I've been contemplating writing about various pet peeves, or current events that may be pissing me off, but I decided, for now at least, to just run down what I've been up to lately, and save the heavy stuff for when my mind is clearer and I'm able to focus better.
   I'm a postal clerk, for those of you who don't know me, and I've been doing this for 17 years. The Postal Sevice has been good to me mostly, although I get aggravated from time to time about the lack of thought that sometimes goes into management decisions at the facility where I'm employed. But I like the security, benefits, and yes, even the pay (although we need a DECENT raise this contract, something we haven't been able to obtain for a while).
   I am a divorced father of two, 20 year old Josh, who is an automotive technician student, and 18 year old Jennie, who graduates high school this spring and will attend cosmetology school this fall. Josh has many interests, in addition to the obvious (cars), he is a drummer, history buff, and part-time bartender at one of the local watering holes. Jennie has been a cheerleader all four years of high school, and is known (at least by her parents) as being one who calls things as she sees them, letting you know where she stands on whatever is on her mind.
   Joanie. I'm going to go out on a limb here and officially refer to her as "my fiance", although we haven't set a date yet. She keeps me motivated, amused, loved, at times bewildered. We have been dating for over a year and a half now, and have been living together, with her three children, for the past six months. What I'd forgotten about children aged four, seven, and nine I'm remembering real fast! (although I only had TWO that close together!) But we are all getting along quite well, that is Joanie, her kids, my kids, my kids' mother Diane, and everyone else around me it seems. Well, almost. But one can kinda expect an ex-husband whose kids are now living an hour away with their mother and her fiance to be a little bitter. Oh well, very unfortunate, but life goes on.
   I've recently, within the past few months, found an interest in WHERE I CAME FROM, that is, who my ancestors were. I've been rather lucky to find information on many of the branches going back centuries, some even to the OLD COUNTRIES. The biggest challenge thus far has been my great grandfather, who shares given name and surname with myself. But I've stumbled onto some previously unknown (at least to other's in the family) info on what he did, where he was at certain times, etc. Still can't trace the Grace lineage past him, all I've found is that his father was born in Ireland, his mother in Germany (according to census data). No names to go on.
Well, I've reached a place where I need to cut this short. It's after 4:00 PM, and Joanie and I are going out to dinner (and let Josh serve me a few beers) when she gets home from work after 5.
                                  Later...........Jim                   3 March 2001