wow. Talk about a gut punch. [View All]

One of the best times in my life was in Ridgecrest, CA. Knew the guys at the radio station (KRAJ) and used to hang out with them.

One of the really cool guys was James Rowles. Lived in a small trailer. Had been in a movie and did some modeling for a gas station ad and a car dealer (iirc) He gave me a copy of some of his shots from the ads, but he did not like to talk about the movie he was in - all we knew is that he was a biker in a beach blanket type movie in the 60's. He was the sound guy for the station.

I used to sit outside the station with him and talk about everything. He dreamed of a web site based around something he called 'terminal brain cloud'. Helped him out all I could, had some spare parts and such I gave him - including the computer I had when I got to CA (which was old but still better than the ones he had gotten at an auction at the Navy base he and I went to). It had sentimental value to me (long story) but I knew it was going to a good home. I still remember showing up at his trailer one night and he showed me how he had turned it into a small station that could go up to a mile.

Before his station went online I went to see him one night (shortly after he got the old systems from the base) and he had them all hooked up and had spent hours learning DOS. He was so proud of himself and thankful to me for helping him learn stuff.

We were both from Ohio and talked about moving back here. Lost touch some years back.

Looked for him off and on the last seven years. Got busy with life and wanted to hook up. Every year around the holidays (not sure why then) I would search the net for him.

Tonight on FB I found the old station manager by luck (another friend, my old boss, I have on FB had him as a friend). Messaged him hoping to find out where James was.

I got this reply a few minutes ago:

WOW good to hear from you! I have horrible news about James. He retired back home to Ohio and about 2 months later was robbed and murdered. Didn't know any other way to put it. Sorry. It killed all of us.

:(

He was a good friend, a little eccentric. He reminded me of that guy that ran the trailer park in Twin Peaks, Fire walk with me (looked a bit like him too). On many lonely nights out in the desert I went to his trailer and we would hang out talking computers and sound cards (turtle beach).

back then email and cell phones were not the norm, so we lost contact when I moved away. Today was sucking already, I will miss you old friend.

A song he and I both related to (another long story):

Alanis Morissette - Ironic
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jne9t8sHpUc