Absolutely the King of laughter on this website!!

But Jim!!! Humor is the one reason I turn to these blogs. I won't ever laugh as hard as I did at your dyed beard story ever again? Sure, I have the few bloggers with their great sense of humor to turn to, but it won't be the same. Farewell to the King!

Thank you, everyone, for the kind words; they are much appreciated.
It was a tough decision, but at this point, I think it's the right one. It's one less nagging voice in my head telling me I need to do something. And we all could use one less of those, right? :)

I'm gonna miss your posts, Jim. You always are insightful with a bit of humor. Best wishes!

So sorry to read that you plan to stop writing your blog, Jim. I thought it was one of our best--if not the best--on our website. You're a talented writer, as all your readers can see. There's a wide world of topics out there if you don't limit yourself to Milton just because of your blog's label. I'm hoping, as Steve Knox suggests, we can convince you to pull a Favre. If not, you indeed will be missed.
Greg Peck

I enjoy your writing and style. Thank you.

Oh my! First Stan Milam...now Jim Lyke. Who's next, John "HERE we GO" Eyester? Good luck Jim. I've always enjoyed your blog.

Hope Steve Knox is reading thi..never mind.
Your a good writer,good luck to whatever you
choose to do in the future.

Ditto on the "will miss this Milton blog"! You have always captured the town so well, and with obvious "hometown" appeal!
Best wishes on your future endeavors!

As any other former regular reader of your blogs. I will much miss reading about Milton in earlier years, as a Milton High School Student, I have read some great blogs about how Milton was when you, Jim was attending this very school yourself. I am glad to have read the blogs I have. You are a great writer, and hopefuly someday you will find the exact thing to do for writing. As in what I have herd time and time again...All good things must come to an end. Thank you for sharing your stories Jim.

I think everything happens for a reason. It is through your blog that I was able to meet you. You have and will continue to be an asset to this area. Even though you will no longer publicly display your trials and triumphs, know that I am rooting for you in all of your ventures.

I was hoping for a beard shaving blog :). Thanks Jim. I enjoyed reading.

What's the deal with Ginger Baker?

Oh Jim, surely you can do one April Fool's column a year?

OMG, woody! ROFLMAO!

I will miss your blog. Good luck to you and see in Milton! ;)

I like the pugnacious word though, should be used as an adjective: pugnaciously. Still it has been added into my *vo-cab-u-lous-ness* ways. LOL Just kidding, Good Luck Jim.

SuperDave: I think he was looking for the word (s) Converse.
Refute~to prove wrong; Refutation~the action of being refutable...Refuting ~to repel the facts of the conversed subject matter.

OK, but promise you're not going to move from this into something like Derek and the Dominos. (Layla & Bell Bottom Blues notwithstanding, of course.)

Well wishes!

This is what you come up with when you don't have anything to talk about?
I was hoping you were "hired" for the talk show.

Don't let one nasty blogger bother you.
Good luck.

I think you are a wonderful writer and have enjoyed reading your blogs. You will be missed!!!

Good luck Jim. Just like your sidewalk, somethings come to an abrupt end.

Ditto, Ernie. I appreciated your blogs, Jim. They were rare, but when they were up they were always worth reading. I miss my hometown, and it's rare to hear it talked about at all, let alone with such fondness. If you can't continue, maybe we can find someone else who can. While it won't be the same, at least it would be nice to continue capturing the Milton spirit (and maybe you can guestblog if the mood struck you?).

Way to go Mouse, what's next on your negative agenda, getting Knox a job so he stops blogging? Oh, wait, you already accomplished that.

Best of luck to you! I also wanted to comment on Sarah Palin, and the word "refudiate", which you seem to have correctly used. To me, it was applying a double standard when she was mocked for her neologism (is that a word?).
When I heard the first black person use the term "conversate", instead of being mocked, writers seemed to bend over backwards to explain the term. Um, yeah - it's simply a "back-formation" of the word "conversation", or alternatively, an extension of the word "converse". Sure, that sounds good. NOT.
"Conversate" is not a word. Neither is "refudiate". But in the true interest of fairness and equality, either they're both to be accepted, or both rejected. Much like the use of the "N" word, that seemed to force Dr. Laura into early retirement, either it's acceptable for everyone to use, or not. My choice would be the latter.

I've always enjoyed your column Jim. As a true born Miltonite, It's sad to see you go. I looked forward to reading your column when it came up. Bummer your leaving. We need another Miltonite to take over and keep the tradition of your column alive!

Good luck, Jim.

And I always thought that Ginger Baker had a lot of explaining to do.

Good luck, Jim, and thanks.