Jim Blizzard is moving to Tampa, Florida.

People who know me well know that I have Jim to thank for… a lot.

He was the first person I met from inside Microsoft. Before meeting Jim, I thought the company was a collection of crazy, building-crunching, rocket-boostered, money-grubbing, techno-war-mongering yahoos who somehow managed to build kick-ass software.

I have since learned, thanks to Jim, that they don’t actually have rocket-boosters.

That we don’t actually have rocket-boosters.

Well, Ballmer might have rocket-boosters, but the rest of us definitely do not.

And I wouldn’t know that if Mr. Blizzard hadn’t invited me in to see Microsoft from the inside. He invited me on trips up to Redmond, helped me find a way into conferences, hooked me up with Microsoft swag, and did what he could to promote me inside the company. It was through Jim that I met my current boss, Paul Murphy.

If I had to guess, and I don’t, but if I did, even though I don’t, I would guess that Paul wouldn’t have hired me without a reference from Jim.

Jim also genuinely gives a sh*t. I’ve met a lot of corporate types who Do Not Care, but Jim isn’t one of them. One of the reasons I think he was so successful as a Microsoft evangelist is that he didn’t blow smoke up your ass (I don’t know where that expression comes from, but it’s occurring to me now that, not only is it gross, but it just doesn’t make any god damn sense).

Anyway, I could ramble on for a long time, but what I really want to say is: Thank you, Jim. As a high-school and college dropout, I’m used to people not giving me the benefit of the doubt, but you’ve treated me like a human being since day one, and you’ve helped me go from being a somewhat satisfied contractor to having my dream job.

I owe you a lot, mister, and I think you’re a bastard for moving, but I understand, and I am anxiously awaiting an invitation to come sailing in Florida :)