Randman's World

I got a call today. I have a second interview with Disney next week.

Prayers and good wishes would be appreciated!

So, my wife and I were watching CARS the other night on video. Charlie loves the beginning with all the race cars.

In the first part of the movie, you are introduced to Mia and Tia, Lightning McQueen's biggest fans. They are 1990 Mazda Miata's (hence the pun on their names).

During the scene where Lightning is on stage, and the girls drive up to introuduce themselves, my wife noticed something I never did.

They say , "I'm Mia and I'm Tia, and we're your biggest fans. Kachoow!" And, when they say Kachoow, their headlights raise up and shine on Lightning, then lower back into their bumpers.

My dear, saintly wife, tells me, "They just flashed their headlights at Lightning".

Of course they did.

"No, they just flashed their "headlights". Get it?"



You know, I had watched this movie 3 times, and never noticed that joke. And I can't find any mention of this on the web. What a riot. That's why I love John Lasseter and Pixar. They can get a good old fashioned booby flash in a G rated movie!

My wife and I have been looking at appliances for the new house. She had her heart set on stainless steel appliances. However, after a quick look at stainless steel in a house for sale, we began rethinking.

Stainless steel appliances are not stainless. They show fingerprints. And not just a minor smudge. A giant discoloration. We tested by having Charlie touch a refridgerator at Lowes, and his little fingerprints are probably still on that thing. And they don't just wipe off. Oh no. You wipe em and they smear. You have to clean them off.

So, we thought, let's look at the "clean steel" models. One word, BLEH! They either look cheap, or come in very entry level models.

So, last night, I think we decided on white. Maybe some day, appliance makers will come out with a truly stainless "stainless steel". But, not in time for our house.

With a heavy heart, I must communicate the passing of a dear member of our family. Yesterday, at approximately 11:30 a.m., out Toshiba SD-400 TIVO departed this earth.

We had spent many great hours together. We experienced much laughter, many tears, and some anger. I knew that when I came home, TIVO would be there, ready to show me multiple episodes of NYPD Blue, or perhaps the latest Boston Legal, or 50 episodes of Paula Dean. We'd sit together, and just laugh and laugh and laugh. Then, at night, when the family was asleep, TIVO would still be there, finding entertainment choices for the entire family. Teletubbies for my son, Studio 60 for me, and every cooking show ever produced for my wife.

But, in the end, it was just too much for TIVO's hard drive to keep up with. The very end came quickly, with a few video glitches, and then, rebooting. Finally, yesterday, TIVO just couldn't reboot, and I knew it was time. I gently pulled her out of the tv cabinet, thanked her for her hard work, and pulled the plug.

TIVO SD-400 will be survived by TCD649080, a new TIVO box, with 80 hour hard drive and dual tuners, so we can record two shows at once. Until it arrives, we have to watch regular broadcast TV, which should not be inflicted on someone so soon after a loss.

RIP my old friend.

First, not to jinx anything, but I had what seemed to be a good first interview with Disney. Here's hoping I get another.

Second, tomorrow is the big day. The debut and final performance of "Captial Campaign, The Musical". It's a 20-25 minute musical comedy about people working on the building fun at our church. We're performing it at "The Big Event", a gathering of all of the members of our church, celebrating the kick-off of our new building campaign. It stars the amazing Pete Calderone, plus Tanya Roberts and James Taylor (also additional cast members who don't share famous names). I've worked on this for a couple of months, and am excited to see it finally performed.

Last, we continue down the road to a new home. If anyone knows anyone who is looking for a northland house, send them my way. Selling our house is mucho stress, and we haven't even listed it!

Thanks for the encouragment, folks. I appreciate it!

Today, we signed the papers to build a new house.

We've been looking around, and found a house in a subdivision being built in KC North that we really fell in love with. It's a ranch house, with a really open floor plan. It's bigger than our house now, and is really well built. It's one of those houses that's exterior doesn't truly convey it's size.

It's built by a company called Pulte, who is the #2 largest new home builders in the country.

Of course, all this is dependent on my upcoming interview with Disney. We had it written in the contract that if I get a new job, we can get out of the contract.

Here's one of the model homes. It's not the same color, but the same elevation.

I have an phone interview with Disney on Monday. It's for that job I posted about several months ago.

Of course, they couldn't time it when I was down there.

This is all preliminary, and they might not be able to afford me.

But, it is my first interview with Disney!

Prayers / Fingers crossed would be appreciated.

I've normally not put anything political in my blog, because I have many friends who don't share my political views, and don't want this to be a debate site. But, I felt I needed to comment on the elections this week, if not just to vent a little.

Most friends know I'm a conservative. Boy, did I take a beating. Not one issue or politician I voted for won (unless you count the judges).

But on the big picture, the loss of the house and possibly senate. All I can say is Shame on the Republicans for letting this happen. Shame on them for not listening to the conservative voters, and doing what they said they would do when we elected them. We had all these years in power, and all we have to brag about is temporary tax cuts and No Child Left Behind?

Where was immigration reform? Where was tax reform? Where is Social Security reform? Where was smaller government? The Republican office holders were afraid to do anything about it because they might alienate voters and lose office. Guess what? You did. Your lack of action allowed the Democrats to move to the center, and take over these issues.

Then, a poll shows that a majority of American's now view the Democrats as the more fiscally conservative party. No wonder, with out of control spending and entitlements under Republican leadership. Having Democrats back in power reminds me of the old joke where the man says his wife's credit card was stolen, but he didn't report it, because the thief spends less than she did. Maybe the Dems will be more fiscally responsible. Doubt it, but you never know.

We blew it. We had our chance, and squandered it with in-fighting and lack of vision. If our leaders had supported the conservative ideals, I believe we would still be in power. I truly believe that most American's want to pay less taxes. Most Americans don't mind giving a helping hand to someone who truly needs it, but don't like seeing the system abused. Most Americans hate seeing "pork" projects. Most Americans want a strong national defense, from all angles. Most Americans want immigration reforms, so that we can control our borders; not shut them down, but control who comes in to our country.

And, we didn't do anything about it. And now, we're paying the price.

Congrats out to Wade and Holly Minter, on the birth of their new daughter, Katherine Lee "Kate" ! I'm sure big sister Hayley is very proud!


Is it too early to feed her Bar-B-Que?

So, I've heard from you all, "Enough about you and your problems. We come here to see more Charlie!" Ok, ok, ok. Here we go.

And we learned that Charlie loves corn on the cob! I mean, loves it!

No words needed.

We went to Caroline's Country Cousins Pumpkin Patch last weekend. We went on the hayride.

Charlie enjoyed the playground.

Little Pumpkin Head.

Everything was great, until the 3rd time Charlie climbed the gangplank to get on the pirate ship with it's slide. He got to the top (where the X is), stumbled on the boards on the plank, and fell off. It was one of those moments in slow motion. The gangplank is about 5 feet high. I just knew he was going to have broken something. When I got to him, he was crying, but it wasn't a pain cry, but a scared cry. I scooped him up, checked him out, and he was fine. No blood, no marks, nothing. It's all part of being a parent, I guess. We were very upset, and told the place they need to install saftey railings on the gangplank. Their lucky he wasn't hurt!

Back home, Charlie still loves the chair that Dennis and Nikki gave him. We love the leg over the arm.

And, for Halloween, could anyone have guessed who he'd be dressed up as?

Kim brought him to her work and mine. He was a hit at both locations.

"Daddy kept saying something about free candy. Is there where I get it?"