Randman's World

UPDATE: Here is the response from Harrahs to my email, complaining about the price:

Dear Randy,

Thank you for contacting Harrah's with your comments.

I appreciate your frustration with the pricing in our buffet regarding guests 2 years of age and older. We are a casino first and foremost with all restaurants, hotel, etc. as amenities to our gaming customers ages 21 years of age and older. Harrah's also is the only gaming company that upholds a code of commitment. This code ensures we will not promote anything having to do with gambling to anyone not of the legal gaming age of 21. This includes buffet pricing, no daycare on property or arcade type games for children. Our casino and properties are for guests ages 21 and older who can legally gamble. Though we do not believe this is an environment for families we do not condone other properties who believe differently.

Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback with us.

Sincerely,
Julie Marlin
Guest Satisfaction Supervisor
Harrah's NKC

So, there you have it. Harrahs does not want families, and does not condone other casinos that wish to be family friendly. Guess we'll vote with our feet, folks.

From the current issue of Pitch Weekly:

Monkeys With Hand Grenades Last month's Year in Review show featured these
Monkeys at their best, flying high like those little purple bastards in The
Wizard of Oz as they did their 30-sketches-in-60-minutes shtick. We laughed so
hard at Nick Rigoli and Megan Mercer that we dislodged all the phlegm built up
in our throats. Rigoli's parody of bad sci-fi was trenchant, hysterical
geek-culture criticism, and Mercer's miming twice brought the house down: first,
trying on too-tight pants, then performing fellatio on some dude hung like the
state of Florida. 10 p.m. Saturday at Comedy City, 300 Charlotte, 816-842-2744.

A redemption review! I'm glad we've gotten back in the Pitch's good graces.

Congrats everyone. I'll miss you guys!

It is with a broken heart that I let everyone know that Binkley, our beloved Silky Terrier, left us yesterday, at the age of 14. He had grown ill, was mostly blind and deaf, and was obviously not himself. He got easily confused, walking into walls, and not knowing where he was, and had become incontinent. So, yesterday, we made the decision to have him put to sleep. He is now in heaven, chasing squirrels and rabbits, and barking at anyone walking by.

The house seems very empty now. But we know it was the right thing, as he was in pain, and was not the same dog he had been. Plus, we know that he would not have been able to make the trip to Florida, being so old.

The only good point of this is that Charlie really never bonded with him, so there is no issue with explaining to Charlie where Binkley is.

1. Vicodin makes you itch.
2. Sometimes, when they are doing surgery, even when your "under", you feel everything, including when they are cutting stuff inside you.
3. 2 Year olds can be very sweet when they notice that your hand hurts.
4. Vicodin makes you forget stuff.
5. Doctors draw on you with Sharpie pens when you are "under".
6. Vicodin makes you itch.
7. I like tatertots.
8. Vicodin makes you itch.

After a couple weeks healing, I'll have my left arm done, and then no more symptoms. Yeah!

On Tuesday, I told my boss, Rick, that I was leaving to take the job at Walt Disney World. He had some very nice things to say to me regarding my employment with Ferrellgas, which was very much appreciated.

Then, he called me back in and asked if there was anything he could do to get me to stay. He said very nice things about my tenure, and that he hated to lose me. That was very unexpected, and appreciated. However, I'm pursuing a dream job, so I had to tell him that there was not anything that they could do, but that I appreciated my time there.

Then, Rick's boss, Jeff, spoke with me today and again tried to talk me into staying, telling me how valuable my work has been, and the impact I've made on the company. But, he understood that the job is something I've wanted for a long time.

Then, this afternoon, I received a call from the President and C.O.O. of the company. Steve has been a great leader and friend since I started with the company, when he was an Area Manager. He also said nice things, that he appreciated my work, and that he would normally try to talk me into staying, but that he understood that I was following a dream. He told me that I always had a home at Ferrellgas should anything happend, and then made me promise to give him a tour of WDW when he comes there for vacation. With this guy in charge of Ferrellgas, the company can't go anywhere but up!

I knew that I did a good job, but I really didn't have a handle on how much I was appreciated. It was really touching.

No, I'm not talking about Disney's new marketing campaign.

My dear friend Tracy wrote an email to the old Lighten Up Improv Company members and spouses, in which she wonderfully summed up how much our lives have changed since the old theatre days. She eloquently stated just how much we all have to be thankful for:

Hey, everyone.

With the official announcement from Randy, I wanted to send an email to our little group and just say how neat I think it is that we are all in the places in our life we are currently at. A lot has changed in 12 years – we’ve all learned and grown and changed and have really found ways to continually tap into our talents and passions. I am overwhelmed with happiness and pride for each of us…

Beth went back to school and is now working as a counselor in schools, daily at the aid of so many young lives.

Bob left Ceco to venture out on his own and is making an impressive first year for Gangbox.

Carla never let go of her childhood dream and is now living in NYC getting work as an actress and continuing to travel the world as a facilitator.

Dan has become the big business man he has worked and studied so hard to become.

Jane is living out all the dreams one could ever imagine and allows each of us to live vicariously through her and all the adventures she has.

Jeff moved to LA and has become a successful writer.

Kim is getting the chance to find a new and more challenging position in benefits and HR, has embraced her life as Charlie’s mom and is relocating close to DisneyWorld so Charlie can truly believe that the world revolves around Mickey Mouse!

Julie is rocking and rolling in the radio biz.

Paul left his corporate big-wig job, is back in school and doing something he is so passionate about. He is working on changing the world, one public policy at a time.

Randy got his dream job (and maybe even completed his dream life) working for DisneyWorld and will be living near the Greatest Place on Earth (or something like that).

Steve is getting the opportunity to do trial law and finally get paid and recognized as he deserves to. Give him a couple of years and he’ll be saving the legal souls of Howard County.

Tracy unexpectedly found her dream job at her Alma Mater. She finally gets paid to “talk for a living.”

Trish found a rebirth in her career at Hallmark, is heavily involved in the creative message of the company and discovered she actually enjoys the managing side of the business.

It really is amazing and wonderful to see how far we have all come. I will continue to be thankful for having each of you in my life.

I am so PROUD and HAPPY for each of you! love,
Tracy

I thought I would add just a few friends to the list:

Derek has a beautiful son on the way, a beautiful bride to be, and a new home.

John has stepped forward with the purchase of a new home.

Mickie has her life plan on track, is working toward better employment, and a family.

Colin is moving back to Mo. after a career boosting stay with Miller Brewing Company.

Pete is getting ready to venture out into new artforms.

It's really wonderful to take a look at the progress everyone has made in their lives.

Last night was my final improv show in Kansas City (at least while I'm a resident). And, it was so cool that it was with my old friends from Lighten Up days, doing a format that we did at Lighten Up.

I was in the "On The Spot" show, at the Corbin Theatre in Liberty, and I performed with Steve and Tracy Jones, Trish Berrong, Bob Dusin and Tommy Todd. It was a lot of fun playing with experienced improvisers. Some friends from Vineyard were there, and all in all, it was a great show. Just some friends having fun on stage, making each other laugh, along with the audience.

So, my KC show life ends where it started. The Circle is Now Complete.

Momma showed him how to make snowballs.

Daddy's old glasses + 2 year old = Instant Urkel

He's become a Chief's Fan.

Check it out, ladies. Big Shoes!