Pictures Galore

Flickr accouct created (I highly suggest you get the pay account – much more you can do with it) and photos are being uploaded forthwith. So go now, I say – and check out the Bakst Pictures.

Loud, cold, violent – and good.

Just saw King Kong with Pammy. 3 hours and 7 minutes. As usual, I dressed completely inadequately – shorts and sandals – for that much time in a cold theatre on a cold day.

Great movie though. Well cast, the effects were crazy good, Jack Black was excellent, and it was worth the time. PG-13? Hardly. If you think taking a kid to see this is a good idea, the part where a guy gets his head eaten by a big worm will change your mind for you.

The Magic Castle

Took Sydney and her friend Katherine (and Pammy, of course) to The Magic Castle in Hollywood. Very cool, as none of them had ever been. I’ve been many times, and was in fact a junior member when I was 14.

It’s a private club, and generally only open to members and guests over 21. Strict dress code of coats and ties for the men, cocktail dresses for the ladies. Unless it’s Sunday brunch of course, when there is no dress code, and kids are allowed. They got a real kick out of it. Right from the start, when you walk in – you have to say “open sesame” to a little owl, and the bookcase slides open for you to enter. There is Irma the ghost playing the piano, two close up rooms, and two stage rooms – and all kinds of other secret stuff to see. Very cool for the kids, and something different for the adults to do – especially for evenings.

No more Santa

A huge event today. My daughter has now been briefed on the whole Santa thing – that is to say that she is aware that Mom and Dad have more involvement than just leaving out cookies and milk.

It started with questioning in the car on how he can possibly get down a chimmney based on his girth, then questions about how he ended up using the same wrapping paper that Dad did last year. Then came the multi-Santas-in-malls issue, followed by questions on his ability to go fast enough to cover ALL kids, worldwide, in one night. At the end she just asked me flat-out if he existed, and I had to come clean. I explained that it was something for little kids to believe in, something magical. As I was saying it, I realized what a lousy excuse that is, but it worked like a charm.

Another bit of her childhood gone. Moving too fast. Must go work on device to slow down time now – before she starts dating. The only other way I have to handle that is covered in my prior post.

A Ruger .22

Yes. Another gun. This one primarily for Pammy to shoot. After I bought the .45, I borrowed one from Firing Line, and let her shoot it. She fired it once, and said in disbelief – “You BOUGHT one of these?” So we needed something more her speed.

It’s also much cheaper to shoot. .45 ammo runs about $13 for 50 rounds, if you can find it cheap. .22 ammo is like $15 for 5 HUNDRED rounds. Saving money. Shootin guns.

American Dreamz

Saw a sneak preview last night of American Dreamz. Not sure I’ve ever been to anything this official before in terms of their asking for your feedback, etc. Interesting. I found it cool how fast things go when there are no previews and no credits of any kind.

Good movie. Funny, kinda dark. Pammy seemed to really like it. Hugh Grant was actually really good. The President (played by Dennis Quaid) seemed WAY over developed, but still funny.

I guess I’ll have to see it again to find out if they implemented any of my suggestions. I tried to get a group of folks to write “Needed more monkeys” on our forms, to see what would happen – but people take this sort of thing kinda seriously. Whatever.

Awful. Just awful.

It was just a lazy Sunday afternoon. Pam and I had just dropped my fantastic daughter at ballet rehearsal, and decided a movie would be good. Maybe I just thought it would be good. Maybe the cast seemed like it could carry it. But probably, it was because my buddy said it was terrible, and I didn’t believe him.

I owe him an apology.

A History of Violence is quite possibly the biggest piece of CRAP I have ever seen. EVER. Loose ends, HIDEOUS dialog, and pointless character development (the opening scene went on FOREVER and meant NOTHING to the film) were just a sampling of the misery. David is right – find something else to do.

If it taught me anything, it’s this: it is very possible to keep running top speed without admitting you might be on the wrong path – all because your ego is WAY too big. Hmm. Sounds like someone that used to be my boss.

Gun Crazy

Bought another gun – a Springfield 1911. Now you may be asking – “Hey Kelly – why do you need TWO guns for home protection?” The humor answer is “This way I can handle a whole BIKER GANG breaking into my house” – but the truth is, I just like them. They are well crafted, powerful, and fun to shoot. I also find it an interesting challenge to become an excellent marksman – not because you need to be one for home protection purposes (but it certainly does help), but because it is something to be good at. And I like to be good at things.

Working Hard

Been too long since posting. Work is hectic – but we are doing great things. The company is stronger now than it ever has been, and we’re having a great time getting things to where they need to be. I’m learning a lot, too. About this industry, business in general, and myself.

So what else is going on? Sydney is Toto in her ballet recital of Wizard of Oz, dare I say the greatest Toto since the one with the fur. Things at home with Pammy are great (going to Vegas again this weekend), and plans are underway to remodel the kitchen, add a master suite and do all kinds of other exciting stuff to the house.

Bought a gun recently – a Smith and Wesson .357. Bought it for home defense, but am kind of into it now – looking to buy a .45 automatic soon, and am really enjoying learning to shoot. My friends think I am crazy, but that’s OK. It’s fun.

More to come…