Vital Statistics

Van odometer: 151601
Weight lost (in pounds): 6
Aches & pains: sciatic, right ankle
Current reading: The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Areas of My Expertise by John Hodgman
Recent listening: News from Lake Wobegon, Go Tell It On The Mountain by The Blind Boys of Alabama, Fruitcakes by Jimmy Buffett
Recent viewing: Suns at Spurs, The Simpsons, Medium, Torchwood
Recent playing: Xbox 360, Guitar Hero III
Recently accomplished: Cleaning up missing rynosoft.com stuff, tagged existing blog entries, installed statistics plugin for WordPress, modified blog sidebar, entertained the Camps, cleaned cat box, reorganized entertainment center
Imperative To Do: Join gym, post office (Kent, Sue, Lala), phone calls, test bike commute, finish 401k rollover, sell G4, get rid of junk (couch, vacuum cleaner, mower), buy trailer for van, clean van, activate new Tivo, pay bills

Luck of the Wii

You may remember the ordeal we went through last Christmas to get a Wii for the boys. Although we failed to find one before Christmas, we came up with a pretty good idea to convey that we would eventually be buying a Wii: I stuffed 250 dollar bills into a Wii box that I borrowed from a guy at work and we put the whole thing under the Christmas tree. The boys were happy to see the Wii box and not very disappointed to find that there was no Wii inside it. Luckily, I was able to capture the moment on a digital camera. After I put it up on YouTube for friends and family to see, I thought that would be the end of it.

It wasn’t. Last month, Thomas noticed a new item in my YouTube inbox:

My name is Patricia McNaney and I am the Broadcast Business Manager at Young & Rubicam Advertising Agency. My work phone number is: (redacted) and my email address is (redacted).

We are interested in the possability of using a portion of the above referenced video clip in a Sears Holiday TV commercial.

Can you please contract me, at your convenience, to discuss the possability of the use of this clip in a TV commercial for Sears.

I look foward to hearing from you.

Regards,

I was skeptical that this was a typical online get-rich-quick scam, but I called her and found out that her offer was legitimate. They were looking for the kind of great holiday moments that you just can’t get from child actors. If I wanted our video to be considered for final selection, I had only to provide a copy of the video and sign a couple of legal releases. I gave her my email address and she sent the following:

Mitchell –

It was great talking to you yesterday regarding the possibility of using the above referenced footage in a Sears Holiday TV commercial.

As discuss, I have attached two (2) releases for signature. The Footage Release needs to be reviewed and signed by you or if you do not own the video, by the person who owns the video. This release gives us permission to use the footage in a commercial for Sears.

The Consent and Release form is to be signed by anyone who appears in the video. This release gives us permission to use the footage containing their image.

It also explains that if this footage is used in a commercial, anyone appearing in the footage will receive a SAG contract for signature and will receive residual payments. The SAG contracts will be forwarded to the individual(s) in the video after final client approval of the commercial.

I also need to get a copy of the video. If you have the original, that would be the best quality for us to work with. If not, please send the best possible quality copy.

You can send the signed releases and a copy of the video to:

Patricia McNaney
(address redacted)

Please send via Fed/Ex so we can track the package in case it is lost in transit. Please charges shipment to Y&R Fed/Ex # which is: (redacted).

If you should have any questions, please feel free to contact me at anytime.

Regards,

Patricia McNaney

Today I sent three signed Consent & Release forms (Tina, Graham and Thomas), a signed Footage Release form and the video in original AVI format burned on to a CD. There is no guarantee that we will be selected for a commercial, but the boys already have plans for spending their residual checks!

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1263
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 45
Aches & pains: right wrist, lower back
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Prey by Michael Crichton
Recent listening: The Pixies, The Rising Tied by Fort Minor, Collision Course by Jay Z with Linkin Park, Teaches of Peaches by Peaches, The Mercury Anthology by Rod Stewart, Meat Puppets II by Meat Puppets
Recent viewing: 2007 MTV Movie Awards, Ocean’s 12, Gilmore Girls, Countdown with Keith Olbermann, Sportscenter, NBA Finals
Recent playing: Virus 2, Excite Truck
Recently accomplished: Paid bills, Tivo scheduling to ensure NBA Finals are recording while I’m gone, dropped bike off at Bike Gallery, renewed BTA membership, packing list for WWDC
Imperative To Do: Pack for WWDC, RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, sift through inbox, CDs to post office, return cans

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1220
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 9
Hours billed last week: 45
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Prey by Michael Crichton
Recent listening: Dolly Parton, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, Science Friday
Recent viewing: NBA Eastern Conference Finals, Gilmore Girls, World Poker Tour
Recent playing: Virus 2, Excite Truck, Hoshi Saga
Recently accomplished: Optometrist appointment, bagged cans, cardboard recycling, pulled blackberries, attempted hose return, bike maintenance
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, renew BTA membership, sift through inbox, Bike Gallery, CDs to post office, return cans, pay bills

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1193
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 41.5
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, Prey by Michael Crichton
Recent listening: Fatherfucker by Peaches, Coverville, DrugMusic, Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me
Recent viewing: World Poker Tour, Heroes, NBA Draft Lottery, The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (magicians), The Late Show with David Letterman (stupid pet tricks), 24 (last 6 episodes), NBA Conference Finals, The Gilmore Girls
Recent playing: Virus 2, Super Mario Bros. (emulated), Excite Truck, Light Sprites
Recently accomplished: Made doctor appointment, paid bills, recycling, garbage, yard debris, renewed prescription, cat box, mowed lawn, trimmed hedge, gorilla rack unloading, loading, unloading & assembly
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, renew BTA membership, sift through inbox, Bike Gallery, CDs to post office, return cans

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: 1145
Weight lost: 62 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours of sleep this afternoon: 4
Hours billed last week: 44
Current reading:: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, CSS Web Design for Dummies by Richard Mansfield
Recent listening: Coverville, The Mercury Anthology by Rod Stewart
Recent viewing: NBA Conference Semifinals, Countdown, The Newshour With Jim Lehrer, World Poker Tour, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, Larry King Live, Saturday Night Live
Recent playing: Virus 2, Super Mario Bros. (emulated), Toejam and Earl (emulated)
Recently accomplished: Bike maintenance, sent Lalas, fixed caller ID
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, backup Thomas, backup Graham, backup Tina, renew BTA membership, sift through inbox, pay bills, Bike Gallery, CDs to post office, make doctor appointment

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: n/a
Weight lost: 55 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 8
Hours billed last week: 29
Current reading: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Recent listening: Abbey Road
Recent viewing: Van Helsing, The Daily Show, Sportscenter, The O’Reilly Factor, Stunt Junkies, High Stakes Poker, The French Connection, Lost Highway, The Colbert Report, Heavy: The Story of Metal, March Madness (regional finals), Big, Suns at Kings, 24, Full House
Recent playing: Donut Games, Wii Sports
Recently accomplished: Foam recycling, paid bills, started Flickr page
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, fix bathroom sink, backup everyone’s computer, implement rechargeable battery plan, mow lawn

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: n/a
Weight lost: 58 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 6
Hours billed last week: 37
Total mice caught: 15
Current reading: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand
Recent listening: Coverville, KBOO Bike Show
Recent viewing: The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, Lakers at Suns, Crater Lake: The Mirror of Heaven, Battlestar Galactica, Kingdom Hospital (finale), 24, Frontline, 60 Minutes
Recent playing: Donut Games, Elebits
Recently accomplished: Bought and installed new front bike fender, cleaned and lubed bike, minor garage cleaning, major office cleaning and dusting, sorted inbox, paid bills, filed taxes, recycling, hair cut, cat to vet, beat Elebits
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, fix bathroom sink, backup everyone’s computer, determine vacation availability

Vital Statistics

Bike odometer: n/a
Weight lost: 53 lbs.
Hours of sleep last night: 7
Hours billed last week: 41
Total mice caught: 13
Current reading: 2107 Curious Word Origins, Says & Expressions by Charles Earle Funk, The Book of Totally Useless Information by Don Voorhees, The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith
Recent listening: Coverville, DrugMusic, NPR Story of the Day, Science Friday
Recent viewing: Sportscenter, Kingdom Hospital, High Stakes Poker, Saturday Night Live, The Daily Show, The Colbert Report
Recent playing: Donut Games, Elebits
Recently accomplished: Fixed Thomas’ email, helped Tina finish her Cub Scout movie, help Thomas get video on his iPod, fixed DVD player (with Dust Off), test run for Cub Scout movie on projector
Imperative To Do: RMA old Tivo drive, hair cut, fix bathroom sink, buy front bike fender, taxes, move music to new drive, taxes, install CD burner in Thomas’ computer, backup everyone’s computer

Why not take all of me?

Graham is playing basketball this winter. It’s his first time and he’s a little behind some of the other kids on his team. Still, he’s doing a good job of defending and he’s getting better and better at his offensive skills. Tina has been practicing with him after school which has helped a great deal. He occasionally has problems with physicality – i.e. when somebody bumps him he’s prone to bump back harder than necessary (and the like) – but he’s learning to deal with the frustration and conflict. It’s a really important experience for him, I think. He had a double-header yesterday and really enjoyed himself.

Thomas saved money from Christmas, his birthday and allowance. At first, his goal was to buy a Wii, but that became unnecessary when we got one for Christmas. After weighing his options, he decided he wanted a new iPod. Especially after his friend, Andrew Barton, got an iPod Video. On Monday I ordered a 30 Gb iPod Video via the Apple Developer Hardware Purchase Program, where we get a slight discount. We weren’t expecting to receive it until next week, but it came on Thursday. Thomas has been ecstaticly exploring its many options since it arrived. I helped him download some shows from our Tivo and he’s learned all about the various video formats out there.

Meanwhile, Tina has been furiously working on a ten minute movie for the Cub Scout Blue and Gold Banquet tomorrow. She gathered a slew of pictures and a few videos and has set them to music in iMovie. She’s enjoyed it immensely, I think, and has been spending alot of her free time working on it. I think it will be well-received tomorrow night. I borrowed a projector from work to enhance the experience, so we’re all excited to see it.

I’ve been enduring the Oregon winter weather in the morning and evening. The rain seems never-ending at this time of the year, but I’ve been taking the shortest possible routes in order to minimize my exposure to the elements. I took Tina’s advice and bought a balaclava which helps keep my head and neck toasty-warm. Last weekend I accidentally broke my crappy front fender and have been riding fenderless all week. I repaired the crappy fender once before so this time I’m going to get something that will last longer. I need to get it soon, though, because I’m getting tired of the mud that’s flying all over.