Merry Christmas!
Now go be with your family (or call them)!
Give Glory to Christ!
Resting in Him,
Randy Peterman
Christmas Eve(ning)
It is Christmas Eve evening, and let me just say that 1) I’m stuffed and 2) Abby is getting a whole pile of presents tomorrow morning.
I think that if Santa were to eat at the Cheesecake Factory before going out to deliver presents that he’d never made it.
We went there for dinner and, even though the service was a little lesser than normal, we left stuffed.
We had great food, and as usual, a great heap of desserts that were tasty.
John and Karen have purchased enough presents for Abby that I think that some small countries could survive on the taxes they’ve paid by themselves.
Santa will be eating a whole lotta cookies.
Jesus will not wonder why he’s not invited to millions of homes in the world.
Being a dad this year (now that Abby’s older) really hits me harder about the Santa thing.
I don’t like the idea of telling Abby that Santa is real, only to later be telling her myself, or have others tell her that I’m a liar.
That being said, I want Abby to know the real reason for Christmas.
It’s not presents, family, mushy feelings, commercialism, German traditions, or tradition – it’s Jesus.
I hope that when we’re all done with presents tomorrow that I’ll be able to read the Christ child’s story.
Even if its not to the whole family, I want to read the story, to focus on the Word of God – to focus on the beautiful baby who would later be the savior in death and resurrection.
May you have a Merry, Christ centered, Christmas!
Randy “Party Pooper” Peterman
Christmas-Eve-Eve
Today we went to the Indianapolis Children’s Museum, what a great children’s museum.
It’s very large and was changed from the last time we visited it.
Abby had a great time and was immediately excited about the large (6 foot) snow flakes hanging in the entry.
The children’s museum had 5 floors, each with various themes and exhibits.
One exhibit, that we took pictures at, was an Indy car.
We started at the top, floor 5, and made our way down slowly, but surely, to the second floor, and never made it to the first floor (it should be noted that the entry way was on the 2nd floor).
We went to a kiddy area that was geared towards 4 and under kids.
Abby was just overwhelmed with all of the options, but got to play with a fun water
exhibit that allowed her to splash, play with a rubber duck, and get wet.
Then she played in the sand with Jessica, Kelsey and Kristin (think wet hands in sand at first).
After that we went to a little sensory maze where Abby could walk over a small wooden suspension bridge, climb on large stuffed animals, crawl through a tube, and climb on a large stuffed bumpy thing that I can’t describe easily.
After the sensory (overload) exhibit Abby played in a play house, which was lots of fun for her as well.
We saw an exhibit on puppets, which included some video footage from Sesame Street and The Muppet Show.
Abby liked the puppets, but was more entertained by the pencils and paper at one of the puppet
exhibits (for writing scripts for your own puppet show).
I was impressed by the wide array of puppets that they had.
I didn’t even think about some of the examples of puppets they had that I had seen.
Another interesting display is an area geared more towards 5-11 year olds which includes a Rube Goldberg contraption that is fabulous.
They also had a turtle/frog display that was really large and then on top of that they had some stuffed (taxidermy) animals.
Abby learned that owls say hoo-hoo, which was cute.
I crawled through some tubes and tunnels with her so that we could go down a slide in that area, but it was hard because I’m so big and not so nimble any more.
It reminds me I need to get in better shape.
Eventually we made our way down to a really neat exhibit on building and construction.
One of the displays talked about building skyscrapers: 2,000 people died falling off of sky scrapers between 1900 and 1920 (10 a month or one every other day and a half).
They also had large examples of joints in wood working, which was neat.
There was a large yurt built in the exhibit that was just cool to look at.
There was no metal in the yurt, it was held together with a lot of animal and wood products.
After the museum we came back home and John and Jessica made dinner – Pork Chops.
After a tasty dinner we played some games: Risk, Pictionary and Aggravation.
I actually won a Risk game, but it was not a great victory, everyone else was finally so week that I could sweep in, but it was not as impressive as a sudden
clincher.
Pictionary started out fun but bogged down because we kept rolling low numbers so moving through the board took a long time.
We finally just quit playing and switched to Aggravation.
Aggravation was fun Karen and I won, but it took a long time because we kept getting sent back to our bases.
Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve and there’s rumors of more cookies being made.
Currently there are six different kinds of candy, two types of cookies and some fudge.
If we don’t leave heavier than we came it is only because the Lord granted us self control.
Resting in Him,
Randy “Game Time” Peterman
New Words in a New Morning
This morning Abigail woke up and was making various noises so we got up and brought her to bed with us.
I said, “Can you say, ‘Good Morning?'”
She said, “Morning.”
I said back, “Can you say, ‘I’m Awake.'”
She said, “Wake.”
What a treat!
This little girl is so much fun.
She gets excited about the dogs and really likes it when they bark.
However, she really likes the cat which she calls ‘kittycat’, and sometimes ‘duck.’
I don’t know if she calls it that because she forgets, or if she just likes ducks, too.
Anyway, we love having fun with our little girl, and we’re having a great time in IN.
Resting in Him,
Randy “Abby’s Dad” Peterman
The Boy Who Could Do It Better
A Completely Bogus Interview
In an effort to connect with the underground film industry I have interviewed
Simon Jackson, an amateur director who, while not from New Zealand, says
he likes kiwis (with the skin peeled).
Simon says that he was really disappointed with the way Peter Jackson filmed
the Lord of the Rings trilogy and hopes to shoot his own version that
follows more closely to the books by the original author.
Jackson’s goal is to be able to use the Camcorder he got for Christmas last year
and the money that his grandma gives him each year for the holidays to buy
props, and special effects kits.
He’s hoping he can use his high school’s Macintosh computers for some CGI work.
Being 17 his means are limited, but he hopes to make up for that with raw talent
and the passion that young actors can deliver.
rp.com:
Simon, we understand that you’re upset that Peter Jackson and his writers
hacked the books up and used a great story as a backdrop for their own work,
is that what motivated you to start filming your own trilogy?
Simon:
Yeah, when I saw the first movie and saw that they cast Liv Tyler as an elf I
said to myself, “You can’t do that to the woman I love!
You cheapen her.”
Dude, it’s like this: you have to use names and faces that people don’t
recognize, otherwise people have a hard time seeing the movie for the movie.
Take Agent Smith [Ed.: from the Matrix] for example, if you remove his
glasses, and add some pointy ears, he’s still Agent Smith.
I want to make my movie fresh, and without the stigmata [sic] of Keanu Reeves.
And Sauruman totally used his moves from Star Wars Episode 2 in LOTR, which
cheapened both movies.
rp.com
So you have a thing for Liv Tyler?
Simon:
Um, yeah.
As if everyone doesn’t think she’s the hottest thing since Julia Roberts, she was
my first crush.
Liv is so talented, I think that after I release my version of the movie
she’ll hear about me and maybe I’ll have a chance with her.
You’ve got to have your goals.
rp.com:
So tell us what you plan to do for special effects and things like horses, and Orcs?
Simon:
Well, this kid I know at school uses flash to make really cool animations,
kinda like Homestar Runner.
I think that with enough time we can make pretty cool sequences and the anime
look that we can get with flash will really enhance the independent feel of
the film.
I know that WETA used Massive [Ed.: a computer program that creates
special effects characters], but I think that the keyframe technology of
flash lends itself to a more edgy feel.
rp.com:
So what things would you tell other, young, aspiring directors?
Simon:
I’d tell them to go out there, and start now, forget movie school, get a camera
and get out there, the ‘net is changing the way people can get movies, and
watch them.
When I’m done I’m thinking about getting my own domain and just distributing
that way.
Or maybe I’ll put it on Kazaa.
That way people thinking that they’re getting a ripped version of LOTR will
get mine and I’ll be able to get into the eye of the public.
rp.com:
Don’t you mean, “The Public eye?”
Simon:
Whatever.
rp.com:
One last question: When you showed us the clip of one of the battle scenes you
filmed the guys with Chewbacca masks running around yelling, “I’m an Orc,
I’ll get you!” [Ed.: should have been yelling, “I’m a dork!”]
really seemed odd and we thought, um, crumby.
Why did you use that?
Simon:
Dude!
Don’t make fun of me, I’m working really hard on this, and I haven’t gotten my Christmas money yet!
Oh, shoot, my mom just called me to go takeout the trash.
But you wait, when I’m done with this it’ll be way cool!
rp.com:
Thanks for the interview Simon, we’ll, uh, look forward to seeing your rendition
of LOTR, hopefully your parents have a good attorney for the legal issues
that you’ll have publishing a copyrighted work.
Vacationing on Sunday
Today was a pretty relaxed day, I was so tired from lack of sleep
(Abby didn’t sleep well last night, again).
I went back to bed around 10 and took about an hours nap.
Afterwards I tried to help John set up his new office desk, except that Bush Manufacturing put holes (pre-drilled) that were way out of
alignment.
Later Jessica went with John and ‘the girls’ (Kelsey and Kristin) to see
The Nutcracker.
While they were there Abby said ‘night-night’ for the first time.
Karen said it to her and she replied it back… it was sweet.
Abby’s had multiple firsts at each of the grandparents’ houses and its been neat.
It’s cool being a dad.
Karen and I had a good talk while Abby was down.
One thing is for sure (and Karen will tell you this when you meet her) – she
doesn’t hold anything back.
Her honesty about what she’s thinking is always good, she tells me when I’m being
too technical, or theological, or any of the other things I get too
detailed on.
It keeps me grounded.
Tonight the plan is to play several games.
Games are often the centerpiece of our evenings here, which is great, because I
really enjoy games.
I hope that having practice with Empire Earth will help me win at Risk (Mission Risk).
When I married Jessica I had no clear idea of how to play Risk, John has
indoctrinated me 🙂
Resting in Him,
Randy Peterman
We Made It!
We have officially arrived in IN.
Abby is having quite a time being treated to the attention, and is pretty upset that she can’t open all of the presents yet.
Since I’m here I may not be able to update the blog too often, but as I have time I’ll do my best.
John and Karen have redone much of their downstairs area and have re-arranged things. It looks real nice.
OK, I better not be too distracted by the computer or I’ll get in trouble 🙂
Resting in Him,
Randy “Voyager” Peterman
Empire Earth
Last night
Tony
Nuzzi and I played Empire Earth together for some time.
We experienced a few technical difficulties, but over all had a fun
experience.
However, we didn’t get to finish because we had to go to bed.
We’re getting ready to go to Indiana tomorrow, and we’re looking forward to
the fun we’ll have there.
The snow that I think is there should be fun for Abby, but only if she’s
feeling better, she’s been running about with a slight cough.
Tonight I’m going to try to get some more pictures of Abby up, and maybe
even some footage of Abby opening presents.
She’s become quite the accomplished actress, a drama queen, by most accounts.
The best part is her overly exaggerated “Hi’s and Bye’s.”
The worst part is the dropping to the floor when she doesn’t get what she
wants.
Well, I must go to work and then to my chiropractor’s appointment.
Have a blessed day and a blessed Holiday season.
May the peace of Christ dwell in you richly today and every day!
One last thing: I should be able to put up articles remotely, but I won’t be
able to put pictures up until after we get back home.
Resting in Him,
Randy “Pixelator” Peterman
Too Early to Tell
You may not be a Lord of the Rings Fan, but if you’re like me you are always curious about movie takings (box office revenue).
One site to check out for a daily tracking is
Box Office Mojo.
What’s fascinating is that they have all of the weekly statistics up for all
of the movies.
That’s all for now,
Randy “Stats Man” Peterman
Boggy Day
Due to some private things that took place last night I’m pooped again today.
It’s the holiday season and I’m so distracted by work, the issue that came up
last night, and the fact that the leaves are finally turning fall colors
here that it doesn’t feel like Christmas yet.
Maybe I’m just so used to snow from Nevada, or at least ice and cold weather
here (we’ve had that previous winters at least) that it just feels sort of
‘ho-hum’.
Jessica of course tries to keep things festive and Abigail is so cute opening
presents that its hard not to smile really big (we’re opening presents
early because we won’t be in town for Christmas and we’re surely not going
to haul them to Indiana and then back down).
Other More Happy Things
- I’d like to also point out that
FeedDemon
is just nearly out. - We watched Freaky Friday last night and enjoyed it.
It’s not mediocre, or bad enough, to go in my reviews section.
Sometimes I had a hard time remembering that each person was really
just the actor, and not really switched around, which means that they
did a good job. - The US is not going
to torture Saddam Hussein.
Well, not technically any way, we’re going to interrogate him for hours
and days, we’re going to make him watch videos of people being
killed by his men, and we’re going to make him have to wear a tutu.
OK, that last part is made up.
Resting in Him,
Randy Peterman