Vote Or Die (Slowly Over The Next Four Years)

Today is the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November, making it Election Day. If ever there was a day to make time to get home before seven, today is it. The South Dakota Secretary of State website has a number of great election resources, including this gem: Unofficial General Election Results.

This web application will automatically update itself when new election results are in. The site allows you to view election results for Statewide Elections, Ballot Questions, and Legislative Results to name a few. It’s the perfect web companion.

A bowl of popcorn, a warm blanket, a loved one, and election results. Who could ask for more?

MilesRausch.com endorses Val Rausch!

The Bachelor Party

Da Crew

If anyone was going to ruin my bachelor party, it was going to be me. I have a bad habit when it come to people trying to do nice things for me; I don’t usually let them. That’s why, whenever anyone would ask me if I was excited for my bachelor party, I would tentatively respond with “Yeah…”. Not that I didn’t have the utmost faith in Bryce and Tony (and everyone else involved in the planning), but I had no faith in myself to actually let a group of people (guys, no less) devote an entire evening to me.

That being said, it was a great time. The first highlight of the night was Bob Davidson. That might sound strange, but Bob is a good friend, and I was really glad that he was able to make it. Of course the other highlights were everyone else in attendance: Bryce, Tony, Dan, and David.

First, Bob came over to my apartment in Madison, and we drove down to Sioux Falls together. Our first stop was Buffalo Wild Wings, pretty much the only place in town for wings that we yet know about. I ordered 6 Teriyaki and 6 Asian Zing. Bryce got really hot ones, and took them to go. Both Bryce and I were in tears. I ordered a Jack and Coke to drink, and the waitress, when she brought water, set a glass of water in front of Bob on a napkin, and then slid it over to me, and put Bob’s glass of water on the table without a napkin. This behavior made us think that he had somehow offended the young lady, but we decided not to address it.

After wings, we went to Nitwits Comedy Club, which is a couple blocks from our apartment, and we saw some stand-up. There were three performers: the first one was lame, the second one was good, and the last one was funny. I had some girly drinks there and made Bryce order them for me, which meant he had to order twice as much of his normal drinks to seem not gay in front of the wait staff.

After this, though, the plans were kinda up in the air. Dan had brought a PS3 with Rock Band, and the goal was to play it at the hotel, but the hotel didn’t have AV hookups. So, what to do? Rent a TV from Wal-Mart.

Yes, I said “rent”.

The way it works is that Wal-Mart’s return policy is pretty forgiving. At least, for now. We went in and picked out an SD TV to get. One that wasn’t so expensive that, if we couldn’t return it, we’d be stuck with a huge bill. Despite the rules, I called Holli. We were looking at HD TVs, and I thought, “Boy, those sure look nice.” I flirted with the idea of buying one. Holli told me what the wedding money that we had so far accumulated would buy, and she said she trusted my judgement. In the end, I wasn’t brave enough to actually buy one. We cavorted around town, but got to Best Buy too late. So it was back to Wal-Mart. We got the “perfect” TV and headed back to the hotel room.

Then we played Rock Band. It was that simple. The hotel room was nice, and there was a desk to put the TV on. Then we all took turns on the different instruments: guitar, guitar, drums, and microphone. Bob left first, because he had to work. Then Dan left. And eventually it was Bryce, Tony, David, and I. The next morning, Bryce returned the TV claiming, “I thought it was an HD TV.” The person responded that it doesn’t even say “HD” on the side. “I know. I’m retarded.”

That phrase apparently works for Wal-Mart’s return policy.

All-in-all, it was a fun time, and even though no one got so drunk they couldn’t remember the night, it was filled with wings, comedy, screwing “the man”, and video games; all my greatest passions with my greatest friends.

See the pictures in My Bachelor Party.

Our Honeymoon – pictures

We’ll both post about this later, but I thought I’d show off the pictures we have so far. Internet is $9.95 for 24 hours of usage, which means that this might be the only time we do that.

Our Honeymoon – Day 1: Airports, All-Star Music Resort, Disney Hollywood Studios

Our Honeymoon – Day 2: Disney Magic Kingdom

Our Honeymoon – Day 3: EPCOT, Downtown Disney, Boma’s

Our Honeymoon – Day 4: Disney Animal Kingdom with Albie

Our Honeymoon – Day 3 – Diana+

Our Honeymoon – Day 4 – Diana+

Christmas

NOTE: abbreviated post so I can get my life back I just want my kids back!

Christmas was good. We spent it the weekend previous at Hawarden, where there was an early Christmas on account of Adam and Cari being unable to be in town on the 25th. My big present there was a box of N* t-shirts. Holli did a good job of keeping me in the dark on it, and she contacted a number of people and sold them t-shirts – thoroughly undercutting any profit I hope to make off these shirts in the future. Just kidding!

Between Holli and I, we got a bathroom for Christmas. I also got Born Standing Up by (The) Steve Martin from A&C. It’s super awesome, though I haven’t had much time for it lately. Marissa got the big present: she got a new MacBook. She had to earn it, though. It was at the end of a long series of bogus presents, which was beautifully orchestrated by Larry “Puppetmaster” Gregg.

After Hawarden we went to Big Stone City. Bryce and Lindsey were back, so we got to see them. We had the usual get together at Grandma’s which ended in presents. Sue’s gift for us all was a used pack of cards. And then there was an iTunes gift card inside. I haven’t used mine yet. I’m waiting for the perfect moment. Holli and Lindsey both got presents from Sue this year.

Then it was back to the Val Rausch house. I got a snow globe, Extras Series 1 DVD, a movie trivia book, and a Garmin GPS unit from Mom. I was a little taken aback looking inside the box because half the stuff listed on the contents was missing. Then she mentioned the word “eBay”, and I knew the score. Still, the device is neat, and I definitely need to devote more time to playing with it.

The big present here went to (the youngest) Brenna. She got Rock Band for PS2. Good thing there’s a large living room there. We hooked it all up, and we played for a fair amount of time. It works with Guitar Hero II guitars, so we were playing bass, lead, drums, and had a singer. We all took turns and Dan and David and Tom came over.

Christmas Day, Holli and I headed to Sioux Falls. And a storm hit. We were driving 10 miles an hour at some points. We got to witness a collision, but thankfully made the trip just fine ourselves. The GPS brought us straight to Kevin’s place. There we had a great meal of prime rib and lobster tail. Holli and I were originally going to head to Madison, but we scrapped those plans pretty quick. At Karin’s, then, Holli broke out Pop 5, and it was a hit.

I’m sure there’s plenty I’m forgetting. It’s late at night, and all this last minute wedding stuff has a lot of us over-tired. All-in-all it was a good Christmas. Let’s do it again next year.

The Graduation

So, Holli graduated. After years of hard work and stress, she was finally able to accept her diploma AND to give a speech. When she heard that she was chosen to give a speech at graduation, we sorta joked that I was more of a writer, and that we could do what the President does on West Wing.

It was enticing, and then we thought, “Why not?” So, she gave me some ideas that she had, and she passed on previous speeches. She wanted a rough draft in a couple days. I toiled away at it, mentally. I finally, at 1am one morning, got something down on digital paper. It was a speech that, moments after I wrote it, I was proud of. The next morning I wasn’t.

Holli’s remarks made it clear that an almost complete rewrite was in order. My nickname of Miles “One-Draft” Rausch was dangerously close to being a sham. We were in Jersey’s, and I finally set to asking her questions that could help me get inside her mind. She wanted it to be mostly solemn with some comedy. She wanted to touch on certain topics. She definitely wanted no “Yo’ Mama” jokes, a pillar of the first speech.

So, with her encouragement and ideas, I set to writing again. I liked the general theme of “paying attention”, but it was really Holli’s ideas that I needed to express, not my own. This draft I got right. She made some additional changes to it and got to practicing it. But that wasn’t it. We made the decision to “fake out” the blogging masses. We decided that we’d both post fake speeches on the day of the speech, and I would post a video of the real speech later on. Holli posted the first draft, while I penned an entirely new version of the speech. It was a version that I knew Holli would have been horrified to give.

I did eventually post the actual speech, in video form. In retrospect, I should have titled it “The Graduation Speech” not “The Graduation”.

It was an interesting experience helping to write a speech for another person to give. You have to keep a lot of things in mind, including their sense of humor, their reading style, background, vocabulary, and personal experience.

P.S. Job search is still on. I’ll keep you updated.

The Graduation Speech

If you absolutely can’t wait, here is the speech for Holli’s graduation. Enjoy!

Two golfers were out on the course. One was an atheist, and one was a Christian. Before every swing, the Christian would say a small prayer. “Dear God,” was all he would say. Needless to say, his score was very low, and after the game, the atheist friend asked what his secret was. “Oh, it’s simple,” said the Christian. “I just prayed, ‘Dear God’, before every swing.” The atheist began laughing. “That can’t possibly be it!” he exclaimed. “Why not?” replied the Christian. “Because,” said the atheist, “I said [expletive deleted] before every swing I took, and it just made me worse!” “That,” said the Christian, “is because God hates you and won’t pay attention to anything you say or do!”

[ pause for laughter ]

Fellow graduates, esteemed faculty, loving family and friends, and those appreciated others who have come to see us off: I am immeasurably proud to be addressing the who-gives-a-[expletive deleted] graduating class of Dakota State University.

I’m sure going to miss this place. NOT! Just kidding. But, honestly, we’ve been here a long time. Who would-a thought, way back when, that we were ever going to graduate. We are merely seconds from walking across this stage and never looking back. It reminds me of how things used to be…

[ stroke chin and stare into space ]

My wonderful fiance likes to say, when we’re filming his Internet TV show, Newsbleep.com, that, “There are three types of people in the world: those who pay attention, those who don’t, and I don’t remember what the third type was.” It gets a laugh like 40% of the time.

What makes attention so special? Well, for one thing, I gave this speech to my kitchen last night, and I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I am now. I’m [expletive deleted] bricks out here! It’s not because this room is eleventy hundred times the size of my kitchen, it’s because, suddenly, a lot of people are paying attention. The “who” of “attention” matters greatly. If that sexy Johnny Depp was helping me give this speech, I wouldn’t need that “Yo’ Mama” joke to get your attention. Of course, all his sexiness didn’t save that shipwreck that was Pirates of the Caribbean III: At World’s End. Am I right?

[ pause for laughter ]

“Attention” is the “currency” of “respect”, and I think I’m ’bout all broke!

[ pause for laughter ]

Picture a lion tamer with a whip and a chair, as the stereotype goes. As he cracks the whip, the lions around him roar with hunger, eager to attack but fearful of his technique. They picture juicy man-steaks, eager to tear the tendons and muscles from his still beating heart, devouring him whole. Now picture those same lions, that same tamer, but the lions are lounging in the sun, yawning, tails flicking carelessly, lapping water. A lion tamer is worthless if the lions don’t give a [expletive deleted].

As graduates, we’ll be given special attention today: on this very stage moments from now, after the ceremony with our friends and family, and in every job interview for the rest of our lives. Being a college graduate is a privilege that carries with it responsibility. Whether we realize it or not, we will forever represent Dakota State University in our actions and our words from this day forward. We are now a product of the attention that we have given and received, paid out and invested, and hopefully that will show through as we march off this campus to our new futures.

The past is dead and gone. The future is hidden and mysterious. Today is right now and that’s why they call it the present, because it is a gift.

Thanks.

Holy Mayhematrimony

Holy Mayematrimony

Good idea: have a fun, group activity to relax everyone before the wedding.

Bad idea: playing flag football… when you have a bad knee… and you decide to run it in…

Guess where we spent part of the night before Adam and Cari’s wedding? (Hint: check the picture.) Here’s hoping the actual ceremony goes better.

Requisite Weekend-based Post

Confirmation

I haven’t posted in a while. Molly and Micaela got confirmed.

Molly gets confirmed.

Micaela gets confirmed.

Check out the photos at my Confirmation – 21 Apr 07 photoset.

Holli's Awards

Then, Holli had her awards banquet, where she did very very well. :) She didn’t post about it, but she got “Campus Student Leader”, “Who’s Who Among Students In American Colleges”, and “College Student Leader” as well as the “Certificate of Merit” for her club, The Student Ambassadors, of which she is president. Her parents came up for it, and we had a good time.

Check out the photos at my Honor’s Banquet – 23 Apr 07

Then, also, Molly went to prom. I don’t have any pictures of that. I could go into a long story about how my mom tried to blame her weak batteries on me, but I don’t want to kill the vibe we got going here.

Super Gr8mm!

IMG_5986.JPG

Well, MacBook is back. For those of you who don’t know, here’s the story. Last week, on Tuesday, I woke up as usual. I went to my MacBook, and I turned the screen brightness back up. Or, at least, I tried. It was unresponsive. So, I tried various troubleshootings: close lid, hit spacebar, hit enter, hit eject disc, hit keyboard in frustration. None of those worked. I finally decided to hold in the power button to hard restart it.

The system went black. I waited a couple seconds, then I pushed the button again. The first sign of trouble was that the harddrive was clicking. That is never, never, never, never a good sign, and it’s usually a sign that you should have backed up your data about three minutes ago. After a long boot period I finally get something to show up: a blinking folder with a “?” on it. I’ve never come across that with my Mac, but I’ve used computers enough to know what it meant. It meant a trip to the MacDoctors.

Well, when they finally got it back to me, they gave me a new harddrive (unable to get data off the old one), fixed a crack in the top panel, and replaced a gouged delete key. All of which was covered under my warranty. Furthermore, I had backed up a little less than a month before, so things were pretty much all good (which some strange quirks and some missing data, but, oh, well). It was nice to start over.

My other super news is that I bought a Super8 camera on eBay. For those who don’t know what that is, it’s the most popular film camera ever invented. Basically, it’s a home video camera that was affordable, lightweight, and good enough for most families in the 60s, 70s and 80s. If it was all that then (and if inflation works the way I think it does) it should be mega-cheap now! Well, that’s not quite the case, but I don’t think this whole process won’t be too cost prohibitive.

For those who do know what that is, you’re wondering “Why?” Well, I’ve been reading The Filmmaker’s Handbook, and the book does a good job of convering video and film cameras in the beginning. The book made me think of all the advances made in technology, and that I feel a little less like a filmmaker and more like a videomaker. So, I wanted to get dirty, and now I am.

To my further benefit, after winning the auction, Holli discovered that her Dad had his Super8 camera and splicer (used for editing film or putting a couple small reels into one big one) and projector. The projector has a problem with the back reel, so when Holli and I checked out an old home video of the Gregg family, I had to manually rotate the back reel the whole time. All in all, I’m excited to find new and exciting uses for this old and boring equipment.

Easter was decent. Holli had to housesit over the weekend, so I was flying solo to Big Stone where I’d spend pretty much all of the weekend with Tony, who’s family also left him. Sue had an Easter brunch at her place, which was excellent. Tony helped me film, which included him saying, “I’m director, right?” every three minutes. Then he got tripod envy. I managed to con Sue into helping out, too, and she let us film in the school. Easter means a lot of Guitar Hero, a lot of church, and a lot of discovering more strange things about Hogan.

Check out the Super Gr8mm Photoset.