Holli Rausch

When we arrived at the Rausch Reunion on Thursday, about 18 cousins (and 2nd/3rd cousins) were set to go see Hancock, so we joined them. I enjoyed the first half of the movie. I hated the second half. And it seemed like pretty much all of the first half I’d already seen in previews. The second half had this odd twist that 1) I saw coming with the first very slight indication and 2) did not add depth to the movie, nor improved it.

I did enjoy the story and struggle of Hancock. I was also really pleased to find that Jason Bateman, playing Ray, has a much large role in this film than I thought. But of course, the story of Hancock and Ray trying to help his image, wasn’t the main plot in this movie and that left me highly disappointed.

The visual effects were less than satisfactory. The compositing of Hancock flying through a city was a wreck and the only way they could hide it was by shaking the camera and adding a motion blur to his image.

I’d like to get more in depth with this, but this is truly all I can say without spoiling it.

The first half of Hancock gets a 4 out of 5 stars. The second half gets a 2. So all together, Hancock gets a 3 out of 5 stars.

As kids, Dad would take us to Sioux Falls in August to go shopping for school supplies.  (He’s a teacher, so he had summers off too.) Then we’d get to eat out for supper and do something fun. It was called “Kids’ Day”, (since our parents each had their own parental day). More often than not, our Kids’ Day celebration was at Gigglebees. As my brother, Adam, and I got older, we ventured on to other things like Thunder Road or a movie, but since my sister, Marissa, was 5 years younger than me (8 years for my brother), we still went to Gigglebees every few years, and still enjoyed it. We all had birthdays in April, and we’d get a coupon in the mail from Wilbur, so many of our early birthdays were spent there as well.

I was fascinated by the robotic raccoon-like animal on the tricycle. I remember the day I figured out that the robot was controlled by the guy behind the mirror – and that was a sad day. I had grown up. I also remember all the useless trinkets I would get as prizes for games like skee ball. Like the chinese finger trap I accidentally broke many years after I forgot I had it.

Dad recalls memories of Gigglebees adventures: “I remember the tradition of going to Gigglebees on many birthdays. The video games and bumper cars were fun. And you kids either loved or were terrified of Wilbur!” Our feelings toward Wilbur are confusing for us too, Dad.

Adam remembers, fondly: “My Gigglebees memory is when dad was playing a racecar driving game and I needed money. So he gave me his wallet and I took out some money. Then I put his wallet on the floor next to him. Well, either he forgot this or he never knew I put it there, but anyway after we left Gigglebees he realized he didn’t have it, so we went back to that spot and the wallet was still there. Unfortunately, none of his cash was.” What a great place.

Marissa struggles: “I tried to think but I can’t remember any.” It’s OK, sister. Life’s tough.

I’m sure Mom would have something to share, but I’m too impatient for her to get home from work and reply to my email for memories. She’ll comment if she has any to share.

The last day Gigglebees is open is Thursday, July 3rd. According to local blogs I have been reading, the land is being redeveloped and so the building will be gone soon. They are looking for someone to purchase the entire business and those persons would need to find a new building to restart Gigglebees in. We ate there today for lunch. It wasn’t like I remembered it, and I probably shouldn’t have gone because of that.

I wonder what they’ll do with the games. And if they’ll be selling Wilbur.

Photo courtesy of Adam Bubolz.

Inspired by World News with Charlie Gibson and Jackie’s posts about the EF-5 tornado to hit Iowa, it’s made me wonder what one thing I would search for in the wreckage of my home (or save, if time allows to grab it).  As someone who’s so fearful of severe weather I can’t even look outside during a storm, I’m surprised I’ve never really thought hard about it before. A few items have come to mind. As I write this post, I haven’t made my decision so I’m going to write out things I’d like to save and any explanation behind it or a reason for it not being the ‘one item’. I think by the time I finish it, I’ll have an answer.

• Photos/Wedding photos – While these are sentimental, they are archived online with Flickr. While it would be time consuming and painful to reprint and redownload to my computer, they’re safe and sound.
• Wedding ring – Chances are, it wouldn’t be off my finger, but if it were, it is covered by insurance.
• My grandmothers’ jewelry – Sentimental items more for the sake of passing on to daughters, but finding something from both grandmothers that can travel through history would be worth it.
• Camera – To document the story for a grieving outlet and for remembering.
• iMac – It’s one of our most prized possessions because it’s really the first large item we bought together. We unplug it when there’s a threat of severe weather, so it would be easy to grab.
• Our backup drive – While losing our iMac would be very sad, it’s covered by insurance. Losing our data would be more sad, because you can’t just buy your files and time back with your insurance check.
• Haji – We took her with us to safety the last time weather threatened, but only because time was on our side. Admittedly, she’s not first on my list since she came with her owner by default.
• Cell phone – Not only to see if others are OK or to have others be able to reach me to see if we’re OK, but to have for neighbors who don’t have a way of getting hold of their family. I probably would already have it, and if not, someone would.

Of all these items, and I’m sure I’ve missed some since I didn’t put a lot of thought into it, I’d probably go for the backup drive. I have a lot of files I’d miss if tragedy struck us, because my passion is design – and losing my archive of what I’ve done would be nearly devastating. I’m sure it would be for Miles, too. We should have a backup somewhere other than our home, but we don’t, and so that is why it wins.  Severe weather predicted for today…

What would be the one item you’d search for (or save)?

The day of the wedding, I brought my camera to the hair salon and took photos. I also planned to bring it to the head table at the reception to take some fun photos of my own. However, between the hair salon and the church, my camera became missing. Several people searched my car when they heard I couldn’t find it. Of course, I’m not sure how they got the keys to my car, but I am not concerned about that. I’ve always assumed that it was in my car in some unchecked corner. I just never looked myself. I kept thinking, I will when it’s nicer out. And then I didn’t. And then it snowed when it should be nice, several times.

On Saturday, to mark our one-quarter anniversary, I found my camera in one of the outside pockets of my small suitcase. When I left the salon, I remember I had a lot of things in my hands and I knew my suitcase would be coming with me into the church, so I put my camera in there (because I didn’t want to spend time unzipping the whole thing). The only problem with that plan is that I did not remember doing it. I only found it because as we were ready to go to Big Stone City, I remembered I needed to pack a necklace and (because I didn’t want to spend time unzipping the whole thing), I put it in an outside pocket. The same outside pocket where my camera had found a new home.

And I just spent the last few minutes searching for my camera cord. It didn’t take me as long to find it.

It’s too bad I didn’t have it for Disney World, but at least I have it now. See the missing ten photos at the beginning of Our Wedding album.

Here’s a list of “firsts” that happened when I was 21.

• Rented a House
• Received 1st place in 2D for my photo in Beadlemania
• Discovered I didn’t like alcohol, only the fruity stuff in mixed drinks
• I found out I like juice
• Became a Mary Kay independent beauty consultant
• Worked at my favorite place of employment
• Gained a sister-in-law
• Later gained a brother-in-law, three sisters-in-law, and parents-in-law
• Took a summer class – Zoology – and enjoyed it
• Finished Harry Potter
• Acted in a traveling children’s show
• Posed for many more photos than I ever want to for the rest of my life
• Visited Philly
• Modeled and animated a 3D character
• Wrote this letter to Andrew Wilson
• Began creating monthly wallpapers
• Was in the top two for a great job and didn’t get it, triggering the beginning of no graphic design openings in a 50 mile radius
• Gave one of two student speeches at graduation
• Graduated a semester early, summa cum laude
• Fell in love with Albie
• Started a “favorite songs” blog posting excursion and failed to complete it
• Cheered on my fiance as he applied for and obtained employment with a company I’ve wanted to be a part of
• Took a painting class and decided I mega-loathe it
• Spent Christmas away from home
• Got married
• Died a little
• I kid!
• Acted dead
  
• Began responding to a new last name
• Vacationed to the happiest place on earth with the only man on earth that makes me happiest
• Owned a TV bigger than 27″
• Thoroughly enjoyed the company of an 18 month old
• Gained a permanent roommate
• Was unemployed for over 2 months
• Detached from the MilesRausch.com blogs
• Watched an entire Season (and then some) of LOST in less than 48 hours

Wow, I guess I had a lot going on in the past year…!