you've got to be kidding me

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history worth watching.

this has been a historic night. Even those of us who supported John McCain and his lifetime of service to his country got a little misty eyed at Baracks speech, and John's very gracious speech conceding the race. as someone who partially grew up in northern Florida where racism is openly acknowledged and on full display, I must admit that I never thought I would ever actually see this day come. regardless of where Barack and I differ on the issues (and there are definitely issues we disagree on) no person born and raised in this country can possibly not stop and tip their hat to Barack tonight - he is a remarkable, charismatic person who has shattered many perceptions around the world about what America is and how America works. This guy - he wasn't even a senator four years ago - came out of nowhere and changed the political landscape because he didn't play by the Washington rulebook. He also took down the Clinton machine in the process as well as managed to win the presidency by a landslide. I found it a humbling moment because although in the next 4 years I will surely see and hear things I vehemently disagree with, I also take solace in the fact that our country still works. Humbled by the fact that America, for all of it's flaws, gives people a voice in that simple act we call voting. We can have confidence that the process is fair, and there is no violence in the street over the decision from the losing party. Just think of it - we enjoy the most prosperous, peaceful, awe-inspiring place to live.

Six or eight months ago I was ashamed to be an American for some of the ways we behave around the world and at home. It is heartening that one simple thing like voting can make such a huge difference in peoples lives to inspire, challenge and drive them to work hard for a common goal. I thank my friends for challenging me in my beliefs and political leanings, and look forward to many more good discussions about issues that matter.

So for tonight, I am not an independent, not a democrat, not a republican. I am an American and I am proud to be one. We can take that step beyond the racism and the hate of the past and move into a new chapter. I am glad that step was taken. I am glad for my african american friends. They should be proud. Maybe this will inspire a generation to greater good for themselves and their communities.

This also should inspire those who aspire to participate in the political process themselves. It takes a great message, charisma, and a heck of a lot of money. If you've got all three - you too can go the distance.

So on that note, I officially announce scott mclain's and eric gjerdingen's entry into the 2012 presidential election. Let the turkey fluttering begin.

and seriously, congratulations America.

we look back like a memory to come

an excerpt from Tom Petty's "Swingin'" from the Album Echo -

Moonlight on the interstate
She was 'cross the Georgia line
Looked out the window feeling great
Yeah, it had to come in time
And she said I'm never goin' back
She said at last I'm free
I wish ma could see me now, she'd be so proud of me

She went down swingin'
Like Glenn Miller
Yeah, she went down swingin'
Like Tommy Dorsey
Yeah, she went down swingin'
Like Sammy Davis
She went down swingin'
Like Sonny Liston

- Tom Petty

and some words from Bob -

Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be puttin' me on"
God say, "No." Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killin' done?"

God says, "Out on Highway 61."

-- 2007 is in the rear view mirror tonight. Time to focus on this brighter future, as such that we can hope for in this amazing place we live. There are so many in this world who have no hope at all. I feel quite blessed.

the big bad holiday update

so I keep getting queried as to the status of my parents and how the holidays were, what my plans are etc. so here it is! The massive year end update.

When I got back into town from my parents, I found out that the house I live in had been broken into. Window smashed, DVD players and tools stolen. Still assessing damage. Everything else appears to be ok though. Can I catch a break here somewhere? Anyone?

2007.. what can say about you? good riddance!! and I thought 2006 was a crazy year!! sheesh, had I only known... Some good, wonderful things happened in 2007, but mostly it was a year of trials, tribulation, losses, refocusing, planning, attempting and failing, dreaming and having dreams destroyed. I am looking forward to some 'good crazy' instead of just plain crazy for awhile. I'm due yo.

I'll take stuff in a general order so it'll be easy to hit everything. The all famous McLain Year End Babble.

my parents:

as most of you know - they lost their house, the dear old family home, two weeks before Christmas on a fateful Saturday morning. Everyone escaped with their lives but little else. Since then, they have secured a place to stay until Jan 1, then they move into a three month furnished rental for a few months while they purchase a new house, which they stumbled on as they were out and about - it's a fabulous place and I'm looking forward to their new start in a new home. It's going be terrific. In several ways, this situation has turned out to be a blessing in disguise. They have witnessed the community they live in coming together in an amazing way to donate food, clothing, money, time and offers of everything under the sun including housing. Despite all that we as a family lost (some really irreplaceable stuff too)life marches on, and that's what you start to see when you've had a month like we just have had. You put one foot in front of the other. They were well insured and though it will take some time and some serious financial distress has temporarily been inflicted upon them, they will come out of it fine. My parents have been blessed on top of blessing. It's been really quite amazing to see.

For Christmas we had a huge family gathering at the temporary digs and it was a lot of fun. We had 20 people there, 6 of them little kids. A huge meal as well. One night, when it was just me, my rents, my two step sisters Tina and Megan - Megan's dude Tony and their two 2 year old daughters, and my Tina's son (who lives with my folks - the kid who got them out of the house during the fire)we all made gingerbread houses. We made two of them, with even the little tykes participating in the fun. It was decided that this would be a new McLain family tradition. Build'em, then on New Years Eve, blow'em up! I have suggested a handful of M80's and some roman candles. Not sure if that'll fly though. :o) We also went to Bemidji for a little shopping and that was fun. I got a new jacket (which looks a lot like the old jacket but if you are paying attention you'll see the difference) All in all, it was a great Christmas holiday - certainly one for the books. We won't soon forget this series of events!

More pictures coming, gingerbread houses, the old house, the new house....

I have interviewed for an agency job here in downtown Minneapolis. I am really hoping I get this position. It's a great job, and something I am really built for. I don't want to talk about it too much in such a public forum for fear of them accidentally finding this blog and not hiring me, (wouldn't be that hard - my name is attached to this thing and I am very high in the Google search rankings) but I can say that I would be doing primarily political advertisement work.

On that note, I had to let the documentary go - I couldn't raise the money fast enough and I want to be practical, so I have hung that up. I am focusing completely on this job if I get it, and also my development work on the narrative features I have. I have two main projects I am working on that I will pull back out of the pile. I also have a web based business I am developing with some folks which I will be working on. It's going to be a lot of freaken work but I am determined to do my part to make this next year profitable both artistically and financially!

So thats that. the basics. or least what I can type tonight. Time for some sleep.

Thanks to Pete Brietmeyer for the great Christmas party tonight. it was a lot of fun.

If a picture is worth a thousand words...

then what's THIS worth?

What a day.

So I have some crazy news. And a musical thought, which will seem superfluous after the news, but it's been an emotional day, so you'll forgive me.

First, I must report that my parents house burned to the ground early this morning (Sat). When I say burned to the ground, I mean it was a complete and total loss. Thankfully, my nephew Dillon woke up and discovered the fire and woke my parents. Everyone got out safe. Thank God for Dillon. Your prayers are appreciated. Stuff can be replaced, and my folks were well insured. So everything will work out, but geez, what a hassle huh? Lose everything you own? The sad thing for me personally is the stuff I brought back from Romania years ago. Ashes at this point. Oh well. Much better the stuff than my parents! It could have been a very different phone call and my world would have been shattered. Praise God for small miracles!

Ok, so the musical thought. I was sitting here listening to Pandora radio and it played a song off of David Gilmour's solo record circa 1979 - (Self titled) David is my all time favorite guitar player and the guy from Pink Floyd. The song was So Far Away and the guitar solo caught me off guard. It affected me emotionally, and that's a difficult thing to corner. I can't be entirely sure, but one fact is certain - Dave's playing has always affected me. I remember the first time I heard Pink Floyd - a friend in school loaned me a vinyl copy of The Wall and the first song I listened to was Comfortably Numb. I was freakin hooked immediately. Been a huge fan since. As anyone who knows me well will attest. Sometimes music will do that to me, it'll grab me by the nape and rip my heart/soul right out of my chest - it's such a powerful and visceral medium. I am a rock star at heart.

I love music. I love film. I love creativity. I love life and the gift of living. I love God and the hope and the joy that comes with that. I love opportunity and having a chance. I love my friends and those I commune with on a spiritual basis.

I love my 'rents. I am super glad they are ok.

Thanks Dillon. :o)

So I finally Beat the Damn Thing. Scrabble that Is

SO recently a friend ( new friend I might add) unwittingly forced me into joined facebook in order to see an invitation she sent me. I ended up keeping the account, and I like it quite a bit. I am needing to build out my Friendster profile as well and then I'll be in business - I'll be as socially networked on the net as you can basically get. If you can't find me, you won't be looking very hard! Ha!

In any case, one of the cool doo-dads they have on Facebook is games you can add. I added Scrabble - one of my all-time favorite games. It's made by a company called Scrabulous. I sure hope the original inventors of Scrabble get something out of it. In any case, the game can be played against another person either live, via email , via Facebook, or simply solitaire online by yourself or against the computer. I have been playing agaisnt the computer incessantly since I started, probably two games a day, and was absolutely getting my ASS handed to me for every game, getting housed by 100 points or better every game.

Not tonight. For some reason, the game started out innocently enough, but turned into a banner game for me as I trailed only once the entire match. I pulled out an incredible 46 pointer and never looked back points wise, and that was WITH purposely giving up several turns in order to score an "M" for methadone (which is not a very nice substance but it's big scorin' in scrabble!) I beat the computer by about twenty points or so and frankly, can hardly believe it. We're talking ... I beat the COMPUTER! I of course use the available dictionary to look up words and use the provided two letter list but hey - I didn't use any word generators (I had to use my own vocabulary) and the computer of course has an insane advantage that way so I feel like it's totally fair. The computer can check every possible move and make the best one - I can't. In the end, I was stunned into abject silence at my lucky game. Doubt THAT'LL ever happen again.

But for my one brief proud moment of aHA! I give you a picture...enjoy.