San Clemente or Bust????

So... my wife and I have been toying with the idea of moving to San Clemente in the next few months...there have been a few deciding factors as to why we would chose S.C.

1. It is beautiful... or as Jim Carey would say B-E-A-Utiful.
2. My work is in San Clemente which means low mileage, low gas, short drive
3. Megan's family is in San Clemente
4. It is beautiful.
5. They have these cute little beach cottages that are 2 bed 1 bath that we can rent... ok so maybe that was more of Megan's reason.








Yeah it looks like this most of the year. Anyway, there are a few things that suck...

1. Housing is expensive.

I thought i would look at a little 1960's 2 bedroom, 1 bath, carport, 900 sq. ft. house for sale... thinking well maybe it will be some what reasonable in price. It had no view (back yard faces another back yard) it is a small lot... etc. Boy was I wrong. You may be thinking, Randy, how much did they want. They wanted $850,000! HOLY CRAP! 900 sq. ft. I just about crapped my pants. Seriously? 850? Am I going crazy? This is ridiculous. I was in Vegas last weekend for a friends wedding and for the same price i could have purchased a 3,200 sq.ft. home in a gated community with a 1 acre lot. BRAND NEW!!!!!

2. Housing is expensive.

3. It is kind of in BFE

4. Its freakin expensive.

So the move is imminent and I am excited I guess.

Thoughts?

-RC

Anniversary Celebration

Today was a great day in sports. It was a day of remembrance. A day to remember what Jackie Robinson did for baseball and for America. 60 years ago today, #42, made his major league debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie overcame the animosity from those who didn't feel African-Americans should be playing outside of the negro leagues. Letters stating that they would KILL Jackie if he played, the constant heckling from the crowds... I could never imagine exactly what it would be like to go through all of that to play a sport. Not only was he the first African-American to play in an all white league but he was also the first African-American to receive from "the Sporting News" Rookie of the Year award and in 1949 the NL MVP. Baseball after Jackie was forever changed.
Today, in memory of Jackie players throughout the MLB wore the retired #42. Even teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and the L.A. Dodgers chose to make it a team effort, all wearing #42. Others, as individuals, who felt honored and moved to wear the number buttoned up the jersey, some players like Ken Griffey Jr. and Carl Crawford wore multiple jerseys. Most of the jerseys worn today in commemoration will be auctioned off for The Jackie Robinson Foundation.
To me reading story after story from players and coaches help me to realize exactly what Mr. Robinson had to go through for something he believed in so strongly. With out him, the sport that I love, wouldn't be where it is today. So thank you, Jackie, for making baseball what it is today!

-RC

How has God blessed you?

I feel, as well as my wife, that one of God's blessings on my life has come in the form of great parking spots. Yes, that's right, great parking spots. Today, Friday, at the Irvine Spectrum my wife and I arrived to eat dinner and walk around. As we pulled up to the parking structure, the electronic sign that tells you how many spots are open read FULL, FULL, FULL... All three levels full. I decided that given my past experiences i would take my chances and try to find a parking spot.
If you have ever been to the spectrum and visited the original parking structure, you might know that there is an open air, "elite" parking space area. Here, approximately 20 spaces are available to the handicapped and a few other lucky souls.
As we entered the structure, the buzz of cars looking for spots seemed to resonate throughout. Cars circling like vultures over a dying animal. People speeding just to find that a spot has already been taken by another waiting car.
After experiencing this for a few seconds i knew that my one and only choice was to head for the outdoor oasis. The parking for those privileged enough to have the fore site of when to strike for the outdoors. I proceeded to head that direction, as i left the structure and into the luxury parking spaces i noticed that of course there was nothing available. Did I get worried? No. I turned to Megan and said... I feel it, one is going to open up. We slowly cruised around and just as i made the turn to head back toward the structure, a lady popped out from what seemed to be behind the bushes, pulled out her keys and walked to her car. I pump my fist as if I was Tiger Woods sinking a 30 ft putt for the win. I knew it! I exclaimed. No more than two minutes after i entered the parking hell at the spectrum our worries and doubts were squashed by a wonderfully close parking spot.
Now you may ask yourself why you just read this entire blog. I can't answer that, but what I can do is give you a little clarity as to where this story is going.
It seems that my "luck" comes in the form of having good parking spots. No matter where we go, or what we are doing, I seem to find good parking spots. Megan actually gets a little baffled as to how I always seem to get these spots. She even went as far as to say, They must have known you were coming. I think the big guy upstairs knew.
In conclusion, in what area do you feel God has randomly blessed you? I'm not talking about family, friends, jobs. I am talking about parking spots, spare change in the pay phone, always being able to find your lost keys... where has God randomly blessed you?

Let me know
-RC

7.4.7

Even better than The Forbidden Kingdom is a movie set to come out on 7.4.7 directed by Michael Bay. Transformers. This is going to be the best movie ever! Finally, I can relive my childhood with the technology of today. In case you haven't seen it click here: Transformers You can click on trailers and see the two different trailers that have been released. Beware it will blow your mind!!



















Long Live Optimus Prime
-RC

The Forbidden Kingdom

In case you didn't know to of the most awesome, non-english speaking, actors are joining hands and making a movie together. The movie is called The Forbidden Kingdom starring Jackie Chan and Jet Li.

The story is about an American teenager who loves Chinese movies, especially kung-fu. He finds in a pawnshop a stick weapon from the legendary Monkey King. With this stick he travels back to ancient China and becomes part a martial arts warrior clan to try and free the Monkey King.

How awesome is that. Jet Li will play both the Monkey King and the silent monk and Jackie Chan will play a monk named T'sa-Ho...

The movie is set to come out September of 2008

-RC

How Lazy Are You?

Well today I picked up my laundry from the cleaners and I came to the conclusion that my wife and I hate to iron my shirts. The proof came in my drycleaning and its sheer mass. Do you like to iron shirts? If so I may have a full time job for you. Launder, press and starch, please.

Unfortunately in this picture there are three shirts per pile...27 shirts and that is half of my dry cleaning :-(

I hope YOU like ironing
-RC

A Taste of France

Normally I am not a fan of France; the country, the people, the culture. However, there is one area in which i have decided that France is awesome, the crepe.

Megan and I had breakfast down in San Clemente at a little place called La Galette Creperie. It was good. Megan had the Chi Chicken Apple Sausage Scramble and I had the Berries and Cream. If you have never tried it before, I suggest you give it a whirl.






-RC

J-Reezy...Awesomeness

Make your own decision but i think this is an awesome video...

Spring Time...

Can you smell it? Spring is in the air. The smell of flowers blooming, the smell of fresh cut grass, the smell of a recently watered infield. Infield? Yes infield. Baseball is here and for the next six months (hopefully) we will be watching Angels baseball. So grab a hot dog, a soda, sit back and watch big daddy vladdy swing for the fences. I can see why spring time usually means that people have an extra spring in their step, spirits have been uplifted and love is in the air... its baseball and i love it!

Nerf War...It's On!

Down here in the good ol' San Clemente we believe that team building comes in many shapes, sizes, and activities. Once we moved in to our new office space, we felt that a good use of our time and money could be to purchase nerf guns and have nerf wars during work once a week or so. Well a few of us decided to go to Toys-R-Us and purchase a few of the said nerf guns. In the end this is what we came out with... a lot of guns, a black light, some black paint, and an entire closet dedicated to Nerf Awesomeness! Anytime you want to ome down to San Clemente and challenge us, feel free. Here are a few looks into our world. Bring it!

Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid...

I may start blogging regularly, soon. Real soon.
-RC