It all started out when someone asked us if we carried any titles from Actuality Films, and now we have over a dozen smaller film companies movies on our shelves.  We carry multiples of each title, and it isn’t uncommon for them all to be rented out every evening.

We have also been trying out some Super 8 films and they are rented out every night too.  Many people rent the projector and screen to give them an authentic movie experience.

Our success up to this point has been due to our openness towards carrying titles that no one else will stock and we will continue to follow this blueprint for success.  Also, we continue to get the input from our clientele so we may continue to better our service.  As the saying goes “The customer is always right.”

Technorati Tags: Actuality Films, Super 8

Sometimes it’s obvious how a movie has inspired my travel plans. Right after seeing an inspiring documentary about people who ski Canadian Rockies, I may decide to look into vacations to Canada. The movie makes me want to have that experience. But a lot of times the connection doesn’t seem as clear. In fact, it took a long time for me to even notice that my vacation plans were frequently inspired by the films that I’d been watching. Now I try to pay attention to what I go see at the movie theatre. After all; whichever movie I walk out of may be the one that inspires my next trip to an exotic destination!

Technorati Tags: ski Canadian Rockies, vacations to Canada

Another contrary incident is walking in a pastry shop and finding a skinning baker.  Is that even fair?  How about showing up at a new dental office and the dentist has crooked teeth.  I know he or she is not an orthodontist but aren’t all these characters in cahoots?

Imagine a visit to the Department of Motor Vehicles and the instructor giving you your driving tests says, “park right here next to my car, the Ford Taurus.”   Then, when you pull next to the blue Ford Taurus and perfectly park your car, you discover there are more problems with the instructor’s car than in a math class-dents on the fender, dents on the doors, and cracks in the windows.  Sure, some of those dents could have been someone else’s fault but probably not all of them.  It just seems ironic.

Technorati Tags: angel tattoos, tattoo

Throughout the years I have found that many parents are unable to attend the events.  Therefore, I started thinking that it would be great if I could photograph the scout activities and post them on a website for the rest of the troops to see.  I contacted our troop leader and to my surprise, he was already in the process of initiating a scout website for the purpose of posting a calendar of events as well as managing other initiatives within the scouts.  The leader has allowed me the opportunity to load the pictures for other members to see.

I am really excited to take pictures of future events and I am glad I can be a part of a solution for many parents who cannot enjoy these experiences with their kids.

Technorati Tags: pictures, scout activities, scout website

Here’s how we work: first you can contact us over the phone and give us the general gist of what exactly it is you are looking for.  After that, if you like our initial quote, we will come to your property and look at the nitty gritty details of your own design.  We guarantee that we won’t make you a higher quote when we see your property.  What we discuss over the phone is what you will be paying.  Also, given the lack of jobs out there in this economy, we have employed a massive amount of contract construction workers who are employed with us as if on freelance terms. 

If you are in a hurry to get a job finished, we’ll bring on more man power to meet your deadline.  So call us for a quote, we’ll meet all your needs at a price that’s affordable for you, even during this economy.

Technorati Tags: hottubs, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchen designs, outside kitchens

This kept me entertained for about 30 seconds, then it was back to people-watching, which actually was much more fun.  I’d say no need for crowd control with this group of characters; all dressed up like their favorite character, panting in anticipation of the new movie.  Good grief:  is this really how I should be spending my Saturday nights?!

Technorati Tags: crowd control, movie, post & rope, tensabarrier

It is well known that statistical variations from normal required specifications can lead the end results to be off a lot more than one may think. The discrepancies could be exponential. Even an ultrasonic flow meter can’t calibrate itself, so even the more high-tech you go with these, the requirements for their operation remain the same. With the marvels of modern technology, it would be hard to believe that a self-calibrating meter isn’t in the works, or perhaps exists to some capacity. If I knew how, I’d build one myself. The demand would certainly lead to some hard work in meeting it.

Technorati Tags: flow controller, flow meter, ultrasonic flow meter

Recently one of my best executive managers came to me one morning and confessed her drinking was getting out of control.  Ann has worked here for almost 20 years.  She’s always been a private person, but I know she went through a divorce not long ago.  She came to me that morning because she’d almost had an accident while driving home from a bar the night before.  She was pretty upset and said she couldn’t handle it by herself anymore.

I wanted to make sure she got the help she needed; like I said, she’s been with us for years and she’s one of my best managers.  I arranged for her to go through Florida alcohol treatment at one of the best alcohol treatment centers in Florida.  Some time ago I sent another employee there for Florida drug treatment, with great results.

Technorati Tags: alcohol treatment centers in Florida, executive managers, Florida alcohol treatment, Florida drug treatment

I’m not a big fan of horse-drawn carriages. For one thing, walking on concrete for hours every day is extremely harmful to horses’ feet and legs, and breathing in exhaust gases all the time — after all, they have to walk in traffic in many places! — is also damaging to their health. Secondly, they are typically forced to work like this in extreme weather. And thirdly, this kind of existence just doesn’t allow a horse to be a horse — no running and playing in a pasture or running at all, really, just plodding around all the time pulling a carriage full of ignorant people.

Although I do not live in New York City, I am a huge supporter of a ban on horse-drawn carriages. However, I would also take it one step further, and ask that people in various industries that have dealings with the horse-drawn carriage industry think hard about what they are doing, and hopefully reconsider their connection to this form of animal mistreatment.

Especially wedding planners. A lot of brides and grooms like to leave in a horse-drawn carriage — it’s supposedly romantic and beautiful and all that. And maybe it is — but at what price?

There are so many better ways to plan a beautiful, romantic wedding, and I hope you will steer your clients in those directions. Castle weddings are very popular — a castle makes a beautiful backdrop for any wedding, and much more romantic (I think) than having a horse drag you around.

Thankfully, for people who are having their weddings in Michigan, not many of them choose a horse-drawn carriage — it is more of a tradition in New York City and similar places. But I hope all of you will consider my request, and if you approve, spread the word — even if you don’t have a chance to make a difference directly, maybe you could sway other wedding planners who could.

Technorati Tags: castle, castle weddings, horse-drawn carriages, New York City, weddings in Michigan

Our Jack is 11 now, and male.  We also have a (big) 5 year-old male Beagle.  You’d think the Beagle could hold his own, but the Jack keeps biting him over territory issues.  The vet said it was probably over who goes in what doghouse, but I think it’s more.  I wish I could put in a cctv camera or a security camera or something just to observe to see what the problem is.  The bites are getting vicious, too.  We had to have half of the Beagle’s tail amputated after it was almost bitten off last summer. 

I think the Jack even goes after the Beagle when the Beagle just approaches the dog houses.  The houses are together, but we have no choice on this.  I try to turn the houses different directions so maybe the terrier won’t see the other dog approach.  My husband says the bites occur when they sleep together because the Beagle snores.  One way or another, maybe with a pinhole camera, I’ve got to get to the bottom of this before my Beagle loses an eye or an ear.

Technorati Tags: cctv camera, Jack Russell Terrier, pinhole camera, security camera