News & Notes

Took this photo one evening during the State Fair of Texas while running our Big Tex photo booth during the State Fair of Texas.  Can’t think of two better icons to remind us how fortunate we are to live in the USA.

A young man, a veteran, wrote the following on facebook today.  I’ll ask him later if it was OK to put his post in this blog.  I can see him smiling as he says yes.   For a year I “worked” (I use that term loosely) with him and several wonderful young people in the service industry.  The respect they showed all their customers, their diligence to “make it right” and most important their kindness to all gave me faith in humankind.  They were and are a big part in saving my life.  They will always be in my heart.

I found throughout my career in the amusement park industry it’s our wonderful young people who believe and will carry us through.  God Bless Them.  God Bless America.

Werner, thank you for the following:

Happy birthday to the prettiest, rowdiest, albeit sometimes confused girl at the ball, America! Left wing, right wing, democrat, conservative or wherever you fall, put that shit aside for today because we all love this country, in our own way. I love this country because it welcomed my family and that’s why I chose to defend it. I love what America represents and what it can be. Enjoy the day my fellow Americans because it’s our time to get schwifty!

 

 

 

We left for Santa Fe Tuesday.

Halfway to Amarillo discovered Turning Gentle Giant Aliens, a lot of them. They spoke to us through the radio explaining they are an exploring committee from a very small ocean planet 3 galaxies away.

A Star, Bob Minick, is building his first ocean amusement park on their planet. They suspect Bob rerouted them to the desert. On their planet they grow to about 3 meters and save the oceans. Here they’ve grown to Turning Gentle Giants on a mission to save the environment.

There’s a message here – Bloom Where You Are Planted

Gonna try.

During the big blowout Farewell party my mission was The Bathtub Picture Follies.  Unfortunately I missed some Dear Ones, but you are in my heart and hopefully we will resume the Follies in Santa Fe.  I’ll get you in the tub then.

Once again, Bob Minick, The Love Of My Life, made forever memories for me from the one comment he said many years ago when I left for a meeting, “Get a picture of the bathtub.”  Bob is in every bathtub with us – forever and always.

To all of you who assured me James Randall is 90% Bob with 10% me and my craziness, YES he is and we all the better for Bob to live on.  Our love to all.

 

 

 

Many years ago, Bob and I went to a Christmas party, thank you Steven and Clarice.  Another couple said, “Great house we’d love a tour”.  I said,  “It’s not Bob’s and my house but we will take you on a tour.”  One of the bathrooms had a giant candelabra with very tall candles in the bathtubs.  Coooool!  Of course I took a picture.  The party continued and I forgot about the candelabra.

On the way home we were sitting at a red light.  Bob turned to me and said, “You did put the candelabra back on the dining room table didn’t you?”  Always believing Bob, I gasped horrified.  Then I looked at Bob who couldn’t keep a straight face.  I don’t know how he got us home with the tears of laughter streaming down his face and me yelling at him.

Next book club meeting as I was leaving, Bob said, “Be sure and get a picture of their bathtub.”  I did with every book club member inside.  The Bathtub Follies wer born.

And tonight, my last meeting of the Forest Hills Book Club was perhaps one of the best pictures.  Thank you Bob Minick and may I continue your great sense of humor until I see you again.

And thank you Forest Hills friends and neighbors for the very best of times.

Michelle Osborne and Hardy Haberman took me to The Palm for a goodbye dinner tonight.  Let’s talk “old” friends.  Along with Paul Osborne and Doug Litton they were Paul Osborne & Associates makers of magic.  I had to retell Bob’s favorite Hardy Haberman story.  Bob discovered and recommended them for Six Flags Over Texas.  Doug, a tall guy with a terrible red toupee walked in wearing a suit and tie.  Not a comfortable outfit for a former Ronald McDonald clown.  Hardy with long hair in some kind of weird army green pants and coat with a gimmie cap on top of his long hair accenting a lovely uneven beard and mustache added the flash.  Paul was kinda lost between them.

Bob introduce them to the suits sitting at the table.  A few like Jim Ashworth had a great sense of humor.  The others, not so much.

Paul and Hardy start their spiel.  Toward the end Hardy leans back and crosses one foot over his knee.  Slowly begins to untie his shoe.  Takes off his, yes green, sock.   Sock has a hole in it.  Puts the sock on his right hand.  A puppet is born.  The puppet finishes the spiel.  The suits look at each other, the table, the walls, out the window.  Bob and Jim just hang in there trying so hard not to do a spittake with their coffee.

Paul Osborne & Associates got the job.  Chris Lyons who now lives across railroad tracks from me carved a beautiful life size Cyrus Cosmos who welcomed people to the dark ride rotor..  A terrific ride by Bob’s Doc Snooker’s Magnificent Exposition games area.  And the family of Osborne Shows and Minick Associates was born and will be family forever.  Always in each other’s hearts.

The good ole’ days – Sweet Times

If anyone has a picture of Cyrus Cosmos, please send.

Today is Randall’s 29th birthday and he rode the train in from Denton to spend the day with me.  He use to train in a lot but hasn’t as much the last year or so.  As I drove down to the station on Swiss Avenue I noticed a man in front of 3120 and quickly pulled over.  Asked if I could stop in because this was the first office space of J.R. Minick Associates beginning Jan 3, 1983.  The man graciously invited me in.

Surprise! Now a tattoo parlor.  Said hello to a man lying on his back exactly where my desk sat for many years with another man inking him.  I explained and was welcomed by all.  Of course, after picking up Randall, had to go back.  Again they graciously let us in stopping the tattooing to take a picture of us.

William L. Cobb, wooden roller coaster designer extraordinaire, was our landlord along with his wonderful secretary, Margaret Rowe and Number One Engineer John Pierce.  Five years after they welcomed us to their offices Randall was born across the street at “Big Baylor”.   The week after Randall’s birth Rich Poling join us and the week after that Randall’s crib, playpen, and rocking chair were installed courtesy of Mr. Cobb and Margaret.  Along with the rest of our crew and Mr. Cobb’s crew, we became chosen family.  And now Rich mentors Randall in the business of amusement park design.

3120 Swiss Avenue created magic memories for millions of people who will never know who they are along with true Showmen of the Amusement Park Industry (dear friends and clients); Ira West, Bill Crandall, Bill Dawson, Dean Bradley, Harold Glantz, Victor Donovan, John Dibs, Errol McKoy, Ron Risch and so many more.  Dear Ones.  Minick Associates continues the tradition today.

I’m sure Bob arranged this for us today.  Bob and A God Wink.  I love both my guys and all who surrounded us, then and now, forever and always.

Happy Birthday, James Randall Minick

 

I’m thinking this is the best “Cuppa Joe” ever.